The End of 2016

Wow, here we are staring down at the end of 2016 and into the beginning of 2017. 2016 has been a mixed bag of a year and this last week in particular has brought a string of curve balls that we could definitely have done without.  I cant wait to see what 2017 has in store but one thing I know for sure is that there is going to be change, lots of change.

My word for 2017 is going to be 'embrace' and it isn't just a word but an action and a change of attitude. Since I have become chunkier I have stopped doing certain things like swimming at hot pools, but I have bought some swimwear and I am embracing who I am now and not letting things stop me from enjoying experiences and making memories with my family. I am embracing opportunities and where they may take me, I am not letting fear rob me from experiences, I still have a lot that I want to do and accomplish

We had a lovely Christmas with our family and created many memories, we did some things the same and changed up other things.

Pavlova that my 2 3/4 yo granddaughter and I made for Christmas, definitely one of the best yet.

Scarlett and I on Christmas Day

Take care everyone, happy stitching and we will see you on the other side of 2016.

Queen's Birthday weekend

Hi everyone, 
I hope that you are having a great long weekend. This is the last long weekend until Labour weekend in October. The shortest day is only three weeks away as well. Then things will ready get cold, but at least then we will be heading towards the longest day - yippee!!! 


 The weather has been amazing, cool but fine. I spent some time in the vegetable garden yesterday checking on how everything is growing. I find it interesting how some plants prefer the cooler weather and flourish in the conditions that we are having at the moment. I have been also thinking ahead to what will be going into the beds next. 


 I still have some monarch caterpillars eating themselves into huge fat caterpillars getting ready for the next step of their life cycle. It doesn't matter how many times time I get to witness their life cycle, it always amazes and fascinates me. I go out to the garden every day and check on their progress. When Bentley was with us, we would go out there together with him racing on ahead. Talking of Bentley, when I skyped my daughter the other night, Bentley said hello. Boy has he grown, he is looking good. He doesn't sit still for very long though.


I haven't been that well this weekend, but are definitely on the mend and are feeling much better. I actually didn't realize how sick I was until I started getting better - not sure how that works. Unfortunately mum is about two days behind where I am with the sickness bugs and is feeling miserable with it. At least she has Wilson to snuggle up with her as she is resting. 


I haven't got much stitching done this weekend, due to not feeling up to it. It sounded good in theory but could only handle the knitting needles. My second scarf is growing very slowly, but it is beautiful and warm on my lap as I am knitting it. Some nights there is some competition between the cats as to who is going to get to sit on my lap. Whoever doesn't get my lap, gets to sit on the ottoman on top of a quilt by my feet - so it isn't all bad. Although I am glad that we only have two cats otherwise there wouldn't be anywhere else for another cat to sit!

Here is Frosty curled up on the ottoman.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone. 
Donna-Maree

Introducing Wilson

I always find it interesting how things come to pass. 


For those of you who have read my blog before, you will know of Bentley - my daughters cat/kitten who was staying with us for a couple of months while his mum and dad were moving to Perth and getting themselves sorted. Well Bentley has recovered from the long flight to Perth and has settled in well which is awesome considering that it is a lot warmer over there than here at the moment. (When I am feeling cold, I wish I was there as well.)


Bentley is such a special kitten/cat and it appears that there isn't anyone that hasn't come in contact with him that their life or attitudes haven't changed. 


My mother has been catless since her lovely Bluebell - called Blue passed on, which has been a little while now. Mum has been adamant since then, that she will not ever have another cat. When Bentley went to Perth, mum was making mutterings about getting another cat, then she would change her mind. Mum changing her mind back and forth went on for about a week - maybe longer. Anyway to cut a long story short and after checking out the local petshops, SPCA and Trade Me, mum announced that she definitely didn't want a cat. So it came as a surprise the next day when mum rang me and announced that she had indeed bought a cat. That is, if she didn't change her mind in the next 24 hours.


Thursday last week saw us travelling to Warkworth where we met my sister, who had agreed to collect the new cat in West Auckland and meet us in Warkworth which is halfway from home. It was also a good excuse to meet for lunch and have some mum and daughter/sister time. So we set off for home after saying goodbye to my sister with the little bundle secure in a cat cage that we had taken with us.


The discussion of names of course was prime topic of conversation and many suggestions were made. Buster was a consideration as he had busted out of the cardboard box that he had been secured in for the trip to Warkworth.

See what I mean - here is the little guy trying to get out of the box!

But mum couldn't picture herself calling 'here Buster', so there were many other considerations for names for this cat kitten. He is a very affectionate little thing, purrs at the drop of a hat and is a very pretty wee thing - if you can say that about a little male kitten. Mum wanted something that would reflect who he was without embarrassing her when she is calling his name outside where the neighbours can hear!

After much discussion, mum settled on Wilson and so Wilson he is. Wilson is appropriate as mum's mothers maiden name was Wilson. Little Wilson has settled in really well and is definitely making his mark on my mothers household. I am really pleased for mum and are happy about her having company 24/7 now.

Of course I have to visit to see how much he is growing and to get my fair share of cuddles. Here are some pics of the little guy.

Here is mum with Wilson, he is such a baby kitty cat.

Wilson just loves to play!

I really struggled to get shots of him - he was moving so fast.

There is nothing like seeing babies of any kind growing up and developing. I am going to enjoy sharing these things with my mum.

I will keep you posted of Wilson's progress - but promise not to bore you.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone.

Cheers

Donna-Maree

Mmmnn I wonder if Wilson will come and visit soon?

Change of name...

Just a little update today...


Don't know if you noticed but there has been a slight change of name. 


I realised this morning that quilting isn't the only stitching that I do.  Bit of a light bulb moment, I know, but I have been doing more knitting than sewing just lately, and have requested even more knitting books from the public library - just to have a look through, you know how it is. So I thought it only fitting for the title to be 'Stitching at my place' as opposed to 'Quilting at my place', that way it covers everything.


We received a txt message from our eldest daughter early hours of this morning, to let us know that Bentley arrived in Perth without any mishaps. He was very eager to use a litter box after all of the hours that he was in a crate and on a plane.


Bentley grew a lot while he was with us as only 5-7 month old kittens can and Kelsey was surprised at just how much he had grown, especially his fur as he is starting to look like more of a cat than a kitten. Apparently he hadn't stopped purring either and probably won't for a while now that he is reunited with his mum. We had a peaceful sleep after that knowing that everything was as it should be. 


Anyway check back soon as I will have the photos of the scarves up. Plus I have stitching group tonight and club day this Saturday - so watch this space!


Happy stitching everyone


Donna-Maree

Wednesday already...

Well I just can't believe that it is Wednesday already.


Little Bentley is flying out from Auckland today, with a ten hour flight to Perth, Australia to meet up with his mum and dad. Have a great flight Bentley and stay safe little one.


I haven't been doing much stitching of any kind just of late. Although I have finished knitting my scarf, I just need to tidy up the end threads. I will post a photo a bit later. I have started a second scarf which uses two different balls of wool in two colours and I am finding this very interesting. In the beginning it took a bit to get my head around what direction I was going in, but once I got that sorted I was away laughing. I will post a photo a bit later of that as well.


Anyway off to do some jobs around the house and maybe I just might be able to squeeze in a little bit of stitching ..... I seriously need some today.


Happy stitching everyone
Donna-Maree

A little bit of sight seeing...

We delivered our eldest daughters seven month old kitten Bentley to a cattery just south of Auckland on Sunday, to allow for him to be ready for his flight to Perth on Wednesday. This is Bentley about a week ago playing under the stairs to the kitchen garden, he is so cheeky but a real sweetheart. We are really missing him already.

After getting Bentley settled at the cattery we stopped not far away at the Auckland Botanical Gardens at Manurewa for a breather and rest stop before continuing on with our day. We had a quick look around, promising ourselves that we will return another time and have a better look around these fantastic gardens.

There are some amazing pieces of sculpture in the gardens. This one was just outside the doors from the visitors centre and cafe. There were lots of families enjoying the gardens meeting friends and family.

I thought that this was amazing, I was going to crop the photo so that you see it better, however when I did that you lost the impact of the scale and proportion. This is an amazing sculpture that has been purchased for the gardens. The impact of this piece was impressive.

This photo is in front of the building. I loved the way that the planters look like boats emerging from the water.

These palm shapes are the fountain heads that the water for the fountain comes from. Approaching the building you can hear the water well before seeing it. You come around the corner and see this impressive sight. These palm fountain shapes are echoed on the other side of the entrance with the palms along the wall which you can see in the previous photo.

This sculpture is of a Huia which is a bird now extinct. This one is out in the parking area. We are really looking forward to another trip to Auckland and checking out these gardens when we have more time. The smells coming from the cafe were fantastic and judging by how busy they were, it is obviously a favourite place to eat. Might need to check it out when we visit. If you are ever in Auckland and enjoy the outdoors, gardens, and sculpture make some time to check this place out.

Until next time, happy stitching everyone.

How was your Easter Weekend?

Easter Weekend is over for this year and the weather was just glorious with the exception of one afternoon when we had a little rain. As we are nearing autumn the mornings and evenings are getting a little cooler but the temperatures through the day have been fabulous.

We have had quite a busy summer here at our place and so we just had a quiet Easter with my hubby and son painting the roof of the house. They have made amazing progress and the roof is looking great. The guys being busy on the roof left me with the opportunity to carry on with my current patchwork project which is my Orca Bay Quilt pattern by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville. Classic hits had a retro 80's music weekend which meant that we could all enjoy the music while doing our respective tasks.

Last night I got a couple of blocks put together and so then decided to lay them out on the lounge floor so we could see what they are going to look like. There were no cats in sight until we stood back to admire the blocks and then ....

Hello Bentley was right in the middle. Bentley is our daughters five month old kitten that is staying with us at the moment. He has been with us for two weeks and until he came here, he had never seen a quilt before. So why is it that cats in our household go straight to a quilt?

I am a little focused on this quilt at the moment working on it at every opportunity, I so want it done!

Best I get busy then.

Cheers

Donna-Maree