The Shortest Day

 

We officially reached Winter Solstice at 8.50am this morning, making today our shortest day.

The sun rose at 7.34am and it will set again at 5.07pm.

We almost had a frost today, but had heavy dew instead.  I loved the way the dewdrops sparkled on the grass in the lawn.

There is some cloud in our blue skies, but it isn’t cold.  We reached a high of 15 degrees Celsius mid-afternoon, but the temperature is dropping now.

My polyanthus plants have started to bloom.

After being out every day this week, today I managed to stay at home and do some baking.

I made a Coffee Cake, which is always popular with my boys.

For all my Southern Hemisphere readers – stay warm and cozy.

To all my Northern Hemisphere readers – enjoy your longest day and shortest night!

Cheers,

Margaret xx

A Garden Stroll

 

I took advantage of our reasonably sunny afternoon here today and went for a pleasant stroll around Hamilton Gardens.

There were a few people doing the same thing, but nowhere near enough to say the place was crowded.

The Kitchen Garden was showing off a lush plot of winter vegetables.

I admired this large patch of Globe Artichokes,

And wished my rhubarb would grow as well as this.

The Italian Garden was one of the loveliest of the Theme Gardens I visited (I never had time to go round all of them).

Anyone for a game of Edwardian tennis?  It comes with dainty cream puffs and tiny crustless sandwiches!

Or perhaps you would rather join the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party?

The American Modernist Garden was quiet.  The only other person present to myself, was a gardener scratching around under the shrubs.

I loved this snake-in-the-grass in the Picturesque Garden.

The Waikato River could be glimpsed from some of the Gardens.

It was a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.

Margaret xx

 

A Family Funeral

It was an early start this morning, being on the road by the time the sun rose.

I had a family funeral to attend in Orewa.

It was a three hour drive each way, so I was happy that my youngest son could be chauffeur. 

We went through fog,

And got held up in a snarl of heavy traffic as we crossed through Auckland.

Traffic was much better once we crossed the Harbour Bridge.

We finally arrived at Orewa, in plenty of time for the service.

Coming home, there was a bit of heavy traffic for some of the way but we didn't have to stop at all.

We were treated to an amazing cloud display as we returned to the Waikato (and a much quieter road!).

Back in Hamilton,

And home again, home again, jiggety-jog (I must be tired!).

Margaret  xx

A New Local Park

I heard about a new park that had opened up in a nearby subdivision, so went and checked it out.

I think it has the potential to become a very pretty place for a walk.

The footpaths were wide and there was plenty of good seating to be had, so one could sit and enjoy the view and the local birdlife.

I saw several pukekos and there were mallard ducks hiding in the reeds.

Stupidly, though, there wasn't anywhere to park a car. 

The road was too narrow for safe roadside parking so I ended up parked half over the kerb. 

It looks a bit like the Powers That Be want to keep the place for the exclusive use of the residents who will live next to it.

But perhaps, when the subdivision is fully developed, a decent parking area might magically pop up somewhere nearby.

I hope so.

Margaret  xx 

Fire Lighting

As we head into winter, we often have a fire in the evenings.

Son does this, and has a set routine he follows.

First, gather your firewood.

Set the fire.

Add a little ignition help.

Use a lighter to get things going.

And then it's time for me to sit back and enjoy the blaze! 

After years of being chief fire maker, fire maintainer, and fire cleaner, it is nice to let someone else do all the work 😀

Margaret  xx

Raindrops

Woke up this morning to rain on my window.

There were raindrops on the bonnet of the car.

Raindrops hanging like diamonds from the clothes line.

Raindrops glistening on the lemons.

And raindrops beautifying my daphne. 

There is always pleasure of some kind to be found in Nature.

Margaret  xx

My Apron and A Smoothie

I finally got my apron cut out today.

Not being a great sewer, I made my pattern on thin card.

If course, it is too thick to pin to fabric 🙄

I solved the issue by drawing around the outside of the pattern with a 6B pencil.

Cutting out completed, the next step will be seeing if I can remember how my sewing machine works!

I tried making a Green Smoothie for afternoon tea, to go with my persimmon.

It contained almonds, banana, spinach, a dash of maple syrup, and some cold water. Yummy!

As you can see, I've just been to the greengrocer. 

Time now to put everything away before preparing dinner.

Margaret  xx

A Birthday Picnic

Sometimes we cannot be with loved ones to help celebrate an event,

 but there is nothing to stop us doing something special for it.

Today was my son-in-law's birthday (in Arizona), so I celebrated by having a little picnic by the Lake.

I thought of him as I blew out the candle!

A pukeko cleaned up the pastry scraps from the steak and cheese pie.

The carrot cake I cleaned up myself!

I watched some older gentlemen sailing their model yachts.

I love the shape of this ancient macrocarpa tree (Monterey cyprus).

Imagine how much it has seen over the years.

The hospital is visible from almost anywhere around the Lake.

Painted white, it always sparkles in the sunshine. 

It was lovely to be able to spend some time out in the fresh air. 

Margaret  xx

Daily Life

Breakfast today was a pear and homemade muesli 

The morning was spent doing housework

And talking to my plants

The afternoon was mostly reading and snoozing and Mittens came to check out what I was doing

I also finished a sketch I was working on

Life is made up of little bits of happiness  😊 

Margaret  xx

Catching Up With Cousins

WE WERE UP EARLY THIS MORNING TO WATCH FORMULA ONE, LIVE AT MONTREAL.

IT WAS WORTH MISSING A BIT OF SLEEP FOR, AS THE CHANGEABLE WEATHER MADE IT A VERY EXCITING RACE.

WE HAD QUITE A LOT OF RAIN OVERNIGHT, BUT THE DAY TURNED OUT MOSTLY DRY.

I VISITED FAMILY AND MET UP WITH SOME COUSINS I'VE NOT SEEN FOR A FEW YEARS (THEY LIVE IN THE SOUTH ISLAND).

IT WAS SO GOOD TO BE ABLE TO SEE THEM AGAIN.

RUSTY TOOK TO HIS BED UNDER THE COFFEE TABLE.

ALTOGETHER, IT HAS BEEN A GREAT DAY. 

I HOPE YOUR DAY GOES WELL TOO.

MARGARET  xx