One Plus One block for March

 

March seemed to fly past, daylight saving has ended, April Fool’s Day had no dramas at our place, and the  March block is all finished. Late afternoon  photos, a little breeze, and Boris on standby for any assistance he could give.

The One plus One block went together so well. NO points this time, easy seams to match, and as always Sandy from Upstairs Hobby Room  gave us another stunning  design. No snow to use as a background, just trees or green  grass. And Boris had to put in his usual “ paw’s test” and passed it as OK.

 

The beautiful Brunsvigia Josephinae is blooming again this year.It needs a hot dry summer ,“tick”, lots of sunshine ,“ tick”, and resents being moved, “tick”.This was a bulb from our dear friend Hec in Rotorua, it has been moved 3 times, but has stayed  put in this part of the garden for a few years.

Quotation of the day,author unknown

“ Nature provides us with glory,

all by herself”

Greetings from Jean

Laptop Problems

I have been missing my laptop so much, the dreaded error message, " Critical Issue Died" came up, so it is away being fixed, and I hope back this morning.
I  am using Hugh's, but a larger keyboard means I hit the Caps Lock so often.
I am slowly catching up on all your news since Monday, lots to read.
Meantime a photo from the past of a tulip in our garden.

 

Quotation of the day, from an elderly aunt many years ago....

 

" You don't miss the water  till the well runs dry!!!"

 

Greetings from Jean

Burning the Midnight Oil and daylight hours as well

 

There is nothing so motivating as a  deadline for a finish, to make you sew till all hours  of the night!!! The last day for our Midnight Mystery Quilt with Cheryl, over  at     Meadow Mist Designs  was  10th March, but I was determined to get it finished, with at least one border, and a decent photo posted. Well, first, make sure of the extra dark purple fabric, add the border, press, and do a photo shoot. It blew, there was lots of wet grass, wet branches, and it ruffled in the wind. A cat scan with Boris ensured all was OK.

The purple is the border, the paler blue is fabric under the quilt top, to prevent grass stains!!!

I posted off the photo, there were 111 entries from all round the world, one wonderful marvelous lady has done hers while on a boat!!! Some great places for quilts to  hang  or lie, on snow, on  ladders,  in front of tall men with long arms ( hidden behind the quilt), trellis fences, balconies, railings,  and so much more. Prizes had been sponsored, but with so many entries, Cheryl was so generous and added from her own goodies, to make a total of 16.

In came all the quilts, one by one, stunning is nowhere near enough praise to say how  amazing  every one was, all different fabrics, some made larger, many were already finished and donated to family member or a charity.

Then…I had an email…I was one of the prize winners, random selection, and get to choose 2 digital  quilt patterns from Cheryl’s designs. Thrilled does not pass muster for my excitement.

Generosity in spades Cheryl, so many thanks from me,  and I’m sure we all send heaps  of thanks for this great quilt-along, encouragement, comments galore on the Facebook Group page, and  lots more.

Then, yesterday, Hugh’s cousin phoned to say another cousin was in Invercargill hospital. Daylight hours were  gobbled up as I made a bag, with  flowery fabric, rather than send an  unknown  selection of flowers from a florist so far away. The pocket was embroidered by Joyce, the flange binding from a tutorial.Side gusset with ties, to allow for more or less to be stashed inside.

Two little kittens holding hands, and words…” Start each day with a smile”

I hope Jan continues to get better and go home soon.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Be prepared, as you do not know 

what a day will bring to your doorstep”

Greetings from  Jean

Pinks of all shades, with some purple and green, naturally.

The last few weeks have been busy, but  with some wonderful help from Heidi and Liv  the outdoor load was lightened  immensely, well, pretty much totally.  The wood sheds are full, right to the front doorways , the other painting was all done, how could we be so fortunate to meet them? Their 2 days  stay stretched to several weeks . They flew back to Germany last Tuesday, but we hope to have them back again in a few months. Meantime, we send lots of love and caring  thoughts  for you Heidi, your Dad  in hospital, and your Mum and family. Liv, we hope you manage to catch up with your family in the UK while you are over that side of  the  world.

The One Block Wonder has been sewn, joined together, even quilted, and bound. Whew!!! This was another stunning design from  Sandy over at

  Upstairs Hobby Room, and is called O’s and X’s.  I used some favourite batik fabrics, and some of that purple made its way into the backing. As well, a label down at the lower edge.

In  the garden, pink Nerines,  Alstromeria, Naked Ladies, Begonia blooms, Japanese Anemones, they continue to flower, even though we had a few mornings of 5 Celsius.  cold  enough to make me think is Autumn coming in suddenly with full force?

this Begonia is flowering continuously, outside in a shady area under a shrub, getting  a little late afternoon sunshine. A delightful gift from Joyce a few weeks ago.

 

Josh is now at Victoria University, Danielle continues to do so well on Joey, water jumps are the latest achievement, and  tomorrow Annette has a birthday. Was it all those years ago I was at Middlemore Hospital? I remember the doctor muttering something about  hurrying up as he had a party to go to at 4 p.m.??? 3.30, and she arrived. The first grand-daughter for both my and Hugh’s parents. They were overjoyed, and I guess suitable celebrations followed.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ A true friend is one who walks with you

until the end of the road”

Greetings from Jean

Photos from Home and Away

 

Since my trip to hospital I have been trying to take life a little slower.But this didn’t mean to stop blogging altogether!!! The last week or so  has been  so busy, family came, they went , Josh started a new life at Victoria University, the washing machine leaked ( badly!!), we rearranged beds, gave one away, cleaned out the huge chest freezer, with wonderful help, or mainly all the work done by Liv,  took Boris and Felicity to the vet to  make sure the new flea treatment was working, Hugh  went away camping, he came home. Here are some of his photos taken with his  Canon 40D. He was up high in the Central Plateau.

His camp site, the tent extension I made was greatly admired by some men who had been further in on a photography trip, with overnight fly-camping. They were about our age,( give or take from 75 to 79)  or a few years younger, and had been in the bush for a few days. I guess a home cooked meal, after a very welcome hot shower, would be so appreciated.

Waipakihi Stream, looking pretty in the sunshine. I was told it was SO  hot there, 40Celsius in the wagon!!! And one morning almost a frost.This is the normal thing for days and nights at the high altitude. 1074 m or 3523 feet above seal level.

The good news is that Open Live Writer  has now added and installed  “ Spell Check”. No more proof reading for errors!!!

Quotation of the day,author unknown

“ Your attitude is your altitude.

It determines how high you can fly”

Greetings from Jean.

Some photos from the past…

 

When I started this blog in 2011, I had no idea how to  make each post interesting, how to edit photos or anything much else at all. Two friends were a huge help, Shirley who gave me the encouragement I  needed to start, and Marj, who helped get the words in the right order for my blog name. And, naturally, the
“Mariner’s Compass” that was made for Walter was my header for some time..

Walter, a dear friend for many years,  was in Auckland Hospital for his 91st  birthday,  in March 2010,  and the staff were so helpful, they kept his parcel until that morning, brought it in, and hung this in his room. In April I flew to Auckland for his funeral, and  a few weeks later his daughter sent me a lovely card, and the news that this wall hanging had gone to the   Felixstowe Maritime Museum, where it is hung with other Navy Memorablia. What an honour, and  I rate this the highest of all in my life.( Maybe our wedding in 1962 should come in a close second!!)( Anniversary of 54 years  next week).

The last pink tulip, in 2012

Early morning sun and some fog at Piropiro Flats. where we have camped several times.

Mt Ngauruhoe, in the Central Plateau, taken on one of my  plane trips to Auckland.

The cherry trees in blossom, and a late spring frost on the lawn.

I am well, each day a blessing, and the lawns continue to be mown, weeds weeded, quilts sewn, and words written.

Quotation of the day, from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“Ah, how good it feels! The hand of an old friend”

Greetings from Jean

Pics from the past

A while ago I promised in a comment somewhere that I would post a photo of Hugh and myself in the snow.Just to prove we have actually been to the snow!!

I think it might have been on my birthday in July, we drove up to Turoa skifield,   a large skifield on the south western side of Mount Ruapehu, the highest mountain in the North Island of New Zealand, in Tongariro National Park. it was cold, freezing cold. The road was so icy, and I was muffled up so much. This was in 2008!!!  and  is looking towards the west.

Here is Poppy high in the English Elm Tree.

This is taken from the red A Frame, a hut high in the Ruahine Range, looking down towards Dannevirke and further still, the East Coastline,  behind all those far hills.Way too far  away to see any water, but if you are down there and continue driving, you will arrive at Napier in Hawke Bay. To arrive at this hut, it is definitely a 4WD  track, very rough, lots of deep holes, sometimes in winter impassable.

Here is the road in August 2011, I think the quad didn’t go much further than this.

On the home front, I am well, taking life slowly, and trying so hard to tackle ONLY  one thing a day!!! Today it was to sew together the blocks for the Midnight Mystery quilt. I have 2 strips done, the last one tomorrow I hope,

Thank  you all so much from my heart for your caring words and thoughts… it was scary, but to be truthful I felt so ill I didn’t think about being scared. Just as well, once I knew what they were looking for. We do have a blood pressure monitior at home, and each day since coming home, my BP has been so good, totally back to normal. I see my GP on Thursday, he may have some idea why it happened. Meantime I am thankful for so much.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Life always offers us a second chance,

it is called …………  Tomorrow”

Greetings from Jean