Author: joansjottingscom

I’ve just returned from a great weekend gathering of 20 fellow Rollers. We had lots of catching up to do and stories to tell. Several of us had been here before as it was the meeting point for our/my first tagalong group/adventure to Exmouth WA in 2019.

A big thanks to Noreen, our tagalong leader for providing and transporting 2 trailer loads of aged, seasoned hardwood logs. She is the master fire maker and never fails to create the best fires.

The family recently gathered to farewell Lyn. She would have been pleased with her farewell and the fact that many of the family came together to honour her and pay our respects. It is always good to catch up with the extended family and some had traveled large distances to attend. Sean was visiting from America, it was good to see him again.

Our thoughts are with Lyn’s family at this time.

She was Chris’s older sister. I like to think that they are reunited again.

What’s an emotional support chicken? Let me explain. A number of the knitting podcasters I follow had been taken by the concept and had made then shown off their emotional support chickens. It’s a fun project to make and seems to bring infectious joy to the makers as well as recipients. It’s a good way to use up any scraps of wool making each chicken unique in its own right. I have used most of my scrapy leftover wool stash to make some interesting combinations.

I have gifted several EMS,s and they have gone to Brisbane, Adelaide, Newcastle,  Armidale and Sydney. Sue let her daughter borrow hers and it was featured at a wellness event in Sydney.

Ian was taken by them as well and chose his favorite.

Gradually they will all go but I’m enjoying seeing them about my house. They make me smile each time I see them.

Quiet New Years Eve for me. Van not happy with the noisey local fireworks. I watched the concert/ fireworks on the ABC to welcome in 2024.

It was good to catch up with Gib, Xiang Maverick and Felix ( Adelaide Mahers) who were holidaying at Merry Beach. Paul drove down with 3 of the kids. I drove “Flo” with Robyn and Tamika on board. We had lunch in Ulladulla and then on to Merry Beach. It was good to see the kids enjoying time with their cousins. They had fun playing soccer amidst the presence of several very friendly kangaroos. Some had Joey’s in their pouches.

It was a lovely day. We drove over the new Nowra bridge for the first time. Home on dusk.

Goodyear tyre people from Port Maquarie answered our questions and gave some information and advice.

I did it. Very proud of myself for taking on and finishing this year’s mystery shawl knit a long. The flamboyant Stephen West from Westknits is the mastermind behind the MKAL and it is in its 13th year.

4 clues are released over 4 weeks with video instructions for each clue. The gradient part was to use the four selected colours from light to dark and repeat throughout. My wool is sock yarn, yes 4ply! I purchased it from Bendigo and Wangaratta woollen mills. They appeared to play nicely together and I’m pleased with the effect. Serendipity….

Clue 1 was something of a challenge. It began by making a circle using magic loop and working out from the centre to make a square. A pattern suggestion was given but its up to you to create your own variation as long as you arrive at the required stitch count on the last row.

Clue 2  was in 2 parts to form a diamond shape around the square central part.

Clue 3 was also in 2 parts forming 2 wing sections on the sides of the project. The shape of the shawl was now becoming apparent.

Clue 4 was a border section under and across the winged sections. It was finished with an I cord bind off. I decided to add a fringe to finish.

Robyn was home for a few weeks, it was good to have her home. We also had Jake 12 yrs and Shakira’s 16yrs birthdays. Where does time go ?

I am packing/preparing for the annual Rollers gathering. This year is closer to home at Port Maquarie. I plan to drive up and stay with Lynda and Ethel on Sunday. Then an hour trip on Monday for 5 days at the NRMA CP in Port Maquarie. We have booked out the whole CP for the event. Looking forward to lots of catch ups and fun times.

It’s true that the best trips are the unplanned ones. Such was my recent visit Dungog.

My sister rang on the Tuesday asking if I would like to attend a workshop on Medicinal Herbs being held in Dungog on the Saturday. Ethel couldn’t go so would I like to go in her place?

I decided to travel on Friday and stay overnight at Clarence Town which ment a 30 minute drive to Dungog the next day.

The CP was a small one on the banks of the William River. A quiet historic town with little evidence today of it’s importance in the late 1800s as a steam ship building and transport hub for timber, predominantly red cedar and supplies from Morpeth.

Saturday, we met in Dungog as arranged.

I could have spent more time looking around this historic town. It exuded the obvious pride the locals have in their town. The cafes were atmospheric with great food and good coffee.

The workshop was full on. Two hour lecture before lunch, then the practical hands on part. There were 9 people in the group and we each chose a recipe to make. Then at the end we all had 9 samples to take home. Challenging but a lot of fun.

Pat gave us some of the Calendula seeds to grow. What she uses is different to the Calendula I’ve grown. So I look forward to planting them.

We finished up about 4pm. I followed Lynda to her new home in Old Bar. They moved last November and this will be my first visit. It was strange following the MUX.

I spent the rest of the weekend with them. So good to catch up, the time went too quickly. I left to come home on the Monday.

Yes it’s that time again. Any excuse to attend an event like this makes me happy.

Up early and on the road for an overnight stop in Shepparton tonight. Cold and frosty in Goulburn then very foggy for the next leg of my journey, which didn’t clear until 11am. I arrived in Wangaratta with the intention of visiting the mill shop but the hours have changed! Now Fridays and Mondays. Knowing this now I will go on Monday on my way home.

Tomorrow will be the start of 3 days at the Bendigo Show ground enjoying all things sheep and wool. Another must/essential is a trip to the Bendigo Woollen Mill and the mill shop.

The mill shop.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Sheep and Wool Show. It is my happy place. I enjoyed the trip although this time there was a lot of fog that didn’t completely lift until late morning. There has been a lot of recent rainfall with high river levels and water in low lying areas. I was pleased to have powered sites where I stayed as it was chilly 2 degree nights.

Good to be home and catch up with family. The dog still remembered me. It didn’t take long for her resume the creature comforts she missed.

Just returned from a long overdue visit to our Adelaide relatives. My first flight since COVID restrictions.

The nice sunny/windy days made it ideal to dry wool.

This time last year I was in Tumut enjoying the autumn colour. Winter chill is on its way.

South Australia set to get First Nations’ Voice to Parliament after proposal wins Greens’ support.

l. To be able to elect a group of people from their geographical area: half of them men and half of them women. Overall, 40 people would be elected and then 12 of those would form a statewide Voice that could speak on any bill before parliament. “This will be really significant,” Mr Maher said. Voice members would also be able to attend two cabinet meetings a year, meet with state government department chief executives and ask ministers about spending, policies and what they are doing for Indigenous people. Election promise but no referendum The Labor Party promised a local implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart at the state election in March. Support of the Greens gives the government 11 votes out of the 21 in the Legislative Council, excluding the president. How will the First Nations Voice work? The proposed bill to enshrine South Australia’s new First Nations Voice to parliament into law reveals the scope of the body. Greens MP Tammy Franks said the Voice would give parliamentarians the chance to hear First Nations people like they never have before.  “The ability to hear what First Nations people think on any issue that affects Aboriginal Australians in South Australians, as we make our decision as parliamentarians for the best for South Australia, so I think it’s only a win-win,” she said. Formal consultation on the legislation — and particularly how the geographical regions would be divided — began in November and ended two weeks ago. The results of the consultation have not been released. A referendum is set to be held on a federal Indigenous Voice to Parliament by the end of the year. Unlike at the Commonwealth level, South Australia’s First Nations’ Voice will not need to go to a public vote. South Australia’s constitution can be changed without a referendum. “We’ll look to reference this in our Constitution Act and that can be done in South Australia without a referendum,” Mr Maher said.

Chris took an avid interest in Kyams’ political career over the years and I’m sure he would be proud. I like to think that he and Viv, Kyams’ politically savvy mum who also is no longer with us, are up there cheering him on.

I have been productive with my knitting. It’s an interest that reflects my stress levels! Not something to do in the hot weather but the weather has been variable enough to make it possible to knit. I have been tempted for a long time to do some circular knitting as it’s quick and opens up a lot of creative opportunities. So I purchased an Addi circular knitting machine which arrived yesterday.

I have been busy lately with a birthday, Ian’s happens 3 days after Christmas, as well as kids activities and overnight stays during the school holidays.

Aunty Sharon has had the kids taking turns staying with her in Sydney. She returned to work this week which although busy will no doubt be a welcome break.

The birthdays continue this week with Sharon and Jai celebrating on the 26-27th. Big one for Jai as he is turning 13, Highschool this year!

The garden is a disappointment this summer. From being a quagmire in Spring it has become so dry it’s cracking and like concrete to dig. I grew lettuce in pots, just finished. That was a battle with caterpillars decimating them almost overnight. My passionfruit vine is producing well, it’s first year. The Cockatoos are also monitoring their ripening so I’ve netted what I can to discourage them. I planted 2 tomatoes in early December and they are doing well. A few weeks off being ready to pick. Yesterday I found a couple of self seeded tomato plants and put them in the garden. On my trip to Bunnings a few days ago I bought a punnet of lanky discounted climbing bean plants for 50c . Because I couldn’t dig the garden, I scratched the soil and emptied the best part of a bag of potting mix on top then planted the 9 bean seedlings. Since then the weather has been overcast and we have had an inch of rain. My beans are looking very happy.

The radish plants are also in pots and not doing very well. They really need to be in soil.

The whole growing season seems to be about 5 weeks later than usual.

Tuesday lunches have resumed.

Travel plans are on hold.