tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37341147163191595082024-03-06T12:23:31.781+11:00Life Is A PeaSweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.comBlogger733125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-56112512314959494232017-06-19T13:13:00.000+10:002018-05-08T13:15:47.523+10:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">It's been a long time since I've posted! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The recent success I've had with making 100% rye sourdough bread has prompted me to share that success here. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Eighteen months ago I was having such a painful time with sinusitis that in desperation I sought the assistance of a qualified nutritionist and was encouraged to try a dairy free diet. Which I did. With astonishing results. For the first time in decades I became symptom free. Trials to reintroduce dairy into my diet have not gone well. So I continue to remain dairy free. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I also removed all gluten from my diet. The past eight months or so, my health has been at times, alarming. Without going into the intricacies of all that has developed with my health, my situation meant I delayed reintroducing gluten into my diet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I am not coeliac. My suspicion is that my problem is with wheat so I am attempting to reintroduce gluten via grains that are wheat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">My previous attempts at making bread have all be been disasters. But never before have tried making rye sourdough bread. One hundred percent rye at that! </span></div>
<br />Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-38885101495992520952016-10-31T23:30:00.000+11:002016-11-01T11:23:48.593+11:00Purple #2<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I'm having a purple theme to celebrate my sister's second children's book launch,</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Don't Forget Purple.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">This year we have a lot of purple flowers in the garden, most of them native plants which seem to love the fact that we've thinned out the undergrowth from around the bush block we live on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I suspect that they are receiving more sunlight.</span></div>
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Native Iris</div>
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Native Iris</div>
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Lavender</div>
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Dianella</div>
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Native Finger Lime</div>
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Golden Pod Peas/Snow Peas/Mangetout</div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The golden pod peas are doing really well and so far none of the native wildlife seem to have noticed it. That or the high chicken wire shield I've erected is working, even though the plants have emerged out of the top of the netting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">And here is my sister's book, <i>Don't Forget Purple</i> in the bookshop window along with one of the bears I knitted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The story is based on a real life event with real life characters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Purple is my niece's bear, or should I say was!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Here is Purple Mk II. The family found out the hard way that purple bears are not easy to come by!</span></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-43604670261772061742016-08-02T13:19:00.000+10:002018-05-08T13:20:07.652+10:00Making Pickle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Midway through June, Mr Honey Pie brought home a generous amount of limes from the 'share-table' they have at his work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">At first I thought they were very green lemons but within a day or two I realised they were limes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKTnKvI1JIHxeG1_pSzTSmElfjkJ_stIRbPggKPOypQtu2TII7cSLaQWp2HgNTa2nivQ1hLre-8-xxZxe4SyZXdqVptTWZgvay45InZBCqREgtjQ9y2CBjwpxJZIgOOakrCDyW5BI_Po/s1600/IMG_0152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKTnKvI1JIHxeG1_pSzTSmElfjkJ_stIRbPggKPOypQtu2TII7cSLaQWp2HgNTa2nivQ1hLre-8-xxZxe4SyZXdqVptTWZgvay45InZBCqREgtjQ9y2CBjwpxJZIgOOakrCDyW5BI_Po/s640/IMG_0152.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I love lime-pickle so I searched for an easy recipe on line (I've never made lime pickle before) and found this relatively easy fermented lime pickle <a href="http://fermentationrecipes.com/indian-lime-pickle/500" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">It's a process that takes a few weeks but I just love how it looks so far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Isn't it wonderful that people are so generous with their produce? </span></div>
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<br />Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-27236463862920301632016-04-28T14:27:00.004+10:002016-04-28T14:27:44.475+10:00Purple Bears<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I swear it's coincidence that my latest project has been all about knitting purple bears!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I will keep you posted on why I'm knitting them, hopefully in two weeks or so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">But in the meantime...here's a photo...and I will keep on knitting until I'm told 'that's enough'.</span></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-16740681240971840722016-03-09T14:04:00.002+11:002016-03-09T14:04:53.446+11:00This Month In The Garden - March<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">It's been a while since I've posted about my garden, simply because a) it can be a bit repetitive and b) there's been a few disasters which are repetitive (read possums, birds, antichinus, and who knows what else eating the fruits of my labour).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">But here's a little surprise...somethings I've grown for the first time and have had some success with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The above is the flower of the galangal plant, which is I think related to the gingers and has the most exotic scent. I literally watched this bloom open before my very eyes. The flowers I must say, are short lived but their fragrance can be experienced from metres away. </span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXVWkKlrSME/Vt-NMnt1O6I/AAAAAAAAHLA/JQJ2iP9yrcA/s1600/P3050187-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GXVWkKlrSME/Vt-NMnt1O6I/AAAAAAAAHLA/JQJ2iP9yrcA/s640/P3050187-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">My other success has been the curry leaf tree.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">It too flowered and I'm waiting to harvest the seeds so I can propagate them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">These plants can become weedy so the flowers or seeds need to be removed and disposed of before the birds spread the pods far and wide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">We've had a pretty wet and at times cold summer, and it wasn't until last week that I spotted dragonflies in our garden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">This male, I'm pretty sure he's a Male Common Glider Dragonfly - Tramea loewii, stayed still long enough for me to take a 'point-and-shoot' shoot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">It looks like he may have tangled with a spider's web.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Here in the southern hemisphere we're gearing up for the Autumn Equinox! And an early Easter.</span></div>
Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-11107066927622755382016-02-23T13:11:00.001+11:002016-02-23T13:11:06.091+11:00It's Only Words<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Recently I have been most noticeable, I think, by my absence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The past few months have been quite a struggle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">In the late part of 2015 I was dealing with severe symptoms of sinusitis; such as I’ve never experienced before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">In my despair I sought out a new GP who practises alternative medicines and found myself a nutritionist at a university where my daughter attends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The exorbitant cost of alternative therapies in Australia has always infuriated me, not because of the cost but because the Australian government refuses, in the main, to subsidise these therapies and, for the chronically ill, who have tried conventional medicine to no avail, are the least able to afford them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">But all that aside, if the GP practises alternative medicine, I am subsidised to some extent, even though I still end up paying over 50% of the fee myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The university offers consultations with nutritionist in training at a very small fee but the supplements usually end up costing three or four times the cost of the consultation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Despite all that, progress has been made.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">First the GP ordered tests; to discover that I had a parasite infection in the large intestine -<i>Dientamoeba fragilis</i>. (Treated with a course of antibiotics). So that taught me: A second opinion was worth it. I had seen her way back in 2003 and she was curious to know why, after so long, I was still suffering from IBS symptoms even though I had taken various steps to treat the condition. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Second the nutritionist recommended eliminating all dairy and gluten from the diet. Which I did, to amazing results. For the first time in decades I can state that I’m free from sinusitis and hay fever symptoms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Thirdly, I have been struggling with weight gain for many years now, and while I may not look obese, or for that matter, even overweight, I know I am. I have the physique that fills out nicely, and doesn’t necessarily bulge, but for someone that weighed just on fifty kilograms after her third baby, it certainly feels like a burden to carry around half of that weight again. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Just cutting out the dairy, I believe, is a big factor in the weight loss I’ve experienced since late last year. Not a huge amount…six kilograms or so…but also changing what I eat generally has also helped. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I’ve increased the amount of protein at each meal by including more fish, quinoa, eggs and buckwheat into my diet, and saving my main carbohydrate meal for the evening. I’ve discovered chia puddings, almond milk (both which I make myself), coconut yogurt, seeds, and nuts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">My sugar intake has dropped dramatically and I haven’t had a cup of coffee (affogato – my downfall) for at least three months!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">My next step in to up my regular exercise, at the moment I only do yoga once a week for around 60 minutes but my aim is to find a personal trainer willing to work with my resistance/weight bearing exercise from the aspect of someone who tires very easily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">My new GP gives me regular acupuncture and some alternative remedies and I continue my nutritionist’s consultations … I will endeavour a challenge at the end of the week, re-introducing dairy in the way of a 50g serve of hard cheese and note any reactions I may have. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">In the meantime I'm fighting a dose of summer flu! I have been in bed since Sunday and missed out on a family lunch! Today I lay, languid, in bed writing these words. I’ve done my fair share of reading too, but I want to be up, enjoying the world and I’m cursing the person that has shared this unwanted bug with me (Mr Honey Pie!). (Well, perhaps I should be cursing the person who passed it on to him!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">In other news, I’m reading Geraldine Brooks <i>People of The Book. </i>I know one of my blog followers recommended this book to me, but I cannot remember who that may have been but I thank them for the recommendation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The book spoke to me one hot afternoon, as I stood outside one of the two local used bookshops in Springwood, waiting for my Grand Daughter to meet me off her school bus. It sat in a pile of strategically placed books in the shop window. I restrained myself from going into the book shop and the next afternoon, the shop was closed early so the temptation was taken away for the week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">But the next time I was there, and had some time to spare before the bus’ arrival, I slipped in and handed over the twelve dollars for the book. I felt a bit rude as the book shop lady wanted to have an in-depth conversation with me and asked if I’d read any other of Geraldine Brooks’ books and I said ‘no’…only to discover, once I was home, that I had, because Brooks also wrote <i><a href="http://lifeisapumpkin.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/what-im-reading-atm.html" target="_blank">Years of Wonder</a></i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Explaining that I was waiting for the bus, I had to slip out quickly. I’m a bit wary of the fact that the bus stop is right out the front of a used book shop…this is a new thing for both my Grand Daughter and I - meeting at the bus stop...and throwing a book shop into the mix is a dangerous thing, both for myself and my Grand Daughter, as we are both book fiends and avid readers. </span></div>
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<i style="font-family: 'courier new', courier, monospace;">Seems I owe a 'thank you' to Jayne M at <a href="http://tinytoadstoolcottage.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Adventures At Tiny Toadstool Cottage</a> for recommending the above text. Thanks Jayne I'm enjoying the read!</i></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-26100070114421837462016-01-17T23:05:00.002+11:002016-01-20T23:13:19.555+11:00My First Post of 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Happy New Year!<br />Yes, I have been absent...for many reasons, health not being the least.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">But here I am again and I'm so excited by my newest patchwork project.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I've always wanted to try this!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Fussy Cut Hexagons & Diamonds - English Paper Pieced.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The idea of the mirror is to play around with possibilities and then to choose one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The one above is what I chose for my centre.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I've had the pleasure of attending a one day work shop at <a href="http://www.postofficepatchwork.com.au/" target="_blank">Post Office Patchwork Glenbrook</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">under the tutelage of <a href="http://www.annesommerladdesigns.com.au/" target="_blank">Anne Sommerlad</a> and using her beautiful designed pattern.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">What can I say? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"> I'm hooked!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Linking to</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.freshlypieced.com/2016/01/wip-wednesday-in-line.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0EM19RjFNP8/UzOl2jMrBHI/AAAAAAAAFng/2nFRbBNPQgY/s1600/8253389546_fdb631e427_o.jpg" /></a></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-69618794833013349082015-11-19T12:53:00.001+11:002015-11-19T13:55:29.533+11:00Counting Pollinators<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">My health has taken a bit of a tumble lately and as a result I haven't been up to much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">But it's not difficult to become involved in the <a href="http://wildpollinatorcount.com/" target="_blank">Wild Pollinator Count</a>. I'm endeavouring to do this as often as I can in the time frame.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">If you're in Australia you may want to take part too. You've got until the 22nd of November.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Taking photographs of your finds is optional but I managed one or two not-too-bad captures today so here they are. (Bearing in mind I used my point and shoot camera.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gJmSXdXe-c7zlHvprqoWlnViDAf6a7NN7LFuUbhowTfQGjUQc82eZ6Z7o4n8osAXJb8hnxzhyphenhyphenLQOje3hDszbSYWIjzn7DAuvYnVQOR1_A0xcWNu6A12dqEvrE8WHWEc3wYn_UVX3l6s/s1600/IMG_8579-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7gJmSXdXe-c7zlHvprqoWlnViDAf6a7NN7LFuUbhowTfQGjUQc82eZ6Z7o4n8osAXJb8hnxzhyphenhyphenLQOje3hDszbSYWIjzn7DAuvYnVQOR1_A0xcWNu6A12dqEvrE8WHWEc3wYn_UVX3l6s/s640/IMG_8579-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I chose a large stem of elder flower from which to make my observation.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeptThs71xCaY-7LqdUxXtI3uRt4H9t21FztntvS8umlfJG6yiuEcQkbNEbvIvvPNlcD-mPSsAQZUUZl_Ox8YsHHrQ00kdwE9v48nXfcrOakV44OyFiZ1UDUjYadG2_cwo8sAgYBc6rM/s1600/IMG_8578-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeptThs71xCaY-7LqdUxXtI3uRt4H9t21FztntvS8umlfJG6yiuEcQkbNEbvIvvPNlcD-mPSsAQZUUZl_Ox8YsHHrQ00kdwE9v48nXfcrOakV44OyFiZ1UDUjYadG2_cwo8sAgYBc6rM/s640/IMG_8578-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I spotted a fly (there was a second much smaller fly too)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraXs2N47gGcLWCxJVg_XEv1ESIdpxerS71MULrp67ljrfxzW53S23jBblIguO2hLM-zbbb8D0dQaMfHSCAv2P5M8VpMe1be04WmbGeDyUQ2jldDz8w_pWdckuJa_OIug2B4kyPNCNfHM/s1600/IMG_8577-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraXs2N47gGcLWCxJVg_XEv1ESIdpxerS71MULrp67ljrfxzW53S23jBblIguO2hLM-zbbb8D0dQaMfHSCAv2P5M8VpMe1be04WmbGeDyUQ2jldDz8w_pWdckuJa_OIug2B4kyPNCNfHM/s640/IMG_8577-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">and a European honey bee as well as some unidentifiable insects that reminded me of midges; and what looked like a pintail beetle which was too swift for me to even begin to take a photo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">It's nice to see the sun shine after weeks of wet stormy weather but the prediction is for heat wave conditions with temperatures in the low forties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Linking to Outdoor Wednesday</span></div>
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<a href="http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/1118-outdoor-wednesday-358.html"><img alt="Outdoor Wednesday: Click on the picture below to learn more..." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8SZOk7GztVSdrMiWTH3A0r1Ev4EvL79y8Ne6uf3HWIi5ziL4BVIiV3pVRqItmdFo-pIm-YguW3_tw6zPvDwdWwD9VgwevTcuLZV2MIKiKOyVxlRXVobTMjwjv63NjuGAaKmhhyphenhyphenOz_zHQ/s220/Outdoor+Wednesday+logo.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Our World Tuesday</span></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-43664877498157514982015-11-09T23:53:00.000+11:002015-11-10T00:03:50.975+11:00Expect The Unexpected<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWERFYEJY377h5XZQbkslxWemOKZCjkKQ0il4Mx7P6yVxxNPzf2ksSU_j3k4yBherjHR6ERFGt2o6JEeAAys0Qu3hUFkU9otPjJPuLDUcr6pEW6swU_O5AlWxuZ_duBx1jnmxygye_HeY/s1600/IMG_8541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWERFYEJY377h5XZQbkslxWemOKZCjkKQ0il4Mx7P6yVxxNPzf2ksSU_j3k4yBherjHR6ERFGt2o6JEeAAys0Qu3hUFkU9otPjJPuLDUcr6pEW6swU_O5AlWxuZ_duBx1jnmxygye_HeY/s640/IMG_8541.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I took this from our speeding car with my point-and-shoot camera as Mr HP and I drove home last night. We'd had lunch with our family to celebrate the November birthdays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I wasn't expecting much from the camera, even though the scene before me was one to behold.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">I did ask him to stop so I could take a quick shot from the side of the road; but he chose not to hear. It seems there was no need ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">This is in the vicinity of Badgerys Creek, the site for what is being tagged as Sydney's next international airport, and looking west.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">The blue finger along the horizon is The Blue Mountains...where we live.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: courier new, courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Linking to:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/2015/11/our-world-halloween-edition.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Our World Tuesday Graphic" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvceDVMw4SQjPyvNPfjpp5hpSiuOwJBVbtO2-Cyc7CyE8RlYYiDIYSB0mWApEi4UHVQNnsmbMphO3skvcaY_jXCj9scc9p15xuFX9dfb1T-ZEM1ABF9WEvnIFDVYsJjZMQ11WAcQy-I-U/s250/Our+World.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0Luddenham NSW 2745, Australia-33.8821426 150.6916777-33.9876196 150.53031620000002 -33.7766656 150.8530392tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-63854340156069806982015-11-04T11:30:00.001+11:002015-11-04T11:30:19.334+11:00Four Seasons Fill The Measure Of The Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I don't believe it's been over a month since my last post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">October has been a mixed month, one of gluten free, dairy free birthday cakes (as I struggle with sinusitis and a bad bout of IBS);</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VK409_eoBfYJefG9UFgn5ROGWGXfMQqZmXHt7bDxp_NLQOzYMRibEd_2DBLDjWm2VUwWPmdiaC5C65bSTvokS91BD912sKlroMl6h7M0fbzDWKYv_BZwhnCOQ1bDB1WG3tVUOfB1DbM/s1600/IMG_8484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VK409_eoBfYJefG9UFgn5ROGWGXfMQqZmXHt7bDxp_NLQOzYMRibEd_2DBLDjWm2VUwWPmdiaC5C65bSTvokS91BD912sKlroMl6h7M0fbzDWKYv_BZwhnCOQ1bDB1WG3tVUOfB1DbM/s640/IMG_8484.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">hot summer-ish days spent on our beautiful harbour;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">windy dry days followed by the mindful sweeping-up of leaves;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">days of gratitude and appreciation as plants respond to the sudden burst of warm days after such a long and cold winter.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Having had such a cold winter accentuates the divide of the seasons, something we haven't experienced for some years now.<br />Welcome, Spring.</span></div>
<br />Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-17744917337462914702015-09-17T07:00:00.000+10:002015-09-17T07:00:01.381+10:00French General - A Finish<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Finally got to finish my French General Quilt, which I gifted to my Mum for her birthday this week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I loved it so much I was so tempted to covet it for myself! But I resisted, well, I guess that's an excuse to make another for myself! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And Mum loves it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I basted it using the plank method and machine quilted it myself. The doily label is a vintage doily I bought some time ago and to which I added the embroidered writing myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It feels good to have another quilt finished! </span></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-49563841942774248622015-09-16T07:30:00.000+10:002015-09-16T07:30:00.972+10:00When September Comes<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">September, for our family, is full of birthdays. And then there's father's day too, which, in Australia, is celebrated on the first Saturday of September.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It's been a difficult month for us this year, as the fathers we are missing grew again with the passing of my brother in May, and our nine year old niece spent her first birthday without her Dad. It is also very hard for Mum who has lost both of her sons and for her to know that two of her Grandchildren will never see their Dads again. But spending as many days as possible with family celebrating birthdays helps to make remembering the birthdays of those that are absent, much easier to bear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">We've therefore had a number of celebrations since the beginning of September and they culminated with a picnic birthday celebration last Sunday at Watson's Bay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The weather came to the party too and we languished gracefully under a monstrous fig tree and indulged in take away fish and chips from Doyle's at lunch time. The queues for take away were soooo long!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The day ended in a beautiful show for which I am grateful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Yesterday was our Mum's birthday so my sister and I took her out to lunch at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MotherEarthNursery?pnref=story" target="_blank">Mother Earth Nursery</a> Cafe at Kenthurst where we languished some more and indulged in a little bit more than fish and chips...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Affogato...looks too good to eat!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ordered a 'little' cake for Mum's birthday...and shared it three ways.<br /></td></tr>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-80991860421552744982015-09-15T23:42:00.001+10:002015-09-15T23:42:24.761+10:00Orchid File<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I'm declaring 2015 a great year for orchids!</span></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-88563619123219780232015-08-12T18:17:00.001+10:002015-08-12T18:17:57.017+10:00Winter Hibernation ...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">...means a good book or three to read as one snuggles on the couch, wrapped in a scarf and blanket. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I've been coping with the cold by staying indoors as much as possible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">As a result the garden has been neglected but I've managed to catch up on some reading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Just like my post <a href="http://lifeisapumpkin.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/what-im-reading-atm.html" target="_blank">here</a> I'm a little ashamed to admit that I've never read <i>To Kill A Mocking Bird</i> (Lee Harper). I cannot explain why this is the case, except to say that I have been curious about the novel when it has come up in conversation in the past. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">But with all the hype about Lee Harper's new novel <i>Go Set A Watchman</i> my curiosity got the better of me and I became determined to read for myself what all the fuss was and is about.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Can you imagine my delight when, (on the 15th July) I happened upon a charity shop in Katoomba as I made my way to a function at the Paragon Cafe where I would meet with my Best Friend Ever. As I walked past the shop I made a mental note to pop in and a have a look after lunch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The Paragon Cafe itself is a treasure trove of memorabilia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; text-align: center;">We indulged in a 50's themed <i>Christmas in July Lunch</i> on a bitterly cold day and as we were returning to my car My Friend, being a vintage clothes junkie, couldn't resist the Steven Walter Children Cancer Foundation - Op Shop (which has been described as a 'boutique-style charity shop') and as I'd already forgotten my mental note, I would not realise how appreciative of my friend I would be until my later find.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The store is a treasure trove...there is indeed a select array of the finest vintage items. Some may even be classed as antique but I'm not qualified to say. We found room after room of nicely displayed collections of furniture, china, clothing, toys, and...books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">On spotting the books I began scanning the shelves for Lee Harper's first novel but quickly gave up as I couldn't really work the system employed by the staff to file their books (it definitely isn't the Dewey system!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">A staff member was stacking more books from a trolley so I approached her and asked if they happened to have <i>To Kill A Mocking Bird</i> and when I saw the look on her face I hoped she didn't think I was mocking her! I could see her brain ticking over and I wondered to myself what retort she may be thinking up but after a few seconds her gaze, along with her mind I imagined, cleared and she uttered the words (or similar): <i>Yes we do, I've just put one up on the shelf here.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Then to my amazement she walked over to a rattan shelf and she reached up to the top most shelf and from atop the top most book, she took down a forlorn paperback copy of the book I had requested. (I would never have looked there.) <i>Seek and ye shall find.</i> It <i>is</i> as simple as that. I paid three dollars for it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Then two weeks or so later, at my local bookshop I paid $45 for a hardcover edition of <i>Go Set a Watchman.</i> Oh well. (And no, it's not a first edition, as far as I can work out.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">As a first time reader of the first novel written by Lee Harper I found myself drawn in by the character of Scout Finch and even though the setting is in a different continent and a different time to my own childhood the many similarities astounded me. Perhaps both Scout and I commit, perhaps unconsciously, to existentialism. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The most innocuous is what at times connects (for example) generations, or cultures</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">. Besides, this narrative most certainly continues to relate to contemporary issues in my own homeland, and I imagine, many parts of the western world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Although reviews have described<i> To Kill A Mocking Bird </i>as a series of flashbacks in Jean Louise Finch’s life, I found them to be cohesive enough to not come across as a retelling of past events but rather, an unfolding of events in a troubling time as experienced by a young child, who perhaps is more open than most children to the impact of the behaviour of various adults and social groups in their life; as well as the conditions imposed on the children she associated with (or didn’t) as she grew up in Maycomb County, southern Alabama.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The questions it will trigger in the reader are as relevant today as they were back in the 1930s. <i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This novel has a definite beginning, middle and end. It questions life issues more directly, I think,<i> than To Kill A Mocking Bird.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The beginning was slow, reminisces a lot about Jean Louise/ Scout's childhood , and written in a much shriller voice than that of the deep and worrisome chesty tones of<i> To Kill a Mocking Bird. </i>Perhaps it’s the inconsistent tone of the writing that left me feeling uneasy in the beginning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">As a result, I found the start of the book sedate and irritating, especially since I read it immediately after Lee Harper’s first book. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">But it’s not long before Scout’s questioning of and refusal to accept the norms of her isolated and close knit community comes to the fore and once more I became enthralled and swept up by her thoughts and reasoning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It’s been some years since Scout left Maycomb and this narrative is set during her annual visit to her childhood home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i>Go Set A Watchman,</i> i</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">n the twenty first century, has just as much relevance as it would have in the 1950s, but perhaps we as humans have evolved enough to process the message more readily. Whether we accept the challenge or not remains to be seen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> (I have read where a book seller has offered to refund buyers of the book, their money if they so wish, because they may have been led to believe it was a ‘nice summer novel’ but instead may find it to be an ‘academic insight’. My response to that is: Hummpf. <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/04/us-bookshop-offering-refunds-for-go-set-a-watchman-harper-lee)">http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/04/us-bookshop-offering-refunds-for-go-set-a-watchman-harper-lee</a>.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">In the beginning this book made me laugh, in the end it brought me to tears but most importantly, in the middle, as I became absorbed by the conflicts experienced and betrayals perceived by Jean Louise, the words truly made me think and caused me to question my own views and beliefs towards people of other creeds, cultures, social standing and race. It raises the question of the probability of how civil rights and liberties are interpreted depends on which group is doing the interpreting. </span><br />
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-54795346161260461822015-08-07T11:34:00.001+10:002015-08-07T11:34:11.732+10:00Mufti Day<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Here in Australia our schools have what is called "Mufti Day". It is a day on which children and staff wear casual clothing, usually to raise funds for a cause. Those choosing to wear mufti on a set day may do so as long as they donate a gold coin (in Australia a one or two dollar coin) for the cause.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My Grand Daughter, Little Miss Seven (almost 8) has mufti day at her school today to raise money for <a href="http://www.jeansforgenes.org.au/" target="_blank">Jeans for Genes Day</a>. She wore pink jeans to school and, as it was our turn to drive her today, she spotted the knitting I'd been making for her and asked if she could wear them to school.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u81Dzn5WM_k/VcP7-MHFmYI/AAAAAAAAG_s/IKrNl4pbaxk/s1600/IMG_7829-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u81Dzn5WM_k/VcP7-MHFmYI/AAAAAAAAG_s/IKrNl4pbaxk/s640/IMG_7829-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This is a very simple beanie pattern where the top is drawn in with thread after knitting a rectangle.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The accessory I made from felt cut from a Bigz flower die on my Big Shot and stitched on to a brooch back so it can be removed. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iaQUusQT-9Q/VcP7-1vPpfI/AAAAAAAAG_0/1uY9k6EMhjQ/s1600/IMG_7832-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iaQUusQT-9Q/VcP7-1vPpfI/AAAAAAAAG_0/1uY9k6EMhjQ/s640/IMG_7832-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I've fallen in love with the fingerless gloves. They look so cute.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4hWiXCAWXQ/VcP7_V5YRII/AAAAAAAAG_8/660y0NDoPJ4/s1600/IMG_7835-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g4hWiXCAWXQ/VcP7_V5YRII/AAAAAAAAG_8/660y0NDoPJ4/s640/IMG_7835-2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And to finish off - a scarf.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I purchased the wool yarn from the <a href="http://www.bluemts.com.au/whatson/8486/blue-gum-rotary-markets/" target="_blank">Faulconbridge Blue Gum Rotary Markets</a> in July specifically to make the trio for our Grand Daughter after she spotted my own set which I made last month. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This red wool was a gift from my walking buddy who is a wool spinning enthusiasts. It's got such a lovely soft feel to it which makes it all the more wearable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I used the same pattern to knit my Grand Daughter's set and scaled it down to fit her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">We've had such a cold winter this year that there have been days during which I've worn coat, gloves, scarf and beanie indoors in an attempt to get warm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Tuesday just gone was the coldest August day (in NSW) since 1974. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">How have you been faring this winter/summer?</span></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-52208167840129903992015-07-22T15:53:00.000+10:002015-07-22T16:45:48.672+10:00Consciously<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">After my </span> <a href="http://lifeisapumpkin.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/consciously-frugal.html" target="_blank">Consciously Frugal</a> <span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">post I've been thinking about ways I can 'make a difference' for others in our world that have less than many.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I am more aware of the disparity in the world, as I scan the news this past week. What makes it more keen for me these past few weeks, is how icy cold it's been. I have a house. So many have not, and I've felt the cold more sharply this year. So I've been thinking how can I make a difference and have been dreaming of taking food or blankets to the homeless in Sydney. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I felt very heartened this morning when I read </span><a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-22/preloved-motorcycle-jackets-help-homeless-sleep-better/6635706" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">this</a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> article about how pre-loved leather jackets were donated to Sydney homeless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Wow!</span></div>
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I must admit though, I'm a bit of a chicken when it comes to doing stuff like this on my own. So I'm wracking my brain as to how I can become involved in something similar.</div>
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Last year a friend caught the train into Sydney and bought a heap of cheese burgers and handed them out to the homeless. How brave of her. Perhaps I can do something the same with all the blankets I have stock-piled in my linen cupboards.</div>
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In the meantime...I am doing my little bit (while sitting in the comfort of my warm home and still feeling guilty) by purchasing these...(and I swear, no sooner had I sat down to write this post that a cheery lady drove up my drive to deliver them! Talk about synchronicity!)</div>
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Who Give A Crap (yes really) is an organisation that donates 50% of its profits to <a href="http://www.wateraid.org/au" target="_blank">WaterAid</a> to build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world.</div>
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Read more about WGAC* <a href="http://au.whogivesacrap.org/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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The toilet rolls are individually wrapped in paper, not plastic and their facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WhoGivesACrapTP?fref=ts" target="_blank">page</a> encourages devotees to post ideas of how the wrapping is reused. </div>
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I especially love the emergency rolls which come in red wrapping and instructions.</div>
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I'm certainly not one to need emergency rolls...I'm too anxious to allow my household to get to that point in toilet paper stocks so I love gifting these to people who have just moved into a new home and may be having trouble locating a roll of toilet paper. Mostly, they have been appreciated - because they couldn't find their rolls of toilet paper.</div>
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In the meantime, I summing up enough courage to become more directly involved in helping those closer to home.</div>
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<i>*No, I haven't received anything from WGAC, just doing my bit to assist a good cause by promoting them.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-11167834303464076812015-07-21T07:30:00.000+10:002015-07-21T07:30:00.908+10:00Upcycled And Finished<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My summer quilt is now complete.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I am very happy with the end result and although I'm very tempted to keep this for myself to use as a lunch cloth I've decided that it should go and live in Western Australia and so I am gifting it to my Daughter In Law for her birthday this month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Even though it's a very simply made quilt, I think the fabric gives it lots of personality so I do hope our DIL will like it.</span></div>
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<br />Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-76454260961867640832015-07-20T16:21:00.001+10:002015-07-20T16:21:23.243+10:00Consciously Frugal <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The temperature has barely hovered over the 14'C mark over the past couple of weeks, even though on many days the sun has been shining its golden light over our winter-bound city.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I am beginning to understand how northern hemisphere living would encourage winter days of home detention and hours of cooking hearty meals and calorie packed cakes, biscuits and pastries (among other things).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I have been a little guilty of such activities lately and although I have by no means kept a strict diary of what I have been concocting in the kitchen, I have shared a smattering of creations on various social sites, including this one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">On Saturday just gone, our Daughter and Grand Daughter visited for dinner before they head off to southern Western Australia for a short break. I wish I could say they are heading for warmer climes but alas, although South W.A. boasts Mediterranean-like summers, its winters can be just as brutal as the south East Coast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Anyway, I made <a href="http://www.avoca.com/home/explore/" target="_blank">Brialliant Beef Bourguignon</a> for dinner and at the last minute decided that a Portuguese Tart style desert would be in order. I had an ample supply of left over homemade rough puff gluten free pastry in the freezer (after I'd made<a href="https://www.rivercottage.net/recipes/beetroot-tart-tatin" target="_blank"> Beetroot Tarte Tatin</a> during the week for Mr HP and I) which I lined a muffin tray with and filled with cherry conserve and crème brûlée-style custard (and which were heavenly). So now I had used up some of the leftover pastry but had two egg whites left over from the custard, which, like I always do, I stored in the fridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So often it happens the egg whites are forgotten and some weeks down the track I decant them into the garbage. Wasted, a missed opportunity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">How often do we think we are committed to an ideology, or practice but only in our heads? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I have been questioning myself lately as I lament about certain events as they crop up in the news or current affairs. I ask myself often "What Is The World Coming To?" Perhaps I need to be asking myself "What Can I Do To Change This?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I ponder often, lately, how can so many have so much while so many have so little?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">While the egg white dilemma is not going to save or not save the needy from starvation or death it has certainly flicked a switch inside me that makes me question how committed I am to my commitments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The answer is not a pretty one: When it comes to commitments, well, I'm lazy. I said of myself to a friend very recently, "I work well under pressure". You know what that means don't you? Yes, when push comes to shove...I move. I do. I feel guilty, and I respond, sometimes while feeling resentful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">That's why the egg white ends up in the bin two weeks down the track. Because there is no pressure to utilise the energy giving, high protein food source originating from a living thing, a living thing just like myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So I'm going to take this as my first step towards being consciously frugal which in turn will encourage me to consciously perform an act that will Change Something I Don't Like in the wider world of which I belong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So today I made Almond Macaroons...high-protein almond cakes with a generous portion of sugar. If I partake of them in a conscious manner they will not add centimetres to my waistline.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Here is the recipe:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Almond Macaroons</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">2 egg whites</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">120 grams almond meal/ground almonds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">225 grams caster sugar (you can reduce this a little if you wish...to no less than 160g).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">2 tablespoons ground rice</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">1 tsp orange-flower water</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">15 almond halves</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Egg white glaze.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Instructions</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Line two baking trays with baking paper and preheat oven to 150 degrees Celsius.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Whisk egg whites until fairly stiff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Stir in almond meal, sugar, ground rice and orange-flower water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Mix well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Using slightly moistened hands to form 15 portions of the mixture into balls,place onto the baking paper. Smooth the tops down slightly and garnish with almond halves. Glaze with egg white.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Bake for 20-25 minutes, till they are pale golden. It is important to cook macaroons rather slowly, to allow them to colour evenly and to acquire a good texture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Remove to wire racks to cool completely.</span></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-18280120618657876342015-07-17T15:33:00.000+10:002015-07-21T08:35:39.602+10:00Antarctic Vortex #2<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Today, 17th July, is the 50th anniversary of the big snow falls in New South Wales (1965).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So we should have known that Mother Nature would celebrate by entertaining us with a just as impressive display of snow of its own on this day. I took the train to Blackheath to see for myself.</span></div>
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She didn't disappoint.</div>
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Linking To </div>
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<a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/skywatch-friday-16-july-2015-edition.html" target="_blank">Skywatch Friday.</a><br />
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-69782642553511896292015-07-12T22:41:00.001+10:002015-07-21T08:35:10.106+10:00Antarctic Vortex<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">We have had media overload these past days as the south-east of Australia geared up for a cold snap. Well the hype, I think, was a bit over the top - although some parts of our state of New South Wales did wake to a whisper-white morning this morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Mr HP and I, our Daughter and Grand Daughter had already arranged to pick up Youngest Son at the end of a short hiking trip he was undertaking in the Jamison Valley so we took the opportunity to drive up a bit further up the range to Mount Victoria to see if we could catch some snow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Well, we <i>did</i> see it<i> snowing</i>, but where we were, the snow did not settle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So I don't have snow photos to show you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Even so, I have to admit that the cold has been getting me down a bit this winter. Today's temperature didn't get above 11 'C in Springwood and the previous week didn't perform much better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Katoomba (where snow is more likely), it is at present less than 1 'C with a windchill factor of -5.5 'C.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So instead of a snow photo here is a shot of tonight's desert...the cold made me do it...I just needed some comfort food and I can tell you...you can't go past this Baked Rice Pudding by Donna Hay. You can find the recipe here: <a href="https://www.donnahay.com.au/recipes/baked-rice-pudding" target="_blank">Recipe</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And there's enough leftovers for tomorrow...after all, we might need it, because the media assures us the worse of the Arctic Vortex is yet to come!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Hoping the weather isn't too extreme in your part of the world. </span></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-45726204230548149342015-07-10T10:32:00.004+10:002015-07-20T14:52:25.668+10:00Plank Method, As Opposed To Planking*<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I discovered basting a quilt using the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcF0_hqbOrk" target="_blank">plank- method</a> last year when I was making a </span><a href="http://lifeisapumpkin.blogspot.com.au/2014/11/a-place.html" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">quilt</a><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> for the latest addition to Mr HP's side of the Family.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I love how quick and easy it is and I had this whole cloth<span style="background-color: red;">*</span> quilt basted in no time and with little back breaking antics.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizevSQ_QSjY0bkF54hMR0UKKt_st1jdw4SGnaWkFUixeJ_3uDNhH0D9Y2zyLbFNzKkQvfMd8RhEiHZ2gF7QwJlAOAn6loMpio0ubQuXcR5-m0WWDleJZpzmZHBU8U3Nso1LsMi-lUUmrE/s1600/P7030838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizevSQ_QSjY0bkF54hMR0UKKt_st1jdw4SGnaWkFUixeJ_3uDNhH0D9Y2zyLbFNzKkQvfMd8RhEiHZ2gF7QwJlAOAn6loMpio0ubQuXcR5-m0WWDleJZpzmZHBU8U3Nso1LsMi-lUUmrE/s640/P7030838.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Never before have I made a whole cloth quilt and only decided that this one would be because the fabric I have used has been rescued from land fill and is heavy weight curtain fabric, one hundred percent cotton or linen and originally from a decore store samples book. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AfPbsPeDg8k/VZ8JE6jaxSI/AAAAAAAAG7Q/4DzhGQm7FaM/s1600/P7030839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AfPbsPeDg8k/VZ8JE6jaxSI/AAAAAAAAG7Q/4DzhGQm7FaM/s640/P7030839.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large; text-align: center;">The end result is a bold stylish quilt top that is 1.25 x 1.25m, large enough for a lunch cloth, lap quilt or picnic rug.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The weight is such that it's thick enough to use as a picnic rug but lightweight enough to use as a lap quilt in the warmer months.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCjpFxif0zI/VZ8JFhGfHxI/AAAAAAAAG7Y/z9SvSDfNK98/s1600/P7030840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sCjpFxif0zI/VZ8JFhGfHxI/AAAAAAAAG7Y/z9SvSDfNK98/s640/P7030840.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Since the samples were free of charge, the only cost has been the backing fabric, which I paid $8 a metre for plus some leftovers from another project. The binding will be leftovers from Youngest Son's 21st birthday quilt.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zqBho7Jc2zA/VZ8JGZ_W-TI/AAAAAAAAG7g/1BmJ61p3TI4/s1600/P7030841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zqBho7Jc2zA/VZ8JGZ_W-TI/AAAAAAAAG7g/1BmJ61p3TI4/s640/P7030841.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I'm so in love with it, I haven't decided if I should keep it for myself or gift it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: red; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">*</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> <i>Seems I have my info. wrong here...this is not a whole cloth quilt but rather a 'summer quilt'.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/may/16/planking-a-brief-history" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">*</span><span style="color: #2c353c; font-family: Source Sans Pro, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.3999996185303px;">Planking, a brief history</span></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><i>Linking to Freshly Pieced ~ pop over to see what Lee and others have been up to in the quilting world in WIP Wednesday. Click on the button below to take you there. </i></span></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-59131488758166979042015-07-08T18:10:00.001+10:002015-07-08T18:11:29.174+10:00Upcycling: From Sloppy Joe to Genie Pants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-glVvVVECkdc/VZzOmEG8FHI/AAAAAAAAG6s/FUxeGdqY0e4/s1600/P6050205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-glVvVVECkdc/VZzOmEG8FHI/AAAAAAAAG6s/FUxeGdqY0e4/s640/P6050205.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Sometimes you buy stuff that's not really suitable for you, or the person you intended it for...like the cotton knit sloppy Joe (above) which I purchased many years ago for Mr HP. It's just too big and too sloppy and the hems had - well, no hems, and were just over-locked giving the garment an unfinished look!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So after having had the top floating around in the wardrobe for at least a decade and not wanting to throw it out, I decided it was time to give it new life by re-purposing into a pair of soft genie pants for Little Miss Seven. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I used the main body of the top to cut out the pants using a girl's pyjama pants pattern. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">From the sleeves I cut cuffs for the pant legs and a band for the waist, using the fabric in reverse. The knit fabric is grey on one side and navy on the other which works well to give the effect of having used two different coloured fabrics. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I used another pair of Little Miss' track pants to measure the width of the the bands for the cuffs and waist, allowing extra for the seams. The height was double the finished piece. I folded them over and stitched straight onto the pants using a stretch stitch on the sewing machine. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-to14Dfspa5E/VZzQGRjhdvI/AAAAAAAAG6s/9jlqUZbef_Q/s1600/IMG_7686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-to14Dfspa5E/VZzQGRjhdvI/AAAAAAAAG6s/9jlqUZbef_Q/s640/IMG_7686.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Because the pattern used is for standard cotton fabric and not stretch/knit fabric and no elastic is used in the waist, the pants are nice and lose and my Grand Daughter just loves to lounge around the house in them. She especially loves the fact that there is no elastic in the waist.</span></div>
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<br />Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-18412579523443333922015-07-01T23:53:00.003+10:002015-07-03T17:59:58.753+10:00All By Myself <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Sydney Harbour Bridge overlooking Walsh Bay Pier 2/3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Marina Abramovic visits Sydney. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And I visited <a href="http://kaldorartprojects.org.au/projects/marina-abramovic" target="_blank">Marina Abramovic's</a> space.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This was not an exhibition in a technical sense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">It was an experience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">A mind altering experience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">At least this is how I perceived it.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">After surrendering all belongings at the entry and being issued sound cancelling headphones, one could choose to participate in a number of activities, such as separating black mung beans from rice then counting them, contemplating coloured boards or sitting opposite another person in silence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I listened to <a href="http://kaldorartprojects.org.au/event/evenings-in-residence-natalie-abbott" target="_blank">Natalie Abbott</a> speak and watched some of her performance which included telepathically instructing a dance sequence to three fellow artists. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Eventually I realised what Marina's work is all about...the whole point of the project. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Participating IS the project, performing the activities is experiencing activities devised by Marina (the artist).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Marina's message, I think, is about endurance...how much can our body endure, how much can our mind endure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">And when we push ourselves to endure a little more, aren't we pushed to achieve just a little more than before? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Doesn't endurance make us stronger, better, faster?<br />I was converted to Marina some years ago after watching her in her documentary called <i>The Artist Is Present. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Aspects of Marina's life and art shocked me when I first viewed them, but by the end I was drawn to her, her mindfulness, her spiritually, her individuality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Linking to</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><a href="http://skyley.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/skywatch-friday-independence-day-edition.html" target="_blank">Skywatch Friday</a></span></div>
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<br />Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-62050515866548352812015-06-30T12:32:00.001+10:002015-06-30T12:33:09.428+10:00Blackbird Singing In The Dead Of Night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Yikes, can you see that? 2011!<br />The last time I worked on this quilt was around July 2011...that's four years! Four years!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">So I've picked it up again. Why? I hear you ask. For a couple of reasons.<br />1. Our regular Wednesday Patchwork and Quilting class is on school holiday break and I don't want to work on my <a href="http://lifeisapumpkin.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/machine-applique-finish-and-wip.html" target="_blank">Celtic quilt</a> unassisted. (The truth is, Anne is such a wealth of hints I don't want to miss anything she may have to offer if I continue to work on the quilt top on my own.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">2. I've lost a project I'm making for my Sister. Can you believe it? I've lost a whole bundle of fabrics with which I've promised to make more cushion covers for my Sister! So in my hunt for the elusive project I unearthed the French General quilt top I have avoided for the past four years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">On closer inspection I realised that there is not much to do to finish off the French General so I've added some sashing and a border. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Layering the quilt and machine quilting will be easy as it's not large, more a single bed topper size. If I'm organised enough I can have it ready for Mum's 82nd birthday in September.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">In the meantime, I've made these upbeat drink coasters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I know...they could also be mug rugs but for some reason I have an aversion to mug rugs, and the person I've made them for is slightly eccentric and I think he probably has an aversion to mug rugs too but I can totally see him using these to place his crystal cut glass scotch whiskey tumbler on.<br />The graphic fabric is the infill out of a panel of Milvale Quilt Labels. I fussy cut these very carefully as I didn't have much area to play with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The binding is a remnant from my Youngest Son's 21st birthday (Yikes again...in 2008!)quilt which I can't show you as that was before my blogging days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">A few weeks ago, feeling excited about the capabilities of my upgraded sewing machine, I practised applique and free motion quilting on a square of fabric. </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CQT9jjVPIbE/VZH8nW2hmzI/AAAAAAAAG4A/tCO_YdVMIY0/s1600/IMG_7591-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CQT9jjVPIbE/VZH8nW2hmzI/AAAAAAAAG4A/tCO_YdVMIY0/s640/IMG_7591-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"> I'm always loathe to discard anything and the end result was a very scrappy raggy quilt made with some boring fabric. The end result turned out much nicer than I imagined.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherJ_KkLSnNtZwSDgrX9phECbqqzf4AbdcAZdpprKtGH3SPKZE2oplQDk-zkb4fvrqrA5-YIvNanUL6wI150DpmIy_iKEpIkFTCA8WDFFW4vj8kPIPinR1ruy3MzrufjbJt0Krot1YcME/s1600/IMG_7590-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEherJ_KkLSnNtZwSDgrX9phECbqqzf4AbdcAZdpprKtGH3SPKZE2oplQDk-zkb4fvrqrA5-YIvNanUL6wI150DpmIy_iKEpIkFTCA8WDFFW4vj8kPIPinR1ruy3MzrufjbJt0Krot1YcME/s640/IMG_7590-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Now, I wonder where I've stashed that fabric?<br />Have you ever lost a quilting project among your stash? And did you find it? Was it where you expected to find it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Have a happy sewing week.</span></div>
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Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3734114716319159508.post-38174814392303875992015-06-25T22:35:00.000+10:002015-06-26T10:51:39.794+10:00Machine Applique A Finish And A WIP<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Early this year I started taking patchwork and quilting classes from <a href="http://www.annesommerladdesigns.com.au/" target="_blank">Anne Sommerlad</a>. Judy Tyrrell took over the <a href="http://www.postofficepatchwork.net.au/about.php" target="_blank">Post Office Patchwork</a> in Glenbrook late last year and I placed my name on the class list hoping to get a spot in a class, any class; so I could get together with other like minded people as soon as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I consider myself very lucky to be tutored by such a talented teacher and designer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My first assignment was to learn how to machine applique ... but a saga unfolded as soon as I started classes. My sewing machine, which I purchase around seven years ago has caused me lots of angst and I was hoping Anne would perform a miracle and show me what a purring beast it could be. But alas, this was not to be and I was urged to return it to the retailer from whence I purchased it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">When I returned it to the shop, I was told that my model of sewing machine had been issued with a tension 'upgrade'. "So", I said, "there's been a problem with this model then?" I asked, "Oh no, not a problem, just an upgrade." Came the reply.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Anyway, to cut a long story short, I got the 'upgrade' under warranty and also got the sewing machine serviced and now this wonderful appliance is purring away like a kitten.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I have created some gorgeous Anne Sommerlad designs. What do you think?</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0QOKxljMBtw/VYvovLUnDwI/AAAAAAAAG2w/daXCq1bL_U0/s1600/P6250831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0QOKxljMBtw/VYvovLUnDwI/AAAAAAAAG2w/daXCq1bL_U0/s640/P6250831.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Above is my first assignment, quickly followed by the second (shown below) to reinforce my newly learnt skill.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQ2V4JqN8Qw/VYvowjQ7F9I/AAAAAAAAG3A/bxBVXnqPQ6c/s1600/P6250836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mQ2V4JqN8Qw/VYvowjQ7F9I/AAAAAAAAG3A/bxBVXnqPQ6c/s640/P6250836.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">This is the centrepiece of Anne's Celtic Throw design which she converted to a king single bed quilt for me. I have chosen my own colour scheme which will be revealed as the quilt progresses.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1bJWOLTQD8s/VYvoxn4YGNI/AAAAAAAAG3I/Evql9SOgXnk/s1600/P6250839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1bJWOLTQD8s/VYvoxn4YGNI/AAAAAAAAG3I/Evql9SOgXnk/s640/P6250839.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Above is a close up of the detail.<br />I'm over the moon with the results!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Once more, the above cushion design is Anne Sommerlad's. Isn't it just exquisite?<br />I have used Anne's design unchanged but chose my own colours using mostly fabrics I had in my stash. It was a little bundle of fabric remnants I purchase some time ago at some fair or other.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1oK59v9YkmU/VYvoufLOABI/AAAAAAAAG2o/yXwsSY1ZK-o/s1600/P6250823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1oK59v9YkmU/VYvoufLOABI/AAAAAAAAG2o/yXwsSY1ZK-o/s640/P6250823.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The seat cushions are made from a polka dot and marbled fabrics I purchased from Post Office Patchwork.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I'm now inspired to replace our now tatty cushions with some newly made colour co-ordinated covers to replace them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I'm linking up with</span></div>
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<a href="http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src=" http://i878.photobucket.com/albums/ab346/thecharmofhome/20100410_22-2-1.jpg" /></a></div>
Sweet Peahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17175172836690042400noreply@blogger.com5