Post 633 Quite a busy week.

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WES Group was well attended last Wednesday with 16 people to hear Janet talk about Japanese Fukusa. There must have been 50+ varied examples. My favourite were those depicting the Takasago legend of the old couple, Jo and Uba,  who appear from Lake Takesako, to spend time under a pine tree setting the world to rights. She sweeps away the old pine needles with her broom while he rakes in good fortune.  

The Fukusa are beautifully decorated cloths placed over ritual presentation gifts. Most are woven and many embroidered.

In the gap between our meeting and the afternoon help session, Margaret helped me examine and make notes on an embroidery collection belonging to a work colleague of a family member. Most of it will, I think, end up on the Guild trading table.

I was too focused on ensuring the Gallery was left in the condition we found it to remember to check the supply of hoops on the trading table, which had been renewed the day before, so I returned after Pilates on Thursday and indulged in ten small presentation hoops. I may never use them, but my supply is depleted by the Celtic symbols I embroidered for the Early Medieval Period talk, and the hoops have proved really useful for displaying such small items. 

I felt, however, the urge to move to a larger embroidery project, so dug out the needlepoint Poppies cushion I bought last year. 

The only reliable way to tackle it is on my slate frame and Lowery, so I spent a couple of hours setting it up. It takes up quite a lot of room but is not difficult to move. Progress is slow. It’s 18” square and 10 thread count. I reckon this is at least an 85 hour project, given the time it takes to identify, choose, thread and stitch each colour. It’s also a little awkward to work, demanding regular posture adjustment. So far I've stitched a section 8"x 2' which took 4-6 hours. 

I shopped on Friday but couldn’t get lamb shanks anywhere at my local shopping centre. It was a big football weekend in Adelaide, with multiple games being played at several venues, and road closures around the city. The sky turned on a celebratory rainbow around 4pm. 

I tracked the lamb shanks down online at Frewville, fortunately in the opposite direction to the football venues. As most of the family had tickets on Saturday night, Katherine and I enjoyed a quiet meal down the road at The Greek.

Our Book Club met at Magill on Sunday. I plotted a ring route to avoid the many road closures on the more direct route, and got mildly lost. I hadn’t read the books, but there was still plenty to talk about and 62 books added to our database. I’ve ordered a second-hand copy of The Hawk is Dead by Peter James for our May meeting. The other two suggested books are thrillers, which I avoid and I am interested to check out how a fiction book is constructed around living people. I have a feeling I may not get to the meeting anyway, as I have a commitment well on the opposite side of the city later the same day.

The lamb shanks turned out well. I experimented with the vegetables (broccolini and bok choi), leaving them in iced water,  draining and tossing them into the lamb ragu at the last minute and removing from the heat after 1 minute. It worked well. The ragu was still a bit too liquid but no one seemed to mind. There was bread to soak it up.

The books I've ordered to help with my August talk are still arriving roughly on the expected timeline. There are snippets of information in each one, helping me to build the picture I want. Much of it is things I've forgotten from Uni studies decades ago. The Old English word man, for example, is gender neutral, meaning 'person' or 'human' and people are frequently referred to in early texts as 'weapon person' or ' weaving person'. 

This morning’s coffee meeting didn’t happen as my friend was ill, so I took the opportunity to drop into the city and buy a replacement for my kitchen scales.  Recommended by Choice, the new ones are slightly larger than the old and have both a high capacity (10kg) and a precision pad. It still, however, fits in my available storage space. The old one did its work for at least 20 years and is now awaiting the next curb side pickup.

Caleb turned up around 3.30pm to examine my TV, quickly finding a broken aerial cable inside the back of the TV, which, he is sure, must have been faulty. He made a temporary repair with tape and the signal was restored. After consulting with the boss, he disconnected the cable, headed to the wholesaler, returned and replaced it. My TV is now working again! I can now watch South Australian News in Adelaide time, rather than streaming from NSW in Eastern Standard Time! I celebrated with a non-alcoholic margarita.

The Chapter and Skein shawl is coming along nicely. I've used 40%-50% of the first of two skeins.I'm still not sure if I will need to use the second skein. It's relaxed knitting - a 6 line pattern in which only one row isa true patterned row. It's nice yarn to handle. 

Shane, my drip entry-point-finding hero, is due at 8am tomorrow. I have a lot of faith in his skill and persistence. The difficulty may come in getting agreement on an intervention beyond plugging the latest hole. I'm a bit buoyed by the television fix today - and grateful that I have such tradies available to help.

Better get some sleep.

Post 504 Quite a week.

There was a fabulous rainbow over the city early on Wednesday morning. I just caught it after Robyn, my sister-in-law, noticed and drew my attention to it.

I reckon the pot of gold was somewhere near the police barracks that are about to be moved!

We went on to have brunch with Niamh, Veronica and Fionn at the Queen St Cafe. A happy time.

I had  a postal vote in our upcoming referendum and posted my ballot paper well in advance of closing date. I now have my Electoral Commission receipt.

My brother, staying with me for much of the week, is not keen on marmalade, which is pretty much my only(occasional) jam, so I opened the last jar of the crab-apple jelly I made from our crab apple tree in West Hindmarsh. The end of an era, and, yes, about time it was used!

It was a  relaxing time with my visitors. We've got a working plan for the book I'm helping my brother with; he edited another of his publications and Robyn has her lessons planned for the next term. They watched Niamh's football match (in the cold) and we had several relaxed meals, one with all the Adelaide family here on Friday night. It was a really good time.

They went home on Saturday. A  spectacular sunset rounded off their visit.  A rainbow and a spectacular sunset - the gods clearly approved of their visit.

On Sunday Katherine and I went to the Finale of the Festival of Choirs, on in Adelaide over the weekend. Five choirs, one each from Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Queensland have been performing in 5 concerts. We only went to the last, which was at St Peter's Cathedral in the afternoon. 

It was a varied and interesting program. I enjoyed hearing Rainforest again. My favourite from the individual choirs was the Sydney Choir's Kirie and Gloria from Missa Rigensis. 

The final combined choirs piece, however was a stand-out, with the five choirs enclosing the audience on three sides, each with its conductor taking signals from Carl Crossin in the middle of the central aisle, surrounding us with sound. It really was fabulous, though not easy to photograph. These are some of the combined choirs processing to take up their places around the cathedral.

For the last couple of days the sun has been shining and the temperature is rising a little. I've caught up with washing and begun an advent calendar commission for Brigid. The honey eaters have been active, swooping around the balcony even as I was hanging out washing!

A message from my friend Ken almost stopped my heart. It said " I think we are close to 'end of life treatment'. It was only when I opened it and saw the attached photo that I realised, with relief, that he was referring to  another split in his favourite travel pants! 

Nowhere near end-of-life if I have my way.

Today I kept to my plan of returning to swimming when my back was healed and I'd had my 6th COVID shot. I got myself organised (no hearing aids, small bag with keys, cards & phone for front desk to mind, towel, pool shoes and toiletries) and fronted up for a 45 minute Aqua Fitness class at Unley Swim, a pool in the Unley shopping centre. I haven't used it before. The group was friendly, the instructor clear and helpful, and the session fairly vigorous. I managed without difficulty and really enjoyed it. I am now tired and feeling a few muscles. I have signed up for a 10 week block and it's in my diary indefinitely. 

I'm behind in my reading, and discovered I need another 28 row pattern repeat on the shawl, so nothing much to report there. With about 350 stitches on the needle now, each round takes a while. I'm unlikely to be finished by next week.  Still,

One foot up and one foot down, 

That's the way to London Town 

- or maybe 

Stitch by stitch (don't let them fall!), 

Very soon you'll have your shawl.  

(You can tell my brother's been staying with me!)

Post 487 Books, birds, bookings and bounty

I spent quite a bit of time this week looking at the sky. It has rained a lot. On Thursday night I drove home from friends' place at about 9pm. It was raining and the streets were awash. One stretch of suburban road was a sheet of water from one side to the other, my tyres spraying a wall of water into the air as I made my way. Fortunately there wasn't much traffic around. Adelaide drains are not built for torrential rain. 

The rain also delivered rainbows, and a few bursts of afternoon sun.

I have largely stuck to my knitting, but ventured out on Wednesday to my periodontist, who gave me a good dental clearance, but wouldn't venture an opinion on my jaw problem. Instead he referred me to a Orofacial Pain Clinic. I rang them straight away and got the next available appointment - on 21 December! It seems there is a bit of an outbreak of jaw problems, perhaps attributable to raised levels of stress in the community resulting in jaw clenching.  My problem is manageable, and I have registered for cancellations.

On Thursday, after Pilates, I took my Hap Stretcher to a friend's place and helped her stretch a lace shawl she has just finished. It looks fabulous - and we got the hang of the stretcher. Each time will be easier.

I also visited The Yarn Trader, and bought a copy of Kate Davies' Yokes book.

The pattern I am interested in (left) doesn't have a traditional yoke but I get why it qualifies. The book also has a lot of background on the history of yoked garments in Shetland, Iceland, Greenland and Norway - all grist for a WES session later this year.  When I've finished the knitting projects I have lined up, I hope to knit this one for myself.  

                            

        

Friday was the quarterly lunch with a group of friends, this time at Fugazzi Cafe & Bar in the city. We chose the tasting menu, which turned out to be a good move. The food was really good. These were the main course plates, Ricotta Gnocchi, a pork and fennel sausage pasta, wood-grilled southern calamari with Cannellini Bean & Caper Gremolata salads and straw fries.

We took our time. I caught the city loop bus and got there and back before the late afternoon rain

It was the King's Birthday long weekend for most Australian States, including South Australia, so no school on Monday and no family dinner for me to cater for. I used the time to progress St Brigid and catch up on some reading.

I've been reading Salonika Burning  by Gail Jones, a fictional account of Macedonia in August 1917 drawing on the documented experiences of four medical volunteers, Australians Miles Franklin and Olive King, Grace Pailthorpe, an English surgeon and Stanley Spencer, a medical orderly/painter. I was drawn to read it because my maternal grandfather was posted to Salonika with the Royal Fusiliers from December 1915- May 1917. Although I am wary of fictionalised accounts of fairly recent lives, I'm very glad I read it. It is a powerful evocation of a surgeon and well-intentioned volunteers trying to make sense of a war that is destroying lives they are trying to restore.

Magpies have been active in the Square - and one has visited my balcony, perhaps foraging as winter sets in.  I've been feeding my plants and am pleased with the strong revival of the poinsettia from a few Christmases ago. It has been alive, but without red until now. Perhaps it is preparing for Christmas in July.

Today roofers were meant to be redoing the flashing on the southern wall of my back balcony, but weren't evident - perhaps put off by the wet and windy conditions. The postman delivered my latest indulgence - a  heavy (in all senses) book in preparation for a WES session later this year on cruelty-free textiles.

At the moment I am half way up the second sleeve of the St Brigid jumper. Unless something goes wrong, I should have it finished before I post next week. I'm pleased with it - and striving to finish it before our Winter solstice.

I also booked myself in to a half-day class on steeking at the Yarn Trader in August. In for a penny.....

 

Post 484 recipes, repairs, repertoire, and a rainbow

I had planned to begin this post with the doves who visited on Friday, but the rainbow that greeted me as I was preparing my breakfast on Sunday deserves that honour. 

I managed to snap a few photos before it faded away. It was a great way to start the day - which lived up to its promise.

The morning was spent at Book Club. The choices had been mine, Everyone in my family has killed someone, by Benjamin Stevenson, and Judgement Day by Mali Waugh. Both were well received and provided plenty to talk about. I'm grateful to Brigid for the Stevenson suggestion.

In the afternoon, Katherine and I went to the Adelaide Chamber Singers concert at St John's Halifax St, a well-planned program with two Byrd motets, the Vaughan Williams setting of Ben Jonson's Wedding Chorus, a couple of Ben Van Tiernen pieces and a fabulous rendering of Charles Hutchinson Gabriel's His Eye is on the Sparrow.

A pretty perfect Autumn Sunday in Adelaide.

The signs of Winter are appearing.  There has been a lot of rain this week, and day temperatures between 15C and 18C.     

   

The painters have finished, and on Thursday the doves huddled together on my balcony, looking neither for food nor water, just warmth. I was interested in an article in The Washington Post this week reported on the research indicating mental health benefits from watching or hearing birds.

On Wednesday, after a visit to the optometrist, shopping and cleaning, I made a batch of corn and zucchini muffins, using a recipe adapted from several I had compared, including one sent to me by Vivienne. 

It was remarkably successful. I had a couple for my dinner and, as Vivienne had promised me, they lasted several days, cold or warmed briefly in the microwave.

I will be making these regularly now. 

I was on standby for JEMS on Saturday, but not needed. Niamh has netball for the next couple of months so I spent Saturday shopping and cooking for Monday and progressing the St Brigid jumper.

On Wednesday I also had a message to say my Jacqueline Hick frame repair was ready, so called to pick it up, brought it home and hung it. I can't avoid reflections on the glass, but it hangs appropriately beside two of her paintings and is easily accessible. Jodie did a great job on the frame.

Early in the week I had trouble opening the drawer on one of the cabinets Nordic Design Furniture had made me.  Clearly there was something in the lower drawer  jamming the upper drawer's movement. All my efforts to free it failed and I could not work out how to remove the drawer. On Thursday, after Pilates, I called out at Nordic Design Furniture to ask them to show me how to open the drawer. Daniel, the owner, was there, and extraordinarily helpful. I went home and had the drawer open in about 3 minutes. Yes, of course, I had packed too much into it! It is such a joy to engage with sympathetic and kind people - and to solve problems. The young man who came on Monday morning to service my aircon unit was similarly helpful and professional.

I have also been eking out the Greek Easter biscuits that Panayoula gave me last week. I am putting back some of the weight I lost - due, I think, to the reintroduction of a modest amount of carbohydrates in my diet, including the pasta bake I made  for the first time in over a year for family dinner last night. I see the nephrologist on Thursday, and he will be unimpressed.  I'm going to need help to manage a sustainable diet that keeps my one kidney healthy, and have arranged to see a highly recommended nutritionist when she takes on new patients in September. Until then I need more exercise and fewer carbs. In the meantime, I fronted up for fasting blood and urine tests this morning, so fingers crossed.

It wasn't raining today so I spent the rest of the day doing washing, reading Christopher Fowler's The Waterhouse and making a big batch of Anzac biscuits. I seem to have cracked the recipe that family members (me included!) like. I ration myself - but they may be out of bounds after my visit to the nephrologist on Thursday!     

The St Brigid jumper is progressing slowly but steadily. I am now halfway up the front. Some Ink & Spindle linen remnants arrived today - I have some bag ideas for these when St Brigid is finished.

I wouldn't want to run out of projects!