On the Summer Sea

Today I awoke to birdsong in the native bush outside the window. The tide was in and the sea and sun were beckoning. It was too hard to resist and we decided to take our wee boat out .

I rather fancied our chances of catching a schnapper. While I was still in bed having my first cup of tea , my eyes were fixed on a little red boat out on the sea that seemed to have lots of seagulls flying around it. The boat was anchored in a spot that 40 years ago ( yep, I did say 40 !!) was renowned for lots of schnapper. My father and I used to row out there and catch all we wanted in fifteen minutes flat. Sadly, those days are long gone and it is not often that I go out fishing any more, but today was the day.

It was fun being out there on the water, even though the boat's engine ( yeah, it's also about 40 yrs old, along with the boat), kept threatening to putter out and I thought we would be using the oars to get us back.

We did get quite close to that red boat though, and watched them catch a stingray ( which they quickly unhooked, thankfully, and it was able to swim away)

Here they are unhooking the poor stingray.

This is us bobbing about. See the sandwich that Ian is holding, well that was the only bite that we had all morning. No bites on the fishing lines. We were the ones doing all the eating...chicken salad sandwiches, chocolate biscuits and ginger beer...... yum, quite a feast really.

Of course my "Arisaig" knitting decided to come along for the ride. Ian thought that it had probably put the fish off.

But I didn't mind, it was more fun out on the water knitting, than fishing.

Thank you all for your kind and generous comments on the last post. That quilt was so much fun to make...the squares are cut 5 1/2 inches and I quilted tram lines in a grid on the squares, and quilted wavy lines on the borders. I used "warm and natural" cotton batting in the middle .

A Summer Sea

Blues and greens of a summer sea.

Still reflections in a bright acquamarine swimming pool.

Shadowy olive greens of a local river picnic spot.

An icy frosted glass of lemonade.

The water lilies, with the goldfish darting in and out of the weeds in the pond at Moenui.

These things are what I thought about when making this quilt.

It was fast and easy and the fabrics came to life very simply in squares.

Take Two

Take two biscuits fresh out of the oven, make a fresh pot of tea and put this music on as loud as you you like.

I had such a lovely weekend, and thank you all so much for your kind comments.

It was made extra special by a surprise package from Caireen. She sent some of her beautiful cards

and envelopes, some delicious fudge and embroidery wool and a CD by Rachel Unthank. I LOVE this music and because of listening so intently to her lovely lyrics and harmonies I was able to finish the quilting on my aqua quilt. I sew much faster when I am humming along to great music. I have just the binding to sew on now so I should have a picture of that coming up in the next few days.

I am speeding along with Melissa's Arisaig wraparound. I have finished the two fronts and back and am working on the sleeve now.I really want to have this finished in a month because I intend to knit the sleeveless vest " Twist" for Tom, and the " Cobblestone Pullover" for Tristan before winter . I was lucky to find the wool for Tristan's jumper at half price.It is a lovely dark grey with flecks and I can't wait to get started.
I have sent away for Tom's wool. It is knitted in Rowan Summer Tweed and the patterns for both are in the Interweave Knits Fall 2007.

Then I would like to make the Tangled Yoke Cardigan for me. It is also in the same issue of Interweave Knits. This is such a great knitting magazine isn't it? It is not often that I want to make everything that I see in the one mag.!

Thirty Three Years

I feel quite excited tonight which is a little strange, after all this anniversary has been coming around on the same day in the middle of our Summer now thirty two times. It is always our town's anniversary day as well, which means that everyone living here has a holiday.

We don't even have anything special planned for tomorrow except that Ian won't be working and we shall have a "lazy being together" sort of day all day, with probably some nice edible treats, and maybe a meal out somewhere special.

It seems like such a short time ago that I was walking down the aisle towards him, clutching the arm of my Dad and thinking about the great honeymoon we had planned with such detail, leaving all the wedding plans and fuss and stress to my Mum. I was eighteen and knew absolutely nothing, except that I couldn't bear spending a day without seeing him!!!!

Here we are now thirty three years later and I still feel the same except now I know a little bit more. Actually I do know a whole lot more now than I did then !!

Ian doesn't like this photo but it is the only one I have of us by ourselves on the big day...and hey we can't help the way we looked in the seventies..we were a product of our times.

Ian still has a great head of hair, and there is no grey yet, pretty amazing don't you think for an oldie.

We are looking after our grandchild Eve tonight while her parents are attending a wedding for their friends. I wish for that couple many years of love and friendship, kindness and consideration that I have been very lucky to have had.

Out and About

Thinking about exercise and keeping fit for this year I decided to join a yoga class with a friend.

Yesterday was the first day, and I recklessly assured the teacher after her question "have you done a shoulder stand before"...."Oh yes" nodding my head confidently. Of course the reality is that the last shoulder stand I executed was way back in the seventies.

Today I can feel every muscle in my body, especially my shoulder and back muscles...uum if it wasn't so hot I might be tempted to spend the day here with a big pile of books and my knitting. If only.........



The day before I was out in town shopping with my daughter and granddaughters and we all agreed it was a perfect time to have a raspberry milkshake. There is a dear little cafe right on the beach with a great playground for the children, a favorite place for families in the summer.

Today is the last day of January, how fast this first month has flown by........

Blanket love

I have been thinking about blankets, quilts, afghans, throws, shawls, pashminas,wraps, in fact anything that can be wrapped around a loved one, or to cover them in bed, or to wrap them up in warmth and comfort whilst having a sickie on the couch.

For me personally, I find this to be an ultimate expression of love for that other person. To make them them a shawl , afghan, wrap (any of the above) and to see it giving warmth and comfort brings such delight and satisfaction. Nurturing !

Talking about nurturing make me think about Joan ( Ian's Mum)

My mother-in-law didn't sew, knit, crochet, spin or do any of those handcrafts that other rural women , raising a family in the fifties, and sixties did.

She grew up being fostered by a relative who didn't make time to show her those skills. Instead she showed her love by enveloping everyone that came to her door with wonderful hospitality, and marvellous meals, and a sweet graciousness.

She was a wonderful teacher to me in the early days of my marriage. This cake was a firm favorite of ours when our men were out in the paddocks haymaking.

Pineapple Christmas Cake

1.5 kg mixed fruit

450g crushed pineapple

3 cups flour

1tsp.cinnamon and mixed spice

225g butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp.each of vanilla, almond and lemon essence

6 large eggs

Place mixed fruit and pinapple in a large bowl and leave overnight in a warm place.

Mix spices with flour. Cream butter sugar and essences then beat in eggs one at a time, adding about two tbsps of spiced flour with each egg.Toss tog. the prepared fruit and the remaining spiced flour in a large bowl. Stir in creamed mixture. Put mixture into a paper lined 23 cm cake tin and bake at 150c for 1 1/2 hours then 130c for approx.2 hrs.

I am loving every minute spent making the ripple afghan and am already thinking about the next crocheted project..uuum yes another blanket. I might have a go at this one, the Babette Blanket in the Interweave Crochet mag 2006

Of course I should finish this woven blanket for Alexander , although as it is his birthday on 1st April, I still have plenty of time. It has been a little too hot to sit at my loom for very long.

Pleasures abound when Treasures are found

I have taken on the task of visiting local recycling centres and used clothing places to hunt out fabrics for Melissa. I have had a" rummaging around outing" twice this week already, and I am sorry to say that no barkcloth, or vintage fabrics, no delicate little embroideries for Melissa's baby shoes could I find.

However I thought I would share these treasures. When my eye spied these and I handed over a few dollars for their purchase, I have to say I sang very loudly in the car on the way home!

This is Royal Winton, and before you all gasp with amazement, it does have a small hairline crack running from one side into the middle. Nevertheless at $5.00 I couldn't believe my good fortune. I adore the colour of this piece. It doesn't show so well in the photo, but it is actually a beautiful turquoise shade.

Then more browsing around and I found an old pile of music with these treasures

This fits in very nicely with one of my New Year Resolutions...to spend a little time each week playing my piano before I lose the skill completely. Years ago it was a pleasure that I indulged in daily, but the violin superseded that, so I plan on reclaiming some time.

This dear little pink botttle found it's way home with me, and the rose is Aotearoa.

It seems a little mean to show this next pic. I am sorry Melissa, I know you are missing a feast of these at the moment, but I wanted you to see your green bowl and I thought the colours together were great!