Remembering my father.....

On the 9th December 1976
my darling father died.
I'm thinking of him today
and remembering all the happy times we shared as a family.

He was a wonderful husband, father and friend....
I never once heard him raise his voice....
he was a man of great faith
a gentleman....
a lover of nature....
and books, books, books everywhere through our house!

....I still miss  him more than I can say.

This is my first post since April.

A quick update for all my blog friends....

my french family arrived in New Zealand

at the end of August!

They are here to live

and we can't believe our luck.

As you can imagine life is very busy with

5 more in our little house.....

wonderfully busy!!!!!

2017 Christmas is very special for us!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane xx

Mosaic Monday - Looking Back at March

I'm pressed for time this week so I decided to look back on

some of my previous posts.

I'm working tomorrow morning and

I have a dental appointment in the afternoon.

Then on Wednesday morning I'm flying to Queensland, Australia.

Cyclone Debbie has created havoc - I've looked at the photos on line

and the devastation is incredible - nature at her worst.

It's heartbreaking for families whose homes  have been destroyed.

I feel somewhat guilty arriving for a holiday amid such chaos.

I will be catching up with a very dear blog friend in Brisbane

whom I met two years ago when she was passing through

Auckland on her way to see her family in Canada.

Have you guessed who she is?

All will be revealed very soon!

 I'll be out and about taking photos and if time allows

I'll join you all next Monday.

Thank you dear Maggie for hosting

MOSAIC MONDAY

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you for visiting.

Early Autumn Down Under

My garden is losing it's energy - slowly and quietly 
giving in to the demands of Autumn

A host/ubiquity/quarrel of Sparrows.
I couldn't think what a group of sparrows was called
I consulted Mr Google
and I found these names here - and thought they were quite interesting!

An amazing Autumn sunset

Some of the delicious fruits of Autumn

Oh how I love these figs - given to me by one of my work mates.
I poach them in a little white wine, add a drizzle of honey
and serve with a scoop of vanilla Ice Cream. Oh so yummy!


I'm joining
Fast Five on Friday

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you for visiting!

Singing the Blues in Interiors

Have you guessed I'm enamoured with blue - all blues
from the soft blue with a hint of aqua to the deep inky navy and slate blues!

No points for guessing the program.
YES - the marvellous Downton Abbey!!!
I actually photographed our television screen
during an episode filmed in Isobel Crawley's house
because I needed to record the transluscent Duck Egg blue on the walls.
My husband thought I had completely lost my marbles!!!

One has to be careful using blue on walls in small spaces
 as blue is part of the cool colour spectrum
and it can feel cold during the winter months.

However, warmth can be added with furnishing fabrics
rugs, art works, books, table lamps, candles and other decorative pieces.

I love this kitchen/family room.
The kitchen area is white and modern.
The tones of the wooden table, french style chairs and flooring
tie in with the elegant living area in the other part of the room.

Yellow daffodils bring warmth and life to any room.
I think this room is so inviting - what do you think?

The pretty chest of drawers above is painted in

Annie Sloane chalk paint.

2 parts Aubusson Blue and 1 part Duck Egg Blue.

I'm joining Maggie for Mosaic Monday
Thank you again for hosting M!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you for visiting.

Mosaic Monday - Irish Roots

My Irishness comes to the fore in March
especially on the 17th March
Saint Patrick's Day.

If you are a regular follower
 by now you will be familiar with my occasional
Irish posts which recognise my Irish roots.

My darling father was an Irish lad who
came to New Zealand with his family for a new and better life.
In 2015 my husband and I spent a wonderful week in Ireland
and I immediately felt a strong connection
with the landscape and the people.
I love their sense of fun
and appreciate
the history that has made the Irish 
who they are today.

Irish Tea Brack is a fruit loaf
and in the Christmas Pudding tradition
various things are wrapped in greaseproof and added to the mixture....
a coin for wealth
a pea for plenty
a button for a bachelor
a thimble for a spinster
makes for an interesting loaf I think!

Guinness Cake and a glass of Guinness anyone?

I have these recipes if you would like them
just mention in your comment or email me!

I'm joining Maggie for
Mosaic Monday
thank you Maggie for hosting.

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane (an Irish lass)

Mosaic Monday from Paris

Yes more photos from Paris - from my vast collection on the

numerous trips when I've enjoyed time in this beautiful city!

Today my theme is words - either signs or names on buildings.

This group of photos was taken on the Champs Élysées.

I'm sure it is one of the most recognisable boulevards in the world
with the magnificent Arc de Triomphe at one end

Have you promenaded or strolled along the boulevards?

The french call such a person - Le flaneur
which  means the ‘stroller’, ‘‘saunterer’, ‘loafer’.

It is one of my favourite things to do in Paris

whatever the season - strolling and people watching is always fascinating!

I'm linking to
Mosaic Monday
Thank you Maggie for hosting!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you all for popping in to say hello

I know time is precious in the busy nature of our lives today!

At Home - Five on Friday

I've been under the weather for almost  week.

I caught the dreaded viral flu from one of my work colleagues.

He told us all that it was a viral flu and therefore not contagious - not so.......

I've been in bed most of the time

taking all the potions I could lay my hands on

and sending my dear one out to the chemist for extra supplies

as the need arose!

This is the first day I've felt like getting up and doing anything

constructive.

Luckily I had all my photos for this post edited and ready to go!

My husband was late planting our vege garden this year.. for various reasons

but we are starting to reap the benefits of his hard work.

I picked 2 beans last week - not much one can do with so few
 except snap-freeze and wait for more to come!

These are Scarlet Runners - still our favourites after 47 years!

The Gardener here insists on growing Beefsteak tomatoes every year,

they are good eating and particularly good for preserving and freezing.

I usually make several batches of Pasatta

to use as a base in Ratatouille, Lasagne and other Autumn/Winter dishes.

However I enjoy the the small cherry tomatoes
sometimes they're called grape or plum tomatoes.
Wonderful for adding to salads.
My Gardener planted one plant but sadly
it was the only tomato plant that curled up it's toes - wouldn't you know it!!!!

I'm joining Amy for Five on Friday

thank you for bringing us all together Amy!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you all for popping in to say hello

I know time is precious in the business of our lives!

Mosaic Monday - Ahoy There!

NEEDS MUST!

It's time for me to do some computer housekeeping!

I have far too many photos on my computer

and I'm having difficulty finding the ones I want to add to my posts!

So I'm systematically going through them,

moving the 'keepers' to my external hard drive

and deleting the ones I no longer require.

While doing a stint of sorting I found these photos

so I thought I would share them with you.

Life on the water in summer of 2017.

I have another reason for far too many photos.

My iPhone 7 Plus often takes photos in bursts

and I end up with 10 or more of the exact same shot.

If any of you have the same phone

and can tell me what I'm doing wrong

please tell me!!!

My husband perving looking at boats - a favourite obsession pastime of his!!

In summer we're on the water

and in winter we seem to spend a lot of time walking around mariners!

On a trip ashore we took photos of these beautiful donkeys

on Ponui Island.

My husband said donkeys have been on the island

for as long as he can remember!

that's 70 plus years!

I'm joining Maggie for Mosaic Monday

maybe you would like to join us

if so follow the link and you will find a great group of bloggers

sharing their photos.

Maggie will answer any questions you might have

or I'm happy too as well!

Thank you Maggie for hosting!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you all for popping in to say hello - I love reading your comments.

With my work committments I visit as time allows - usually at weekends!

Five on Friday - NZ House & Garden

I subscribe to New Zealand House & Garden Magazine

so I thought I would give you a sneak preview of what's

inside this month's issue.

This country home appealed to me for it's

casual living style.

The family kitchen is filled with treasures

collected by the owners over a lifetime.

One of several bedrooms with french doors

opening on to the verandah to catch the breeze

on balmy summer evenings.

What really caught my eye was the Summer House

a wing off the side of the main house

with a delightful entertaining area

looking out on the paddocks and livestock beyond.

Do you subscribe to a magazine or just buy one occasionally?

 I keep several folders of clippings torn out of old magazines

 for future houses/renovations, paint colours and finishes,

and kitchens/bathrooms.

Wishful thinking if the truths known

but I'm always hopeful  - who knows we could win Lotto tonight

the big prize is $7million!

If I won, I would still want a comfortable understated home

with wooden joinery, french doors, shutters

an open fireplace and a window seat in the living room!

I like light and airy spaces.

A modern country kitchen and bathrooms would be on the list too!

Glitz and glamour are not for me!

I might show you some of the clippings from

my 'Kitchen Ideas' folder next week?

I'm joining Amy for Five on Friday

thank you Amy for hosting!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you all for popping in to say hello - I love reading your comments.

With my work committments I visit as time allows - usually at weekends!