End of Term

It is the last day of the school term tomorrow. I am so, so tired. I didn't think it was possible to feel so tired. Went to bed at 6.45pm last night but am still tired. We are off to the Sunshine Coast of Australia on Sunday for a week. I want to touch a snake, ride a camel and see a crocodile in the wild. Then when we come home we can turn our attention to building our house.

Exciting Possibilities

We have found a section to buy! Hope I don't jinx it by writing about it here but I am really excited. It is in Prebbleton, which is a little village on the outskirts of Christchurch. It backs onto a cemetery- something I think is brilliant! They had much lower prices for the sections with the deceased as neighbours. I personally love the idea. There is something enthralling and peaceful about wandering around a cemetery. I am sorry to say I haven't got a picture. I am already plotting and scheming the decorating and garden. We haven't even put an offer in, but it is on hold for us! Wish us luck! By the way, I found a four leaf clover today.

Look what I found

Sorry about the photo. The light was a bit of a challenge because we have those ecobulbs which sadly cast a sinister glow over pretty things. Today I had afternoon tea with my friend Paula. We went to Memories Quilt and Coffee which is a really lovely coffee shop at the end of Papanui Road. They have quilts on the walls and quilting supplies. They have a larger collection of American styled fabrics than English (which I prefer), but I found some goodies. The cups were dainty and my hot chocolate was delicious. It was lovely to have a ladies afternoon tea after the events of the school day. I can happily report that I removed the stickers off the fabric when I got home (as suggested by Barbara). Now I can start planning my next project. I have to get the border fabric for my couch quilt. Can't wait to see what I can find. I did have a very interesting day at school, but this is not going to be a school blog. Best luck to Paula who is moving house on Friday!

W.I.P. and a Busy Weekend

Take a look at my first ever quilt. Thank you to Barbara and Caroline for the assistance getting started, John for buying me my lovely sewing machine, andMrs So Tread Softly (making a link is a mystery- sorry Al) for inspiration. I sewed all of the 8 inch squares together today. It is going to be an along the back of the couch sized quilt. Easily managed for a beginner. I have had a social weekend too. Believe it or not we had 
visitors for tea last night. I 
pasta and made a salad. It was very special friends so not at all stressful. Today I had morning tea
with my friend Leah and Barbara came for afternoon coffee as usual. I am sad the weekend is over
because I want to create!!!!!!

Sunny Saturday

Take a look at these bright little creatures. They are called Jetfire and have been happily living in my garden for several years. They are the first of the serious daffodils to come out (apart from a double which was quite a surprise this year). I have been checking out the wee treasures as they appear. I am a huge daphne fan, and would like masses of them. The birds are fighting over the bird feeder. John mowed up masses of fallen camellia blooms. I am super fond of camellias, but understand why some people don't like them because of the mess. Still haven't got my lettuces and spring onions in. Today I had a little concert with Orchestra 4. I am getting better at not freezing or losing my place for no apparent reason, when playing for an audience. I am going to be playing with Orchestra 3 next term (all going well). I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! We are having friends for tea so are popping out to get salad and pasta fixings. Bye for now!

Brilliant cello lesson

I had my cello lesson today. I started playing just over a year ago. It is never too late to start playing an instrument. I do have an advantage because I can read music and have a cello, but I think as long as you are keen you can do it. Perhaps playing the bassoon might be an option for the very rich 
and very serious! Those are
expensive instruments. My teacher is fantastic!!!!! I always enjoy my lessons. I go the the Arts Centre, which is a very inspiring location. I like it even more now that it is getting light in the evenings. There is a delightful 7 year old who has her lesson before I do. This is what you can aspire to. I am on stage at the Town Hall in rehearsal for my first big 
concert. Sorry for odd spacing. John says "I don't know what you are doing wrong."

Fantastic Day

What a fantastic day. We got up late and had a leisurely morning. I phoned Dad to wish him happy Father's Day. It is daffodil season and Mum and Dad are busy tending to their masses of flowers. They are going to Hamilton and Invercargill this year to the daffodil shows. Hopefully Mum will send a photo I can post of the daffodil beds and the flowering cherries up the driveway (hint, hint). We decided to go for a drive to Sumner, which is a beach suburb of Christchurch. The others looked for things to take photos of, and I went exploring. I found a live crab on the sand and hopefully rescued it by throwing it out into the sea. It was quite a big one, so I was very brave picking it up. Here is the gorgeous view out to sea, plus me exploring in rockpools. I have decided that is one of my most favourite activities of all.

A cousin and a concert.

Take a look at Merlin. He is my Flemish Giant rabbit and is twice as big as Monty the cat. He has just been eating my polyanthus. He is such an awesome man he gets away with being naughty. He thought I wanted to round him up for bed so he hid behind the lavender. 
It has been very tricky inserting this picture for some unknown reason. Grrr!
We are very lucky to have my lovely cousin Caroline and her partner Shaun visiting us for four days. It is so great to have someone to go to the fabric store with who actually wants to be there! I have a passion for glorious embroidered silks and other lavish evening fabrics. There were treasures to be found in the quilting fabrics too. I purchased some dark teal fine corduroy and some matching crumpled shiny evening fabric to use as a lining. Caroline is going to whip up a jacket for me. 
This evening John and I went to a concert performed by the New Zealand Youth Orchestra. It was amazing!!!!! The orchestra played Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, plus Debussy's La Mer, a couple of Ravel pieces and a new piece called "Belt Sander." John wasn't keen on that one. I thought the composer could have chosen a more fabulous name as belt sanders make the probably the worst sound of any power tool. I love watching orchestras now that I am in one.