'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

Go here to find out more.

Sunday 28 June 2015

Beanie Competition


I have been beanie-ing for a competition! Here's my creation, which will be entered under the category 'Greenie Beanie'. I call it 'Rock Pool Beanie'.
Other categories are 'Meanie Beanie' (scary zombie, skeleton or ghosty beanies), 'Animal Beanie' (animal themes) 'Recycled Beanie' (made from pre-used beanies and other knitted or crocheted garments) and 'Wacky Beanie' (crazy, mad or zany beanie theme'.










Saturday 27 June 2015

Kate's Quick and Easy Curtains

A few years ago there was a great sale on duvet (quilt) covers so I bought two super-king size ones in a pleasant fabric.
Yesterday I sewed some curtain hook tape across the top of each one and voila! Instant lined curtains.
Now I just need to pop out for a couple of corded tie-backs and a pair of brass hooks and we will be very genteel in the lounge.








Friday 26 June 2015

Baby It's Cold Outside


Earlier this week there was snow at sea level for three days in a row in Wellington, and the coldest Auckland temperatures since 1960 ...
And here in Tauranga, roughly half way between the two, due to my very low-tech blanket, my hibiscus still shows no frost burn, and due to a wooly hat, coat and scarf, I am still alive too! 


Thursday 18 June 2015

Hibiscus Cosy

With another blankie for the front and draped over the top. I am determined this is one plant that will not be frosted this winter! Bring it on!


Wednesday 17 June 2015

Frosty with Intermittent Showers

Brrr, it's blimmin' cold this morning, and I was pondering in my shower what a short time it seems to have been since I was having a sneaky self-indulgent shower in the middle of the day just to cool down, whereas this morning I had a luxurious one just to warm up!
And on popping out to get an arm of firewood, it didn't surprise me to see we have had our first frost of the year.  And one that went clear to the roof, too! That doesn't happen very often here in the balmy Bay of Plenty.  There was even a millimeter of ice on the bird bath.

The South Wind do blow
and we shall have frost*
And what will the hibiscus do then, poor thing?





Our roof is really a dark green.




*I know, it doesn't rime.  (ha ha)




Saturday 13 June 2015

Holes.

After twenty years in this lovely home, I am still undoing some of the stupid things the last two owners did to it.
I have finally gotten around to measuring (with handy tapered pens) the size of the holes that were drilled in almost every corner of every room, through carpet, floorboards, etc, to take what I guess were the cables to a series of speakers run to every room. It's all I can think they would be for. The wind blows up them, and there is an annoying ring of dirty carpet around each one. 

And then, Dear Reader, unless you can think of a better way, I will get a length of dowel slightly fatter than the holes, and sharpen portions of it (wish I had a really fat pencil sharpener but will probably have to use my Swiss Army knife) and bang 'em in. Later, if I ever find the $$$ to replace the carpets, I can do a better job, get the exact size and glue then plane them flush.

It's a plan, Stan. And will be another step towards making this a warmer, dryer home. 
One small step for a woman, one even smaller step for humankind.






Thursday 11 June 2015

Wake Up!

Here is a link to your early morning wake-up call.

Leave a comment if you could truly say you didn't get a surprise. 
And you can also leave one if you did! Ha ha. 

Saturday 6 June 2015

Friendship

I have an aquaintance - she calls me friend - who calls me more often than I think of her, and asks me for more than I have the energy and desire to give. I feel guilty, but I cannot think of her without irritation...

"Compulsion is the death of friendship'

- Stephen Marurin, "Post Captain" by Patrick O'Brian


Tuesday 2 June 2015

A View With Meaning

I am re-reading one of my favourite books. I am enjoying the interesting arguments put by the sensual and impulsive Emersons contrasting with the acceptable, conservative clergyman, all set in the context of the British Abroad, experiencing the Baedeker-Guided Italy."Let yourself go. Pull out from the depths those thoughts that you do not understand, and spread them out in the sunlight and know the meaning of them.”

- E.M Forster 'Room With a View'