Mt Nebo Mt Glorious

I took a drive on Sunday.  Not much energetic walking, just some short strolls to lookouts and some short strolls into cafes.  Neither cafe was impressive foodwise.  One had a few intriguing items to look at.

And a gallery downstairs. 

The views, the landscape, the amazing bird sounds.  They were impressive and memorable.

Ruth Hadlow

Avid Reader had Dr Hadlow as a speaker on Saturday evening.  She spoke beautifully, unpacking her suitcase and her life to reveal her experiences in West Timor. 

Dinner was across the road at The Jam Jar.   Different encapsulates the place.  Small "amuse bouche" to start - paperthin slices of melon, mint, coconut and creme fraiche.

My main was an ancient grain salad of quinoa, frekka, burghul, beetroot, haloumi, almonds, red onions, and beans.  Dessert was almond and olive cake, almond brittle and creme fraiche, strewn with blueberries.

Work

My client on Saturday gave me a big hug of welcome.  Plus the day was fully catered.  This salad was so good.

Palindrome

It never occurred to me until recently that this is a palindrome!!!

French Martini

Last Thursday I ate at French Martini in Southbank.  My first time, and it was wonderful food.  Bubbles to start - French of course.

Then duck and about the best creme brulee I've had.  Seriously yummy.  The servers had bright pink aprons to match the padded seating.  Padding that was extremely enticing for a post prandial kip...

Public Art

It's hard to see, but this is an enormous vase filled with fan blade "flowers" cobbled together from car bits and pieces, it looks like.

Complete with wildlife.

Found a a fairly nondescript suburban corner.  Amazing.

Adventure

I'm not sure I want my shopping experience to be an "adventure", but I still had fun here the other day.

My car was being serviced nearby, so I whiled away the waiting time with a wander through the "precinct".  I did enjoy window shopping at Royal Doulton

When you want to add a touch of glam to slouching around...

Express?  They rip the strips off SUPER fast???

Featherweight Cat

Some say that the internet would not exist if not for cats - there is a wild world of  Lolcats and whack-a-kitty and other time wasters out there.  Let me add my own contribution!  Dexter exploring the inside of my Featherweight box while I sewed nearby.

Jacaranda

The lovely blue/purple flowers are all but gone.  For another year,

Brisbane Friday Night

Meeting a friend for drinks at Southbank had some fun little moments.  Wildlife hanging around the carpark exit.

An artistic photo opportunity.

Music al fresco.

Some bar humour.

Guaranteed To Mess With Your Head

Unique

I would guess few people have a letter box quite like this.

What Is This World If Full of Care...

...we have no time to stand and stare.

That poem has appealed to me for the longest time.  I interpret it to mean slow down and notice things.

The other day I went for a walk to take a look at a yard I've whizzed by so many times in the car.  The sign on the gate has always made me smile...

They seem to grow lawnmowers here - this one is coming along nicely.

Note how the garden ornaments are having a little kip before getting back the the onerous task of standing about looking decorative.

Finished!

Blue and White Quilt - top - done and done!!  Sooo happy.  Here's a sneaky peek...

Ebay Fun

Finally, I've started listing my "stuff".  I love to check in every now and then to see what is moving and what isn't.  Most people hold off until the last minute and then start bidding, so the excitement will peak in a little over 3 days.

Aside from the bids and the running total, ebay gives you other stats.  Like how many people have looked at a particular item, and how many are "watching" it.  Watchers are usually quite keen.

This morning I noticed that this little number has 16 - sixteen! - watchers.

 I'm hoping there'll be a small bun fight before auction close - all going to a good cause of course.

Language of Nature

Tricia Smout has been Artist in Residence at Mt Coot-tha this year.  This exhibition is the showcase for all her work.  It is amazing.  She has collaborated with literally hundreds of artists in Brisbane and elsewhere.  The range of materials and techniques and ideas is awe-inspiring.  Here is a glimpse.

A tree full of paper leaves - one leaf per visitor

 Decorated envelopes from around the world

 Books

 Pods (text by Tricia on the seeds)

Paper tags

An enormous wall quilt with a flower on each block

Richard Randall Art Studio, Mt Coot-tha

This is a gem of a building.  Constructed over 100 years ago as a studio for Richard by his father, it's been moved to Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.

Here is the lovely Jane adding a touch of glamour to the view...

Here is some more information about the building.

Finishing

Ah yes, my perennial resolution, to finish, to finish!  After the retreat, where I got back into working on a quilt top using South African indigoes (indigos?), I was inspired to keep on at it.  It's kind of cut, sew, trim, sew, scribble calculations, rework the layout, cut, sew, trim etc.  But I THINK I'm on the home stretch now.  Here are the fabrics laid out, ready for more cutting....

Reunion Dinner

Four of us from uni got together at The Jetty in Bulimba for dinner on Saturday night.  I am not usually a reunion type of gal, but I really enjoyed the evening.  Two of us hadn't seen each other since 1981, until we remet a few weeks ago.  In another case, the gap was from 1990!  I was extremely good and took photos only of dessert - not mine as it happened.  I just wanted to remember the evening in a small way.  Funnily enough, I was the only one that took photos along from those far off days.  I had forgotten, but even then I was snapping away.....

Brick Pattern

It always amazes me how we humans inject art and/or pattern into every day things.  This is just a very ordinary utilitarian brick wall, but someone couldn't help him/herself and added a design - I like it!

Cafe Mambo

Cafe Mambo in Cleveland has a very Greek menu.  I had a delicious honey biscuit with my coffee the other day.  Don't you love the artistic backdrop - one of the place mats!

Banksia Mania

I've been doing some sorting and rearranging - Mel Forrest's Banksia Mania has a home now - right between the kitchen and dining room.

Extending the Holiday

When I come back from a trip, I never want that feeling to end.  When I was younger I'd buy a whole lot of souvenirs as a way of capturing the experience.  This trip I bought bits and pieces I could use.  I was sad when I finished my shampoo from France.

On the other hand, I can see myself using this cup for my breakfast coffee for a long time to come...

Active Day

Although overcast, you could just see the sun rise at Shelly Beach on Sunday morning!

More rock clambering.

Then the circuit walk taking in rockpools and the Kondalilla Falls 

a drive to the Mapleton Falls, and lunch with a view to die for over the valley...