Latest Project

I made this table topper for an Aunt who has one of those 1950's formica tables, in pristine condition, with still the original chrome and red vinyl chairs to match. The table is not square, just two inches off, so I had to be very precise with my measurements. The top has batting and is quilted, but the sides are just fabric. I am pleased with the result, it looks very good on the table and fits perfectly. It was for her 93rd birthday. The name of the block is 'steps to the altar' which caused much hilarity!

Not a lot to look forward to this week!

Ode to the Fallen - ANZAC Day

Kiwifruit harvest time - again

We have been out at the orchard working under the vines. Picking will be in about 4 weeks time so we are thinning out the reject fruit. If our reject rate goes above a certain percentage we are charged a penalty by the packhouse, so it is worth our while to pull off any imperfect fruit.

Fruit can be rejected for a number of reason - signs of disease, misshapen fruit, small fruit etc. In the first photo you can see all the thinned fruit lying on the ground. It is a crime to waste so much fruit, much of it is perfectly good, just with minor flaws. I dislike wasting fruit at any time, so thinning is not a pleasant task.(Apart from that I get a sore neck, shoulders and arms!)




These are just a few photos of the vines. And one of some reject kiwifruit that you will never ever see in the shops!

The changing season

The weather has the air of inevitable change about it. Hot summer days now have a chill to them. The cicada's song is less strident.


The japanese anenomes are in full bloom with their beautiful simplicity in pinks and white.

The summer hydrangea flowers are changing to their autumn colours - what were a deep blue are now a burgundy colour, and the pure white hydrangeas have turned a strange speckled pink and white.

And family changes are happening also. Our eldest grand daughter has lost her front baby teeth and the youngest grand daughter is starting to think about crawling. And the twins start school in three weeks time. A niece was married last weekend. Its a season of change.

Mostly for the better, but there are some changes here that are not so good. Sad ones.

Life goes on regardless.

A year ago

It is a year ago tomorrow that the world changed forever for many Christchurch people.

Follow this link to see a very well done series of photos showing before and after the quake.

'Jaws' on the prowl near Tauranga coast

A great white shark could be circling the Bay of Plenty.

Just over a week after two fisherman reported a "huge" great white near the Tauranga Harbour entrance, a surfer has said one cruised "very close by" while he was surfing with several others near Mt Maunganui.

"This shark was larger than a 12ft surfboard and had huge pectoral fins with a very large girth - and cruising water as shallow as 1.5m. Its demeanour seemed rather inquisitive and docile.

"I was left in awe at seeing such a magnificent creature so close to land and in its natural environment."

New Zealand Herald 5:30 AM Tuesday Feb 21, 2012

Another Quilt Finished

Last year we went on a holiday to the Cook Islands. While there I discovered a wonderful fabric shop and purchased some typical island prints to make this fish quilt.





Today my quilt hung with others on display at a garden party at a friend's quilt shop situated on their avocado orchard. A beautiful setting on a lovely summers day.

More Tomatoes

This is the last tomato post I promise you! Among our bumper crop this year is this one which takes the prize at 640 grams which is one pound six ounces.

Summer harvest

This summer has been great for growing vegetables. We have had so much rain and although we have been away for several weeks this month, the garden has kept right on growing and producing.

The photo is of some of my tomatoes. I was given some plants and have no idea what type of tomatoes they are, but one of the larger ones in the photo weighed around 480 grams which is just under half a kilo! The smaller tomatoes are the regular size ones.