A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles

On Saturday I drove out to visit Sue W

as some babies had finally arrived that morning!!

I WAS SO EXCITED!

 These sheep are still full of babies!

Except for the Ram.

 No babies here.

Babies? There are babies? Where?

Tucked up inside a shelter was this mum and her brand spanking new twin lads, so cute to.  Only hours old so I couldn't get close.  Like most new mums, she needed her space and time to bond with her babies. 

On my way home this bunch of bovine caught my eye, and it would seem I caught theirs as they gathered at the gate to check out what I was doing.

 They are such funny animals,

look at them watching me watching them.

I  gave up first as it started to rain!

Can you see the rainbow?

Perfect timing as I stopped at this old barn.

Life in the country looks idyllic to me.

But I know it is hard work.

Spring is trying to arrive now.

On Monday I drove out to visit Dawn as she is finally in her new house.

I took a photo of this handle-less cup she gave me to show her what I am using it for.  

While I was in her studio I drew a picture of a toothbrush and toothpaste holder that she might have a go at making.  It is a spin on one of her birds so it will fit in with her collection.

 

Dawns new studio is awesome, light and roomy and such a good place to hang out in.  She was busy making busts and half caravans, while I was busy watching a Kingfisher that kept landing on the farm fence outside.

All of these gorgeous things are seconds, not that I could really find much wrong with them, but she is incredibly fussy.  So these are all for sale.

Coming home from Dawns place I stopped to photograph the best chicken coop ever, a log cabin style one.  Across the road was a paddock full of deer.

Because it was such a lovely sunny day (cold, but sunny) I drove round the Lake I love.  Lake Rotoroa, the one in the middle of our city.  The building above is a restaurant/cafe called The Veranda.  Nice spot to have lunch for sure.  There is a cool playground to the right of it that generations of Hamilton children have happily played in over the years.

I suspect there are as many, if not more Pigeons than ducks residing at the lake.  They live in the tall palm trees and the bugger shit everywhere.  They coo while they poo!

Lots of people were out walking dogs, pushing prams etc around the lake.  I really should do that one day, walk the dogs, not push a pram!

I came home with some more filler bits for my totem, so it is now complete.

I was going to bake a cake in the afternoon but I ran out of time so I bought this scrum-diddle-umshish one from the supermarket.  Looks home made perched under the dome and it won't last long. 

 

But I did have time to make soup.  Idea came from Dawn.  Roasted pumpkin and garlic, with fresh fennel and chicken stock.  Pumpkin grown by Sue W and the garlic and fennel from our garden.  It was YUM!!

Layers of warmth and colour for me on this sunny cold day.

Today I drove back out to Sue Ws place as it was another sunny day and those lambs needed another visit.  Max of course followed us everywhere and kept me entertained, he is such a classic little dog.

Four days old and looking as cute as ever.

Mum kept a protective eye on me at all times.

Of course we hung out with the goats.

I mean, why wouldn't you?

A Tui was sitting singing in one of the trees

on the driveway.

 

Some Kingfishers were chilling out in other trees.

Beautiful rolling landscape of country colour.

Sepia finish for that gorgeous old barn.

BACK IN MY GARDEN...

So glad I have friends that live rurally so I can soak up the peace and tranquility that the countryside offers.  Thanks girls.

 

Fives days of Sue!

This week has felt like an extra long one for me, maybe because I swapped my work days around and did one long one.  I have had moments this week of not knowing what day it was and whether or not it was a work one. Bloody glad tomorrow is Friday and really is a day off!!!

Anyway,

last Sunday I...

..put my domestic hat on and repaired Shebas beloved rabbit, now a one eared, one eyed Rabbit but still her favourite toy.  Then I delighted the family be baking a cake, a Lemon and Lime Drizzle cake to be exact.

 Close up.

The heir, the spare, and the spares girlfriend came for dinner that night and needless to say a third of the cake was all that remained once they had departed.  I would rather it get eaten than grow mold like some science project.

Monday arrived

and I...

...I went to work as it was the beginning of the month and there were things that needed to be done.  After work I went to Save Mart where I found the most amazing dress, and toys for the dogs.  Shall share the dress when I wear it, but in the mean time, the dogs are giddy with the selection of colourful new things to chew.  Good value when only $1 - $2 each and so many available.

The sun shone and I wore this ensemble.

Tuesday arrived

and...

...after work I faffed about in the garden with the girls.

My creepers are flowering!

 I am happiest in my garden with Mother N.

 Tex slept.

I wore a top from my sister

with some of my faves.

Next thing Wednesday turned up

and...

...I had the day off so stopped off at the SPCA op shop

before heading out to Sues.

Brand new shoes $4 and a Happy Hen 50c.

 

Our plan was to crochet as I was at the Happy Hookers of Karakariki's home but the dogs had other plans.  This is Sue's granddog that she was baby sitting and he climbed all over us so not alot of needle work got done.

 Max's beam work was spectacular

I gave him a 10.

The pregnant sheep are still pregnant!

and I was dressed in the same colours

as our lollies.

Jet Planes and Pineapple Lumps!

And now it is Thursday...

I spent nearly all day at work and the dogs must have got bored waiting for me, as their toys were all scattered on the floor in the lounge.  I put them back into the basket ready to be dragged out again.

 

My underskirt matches my vase!

Lovely fragrant beauty

from the garden to the lounge.

and Tex has found another bed.

His life is so tiring.

So tomorrow is Friday!

Definitely a day off.

My fingers are crossed that Sue will phone to stay the lambs have been born so I can go visit the miracle of something baby.  Apart from that, no plans, just winging it.

How about you?

How has your week been?

All things that fly and colour back in the garden.

On Wednesday I had the day off, well I swapped days and worked Friday instead.  So I drove through to Cambridge as I had a little something that I had purchased off trade me to collect.  

Ok, so maybe not a little thing as it was the Standard lamp on the left.  I am going to paint the standard black and multi coloured, then probably add pom pom of something along those lines to the lamp.  The green is going to be replaced with something more pale, neutral, and grown up, even though it is looking gorgeous with my furniture.  I can brighten this room with my accessories!!!

I went and checked out a couple of the Cambridge Op Shops and wasn't disappointed to find these '70s Danish plastic bangles, for a grand total of 70 cents!!  I googled B + D Denmark and found that it stands for  Buch and Deichmann.

I bought some new reading glasses while out in the afternoon from the Chemist next to my Doctors rooms.  The new ones are the ones on the left which will live in my handbag.  The pair on the right are now going to be my work glasses as the ones I leave at work are cheap crappy ones that make things distorted which surely cannot be a good thing for my aging eyes.

Thursday en route to home after work I stopped in on a few local Op Shops.  The two books and the CD were $1 each.  The books have gorgeous pictures which I intend to pick a few and laminate and use as art.  Louis can be thrashed in the car with the windows up and no rolling eyes from passengers.  I like me a bit of old Louis!

Some colourful additions to add to my small collection of clothes all $5 each.  I joke!!!

The afternoon was glorious,

coldish but glorious!  

Maybelle had managed to get into TOF's empty vegetable garden and almost panicked when she saw me.  

"Crap, I'm not supposed to be in here".

Watching her trying to get out was hilarious. 

No where near as graceful as Ms Autumn

the original Houdini of the chook pen.

Not only is my garden full of birds, but the colour is starting to sneak back.  Some of the flowers think Spring has arrived.

I WISH!!

A cheeky little sparrow was in the back porch dining on  canary seed that was kindly left on the floor by the Canaries. It ended up getting disturbed by the dogs which made it fly further indoors.

All this flitting about visiting most of the rooms and not a poo in sight, well not that I have discovered.  Such a little cutie, thankfully it found it's way back outside.

Friday was a layered up black, white and red day.  Super busy at work with end of month accounts to get out.  I love this time of the month, busy busy busy.

This afternoon TOF and I visited our friends in Raglan.  Before we went to their place we bought a late lunch and headed out to Manu Bay to enjoy the Coastal sights, sounds and refreshing air.

Such a lovely place to sit and eat a Steak and Cheese Pie and drink Raglan Roast Coffee.

 

We were joined by a wishful thinking

post perching Sparrow.

 

About four dudes out playing in the waves, people were walking on the exposed low tide rocks, others were skateboarding, and others like us were just kicking back enjoying the afternoon.

These houses are perched way up high above the beach, they must get the most amazing views that are constantly changing.

We could see in the distance some hang gliders and para gliders so we decided to go check them out.

We parked high above the beach where the best views were to be had.

Amazing to watch and I bet bloody scary to do.

This beautiful big sea gull was sitting on top of a sculpture watching like us.  Every so often it would take flight almost as if joining in with the gliders.  

Down on the beach was this group of horse riders enjoying the empty space on offer.  I am more likely to ride a horse than hang under a glider in the sky.

"Yeah Jonathon Livingston,

those are some bastard big flying

things in our sky".

Good bye Manu Bay.

 

And good bye Raglan.

you were Fabulous as always.