its all happening

It's all happening in the entrance to Port Nelson below my house.

  Day and night,ships coming and going.

 Containers to be loaded and unloaded, or logs to be picked up to take to China,

 shuddering and throbbing, crashing and banging,

 in all kinds of weather.

  A cruise ship is a surprise, especially when they start broadcasting their activities over the tannoy  at 8 am.

 HMNZS Otago sailed in this morning with the crew on the fore deck, all smart and ship shape.

The Battle of Trafalgar is to take place today - a keenly  anticipate rugby game. Could  that be a co-incidence?  Hmmm.

a country affair

Everyone knows I love a country fair. Dovedale was no exception, 

a beautiful,rural community in the hills above Nelson, NZ.

A charming costume display , included this 125 year old wedding  dress of tobacco taffeta,  that was worn in that worn in that very church.
Some vintage clothing for sale too.

As usual, lots of local talent to entertain.

Masses of stalls, crafts, eats, produce and bric a brac.

This lady must have been knitting baby booties for a year - she had two tables covered.

Face painting for kids - the same the whole world over.

Mosaic toadstools!

Super bags made from re-cycled wool blankets from " Ratbag Designs".

But DRAT....camera says change the battery so I can't show photos of the Motueka Brass Band (seriously good ).
Lots of farm animals
and some super jewelry from Jo Crompton. Get with the program Jo and get a website so I can show  some of your original brooches that I covet.

A great day out.

Back in NZ.

Prolific , lush, blooming agapanthus tells me I am back in New Zealand.

Along with the port life,

local fairs ( Kiwis excel in this regard)

and the welcoming signs.

please note the weather.......more to come.

some things remain the same

Some things remain the same in Rarotonga

The most adorable thrift shop in the world is still there.The volunteer remembered me from last year and I bought this

The backyard fruit is still weird and wonderful.

Pareos are still  exuberantly displayed all over the island.

BUT

the local trawler has been stranded on the reef, so fresh fish is scarce. I was lucky to find these skipjacks which I seared on the BBQ and served with a chilli/lime sauce.

a few billion bucks

A few days in Los Angeles on my way to New Zealand.

A lovely, if tiring,  day out at the Getty Villa

and the next day at the Getty Museum.

Both are almost overwhelming in riches.

They have the loot of the world!

All this followed by a fabulous concert by the LA Phil in the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Its wonderful what you can do with a few billion $$$$$$

A pest of a pattern

Condition is not  of the utmost importance  to me for my growing collection of vintage patterns.

In fact, I like the marginalia, and enjoy the intimacy of these old notes.

 " This one please or Ringside " ( that would be the pattern on the inside back cover,)
Which one did he received,?  what colour was it? Did it fit?

Laughed about this one, " not hard, but a pest of a pattern."

 G Nesbit  marks most of her leaflets " v good", " not good" or " 3 25grm balls for the jacket and bootees ( just)"  

 I wonder whether she is Gwen, Glenda , Gwyneth or maybe, Georgiana.
I bet I would have liked her.

First of the year

A great collection of unfinished quilt tops.

Bought from a nameless source ( OK, a country quilting shop that is going out of business ) I am slowly adding them to my etsy shop.

I have 11 altogether, some more alluring than others.

I believe they were made in a class held at the shop  - not sure.

Schoolhouse is my favorite.