Long Weekend.

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

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".

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...

"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...

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

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!

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

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....

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.

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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:

Warty Mammal.

Sagittarian.

Connie W.

The Fool.

Catalyst.

Granny J.

Rhubarb Whine.

Jennifer

That seems to be 8.

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

Pink Floyd, Comfortably Numb.

Lolling about, dreaming...

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

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.

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!!

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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!

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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