Searching for the colour among the fallen leaves.

I don't mind Winter as long as it doesn't RAIN!  Give me a hearty Frost because you will usually get a wicked day to follow.  But RAIN, you can keep it.  OK it can RAIN at night, but not during the day when there is stuff to be done!

Most of the garden is covered in crunchy brown leaves at the moment.  I discovered that the two Climbers  either side of my swing were so heavy that the frames had snapped and it wasn't looking promising for climbing.  So I moved an arch from near the blackberries and put it behind the swing, hopefully the climbing will continue, but behind not above now.

It would seem that the girls find the leaves perfect for laying eggs on, even if only one these days.  At least one of them is doing her bit!

Aren't variegated leaves lovely,

they make up for the lack of colour that I have.

After looking hard I did find little bits of colour still thriving. Phew!!

There are two large Idesia trees in the garden, one is all but naked while the other one is just starting to strip for Winter.  Mothers little helpers are always around on the garden adventures.

Sometimes Big ventures out to join in.....

.....sometimes he stays put on the deck in a warm spot.

Not only have the Lemons appeared, so to have the Manderines, winter fruit is all Citrus. 

My hair got crimped and pimped thanks to my Wavy Envy, and it certainly lifted my mood for the day.  Even tho my hair was layered and trimmed not long ago it is happily getting longer, YAY!!  Down to my bum I say, that's where I want it.

 

I have had luck at the Charity Shops, adding this lot to my wardrobe.  I had a massive sort out so I do not feel bad about acquiring some new to me things for the current Season.

The Poncho got an outing the following day, so light, and so warm.  Sue W and I had a day out, a SuesDay!  She was in need of some enjoyment after an incident at her place concerning a new couch and a small old dog who is very lucky to still be with us, you can read about that here.

We ventured out of town to Morrinsville and stopped in to check out a very cool second hand shop where we both drooled over many things while our hands were wrapped around hot coffee from the Coffee Shack inside.  In fact we went back this week to pick up a ladder for Sue.  The old Washer has been made into a water feature, very cool.

My reason for wanting to go to Morrinsville was to see this, the Mega Cow!

It's bloody enormous and I just want to plant wild flowers or maize under it.  Wonder if the owners would mind terribly?

Colourful cows line the main street and the Waikato coloured one was outside the Wallace Gallery, so we popped in for a look around.  Some amazing art was done on old Trampoline mats, you would need a huge wall to hang them on.

We went to a couple of Op Shops and walked passed the old Pub on the corner of the main st, the tile work, doors and engraved windows are stunning.  Unfortunately the beautiful sunshine was not helping with photos.

From Morrinsville we drove to Cambridge, checked out the Op Shops, then meet Chris and her darling grand daughter for lunch, and a very nice lunch it was to. I totally forgot to take any photos, but we did meet, no lies!! 

When I got home the little fluffy dog on the left was here, lost but very excited as we live next to a school and he was getting plenty of attention.  Long story short, I put him out the back with my two, after he had managed to cock his leg on our foot stool, and took a liking for humping my leg. Sheba super stoked thinking I had got her a puppy!!  I phoned the pound, who came out and they were to reunite the wee bloke with his owners.  Which they did as I checked in on Monday, RESULT, and I bet the owners were happy to have him back.

Last Saturday I drove over to visit my cousin Annette who lives in Athenree, near Waihi Beach.  I stopped at the Beach as there is nothing as lovely as standing on the golden sand that stretches forever and breath in the sights, and the sea air.

A glorious sight on a beautiful Winter Day.

Annettes sister Suzanne was over from Australia, the reason for my visit.  We share the same great grandmother, so we are cousins that way.  Annette made the most divine Spicy Thai Pumpkin soup, and we chatted and laughed for a few hours.  Her home backs onto a harbour and the view over her fence is fabulous, even when the tide is out!  With hugs all round it was time for me to head home.  Once more I forgot to get a photo of us cousins, oops!!

 

A very enjoyable drive as I take the back roads through the country, passing farms, twisting my way back to Hamilton.  This way is never busy this time of the year which makes the drive so much easier when you are on your own.

A lone Bee was getting as much pleasure from these Yellow flowers as I was the other day, it found the COLOUR!!  But how could you not when it is BRIGHT YELLOW!

Monday turned into a mini SuesDay as we returned to Morrinsville for said ladder.  Back in Hamilton we visited a couple of our favourite places and I scored another sterling silver bangle for 50 cents, it needed a bloody good clean before ending up on my arm, 2nd from the top.  I found and orange and pink tunic, and 3 delightful glass ducks!

While waiting for some photos to be printed I found a Curl Secret ON SALE!!  I love my Curl Secret, so much fun!!

This week at my night class I put together, well soldered my band ring.  I rather like the not so perfect result of my finished product and have worn it ever since.  Next week our wax cast rings should be back, excited much!

More colour was found hiding in pots!

And of course in this weather there are 'shrooms!

I made dinner the other night, I know, don't faint!!  I made us some Leek and Zucchini soup and some Sun dried Tomato and Feta scones.  Even tho they look slightly burnt, they were divine!!  A quick Winter warmer for sure, you cannot beat soup and scones.

Oh Look!!  

I went and purchased wooden coat hangers,

don't they just look super!

The climbing and checking out new spots to look in, and sleeping on what ever is on the airing rack continue.  Toebee is quite mad, but in the best way possible.

He uses his scratch pad to sleep on or hide in, even tho he can only get his front half inside it now.  So pleased it wasn't a waste of money.

THOUGHTS:

 So true.

 I so have.

Yes, the BEST things!!

***Stay Happy***

State Highway 23 will take you to the sea, and, P.S: Happy Birthay Elizabeth!!

Who doesn't enjoy a long weekend?  I know every weekend is a long one for me, but it is nice to have other people off work on the same days as me sometimes, not always, just sometimes.  This weekend is Queens Birthday Weekend.  

So...

.. Happy Birthday Ma'am,

and thanks for the day off work!! 

So what else has been happening you may well ask, and what is it that keeps me away from blogging?  Work, lunching with friends, you know the sort of stuff.  It is all very good stuff to!!

On a sunny  day I visited Sue W and took out lunch for us.  We dined on a delicious Chicken, Cranberry, Brie and Spinach Pizza and drank Cranberry Juices, and we did this high up on her huge deck in the sky.  Max of course joined us there and on our walk around Webberville.  It was a beautiful day to be enjoyed outside.

Fantails are a plenty out here and they dance about you in the garden.

Such delightfully happy little birds.

The old barn down the road still stands, but how I do wonder.  Each year more of it has given way to the elements, but each year it provides a spot to stop and photograph in it's state of decay.

I have managed to poke my head in some op shops of late and discovered all sorts of goodies.  How could I leave behind such colour and handiwork?  Indian scarves are so vibrant, and I think I could some how turn them into something wearable for next Summer.  Always look forward I say!

Then the most beautiful old table clothes came into view, both need a gentle soak, both are so lovely and both only $4 each.

I love kids books and have quite a collection so one more didn't hurt and only 50 cents.  

A very tiny boat trapped in a very tiny bottle caught my eye, and a divine little colourful dish made in India, obviously a Country of colour.

Of course I found clothes, this little haul made me have a major sort out and I am pleased to say quite a lot of things have made there way to be sold and some have been given to Habitat.  What I sell pays for new to me things for this Winter.

Like a pair of Black boots to add to my ever growing collection.  The new ones are 2nd from the end in the last photo.  The only colour I want now is BLUE, so my hunt continues.

You all know how I love to layer my clothes, well with the weather we have been having, layers are the only way to go.  The black boots got an outing with the animal print dress.

The garden has been watered with rain and coated in the odd frost, some days it has been hidden in fog. At this time of the year not much happens except a lot of racking up of leaves!!  My Hibiscus is still flowering but maybe because it is sheltered on my deck.

My night class is going well.  Last week we worked on our wax castings for rings.  You start with a wax ring like the one on the left and you carve, saw, and file until you have the desired size, shape and form.  The one on the right I finished and it has now been sent away to be cast in silver.  Cannot wait for it's return to see if my carving comes out, of course either way I shall show you.  Next lesson is band rings using soldering irons, again I will choose to work in silver. 

Last weekend I went and visited the Heir and this is the greeting I got at the gate.  His dog Stella gets so excited and can not contain herself so her nose pops through the gap you open the gate with.  We went out for coffee and cake because that is what you do with your kids no matter how old they are or how often you see them.  Always nice to go out and catch up on life.

I met up with Sue W at a local book fair at the end of this week.  I was happy to find the two books on the left that I had wanted to read and happy to pay $3 each for them.  The Calligraphy ones were $1 each so time to have a play I think.  After the book fair we had some srumdiddleumpcious lunch and then visited a couple of op shops, it was a pleasant way to end the week.

Yesterday the weather was stunning so TOF and I took a drive out to Raglan.  Manu Bay was packed with people, any one would have thought it was a long weekend??  TOF reckoned he counted at least 50 dudes out in the water surfing, you could say it looked congested.  It was so nice and quiet, just the sound of those gorgeous big waves then a bloody Jet Ski came racing past!!!

Anyway it was so nice to sit and watch as the surfers leapt off the rocks at the perfect time to reach the waves that would then let them ride up to the shore line again.

We always park at a look up high on the cliff to look over the beautiful Manu Bay and the ocean beyond.  This is what Paradise looks like to me.

We ventured on down to the wharf where many people had the same idea.  The sky was so blue and the wispy clouds above the Silo Apartments on the Wharf looked magical.  

We sat in the sun on the Balcony at The Wharf Kitchen and Bar and enjoyed a cold beer and some piping hot chips (french fries).  I also went into Soul Shoes, if you check out their website www.soulshoes.co.nz you will understand my passion for visiting this iconic local business.

I purchase this pair of super comfortable hand made shoes and wore them for the rest of the day.  Years ago I had some of their shoes and they last for such a long time.  You should see some of the gorgeous colourful leather they use on their products, go on, check out their website.

After a quick visit to see our friends that have just got back from a 12 day Mediterranean Cruise, we started our drive home.  Past rolling farm land and the Te Uku Wind Farm, such a great drive on a sunny Winter day.

 

The sky was forever changing as the day slowly gave way to the evening.

I have never had such an entertaining and loving pet as I have with Toebee.  I am so glad he came into my life when visiting Julie at the beginning of the year.  With his extra toes came a large dose of Extra Personality.

He has discovered climbing and one of his very favourite places to climb is up on top of our freestanding cupboard.  Apart from sleeping up there he likes to knock things down for me to pick up so he can knock them down again, just like a toddler!

He likes WATER!  Every morning when I am trying to brush my teeth he joins me, trying to play with the water.

 

My empty rubbish basket became a great spot to sit in for a time.

Every time I need to use the airing rack for things like sheets, duvet inner or blankets, he thinks it is a Kitten Hut.  Seriously he has had me laughing a lot these last few weeks.

Then he thought the Water Cooler was a perfect step up to the top of the fridge.  Yeah Toebee you are sooooooo Funny!!!

Toebee and Sheba are still BFF (best friends forever) and the daily play fights continue.  

They play hard.......

....and then they sleep,

together most of the time. 

Other times I find him upside down like Big (right photo).

As for Big, he is still Top Cat in this house and Toebee knows it.  As long as Big is left alone life is fine, but if Toebee gets up in his grill there are words!!

Oscar couldn't give a rats you know what.  I gave him a haircut yesterday hence the Camo jersey, he was shivering this morning.  It's been raining all day!!

*********

So our long weekend is all but over,

it has been nice.  

I do hope the Queen has had a pleasant old time to. 

 Wisdom

 and

***Stay Happy and Well***