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

Reflecting on the year that was...

JANUARY
We travelled down country to visit my 96y old Aunt.
Passing Mt Ruapehu on the Central Plateau and
Lake Taupo.

FEBRUARY

I made Miss Maggie Rabbit for Miss Jessie's 3rd birthday!

MARCH
Sunshine on my kitchen window sill, a visit to the
countryside to see our son and sweet Snowball in the garden.

APRIL
A card from my bloggy friend Joanna, Anzac Day and
Magazines from my Swap partner Deborah.

MAY
A visit to Nancy Steen Rose Garden to meet another bloggy friend
Patricia who gave me a gorgeous red wooden bird necklace.

JUNE
Off on the huge Emirates bird to Ireland and France! 

Blarney Castle - yes we managed to kiss the stone!

JULY
The ancient village of Nemours.

AUGUST
My three granddaughters out walking. The school fair and Jessie
always skipping or running!

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER
My visit to the Laduree shop in Paris - delicious!

NOVEMBER
Horrific bombings in Paris.

DECEMBER
Christmas in Australia with our son.


I wonder what's ahead for all of us this year?

Take care dear friends and
be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt

Shane

Tea Cup Exchange Party!

I love tea cups and all that goes with the

gentle art of tea drinking... so I was delighted when

Stephanie of The Enchanting Rose

told us she was having another Tea Cup Exchange party!

This beautiful cornflower tea cup and saucer

arrived in a parcel from Stephanie - what a lovely surprise!

I didn't know Stephanie was my giving exchange partner

Thank you

dear Stephanie for your beautiful gifts

I was 'over the moon' with everything you sent me!

As you can see there were so many beautiful items

and all hand made by Stephanie!

A lavender sachet, the sweetest fridge magnet, 

and a set of pretty greeting cards!

   

My receiving partner for the swap was

Asia of Under a Creative Spell

I visited Asia's blog to find out what she liked

and learnt, she loves Shabby Chic

which is what I like too - she was the perfect partner for me!

I sent Asia a vintage tea cup, saucer and plate

I found in my local Hospice shop!

I fell in love with it and felt Asia would like it too!

It was made by Royal Albert and has the lovely name

American Beauty.

I popped a few extras in the parcel including

a rosy tea towel, a fragrant drawer sachet

an embroidered linen tray cloth and a French magazine

called Shabby Chic!

I was in such a hurry to wrap my parcel

and get it to the Post Office....

and I totally forgot to photograph everything

(that's the second time - it happened at the last swap too)!

Merci Asia for sending me copies of your photographs!

Thank you

dear Stephanie for hosting your Tea Cup Exchange Party

it was a huge success and I'm looking forward to

the next one later in the year!

I'm linking this post to

Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose

Sandi for Tea Time Tuesday

Ruth for Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Bernideen for Friends Sharing Tea

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

Stephanie's Tea Cup/Mug Exchange

Have you met Stephanie of the delightful blog

The Enchanting Rose?

I would love you to pop in and become 

acquainted with her gorgeous blog

as she does so many interesting things!

For the past few years Stephanie has hosted

The Tea Cup/Mug Exchange

which has become very popular among 

tea loving bloggers!

I heard about this swap last year through another of my

dear bloggy friends Kitty of Kitty's Kozy Kitchen

(you must check out her blog - she has great recipes)! 

This time Kitty dropped me an email to tell me

that Stephanie was hosting another

teacup and mug exchange!

Thank you dear Kitty for keeping me in the loop!

Bloggers are such lovely people!

My 'giving' partner was Belle

who lives in Australia.

Belle doesn't have a blog yet but she tells me

she is creating one, so I'll let you all know when that happens!

I received such a beautiful parcel from Belle

with this gorgeous tea cup called 

'Christiana'

it is the softest pink bone china with a delicate

green criss-cross pattern around the edge.

She included more goodies in the parcel

some yummy Italian hazelnut chocolate biscuits

perfect to enjoy with a cup of tea.

Talking of tea, Belle treated me to a selection of 

Twinings tea in a pretty organza bag.

 There was also a sweet card with a note telling 

me about herself which was nice.

Thank you so much Belle, I'm totally

"over the moon"

with all your kind gifts!

The receiver of my tea cup gift parcel is

Alice who lives in Italy.

Maybe she hasn't received my parcel yet as there are

no photographs of what I sent her on Stephanie's blog post.

Unfortunately, Alice doesn't have a blog either, 

so I can't ask you to visit her

however, maybe I can encourage her

to get started as she obviously enjoys the interaction

with other bloggers!

Alice, if you are reading this post

please don't let language be a barrier to blogging.

I have two other Italian blog friends

plus Dutch, German, French, Finnish, Danish,

Swedish, Bulgarian, Polish and Russian bloggy pals!!!

Thank you dear Stephanie for hosting your

Tea Cup/Mug Exchange again this year.

I can see it is a huge undertaking.

Your communication was amazing - thank you.

I have been involved in other swaps where

the communication was not so good.

It's my first time joining the

Tea Cup/Mug Exchange

I will definitely do it again

 and I can recommend it to

anyone interested in all things tea!

If you would like me to tell you when the

next one is on, let me know in a comment or 

email me.

I am linking this post to
Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose
please click on the above link and you can see 
what others have received/given in their exchanges!
I'm also linking to
Diane for Beautiful Sunday
 Judith for Mosaic Monday

Sandi for Tea Time Tuesday

Ruth for Tuesday Cuppa Tea

and

Bernideen for Tea in the Garden

Thank you all for your visits and your caring comments. 

Work has been easier this week!

Take care and 

be kind to one another

Merci à bientôt

Shane