The Good, the Bad and the Very Smelly.

There is lots happening with the Kiwifruit at the moment. We are both working hard at bud thinning. Compost has been spread under the vines.

 Here the front end loader is filling the trailer which has a spreader on the back. While he spreads the next one gets filled up.

 Look at the ground level to see the compost being spread behind.

 The back view.

 It is VERY smelly and will be for the next few days.

 Note also in the middle photo the new yellow row numbers ( actually cattle ear tags )on the end post  that R has nailed to both ends of each row. So now as well as block numbers we have individual row numbers.( not names  for every plant yet! ) This will make identifying individual plants much easier. ( for a variety of reasons. ) 

PSA the disease that is attacking  Kiwifruit vines has made a small appearance on our orchard this week.

 I found a male vine with leaf spotting.( the 1st noticeable symptom )  The spots are straight edged not round and lie along the veins firstly.

 Yesterday afternoon our first job was removing all the branches with spotted  leaves. Capturing them in a large plastic sack for disposal; disinfecting our secateurs and loppers in meths as we went.

 You can see it doesn't look very bad or very obvious at this stage.

 This is how much we cut from this male vine.

Every cut has to be painted with red bacseal an anti bacterial paste.

 Any vines that are infected or suspect are identified with red ribbons, but the row numbers will help too. These marked vines will be monitored even more closely then the rest to see if the disease progresses and needs more removal. The good thing we found was there was NO red oose or other symptoms of die back or stripes on female flower buds.( at this time )We have quite a number of red ribbons hanging in different blocks to keep and eye on certain vines.

 Doing all this is time consuming but if it saves the vine and halts spread to it's neighbours we will do it. The vine we worked on yesterday is in the coldest, windiest spot in that block - conditions that suit PSA 

( strangely as it is a bacterial infection  - spread by touching; by wind; by rain splashes ;by birds; insects; on feet; on hands ; on clothing etc etc ! ).

 We spray our secateurs with meths after each vine we work on so both carry spray bottles with us.

 We are in an area called a containment area - we just manage any symptoms we have and try not to spread it around our orchard or to any body else's orchard. A high % of BOP orchards now have some vines with PSA. 

Some Quilty Bits.

Last weekend our P & Q Group had our rooms for our use all weekend. It is called a UFO weekend but anything goes. (One lady did complete several UFOS ) I made this prem baby sized quilt to be donated to the maternity hospital. They are put over the incubators and the Mum may take them home when baby goes home.( A little different and a little bigger from the SANDS quilts we have made before. ) It is only small. I am part way around sewing the binding down and it needs some more quilting. I like the Cherry Marschino ( Holly Holderman )fabric I used as backing.

 Another group of ladies used this time to make no sag bags.

 Seen here not all totally finished.They are large bags with an internal zipped pocket. I didn't care for the corners of the binding, but the bags did seems to stand up quite well. I believe the pattern for this No Sag Bag can be found on line.

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A word of CAUTION!  At our group yesterday we all laughed cause you can't really cry at this.

 Some years ago N had made this quilt for a member of her family. She used NZ wool batting.

 Without thinking to ask her about it's laundering needs they washed it. It shrunk and went wobbly edged. Since then it has been washed about 6 times - I suspect a dog used it as a blanket. It started life as a single bed sized quilt and look at it now.

 I think Australian wool batting may be pre shrunk? I have used that in quilts I use in this house but I am well warned  I would never put wool batting in any quilt I was giving away.  I suggested N had started a new graze for felted ruched quilts.

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 Something else we don't really "do" in NZ is Halloween. But retailers try to push it. One of our members M is having a party for her nephews and some kids in her street. She wanted to decorate her shed so had whipped up this quilt with red light eyes.

 We so much don't like the idea of kids going house to house for trick and treat that M has already asked a few neighbours will they go along with it and SHE is supplying them with the sweets etc. to give to the kids, and she will take them only to those pre arranged houses.

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 It is a long weekend here in NZ.( Labour weekend. ) Most of my time will be taken up with garden jobs. I have a very long list starting with mowing all the lawns, which are quite long and leaf littered.Planting and weeding to do too.Orange picking and nut collecting too. If it rains as it just might I have an indoor list too.

 Be happy!

Plants Are Battling Against the Wind.

 Plants are battling against the winds that seem to whip up every day this week. Working with the new growth on the kiwifruit is made harder as the wind whips the stem from my hand just as I am trying to so carefully pinch it's tip or thin it's flower buds.( a false move and it is destroyed ) It just makes it all take longer. Still other places in the country have had far worse winds and floods as well, so we know we got off lightly.

 Despite it all there are many bright spots around the garden as the Spring and early Summer flowers emerge. The roses are looking really pristine so far  - no bugs yet.

 The 1st Complicata rose flowers out.

 The bees are really enjoying Mutablis.

 A close up of the Blue flowering pea that has almost lost it's grip on the old trellis during the winds.

 A cheerful little pansy that deals with the wind better than with the rain.

 In the border where I have changed the edge I have thrown some packets of mixed seeds I was given and now have this little fragile flower that I don't recognise. Anyone know please?

 Here's the new edge I made - it has a few wobbles I will have to correct now R has sharpened my spade for me.

 Do you see where I have planted the light green and red lettuce seedlings? I have to find something for the gaps I have left. If I had put all lettuces that would be too many coming ready to eat all at once.I suppose if I can't think of anything else I could plant radish seed in the gap - I want something edible really.

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 During the wind and rain this week we have been to the movies twice. ( that always happens; we book for a second one while we are in the city.Yes, 2 movies this year and both in one week! )

 Thoroughly enjoyed " Mr. Pip" and thought it true to the book.

 Quite enjoyed "Gravity" in 3D  but it  wasn't as wonderful as the reviews made out. The special effects were amazing but the story line a bit too impossible for me to embrace.( what a shame to think of George Clooney lost out there in space! ) Both worth seeing .

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 I laid my flowers completed so far on the floor to select the green I wanted for number 5's stem and leaves.

 My plan was to use mainly blues, purples and greens with touches of pink and lemon. I want all the leaves to match their stems and will not be using every colour of the rainbow in them. I also wanted to use lots of my spotty fabrics and some stripes.

 I haven't really had much time to sew as we are really busy with the kiwifruit and the garden.

 Walnut tally shelled now 21.053 kgs.

 I will weigh the macadamias when we shell them too. Still picking them up.

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 I have a sewing weekend coming up at Club both days, so will be working on some charity quilts.

This is How.

Jennifer this is how we crack the macadamia nuts.

 Nut sitting in the jaws...

 Of this little device.

 When the handle is pulled down it closes the jaws which split the nut shell.

 The only other way I know of that works easily is to put the nut between the rubber of an outdoor doormat. ( the sort that has hard rubber bits held together with metal. ) and hit them with a hammer ( it stops the nut flying away when hit.) They must be completely dry first or they will just squash.

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 On Tuesday night and early Wednesday we had a stormy time with wind and rain. It had been forecast so I decided to pick this pretty little face.- a new Gladioli. ( nanus nathalie ) that my young ones gave me the bulbs for back in June. It was the first flower out and I wanted to enjoy it at close range rather than drag it's head from he dirt when spoiled. J and V it was much prettier than the photo on the packet.

 Today the sun is back out but things are wet. The up side is all the newer plantings seem to still be in the ground and have been watered.Unfortunately all yesterday morning was taken up doing the banklink and GST returns for 2 months and other office work. ( just as well it rains sometimes ) It was cold too but not as bad as I think Nicky is getting down South! Did you have more snow? 

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 Thank you to my bloggy friends who have left comments recently. I do love reading them. Thimbleanna - maybe you could set a rabbit trap or find someone with a gun, or cover your plants with netting - the rabbits shouldn't win!

 Molly I am sure everyone is busy - maybe I just report on different things than some others, because of where I live and the area of land around us and so many growing things.

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 D and N if you are reading this, one of us will soon reply to your last email. We just don't know the answer to your question as yet. Apparently it is all "off" again - so no we won't be taking any trips it seems.

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Leanne I keep a notebook similar to yours for grocery items. How far back do you make the comparisons? We have a place called Grandma's fridge which is similar to your store. That's another story cause this is a new fridge which stands where Grandma's Freezer used to be.

It's Good to be Busy....

It's good to be busy but not much sewing has happened lately as Spring has sprung and the outside jobs take precedence  Flower # 4 above is finished, but is supposed to have a coloured centre which I will not decide on till I am putting the blocks together. ( probably yellow or pink I think ) I hang the completed blocks on a hanger in the cupboard to keep them flat and all together.
 The last 10 days or so I have been back in the orchard - crush tipping the first new growth and cutting out the dead  bits the pruners lazily left. New  sunblock had to be purchased but already I have a white watch and gloves design on my forearms. Over head there is no shade at the moment so it gets really hot mid afternoon.
 The weekends have been even busier or at least harder work; digging and weeding and cutting out and cutting back and all those sort of jobs.( how can honeysuckle smell so good but be such a b...er to cut out and get rid of ? ) I have tucked my strawberry plants in with straw.( and the netting surround stops the wind blowing it and makes it difficult for the birds to steal as bedding material )

 They have flower buds.

 I keep planting out new short rows of lettuce as we often have salad at lunch time. The first row is disappearing fast. Sometimes I have a struggle with myself when they look so nice and fresh and green that I don't want to pick them, but it only lasts a few seconds as I know the younger they are picked the sweeter they will be. I can have the leaves picked washed and in out mouths in less then 5 minutes!

 This is looking from the other direction.the 3rd row. For the next rotation I am preparing somewhere else. I spent Sunday afternoon spading /cutting away an edging along a flower garden - it needed straightening out. In the ground I have gained an new border is required and I decided,  a partially edible one would look good. Those green lettuce leaves are really attractive so why not use those interspersed with some low flower plants.and some red frilly lettuces too. ( photos when complete )

 I have done the 2nd macadamia nut collection and will do the 3rd today or tomorrow. here they are spread out on the trolley ( Dolly ) . R is helping peel the outer green shell off then they lie in the sun to dry out.

 here is the 1st lot.

 I took this photo of my extra narrow strip of garden cause the early morning sunlight was making the coloured stems of the silver beet ( chard ) shine so brightly.

 At this end are my first 3 capsicum plants.

 Shelled walnut count 20,266 kgs.

The Winds ( of Time ) Blow Strongly.

Always at this time of the year we get winds. Sometimes strong destructive winds. Yesterday was like that. At times it was hard to stand upright, especially if you had a big head and not much support.... like these cerise ixias. 

 It was difficult to walk as my friend D (from P & Q )and her friend J who came to visit found out. Every Saturday afternoon D goes and collects J from the home she lives at and takes her on an outing. J can't remember D's name or that it is Saturday. J likes gardens and colour( so do I ). I had invited D to bring J out to visit again and we would walk down the orchard and pick oranges for her to take back and share with the other residents where she lives. It was an appalling day weather wise but we did it anyway. Several times we went backwards instead of forwards as gust of wind raced around corners and through gaps in the hedges. J says she likes to walk ....but is oh so slow.  ( and she stops and forgets to get going  again) She held the bag open while D picked oranges into it. On the way back I carried a big bag around my neck for support and D and J carried the other bag. I suggested they thread the handles of their bag through  the umbrella  and each hold an end. This proved a great idea cause then J had to walk at the same ( slower than usual ) pace we walked. Usually if you want her to walk with you you need to thread your arm through hers.

 We came back and washed and bagged the oranges then had afternoon tea. That's the sort of thing J can't remember - did she have it already? J knows she had 2 brothers ( still has ) and 2 sons but gets their names mixed up. She knows she was a teacher once.

 She always says I think I have been here before, which is now true cause she has, but was not so on her first visit.

 I said to her," I think you enjoyed coming to our quilt exhibition last Saturday ?"  D went and got her for a couple of hours and she sat on a chair by the sales table and just watched.

" Yes, I did, " she replied. " I like the colours  in the quilts. So I went home and made a couple. " ( not true )

 J remembers to say please and thank you and appears to be happy with her lot. I hope she is. The last 3 times I have been with her she has worn exactly the same clothes. I hope someone washes them for her or reminds her to change. She may be younger than D and myself. I must find out from someone else. It serves as a lesson in humility for me and makes be very thankful for being fully mobile and having all my senses ( well, I think I do )

 Unlike my little pea plants which are self supporting and withstanding the strong winds ...

... Some more vulnerable need help.

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 Other garden photos I took this morning. 

 Nasturtiums keeping low to the ground under the leaves are surviving.

 Arctotis have new flowers every few days and always look cheerful.

 The NZ Rata bushes are out and looking lovely as there is little in their needle like flowers for the wind to catch hold of.

 All the orchids have fairly strong stems and seem untroubled by the winds that blow.

Exhibition Photos - Wall hangings.

 The hanging on the left was closely quilted over raw edge appliqué. The pattern was purchased in Taupo.
 On the right D made this hanging called Sudoku when she managed to get her first puzzle out.
 At the bottom these tiles were made at Taupo Symposium in a class with Michelle Hill.

 J made this lovely hanging from doilies and cloves from op shops.

 L made this attractive picture ( sorry about the reflection ) at a class at Symposium in Taupo. It is made with organza and cut away using a heat iron. A steady hand needed and the ability to know when to stop.

 The lilies were bright and appealing.

 You know who made this Patterned Landscape.

 Finally a very appealing small quilt made by P.

 The colours were fabulous( especially the pink ) and the curve was repeated in the quilting.

Exhibition Photos 2

 S's quilt was amazing and very well made and as she has a computerised quilting machine the quilting was faultless

 One of these was by the same lady the other by her Mum - they both have fabulous quilting machines and do quilting for other patchworkers.

 My photo may not be doing justice to the soft yummy colours of R's quilt.

I loved the colours in M's 30 Blue Moons.

 The pink squares certainly popped in this on .( I think it would have benefited from another row longways. )

 D's string quilt looked good finished. She has some of my strings in there. We all share when someone needs extra to finish something.

 My Lightning Strike looked a bit lost as it was small and hung too high.

 This jelly roll quilt was just that, diagonal placing of the jelly roll strips.

                             The fabrics were nice so she didn't cut them up.

 I haven't met the maker of  this beautiful quilt depicting her Dutch Ancestry. She  is a new member to our group, and attends on a Tuesday night when I don't.  . The workmanship and colours were very, very nice. The quilting had been done using the quilt as you go method, on each block. She didn't come to the show so I wasn't able to tell her How much I liked her quillt.

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