More book stuff

Thought I'd post a bit more about some books I've read recently. Most were on my Kindle, but a friend gave me a REAL book to read, called "First Impressions" by Charlie Lovett. I must say I really enjoyed this one. It's a story that switches from Jane Austen's world to that of Sophie, a current-day bookaholic, and is a bit of a whodunnit. The premise is quite clever, whereby the authorship of "Pride and Prejudice" is questioned, and all the action flows from there. The ending is a bit too fairy tale, and the characters could use some development, but overall, it quite satisfactorily filled an afternoon.
I've said before that I love reading Donna Leon's books, and discovered one I hadn't read. This one was not an Inspector Brunetti one, but a separate novel. It is called "The Jewels of Paradise", and revolves around Catherine, a lecturer returning to her home town of Venice to solve a family dispute over an inheritance. Her research takes us into the world of baroque opera, castrati, and tales of old Venice, and leads her into unexpected dangers. Most enjoyable as always and very well researched.
The other one I thought I'd mention is "Singapore Black", the first part of a trilogy by William L. Gibson following the (mis-)adventures of his sleuth, Detective Hawksworth, Chief Detective Inspector of the Singapore police back in 1892. Gibson's portrayal of Singapore at this time (when it still was a British crown colony) is very detailed and shows a good understanding of the intricacies of race relations then. The story is also very entertaining, a history thriller at its best, what with warring Chinese gangs, sinister goddesses, and the long overdue monsoon all mixed in. Can't wait to read the second book, "Singapore Yellow", out soon I hope.

Beginnings

Well, just when I got some mojo back for quilting, the sewing machine gives up the ghost! I had started a new project, a small Amish style quilt, when the bobbin winder got stroppy. Happily, at the same time, I found a new creative  art form on Pinterest and YouTube. There are lots of  "how to" videos about art journals, in particular by Einat Kessler, a very talented lady. I have several of the materials needed to get started, so will attempt an art canvas soon. Serendipity helped, with the discovery of a new shop in Sunbury that carries a lot of the materials needed, such as paints, stamps, stencils etc. (it's at the bottom end of O'Shannessy Street, if I remember correctly, it's called 'Bella Carta'). They have classes, and on Monday, I shall attend a class about using Gesso. My task today is finding all the bits and pieces I've collected over time that may be useful for such a project.
I've finally taken some time to get more acquainted with my new big lens, so stand by for some photos  of wildlife this year. By wildlife I mean rabbits, roos and birds in the backyard, but I'll be heading for a zoo sometime to play a little more.
I might also join Cherryl's 'Friday night with friends' blog list. It's nice to see what others are working on, in a variety of art and craft forms.
Finally, I'm looking forward to our weekly and monthly quilt group happenings. Which reminds me, I'd better get on to that 'Blues' challenge!

The Old Picture Challenge 2015: SUMMER

Alsha's Space has a new challenge, the Old Picture Challenge for 2015. Thought I might go along with that, as it gives us a chance to post photos lingering in old albums and on old discs. The link is http://alshasspace.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/the-old-picture-challenge.html and everybody can participate.
The first theme for this month is SUMMER, and the first photo is from last summer, when we visited the bay in February. These bathing huts along the bayside always evoke thoughts of summer, beach, and water for me. Their owners paint them in fun colours and motifs, and they are a pretty sight along Melbourne's beaches.


The second photo is from Ocean Grove Beach, again last summer, with the surf school out in full force. Nothing nicer than sitting on the beach in summer, watching the surfers' endless routine of paddling, standing up, surfing, and crashing!
Finally, I've added this one which I took just the other day, and which I think shows the fun to be had in summer, at the beach, wearing light clothes and just feeling happy.

Final Photo Challenge: BALL

The final photo challenge, and I chose "Ball' to inspire me. And there was one, sitting right in front of me! I'm a bit of a rock hound, so this is my little crystal ball. Every now and then I give it a twirl, to see how it changes. At the moment, I'm seeing a snow covered landscape, a black and white cat, a bird in flight, and some clouds over a farmhouse. I think it's a fitting photo for this last week of the year, perhaps we'll need a crystal ball to find out what's in store for 2015.
I've enjoyed the challenge this year, thanks Asha for keeping us on the ball, so to speak.

Photo challenge: CALM

The brain works in mysterious ways! I started thinking about the challenge word - calm, and the connection was made to unruffled. Ruffled then made me think of this swan and its ruffled feathers. He was very calm, gliding  quietly across the lake and heading to see if we had any goodies for him.
So there's my ruffled, unruffled friend.

(for those who want to know - swans' feathers ruffle more in the breeding season).

Photo challenge: FISH

Didn't think I'd find something fishy, but I saw these fish at a restaurant today (only for display, not for eating). I thought they looked so colourful and pretty.

More good reads

I've had a few more play dates with my Kindle; it's getting to be an addiction! And to think a few years back I truly thought e-books would never catch on. How wrong could I be?! I must admit, nothing beats having a brand new book in your hand, but if you read by the kilo and haven't much storage space, nothing beats an e-reader.
I've come across some more thrillers I like, among them the Black house trilogy by Peter May. It's about a detective in Scotland who is sent from the 'big smoke' to his home on the Hebridean island of Lewis, to investigate the death of a former school fellow. The books follow this and other investigations, and tell the story of an interesting protagonist and the island that is and was. The books are extremely well written, bringing the Scottish landscape, traditions, and communities to life. I had to read them all in one go, they were so gripping! I've also ordered Peter May's "Hebrides", a photo book of the area, as I hope there may be some shots of Barra and/or Colonsay, where my ancestors come from. More about that when it arrives.
The other book I've been reading is 'Tatiana' by Martin Cruz Smith. Smith's books follow the career of Arkady Renko, a Moscow-based senior investigator who has trouble fitting into the new Russia. He hasn't quite given up on his job and seems always to find a reason to solve just one more murder. This time, he investigates the suicide of a notorious journalist. The trail leads to Kaliningrad and an amber mine. I've read most of the Renko books, and believe Smith has not only captured some of the paradoxes of the  modern Russia, but some of the soul of its people. I read his 'Havana Bay' recently and really enjoyed it.
Not a thriller, but quite a thrilling read, was Elliot Perlman's 'The Street Sweeper'. Perlman is an Australian author and can spin a good yarn. In the "street sweeper" he brings together people from very different backgrounds and teases out the political, historical, and personal circumstances that bring these people together, all on the streets of NewYork. It's a great book to read over a rainy weekend, with a supply of hot chocolate and some cool music.

Photo Challenge: MATCH

Couldn't think of anything that matched - so I thought about matches, as in lighting a match.
I've always been wary of fire, never struck a match until I was an adult, and then only with trepidation. I can now light a candle, but I prefer using the long matches, keeping the flame well away from me. Who knows - maybe I had a bad experience with fire in a previous life?!
So there you have it - my MATCH, and it's a long one!

More clouds

 Yesterday was a wild and woolly day, and perfect for chasing clouds. They brought driving rain and high winds, knocked a tree over, and were best observed from inside.Must have been cold up there!

One am

Poetry.
The stuff of dreams and language.
Ditch syntax,
discard the bonds of punctuation.
And yet
I long for verse and rhyme and meter.
Get over it!

Photo challenge: TRIO

This one had me scratching my head - until this morning, when I remembered this cute sculpture I saw in Montreal. The three bronze ladies are having a good natter about something or other. The TRIO kinda makes me smile when I see it.

Good reads

This little spoof on "Downton Abbey" was definitely a hilarious read! Nothing is sacred, from the Dowager Catness to Mr. Matthmew Clowder and the scandalous behaviour of Lady Minxy. Special treats are the "uninvited but necessary words from the Dowager", who has a bonmot for every occasion.
Classic: "I have nothing against stage people. My great-aunt was the string of a cello."
And so it goes. Very funny.

That was just by-the-by, what I really wanted to write about was a couple of new mystery series I've come across recently. Since I've been having regular - and extended - play dates with my Kindle, I've been checking out the amazon offerings. One of the series I am busily reading my way through is John Lawton's 'Frederick Troy' detective series. I saw the author mentioned in a Sunday Australian newspaper, and thought I'd give him a go. Well, I was in for a treat! These are not your fluffy little detective novels, these juicy tomes pack in convoluted plots, an extensive, detailed knowledge of pre- and post-WW2 history, brilliant (and sometimes surgical) portrayals of the British, beautiful language, and a likable, multifaceted hero. Lawton's been criticised for 'too much history' in his novels, but it's what makes the era come alive. These are the sorts of books I never want to end. I do hope Lawton has a few more 'Troys' in store!
The other series I've started to read is the Inspector Gamache one. This amiable detective is a French Canadian who works at the Surete in Quebec. He finds himself drawn to a small village, Three Pines, by a series of murders. (A bit like Midsomer; soon there will be no villagers left to murder!). When I started reading Louise Penny's series, I wasn't so sure if I'd like her style, but now I'm hooked. The characters are interesting and I love reading about all the little Canadian things I encountered on my last trip to eastern Canada. Even Tim Horton's coffee and poutine get a mention! The books run to appx. 360 pages, so long enough to while away an afternoon.
Lastly, I just finished the latest Donna Leon 'Inspector Brunetti' novel. This is another series I can't get enough of. The inspector, a well-read (and well fed) family man, is a Commissario at the Venetian 'Questura', and solves murders with his sidekick Vianello and the mysterious - and slightly criminal - Elettra, always under the beady eye of their boss, Patta. I like how Leon brings Venice and its inhabitants to life, and the Brunetti characters are very believable. I just feel the inspector should have a cat.
If you haven't read these crime series, try them, you might just be entertained for a few hours.

Photo challenge: COTTON

I'm a little late, but inspiration for this challenge didn't strike until last night, so there you have my my COTTON buds! I thought a close-up of these everyday items might yield an interesting texture. Might play around in Picasa a little more.

Here it is with a little more processing...starting to look like coral.

Photo challenge: Blue

Actually, I'm quite glad not to have to look at that baby head any more! This week's challenge is BLUE, and here's a little BLUE wren that hangs around my garden. At the moment, Mr. Blue and his wife are looking for a good nesting spot. Every now and then they perch in the shrubs and peek through the window. I guess they see Pretzel the cat and think it might not be safe. Little do they know that Mr. P. only dreams of birds these days, doesn't chase them.

Photo word challenge: HEAD

Interesting choice of topic! Well, here's for something unusual - one of Ron Mueck's amazing sculptures. This was the head of a whole newborn sculpture. It was huge, and very lifelike. I found them fascinating but somewhat confronting. He takes everyday people and re-creates them in meticulous detail, but in unreal proportions.
My favourite sculpture was that of two old ladies. I love the expressions on their faces. I can just hear them: "Will you look at that guy! His pants are falling down, and his whities are showing!"

Photo challenge - Lights

I'm a little ahead of myself - possibly to make up for the weeks when I didn't submit anything. But the topic inspired me; I love lights and using light in photography. So I was thinking of the bokeh effect, which I hadn't achieved yet but will make a goal for the future. In the meantime, I used an online post-editing program to achieve a bokeh effect. Bokeh, acording to Wikipedia, is a hazing or blurring effect achieved by a short depth-of-field, (hope I got that right). It presents as blobs of light, and can be achieved with aperture or manual manipulation or filters. I also loved the lights produced by these Christmas stars I saw at a Christkindel Market in Dresden. Every now and then I need a German Christmas and like to visit the Christmas markets. Seeing the picture evokes sounds of carols, and smells of Gluehwein, gingerbread, and roasting chestnuts.

Cold Mountain

The weather report mentioned snow down to 600m today, so we packed the cameras and went for a drive up the mountain. We started off at 8C which quickly turned to 4C in Macedon and 1C on Mt. Macedon. There was a bit of sun about, so we didn't think there'd be too much snow, and indeed, there wasn't enough to build a snowman! Still, a dusting of the white stuff was quite satisfactory and produced some nice shots. I don't know why I get excited about it anyway, I moved here to get away from the snow and slush of Europe!
Whatever; it gave me an opportunity to put on my boots and warm mittens, wrap myself in woolly layers and pretend I'm braving the elements.... My Canadian friends must be laughing by now!
We weren't the only ones checking out the snow situation, a steady stream of cars made its way up the hill and back. I wish I knew somebody who lives up there and could tip me off when the snow's thick on the ground.
On the way back, it seemed appropriate to warm up with a nice hot cuppa, so we stopped at the General Store, which is a friendly place with lots of yummy things to eat and drink and look at. It was blissful just sitting on the window bench and feeling the winter sun on my back, while DH read the paper and enjoyed his cappuchino.

Word Challenge : RED

Haven't been here for a while, what with birthdays, visitors, travel, knitting, quilting, physio....and so on. But this week has been back to normal (well, as normal as possible for me), so I thought I'd add to the challenge again.
This time the word is RED, so I figured I'd go through my recent pictures to see if anything grabbed me.
So here is my RED panda baby! His picture was taken at the Adelaide zoo, where he shared space with another baby and the parents, looking across to the big enclosure where the big pandas were. They kinda stole the show, but these little guys deserve attention too. They're awfully cuddlesome, dontcha think?!

Weekly Challenge: Comfort

This week's word is COMFORT. That didn't take too much brain strain, thankfully. I chose this quilt as something that gives me comfort. It was given to me as a gift from my friend Kathryn, a lovely handquilted dragonfly quilt. I'd never made a quilt just for me to snuggle up with, so this was most welcome! It does duty in spring and autumn, when a doona is too hot, and a sheet is too cool. Combined with a cotton blanket, it's just perfect, keeping me comfortable all night.

Weekly challenge: FELINE

I liked the word of the week - feline! Well, lets face it - I like anything that's remotely connected to animals. I've been owned by quite a few felines (9 at last count) and loved each and every one for their interesting purrsonalities. One thing that always get's my cute-vibe going in cats is their paws. There's just nothing sweeter than kitty-paws! I think these ones belong to Mitzi, now gone to cat heaven.