Weekend to Weekend with Birthdays in between!

Last weekend was one of those beautiful sunny ones with a gentle cool breeze.  Perfect weather for putting up the Hammock I had bought for $40 off trade me a few weeks ago.

TOF had to test drive it first.  I wasn't sure he was going to get out of it, a good sign of how comfortable it was.  I can admit to spending quite a bit of time lying on this chilling, listening to the cicadas, people mowing their lawns, while the chickens were all scratching around and under me.  Was a weekend for being outside.

The Hammock and the Garden Swing both stayed up for a good few days while the weather held. Both spots got a lot of use.

 

All the pets joined us out in the back yard, Oscar looking slim and lovely after a quick poof and pamper by me.

There were enough Tomatoes to make another batch of Tomato Sauce, and the Blackberries are ripening daily.  Those I pick and freeze, so Jam will get made later in the year. It was so warm I wore braids on top of my head, something I used to do all the time when I was younger.

Maybelle and Dorothy got locked out, or did the others get locked in?  Either way they had a meet at their gate for a discussion.

 

Check out my Lettuces? Far too many for us but they will find homes with the lads so nothing will go to waste, then their are the chickens.

TOF and I went to Bunnings to get a garden rake and we wandered through the plant section.  Of course we came home with a box of ten plants, all 80cents each!  So I planted them all in a large pot that I had got from the Dump shop for $8.  $16 for instant colour!!

I added my garden Angel and put the pot on our front porch.

Monday was Sue Ws birthday so Chris came over from Cambridge and I drove us out to Sues.  We were treated to Blueberry Muffins made by Sue W.  Plenty of good banter was had and a mighty fine salad was devoured.  We ran out of time to take Chris around the acreage, but there will be other visits.

Chris had three of these wrapped up and told Sue to choose one for her Birthday.  I loved this one, so Chris said 'Happy Early Birthday' to me, like a couple of months early but who am I to say no to something so gorgeous, and made by Chris herself!!  Clever lady.

I bought a bunch of flowers for my buddy for her Birthday even tho she has lots of lovey ones growing in her garden. OMG look at my wiggly fringe!!  Best I go see a professional and get that straightened out.  A visit to my lovely hairdresser is a must to fix up my wigglyness!

Speaking of my lovely hairdresser, this is her beautiful little baby girl Maia.  Her big brothers think she is pretty special.  I love the tiny fingers and toes, the perfect skin, the smell of a baby, cluck cluck cluck!!!  At least I can go and have a baby fix while waiting for my turn to become a Granny.

We all know how much these two love each other......

 

.....well it would seem like the others are slowly getting to enjoy Toebee too.

I went for a drive out to Gordonton through the week.  As I parked at my destination I noticed this Book Box.  I mean how could you not, and what a grand idea.  No lock and key, just relying on people to be honest, I like that!

The Mandarin Tree is the most delightful Gallery owned by the equally delightful Claudia.  Her companion is her three month old puppy called Lola.  Dawn sells her pottery here, this is why I know about this place. Claudia is an Artist that makes artwork out of recycling old Beehives, which I forgot to take a photo of, next time I promise as they are very cool.

I have shown you all this before, a massive cup, saucer and spoon that Claudia made out of Willow and wire.

Outside is equally as colourful and fabulous as inside and if you are local you need to call in and check this Gallery out.  Thank  you Claudia for letting me take photos.

I purchased the Lime Green Wind Wand!  There were lots of colours and shapes making my decision difficult, but I can always get more can't I.  It fits in with my garden art for sure.  I am enjoying the colour in my garden at the moment, so many things are flowering, long may it last!!

Even at night the garden is enjoyable, just ask Toebee, he loves his evening adventures!!

In fact he pretty much spends most of his time outside these days.  Only comes indoors to eat and sleep, which is still often!!  I keep him inside at night, something I want to do forever, as we live by a busy road.  I am trying to keep Big in but he isn't overly keen on this new format to his life.

I came home form work one day to a parcel, nothing odd there for me, but this was a surprise, a PRESENT! I could smell the divine-ness inside before I even opened it, I bet the courier van/posties bag smelled beautiful. If you recognise the Golly wog sticker then you will know this parcel was from the very lovely Julie.

 

Inside were two containers of her Potpourri, one floral and one citrus, hence the divine aroma.  She had written a Thank You card on behalf of Toebee for giving him a home.  It was my absolute pleasure to take him on and really think that it is our house hold that is lucky to have such a gorgeous wee kitten.

The floral one I halved, some is now in my little Lead Light Terrarium and hanging in our lounge. The other half in the jar I have taken to work.  So thank you Julie because both home and work smell beautiful!!

I bought these two large pots with the plants in off Trade Me for $30, and met the most amazing old lady when picking them up.  Her garden was so lovely.  I some how feel I will be buying more potted plants from her as she is selling off lots of her large planted pots, all at very good prices.

I managed to poke my nose into a couple of charity shops after work one afternoon and found the three things on the left. The frock on the right was a Trade Me purchase.  More glorious colour for my wardrobe!!!

Today TOF and I picked up all this bark, the best ever score from trade me, as it was only ONE DOLLAR!!!  The girls have scratched around in it since I put it down, they think they are helping spread it for me!!

TOF obligingly took over the blowing of bubbles so I could try to photograph the crazy Toebee chasing them.  He was so funny and so confused at these things that floated out of reach and disappeared when he touched them.

It left him totally exhausted!!!

We all enjoyed the moments when the sun shone this weekend and retreated indoors when it rained. Apparently Summer is nearing an end, and Autumn is next on our Menu!! 

 

This wee bloke sure know how to sleep and in the funniest positions!!

Life is one big Yawn or is that one big Laugh!!

One things is for sure

Toebee is LOVED!!

Wisdom time:

 

 PS: Happy Birthday to Kerry, Jenni, Dawn and Sydel, all had a birthday this week.

You are never too old to make some new friends!!

What a fabulous and busy little week I have had, and very enjoyable. Monday I headed over to Cambridge to visit TOFs older sister.  We get on really well so visiting her is always a nice way to spend some time. I also visited the local Hospice shop and introduced myself to a fellow Blogger who lives in Cambridge, who I instantly clicked with.  More on her later!!!

In the Hospice I found some cool little flat shoes to put away for Winter, and the delightful glass clowns came from Habitat, I called in there on my way home.  Work was busy this week so getting out and about was very welcome.

I went out to visit Dawn one afternoon as she had some new things to show me and a swarm of bees she wanted my help with.

This is the swarm of bees!!

Some young lads stood under a tree over the electric fence and watched us hammer in metal rods into the ground to set up the swarm.

This swarm of bees will be heading off to a variety of shops and galleries so it was wicked to see them all as a group.

Cicada shells remind me of when my lads were small and how they loved to collect them.

I love these Sea Gulls, they too were destined for the big wide world.

Meanwhile back home in my garden the girls were having a meeting on the edge of the empty box garden that they think is there dust bath.  I have put the Cock in the garden, and not one of the girls has noticed.

 

Just when I thought the girls had stopped laying I discover Maybelle in the Vege garden having a snooze.  On closer inspection with a quick feel under her I was pleasantly surprised by nine eggs.  She on the other hand was some what miffed with the removal of said eggs and certainly made a song and dance about it.

 

I rescued some Daisies off the lawn as it is due to be mowed this weekend.

 Does anyone else think that leaf looks like a Tractor Seat?

After being out at Dawns place I did some rearranging of her creations in my garden.

Over the years she has given my numerous left overs and seconds that have found their way into the garden. I have mini totems, crooked houses, dead dollies heads, fish and other treats.

I have finally been brave enough to move the large totem from the pot on our deck out into the garden.  I love it out in the garden.

The Happy but ever so Humble Bumble Bee is the latest to join us.

Big loves the back yard but with the warm days but with the invasion of the kitten who now roams the garden on a daily basis, Big is hanging in the front garden. At night he chills in doors but always has one eye out for Toebee who just wants to play.  Thankfully we have Sheba who loves Toebee so much.  They have the most hearty style of playing in the evening.

These two are the most entertaining to watch.  Toebee ends up covered in saliva as he spends alot of time with Shebas mouth wrapped around him.

Being part Labrador she has a soft mouth and with her lovely temperament she takes the face grab all in her stride.

They truly are best friends, may it continue as Toebee gets older.

In fact as I type Toebee is asleep on the couch in between Sheba and Oscar and last night he slept on the end of our bed with the dogs.

 

Today I frocked up as Sue W and I were off to Cambridge to meet up with our new Blogger friend for a ladies lunch date, the one I mentioned at the beginning of this post. We turned our outing into a SuesDay so we stopped in Hamilton East to check out the op shops before heading over to Cambridge. 

 

We both had a good chuckle at this Fantastic Weight Loss device.  So easy, just dial away your tummy, yeah that will work!!!

 

We had a look at the op shops in Cambridge, had a coffee and shared a divine piece of carrot cake, followed by a good look in a very cool Antique shop. The sort of shop you need to be careful you don't knock anything over.  I was taken by the street art down an alley way, nice and bright.

 

I found these two bags in the Salvo.  Both a small, super cute and I could not resist either of them.

This is a large beautifully embroidered Indian shawl.  They make great light weight wraps, but it could equally be sewn into a tunic style top. I actually found it in the Hospice shop in Hamilton East.

 

So meet Chris from 'Diet Coke Rocks', such an awesome lady, full of life like us two, needless to say we got on super well. Birds of a feather flock together remember!! She has the most beautiful home, a sewing room that Sue W went weak at the knees, and a garden full of delights, oh and two adorable little dogs. How gorgeous is the Hobbit play house? If only I had taken the trailer!!

We had lunch at the Good Union which is housed in an old church that had a previous life as a Touristy art gallery and cafe.  The place is lovely and the food was to die for.  The conversation flowed freely like wise did the laughing.

 

One of the staff took this photo of us three on Chris's phone.

 

So lets raise a glass to meeting a new friend and having a bloody good day out with an old friend.  Life is far too short to sit at home, get out there people and have some fun.

 

Thoughts:

 

 

 Time for this bird to hit the hay.

 

 

 ***Good Night***