Knitting 2026

 I usually have a knitting project on the go and recently have been knitting mitred square blankets. I have a couple to sew up, and am knitting beanies for sale in the op shop after Easter. 

Knitted for friends grandchild due in January, Babbity top down pattern along with a pair of boottees.

Op shop, classic matinee jacket

Couple of beanies for the op shop, don't know how I managed to get these upside down.

An answer to prayers...

 

Hubby and I are coordinators at our church op shop and I was tasked with removing items from the CWA hall next to church as the building was to be demolished. That was on a Thursday and the building was being demolished the following Monday. I removed as much as I could in the way of crockery and cutlery, pantry cupboards etc. There was about 70 retro chrome dining chairs, 6 wooden dining chairs and a wood table. I took photo's and was planning on putting them on Marketplace, but we only had a short time to remove them and no storage available. We have a group of Fijians who regularly shop with us and 2 of the ladies dropped in just after we opened the shop, I knew they lived nearby and felt prompted to ask them if they were interested in at least the wooden chairs and table. I had the photo ready to show them and they gasped as I asked them, I was taken aback as I really thought it had been a stupid question... but, no. Their response was that they had been praying about chairs for their meeting place on their walk to our shop. Neither I or them could believe how seamlessly and timely this situation and prayer fitted together. We felt that it really was divine intervention. We were able to give them the chairs and table for free, also a moving box full of hymn books as we were using new ones, and there was still enough crockery and utensils for them to kit out their kitchen in their venue. They prayed, I had the courage to ask what I thought was a stupid question, and in doing so their prayer was answered along with other items they could use.

Tassy trip 2023

 18th March managed an early start  first stop Taree to get fuel. Then lunch at Heatherbrae pies, we like their Jillaroo steak, bacon and cheese pies.  We are spending tonight at Yass Caravan and Cabin park, we have stayed here often with the caravan as it is ideally located and Yass is a lovely township.

Spirit of Tasmania evening sailing we usually book a cabin which is much more comfortable than deckchairs and is worth the added expense as the cabin has a shower ensuite.  We usually have a meal at the Market Kitchen Buffet which is good value with lots of choices.

Monday20th March, off the ferry and had breakfast at Elizabeth Town Cafe just a short drive from Devonport this is a bakery cafe and has some great choices for meals any time of the day. 

Made great time and arrived in Richmond mid morning, took a stroll around the township.

 Bought some fudge and played tourists for a while,not too many changes dropped in on our neighbours who live across the road to our old place then had lunch at The Richmond Arms Hotel. It was great to catch up with 2 of my friends from a Book Club (Alison and Tricia) which I attended when we lived in Richmond.                                                                                                        

Arrived in Lindisfarne to stay with Liz and Patrick and a trip to Kingston as Lewis was playing table tennis so it was tea in Kingston at The Salty Dog Restaurant. 

Tuesday 21st March, caught up with my daughter Belinda, went and voted before we headed to New Norfolk to catch up with friends from Maydena (Peter & Geri Little) and Ann Cox (staying in Lachlan with her daughter recovering from surgery. 

Then we caught up with Emma, Matt and Thea at their home and Thea's choice of takeaways for tea. KFC was delicious. 

Wednesday 22nd March, Morning Tea at Eastlands Shopping Centre, a walk around the centre and some shopping before meeting with friends in the Food Court for morning tea.  (Debby Daniels, Suzy Harback, Carol Crosby and Marilyn Clarke) lots of laughter over coffee and cakes.                              

Then on to Bellerive to catch up with Anna and Leon in Bellerive and lunch down on the boardwalk and a look around the village.   Caught up with Ann in the afternoon as she had just returned home from her daughters place following her surgery. Back to Liz and Patricks for Teriyaki Chicken and veg and some relaxation watching TV and interacting with grandchildren.                                                          

Thursday 23rd March Michael dropped me to Belinda and we spent the morning chatting and watching music clips.  Great to catch up and make plans for when Belinda visits us later in the year.  Michael played a round of Golf with Mathew (son) and I walked through to Northgate to catch up with Margaret Horne, Maureen Percival and then David Hanley. (staggered meet up times so it was nice to get some 1:1 time with friends, family and workmates. Jodi was working so she met up with us both later in the afternoon and Mathew was able to join us for a cuppa in cafe. With a bit of actionin the background as Police arrested a group playing up in the nearby Bus Mall.  Some time on our own and KFC for tea.   

Friday 24th March trip to Kingston for lunch with Aunty Irene (apricot chicken and veg with self saucing pudding to follow) Met up with Mandy to collect some items for Michael's mum then a trip through Sandy Bay and caught up with friends Jan and David Bindoff who have just had a home built  and are also building a small place at White Beach.  Jan has been a dear friend for a number of years and our daughters played Basket ball together for a few years.  Then we headed through to Moonah Hotel for a meal with family before we headed off the following day.  Was good to catch up with immediate family, Prue, Karen and Ciara. Andrea brought Matt and Thea to the hotel as Emma was working until 5.30.  Patrick had a business meeting and Joel was unwell. It was lovely to catch up again before we left.     

Saturday 25th March, on the road and heading to Georgetown to catch up with Liam who met us in the township and we had a meal together before dropping him home and catching up with Lara and Rip.

Drive through to Devonport and caught up with Chris and Sharon (I worked with Chris at RFT) and their friend John Lewis who was there for a motor show the following day. (He had a classic motor bike he had in the show) Unfortunately didn't catchup with Barbara (Chris's mum)   Walk around the dock on a new walkway out over the river and onboard the Spirit for a sailing at 11pm.
                                                                                                                                      

 

Knitting from the past...

I have odd pics of Knitting show up in my facebook feed... figured here was as good a place as any to share them.    

My friend Lee Story wanted a beanie in his football team colours.  Glad to oblige.

12 ply jumper for a friends little boy.... he will grow into it so it will be good over winter.

2023 knitting

 Knitting projects for the year.

JANUARY

Mitred square blanket using scrap yarn. - 

45 Stitches, size 7 needles, 8 ply yarn.  

knit 1 row, next rowknit 20sts K2 together through back of loop, knit 1, K2 together knit to end of row, next row knit 21 stitches, purl on stitch, knit to end of row....continue in this manner (leaves a nice raised mitre down the centre of the square) till 3 stitches, knit 3 stitches together and leave a long end for sewing up. 

Trauma Teddy pattern, need to work on facial features, will also go with the scarf a bit longer.   I find this pattern is great for using the oddments of yarn for knitting, and I use odds and ends from sewing up rugs for stuffing.... real recycled toy.                                                                                                          

Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree growing silently on the side of the road...

 Thought I would share a favourite Christmas memory from a few years ago... Imagine if you can it is December, I am pregnant with Belinda Gordon, and have been visiting my good friend Jen Burnie in a catch up before Christmas. She doesn't have a Christmas Tree and we have just had a conversation regards getting a real Christmas tree when I remember that there was one growing on the side of a nearby road.... Jen is very pregnant too... and we decide to go and get said Christmas tree growing on the verge. Our respective husbands are horrified and reckon we will get done for theft of a Christmas tree, and that they would have to come and bail us out..... (How negative of them) I suggested that if that should happen they should bring the newspapers or a television crew, cos, if we got caught, 2 x pregnant women taking a tree to brighten the Christmas for little children if it made the news I was sure that there would be lots of donations forthcoming to make Christmas for the family. It did take us a little while to get the tree and it was actually small.... but it did the job, and gave us both a lovely memory...

Recycled Art Exhibition Salamanca Gallery (Hobart) 2019

 While working at Richmond Fellowship in Hobart (supported accommodation and Recovery Services -Mental Health) our clients had some artwork displayed in a Recycled Art Exhibition at Salamanca Gallery in Hobart.  Exhibits came from schools, disability services and individuals, it was a very interesting display as can be seen from these photo's I recently discovered on my phone gallery. 

I particularly liked this one featuring old spectacles turned into bugs... made me think of looking at them through a microscope.  

 I also liked this shower me with love, and the time traveller

I was amazed at the work and detail in these I love sculptures using rusty machinery.

I do tapestry from time to time and felt that this really captured the exhibition as contestents scoured the various tip shops around Hobart to find items to include in their displays.

These two would have been great at a bakery in Oatlands which has a display of film stars and film paraphenalia on display at all times. (even their public toilets have a dressing room feel about them)

I loved this one because of it's underlying message regards rubbish in our oceans.  and the one below because of its simplicity.