South Island Holiday Part 1

 My South Island holiday got off to a bad start.  On Sunday severe weather was lashing the country, with high winds and flooding, and several areas had declared a state of emergency.  Flights and ferries were cancelled, roads were flooded, would I get away on Monday, I wondered?  The weather slowly cleared and the sun came out in my area on Monday morning and I was notified that the taxi sent to take me to the airport was on the way.    Great, it arrived on time, my luggage was loaded and off we went.  But....... we hadn't even made it out of the village when the taxi phone rang, to say the flight was cancelled and to take me home!  That was a very quick trip, wonder what the neighbours thought.  

Flight cancelled,  just a 5 minute taxi ride on Monday

The tour company was very good, I had numerous phone-calls to update me, on both Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.  The flights were back on, and the taxi had been booked to drop me at the airport.  One day late, but really, I understand that safety comes first, and the planes were not able to fly in such terrible  conditions.  So on Tuesday I finally boarded the flight.  It had been about 10 years since I had flown, so I was a little nervous.  "I'm not going to think I'm high up here in the sky, hurtling along in a tin can", I told myself.  The flight was fine, I landed in Christchurch, where my ride was waiting to deliver me to the hotel, phew!

That's my plane

As I settled into my room, then joined my new travel companions for dinner, I realized that I had got off very lightly indeed.  There were two other couples that should had flown out from Palmerston North Airport with me, but there was no room on the flight.  The tour company decided to drive them in a taxi van to Hamilton, a rushed 6 hour drive, without a single stop, and hope that they met the Hamilton to Christchurch flight in time.  They did, by the skin of their teeth, with the plane held up and waiting for them!

After an early breakfast the next day, our South Island adventure began - our coach took us to Christchurch station where we were heading for Greymouth on the Tranz Alpine train.  The 223km/139 mile journey took about 5 hours or so, and travels through 16 tunnels and across 4 viaducts.  Robin and I had done this trip several times before and certainly enjoyed it.  The scenery was magnificent, I was lucky to have a window seat and took some shots of the  Southern Alps with just a touch of snow.

The Eastern side of the Alps is much drier

The train made a stop at Arthur's Pass, a historic mountain pass and village, and we were all pleased to get off and stretch our legs.  I asked one of the train staff to take my picture against the train.

At Arthur's Pass

Once through the pass the scenery changed as we headed towards the West Coast, an area well known for it's high rainfall.  Pretty Lake Brunner came into view, a small place indeed with quite a lot of holiday homes, we were told.

Lake Brunner

Our coach was waiting for us at  Greymouth Station, having driven over SH73, also known as the Great Alpine Highway.  Our adventure wasn't over as we were taken to "Shantytown" a reconstruction of a gold mining town, made up of old buildings moved on site.

Shantytown

And look, a steam train, all fired up and ready to go.  I couldn't pass that by, could I?  So I climbed aboard, squeezed onto a hard wooden seat, and puff, puff, we were on our way.  That was fun.

Steam train at Shantytown

After all that excitement, we  boarded the coach again, and drove down to Hokitika, our stop for the night.  After a nice meal in the hotel restaurant, it was time for me to go back to my room, and spend a little time relaxing with Heathcliffe - I had bought my copy of Wuthering Heights to read on my trip.

Home again

I'm back home again from my two week South Island Tour.  As you probably know, I took my knitting with me, but hardly touched it.  I didn't want to be knitting in the coach, and after a day sight seeing, plus a big dinner together every night, I was just too tired.  But I did almost finish my Wuthering Heights book, nearly at the end of that.  A good thing too, as I'm off to see the movie very soon, and I wanted to refresh my memory of the convoluted story. 

I was sent a picture of Muffy from the cattery which shows her completely relaxed.  She was grumpy in the mornings, and all lovey dovey later in the afternoons, I was told.  She always did have a mind of her own, I told Carol.  Now home,  Gemma hid away in her tower for a while, she then came looking for a cuddle, and some food.  All is forgiven!

Gemma at the cattery

I found a nice quilt shop in Geraldine one day, when we stopped there for lunch  and had a little time to look around.  As usual, I'm often overwhelmed with choice when I enter a new quilt shop.  I did find a panel for a reduced price featuring forest animals, and purchased it to use for a child's donation quilt.

The Pin Tin, in Geraldine

That's all for now, it was a great trip, and I'm happy to be home in my own bed again.  I'll tell you more about the wonderful places and adventures I had shortly.

Knitting and a trip

I'm coming along quite well with knitting my cotton summer top, although to be honest I don't find cotton very nice to work with.  But that's what I'm using in this project so of course I will persevere.  The back is completed, and I've started on the front, which I will take away on holiday with me.  It's always good to have knitting at the ready, just in case I feel like doing a few rows now and again.

 The back is now finished

I couldn't help myself and have cast on two little toddlers hats, to use up some part balls I had hanging about.   They are easy small knits so I decided to do two together.  One in burgundy, and the other in navy with stripes.

Oh dear, you can't see them, Gemma is checking them out

Two little hats

Of course, I need to take a book on my holiday as well, but didn't want to take a library book.  So I'm packing my copy of Wuthering Heights, to read again.  There is a film out at the moment which I plan to see on my return, so I thought I would refresh my memory of the story.  I do wonder how a clergyman's daughter living with her sisters and dissolute brother in the wilds of Haworth  could write such a book of love, lust, revenge and cruelty.  But the girls were very well read, I believe, and had been writing stories since childhood.  Maybe Emily was full of imagination and longing for love herself.

Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights

I'll be away for two weeks traveling around the South Island, so will tell you all about it when I return.  I'm flying down to Christchurch tomorrow, haven't flown for several years so I'm just a little nervous.  It certainly doesn't help that I have just enjoyed  watching a series of air crash disasters on TV!  Gemma is  having her own holiday in the cattery, she wasn't at all pleased when I picked her up while she was sleeping, bundled her into the carry cage, then took her for a drive this afternoon.  She usually takes a day or two to settle down, and I know she will be looked after very well by Carol.  

Five Green Bags, and Books

 There was more green stitching this week and I completed five green drawstring bags for the foster kids.  So I'm quite pleased with that.  I'm always amazed at what is tucked away in my big bag of bits and pieces.  It doesn't seem to be getting much emptier. 

Bag making bits and pieces

So what did I find to work with?  There was an already made elongated nine patch featuring frogs, and a farmyard scene with a red barn and roosters.

A fat quarter of dark green Japanesy fabric was enough for two bags, plus two small pieces of New Zealand inspired fabric plus extras made the final bag.  I'll add them to last months blue collection, and I'm getting quite a pile.

Five green drawstring bags this month

And what have I been reading so far this month?  Lost Light, by Michael Connelly featuring Det Harry Bosch who has finally quit the LAPD.  But he took a murder file with him to reinvestigate, running foul of his old colleagues and the FBI.  As always, another exciting read with unexpected twists and turns.

Angela Marsons Dead Souls was next, and I'm a real fan of her books featuring DI Kim Stone, they never dissapoint, and I'm reading them in order.  The Thread Collectors was a joint collaboration by Shaunna Edwards and Alyson Richman, telling the story of two women, a black slave and a wealthy Jewess during the Civil War.  Their husbands both enlist in the Union army and form a friendship through their love of music.  Such an interesting tale, about two women in completely different circumstances doing their bit to help the war effort.    I certainly would recommend this book.

Books read so far this month

I had a lot of Help

It all started with this, a felt kit containing all the pieces for a family of snow people.  I found it at a charity fabric fair some years ago selling both new and used fabrics, linens, wool, kits and quilting and embroidery supplies.  That's cute, I thought, and I seem to remember I only paid a small amount for it, about $5 or so.  So it came home with me and sat for a while.

The Snowman Family kit

Why don't I just get on with it, I asked myself, and I have to say I really enjoyed doing the simple embroidery on the felt hats, gloves and scarves.  But then what?  I had no idea how to put it all together.  To be truthful, I don't really like making and stuffing toys, let alone stitching their heads and arms on.  So once again, it was put aside.

Then last year on one of my daughter's visits, I got the kit out and asked if she would like to help me as I was stuck.  I had the pieces already cut out and stitched and Nicky spent the afternoon stuffing their limbs and bodies.  Luckily I had some toy stuffing and beads for the bottom.  

Naked snow bodies

You can guess what happened next - it was packed up and left again.  And just before Christmas I took the bag along to my Monday Craft Group, asking if anyone would like to take it off my hands, otherwise I would be disposing of it.  I don't enjoy making toys, I declared, and I don't know why I bought the kit in the first place!  Carolyn, one the the members, is an accomplished toymaker, and came to have a look.  I'll finish them for you, she said.  And when the group started up again in the New Year, she brought the Snow Family back, all finished.  How kind was that!  

Here they are, all finished

Carolyn had to make and then stuff the heads, assembled the bodies, stitched the clothing onto them so it wouldn't get lost, created their faces and made Mother a little hat.  And she didn't want anything for her trouble, except maybe a little dark chocolate, she whispered.  So the following week I packed my lunch to take to the group, gathered up my knitting and wrapped up some chocolate for her to enjoy.

A small gift for Carolyn

I'm not sure what I'll do with the Snow Family, or even if I want to keep them.  Perhaps I can offer them to the co-ordinator of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren later in the year, if she wants them.  They could given as a set to a child, or split up and be gifted to three children, whatever she she thinks best.  I'll look after them in the meantime.

Although I've said I don't like making toys, I'd like to try making a bunny out of a square of knitting sometime, surely I could manage that.  And I have a pattern for a trauma teddy I'd like to try.  This design only has a front and back, no separate head and legs, and a simple embroidered face.  But maybe I need to get over the trauma of the snow family first!

Green for February

In the Rainbow Scrap Challenge internet group, green is the chosen colour for February. No problem, I can do that. so I set to and got to work on my two easy peasy blocks sets.  First up were the baby blocks, featuring a base fabric of white with tiny blue flowers.  I chose a pretty apple green floral to use - this fabric  was purchased to use in my daughter's 60th birthday quilt but the colour was not right, I decided.  But it looks fine in this project.

Green edged blocks for the baby quilt

The dinosaurs were next, this will be a bigger bed quilt for a boy.  There are not just dinosaurs here, but mammoths and sabre toothed tigers as well.  I made dark green blocks first, mmm, that piece of fabric didn't go very far.  So in my quest to "use up what I have" I came across a strip of lime green to use for two more blocks.  This is the last remaining piece of this fabric and I remember using it in a froggy kiddies donation quilt a while ago.  I like the way the coloured strips zig zag down these blocks.  Many thanks to Lou for showing this block, the nice thing about quilting bloggers is that they are happy to share their ideas.

Dinosaur blocks

You may remember that I've been working on blue stars and hearts for a secret project recently.  The tops have now been completed, and have been delivered to Deborah for long arm quilting.  And, is my custom, the binding has been made, so is ready and waiting for their return.  I will show you the quilts and the story behind them when they have been gifted.

 Blue stars and hearts

I have been enjoying the Jurassic Park movies each Sunday evening shown on one of the free to air chanels over the last 6 weeks or so.  I had previously seen them all, except the final film, "Jurassic World Dominion".  The story lines through-out were similar, dinosaurs escaping and running wild, bad greedy men out to make their fortune,   the good guys doing their best, the baddies getting chewed to pieces, and children running and hiding from the monsters.  I don't often watch films on TV, but these were good escapism and quite entertaining on a Sunday evening.    

Chookshed Challenge, RSC, and Books

 I'm taking part in the Chookshed Challenge again this year, and have listed ten projects to work on.  Some of the ten had been started and put aside, and some are new projects on my wish list.  Number 3 was  chosen for January, which for me is a blue and lemon cot quilt.  There is just the quilting to be done on this one, the top has already been stitched, layers pinned, and the binding made.  Blue is also the chosen colour this month for Rainbow Scrap Challenge in January, so this project ticks both boxes. 

Ready to be quilted

I remember starting this quilt when the Ukraine War started.  Quilters worldwide were stitching blue and yellow quilts which were the colours of the Ukraine flag.  I had already made the blue and yellow nine patch blocks, in fact I think they were left overs from yet another UFO.  So I set them on point with a lemon background, added a pale blue border, prepared some binding, and promptly set it aside!  Sadly, the story of my quilting life.

But luckily, this UFO made it to my 2026 Chookshed Challenge list as number 3, which was the number selected for January.  Time to get quilting.  I decided on a cross hatch design and got to work.  Then added the binding.   I took the quilt along to a craft afternoon, and hand stitched the binding down to the back.  

This lovely little cot quilt will be donated to The Nest Collective sometime soon.  Perhaps I'll wait till I have another one finished as well.

Blue and white check backing

Several of the blogs I follow list which books they have read each month, so I thought I would do that too.  You may or may not be interested, but I'm an avid reader and the thought of not having any books to read fills me with dread.  Most of my reading is done in bed at night, and when reading a Jack Reacher book, he is one of my heros, I often used to tell Robin I'm going to bed with Jack!  (A bit of a play on words, as before I met Robin over 42 years ago I used to go out with a guy named Jack.)  No Jack Reacher this month though, but these are the books I've read, and enjoyed, in January.  And just to let you know, I particularly enjoy reading about serial killers, and always hope that  the baddies will get their comeuppance at the end!

Play Dead, by Angela Marsons, featuring DI Kim Stone.

City of Bones, by Michael Connelly, featuring Dectective Harry Bosch.

The Glass Room, by Ann Cleaves, featuring DCI Vera Stanhope.

These three lead characters, I realise,  all had a flawed beginning in life.  Kim Stone's mother left her two young children chained to a radiata and Kim's toddler brother died, and Kim ended up in care.  The mother of Harry Bosch was murdered when he was a child and he was taken into care as well.  And Vera Stanhope's mother died when she was ten, and she was raised by her rather shady father.  All three characters live alone, moved up the police ranks and solve murders, fighting  to  put the baddies away.  I also enjoyed the Vera TV series,  and she and the other characters comes to life so vividly in the books.

Livid, by Patrica Cornwell, features another strong character,  Kay Scarpetta.  Kay is the Chief Medical Examiner and has her fair share of troubles, some of them political as well as attacks on her life, as she solves her cases looking after and examining the dead bodies which end up in her care.  Kay is married to a FBI Profiler, another very interesting character.

And lastly, I read The Disappeared, by C J Box, featuring Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett.  This series is a little different for me, but very enjoyable.  Joe is a quiet man, busy keeping the hunting rules enforced, but comes across his fair share of  mysteries and murders as well.  This character is happily married, but often has political interference to his job.

So that's what I've read and enjoyed this month.  I love my local library!