Trees, Garden Mulch, and a Night Sky

 

My competition entry has been sent, photos selected, so now I can post some of the others here.

I am  almost at the “ Full Glass” level, thankful for each day with improvement. A  parody on those words from Lady Macbeth

“ Out, damned virus, Out I say”.

The tree felling was a big event, and the split firewood very reassuring for our winter fires .

Night sky last night, no pink/red, but that deep blue turning to darker grey.

This mulch has all been spread onto one garden area, let the weeds defy its powers of suppression!!!

Winter’s warmth, drying out in the sunshine.

 

The rope  is in place , Baz had to climb this tree first,a real feat in itself.

 

Here he is starting to limb another tree. all difficult with branches at awkward angles.

This huge tree stump had the runny sap dripping off the edge.it was golden, and sticky and  had the wonderful pine tree smell.

 

Quotation of the day from Peace  Pilgrim

“ Keep your feet on the ground and your thoughts at lofty heights”

Greetings from Jean

50% of “ Not Much At All”

 

 

Today was a very “go slow” day, the blood test verdict was a viral infection. I  always thought this was the diagnosis when a Doctor was not sure of what might be /could be/ maybe was wrong. But I have to accept this time he was correct. And it might linger for some time.So…. “Go Slow”…. will be around for a while.

Tonight we had sunshine that shone brightly, trees lime green in the  late afternoon daylight . Poppy sat, sentry guard silhouette, then leapt to look at something in the grass below.

Grey clouds to the North, and our tall trees in the garden.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Be very thankful you have a glass that can be half-full”

Greetings from Jean

Monochromatic Grey with a dash of colour

 

The sky was dull grey almost all day, with glorious rain!!! The grass looks greener,  the  farmers are happier, and water tanks are full again.

I mentioned in a comment earlier,  that we had grey skies all day, but for those fleeting moments at 8.30 p.m. there was a small flash of orange/pink in the west.

Looking south, colours changed again. Enhanced with an AV setting.

This grey sky, taken tonight looking to the East, was the same dull grey I saw all day, through bands of rain. wind driven at times.

 

Quotation of the day from Karl Marx, German philosopher,

“ Medicine heals doubts as well as diseases”

Greetings from Jean

Twisted Log Cabin

 

Some friends have been asking about the latest project I have started. I found this pattern in Australian Patchwork & Quilting, maybe the edition of  October 2001. Then I lost the book.Hunted everywhere, and finally decided I had given it away.One night I wanted a magazine to read, picked this one up, and FOUND the pattern. I am not a fan of orange, so decided to use my favourite colours, greens and purples. You need 9 shades of one colour, 10 shades of the other, from very  light to dark.  I am up to strip #6.

Finished size is 17.5 inches by 41.5 inches. I want to finish this very soon, so am doing 2 strips a day, but not today, Rest and recuperation are on the menu.

Quotation of the day by Leigh Hunt

“ Colours are the smiles of nature”

Greetings from Jean

Sunset colours and the Silver Coach

 

On Sunday night the  clouds  had glorious silvery tones, and over 5 minutes changed so much . Gradually it faded from the silver , which was shadowed by grey,  to grey-on-blue. I  was so lucky to be there at that moment. These are taken from our front lawn area, at 8.30 p.m. and for several minutes  more.

 

 

 

Four hours later, at 12.30 a.m. the silver coach arrived for me. Fever, severe headache, nausea and what goes with that, shiver and freeze, then boil over with heat. Suddenly it started,no warning signals at all, glad I was not at a railway crossing!!!

Lance, the wonderful man, loaded me with some medication, and off we went. Believe me, you cannot see much scenery at 1 a.m. Maybe a street light as we arrived at hospital. More medication, lovely nurses, blood taken, 2 a.m.  one doctor arrived, the morning dragged its slow way towards 7 a.m. Another doctor arrived,  his verdict.” you will not be going home for some time.”

More medication, and finally about 11.30 started to feel a little better. Maybe a virus, maybe 24  hour flu.Regardless of how insignificant I thought this was, I was treated with so much care and thoughtfulness. A bed that sat you up, laid you down, at the touch of a button, an IV line that beeped in time to some unknown tune, trolleys, beds,  linen carts all rumbled past my door.At 7 a.m. MUSIC to my ears, the rain was falling. Everyone was so happy, may it continue tomorrow.

I am home, thankful for the care, the transport, Hugh arriving with his silver Primera wagon, and the cats to greet me at the door.

Good things in life are to be treasured

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Life is like a rainbow, you need both the sun and the rain

to make its colours show”

Greetings from Jean

Today’s Newspaper Cartoons

 

From 1989, to 2004, on TVNZ, there was a program called

“ Holmes”

This was  Sir Paul Holmes at his best, controversial, inquiring, compassionate,  with interviews that  had that extra oomph. He left in 2004,  amid some controversy after a comment that many did not like.

Monday to Friday, for 15 years, 7 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. New Zealanders watched and listened to, the then, Paul Holmes, at his scintillating best.

At the end his words would be,

“ Those were our people today, that’s Holmes tonight.”

Today in the NZ Herald and the Dominion Post are these cartoons from  Rod Emmerson and Tom Scott.

They portray  Sir Paul, arriving at the Pearly Gates, Sir Peter waiting for his arrival, but the tables are turned in favour of Sir Paul.

Both cartoons courtesy of the internet.

And here is Sir Paul Holmes, his first show in Heaven.

I am fortunate to be  the age I am, which  means I have enjoyed the programs, interviews, seen  many  sides of this man,  for many years,  but the two cartoons today  depict him at his very best.

Sir Paul, I hope the Pearly Gates were open wide, the microphone ready, and an assured captive audience listening to every word.

Quotation of the  day from Henrik Ibsen

“ A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed”

Greetings from Jean

Sir Paul Holmes, Veteran Broadcaster

 

Sir Paul Holmes,  on 16th January, 2013,

Knight Companion of the NZ Order of Merit

Investiture at Sir Paul and Lady Holmes’  Hawkes Bay lodge .

( Photo courtesy of the Internet)

 

 

This morning, 1st February, 2013,  Sir Paul Holmes died at  their home in Hawkes Bay, with family by his side.

Deepest sympathy to Lady Deborah, Millie, Reuben, and his brother Ken.

Tributes are many, touching words, humour,sadness, and acknowledgement of a great man who was not afraid to speak his mind.

Unforgettable, irreplaceable.

Po Atarau, Now is The Hour, a fitting song , as  we in New Zealand and many others around the world  farewell Sir Paul.

Click on the video link to open.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10861073

 

Quotation of the day by Karle Wilson Baker

“ Courage is fear that has said its prayers”

Greetings  from Jean