A quick Hello.

I'm supposed to be working on the newsletter that I write for our woodworkers club so I've got to be quick. Just thought you might like to see some more of Bob's work. Bob's the woodworker who likes to make miniatures. These are his latest creations, some dinky little cannons. No they don't work (Bob's things usually do) but they're clever.
Just for fun I'll show you the children's toy he made. These are a couple of clown figures that, when bumped with a finger, race eachother, wobbling down the pegs that hold them, to the bottom of the board. Lots of fun but every time someone slams a door in the clubroom, they're off, rattling down the board to a chorus of cheering. I don't know about children but a whole lot of noisy senior citizens are getting a great deal of fun out of them. Well, that's it now, I really must get on with this newsletter. Hope everything is well at your place. Bye for now until next time.

Op-shop find.

Whilst not exactly obsessed, I find it difficult to pass an op-shop without popping inside to see what goodies are on offer. Our local is a beauty; packed to the hilt with good things for which other people have no further use and being sold at really good prices. I found 7 balls of this beautiful, soft yarn there a couple of weeks back and just couldn't resist it. The colour depicted here is way off the mark; can you believe it's really the deeper, almost plum colour in the second picture. I'm sure there is a way of fixing that but not by this 'bear of little brain' I'm afraid. Anyway, our daughter loves the shade (the plum colour, that is) and I knew there would be enough to make a scarf and cap for her, so for less than half it's normal cost it became mine.
So eager was I to give it to our girl that I forgot to take a photograph so she kindly sent me this pic, taken with her mobile phone. I made the yarn (a blend of wool, mohair and nylon) up in a lace, Shetland stitch that is called heather. She is delighted with it which means that I am too. Good old op-shop.
Only four days to Spring, not that I'm counting or anything but this has been a jolly cold Winter here in Melbourne.
Have a nice weekend everyone. Bye for now until next time.

A love wrap

A couple of years ago I joined the team of knitters who call themselves 'Wrap With Love Inc.' The organisation was started some time back in 1992 by a caring and concerned woman called Sonia Gidley-King who, unable to bear the thought of so many underprivileged people suffering from the bitter cold that happens in some parts of this wonderful planet of ours, decided to do what little she could about it. So she started knitting 10" squares from the bits of odd yarn she had about her home and invited others to do the same. Twenty eight squares collected together and sewn up four across by seven down makes a blanket that will fit a single bed or wrap a freezing person. I'm told these blankets can save a life. This was the first of 220,000 blankets that have been sent to countries all over the world, including Australia, in the past eighteen years. Non political, non religious, the organisation never sells the blankets; they are gifts given with love. Based in New South Wales its a bit costly for those of us here in Victoria to get our work to the warehouse so some of our knitters volunteer as 'drop off depots' and undertake to accept and transfer the blankets to the central point in Alexandria from whence they will be sent out to keep somebody warm.
As we have no drop off depot in Melbourne I have put my hand up to do the job. Oops, now I'm for it. I have no idea how to go about it. Good foot-soldier me - not much of a comanding officer. I think I'll start by making a nuisance of myself and contacting trucking companies who might be willing to stow a bag of blankets in a corner of a van heading interstate, where it will be picked up by the Wrap With Love carriers. Please wish me luck.
Sadly Sonia left this world just recently after a long illness and will be greatly missed but what a legacy she has left. Vale, Sonia.

A Bevvy of Bootees

I imagine it's no surprise to other avid knitters if I confess that the thought of taking a week off from knitting is not my idea of a holiday. Naturally, when I packed my case for my Queensland trip, needles and yarn were the first on my list of essentials. I did forget sunblock, but who needs that in Australia's sunny state? (joking of course, I burn easily, and Queensland's sun can be really fierce). I could have forgotten a whole lot of other things but never my knitting. I always take a circular needle as it packs easily and safeguards against the horror of losing one needle.
At present I'm working on baby things for charity and I love making these little slippers. The pattern is one I invented when I had grand ideas of writing a knitting book for beginners - you know, the sort of thing that doesn't require a whole lot of skill. I never got around to writing the book but I love making the slippers; they don't require any real concentration, can be finished in an evening and use up scraps of leftovers. Unfortunately I don't know any little feet that I can try them on for fit or suitability but they look OK on one of my big dolls so I'm hoping for the best.
They'd probably be good for bigger feet too. I must try them out on larger needles and thicker wool. If you're wondering how I fix the ties - I just work the ribbon or cord through the knitting at the ankle, using a sewing needle with a large eye, once the bootee is sewn up.
Not much doing in my part of the world today. The man of the house has gone off to the woodworkers club so I think I'll do some vacuuming. I find that shoving the vacuum cleaner around warms me up on these cold mornings. Spring next month - luvly.
Bye for now, until next time.

Claude

Claude is a little black fruit bat (Flying Fox) that was caught in fruit netting and suffered a badly torn wing.
Love them or hate them, bats are important little animals, vital to the survival of our native forests as their long-ranging flight ensures the propogation of regrowth. As they feast on the nectar of flowering native trees and plants the bats pollinate in a much wider range than that of bees.
http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/wildlife-ecosystems/wildlife/living_with_wildlife/flyingfoxes/flyingfox_fable.html
Sorry, I still can't do links, but if you'd like to learn more about the bats above is the web address.
The wing is very delicate and cannot be stitched so his carer has glued the tear together and supported the mend with medical tape. The little tartan coat he is wearing will immobilize the arm while the tear heals. If the mend is successful Claude will need physio therapy to get the joint working again - administered by his carer. They're a dedicated bunch, these carers - volunteers who mostly have full time day jobs but are happy to turn out at the drop of a hat to rescue an injured animal. If the wing will not heal, Claude will have to be euthanized as he will be unable to function in the wild and, although he would make a lovely little pet, to keep him in captivity is illegle in Queensland.
Claude was lucky; the fruit grower in whose net he was caught notified Queensland Bat Rescue who expertly removed him from the tangle and took him to safety. Although the bats are neither aggressive or vicious, like any injured animal they may bite or scratch their rescuer so it is important that well-meaning members of the public don't touch them.
I was interested to learn that bats are not rodents but an offshoot of the primates (more like us) and that research is at present being carried out to learn more about their remarkable immune system. It is also comforting to know that the dreaded Hendra virus (also carried by feral cats) that is linked to the flying fox cannot be passed on by them to humans. It's only once the disease comes into contact with horses that it becomes dangerous to us.
I am sincerely hoping that research is being done to learn why that happens and how it can be fixed in a manner that will benefit both species.
That's all for now, until next time.

Look who's coming to dinner.

Tim is a wild brush-tailed possum. As far as I know he hasn't been rescued from anything, he just knows where to find a good meal. Every evening after sunset Timmy bangs on the back door of the sanctuary homestead and, once the door is opened, he scampers into the kitchen to tuck into his dinner. He is totally uninterested in the family sitting round the fire chatting and quite comfortable with my approach to take his photo. Nobody has taught him that it is rude to eat and run so as soon as he has cleared his plate he is off again, heading for the back door, with his beautiful tail floating out behind him; there he sits and waits until the door is opened for him. He then he disappears into the night.
Tim's visit was a special treat for me as although I put fruit out for the possum that lives in our woodshed, I have never yet made his/her acquaintance.
Must go now till next time.

Pretty Jack

Jack is an unwanted pet rainbow lorikeet that was given to the sanctuary. He has been released but chooses to stay around where he can cadge a feed from any of the feed trays that are put out for the kangaroos. He does have a feed tray of his own but the world is truly Jack's oyster and he believes he is welcome at everyone's table. He will land on the shoulder of anyone who ventures out into the yard, sidle up to their ear and drawl a seductive 'hello'. And quite without shame he seems to prefer women. Oh you devil, Jack.
Feed time is never a problem for the horse in the second picture, and no, I don't think he has a name.
Bye for now, until next time.