life's free treats

Some thoughts on being a MOTHER...

2009-07-07T20:43:00.002+10:00

Such an awesome repsonsibility. You become a "Mother".

You are assumed to be, all mother, all nurturing, all seeing, all understanding, all wise, ... all of a sudden!

The reality is, you are terrified, the first time this small being is thrust into your arms.

Or you demand to have the small being thrust into your arms. Because, often, back in the day, you were not given that little bundle of being, to hold or contemplate.

'It' was often whisked away, presumably, for your 'own good'.
'It' may have been returned, bloody still, or swaddled, tightly, or simply swept away, while you were told it had to be put into the incubator, or - even worse- intensive care.
Which would seem to indicate you were a monster of a mother, because your baby required 'extras'.
Therefore you were a failure, right from the beginning.

Luckily for me, I was never subjected to that, although, the birth of my daughter, (my last child) was a somewhat fraught affair, with no theatre available for her delivery. She was in fact, delivered in a side Labour Room, with no pain relief, & b*gger all attendants.

Almost 16 days late, & after 3 false alarms.
She began to cry, long before her body appeared. The Doctor declared, that whatever 'it' was, 'it' had a good set of lungs, when the little head appeared, & wailed loudly, in protest. When she was finally all present, she was being whisked away, being hidden from me. I demanded to hold her, & on inspecting her, I found a small 'oddity' beside an ear. Of course, I was dreadfully upset. She was my longed for daughter. I felt she was perfect. But what about???....

I was assured, it was nothing, a minor 'extra'. Easily fixed.

Of course, I felt a failure. I was so torn about the 'extra'. Which, really was nothing, a small extra easily removed when she was 11 months old, & no scar, & no damage.

But I still racked my brain, as to what I could have done to 'cause' the extra. I was assured over & over, it was nothing I had done or 'caused'.

It was around the Thalidamide scandal. I had avoided all drugs, during pregnancy. I refused all medications. I was lucky in that my only sickness, was tea (yes the drink, plain old Indian Tea) induced, & once I had eliminated drinking tea, from my diet, I never suffered again.

When I was about 13 or 14, ~~that beastly age, where you hate your parents with a passion, for good reason, or not~~ I contemplated my childish wounds.
I decided my mother had not 'Taken Good Care Of Me'.

I had suffered a trapped & torn ankle due to it's being caught in the spokes of her bicycle. I still have the scar to this day.
My Mother had to cycle to the local village for supplies, & her bike had a wooden seat fitted to the back of the cycle. I was duly strapped into the seat & taken along. I remember most vividly the wild roses & the Honey suckle vines that grew in the banks along the country road to the village.

I don't, however, remember the actual tearing of my ankle.

Then, she left me with a neighbour, who had a son younger than I. The neighbour was a very nice & kind young woman, as near as I can remember, but once, I rode the beautiful Rocking Horse she had, & fell, & cut my lower lip, my two lower teeth piercing the flesh, beneath my lip, a scar which also remains to this day.

I was then convinced I must be a 'clumsy child'. I had reinforcements to that effect, with remarks. I do remember crying, because I could not close my mouth to eat my tea. A dim memory of my father being very kind about the cut lip.

I later, -or earlier??- had a finger shut in a car door, almost severing the top of my ring finger on my left hand. My fault, I was told, because I left my finger in the wrong place. ~~OMG, the damned pain from arthritis is ghastly today!~~

A following, hideous rip, to the middle finger of my right hand, which needed stitching, but was never given any treatment beyond a ratty bandage by an impatient Doctor, who was closing his surgery. Sad but true. Not my mother's fault.
But of course, in teenage bitchery, I blamed her.

I am ashamed now, to admit I accused her of "Not looking after me! Not taking care of me!"

When my own children came along, the inevitable accidents happened.
My son drank turpentine, under my nose as he climbed up, & grabbed the container. How guilty did I feel over that! Rotten mother!!

My son's finger cut off at the top joint. Being told it would be amputated. Absolute horror.
It was saved, & a skin graft avoided, but I remembered my mother, & how accusatory I had been.

My daughter landed on a glass, cutting her foot really badly. We rushed her to hospital for emergency treatment. Five years later she was having an operation to remove glass from her foot. Guilt.

My daughter broke her thumb, when a window crashed onto her hand. The sashing had rotted & she sat screaming until she managed to free herself. Guilt. We had not heard her, then the Hospital set it incorrectly! Bastards. Guilt, even though it was not my fault.

I look at my daughter today. I think the midadventures of her daughter were nowhere near as prolific. I think she has been a good mother. To both her children.

Our children have had other mishaps, accidents, in the long years since. Somehow we never stop feeling resposible. We never stop feeling, "Did we take Proper Care"??

I think at the end of the day, I can say, "I did it all to the best of my ability."
Who can do more.

********
We have had our aircon serviced. Yay!! we have warm air!! How good it feels after the cold days we have been having.
Who knows, tomorrow I may be sewing again!!

If you don't care for rants...

2009-07-05T12:50:00.004+10:00

Please indulge me while I rant.
If you don't wish to read ranting, leave now, ~~no one will ever know you called~~you will be excused!

We have a smallish Village close by. It was recently given a swish makeover, being remodelled into one large-ish Mall. It now has airconditioning, which makes it pleasant in both Summer & Winter. In the area surrounding the Mall, there is a Hotel, a Bottle Shop, and various professional people such as Solicitors, Dentists, Doctors & Sports Therapist, who are close enough to walk comfortably to visit. There are also two Medical Centres, within shouting distance. If you require entertainment, there is a large Video outlet.

Within the Mall, there is a large Supermarket-read one of the Big Two monopolies-also a large Chemist shop, a Bakery and two Coffee shop franchises. There is a Hot Bread outlet, a Fruit shop, a Newsagent, plus the newly relocated Post Office. A Butchery ~~haha, typo, I typed "bitchery"!~~ a Thai takeaway, a Tobacconist, another Takeaway with some limited seating, plus a Barber shop, and a Shoe shop, plus a Dry Cleaning shop.

Sounds as if we are well catered for. However there was a large shop occupying one large corner of the Mall. It was one of those "Swell Dollar" (not it's real name) shops. You know the type, all things stocked in various sizes & guises. All at reasonable prices. If you wanted a pen or pencil, go to the "Swell Dollar". You could find any number to choose from, all at very reasonable prices.

A keyring, an extension cord, a DVD, a colander, a bucket a pair of all purpose spectacles, sewing requirements, toys, pins, nails, tools, pliers, cutlery china, mugs, garden utensils, clocks.... you name it, "Swell Dollar" probably had a version.

If you wanted to say Thankyou to someone, you could purchase a card for $1, Paper to wrap your item, for $1. Even a suitable gift could be found for as little as $1. It was, to use one of my Grandmother's favourite words, an absolute boon to the district.

The "Swell Dollar" was always well patronised. I suspect it was one of those high turnover, low profit shops. It was one of the most used outlets in the Mall.
It has now closed & gone. The owners said they could no longer afford the rental for the premises.

The person who owns this Mall seems to be someone who has no partner, no children & perhaps family, though none are evident about the Mall.

My whinge is why not accept a lower rental? Why does greed govern everything. There are gaping holes in this Mall, where businesses have failed and left. There are huge boarded up spaces, with no occupants. In fact, some of the spaces have never had a tennant since the Mall opened.

If a survey was done of visitors to the Mall, I am sure all would say they had visited & purchased from the "Swell Dollar" at one time or another.

I know I don't understand big business, but I would really like to know what the owner's thinking is? Perhaps one day, when I am waiting for a script, I will approach her, and ask her the reason.

End of Rant.

It is cold, and I am feeling tetchy!

We had Small Grandson for a spell yesterday.. I am kicking myself, because one more time, I forgot to get photos. He swept up the pavers out the back, making a nice neat job. He used Stickle Bricks to build furniture for an imaginary house. He read books. He sat with me, trying to find Graeme Base in each picture of Animalia. Fun for both of us.

His mother came home tense & upset. All the fibres of her being were standing on end, after an encounter with a very nasty person.

"What makes people tick" will be a neverending interest to me.
I love to hear or read their stories.

Preoccupations and Distractions.

2009-07-02T10:47:00.006+10:00

We have been very preoccupied of late. Our beloved Leo, ate something he should not have. It made him quite ill, & he had to spend 2 nights, & 3 days in the Veterinary Hospital. Of course the family was demented with worry, hoping that he would be ok.

Here he is with Gom, happily back in the family fold, & though he is on a special diet for a few days, he seems his usual bright & happy self, & I am sure he would be eating much more than he is allowed, if he only had the chance.
He dropped a bit of weight, but luckily he had some to come & go on!

************************
A dear Cousin, noted my love of owls. He & his wife recently went to England in search of family roots.
Here is an extract of the email that accompanied these wonderful photographs, which were taken by his wife.

"When we were in Thirsk, we stayed at a property owned by a lady who was a real bird nut. She had more different kinds of chooks than I knew existed, and also operated a safe haven for abandoned and injured owls. This was sanctioned by their equivalent of DOC*, and she was required to release them back into the wild when they were fit and strong enough. She had English Barn Owls, Snowy Owls, and a European Eagle Owl. This was a fairly new arrival in England, and opinion was still divided on whether they should be encouraged or exterminated. Apparently they will carry off small dogs!!"

* I am unsure of what DOC is but I take it to be some sort of rescue of wildlife association, in New Zealand.

Here are some of my favourite photos.

Look at these eyes! How wonderful to have the chance to take these photos.

I suspect this may be the European Eagle Owl. Look the the fierce eyes!

They do make a wonderful distraction.

Perhaps this one is my Favourite of them all. Barn Owl, I think.

***************************
Mr & Mrs Nice Neighbour recently acquired a gadget to transfer old slides onto the computer.

Here is a photo they sent me of the Sydney Harbour view 39 years ago!!

How very different it all looks today.

Sorry I don't have a pic taken today, but Google has some very interesting views, if you are interested.

We have had some very nice warm, fine days. We did not do them full justice, as we were so distracted by Leo's mishap. I think even Honey missed him, & she gave him quite a welcome, trotting about after him when he got home.

We recently re watched Lawrence of Arabia. Dated though it is, it seems to have stood the test of time as far as acting goes. I find it distasteful in the extreme to ponder the sheer arrogance of the British, & can scarcely believe the manipulation of Lawrence. A very complex character, indeed.

I have been doing much reading, & am currently reading Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things. Everyone else has probably read it long ago, but I am so wishing I had begun it long ago. It is wonderful.

I recently read Joy Dettman's Henry's Daughter, & found it to be one of those books I could not stop reading. I devoured it in a weekend.

Anita Shreve is an author I like, & a recent read was Light on Snow, which I read in double time also.

I finally finished The Book Thief, I found it hard going, & I had many spells whilst reading this book. My brother read it in 2 days, but I just could not seem to handle the 'darkness'.
In the midst of these books I have read a Minette Walters, a book called When the Bough Breaks, by Matthew Benns, a true story about an Australian woman who murdered her 4 children, & have 3 other books on the 'simmer', as it were.

The sewing has taken a back seat to all the reading, & running about after family.

Happiness is Often a Dog..

2009-06-26T18:13:00.005+10:00

As I have travelled through my varied, & strange life, I have noticed that Happiness, can often be defined as a dog.

So, here is a roundup of some "Happies" I have met!

Beau, who is a delight, & has brought such joy, to Mr & Mrs NN, after the loss of two loved cats.

Here is Ralph. A loyal & much loved dog & comapnion for my son.
RIP Ralph, who had a long, & very happy life.

This is Katie, who was much loved by our family, and her later, adoptive family.

OOPS! How did this get in here?? Obviously to frighten small children, & unsuspecting viewers.

Here is gorgeous Boof. He is a gentle Golden. He is a beautiful, huge, ball of love.

This wee chap I have borrowed from a friend. He is a much loved little Poodle Prince. He has brought much love & joy, to lives he touches.

This, I am told, is a source of happiness to it's owner. It is Gom's 'Red Square Dance' quilt that I made him. He told me this morning, how Happy it makes him feel.

Happiness to me, is having a sibling, a Beloved Brother. We have shared so much. We still do.

This flower, at an Aunt's garden in New Zealand, is a source of 'Happy' for me.

Of course, "Happy" is often a sister!

Another "Happiness", with dog!

Here, another gorgeous "Happiness" with dog!

My Sweet Happy Honey.

Gom's "Happiness", Leo.

This was taken before he was banished from the bed!

I risk strong criticism here, but Happiness today, for me, was hearing of the death of a deformed, deranged, tormented, creep who will no longer be available to corrupt or molest children.

It makes me feel ill, to hear people praising such a depraved, demented, creature.

Keb Mo. A true talent. Enjoy.

In Another Life...

2009-06-24T19:43:00.003+10:00

For some forgotten foolish reason, I began smoking cigarettes, in my teenage years.

It is said you only need one cigarette to become hooked. I don't know if that is true, but I began smoking only occasionally, when I first began to work, then, once I went nursing, I smoked a lot more, since many of my friends also smoked.

Ridiculous when you think about it.

When I was around 20 I began to get increasingly bad bouts of tonsillitis. An old affliction which I had duly 'grown out of', as the family Doctor of the day, had suggested I would.

When it began recurring, I was very ill ~ as indeed I had been, as a child. After a collapse at work one day, I was advised it would be best to have my tonsils removed. I duly went to have them removed at a private hospital. This was no picnic, & though I am sure it is not a picnic for children either, I am told it is much worse, the older you get.

Upon my recovery the GP who saw me began nagging me to give up cigarettes. He insisted they damaged the lungs- this was just beginning to be talked about, & of course the cigarette companies were just as adamant this was a lie.

I won't elaborate about the ludicrous lengths to which this GP was prepared to go to, to 'save' me. I wont dwell on his dingbat , Godbothering daughter that he tried to sool on me. I wont tell of the awful, ghastly night she finally nagged me into going out with her. Suffice to say, I changed Doctors, to avoid ever having to associate with this "Praise the Lord"-ing, "Hallelooya"-ing, giggling, tittering twit of a girl, ever ever again. With her hairy legs & armpits.

Here I am, digressing again....did you notice?

Back to the dreaded cigarettes.

I began to try to quit.

I found this a terrible long ordeal, involving years.

It really is a dreadful addiction. I would be determined to beat it, but time & again, I returned to smoke.

Gom never smoked a cigarette, seriously, in his life. He would occasionally smoke one at a party for a gag, & at times he would have a cigar. But he never caught addiction, & never had any desire to be a smoker. Extraordinary, when his parents both smoked, as did his one sibling.

During this long drawn out process of me trying various methods of kicking the demon habit, I resorted to many methods, all of which were purported & reported to be successful.

I have previously blogged about some of these methods. Acupuncture was a very interesting one, which I tried around four times, from four different acupuncturists. None of them proved lasting.

In desperation, I consulted some hypnotherapists. The first had some limited success, as I quit for 2 whole days.

The second suggested that I should try Past Lives Regression, to see if she could uncover the underlying reason. I was rather intrigued with this idea, & though somewhat sceptical, I agreed to try this method.

At the time I suffered from a severe pain in the side of my temple, the cause of which had never been found, on investigation by the medical profession.

So off I go to the first session of Regression.

It was the most curious sensation I have ever had. I seemed to be shot through the side of my temple, & the feeling was so sharp, & so real, I was really shaken. I think the hypnotist had a bit of alarm over that, & she quickly brought me out of hypnosis & told me we would try another day.

Of course, this did nothing to stop the smoking, but the mysterious pain in my temple disappeared. Coincidence? Maybe.

My next session was even more curious. It was much longer, & much more vivid. It seemed I was living in some very small old English Village. I was a young woman, & it had been decided, by the village elders, that I was to marry an aging priest of some description. I did not wish this union at all, & was determined to defy the command.

It seemed I healed, using herbs & medicinal potions I made myself, from local plants. I was considered to be somewhat of a witch, because of these healing powers.

Owls did not flee at my approach.

I kept a black cat for company in my small cottage.

The Villagers decided they could not tolerate this disobedience, & it was decreed I was to be put to death, using a stake to the base of my skull.

I was dressed in a rough coarse white linen kaftan like garment, & marched to the village green, I suppose it was. There a stake was driven into the base of my skull & I died.

It was a very real feeling experience, & strangely, though it was painful, I felt very glad I had kept my own counsel, & had refused the order of marriage to a priest figure I felt to be a fraud, & a dirty old man to boot.

You can decide for yourselves what to think. Even after all these years I still love owls & have a collection of them.

I am also fascinated with wolves, which are said to be allied to witchcraft.

As to the smoking, the hypnosis sessions did nothing to stop me. I 're lived' several very interesting lives & 're died' the deaths, in each case.

I am still sceptical, but all I can say is, the feelings were so intense & real it is hard to describe. The fact that I could recall them so vividly is interesting too.

And no, in case you are wondering, I was never Napoleon, Queen Elizabeth First, even anyone remotely famous, or important. I was various ages, & both male & female in different 'lives'.

I eventually stopped smoking 21 years ago, with the aid of gum & patches & sheer determination. I would never say it was easy, but I have never been tempted to begin again, & am always glad I stopped.

Seals & Crofts, We May Never Pass This Way Again

The Long Fangs of the Black Dog.

2009-06-22T20:12:00.005+10:00

The Long Fangs sink deep into the jugular.

It seems easy, to toss the head, & say 'Be off, you dark mongrel!"

If your ~~haha~~, 'Partner' ~~husband~~, sits in his chair, daily, with his (literal) dog at his elbow, & his eyes closed against a world he no longer wishes to regard, what are you to do??

Run screaming, naked, from your dwelling?
(Believe me, it has crossed my mind more than once!)
Were it not for the fact that my body is no longer for public viewing, I might have carried it out, just for the sake of some shock value!

Or, do you, join the 'masked one' & close your eyes to life?

I think, there must be a part of me, that doesn't want to join the closed-eye perception.
A small spark, that wants to carry on, & be interested & follow trails, see new things. Enjoy paths, that lead to new discoveries.

**************

A public opinion poll.
Does anyone else, besides me, see some resemblance here?
Or do I imagine it?

A pretty girl. I know, her mother was her father's favourite. For whatever reason.

This was her Grandfather. He had her blond hair, her bluer than blue, to grey eyes.

He had one sister, who looked so like him. I don't have the young photo of her, that shows that likeness, but they eyes were the same, & the sad expression.

Families are like chapters of a book.

The chapters all become links, to begin, to make the whole story, of the book.

But of course, the book is never ending, & the chapters keep being added. The joys, the sorrows, the paths of the destiny.

It all surges forward, to detail the lives of the families, with the branches, the side streams, the monumental flood tides.

The changing of the destinies, the links to the future, guided by the links from the past.

I can understand why adopted individuals wish to find their families. I can understand why they feel they never 'fit in', until they know their genuine kin. I know how they feel, & why they feel that.

I wish I could curse the parents, who walk away, or refuse to acknowledge the bonds of parentage.

I cannot curse them, for who knows their damaged reasons.

Ten things I am glad I DO know...

2009-06-16T19:21:00.006+10:00

In no particular order, once again, to redress the balance...

One, is to have family, I know, who have loved me, & have spread the warmth of their love throughout my life.

The pleasure of a Grandfather. One I was lucky enough to know, though it was briefly, for only eight years.

The priviledge to learn to make porcelain dolls, & use a kiln to make my dolls become a reality.

The absolute pleasure of having long ago friends, who are still part of my life today. Not in huge ways, true. But we are still in touch, & still regard each other as friends.

This is two things I am glad to know!
The true joy of having pets to love. They provide a special dimension to a life.

Another item I was glad to know, was how to light, & maintain that Coal Range in the background of the pets' bed. My Gosh, it cooked a lovely Roast, & staved off many a freezing day & night!!

The wonder of having a Grandson. He is so Special & Gorgeous to me. I feel very lucky to have him in my life & family.

The absolute wonder of having a granddaughter. She has given us such pleasure in our lives. I am so lucky to know her.

The opportunity to realise my dream to become a Nurse. Too brief, but a dream become reality. I am on the left.

The opportunity to live in a place where I can regard the sky, & photograph it's many moods when I wish. A vast panorama, that can make me realise how insignificant, & trivial my moods & whims, really are.

Last, but not least the wonder of becoming a mother.

I dearly love my children,~ my babies, who are now adults~ & I love my grandchildren. I also loved my (deceased) step daughter, & my step granddaughter.

Our children are the true hope for our future.

As Mike has suggested ... only ten?

It applies to any list.

Any life...

Ten things I wish I never knew...

2009-06-15T19:10:00.004+10:00

Anyone can probably list Ten Things, they wished they never knew, or, never had to know.

They are not listed in order of horror, or importance. They are totally random.

My Number One would probably be, that my parents got divorced. It had happened, before I was told, & when I found out, I wished I could die. It shattered me in small & large ways, that I am not sure I ever recovered from.

I think my discovery of that fact, was almost as destructive, & corrosive, as the actual fact.

Number Two was probably the fact that the Father of my eldest son did not love me, to the degree I loved him.

Number Three was the fact, that no matter how much you love someone, you can never make them love you back, to the same degree.

Number Four is the fact that no matter how shattered your heart or life may seem, you are going to have to keep on living.

Number Five is that you will love your children, no matter what, why or how. They will break your heart in a million ways & cause pain unlimited, that you have no power to stop, or alter.

Number Six is the fact that I will look a Dork, posing with my daughter, with a cigarette in my hand. ~~this is deliberately cropped!~~ I really wish I never knew that I smoked!

Number Seven will be asking myself what the hell my son was asking me, as we posed on the verandah of the Hotel where we lived? I guess this is a sort of no question, since I have no memory of the answer.

Number Eight, is, what the hell was I thinking wearing an almost red dress?? I loathe red.

Number Nine is how quickly Asthma can strike! The dog set the Asthma off in our son, & we had no medication. We had to resort to some warm brandy & sugar, to settle him for the night. It was a Motel, & the dog was a Resident. Our children love pets, & made him very welcome.

Number Ten is seeing sides of a man I have loved, & been married to, for 43 years, that I didn't know existed. I wish they had never surfaced. I wish the mask had never slipped.

Long Weekend.

2009-06-10T17:41:00.005+10:00

Last weekend was our Queen's Birthday long weekend. We get a holiday Monday to salute the Queen's birthday. It is not her actual birthday, & I am unsure how it came to be celebrated on that particular day.

New Zealand celebrated it the weekend before. Perth also celebrated it a week sooner than we do. I am unsure of other States.

Canada also celebrates the occasion, but on a different date again.

I would suppose that Britain must surely celebrate their Monarch's Birthday too, but I have no idea. I am too lazy to Google it, this evening.

We had a busy weekend.
On Sunday, we had our daughter, SIL, & grandchildren to visit.

Gom excelled himself. He prepared all the snack foods, & he even made Prawn Toasts! From a recipe he found, & he did all the preparation & cooking thereof, by himself.

They were brilliant.

I gave him a deep fryer some years ago, & it was a bit of a one month wonder, for a while. Of course, neither of us really need deep fried food, & it is only fairly recently he got it out, & began using it for social occasions, to cook tasty morsels for finger foods.

Successful, but awkward to clean, & awkward to use. It was over 12 years old.

This past Christmas I bought him a new one, a swish 2 vat model, & he was delighted. He was like a man with 2 vats, one might say. ~~as opposed to a man with 2 rats!haha~~

He has whipped out chips- french fries- to have on cold days. He has cooked up delightful Chinese delicacies. Fish, Chicken. No problems to the Gom. As BFJ says, he is a real Social Delight!

Monday afternoon evening, we had friends come to visit, & Gom did his magic with the fryer again. He has become the perfect host.

It used to fall to me to do all that, once upon a time. Gom enjoys doing it, it gives him an interest (besides his Garden Vandalism, & his Pantry Nazi-ism), so I just let him go for it now.

On Sunday night, as it got cold & dark, SG wanted to go off to sleep. He asked for a quilt, & I told him to help himself out of the box where they are kept, in the lounge.

I expected him to get the brightest, but it wasn't there.

Then he remembered it was at his place, on his bed.
He had fallen asleep here one other night, & had been scooped up in the quilt & taken home.

His mother told him he would have to bring the quilt back to Nanna's, because it was my quilt & it was made for 'The Family'.

He declared he had to have it on his bed, and he said, "Well, I am family!" Cant argue with that!

He has always loved that quilt since he was little. It is ideal for a child, because it is so bright, & has lots of lovely animal squares. I made it from a gift pack of charm squares, plus some brights I was given, to make a quilt for myself.

Edit added. I had some queries about the pattern for this quilt. It is called Tumbling Blocks, (I think) & I got the pattern from an early edition of Australian Patchwork & Stitching, around 2002. It is really great because it is all roller cut, machine stitched, & there are no insets. It went together super fast, & I just quilted it in the ditch, which means it is very soft & cuddly.
If anyone would like to make it, send me an email.

We had just found out that SG was on the way, but had not yet found out he was a he.

Here he is, with the 'Class Bear' " Stanley" last year, with said quilt, when it was his turn to have Stanley for the weekend. He uses the quilt for cubbies, & loves to snuggle up in the brightness.

Here is another pic of "Just for Fun", which is what I called the quilt, with Honey peeping out from under.
I have made him other bright quilts, but for some reason, he really loves this, & it is a good size for a single bed.

Gom & I were quite tired, after our busy weekend.
There has been a cold snap, with the weather being a chill 5 degrees Celsius, due to wind chill. That is almost unheard of around here!

Truly weather for comfort foods! Thick soup, casseroles, slowcooker food.

I was hoping not to have visitors today. I lumbered about with so many layers of clothing, I looked like a Yeti who had raided the Sallies Bin.
I really need to get out to the shops for some new shoes, that are not falling apart, & some new, extra capacious warm tops, for the new expanding me!
My excuse is I need multi layers of clothes to keep warm.

Keep Warm! Or Cool if you are in a hot climate.

Sheryl Crow, Every Day is a Winding Road

Vital Statistics

2009-06-07T08:40:00.005+10:00

Pauline at Writing Down the Words, has done this. She got it from someone else, & so the short meme goes on.

One of the requisites is an embarrassing photo from your past.
This is mine.

This was taken at a Dance- remember those? This was taken in 1962.
My hair was long, backcombed, to give it a bit of height, & done in a 'French Roll', which was the fashion back then.

On to the 'Vital Statistics'

I drive
A Toyota Camry, 4 cylinder sedan.

If I have time for myself
I read, spend time on the computer, sew, or watch bilge on TV for light mindless entertainment.

You wouldn’t know it but I’m very good at
Knitting, Crochet, cooking, & enjoying food prepared by others!
Laughing at myself, & with others.

I’m no good at
Mathematics. Numbers of the universe puzzle me, & will forever.
Working to a deadline. I hate to be rushed.
Taking orders, if they are given in a snarky manner.

Books that changed me
I love reading. All sorts of books from fiction to biographies, to non fiction.
I can't say I can think of a book that I would say 'changed' me.
The Dictionary would probably be the one I could say changed me, since it is so full of wonderful words to discover.

Movie heaven
Steel Magnolias. Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Terms of Endearment. Pulp Fiction. Shawshank Redemption.
Too many to list really.

Comfort eating
Gravy, haha.
Mashed potatoes (preferably with gravy)
macaroni and cheese
Roast vegetables such as pumpkin, parsnip onions potatoes carrots, with gravy of course.
Pasta with vegetable & tomato sauce.

When I was a child I wanted to be
A nurse, a nurse & a nurse. I did want to write also.

All my money goes on
Staying alive. Any spare gets spent on books & fabric.

At night I dream of
Often my family or family who have passed away. I have very vivid dreams, which haunt me during the day, in fleeting glimpses.

My favorite buildings
My home. old Churches, which is curious because I dont hold with religion in any form. Sydney Opera House. Modern houses in New Zealand.

My biggest regret
Never really having the chance to know my father.

If I wasn’t me I’d like to be
A Cancer Researcher.

My favorite works of art
All sorts of art from paintings to simple projects from my children & grandchildren. Wonderful quilts made by others.

The current soundtracks to my life
The sound of cockatoos screeching over head. The Kookaburras laughing. Music of my choice when I can. Honey barking at passersby, Leo 'talking' to us.
Almost anything classical.

The best inventions ever
Showers. Sewing machines. Printing presses, for books. Music for all. Radio Television Computers to communicate.

Now, Who will be next to do this meme?

We had one nice day, yesterday. It was sunny & blue.

I bought my daughter a fabulous cookbook. I got some beautiful locally grown oranges, they are so sweet & delicious & are the size of Grapefruit! They have stains on their skin, & they beat any supermarket product hands down. They were 10 for one dollar!
I got two books for next to nothing - true stories.

I made a lovely salad for my tea, using watermelon, orange, radishes & mixed green leaves, with olives & a light dressing of fresh lemon juice & extra virgin olive oil! I got the recipe from Huey on TV. Well worth making.

On the down side of yesterday, I bought a lamp which is defective, & can't be fixed. Buyer Beware!
Today it is back to clouds & greys. Poo.

Augie March, The Hole in Your Roof

Tracking the "Good Gravy".

2009-06-04T18:58:00.003+10:00

When I was growing up, my Grandmother was the "Chief Cook".

My earliest memories, were of my mother, cooking over a coal range, but those memories were short lived, & soon blurred into our later, everyday life, of living with my Grandparents, where my Grandmother did most of the cooking.

My Grandmother was a very good cook, & had been sent out to 'Service' when she was a young girl, in England.

Her new employer, asked her name, & upon being told it was Christiana, declared they could not possibly have such a fancy name for a 'servant', & she renamed her "Tina".

Understandably, my grandmother was incensed, & resented, & loathed this name, for the duration of her employ.

As her granddaughter, I say, "How bloody dare she!!" But those were the times, & those were the lumps they dealt out to employees.

Upon emgiration to New Zealand, with her family, my Grandmother was able to

find employment with far nicer people.

In fact an Anglican Minister, & his family. She was cook, but also carer for their disabled son. This child loved her to the point where they were unsure if he would survive, once she married, & moved away. He became a part of her marriage ceremony. He was devastated at the thought that she was leaving.

I am not sure what became of that poor child, but my Grandmother & her new husband, my Grandfather moved away, to begin their new life together, which was far away from the city, where she had been employed.

However, I digress, in the story.

Which is, after all, about Gravy.

I was lucky enough to learn the art of gravy making from my Grandmother first, then my mother, whose skill, was equal to her mother's.

My MIL made a fair gravy, but on a scale of Great Gravies, it was just not comparable with my Grandmother's or my Mother's.

My Gravy, is something I am very proud of. I was once complimented by an Uncle- brother to my mother. He declared I was "As good a cook as your mother!"

I held that in high esteem.

I valued his judgement, as his wife was a fine cook, & took some beating.

Over the years, I have recieved compliments from all sorts of quarters. I still consider one of the finest, the fact that my Daughter in law felt so moved by my gravy, as to ask could she have a gravy sandwich for breakfast, the morning after we had had the meal with said gravy!

Of course the Gravy had required a special vessel to serve the 'nectar'.

One son gifted me the black gravy boat, with matching saucer.

I am happy to report it has done many years of service, with no damage. It has one drawback, it is not suitable for the microwave, to reheat the gravy.

The second Gravy Boat, is a design made by Crown Lynn, for export.

I am not sure how this came to be in my possession, but it had long been a favourite for gravy. It is quite large, therefore holds a substantial amount. It cam also be reheated in the microwave.

Somehow, sleek & sneaky~ featured on my 'hot cinnamon' bench top!

***************

We have been having more of the RS weather.

It has been lightened by a gift of "Soup to Die For" from Mrs Nice Neighbour.

Bacon Hock & Barley.

So nice, & I know she could make a fortune on worksites, selling it!! We loved it, & it was so delicious!

The perfect food for nasty rainy days, with no sunlight & little warmth.

Warmed the cockles of the heart!

Here is to Delicious Soup & Great Gravy!!

Always take your specs...

2009-06-02T18:25:00.003+10:00

"Always take your specs!", could almost be a 'grannie's' warning.

On the other hand never take your specs, if you want the slightly blurred vision, which reveals no imperfections!

We recently ate out at a Country Club, with delightful friends.
Standing in the queue to order our meals, one of our friends suddenly gasped.
"They must be joking!" she said. "What are 'Sh!tcakes'? !! That can't be right?!"

We all snapped around, & re read the menu items. There was an Asian dish listed, with 'Shitake' mushrooms.

Our friend had not brought her specs, & had misread the menu.
After we had all laughed 4 of us ordered the 'suspect mushroom' dish.

When the dish arrived, we were somewhat disappointed to see the mushrooms were not exotic in any way, & were in fact, ordinary, everyday, culitvated, mushrooms.

Thanks B, for the laughs.

No marks to the Country Club, for everyday mushrooms, but full marks for the laughs.

****************************
Today, I ventured forth to an unpopular store. ~~Orifice Works~~
They advertise extensively, claiming to have excellent service, plus products.

I have been asked could I provide copies of my father's photograph for use in a display of local men who went to war, from his home town. World War 2. A memorial of sorts for 'hometown' boys who left, some never to return. Some who physically returned, but not as the person who left.

Last time I went to OW, I had very satisfactory service, a nice end result, & came away a happy customer.

What a very different story today's visit was to be!
The Poodle behind the counter, did not really want to bother with me. She reluctantly glared at me, over her papers on the counter, when she realized I was not going to go away.
"Yeah?"
She managed to grunt out, from under her newly permed load of haystack hair.

" I want to have some photos copied, please."

"Yeah, over there." with a vague wave of the hand in the direction of some machines.

"I will need these copied, as they are the actual original photos?"

"Yeah, over there, in the corner is a scanner."

I look around & see rows of screens.
"Oh. Thankyou."

Off goes Meggie. Completely ignorant of how or why or what, these machines do or operate. I find the scanner, which seems to need the photos to be fed into it, then spat out at the end. Fine.
One of my photos is on a hard cardboard stand, which is original.
So that is ruled out.
OK. I have a copy of another photo, which is on flexible paper, & can eventually, be fed into the fecking machine/scanner.
The air around the scanner is so blue, I can barely see the bloody machine.
I keep looking frantically at staff.
I see their eyes connect, then slide away, with some mirth.

I get the message. This is mind over matter.
They dont mind, & I, the Idiot Customer, absolutely Dont Matter!!

"You bastards," I mutter, very discretely.

After having managed to finally get a copy, sent through to where-ever, I go, to pay, & collect.
I am met with Short Haired ~~read crew cut~~ girl, who looks very young, & somehow innapropriately, cheerful.

"Oh NO!" says Poodle, shaking her shocking 80's (?) hair, as she listens to me requesting my forwarded order. "You can't collect it now! We are strictly a ONE HOUR service!"

I reel back, draw a breath, frantically look about the store, for signs advising such a delay. Finding none, I ask how much this will cost? For want of something better to say, ~ hell, I was shellshocked!

"Well" says Crew Cut girl, "This will be 89cents!"

I am suprised at the cheapness, but then, realise that is reflected in the 'service', haha.
To my utter horror, I then further realise I have NO CASH whatsoever in my wallet!

"Never mind," I say, "I will go to get some money."
I slink off, then hobble - & I mean Hobble! -over to the Club to the nearest ATM, to get some funds to pay for an 89cent photo!

Gom goes on little raiding parties for 'paper change'. That really sh!ts me.
Memo: Always check wallet, before leaving home!!

I decide to go to Fabric Store, which is next door to OW. I have a Gift Voucher from my daughter, burning a hole in my wallet.
Besides, I figure that fondling fabric with sooth my nerves, & calm my soul.

I am right, but I decide to exact revenge on the Poodle, & the slightly off centre Crew Cut.

I wanted "pretty for me" so these were what I bought. It is a shame that the dark green on the left of the photo does not show up.

This, in another order, but still not showing the lovely dark green.

I left the fabric store on a high.

BUT! I wanted to make my point, about poor service & exposure.

I marched into the 'Orifice'.... only to be met by the loveliest, most cheerful, helpful, young girl, anyone could wish to meet.

She was so obliging, & careful to acknowledge another, waiting customer, I should have taken her photo, & featured her, as a shining expample of how the staff should behave!

Gosh I am an old GOW!

Roy Orbison, In Dreams

On a Lighter Note...

2009-06-01T10:50:00.004+10:00

The weather is still RS. Grey skies, rain showers, cold bones.

I did see, on someone else's blog, a little list of UNimportant things that make you happy.

I liked the idea of listing six small things that bring joy or pleasure, though they may seem utterly unimportant.

So. Here are my six, ~Edited to Seven!~which I decided to do photographically as well.

This photo of Gom dancing with a dog called Cassie. She was a gorgeous standard Poodle, who belonged to his sister. When this was taken Gom denied liking any dogs! He later shared an icecream with Cassie. It makes me smile every time I see the photo, or remember them dancing.

A Port Wine Magnolia, I bought & planted which gives me great pleasure.

The way Leo puts his paw on Gom, & pats him, when he wants a tickle or some attention. Spoilt boy!

I love my sky scapes. I never tire of seeing the magic of it all.

Small teddies. I am a sucker for them, they make me smile everytime I look at them.

Baskets. Dont ask me why. I just love them.

Okay. I cheated! I used seven! The sky on a better day!

Are there six- or seven -things which, though unimportant, make your world happy?

Don McLean

Losing Impetus

2009-05-31T11:15:00.003+10:00

Perhaps it is the onset of winter. Or the wet weather, we have had almost continuously, for a week. Grey skies, damp feeling, gloomy news.

Gom & I have been 'sleeping in'. Not like me, at all. I am usually up early, whether I want to be, or not.

I have heard some very sad stories of people who are alone, so to speak. They have no family, & if they have a partner, & that partner dies, they have to go into a Home. It must be so hard to keep the will to live in those circumstances.

One poor woman had no clothes at all, to pack, when she had to go into a Home. Her partner had cared for her for years, with help from Community based Services to shower her. She lived in her nighty & slippers. It was all she owned.

I am not sure why her story affected me so deeply. She will be the tip of the iceberg I guess.

Another story affects friends. They are to be 'relocated' they know not where. They ~being the State Housing Service ~~or whatever their name is this weekk~~~ are taking the house, bulldozing it, so the land can be used to erect 10 or so units. Small boxes of neurosis ridden people, would seem to be the indicated end result, if some of the recent, similar, projects are anything to go on.

It seems obscene to those of us who know how well loved that house has been for 30 years. They have improved it, at their own cost. They have kept it like a model showhome in a magazine.

We have been told the Retirement age is being increased, to 67, rather than 65, as it has been. The theory is less strain on Government coffers for Pensions.

Now they are trying to sell the idea that it will be better for everyone. "Use it or Lose it" 'they' say. A fit body houses a fit mind.

From my grim observations of my Mother in Law's horrible slow painful death from Alzheimers, all a fit body does, is prolong the death. She was one of the fittest women I ever knew. She rode her bicycle everywhere. She never suffered from high blood pressure or any other 'old age' related disease or illness. She smoked cigarettes, for as long as she could remember how to. She ate, probably far too much, chocolate, but it never seemed to have any ill affects on her health.

One might say, her body was a 'temple'.

A temple to a lost mind, which meant she was a long time dying, even though her mind had long since left.

It took years, for her body to die, because it was so fit, I would suspect.

Who are 'they' kidding, when they say fitness keeps the mind active. Bah!

****************
Onto more morbid thoughts.

Those who have gone before.
A Great Grandmother's headstone.
Goodness knows where her husband is buried, but it is not with her last resting place.

Here, more Greats gone before. Including a son who died when young, & another, who was not so young.

My father, who died in the night. It seems sad, to think he had had 2 wives, & 8 children, yet he died alone.

My Mother's parents, with plaques for our mother & an Uncle, who were cremated.

Our mother died surrounded by all who meant the most to her. With her death I became an orphan. I was glad to be there, but it did not make her death any easier to bear.

I have long had a love of cemetaries. They always seem so calm & peaceful to me. It does seem a shame, that they will become a thing of the past.

I have no desire to be buried. I want to be cremated, as my mother was.

A somewhat morbid post. I have tried to be more positive.

Sorry.

Connie Francis, My Heart Has a Mind of it's Own.

A Further Rat Story!

2009-05-25T11:00:00.003+10:00

Tequila Sunrise. What a perfect rose. Every time I see it, I fall in love with it again.

An Award I was given by Catalyst, of Oddball Observations.

Thankyou kindly Cat.

There are rules to go with this,

The following rules came with this prize: These blogs are exceedingly charming.These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends.They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Do take it if you would like it, as I break rules & dont often pass these along. Not that I dont appreciate them, just that I know some folk don't want any tags.

But by the way, do go to visit Cat- he has posted a delicious recipe of his wife's for Chicken Piccata! It sounds so delicious & I intend making it tonight.

******************************

Today is my eldest son's birthday.

This was taken by a friend of his, who was a newpaper photographer. He was only about 22 then, I think.

This was taken last time I saw him. He had almost died & is a different person to who he was when he was young. His life has changed in so many ways.

I phoned him this morning to wish him Happy 47th birthday! Gulp!
Where have the years gone! He is so proud as he is a memeber of APRA (Australasian Performing Rights Association) because he has had one song published, & produced on a compilation album, & now has a further 4 songs he has written going on another album.

Well Done.

***************

Now to the latest Rat Tale!

Last night our dog Leo, who sleeps in the lounge, began frantic barking. Hysterical barking one might say.

Gom got up, to let Leo out, since we dont have a doggy door, plus we tie him up at night, to stop him sneaking into our room. Leo continued to go nuts out in the yard, barking frantically, on & on.

Gom got him inside, & shut the door, but Leo continued to be frenzied, so Gom let him out again.

Then Gom put the outside light on.

Now please bear in mind, Gom sleeps bare!

Imagine a large naked pink Gom standing out in the night air, staring with astonishment at a rat, staggering round in circles, with Leo batting at it as it went.

Then the rat fell down, so Gom grabbed Leo, rushed him inside & shut the door again.

Grumpily got back into bed. Then had a stab of compassion. What if the rat was suffering? He couldnt leave it out there like that, so he got up once again, & went out to see what the rat was doing. It was not a large rat, in fact quite a small one, compared to our usual rodent visitors.

Leo was whining away because he was missing out on the action. Gom was gingerly loading the rat into a plastic bag, & disposing of it over the fence to our garbage bin area. He said he drew the line at racing down naked to bin the thing!

Gom said he had refreshed the baits downstairs & upstairs so I guess mr Junior Rat had come to dine. Thank goodness this one is safely in the bin, not the boot of our car, or a bucket of water, or the ceiling cavity!

I had wondered why Leo was making such a ruckus & this morning when I let him out, he raced about the garden in search of his 'playmate'.

I wonder if it is coincidence that Gom is a Rat in the Chinese horoscope? Rats seem to have featured in our lives, quite often, over the years.

Eagles

Judging Books by Covers

2009-05-24T08:24:00.005+10:00

I remember my Grandmother saying "Never judge a book by it's cover!"

Meaning lots of other things, besides books, or course.

Crusty old men, spring to mind, who called to visit, wearing waistcoats, & slightly grubby clothes, ~~with a food collection in the beard! -maybe snacks for later, we giggled, as children~~ Their 'covers' hid formiddably learned minds, perhaps gone a little absent with aging.
Which was, of course, no excuse for disrespect.

Thin women, wearing fox furs with the pitiful little dangly paws, tail & head. I can still remember the horror I felt when I first encountered that little item of clothing! The heavily applied makeup- powdery layers, the impossibly shrieking red on the lips, with bright pink rouged patches on the cheeks. The raddle of the sheep shed sprang to mind!~~She would forever be thought of, in my mind, as a "raddled old hag", which was very disrespectful, & wrong, since she was really quite nice, & did seem genuinely fond of my Grandmother.~~

As I grew up, I realised that some of the best books I ever read, have very plain, uninspiring, covers. As some of the best people I ever met, have had plain covers, perhaps, but what treasures lay awaiting, inside the covers!

I grew up in a time before lurid book covers became the norm. The full art & power of the illustration had not yet gained market control. I am sure my Grandmother would squirm in her gentle way at the sight of near naked bodies, writhing in 'suggestive' poses. Splatterings of blood pouring over the covers. Grotesquely drawn faces, enough to drive any self respecting person to nightmares.

I do think often, how the exposure to so much violence must have a desensitising effect on our children.
As I am sure, the covers on books help to sell the book, regardless of the content or measure of the written words, within the covers.

Here is a book with a very plain cover. My Mother gave it to me, when I first married. It is the Collins Red Recipe Book. It has suffered through 43 years of use, & abuse.

I keep a rubber band around it now, to prevent the loose pages from being lost.

As you can see, it has been splattered & battered- almost literally battered, when Gom, as young husband, decided to use it to make cakes!

The spine is broken, & pages are apt to fall out. There are loose pieces of paper with hurriedly written recipes, from friends or a book or magazine- often never tried, but kept all the same. The information for weights, measures & a little first aid, have suffered the stains of time.

As they grew, my children used "Mum's book" to make scones, cakes, consult for how to, as they left home, & experimented with their own cooking disasters ~ & triumphs.

Over the years, I can trace the changing tastes of the times. The friends who came & went, are marked, with recipes I added their name to, so I never forgot them.

Some recipes are pristine, never having been used. I ponder them, wondering why I ever wrote them down in the first place! Spaghetti pizza?? Using tinned spaghetti?

There are recipes of my mother's that were favourites. It always seemed, that no matter how hard I tried, they never tasted as good as my mother's did.

It has sections for various types of recipe. Meats, Savoury, Entree, Cakes Desserts, etc. As I flip through I see I occasionally wrote a recipe in the wrong category! A chicken dish in the cakes! What was I thinking!

I can trace the ruination of my handwriting too. The very early entries are so neat, the latter ones, barely readable! 'Pride' never let me descend to printing, but it should have!

On looking at these photos, it looks rather disgusting doesn't it? I wonder what the germ count would be, from 43 years! haha. I am sure no one has ever been ill from using my Red Recipe Book.

Perhaps from the food, but not the book!

**********************

Here are two "Books" with very lovely 'covers'!

Charming M, with her beautiful son, O.

And here is Grandma, reading to little O. Grandma is a teacher, so he is getting a great head start!!

I thank my Cousin for sharing these pics with me. I never tire of seeing family photos.

Roy Orbison, Blue Bayou.

Hands....

2009-05-20T17:11:00.007+10:00

I have lately been thinking of hands.
I work with my hands to 'create'. However my hands' work, & creations, may be judged is really neither here nor there.

I just know that I am happy when I am creating, whether it be sewing, typing, knitting, crochet, cooking or caressing/soothing.

I am convinced our hands tell a great deal about us, & I often study hands, to get an indication of a person's personality.

This is a quilt I made for my brother. I have blogged about this long ago, I think. (Too tired & lazy to check it out!) I designed it myself, to represent my Beloved Brother's family.
It is outdated now, since his gorgeous Grandson has been born since I made it.
Partners for his sons have also been added.

It has many symbols of good luck which I had hopes may bring him luck. He is a very good natured man, with a 'lucky' personality. Most people gravitate towards him, with his wonderful sense of humour, & his easy going charm. In any family gathering, he is a great favourite.

I could explain about the 'lucky charm' blocks, the family represented in hearts, & stars, & flowers, the two "Island" lands that are our heritage, but I suspect I have done that before.

That is it, for the pics for this post!

I pondered using pics of hands, to illustrate my central topic, but I did not wish to use Googled images of hands, nor any I could crop from personal photos.

I tend to be very observant of any person's hands. I remember once having a Horoscope done. The Reader, who had never met me, made the observation that I often wondered why I "was so wide awake & alert, while everybody around me seemed half asleep". It is true, I will often observe things that no one else seems to see. I love it that my daughter is like me, & we often later compare mental 'notes'!

I look at a man's hands, always, to see if he is cruel, brutal, hardworking, vain, weak, practical, strong. Hands have often stirred quite unexpected emotions in me, when I have observed them.

The shape of the fingers, the length of the fingers. The broadness of a palm, the stiffness of a thumb. The state & shape of the nails, on thumbs & fingers.

When my second son was born, his fingers were so long & elegant, I felt he would do well in artistic pursuits. It proved to be the case. Not in perhaps the direction we wished, but he certainly has artistic ability.

My Granddaughter's fingers were so long & elegant at her birth, I am surprised she did not play a musical intstrument, but she always said she wished to play the violin. Perhaps it is a shame she never got the chance- yet!

My mother once shocked me, by telling me she was afraid I had a very loved Aunt's hands, as a baby. As it happened, my hands were not least like the Aunt's in the event, but I loved that Aunt, & greatly admired her hands, which were broad & long fingered & strong & capable, & so lovely to have around for solace, & broad comfort.

I look at my Son in Law's hands, & I dont see the skills of his father, but I see other strengths. I look at my Grandson's hands, & see a lot of his father's hands, but with other features- perhaps my daughters' influence in his genes.

Do you notice people's hands? What judgements do you make? Do you feel a sense of 'knowledge' from observation? I find it so fascinating.

***************************

I have been tagged by Selina Kingston for some questions. So here goes....

1. What are your current obsessions?

Reading reading & reading.

2.Who would you most like to have dinner with?

A "pompous person" who pretended to know all about food & wine!

3. Last dream you had?

My mother was present again.. disapproving again...but there were lots of lovely nieces & nephews, & fish & chips- NZ style!!

4. Last thing you bought?

A newspaper.

5. What are you listening to?

Television, far too loud, in the next room! grrrr!

6. If you were a god/goddess who would you be?

A bloody poor one!!

7. Favourite holiday spots?

Beaches with no other people!!

8. Reading right now?

The Book Theif.

9. Four words to describe yourself.

Loner, Loving, Friendly, Apart.

10 Guilty Pleasure?

Reading while the housework mounts!!

11. Who or what makes you laugh until you’re weak?

At this stage in my life, who can say? It catches me unawares!!

12. Favourite odd thing to do?* this is the one question I have changed.*

Weep over something too personal to tell.

13. Planning to travel to next?

Chance will be a fine thing!

14. Best thing you ate or drank lately?

My Chicken Ali Baba! Mmnn!!

15. When did you last get tipsy?

Well, really, a girl won't tell!

16. Favourite ever film?

This is a moving feast.

17. Care to share some wisdom?

"Make allowances for your friends' imperfections, as readily as you do for your own."

18. What item could you not live without?

A shower!

19. Thing you are looking forward to?

My next completed quilt!

20. What’s your favourite smell?

'Joy' perfume

21. What food makes you heave?

Dairy.

22. How many REAL regrets have you got in your life?

I have ONE.

So that’s it. Now, the rules. Respond and rework. Answer questions on your own blog. Replace one question.

Add one question.

Then tag 8 people.

I don't know that I can tag 8 people, I know a lot of people hate tags.

So, with the priviso you can refuse if you choose, I tag:

That seems to be 8.

If you dont care to do this, please, don't feel pressured.

Pink Floyd, Comfortably Numb.

Lolling about, dreaming...

2009-05-17T09:12:00.005+10:00

I have spent a lot of time just lately sitting outside in the warm Autumn sun, reading, & dreaming.
I have recently read, & enjoyed A Thousand Splendid Suns, which I may have mentioned before. I gave it to my daughter to read, & she has enjoyed it too, though she was initially not so keen. I suppose it is because it is a culture so unlike our own. That is partially why I read it.
What a sad, & war torn country Afganistan is, & always seems to have been.

I have spent some time, looking over photos, too, & I love this golden one of my Grandson, at Lake Glenbawn. I think he was about 2 when this was taken.

Another book I have recently enjoyed was the Lovely Bones. I have written about this before, & my daughter & granddaughter have just enjoyed it too.

I do like my gory thriller mysteries too, & have just finished The Rosary Girls by Richard Montanari. Another book passed on to my daughter to read. It is a large book, but I raced through it, even retiring to bed early on a couple of nights, just so I could wallow in warmth, & enjoy reading.

Here are flowers my son gave me, for Mother's Day. I am so enjoying the beautiful scent of the perfumed Lillies, as they open.

Another book read, is Man and Boy, by Tony Parsons. I bought it at a garage sale, - as I did all the others!- & it was a lovely touching read.

Here is a little neighbour boy, who is very very fond of Mrs Nice Neighbour. He is sitting up at their computer, with their dear little dog Beau, who just adores it when this boy & his sister, come to visit.

I am still reading The Book Theif, have been reading it for some time. I am not sure why it has become a 'slow burner'. My brother gave it to me, when he had read it, while staying here. I know he was gripped by it, & raced through it very quickly.

A pretty moth, which was on our kitchen ceiling. I love the patterns on these moths, & have noticed a few of them around. I suppose they are the type to eat your woollies or something, but I dont have the heart to kill them.

The quilting/sewing is down to a slow simmer. It is a little chilly in the sewing room. I should get the machine out in the sun again, like I did before. What a nice day I had sewing in the sun, & I think it was last Autumn too.

This photo is of twin granddaughters of one of my best childhood friends.

Aren't they just adorable! They are identical, as you can see, & she has sent me some beautiful pics of them. This is an old one, so they will be different now, I suppose.

These cool mornings I wake in pain, & force myself out of bed, my back being the greatest source of the pain. Once I get moving, & 'thaw out', I dont feel so bad. I suspect Coffee helps too!

I am currently reading a Minette Walters book, Disordered Minds. I do enjoy her books, & like her psychological insights to people's minds.

It is another flawless looking day with blue skies, so more reading in the sun might be the order of the day. I have three other books on the 'simmer' as I say.

My daughter gave me a gift voucher which I can use to buy fabric. Perhaps I should take myself off to the shop!

Here is a quote from the On Friendship book

"You can always tell a true friend: when you make a fool of yourself, he doesn't think you've done a permanent job." Lawerence J Peter.

Tony Bennett & k d lang. La Vie en Rose.

A Perfect Day

2009-05-13T20:49:00.007+10:00

If you look closely at this pic, the Kangaroos are all standing, apparently at attention, looking toward the Lake.
Like a guard of Sentinels.

Such a beautiful scene of Lake MacQuarie, which was so calm & serene, it was almost surreal. As we watched the fish jumped in silver flashes, for some invisible targets.
The shadows were getting long across the grass, by the time we visited, this wonderful Parkland.

Autumn in New South Wales, Australia, really can be, the most magical of all seasons.

The weather can be crisp, totally without humidity, with gorgeous sun, clear blue skies, & no wind.

We were invited to share a day out with Mr & Mrs Nice Neighbour.

What a beautiful day it proved to be.

We were driven, in total comfort & luxury, to meet up with Mr & Mrs Lovely Ex-Neighbours.

We lunched out, at a Country Club, which was lovely, relaxed, & with delicious food. To say nothing of the laughs, shared with friends!

Then we proceeded to a 'market', with lots to see, & some bargains to purchase- Leo got a new toy. I got some much loved Cashew nuts. Yum.

The highlight of the day was yet to come.

We went to visit a beautiful Reserve, with Parklands.

Wild colonies of Kangaroos. So friendly, & so natural.

The scenery was just beautiful.

I was in animal heaven. I fell in love with every Kangaroo I met!

"I am so safe here with my mother. She protects me, & shields me from all ills!"

Mrs NN taking some photographs of Kangaroos. That bulge in the closest mother, to Mrs NN, contains a baby, who has just ducked back inside the pouch!

"I am the Perfect Mother!"

Happiness is a crust of bread! I just love the way their front paws act like hands.

They were so tame, & seemingly trusting. It was lovely to see them so close.

This seems to be some accidental frame that was taken with this photo of the wider field of the Roos. I am still learning about my camera, & it's settings!

Look at this adorable mother & baby, the mother accepting bread from Gom.

"My sad eyes." The proffered bread was offered to some other Kanga.

This was a Buck I took great interest in- he had lost one eye, & his left ear was snagged quite deeply. He was a smaller Buck than the dominant male of the group, & it appeared he had suffered as a result. I wished a Vet could have checked him out, as his missing eye appeared to be weaping. He made himself very bold with our little group. This is Mr NN feeding him bread.

Here a cheeky Magpie, who came to strut & wait for morsels which might be missed.

It really was a lovely, golden day out. We love seeing the Kangaroos so relaxed, & friendly. They are not restricted to this Park, by any fences or gates, but they remain, as if they know this is a sanctuary, & they will not be harmed.

'Up Close & Personal', they are so appealing it is very hard not to fall in love with them. One tends to forget they are wild animals, & as such can fend for themselves, & live a quite different life from us, with our domestic animals.

David Gray, This Year's Love

Further Thank You.

2009-05-11T17:00:00.004+10:00

I began this post with the photos, plus a headline. Then Blogger decided to post it! GRRRRR!

I had not done any of the text, & had only managed to upload the pics, with much fiddling about, to get them in the order I wanted them.

I must be slowing down, or the colder weather ~~is befuddling my brain~~ is messing with my reactions.

The big news of the day is, my lucky draw on Uberstitch's giveaway, arrived from Florida.
Woo hoo! How lucky am I?

Gom went out to walk Leo, & came racing up the stairs with this wonderful parcel. We had heard the dogs barking, but did not realise they were barking for anyone so close to home.

I was so excited, but I waited until Gom returned, as he was as curious as me, to see the contents. How perfect is that? Old patterns for wrapping. I used to work in a shop, where we used outdated patterns for wrapping!

Just look at this lovely little book- Pam must have known I love miniature books, & this is just darling.

I read out this quote to Gom-

"If you know a friend has had a bad day, take her out for coffee or maybe dinner."

Look at the lovely contents, of the parcel. Two dish towels by Orla Kiely, which Pam intended using to make a bag, but she ran out of time. Hmmmn perhaps I can manage.

And look at the lovely fabrics.

So different to anything I have in the sad old stash! I will have to get my thoughts together to decide how to use them.

The lovely wee card had a very nice message inside, & all in all, I am very thrilled with my wonderful "WIN". Thank you so much Pam!!

********************

Just a little mention here for Geta's Quilting Studio. I urge you to go & visit her site, if you love quilting. She has the most wonderful quilts & projects.

Her work is just beautiful!

*********************

I hope all Mothers out there in Blogland had a wonderful Mother's Day.

I had a lovely weekend all round. We had family for our Granddaughter's 20th Birthday get together.

Our son who lives in OZ came to stay for the weekend, so that was extra family to love & have the pleasure of the company.

Crowded House, Distant Sun

Some Thankyous.

2009-05-07T11:58:00.006+10:00

I have been a little remiss here, giving Thanks for an Award, from Street Guru.

So, without further ado, I will say Thank You, for this Kreativ Blogger Award. Please go visit Street Guru, he has some interesting observations.

Then, I discovered I had been tagged by Sweet Connie W to do a Seven Random things about myself.

I have done this before but a long time ago now, so here goes again...

1. I do love quilting, but every now & then I lose the Mojo, & have dry patches.

2. Same as above, re writing. For those of you awaiting another chapter in my 'story' on my other blog... well, I do have several written in my head.

3. I really enjoy reading. The more grizzly the better. I hate to watch grizzly, & I dont like watching violence. Reading it seems to be another matter entirely. hmmmn, does this indicate the secret violence of the hidden me??

4. The older I get, the more I realise how much I will never, ever know.

5. I have very vivid dreams. Always have. Some of them are more like Nightmares. Some seem to have been recurring almost all my life, especially the locations, and settings.

6. As a girl who grew up without her father in her life, I am constantly angered by the fact that the coward, who is the father of my Granddaughter, declined to meet her when he had the choice. Also the fact that her paternal grandparents met her, pretended to be enthralled, & so loving.... then dropped her flat. For no reason that is apparent to any of us. How could they? I am almost tempted to hate them for this gross act.
I might add here, they have disappered back into the woodwork again, being careful not to have any public phone numbers or information which would locate them. They only surfaced last time because I had a public notice put in a newspaper, & some of their friends notified them- with some disbelief!

7. I am sure I could be capable of hideous acts to protect my family. Of course one never knows how one would react in any given situation, until faced with it, but my urge to protect 'my own' is very strong.

Some dark thoughts here among the 7. I usually go for lighter.

On the subject of humanity's darkness, I was reminded this morning, whilst reading Ian at I still think so, about Hitler was a man who is arguably the worst human ever .
It sparked a memory in my core, that I have the feeling every one of us, given the right opportunity or circumstance could probably be some kind of "Monster".
I dont necessarily mean a murderer, or a torturer, but some level of darkness we never think ourselves capable of, under normal circumstances.

On the other side of that equation, I also think any one of us, is capable of acts of superhuman kindness, decency and valour. The light & the dark. The good & the bad.

On to other small thoughts.
Someone asked for some close up shots of some of the Autumn Quilt.. I have still not thought of a name I could 'publish' for it! ha ha!

Here in the sunlight, filtered through leaves.

This, taken in the kitchen in the morning sun, through the window. It is fairly true to the real life colours.

Again the sun dappled look.

I did wonder about the Bamboo, but since bamboo stays green all year long, I decided it was perfectly acceptable.

They should all enlarge on clickage, if you wish to see tendrils from frog stitching. Or odd cottons, yet to be cleaned off.

For Sweet Connie W.

2009-05-06T17:35:00.003+10:00

This is the almost final version of this Autumn Quilt. I decided to go with the floral, & leave the slime green for another day.
This is really not as dull in the 'flesh' as it looks.
I did a little frog stitching to swap a couple of blocks around, & then more frogging when I discovered I had put two of the setting triangles in incorrectly. That was because I insisted on sewing when I was too tired!

As you can see, the corners are brown, I ran out of other colour choices, but I quite like these. It will be a good quilt for letting go, & really relaxing. Spilled your coffee? never mind, no one will notice! Or your wine or beer....

My head is filled with new ideas for my next project already... dare I begin another top, before I have quilted this??

We lunched out yesterday, to celebrate our Granddaughter's Birthday.
Silly Nanna forgot her camera. It was lovely,& we all positively waddled out of the Restaurant, having indulged to the MAX.
It is an All You Can Eat Buffet, with all types of food from, Chinese, soups, steamed dishes, garlic bread, Salads, seafood, to Roasts, with 3 types of yummy gravy! Something for everyone.

SG had a ball with icecream,& three types of topping with sprinkles!! The desserts are great, because they have really small servings, so you get to try a variety, if sweets are your 'thing'.They also have rice pudding, & bread & butter pudding... not my thing at all, but they are really popular!

Daughter J & Sil took SG home, & we stayed on with our Granddaughter for a while. It was lovely to spend some time with her. Nice to think she still finds her old 'grandies' good company. I did some fun people watching but that is for another day.

Roy Orbison, In Dreams, for memories, recently revisited, & BFJ.

I think the Mojo is back~ Shh.

2009-05-04T12:37:00.004+10:00

I think the drought in my quilting life might be over.
I don't want to mention it too loudly, in case I jinx it, or otherwise scare it away.

Who me? Superstitious? No no, I assure you I not in the least!

This is a picture of the 'droughtbreaker.'
For want of a better name.

Somehow the colours in this pic are not very true to life, not sure why the camera has recorded the green as a bluey green, because it isn't.

I am tempted to call it Green Slime. See that bottom fabric I am test driving for setting triangles.? It is a distinctly slime green colour.

Any suggestions would be very welcome. At the moment it is looking as if I need to visit the fabric shop.

I dont have enough of the floral to complete the settings. I would have to use a different fabric for the corners. I dont have enough of the brown to do all the settings either.

And, somehow after all my mad work getting the blocks all done, & hating them, I am very disappointed. I wanted this to be a gift for someone I love. I dont think I like it enough to give away. Bugger.

There are a couple blocks I might swap the placement of too. I hate things to be too 'odd'.

The reason I rediscovered my mojo is that I won a fabulous giveaway on a blog. I won't blog fully about it until I recieve my parcel, but I got so excited I rushed off to use the fabric in the Autumn tones. I have had them for awhile sitting waiting to be used. Now I can't help but feel a little disheartened at the result.

I was contacted by Connie Colten of Quilt Qua, to ask if I would like to post a picture of a quilt or quilts on her site. I decided I would, & actually uploaded 3 pics. It is lovely to see all the quilts. Do go & have a look, & post some of your own. I see Wanda of Exuberant Colour, has one of her fabulous quilts displayed.

There are prize draws at the end of it all, so have a look.

The weather is fabulously Autumn now, the blue of the sky is lovely. I am unable to sit in the sun at present due to an antibiotic that is photo sesitive. Never mind, I am sure there are many more days to enjoy.

I seem to have the feeling I have emerged from some type of tunnel, re my emotions etc. A loved cousin gave me a good stiff lecture, which probably helped, somewhat. Not a lecture that I haven't given myself before, but I suppose coming from someone else, it brings it all home.

We had our daughter & family for the afternoon yesterday, & that was nice. Her husband arrived later after having played golf at a fancy pancy new Golf course. SIL was very impressed with it, but says he could never afford it!

Bread, Diary

Small Pieces of My Joy.

2009-04-30T18:33:00.008+10:00

Blogging seems to be a dying 'art'.

Are we becoming boring/

Same old same old?

What do people want in a blog?

Pictures?

Writing?

A nice balance between the two?

Snarky?
Piercing?
Irreverent?
Confrontational?
Quilty?
Crafty?

I just wanted to try to show some of my JOY.
Below, Sibling Joy. They are best friends today.

A special Grandson. The only one, thus far.

Here is there a more joyous picture. A small boy, with the magic of bubbles!

My gorgeous Great Nephew.

Gorgeous Great Nephew with my Beloved Brother, his Grandfather. Such a joyous photo!

Here. a loved niece's wedding. How beautiful & happy she looks. Truly Joyous!

The joy of this sky was wondrous. It remains one of my favourite photos from my balcony.

The JOY of our first Grandchild. A precious little girl, who is soon to turn 20!

The joy of our neighbour's gorgeous little dog, Sweet Beau.

He is such a loving little dog. He often wraps his dinner up, in a neat parcel. His 'parents' present his dinner on a plate, laid on a cloth. If Beau does not want to eat it immediately, he carefully wraps the dinner in the cloth. We have seen him doing this, & he is so neat & tidy! He takes the corners & folds them over his dinner until the whole is a neat parcel.

Later, when he wishes to eat, he will get his 'father' or 'mother' to unwrap his dinner!

Here is our Leo, such a joy to us. He is now banned from our bedroom which is where this photo was taken. He had recently had a severe hair clip in this photo.

Here is our dear little Honey, who has been a Joy in our house for 9 years now. She is such a gentle little girl. She is the love of my life!

The Joy of friendship. Meggie & BFJ, many years ago!

Look at those rosy Apple cheeks!!

This is the Joy of a 90 year old Uncle, with two of his favourite nephews!

What devils they are, when they get together!

This is my Joy, of the purest delight. I love this perfume!! I rarely wear it now, but it brings back such joyous memories.

Here, a long since passed away cousin, whose name was Joy. How we loved her in our family. She has her daughter with her, & a doll I made long ago, for her. A long legged clown, which she seemed to love.

Here a 'Joy Division' T shirt, which our son wore when he was young. We liked their music too, & it often played loud in our house when he was a teenager.

Radiohead, (Thom Yorke), True Love Waits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsJTaMSx3_8

Do you think it is the weather...?

2009-04-26T12:48:00.002+10:00

This is rather hideous isn't it?
Someone sent me the email, letting us all know that Tweety is now 60 years old!

Do you know, I feel just the way he looks!

I just can't seem to prod myself into life. I had a wonderful suprise phone call from BFJ, (who is Best Friend J). She lives in Auckland, & she was testdriving her new phone.
It was so lovely to have a nice long talk with her. They get such great deals on phone calls there... much better than we get.

This time last year, I was in New Zealand, & I got to spend the day of her birthday with her, & her lovely granddaughters. I also got to see both of her children, & it is amazing to see them now, adults, just as my children are. It brought back memories of when they were small, & BFJ & I were both pregnant with our 2 youngest.

Her son was born first, and for some reason we had been convinced we were having opposite sex children, & it proved to be true. I was so thrilled when my daughter was born, & she is now BFJ number 2!

I have had really good intentions on the sewing front, I even got as far as selecting fabrics for a new quilt top. It all awaits the cutting. I had a very sore back all day yesterday, with painkillers doing little to relieve the pain. ~~mumblety gripe, getting old is not for sissys, nor is it fun!~~

This morning passed with a certain scouring around of the kitchen... we no longer have children... where do those piggy black fingerprints come from?? The sticky edge on the pantry door? The spilt something, on the floor?

Of course it is not Gom! It must be the dogs.
I dreamt last night that Leo came in with a mouse, so I took it off him, & he promptly came in with another! We have seen no evidence of any mice, so I don't know where that dream came from. I wish it meant we were about to have great windfalls of good fortune! haha.

Speaking of which, it seems I have won some millions of American Dollars which have been deposited in a Bank in England. The "FBI" contacted me, via email, to let me know of this great good fortune, & all I have to do, is forward 250 pounds sterling to the Bank in England, to allow transfer of my monies to be paid here to me.

As if!!

Apparently, it is surprising how many people fall for this type of scam, & one man had to be rescued from capture in Sth Africa, where he had gone to try to retrieve his money. The crooks kidnapped him, & held him to ransom, for even more money! I think the Australian Govt had to step in, to get him released.

I also had a very attractive off of making huge amounts of money-"just sitting in your chair!" I have no idea what that would have been, but I was assured I would not have to spend a cent, & the homebase for that little scam in somewhere in Hong Kong.

As I noted, a lot of these scammers seem to have very bad grammar, & little errors in their phrasing are also a dead giveaway. Apparently they are becoming more skilled though, & as Lee once pointed out, it is relatively easy to learn a lot about people if they use the internet, or have blogs or join Facebook.

While thinking of Facebook I must be getting rather old. I dont really 'get' it, & can't be bothered sharing intimate details with people I neighther know nor care about. I have joined to see family news, & enjoy seeing & reading family, & some friends. On the whole, I could live without it, though.

We seem to have had a somewhat wet April. Usually our Autumn is lovely but this year has seen a very mixed bag of weather come our way. I find myself yearning for comfort foods, & good old casseroles even though it is not yet winter.

The lack of energy is a worry though, & the lack of direction. Now that I need to be the driver, I find I feel less & less like driving. It is a pity we dont know some idle young man, who would love to drive us about... in the manner to which I would love to become accustomed!

Steely Dan
Reelin in the Years. Nostalgia! Look at those clothes!