Some Finishes.

 

I made a cushoin cover to attach my felt mandala to.( it seemed to look best on plain grey ) and added big stitches in blue around the flange.

 I completed my scarf by using wool that matched. Part of it is slightly wider where I had to use thicker ply.

 I got a nasty shock when I picked it up ( after a week ) to finish it and found a hole on the top. A clothes moth had eaten it in that time. I found the culprit nearby and killed it. I mended the hole non too easily and decided I had to live with it. It is being stored in a zip lock plastic bag in the walk in wardrobe, till I wear it in the Winter. 

 Last weekend I had 3 days away with my sewing friends at Whangamata. The weather was awful. We tried to walk every day but got rained on and sand blasted. We all took the wrong gear/ clothing!  We went shopping all one morning and that was very pleasant. Great shops. We didn't actually get that much sewing or knitting done! 

             *******

 The fruit  ready now  are pears. 2 varieties. NZ Bartlett (Williams Bon Chretien )

 and Beurre Bosc. Both trees have a good crop.

 Pears can be hard to judge for ripeness as they are unusual in that they ripen from the inside outward.

 Our freezer is full up but still R is picking tomatoes by the bucketful about every second day.

Blueberries.

 

 I've been out picking blueberries. Such a labour intense job when they are this small variety. There are 3 plants in a cage ( bird protection is essential ) 2 are  called Oneal and they fruited earlier and are in bud again now. They are easy picking and large. These ones came from the middle tree are called Blast. The fruit is barely larger than black currants if you remember those. These tiny ones have a parentage called  Rabbiteye  and are ever green. The Oneal have different parentage called Southern Highland.

 Back at the orchard I started growing them in 2005 as friends gave me a plant as a gift. That one and 4 others were called Blue Dawn or Tasty Blue.

 They are a great easy plant to grow but must be totally bird proofed but allow bees to get in.( so not too fine mesh ) Lots of water is good. They are high in anti oxidants.

These are  the bigger Oneal variety. Almost marble size.

A Very Warm Busy Harvest Time.

 

 Luisa plums coming ready right after the Billington have finished.

 

 The most perfect tomato picked so far ( after several buckets full.)

 It weighed 315 grams.

 Courgette or zuchinni has almost become a dirty word. Just so many...some getting too big by hiding.

 A large savoury scone tray bake I made at the weekend. We ate some but I cut it up and froze 3/4s. Our own tomato and tomato paste and herbs . Pity I had to buy the cheese and olives.

 I spent all this  morning cutting back the passionfruit vine which was collapsing. Hope it survives. It was my own fault for not cutting it back hard after last years crop ( of over 500 ) 

*****

 This is how far my fancy ball of wool went.

 I am joining in now the best match I could find but its the wrong ply so I am doubling it.

 I also made one cushion cover.

 Roses struggle in this heat, even with frequent watering. These buds opened in the vase. Lovely smell. Pretty face.