2018 - The Year in Review

It seems that this has become a yearly ritual - to go back and look through my Blog, choosing just one stand out thing to represent each month of the year we have just experienced.

I find myself saying "WOW - Did I REALLY do all that in just one year?" And then I remember all the things I didn't write about. . . . . 

SO - Here's to 2018!

JANUARY

The year did not start too well with the loss of a beloved Friend to Suicide

and 12 months later we are still asking WHY?

Dr. Brad Stringer

FEBRUARY

All of February was spent making and remaking Flowers for a Wedding Cake.

MARCH

Not much to write about in March as I was ill for most of the month.

I felt like the past few years finally caught up with me.

But we did manage to do a bit of work in the Garden.

APRIL

"My Istanbul"
The applique quilt I made my DS and DDIL for their wedding
 was chosen to be displayed in the "Best of the Best" collection at the
Australian Quilt Convention


MAY
The Garden begged for some more attention.
A tidy up and new pot plants were added until
we can get into it more seriously come Spring.

JUNE
Another busy month which finished
with a lovely evening out at the Melbourne Recital Centre
and a stroll along the River at Southbank.

JULY
I mainly spent July in the Kitchen - baking
but the most memorable event was the
Total Lunar Eclipse

AUGUST
An International Visitor gives us the opportunity
to take a trip along what must be the most photographed road in Australia.
The Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles



SEPTEMBER
Another Loss - This time a Favourite Aunt

OCTOBER
Back to Quilting - Making a Start on
Arabic Tiles by Jinny Beyer

NOVEMBER
Living up to our 4 Seasons in a Day Weather
Showing Off My Melbourne
to my Friends from AL - USA

DECEMBER
Congratulations to finish the Year
DS#2's Engagement to his #1 -GF

AND Congratulations also to
DH - Who (after trying all year) has FINALLY been able to Retire!



What Will 2019 Hold?
Whatever it is - I Wish you all
a Happy New Year!

Seasons Greetings To All

Today started like most Days

Get up - Have a Cuppa Tea

Discuss what we want to do for the day

And then let the Day unfold on it's Own.

A Quick trip to the Cemetery to leave flowers for Loved ones that are no longer with us.  

Followed by a random decision to stop for Coffee - Just because the Coffee Shop was open on Christmas Morning. 

Read the newspaper (as you do) and came across a Thought Provoking Letter which was as challenging as any Sermon I could have sat through on this Day.

From there it was back home to Gifts under the Christmas Tree.

Lunch - which for the Second Year in a row, was High Tea instead of the Traditional Northern Hemisphere Fare.  

Much Better for a Hot Day.

Followed by the traditional "Everybody (except Mum) relaxes and snoozes off the meal" time. 

But then SOMEONE decided that 

They would like to go into the City (after Dinner when it is dark) so they can have a Selfie in front of the Christmas Tree.

"It's Not just ANY Christmas Tree.

It is Big and made out of Snowflakes!"

And we can make use of "Free transport Day" .

So Who am I to argue with such Logic?

And that is how I found myself at the end of Christmas Day on the Steps of St. Pauls Cathedral taking Photos of Flinders Street Rail Station all decked out in Christmas lights.

Just as well we "Let the Day unfold on It's Own"

Backyard Progress - -

Back in November I wondered if our Backyard Project would be finished by Christmas.

We have sanded and washed and plumbed and dug and moved stuff several times.

I have dangled precariously from scaffolding with paintbrush in hand while simultaneously holding a conversation with the neighbours curious grandchildren.

(Occasionally accepting help when vertigo threatened to under-mine the project.)

Last weekend we placed recycled House Bricks along the edge of what will become a new Pollinator Garden Bed beside the Garage and finally moved the soil off the path back to where it belongs.

So with great delight DH announced
"Hey - We almost have our backyard back!"

Hmmm - nice thought

but still a long way to go.

What do you think about connecting the paths that run into the Deck with some more bricks so those pot plants don't have to be moved when you mow?

A few more Bricks off the rubbish pile put to good use.  And it does look so much better,

Then there is still dirt to relocate up to the DDs nature strip (Oh THAT is another story!)

And a Garden to Plant.
And a Rubbish Pile to deal with.
And THEN and only Then we can talk to the neighbour about replacing that back fence!

Did we make our deadline?
Christmas Day is Tomorrow and the Backyard Project is "Finished Enough" for the immediate Family to Visit.
A few Pots in strategic places will "Make Look Good" and can be easily moved when we need to start the Next Project.

But That can wait until AFTER Christmas!

Thinking of You - Strasbourg

 

A year ago our Daughter has just wound up her Year at Strasbourg University.

She was so happy to stay a little longer to fulfil a long held dream of seeing the Christmas Markets.

Today Our Thoughts and Prayers are with this Beautiful City and Her People who were so Welcoming.

Argggh - It's December already

I do this every year - 

Every year December comes around EXACTLY when it should, 

so why does it 'sneak up' on us?

I can't get into the swing of the Festive Season until the last Birthday of the year is Past.
THAT happens on the 3rd December.
I spent all day Monday making Black Forest Birthday Cake - and when I was  finished I was too tired to cook Dinner....

Why? they ask, does She wait until the last minute to bake a Cake?

Unlike these Two who decided to watch Spring turn to Searing Summer through the back door - I had other things to do.

There was Christmas Break-up Lunch and Demonstration at Cake Decorators to attend.

I didn't feel like going but then I never do and once I am there I am glad I went.

It was a fun demonstration. Instructing us on making adorable figures for a Christmas Cake topper.

And then we had some Transport problems which started off with a Fire, which closed Sydney Road and the 19 Tram line for almost 24 hrs.

There was also an issue in the City Loop which stopped all trains going through at the same time a Sell-out Bon Jovi Concert finished.

Trams were packed and sometimes held up. (Note: If you are going to get yourself arrested - It would be greatly appreciated if you don't do it on the tram line!)

So why was it a problem for Us?

We were waiting up for that "Pick us up at the . . ." Call from DS#2 and his GF who were in the City on a Special Date.

Dinner, MSO Concert, Romantic walk along the River, Ice Cream and - a Proposal!

It was a VERY late night!

* * *

Ah Yes - It Is December already!

Let's Try Again ...

Moving on from Monday.

Choosing not to go off shopping for a new Iron (Just yet) I opted to unpack "The Beast" that has been lurking in the corner of my Bedroom.
I have no idea where I bought this monster only that it "Must have been on Sale" also "It Smells Odd" (which is why it was still in it's box!).

It is a perfectly good Iron and after an initial test run I decided that no crease would dare stand in it's way.  So, I may be more inclined to pre-wash more of my stash from now on.
That being settled it was on to the mending pile.

I didn't set out with the intention of doing ALL of it -
It just happened. 
A button here, Half a trouser hem there. And before I knew it -
It was ALL DONE.
Eight pair of Trousers, Two Camisoles and Two Cardigans - Now I wonder if they STILL FIT?

And SOME DAYS you should just stay in Bed

Band-aids, Panadol and a Good Strong Cuppa Tea was the Order of the Day!

It all started last night when DH was pressing his shirt for work today.

My Old Faithful Iron finally 'Gave up the Ghost' in a blaze of Smoke and Sparks - tripping the Power Safety board in the process.

The Iron will be hard to replace as I have not seen another that can disconnect from the power cord to be used as a Corded/Cordless version and that function is VERY useful!

I feel like I have lost an old friend.

Not feeling like doing any Quilting (requiring pressing) I then decided to do some mending.

I am told that darning the sleeve together while using a Darning Mushroom takes REAL talent!

But my day of pain only got worse.

I wonder how many younger Quilters know that the 'Free Motion Quilting' foot in Grandma's Machine cabinet is actually a Darning Foot.
(I learnt to do this in High School Circa 1970 on a Treadle machine!) 

While doing some 'Old Fashioned' Darning on a pair of trousers, I ran the needle right through my finger.

And then to cap the day off - I found out the hard way that the (backup) Iron was still on...


So Dinner tonight will not involve using anything Hot or Sharp! 
Take Away anyone????

Strangers are just Friends we haven't met yet.

On January 19th 2011, with a fair degree of apprehension (taking myself WAY outside my comfort level) I pressed "Post" and Introduced myself to a group of Strangers whose only common denominator was that -
We all had the same Sewing Machine.

I described where I live. Where Melbourne is situated on the top of a Bay (Port Phillip Bay) that "looks like a Head in Profile - complete with a Nose and a Neck"

Friendships formed and Two and a Half Years later I found myself (with DD), sitting in the Kitchen of One of those "Strangers".
 
Being treated to some Southern Hospitality and a Tour of Huntsville Alabama.

July 2016 - My Friend fulfilled a lifelong Dream of visiting The Great Barrier Reef. 
Well, How could I not go and Catch Up? - After all, They were 'In the Neighbourhood'. 

We connected for just One Day but thoroughly worth it!

Today - My DH and I sat in a Coffee Shop in Melbourne with My Friend and her DH reminiscing over that email sent so long ago.

Their Cruise ship was only here for One Day.
We showed them Iconic Melbourne.

Making full use of our Trams, we went to The Shrine of Remembrance, The Botanic Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, Royal Arcade with Guardians Gog and Magog,  and Myer Christmas Windows.

As well as some "Off the Tourist Map" sights of The Melbourne University Buildings.

We quickly came to realise - It is IMPOSSIBLE to show someone ALL of Melbourne in One Day!
There were places we missed

BUT, there was ONE Iconic Melbourne Experience they did get to enjoy -

Our Weather!

Beautiful One Minute -

Soaking Wet the Next!

Leaving them (dripping wet) on Station Pier to continue their Adventure.  We paddled on home for a Hot shower.

What a Weekend. .

Melbourne Cup Day is the First Tuesday in November and DH always takes some Annual Leave on the Monday making it the last chance to have a long weekend before Christmas. And we had A LOT of things to do in a very short time.

SATURDAY:  I once again Volunteered to demonstrate Cake Decorating to the Children in the Arts & Craft Pavilion (Shed) at the Whittlesea Country Show. 
It is a Big day which involves telling the same stories to different (often sticky) faces over and over again -

Our Theme this Year was the 100th Anniversary of Armistice. The End of the Great War, and we made many Aussie Slouch Hats, Nurses Veils, Poppies and Calvary Horses to adorn Lollypops that were devoured in less time than it took to make them.

It was not without it's trauma, I took a short break for Lunch which was near the Dressage Arena and while taking some quick photos, stepped in a Rabbit Hole and nearly broke my ankle, then ended the day with a strained wrist from too much Icing Rolling!

SUNDAY: 
My Grandmother used to say "Better the Day - Better the Deed" so, Time to get very serious with the Backyard.  The Bungalow needs washing down before Painting and this IS a task I can trust DH to do.

He really enjoys demolishing things and delighted in ripping down the old rusted Guttering while he was at it...

MONDAY:  The only problem with ripping Guttering down was... It had to be put back and of course the timber BEHIND needed painting (2 Coats - 2 Hours apart).  Off to get the new Guttering while the first coat of paint dried.   And in  TRUE fashion we had to go to TWO Stores in order to get all the bits to install it. 

Time and Daylight was against us now and the Weather Report says it will rain overnight and tomorrow.

So, working in the dark with the help of DS#2s Film Lights we finally clicked everything in place by 8 pm.

And Did it Rain?

TUESDAY:  Oh yes - Did it ever!

I was woken by the sound of Rain at 3:40 am and it was STILL raining at 1:30 pm only to resume and hour later. 
Not the Best weather for Melbourne Cup Day and "The Race that Stops a Nation". 

We had Two Months worth of Rain in a few hours and were VERY glad the guttering was up and doing it's job - Pity about the rest of the house!!!! 

Why is it we always neglect cleaning the gutters until the very worst time to be up a ladder?


The Ground was soaked - We were Soaked.  And our "To Do List" got a bit longer...
When this project started, I wanted it finished by July - Now it will be lucky if it is done by Christmas!

Arabic Tiles by Jinny Beyer

I have way too many 'Projects' on the go at the moment - but most of them are Outside in the Garden and with Melbourne's fickle weather it is not always possible to work out there so...

Time to start another Quilt Project.

This one is a KIT that I bought at the AQC last year and have just unpacked it. 
I thought it would be a simple matter of just toddling along with the pattern - no need to worry about Pattern, fabric choices or availability - everything was provided in the Kit.

INCLUDING an Errata page.

Uh- Oh!  Point One.  Fabric 1 should be 1 ¾ yards - I have 1 ⅜ yards, a difference of 13 ½".
If it had been any fabric OTHER than Fabric 1 it would not be an issue, only it is the one you cut the borders from!

And, of course, even though I did read the Errata, somehow I didn't realise that I was short until AFTER I started cutting... Oh well, looks like there will be a couple of extra joins!

Point Two
The Photo on the Pattern cover is of a beautiful 67" x 74" Quilt. 
The Kit is for the not quite so stunning smaller 45" x 52" "Wall Size" version, which isn't really the right size for anything.
(I don't have spare walls that need keeping warm!)

Hmmmm - I wonder if I can make it larger?  I have more of the Purple fabric.
But then I will need more for the Border.

While I contemplate that dilemma I will happily bewilder my DH by cutting holes in perfectly good fabric.

And enjoy making as many Kaleidoscope blocks that I can, from the fabric I have, and see what happens.

But for now the Quilt can wait. The Sun is out, the Garden is calling and I have Seedlings to plant!