Busy

Hi everyone.

Did ya miss me.... things have gone a bit busy here at Lewis Acres and I'm sorry I've not been popping in here to update you on my stitcheries.

Truth is that I haven't had time to do anything other than my major artwork that is for the IFFFG (International Free Form Fiberart Guild) which goes in a book and an online gallery next month, and once again, I am editing the book.

I will share it with you when it has all 'gone-live' but until then, no one but me sees all the entries.

I can tell you the theme and title of the book though: Ocean - The Color of Water

It's autumn here in New Zealand and farm 'stuff' is also keeping me on my toes, but yesterday I was urgently in need of a little crochet therapy to brush away the stress, and I created this little fluffy scarf/neck warmer made from stitching with four yarns at once and a huge hook.

A Fluffy scarf - (for a fluffy brain)

I might add some tassels or beads to the ends later.

The four yarns used are pictured here.

An eyelash yarn, a 'hairy' yarn, a dishcloth cotton and a wool yarn.

Right then, back to work I go. 

We've been saving some apples on the trees for the birds. This is a Silver-eye enjoying an apple that the Rosella's had started. 

More on CQJP Yellow February

 CQJP 2015 - Yellow February 

Lots of random 'BITS' have been added to the yellow block this week.

Stitching is dominant in this project, and (as I am a crochet-aholic) I am making an occasional piece of crochet to fit where ever I think I can 'get-away' with it, lol.

So here is the centre of my block.

A slice of lemon for my G & T.

 

A 'sort of' elongated Yin & Yang' design.

A Mandala that needs finishing in the middle, probably with French Knots.

And, last but not least, a Paisley.

I'm still enjoying using yellow threads and creating designs for this block.

Almost finished with the February CQJP now, just a little more stitching to get it to my happy place.

I've been doing a bit of cross-stitching on Stitchmap lately too.

Here are a couple of my designs.

And 'just-for-fun' - here is Fred and Mojo catching the sun by our front door.

And Juliette is looking for her Romeo by the lounge door. Luckily she didn't hop over the sill and poop on my carpet. I kept a close eye on her.

I hope you have had a great week.

Happy Stitching.

Hiding from the World

Haha... love that title... !!!

Well, we are back home now and out of hiding.

It was a lovely break despite having no internet, no phone, no mains electricity, the gas oven packed up and only one hob ring and the grill working so at least I could make a cuppa tea to go with the bacon & eggs (and who needs anything more than that?).

The solar panels were working a treat, so we had tv, movies & music and lights, and Tony got the inverter connected up so that I could work on my laptop (offline). Have I mentioned how much I love my 'gadget freak' man, and he even labelled EVERYTHING to make it easier for me to use (even the remotes. He knows all about my love/hate relationship with remotes).

We took the bench picnic table down with us in the trailer. Here it is in its new place under the walnut tree and with the Mountain Ranges as a backdrop.

And looking back the other way towards the caravan, just before the rain came.

The following seven photos are views of the snowy topped (or sometimes cloud topped) Ruahine Ranges. All viewed from our paddocks on different days.

Snowdrops...... right beside the caravan.

And here are two views from our caravan door.

We had heard from friends in the village that one of our plum trees had not survived a storm a month or so ago, but on our arrival we discovered that a more recent storm had created even more havoc to some of our trees.

The plum trees around the shed will all have to be removed due to wind damage.

Good job Tony took his chain saws.

And the shed needed a new roof and side panels.

That was all in paddock number two.

Looking back across to paddock number one now, there are more plums and vines that didn't do too well in the storm and need to be removed as they are a safety hazard now (the shorter brown ones to the left of centre in the photo).

Luckily nothing had fallen on the water tank.

Plenty of free firewood for our friends and neighbours.

(that's my future 'house-site' btw)

Tony had planned to erect a fence along our 'paper road' boundary, but that idea had to be scrapped when we saw that three large blue gum trees had hit-the-deck right where the fence is meant to be. You can see, in the following photo, that there are still two tall gum trees standing on the very left (or should I say 'leaning precariously').

Villagers are collecting the precious windfall firewood of the blue gums that fell.

Standing in paddock number five, looking across to the river beyond the poplar trees.

There might not be much to these trees, but the sound of the wind rushing through them on 'fierce' days is incredible, and on quieter days, like today, you can listen to water babbling over the rocks.

I love those peaceful, tranquil, dreamy days.

I've walked down the road a little bit for the next shot.

The tree area on the left are in paddock one, the caravan and shed are in paddock two, the telegraph pole is in paddock three. Paddocks four and five are out of shot.

Tony got lots of wood chopped, and fixed the shed, and the bore water tank system (which had sprung a leak and wouldn't fill up). The fence will have to wait until our next visit.

I got loads (and I really mean LOADS) of work done on lots of my current projects (writing and fiber works).

It was a very productive two weeks.

January 2014 - Happy Holiday Pics

Our holiday photos - January 2014

On holiday at our 'other' home. We have bought the land in Central Hawkes Bay, now all we need to do is build a house there. 

I have been calling it our Mountain Retreat, but as it is not actually in the mountains I think I'd better rename it "Mountain View".

Breakfast and/or dinners under the walnut tree on our building plot.

A bit of an unusual sight - a large plum tree has grown out of an old stump and up through a coil of fencing wire. 

The plum tree (yellow Christmas plums) is laden with fruit at the moment. 

A spectacular weather front heading our way as the sun sets over the mountains. 

The view from our back yard. 

Our beloved caravan has been with us for 30 years. Not only has it traveled all over England, Scotland and Wales, we got it sent out to New Zealand with us when we left England 13 years ago, and it has since journeyed from Cape Reinga at the top of North Island NZ, to Innvercargil at the bottom of South Island NZ, and many places in between. 

It's a rather unique caravan.

And the awning gives us double living space. 

Part of the forest that our land is adjacent to. 

The forest on the left is the one next to our property, and this road leads to the Ruahine Mountain Forest Park.

This gully is where a dam is going to be built over the next 5-10 years. 

You can just see the river at the bottom of the ravine. All this will eventually be under water. 

Most of this will be lost under water too. Such a shame. It's so beautiful here. 

And this is a better view of the actual river which will become the lake bottom. 

All this area will be lost too. So sad. 

Tony and friends on a search for a good fly-fishing spot. 

Had a day trip out to Dannevirke and took the Saddle road back which went over the mountain tracks to the wind farm.

On top of the world. 

This one was whirring away (video to follow soon). 

The (old) information board there said there were 56 wind turbines here, but I counted more than that in just this one area, and there was another 2 hills absolutely full with turbines further over too.

And, YES, it was very windy up there. 

Another day out, and we were sat outside the village shop enjoying a Magnum while waiting for the pub to open, haha.

Onga Onga is a lovely little village with historical buildings that attract the tourists (yes, like us), and the pub was recommended to us for it's fish and chip dinners.  

The village has a park area of these old Settler's buildings (shacks?). 

How twee is that..... but I would not like to live in it. 

And the dunney (long-drop).