Another 12 hour lunch, a birthday, a death and I have been acting like a tourist!

All good intentions to post weekly did not happen, so forgive me as here we go on another marathon catch up!!!

I think we are just about to say farewell to Autumn and welcome Winter as our temperatures have started to drop off.  The garden is now carpeted with leaves from my trees, the birds are furiously feasting on the berries, and this years lemons are growing in abundance.

On a sun filled but chilly day I took my little camera to another of Hamilton's fountains, and this one is at the Founders Theatre like the last one.  I remember running through this one on a hot summer day when I was a teenager with friends.  I haven't seen it going for such a long time now, and I am not completely sure why either.  It is such a sculptural fountain too.

I love that it is nestled in a park like setting of large old trees in the middle of our dear city.  

I am having to dig in my wardrobe and layer up my clothes these days as although it is cool in the morning and the evening, we sometimes get a warm middle of the day which does require some strategy when dressing.

Our big old gas heater has been cranked into life as some of the evenings have been nippy to say the least.

There is almost a race with the cats and dogs for pole position right in front of it, but they usually all retreat to higher ground once they have been rather well cooked. 

There is also a battle for my lap in the evenings between the cats, which can get interesting and a little grisly, and sometimes that is me. 

I am glad to say that Big must have learned his lesson from his street fight and he stays indoors at night now.

Look how much Toebee has grown, all stretched out in the land of nod!

Big has taken to following me in the garden these days, he clearly likes home these days.  Do you like my signs?  I found them in a Department Store on a clearance table and new they needed to go in the garden.

I had a birthday on the 9th and I turned 55!!  The spare bought me a huge Carrot cake and a surprise organised for the following Sunday, which I shall tell you about later.  I got lovely gifts from family and friends, TOF did really good with an amazing book on Street Art accompanied with other treats.  The day before Sue W took me out for an early birthday lunch, so I was rather spoiled.

That same day Toebee got delivered to our Vet to have his Neutering job done, and he wasn't HAPPY at all.  But he perked up the following day, shaved bum and all.  Take more than that to slow him down!

Also that evening was my first class at a Night class I signed up for.  Metalsmithing and Jewellery making.  Above is what I came home with after my second class.  We worked with Copper so I beat and bent some and came home with a pendant and earrings, I wanted to make something I would wear.  Next lesson is wax castings, a ring!!!

Toebee has discovered he can HUNT,

this is Mouse one.

And this is Mouse Two.

His third and fourth hunts were a Monarch Butterfly and then a Bird.  He is so lucky I love him as he bought the bird inside, then let it go in our bedroom, then leapt in the air to catch it grabbing the net curtain on his way down hence the big RIP!  Replaceable so no big deal, and they were due for that to happen.  Then I came home one day to the mess on the right in the laundry, he was obviously looking for something in the paper recycling,  maybe a Hunting & Fishing brochure??

I got together with these two gorgeous friends Vicki and Denise to have lunch last weekend on Saturday.  As always it carried on well into the evening and I finally departed for home just before midnight.  Clearly we need to spend more time together!!

Denise tried her darnedest to teach me how to hula hoop but quite frankly I am shit!!  She told me to keep trying as Power Hooping apparently is not only great fun but helps tone your body.  She made it look so bloody easy, I on the other hand made it look so complicated!!

Sunday arrived (Mothers Day) and the Spare arrived to take me on my Birthday Surprise.  He had booked us on a tour at Hobbiton.  I have been wanting to do this for so long, so I was very excited!!  Finally I got to go to Middle Earth and see something Tourists from all over the world flock to visit. For a good read click on the Hobbiton link above.  

Are you ready??

I was so blown away with the magic that unfolded before me, so much to take in and trust me my camera got a bloody good work out, I think I ended up with about 160 photos.  So this is just a sample, I hope you enjoy them.

 Letter boxes.

 Hobbit houses.

All set on the most beautiful Farm land.  Apparently it was the large old tree and the lake that made the decision for Peter Jackson when he flew over the farm.

 Me and my gorgeous son!

The tree in this photo above Bilbo Baggins house is FAKE!!  I shit you not, not that you could tell.  Every detail like the washing had me just fizzing!!

It was a glorious day and a photographers dream.  After walking around with the tour guide we were treated to this beautiful site and the promise of a cold ale.

This is The Green Dragon, the most delightful thatched building ever.  I felt like I was somewhere in England, not on a farm in Matamata.

A nice cold beer was a welcome treat after our wandering around in the sunshine.

I am rather proud to be a New Zealander as Hobbition is a world class attraction, and judging by the amount of foreigners we saw that day, it is very well received. 

I am so glad I have been, I was always put of by the cost to go, $79 per adult.  But how often do we go to the tourist attractions in our own country?  I have decided to become a tourist in my own place now, there are many other tourist attractions that this local needs to see. If you have not been to Hobbiton and you get the chance please do, you will not be disappointed. 

I always remember the old saying:

"Don't leave town until you have seen the country" my country New Zealand has treasures a plenty to see so look out, because I intend to see more of them!

The Spare bought me the long sheepskin scarf I am wearing in these pictures from the gift shop at Hobbiton for Mothers Day, SPOILED I think so!!  Toebee keeps running off with it tho.

Last week I went out to visit Dawn.  I wanted to show you some close up shots of her work so you can see the detail she does.  Above are pieces of a Totem she made covered in New Zealand Native things, like Weta's, Kiwi's, and other flora and fauna. So worth the money people pay to get the most delightful handcrafted original art work.

Oil or Wax melt Burners.

Lady Bugs and Goblets.

I love the Shadow Boxes!!

I came home with a Heart to add to my

Wall of Wimsey.

I rescued a heavily pregnant Preying Mantis from the ground, amazing insects even if they are everywhere at the moment.

Poor old Cassie passed away this week.  She was at least 9 years old so she had a very good life for a chicken.  She  hadn't been herself of late so it was not unexpected that she left us.  I found her one day standing in the rain, so I wrapped her in a towel and bought her inside.  She slept indoors in our pet cage.  Two days later she was gone.  I am so happy that I got some photos with her not long before her passing.  I didn't know chickens could live so long.

As for everyone and everything else here, life is good, it goes on as normal.  The op shops haven't seen me much, so that may need to be addressed!!

Toebee is still having adventures that result in him sleeping quite a lot.

And Big is becoming more tolerable of his little full on brother, sharing food is a good sign, maybe it is LOVE!!!!

WISDOM:

**BYE**