

the great hall
For now though congratulations to us all, and I am so proud of you b.
I woke this morning on my 'fly by' visit to Melbourne to this fabulous view. It was raining, which was a welcome sight given dam levels in Melbourne had fallen below 30%.
The rain continued all day and continues to rain as I sit at the airport waiting for my flight which has been delayed by half an hour.
Unfortunately, I cannot bring you any fun shop windows this time round however, the Adelphi Hotel in Flinders Lane has an unusual feature. A glass swimming pool seven floors over the street.
In Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese New Year falls In April when the sun moves from the Meena Rashiya otherwise known as the 'House of Pisces', to the Mesha Rashiya or
'House of Aries'. Sri Lankans then begin celebrating their New Year known as 'Aluth Avurudhu' in Sinhala and 'Puththandu' in Tamil. The timing of the New Year begins at the time determined by astrologers. They not only calculate the beginning of the new year but also the conclusion of the old. You might think that surely where one year ends another simply begins, but not so. Here, there is a period of a few hours in between both years called the 'nona gathe' or neutral period during which no one works and all are expected to engage in religious activities.
apparently yesterday I used up almost 20% of our monthly 1G internet account. It must have been discovering that you can watch past episodes of Martha Stewart and indulging.
It is really hard work resting, I have read my book, watched tv (Dr Phil, Judge Judy, love it), done the odd bit of dusting, vacuuming, and general tidying up. Being at home through the day with the sun streaming in, you really notice the dust, and it gets me quite agitated, not good when you have been told your blood pressure is high and a brain scan is required. Hmmm, yes a brain scan, I only went to the doctors on Tuesday because I thought I was coming down with a cold or the flu, and yes I have had a constant headache for a fortnight but I was putting that down to work stress, so a couple of days rest and I would be right for the month ahead of conferences, workshops, graduations, trip to Queensland, trip to Melbourne, submissions, presentations ....... and other life changing possibilities, I guess now we shall see.
In the pursuit of resting and making the most of this week at home, I have gathered up our old jeans and will try and out do yesterday's internet usage (only joking B) for recycled denim jeans quilt inspiration.
inspired from my day at the Show with mum on Thursday last week and Ann Collin's handwoven mohair wraps and dyed wool, I couldn't wait to get home and dig out the balls of mohair I bought last year. I had started the scarf a couple of times but couldn't remember the verbal instructions given to me, so subsequently unravelled what I had knitted a couple of times before admitting defeat and putting the wool away, till now. I commited the instructions to memory, 9mm knitting needles, cast on 18 stitches and knit to the end of the wool. Wallah! Over the extended long weekend, Friday through Easter Monday and sick day Tuesday.
We have such lovely neighbours. This was presented to us over the back fence by our neighbour. It was the lightest sponge with fresh cream and jam. It was a little overwhelming actually, not being very proficient in the kitchen I couldn't imagine baking more than one cake succesfully and handing them away.
we have visiting with us Winston, the youngest sister's cat. Winny is a Tonkinese kitty who is being presented here because of his fancy threads. You gotta luv the collar. I believe the youngest sister has made this one, and on her return from up North for Easter I shall be putting in an order for one for Jasmine.
And because we do not have favourites round here, say hello to Lady a boisterous Labrador, who belongs to the favourite brother and his family, and who was staying with us whilst he graduated from Melbourne University for completing his Masters the weekend before last (Congratulations).
I bought this Sashiko at a craft show last year and took it a couple of times, when I could remember, with me on work trips to Melbourne. Something like a fix for craft withdrawl. I only had a small section to go, and with a trip to Newcastle this week, that will include an overnight stay in a hotel, I thought it might be a good project to take with me and finish. That is, if I hadn't done a couple of stitches, and then a couple more stitches and finished it last night. Realistically I would probably have been too tired to do any stitching.
I really enjoyed doing this one, it was so easy to do, just follow the printed pattern. I am now itching to get another. I found this great site last night which should be able to help out here. The only thing is what to do with them when they are done. Any suggestions?
I know this is a bit belated but I couldn't resist after taking this photo on a recent visit to Star City. Ya gotta luv a dragon, I certainly do especially having just finished reading Garden of the Purple Dragon, a charming little story for young people. The second in the series by Carole Wilkinson.
And, if this were a ten year plan, I would probably suggest that a new front fence might be in order, and somewhere in all this is a concrete slab for the spa which is becoming more of a necessity with each job.
despite the photo mosaic (l just had to try this one out) not a great deal has been going on, well actually not a great deal of variety anyway. Except when it comes to food. We have been spoilt with Sri Lankan curries and rice thanks to our dear friend R. The photos show a seriously spicy beef curry (B's mouth was on fire, but I like it hot), potato curry, and the most delicious yellow rice I have ever had. Cooking classes have been requested because it was just too good.
We have gardened, stripping out the vegepatch and topping it up with cow manure which Macc has delighted rolling in, Harvested passionfruit daily, from which we have made icecream and more icecream. It is icecream weather here. Sanded and painted the wooden columns for the back verandah, Visited officeworks and discovered the eco bags with the cute designs, and the bag tag.
B and I have also had a few doctors appointments, in between which I did a bit of footpath loving, grazing and bruising my toes, ankle, knee, and elbow. But you would have already known about this, as the howling and sobbing was almost as spectacular as the fall itself.
We have also had quite a few trips to the hospital to visit a friend who could really do with our prayers, A (not of 'A and D' the one who just had a baby) but our other friend, has been paralysed down her right side (kinda like a stroke) for the last three weeks and has a six week rehabilitation program ahead of her. Unexplained and all very mysterious, and also kinda scary, that this sort of thing could be a pinched nerve one day and well paralysed the next. She needs our prayers.
And if you can spare a positive thought I have joined all the other fatty boombahs at Weight Watchers, cause we have big things planned for sure in 2007.
thank goodness, this arrived in the post, if only to save me from having to see the chook (in the previous post) one minute longer. I was seriously on the verge of going vegetarian.
The fabric in the pile includes the front and binding, and the white dot on green that the pile is displayed on is the backing for Sophie's Quilt (see Jan 12 post). I can't wait to get started although I am trying to finish a x-stitch that has been a work in progress for too long now.
Not much crafting will get done at the moment either it is too hot, and is only to get hotter with temperatures of 38 degrees C on the weekend apparently.
The warm weather was much appreciated though on Monday night when B and I enjoyed The Queen at the Open Air Cinema at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney with the littlest sister and her friend from Broken Hill. The two times, in previous years, it has rained during the movies we have been at, so this was a pleasant suprise. It was also nice to share the experience with the littlest sister, who congratulations is 11 weeks pregnant. It was a little disconcerting though as she is terribly sick with it, and spent a good deal of the time with her face in a towel she carries with her to deal with the acid.
is this not a picture of tranquility? I managed to work on my L'ete cross-stitch most evenings last week however, this week is not off to a good start. My craft buddies have been present for most sessions. Today, however, we have a forced stop work as the site foreman was tired and felt it necessary to sleep where the principal worker was set up.
(and farewell) our newest neighbour, Cooper. Visiting for 3 weeks, staying with the neighbours to the left, it has been somewhat eventful, with:
till next time.
*translation - barking
I arrived home early this afternoon, B was busy working to a deadline to finish his thesis and Jas was stretched out soaking up the last of the days rays with sunscreen on her nose. I grabbed this photo whilst bringing her an iced drink.
The focus of the last few weeks has been Christmas. a Birthday and Wedding Anniversary.
We have a rule in our house, it is my rule that has been ‘taken on board’ by B, bless him. The rule is that no Christmas tree or decoration can go up before my birthday. This year however, I relaxed the rule, we have so much going on this month that the tree went up on the Saturday before and was actually decorated on Monday, my Birthday. I didn’t really care too much, we had a birthday dinner and opening of presents* at my parents on the Sunday, so I as pretty much over it by Monday. B was really late home from work so rather than cook my own birthday dinner, I opted for getting pizza, I actually felt like pizza, good pizza that is, but the good pizza place is closed on Monday’s and so it seems are the other independent pizza places in our area. So Dominoes it was. I don’t know how the chain pizza stores churn out a whole pizza for $6.50, it doesn’t seem right. Cheap ingredients is my guess. I am a pizza snob and proud of it. Disappointed that Al Pacino's is shut on Mondays and being another year older, decorating the tree was a nice diversion.
B was home really late Monday through Wednesday due to work, and although I was cursing him every minute for his absence, he more than made up with it with tickets to Priscilla on Thursday night. Priscilla was fabulous by ten. I want to go again, today, any day, it is just great.
Friday through Sunday, we managed to catch up with friends for lunch, meet A's whippet puppies, and the inescapable - do more christmas shopping.
And oh yeh! our wedding anniversary was Sunday. Happy Anniversary also to L and M with whom we share this day.
*I have a funny birthday story though, I know that one of my siblings will be getting cufflinks for their birthday or could it be Christmas, I am guessing the favourite brother will be the recipient of that one, and that another sibling will be getting a Halcyon Days trinket. I know this because I opened these two pressies which got quickly taken away and replaced with 'opps another wrong present' that is until I unwrapped a whitby jet brooch. Thanks Dad.