One bag missing and two found

 The RSC colour for this month is black or brown.  Great, I'll get on with stitching the last of my selvedge strips and make a final two handed oven mitt for the year.  You may remember that I have been on a quest to use up my remaining selvedges.   But where was the bag with the selvedges and the hessian for the backing?  It should have been hanging up on the coat rack with various other bags of stuff, but no, it wasn't anywhere to be found.  Perhaps it was in the crates in the wardrobe, where I had repacked stalled projects after my wardrobe malfunction a couple of months ago.   Pulling them both out, I diligently checked through, and no, not there.  Surely I wouldn't have discarded this bag?  

So the crates went back into the wardrobe and I checked every bag hanging on the coat rack.  Several  were empty and used for shopping or to take projects away on Sew Wot days or quilt club nights.  But there were a couple of forgotten surprises found.  One bag contained an assortment of 5inch squares which I had received from my neighbor Dorothy's stash, all packed up by her in little bags.  They will be handy for future RSC projects.

Lots of squares rediscovered

The other found bag was even more exciting.  There was a cot sized quilt top in blue and yellow, which I added to the pile of tops in the sewing room to be layered and quilted sometime.  Then there were two lots of nine patch blocks all stitched up and with their respective fabrics to complete the projects, another blue and yellow project, and another in pink and blue.  Yes, it's all coming back to me now, I remember stitching these quite some time ago.    These two nine patch projects were added to the crates in the wardrobe to be completed in due cause.

One quilt top, two tops in the making

So.... I didn't find my bag of remaining selvedges and I've checked all sorts of places where it could have ended up.  But I did find these other unexpected projects which I had long forgotten.  As I used to tell Robin, I'll never run out of things to do!

This week has been rather social, going out and about.  First was a trip down to Tatum Park with my friend Dot, where we enjoyed a Devonshire Tea.  The main reason for going to this establishment was to confirm the booking and details of my upcoming BIG birthday family lunch later in the month.  The day was cold and miserable outside, but we were  toasty warm inside.

Dot and Jenny enjoying Devonshire Tea, actually coffee,  on a chilly morning

And then the following day I had lunch with two friends at Otaki, sadly our fourth friend was unwell and could not attend.  This cafe is so busy, and we were amazed by the queues of customers which kept streaming in.  Just as well we had booked a table, I thought.  There was plenty to chat about with these ladies, we go back a long time and there are many memories of earlier years.

Trish, Robyn and Jenny

So it's been a busy old week, but still no sign of the missing bag with the last of my selvedges.  I'm hoping  it will turn up sooner or later.

A Morning at the Movies

Three friends and I attended the Thursday  morning screening of the film "Downton Abbey the Grand Finale".  When we arrived we were told that the credit card system wasn't working, so sales were cash only.  Luckily we all had some cash in our purses, so movie tickets were purchased, and a coffee too, as we were there in plenty of time.  I was so looking forward to the film, as I had watched all the TV series, and knew all the characters.  The scandal of divorce raised it's ugly head, as no divorced woman (at the time) could take part in polite society and were ostracized.   There was no mention however that divorced men were so treated and shunned.  I loved the film, the story line, and the gorgeous costumes - if you are a Downton Abbey fan, you will love it too.

On Saturday morning the local Community Patrol team was hosting their Safer Plates campaign and I drove down to check it out.  They advise that the first thing a criminal does when they attempt to steal your car is to cut the screws off your number plates to change them and make it easier to commit offences.  For a $5 donation to Community Patrol, the team will replace the plate screws with stainless steel star shaped heads which are much more difficult to remove.  That sounded a good idea to me, so I went and happily paid my $5.00 for the service.

There was a wee bit of a wait as many other car owners had the same idea, and then my car was attended to.  It hardly took any time at all.  

Started in 2002, the Community Patrol is active at night and covers about 100km a night in our area in their distinctive vehicles, working as a set of extra eyes and ears for the Police and report suspicious or criminal activity.  The volunteers  do a great job in helping to keep our community safer. 

Hello Spring

 Spring has arrived and it was time to change the small wall hanging just inside  the front door.  Down came Welcome to Winter and up went Hello Spring.  I hand stitched the pretty floral design and finished it up with machine quilting in 2022.

Spring has arrived

Our Spring weather is often temperamental and we have had heavy wind and rain.  The wind blew, blew, blew, creating  a carpet of yellow kowhai blossoms scattered across the lawn in the back yard.  Our native tuis love the kowhai nectar and have been feeding off the tree, in between busily chasing any rival birds away from the bounty.  This tree came with us as a little seedling when we moved here from Upper Hutt back in 2013 and has grown and matured into such a lovely tree.

Kowhai blossoms

So what have I been up to lately?  I have a knitting finish, and no, not socks this time.  Made with Op Shop (thrift store) yarn too pretty to leave behind, I'm pleased with how it turned out.  This will probably be donated, but I'll keep it for a while, just in case.  Not that I've heard of any new arrivals, but you never know.

Little jumper finally finished

And it's been binding time over the last few evenings too, I'm diligently stitching down the binding on the butterfly quilt.  This is one of three I want to make for a special family, more about that later.

Binding the butterfly quilt

Our clocks changed for daylight saving in the middle of the night, Spring forward.  Luckily, by the magic of the internet the phone, tablet and laptop changed all by themselves.  It used to be Robin's job to change the other clocks, so that's something else I have inherited.  The kitchen clock has been lifted down off the wall and changed, and I worked out how to alter the clock on the stove.  My new little bedside clock is a challenge as the only little thing to turn on the back altered the alarm time.  Then I remembered that last time I just took the battery out, waited till the correct time arrived, and replaced the battery!  There must be a simpler way, but I haven't discovered it.  The clock on my car can stay exactly as it is, that is beyond me, and I reasoned that if I'm getting into my car to go out, then I will know what the correct time is.  And of course my watch it easy to alter.  

Catching up with Family

 My children don't live on my doorstep, so it is always so nice to see them when I can.  Son Michael lives in Christchurch, in the South Island, and was up in Wellington recently to stay with his Dad.  We arranged to meet for lunch, I drove down to Otaki, and he drove up from Wellington.  Just as well I got there early, as there was no parking close by, it was a matter of driving around till I found a park in an adjacent street and walk back.  

While I was waiting, several groups of older cyclists arrived.  This cafe is obviously on their route for lunch when they are on their bike rides.  Good crowds in a cafe always means that the place is popular and the food is sure to be good, I feel.  Michael duly arrived, after finding a handy car park non existent too and walked back around a corner or two to reach the cafe.  We ordered lunch and settled down to catch up with the news.

Michael

I had taken along some computer stuff which Robin had tucked away and I didn't know what it was or what to do with it.  Michael took a couple of packets of discs off my hands, so that was good.  There is a lot of stuff at home I'm still trying to sort out, so this going to a good home is a bonus.  As far as computers go, I know what I know, and that's not very much!

I didn't even know what these were

My daughter Nicky came down to see me on Sunday, and we had lunch here at home.  I made some parsnip and bacon soup, it is always very tasty.  Then we sat and chatted.  I showed Nicky a project which had been stalled for a while.  It features three snow people and I mentioned how I hate making and stuffing toys.  Her response was, why did you buy it in the first place if you hate making toys?  The answer was that I bought it very cheap in a sale, and I enjoyed making their easy felt outfits.  But when it came to the bodies I put it away.  Luckily I had stitched up the bodies and arms, and had the stuffing handy so she sat and stuffed them for me.  

Snow people bodies and arms, don't they look weird!

Gemma checked them out too, and was soon rolling around and giving one of those legs a good beating with her back feet, she must have thought it was a type of mouse.

What's all this, she is thinking

I'd better get the heads stitched up, and then maybe Nicky can stuff them for me as well next time she comes visiting.  And I've got no idea how to attach the arms.  Maybe I will need to read the instructions.  Did I mention how I hate making toys?

So it was nice that I spent one on one time with both of my children lately.  It is the school holidays here in New Zealand, and I remembered our outings from Hutt Valley to Wellington on the train each holiday, to see whatever film we had picked out.  And having lunch as well in the Pancake Parlour (now long gone) was another school holiday tradition.  Those were the days.

Sew Wot Tuesday

 It was a rainy old Tuesday when we all gathered in Carol's home this week.  It's Spring here in New Zealand and the weather is always temperamental during this season. It was nice to catch up with everyone again, with only one absence this time.   I had taken some old quilt magazines around to share, and some of them found new homes.  The rest will be donated to the Op shop.

Of course there was show and tell, with several pair of nice warm socks making an appearance.  Helen had knitted these two pair and during the morning she completed sewing up the side seam on yet another pair.

Helen's socks

Mary had been knitting socks as well, and had completed two pair of blue toned socks.  Plus a little flower we had been shown how to stitch at our last quilt club meeting.

Mary's socks

Sandra made a very pretty pansy quilt from the fabrics she had collected over the years.  This is for a special friend, isn't it lovely.  This design is called "Plaidish" and there are lots of pretty pansy fabrics in here.

Sandra's pansy quilt

Our hostess Carol had been rather busy, with several quilts to show us.  The first one was made with fabrics purchased in Vancouver on her 70th birthday, showcasing lovely tall flowers.

Carol's quilt made from fabrics purchased in Vancouver

Then, in the never ending quest to use up fabrics in the stash, she whipped up these two delights, in pinks and Autumn tones.  But we all know we will never use up all those fabrics stashed away, don't we?

Two more quilts from Carol

After all that excitement it was time for morning tea.  The "Eat a Lots" eat again!

Morning Tea is served

Many thanks to Carol for hosting Sew Wots this week.

Off to Feilding

The caravan club was having a weekend rally at Feilding over the weekend.  My friend Dot is a club member too and has a small motor home, but wasn't attending the rally, but she asked me if I would like a ride up on Saturday to catch up with the members. Yes, I certainly would.  The boot of the car was packed, we needed a folding chair each, our lunches, and a coat in case it was cold and windy up there.  But surprise, surprise, the day turned out sunny and wonderfully warm, no complaints about the weather at all.  

Here they all are

We arrived about 11ish to find most of the members off on a scavenger hunt, and taking it very seriously too.  They has their list of things to find, a plastic bag to put them in, and who knew what wonderful prize there might be for the  winner to collect?  After setting our chairs up in the sunshine, and a quick meet and greet, I took off to snap a few photos. 

The club was staying at the Coach House Museum, which boasts a wonderful collection of horse gigs, carts and carriages, farm equipment, and a very impressive John Deere tractor collection too.

Coach House Museum, Feilding

Under the verandah at the entry was this rustic old cart.  And even more interesting was a photo of the same cart, horse and driver at work in Wellington City in 1935.  As a child in the 1950s I can remember our milk was delivered by horse and cart.  All the fathers used to rush out with a bucket and spade to collect the manure for their gardens when the milk cart passed by.

Those were the days

There are lots of agricultural implements dotted around on permanent display in the grounds and the outside of the building has a plethora of paintings, just is just a taste up where the caravans were parked.

Everyone eventually wandered back clutching their scavenger hunt goodies and we settled down to our picnic lunch.  There was plenty of news to catch up on, and it was nice to see everyone again.  Robin and I were very keen caravan club members back in the day, and now he has passed away I do miss the caravan weekends.  But there was no way I was ever going to tow a caravan, or purchase a small motorhome, so it is nice to catch up socially when I can.  President Owen wanted a photo of all the ladies, so here we all are.

Helen, Dot, Jenny, Maureen, Eileen and Sue

Dot and I left about 2.00ish for the trip back home, stopping off at the Robert Harris Cafe at Foxton for "thank you for the ride" afternoon tea.  No, we didn't really need that cake each, but it really was delicious.

Robert Harris Cafe, Foxton

Yes, it certainly was a lovely day out, the weather was perfect, and many thanks to Dot for the ride.

A Probus Day out

 Recently Dot and I went on a bus trip organised by our Probus Club.  The day was cold and wet and we waited in the cold car park wrapped up in our rain jackets and scarves, together with the rest of the group  for the bus to arrive.  Once onboard, we were soon on our way.

Our bus for the day

One of the highlights  of the trip for me was to travel across the newly opened "Te Ahu a Turanga", the new 11.5km piece of State Highway 3, between Ashhurst and Woodville.  This replaces the old Manawatu Gorge Road which closed in 2017 after slips.  I used to hate driving on the Manawatu Gorge road, narrow and winding, with heavy netting doing it's best to keep the rocks from falling onto the road.  And on the other side of the gorge we could see the single track railway line clinging on as it wound around this corner and that.   Only freight trains and excursion trains now travel through the gorge, not any scheduled passenger services.  And far below the Manawatu River flowed on.   A train fell into the river back in 1946, with two engineers losing their lives.  And two trucks have crashed into the gorge in 2010 and 2016 with loss of lives.  No wonder I always felt apprehensive traveling this dangerous stretch of road.

The new highway took us across the Parahaki Bridge, then over the Eco-Viaduct which crosses an ecologically sensitive wetland.  Our poor old bus struggled on the climb up the Ruahine Range, making us wonder if it would really make it.  "Of course I can, of course I can"  the wheels told us and we were soon up the top by the wind turbines.  There was a path off top the side for walkers and cyclists and it was lovely to see so many native plants alongside the road.  A staggering 1.8million trees, shrubs and flaxes have been planted in this project.

The new road, up amongst the wind turbines

Our first stop was at the Woodville Organ Museum, which has a collection of over 150 reed organs.  Some huge, some quite small, and all very interesting.  We wandered around, checking them out, there were so many we had to squeeze around to see them.  It was interesting to hear other Probus members saying that their parents and/or grandparents used to have an organ at home.  

Then we had a recital of church hymns, with the owner and her daughter playing several different organs to show the variation in the sounds.  Hymn books had been handed around and many joined in with the singing.

Lunch was at Masterton Club, which started life as an exclusive club for men in 1877 as a Gentlemen's Club, but now admits women members.  The club rooms certainly have that exclusive men only feel, with large leather sofas in the reading room, several pool tables and mounted stag heads in the timber framed and  paneled pool/billiards room.  Very masculine indeed.  

We enjoyed a delicious buffet roast meal, with roast beef and hot roast ham, followed by dessert.   The bar was open for those who wanted a drink, but sadly, tea or coffee was not part of the meal.  That was a shame. as I'm sure many of us would happily have paid for a nice hot coffee.

Lunch is ready to be served

Fully replete, we all climbed back in the bus and headed out to visit Stonehenge Aotearoa.  Their brochure says "Stonehenge Aotearoa, like the ancient stone circles around the world, is a complete and working structure designed for it's precise location on the Earth.  It is a window into the past"  When we arrived the weather was awful, so we were happy to go into the theatrette and sit down for the slide show.  This was very interesting and told about the history, and the reasoning and precise location of the structure.  Our guide for the day was very enthusiastic and then invited us outside.  But it was freezing cold and raining so no one wanted to linger too long.

This plaque was in the centre

Stonehenge Aotearoa

Yes, it was interesting enough, but I have to say nothing like the ancient stone circles.  Robin and I have seen Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles in England and they really have an atmosphere of wonder, mystery and ancient secrets.

Our group was happy to climb back onboard to get out of the freezing weather and start our journey back home.  We drove south down the Wairarapa, over the Remutaka Hill, then back up the motorway to Levin.  I'm sure a few of the group nodded off as the bus trundled back to Levin.  It was great to have my first ride over that part of the new motorway, and I had not been to the Organ Museum before.  Yes, I had been to Stonehenge Aotearoa quite some years ago, on a brilliantly sunny Wairarapa day, and had a leisurely look around back then.    It had been a long day out, but very interesting indeed.