Cats, camellias and constitutional rights

This month's tbr pile

After making a cross-stitch of a suffragette design, I went on-line to see if anyone would like it. A friend who teaches history in New Zealand said she would like it for her classroom, so I framed it, wrapped it in appropriately-coloured purple crepe paper, and popped it in the post. I hope she and her students appreciate it. I will offer others sporadically. 

Looking for props for Dead Man's Cell Phone - the play was first performed in 2007, so I am looking for the correct technology of the period. I found this trusty old Nokia in my bottom drawer - it probably still works too. It's staggering the speed with which we have moved on with communication devices, while actual communication seems to stagnate or even regress. 

Meanwhile, Melantho and Penelope remain determinedly unperturbed. 

It's pretty green and fresh outside, and the silk camellias are making their presence known along the side of the driveway. I love how nature always gives us year-round colour and interest in the garden.

Strong Women

I made this cross-stitch. I love it. I'm giving it to a friend. I think it's wonderful that these women are bring identified as role models for the things they do; not the way they look.

I've been tapering off the walks this past week, ready for The Bloody Long Walk at the weekend. This means I have been just pottering around the local houses and admiring the flurry of poppies cropping up in nearby gardens. 

The weather has been wet, but we wanted to get one final preparation walk in during the week. Design Diva and I risked the overcast skies to walk the last leg, and were rewarded with the calm waters  and perfect reflections of Lake Burley Griffin.

National flags at Commonwealth Place

We were thrilled to get to go to see a live gig at The Basement. It was called the Cohen Street Bash and featured four bands, all with something to say - which is good, according to the graffiti in the ladies' loos. We were mainly there for Box Dye, who are staunch and angry with great guitars and drums. I had not see them before, and they definitely did not disappoint.

Welly

Dog World

Box Dye

Indoor and Outdoor Hobbies

We have been watching The Handmaid's Tale. So, it seems, have many other people judging by this sign outside the Gosford Anglican Church, equating repressive legislation with the fiction regime of Gilead in Margaret Atwood's tale of dystopian society. I made the cross-stitch for a friend's birthday - we watched each episode of the show and avidly discussed it - and we particularly liked the episode in which 'muffins mean yes'.

Him Outdoors got all creative with his designated night's cooking. There's a duck breast under all that. 

Another nice morning's walk for breakfast - this time through The Pinnacles to Rocksalt. 

Corned Beef Hash

Vegetable Stack

Our next puzzle begins to take shape...

And things are blooming in the garden, even though it's mid-winter. 

The tracks and trails around Black Mountain and through Aranda Bushland are perfect for biking at this time of year.