My hectic social life

yes apparently this weekend I had one!!!

All started on Saturday night as we were meeting friends in town for farewell drinkies. TOF and I got to the venue we were told to go to and on time only to find ourselves all on our own.  After waiting and then a bit of detective work via my mobile , we were told the venue had been changed, and the people having the party couldn't contact us as TOF didn't have his mobile on him. Yeah yeah.  We decided it was getting too close to the kick off for the final in the Rugby that our team The Chiefs were playing in.  So we went across the road to this bar called CBD where we had a rather pleasant meal and watched the game on big screens in the company of some hard core fans.  It was fantastic, and to top it all off they won, which then meant town would "Go Off".

Our hard working jubilant boys now deserve to have some fun.  We went for a wander around town and only bumped into a couple of Max's mates probably thing "What the hell are the oldies doing in town"?  I so want to go into the trendy bars and get photographed some how and end up on face book to really piss my boys off.  It sounds like a job for me and mrs webber I think!!

TOF got bored with the walking round milling about with kids so we left and ended up with the people we were supposed to be with.  All in all we had a great night out.  Until round midnight TOF must have got all concerned about the possibility of turning into a pumpkin, so we came home!!  He can be a bit of a nana some times.

Today Nina and I went out for lunch to a lovely place called Punnet.  I had my camera but forgot at that stage to take pics.  The food was amazing and very filling.  There is a country store type shop with organic everything, cooking books, kitchen nic naks and just stuff!!  I got some Macadamia Gold, gluten free muesli.  It looks divine and I got TOF some Macadamia toffee.  When the fields are full of strawberries ready to be picked I think I will go back out.  Such a tranquil rural place to have lunch.

I forgot to take a "what did I wear today" photo but it was black and white spots with this gorgeous new silk embroidered shawl draped over my shoulders.  Looked smashing with my red boots it did.

After our lunch we set of to Inspirit Studio and Gallery to the opening of a new exhibition.  Apart from amazing things inside the gallery I was taken by the sculptures in the garden which I will share with you.  Another glorious rural setting with fresh country air, filtered sunlight, and farm animal sounds.  So many gorgeous but expensive things to buy, I gave in to a cute ring of pink with white spots.  With a glass of wine in our hand we wandered about the artwork outside.

fantail

wooden carved tui

copper ?? but very cool

heron

wooden angels

amazing big ball

metal praying mantis

copper sculpture

huge metal polar beer

Tall wooden garden Angels, totally loved these

reminded me of Ned Kelly, Ozzie outlaw dude

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and are ready to embrace another week of what ever it is that you have to do.  I have more Olympics to watch tonight so I will say goodbye to you all now.

♥♥♥

F is for...............................

FABULOUS FINDS.

Today I had some grown up jobs to do in the morning like register one of our cars, buy food, blah blah blah, and when heading home my FEISTY wee car decided to turn left twice and park in Habitats car park.  FORCED to go in against my will I FOUND these.  How could I resist the small mantle clock that was gently ticking and just happened to be FORTY dollars.  A brand new still in it's bag embroidered square table cloth for $3 and the potted plant I scored last week but it looked FANTASTIC in the photo.

Another FUNERAL on a FRIDAY.  This is starting to become a habit!!  My gorgeous FRIEND Lou-Lou-Belle's dad passed away at the beginning of the week.  He had been ill for the last couple of years so it was a blessing in the end, but still an emotional time.  He made it to 86 which I think is a pretty good innings, and the funeral was lovely.  Her brother spoke and it was beautiful and also entertaining. I admire people that can speak at their families funeral.

FAVOURITE shop.

Coming home from the funeral my FEISTY wee car parked ever so handy to my FAVOURITE shop "Zinnia".  Again FORCED to go in I was surrounded with goodies all calling out my name.  Wall to wall, gorgeousness was a plenty.  Sticking with my F theme I unintentionally spent FIFTY one dollars.  Who can say no to a solar powered Queen that waves, Keep Calm and Carry on Bookmarks, and a Contraband tin for TOF??  Obviously not me!!  I seriously need to consider FINDING another days work FOR all this spending I have been doing.

FRIENDSHIP.  Tomorrow night we are meeting good FRIENDS of ours in town for FAREWELL drinks.  Both their kids have grown up and left the nest so they have sold the nest and are FLITTING off to live in Australia for a while.  Kind of like an adult OE.  As long as we can watch the big FINAL for rugby me and TOF will be happy.

FRESH FISH and salad.

Sticking with the F thing still, the other night TOF cooked some FRESH FISH and I placed it on a plateful of healthy colourful salad.  Having a crack at losing a bit of weight so this was heaven.  I am truely in love with FETA.

I wore FUR.

That I did!!!!   Leopard print and black was the look for the day.

FARK me its nearly the weekend!!!!  So I hope you all have a FABULOUS weekend planned.  I have lunch and an opening of an exhibition at a Gallery to go to with the lovely Nina I work for on Sunday.  Shall report back on that next week.

♥♥ FAREWELL FOLLOWERS ♥♥

Busy as a bee with a bum full of honey

yes that's what I have been.  That saying was something my old grandfather used to say to me when I was a young-un!!

Saturday I woke to a beautiful winters day, almost a spring one really.  I spent the first part of the day watching as much as I could of the opening ceremony for the Olympic games.  Bloody fantastic it was to!!  Then me and TOF went to watch Sue W's son play rugby seen as we were the stand in parents while she was away.  Nah not really, just enjoy watching the game.  Took photos of him playing, getting hurt and being helped off.  I was enjoying the shadows the bald trees were casting on the grass so much I had to record it for all to see.

Even the lichen on the trees was magical.  My grandmother used to say lichen was a good sign that there was no pollution.  Who am I to argue with the old bird.  Didn't when she was alive, so not going to enter into that now that she's gone.  But she was an amazingly green fingered gardener that could grow just about anything, anywhere, anytime!!  The rest of my weekend was rather quiet as on sunday the weather caved in and got all wet and cold, sort of wintery!!!  Back to using the heater, hot drinks, reading and watching TV.

Before I could say "Monday Funday" it was here.  So off to work I went and decided to give my new leopard print fur shrug an outing.  I actually changed out of the leopard leggings and flat shoes into black pants and high wedge shoes.  It's an optical illusion in my mind of giving my height and slimness when I go for those two things.  Even though the weather had come good again and the sun was out the shoppers weren't shopping.  Not a problem for me.  I turned into a shopper tho' as I had had my eye on a Depression glass flower pot thingy.  Probably has an extravagant name but a flower pot thingy for me basically covers what it is.

It is a thing of beauty!!  The lid comes off so you can put water in the bowl part, and you pop your flowers strategically in the holes.  I rather love its chunkiness and its little legs.  This wasn't  cheap but I fell head over heels in love with it and just had to take it home.  Helped with my sales for the day also.  I can get all artistic and creative with my flower arranging now rather than the usual stuff them in a vase display!!

On Tuesday I had a few bits and bobs to do in the morning.  I wore my new to me dress I got off trade me and went all red, white and black for the day.  My oldest and dearest friend Leonie is back from Germany, and back living in Wellington.  She and her gorgeous son drove up to Hamilton on Monday so she came to visit me in the afternoon on Tuesday.  We have know each other since babies so  50 years now and no matter where she has lived in the world, when ever we get together it just feels like the other day and we pick up where we left off.  She is calling in again tomorrow so with a bit of luck I will get a photo of me and my forever buddy to share with you all. Her super gorgeous daughter is me and TOFs God daughter.  Not being religious at all we have been renamed by her, as Fairy God Parents.  Suits me so much better!!

This is my bag of Possum Fur scraps I scored for $12 that I have laid out ready to be stitched together to make a scarf thing.  Thinking hand stitching but not totally sure.  Any suggestions??

(These arrived in the post on the weekend so I spent the evening laying them out ready to be joined into a beautiful fluffy piece of wearable art.)

So today being Wednesday for most but SuesDay for some, well a few, well ok, two of us, it was ready, steady, go!!!  My wing woman is finally home from swanning about on a tropical Island while the rest of us poor buggers have been freezing our tits off.  We wasted no time on dealing to the Op Shops.  I scored a lot of lovely clothes that are currently being laundered so I shall photograph them when all fresh and lovely.  I could not be arsed trying anything on so fingers crossed that they fit.  We had a great time finding things and spending a meager amount of money.  We even found one place that was half price so a skirt I had previously been tempted to buy got purchased today.  Hopefully Sue W will blog her spend up soon.

I got 6 pieces of mother of pearl jewellery for $5, the old tin spinning top toy for $3, and 2 retro fabric place mats for 50 cents.  They are alot brighter than the photo, chocolate brown, orange and yellow.  They are going to look wicked on a tray with morning tea on.  Hmmm, maybe tomorrow.

Well time to go watch some Kiwis doing their thing at the Olympics.  Go Kiwis Go!!!  Shall check in with you all later on in the week or the weekend.  In the mean time, be kind to yourselves, enjoy life and remember to laugh out loud at least once a day.

♥♥ Goodnight all ♥♥

Call me Saddie the cleaning lady

I finally did it!!  I have cleaned the house.  Not only that but I cleaned the chook house out too!!  It has been such a beautiful day so I was inspired to pull my finger out of my you know what and play catch up on the domestic front.   Once I had finished with being a domestic goddess I sat lazily in the sun on my deck with a nice cup of Earl Grey.  So nice to have the sun visit and actually stay all day.  In a sheltered spot it was perfect.  Made me think of that song by Lou Reed, "Perfect Day" and I have not been able to get it out of my head since.

Sheba found me outside and constantly keep dropping her ball at my feet so I could kick it.  I got sick of that game way before her!

Oscar sunbathed between my feet on the steps.

and I found Tex snoozing in a sunny spot on the out door coffee table.

I needed to change my clothes because I had chicken shit on my knees.  So I grabbed a pair of jeans and had to lie on my bed to do the zip up!!  OMG!!!  It was either start eating healthy or buy a bigger size.  My mate Dawn talked me into joining Weight Watchers with her so I guess that means buying a bigger size isn't an option. We did this about 3 years ago and it was successful but like most, we seem to have gathered the weight back and I also have someone elses, and I am not comfortable anymore. I headed out to the supermarket to get some fruit and things but did a detour to Habitat on my way home.

The shop has been having a change around and it looks great.  I found these two planters in lime green and navy blue stripes.  Thinking of planting them with Dafs.  The book is Michael Palin's Hemmingway Adventure.  I have been watching Michael P on TV in a series on Europe.  Its been awesome.  Oh and in the front is a super soft light weight black shawl.

I have spent the afternoon cruising and snoozing on the deck in the sun. Even my socks were happy with the weather.  Basically I was making the most of it as we are due for it to cave in and turn wintery again this weekend.  If the sun is out I want to be out in it.  My winter Roses, or Hellebore are starting to bloom. 

I love the colours these come in, and I have a few scattered about the garden.  These and my Daffodils are starting to do their thing.  My Dafs must think it is time for Spring.  I'm with the Dafs, enough of Winter, bring on Spring.

Better go shut the house up as it is cooling off.  We have Rugby to watch tonight, our team The Chiefs are playing and fingers crossed they win.  May even go to the pub and watch it yet.

Have an awesome weekend and make sure you do something you enjoy.  Found this gem today and thought I would share it to all you lovelies.

♥

I failed but had a bloddy great day

one of the many welcome hills

Beryl and Mavis from the blue rinse set in the flock

I made a deal with myself this morning, I would go out and see my mate Dawn the Potter for the morning and in the afternoon I would tackle the job called "housework".  FAILED!!!   I called into an Op Shop on my way to her place making me get there a little later than expected.  It is so peaceful out in the countryside where she lives and I tend to relax way too much.  We had a good old natter, as you do, played with clay, well she created while I played.  Then there are always photos to take for her, and put onto her computer and her "whizzy stick" as she calls her USB stick.  I spent an age tidying up her files with all the photos in, breaking them up into folders and naming them so she can find certain things no problemo!!!  By now tummies are rumbling so Dawn made us lunch and will chilled out just a little bit more.  Whats the rush??  Oh yeah, I am supposed to be doing the housework. Yeah yeah!!  Finally guilt got the better of me and I left.  Some how my car took a wee detour and found me an Op Shop I had not entered.  Well what is an Op Shopping gal to do??  Scored a park right outside and I was in.  One of those super old fashioned shops raising money for the church and things are as cheap as 20 cents!!  Yes I found me some treasure.

 

I found a huge floral scarf in a dark mauvey purple with luscious old flowers on it $1-50, a piece of what looks like Cath Kidson fabric for 30 cents, and the purple pottery incense holder for 20 cents.  The shoes came from another shop.  They are Italian leather and near new for $8, and the lady had them behind the counter waiting for me to call in.  What a sweetie!!  So as you see I went to more than one oppy and got somewhat way laid and distracted.  I decided the incense thing would be great for my jewellery I wear each day but remove at night could live on.  My watch, my Mala, and my Labrodarite ring.  Perfect!!  By now it was late afternoon and I had lost the will to clean my house so the plan is now to stay home tomorrow and do it.  Care to place any bets??  

Sheba and Oscar the Camo wearing small dog

Had to share this with you all.  The dogs love sneaking into Jak's room and selecting a crusty old sock off his floor to play with.  Tug of war is the favorite game.  Amazing how far a dirty old sock can stretch too. I tell him to close his door but does he listen??

The totally "you've been busted" look!  Poor wee Oscar gets dragged around the house by Sheba but he hangs on and gives it his best shot at trying to win. Jeez my floor doesn't look too bad, maybe I can put off the housework till next week!!

♥♥ Half way through the week ♥♥

♥♥♥ Toodles ♥♥♥

It was bound to happen!!

A SuesDay on a Tuesday that is!!  And a solo one at that. With Sue playing Island girl for 10 days it was me, Nigella no friends!! It was a toss up with doing the housework or going out op shopping.  Hard choice I know that I mulled over in a nano second!!  Sod the housework, it'll still be waiting for me tomorrow.  But then tomorrow I will more than likely go see my mate Dawn the Pottery Queen.

But before I could even head out the door I had a parcel arrive,  this wicked as jacket I got off Trade Me!!  Totally stoked with it, brand new and scrumdiddlyumshish for sure.  I had to wear it out.

My first port of call was the couriers because they left a card saying they had called here yesterday while I was at my Monday Funday Job.  I had a sneaky suspicion it was going to be my fur shrug.  So housework was so far down my "things to do today list".

SURE WAS!!!!!

Must say I am pretty happy with it and could have done with it yesterday as I wore my leopard print tights to work.  Maybe next week!! Quite like it with my stripes.

Then there were my rather high wedge shoes I got from Trade Me that did turn up yesterday. 

My photo isn't the best work I have done but you get the general idea of what they are like. High, so I shall probably fall off these ones.

Enough of what arrived in the post.

Found this soft as Alpacca  poncho with a hood that I shall probably never wear because hoods tend to make me look like I live in the wrong country and should rename myself Suehard or something that rhymes like that.  I have been wanting one of these for soooooooo long, because I owned one many moons ago.  So warm, so soft, so very very lovely.  And so very new and unworn, how convenient!! Oh and I will wear it, just not the hood.

I went to only 4 op shops today as I had planned on tackling the housework when I got home.  But that hasn't happened because I needed to blog of course!!

I did manage to find these cool as labels to put on my preserves when I have produce to preserve.  These are always hard to find so I grabbed them.  Also found this ric rac lace stuff that I know will come in handy.  I really should show you the sad state of my dumping ground I call my sewing room.  I should be ashamed! but I'm not!

  

So the housework I will try my best to do before I go out to see Dawn.  I cannot promise it will happen but it should do, it's out of control.  Thank god friends visit me and not the state of my house!!  Well I shall love you and leave you, and my parting photo is Lonnie my nieces little Jack Russel.  Rather intrigued with the TV.

♥♥ BYE ♥♥