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Monday, January 29, 2018

My very Slow Stitching

It’s fair to say that I’m getting there really slowly, but as I say all along, every little bit helps.  No excuses really, but being on a road trip slows my hand stitching time down.  And as for the weather – I’m sure that we have never had such high temperatures covering New Zealand.  I know it’s summer,  but I feel rather like a melting ice-cream must feel, as I drip away into a puddle  each day.  That’s what I imagine it must feel like, anyway!

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Getting there with my stitching

This is what I’ve done so far on my Karaka Wreath block, a New Zealand tree design by Jenny Hunter.  Just got to add some veins to the leaves, and then stitch some orange karaka berries.  Hopefully I’ll get it completed next week.

We saw some “yarn bombing” on our travels.  Sometimes it seems very popular ad then just seems to fade away.  Because I’m quite a slow knitter myself, I have to wonder why other knitters go to so much trouble to cover trees and such?  Possibly just because they can, I expect.

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Yarn bombed tree

Recently we took a ride on the Christchurch Gondola.  We paid our money and bought our tickets – sadly no discounts for seniors.  Climbing aboard into that swinging capsule, we were soon on our way, soaring high.  Up, up, up we went, skimming the steep rocky cliffs of Mt Cavendish, and looking down on wonderful views over Christchurch.

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One going up, and one coming down

We made it safely to the top (of course we did) and went out onto the viewing platform.   This goes right around the building and gives 360deg views of the city, Lyttlelton Harbour, the Canterbury Plains and across to the Southern Alps.  The day was a little hazy, but even so, the views were still amazing.

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Rather hazy view from the top

After lunch in the Red Rock Café, we followed the other tourists down the steps to an open area where everyone seemed to be taking selfies at the cliff edge.  So we did too, after all, we needed a couple to send to the grand-daughters to show them what we are getting up to.

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Gondola1

So that’s what we have been up to lately.  Still travelling and having fun, with a little stitching thrown into the mix, now and again.

11 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

we have done Gondola rides to in the Rocky Mountain mainly in the US - they are kind of fun aren't they - I never seen senior discounts for these rides either - sometimes it is so much cooler when you get to the top it is worth it in the end. Hope you get some cooler weather before you are done with your trip - how long of a period do you travel - we usually do 4-8 weeks at a time.

Suzanne said...

It looks like a lovely holiday!

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

Wow I have never seen anyone knit a cover for a tree trunk! I guess your explaination fits because they can. LOL

Tired Teacher said...

I don't understand why people would waste their time knitting things for yarn bombing - such a waste of time and resources.

Beautiful scenery from the top despite the haze. I hope the weather cools down a bit for you.

Carla A Few Of My Favorite Things said...

I have never seen anyone knit a cover for a tree! I like you reasoning because they can! Too funny!

Nancy J said...

knitting for public trees??? I am sorry to say I cannot understand the reasoning there. A great view from the top.

Kate said...

That's quite a view from up there, Jenny!

Karla (ThreadBndr) said...

Mostly around here, people yarn bomb the light posts.

The BEST one, though, are the scarves looped over hand rails and bus stop benches with 'Cold? take me!' notes on them. I do that occasionally.

Michelle Ridgway said...

It definitely is melty weather here too Jenny. Lovely block...looks like you are enjoying the sights xx

Maria said...

I think you are having too much fun to sit and stitch...
love the views from up so high......

Karen S said...

Every stitch counts and it is not a race.
That is a stunning view from the mountain top. It is a beautiful city but it looks like it will take a long time to get back on its feet.
Heard there was quite a nasty storm in NZ yesterday on the south island.