Let the Retreat Fun Begin!

4pm rolled around and in they came!  

Wagon loads of quilting supplies - of food for meals and all of the packed clothing and goodies needed for a 6 night stay at Quiltville Inn.

To say it was a madhouse rush to get everything done is at least spot on.

All of the last minute details - wiping down the porch tables after 2 months of winter grit and grime, Susan doing her best work to clean ceiling fans and dust and vacuum, tackle two upstairs bathrooms to sparkling, and putting her finishing touches on the kitchen.

All while Tula presided, giving subliminal instruction while keeping watch over her catnip mice. (She loves them!)

Meanwhile - Hubster Dave has stepped into his "Bob Newhart, Larry, Darryl and Darryl" role - replacing the plumbing under the kitchen sink for a leak that wouldn't stop no matter what.  

And then there was the issue with the plug vacuum....he took care of that too.

I think you are right - there will be no issue with giving him things to keep him busy.

As I type this he is already at the in after a call that the pilot light for the kitchen oven seemed to be out.  The oven hasn't been used since December - so could be.

Ah -- retirement life.  

By last night I was having to move Lola off of the quilt in the hoop to get any hand stitches in at all -

I think spring is going to fully arrive before this is anywhere near done. But slow progress IS progress and it will get there.

I do a little happy clap every time I move the hoop to the next section.  Some nights I move it twice, some nights I move it once.  Some nights - it stays right where it is because I'm too exhausted to sew.

But it will get there.

Walking through the big park in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The park is huge and connects to the botanical gardens. There are walking/biking paths, loads of large grassy areas for sporting, and it is a jewel in the middle of the city.  

I think our guide said it was second only to Central Park in New York in size.

I believe it.  I got lost and had to turn my phone on to use Waze to get me back to the hotel.

Flowers are a wondrous sight in January.

Check out this hydrangea!

My favorite of all are the agapanthus that grow EVERYWHERE - like weeds.

I have always loved the periwinkle blue/purple ones the best - and they know how to grow them tall in New Zealand.  They are everywhere.

We had these in our yard growing up in California - and they just are my favorite, hands down.  I wish I could grow them here, but it's the wrong climate.

White agapanthus are quite pretty too!

My "While I was lost" walk took me out of the park, and toward downtown and I loved the juxtaposition of these late Victorian area houses against the modern business building backdrop.

Christchurch was hit with some big earthquakes in 2011 and 2016 and many of the buildings, high rises in particular, had to come down.

Newer buildings are not allowed to go as high - and there was a whole revamping of how the city was laid out -

The rule was - if you survived the earthquake, you could stay as you are.  And here we have these wood houses in the midst of big city space. 

The new buildings are beautiful too!

There were whole neighborhoods that were condemned because they were originally built on reclaimed swamp land, and that didn't survive the earthquakes at all.  Those spaces are now empty ground - but you can still see some of where the old driveways were.  It was sad.

Street corner.

Do earthquakes still happen here? Yes. All the time.  

When in Christchurch - you just roll with the flow I guess!

I found the Chrome Gnome of Happiness!

And a Street Car Named Desire....

And the prettiest cappuccino in lovely floralware.

And our time in Christchurch had just begun More to come!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

We can always strive for better with a good chance of reaching it.

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But striving for perfection is the sure way to insanity!

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Have a lovely day, everyone!