It’s a Girl Thing

Today was “that” day, I was due for my annual mammogram.  Since I was diagnosed in 2016 with breast cancer, and underwent subsequent treatment, as a follow-up I have been called up for an annual mammogram.  A little momentary discomfort is a small price to pay for such great care.  Most hospital care is free here in New Zealand, and I have been very impressed (and oh so grateful) for the cancer care I have received.

As a bonus, I was treated to a mini quilt show in the breast screening rooms.  This beauty was hanging in the waiting room.  A Mariner’s Compass quilt with all those tricky points, stitched in nice restful shades of blue.

Mariner’s Compass quilt

Then further round by the changing rooms there were more quilts on the walls.  Such a feast for the eyes, and both of them glowed with colour.

Two more lovely quilts

I’m not sure if these quilts were gifted to the Breast Screening rooms, or if local quilters come and change them periodically, either way, I certainly appreciated seeing them hanging up.

Procedure over, it was time to rest and recover over morning tea, so we went to one of the local cafes.  Coffee and a scone each, cheese scone for me, and date and orange for Robin, nice and tasty indeed.

Coffee and scones for morning tea

The results will take a couple of weeks, I was told, so fingers crossed that all remains well.

Teddy Darling

I’ve been slowly working away on my Teddy Darling stitchery, which was a pre-printed gifted panel.  Teddy was stitched, the flower garlands were done, and then I big stitch quilted along the blue dashed lines.  Added some simple wavy big stitch quilting in the floral borders and I was almost there.

Quilting in the borders

Binding was next, and I had just enough of a pretty soft pink stripe to do the job.  There, all done.

I’ve so enjoyed all the time I’ve spent “slow stitching” this little treasure.  It’s a small little quilt, only 25 inches square, and the panel was a gift from my quilting penfriend Carol from South Dakota.  Must admit I've had it tucked away quite some time before I finally started stitching it.  And of course, after all my hand work, I’ll be keeping Teddy Darling at home with me, perhaps one day we will welcome a little great grand-child into the family.  Won’t that be wonderful.

Teddy Darling

More Green Stitching

The colour green comes in all different shades, and my Rainbow Scrap Challenge Cobblestone blocks were of the paler variety this week.  I’m using batiks for this project, a big pile which have been gathered up and waiting for ages in this large bag.  Not many greens were hiding in there at all, mainly purples, teals, creams and pinks.

My big bag of batiks

But after a good rummage around, I came across a little green fabric, and made three blocks.

Three cobblestone blocks

I’ve also been busy this week making several draw string bags for the charity Foster Hope, children placed in foster care use these bags for toiletries or pencils.  Two of the completed bags were very green indeed, they turned out nice and bright I thought.   The last lot of bags I’ve stitched up were all made with gifted fabric.   

Two drawstring bags

I did wonder if I would have trouble purchasing some cord to tone in, the fabric used was a very bright lime green instead.  I buy my cords from a local manufacturer Cordall and the manager is well used to me popping in for various colours of cord for my bags.  After choosing some blue, rosy red and navy, I commented that she probably couldn't help me with lime green cord.  No trouble at all, she located a big spool, and cut off my requirements.  How is that for service with a smile!

Just some of the stock at Cordall’s

Special Deliveries

Its been a busy old day today with deliveries.  First was some more  “happy mail”, all the way from Germany.  Postmarked 8th December, it's now early March so it was a long time coming.  Christmas wishes from Judy, and she had enclosed a cute little Christmas Stocking, with the hope that we will find a place in the caravan to hang it over Christmas.  I’ll sure we will, thanks so much Judy.

Merry Christmas wishes from Germany

Our other delivery was a new fridge.  While we were away on our three week trip, our fridge died and we arrived back home to find a stinking mess, particularly in the top freezer compartment.  Frozen berries, home cooked meals in containers, and some salmon filets, they all got chucked out, together with whatever had been left behind in the fridge, mainly sauces, pickles, cheese and butter.  The smell was awful, and we had to set to and give the fridge a good wash out with hot soapy water.

Then came the job of finding a replacement fridge, not at all easy these days.  There was stock on the wharves, on ships in transit, but not so in the stores themselves.  Robin managed to talk the local manager into selling us one “off the floor”  as we were desperate.  But we still had to wait 10 days till it could be delivered.

The best option for us was to move the caravan into the car park in front of our home, (it is usually in the motorhome park around a corner or two) plug it into power and use the caravan fridge.

Before each meal we loaded up the chilly bag with whatever was required, and then did the return trip to replace the items back in the caravan fridge.  At least it wasn’t too far to walk.

Then finally today, two nice young men delivered our new fridge, and took away the dead one – we had worked out that it was about 12 years old.  And the new one has a sign saying “10 Year Warranty” so appliances are not really built to last these days, are they.

New fridge delivered at last

I also had time today to do a quick sewing job for Robin.  He had recently purchased two new pairs of shorts, one pair had belt loops attached and the other hadn't.  “I can add some for you”, I declared.  So I cut and stitched some navy drill fabric into lengths, checked the other pair of shorts for placement, and got stitching.  Just about ran out of navy thread though, but the job got done, and Robin is very thankful.

Making belt loops

Clickity Clack and Earthquakes

I’ve been busy with the needles over the last wee while, and have two knitting finishes to show.  Firstly, my latest pair of socks, this is the first pair I have knitted using 4ply wool (left over from an earlier finish), so I’m really proud of myself.  I used plain burgundy, together with the patterned sock wool, knitting in stripes. 

Stripy burgundy 4ply socks

All my other socks have been made with 12 ply wool (or equivalent) and this is the pair I knitted earlier, knitting together 3 balls of 4 ply wool (burgundy, grey, and multi coloured sock wool) to bring it up to 12 ply for the thicker sock pattern.   For my just finished pair of socks I used the last remaining part ball of  plain burgundy wool, plus the multi coloured sock yarn, knitted in stripes.  How lovely to squeeze another pair of socks from the left over yarn.

Thicker cozy socks, 12 ply

My other knitting finish is a small mat knitted with selvedges on very large needles, a design from Amanda Jean who sadly no longer blogs.  Not easy knitting at all and quite hard on my hands, so I had to pace myself.  I had previously made one of these, and it sits in front of the laundry tub – thought I’d make another as well to ring the changes when the mats gets tossed in the washing machine.  Plus, it was a way of using up some more selvedges.

Knitted selvedge mat

Here in New Zealand we have had some “shake rattle and roll” recently.  Three strong earthquakes took place on Friday– all within less than 8 hours.  The largest quake  was an 8.1 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter lay in the ocean, about 600 miles (965 km) north of New Zealand. It followed two less-strong but still powerful earthquakes – a 7.3 magnitude quake and a 7.4 magnitude quake – in New Zealand.   The earthquakes all took place on the Kermadec Fault, which passes east of New Zealand and stretches northward. Tsunami warnings were issued, and people were urged to “walk, run or cycle” to higher ground to avoid the chance of being stuck in traffic. Many aftershocks occurred, and the evacuation warnings were not lifted until some hours later.  We are so thankful that no damage occurred, it was quite a worrying day, spent glued to the TV news, just in case.

Going Green

This month the colour for those of us working on Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects is green.  After being away on holiday for three weeks, I was more than happy to sit down at my sewing machine and stitch up some RSC blocks.  First up was some easy-peasy flag blocks, to add to my collection.  I started these midway through 2020 so I’m just stitching the colours not already done. 

Green flag blocks

Three pretty little green birds were sewn next, and I enjoyed stitching their little black stick like legs on outside while enjoying the balmy weather.  Believe it or not, our Summer has now turned into Autumn, how did that happen?  Never mind, the Autumn days here are generally warm and mild, with cooler temperatures in the early mornings.  So no need to get out the winter woolies for a while yet.

Three green birds

A colourful flock of little birds

Lastly there were boat blocks to stitch.  Plus some extra blocks this month, as I had a piece of batik fabric featuring green palm trees.  I thought they looked like little tropical islands popping out of the sea,  ready to welcome the sailors ashore to rest under the shady palm trees!  I’m debating with myself whether to add some sand under the trees, above the sea line?  Perhaps I will.

Boats and palm trees

So that’s my green stitching this week – wonder what I’ll do next?

Happy Mail

The postman delivered me some happy mail today, so much nicer than advertising brochures and bills.  Mary from Mariposa, California, had contacted me recently (through the blog) with a request.  No problem, I was happy that I could help.  A “thank you” note from Mary arrived today, and enclosed were two small hand made gifts – a bookmark and a small scissor pouch. 

Book mark and scissor pouch

And here they are in use, thanks so much, Mary