See How Well You Know Me

My blog friend Sheilac had this intersting little questionaire on her blog from the movie due out in December this year called Golden Compass.

So have a look at her site and answer the questions and also answer them on my site please. It will be interesting to see your answers. We all perceive ourselves much different from how others see us.

Please Never Forget

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Excerpt from For The Fallen by Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

Visit the ANZACS

Also please visit this ANZAC site which shows the memorial place at ANZAC Cove by the Turkish government.

These are the words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkey's first President, at the Anzac Cove.

Those heroes that shed their blood

and lost their lives…

you are now lying in the soil of a friendly country.

Therefore rest in peace.

There is no difference between the Johnnies

and the Mehmets where they lie side by side

here in this country of ours…

You the mothers

who sent their sons from far away countries,

wipe away your tears.

Your sons are now lying in our bosom

and are in peace.

Having lost their lives on this land

they have become our sons as well.

Bits and Pieces

One of the online quilting groups I belong to had an ATC swap with the aim of raising a few dollars for Cancer research and the fun of swapping with other group members. Basically you made a series of 6 ATCs, kept one and sent the others to a central person who then sorted them all out and sent you back 5 different ATCs. You had to include $2 for every set of 5 cards you sent. I must say here that the girl who organised this swap deserves much more than a pat on the back - she did a marvellous job. Thanks Cecile!

Anyway, all my lovely ATCs arrived yesterday and I had fun studying all the different themes and techniques on them.

I had sent three sets so I got 15 ATCs back (including one of my own...lol) - everyone had interpreted things so differently and there were some great ideas in them all. A big thank you to all the members who participated.

In another online quilting group while some members were on a retreat a thread was started asking 5 questions :

What are you working on now?

2 quilts with 42 machined embroidered blocks on each for my sisters for Christmas

Rowena Charlton's Elizabethan Splendour machine embroidered quilt for me

Jinny Beyer's - Around the World quilt

How much did you finish last year?

3 bags

2 Round Robin tops

3 lap quilts

A quilt donated to an Oncology Unit

assorted small gifts for Christmas

Is there a project you are dying to make?

OOh - bit hard to pick just one but I guess I would like to make an machine embroidered jacobean pattern quilt on black fabric

Biggest frustration?

An Amish styled ohio star quilt top that I finished & then promised myself I would hand quilt it - I have never handquilted & have now after just a couple of blocks I discovered I suck at it!! It's back in the cupboard of UFOs.

What is the most interesting item in your handbag?

Apart from the screwdriver?

As you can see from my answers I didn't finish that much last year although I did start a lot; sadly I think I am heading in the same direction this year. The trouble is I have so many ideas and want to start them all so consequently I don't have time to finish everything. I have also completed a couple of other items that I forgot to add like my bag for the wedding and some lacework table runners.

I would like to think I will at least get my sisters' quilts finished and hopefully at least either the Rowena Charlton or Jinny Beyer quilt.

Since that least I have found two more quilt tops I want to start (like yesterday) - both are using Janet Sansom machine embroidery - one is the Jacobean quilt on black I mention using Fantasy Garden designs and the other is her Anna Bella designs which have a similar Jacobean feel to them but I don't think they would look as good on black.

left - one of the Anna Bella designs and (R) one of the Fantasy Garden

Oh dear so many ideas and only 24 hours in a day.................

What about you? If you had to answer those 5 questions would they please or dismay you?

Real Women

Well I finally got 'tagged' - my blog friend Tanya the Art Butcher tagged me for a Real Woman meme and I have been thinking about what to write.

I personally don't fall into the typical woman's mould. I positively hate girly things, romance novels, shopping, soapies and sloppy movies. I love SciFi, Bunnings (a huge hardware store) and thrillers. I would rather wear daggy jeans than a dress (in fact I haven't worn a dress or skirt in over 15 years).

Growing up my parents were progressive for the age (the 50s) and we (my 2 sisters and me) were always taught we could do anything. Now it really sunk home with me and to this day I still believe it. We were never taught stereotypes and my Dad taught me to lay bricks, fix cars, paint pictures, cook, love reading and how to weld. Mum taught me to cook too, also not to be a slave to a man; she taught me compassion, patience (which I don't really have a lot of) and how a marriage is made up of sharing.

I'm not sure that their teachings worked as well on my sisters; I love them both; - my eldest sister remains subservient to her husband and I think would wipe his botty if he asked her to. My middle sister is a very caring person who hates to be with people and hates change but can wield a wrench with ease.

I took those teaching to heart and added a few of my own until I became the person I am today. In my youth I studied Mechanical Engineering, travelled overseas alone, enjoyed life and tried to find the meaning of life (it's 42).

When I married in my late 20s I managed to find a man who respected me and was quite happy to push a vacuum cleaner or make a meal. I don't think we did to bad together (the last 6 or so years don't count).

So what is all this leading to - my version of the Real Woman meme.

Real women don't have to make excuses for their behaviour - the people who love them accept them and those that don't - don't matter.

Real women know that laughter really is the best medicine. They know how to laugh - at themselves and at life; they know how to find enjoyment in simple things. They can let rip a loud belly laugh without embarrassment in a quiet movie theatre.

Real women accept the failings of themselves and others - they take responsibility for the mistakes they make knowing that no-one is infallible or for that matter irreplaceable.

Real women don't pre-judge by ethnicity, religion, appearance or sex.

Real women know that life is not always rosey - they accept their challenges and get on with overcoming them without complaining.

Real women are not ashamed to roll on the floor with children - they never loose their inner child - they also know that children have to climb trees, fall over, reach for the stars in fact they are still doing it themselves.

Real women know that there are days when they hate the world and everyone it but they understand they are only human and tomorrow is always a better day. They also know not to rely on tomorrows because they don't alway come. They live their lives one day at a time and love every second; even when they are hating it......

So who should I now tag, who are real women ...... Ali (anyone who can work with their hands above their heads for hours on end has to be a real woman); Sheilac (she's a real woman - who else would be game enough to make a UFO/WIP list and then publish it); and finally Caty who admits when she does bugger all!!

New Residents

My front yard is a bit of a jungle. I have three small gums, a couple of (Callistemons) bottlebrush, lots of different grevilleas, a plum tree, several frangipanni and several lower clumps of natives that give shelter for the frogs and other visitors. The yards is actually quite small but I have packed lots into it.

Every morning and evening the 'residents' fly in - a large flock of Rainbow lorikeets, a very loud flock of noisy miners and half dozen equally loud Red Wattlebirds. Last year there was a 'turf war' between the miners and the wattlebirds but that seems to have been settled and they are sharing nicely most of the time. We also have Sulphur Crested Cockatoos who come irregularly although they fly over each day. And when the plums are almost ready the Fruit Bats arrive to strip the tree..... Actually the fruit bats love the nectar from the Callistemons and often can be heard squabbling over the tastiest at night.

I have never put food out for the 'residents' because there is plenty for them in the garden (I use the term garden loosely).

About three weeks ago a couple of Magpies flew in much to the chagrin of the regulars. I watched them for a week or so and they seemed to have no intention of leaving. They were very thin and their feathers dull and lifeless.

Anyway, last week I decided to give them some food. When they were sitting on a nearby telegraph pole I threw a handful onto the pavers and went inside to watch. Sure enough they flew down and ate the lot.

Next day I went out with a handful and this time one flew down straight away so I stayed there and threw the food to 'him'. The other saw what was happening and flew in too. Now they expect food each day.

This morning I went out to feed them and they both flew down and began to eat then both of the stopped and first one the both burst into song - now for all I know they may have been complaining at the quality of the food but I chose to take it as a thank you song.

Both have put on weight and their feathers are getting glossy again. Looks like my 'residents' have increased by two.

Thanks to Birds in Backyards for some of the pictures.