Denim and Avocados

Gudrun here are some Avocado photos. The first is a small tree about 4 years old ( has a few fruit set ). Many we have are old and huge and have to have the tops pruned down and hollowed ( vased ) to let sunlight in. ( if the fruit is up too high we can't reach it ! ) The ground below is a carpet of dead leaves ( they like mulch ) and we put all the garden rubbish around them too as mulch. The photo with my hand in shows the size the next crop has got to already.....they are light green and very shiny. ( not many types of tree or plant bear more than one crop at a time ) The new leaves on them are red and copper coloured so make them a pleasant tree for a garden.

Sewing content: The big pile of denim fabric I have partially cutup ready for making circles for my quilt. Note the many shades of BLUE.

The other photo shows some of the 7"squares I have ready to trial for the centre of each block.Lots to do.

Do have a pleasant weekend - I don't fancy that snow some of you are still getting in the NH. ( enlarge photos by clicking on them )

UFO Weekend.

We had a very pleasant 2 days sewing. 7 ladies took a class by TS a very good tutor. One new lady began making her first quilt - she was lucky to get such good instruction right from the start. 7 or 8 others of us worked on UFOs.

I was mother or gopher so got less done than some but finished the purple fabric basket, then began joining the circles for my Mock Cathedral Windows quilt. The photos show how the back and the front ( with the curved flaps,) will look. I am doing lengthwise rows ( 11 circles ) as I don't know how wide it will finish - depends how much used denim I can find.

So far so good. I like the different shades of blue and even the odd spot where I have unpicked a dart.

Yesterday we had to take recycling to the transfer station in the truck so I went too and was able to stop in Greerton at 2 Op shops and came out with a load of denim skirts and jeans. SO lots of cutting to do and now I can continue when I get time. ( there are other such op shops in Tauranga still to suss out for more and I have asked the other P and Q ladies.)

*Gudrun I will take a close up photo of an Avocado tree with little fruit on and show you shortly *

More Positive.

***A fine day.*** Autumn Equinox.***** Avocado picking! *** As it is very late in the season for Avocados it is good for the trees to get them off so the small fruit which will be ready Nov / Dec onwards can have the nutrients and grow big.( there is quite a good crop of small, recently set fruit there for next season )

2 guys with hydraladas (cherry pickers )picked 3.5 bins of very big lovely fruit, which will get sold here in New Zealand. ( exporting has finished for this season ). We have been told to expect a very good price for them- which would be pleasing. Many of the fruit weighed more than 400 grams.( sorry you are too far away, most of you, to be able to share! )

Baking Spicy Apple Loaves.

This morning yet again it rained between 7 and 8 am. So everything is wet out side. The hydraladdas to pick Avos have been waiting here 2 days now.Tomorrow maybe.

I spent the morning inside and baked Spicy Apple Loaves. Lovely smell of baking.( nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger cloves ....ahhh! ) The recipe is already here on my blog. ( you will have to look back to July 26 2006 to find it )( the link was too long to copy ).

Then I set about pulling out fabrics that might be good as feature fabrics in my cathedral window quilt. I'm making this for my eldest son and he likes blue ( with some purple and green ).All set to start this on Saturday.

Things have dried out now, I better get outside.

Mixed Activities

Some fine days. Some like this morning, wet. Our hearts are in our mouths now every time it rains....what more might happen. Luckily so far nothing else.

I have been making lots of pumpkin soup and focaccia bread. We still have more pumpkins growing yet to be picked.

This afternoon and late yesterday I gardened - always lots needs doing. DH has been mowing all afternoon. I'm sure you can see my halo as I spent all morning filing and doing office work.

At the weekend I finished another tiny red fabric basket and at someone's suggestion I put longer handles on it lengthwise ( can be carried like a basket ) but I don't think it looks as cute then. I have cut out the other parts in purple to go with theses 2" squares I sewed together by hand. I am preparing the parts for several different projects as we have a UFO weekend this coming Sat and Sun.

Big jewelled bird is now ready for it's tail feathers. Also I am about to start the Mock Cathedral Windows quilt in denim. So that should keep me busy for the weekend. Some ladies in our group are going to do a quilt in a day. I WANT and need to finish things.

I took this photo of part of the slip / landslide up in the Quarry Park. This is near where it started from. The contents are now in our place, in the dam and creek.Things have dried out somewhat BUT it is still an incredible mess . ( I am sure mother Nature will eventually grass over some of it. )We haven't decided the best way to clear up....if at all.

Being Philosophical.

We have to move on and take this blow in our stride - we don't have an option.The mud is drying out and the stream has found a new course and settled back to a more normal flow.

The tree on the angle in the photo is the only one we have spent time on. We have managed to pull it back upright and stake it firmly....it is a Forest Pansy ( Cercis cadanensis ) ( cost NZ $75 in 2002 ). It is planted to commemorate my school friend Eleanor who died of cancer that year. This tree is upstream of the dam in the gully where the flood rushed past.

On Monday we got a Dingo in to dig a trench for the water pipe out to the front gate and by Tuesday we had connected to the Council water supply. Eventually we hope to reinstate the pipeline we lost up the bush as the catchment dam there is undamaged. ( But things will have to dry and stabilize first ).

Thanks all for your concern. Thimbleanna, I'm not an Aussie! I am a Kiwi and live in New Zealand.

Needless to say not much sewing time, but I have P and Q Group tomorrow.

The Day After the Flood.

Things look a little different this morning - not better just different. The water level has gone down and the stream is now cutting it's way through the debris to the small spillway which allows it to run under the bridge.

We still have a track down the hill across the bridge and up the other side - this leads to our 2 Avocado blocks and one Kiwifruit block and a bush area.We will need to get some truck loads of metal ( gravel / stones ) to lay either side of the bridge where the water washed some away. But for now at least we have access. Our pipeline to our water supply has gone! DH went up there this morning to look, and says it is fixable when things dry out. An area about the size of 2 football fields has slipped down the gully - and most of it is now in what used to be our pond.( this is all going to be expensive! )

You remember the photo a few posts ago of me sitting on my red seat - if you kept going behind that tree down a steep bank to the bottom of the valley, that is where the stream is that fed into the pond.

Now today's photos: 2 at the end show the pond / dam a few years ago when we had an open garden. You can see people coming down to the waters edge at the top end of the clear blue water.( that is looking from the bridge across the water )

The other (top )photos show it today - the brown dirty mess.( all 4 photo taken from about the same spot ,can you recognise it? )

Extreme Flooding.

9" of rain since it started this time.That's on top of the

7" last weekend.

We used to have a dam ( big pond / little lake ) ........not any more. We now have a gully full of debris, mostly washed down from the Quarry Park behind us.( they did BIG earth works recently!!! )

Blogger is being strange - but I will try and get photos up to show. ( some before some now )

Heavy rain and thunder has just started again after fine all day.

We had to hire a digger to try and clear our bridge and save the dam / bank/ crossing, he came promptly and has left the digger here in case we need more done. We are so grateful.

We have lost so many native trees.......the saddest one is the one we planted at the millennium - a Kawaka ( libocedrus plumosa ).

Kauris, Rimus, Kowhai ...lots more all gone. In there place we have mud, rocks, old tree stumps, whole dead trees. More photos tomorrow , I'm pretty upset right now.

Note: our house and kiwifruit vines etc are not hurt. We are safe.

What a hell of a day. ( the night was plain scary; we could hear trees crashing and rocks rolling and smell earth so strongly - no wonder!)

March Mist.

It's very wet today. Overnight we had 3.5 inches of rain. ( actually we didn't really need more rain yet, but it will size up our Kiwifruit ).

The photos show what I can see out my windows; red leaves on the Viburnum ( Viburnum plicatum tomentosa ) out the bedroom window - it's a lovely small tree and the first by far with Autumn colours.

From the window in this room, the office, I can look down the gravel driveway and see puddles. See how low the cloud is almost blocking out the trees in the Quarry Park behind us.

Yesterday when we heard the weather forecast we spent some time picking beans and what may be the last of the tomatoes, put the picked pumpkins in the outside shower for safe keeping and battened down the hatches!. Last night it was very windy then the rain set in, now mid morning it is just damp and drizzly with odd heavy showers.

We have been giving pumpkins away as some were starting to rot where they were sitting ( should have had boards under them ). We grew 3 types ( crown; butternut and buttercup )and have more than 70! Some are still on the vines and not needing to be picked yet.The tomatoes did their thing early and are looking really tatty now but we have picked 53 kilos from them. ( that's a lot ! )

So it's an inside day ! I love that.( Even if it means some housework ) I have computer time and ironing and cooking and reading and just maybe some sewing. The Big bird's feather coverage is growing every evening. I have cut his tail feathers ready.

The 3rd photo show our new kettle, lovely brushed stainless to match the rest of the kitchen and very modern compared with the old one that just died. It can be set to heat to different temperatures and even to keep it hot after reaching that temp.It is strange how appliances all get sick or die at a similar time. The fridge is now back home with a new thermostat and no longer leaving puddles.

^ In answer to your questions.I have only been a quilter for 5 years, and only a member of my P and Q group for 3 and a bit. Before that I made felt embroidered balls as baby toys.I have knitted since age 6 and sewed from very early too. I remember school sewing class at primary age , making a tray cloth from seersucker with embroidered coloured leaves I traced around from our Liquid Amber tree ( maple leaf shape ). We also made a smocked babies dress all by hand. Of course as a teenager I spent hours making dresses with yards of material in the skirt. I enjoyed dress making a high school - was never the very best one at it but fairly good - not like one poor girl who unpicked so many times there was just a hole left in her fabric - she was a bookworm and didn't want to be there. In 1986 I do remember sewing the backdrop for the stage in our local hall for a school production my younger son was in - maybe that was my first landscape quilt...it was huge.

Group Celebration.

******** ********* ********

Today has been a SPECIAL DAY.******

The Tauranga Patchwork and Quilters Group that I belong to celebrated it's 20 th Birthday. ********* !!!!!!

We presented the 4 Foundation members, who were able to be with us ( 3 still attend regularly, one was back as a guest )with a spray of flowers to wear. Each took turns at showing us their first quilts and telling us their memories of 20 years ago. Others members then took turns at showing us their first or early quilts. (Some of course like me no longer own their first efforts but early works were fine.) Quilts from the group now live in many countries of the world as well as parts of NZ.

The 4 special guests ( Pam, Aylmer Nan and Jenni ) then cut the Birthday cake. 40 plus members were present and the other half of the group who meet on a Tuesday evening are going to have a similar celebration next Tuesday night.

. There were many lovely quilts to look at( one still as a flimsy after 20 years!!! )

In the photo of the cake cutting there is a quilt on the wall that has friendship blocks made by some early quilters of whom at least 2 are no longer with us. The owner really treasures having a block made by them to keep.

There were also many photos displayed for us to enjoy ( and giggle at ).

What a lovely lot of happy quilters, I am privileged to spend time with. We did all enjoy our day. Members of our group range in age from early 30s to 80s, and we all have a common bond.

Records, References and Lists.

Records, references and lists are very useful things - I love them; use them and KEEP them. I think most of us do to some extent. Photos old and new are a visual record, and although I often don't like how I look in them I keep them as a record.

This old picture is of me at about age 5. I can tell that cause I still have my baby teeth and my hair long. I am wearing a dark red dress hand knitted by my Mum. My elder sister had one the same. Photos help me to remember events and times past, because I have looked at those same photos many, many times - each time restoring the moment - it helps reinforce that memory.

I am writing about this today cause I see that I have written 300 posts. (that seems quite amazing ).Blogging is a modern form of record and I love it and all it offers. When I was young I know I kept a diary on and off but got rid of them at some stage partly because I either didn't like what I had written or more likely how I had written and spelt it. ( shame really )

I know it was because I didn't like my own handwriting, no matter how many times I wrote , "A quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog." - which we did daily in Form 1 and 2.( in cursive handwriting ) When I was in my first year of teaching , the school I was at had a school style that was taught - script, and I had to quickly learn it and use it on the blackboard and in everything I wrote for the kids in my standard 2 and 3 class. I practised it and liked it and became good at it and use a version of it to this day - I now LIKE my own writing.

I have printed out my Blog from the very beginning so have a hard copy to keep as a record. I have already had occasion to use it as a reference.

Other records I keep are in list form. All the books I have read since 1982.The usual list of birthdays ,deaths etc.I have a record now, of major purchases, we've made: what: when and from where and price as well as the guarantee. When we need to know when the roof was last painted or the septic tank emptied I can look that up too.

For the orchard DH or R keeps Weather Records. Maximum and minimum temperatures, rainfall measured in a gauge and emptied early each morning, and wind if present. We have been delighted to record over 2

" of much needed rain in the last 2 days. THANK YOU MOTHER NATURE. We have noticed that at almost the same time last year the same pattern occurred in the weather.

I keep letters too. Some from family now gone.Others are not so old.( I can tell because I printed it out and kept it ) that I wrote my first ever email on the 29 th of July 2001.; to my younger son in London. His going there was the reason we first had to be on line. He is still there are we both write and send photos back and forth frequently. I have kept many email and photos for him in case in the future he wants them as a record since he left NZ.

Sometimes records and letters are so treasured; like the ones written by ancestors when they first made the journey from UK to NZ. We have some of those.

Are any of you record keepers? Why?

Now I should go and back up some of my computer files especially the photos as I haven't done that in a while.

Thanks to all those who leave me helpful and encouraging comments!

How Busy is Too Busy?

I'm glad I had that afternoon in the shade - I haven't had time to go back there since ! ( that was a week and a half ago )

I always think it is good to be busy, but sometimes it gets a bit much....haven't even been to the computer for 2 days - hate that.

* our fridge has been being incontinent for the last few weeks - we can't fix it so it went to hospital today. ( Leanne we might end up doing what you did )

*Some more feathers have been hand sewn at night.

*There is nothing old denim left in this house to cut into circles - looks like a heap of blue crepes ( pancakes ) 26 so far.

*Is someone able to tell me why the photos on my blog shift back to the top no matter where I insert them?

*has anyone uploaded the programme that allows you to print out your blog without side bars, headers etc?

*now something quilty.

Last Friday at our group, 2 members demonstrated 3 ways to make Cathedral Windows. They showed some articles they had made using them. I made a sample because I have never done it before and always like to learn when there is an opportunity.I choose the all by hand method.

1. Using a 9" square of plain fabric iron over 1/4 seam all round( wrong side facing up )Fold the square diagonally and iron a wee crease in the middle . Then fold the opposite diagonal and iron another crease ( to find and mark the exact middle )

2. Fold each corner into the middle so it looks like 4 envelope flaps.Press.

3.Secure the centre by hand stitching 2 tiny crosses. Stitch only the flaps not through the back layer of fabric. Keep corners sharp.

4. Make a second one the same, then lay them face to face flaps in. Join one seam using blanket or whip stitch.

5. Fold out and measure the size of the square formed in the middle. ( 2" in my case ) Cut a square that size of fancy fabric and pin it in the space you measured.

6.Roll the surrounding borders over the window and using tiny stitches start at one corner and sew the 2 edges together till you cover the feature fabric, then sew the curtain to the feature fabric till you get to the next corner then repeat till your curtain is secured all the way around the window. ( see photo for stages )

7. You then make as many of these as you require in rows , then sew the rows together.

8. As this has no batting it is suitable for cushions, table runners, bags, etc.

My Seat in the Shade.

* The bush fire news in Australia is terrifying. My heart goes out to all those who have lost loved ones and homes.The flooding in the northern region is also bad. What a land of extremes. Do take care all my friends across the ditch, you are special to me and I hope you and your families stay safe. *

* We have had a very little rain overnight - about 3 mls- but hoping for more.That meant wet vines so I've been to the supermarket and am having a wee catch up.*

* NZ had a 3 day weekend - of which I worked pretty solidly for 2.5 days. Sunday afternoon I took off.Off chores that is, and having just cleaned my red seat under the Copperbeech tree of cobwebs and bird poo, I escaped out there for most of the afternoon. It is dappled shade and for some of the time there was a breeze. I hand sewed feathers, ( on the Jewelled Bird Quilt, ) and only moved to get drinks. DH came with the camera and snapped me relaxing - for the record. So it does happen sometimes.*

Sewing and Cooking.

Yesterday was the hottest day so far this Summer. ( 33 degrees C ) That didn't mean I could lie in the shade - Bugger! We have SO many veges ready that need using in some way. So I made a batch of Tomato Sauce. ( we love it and # 1 son loves it ) I used the biggest ones so there would be less skin to sieve out at the end. 2.5 kg was just 11 tomatoes.( the biggest weighed 325 grams ). I had a cunning plan you see.....once the prep was done I got to sit and sew at the bench and watch the pot on the stove ( for 2 hours! ).

I completed sewing the long feathers on by machine - which I haven't made a very good job of ( inexperience with using iron on - it didn't feed well through the machine so the stitch spacing is not perfect. ) much better as I perfected my technique ( so should have practised longer first ! ). The little shield shaped feathers for the head and body of the bird are so tiny and fiddly I am sewing them on by hand and they are sitting so much better than the others - (but I'm not unpicking ) - so there will be a mix of machine and hand sewing. Actually I like that cause I can sit with my feet up and sew them on in the evenings.

I still dislike all the gold background but have to remind myself almost all of that will be covered up or later cut away - it is just the backing for The Jewelled Bird.

Today we have both spent the morning mowing; leaf blowing cleaning outside - photo tomorrow - it looks great. We have been forecast rain Monday night and Tuesday - oh Yes please; we need it.

Answers to Comments.

* Meg the Kiwifruit you bought might be grown under Licence to Zespri ( NZ ). Southern Hemisphere fruit is really all finished, so some is grown in the Northern Hemisphere so there is 12 month supply - all to do with marketing - so they don't loose their shelf space.

* Thanks to all you folk who have left comments and are new visitors to my blog. I try and visit yours in return. Comments spur me on so please say "Hi, " while your here.

Waitangi Day.

"Happy Waitangi Day ( New Zealand Day ) to All Kiwis, here in NZ or overseas."

I hope you manage to enjoy some time out over the long weekend!
( NZ Pohutukawa ( NZ Christmas tree ) Flowers )

That's Corny.

That's the last of the lovely corn cobs for a while....my quickest and favourite way is still 2 mins and 20 seconds in the microwave; in it's own natural wrapping. What could be more simple?

Molly I did make your chowder; it was yummy but not really suitable for the very hot weather we have been having. As it made heaps I froze the rest to enjoy when it's cooler. If you would like Molly's recipe it is here. We got 4 millimeters of rain last evening, so that means a late start on the Kiwifruit, when it dries out ( yippee ). Not a lot but it has settled the dust for now.

The only quilty thing I have been working on is preparation for a quilt I will make as soon as I have sufficient denim.It uses recycled denim from jeans or whatever. I have chosen 7" circles as the biggest I could get from most jeans. It is for a Mock Cathedral Windows quilt. I found the instructions here.

I will work on it as well as the Jewelled Bird which is progressing ever so slowly.( still sewing on feathers )

Rushed Trip.

There has been all together too much death and too many funerals around here lately.

Here are some photos of a very rushed trip we had to take down through the Central North Island to Palmerston North - a trip of 5 hours each way. We had to go to a young 35 year old relation's farewell. ( motor cycle accident ).

Ever thoughtful of my blog and the fact that some of you in other parts of the world love to see different parts of the country I spent time hanging out the car window trying to get photos. We did stop a few times.We quite surprised ourselves by the speed with which we were able to make this journey.

We came in from work on Wednesday and picked up the newspaper at 5.15 pm. Saw the time of the funeral next morning at 11am ; both rushed through the shower, threw some clothes and gear in a case and had left here in less than an hour.We stopped at Taupo for some dinner( only half an hour ) and I took the photos of a beautiful red sky sunset looking across Lake Taupo towards the mountains , from our table in the restaurant. No more photos that evening as it was dark - we arrived very tired at 11.45 pm and booked into a hotel.

Next day,after the funeral we made a few calls on rellies before making the return trip and arriving home at 10.15 pm. The last 6 photos were on the return trip and show the mountains that stand in the middle of the North Island of NZ in Tongariro National Park. The country side around the mountains is desert and the road is called the Desert Road and is very different from most green grassy parts of the country. Mt. Ngauruhoe is the cone shaped mountain and Mt Ruapehu the larger snow tipped one. Mt Tonagiro was not visible.The last 2 pictures are Lake Taupo looking from the Southern end this time.

We were only away from home for 28 hours but fitted a lot into that time. I saw lots of rellies including my sister who I hadn't seen in person for a while. One of the other calls afterwards was to my 85 year old Aunt. I just couldn't be in her city and not visit - no matter how pressed for time we were. I am glad we made time as she was delighted to see us( and accept the 6 avos I threw into a bag to take).She is getting frail but her mind is still sharp. One never knows when they just might not be there.My favourite Auntie - my late mum's younger sister.

Today we were 2 quite tired orchard workers - we might be getting too long in the tooth for that sort of rushing around. DH drove all the way even though we could have shared it; he loves driving - fine by me. (He also goes faster for that sort of journey ) Let's hope that is all the dying for a while!( needless to say - no sewing for the last few days.)

A Happier Saturday.

Just some of the yummy veges from the garden. I can't walk past the wee yellow tomatoes without popping one in my mouth.

Yesterday was our 1st P & Q meeting for 2009. There were only 24 there cause it's still Summer holidays for many folk. We had a lovely shared lunch and then at 2 pm 14 of us went to the Funeral of out member Marie - who we were staggered to learn she was in her 90 th year.( she must have been the eldest in our group ) We will miss her smiling positive presence!. A new person turned up to join and paid her sub - she is already a serious quilter, so we are maintaining numbers. I look forward to a busy year with these friends; we have lots planned. I may get less done at the meetings sewing wise but I don't mind someone has to organise.

Today we are having a much needed catch up mow and clean day. Yeah!

It is a still, sunny, beautiful day here in BOP, NZ.

This evening we are going out with 3 relations. ( 2 from out of town )One we really like the other 2 are hard to take, but I was delighted when the suggestion was made to eat out - saves me the job and it is simply ages since we have been in a restaurant.

* answer - As far as I know dragonflies do NO damage at all - only eat other small insects - that's good. BUT if they get any bigger it could be scary!