Macquarie St celebrates Australia Day

Hi there
Have to get the Australia Day out there before the week is out. 
We had a great day - as you can see. 

Around Macquarie Street is where it's happening - so much to see and do.  I'll let the video tell the story.
Clara





Be like water and flow

 

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Renotta's year of creative miracles is almost complete

Hi there


Clara at the coal face

 R wrote -  'I started this project blog on February 9, 2010 with the goal of designing a piece everyday using fiber, photography, metal and beads as my media.' 
 With less than 2 weeks to go of her personal challenge, she says, 'It's been an interesting journey  - what's nice is the 365 days will be in cyberspace forever. A lot of great stuff came out of all this social networking including reconnecting with you. I'm enjoying my
Project knitway alot, tying it into my website; the shelter scarves, facebook etc.  What I will enjoy when it is over is to work at it at my leisure and dedicate more time to each piece.'



Not just a pretty face







I have been busy keeping up, let alone actually creating these beautiful pieces.  As you know I had the pleasure of visiting Renotta and lovely Roberto, reconnecting after 30 years and living her life for 3 weeks.  Needless to say we had a ball, and I was able to see how it was done - sheer hard work using skills and talent developed over a lifetime, but most of all the absolute love of the creative process.  I feel very privileged to have been part of her project  - and yes for me too great things came from it - as is the way with communication and creativity annnnd ....technology.(another blog) 

I have put together a random selection of pieces into a video where I had to edit heavily  - a year is a long time!   Renotta's One-a-Day - this is the link to see all the works.
Clara

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Hang on there - the year is almost up

R wrote -   

I started this project blog on February 9,  2010 with the goal of designing a piece everyday using fiber, photography, metal and beads as my media. It's been an interesting journey. I hope you enjoy!
 Go to Renotta's One-a-Day:

Hi there

Project 'One a Day' is almost over - and what a fabulous record you have of your amazing creativity. Out in Cyberspace forever. 
I will miss looking at your creations but we will keep on blogging.  As you say."So many bloggers quit, but not the grannies."    COGs forever!
Clara
COGS - crazy old gals

Hang Over...January 26th

Hang On...January 25th

Hang Up..January 24th

Armful...January 23rd

Get the Hang of It...January 22nd

Winding Down...January 21st

Dependant on You...January 20th

 

Long and Winding...January 17th

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 http://www.babyboomerconnections.com.au/

Caper Vinagrette and grapes make this salad a sweet and sour success

Hi there
If you enjoy a stylish salad with sweet and sour flavours this is a great one. A very yummy flavoursome way to get your healthy greens.
Move over Benarto.
Clara

Green salad with Bocconcini Walnut & Grapes with Caper Vinagrette
To serve 6

125g / 4oz walnuts - (roasted on a tray in oven at 220C/400F until beginning to brown )
4 large handfuls mixed salad leaves - washed and dried
1 large handful red grapes - Cut the grapes in half and remove the seeds
1 lemon - sliced finely and cut into small pieces
extra-virgin olive oil
6 bocconcini - spray with olive oil and roll in 2 tbsp roughly chopped lemon thyme - slice thinly


Caper vinaigrette


Whisk together
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tablespoon capers with a little of the vinegar
freshly ground black pepper


Dress the salad just before serving


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You Know You've Arrived...Benarto!

I have always thought that I will have arrived at the pinnacle of my life when I can put my feet up and relax on Thanksgiving while my daughter sets out the perfect holiday dinner. I'll watch the "games" with the menfolk, enjoy the family affair and perhaps even get in a nap. Well that wonderful day has become a traditon, so what else could I possibly have left to look forward to? Benarto! Our son has recently been serving up a wonderful Italian meat sauce for us that completes our day with a luxurious meal. The rich sauce is served on a bed of pasta with toppings of healthy vegetables. Magnifico Benarto!

How to make a funky hat

R wrote in http://projectknitway.blogspot.com/ The cold weather continues and I have lots of requests for hats, so it's back hat you. I love making these hats. Each one turns out differently and enjoys a place in my studio for a day or two before heading to my store. Once again, I am using Lionbrand Homespun yarn, the same yarn that I knit the shelter scarves from. My plan is to make these hats as well as the scarves for area shelters. The hats are not only warm but fun and funky and lift your spirits when you wear one......Read more on how to make these  ►  Jan 09 (1)




Clara - These hat and scarf combinations look cosy and comforting.  One day they may become a 'collectors item'.



For Evergreen...January 9th



Back Hat It Again...January 8th




 



Mad Hatter - January 7th


 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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 http://www.babyboomerconnections.com.au/

Are you saving the best vests till last?

R wrote - "Now that I have help with the scarves, I am able to do some new pieces."

Clara - I love these new pieces - just keep getting better. The colours are soft and flattering as are the designs.  Are you saving the best till last?


Some Strings Attached...January 15th

Vest Bet...January 13th

Shrug a Lug..January 12th

The Vest of the Day...January 10th

Vest in Snow...January 5th

Vestiblue...January 4th

 This vest is part of Project Knitway.







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If the Shoe fits......... or the Shoe fits/defines the person

R wrote - Interesting, these polar opposites. I just packed all my sweaters, jackets and boots away, and you're looking forward to wearing yours. The old rule of thumb here is that you don't wear white till after Memorial Day, May 31st, but that doesn't seem to mean much anymore. The first warm day here and everyone was running around in sandals and flip flops. Time to think about the toes again. It seems like my poor feet just got used to wearing all those socks and shoes, and now I have to reshape them once again. Oh well, if the shoe fits wear it. Or on with the shoe, out with the bandaids.

Toes - feet - pedicure -

Drought, flood and bushfire - biblical constants

Drought dried waterhole became a bog

Sheila, Australian slang for "woman"

They got her out  - 

she didn't last the night.
We feel for the livestock and
native animals trapped in the floods.


'Drought, flood & bushfire - biblical constants' 

 



  

Mates from the army back on duty

"I knew we'd get the sheila out of the bog"

 Clara - Stanthorpe Queensland -
October 2002

Sheila in the Bog
A glimpse of bovine terror -
Rolled back eyes and flared nostrils
Showed your intense and overpowering fear
Of sinking further into the mud


Drought dried waterhole
Circled by frantic calf, desperate to connect
Sensed disaster removing prime security
Yet respected danger there


It’s hungry demands had led you to
Seek scant remaining water
Violent efforts to reach familiar foothold
Immersed you even deeper


At your peak of terror when it seemed
Your struggle for survival had been lost
Help arrived in human form
Backed up with red tractor


“Hook the noose around the horns -
Hold the horns - keep the head steady
Don’t want to break her neck!
Come on Girl - you can make it!”


“Well done Men, - I knew
We’d get the sheila out of the bog”




Terror

‘Sheila in the Bog’

Bovine terror in your eyes -
Your familiar foothold
No longer there.
Structure of security changed
Threatening the fibre
Of your survival.
Drought is your terrorist--

September 11, Bali bombings
Undermines human security

clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au

Clara waxes lyrical - "We need the Rains"

Hi there
Yes, we need the rains.  It just needs to know when to stop.Clara

Wheat silos in Dooen




Dooen Hotel opened in 1876
 (Photographed 2004)

 



This arid earth

"We need the Rains"

Clara Easter 2001  - for G

Dooen Pub, Whatchya been doin' all this time

Since they built you in 1876?

On a vast dry plain beside this endless road
Only silos to interrupt the wide horizon.
"We need the rains," you must have said, and still do now.


You've quenched the thirsts, heard the tales
Of those brave folk who toiled and sweated
Endured the drought yet kept their faith
That the parched cracked earth could yield its golden bounty.
"We need the rains," they must have said, and still do now.


Horse and cart; now semi-trailers,  cars
Bring your thirsty crowd to drink, to tell their tales
Share time with others to renew their faith
That this arid earth will be quenched in time
"We need the rains," they must have said, and still do now.


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'Said Hanrahan' - a message of hope, balance and perspective



Taken  on the Wimmera Plains
now in flood

Hi there
While demonstrating typical Australian humour and self-mockery which is often used in tough times, 'Said Hanrahan' is also a story of hope in times of both drought and the current challenges of flood, being a reminder that no matter whether we are facing times of feast or drought, in the bigger picture,  everything does turn out well in the end provided we keep our sense of hope, balance and perspective.  Clara



From - Wiki - The recurrent natural cycle of droughts, floods and bushfires in rural Australia as seen by "Hanrahan", a pessimistic man of Irish descent. "'We'll all be rooned', said Hanrahan"—an adage extracted from the poem—has entered the Australian English lexicon as a dismissive response to predictions of disasters or hard times, especially those out of the control of the speakers.


SAID HANRAHAN by John O'Brien

"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,

Wheat silos at Dooen

 In accents most forlorn,
Outside the church, ere Mass began,
One frosty Sunday morn.


The congregation stood about,
Coat-collars to the ears,
And talked of stock, and crops, and drought,
As it had done for years.


"It's looking crook," said Daniel Croke;
"Bedad, it's cruke, me lad,
For never since the banks went broke
Has seasons been so bad."


"It's dry, all right," said young O'Neil,
With which astute remark
He squatted down upon his heel
And chewed a piece of bark.


And so around the chorus ran
"It's keepin' dry, no doubt."
"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
"Before the year is out."


"The crops are done; ye'll have your work
To save one bag of grain;
From here way out to Back-o'-Bourke
They're singin' out for rain.


"They're singin' out for rain," he said,
"And all the tanks are dry."
The congregation scratched its head,
And gazed around the sky.


"There won't be grass, in any case,
Enough to feed an ass;
There's not a blade on Casey's place
As I came down to Mass."


"If rain don't come this month," said Dan,
And cleared his throat to speak -
"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
"If rain don't come this week."


A heavy silence seemed to steal
On all at this remark;
And each man squatted on his heel,
And chewed a piece of bark.


"We want an inch of rain, we do,"
O'Neil observed at last;
But Croke "maintained" we wanted two
To put the danger past.


"If we don't get three inches, man,
Or four to break this drought,
We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
"Before the year is out."


In God's good time down came the rain;
And all the afternoon
On iron roof and window-pane
It drummed a homely tune.


And through the night it pattered still,
And lightsome, gladsome elves
On dripping spout and window-sill
Kept talking to themselves.


It pelted, pelted all day long,
A-singing at its work,
Till every heart took up the song
Way out to Back-o'-Bourke.


And every creek a banker ran,
And dams filled overtop;
"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
"If this rain doesn't stop."


And stop it did, in God's good time;
And spring came in to fold
A mantle o'er the hills sublime
Of green and pink and gold.


And days went by on dancing feet,
With harvest-hopes immense,
And laughing eyes beheld the wheat
Nid-nodding o'er the fence.


And, oh, the smiles on every face,
As happy lad and lass
Through grass knee-deep on Casey's place
Went riding down to Mass.


While round the church in clothes genteel
Discoursed the men of mark,
And each man squatted on his heel,
And chewed his piece of bark.


"There'll be bush-fires for sure, me man,
There will, without a doubt;
"We'll all be rooned," said Hanrahan,
"Before the year is out."


Click on 'comment' at bottom of page to have your say or email clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au
 http://www.babyboomerconnections.com.au/

23 days left to complete a year of creating a piece each day

Hi there to other creative minded friends
 R wrote -http://shopatnextdoor.blogspot.com " I only have 23 days left on Project A Day! I've knit over 150 scarves so far and have at least another 50 to go just to use up the yarn that customers brought in.  I've taught Ula how to knit them and created a knitting monster. She loves it. June is also helping me, so now I mostly just sew them together. It's turning into a really great community project. Wish you were here...you are my missing link. 

Clara - thanks R.  It's been a year (what was the exact date?) since we reconnected through Facebook and you have enhanced and enriched my life in many ways, including a fabulous trip thanks to wonderful Roberto, where we caught up after 30 years to continue just where we left off. 

It has been a delight to be part of your Project One a Day, to witness your amazing creativity and drive, combined with community spirit.  What a great way to end your amazing year of creativity; ie cosy, stylish scarves brightening and warming so many lives.  Very very very proud of you!!! 

I've been away on holidays and cannot believe how much has been achieved with this community effort - to such an extent that you have been able to create additional  pieces to complete your amazing  'year of living creatively.' 
C

Go to the link above to view the year of creativity - or scroll down for examples of the wonderful scarf project. 

101...January 6th
100 scarves have been delivered to area shelters as of today. We have at least another 100 to go, thanks to everyone who brought in yarn.

13 more scarves!



We delivered another 28 scarves today!



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