Central Plateau, North Island

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

Sunday 13 September 2015

Just the Two of Us

 

The garden is showing signs of spring, with one freesia, snowdrops by the dozen, daffodils almost finished, grape hyacinths in deep blue, and then there were                                   TWO…… Tulips.

Two tulips

It was so hard to get the right setting, with shade and bright sunshine in the next photo.  The barrows have grape hyacinths, there are more tulips, with Dutch Iris in the tubs, pansies scattered amongst them.

Barrows of bulbs

Lots of patches of tiny violets, near the wheelbarrows.And so many lupins are shooting again.

A patch of violets

Boris follows Ginger Boy, and is so daring, adventurous, almost to the scary level. Ginger goes past our place, through the neighbours, skirts along a narrow dangerous( in my opinion) ledge of dirt and stones, and is then 2 doors along. Boris tries to follow, but I managed to grab him, at least this time. I guess, like having a teenager in the home, I will have to ignore this and just let him find out the hard way, it is a long way down the the stream below!!! Boris is on the right, Ginger Boy in all his glorious winter fur, is on the left. This is the area we grandly call “ The Gully” really just a tallish bank,  where we can leave cuttings, rubbish from shrubs and trees, to compost down, but some rampant plants  do  take over.

Two Gingers on their way

And, in case you all think I spend my days following the boys, I have managed to sew 2 borders on the Wiggle-me quilt, The final darker one still to go, and I found a wonderful tutorial for a binding with a flange, sew on the back, turn to the front, and stitch  on the edge of the flange . I am not sure if the binding will be the same as the final border, with a lighter flange, or a total contrast. Any suggestions will be so appreciated. 

Wiggle me with 2 borders

The last border has some blue/green tonings in it, and links everything together nicely ( IMHO). ( In my humble opinion)!!!

Wiggle  me with 2 borders sewn, final one to  measure and cut

Now all I need, thinking of John Masefield, is a huge table so I can spread it out, and baste the back and batting more easily than the kitchen floor.  In the photo above, it is on the lounge carpet.Tall ship and a star, that would suit any sailor or mariner to a T.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ A happy ending does not mean everything is finished, as a new beginning is on the horizon”

Greetings from Jean

29 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

the quilt looks great! oh, those boys. i'd worry, too!

Carol Mattingly said...

Beautiful flowers still blooming. I love the quilt. The dark border will look great too. Carol

Inger said...

Your boys are something else! The quilt is so beautiful, those colors are just gorgeous.

Leeanne said...

Oh no you have changed your header photo! Although pretty, it's not 'my' beloved mountains! Your cat photo's and their adventures are cute. I quite like the idea of a darker binding.

Nancy J said...

Thanks all for lovely words... Leeanne, there you are, taken from the Desert Road, in May 2012, I liked the farm scene, but it wasn't wide enough. I can see the kitchen floor will have to be spotless if I do the basting way down there!! Oh, for that large, huge table.

Susan Heather said...

It all looks wonderful - how much land do you have??

Sue said...

Your Tulips look stunning, mine are getting ready to explode into colour for me. Your cats are gorgeous too, I may not to quilting but I can appreciate the time and effort that you quilting ladies put in. Nice to have some sunshine, hopefully it will stay for a few more days.

Barb said...

The quilt is just lovely. I like seeing your spring bounty. Some of my flowers are still blooming but the temps have gone to freezing several nights. That Ginger Boy is growing!

Hannah said...

It's great that the cats get along together, they look like they are having fun, Jean. The quilt is coming along great, the problem I have with quilts, or bedspreads that I have made, is trying to sew through al the layers to stabilize the batting. I have a side arm machine and have to roll up the part on the machine side of the quilt and try to get it to feed. Hand basting would take care of that but seems hard to me. I'm wondering if I could make the quilt in narrow strips and stitch through the batting then somehow join the strips. It's a puzzle!

Nancy J said...

In answer to some queries, we have 3 acres, or 1.21 hectares, about 1/3 is in firewood trees, the middle is lawn, house and flower or shrub gardens, and the last is an orchard with lots of different fruit trees, berry bushes and vege beds. Now, the quilting, I do admit to being quite,, well ..VERY ... worried about quilting this wiggle me, and not getting wrinkles in the backing or on top. the Bernina doesn't have a very wide throat, and I have read to crunch it up rather than roll the excess. Hannah, Google the" QAYG ", or quilt as you go method, sewing the strips, then quilting, then joining in order. I will find the link for one I really liked. On the feline matters, Boris is a true warrior, nothing scares him, he jumps onto Ginger Boy, attacks dear old Felicity, and leaps onto Hugh's chest to wake him up at 4 a.m.!!!Inger, so good to see you back again.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

A lovely post on your life dear Jean. I hope Hugh is doing well.

Your boys are adventurous and I bet they could tell some tales.

Your quilt is lovely in design and in colors.

Have a great week ~ FlowerLady

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I assume those "boys" do not go out exploring often together? I hope they do not wonder too far. I love your quilt, very pretty. Have a happy day and new week ahead!

Out To Pasture said...

So nice to visit your post of spring pics. They are all lovely. I especially liked the one of Boris and Ginger Boy heading off on an adventure, the younger hunter leading the way.

The Furry Gnome said...

Your quilt is looking great! The close-up shows the precise piecing which is one thing i always look for (after bright colours). Nicenewheader photo too.

camp and cottage living said...

Your flower garden is full of promise, Jean. The violets are always the first sign of Spring here. Our leaves are turning and I can hear the rustling in the trees as I hang the clothes on the line-Fall is here!
Your quilt is lovely too. Where will you place it? On a bed or over a sofa? And how is Hugh's recovery progressing these days?

Georgia said...

Lovely photos top to bottom and back again. Lovely springtime. When I hear about a daring cat I think of Stubby-chan, the Ichikawa Guest Home cat. She followed me up and down the three floors of the building and also up to the roof where I hung the laundry to dry. The walls that enclosed the area were about 4.5' high and topped with metal sheeting. Stubby wanted to see out over the top of course and jumped up. The metal allowed no purchase. She went over and fell the 5' or so to the roof around the edge. She shook herself and found a way back again, I can't quite remember how, but much less dramatic.

Allie-oops Designs said...

Beautiful new growth, just as we're winding down our growing season...keep the pics coming, I need them, lol! Oh those boys, good thing they have 9 lives.
Your quilt is just gorgeous Jean, love the border fabric, it's perfect. Thanks for reminding me of one of my favorite poets, John Masefield - haven't read him in years but I think I'll look for my book tonight!

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Boys will be boys, won't they? They certainly are handsome, and I hope they aren't too adventurous! :-)

Hope your weekend has ended on a good note!

KB said...

I'm so happy that you have signs of spring! I hope that you and the kitties enjoy every flower!

Julie Fukuda said...

We are getting the same seasonal hints here, only ours are for fall. After such a hot humid summer it is nice to feel an occasional breeze and the spider-lilies springing up.

KB said...

The boys seem to be enjoying the warmer weather.

bj said...

The boys roaming would worry me, too..:)
My goodness...that quilt is wonderful..lots going on in it, it appears...I always love seeing one up close...I'm not a quilter but they interest me.

Jenn Jilks said...

Your quilt is beautiful! I adore your colours!
Your boys, much fun.
Your flowers, much appreciated as our are dying back.

So good to see your part of the world!! xx

Jim said...

'The boys' are in heaven roaming around their's and other's territory. I think they will figure it out.
Jean, the quilt is fantastic! My, it is very attractive indeed. I am sure all will work out just fine.

Lorna McMahon said...

Hi Nancy! How nice to see your spring flowers coming to bloom. And the boys out strolling in your yard. We have an orange cat, too. His name is Fluffy. Your Wiggle-Me quilt is simply gorgeous! What lovely pops of colour against that dark blue-violet background.

Our photos said...

Very nice !

Lori Skoog said...

Finally, I am checking in! Our gardens are coming to an end for the season and yours are just beginning and look so fresh. The quilt is beautiful and that is one striking header shot. Enjoy your spring!

fromsophiesview said...

Quilting and kitties go hand in hand!

Love your garden flowers and wish our garden was just starting to produce and show the colour........oh well I'll sneak my joy from your world as always!

Cheers!
Ron

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Love that quote and your quilt is just beautiful. I wish my eyes worked a little better so I could learn how to do that!