The Rest of October

October was a busy month, with lots happening on several fronts.

Let’s see how I went with my wishes at the start of the month.

1. TRY A NEW RECIPE

I made “Marry Me Chicken”.  After we ate it, Mick said he didn’t need to marry me again, but he was happy to stay married and I can make it again.  That’s good enough for me.

We ate our first serve with pasta, and then for our second meal, I popped it in a pie dish and topped it with mashed potato.  That was a success too, and nice to have the little bit of variety.

Next, for the first time I made some Melting Moments.  They were nice with our afternoon tea.

2. READ A BOOK

I didn’t read one, but I listened to the next instalment of the Tea Ladies series.  I so enjoy these, especially as an audio book, as the narrator really brings the characters to life.  Now to wait for the next one.  I listen to them on Borrow Box through the local library.

3. FUN DAY OUT

We had to go to Orange for an appointment and while there visited the Regional Art Gallery.  There was a fun exhibition.

There were loads of coloured balls, like ping pong balls, all strung horizontally on fishing line. Some large fans were turned on at the side of the room and they all gradually started dancing.  It was kind of like an infinity room effect.

In another space, the same artist had loads of plastic strips hung from the ceiling and the fans made them move.  Both installations were so very cheerful.

We went to Sydney to collect Mick’s little trailer, as I have previously posted about.

4. USE OUR CARAVAN

As predicted, this didn’t happen.  No impromptu trips this time.  

5. KEEP MY BLOG UP TO DATE

I made definite inroads into this.

So, what else happened?

We helped on the church fete in the middle of the month.  Me on the White Elephant Stall and Mick on “Bargains for Blokes”.  There were so many donations this time.  I think everyone must have been having quite the spring clean and declutter.  As as result, we did quite well.

I made just a couple of purchases.

This little Devon Ware egg cup took my eye.  This would have been a souvenir from the other Kelso, in Scotland.

Then, on the linen stall I saw this hanging up.  There was no way it was not coming home with me.  I have it hanging on the front of my shelves in the sewing room at present, which isn’t idea, but haven’t figured out where to put it.  It is too nice not to have on display somewhere.

Our garden has been putting on a spring show.  We haven’t planted many veges this year, but do have a bed full of leeks.  It has been overrun with hearts ease and looks so pretty.  They have been growing in a wheelbarrow beside this bed for the last couple of years and we always get a few pop up in among the veges, but this year they have really taken over.  We will reduce their area next year.

After it finished flowering, Mick gave our wattle tree a severe haircut.  It filled our large trailer.  We will see how it goes next year, as there is a split developing in the trunk.  They aren’t long lived, so it may be replaced with something else before too long.

We had some family visit and they gave is this beautiful begonia, which is adding a pop of colour to our back verandah table.

Quite a few years ago, we planted a Zephirine Drouhin rose to climb over our rusty arch, as they are a thornless heritage rose.  This year it is putting on a spectacular show.  You see it looking out of our kitchen window and it is always such a pretty sight, especially with the garden bed behind it.

Earlier in the month the ajuga border was looking so vibrant with the red salvia behind it.

Now, our bottle brushes are coming into full bloom, with the oyster plant in front.

Mick has a huge anvil and it is mounted on a large square metal base.  We decided to grow a cut leaf ivy to hide the base.  It took a few years to get established, but boy, has it taken off now.  Too bad if he wants to use it.  Time to give it another haircut methinks. Sorry about the shadow.

The only other thing that was a bit of fun, was me updating my phone.  As you know, I take a squillion photos and the lack of zoom on the phone camera has always been a bit disappointing.  Well, check out what the new phone does.

This was taken while sitting in my car, zoomed right out.

Then zoomed right in.  This finial, is the centre one on the top of the right hand building over the road.  OMG!  What an improvement.

Righteo, that about sums everything up for now.

A Finished Crochet Rug and Wrap With Love Knit In

I have my first finished project for July, being the crocheted Corner to Corner Rug for Wrap With Love.

I started this way back in March and have been plugging away at it ever since.  

I thought it was finished at the end of last month, but a few more rounds on the border were needed to make it wide enough.

It is good to get it finished in time for the knit in.  

As the co-ordinator is one of my neighbours, I generally give a hand with setting up.  At the last minute, a lot of squares were donated that needed to be joined and have an edging added.  I was given the job of doing the crochet on one.  It didn't take too long.

We set everything up on Monday, ready for yesterday’s Knit In.  

There ended up being just over 200 rugs ready to deliver to Sydney for distribution around Australia and the world.  Not a bad effort for a little band of women who only meet up to knit together once a year.

There was a wide variety of styles and techniques, in both knitting and crochet, as well as a vast array of colours.

There were about a dozen women who stayed most of the day with others dropping in for just a little while to just have a look at all the rugs.  

Of course, most of us brought along a plate of food, so no one went hungry.

I have started my next rug.  For me, this is just a fill in project that can be picked up when I have nothing else planned.  This time I am also using the Corner to Corner pattern, but just making ten inch squares to be joined together, as it will be a much more portable project.  I seem to have ended up with quite a few pastel yarns, in both variegated and solids, so will have a play with them.  It should be fun.

The Rest of June (At Home)

We returned from our holiday in the middle of June.  Most of what I got up to was stitching…..and catching up on the washing….

It’s always a delight to come home after a holiday at this time of year to see the zygocactus in flower.  Actually, the garden was looking much better than we expected, as there had been quite a bit of rain while we were away, and there had been very little frost.  The lawn even needed mowing.

Having said that, it is still nice to have the heater going to keep us nice and snug inside.

As it was well into winter it was time to refresh the little shelf in the kitchen.

I went to a high tea, hosted by the church ladies.

They always put on a good spread.

I listened to the audio book “The Deadly Dispute”.  This series of Tea Lady mysteries are a lovely, light hearted listen.  I think they work best as an audio book, as the narrator really brings the characters to life.

And that about sums up the second half of June.  More of our Queensland travels will appear soon.