Last Week

Time for another weekly report.

The highlight of our week was a Fun Day Out.  We have friends who stay at the Narrabeen Caravan Park, on the northern beaches of Sydney, for a few weeks each January. They invited us down for the day to see where they hang out and also check out the park in case we wish to stay there in the future. Neither of us have ever been to that part of Sydney before.  

Our original plan was to travel down on the train, but an 18km length of the railway line over the Blue Mountains is currently being replaced due to a freight train derailment in mid December.  The line won’t be open again until 21 January.  Therefore, we decided to drive down.  That way would also see what the route was like if we take the van down there.

Wednesday was a good day, as it was going to be very hot here, but only 23 degrees C in Sydney.  We could see the cloud cover over the Blue Mountains not long after we left home.  It proved to be cloudy all day, but no sign of any rain.

The caravan park is located alongside Narrabeen Lake and just over the road from the beach and rock pool swimming baths.

We went for a little walk around the headland to check out the view.  Not bad at all.

The track continued through the bush to further beaches, but we only went along for a little bit.  It was nice being in the bush, but still close to the city.

Our friends then took us for a drive around the area.  The lake is lovely and surprisingly large and would be perfect for taking the kayak out.  We then enjoyed a delicious pub lunch nearby.

The caravan park is large and despite its location, still has a really relaxed holiday feel to it.  Who knows, we may go down with the van one day, but definitely outside school holidays.  It was a very enjoyable day out.  

When we thought about it, we have not been to Sydney since January 2019.

At home things have been rather quiet, which has been nice.  I did manage to read a book.  It was a murder mystery set in the West Australian goldfields.  Not too bad.

I did try a new recipe for a date slice.  It was OK, but not the best, hence no photo.  I had been given the recipe, after liking the slice, so I will have another go at making it and see if it was just me.

We had a couple of rather noisy thunder storms during the week.  On Tuesday there was a lot of lightning, but not a lot of rain.  We were sitting on the front verandah and saw one strike on the side of Mount Panorama.  I made the throwaway line that this would easily start a grass fire.  A couple of minutes later we noticed a plume of smoke from the site.  The lightning struck a power pole which started a grass fire.  We had no rain here, but fortunately there was rain over there which extinguished the fire.  Phew!

On Thursday we had another storm.  This time it started with lots of hail about the size of marbles. Fortunately, no damage to cars and the like.

Then the rain came.  What a downpour.  Only 9mm in the guage, but the hail wouldn’t have gone in, so it would have been more.

On the stitching front I have not got a lot to show.  Yes, I have been keeping up with my 15 minutes every day, not missing a day since the start of the month.  Some days it was only just 15 minutes, either doing a little knitting or pressing and trimming HST for my leader and ender.  

I did manage to get one of the little cot quilts stitched together.  Jo will be pleased to know that I used the webbing method and didn’t get too confuddled.  Now to get it quilted.

On that front, I have had a little play around with pantographs.  I came across a YouTube tutorial by Whirls and Swirls.  It was so helpful.

In her tutorial she has a large plastic cover over her panto, so that she can add markings for borders and advancing the quilt to line everything up.  Coincidentally, I had a big roll of plastic that has been hanging around for years.  Cut in half it was the perfect size to use on my frame.  Bonus!  Plastic over the panto and the roll of plastic gone.

Here is my first attempt.  A bit rough around the edges, but on a patterned quilt would do at a pinch.

And my second.  Once again, a bit rough, but I think I can use it.

I have made a couple of more Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.  These finish at six inches, so I will need quite a few.  I may make some more later, or it may carry over to next year.  Who knows.  At least they are a start.  They are nice and easy.

I am making slow progress on my sock.  I’m currently working on the gusset.  The hold up was me sitting down to watch the tutorial again for the heel section.  I still expect to be well and truly finished by the end of the month.

Mick just asked how I can type so much when we did nothing, but when you look at it, there was a bit of this that and the other.

I’m going to link up with So Scrappy for RSC and Life in Pieces for 15 Minutes a Day.

I’ll finish with this little girl I saw on one of my morning walks.

Initially, she sat looking at me as I looked at her.  Normally, they hop away immediately.

Then off she went.

Colour Catchers Really Work

I finally got around to washing some Christmas table linens and was really worried about the red fabrics possibly bleeding.

First load was darkish colours with no white fabric.  I popped a colour catcher in with the wash and it came out rather dark red, as could be expected.

Next load had a fair bit of white so I popped in a colour catcher, then for good measure a second one.  What the heck, better safe than sorry, pop in a third.

Look how they came out!!!  OMG!!!  I think the colour mainly came out of the black, cream and red table runner, but the white and cream fabrics had not turned pink.  I’m so pleased I added the three.

After that effort, it was time for the final load, which had a lot of white.  As there were only two items, I just popped in two colour catchers.

Yep, the colours ran in these as well.  Once again, the white remained white. 

Thank goodness for colour catchers.  Otherwise, I think all the items would probably be ruined. Now I just have to always remember to use them when washing these items.  Also, I have a quilt made from the black and cream with a narrow border of the red spot, so will have to be very mindful of that when I wash it.

What I’ve Been Up To

It’s been a rather leisurely start to the New Year, but I still have achieved a little in the sewing room.  At least 15 minutes has been spent each day, although some days it was only just 15 minutes.

I am making slow progress on my sock, only doing a bit while watching the cricket and while joining in briefly with a  Chookshed Zoom get together.  I am now up to knitting the heel flap and have to have another look at the YouTube tutorial again before proceeding. I was attempting to have the stripes match, but ended up being one stripe out.  There are only two of the dark grey stripes in the cuff of the other one.  I could have started again fairly early on, but couldn’t be bothered.  They will not be seen all that much anyway.

My black and white RSC blocks have now been stitched into four patches.  The four patch blocks probably won’t be stitched together like this, rather they will have a mix of colours in the centre when joined into a large block.

Shock, horror…….I have my Swoon quilt top together.  I’m glad to have that ticked off the list.  However, I will now prepare the binding to keep with it, which will mean I can put the left over background fabric into stash to use elsewhere.  The top will be put in the “To be Quilted Queue” for when I am game to quilt it with Monique.  Being 80 inches square, that may be a while.  No matter, the pattern and fabrics have been sitting, waiting patiently, since early 2015, so a little longer won’t be an issue.

In the garden, we picked our first little tomato at the start of the month. Now that the plant is netted against the blackbirds we are getting a couple each day.

We have oodles of zucchini coming along, providing plenty for us and the neighbours.  The large one hid and ended up growing under the garden edging, hence the marks.  We have been having zucchini and corn fritters, zucchini on the barbie and zucchini slice.  More slice will be made tomorrow, which is stocking the freezer for when they have finished.

We are also now picking plenty of beans, once again stocking the freezer.  

It looks like we won’t be getting any raspberries this year, unlike the massive harvests we have had the last couple of years.  The plants were very matted after last year’s harvest, so Mick removed them all and replanted some.  They have come up, but not done anything much. We expect things will be back to normal next year.

I took this photo the other morning.  I thought the light made this part of the garden rather pretty.

On a more mundane side of things, I have been cleaning and decluttering our home office.  It had become a dumping ground and I therefore rarely even went in there.  After much sorting and chucking it looks much better. Not perfect, but manageable.  Now the challenge will be to keep things up to date and tidy. The recycle bin is rather heavy this week.

Finally, I have been getting up early most mornings and going for a walk.  Surprisingly, we have had a couple of foggy mornings.  I even joined in a Chookshed Zoom get together while walking one morning.  Something different.

The weather continues to be a little crazy.  It is storm season and we have had a couple of storms, yielding half an inch each time, which has been welcome for the garden.

We have had a few days into the low 30s C, but on Thursday the temperature only reached 19 degrees C.  That’s not summer weather.  The next couple of days are forecast to be back into the low 30s C, so a bit more summery.

I will be linking up to So Scrappy for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, Life in Stitches for 15 minutes a day and Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal (at the end of the month).

Now to see what I can get done next week.

My January Goals

Having set out my big picture goals for 2023, it is time to get down to the nitty gritty of my goals for January.

Firstly, to my stitching goals.

ONE MONTHLY GOAL

Happily, Patty from Elm Street Quilts is hosting OMG once again.  I really enjoy this link up, as it keeps me motivated and accountable.  Accountability is a great motivator for me.

After a bit of thinking, I've decided that my goal will be to add the sashings to my Swoon Quilt.  Not a large goal, but I have a bit on this month, so it should be achievable.

RAINBOW SCRAP CHALLENGE

Angela from So Scrappy is also continuing to host RSC.  Isn't the logo fun this year. I have a couple of projects that are at the block stage, but will not be playing with them yet.  

The colour this month is dark and bright blue.  I made some HST last year and now need to turn them into blocks for a quilt.  I have four of these four patches to stitch.  

I want to make one, if not two other projects.  I think I have decided on what blocks to make, but it isn't set in stone as yet.  I have pulled these fabrics from my scrap tub.  Many of my scraps are more like crumbs, so I hope to be able to use some smaller pieces in one of the blocks.  I will have to pull some other fabrics as well.  Watch this space.

UFO/WIP

I think that Swoon fits the bill.

DONATION PROJECT

I have picked one of my cut out cot quilts to stitch up.  It should be fairly simple.

LEADER AND ENDER

As a result of piecing Swoon I have loads of bonus HST.  They will be used in a Leader and Ender project.  I have started pressing some open, but still have to trim them before stitching.  It will be a quilt using all Bonnie and Camille fabrics.

KNITTING OR CROCHET

I've made a little start on my second sock.  It should well and truly be finished this month.

ONE FINISH A MONTH

My socks should fit this bill.  Maybe more, who knows.

USE MONIQUE

Fingers crossed, I will quilt the donation cot quilt.  This will be my first quilt.

HAND STITCHING

Hopefully, I will make a little progress on my kitten cross stitch.

15 MINUTES A DAY

I'm enjoying this challenge and intend to continue.

I have just discovered that Kate from Life in Stitches actually has a weekly link party.  I think I will try to play along.  Once again.........accountability.

Now for the non-stitching goals.

1.    Read a book

2.    Try a new recipe

3.    Have a fun day out - nothing planned yet, but something will crop up.

4.    Have a motorcycle ride - now the weather is hot, not likely to happen, but you never know.

5.    Use the caravan - not going to happen.

6.     Walk - this is a new goal and something I need to do.  I have made a start.  Now to keep it up.

As I say each time, that little lot should keep me amused.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone.  I hope the year brings you whatever you wish for.

Last night we attended the community Party in the Park with good friends and were treated to a spectacular fireworks display.  A lovely way to celebrate a new beginning.

I purchased this book at the Lifeline Book Fair a couple of months ago.  It has a small chapter for each day of the year.  Today, I will start reading it and hopefully read each day's text.  I'll see how I go. 

Now to have a look at that long list of plans for the year and make a start.