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!