Quilt Blocks and Glimpses of Nature.

 Yesterday I posted off my 2 log cabin blocks to Donna in Tennessee to put in the quilt she is making up for  gifting to folk affected by Sandy. I hope they get to her in time. They all had to have that black border around the outside so all the blocks would have a common element.

 Yesterday I also had a close encounters with  this fellow an NZ weta ; a large headed weta or (  hemideina megacephala - neat name ! ). ( no I didn't know that I just looked it up ) It was in the porch on my old outside broom  At first he appeared to be asleep and  I took him out side in the light to photograph. He just looked up & stretched. Later he had wandered off. 

 Yesterday afternoon while working with the kiwifruit I looked up to notice this nest amongst the leaves and kiwifruit flower buds

 It was above my head so difficult to photograph. I held the camera up there where I thought it could view inside the nest.

 The outside of the tiny, tiny nest appears to be plant roots. The inside feathers and something shiny and silky and soft.

 Only one very pale blue egg ( so far ). Now I want to know which bird this belongs to. I have looked in my ( old now )Fiat Common Book of Birds, and nothing seems totally correct. It  has to be a tiny bird. Maybe a Chaffinch or a Goldfinch but more likely by the size a Silver eye ( wax eye ). The egg colour is wrong for a grey warbler. Maybe I just have to keep visiting and watch.

Today is dull with odd skiffs of drizzle. R is off mowing the avocado blocks as we are supposed to be picking avocados for export on Monday. The forklift and bins are here ready...it will be weather dependant. I wanted to work in the garden. I have weeding to do and plants and seeds to plant. I think with a rain jacket on I'll be okay.

 We are now on the list of  kiwifruit orchards with some early symptoms of psa. Many orchards in our area found symptoms at the same time as we did. the weather today is just what is NOT needed. We need warmth and sunshine.Come on Mother nature help us here please. 

Staring At the Sun.

It's cloudy today; luckily not so yesterday when we both spent some time staring at the sun through welder's glass. Here are my strange photos of the solar eclipse.

 Taken through welder's glass. 

 A strange aura created by my camera.

 One of my star rays. You can just make out the dark shape of the trees.

 This is R's best shot taken just near the end of the eclipse.

Garden Pleasure.

We had 23 mls of rain over night. Thank you.

 Charles Austin ( my favourite if I have to pick one ) rose is flowering. Of the many roses I have if it had to be just one, this would be it. It has lovely buds, good full out blooms and full rich rose perfume.It is  sturdy & and easy to grow. ( I must do a count up out of curiosity to see how many roses I am growing .)

 This deciduous Azalea is making a big splash of colour in the front border. It's smell nearly knocks one sideways .

Also in the orange, yellow lime spectrum is this end of the border.

 Further along the lupins planted last year are now doing well , here in front of Sally Holmes rose.

 Unfortunately Sally has a problem. Luckily it is a large hardy rose so it only makes her look unsightly.

 Bronze beetles are eating her and a few other things. They are cunning little blighters and drop to the ground when disturbed. I have to have one hand underneath to catch them then squash them...but I never get them all and each season they re emerge from the soil below and start chewing again.

 Look closely to see one crawling along on the right hand petal. I cannot spray or use insecticide on them as there are too many bees around and bees are our essential friends in the garden and the orchard.

In my small triangular vege patch down from the house my peas and beans are doing well.

 We have been working hard in the orchard, the first few flowers are out so bee hives in shortly. I am now helping with zero pruning as my flower thinning is completed. There is plenty to do and this just stops tendrils from tangling and climbing ( which makes next winters pruning difficult ) and wastes the plants resources.

 Yesterday Bay Drilling came and put in a new deep hole for us . The old one was almost full and we want somewhere deep to dispose of the leaves and canes with signs of psa.( We are still finding odd canes or leaves with early signs )

Last night I sat up late and sewed blocks for the quilts for "Sandy, " suffers. ( see Bumble Beans site ).

 I have also made 2/3 of a wee Ella bag, I'll show it when it's finished. It has been put together in 10 minutes snatched sewing times.

 This morning I have made the first stage of my Christmas cakes.( I make a double mixture and divide it between tins and loaf tins ) Why so early?  My recipe has fresh orange zest and juice in it and our lovely oranges are nearly all gone; so now was best.

Thursday Already.

 Having been sent a photo of a Passionfruit flower from my Son's garden I thought I should show this little wall hanging by Sonya Prchal. It won first in the professional wall hanging category at the Festival of Quilts.

 I also liked this quilt by Jane Bennett - Moontide.

 It used beautiful Japanese themed fabrics.

 Otamuri Memories by Wendy Ballard , portrayed a typical NZ Summer scene with pohutukawa tree.

 There were other quilts and wall hangings I liked but that will do for now.

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 Life in the orchard becomes more difficult daily. I am too good at detecting early signs of psa disease. Everywhere we find a small patch of either half browned fruit buds or tiny square spots on leaves. It has to be cut out, bagged and disposed of. Secateurs into a bucket of meths paint on cut. We are getting quite proficient at it. ( it's rather repetitive ) So far we have not got a huge problem but it is scattered across a larger area than we have hoped. Every place we find some, gets a long red ribbon hung from the wire so we can find the exact spot and recheck it. Block 1 is starting to take on a Christmas tree appearance -  streamers everywhere, Bugger!  R is finding some suspect sites in block 2 b as well which are also marked. Luckily Block 4 over by the avocados seems to be clear. 2a and 3 need rechecking.

 It is bad to be cutting off fruit buds just about to flower but it is the time factor which is alarming us. It is adding to our daily work load. So far today I have not been down the orchard ( putting my head in the sand for a little while and doing other tasks. )

 It's strange really cause everything else in the garden has thrived with the high rainfall and cool Spring temps.( cool temps and lots of rain increase the risks of getting psa bacterial disease in Kiwifruit We think it is spread by wind and birds and insects and on vehicles and people's clothing and machinery and who knows what else ! )

 The roses are looking lovely, some that in past years had struggled.  I sure it was the extra rain.that helped them.

 This rose is Pink Sparrieshoop. It has beautiful stamens and a delicate perfume.I have them in a vase on the sideboard with a yellow wall behind and they look so good.

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A Quilter's Day Out. Part 2

Wall hangings that took my eye were:-

Framed Fronds by Mary Rose Scott. This is part of a triptych. Each flower was different but the leaves the same. They were mounted on board ,(so not technically a 3 layered quilt ). I hope I got the maker right as there was another set of 3 elsewhere in the exhibition.

 Let's Party, by Rosemary Rush was the entry I liked best of the 22 in the Challenge. "Celebration," where a selected piece of fabric had to be used.

 There was also a display of  last year's Hoffman Challenge. The entry I liked best was Beyond the Garden Gate, by Susan Worthington.  For my eye it would have worked even better if it had been set slightly to one side . It was also disappointing to notice one entry was almost a copy from a previous year. Entries are to be original.

 Anne Joule 's entry in the mixed media section called Forest Floor was well done.

 It was the detail of the water and on the leaves that I admired in Rosemary Rush's, Feathered Friend.

 

 Lynne O'Donell had started this in a class with Chris Kenna. It so said Chris Kenna I didn't need to read the label. It is called Across the Sea to Hill and Sky.( Well done both pupil and teacher - I love it! )

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 I will perhaps put up one more lot of photos from the exhibition,  - next post.

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 Up till now I had not mentioned what was happening in the orchard. Unfortunately we have detected the first symptoms of PSA vine disease in our kiwifruit. Late yesterday I came across the 2nd patch( in the same block )  showing early symptoms, so this morning we have both been down in block 1 carefully cutting out the patch of canes showing signs. Every scrap of it goes into a large plastic sack to be burnt or buried. Each final cut is done with secateurs disinfected with meths and the wounds / cuts sealed with protective paint. It takes ages to do and has to be done trying not to touch any other uninfected plant.

 I wonder how bad this is going to be for us ? ( the flower buds will be opening in about a week, a few already are )

 There are very few orchards in our area now that have not got some vines showing symptoms. We are hoping with careful scrupulously clean methods we can contain it.

A Quilter's Day Out.

Again this year our group took a bus to Auckland to the Auckland Festival of Quilts. ( known in previous years as Calico Christmas )

 Here are a few of the bigger quilts I liked.

 Moon Shadows by Anne Joule ( detail in top photo ). It was English paper piecing at it's best and hand quilted; made from  men's ties.

For Lisa with love by Anne Robertson.

"Gaia," by Maria van Buel.

 Mike and Becca's quilt by Christina Jones.

 Anna Breytenbach had several quilts again this year that won prizes . She has used a technique called rouleaux inserts and borders.seen here in the detail

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There are some other photos of her quilts ( one which won Best of Show ) on this site and still more photos of this show on this site.( on her Saturday's post )

 I will have more on my next post -  wall hangings I liked.

 PS. We had a great day out as usual!

Reviving Cuppa

Anyone who knows me in person is aware that my first choice of things to drink is black coffee, not too strong ( Americana ), but only before mid day. Today I spent almost all day in the city, a rare occurrence for me these days but I had a long shopping list and as we have been so busy it had been put off several times. Today, our 3rd in a row of lovely warm days, had to be the day.......much was accomplished. By late afternoon with the supermarket still to tick off the list I was flagging. Fortunately this supermarket has a cafe attached so a pot of green tea with ginger and lemon was ordered. ( my favourite tea at the moment ) It came with a glass to drink it out of which was very pleasantly fat - sort of 2 layers I think, a small jug of cold water so I wouldn't have to wait for it to cool and a timer. When 3 minutes was up it was ready to pour. It had more than 2 glasses full in it and was just what I needed.
          I have to say that all the shop assistants today were very very helpful and pleasant - I think the shops are hurting and are grateful for any custom. My little effort will have helped a tiny bit perhaps...but I have learned I have days when I can shop successfully and days when I can't find a dam thing I want or like. As I ended up carrying several shopping bags that may have helped....maybe they thought, wow she is buying not just looking.

                                   ********

 Isn't this a beauty ?  Ages ago I planted caulis, broccoli, sprouts ( ha ha ;remember those pea sized things! ) and cabbage. We ate the first cauli back on July 25 and the last 2 are ready now after all this wait but what beauties they are. When it is this crisp, it's even nice raw . Even nicer with cheese and mustard sauce.

 Little roses for Liz if she is reading this. I have been thinking of you all and will remember you especially tomorrow.

 I am thinking also of any of my blogging friends who are facing a dreadful clean up after SANDY.

Gardening Weekend.

Tritonias looking lovely. I have orange ones in another area which are much brighter. I prefer these pale beauties which look delicate, but aren't. 

A whole fine weekend meant we were able to do many gardening jobs.

This terracotta pot  got a makeover. In the centre is a blue Salvia which I hope will gain a little height before it flowers. Around it are lime coloured petunias and low growing blue lobelia. I have also planted a few nasturtium seeds which I want to climb the frame.( which colour I will get is a lottery ).

 Behind it a very in your face coloured cactus . ( not my favourite colour but it does well - it's old )

 I weeded a large area of the driveway on Saturday afternoon - the weather was positively Summery. Not so today....back to dull and cloudy, with odd glimpses of sun. We had a few gentle showers in the night and the 8.5 mls will water new plantings for us.

 R has almost got his new garden area down by the bell full with potatoes, kumara, shallots and the last few yams I remembered to save. They are never for sale as tubers to plant ( like potatoes ) and I always forget to save some before they all get eaten. I am quite surprised that where I grew my few last year some plants are appearing - I guess I must have missed some little ones. I will leave them and see what they do

 This little compact growing rhododendron called Cary Anne, got a ride in the wheel barrow 2 years ago and now is out near the front gate. It is obviously happy to be there and it gets seen. It was previously growing in the area of our garden that used to surround the dam that got trashed with the landslide. Gradually we are rescuing some of the plants that were left and relocating them as we don't wish to try and look after that large area that is no longer a feature, but is reverting to nature in the form of a mostly placid little creek strewn with logs and wild flowers and rushes and weeds.  Still more clearing needs doing here so it can be kept mown and tidy ( that only happens when we can fit it into our busy schedule )

 All my vegetable plantings are doing well. I now have beans up and the netting cover is keeping birds especially pukekos off. R erected a big wind break cloth fence around his new area.

At the moment I am reading "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, " by Barbara Kingsolver. ( of Poisonwood Bible fame ) . I have known about this book for ages. Has anyone else read it? What did you think ?

 The parts about Monsanto and what is happening with food crops in USA is very, very disturbing.

It is the journal of her family's year as they try to live off what they grow or locally grown produce for a year. It challenges the world's attitude to food and farming...really makes one think about what we are doing ( or the big boys  are doing to) our world and the food chain. it is quite humorous in parts and has some recipes the family devised.

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Thanks and Little Ruru.

Thank you all for the great response to my request.
 # 3 seems to be the winner by a narrow margin from # 6. I personally liked 3 then 5 then 6. R liked 3 and 6.
 I have always intended to make a jewel box design quilt as I have liked the ones I have seen. I will need to do some checking up but # 6 layout reminds me of that. In which case I will make another quilt in that design with selected batik or beautiful fabrics not scraps as I have here. ( I haven't had any further sewing time as we worked yesterday )
                                   *******
Little Ruru ( Morepork )
 Last evening just after dark we were in different rooms but both heard a muffled thump in the back porch direction. This little fellow a Ruru or Morepork had flown into the window and knocked itself out.

 It's heart was still beating but we feared a broken neck.

 We were ever so gentle. It's head wasn't flopping so that was hopeful. It seems semi conscious after a few minutes so we laid him on the wooden seat turned the lights out and went back inside.

 Some time later I went to check. I had to turn the lights on.... His claws were not quite right yet but the eyes were open.

He  ( she ? ) peeped at me through a container that was between us. I moved and whoosh it was off.

 I do so hope it is fully recovered today. I have never touched one before and as it it is my favourite night bird I was really concerned and delighted once it flew off . Up close the eyes are quite remarkable.

 We have had a visiting one many years ago that came to look in my son's window . He had been drawing a very realistic portrait of one for a conservation poster so we wondered if that had attracted the live one.

 We know lots live around here as we have many night time concerts. Sometimes 2 replying to each other. Sometimes on just hopefully calling and calling.

Which Quilt Layout?

I could write a post about the weather; it has been so varied and unpredictable, with a small earthquake thrown in, but just 2 sentence will do. The weather sucks!
 I want to ask your advice and opinion please. 
Which of the following 6 layouts is most pleasing to the eye? I could live with all of them but have two I favour more than the other 4. ( my knees are worn out crawling around the carpet changing these, so I won't look for more feasibilities. ) ( but suggest them if you like and think I have missed a really good one! )

 This is # 1. 

Yes it has an obvious mistake in it. No I'm not being Amish I just didn't spot it till the photo was taken.

 This is # 2. ( it's one the other way around corrected )

 This is # 3. ( also with a mistake at the end of the front purple row )

( Using my camera as a quilting tool is a plus! )

 This is # 4. The obvious mistake in it REALLY stands out.

 This is # 5. ( it is the same idea as 4 but is in colour rows. )

 This is # 6.

 Thanks in advance. Here in NZ we have a long weekend. If the weather allows some gardening will take place. I am tired of thinning kiwifruit buds so none of that.( my neck needs to look down for a while ) Some reading; blog reading and sewing on another small project. I probably will need to do some cooking too. Can I get all that done in the 2.5 days I have left. We'll see. I hope you all have a happy weekend.