What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

Wool has been loved for centuries—and not just because it’s cozy and warm. One of its coolest features is that it practically cleans itself! In fact, one of the oldest (and most natural) ways to freshen up wool doesn’t involve … Continue reading →

I'm obviously much to busy to do too much knitting while we are on our road trip.  The only thing I've worked on is my pair of pink socks, mostly knitted while traveling in the car.  This pretty yarn was a gift from my daughter Nicky last Christmas, so I'd like to get them finished soon.  They are coming along, I think I'm just about up to the heels by now.   In case you don't know, I knit my socks flat, two at a time.

My pink socks

Not only have I packed my pink ...

 We traveled down to Christchurch to spend some  time with my son Michael to celebrate his 60th birthday.  He had a busy week as he had flown up to Wellington to spend a couple of days with his Dad, then flew back down again in time for our arrival in Christchurch.  I had booked a table for dinner on Friday night at the Platform Brew Barn, a riverside establishment in Kaiapoi, quite close to where we are staying at the NZMCA park.

We've moved on to Napier to spend several days just relaxing.  But….. needs must, and we desperately needed to go to the laundromat.  There was one close by, and at the NZMCA camp we are staying, there was a huge clothesline to hang it all out.  There’s nothing better than laundry drying in the warm sunshine, is there?  Holiday or not, there’s always plenty of washing to do.

Round and round it goes

Not too far from the camp is the Filter Room which makes cider and beer.  There is also a restaurant attached and we took ...

Pre Christmas is such a busy time, isn't it.  We had another caravan trip planned, about 8 days this time, to attend the ICA Christmas Rally, up at Te Aroha and Matamata, quite a drive away for us.  Most of the ICA members live much further north than us, so depending on where the rally is being held, we generally have the longest drive.  Our first stop was at Turangi, a well known fishing area.  There was a tap  on the door, and a lady asked us if we would be interested in a trout fillet.  My goodness, of ...

Our Anniversary Trip was winding down.  But I did have time for a little shopping therapy.  Not much really, I was after some cream  wide backing for a project nearing completion, and while there picked up two half yard cuts of pink and green fabric for my daughter’s upcoming big birthday quilt. Nicky doesn't like “bright – in your face” types of colours so I found a couple of muted shades for her.

Holiday fabric purchases

You know you have arrived in Rotorua when that “rotten egg sulphur smell” hits your nose.  Not all the time, just here and ...

Why stick with one knitting project when you can have two going at the same time?  Actually, I’ve got a third, but I haven't started that one yet, can’t be too greedy, can I.  I've been knitting away on my second project from time to time for a change in pace.  This one is a little boy’s baby/toddler jumper, using up some spare wool I had at home.  Because it is small,  I’m knitting the back and front at the same time.  I’m almost at the front neck shaping so I’ll ...

I've spent a little time on my first Noah’s Ark Stitchery, and finished one.  It’s only small, but after all, every little bit helps.  I had to go shopping the other day to buy some black Perle no.5 thread as I had run out.

Two rabbits, done

So where have we been on our South Island trip these last few days?  St Arnaud was on my wish list for this trip.  I remember travelling through this tiny alpine village back in 2018 and remarking that I would like to stay here for a night or two ...

We're redoing our laundry room, here's the before and after as of now. The picture on the left was taken in February and is representative of how this space has looked since we built the house, almost twenty one years ago. Mr. Goodneedle had always wanted to build the cabinets for the house. All that time ago we were eager to get it done move in and, after designing and building most of our home

We're redoing our laundry room, here's the before and after as of now. The picture on the left was taken in February and is representative of how this space has looked since we built the house, almost twenty one years ago. Mr. Goodneedle had always wanted to build the cabinets for the house. All that time ago we were eager to get it done move in and, after designing and building most of our home

We are away on another caravan trip, this time for three weeks, from Urenui in New Plymouth down to Waikanae with the ICA (International Caravan Assoc) group.  I’ve found time to do some handwork, stitching a little more on the tea towels I’m making for my grand-daughters.  I’ve got this far on the pink one, and still have the boy fish slice to stitch.

Tea towel stitchery

I’ve got my knitting bag with me, and thought it would be a good opportunity to start stitching up a pair of burgundy socks I completed a while ago ...

Our beautiful Birman Gemma, like most cats, snoozes away during the day tucked up somewhere nice and comfy.  If not in front of our big windows in a sunny spot, she could be found on the sofa, and she rather likes our bed.  It’s all about comfort, isn't it.  Here she is, on top of my winter cat quilt, with her head on a pussy cat cushion.  She doesn’t know it, but the cushion has a photo of our previous Birman Muffy on the front, and was a 65th birthday gift from my penfriend Dianne from USA ...

Finally we are off on a caravan trip - the weekend was spent with our caravan club buddies, not too far away at Betts Farm.  Our previous caravan club rally had been cancelled due to Covid lockdown, as had our planned 3 week trip north.  So there was plenty of news to catch up with our caravan buddies.  The night ended with a lovely sunset, always so nice to see the gorgeous colours in the sky.

Lovely sunset

The weekend rally seemed to be all about eating and a little drinking.  Glenys was celebrating her birthday on Saturday so she rushed ...

We made a trip up to New England to visit with family and spend Mother's Day with my mother. As of this morning we're home again and the washing machine is working overtime. Our visit north was blessed by the weather gods; lovel, sunny (albeit chilly) days and crisp, cool nights. It was glorious! My sister and her husband met up with a lobster fisherman on Saturday afternoon and brought back TEN(

We made a trip up to New England to visit with family and spend Mother's Day with my mother. As of this morning we're home again and the washing machine is working overtime. Our visit north was blessed by the weather gods; lovel, sunny (albeit chilly) days and crisp, cool nights. It was glorious! My sister and her husband met up with a lobster fisherman on Saturday afternoon and brought back TEN(

How often would this happen to strangers, I wonder?  While still on holiday, there I was, waiting for yet another load of washing to finish its cycle at the laundromat.  It was a typical very hot Hawkes Bay day so I decided to sit outside while I did a little knitting.  Along came young woman who had the same idea, it was so hot inside with all the machines, that we were pleased of a gentle breeze wafting around.  Her name was Louise, and she had brought her knitting along too, to while away the waiting time.

Knitting while waiting ...

I’ve taken both knitting and stitching projects away on the trip.  Must admit I often do knitting in the car while we are traveling, and have finished two little sleeves on the toddler cardigan I’m making and have now started on the back.  I’m not in any hurry with this project, and I’m using up left over wool from my own jumper finished recently.

Knitting in the car, and two sleeves finished

After the Covid scare in Auckland we changes our travel plans are have been moving slowly southwards. We drove along the Desert Road and ...