DAYS 1-3 EUROPE TRIP

17-19 May 2009

DAYS 1-3 EUROPE TRIP
CANBERRA - SYDNEY – BANGKOK - LONDON (HEATHROW ) - ROME

We are all packed for our big trip to Europe. We are on our way to explore the ancient worlds of Rome, Athens, Istanbul and Ephesus and Naples. This is to be followed by time in Lithuania catching up with family and friends and attending the big song festival. On our final day there will be at the celebration of 1000 years since the first mention of the nation of Lithuania in chronicles of the time.

It was a beautiful, warm autumn day in Canberra. Lovely autumn colours greeted us we drove through Canberra on our way to Sydney. The time flew past quickly as we drove. Our thoughts were on what we may see and experience on our trip. Before we knew it we were at hubby’s sister’s place. She and her husband were coming on the trip with us. We compared the size of the luggage we were taking and after a lovely dinner of balandėliai (cabbage rolls) relaxed in anticipation of what was ahead in front of the TV to watch the finals of Eurovision.

Monday morning was D – Day. I just wanted the morning to pass quickly as our flight was not till 5.00pm. After lunch the taxi was called and we were on our way to the airport. It did not take long to check in. Finally we were on our way. Eleven hours and 15 minutes later we were in Bangkok. Some of us slept, others watched movies, read or had a short nap. Ninety minutes later we were on our way again for the long leg of the trip – 12 hours and 15 minutes to London. This was a tedious journey. By the time we arrived in London we were tired. We had to change terminals and then stood around waiting to find out which gate we were departing from. Finally it was time to depart for the last leg of our flight – two hours to Rome. By the time we arrived (32 hours since leaving for the airport) we were exhausted. Before we knew it we had gone through immigration and walked straight out of the terminal. There were no forms to fill out, no declarations to sign. We caught a cab to Via Dacia in Tuscolo - our apartment for the next week.

We had to wait a while before the owner of the apartment came to give us the keys and show us through the apartment. It is small but has a lot of character. His son lives in it but is away at the moment but all his possessions are here. The apartment was on the 9th floor. There are several apartment blocks in the complex surrounding by a lovely well kept courtyard.

Before long my brother, who lives in Rome, arrived to greet us. We haven’t seen each other for 10 years. How wonderful to see each other again. After some catching up we all went out to explore the neighbourhood and to get some supplies.

It was early night as we were all exhausted.

BACK IN CANBERRA

April 2009

BACK IN CANBERRA

Finally we are home. After more than a year we are back in our place.

We have had a wonderful year away and have fallen in love with the south coast. Each bit of coast was so different but my favourite was Dophin Cove – our home beach.

It will be greatly missed. Who knows - maybe we will end up here one day!

Now the hard work of unpacking everything is before us.

EXPERIMENTAL PIECES FINISHED

February 2009

EXPERIMENTAL PIECES FINISHED

I feel on top of the world as I have finished my 12 little experimental pieces. They have taken quite a bit of time to make as there was lots and lots of stitching. Then it took a while to paint each stitch and let serendipity take over. It was hard to let go of control and let the dye go where it wanted to. Then I had to be patient as the dye dried.

Asthey dried it appeared as if the dye was fading right out. However after washing each piece it was interesting to see how each came up. I critically examined each piece to work through the issues facing me when I moveo on to make one in a larger format.

I was also pleased that I met the deadline for the Experimentalists – a group that I belong to that meets every three months. These pieces were part of my project for the challenge set by the group.

JINDABYNE

13-15 January 2009

JINDABYNE

What a hot several days!!

We picked up our 7 year old grandson from Merimbula and headed for Jindabyne to babysit for a couple of days. Son-in-law needs to cover for his boss whilst he is away for two weeks so we are helping out with day care during the days several days this week and next. So lots of travel time back and forth from Tura to Jindabyne. The difference in the weather is remarkable – nice balmy weather at the coast but hot and dry in the mountains.

Even though it was hot the kids occupied themselves beautifully. The 3 year old and 7 year old got on famously whilst 9 month old littly kept us all entertained. We spent a lovely evening at Pooh Bay where the 7 year old caught a nice sized trout whilst hubby felt jinxed as everyone he takes fishing catches fish but he comes home empty handed.

TURA - DYE PAINTING and BIRTHDAY

10 January 2009

TURA

DYE PAINTING and BIRTHDAY

The house is so quiet as our youngest son’s family left for Canberra.

Last night I baked my eldest granddaughter’s birthday cake – she wanted a cake in the shape of a cup cake. So I had to come up with how to do it. Pudding basin’s come in handy at times. In the morning we went over to Merimbula so say happy birthday to her. She is eleven – a lovely sensitive and very responsible young girl.

Also for the next two years our family members now span seven decades ie there is al least one family member covering each decade from 0 to 67 years. I wander how often that happens?

Went for a lovely walk along the beach at low tide. Several dolphins were playing in the water not far from the shore. Lots of sea urchins on the rocks. The green algae type of growth is reappearing on the rocks. The exposed rocks glistened in the sunlight as the waves broke around them and over them.

I had my first opportunity in a very long while to do some dye painting. I finally got to paint, using Procion dyes, a little piece I had started to make in Jindabyne in which I wanted to capture the texture, contours/lines and colours of Hamersly Gorge. The piece utilised techniques I had learnt from Ruth Issett and Fiona Wright. I had stitched my felted piece using white silk, rayon, banana, bamboo and other natural fibres.

I then felted it and stitched it even more.

I then slowly painted it to add the colour element to it.

I will wash it after I get back to Jindabyne as I need to find something onto which I can pin it so that it keeps its shape during the drying process. So far I am pleased with the result but I need to see how it finally finishes up after washing the dye out. So I am planning on how to do the other 11 pieces for this series. I need to have them done for our Experimentalist group’s meeting at the end of February.

In the evening we went out for dinner with our eldest son’s family and his mother-in-law from England to celebrate the birthday. I just love the Mexican restaurant here, Sante Fe. It caters for everyone. The kids didn’t even check the menu as they knew exactly what they wanted. After a lovely meal and great company we returned home. I decided to cut the background strips for my 3 year old grand daughter’s butterfly quilt. I am really enjoying getting back into my quilting.

TIME FOR QUILTING

9 January 2009

QUILTING TIME

I finally got to quilt today. It felt so good to fondle the fabrics as I chose the fabric for a baby capsule/pram quilt for a very close friend’s daughter’s baby. As they are all into hot air ballooning I decided to use some of my hot air balloon fabric. I took some time to design a pattern. I chose to use roman stripes with some square inserts. Then came the fun of choosing fabrics. Luckily I have brought most of my fabrics down to Tura so I was able to audition fabrics for the quilt from my stash.

Slowly the quilt came together over several days in between spending time with our son’s family and walks to the beach.

TURA - FAMILY TIME

6 January 2009

TURA – Family time

What a family day today. Our youngest son’s family will be here for another week so we can enjoy time with our second youngest grandchild. As well our eldest three grandchildren came over to spend the day with us as they live close by. It was nice to watch the interactions between the children and how they changed during the day as little one who is 15 months old grew more comfortable with the older children. In the morning we spent time at the park. In the afternoon they all did different things with one of them getting involved in creating a cushion by stamping/printing designs from my blocks onto fabric. She put much thought into it as she wanted it to be see through in places by cutting out some shapes and placing chiffon in those spaces. An idea she got from my through the Cosmos quilt series.