1012 diary cover

I managed to get this done before all the machines went hay wire. Still having problems, again, getting the Bernina started! I have spent so much time on this when I should be doing other things and now feel rather bad tempered about the whole thing. I am not even going to think about it tomorrow I will draw and paint, eat and drink and get fat!!
Enough of that.
This was a piece I hadnt really liked or finished in the class with Cas Holmes last year so decided that it would make a cover for my diary, aprox the right size, but whether it will stand up to wear and tear I am not sure. I see in the scan that the button is not lined up with the tab to close it. It wont matter by the time it is finished and full of all sorts of odds and ends.
I dont draw in this diary this is my written account of my day to day stuff and I like to cut out articles, poems lots of political cartoons relating to the day, relevant invitations etc.
But... it is amazing how when I go to look for something its not written down!

Early morning Encounter Bay

The sun was glinting on the water as we walked. Cooler morning and so very pleasant.
We hadnt walked this way for a while and the tide was out a bit so walking was pleasant as the sea weed was further up the beach. I need flat surfaces at the moment.
Trying to catch up with things. I looked at sewing machines today but nothing available, the old Bernina has decided to work for me thank goodness. My others are up being fixed.
I didnt see my sister as she wasnt quite up to it but rang this evening and they say, not up to taking a phone call but making progress.
Long tiring trip to town, called into the dog pund too but couldnt see anything I thought was what I wanted. John doesnt want another dog but I do, but I will just wait for the right one to come along.
Much more pleasant weather, so I hope to have a good nights sleep. I think I have been pushing myself a bit more than I need to.

Fly Stitch

I am doing Take a Stitch Tuesday 2012. (see my side bar for Sharons blog link)' I did both TAST 1 and 2 before. Not sure how I am going with this one but as the first stitch was fly stitch I decided to add a bit more stitch to my Father Christmas stitch I started before Christmas on the lines of Jude Hills stitchery. I think if you click on the photo you will be able to see the fly stitch acting a bit like a bag on his back.
Thrilled to find I had won some lovely fabric on Elizabeth Creates blog give away, I seem to enter a zillion give aways and very very rarely win, so I am thrilled to bits with this one.
I will have been blogging since 2006 near the end of this month so I must organise some sort of give away.
Thinking cap on for the next few days while I see what I can find.

This morning 8 am

32 degrees c at 8 am. A walk along the Hayborough beach, we havent done this for ages as the Hindmarsh River was open to the sea and we couldnt get across but we needed to be early this morning as by the time we got home it was 36 degrees and rising.
John and J having the last coffee as she is home this afternoon.
Means a stinking hot trip to Adelaide forecast there 41 degrees c so very hot but at least the car is air conditioned.
We didnt see the New Year in last night, although I did wake and hear the fireworks in Victor, but had a pleasant meal under the pergola, watched the Edinburgh tattoo and a bit more and went to bed to read.
Still not sure about celebrating New Years, just means I am another year older and more decrepit!!
Still I am looking forward to getting into some textile stuff and more painting in the next few days.

Last walk for 2011

It is very hot today so an early start turning on hoses and going to the market and then a walk along the cliff top near the Bluff as I had forgotten my shoes and only had sandals, I cant get the silver that is still on my foot wet with salt water so better to be safe than sorry.
It was re3ally warm even at a bit after 9 am but sunbathers and surfers were out on the very small swell. Beautiful morning, I dont think I have ever seen so many boats out or waiting to go out but then it is summer holidays.
We retreated home under the air con, me to do some tidying up in my work rooms until it got too hot in those places that air doesnt get too terribly easily. John is doing accounts, j is reading and sleeping.
Tonight we are having take away pizza and salad and summer pudding made from the first mulberries of the season, bliss! Last night we sat outside under the pergola, I hope we can again tonight. I doubt if we will see the New Year in though.
I dont make too many wishes these days for the new year, my word this year is survive, and a hope that it is better than last year, no new health worries and and end to some of the ones that are there, but the older we get I think we just have to be grateful that every day we awake and find we are breathing and in not too much pain.
To try out many new ideas and perhaps get better at some old ones. Perhaps the most important for next year is to be happy with whatever I do, and dont expect too much! That sounds a bit boring doesnt it.
To all my blog readers,(if there are any out there!) Have a happy, fulfilling and enjoyable 2012.

December 26th and 27th

The evening walk on Boxing day, beautiful, and the big two cats, a sailing yatcht and the ferry almost coming together, they looked incredible.
The view across the sandhills to the jetty and then the next morning, grey skies and the ferry we were to go home on, some shells off the beach, the sheep that were on our ferry and the vineyards in the middle are from the restaurant where we had lunch to celebrate the 85th birthday of its owner.
I was a bit tired and didnt actually take photos of the lunch or gathering, too busy talking, eating and drinking.
It was a great birthday party but after an early start I began to flag by about 4.30 and wanted to go home.
I think that John and J did too, He seems to have developed a problem with giddiness, they think maybe infected something, hope he gets over it.
Off to a not quite New Years Eve dinner tonight, I have cooked what I have to and bought what I think we will need. I am doing entree.
Oscar is home from the cattery and telling me he wants to go out.
sorry fellow but it is snake season and we have already seen one near the house.
All back to normal! Washing on the line, most stuff put away, shopping done early.I need another holiday.

Last day on the Island

we managed to walk three beaches today, and get an art exhibition in.
The first photo is the wall of the tiny building the art show was held in, nice stuff but way out of our price range, but I did love this wreath of native plants.
We have been using up food, and there wassome bread left over, for the blue wrens, and finally I managed a shot of this little male through the glass.
A large ship going up the gulf, lovely to see them on the horizon and wonder where they were going and what they were carrying.
Me, not the most flattering photo, usually John gets me with my mouth open as he cant see what he is taking. This was a shot of the beachcomber, bits of rubbish off the beach, a gannets head in a plastic bag, lots of bits of twine and the odd bit of wood. It was quite cool on that beach, (Pennington Bay).
The last photo is of a beach we camped on about 40 odd years ago, with 2 just over 12 month toddlers, 3 other children, 5,4,and3 approx, 4 adults and a pregnant pug who gave birth while we were there! Mad. No car, we were dropped off by boat with our camping and diving gear, we got milk and bread from a fellow on a motor bike and ate fish and crayfish straight from the sea.
When I look back I wonder, but at the time, it was what we did and it was fun.
Well a long day tomorrow so bed is looking tempting.