Good will to all men

Recently I started making a dress costume for my friend, after my first few patterned pieces I felt happy to try something a bit harder. But a panelled lined fitted dress from scratch is a bit different from cushion covers and curtains! It was far too complicated for my mediocre dress making skills and I was depressed. I phoned several local tailors but no one was interested, one said he would have a look but decided he didn't have time to do it. BUT he did offer me use of his 2nd industrial sewing machine to use if I had time to do it myself. I tried to be clear that it was too hard for me and didn't know what to do but he still happy to show me.

It could have so easily been uncomfortable or in fact a disaster but it was an easy atmosphere and I did not feel unwelcome at all. After 7 hours of work I had nearly finished Komandei was a brilliant help, giving assistance where needed and gave me the confidence to do it all myself. I made a few mistakes but most were imperfections and a re-did a couple, I could have never done it by myself at home and he showed me a couple of new techniques that with a bit of practice I can now do myself. The zip was the hardest part but I am very happy with the result and hope that Laila is happy with the dress when I see her next week.

My point is that there are kind people where ever you are, even strangers. In this economy its easy to be selfish and only think of yourself, every one is short on pennies but Komandei helped me to finished my dress with no profit to himself and only my gratitude as payment. That kind of thing reminds me that the world hides gems all over the place, you just have to look ; )

Shooting stars

Last night as previously posted, I sat and watched the Persid Meteor Shower. My husband and I headed into the meadow out the back our house with a blanket & Thermos to enjoy the show. We waited a while as the dusk took a long time to leave, it wasn't even completely dark before the moon rose but I got a look at 3 or 4 good ones and about a dozen little ones. Towards the end of the window - which is really the start of the real show - we saw the most awesome shooting star! It burned brightly and strongly for a few fractions of a second but it was so brilliant and bright, with several colours it looked like a rocket or firework.


Its a shame about the moon which is in its last quarter, I would have loved to have seen more but feel grateful for the chance, that rocket-star was unbelievably beautiful. I am still smiling even though it was last night! I love watching the stars and its even better snuggled up with my David on our anniversary, what a fine night it was indeed :)

The Perseid Shower

Every 130 years the comet Swift Tuttle passes through the solar system and obits the our sun, the most recent visit was in 1992 and since then once a year in august we earthlings are lucky to witness the Perseid Meteor Shower; this is when the earth passes through debris left by the comet on its last visit. The shower is a stunning collection of shooting stars!

This year there is a small window because the shower collides with the moon which will be nearly full. The moonshine will brighten the sky and make spotting meteors harder, but the bright one's (and the best for armature star gazers) should still be visible. The shower lasts most of this week but best time is tonight between 9.30pm after dusk and 11pm which is when the moon rises, Tuesday or Wednesday being the peak. I don't know about you but I am sure to be grabbing a blanket & thermos and heading to the meadow : )