Service of Remembrance and Sew Wots

 Several nights ago I went along to the Service of Remembrance put on by Harvey Bowler Funeral Services to remember those who had passed away during the previous year.  This was held at the Uniting Church and I really didn't know what to expect at all.   As it turned out, I knew several ladies also attending who had lost their husbands recently too.  I found seeing Robin's name up on the Scroll of Remembrance quite hard to cope with.  Rev Sandra took the service, and we were invited up to light a candle for our loved one, and to write their name on a tag and hang it on the memorial Christmas Tree.  The whole service was nice and gentle, and very well done, I thought.

After the service light refreshments were served, and I had the chance to talk to the staff member who helped me so much with Robin's arrangements.  He remembered me, and commented on the quilt I had made and requested for Robin to be wrapped in, inside his casket.

The church was also hosting the annual Avenue of Trees, each decorated by a community group.  We all  had the chance to wander around and check them out at the conclusion of the Service of Remembrance.  This event was opening to the public over the next few nights, and collects donations for the local foodbanks to help those in need.  Such a good cause, and everyone gets to vote for their favourite tree.

Just a few of the entries

I walked up and down admiring all the trees.  There were entries  from businesses, schools, rest homes, and clubs.  And I finally found the tree from our Sew Wots group decorated by Helen, featuring sewing paraphernalia - how fun is that!

Sew Wots Tree

It certainly was a night of reflection and remembrance, plus there were a few tears shed, which was not unexpected.  I was pleased I attended and lit a candle in Robin's name.  And we all got to have a preview of the Avenue of Trees before it was opened to the public.  

Final Quilt Club Meeting of the Year

 I had to make sure I took everything required for our final quilt club meeting of the year.  Into my bag went a wrapped fat quarter, batik blocks stitched for the block draw, an item for the food bank, and something for show and tell.  I hoped I had remembered everything.  We were welcomed to the hall with a glass of bubbly grape juice, that was a nice touch.  There was a basket for the fat quarters, and a box for donations for the food bank.  Raffle tickets were purchased, and our batik blocks were handed over and hung on the wall.  They looked stunning, all pinned up.  Mmm, I'd rather like to win them, I thought to myself.

Batik blocks made by club members

It certainly was a fun night and we started off with a couple of games of Skittles.  Plastic bottles were arranged and we used Jelly Rolls as the ball.  One through each, to see who could knock the most over.  Mine missed completely, as did several others.  You could tell which ladies had down serious bowling , their concentration and arm action certainly got results.  Kay was the best dressed elf and she was running around rearranging the bottles, with Sandra's help, after each throw.   Don't you just love her stripy stockings!

Who's a cute little elf, then!

Then we were all put into a circle, with a fat quarter in hand and listened to a story being read out.  Whenever the words left or right were used, and they were used very quickly as the story progressed, those fat quarters changed hands very rapidly.  At the story's end, we kept the parcel we had in our hand.  That was a lot of fun.

The raffles were drawn, no, nothing for me, but my name was called out as the winner of the batik quilt blocks, all 74 of them!  How wonderful.

There was some show and tell, I took along my recently completed memory tablecloth from my Far North trip, and then supper.  And what a wonderful supper it was.  Home made meringues, strawberries and cream.  A delicious home baked Christmas cake, and fruit mince pies - a delightful Christmas supper indeed.  It was a very special night, and thanks to the committee for their hard work in putting it all together.  

Socks and a little Slow Stitching

 My latest pair of socks are now finished.  These ones have been knitted in some lovely cream hand spun wool gifted to me by my late friend Merilyn.  I've only got enough of this precious yarn left for one more pair of socks.  I added some left over 4ply sock yarn to make my favourite warm and cozy 12ply winter socks, just for me.  Knitting the heels always seem quite magical to me, and I often wonder who worked out how to do heels, way back in the mists of time.  I don't know about other sock knitters, but when doing heels I need to sit quietly with my notebook and mark off each row.

Up to the heels

When I got to this stage I wondered about putting the socks aside till next winter - it's just turned to Summer here in New Zealand.  No, I told myself, that's a silly idea, just keep knitting and you will soon get them finished.  So I did, although I ran out of the pinky/purple yarn as I was almost at the toes. Luckily I had some thin reinforcing yarn I could add to make the thickness the same in the toes.   Never mind, they still look OK, I think.

All ready for next winter

Without having a slow stitching project in the works for a while, I was pleased to find "Land and Sea" panel a wee while ago at a quilt show.  Featuring New Zealand birds and sea life, it will be a pleasure to work on it.  I plan to do big stitch quilting using Perle #5 thread and so far have only just started.  Luckily I've got most of the colours I need, but I'm having trouble finding some of the shades.  

I'm looking forward to stitching this

Memory Tablecloth

 Memory tablecloths, and memory quilts, seem to be my thing, as I've made several over the years.  My latest one was to commemorate a trip away up to the far north.  Robin and I had been planning to go there next Christmas/New Year, but with losing him,  that would not be happening.  So when I saw the "North of the North" coach trip advertised, I decided to be brave and go on my own.  

Bay Tours Coach

My bag was packed, and I included blocks I'd stitched for my memory tablecloth plus a Micron marking pen.  My blocks were from fabric  featuring New Zealand designs, mostly batiks with a few prints, and a centre white square to write on.

Ready to go on holiday

Those blocks traveled to the top of the North Island with me and back.  It was fun to get them out at the various hotels we stayed at and write where I had been, and what attractions had been visited.  Special places were walking the track down to Cape Reinga, the Hole in the Rock cruise, and visiting the magnificent Tane Mahuta Kauri tree again.

Writing messages on each block

Once home again I stitched the blocks together, added a pale green border, and pinned it with backing, no batting required for a tablecloth.  Then sat down over several days doing the quilting, and finally the binding and label.  

The label on the back

All finished

So now it's having a turn on the dining table.  It's always fun to read the messages again.  And I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

My new tablecloth on the dining table

It's a busy time of the year

 It's only the beginning of December but it is certainly getting busy.  All the various clubs and groups are winding down and having their Christmas celebrations.  And this week was no exception when I had several break ups to attend.  The Probus Club had it's last meeting of the year, followed by a Christmas meal.  Our monthly meetings are held in the local Cossie (Cosmopolitan) Club, and the staff had been busy making things look very festive.

Christmas meeting at the Cossie Club

This year the Probus Club formed a writing group. and I was keen to join.  We have been meeting monthly in the library,  and bring along something we have written to read out.  It is all very informal, no topics are given, we write about whatever we want.  As it turns out, most of us like to write short stories of our lives and family, and the occasional poem.  Our leader decided that it would be nice to promote the writing group at the Christmas meeting, so several of us climbed up on stage to give a reading.  My offering was a poem of about Probus, how I came to join, and the fun things we do.  

And at the end of the meeting our delicious lunch was served.  Hot beef and ham, roast veggies, broccoli  and cauliflower in cheese sauce, peas and carrots, such a tasty meal.  Followed by Christmas Pudding and custard.  It was a nice finale to the Probus year.

Jenny and Dot waiting for Christmas lunch

Next week is just as busy with two lunches to attend, plus the final meeting for my quilt club.  Busy, busy, busy, but then things will quiet down completely as most groups will not start up again till February.

I've put some Christmas quilts out at home, one on the back of one sofa, one hanging above the other sofa, and several folded on my quilt ladder.  I like to keep Robin's quilt on the top of the quilt ladder in his memory.  Other decorations are stored in plastic crates up in the loft, but I can't access them by myself, so the quilts will be it this year.

The quilt ladder

"Jingle" table runner, pattern by Red Brolly

So that's what I've been up to this week.  How is your Christmas decorating coming along?

Colonial Homes of the Far North

On my far north coach trip we visited several colonial homes.  Te Waimate Mission was established by Samuel Marsden,  who played a leading role in cross-cultural interchange and bringing Christianity to  the Maori people in New Zealand.

 Te Waimate Mission

We were given an informative  talk on the verandah by the staff, and were then free to wander through the old home.  Such an interesting cooking arrangement ib the kitchen, you could imagine the heat it would have produced on a hot summer day.

Kitchen at Te Waimate Mission

I'm always on the look out for lovely old textiles in these early homesteads and found a gorgeous christening gown of the first European child born in New Zealand.  How special that is.

Christening gown at Te Waimate Mission

James Busby's Treaty House is situated in the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where we had enjoyed a Maori Challenge and Welcome.  The negotiations and the first 40 signings of the Treaty of Waitangi took place on the lawn in front of this home on 6th February 1840, with about 500 Maori Chiefs signing later.

James's wife Agnes had a couple of young Maori girls to help her about the house, and she began to mark her linen for stitching and taught them to sew and knit.  I'm presuming that they all worked together stitching this beautiful bed covering.

Made by Agnes Busby and her staff

At Kerikeri we had a two for one deal, visiting both Kemp House and the historic Stone Store.  

Kemp House

Walking carefully up the tiny wooden staircase I found a small child's bedroom, with dollies on her bed.  

Bedroom upstairs in Kemp House

Then it was just a short stroll to the historic Stone Store, built in 1832 and still trading.  The stone theme is carried inside with a cobbled floor, not easy to walk on and I really had to watch my footing as I walked around.

The Stone Store, Kerikeri

There were all sorts of old fashioned delights inside.  I browsed through a small display of patchwork fabrics and chose three fat quarters to take home.  I was asked if I was a quilter, then the lady presented me with a quilt pattern as well.  I also purchased some beeswax candles -  I like to light a candle each evening for Robin.

Fabric from the Stone Store

The last historic home we visited was Clendon House, at Rawene.  James Clendon was a ship's captain who later became a merchant and magistrate, and the house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and looks out over the bay.

Clendon House

As someone who enjoys keeping the laundry up to date, I was most impressed with the size of this wringer/mangle.  

There was a beautiful christening gown laid out on a bed, and I was told that one of the staff members had been painstakingly restoring it over quite some time.

Christening gown at Clendon House

You may remember that the a visit to Tane Mahuta, Lord of the Forest was quite a moving experience for me on this trip.  It was wonderful to see this magnificent Kauri tree again, standing so proudly in the Waipoua Forest.

Tane Mathuta, Lord of the Forest

Perhaps you didn't know that I have stitched my own version of Tane Mahuta?  This was stitched during Covid Lockdown in 2020.

  My version of Tane Mahuta

One Year On, and Menz Shed

 It is  one year ago today since I lost my beloved husband Robin.  A year of loss, of grief, of missing him so much.  Also a year of growth, doing things I never had to before.  I wear his wedding band with mine, and light a candle for him each night.  Always  loved, always remembered, and always on my mind.  

On the bedside cabinet

The local Menz Shed was a big part of Robin's life, so yesterday I had arranged to take some morning tea down to the members to celebrate Robin's anniversary.  I had been busy baking and whipped up a fruit loaf flavoured with whisky, and a tray of chocolate weetbix crunch.  On the way down I called in to the supermarket and purchased three cream sponges as well, these so tasty and such good value.  In fact, they were always Robin's go-to over the years when he wanted  to take something along for his birthday "shout".  

Menz Shed building

All the morning tea was set out, hot drinks were made, and the men settled down to enjoy their morning tea.  Ron, the Secretary introduced me, and gave a run down on the years Robin had spent with this club, including his many years on the committee.  Wiping away a few tears, I said a few words too,  hoping I hadn't made the men uncomfortable with me getting emotional.    Robin was one of those people who liked to be involved, and enjoyed being on committee to help run the club.   Interesting enough, I had never set foot in this building before, but had only popped down to drop Robin off or collect him on a few occasions.

On the wall of the smoko (tea) room

Many thanks to Lyn and John who found the following photo of Robin for me today, taken at the Menz Shed some time ago.    I had never seen this photo before.  He certainly does look happy.  

Robin in his happy place