Struan Farm

Last but not Least

I've been trying to vary my days somewhat during lockdown to avoid boredom here at Struan Farm. Plus, there's not that much room left in the freezer for baking!

I'm not much of a sitter as you've probably figured out, but I have been reading, and dug out granddaughter Violet's needlepoint Christmas stocking.This is the last one I need to make, and I must confess to being somewhat relieved by that. Once one has one they all want them. Now.

Normally I restrict myself to working on these during the winter rains here in Piopio, but as we all know, these are unprecedented times.

The plan was for Violet and her family to be here for Christmas 2020, but things may change due to COVID-19. Either way I'll work to get this done this year so I can get onto other winter projects, both needlepoint and knitting related. 

 

Flax: A Misnomer

Yesterday John and I went to an amazing exhibition at the nearby Te Awamutu Museum called "te Ohonga Ake," "the weaver's awakening," showcasing Te Kuiti local Kahutoi Te Kanawa's Exegesis PhD Exhibition on intergenerational fibre weaving arts.  The exhibition runs through 28th March 2020. During the school holidays Kahu is there for several mornings and afternoons conducting weaving workshops.

I learned from Kahu that New Zealand native flax is not "flax" at all. It was called that by Capt. Cook, who likened it to the European plant, Linum usitatissimum, the fibre from which linen is woven.

I will never call "flax" here in New Zealand "flax" again. It should be called "harakeke," phormium tenax, or "wharariki," phormium colensoi. So all of those hundreds of seedlings I've started down in John's native nursery are harakeke.

They are happy that I am finally calling them by their proper name, wondering why it took me so long. I am wondering that too.

Freya, Finished!

I've been toiling away these past few rainy days here at Struan Farm to try to finish granddaughter Freya's needlepoint Christmas stocking. I'd left the most fiddly bits for last, and this is one of the more detailed canvases that I've done. But good news: it's done!

Next it gets sent to my friends at The Needle Nook of La Jolla, where it will be blocked, backed with velvet, lined with white satin and edged with a twisted cord edge, tassels and bells. Five of these labours of love down, two more to go. And the good news is that I've already started the next one in the queue, I might actually get that one finished this winter too since it's on larger mesh canvas and is slightly smaller.

Once the needlepoint stockings are done for the grandkids I can start knitting again, woo hoo! I also have a few needlepoint canvases of sheep that are in the closet, waiting to be stitched too. Given all the outside work we have here at Struan Farm, I can only manage to sit down and work on this sort of project in winter, on rainy days or at night.

Bushel Baskets: May What is Old Become New Again

Last week I was talking with John about how all of our fruits used to come in thin wooden baskets when I was growing up, at least those purchased directly from growers at farm stands. There were pint or quart baskets for berries, and "bushel" and "peck" baskets for other fruits like apples and peaches. Did you have them too?

It turns out that a "bushel" and a "peck" are dry volume measures of quarts under the Imperial system. The former is 32 quarts while the latter is 8. 

But mostly I was wondering if the wooden baskets might reappear given the current backlash against plastic, or were still out there being used somewhere. I suspect Martha Stewart will have some in her collection, that would be her. They were attractive and useful. In looking into this I came across a company in (where else but) Texas that still makes them! Read about them here. And I was able to order one of their shallow half bushel baskets from fishpond.co.nz.

Rather beautiful, isn't it? Hopefully these baskets will re-emerge into wider production and use. May what is old become new again!

A Winter's Break

Yes, I went away overseas. You might not have figured that out, since I wrote and scheduled blog posts to keep things humming while I was gone from Struan Farm. There are almost always enough stories to tell, things that happen, to do that. Typepad did have a bit of a malfunction, not posting to Twitter or FB for a day or so, but I was able to chase them up and get things corrected from afar.

John and I flew over to Southern California together for a wee winter's break. He had a business meeting, then headed back to New Zealand. We stayed together for a few nights at the westdrift Manhattan Beach, formerly the Marriott, after which I went to stay with friends. We had a chance to do a bit of shopping for him, visit Whole Foods to experience that situation, and go for walks. I lived in Manhattan Beach many years ago now. Much has changed but much has remained the same. I still know my way around and am able to adjust to driving on the right hand side of the road in all that traffic. 

The weather was perfect:

The avos reasonably priced, even at the high end gourmet supermarket, Bristol Farms:

Once I got down to Corona del Mar/Newport Beach to stay with friends Laura and John the gourmet fare improved considerably. Breakfasts were homemade muesli (Struan Farm's recipe), fresh berries, Siggi's low fat, low sugar Icelandic style "skyr" yogurt, and freshly ground coffee. Lunches included Taco Maria, the LA Times' Restaurant of 2018, Zinc Cafe  ,with its healthy salads, and Le Pain Quotidien, where we had a "grains bowl" made with quinoa, farro, kale, roasted kumara/sweet potato, pecans and goat cheese.  

At Taco Maria we enjoyed a starter called "aguachiles," scallops marinated in citrus juices and cilantro (coriander) oil with thin slivers of watermelon radish and cilantro flowers. For our mains we tried a fish and a chicken taco each that were made with blue corn tortillas. I preferred the chicken mole, Laura preferred the fish. Either way, the food was excellent and service outstanding. I'm going to try making the aguachiles, since we can grow watermelon radishes here and make coriander oil. With scallops from the Marlborough Sounds, of course.

 

I was introduced to "poke," raw ahi tuna with various seasonings, at Bear Flag Fish Company. I will definitely try to make "poke" once I can get my hands on some sushi grade tuna from Egmont Seafoods. They've told me it's stocked on Wednesdays, and they can courier. The Bear Flag recipe seems to have chile sauce, black and white sesame seeds, and perhaps a splash of lime juice. We shall test it out. And as you would expect everything tastes better with chips and guacamole.

 

We enjoyed local produce and Icelandic cod at The Farmhouse at Roger's Gardens. Their tagline is "field to fork." Our server wasn't quite up with the play in describing the provenance of the food, but I was interested to learn that passionfruit is now being grown in California. Most Americans have never seen or tasted it, don't know how to use it. Dinner my last night was in Laguna Beach at Broadway by Amar Santana. This was by far the most hip and happening place I dined at. Laura, John and I shared a dessert called "The Beehive," a wonderful honey goat cheese mousse based on an almond sponge, encased in meringue with elderflower jelly, honeycomb, edible flowers, and honey ice cream. The people watching was also quite good.

 

Aside from the gourmet extravaganza, there were lots of long walks and shopping (of course). The wardrobe and makeup stash were refreshed, along with some bed linens. Regrettably I had to jettison some rather special Temecula Olive Oil Company balsamic vinegar (apple) and olive oil (roasted garlic) due to Air NZ luggage restrictions. Laura was the winner on that one. I've contacted them to see if they might be able to ship to me, along with their honey balsamic and pomegranate balsamic. It was very hard to choose amongst them! Their shop in Laguna has a tasting room, a great idea.

While I normally read quite a number of books when I travel, I didn't manage to do so this trip. Jet lag got the better of me, it was a shorter trip. On the flights over and back I did watch a few movies: "Four Billboards," "Moana," "Ladybird," "The Battle of the Sexes," "I, Tonya," and "Paddington 2." I realised too late that I should have swapped out Paddington for "Phantom Threads," actor Daniel Day-Lewis' final film before retirement, but we may get around to seeing that one here in NZ.

It was a good break. The warmth and sunshine helped my Vitamin D levels and mood generally, I had a good fill of avocados, and I'm looking less "farm-y" according to John, my fashion advisor. Anticipating the impending demise of plastic grocery bags, I returned home with a supply of reusable shopping bags from Whole Foods and Trader Joe's. They are good sized and cost quite a bit less than the $6.99 being charged at New World for those burlap Trelise Cooper numbers!

Oh, and my only impractical purchase?

It will be transformed into a Christmas decoration, eventually, once I finish the grandchildrens' Christmas stockings. Santa at the Beach, a very Kiwi concept, from Jebba Needlepoint in Corona del Mar. He had to come home to Piopio with me.

 

 

 

I'm on the Job, Freya

Given the rainy weather here at Struan Farm over the past two weeks I've had plenty of time to catch up on my ironing, reading and walnuts. It's also time to crack into granddaughter Freya's needlepoint Christmas stocking, she's next in line. I created this tradition, yes I did.

Freya saw the canvas when she visited Piopio from the U.K. this past Christmas, when brother Charlie received his stocking. While the element of surprise is special, we decided it was important for all of the grandchildren (and their parents) to understand how much work and love actually go into making these so that they are appreciated and treasured. John has specified that each grandchild must be old enough when they get theirs to understand all that. This dictate has actually bought me some time, although I do want to get everyone's done as soon as I can. 

This design is quite detailed, on finer canvas than I usually work. So it's taxing on both hands and eyes. This is going to take time, Freya! I'm not sure I'll get it all done in time for this Christmas, but I'll do my best. Progress is being made. It's sometimes easier to see that from the back.

Once I finish the painted part of the stocking I get out my handy "Alphabetrics" book, which has letters of the alphabet in various font styles graphed out, and stitch "Freya" across the top, filling in the background with an off white wool. This is the home stretch before I post it off to my friends in La Jolla, California for finishing, where they block the canvas and back the stocking with velvet, sew in a satin lining, and finish it with a twisted cord edge with tassels and bells.

MasterChef Australia is due to start shortly and that's good for a few hours of television and needlepoint several week nights. The finishing deadline at the Needle Nook of La Jolla is September. 

 

The Winds Doth Blow

It's been a bit of a week on weather front here at Struan Farm in Piopio. Heavy rains, high winds, thunder, lightening. The sun shone briefly on Wednesday afternoon, "briefly" being the operative word.

I ventured outside to give Clifford his breakfast one morning and found the pottery plate that has graced the entrance to John's workshop shattered in pieces on the concrete drive. It had been blown off its holder by the winds.

This was a replica of one that hung outside his dad Maurie's workshop (now the Garden Cottage) for many years. I'd had it made for John as a Christmas present at a now defunct pottery studio in Nelson.

I'm sad about this. I know things happen, but still, I'm sad. I liked that we'd kept that link to the past in a small way. I might need to see what I can do to replace it in "due course."

Granny McFlitter, The Champion Knitter

During my travels in the car today I listened to the Nine to Noon Show on Radio NZ ("RNZ"). One of the segments had a review of a new children's book called "Granny McFlitter, The Champion Knitter," by Heather Haylock and Lael Chisholm, as well as another new children's book called "The Yark." You can listen to it here.

It is a New Zealand book and incorporates into the story the sinking of a ship called "The Rena" off the Tauranga coast, a major environmental disaster. But (as you might expect) it was the knitting that drew me in. So yes, a bookstore was added to the errand list.

This is a very cute story, and a must read for any knitters and those who love them. Most knitters, like Granny McFlitter, just want to be needed!

Brushing Up on Bruschetta

I've recently expanded the repertoire of what we do with our heirloom tomatoes here at Struan Farm to include bruschetta.

When John and I are up north in Auckland we normally eat at one of our favourite neighbourhood restaurants, Volare. When we lived in the area we ate there all the time, the owners and staff still know us well (in fact they still remember my usual order and favourite wine!).  If we have a starter with our meal we will most likely share bruschetta. Given the looming tomato surplus, I decided to try making it; turns out it's really easy.

Chopped fresh tomatoes are mixed with a tablespoon or two of good olive oil, one teaspoon of balsamic vinegar, a clove of garlic (or two) crushed, basil (preferably fresh but dried will work in a pinch), salt and pepper. Mix ahead of time in a bowl but leave at room temperature for best flavour. In the meantime, brush rounds of french baguette with olive oil and toast under the grill or on the BBQ, turning so both sides are toasted.

I've been putting them out on a beautiful wooden serving board that John gave me for Christmas, made by Tamaki woodworker Henry Bernard of recycled native timbers from old houses. If you want to check them out his number is 020 4039 9939. 

A few final words of wisdom on bruschetta. The tomato mixture doesn't keep overnight, it gets mushy, so just make what you're going to use that day. I also wouldn't put the tomato mixture on the toasts ahead of time for that same reason, the toasts will get soft. It's easier to put out a stack of toasts with a bowl of the tomato mixture and have everyone make their own.

 

Charlie Gets His Stocking

Grandson Charlie was at Struan Farm this year for the Christmas and Boxing Day holidays. We were pleased to be able to deliver his needlepoint Christmas stocking to him in person.

I think he is really pleased with it, what do you think? It's hanging on the mantle temporarily with ours, will return home with him to Knutsford. I was also able to show sister Freya the design and canvas for hers, which is still very much a work in process, one-two years away. No pressure, Karen!

 

Back on the Needles

There are only so many hours in the day, and too many needlepoint Christmas stockings still left to do. That's my story about why I haven't been knitting for awhile, and I'm sticking to it. The last thing I knit was a pink "Pussy Hat" to support the Women's March and denounce Trump. I knocked that off in one day in a state of righteous outrage. 

But when the word came out that one of our grandsons needed a new hand knit beanie, what's a knitting grandmother to do?

I blew the cobwebs off the entrance to my knitting stash here at Struan Farm and ventured in (you may remember, it's a walk-in closet). I've never been a big baby knitter, I've always preferred making things for adults. I did make some blankets in Blue Sky organic cotton for grandchildren that did get well used. I learned to make beanies in volume when sister knitters and I got going making baby beanies for the Otara Budgeting Service each winter. One winter ASB colleagues and I made and delivered 346 beanies for families in need.

Fortunately the stash delivered. It would have been a bit ridiculous to go out and buy yarn when I have a closet of gorgeous yarns sitting in plastic boxes waiting to be used, but then as a knitter I know that that does happen and happens often. In this instance I had enough leftover skeins of beautiful soft Sublime "baby cashmere merino silk dk" in little boy compatible colours. The pattern is Sublime's "Get Knotted Hat" from "The third little Sublime hand knit book." Quick and easy, one to two nights, depending on what's happening on MasterChef.

It's now back to Freya's stocking, but this was good to test that I still remember K, P, and the secret handshake.

Charlie, Phew!

I've been working my little fingers to the bone at night here at Struan Farm. Thank heavens for MasterChef Australia airing five nights each week! Grandson Charlie's needlepoint Christmas stocking is done.

 

He'll be here for Christmas this year from England, so it will be nice to deliver it to him in person. Now it's off to Needle Nook of La Jolla for the velvet backing, satin lining and twisted cord edge with tassels and bells. 

Next comes sister Freya, then Violet. But I can't really manage more than one of these per year, I don't think I have that in me...

 

Helping Out the Easter Bunny

I received an SOS from the Easter Bunny. Help was needed to dye some Easter eggs for two little girls coming to visit Struan Farm over the holiday weekend. So after hard boiling some eggs, I cracked out the vinegar and food colouring to step into the fray:

The recipe is 1 teaspoon of vinegar for every 1/2 cup boiling water along with 10-20 drops of food colouring. This doesn't have to be terribly precise. Leave in the solution for at least 5 minutes, it depends on the colours you're after. It's almost impossible to find white eggs in the food stores here in NZ now, but I must say that I prefer them for this sort of project. Brown eggs end up looking "muddier" to me, the colours aren't as clean and vibrant.

Be that as it may, the Easter Bunny has said these will do, thank you very much. He's told me not to tell them, but he will hide the eggs around the place for the granddaughters to find Sunday morning before our blueberry pancake breakfast. There may also be some chocolate and jelly beans.

p.s. Clifford will be tied up, he'd wolf these babies down in no time! 

 

Carved in Stone

I ran south to New Plymouth for a haircut and day of errands a day or so ago (truth be told it may have been an attempt on my part to escape the accumulated piles of farmstay bed linens in the aftermath of the recent wedding?!).

Wanted to stop by the Te Kupenga Stone Sculpture Society's stone carving symposium, which is happening on the New Plymouth foreshore for several weeks near the iconic Len Lye "wind wand". Stone carvers from around New Zealand and overseas are onsite daily making sculptures in public, including brother-in-law Alan Axten. It was interesting to watch these artists at work, dust flying with saws, goggles and ear muffs! Pieces made over this period will be auctioned off at the end of the month. Check it out!

 

Christmas is Coming...

Shhhh, you need to be able to keep this TOP SECRET!

The needlepoint Christmas stocking I made for Livvy arrived back from finishing at The Needle Nook of La Jolla. They have outdone themselves, adding tassles and jingle bells to the twisted cord edge and loop. While she did see the project in transition, I don't want her to see it until she unwraps it on Boxing Day.

Two down, (only) five to go! 

Unannounced Guests

Guess who I found camping out in our guest room bed at the new(ish) house at Struan Farm?

 

Two little gnomes. They've told me they're here for the new baby due in November (aka "Little Leroy"). They will stay in the guest room until he arrives and a contest for naming them is organised.  They will then move out to the tawa grove gnome sanctuary with the others.

Great, huh? Not like we have too many gnomes running around the place already..

The Garden Cottage, Teaser

My sign is done, the carpet and bed are in, and the drapes are scheduled. We're almost there on the Garden Cottage at Struan Farm!

Here are two teasers. First my sign:

This will be affixed outside once the exterior is washed and repainted.

Second, here's a rather interesting reproduction of a vintage NZ travel poster of Mt. Egmont (which is now called Mt. Taranaki):

This hangs above the new bed (apologies, it is hanging straight but the photo is a wee bit crooked...). The colours work really well with the rest of the room, you'll see in due course! I purchased it at Kina Gallery in New Plymouth, a great spot for NZ art and crafts.

Sign for the Garden Cottage

Yes, yet another funky Karen upcycling project. We are almost done with the renovation of the Garden Cottage at Struan Farm, formerly Maurie's Workshop. As you will recall, this will be a second bedroom available to farmstay guests booking the Homestead.

The new windows are in, ceiling painted, tiles in, outside LED lights installed and chandeliers hung (okay, not the little glass dangley bits just yet, need the new bed to be delivered first to avoid disaster).

The carpet gets installed this week, followed by the drapes and rods a week later. I've got a call in to arrange delivery of the new bed. The refurbished loveseat is looking good and standing by. Once all this is done I'll work on art and the other furnishings, aka "the little touches." The outside will get a fresh coat of paint once it's warm enough to do so.

But of course we've needed a sign! I came across an idea on Pinterest: using an old tray and blackboard paint. I found an old silver plate tray at an op shop for $5 (with apologies to the Tuakau Bowling Club, this was some sort of anniversary plate that someone gave away to the Salvation Army). Then hit Spotlight to buy a mix of fake flowers to cut and form a ring around the edge.

And so here we are, thus far. I used metal primer paint in the centre before putting on a coat of the blackboard paint. Then cut off the stems of the flowers, that I've hot glued around the edge (my first attempt ever using a hot glue gun). May need a ribbon around the inside edge to cover the stems and glue, not sure about that as yet.

 

Next I'll practice printing "The Garden Cottage," or find a friend with better printing than mine to print it on there in a chalkboard type permanent pen. It won't be kept outside all the time, rather hung up right before guests arrive. So hopefully it will last awhile.

Watch this space for the reveal of The Garden Cottage!

It's Livvy's Turn

I've created my own problem on this one: needlepoint Christmas stockings for the grandchildren. One down, for Ella. Now I'm onto Livvy:

 

I'm cranking again on it currently. I may finish it for this Christmas, but just don't know given international finishing and shipping deadlines. Fingers crossed. I had been working in birth order across the two families, but John has suggested that I work to finish one family and then tackle the other if I still have it within me. I tend to work on these in concentrated bursts, then put them away for months at a time after getting bored and needing a different project.

So, okay John, I'll do that, with apologies to Charlie and Freya, who may be adolescents before they see a Christmas stocking from me!

One Green Sheep for One Green Sheep

Found this little critter in my travels recently at the local Te Kuiti Warehouse store.

 

There were pink, purple, white, black and green versions, which made it very hard to decide. The green girl came home with me, since friend Cathy Bebelman has a knitwear design company called, coincidently enough, One Green Sheep. I whipped up a quick knitted lei of roses for her neck; it is a belated birthday present after all! 

I haven't named her, will leave that one to Cathy.