Happy Birthday To You

5th September ...Today is grandson Ben's birthday ... my how time goes by so quickly he is 7 today does not seem so long since I was there at his birth.... just minutes old.

For his treat he took some friends to the climbing wall.

Here he is ready to climb.....

And at the top ..... almost

Lovely Concert Sunday afternoon

This afternoon I went to the concert given by the Auckland Symphony Orchestra here in Rotorua, conducted by Peter Thomas  ...  "Orchestra Favourites"

Tunes and works well known to everyone, including the " Themes to Harry Potter films also Star Wars"

The symphony Orchestra is community-based orchestra was formed in 1975 by its musical director, Gary Daverne. The players are drawn from all parts of Auckland and from all walks of life. The orchestra provides an opportunity to musicians who have chosen a career outside music, to enjoy weekly rehearsals of symphonic music, playing without payment and purely for the pleasure of making good music together. The orchestra also supports local young soloists, giving them the opportunity to perform with a full symphony orchestra, in concert. The orchestras main philosophy is that music should be fun and enjoyed by players and audiences alike hence the regular free concerts given in towns that would not normally see large orchestras.
It was wonderful to see children in the audience, they were all very well behaved and some were as young as 3 or 4 yrs old.

Earth Quake in Christchurch NZ

New Zealand earthquake: state of emergency declared
A state of emergency has been declared after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the New Zealand city of Christchurch, destroying hundreds of buildings. The quake struck at 4.35am local time on Saturday while most people were still in bed, sending panic-stricken residents running into the streets in their pyjamas.
This country of ours is known for its volcanic eruptions and earth quakes, especially here in Rotorua where we seem to have a large share of them but we consider ourselves lucky as so far 4.9 is the worst I have felt in 10 yrs... Christchurch in the South Island is not an area that is  high on the list as a potential quake place but it just goes to show you never can tell.

For a first hand report take a look at Deb's blog here she lives in Christchurch and has some photos of the damage in her house.

I am relieved and pleased to read the blogs of you Canterbury ladies and that your families are safe and that you don't have too much damage. How scary it must be with all those after shocks....  People must have been very, very scared, and the damage  frightening.
The news tells us it will be some time before the full extent of the damage will be known , but the early indications are that it could run into the billions of dollars.

Meet the Neighbours Day

Today our Patchwork and Quilting group tried something a little different ... we held a Regional Day, we invited  a few quilt groups in and around our area  to come along and have a friendship day with speakers and stitching,  show and tell, with food and merchants to buy from.

We had a lovely speaker from ...   
Maungatautari Ecological Island Cambridge

Since 2002 the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust has worked to restore the forest on Maungatautari mountain, and reintroduce long-lost bird species such as kiwi, kākā, takahē and hihi (stitchbird). Its major initiative has been the construction of a 47-kilometre predator-proof fence, which encloses 3,400 hectares of the mountain’s upper slopes. Visitors can explore various tracks and view the forest canopy from a 16-metre-high viewing tower. She enthused quite a few of us to visit the area just outside of Cambridge.

There was a great show and tell,  all groups taking part, what amazingly talented ladies we have out there, I saw a couple of things I would like to put on my "To Do List"

We managed to do a small felt pin cushion sewing project, which I organised, all the felt pieces were ready cut and everyone just had to sew it all together it seems it was a great success.  

We had enough morning and afternoon to tea to feed the average army ...just like most times when you ask for baking from a group of ladies.

                        We had approx 80 ladies attend from all over the area, at the end of the day we had a quick round table discussion about the day and because all the groups enjoyed the day,  it is to be repeated  annually,  it will be  run by different group each year .. we kept the invitations small on this first occasion as we did not know what the response would be like .....but  hopefully it will be opened up to other groups in the area next year now we know  "how and what and where etc.".
 
A Few pictures of the day..... sorry to say they are all of the very start of the day

 

The most important ladies ... in the kitchen
 

A cup of coffee while waiting for people to arrive ....

Making a choice is difficult

I am sure it was important the discussion looks deep

No need to substitute the fabric colour

This is one of my  Daffodils that is telling me that spring is almost here.

I today tracked down some Cashel 28ct Platinum for  my "Count your Blessings" project.

Over the last few days I have looked  at so many web pages on the Internet, and  emailed all over the world and it produced nothing well almost,  a few in US had what I needed but by the time I paid for shipping it was going to work out so expensive almost half again per meter....a friend in Australia also found some, again the cost was quite a bit more than quoted from NZ so to get this price I have to be willing to wait ...  may be a few weeks.

So today I gave it one more shot on the Internet before I used the Australian source as I do not think I can wait that long .

You are not going to believe this,  I found it almost on my doorstep, well metaphorically speaking that is... at Broomfield's in Christchurch on the South Island ... they had very little in fact just 2 pieces that were any where near the right size, I have purchased a piece rather larger than I need but it will come in useful in the future.

So it is all paid for and hopefully will be with me early next week.

Today I have not been feeling to good ..  a bit of a throat and rather warm but cold and shivery,  I am just praying it comes to nothing as I have a very busy weekend starting tomorrow... I have dosed up with all the right things so another early night and just hope I feel better in the morning.

Normally people are to late for things ....

It has been one of those days, you know

the sort full up and over flowing.

Sometimes I think I am stretched in to many ways but it is all my own doing, difficult to say NO and mean it I guess.

So after a busy morning and out to lunch at my Sister and Brother in laws, stayed to long and was in a rush when I got home.

Quite a few jobs to do  and needed to be ready by 6.45pm to go to "History of Quilting group"  

No problem except phone call at 6.40 ... finally off the phone and in the car  6.55,  all well my study in hand,  my turn to research this months subject... Amish Quilts.

In the car thinking I will be late ...

and I hate being late my Mother always installed into us "lateness is the height of ignorance" if you are early just wait outside but never be late.. 

Driving along and the mobile went ...  it was Mhairi  (who I had emailed earlier in the day saying see you tonight)  she asked "where are you"  " just left home " I answer. "May be you should check the date !"  she said.

Seems we were heading out one week ahead of ourselves. 

It is next week on the 5th Tuesday of a Blue Moon month .. I had written it on the wrong week of my dairy.

So I think I will just have an early night get up tomorrow and start again.

Remember to Dance in the rain ... from another email

This has got to be the best email I have read for ages....

Dance in The Rain
It was a busy Morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb.
He said he was in a hurry as he had an Appointment at 9:00 am.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone
would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning,
as he was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.
I inquired as to her health.
He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset If he was a bit late.
He replied that she no longer knew who he was,  that she had not recognized him in Five years now.
I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?'
He smiled as he patted my hand and said,    'she doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.'
I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, that is the kind of love I want in my life.'

True love is  neither physical, nor romantic.
True love is an acceptance of all that is,  has been, will be, and will not be.

The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

Comfort Food

I managed to get myself on an email exchange of recipes and have received a few and this one, although I have it  ... bought back memories of a good hot dessert that you put in the oven and forget while you eat your meal. So the next time you are stuck for a dessert here goes.... it really is no fail.

Self Saucing Chocolate Pudding

1 cup self rising flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
vanilla essence
1 egg

Cream butter and sugar, add egg, vanilla, milk and dry ingredients. Place in a greased pie dish, and pour over: 3 teaspoons cocoa, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1+3/4 cups boiling water mixed together.

Bake approx 50 minutes in a moderate oven or on high for 12 minutes in microwave.
or make as individual in Ramekins adjusting cooking time.
Serve with ice-cream or custard  and or raspberries  and cream this is to die for.