Memories of the forbidden bikini

 

Hi R
Because I live in the Land Downunder, the good news about our constant sunshine is also the bad news.  Two glasses of good red wine have stopped the throbbing in my nose and upper right chest after a day procedure at RNS (local hospital).

It's important to pass it on to our children and grandchildren, even though they already know, that skin has 'memory', and my nose and right chest remembers the times I allowed them to be exposed to the sun.

My Anglosaxon pale skin areas were exposed pre awareness of skin memory and future damage from the sun's rays. Initially, it was when, our family was out there having fun perhaps caravaning in Dad's homemade caravan in New Zealand. If you caught too much sun on the weekend you would peel by Wednesday or Thursday when my sister and I had fun peeling the skin from each other's shoulders, like little monkeys.

Then there was the 'greater awareness stage' - a time when I wanted the look of the time, which meant being brown, even though I was a " 'pakehah - white person in Maori'."
By this time we had moved to Australia and I was a teenager, with a brand new forbidden bikini. Bondi had the whitest of sand and my visit there included a full body spray of coconut oil, resulting in my entire body being fried by the sun. It also meant that the wearing of the forbidden 'bikini' was revealed when I returned home looking like a tomato - and that was how my dad treated the burn ie with ripe tomatoes.

Fortunately our education has moved us on from this state of mind. However many of us remain there and still want to be tanned.
I actually don't want that any more and am reminded today that it's OK to be white.
Clara

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Merry Christmas

Hi C,

Merry Christmas C from the north pole. We're up here at the cabin and it is crunchy cold....0 degrees, a two paw kind of cold. That's when the dogs freeze up, stand on two legs and need to be carried back in. But it is very beautiful, a White Christmas, frosty and perfect. Santa surprised me with a pretty little tree all decked out on our deck. Deck the halls...

love,

R and R

Waiting for Santa

deck the deck

Bird's Eye View or Orange You Glad

Hi C,


We're all thinking spring here despite the blanket of snow that covers the ground. As you know, I'm an early riser and have witnessed signs of spring in the wee small hours. The birds are singing, the owls are hooting and the geese honking its arrival. I still have trouble getting the concept that you're experiencing just the opposite down under. You mentioned soft hues of grey and taupe as showing up on Sydney's fall fashion forecast. Here we're happily unpacking boxes of color at Nextdoor. For the past two years it seemed that everything came in two shades, black or grey. This spring orange is on the horizon in all its glory, every shade you can imagine from soft corals to bright tangerines. Our customers are loving it! Course, we're pretty casual here as you know. Everything has to work back to a great pair of jeans, a cute handbag and some fun accessories. I have lots of shades of orange yarn in the studio and have enjoyed knitting up some colorful easy wraps to wear indoors now and outdoors later on. I'll keep you posted as the season progresses, but so far it looks like a colorful spring!


R

Happy Birthday Roberto

Hi there  - moving on from the Christmas messages - scroll down  for these.

Moving on to ............

Serious December Baby Greetings Video

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Snow Day...Wish You Were Here

Shrugs add glamour and warmth to winter and summer - as well as cover arms in summer

'Shrug' rhymes with 'Hug' and that's exactly what it does.  A shrug sits over a basic palate  - in winter to drape over a basic T of any shape, neckline etc, with best jeans or pants.  It adds warmth, glamour, and  style to a basic palate and as such is seriously Schick.

In Summer, non focus now re Wisconsin but Down Under , they cover the dreaded upper arms, whilst providing for necessary warmth when temperatures drop. 
Clara adores shrugs and will post a few summer numbers


A shrug a day ...November 26th

Shrug of the Day...November 2

Fairisle is Back...November 24th

This snowflake pattern is appropriate. If you look carefully, you will see our first snow on the ground.
Shrugs and Kisses...November 18th

Shrug It Off...November 17th

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Winter woollies with pompoms bring back childhood memories

Hi R
I can see that the weather has turned verrrry chillllllly!!!
I love the warmth and colour of woolly accessories - so comforting as winter approaches. Not to mention how flattering a soft scarf or hat can be, adding glamour and colour especially with Pompoms - love that word! 

Pompoms take me back to my childhood  - like most children of the day, we loved to make things, as children do today but they don't get the same encouragement and support.  Craft was important in those days - we lived in NZ and the cold season was long, although not as long as in Wisconsin - many engrossing hours were spent around the fuel stove, making pompoms.  Pompoms were one of my favourite crafts - since you never really knew how they would turn out until the final moment when you fluffed and trimmed them up.

The handwarmer takes my fancy - Capeable Hands...November 14th and also takes me back to where we lived in freezing fibro houses in the high country when Dad was installing turbines in the Hydro Electricity Schemes......  "Mum would heat smooth stones in the fuel stove , (collected in summer from the trout streams) and place them in a hand crocheted, drawstring bag, so we could keep warm on the journey to school. Those little warm bags in my pockets, gave enormous comfort."


Please tell lovely Roberto that he looks great in red - but who are the Badgers?  I thought there was only one team to back ie Green and Gold (Aussie colours).
Clara Packer
Tweed Yourself...November 29th

Go Packers...November 28th

the green and the gold










Go Badgers...November 27th

the men folk heading off to battle in their matching hats and scarves








Poms...November 16th

Pom...November 15th

Handwarmer...November12th





















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The Art of the Table

Clara,
You would love this table by Robert Therrien. It measures ten feet high, twenty feet long, and twelve feet wide.  It's the center piece for Art of the Table,

an installation show at the Milwaukee Art Museum this weekend. In conjunction with the show is a marketplace of unique gifts that I was fortunate to be part of. I put together a collection of my pewter jewelry, 70 some pieces and am happy to report lots of them have already found new owners!  We had lunch at the Calatrava Cafe in the museum, an art of the table experience in itself. We need to add that to our "to do" for your next visit.

R

http://www.mam.org/calendar/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=2186&year=2010&month=11

Winter Preparations protect against frigid elements



From my window - early morning frost

  
Hi there from Wisconsin
At this time of the year, serious preparations need to take place here on the farm, to prepare for the challenge of the frigid season to follow.


While the other 3 seasons are spent modifying nature's vigorous growth, winter's challenge is to prepare and protect against the  elements of snow and freezing rain.




Snowbirds move to warmer climes but those who stay make a hardy commitment to face the rigorous conditions.


Equipment needs to be kept fueled and well serviced

 Here they experience 50 inches of snow at times, but further north in Wisconsin where he grew up, Roberto tells me of temperatures 53 to 63 degrees below zero with 250 - 300 inches of snow.   He came from a family tradition where planning is vital  along with good equipment, kept fueled and well serviced.  In those earlier days, it was necessary to be self sufficient re fuel, food, heat, light.
 



6-8 cords of wood needed for fireplace - as well as four furnaces
to keep snuggy

  

"It's a challenge, you can get killed - it's fun, you take it in your stride cos it's going to happen anyway.  It's invigorating  - and snuggy inside the house - you against the elements.  I love it!"

Brrrr!  Clara





Pumpkin and Lentil Soup heralds Halloween.

Hi there
Autumn in Wisconsin, is definitely about pumpkins - they are everywhere - all shapes and sizes, some too pretty to cut into.  And of course it is nearly Halloween.  America does Halloween better than Australia, perhaps because it originated there - but what I liked about it was that there was a high level of supervision of the trickers and the treaters, a definite time set for this dental disaster, and the high degree of participation. 

Of course we have to have a pumpkin dish - this hearty soup from Bill Granger's latest book, "Bill's Basics" which is wonderfully textured, and spice laden.  And of course,  nutritious, and low in fat and sugar to help you to 'Fit in your Jeans

Clara
ps I think I'll wear the batlady outfit for Halloween.

Spiced Pumpkin and Lentil  Soup
1.5 kg/3lbs butternut pumpkin, peeled, cut into 3cm cubes
750 g / 1.5 lb tomatoes, quartered
6 garlic cloves, peeled
1 small carrot, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil (or less)
1/2 to 1 tsp dried chilli flakes
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander (or fresh coriander chopped
2 tsp paprika
5 cups vegetable or chicken stock
3/4 cup red lentils


to serve
yoghurt
crusty bread
sumac - (optional)


Preheat oven to 180 C.  put the pumpkin, tomatoes, garlic and carrot in a large flameproof casserole dish, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with spices and season with sea salt and ground black pepper.  Cover the dish and bake for 1 1/2 hours or until the vegetables are soft.


Roughly mash the vegetables with a fork or potato masher and stir in the stock.  Put the casserole dish on the the stovetop over medium heat and bring to the boil.


Add the lentils, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 mins until lentils are tender. Add a little extra stock or water if the soup becomes too thick.  Season and ladel into bowls.  Top with a dollop of yoghurt and a sprinkle of sumac and serve with crusty bread.
Serves 4-6

Pumpkin Nutrition
A dead giveaway is the bright orange colour that it is loaded with an important anti- oxidant, beta carotene.   Current research indicates that a diet rich in beta carotene offers protection from degenerative diseases and aspects of ageing.
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Green Bay Packers revisited - Well done Vernon!



Coach Lombardi, Commissioner of NFL,
Pete Rosell,  presents trophy for first
Superbowl win.

 Extract from Milwaukee Journal Oct 17 2010, photos from recently deceased photographer, Vernon Biever, who prowled the sidelines of Packer's games documenting that history since 1941.

He focused his camera on the Packer sweep, Vince Lombardi, Brett Favre, being one of the first team photographers in the NFL and was recognised around the league for his artistry.




 Paul Horning scoring a touchdown



Hi there

Blogging from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, therefore need to include some local excitement even if it is via a footy novice.  Whilst Australia winds down from football fever, Green Bay Packers rise to the season.

Roberto filled me in with some important details re the history of what has to be one of the world's most famous teams.  Many a boy in other lands, my son included, flies the Green Bay Packers Pennant on their wall,  so  some background could be of interest.

The original teams were the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears - recognised as the oldest rivalry in professional football.  Green Bay was sponsored by Meat Packers / NFL National Football League, owned by the people and reliant upon public shares, therefore the "Team of the People."

Historically, in the 1920's they played at Lambeau Stadium, with the team composed of weekend college players, whose hope was to be discovered.  Currently it is the beginning of the season  - 6th game - won 3, lost 3 with Roberto's final comment - Black & Blues Central Division - tough hard noses -  ???

Meanwhile on the same page the Marching Band Championships are announced  ie High School Bands.  One of the most enjoyable memories I have of football in USA, is a college game at Madison, when the High School bands' triumphant blast stirred the game forward.  My best moments - when the crowd joined crossed hands, swayed as one and sang "America the Beautiful" and everyone knew the words - followed by the bawdy songs at the bar. Well done Vernon.

Clara

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

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, and I wanted to share with you the color lest it is all gone by the time you arrive. The camera is unable to capture the true moment...the wind was blowing and the frost glistened everywhere. It sounded as though it was raining, but in fact it was the leaves falling from the trees after the frost.

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Autumn hydrangeas reflected in felted wool wraps



Now that's a wrap  - Sept 27

 Hi R
I know you showed these pieces a few days ago. 
They are beautiful! 
You said -
'What I love about felted wool is that it's a win, win situation. No one is "harvested" for the pelt, harmful synthetic chemicals aren't necessary for the faux and my friend the sheep goes happily on with his life. Baaaahhh...that's sheep talk for Gooooddd!'


Clara - Baaaaahh is my language - (being a New Zealander before an Aussie.)  So many concepts combined here - as is so, of course with most of your concepts.  There is an ethereal quality, combining the compact nature of felting with a certain transparency. Then the blending of colour resembling antique weathering. 
Similar to the weathering of my favourite flower, - hydrangea - which I am lucky enough to have growing in the back yard.  I see in the photos, the autumn hue which is my favourite.
 
Go Hydrangeas! One day I will somehow, creatively express your essence.
Clara


Felt like felting


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