A New Year and a January Round Up

     

A belated happy new year, even though it's halfway through February already.

January was a pretty lazy month, some time off over Christmas and New year, lots of books were read, no sewing was done, though I did purchase some fabric. My dahlias and zinnias have finally started flowering and I am loving having big bright bouquets in my house.  I've hiked, and continued my daily walks, paddle boarded, and went on a holiday with The Scout to Mangiwhai.   Most excitingly I have booked myself a trip to Brisbane later in the year.

Lets see what February brings.

New Year Thoughts and Happenings

Happy New Year!

Enjoy the beautiful dahlias currently flowering in my garden.

We're currently six days into 2022 already, and I've decided I'm not really setting myself a lot of new goals or challenges this year. I have increased my work hours and have come to the realisation that trying to achieve everything, while working and still being chief house cleaner, cook and gardener is not really a healthy option.  I need time for exercise - (walking, hiking, yoga) and the hobbies (reading, sewing, quilting) that bring me joy too.

• I would like to finish my Groovy Hearts Quilt - it needs basting, quilting and binding.

• Another project I would like to complete the flimsy of my Midnight in the Tulip Garden Medallion Quilt - I suspect it will not be as big as I had originally planned, but finished is better than sitting in a dark cupboard.

• There will definitely be some sewing of clothes - I am thinking my big challenge here will be to make some tailored trousers suitable for work.

The day after New Years Day, The Scout and I went out to Huia on the West Coast of Auckland.  I have never been out here before, it very beautiful with wonderful beaches and sea views and native bush.  We did the Huia Dam walk from the Lower Huia Reservoir up to the Upper Huia Dam. The water looks rather revolting but apparently is is something to do with the dam being dug out of soil with a clay base. There are still a lot of tracks closed in the Waitakere Ranges due to the risk of kauri dieback disease spreading. All up it was about 8km return.

Hopefully I'll still manage to do a couple of blog posts per month, but I do post a lot more regularly on Instagram now - I can be found there under justjulielou.

Things Here Lately

 

My colour palette is currently based on these shades

Well, we are definitely headed into late autumn now.  The leaves are changing colour and falling everywhere, my mandarin and feijoa trees have been fruiting prolifically, the violets are starting to flower.  I can smell wood smoke from the odd fire that has been lit in my neighbourhood, (in fact we lit ours last weekend) and I'm starting to need to wear layers at work.  

I have temporarily increased my hours at work, which may yet end up being a permanent change, so I am finding I need to be more organised to ensure I get time to do all the things I like doing. Lets just say that lists are my forte at present.  So anyhoo, here's what have I been up too lately. 

• Obviously working on my new epp project, I have nine blocks completed now and have found a picture of the most beautiful floral arrangement, which has the colour palette I'd envisioned in my mind. I still struggle with choosing fabrics for the centre cross part of the block, I am sure that this part of the process takes longer than the actual stitching of the block itself.  I'm not sure if I'll make all the 48 blocks required, but I guess I have a lot of time to decide.

• I have also decided I need to conquer my fear of sewing with knit fabrics and make myself some layering pieces to wear for work and exercise, ie: walking and yoga.  So far I've made a black merino top from a Burda style pattern, which caused me to do an awful lot of swearing at my machine, the top is still wearable, and I will try this pattern again, with a different fabric .  I have also made a sweatshirt using the Undercover Hoody pattern from Papercut Patterns, from a charcoal merino/tencel knit, I'm certainly glad I upsized to size S.  I would like to try the hoody version of this next time too.  Also in the plans is a new jacket for work in a beautiful magenta cashmere/viscose blend.  I'm really looking forward to making and  wearing this.

• Of course, books will always feature in my daily life.  Some good novels I've enjoyed are:

            - The Invisible Woman By Erika Robuck (based on a real life story)

            - The Lost manuscript by Cath Bonidan (a charming epistolary novel)

• This corner of my garden is bringing me a lot of joy at present.  I love the bright green and deep crimson irisene, and I don't think I have ever seen as many flowers on the vireya before.  My dahlias have been cut back, and I'm pondering whether to risk leaving the tubers in the ground over winter this year.  

Hoping you are all enjoy whatever season you are living in at present,

Mangawhai Heads Holiday

 

View from our tentsite -looking out to the heads

Enjoying the calm and peace in the morning

An amazing retro bach 

Trying stand up paddle boarding

Getting ready to kick those jandals off and race into the waves

I've just returned from a week camping at Mangawhai Heads in Northland, with The Scout and Mr J. Unfortunately Miss B wasn't able to come with us,  so Mr J took a friend along for company.  We were lucky to have a beachfront tent site, so I enjoyed reading and sitting outside most mornings in my new robe with a cuppa,  before taking myself off for a morning walk and exploring different beach/street access points.

Each afternoon we headed to the main beach and boogie boarded, then returned back to our campsite where we read, (I managed to do some hand sewing one afternoon) and played lots of card games.

I hadn't realised how much I needed a proper holiday, away from home and all the busyness that makes up my day to day life.  I'm back at work tomorrow, already wondering when I can go back.

 

2021 - A New Year

 

I think for most of us, 2021 will be a New Year,  that in many ways will not be much different from the year we have just experienced.  We are going into this this year knowing what lies a head of us, unlike last New Year. 

This year, we're hoping for vaccines, for a miraculous cure, for the end of lockdowns and social distancing, for politicians to listen to scientists and doctors, for the freedom to travel and visit loved ones, basically, for life to return to normal. 

Whatever challenges, goals or dreams you have for the New Year, here's to good health, and happiness. 

Happy New Year.

Things Here Lately

 

I may not be posting to my blog as often as I used, but there is still lots of things happening.

• A big event in my life was turning 50 last weekend.  I was quite ambivalent about doing anything to celebrate it, but The Scout secretly organised a day off, so he and I travelled to see my parents and celebrate with them, and then celebrated with his family the next day.  I was well and truly spoilt by everyone.

• I've been reading a lot of historical novels lately, including: The French Photographer by Natasha Lester, set during the end of WW2.  Also Miss Graham's Cold War Cook Book by Celia Rees.  I have to admit that I was quite surprised at the ending in this book.

• My Groove is in the Heart quilt blocks are proving to be a fun distraction.  I probably spend more time trying to work out colour choices for the heart halves.  I think I'm definitely getting a little braver with my combinations now.

• A couple of months a go, I  attended a slab pottery workshop, where we made a couple of small planter pots.  Definitely made for smaller plants.

• Now the weather is warming up, my garden is slowly starting to burst into like, Most of my dahlias are sprouting, cannas are adding a hot splash of colour,  the jasmine is a mass of white flowers with the most divine perfume, which has replaced the clematis that was flowering earlier.  I have also started growing (nurturing) frangipani, which are a plant to test ones patience.  Apparently some seedlings can take up to 7 years to flower, so I am very grateful to at least see leaves on them.  I also have some new zinnia and cosmos seedlings to plant out later.

Wishing everyone a wonderful week ahead.

Stay well, stay safe, wear a mask.

Lockdown Learnings

 

I have plans!

Santa Claus decoration - pattern from here

Black Bean Chocolate Brownies

While I haven't enjoyed being in lockdown again, there are somethings I have learned from both of them.

• Little treats - life's little luxuries help make it seem not so depressing. Scented candles, magazines (luckily I have some subscriptions that turn up monthly in the post) yummy homebaked treats, fresh flowers.

• Exercise - daily walks help, I can see other people, say "hi, how are" from a socially appropriate distance, get fresh air and exercise which is good for the mind and body.

• Books - I need to read. I have learned that I should always have a pile of library books on hand.  While e-books are convenient (and at least life saving when one has no books), I enjoy the physical act of holding a book, turning the pages and immersing myself in another world.  Phones or e-readers are not the same.

• Sewing - my interests are important.  I am so glad that I create, craft, sew.  My creating has given me a way to keep sane and having time out in the sewing room gives me a break from the family, as well as meaning that I can make numerous masks to keep friends and family safe. I have a good sized quilting and clothing fabric stash, I just need to make sure I have matching threads, buttons and patterns printed. It also gives me time to start and finish (Santa Claus decoration) some small projects I have been putting on hold.

• Gardening - when you are outside gardening, one cannot worry. Fresh air, exercise, sunshine if you're lucky, hearing the birds, smelling freshly cut lawn or newly turned soil - all contribute to a somewhat relaxing experience, though my muscles may dispute that the next day.

So while I am glad to be back at work, talking to real people (albeit wearing masks), I do miss aspects of the lazier days of lockdown.   Fingers crossed we don't have to again though.

Stay safe, wear a mask. Kia kaha.