Those are really pretty, Yoyo.

I host a weekly Bible Study Group. Our wonderful teacher lives in a patio home and doesn't have adequate parking for us. I serve them dessert and coffee after the study. We have been doing this for a couple of years. They ask me when I'm going to run out of ideas, but desserts are sort of like books for me. There are always more--not that I haven't repeated some favorites such as lemon meringue pie, banana pudding, chocolate chess pie, etc., etc.

We have Carolyn to thank for her chocolate chess pie recipe, but our waistlines will never be the same again!

Yoyo, lovely work! I was introduced to weaving as part of an art course I did at college. As a beginner I found the 'threading up ( if that is the right expression) of the loom the most difficult part to master; very mathematical and complicated. It must take years to become proficient.

Besides reading which I try and 'do' for half an hour or so during the day and for a while in bed at night, I really don't have any 'hobbies'. I have always blamed it on lack of time, probably a lame excuse. Nor do we have a wide, or even narrow circle of friends. People in this semi-rural area are slightly suspicious of in-comers . . . and we have only been here for some 45 years. I know of no-one, even folk who have lived here for several generations, who might enjoy inviting others to share a meal in their home . . . although I was once offered a cup of tea when I had to deliver a message to a neighbour!

I do try and get outside each day, either for a walk, although the hills around here are rather daunting for my ancient knees and baggy lungs or, weather permitting, try and deal with weeds in our garden.

I find nothing surprising about Vee and her standoffish locals. It is quite normal for some people to make a practice of not even going inside someone's home however long they have known them.

An Englishwoman who came to visit family in Australia cut her visit short, saying she couldn't stand the way people dropped in all the time uninvited!

The Aussie way of life is very relaxed. We drove across the Nullarbor Desert West to East, which took several days, to drop some friends for a home visit and arrived at their destination in the night. We were promptly given a bed with a breakfast later by complete strangers.

It's what I do!

I too keep a reading log. I've read 8 novels so far this year. My "For Later" shelf on my library's website currently has 215 titles awaiting my attention. Obviously, I spend too much time reading ABOUT books instead of reading them. It's a curse.

Raising Beef Cattle for Beginners, Carson Wyatt

I've also heard All Hat and No Cowboy.

Backyard Cow - Sue Weaver

( a UK expression with a similar meaning 'Fur coat and no knickers')