Spring in our garden

Yesterday was such a beautiful sunny day I had to spend it outside in the sunshine, no point staying inside on a day like that! So bluetooth headphones, sun glasses, hat and sunscreen were donned and I headed out to capture what spring has done to our garden. Yes my head was rather over encumbered.. These shots are the only ones worth including, the sun was so bright that it washed out most of the pictures. I shall take some pictures of the more interesting plants in the evening light.

 

 Beautiful Aquilegias - this is a two year old plants, taken as a seedling from last years rental house's jungle like garden. They seem to grow like weeds around here in Dunedin. This one is rather subtle, but still beautiful, was amazing trumpet shapes they have!

Borage - Always loved borage, in the house I grew up we always had some in the garden and the bees love it :) Great for planting next to vegetables that need pollination. These plants have been going all year and have taken over the garden bed, smothering all weeds - excellent! I had to cut some back just to give sun to the seedling growing in front of them.

Happy mister gnome guarding the bok choy....

Rhododendrons - They are everywhere in October! Orange, pink, purple, red, yellow, pink, salmon, white and cream, every colour imaginable really. Some have a very nice scent, but they don't last long as cut flowers, they just flop. Wonder how those crazy trees in St Clair are doing? They were like a blanket of magenta... 

Flower bed, marigolds of multiple colours, the russet ones are my favourite. I get my seeds from Kings seeds - excellent quality and price. My brother got me a 50 dollar voucher for my birthday last year, I easily got all the seeds I could want, and I still have plenty left. Heartily recommended!

Haven't done a project list for a while so here goes:

Completed projects this week and last two weeks (I've been busy!)

• Brothers birthday gift - bass strap
• Oscar's birthday presents - Funky fisherman pants and high vis bag cover
• Chevron lace cardigan
• Indian print coat
• Blue ikat skirt
• Red river gloves - unraveled the half fingers to make fingerless mitts instead, much more comfortable.

In progress this week:

• Lava flow cowl
• Purple cashmere shetland lace scarf
• Xmas presents (have to remain secret unfortunately, members of my family read this blog!)
• Kittyville hat to replace old one
• Planting out pumpkins, basil and cosmos.
• Learning how to use the knitting machine
• Learning new songs on accordion

A new look and some photos

Well Macbeth is over now! It was a hugely successful production, full of passionate and creative people and great to be part of it. I think I can only do it justice if I post about it later when I'm less tired.

Think that this blog needs a new look. The colours and pictures don't really strike my fancy anymore, so it needs a change, should be done today.

I'll simply leave you with some pictures of things I've seen in the last week and or done.
That should do for now :)

 Oscar's kite flying high in the sky

 Low clouds clinging to Mt Cargill

 Spectacular cloud layerings from our balcony

 Wow, approximately 5min later..

My new knitting machine, Empisal knit and weave master KH90. A wonderful birthday present from my dear Oscar :D

More detailed pictures of Macbeth and current projects, presents and gardening soon.

Another week went by...

Where have I been? It's hard to keep this blogging thing up when you're busy doing so many things!

Been preparing for the market day which I'm happy to say was a success, despite the rain and how long a day it was. It didn't quite have the hype and excitement that I remember from markets like the Bendigo wool show, but that's a completely different event. I sold two things, my first sold items of the year! Perhaps a market where the customers are a bit more relaxed with their money will be better. Students are very thrifty, I guess they have to be!

 Here's a mobile photo of my stall, not the best! But as I was carrying everything to the market without a car, a camera was just another thing to carry. There was a stall selling cakes for a charity and they were amazing, must get a recipe for ginger slice now :)

 This is a lovely cat in our neighbourhood, an old ginger one. He/she loves being scratched under the chin and was so happy that it leapt up into my lap and started digging it's claws in! Bit ouchy so had to put kitty down on the path. One day, one day we'll have our own pets again, but till then we can always say hello to the cats and dogs in our area.

In other news the costumes are finished! Just in time for dress rehearsals next week, yay! Photos of the costumes on the actresses with full make up will appear here in a few weeks. So now that market day and Macbeth costumes are finished, I am free pretty much! To play accordion, garden in the lovely spring weather, perform with the choir and sew new and different projects. Excellent!

Projects finished this week:

• Hecate's dress
• Owl witch dress
• Oscar's birthday present
• Market day preparation

Projects on the go now:

•  Birthday and xmas presents for my family
• Chevron lace cardigan
• Planning for new projects!

This week whizzed by!

Well, I've been so very busy I haven't done much crafting at all this week!
What with making costumes, cleaning, going to parties, practicing choir, getting an accordion, going to the community gardens, cooking, etc etc there's just been no time.

But I can post about the accordion!

A 21st birthday present from my parents (my dad searched it out and got it) two weeks early it is amazing! NZ post really outraced themselves this time; sent at 12.00 on Wednesday from Auckland, arrived at 12.30 the next day in Dunedin! Couldn't believe it when they knocked on the door with the package :) Not sure how old it is, but it is restored very well, it works beautifully.

Tis a serenelli bass 48 piano accordion. The name is a bit faded on the front as you can see. Learning now how to play the bass and piano together, in a very basic way. It's a lot of fun to play! Can't really remember where I got the idea that I'd like one, but always liked accordions for their sound and style. Not to mention how interesting they are to play, at least three things you have to do to play them, work the bass buttons, play the keys and open and close the bellows. I'm not going to get bored ever again I think now. I realise now that I was holding it wrong, since learnt where the straps go, not over the keys derp!

Thank you mum and dad for such a wonderful present! I don't deserve any xmas presents now!

Also new, a paper lantern that we've finally installed in our room, looks like a great full moon when it's lit up :)

Should be back soon with more updates, gardening and craft and market going ons...

Nina