Reflecting on Treasured Moments of 2018

The photos in my collage represent some 

of our treasured moments

over the past year.

Our French family have now been in New Zealand

for 16 months!

They moved north of Auckland in April,

and bought a cafe which they renovated and

it is now a French Bistro!

They found Auckland was too busy and expensive

and wanted to live in a smaller community,

close to beaches, as this was what our daughter

missed the most when living in inland in France.

The girls have thrived, both physically and intellectually.

The eldest has adjusted to the different school system

and is doing well academically.

At 15 she has set herself goals for the next few years,

through to university and more!

Our middle granddaughter is 13, 

she is very sporty, and takes part in everything that's on offer!

Before Christmas she had surfing lessons and just loves it...

She is very outgoing, has lots of friends and is up for

adventure!

Our sweet 6 year old turns 7 in a few days.

She found the change of countries the most difficult.

Initially the Kiwi school children

had difficulty understanding her french accent.

However, she has now made two or three good friends

and finished the year on a much happier note.

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane xx

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!

Lawdy Miss Clawdy - it's hot over here.....

I'm staying inside today trying to keep cool

in this very hot humid weather.

Much as I need to have a tidy up in the garden,

because of the high temps in Summer

it's now become an early morning job!

The roses and perennials need dead-heading

in fact the whole garden needs a good weeding throughout

so I intend getting up with the birds tomorrow

to get a few hours work done.

I've photographed flowers from my garden

both dried and fresh.

For my friends in the Northern Hemisphere

I know you are looking forward to the arrival of

Spring

take heart because it's only a matter of time before

our seasons will be reversed and in the words of

Percy Bysshe Shelley

"O wind, if Winter comes

can Spring be far behind".

I'm joining Karen for Sunlit Sunday

and

Judith for Mosaic Monday

and
Bernideen for Tea Time, Cottage and Garden

and
Stephanie for Roses of Inspiration

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Five on Friday

Last Saturday I felt the urge to bake as my son

was visiting us from down country.
My friend Mary is a great blogger
please pop over and meet her at
A Breath of Fresh Air

Mary often has interesting recipes to share.

Recently she made healthy Carrot & Raisin Muffins

 here

her recipe came from Mennonite Girls Can Cook here.

These muffins were a huge success - thank you dear Mary!

On Sunday we drove to Maraetai

 we stopped for a coffee at the local cafe

and sat and watched families having fun at the beach.

We drove home via Clevedon through beautiful farmland.

It's always good to escape the city for a few hours!

Apart from working this week

I've been busy planning our next trip

which includes time with my family in this

little village in France. I can't wait!

I'm leaving you with the little message above

so make the most of 

TODAY

you have only one chance - it won't happen again!

I'm linking to Amy for Five on Friday

Take care and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt 

Shane

My Favourite Tea Cups

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!
Please click on the link above and leave your comment
on that post, thank you!

Today I'm sharing my beautiful blue

Spode Camille tea set 

handed down to me by my mother

you can see a previous post here

I'm joining Sandi's tea party at

Rose Chintz Cottage

to celebrate her five years of

Tea Time Tuesday!

I'm also joining my dear friend Stephanie
for her Tuesday party
Roses of Inspiration

and Jes for
The Art of Home Making Mondays

This is my favourite tea cup
because it holds so many

precious family memories of

time spent when friends popped in...

to enjoy a good old chin wag (chat)

catching up on each family's news

while sipping tea.

What could be nicer?!

Mother used these sweet cups every day

for both tea and coffee.

I've always loved the simple little flowers

that make up the pattern.

I can't remember what they are called...

maybe you can remind me!

A tea party wouldn't be any fun

without some friends to share

now would it?

I baked a gingerbread cake

and added crystallised ginger to the icing

which the bears love!

Do please pop over to
Sandi, Stephanie and Jes's blogs
and see what everyone is posting

it's fun!

 Thank you for visiting and I so

appreciate your kind comments!

Welcome

to my new followers.

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

Grow Your Blog Party & My Giveaway 2015

Welcome to the third
Grow your Blog Party
hosted by Vicki of 2 Bags Full.

Thank you dear Vicki for hosting
this amazing annual event
to bring together bloggers
from around the world!

For first time visitors to my blog
let me introduce myself!
My name is Shane and I live in
Auckland, New Zealand.

Yes I live in Auckland but....
my heart is in a little village in France
where my family and grandchildren live!
If you love France too
then we will have much in common
as many of my blog posts have
a french flavour... a certain

Je

ne

sais

quoi

I have been travelling to France for years,
and I love everything about it

who doesn't dream of a weekend in

Paris

but it's rural France I love the most.

Photography

has become one of my favourite
pastimes since starting my blog.
French villages are known for 
their beautiful old houses and barns,
windows, doors, gates, fences
and little country lanes to photograph!

My family are now used to me lagging behind
when we're out and about!
I simply can't pass up a
photo opportunity!

I have a very basic 'point and shoot'

Panasonic lumix camera.

I have learnt so much through Donna

thank you my dear friend for

passing on your wealth of knowledge.

I join several weekly and monthly blog parties
including these ones
Mosaic Monday
Tea Time Tuesday
Tuesday Cuppa Tea
Friends Sharing Tea
Roses of Inspiration
Wednesday Good Fences
Sunlit Sunday

We would love you to join us!
People post about all sorts of things
recipes, crafts, books worth reading and so on.
If you are a new blogger
this is a great way of making new friends
and increasing your followers.

I’m a gardener

My time spent in my garden
is one of the things I love most of all,
whether it's weeding and nurturing plants
or simply doing my garden walk each morning
with a cup of tea in hand
to see what's new each day!
It grounds me and prepares me for 
my work day ahead.

Swaps

I also enjoy taking part in swaps!

I've been part of groups

that swapped lace and buttons

tea cups, magazines!~

...and then I love to

Create

I enjoy making little books, cards
and bags for my grandies
using fabric, lace and paper.

I work three days a week and when time permits
I also enjoy making collage pieces 
such as the one below which I created for my

Giveaway

for

Grow Your Blog 2015.

I will draw the winners name on
February 15th 2015 and post on my blog
Bonne chance everyone!

You don't need to be a follower
there are no restrictions
and I am happy to post world wide!

If you write a comment on this post
you will be included in the draw!

I hope you've enjoyed learning a little about me
I'm sorry it has become such a lengthy post
I do ramble on and love to chat!
have you noticed that already?!

Now I'm off to visit your blogs
Enjoy the party and have fun!

Dearest Vicki
thank you
for being the generous, giving and loving soul
that you are!
The world needs more people like you.


Thank you everyone for visiting my blog

Take care and

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt




Shane