It seemed like a good idea at the time – and it was!

It’s finished! I guess it hasn’t really taken that long when I look back. Probably about 3 weeks with a few rows done here and there. I’m happy with the way it’s turned out. To think that when I began it, I didn’t have any idea how it would finish.

I used 4 ply yarn and size 3mm knitting needles and cast on 3 stitches to begin. Increasing one stitch at the beginning of each row, I knitted stocking stitch until there were 300 stitches on the needle. Then I started decreasing 1 stitch at the beginning of each row until 3 remained. The little edging caused by the increasing and decreasing was quite acceptable and many would probably have left this baby blanket like that but I decided to finish it off with 3 rows of crochet stitching. The first 2 rows of just double crochet (I think in the US it may be known as single) and the 3rd rows I made a kind of fan by making 6 double crochet into one stitch, missing 2 dc and joining the ‘fan into the next. I think it has given the blanket a kind of ‘new baby’ look about it.

I’m not sure what I’ll do with it yet but since our family have all planned for no more babies, I might just put it away in a ‘hope drawer’ for the first great-grandbub! Oh yes, I realise it might be a good few years yet before that happens, but I was just thinking… maybe I mightn’t be capable of making a baby blanket by then!

The Lemon Tree

It was planted to fill a space where a kids play house had been removed. The previous owners of our house had built it and their kids had enjoyed many hours of pleasure playing in it – so had their dog. It was rotting by the time we purchased the house and decided it had to go. There was an area underneath the little house, which was also well used by the dog! We found an assortment of ‘stuff’ buried as well as several places which had been ‘rolled in’ constantly. Not sure what to do with it, I purchased a lemon tree. Well it seemed they grow pretty well anywhere, and take pretty harsh treatment, including being ‘watered’ on by humans who, in some areas of the outback, use their lemon trees as the ‘outside loo’ (or so I’ve been told).

So a lemon tree was planted. Can’t even remember the kind it was now but it wasn’t long after, that we decided to move overseas for three years. Our house was placed on the rental market and in moved a family with four kids – and their dog. When we too up residence in our house again after returning ‘downunder’ the lemon tree was still growing – but it had grown rather tall and gangly and seemed to be sulking and not producing anything much in the way of fruit. Not what I’d call a marvellous specimen of the citrus variety! I’ve heard that if you have a tree that isn’t growing well despite all the care you can give, just lean an axe up against the trunk and it will begin to do well out of fright! Well I think I went one better and decided to ‘do the deed’ The hedge clippers came out and I lopped furiously. It seemed to stop it’s sulking within a few weeks and began to produce lovely new leaves. The tree is about 11 years old now and I’ve kept it trimmed across the top. The trunk has grown thick and sturdy and the lemons, although still not the greatest, at least give quite a reasonable amount of juice. I don’t know how long lemon trees live? If anyone knows maybe they could let me have the info. (thanks)!

I was just thinking… when it comes to gardening, my thumb is definitely not even a dull green but if chopping the top off the lemon tree has encouraged it to grow and produce, maybe I could just get the hedge clippers out and lean them up against that tiboucina shrub that seems to be having a sulk!

Wild birds

Having a built in ‘outdoor-not-enclosed-aviary’ in my back yard has given me hours of watching pleasure over the past few years and I had determined that I wasn’t going to be boring and blog about them but I can’t resist. I seem to learn something new each time these little birds visit and these small creatures amaze me at times. Sydney is well known for having masses of parrots of different kinds which inhabit anywhere there are areas of bush or large trees. Because we are right on the edge of a treed neighbourhood, they have not come here in large numbers however we do have a few Lorikeets who turn up for water or bread when the weather is very hot and food is scarce. Last summer we had about a dozen who came almost every day to share the bread scraps I threw out and to cool down in the water I left out for them.

Once autumn made an appearance the visits of the main bunch got less, but two persisted and became quite tame, perching themselves up on the shade sail and peering down, chirping and calling, even coming right up to the kitchen window to let us know they were ‘waiting’ on their handout.

These two have continued to come right through the winter – I presumed they had nested somewhere close by. One day they brought their babies to feed on the bread and honey I’d placed out for them. Wheezily sqwarking, they were identical to their parents except for very dark coloured beaks instead of the vibrant red of mum and dad. Very wary at first, they became regulars most days flying down and even perching outside the window on a box of wood I had kept there to feed the wood fire on these cold days. They’d been coming for weeks when one day I heard loud screeches eminating from one bird a few yards away from 3 already feeding at the bread. I was more than surprised to see it was ‘Father Bird’ keeping one of the youngsters at bay. He was literally being frightened away from the family. This behaviour continued for a number of days until the baby didn’t come at all. In the past week, baby number 2, who had been kept with the family, has been attending the ‘feed in’ less and less, but lovey-dovey Father Bird has been making moves towards Mother Bird – it is coming up Spring in our part of the world after all. Obviously Father Bird had inbuilt knowledge of this information and in shooing the male youngster away from the family group, has ensured himself to be the only suitor in his family. I understand these colourful little creatures mate for life so every possibility that he and his ‘Mrs’ will be back in a few months time with another generation of babies. Hopefully in a few months time, the ‘grown up and outed’ baby may turn up with his new ‘family.’ I’ll be watching for the new arrivals!

It seemed like a good idea at the time continued

The knitted square (I can now see it will be a square) is going well. I’m into the last corner and on the homeward stretch. Two more balls of yarn purchased (making seven so far) – it will definitely be OK for a baby!

Beautiful Saturday

Woke early today and it was so warm. Here ‘downunder’ we are still officially in our winter with Spring traditionally being ’sprung’ on 1st September. This winter has been particularly cold for some reason - or is it that I’m just getting older and feeling it more? Well whichever - today was unseasonably warm with the top temperature predicted to be 25 (about 76F) The washing (laundry) went out on to the clothes line super quick in brilliant sunshine - even had to come indoors and take off the jacket I was wearing, having put it on to brace myself for the coolness I expected, despite the outdoor thermometer showing it wasn’t and because it-can’t-possibly-be-that-warm-at this time of the year!
Well it was that warm! And the temperature even got to the predicted 25 degrees, despite the really strong wind which blew the washing dry in no time. How good to be able to bring it indoors after it being on the clothes line for only a few hours and have it dry enough to fold and put away without it going through the dryer to ‘finish it off.’ I even got to finish a long overdue painting job (in the house woodwork kind of painting) before fixing lunch, and finished off the afternoon having coffee with a friend, making a tuna casserole for tomorrow’s ‘pot luck’ at church and prepared our pizza for a nice quick laid-back, casual Saturday night dinner.
Altogether a great day, plenty of blessings, lots to be thankful for - Thank You Lord!

It seemed like a good idea at the time

I had a couple of balls of knitting yarn which had been in my stash for a while so on the spur of the moment, in a weak moment, I decided to start knitting squares which would eventually be pieced together to make a baby blanket. (Not for anyone in particular you understand – just for something to keep my fingers busy). I began by casting on 3 stitches and increased at the end of every second row intending to stop when the square became about 6 inches across. I had made some squares a couple of years ago in this manner resulting in a reasonable knee rug from the squares I eventually completed. Once I had a couple of squares finished I thought I’d see whether to add different colours to them to make them more interesting and appealing. After knitting up to about the 6 inch across mark I thought I’d just keep going, adding the two stitches each couple of rows and see how far I got with the yarn I had. After using the two balls I already had, I now felt committed to the task and went out and purchased 3 more balls – that should do it! After increasing stitches until I could hardly hold the needles to knit, I got to 300 stitches in one row. “That’s it”, I thought! I need to call a halt to this madness!

I’ve now used nearly 5 balls of yarn and am at least on the homeward stretch by decreasing 2 stitches at the end of each second row. I still have no idea what size this ‘blanket’ will be on completion – it may never be big enough for a baby – but maybe somebody’s doll – or pet?? I’ve committed to it now so I’ll just have to keep going and finish – but for now, I need to go and buy more yarn! Shops, here I come!

Tub Gardening

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit family in the United States. Even though the weather was chilly, we still ate plenty of salads. Amongst the greens was baby spinach leaves which I had seen before but never actually acquired a taste for. I am a real ‘greens’ person and so I relished this ‘new’ taste treat. On arriving home I found my local supermarket had begun stocking cellophane packs of these but I felt the price was rather exhorbitant. I did purchase some and the pack was gone in no time over the next few days. Not to be outdone by the expense from the produce shelf, I found an old tub which had housed many different plants over the past few years, including geraniums, and filled it with fresh potting soil and manure and purchased a few seedling plants for the same price of a bag of the greens. They took off in no time, even though our weather by this time was quite cold. I’ve now planted a few seeds around the edge of the tub and although a different variety, they too are becoming little producers. I’ve never really had any success with vegetable gardening, mainly because I’ve never had the space or correct soil – oh, except for one time I did try to grow potatoes in a black plastic bag – but that’s another story – however, I now really feel I’d like to have a go at growing some of the other vegies that we use frequently. Guess I’ll never get the opportunity though, unless I grow them in tubs, as there really isn’t any place in our yard which would convert easily. Not unless I empty out the pool and convert that! Now there’s a thought! Shame we don’t have those lovely English ‘allotments’ here. That’d be the ticker!

Quilt Stash

It's ages since I quilted anything - I have a pile of fabrics which I've stashed away, some for years, intending to use sometime. I am an impulse buyer when it comes to quilting! I see something I like and have great plans to do something with it then eventually don't ever find just the right thing that matched the colour or pattern - or I find something that is just perfect but not the right size. It doesn't take long before my stash of bits and pieces has built up with all sorts of mismatched yardage!

I really feel I must do something with it all - even if it's a small project - just to use up all the bits I've gathered over the years. Either that - or I'll have to bundle it all up and take it to the op shop and ease my conscience - at least that way someone may get to use it and the charity makes a few cents out of it. Hmm... will give it a little more thought over the next few days and see whether I get a surge of inspiration at long last. Once I've dealt with my stash of fabrics, maybe I can have a go at my knitting yarn pile, oh and also my cross stitch bits and bobs! Then I'll concentrate more on my scrapbooking! Ho hum - decisions, decisions!

Can I really keep this up?

So long since I posted! So much water under the bridge of my life. Well they say try, try, try again so I'll give it another go. Wonder how long I can keep it going this time.

Making themselves at home

I had thrown out what was left of the grandchildren's breakfast - waffles. Probably with eyes bigger than their tummies they had asked for two. One managed all but a half and the other only one. I almost put them in the garbage can - then wondered whether our neighbourly noisy miners might find them a tasty morsel. Before I could change my mind I threw them on to the lawn just a few metres from my kitchen window. Since the babies left the nest a couple of weeks or so ago, I have thrown the odd end of bread out and it's quickly been gobbled up by about 5 or 6 of these birds who frequent the trees growing on the back fence line of our place.

The chirping made me look up as I made myself my morning cuppa. Mum was there on the grass, pecking for all her worth - in flew another - I was surprised to see her hop over to it and begin feeding it - even though it now looked about the same size as her. Quickly another, somewhat fluffy in appearance, flew down as well, and began protesting at his sibling being fed. Mum obliging, shared her mouthful. A few seconds later another adult joined the trio - presumably Dad - and joined in. It seems these now big babies, are no worse off for their ordeal of a couple of weeks ago when they lamely flew out of the nest for the the first time. Competent flyers now, they still seem ill at ease at landing on anything but their tree branch but did come in for a neat one on the grass near where the food was lying. Despite the fact that both of them were able to feed themselves off the grass, both parents were very attentive and made sure each of them had their share.

Amazing stuff when one takes the time to observe. Often we are so busy in our day to day lives that these little blessings pass us by. I have again this morning given thanks to my Heavenly Father for all his wonderful creation - and for the fact that I am able to see it and gain insight and blessing from these little creatures and their day to day comings and goings.

Thank you Lord!

Joyful sighting

I was standing at the kitchen window last night when mother bird screeched down from a high tree over the back of our fence, landing on the grass where I had thrown the end of a bread roll. She gobbled hungrily at first then took a large piece and flew off with it. I followed her with my eyes and saw her land about 2/3 of the way up a wattle tree, landing right next to two young.

I was feeling such joy. They were 'our' babies alright. Their feathers had grown and tails about an inch longer than when they were in the nest. At that time they were just stubby little stumps of feathers.

They had survived their ordeal. Obviously mother had found them and was continuing to feed them.

As I watched them from my hidden viewing point, I marvelled at the way this bird had sought out her young, even when I had thought there was no hope they would survive, she persisted, found them and continued to nurture, feed and teach them.

How much like our Heavenly Father this is - when we are lost, or just simply go the wrong way, He seeks us out, cradles us in His arms and comforts, forgives, blesses! I am so blessed and so grateful for His love for me.

Two flown the coop

I didn't realise it was as long as it has been since I wrote in this journal. Oh well - time flies when you're having fun - or so they say!

I got home one afternoon and took a peek into the nest as I usually did - I noticed something not quite right - the second time in the short life of these babies. Doesn't this bird mother have any sense at all? Fancy building a nest anchored with polyester twine! One baby had got a piece caught around it's tongue and was trying in vain to move it. All that seemed to be happening was a more severe tangle - and I could envisage a tongue being ripped out or at least sliced.

I gently pulled on it but it seemed to be getting tighter. Once again this human needed to come to the rescue - so out again with the kitchen scissors and with a couple of snips, the bird was freed. All this while 3 adults were swirling and diving towards me as I stood near the nest. I wasn't afraid that they would hurt me but I was concerned about the closeness of them as they flew in a wide arc nearby.

By the time I'd freed this baby, the sibling had become quite unsettled. For days now they have both perched themselves right on the very edge of the nest and even on occasions wobbled about on the twigs close by. It suddenly took off from the gardenia bush and flew just a few metres away hiding behind a fence post. I rescued it and put it back but by this time the injured baby had also taken flight. This time in the opposite direction, landing under the outdoor table. Again humanly rescued and placed back in the nest all was quiet for a few minutes. All of a sudden with a caucophony of baby squarks, they both took off. One, flying for all it's worth over the expanse of pool water, suddenly came to a halt, hitting itself against the fence on the other side. By this time the adults were not only the 3 usual carers, but others had joined in with the urgent squarking which could be heard quite some distance away. By now I was fearful that these babies were not going to survive. They were too small to fly far and if they got outside the parent's jurisdiction would probably starve.

I hunted for quite some time finally finding one under the lip of the pool. Gently lifting it I transported it back to the nest. The other by now I feared had gone under the fence to bushland behind. One safely tucked in I hiked over to the bushy area and managed to find baby number 2 perched in a small tree. Retrieving it to a cardboard box for transporting back to the nest I proceeded back towards home, it squarking all the way, and adults following with wild shrieks - indignant that I had removed this baby from their sight.

Eventually putting baby number 2 back in the nest, baby number one became flighty again and both took off. By now it was twilight and I knew I would have no chance of finding them in the half light. I just had to resign myself that they had 'escaped.'

No sign of them in the morning, but adults are flying close to the trees and giving the occasional squark when I poke my head out the door as if to say accusingly 'you lost our babies!'

Two are left

There were only two in view. Surely not - there wasn't enough room for another that size to be underneath - only one explanation then. One has died and one of the adults has taken the body somewhere far away from the nest. The reason we will never know but suspect it could have been the baby I clipped the nylon twine from a few days ago. How could it have survived this long then? Who knows? One can only surmise. But the two left are healthy looking with downy feathers now covering their fat bulging little bodies. Wing feathers growing longer with each passing day and mouths almost as wide as their heads with bright eyes which now look straight at me as I peer into the nest.

I haven't dared pick another one up as adults are squarking close by and I don't want to be their target. I've not heard of noisy miners attacking people like magpies often do during their breeding season so as these babies get larger I may be tempted. It will be interesting to see if either of them come back to their birthplace after they fly the coop.

As I ponder today's events, again I'm reminded of the delicate balance between life and death and how amazing is our Creator who keeps us in that balance.

Now there's three

Three hatched and have survived. Already at less than a week old they are beginning to look very much like native noisy miners. Feathers are beginning to appear and quills on their wings are sprouting. They are at least twice the size they were when first hatched. Mum, Dad and one other adult are kept busy in daylight hours feeding the hungry babies. Everything seems to be acceptable, lime green caterpillars, grasshoppers - almost still in flight, grubby worms, even what looks like whitish eggs of some type, maybe termites.

One day last week I took the opportunity to peek in when the adult birds were off on their food hunting. One of the babies was lying in a most awkward position. I couldn't see what it was that was wrong so gently lifted it up. To my surprise, down its throat was caught a long piece of nylon twine - coming from a tangled mess of this material which mum bird had woven into the nest, anchoring it to some small branches.

I gave a bit of a pull - but it was stuck fast. I couldn't in all honesty pull any harder - I felt as though the tiny scrap's whole inside would be pulled out. The only thing for it was to try to cut it off. I proceeded to get sharp scissors from inside and once the adults had left the area again, I snipped it off. I truthfully thought the poor thing would not survive till the morning with all that going through it's digestive system.

Morning came and I checked to see whether only two birds were now in the nest - thinking that mum may have ditched the one affected if it had died through the night. To my surprise all three were happily chirping and craning their necks - beaks wide open, waiting for a morsel to be shovelled down. And so it has continued. Seemingly no damage done. These birds must be made with cast iron digestive systems!

Two in the nest

Two baby birds have hatched. Blind and near naked they lie, and vulnerable - especially when new mum departs to seek food. On peeking this morning, I was confronted by four large bulbous eyes which don't see, angling their way toward the sky. Mum was off on a mission to find nourishment or simply to have a break from her demanding twosome. While standing watching the antics of one, a day older than the other, I realised for the first time that baby birds this young, who have no sight, only realise that food may be in the offing, once the branches in which they are lodged, begin to move. As I tried to angle my camera in for a close up shot, the vibration of my movement triggered a response from these babies and they began craning their necks toward the opening of the nest with mouths wide, waiting for a tasty morsel to be shoved inside. They were disappointed on this occasion however, as there was no food forthcoming. I have no doubt though that once I had cleared the door alongside their nesting place, mum - or dad, would have been back with breakfast for the pair.

What an experience these last 3 weeks have been, watching nature at such close quarters. To add to this, the first gardenia bloom broke open yesterday, bringing with it the most marvellously exotic perfume. I am truly blessed!

A blast from the past

They came bouncing back into our lives as though they'd never been away. This family who came to this country many years ago on a three year stint had been encouraged by their church, who were sponsoring them to stay, while the Dad completed a Theological degree. Not speaking much English, we were brought together by rather unusual circumstances. They, arriving here with nothing more than what they were able to bring in suitcases - me, with the possibility of assisting them with second hand furniture and household goods. At the time I was working for my church as a Welfare Worker and had access to these commodities through our Thrift Shop when the need arose.

The friendship of our two families grew and they joined us for Christmas dinners and family outings. We took their kids to Sunday School and they learned to speak fluent English by attending the local public school and integrating into other activities.

Now, nearly 20 years later, they were back for a short while. Their son was returning to our city with his new bride, to study at the same College his dad had completed his degree. Dad is now a university lecturer in his country, while mum pastors a large church on the outskirts of the capital. After all these years they had come to help set up an apartment close to the College, for son and new daughter in law. With fairly infrequent communication between us, we found it easy to 'catch up' during their visit for afternoon tea.

Before Mum and Dad departed, they took us with son and daughter in law, to a restaurant serving food traditional to their own country, and we were able to share with them, not only the food, but our mutual love of a Heavenly Father who had originally brought us together.

A blast from the past - certainly - but present day experiences have proven again that our God is an awesome God!

She's in for the long haul

Persistence certainly is the word I have to use to describe this little 'mum to be' as she sits -blithely ignoring the large drops from above raining down on her space. The surrounding areas have been declared drought affected for months now and rain is badly needed, but I still find myself pitying this little creature as she stoicly sits amongst the drips. Tail feathers obviously damp from the occasional puddles of water draining from the leaves enveloping her home.

I am reminded by another member of the household that 'out in the wild' birds would have worse than this to contend with - maybe she is just fortunate to have chosen well.

Now there's four - or more!

I just can't work this one out. First there was just one bird building a nest. Then came Dad and presumably, previous baby. Now there are a host of adult birds which fly in willy nilly and simply take over. I only wish I had some way of marking them as individuals so I could log their comings and goings. The poor gardenia is withstanding the traffic brilliantly however at times it sways drunkenly as each bird clings to the trunk and around the canopy, either to change places, like the veritable changing of the guards, or to peer in with a mock kind of chirping - beak going ninety to the dozen with barely a sound making it through the airwaves.

While 'mum to be' is sitting she occasionally spies an insect or the odd spider which has made it's home in the screen door, so close to her nest. She hurriedly removes herself from the nest and dives perilously close to the glass window to retrieve the tasty morsel, so keeping my back door area free of these small creatures.

It certainly is a community effort by all accounts. This morning I saw one of the 'mob' fly out and on as if to get away for a brief spell of sanity, only to see it turn in a direct swoop to squark and presumably scare off a much bigger bird flying past minding it's own business.

Guess all there is to do now is to wait and watch for the hatching. These birds aren't called 'noisy' miners for nothing - I'm sure we won't miss it!

And Baby Makes Three

Three on a twig? Well not quite - but three were on my gardenia bush. Our bird has brought her family along - not a new 'mum to be,' this one, it would seem. Through the glass window I caught a glimpse of movement near the nest. It wasn't just 'mum to be' moving in an out as she's been doing over the past week or so. It was more than that - in fact more birds. Dad proved to be the one to tip it - and off he flew, leaving' mum to be' sitting on the nest - and what appears to be a nearly grown bird, feathered, but with none of the usual noisy miner markings - completely brownish grey, except for eyes and legs. Whether it was the uncertainty of the perch or a message received of 'you're too big for this' from mum is hard to decide, but Mother bird was soon left by herself, nestling comfortably into the shape of her handiwork, and contemplating what the future might bring.

Persistence

So much for predictions! Persistence personified! She comes every so often with wads of white fluffy stuff, and places them in with such exact precision inside the hollow of the nest. She makes sure they are well moulded by nestling her round belly into the shape. Perhaps she really means to stay.

Movement of humankind in and out of the house may soon send her scurrying to find a more suitable construction site!