Post 485 Warm hearted

It's been a grey, wet and chilly week with lots of great family time, by phone, message and visits. While I've spent a fair time at home, I've also had a few key outings. 

On Wednesday I had lunch with my friend Lorraine. We caught up on and shared quite a bit over lunch at Nature's Providore. I had my usual delicious mushroom bruschetta.

On Thursday I saw my nephrologist. I have put a few kilos back on, and dreaded this appointment. I needn't have worried. He didn't ask my weight, or weigh me but focused on my test results, which were pretty much the same as a year ago. Whew! He did, however, to my surprise, strongly suggest that, as well as continuing my current regime,  I explore injectables. I have made an appointment with my GP to discuss. 

Some of our time was spent talking about his upcoming interview for a job his mentor recommended he apply for. The health industry currently presents opportunities and dilemmas for its workers.

On Saturday I decided against going to the Guild Certificate Workshop on Whitework. I was interested and initially keen, but wanted time at home, and felt I have enough unfinished projects at the moment, without inevitably adding another. 

In an attempt to increase my exercise, I followed an Adelaide Council Heritage Walk around a section of Hutt St. using an information sheet provided online. 

There are a number of 19th century houses along Carrington St on my way to Hutt St. 

I won't remember the details, but will now be much more observant and will take more walks around the area.There are lots of interesting details to see - as well as contrasts between technologies.

I only did part of the walk,  leaving more for another day. The doves' restless and gathering  behaviour seemed to be an indication I needed to get in before the rain - which I did. 

All the kids were out on Saturday night so three of us enjoyed Katherine's parmigiana and the crosswords. 

Sunday was the anniversary of Jim's death. I looked through photos, shopped, cooked and remembered.

Today I visited my podiatrist who is moving to another job in the next couple of weeks. More of the health industry churn. I have an appointment with her successor.

Afterwards I went for a walk in the Pakapakanthi Wetlands. I haven't been for a while. There is still lots of work going on, paths being made and repaired, banks reinforced, plantings. The waters are looking good, with lots of birds and food.

I loved the water plants. I could see patterns here for embroideries.

The wattles, even now, are preparing to bloom.

The time saved by skipping the Certificate Workshop has been put towards St Brigid. It's slow but steady progress - now 5 of 7 pattern repeats on the front completed.

I also made another batch of Corn and Zucchini muffins - this time a bit less browned. Great 10 minutes out of the oven,  terrific cold the next day with butter, and excellent warmed the day after. I'm now keeping a supply of ingredients to hand.

A pretty sustaining week.

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!

Post 483 Repair, restoration and rejoicing

Manage Falling Water

Wednesday's WES Group meeting, in spite of 5 apologies was highly successful. The 9 members present really took to Glazig embroidery. They were attracted to the texture of the stitches in particular. 

After the meeting I called at Bunnings to pick up some plants. I wanted something to put in my ruined saucepan. I settled on a Mangave Falling Water, which they had in abundance. I thought it would fill the pot.

It did - once I had managed to get it out of its container and disentangle at least a few of its roots.  I don't think I have ever bought such a pot-bound plant! Not good. I'm hoping I have untangled enough. I couldn't do much more without  a lot of damage.

I also bought a few small succulents, washed off their roots and replaced some of the cuttings I had put into clay beads. Some of the cuttings were still alive, but developing very, very slowly. 

I've saved them in one jar and will transplant them if and when they show more growth. 

I replaced a dead pelargonium with an aloe vera, and bought another air plant, this one on a fridge magnet.                                                                   

                          

When I went to hang the Jacqueline Hick painting I bought last Sunday I discovered the frame was badly damaged and held together at the bottom with paper tape. It looks as if it were dropped at some stage. It was displayed very low on the gallery wall - almost at floor level- and the damage was at the bottom. I'd have bought it anyway, but  feel the damage should have been made  explicit. 

The glass was likely to fall out, so on Thursday I took it to Jodie Primke - a restorative framer.  She has moved her business to the East End of the city from North Adelaide. I hesitated about whether to seek her out, or to use a cheaper and more convenient framer I've used before, but I'm glad I went with her. She was so astute, honest and pleasant to deal with. The frame is not, she thinks, original, but about 30 years old. She will repair it and replace the glass with a UV filtered one.

Back at home, my dishwasher displayed an 'Err 23" message and did not drain. I bailed out the water and did what I could, but decided not to detach the pipe myself, so called my plumbing company.  They could send someone the next afternoon, which meant cancelling stitching. When he arrived around 4pm, he cheerfully fixed it, along with a cistern half-flush that wouldn't stop filling - so good job jobbed  (and peace of mind).  At least part of the dishwasher problem appeared to be thread caught in the pump impeller (!). 

A conversation with the painters hanging down the back wall established they were finished with my balcony, so I spent a couple of hours getting it back to a useable state - moving, watering and trimming pot plants - and several more scrubbing shells and stones I keep in a dish of water. They were covered in green-black algae so I used a toothbrush to scrub each one individually. They are now looking clean and I'm hoping vinegar in the water will keep them so, although I doubt the doves will approve. 

I found them another dish with plain water.  On Sunday morning the current pair came to visit and explore. They ignored the new water dish, maybe because it was in the shade, spending most of their time exploring where the sun was penetrating.

They skirted the old bowl with its dash of vinegar, but were very taken by the Kalanchoe. 

I will keep an eye out to see if they use the new bowl. I may need to move it to a sunnier place. I am also going to paint the chair one day soon.

By the end of the day my sciatica  had kicked in - too much standing in one spot to scrub. I took the unusual step of going to bed early.

Sunday was Mother's Day, which I always acknowledged for my own mother, but declined for myself. Jim and I thought both Mothers' and Fathers' Days were commercial constructs that relegated parents to one day recognition rather than ongoing relationship. I still feel cynical about the hype but acknowledge the importance of a day when people gather and share. That was clearly happening all over the city as I made my way to my postponed stitching appointment. Susan was making her superb pasties and I came away with some for my dinner. A real treat!  

                                               

There was a lot to talk about at Monday's dinner. In addition to debriefing about the second round of parent-teacher interviews that afternoon for the two youngest granddaughters, Brigid, on her walk here from Uni,  witnessed an accident between a motorcycle, a car door and another car. She administered first aid until an ambulance and police arrived. Her Surf Life Saving training certainly gets put to use! It's a remarkable asset - and responsibility. 

I am making progress with her St Brigid jumper. I finished the first sleeve during the week and attached it to the back to see how it fitted together. The sleeve has a cable 'saddle' that runs along the shoulder.

I am now working on the front.      

Panayoula and I caught up for coffee this morning. Like a couple of other friends, she is off to see an orthopaedic surgeon to find out about a knee replacement. As an interim measure she's hoping for a quick fix to get her through a month of travel postponed because of Covid.                                         

The final story for the week is the gathering  of men in the Square as I was sitting on my balcony knitting in the sun on Saturday afternoon. I first heard singing and looked out to see a group of men standing (except for one in a wheelchair) with papers in their hands, singing. I couldn't make out the words or tune. When they sat down, I thought maybe it was a reunion of a football team, or old scholars.  However, after a while the singing recommenced and I wondered if it was needed  practice for a slightly off-key choir.  As it began to get cooler, I moved inside but left the door open. It was then I recognised Amazing Grace, followed by How Great Thou Art and The Lord's my Shepherd  - all unaccompanied but clear enough for me to sing along in my lounge room (with no chance at all of being heard!).

A little private worship in the park - no banners, publicity or proselytising. I am grateful for their singing this week and wish them well, whoever they are. 

Post 482 A lot happened

When I began writing this, two painters were working on my back balcony, both young, one female, one male. They are considerate and intelligent about their work, and cheerfully painted through the Vergola.

The delays in painting resulted from a number of things - rain, to start with. As one of the few abseiling teams painting in Adelaide, they get called away to urgent jobs - and a few problems have been found in our apartment block along the way. After substantial problem solving, it seems  that the joint seals on the plumbing pipes running from the top floor balconies through the balcony ceilings below and eventually to the ground, have deteriorated (after 23 years) resulting in leakages which cause damage to lower floors.

There is an expensive 21st century solution - involving a machine that pumps a coating into the pipes, sealing the inside from top to bottom without a break. It's been referred to the Strata. As far as painting goes, this is good news for me because it means the leaks are not coming from the fabric of my balcony, and my painting can go ahead. It's already looking good. They will be back to finish tomorrow morning.

It has been a week for services. My new cleaner did an excellent job on Wednesday. It's a good arrangement for me - except it will occasionally present a clash with WES Group meetings which we will have to resolve. The window cleaner came yesterday - and the air conditioner is being serviced this Friday morning. 

In between, there was a birthday lunch for a friend, JEMS for Niamh, a family dinner of lamb shanks here yesterday (dodging football training and parent-teacher interviews) and Anthony's roast lamb at their place on Saturday, followed by our crossword in front of the Coronation TV coverage. 

On Sunday afternoon I took myself off to an Art auction, where I succeeded in buying the Jacqueline Hick   aquatint etching The Widows  which I was after.  I have a number of Jacqueline Hick paintings and thought this one would round off the collection. I picked it up today. The frame is damaged, and will need repair, but I'm pleased to have it. 

On my way to pick it up I called at Wakefield Press for a copy of their book on Jacqueline Hick. I am planning to document my art works and thought this a good place to start.

I also bought their book on Barbara Hanrahan, based on an exhibition I missed during Covid. 

I'm now ready to get on with the business of documenting. No excuses!

It turned out to be a book day. I got home to find in my letterbox an Alice Starmore book I had ordered. I'm not planning any needlepoint, but I'm interested in her Celtic patterns, which of course, can be translated into knitting or cross stitch. 
 

As well as the book in my letterbox, there was a notice of a parcel to be picked up at the Post Office. When I walked around to pick it up, it turned out to be an unexpected gift from my friend Robin - an amazing knitted mudlark by the Songlark Studio in Kandos, on Wiradjuri country, north of Bathurst in NSW. It looks and feels lovely, and comes with a reference to Matthew 6.26 - a bidding to regard the birds of the air which do not sow, reap, nor gather into barns. An appropriate reminder on what is, here in Australia, budget night! Thank you Rob. A great lift.

I was unusually inspired by another friend's FB post a few days ago. Vivienne made low GI ham, zucchini and corn muffins for lunch. They looked so good and sounded so healthy, I went looking for recipes, and ended up choosing a Keto one that used coconut flour and a lot of eggs. I made them today - and was a bit disappointed. While edible and healthy, they are more quiche than muffin in texture. I will eat the six I made, but will try a more conventional recipe next time.      

I have progressed the St Brigid sleeve. I am currently on the 5th of 6 pattern repeats - and will have plenty of wool. It is challenging and enjoyable knitting. 

Today is my brother's birthday. I do hope he's had a satisfying day in his busy life. We haven't been in the same city for a birthday for a few years now. That day will come. 

It has been a busy and auspicious week in several ways. I've also prepared my presentation on Glazig embroidery for tomorrow's WES Group meeting.

Yesterday's sunrise captured the promise and peace - even seen through the window before it had been cleaned!  I count my blessings.

Post 481 Dinners, delays and repairs

Wednesday did not go as I had expected. I was part of a small Guild team booked to teach a 2 hour Come & Try embroidery class at the Prospect Library at 10.00am. These classes have been suspended during COVID and this was to be our first resumption. As I opened my door to leave, I found a notice on the doorstep to say the abseiling painters would be using high-pressure hoses today to wash down the back balconies ready to start painting. The notice had apparently been there for 24 hours, but I hadn't opened the door on Anzac Day. I had to rush back in to shift the cane chair, pegs and tools back inside off the balcony. Fortunately I had, for once, allowed sufficient time to find the library (recently moved) and park, so still arrived well before 10. 

We were well organised - kits, needles, scissors, threads, instructions all set out and ready. When no students had arrived by 10.10, library staff were apologetic, mildly critical that we hadn't charged anything ("if they have to pay something, they turn up") and promised to look back in before 10.30, the time we had decided we would give up.  At 10.25 we packed up, and at 10.30 vacated the room and headed for a coffee shop. As we were leaving two girls turned up with their mothers - they had bookings for our 10.30 class!  Crossed wires somewhere along the line. We gave the two girls kits with instructions to take away. Looks as if we need to establish better communication with library personnel for the future. 

I arrived home just before the abseiler wielding a hose landed on my balcony. I had a good conversation with him before he set to with his hose. Because my balcony is the most complex (=Vergola), it will be the last one painted - probably in a week's time. He also told me they are the only abseiling painting team in Adelaide at the moment. It has rained on and off all week so more delays likely.

Thursday also had a couple of twists and turns. I had a hairdressing appointment at 11, which went well as far as hair goes (it even turned out to be a free cut on my loyalty card!) but the receptor on my hearing aid broke as I went to put it back in my ear before leaving so I drove straight to the audiologist and left it to be repaired before heading to Pilates. It was ready to pick up on my way home - relieved, $85 poorer but able to hear properly and relax over a long and exceedingly pleasant dinner at friends' place that night.

Autumn is now really here. On Friday I worked on the St Brigid jumper as much as I could, stopping only to walk around the block around 2.30pm and calling in at the local pub for a quick, slightly disappointing meal. I eschewed chips.  The calamari was OK but the salad too chilli and inadequate.   

Still,  I did get 14 rows of the jumper done - the most yet in one day.

I slept well that night, but woke to find I had rolled onto my glasses during the night and broken the arm. Luckily I have a spare pair but I took them to the optometrist later in the morning. They needed a new arm, and there are no longer spare matching arms in Adelaide, though there was one whole frame (now discontinued) which the supplier offered at half-price. In the end I accepted that and I picked up the revamped pair this morning.

Since the optometrist is not far from Centennial Park, after dropping off the glasses on Saturday, I went to walk around and to visit Jim's gravesite. It is always restful, bird noise and native blooms. The grevillea are out and attracting bees.The succulents I planted are spreading beautifully. 

 

A couple of weeks ago there was  a reunion of the first Year 12 students he taught in South Australia.  It seems they talked much of him. 

I am finally able to look at photos of him. I have thought a lot lately about mortality, how our lives are shaped, the relationship of the living and the dead. I don't have answers  (I'm not sure I'm looking for them) I still mourn and the loss remains. I am also, however, aware of Jim, my parents, my grandparents strengthening me on my journey.  Deo gratias. 

Meantime, it was fabulous to catch up with family for dinner on Saturday night and hear all about their Sydney trip, which, by all accounts, was a resounding success. I later heard my brother's version - which accorded in every detail. He is now busy with an upcoming exhibition of some of his paintings of Sydney Harbour.

My new cleaner was meant to start today but there was a glitch. Hopefully tomorrow. 

I spent 3 hours this afternoon at CMI Toyota while my car was serviced. Their excellent coffee machine was not working. I count on drinking their excellent coffee while waiting, but had to make do with flavoured milk. I had taken some lunch, so got by - and did about 9 rows of a St Brigid sleeve. I finished the back yesterday and wrote it up in my embroidery blog . The sleeve is an nice change in its shaping and pattern management. 

I finished today with a thanksgiving dinner with my neighbours. Theo is recovering well from his pacemaker operation, and tonight he and Di took Maureen and Russell from the floor below, and myself, to dinner to thank us for our help in Theo's hospitalisation - quite unnecessary, but a pleasant, happy and joyful occasion. And Theo's looking great. As I suspected, he is chaffing at the 6 week ban from playing tennis. Given he will be 87 later this month, that's worthy of thanksgiving.