Dragonflies and Crackle Weaves

Queensland dragonfly (100mm = 4inch wingspan)

Every night over the past few weeks, a pair of dragonflies (100mm = 4inch wingspan) have been entering the house just on dusk before we close doors and windows. They settle for the night on Chinese hanging Christmas decorations (foil) still strung from the ceiling. The dragonflies are pretty safe from geckoes there. And there's no wind inside. In the morning, after it warms up, they fly out one of the windows which we throw open as soon as we rise. I love sharing my home with dragonflies.

River Gum sheds the past

I also love to learn new things. I don't expect to be an expert or authority on any one thing, because I can't resist the lure of learning something new. DH gives me encouragement and reminds me that you often learn more from failure than from success. New creations don't always bring satisfaction. Often they bring inspiration for improvement.

Almost two years ago, before the twin grandsons were born and things got very busy for all concerned, I decided to learn to do a crackle weave with a summer & winter treadling on my 4-harness Gilmore loom. I'd never done a crackle weave threading. An issue of Handwoven (September/October 1994) got me started. I based my project on Dixie Thai's Buttercup Baby Blanket, p 83, in that issue. It took a lot of mental gymnastics on my slow brain's part as I wanted a narrower warp, but just how narrow should I make it and don't forget 18% shrinkage. I had to figure out how many pattern repeats I would need. And I'd be using a different weft. Did I have enough yarn? I made decisions and wound the warp, then the twins were born. One year later I got the warp out of storage, threaded and warped the loom, wove to the end of the warp, cut the fabric off the loom and carefully packed the roll of fabric away as hot weather arrived.

This year's cooling weather and diminishing numbers of eye flies* in the Shed have given me the chance to unpack the roll of woven fabric and set about finishing that fabric. I used our treadle sewing machine to zigzag lines of stitching beside cutting lines of the woven sections. Then I cut apart the sections and pinned the hems. As I refilled a bobbin for the sewing machine, the old leather treadle belt broke (again). No longer repairable, it had to be replaced. I felt incredibly lucky when I located a supplier in a town 45 minutes drive away. I was going to that town anyway for my free two-yearly eye exam (socialised medicine, what a blessing). In the meantime I handstitched the hems on my first newly woven cotton table runner, It's been washed and now lies on our table (photo above). There's more of these crackle pieces waiting to be hemmed and the new treadle belt waiting to be installed.

*eye flies: Queensland's eye, ear, nose and throat flies, small quick and in large numbers this time of year. They swarm about your head and dart into your eyes for a quick drink of eye moisture. We don't like'm at all! 

Post by M in JaM

Photos by J in JaM

Playtime!

We got to spend some time with the twin grandsons. We had so much fun and, of course, got completely worn out. Grandparents are currently in recovery mode....

Twins require less recovery time

I have managed to fluff a small amount of washed bison fibre into a cloud. I've had a go at using a support spindle to spin a portion of that cloud into a fine yarn.

Before: washed and dried sample of bison fibres on table;
After: fluffed "cloud" in plastic container

I'm so glad I learned to spin cotton on a support spindle before attempting raw bison. Otherwise I might feel VERY frustrated. Learning something new typically involves episodes of frustration, in my experience. DH and I share a love of learning something new. I manage the attendant frustration by keeping sessions short. I've learned to nibble away at things. That's an important strategy for this elder. It works in dealing with many familiar tasks as well. Twins require more than nibbles.

Post by M in JaM

Photos by J in JaM

Walking, Knitting, Birding

We've been enjoying our daily walks in beautiful weather over the Easter weekend. None of the usual damp and drizzle that we've come to expect on this holiday. The gorgeous full moon felt close enough to touch.

Morning temperatures have fallen. We put the doona back on the bed and unpacked a few items of winter clothing from the trunks though we don't need to wear much in the way of warm clothing yet. I am loving the ankle warmers that I knit from natural brown, handspun Corriedale wool last winter. The ankle warmers keep me feeling comfortable in the morning and evening without needing socks.

Ankle warmers for DH

I encouraged DH to wear my ankle warmers one evening. He looked dubious, but gave it a go and soon wanted a pair of his own. I made his pair from hand-spun Corriedale that I had dyed purple. Being warm feels great and so does using yarn that I've created and stashed in previous years. Come to think of it, DH did some of the handspinning of that Corriedale yarn on an electronic spinner that we rented from the local guild.

Squatter Pigeon in Far North Queensland

A pair of Squatter Pigeons appeared in the mowed area around the house and hung around for a few days. We didn't see a mating display, but you can see that in this remarkable photo by photographer Rod Warnock.

Post by M in JaM

Photos by J in JaM

Pardalotes and Cockatoos

In April 2010 a Striated Pardalote provided us with a photo opportunity when he engaged with his reflection in the window beside a hanging planter. We haven't yet seen or heard any pardalotes this year.

Pardalotes always make me smile. We listen for their simple song. They can be hard to spot in the trees. Sometimes we see one fly out of its burrow in a sandy bank. Sometimes we see what appears to be a leaf fall from a tree, flutter toward the ground, only to wing into a burrow at the last minute. They range between 9-11.5 cm (3-1/2 to 4-1/2 inches ) in size.

We've seen fewer numbers of Red-tailed Black Cockatoos (63 cm; 25 in) in the last couple of years. In the previous twenty years that we've lived here they heralded each Wet Season and we looked forward to their appearance. They sound to me like minature elephants trumpeting gently. Flocks of twenty  and more of these large birds sometimes flew overhead. Typically, 3-6 individuals would settle in a nearby bloodwood tree where they would shred gumnuts and feed on the minute seeds.

Black cockatoos seem to have been replaced by Sulphur-crested Cockatoos (45 cm; 18 in), extremely loud and raucous birds that flock in higher numbers. It is likely loss of habitat that drives them into new territories. Always on the lookout for fruit and nut trees, especially orchards, they have learned to be very wary of people, but their voice and white colour do not work well as elements of camoflage when raiding. Our neighbours have numerous fruit and nut trees. How could a white cockatoo resist?

And how could I resist linking to Snowball (cockatoo), the first non-human capable of beat induction (that is, dancing). Just for fun, have a look at Snowball dancing in a 35 sec commercial.

post by M in JaM

pix by J in JaM

Raise your hand if you agree

Gecko votes

We've had a hectic week. Queensland State Elections occurred on Saturday and we drove to town to vote at the nearest polling booth. Australian citizens who do not vote are fined. We would vote regardless. Despite my observation that my choice seldom gets elected, I do not take my right to vote for granted. Afterward we enjoyed visiting a local exhibition of paintings by our friends Steve and Marijke Hancock - a lovely way to refocus our agitated minds away from politics and onto appreciation of the wonderful creativity in the community around us.

Polling Booth

On Sunday we went to a community meeting to discuss the process of lodging objections to a mining lease extension to the area containing the headwaters of the creek that we depend on for domestic water. The current mining operation is located near the headwaters of the adjacent creek and has received an environmental protection order, requiring that the mine leaseholder and mine operator stop releasing contaminated water.

Bottom Pit beside Jamie Creek

Both creeks flow into the Walsh River. Dead fish have been found downstream and residents have been told not to drink the water or use it for stock after it was contaminated with heavy metals. Long time residents do not ever remember seeing dead fish in the river.

We feel concerned for the future wellbeing of our own water supply should the mining lease extension be granted. Arsenic levels are already elevated from historic mining in the area. Any further elevation could make it untenable for us to live here.

Assured last year that safeguards would be in place to avoid environmental breaches at the current mining site, we have been trying to endure the noise of continuous mining activity, 24 hours a day, seven days a week as well as lights that set the southern skyline aglow all night long. The recent contaminated water releases occurred in association with heavy rains, but heavy rains surprise no one here. This is the Tropics and it's the Wet Season. We realise there is no such environmental security as we envisioned. An expansion of mining activities would bring mining activities, water degradation, even more noise and light pollution closer to our home.

Do you detect the erosion of our sense of well-being and joy? As custodians of this land, we recognise that we have a responsibility to act to conserve our natural systems for current and future generations.

On Monday we lodged our objections.

Handspun cotton

I continue to spin and ply cotton as work with the wheel and spindle help calm my mind. And we continue to enjoy our fellow travellers – the frogs, crabs and fish in the creek, the quolls, frilled-neck lizards, bower birds, kookaburras, sugar gliders, bats – and all the fauna that depend on the permanent slow seeps and billabongs of the creek in the Dry Season as well as the generous flow in the Wet Season.

Gecko

post by M in JaM

photos by JaM

Fallen Ironbark

This week a mighty ironbark eucalyptus came crashing down, succumbing to hidden white ant infestation. Inside the house, we froze momentarily, shocked by the noise. 

J beside downed ironbark; decapitated bloodwood in foreground

The ironbark, around 25 metres tall (60-70 feet), fell between the fence and the driveway and destroyed some small trees, decapitating a bloodwood. We're glad the driveway didn't get blocked.

Bloodwood eucalyptus

Meanwhile, the current damp weather makes me reluctant to open cupboards and bins in my campaign to reduce stored clutter. Just peeking inside signals authorisation for the development of new mildew colonies. White ants, mildew and rust are relentless teachers of the desirability of keeping possessions to a minimum in the Tropics.

Shredded paper mulch

I have managed to sort through files of old papers and shred many. J has been using the shredded paper as mulch. I get a little glow seeing results of de-cluttering put to good use.

Have I been sitting too much at my wheel and spinning cotton lately? The dog thinks so. She put a tennis ball instead of a spanner in the works. Isn't it time for a walk, she pleads with begging eyes aglow.

GIMP has a nifty filter for correcting the Red Eye Glow problem in photo portraits, but I couldn't get it to work on the dog's eyes. Eventually, J pointed out that dogs don't have a Red Eye Glow problem. They have a Yellow-Green Eye Glow problem. Doh! I decided to leave the dog's glowing eyes as a design element that relates to the yellow-green tennis ball (i.e. no problem, no correction required)... and go for a walk.

post and pix by M in JaM

Piece Of My Heart

Poster by Michael DuBois

I'm pleased to relay news of two celebrations on Monday 12, 2012:

(Details may be found at: Owsley Stanley Foundation events)

• Piece of My Heart – the Owsley Stanley Party in Woodstock, New York
• Owsley Stanley Remembrance and CD Release Party in Mill Valley, California

All friends, family and followers of the late great Owsley Stanley are invited to celebrate his remarkable life, and to be among the first to hear Columbia/Legacy Recordings release, the first of “Bear's Sonic Journals”: Big Brother & the Holding Company Featuring Janis Joplin Live at the Carousel Ballroom 1968. Recorded & Produced by Owsley Stanley (“Bear”).

We can get across the creek but we won't make it to either party in the USA. If you can make it, enjoy yourselves! We'll be there in spirit and shall remember old times.

Tis the season for speargrass here in Far North Queensland. It grows taller than my head. Thankfully, there are no lions lurking there, but when I walk through this tall grass, some ancestral worry does get activated. I'm waiting for the winds that blow down the grass.

Despite Australia's lack of large felines, our region does have so-called native cats, more properly named quolls. The local variety grows as big as a small house cat. Quolls are fierce. One raided the neighbour's chicken house. The quoll managed to pull one chicken's leg through the wire mesh cage and was determined to pull the rest of the squawking chicken through as well. We don't raise chickens, so it's always a treat to spot a quoll.

J took the pump out of the creek as we expected the creek to rise. We don't want the pump to get washed away in flood waters. But the creek hasn't gotten very high at all, so far. We've had less than normal rainfall this season. Last year we had twice the normal rate by this time. We decided to put the pump back in the creek in order to replenish our water tank. Now, cross your fingers that we can get the pump out again if one of those “local moderate to heavy falls” happens to centre on our place.

“To seek joy in the saddest places.” ~ Arundhati Roy

post and photo editing by M in JaM

photos by J in JaM