I took Derek to the airport this morning as he is off to Auckland for a big meeting today then working with Andrew tomorrow in Palmerston North and then New Plymouth. He has never been to NP before which is on the bottom of the west coast of the North Island so hope he gets to explore a little, most probably not though. It is in the Taranaki Region and they have a big and beautiful volcano there called Mount Taranaki and the lovely Egmont National Park.
Our car went in for its' WOF test today (like an MOT) and she passed with flying colours so that is a relief. I had to get three new tyres for it last week so that was a quite $525 spent but apart from that and the odd service, she has served us very well so far so we can't complain. We used to have to do the WOF twice a year but that changed in January so I don't have to take her in for another twelve months now.
I finally finished another quilt the other day, just had to do the edging so am very pleased with it. It got a bit twisted in one part and I hand to hand quilt it twice in one spot, never got it quite right but it didn't effect it too much in the end. The majority of it was done from a 'jelly roll' sewn together in pairs then cut and turned, quite simple but effective.
I also hope that Becky and Phoebe had fun sorting out their garden in time to put up the new shed today. Lots of hard work but it will be worth it, it already looks ten times better from the photos you sent. Kathy and Greg are having a few days off together too so hope you get out in the sun for a while (I have been watching your weather reports and it looks lovely) and also hope that Deb and the girls have fun on their Spring Break for the week.
I have been tidying up a lot in the garden and putting in a green crop which I will dig in to improve the soil in Spring. It is a blue lupin and started to sprout within three days of me watering it in. I just hope it does the trick and puts back some goodness into my very sandy and tired soil. I dug up the bergamot and the lemon balm this morning from one of the beds to make room for next year and it took me ages. It has served it's purpose for two years bringing in the bees and making herb teas and has been lovely but the clumps were taking over the bed and creeping into the one next door too. I have put some of it down the shady side of the house so maybe it will take off there too, maybe not enough sun for it though. Also in the front garden by the garage. The horseradish has become a real thug so that has gone in there too. I made some horseradish sauce last week, talk about blow your head off but it is very nice, shame Derek doesn't like it.
Derek wasn't too well when he got back late last week from Auckland/Christchurch and had a nasty cold (I didn't get it thank goodness) so took it easy for a day or so. He was feeling lots better by Sunday so we went off for a hike on the Sluicings in Bannockburn as we haven't been up there for a while.
Our 'black boy' peaches are falling off the tree now so time to pick them all. I have been poaching and freezing them as we have loads this year and also think I am going to put some in a box on the curb side and tell the neighbs to help themselves. Once they fall they ripen very quickly. They have a very thick furry skin which is not very nice but it falls off easily if you poach them. Apparently it makes great ice cream if you freeze it then add cream and beat it until smooth. Maybe I will have a go at that when Derek comes home.
Right time for lunch then some pruning and tomato picking. I have bags of baby tomatoes in the freezer now and basil which I can add to all sorts of things in the winter, we have way too many to eat 'raw' at the moment and I didn't think they were going to do too well this year after the slow start to Spring. Wrong there then!
Take care of each other. TTFN xxxxxx
Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt and dance like no one is watching.
- Randall G Leighton