Angel

Winter days.

The Elvis grotto is looking particularly verdant at the moment. Yep, the Elvis grotto. In Melbourne.
















We've been getting a bit of rain lately. Things are looking green and happy.

Dragon lamp

You’re alive, Bod. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything.

Most days, I walk to work through the cemetery. I like it because it is beautiful and it reminds me that we die. So, on the one hand, it is pretty magical that life works at all, and, also, nothing is really that bad because we'll be dead soon.




















At the end of the cemetery are these flowers. They smell fantastic, I don't know what they are. They flowered just before that hot spell in November, so some of the blooms are a little brown and wilted, but they still smell amazing. They mean that I take deep breaths and relax a whole lot before I get to work.



















I am also a fan of all the ginkgos they planted last year.

The 'Day That Ends in Y' cake

I was going to call it the 'Somebody Sneezed' cake, but that seemed a little gross, given the icing. At any rate, I thought it was a cunning reference to the impromptu nature of the cake at the same time as being a quote from the same episode as the line 'She who hangs out a lot in cemeteries.'















Banana and cardamom with cream cheese icing.

The week that went forever -

At the start of the week I saw some great poppies on the way to school and I was all 'oooo, poppies! Spring!' only I didn't have my camera.

The next morning it hailed, so when I walked by that afternoon, no poppies.














But today, already, more had bloomed.














The weather is being good Melbourne spring weather. Hot and sunny followed by torrential downpour and freezingness, then a bit of hail, a bit of overcast, a bit of wind and some sunshine and rain at the same time.














I did this stupid stuff-up at work last week, then today found out that it barely mattered. With this huge load off my mind, I am hoping to make it through Friday and then have a lovely weekend planning adventures.

Cough Cough etc -

Well, I seem to have been sick for most of May. Every time I've walked to work, the cold has settled into my lungs and I have gone backwards a little. So I've been driving to work and looking at the fog each morning thinking about how romantic the cemetery must look.

On Friday I walked and it was totally worth it.














I love this time of year. The light is so beautiful when the sun is out and foggy mornings always make me unreasonably happy. They remind me of being a little kid and walking down to catch the bus to school, stamping on the iced-over puddles and making dragon breath in the air.














Often the bubble taps would be iced over and wouldn't melt until morning recess. I love the cold.

Light -

I love the light at this time of year, especially in the afternoon.


















It looks lovely in windows,














and on stone,














And lovely on gravestones.














And lovely on kittens.














I am tired, but won't be sleeping for a good while yet. It was a pilates night and that always winds me right up.

Walking -

This morning the light was eerie - much redder than I was able to capture.














It turned the shiny graves rusty and gave a reddish hue to everything else.














Yesterday, when I was walking to Artisan to pick up a new copy of the Knitter's Almanac, I saw these guys again.

Insomnia, again -

So, been a big day and I can't sleep. Again. I have tried all the regular tricks, but I have got bored of lying in bed trying to trick myself into sleep. So I have got up to knit socks.















I applied for a grant to develop some stuff for work a few weeks ago. I didn't really want it, because I don't have enough time for the work I have now. And I found out this morning that I got it. I was torn between delight and sinking despair. $4,000. Help.















I renewed my passport this afternoon, just in case my request for leave is approved. And I arranged to visit some people tomorrow afternoon. People who breed cats. To look at kittens I might bring home at Easter time.















My brain is overloaded and fried and, even though I ache through and through, I can't find sleep.

Neighbours -

The man in the flat opposite ours SINGS (there is no tune or rhythm or pitch, so it is up for debate exactly what to call what he is doing, apart from LOUD) and plays the DRUMS (enthusiastically, but out of time).

And now for some unrelated photographs.















































He indulges in these pastimes at stupid o'clock in the morning. And midday and mid-afternoon. His offspring often play their music loud, with the window open, attempting to play along on a guitar, and singing. Their talent is evidence of the marvels of genetic inheritance.

Topographie -

Words -

I have been trying to wrap my head around Finnish knitting - it seems like a good challenge. Then I noticed Med Pinner was writing up her shawl pattern, Mrs Barista, I guess because English is Germanic based, it makes sense that Norwegian makes more sense to me (I can guess better), so I am thinking of trying Norwegian, too. Plus, it is being written up on ravelry in English, so if I get really stuck...

Then I read Med Pinner's next post, and she, too, is grappling with the Finnish.

As I was walking home, this caught my eye -

Under this shade
I rest


















It made me feel a little odd (in a different odd way than the cemetery usually makes me feel).

Hoya -

26/10


















I came through the cemetery a different way and nearly didn't recognise an the angel.


















3/11



















My grandma made this while she was sick, 30 odd years ago.

Long weekend -

I caught up with friends for breakfast, yesterday. We tried to make our way home winding through the back streets and cobblestone alleys. We got lost and found good things.














I've begun a πr2 shawl. Ravelry.














And managed to get a little more done on the ever delightful Bayret. Ravelry.














It has been quite the most splendid long weekend, filled with excellent people and (o-mi-god)delicious food.

And the best thing? It is not over yet.

Spring -

My second favourite time of year. I love the flowers.














I love the green that new leaves have.














I keep getting distracted by the pretty colours and have to go over for a closer look.














But there is no colour more distracting than the outrageous pink of the pigface. I have no time for this colour, but on the pigface it works.














Mustaa villaa asked the hard questions today: "What do you think? What would be the ideal amount for you? And how much sock yarn do you have?"
I think she has a lovely collection of sock yarn. I think the ideal amount for me would be enough for eight pairs. I discovered, after a quick Sunday-morning yarn audit (and it seems I missed two skeins hiding in special places), I have enough sock yarn for 32 pairs...














Of course, I don't intend to use all the sock yarn for socks, so, if you take out the stuff intended for other projects, it is only 15 pairs. But I think this is a timely reminder not to buy any more sock yarn. No matter how pretty.

Perspective -

Stately raven.



















Stern angel.















Good food with good friends.

He's ducked out for a smoko, and he'll be back later on -















Can you see the coins on the edge of the table?