I have a lovely new friend!!

And no one died!!

Sorry, but I always tell peeps that I have enough friends and that they will have to go on my waiting list until a current friend pops off!!  Yes I have a warped sense of humor in fact some people do not find me remotely funny.  Do I care?

Anyway, as I wasn't attending work today I phone the very lovely Julie.

She has the cutest shop called Threadbear Cottage out Kihikihi so if you are ever in that neck of the woods you seriously need to call in.  For a start Julie has the most beautiful garden, care to have a wee look?

 A lavender edged path leads you to her pond

full of huge goldfish and flowering Water Lilies.

An absolutely gorgeous fragrant and colourful flower bed.

Threadbear Cottage

brimming with exquisitely hand made

treats to purchase.

I adore how Julie fills well loved barrows,

baskets and even an old Beattie Washing machine

with an abundance of colourful plants.

The Giant Golly greets you at the gate

to let you know you are there.

I know where my little dolls pram now lives!

With my old bikes in her garden!!

We drank cups of tea, ate the most divine Louise Cake and Muffins with berries and white chocolate in them.  We chatted and laughed so much that Julie then made me some lunch.  This is only the second time I have been to Julies place and I just know I will be back there often.  Some people you just instantly click with and you know they will be in your life for a long time.  Sorry Julie, you cannot get rid of me now!!!!

 Before I knew it my watch was telling me

 it was time to go home.

My popping in for a visit turned into an all dayer, that just shows how lovely and relaxing it was at Threadbear.

Little Miss Jinx made an appearance and is as gorgeous in real life as she is in all her photos on Julie's blog.  Blackie high tailed it under the deck on my arrival.  What a fabulous garden for two kittens to live in.

Julie sent me home with a lettuce, a huge head of broccoli and some silver beet from her vegetable garden.  My girls feasted on the beet this afternoon when I got home.

The first time I met Julie she drew me a detailed map of where all the op shops are in Te Awamutu, the town before Kihikihi.  I managed to call in to one on my way into Te Awamutu where I found this doll called Anna Angel.  I think she will end up moving to Whangamata to live with my sister. I didn't have time to check out the others on my way home which means I will have to go back.  Oh what a shame!!!

Back home in my garden I picked Strawberries and collected eggs.  

We grow Strawberries bigger than chicken eggs!!!

True!!

Well bigger than Bantam Eggs!!!

I had the most lovely time today,

Thank You Julie 

for your hospitality.

Now I need to meet Leanne

and have that cup of tea we keep talking about!!

Through the lens of my camera I will try to make you smile.

The weather has totally got it's act together and it has

been BEAUTIFUL the last couple of days.

I have worked,

Op shopped,

and

enjoyed life outside

in my garden.

Habitat served up these two goodies yesterday for me. I love a brand new coat with tags still attached for a fraction of the original price.  I also love the beading on this hotplate, thanks I will take them both.

How gorgeous is each and every stage of a Hydrangea?

Sunshine and a Bird of Paradise belong together.

 Bugs all busy being bugs!

A very busy Bumble Bee gathering pollen.

Another fat as Bumble enjoying the Sweat Peas.

Stunning Colour everywhere.

 Girls all feeling the love of a beautiful day.

Leaves changing colours, nibbled and acting as pollen catchers.

 The glamour and grace that is a Monarch Butterfly.

Shapely Succulents.

Of course my big beautiful boy found me.

Vinnies in Frankton was full of surprises today, groovy as Christmas Tree lights, and two Happy Hens to add to my ever growing collection. Confession, my tree has not gone up yet, maybe tomorrow.

Vinnies has two stores side by side, one for furniture and nic naks, where I found the stuff in the previous photo.  The other shop is stocked with clothes and a good selection of other bits and bobs.  This shop was having a 50% off sale.  YES another basket, but look at the shape, and two very cute glass animals.  All this for only $3!!

I got Oscar a friend. I have a plan for this bear which will be revealed when I have completed my plan.

After Physio today I went to another Vinnies shop, this one is near my Physiotherapist.  It was having a 50% off sale so this little lot was all only 50c per piece.  I actually got two of these cups and three saucers, it is tiny and has markings and numbers underneath, could be a good score.

Another glorious afternoon in the garden.

I have a Foxglove growing in my own garden!!

 I also have a Gnome, the one in the middle people!!

 Tex hung out with my on the lawn.

 Oscar was taking time to smell the Roses
in this case a Dandelion.

 Petunias, who doesn't like Petunias?

 Sheba chilled out under the Idesia Tree with the rest of us.

And before I love you all and leave

SHOES!!

Both pairs bought off Trade Me.

I have finished work for the week as I worked Monday to Wednesday

so now I have FIVE days off.

OH YEAH!!!

Back up, play catch up and a little bit of reminiscing.

Amazing how fast time flies as you get older. 

Like HELLO it is December already. 

I will now subscribe to the festive season and erect the tree and throw some decorations in it's general direction.  We keep Christmas pretty simple in this house and this year the four of us have drawn a name out of a hat, well a basket actually, so we only buy one present each.  On Christmas day we will then have to guess who purchased us our gift.  I am surprised that all the lads came on board with my idea!!

To get you all on board with the festive season (or the silly season) check out my cards!

I don't buy and send cards, but if I did, I would make them, and get everyone to dress up and have some fun.

As a deeply non religious person, Christmas for me signifies the beginning of Summer Holidays.  The end of one year and the moving on into the next one.  When the boys were small we got right into the magic of the season as you do when you have small kids in the house.  But now, we get together and cruise for the day, and anyone is welcome to pop in during the day to our low key 'laxed out Christmas.  We have entertained many a person at a loose end on the day over the years, and long may it continue.  But don't expect TRADITION round here.

Max's first couple of Christmas's we had a real tree, but it didn't take too long before it got too big and it had to be planted outside.  In fact it is still alive and growing but so HUGE!!

By the time Jak came along we had a fake tree,and we hung our Santa sacks out and displayed all our cards.  Because that is what you did.  We still have the sacks (I made them) and they still get things stashed inside them, but the fruit juice has been exchanged for booze these days.

One of the best things about Christmas when the lads were small were the TOYS!!!  We all got to have a play with them, some enjoyed them more than others.

The obligatory Santa photo was always taken, Jak wasn't overly keen on the big fat fella in the big red suit.  Max on the other hand was right into it, but he knew who was only a helper and who was the real deal.  Helpers wore slippers and the real guy wore boots!!

On Friday while out and about I found a bag of old school decorations, these will fit in rather nicely will the quirky collection I already have.

I also found two frocks and the best vintage NZ tea towel ever in a half price sale at an op shop.  Both frocks don't fit the girls so will be sold on. Big boobs can be a problem in frocks!

Working for sign writers has it's upside as in vinyl scraps. Great for covering books, lining shelves, you name it, you can do it.  So my BILLS folder got a make over, no excuses for not being able to find the BILLS folder now.

Apart from collecting eggs daily I am harvesting Strawberries.  So juicy and flavorsome.  TOF and I spent a lot of Saturday in the garden, and then we went out for a meal that night.  

How grown up  have we become!!  

On Sunday afternoon TOF and I went to a Wedding.  One of Max's oldest friends was getting married and the groom asked if we would like to go to the ceremony.  So we thought why not, and it was beautiful.

A tree lined driveway led to the most beautiful venue in the country, with amazing views.  Mark the groom was so excited about getting hitched.

I loved the bridesmaids frocks, all in shades of the same colour with cream lace collars and daisies around the waists.  The bride's frock was simple but gorgeous, and she looked lovely.

The rain held off long enough for this sweet young couple to tie the knot, seal the deal, sign on the dotted line.

Rural Waikato is stunning no matter which direction your drive.  This is out Karapiro way.

On our drive home we drove over the dam at Karapiro, this is near where the home of Rowing in NZ is.  All on our mighty Waikato River. 

Hope you all have enjoyed a lovely weekend,

I am off to unearth the Christmas tree,

dust it off and decorate it.