It's the little things that lift our hearts

Hello dear friends
I hope you all had a
Merry Christmas 2018
with your families and friends.

The lead up to Christmas this year was chaotic
for me as I was working most days.
I won't let that happen again!!!

As with most of us, the big decisions
such as
list making,
food planning, 
present buying
lets be fair to ourselves and put it in writing
the logistics of events such as Christmas
falls to us girls!

One evening during the week before Christmas
I arrived home to find a little parcel
sitting at our front door!

My friend Vee who blogs at
A Haven for Vee
had posted on her blog about preparations for
Thanksgiving.
One of the items she photographed 
and spoke about was Bell's Seasoning.
I commented on the colourful packaging
......and as often happens with lovely bloggers
we decided on a small swap,just a card and
a Christmas decoration!

The card was just what I would have chosen
a Nativity scene - the reason we celebrate this great
feast of Christmas.
Plus a lovely Santa, some Christmas stickers and
a packet of Bell's Seasoning!

We spent Christmas with my daughter and family
this year and my son-in-law
was the chief cook!
I will use the Bell's Seasoning next time we
have roast chicken - a treat in store!

Thank you Vee - your lovely parcel
lifted my heart and made me feel special!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Meeting a lovely Blogging friend

Mutabilis Rose - I took this photo Wednesday 6th may 2015.

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting

one of my favourite bloggers

Patricia

who blogs at Red Cardinal.
She was travelling from Australia

 via Auckland on her way to Canada.

We arranged to meet at the Parnell Rose Gardens,

being late Autumn there were not many roses in bloom 

however I can always count on good old

Mutabilis, also known as the Butterfly rose.
~~~~~~
This is an old Tea Rose
and in Auckland where our climate is temperate
she flowers most of the year!

We lunched at La Cigale a french cafe nearby

where we exchanged gifts.

Trish gave me this beautiful red bird necklace

which represents the name of her blog

Red Cardinal.

Thank you Trish, I love it!

I made this french inspired journal for Trish
as we both have french speaking grandchildren
Trish's live in Canada
and mine live in France!

I'm joining these parties
Judith for Mosaic Monday
Stephanie for Roses of Inspiration
Thank you both for hosting!

 Take care and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt

Shane

The Florentine Tea Room

Hello dear friends

one of my favorite meeting places with friends is

The FlorenTine Tea Rooms

It has a certain old time elegance

which I love

and a collection of pretty mis-matched china

all the rage now.

I enjoy drinking my tea from

a fine bone china cup - don't you?

A small delicious club sandwich

followed by a yummy cake

topped with yoghurt or cream

is my usual choice.

Pretty cake stands waiting to be filled

with delicacies.

Water glasses sitting on

a vintage etched mirror

 Today I'm joining these tea parties

Ruth at Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Terri at Tea Cup Tuesday

Kathy at A Return to Loveliness

Bernideen at Friends Sharing Tea

Sandi at Tea Time Tuesday
Elizabeth at T on Tuesday

Do pop over for some old time elegance

for all things tea!

An image from Madelief's blog

A lovely blogging friend Madelief
lost her husband this week
to cancer.

Please remember
Madelief and her girls
in your prayers
Thank you.

Thank you to my dear friends for your visits

and the kind comments you have left me,

my knee is still giving me issues so I'm

off to see the doc today..... 

WELCOME

to my new followers - lovely to meet you!

À bientôt 

be kind to one another 

♥ Shane ♥