Peaches, cyclones and knitting

Another weekend gone. I collapse on Fridays after a manic week at school. I could have collapsed tonight - but I've thrown a roast in the oven, ironed a basket load, done 2 loads of laundry and stared at some knitting, while thinking about a uni assignment. Three more weeks till the hols, which I am already looking forward to! I am looking forward to our new bed which arrives tomorrow - the oldest is getting our 12 year old queen size bed in his new bedroom. The room looks divine - still to order roman blinds, but otherwise all finished.


The hot weather has been good for one thing! Peaches. They are glorious and the best lot we have ever had. I spent a few hours yesterday peeling, cutting, making syrup and bottling several big jars of them. Still another big box to process. The youngest wants apples stewed too, but I'll have to buy the apples for those. I love peach plus apple pies in winter!

We had Cyclone Pam come through, but thankfully it was very mild. I did stock up on water, batteries. powdered milk, tins. Pam is now over on the East Coast (Gisborne and surrounds - where we were in January) and is having a much more devastating impact. Thinking of another blogger over there who I hope is okay! Vanuatu is a mess - totally devastated and impoverished already in such a big way before the direct hit. I am running a fundraising mufti/sausage sizzle day for Vanuatu at school. 
Lots of knitting completed over the weekend - another cardigan for a friend and I started a "My Favourite" cardigan for me in a gorgeous rust colour wool from Utiku Wools. There have been a few mutterings and un-doing of the pattern, but I made it finally - whew! Tonight I am finishing off dishcloths as a knit along with Mel. I am a bit behind with her patterns, but will get there!

have a good week everyone!

Checking in on my 2015 goals...

These are my 2015 goals I set in January - how am I doing? -

* pass 2 university papers at least (I've done 3 this past year)  -  passed exam Feb 12 and started my first 2015 paper
* visit Christchurch twice (one trip for school library conference) - not yet
* visit Dunedin -last weekend - yippee
* visit Queenstown -  not yet
* shop locally -  yes
* buy more from Felt for gifts -  bought few gifts at all so far
* buy more books - spent $1600 from library budget already :) ; Bought a few for home
* keep vege garden going - going really well
* keep up with letter writing - only owe 3 :)
* make more preserves, marmalade,lemon honey (rest of jam tastes gone since tonsils out nearly 2 years ago) - Preserving peaches this weekend
* scrapbook more - completed LOTS of pages
* cross stitch more - no
* knit more for other people (2 orders for cardigans already this year)- nearly finished another cardigan for a friend
* do more school library outreach - a tiny bit done
* keep the house a lot more tidier - NOPE
* de-clutter once again - half done
* design and build new kitchen - thought about it...
* paint inside / new carpet in bedrooms - renovated a bedroom impulsively instead :)
* blog more - hmmmm not really
* catch up with friends more - yes in a fortnightly craft group :)
* wake up and get up earlier in the mornings (this will be hard...) - yes - a miracle!
* cook more dinners (husband's "job") - ha -  nope
* help guide 2 kids into 2 new schools (one will get a fright...) - a big change for one which is impacting on all of us....
* cut the grocery bill - actaually have no clue whether i have or not (so just buying what i like really!)
* use more natural products for cleaning - sort of
* finish quilt - no
* visit local family more - only for birthdays so far...
* do more local sightseeing - no - too hot for me to go anywhere much!
* spend a few weekends away with the husband - working on this
*live a lot more simply - I have most certainly been using stashes and not buying as much stuff as usual and using up things in the house/ veges from garden etc

So really , overall, going pretty well! Things have been tough at work, and this weekend I am cleaning like a mad women, knitting, knitting,knitting and buying a new bed for the first time in 14 years! Things are so behind at home and the house is a tip.  The new bedroom looks fab and we are just waiting for the floors to harden up a bit before the teenager moves back in. Electrician was in today and we just need to get new curtains made and we are done!

Take care if you are in the way of the cyclone - we need a lot of rain, so that will be welcome, but we can do without cyclone damage!

Colour

Gorgeous New Zealand wool from Unwind / Cute little Moda Vera cotton from Spotlight / Divine stitchmarkers and wooden buttons from Unwind and my cousin Jackie / Roses and so many flower buds on the beans - many / Peaches. Glorious amounts too. Have had to run around school giving away jars of 2014's batch of peach chutney, as we will make lots this weekend, as well as bottle peach quarters. / Still hot for this time of the year and many sunny days. A l-o-n-g real summer.

Unwind , Dunedin

I've just spent a glorious weekend in Dunedin, way down at the bottom of the South Island, at Unwind, a knitting and fibre retreat, with my couisn Jackie who lives in Dunedin.

A lot cooler, which was so needed for me. Such an awesome student city, with lots of gorgeous architecture, great cafes (Iconic and Vogel Street Kitchen) and plenty of hard core knitters and divine wool for sale in a few rooms. Had a great time. Just a few photos tonight, as I am struggling to stay awake as have been up since 5am. (middle of the night for me). There were purchases, but I am pleased to say I surprised my cousin even, who bought more than me! ;)

crafty stuff

I really have slowed down in my knitting since I finished my exam (3 weeks ago tomorrow! I have popped back to the uni website a couple of time since to really check that my grade had not changed. Ha! It has still stayed the same.)
On Friday afternoon I am heading off to Dunedin to the Unwind Fibre Retreat. I am so excited. Excited that my cousin Jackie invited me along and excited about learning to spin and excited that lots and lots of wool will be for sale :) and excited that I'll be with a whole bunch of knitters to meet.
Anyone else going?

I'm doing lots of projects -
sewing more pj pants (honestly the humidity has totally KILLED me these past few days. Sunday i stayed inside and sewed! 88% humidity at 10pm is just silly... the fan is on at 7am and my 3 air cons at school turned on as soon as i walk in the door!) These are for nephews and nieces here in NZ and Switzerland and my boys too - 5 pairs sewn in an afternoon.

knitting plain socks for a friend -

a scarf (NZ wool processed in Sweden and found in a shop by a Swedish friend who sent it to me!)

just starting Georgie Hallam's new pattern - the adult version of Granny's Favourite - hooray -

Following along with One Crafty Mumma's dishcloth knit along...

 I am soooo tired at the moment. We are up to 93 new students. I have books for Africa everywhere and just cannot keep up.... Dunedin has come at a good time!