Coddled Eggs

Coddled Eggs

Wednesday 28 May 2014

................................Without further ado.............................

Let me introduce.......A BOY

The day finally arrived when I was able to welcome the most beautiful little boy into our ever expanding Whanau.
Although he has no name as yet he certainly has a huge presence ....and I mean huge.
He weighed in at a whopping 4.5 kilos which in pounds is 9lb 14.7ozs.
He was born a few seconds after 10 past 2pm on Monday the 26th of May ........It was a beautiful day ...It had rained and hailed the day before even thunderstorms but when this man arrived ....It was calm.....

So pink and soft and oh so loved....




Hard to imagine this little man was in his Mamma's belly ....Just like this.....

Paternal Aunt or should I say Maternal 
One never forgets....




My dear Dad, who is 88 years of age, has had 7 babies of his own with my Mum (who has passed away).
He is so proud of his grand daughter and I am so grateful he is alive to hold yet another great grandchild.
Dad suffered 3 heart attacks in the last week.  Although they were not major it was enough to remind us that,  OLD and Brand New there is a fragility to life and with that comes the need for gentle touch, kindness and care.
Look at Dads gentle hands and that little bubba's gentle face .........
.........MUCH LOVE.......


I love my Dads hands I have always thought of them as wizards hands and even bought a wizard for the Christmas tree with hands just like my Pappa's.
Those hands have spent years working and moulding us all into what we have become today.
..My parents loved children and I must say all of my siblings have a special way with little babies and children and although as adults we may not see things equally we would all have to agree when it comes to babies and children we are all very able and capable of great love.
Growing up in a large family  I recall when a new baby was ready to join in  at the dinner table there was never a high chair for the baby to sit in  .
That place was  reserved  for Dads knee. Even when grandchildren came Dad's knee would again be occupied as he ate his meal ...
When it come to bedtime it was Dads shoulders that served as carriage ....

Dad  was a soldier. He was conscripted so inevitably took part in a war where Holland  
colonised Indonesia .
I believe it left him traumatised and  he told me he feels resentful of all wars.
I am happy he feels that way about war.

Dad loved Indonesia, the food ( he loved to make Nasi Goreng) The beautiful woman, the heat ,the scenery and all that was pleasant. 
He also deeply loved my mother to whom he was married for over 50 years....
Dad is an artist and a gentle man . It is cruel then to think this passive soul had to become a soldier after having to endure world war 2 in his own homeland of Holland.

 When I was growing up there were  4 little watercolour paintings hung on the wall in our hallway.
 Dad had bought them back with him from Indonesia.
A fond memory of mine is being perched on his shoulders as he stopped in front of each and explained ....This is Krommis and this is The Cock Fighter and this  is....... 
Then he would throw us into bed on the count of three after singing a little dutch song
 "Jonas in de Walvis "which I believe means Jonas in the whale.
In recounting these stories I am reminded that memories are all that is left of my childhood.....
It is therefore, for me, so important to create wonderful memories for my little grandchildren to look back on. .
I hope I can make wonderful memories and create lasting loving impressions......

Incipit vita nova


“Tell me, what is it you plan to do 
with your one wild and precious life?” 
― Mary Oliver



These last two days have been a celebration of New Life and of Old Precious Life still retained.
I am so thankful I still have a Father alive to share the beauty of  My Whanau ...
...........May the light shine from him and on you all ......








Monday 19 May 2014

........Monday Monday but not Mundane....





Preparing for the 20th of the month is always a little tedious. Lots of data entry, checking columns .......banking....... reconciling and getting mail ...
It is a 35km round trip to do the banking and get the mail so I always try to include other chores or I treat myself to a visit with a friend.
Today was very special I did go to see a friend....but first I got a wonderful surprise when the courier delivered 2 huge boxes FOR ME.
The friend  I visited is a wonderful gardener in fact she would have the greenest thumb of any of my friends .
Her garden is a work of art .It includes an Orchard, an amazing Vegetable garden complete with an asparagus patch to die for, a grove of Hazelnuts a paradise garden, a  hot garden ( Hot Vibrant colours) a secret little walk through to a formal garden ... and the views are spectacular mountain Vista's panorama and   with every peek through trees or walkway there are little surprises like tiny seedling cyclamen or  foxgloves nestling in, waiting for spring or catkins blowing in the breeze.....It just goes on and on each breath taking garden more beautiful then the prior
She keeps the garden immaculate and  is 15 years older then I am.
We met when my daughter arranged singing lessons for me.
Instead of a pupil teacher relationship we quickly forged a lasting friendship based on mutual love of Music, script, gardening , books and the night sky....and of course we just liked each other.
Today my lovely friend gave me about 200 fritillaria bulbs that she had grown from the seeds she collected. 
I must say,  I am proud to say, I showed her how to collect them or at least pointed out during one of our strolls in the garden that the Fritz had great seed heads.
I told her  I had  once managed to sprout hundreds only to mistake the sprouts for grass and weeded them out.
Now she of course is  far wiser than I .A seed raising tray was used to raise her little baby Fritz...

The gift from a friend "little baby Fritz"....

that will grow into.......


Fritillaria  meleigris




It was extremely hard to concentrate on work today ...I doodled  while on business calls....
What was going on in my 

subconscious mind I wonder ...



I downloaded the latest  "Game of Thrones"  episode which I also now have on talking books thanks to my Son....




then watched it ...



At least my hands were busy while I watched




Ripped duvet covers knitted up into bath/ beach mats....


I felt so happy that my husband,   today of all days wanted to spoil me

The card  is one of those singing ones with some guy singing "she's a silver freak" .... It made me well up . The message inside is too personal to share but I felt very appreciated and loved ...............






and I kept getting up and playing with the gift my husband , who incidentally is my rock,
sent me .....
Remember those 2 big boxes that arrived this morning........


Again a day that could have been pretty so so turned into a magical warm fuzzy Melodic day..........
I will leave you with the quote in the little paperweight that I got from my darling friend that watches me from above....I think of her every day.........and in my heart I know she is smiling ...a  gentle smile.....

 I wish for all of you  a peaceful gentle smile. and don't forget to whistle, hum or sing  every now and then...


















Sunday 18 May 2014

        ............. Quick unpick...........

As you have probably guessed I have not left yet......It is Sunday and I am still here ...I will no doubt rush off as soon as the telephone rings but for now I am content to finish my projects and get much needed emotional rest....Life is a roller coaster.
I have had some very Sad and Bad and Disturbing news in these last 2 months.(nothing to do with the baby coming for those of you who may have got a wee fright , no the baby.... that is pure joy).

It's life .....and  life  happens...........

I  believe I take longer then the average person to process information because my brain insists on dissecting  enquiring and analysing before I accept  bad sad or disturbing news.
Denial is often my best friend but when confronted with the truth , the facts,the inevitable ......I slowly come round to dealing with the emotional aspects of each situation.
In this case its rather unfair I should be confronted with so much in such a short space of time.
I will share with you but not right now ...maybe next month, which incidentally is my birthday month.
Constant use has worn down my quick unpick..... maybe its time to start doing it right and to get a new quick unpick.

Finished and topped off with a little glass button.

....a wee bag for my glasses...


If  " from "Pillow case to Spec's case " appeals to you wait till you see my "Table throws made  from old skirts"...... Oh and my "Stylish Skirts from old Table throws" and my "little coats" for children out of "old blankets".....Oh and yes I really do want to get started on those hot water bottle  covers.
This was a belt that I unpicked....... guess what it will be.

There is still lots of Autumn colour around despite the fact that winter is now two weeks away and despite the rain and warm breeze  (which never lasts long enough here).
I hardly exercised at all today so mental note to myself "move more please"......
Time to make a wreath.
Cotoneaster franchetii


Don't you just love colour My favourite colour is green.My entire living area is a pale dusky green...........


The Magnolia Susan still holding on to her leaves....

Nearly all the leaves have fallen ...the odd apple that has been hollowed out by bee's and the ever present brown "Greenman"......

Well folks thats another day sewn up ...and boy a quick unpick was needed today......

Have a wonderful warm life ....hope you don't have to do too much quick "unpicking"
Oh and did you guess it was a case for my Ipad tablet.....








I




Saturday 17 May 2014

                 .....Leave or Leaf.....


Decisions decisions....Will I go to the city today or wait till tomorrow.?
Yes, finally the time has come for this little overdue bundle of joy to get a little check up at the hospital  ( yes I know we have been meaning to go earlier but daughter No ! has herself procrastinated with very good reason) . I am to accompany my Daughter her Husband and her very dear friend and second Mum. (or is it her 3rd 4th or 5th she honestly has so many "Mums " in her life.)
The trouble with leaving is ....the leaves have piled up again, there is a swag of accounts to prepare for the 2oth of the month there are so many jobs i haven't finished and we have no idea when this little delight will arrive .
I could be in the city for a week.


There are many up sides though ....
I get to see my lovely Dad......
I can drive out to the sea and get a fix of the briny air and pick up little seaside treasures...
I can go harvest some sphagnum moss  for hanging baskets....
I can forget about the leaves for a while....





I can visit my friend and join in a Wednesday night Victoria meeting.....I have so enjoyed this new friendship which came about through losing a mutual darling friend.
Through our grief we have forged a lovely friendship.
My friend sent a  book swapbag she had lovingly made along with a notebook to keep record of our swaps. It is such a lovely thing to do. Our first swaps bought great delight.




I love the little Pot Pourri sachet . 
It is filled with lemon verbena.
Aloysia citrodora

..and as for the books  they are stunning. I especially love the Vintage Flowers.......





I got to last night and quickly whipped up two little glasses cases out of an old pillow case but they are  not finished ........dang and drat.............
So do I go or do I stay and finish them....




I think they can wait and be a nice little parcel in the mail to my friend........


I do so want to be with my daughter and my grandchildren ...the pull is too great .....
I would never forgive myself if I wasn't there to support her in this the most special time in her life ....
So dear followers I will send you all love and prosperity in all things and I will go get ready ........

For the Victoria meeting we need to bring two wee treasures.
I will share those at a later date because I want to surprise my friend.


I did find a treasure yesterday though.....
its an old Carltonware jam dish. 
It's been buried a long time so the dark staining will not come out even with bleach but I just love it...

The cheerful little flowers are so cute......

Don't forget to have a laugh today even if its just at yourself...........




                                         .......A Material Girl...........

My Mother was a dressmaker. Mum designed and drafted the patterns for almost all of the clothes she made.
Mum was also very gifted at crotchet (my babies all left the hospital clad in pure wool layettes)  crochet jacket, woolen singlet, helmet or bonnet and each had an exquisite shawl.
My daughter has her shawl and no doubt this new baby (when it arrives)  will  be lovingly snuggled in it.
My youngest daughter will get hers when she has her first baby.
I remember every few months a large parcel of fabric arriving. I never knew if Mum ever bought these mail order fabrics or if they were returned but I do remember Mum  making some lovely dresses for me.
One in particular was a dusty light blue with a gold thread through it .
I had a little dress with a petticoat.
 My sisters had dresses made too in the same fabric The elder sisters dress was a sophisticated style , mine very simple with a tie that tied in a bow at the back and of course the petticoat and my  two youngest sisters got matching little frocks . 
I don't know if that is where my love for fabric or buttons started but I remember that blue and gold thread so vividly and Mums button tin which was a big tin that had once held Quality Street Confection.
I found this picture on the net. I don't know what happened to Mums button tin or her many books where she kept all our measurements for years .



At our local recycle centre I pick up some lovely fabric and from time to time I get some amazing fabric.
These were covers on an old feather down  ......








If you like the cover check out the eiderdown its so ancient the feathers are flying but its so gorgeous.

I have a special new friend whom I think will love a piece of these fabrics so I will cut them up and pop them in my basket for when I go to the city ....

Mum was also very good at making Doilies, Lace collars and embroidered  table cloths.

For my 30th birthday I got the most exquisite collars ... one with tiny seed beads.
Mum really was very talented and I am so grateful.
For my 49th birthday I got a tablecloth that took Mum years to make I treasure it and will share that on a later  blog.


the lace for this came in a roll of little scallops that Mum painstakingly tacked together in florets then crotched  around. to tie it altogether.
The scalloped lace run came from an elderly Nun named Sister Saint Anne.






I love the tiny pearls.

The find of the day though would have to be a lovely vintage Summer frock that would look splendid with a pair of black gummies ............

...........and below Tea cosy extraordinaire ............

The challenge of the day is to work out how these delightful little flowers were made......

They are made with the tiniest bits of wool.



Mum never threw anything out ...she continuously said "I must go through my fabrics, my cottons, my wool my sewing room and clean it out ....she never really did and I am glad because I squirrel away all these bits and then just like today I find a little treasure and  a big challenge........... and  out  comes my collection ...........The problem.....
 Where to begin
 Little flowers or bags ...
and do the hotties covers wait

Never have a dull moment people busy hands happy heart 
...................