Five on Friday

This is one of my new roses this season called

Munstead Wood, a David Austin bred rose.

It has the features of the wonderful old fashioned roses

full blown cabbage like petals

highly fragrant and

it has been flowering since November.

One can't ask more than that!

Little and Friday is a cafe/bakery here

they sell delicious cakes, slices, meringues and biscuits

as well as jams and pickles and chutney.

It's summer and the living is easy.

Kohimarama is a great white sandy beach 

on the Eastern Bays close to the city.

We have so many beaches in Auckland

that they are never crowded 

like they are in the South of France.

We're not used to wall to wall people at the seaside!

A couple of weeks ago we did a little road trip 

to the Bay of Plenty to see some of my cousins.

We had dinner here at Molly O'Connors restaurant.

Good food and good Irish music - just what I love!

It brought back wonderful memories

of our trip to Ireland last year!

If you read one of my recent posts you may remember

I'm on the hunt for tiles for the kitchen splash back

so I photograph them if I can't buy them!

I hope all my friends in the Northern Hemisphere

are keeping warm and safe inside.

We saw reports on TV about the storms - WOW!

Enjoy your weekend.

I'm joining Amy for Five on Friday
 and
Mimi for Five Star Frou-Frou
and
Cath for Fun Friday Favourites

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

French fences ooh la la!

Whenever I'm out and about with my camera

I'm always looking for fences, walls, gates and doors

to photograph.

I took most of these photos in Provins

a couple of years ago.

It is an ancient market town which sits

on the original trade routes.

This old fence has been softened with a creeper

found on many walls and fences in France.

I think these old style gates 

are both practical and beautiful.

When my daughter was replacing their gates

this was the style they chose.

Times have changed and there are few blacksmiths left

in the countryside these days,

young people want to work in the large cities

rather than take up one of the 'old school' trades.

Sadly the quote they were given was prohibitive

so they have settled for a much simpler version

to come within their budget!

 I'm joining Theresa 

of The Runaround Ranch Report

for

Good Fences

Take care and

be kind to one another

à bientôt

Shane

Sunshine through my window

I found beautiful sunshine on my window sill 

when I came downstairs this morning!

This is the cup I use for my first coffee of the day

it's  Terre e Provence which I bought here at

La Cigale - you can see a previous post on

La Cigale Market here

I bought this pretty tile from Monsieur Bricolage 
(the hardware shop in France)
I'm collecting tiles to create a splashback wall area
behind the stove top in the kitchen.
Another project on my "to do" list 
to complete and tick off this year!

Also on the bench is a pot of basil and an aubergine
sitting in front of my recipe book holder.
I've been cleaning out my cookbook cupboard and
I found a recipe to use from this old cook book.

Annabel Laingbein is a New Zealander
she is a cook, food writer and has made 
a series of foodie videos and recipes called
The Free Range Cook
and
Through the Seasons
which have been shown internationally.

What I like is that she uses fresh seasonal produce
you can grow at home or find at
your local stores.

Have you seen her series on TV where you are?

The photo on the right is what I'm making for supper this evening
"Grilled Aubergine and Zucchini"
which I will eat it with a salad.
It's delissimo!
My husband doesn't like either of these vegetable
so he will have steak and whatever I can throw together!
Let me know if you would like the recipe
and I will email or post it to you.
I realise these vegetables are out of season
in Europe and North America just now
but you might like to try it in Spring/Summer.

I'm looking forward to catching up with 
Karen for Sunlit Sunday
Cindy for for Amaze me Monday
Judith for Mosaic Monday
and Stephanie for Roses of Inspiration

Take care and
be kind to one another

à bientôt


Shane