Details details...

I'm into some fine detail work in the ever-improving hallway. It now has two coats of paint, and I'm onto sanding the skirting boards. Tonite I'm sanding and polyurethaning the stair rail and the ballustrade every couple of hours. The rail looks like a ballet barre. It was black with probably 50 years of grime, but it sure is going to be beautiful. I think I should have been a woodworker, I love the detail of the timber so much.

I've been thinking about what to hang in my beautiful hallway. I dug this out. It was stitched for a challenge, I think the challenge fabric was the big bold Jane Sassaman print. I fussy cut the flowers and machine embroidered and beaded it. It's square, really it is!

I think I will cut it up and stretch bits of it over artist canvas blocks, and hang them in a row.



Oh, and Kitty has been helping, of course.

Proud? Me?

Lookee here.
He's 11.
I'm amazed to see this boy who has figured out so much about who he is and what he's passionate about.

He's made 5 clips, including one original song. This one is his favourite. His parents know about them now. But he insisted on leaving the room while I checked them out. He's pretty buzzed that Liam Finn (son of Neil of Crowded House) has left him a comment. Well, he's pretty sure it's really Liam.

WOW

It's back!! The World of Wearable Arts. Youngest son went, with school, lucky bugger, and he's still buzzing.

Thanks Dom Post, and internets, for the great pix.
I wasn't planning to go this year....but seeing these......ahh well, come check it out with me.

here
and here, and here too.

goings on...

Well, there's plenty going on....

• I've painted a sealer coat in the hall. It sucked up 4 litres of sealer, and showed me where the holes and dings are that need further filling. Of course it all needs sanding again, but it looks like this weekend is available for that, and then....PAINT, finally! I can't wait.
• I spent the weekend in Christchurch, hanging out with the handyman. Christchurch is so beautiful in spring...much time was spent admiring magnolias and rhododendrons and blossoms and daffodils.....just beautiful. It was hard to leave.
  
• I did a little walking....
• I'm reading my Quilt Wellington Symposium 2009 registration booklet.
  

Preparation is everything

I'm still working in the hall. I hung a sheet in the bedroom doorway to try to keep the dust out.

But you can't keep plaster dust out of anything at all really.

I got mail

September 1st was my birthday. I got mail. Lovely! Thanks!

I bought myself this. About 1.5 m of beautiful vintage barkcloth. It's soft and worn and faded and perfect. It's going to be cushions for the bench seat in the kitchen. One day. Don't hold your breath.

Ta Dah....

I did it! There is no wallpaper left in my bedroom or my hall.
Actually, in my whole house!
I'll be the one with the sandpaper ...

Working

Still can't reach. Now what am I gonna do?
and look, all those stripy vertical lines. digital camera on it's last legs? dropped too often? Blast!

The Handy Man

Okay, I'll fess up. The CHCH man? It's going well. Real well. He came to visit at the weekend. He fixed my car, he chopped firewood. We like the same kind of music and he likes to dance! We cooked together and he had coffee with some of my friends. So he needs a name cos I suspect he's gonna be around here for a while. Let's call him the handy man.

Oh, but I'm not telling him about the blog. Nope.

travelling...

This is (the very badly named) Craters of the Moon, Taupo, middle of the North Island. Steam rising out of the ground, a little bubbling mud. Great place for a walk on a cold day.

It's cold cos of the snow on the mountains. Beautiful. That's Lake Taupo, Mount Ruapehu and Tongariro in the distance.

You can't go to Taupo without going to Huka Falls.

And it's just a couple of hours drive to Waitomo. Extraordinarily beautiful limestone caves.

Those tiny straw stalactites? See them? They're thousands of years old, so don't go breaking any.

Big. It's all big. Big skies, big big lake, big mountains, big caves, big long low waterfall. Little NZ does beautiful in a big big way.

Goings on

The tv broke down. I bought a very cheap brand new one. The baby of the family wanted to play with the box. Some things never change.

The wallpaper stripping is going well, if slow. Yes, that's the fireplace in my bedroom, it works, and it's beautiful.

Had an extraordinarily good Japanese dinner (in Wellington) sitting next to the tall dark handsome famous person, and some movers and shakers. Work isn't all bad.

Kitty and I are enjoying the olympics, given the chance. He was particularly fond of the chinese gymnasts. Blackbird has posted some great olympic pictures. Go see Michael Phelps. Sigh.

try this

Here, check this out.
I'm playing it loud, and getting stuff done.
It's not my favourite track from the album, but it's good!

oops

I was going to post pictures....of Taupo and Waitomo....of op shopping in Christchurch.....of lovely trains in Waikato......I was, really I was, cos we all needed cheering up after that last post. Only the camera battery is dead as a doornail, and I can't find any of those old fashioned double A kind, so sorry, I can't show you ...... yet.

Come back soon though, won't you?

Today I baked brownies

I got up early today. I baked a batch of never fail, hardly touch the plate, kiwiquilters brownies. So named cos the recipe came from the Kiwiquilters yahoo group to which I belong in name only. Hi Shirley! (Shirley is the list mum.)

I took the brownies to work, to a meeting. I told my assembled colleagues that I'd brought them a present, because I enjoyed their company and I greatly appreciated their contribution to this piece of work which is about to meet a major milestone. We grinned big grins at each other, and hugs were exchanged. Because I should have told John that. But he wasn't there today, because on Monday night he took his own life.

So we worked through the stuff we had to do, and we talked about what John had said about x and y and z, and I shed a tear on behalf of the staunch and quiet men that surrounded me, and we laughed some and argued the point, digressed and told stories about John, and did some more work, and at the end each of them gave me a peck on the cheek goodbye and thanked me.

I'm glad we had that meeting today, and I'm glad those lovely blokey colleagues came, even though we'd talked about postponing.
Sure wish John had been there too.

Hello

Okay okay, here I am, I'm sorry for neglecting you. Where've I been?

• it's winter, it's bloody cold here in the corner where the pc is, and my poor fragile hands can't handle the cold
• first born's internet connection to his pc broke, I think it's the modem, so the pc is now shared by 3 of us, it's easier to just give in......
  
• there's no wallpaper left in my bedroom, and the hallway is half de-nuded of wallpaper too. progress!
• I've made two skirts and two tops, and a dress. The skirts and tops are good enough, and the dress is hideous. I shall either finish it, or cut it up and use the fabric for something else. I'm getting into it though, you'd be so proud!
• I've been travelling, tales to come...
• work work work. Intense, kinda exciting, kinda stressful
• I hurt my back in April. April! I didn't sit down for much more than 30mins until July. Finally I am cured. Hallelujah!!

Okay, does that explain my absence sufficiently? Well, you asked for it....there're gonna be a whole lot of posts tonite.

Skirt!

I made a skirt! It doesn't look like much hanging there against the wall (with no wallpaper) does it? But it fits me. And I like it. And I'll wear it. Tomorrow. Cos it has a zip and a hem and everything, just like a bought one.

I used this pattern. Which is probably the best simple A-line skirt pattern in the world. Only it's out of print now. I think I might even make another one. But don't hold your breath.

A tough day

We farewelled a fine man today, in our largest cathedral, standing room only. Not every day you see a guard of honour that closes a street, and stretches almost out of sight.

RIP Fitz. It's been a privilege to call you friend.

So, you know.....more sewing therapy required.

Kitty and I finished the quilt. Here it is.

I'm totally in love with the polar fleece backing. It looks so good quilted, and it's warm as can be. It took me 24 hours to make this, so what is it worth? Around $240 for labour (v. cheap!) and $100 for materials? So we could round it up to $350? Well, that's what I'll insure it for when I post it, but I don't fancy my chances if I tried to sell it. Interesting huh. Best I stick to my day job.

A quilt!

Hello, my name is Pixie, and I'm a quilt maker. Really, I can prove it.

Kitty has been helping of course.

It's a simple little four patch. I laid it out on the floor pretty carefully, but somehow the squares leapt all over the place before the stitches were completed, and despite my efforts there are places where two squares of the same fabric meet up. Hate that. See, even Kitty is glaring at one such spot. The squares leap around between sewing machine and ironing too. But as number one son said, "he's hardly going to say that's a terrible quilt, just because there are two chicken squares touching". Ahh, right. Oh, that's the boy that just had his 14th birthday by the way.

The quilting was going really well, until I broke my last needle. You shouldn't sew over safety pins.
But you probably knew that.
I've removed that stray thread that's in the middle of this picture, by the way.

I'm whipping this up for my Dad. He's about to turn 80. I reckon a lap quilt, with a nice cosy polar fleece back, is just what he needs. So far this has taken me 5 evenings. About 15 hours.

Work turned to crap. Time to look for another job kindof crap. I miss the Australian, but that's the way he wants it, or so it seems. I've had a sore back since May, and a cough and a cold that's also been around since May. I ran out of firewood. SIGH!

So, a quilt was in order, obviously. I needed to remind myself who I am. I had to force myself to get started, but I've really enjoyed this speedy quilt. I pulled all of the fabric out of my stash. That's why you have a stash after all. I enjoyed stroking all that fabric again. Maybe my sewing mojo is coming back.

And I'm going to Christchurch in a week and a half. Yes I am! Now that's someone something to look forward to.

I want to write a post about this. But I'm so bloody angry about it, I can't find the words. It's the kind of thing that polarises communities isn't it? and doubtless would attract hateful spam to my blog. It's a very strange thing, an election year, and what it generates.

Anyway, I love sewing. That's who I am. I am Pixie, who makes quilts.

cape

Look, I made something.
I finished it.
The designer really does like it.
It's swirly - as requested.
Wow, maybe there is life beyond stripping wallpaper.

stuff

A pretty tree in Napa. I went there once!

• we figure the Orca knew we were there for a lot longer than we knew they were there. Not sure how I feel about that. They like to eat stingrays in Wellington harbour apparently. Haven't seen a stingray yet!

• a colleague was knocked off his motorbike on Thursday night and died in intensive care on Friday. Another good man, an engineer with a cheeky grin, sparkly eyes and lots of good stories to tell. Shocking, and scary. We gather in disbelief for coffee and cake and tell stories about him through the morning. Bugger. (Don't worry Ben, I don't think your paths would have crossed).

• went to osteopath. my wallet hurts. and my back hurts even more. he found places I didn't know hurt. but I trust him, he's a genius and eventually I'll feel good. and he's a swimmer.

• I took myself off the internet dating site. Now really, no-one, not one person, that I contacted responded, even with a no thanks. I seemed to attract 35 year olds. Hmmm, what am I supposed to do with a 35 year old? Oh, don't be rude! I seem to have found someone for myself, with a little help from my friends. So that's nice.

• my car goes. It feels smooth and quiet and nice to drive, but it makes me very very nervous.

• I'm off to a swim meet, not to swim, but to do a little timekeeping and some partying. Yay.

• I've got a job interview on Tuesday. I ought to be preparing, but something is stopping me. I better figure out what that is and get on with it. I need a pay rise!
  

Sharing the water

It's Sunday, swim in Oriental Bay day. The water sure is cooler, but it was calm today and we enjoyed it. (Have I mentioned lately that I love my wetsuit?). The first 25 yards is hard on the face, the lungs and the heart rate, but after our feet and hands warm up, it's fun. The air temperature is cooler than the water. No more swimming to the lighthouse for a while though, it will be real cold that little bit further out, and the weather can change too quickly. So today we swam from beach to buoy, to buoy, to the fountain, back to the first buoy, and back to the beach. We wallowed about in the shallows a bit, and commented how there were no little fish or starfish to be seen. Too bloody cold for them we decided. Amble up the beach to the car park, stop for a chat with our much loved coach.

"Look, what's that out there, by the fountain?"
"It's a dolphin.....two!"
"That's too big for a dolphin, it's a whale."
"They're Orca!"
"Look there's another one. It's huge."

Errr, but we were just there, by the fountain, 10 or 15 minutes ago. Wallowing under the fountain spray which was cold and heavy. Next thing we know there's an Orca by the raft that we sometimes stop and jump off, close to shore. Not quite breaching but swimming high to make sure we see his handsome white patch. Eventually we figured out there were 3. Looked like mother and calf, and the big daddy one. You know, big, meat eating Orca. We don't look like seals in our wetsuits. Of course we don't!

It was very exciting to see them. They were big and beautiful, and we all agreed, it's their water after all.

I would've like to add some pix to this post....but I'm having copyright concerns!

Not going smoothly

I'm stitching fire. It isn't going well. You can't be having lumps and bumps in your flames can you? Especially when stitching for a 10 year old client/designer. I think it's going to be quite lovely when I stitch it again, more carefully, maybe with some stabalizer to stop the lumps and bumps. I don't have any occasion to wear a red cape with orange flames. Do you?

I'll be on the sofa by the fire (for inspiration) with the unpicker. Perhaps I need a glass of wine.

Very big sigh.

Myanmar

When I was in New York, (yes, I do like saying that), I saw people protesting against the violence in Myanmar (still Burma to them) outside the embassy. I hope the protesters are back.

May some God or Goddess help the ordinary people of Myanmar who are living through extraordinary difficulties, and those bloody generals let the rest of the world in to help.

Feeding boys

Feeding those boys of mine at dinner time seems to get more and more difficult. I dunno what they want to eat.
Saturday - roast chicken, they devoured it. One even ate kumera. v I made soup the next day with the bones and the leftovers, a cup of soup mix, and a few veges. I loved it. Boys had toast for lunch.
Sunday - meatballs. An Alison Holst recipe. Gobbled up. (Those Holsts need to update their website).
Monday - 3 bean stew. From the current Taste magazine. Well I admit I was pushing my luck here. It even had spinnach in it. I loved it. Boys had toast for dinner. Banana muffins, whipped up after dinner and before Desperate Housewives started. They've had 3 each.
Tuesday - I'm gonna make home-made fish and chips. Cheap fish, battered and baked. I think they'll eat that.

Oh well, 3 out of 4 isn't so bad I guess. The rest of the week it's their Dad's problem. And I'll be eating leftovers.

Got kids? Teenagers? What do they eat?

Sewing

I'm sewing.
Look. You can almost see the red light that shows the machine is turned on.

I'm making one of these. New Look 6515.

I might even show you the finished product one day.

I was going to.....

I was going to:

• join in colour week, but I couldn't find a yellow picture, so I kinda just gave up
• spend the night sewing, but I seem to have spent it on the phone with my brother
  
• go swimming, but my car is still with the mechanic. I think they're inordinately fond of each other. I'm trying to separate them.
  

So you know, things aren't quite going to plan around here. I made bacon and egg pie for my dinner. There's enough left for lunch. That's good. And Sooz showed me this. It's good for a laugh, so that's good too. Got anything else we ought to see to keep us going this week?

Distressed

The bedroom walls are distressed.
It's growing on me. I could leave them like that.

Up high

I took my visitor way up high above Wellington on a remarkable, windless Saturday, to stand under the wind turbine, to look at the view.

Kinda stylish, one white turbine in an endless blue sky.

Anzac Day

It's Anzac Day. Poneke writes about it, and deserves to be heard.

Nice.

I love the whole world

This is from Blackbird. I love Blackbird. She's on my bloglines. My blogroll needs some work, but that needs time. One day Blackbird loves the whole world, and the next day she's having a rant about the kinds of blogs that interest her. That's life, huh.

Oh the Places I Go (2008 No. 2)

I love airports. Travelling at the weekend for fun is a whole lot different to travelling during the working week, when fun is usually low on the agenda. You know that beginning sequence from Love Actually. That one up there. It's so true, and it's a little more true at the weekend.

I've been to Christchurch, welcomed with enthusiasm by the Sagittarian, the Stud and their girls. I was treated to some beautiful meals, good wine, love and laughter in abundance. Hugs from long haired, long limbed girls the same ages as my boys! The very funny photo albums with us as schoolgirls. Great music. Dreams and schemes. A few secrets divulged. A little delicious misbehaving. Oh my! I booked this trip on a low day, remembering it will keep me smiling for a long time.
Saturday breakfast, served by Miss youngest doing a classy waitress/assistant chef act was so good, I didn't eat again until dinner.
Homegrown tomatoes and basil. (Damn, I forgot to bring home a bunch of basil).

We'd planned to go out on Saturday night, but the babysitter cancelled so we stayed home. People always gather where the food is good, wine flows, and converstion ranges far and wide. The Sagittarian and her family make it look effortless. So the house filled up with people, and staying home turned out to be a great idea. We sat outside with the brazier glowing, empty wine bottle pile growing, until...well, you know that funny glow in the sky? It's dawn. It's been a long time since I stayed up all night, talking and laughing.

I like this one better

It's for Stomper's dare. Which was started by Soozadoo.
Oh go on, show yourself, I dare you.

Stripping

Wallpaper that is. In my bedroom.

I've just finished reading this. Well, re-reading, probably for about the 5th time. I bought it in 1985, according to the note I wrote on it. It was published in 1984. The bone people won both the Booker Prize for Fiction and the Pegasus Prize for Literature in 1985. I wrote essays about it. I remember that I loved it. When I picked it up, I remembered there was violence and sadness and hope within it's pages. But that was before I had sons. This time I found it compelling, and disturbing. Harrowing. It gave me nightmares, it changed my view of the world, I had to make myself remember it was a book I was reading, not a life I was part of. I cried. I was late a few times, most unlike me, because I couldn't put it down. It's poetic and beautiful, the language is rich and sings a story of a beautiful New Zealand landscape.

Keri lives still in Okarito, on the West Coast of the South Island. One of my most favourite places in this big wide world. I'm not keeping that book in my bedroom though. I need some peace and calm in there, now I'm done turning it's pages. Maybe I'll read it again, in another 20 years time.

The hopeful pixie....

You are The Star

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Star is one of the great cards of faith, dreams realised

The Star is a card that looks to the future. It does not predict any immediate or powerful change, but it does predict hope and healing. This card suggests clarity of vision, spiritual insight. And, most importantly, that unexpected help will be coming, with water to quench your thirst, with a guiding light to the future. They might say you're a dreamer, but you're not the only one.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Writing letters to my friends....

...telling them all about Split enz......

I went to see Split Enz. The ex and I took the boys. It was a real nostalgia trip, a little bittersweet, there are some memories associated with many of those songs, but mostly it was great fun. Famous for their outlandish costumes, this time the Enz wore toned down distressed linen suits. Bathed in white light, they looked like they'd been dusted in flour or something, but hold on....it's just that they've gone grey, like many of their audience. Trust those kiwi brothers Finn to write love songs with such in-denial lyrics. Neil sang "I don't wanna say I love you, that would give away too much...." and Tim ...."and you know that I love you, here and now and not forever.....". Beautiful songs though, so we'll forgive them.

Photo from Stuff

Tim was in great voice, best we've heard him for a long time, and he can still whistle! He remains the king of silly dancing. Eddie Rayner is a genius. Noel played the spoons and I nearly cried....Jack loved that music when he was about two, and would go running to get spoons to play along. ha!

They played Shark Attack and Give it a Whirl. That glorious swirling instrumental lead in to Six Months in a Leaky boat got everyone on their feet, and they played I See Red so fast the crowd could barely keep up. Tim sang Charlie just perfectly. That song will always be special to me because it is one of the first that youngest learnt to play and sing, beautifully, from beginning to end. Of course they ended with History never repeats. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. Neil remembered having his 21st birthday on stage in Wellington. Tim kept telling us what a beautiful day it had been.

In the programme they remember Paul Hester with love....saying he understood the magic of music and mirth. Which sums them up perfectly. Music and mirth. By the spadeful. So funny, but such musicianship too.

Here's a link to "Voices....." with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, a long while back. Which I guess is the last time I saw Split Enz songs played live. There are lots of links to that concert.....beautiful music, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6Qm1T3lCec

and here's Eddy Veder singing it, with Tim on piano, at a concert I should've gone to. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC48fcPlAfc

Because the Australian is too far away.....

Okay peeps, what do you think of this picture? I'm going to sign up with an online-dating thing. I need a picture. Maybe I need to actually wear make up for a picture? Maybe I need to lose the glasses? I dunno. Filling in the forms feels like applying for a job. But worse. I have this nagging feeling that the men I'm interested in really want someone who is under 30, thin and blond. Sigh.

A long weekend

It was too short, wasn't it? I moved a load of firewood, from down on the road, up the hill, up a few steps, and stacked it (roughly) behind the house. I felt fit and strong, and I'm very pleased with myself. The boys helped a bit. I'll probably need another load, but I'll ask friends to help with that one. The fire is going to be great!Gratuitous Kitty picture. Favourite cat on favourite quilt. I didn't used to let him sleep on it....

I bought this, from a remnant bin. I was cheeky and offered the shop owner half of the price it was marked at. She agreed, but told me not to tell anyone. So I won't. They're designers guild cotton sateens. Great colours. I think I'll cut them up into 2 inch squares, but there's probably only enough for a cushion. Or maybe a doll quilt. Now there's an idea.

do you remember when this used to be a craft blog?

enjoying....

• ohh, that last post was number 222 and I didn't notice.
  
• Questionaut thanks to Ampersand Duck. So beautiful. I like the questions, I can answer them pretty much.....
• this little story, by the Sagittarian.
  
• Amy Winehouse. Yes really.
• fantails in the garden. They like that I did a little clearing of grass and weeds to make a place to put the firewood. It makes the bugs fly about for them to catch.
• Easter weekend coming up. I'm staying home, the firewood is ordered, and like Shirley, I'm gonna have to shift it. But I've got four days. Just gotta figure out how to get the wheelbarrow tyre pumped up. I figure if my back or hands object to the heavy labour, I'll quit and hire some nice young men to do it.
  
• the work of Lisa Call. I love her quilts so much, I'm seriously thinking I should take her off my bloglines for she shall influence my work too much. Either that or I'm gonna blow the money I'm saving for a new bathroom to buy this one.
• and best of all? I'm in love. I'm in the totally infatuated, can't get enough of you phase. It's drop dead sexy, and I'm not sharing. I've got a pretty silver one. Maybe I should've got that pinkish one, to ensure my boys would keep their mitts off.

• 

done dinner

Dinner was great fun. I enjoyed all the cooking, all day, even though it was one of Wellington's sunniest days in March. I joined my sewing table to the dining table so it would seat 10 easily. I set the table extravagantly with my blue and white china collection, and lit lots of candles, the house looked good. The wine and conversation flowed, the food received lots of compliments. Dessert turned out to be a pavlova that someone brought with them, with icecream someone else brought. While we would have all loved a glass of port, I forgot to ask anyone to bring that, so we drank liquers over ice, and talked more and more into the night. I had a great time. There were enough leftovers for Sunday dinner, only just.

Funny though, a whole lot of people who hadn't been to my house before, and the men (single, unattached, I wouldn't say no.....) said the same things .... "oh, my (ex/aunt/mother/sister) does patchwork" "I see your wetsuit, do you.....???"

I'm cool with the wetsuit conversation, it hangs behind the bathroom door after all. But this patchwork thing? I am not your ex/aunt/mother.

Oh no, that's not what I want you to be thinking about me at all, at all.

Oh, and I'm a bad blogger. No photos. Not even one.

The menu

Dinner for 10, chez Pixie, Saturday night.

• beggars bundles (ham and herby things parcelled up in filo)
• platters, with prawns (I'm still missing Melbourne), sun-dried tomatoes, char grilled things, olives, and crostini

• slow slow slow roasted lamb. It will be marinating from tonite, in wine, brandy and herbs. This party is all about the lamb.
• mushroom risotto (cos I don't want to be making mashed potato on the night, and there won't be room in the oven for roast spuds.....)
  
• green salad

• dessert? yikes....do I have to make them dessert too? I need to think about that one some more....got any ideas?
  

2 sides

There are, of course, 2 sides to every story.
At the moment I am surrounded by 2 scenarios. There is the buying of rental properties for investment, the 10 week holidays in Europe with the family, the new job, new house, new baby, new car......
And then there is the unemployed, the business going into liquidation, the chronic illness, the suddenly single......

I am reminded to be happy about little things. To celebrate the here and now. I went and invited 12 people for dinner on Saturday night. I even told them where I live. Guess I'll start cooking tomorrow.

Islay girl posted this quote. She says Miles said it, in Risky Business.
I had to Google 'Risky Business' cos I had no idea what she was talking about.
I'm in a 'what the f...' kindof headspace. Readers of a more sensitive nature may say 'what the heck'.

"you wanna know something? Every now and then say, "What the fuck." "What the fuck" gives you freedom. Freedom brings opportunity. Opportunity makes your future"

Hotel encounter

I got back to my room about 11pm. Tired, but happy, after a really great dinner with much loved colleagues who really should be called friends. It's great fun to have fine food, wine, and conversation that ranges from the academic, the operational work issues, to what the kids are doing and how the rennovations are progressing. They're passionate about what they do, some people in my line of work. But I digress.

I had one of those rooms with a connecting door. It was locked. Next door, a man is playing the guitar and singing. Occasionally he plays a harmonica. I had to listen hard to figure out if there was just one person or a whole band in there. He's good. He's really good. At midnight I bang on the door, and he stops playing immediately.

The next night, I came home about 10pm. I'm really tired now. I've been working hard, and days of enjoying Melbourne's fine food and wine is catching up with me. My neighbour is home already, and playing his guitar again. Sounds like he is learning a new song. Maybe he's writing it. Maybe he's a famous musician.

I don't want to be a grumpy old bag, cos really, it's very pleasant. I push a note under the connecting door. "Dear neighbour, you make beautiful music, but I have to work tomorrow. Please stop at midnight".

A note comes under the door from his side. "I'm sorry, sometimes I forget I'm in a hotel. I'll stop now".

I replied. "Nah, don't stop, I've got a good book, midnight is fine".

He pushed a reply back. A clean white page with a big smiley face. He played me a song or two more. The one he was working on, and a new one.

I hope he had a nice neighbour the next night.

Body movies

http://www.lozano-hemmer.com/video/bodymovies.html
(that's the long version)

http://www.nzfestival.nzpost.co.nz/visual-arts/body-movies
(that's the short version, go there first)

Went out to play with the boys tonite. Body movies is projected onto a wall outside at Te Papa. It was a warm still night, lots of people about, and lots of laughter. Playing with strangers! Eddie made an emu shadow and pecked at peoples hair. We chased each others shadows about, and very big feet stomped on very tiny people. Well, I guess you had to be there, but we had lots of fun.

Ahh, Wellington aint so bad I guess!

Oh the places I go (2008 No. 1)

Oh, Melbourne, you're such good fun!

• I spent lots of time on Southbank. Hadn't been there before really. Lots of useful, inspiring work and mad Aussie colleagues. Plenty of Kiwi Sauv Blanc (they seem to be over the Aussie chardonnay now.....)
• drinks in the Atrium bar at the casino, which was all decked out for chinese new year. I felt like a big city girl!
  
• Introduced a new Brissie bloke to my favourite kiwi Pinot.
  
• Yes a couple of hot dates (insert very big smile) with the Australian. Nice. But.....
• Drinks with Kirsty lime leaf, just squeezed in. It was a breeze, like meeting a friend I hadn't seen for a few months
  
• 2kg of blue swimmer crabs, 1kg of prawns cooked by AOF's not boyfriend. It was slow food, messy eating, a meal I'll always remember
• drank Rose. I've forgotten the label already, but it was delicious, and just right with the seafood and the hot summer night
• caught a tram to St Kilda on a cold windy night. Swordfish for dinner, intense work related, and not work related conversation. v. good night.
• drinks at Seamstress.
  
• dinner here there and everywhere.... (argh, links to come.....)
  
• I went to Ikea. I did. On the tram without getting lost, and I bought a doona cover. Only it lives in NZ now, so it's going to be called a duvet cover. I'm sure it will cope.
• fell in love with a gizmo. got music. I'll show you when blogger decides to co-operate.
  

This post bought to you with underlining by blogger. I dunno why. and it won't go away. and no pictures either, cos blogger is stubborn.

I've got post-trip blues. I've got 'em bad.

I am going....

I'm going to Melbourne for 10 days. To work, to spend some time with the Australian, to hang out with AOF. She's written a beautiful 'I am from...' post. I'm going to lead her astray from her no-alcohol month with a good NZ sav blanc. I reckon she'll forgive me. She thinks it's very funny that I want to go to Ikea. Ha!
Oh yeah, I'm going to work mostly, did I mention that?
I love my job :-)

and when I come back, there's going to be sewing.....really there is.

I am from...

I am from coal, from beech trees, mountains, and the rain that thunders on a tin roof.
I am from the roaring Tasman, the untamed coast, damp, verdant.
I am from the blooming rata, dripping ferns, gorse, the vegetable garden, the plot of carnations and irises.
From the widows, Bertha and Nellie, and from Ella.
I am from toil and sacrifice, from hardship fled, from adventure.
I am from those who have no time for religion, from the weekend half G’s of beer and a wee sip of sherry, from weekly trips to the library, from the silent reading books by the fierce heat of the open fire.
I am from Yorkshire and Glasgow, from fresh dug spuds and beans and strawberries eaten straight from the vines before we got caught, from cake tins groaning with baking, from home made jam and preserved fruit lined up in jars on shelves. I am from knitting, knitting, knitting, and beautifully embroidered everyday linen.
I am from the coal mines and gold dredges, from letters and treasures from ‘home’, from far away relatives never seen.
I am from wild beaches, silent lakes, babbling rivers. I am from long backyard cricket games in the magic dusk, from bicycle rides all over the place, from regular excursions over the hill to the big city. I am from long car-sick journeys that end in picnics and cold water swims in lakes and lagoons under endless blue skies.

I am, I am.

I am grateful to the brave Grandfathers that foresaw a better life and crossed the globe to untimely early deaths.

I think they'd be proud.

another go see....

Saturday:

• swam 2k as usual
• poached eggs and long black for breakfast. perfect.
• cricket. We lost. Again. It was exciting, the last 6 runs. One of my most favourite things to do, watch my boy play cricket.
• contemplated the school camp list. blah blah blah.
• helped friend prepare her house for open home tomorrow. cleaned. I laid vinyl flooring tiles in the kitchen. It was a good use of my patchwork skills. Looks good!
• boy free night subverted with her son round here to watch tv. There's only so much house tidying and cleaning a boy can stand after all. And a mother can move a lot faster without a boy around.
• have strong soppy feeling that this is what love is. Putting things down, plans aside, working hard with friend to help her, and knowing it's appreciated.
• what goes around comes around.

Go see Kirsty . She's been writing an I Am. Go visit, follow the links. There's a template/guidline in there. I'm thinking about mine.

Stirring stuff.

Wanna play?

Go see .....

go read this, the funniest Valentines Day post I've read.
http://missceliespants.blogspot.com/

I'm busy trying to (or not to) play the game myself. I'm also reassessing why so many people I know and love simply opt out of the game.

sigh

They said sorry

The Australian Prime Minister apologised today...

"We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry."

Good job. That's powerful, history-making stuff.
About bloody time huh.

The lounge pic

Here it is, Sunny in the lounge. Yes the floor needs cleaning, don't be rude. The blue vase came out of a skip. It's been broken at the narrowest part and glued back together, but the colour is so good, you have to forgive it for that. That chair is going to be beautiful one day, when it has new fabric, maybe a cheery cherry red. Oh and the floors will be polished, and there'll be a fire roaring in the fireplace. Sunny is going to keep me warm in the winter!

Music

I need some music.
I didn't get the cd collection in the property settlement. But that's okay. I got a few cd's which he obviously doesn't like or are clearly mine. If I bought an ipod or something he'd copy anything I wanted for me. But after living for such a long time with someone who loves 'new' music, who reads about it and talks about it, well, my own music loves got kinda subdued. I came to love silence.

funny that.

Now, what I really love is jazz and blues and wild stirring orchestral stuff. But I don't know how to find it any more. The boys and I play beatles and crowded house and U2 and that's all good, but I need something that's mine. and I'm bloody sick of Norah Jones (sorry Norah no offence, make us some new music).

I love Gershwin, and Ray Charles and Tom Waits. but I like cold play too. Could you ever get sick of Louis Armstrong singing "what a wonderful world". and Frank Sinatra, loud and clear, singing "I get a kick out of you" which has always struck me as the sweetest compliment. Oh and Van Morrison. I need some Van Morrison for sure. and Sting. even though I didn't see him in concert when he came to town.

Anyway, the point of this post is to ask you what you're listening to. What do you recommend? I need some music, and I need it now!

this post brought to you without capital letters in most places they oughta be. Ahhh, don't be fussy!

Weta

See, a fine specimen. The question is, if I'm busy destroying the flax bushes they live in, where are they going to go? There are a couple of bushes left, and so far they've all been rehoused.

I'm losing weight, simply by unconciously undertaking all this extra activity. Gardening and throwing things away, and stripping walls and floors and shifting furniture and stuff. I can't eat enough. Youngest keeps telling me "you need to eat". Guess I get grumpy when the blood sugar runs low. My neighbour keeps making me cups of tea and tells me I don't have to do everything at once. I guess she's right. But I simply cannot stand it the way it is.

Someone came here for the first time a couple of days ago, and said some things, not in a negative way, but enough to make me realise this house wasn't saying much about me, or saying the things I'd like it to anyway. So I hung up Sunny today, and I think it looks great. Then I shifted my sewing out of the lounge and into my bedroom. Out of public and into a private space. Then I spent the day wondering why I felt that was so important.

I've always been a bit of a closet quilter. I've worked in male dominated fields, and I wouldn't have been seen dead with a needle or a quilt book in a work situation, especially in the 90s when my skirts were shorter and my hair was longer and blonder. I've rarely shown other people my quilts unless they were quilters too. While my CV quietly notes I am an award winning quilt maker, I've never celebrated those awards beyond my quilting community. Why don't I have more confidence in sharing my work?

Come see my lounge now, and you will notice there is art on the walls.

I made it, and it's beautiful.

I'd show you a lounge picture, but the camera battery is low. It's full of pictures for a stop motion animation production. The lego guys are reading the news now. Then Beckham, Elton John and a famous chef stop by to be interviewed. There's art all over the place in this house!

Me and Flibbertygibbet

Flibbertygibbet is so disappointed not to see my friends the wetas, I think you should go visit her, and commiserate.

Flibberty and I got single about the same time. It was tough times, but baby, just look at the pair of us now. 12 months on. We both have our own homes, she is spoilt for choice with jobs, she writes, she's still sewing, and wonder of wonders, she knits too.
Well done Flib, from someone who knows.

nothing happened

Today was significant in that something I kinda hoped would happen, did not.
probably significantly did not.
damn.

I did however change the answerphone message. This is no longer the number for ex, and me and offspring. It now says, "Hi, this is Pixie, we're not here.......blah blah blah".
Would be burglars should note however, that I am likely to be here and not answering, becos I'm doing something more interesting.

Or plotting how I might be.

Or just being.

Youngest reckons the camera cable is at his father's house. So still no wetas.
Shame.

Playing with Wetas

I've been playing with wetas today. You may also call it gardening. It's gardening of the "what can I chop down next" variety. Quite satisfying, but tends to result in large amounts of debris which must be got rid of. Bugger. More work.

I quite like wetas, they're quite beautiful in their weta way. Amazing what having two sons does to a woman. I'd show you a weta, but I've lost the camera cable. Not happy. Actually, youngest son has lost the camera cable. But he isn't here to be interrogated. Guess I'll go to bed then. Oughta sleep well, all that weta wrangling, and swimming too.

Happy Waitangi Day.

list

• 10032 visits. Number 10000 was probably Ben or the Sagittarian which is nice, cos they're both friends from pre-blogging days
• I've written 204 posts
• a hedgehog came to visit, we watched him through the window
• tomorrow is a holiday, and I don't have to be anywhere until 10am. This is unusual
• thank goodness for the treaty of waitangi. It is the reason I can be a New Zealander
• there are 66 pictures of a lego concert on my digital camera. apparently I MUST not delete them
• It's February, and I've sewn not even one stitch in 2008. Also unusual
• There must be only about 1000 carpet tacks left to pull out
• I'm spending too much time here, but so are 69,000 other people, right now. Madness.
• there are 15 sleeps until I go to Melbourne for 10 days

I gave up dairy

I gave up eating dairy products.
Only I forgot.

I bought beautiful marinated cows milk feta, for making lunches to take to work. I always take my lunch. It's part frugality and part diet control. So I buy beautiful things, like expensive marinated feta, to put in salads, which taste like a treat, and still cost much less than buying lunch.

And I bought ice-cream (for the kids you understand). It was cheaper to buy a 2 litre tub than it was to buy them icecreams. So I served up 3 bowls, and about half way through, I remembered. I don't eat dairy any more.

Can I tell the difference? Ask my colleagues. I'm coughing again. Dairy really doesn't go with one of the drugs I take. Medicinal, prescribed drugs that is, of course, every bloomin' day!

So, guess I'll start again. I've given up dairy products. I don't eat them any more, from now on. Well, maybe when the feta is all gone. It's raining and gloomy today, so giving up the icecream doesn't seem so bad.

9977

There have been 9977 visits to the Pixie Post.
No, not all of them are from me.
Blogging is ..... is.....well, it's more bloody use than Tim's list by the looks of things.

wow. 2 picture-less posts. wonder where the camera and the cable are?

wardrobe essentials

Happy New Year! Yes, I'm a bit late, the New Year is 1/12th over already. That sure went fast. The Pixie Post was closed during January. Thanks for coming back.

I'm thinking about clothes. I got rid of heaps while I was moving, so my wardrobe is pretty much pared down to things I actually wear. That's a bit scary. I'm gonna have to stop procrastinating and do something about it soon, cos I'm rapidly running out of decent things to wear. I'm planning to sew. I used to sew clothes, and then I started making quilts. So my plan this year is to get my clothes sewing mojo back.

Today I've searched out Tim Gunn's 10 essential items every woman needs. Do you have them? (Well you know, assuming you're a woman of course...)

• Basic black dress (yep, but it's probably a bit fancy/low cut to be 'basic'. I've only worn it a couple of times, but I love it)
• Trench coat (nope)
• Classic dress pants (well, yes, but they're a bit shabby)
• Classic white shirt (I don't usually wear shirts, do I have to try to find one?)
• Skirt (now skirt I can do, quadruple skirts, easy. I like skirts)
• Blazer (Oh Tim, style icon, you don't really use that word do you? I got jackets, but not a perfect jacket. Just that's-not-too-expensive-and-it-kinda-almost-fits-me jackets)
• Day dress (yep, and it's lovely, really it is!)
• Cashmere sweater (no. could we maybe settle for mohair? Oh that's right, I had one, it was beautiful, but it got washed and you wouldn't believe how that stuff can felt and shrink. sigh)
• Jeans (well, yes, but they're a bit shabby too)
• A comfortable alternative to a sweatsuit (what? there's an alternative to track pants and hoodies? Oh. I'll have to find out what that is)

What do you think? Just one shirt with the pants and the skirt makes a wardrobe? I dunno if that would get me through the working week. It's not a bad list to start with though, is it?

How did you do?