Peace on Earth...

Just to say...

I will be back in a few days - after the madness has subsided... I would like to thank all those people who read and responded to my blog over the last few months... I have been touched by many of the comments which you have left... I am looking forward to continuing in 2006...

May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year!!!!

Am I this?

You are the Justice card. Justice preserves the
harmony of the world. Working with opposite
forces, Justice does not seek to criticize or
condemn but rather to accept. The idea behind
the card justice is that opposite forces are
complementary; you could not have good without
evil or light without darkness. Justice's
position is to make sure that if a thing is out
of balance, the weight of its energy is
realigned with its opposite force. This card is
also a card of humour, for it is in pointing
out contrary positions that humour is often
found. The attitude that is found in the
humourous person, being able to shift
perspective and flow with an instinct, is
important in the maintenance of good balance.
Image from The Blue Moon Tarot Deck.
http://www.themysticeye.com/pics/bluemoon.htm

Which Tarot Card Are You?
brought to you by

A week to the day...

The Almond crescents are made - so too is the Florentine slice... I was a little disappointed with the almond crescents they were hard to work with because of their large butter content - but they taste pretty good even if they don't look great - but under all that icing sugar who would know what they looked like... I might have a go at making another batch if I have time through the week. Only the mince pies to make now and they are pretty simply just the 'good' pastry which I make and some of the health food shop's pretty damn good fruit mince... Whack them together and they are done... Such finesse!!!!! Jamie Oliver I am not - well you know what I mean!!!!!

This time next week we should be just about up to the pudding and presents stage of the day... Me - I would like to treat myself to something small for Christmas - but I am not sure what...

LOL - I don't think there is going to be enough hours in the day this week... I don't think there will be any blogging time either :((

More fish...

Another little bit. I am teasing you now...

2006 Challenge...

What is this? My challenge for 2006 - in more ways than one... Stay tuned for future developments...

Calidore - I am blaming you...

LOL - not really!!!! I have been reading Calidore's blog for quite a while now. Every so often she shares a recipe that she is currently baking... Well to cut a long story short I am hooked... Hooked on what you may ask - well, baking... I am not a baker - I don't mind doing it occassionally but I am not into biscuit and cake making - I used to when my girls were little and for a while there, even made my own bread the old fashioned way... Those days are long gone - come here and you get a packet biscuit with your cuppa... But Calidore, since I have been reading your blog especially in this sprint up to Christmas I am hooked... Yesterday I rediscoverd my cake and biscuit cook books and I have gone through them remembering what I used to create... So I have decided to make a couple of things for Christmas... And I came back to your rum ball recipe as that is the one I remember my Mum using - I can taste them already... So Calidore think yourself proud - there aren't too many people out there that have influenced me the way you have... And my family will bless you as they stuff their faces with goodies on Christmas Day...

My list :

Almond Crescents

Mince Pies - I make my own 'good' pastry and buy the fruit mince from the health food shop.

Florentine Slice - Woman's Weekly 'Beautiful Biscuits' series

Rum Balls - courtesy of Calidore

More William Morris - Mary, Hilda & Peg...

Now this one is DEFINITELY on my stitching list - 'Brer Rabbit'- another one from the William Morris book. I really like the gradual colour change and the design is well balanced. I can see this one hanging on my wall already. Perhaps like a few of the other stitchers whose blogs I browse, I might have to start a stitching rotation.

These designs from this book really appeal to me. They give me a sense of balance and order. They 'speak' to me and touch some inner space that feels replenished when I look at them. Strange reasons I guess...

Interesting enough another of my 'must does' came from an old magazine I found recently in my stash is also a William Morris influence...

This design was stitched by Peg Fraser who recreated it from a screen panel which was stitched by Hilda Leviny whose family owned Buda in Castlemaine.

This is Hilda's version...

Hilda Leviny 's screen - this photo does not do it justice - but does give some indication to the size of the panels. The hours of stitching which must have gone into them 'boggles' my mind.

I was flicking through another unrelated English stitching magazine from my stash which is years old and I happened to see in its table of contents an article about William Morris. And as I seem to be having a 'William Morris moment' I turned to the page and saw this... For a moment I looked at it and for the life of me couldn't think why it seemed so familiar - then it dawned on me. The caption beside the photo read - "Morris's youngest daughter, Mary, worked this Flower Pot Embroidered Cushion Cover design of her father's in silk and gold thread"

Now, here if you like, is evidence how one design has influenced so many people - obviously Hilda Leviny saw the William Morris design and used the basis of it for her screen. And in recent times Peg Fraser saw Hilda's screen and she adapted the design using cross stitch as her medium...

When I first saw Peg Fraser's cross stitch I was into decorative painting and I thought how well it would lend itself to a paint medium... And on it goes...

The Christmas cake...

...has made it to the oven... As I sit and write this I am smug in the knowledge that the cake is a 'happening thing'... Again the house will have that delicious smell wafting through it...

Funnily enough I am not a big eater of Christmas cake but I do enjoy the smells associated with the preparing and cooking of it... Again much the same as the pudding - I look forward to the first piece and then I save a piece for Boxing Day then I am done for another year...

Boxing Day has always been my day... I figure if the hoards can't find their own fodder on that day then they starve... I wake up on Boxing Day - greeting the day with a smile - knowing that it is all over for another year. I then settle down with my new book - a treat for myself- and let the day unwind as it does... A curl up on the bed and little read, perhaps a stroll around the block, a little nibble... Maybe a watch of a movie... Nothing too strenuous mind... Yep, Box Day is ALL mine and I love it!!!!! If people drop in - it is at their own risk and it is a very casual affair...

I have never been one to go to the Boxing Day sales - not the kinda sport I am in to - although my eldest daughter loves them - I do sometimes wonder where she came from... Perhaps genes from my mother - who could see the 'bargain' in anything... Me - if given a choice - I go as far from the maddening crowd as possible...

This year may be a little different though as I am in retail - not sure if I am working or not...

This weekend the Christmas tree will go up and the house will transform... We are late this year as normally P has it all in hand... P loves Christmas - the whole putting the tree up and decorating the house thing... He gets a smile which he can't contain- I only know one other bloke who enjoys Christmas like he does - my friend in Perth... J is like a dog with two tails come the first of Dec. This year will be extra special as there is now the first grand child on the scene... There is lots of love in J & P's house - one feels it as you walk through the front door... What ever they have they share with you - their home is your home for as long as you are there... Every time I have to leave after a visit I cry at the airport - then P (friend) starts as well... We are hopeless...

I have made some decisions regarding my stitching for next year... Two things I have wanted to stitch for ages are in my 'to do' basket... I have also found a band sampler in a magazine which I already had - I would also love to have a go at stitching it...

I thought that I would 'kit them up' so that they will ready to go... Dream on S - dream on!!!! I have already made one New Year resolution - that I will stitch more next year... Unfortunately my reading list is also growing... My two loves...

It is starting to SMELL a lot like Christmas...

Ok- time for me to 'go and grow ' and turn into the Christmas fairy... Have a good day and I hope what ever you are doing or planning to do turns out just as you want it to...Stay safe, well and calm over these next hectic days... And if you plan to have a drink - please don't drive - take a taxi - stay with a friend -but just don't drive!!!!!

Finally...

I have made the Christmas pudding... I have had the fruit since Oct. but I just couldn't motivate myself to 'get it all together'... On Saturday I decided to soak the fruit 'overnight' - well, that lasted until yesterday, when I finally made myself 'get it together'... So all last night while we slept the pudding cooked...

I cook it in my crockpot ( slow cooker) so it is just a matter putting one cup of water in the bottom of the crockpot popping in the covered pudding basin - set and forget... I have cooked it this way for years - it is almost a fool's way as very little can go wrong...

On Christmas day I re-heat using the same method - it is great as most years kitchen space is at a premium so I usually put the crockpot in the laundry on the washing machine - again putting it on about two to four hours (depending on size of pudding) ahead of serving time- and by the time we get to pudding time it is nice and hot...

Yesterday I prepared the fruit for the Christmas cake - another favorite of mine as it is a traditional fruit mix - however it is a boiled fruit cake... It always has a nice texture and is moist... I know I am running behind with these as really they are at their best done at least six weeks ahead - but 'them are the breaks' - so to speak...

I hope to make some almond crescents - these are my all time favorite. My introduction to these was when I was about ten and I went to visit my friend's grandfather, a fine old Austrian gentleman, who lived in Portsea. He had a wood fire stove and made the most delicious things - almond crescents being one of them... They had a taste that I still remember... Mine aren't quite as nice as his - the wood fire stove having something to do with it - but they are still pretty good...

I have just made some cornflake biscuits - we seem to have an over abundance of packets of cornflakes so I thought I would re visit 'an oldie but goodie' recipe... They smell pretty good too...

Time to go and invest energy in some more Christmas type stuff... Now where are all the lights from last year - I am sure that I put them somewhere... *s wanders away musing the possible whereabouts of missing lights...

In the Beginning...

Before Feb of this year I knew very little about blogging. A girl at work had talked about on-line journalling - but because my comp skills were limited to say the least, it was all abit 'IT' for me...

However Fate it seems was to play a hand and in my widening quest looking on the Net for quilting and Crazy quilting sites it led me to sharonb - who of course as we all know has a blog. And like curiosity leading the cat down the well - so did clicking on side bars do for me - which of course led me to other blogs...

Damn this was all TOO interesting... " Look, look, look," I would say pointing to the monitor, "here's another one." I felt like I had found a 'hidden kingdom- my bemused family looked fondly on thinking "here she goes again - another fad"

This blog travelling not only whetted my appetite for crazy quilting, but to learn more about blogging... Up until just before that I had 'shared' comps so I had no real chance to 'play on my own' for any amount of unrestricted time unless I wanted to get up in the twee smalls - which I have been known too!!!!

Now about this time my daughter got a new, faster, all singing, lights, bells and whistles comp and I was bequeathed her old 'T model Ford' - well for me it was heaven and freedom all rolled into one... I could go and turn on the 'beastie' and roam the world visiting all the wonderful sites at will... But I digress - as I am known to do...

I decided to start a blog, 'just to see if I could' mind you - nothing too fancy -just somewhere to record this idea of 'a creative journey'... The Blank Page was born and for a while I was happy - then I saw that others did ' all manner of other things' to their blogs and so, like Oliver, I wanted more... P, my ever suffering mate who had by this time started his own blog began to teach me basic HTML...

LOL and I thought my creative journey was going to be about fabric... I would say to P that such and such a blog had this, that and something else - how could I do that BUT with a difference... P would look then go away and play on his comp then come back again with the answers and guide me through the steps to accomplish it. Some interesting moments were to be had I might add...

I am also a nit picky Virgo with very definite ideas how I want something to look - the banner heading took a lot of P's patience as I kept saying "yes, sort of like that - BUT..." He would just take a deep breath in and go back to the template...

While I still have a basic blog and ironically, it is P who has gone on to greater things, I have learnt heaps. Yesterday was probably my biggest nemesis as I wanted to change the link to the comments - other people had these nifty little sayings and I wanted that too... Well after much fiddling and nearly a major disaster I accomplished it all on my own plus taught myself to post a picture in my profile - not a big deal for those who can do it without as much as a second glance - but for me, an Everest climb... I think it was more the near disaster that taught me the most - normally I would fling my arms up in frustration and mutter deep dark oaths - but yesterday I persisted with patience and perserverence - and deep dark oaths...

It is amazing how one learns so much about themselves in the most lateral ways... At the beginning of the year I knew nothing about blogging or HTML - today not only do I know more - but in way, better than that - I know that I can... "One small step for" - well, you know how the rest goes...

So... look out 2006 - I am ready for you... LOL- sharonb if you get to read this - my hand is up for your classes too!!!!!

Is this who I am...

You reflect the wisdom of the spirit. You shine as
a wise and anicent sage who values intellect
among the most. Your spirit brings guidence to
those around you. You have accomplished your
strength with age and time. Don't let your wise
advice go to waste. Share it with all who are
willing to listen.

Reflections of the Spirit?
brought to you by

William Morris...

Here are two of the samplers which are featured in the book 'The Art of William Morris in Cross Stitch' which I borrowed from the library.

Barbara Hammet has created these samplers based on the work of William Morris. She also gives a little history behind each of the pieces. With each of the works she explains her decisions about the way she has stitched it.

I liked what Barbara wrote in her acknowledgements. She wrote " This book owes its inspiration to the genius of William Morris, to his magical talent as a designer of patterns, and to the example he set - his determination that he could and would achieve whatever goals he set his mind to, and would achieve them excellently well..."
I particularly like the last sentence - isn't that true for all of us. If we are that determined and focus intently to the task at hand we can achieve almost anything...

Here is another one. This one really appeals to me too but whether I will ever stitch it is another matter. Of late I seem to be drawn to the more timeless designs in embroidery and cross stitch...

There seems to be so much I like about this book it may be another I could add to my library...

Choosing my words carefully...

I have not written for quite a few days - I really felt as though I didn't have much of value to say. I think that the reason was that the events around our world weighed heavily. Try as I might to make logic or reason from them I found it hard going and I might add still do...

Perhaps I has some insight into myself this morning when I was talking to P about my utter revulsion of Huntsman spiders - we have had a couple in the house over the last two weeks - I may dislike what they are and even more what they stand for - big, furry, eight legged, fast moving - but I cannot kill them... In fact when others of the family reach for the insect spray and/or a heavy object to splatter them - I defend them working out ways to move them out of the house unharmed. I may not like them and I may be bigger than they are - but that is not a good enough reason for me to destroy them. Yes - I am well aware that real life is more complex than huntsman spiders - but killing one huntsman or maybe even 400 does not solve the problem. Nor does it offer a deterent for next one coming through the window if it is so determined. I will say no more...

On a brighter note I spent Thursday with G and her friend H... We had a morning coffee which stretched into lunch... H and I share similar interests of books, reading and writing. H went home after lunch so G and I settled down to an afternoon of stitching and chat... It was a lovely peaceful few hours... I worked on C's sampler and G worked on a Christmas RR she is currently a part of. C's sampler is coming along nicely and I am enjoying stitching and watching it unfold. There is something about stitching this one that makes me feel peaceful - perhaps it is its theme - Love - or the colourways which are shades of pink - not a colour I work with much - but what ever it is I feel very content when I finally put it down...

I went to the library and of course it was my duty to leave with a armful of books...

* The Art of William Morris in Cross Stitch
* The Sampler Collection (this book was produced by 'Just CrossStitch magazine in 1989 - cannot find links to it)
*Painting with a Needle - learning the art of silk embroidery with YOUNG YANG CHUNG (keep scrolling down for the English translation)
* I Believe This - 100 Eminent Australian's Face Life's Biggest Question
* A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
* Ghostwritten - David Mitchell
* Painted Woman - Sue Woolfe

Some to read and some to simply look at the pictures and dream...

Enough of my ramblings... Enjoy the weekend...