I have a new toy…………

 

After my Laptop came back from ICU I was unable to reinstate my camera software. DH said “Why don’t you get a new camera?” I didn’t need to be told twice! So this is what I got. An upgrade of the camera I previously had.

It is of course the right colour! I’m just a point and shoot sort of girl so this suits me fine.

I’ve been having a play and couldn’t resist sharing a panorama of the view from our dining table:

The grass down in the reserve has dried to a crisp.

Just outside our dining area window is the rock and native plant garden which we installed in February 2012. We bought all the plants at Taupo Native Tree Nursery. We explained the location of our garden and how it gets no sun in the winter and about an hour of sun at this time of the year. We couldn’t be happier with the plant selection that was suggested. All the plants are doing well, we haven’t had a single loss.

This is what it looks like now.

 

  ….and just because I can with  my new snazzy PINK camera, here’s a panorama of our garden from our front porch.

That walled area on the left is our vegetable garden.

Special note for Shay: Now you can see a bit more past the silk tree!

Thanks for popping by

Summer Quilt

Earlier this summer Glynn asked  me to make him a light weight quilt. I chose to use Jeni’s Patchwork Chevron pattern.

I shopped my stash for the required charm squares. It is at times like this that my Scrap harvesting comes in handy.I also had some of that lovely Kona Charcoal that everyone talks about. The perfect combo for a man’s quilt.

 

 

I have quilted interlocking circles (aka orange peel) on the squares.

Can you see those lines through the charcoal? I’m planning some modern style quilting between the lines.I used cotton batting, not so good for showing up my stitches but hopefully good for a cooler quilt.

I have my Lap Top back – things are still not quite right but at least I can use Live Writer again – which is sooooo much easier to use than Blogger.

I’m joining up today with Lee’s Work in Progress Wednesday

Thanks for staying with me.

 PS Chooks settling in well. It took them all of 48 hours to clue into yummy scrap treats. I hope they are just as clever about producing eggs!

It's so frustrating.....

My lap top went away on Monday to be healed, I got it back on Friday. I'm not a happy camper, my Windows Live writer has vanished and my picture programme. So here I am back on my IPad. I can't figure out how to put pictures where I want so here we go.....

Bumble Bees - I love these little critters. Doesn't this one look so happy in the flowers?





Teresa commented about our hydrangeas. The colours are very vibrant this year.

I love the touch of creamy lemon in this one

 

Gazanias - don't you just love those happy smiley faces?




Buddlelias and roses. I don't know what it is about Buddlelias but one whiff of their heavenly perfume and I am transported back to a happy time many years ago. I understand they are now have a pest status in New Zealand and are no longer available for purchase  Look at those pretty pink old fashioned roses.

 Love those too. They smell like real roses.

Thanks for popping by - please stay with me - normal service will resume soon!

Linda

 

PS to all my 98 followers thank you for joining me on my blogging adventure. I have a nice treat
planned when I get to 100.

 

 

The girls are here....

...this morning Peggy and I drove to Reporoa to pick up the chooks. After checking out their new home they were quick to find the food and eat up large.

 After a good tuck in one brave girl headed up the ramp to check out the sleeping quarters.

A modern twist on an old favorite......

In summertime our Mum used to make Ice Cream Pudding. This was usually served with cooked summer fruits. The pudding was creamy and sweet, the fruit had a bit of an edge. The perfect combo.
Because I love you all I'm sharing the recipe with you today. I have modernized it to a Microwave cook but you can cook it on the stove top. - In Mum's day that was a coal range!

600 ml milk
50 grams butter
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons of flour
1 beaten egg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Pour 2 cups of milk into a 2 litre jug and heat on high for 3-4 minutes
While this is happening blend the flour, balance of the milk and beaten egg in the bottom of large jug. I use a 2 litre microwave jug.
Add the butter and sugar to the hot milk. Stir until the butter has melted.
Pour the hot milk mix over the flour,egg,milk mixture. Beat to blend.
Cook on high for 2- 3 minutes. Beat well and return to the microwave for another 2 minutes on medium heat.
This can be served hot or cold.
Besides the microwave the other modern assistant I use is a stick blender. Makes it real easy to keep the pudding smooth and creamy.
Enjoy!

Guess what is coming.....

....to our house soon

Circling around New Zealand

Label on and final stitches into the binding today.

This quilt is going to be travelling a long way from our summery garden to a much colder location.

I am writing this from my IPad, my lap top is having a stay in the ICU of the local computer shop.
I can't put my pictures where I want them. grrrrrrr

Thanks for popping by

Linda

These little tags are proving popular..

 

I made some of these luggage tags and a handle wrap for Peggy to use on her travels last year. Now I have had a request from another sibling for a set:

Several readers have also asked for the pattern. You can find the luggage tag here:

Quilt,Knit,Run,Sew

The handle wrap pattern is part of a Moda Bakeshop Tutorial.

I don’t have a set of these but Peggy tells me they were very helpful when she was trying to spot her bag.

Gardening:

The people who built our house made some very clever decisions when they planted the garden. One of the features we love is the silk tree by the patio. It provides shade in the summer but is bare for maximum light in our Sunroom over winter.

It has just started  to flower. Such lovely pretty fragile blossoms.

Op shop treasure:

I put items up on Trade Me (NZ Ebay) for the Opshop I volunteer at. I often bring things home for deep cleaning and/or polishing. These Vintage Shoe stretchers came in this week.

I have started to polish them – see the right side of the right hand stretcher?

 

They speak to me of a more elegant time. Engraved on them are the words “Carr Shoe Co” On the underside 2-4 Made in England Patent Number 176633.I think they are going to look super when I have finished with them.

……………and just because I can, clouds at sundown a few days ago.

Thanks for popping by

 Linking with Favourite Things Friday over at Quilting in My Pyjamas

and Find a Friend Friday at Sew Many Ways

It’s too hot for a fur coat….

 

Poor Cici she’s knocked out!

Don’t you just love it that the staff at some large stores don’t know how to look after plants? I scored another nice perennial half price. I’m hoping to have this planted before the heat sets in tomorrow.

Our friends Jack and Marie came to visit today. Just back from their travels, they gave us this lovely gift from Hong Kong.

So cute.

Bye for now

 

I need all the help I can get…

…..and Kaiser the cat is willing:

Such a treasure.

I have finished quilting Circling around NZ but I wont share pictures until I have the binding on.

Today I worked on Peggy’s applique cushion. It was nice to work on something so bright and flowery after the Kiwiana quilt.

I love the way the flowers popped:

Looking good…..

Thanks for popping by

Still circling around…..

 

The hooks and swirls are looking really good.

This has been such fun to work on.

Thanks for popping by.
TTFN

Circling around New Zealand

Our visitors have all departed so it’s back to quilting again. Peggy made this quilt top and I’m busy quilting it.

It is yet another Kiwiana quilt. We were given a load of pre cut circles of Kiwiana fabrics. Peggy raw appliqued the circles onto black squares. These were then cut into quarters that were jumbled up and sewn back together.

 

I have started by sewing free motion circles in the centre of the blocks.

What fun! Next I plan to stitch koru swirly shapes  with my fav Superior thread Lava.

More tomorrow – I hope

Thanks for popping by

 

New Year’s Day in New Zealand

Today dawned a little chilly but the sun has been shining and a nice cool breeze is blowing.

Our Lounge/Dining room over looks the Waikato river and on out to the mountains. It’s been lovely to see people out and about enjoying the day. The mountains are nearly without snow now.

After a cool spring plants have suddenly taken on a huge growth spurt.

Our new Dublin Bay rose has its first blooms:

This Hollyhock never ceases to enchant us with its nearly black flowers:

Our Hydrangeas are producing lots of pretty bright blooms:

All in all a promising start for the New Year.

Thanks for popping by.