Post 603 Quite a busy week

It's warming up, shifting between 16C and 24C from day to day. There is still a lot of cloud around which sometimes makes for a decent sunset, or at least some lovely light play.

Wednesday was busy.  At WES Group the Guild Office Manager, who is not a hand embroiderer, told us about her passion, hobby and small business in cork fabric.

She  brought lots of examples, both of the fabric and of things she has made. The cork is harvested from trees, which are then left for 8 years to regrow their bark, while the harvested cork goes through a secret process to emerge as rolls of fabric which can be dyed, stamped, stitched and polished. There was a lot of interest.

I managed to grab some lunch with a friend before writing up the meeting summary and heading to Kilkenny where Fionn had cooked a magnificent pasta dish with prawns, cherry tomatoes, shllots, lemon, parsley, anchovies and white wine . A wonderful way to end a busy and happy day.

I shopped for moussaka ingredients on Friday, as time on the weekend was largely spoken for. I cooked it on Saturday while waiting for visitors who had been inspecting the apartment two floors below mine, which is on the market. Downsizing is a scary business.  There were only three of us for dinner that night and Katherine and Niamh made their fabulous pizzas.

I had a class at the Guild on Sunday - Carol Mullan's pattern darning name badge pouch. I don't need a name badge pouch, but I like the technique and the smallness of the project. It is also a chance to catch up with Guild friends I don't otherwise see.

Unfortunately, although I searched my email archive, the only instructions I had for the class mentioned a kit, so I assumed there would be one. This proved not to be the case. Somehow I had missed an updated instruction to bring linen and threads. Carol is a great teacher, phased by nothing. We sourced some linen in the trading table and a roll of perle8, in the darkest shade I could find (!). After about an hour of struggling, we worked out the linen was 30 count, not the recommended 28. Carol produced a small piece of 28 and I started again. By 2pm I'd had enough, eyes and back protesting. I had completed 30 of the 90 pattern rows. I'm thinking I might finish it in a darker shade, then fold it into a small pouch for a pair of earings, using the pale section as the closure flap. If I finish it..

On Monday morning I moved my car into the street before 7am, then moved it just before 11 for the electrician, who arrived to re-install the kitchen exhaust fan. This involved removing the unit, then stripping away a row of tiles on the wall behind and re-installing. It took 2 hours and involved a lot of adjustment along the way in order to ensureit fitted far enough back for the doors to close   

Eventually the doors went back on and closed. It still needs a panel to cover the unit inside the cupboard. That's a job for a carpenter, so I need to contact Will.

Just as well I’d prepared the moussaka. I had time to dash out for bread and milk, make a salad for the 7 of us who fronted for dinner.  Great to have so many here.

 It’s time to work on something more substantial in both embroidery and knitting so I  framed up a tapestry cushion on my Lowry. I'm partial to a bluebird. I haven't done much of it as yet. I also got out a knitting project - a cardigan in a cotton/alpaca mix - 8 skeins.

I. went looking for my swift to wind the yarn into balls. I ended up cleaning out my craft wardrobe. It wasn’t there, nor in any other possible place. I’ve no doubt left it somewhere or loaned it to someone after last using it-  a few years ago now. I don’t mind winding skeins, but with the number I have, I need something other than a chair back to hold the skein as I wind. The simple 

Amish swift was perfect. 

I tried to source another one. They are no longer available in Adelaide, and most online shops list them as either discontinued or not in stock. I found a Melbourne company with stock and ordered one, which arrived today, an hour or so before my podiatry appointment. I set it up immediately and began winding. I love the rhythm of turning. I now have 4 balls wound.  I had to interrupt my winding for a visit from Shaun the Geek - the name given to a tech assistant recommended by my electrician.  I wanted a check of my internet set up, wifi, modem and tv. Shaun was terrific. My modem is operating well. He is going to source and price a back-up system to replace the discontinued Apple Airport. He agrees it would help to update my television - something I've been putting off. Once I've done that he will update the whole system for me. He was relaxed, informative and unhurried, I'm pleased and relieved. Now to decide on a TV replacement.

When I am tired, as I was after yesterday’s effort, it is easier to knit a beanie than to work on the tapestry. I've made two more beanies for the team, and one for selling. These are in 16 ply, so knit up quickly. I've modified the pattern to fewer stitches and only two sets of scales on each. They are still roomy. The yellow is a bit of a statement.

It's been a busy, and productive week. I've felt stressed through much of it - repairs and updates to the apartment are routine and to be expected, but on my own I worry about them. I feel a lot lighter tonight.

Post 437 Walks, anniversaries and a productive workshop

 

Although it was grey and wet on Wednesday, I took advantage of a break in the rain to do another walk in the Pakapakantha Wetlands(!) sticking to paved paths for the first and last stretches, but on to the packed soil paths in between. There was a lot of water around and I was very careful on the numerous slippery patches. This was the first of my 30 minute Week 3 walks for the Heart Foundation program. While there were few birds visible this time, they were making a lot of noise - a flock of sulphur-crested cockatoos way up in the tree tops.

I was so pleased with my walking success that I stopped off at the General Havelock pub for a late lunch. I haven't been here for over a year and it turns out they have a new chef and menu. The garfish I previously enjoyed is replaced with barramundi. I eschewed the batter and, as well as feeling virtuous, enjoyed the moist, succulent fish inside. I did eat the chips - and yes, that is a glass of prosecco, only the second glass of alcoholic drink I have had in a year.  It was a little chilly sitting outside when the sun wasn't out, but still pleasant.

I capped off the day with a spectacular sunset and advancing the little horses. I love the way this building reflects the last rays of the sun.

Thursday was dry and sunny so I took advantage, washed and hung out some woollens - dry in 4 hours. 

After Pilates, I shopped, buying the ingredients for moussaka for Monday night - and also an extra one for tomorrow's rescheduled lunch with friends.  I indulged a bit. Iceberg lettuces have come down from $10 to $6.90! Expensive by past measures, but now a bargain. Thursday's sunset was quite a contrast - more like a cloud blanket!  

The bougainvillea at the Pilates Studio was shedding flowers, so I retrieved one to photograph on my phone. It matches the top and socks I was wearing!

This one (left) is pretty much the actual size. There has to be a way to use these in embroidery! 

A couple of books also arrived on Thursday - a bit of a mixed blessing, as they signal a lot more work to be done. These are part of a 'how to' series, so provide leads to follow up - so signal a lot more rabbit holes to explore.  I am, as I've said before, a glutton for punishment

On Friday Jim would have been 75. Katherine and I had lunch at the River Cafe - a low key affair and a welcome time out. We had to rely on electronics to connect to Alison. It remains an indelible marker.  As a friend said to me, Jim would have been pleased.

Saturday brought a fabulous Guild Certificate Course Workshop - Boro with Barbara Mullan. It was such good fun. I have finished the pocket that Barbara suggested we make. Details in my embroidery blog.

Sunday was Book Club, another great session. There is a lot of sharing in this group - the books we've read or discovered, the sub-genres we like, what we are or are not doing. I didn't greatly like either of the books we read for this session (Twelve Secrets by Robert Gold and Distress Signals by Catherine Ryan Howard), but it doesn't matter - views differed, are respected and worth discussing.

Monday's moussaka was a big success - which was great, as I have another one in the fridge for tomorrow's lunch! One interesting thing is that for the first time I've made this (and I've made it more times than I can count) the eggplant cost more than the lamb. Our economy is changing. I suspect that the secret to the success of this one is the half bottle of red wine I used up! 

I had planned to make a batch of gingerbread biscuits for after-school snacks, but didn't get to it. I made them this evening as part of tomorrow's dessert.

                                         

I've finished appliqueing the woollen horses behind the embroidered ones and am working blanket stitch around the edge. I've decided, however, that I need a few more horses in some blank areas in the corners.  The girls agreed with me yesterday on this, so I have printed another sheet of Solvi with 6 horses. The blanket is hard to photograph.

I also whipped up another needlework roll from a banner I found while looking for Boro fabric.

Yesterday marked twelve months since I began my weight loss project and daily weight record. The loss at 1 year was 21 kg. For a couple of months now, I have settled around this weight. My renal specialist is happy and both my renal and diabetes readings are no longer at levels of concern. While I'd like to lose more weight I have enjoyed adding a little bread, potato and pasta back into my meals. I haven't reintroduced alcohol, nor moved above 2 serves of fruit.  I think I will rest here for a while over winter then reduce further.  I will continue to weigh myself each morning to ensure my weight doesn't creep up, but think I can now stop recording daily weight.

Today I did the first of this week's Heart Foundation walks in the South Parklands. I've moved from 3 walks a week to 4. A challenge. The sun was out and it was very pleasant. I managed to get close to this magpie, but I missed my chance to photograph a couple of Adelaide Rosellas.

My balcony gardens are doing well in the colder and wetter weather. I'm still waiting for the carpet cleaner and Vergola servicer to get in touch. It's just about time to make more phone calls. I've also been closing the heavy curtains at night and using the heating sparingly, preserving power where I can in times of shortage. I haven't suffered from cold. 

Post 392 Bird, books, blooms and bookmarks

Last Wednesday I did a quick trip to Unley to get a few supplies. Niamh and Brigid were staying overnight at my place because they needed to be at school early the next morning to travel with the football team to Tintinara, a two and a half hour drive to the southeast. Niamh was playing in two matches and Brigid organising equipment etc. The stay went smoothly. They won one match and lost the other.

While this was all going on, my friendly dove had found a comfortable perch out of the wind in my empty balcony window box (or is it a balcony box?) I grabbed my DSLR and took some shots. When I came to download them there was no connection to my laptop. Changing the cable didn't help. 

Eventually (2 days later!) I remembered that I could take out the memory card and somewhere I had a card reader. It took a while to find and remember how to use it, but I was eventually rewarded with some terrific photos. 

Still haven't worked out why the direct download doesn't work. Out of practice and out of touch - but still able to drag stuff out of my memory and figure a workaround!  

Back to Pilates on Thursday, where I got a lot of attention because two of our group were absent, leaving only two of us. 

Over Wednesday and Thursday I got quite a bit done on a bookmark I had ordered from the Fox Collection. I thought these would make good Christmas presents for a couple of friends. I ordered three designs I liked and began almost as soon as they arrived. I hadn't expected to enjoy doing it quite as much as I did. I finished the first one off at Sit'nStitch on Friday. Jennifer has made good progress on the crocheted shawl she started last week, and Susan is progressing an appliqued floor rug for a friend's baby. 

Before Sit'nStitch on Friday, I had coffee with a couple of  friends I worked with ten or more years ago. We had a good Covid catch up.  I also bought all the ingredients for a moussaka, which I spent much of Saturday making. I wanted to go to Basics2Beyond on Monday, so cooking needed to happen in advance.  It takes me a good four hours to prepare moussaka, and I usually do it in relays.  

On Saturday I did it in one go, which takes a bit of a toll on my sciatica - and makes a mess in the kitchen. The result, however, is well worth it. My new nutmeg grater got a good tryout. The Monday meal worked well.

In between cooking bursts, while waiting for things to cook or cool, I found some Solvi and copied my Design Online final design so I can attach it to my purple coat. This became my project for B2B on Monday. It's too hard to transfer the design directly on to the wool.

On Sunday our Crime Book Club met at a new venue, the Dulwich Bakery next to Heyne's Nursery on The Parade at Norwood. We had another good discussion. I hadn't read the recommended books - it's been a lean reading month for me. This group is very accepting and the discussion proceeds easily regardless of who has read what.

Again, there were lots of good ideas and recommendations shared. Next month I get to choose the books to discuss in October. I have a couple of ideas.

I was pleased to meet next to the nursery, which is a good one. I was looking for a wide, shallow bowl in which to place or replant the flat basket of plants on my back balcony. The basket has rotted. I realised, in looking at the nursery offerings, that most of the available bowls (designed, on the whole, as birdbaths) would be too heavy for my balcony. So I ended up getting a huge, 5" deep saucer. I'll let it sit for a bit before deciding whether to put holes in it and add more soil - or just add more soil.

I also bought another small pot of primula to add to the back balcony. It's smothered in buds, so should look good very soon.

The dry stalks of the Mandevilla I bought last December have burst into buds. It too should look lovely fairly soon. 

I also bought a punnet of blue cineraria, which I planted in a large empty pot on the front balcony. 

Sunday was 22C in Adelaide, sunny and breezy. I made the most of it - opened up the front and back doors to get a pleasant breeze through. Monday was back to 13C and rain. I watered the plants in, but they might get a little water in the next few days, although rain doesn't often penetrate the front balcony.

Not long after the sun set we had a few showers, then a bit of a storm. 

Monday brought showers between bursts of sun. I left early for Basics 2 Beyond, so I could pick up some carrot, cucumber, apple and a couple of Lebanese loaves for snacks for the kids on the way. Unfortunately the bakery had only just put the bread in the oven, so I had a coffee, picked up the bread and arrived late as usual at B2B. No matter, it is come and go as you need. I worked on the edges of my coat - applying the design I did for Design on Line.  I got the stem and a couple of leaves outlined, which is a good start.

I'm planning, at the moment, to keep this as my B2B project.

In the meantime, I progressed the Delft Blue bookmark - and loved it. It does, however, require concentration, magnification and holding in hand - not great for RSI. It looks quite good without some of the stitches. I finished the embroidery on Monday night and the construction this morning. 

I have also progressed my shawl knitting - but not enough to make a good photo!

I've enjoyed the bookmarks so much I dug out some Aida band I'd bought a couple of years ago to embroider for towels. It turns out to be about 17 count Aida. I prefer 14 count (which I can see!), so went searching online and found a really good collection of 14 count Aida at the Crafty Frog in Canberra. I've ordered a variety of pieces and dug out  my copy of Celtic Backstitch, which has a range of suitable patterns.

Wouldn't want to run out of things to do in a pandemic.

Today I had lunch with Jennifer and a past work friend who has just moved to the Adelaide Hills from Victoria. So much to talk about. Both she and Jennifer are thinking of joining the Guild. 

I took Veronica and Niamh to their final netball practice of the season. Brigid is in the Flinders Ranges helping on a school camp. We remain a bit of an island here in SA while the Covid Delta variant rages in NSW, spreads more slowly in Victoria and makes an appearance in Queensland. Here we have mask mandates, vaccination drives and 75% capacity in hospitality venues.

Feedburner appears to be still working. Their message says the email subscription service will be discontinued 'in August' .  I am ready to send manual emails if and when the automation fails. It's a bit 'test and see' at the moment. I hope no one is inconvenienced.

My final offering this week is the basil I bought yesterday at the greengrocer. As well as helping the Greek salad along, it is pretty attractive on the bench - and cheering.