Royal Spoonbills.

I am still trying for that elusive close shot of the Royal Spoonbills. This is where I walk  by when I go right around our small sub division. The ponds were made especially for nesting purposes.
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 There are many bright Spring flowers out in my garden and on my kitchen bench. Freesias in 5 colours. The best perfume from my old potted Burtonii ones.

 Theses white flowered ones are from the bulbs Grandson planted.

White Dutch iris are standing tall along the back retaining wall.

Around the base of a flowering cherry.

 Today I have used my time well. It is somewhat of a relief to know I can still knuckle down when undisturbed and finish a project. I made the hanging sleeve with a velcro strip and hand sewed it on. Usually we just safety pin the hanging strips on but my hanging is very light and I thought the weight of safety pins might just make it keep falling off the wall - so I sewed it on. I left the ends open so it is also a hanging sleeve into which a rod could later be put to hang on my wall.

 I sewed a matching label on too. So all ready to exhibit. ( ( Feeling relieved it is totally completed )

Exhibition Happening Soon.

It is just less than 3 weeks till the Tauranga Patchwork and Quilters Group Exhibition to be held over 2 days ; Friday and Saturday the 13th and 14th of September at the Tauranga Race Course. (Cameron Road )  10 am till 4 pm.

My Walkway wall hanging is going in the exhibition. It just requires a label on the back and a velcro hanging strip.

 This is the original photo I took about 2 years ago and used as the subject for my hanging.

 I have been working on small items for the Sales table. I made a fat quarter apron ( and forgot to take a photo ) and these  3 page felt needle cases.

 It is 2 years since our last quilt show but we don't seem to have more entries. I think members have given away quilts they made as up to 2 years is a long while to keep them if they have been made for someone else. This is a different venue too from recent years. About 10 years ago we used the racecourse ( which has since been done up ) so we will see how it goes. There is lots a free parking so that's a plus and only 2 days instead of 3.

 I am helping with receiving the quilts and the hanging and set up so the Thursday will be very busy for me.The rest of the jobs and time on the Friday and Saturday will be fun.

 There will of course be plenty of shopping available as well as food and drink on site.

Refusing; Recycling and Re-purposing .

          Just to add some brightness on a chilly windy day.

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 Refusing Recycling and Re-purposing.
 I have been meaning to write about this for some time now. I am trying not to bring home any plastic. That has meant I have had to change my habits and how I shop and where. We are fortunate that we grow loads of our own fruit and veges. 
 The "take your own bags and containers," is working well for me with fruit and veges at the supermarket or Fresh (fruit and vege ) Market. Getting meat at the butchers is good but more expensive. There are things I want but they come in plastic so I try for an alternative packaged in paper or loose if practical. Some examples are I love Vogel's bread but it comes in plastic. I also like sourdough but it is twice the price. It can be put straight in my bag at a deli but needs a paper bag and sticker at a supermarket.  Yes I do have a bread maker I use too.

 I like to buy frozen peas....haven't found a solution for that yet ( tinned or  dried - no )

 Ball point pens? Pencils or ones that take refills ( still plastic ). ( don't fancy a fountain pen in my handbag. )

 We have always done our own recycling - never had a rubbish collection. We sort and recycle glass, paper flattened, card board, tins and a small amount still of plastic. We take it there ourselves.

 On the recent TV News we saw NZ now has a problem with the amount of recycled paper. There is an easy solution. Forbid paper advertising leaflets - our mailbox bulges with them..

 NZ has more glossy magazines than most countries.. Reduce this.

We try to buy metal or wooden kids toys for the grand kids. There we have re-purposed lots that I kept. . ( Lego is the exception being plastic )( I kept all our boys' Lego )

 What plastic we already have I now treasure. I will use it again and again and again.( in the freezer in the cupboards etc. )

 Consumers who care are trying hard to not get plastic or any sort of needless packaging. There is heaps of that. I think manufactures now have to step up and take more responsibility. Get new ideas more quickly,! Old buried rubbish. is now coming back to bite communities who unwisely just dumped and buried  in the past.. This is going to be a major cost all round the country to clean it up before it goes to sea.

 If you have got some good ideas to share on this subject I'd  love to hear. I know there is lots to read on the subject - some ideas are a step too far.