My quilting thoughts and inspirations sprinkled with a glimpse of life down on the farm

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

A weekend away

Some days it seems like spring is well and truly here and summer is just around the corner.
On other days it feels like winter still wants us to know it exists - we even lit the fire this last weekend.
Luckily for the MOML and I, the previous weekend was a beautifully warm and sunny one.
Dairyfarming is a 24/7 occupation and time away for the MOML doesn't happen very often. Our three fabulous kiddos banded together and between them (and their own families and committments) made sure the cows were milked, the calves were fed and all the other animals were looked after so that we could have a weekend away. Some even made sure the house didn't get lonely and the food in the pantry didn't go off :-)
As we like to do, we headed up north. We went to Doubtless Bay to a fishing settlement called Mangonui. A lovely place to rest and eat and walk.
Many of the bays in the Far North are known for their swimming or surfing beaches. This one is slightly different with its rocky shoreline. It feels like it's carved into the hillsides and perched on the edge of the land.
Of course before we went away there was a bit of planning to do. Lots of tracing so I could stitch all weekend. Yeah right.
And we weaned a mob of calves to lessen the workload for YD. Weaned calves are taken 'out the back'...a 3 km track through the bush to more land out there.
First of all I get them to follow me as far along the track as practical...they follow the feeder knowing they'll be fed when it stops.
I've been cutting down their milk for a few days so it's a quick feed —
And a walk the rest of the way to fresh paddocks full of grass. Where they
forget that milk exists. Sort of.
I did get a little stitching done while we were away. I often find the lighting an issue when I'm away from home and all my crafting comforts. This compact/foldout rechargable LED light was great.
I finished Block 9 of the Whimsical Woodland mystery stitchery I'm doing.
But I mostly crocheted - once I got into joining the zookeeper blocks while we were in the car I got the itch to get them done so continued on  - and then started on the outside edge.
The joining stitch is OK. I think it will look better once it's washed and blocked. Maybe.!!!
Last week I spent my evenings knitting this Sunnyside cardigan - ED requested some 'next size up' spring time cardies for the babies. Happy to oblige.
I'll leave you with one last photo of our weekend away. this was the view from our motel room —
This week I've been getting a bit of sewing done - so who knows, I may have some quilty stuff to share next post :-)
Until then, 
happy stitches,

27 comments:

  1. A weekend away, what bliss for a couple of hard workers Like you two. Great that your family stepped in to help you escape! I love your cute animal blanket, who is this going to.

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  2. Nice vacation photos and nice projects to work on in the car and while sitting around--
    glad you were able to get away for a couple days--
    enjoy, di

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  3. What a lovely place to visit, looks as though the weather behaved for you too.

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  4. What a fun getaway weekend. You certainly have wonderful kids to help pitch in and take care of your home and farm animals.

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  5. So glad you got a break away.
    I am interested to know more about your LED light? (brand - where you got it etc.. )

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  6. How nice of the kids to organise farm work sew hubby and you had a lovely relaxing weekend away.
    Great photos of a beautiful place.
    Sweet Whinsical stitching and I love the cute zoo animal rug.
    I always enjoy seeing how things work on your farm.

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  7. Oh sooooo happy for you!! Looked like a very enjoyable time away!! I know how difficult it is to get time away! Kudos to your kiddos!!

    Great big hugs from Texas!!

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  8. That's great that you both got time away together. That seldom happens for farmers as I well know. I really like the afghan, it is so cute! You are very talented with your knitting, the little sweater is lovely. Happy stitching!

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  9. I’m sure those days away are extra special. Your stitching and cardie both look so nice..

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  10. Love going up north, so many special places to see. Glad you & hubby were able to run away for a few days, and know everything 'at home' was under control. Mangonui, isn't that where the famous fish & chip shop is?

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  11. Wonderful for the family to get together and organise a weekend for you...well for the work to be done anyway! The Bay looks like a beautiful place and the weather looked wonderful too. The animals blanket has come together really well Raewyn. Hope you and MOYL returned home refreshed.

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  12. Your weekend away looked lovely! Rocky beaches are my favorite - so much to look at. I love your owl block - especially the umbrella hanging off the branch!

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  13. I'm so glad you got the opportunity to go on a vacation for a bit. Your zookeepers blanket looks marvelous. What yarn weight did you use? Is it a DK or a Worsted Weight?

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  14. Such lovely photos. New Zealand is on my bucket list! Those crocheted animals are simply adorable! I can't seem to muster anything but quilting these days.

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  15. how lovely to get the weekend away... I bet you both really had a good wind down and great your young people all got together to look after things...

    Some lovely craft work - I do love your sweet crochet blanket and I'm sure a steam block will sort out all those wrinkles

    Hugz

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  16. A weekend away, and so good that the kiddos made sure that the food was used and didn't have to go in the rubbish. Pretty beaches, even the rocky ones.

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  17. I am so pleased you had a wonderful weekend away. Only a few days but really treasured.
    Lovely to see your stitching and knitting getting a look in as well. Gorgeous cardies.
    Love seeing the calves.

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  18. NZ is sooo beautiful! Glad you had a weekend away and got to relax a bit.. Loving all those animals!!! So cute :) xx

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  19. Oh, so now I wish I can crochet... that zookeeper rug is too cute! Glad you had a lovely weekend away.... I know getting away is nigh on impossible with milking animals!

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  20. Sweetie your animal blanket is adorable . . . so unique and so much detail. I don't believe there is anything that you would be afraid to tackle. Your fingers are always busy. It's wonderful that you and your hubby are able to get away to the seashore. Relax, renew and enjoy!
    Connie :)

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  21. So glad you had a lovely break away.....it looks a beautiful place! Love all your projects and your crochet rug is so cute....hope you are feeling revived and refreshed xx

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  22. Lovely to read about all your comings and goings Raewyn. I used to live at Coopers Beach, and my late husband had a cray fishing boat moored in Mill Bay. We spent alot of time in Mangonui.

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  23. Love your crochet blanket - just perfect for a little one. So glad that you enjoyed your weekend away.

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  24. Gorgeous scenery! The rocky beach reminds of Nice; it was such a shock to walk down, bathing suit on towel wrapped around to laze on the beach and have a swim, only to find neither of those two were very comfortable at all due to the rocks underfoot! Great that you got some stitching done; always reminds me I need to pull out my embroidery and get back at it, and how I love to see those farm animals, both crocheted and furry ones!

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  25. What a delightful post! Your yarn work is exquisite. Loving the animal afghan the most. It’s absolutely precious! So glad you were given the opportunity to get away! Your family is the best!

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  26. Such a glorious spot for your weekend away Raewyn.

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