All Points of the Compass
Central Plateau, North Island

View from a friend's farm
Friday 6 October 2023
Bags, bags, and fabric for more bags
Friday 30 June 2023
Josh, our Grandson , Happy Birthday.
Today our Grandson celebrates his birthday, I remember that first day so well.
We are so proud of all you have achieved, and hope you have a wonderful day, with workmates and friends down in Wellington.
A few memories.
Wednesday 5 April 2023
It must be time to post some news.
Hello everyone wherever you are in the blog world.
Down here, the floods have left huge damage, bypass roads have been constructed, and today I heard on TV that some insurance claims might take until the end of the year to be settled. Guess none of the insurance people were in that dire situation, where they lost their home, vehicles, income from the land or buildings, and family members gone forever.
I have been sewing some batik bags, searched for a special pattern, went through so many boxes, then there it was in the box with all the batik yardage, under the scrap box.
I was recently a pattern tester for lovely Brianna over at Sew Cute and Quirky. She asked for testers for a new bag pattern, and after my previous experience with pattern testing, where the 7 or so of us world wide had to consult with each-other with problems, I had vowed NEVER to do this again.
Hop over to her site at quirkyb.com and see what other goodies are there. Wonderful patterns, helpful tutorials and more.
Luckily I was tempted beyond my will power. The pattern arrived, and I decided to make 2, in case I had any problems. NOT ONE hiccup at all, they went together like a dream, even a welted pocket, a new venture for me.The pattern was written so well, no adjustments needed, Brianna, you designed this in perfection.
One bag has gone to a dear friend,her birthday was the 4th, and according to NZ Post, the parcel should have been delivered yesterday NZ time !!! I am still waiting for an update on delivery .We celebrate our birthdays a few months apart, but were both born in 1940, and next year, will get together and celebrate in big style 60 years of friendship.Starting in 1954 at Papakura High School.
The second bag will also be a gift, just the right size for phone ,a few coins or notes, and a double strap to go over your shoulder.
This is the second bag.
Saturday 18 February 2023
2023 in New Zealand, January and February
The New Year started as normal, but in January,Hugh had a bad fall, nothing broken, he is fine now, I had one visit to ED with angina, not too serious, home after one night, life continued.
Early February, Cyclone Gabrielle was north of New Zealand, tracking her way south. The met office kept a close eye on her travels, and gave an estimated arrival here.
The cyclone was downgraded to an ex-tropical cyclone.
The rain came, gale winds, Northland and Auckland received deluge after deluge, on the West Coast two volunteer firefighters lost their lives, attending to a callout.
12 February, a National State of Emergency was called.
This gives Government the power to call on so many other services to assist. Further resources can be used and priorities set in support of a national level response. Army,Navy, Airforce, and more.
The cyclone travelled south, and caused incomprehensible damage. Flooding, homes totally destroyed, the Hawkes Bay region, where my Mum lived for some years when they travelled here from Scotland, has been hit the hardest. So far 9 lives lost, stock gone, roads destroyed, homes filled with silt and debris and harrowing tales of loss and survival.No power, no water, no cell phone coverage, the Navy ships are arriving at Napier Port and a little further north with supplies, generators, food and water. Helicopters are delivering food and medical supplies to places further out that have no way of travelling.
One family lost their 2 year old daughter, a man lost his 3 precious dogs, as he assisted another family to move horses to a safer area. Many more stories that are way too sad to read or post.
Some photos from the Internet. My friend Maureen in Auckland and I talked this morning, and know how fortunate we are to have had no damage, we can look out our windows, talk to our friends,
One friend has just sent me a txt to say he is safe, another posted on Facebook that he was safe too.
Amid all this our 61st Wedding Anniversary came, and went. I truly could not bring myself to celebrate in the current situation elsewhere.
Quotation of the day, from lyrics in " The Living Years "
by B A Robertson and Mike Rutherford
".... I just wish I could have told him in the living years ...
Say it now, say it loud, say it clear,..."
Greetings from Jean
Thursday 29 December 2022
Garden Flowers
I am so thankful all my northern friends are safe after the snowstorm that has surpassed all others. So many have lost their lives, emergency services stretched to the max, and travel disrupted all over US and Canada.
Meantime down here, the garden has provided some lovely blooms. Recently our Doctor and the rest of the staff were given Lilies and Callas, along with some edible goodies.We are again so thankful for all the care they have given us , but during this last year especially. I didn't get photos of their flowers, one bunch for each , but the tall white lily continued to bloom. Then Google gave me handy hints to preserve Hollyhock flowers. It seems you cut the stems on a slant, then sear them. Hugh had his handy gas blow torch and did the task so quickly, but it also burnt the tinfoil dish I held them over, and his workbench has some marks too.
The mauve petunias have flowered so well, I need more to fill in the whole bed there.
These are all from her own garden, in the far south, I think this was one of her arrangements for a friend's husband's funeral.
Sunday 25 December 2022
Season's Greetings to you all
The Christmas Season seems to be so different this year, summer here seems to be late in its arrival, , and in the US and Canada, the storm has taken over everything, travel disrupted, plans cancelled, power outages, the last update was 1.5 million without power in Canada, with bad weather from B.C. to the Maritimes.
And while you will undoubtably have a very white Christmas, this morning we have a clear sky, today with a temperature reaching 20C, or 68F.
The Golden Lilies with red hollyhocks showing in some places, from earlier this year last summer.
Friday 16 December 2022
While we were in Rotorua this happened
We recently had a few days in Rotorua with our older daughter. Meantime at home the flowers bloomed victoriously !!!
Hollyhocks reached for the sky, translucent petals .
Last year, this was the beauty , the same colour in this year's plants, all self sewn.
This year.!!!