Come live love and laugh with me
Sometimes you just have to look and wonder was it easier…….
Was it actually simpler before spreadsheets…….
I still keep a little book with some figures but these days most of it is online.
What about you?
(Why I took snaps in 2009 of two months ins & outs I’ll never know)
A couple of times over recent years I’ve been burnt when knitting for ‘friends’…..the last occasion was nearly three years ago
Remember the episode with the red jumper with the white stranded work – you can read about it HERE
I brushed it off but was quite annoyed so told myself enough is enough- no more favours Catherine.
🧶🧶🧶🧶
Yes, I bet you know what happened….I was approached again and this time actually said ‘I’d think about it’. Not a definite no because I had a feeling this would work out right.
A long time ago (think about 20yrs) I would make up little sets – similar to the ones below- using the sizing of this sleeveless jacket pattern and reasonably priced clothing for babies 6-12 mth.
So what do you do when you’re asked to make one of the jackets by someone you cuddled when she came to craft as new born with her Mum and who actually wore one of the early sets.
🧶🧶🧶🧶🧶
So here’s the start of the one she asked for…..in red please and a squishy stitch. I did contemplate fisherman’s rib but for ease (because at the moment my mind is going round and round in different directions) decided on broken rib instead.
One row knit – one 1×1 rib…….which won’t be quite as bulky.
And the book on the table ( Migrations ~ Charlotte McConaghy, my book club choice) propped up so I can multitask 🙂 is the large print version – so I can actually read it (because the print in the paperback edition was very tiny)
Eleven chapters in…..it would be ok if it didn’t keep jumping backwards and forwards returning to incidents just noted in passing. Not too keen on the main character either – maybe it’ll all fall into place the further along I get
Franny Stone has always been the kind of woman who is able to love but unable to stay. Leaving behind everything but her research gear, she arrives in Greenland with a singular purpose: to follow the last Arctic terns in the world on what might be their final migration to Antarctica. Franny talks her way onto a fishing boat, and she and the crew set sail, traveling ever further from shore and safety. But as Franny’s history begins to unspool—a passionate love affair, an absent family, a devastating crime—it becomes clear that she is chasing more than just the birds
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(Thank you all for comments on the last post. I am contemplating the suggestions made by the Specialist – who looks far too young to hold such a responsible position!)
Anyway- it’s too far advanced for conservative treatment so a laminectomy via endoscopic (key hole) surgery is indicated. Less invasive- less hospital time – faster recovery. And he’s quite confident ‘all going well’ we’ll be able to spend the winter months in Bowen😎
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If you’d like to see what others are making, reading and talking about just click on ‘Unraveled Wednesday ‘…….
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Earl and Opal always manage to make me smile
Which is something I desperately need this Monday morning
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I have an appointment with a neurosurgeon this afternoon
The results from the MRI taken a couple of weeks ago were not pleasing – at all
Changes have been evident since the early 2000s but not actually diagnosed until 2012
I know I’ve mentioned it in passing several times over the years
See HERE – What does it really mean
Now words like Significant or Moderate have changed to Severe
Severe in places has changed to Most Severe in places
To say I’m worried about this consultation is an understatement- I need some form of treatment but I’m just hoping I don’t get offered the chance of a hospital stay ending with a knife wound running down my lower spine
Wish me luck 😎
You must have heard me mention that warm weather is my friend
I don’t do Winter!
When the weather cools down I want to run away and hibernate
To a warm sunny location preferably with a beach
So to some it might seem strange I’m glued to the tv watching
Winter Olympic coverage
The traditional start to the snow ski season in Australia is a few months off yet – Kings Birthday Long Weekend (with a public holiday on the Monday, hence the ‘Long Weekend’….a term all Australians love😊).
Yes, we do have mountains high enough for good snow coverage and there are some great ski resorts in various states
Here in Victoria the closest resort to where I live would be Mount Buller about 3 hours away, an hours drive will take you to Lake Mountain a great spot for cross country skiing, while if you just want a day out for snow play Mt Donna Buang is the place to go We even have some world and Olympic champion winter athletes so for a nation that only has a short snow season (abt 4 months) we don’t do too badly
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiing_in_Australia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_at_the_Winter_Olympics
So what’s that got to do with me the person who supposedly dislikes winter and all that comes with it ?? Well daft as it sounds, for some reason, I do have a liking for snow……the novelty wears off once it turns to slush though.
i have even been known to don warm clothes and get out on the slopes – yes really lol
This ‘ere photo was taken in February 1961 (yes, that is a long time ago) on the snowy slopes of the Troodos Mountains in Cyprus – in a previous life before I was married I lived there with my family (Dad was a serviceman stationed at RAF Nicosia) and the youth club would have a yearly trip up into the nearby hills.
I had the time of my life and even enjoyed the cold weather
Doing what you ask…..
Skiing – says I…..
~ Yes ~
Snow Skiing
Here for your amusement I present Catherine practicing for the downhill event
Back then we just had a good time trudging up, skiing down and enjoying a picnic lunch but skiing has become far more popular so now there are proper runs and facilities. And yes, with the beautiful mediterranean climate of Cyprus it is possible to ski in the morning and relax at the beach in the afternoon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troodos_Mountains
https://chooseyourcyprus.com/skiing/
Nobody believed me when I said I used to cook cakes
Even the ones who were there 🙂
– – – –
One little boy with his older brother…..
one nearing retirement- the other becoming a senior soon
Oh dear, how did they get to be that old
A hoard of old photos is really bringing back memories – I can still see those two little lads sitting by the back door like it was yesterday.
I have some friends who dislike looking at old images because they see the years that have passed them by – me, I love them because they remind us of that passage of time and how it has defined the person/s we/they are today We are able to look back and see how our life has changed. See what we got up to in those years gone by, how or if we altered our attitudes, losing or gaining friends along the way. Happily or sadly how we ended up where we are today.
Whether they are forgotten experiences (as in the boys not remembering the chocolate cake) or ones remembered fondly (like me remembering the day I cooked the chocolate cake in the tiny kitchen with the boys hanging around to get a ‘lick of the wooden spoon’) there’s no denying they happened.
So yes in my younger days, even if the family think otherwise
I did cook chocolate cakes !
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How about you – are there things you’ve done (run marathons, climbed mountains, cooked cakes) that nobody believed you have/could have done??
You know how sometimes you get ‘trigger happy’ and you end up with weird and wonderful photos in your gallery- well….this one was ‘taken’ by my phone the other day. My knobbly knees poking out of a pair of pink and white check cotton shorts.
No idea how that happened but it did🙂
That set me off wondering how long I’d actually had them
The Golfer found these photos from August 2009…..taken on an early trip to Bowen. Look what I’m wearing – the exact same shorts.
Going on that I’ve had them nearly 20 years
On my mind today is the fact that I can’t remember when I actually bought them. They are an old KMart NOW brand that definitely weren’t a cheap and nasty brand- but why would they have worn much better (be in better condition) than the blue ones I was mending 18 months ago – which I’m sure were purchased at the same time…
..whenever that was
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This verse from Dorothea Mackellar’s poem My Country describes Australia to a tee.
This January we’ve experienced it all – Summer finally arrived bringing hot windy heatwave weather, most states were in drought – most states experienced ferocious fires and devastating floods ……there were tropical cyclones on both sides of the country……
Irregardless of what weather turns up, January always feels like an Australian month…..yes it ends with Australia Day (and naming the Australian of the Year on the 26th) but it’s also a sporty month and I love the way here in Victoria it starts (and finishes) with a country race meeting at Hanging Rock (plenty of picnics on those days) …..other race meets feature as well as BBL Cricket and the AO Tennis events…..and of course there’s Cadel Evan’s road (cycling) racing event that takes place on the Surf Coast and Bellarine Peninsula……..
And all that to say……using Australia as a theme seemed a good idea to start the year’s reading…….
I began the month with a couple of ‘thin’ books (<200pp) picked up at the library….both Australian authors – both reasonably ‘modern’ – then thought I’d do a reread of another ‘thin’ one lurking in the bedroom, which led to….well you’d never guess what….
……so many days reading about life in Australia (past and present) set in Australia written mostly by female Australian authors with female lead characters…
I haven’t written reviews as such……just letting you know I enjoyed them all…….it was fun to go down ‘memory lane and realise in some instances the ‘book’ I just reread seemed very different to the ‘book’ I read years ago. I’ve put title links and book blurb if you’d like to see what they’re all about
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So much to tell you – John Marsden 1987
Tirra Lirra by the River- Jessica Anderson 1978
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My Brilliant Career – Miles Franklin 1901
My old 1979 black cover publication of this book (with its preface by Henry Lawson) proved unreadable to me….the font was so small and line spacing so close I couldn’t concentrate on what I was reading…….
So I was really pleased to find a copy online
Free download from Project Gutenberg HERE
This is the full unabridged film adaptation (no YouTube needed)
Cup of tea and sit down time!
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After that I went on to locate and enjoy the rest of month by rereading these three well known classics
We of the Never Never – Jeannie Gunn 1907
Free download from Project Gutenberg- HERE
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On the Beach – Nevil Shute 1957
Free download from Fadedpage – HERE
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Picnic at Hanging Rock – Joan Lindsay 1967
Paperback from library
Whether Picnic at Hanging Rock is fact or fiction the reader must decide for themselves.
Have you read any of these……did you enjoy them
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🙂 Thought for the day 🙂
‘I know there’s some in there somewhere’ …..but finding whereabouts in this huge basket of leftovers was a job that kept me busy for a while. Looking for a contrast for the jacket begun early last month I finally settled on a grey…..which looks far better in real life than in this photo. Metal tone buttons (from a very full button box) set it off quite nicely
Seeing the old linen basket full to the brim (again) had me wracking the brains (again) wondering how leftovers have a habit of multiplying the way they do……I seem to be forever digging into the pile trying to find ways to use it up. Over the next few months it’s to be a case of ‘use it or lose it’ because if it’s sitting there when I go (not in the next few months I hope) the whole lot will be down the op shop quite soon afterwards……and what a waste of money that would be. Can’t take it with you so I’m determined to ‘lower the level’….heard that before haven’t we😊……..so for the time being it’s “sale or no sale, you must drive right past Spotlight Catherine”
Anyway to pass the time during a hot spell out came a tried and true Totem pattern…..a simple basic, easy to make child’s jumper. Small pieces, easy to handle – no sticky hands
The blue striped boat neck version can be worked true to instructions or ‘played around with’
Plenty of leftover Royal Blue, not all the exact same shade but very close to, so kept what I knew was to one side and used the ‘almost amounts’ between the stripes – placed on the lower body and not on the chest – so slight difference didn’t show. Yellow contrast sleeves look a bit bright but I’m sure once it’s all put together they’ll blend with the stripes on the body. I’m wondering if the cream and dusky pink will work together so they’re waiting in the wings – might take a while before they get their turn, but if I keep them in the living room they have a better chance of being used rather than being returned to the basket where they’ll become invisible once more
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Taking the bare bones of a pattern (stitches/measurements) means you can experiment a bit so – always late to the party – using Donna Smith’s original Baa-ble pattern as inspiration (chart saved from when it was a free download) this 2yr old me-do-it emerged. Being the same back & front means determined toddlers are (usually) able to dress themselves. (The light was not good the day I photographed this plus the blue jacket…..the grey is from the same batch and is nowhere as dark as it looks.)
And then thinking of ways to stretch a ball of fawn – trying to replicate something I saved a while ago (see left) put some odd colours together and wondered ‘what if’……not sure about the result….the Dark Blue/Fawn contrast is ok but there’s too much white in some of the bands – pale blue doesn’t show up like I thought it would – maybe the aqua would be a better choice. It was just one evenings work so won’t be any hardship if pulled out
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After a quick glance at the minuscule print in this month’s ‘proper’ book club offering I had to chase it up at the library. My days of reading such tiny sized print appear to be coming to an end……with a 6 week wait on Libby I snapped up the large print version to enjoy it in comfort ……and finish it in time. A new to me author so I’m not quite sure what to expect
That’s what I’ve been working on over the past month – I’m wondering what you have been making or reading…….
If you’d like to see what others are making, reading and talking about just click on ‘Unraveled Wednesday ‘…….
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Yes it’s been what seems like a long month of doing very little except wait for the year proper to begin.
Now seeing more traffic on the roads as workers return from their summer break, seeing grabs on the news about littlies starting their educational journey and hearing the high school bus go by at 8am signalling the return of those on a later part of their journey.
Watching a bit of tennis, and cricket on tv in the evenings. With a book or knitting plus a cold drink close to hand Wondering how the ‘greats’ of yesteryear are feeling seeing all the ‘young ‘uns’ coming through – fun surprise seeing some of the oldies in action at the AO opening night. And wondering how Nick Kyrios managed to keep his temper in check whilst playing doubles .
The Big Bash League – The Australian Open
Wearing cool cotton clothing. Melbourne finally had pleasant summery days….mixed in with some ridiculously hot (over 40c/100f) ones and a couple of 20c/68f cool ones. I often wonder how we coped before air conditioning – with the humidity so high on several days the whole of house ducted evaporated system we have is no good (pumps cool moist air) so we resorted to our very old, very expensive to run, hole in the lounge room wall, electric refrigerated system.
Realising it’s little things that make us happy – seeing the smile on The Golfers face when offered a flavoured icy pole on a very hot day plus jelly and ice cream for tea. Treats from childhood he hadn’t realised I’d bought/prepared. We all need a bit of fun in our lives…..agreed???
And wondering how my oldest children (who I love dearly)
became so old – such mature grown up adults 😦
This little one – my first born son had a birthday early last week. Well on his way to retirement age but still working for the Defence Dept. I realised time was passing by too quickly when he finished his 20yr term serving with the RAAF – how am I going to feel when his Big R day arrives?
Say hello to Our Big Girl……..Born February 1st (at home) during one of the worst winters England had experienced. Known as The Big Freeze of 1963 …all I can say is central heating was still a luxury – we had poky little coal fires in the big old house we lived in and it was cold!
Shh…..we won’t tell her she’s 63 now!
And when Our Little Girl has her next birthday in September she will be will be….well I know how old she’ll be but I don’t know how she’ll feel…..let’s just say that at times I wish I was 62 again 😊
Yes….3 under 3! All now over 60! None of them Irish Twins. All good fun!
Helped in a way by living for a couple of years in Singapore where life was more free and easy…..and I had a live in amah.
This week sees the year proper well and truly begun, my calendar tells me choir, casual book club and a new ‘craft’ group are returning after the long summer break. Thankfully the hot and humid nights have moved on and the overnight temps are now reasonable – lack of sleep combined with pain (yes, same ol’ same ol’ sciatica problem) doesn’t agree with me so on several mornings my warning to The Golfer was – be very wary of what you say or do near this tired
Grumpy Old Woman!
(There’s another lumbar spine scan planned for this afternoon- MRI not CT this time- hopefully it will shine a clearer light on any recent changes in this Grumpy Old Woman’s back.)
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Roll on next week 🙂
Still Waters 