A Wet Weekend But Not Wasted

The weather forecast was straightforward; it was going to be a wet weekend.  I chose to ignore this and all week long happily planned a prolonged gardening session.  It turned out that the forecasters were right and I was wrong.  Not only was the weather dismal, I didn't obtain a single plant at the market and when we returned home I could look out the kitchen window and see the rain clouds rolling down the mountain.  It was going to be an indoor weekend after all. Luckily the excursion to the markets hadn't been a complete failure, I found an art deco looking handbag in the Red Cross shop for $3 and am already planning an evening outfit for next summer deco to show it off in all its metallic glory.

There was also a plate to add to the ever growing green glass collection.

There was nothing for it but to hunker down and make the most of the enforced indoor time.  After some time spent industriously quilting it occurred to me that the end was finally in sight as far as the floral tumbling blocks quilt was concerned, which is something of a miracle given the fact that I prefer to hand quilt and must be about the slowest quilter in the world.  

Instead of pressing on purposefully my mind wandered over all the possibilities for new projects.  The ladder was brought out and the uppermost reaches of the storage cupboards in the sewing room raided for treasure.  In theory I was searching for the green fabric needed for the diamonds and triangles in this quilt, so that I can finish it

but somehow I was distracted and thought how much more interesting it would be to start a quilt using these bird/egg themed fabrics which have been part of my stash for a long time and are crying out to be used

At least the green fabric was eventually located (right at the top of the cupboard, in a distant corner, why does that always happen?) but I brought all the others down just in case there would be some reason to use them sooner rather than later.  Once again the sewing room was disorderly and untidy. Sigh.

There was a utilitarian cardi languishing at Shoestring Cottage, comfortable but rather dreary with its brown plastic buttons.  I ripped them all off (cutting the cardigan in the process of course) and replaced them with old mother of pearl buttons, each one different, and made a silk rosette with a button trim so Brownie would feel more special.  I think she appreciates the attention paid to her and will repay me with lots of faithful service.

What a happy time I had scratching through the notions, beads and buttons.  The time flew past and as per usual the weekend was over in the twinkling of an eye.

As well as the quilting and scratching around with buttons and notions I did manage to do a bit on the "Second Hand Rose" crazy quilt, which I am enjoying very much.  So much so that I can't seem to find a moment to work on the (paler and less colourful) doyleys and damask crazy quilt.

It was time to pack up and head back to town, but at least I had managed to dash out in between showers and do some weeding.  It was hard to resist the urge to dig around the patches where I suspect the lily bulbs to be.  Just to check that they are still there you know, and haven't rotted during winter.  The jonquils planted in a pot last Autumn are flowering and it is shaping up to be a very early spring.  

It is almost time to start listening out for the return of the Shining Cuckoo with its distinctive call, which is always associated with the return of warm days and sunshine.  

I was horrified when I learned that the shining cuckoo enters the nest of the grey warbler, lays its egg there and then departs, often taking out in its beak an egg of the grey warbler at the same time.  The grey warbler nest is apparently a beautifully woven, pear shaped work of art with an opening near the top and a porch over the doorway.  If it is in a windy or exposed spot there might be little ropes attached to anchor the nest to nearby branches as well, what a work of art and how cruel that the grey warblers are duped into raising the comparatively enormous shining cuckoo chicks!  But even so it will be a happy day when we hear the first shining cuckoo of the season.  I have seen a shining cuckoo but never a grey warbler, only heard their beautiful calls which really do have a kind of warbling or trilling sound to them.  This season I will be looking out more closely for them.  

"Yes you, get out of my nest and leave my eggs alone you worthless wretch!  Go and make a nest of your own and put your eggs there."

Spring is in the air

We didn't go to Shoestring Cottage last weekend because the Duke and Duchess of Ringloes came to visit us in Auckland.  It was strange to be in the city during the weekend, we visited the art gallery (excellent exhibition about California Design 1930 - 1965) and saw a film festival movie chosen by the Duke of Ringloes (Blancanieves, a silent Spanish black and white flamenco/bull fighting interpretation of Snow White, most excellent and see if you possibly can).  We walked around a hidden reserve in Parnell full of palms (we never knew of its existence), scoffed pastries at La Cigale market, went over to Waiheke Island on the ferry and imposed ourselves on some new friends we met at winter deco, and generally felt like tourists in our own town.  It was most refreshing and made us think that we should make more of an effort to get to know our own city.

All the same though, it was also good to be back at Shoestring Cottage this weekend.  The garden was looking rather forlorn and unloved after several weeks without attention and I resolved to get out there and rattle the weeds around for a few weekends soon (weather permitting), and press on with plans for the suppression of evil oxalis and that ghastly plant which masquerades as some kind of lily but is on a campaign for world domination, starting at my patch.  The spring seems to have arrived very early and the air is already quite warm and balmy, hinting of sunny days to come and happy times outside.

I sadly unpacked all the art deco clothes and put away the bounty from op shop hunting on the way to Napier winter deco and began planning new costumes for next year.  The possibilities are endless, I have a new cornflower blue cloche and some matching tweeds.  All I need now is a "new" fox fur (without a snapped off tail) and we will be on the way to an even better winter deco in 2014.

This doiley from a Putaruru thrift store was the icing on the cake after our visit to the wonderful hotel. I feel sure this bluebird will look superb in the doyleys and damask crazy quilt and it came with the added bonus of some bells which will liven up some corners in the patches

And there was also this piece with fabulous soft apple blossom coloured blossoms in variegated threads

This gorgeous intensely coloured "imari" china was given to me by my mum and one of my sisters and I spent a happy time unpacking it and wondering where it might go.  My mum was visiting and seemed to think the walls of the gypsy room might collapse if I tried to hang it there, but I feel that is the right place for it to go so there might be some editing necessary to make space.  (Mothers can be very cruel, she implied that we needed to build an extension onto Shoestring Cottage to accommodate all the things we have been taking there, but I know with a bit of a reshuffle we will be able to fit everything in.  I hope so, because it is very hard to decide what to part with when space is at a premium.)

Have a happy week, onwards and upwards!

Putaruru Hotel - A Hidden Treasure

As we hurtle along State Highway 1 on our way southwards and zip through Putaruru we never pay much attention to the town.  To reach the town centre you have to leave the state highway, which probably makes life much quieter and less dangerous for the residents who would otherwise be overwhelmed by the passing traffic.  On our winter deco trip last weekend though we decided to turn off to investigate what we had heard rumours of but never seen and only half believed – a magnificent old hotel in the centre of the town. 

Apparently the hotel was built (or possibly rebuilt) in 1953 in time for a visit from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and it had been hoped that she might spend a night there.  Unfortunately the Tangiwai disaster intervened and the locals only had a passing glimpse of Her Majesty as she sped past on her train, travelling to her more urgent engagements.  Over the years the hotel became less busy and eventually only the “pub” part of the hotel was leased and used, with the accommodation side being neglected and falling into disrepair.  Even the internal walls were overgrown with ivy and water flooded down them when it rained, and the building was almost condemned for demolition.  In the nick of time it has been given a lease of life and is being restored to its former glory. 

When we called in we were amazed to see how close to original condition the hotel remains.  So many wonderful details are still there to see, right down to the hexagonal tiles in the bathrooms and the small lights which apparently illuminated to tell the porters where their attentions were needed.

The entrance area is richly wood paneled and the staircase very grand, broad and sweeping.

Though they do not do so at present we suspect the long glass columns would have been illuminated from within originally, possibly with long fluorescent tubes which seemed to have been all the rage and much in evidence in other parts of the hotel

 The staircase is furnished with black wrought iron curlicues - you can see one at the bottom left of the railing.

Two comfortable original looking chairs to rest your feet when you arrive or if you are waiting to be met by a guest.

The special little room for using the telephone still has its sand blasted telephone symbol and the rooms for guests to iron their clothes still have the markings on the doors. 

The exterior of the hotel is unpainted concrete.  I am not sure whether this was intended as a design feature or it simply never was painted but I suspect it was meant to be left unpainted, as an example of modern industrial/utilitarian architecture.  The curving front is very deco looking but considering that it was built in 1953 it must have been at the very end of deco buildings' vogue.  In the 1960s an altogether different “look” would have been sought after, I feel sure.  So it was probably a slightly old fashioned looking building almost from the start.  How lucky we are that it is still standing and that its interior features are still almost original, it is like stepping back in time when you enter the grand reception area.  What a great place for a group of friends to meet, stay the night and maybe do a good long walk the next day.  And what a find!  We need to patronise these kinds of venues, so if you do get a chance be sure to call in for a meal or even stay overnight. 

We couldn't go into this bar as it was locked up, but we could see through the glass that it was in spectacular and near original repair

 A special room for writing one's correspondence and sending off many postcards no doubt.

 In one of the bathrooms we could make out this special fixture for the disposal of used razor blades

 In case of confusion a plethora of signposted rooms off the main corridor

 Behind the pillar is an enormous concrete fireplace.  The frosted glass you can see in the distance on the left is a feature seen in many places

Original cabinetry in excellent condition