OCTOBER DAYS

 Hello from the Red Cardinal nest - as Summer really begins to bite..

The tinder dry countryside has seen bush fires these past few days.

We enjoyed our recent Symphony Orchestra concert very much indeed..

 We had dinner at the theatre restaurant, the Lyrebird.

I do love Tiramisu...

Small garden entrance to the Dvorak home

As well as the fabulous Mendelssohn Concerto for Violin & Orchestra, definitely a family favourite, we loved the Symphony No. 7 in D minor by Antonin Dvorak.  My mind went back five years to our wonderful European cruise on the River Elbe, from Berlin to Prague.

As we approached Prague, we visited the town of Nelahozeves, birthplace of Dvorak, whose music I always loved...

Birthplace of Dvorak

The house has been converted to a small museum, full of fascinating memorabilia:

Late in the day, we listened to music by the great composer as we cruised into Prague.  What a magical moment!

Today I went to my second meeting with my new Book Club.

As mentioned in a previous post, we read 'A Terrible Kindness' by Jo Browning Wroe.  Everyone rated it very highly, and enjoyed the complex layers of the story, and unusual subject and motifs.

Our November book is the popular 'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmus.  Have you read it?

Three small children we know very well, are Very Excited about next week's Halloween festivities.

I am even tasked with a little sewing job on a Princess Dress (how I have longed for a little granddaughter to stitch for).  I would, of course, sew anything she wished!

Halloween is also the birthday of Mr. Red Cardinal.

Some years we greet the rather alarming number of Trick or Treaters around our area, and hand out treats.  Other times, we turn off the lights, go down to our basement at the back of the house, have a quiet birthday drink and supper and ignore the whole business.

Time will tell what the birthday boy wants for 2023!

Stay cool, or warm, whatever suits.

XXXXX

BUSY DOING NOTHING

 

Sometimes I don't know how to start a blog post... 

Writer's block, perhaps?

I know I am not as sharp as I used to be...

We have had a bit of rain, now and then..

The gorgeous red King Parrots came to shelter on our deck..

I have been busy writing tours for QAGOMA, at the rate of one per fortnight - and then going in to take a small group of visitors on tour around our beautiful galleries.  It is a rewarding volunteer position, which keeps me alert and thinking...

I like this large, bright, Contemporary Indigenous work by Qld. artist Naomi Hobson.  'When the Tide Goes Out' (2018), is a seascape inspired by her father's sea country.  Hobson lives in North Queensland, near the Great Barrier Reef, and here we look into the colourful underwater world of the reef.  A variety of crabs, coral, and Beche de Mer (Sea Cucumbers) cover the canvas, a riot of exotic life and colour. 

Jacaranda season arrived about two weeks early this year, covering the city in purple glory.

I finally finished the snippet roll I began stitching back in January.  It is two metres long, and is a random, hand made and embroidered creation made from bits of old fabric, lace, trims, embroideries, crotchet, buttons and odds and ends lurking in my sewing room.  Plus a few little watercolours I did on calico.

It is not easy to photograph but here are a few glimpses:

It is entitled 'Down the Garden Path'..

I found a little packet of red cardinal buttons when we visited a quilt shop in Almonte, Ontario, last May.  A couple of them made their way into my work..

We are off to a Symphony concert on Friday night - a violin concerto and a symphony: Bliss!

I am probably the last person on earth to join a book club, but I finally found one I could fit into my regular routine, and I am loving it.

Thank goodness for my trusty Kindle, so much quicker and easier to obtain the set books each month.

I loved English Lit at university, and am looking forward to similar discussions at our meetings.  I bought a notebook and am dutifully making notes as I go.  This month I am reading 'A Terrible Kindness' by Jo Browning Wroe.  Not sure where this plot is going, but don't tell me!

I hope all is well in your world.

We are all shocked by the events in the Middle East.  I pray for Peace, and a quick resolution of this and other Wars.

Take care

XXXXX