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!

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)

Red Deliciousness, so yummy!

La Forchette french cafe/restaurant

has the most amazing selection of

gateaux.

Irrisistable for a cake-a-holic like me!!

My cafe latte served in a red mug!

I'm joining Magical Mystical Teacher for

Ruby Tuesday Too

Thank you all for your visits

take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Moments in my Week

I think this must be Cotton Tail - don't you?!
Spotted through a fence on the way to
Sandspit at the weekend.

I'm at my happiest in the countryside
I'm not at all a city girl
in spite of living in the city
for my entire married life - 46 years
(on Monday 11th April)!

Our embroidery group met yesterday,

this is always a very relaxing day.

The picture above is a hint of Rose's next project

(Rose is the creative one in our little group).

These beautiful threads and silk ribbon will be used

to embroider a paisley design for a cushion!

I'll give you an update once she gets started!

We met at Thelma's
and she made us a delicious salmon salad for lunch with
fresh grainy bread - all very healthy.

For afternoon tea we had Madelines and
Apple Roses - both extremely yummy!
If you would like the recipe and 'easy peasy' technique
for making these Apple Roses
let me know and I'll email it to you
(don't forget your email address if I haven't got it already).

I subscribe to an email newsletter called
Bonjour Paris.
The latest issue arrived at my computer this week
One of the articles was about the
restoration of the Royal apartments at
Palace of Versailles.

Guerlain are taking orders for their
limited edition perfume called
Le Bouquet de la Reine.
The price will be... 550,00 € tax incl.
($921 in New Zealand dollars)
...just a tad over my budget
how about you?

I'm joining Mimi for Five Star Frou-Frou
Amy for Five on Friday
Nancy for Random 5 Friday
Tanya for Willy Nilly Friday
Cath for Fun Friday Favourites
and
Bernideen for BTTCG


Thank you everyone for popping in
I love reading your comments!

Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt




Shane

Thank you ladies for hosting your link-ups!

Five moments in my week

This week an exciting parcel arrived from 

our family in France

it included a box of very yummy

cherry liquor chocolates.

One of my work colleagues is being

married tomorrow.

The reception is in a marquee

set up on the tennis court 

at her parents lifestyle block.

Last night I picked a huge bucket of

hydrangeas which will decorate the

entrance to the marquee.

Originally one of these bushes

was white and the other blue

but we are in late summer/early autumn now

and I love the way their colour changes

reflecting the season.

March 1st is the beginning of our

Bluff oyster season.

We had our first taste at the weekend

I served them au naturale on fresh grain bread

they were so yummy.

Are you an oyster lover like me?

My dear friend Jennie and her two children

Annie the labradoodle and Mollie her rescue cat

are moving out of Auckland to live in

another seaside city - Tauranga.

She stayed with us the night before she left.

As you can see by the photo above

Annie entertained us as she watched

Animal Planet!

She is hilarious and almost tries to get

inside the tv set!

I will miss the three of them so much.

My first Autumn/Winter plant catalogue

arrived in the mailbox last week.

One of the bulbs I wanted to order this year

is Muscari Peppermint, however I went on to

the website today only to find this one

is already sold out - I'm so disappointed.

I'll phone some nurseries over the

weekend and see if they have them available

fingers crossed I'll be in luck!

I'm joining Amy for Five on Friday

Mimi for Five Star Frou Frou

Tanya for Willy Nilly Friday

and

Cath for Friday Favourites

Thank you ladies for hosting!

Thank you my friends for your visits and comments during the week.

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Five on Friday

Our weekend breakfast often consists of

bacon and egg on toast

followed by a couple of cups of coffee

and enjoying eating at a leisurely pace!

I subscribe to this magazine and it

arrived in my mailbox during the week.

I love a good magazine

and there's lots to inspire in this issue.

A patio rose in my garden called
The Fairy
she's not a good picker but lovely in the garden.

This little antique french porcelain box
was given to me by my embroidery friends
for a special birthday.
It's only 2 inches (2.5 centimeters)
just to give you an idea of size.
It's one of my very favourite things!

Can you see the little bird
sitting expectantly on her nest?
As you know we are moving into Autumn
on my side of the world,
therefore she seems to have her seasons mixed up!

I'm joining Amy for Five on Friday


Thank you all for your visits and
wishing everyone a happy weekend.

Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt


Shane

Five on Friday

A busker at Viaduct Harbour on the

Auckland waterfront. 

I love these books - they take me on a journey

to places known and unknown.

A waterfront cafe, the perfect venue in summer

to watch the world go by.

My favourite Latte coffee with a heart for

Valentines

'Melt in the mouth' 

Sponge Kisses 

baked for the Mahjong girls!

It's Friday so I'm joining Amy for 

Five on Friday

Thank you for popping in to say hello

wishing you a happy weekend!

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you Amy for hosting.

Five on Friday

Our summer days just go on and on

February has arrived

and the weather is amazing!

Brooklyn

by the Irish writer

Colm Tóibín

I read this wonderful book years ago and

I've just seen the movie.

I often find the movie adaptation of a book

to be disappointing

but with this one it wasn't, they followed the script so well.

It is set in Ireland and Brooklyn, New York

in the early 1950's.

I love both the book and the movie.

A mixed bowl of cherry tomatoes

so full of flavour at this time of year.

There's always a rose!

This is Comtesse du Cayla

bred by Pierre Guillot in 1902.

In this hot summer weather the petals have faded out

whereas the early blooms have stronger pink tones.

Thank you for popping in to say hello!

I'm joining Amy for Five on Friday

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane