So many good things

Phil took this photograph at Lake Te Anau, in the South Island, recently on a day trip to Milford Sounds - I just love the strippy look made by the sunlight through a break in the clouds.

I can look back on the fun I've had over the years with my two cats, Floyd and Basil - here's what they looked like in the early days -

Basil was always a bit of a scaredy cat, resting with his eyes open, but he loved to snuggle up in his last days - R.I.P. Basil Brush.......

I had to smile at this product -

Wrinkle remover - and for only six ninety nine - I've plenty of those, but not too sure what the Goo is that needs removing as well??

It was the monthly meeting of Pinestream Quilters recently and the club had made an Anzac Quilt, we contributed our blocks and a team made them up into the quilt which was presented to the Joint Forces at nearby Trentham, Military Camp.

Here's a close-up -

We were given the paisley fabric for the corners, the red and greens we provided - I think the sashing and the crosses emphasise the whole meaning of Anzac and the horror of war, especially WWI.

Here's the back - what a great contrast - the paisley represents the dirt and blood of the battlefield with the dove of peace rising above the carnage........

The quilt was presented on the morning of our meeting, then brought back so all the members could all see it.  I understand it's planned to be hung so both sides are visible.

During the evening we sat making poppies, either from felt or knitted/crocheted and at the end of the meeting had a wreath to be placed on the memorial.

Today the weather has turned cold, I mean bitter which is a horrid shock as it's been so mild - I think the plants are uncertain which season it is!  My h-a-h Peter says his apple tree has produced new blossoms and tiny marble size fruit!  At least there's colour, I couldn't resist the African marigolds in the garden centre; I remember the birds used to love eating the seeds, so Peter planted them so I can see them from the house -

and right beside them is  this lovely purple plant, don't know the name, I just love the two colours together.


You can also just see the stick showing the edge of where the bulbs are - grape hyacinths and jonquils which will be a pleasure to see in the spring.......

Recently I was invited to talk to Coastal Quilters about the Shut-in Stitchers, Janet who leads the team teaching in the Drug Treatment Unit of the prison was also invited, so we were able to give a complete picture.  The talk was very well received, we answered a few questions and we were then given a very generous donation towards the cost of buying batting etc.

I was interested in seeing their show and tell, particularly a couple of quilts that were different from the usual - here are two on the stand; a beautiful hexagon and a version of chinese coins to showcase NZ fabrics.

And a version of a crazy quilt, or mile a minute, set with a strippy sashing -

Really bright and colourful!

I've been doing some sewing, the binding is on the quilt I sandwiched recently, now I have to select the next top to be quilted........there's about sixty in the pile.........

With apologies to my dog loving friends, "Cats are smarter than dogs.  You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow",  Jeff Valdez and here's another photograph from Phil, taken one misty morning near Tapanui.

Thanks for stopping by,
June

The good things in life.....

Like a glorious sunrise - or at least early morning, somewhere near Tapanui - photo taken by son Phil.

Or things that make you smile, like the latest Christmas decorations my daughter in law bought,

or meeting with friends, how expressive are these hands!

the coffee mugs are still on the table as we discussed the best way to showcase some beautiful fabric - the final decision was to  let the ideas simmer........ often a good way I've found; keep an open mind and something will come to you.

Jan had brought along her latest top, she's recently discovered Mile a Minute - as we used to call them,

made with left overs from another quilt - bright and cheerful and great fun!

Another good thing is to go into a favourite quilt shop and see this sign -

Thirty percent off everything!  how good is that!?

And the not so good?  poor dear Basil is not well.  I said he had fallen off the back of the settee, well much to my horror I saw it happen one day, and he actually had a seizure, then another one as I nursed him on my lap which resulted in one badly clawed hand for me - poor Basil, just didn't know what was happening.

We've been to the vet and he's on medication, which means that he's either sleeping or looking very unhappy and having more seizures; he's also making lots of messes, so it's back to the vet for us and if they have no other suggestions, he'll be joining Floyd......

On the bright side I can always find some weird spelling somewhere to make me smile.  This at my local supermarket -

And today teaching quilting at the prison we had lots of laughs and it's great to see the progress being made.

After our glorious summer we then had such a cold snap, we wondered what had hit us, but at least in the Wellington region we didn't have actual snow - which Phil has had in the South Island, he saw this lovely little house and asked the owner for permission to take a photograph -

and two days later, the snow had all gone....... it was lovely to look at!

I've had a few health issues which we don't need to go into,  I'll just remember, "One joy scatters a hundred griefs." which is a Chinese proverb.

Thanks for stopping by,
June