Show and Tell.

Today at Patchwork and Quilting Group we had Rosemary Heath talk to us about Indonesian fabrics including samples of Polong, Songket and Ikat and where she had got them from and  how they are made.

 There was quite a bit of Show and Tell today after the break for holidays. I was able to show my finished dressing table runner which turned out well. Looks quite at home on the dining room table as well.

 My first completed project for 2020.

A Little Sewing.

At Katipatch a fortnight ago I bought a couple of fabrics I really liked.
 I am using one to make a dressing table runner.

The photo doesn't show off the shine all the dots have. It sparkles.

( in fact it kills the fabric's appeal ) 

 I have edged it with a fabric that also has sparkly spots.   I made the ends wider to get the length I wanted and I am putting appliqué seahorses at each end.

 I think I will back and bind it with the green fabric.

 I am at the stage of sewing them down.

( You can almost see the sparkle in this shot )

 I am pleased with how it is going so far and it is a quick project to get me back to patchwork/ sewing / quilting.

Still no useful rain. The proper lawn grass is the colour of this type. We have kikuyu  on some areas (and rubbish grass) which has stayed green. It is making gardening very tricky as we don't want plants to die. I am saving all sorts of used water for it.

Final Airing.

Today I went up to Katikati to the final Garden Party at Katipatch. ( see my sidebar for website ).
 Like here, it was extremely windy. So photos were a bit of a challenge.

My choice of the quilts hanging outside. I love Dragonflies.

 Inside this quilt had lots of discussion about how the perfection was achieved. ( we think with an embroidery machine or a computer generated pattern.the stitching was just so perfect.) However it was done it would still have taken a long time.

 ( quilts had no notation ) 

(click to enlarge )

 As always it was a great place to meet like minded friends both from our club and further away.I saw Linda ( Razzle Dazzle Quilter ) from Taupo who used to have a blog by that name but now is still on Instagram. She is still quilting for others so if you need a quilt finished call her..

 Food was yummy but served on paper plates a challenge! As for hats that were a bit loose!!

 I hope Carol made good sales as she and Eddie spend hours preparing for the event.

Back to Ordinary Gardening and Reading

 I am thrilled with the first of these flowering. There was a little thrip damage on the bottom flower ( so I pulled it off ) but still lovely. I have 6 of these green Gladioli dotted along a narrow bed against a retaining wall out the side of the house. Also there are other flowers in lemon, yellow, blue, white and orange.

 cosmos.

 I was weeding along this garden yesterday and things are really struggling with the dry even tho I have been watering them. I can't remember when we had any meaningful rain.

 Over our long anniversary weekend we did get to go to the Mt. Lioness's Used book sale.

 14 adult paperbacks ,4 kids books and a jigsaw for $27. ( that's not even the price of one new paperback.) Amazing value. There will be another Rotary book sale at Easter so this might last us till then.

Trying to Not Get Bogged Down.

Today was my second go this Summer of pulling seedling Mangroves at the bottom of our property.
 Obviously it has to be low tide. Hopefully cloudy ( was yesterday ) so not too hot.
 My tools of trade are these.

 At home remove rings, watch etc so they can't fall into the mud. Even a hat can get wafted away so no hat. Leave phone and drink in shade  on land near workplace.

 This is today's haul laid in the sun on the grass to get mowed up.Some are small trees.

 Others tiny seeds just making root.( several hundreds here ) 

There seem to be far more than last year. I went and redid places I did last year to make sure they stay clear. Only stand where you are not sinking. If there is something to hold onto all the better. Keep moving your feet so you don't sink.Its great where we have put gravel.

 Some neighbours do the same most don't. But out frontage along the water is nicer than theirs.We also spent a lot early on with rocks to retain the edge.

 It will always be an ongoing task but we want the waterway to stay open and clear as when its nice its really nice.

 Sorry up wrong way - this shows my side clear. See my footprints.

 There are plenty of nearby spots with mangroves for young fish to hide.

 I also found this dis-guarded Canadian goose egg in the long grass - something had pecked it long since and it looks mummified.( good riddance! Canadian geese are filthy things...so much poo everywhere on the grass.)

I'm  feeling quite virtuous after my effort (and I didn't get bogged or fall over! ) 

 R did some yesterday too with a push hoe.

Everyday Stuff.

As no small people were here to eat them, this lovely pick of strawberries got turned into this.

 The corn harvesting has begun.

 R and I prefer to put the cobs with this much wrapping left on into the microwave for 2 minutes each cob. They can of course be peeled and boiled for a short while( looses some of the goodness into the water )

 The addition of butter and some pepper makes it ready to eat for me!

 The annual jigsaw got finished. On this occasion I did about 75% of it( as it was on the table at my place ) Usually son J does most, but that only happens if they are staying over here.

 It was slightly easier than some 1000 piece ones we have done previously.

 The wind is causing havoc here ( and world wide ) so we are watering and securing and tying down.

 The tomatoes and beans are being picked frequently and courgettes pile up in the fridge.Its hard to get the amount to grow of things just right. Still some can be given away.

Happenings Here.

During the last week or so the Grandsons and their parents have been here doing various things. Son set  his net out across the stream beyond the estuary. Here he is at low tide ( about 7.30 pm ) going across the mud to get to the stream..

 Early next morning he retrieved the net 

and it's contents.

 The Parore were thrown back and 1 flounder and 2 yellow eyed mullet and 2 small kahawai were kept.

The flounder was pan fried in butter - very fresh and tasty. 

The others were soaked in brine and smoked but proved to be too salty , so J will try again.

4 year old Grandson( seen in the 3 above photo as the fishing helper and messenger )  has picked the butter beans he grew several times. He knows how to plant the seed, care for the plants, pick the beans, top and tail the beans then  Nanny ( me ) cooks them and we all eat them.

 Smaller grandson can build quite high towers ( for a 16 month old ).  R made all the wooden toys seen here. 

 He is keen to hit balls too. Seen here being shown a suitable grip.

 Then trying it out.

 I hope 2020 means we are all going to see clearly what we should do this year.

 Happy New Year!

Season's Greetings.

        Friends gave us these lovely flowers yesterday.

Our weather forecast says rain tomorrow but never mind...we'll have to stay inside.

Wishing You All a Merry Christmas.

Down the Garden Path.

Last evening quite late I went for a walk down our garden path to the water as the tide was in.
Come and have a look.

The Albizia tree is in flower. ( there is a rustic seat under it and the jetty to the left. ) It looks like this close up.

Very peaceful down there when it's not windy. A lovely calm evening.

 Some colourful flowers are out in the garden.

dahlia  hypnotica 

hydrangea

Hebe Wiri Charm

dahlia 

Hydrangea

Its our 52nd Anniversary today. ( how did we have time to get married at this time of the year.....ahhhh things were at a slower pace back then  - NZ closed for the weekend.)

A Finish and Gardening

The felt ball with teapot motifs is finished and being wrapped in my sister's Christmas present along with the usual book and other bits. ( That was ball # 29. I wonder if I'll ever make ball # 30 ? )

Grandson's little garden is doing well. His beans are flowering the radishes already eaten ( by the adults ) and the peas are climbing the frame R put in for him.

 For a 4 year old he has considerable garden knowledge and loves helping and picking and preparing things we and he grow. He eats almost every vegetable which is great  and every fruit I can think of.

Here he is eating the biggest strawberry we picked on Wednesday.

The first scarlet runners have set on my beans.

It's always good to see the feijoa trees flowering well...come April we will be enjoying the fruit.

 My flowers are all doing well. The dahlias are out I will show you the pics next time 

The Garden.

We had quite good rain the night before last and the garden got watered which is a help. There are many bright spots and I have been working hard to keep it all weeded and pruned and leaves picked up and generally growing well. 

 Abraham Derby smells so good but the heads droop with the weight of the rain.

 Its neighbour in the same patch holds its heads up easier. It is Golden Wedding which was a gift from my sister when we moved here. It lived with her in a bucket for some time so is flourishing now it's roots have room to spread.

The dianthus are all doing well. Carnations are my favourite flowers so any members of that family that do well are a delight.

Dancing Queen.

I've been training and tipping the grape vine and little grapes are now setting.

 It is quite a long vine near the house. We cut the other 4 out as it was just too much upkeep and the birds took all the grapes. This one I am prepared to net if I have to.

 R chose these gazanias when we were at the garden centre. ( I already had pink ones nearby ) They are growing atop a wall near the clothes line and are looking very bright. They open and shut with the daylight.

The native Renga Renga lilies in front of the Photinia hedge are out.

( Sideways sorry )

Things in the vege garden are starting to produce and we have enjoyed a couple of yummy stir-fries of them.

 There is always plenty to do with such a large garden, but I love doing it. 

*****

 Thank you ladies for your kind comments on the previous post. The ball is almost finished. I am saving the last few rounds of chain stitch to do at P and Q next week. I haven't any other hand stitching on the go so need something to do during that time as well as talking.