Well We Never Saw That Coming

It has been the most extraordinary time over the last few weeks and in New Zealand, as elsewhere, we have been through some huge changes and needed to be adaptable as never before in living memory.  It has changed the way we do things and approach things, probably permanently.  The COVID-19 pandemic was an event we didn't predict and definitely wouldn't have welcomed, but some good things will hopefully come out of it.

From my own perspective, I still physically went to work every day and so I wasn't as isolated and badly affected as a lot of my friends and family.  As I went out the door in the mornings I would hear Mr Shoestring and The Jackster (last born child), who were both working from home, planning their lunch time feasts, and so it was probably a good thing that I was not present to share in these gastronomic delights.  (They usually involved large amounts of fried foods and meats in particular, and I have gained a huge amount of adipose tissue during lockdown anyway, so just as well that I wasn't able to participate.) 

We badly missed coming to Shoestring Cottage.  It was forbidden to travel out of the geographical location of our home while "lockdown" was in place, and I am forever grateful to the dear friends who came and watered the garden, fed the fish and looked after my precious indoor plants.  Even my seedlings survived, such was their tender and thoughtful care. And things are still flowering, much to our surprise.  There are roses blooming and irises flowering their hearts out.

Now that we are moving into a new kind of "normal" we are looking for the good things which we found during the pandemic.  Walking in the centre of the city with no traffic around and smelling the air sweet instead of perfumed with diesel fumes was wonderful, as was hearing bird song and seeing tuis flying around in the town.  We did lots of walking and discovered some new parks we hadn't visited before.  Having come out the other end it's quite strange to get back to usual socialising but we were so happy to finally be able to catch up with Mr and Mrs Peaceable this weekend after so long in isolation. 

During lockdown when we were confined to our apartment I made great progress on a quilt I must have started about 20 years ago.  As usual, it was started to use up leftovers, and over time I must have made so many blocks that there are still a lot left over.  It is just needing the last hexagons put around the edges now, and then it will be ready for batting and backing.  As per usual, I am heartily sick of the wretched thing now, and once it is finished it will need to be put away for some time, before I can bear to look at it again and find it charming, and be glad I made it after all. 

As per usual, there are favourite fabrics which I will always try to sneak into every quilt I make.  Ones with insects

And birds, of course

Ones which are left over from the days when I used to make smocked dresses for our little girls, who are now grown women

Ones which look like chintz crockery of course

And speaking of which, here are my two most recent chintz acquisitions; a whole set of these, complete with a couple of serving plates, were given to me by that paragon among men, Mr Shoestring, for my birthday.  Surely this calls for a cakey kind of party, maybe with pink beverages and flowers everywhere, to celebrate our freedom and release from home detention?

And my dear mama gave me this beautiful one

It is hard to think that summer Art Deco Festival in Napier took place in February, that seems like a distant memory and possibly a fantasy now.  We are so pleased that we did have the opportunity of attending before COVID-19 turned all our lives upside down.  Like many people, we have resolved to spend more of our time and money investigating our own country now to try to alleviate the economic effects we are all bracing for, and looking forward to going back to Napier for a smaller and informal winter Deco festival.  It will be a much needed boost for us all, already looking forward to it and planning some costumes.  (If I can find anything stretchy enough to accommodate my growth spurt, of course.) 

Before the pandemic struck I had been tweaking this dress to make a summer outfit for next year, and I am really pleased with the result.  I used a piece of cream silk crepe de chine from a thrift store and I am liking the look of it.  I think I have a good hat and shoes somewhere for this outfit.

Pleased with the outcome of that one I used the same approach on this dress, with a linen embroidered doyley to create a collar and cuffs, and a nice green buckle to make a belt with.

We were so grateful to be given this plate rack from a friend of a friend.  It was so kind of her to donate this to Shoestrong Cottage and it has freed up space in the cupboards, as well as displaying the pretty crockery to good effect.

Just before lockdown I went into a kind of frenzy when I saw a couple of sets of pudding bowls and soup bowls complete with serving dishes, at bargain prices.  I just could not resist them and I am looking forward to getting them all out for parties again, at last. 

Wherever you are, I hope you are able to see the wood for the trees in these terrible times.  Or the birds nests, now that the trees are losing their leaves in this part of the world, and winter is on its way.  Take care, stay safe and be kind to yourself and others.  XXOOXX

PS:  Our old computer has died and I am still getting used to this new one, so please excuse the quality of photos, it will take me a while to get to grips with things and I know you, dear friends, will make allowances.