I haven’t been stitching, reading, gardening or even thinking much for the past couple of days. Yesterday we had (I think) 18 adults and almost as many children here for a barbie. Matt’s office has two police officers from Papua New Guinea visiting, and they all decided to have a social event. Matt organised the pot-luck part of it very well – lots of variety in the food, rather than 10 potato salads and nothing else. I made olive and garlic bread and we (by we I mean Matt) cooked it in the pizza oven – this can be a bit hit and miss, depending on how many beers he drinks while the pizzas cook – the first ones are ok, by the end of the night, they can be a bit burnt or raw or a ‘tempting’ combination of both.
Please note we have not upgraded to the $7000 outdoor kitchen! Matt built the pizza oven from reclaimed solid bricks. We are still waiting for him to install the second hand metal door, and in the meantime use the four bricks as a door. Matt also built the BBQ surrounds and the table (but not the chairs). We had a nice day, but it was late by the time the last people left. I was asked why we don’t have a dishwasher …I pointed out to the friends who were helping me wash up that I don’t need a dishwasher, because people feel sorry for me and always help (that went down well. Grin). I did cop a bit of flak for making them wash up some plastic plates (the semi-disposable ones I re-use for kids parties) though, and everyone thought it was ridiculous to use cloth napkins. These napkins below I hid at the bottom of the pile, and they didn’t get used. I did these a while back using some Cedar Canyon leaf rubbing plates and leaf pattern sheets, Shiva paintstiks and (from memory) my very first free motion machine stitching.
And another flower: a native violet – violet hedereacea (sp?). They thrive in damp, shady places. This is living under one of the grevilleas.
I take my hat off to you for hosting a party for 18 plus. Hope you had a glass of something cheering afterwards, (and during). We don’t have a dishwasher either-when we bought the house there was plumbing for one appliance in the kitchen so in went the washing machine and that was that. Rob always says we don’t need one because he’s the dishwasher -I’ll leave that comment floating with pig’s wings round the ether- but there’s just 2 of us now, so I guess I will be a dishwasher virgin my whole life.
Gorgeous little violet-it looks handpainted.
Comment by threadspider — April 14, 2008 @ 6:36 pm
Oh, I love the leaves on the napkins and the dear woodland violet. Thanks for posting.
Comment by Elizabeth — April 15, 2008 @ 5:31 am
Hi Paula. Thanks for visiting again. I use cross stitch for my text and
I also prefer washing dishes by hand!!
Comment by Karen — April 15, 2008 @ 8:58 am
A BBQ! We can only dream of that here at the moment! By April last year we’d had some T-shirt weather, but this year it’s still freezing and so wet… I use cloth napkins too, although not up to the same standard as yours! They’re not exactly square any more, more of a diamond shape really, but maybe that’s to be expected after 15 years of washing! Don’t match the decor any more either, but that’s become a less important consideration over the years than just enjoying time with friends.
Thanks for dropping by and making me feel better about my purchases – I’ve not yet admitted to the banana fibre I bought just because it was a pretty colour!
Comment by Angela — April 15, 2008 @ 1:07 pm
Hi, thanks for popping into my blog and taking the time to leave a comment for me. Just love your napkins. I too have those rubbing plates but as usual have done nothing much with them. Must get them out and thanks for the inspiration. Goog to hear from an Aussie. I live in NZ but my family emigrated to Oz in the late sixties. My sister and all her family and my Dad are still there. They are in Adelaide and I tend to visit approx once a year. Will be going again for my Dad’s 80th in June.
Hugs
Judith
Comment by judith Green — April 17, 2008 @ 3:18 am