Central Plateau, North Island

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

Saturday 1 October 2016

Firewood,flowers, and voting

 

The month of September fled by, with the Bloggers Quilt Festival, spring flowers opening up with their glorious colours, and the firewood waiting. Norman came, felled trees, cut the huge trunks into rounds, Anne came, they split, they heaved, and there is the most wondrous pile drying there.

firewood all split 2016

After more branches were cut, there was a lot of small leafy stuff to be burnt. The next morning, ashes still warm, and sparks flew as I stirred it up in the dark.

Burning embers after Norman's felling

One Dutch Iris, more to come, but most are just tall leaves.

Purple Dutch Iris

The banksia trees have small cones, and these were picked up by the thousands!!! and moved to the woodshed. They burn so well,and are what we use in the smaller chip heater that heats all our hot water.

Banksia Cones

The Ixia is one of my favourite spring flowers, tall stem, bright pink, beautiful.

Pink Ixia, my favourite

The top right photo in the collage shows the track,  where the small mountain of glowing ash was, all cleared, raked, ashes died down, and logs all cut and taken to the wood pile, Joyce bravely sat on the quad and threw more to add to that wonderful heap. Happiness is knowing next winter, fires can be lit every morning  or night, without a worry of running out of firewood!!

September collage firewood and flowers

The Bloggers Quilt Festival has shown us amazing talented quilters from all round the world, new friendships made, and from Amy, a wonderful event with so much organisation that we do not see. Here  is my entry  and if you go to          amyscreativeside

   you can see all the categories and entries.

And you will find me here, in the  Small Quilt Category  ., To vote, all you need to do is click on the tiny heart at the top of the entry.

Walter's Mariner's Compass

Then pour a coffee, put your feet up and visit all the other amazing, outstanding entries from so many quilters.

  Again, thank you all so much for your lovely words for Walter and his Compass. They mean so much, and show me  once more  how blog friendships reach across land and ocean.

Quotation of the day, from Colin Powell

“ A dream doesn’t become reality though magic,

it takes sweat, determination and  hard work”

Greetings from Jean

20 comments:

Fundy Blue said...

I voted, Jean! I think your square and its story is a winner!. The other entries are wonderful too. And thanks for ixia ~ now I have a new flower and a new x-word for Words with Friends. The air is colder here, and the leaves have largely turned. So I am really enjoying your spring blooms. There is nothing like wood fire to sit by ~ kudos to all for laying in that great supply of wood! Have a great week! Hugs to you both!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Jean, I love your compass quilt and the story behind it. I hope your quilt wins! Your flowers and mosaic are pretty. Lovely images. Enjoy your weekend!

TexWisGirl said...

love the bloom collage! so pretty. and yay for good wood piles for next winter for you!

The Furry Gnome said...

That's quite a pile of firewood! Your quilt has to be one of the best in that category!

Susan Heather said...

It is good to know that you have such a wonderful supply of firewood so early in the year. Our winter has been so mild (and I have been virtually camping in one room with the pot belly stove while the decorating went on) so have quite a bit of firewood left.

Paige said...

I googled that tree with cones, very interesting! Your flowers are beautiful!

camp and cottage living said...

Your firewood reminds me of how much I miss our woodstove, Jean. You are already getting set for next season!
I voted for your quilt, I hope you win.
Have a good weekend-Kim

Mystic Quilter said...

You know you're going to be cosy and warm Winter next year with all that lovely firewood! Never thought of the banksia cones being used as fuel - learn something new every day. I have one Dutch iris up and flowering but they don't do so well in the weather up here. The flowers at your place are looking fresh and bright.

Cheryl said...

I voted for your small quilt in the festival. You have some beautiful flowers growing!

Jim said...

Ah, happy spring, Jean! And your flowers are welcoming the season with open arms!!
PHEW! Good to have that wood drying and ready for next winter......can check that off the list.
Good luck in the small quilt contest.....yours has a wonderful story behind it.

Jane said...

Hello Jean! What a wonderful pile of firewood. We're just starting our Fall weather here and hoping that our woodpile will be enough. Lovely quilt! I'm off to vote for you

Hugs
Jane

Barb said...

Firewood cut and stacked for the next winter and ready to enjoy spring blooms makes me smile, Jean. Here, days grow short and there is a chill in the air.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I'll have to go vote - It's really lovely and truly is a work of art.
And as our days are getting colder, the fire seems perfect! :-)

Tish Stemple said...

The picture of the fire makes me want to grab a stick and a bag of marshmallows, so many fond memories of glowing embers and making smores :) All of your flowers are beautiful and it's so much fun to see them as the start blooming.

Jenn Jilks said...

I'm ready for winter. Also ready to see all your spring photos! They get me through winter!

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

We are intrigued by the banksia cones that can start the fires...will look into if we have such around here. You are well and away with a wonderful supply of wood for next season. We are just getting ours and Hubby is hankering for a new wood splitter since the other is ancient. what beautiful flowers opening and how great for us to now enjoy your spring vicariously!

Inger said...

That's a wonderful woodpile. And your flowers are always so gorgeous.

KB said...

A great quote. I am living that quote right now.

I love your woodpile, already drying out for next winter. Your Iris is gorgeous, and your quilts always floor me. I'm heading over to vote!

Hannah said...

I admire all your industry stocking up your woodpile every year with help and then burning it all winter. Do you cook on a wood stove too? I tried to get my husband to upgrade our old inefficient fireplace insert but he would not so we don't burn wood. Perhaps someday we will need to, once we had a 3 day blackout and had to cook in the insert. Your quilt and it's story are so interesting, Jean! It's wonderful to see all your spring flowers too, soon we won't have any outdoors until next year.

Sue said...

Your garden is alive with colour, just how I like it. FYI your parcel of seeds arrived today, thank you so very very much. I shall be seed raising now!!