The daffodils are out but still nippy!

Another few weeks have gone by and they have been busy ones, as I am getting into gear sorting out stuff for various quilting activities, and having some lovely visitors and social activities.

Weekends have been quite fun recently - starting off with a 50th birthday party for Kate and family including her mum Emeritus Professor Dame Charmian who was celebrating being 82 - we had a lovely meal at Sen - a very good Vietnamese restaurant in the city..

My old friend Charmian and her daughter Kate - lovely evening

Then the next morning a friend and I went int o th Vintage textiles fair - lots of lovely old clothes, linen, lace and all sorts of bits and pieces - quite fun people watching as quite a few people were dressed up in "vintage" clothes although I think the people in this photo have a style known as Steam Punk!

We didnt buy much - I am trying desperately not to buy any more fabric until i use up or sell some of what I have accumulated.

Then another friend invited me to the movie at the local theatre called Camino Skies - I loved it - wish I thought my legs would stand up to doing some of this walk in Spain - i think 800km is a bit too far!

"The inspirational journey of six antipodean pilgrims between the ages of 50 and 80 who embark on the historic 800 kilometre Spanish pilgrimage.

In the face of overwhelming odds, the Camino acts as a catalyst for catharsis and forces the group to defy their age and physical ability as they come to terms with recent loss.

Heart-breaking and inspirational, ‘Camino Skies’ is an uplifting story about everyday people doing the extraordinary."

Then the anticipated visit to the endodontist who did completely painless quick sorting out of my root canal problem - cost me four figures but Ok so worth it. - back for another break the bank visit in three weeks to fill the canals. Lovely youngish dentist - he wears luminous lime coloured sneakers!

The next weekend I went out to the franklin Art Festival to see if there were any examples of textile Art suitable for our exhibition... there were two or three which was good. On the Sunday I had nothing on and the day dawned with blue skies so I got up early, decided to get out of the house for the day and took the camper down to the waterfront - I got a parking spot just by the water in the car park at mission Bay - and stayed the whole day - watching the people, dogs and boats go by - and Tui had two walks and I did some studying ... much more fun than staying at home! especially as i could make cups of tea etc whenever i wanted...

My million dollar spot for the day at Mission Bay

Following up on some contact names I had a couple of most enjoyable "cuppas" with a couple of local quilters and quilt artists - some people are enormously talented!

Flying Geese by Rose May Scott

 By golly - then we drove to Hamilton for the Annual Waikato Craft Show and I spent  a delightful hour catching up with Linda - my second cousin who had been my flower girl all those years ago ( now she is a grandma...) She is one of NZ's top embroiderers and it is always a please to see her innovative and gorgeous work as well as just spend time with her.  Drove quickly back to pick up Kiri, Peter's grand daughter from Sydney who had flown over to go to a special Ball with her father.
We talked for hours that night - it was great to spend time with her - she has grown into a beautiful woman.

Kiri and her Dad, Peter Godfrey ( we call him Little Pete)

Then the next morning I was off into the Auckland Quilt Guild where I had to do some further networking - very productive morning.
 After that I picked up a friend and her husband from Brisbane - lesley and I had worked together and enjoyed time together when i worked in Australia some years ago - another very creative lady. I did my favourite tourist trip out to the Arataki Visitors Centre on the Scenic Drive int he Waitakere Ranges, out to Piha the wild west coast beach that features on a TV reality show, and then out to the Gannet colony at Muriwai. The gannets had arrived back to reunite with their partners, mate, build nests and soon there will be eggs and chicks... you can get so close to them and their flights are quite awe inspiring as they rise on the updrafts of the cliffs at Muriwai! Could have stood there for hours and watched them...but it was getting late in the afternoon and the wind was biting.

So a fair bit of sewing later, as i have almost finished quilting one quilt, made a sample of Seminole patchwork for my Sydney group, and done some hand work to finish a couple of other UFOs ( unfinished objects)... I am off the the local Quilting Guild tomorrow and then to the local premiere of the Downton Abbey movie on Sunday.. Going to be a fun weekend.

A sample of Seminole patchwork

Oh, and I have read a few books, watched a few movies and gone to Aquarobics twice a week as well!

When I come to write it down - looks like a lot - guess I have had a spring in my step - blame it on the daffodils!

I am so grateful to be in good health and having the time and the space to decide what is important to me, and get out there and do it... good company in the form of friends, activities, music and books - the motto on my fridge is "Live every day as if it is your last".. and I love the quote we were reminded of at my Philosophy group this week "Rejoice in the present!"