A Week Before Christmas and a Wee While Before.

Speaking of Christmas, how did it arrive so soon? I know I had a slow year accomplishing anything in needlework.  I was unable to concentrate on any stitching,  any counted cross stitch, or patchwork, without reverse stitching. By the end of September things had taken a turn for the better. It allowed me to  accomplished more than I thought, although not the major item I had in mind. It is what it is, onward from here.

 I managed to do some stitching for our quilt show 'Sale table"for next year. Tote bags, baby items Christmas decorations and such. There will be more to do before June next year, so I need to make progress with hand quilting on my king size quilt, before making more items to add to this project.

We established a rose garden earlier this year, in Springtime. The rose bushes are rewarding us with beautiful blooms, some of which are pictured below. The pink and white one, was a "ring in" in my order. I didn't much care for the look of it in the catalogue. I chose one listed near to it, the nursery folk must have decided it needed to come live at our home. In a bunch, in a Lalique bowl, it looks quite pretty.

We have had extreme and extensive bush fires around our country this year so far. Only 18 days into summer for us in the Southern Hemisphere, right now.  Our airport is located  in a peat area and a fire started there in late July. It has continued to burn, with flare ups,  still now.  There have been 55 days of smoke here, like the photo below, in the highly dangerous  category, equivalent to smoking a packet and a half of cigarettes a day. Thankfully we have been blessed with good lungs, hopefully they are not damaged


Years of unrelenting drought have taken our area to water restrictions at level 3, with the threat of moving, to level 4 early in the new year.  The view below is looking down the hill and across to the city, some 4-5klms away.

 

On November the 8th we had a very scary afternoon. the fires were only 3 klms from where we live. The smoke, combined with the red dust from the dry interior plains and the heat from the flames  caused such an arid atmosphere, leaves descended over all properties nearby. The leaves were black, although still very much intact.

Obviously all moisture from the stems had been evaporated, causing the trees to shed their foliage. The wind blew the leaves across the city, with green lawns covered with an odd looking black carpet.

  

These photos were taken at 2:30pm, from nearby, looking out to sea.  We needed the lights on indoors, the smoke and dust made everything very dark. Below are some of the leaves we collected from our front garden. They reeked of  burnt eucalyptus forests, even weeks later.

We have had a week clear of smoke. What a relief for us all to be able to breathe freely and not have stinging eyes.  Not so for those wonderful fire fighters, who have done their utmost to keep most of us from harm, although sadly, 750 homes and buildings have been lost so  far. We are very grateful for all their efforts and are indebted to their selfless service.


Once again I participated in the international Christmas Ornament Exchange

 I've done so for over 12 years.  Prior to this group was one, 5 years ago, when I started exchanging . Below is my Ornament for this year along with two gifts I included. Enjoy.

Hello again,

Seems I haven't been here for such a very long time.

Over the last 2 years, life has been very confronting, presenting several challenges. Sadly some, one never wants to experience ever again.

. Moving countries, to return home to Australia, was an ambivalent experience at the time..  "There's no place like Home" is so true for me, however leaving loved ones, friends, special encounters and locations behind,  required some acceptance.  Selling our home,in New Zealand was somewhat distressing.

Several urgent  factors determined our new location in New South Wales.. However, this location has turned out to be very pleasant, apart from the high humidity of summer. Some of the many beaches along the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, are  truly beautiful.

 

Horse Shoe Bay

South West Rocks NSW

                             Parking at Tacking Point Lighthouse, looking to Lighthouse Beach .

               Looking South to Laurieton, with the three mounds of Big Brother, Middle Brother                    and Little Brother, just visible in the distance

Tacking point Lighthouse.

                                         Looking North at Port Macquarie Harbour Entrance.

                                    Lake Cathie entrance, to the South (pronounced Lake Cat Eye).

Our lovely back garden, is filled with Palms, Frangipani , Cycads,  Buxus hedging, as well as a great, flat,  Buffalo lawn.  It is a blank canvas, since removing the many Agaves Yukas and others, not wanted.   There is much to do, now the weather is cool enough for gardening outdoors.  

 

To the left.

                                                                        To the right.


We espaliered  five  citrus trees along the eastern fence just after we moved in last year, in May.  They were laden with small fruit soon after,  which we removed, to strengthen the trees. We have since harvested a number of blood red Grapefruit.

 In spring  two climbing roses were planted, one on each pillar at the front entrance. These have now grown to reach up to the next floor. They grow very quickly, love the northerly aspect and have prolific blooms with an exquisite fragrance.

 

My stitching has been a non event of late. I've not been able to concentrate on counting threads and stitching over one, on a special project, that was meant to be finished by November last year. After a   large quilting luncheon, down the coast last week, I was inspired to look at my abandoned,  current patchwork project. Hopefully I will remain enthused, to keep working on this quilt.

Photos next time.