I am not much of a one to give people presents on their birthdays. I enjoy doing that when I can, but essentially, I prefer to make something and hand it over gleefully soon afterward. More than once a year maybe. Once every several years, perhaps. Or find something perfect for a friend and give it to them right away, because–why not? I am not dedicated to one day a year of gift giving. I’m awful at remembering dates and apparently I am too impatient to wait! Sometimes, though, there is planetary alignment. I finished these socks close to my beloved friend’s birthday, I managed to take a picture, and we walked them over on the very day and shared some happiness about the fact of his existence.
They were delivered tied with a piece of hand twisted silk cord, no less! For those wondering, I succumbed to Noro Silk Garden Sock again. It was so much fun the last time! The two socks are completely different. There was a green segment that was not repeated at all, and a knot in the thread that had been tied with no consideration for the colour sequence. Online knitters have led me to expect that this is what Noro will do for you. I know the recipient of these socks will not miss symmetry in this case, and I was intrigued but not troubled.
Meanwhile, I have examined my wattle seeds, collected for later use, shucked them and stored them for later planting.
Saltbush all over the city have finally started to show ripe fruit. I attracted a lot of puzzled attention from passing cyclists when I pulled over on the West terrace bike path to harvest these. For non locals, this is a major road travelling along one side of the city, with parklands and a cemetery on one side and the CBD on the other. These berries have already gone to the propagating area. If it stays warm long enough perhaps they will come up–but they sure won’t come up through the colder months. So from here on, I’ll be saving saltbush seed rather than planting it.
My mother gave me the tube, which previously held vanilla bean pods. She gives me all kinds of little treasures she can’t find a use for, with apparent confidence I will find one. I love her confidence in me! And, to finish, some spectacularly huge eucalypts I found myself enjoying recently…
Local & Bespoke 
Love the colour of those saltbush seeds, amazing! And beautiful eucs to boot. Thanks.
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Thanks! Those seeds are such splendid bursts of colour…
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I like your approach to gifting … makes much good sense to me
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I am delighted that I am not alone! Thanks, Liz.
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I share your gift giving mode…. why wait when you have the perfect gift? And presents received spontaneously are so much more memorable, and truly show the recipient that you love them, and that they are in your thoughts.
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Ohhh. I think so too, especially when I am not thinking I’m just a lazy impatient type!
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Oh yes, how about Christmas in FEBRUARY !! It’s how we roll in this family 🙂 or, you have something coming in the mail in Oct…for, yup, you guessed it……CHRISTMAS !! Needed to see those bright Salt bush seeds…it’s SNOWING here….crickey!
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Some people here come from places where it snows at Christmas, or just wish it would snow at Christmas–and they celebrate Christmas in July, usually with the kind of cooking that is truly awful on a hot summer’s day (which is when Christmas falls here). I hope you’re staying snug and warm, Susan.
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OK, I am confused…is Christmas not on Dec 25th? even ‘down under’ ?
Supposed to be -7C and -8C tonight and tomorrow night…NUTS!
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Yes, Christmas is on the 25th December–which for us is the height of summer. If you think a roast turkey and a heavy pudding that steams for hours with hot custard is fun at Christmas, creating them (and consuming them) when it is 38C takes the fun right out of it. So people do those things in our midwinter–July–when it is cooler (they probably do something special on the 25th too if so inclined). But it’s still not -7C here in July!
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That WOULD be MENTAL!! Thanks and by the way your socks are great, well, now His socks 🙂
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Thanks!
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