Big things and dressing from the feet up

What a week! Last Friday I went and collected Mr Big, and bought him home to our house to join our family of humans and animals. TOF adores him, but we all knew that would happen didn't we.  I know you want to meet him so here we go.

He moved in and stole our hearts one by one.  The weekend was a wet and cold sort and I had developed a snotty nose so me and Big spent a lot of time lying on top of the Spares bed  chilling together, me reading and him purring.  He has a big as motor of course and he loves to head butt you.

Yeah it was cold enough to pull out my big poncho and live in it all weekend.  The warm weather has definitely gone and it is now time to embrace the Winter wardrobe, which means loads more strategic layering and boots.

I have always loved this and it seemed to happen for us on Sunday as Big managed to get outside. No amount of calling got him to return, I was devastated, three days of having him wasn't enough.  So in the rain and dark the spare and I went with umbrellas and torches to search for him, but we came home with out him.  For the next couple of days I called him morning and night.  On Tuesday at about 8pm I decided I would try again.  As I went out the front door of our house, large as life as if nothing had happened was BIG sitting in the middle of our driveway!!  PHEW!!

Looking no worse for his two nights away he swanned back into our home, had a feed and got his motor running.  I think after a month of being holed up at the SPCA he just wanted some outside adventure, so he appears to have been hanging out at the school next door.  Our house is probably much quieter than a school full of 5-12 years old children.

Other things did happen during this time as well, my total focus wasn't on this beautiful new addition, but I think I could be forgiven if it had been.

Like my foster babies!  They are doing so well, packing on the weight and recovering from their cat flu.  Two is a good number of kittens to care for, so I think I will try to keep it to two each time if  possible.

A pair of gorgeous ORANGE boots arrived in the post that I had bought via trade me.  They cheered me up no end while Big was MIA (missing in action).  I wore them two days in a row to work and both days they dictated what clothes got worn.

These two are adjusting well to the new flatmate in their life.  Oscar is fine and no threat to Big as he is smaller but Sheba is a different game all together.  Nothing a face full of claws won't sort out.

All this wet weather has made more fungi appear in the garden and the orange one was so small but so bright.

Not wanting to be outside in the wet I ended up doing two batches of Jam, our cupboard is full now.  Blackberry on the left and Strawberry on the right, all fruit grown in our garden and frozen until I was ready to get my Jam making face on.

The back garden is covered in leaves and the only colour you will find is my blue chairs and the odd pinch of something flowering.

Striped socks and my birkies add some colour to the fallen leaves, don't panic, I don't wear these out.  I needed to go feed the girls.

On Monday I stopped in at Habitat and bought home the Pink leather Pouffe.  I have seen these for sale unfilled for $199-$280, I scored this one filled for $12.  Funny how I have splashes of this colour hiding in my garden. So matchy matchy I am!!!

The other thing I came home with is the wooden plant stand, only $10.  Perfect on the deck with my Hoya plant.  The pot it is in was given to me by a friend (thanks Anne) and is very old, and rather beautiful.

The babies are on their last week of medication.  I wrap them like a baby and wash their snotty little noses then dose them, so cute and such an easy way to keep them still.  They have both reached their goal weight and will be leaving me next week.  Booked in on Tuesday for their de-sexing.  Batch two done, wonder what I will get next.

Ladybird shoes!!!  Another purchase from Trade Me, and my oh my how I love them.  Another day of dressing from the feet up, a fun way to plan an outfit. I wonder what I will wear tomorrow, a SuesDay has been booked.

This afternoon there was a patch of sunshine on the spares bed so I decided it was the perfect place to read.  It didn't take long for the animals to all join me. No hissing from Big at the dogs so all is running smoothly.  He is back to stay and seems pretty bloody happy, he will have his staff in place by the weekend if not sooner.

 

Because on Monday I don't work

Thanks all you lovelies for your birthday wishes!  I had a nice long birthday because of you all.  Oh and I got a voucher to spend at the shop I got my locket from, from TOF and the lads got my a bottle of Chanel No 5. On Friday Sue W came into town and we had ourselves a SUESDAY!!

We did the rounds of our favourite charity shops, came home with some good buys, had plenty of laughs and had a nice lunch at a cafe called Lolas.

The Monster Co pottery heart actually says Never Forget $4 and the yum bum Eject boots  were $12.

An assortment of new things for me to wear.  More colour for my wardrobe.  It is time to swap the seasonal clothes about as the chill is coming, there is no denying that fact.

I couldn't believe that this wooden fold up double tray was only $5.  Sue scored this book that I am in the throws of reading.

 Little Ms Jerry is doing much better and growing braver by the day.

I have a project, I just need to find my sewing mojo and then I will have the best coat on the sideline at rugby.

One of the blokes at work is having a sort out of stuff at his home and was going to biff these wicked Bali Masks out.  Luckily he gives me first dibs on his rubbish!!  What I don't want I drop of at an op shop.

My sister Helen scored the Green shoes for me and the floral clogs I found on Trade Me. I rather like shoes I can slip on and off.

Helen gave me the Buddha face on the left (part of my birthday present), showing four emotions, the funny thing is the brass one I got from the 'to be biffed stuff' from the bloke at work.  Can you see the Elephant face in the right photo?

Buddha from Helen and I found Ganesha while out shopping with her last week, they will look great hanging on the same wall somewhere in my home.

I bought these gorgeous old sets from a lady on Trade Me.  She is sorting out stuff that used to belong to her mother.  My mother had loads of beautiful old sets like these but I think she has thrown them all out. Such a shame as my sisters and I loved them.

 

Trade Me purchases, velvet coat, yummy scrummy and a felted hat that fits like a glove, well maybe not a glove, but fits perfectly!!

Both putting on weight and slowly recovering from their flu.  Poor little Tom still has the snuffles so the Eucalyptus steam baths continue.

Because I had no work today I went for a drive out to Raglan.  The weather was mild but misty and windy.  You could tell it was brewing up something.  This is Te Uku that you drive through, the Wind Farm was shrouded in mist this morning.

I was on a mission, and my destination was a very cool shop on the Wharf called Soul.  It was just me and the bird life at the wharf this morning.

 Even with the tide out Raglan Harbour still looks fabulous in my eyes.

 

I bet that lovely old home gets the very best views perched up high on the hill across the harbour from Raglan.

I bought myself a Mocha and a Brownie and drove out to the beach where I sat up on the hill above the water.  The waves were crashing and the wind was blowing.  

I pretty much had the place to myself!

This could well be the best seat in the house!

Down by the entrance to the harbour a  couple of people were kite surfing and these horses were having an outing.  One dropped a big pile of @*%# which made me think how we have to bag and dispose the @*%# when we take the dogs to the beach and theirs is way smaller!!!  Anyway the beach was moody looking and it was so good to fill my lungs with some good old coastal air before heading home.

I spied Alpacas, sheep and a miniature horse all grazing together in a paddock on a hill.  There were Toi Toi for Africa and I so wanted to pick a bunch to bring home.  I also spied a bit of street art on a bridge.

I stopped at the top of the Deviation to take in the view.  Coming up behind me was a very wide load indeed.  The Coast Guard boat was on the back of a truck heading into town, for what I don't know?

I got tired of driving behind the boat so I decided to go visit the Tatua Arboretum. This place never disappoints me, so many beautiful things to take in, and you don't have to walk far.

Like all the gorgeous big Roosters.

 The feathered folk follow you as you go off on the walk.

 There is beauty everywhere.

 I love how the light finds its way through the trees.

The only sounds you hear comes from Nature and it is all around you.  The Tui on the left was singing its heart out, but hard to hear above the usual crow off from the lads that always takes place.

Back home in my garden our lawn is covered with leaves

and I have this burst of Yellow.

 Room for two.

Mission complete, I bought myself a hand made leather tote bag from Soul, and I love it.  Perfect for every day use.

Ain't that the truth.

Buy local!

Before I go, it's my little mates birthday tomorrow (actually its 12:08 so technically it is tomorrow) so Happy Birthday Oscar!!!  He is 10, 11, or 12, my records aren't accurate, but all I do know is he is getting older.  Still cute and my little buddy.

 Good Night!!