Who found the best treasure?

The school holidays and it is always important to exercise the boys, the dog and me. Out on our hour long walk around the block (which goes past two sports grounds, the bmx track, the pony club, the graveyard and a good section of the Ashley river).

My sister Ruth taught us the game of "who can find treasure" whenever we are out and about. We had not played that for a while but then when we were out crossing the river, on a gravel island, Jakob found a really high quality builders hammer. So the competition began. Eli found a large manuka pole but then also three fence paling's that he could not carry home.

Morris would not be outdone and carried a huge stick on river crossings, up banks and getting stuck in trees. All I managed to get was a bag of gum bark, leaves and twigs to start the fire with.

 We came home and the boys could finally have some more screen time as they had been out being physical. My sister came for lunch and we had a delicious wholemeal bread, blue cheese and grapes off her vines.

Now it is looking like a quilt

Blocks all finished finally.  I had thought nine blocks would be enough but decided that twelve would look good as it would be a more rectangular quilt. I finished twelve but no not enough so went to sixteen to make it square, I had it all done and bordered and realised it was just too small. So a bit of unpicking and making more blocks, now I am happy with the size.  All bordered with a peek a boo border.  Now I have to try and work out how to finish it. Another couple of borders I think but not sure yet what they will look like. Still loving the grey and red look.

Sewing the last cross block

Still working on my red cross quilt.  Twice I thought I was done and twice now I have ended up sewing more.  Fingers crossed that this will be it.

The Warfedale Tramp

Last weekend Aaron and Jakob decided to do the Warfedale Tramp. So in the morning to limber up and relax they jumped in the hot tub. Then Eli and I decided to make waffles so they even had breakfast in the tub!! 

The Track has had a massive upgrade, thanks due to the Mountain Bike club. It is one of the few areas where mountain bikers can go for weekends. See the bikes to the left of the hut. Because of this you do need to take a tent just in case as the hut only sleeps 8-10 and you can have triple that. 

But a good nights rest was had in the hut with 5 others. 

Gorgeous bush on the top of a rise looking over Canterbury Plains. The track is very up and down. 

As tired as they look, I would have loved to be with them. But everyone has things that they can no longer do.

 Two sticks looking like NZ!!

Happy trampers, ready for their meat pie on the way home.

A bright quilt finish

My sister and I spent another Saturday night completing quilts for Hope Homes International. 

 

Thanks to Hazel for the quilt top. I made a backing and pinned the quilt, Anna quilted it and then I finished it on Saturday with the binding.

When I was in Dunedin last week I discovered a part finished quilt in an Op Shop (Charity Shop), amazingly it had all the material to finish it off. So Anna got busy on that while I backed and pinned the quilt that Jennifer donated.

We were both a bit tired but a great night. Now well on the way to another two more quilts being finished for Hope Homes.

Linking to these places and Crazy Mum Quilts

My new go to dinner after a work day

Wow the most scrumptious meal we have had in ages and so quick to make. Now after a busy work day, this will be it. This recipe was in our local paper Northern Outlook and is a recipe from Nadia Lim in association with My Food Bag. We love salmon here and so to have a different recipe was great. The marinade was delicious and brown rice with broccoli, peas and beans (was meant to be spinach but I did not have any).

While making it we were mucking around with a new voice activated selfie app!!

LEMON AND SWEET CHILLI GRILLED SALMON WITH PEA AND BROCCOLI RICE
Pea and broccoli rice:
3 cups steamed brown rice
1 head broccoli
4–5 handfuls baby spinach leaves
1 cup frozen peas, defrosted
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Lemon and sweet chilli grilled salmon:
600g salmon fillets, cut into 4–5 pieces
3 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of ½ a lemon

To serve
¼ cup chopped coriander leaves and stalks
½ a lemon, cut into wedges

Preheat oven to 220 degrees Celsius. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Bring a full kettle to the boil.
 
Start by cooking the rice to go with the meal. While rice is cooking prepare vegetables; finely dice broccoli florets and about half the stalk; roughly chop spinach leaves. Set both aside.

Pat salmon dry, remove any remaining pin-bones and arrange on prepared tray, skin side down. In a small bowl, mix sweet chilli sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, lemon zest and juice together and spoon over salmon. Roast for 7–8 minutes or until just cooked through, depending on thickness (salmon is best served medium-rare).

Place broccoli and peas in a medium, heat-proof bowl. Pour over boiling water and set aside for 4–5 minutes until bright green and just tender. Drain and add to steamed rice, along with spinach and sesame oil. Fluff up with a fork until spinach has wilted slightly. Season to taste.

To serve, divide pea and broccoli rice and salmon between plates and spoon over any remaining sauce from oven tray. Garnish with coriander and serve with a lemon wedge to squeeze over just
before eating.

Recipe courtesy of My Food Bag. via stuff.

Working on more charity quilts

Thanks to some very generous people we nearly have two more quilts for Hope Homes International.

Generous people alert - Jennifer J - sorry no blog to refer you to. Jennifer contacted me as she is downsizing her home and wanted to giveaway some part completed quilt tops. The cat quilt and the dolphins above. I got them in the mail yesterday.

Hazel has given me a pile of material as she is sifting through her stash of what she will use and finish and what no longer interests her. Wow a whole finished top ready to go.

So last night my sister brought her sewing machine over and we cut, ironed, sewed and pinned. Jennifer your quilt looks amazing all bordered. This photo does not do it justice. It is actually a lot brighter than that.

I spent my time making two backings for the quilts out of bits of flannelette I had and pining out the bright quilt. Anna put borders on the cat quilt and then quilted the bright quilt together. Another sewing night and we will have two finished quilts. What a satisfying evening.

Linking to these places

When things seem too hard

Sometimes things just seem too big to tackle so I either put it off, try to ignore it, make a million excuses or use the procrastination technique that Aaron is so good at.

The last time I studied was in 2008 but I had still not finished my university qualification. I stopped with three papers to go. I found all sort of excuses... no time.. sick children... husband studying... full time work,...moving house...costs too much.  

Over the last 6 years these excuses have been removed one by one. We are healthy, we are settled in our new home, Aaron finished his degree, I work part time, it no longer costs as much.

So I took the plunge and enrolled. As soon as I had I found a million other things to do than to start. I now have a super clean oven, some clean windows (not all), a seat for the end of the bed, a tidy sewing room. 

But in actual fact, once I got over my first few days where I did hissy fits and was stressed 

It's actually not that bad and I am really interested in my subject, I feel it relates well to my work and it is fascinating me. 

But I had to put myself through all that to get to this point!!!

I thought I had finished.

I have slowly been completing more blocks for this quilt and had calculated on 12. All done, including using the offcuts. But I think that it will be too small and make the quilt difficult to use. 

 So although I have finished my blocks. I am now starting again and will make another row. Love red and grey together.
Linking to these places and finish it up friday.

White fleshed nectarine

 When we moved it was autumn and difficult to tell what the different fruit trees were. Our predecessors obviously were like me though. We have now discovered that we have one "Mabel" nectarine. A golden fleshed nectarine and this white fleshed nectarine.

Juicy and delicious and I think it could be another Mabel. To prove that all I will need to do is cook it as Mabel is like a Black Boy peach.  If cooked or bottled they turn dark purple. Unlike the Black Boy peach you don't have to deal with a furry outside. So fantastic for school lunches.

Today this was my breakfast, along with coffee, in front of the computer watching my first university lecture! I have enrolled to finish my Graduate Diploma in HR and am so nervous about it. The term started this week and I have exhibited stress to my family!!! Concerned about the amount of time, understanding referencing requirements etc etc. I feel exhausted. 

But I have to say this has got to be the most relaxed way to study. Everyone who knows me well will understand me being in my dressing gown. 

There are many other people who are raising families, working and trying to juggle study. At least I have empathy with them - another great HR skillset. Best dash. Have time for a walk before my next online at 12noon. Sigh no more free time on a Thursday.

I made a seat from two bed ends

And I am so stoked with it!! It took me about 2.5 hours. I had been putting it off for ages and the bed ends had just ended up in the garage taking room. But with University study looming I am frantically trying to get stuff done, as I will not have any time now for ages.

At the moment it has a pile of cushions on it, but I will make a squab to fit. I wanted to paint it but Aaron decided he liked the wood look, so he will do a test sand. If the colours are not going to match then I will paint it. If the wood all matches then I will just polyurethane it all. 

I started with these two Pine single bed ends. Obtained from the Salvation Army Op Shop for a few dollars.

I measure through the centre of the bed end and cut it in two. This was for the arms. I used a hand saw as our skill saw is old and goes wonky. So all the cutting took forever!! and my arms got tired.

I attached the two halves to the headboard and started to feel confident of my design. I had to go to Mitre 10 to get beading and wood for the seat. But they had a scrap bin and all I ended up requiring to pay for was the beading and front board.

I was so absorbed in my project that I missed a few stages with the making. But you can see the beading and strutting I did underneath.

I was really thrilled that everything matched up. My front was flush with the seat. To be honest I was surprised and when I put it on the garage floor and it did not wobble, I was ecstatic.

Finished in the garage, so proud of myself.

At the end of our bed. I think it is too high sitting there but Aaron likes it. Long term I might chop the top down. But at the moment the building is finished. Making it look pretty now has to start.

I link to these places.