Serious Shoe love

Hello lovelies, hope life is treating you kindly.  For some reason the days are whizzing past me and I haven't got around to blogging, so tiny catch up coming!

Way back on Sunday TOF and I drove out in the country to visit some good friends of ours.  This is just one of the glorious views they have on their property.  It is so peacefully in the country and Sunday was a glorious day to relax on their deck in the sunshine soaking up the endless green.

Oscar and Sheba came along to have a catch up with their mate Gus, the most adorable big Lab.  They wandered the paddocks with the lads while us gals sipped tea on the deck and chatted.

 Dog-gone

it's a play date!

The weather this week has been all over the place, so no wonder these three were making the most of being outside in the sunshine on Tuesday.  Monday it was wet and decidedly yuk! But I did take TOF out for lunch as he had a day off work.  We went to the nicest cafe called Mavis and Co.  My work does all their sign writing so it was cool to see it all.  Oh and the food was fabulous, likewise the entire cafe.

Perfect weather for cultivating the 'shrooms!!  This lot were growing in the chicken yard, but gone today, so does this mean the girls are trippin' out down the back yard??  Eggs seem normal!

Yay for SUNSHINE!!

These gorgeous shoes my fab sister got me at one of the op shops over at the beach.  I have worn them for the last three days and I think I am in love!!  Lucky Helen knows my size and what I like, and she only paid $3.50 for a pair of shoes that retail in the hundreds!!

 What, more shoes?

 Dads home and we're gonna tell!!!

A wet Wednesday arrived so I bloody well went for some long overdue 'Wave Envy' and some pom pom trim!!  My entire outfit comes from second hand shops, except my under wear of course, and my long sleeve t.

I gave Oscar  what I call 'A Poof and A Pamper', aka a hair cut and bath.  With his coat gone I had to dig out one of his jerseys, so cute and so warm!

Today turned into Tipping down Thursday, it rained and rained and it is still raining now.  Just hope it isn't tomorrow as a SuesDay is on the to do list.  Mind you it takes more than rain to put me and Mrs W off a SuesDay.

Thinking these three aren't at all bothered by the rain.

Quote time:

How very true.

Just for laughs:

Sounds like a plan!! 

Thinking of Nepal

Yesterday I drove over to Whangamata for the day.

I stopped on top of the first Hill between Waihi and Whangamata to take a quick photo of the view of the ocean.  Within seconds of stopping the car I had company!!  How I would love to have bought all these lovely girls home with me, but NO, I have enough and cannot save any more animals.

The weather forecast wasn't too flash but the beach looked stunning, that is the thing about being on the coast, no matter what the weather, it still looks amazing, and colourful.

Dawns Pottery and Bella the shop next doors dog.

The reason behind my visit to Whangamata was mainly to deliver and help install a selection of Dawns gorgeous pottery in the shop my sister Helen manages.  With the devastating Earthquakes that have struck Nepal, there is a flow on effect to the shop as all their stock is made in Nepal. By having something new in the window hopefully it will draw more people through the door and support this business. People over in Nepal have lost their homes, their work places, and some have lost family and/or people they know.  It saddens me greatly that there are some outrageously wealthy people in our world that could make a stand and financially help out this devastated country.  How many of us would think what truly good sorts these people are if they took a moment to help out a country in need?  It will take years to get Nepal back up and running, they need money to help this happen faster.

So if you happen to be over in Whangamata go in and check out Glamour, the bright Pink shop in the main street.  If you don't purchase anything you can always put a donation in the jar on the counter to help Nepal.  Every little bit helps, and it is a worthy cause.

I know this is me posing in front of a mirror in this gorgeous colourful shop, but my sister is as colourful and full of fun as me:

GET IN THERE!!

 Selfies with Clutch

and

my sister.

I had a fabulous day in one of my favourite places in my world.  The shop window is full of colourful creations, the weather didn't get as bad as predicted and I had a fun time hanging with my best friend, my sister.  We went to both the op shops and my favourite shop Garuda.

I stopped in Waihi to say hi to a friend who has a shop and also to get a copy of this book that Helen said I MUST HAVE!  I may never get to see WOW so the book is the next best thing.  If you are wondering what WOW is click on this link.  

Prepare to be amazed!!!

Of course I spent a few dollars while I was at the beach.  The pants on the left (I am wearing them today) came from an Indian shop and the ones on the right came from Garuda.  Modeled them today for you all in the SUNSHINE, and look, JANDALS, that is how warm it is and it is mid May!!!

Blackbirds were feasting on the Berries in my tall trees, and a graceful Monarch Butterfly was flitting about high up in the branches.  So nice to sit outside in the garden and appreciate the Winter sunshine while it is visiting and enjoy nature.

Dorothy, aka Mrs Wickham had a very grumpy face on, I think Joan was lording it over all the girls and this is the position Dorothy had before Joan turned up. 

It is true about pecking order!!

 I love Oprahs permanent ruffle,

she is quite the character.

 My garden stalker,

the ever present Sheba.

Trees need jewellery in my garden and they get it.

I hope you all enjoy your weekend

and 

now for a

bloody good quote!

Yeah let's all THINK!

We named the birds!!

Thanks for all the warm fuzzies you sent me re my birthday, 'love you all to the moon and back' as the saying goes!!  

I had a pretty good weekend

didn't I?

So BIG THANKS again to you all.

Monday was a glorious sunny day and one to be enjoyed.  I worked as I was having Tuesday off to do a thing with the Heir.  My new to me Fly London shiny black boots are so comfortable, I think they will be a favourite for Winter.  After work I called in on a couple of op shops.

Tunic and top only $2.50 each from Hospice and the SHOES, only $8 from Vinnies.  I remember seeing these in a shop at the end of last year retailing for just under the two hundy mark, and these are so close to new that I am going to say they are!!!!  I went back on Tuesday to Vinnies to get the plain black ones and found white ones, both only $6 which will be winging their way south to the very adorable Helga as soon as I get a postal bag.

I came across this beautiful embroidered cloth in a Church Op shop in town, $8, just needs to have the edge done, or will it be upcycled into something??  Options are a plenty.

Back in Hospice I found one of Dawns Dead Dollies for $1 and new I had to rescue it.  I couldn't pass the beautiful thatched cottage print, $3, or the stunning earrings at $4.

Tuesday bloody well rained, and when I say rained, it RAINED!!!  So no outside photos a mirror shot inside is all you get.  After my mission with the Heir I headed out to visit Dawn.

Before I got there, I detoured to a couple of op shops and found the most colourful tunic and a old as pattern, thinking sheet couture!  Not sure I will accomplish the tiny as waist look!

So what has Dawn been creating I here you ask?  

Well these gorgeous black washed

block houses for starters.

These cute as little dudes that remind me of Max in 'Where the Wild things are'.  Cannot wait to see them finished and all colourful.

Garden Toadstools anyone?

Oh yeah!

Season Four arrived.

And yes I watched disc one last night.

After the wet and miserable day yesterday, today turned on some SUNSHINE!!  I hear we are in for RAIN tomorrow, which I don't mind if the sun comes back on Friday.  I have a car full of Dawns creations to go over to my sister, in Whangamata, she is going to sell them in the shop she works in. 

Sheba, Oscar and Tex were all outside with me this afternoon enjoying the weather.  I tried to move the cane coffee table and wondered why it was so heavy.

Before I forget, we figured out names for the new Canaries.  Elton and Freddie, as in Elton John and Freddie Mercury, because Canaries sing so beautifully that they need to be named after great singers.  Oh and George has perked up and very happy with his new room mates, which is good news.

Put your feet up, and have some cake.

What a weekend.

My 53rd Birthday was yesterday

and today was Mothers Day.

It has been a lovely couple of days hanging with my boys mostly at home.  I have no issue with getting older, I am happy where I am in life so getting older is not a problem.  I have a  good friend for a hubby, two great sons, lots of lovely friends, my health, and a hearty sense of humor, what else could I possibly want?

My three blokes know me so well that even my gift

was wrapped in spotty paper!

Thanks to them I am going to smell

FABULOUS!!

And there was CAKE!

My lovely sister Helen sent me a parcel containing lots of lovely jewellery and a Russian Doll card, because she knows exactly what I love!  

Thanks sis!

TOF and I went to the Gordonton Market in the morning where I bought two felted fairies and two lovely plants that have been potted.  Last night TOF and I went to our local pub the Te Rapa and had a scrum-diddly dinner and a glass of ale, perfect end to a great day.

Saturday afternoon the Spare who is an apprentice builder arrived with all his tools to help do some mods to our deck.  He framed up and added trellis to one end while TOF painted in preparation for the next step.

The top coat of paint when on this morning and the roll up blinds got installed.  Pretty happy with the end result and the fact that we will have a dry deck in winter, and a fabulous place to spend time on a sunny wintery day.

The Spare arrived bearing gifts for his mother and the most funniest card that most mothers would relate to.  The Heir has Game of Thrones season Four on order for me.  How loved am I feeling right now?

My aging Canary George Michael isn't his normal self of late.  I think he is not long for this world the poor old bugger, so today TOF and I went and got him some room mates to keep him company.

Two sweet little Roller Canaries that have moved into the Avery and  seem more than happy with their new digs.  George even perked up a bit.  Still to be named so known as C1 and C2 at the moment.  We have been sing the Bananas in Pyjamas song but 'Canary' instead of 'Banana'.  As in:

"Canaries, in the Avery, are flying everywhere".

TOF cooked us a beautiful dinner of Rack of Lamb, roasted spuds, and greens from our garden.  We followed that with homemade apple crumble and french vanilla ice cream.

Thanks TOF you are a STAR!!!

My lads 

surrendered 

and we had our photo taken.

I am one lucky mum/wife.