Marmalade Morning

Got up bright and early this morning to make some chunky grapefruit marmalade, a labour of love, as I am giving a jar of this to my dearest and nearest this Christmas. I get the grapefruit in winter from my neighbour, Gladys in Orewa, slice them finely in the food processor and leave the pulp in ice cream containers in the freezer until I am ready to make the actual marmalade whenever the whim or need overtakes me during the year. I take it for the trading table fundraiser at bowls and that means once a month I have needed some otherwise Nina is disappointed. Last week Alla from the gym gave me two empty jars so now they are full and ready to be given back to her. This time last year she was in hospital and I took her some there and now she is on my list too.

I use Alison Holst's metric marmalade recipe as a guideline but basically I barely cover the pulp with water , boil to soften the sliced peel for up to an hour, then add cup for cup of sugar and boil until setting point is reached. I like my marmalade chunky and so it does not take too long before it is ready to be poured into warm jars from the oven. Voila marmalade for breakfast!

Flowers at Rosenvale

Roses in the garden at Rosenvale where we stopped for a delicious lunch at the venue there, before exploring the beautiful garden.

Threadbear Cottage and Alphra Lavenders

Visited these two lovely places out in the country round Cambridge.  Julie does  sewing and makes fabulous pot pourri with dehydrated citrus slices, spices and herbs. She had an accident some years ago (fell out of a hammock and broke her neck) and her husband built her the cottage which is now crammed full of beautiful things to buy, made by herself or by other countrywomen of the district.

Her own home is a showcase for her various collections - teddy bears, vintage enamelware, kitchenware, china and luggage to name a few that appealed to me.

Alphra's Lavenders was a few kilometres away, a lavender farm and place where they distill lavender oil and make the most fragrant range of products from the small bottles of oil  from three different types of lavender, nice little sleep pillows, lotions, soaps, even sweets.  Bought a French lavender plant for near the front gate where hopefully I will be able to smell it as I go in and out.  The pictures were taken at Threadbear Cottage.

Highgate Gardens

At Highgate Gardens near Pirongia. This is also a B and  B in the most beautiful setting overlooking rolling countryside with Mt Pirongia in the distance.  The roses were in full flower as were flag irises in many colours, even an apricot coloured one. 

Grimm's Fairy Tales

Went to a meeting of the Goethe Society last night which was all about the non-existent fairies in the tales. Apparently they were there in the first edition but were edited out in later editions as the word for fairy in German is like the French word Fee and relations between the two countries were not exactly cordial at the time.

Of course some of the tales are a bit gruesome too which doesn't cause problems for children usually, just for their parents and librarians!

Got out my volumes of Grimm's Kinder- und Hausmärchen which date back to my stay in Germany in the 1960s and am looking forward to rereading them along with the feminist fairy tales I found in my bookcase.

Patchwork and Quilts

Went to a wonderful display of quilts at North Harbour Stadium last week but unfortunately didn't take my iPad and had forgotten how to take photos with my mobile and felt too sheepish to admit it and ask someone. Suffice to say they were beautiful in all hues and arrangement . One of my favourites was of native birds and flowers.

Got out the book, Warm heritage, on the history of some of the old quilts in NZ museums that good friend Marlene had given me many years ago and am rereading it with great pleasure

I am filled with admiration for the women who created these beautiful works of art , my own Aunt Dorothy included, whose quilt of tumbling blocks graces the bed in my study. Not only the choice of materials pleases me but admiration for all that piecing and embellishment with fine ecru herringbone stitching around each piece.

She gave me the quilt before it was finished and I added patches of my own, returning it to her in Christchurch from Auckland via good friend Eileen for embroidering and from there to old friend Jill who made the calico lining for me.