Group Celebration.

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Today has been a SPECIAL DAY.******

The Tauranga Patchwork and Quilters Group that I belong to celebrated it's 20 th Birthday. ********* !!!!!!

We presented the 4 Foundation members, who were able to be with us ( 3 still attend regularly, one was back as a guest )with a spray of flowers to wear. Each took turns at showing us their first quilts and telling us their memories of 20 years ago. Others members then took turns at showing us their first or early quilts. (Some of course like me no longer own their first efforts but early works were fine.) Quilts from the group now live in many countries of the world as well as parts of NZ.

The 4 special guests ( Pam, Aylmer Nan and Jenni ) then cut the Birthday cake. 40 plus members were present and the other half of the group who meet on a Tuesday evening are going to have a similar celebration next Tuesday night.

. There were many lovely quilts to look at( one still as a flimsy after 20 years!!! )

In the photo of the cake cutting there is a quilt on the wall that has friendship blocks made by some early quilters of whom at least 2 are no longer with us. The owner really treasures having a block made by them to keep.

There were also many photos displayed for us to enjoy ( and giggle at ).

What a lovely lot of happy quilters, I am privileged to spend time with. We did all enjoy our day. Members of our group range in age from early 30s to 80s, and we all have a common bond.

Records, References and Lists.

Records, references and lists are very useful things - I love them; use them and KEEP them. I think most of us do to some extent. Photos old and new are a visual record, and although I often don't like how I look in them I keep them as a record.

This old picture is of me at about age 5. I can tell that cause I still have my baby teeth and my hair long. I am wearing a dark red dress hand knitted by my Mum. My elder sister had one the same. Photos help me to remember events and times past, because I have looked at those same photos many, many times - each time restoring the moment - it helps reinforce that memory.

I am writing about this today cause I see that I have written 300 posts. (that seems quite amazing ).Blogging is a modern form of record and I love it and all it offers. When I was young I know I kept a diary on and off but got rid of them at some stage partly because I either didn't like what I had written or more likely how I had written and spelt it. ( shame really )

I know it was because I didn't like my own handwriting, no matter how many times I wrote , "A quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog." - which we did daily in Form 1 and 2.( in cursive handwriting ) When I was in my first year of teaching , the school I was at had a school style that was taught - script, and I had to quickly learn it and use it on the blackboard and in everything I wrote for the kids in my standard 2 and 3 class. I practised it and liked it and became good at it and use a version of it to this day - I now LIKE my own writing.

I have printed out my Blog from the very beginning so have a hard copy to keep as a record. I have already had occasion to use it as a reference.

Other records I keep are in list form. All the books I have read since 1982.The usual list of birthdays ,deaths etc.I have a record now, of major purchases, we've made: what: when and from where and price as well as the guarantee. When we need to know when the roof was last painted or the septic tank emptied I can look that up too.

For the orchard DH or R keeps Weather Records. Maximum and minimum temperatures, rainfall measured in a gauge and emptied early each morning, and wind if present. We have been delighted to record over 2

" of much needed rain in the last 2 days. THANK YOU MOTHER NATURE. We have noticed that at almost the same time last year the same pattern occurred in the weather.

I keep letters too. Some from family now gone.Others are not so old.( I can tell because I printed it out and kept it ) that I wrote my first ever email on the 29 th of July 2001.; to my younger son in London. His going there was the reason we first had to be on line. He is still there are we both write and send photos back and forth frequently. I have kept many email and photos for him in case in the future he wants them as a record since he left NZ.

Sometimes records and letters are so treasured; like the ones written by ancestors when they first made the journey from UK to NZ. We have some of those.

Are any of you record keepers? Why?

Now I should go and back up some of my computer files especially the photos as I haven't done that in a while.

Thanks to all those who leave me helpful and encouraging comments!

How Busy is Too Busy?

I'm glad I had that afternoon in the shade - I haven't had time to go back there since ! ( that was a week and a half ago )

I always think it is good to be busy, but sometimes it gets a bit much....haven't even been to the computer for 2 days - hate that.

* our fridge has been being incontinent for the last few weeks - we can't fix it so it went to hospital today. ( Leanne we might end up doing what you did )

*Some more feathers have been hand sewn at night.

*There is nothing old denim left in this house to cut into circles - looks like a heap of blue crepes ( pancakes ) 26 so far.

*Is someone able to tell me why the photos on my blog shift back to the top no matter where I insert them?

*has anyone uploaded the programme that allows you to print out your blog without side bars, headers etc?

*now something quilty.

Last Friday at our group, 2 members demonstrated 3 ways to make Cathedral Windows. They showed some articles they had made using them. I made a sample because I have never done it before and always like to learn when there is an opportunity.I choose the all by hand method.

1. Using a 9" square of plain fabric iron over 1/4 seam all round( wrong side facing up )Fold the square diagonally and iron a wee crease in the middle . Then fold the opposite diagonal and iron another crease ( to find and mark the exact middle )

2. Fold each corner into the middle so it looks like 4 envelope flaps.Press.

3.Secure the centre by hand stitching 2 tiny crosses. Stitch only the flaps not through the back layer of fabric. Keep corners sharp.

4. Make a second one the same, then lay them face to face flaps in. Join one seam using blanket or whip stitch.

5. Fold out and measure the size of the square formed in the middle. ( 2" in my case ) Cut a square that size of fancy fabric and pin it in the space you measured.

6.Roll the surrounding borders over the window and using tiny stitches start at one corner and sew the 2 edges together till you cover the feature fabric, then sew the curtain to the feature fabric till you get to the next corner then repeat till your curtain is secured all the way around the window. ( see photo for stages )

7. You then make as many of these as you require in rows , then sew the rows together.

8. As this has no batting it is suitable for cushions, table runners, bags, etc.

My Seat in the Shade.

* The bush fire news in Australia is terrifying. My heart goes out to all those who have lost loved ones and homes.The flooding in the northern region is also bad. What a land of extremes. Do take care all my friends across the ditch, you are special to me and I hope you and your families stay safe. *

* We have had a very little rain overnight - about 3 mls- but hoping for more.That meant wet vines so I've been to the supermarket and am having a wee catch up.*

* NZ had a 3 day weekend - of which I worked pretty solidly for 2.5 days. Sunday afternoon I took off.Off chores that is, and having just cleaned my red seat under the Copperbeech tree of cobwebs and bird poo, I escaped out there for most of the afternoon. It is dappled shade and for some of the time there was a breeze. I hand sewed feathers, ( on the Jewelled Bird Quilt, ) and only moved to get drinks. DH came with the camera and snapped me relaxing - for the record. So it does happen sometimes.*

Sewing and Cooking.

Yesterday was the hottest day so far this Summer. ( 33 degrees C ) That didn't mean I could lie in the shade - Bugger! We have SO many veges ready that need using in some way. So I made a batch of Tomato Sauce. ( we love it and # 1 son loves it ) I used the biggest ones so there would be less skin to sieve out at the end. 2.5 kg was just 11 tomatoes.( the biggest weighed 325 grams ). I had a cunning plan you see.....once the prep was done I got to sit and sew at the bench and watch the pot on the stove ( for 2 hours! ).

I completed sewing the long feathers on by machine - which I haven't made a very good job of ( inexperience with using iron on - it didn't feed well through the machine so the stitch spacing is not perfect. ) much better as I perfected my technique ( so should have practised longer first ! ). The little shield shaped feathers for the head and body of the bird are so tiny and fiddly I am sewing them on by hand and they are sitting so much better than the others - (but I'm not unpicking ) - so there will be a mix of machine and hand sewing. Actually I like that cause I can sit with my feet up and sew them on in the evenings.

I still dislike all the gold background but have to remind myself almost all of that will be covered up or later cut away - it is just the backing for The Jewelled Bird.

Today we have both spent the morning mowing; leaf blowing cleaning outside - photo tomorrow - it looks great. We have been forecast rain Monday night and Tuesday - oh Yes please; we need it.

Answers to Comments.

* Meg the Kiwifruit you bought might be grown under Licence to Zespri ( NZ ). Southern Hemisphere fruit is really all finished, so some is grown in the Northern Hemisphere so there is 12 month supply - all to do with marketing - so they don't loose their shelf space.

* Thanks to all you folk who have left comments and are new visitors to my blog. I try and visit yours in return. Comments spur me on so please say "Hi, " while your here.

Waitangi Day.

"Happy Waitangi Day ( New Zealand Day ) to All Kiwis, here in NZ or overseas."

I hope you manage to enjoy some time out over the long weekend!
( NZ Pohutukawa ( NZ Christmas tree ) Flowers )

That's Corny.

That's the last of the lovely corn cobs for a while....my quickest and favourite way is still 2 mins and 20 seconds in the microwave; in it's own natural wrapping. What could be more simple?

Molly I did make your chowder; it was yummy but not really suitable for the very hot weather we have been having. As it made heaps I froze the rest to enjoy when it's cooler. If you would like Molly's recipe it is here. We got 4 millimeters of rain last evening, so that means a late start on the Kiwifruit, when it dries out ( yippee ). Not a lot but it has settled the dust for now.

The only quilty thing I have been working on is preparation for a quilt I will make as soon as I have sufficient denim.It uses recycled denim from jeans or whatever. I have chosen 7" circles as the biggest I could get from most jeans. It is for a Mock Cathedral Windows quilt. I found the instructions here.

I will work on it as well as the Jewelled Bird which is progressing ever so slowly.( still sewing on feathers )

Rushed Trip.

There has been all together too much death and too many funerals around here lately.

Here are some photos of a very rushed trip we had to take down through the Central North Island to Palmerston North - a trip of 5 hours each way. We had to go to a young 35 year old relation's farewell. ( motor cycle accident ).

Ever thoughtful of my blog and the fact that some of you in other parts of the world love to see different parts of the country I spent time hanging out the car window trying to get photos. We did stop a few times.We quite surprised ourselves by the speed with which we were able to make this journey.

We came in from work on Wednesday and picked up the newspaper at 5.15 pm. Saw the time of the funeral next morning at 11am ; both rushed through the shower, threw some clothes and gear in a case and had left here in less than an hour.We stopped at Taupo for some dinner( only half an hour ) and I took the photos of a beautiful red sky sunset looking across Lake Taupo towards the mountains , from our table in the restaurant. No more photos that evening as it was dark - we arrived very tired at 11.45 pm and booked into a hotel.

Next day,after the funeral we made a few calls on rellies before making the return trip and arriving home at 10.15 pm. The last 6 photos were on the return trip and show the mountains that stand in the middle of the North Island of NZ in Tongariro National Park. The country side around the mountains is desert and the road is called the Desert Road and is very different from most green grassy parts of the country. Mt. Ngauruhoe is the cone shaped mountain and Mt Ruapehu the larger snow tipped one. Mt Tonagiro was not visible.The last 2 pictures are Lake Taupo looking from the Southern end this time.

We were only away from home for 28 hours but fitted a lot into that time. I saw lots of rellies including my sister who I hadn't seen in person for a while. One of the other calls afterwards was to my 85 year old Aunt. I just couldn't be in her city and not visit - no matter how pressed for time we were. I am glad we made time as she was delighted to see us( and accept the 6 avos I threw into a bag to take).She is getting frail but her mind is still sharp. One never knows when they just might not be there.My favourite Auntie - my late mum's younger sister.

Today we were 2 quite tired orchard workers - we might be getting too long in the tooth for that sort of rushing around. DH drove all the way even though we could have shared it; he loves driving - fine by me. (He also goes faster for that sort of journey ) Let's hope that is all the dying for a while!( needless to say - no sewing for the last few days.)

A Happier Saturday.

Just some of the yummy veges from the garden. I can't walk past the wee yellow tomatoes without popping one in my mouth.

Yesterday was our 1st P & Q meeting for 2009. There were only 24 there cause it's still Summer holidays for many folk. We had a lovely shared lunch and then at 2 pm 14 of us went to the Funeral of out member Marie - who we were staggered to learn she was in her 90 th year.( she must have been the eldest in our group ) We will miss her smiling positive presence!. A new person turned up to join and paid her sub - she is already a serious quilter, so we are maintaining numbers. I look forward to a busy year with these friends; we have lots planned. I may get less done at the meetings sewing wise but I don't mind someone has to organise.

Today we are having a much needed catch up mow and clean day. Yeah!

It is a still, sunny, beautiful day here in BOP, NZ.

This evening we are going out with 3 relations. ( 2 from out of town )One we really like the other 2 are hard to take, but I was delighted when the suggestion was made to eat out - saves me the job and it is simply ages since we have been in a restaurant.

* answer - As far as I know dragonflies do NO damage at all - only eat other small insects - that's good. BUT if they get any bigger it could be scary!

Dragonfly.

A beautiful twilight visitor in my garden. The biggest I have ever seen. ( about 15 cms wing tip to wing tip )( click to enlarge ).

Moving Forward.

I was very touched by all the kind comments. Thank you all very much. After a few days I am now able to talk about Inky without going to pieces BUT we both are still doing habit things - thinking he will be at the door, or needing feeding. A matter of us retraining ourselves.

Unfortunately that was followed closely by finding out that one of the older members of my P & Q Group died yesterday. Marie was a special lady and I will miss her friendship.

A little progress has been made sewing the feathers for the Jewelled Bird. It appears to be puckering the fabric a bit but all the gold fabric around the outside will later be cut away so may not show so badly.

Every few days I am picking a small number of blueberries, off 2 small bushes, so might buy another couple since they have proved to be happy growing where they are planted.

I'm not exactly sure how high an elephants eye is ( depends where he is holding his head )but our corn is high and ready and juicy and yummy! ( Forgot to get a picture - still can and will show another day.)

The End Came very Suddenly.

Inky ( Incubus Feline Honeyfield) died suddenly at 4.30 pm today Saturday 17 th January 2009.
As those of you who visit here know, Inky had been unwell, but was improving daily so the sudden end was a shock for us. His last day with us was a happy one for him. His appetite had improved ( without ever taking the tablets! ) He had had several small meals earlier today ( cheese, cat biscuits, toast with avo even his first small helping of his normal cat food ) and was following me around. Mid morning he lay in the sun in the family room and I brushed him for about 15 minutes which he loved He later spent the afternoon asleep on our bed. DH was at the computer when he heard him being sick ( just a tiny bit ). He then went out the ranch slider door ( while I cleaned the carpet ) and about 2 minutes later we heard 2 awful noises from him and there he was lying dead.
We have buried him in the flower garden where there was a space beside the new lemon tree amongst the flowers. His parents are both very shocked cause we thought he was getting better.Maybe his heart gave out or he had a seizure - I'm not sure ;but the end was swift.I have spent time collecting his things together; unopened food to go to our young ones in Hamilton who have cats. We have lovely memories of (this anti social to most people till he got to trust you ) little wild boy who adopted us to be his parents nearly 13 years ago.His favourite toy - an ear plug which he could pick up in his paw and kill.
Absolutely no more cats for me. ( we have our previous cat Hacksaw here under a rose bush and the dogs from the farm under a Puriri tree ) We can now have the carpet cleaned or perhaps renewed before to long as almost all the stains are his work. Now if we want to go away over night or for the weekend we can go without asking anyone to come and feed him. ( so it is just Darby and Joan now ! ) The first brandy hasn't helped I think I'll have a second!
RIP Inky Boy.

Inky says....

Inky says, "Thank you everybody . You have been kind to my Mum and she frets about me a lot and doesn't sleep if I am sick."

"Hi Bella and your 3 mates....miaow back."

"My Mum is trying to make me eat and drink and I don't feel like it. She puts chocolate smelling medicine on my paw and I have to lick it off. She gave me some ice cream like that too. She is trying ALL the things you people suggested but not the chicken livers or pate yet. Mostly I turn my nose up and move away, but to keep her happy when she stands me in front of my water bowl I lick for 30 seconds ; just because she won't let up! On Wednesday when she forced me to eat a little pork ( sweet and sour ) I vomited it and my medicine back on the carpet....but have been good since."

"I am now very slim! My Dad has gone down to the Vet this morning for more medicine and some appetite simulant...what?....tablets - you're kidding!"

"I'm keeping them busy anyway."

"My Mum says people called Meggie and Loulee and Julz and Julia, Andrea and Paula, Leanne and Gudrun, and a Yankee Quilter and Lynda and Julie q all are worried about me...you must be that computer things friends, cause I don't remember you all but I like the fuss.

I'm not going for a big, big sleep ...not today anyway. My mum is very relieved about that. "

Signed Inky ( Incubus, feline )

Good and Bad.

The bad news is Inky ( 12 3/4 yrs ) our cat is very sick.( he featured here last May when he hurt his leg ).He hasn't eaten properly since last Thursday and was getting more an more stressed with laboured breathing and doing his usual things of trying to hide outside where we couldn't find him ( a sure sign he is sick )wet or fine. By yesterday he was so weak we had to act. He hates cages and car travel and has a dickey heart so we didn't want to make things worse. DH went down to find out about a new Vet clinic opened in Te Puna just 3 kms away. They said YES they would make a house call! Wow....that's very good. R asked the vet to bring a strong enough dose in case he needed putting to sleep but she also came with antibiotic paste and anti flam which she gave him plus 2 injections of plasma under the skin to get some fluid into him. She advised giving him till Friday to make an improvement or.......Try and get him to drink and eat anything at all 5 or 6 times a day. The anti biotics is chocolate flavoured...that gave me an idea, as he would lick it off his front paw. I tried him later with a piece of dark chocolate and he licked it till it was almost all gone. Chocolate for a cat????? How weird. He then licked up a tiny amount of mashed avocado which he loves and has with his breakfast normally. Today I got him to eat some tiny, tiny bits of tasty cheese. ( any type of cat food - forget it ) we now have a very emaciated cat with expensive tastes...but his doctor did say give him what ever he will take.

The verdict about what is wrong with him...could be any number of things......he won't tell me...but I know he is breathing with huge effort. At least having taken some action , however expensive, I slept better last night. ( he is our only and last pet - I get too stressed when they are sick....but the last 2 cats have adopted us not the other way around! ) Obviously I'll keep you posted about him.

Now the good part! Today for 4 hours DH was left in charge of sick cat ( but failed to get him to eat anything! ) because I had our P & Q Group's annual picnic. About 22 of our ladies sat around doing hand sewing talking and eating. It was held at Kulim Park on the harbour edge and we had a lovely view of Mt. Maunganui and several small yachts and seabirds.It was beautifully sunny to start with but by 1 pm clouds came across and a breeze started to make us too cold, so we gradually departed for home. I was back in time to do some fruit work - then we got rained on a bit ; now it is bright sun again....but I've knocked off now for the day .

I have made some progress with the jewelled bird and decided how I will stitch the feathers on, most of which are now cut out .

If anyone knows anything else peculiar that cats like ( and can lick )please let me know.....caviar perhaps.

Just a Few Feathers.

Just a few small feathers cut out ( not yet sewn down ) for the breast of the jewelled bird......and some hand pieced squares for another little basket.......that's all I have had time or energy for at night. NZ has been having some extreme heat! ( yes , I know it is cold and snowing in parts of the northern hemisphere but down under it is very hot and humid.)

When it is fine we are working hard at thinning the young Kiwifruit ( and it has been very fine ALL WEEK! ) phew! I collected some examples to show the reasons for throwing fruit on the ground to be mowed up. Firstly there are too many fruit for the vines to size up to export standard so the first to go are the ones that don't meet export grade because of their shape and size. If you enlarge the photo of the fruit ( by clicking ) you will be able to read the labels . The fruit at the bottom of the picture with the hayward mark ( a long stripe ) are the correct shape but are not allowed the line or protuberance ( beak ). Ideally all fruit should be that shape.....longer than they are wide ( like us ! ) and gently rounded on the edges ( also like us ). With all the fruit thrown down one has to be very careful about one's footing especially on a slope........my days for roller skating are now gone...so it is easy to give yourself a fright! The up side is the crop looks excellent - so I hope folk in the rest of the world will still buy and eat it even if time are hard in 2009! ( if it doesn't sell we don't get paid )

Do you like my maroon / wine coloured Eucomis. ( sometimes the green variety of these plants are called pineapple plants because of the appearance of the flower )The few wee pink cornflowers sit at their feet. I have several patches of plants in this colour as the carry on the colour theme from the Copper Beech tree and Aconium Schwarzkopf ( succulents )further along.( not much time or energy for gardening but I might get some today as I am NOT doing kiwifruit today )The vege garden is doing fine so we are eating beans , silver beet, potatoes, courgettes and tomatoes...all of which need picking every second day. The taste is worth it.( corn almost ready )

I now have a little more housework to do then I may decide how to spend the rest of my day...yeah!

Calendars and Diaries.

We seem to have calendars hung in almost every room in the house. We get given some from firms we deal with, which is very nice but for this year I bought a lovely artistic one ( at Calico Christmas ), because the photos delighted me. I think I will share them with you month by month. January is beautiful butterflies.(Calli core species ). The calendar is called "Exquisite Creatures" - The insect Art of Christopher Marley. http://www.formandpheromone.com/index.htm

I also got myself an aesthetically pleasing ( to hold and look at ) Diary . Normally a small wee handbag size one or notebook serves my purpose, but, as this year I have added responsibilities I decided I better be really organised. I am the Vice President of our Patchwork and Quilters Group for 2009, and responsible for taking the Friday meetings twice a month. Also for attending Committee meetings.( I refused to agree to attending Tuesday night meetings as well, so the President is doing those - so we are job sharing. ) ( I'm in charge of Vice ! - LOL )We have about 100 members so some organisation is required.

The said Diary was made in NZ ( yes! ) and has a soft chamois leather feel cover. It has a wire spine and lots of extra pages ( that could be pulled out or used for lists. ) ( hope it helps ).

A few days ago I got to meet with Laurie, who now lives back in NZ. She called in while on her way to Athenree.She kindly gave me a wee gift she had made, a cute little pin cushion. ( as I have only one other it will get used.)Thank You Laurie. We intend to meet again when I go over to Ngongotahah to spend my voucher at Cottage Flair.

Gudrun, you asked," do we get a break now from the orchard?" . NO - if it is fine we have loads of fruit work to do over the next few weeks. ( we do not work in the rain - so get a little time out that way ) The Kiwifruit is growing really fast at this stage in their life and have to be thinned to a number that can get to be really big . We need to be everywhere at once!

Consequently I have not made huge progress with the Jewelled Bird. I have cut some feathers and know what to do next.( there is no hurry so that's okay ).I can see 2009 being a very, very busy year for me. Busy is good - right?

Happy New Year.

2009 is going to be an interesting year in many ways. I look forward to sharing it with you ALL!

Best Wishes to: Molly; Meggie; Joyce; Loulee; Helena; Gudrun; Sheila; Soozii; Kirsten; Tracey; Andrea; Deb; Lynda; Shirley; Janice; Helen; Dale; Laurie; Ayumi; Cher; Shasta; Joleo; Sarah& Lisa; Chookyblue; Alice; Paula; Valeri; Julz; Isabelle; Sally; Jane; Nellie; Anne ; Tazzie; Barbara ;Alice; Judy; Helen ; Leanne; Nic; Harmany; Yankee ;Holly; Julie; Suzi-k; Judy ;Brenda; Dianna; Rose Marie ;Mags; Nicola; Jane; Francoise ;Fiona; Vera; Frieda; and Jorja's Nana.

Lovely Time to...

Yes, the final letters of my banner got stitched and were hung up by 11.45pm on Christmas Eve.( they turned out well )

Lovely Time to be lazy; to read; play games of Scrabble while we eat meals at the big bench on bar stools; to start my next quilt! ( or if you are DH; tidy your shed; put a new work top on your work bench; do things? ( lots of hammering ) in your clean work space - I love it when he has a project on cause we have time out so I can sew or blog or walk or garden or read )

* NEW Project ( QUILT ).* Some time ago DH said he would like a quilt with a large jewelled bird ( taken from the cover of a Wilbur Smith Book called "The Seventh Scroll." ). I have never made him a quilt of his own..... I had collected suitable fabric at the merchants malls at the exhibitions I went to in 2008. The 3rd photo shows the 7 colours for the jewels, lying on a gold fabric which will be the background, then the whole big stylized bird will be put on a back ground - he wants black but we will see when the bird is finished how it looks.

So far I have enlarged the outline shape onto a paper pattern: drawn it lightly on the back of the fabric; ironed on "Appi-kay Wonder" to the back of an A4 size piece of each jewel fabric; and drawn and cut out some of the feather shapes for the wings.

( this is a teach yourself how to do this project! )( do you do these? ) ( good way to learn - I hope ) So far, so good.

December 24

It's 24 th December.

That means yesterday was our 41st Wedding Anniversary.....and we were so busy it was 10.30 am even before I remembered. I don't know if the other half would have remembered it all if I hadn't mentioned it. ( it often happens because of the busy time of year ) We got 35 mls of rain overnight , so gratefully received here....... also means I got the day inside! Of course I've been cleaning..... But this afternoon I sat and sewed bindings on the last 4 letters of my Happy Christmas banner. I hope to do the hand sewing on them tonight. I strung the finished ones up already to see how they look.The tree got decorated and we have had the lights on a couple of evenings.

Lovely things.

* my friend Sheila found me some tiny craft pegs I had been looking for and came around really early today so I could use them to hang my letters.

*Younger Son ( in UK ) remembered us and sent me a lovely voucher for patchwork goodies and DH a voucher for a meal at his favourite restaurant ( that means I get to go too! )

* Lovely letters and cards from friends and family.

* I have been enjoying your beautiful Christmas blogs.

* the 1st Pohutkawa tree has faded with the rain BUT the second big one is now out!

*Altho friends asked us out tonight we are staying in cause the roads are just too silly and I can't have anything to drink if I'm the driver. ( we have plenty to do here anyway )

* Thanks to all you dear people who reply personally to comments I leave - I really don't expect you to do that.

FINALLY I do hope you are all enjoying the Festive Season.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!

Types of Christmas Tree.

This lovely big Pohutukawa ( NZ native Christmas tree ) is flowering by our driveway and is making the best display of several we have out at the moment. ( we have planted lots on the property over the years )

Christmas is not far away and I am trying to keep positive, but it's a bit hard. To say it will be very low key around here is an understatment. We are working long and hard in the orchard and there is lots to get done.

I am pleased with the quilted letters I have got completed for my banner but I doubt it will be ready for this Feastive Season - won't matter I'll just work on it during next year and make lots of letters.

I didn't know if we would bother with a Christmas tree this year but then persuaded R to help me find one ( or 3 ) today. (It is supposed to rain at the weekend so get it done in the fine before then.) We always try and cut a part of a shelter belt tree or similar but ended up this time with 3 branches pruned from a native Rimu in the garden,. ( it needed them off anyway ) Looking at the photo you can barely tell it is 3 branches tied together. It has ended up quite a reasonable shape and has a clean conifer type smell. I will try and get it decorated later tonight.

So we have a tree. I have made a cake. I sent all the cards and letters and the few parcels I do send. We are a very small family so not a lot is involved. We will probably be seeing one son and partner after Christmas some time and the other one is in London so that's a bit far to come.( so it's just us! )

We are having some friends over for dinner tomorrow night and have been sent a couple of other invitations to meals in the next week so that may cheer me up.

Loulee sent me a Christmas joke that made me smile so I thought I might tell a simple one too.
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The teacher looked at all the drawings the children had made of a Christmas scene. Billy had drawn a manger and put Mary and Joseph beside baby Jesus. There were 3 wise men and some animals and shepherds all gathered about. To one side stood a very rotund man, that puzzled the teacher." Who is this person?" she asked.
" Oh, that's Round John Virgin, " said Billy
( you need to know the words to the carol Silent night, to get this joke.) I used to have an illustration to go with this but can't find it now.
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