The B post

Picked up a bounty of books from the library today...

 

 

 This one I bought...from Book Depository

 

 

 Beautiful photos and really interesting (you thought I was going to say boring didn't you!!) text...

 

 

And these are my boys (grandboys) in Texas...

(Dylan, Oliver, Zak)

 

(Oliver, Dylan, not one of mine, Zak)

 

Had the bible study ladies here last week for our Christmas break up lunch...

 (Shirley, Jenny, Maree, Betty, Cherry, and half of Dora)

(Cherry, Dora, Valerie and Pat)

 

We are having (road kill) duck for dinner tonight thanks to Phil's driving skills (or lack thereof), cooked in the slow cooker with onion, red wine, rosemary, and orange.

 

bonne chère !!

 

xx

 

 

 

 

I'm ba...aaack!!

Had a lovely time away...except for the windscreen chip I managed to acquire on the drive home :((.

Got in lots of walking...some shopping...and catch up time with friends!

Here we are enjoying our Christmas Lunch at the Casino...

(from left: Brenda, Pastel Pam, Yvonne, Pommie Pam, Fay, Jo, me)

 

 

 

 We did a gift exchange, but Brenda outdid us all by giving each of us a miniature oil painting she had done.  It's 4 inches by 3 inches...on a little wooden easel...just beautiful! 
Unfortunately I didn't think to take a photo of all the different scenes, but I just love mine...in those grey, muted colours.  She has called it Misty Morning!  She knows me well :)))...

 

 

And I was too busy eating to think to take a photo of my main course...roast pork, vegies and salad, but did stop long enough to get this photo of my dessert selection...

 

 

Just as well I did lots of walking while away :)))

 

So...there you have it...a good time was had by all!!!

 

xx

 

(PS - just click on any of the photos to enlarge them)

 

 

 

Tripping

Off to Hobart for a couple of days...

 

Have the essentials...

 

 

book...music...knitting...

 

And some non essentials...  clothes...food...water...

 

Having Christmas Lunch with the girls at the Casino on Wednesday and hoping to get in some shopping time. 

 

(the girls)

 

Looking forward to another long drive on the open road in my nice car :))

 

Catch up when I get back!

 

xx

Music by the river

Lynda by the river is going to listen to Music by the river tomorrow night.

The Tasmanian Guitar Trio...

Should be amazing...

 

xx

Short and Sweet

I'm talking about this blog post...not me! 

Although I am short and sweet too :))

Long time no post!  Haven't really been in a talkative mood...or had anything interesting to say.  Still don't...but you're getting it anyway...

Started reading the long awaited new book by Lin Enger, but couldn't get into it.  Don't think it was the book's fault, I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read it now. 

So have moved on to Anne Lamott's Travelling Mercies.  Just what I needed!!  Very, very good.  If you haven't read any of her books...this is a good one to start with...

 (a friend pointed out that you Americans spell travelling wrong :))!!)

Been hard at work in the garden...mowing...pulling out weeds...tending my potted herbs...

I love to bring some inside and put in a jug.  I think I've got rosemary, catnip, curry plant, thyme (which you can't see), lemon balm, oregano, pineapple sage and apple mint in the photo.  Been inside for a week now and still looking fresh and green...and smelling delicious :))

 

And I've been listening to the fantastic new cd from Damien Rice.

 

My Favourite Faded Fantasy

 

Beautiful music!

Amazing words!

Not the sort of music you put on as background noise, but the kind you listen intently to...LOUD!

 

Intense and soul stirring!

 

 

Well...I didn't do too badly for some-one who doesn't have much to say :))

 

See ya next time!!

 

xx

A B C D E

A is for Art

When down south I bought another painting from Brenda.  A sunset at Swansea...

I bought this one from her last year, of Marion Bay, but it reminded me of the beach I walked on every morning at Stanley...

 

I'm getting in before she gets famous and I can no longer afford to buy her work :))

 

 

 B is for Books

These are from Book Depository (which will be my financial ruin). I recently re-read Brene Brown's  The Gifts of Imperfection, and have bought her other two books (Daring Greatly and I thought It Was Just Me).  You can read about Brene and her books on her website HERE.  Have started the I Thought It Was Just Me book...

 

Looking forward to reading the Anne Lamott and Anna Quindlen ones also.

 

 

Still reading Book 2 in the My Struggle series.  It's very good but can get quite heavy and intense...not the sort of book you want to be reading in the middle of the night when you can't sleep.

 

So when I was in Launceston recently looking for a pair of shoes, I bought this Kate Llewellyn book.  She is an Australian author and I have reserved some of her other books from the library. 

 

I still haven't been able to find a pair of shoes I like (sigh), but when all else fails...buy a book!!!

 

I am really enjoying Kate's book, it is a calming, gentle, interesting read...just the thing for 2am reading...

C is for Charity Knitting

Had the knitting ladies here again last week.  We have put together 5 cot blankets to send to KOGO...

(Judith-Anne, Betty, Roma, Shirley)

 

 

 D is for Drawers

Which I bought from The Black Hen this week...for my new house, but I think I might be getting a bit ahead of myself...

 

 

 

E is for Earth

 

It's official!! The purchase of the  block of land has been finalised.  Now for the building process...

Gosh...I seemed to have a lot to say this time.  Must try and not let it go so long between posts...

 

Oh...I wanted to leave you with this quote from the final thoughts in Brene's The Gifts of Imperfection book...

 

"wholehearted living is about engaging in our lives from a place of worthiness.  It's about cultivating the courage, compassion, and connection to wake up in the morning and think, No matter what gets done and how much gets left undone, I am enough.  It's going to bed at night thinking, Yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable and sometimes afraid, but that doesn't change the truth that I am also brave and worthy of love and belonging." (p125)

 

 

The best thing we can do for ourselves is be ourselves!!

 

xx

 

PS - I just have to tell you that Lin Enger (brother to Leif Enger) has a new book out!

 

They are both amazing writers and I have read all their books.  Yep...you guessed it...I've ordered it from Book Depository ! :))

Linking the books and knitting to Ginny's blog for Yarn Along!

Tripping down south

As in road tripping...not the other kind of tripping...


Had two nights in Kingston and got in 4 walks on Kingston Beach...

 (looking from one end)

(to the other)

 

Caught up with long time friend Brenda in Margate on the Thursday afternoon.  We went and had afternoon tea at the local café - Bread and Jam

 

Then Friday, 5 of us travelled to Conningham to have lunch at Jo's place...

(checking out the deck)

(and the amazing view)

And a farewell shot of us all...

(me, Pommie Pam, Pastel Pam, Fay, Brenda and Jo)

 

I met Pommie Pam and Fay through Brenda a number of years ago, and Pastel Pam and Jo are now new friends :)

 

And just to explain...as there are two Pam's in the group, to differentiate, one is Pommie Pam (the connection should be obvious) and the other is Pastel Pam as she is a is a painter of pastel pictures!

 

We plan on getting together again for a Christmas lunch in late November at the Hobart Casino.  So it looks like another road trip coming up :))

 

Thanks Jo...for a lovely day!!

 

 

Had another couple of new friends to keep me company on the trip down. 

 

 David Gray and Passenger (Flight of the Crow). Both now firm favourites. 

 

And also brought Denver back with me as he had been visiting family down that way.

 

On the book front, while down south, I started Book 2 in the Karl Ove Knausgaard series.  Really enjoying it so far... 

 

That's it from me.  Enjoy your week!

 

xx

 

 

 

 

Here ya go....

Have had a lot going on over the last couple of weeks (on various levels), but things seem to be settling down a bit, so here's a bit of a catch up....


Had the charity knitting group meet here again recently.  We sent away 19 beanies and 2 little teddy bears for the OCC Shoeboxes.  We are now busy sewing together knitted strips into cot blankets for KOGO.  Some of the ladies have been sewing them together for me and I am crocheting around the edges...

On the reading front... I've finished Book 1 in the My Struggle series by Karl Ove Knausgaard.
Very, very good!  I'm so looking forward to starting Book 2.
You can read an interview with him HERE

Recently finished Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli.  Also highly recommended...

 

 

 

 And am currently reading Augustus finds Serenity by Ted Scott and I Curse the River of Time...another Per Petterson good read...

 

 

I subscribe to Plough Quarterly.  It's very interesting and informative.  If you don't know about it there is info HERE...

 

 

Plan on heading out on another road trip in a couple of weeks to Hobart to catch up with friends.  More on that later.

 

Also linking this post with Yarn Along on Ginny's blog...a little late, but, you know what they say...

 

 

I'll leave you with a quote from a book I am re-reading - The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown...

 

"Fitting in is about assessing a situation and becoming who you need to be to be accepted.  Belonging, on the other hand, doesn't require us to change who we are to be accepted; it requires us to be who we are." (p25)

 

xx

 

 

Desiderata

Just to remind you all....

 

 

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious
to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter, for always
there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the  changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment;
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore, be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations
in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

(Max Ehrmann )

Stanley

Great weekend...didn't want to come home :) 

And I have a new passion...driving! In my beautiful new car :))


Here's a sunrise photo from Friday morning before I left Deloraine.  The start to a lovely weekend...

 

 

Stopped at Boat Harbour to visit my friend Fay, then on to visit Hazel, then in to Stanley to book into my cabin.  Got in my first hour long beach walk about 5pm, then chicken soup (which I'd brought from home) for tea.  A little TV...a little reading...an early night...

 

Saturday I was up for an early morning hour long beach walk.  Had the whole beach to myself, as I did on all my walks.  Bliss...

 

Here's a few photos...

 

(sunrise over The Nut)

 

 

 

(starting my walk at one end of the beach and walking to the end)

 

(turning around and walking all the way back to the town)

 

 

And all points in between...

 

 

 

 

 

Had a wander around town, browsing the shops, and visited my friend Simone for a coffee.

 

After lunch picked up two friends (Ursula and Shirley) in Smithton and drove out for afternoon tea with our friend Millie.

 

Back to Stanley in time for another hour beach walk just before dark.

 

More chicken soup...more TV...more reading...more sleep...

 

Sunday morning got in my last beach walk.  Packed up the cabin then off to the Presbyterian Church (that I had attended when I lived in Stanley) for the morning.  The folk there were surprised to see me and we had a catch up and cuppa after the service.

 

Then Carrie, Hazel and I had lunch together at the Dockside Café...

 

(Carrie and Hazel)

 

After which I went on a bit of a last minute shopping spree in the best shop in Stanley... Providore 24

before the 2 hour drive back home.

 

Took my laptop with me and didn't even turn  it on.

 

Took Jason with me and didn't even listen to him.

 

He has been usurped!!

 

Van is my man again!  Played THIS amazing cd all weekend...

 

And still playing it!!!

 

xx

 

 

 

 

Road Trip

1. clothes
2. food
3. music
4. books
5. wine
6. pen/pencil/writing paper
7. camera
8. laptop

I'm off to Stanley for the weekend :)))

 

To walk on the beach...catch up with friends...relax...

 

In my nice new car

 

With Jason along for company :))

 

xx

 

 

Spring has sprung!

It's spring here in Tasmania!

Monday (1st) we had rain, but the last 2 days have been beautiful, sunny and warm.  The trees are blossoming and the daffodils are blooming... but I'm going to leave my fog picture on my blog for a while longer :)

Denver had to wear a costume to school today for Book Week.  It was a garden theme so he went as a scarecrow...

I've sewn together (and crocheted around the edge) one cot blanket for KOGO from the strips the knitting ladies brought in to our last get together.  I have enough strips for two more...

Also have 22 x 10 inch squares crocheted.  I need 28 for a blanket for Wrap with Love...

And my friend Debbie sent me 27 x 10 inch squares she crocheted before she left for India a few days ago.  She will be living there for 6 months, so if you have a fascination with India, colour, noise, heat, people...check out her BLOG....

We have been friends for nearly 30 years and met through our daughters becoming friends at school.  We are both very different as you will see if you visit her blog.  She is very much a people person (I'm not), she loves the noise and colour and the crowdedness of India (I would hate it!), but we are the best of friends :))

 

 

 

 

Finished reading THIS.  Really enjoyed it!

Have started THIS and I know I'm going to enjoy it too.  It is the first of six autobiographical books by Knausgaard.  I'm in my Scandinavian season and seem to be particularly drawn to Norwegian writers :))  

 

 

 

 But also have to read THIS for the Book Group I've joined.  I read it a few years ago, but because I can't really remember much about it until the re-reading jogs my memory, I guess I'll have to read it again.  It's a good book, but not really the sort I'm into at the moment...

So...there you have it!  A bit of a catch up.  I fear I've been busy with other pursuits and have neglected my lovely new car.  Perhaps we will go for a drive together on the weekend.  Along with Jason Mraz :)))

Make the most of your day!

xx 

Yarn Along

Catching up with Ginny again for Yarn Along...

The charity knitting group met here again on Thursday.  See previous post for photos.

So I have been busy sewing together knitted rectangles that the ladies brought into cot blankets...

 

Reading Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier for the Book Group I've recently joined.  They meet monthly to discuss the various books, and will be meeting on Tuesday.  I received the book late so will not have it finished, but will go along anyway and observe to get a feel for what goes on.

 

 

Have 21 crochet squares done.  Need 7 more to sew together into another blanket for charity...

 

 

I've bought a couple of books (from Book Depository) by Per Petterson having recently read his It's Fine By Me which I borrowed from the library.  He is Norwegian and I really like the way he writes and the settings so I'm looking forward to reading these two also...

 

 

Ha en god dag!

 

xx