25th Anniversary Rainbow Quilters

My quilt made from based around orange fabric scraps

 Rainbow Quilters started 25 years ago at Rainbow Springs, in Rotorua.  We meet every first and third Tuesday of the month.  We even have a Facebook page if you would like more info.
  Rainbow Quilters Facebook

 To commemorate the occassion, several of the members all made the same quilt. We started back in July 2014.

 We didn't know the final design. It was called Circle of Friends, and represented the ladies of Rainbow Quilters.  Every month we got the next installment.  I had never made a quilt like this before.  Foundation piecing, applique, and patchwork blocks.

The spotty fabrics in Jenny's border was fabulous.

 The grey background fabrics and pattern were supplied each month from Cottage Flair.  It was a scrap quilt.

 I decided to work in yellow and orange, as I had lots of scraps left over from previous projects in that colour range.  Red and green made an appearance as well.

 I found it interesting that the scraps we used, reflected the other quilts the ladies had made, and the colour ranges they liked to work in.

Some months it was difficult to make it all fit in, but with the groups help, and lots of technical support from the lovely members, I managed the traditional piecing, and applique.

 I am not sure, that if in the beginning, I knew how big the project was going to be, and how much time it would consume, would I have done it?

By the December, we were putting the 4 triangle sections together, I had an admiration for the hand quilters of time gone by.  No electric sewing machine, no electric irons.  Lamps and candles to stitch by.

 The final petal border was presented at our first meeting in 2015.  This gave us time to finish the piecing, and do the quilting.

The quilt took a whole year for me to make.

Precious Moments

Amazingly, Erik and I had a few hours to ourselves, and no urchins!  The weather suited a road trip, so we packed a picnic, and explored the region.

 Lunch at Lake Okaro, not far from Waimangu.  A tiny lake, there is a walkway all the way around. 

We visited Lake Rerewhakaaitu, and Mt Tarawera looked different from this angle.  Impressive are the boulders in the paddocks from the eruption. 

 

I don't know the plant's name, but it was a glorious colour against the greys around Lake Rerewhakaaitu.

Playing tourist with Jesse from Germany

View from the start of Tokorangi

Jesse was keen to go Mountain biking, and the weather was perfect.  The Whakarewarewa Forest is 5 minutes from home.  Started at the Puarenga stream track, then up Nice Road and rode Chinese Menu.  Down be Rude not to, up the Lions Trail.  I walked up the hill on Katore Rd.

Jesse on Tokorangi

Down Tokorangi and into Turkish Delight and the Soakhole.  Challenge Roadside was fun.  Jesse's phone jumped out of his bag, luckily I was riding last, saw it and picked it up.  Back up the road to Dipper, out through The Creek, Mad if you Dont, another gentle ride on the other side of the Puarenga stream track, and then home.

Puarenga stream track

Managed to take Jesse to Kuirau Park, put his feet in hot water, and explore the thermal area.

Kuirau Park

The cooler afternoon allowed the steam to show up more.  Great colours, lots of hot water, boiling mud, and of course the smell...

Kuirau Park hot water

On Monday, our next mountain bike ride was shorter, as Jesse was going White Water Rafting later in the day.We started at Yellow Brick Rd, up the forest road to Pondy New.  Onto Rollercoaster, then Chop Suey.  The rest of Chinese menu again.  A rest and refill of water at the top of Red Tank, down Dragon's Tail, Mad if you dont, and finished with Puarenga again.  Fun, fast, and even I kissed the trail a couple of times.  No broken bones!

All of us

Last days of Autumn

 

Tighe and I ventured into the Tree Trust to see the last remnants of Autumn.

Not much yellow around, but plenty of red.

 

Tighe used the toadstool on the way home as a starting point for some amazing stories.  It was a great walk, just the two of us.

A 25th Anniversary of a 25th Birthday

Friendships, wine, and Erik, improve with time.

Friends and family came from near and far, to celebrate Erik's 25th Anniversary of his 25th year.  The party began early in the afternoon without Erik.  He was mountain biking in the forest, trying to avoid being hit by the shuttle bus.  Thankfully he wasn't hurt.

More and more people arrived, and others had to go.  Erik had asked for a small party, so there were less than 40 here at any one time.

A pot luck dinner, what a wonderful collection of food.  Jeanette's kumara bake was sensational, and Bridget gave me the recipe for her roasted tomato salad. Yum Yum!

Chocolate salad and apple pie - the best desserts!

I made a bit of a mistake making Erik's birthday cake. The coconut meringue cake was too firm to push the candles in (totally delicious though). 

 Not quite a disaster, as the pavlova became centre stage.

We needed 4 people to light the candles, and Tighe helped by blowing most of them out, when he blew his match out...so Yvonne, Anneke, Tighe and Peter had to light them again!

Happy Birthday Erik.

 I hope this year is full of fun and adventures.  I love you wonderful man.

Kāore te kumara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka

A few words to celebrate my husband, Erik, on this special day.

Although I have only known Erik a few years, his capacity for living life to the full, still takes my breath away.  Erik manages to squeeze so many things into every day, he has a zest for life.

I think he is a little crazy when it comes to biking adventures, and I have become a bike widow on numerous occassions.  He gets up at 4am to go for a 3 hour ride in the dark, (and rain).  We both share a love of food, and experiencing the outdoors, although I do like to be separated from the elements when it gets a little cold, (and wet).

Kāore te kumara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka
The kumara does not say how sweet he is

Erik is a successful man, who does things well.  He quietly gets on with what needs to be done. He never asks for recognition for the time he puts into the community, he just does it.

Erik's honesty is one of his shining strengths of character.  The past 18 months have been hell for all of us.  Erik has been bullied, lied to, betrayed, and called an idiot.  Throughout this whole tragic nightmare, he has stood up for the truth.  Erik is a good man, and a great parent.  He is my husband and I am so proud of him.

The love Erik has for his children is beyond words.  The first time I saw Oscar and Anneke in Erik's presence, I could feel the love emanating from him.  They are the most important part of Erik's life.  Erik is a hands on parent, guiding and encouraging the urchins.  Erik has always inspired me to be a better parent.

 I am honoured to be the love of his life.

Erik, I will always look up to you.

Happy 50th Birthday!

Emmett's Birthday Fiesta!

 Emmett is One!  Time to celebrate.  Spent the afternoon at Kelly and Nic's.

Lots of things to do for the little urchins.

No, Emmett, you are not 4!

Are you sure I am not 4!

One!

Some of the Aunts (and Dean)

 Anneke really enjoyed the Mexican food that everyone brought along for lunch.

Blue corn chips - super yummy!

The pinata was very popular.

Tighe, Quinn, Anneke, and Oscar all had to wait their turn.

Big sister Lucy