Today our Grandson celebrates his birthday, I remember that first day so well.
We are so proud of all you have achieved, and hope you have a wonderful day, with workmates and friends down in Wellington.
A few memories.
Hello everyone wherever you are in the blog world.
Down here, the floods have left huge damage, bypass roads have been constructed, and today I heard on TV that some insurance claims might take until the end of the year to be settled. Guess none of the insurance people were in that dire situation, where they lost their home, vehicles, income from the land or buildings, and family members gone forever.
I have been sewing some batik bags, searched for a special pattern, went through so many boxes, then there it was in the box with all the batik yardage, under the scrap box.
I was recently a pattern tester for lovely Brianna over at Sew Cute and Quirky. She asked for testers for a new bag pattern, and after my previous experience with pattern testing, where the 7 or so of us world wide had to consult with each-other with problems, I had vowed NEVER to do this again.
Hop over to her site at quirkyb.com and see what other goodies are there. Wonderful patterns, helpful tutorials and more.
Luckily I was tempted beyond my will power. The pattern arrived, and I decided to make 2, in case I had any problems. NOT ONE hiccup at all, they went together like a dream, even a welted pocket, a new venture for me.The pattern was written so well, no adjustments needed, Brianna, you designed this in perfection.
One bag has gone to a dear friend,her birthday was the 4th, and according to NZ Post, the parcel should have been delivered yesterday NZ time !!! I am still waiting for an update on delivery .We celebrate our birthdays a few months apart, but were both born in 1940, and next year, will get together and celebrate in big style 60 years of friendship.Starting in 1954 at Papakura High School.
The second bag will also be a gift, just the right size for phone ,a few coins or notes, and a double strap to go over your shoulder.
This is the second bag.
The New Year started as normal, but in January,Hugh had a bad fall, nothing broken, he is fine now, I had one visit to ED with angina, not too serious, home after one night, life continued.
Early February, Cyclone Gabrielle was north of New Zealand, tracking her way south. The met office kept a close eye on her travels, and gave an estimated arrival here.
The cyclone was downgraded to an ex-tropical cyclone.
The rain came, gale winds, Northland and Auckland received deluge after deluge, on the West Coast two volunteer firefighters lost their lives, attending to a callout.
12 February, a National State of Emergency was called.
This gives Government the power to call on so many other services to assist. Further resources can be used and priorities set in support of a national level response. Army,Navy, Airforce, and more.
The cyclone travelled south, and caused incomprehensible damage. Flooding, homes totally destroyed, the Hawkes Bay region, where my Mum lived for some years when they travelled here from Scotland, has been hit the hardest. So far 9 lives lost, stock gone, roads destroyed, homes filled with silt and debris and harrowing tales of loss and survival.No power, no water, no cell phone coverage, the Navy ships are arriving at Napier Port and a little further north with supplies, generators, food and water. Helicopters are delivering food and medical supplies to places further out that have no way of travelling.
One family lost their 2 year old daughter, a man lost his 3 precious dogs, as he assisted another family to move horses to a safer area. Many more stories that are way too sad to read or post.
Some photos from the Internet. My friend Maureen in Auckland and I talked this morning, and know how fortunate we are to have had no damage, we can look out our windows, talk to our friends,
One friend has just sent me a txt to say he is safe, another posted on Facebook that he was safe too.
Amid all this our 61st Wedding Anniversary came, and went. I truly could not bring myself to celebrate in the current situation elsewhere.
Quotation of the day, from lyrics in " The Living Years "
by B A Robertson and Mike Rutherford
".... I just wish I could have told him in the living years ...
Say it now, say it loud, say it clear,..."
Greetings from Jean
I am so thankful all my northern friends are safe after the snowstorm that has surpassed all others. So many have lost their lives, emergency services stretched to the max, and travel disrupted all over US and Canada.
Meantime down here, the garden has provided some lovely blooms. Recently our Doctor and the rest of the staff were given Lilies and Callas, along with some edible goodies.We are again so thankful for all the care they have given us , but during this last year especially. I didn't get photos of their flowers, one bunch for each , but the tall white lily continued to bloom. Then Google gave me handy hints to preserve Hollyhock flowers. It seems you cut the stems on a slant, then sear them. Hugh had his handy gas blow torch and did the task so quickly, but it also burnt the tinfoil dish I held them over, and his workbench has some marks too.
The mauve petunias have flowered so well, I need more to fill in the whole bed there.
The Christmas Season seems to be so different this year, summer here seems to be late in its arrival, , and in the US and Canada, the storm has taken over everything, travel disrupted, plans cancelled, power outages, the last update was 1.5 million without power in Canada, with bad weather from B.C. to the Maritimes.
And while you will undoubtably have a very white Christmas, this morning we have a clear sky, today with a temperature reaching 20C, or 68F.
The Golden Lilies with red hollyhocks showing in some places, from earlier this year last summer.
We recently had a few days in Rotorua with our older daughter. Meantime at home the flowers bloomed victoriously !!!
Hollyhocks reached for the sky, translucent petals .
Last year, this was the beauty , the same colour in this year's plants, all self sewn.
This has to be the best sale I have ever been to.
The NZ Bulb Nursery at Feilding had their lily bulb sale on Saturday, Hugh took the trailer and we arrived at about 7.30 a.m. I promised him a cafe breakfast afterwards, but we decided to go straight home, so today had a lovely morning tea at Whanganui. A small way to repay him, but did go shopping afterwards, to a BIG store.
The gates were to open at 8 a.m. by that time the cars were arriving so quickly, and when the gates were opened, the first lot of people rushed in, like it was a BIG store Boxing Day Sale.
I strolled in, according to my mature age, was given a sheet with flower colour photos, and names, and this was printed in a map form.
There were pallets with crates piled high, and a lot of customers seemed to know exactly what they wanted. Staff were so helpful. Photos courtesy of NZ Bulbs.
So we, and others, will have White Christmas, deep red, deep yellow, pale pink and deep pink flowers next season. I left the orange ones for everyone else.
And... they have another sale in January. Hugh said, " No, once was enough" as he waited so patiently, a friend wants more, so we will go in her huge wagon.
Some stay here, some for my friend, and some going to the far south next year, with a drop off to a new friend in Waimate.
Quotation of the day, author unknown
" You will miss the sale bargains if you stay safely at home"
Greetings from Jean.
