Do you remember

This post about the Koala who could not decide whether to be called Kenny or Katie??

?

?

?

?

?

Well it turns out his name is ………

Blinky Bill !!!!

And for those who have no idea of what I am talking about

Well here is a link

BTW – does he look scary without a mouth???

I have trouble stitching it – it looked very scary when I put one in

Yarn Along

I have been a lurker on Ginny’s blog Small Things for a little while

And have really enjoyed reading other bloggers posts about what they are reading and what they are crafting.

I feel the time is right to join in and share my reading and crafting habits combined

I chose this book in a last minute dash at the airport

Or rather I think this book chose me!!

Was 1/4 read through while waiting in the airport and before we hit full altitude

btw – The author also wrote another book I thoroughly enjoyed – The Memory Keeper’s Daughter

The project is another Southern Star (size unpublished and with mods)

Santa and Christmas

Before the mad rush of Christmas (and Thanksgiving) start

I thought this might be a gentle reminder

It's from this book - The Book of Santa Claus

It has beautiful old pictures of Santa

I have always loved books

Especially childrens books

And so slowly, but surely, a collection of children's Christmas books are piling up here

Anyone else have some that they love

I would love to add them to my, at the moment, tiny collection

Someday, there will be a grandchild that Grandma (me) can read them too

The Distant Hours

Hi everyone

I am so glad that my last post bought smiles to quite a few faces, like it did to mine.

Hope very much that your weekends continued that way

Do you remember this book that I mentioned a while ago

Well, I finally found some time to read

Yep, I actually put down my needles and hooks

And it was just what I needed

I am now hooked on Kate Morton's story-telling

This is the third book I have read of Kate's

They all contain -

a tiny bit of romance

a little history (mainly between the wars time period)

a little mystery

and just plain old-fashioned enjoyment of words

and the scenery's and people that she conjures up

When I read her books I feel a bit like I did when I was a child

Getting myself "lost" within the story-telling

Forgetting where I am and who is with me

Just in case your interested, the other two books of Kate's are

and

This book may also be titled "The House at Riverton"

Can't wait for more works by Kate Morton

Cotton......... Dreams........

Hi everyone

While there has been lots of knitting going on lately, mainly for charities, my fingers have been crying out to do some crochet.

I have the yarn - Bendigo Woollen Mills 8ply Cotton,  purchased gradually over 6 months

I had an idea of what I wanted it to turn into.

But I am a pattern follower, a bit of one I liked, a bit of another, and another.

Then I was not too sure about the colours I chose, it was limited, and not quite what I had in mind.

Then I kept thinking of what else I could make with this beautifully soft cotton

Round, and round, and round, I have been going for this 6 months

Until the urge became so strong, I just had to crochet

Stick with the original idea of bits of this and that

This is only the first part of the process and I don't like working it this way - Normally

But its great this time

This is turning out to be a 'different' project for me

Just in the way the process is working

You can also see in glimpse in the photo of a small knitting project, a pair of Pocketbook Slippers for a charity.

And another Kate Morton book (do you remember this one, The Forgotten Garden), only started it yesterday and I'm almost half way.  I love her style.  I love it so much, I went and got the hardcover of her latest "The Distant Hours".  I was hanging out till next month to get it in paperback, but when it was so cheap, as much as normal paperbacks, how could I resist

Back when I was younger, I always bought hardcovers of my favourite books. They keep much better than paperbacks, and I am always careful with books.

Now to the dreams

I have been sleeping very, very, very badly lately and last night, after hours of tossing and turning, I had a mixed up dream of a PS3 Assasins Creed Brotherhood style game

BUT

it involved crochet and knitting, projects and puzzles

I woke up with a grin on my face

Wish I could remember it, maybe I could have patented it and made a fortune

By the time you are reading this, a very long held dream of mine will be coming true.

I will have visited every state and territory, even if only briefly, on mainland Australia!!!!

Much like some of my ancestors

But that's another entirely different post

I will be in the wonderful state of Tasmania - Hobart mainly!!!!

BTW - Happy Easter and a thoughtful Anzac Day

Books & Movies

Hi everyone

Now we all know the saying - don't judge a book by its cover!!!!!  Well I found one example where this just was not true.

I became a of fan of  "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" trilogy about a year ago.  The title of the book grabbed my attention and the synopsis was intruiging.

I have no knowledge about Sweden and found the first few chapters labourious to get through.  But to me, it seems that the author was laying down a very large, but strong foundation.  Because after the initial chapters, the book starts speeding away and my interest was captured.  I found it hard to put down towards the end. 

So of course I bought the next 2 books in the trilogy.  Basically they follow the same principles.  Heavy, large foundation, then the book gets going.

Well last night I went and saw the movie.

It is in Swedish with English sub-titles.  Main complaint I have is that the sub-titles were in white type which was extremely hard to read at times when the background was light.  I think it should have had black outline on the type, which would have disappeared on the darker backgrounds.

Even so, I found it easy to follow - especially knowing the story-line!!!!  Hubby had a little difficulty, especially when he could not read the sub-titles, but he said he got the jist of the story.

For once, a movie followed the story-line and did not change it - Yeah!!!!  A few small things were left out, but they really had no affect on the story.  The movie had a slight amount of difficulty allowing you to get into Lisbeth's head, but you get the hint of what is to come.

The colours were a bit soft/faded.  I thought Sweden would be more vibrant with the greens and blues.  But when they get to Australia it all turned yellow!!!!!  What-the!!!!!

Over-all I enjoyed it thoroughly

Have a great weekend

Lady Helsie's Challenge

Hi everyone
And especially to Helsie - look you have your own title in my blog ☺And to anyone that has not met Helsie, pop on over and have a look.  She is a very lovely Lady!!!!

Now Helsie found herself a bit stumped for a blog posting yesterday and stumbled upon an idea of the 4th picture in your folder.
As I was not too sure what to write today I thought I would have a look-see at what my photo was ......
Nothing like many of you would expect, but here it is

It was also the fourth photo in the fourth folder in the fourth folder of my pictures - I like to organise these particular photos

Mary Ann BOWERMAN nee Partridge 1797-1877

Daughter of First Fleeters, Richard Partridge & Mary Greenwood

Married George BOWERMAN, another convict, who may have been erronously hung for a crime in 1820, 10 years after he arrived in Australia

This is hubby's direct line.  He has links to the start of white (and black) men in Australia.

The black comes from 2 convicts, both First Fleeters, one who was an American Negro and the other from West Indies.

Now I bet you would never have thought that you would see that kind of photo here VBG ☺

Now back to our normal channel ☺

Now I know you have seen the Colineet before, but what about the BWM Luxury Ruby?  Wonder what it could be turning into????????

And lucky me, after searching for ages online and in bookshops, I finally came across this last week.  And I got it for a great price!!!!

Bye for now

and have a great weekend

I will be at the cricket ALL weekend for hubby's Grand Finals - go Toukley 4th Grade!!!!!!!

PS - Thanks Karin for the hello for Percy, he says hi back

BTW - forgot to mention how warm it has been here over the past week 28-32C/82-90

Blankets are off at night, but sheet is definitely on - it does get a little cool ☺

Books & Slippers

Hi everyone

Sorry, no show on the "WARNING" project.  Things have slowed down a bit and with the weather being so warm (high 30's/high 90's) and humidity being about 90% or so, its way too sticky to deal with - even with wool.

A few of you were lucky enough to pick up some books for Christmas, either as gifts or just because you deserve it - of course  (HUGE grin).  There were a few I was very interested in but had only seen online.  Now with books and yarn, I am the sort of person who needs to touch, look, feel, read a bit etc - I'm sure you have the idea.

So I went to our 2 local bookstores, 1 of which is an international store, and looked and looked and asked - but no, nothing what I was really after, some vague may-be's if I have-to, but nothing that said "take me home now, I'm what you need".  So I very disappointedly gave-up and resigned myself to buying online with looking - very, very, sad face.

I decided to wander into my LYS/LCS, Hornsby Wool & Craft Nook.  The shop is small and caters for most craft, so there is only a little bit of everything.  They had about 20 books for various crafts and I spotted it!!!!!!!

Something I had been eyeing off online out of curiosity

Something that teased my interest - longing to look inside

So I grabbed it (just in case someone else might want it)

Flipped a couple of pages

And yes, it had enough in there that I was looking for

I was interested in the fact that there were different shapes for motifs, not just squares.  So you will see something during the year of these motifs.

And then just after Xmas, they had stalls in the mall, one of which had calenders etc, which was fund-raising for the local hospital.  Now I had been keeping an eye-out for a particular one.

And look what I spotted, and it was only $10.00  - Woo Hoo

Mixed patterns, some I don't think I will ever get around too - but you just never know  :-)

I have been Knitting too,   :-)

Making more of these

More Slippers With Soul!!!!!

I made and sent 8 pairs last year and I wish to at least equal this, preferably increase it.  This is with Knit 4 Charities group, which are planning on sending 500 pairs for Nursing Homes, Hospitals for elderly etc.  They are only about 100 pairs short so far.  I am rewarding myself - I can't do personal crochet projects until I completed 1 pair and then I can work a little on "my" projects.  So far I have made 4 pairs - so half way.

Hope you have a great weekend planned

Just a quickie be back later

Hi everyone
I do have a blog planned for today, but I just had to get this out there.

There is a book I have been eyeing off lately, but it has been hard to find locally.  Not available in my local bookshops, which is where I prefer to buy books as I always have a need to see inside them, to assess their value.  I definitely don't like buying books online unless it is absolutely necessary.

Now I was reading this blog, Hook & Scrumble, who was talking about her Christmas decorating projects when right at the bottom of the blog is this .........

 a Giveaway!!!! of the book I have been eyeing off.

So although I really want the book and don't want to share about the Giveaway, I must

Good luck everyone

No crochet or knitting but Pixie's

Hi everyone

The weather has been so hot and humid over the last 5 days or so and very little crochet or knitting has been going on.  My hands are just too clammy.  So no updates on that front, cause I am not sure you would notice the difference.

South Australia is on a 'Red Warning' (or something like that) because of their heat wave. This means weather similiar to those in Victoria earlier this year where so many people, families, homes and neighbourhoods were so severely affected.  Let's hope that is not the case now.

So I will talk about an old book I have had from a young child.  Well the book was given to my sisters and me, but I am the reader, so somehow it has always been with me.

The book was given to me by "Aunt Ruby", who I believe was my grandmothers cousin.  Now I also know that someone was a house-cleaner for the author, Pixie O'Harris, not sure if it was Ruby or my Nan, Thelma.  I know that my Nan was forced very early into employment as a house-cleaner when her Dad died (her Dad died when she was 13 in 1930 and her Mum when she was 16 in 1933).  But I think in this case it is more likely to be Ruby because of the inscription in the book.

The Inscription reads

"For Ruby

a Xmas Gift in advance

with love

Pixie O'Harris

26 April 1960"

.

Here is the cover of the book with my shadow on the right.  I am not sure if a dustjacket was ever released with the book, but on prowling around web-sites, the few that are available are described similiarly to this.  So I believe no dustjacket.

So now you know the author - Pixie O'Harris.  A Welsh born Australian.  You can read more about her here.

One of my favourite stories is 'Rondel the Fair'.  I used to get so lost in the fantasy that I would forget everything and anything.  Love the drawings and the stories.  My escape valve!!

I believe the book was published in 1950.

My Aunt Ruby also gave this to us.  Also another Pixie O'Harris drawing, but with colour.  It is a real pity that someone bent the board.  But it has been like that for as long as I can remember it.  Used to always think it was of me.  So I am not sure when Pixie drew it.  I am guessing when she did "The Story of our Baby" which was published in 1940.

I am also lucky enough to have a copy of a photo of my Nan and Ruby taken in 1935

Thelma GAY & Ruby GAY

Bye for now

The Forgotten Garden

Hi everyone

So for the first time I am trying the new version of Blogger, lets see how it goes - it certainly uploaded the photo quickly.

I was a bit too quick to write yesterday about feeling better. 

As I mentioned yesterday was another scorcher and although some of my readers would like to join me in the warmth, I don't think they realise how very hot it was!!!!  As per normal with down-under, a few hot steamy days is only the prelude for the HUGE electrical storm that follows - very heavy rain, great electrical displays (beats a lot of fireworks) and loud thunder.  And of course the temperature has dropped by about 10 degrees today.  So in sympathy my head decided to explode - well not really, but that is only cause I was holding it together with my hands  :-)  Thank goodness that is a rare occurance for me!!!

I put a weather gadget on my site yesterday to show those from elsewhere what it is like here, but on checking what it had I will delete it today - not even close to what it really was like.

Now back to the book I promised yesterday - here it is

 

I have wanted to read this book for a while and kept putting it off - choice between yarn or book, and yarn had been winning until recently.  The other reason I put it off was that for the last few years I had only read history non-fiction books and did not know if I was ready to go back to fantasy.  But I so was ready!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  It reminds me of when I was a child and use to become thoroughly absorbed into the story so I would forget everything else.  A bit fantasy and a bit fact.  A very easy read, which just teases you along with interest.  The Authoress is an Australian - you can find more about her here.  I will definitely be on the look-out for her earlier book "The Shifting Fog" or for Americans "The House at Riverton".
After reading about Kate on the website, I knew she would have a love of the old children's books - that is what I kept thinking about when I wasn't reading her book.

PS - I have always kept wondering what The Garden Bell was on about with no spell-checker.  Well now I know - the new version does not have one!!!  Someone tell Blogger we need it!!!

PSS - A big thank you for everyone that left the lovely comments on AB Ripple Pillow both here and at Flickr - THANK YOU!!!

Have a great weekend

The Kurrajongs

Hi everyone
Firstly some lovely lilies that DH bought home on Thursday. He bought them with all the buds closed tight so that I would get to enjoy them opening. Now if you have read my profile I mention that I like reading. I have not even mentioned it here at all, so I thought from time to time I should do that. So here is the first ......

I enjoy history, I love Australia, and I have more than a passing interest in the human side of war. Not so much the battles and deaths, more the intimate stories behind it, so this book is a great start.

The author, Ian Small, has labelled it a "faction" a mix of fact and fiction. I think he got the mix right, it certainly kept me entertained and I also checked for more information on the "The Kurrajongs". So if you have an interest in Inverell, NSW or 33rd Battalion you should pick up the book from here or at the St Ives Heritage Craft Fair (which is where I got mine from).

Bye for now