Patra's Other Place

I started out with Patra's Place, primarily dedicated to my linen collection and stitching projects. But I kept getting side-tracked, so I decided to create Patra's Other Place for anything not related to embroidery topics. So you now have a choice. If you are interested in me, read this. If you only want to see my linen and stitching, visit Patra's (original) Place! (Please note that by clicking on any of the photos, they will be enlarged to fill your computer screen.)

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Location: Melbourne, Vic., Australia

I was married to Ken for 43 years, but he died in October 2022. So I am now alone with two cats, eight hens, and a few finches and parrots in one aviary.

Monday, April 30, 2012

New member of the family.

Say hello to Roger.  Our hens have been squabbling amongst themselves, and have gone off the lay, so Ken accepted the offer of a free rooster from a friend who had too many roosters, and was going to cull them.  Isn't he a bonny chap?  The hens all respect him and are now behaving themselves.  They still haven't laid any eggs for a couple of weeks, but they are going through a moult, so once they are over that, the eggs should start coming again.   And maybe we will have some little chickens as well!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

ANZAC Day.

ANZAC Day goes beyond the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. On ANZAC day, ceremonies are held in towns and cities across the
nation to acknowledge the service of our veterans.



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Today was cold and wet, but that didn't stop thousands of people turning out to line the streets to wave at the marchers, and attend the Dawn service in Melbourne.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Still painting and sewing!

I had planned for weeks to attend the Australasian Quilt Convention today, but decided that it would be better to stay at home and get a few things achieved there. I did two loads of washing, then went shopping with a friend (not 'fun' shopping - just the local supermarket), and because it was such a beautiful day, I decided to spend the afternoon outside. I took my watercolours down to Eltham and did some painting. Do I regret not going to the quilt show? Not one bit - it would have cost me well over $50 for the day (probably closer to $100), and I would have been inside all that time instead of out in the glorious sunshine.
Tomorrow will be another lovely autumn day, but I have to be indoors for most of the afternoon, as I am presenting a talk on my linen collection to a local PROBUS club. I always enjoy these talks, as most of the ladies in those groups can relate to my embroidered linens, and like to talk to me afterwards over a cuppa.
Sunday is my birthday, and we are going out to dinner with another couple who celebrate their wedding anniversary on the same day as my birthday. I've already been given two gifts - Ken bought me a beautiful book about May Gibbs (author and artist) which I chose at one of our local bookshops, and my artist friend Glenda bought me an artists' pencil pack when I admired it in a shop today. I'm not allowed to read the book or play with the pencils until my birthday though. Still, it's nice to look forward to them. Speaking of art, I added a post to my art blog a minute ago: the two watercolours I did today, and a couple of pencil sketches that I drew yesterday at the doctor's waiting rooms. You really have to be careful when you are sketching people in a public place - some people don't mind, others seem to get embarrassed or irate! Two young men who had been sitting in one position, quietly chatting, appeared to deliberately change their positions when they caught me sketching them!

Monday, April 02, 2012

Nothing much happening.

Well, there is, but it is all to do with my art work and needlecraft projects.  My sketching and painting can be seen here, and my tea cosies and patchwork projects are over at Patra's Place.

adopt your own virtual pet!