Oh when will spring come?

August has been an interesting month with lots of little projects completed and some started, a relaxing break up at Mangawhai  but with more rain, thunderstorms and interspersed even with hail. My back lawn has moss growing on it. I am sure it wasnt this wet last year.

If I try to go in chronological order
I enjoyed the movie "Maiden" - a film Festival movie of the first all female crew to take part in the Whitbread - incredible photography and incredible courage and skills developed by the crew - I remember they won the sailing leg into Auckland harbour in 1990. Huge crowds turned out to cheer them in - and it was about midnight!

Peter jnr arrived back from his fishing trip to Finland and Russia with some really intersting stories and photos.
I got asked to review a research paper for a European Journal of Engineering Education - quite tickled as I have been out of it for a while - but it was on the topic of disciplinary cultures and right in line with my work. I had to go to a bit of trouble however to get access to some of the information I needed - I no longer have the automatic access to many of the websites that I had as a Uni staff member. That took quite a bit of work althoughIi enjoyed the catchup. Reminded me my brain hasnt lost it!

This was the block of the month for the Guild last month -

I have done quite a bit of sewing this month - the continuing saga of trying to finish things
I did a demo of  a Lone Star quilt technique at our local Quilting Guild and after finishing my sample I have turned it into a bright cushion.

My Lone Star Cushion 

Finally admitted defeat - I couldnt get Tui's teeth properly clean and one was clearly a bit rotten - so we had another expensive trip to the vet - but she is much happier now and apparently some of the little dogs have "overcrowded" mouths and the teeth taken out were just a few of the little ones - hasnt ruined her ability to devour dog biscuits and chewy bars.

I went to the Counties Country Quilters Show which had some gorgeous quilts - hope they can offer them for our exhibition...  these are not mine!

A collage quilt - each flower on the giraffe is individually cut and placed!

A beautiful example of a bargello quilt

This really tricks the eye - it really is only 2D despite looking 3D

Then I went in to the Kate Edger Education trust Awards Ceremony - one of the awards is named after me which is a bit special - so I presented some of the Awards to women studying at tertiary / university level.  Many are given to women needing to retrain so as to be able to enter the workforce.re A really diverse and interesting group of awardees.

Then the toothache hit me hard again -  and finally got to the dentist two weeks ago and she decided I needed root canal fillings in the sore tooth - NOT FUN - my extremely competent dentist found teh first root canal without too much trouble and we got through that OK but she couldnt find the second one, so we called it quits for the day, sent me home with heaps of anti biotics and the upshot of it is that I am going to an endodentist on Thursday - hopefully for some resolution.

Then to cheer me up I had a local house painter add some colour to the front of the house - the photo doesnt do it justice - and we are going to lighten up the garage door - it does look brighter and with more contrast than it did before. I will do more later when I see ifIi have any money left after the tooth is fixed!

Despite predictions of more foul weather I decided to run away up to Mangawhai and was delighted that Gilbert and Dorothy were there having a quiet weekend - the first morning was lovely. Dorothy and I visited the local markets and the birds on the banksia trees were in full song - check out the video! but then the weather packed up and Sunday was very windy and lots of rain albeit intermittently so i did fit in two walks each day (wearing my best raincoat and tramping boots). Dorothy and I each got some work done on our computers and Gilbert read books and took a few energetic walks... Great getaway and great company.

Alfie loves his Dad

The first morning was so still and quiet - wintertime Mangawhai

Listen to those birds sing!

And to top it off this weekend I have been to a friends 50th birthday, a vintage textile fair and the movie Camino Skies about the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage walk - 800km  ( loved it! - wish my legs were 20 years younger... not sure I could do the walk now).