A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies, and Elvis

Kaleidoscope, such  a lovely name for a group of butterflies, although I quite like the alternative name Flutter as well.  I've just put a top together featuring butterfly blocks.  This completion ticks two boxes this month, first for the Chookshed Challenge, as butterflies was on my list for number seven.  Plus, I made the blocks as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, way back in 2022.

I know I've mentioned my former neighbour Dorothy many times.  I received a whole lot of her fabrics when she moved away, including a great pile of her beloved butterfly fabrics.  I stitched four blocks sets using her butterflies in 2022, and still have a lot of fabric left, enough for several more butterfly quilts, I imagine. 

All these still waiting for me

I assembled the butterfly blocks together over the last week or so, choosing purples, blacks and pink, using spotty neutral fabric for the sashings and border.  There are still enough of these blocks in blues, yellows and tan for another single bed quilt.

Lots of pretty butterflies

Then today, I laid it down on the carpet and pinned the layers together.  That's always hard on my back, but the weather wasn't nice enough for me to pin it up outside on the patio table.  Gemma gave it the once over and decided she would quite like to catch a fluttering butterfly outside one day.  She has been known to catch a moth occasionally.

Mmm, just look at those butterflies, but they are not all a flutter, are they, she's thinking.

And look what I received in the mail this week, Elvis is saying hello to me.  My daughter's friend Heather is having an extensive USA trip, and went to Gracelands.  She knows I'm a great Elvis fan so sent me this postcard, how kind is that!  "Elvis says Hi", she wrote on the back.  I'm sure if he was still around he would know I was one of his greatest fans, I've been smitten since I heard him singing "Love me Tender", and that's going back a long time now.

Elvis says "Hi"

Sew Wot Tuesday

 I was the hostess this time for Sew Wot Tuesday, and it was lovely to welcome everyone to my home for the morning.  Heather had just celebrated her birthday so there were lots of gifts waiting for her to open.  It was such fun seeing what was in those parcels, There was wool, smellies, a set of coffee mugs, and she was thrilled to receive a pair of hand knitted socks!  Plus a home grown lemon tree from Helen.

Birthday gifts for Heather

Heather had been knitting up a storm to bring along for Show and Tell.  There were two hooded sleeveless jumpers for when the great great grandbabies get a little bigger.  They have so many baby knits that Heather was planning ahead.  Plus a nice little cream and blue jumper.

Heather's knitting

And Carol had brought along a whole swag of knitted toys to be donated to the Neo Natal Hospital Unit.  Don't they look cute.

Carol's knitted toys

Mary had some knitting to show us too.  A cozy pair of bed socks, and a pair of 4ply socks, still works in progress she said, as they needed stitching up.

Mary's socks

And this cute little pink baby singlet was knitted by Helen, she completed sewing it up on the morning.

Pretty pink baby singlet knitted by Helen

I showed my recently completed boy's donation quilt.  Plus my completed secret sewing project but I can't show it here yet until it was been gifted.

My boy's donation quilt

Morning tea was served, including corn and bacon savouries, a recipe which harks back to when my children were teens, so that is going back a good few years!  The Eat-a-Lots certainly enjoy their morning teas.

Morning tea

Helen had kindly brought along some seedlings from her garden to share.  I don't have a veggie garden so took some cauliflower plants and planted them in  my rhubarb patch.  Hopefully they will grow.

Trying my luck with caulies

We had a lovely morning with the knitting needles click clacking away, socks, baby singlets, a scarf and a man's jumper being worked on.  Plus plenty of chatter too of course.  Gemma walked around and checked out everyone's bags, just in case there was something for her.  It was so nice to be the hostess again.  

A Finish and a Birthday

 I have a Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) finish, I'm pleased to say.  It all started  when I found I had a piece of black and white fabric which I decided to use as a boys project, adding colours each month.  Nice and simple to stitch, and I stitched up four blocks each month.

This is how it started.

Part way through making these blocks I had run out of the original black and white fabric, so had to go to my LQS and buy some more.  I couldn't get exactly what I was using previously, but thought the black and white polka dots blended in quite well.  The final two block sets were  stitched last month, and I had enough to assemble the top, adding a plain black border.  Then a bit of time spent machine quilting, and on to the last part, stitching the burgundy binding down.

Who doesn't love stitching the binding down!

I'm quite pleased with how this turned out, and it will be a boys donation quilt.  Perhaps this one will suit an older, maybe teenage boy?  

All done

I was invited to an 80th birthday celebration today, for my friend Robyn.  I knew Robyn at Waiwhetu Girls College, back in the day.  Although we had lost touch for quite a few years, I bumped into her at a meeting when we moved to Levin, and our friendship picked up again.  So that was really nice. 

Two old school friends

 The weather was glorious, a calm and sunny winter's day, it felt rather like Spring, with not a breath of wind.  Robyn's family put on a lovely day for her, and provided all the food.  The boys cooked up a storm on the BBQ, there were salads, savouries and sandwhiches, and a whole table of delicious birthday cakes and cup cakes.

Just look at all this deliciousness

I had a lovely afternoon helping Robyn celebrate this major milestone in her life.

Brr, it's getting chilly

Our weather has turned wintry again, with snow on the ranges.  That didn't last long, when the rain arrived, and some wind.  It is still winter after all, it's just that we have been spoiled with calm, mild, sunny days for ages. Luckily, there is a heat pump installed, so there is clean, efficient heating here in my little home.  And it has been perfect soup making weather too.  My latest batch was pumpkin and kumara, so nice and tasty, with added pieces of fried onion and bacon, after it was whizzed smooth.  This was made in the microwave, and I do love home made soup.

Creamy pumpkin and kumara soup with added bacon

Gemma had a difficult morning recently, it was time for her annual vaccinations and health check.  I picked her up and put her in the carry cage before she realised what was happening.

How did that happen, she's thinking

Gemma doesn't make a fuss being in the car, and it was a short drive down to the Vets.

Here we are

Gemma was a little uncomfortable when she was lifted on to the table and the vet checked her over.  Everything was fine and she was given her vaccinations.  I had asked if she could get her claws trimmed as it always took both Robin and I working together in the past to get this job done.  She was most unhappy with this procedure and had to be wrapped in a towel, growling at the vet and struggling to get away.  I told the vet that I had never had a cat who growled before.  Finally, with three paws clipped, she was getting so distressed that we agreed to give up  - she couldn't get back into her carry cage fast enough.  Poor Gemma, I wondered if she would forgive me for this abomination when we got home.  She hopped into the hidey hole in her tower at home to recover from her ordeal.

I'm hiding, don't touch me.

I've been doing a bit of knitting in the evenings and more importantly, I'm working hard to get my secret sewing finalised for my daughter's birthday.  It's looking rather good, even if I do say so myself!  All will be revealed soon.

Mama Mia

I've just come back from an overnight stay in the capitol city, Wellington.   As I was away a little less than 24 hours, Gemma stayed home alone.  She was left with dry food, wet food, fresh water, and a nice clean litter box.  As she tends to snooze most of the day, I was sure she would be fine.  Although maybe her pussy cat brain would wonder where I was at bedtime?  My blue overnight case was packed, and I was ready to go.

All packed for an overnight trip

The coach collected me outside the village, with the next stop being Coastlands Mall for lunch.  Previously, I would have gone to my favourite Butlers Chocolate Cafe, but this chain of shops has now been closed, so I made do with an ordinary cafe instead.  I felt a bit rushed in making my choice as there was a long queue behind me, so missed the fact that there was nice hot soup on offer.  Never mind, I made do with a coffee and cake.  Next time I'll take my time to read the board properly.  After lunch I was taking a photo of the coach, and the driver offered to take one for me.

On the way to a big night out

Our hotel overlooked Oriental Bay, which is named after the ship "Oriental" which arrived in Wellington in 1840.  It was a cool day, with a light breeze, and there was an hour or so to settle down and relax.  The sun was streaming in the windows.

My room for the night

The view out the window

Dinner for the evening was at the very busy Dragons Restaurant.  Our coach group was seated at tables for 10, and the food just kept coming, it really was delicious.  Then it was just a short walk to St James Theatre in Courtney Place.

We walked to St James Theatre

St James Theatre was built in 1912, and is full of wonderful decorations.  However, it fell into decline and was very nearly demolished when the owners placed a destruction order on the site.  In 1993 Wellington Council purchased the property and handed it over to St James Theatre Charitable Trust, and restorations began.  

Inside St James Theatre

The show started with a hiss and a roar and continued non stop throughout the evening.  Song after well known song was belted out and had the audience clapping along.  It was very enjoyable and at the end of the show, the whole cast came back on stage and performed an extra rendition of several of the favourite songs.  It was a great evening, full of energy and feel good entertainment.  But I must admit I was feeling a little upset during the show.  Even though I enjoyed the music, I thought to myself, what am I doing here, surrounded by all these strangers, when I really want nothing more than to have Robin by my side, sharing this experience with me.  Alas, it is not to be.   We boarded the coach for the short drive back to the hotel. and I'm sure we all retired with the words of Abba running around our   heads. 

View from my hotel window at night.

After a reasonable night's sleep, I woke early, made a cuppa to take back to bed, then caught up with the news of the day.  Then it was time to shower, dress, and head down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast.  Mmm, I decided on pancakes, yoghurt and fruit, washed down with orange juice and coffee.

Sunday breakfast

With the bags loaded in the coach, and all the passengers on board, we headed north.  The coach dropped me back at the village, turned around, then continued on the journey.  It certainly was a great experience.  Gemma barely stirred when I opened the door.  She was tucked up in her tower and went back to sleep, finally getting up, stretching, and coming to greet me after an hour.  Perhaps she didn't miss me at all!

Oh, you've come back, have you.

Sew Wot Tuesday

 It was so nice to join in with the Sew Wot ladies again, as I had missed the last two get-togethers.  This time, we met at Jude's home.  Our numbers were down a little, with two of the ladies unable to join us this time.  The family dog was not at all happy to be locked up in the back yard.  He really wanted to come and meet all those visitors, and let his displeasure be known!

I had taken along some knitting patterns which were no longer required, and several found new homes.  The rest will be donated to one of the local Op Shops.

As usual, there was an interesting selection of Show and Tell.  Helen had recently made herself a knitting needle holder, a very clever idea, and it all rolled up neatly with a tie.

Helen's knitting needle roll

There was quite a bit of knitting on show.  Mary had made a pair of green and cream socks.

Mary's socks

Jude showed us her knitted scarf and a pair of socks.  The scarf has been knitted in a lovely manly shade  and will be donated - one of the knitting shop chains had put a call out for woolen scarves for veterans.  And the socks were knitted in such a pretty yarn, featuring cream, orange and yellow.

Jude's knitting

Carol had knitted three lovely baby sets, singlet, hat and soft toy, to be donated to the Neo Natal Unit for babies.  So nice.

Carol's baby knitting

As for me, I had taken along two recently finished quilts.  My embroidered Christmas wall hanging, and a boy's quilt for donation.

My show and tell

Then it was morning tea time and the tea trolley was wheeled out.  Cups of coffee and tea as requested, fancy plates and serviettes and some delicious food, we were certainly spoilt.

Morning tea time

Many thanks to Jude for being hostess, we all had such a lovely morning.  And we will do it again in two weeks time.

A busy Weekend

Saturday was quite a busy day.  The caravan club was spending the weekend at the Manawatu Caravan Club grounds, and I drove up to join them for morning tea, about a half hour drive away.  It was lovely to catch up with everyone, and as a bonus, one of the member's was celebrating a birthday so cake was provided.  The weather was fine and clear, cold overnight and frosty in the morning.

Joining the caravan club for morning tea

I left the camp ground after morning tea, and drove up to Sanson, another half hour drive away, to meet my daughter Nicky for lunch.  This time, we were trying a "new to us" cafe.  The Church Cafe, as the name suggests, was a former church, and has a lovely calm ambience.

The Church Cafe

With paneled walls, and wooden tables and chairs, it was a warm, cozy and peaceful place to enjoy our lunch.    I had some tasty leek and potatoe soup, and Nicky enjoyed a bowl of wedges.  And with coffee to follow, of course.

Inside The Church Cafe

We had plenty to chat about, what we had been up to, and our sewing projects.  Although Nicky doesn't do quilting, she is a keen dressmaker and creates one of a kind outfits for herself.  And we had things in the boot to swap over when we departed, Nicky had some fruit for me, and I gave her some fabric she had shown an interest in, plus a big bag of coathangers.

On my drive back home I stopped off at Fox's Cottage, my favourite local quilt shop.  I needed another lot of batting, it's interesting how much of this gets used when you are making donation quilts.  And I spoke to Jackie in the shop, who will be free hand quilting my secret birthday quilt for me.

Fox's Cottage

Last stop on the way home was to top up the fuel on my trusty Corolla, I don't like to let the fuel tank get too low.  It was a good day out.

On Sunday I took myself off to the local movies, I was keen to see Jurassic World.  There were only about 8 patrons in the theatre at lunch time, not that it mattered, as we were all engrossed in the unfolding story.  The storyline is "An exhibition braves isolated equatorial regions to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures for a ground breaking medical breakthrough".  A family group gets rescued by the exhibition when their boat is overturned by one of the prehistoric sea creatures, and they end up on the island too.  Surround sound in the theatre made the roars seemingly coming at me from all sides, as the dinosaurs wrecked havoc on the visitors to the island, tracking them, tossing them in the air, and chewing them up!  It was a lose yourself in the moment sort of movie, and yes, I did enjoy it.