Too high

I lie on my back on the sofa. The very big, chocolate brown leather sofa which I am falling in love with (girl's gotta love). I see spider webs on the ceiling. The very, very high ceiling, which there's no way in hell I am going to reach with a duster or vacuum cleaner. Am I going to have to learn to love spider's webs too?

And isn't it time I figured out where to put my sewing machine?

And hey Martha I like sentences that begin with 'and'!

Who's counting?

Over 5000 visitors. 110 posts.
Hours spent wasting time reading blogs........hmmm, well, who's counting anyway?

Keeping on

On Sunday the bay was full of boats for the annual blessing of the local fishing fleet.

A hard, speedy swim at Karori Pool today. 5 x 200m free, 20 x 50m free. A little butterfly along the way, because I am aiming to do 100m fly at the next swim meet. Scrambled eggs and smoked salmon at the Boutique Cafe.....very, very good, and well earned if you ask me! Went op shopping for jeans with Jack. Success....2 great pairs for $10, and a very happy boy. And for his mother, a beautiful creamy woolen blanket trimmed in blue (of course), and a bundle of cotton thread, including some glorious colours, and some old wooden reels. Excellent.

Oops, I forgot, I had planned to go to work this afternoon. Shame. On Friday night my very lovely boss stood beside my chair, put his hand on my shoulder and said "now, just becos you may be home alone doesn't mean you stay here all night". Hehehe.

Study materials for the semester arrived in the mail, and I'm wondering quite why I did this to myself this time....4 x assignments due in rapid succession. Oh well, keeps me out of trouble I guess. Or at least sitting at the computer and gazing at the view.

Sunrise is always pretty here. I'm such a morning person, and it's nice to know there are lots of others; running, walking, fishing, rowing as the sun comes up. I'm gonna have to swim out to that island soon.

Thanks

Friendship is a sheltering tree

for which I am deeply grateful

The picture came from www.volvoadventures.com. There's nothing like a pohutakawa. Nothing.

Busy

I've been on a couple of planes (I love flying), hung out at a foundry, and been for a ride on a tourist train. I love the train trip, but it's the people that make it fun. It's so nice to be out of my bureaucratic world and into this world where people make things, do tangible things, rather than deal in paper and ideas.

I had dinner (and drank far too much) with some funny Aussie colleagues.

Came home in time to farewell a fine woman who died too soon, of cancer. RIP Scottie, I'll make sure C and I are at our graduation ceremony at the end of the year, and we'll think of you insisting we get on with the study, every Thursday. We'll aim for the distinctions you encouraged.

I pad around this house that is mine, yet is not mine, trying to figure out how to live this new life.

I'm sitting here a lot

And contemplating this.

I gave up trying to figure out the can opener. I bought a new one.

Long story short

I moved.
I now live in a house by the sea.
Most of the time I live by myself.
A few nights each week I have the company of my lovely sons.
They're doing pretty well so far, thanks for your concern.
I'm okay, thanks for asking.
Yes, it's been hard, but most of the major milestones are behind us.

Oh, and broadband gets installed on Wednesday.
Guess I'll update my profile then, and show you the view!

Onwards!

A little retro

"Can I get a tie dyed tee-shirt?" asked oldest son. Tie dying isn't something I'd tried before, but you wouldn't let a little thing like that stop you, would you? He even wore one to school today.

I thought about this post from Pea Soup, from drought-ridden Melbourne while I was rinsing, rinsing, rinsing then washing these out. All that water down the drain without much thought. Not a problem here in Wellington where it hasn't rained...oh...for days now...but is supposed to at the weekend.

Funny old world.

Quilt of the Day

Here's a very fine quilt to keep you occupied.

'Open the Doors' a collaborative work, by me and my clever friend, recently hung at the 2007 Symposium. Current whereabouts unknown. I trust it's being looked after, in preparation for touring New Zealand. Perhaps it's been sold. (I kind of hope not, I'd quite like to live with it for a while).

'Open the Doors' was entered in the Human Rights/Domestic Violence challenge at the Symposium exhibition. Open doors let the secrets out and the help in.

Funny how some quilts hang straight and flat effortlessly, and others, despite hours of effort simply refuse. This one never had a ripple.

A little glitz

This is my little piece from Sue Dennis's class. The shiny blue 'river' is metallic thread stitched on washaway fabric. The 'trees' are metallic treads stitched over Angelina fibres. It's nice to have a little glitz.

Not just another Saturday

Edward is 10 today.

This is JoJo, the latest addition to his collection of monkeys. Happy birthday Teddy.

Sunny came home today. Kitty seems pleased.

Quilt Symposium Manawatu

I went to the thriving metropolis of Palmerston North and lost myself among people and things textile. It was very, very good. The exhibition was superb, ranging, as it has to, from traditional to high art. It seemed to me the judges had used a fairly conservative eye in jurying quilts into the show, but then, it's a difficult job, and I don't envy them. My quilts looked pretty good hanging in some fine company. This quilt won best of show. The sky seems to be painted, and is beautifully quilted, the hills and sea are pieced. There was lots of discussion about this award, but generally people agree it is a beautiful quilt. What do you think?

Across the Bay II by Chris Kenna, Wellington

It was a very busy 5 days. I did a class with Sue Dennis. It was a great 2 days. There's something special about Queenslanders, they always make me laugh. I'll show you what I made when it's photographed. I like it a lot! I also did a class with Susan Carlson. Not so good results (yet) so I'm not showing you. I'll do some more work on it in future though, because it's going to be great. Susan was a lovely tutor, the work the class produced was really wonderful. There were lizards and fish and flowers and a house. She teaches fabric collage, and I'm making a rose. You must check out her pink rhino and her Polkadodo on her website here. I volunteered one day, and ended up helping out in Bonnie McCaffery's portrait painting class. She's a very classy lady, very professional, and I was impressed with her use of a video camera and data projector so everyone could see what she was doing. Bonnie's website has video and audio podcasts, well worth a look.

The next Symposium is in Wellington in 2009. That's something to look forward to.

Gallivanting

This post is brought to you by Blogger gremlins, which are determined that you do not see photographic evidence. Shame really, because I'm sure you'd be impressed.

I've been to Auckland, via Taupo of course, and to the Coromandel, mostly in Whangamata, but with excursions to places like Hahei, and Cathedral Cove. The Coromandel waves were spectacular, the sand was golden, the sun was hot. A couple of days of rain were even reasonably welcome as the fair skinned, befreckled half of the family were happy to get some relief from the sunscreen/hat/shirt ritual that accompanies beach life in this part of the world. I now have some stupid tan lines from my (very nice!) boy-leg swimsuit that are going to look ridiculous when I put on my training swimsuit at the pool tonite. Oh well, the boys and girls lining up at the pool will need a giggle.

It rained really hard for a couple of days in Whangamata, and because I'd read far too many books (all night, all morning, most of the afternoon on the beach....) I decided I needed something else to do. I bought a book (!) Instant Expert Crochet edited by Katy Bevan. Hooray for holiday bookshop sales. I got some wool and a hook. It worked, so I got some more wool. A couple of days later I had about 150 chains and 16 rows of double crochet. We'll see how long it takes me to make a blanket. Madness. But I like it!

I am of course heavily influenced by Bella Dia and Yarnstorm. I've been thinking a lot about why I am so drawn to these blankets, and I've decided it's the colour. It's the riot of unplanned, abandoned colour. I like the kindof kitchy grandma-ness of crochet too. So, if I'm going to own one, I'm gonna have to make it!

At the end of this week I am off to the Quilt Symposium 2007. I've got a ticket for the opening award ceremony, two quilts hanging in the exhibition, two classes, and I've volunteered to spend one day as an "angel". Dogsbody more like, hopefully they'll have an interesting task for me. There will be quilts to see, lots to learn, new friends to make, bloggers to meet, and the company of old friends to enjoy.

After that, it really will be hang onto your hats, new year, new me. I'll keep you posted.

Happy New Year

Live, Laugh, Love

That's my new years resolution.

I've got big plans for this year, but that's pretty much what they amount to.

First up, I'm going to learn how to really use my digital camera. It's a Samsung Digimax V50. It isn't flash, but I reckon I can learn how to get the most out of it, and lookee here, using the manual aperture control. I like a little blur in my pictures.

So, I wish you some living, laughing and loving for yourself.

Happy new year.

Stitch

Now, so you don't think I'm nothing but a grumpy old bag, let me show you this beautiful book. I've studied the pictures and read it cover to cover since I unwrapped it on Christmas day. Stitch by Ann Packer showcases the work of many of New Zealand's textile artists. See how many beautiful pages it has? Look at that beautiful satiny padded cover!

It's beautifully photographed, and gives us a glimpse of the work and life of each artist. Lovely!

Note to Self

I should preface this post by telling you I'm sick. I've got a rotten cough/cold that is exhausting. Oh, and G-mail isn't working, hasn't for days, so the people I'd like to be emailing haven't heard from me, and that's not good.

Right, got the picture?

Now, dear self, here are some things to remember:

• when I am old and grey I will travel light. Just one bag will do for 4-5 nights, definitely not more bags than I can carry and definitely none that are too difficult for me to lift or trundle about;
• I'll fly into town if I'm invited, so I don't fret about where to park my crappy car;
• when I go to stay with my fine sons, who-ever they may be living with, I will be very clear about when I would like to arrive and leave...no guessing games or polite enquiries which may give offence will be required;
• when I buy Christmas presents I will give one silly, fun present to make us all smile, and one voucher or something so the recipient can buy something he or she likes. I won't spend more than I can afford, and if money is tight, there will always be chocolate and alcohol. I won't fill up other people's houses with meaningless rubbish made by poorly paid 3rd-world serfs. No, no, no. Maybe I'll suggest we each buy something for one person, or $5 presents only;
• when I come to visit I will abandon the habits of my daily life at home. I won't feel the need to continue with my multicourse breakfast which I have at an extremely leisurly pace, I will fit in with those around me. I will not give another thought to watching my favourite TV programme which is on almost every single day of the year. I'll suggest we all play that new board game together, so we have a laugh, and something fun to remember.

Thank you for listening. You can remind me of this when I'm older and greyer.

I'll go 'bah-humbug' someplace else now.

The Christmas menu

We had salmon for lunch, an entirely selfish choice on my behalf, because I needed some seafood treat to make the day special. The sauce was beautiful, egg yolks and butter with lashings of fresh lemon thyme. I only made it three times to get a batch that wasn't curdled (or split). It was worth the effort.

There was turkey for dinner, and it was moist and plentiful. I made a classic bread and herb stuffing, with fresh herbs and sourdough breadcrumbs to make it special. I enjoyed the way the fridge smelt of stuffing on boxing day. The Peregrine Pinot Noir (2003) from Central Otago was perfect with the turkey and steamed vegetables. All looking pretty on my best blue and white china of course.

It's all about the food.

Did you have a merry Christmas?

Pavlova. One of the things that says "Christmas" to me.

Pohutakawa trees in flower is another. Check out the ones at Ali's house on 22 December. Lovely.

Now, roll on the Happy New Year!

Vampires and other things

I christened the wetsuit in the harbour. The wetsuit was fantastic, I didn't feel a thing! The water was a bit choppy, and the swim out was heavy going, but I loved the swim back. The Sunday walk really did turn into a Sunday swim, and I loved it. I knew I would.

George Henare as Dracula - photograph by Downstage Theatre

"I don't drink......wine"

I took two 12 year old boys to see Dracula at Downstage Theatre. It was wonderful. We loved it. Henare is a real star. It's a long time since I've been to Downstage, but I won't leave it so long in future. We had curry before-hand at Masala (in Blair St, or is it Allen?). The boys, challenged not to drink Coke, tried lemon, lime and bitters and pronounced it very refreshing.

Very civilised. It's going to be fun having teenagers around.

Some laughs

Eddie is playing his guitar, as usual. I don't recognise the tune. "Did you make that up?" I ask admiringly. "No, I WROTE it. I COMPOSED it."

Silly mother.

Check out this post, from Stompergirl. "If Victoria Beckham chooses to turn herself into a toothpick in designer threads, I suppose that is her prerogative. But how dare she pretend to also have a rounded luscious arse?" He he he.
Go visit, and click on the links to some great clips from Dove. It's a fine bit of marketing...they got me.

Sunday Walk Photograph

I took myself to Oriental Bay for my Sunday morning walk. It's going to have to turn into a Sunday morning swim soon.

Cerulean for a year of colour.