Fur coat?

 

I just bought a fur coat off Trademe! What am I going to do with that on these 28degree humid summer days you may wonder? Well apparently it was someone's pride and joy but I am going to cut it up and upholster my footstool with it! And maybe make some cushions with the left overs. It is a small size anyway so I could never wear it - that helps with the slaughter. Good shopping on Trademe over Christmas - everyone too full/tiddly/sleepy to bid on fur coats, so I got a bargain!

Time spent in the kitchen

 

 

Christmas Eve always seems to be about cooking - well if you want yummy home made goodies it is. Today I made an old favourite - chocolate mousse but a new recipe!  -  and something new, some little tarts with my lemon curd. I did make savoury things too, they just don't look so pretty.

Home made

 

Have watched so many cooking programmes lately and read so many cook books and magazine, I thought it's about time I actually cooked something - now there's an idea. Anyway the lemon curd is delicious!

Roses for Oma

 

These roses are from Bill's garden. They are an amazing mix of colours, pink/mauve/peach plus devine perfume I must get a cutting!

Mmmmm strawberries...

 

My first summer strawberries...

How does your garden grow?

 

 

Summery things are happening in the garden.

Listen to the bees...

My orange and grapefruit trees are swarming with bees, busy pollinating all the flowers.
Unfortunately my iPhone doesn't have a smell recording app - will have to suggest it to Steve.

One more thing ticked off the bucket list!

I have always wanted to grow a flower garden. In everyhouse I have owned, I have been frustrated by the lack of a 'full sun' position to do this. So I decided to dig a piece of lawn that gets morning sun until about 4pm - that should do it! Mum and I went to the garden centre and got a bit carried away. I have planted all annuals at this stage but will move some of my favourite perrentals in gradually. I know it's more work but at lest I won't pop my clogs having never had a flower garden!

The sunny spot.

All the digging done!

All planted!
Blue delphiniums, white/red/blue petunias, viscaria, anchusa, lobellia, blue/white salvia.
Let it grow!

Bead shop

 

 

 Coromandel town is the home of my favourtie bead shop. The beads are all in open containers so you can pick them up and and touch them. If you don't go in with a strong will and a project in mind, you come out either totally confused with no beads, or with a random selection that does not work together. I now have three new projects to work on - oops.

Up the Coro

 

 

Just came back from a few days up the Coromandel. I don't think there is a more beautiful place in the world. These photos were taken on a very overcast day at Te Kouma, just south of Coromandel town.  Every time we go up there we select the bach we will buy when we win the lotto, but unfortunately we will have to wait, yet again,  until next year.

Blinded by the light

 

New wooden venetians are great for controlling how much light gets into your house! - and onto your quilts.

Only in NZ...

When you see Tuis in the Kowhai trees, you know it must be srping.

Spring is here?

All the 10,000 tulip bulbs plus plenty of daffodils, are in full bloom at the Hamilton gardens.
It must be spring?

Brown beads

I bought some of these beads in Amsterdam and some from my favourite bead shop in Coromandel. The design is a copy of a necklace I saw on Murano Island off Venice, for 200 Euro! But the first time I strung them the beads did not sit in a pleasing arrangement. I restrung it as a short necklace but did not like it, so tried the long version again and worked out where to put the beads so they would sit correctly - quite a tricky process as it is one string that you double. But hey it worked, and I like them -  even if it took me a year! Thought I better get them done as it's almost time for the annual pilgrimage to the Coromandel Town bead shop! Hmmmm what shall I get this time?

Grape Hyacinths

As a child, grape hyacinths were my favourite flowers. I didn't know what they were called then but knew if you watched out in spring, particularly in the gardens of old ladies, you just might see some. They are small and often tucked away under things, quite hard to see. I have a healthy patch in my current garden, hmmmm maybe that means I am an old lady now? Probably.

Murphy's cushions

I once swore I would never make cushions again. But they cost so much to make - well the ones I like do. So, once again, I thought how hard can it be. Well Murphy sat on my shoulder the whole time and true to form, what could go wrong did go wrong. Three weekends later voila! new cushions for my new sofa. Hhmmm - never again.

My 'bunch' of flowers

Tea Lights

Weekends are when you take the time to do things like light candles and sit and enjoy the dusk.

Spools

I bought these old wooden cotton reels off Trademe on an impulse last weekend, they arrived yesterday. I thought I had some already somewhere?? ...and today I found a whole basketful! Oh well, they are all such pretty colours.

More silliness

Now I know how to embed something into my blog!

Bleak Sunday

Bleak winter Sunday - everything dripping wet.

Flames

Where would I be without my fire?? well probably still here just colder.

Winter Sky

One of the things I love about clear winter days is the sky at dusk. It goes this gorgeous dusky purple and pink colour.

Basted!

Well I finally put the borders on the quilt and basted it! Had forgotten just how much work and time goes into making a quilt! The backing fabric is a lovely soft latte coloured batik. It's just a simple scrappy type quilt but I love it. Took me six months! So...now I have to quilt it.

Driving to Paengaroa

The sun was out by the time I reached Ngongataha -after years of saying I must, I finally did stop to photograph this hut.

It was foggy in the Waikato - the farmland looked quite mystical.

Button necklace

I finished my button necklace. Made from my collection of purple and brown buttons. Inspired by a website I found of jewellery for sale made out of antique buttons. http://relique.www.felt.co.nz/browse/user/relique?L=0

Stitching

This embroidery was done by my mother when she was young (must find out exactly when).
She doesn't want it anymore, preferring table runners she has bought, but she thought I might like it as I was telling her about my sister in law Christine who goes around garage sales and buys up handmade embroidery. Personally I think it is gorgeous and deserving of being framed.

Photoshop silliness!

More photoshop fun. I'm doing a night school. It's kinda stressful - tutor leaves a bit to be desired.

But unlike half the class I have not given up yet.

Didn't really think that photomanipulation was my thing but it is a fun way to learn how to use the software. It's all about layers. Layer upon layer, upon layer.

Mum kinda freezes in front of the camera - maybe I take after her?? 

Anyway a few more photos of mum to add to the collection.

Time wasting...

These are friends of mine, Pippa and Graeme. They have a lovely garden, shame about the snails.
I should have been working on my quilt!

I thought I'd wash some scarves...

There's a red tree...

There's a red maple tree not far from my place. Every year I notice it's beautiful colour and have to take more photos of it!