last one of the decade

and here we are, December 31, 2019, closing out a decade............

It  was always suggested that hindsight is 2020.... but tomorrow IS 2020.  

Will it be insightful?  Will we still draw on lessons of the past?

No matter what, there are always reasons to be thankful, grateful and blessed, ......every day, always.

I'm hopeful  for better days ahead.  

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

December 24th

To friends near and far,

wishing you a very Merry Christmas

and

Happy New Year!

December seems to arrive with a flurry (not the weather outside) and all the days are busy....or so it feels like.   Tomorrow is for new joy (in watching little ones open their gifts), happy moments spent with family and good food to share.  We will raise a glass to remember Christmas's past and those no longer sitting at our table but always in our hearts.

We continue to be:

thankful,

grateful,

and blessed.

Always.

it's beginning to look like

I might survive these technology changes.   

I've limped along with the old computer and setting up a new one.  Procrastination  at it's best.......99% of files were transferred, on the home stretch then stalled with the "Have I forgotten something?"   This morning the old beast did a series of 'bad behavior' things and in a 'mom' voice THAT'S IT!   Order will be restored, soon.   I won't even mention setting up a phone, that's for another day.

Last week we put up the outdoor lights.  So nice on the many dull days to look out and see the lights glowing (and this is before 3 pm on the grey days).  photos to come.

The tree is up but not yet decorated.  Lot's of time, right?

In the meantime Christmas tunes play on the radio while I knit another row or two.

Stay safe and warm.

on this day

oh so long ago, back in 1989 in  Papatoetoe, Auckland  we got married!

And here we are 30 years later.....just where did the time go??  So many memories of moments, travels and family members  most now gone

So cheers to us, for many more anniversaries to come.

And how will we celebrate today?   Maybe lunch out or order  dinner in.  Simple pleasures.

welcome to November

Happy Birthday to my daughter!   A mere 44 years ago my dear daughter was born......and that makes me well  a bit older now doesn't it?

October slipped on by.  Lots of spinning done and yarn  wound in skeins.   Let the knitting begin!

This past week has been quite loud with fireworks.  It started last weekend (or a bit before) heralding Diwali celebrations and has just continued on to Halloween.  Even in the wee hours this morning fireworks were still being let off.

And now that the calendar has turned over to November, the retail world seems full on to Christmas.  No bah humbugs here......

Again this year I'll try to make our Christmas more home spun.  Simple pleasures.  Less stress. 

Speaking of simple pleasures.....Walnut and cinnamon biscotti....just the right amount of crunch.  This batch didn't last long.  Definitely a new favorite.  I've two batches of the make ahead dough in the freezer too.

Seems we have at least two more times of changing the clocks.   Although legislation is in the works to stay on daylight savings time, we're not there yet.  And  so we fall back an hour on Sunday. 

Borrowing from a blog friend  (Four Miles North of Nowhere), every day we should remember to be:

thankful

grateful

blessed

till next time, 

take care .....

bye September

It's been a busy few weeks.   And here we are, September 30th.

So nice to finish recent spinning projects.  Bit by bit  there are improvements with my hand spinning.

I was lucky to welcome a Lark spindle to my spindle flock.   Ms. Lark is wonderful!

And on my needles a shawl wrap.  Thus far it's an evening project with a simple pattern repeat.  It's sure nice having spun this yarn and now getting the pleasure to make something.

To mark the day, it started out with frost on the rooftops (and I might add this is far too early for this) along with single digit temperatures so indoors it felt much better with the space heaters going.   In between indoor stuff...laundry...making a pot of soup, making mac and cheese bits..........all good so far so I decided to time to head outdoors and enjoy a bit of sunshine while cleaning up plants.   From there it went downhill quickly.  Sully usually steers clear of bees, wasps, the large, lazy bumble bee  well except for today.  He lunged at a wasp and ended up with a mouthful of said wasp (which was spit out).  As far as we can tell in checking him over he didn't get stung.  I'm not sure if he less impressed by the experience or my giving him some liquid Benadryl.   To make amends, he got a lick of ice cream.  Seriously, it's like talking to a child "Didn't I tell you not to ".....

well onward to October......Happy Fall!

dusting off the cobwebs

I'm still here.   July became August and now  here we are mid September.


This summer tried new recipes.....variations of fermented veggies (yum), ginger bug (still on the go) and cauliflower pickles (crunchy and oh so good).   My fridge is getting a bit full.

Lots of hand spinning.  Tour De Fleece in July was a blast.  My plyboard has been put to the test  and it works!   Now I'm considering a smaller version, a turtle board.  More to come on this.




Late August we enjoyed whale tails.

And a ride through the trail of tall trees.

Bring on fall!!  Soups to make, knitting to do, fresh bread to bake  and  fresh coffee to brew.
More coffee please......

where is summer?

Out on the west coast summer has yet to find it's way for anything more than a day or two. I guess compared to heat waves, earthquakes, floods, etc. this is quite ok thank you.

Tomorrow brings the Tour de France.   And the Tour de Fleece......and so it begins...

Welcome Summer!

Simple pleasures in the garden....Spurt II works well, beans and tomatoes are doing well and
the canna lilies have come up.

It seems that every day we have 'seasons'...sunshine and a hint of warmth then clouds and wind.  For late June 11 C in the morning...brrr.  Pour another cup of coffee please.


Sometimes a plan comes together.   I wanted a small plyboard for the turtle singles (what you get when spinning with a Jenkins spindle).   After looking at many diy ideas online I came up with this.  In the process I discovered that when buying a length of wood check the actual measurement!!  There is a difference between advertised  and actual . 

The green board lives with me and the brown one was gifted to a friend.

My May June challenge on the Ravelry Jenkins group is complete.  The 4 oz braid of Balsam is done.
Next up a spa day (final wash/dry for skeins of yarn).  Today might be the day!

Next up on Ravelry will be the Tour de Fleece.  July means lots of spinning (with new roving to try) while enjoying the Tour de France.

now it's back to the garden to pick fresh herbs....

till next time.....

a minor reprieve

Yesterday was too hot, 30 C and it lasted well in to the evening.

At 9 am it was 26 in the family room so with reluctance we brought out the ac units.  One minor detail...we forgot where the drainage hoses were put...  eventually they were located, set up and water puddles cleaned up due to the error of our ways.   With the ac's up and running it made a big difference inside  One day's use won't add too much to the hydro bill (here's hoping).

And this morning, a lovely light breeze and cooler.  21 at the moment.  This is how it should be.

Time to water the tubs on the patio.

till next time....

it's that kind of day

Cooler again and overcast  so the perfect time to bake.  Strawberry muffins and a loaf, two loaves of bread and a pan of rolls. Currently in the oven, a layered veggie egg white quiche for dinner tonight.  And there went my morning and part of my afternoon!

Yesterday was perfect for fleece drying.  While I continue washing small batches this is my make do drying rack.  It actually works pretty good.  The basin underneath is just to catch any drips of water....and keep a certain little dog out (lol).

Seeds in the boy's garden boxes are growing.  Even since Sunday when Noah and Nate checked them there is new growth.  It's such a fun project for them........aside from digging in the dirt.

And now while there is a bit of time this afternoon it's back to hand spinning  for me.

till next time ....

getting ready to board

Please go over to Nadine's blog for the 3rd Tour of France.      http://jocondine.blogspot.com   It's a fun game to play along.   Travels through France are delightful.  And Nadine's drawings and work setting it up, well amazing!

Bonne chance!

blowing in the wind

For this first Monday of June sunshine and blue skies ...so nice....except it's stayed windy all day (and cold unless you're in the sun)  so how to take advantage of the situation.... make it a fleece wash day.  I carefully opened  my box of Blaise fleece and removed enough to put in two basins.  A cold soap soak followed by a hot soap soak and then a rinse soak.  The excess water has been removed from both lots and they're currently air drying in a mesh bag/hangers.

Lovely to work with.  I can't wait to see what it's like to spin with.  Thank you to Michelle of Boulderneigh  for your Shetland sheep    https://boulderneigh.blogspot.com  and of course to Blaise.

The week is off to a great start!

till next time......

welcome June!

It's a new day,  it's a new month ....

no sunscreen required

Mother Nature has decided that we need a sprinkle of rain (lol) as it's been closer to monsoons and darn well cool (11 C).  Enough so that even on the tv weather report it was suggested to bundle up before heading outdoors.   This is the end of May right??   Brighter days ahead, well at least that's what is in the forecast.

So far today I've worked on my wool roving stash.  Both listing what I have and making it fit into a three drawer storage unit (of course it will fit, really just another push)   It is a work in progress .........perhaps I should learn to spin in my sleep. 


The other day my spouse came home with a dozen roses. Definitely a surprise.  The fragrance is lovely.  Currently they're sitting on a table just outside the slider door, sort of a natural cooler allowing the blooms to slowly open. 

Of course there has been spinning.  Two Swan spindles in use for plying.  On the left Mouse Ears plyed weighing in at a net of 72 grams and Blake weighing in at a net of 100 grams.

I've a few small singles of Blake that I'm plying and then done.  Upcoming will be a spa day for all the plyed wool.   It's the best kind of laundry day.


In the garden there is progress. Sweet peas are up. Likewise beans and pickling cucumber.  While at the local home improvement store I spent time in the seed section.    Believe it or not I did keep to the list.   Three packages of seeds selected for our grandson's garden boxes. Sunflower Munchkin, Carrot Little Finger and Bean Rattlesnake.  Also I've started two potatoes in the dark of the cupboard to that the boys can plant these as well. 

Looking outside it appears the rain has stopped and it's almost bright(er).  And the day is yet young.

till next time .......

something new

While our weather continues sunny and cooler it seemed the perfect time to try new recipes....two in two days.   Yesterday strawberry muffins, a recipe I found on once upon a chef by Jenn Segal.  Good recipe/results.  I doubled the recipe for 12 muffins and one 8 x 8 cake.  The cake needed an hour at 375 F.  Parchment muffin pan liners worked really well.   The best part is that they freeze well.

This morning New England Hot Dog buns (without the specialty pan).  I used the Buttery Hot Dog Buns recipe from King Arthur Flour.  And here's the result........

I doubled the recipe and will freeze one tray.   They more or less look right.  Each bun is then toasted on the sides and cut top down (through three quarters) and add your filling.   yum!  Tonight it will be either Basil  shrimp or Shrimp Salad. 

Both recipes are keepers.

that's about it for now......have a good week!

behind the hedge

It is the simple things that bring pleasure.   

Sunshine, blue skies (maybe some warmth on the temperature gauge)  and on the patio...Spurt is up and running again this year.  I've always enjoyed fountains and this little solar one is a great compromise.   The water dish is just an old plant saucer and the base is part of an old indoor/outdoor vac (thanks Dad).

Behind the hedge, seeds planted are now sprouting (even if the packet says best before, give it a try and plant them anyways),  the fragrance of the lilac still lingers, the hummers visit often and overhead views of eagles gliding the currents.   Simple pleasures.

till next time.....

To Moms everywhere

May daze

And here we are, it's May, sunny skies and warmer weather.....


Much time has been spent doing the patio shuffle to create spaces.  Definitely a work in progress. 

The area outside the family room feels right like this is where we're meant to be.

The view further down the patio.

And beyond the gate, blooms to come

The blooms on this lilac are lovely and the fragrance  is divine.

Once the gaps are filled with annuals, seeds planted  and maybe a string of solar lights hung then this year's patio will be good to go.



My hand spinning continues.  With DH's help cutting and drilling I now have a simple plyboard for plying turtle singles.  Not a fancy piece of work but it does the job nicely.    Spacing is such it will take standard bobbins as well.

And now I know where my times goes..........

till next time.....

Happy Easter

Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter!

Colored eggs to enjoy.   This year I tried the cool whip and food coloring method.  It works quite well.  The suggested presoak in vinegar does make the colors brighter.

Easter turtles.   My hand spinning continues.

And today's spinning project Mouse Ears.

Out on the patio......

Today has been sunny and warmer (well a bit, 16 C feels pretty good).  You can almost smell the lilac fragrance. 

Blossoms up close.  Another view from the end of the patio.

 

The fig tree is showing promise.

A Sully kind of day......sunshine, a blanket and a buddy to sit with.

till next time....

April showers

Spring is here and so is the rain.  We can't complain as March was the second driest on record and now we're catching up a bit.  But would it be too much to have just a touch of warmth outside?  9 C feels darn well cold...enough so that the heat in the house has been turned up.

The gazebo has been moved back to a corner position and seems to be holding in place.  Fingers crossed that this will be ok.  We've considered buying sandbags to anchor the posts.

The rest of the patio areas are a work in progress.    The outer garden, left and right....

 
That whole 'less is more' doesn't seem to be working too well.

A resident ladybug adopted a new hellebore.

Another hideout .....





...and on the move. 

I'm not sure how impressed it is with my coming round so often with the camera

And when the skies do clear and we get a view like this, it makes it all worthwhile.

Hand spinning has not been forgotten.  All things Blake, beautiful roving to work with  from singles to two and three plys  and now the box is done.

There are still singles to be plyed along with a spa day for completed skeins.  And then "What to make?"

Haunui Half Breed   Sabine  

That rainy day feeling.

till next time.....