Finishing Mum’s UFO

This is a bit of a strange one, as my Mum didn’t have UFOs, she was a finisher.  She would work away on a project, finish it and then move onto the next.  Her daughter did not inherit that trait, and it always surprises me that Mum didn’t encourage me more to finish things off.  

Anyway, I digress.  Back to the UFO.

A couple of years after Mum moved into residential aged care she was looking for a little something to make and we found a cute cross stitch bookmark kit in Big W.  This wasn’t long after she had had a mini stroke and I don’t think any of us realised at the time just how much it was affecting her cognitive functioning.

It never did get finished, and when I started going through her craft tubs I found how far she had got with it.  She had marked the centre line on the pattern and tacked those centre lines on the Aida, although not needed on a project this size.  Then she had threaded a needle with the six strands, rather than the two and progressed no further.  Dear Mum…..  So, is this actually an unfinished object, or an unstarted object?  Who knows.

Well, this serial starter, and often not finisher, of a daughter thought she had better finish off Mum’s bookmark. In the process I tried a few new things.  We recently bought a couple of stable tables at a garage sale and I finally had a brainwave to use it when stitching.  It works really well. Who’d have thought??  I then decided to actually use an embroidery hoop.  I know the centre ring is supposed to be wrapped, but this is just one that will be used for a Christmas decoration.  That worked well too.  Fancy that!!  Then finally, I used my new little magnetic needle minder.  I’m a sucker for green sewing machines.

I started it on Friday at my stitching morning, did a bit more on Saturday and finished it off yesterday.  The weather was even warm enough to sit outside in the sun, down to a t-shirt yesterday, which was rather lovely.

Now, being just a cheapy kit, the Aida band wasn’t as nice as most and the threads, although six stranded, the strands were really thin.  Not as nice as DMC or other well known brands, and there was not felt to back it.  However, I just worked with what there was and found a bit of felt that matched in my stash.  Having said that, the design was super cute.

It’s not the greatest of finish on the back, but I’m going with finished is better than perfect.  The crease in the felt will come out in time.

I’m really pleased to have finished this off for Mum.  Are there any other UFOs?  Yes, just a couple. The only reason these are in existence is that she forgot how to crochet and knit.

While in the nursing home, she crocheted the tops of kitchen towels, while she remembered how to crochet.  There are a couple that have had the row of blanket stitch worked, ready to do the crochet, and a few tea towels, that haven’t been started to be worked on.  There are several tubs of coloured crochet cotton to use on them, so I would like to work them up.  

The other is some knitted squares.  Mum used to knit knee rugs using two strands of wool, one a constant colour and the other all sorts of coloured scraps.  Her last knitted rug ended up rather messy on the second half.  She then tried to just knit ten inch squares using the same colour style.  There are a few squares completed.  I’d like to make some more to make a small knee rug, to honour her last ever knitting.

A Tale of a Table

This table has been a part of my whole life.  I believe Dad even had it in his little house before they were married.  It always sat near Mum’s chair and was the perfect size to play a game of patience, or do some crafting, or write something down, or have a cup of tea.  My brother also remembers that the curved base was perfect for running his matchbox cars up and down.  

Therefore, when Mum moved into a retirement unit for a short while and subsequently into the aged care facility, her table went with her.

Sadly, after so much use, it has seen better days.  The veneer edging was chipped and Dad added an edging strip to it back in the 1970s.  In more recent times that too became damaged, so was removed a few years ago, once again revealing the chipped edge.

The veneer top is also showing its age, particularly as it was Mum’s main side table in her room for nearly eight years.  Lots of spills have taken place over that time.  We were surprised to see, once we turned the table upside down, that the veneer is attached to Masonite.  I don’t know what I expected, but I presume I thought it would be ply or something similar.

Once we removed the table from Mum’s room, we were in a bit of a quandary with what to do with it.  Neither my brother or I had anywhere that it would fit.  Because of its condition I don’t think anyone else would want it either.  It would be such a shame to throw it out.

Then Mick had a brainwave…….

We currently had a mid century modern metal based magazine rack as a side table between our chairs in our sitting room.  It wasn’t really practical.  What if a new top could be put on the base of Mum’s table and we put that between our chairs?  The base is in fairly good condition.  There are a few scratches, but we can live with them, they wouldn’t be seen much and they add character - a part of the table’s story.

After a measure up, we thought it could work.  A quick trip to Bunnings to buy a laminated timber piece, cut it down to size, then another trip to Bunnings to get some stain wax to seal it and the job was done.  It is the same length as previously, but much narrower.  We are so very pleased with how it turned out.

It works so well.  The next job is for me to have my chair reupholstered.  Joey made a terrible mess of it.  My chair was my grandmother’s and Mick’s chair was Mum’s.   Mum never did figure out how to work the electric reclining function.  I can assure you that Mick is making good use of it.  It’s rather nice that Mum’s table is back beside her chair.

I’m so pleased we could reimagine the table and it can continue to be part of my life.  Sentimental, aren’t I.

St George - Day 2

We started our second day in St George by going for a walk.  It was once again a gorgeous day, with the temperature getting up to 26 degrees C. The caravan park we stay in is just near the bridge, so we started at that end.

Let’s start with a little history lesson.

I think that puts it nice and succinctly.

There is a natural land bridge across the river at this point, which was used by the local aboriginals and is still occasionally used to drive mobs of cattle across.  It is located just downstream from the present day road bridge.

A timber bridge was built, but it was washed away during a major flood in 1950.  The current weir and bridge, the Jack Taylor Weir and Andrew Nixon Bridge, were constructed from 1948-1952. Andrew Nixon built the first bridge in 1890 and was from a pioneering family and the largest landholder at that time. Jack Taylor was the local member of parliament.  Notice the men in high vis orange working in the top of the structure.

It is an unusual design.  While we were there a large tractor and implement drove across.  Three trailer road trains also use it and go up the main street.

Looking at it, there is only just enough room for two cars to pass each other.  I suppose in the early 1950s they wouldn’t have predicted the size and volume of traffic that it now carries.

Our next stop was to visit “Murray” the Murray cod sculpture made from various tools and other metal bits and bobs.  On close inspection, Mick was lamenting the use of some of the interesting tools being sacrificed to use is a sculpture.  Other than that, he was rather impressed.

There is beautiful parkland along the river, with a wide path, several picnic spots, playgrounds, exercise equipment, etc.  Park Run is held here each Saturday.

We came across one mural on a pump station.

The flood level indicator was really interesting.  We can’t imagine that much water.

Have a read of the signage.  Most interesting.  The last one is so true.

Back to our walk……

There are not a huge number of old buildings, but these caught my eye.  Apparently, the art deco Australian Hotel was the only Carlton United Brewery in town, when it was built.  All the others were XXXX.  This flash design was meant to go to Gladstone, but there was a mix up and the Australian Hotel built there is the simple single story structure that was meant for St George……..if you believe all the stories.  Anyway, it is a lovely old building.

The former Post Office, now a solicitor’s.

Another nice old commercial building.  

I do like to see some modern architecture included in towns.  It shows that, while respecting the past, they are also looking forward.  This is a cultural centre.

These are all in the street next to the river, which was the original main street, but that has since been moved across one block, to incorporate the main road through town.

Wandering back towards the main commercial area, there is a little makers shop, which unfortunately was closed.  Peering through the window I spied this fantastic lampshade.  Isn’t that a great way to use vintage doilies.  What a pity I don’t need another lampshade.  There were some lovely looking items in the shop.  Obviously, there are some rather talented people out that way.

Of course, we like to pop into an op shop and the Anglican Church have one open a couple of days a week.  It is housed in what was the original church.

No treasures to be found on this occasion, but check out those colourful windows.

By then it was time to get some morning tea, and that is when we received a phone call from home.  Sadly, Mick’s Mum had passed away.  This wasn’t a shock, but not what we quite expected, just the same.  

Therefore, our planned trip was cut short and we packed up the van and started to head home.  That was on Tuesday the 13th May. We have been home for over a week.  Once things settle down we do hope to again head north and resume our travels. We’ll see how it all pans out.

Lest We Forget

As we attended the Dawn Service this morning, we were conscious that this year marks 110 years since that fateful morning at Gallipoli.  The crowd gets larger every year.

Neither of my grandfathers served in World War One, but both my parents had uncles who served.  Fortunately, they all returned home.

This is Mum’s Uncle Bert. He was born in England, but served under the Australian flag.  He was Grandma’s brother and lived in Queensland.

Granddad’s brother, Uncle Fred, was also an Englishman, who enlisted in Australia.  He was in the 54th Battalion and was a machine gunner.  We always looked out for his battalion in the Sydney Anzac Day march when I was little and it was sad when it came to be just a horse with the boots backwards in the stirrups to indicate that there were none left.

Uncle Fred was quite a good artist and he made Christmas Postcards for the troops to send home.  Here is one I can quickly lay my hands on.  As you can see, this was sent after the war was officially over, but he did not return to Australia until late 1919, so his war went on quite a bit longer than the official date.

My Dad also had two uncles serve, Uncle Arch and Uncle Ken.  Sadly, I don’t know a great deal of their details.  I do know that one of them suffered mustard gas poisoning, which affected him for the rest of his life.

Of course, my Dad was also in my thoughts.  He is pictured here with his two army mates, Dad on the left, Mac and Jim.  The three of them were together on the night Singapore fell.  Dad fell down a well and his mates got him out.  They managed to stay together the entire time as POWs, supporting one another.  Dad and Mac remained close for the rest of their lives.  They lost touch with Jim until this one meeting in 2000. Dad and Mac are wearing their 2/18 Battalion ties.

Lest we forget.

Cricket, Jigsaw and Left Overs

We enjoyed a lovely Christmas Day with family, friends and too much food.

Our perfect way to spend Boxing Day is for Mick to watch the Boxing Day Test Cricket, me to work on a jigsaw and to eat left overs.

Mick was quite settled in front of the tele, enjoying seeing the nineteen year old opening batter, on debut, take on the best bowler in the world.

I pulled out the jigsaw that I purchased at Vinnies in Braidwood and made a start on it……and finished it.  It seems that my binge reading style carries over to jigsaws.  I was rather relieved to see that there were no missing pieces.  

My Mum, who is not in the least bit sporty used to spend her summer watching the cricket and tennis on the tele and doing large jigsaws.  I can see the attraction.  I have all her trays that she used to lay our her jigsaw pieces and it is quite a trip down memory lane as I continue to use them for the same purpose.

Today has also been a rather quiet day at home.  Mick had planned to go fishing with his brother, but the weather was really stormy early on and has continued to be rather blustery, so not conducive to fishing.  Therefore, he is enjoying another day in front of the cricket.

Me.  Well, the other thing I was looking forward to was making up the kit for the patchwork basket that I bought last time I was at Baradine.

I have pieced the patchwork and that is as far as I will go today.  Fingers crossed there is no wind early in the morning and I will have a go at spray basting the layers together to quilt.  Not something I have ever attempted before.  Wish me luck.

Merry Christmas

It is Christmas Eve and we have just about done all the preparation that we can in readiness for tomorrow.

Our day will consist of Mum, my brother and his family here for a cooked lunch before Mick and I then visit some good friends in the evening.

I just realised I hadn’t taken any photos of our decorations this year.  They are much the same as usual with just a few changes in the entry hall.

My little collection of kitsch nativity scenes has found a new home on the china cabinet, together with my wise men and shepherd.

Our outdoor lights are up, but I haven’t taken a photo.  There seems to be quite a few less around this year, however, our street is still putting on a great show, with most houses joining in.

I have received a new decoration from Lou.

It is front and centre on my twiggy tree that features my collection of very special hand made decorations.

I can now share the one I sent to her.

I’m not sure if this one has been received as yet, so won’t mention the recipient.  They were both fun to make.

So, on that note, I will wish you all Merry Christmas.