Post 408 Jacaranda Joy and Jab

For those who get this by email, the feedburner service is not posting on time and not being serviced. It posted 14 hours late last week.  I'm posting this a bit early in the hope of compensating. I'll wait for 16 hours this time before sending out manually so you don't get 2 posts.

Adelaide  jacarandas are gradually shedding purple, displaying their leaves and distinctive seed pods. I wanted to capture the last of the purple against these two stone churches, St Francis Xavier's Catholic Cathedral at the top and St Augustines Unley below. Not great photos, but an impression.

Wednesday was the last meeting of the WES Group for 2021 and in lieu of a party we had coffee during and after our meeting with a small paper bag of biscuits for each attendee. We got our 2022 program sorted and then a bit of a show and tell. This proved very interesting. Janet, our weaver, brought along her trial pieces - all scarves. 

They were extraordinarily varied and interesting.

Junette had some hand-dyed fabric from Rarotonga, 

and Lori her counted sampler of trees inspired by a range of mostly literary sources.

We had a lovely time catching up. Our next year program includes. Or Nue, Pockets, Tablet Weaving, Smocks, Rarotonga Embroidery,  Sequins, Lagartera, Anglo-Saxon and Celtic Embroidery and The Goddess in Embroidery.

On Thursday my missing parcel turned up, packed in a box twice its size and weighing next to nothing. It's the cane stand in the lower right corner - yes, identical to the other one I already had. It now holds the splendid snake plant I bought at the Guild Christmas Market, and it's companion pot (which doesn't fit in the stand!) holds the other succulent from the Market.

It's great that Australia Post got it sorted. I thanked them when at the PO today.

I spent much of the first half of the week finishing the Maria Rita Faleri Catherine de Medici design I picked up again last week.  The hem was easy but I hesitated over making the knotted tassels. 

In the end I just went for it. 240 knots in each tassel, but they are not hard to do and don't demand too much concentration. Relaxing really. 

At the moment he finished piece is draped over a cushion. While these can be used as food covers, that requires regular washing which isn't a good idea. 

I dropped some pieces into the Guild for the Certificate Course Display which goes up this week and stays up throughout January.  The promo sheets for each of this year's workshops are posted around the display board along with the tutor and student samples. Students add their pieces I needed to dig out my samples for the Icelandic workshop and then a couple of others I had attended. Barbara also wanted my Design Online Coat. I find it hard to remember what I did!

It was a very pleasant, quiet evening at Katherine's on Saturday. Her front garden is looking fabulous, repaying all their hard work. I was home and about to go to bed when I got a message to say the Federal Government has approved booster jabs at 5 rather than 6 months. I immediately searched and managed to make a booking for Tuesday at my local pharmacy. On Sunday afternoon I called in to the pharmacy to check that they had approval for the 5 month change. The pharmacist had spent the day checking and said yes, I can have it.  This solves my timing problem in January.

I'm still in the mode of finishing off smaller projects rather than moving on to the Aesop Frame which will occupy my time for several weeks. I'm now tackling the Fallahi tasselled, beaded pincushion from Inspirations 72, which I bought as a kit at the time and began. I should have checked before continuing with it. I had worked five petals, all of which I have had to undo, because the count was wrong. I no longer choose to work with 36 count linen, but I will finish this one. I really love the look of it.

On Sunday I caught up with my friend Lorraine. We haven't met for many months. She has had significant blood pressure problem, ending up in hospital twice in the last 2 months. She has lost weight but remains engaged, positive and active in her health management. She is making adjustments to her diet and seeking as much information and help as possible. It was so good to spend time with her. 

We exchanged gifts. Hers was some neck cream (she has a knack of picking key needs - I had just noticed that my weight loss is showing in my neck!) and a lovely potpourri sachet which I've hung with my woollen coat).

This week there has been a third dove competing for the seed. The first couple of days there were attempts to drive one away but by Sunday there seemed to be acceptance. I'm unsure whether two of them are young birds, or just one. The one at the back is definitely young. The one in the front is also small, but not quite as small. It is most likely the mother, but possibly a sibling. They are nervous of any movement from me.

This is now the third generation of birds that I've been documenting. Not bad for what was intended to be a three week blog!

I've made progress on Fallahi. Both sides are now embroidered. I gridded up the second side, counting over four, under four. It made me realise how much I've learned in the ten years since I purchased and began this kit. I had marked the centre lines without thought to stitch length, not realising how important it is to have guide lines with threads marked accurately. 

I do love this design, especially the fit of colour and shape.

Today I had my Pfizer booster at my local pharmacy. Pretty straight forward - form to fill out, questions, jab, wait for 15 minutes. While I was there several people came in or phoned to make vaccination appointments. It is a small pharmacy with only two staff at any time and this is clearly keeping them busy. Good to see so many people acting on the new timeline. I'm very pleased to have it done. 

Afterwards I had coffee with a friend, called at the PO to pick up a parcel and at Create in Stitch to get some memory thread for an idea I've had for the Guild's Certificate Course Christmas Challenge.

On the way I snapped a couple more jacarandas.

My eye is recovering from its Meibomian Gland Disorder. I'm still keeping up the treatments 8 times a day as instructed by my optometrist and my weight loss is 17kg as of this morning. My vaccination arm is a bit sore and I have a headache hovering. I suspect I'm going to have aches and pains for a day or two, but I'm not complaining. I may need to cancel a commitment tomorrow, but that's a call for the morning.  Deo Gratias. 

Post 407 A catching up kind of week.

This photo of her newly erected tree was sent to me by my Penguin Passionate Pal Pat. I'm sharing it because it so cheering and quirky.  Thanks Pat.

On another cheerful note, our apartment block solar project won the Achievement in Energy or the Built Environment Award at the Carbon Neutral Adelaide Awards  on Tuesday night. The news item for In Daily featured a photo of our panels, taken from the roof. It was good to share the news and have a long chat with a Guild friend later in the day. 

Thursday I went to optometrist. The reminder asked patients to wear P2 masks, so I bought a box at Bunnings. My eye is much  better. I need to reduce steroid cream to zero over a month, continue with heat pack and Hylo-forte drops and see her again in a five weeks. I have received a self-assessment form for my driver's licence so tested my eyes for driving while I was there - all good.  I haven't yet had my annual eye test, but we've put that off until my eyes are completely clear. My medical condition means I need to get my GP to fill out the licence form, so I've made an appointment.

After Pilates I met with a neighbour from my previous home. He was one of my interviewees for the Baby Boomer Book and I needed to give him a copy. It was good to catch up on his news. 

The Mary Hickmott Lagartera booklet arrived and I decided straight away to try out one of her designs on a bookmark. I kept it simple. There are errors which a sharp eye will spot, but in general terms it worked. I might try more, although I think the Celtic designs are more effective (and challenging!).

I had to take something to our bookclub end of year morning tea meeting on Sunday at Pat's place.

 It needed to be something simple, even dips are too complicated (as I discovered last year). I hit on gingerbread biscuits. I haven't made them in a few years. I picked a simple recipe and made a batch on Friday - angels (large) and trees (small). I decided not to ice them - there's enough sugar in the dough. There was plenty to eat. I allowed myself one scone, with butter only. It was lovely sitting in Pat's garden talking about books. 

The abseilers have been hard at work every weekday. It's not a job I envy but they take great care.

On Friday I had lunch with friends at Aurora on Light Square. A lovely meal and good company. I caught the city loop bus around, noting when I got there that there was two hour parking outside and several spaces. On the way home as far as I could see not one other person checked in with the QR code. A shame. I think it needs reminder messages broadcast over the bus's PA system. 

Walking to the bus gave me opportunity to photograph the new building in relation to ours.

I missed a parcel delivery while out on Friday. It was a plant pot and a plant stand I had ordered from Adairs in their sale. I got a message to say there was a delivery of 2 items to be picked up at the PO, so I went straight out again to collect it when I got home. At the PO there was only one parcel. The young man who served me looked twice, then told me both must be in the one box! I knew this couldn't be the case but he insisted this was all there was, and I needed to follow up with the vendor. I didn't believe him and lodged a query with Australia Post - took me 3 messages to make my point. The label clearly says '1 of 2'. A closer examination of the tracking App indicates item1 'picked up at Post Office', item2 'arrived at depot'. I also sent a lengthy message to Adairs. Today I got a message from Kayla at Australia Post Customer Service to say it has been located at a Melbourne depot and should be here on Friday. I'm glad I managed to avoid stressing over this - and all power to Australia Post detectives.

Saturday was the Guild Christmas Market. I went along to get some plants. Peter and Gay Sanderson do a good job of propagating pelargoniums and succulents. I bought three this time and also got a couple of bags of Appleton's wool in the colour I forgot to get for the Viking workshop. Pleased with that. I did look at the books, but didn't find anything that tempted me. 

From there I went on to Elder's Auction rooms to look at what is on offer for their Sunday auction. I thought it was a better than normal offering. Today I picked up a painting my brother bought at the auction.

Our Saturday family dinner was at Grange Jetty Cafe. The two who had been on lifesaving duty at Semaphore just made it after being called in to a rescue from a boat that sank off Outer Harbour. On Monday, school holidays meant no family dinner at my place, so I took the opportunity to catch up with another old neighbour at Queen St Cafe for lunch. 

Today I picked up the painting my brother bought at Sunday's auction and settled down to finish off the Natural Wonder Catherine de Medici embroidery I've been working on this week. This is the Maria Rita Faleri design from Inspirations 111 that I began in July. I had found it difficult. The fabric was not only loosely woven, but had a finer thread in the warp than the weft. It kept slipping. Nevertheless I persevered. Is is imperfect and I am not planning on undoing it.  I also left the border in running stitch. The second row of Catherine de Medici stitch reduces some of the distinctiveness of the the shape.

I'm now working on the hem, antique hemstitch with a blanket stitch with picots over the top. There was not a lot of point in ironing it yet, since it is worked in the hand.

In South Australia we are now 82.9% vaccinated over 12 years of age and our borders are theoretically open to fully vaccinated people. There is quite a bit of tension because of the presence of the Omicron variant in other States, 45 active cases (2 locally acquired in the last 24 hours),  limits on our hospital resources, 98 current exposure sites, many resulting from a school 40 year reunion last weekend.  This is not different to other places. We have been fortunately spared much Covid spread here but the bell tolls for all of us.

I'm grateful for this week.

406 Getting sorted

The sunset on Wednesday was striking, ahead of a bit of a storm; more in the distance than over Adelaide, although there was some rain. It was Alison's birthday. 

I had a ticket to  an 11 am performance of Eureka Day by the State Theatre Company but our lift was out of order until midday. I could have gone down the stairs but our borders had opened and we had three Covid positive arrivals.  The theatre,  still surrounded by a building site, had full seating, no hot drinks, no food. I didn't feel comfortable and the experience lost its attraction. I gave up. 

Instead I finished the scissor fob for the Leadlight Counted Set. My head has been out of this for a few weeks and by the time I realised I should work both sides of the fobI had positioned it badly on the fabric, so I used a small piece of Ink and Spindle linen for the back.               

This finishes the set.

The doves now visit as soon as I open the door. They look lovely against the trees and amongst the portulaca.

On Thursday I came home after Pilates to wait for a courier delivering my Christmas cards from the printer. I then went to the Guild and picked up the wool for my Viking Embroidery workshop , came home and added it to the kits.  I arranged to call in at the Guild on Saturday to find the Appleton's wools in the required colours from the trading table.

That turned out fairly well. I should have looked for gold wool as well as the brown, blue and cream I focused on. I've put together bundles of thread and added them to the workshop packs . I've substituted but will keep an eye out for gold. While I was at the Guild, I scanned a folder of articles about Lagartera, which Margaret A had generously brought in for me to borrow. It's a precious folder and better I don't take it from the building. Job done. Many thanks Margaret. We now have quite a bit of information for a session at WES next year.

On Friday I went to Seppeltsfield with three friends to celebrate a birthday.  It was a pleasant day of around 20C, lovely food and great company. I only took one photo - of the roof of the restaurant - a sure sign I was too busy enjoying myself.

On the weekend I checked all my Christmas gifts and made a few bags. I also  went to Frewville to buy a couple of Enzo's lasagna for Monday. I didn't like the look of the Enzo's ones available so settled for two other local brands. Only one was needed. Fionn was at football training until 7.30 and the girls had netball training at 6.30. I served the lasagne with salad at 5.30 for those who could make it. It was thick and creamy. The second one is in the freezer.

There were fireworks in Rymill Park around 8.30 pm on Sunday, visible from my eastern balcony. Apparently they were the culmination of a four day car rally. I also discovered that the New Year's Eve fireworks this year will be from Rymill Park, which means I should see them. Not easy to photograph though!

Monday was a fruitful day. The service men from Burns for Blinds arrived just after 9am. Efficient and cheerful,  they quickly determined that my two controllers had flat batteries and brought a fully charged one from their van. As soon as they used it, the roller shutter descended. It was then I discovered that the battery charger on the wall was not, as I thought, hard-wired, but plugged into a loose cord I thought belonged to a lamp. The connecting plug on the charger is tiny , not visible unless you look underneath, which I had not though to do. My feelings of inadequacy and idiocy were secondary to my overwhelming relief, joy and gratitude. 

It is 33C today and the shutter is down, improving the heat control. 

After the shutter fix I went shopping for bread and stamps. My overseas Christmas cards have gone, and the Australian ones ready to post tomorrow.  I was home, waiting for the girls to arrive when I had a visit from an abseiler. He buzzed from the entrance and came up at my invitation - a very large man in full abseiling gear, pockets and cords attached at every imaginable point. His company, it seems, has the contract to clean up, repair and paint the outside of the building next door and will be abseiling over my back balcony for the next couple of months. He was here to persuade me to a) close my Vergola roof b) refrain from going on to my balcony during the day while they are working.

Somewhat surprisingly, I agreed quite readily. I think I was still euphoric over the shutter result and inclined to assist polite, informative tradies.  I don't spend much time on my balcony, except to hang out washing and water the plants. I spend a lot of time looking out from inside. I have his phone number to let him know if I am going on to the balcony. 

They have put up boards and covers (most of which, of course, I can't see because the Vergola is closed) and have been working this morning, making quite a bit of noise on the roof while getting set up. My only real concern is that I can't see to take photos of them working.  They will remove their cover each weekend.

It is an imposition - but I figure helpfulness won't hurt me. Bizarre though.

Today I changed over to my summer quilt. It looks as if the cold nights are over. I washed the winter one, and hung it out after 5 to keep my promise to the abseiler. I prepared some lamb shanks and some duck legs - my meals for the rest of the week - and went to Unley to buy milk, post cards and deposit a cheque at the bank. That was a learning experience, involving envelopes like mail voting and a postal slot. Surprisingly the notice of deposit into my account was on my phone by the time I got home.

I also phoned the nephrologist's rooms to follow up on my question about vaccine booster. It seems he meant 'mrna' rather than 'Moderna'. I can have the Pfizer vaccine. At the moment the clinic I used for the first two vaccines isn't taking bookings into January and I can't have it before 8 January. So I wait.

While getting organised for Christmas, I decided to reduce my kit stash by making up some ballet bears as gifts for my Pilates class. That's occupied my stitching time this week.  This is a Bucilla kit I bought years ago. I liked them so much I bought several kits.  

There are six bears per kit. I had one full kit and one with four remaining. I've now made up those four. I need one for each of my three fellow students, one for the instructor and one for the receptionist, 5 in all. 

I pondered overnight if I could adapt one to a male bear for the one male in the group.  Late this afternoon I created some tissue templates, dug out some felt scraps  and cut them into the shapes. 

I have just finished putting it together. I think it will do the trick nicely.

One way and another, a getting sorted kind of week.

Post 405 Mostly Books, Birds and a Birdcage

Last Wednesday the dove came hoping for food as I watered the plants. I didn't quite get it in the frame of the photo against the jacaranda.  Even though it had rained the day before it doesn't take long for the sunflower to droop.

Although I didn't mention it last week (there was enough gloom without it!), for several days I had been getting continual pop-up notices whenever I opened my email, telling me my Exchange password was incorrect. I don't use Exchange regularly, but for a Sydney University Alumni account I use as a back-up, and for messages from my website. I couldn't fix it. I eventually emailed the Sydney University Alumni office. 

I then went into the city to pick up jewellery repairs - two favourite necklaces are now wearable - then on to Nordic Furniture to discuss the furniture I've ordered. My concerns were addressed when I discovered the shelves are adjustable, allowing me to have two decent book shelves and one  very narrow shelf that would take bigger books lying horizontally.I also settled on polished, non glossy Tasmanian Blackwood.

On Thursday I had a reply from Sydney Uni alumni - saying others had reported the problem and giving me some links to FAQs which in no way helped. Then Microsoft  emailed - since I use this account for my office software. Microsoft instructions worked on first go! It seems this problem was caused by the adoption of two step authentication, which requires a reset. I had to reset on each device I use, but did it quickly and easily.

There were only two of us at Pilates. Martine had prepared a few new exercises for me. Afterwards I treated myself to a late lunch of Grilled Atlantic salmon and salad at the Queen St Cafe - and a lime milkshake.

Late in the afternoon, there was a lot of bird noise, indicating the Noisy Miners were around. Most were hidden in the leaves of the trees, which are now very dense. 

One was perched high on the top branch of one of the trees. It appeared to be a young bird - almost a fledgling but had certainly found its voice.

At the same time the sunflower had recovered and was looking splendid in the afternoon light. I used my DSLR for these photos and discovered a few photos from late September that I had not processed, including several of lorikeets enjoying the buds on the same trees before they developed into flowers and leaves.

On Thursday night I finished the embroidery on the second fridge magnet. On Friday morning I stitched on the felt background and added the magnet. I'm very pleased with these. They are hard on the hands and I am not planning to make the other two in the kit, using the plastic canvas. 

I might, however, try  on either Aida or tapestry canvas. I do have plenty of magnetic strip!

On Friday I also emailed our Strata rep to find out about plans the Strata has for services using scaffolding. It doesn't look as if it will help me with the possible roller shutter repair. 

On a more positive note our solar panels are now operational and we received stickers to put on our electricity box. 

Susan and I both knitted our way through Sit'nStitch. There was plenty to talk about.

Saturday was the last JEMS meeting for the year - and the Christmas breakup. There were seven JEMS there, three tutors and lots of food. They made Christmas angels with beads, wire, a crystal and ribbon. At the end there was a group photo and promises from everyone to be back next year.  A lovely rounding of the year.

Niamh managed to fit in a milkshake on the way home - our last for the year. Anthony cooked some excellent patties and chicken for dinner. They had been spreading another load of mulch to their front garden all day. It's looking great.

During the week one of the Lagartera booklets I had ordered arrived and I have been playing with a couple of motifs from it. It's mostly counted satin stitch, requiring concentration (spot the 3 missing stitches in the photo!) and very effective.

I've got a few ideas for using it. I also checked the Guild Museum and found it holds an example, so I think we will be able to hold a productive workshop next year to meet Maria's request.

I also received the forms to fill out for my two Certificate Course Workshops next year,. The first one is in February, which means I need to have the summary and requirements into the Guild’s December newsletter. In order to list requirements I needed to prepare the kit - print the pattern on to Sulky and finalise and organise printing of the workshop notes so I can calculate kit costs. That took a few hours on Sunday, along with some food preparation and packing away the trundle bed ready for the technician to access the roller shutter controller easily on Monday morning. 

I was well prepared, but, alas, I had it wrong. I waited for the call to give me the specific time. At 11.30 I rang - to discover the appointment was for next Monday! The fault, I think, was mine. I had been very stressed about the problem, and the appointment. Oddly, the misunderstanding, far from adding to my stress, seems to have alleviated it.  Perhaps the efficiency and empathy of the staff member who answered the phone gave me confidence, or put my fears into perspective. Either way, my heart is lighter.                                                                                                                                            Altogether I got a lot done on Monday while waiting - put away the remains of numerous projects - threads, patterns, notes, fabrics. I went to the supermarket, to Create in Stitch and to Officeworks to pick up the printed notes for the workshop. I also prepared the text and photos for my Christmas card this year. I tried printing it at Officeworks and then Snapfish. Officeworks predict a week longer to deliver, so I have ordered with Snapfish. Another reason to feel light-hearted. 

I had a discussion with Taetia at Create in Stitch about a class they have advertised for February next year - two Saturday's with Di Kirshner teaching Christine Bishop's Birdcage Etui. I did Christine's class for this at BATB in October 2014, finished one panel and the scissor fob but have not progressed it since then. I've been thinking about it recently and would like to finish it. Unfortunately, the second day of Di's class is on the same day as the Certificate Course Viking Workshop. I may be able to do the first day of the class and join one of Di's Stitch and Chat mornings to finish it. Or just stitch it.            It's time has, I think, come.  Nordic Needle have a downloadable pattern for it.                                                                                                                                  Today I put together the kits for the February Viking Embroidery workshop and wrote the notes for the next Guild newsletter.  I have to pick up 18 pieces of wool flannel from the Guild on Thursday and hopefully a few skeins of Appletons wool and the kits are ready.

This week I booked in for a Moderna vaccine in early January, following the advice of my nephrologist. I later discovered only Pfizer can be given as a booster and Moderna requires some proof of immuno-compromise. I have left a message for the nephrologist to find out how to proceed. Our borders opened today and there is a fair bit of apprehension. I have now linked my vaccination status to my SAGov check-in App, the first of the new requirements.

In between organising the kits I've been reading Louise Penny's A Fatal Grace - a great treat.  Sally Coulthard's book arrived today.  It looks as if it's going to be a winner - so I'd better get on with Louise Penny.