May Through to Early August

Winter in Queensland has not been the total cause of slackness on my part even tho today 8th August is overcast and cool so yes in doors and finally updating our blog.

Over the last few months I've been going through trials and tribulations in getting onto NDIS Nationnal Disability Insurance Scheme a support funding avenue to all things for all sorts/forms of needs for people with disabilities. I started this in March, funding granted in June but meetings after meetings after meetings longest being 3 hours. Finally on track sort of yes it not over yet!! The funding is granted for a 12 month period but they do not take into account the time taken for all these meetings and interviews so almost 3 months down the track and I am still awaiting an Occupational Therapist Report for a wheelchair, bathroom alterations, and other minor clearance.

Mean while I struggle with my shoulder which is healing and I am able to use more each week.

Project wise I have been clearing the benches one at a time, when shoulder and above meetings/interviews have not hindered.

Hammer Handles for one of the QMAC fellows Ray Hunt with we have become friends with and his wife Charli.
Ray had scored the Hammer heads some with dodgy handles some without at bargain prices.

 
Old above were cleaned up by Ray while I made new handles.

A quick Flyer alteration for Demaris  so she could fill a bobbin completely, the bobbin had been rubbing on the orifice end and far to close at the opposite end.

 Sue has been baking some fresh potato bread and a pumpkin and herb, also a Pizza pull apart.

Yet another baking session baked Pumpkin, Date Rolls, Apple Strudel and Cheese Strudel, boiled lollies cookies and more bread.

Sue brought home two looms from the Spinners & Weavers group to re warp and set up and design the pattern up.

Sue knitted up ten beanies for Alice Springs Bennie Festival.
The Owl took a bit longer than most.

I got my rib warmer vest just as winter chill came it is really nice an warm Alpaca and Merino.











 The Dragon's Return.
Judith found she required a longer adjustment to the Inkle Loom I had made so a 2nd slot and adjustment was added.





Over the last few years a fellow in Yorkkshire Uk and I have been swapping pen blank timbers Ian sending me that which doesn't grow in Australia and visa versa. Ian like myself is into other timber work as well as Model Engineering.We don't snail mail these as my good friend Alan Flett plays courier usually.
However our new neighbour Lyn was heading across he oceans to see family and she took over and mailed up from London 2kg of blanks for Ian. Ian had mailed down to Lyn's son a box of goodies for me. A book on wood turning, a Record No45 plough plane with blades all in excellent condition he'd scored this when helping an old friend sell off gear due to dementia. As well as a few Yew pen blanks. Plus a 20 tooth Myford ML7 gear I had been chasing.

I scored via Graham Wilson from QMAC a nice pair of these medical clamps I can use for small fiddly items I am working with.






For some time I had been going to make a box to store all/both Dremel and Taurus tools and bits in. Aldi had a sale of an artist box I got Sue to get me 3 in all, the other two housing my pen making gear and my Microplane & body file tools.

Yesterday I sorted out much of the Dremel box fitting a heavy duty foam for the bits into it, fitting a far better lift handle for the top tray (Sue's idea) good use of packing tape.
I will make and fit a retainer for the two Dremel extension shafts latter.

Well thats it for now, until next time and new installment.

Three Years Of Gardening By Sue.

 This our third year living in our home in South East QLD.

The last couple/few months saw the end of a very dry six or seven which had only 50mm of rain in December, we were in Sydney where deluge was taking place. First came drizzle somewhere in March a few mill here and there but ground was so dry it didn't do much good at all. Finally April showers started to fill the water tank green the gardens and grass everywhere. Sue had scattered seeds of all sorts, planted some seedlings which a few were lost as day time temps still reached 30C+.

By end of April mid May what a difference water tank is almost to the 4/5ths mark of 1000lt. Autumn blooms all around, need for mowing and tree trimming.

Time for photos of all Sue's work in and around the gardens from the beginning to recent.
From an almost blank canvas to an amazing colour filled yet with still room to grow and make changes.

The start of something new June 2016.

Changes 2017.

2018 some drastic changes as can be seen in reduction of size of back yard edge garden above. During 2018 Sue did a lot of gardening, sadly the Passion Fruit vines died due to the heat even with watering.

During 2018 the new back fence brought yet more garden changes and improvements mainly in the back yard
.

 The veg garden bed make over plus the beginning of the new back fence garden and Jasmine frame.

2018 & 2019 saw temps almost daily at this level.
Sue struggled to maintain plants, veg patch and lawn he latter in the end we just let go to almost dirt n dust.


But the rain came at last.

Marigolds seeds which were just scattered came to life.


The main big tree out the front which had been shedding leaves sprung back to life so much so it had to be trimmed. That so during winter the sun warms the front of the house.

 I know this is a long full of photo's post it is to say thank you to Sue for all her hard work over 3 years. The front tree tho we did have an arborist trim them.