Freefall QAL finish...I posted my photos, then found an error!!!

I finished the Freefall QAL, posted it all, found an error, and deleted it to correct the link. Now it will not post!!! I will try again later. Meantime, here is one photo.

Greetings from Jean.

I Have a Flimsy!!!

Today was fine, after a frost, then cloud, then sunshine.

Hugh was at the controls, and somewhere I have a video of the Freefall QAL flimsy on the ground, from an aerial view. However that will take some  editing, so meantime …. Here are some Leaves!!!

The Weeping Silver pear tree,planted in memory of Neil McKinstry, ( Hugh’s Dad).This was taken in June 2014.

          

The Chestnut tree in Autumn, a few years ago

            And today, the Freefall QAL flimsy had its first outing. Pinned to a cord, and hung out from a tree, it is a stained glass photo shoot.

                  I love the effect with the sun shining through. And I have high hopes to have it quilted by the 15th!!!             

Where would  we be in life without a  challenge or two? Our daughter and son-in-law have  arrived home after biking the Heaphy Track on the northern West Coast of the South Island.

The following photos are courtesy of the Internet and Adventure Flights.  Thank you.

Annette,Mike, Denise and Mark  biked the track, 4 days, 3 nights, the  Wednesday temperatures were so cold, the water bottles froze along the way!!!  From Karamea back to Nelson, the 4 bikes  were  strapped under the plane wings.  But, I have heard, it was a wonderful time.

Elevations that would give me palpitations before I even started!!!

 

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Challenges are interesting, or frightening,

and overcoming them is the ultimate  outcome “

Greetings from Jean.

A Day Out in the Backblocks

Yesterday, we all felt the need to be out and about. Lunch packed, thermos filled and off we went.  We left home, travelled East, then northwards, westwards, and south again.A little, well, really hard to see, but the lines indicate where we went.Just south-east  of Whanganui, inland to Feilding, north to Apiti, then further north through very isolated areas, west to Mangaweka , and homewards south through Hunterville.

We decided that if we lived there, once every 2 months to town for groceries would be the norm, probably just over an hour, but a narrow windy road the only way back to a larger town,  and all I would need would be power, running water, a log fire,ample dry wood, internet access, and lots of batiks on hand. One cat for the mice, one dog  for company, and a 4WD vehicle to ensure safe travel in the winter ice and snow.Does this indicate I would be so happy as  a hermit??? OOPS, the one totally necessary item would be internet access!!!

Along the way we stopped for lunch by a small stream, and I did manage to get a few photos, window shots were difficult and stopping places very few.

The rock layers can be clearly seen, and I guess any Geologist would be able to give a year and age to the formations.

The Pohangina River was a long way below the road. The hill country was typical of all that area well inland.

When we finally reached the main road again, there was a long queue of cars, trucks and vans .It looked like a huge truck had rolled off the road into the paddock below. Again, a windscreen shot was not the best. Two huge cranes had been brought in, they had stabilisers on the far side, and it must have been a  massive undertaking  to lift the truck up.  Another Halls Transport truck was there behind the far crane, backed up and no doubt ready to take the load from the first one, we didn’t know if anyone was hurt, and I could not find it on the news either.  I am so sure  when we compare it to  the scale of terrorism in London again, this was  very  insignificant. Thoughts with all those abroad, those who have lost, all over again. When will it ever end??

The other morning we had a beautiful frost, sparkling and so pretty. Fairies  had  been there overnight,  their mushroom home was empty by the time I walked carefully round the edge of the grass. The Gossamer Grass fronds were graceful with just that little hint of frost on the fronds.

And one more pic of the knitting needle bag, I have heard it is packed and will fly to the UK, via OZ, tonight. Safe Travels,Jeanette.

Quotation of the day, from Hans Christian Anderson

“ To move,to breathe, to fly,to float,

To gain all while you give,

To roam the roads of lands remote,

To travel is to live”

Greetings from Jean

Frayed and Spoofed!!!

 

Good morning to you all, as we are officially into winter-time down here. Another frost this morning, but we might just get some sunshine.

NOW, the interesting and worrying news is that me clear email address has been “spoofed” Someone is using my email address to send me emails to myself. There is an attachment. that spells trouble… so if you do get  an email  , please do not open any attachments, as that email will not be from me.

And if you are in any doubt, use that magic word ‘ Covfefe”!!!

Now, the fabric that frays… dress fabric, and it was used to sew  a gift for my friend in Auckland.

The colour matches her car, and I made a knitting needle holder, I think I am safe to show it here, as Jeanette is on Facebook, not a blog.

There was a scissor holder there too,minus the scissors.I am hoping it arrives today.

I have just had a wonderful phone call from a blog friend  up North,…. what a  great surprise, Shelley, you have made me so happy this morning. XXX to you.

 

Quotation of the day, author unknown,

“ Life is too weird and the world is too small”

Greetings from Jean

All The Leaves are Falling

 

Suddenly leaves are changing colour,  and branches  are  looking bare

The Final 6 blocks for the  Freefall QAL with Sandra at

mmm ! quilts 

are finished. How could 2 blocks give me so many problems? I undid 2 rows of stitching so many times, and still the last TWO points did not meet properly.One more row undone, measured, it might have been a smidgen over the correct  2 inch size. Trimmed, and all is well.WHEW, a huge sigh of relief.

The difficult one!!!

The final 6, with green and background fabrics reversed, and the last 2 blocks with half and half.

 

this is not the final layout , but they are all there.Hooray!!!

 

The top blue half and half will be swapped for a yellow leaf, the lower row green and blue will be  placed on the left, and the top left changed to lower right, ( I think ) Meantime it can sit and play happily on the design wall, and tolerate a visit each day till I am happier with the layout.

Mother’s Day was quiet, until I received an email from Sandy over at

 Upstairs Hobby Room 

to say I was chosen by Rafflecopter, and have won the most amazing book by Carl  Hentsch,…. New York Beauties and Flying Geese.

How wonderful is that, I am sure Sandy heard my words of joy way up North. Many thanks to Sandy, for hosting this, to CT Publishing, and to Carl Hentsch.

Those batiks are going to be looked at, and no doubt added to, for some of these wonderful projects.

The eBook has arrived, and I will be off to the printers to have it printed onto really good quality paper, and spiral bound.

_________________________

Courtesy of the Internet….

And the winner is...

 

Jean M.

Do you run giveaways, too? Try Rafflecopter! It's free.

_______________________________________________

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Use every colour in the paint box,

and there will always be beauty”

Greetings from Jean.

An Autumn Day in our Garden

 

Come with me as we have a gentle stroll though the flower gardens  and trees.The Cherry blossoms have all gone,and golden/bronze leaves are glorious.

The ornamental grass has tall feathery flowers, and  sparkles like ice crystals in the sunshine.

One deep purple snap dragon, all by itself, self seeded in the front garden.

One of the many pink Alstromeria plants, a bee is in the centre flower. Buds still show a promise of more to come.

 

Last year a dear friend brought me a huge display of Luculia flowers, this is their photo,  and I fell in love with their beauty.So much so, we bought a small shrub. It is frost tender, so all last winter it has been protected, with a huge bucket. The odd leaf was burnt, but now it is thriving, and has stems covered at the end with so many buds.

Here  is the small shrub, that can grow to a tall tree in years to come,  hidden from any early frosts, the purple Tibouchina on guard on the left,  a tall handsome tree now, and the graceful red sage  taking its rightful job as a shelter on the right.

Closer up, those buds are beautiful already.

The Tibouchina shrub was a birthday gift some years ago.We planted it out in the open, it struggled with any cold morning, so it was moved, nurtured, covered each night in the winter, and now well over 8 feet tall. This is one lingering flower straight out of the Canon Camera.Sunlight and shadow in the afternoon.

 

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ The flower bud unfolds, showing so

gradually the hidden  beauty  within”

Greetings from Jean

testing #2!!!

Here it is with a one inch test square.
Testing #1 was deleted, as this one was slightly better. The one inch square is for correct printing size!!! And the owl is for something later in the year, but I needed to know now if it would be printable. It is!!! Thanks for all your comments, I am not that keen on one inch quilting pieces.