Welcome to the Creative Dabbling community. I’m glad you are here! All my posts are free to read. You can also find me on my website and Instagram.
Hello, it’s lovely to write to you again. I hope you’ve been enjoying your life since we were last in touch and have created some happy memories. I’m enjoying my slow life since I don’t subscribe to the cult of busyness. I’m pleased I left all that stuff behind.
My highlight of the month was seeing the Aurora Australis in our night sky. It was a reminder of the expansiveness and beauty of the universe. It put everything else into perspective.
Well. My garden’s not in good shape right now. We’ve had 12 frosts since the beginning of June, with another couple forecast before the month ends. Not only has the grass stopped growing (usual for this time of year) but it looks blanched as some patches have dealt with the frost better than others.
When I’m brave enough to venture outside while the frost is still covering the ground, I’ve taken some close-up photos.
My camellias are coping well but other plants are barely hanging in there. I know most will come back after the weather warms in several months, but I fear some losses this year. Meanwhile, it’s cosy inside the house looking out with these happy pansy faces smiling back at me.
It’s knitting weather and I’ve hauled out a jumper I started last year. Only 1 ½ sleeves to go on this one! (Isn’t my knitting bag cute? It was a gift from my friend Sarah. (She sells her pattern for this bag, in case you want to make your own.)
I finished this small quilt for my goddaughter’s baby. I enjoyed piecing these pretty prints together.
This embroidery has been in the works for a while. I’m not sure whether to continue filling the tulip shapes with satin stitch or simply backstitch the outlines. Any opinions?
So much good stuff! Books by Dervla McTiernan (The Unquiet Grave), Sulari Gentill (Five Found Dead), Kemper Donovan (The Busy Body), Olivia Laing (The Garden Against Time), Nick Newman (The Garden), Evie Woods (The Lost Bookshop), Claire Keegan (Small Things Like These) and more.
The big news, though, is that Jane Harper has a new novel, Last One Out, available later this year. I’m so excited for this!
The colder weather is conducive to watching stories and some of our faves are Shetland (series 9), Dept. Q, Magpie Murders, and Moonflower Murders. I love selecting from the library on BritBox, where there’s so much great British drama. We also loved The Piano on ABC iview - keep your tissues handy for this one. And, of course, it’s footy season so I’m keenly watching my Sydney Swans and hoping they can remember how to win a game.
My cosy mystery is taking shape. I’ve finished an extensive timeline for the story and that certainly helps me stay untangled as I write. Several scenes have been drafted and I’m hoping I’ll be able to fill some huge plot holes after some creative thinking. It’s quite exhilarating!
Tell me, what’s been going on in your life?
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Hi Erica - Hope your beautiful garden survives the winter. Believe it or not my garden, especially the veg garden, in sunny Queensland is also struggling. Too much rain in March and then some more in May, too many cloudy days, and us living in a cabin in the woods (literally) doesn’t help. It’s also been quite cold, I mean 3 degrees overnight cold!
We are about to go spend a couple of weeks travelling in WA, with a stopover in Adelaide on the way back.
I love your knitting bag! We got back from a night event recently to find our blue heeler (age 1) had worked out how to open the zipper and remove all the wool. The tangle was so spectacular I had to laugh. Crying wasn’t an option, I did leave it within each. The cats were looking on with “I told you she was trouble” looks on their faces.
CK
We are presently taking a break to see children, South west Rocks and grandchildren in the hinterland and the sunny coast.
It’s warm and the whales are playing ball!
Also brought the knitting, 2 lots! 🌞🌻