Jazz Steam Train Journey.

Here it is; but I think they have forgotten something - where are we going to sit?

I took too many photos..so today I will show you what we saw outside the train. ( tomorrow inside )

the highwayMaize fields.

Inland Papmoa

Kid's art in Te Puke.

The dunes and sea near Maketu.

R looking out the window on the way back.

This is my favourite photo, near Hauone.

 (All the photo enlarge with clicking )

 Food and drink was available and the ladies from Back Porch Cafe came around with big baskets of food. This souvenir was probably for the kids but I got one anyway. I will eat it ( Shortbread ) later.

 

Easter Mists.

Season of mists - Mr. keats was right. This morning we have Easter mists. Low cloud. Dull, intermitent very soft, fine, rain barely enough to wet the ground. ( won't do any lasting good either unfortunately but will keep the dust down )
Daylight Saving ended last night here in NZ so we got an extra hour.
     So far this weekend we have had a restful time. Friday was spent mainly gardening. Yesterday we went to the Annual Rotary Used Book Fair and came away satisfied. It has turned into a huge event. Here is my haul. R got 8 fiction titles too. Mainly authors we already know and like, but, in my case not exclusively so as this is a good chance to try some unknowns. No problem of what to read around here for a while now.

Today we are off on a journey!

( Photos of that tomorrow.) We are having early lunch then catching the "Jazz Steam Train," for a 4 hour Journey down the coast almost to Whakatane. I will be taking photos at every opportunity, so hope the mists don't become too much of a feature.

Every Easter Tauranga hosts the largest Jazz festival in NZ. While it is not my chosen type of music there is great variety and so long as it's not too loud should add interest to our exciting journey...... All Aboard!

One more photo - don't R's peppers look bright,  almost - almost too good to eat; but not quite.

Mellow Fruitfulness.

 Keat's  "Ode to Autumn, "  speaks of Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness! Mellow fruitfulness, we certainly get but no mists. We picked one crop of pumpkins. 36 of all sizes - very dry .  More down the bank to pick that were self sown - less dry ones.  ( along with more tomatoes. Courgettes and beans are slowing now luckily )  Imagine in times past if your produce had to last your family through the Winter months.....

The latest study to come out of USA says women need far more execise than previously thought to maintain good health into older age. When is there time to do this extra vigorous exercise? ( at least an hour a day??? ) Eat slightly less each year and exercise slightly more - who is the sadistic person?  Alright I am trying.... I have upped my walking to longer sessions of over an hour and of course took my camera. I saw-

Ducks  in duck weed.

Light on the water at the beach cause it was getting late.

The Mt. in the distance and cheeky gulls.

 

Now in Colour.

Here is the feature panel for the centre of the Butterfly quilt. For someone who doesn't usually use pink this was a big leap - but I like my "happy flowers." Now I need to add butterflies to the top part of the panel. ( and probably escaping out into other areas around the quilt. )

I think the butterflies  may be the aqua blue and white fabric already used. I shall play around till I'm happy. I think I am headed in a whole new direction with drawing with thread.

 (What do you think Tracey ? )

P and Q Group.

Yesterday we had a really successful day at P and Q group. About 40 ladies were there some for only part of the time. Where we meet is not really condusive to taking good photos of work or to seating everyone so they  can see easily. Yesterday I set the tables and chairs differently which helped ( although we were in front of an exit that is supposed to be kept clear ) for watching a demonstration and Show and Tell and Quilt Journeys. When we are all just working in groups around tables the seating is fine. When we all need to set up machines we have to have a different arrangement again...but guess you all have similar difficulties with your groups. Here you can see quite a lot of my friends watching a demonstration.

You can see on the walls all the things that get in the background of photos plus about 6 doors, a clock and a fire extinguisher. Most of the time that doesn't matter and we hang some things over the top if they have sleeves or hangers...it's really only annoying for taking photos.

The Quilt Journeys we have been having where a members tells her journey since she started quilting ( or sewing ) and shows us some of the quilts; hangings and other treasures she has made, are being really successful and an idea other groups might like to try. It is much better than just writing about it because we get to see the actual objects. Yesterday N told us her journey and showed her first quilt made back in 1970! She has been prolific and does beautiful work.

I just have to show you this next photo..B made this  "The Fish Wife," at a 2 day class at Cottage Flair with NZ  tutor Jill Maas. Isn't it hilarious. The fabric used for the 4 different types of fish were just right.Her hair was combed out chenille. Bev was rightly proud of her effort and Jill's classes always have good results.

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Thanks for the useful comments about eyes for my butterflies, Jennifer &  Meggie& Molly. Tracey I am thinking what if the paper pattern looks better than the coloured fabrics for my centre panel - sew on the paper??? or do it all in white fabric with black outlines? I hope to find out during the weekend.

Bubble I give quilts to family and charity things and as presents. I have mostly only sold smaller things like aprons and my felt balls....but if I keep on sewing soon I may have too many ( haha ) too kept and may wish to part with some. One can never really charge what quilts are worth!  

Greetings to new readers here and thanks for your email and kind comments Helen in Canada and Mama Bear. 

Butterfly Quilt.

Today we had a little bit of much needed rain ( 10mls ) and some thunder. We are hoping for more over night and tomorrow.  Rain that is - not thunder.  So I sewed!

This shows me drawing out a design for the middle panel on my butterfly quilt; which I am designing as I go along - sort of.  There will be more leaves, flowers and butterflies in this .The panel is long and skinny so needs careful balancing. I'm still fiddling with it.  This panel sits in the middle of this - seen here on the floor.( without borders just corner stones.)

This is using those butterfly charm squares Loulee. The butterflies in this part are very stylized so I could place a square in the middle of each one.( it is also seen  upside down here.)

This is what the haberdashery was for. Butterflies' abdomen! The green is good, the white and cream are okay the pink is the wrong pink so may not get used....and those expensive buttons for eyes look strange and too black so they may not get used either. The butterflies seen here are still works in progress and will get more detail. So Gudrun that's what I'm sewing.

Haberdashery

Phew , what a busy week. Today I had to get in supplies as I hadn't got there during the week , so while heading towatds the city I thought I would pop in and get some cotton ribbon ( tape ) and some tiny buttons for what I am working on. I had checked out what I had in the cupboard and it wasn't quite what I wanted so decided to buy . After searching the extensive rows of ribbons I choose a few I thought would work then decided to get some of those very, very tiny buttons for eyes.

 I should have asked how much they were I guess but was gobsmacked to discover when I got home and read the docket that I had paid 60 cents each for those little buttons. Gosh! I probably could have come up with a cheaper option. Hope they look good where I use them. ( is that the normal price....or did I get ripped off ? )

The rest of the day is to be spent catching up with correspondence and maybe some sewing. Also watering if none of the clouds bring us rain...it's getting so dry!

Record and Recipe.

The Avocado picking has just finished! ( 4 pm ) We set a record for the number of bins we have ever picked in one season. ( you remember we did our first pick in November and these are the fruit that were left on the trees to get bigger. ) So that is all one crop. Next season's little fruit are also hanging on the trees. We got 10 bins more than our previous best ( about 3 tonnes  more ). So we are thrilled. We have never had such great pickers ( in their hydraladas ) friendly, hard working,  careful with the fruit and the trees and the next crop of little fruit. Do you know why....they are all avocado growers themselves. Husbands and wives or partners - both able to drive the hydralads. ( Well done ladies !) We have left some on the trees for our own use too.( possums get lost! )
 A storm is coming ( according to the forecast ) so I've been out picking all the tomatoes, courgettes etc. ( guess what is happening here tomorrow ! )

Look at these little beauties.

Little year pear tomatoes - they glow with goodness and sunshine.

I have already given some tomatoes away to the pickers. ( less to do tomorrow )  I have just made a Courgette Bake; it smells so good. Recipe below.

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Courgette Bake.

( uncooked )

500 grams of grated courgette (  zucchini );         1 cup grated tasty cheese ;

1 onion finely chopped ( fry or cook 3 mins in the microwave );   1 cup SR flour

  4 beaten eggs;   seasoning  (s & p or thai spice );  1/4 cup chopped parsley 

 How : set oven to 200 degrees C.  Grease dish.   Grate ingredients and mix all in a large bowl. Make sure flour is mixed in. Spoon into a large flat oven proof dish. Smooth out. I added a little extra cheese on the top. Bake for 30  or 40 minutes  till lightly browned and firm to touch. ( eat hot, warm or cold )

This same recipe works with grated carrot or a mix of carrots and courgettes.( probably any gratable tasy vege ) the carrot makes it sweeter and a little drier. Chopped cooked bacon or ham could be added. Rice flour or other could be used instead of flour.   As with any good recipe make it your starting point to experiment.   Enjoy.     Here it is cooked already!

Still Picking.

Still picking avocados today. 16 bins went to the packhouse last evening; here they are being loaded onto 2 small trucks.

I took a few to weigh. As you can see that is heavy! ( 424 grams )

This next photo is for you Meggie. Do you see who has spent all day here  - hiding in the garden;  browsing the herb garden for rocket and mizuna; looking ashamed cause he now has a bare rear except for the last 2 long feathers to fall out. It is windy and I think he is feeling the cold chill you know where! Maybe he is just supervising and counting the fruit bins. 8 at lunch time .( so that is 24 so far.)

Between jobs I am sewing. it is all just spread on the work table.

Avocados and Pincushions.

My yoyo pincushion is finished. I stuffed it with scraps of wool batting and pins and needles just glide into it which is important for keeping points sharp. ( I don't care for yoyos but made them because that is what this pattern required. If I make another I think I will design some leaves rather than those petals.

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Today we are picking avocados. This pick unfortunately is only local market ( New Zealand ) which is a crying shame as the fruit is beautiful...but lucky for the local shops and customers. It may end up making as much for us as the export crop did earlier.( here's hoping ) My job today is easy. As we do not need ground pickers ( me usually  ) the 3 hydraladas are picking the high up fruit and R is transporting the empty and full bins across to the avocado blocks (some distance away ) and back to the house. Once  the fruit has  been picked it must be kept out of the sun, so we stack the bins up in the shed ( having taken the truck and 2 tractors out ) till the end of theday when all the full bins will be taken by truck up to the packhouse.  My job is too check the bins and take out anything not suitable( damaged or too small or possum bitten )and level the top of the bin so none is sticking up to get damaged when the bins are stacked on top of each other on the truck. I wear gloves to not damage the skins.

( just to tempt you all!)

R stacking bins.

So far 6 full ones are in the shed...there will be more. We are very pleased with the 3 blokes with their hydraladas. ( better than the last couple of times...we will try and get these men next time ) .

I need to get busy now;  more on final tallies tomorrow.

 Our broad band is so slow at the moment something's wrong tho telecom says their isn't! 

 ( I'll save you some avos Laurie ).

Hanging on the Wall.

This may not be it's home but for photo purposes the completed Agapanthus wall hanging is here in full view as we walk by.

I am pleased with the finished project which just requires ( and will get ) a label on the back. ( it is actually brighter than the photos show; perhaps I should take it outside for a photo shoot.)

Yesterday I tried to post but the internet was playing up - possibly due to high winds....anyway I have it back today.

Why are all these ladies so busy?

We had a wonderfully busy day at P and Q on Friday. N had templates for us all to make wee pincushions. About 30 of the ladies all made them. In every colour ...all cute. ( see a large cardboard circle on the table - that is the middle of the pincushion which gets gathered up and stuffed.) 

This is mine half finished...showing the base. I might get it done today.

Other things.

*Thankyou for your comments; I know I am not alone missing grown up kids.

* He is 36 Gudrun and has been in UK 9 years so really I am well used to it. His partner V is 30 and has been there 4 years .( she's a Kiwi too! )

* Julieq...yes, I do keep busy  and it helps; you are right. 

* Thanks Thimleanna.

*Sal the park with the ducks is the swamp just across the main road from 195 -  S and M's place . I think you looked at a house section in the area just above this. You would certainly notice some changes around Tauranga.

This plump pregnant mantis was on the wall directly above my head when I woke up...I don't know where she thought she was going to make an egg raft but I quickly took her to the herb garden and suggested that wall might be a better choice.( cute eh? )

I found this on the orchard floor on Thursday. I tried putting it back up in the vine but don't know if the mother bird will return. It is so finely woven; look at the back of it .

Tomorrow we do the final pickof this season's avocados- just for local market sales as the export season has closed.The bins and hyraladas are here ready.

Now I need to go and process some veges. Excess tomatoes, beans and courgettes. I was thrilled to be able to swap some with a neighbor for eggs.

Autumn is really setting in the nights are cooler ( I can sleep better )and the daylight hours noticably shorter.

Trying to keep My Chin Up.

It was great while it lasted but the young ones have left to make their way up to Auckland to fly out Saturday. We have had a happy, fun, sunny 10 days with them and are so sad to say good bye, as they go back to the UK. BUT we have made plans....more of that in the future. So it is back to mundane routines and work around here which for me started with lawn mowing before breakfast to beat the heat.( mainy seed heads on the grass needed removing before they seed down and a general tidy up )The washings all done just the spare bed to remake.

The silverbeet is very healthy at the moment and was yummy as part of last night's dinner.

The quilting is making progress but is taking ages. About 2 thirds done now.

Some random photos taken in the last few days.

Bumble bee on Sedum.

Gallardia looking lovely

Rosehips mean it's Autumn.( on Complicata rose )

I visited these tame water birds when I had a walk on the way back from the supermarket.

D and N if you are reading an email with photos will be there soon.

Today I am a Mum trying to be brave, but also a mum very, very thankful that my J has found such a lovely partner to live with , love  and travel with in the future.( they intend returning to NZ at the end of 2011 ) After 2 years they are still happy to be together, so long may it last for them ( sniff sniff )