Week 47/52 - Open not only your eyes but your heart to!!

At the beginning of the week I drove on out to see Sue W to check in on all that she has been doing lately to get ready for her sons wedding.  Apart from gardening up a storm for the last couple of years she decided to recover and repaint some out door furniture.

We sat at the newly refurbished said out door furniture and had lunch in the sunshine.  Monday truly was a glorious day to be outdoors.

 Life in Black and White is never DULL!!

 But I do Love COLOUR!!

Weeds or Wildflowers?

 All I know is they looked good in a pot.

So good to have a friend

that like me

doesn't take life too seriously.

We have had lots of warm weather with a sprinkling of rain of late so the garden is flourishing.

My Magnolia Tree is covered in large White blooms, which makes a change from all the vibrant colours that are everywhere at the moment.

Working in the Office of a Sign Writing Business I rescue all sorts of cool stuff from the bins.  Like inspirational WORDS that have found there way to the guest bedroom wall with all the original Art.

At the end of the working week I went out to Lake Karapiro which really isn't a Lake it is a Dam on the Waikato River.  Anyway, the drive out in the countryside was so lovely.  I was on a Trade Me mission as I had purchased a couple of beautiful old table cloths.

They are stunning and more than likely they will be repurposed into clothing or curtains or something along those lines. 

Heading home I stopped to enjoy the views of the River and Lake Karapiro and take photos using a new lens I had purchased that morning.

Karapiro is home to New Zealand Rowing and we do have some pretty famous crews that frequent the place.  Last time I was out there I was at High School OMG!!!  Still a very beautiful place with a lot of very luxurious homes on the banks.

This is a large circular table cloth I got in a friends second hand shop, it will be a perfect summer frock, of course a colourful slip dress will be required for obvious reasons.

Behind her shop in the same old building is a Second Hand dealer.  A real Aladdin Cave this place.  The son of the old owners now runs it so it is more organised these days but all the seriously cool shit is not for sale, like those very cool old bikes!!

Such a beautiful day I drove around Lake Rotoroa, the one in the middle of my city.  Pretty sure my Dad owned a car like the one above, pretty cool.

Saturday morning we headed out to our local mall as TOF needed something to wear to next weekends wedding.  This is after the shopping had been completed, in one shop.  I rewarded him with coffee.  He will be looking perfect for a wedding now, as I also gave him a haircut later that day.

I caught up with my lovely nephew and his dog Bear at my son Max's place.  He is staying there for a couple of weeks.  I also went and met this adorable 6 week old girl whose dad is an old friend of Maxs.  Babies, nephews and dogs, what could be better?

Toebee has taken over yet another basket, we call this his lower apartment as his other one is on top of a cupboard.  He enjoys sleeping there but Big had other ideas the other day and gave him a slap around the ears for looking at him.

 Hope you are all well and happy where ever you are.

***WORDS***

 and

 

Week 46/52 - Minds are like parachutes, they only function when open.

How did we get to Week 46 so quickly?

Sometimes I feel like the years are now going faster, and I am not sure I like it.  So I plan to fill my days with things that will give me good memories as often as I can, continue to surround myself with positive happy people, and do things that bring me joy.

 

At the beginning of the week I went and visited Dawn.

 

She was busily working away getting things ready for her kiln and OMG there are some gorgeous new creations on the go.  I fell instantly in love with the doll on the left so with the magic of online banking I paid instantly using my phone.  When I got home she found her way to the ever growing Wall of Whimsy.

I strongly believe in this and have many beautiful hand crafted things from people I know and I gladly promote anyone with such talent.

I also came home with this super cute bag.  When Dawn was in England she saw it and thought of me, so bought it for me.  My love of SPOTS is well known. 

At this time of the year all things CHRISTMAS are in the shops, even my beloved Op Shops.  I always buy new to me decorations each year and so far I have done rather well.

This lovely heart went to the Wall of you know what but the others are destined for my tree. No doubt more will be collected before December 1, TREE DAY!!

 

This lovely old crisp white linen table cloth is now a perfectly nice top, well it will be when I do a bit of stitching, but you get the idea of how it will look.  Another good find from Hospice.

I finally potted my two new Roses into large pots and then had to enlist the help of MAN POWER to move the buggers off the deck down to the patio.  They are flowering like mad, and I am saving and drying the petals when I dead head them.

One glorious sunny afternoon Oscar and I had a rest in the Hammock.  GOOD NEWS tho' I have found and bought another GARDEN SWING like my old one, and again for only $20.  Hopefully I will get it put together and have it installed by the weekend.

The garden is thriving and self seeded plants like this Poppy are sprouting all over the place.

Some much welcome rain one afternoon meant no need for the hose.

My beautiful fur children are enjoying relaxing anywhere they want these lovely warm days.

I am so grateful that my boys have such lovely girlfriends, I spent time with them both on Saturday.  Alex and I spent the morning together buying plants and other things.  The Yellow thing I can dry, of course and the Pink Babys Breath is also dry-able. I caught up with Toni in the afternoon while she was getting another Tattoo. My boys have chosen well, I get to hang with the girls and have some girl time.  I LOVE IT!!!

On Sunday afternoon The old fella and I went for a drive, that's what us old folk do, go for a Sunday Drive.  We stopped off at the Whatawhata Berry Farm and bought some fresh huge Strawberries. We then carried on with our drive to.......

....... Raglan of course.  The weather was stunning so with a coffee each we took to the rocks.

With lungs filled to the top with Fresh unpolluted coastal air we then went down to the wharf.

Another week finishing on a high of being able to visit one of the loveliest little beaches in our country.

This Christmas I am going to be following this format, and hoping the rest of my family will come on board.  I would rather do something with them all and make a good memory than buy something I am not sure they will even want/like.  We still have TOFs '60th' two days before Christmas.  We were planning on taking him away for the day one weekend before the big day but between the 6 of us we have no weekend free.  So this has now been postponed until the new year.  But we will be going out for lunch on his birthday so that is all good.

A Thought:

 

and a funny

 

Week 45/52 - All who wander are not lost!

I have had a week of WANDERING and every one was perfectly lovely.

I joined The Friends of The Hamilton Gardens and as a member I was lucky enough to be able to attend a preview last Monday of the newest garden that will be officially opened tomorrow.  I jumped at the chance to go have a good look, and oh my my what a beautiful garden it is.

Introducing to you

The Katherine Mansfield Garden.

Absolutely gorgeous.

That old car is a permanent fixture

and lovingly purposefully built for the garden.

The gardens are just a dream, all so bloody perfect, and then those gorgeous old chairs, well they aren't old, they are concreted permanently to the spot but still ok to sit on.

Then down on the tennis court is this huge Marquee with a table full of goodies.  Guess what, none are real, and will be there, PERMANENTLY!

I found myself touching that food because it really does look real, but none of it is.  Seriously the detail is AMAZING!

When I saw the Piano with other accompanying instrument and music stands I thought "wow we are going to have music". WRONG this to was all concrete and pretend.  But the Fortune Teller (Gaye a committee member) was so real (not!! but very funny). Apparently Katherine liked to have a fortune teller and a pig drawing competition at her garden parties. Why yes I did draw a pig!!

After some speeches and thank yous, a WANDER around this incredibly lovely garden, refreshments were available.  All was served on a collection of beautiful old china, oh and the food was delicious. 

So if you are in my town, remember to go to our beautiful Hamilton Gardens as they are continually growing and something that just needs to be seen to truly appreciate them.

On my way back to my car I took a WANDER through the edible garden where the remaining Scarecrows from the annual Hamilton Gardens Scarecrow Festival were.  Remember last week Sue W and I were a day early.

This one although rather grim was my favourite, a bit like the fox gloves in the neighboring herb garden.

Meanwhile back in my own garden I wandered about happily seeing all the lovely new growth everywhere. The Blueberries are abundant.  Of course my helper was on hand.

It is so satisfying this time of the year picking flowers, gathering eggs and the beginning of summer fruit is here, starting with Strawberries.

I managed to WANDER into and around a few of my favourite Op Shops and walk out with a few treats.

On Friday Chris from Cambridge came over and we took lunch out to Sue Ws place. Of course photos, shenanigans and WANDERING around Sue's beautiful garden happened. The flowers came from my garden, a gift of fragrance and colour.

I threw together a pretty fabulous salad, just about as fabulous as that garden.  In a few more weeks it will be the venue for Sues sons wedding, I for one cannot wait, my eldest son Max is one of the Groomsmen.

Down the road from Sues is a farm with all these beautiful Highland Cattle (hope that is the correct name, I'm a townie remember).  With no traffic I slammed on the brakes so I could take their photo.  They loved it and posed away as model cattle do. Poor Chris, I forgot I had a passenger!!

On our way home I took Chris to the Taitua Arboretum as she had never been there, not sure she had even heard of it.  Of course we were welcomed by the locals crowing away in the sunshine.

 

I love these, and need them in my garden,

I may have to find a spot first.

We ended up going for a WANDER, the short one not the long one.  We were followed and greeted by bird life all the way round.  I love the big tall trees and the winding paths.

Bamboo arches and tunnels, metal sculptures, picnic tables and seats are placed everywhere.  Perfect resting spots to soak it all in.

And of course there are BABIES!!

On Saturday Sue W came into town as we were having a day out, lets call it a SATURDAY SUESDAY!  Both our husbands were working so we figured, WHY NOT!!  Our first destination was Te Awamutu to attend the annual craft fair. It was really good, I purchased some beautiful soaps, Vanilla Bean, Freesia, Goats Milk and a Gardeners one.  In my effort to reduce more plastic and waste I am going back to soap.  I bought the plant because I loved the colour and I need more plants!!!

I also wanted to catch up with the lovely Julie from Threadbear Cottage who has been busy forever making her gorgeous crafts to sell.  So lovely to see her and she pointed out her adorable little grandsons that had come to the fair to.

Yes I had a spend, one her delightful Tilda Angels found her way home with me and two of her Cinnamon Stick Christmas trees.  One for me and one for Alex my son Jak's girlfriend. Oh and lets not forget the green scrubber!!  Pretty sure it is for kitchen use but I am thinking in the shower for me.

Tilda Angel has made it to

 The Wall of Whimsy!! 

Can you see her?

Next we drove from Te Awamutu back to Hamilton, our second destination was the annual Rose Festival at The Hamilton Gardens. I have no Roses in my garden and was totally blown away with the variety and colours on show. It was a beautiful day for another WANDER but I was grateful for the lovely big trees that provided much needed shade every now and then for me.

You cannot tell from my photos but the garden was actually full of people, my timing is just so on point!!  Bahahahaha!!!  I should also mention all these photos were taken on my phone, I am stoked!! From there we drove out to Wairere Nursery as I decided I needed to buy a ROSE called Eye of the Tiger.

And this is it!

Then I found this one, BABY JACK and for obviously I needed that to as I have a son with that name. Now to find one with Max in it!

Oh oooops, how did that happen? 

I bought these as well,

I LOVE FRAGRANT flowers.

Okay, so if you have ever been to the Nursery you will know the owners are the most amazing gardeners and you can WANDER one of their beautiful gardens.  So this is what we did, we have done it before but it was time to do it again.  Entering in between those tall statues.

Immaculately trimmed box hedging, sculpted trees,

and winding paths with colourful planting.

The brightly coloured Iris plants

were all around the edge of the large water lily filled pond.

If you have some spare time it is well worth the visit.

And it is FREE!!

We loved it and I know we will be back again.

 

I could have nicked of with the old wheel barrow!!

But it was keeping the gate open!

While we were out and about I picked up this gorgeous fully reversible wrap frock that I had bought off Trade Me.  Bloody bargain at $15 when I know what these Annah S frocks originally retailed at - hundreds!!!  The colours are perfect.

Right time for a funny:

 PS: not once in my WANDERINGS

did I get lost!!