New Year Wishes for everyone

"When you're lonely, I wish you Love!

When you're down, I wish you Joy!

When you're troubled, I wish you Peace!

When things seem empty, I wish you Hope!

Have a Happy New Year     2011

Just when you thought it could get no worse .....

Is this not a cute picture I have no idea why I have it in my file or where it came from... but I send it to all you lovely people who have sent me good wishes during the last week

So an update ... I am feeling a million times better ... coughing non stop and have swallowed half the Antibugs so far, another week to go... they better be good as they make me feel like  **&^$%  !! but I am determined to finish them ...  have to bang this on the head hard ...so to speak.

So what has gone wrong ...

My visitors decided while shopping yesterday that they would treat us to ice cream, so we duly bought a tub of  Frozen Yogurt ( healthier they say) which was put straight into the chest freezer on returning home. When we went to retrieve it sometime later it was so so soft .. on inspection of freezer it was found to be kaput. Checked everything like power, plug etc.  nothing was amiss so the freezer has died, a quick call to the Son's phone and then a dash to his house with meat etc from freezer that luckily was still frozen.

So looks like my trip to the sales will be for a new freezer in New Year.

On a good note Son and family went shopping yesterday also and bought me some Solar Lights for the veranda, I remember talking about them to Claire but the lovely thing was she remembered and when she saw them at the sales ... purchased some for me ... thank you so much.

Thank you for your get well wishes

Here comes Santa Claus ...... may be he would like to finish a few of my quilts when he has finished this one...

So Okay ... it is definite I will not be going anywhere tomorrow to celebrate Christmas, the antibugs have not started to kick in yet may be after this evenings dose I will begin to feel better.

So it is here I will stay, may be I will have a stitching day ... more than likely alone as everyone else will be at the family lunch in Papamoa, I am quite happy about that as it is not fair to offer my bugs to the whole family.
My sister has called and she has developed a sore throat ... so she is resting at the beach today ... but my guess is they will come home here sometime tomorrow.

Now that is going to be interesting as I have done absolutely no food shopping ... but the freezer has a good stock... so we will not go hungry.
There is no Christmas tree up or any decorations ...  so could not be less Christmasy  at this house if it tried. I also have done no present shopping so even Santa will not call here tonight.

May be I will develop a bit of Christmas spirit tomorrow and may even decorate with the tree at least...
Mind you I remember from years back when the tree did not go up until Christmas eve, and you did not Christmas shop in October and November ... so perhaps this is my chance to revert back to those days.

I have spent today tucked on the sofa watching Jamie Oliver's Family Christmas cooking programmes ... and realise how much we do go over board and how much of it is really not necessary, but mind you some of it sounded good. Will try and remember some of them for next year.

Hope Santa is good to you, I know he will be to us when we catch up with him

Sick ... for the very first time at Christmas

I have been feeling a bit poorly with a hacking cough this week and I finally had to give in and visit the Doctors today ... yeap!! it's a fact I am going to be sick over Christmas I have Bronchitis and sinusitis and have to watch that it does not turn to pneumonia,  So I am swallowing the Anti-bugs and swigging the cough syrup from the bottle..  This will be the first time I have ever been sick at Christmas.... and I have visitors.
They are in the camper van at the beach where I had to leave them ... but they are doing okay with out me as I had to finally give in and come home today .. so I am here suffering by myself but that is okay as I don't like a lot of fuss when I am sick.  We are due at my Neice's for lunch on Christmas Day not sure if I am going to make it ... lets hope the antibugs work wonders then may be I might.

Hi from a Wet and Windy Rotorua

YES!! you did read that right ... we are still in Rotorua and we are so pleased we decided to stay at home.

The rain is still falling that is now 4 days of continuous showers and today torrential rain..

But guess what we did today... no you won't be able to so I will tell you.

We drove to Whakatane and Ohope Beach at 2pm this afternoon we were going a little stir crazy in the house and needed some fresh air... I suggested it just to go out may be just a drive there and back.  We stopped for a late lunch at Julian's Berry Farm wee hee !! to die for... then a fresh strawberry frozen yogurt ... then on to the beach, the wind was blowing and the rain was really coming down

" How about a walk on the sand " said I.  Paul thought I was off my rocker, then Penny agreed to come with me. So Paul stayed in the car and we headed off along the sand collecting shells ...  in fact the wind dropped once we were on the sand and it was a really great stroll we took, we got wet ...so .. our skin is  water proof, and I stood to close to the incoming tide and got wet, up past my knees.

But it was just like being  kids again together.

The flooding on the way back was beginning to show and the drains were over flowing... hopefully it will ease tonight .. although the weatherman says not before Wednesday or Thursday ... Oh help!!.

My visitors have arrived

My sister Penny and her husband Paul have arrived from UK bringing with them the rain, it has not stopped for 3 days, hopefully we will head off tomorrow going south to visit Wellington and every thing between here and there of interest.  Paul would like to see the Palmerston North Rugby Museum .. me I did not even know they had one !!
We have done  all the boiling mud and volcanic stuff here in Rotorua while it has been raining .... so lets all pray for the rain to ease  so they can see farther than a few yards across the lakes.

So I am going to be absent for a bit from blogging.

Every one have a fantastic Christmas ... catch up with you all later.

No time ???

Amazing how time appears, there I was just a couple of hours ago bleating on about busy busy ....
 NO TIME and here I am on the 3rd posting ...gee arn't you all lucky.

This was sent to me and far to good not to share...I never really liked the terminology "Old Farts" but this makes me feel better about it.  

And if you ain’t one of these , I bet ya you know one!
I got this from an "Old Fart" friend of mine!

OLD FART PRIDE
I'm passing this on as I did not want to be the only old fart receiving it.
Actually, it';s not a bad thing to be called, as you will see.
Old Farts are easy to spot at sporting events; during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner (or O Canada).

Old Farts remove their caps and stand at attention and sing without embarrassment.
They know the words and believe in them.
Old Farts remember World War II, Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Normandy and Hitler.
They remember the Atomic Age, the Korean War, The Cold War, the Jet Age and the Moon Landing.

They remember the 50 plus Peacekeeping Missions from 1945 to 2005, not to mention Vietnam.
If you bump into an Old Fart on the sidewalk he will apologize.

If you pass an Old Fart on the street, he will nod or tip his cap to a lady.
Old Farts trust strangers and are courtly to women.

Old Farts hold the door for the next person and always,
when walking, make certain the lady is on the inside for protection.

Old Farts get embarrassed if someone curses in front of women and children
and they don't like any filth or dirty language on TV or in movies.

Old Farts have moral courage and personal integrity.

They seldom brag unless it's about their children or grandchildren.

It's the Old Farts who know our great country is protected, not by politician's, but by the young men and women in the military serving their country.

This country needs Old Farts with their work ethic, sense of responsibility, pride in their country and decent values.
We need them now more than ever.
Thank God for Old Farts!

I was taught to respect my elders.
It's just getting harder to find them.

My 6 item swap has arrived

My parcel from Kate arrived today ...very tempted to open them but am going to be good and keep them till Christmas..
Thank you so much Kate I am going to enjoy opening them.

Hectic life

Hi, Everyone thank you for the emails, asking where are you ?
I am at home but have visitors and busy busy, had the wedding of my neice which was lovely last weekend, now my Sister Penny and her Husband Paul arrive on Thursday and we are going travelling, so I will be missing for a bit ... But every one have a really lovely Christmas and I will promise to catch up  soon

Computer Clean up ..wow it is amazing

My computer was running so so slow and I thought may be I need to tidy it up a bit .... so have spent an hour putting all my photo's on to memory sticks and there were hundreds, defragmenting, deleting cookies and temp folders also various programmes that are no longer used.

 I had folders in My Documents that had such rubbish in them ...they must have been important at the time of course.... Gee the difference is amazing !! it is quicker and I bet it feels lighter in it's brain box as well.... Of course I vow never to let it get to that point again ...but there was no one here to hear me make the vow so it does not stand much chance of me remembering.

Sorting out who matters !

I came across this verse a few days ago, at a time that  it was very poignant

There comes a point in your life when you realize:

Who matters,

Who never did,
Who won't anymore...
And who always will.
So, don't worry about people from your past,
there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

My first Christmas Lunch

Today Tuesday 30th November was my first Christmas lunch ... if they all go on the same lines I will have to hit Weight Watchers in the new year   ....   I know I have another 4  lunches and dinners booked and I am sure there will be more ... Oh help!!!

Up Date on Fund Raiser Embroidery Show

We were amazed at our success we managed to raise $2500 over the days of the show ...

That will help our cause....we are spending a lot on rent on a weekly basis and our attendance is not covering it at present by a long chalk ... so it gives us a reprieve from having to find another and cheaper venue to meet for our Guild meetings... We know there is going to be a rent review at end of month so we are keeping our fingers crossed that we can afford to stay at the community centre we use at present ...

Our sales table was a great hit and I am sure we could have done more if we had had the stuff to sell.

But every thing was donated  by our members so it is all thanks to them.

Christmas Spirit and all that ....

On Deb's blog she is asking for some Christmas Spirit .... I know just how she feels ...life is going along so good and the out of the blue comes something to rock your world.... Why is it that that happens do people not like to see others happy and content ? ... after the disasters that have occurred in the last few months.
Also the personal stuff that is going on .... but we will survive and get over it. ...enough of that..


On the good news.....
My sister Penny and husband Paul arrive here from UK in 2 weeks I am so looking forward to showing them
 " Gods own Country "

Don't forget the Christmas Spirit .. bring lots we need it here .....

"Deck the Halls with boughs of holly Fla la la ... la la la la  this the season to be jolly Fla la la ... la la la la."

Embroidery Exhibition set up....

Tuesday evening and all day today we have been setting up for our 

Embroidery Guild Christmas Exhibition

so from this .....

This ....

 and this ......

We finally came up with this ....

This ...

and these ...

So here is hoping we get lots of visitors over the next 3 days ... to make it all worth while.

We have a great sales table all stocked with hand made goodies for the Christmas tree  and small gifts.

This is just a partial view of it.



Mine disaster in NZ

I am sure that there is almost no one who has not heard about the mine disaster in New Zealand.

Unfortunately at around 2pm there was another gas explosion ..... and it is believed that none of the miners would have been able to survive .. if they had been still alive after the first initial one..

So today we mourn the loss of the 29 miners who were trapped  in the Pike River Mine on the Westcoast of New Zealand.
The town of Greymouth  will be feeling such disbelief  and will be devastated.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families and friends of the men involved

Humbug pattern and instructions

A few people asked about  making the humbug ... so here goes This is my first time at trying to write a pattern on to my blog so hope it works.


This has to be the simplest Humbug of all   .... 

Requirements .. linen what ever count you have ..
6 inches x  4 inches ( as you become proficient at them you can use far less)
Thread DMC your choice of colour.   using 2 strands ....
Gold thread

( each square on grid picture is 2 threads)

Work Star stitch as above across 4 threads  ...  12  stars across 
 Moving each line across as picture shows ... so grid  will be first line 12 stars
second line will have 11 stars .... then repeat until you have 9 rows in all

Work blanket stitch  using 1 strand  over 2 threads into each thread ..... 2 threads above and to the side of the star stitch ( see picture )

Using Gold thread work a cross stitch over 4 threads in all  spare spaces. ( or contrast)

This is where you can add beads if desired.

To make up
Trim the fabric  down all around to 4 threads above the button hole stitch. Folding this in as you go.
Using same colour thread 1 strand  .. slip stitch into each button hole stitch  along  short sides of humbug to join them.
Now fold and do same across one long side ...... .at this point you add your ribbon or cord by tucking it into one corner  and secure and then stitching along the seam

Stuff the humbug softly not to hard.
Now fold ... so the side seam is in the centre of the  top seam ( see picture) and then stitch along the seam as before. This fold makes the humbug shape....

Once you have done one the rest are child's play..... and you can make so many variations. making them larger or smaller as desired.