MACEDOINE

Crafty Stuff

2011-07-20T16:22:00.000-07:00

My return to quilting amongst my other crafts has prompted me to revive this blog and turn it into a record of the myriad crafty projects I have going on. I would love to have an army of faithful followers, like many of the blogsters I follow. But really, that would be a bonus because what I am after is a journal of my many many WIP's or UFO's (unfinished objects) ...so I can shame myself in finishing them... as well as all the new projects.

Here is a start:

The MAUVE sampler quilt: was started some time in the 90's, because we were living "in the old house". There is so much I dislike about this UFO:

first the colour, MAUVE/PURPLE.... it was/ (is?) my ex's favourite colour
the fact that I used poly cotton sheeting for the sashing and the back, with a view of having matching bedding.....
the fact that I used dacron batting.... and it is all shredding at the edges....

I came very close to undoing over 15 years' worth of handquilting, and replacing batting and backing and taking it to the lovely Pam of Quilting Guru, who machine quilted Eva's quilt. But I only have 3 out of the 12 blocks to do, and I kinda like the patterns, even though the hand quilting is crap.

But, to end on a positive note, today my friend Richard and I fly to Melbourne. On the agenda is Richard meeting his gorgeous grandson Isaac for the first time, and celebrating the birthday of son Josh, Eva and Isaac's Dad. For me, it will also be the handover of Eva's quilt, made in 3 weekends! See what one can do when one is motivated and working to a deadline:

Bryn grows up

2008-07-14T21:13:00.000-07:00

It shows the scarcity of my posts these days: only a few posts ago, I announced the birth of my Welsh Cob foal, Bryn. Well, he is now 9 months old, and gorgeous, not only in looks but temperament.

Two Sundays ago, Michelle took him to his first Breed Show. The email I got that night, along with some outstanding photos, was that, not only did he make us proud, but he was a pleasure to work with. Much credit goes to Michelle for all the work she put into him.

Bryn won his class and was Reserve - RunnerUp- for Best Foal!

At home, Bryn is such fun! A few months ago, I was quite sad that he wasn't "friendly" to me. Now, quite the opposite! He follows me round the paddock as I pick up his, and paddock-mate-surrogate-mum Francesca's "doings"... if I dont pay him enough attention, he gets it by pulling on my teeshirt or jumper, which means that now, I have to pull the wheelbarrow backwards to protect myself!

Sadly, Bryn's Dam, our lovely and unique Bessie, went to the Big Paddock In The Sky on May 3. We hope she canters (and eats) to her heart's content up there, and are so grateful for the gift of Bryn.

Snorkelling birthday at Ningaloo Reef

2008-05-30T16:12:00.000-07:00

The morning of my 55th birthday started very early, with a drive to the Perth Domestic Terminal for our flight to Exmouth/ Learmonth. There, luggage and I were dropped off, and Richard went off to abandon Jazz (my car) at the long term parking.

The day before, I had a call from Skywest Airlines, to say that we had been bumped from the 7.05 flight to the 11.30 flight. Unhappy with this, we decided to take no notice and showed up for the earlier flight, stomped feet etc, and were allowed seats on what turned out to be a plane "borrowed" from National Jet, really a work bus for the Fly in Fly out workers on offshore platforms and mines. Even the hot water urn didnt work so no airline coffee.

The serendipity continued on our arrival under warm skies at Learmonth Airport: instead of a Hyundai Getz, the rental gave us a roomier red Kia Rio. 32 km later, we were at the Potshot Resort to check on our apartment. Despite being several hours early for check-in, found it was ready and waiting, number 53... my year of birth.

And so started a few wonderful, warm days. Two days were spent drift snorkelling at Turquoise Beach, inside the reef, amongst colourful fish of all sizes. On the third day, a 160 km drive South took us to Coral Bay, where huge corals grow protected just metres fom the beach. it was warm but not hot as it would be up North in the summer, the water temperature just right for wetsuit-free swimming.

For added fun, I took with us Jazz (one of my Blythe girls), and had fun taking funny photos... very silly in my young age, but fun!

We had some memorable picnics, at Yardie Creek to the south of the Cape Range National Park, and Coral Bay; in the evenings dinner at the Potshot or barbecues at our "apartment"... It was a perfect pre-winter break!

Dear readers, an apology!

2008-05-30T16:01:00.000-07:00

No I havent totally forgotten about my blog, it is just that my inspiration muse had left for greener and cooler pastures.
So to celebrate my return to Blog-land, I shall start with my birthday, 55, and proud to be, it is such a cool number! Then I will blog about my little boy foal Bryn and the departure of his dam Bessie for the big paddock in the sky. Then I will blog about sunsets, life, the universe, sunsets, a new mini passion in my life, maybe Bryn some more. And, if the gaps continue to be of several months, that will cover the next few years. By then I hope to have more topics, more sunsets, and a possible move of residence.

A warm start to 2008

2008-01-03T15:01:00.000-08:00

44C in Perth for Xmas Day!!! I know a lot of people caught in ice and snow storms in the Northern Hemisphere would welcome a bit of warmth, if I could give them a degree or 2 or 20, they are welcome to them.

For once I was OK not having family here, apart from Michelle, who "did her own thing" on the day, having spent Xmas Eve together. No baking turkeys and roast vegetables, no Xmas pudding and cakes, instead it was the beach until it got too hot, and a leisurely nana-nap in the afternoon.

Since I last blogged, I have been to Canberra for a few fun paint-filled days, Sharon's new house is lovely, all the more after a full ceiling and walls paintjob. What I really like about Canberra is the way it has been planned, in a lot of areas you get the feel of being in the country, which of course it understandable as our capital was just created in a rural area early in the 20th century. There are still many open areas, fields and bushland, and most houses have a lot of mature trees, including deciduous.

Other big news: I am an aunty again. as Nicole my "sis in NC" and husband Mike have been blessed with a lovely healthy baby girl, a sister for Chloe, born on December 13: Sophie Caroline, 9lb 9 oz, 4.335 kgs! Cant wait for the pics and more scrap opportunity. I celebrated this by finally finishing the page on Nicole and Mike's wedding, nearly 4 years ago. So glad to be a hoarder as I still have the original wedding invitation!

For Michelle's Xmas I had made an "exploding box", just a fun 3D little photo album, with pics of family, horses, dogs and cats. She loved it and its content too: a few Ferroro Rocher choccies...

I been busy!

2007-12-08T22:40:00.000-08:00

But not as busy as others have been: since I last posted, we have had a change in government in Australia: a resounding rejection of John Howard's Liberals, with Johnny himself losing his "safe" seat of Bennelong in Sydney, only the second time a Prime Minister has found himself, not only out of a job, but out of Parliament, after an election. Labor's Kevin Rudd, despite his lame US-style "Kevin07" slogan, has a lot more credibility, as well as a wife who retained her maiden name... Future will tell if he can earn continued support!
On the home front, very important stuff has been happening: Bryn my welsh foal is growing fast, and is no longer a colt... ouch! His Mum Bessie is in foal again, hopefully to give Bryn a little sister! Holly has had 2 visits to stallion Dae Wynne (Bryn's sire), fingers crossed.
Last Sunday, Michelle went to a Welsh Stud sale, to "help with the catering". Monday morning as I drove in, I noticed a new inhabitant in the front paddock: Francesca, who is a lovely chestnut part-welsh mare with a flaxen mane, very fetching, we all love her already!
The weather hasnt really been very "beachy", so I have finished 2 more pages for my scrapbook.
Still on 2003, I have done a double spread, featuring Sharon's last day in Narrogin before she, the children and Jewel left for Canberra in Nov 03.
The opposite page records the visit of my brother Francois and his wife Babette, all the way from France and before their move to Greece.
All in time, as tomorrow I fly to Canberra to help Sharon redecorate HER new Lodge!

My new baby!

2007-10-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

Meet Bryn! Colt of Bessie (Trapalanda Bellissima) and Dai Wynne, he was born in the late hours of Friday 12 October. Michelle rang me at 11.45 pm, she had been watching a movie and checking on Bessie as she new her moment was near. Bessie foaled between visits, and as Michelle walked towards them, all she could see in the dark was his huge star.
He is very healthy and cantering around the paddock already, much to his mother's annoyance, and we have never seen Bess move so much and so quickly of her own accord to keep up with him. He is also VERY gorgeous, the most beautiful dark grey like mink, which I am am told will become black, with 2 white socks and the star on his forehead....
His name took a while and much deliberation: I always fancied Bryn, and after trying all sorts of combinations, the name "Brynderwyn" came to me at 3 am... that steep mountain pass on the highway north of Auckland where one usually gets stuck behing caravan-towing travellers. Well, it sounds a bit welsh anyway!

Chapter 3: Ireland

2007-10-03T00:48:00.000-07:00

Friday 14 September: Taty Janine joined us on the train from Challans to Nantes. There we said our farewells, she was off to Paris, and we took the airport bus to catch a flight to Dublin. Once in town, we were having trouble locating our place for the night, so Richard went into a pub, came out with an accurate rendition: "Ye cross O'Connell Bridge, then tak the first left, right at the poob".
Litton Lane Hostel sounded charming on the net, in real life, its central location was its only positive trait: the "poob" across the lane played loud doof-doof very late, the showers dribbled pitifully and the fire door slammed upon the return of the inebriated occupants of the other rooms and their subsequent visits to the bathroom.
Nevermind, we enjoyed some great meals in Temple Bar, explored the town and were quite ready to move on by Sunday. Entertainment at the Euston Train Station as hordes of brightly dressed fans descended from Cork and from Killarney for the All Ireland Finals in Football and Hurling (Cork lost BTW).
Two nights at a slightly quieter B & B in Cork: being "close to the train station" also meant "close to diesel trains running their engines very very early in the morning"! Visited Kinsale on Monday, then on Tuesday we picked up our rented VW Golf for 3 wonderful days:

Day 1, a circuit of the Dingle Peninsula, the best B & B so far at Killorglin!

Day 2, irish weather as we drove around the Ring of Kerry, including a little ferry ride to Valentia Island, its slate quarry, grotto and the lovely sub-tropical gardens of Glanleam. Glengarriff for the night, in a bright pink B & B, our last pub dinner followed by a wonderful jam session of traditional irish music by local muso's.
The next morning, on the road again, stop at Skibbereen for a sobering look at the Potato Famine Heritage display, then back to Cork to return the hire car and our flight back to London.

Chapter 2: France

2007-09-30T17:35:00.000-07:00

On Monday Sept 10, we took:
209 Bus Mortlake to Hammersmith
Tube to Baker St
Coach to Stanstead Airport
Ryan Air to Nantes
Airport Bus to Nantes Train Station,
Train to Challans, and finally
car to Baudy!
And here we are, in the cradle of my paternal family, the house my great-grandfather built in 1906.
It was the first time I had slept there since many happy childhood holidays, spent roaming country roads, daydreaming in fields of poppies and cornflowers, relishing my Pappy's cooking, milk, cream, butter and eggs from Ademe across the road. I even recalled the smell of Pappy's post-meal cigarillos...
This time Taty Janine, the last of Dad's generation, was our host. We ate her wonderful cooking in the same dining room, slept in a very antique bed in a room where generations have slept. A bit of gardening, more great meals, walks to the village of Apremont, to the cemetery to water flowers on family graves, then time to leave for our next destination!

London swings

2007-09-09T02:25:00.000-07:00

Well here we are in London since last Thursday. Having had a wet and cold August, the Poms should be grateful we brought warmth and sunshine with us. Gorgeous days, walking the streets, meeting for the first time Josh and Adele's gorgeous baby daughter Eva, Richard's first grandchild. Eva is a great entry card to playgrounds like the Princess Diana Memorial Playground, near Kensington Palace. There we played in the sandpit surrounded by families of many nationalities enjoying the sunshine. Multi national food is being consumed too: italian panini in Soho, Indian in Sheen, Yum Cha in Queensway... not a Fish n Chip in sight, although we are meeting up for sausages n mash near Hyde Park Corner!

Rain then Sunshine

2007-08-07T17:32:00.000-07:00

After 15 wet days, we finally reached, and in some places, exceeded the July rainful average.

The week-end was sunny, warm (22C) and spring-like. Richard and I celebrated this with a huge (for us!) walk through the Trigg bushland just North of Scarborough. The bushland is a remaining pocket of "natural" vegetation, from scrubby sand dunes, to medium size wattles, quandong trees bearing unripe fruit. A few Tuart eucalypts have survived , their habitat much altered by highway building, residential encroachment and deliberately lit fires. After a very pleasant walk, we spotted the ocean again, crossed the highway and walked back home in the sunshine, footpaths busy with walkers, skaters and cyclers, and many in the water enjoying the winter waves.