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

Spring is in the air.....

Hello dear friends
It has been so long since my last post
almost a year....
So no doubt you all gave upon me a long time ago!

I have missed you all....
I am on Instagram as some of you know.
IG is not so time consuming as writing a post
and editing photos.
Having said that I have missed blogging
and I hope I can put up at least
one weekly post... time will tell!

Changeable 
weather over the last couple of weeks
sunny and warm one day
cold and wet the next!
…it’s 
Springtime  
in my neck of the woods!

New Zealand Kowhai Tree


Recently I headed up to
Cornwall Park
to find Spring Inspiration
it is one of my favourite places to walk





As you can see by the photo above
the farmer has a flock of black sheep.
They are such characters
in fact very nosey
and race over to the fence as soon as we appear!


Well I won't ramble on or this won't get posted!
Can someone please recommend a good
photo editing program.
I used to use Pixlr but it has changed
and I found it too complicated for me!

Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

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.

Visiting Gardens with my dear friend...

In March last year one of my dearest friends moved out of Auckland.

It took me a long time to come to grips with Jen not being here.

We've been friends such a long time, 

in fact since I was 18 - that's 56 years! 

I think I've mentioned before that Friday is my MahJong day

and I would usually catch up with Jen for a cup of coffee or lunch afterwards.

She's also my best shopping mate - we like the same things

and I've missed our shopping sprees hugely.

However she is happy in her new home at Mount Maunganui

a seaside town in the Bay of Plenty.

She made the right decision to move out of the big city.

In about October Jen phoned to tell me there was an

Art and Garden Festival in her neck of the woods in November

and suggested I pop down for the weekend!

This was our first catch up in person since she stayed with us

before her big move.

It was so good to be together again and see her new home,

and catch up with her children

Annie her Labradoodle and her cat Molly..

We talked and talked late into the night - as all old friends do. 

The Gardens

We picked out several country gardens to visit

and they were all well worth while seeing. 

I take my hat off to the organisers who managed this event.

Everything went like clockwork,

as well as stunning gardens and friendly hosts and hostesses.

Directions and signs were spot on too - thank you!

There were delightful watering holes along the way to stop

and enjoy a cup of tea, sandwiches and other yummy goodies!

I hope my Northern Hemisphere friends enjoy my Summer photos!

I  must tell you how much I'm enjoying your "snow" photos.

Being a bird lover, I'm particularly interested in seeing photos

of your bird feeders and the birds who visit your gardens.

Where I live in New Zealand, it doesn't get cold enough for snow in winter

so maybe that's the reason we don't have a good selection

of feeders available here.

My friend Mary who blogs at A Breath of Fresh Air

welcomes all birds who venture into her garden for winter snacks.

In fact generations of birds have been taught by their parents

to include Mary and Bob's garden on their Winter food GPS route!

Do pop over to her blog and say hello

you will love her amazing bird photos.

She ensures there is an unlimited supply of food available

during the cold winter months,

in the form of suet, seeds and peanuts 

(which sometimes the naughty squirrels devour)!

On behalf of all those hungry birds and squirrels

Thank you Mary dear!

I'm joining Maggie for

Mosaic Monday

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Highlights of my Week

Flowers from my late summer garden

it has been a long dry, hot summer

with very little rain.

However three days ago the Heavens opened

I wanted to race outside and do a little dance!!!

Yea!

This is Red beach on the
Whangaparoa Peninsula 
about an hour north of Auckland.
I took this photo on the edge of the cliff
where one of my friends has a beach house.

Summer means BBQ's
and one of the best things is Sweetcorn on the barbie!

My favourite summer tea is
Twinings New Zealand Earl Grey.
I drink my tea without milk or sugar
so I like it weak and this blend is perfect for me.

I've been wanting this dog for as long as I can remember
well not this particular one....
but a wire haired terrier.
I met him while I was walking through the park
however his mother had a tight hold on his lead
otherwise
I'm sure I could have persuaded him to come home with me!
NO - honestly I'm not a dog snatcher!
but all the same I would loved to have picked him up and run home with him.
A piece of advice - lock up your dogs!!!


I'm joining Amy for Five on Friday
Congratulations Amy on "Fives" first birthday!
and
Eileen for Saturday's Critters

Thank you so much for your visits

Take care and
be kind to one another


à bientôt


Shane

Our Friendship Spans the Oceans....

My heart skipped beats recently....
when I arrived home from work  to find a parcel 
waiting for me by the front door!
Not just any parcel I might add
but one that had crossed oceans to get here.

I was elated when I read the sender's name...
my dear friend
Mary
of
A Breath of Fresh Air

My heart was 'all a flutter'
as I knew I was in for a treat!
I posted about Mary's previous parcel here

When I found Mary's blog a few years ago
I knew I had found a soul mate
who enjoyed many of the same things as I do.

We both share a love of France and all things french
we also both have family living there.

Mary has a love of life which the French call

Joie de Vivre

She is an inveterate traveller and enthrals us all
with her amazing photography and interesting narrative
of  her overseas trips with her husband Bob and friends.

One thing is certain
Mary and Bob will never be short of conversation
when sitting in their rocking chairs on the verandah!

I think I can hear a little voice in my ear...

....what's that? me in a rocking chair.... NEVER!
ha ha!!!!!

Mary dear
you know just what I love...

Vintage Notions

the exquisite vintage buttons and spools of cotton,
ribbons and hand made tatted lace
 vintage cards including the one above
 and lovely old postcards.
I love everything.

Merci,

Never let it be said that distance is a barrier to friendship.

I'm joining
Judith for Mosaic Monday
Wen for Simply Neutrals Tuesday
and
Stephanie for Roses of Inspiration

Thank you ladies for hosting!


Be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt


Shane

Tea Cups Travel the World.....

My dear friend

Stephanie

of 

The Enchanting Rose

has hosted another of her world famous

Tea CupExchange

Parties

I was partnered with

Mimi

of

A Tray of Bliss

She sent me a beautiful tea cup named

Clementine

embellished with exquisite pink roses

of the vintage kind - my favourites

Also in the package were

a gorgeous heart

and

the prettiest beaded lace collar 

both hand made by Mimi.

I just love the sweet card Mimi made

for me as well.

Thank you

Mimi

You have spoiled me with

all these pretty gifts!

I sent my tea cup to

Trisha

of

American Honey Home

and

it was my pleasure to find

the right tea cup for her

Stephanie had sent me an email

telling me Trisha's favourite colour was yellow

so when I spotted this bone china tea cup

in a little antique shop

I knew it would be perfect!

It is a Royal Albert cup

named

Primulette!

I hope Trisha loves it too.

I added some other 'tea related' bits and bobs

with a Kiwi flavour

to give her a taste of New Zealand.

Thank you

dear Stephanie for hosting another

of your lovely tea parties.

I know what a huge undertaking it is

and you run it like a professional!

Please visit Stephanie's blog here

I'm joining Mimi for

Five Star Frou-Frou

do pop over for a look!

Take care dear friends and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt

Shane