Post 255 Mostly Counted Sashiko

 

It was close to my idea of perfect weather in Adelaide today - 28C and a bit of a breeze.  The Jacarandas are coming into their own. I didn't have time to divert around the streets in which they are planted this morning as I needed to be at the Guild by 9.45am.

There were 13 students at the Counted Sashiko class. I continue to be impressed with the way the Guild is implementing its Covid Safe Plan, and with the way everyone is complying. Margaret, the Covid Marshal for the day, was invited by Carol, the teacher, to go over the requirements - sanitise hands, sign in with phone number and time, remain seated at the designated places, no kitchen access, follow cleaning instructions in toilet, wipe down your area before leaving - before we began. There is goodwill and appreciation that we are privileged to meet and need to keep each other safe. None of us wants this disease in our community, and even though we currently have no locally transmitted cases in SA there is awareness that that can change.

I really enjoyed the class. Counted Sashiko is a fairly recent addition to Carol's teaching repertoire and she has done an enormous amount of testing and preparation. The class was originally scheduled for May but postponed twice because of lockdowns, so she has been adding to her samples in the intervening months. These are all samples she has worked. 

She is also a very student-centred teacher, working hard to establish the requirements of the technique but encouraging and enabling adaptation and experimentation so the resulting work is highly individual.  It's always great to be in one of her classes.

I was working the simplest sequence of the Perle Thread Keep she had designed and I managed to stuff up the second design in the sequence. No matter,  I adapted, with Carol's blessing. I also discovered that the fabric I had prepared was a 26 thread-count, not 28. Again, it's not a problem. I just need to adjust the length. 

This is where I got to at the end of today's class.

I managed one shot of Jacaranda on my way home.

I had snapped these quickly this morning before I hung the washing out. Blush, all on her own, happy to stay still while I distributed seed. Most of the seed was gone when I got home, so either she or others of the balcony brigade had visited while I was out. While I could hear plenty of bird calls while getting in the washing, no birds were visible. The leaf cover on the trees is now dense enough to cover them most of the time.

I was determined to knit tonight, but thought I'd just finish the three patterns I started... This, of course, ended up taking nearly all evening. I have also marked out the new finish line and marked the position of the bands I intend to add to reach the finish.

No more until my shawl is finished!

Post 254 Day of the Doves

I slept in this morning. Unsurprising, since it was well after midnight when I posted yesterday's blog and headed for bed.

As I was about to have breakfast, a dove arrived. Myrtle or Blush? I incline to Blush, younger and slightly slimmer than Myrtle but similarly pink of breast. She was not shy, exploring the whole space and allowing me to open the door, distribute seed and take photos.

She is a really nice looking bird and made herself at home.

An hour or so later, two birds arrived together, definitely a young pair. Neither of them had a clear pale pink breast. One, I think, was Stormy.  They too, made themselves at home, exploring the whole space, coming right to the door.

Adelaide doves only live about 2 years, so they must mature quickly.  I'm pretty sure these are the adolescent birds Turtle was chasing away only a few months ago.

I left to pick up Niamh and take her to JEMS. I had planned to do a bit of shopping for Monday, but decided against it. It was a bit busy around the Central Market as I came past. The sun was out and the jacarandas too.

When I arrived home, the car park entry door didn't open when I used my device. I thought I had a spare battery in the car but I was wrong. I managed to squeeze my car into  a space in the Square and go upstairs for a battery. It did not, however, solve the problem. The door was evidently not working. Our pod rep reported it. At least I had my car out of the carpark.

I had yet one more visitor before picking Niamh up at the end of JEMS - Stormy, back again on his own, having another good look around,  coming right to the door. 

I suspect we have a transfer of entitlement of rights to my balcony to a new generation.

Niamh and I had milkshakes at the Queen St Cafe.

Back at their place Katherine and I knitted while Anthony cooked up a storm of meat and potatoes. Lots of interesting conversation. 

I now have 245 stitches on the needle. It's about 65cm long and probably 80-90 cm wide at the needle. The ball still has a good few centimetres of shawl left. I'm now on a mission to finish this week.

But right now I need to get ready for tomorrow's Counted Sashiko class.

Post 253 Mostly rabbits, a seagull and a bat

This morning I removed the pins from the 2 blocked Rabbits panels and joined them together before placing them on the cushion cover. It was only then that I realised I would need to complete the hillocks on either end. Otherwise the hillocks end suddenly before the end of cushion front.  I should have thought of this before blocking - even before taking the panels out of the hoop.

I had been intending to attach the panel to the cushion this morning and take the completed cushion to Sit 'n Stitch to show my friends.

I set to work to finish the hillocks. I had put away the green wools, so had to find them and match the colours, sketch on the hillock shape and get stitching.

When it came to time to leave for Sit'n Stitch, I had just finished the hillocks. Although I frequently work without a hoop, just holding embroidery in my hand, it's not an easy way of working crewel, because it is difficult to manage the tension. This however, had to be worked in hand because it is at the edge of the fabric.  Reluctantly, at this point, I decided to leave this at home and take my knitting to Sit 'n Stitch.

I had decided not to rush to the Post Office to pick up the parcel I missed yesterday but to pick it up on my way to Sit 'n Stitch. I only needed to drive around the block once to get a parking space outside the Post Office. When I got to the counter, I discovered the parcel had been taken to another Post Office, not my nominated local one. I had not checked the notification, just assuming it was my nominated one. So I drove the 2 km to the Hutt St PO and got the parcel.

It was, as I had thought, the Jos Hendriks book on Assisi work. I didn't have time to read it, as I was already late for Sit'n Stitch. I have now had a quick look but still haven't had a serious read. It looks as if it might prove to be the basis of yet another World Embroidery Study Group discussion. There are wahat look like useful chapters on the history and style as well as beautiful colour designs. It is not a workbook.

At Sit'n Stitch I helped Jennifer cut out two knitting needle rolls before I got on with my knitting.  

On the way home I swung past the beach. It was sunny, but windy. Relaxing to breath sea air. 

I had to slow for a seagull on the road. 

Back at home I read an article about a Queensland farmer who planted 40.000 sunflower seeds on his property and created a message to be seen from the air, to cheer people up.  

My single pot of sunflowers have a similar effect!

The sun went down a bit like thunder tonight and I was just in time to catch a bat returning to the bat roosting tree.

After dinner I got to work attaching the rabbits. It took about 3 hours.

This, I think, finishes the cushion. I have 3 more pieces to add to the skirt (one finished) and the feathers to attach (currently pinned) before the final panel on the centre back of the chair.

I suspect I might end up adding something to the front panels of the arms.

Post 252 Mostly Myrtle and a little linen.

 It took most of the day to put this collection together. It's the requirement for Carol Mullan's Counted Saskiko 'Perle Cottons Keep' Class this coming Sunday.

 The basic requirement is a piece of 28 count linen marked out with 4 thread tacking to directions. To find the what 28 count linen I had, I ended up emptying my linen, silks and sundry fabric drawer onto the floor and sorting it out. I've known for a while this needed to be done. Today was the day.  I now have a fairly tidy drawer of various linens, trigger cloth, and huckaback. There is a pile of silk still on the floor, waiting for me to find a container and make a space for it.

It turned out the only 28 count I have left is some dark red Lugarno. I have a dark blue piece of Jobelan that is labelled 28 count, but in fact is 32. At the end of the clean-out, I decided the red was fine.  I also need one skein of stranded cotton in a colour that will show up. I couldn't get it down to one, but three will do. The Liberty print is for the lining.

Before emptying the drawer I blocked the Rabbits. I have tightened them this evening. They are very slightly damp so I haven't tried to put them together.

While I was trying to get the tacking started, Myrtle turned up and began eating the left-over seed from yesterday.  She allowed me to add seed. 

She was very alert to the various bird noises around.

Between the linen and Myrtle, I was late for Pilates.  Afterwards I went to North Adelaide to get more fruit and veg. When I got home there was another notice from the Post Office saying I'd missed a parcel.

Reluctantly, I decided I couldn't pick it up after 4 today. 

Yesterday the periodontist practice rang to say they had a cancellation at 4.40 this afternoon if I wanted it. I accepted. The practice is 4 blocks away from where I live - in the opposite direction to the Post Office. I considered driving, but couldn't count on being able to park, so I put off picking up the parcel until tomorrow.   

 I stopped in the Square to photograph the bark on a tree.  

So lovely.

The result of the periodontist visit is an appointment to have one molar removed in February. The root has split around the post inserted some 20+ years ago - a result of the technology of the time.

Back at home, recovering from the periodontist, I noticed Myrtle again. this time really exploring the balcony. I'm not 100% sure that it was Myrtle, and not Blush grown more mature. Either way, the exploration is new.  Not only that, but she kept flying away - to the roof, or away across the trees - then returning for more exploration. It reminded me of a teacher on yard duty - covering all the spaces, but dashing back to the staffroom, or classroom to check that all is well, or to grab a coffee. 

She let me open the door. I wondered if she was trying to tell me something. Was she after water?

She let me step out onto the balcony without her flying away. 

When she flew off next time I filled the water dish.  She did drink next time she returned

All in all, she returned 7 times and explored most of the balcony, eating a bit of seed along the way - but not all of it, and seemingly less important than the exploration. It is the first time I have stepped fully out on to the balcony with one of the doves. I didn't move a lot, but it was a moment of presence and acceptance.

I spent most of the evening finishing the tacking on the linen - and  writing this post. It's been an odd kind of day. I'm hoping to read some more of The Survivors before I fall asleep, but suspect that won't happen!

Post 251 Friends and Ravens

As forecast, there was a bit of rain overnight and a much cooler start to the day. The Adelaide Hills weren't visible this morning.

I am reading Jane Harper's The Survivors, one of this month's choices for my Crime Book Club. So far it's keeping me engaged.

Somewhat to my surprise, Myrtle appeared this morning on the clean balcony, just standing, seemingly waiting. Even more surprising, although clearly wary, she remained while I cautiously opened the door and distributed some seed.

She stayed well away, close to the balcony edge, but didn't fly away. That's a first. 

It was windy but she was not at all puffed up.

As soon as the seed hit the ground she was pecking at it. apparently very hungry. There was a lot of bird noise around, really loud 'ark, ark' sounds usually made by crows or ravens. There are, according to the South Australian Dept of the Environment,, few crows found south of Port Augusta and Corvus Melior, the Little Raven is the most common 'ark, ark' bird in Adelaide.  One flew to the roof above the balcony while Myrtle was feeding. My Vergola roof was closed so the raven wasn't visible. It flew off a few minutes later. Myrtle paused while it was above, had a bit more seed, but  went to the rail to observe when it flew away. She was on alert for several minutes before departing. 

I discovered the pdf file of the book I created yesterday had indeed arrived. It was, of course, sent to the email address I used to set up the new account and make the book, an address I do not regularly use. It took a long time to download the book - all 234 Mb of it. I was still trying to retrieve it on my iPad, so I could view it in iBooks, when I decided I needed to go out.  I succeeded later in the afternoon.

I went to deliver a seated hoop to my friend with the broken humerus. Her arm is healing, but pain has increased as she begins physio on the arm. Hopefully a hoop she does not have to hold will enable her to progress some of her embroidery. From there I went on to Unley to mail a parcel and drop off some soft plastic for recycling.  When I got home there was another notice that I had missed a parcel, to be picked up at the Post Office after 4pm.

The bird noise was still loud this afternoon. Eventually I went to investigate. There were three ravens on the jacaranda calling to their fellows on trees far away. I couldn't capture the three in a single shot. I couldn't even get a clear shot of two. 

One, however, gave me a fair shot.

Eventually, one flew off to the top of a tree a couple of hundred metres away.

The parcel, when I picked it up, turned out to be the book I ordered because of Jenny Adin-Christies's review on her FaceBook page. Stitched and Sewn: the life-saving art of holocaust survivor Trudie Strubel. Just as well I managed yesterday to reduce the pile of embroidery books I needed to review! 

I captured this sunset shot while talking  on the phone to my Blue Mountains friend. She has a mystery infection in her leg, giving her a lot of grief. It didn't prevent us catching up at great length - a much better use of two hours for both of us than the ubiquitous news coverage and commentary tonight. 

I managed to finish the Rabbits while watching an episode of Lewis.  Blocking can wait until tomorrow, but I did test the last two panels together. 

  

It's going to work.