The Chameleon and Claude are Checking In

The World’s as Crazy as a bored Cockatoo…..

Well! How the world can change in just two weeks!

Just double checking…. yup, it’s only been two weeks since my last post. It certainly feels like an age, doesn’t it? Life has flipped on its head a bit since then.

Last week, my family went to our once-a-term face-to-face school event for my kids’ School of the Air. I’ll admit: I second guessed the wisdom of it the whole time as the coronavirus situation worsened. Which made it quite stressful. Now we are thankfully home again, and essentially barricaded in within the (considerable) boundaries of the wildlife sanctuary we call home. Arkaroola as a tourist destination has stopped accepting guests as of yesterday and staff/residents who go off site now will be required to self-isolate on return. So I am cancelling everything except online schooling, blogging, chatting via email, sewing and exploring the wilderness in my immediate proximity. I feel fortunate…. it’s pretty much what I signed up for in 2020 anyway. We are disappointed not to be hosting friends/family in the coming months of course, and worried for everyone too, but we are also mindful that counting our blessings is much easier for us than for many people.

How are you?

So today I am just really checking in to check up on you. I hope you are well and safe and comfortable, and can stay that way. If you are confined, I hope that you have a long sewing list to keep you occupied, and a variety of other interests. If you are ill, I wish you mild symptoms and a speedy recovery. And that’s pretty much all I am going to say about the coronavirus situation unless things change dramatically. Not because I don’t care. But rather, because I do. The news gets depressing and scary if you follow too much. Life is difficult for many at the moment. And so some of the things we really need now are friendship, laughter and a little light relief. There are many things I can’t do for you, but this one thing I can. And you can do it for me too. We can stay positively connected online.

Coming home tonight after dinner, this is what I saw. It seems the Chameleon has already committed to keeping in contact with everyone. He has upgraded our satellite internet connection to colour. Excellent!

Soooo…. clearly, the Chameleon is putting his hand leg up to continue being the light entertainment for now. A coronavirus-free zone of “normality”. One place where you can come with your cuppa to be distracted for 5 minutes, and protect your mental health…. So sit back, and let us crazies here remain slightly unhinged to keep you sane!

Since I have no sewing to show this week, meet Claude

I have long given up sewing and blogging on the road with children. I didn’t even try this time around on our school camp trip. So let me introduce you to our weekly colour board model instead. Claude is a Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo… a notoriously destructive and clever species of Australian bird. Claude is 44 years old, which makes him middle-aged in cockatoo years as well as human years. Unusually for a cocky in captivity, he doesn’t imitate any human speech or actions. Instead, he is a real diva – slightly needy and unpredictably cranky. He resides at the educational camp site where we stayed last week, seeking attention from anyone walking past. Screech, flap, look at me!

He has a hole in his cage, just big enough to get his head through, to allow you to pet him. If you dare….

I spent quite a bit of time on camp talking to Claude and giving in to his begging for pats. Until he bit me on the second to last day, hard. I guess I was warned, although he had tasted me gently plenty of times prior. I just got a bit complacent. Anyone who trusts those beady eyes and that beak is a fool. Or perhaps just tired of being on camp….

Claude is terribly soft and addictive to touch though. And he knows it. To be fair, there wasn’t much blood. Just a breach of trust. Nothing to stop me getting on with the Lunarcy quilt tomorrow, now that the camp unpacking and washing is finally done. Oh gosh, how I am looking forward to sewing again. My Chinese animal appliqués await, although with everything that’s been happening, they’re definitely dragon on a bit! Slightly chewed fingers crossed, progress will be had just around the corner.

Sew, let’s stay sane together

I hope you will look after your current state of mind by spending some time dwelling on the positive things going on out in the wider world. There are plenty of beautiful and creative things to keep sharing and admiring. Here’s a few for starters from our last Colour & Inspiration party. Please feel free to join in this week’s party below, there’s no need for social distancing from the Chameleon, unless you are prone to catching imaginary frienditis.

Gretchen at Gretchen’s Little Corner joined our party with this beauty. When it’s finished this flimsy is going to charity for fundraising. You can find out more in Gretchen’s post.

Spring has definitely bloomed at Nancy’s place! Nancy completed this Meadowland beauty for her guild show challenge, and it is sure to lift your spirits.

There are more beautiful pics of this project at Grace and Peace Quilting. Including giraffes. Don’t miss the giraffes!

Andrée at Quilting and Learning – what a combo! has finished this amazing improv piece – the first in her Exit Strategy series. To find out more, including why this quilt is called Exit Strategy 1, visit Andrée’s post and the related links. A shot in the arm of some of Andrée’s enthusiasm for the future will be a good tonic.

And finally, visit Susan, who has linked up her scrappy purple Brick Yard quilt. Susan blogs at Quilt Fabrication, and has a quilt block tutorial to go with this finish. So, if you are looking for a new project and would like to make something similar, you can go check out the info at Susan’s place.

Stay creative, stay connected! Come to the Chameleon’s Virtual Party!

Tell us – what are you working on, or have recently finished in your sewing room? We want to know so we can visit and be inspired. Link up a blog post, an IG post or simply a photo from your computer.  See if you can get the Chameleon to turn quilted with happiness. We’d love to see your quilting colours!

• Link up your latest or recent quilt/sewing excitement. All quilt construction stages welcome – finished quilts, quilt blocks – even fabric pulls! Or inspiration sources!
• You have 50 characters in the link description…. tell us who you are and what your fantastic project is.
• URL links are not necessary to link up…. non-bloggers 100% welcome! If you don’t have a URL, you can link up with just a photo.
• Take a moment to visit some friends who came to the party – leave a little love and make their day. And a link back to Clever Chameleon is always appreciated.
• Do it now……. before you forget!

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The Chameleon turns rainbow with pleasure when he hears from you. I am more reserved, so I will respond in gratitude by email instead. Now that it’s your turn…. Scroll right to the end, leave me a comment and tell me, what do you think? Thanks for connecting!

Would you like to keep in touch with Clever Chameleon and the fun quilty ideas I design as well as find all over the internet? You can follow directly for email updates, or through Bloglovin’, Pinterest, IG or FB. All your follow options can be found here. Don’t forget to link up all your current quilting projects on Tuesdays at our Colour & Inspiration Linky parties!