Lots of Sorting Cleaning and Deciding.

 Last week we had a rubbish skip delivered . We had it for a week. The main thing to go in it was an old slide from our garden playground. It was dangerous in my opinion and was degrading so powdery plastic got all over boys clothes if the did use it. R chainsawed it into pieces. After that was in the skip we filled it ( not quite ) with stuff ( garden shed ,under the stairs, cupboard etc etc. )  To keep or toss...that was the recurring question. It proved to be a good clean out after 7 years living here.

 Arriving. He easily backed down the drive.

 Collecting. He lifted a bigger one on top of ours and picked them both up.

 Very worthwhile      having a clean up.

    ******

 I went through scrap fabric and that determined the size of these simple drawstring bags. For the sales table.

 

I finished another small item for the Sales Table.( all hand stitched out of felt.) Others are making Christmas decorations too.

 They will sell for next to nothing so not a good use of our time really.

 Today I am making drawstring bags of various sizes out of scrap fabric which are much quicker.

 The persimmons, one each side of the driveway, are ripening. I have picked quite a few already and ripened them inside. Fully ripe on the tree and the birds get them first. We are using flashing objects and streamers as a bird deterrent. The trees are getting too big to net easily. Such a Yummy fruit.

A Sunshiny Day.

 After a family Birthday outing for D in L  on Sunday I went for a walk up the Canal. ( often used to do it but its a bit far away so haven't for some years )

 I went up the left side and across the top and back down the right side. About 50 minutes.

 Do you see the little spillway on the right. It was quite deep where the path  crossed it and looked slippery.

 When I reached there a young bloke and 2 young ladies ( very slim ) and their white dog were crossing. The young man was wearing jandals and jeans which he had rolled up. He piggy backed  his 2 ladies across and said, " come on You next! You'll probably slip and get very wet! " I was gob smacked but he backed up to me and said jump on and he safely piggybacked me across. SOOO funny. So very kind. Thanks Shannon ! You are a useful bloke to meet. ( hope he isn't suffering from a sore back now ) 

 Maclarens Falls ( that flows into the canal ) .

 . I also picked up 50 cents. - my lucky day.

2 Finishes.

 Thanks Janice, Loulee and Louise for replying and giving me suggestions.

 Someone has already made bowl cosies. 

The basket idea would need to contain something else( not Easter )  as its not needed till June. But I did make a small cloth basket . It took me far too long ( I'm slow ) to make but could be made more quickly using a solid fabric strip instead of pieced. ( the idea originally came from Pink Penguin many years ago ) ( she has a very good tutorial )  Back then I made several in different sizes. Some I am still using.

 The other project finished has been nearly a year in the making. Biggest Grandson and I together started knitting peggy squares. His knitting is quite good for a 9 year old boy ( they do a little each day at school ) ( Waldorf school ) The squares are left over 4ply pure wool from jerseys I knitted the boys.

 I sewed them together and knitted an edging then blocked it to try and straighten the slightly scalloped sides.  ( photo is on the floor drying after I pinned it out and sprayed with water. )

It will be suitable for tucking around a toddler in a car seat. We are sending it to Christchurch with  grandson's other  grandmother this week. ( for her great Grandies down there. )

 I can't crochet. I tried to learn quickly in order to do an edging on the above. My tension was sooo bad it would have ruined it. 

 This edging I did use was just  knitted;  3 rows of knit one, purl one rib. ( about 200 by 160 stitches. )

 It's nice for oldest Grandson to know he helped make something good enough to gift to another little person.

What to make for the Sales Table.

 With our exhibition coming up in a few weeks time all the members of our P and Q Group are asked to make items for the Sales Table. Easy request you would think. Try to come up with something novel; new idea; not too expensive; well made and appealing.

From past experience we know shoppers don't want to pay much. Some will inspect and handle everything and then buy nothing. Other quilters and sewers know the value of items and are the best customers.

 I have made this so far.

 Its just tiny.

The previous one I made I gave to a 2 year old with a baby brother.

 

 What to make next???? Has anyone seen some good ideas....I'd love to know.

 Googling it comes up with the same old ideas.

********

Late season Dahlias are attracting a following.

 Finally they decided to have a flower each.

 A  Painted Lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui ) and a bumble bee.

An Amazing Specimen

 

 I have been watching this Nursery web spider for a couple of days. Dolomedes minor

 ( pisauridae ) or in NZ where it is indigenous Nursery web Spider. Length including legs about 7 centimeters. Female.

 This is the" Nursery," web she built further up the plant. The tiny spiders are moving around inside hatched and ready to leave. 

Looking Ahead.

 

 As this (above )  is happening in June I am working to have something to enter.I have taken my Tall Flower wall hanging down off the wall and am now long stitch quilting it to make it firmer. The weight of the felt flowers has made the felt background sag. By quilting it it will be attached all over to the cotton backing. So far it looks better and more complete so I will keep at it.

 I am also making small items for a Sales Table. I am also contemplating making an entry in the President's Challenge. ( only thinking at this stage ....can I be bothered...have I got an idea what to do....)

 Also coming up in early June is my 80th so I have been working on retaining my Drivers Licence. With advice from my optician I started early ( last year ) to book in and get both cataracts done. I had quite a long wait for an appointment but as you will have read here  the op was done just before Christmas. It took 8 weeks till I got my all clear and went back to my optician to see what glasses I might need.  None for Driving! A pair for reading/ sewing / up close stuff with clear glass at the top. So still progressive but  not strong at all. I got very light frames and am pleased with them and can see clearly everything I need to Do!

 On Monday I went to get the mandatory doctor's check. Was given an old bloke doctor  I never met before. It took 5 minutes ( 10 at the outside )  and cost $95.

 The next day Tuesday  I went to Waka kotahi ( AA ) and paid just $22.50 to get my licence renewed. Using the same photo they took at age 75. 

 So all in all pleased to have that done. I live in the country and although I don't go out that much I need to be able to drive myself when I want.

 On the garden and produce front walnuts are falling,  apples are ripening and vege crops are finishing. Maybe best of all feijoas are dropping! Yum yum.