Went for a nice long walk this morning - I took my ''lazy days'' track - I couldn't quite face the gazillion steps on the other ''track'' even though I really had no reason to feel lazy. I mean, it's not as if yesterday was spent doing anything more strenuous than stitching and watching a pile of DVD's, and then, even though I meant to get up at 2.00 a.m. this morning (does that hour actually exist!) to watch our fabulous All Whites in action, I didn't!! Well, I did sort of - just briefly - to wake Jake who had decided he would also watch it - but I am ashamed to say that we both decided that our beds were more appealing at that hour of the morning - and now of course I wish we did get up 'cos we drew with the Italians!!! How amazing is that! I don't normally get quite so caught up withany sporting event, but how can you not!!

So anyway, today being the shortest day of the year, I thought I would look for early early signs of spring - ever hopeful I know, but I did find one! I know these aren't real spring bulbs, just little old onion plants, but they do still look pretty...

... and the ground under these trees will be covered in daffodils in not so many weeks away.
I'll show you this photo again in Srping - it's quite beautiful here. Then I saw these - in real life they are absolutely tiny - I thought they were just so cute - can you have cute toadstools?

Spent some time with Jane again over the last couple of weeks and I have finished two more gorgeous little blocks - this first is one of her fans...

... and then I did the autumn hollyhock window...

On the weekend I also stitched the next block of Lynette Andersons Scandinavian Christmas - 'cept I've just realised that I still have to put a patch on Snowie!

This has been a lovely diversion today, but sadly now I must attend to bookwork. Hmmm - I'm sure if I look around, there is something else I can find to do instead .... cuppa tea and stitching anyone?

See you later

Jenny

Chilly!

Thought I'd show you where we went on the weekend - it was time to get out for the day - blow away the cobbies! We didn't go far - just out to Aramoana - half an hour's drive away to the beach. When we left Dunedin it was coolish, but okay (just). When we got out there - well, no chance that the cobwebs were going anywhere - they froze in place!! You think this looks chilly ...

... colder still ...

... and, if possible, even colder....

... notice the beach attire!! Yep - chilly was an understatement. But, I was determined to go for a walk on the beach, which I did ... for three and a half minutes!!! Even though it was colder than you can imagine, it was still fun - and the ocean on a stormy day is pretty spectacular. We scurried back to the car and decided that hot chips and in my case, coffee, was needed to stop hypothermia from setting in (a good excuse don't you think, to scoff hot chips!). We had a picnic in the car overlooking the harbour - and these lovely girls waddled past - so close I could have touched them ....

.... gorgeous aren't they. Then we had a wee wander round Port Chalmers - I really love some of the old buildings out there. This church up on the hill is amazing...

Love this one too...

...and the windows in this one took my fancy.

Got your hat?

So back home, and unthawed, I finished a little bit of stitching - the next gorgeous girl in Jane Austen's Bonnet quilt - she is quite beautiful.

I love stitching the little posies.

I'm going back to Aromoana in the Spring. I have a beach to walk!

See you

Jenny

How did it get to June already?

My goodness - it's been a while - and now its June! Is it just me, or did the last month seem to whiz by just a little too quickly. Nearly half way through the year already - before you know it they will be doing that countdown thingie for Christmas! Which is not so bad, really, 'cos I like Christmas, but I'd also like the year to slow down a little.

We had a good frost yesterday morning - the first real white crunchy one, with tricky little icy patches on the pavement, as I discovered while out on my morning walk! Going down High Street was ''interesting'' to say the least, but not nearly so much "fun" as going up some of the steps along my walking route. I really really hope that no one was looking as once or twice I must have looked like a right wally - doing an ice dance and all the while trying to stop from going down on my backside - that would have been too embarrassing! Trouble was, by the time I figured out that I probably should not have been out walking, I was past the half way point and I decided it was possibly a safer bet to keep going. I think yesterday's walk (skate) definitely qualifies as another one of those times that I just didn't think it through to the end - should have stayed home, had another cuppa and read the paper for a little longer!!!

I've finished just one more block of Jane Austen - the words for the second strip...which do make me smile...

... and the next block of Down in the Garden.

Had a gorgeous delivery of fabric last week (or maybe it was the week before - what with the way the month has flown) and I had to have a play. So ... I made a bag!!

And I've also been busy with samples for the Christmas Retreat - so these little guys happened...

... and you can read more about that on the other blog :))

I need to go and pile some more wood on the fire - it's nice and cosy in here - the perfect stitching place to be. Keep warm and happy stitching.

Jenny