Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Friday 21 November 2014

Busy Days, and garden delights

 

We have been extra busy lately, and not even shovelling snow, or doing firewood. Some half finished projects are now all done, our wonderful dearest friend Joyce has come to live with us, and her fingers have been so busy. More photos when I can hang the quilts outside without the wind blowing a gale. I unearthed 2 small quilts, then  2 wall hangings, done in a class some years ago, with thread, fleece, and wash-away Sulky. I free -motion  stitched the first one, with a darning foot and dropped feed dogs. THEN, I stitched my left finger. Shock, blood galore, tried to stop it, compression so tight… walked out to Hugh and asked for a needle and thread. 45 minutes later, it was OK, Phew, what a relief!!!

The garden is producing strawberries  in huge amounts, at least 20 each day.

strawberry beds in Hugh's Garden

strawberries . 20 a day

Mother Starling has so many trips to the birdies’ supermarket, fly out, then back to the house, and all over again, all day. I hope she gets to sleep well at night.Lots of noise as she perches outside, then wriggles in to feed them. She was squawking in the Cherry Tree, waiting till I moved away.

Mother Starling

Out of the three boxes, 2 are very old, one is new, she chose the oldest one, maybe easier to fly onto the perch.She waits, her home is the right hand side one.

Waiting on the empty house

 

All babies are fed

I have been following the huge snowfalls, and find this all too hard to imagine, beyond anything we see down here.

Stay safe and warm, dear friends,please do not shovel snow,push a car or snow  plough, drive on roads where travel is banned, or leave home without 57 layers on!!!

“     Courtesy of Google….BBC News‎ - 4 hours ago

The US states of New York, New Hampshire and Michigan have been hit by heavy snowfall .…..”

Quotation of the day, by Thomas Haynes Bayly

Oh! where do fairies hide their heads,
When snow lies on the hills,
When frost has spoiled their mossy beds,
And crystallized their rills?

Greetings from Jean

18 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

57 layers made me laugh. the bird houses are sweet. but the finger stitching! ugh!

The Furry Gnome said...

Your fresh strawberries provide quite the contrast with our fresh 2feet of snow! At least we're not in Buffalo!

Karen said...

Oh yummy, those strawberries look delicious! Ouchy for the finger, I have done that a couple of times. It's minus 17C here tonight, and still snowing.

Leeanne said...

Yes thinking of my bloggy friends under snow!
I wish you had shared your quilting bits n' bobs.Your poor fingerxxx Loving the bird houses, do you think they would work for sparrows? I would love it if they didn't nest in our roof!

Nancy J said...

Hi all, yes yummy fruits. And Leanne, photos to come, 2 quilts, 2 wall hangings, one knitted blanket, strips crocheted, then edged, and all these have languished for some time, well, ages, maybe 2 years or more!!! The PHD ( projects half done) are getting to be P's D.(Projects done). TexGirl, maybe you don't need all those layers, Mr& Mrs FG, with 2 feet of the white stuff, , Karen with -17C, layer up well!! keep warm. Cheers, Jean.

Linda said...

Oh my goodness! Stitched your finger? Ouch! :( Sweet photos, I love the bird houses.

Julie Fukuda said...

Hope you didn't bleed on the quilt ... rule #2. Rule #1 might have to be changed into don't stitch your finger.
Oh, I do remember the "Lake effect". Maybe that is the reason I love Tokyo winters.

Georgia said...

With the exception of the finger, sounds like you are moving onward and upward! So happy you have such a good friend to assist you. Blessings, G

Carol Mattingly said...

I love how you did the bird boxes and Jean you have to try not to sew your fingers when you are busy at work. I'm glad you are ok and all is well. Northern New York has had 6 feet of snow and more fell late yesterday. I feel for those folks. Carol

Leanne said...

your garden looks great, LOVE the bird houses. Our strawberries are a new bed so going slow - homegrown strawberries are just the BEST

Our photos said...

Owww, strawberrys ! With cream ? I cannot wait for summer....

camp and cottage living said...

Fresh strawberries-yeah!!
I'd love to see your quilts too sometime. Jean. Maybe another days post....

Allie said...

Oh no no no no....no more stitching through fingers....mine are aching in sympathy!!! Oh you poor dear!!

Your strawberries look so yummy, and how lovely that you have a garden friend. I miss the birds so much in winter here...

Haha, 57 layers sounds about right.

Janet said...

Why the fairies hide in the hollows at the bottom of the tree, where it meets the ground. Did you need a needle and thread to sew your finger up?!

eileeninmd said...

Ouch, I hope your finger has healed.. Love the row of bird houses and the starling.. I hope the fairies are keeping warm under a blanket of snow.. Enjoy your day and the week ahead!

Barb said...

Think of me while you're eating those juicy strawberries, Jean! More snow due here - I'll wear plenty of layers.

Jenn Jilks said...

This is so fun! Can't wait for photos!!!!

Jim said...

Strawberries in November! Nothing better!!
Mother starling picked a good home!
And we thought we had lots of snow (not yet this year)here in Nova Scotia! Poor western New York State!! Unbelievable, Jean, eh?