We've had some fairly hefty storms recently. The worst was last Thursday. It was really hot, and the work in a neighboring apartment was getting on our nerves, so Steven and I left the flat around noon. I had arranged to show a few friends my quilt top - great occasion as that group hasn't done much together for over a year. Steven hung out in Jerry's office while I drove over to the shopping centre to leave the car there and do a few errands. Then I hung out in Jerry's office, too, until time for the Fete de Musique concert Jerry was playing in. Just before 5, as we were waiting for the concert to begin, the storm started. It was really something watching it from the top of one of the UN towers: Sand (or cement?) swirled up from the building site where they are putting up a new conference building. The street lights swayed back and forth. lightning flashed across the sky... And I had left the roof windows open.
We got home at about 10. Things could have been a lot worse. There was a lot to tidy up, of course. A large puddle to mop up in Steven's area. The sheet drawers are too full to close properly, and water had gotten in there, so ALL the sheets needed to go through a rinse cycle and then be dried. Some of the drawers on my sewing desk were also open - not overfull, but they stick, and I get too impatient to force them closed. Years ago, when I was pregnant with Edward, we travelled to England, and at one of the National Trust houses I bought some lavender scented drawer liners. Back then those drawers had clothes in them, and I enjoyed the scent while it lasted. Even after the scent was gone I left the paper in. It was pretty, and I had no good replacement for it. Well, when the paper got wet, it released much more scent than it had even new, only the past 20-some odd years did not do the perfume any good. What a stench! still recognizable as lavender, but not at all pleasant.
One of the first things I checked, of course, was the sewing machine, and at first glance it seemed to have stayed dry. Later I realized that there was water on the glass plate it sits on. So I unplugged it, and since Monday it has been at the service place. It was overdue for service anyway, and I had fully intended to drop it off there between the flat and the house, so this is only a bit early, but I can't say how much I miss it. It seems as if even the hand projects I think of to start all need a few minutes at the machine to start with. And I have sorted through all the pile of mending that was on the machine. Some of the trousers I should have mended for Steven don't fit any more. One pair was waiting for elastic in back to make the waist fit. Those are fine without the elastic now. See - the mending takes care of itself if you leave it long enough! But there is more mending that I found that I am just longing to do. I'm honest enough to admit that this great desire will probably fly out the window when I get my machine set up again.
Lat Saturday I was at an exhibit of fabric art postcards by customers of my local Patchwork shop. The store is called Exquisity, and the cards certainly lived up to that. There were lots of really great ideas, and I would like to work on some of those even more than I want to do the mending.
We got off very lightly though. Downtown the storm knocked a building crane over. Not only did it damage the building very badly that it was supposed to be helping repair, but it was in operation at the time. The driver did not survive. Trees and elecricwires were also down all over Vienna and the surrounding area.
Friday was another storm. We were out in the Wienerwald and got thoroughly wet, but again got off lightly - the lightning stayed a good distance away, the wids we experienced were bad, but nothing to what they were like other places, and the airport area had hail the size of chicken eggs, which we also missed. Barbara Streisand was in town, and her concert had to be called off Thursday night. Friday they went through with it, and they showed a bit on the news. 'I'm going to love you... come RAIN or come shine.' She looked wet. This week has been cooled and there has been rain, but no storms.
Thursday, 28 June 2007
Sunday, 24 June 2007
Museum visit
We have long been curious about an outpost of the MAK near our apartment. But visiting the Geymuellerschloessl is not easy. It is only open on Sundays in the warmer half of the year. There is no parking nearby, and although it is close, that is still several blocks including SchafBERGgasse. Last Sunday we skipped church, and decided it was time we went.
I had heard that it was a lovely Biedermeier house, that it had original/period furnishings, that there was also a collection of clocks there, and that the gardens were lovely. On the basis of the furnishings I hoped for some great textile discoveries, and one of the first items we saw was a sort of wooden piggy bank for calling cards with a beaded panel in front. Lovely. We also noticed a few clocks before climbing to the main floor - including ones worked into paintings. Upstairs we were charmed by the rooms and their furnishings, but no more interesting textiles. But the clocks! Clocks for the day and clocks for the night (translucent faces for a light to shine through or mechanisms to have the time projected onto a wall). Clocks build into pictures. Some of those with moving figures built in. And even waterfalls built in. Big clocks, little clocks, clcks with music boxes, and more clocks, and more clocks. If you like clocks you need to see this place. If you don't really care about clocks, still go look at them. Only once. But do it that once.
The gardens are also lovely, and you can buy a picnic lunch. On first Sundays there are concerts at 11am with special tours. There is some modern art displayed in the garden. I don't get it, but perhaps you will.
I don't think that I will be going back, but I'm glad I went once.
I had heard that it was a lovely Biedermeier house, that it had original/period furnishings, that there was also a collection of clocks there, and that the gardens were lovely. On the basis of the furnishings I hoped for some great textile discoveries, and one of the first items we saw was a sort of wooden piggy bank for calling cards with a beaded panel in front. Lovely. We also noticed a few clocks before climbing to the main floor - including ones worked into paintings. Upstairs we were charmed by the rooms and their furnishings, but no more interesting textiles. But the clocks! Clocks for the day and clocks for the night (translucent faces for a light to shine through or mechanisms to have the time projected onto a wall). Clocks build into pictures. Some of those with moving figures built in. And even waterfalls built in. Big clocks, little clocks, clcks with music boxes, and more clocks, and more clocks. If you like clocks you need to see this place. If you don't really care about clocks, still go look at them. Only once. But do it that once.
The gardens are also lovely, and you can buy a picnic lunch. On first Sundays there are concerts at 11am with special tours. There is some modern art displayed in the garden. I don't get it, but perhaps you will.
I don't think that I will be going back, but I'm glad I went once.
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Outings - easy but fun hikes
A good way to introduce your family to hiking near Vienna is the Hagenbachklamm. It is a good, clear path. (You might be able to get lost, but you would really have to work at it.) The scenery is lovely - you follow the line of a creek through the woods, with some rocky outcroppings. Where needed there are wooden bridges. At the end of the Klamm is the opportunity for pony riding or for visiting a center for breeding birds of prey. Some of the birds we saw at Kreuzenstein came from here. 'Officially' the walk takes 45 minutes in each direction. That sounds about right. There are no proper playgrounds, but there are several places where earth 'slides', root 'ladders', and side trails up and over rocks or stepping stones instead of the bridges tempt the younger crowd. Also a mysterious stone doorway into the side of the hill. There are very few steps involved. I wouldn't do it just after a period of heavy rain, as parts look like they get very muddy. There were a few picnic tables.
We really enjoyed the falcon station. We were handed an information book keyed to numbers on the cages. The information was in German, but Latin and (usually) English names were included. The first bird we saw was an owl, who immediately turned away from us, raised its tail feathers and dribbled. But most of the others looked like they wanted to pose with their best sides to the camera. The aviaries are large, and had lots of green. That made it harder to see the birds, but it gave them a lot of privacy.
There is a fair amount of parking available at the entrance. There is also a back way in only 10 minutes walk from the falcon station. Drive through Klosterneuburg direction Tulln. The entrance to the Klamm is between Maria Gugging and St. Andrä. We saw mountain bikes and a twin buggy. Not my idea of fun, but possible.
OK, now you've had a taste of it and want something similar, but a step wilder. Try 'Erlebniswelt Mendlingtal'. This is a museum and two hour hike that shows the way wood was brought into the valleys for burning into charcoal for the iron industry. (The two hours does NOT include getting back to the car!) As the driving time is also about two hours each way from Vienna, this is a fairly major undertaking.
The wood was cut in the mountains, and somehow (often just dropped down steep side waterways) gotten to the small river. A dam in the river allowed the workers to send large amounts of water through at times to carry the wood down to the next collection point where it could be sorted and passed on, or used. The dams and associated engineering have been restored and replaced with the help of an EU grant. Twice a month there are regular shows of how this was done. We were once there when an extra show was being done for a group. Exciting! (First Sunday and third Saturday of the month.)
Much of the museum is concentrated at the lower end of the walk. Exhibits try to explain what jobs needed doing around the valley, and how the families of the woodcutters lived while their menfolk were up in the woods. Unfortunately, the commentaries are spoken, and the sound quality is awful, making the German quite hard to understand. A bit further up there is an old water powered sawmill. Then you hike past the various sites needed for the 'triften'. Other items along the path are an eating shelter and a flour mill. There are frequent commentary plaques with interesting information in German. At the top of the hike there are trout ponds. (Yes, there is an coin-op machine that sells a generous handful of fish food for .50).
The 'Herrenhaus' (squire's house) has been turned into a Gasthaus. We'd had a late lunch and weren't ready for eating trout, but the Apfelstrudel was really good. Children will enjoy the play ground there and the rabbit hutches. There is also an example of the branch and bark shelters the workers would live in on the mountain. Steven thought it looked comfy until we pointed out that more than one person would live in it, and that with all the hard work there were no washing facilities.
The walking is similar to Hagenbachklamm, but you are definitely go
ing up hill, the path is often narrower, there are more wooden sections, often attached to the sides of overhanging rocks, more steps up to the bridges. The official word is that baby carriages don't work, but light buggies do. We saw a young child on a parent's shoulders. Another group had the buggy along - being carried in folded condition by one of the adults. About what I would expect from seeing the route. Comment about mud is also valid here.
Drive out the Westautobahn, get off at Ybbs and take 25 South to Göstling.
BTW If you want less walking, but still want to learn about the wood industry, there is an outdoor museum with models instead of the full size things if you take the cable car up from Mariazell. Hands on for children, but it might be a good idea to have spare shirts along for the kids in case they get wet. Steven loved it a few years ago. I enjoyed our first visit.
We really enjoyed the falcon station. We were handed an information book keyed to numbers on the cages. The information was in German, but Latin and (usually) English names were included. The first bird we saw was an owl, who immediately turned away from us, raised its tail feathers and dribbled. But most of the others looked like they wanted to pose with their best sides to the camera. The aviaries are large, and had lots of green. That made it harder to see the birds, but it gave them a lot of privacy.
There is a fair amount of parking available at the entrance. There is also a back way in only 10 minutes walk from the falcon station. Drive through Klosterneuburg direction Tulln. The entrance to the Klamm is between Maria Gugging and St. Andrä. We saw mountain bikes and a twin buggy. Not my idea of fun, but possible.
OK, now you've had a taste of it and want something similar, but a step wilder. Try 'Erlebniswelt Mendlingtal'. This is a museum and two hour hike that shows the way wood was brought into the valleys for burning into charcoal for the iron industry. (The two hours does NOT include getting back to the car!) As the driving time is also about two hours each way from Vienna, this is a fairly major undertaking.
The wood was cut in the mountains, and somehow (often just dropped down steep side waterways) gotten to the small river. A dam in the river allowed the workers to send large amounts of water through at times to carry the wood down to the next collection point where it could be sorted and passed on, or used. The dams and associated engineering have been restored and replaced with the help of an EU grant. Twice a month there are regular shows of how this was done. We were once there when an extra show was being done for a group. Exciting! (First Sunday and third Saturday of the month.)
Much of the museum is concentrated at the lower end of the walk. Exhibits try to explain what jobs needed doing around the valley, and how the families of the woodcutters lived while their menfolk were up in the woods. Unfortunately, the commentaries are spoken, and the sound quality is awful, making the German quite hard to understand. A bit further up there is an old water powered sawmill. Then you hike past the various sites needed for the 'triften'. Other items along the path are an eating shelter and a flour mill. There are frequent commentary plaques with interesting information in German. At the top of the hike there are trout ponds. (Yes, there is an coin-op machine that sells a generous handful of fish food for .50).
The 'Herrenhaus' (squire's house) has been turned into a Gasthaus. We'd had a late lunch and weren't ready for eating trout, but the Apfelstrudel was really good. Children will enjoy the play ground there and the rabbit hutches. There is also an example of the branch and bark shelters the workers would live in on the mountain. Steven thought it looked comfy until we pointed out that more than one person would live in it, and that with all the hard work there were no washing facilities.
The walking is similar to Hagenbachklamm, but you are definitely go
ing up hill, the path is often narrower, there are more wooden sections, often attached to the sides of overhanging rocks, more steps up to the bridges. The official word is that baby carriages don't work, but light buggies do. We saw a young child on a parent's shoulders. Another group had the buggy along - being carried in folded condition by one of the adults. About what I would expect from seeing the route. Comment about mud is also valid here.Drive out the Westautobahn, get off at Ybbs and take 25 South to Göstling.
BTW If you want less walking, but still want to learn about the wood industry, there is an outdoor museum with models instead of the full size things if you take the cable car up from Mariazell. Hands on for children, but it might be a good idea to have spare shirts along for the kids in case they get wet. Steven loved it a few years ago. I enjoyed our first visit.
Week 24 Project 13 More Cards
Besides a few more unfinished cards similar to the ones mentioned before, I also finished two cards for special people: a wedding card and a baby card.
But mostly when it has been cool enough up here I have been working on the quilt. The top is done! I doubt that I will be quilting it soon, though. We have signed a lease on a house in Essling, and I think the quilting had better wait until we have moved. Having a big project lying around in the process during the move sounds like a recipe for disaster.
But mostly when it has been cool enough up here I have been working on the quilt. The top is done! I doubt that I will be quilting it soon, though. We have signed a lease on a house in Essling, and I think the quilting had better wait until we have moved. Having a big project lying around in the process during the move sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Week 22 Project 12, SD Sampler
The day after I started making cards, a friend asked me to make a sampler for her. She needed a gift for a special occasion, and had an idea for something that would be very special - but it needed to be stitched, and she didn't have the skills for that.
We quickly came to an agreement, and decided that the sampler would include a monogram, the date of the celebration, and the Austrian greeting Grüss Gott that the friend knew from a trip to Vienna, and had really liked. The areas of text would be separated by rows of beading.
I had been looking for a chance to try out Jane Davis's Bead Embroidery: The Complete Guide which I bought in Vermont in January. Yes! I had to try out each stitch on a piece of waste band to get just the effect I wanted, but the book is just as good in use as it was fun to read. Another friend had sent me some Dinky Dye silks to try out, so I used those threads. As I had been promised, they are a real pleasure to work with. I also used some Swarovski crystals in the fringes.
The picture doesn't do the beads justice, but you get the general idea. I think the recipient will enjoy the sampler, don't you? I certainly enjoyed stitching it. (BTW, yes I have the permission of my friend to include this here.)
We quickly came to an agreement, and decided that the sampler would include a monogram, the date of the celebration, and the Austrian greeting Grüss Gott that the friend knew from a trip to Vienna, and had really liked. The areas of text would be separated by rows of beading.
I had been looking for a chance to try out Jane Davis's Bead Embroidery: The Complete Guide which I bought in Vermont in January. Yes! I had to try out each stitch on a piece of waste band to get just the effect I wanted, but the book is just as good in use as it was fun to read. Another friend had sent me some Dinky Dye silks to try out, so I used those threads. As I had been promised, they are a real pleasure to work with. I also used some Swarovski crystals in the fringes.
The picture doesn't do the beads justice, but you get the general idea. I think the recipient will enjoy the sampler, don't you? I certainly enjoyed stitching it. (BTW, yes I have the permission of my friend to include this here.)
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Outings: Schlosshof and Burg Kreuzenstein
We've also been on a few outings.
On May 1, we went out to Schlosshof. We have been very curious to see how the renovations have been done. We have known the palace of Schlosshof just north of the Danube a the Eastern edge of Austria for decades, and while loving it's beauty, we were saddened by its condition. Not just age- like many such buildings, WWII and its aftermath were very hard on it. Prince Eugine of Savoy's lovely gardens had gone wild, the fountains in ruins... (Yes, the same Prince Eugene who also owned Belvedere.) When we read that not only was the palace itself being fixed up with a grant from the EU, but that original furniture was being found, and even the original working plans for creating the gardens, and that these also were to be restored, we were very pleased.
The gardens are not anywhere near being done, of course. But they are beginning to be again what they were meant to be. The palace itself is wonderful to see - and I hope they continue to leave the first room unrestored as a reminder. Also the home farm (Meierei) has been recreated, and the kitchen gardens are fun to wander through. There was also a small parade of the animals when we were there. Since then the orangerie has been reopened, so the work goes on.
There were too many visitors there the day we went, as a Vienna newspaper had just written about it. This didn't make any difference in the palace or grounds, however, we were not able to get a meal at the Meierei restaurant. There are nice playgraounds, mostly aimed at the younger set. There is also a petting zoo. Schlosshof is organizing several special events this year. Also stop at the smaller hunting palaces of Ernstbrunn and Niederweiden while you are in the area.
--------------------
I'm a big fan of birds of prey, so it's rather surprising that we hadn't been to the show at Burg Kreuzenstein before. It has been running for 10 years now, and we have considered it many times, but never at the right time of day. Sunday we decided it was time to do it. We really needed a fun outing after the flea market!
The show at Kreuzenstein includes falkons, owls, a bald eagle, vultures... (all breed in captivity).
Having seen several other such shows, most of it is fairly standard, although I never get tired of seein these lovely birds. And yes, I do mean the vultures, too. They are special favorites of mine. Special to Kreuzenstein are the location - seeing the birds flying against the backdrop of the castle is really beautiful; the way the birds are flown very low over the audience. Choose a front corner seat if you want to duck a lot. We were front left, and Steven and I both felt the wings of the birds. The sportsteam at front right had to duck even more than we did. Of course, if you don't want to duck as much, sit further back. Back right probably ducked the least. And the special treat to the end of the show - an owl who no longer flies in the show is held at the exit for pictures and patting! Have you ever felt the feathers on a live owl? I have now. So soft!
Take the Korneuburg West exit off the Stockerau Schnellstrasse to get there. Most of the way is well posted, and you can see it, so it's not too hard to find. Do visit the castle as well, it you can handle stairs. I wasn't up to it this time, but we've done this many times before. Kreuzenstein is a real museum, having been put together out of parts of several buildings from around Europe in the late 19th century as many medieval buildings were being torn down. Of course suitable furnishings were also collected. For energetic people it also makes a nice hike from the Schnellbahn. At least you have the uphill behind you in the first half of your day. There is a gasthaus, but we haven't eaten there in decades.
Afterwards we went off to Illmitz to relax at the beach. Steven and Jerry say the water is still very cold. The sun was warm. Illmitzer had its usual good food. The baby geese are now mostly in adult feathers, just about half the size of their parents.
On May 1, we went out to Schlosshof. We have been very curious to see how the renovations have been done. We have known the palace of Schlosshof just north of the Danube a the Eastern edge of Austria for decades, and while loving it's beauty, we were saddened by its condition. Not just age- like many such buildings, WWII and its aftermath were very hard on it. Prince Eugine of Savoy's lovely gardens had gone wild, the fountains in ruins... (Yes, the same Prince Eugene who also owned Belvedere.) When we read that not only was the palace itself being fixed up with a grant from the EU, but that original furniture was being found, and even the original working plans for creating the gardens, and that these also were to be restored, we were very pleased.
The gardens are not anywhere near being done, of course. But they are beginning to be again what they were meant to be. The palace itself is wonderful to see - and I hope they continue to leave the first room unrestored as a reminder. Also the home farm (Meierei) has been recreated, and the kitchen gardens are fun to wander through. There was also a small parade of the animals when we were there. Since then the orangerie has been reopened, so the work goes on.
There were too many visitors there the day we went, as a Vienna newspaper had just written about it. This didn't make any difference in the palace or grounds, however, we were not able to get a meal at the Meierei restaurant. There are nice playgraounds, mostly aimed at the younger set. There is also a petting zoo. Schlosshof is organizing several special events this year. Also stop at the smaller hunting palaces of Ernstbrunn and Niederweiden while you are in the area.
--------------------
I'm a big fan of birds of prey, so it's rather surprising that we hadn't been to the show at Burg Kreuzenstein before. It has been running for 10 years now, and we have considered it many times, but never at the right time of day. Sunday we decided it was time to do it. We really needed a fun outing after the flea market!
The show at Kreuzenstein includes falkons, owls, a bald eagle, vultures... (all breed in captivity).
Having seen several other such shows, most of it is fairly standard, although I never get tired of seein these lovely birds. And yes, I do mean the vultures, too. They are special favorites of mine. Special to Kreuzenstein are the location - seeing the birds flying against the backdrop of the castle is really beautiful; the way the birds are flown very low over the audience. Choose a front corner seat if you want to duck a lot. We were front left, and Steven and I both felt the wings of the birds. The sportsteam at front right had to duck even more than we did. Of course, if you don't want to duck as much, sit further back. Back right probably ducked the least. And the special treat to the end of the show - an owl who no longer flies in the show is held at the exit for pictures and patting! Have you ever felt the feathers on a live owl? I have now. So soft!
Take the Korneuburg West exit off the Stockerau Schnellstrasse to get there. Most of the way is well posted, and you can see it, so it's not too hard to find. Do visit the castle as well, it you can handle stairs. I wasn't up to it this time, but we've done this many times before. Kreuzenstein is a real museum, having been put together out of parts of several buildings from around Europe in the late 19th century as many medieval buildings were being torn down. Of course suitable furnishings were also collected. For energetic people it also makes a nice hike from the Schnellbahn. At least you have the uphill behind you in the first half of your day. There is a gasthaus, but we haven't eaten there in decades.
Afterwards we went off to Illmitz to relax at the beach. Steven and Jerry say the water is still very cold. The sun was warm. Illmitzer had its usual good food. The baby geese are now mostly in adult feathers, just about half the size of their parents.
Week 21; Projects 9, 10 Cards; Project 11 Bags
I see I have not blogged for a month. Shame on me! But it is not that I haven't been stitching. In fact within an hour of writing that I wasn't being creative, I had realized that the offcuts from my quilt were perfect for small paper piecing projects, and that cards made with such projects might be a nice addition to our flea market table.
I've lost track of how many cards I made. I'll count the original cards as two projects - the first being pictures made by the piecing, the second a series of cards framing small images on the central bit of cloth. The piecework is nicely finished and sewn onto
the card so that it can be easily taken off and used to decorate a shirt, or hung, or whatever. I also decided to make a few gift bags, both plain ones (I got some really cheap Christmas material from IKEA), and appliqued ones.
At the flea market itself, I sold one card. Three more were reserved, and I expect the buyers to ask me for them soon (but they may want to look at what I have made since, as several more are in the works). I have also sold one of the appliqued bags.
Anyway, between working like crazy to get a good selection of cards done, and sorting books for the rest of the table I was just too busy to blog. Or to get much more done on my quilt, for that matter. However I did go to the class, and I am at about the same place as everyone else. What's more, when the teacher saw the bit I had put together she exclaimed, 'Look! Someone got the borders right!' Now I need to find the discipline to work on the quilt, and not just the cards, even though they are more fun.
I've lost track of how many cards I made. I'll count the original cards as two projects - the first being pictures made by the piecing, the second a series of cards framing small images on the central bit of cloth. The piecework is nicely finished and sewn onto
the card so that it can be easily taken off and used to decorate a shirt, or hung, or whatever. I also decided to make a few gift bags, both plain ones (I got some really cheap Christmas material from IKEA), and appliqued ones.At the flea market itself, I sold one card. Three more were reserved, and I expect the buyers to ask me for them soon (but they may want to look at what I have made since, as several more are in the works). I have also sold one of the appliqued bags.
Anyway, between working like crazy to get a good selection of cards done, and sorting books for the rest of the table I was just too busy to blog. Or to get much more done on my quilt, for that matter. However I did go to the class, and I am at about the same place as everyone else. What's more, when the teacher saw the bit I had put together she exclaimed, 'Look! Someone got the borders right!' Now I need to find the discipline to work on the quilt, and not just the cards, even though they are more fun.