One month has already gone, so life should be back to normal.

Honestly, January has disappeared!!  

As for life being back to normal, well what is normal?  I guess being back at work, having the Spare home from his travels, but our house is nothing close to normal with the addition of Toebee!!  He consumes my time in such good ways, and he is providing us all with plenty of entertainment.  

So the last few weeks have been sort of like this:

A couple of weekends ago now TOF and I drove up to Auckland Airport to collect our rather jet lagged youngest son, the spare.  It was so good to see him again, even tho he and I regularly chatted on a video call thingy that is free through face book.  Technology is amazing!!  He had a wicked time away but was over living out of his suitcase and ready to get back to little old New Zealand.  Well they do say, "There is no place like home".

I was showered with gifts!!  Gorgeous embroidered cushion covers bought from a market in Qatar.  TOF and I got a bag of bite sized Daim bars from London to share, our favourite English treat.

When going to an Ikea store he asked what would I like him to get me, not knowing what an Ikea store is.  So I said just a catalogue would be fine. We so need one of these shops in NZ!!  Some duty free Jadore so I smell divine!!!  And the Diary of Anne Frank he got from Amsterdam after visiting her home.  He is a good son isn't he!! I feel loved.

Our plum tree has had the mother load of plums this year.  Many a plum has been given away and Jam has been made.  I still have some to bottle, and maybe make more jam.  They are so delicious and organically grown as the tree is not sprayed and it grows in the chicken area.

I even made a Plum Cake!!  This did not last very long as it was that good!

It would seem I was on a roll in the kitchen so I made a Caramel Oat Slice.  This to was bloody yum.  No cook books for me, just been searching ideas in Google.

Big has taken on the role of older brother/father figure with Toebee.  Guiding him when he is outside in the garden.   I am so pleased there is no hissing and fighting.

 

As for the dogs, well Sheba is like a nanny, look for her and you find Toebee.  Oscar is just laid back and non fussed with the kitten until he tries to drink off him, prodding and sucking away contently on Oscars white curls.

It is safe to say that they are all getting on really well. Phew!!

As for the girls, they are interested in this fast moving fluffy ball but they aren't getting close.  Old Joan has pecked Toebee so he is wary of the chickens.

The garden is floral, fragrant and one of the best places to hang out in.  My Hoya is flowering and so is my Hibiscus.

I got spotted in the garden one afternoon!!

Me and the Heir, the eldest son took the black dogs to the park across the road from our home.  I forget how nice it is to have a big open grassed space surrounded in lovely big old trees.  Sheba and the Heirs dog Stella loved it.

Stella is growing fast and such a sweet little girl.

I have slowly done the rounds of my favourite charity shops.  Of course I have walked out with some colourful additions for my wardrobe.  I have other clothes I have purchased off Trade Me but all in the wash, so maybe next post I will model them for you, hahahahaha!!!

I bought these beautiful plants off a lady I know who grows and sells plants from seeds and cuttings.  Begonias remind me of my grandmother Lil, I have four now.  The ones in the middle I cannot remember what they are but the flowers are like velvet.

 How cool is the inside?

Every woman needs her own tool box full of tools right?  This was on a massive discount so TOF said yeah go for it.  This may mean me doing my own maintenance now, well I have the tools!!

The fur kids got toys.  Why would you buy pet toys for the big bucks when you can buy a bag full for the little bucks?  I make sure none have those plastic beads or plastic eyes, noses etc.  Pets are like toddlers after all.  The book is a kids book but I must admit I do find David Walliams pretty funny so I will probably read it myself.

Speaking of reading I finished the book above the other day, 'Devil Boy' by Murray Annals a local man, also my nieces father in law.  This is his second book and just as good as his first.  Now I look forward to his third book he is working on now.

For some reason most of my clothes pegs are broken.  I went looking for replacement ones as the ones I have always used I can no longer find. I was drawn to these ones with their flower heads, now I need more as they actually not only look good they work well too. But true to form, I cannot remember where I purchased these ones from!!

How beautiful does Mr Biggles Mc Big Cat look,

trying to blend into the garden.

Last weekend was a long weekend with Monday being an Anniversary day for us in our part of the country.  TOF and I took a drive out to Raglan, Manu Bay to be exact.  A fishing comp had been on so we were meeting friends at the prize giving.  I packed a thermos and enjoyed lovely views while sipping on my hot Earl Grey.

The large ship in the top photo was actually laying internet cable, so the story goes.  Apart from plenty of small fishing boats, plenty of surfers were enjoying the waves and the sunshine.

A 106.8kg Striped Marlin was caught, which was impressive to be so close up to.  I am pretty sure it was destined to be smoked and feed a fare few people, that made me happy.  I like the sound of tag and release for such amazing large fish, but any keen angler would be happy to land something as magical as this.

Our Summer so far has been up and down weather wise.  We have had sunshine, rain, wind, and lets not mention the humidity.  But now we are in February it should be more settled, may those long hot days settle in, hopefully with a gently cool breeze on the side.

The rain and warmth makes the 'shrooms grow in the chicken coup.

I trimmed one of my flax tree things the other day and got inspired to weave the flax leaves.  I love the colour and texture.  Today a place mat tomorrow baskets??

When I came inside I discovered a baby preying mantis had hitched a ride on me.  I only realised this when it landed on my laptop, then it proceeded to climb.

Now for an overload of Toebee photos, because he is just so cute!!  So funny seeing himself in a mirror, he just could not work out where that other kitten was.

 

Buy an old potty and he thinks it is his!

 He plays hard then collapses into a deep sleep, just like a toddler!

Life is one big adventure for this small boy and he is taking this household along for the ride every day.

I hope you are all well and happy and I shall try my best to get my blogging mojo back up and running on a weekly basis, then you will not have to suffer through endless photos and mumbling.

***BYE***

Bringing back an old tradition and bringing home a baby!

When I was a kid, when ever our family went to Whangamata to our beach house, Dad would buy a bag of Black Ball lollies when he filled up with gas at the gas station.  He used to call them Nigger Nuts, yeah I know, not very PC but back then it was a harmless name and we thought Dad was hilarious!!  We gladly crunched and or sucked on these lollies for our journey to the beach.

Well bugger me, when me and TOF were filling up on Diesel last weekend (Friday) before we made our way to Whangamata, I spotted a bag of Black Balls.  So in honor of my Dad we have decided to bring back the tradition.  Just as good as I remembered them and enough left for my sister and the BIL (brother in law) to have some too.

TOF and the BIL had organised to go out on an afternoon/evening fish on the Te Ra, a boat that has been at Whangamata for  as long as I can remember.

TOF asked the Captain of said boat what they would be targeting, to which I jumped in and said FISH!!  

Let's just say I left not long after that.

The tree covered land you can see in the photos is what we call the Peninsular, and I have not been for a drive along that since I was a kid.  So I decided that seen as I had TOFs 4WD truck it was time to go along the road again and feast on the views that I remembered as being spectacular.

The day was warm but overcast, and still the beach at the wharf was being used by many.

Big kids did bombs off the wharf into the cool ocean, while little ones made sandcastles and played on the shore.

From there I made my way to catch up with my friend Leonie and her family.  They were all heading back to their homes the following day so this was another reason for me to get over to the beach.

Helen met me there, and after a good catch up  we went back to hers. 

We then took the slow drive along the Forestry Road on the top of the Peninsular to check out those views I remembered from my childhood.  I was so not disappointed!!!

When I was a kid it was like this!

Oh wow, it has changed!  Well the gorgeous views are still the same but it just shows now how built up my dear beach place has become.  Hey but that is progress and a sign of the times, and it is awesome that so many people get to experience what I have been able to enjoy for 50 years now.

We picked up the fishermen around 9pm, had a leisurely dinner and then we all decided to call it a night.  Apparently Clutch had gone to bed early in our room, and he stay with us on the end of the bed all night.

Saturday morning Helen and I went to visit the Gypsy Extravaganza that was in town.  Everyone else in Whangamata had decided to join us!

We wandered around twice so we could take in everything.  I mean, who would want to miss a crocheted covered ladder leading into a house truck?

Most truckers had a small dog, all well behaved and cruising like their owners. So nice to see some genuine hand made things too, like Flax animals that are native to NZ in the bottom right photo.

This little truck was perfect and I could so see me tripping around in that.  Not sure where all our animals would fit!

After the Extravaganza we had a quick visit to my nephews home. My neph is a kind sole who rescued the dog in the above right photo and has encourage her to become the most beautiful girl ever.  Just shows what a whole lot of love and a happy home can do.  Merlin the cat is a cruiser.  Shilo below and Bear above, are two lovely dogs and a credit to my neph!!

A perfect place to park your bike,

in the shade of a gorgeous Pohutukawa Tree.

I bought a very cool dress from the Gypsies and the Labradorite necklace on the left. We stopped in Waihi on our way home so I could go to Gevadi a seasonal shop that pops up at this time of the year.  I came out of there with a Clear Quartz and an Amethyst necklace.  I do like crystals.

Looks like a huge slip has happened in the Gold Mine at Waihi, I do wonder if it was due to the Earthquake last year.  One day this will be a huge man made lake, which I think will look way better than a mine.

On Monday TOF returned to work, I had one more week left.  So I ventured out to the charity shops that were finally open again.  The dress I am wearing is Italian and I found it in a little recycling shop in Frankton that I like. I actually wore it out of the shop to a lunch date with my friend Rose.

 

Stuff I found: silver sugar tongs that I plan to turn into a bangle, Tutti Fruitti clip on earings, Mini Haha and Hiawhatha (more than like spelt wrong) Orange jacket, multi short skirt with fishtail, gorgeous cobalt blue embroidered in gold sleeveless top.  I also found  some shorts and long pants but they are so hard to photograph.

 This arrived in the post,

I got it for TOF!!

He loves it too.

Do you LOVE my wooden Mexican head?  I got that at  a shop that I sell stuff in, and I knew it should go on my wall of THINGS.

I visited Dawn!  The amazeballs Face Totem was a commission piece which I am sure the owner will be more than happy with.

 

She gave me a new mug as the legs on my old one got knocked off by TOF who felt terrible about it to.  Then my talented mate Louise visited yesterday and she gave me these crocheted Toadies!  The tops are made from sari silk and they are stuffed with natural fleece.  I am pretty lucky to have such talented friends and ones that are so giving.  Love you two gals very much!!!

Even tho there are numerous bowls with clean drinking water in them on offer, Big thought sitting in the laundry tub and drinking from the tap was much more fun.

On a sunny day I moved the Bird Bath to a much sunnier spot in the garden.  Now I await the birds, but best I get Big out from under it.

My bosses gave me some Cash in an envelope on the last day of work, call it a bonus if you like!!  I bought myself a nice Sterling Silver Bangle the one next to the Watch that I bought too with the money.  Finally a watch that I can see without my glasses on!!!  I also treated myself to a Hibiscus shrub.  The rest was used on petrol and lunches when we were out day tripping the other week. At least I can show them some of the things that they financed with their generosity.

I put coloured solar lights on one of my garden arches,

they look fab!!

Speaking of FAB,

the garden was looking that way the other night!

I have been sharing my garden and swing seat with the Heir and his baby dog.  Our dogs love him and Sheba loves Stella his baby, but Oscars is taking time to warm to the new dog that visits.

The Spare has been sending me photos regularly and this so far has to be my all time favourite.  They are in London at the moment, quite a change in temperature from the Desert life for sure.  He gets home next week.

 ***Hi!***

The other day I went over to Kihikihi to visit the very lovely and talented Julie. If you follow her blog you will know all about her gorgeous little shop, Thread Bear Cottage, you will know her beautiful Garden, and you will know about her love of her cats.

Well in her garden was 4 adorable little balls of fluff and their mother.  A very young mum at that.  All strays and very hungry, so of course dear Julie was feeding them and looking after them all, finding the kittens home and worrying about the young mum.

What a wonderful garden for a stray family to stop off at, don't you agree.  I love how Julie plants up things like much loved things from my childhood.

Old  suitcases and bicycles with baskets of flowers,

and one little kitten that was

slowly but surly stealing my heart.

Outside in the garden is beautiful but inside Julies home it is simply amazing, the talents are endless with this kind hearted lady. So not only did she bake me the most delicious  Raspberry and White Chocolate muffins to munch on while sipping tea and chatting, she had kittens to tempt me.

Needless to say the one that kept catching my eye came home with me.  With his extra toes, and large eyes, he melted my heart and has joined us in our home.

So meet ToeBee, my dear little Polydactyl baby.  After visiting my vet and getting him worm and flea treated, I have been told he is about 7 weeks old.

Toes for short for obvious reasons!!

The best place to sleep is anywhere on Mum!!

And Big is the best father figure a wee lad could hope for!!

ToeBee is a keeper, not a foster baby.  So my Fostering days might be over for a while, or forever, time will tell.  But at the moment I am busy with my new baby boy and loving every minute of him.  He nudges my head and purrs like mad. He is not afraid of the dogs, more they are afraid of him!!  TOF happily has ToeBee climb all over him, yes he is a KEEPER!!!

Because I am Short.