Friends, Family, and Food

This is me with my oldest friend ever Leonie and her daughter Sydel.  Leonie and I go back to when we were babies, yes that is how long we have known each other.  The lovely Sydel is my Fairy god daughter!!  They were en route from being at the beach to the in laws, then heading back to Wellington the following day.  So a quick catch up was rather welcome.  I made them sit on the front door step with me as these two ladies are sky scrapers compared to me and I didn't want to look like I should have been in the Hobbit!!  Our husbands get on well and our kids all get on great too, so we are lucky!!  Not many peeps can say they have had and still have a life long friend.  So THANKS Leonie!!  We have shared alot in our 50 years and no doubt will share alot in the next 50!!

I noticed the other evening that my Pink Lillie's are looking some what beautiful.  They almost look like they have been hand painted with water colour.  I was given some bulbs from a friend so I am not totally sure what other colours are going to appear in my garden.  Nothing like SURPRISE in the garden.

My tomatoes are doing pretty well.  I grew mine from seeds and have a small competition with TOF, but he doesn't know about it yet.  He is usually the Tomato grower and he purchased his plants, but  mine are doing just as well.  Our apple tree has a huge crop on it, and I cannot wait to be able to eat these.  The ones in the supermarket are soft and tasteless, so these scrum diddle apples will be welcomed with open arms when they are ready.

It was my eldest sister Diana's birthday yesterday, 54 I think.  I went to her place to drop off a gift and have a cuppa.  Her grandsons Kyden and Arlo were there chilling out.  They have a baby brother cooking at the moment that is due in April,  so their mum Jade was having a little bit of time out.  Diana had picked me a supermarket bag full of plums from Jades place, so today I set to and made some jam.

I have enough left to make some Plum sauce, just need to locate a good recipe and it will be job on.  TOF and I had bog standard, well not really bog standard, plum jam sarnies for lunch today.  Fresh bread with home made plum jam, Mmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!  I only have to go and pick Blueberries with Dawn and make jam and our pantry will be stocked with enough varieties of Jam to see us through the year. 

I bought a new toy for the kitchen the other day.  We have so much produce in the garden that I am going to be able to vacuum seal and freeze until my hearts content.  TOF has a good crop of leeks that are pretty much ready.  We had some for dinner the other night with spuds from his patch and some lovely home kill lamb.  I am thinking of slicing the leeks, vac packing and freezing, then they are ready for winter stews, casseroles and other winter warmers.  Might even make some Leek and Zucchini soup, a favourite of mine.

Hope you have all had a pleasant weekend where ever you are and you are happy and healthy.

♥ Much love ♥

The heat is on!!

I love summer I do and I am so grateful that we have a pool that we can construct for the hot weather, then dismantle and store over winter.  Of course we are not suffering the extreme hear that our Australian neighbours are experiencing, but this is pretty warm.  But as for the wee pool, it is a very welcome guest at the moment, and I have even dunked the dogs in it so they get to cool off as well.  TOF likes to do bombs off the ladder!!  Men!!  Do they ever grow up??  It isn't very deep but it is enough to cool down considerably in the privacy of my own back yard, and it has a filter thing and I dose it with chlorine pills so it is basically tickety boo!!

Yesterday was the first SuesDay outing for the new year.  Dressed in my best Bet Lynch I was ready to attack the shops, my animal instinct was ready!!  The fabulous necklace I bought yesterday in a posh shop having a sale, scored it for $14 and wore it out of the shop.

The gorgeous wooden tray with folding legs and a clever little wooden thing that makes the tray tilt, was all of $5.

Pyrex type lemon casserole lidded dish was $5 and small pink frosted glass vase was $1.

Long strand of faux pearls was only $1, can go two or three times round my neck, or multiple times around my wrist for a fab bracelet.

Selection of books and a fancy key  holder.  $5, 50 cents, $3 and $2.

Old wooden tie rack $1, Hermes black leather bag $3, Chinese Jacket $7, and Line 7 fine long black cardy $4.

The dinkiest triple layered tin for $2 and the floral thing was also $2.  Not sure if its a necklace or a head piece??

Not sure if I have shown my purple flower jandals but they are the ultimate in comfort, even have a slight wedge.

Today while out and about I went into this Moroccan shop that I just LOVE, the purple shoes are hand made in leather and only $35.  Super soft and comfy as.  They had them in Orange as well, awfully tempting!!

Too hot to think, and TOF has arrived home from having a quiet beer at the local with a mate so we are now off to the supermarket.

♥ T'ra ♥

In memory of my Dad

Hard to believe that 6 years ago today my dad passed away in his sleep.  Just as he always wanted, to just not wake up.  He used to say to me, "one day I am going to wake up and find myself dead".  I always would say back, "Dad you just won't wake up, so you won't know",  and then we would laugh.  So 6 years ago when he got his wish to pass away quietly at home in his own bed I thought how nice that was for him.  He was born on the 20th of October 1929 and lived a full and healthy life right up until the end.  He loved life and he taught me alot of things and I am so grateful for that and all the memories that I have.

Before he was married and a father he was a true bloke that totally loved life and everything that came with it.  And even once he was married his enjoyment of doing things stayed true.  He was still riding his beloved motorbike in his last year of being on this earth.

As an adult I can look back and see that he was a great husband and provider, fabulous dad, fun grandfather and a top father in law.  My two older sisters and I never really wanted for anything, he kept it real.

So thanks dad for the memories and what you taught me in life.

Thanks for :

Taking me fishing in the harbor where it was safe and we ate sultana pasties that were melting in the sun.

Teaching me how to ride a motor bike at a very young age.

Building a beach house at Whangamata that we would go every school holidays from me being age 4.

Being with me when I went into labor with Max and was waiting for TOF to get home to take me to Hospital.

Always being a hands on dad and grandfather, always available to help out.

Helping on Saturday sports days with the boys at taking them to their sport when TOF was away with work.

Always meeting us when we went on holiday and spending a day with us all.

Buying a lazy boy for TOF to use when he was housebound when he had knackered his back.

Being not only the boys grandfather but a good mate too.

Welcoming all my friends, my boys friends and basically just getting on with everyone that visited our house.

Memories like:

Me going out in the surf with you but knowing that my neck was your waist and I was safe with you.

Me having to run to keep up with you when you walked as your stride was ENORMOUS when I was a kid.

Letting us 3 girls pick a hole in the fresh uncut loaf of white bread on the walk home from the bakery at the beach and only leaving the crusty bit.

Turning a blind eye to the fact that us girls would drink your cold beer and replace it with warm stuff.

So many good memories, too many to list but I think you know how important you were and still are to me.

♥ See you on the other side Dad ♥

Summer really is here!!

First thing this morning, well not first thing, after I got up, dressed and fed, I set to with mowing the lawns out the back.  I am in love with my little hand mower, it is so easy to use, very relaxing and gives me a wee work out on the side.  Today had all intentions of being a beautiful hot day so after the lawn mowing was completed I dressed the swing chair and made plans to perch there later on after my domestics were done.  But before I could get my washing under way I had someone else s to deal with.  One of Max's mates asked if he could do some washing here the other day, and he would come back for it that night.  That was 3 days ago.  So I got it all off the line, folded it, made him an invoice and put it in my basket on my bike and delivered it back to him.

On my return it was time for a light lunch and a bit of rest and relaxation on the swing chair with my book and the dogs.

Just want to mention that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book so thanks to Laura's hubby Llyod for writing a truely entertaining book about their life and choice to come to our beautiful country to live.  I am very proud to be a New Zealander!!!

The dogs have very different ways to relax.  Oscar was more than happy just to sit on me, sit next to me or sit by my feet while I read.  But Sheba, no, no!!  Her idea of relaxing is persisting in dropping one of her balls at my feet and sighing until I participate in the endless game of you kick and I will chase.  I am convinced she has a rechargeable battery in her because she is on standby for game time permanently.  Even when I was pushing the mower around the lawns she kept placing her ball in front of it.

The girls were also enjoying the summer sunshine.  They were feasting on weeds from the flat, apparently they are going for the unkept look down there!!  I also flung a few loads of lawn clippings in there yard to scratch about in.  They were all well pleased as they chattered on all afternoon.

Mid afternoon I went to catch up with some young friends of mine that moved house last year to something bigger and with a pool for their two kids.  So neat to catch up with them both and so funny listening to the 6 and 3 year old winding each other up, squealing and arguing.  Poor parents kept apologizing which I said not to bother doing.  I can now switch off to such noise but do remember that age and stage with my own boys.  I didn't visit them to see how they deal with their very normal children.  It is like visiting someone and them saying excuse my mess.  I don't visit to check on your housework, and if you come here to check on mine you will be sadly disappointed!!!

♥

Success in more ways than one

My eldest son nearly 20 finally got his learners license today!!!  I am stoked for him as it has been a bit of a monkey for him.  He is so much like me, in fact the poor bugger is always being told how much he looks like his mother.  No doubting the genes came through pretty strong from my side.  I never got around to getting a drivers license until I was 20.  I was driving and just couldn't be arsed going and doing it.  A family friend at the time who just happened to be a policeman booked me in and made me do it.  Yeah yeah!!  Slightly rebellious as a youngster.  So as you will see from the text from Max all my asking for a divine intervention from my Guardian Angel paid off!!  PHEW!!!  After I had dropped him back at his I whizzed home as Ms Webber was coming in.  We treated ourselves to a quick cuppa and then went out.  First to Early Settler, fab furniture shop, but too expensive for me, where she was picking up a chair and coffee table, she had already taken one home the other day.  Outdoor stuff, Hot pink chair for her, bright Orange for Joe and a matching white table.  Very cool and will be well used in this weather.   YES SUMMER REALLY CAME THIS YEAR!!  Well so far, so good.  Well done Summer, go you good thing ♥.  We then ventured around the corner to save mart where she had a purchase or 3 and I got TOF a pair of nice shorts.  Big spender me!!

I wasn't up for much spending as I had spent yesterday via trade me.  All this loveliness for $35, bone china and the lady got it for her 21st birthday (30 years ago) and it has never been used.  Anyone up for high tea in my garden??  This deserves cake and dresses this does.  Maybe even hats, yes hats!!

TOF is still up in Auckland working and home tomorrow.  Thought I was in for another home alone with the animals but Jak has returned from his alcohol fueled partying summer vacation from the coast.  Looking brown as a berry, totally knackered and complaining of now having a beer gut.  I wish my gut was the size of his so called beer gut!!  So my peace has ended, lights are being left on all over the house, dishes are on the bench above the dishwasher, his washing is strewn all through the laundry and he has gone off to a mates and the TV is still on and on Cricket!  Pets or kids???  Sometimes I really do wonder.  He starts work on Monday, all grown up now and I think it is fabulous.  I embrace each stage my boys has gone through.  I do not hanker for them to be small again, I enjoyed it but I enjoy them growing up and moving on in their lives, with me and TOF and without us.  2013 I think is going to be a good year, so I am going to grab it by its short and curlies and go for it!!

♥♥♥

When TOF is away Sumo came to play

Max's mate Devon got this wicked inflatable Sumo suit for Christmas. Devon is the one pole dancing!!  So we all had a turn doing our Sumo thing in the Sumo suit.  So much fun!!!!  Seriously we all played for a couple of hours and laughed so much!!!  Life is good when something so simple gives amusement to so many!

Before I could even begin to play I had made two lots of Jam with my berries.  Raspberry from this years crop and Blackberry from last years crop.  My Blackberry vine is smothered in trillions of berries so it was time to make Jam.  Hope to make some Strawberry Jam later tonight, but I have a lack of small jars.

But even before I made Jam I got some things in the post that I had ordered.  UV Lens protectors for my camera lenses and the best thing of all was the wireless timer.  Yes indeed it was time to play with my new toy, but I had to wait for the Sumo lot to leave!!!

Look close enough and you will see Oscar was taking a pit stop behind me in the middle picture!! (I had to crop that picture)

Yeya, I have a wireless timer!!!!  Totally lovin' it!!!

Ok enough of me and the dogs, but woohoo!!!!!!!!!!  Look out when SuesDay starts up again, we will be able to do our best Patsy and Edwina for you all.

♥

"2013" It's here!!!!

Monday, New Years Eve day.  TOF had to work for the morning so I pottered about at home being all domestic like.  By the time he got home I was well over being domestic so went out.  Got some fabric from Spotlight to make straps for my strapless dress.  I got slightly side tracked and tempted with lots of lovely fabric, then I reminded myself of the cupboard I have stashed with lovely fabric.  Next I went to the Dump shop or the "Dumporium".  Found 4 Duraware dinner plates at $1 each, Anne Hathaway's cottage linen tea towel, small Irish linen pinny all about Ireland, and 3 good sized terracotta pots that shall be planted with Tulips when it is Tulip growing season.  From there I  went and picked up my lovely big Clematis plant I bought off my Trade Me plant lady, only $6-50 and its a beauty.  This has since been planted where the sweet peas were growing.  Then I discovered my lead light panels I made 100 years ago when I dabbled in Lead light.  Have plans for these that involve tree stumps.  That is all I will say until I can set my cunning plan into action.

For NYE TOF and I went out for dinner and a drink or two.  I had the most delicious meal of scallops wrapped in bacon on a saffron risotto, with pesto and salad.  Trust me it was YUMMMM!!!  I don't normally do desert but we thought sod it lets go for it.  I had Apple crumble that was enough for two so half of it came home, with anglaise, walnut and maple syrup ice cream and fancy lattice work chocolate. I thought I was going to explode and rather thankful I had worn a suitable frock!!  We did a quick drive through town to see what the haps was,  and it was all folk our age having dinner!!  Home we went for hot drinks a recliner chairs.  By 9:30pm TOF vacated to go to bed, we do call him NANA around here because of his inability to stay up late!!  I did however watch a cheesy chic flick and waited for the New Year to arrive which was announced by loads of fireworks.  Next year I am not staying up and leaving a key out so the new year can see itself in!!

Tuesday saw both TOF and I working in the garden.  He harvested his garlic and the girls rotary hoed the dirt for him.  They were so funny clucking away to each  other as they spread dirt to kingdom come.  I spotted them sun bathing in the dirt in the afternoon, they hum with pleasure.  I was busy dead heading, and pulling plants out that had finished.  Generally just tidying up.  I even managed to bottle some more beetroot!!!

This morning we headed out to Raglan for a drive, a great beach place on the west coast.  It looked for a while like the weather was going to pack up and leave but it must have changed it's mind because we had a lovely time out there.  I love when you get to Raglan you come around a corner and there she is!!  Absolutely gorgeous when the tide is in, the first glimpse of the sea is always the best feeling.

We had a good old mooch about on the wharf.  All the buildings are new and replace the old ones that burnt down a few years back. Busy wharf it was too.  Cafe, fish and chip shop, Potter, Raglan Soul leather shoes and bag shop, and plenty of keen fishing girls and boys scattered all over the place. The silo's are now apartments, well have been for a while, and a boat was next to them on dry dock that TOF just had to inspect. He lusts after owning another boat.  I keep reminding him that his crew has left home and I do not have my sea legs!!

Off we went to check out the beach, well the good old west coast ruggedness.  The view above the beach is impressive and you can see for ever up there.  People were dotted all over the place having picnics and just enjoying their day.

We even walked the main drag looking at the shops!!  Well I looked at a few shops while TOF checked out properties that we cannot afford.  We bumped into a few familiar people and the town was just humming with crowds of holiday makers. All the cafes and the veranda at the pub were full up. I will confess to having a sneaky spend on a necklace and a couple of bracelets. Forgot to take a pic of my other one as I was wearing it but I am sure you will see it someday.

Coming home was a breeze, quite like being the passenger taking in the scenery as it all passes me by.  There was a time when I hated to be a passenger, but now, I love it.  I was fascinated with the odd hill that looked just too perfect!

Once we got home we had lunch and then both ended up nana napping!!  Couple of old farts we are!!  We headed off to the supermarket and laughed at how little we needed due to the teenager still being away at the beach somewhere!!

Tonight after dinner I pulled out the spent sweet peas and lots of the wild flowers that aren't too wild about being alive anymore.  I have been saving the seeds from my plants and in my first photo you will see all the sweet pea pods.

TOF is back at work tomorrow and possibly going away over night so I will be on my own and I would have to say "Loving it".

♥ Good night ♥