Exploring day 3

Today we found our way to a park..Green Bottle Lake Park..I was expecting native bush and a lake....but no....it was a pine plantation with walking and biking rtracks and a pond !!!!

we had a good walk and finally asked a local where the lake was....there isnt one was her answer so we decided to go to the beach instead!!

love how the beaches stretch on forever from here!!

off we go!! We walked for about 15 mins and then hubby said he wanted to head back, so we returned to the car and drove to the Brighton pier

fromma cafe at the end of the pier, where we got a cuppa

we watched this man create this amazing picture in the sand with a plastic rake....I was very impressed

the view from the end of the pier

sadly coming back we saw the tide had come in and part of the creation had gone

we drove to the end of Marine Parade and on the way I had to stop as there were several limestone sculptures on the side of the road

lots of native plants had been planted around and behind them and there was a lovely plaque on a bench seat

I wondered if this lady was a local artist.....was a wonderful place to be,  there were also work tables and water for carving. One of those treasures you sometmes come across and as I was driving we stopped!!!

Later I went off to do some geocaching

and passed this beautiful garden, the rose perfume was beautiful 

and this carving was at the entrance to a retirement village...amazing what you see when you are out walking. Will leave you in peace now!! Lol!!

Off to do a few stitches.

Happy sewing.

FNWF results

I did manage to get some sewing done after we got home from dinner out, and worked on two hexies for the New Hexagon project, one finished, the other on the way!!

hope to get around and see what other stitchers got up to later today...pop over to Cheryll's

Happy sewing.

Exploring day 2

Today hubby played golf and so I went off into the city and had a ride on the tourist tram, was  very interesting to hear the drivers stories...no building over 7 stories any more in Christchurch, and the cost of the repairs is just staggering, one building has had more spent in repairs than it cost to build the building in the first place!!!

cicadas have hatched and are singing away up in the trees...makes me remember my childhood, always a sign of summer to me!

outside the new council offices

Re Start...where the shops from the cbd are now, food places, cafes, cloths shops, banks, they are all here in 60 +containers and will be here for another year.

this might be me in my dotage taking the dog for a walk!!! Lol!!!!

there is a lot of street art on the walls of exposed buildings through out the city..some of it is most beautiful..

a wall of containers to protect the road as demolition happened.

these phone boxes are all over the city and they even  have phones in them..some also have free wifi

this old clock tower has been restored and had the legs strengthened since the earthquakes

and this pretty ordinary photo is a memorial to fire fighters everywhere...made from steel taken out of the ruin of the World Trade centre. 

Tonight of course is Friday Night With Friends....we are going out for dinner but later I will be sewing along!

Happy sewing.

Exploring day

We had a great day yesterday, we hired bikes from the office here and off we went!! Luckily we found bike lanes to keep out of the traffic, then a track that goes along side the railway line....the city is under going much renovation and restoration work, there is road works and noise everywhere....

Amazing sculture in Cathedral Square

the Cathedral hasn't had any repairs started yet as agreement can't be reached on what they are going to do...seems sad seeing it there in ruins with weeds growing through it.

 

hubby watched a chess game in the square...then  had to tidy the pieces up...road work cone was replacing a missing piece.

there is a lot of wonderful street art thru the city centre, hope to get some more photos.

part of the city being re built.

beautiful old building being supported until it is fixed

this water  wheel ran a flour mill back in the 1800's and made all the flour the city needed, the factory building was on the tiny island behind the wheel. When it closed down the women  of the city decided to plant the island so  it wasn't such an eye sore.

the colourful end of the transitional cathedral made with cardboard rolls..had an earthquake foundation and shoild with stand any other earthquake. Was designed and made by a Japanese man.

Looking to the front of the cathedral, it seems small but holds 750 people.

there was a display going jnto the cathedral for the weekend, all around the walls were these amazing flower costumes made from fabric.

this could be the dahlia family!! Love the colours.

Isn't this so pretty!!

This one is for you  Michelle.....after biking in the heat for a few hours we stopped at a cafe by the golf club and I was given tea in this

How pretty is that!!

Hubby has just returned from his walk, need to get organised for another day of exploring.

I did do a little stitching last night before my eyes were too tired!

blogger has decided you need to turn sideways to look at this!!!!

Happy days!!

A finish

 The Aussie Hero quilt is finished and in the mail!! Yay!!

did a scrapy binding for it as well.

Happy sewer here.

Have a great evening. 

This morning

I decided to go for a bike ride, as it was sunny and calm and not hot....so off I went....as soon as I rounded the corner I was head on into a southerly wind!! Where did that come from?? Not to worry I consoled myself,coming home the wind will be behind me...but no!! It seemed to be coming at me no matter which way I went!!! Lol!! I enjoyed wandering along, there are pobble bonks in the dams and puddles, they must have enjoyed the rain, birds calling, sheep complaining after being shorn, and the peace and quiet when there was no traffic!! There were big clouds of bugs from time to time, just had to make sure my mouth was shut!!! Lol!!

woops this is out of focus!!..A spider was stuck to the tree sap!

love the colours in this.

Every now and then you can see glimpses of the water...

the road ahead...

Ready to start work...maybe they got stopped by all the rain we have had?

I am off now to label a quilt and then post it.....and take the lap top to the computer doctor as it is not well...just a teeny bit concerned that the computer doctor is also the local motor mower machine repair person!!! 

Happy sewing.

What a

wet Friday today has been!! We have had rain on and off all day, sometimes quite heavy rain!! So nice to be inside sewing and just watch out the window!!

miserable looking day!!

But  I am happy sewing away....

watching/listening to Love Actually....

Love Rowan Atkinson gift wrapping!!

I knew there was a good reason for having the island bench!!! Perfect for putting the layers of the quilt together!!! Just the right height so I am not bending!! Now for some quilting inspiration!!

In the meantime I have succumbed, and finished off a pin cushion...then I found some left  over squares, so what was I to do????

Happy sewing.