Especially for the Quilt Police.

For the last 4 days it has rained ( 4" ) and been quite chilly...so no orchard work, but lots of sewing; cooking; blog reading; foraging and cleaning. Now you don't want to know about the cleaning;  the cooking is more interesting  - the second lot of soup for the chillier weather is on the stove now and the cookies are just done.The soup has an unusual ingredient to see how it goes - Chestnuts.( they are especially plump this year because of all the rain ) R cooked  lamb shanks the other night for dinner and put some chestnuts in that and they were yummy ( like kumera ), so I decided to try some in today's vegetable soup. Which brings me to the foraging. Yes, collecting chestnuts, walnuts; a few mushrooms(  loads of toadstools that would have been nice if they had been mushrooms )(we don't eat them ) and a handful of blackberries I found - enough to stew with one large apple.
      More interesting is the sewing....both sides of my bandanna quilt are finished. Some bandannas are common to both sides so that sort of ties it together. I was freaking out about how I was going to ensure the strips on the back lay perfectly straight and parallel to the outside edge. The top photo shows I made sure the corners were totally square using my 12.5" ruler. Knowing how the backing of a quilt ( well mine anyway ) can get slightly askew when layering all 3 layers ( this doesn't happen if you own a long arm quilter with rollers ) I devised a method to use that I am sure the quilt police would frown upon. I used the idea that is similar in theory to the way the layers are held on a long arm quilter or roller system . I started at one straight edge. I sewed the backing fabric and the quilt top together with a large stitch down the edge thus ensuring that side was totally straight. I then sewed in the batting along the same hem line just a smidgen away from the first row of stitches. I turned the layer through with right sides out, lay it on the floor and proceeded to baste it moving outward from the sewn edge.

 When I had put in sufficient pins to ensure it would hold together I then lifted it onto my big bench and continued to pin and smooth, turn adjust the pins,  turn again etc till I had both sides as flat as straight as I thought they were ever going to be.

The above photo shows where I am at today; the corner of the quilt is flipped over so you can see both front and back and you can see how some fabric is common to both sides. I am about half way with the quilting. it's not very adventurous. Some diagonal lines, some stitching in the ditch and some shadow quilting around some of the shapes. It was really hard to decide what pattern might suit both sides??? ( only one small annoying tuck so far ) Overall I am pleased with my progress. What Binding I will use I don't know. Thinking ,thinking.
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I few posts back I said I was trying to get a close photo of the little fantails who were visiting. One decided to be really helpful and come inside to see me. ( no I am not superstitious about that ) . so I shut all the doors to contain it in the big room and he spent some time flitting from light fitting to window sill. My trying to help him out didn't work so I let it be and when I next looked up it was gone out an open ranch slider.

Everyday we are eating huge numbers of feijoas. They also are big and juicy because of lots of rain. Here are the 2 biggest we have ever grown. The one at the front is the winner so far at 175 grams.

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 I did managed to find a nut picker upper. Made in USA and someone in the South island is importing them. About $150 NZ plus P and P . I am considering getting one. Thank you for the helpful hint.

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 Thank you to those of you who have taken the time to email me about Quilty things ( Exhibitions; Show ; Shops in UK ) I appreciate it.

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R has just come home from giving blood ( he has a type they like and need ) It was his 25th donation and came home bearing gifts. A certifcate, a badge, a pen and a lovely red and white umbrella !  Well done!

How to Eat a Feijoa.

(This part of the post dedicated to Pam in UK,  who loves feijoas! )
Firstly pick them up off the ground or if you are really organised lightly feel each fruit to see if it will just fall off in your hand ( no bruising at all that way.)
 Put them in the fruit bowl and admire and smell.  ( It's a good clue as to their ripeness.)

 Select some nice softish plump ones.

Cut in half. ( share if you have to - I do ) Study the shapes in the flesh.  There are many variations. Scoop out with a teaspoon. Eat slowly savouring their wonderful taste - unlike any other. Have a couple of extra ones and say, "These are for you Pam."  Then another and say, "This is for you Meg." ( that way you don't feel bad about blogging about feijoas when you know some of your friends don't have them growing!
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It has rained all day today and most of yesterday. I have got lots done. Yesterday I  caught up with my quilty friends. I needed some female company and chatter.
 My Rrainbow Tunnels Bandana quilt was finished for show and tell and went into the pile ready for me to take to Canteen in the next few weeks. I think we now have 10 or 12. I sewed on the first bandanna quilt yesterday and today and the top is almost done.

*  I made some suitcase I. D. material handles for our suitcases. ) Why? The last time our young ones came home from UK some other passenger took the wrong bag at the airport ( luckily only the small airport at Tauranga. ) Luckily V noticed hers wasn't there but a similar one was and we ran after the person and stopped him before he had time to get away - I think it was just carelessness on his part but he hardly even said thank you. Imagine that happening at a large airport - one might never find the person in time - hence our Luggage extra easily spotted ID.

        Fabric with bright yellow NZ  Kowhai flowers on it.

 You will have to look hard to spot the subject of this photo. One of the 2 wee fantails who have been flitting from window to window today catching some tiny insects that must be there because of the rain. I still HOPE to get a good close photo one day.

Roger made me 2 jars of pickled red capsicum yesterday with the ones ready in the garden. OH Yum. ( have to leave them a few days yet ) He makes himself pickled garlic - not me -  give me Capsicums any day.