Olivia Works the Grevillea

She and her partner, Oliver, are out here most of the day every day. They pop up out of the flowers as I am standing at the kitchen sink. They are quite used to us and I was standing on the porch waiting for John when she buzzed past me, seemingly oblivious to my presence. I happened to be holding my phone so it wasn't difficult to get a shot of her at work.

It's been a sort of low energy. low key day. I prepared the backing for the current quilt. It began as a comfort quilt after she fell and was hospitalized, and has evolved to a housewarming gift for our friends who are moving to a Southern California retirement community. I was amused by the title of the pattern on the backing printed on the selvedge which seemed oddly appropriate to the situation so I saved it. There is a picture of it in extras. I'll use it as a tie around the quilt when I mail it. I think we are all on the same wavelength with this sentiment, even though I don't quite see what the name has to do with the polka dot fabric.

We are finally seeing the sun which has emerged from the fog after several damp and cloudy days, just in time for a barbecue at Dan and Tobi's house. I'm looking forward to seeing their garden and meeting their new batch of chicks. They were a day or two old when they got them and have to be raised under lights to keep them warm until they are fully feathered and keep themselves warm outside. In Dan and Tobi's case, this means raising them in the living room as their garage is too cold even with the special lights. 

When I first met Tobi, Dan had just gotten the first batch of chicks and then gone off on a business trip leaving Tobi to care for the chicks (which were not her idea). By the time Dan got back they had become Tobi's babies and each one of the dozen chicks had a name. They have had a flock ever since which are housed in a beautiful and commodious coop which Dan built for them. The new batch of 6 babies are just about ready to move outside where Tobi can sit on the special seat Dan built inside the coop and hold the chickens on her lap...

They are lucky chickens and we are lucky to be the recipients of very fresh eggs.