Friday 20 February 2015

Five on Friday




Last Saturday I felt the urge to bake as my son
was visiting us from down country.
My friend Mary is a great blogger

please pop over and meet her at
A Breath of Fresh Air
Mary often has interesting recipes to share.
Recently she made healthy Carrot & Raisin Muffins
her recipe came from Mennonite Girls Can Cook here.
These muffins were a huge success - thank you dear Mary!


On Sunday we drove to Maraetai
 we stopped for a coffee at the local cafe
and sat and watched families having fun at the beach.


We drove home via Clevedon through beautiful farmland.
It's always good to escape the city for a few hours!


Apart from working this week
I've been busy planning our next trip
which includes time with my family in this
little village in France. I can't wait!


I'm leaving you with the little message above
so make the most of 
TODAY
you have only one chance - it won't happen again!


I'm linking to Amy for Five on Friday

Take care and
be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt 

Shane






Sunday 15 February 2015

Old friends - Best friends & Giveaway Winner Yeah!




A couple of weeks ago I had a phone call from
my dearest girlfriend - who lives in Brisbane.
She is coming to stay for 3 nights
I can't wait to see her again and have a catch up.
I've got lots planned for us to do!

Angela and I met at school when we were both 10
and that's over 60 years ago!
Then we went away to boarding school together!

I decided it's time to spruce up the guest room
in readiness for her visit.
My husband asked quizzically
'is the Queen coming' - no she's my best friend silly!
Ange was matron of honour at our wedding
45 years ago this April.
Boys just don't get it sometimes....

Not quite a 'make-over' but a few new things
to make her stay as comfortable as possible.

Wallace Cotton in Newmarket stock
beautiful cotton bed linen and I chose
two pairs of these self striped sheets.


I also bought some cans of Annie Sloan chalk paint
to paint the dressing table and nightstand.
Recently my friend Mary of the beautiful blog
posted about the re-do of her French table here.
The colour is French Linen which I'm painting
on a base of Old White and then rubbed over
with a coating of Soft Wax.
I'm sure most of you are familiar with this paint already.

I have been meaning to do it for ages and
what with working and spending lots of time in my garden
the DIY was put on the back burner yet again.

Thank you Mary, your post was the catalyst I needed
to get started!
I'l post photos next weekend hopefully.



We received some very sad news last night
one of our dear yachting friends has died at 68yrs.
It's so sad because we were looking forward to
sailing with Dave and his wife Mary once
our boat 'Seamist' is back in the water.
Life can change so unexpectedly.
Please keep this family in your prayers - thank you.


Now for my big announcement!
The winner of my Grow Your Blog Giveaway is 
#29 drawn by Random.org

Congratulations Faye, I am emailing you now!


A very big thank you to Vicki
for hosting 2015 Grow your Blog party!
Vicki you deserve a medal.
Thank you.



I'm joining Karen for Sunlit Sunday
and
Judith for Mosaic Monday

Thank you all for reading my blog 
and for your warm comments.

Take care and
be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt


Shane







Saturday 14 February 2015

Love makes the world go round.....









Faith

Hope
  and
Love


and the greatest
of these is


Love



Later this evening I will draw the winner of
my Giveaway for
Vicki's
Grow Your Blog Party.

Bonne chance everyone!

Take care and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt



Shane











Sunday 8 February 2015

Little Miss Maggie Rabbit



If you are visiting from Vicki's Grow Your Blog party
my post and giveaway are here
My giveaway (see the side bar) is open to everyone
even if you aren't involved in the party
you are very welcome to enter - no strings attached!
Please click on the link above and leave your comment
on that post, thank you!



Let me introduce you to
Miss Maggie Rabbit!
I made her for my youngest granddaughter's
third birthday in January.
Once I posted the parcel
I missed seeing her sitting on the couch,
she seemed to have become part of our family!
I have plans to make some friends
to keep Maggie company!
If you would like to make one too
you can buy the pattern or kit
from
Alicia of Posy Gets Cosy.



I'm linking to the following parties
Karen for Sunlit Sunday
Judith for Mosaic Monday
and
Stephanie for Roses of Inspiration.

Thank you for visiting and I so
appreciate your kind comments!

Take care and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt



Shane







Friday 6 February 2015

My Favourite Tea Cups


If you are visiting from Vicki's Grow Your Blog party
my post and giveaway are here
My giveaway (see the side bar) is open to everyone
even if you aren't involved in the party
you are very welcome to enter - no strings attached!
Please click on the link above and leave your comment
on that post, thank you!




Today I'm sharing my beautiful blue
Spode Camille tea set 
handed down to me by my mother
you can see a previous post here




I'm joining Sandi's tea party at
Rose Chintz Cottage
to celebrate her five years of

I'm also joining my dear friend Stephanie
for her Tuesday party
Roses of Inspiration


and Jes for
The Art of Home Making Mondays





This is my favourite tea cup
because it holds so many
precious family memories of
time spent when friends popped in...

to enjoy a good old chin wag (chat)
catching up on each family's news
while sipping tea.

What could be nicer?!




Mother used these sweet cups every day
for both tea and coffee.
I've always loved the simple little flowers
that make up the pattern.
I can't remember what they are called...
maybe you can remind me!


A tea party wouldn't be any fun
without some friends to share
now would it?


I baked a gingerbread cake
and added crystallised ginger to the icing
which the bears love!


Do please pop over to
Sandi, Stephanie and Jes's blogs
and see what everyone is posting
it's fun!




 Thank you for visiting and I so
appreciate your kind comments!

Welcome
to my new followers.

Take care and

 be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt


Shane







Sunday 1 February 2015

In my summer garden



If you are visiting from Vicki's Grow Your Blog party
my post and giveaway are here
My giveaway (see the side bar) is open to everyone
even if you aren't involved in the party
you are very welcome to enter - no strings attached!



I have two 'Bridal Bouquet' hydrangeas
in my garden.
In the beginning of summer they are white
starting off with tight buds
which develop into huge white mop heads.
Wonderful for picking.




This year we have had a particularly hot and 
very dry summer in NZ
and the flower heads have taken on
such pretty pastel colours - I love them.
This has never happened before,
I am aware their colour is effected by the
pH of the soil.

I'll let you know what happens next year.



The hydrangea above is Macrophylla
which has a pretty colour variation as well.
Do you grow hydrangeas in your garden
if so which variety?
They seem to thrive anywhere in my garden
one can't ask more than that!

I'm joining Karen for Sunlit Sunday
and
Judith for Mosaic Monday


Take care and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt


Shane








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