After the appointment I’d just had at the hearing centre I certainly needed it…..tell you what…..you can add hearing aids to the list of items that have definitely risen quite steeply in price. Granted my trusty Signia ones, the ones I’ve used for the past 7yrs – (once I accepted I needed them in certain circumstances) – do work just fine, they really needed to be updated. Talk about sticker shock!
So the March Equinox been and gone – another quarter turn of the wheel happened – and Autumn has truly arrived…..days and nights here at home are about equal at the moment
but that loss of light will soon become very apparent. …… These are the times for Friday 7:29 am Sunrise – 7:20pm Sunset. Another 9 mins gone!
And while my whinging complaining won’t stop all that happening there is something I do enjoy about this season. . Brussel Sprouts — fresh from the farm!
Look at them, planted just up the road from us in the paddocks along the Maroondah Highway at Coldstream, lined up in straight rows as far as the eye can see…… so easy for the picking gangs to harvest them.
I know I’m in the minority who really do enjoy eating them and look forward to adding another vegetable to our plates. Have to be cooked plainly though – steamed then served with a dab of butter (salt/pepper optional).
No oven or frying pan involved – no weird and wonderful ingredients added – I’ve seen olive oil, honey, soy sauce, lemon juice even Parmesan cheese mentioned. Do those things and I’ll not even look at them never mind eat them!
Here’s Arthur the Big Sprout waiting to greet us as we drove in last week to pick up some new season from the farm gate shop
It’s surprising what you find when you use a different car park
On a fine sunny day back in June I used one beside the Croydon tennis club I was having a ‘bad back/aching legs’ day and it was closer to Main Street
And look what I found – a brand new mural
(Photos will enlarge with a tap/click or using two finger spread)
Seemingly painted by Thulii Mara as part of the (Eastern suburbs) First Nations Art Trail. Unfortunately I can’t find anything else about it. Although you can see more of his work on his website – https://thullimara.com
Walker (Thulli Mara), Creator and Protector, 2024,
On that day the colours were deep and rich as well as bright and vibrant. I must go back sometime and see how they are weathering
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A little bit of colour to share with Min’s Wednesday Words and Whimsylink up found HERE.
To see more murals from around the world click HERE
There’s been lots of head scratching and thinking as to what I can make (not buy) as a welcome gift……which would usually be a knitted newborn ‘matinee’ set ‘cept this will be a ‘summer babe’ with both parents over 6’ tall who were big (9lb+) babies. The needles will be better used making winter woolies – size and sex will be known by then (parents are still adamant about not knowing the gender until baby is born.
’Our little girl’ suggested – “what about those hanging things” Hanging things? – “The ones you made for Miss S”
Oh yes, I vaguely remembered x stitching some little wall hangings for the first baby – yes, the very same one above…..
Both need a wash and brush up – and a crease removed!
Anyway I’ve made a start on one but by golly to get to this point has definitely been a lesson in patience.
Remember my recent admission of hanging onto stuff …..well that came in handy because I remembered I’d very carefully stored those charts away. But where…. Teddy chart found, a little worse for wear so The Golfer scanned and printed a couple for me….. Bother bother bother – nothing is ever straightforward….
……there were no thread numbers on the key.
So out came the ‘supplies’…… OK, I’ll admit to having an awful lot of threads/floss/silks to choose from😉
As you can see the bears are going to be darker than the original…..the instruments will be different as well. It wasn’t supposed to be that way, I found similar colours but decided otherwise in the end.
Corny as it sounds I’m definitely enjoying this refound feeling of contentment that hand stitching gives. Knitting is great but it’s constant movement whereas this is quieter, more precise. You’re attached to what you’re working on…..more involved. I like it!
Just one drawback…..even on cool days …….I have to work outside the eyes – the light And not being a fan of audiobooks, I can’t read🙁
*******. Oh, and what has become of Miss S….my first little one…..well…… I can assure you……‘she ain’t little anymore’
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It’s Wednesday so I’m linking to Wednesday Words & Whimsy….. click HERE to find out who dropped by
I’ll also be linking this to Kat’s featured post – Unraveled Wednesday……where the talk is all about craft, books and life in general. You can find out what others are up to HERE.
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For some reason I’ve been tired, weary and rather flat recently….
A bit like this year’s ‘winter shoes’ that have seen better days and will be retired when we return to Victoria in a short while….
I’m just biding my time here now really hoping ‘new shoes’ in the form of returning home and viewing it with fresh eyes will put a spring back in my step….
Kilsyth – A different environment altogether End of my street looking towards Montrose and The Dandenongs 2km/1.25mi away A sea of trees – not a wave of water in sight
It’s been such a strange winter up here – earlier on it was much colder than usual and now it’s become exceptionally warm – far too early in the season for day after day of very high 20s/80s. Unlike at home where we’re renowned for the ability to have 4 seasons in one day, here there are only 2….. this link describes it as wet/dry – hot/cool also windy all year round😊
But I really shouldn’t complain – because after my last feeling sorry for myself whingefest a certain someone aka The Golfer said “come on, we’ll go and have coffee at ‘the club’ ….it was so relaxing sitting on the high outside deck enjoying the view along with the cooling sea breeze (such a pleasure to be there) I forgot my aches and pains…..and also to record my delicious coffee and cake🙁
For various reasons we’ll both miss this town – it’s one place I enjoy returning to. A ‘working town’ that carries on living its own life after the seasonal visitors have all left but never complains while they’re here
So what’s the different bit all about??. Well since unraveling and righting the guernsey ready to finish the front I haven’t touched it again. Enthusiasm left the building right there and then….but I am about to use my fingers in a different way.
Many years ago xx cross stitch xx was my craft of choice – then the eyes started to (we all know about the ageing of eyes don’t we😊) so as yarn is easier to see than embroidery floss it was back to knitting. Because I’m hoarder person who is loathe to throw/give anything away……I paid good money for that…I might use it again – there are still pattern/design books, silks/threads, tools etc etc sitting in a cupboard just waiting for that to happen- well you never know, it might…..
Before we came away I had a little rummage – had reason to look for something and tucked away in this publication I found a nearly finished slightly adapted ‘new house’ sampler.
Who I had it in mind for and the reason it’s unfinished is long forgotten – after adding a little saying under the houses…..‘Happiness is homemade’ – corny but cute….I’m hoping I can revive it.
I read an article once about creases in Aida cloth. (I know, it should have been rolled or stored flat) which involved the freezer and ironing ‘frozen’ or microwave. Must see if I can find it.
A granddaughter has just bought her first house, and unlike some of her cousins (everything must be brand new or definitely unused) she’s been gathering new or nearly new bits and pieces from friends and other family.
“I want a home grandma, not a showroom” which I’m hoping means my ‘new with maybe a little lived in look to it’ sampler will be well received. *****
And here’s my breakfast table early this morning (Tuesday)…..before it became a fraction on the warm side Cereal with dried fruit, fresh fruit, cuppa tea…..plus embroidery paraphernalia to sort, a handheld fan and a book. What else do I need to begin the day?
* * * Ann Cleeves first published novel A Bird in the Hand….a laundry room find……is a bit of a slow starter. Three chapters in I know a local ‘birdwatcher – twitcher’ has been murdered and retired civil servant George Palmer-Jones (who shares the same hobby) has agreed to ‘find the murderer’. Apart from that I have no idea where it’s going but am enjoying how new characters and little bits of the story line are being introduced as though they’ve been in full view all the time.
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I’ll be sharing this post with :- Wednesday Words and Whimsy hosted by Min and found HERE. Also Unraveled Wednesday hosted by Kat and found HERE
Or at least there’s a fair chance of that happening!
So…..I’ve been working on this little guernsey over the past week or so, thinking …..that considering all the ‘stuff’ (aka creative supplies) brought up with me I really should take at least one finished garment home with me.
It would have been the end of July I last picked it up so making an effort to get back into the swing of it and cabling merrily along I’m thinking it must be nearly time to cast off for the shoulders – WRONG – as you can see the back is done already…..I’m supposed to be knitting the front! .
So…..when I retrieve it from the bag I shoved it in… the corner where I slung it in disgust …….so when I next pick it up I will undo the unnecessary rows and carry on finishing it. Trying to see something positive in this situation I suppose you could say that one ‘good thing’ is that the rows going up each side of the neck will be shorter and they always seem to knit up faster because you’re decreasing for the neckline!
*****. The weather has changed again- I mentioned it was raining early last week, at the time it was just a little bit……a little bit that developed into a lot (think tropical downpours) over the next couple of days…….that front moved on down the coast with Brisbane and the south east corner ‘copping it bad’.
Now our days are becoming very warm (27/28c – 80f) with the dreaded humidity plus layers of sea fog all along the coast like you’ve never seen before…well you have but there’s a certain magic each time you do. It’s deceiving how wide and tall the band of fog can be – there is a very large island to the right of each photo – completely obscured in the top one!
Casualties of the east coast egg shortage are the homemade cakes most of the local cafes sell. Old fashioned ‘eggless’ recipes are being hunted down and a different range of ‘goodies’ are appearing in the ‘ooh, they look good – I’ll have one of those with my coffee’ display cabinets.
And, don’t laugh, as if Queensland didn’t have enough to contend with ….thanks to those unseasonal rains there will now be a strawberry shortage
Casualties of my recent ‘ I’m not really enthralled with these books’ mood are Tom Lake and Sunset Shadows (secrets, lies and murders in the Australian wilderness) courtesy of the van park ‘laundry room’……. unfortunately like quite a few books I’ve picked up recently these aren’t ‘gripping me’ so will probably find themselves keeping the washers and dryers company again fairly soon
But all is not lost- what I have done is download a copy of this ……A Certain Age Lynne Truss…..a dozen short (humorous) stories (actually monologues presented originally for a radio programme) …….which means if I don’t like the one I’m reading I can always flip on by and start the next one!
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It’s those little things that make life interesting isn’t it? Crafting, reading – simple pleasures – watching the weather, all affecting our lives in many ways. What has been happening in your life recently?
I’ll be sharing this post with :- Wednesday Words and Whimsy hosted by Min and found HERE. Also Unraveled Wednesday hosted by Kat and found HERE
(To comment please click on post title and scroll down)
Well that went quickly! Two months of winter gone…..we’re now at the start of the third and last It’s Monday again…..the first Monday of a new month Spring will arrive here in Australia in less than 4 weeks Autumn will turn up for others in a little over 6 weeks No new goals for this month except to enjoy it…..
****** Blowin’ Bowen certainly lived up to its nickname when this warning
kept appearing on the weather report recently for days on end. Strong cool/cold southerly winds don’t make for pleasant days so we had to find other things to occupy ourselves. The Golfer can be very ‘dad like’ at times……”Come on, I didn’t drive all the way up here for us to sit indoors. We need to find something to do”
Living with a person who ‘can’t sit still’ can be annoying sometimes for someone who’s idea of a good time is to sit quietly (indoors or out) with a book or crafting or even closing their eyes and enjoying the mood……I should have accepted that by now and just ‘go the flow’. I certainly enjoy my quiet times when he’s out ‘walking the course’ getting rid of some of that excess energy
Se we ended up watching the way these kite surfers enjoyed the really windy days
And seeing the ‘juniors’ out on the water one Saturday morning Low tide means they’re way way out so this is ‘zoom’ quality
Driving up Flagstaff Hill to look down on the town and harbour. After Cyclone Debbie (2017) made a mess up there, a new cafe was built, pathways and landscape plantings changed. Unfortunately ‘things grow’ and the views are not as good now as they were before 🙁
Going over to Rose Bay one morning – not to sit ‘n sun……..just to ‘watch the water’. Surprised to see a ‘net fisher’ – not a regular sight. He certainly didn’t seem very confident, faffed around a lot, possibly trying to judge the waves……we’re used to seeing fishers sitting quietly, patiently – I realise this is a different ‘form’ (one I dislike) and wondered if maybe his first time because he kept moving about, changing his position, down on the shore…..then up on the rocks….then back down again- he left empty handed (as many do😊)
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I’v been feeling out of sorts this week, can’t put my finger on it though – hence the two ‘easy’ posts last week that had been in drafts for ages. We’re halfway through our stay so perhaps that’s it. I know….we’ll blame the weather for not being its usual warmsunny winter way…..cold fronts making their way up from the south are not welcome.
“Stop complaining Catherine- remember what’s happening at home”
Tomorrow being Today Monday
Monday Musings – a time to think and ponder
Are you happy to see the seasons change – or stay still a little while longer
This ‘quest’ to use up those left overs has changed course. Still in the baby dept, just altered focus a fraction.
Abt 2019
After having discovered found – who am I kidding… remembered there was another lot of white acrylic outside in a large container I put the newborn setsto one side. They were mainly half + balls from when I used to make all white sets for a different charity and I knew this ‘find’ could be paired with other (brighter) half balls of similar weight 8ply acrylic to make cardigans. It also gave me a chance to highlight different ways of doing the colour change.
It looks like I’ve been going hell for leather over the past couple of weeks – not so. Several warm (really hot) days with nothing planned meant plain knitting of small things happened faster than patterned (where you have to think about it). Luckily our suburb didn’t cop the damage so much as other parts of Victoria did after a storm went through on one of those days. I’ve been able to add four to the charity box, the same size as before but because it was a slightly different weight it knit up quickly also making a slightly larger garment.
I’ll get back to the baby sets soon but really must continue and finish something begun last November Trouble is, (and this will probably sound daft) knitting something for a 4yr old to wear during the winter is almost like wishing the summer season away. The front and one sleeve are done so it’s half finished- just the other half to go. But as it’s such a lovely day while I’m writing this – and there’s a new library book sitting there waiting to be read – Our souls at night…..”This is a love story. A story about growing old with grace” …..maybe tea, bickies and a book are the way to go instead
Friday I packed Christmas away – taking it all down slowly brought the same Memory Lane smiles as putting it up There was the looking at, touching, reminding myself of where things came from smiles as well as who was with me happy (and sad) thoughts.
Deciding on using two trees this year just meant it took a little bit longer.
The ‘small tree’ is always set up on the hall table but the ‘big tree’ hasn’t made an appearance for several years now and wasn’t going to this year either except I had a ‘fit of the sentiments’ (as my mother would say for any unusual behaviour in us girls) and brought it indoors to enjoy for possibly the last time.
But having said that, I actually felt it quite comforting seeing it dressed and ‘twinkling’ away in the corner – especially in the evening just as the light outside was slowly fading.
Plus listening to grown, now very much adult in their 20s grandchildren oohing and aahing over baubles and other decorations (oh grandma I remember this one) makes me think this might not have been its swansong after all 😊
So as I said I went slowly, taking my time, making sure nothing was left behind – not tempting fate or encouraging bad luck – because the next day Saturday was Twelfth Night!
*******. Then there was this past weekend when hot humid days ( the ones referred to in the constant severe weather warnings) turned into humid wet days culminating in a torrential stormy yesterday (Monday).There was flooding and associated storm damage locally as well as many places statewide- some still reeling from their last bout of flooding. Locally we ended up with 50mm of rain but various country towns received over 100mm – nothing to smile about there!Poor Rochester still trying to rebuild after last year’s floods is being evacuated again !. https://www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-weather-severe-storms-flash-flooding-regional-areas/a1808316-1d41-4841-970c-c10c85e0da3c
Anyway, putting all that aside (not that you can really) no cricket on tv and we’re ‘tennised out’ for the time being – (the United Cup, Brisbane & Canberra International have all finished, Adelaide and Hobart are on the go plus qualifying for the AO has just begun) . . . . so spent yesterday safe and dry outside on the back deck. I had another idea for using up soft coloured leftovers and The Golfer had just started The Seven – Chris Hammer’s latest book. We were both enjoying the carolling concert put on by a magpie who’d taken refuge from the pouring rain (not unusual- they often pop in and fly off) when there’s a whoosh and squark – one bedraggled cocky has arrived! . This is going to be interesting I thought. Each is a wild bird and I wasn’t sure whether they would tolerate each other being so close
They both sat there for a while- almost trying to outdo each other in the noise they were making. The Cockatoo kept looking at the Magpie – who just kept on carolling. The cocky looked at us as if for some sort of support
Then it went quiet – Maggie had flown off and cocky was sitting there with a ‘butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth ’ look
Of course he didn’t stay that way for long and sauntered over to entertain us as though he owned the place. Smiles all round as we sat there watching his ‘routine’ – then he tootled off over to join his mates in the big gum tree at the back.
There was so much noise coming out of that tree I’m sure he was bragging about being ‘comfy and warm’ while they all flew around looking for a dry spot to rest up 😊
Sharing with Min’s Wednesday Words and Whimsy linkup found HERE
This is one Christmas carol that never fails to please – always thought of as a children’s carol (or lullaby) it’s probably the first one most of us learnt. Known worldwide, and sung to two different tunes/melodies it’s one that usually isn’t ‘messed around with’ . This link will explain the claims about different verses as well as the different melodies – https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/occasions/christmas/away-in-a-manger-lyrics-history-carol/.
There are so many versions to be found online – I’ve included a….
1963 British Pathe recording made at St Michael’s Tenbury
one with school children and congregation from a Songs of Praise production, (sorry location or year unknown)
a Cedarmont Kids version (with real live baby – I think)
and even a country/bluegrass version by an offshoot of the US Navy Band.
Mind you, I think most would agree this is a carol for the youngest of us all. . the last video is from a nativity play performed at an unknown school.. . smile – watch for the teachers prompting hand gestures (and see how much Mary loves that baby!
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Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus! look down from the sky, And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.
Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask thee to stay Close by me forever, and love me I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care, And take us to heaven to live with thee there.
(Sitting in drafts unpublished from last year – took place Saturday 9 April 2022)
‘We can get off at Flinders Street and walk’ he said. ‘How far, how long?’ I asked
‘Not too far’ he said. ‘A couple of kms’. ‘You’re joking’ I replied
’OK, well we’ll get off at Spencer Street, and go over that way. It’s about a 15 min walk’
‘Not sure I can make that after sitting on a hard train seat for 45mins. It’s Saturday, so change at Ringwood then stopping all stations to the city’ I said.
‘Alright then, I’ll forgo my morning walk. We can get off at Flinders Street and take the tram right to the dock’ he said.
Oh the joys of living with a back condition that can impede walking – and a man able to walk an 18hole golf course with no problems at all.
And this was the place to be – at the Melbourne Ferry Terminal Victoria Harbour waiting for the ferry to Portarlington
We had the Lady Cutler on our left, the Bolte Bridge in front and the pineapple looking Banksia Apartments along with the leaning Marina Tower to the right
Be prepared- a welcome?? sight as you wait to board
On our way now sailing past some little wooden boats outside The Victorian Wooden Boat Centre. The Enterprize (replica) was docked alongside there as well.
Now we’re all out to sea – well not quite. . . just dodging the Saturday sailors as we begin our way across the bay (Port Philip Bay)
Then it was all aboard for a special trip – a gift for a special anniversary. Sail, Rail & Dine – delayed a whole year because of ‘you know what’. https://www.theqtrain.com.au
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A stop at Suma Park allowed people to get off and stretch their legs. There was nothing ‘arranged’ there so it was just wander up and down admiring the carriages and the engine if you walked that far forward (plus a very nice bench which I couldn’t resist). We could see staff tidying up the dining rooms preparing to serve desserts when we got back on, so true to form for many of them, when the time came, smokers who’d been asked to stand away from the train all left it as late as possible – puffing away then stamping it out just before they scrambled onboard.
Our girls bought the gift thinking we were going to be pulled by the steam engine – sadly he was booked for a special weekend event .. but we did get a glimpse of him further up the track 😊
Then it was time to get the coach back to Portarlington to connect with the ferry back to Docklands. No sitting outside on the return trip, this is how it was all the way across the bay. Dark clouds and strong winds!
We’d planned to wander round the Docklands area but it was cool, wet and windy when we got off the ferry – the tram and train home to our far eastern suburb sounded like a far better idea.
April 8 1961 – April 9 2022
Click/ tap or finger slide to enlarge
Sharing with Wednesday Words &Whimsy hosted by Min HERE
That virus (or whatever it was I had) certainly got the better of me and lots of things went by the wayside including (blog and book) reading and knitting so I ended up only making a half dozen of the fair isle beanies – a small effort compared to a couple of years ago for a different charity. I popped In (masked) for a short while the night they were ‘due’, only stopping long enough to hear what the next challenge’ was.
“Now you all know 4 year old boys don’t want to be little kids – they strive to be big ‘uns. . . trouble is they’re too old for toddler type clothing yet sometimes older styles don’t look quite right on them. Let’s get the grey matter working and see what we can come up with”
It took me a little while dithering around before deciding that my contribution will be a jumper along the lines of The Trio – which will also be a way of using up some of the ordinary ‘run of the mill’ acrylic I favour. It may not be top of the range (remember my run in with the yarn snobs) but it knits well (wears well is what I’ve heard from others with children) and – unlike the red acrylic my ‘friend’ asked me to use – is soft..not scratchy.
A touch of Aran means there’ll be small 4st/4row cables and columns of ‘knit/purl through the backs’ that are crossed at times plus honeycomb up the middle – plain side edges, back and sleeves though….because it’s easier (and less bulky) 😊
And this is what came home from the library the other day Perfect to keep me company between rows as I set the pattern Kaffe Fassett in the Studio
I wish I could remember the name of those yellow roses – they and most of the others were planted about 15years ago….as per usual I never wrote it/them down and labels don’t last that long – so I just enjoy them for what they are each year. The spring flush is coming to an end. Some very hot days, cold wet ones as well as windy ones have given us a mix of blooms with old, current and a few ‘promises of what’s to come’ on all the bushes at the same time
The Old and The New on a background of Erigon and Arctotis. All will be having their summer haircuts very soon
****** Wednesday Words &Whimsy can be found HERE. ****** Also being Wednesday it’s time to thank Kat for hosting Unraveled Wednesday
A couple of weeks ago this suggestion was made at my ‘after hours’ craft group – it followed on from general chit chat over what to do with all those half balls and scrappy bits of leftovers that we know disinterested family will more than likely just bag up and toss because in their eyes ‘full balls are so much easier to rehome’
“Daft as it might sound, there are memories in leftovers. Most of us remember when we used the main quantity, what we used it for and who we made it for. So in a similar vein to a quilt made from left over or preloved material that has memories the maker can talk about, think about making something to donate incorporating your leftovers. Tell us all about those memories and if possible show us.”
The chat then moved on to – ‘the weather’…..predicted heatwaves, cyclones, bushfires, floods…….the sort of things Australians talk about before summer (all year round if the truth be told 😎) When someone jokingly said, ‘forget summer – Heads up, I can tell you it’s going to be cold next winter!’ I knew what I was going to make. Something I’ve publicly declared as ‘I’d willingly knit anything but these’ Yet here I was thinking, ‘yes, I could do that!.
So once I got over the ‘shudder, shudder, casting on of 90 odd stitches, I was off and running. Show and tell night is in a couple of weeks time and seeing the amount of ‘little balls of colour’ still in the bag there’s probably going to be more than just these three on show😊
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Another library book to start the month. Reprints of older publications – this one from 1944 Absent in the Spring – Mary Westcott (pen name for Agatha Christie)
“ Returning from a visit to her daughter in Iraq, Joan Scudamore finds herself unexpectedly alone and stranded in an isolated rest house by flooding of the railway tracks. This sudden solitude compels Joan to assess her life for the first time ever and face up to many of the truths about herself.”
Definitely sounds like an interesting read – I wonder what Mrs Scudamore will discover?
Oh, and here’s where the left overs on the table were from.
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(I’m adding this here because it may be of interest to some of you).
I’m not really a ‘groupy’ sort of person, I tend to get distracted and end up talking/listening and not ‘working’ – yet really enjoy this evening group – it’s made up of people of all ages….not just grandmas looking for kindred spirits- there are several much younger members- some still out in the work force. Which means topics of conversation can range along the lines of…. * walking to work in the city in heels * the reaction of other commuters when knitting is produced * best local places to buy fruit & veg * how to persuade a teenager to get out of bed at the weekend * what’s on special in the wool dept of the big store down the road
and recently from our crafty city worker who loves her heels…. * the perils of train travel wearing a ‘boot’…..necessitated because of the so and so who pushed past her and caused her to trip on the kerb, cracking a small bone in her foot. Ouch!
Just one topic not allowed- politics in all shapes sizes local, interstate and international!. * * * * *
SO…after the previous ‘scraps’ discussion two weeks ago, (see top of this post) last week this ‘old chestnut’ was raised. “If you died or were unable to knit, what would happen to your projects on the go?”. The consensus was ‘tucked away in a cupboard and forgotten or tossed without a care or op shop’.
Well…thanks to a younger (more aware) member we now know there is a group called Loose Ends who will try to find a volunteer to finish the garment. Not just knitting but many other crafts as well – not just in the USA but in many other countries as well.
Following on from Denyse’s withdrawal from blogland, Min is now hosting a Wednesday link up called Wednesday Words &Whimsy. Why not drop in HERE and see who her visitors are – perhaps you’d like to join in as well
Wednesday is the day Kat hosts ‘Unraveled Wednesday’ . Pop over and discover what others are knitting, reading and talking about.
I have a special liking for steam trains. They’ve always fascinated me. Doesn’t matter where I see them or in what form – real or imaginary – there’s something about them that always puts a little smile on my face, a feeling of excitement. I suppose it’s sort of in the genes – my paternal grandfather was on the railways in Ireland (most of the males in his family were as well) Like his brother he ‘rose up through the ranks’ to become an engine driver but others were engine firemen, station masters, porters and a generation before ‘gangers’
The engines always look like big monsters needing all that coal and water to make the steam to ‘turn the wheels’. I’m not that cluey to understand how it works but THIS might help if you really would like to know
This mural is in George Street Bowen depicting locomotives used in Queensland. B1079 – – – C17
I’ve no idea aka I can’t remember why we were at Spencer Street Station so early but this was a a real surprise. Steamrail were obviously having a day trip / tour somewhere. Hissing and steaming, providing photo opportunities, putting smiles on peoples faces, promising a good time for all.
Min is now hosting a Wednesday link up – Wednesday Words & Whimsy. Why not drop in HERE and see who her visitors are – perhaps you’d like to join in as well
Seeing this little ‘rustic’ outdoor area on a blog recently brought back all sorts of memories of the time (a few years ago now) I asked The Golfer if he’d build me a little summer house (to use in the winter)
What I had in mind was something like this 👇 – maybe not so large- but light and airy so I could enjoy our winter sunshine and not be cooped up indoors
‘Let me think about it’ was all I got A week later it changed to ‘won’t be anywhere near that size and definitely not made from new doors & windows!’. Then he asked ‘does it have to have closing doors?’ ***** Then he asked if I knew anyone doing home renovations- changing doors or even windows- demolishing an old house even – sorry no OK I’ll call into some builders yards – you know those salvage yards where they sell all that second hand stuff. No such thing as ‘looking online’ then ***** Then it was ‘do they all have to match??’ What about something like this – describing a sitting area like these below . ‘Interesting’ I said, seeing my ‘dream’ diminish
Out came a quick sketch of something much smaller, plus ‘all we need is four doors, a bit of wood for the roof and maybe a pallet for the floor’. But you might be waiting a bit because have you seen the price of second hand doors and windows ???
Needless to say I never did get my little summer house😎.
Sharing this post with the inaugural link up of Wednesday Words & Whimsy which can be found HERE at Min’s blog
Still Waters 