A friend saw me today, on a program on national Australian TV called Stateline, and wrote to tell me. Thanks, Bunty!
Well it was true enough - it was recorded over two years ago and I had forgotten about it - and I had never seen it! I am the one in the bright pink blouse and glasses - who gets called by the wrong name. Story of my life - my "15 minutes of fame" and get called the wrong name!
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200910/r446486_2164534.asx
It was for a girl called Samantha who started a business on a government grant called Biddy Bags. Little did I realize at the time that the term "Biddy" referred to me and the other ladies, as in "Old Biddies" ! What a cheek! LOL!
But hey I was given the yarn (organic cotton from Lion Brand) and paid to make some dishcloths so who's complaining! I never got to make any of the bags though.
Just one of life's experiences!
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Australia Zoo
I have had a few people tell me they are very interested in the late Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo
This koala on the ground was wanting attention - the staff member was having a deal of difficulty in getting him to come back to stay on the trees in the enclosure - which is under cover by the way.
The koalas are not kept in this enclosure - it is iron roofed and would be far too hot for full time living quarters - but only for a short period a few times a day for photo opportunities and to learn about koalas in general.
The koalas were very active ( except one, LOL!) and seemed to enjoy all the attention - they particularly wanted cuddles from the staff - it is obvious they are very well treated and the staff love them.
The whole Zoo covers a lot of acres - they have wonderful little shuttle train/bus which takes visitors from one area to another - I was so glad because my poor feet don't take kindly to a lot of walking these days!
This particular area had kangaroos and wallabies, ducks, geese and other animals just resting and totally unafraid of people. Nice
I am very proud of this lovely close up of a little Chestnut Breasted Finch - so pretty!
If you look at the picture - he does have thick knees!
Left is an Australian Fig Bird - they love the fruits on our native trees - a common sight in sub tropical Brisbane and coastal areas and in rainforests. Very pretty - have a monotonous short whistling call.
This is the pretty Emerald Dove or Green Winged Pigeon
A Cicada Bird - they have this name because the do sound like a cicada chirping.
Wouldn't be Australia Zoo without a "Cocky" - a Sulphur Crested cockatoo - but this fellow wouldn't co-operate - he was more interested in his grooming!
The Raptors and Eagles weren't out that day for some reason - but we did get to see this lovely Barking Owl - I tried to get a face shot but she was a bit shy! Look at those beautiful grey feathers - gorgeous!
Ok - watch this space - will be back with more soon! Snakes !
We took a Japanese house guest - a lovely young girl named Mai (pronounced MY) here on a University exchange - for a visit there last year and I thought you might like to see some of the sights there. We had a fantastic day and it was beautiful - a lovely warm Spring Day. As we entered the Zoo Gates we came out into a courtyard and there in front of us was the bronze statue of Steve and his family that the local people donated.
We started at the Koala display - at Mai's request ! they have a special enclosure where only about 8 young males are on display for photos and a short talk about Koalas in general - you can tell these are males by the brown smudge on their chests.
Australia Zoo are very careful of their animals - no one can get too close - there is only one koala able to be patted at one time and only on the outside of the body very gently. They are very easily hurt, especially round the rib cage, so visitors to the Zoo are not allowed to pick up or hold the koalas.You will always see the staff pick up the koala by holding its paws and arms. And they are not a bear although they do look like one!
This koala on the ground was wanting attention - the staff member was having a deal of difficulty in getting him to come back to stay on the trees in the enclosure - which is under cover by the way.
The koalas are not kept in this enclosure - it is iron roofed and would be far too hot for full time living quarters - but only for a short period a few times a day for photo opportunities and to learn about koalas in general.
The koalas were very active ( except one, LOL!) and seemed to enjoy all the attention - they particularly wanted cuddles from the staff - it is obvious they are very well treated and the staff love them.
Later on we took Mai to the area where she could get her photo taken patting a koala
As you can see, the koala was high up - Mai had to go up a little set of steps and she could only just reach to pat him - which is designed for the safety of the koala.
The whole Zoo covers a lot of acres - they have wonderful little shuttle train/bus which takes visitors from one area to another - I was so glad because my poor feet don't take kindly to a lot of walking these days!
Mai was thrilled to see her first Kangaroo - and to pat him - they are very used to human beings here - but we noticed there was always a staff member nearby - very unobtrusive - but we were glad to see it - it means that unwanted rough treatment from children or other visitors is avoided.
This particular area had kangaroos and wallabies, ducks, geese and other animals just resting and totally unafraid of people. NiceThe bird enclosure is magic - fully enclosed, there are rainforest, wetlands, and grassland areas, and the birds we saw were stunning! the colours!
The bright green bird is an Australian eclectus parrot - the brightest colour you ever saw - so green it hurt the eyes!
The bright green bird is an Australian eclectus parrot - the brightest colour you ever saw - so green it hurt the eyes!
Just get a load of that beauty!
I got a shot of a Princess parrot - not terribly good - the birds of course, don't stay still for too 
long, but I did my best.
long, but I did my best.
I am very proud of this lovely close up of a little Chestnut Breasted Finch - so pretty!
This curious fellow is the Stone Curlew - or, as it is now called, "the Thick Kneed Curlew"
If you look at the picture - he does have thick knees!
Left is an Australian Fig Bird - they love the fruits on our native trees - a common sight in sub tropical Brisbane and coastal areas and in rainforests. Very pretty - have a monotonous short whistling call.
This is the pretty Emerald Dove or Green Winged Pigeon
A Cicada Bird - they have this name because the do sound like a cicada chirping.
Wouldn't be Australia Zoo without a "Cocky" - a Sulphur Crested cockatoo - but this fellow wouldn't co-operate - he was more interested in his grooming!
The Raptors and Eagles weren't out that day for some reason - but we did get to see this lovely Barking Owl - I tried to get a face shot but she was a bit shy! Look at those beautiful grey feathers - gorgeous!Ok - watch this space - will be back with more soon! Snakes !
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Long awaited update!
I have been a very slack blogger! Nearly three months since last posting. Mind you I have been extra busy lately as well as having had a very nasty chest cold - caught from husband Eric on 5th January yuk! The 5th January is of course , Twelfth Night - so "On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me"..................................................
I was well enough to be able to join in with a Crochet-a-Long on a group of friends - the result is the Ray of Hope Doily - so pretty!
I also joined in a mystery crochet-a-long on the same group - the result was this charming little jacket!
If you look at the close up picture you will see a shell edge on the yoke - when I had finished I though I would like to see the yoke end with the shell edge separately from the body - so I came up with this version of the same jacket.
Done in two shades of blue baby yarn - the pale blue is a very old bri-nylon from yonks ago that Iwas given - real vintage stuff! The darker blue is Sirdar Snuggly.
What I did was end off at the shell edge of the yoke, then lifting it up, crocheted around the posts of the last set of trebles(US DC)and then continued as per the pattern for the rest of the body.
I have no idea why I used the darker Blue Snuggly to do this instead of using the lighter blue colour.
Maybe I thought the lighter blue would show through the darker blue yoke?
I ended up with a jacket yoke that looked like this:
And then I invented some booties to match.
Very pleased with the result!
By this time I was starting to feel better after three days just sitting up in bed, taking vitamin C, Senega and Ammonia Medicine, and inhaling Eucalyptus and Menthol. And crocheting of course.
I have been very guilty about the number of UFO's that have been accumulating! So one of my New Year Resolutions was to get some of them finished. So here is one. The pale pink pants (Happy Baby from Red Heart free pattern) I made months ago, in Panda Angoretta.
The colour of the jacket is a lot lighter than the first picture and a lot darker than the second, it is a colour called Fusion and I love it. It is Red Heart Super Saver from USA..
The little ballet slipper buttons came from Dave Rundell in Florida
The pattern for the jacket is one I invented and use a lot - it is knitted (in this case the stitch is Feather and Fan) straight up the back, then cast (bind)off centre stitches for the neck back, knit one row, then cast on half the amount of the back neck stitches for left front, knit down to same length of back, cast (bind) off. Back to right front, cast on half the back neck stitches , knit down to same length as back cast (bind) off. I usually change to garter stitch for last rows of fronts and back.
Mark armhole width the same on each side - then using the shoulder centre, pick up and knit equal amounts of stitches on each side of shoulder from the armhole marker and then knit down sleeves to required length - change to garter stitch for cuff, decreasing about 8 stitches four garter ridges from end of cuff. I then sew up side and sleeve seams, then knit up a garter stitch band on both fronts, placing buttonholes where required. Finally I knit up a neck band in garter.
Most times I make this with seamless sleeves - marking a generous armhole and sewing up (or crocheting up) the side seams. The number of stitches varies with size so it is a bit of a hit and miss - but as I mostly knit to give away to homeless and needy people, my little jackets will always fit someone!
With DK and 4mm (US 6) Needles, I start with about 50 stitches - this works for about a three month size.
This little jacket and hat is the Sweet Baby Bundle pattern
The yarn is Caron Simply Soft in Powder Lilac. The pattern is a free one on the net. There is also a blanket and socks to match, which I didn't make this time! As usual, I had started it and put it aside for more urgently needed items - so another UFO is finished.
This delicious little set is a crocheted thread confection from Annie's Attic "Heirloom Bonnet and Boooties" - it was a free Pattern of the Day from ages ago and I really needed to do the second bootie (is there a Second Bootie syndrome like the Second Sock Syndrome I wonder?) It is all finished (another UFO bites the dust) and ready to go off to Knit4Charities (see Yahoo Groups) . Hopefully Pam can think of a way to use it to raise money for postage pacs etc.
Because of the terrible bushfires in Victoria, Australia (a state 1000 miles further south than where I live in Queensland) a plea went out for beanies, and blankets, or squares to be made into blankets. I crocheted 15 25cm squares - and forgot to photo them. But I did make a lot of beanies to go down and have more on the way.
I made another eleven beanies, this time from a free crochet pattern on someone's blog called The 2 strand Ear Flap Hat. The blog is Suzy's Stuff on Blogger ( I can't get the link to work here) All went to charity (Knitting for Brisbane's Needy) to go down to Victoria's Bushfire Victims. The elven beanies were made from Monday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon inclusive - very easy. The original was designed for an adult using two strands of worsted weight yarn. I made children's sizes just using 8 ply (DK) - bigger ones using 2 strands of 8 Ply (DK), some using 1 strand of WW - I even used up odd balls of 4 ply and 8 ply together. Anything goes - they all look great. My grandson put in an order for a black one with purple stripe to go under his bike helmet! Great for cold ears in a Toowoomba winter!
I was well enough to be able to join in with a Crochet-a-Long on a group of friends - the result is the Ray of Hope Doily - so pretty!
I also joined in a mystery crochet-a-long on the same group - the result was this charming little jacket!
If you look at the close up picture you will see a shell edge on the yoke - when I had finished I though I would like to see the yoke end with the shell edge separately from the body - so I came up with this version of the same jacket.
Done in two shades of blue baby yarn - the pale blue is a very old bri-nylon from yonks ago that Iwas given - real vintage stuff! The darker blue is Sirdar Snuggly.
What I did was end off at the shell edge of the yoke, then lifting it up, crocheted around the posts of the last set of trebles(US DC)and then continued as per the pattern for the rest of the body.
I have no idea why I used the darker Blue Snuggly to do this instead of using the lighter blue colour.
Maybe I thought the lighter blue would show through the darker blue yoke?
I ended up with a jacket yoke that looked like this:
And then I invented some booties to match.
Very pleased with the result!
By this time I was starting to feel better after three days just sitting up in bed, taking vitamin C, Senega and Ammonia Medicine, and inhaling Eucalyptus and Menthol. And crocheting of course.
I have been very guilty about the number of UFO's that have been accumulating! So one of my New Year Resolutions was to get some of them finished. So here is one. The pale pink pants (Happy Baby from Red Heart free pattern) I made months ago, in Panda Angoretta.
The colour of the jacket is a lot lighter than the first picture and a lot darker than the second, it is a colour called Fusion and I love it. It is Red Heart Super Saver from USA..
The little ballet slipper buttons came from Dave Rundell in Florida
The pattern for the jacket is one I invented and use a lot - it is knitted (in this case the stitch is Feather and Fan) straight up the back, then cast (bind)off centre stitches for the neck back, knit one row, then cast on half the amount of the back neck stitches for left front, knit down to same length of back, cast (bind) off. Back to right front, cast on half the back neck stitches , knit down to same length as back cast (bind) off. I usually change to garter stitch for last rows of fronts and back.
Mark armhole width the same on each side - then using the shoulder centre, pick up and knit equal amounts of stitches on each side of shoulder from the armhole marker and then knit down sleeves to required length - change to garter stitch for cuff, decreasing about 8 stitches four garter ridges from end of cuff. I then sew up side and sleeve seams, then knit up a garter stitch band on both fronts, placing buttonholes where required. Finally I knit up a neck band in garter.
Most times I make this with seamless sleeves - marking a generous armhole and sewing up (or crocheting up) the side seams. The number of stitches varies with size so it is a bit of a hit and miss - but as I mostly knit to give away to homeless and needy people, my little jackets will always fit someone!
With DK and 4mm (US 6) Needles, I start with about 50 stitches - this works for about a three month size.
This little jacket and hat is the Sweet Baby Bundle pattern
The yarn is Caron Simply Soft in Powder Lilac. The pattern is a free one on the net. There is also a blanket and socks to match, which I didn't make this time! As usual, I had started it and put it aside for more urgently needed items - so another UFO is finished.
This delicious little set is a crocheted thread confection from Annie's Attic "Heirloom Bonnet and Boooties" - it was a free Pattern of the Day from ages ago and I really needed to do the second bootie (is there a Second Bootie syndrome like the Second Sock Syndrome I wonder?) It is all finished (another UFO bites the dust) and ready to go off to Knit4Charities (see Yahoo Groups) . Hopefully Pam can think of a way to use it to raise money for postage pacs etc.
Because of the terrible bushfires in Victoria, Australia (a state 1000 miles further south than where I live in Queensland) a plea went out for beanies, and blankets, or squares to be made into blankets. I crocheted 15 25cm squares - and forgot to photo them. But I did make a lot of beanies to go down and have more on the way.
I made another eleven beanies, this time from a free crochet pattern on someone's blog called The 2 strand Ear Flap Hat. The blog is Suzy's Stuff on Blogger ( I can't get the link to work here) All went to charity (Knitting for Brisbane's Needy) to go down to Victoria's Bushfire Victims. The elven beanies were made from Monday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon inclusive - very easy. The original was designed for an adult using two strands of worsted weight yarn. I made children's sizes just using 8 ply (DK) - bigger ones using 2 strands of 8 Ply (DK), some using 1 strand of WW - I even used up odd balls of 4 ply and 8 ply together. Anything goes - they all look great. My grandson put in an order for a black one with purple stripe to go under his bike helmet! Great for cold ears in a Toowoomba winter!
Photo is pending because I forgot to take a pic before I gave them to Karen - she has a photo to send me!
Edited to include photos of earflap hats! 
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Here is some Knitting - at last!
I have managed to get quite a lot of knitting done since May! I remembered to take pics of most of it - unfortunately, the last lot of knitting I did for the Homeless Connect Day at Brisbane City Hall in November, I forgot to take pictures of ! DUH!
These first two sets are adaptations of the Precious Layettes patterns from Leisure Arts Booklet #3202
All these baby knits were knitted for charity - for a Yahoo Group I belong to called Knitting for Brisbane's Needy.
The little blue and white pullover has been sitting in my UFO basket for longer than I care to relate ! So glad it is finished.
These are two little cuff to Cuff Sweaters, from a Patons Fairytale pattern I found in my pattern stash. It is very easy to make and I have adapted it so there is no seaming, of course!
The little blue cotton set is made in Patons Coconut Ice and is an adaptationof the Precious Layettes Pattern.
The little pink matinee jacket is from my UFO basket - I vaguely remember making it a couple of years ago - I am being good and feeling very virtuous at clearing up my UFOs! Only a dozen or so more to finish!
These first two sets are adaptations of the Precious Layettes patterns from Leisure Arts Booklet #3202
All these baby knits were knitted for charity - for a Yahoo Group I belong to called Knitting for Brisbane's Needy.
The little blue and white pullover has been sitting in my UFO basket for longer than I care to relate ! So glad it is finished.
These are two little cuff to Cuff Sweaters, from a Patons Fairytale pattern I found in my pattern stash. It is very easy to make and I have adapted it so there is no seaming, of course!
The little blue cotton set is made in Patons Coconut Ice and is an adaptationof the Precious Layettes Pattern.
The little pink matinee jacket is from my UFO basket - I vaguely remember making it a couple of years ago - I am being good and feeling very virtuous at clearing up my UFOs! Only a dozen or so more to finish!
I invented this little yellow and blue set - I used 3 ply baby wool doubled to make a nice thick and warm baby set.
Just a plain and simple little Baby Raglan Sweater made in Red Heart Super Saver in Red - the multi is Red Heart Kids in Crayon.
I haven't made a full size BSJ for a while - I tried a bit of fairisle on this one. It is in Red Heart Super Saver, Cornmeal solid and the Multi's name escapes me right now
As in one of the cuff to cuff sweaters above, I made a lot of beanies in black, yellow, and red combinations.
These colours are our indigenous people's flag colours. The red is the earth, the yellow is the sun,
the source of all life, and the black is for the blood of the aboriginal people.
Whenever we go to Homeless Connect days or other places to distribute clothing and blankets etc,knitwear in these colours is always the first to go and is in great demand!
I haven't made a full size BSJ for a while - I tried a bit of fairisle on this one. It is in Red Heart Super Saver, Cornmeal solid and the Multi's name escapes me right now
As in one of the cuff to cuff sweaters above, I made a lot of beanies in black, yellow, and red combinations.
These colours are our indigenous people's flag colours. The red is the earth, the yellow is the sun,
the source of all life, and the black is for the blood of the aboriginal people.Whenever we go to Homeless Connect days or other places to distribute clothing and blankets etc,knitwear in these colours is always the first to go and is in great demand!
The little lavender dress was from a free pattern on the net - but I had to adapt it a lot - there was something peculiar about the neck and raglan shaping.
This year I tried felting (fulling?) for the first time. Last year I bought a pattern for some felted clogs from Fibertrends.
They really came out well - I was amazed at how easy it was!They were so big originally I was a bit worried, but after following instructions and placing in the washing machine for the required time, they shrank up beautifully. I made these all one colour.They were a gift for our Japanese Homestay student who was living with us in August/September.
Here is what they looked like before shrinking!
So having made one pair successfully - I decided to make some more. I had entered an exchange of gifts project on one of my groups so decided to make slippers as part of my exchange.
I made slippers for two people, both two tone, with a dark solid colour on the soles.
On the left is how big they were before felting! See the same ruler is in each picture!
I was so thrilled with my little self that I decided to make another pair for my daughter's partner, Rick, for Christmas. Here's how they turned out. The size of his feet is ELEVEN!!! Absolutely huge!!!!
Of course, the washing machine had decided to pack in a few days before - so I tried to shrink these gi-normous slippers (original measurement 28 inches from heel to toe) by steeping them in hot water in a pot on the stove! Well it doesn't work! So in sheer desperation, I dashed over to my daughter's and stuck them in her washing machine - to my relief they shrank beautifully!
After I trimmed all the little fluffy bits carefully with scissors, they looked so professional!! And they fit him perfectly!
On the needles - a Pi Shawl in palest apricot very fine lace weight wool, I am as far as knitting on the border so when it is blocked I shall take pics for my blog. I have a nearly finished pale pink and raspberry combination baby jacket, hat and leggings set on the needles, as well as a pale blue fine baby yarn set.
They really came out well - I was amazed at how easy it was!They were so big originally I was a bit worried, but after following instructions and placing in the washing machine for the required time, they shrank up beautifully. I made these all one colour.They were a gift for our Japanese Homestay student who was living with us in August/September.
Here is what they looked like before shrinking!
So having made one pair successfully - I decided to make some more. I had entered an exchange of gifts project on one of my groups so decided to make slippers as part of my exchange.
I made slippers for two people, both two tone, with a dark solid colour on the soles.
On the left is how big they were before felting! See the same ruler is in each picture!
I was so thrilled with my little self that I decided to make another pair for my daughter's partner, Rick, for Christmas. Here's how they turned out. The size of his feet is ELEVEN!!! Absolutely huge!!!!
Of course, the washing machine had decided to pack in a few days before - so I tried to shrink these gi-normous slippers (original measurement 28 inches from heel to toe) by steeping them in hot water in a pot on the stove! Well it doesn't work! So in sheer desperation, I dashed over to my daughter's and stuck them in her washing machine - to my relief they shrank beautifully!
After I trimmed all the little fluffy bits carefully with scissors, they looked so professional!! And they fit him perfectly!
On the needles - a Pi Shawl in palest apricot very fine lace weight wool, I am as far as knitting on the border so when it is blocked I shall take pics for my blog. I have a nearly finished pale pink and raspberry combination baby jacket, hat and leggings set on the needles, as well as a pale blue fine baby yarn set.
Jumpers and Jazz in Warwick
July is the middle of our Aussie winter - and on the Darling Downs in Queensland it is very cold indeed. In Warwick just a few miles away from Toowoomba, they hold the annual Jumpers and Jazz Festival in July. Jumpers, for my American friends, just means pullovers, not a pinafore dress! The main street is decorated with knitting! Everywhere!
Here is - wait for it - a shoe tree!!!!!!
Not only is there jazz to go with this eye catching knitting display, but there was a country markets, the Warwick Spinners and Weavers had a display - I was so thrilled with this - I must try my hand at Spinning!
There was even some crochet on display
A statue of one of the City Fathers got a beanie and scarf!
Here is - wait for it - a shoe tree!!!!!!
Not only is there jazz to go with this eye catching knitting display, but there was a country markets, the Warwick Spinners and Weavers had a display - I was so thrilled with this - I must try my hand at Spinning!
There was also a sculpting competition - marvellous entries all made from the local sandstone
I was particularly impressed with this sculpture of a miner!
I don't mind telling you - this was the coldest I have ever been since I left England! It was absolutely freezing.
Could you stand some more flower pics?
Peach Blossom - so delicate!
Then there were Day Lilies, and Hollyhocks.
Look at this magnificent Candy Tuft!
Being Spring, of course there were masses of Azaleas ! Feast your eyes on these!
Then there were Day Lilies, and Hollyhocks.And because of the drought there was a lot of effort made to use materials other than plants, to make flower displays
Since the Carnival - we have had some very good falls of rain and the catchment areas are filling up. Maybe next year Toowoomba will have more parks able to be planted out. Can't wait to see it!
Teapot Display
St Luke's church had a wonderful display of Teapots during the Carnival of Flowers - a huge collection of everything to do with the great English tradition of Afternoon Tea.
This very old tea caddy depicts scenes from Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist"
This miniature Teaset was made in Korea over 100 years ago!
There was a tea towel with a recipe for Aussie Damper on it!
All these were exhibits were on display in the Church Hall. However, when we went into the Church, there was a marvellous treat waiting for us - a huge hand workedFilet Crochet wallhanging, depicting The Lord's Prayer! It was at least 6 feet high.
Handmade by one of the parishioners many years ago, it is framed and mounted on the wall inside the entrance. Having done filet crochet - once - I could appreciate the incredible labour of love this piece of crochet was!
More Carnival of Flowers pics.....
I took so many pictures of all the flowers! The gardeners had a display board showing exactly how they planned the designs and planted the flowers. I must try some of their ideas in my garden!
There was so much colour and variety - hundreds of people travel to Toowoomba every year just to feast their eyes!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Toowoomba Festival of Flowers (Spring Carnival)
Ok - because I was so slack - here are the promised photos of all the beautiful flowers on display in the Queens Park Toowoomba, way back in September during the Spring Carnival!
In this year of extreme drought, only three parks were planted with these wonderful flowers - instead of the normal 15 - and all water used to grow them was transported in special water carts, using only bore water - water from artesian wells, not water from the town water supply.
Many of the private gardens normally on show during this Carnival were much smaller and less elaborate, and used a lot of native plants, and many waterwise plants this year.
We are lucky enough to live within five minutes walking distance of Queens Park - so it was a daily walk for 
us! 
This wonderful old stage coach from the days of Cobb and Co Coaching ( modelled on the American Wells Fargo company) still is used to take tourists around the many parks and gardens in display. 
There are more to come! Do you think you can stand it?
I'm back!
I never realised when I came to live here in Toowoomba, that life would be so frantic! I can't believe it is three months since I posted to my blog! Here it is Boxing Day ( to American friends, that is the day after Christmas Day in Australia and England)
We had a blessed peaceful Christmas - both my son and daughter were able to be with us at the same time - I am so happy I could bust! My daughter's partner Rick has never met my son James before - and they just got on like a house on fire - wonderful to see. We laughed all day - mainly at James' wonderful telling of things that happened when he was a kid - things I was hearing for the first time I might add! My dear stepson and daughter in law and grandchild could not be with us - they had arrangements with friends in Sydney - but maybe next year! But we all spoke to them on the phone in turn so it was altogether a real family day.
I made some big Christmas stockings to go on our fireplace. Being mid summer, we had no fire in the grate but I lighted candles which gave it that festive feel. We shall have them forever and I was quite pleased with them - I sewed them on my Janome and used embroidery stitches to sew on the ribbons - the stockings were just red felt with red gingham backings - purely for show of course. I did lots of appliques on them using the sewing machine too - an Angel, a Santa, a Star, and a big green Gift package. The clown picture is needlepoint - I made it about 23 years ago - it took me three years to make in fits and starts - it badly needs cleaning - does anyone have any ideas? I am reluctant to have it dry cleaned - they do not take enough care of it. I have soap wort growing in my garden which is the traditional medieval herb used for washing tapestries - wonder how it would work?
On the tree are some beautiful Crocheted ornaments made by my dear friend Maria in NC. The spun glass silver ornaments are all I could find of my total collection of spun glass ornaments. Somhow during the move we lost all our lights and all my clear glass with gold trim ornaments! We searched and searched but they seem to be lost forever! Boo hoo! Never mind I shall get more for next year - and have been given some wonderful patterns for more crocheted ones!
I hope all of you wherever you live, had a wonderful Christmas - and if you do not celebrate Christmas, then I wish you much love and happiness for whatever festival you do celebrate. May your New Year be prosperous and full of good fortune.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Toowoomba on the Darling Downs Queensland
I know, it's been a helluva long time between updates. So - a few pictures of Toowoomba - the Carnival of Flowers has just finished so there are lots of pictures of flowers in this post.
But first of all - here's some pics I took of Toowoomba in the winter - and oh brother, was it cold! Much colder than we have been used to - and sometimes it was just plain awful! We did eventually use the open fireplace and it was bliss - but the electricity bill was not ! Nearly $700 for the quarter - just shows you what using two electric oil filled heaters cost when you are in a colder climate!
This is the countryside around us - and you can see it is very dry - Toowoomba is in the midst of a bad drought - although for the first few weeks after we moved here, in May and June, we did have some healthy falls of rain. But since then, rain has been in short supply, and water restrictions are in force. Bore water has been added to the water supply to eke out the water from the catchments and reservoirs.
This view is taken from Picnic Point, on the highest point in Toowoomba, looking down across the valley towards Ipswich and Brisbane.
This is taken in Winter and again, you can see how brown and dry everything is.
We live a few minutes walk from Queens Park - a very beautiful place, and next to it is Toowoomba's Botanical Gardens.
Here is a baobab or bottle tree in Queens Park. The trees in this park are beautiful; apart from the many camphor laurel trees, which abound in Toowoomba's streets, there are English Oaks, London Maples, Japanese Maples, conifers from all over the world, even a Sequoia tree!
These empty flower beds in Queens Park were taken in May - soon to be planted out with annuals for the big and beautiful display in September's Carnival of Flowers.
This avenue of Camphor Laurels is one of many in Queens Park - on a cold day, if you pick up a
fallen twig and break it, then smell the fragrance , the camphor is very strong!
Camellias abound here in Winter - they grow like weeds!
They come in every imaginable shade, some are striped, some have blotches - all are stunningly beautiful!
Our garden is in dire need of TLC - we have two camellia bushes half the height of the house and they have lots of available cuttings - I think that we shall put them to good use and plant a cameliia hedge at the front fence!
I don't think I have seen so many gorgeous camellias to choose from!
This lovely Calliandra was growing happily between the camellias in the park!
This was Winter - more in the next - and it is Spring!
But first of all - here's some pics I took of Toowoomba in the winter - and oh brother, was it cold! Much colder than we have been used to - and sometimes it was just plain awful! We did eventually use the open fireplace and it was bliss - but the electricity bill was not ! Nearly $700 for the quarter - just shows you what using two electric oil filled heaters cost when you are in a colder climate!
This is the countryside around us - and you can see it is very dry - Toowoomba is in the midst of a bad drought - although for the first few weeks after we moved here, in May and June, we did have some healthy falls of rain. But since then, rain has been in short supply, and water restrictions are in force. Bore water has been added to the water supply to eke out the water from the catchments and reservoirs.
This view is taken from Picnic Point, on the highest point in Toowoomba, looking down across the valley towards Ipswich and Brisbane.
This is taken in Winter and again, you can see how brown and dry everything is.
We live a few minutes walk from Queens Park - a very beautiful place, and next to it is Toowoomba's Botanical Gardens.
Here is a baobab or bottle tree in Queens Park. The trees in this park are beautiful; apart from the many camphor laurel trees, which abound in Toowoomba's streets, there are English Oaks, London Maples, Japanese Maples, conifers from all over the world, even a Sequoia tree!
These empty flower beds in Queens Park were taken in May - soon to be planted out with annuals for the big and beautiful display in September's Carnival of Flowers.
This avenue of Camphor Laurels is one of many in Queens Park - on a cold day, if you pick up a
fallen twig and break it, then smell the fragrance , the camphor is very strong!
Camellias abound here in Winter - they grow like weeds!
They come in every imaginable shade, some are striped, some have blotches - all are stunningly beautiful!
Our garden is in dire need of TLC - we have two camellia bushes half the height of the house and they have lots of available cuttings - I think that we shall put them to good use and plant a cameliia hedge at the front fence!
I don't think I have seen so many gorgeous camellias to choose from!This lovely Calliandra was growing happily between the camellias in the park!This was Winter - more in the next - and it is Spring!
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