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!

Five on Friday - Summer Down Under

1
A bowl of Catmint and Lobelia

enjoyed by both Mr and Mrs Goosey Gander and

the visiting neighbourhood pussycats!

I've observed several cats eating both the tips of leaves

and flowers - hence the alternative name of Catnip!

2
Chimes in one of the gardens I visited last year.

This country garden was filled with bird houses and feeders

all beautifully crafted by the owners.

3
The Light Between Oceans is the first book I've read this year

and I loved it!

I know the film is already out but if you haven't seen it yet

do try and read the book first.

 It is set on an island off the south west coast of Western Australia.

4
Boats moored at the new marina in Tairua, Coromandel Peninsula.

Photo courtesy of New Zealand Herald

5
This photo was in our newspaper last week.
I couldn't resist showing my friends in the northern hemisphere!

It was taken at a ski field at Cardrona in the South Island

where there was a freak snowfall in Summer!!!

Usually at this time of year the mountain

is a haven for day trippers - mountain bikers and walkers
clad in light tee shirts and shorts!

I'm joining Amy for

Five on Friday

(sorry I'm late Amy)

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Autumn Blues in the Garden

For the last couple of weekends I've been busy
re-planting my garden pots with
winter flowering bulbs and annuals.

Grape Hyacinths are one of my favourite Spring bulbs.
I planted 20 bulbs around the rim
 of the large bulb planter,
with 10 scented Double Freesia bulbs in the centre.
I think they should make a good display come Spring.

It was cold and wet the day I planted them,
the weather changed a few days later
back to sunshine and warm temps...
next time I checked the Grape Hyacinths were up!
Perhaps I'll have to plant another lot
for a Spring display.
The weather has been totally out of whack this season!

I love spending time poking about at the garden centre
checking out the new plants on offer.
With our small townhouse garden I've learnt to
be selective and not to buy on impulse!
I've also learnt to put more time into
researching and planning my garden beds and pots
and keeping to a theme.

Then again.... I simply couldn't resist the little bird house
with the pretty blue roof!
And there were the gorgeous new
pink and blue gardening gloves
they were just waiting for me, I know it!

Are you a self controlled shopper like me?!

I'm joining Jeanne for Blue Monday
and
Judith for Mosaic Monday

Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt



Shane

Thank you for your visits!

Autumn Five on Friday

This week I thought I would highlight

Autumn related moments in my week.

I've spent the last two weekends

re-doing my garden pots.

We are lucky in this part of the world

where we can still have colour in the garden

during the cold bleak days of Winter.

This pot above contains Primulas, Pansies,

Forget-me-nots and Sweet Alyssum.

Our fruits of Autumn include Persimmon, 

Tamarillos and Kiwi Fruit.

This dainty Royal Doulton coffee cup

picturing the grapes of Autumn.

Meet my newest garden friends

Mr & Mrs Goosey Gander.

I found them on my trip to Morrinsville!

I'm joining 

Amy for Five on Friday

Thank you for hosting.

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Thank you for your comments!

Snowball - our gorgeous feline visitor...

In the last post I told you all about my best friend visiting

we've had another VIP staying for the last three weeks

her name is Snowball - Snow for short.

As you can see she is a beauty with jet black fur

and emerald green eyes! 

She has been confined to the house until this weekend

when we let her roam outside for short stints

she was in 'cat heaven', sniffing and looking at everything,

not a single leaf went unnoticed!

Karen, I thought you would appreciate seeing

some photos of Snow - you can show them to Cameo!

Snow belongs to our son and has been living in the

maize paddock, hunting day and night.

She isn't the friendliest girl in the world, however

she is gradually learning to trust us.

Sadly Snow and our son are moving to Melbourne soon

and we will miss them both dearly.

I've enjoyed Snow's company and antics 

while she has been with us...

she waits on the stairs for me every morning, and

YES

she has wormed her way into my heart.

c'est la vie!

This morning I had a little wander around the garden

and took some photos - it was sunny but it's quite hard

to see in these photos - apart from the pansies!

I'm joining Karen for Sunlit Sunday

and

Judith for Mosaic Monday

Thank you both for hosting these parties!

Welcome to my new followers and

thank you all for your comments,

I'll be catching up on your blogs this week!

Take care and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt

Shane

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

Mincher Garden - Good Fences

We have several gardens where I live

considered to be gardens of

national significance.

Mincher is one such garden.

I visited in Spring about three years ago.

These photos are just to whet your appetite

Mincher has much to offer the

enthusiastic gardener!

I'm joining Theresa for her Thursday meme

Good Fences

Thank you to everyone who visited and left

your sweet comments on my previous post for the

Around the Word Blog Hop!

Merci à bientôt

be kind to one another!

 Shane 

Flowers on Friday

Today I'm looking back to Spring 2013,

with photos I took of my hydrangeas

for this floral post.

This month Trishie gave us a theme of 

"flower in focus"

As I'm working full time at the mo

I haven't had a spare minute to get out

and photograph winter flowers in the garden....

so it was back to the archives!

This is my fave white hydrangea

"Bridal Bouquet".

It is exquisite in bud

and I'm told it is used in wedding bouquets

hence the name.

However, after the initial 'first flush'

the heads become huge and quite ordinary!

I've decided she is worth keeping

at this stage - but we'll see!

As my townhouse garden is small

I really do need to be much more selective in my plant choices.

I am now quite brave at culling

plants and shrubs that don't make the cut for me,

however, I admit it's difficult.

Another hydrangea I love

but sadly I've lost the original tag

so I can't tell you the name.

It's very pretty and a good picker too!

I'm joining
Sharon for July Garden Party 

Liz for Fresh-Cut Friday

Trishie for Floral Friday

and

Mary for Mosaic Monday

Thank you all for your kind comments.

Only another two weeks of this crazy

full time work.... 

then things will return to normality

and I will be visiting you all again!

Take care and

be kind to one another.

Merci à bientôt

Shane x