Another finished upcycled quilt

Eli modeling the quilt.

Yes I do seem to have a never ending supply of old PJ's. It is so cheap to pick up odd tops etc at 50 cents each that it makes a quilt very cheap. This was experimenting with using a batting which was free from a furniture removalist. But it is very stiff. This quilt is made for our new car. (check out the blog in May). Completed using the "quilt as you go" technique.

Perfect Fresia's

This year my fresia's have finally flowered. The last to do so was this gorgeous white one.

Kapahaka festival

Jakob on the far right and Liam third boy from the right.

Yes. That time of the year again. Kapahaka. My camera just does not take pictures well in dark auditoriums.But here are a few of the very hard working kids. Talei and Madysen can be seen (sorry Dawn, they are blurry). Eli's only photos that came out OK were the practice before hand in the classroom. Jakob and his best friend Liam are easily spotted in the older kids performance. Well done to all.

All the new entrant, yr 1 and 2 kids practising being "scary" for their haka.

This big group was only the Wheki Syndicate kids!!

Talei on the far right and Madysen is the third girl on the left

80 candles make the fire alarm go off

All the amazing candles - 80!!!

Setting off the smoke alarm

The campervan crew

Only Duncan missing - he was in England

My father had his 80th birthday in September. As many of us as could hopped on planes, got in cars or campervans and went up. The official party was in the morning, then a casual family day was had. In the evening Dad was presented with his 2nd birthday cake of the day. But so many candles that we set the smoke alarm off even before they started being blown out.

Montana-Rose was 6

Eli and Jorja playing - I really liked this photo of them

Mark supervising the shaky logs (and making it harder!)

Of course a cake. A pair of ballet slippers. Well done Anna

Up cycle a T-shirt into a party dress

This up-cycling project was slightly more extravagant than usual. I got the T-shirt free from an St Vincent de Paul op shop as it had a stain down the front. Thankfully a little sunlight soap, a wash and line dry later, it was all clean. I purchased quite a lot of good quality washable tulle and could not resist the pink sequin as I could see that it would go so well with the shirt. The underskirt was an off cut or lining that was on the sale / get rid of table at Fabric Vision. The sequin band around the hips was from the Salvation Army Op shop in Northlands for $1.

The result was a niece so happy with her 6th birthday present that she went and got out of her party dress and put my creation on. Thankfully it was hard wearing - I had not anticipated it being dragged in the dust on the first wearing!!!

Huge Snails

As previously blogged about - we give the boys extra money for snails and slugs found in the garden. A very organic form of pest destruction. Today it rained and on their way in from school they found this enormous snail by the gate.

Making Flags and Bunting for the Rugby World Cup

Well cup fever is here. We had lovely weather last week and the boys started painting checkered flags (black and white) and black ferns to hang up in their rooms for the world cup. We just used acrylic black paint. The boys had a great time and it has inspired a bit of painting over the week.

Still on the finishing streak

I have made some "kiwana" bunting for my UK friend. Finally finished after sitting around for a long time.

What happens at Sunday School on a sunny day

getting up was easy but sitting on top was a bit precarious for some

some had problems getting down, so Aaron's arms at the ready

After all the snow and cold yesterday was warm and fantastic. So Aaron and I decided to hold Sunday School outside. A bit of running around games first, then a study and then onto making crowns as the activity. Afterwards there was a lot of climbing happening, both on the pagoda and up trees.

The first seeds sprouting for the new season

Well two weeks ago I sowed a pile of seeds. Knowing this to be optimistic but I just couldn't resist. Inspite of three days of snow and some incredibly chilly weather after I have sprouts!!! The little container is a pile of mizuna to cut and use in salads just as new leaves. In the big container is my mix for mescalin salad - some red and green bok choy, coriander, red lettuce. All things quite cold hardy and yummy in another four weeks we will be having summer salad.

I planted some presprouted cauliflower in amongst what is my new strawberry bed. I had a big clean out of the old strawberry bed which has been going strong for 9 years. But have decided to reduce that in size and slowly phase out whilst starting somewhere new. The new season's broad beans are in the back of the bed and I am looking forward to broad bean humus.Yum.