It's been raining, for so long.....

...according to Dragon I think? 

But when did a bit of rain ruin the day completely? I was going to shovel mulch off the trailer into the chickens area, but it just hasn't really stopped long enough to do that wee job, and there is always tomorrow.  It did stop long enough for me to take my camera outside tho.

Dull to say the least.

 a slightly wet Bird of Paradise.

 even a grey wet day cannot dampen the spirit of colour and some things still have their work to  do.

green gets brighter when wet.

the Fennel looks gorgeous, can't say the same for poor wee Cassie!!

With a bit of luck this so called Spring storm has now moved it's way up our dear wee country and now heading out to sea.  I live in hope that I will awaken tomorrow to that beautiful sunny weather we were experiencing before the wet set in.

Spots before my eyes of the best sort

I love polka dots!!  

I also love stripes!!  

I totally love them together!!  

But today it was only spots!!

I got a dress in the post this morning that had to be worn!!

I wore it under my favourite old black tunic, over leggings, with a purple hooded jacket.  Today was insanely windy but quite mild.  I don't mind what the weather is doing as long as it isn't raining.  My sister came over from the coast today and we hung out for a couple of hours this afternoon.  We walked to the op shop over the road and round the corner from where I live and we went to Spotlight too.  She had a spend up while I was the support person, bag carrier!!

Finally I got around to hanging my tri panel picture up, and it is now hanging on a wall in the back porch.

Last night while searching stuff on Trade Me I found a lady wanting to get rid of some mulch for free.  Yes I inquired and today I went and borrowed a mates trailer and shoveled mulch until my arms ached and I could fit no more on.  Now I have to spread it all in the chickens yard.  Lots of lovely jubbly bugs for my girls to scratch up and eat.  May even get another load tomorrow if I can get this load sorted.  I am taking a couple of jars of my jam around to the lady as a thank you for her generosity.

I even bottled some beetroot from my garden this morning!!

The wheelbarrow that I planted is flourishing in this mild weather.  I think the bulbs are called bluebells.  But there are Nasturtiums, Ivy, Sweet Williams, Violas, and many other bits from my garden in the barrow.  It may get wheeled around the back one day.

The birds are all busy building nests and the bees are all busy buzzing about gathering nectar from the flowering plants like my Rosemary bush.

I really do love Spring!!

I had a date with the Sun....

...but by the time I got home from work this morning it had gone, ditched me, done a runner!!  So I popped in on a few op shops to console myself.

Amongst my finds today, Green tunic, much brighter than the photo and great layering piece (from Salvo city central).  Floral 3/4 sleeve tunic,  Animal print tunic and Batik cropped jacket (all from Look Smart on T straight and still on 1/2 price this week).  Patchwork maxi skirt I found last week (Savemart) and forgot to share, and the gorgeous maxi dress (from Remains to be scene $2 bin) is heading overseas shortly!  Everything priced between $2 and $6.

The small basket I found for .50cent and it has my little girls small eggs in it that are going to be given to one of the blokes I work with as he has young kids and they are after all kid sized eggs.  The ornaments and the Jesus bracelet were all only $1 each at Hospice in town, has a new manager with a fabulous plan to be known as the cheapest op shop in town!  The rather lovely patchwork shoulder bag was $2.50 from Look Smart last week, I had one of these when I was a teenager.  Last but by no means least a fabulous scarf.

So what did I wear for my date with the Sun?  A very gorgeous lace coat (Look Smart) over a long dress all being blown around in the breeze that had arrived after Sunshine buggered off!!  Now I here we are due to get a Spring storm tonight, EXCELLENT!!  Shall not be getting all dolled up for that!!  Note my girls and Sheba all tutuing about in the background!

Spring Bulb-tastic-ness!!

Late yesterday afternoon I rearranged some of the pots of glorious colour in the garden onto a plant stand I scored a while back. Pretty dam stoked with the look too!!  

Check it out.

Hiding amongst some plants was an old clay pipe so that has now had a planted cup placed on top of it.  I so love the colours of Spring!!

TOF found these old bed ends under our first house and made them into this garden seat about 20 years ago, the wooden seat my dad threw together and now it is dotted in lichen.

My old granny used to say that was a good sign, Lichen means no pollution. Well that is what she told me, could have been pulling my leg tho.

I have moved this to block where Sheba has made a racing circuit in a perfect circle on the lawn, we have a mud track, thanks to her and she is threatening to break my small shrubs at the speed she is taking the continuous corner. 

Survived Monday at work, very quiet day in the shop, so slow and not much fun!

The Wall of Tall and an open home policy

When we moved into this house that we live in over 15 years ago me and TOF decided it was the perfect family home.  Our house is old school, one bathroom, one lounge, and a big back yard.  Our boys learned about sharing,  waiting their turn and respecting each others privacy and space.  Sometimes we have toyed with the idea of a new home but I hate housework and the thought of maintaining a standard that goes with a new house to me is daunting, also we didn't want to increase our debt by way of a big mortgage.  So here we have stayed, raised our lads, cared for many an extra and have enjoyed a good old fashioned kiwi lifestyle similar to our own up bringing.

Behind our kitchen door is what we fondly call "The Wall of Tall" where anyone and everyone has been measured and recorded.  Our family and the lads mates mainly with the odd pet having been measured as well.  It hasn't been added to for the last couple of years, I guess we have all got as tall as we will ever be, or in my case, I think I am starting to shrink, and don't want to record my demise.  Our home has always been open to our friends, family, and our lads friends.  Over the years there has been many an overnight guest and many a get together in our back yard.  May this long continue and people feel free to just call in on a whim.  We aren't flash harries around here, just relaxed and friendly, you will always get a cuppa and a conversation.

This morning when I was up very early feeding the animals I found this on my deck.  Most people find a stray cat, not me I found my sons flatmate.  The walk home to their place was too much so he crashed on our deck under only a towel.  So I covered him in blankets when I could not wake him from his slumber and left him to it.  One of the many lovely young men that visits still.

We will stay in this house until we are taken out in a box I would say, and we will continue to open all hours.  Many a problem has been solved in the back garden, many a broken heart helped to heal, and many a good story and laugh has been shared.  This I am confident will continue until I am no longer required on this earth! I look forward to getting grandchildren and extended adopted family and friends enjoying our back yard and our garden.

Why you should always pack a camera in your bag...

On Thursday I was minding my own business in town, found a park right opposite the Salvo shop and was feeling mighty pleased with myself.  Then I notice some burly blokes having a game of basket ball in the cage out front of the gym in the main street.  As I was filling the coin gobbling device that prevents you front getting a parking ticket, a couple of these blokes walked past me. Me being me I smiled and said Hi and on closer inspection I discovered they were some of our All Blacks!!!  If you are a kiwi or a rugby fan then you will know who I am talking about.  For the rest of you, they are our National Pride!!  Well not really but close to god for some folk.  They are our Countries representative in the highest form of the rugby competition.   Top Dogs!!

Over here in our country they are famous but not a protected species like in some other countries.  Super friendly easy going guys that are amazingly accommodating to people that pack a camera in their handbag!!  I had no idea which ones they were but knew I would have bragging rights to my family and others.  YES!!! Oh and the giant next to me in the pic on the right was very gentle and only 6' 8"!!   It was such a glorious Spring day, perfect for  rubbing shoulders with famous peeps.

Friday emerged from an overnight frost as another perfect Spring day, all though slightly chilly.  I had to get a big sack of Chicken food so picked this up en route to Dawns place as I was going back to help under glaze some more pottery for her.  From the chicken farm to her place, has lovely long straight country roads with crocked fences and leaning power poles and trees due to it being peat based and swampy.  I enjoy this drive as there is never much traffic so I can have my window down with my hair blowing in my face and my CD player cranked up loud while I sing out of tune!!  Fleetwood Mac I do believe.

On my return trip heading home as I was speeding down one of the long straight roads I thought I saw a cow in the process of giving birth.  So I safely manouvered a U turn and headed back to the paddock to witness the miracle of birth in the countryside.  Parked up with my camera I soon discovered it was in fact a paddock full of bulls and it was indeed a large shiny pair of Knackers that I saw and not a calf!!  Townie or What??  But those Bulls were so photogenic!!

The last leg of my journey back to town takes you through Templeview where a huge Mormon Temple is.  This place I am convinced is painted in glow paint because you can see it for miles.  Christmas is a really awesome time to go past at night as they go all out on decorating with lights and biblical scenes.  Trillions of people visit each night to see the light show.
The farmland out this way is flat to gentle rolling hills but surrounded by what I would call mountains, you may call them large hills.  I guess that is one of the things I love about living in Hamilton, within minutes you can drive in any direction of the compass and you are in beautiful countryside, the Waikato is truely beautiful.  Our city gets a bad wrap in NZ but to those that verbally trash it and knock it, I say stay away, we do not need your kind here!!  So there!!

I do hope you are all enjoying your weekend, I have done naff all today, TOF is at work, Jak fleeting called home looking worse for wear and swallowing Panadol like it was the miracle cure for the night before.  Tonight those lads in the photos above have a big game in town at our Rugby Park, Waikato Stadium against the Argentina team.  I shall of course be cheering on those who were so keen to have their photo taken with me!!

Some of my friends are pretty dam clever

Today I went out to my good friend Dawns place to take photos and help her with some under glazing on some of her pottery.  When I arrived her man asked if I would take  photos of some of his creations.  He makes the most amazing Braziers and had just finished an order.

I would love one of these beauties in my back garden, maybe one day when I gather enough money to buy one!

This fabulous Totem pole Dawn made for an Exhibition this weekend but a lady saw it before it got delivered to the venue, fell in love with it and has bought it!!  She still may go in the exhibition but with a dirty big sold sticker across her!!  This is about a metre tall and unbelievably fantastic.

Tree necklaces, Fish Totems, Fairy Doors, and a Bird Bath, just a few of the colourful new additions to the collection to be sold.

Totem bits and an inquisitive Taz the cat.

Hanging Fish and Wind Chimes.

Oh and I even had time to pop in to one Op Shop on my way home.  

London tin tray $1,  retro playing cards from Fiji $2, Small poodle plate $1, Irish Cauldron $1.50.

The plate I am going to give to my sister that lives at the beach as she owns a poodle and as kids we had these plates but with cats on.

I scored a top that needs a minor repair for $1 but it is in the wash!

This morning for my breakfast I had  two small eggs poached on Vogels and trust me size doesn't count with eggs, they were scrumdiddle!!! I framed Frida!  And the dogs had a Tug O War with the Duck!!

Our weather has fallen apart and it is raining and cold,  I am not pleased!  I was totally enjoying the sunshine and hanging outside in my garden in the afternoons with all my pets and plants.  Guess I will just have to make do with potting up my seeds on the deck tomorrow.  Time to get ready to fill the gardens with new things is fast approaching.