So how is the pond coming along?

I just added three more ofaquatic plants, making a total of four. I also moved the big pavers in closer and filled the gaps with river pebbles.

California garden has 20 percent off.

I asked the lady behind the counter if I would get a further discount for gold card Monday.

"You can't have both" she said rather testily. Prompted by her tone of voice I asked her with a smile to show me the fine print that said that. She didn't reply. So I added cheerfully

"I think you just made that up".

I think I heard the other server say out of the side of her mouth "He is just having you on".

And the swimming pool is filled, pump connected and cover installed.

Mary.

RBB helped me pick out a cello yesterday. I've always liked the sound of the double bass, having had one for a while and having two double bass playing brothers. But melody wise the DB is limited and being tuned in fourths it is hard for an old violinist to get his head around. Whereas the cello's strings are a fifth apart and I can think of it like a big violin.

I have to learn where the notes fall on the bass clef. Here are the 'open'' strings.

I also launched into my favourite piece of all time, the Haydn D minor cello concerto. Because I have the 'tune' in my head it wasn't too difficult to get a reasonable approximation. The opening bars are essentially a G sol (violinish for playing an entire tune on the lower G string, popular amongst virtuosos) on the cello A string, just 'singing' my way up and down  the string!

I've named her Mary. Her she is having a rest on her bed.

Having a play with RBB today on the fiddle. I think Mary will help my fiddle technique too, having to practise big reaches.

Have a blessed day and don't sin.

A quiet fourth day of Christmas

 I really enjoyed walking down to the Baring head lighthouse and WW2 remains yesterday. Because of the weather I had the whole area to myself, except for a technician at the lighthouse who gave me a friendly wave.

What struck me most was the open grass/tussock land. There were no fences excepting a small section of privately owned farm by the lighthouse. One could imagine a bear or lion appearing over a hill! Though actually there is a real risk from fire with numerous warning signs and even a patch of bare earth with dirt mounted around it for shelter in a worse case scenario. There were a few houses but water must be a real problem, having tanks and in one case a dirty looking pond. It's about an hour and a quarter to the lighthouse parking on the Wainui Coast road by the bridge near the bottom.

My next expedition will be to park in the same place and walk over the little saddle road to Fitzroy Bay and then around to the lakes, which I could just make out in the distance; and maybe on to the other lighthouse on the corner of the harbour entrance.

I've nothing much planned today. Church and Church and a little bit of grouting.

Have fun boys but don't sin.

Which JOSEPH and MARY do you subscribe to?

In recent weeks I heard priests 'dumbing down' both parents in the Holy family. Mary described as a simple peasant girl busying herself with worldly affairs and Joseph an equally simple older chap who was forced to scrape a living doing manual labour.

I don't agree.

 

I see the two most saintly people that ever existed. Both are committed virgins spending their life's in prayer and good works. Both deeply in love.

That they are poor is due to their generousity to others than lack of income. Mary was exceptional from birth in her spirituality and gifts bestowed on her from God, Joseph was of royal descent and but for the Roman occupation would have been next in line to be king of Juda. These were exceptional people who lived far from mundain lives.

Have fun but do not sin.

Christmas Eve

 

This angel is playing some tricky stuff way up the finger board. Probably double stopping too. I would release some tension on the bow though. The mandolin player is strumming chords underneath; that's a big stretch with her pinky finger. The back angel maybe has a keyboard.  It's probably a lullaby as Jesus is sleeping, Mary is listening carefully because she composed it. Joseph would have built the stool she is sitting on.

Rich and I will play some carols tomorrow. I've dug out a couple of hymnals.

I have work this morning and then I plan to cook up a leg of lamb and pork roast for the Christmas period. K still wants something for dinner after Richards, and the leftovers will make easy meals for a few days. I'll do a pav and some jelly too,

Have a blessed day and have fun but don't sin.

Monday

Sunday

I was at Bunnings by 7.40 am. K had said he would surely appreciate a dip in Christmas day. I bought some hobby wire then went to kmart for the pool. Used the hobby wire after clipping the juniper to shape the branches.

The roof fix worked but...

It is not a good idea to keep your shaving gear near the toothpaste. 

Ok ask me how Nivea tastes.