Central Plateau, North Island

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

Tuesday 5 January 2016

A visitor for Three Meals a Day

We have a Mrs Thrush, well she must be, as she calls round, for 3 meals a day, served at the dining room doorway. Some for herself, and some taken away over the stream.She is so tame, she comes inside the door. She is standing on the middle pot of tomato plants.

Mrs Thrush by the tomato plants_thumb[1]Mrs Thrush on the chair_thumb

in the right hand photo, this is where the indoor carpet starts!!!

We had hot, hot days last week, over 31Celsius, and this morning, a shock when it dropped from 4.5Celsius, to about 3.5 Celsius, from 5.30 a.m. onwards. Not a frost, but very cool. Then later heated up to 26C. What do I wear? Winter, almost winter gear early on, not quite the merino stuff yet, then normal summer clothes.

The One Block Wonder morphed from a few blocks to a quilt, ( Guess what, the design boards I thought were very adequate, are too narrow and too short!!) …. without borders it is 52 inches square, it is all seamed, ironed, and now there are choices for 2 borders. The inner one, my pick is the darker blue with teal/green strips, and the outer, either the variegated teal/green/purple with gold swirls, or the paler green with dark splashes. I thought to have the inner one about 4 inches, the outer maybe 5 inches, and have a flanged binding, with a tiny sliver of the darker inner showing.

One block borders Inner #1, with outers #1 and #2_thumb[2]

This is inner border choice #2, dark blue with splashes of almost grey fern leaves.

One block border choice #4_thumb[4]

I am hoping for suggestions, as something has to be finished by  Jan 7th, EST.  So down here, that gives me 3 days from now. I had some blocks left over, so a quilted piece just needs a  border and that can be a throw on  either my laptop or machine.

Day to day normality returns, watering the lawns, gardens, some sewing,  some reading , Hugh’s birthday on Saturday, so I did some serious expensive shopping yesterday when we were in a bigger city. Photo to come after the 10th . I have solved the Open Live Writer no spell check, do the post in ordinary Windows  Live Writer as usual , spell check, then copy and past into this one. The font might alter, but that is so easy to change.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Don’t wait for the right time to come along,

just do it right, and do it  now”

Greetings from Jean

14 comments:

Out To Pasture said...

Mrs. Thrush is a delightful visitor. Your hot and cool temperature roller coaster reminds me of the week I spent in Bermuda. Sweater on, sweater off, etc. Gorgeous, colourful quilt, Jean! Am curious to see what "serious expensive" shopping you did for Hugh's birthday. I will be tuned in.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, love the cute Thrush! Your quilt is gorgeous. Happy Birthday to Hugh! Love the quote, great advice.

Enjoy your day and week ahead!

Kate said...

Either border looks perfect to me., but I'm standing a long way back!

Susan Heather said...

The weather has been most unusual hasn't it - not quite the extremes you have had but very close.

Our rain was marvellous - three days of light gentle rain.

The quilt looks amazing - I just don't have the patience (or time) for something like that.

Max' birthday on Sunday but no expensive presents to get. His daughter tells me her parcel is balloons as I mentioned he used to play "ball" with one although he hasn't been able for a while but I will blow the balloons up to take to him and try. They can decorate his room. I will give him soft jubes. Very sad.

I hope Hugh has an amazing birthday.

TexWisGirl said...

happy birthday to hugh! i like your bird visitor. the up/down weather sounds hard to plan for. :)

Barb said...

What a nice little visitor! Happy Birthday to Hugh. You are becoming a quilting dynamo!

Mystic Quilter said...

Mrs Thrush - love these little birds, we have a Mrs Thrush to visits along with her two teenagers, they're a little shy but do hop on the feeding table or the fence to let me know they would like a meal, I also still have the male and female blackbird which seem to be regulars!
Lovely colourful ONe Block Wonder Nancy - great idea for your border.

Sharon - IN said...

Hello Mrs. Thrush! It is winter here, and Sandhill Cranes are migrating over head.

Your One Block Wonder for Dec is ... wonderful! I like border choice #2. You have been busy getting a whole quilt completed and a cover too. Will you make the bag as well?

The Furry Gnome said...

Well i'd go for the outer border #2, but don't see a big difference between the inner borders.

Ioleen said...

I will have some of your hot, hot days for the -20 C we are having. Love your quilt.

Carol Mattingly said...

Love the new bird buddy you have. Amazing what animals will do. I love all of the patterns. I would do dark borders around to ground the piece. But that's just me. Tell Hugh Happy Birthday and you both have a great week. I have been sick for four days, but I think I'm finally coming back to normal. Thank you for your kind sentiment. It was appreciated. Carol

Jenn Jilks said...

How delightful! A thrush.

Your quilting is amazing. I should do something like that.
Busy day today, though.
hugs!

Jim said...

Yes Jean, the right time is now.....couldn't be a better time, eh?
LOVE your quilt! I wish you were here to advise me on the ones I have at the shop. I look forward to talking with a couple of ladies who come to shop and are experienced quilters....I am slowly learning about this skill.
That Thrush is sure tame. How sweet that it feels comfortable/confident enough to come so near.
Quite the variation in temperature, I'd say. Is this normal?
Here it is a balmy -8C!!!! lol

Tanya said...

Beautiful quit! The colors just sparkle!