I saw this

I saw this quilt top at a friend Bonnie's house here in Dubai she has just done it for her Daughter in green and blues, I loved it and am going to get the fabric from here to do it as our "Quilt from Dubai "

It is called "Stepping Stone"

This pattern is from Thimbleberries Classic Country Home Front Flannels by Lynette Jensen.

The photo of the picture in the book has not reproduced well, so hopefully in the not to distance I can show you the finished item.

How life changes .. Going home

Well who could have said that yesterday would make such an impact on our life ...

There we were doing what we always do on a Thursday .. Me trying to renew my driving licience ( another story) and Eric working at home doing computer stuff .... Then comes the email to say "Going Home End September"

Well it has happened, we leave in September, not what we expected but September, October or December all the same really, as most folks knew we were going by the end of the year anyhow, so bit of a shock ... but work wise with Ramadam when nothing happens in the Middle East for a month it is the best time for the company which is the deciding factor in all of this of course.

Me I don't really mind it is about time I got back to the family and watch those grand kids grow, they need my in put and influence, when I remember my grandma she was a great influence in my life, I learnt so much from her so I have to go and help mould mine.

I hope the boy's will like quilting, they will like using the machine I expect and we may have another Rikki Timms ( an American male quilter ) in my family who can tell.
It will be Spring in NZ and my favorite time of year so no cold weather to contend with to fast not that it really gets that cold in Rotorua for more than a few weeks a year.

So the big shock is we have decided that when I leave on 9th September for Kathryn's wedding I will not return to Dubai.

So only 10 days to get myself sorted and packed last minute shopping, how many trips to Satwa can I get in for more fabric. Will the packers have a container large enough I wonder for the fabric?

Eric will remain to get packers etc. Now this is a first, I am the one who normally stays to pack up and Eric heads out to pastures new this will be a new experience for him. So I will have to go through the apartment and organise what is thrown away what can be given away and what goes back to NZ.

I will miss the Dubai Quilting Guild very much such a lovely group and so active. Sorry to say they will need a new secretary .
I was also booked in to give a class on "stumpwork" in a group we call Beyond the Guild, shame as I have it all sorted and samples made etc. also kits organised and made up. After I organised last years Block of the month with embroidered blocks many ladies have become interested in embroidery so I have been helping quite a few increase their repitiore of stitches.

So that is it I am retired for real no more living overseas, Eric, well he will never really retire, he is going to help companies here in Dubai travelling here 3/4 times a year and continue running his company in China, I may just have to tag along on ocassions when he returns here if not for anything else it will be for the fabric and catch up with folks in Dubai .. so at least a once a year trip is called for.

Two weeks today and counting

Two weeks today, I head off back to New Zealand to help with the final arrangements of Kathryn's wedding.

I have a list, yep! the perverbial list that has got us in the past all around the world, from camping when the kids were young, moving to Kuwait in 1977, changing countries 11 times, getting kids to Boarding School in UK with the right equipment needed for the term, and back to which ever country we were resident in at the time.

These lists were always a "Oh! no not another list" from the members of my family, especially the kids and including the wage earner sometimes, but without them I hate to think who would have gone where without what ?

So the trusty list is on the counter top and getting ready to be ticked off as I collect each item, or carry out each task written there.

So God bless the LIST.You can almost smell the heady sent of these flowers.....I have borrowed this picture from a blog I follow http://www.anorchardistquilting.blogspot.com/ for it is full of my favorite flowers grown in a place not far from our home, I hope Ali will not mind as they are so beautiful.

I also have a tub just outside of my Dining room in which I grow the self same flowers. The smell is just wonderful when they are all in bloom, I think spring is my most favourite time of year.

In NZ the cafe's make great cakes and scones, all home made....I have missed the scones and I am looking forward to sampling a few in the weeks I am back there.

These scones are fab...you should try them....

Lemony fruit scones
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1 8-oz. carton dairy sour cream
1 egg
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. finely shredded lemon peel
2/3 cup snipped dried apricots
2/3 cup snipped pitted dried plums (prunes)
1/2 cup powdered/ icing sugar sugar
2 to 3 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts (optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 375°F.

Lightly grease a large baking sheet;

In bowl stir together flour, baking powder, soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Rub in butter to resemble coarse crumbs; set aside.
In bowl stir together sour cream, egg, granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon of the peel; add to flour mixture. combine just until moistened. Stir in apricots and dried plums.

Drop dough onto baking sheet (you can make as large or as small as required.)

Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly on rack.
For glaze, stir together powdered sugar and 1/2 teaspoon lemon peel. Stir in enough lemon juice to make drizzling consistency; drizzle over scones. If desired, sprinkle with walnuts.

Serve with butter or cream or both.....and home made jam...yummeee!!

You just don't want or wish to know the calorie content !!!just enjoy them.

Along time ago this was sent to me and I thought is was a good one, and worth posting.

I remember my mother saying some of these things. In fact I can almost hear her saying them.....I am sure I have used a few on my kids as well over the years.

Mum's Wisdom

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"

4. My mother taught me LOGIC. “Because I said so, that's why."

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to score with me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. Always wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My mother taught me IRONY. "Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONIST. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck?"

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don’t exaggerate!"

13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My mother taught me HUMOR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me."

21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."

23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. My mother taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you"

Getting to Pune ( Poona)

I forgot to mention that we flew Indian Airways, also that we flew

Business Class. and that I could get used to this, did mention it to the wage earner but the answer was not really printable..... I take that as meaning " No" and dream on .... Oh! well a good try.

Pune airport is like a really small provincial airport. For the business class lounge they simply give you a voucher that you take to the restaurant where they give you complimentry refreshments.

We did not get to use this as we had walked 8 steps from check in and were at the Immigation Dept (1 desk) 16 steps past this we were at the gate to board the aircraft ... from here we could not return past the immigration desk again.

Your boarding pass was checked by crossing off your passenger number on a sheet of paper, and of course we walked to the plane, amid the tactors taking the luggage and tankers filling the aircraft with fuel, the runway repairs and the general mele of people, amazing that the right people got on the right plane. which was parked about 20 meters from the door.

So laid back they were almost lying down.

I was fasinated by one sign which read....

If any member of staff asks for a bribe please report this to the airport authorities immediately.

Pune - India .......wow what a place.

Yesterday we arrived back from a 5 day trip to India, we stayed with the Madison Agent from here in Dubai. Girjit and Pria, so we saw the privilaged side of Indian life.

Eric has been friends with Girjit for more than 20 yrs now, he has asked us often to go to Pune...and finally we have made it.

They entertained us in their home which was a really nice house, of course one of the better in Pune, It was so great to breath fresh air and have nice cool temp's even if they were still in the 30's.

Girjit and Pria's house is run by servants, there is always at least 2 servants around the house, in fact the whole running of the house is done by these servants plus others who come in daily, almost like the days of the Raj. What ever is your wish they produce it, not sure if I could live like this all the time, I would guess the boredom has to kick in somewhere.... but just think of the embroidery and quilting you could get done. But while we were there we loved it.

but we saw houses and houses of course..... most Pune residents are not of great means in fact we saw abject poverty there with people living in tied together plastic sheets and sacks. There is a great number of homeless and stateless people in India from surrounding countries with no passports or papers thus have no rights.

Pune itself is very rundown and dirty, I think the first thing that you notice is the dirt, we were told that the people have lived like this for ever and don't notice it anymore. The only residents that notice it are people that have been overseas and see how others live. Many people from this area of India especially the villages have been with in only a short distance of Pune in their lives..

Now if your idea of India is places like Bombay and Deli.... read on as you will be amazed.

We took a trip to a Lake area two hours from Pune where Girjit is having a new home built, it is going to be amazing with views to die for, it is also in the hill station area, so we are looking forward to visiting it again in a couple of years, when they are in residence there.

For another two days we went off for a trip to Mahabaleshwar south of Pune.

I am sure in the books and films that have been made about the British Forces in India you would have read or seen the "Hill Stations" that the British wives used to go to in the summer while their husbands stayed in the heat of the low lands.
Mahabaleshwar is at a height of about 1300 meters above sea level used to be a summer retreat for the British when they were ruling India. Also, it used to serve as a retention camp for Chinese and Malay convicts. Mahabaleshwar today boasts the finest variety of Strawberries available in India and it is due to the fact that these convicts started to grow strawberries because of their inherent skills and the amazing temparatures and rains. We stayed in a place called, Brighland holiday village, almost at the entrance of Mahabaleshwar. The hotel was built on the side of the hill and all areas had amazing views of the valley.

This is not one of them, but had to throw this in as it is a hotel that is swathed in plastic to help keep out the waters of the monsoons, we experienced the rains...and yes! the hotel is open for guests.

Old Mahabaleshwar, where the famous temple Panchganga is located. This area is of great importantance to the river Krishna as the river originates from here

The views are breath taking.

There must have been some lovely houses in this area in the early 1900's some still remain but very rundown and unkempt, which is so so sad.

We saw monkeys and ground squirrels(Chipmunks)

We went to eat in typical British built race Course in Pune, it was built most likely around late 1800's early 1900's it was still run in the same way and with the same traditions it was like walking back in history.
This area is also a strong military area, so in Pune is all the camps and we saw buildings like the " Officer's Mess" built by the British while there still being used and painted the same as they were, the gardens were like English gardens, again a walk backwards in history

I found Pune fasinating with its traffic and people and on the streets there were hundreds walking all the time, the traffic is unbelievable, dodging and weaving with thousands of motor bikes and scooters, Pune boasts the most 2 wheel vehicals in India.

Outside of the city you saw the children going to and from school all immaculate in uniform, many walking 4 or 5 miles back and forth, these children are fed at school and this will be most likely the only food they will have for the day, thus the children of the poor villages go to school regularly and without fail.

I found the following in an artical about Pune. so I just had to include these Do's and Don'ts from the local police information.

1. Try not to follow instructions of any stranger. Always confirm from local people around. A lunatic may be trying to be fool you.
2. Always buy tickets before entering any tourist attraction. Entering such a place without ticket is a punishable offense and you can be fined for that.
3. Defacing or harming any Public of Heritage property is not at all appreciable act. You can be fined or even prosecuted for such an act. So, try refrain yourself from such an activity.
4. Always prefer police run Prepaid Booths, Private Boothe fool foreign tourists as they are actually fraudulent travel agents
5. Never carry so much cash while traveling in crowded city bus as your pocket may get picked up by someone. Do take care of your belongings.
6. Don't travel around the city during office hours as you may get struck in a traffic jam.

After this trip our views of what India is like have really changed, and are looking forward to a revisit in the future.

Next UFO. read the instuctions

I have a Chuch pattern as per picture the same type of thing as the house with Christmas tree but the church has a stained glass window, the stained glass bit is all finished I just need to do hardanger / cross stitch church building.


The fabric is all ready to go centred and marked, the threads and fabric have been in a small project box for as long as the first one ... so this week I went off to my "Stitching Bee" armed with the UFO number 2.


I settled down to stitch and took out the pattern to begin ... strange I thought there is no centre arrow or any indication of the centre of the pattern, all cross stitch patterns etc start at the centre ..... I thought about this for sometime and decided umh! " a typing error or omitted by mistake"


so I proceeded to count the squares on the pattern and mark the centre across and up the sides, this took quite a while as we were talking all the while and I kept losing my place, so after at least half an hour I had it done.


Okay ready to go.


Now I have no idea why at this precise moment I decided to look at the instructions ...
YES!! you guessed it.....Instructions from Patricia Andrle the designer read as follows;

"I recommend starting at the bottom of the design, work lower portion of the border and then begin at the base of the church"

I seriously wonder why after doing hundreds of projects and numerous amounts of cross stitch and hardanger I think I know best.

So if all else fails as they say READ THE INSTRUCTIONS

The finished "UFO"

Today I collected from the framers my

"Christmas All Around the House"

Hardanger and cross stitch Embroidery.

It looks great, fantastic to see it finally finished after at least 4/5 years of on, off, on, off stitching.

The amazing part of this piece of framing is that the framers ( Indian) had never done anything like this before and said they really couldn't do what I was asking.

So this goes to show you don't know what you can do till you try, the chap who did it was so proud of the work, you would have thought he did the stitching as well.