You can never have enough...

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies Another damp morning but it is very welcome.

I love your jacket, OHH, great stitching! And I know exactly how your fingers feel lol. Denim is hard work. I hope you have a decent thimble to protect your thumb and help push the needle through.

The Christmas lilies are flowering, a whole bunch of them opened yesterday afternoon. Today I'll be working where the tree stumps are to make it easier for our friend to get his gear in there on Tuesday. It will be so good to have them gone. Then over summer I can plant and fill in the gaps as $$$ allow. We estimate it is going to take around a year to 18 months to sort the garden out. It's almost like we are starting over in some places.

The starlings are nesting in a tree that hangs over the composting area. How lucky are we They are like little spitfires darting about.

I ran out of thread for the hardanger yesterday. But there is enough fabric around the edge of my piece to stitch some bookmarks for stocking fillers. Much easier to do while the fabric is one piece and then do all the cutting at once.

Happy crafting

[Roma]

Good morning. 

Drizzling this morning. 

A bit bleary eyed after a back neighbour partying till after 2pm. But I shan't complain ... friend of a friend has had Kainga Ora buy the next door house which has been the subject of police raids,  armed offenders call out and chopper surveillance. AO used their yard for access 

GC have not long gone home after a sleep over while parents out.  They all slept soundly. 

Nice work OHH ... your stitching perfect and looks great on the jacket.

Starlings a farmer's worst enemy when nesting ... many a tractor fire after they'd built in the engine area! But then they were great at helping to keep grassgrub under control when working as a flock in the paddocks.

A slow day today .... even more so if it remains wet. 

Enjoy the day all.

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Wet here too.. Pleased really. I wanted a weekend off the lawn lol.. Its getting long but in its own way it makes mowing easier when you can really see where your going lol. Will be hard work tho. Ill book a fine weekend next week lol.

It was a nice day yesterday doing the Christmas decorations. And Madam didn't touch a thing over night. Which is a good sign. She knows what dont Touch means so hopefully she will remember when Im out. Which will be everyday this week.

Im not a fan of being out everyday, but needs a must this week and then the next.

Have to pop up for some milk this morning , then Ill make my steamed pudding for breakfast.

Then I can paint. of which I didnt do any yesterday.

Have a fab day all

[Mica]

Morning all 
Fine clouding over  mild out just returned from walking  the k9 I take a different route to DH so he was enjoying  lots of sniffs 

The date and walnut loaf turned out great pretty much fail proof recipe

Started frankenpattern  jacket experimenting  using soft white double gauze it will be unstructured  so no interfacing  anywhere  i am hoping it will be a throw on light  garment for summer finger crossed its not a charity sew.

DH out keeping the fur GK company while his family are out.

Should be doing appliance cleaning since it is the 1st of the month but I will do that tomorrow

Enjoy your day

[Roma]

Would you be able to share your date and walnut recipe Mica? The one I made last week was SO dry!

[Mica]

This was my Nanas recipe'

Fruit and Nut Loaf
1C boiling water
1C fruit/dates & nuts
1C sugar
1T butter
1tsp B Soda
Put in pot and stir over heat until butter melted
Add:
2C flour
1tsp BP
1 beaten egg
Mix
Bake fan 160 45 minutes

[kiwimade64]

yummmm thanks for sharing, mica

I smell of the rosemary lol. Gave it a bit of a prune

I meant swallows earlier, not starlings, heaven knows where my head was. We do have starlings though and no grass grubs, so they have their uses. The birds are mostly up to their second clutch of babies, they seem to roll with the first flush of roses finishing. A woman in the FB rose group has had her roses stripped by those bronze coloured beetles so keep an eye for them. She's down Wellington way but a woman from Hamilton said the same thing has happened to her roses as well. They bury themselves deep into the flower so hard to spot.

[Roma]

Thanks Mica. Will try that one. 

Ah yes, swallows KM. I've still got visions of them dive bombing my nonchalant cat as he strolled across the lawn 

[Lilith7]

The stitching looks brilliant Hunni; you could do that on virtually anything.

The other day I was making my favourite Greek salad & decided to try a different idea for the dressing; usually its just oil & vinegar but I love pesto so used that instead & really enjoyed it.

Still attempting to sort all my paintings; sweetie darlling no.2 managed to find the folder. The problem now is that it no longer shows up when i open the folder; instead I have to first open a painting I'm working on & then - & only then - it will graciously allow me to open the blardy folder.
I'd really love a word in the ear of whichever dipstick decided that was a good idea; some of us are technologically challenged fgs.


But at least I can get on with a cull, up to H now so will start on them tomorrow with any luck.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

It is a very easy way to add texture to an appliqued fabric. And I get the double reward of the zen it brings, time just disappears, like when we paint or draw or whatever, that flow state that we all need in our lives.

[Lilith7]

It is a very easy way to add texture to an appliqued fabric. And I get the double reward of the zen it brings, time just disappears, like when we paint or draw or whatever, that flow state that we all need in our lives.

Yeah, there is that. 

I got one hell of a shock the other day, that it was 4pm already...Madame Le Dog very kndly reminded me that ir was nearly dinner time, only half an hour early.

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies More rain coming I think.

Fingers crossed your jacket works out, mica

Time seems to fly by when I'm stitching or in the garden. Amazing how my thinking changes and the world's problems are often solved by the time I have weeded a garden lol. Or more often than not I have another 'plan' for something or other semi formed.

The tree stumps are being ground this morning instead of tomorrow which suits us better anyway. Just as well I cleared away the salvias and other plants around them yesterday. The plum trees and grapevine are having a trim as well.

Three big canes from the Lemon & Lime standard roses that bent horizontally with the weight of the roses and almost snapped the canes, are now in four vases. So good to have flowers inside.

The book mark I'm stitching is coming together. I'll slip it in with my sister-in-law's books when we return them as a 'thank you'.

Happy crafting

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Lovely day here, I think it will be warm.

I admit the time ticks by when doing my painting. But I only had about 4 hours at it all weekend.

David popped in with a bit of a Bush he calls a taro, which I think is a trained Rata. It has green berries on it. Well it DID. he wondered if the berries could be painted. I said Im willing to try. I was amazed, it worked. they have held the paint well. so Im taking it to the home this morning for Our Table. But he wants me to ask the desk Bulldog if they would like a vaseful for the reception. I guess in doing so it volunteers me to do the painting. Although they could do it themselves. Thought I had uploaded a photo, will do it later.

Dianne's hubby is off work for two weeks so she will be dividing her time. so she wont be there today. So I'm on daughter Duty.. Im making some Cheese scones today before I go. Colleen and I were talking about them on Friday.

David will pop in again this week to do a video on his iPad of my decorations to show the ladies. Im glad he suggested it cos Id actually thought the same thing . Its funny cos we are both May babies and have very similar thoughts about things. Especially catering and the correct dinnerware , Table linen etc. And he agrees with me on using the best stuff. Whats the good of having the best china sitting there looking pretty but never used.

Have a fab day all.

[Mica]

Morning all 
Mild bright overcast  morning 

Been to gym and will do vacuuming when I have finished my cup of tea.  Plan on nipping into shops to look for secret Santa presents.  Got a meeting this afternoon so thats my day done.

Hope to finishnthe vest I am knitting tonight so that will be ready to take with me on Thursday.

Enjoy your day

[Oh_hunnihunni]

I am all discombobulated, having lost the weekend to a gallstone attack. Thanks to good drugs it wasn't as bad as it could have been but those same drugs made me sleep most of those lost hours away, so last night I was bright and chirpy at all the wrong times, lol.

With luck a bit of vacking and gardening will put my bodyclock back to normal. And put those blasted stones back where they should be!

Heard from my daughter this morning, they have sold the city house they built and bought their dream country lifestyle property and move in in January. Apart from water they will be totally off the grid and as soon as they can they are putting in a bore and big rainwater collection systems so even that will be covered. She tells me she can't wait to get gardening, and is already drawing up plans for fruit trees.

Must be something in the genes, lol.

[kiwimade64]

morning ladies We have a bit of fog but that's to be expected after yesterday's very hot day. We didn't close the doors or windows until after 10.00pm.

I hope you had a better day yesterday, OHH, and those nasty gallstones have settled down. How lovely for your daughter and her family to realise their dream.

The tree stumps weren't ground yesterday as the grinder died but will be done as soon as it is all sorted. We did have the shrubs and plum trees trimmed and they look a lot better. Fingers crossed the stumps will be done soon.

Grocery shopping for me today as well as some Christmas shopping. I'll finish son's present and post it off today all going to plan. And I need more thread to finish this hardanger piece. Not impressed with the brand of perle cotton our local shop has, it's so soft it keeps breaking.

Happy crafting

[Mica]

Morning all 
Overcast expecting wind

KM that perle cotton doesn't sound good it must be frustrating to use
OHH hope you on mend today

Off to physio soon few errands to run picking up DGD1 today and feeding her until her mum gets home

Enjoy your day

[popeye333]

Morning everyone

Fine here and bound to be hot. I slept with the fan on low but woke up cold.

How lovely to be able to plant your own place up.. I admit to being better at growing food rather than flowers.

Had a nice time at the home yesterday. We all enjoyed the scones. yay.

Managment are trying to throw any reason they can come up with to fight against our dinner on Friday. Such as where are we buying the food, Cant take a microwave in un less its been tested, where are we buying our food and they need the space. All crap. The inmates are more likely to be sick from the homes food than ours.

I dont understand their total annoyance at visitors. Alot of the people in there would be starving if they stopped family taking food in.. They suggested we talk to the kitchen manager which is fine cos she is on our side. And one of the inmates has his own microwave and Im bloody sure he would let us use it... we dont want to use the homes incase they need it.

Supposed to be going out for a cuppa this morning. then ill be doing the back hay paddock lol.

Have a fab day all

[Roma]

Good morning. 

It's cloudy but expecting another hot day. 

I hope you have recovered OHH, gallstone pain doesn't sound good at all.  Your daughter and family's future plan sounds wonderful. 

I feel your frustration KM with breaking thread ... nothing more annoying, other than a knot in said thread that can't be undone!

Don't cut your lawn too short Popeye ... we're leaving ours a bit longer so it copes with the dry better!

Busy day yesterday plus a GC day. The school year is winding down, not so all the activities that go with it.  

Today will be spent catching up round home including a spot of weeding. Pleased to notice more than a dozen passionfruit on the self seeded vine.

Enjoy the day all.

[popeye333]

I never cut it too short Roma. And I dont use a catcher either.

No kids to bring the clippings in. Quite lucky with this lawn it stays green well.

I hate chopping all the pretty daisy's off tho. We didn't have them at the other house. They bring me many memories of sitting making Daisy chains with my sister when young.

Oh Hunnie I do feel sorry for you. Thankfully my gallstones are in a jar and cant bother me anymore.