Where did the trail of petals lead?

 

Jennifer of Cottage Country Reflection, here, asked me to post some flower photos. I ventured out in the cold wind late this afternoon. Some deep purple lupins, a hosta with large leaves that delicate shade of almost turquoise, and a tall foxglove.

 

This white Rhododendron has enormous flowers, blowing off in the wind. It is at the very front of the lawn. Later on, after dinner, a shower, and with Jamas and dressing gown on, I looked out to see a trail of blossom curving a pathway over the lawn. Blown, maybe, to where the lawn was mown in the curve. Or was it the path laid out for the fairies to visit, and play under those flowers?This was 8.43 p.m.  a freezing wind coming from Tongariro, Ohakune, or straight off the snow there.I wondered if our nearby neighbours saw the crazy lady out there, walking to a different place, to get the best view!!!

I hope these bring some floral brightness to all friends in the North, Jennifer, it will be a long time till our fish pond freezes over.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“Plant the garden of your life

with friendship’s lovely flowers”

Greetings from Jean

The sunshine arrived, with a gentle breeze

 

Our day started out cool, Hugh lit the fire, coffee was made, and then the  three of us went to Palmerston North. Shopping, a parcel sent south via Post Haste Couriers, ( Birthday is in December)lunch at a cafe, a family visit for Joyce, and home.

I don’t have the wonderful settings for a quilt photo shoot, like Josée ,  here, in  Montreal, Canada , just look at her quilt hanging by the trees, with snow underneath, and scroll down for some more exciting patterns or tutorials,   but  if you think laying a quilt on ice is the perfect spot,  visit Kathy  at Tamarack Shack  ,  right here, on the ice, scroll down until you find” this is Phyl`s Hot Flashes quilt” , The microwave bowl holder pattern comes from Kathy, and I have some waiting for gifts soon. Photos of those another day.

The six coasters  ( from yesterday’s blog) do make up very quickly, and the larger mat had iron on Pellon, then a reinforcement with another layer of iron –on interfacing, I inserted this before I  made sure the back seams closed right up. Vintage jug and sugar bowl, from  my Mum and Dad, well over 70 years old,  a set of 6 teaspoons, probably about 50 years old, and a larger jug from Joyce to complete the set.

The  wall hanging was done in a class with Merle, who was so generous with her time, talent and expertise. We used “ Sulky’ wash away,  and from memory,  one layer, then layers of wool, thread, ribbon, and more assorted bits and pieces, and another of Sulky on top. stitch,  and stitch and stitch, making sure the  thread  will hold those delicate pieces together,  the fine ribbon, fleece, fancy cording, and more.

Then wash the Sulky layer off, and lay flat to dry.  Last week, this was unearthed from storage ( this means I  dragged it out of the PHD pile), and stitched it  onto a backing,  bound it, and made a hanging sleeve. Voila, #1 is finished.

The I Spy quilt was started so long ago,  the first day I came home so proud of my progress, then I was shown a block, and the Kiwi was upside down, well some blocks did end up sideways, but to have our National Icon the wrong way, No-No. so I unpicked across a whole row, and was much happier with it corrected. This block is in the centre, 3rd row down. So this too was reluctantly dragged out of the box, and Joyce sewed in all loose threads, sewed the binding at the back, and Voila, #2 is one.

 

The cats in a square, that too was started ages ago, I am too ashamed to say how long, but at least 4 or more years. Loose threads galore, as the cat squares were appliqued on with clear thread, and that  is so hard to find, then thread into a needle, and sew through. Joyce worked her magic again, then the binding, and Voila #3. Now she has asked for another project to finish, so maybe  I can  start something new and we will call it “ The J&J work of Art” .

Quotation of the day, from  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.

Greetings from Jean

I Ordered Sunshine for the Photo Shoot, but…..

 

I have wanted to get some GOOD photos of the finished projects, and  we have had grey, cloudy days, until today, but I was sewing all day.

I have been following the Blogathon, the Canadian Quilters have put on a great show, with photos, tutorials, links, and so many more members than I can  visit in a day.Best of all,  well not quite, as the quilts and bags and wall hangings take First Place!!…the maps showing  where each quilter lived, and then details of the area, population!!! number of lakes!!! and much more. I have been fascinated by photos of quilts, laid out on the snow or ice,  hanging in trees with snow underneath.

 

Sandy of Upstairs Hobby Room,… here … had this tutorial for coasters, so I made 6, then added a larger one, different design, loosely based on the pattern from Linda at   razzledazzlequilter.  …     to be posted South tomorrow. There is a birthday down there on 4th December, and I wanted something else to go in the box. Sandy, thanks so much for your email, this hop has been so enjoyable.

So, with no photos taken today, here are a few from August 2011, when we had the one and only snowfall at our home  since we came here in 2001. well, there was a little more falling on the next day. Buffalo people, dream about this minuscule amount, I phoned Son-in-law, on the farm down south, and boasted about our few inches, he laughed, they had 8 inches, and more was falling , icicles off the roof,  I stood outside so early in the morning and felt the flakes fall on my face, I walked so carefully, to not leave big footprints all over ,when I turned round to take some photos.

Later that week, Hugh and his brother Des ventured into the Ruahine Range, where there was a lot more snow than  at our home.

Some of you may have seen these before, but here they are again.

Our home, 7.10 a.m. August 2011, you can see the tracks left after Hugh had taken the quad and trailer, to fill the wood box by the left side doorway.

Taken from the front door looking to the driveway and front gates.

This was as far as the quad bike could go, too deep, turn around was  just past this area.

Ruahine Range snow, on Takapari Road.

The  outdoor table, before the fingerprint. And after, one finger had to poke at the lower left edge!!!

Someone had to make sure it really  was snow

Here is snow on the farm down south. May 2013. And like those of my blog friends  in US or Canada,  south of Dunedin in Otago,  they are used to having falls like this every winter.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“Gray skies are just clouds passing over.”

Greetings from Jean

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.

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.

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.

 

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

I Heard it Coming

 

This morning I ventured outside, for a brief walk.The noise started in our trees, unusual, loud and shrill. Screaming from the rooftops of our neighbours’ homes, through the tall trees still standing,  then suddenly it arrived,

Hail, freezingly cold, sharp and lingering for some time. The temperature dropped, and it has stayed coolish all day.The fire is lit, we are cosy and warm, and as these words  say, from Robert Browning,

from Pippa Passes

    The year's at the spring
    And day's at the morn;
    Morning's at seven;
    The hillside's dew-pearled;
    The lark's on the wing;
    The snail's on the thorn:
    God's in His heaven—
    All's right with the world!

Hugh’s vege garden, with pipes, bird netting and hail on  the newly composted beds

This bearded Iris is sheltered under a tree, but was still battered.

The lonely single Californian Poppy drooped its head to shelter those petals,  there are  more to flower another day.

No better place to be all night and most of the morning, a fleece rug on the settee, warmth from the fire overnight, and breakfast waiting in the kitchen. Security and comfort.

 

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Whether it is or whether it isn’t,

the weather will be whatever it is that day”

Greetings from Jean

A Visitor who walked in the stream

 

Today I heard an odd noise, like water rushing over stones so loudly,  and so fast, it was moving the stones, but  I knew there wasn’t  enough much water for that to be happening.   I  looked, and there was a stray sheep, who was making all this noise as it walked up the stream. The water would have been at least a foot high, and further up, about 2 feet in places.

By the time I was out there with my camera, it had walked further, and climbed up the bank on the other side. A few photos, then I wandered past the bearded Iris.

Next time I looked, it had vanished. Just as well, as Hugh had threatened it with something nasty if it came near HIS vegetable garden!!!

So  here are a few pics from today. Overnight rain was  still on the  petals.

 

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ The Purple Flower commands its own Majesty”

Greetings from Jean