Along the highway

The Church of United Spiritualism of Australia will hold their next service on Sunday, November 25 from 3.30pm-5pm at the Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre, New Street, Lawson. All welcome. Details: Nadja, 0439 453 430.

Learn to embroider beautiful botanical patterns using traditional techniques at a workshop on offer at Lyttleton Stores, 1 Badgery Crescent, Lawson on Sunday, November 25 from 10am-4pm. Tuition will cover a variety on embroidery stitches and techniques and how they can be used to depict native Australian wildflowers. You will then create samplers of different wildflowers and arrange them to embellish an existing piece of clothing, hat or bag. Tutor Jessica Allison is a Sydney-based seamstress and costume maker. She has explored and practised embroidery as a mindful and meditative craft and her projects often combine her passion for botany, handcrafts and women’s history. The workshop is suitable for everyone from complete beginners to more experienced stitchers. Cost is $140 which includes basic embroidery kit, a selection of threads, linen fabric and an instruction booklet as well as refreshments and a long table lunch in the garden. For bookings go to www.lyttletonstores.com.au or phone 4759 3478.

Mountain Evening VIEW Club’s Christmas dinner meeting will be held on Monday, November 26 from 7pm in the Sassafras Room. Entertainment will be by local duo The Willies and the Lilianfels’s raffle will be drawn. VIEW stands for voice, interest and education for women and supports the Smith Family’s “Learning for Life Program”. Details: Vivienne, 4751 3947.  

Entries are now open for the Blue Shorts Film Festival taking place in May next year at Mount Vic Flicks. The festival is open to Blue Mountains residents and aims to celebrate the region’s stories and storytellers. It is a celebration of local creativity and community. Filmmakers of all levels are encouraged to submit short films - from young and emerging filmmakers to professionals. They must be seven minutes and under and can be in any genre. Closing date for entries is March 22, 2019.  Details: 0438 099 081.

Blackheath Rhododendron Gardens is looking for volunteers. Join the Monday group helping to weed, prune and maintain these glorious gardens, which are a great tourist drawcard to the town. The volunteer group is known as the "dig and dodder brigade", spending a good deal of time removing dodder from the plants, which is a bit like painting the Harbour Bridge, said vice-president Deb Wells. "No sooner do you remove it than you have to start all over," she said. Volunteering on Mondays not only provides exercise and a great sense of satisfaction, it gives people a chance to learn more about cold climate gardening and gain friendships with fellow garden lovers. You can just turn up on any Monday from 9am. Membership of the society is $11 a year for which you receive a newsletter and have the opportunity to attend bi-monthly meetings, hear great speakers, borrow gardening books from the library and enjoy the company of fellow green thumbs.

A new group for girls and young women with autism will be run fortnightly on Thursdays at the Springwood MYST (Mountains Youth Services Team) building at 59 Springwood Avenue. The group is for those aged 14-24 to meet others and socialise, and will be held from 6.30pm-8pm. For more information call MYST on 1800 405 013.

Blue Mountains Library has a new online story reading service. Story Box Library has hundreds of videos featuring great children's picture books creatively transformed into an exciting visual experience with some even read by their authors. Experience Pig the Pug read by Aaron Blabey, Hickory Dickory Dash from Jay Laga'aia and a host of other favourites. Story Box is on the website in the Kids Library eResources for Kids area. Details:  library.bmcc.nsw.gov.au.