Flower Power!

We are having such a wonderful summery day today.  Well actually the weather might be that way but in reality I've been busy vacuuming the whole house and helping make trays of cookies.  Funny how I always end up finishing the baking! 

Anyway I thought I'd just pop in and show you my new creation.  Look, it's crochet too!!!  Thank you Maria for your inspiring stripy blanket to get me back into hooking for a while.  Have you met Maria before?  She makes such wonderful things.  Pop on over and visit her if you like, she'll love to have you over for a while.

Pattern from Lucy, Attic 24 of course.  Never thought I could do something this cool!  Loving the summery colours.  It was so easy to make but it's probably a little baggy on the jar.  When I was filling the jar with water, No.2 asked me why I didn't take the cover off first so it didn't get wet.  It's just far too sensible really!  And yes it did get wet.  Who cares in this heat. 

Gosh it's so very hot, about 28 degrees C here now and we're sweating away eating iceblocks and anything cold we can get our hands on.  Hey do you want a sneaky peek at our new bathroom?  I ADORE it!  It's so tranquil and beautiful, as is our bedroom.  I could live in our bathroom it's so pretty.  Loving the little tiles below the mirror.  We still need the fan, lights and towel rail to be installed and then it's all done.  Then there'll be whole room photos.

I made these cushion covers last year and finally added one more colour last night.  I do love them and must get them finished for the winter.  They will add much needed colour to our lounge in the cooler months.

Well that's it for today.  I hope your weekend is going nicely too.  Thanks for stopping by!  Oh, note the bigger photos?  Much prettier.

A Little Vintage Christmas Time

I'm thinking it might be a lovely idea to show the girls what a vintage Christmas was like.  Not that I've actually experienced one myself of course!!!  So really I should say, to show all of us youngish people what it was like.  Perhaps some candle light, proper cloth napkins, table cloths, napkin rings, old toys, old fashioned sweets...  and on and on it goes.  I've prepped Great Gran to raid her drawers and cupboards this week for all things old and great.

Now I have been super annoyed with myself this past week.  Yes I truly have.  I was very cross that I had given away some very old lights that once adorned my grandparents Christmas tree.  Why is it that as soon as you've given away something that you realise how useful and wonderful it would have been?  I have learned that you really have to look outside the box and think of other ideas for using a product. 

Anyway the Gods must have been looking down on me today, because when hubby was tidying the garage he asked me what on earth was I going to do with all this electrical stuff?  I threw myself at him and then went off with a huge grin.  How absolutely fabulous!  Now do you want a look inside the boxes?  The boxes themselves are rather wonderful in their own right. 

These lights are so incredibly beautiful.  I'm thinking of making them into hanging decorations.  Or maybe napkin ornaments?  My Grandad was a great organised hoarder.  He had a drawer or a place for everything and never threw anything out.  Fabulous!

These ones are not quite as good, but I do still love those pinecone ones.  Look at the metallic blue one.

Maybe these pretty red lights would be nice as a garland?  Loving the reel too.

The perfect flowers are already in my garden.  Absolutely loving these purple and pink hydrangeas.  The fresh new green buds are a lovely addition to the bunch too.  You just can't beat hydrangeas for an old fashioned look.

These white ones are actually quite small and pompom like.  Perhaps an individual bunch at each place setting?  It's their first year of flowering and I'm very impressed with them. 

And to finish off, here's a rubbish photo of our Christmas tree.  Well it's so jolly hot and muggy here that the sun does get in the way.  Although I must admit it's done nothing but rain the last few days. 

I must come back soon and share a new revelation very soon.  I must also tell you that No.2 and 3 received certificates for fab work at their end of year prize givings.  Go them!!  And that No.3 is skipping a year at school because she's so super clever.   Clearly she's my child!  Ha ha, no really, hubby has the brains in the family.  So glad it's rubbing off on our girls.  Oh it's all so exciting!  Anyway the family need food once again so I must go and slice the bread.

Have a wonderful week, the last week before Christmas!!!  Heck!  Off to see all the pretty lights tonight.  It's not dark until nearly 9pm so it'll be a late one.

Oh and our new bedroom is practically finished!!!  Double yee ha!  Right I'm really off now.  See you!

Fancy a Cuppa?

What a wonderful weekend we've just had.  Saturday was the annual village Santa Parade which was full of all the usual delights.  Bands playing, kids dancing, floats and of course it ended with Santa himself.  The girls thought it was really fantastic, I just don't see what they see, clearly.  Perhaps it's age!  Anyway speaking of age, I've just turned 29... well you can add ten years to that if you really have to, but my mind is still at 29 thank you! 

Fancy a cuppa from my fancy new teapot ladies?  Isn't she a beauty?  Oh yes that's a new CK cup too.  I've can even offer you a slice of birthday cake, it's calorie free of course for you ladies who were about to say no!   Seriously, what birthday cake isn't?!!  And because I'm so nice I'm going to let you eat my last mint chocolate - they are the best in the box.

After you've eaten we'll have a gander through my new craft books.  Gosh they are wonderful, full of lovely ideas.  I wonder what you'll want to make?

My thank you letters are going to look grand if I can part with these little CK treasures.  All the way from the UK just for me!  I adore the little envelopes and stickers.

And how about we plan a new quilt with all my new fatties?  I would think it would be very pretty in the lovely Sugar Flower range.  I must cut some squares out first so I don't get too excited and use it all up.  The others were especially chosen by my little girls.  Didn't they do well?

Gosh I do enjoy my birthdays.  Hubby excels himself every year.  I get so many thoughtful gifts, way more than I'd ever choose for myself.  I felt so spoilt all day Sunday, even though my birthday wasn't really until Monday, but who wants a regular work/school day on their birthday?  Hardly any time for pampering with the family out most of the day.  My parents put on a very lovely dinner for me with all the local family present.  Very nice with my favourite meal served - roast lamb!  Thank you dearest mother for my lovely pink peonys too - they are opening out beautifully.

I've managed to get all the girls to write their Santa letters already.  I find it a good thing to get out of the way early and it's great that Santa knows what they want in plenty of time so he can put the appropriate gifts aside.  We don't want the girls missing out now do we?  The littlest one wrote hers with my help yesterday.  She not into writing but it turned out alright in the end.  It was a little hairy for a while!  And the eraser she's asking for is the pricey sum of $2.50.  What else does a fourth girl need? 

Well I must be off now.  Got to do the kindy thing soon and then do a bit of shopping for my cookie exchange on Thursday.  Exciting times are ahead!  I'll be back soon with some new makes.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

Christmas!!!  she says, singing like an old bat.  Am I the only one who gets a little bit excited when she realises Christmas is just a couple of months away?  The first week of October is now over so that must make it... about ten weeks away!!!  How exciting is that???  Oh gosh, I hope I haven't freaked anyone out!

Now that the warm weather has arrived in little old NZ, I have been spending the odd hour outside sorting the garden out.  My goodness it's got away on me.  I thought it was about time I watered the Christmas tree and got it into shape for the festive season.

The nursery was paid a visit this morning and these glorious red and white Petunias made their way into our boot.

And how could I go past these red delights?  I do love a pretty dahlia.  There are so many buds on this plant, so hopefully it will flower right into Christmas.  So our front door area is looking like a Christmas bomb has hit it.

And Mr Red Gingham's Pohutukawa is doing very nicely and completely covered in red blooms.  This one is a very early flowerer.  Usually they flower in the summer and put on a lovely show for Christmas. 

Aren't the flowers so dainty with their little golden tips?  They do make a mess a couple of days afted being picked unfortunately.  Little bits of dried redness all over the place.

And I seem to have left this decoration out all year.  How could I put away such a lovely heart? 

My Red Gingham banner garland has made itself at home in our family room.  I think it looks very pretty up there.  Maybe we'll have a spotty and ginghamy Christmas this year?  Although we have had those two themes separately in previous years.

I don't know about the different colour schemes some people do these days.  Could you do pink or blue really?  I'm sure it's not big in the UK with the traditional Christmas such a reality.  But over here in the Summer it's tempting.  Why is the wintry Christmas such a big thing for us in the heat anyway?  We just can't stay away from it.  We love the idea of having a cold Christmas Day.  Heck, the shops spray fake snow on the windows!!  How ridiculous is that?

I often mention doing a different theme but it just doesn't excite the family.  Perhaps we could do red with hot pink?  It would combine both seasons.  I think a little fabric shopping is needed for inspiration.  I need some stuffing for my bunnies anyway.  Plenty of time really, aye?

Flowers For You!

You lovely ladies are all so sweet with your wonderful comments, that I've gone out into our garden and picked you, yes you, a little posy of flowers.  Not bad for the middle of winter is it?  Honestly our winter is just pathetic this year.  Some days we go out without jumpers or jackets on it's so warm.  Most days it's at least 16 degrees on the weather report.  Don't get me wrong here, I'm very much not complaining!

Remember I showed you the Homegrown Magazine last time?  Well at the back of it I found there more in titles in the series.  I have since got my mother to order the first Homegrown and the fruit tree one.  She subscribes to their monthly magazine so is able to get these at a much discounted rate.  She also has a great stack of the magazines for me to pick up and read through.  I just love the layout of them and the very useful info they contain.  Lots of ideas, recipes, hints and practical advice.  I must buy their garden dairy too when it comes out. 

Now I'm never going back to buying pre-grown plants after seeing just how quickly my seeds have grown.  Just look at my sweet babies!  All the trays but one have sprouted.  I am learning so much about gardening that sometimes I can sound quite intelligent when asked a question.  Imagine that?

Just before nodding off the other night, I suddenly had a super duper idea.  I just had to wake hubby up and tell him.  I thought, why do we have a pretty blossom tree when we can have an apple tree in it's place.  Well why wouldn't you?  Luckily he whole heartily agreed with me. 

I'm hanging apples off this tree anyway, imagine having apples that we could pick and eat.  You can get triple grafted trees which have three varieties on the same tree.  How neat is that?  I've got ideas about buying a pear tree with two different pear varieties (that would truly be a pair tree then!) and a lemon tree too.

These lemons were an absolute bargain so I am going to use them to make lemon curd and lemon cordial.  Homemade is so much tastier and I really enjoy that sort of cooking. 

My new green scheme is going very well thank you, only one hiccup when I forgot to take my bag into the shop.  Not to worry, I have systems now!  It's amazing just how quickly the shop people pop stuff in bags.  You practically have to tell them upfront that you have your own bags. 

My little one and I went supermarket shopping after visiting the plant shop this morning.  It's a brilliant plant shop.  They have a trampoline, two rabbits that she was allowed to feed, and fish.  It's a special outing to go there.  We must remember that it takes well over one hour to buy a packet of seeds and a bag of garden mix in future!

Anyway back to the supermarket, just look at how little I bought there.  There's a bag of garden mix in there too. What you see is what I bought.  A few bulk items to save money and packaging of course.  That's my shopping done for another week.

There was really not much in my trolley at all and it came to $174 which isn't much at all considering we are a family of six.  I am buying my fruit and veggies at a newly discovered shop, much cheaper and great quality.  Next week I am going to buy pears and bottle them.  I'd hand over the meal cooking any day but I love preserving food.  Is that strange?

I've just been eating my chicken salad while typing to you.  Doesn't it look good?  The salad leaves were from market day last Saturday. I hadn't been there for so long and it was lovely to be back buying locally grown delights.  My veggies last very well because I have wonderful Tupperware containers that keep the food fresh for well over a week.  Worth every cent I spent on them.  And they cost quite a few cents too!  Took hubby a wee while to get over that purchase last year. 

Anyway must go and pick up those mags.  It's nice to know so many of you are also very good recyclers and gardeners too.  See you!!

Spring Is In The Air...

but it's supposed to be Autumn!  The plum tree did the same thing this time last year.  We experienced a slight cold snap and then went back to lovely warm days again and I think our poor tree got confused. 

Still it gives us hope that Spring will be here before we know it.  Oh who am I kidding!  Winter is only weeks away and there's no way it will bypass us.  Lets just hope we don't get a UK winter.  I really couldn't handle that.

I did manage to get into the garden on Thursday.  I thought it was high time I removed the purple Salvias.  They were supposed to be red for Christmas but must have been mixed up.  How annoying is that?!!  You may already know that purple is not my colour - at all.

There were plenty of pretty flowers to choose from at the garden centre.  I've always been keen on white flowers.  I like how they glow under the lights.  So we have white pansies and some cute pompom things.

And these looked too fun to pass up.  Aren't they amazing?  So old fashioned looking and so much like granny squares.  I hope there is a good mix of colours.  I can't wait to take photos of them to show you.

They are all in the ground now, but they do look a little uneventful at the moment don't they?!  But I'm full of hope for them.  They are starting to look very perky now. 

Today I've been thinking about my apron for my swap partner Heleen.  I've even managed to find some very suitable fabric in my cupboard.  Fabric I'd forgotten about, but just perfect for this project.  The pattern is all sorted so it's just a matter of time before I cut it out and stitch it together. 

Have you all made contact with your swap partner's?  I'm hoping so.  Isn't it lovely to have the chance to get to know another blogger?  I've really enjoyed organising my first swap so there will certainly be more.  The hardest part was deciding what to swap, but clearly, judging by the number of participants, aprons was a good choice.  We ended up with 80 swappers!  Woo hoo! 

I'll have to put up a list of blogs so we can all see what each person makes.  Please be patient with me, it will be a work in progress.  Anyway must be off, happy stitching!

A Tiki Tour of the Capital

Look at the pretty snow! This photo was taken just before Waiouru, in the North Island, on our way to Wellington. There are three mountains, this one being Ruapehu. They are set in a desert area which is terribly confusing for children to understand. Honestly the questions just go around and around.

Our capital city, Wellington, is home to The Beehive. This is our MP's hang out. Daughter No.1 is very interested in anything factual and insisted that we do the touristy tour of the place. Good grief! Sometimes she's so serious and the black sheep of our family! But very much like her Papa.

And this is the original building before the Beehive was built. It's now mainly the Government Library or some such. I mean I was sort of listening to the tour guide, but it all reminded me of my school visit many years prior. And she was one of those bossy kinds who pretends she not with excuses.

Now what do you make of this sculpture? It sure looks like a banana to us. There were two others that resembled a carrot and a weird shape that wasn't really anything. A bit difficult to climb on being so high, but fun to hide behind and do rolly pollys down the gentle slopes. This was great fun for the little girls and lots of laughs were had.

Section Two: The Makeover Continues...

The blue tape is one of my jobs for a couple of reasons. First because I actually enjoy applying it, second as hubby thinks it's a really annoying task, and thirdly because he's much lighter with the criticism of my work than his own. It's a win win situation.

Now the bad part of this marvelous taping job, is that the paint on the scotias came off with the tape!!! So we now have a new line of paint under the scotias. It really doesn't pay to do a half job in the end. You end up having to do extra work somewhere along the way.

Not wanting to bore you completely with our home improvements, here we have a few garden shots to liven things up a bit.

The blue tape add a colourful touch, don't you agree? You must remember the man is a perfectionist. No furry edges will be tolerated!

And a little bit of the tropics in our garden. It's a great shame this particular Hibiscus is planted where it is, because you wouldn't know we had it. A real beauty all the same.

And here we have colour people! The funny thing about this particular coloured paint, is that the edges always look darker than the whole wall when finished. I think the light must bounce around and lighten it or something. It's a bit of a mystery really. Still I'm liking what I'm seeing very much.

I think we might have a bit of rolling paint going on the walls later today. Dear hubby is anxious to get the kitchen back together so will endeavour to finished this room first. Not sure if he's missing my fabulous cooking or just finding the lack of cups of tea too much to handle.

Right ho, off I go to cut out a few more magazine pictures for the file. It's fish and chips at the beach tonight with the grandparents. Another fabulous day, and one to enjoy.

Hope the snow is beginning to melt for all you English/European lasses. I know it's fun in the beginning but as with everything, enough is enough after a while. Just be careful, as you don't want to end up like Floss's poor son with your leg in plaster. Poor poor boy! And he was having so much fun too.

She's Phoned!!!

I told you the curtain lady was good didn't I?!! She was in the office answering her messages today even though she's still on holiday. You have to love the dedication to her work. So now I have been booked in for Tuesday afternoon. And yes I am a little bit excited. The lady is very thorough and took down paint colour, kitchen colours and the likes and is now assembling a wonderful array of samples to tempt us with. It seems a neutral is the way to go and definitely not a taffeta with the girls still draping themselves in the drapes.

What do you think about my inspirational board? Well it's actually just an organised pile of pictures laid out on the ground, but you get the idea, I'm quite sure of it you clever little things.

Apparently the big camera takes a wider shot of the family room, so here's a better scene shot for your pleasure compliments of hubby.

See that pillar? It houses our fridge, well when it's not in the middle of the kitchen. I came up with a lovely idea to make a feature of it with a fab little wallpaper, but it was shot down immediately and popped in the 'never to venture to again' compartment.

It's a really lovely still summery day out there today. The first coat of paint is currently drying on the skirting boards. Luckily we have all those windows to peek at it.

The garden could do with a good watering, which I really must do in a min.

The colours in the garden are just vibrant with all my favs out. Yellows, oranges and reds.

And the corn has been a huge success with several cobs eaten already. So buttery and tasty! Definitely a winner in the garden.

Now as I've been hunting through my old mags for ideas, I've come across some lovely things to make. I'm thinking, if any of you are interested, that I may just give you a special once a week peek at some lovely ideas for you to make, or just admire. Here's the first installment:

As many of you are experiencing winter currently, I thought this knitty gritty page would be most suitable. I love the knitted hot water bottle cover and the cushion covers. All could be made with a recycled jumper or blanket. And isn't the little teddy just the cutest?

I'll leave you know with a little inspiration perhaps and get on with that watering of the garden.