Fast Back.....!

Our Brisbane City Council Libraries have displays set up with popular titles which are available for loan. But there is a catch if you do choose to borrow these books...instead of the customary month for a loan, these books must be back in 7 days. Too easy I thought, after all I'm retired, so on Saturday I borrowed a big bundle  of books for Christmas reading and one was a FastBack. By Tuesday evening it became obvious that I hadn't got much reading done...

Yesterday I went to a Knit and Natter in the morning and then out to lunch with DH and some friends...no time to read. So late in the afternoon into the evening I was busy reading, reading,reading!!! 

This morning DH and I were out yet again...so no reading! 

But I was back reading this afternoon...and I'm almost at the end of the book...I'll be able to return the book to the library tomorrow, one day early. Phew...lol

So soon I'll be able to go back to some stitching, some tidying, some more decorating for Christmas, wrapping gifts and some folding/hanging up of clean laundry which is sitting in full baskets at the moment. 

In other words 'normal transmission' will resume! Lol

Peter James was an author recommended to me and this series features DS Roy Grace and this is the first one I've read...it was 'edge of seat' stuff but I did pick the 'bad guy'! I will certainly look for more of this series in the library...but maybe not a Fast Back :-)

Books and reading....

I have lots of novels waiting to be read. Friends would often hand me a bundle of books and say, 'You'll enjoy these' and I would put them into a storage cube 'for when I was retired and had time for reading'. If DH and I visited the Carrara Markets at the Gold Coast, I would invariably find some titles by a favourite author and these would then go into the storage cube. Eventually I had more than one storage cube full of books. 

I retired in 2011 and the pile of books waiting to be read had not lessened much. So in October last year I made a concentrated effort to read more. I am gradually becoming used to reading in the day time...somehow it always felt wrong! lol Some days late last year, I read for an entire afternoon!! So, by early December I had bagged up some of the ones that I've read, ready to go in the Lifeline bin. The Minette Walters one I finished after filling that supermarket bag. 

There's 8 books in this bag plus a fairy wand I found in a cupboard ???

 Last week I finished reading a book which I bought after reading about it on someone's blog and found that our council library didn't have it. The author, Judith Levine, decided to only spend money on food, utilities and other bare necessities for one year, so she could write about it. It's written in diary form and Levine intersperses the entries with sociological, economic and political commentary of life in the US in the early 2000s. She certainly doesn't offer any suggestions on how to live frugally (although she visits and interviews a chap who does) but does complain when her clothes become threadbare in that year. Levine also becomes bored as she can't go to movies, hire movies  or have pay TV. She bemoans the fact that when she is unable to accept invitations to join people for coffee/lunch, she is missing out on 'networking opportunities' for her career. 

There are obviously a lot of differences between Judith and I, but her boredom really amazed me. She had a computer with internet access for her work, so one can only imagine the possibilities there. She didn't seem to have any craft type hobbies...her and her husband got into a 'tizz' when they couldn't buy something for her niece's graduation. I'd be going through my yarn and fabric stashes and whipping up something that wouldn't require any spending...no fuss, no worry! (and I have done that many times when the budget was tight)

Levine did start to use public libraries during this year but commented that budget cuts over a number of years have left these places under staffed, stolen books haven't been replaced and new acquisitions are few and far between. She found other public utilities/facilities/amenities in the US to be similar.  Here in Queensland I think we can expect something similar in the not too distant future. 

Another story book bag...

Because I was taking a pile of presents up to the Sunshine Coast for the new baby great nephew, I decided on Monday that I should make something for Lucy. She loves books so a story book bag seemed like the way to go.
The book that I chose was one that was a favourite of my Early Childhood classes...the (imaginary) hippo does all the things that the little girl is not allowed to do, like eating cake whenever he wants to and sloshing water instead of bathing etc...

The fabrics for the bag were in my stash.

To help tell the story I had a 'cake' to put in the bag.

It's a pin cushion actually...minus the pins of course :-)

And to also help with the story-telling I had been lucky enough to find a soft rubber hippo in the local Toy World shop.

And before we came home yesterday, I took the chance to read the book to Lucy...

Lucy's mum said my gift was a 'hit' :-)

Photo Scavenger Hunt; A book that you would recommend...

Once again I'm joining in with Deb 's Photographic Scavenger Hunt. Hmmm...just one book eh?? Tough one!
Should I perhaps present this 'coffee table' style book that DH and bought while on a holiday to Tasmania a few years ago? As a Queenslander I probably would never have known about 'The Wall' if some friends had not stumbled across it on their holiday and insisted that it was worth our while to visit. What is 'the Wall'? It has nothing to do with Pink Floyd lol!

'The Wall' is the work of master sculptor, Greg Duncan and is situated in the Tasmanian town of Derwent Bridge. Greg is working on a history of Australia using the medium of timber. It is a work in progress and is magnificent... Photography is not allowed in the gallery and even though I rarely buy such books, I knew I had to have this one! I wanted my friends to know about this place!

Some of the pages fold out to show one whole panel of the carvings...

A close-up of one of those fold out pages...

Another page in this magnificent book...

But then again...maybe I could present this book as being one I would recommend to fellow gardeners...I got it for Christmas a few years ago and it contains a mine of information on gardening, especially in Queensland conditions. It was written by Colin Campbell who sadly passed away a little while ago. A lot of it is written in a question and answer format and covers so many things and I've found it to be so useful!

 My friend (and DH's cousin) knew Colin Campbell personally so she was able to get it signed by Colin before she gave it to me.

Incidentally, Colin's book is resting on another favourite book of mine 'What Flower is that' by Stirling Macoboy which was given to me by my brother as it was one of his favourites :-) I love leafing through it to find out the names of plants that I've seen...it has all of the plants that are detailed also with an illustration...very handy. 

But then again maybe I should just present another favorite book...one that is familiar to many bloggers...

Yes it's Rhonda Hetzel's book which was published earlier this year and is in its second printing. DH and I were lucky enough to be able to attend a book talk by Rhonda at a Brisbane Bookstore, The Avid Reader at West End. I recently heard DH telling a visitor that book 'was all that you needed to be a homemaker'...showed he paid attention to what Rhonda said in her talk :-) I think DH summed it up very well.

A book signing...Down to Earth..

I first discovered the world of blogging after reading an article in a 'Burke's Backyard' magazine. The columnist was Rhonda-Jean and I noted that she also wrote a blog here. I visited her blog and was immediately hooked. In those early days I would read each new post and then also read posts from her archives. Then I started to click on people who left comments on Rhonda's blog and so visit their blogs. My reading list grew and then after a number of months as a reader and commenter, I decided to start my own blog. 

Earlier this week Rhonda wrote in a post that she was doing a 'talk and book signing' here in Brisbane. I emailed the book store, 'Avid Reader' so that DH and I could attend the event. 'Avid Reader' is a small (as in independent and not part of a huge chain) bookstore in the inner suburb of West End. We were welcomed this evening, offered a glass of wine and then ushered into a room at the back where the 'talk' part of the evening would be. 

Rhonda, just before she started her talk

Rhonda spoke of her earlier life and how the high pressure life did not make her happy, despite earning very good money. She explained how she and her husband Hanno moved towards a quieter, gentler life. She also talked about the gradual evolution towards blogging after being involved in a number of forums. 

The book signing; there was the inevitable queue

A poster showing the Talk and signings at the book store

Just a shot showing how many books are crammed into the quaint little shop

My turn!

She told us that years ago she wrote a book similar to the one published by Penguin this year. The three publishers she sent it to, knocked it back. A few months ago, one of those publishers contacted her, offering to publish her work...needless to say she declined. Rhonda also talked about how she came to be a Womens Weekly columnist and how the editor of that magazine sees Rhonda writing that column for at least 20 years!

I just had to get a photo of DH in front of the shop

Hanno kindly agreed to having a photo taken with me. He then chatted with me while DH went to get the car. 

A few weeks ago we went to Pacific Paradise...

Overseas friends of my niece and her husband find it hard to believe that there is actually a place called Pacific Paradise. But there is and it's the Sunshine Coast locality where they live with their little daughter Lucy. (My niece worked and travelled OS for a number of years where she met her German husband, E)

Lucy and her daddy

When DH and I drove up to Maleny recently, we went to visit my niece's family before we drove home. Little Lucy was napping when we got there but when she did get up, we were amazed at how big she has grown. Mind you, we haven't seen her since before we went to the US in March!! Little Lucy loves her books so it seemed only natural to read one of her favourite books to her.

Aniria (Aunty Maria) reading Possum Magic by Mem Fox

Elmo on Lucy's bike



The winner of the PIF Giveaway is bettsylyn :-)

On my mind...2 books

Today, being Friday, means that I'm joining in with Rhonda Jean's (here) Friday feature, "On my mind'.

For my birthday, my friend Pamela gave me the book on the right.  The book is written by Zoe Boccabella and describes her growing up , caught between two cultures; Italian and Australian.
It's complicated, the web of relationships that meant Pamela  knew about the book and thought I would like it. P works in a state government cars' garage. One of the tow truck drivers is Santo; he is married to a cousin of Zoe's father. Santo's wife is the sister of one of my good friends, Maddalina who is also a Boccabella cousin obviously. Zoe's father taught at the high school where my DD1 and DH's 3 daughters went to school. Zoe's little sister came to some sessions at the vacation Centre I used to run in the 1990s. Finally my SIL, M and my BIL, D went to Santo's wedding years ago. Now you are completely confused aren't you?? lol

After I started reading "Mezza Italiana', Maddalina sent me Zoe's FaceBook page link. Reading that, I saw mention of the book on the left which relates the stories of Italian Immigrants in the Stanthorpe district between 1925 and 1935. Zoe's grandparents are mentioned in this book but the time frame is too early for a mention of my father and my godparents. I was able to borrow the book from the council library. It's been interesting reading about a town that was almost like a second home for me in my younger years.

Santo took my book to the book launch so I would have a personally signed copy!

My father died when I was 15 and as my mother was Australian, we pretty much reverted to that lifestyle after he died. Until I read Zoe's book, I believed that I had no Italian customs but I now know otherwise. I do have similar memories to Zoe such as being fascinated by the fact that my father never ate vegetables and meat together on the same plate; always separate but I can't remember for sure which was eaten first, but I think it was the meat. I still tend to put communal bowls of food in the centre of the table...and people serve themselves...we did that at home and it's an Italian custom.
My father and godparents always preserved food, and I'm trying to recreate that custom nowadays. Another custom I'm going to continue with is taking produce from my garden as gifts to my friends and neighbour. I'm ashamed to admit that I used to be embarassed by the fact that my parents would send me to school with homegrown tomatoes for my teacher instead of flowers. She loved them but I felt awful!!!
Zoe has also written about the lavish Italian weddings; yes I have childhood memories of attending such functions for 500 people but my own personal experience of weddings with mine and my DDs' weddings is much more restrained. Racism is also dealt with in Zoe's book but I can only only remember 2 occasions where I was at the receiving end, and those were 2 particularly ignorant people. Zoe endured taunts at school which is sad.
I haven't finished either book as I have a number of items I'm reading basically at the same time. So I may find some other old memories stirred up!

I am so fortunate...

It's a lovely part of the year now...things have slowed right down and we're very relaxed and enjoying each day as it comes.
It has been raining here for just over a week now. Perfect weather for tidying up, sorting out, reading, crafts and just general daydreaming about up and coming craft projects and activities. I tend to buy gifts throughout the year and these gifts are kept in 2 big plastic storage tubs- one for general gifts and one for baby gifts. I've spent time over the past 2 days, sorting out items in these tubs and despite wrapping many up for gift giving in 2010, there were still many left. I have written a more up to date inventory for each box so the next time I need a present I'll know straight away if I already have something suitable. There were items in both boxes (they are about 94 litre size boxes) that I had forgotten I had. Realistically I don't really need to spend money buying much for quite a while. I have already made a vow that I would make more gifts from now on too!


A knitted 'washer' I made to go with Meg's set of towels her father and I bought her for christmas.




The big ball of Bernat knitting cotton

To me, Christmas is more about the 'giving' rather than gloating over a big booty of gifts. I feel very privileged when I think about the gifts that my family gave me. Each person obviously thought about my interests and organised gifts that reflect this thoughtfulness. I now have a wool winder and a swift which I am very grateful for as many of the yarns I buy these days are in skeins rather than balls. I also have a new book of knitting patterns with a wide range of projects. I plan to do some of the smaller projects as 'hot weather' knitting activities. I love the old 'Noah's Ark ' story and one of my daughters bought me a fabric panel of this old story. (She also bought me the sweetest set of N.A. cookie cutters and some seeds of old fashioned plants of my childhood) I love watching or reading 'Who done its' and one of our girls gave me two novels of that genre which also include knitting in the setting and plot.


My swift, wool winder, knitting book and 2 novels



The Noah's Ark fabric panel



We have had a lot of rain this year and I'm a keen gardener who's had a lot of weeding and pruning to do as a result. A few years ago my 2 daughters gave me a pair of purple 'crocs' which I had to promise them I would never wear in public (because they would be so embarassed! lol) places so I have always worn them as my 'yard shoes'. With the extra rain this year, the ground became extremely soggy and mud and water would get inside the crocs. So one of my step-daughters gave me a pair of gumboots. They are magnificent, as the photo below shows and they are my new 'yard shoes' when we've had lots of rain.

My new gumboots

So as you can see, I'm well and truly blessed with these thoughtful gifts and all will be so helpful in all my creative pursuits in the future, both craft wise and garden wise.