Solstice

As of 10.38am (AEDT) today, the days are getting shorter again. In the northern hemisphere, this sign of light coming back into the darkness of winter is eagerly awaited. Here in (tediously) sunny Perth, I love the idea of a bit of winter darkness! I know that the worst of the summer is still to come, but it's still a reminder that it won't last forever.

Preparations for Christmas are proceeding apace. Most of the presents have been bought, and I only really need to worry about getting Christmas dinner together now. I'm rather pleased with these little needle cases I've made for a group of friends for Christmas. I used up a small fraction of my fabric stash to make these, as well as an old doily for the embroidered squares.

I just love this gift I received from one of these friends in return - my brain is feeling a little addled right now.



Happy Christmas/Solstice/Festivus!

A week (or so)

Things that have been happening around here :

The Christmas tree is up, but only one Christmas present has been bought. It's the old river-in-Egypt thing about how soon Christmas is happening. I have bought all the ingredients for the Christmas cake, which I plan to make later today.








In the garden, the zucchinis and yellow squash are taking over. There are lots and lots of tomatoes, but they're still green. My Jane Brocket-style pot of basil is going well - it's almost pesto time again!

We've had a week of lovely warm-but-not-hot weather. Today it's hot again. I must say that even I (a confirmed cold-weather lover) am really enjoying the balmy summer evenings. Although it can get very hot during the day in Perth, it (almost) always cools down beautifully by sunset.

One year though, I'd really love to have a white Christmas - it just seems right somehow...

"Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in."

On Wednesday night Martin, Kati and I went to the Leonard Cohen concert at the NIB stadium. I can't come up with enough superlatives to describe how great the show was - I've been singing the songs in my head ever since . Even losing my new phone couldn't spoil what was a truly wonderful and memorable night.

Waiting for the rain

It's been so hot here - not even officially summer yet, and we've had several days in the high thirties. Yesterday it was very cloudy and it drizzled a little. We've been promised a storm today - it looks hopeful so far.

Other news :

Kati is flying home from Melbourne right now, having purchased 29 dresses!

Maddie is working hard on her thesis, looking forward to a trip to New York in January. (I can't believe she gets to see it before I do - I have wanted to go there for so long!)

I went with my sister Annette to see the Peggy Guggenheim exhibition at the Art Gallery. One of the high points was hearing a teacher explaining a Jackson Pollock to a group of kids who I swear were pre-schoolers - "...now this is abstract expressionism, children!"



There's lots happening in the garden - I'm still enjoying the roses.

We have something of a glut of peas at the moment. Some I planted, others came up by themselves from the pea-straw I used to make the garden beds. The tomatoes are also looking promising.



We're off now to see one of my all-time favourite movies - The Maltese Falcon. As it should be seen - in a cinema, on film, with all the crackly bits. Aaah, Humphrey!

Adelaide

Martin and I went to Adelaide last week. We left on Wednesday - it was threatening to be in the mid-thirties in Perth. In Adelaide it was 15 degrees!

We had a great stay. Martin was at a conference so I mooched around the city solo on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. I wandered around very happily, taking in the Rundle Mall, the Art Gallery, the State Library, the Torrens River and the Central Markets. The Art Gallery is a delight - I especially enjoyed the little Bloomsbury section. On Friday a friend of Martin's took us on a drive to the Adelaide Hills, Glenelg (the marching band was just for us of course), and then on to the stately homes of North Adelaide.





We enjoyed some wonderful meals - a very meaty one at an Argentinian restaurant, Swiss food at Alphutte's and Coffin Bay oysters & South Australian whiting (yum!) at a seafood cafe on Gouger Street.


On Saturday, we flew home. Just in time for the Alliance Francaise quiz night. For the second year in a row, our table came second (losing by just one point). L'annee prochaine, nous allons gagner!

Albertine

Just when I've decided that Rose X is my favourite, another one starts flowering and grabs the title. My Albertine rose is in bloom again - it only flowers once a year, so it's easy to forget about it.

I bought this rose in Coles about fifteen years ago, when they still had a nursery section. It has been moved around the garden a number of times - I've nearly killed it at least twice. It finally got moved to the right spot (next to our old gazebo), and immediately began to flourish (and flower). Now that the gazebo is no longer with us, I've had to chop the bush back to a shrubby shape as there isn't anything to support it. One day I'll get a rose bower built, so that Albertine and the nearby Sparrieshoop can ramble away to their hearts' content.

Anyway here it is in all its blowsy glory - I think it's worth waiting a year for these flowers!

Misc

I paid a visit to the local swapmeet this morning. I really could have spent hundreds of dollars if I had been so inclined - there was so much good stuff today. Everyone must be spring-cleaning!

This cute little bird-house caught my eye.

The seller also had a great old trunk which I was very tempted to get, but it wouldn't have fitted into my Smart car. (This is, in fact, generally a very good thing - curbing the inevitable impulse purchase!) Later, having had time to mull it over, I dispatched Maddie and Martin to see if it was still there. They returned with the trunk, and a parking fine! So here it is - rather more expensive than expected, but I love it.

I have been having a bit of a clean-up at work. I found a pile of tatty old de-commissioned picture books. I've had a great time this weekend cutting them up to make bunting for the children's area of the library.

I've also brought home some stray volumes from a superceded edition of the Dewey Decimal Classification. I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet....any ideas, Judy?