Another Apron

I have been so happy with the apron I hand-stitched together several weeks ago, that I have begun work on another one.

The first was cut from one side of a $3 thrifted duvet cover, and I have cut this one from the reverse side of the same cover.

Spring is showing signs of arriving - sparrows and magpies are looking for mates and we no longer feel the need for a fire every night.

The mornings are still cool, though, often resulting in lots of condensation on the windows. 

I don't mind the condensation when it is followed by a warm, mostly sunny, day that quickly dries the washing.

Unfortunately,  the afternoon turned very windy and mostly cloudy with the threat of another thunderstorm. 

We had a very loud one (with lots of thunder) pass over us last night - Mittens hid under my bed but Millie just looked up, mildly surprised by all the noise, and promptly went back to sleep.

Changeable weather is definitely another sign that Spring is on our doorstep.

Margaret xx 

New Glasses And Fleas

Firstly, thankyou for all the kind comments on my artwork yesterday.  I was quite overcome by them all.

I had an appointment with SpecSavers this morning for some new glasses.

There were hardly any shoppers about when I arrived, but this had changed by the time a very patient man had finished helping me choose new frames.

Now I have to wait for two weeks before I can collect them. 

Our two cats had to be treated for fleas again today - something they both heartily detest.

I would have thought it was too cold for fleas, but we have dogs living either side of us so I'm wondering if that is where they're coming from. 

Later on, I asked Mittens if she had forgiven us and she interrupted her toilette to say she was still thinking about it. 

I know she'll get over it, as she always does - especially if there is some food on offer!

Margaret xx 

I Was Right

I said yesterday that today would be a better day and it was.

My mood may have been helped by getting out of the house for a while, even if it was just a visit to the supermarket. 

It might have been helped too by indulging in a sugar-fix!

(Don't worry, I never ate all of it!)

The freesias in my small garden have begun flowering and are spreading an intoxicating perfume across the path.

I felt inspired to try and sketch one of them.

It is good to find time to do things you enjoy. 

Margaret xx 

One Of Those Days

Sometimes it seems we all have to periodically experience "one of those days."  A day where nothing seems to feel right, a down day where being active is not on the agenda, a day that is simply quite BLAH!

As you've no doubt guessed, this has been my day today.  I can't even blame the weather! It has been very cloudy, with moderate winds and the odd rogue shower hovering around, but we've also had parchy bursts of bright sunshine. 

I have to come to the conclusion that it is just me.  Thankfully, I know from experience that this feeling will pass.

Tomorrow will be a better day. 

Margaret xx 

Crumpets For Breakfast

Breakfast, for me, is usually fruit and muesli, but this morning I decided on a change and had crumpets.

Warmed in the toaster, then slathered with butter and golden syrup that melts down into them, crumpets are delicious and rather messy to eat.

Having hot buttery syrup dribbling down your chin is a very real danger!

As the seasons change, it is interesting to watch the sun rise each morning from a different place on the horizon. 

For us, it no longer rises behind a tree and thus now shines fully into the kitchen early each morning. 

I have begun an overhaul of my wardrobe, something I've not done for a few years (I used to do it at least yearly).

My drawers were bursting with clothing, half of which I forgot I even owned.

This is my thrift-shop pile so far - and it is still growing!

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable day. 

Margaret xx 

A Walk In The Gardens

It was a beautiful morning for taking a walk through Hamilton Gardens. 

These are some of the photos I took.

Daughter and I finished our walk with a hot drink at the Gardens Cafe.

I am going to miss her so much when she goes home tomorrow. 

Margaret xx 

Fabulous Fun

What a fabulously fun family outing we had today.

Daughter shouted myself and her siblings to a High Tea at the Zealong Tea Estate at Gordonton. 

It was fun right from the start, as we took silly photos of each other with the teapot/teacup dragon in the carpark. 

For my  tea, I chose a Lady Gatsby blend of Manuka leaf, rose petals and cinnamon.  It had a delicate lightly floral taste and was very easy to drink.

We were each given nine morsels of different items to eat.  The names made them sound quite exotic, but were, I admit, sometimes beyond my skill at being able to identify what I was eating!  Perhaps if I spoke French it may have helped?

First there was black truffle croque-monsieur, a duck rillette in carrot and black tea mousseline, and a mushrooms and parmesan tartelette.

Then came a tiger prawn roll, a roasted pumpkin and buffalo ricotta barbajuan, and smoked salmon on potato rosti.

Finally, we came to the sweet course, with a chestnut and blackcurrant profiterol with a dab of gold leaf, a chocolate hazelnut praline macaron, and an apple and cinnamon tart.

Eating such interesting (and delicious) food was a great experience, but what will remain with me will be the memory of how much fun we all had as we savoured our meal together. 

It was a precious and unforgettable time of being together.

Margaret xx 

More Food

There is something very decadent about a Cream Do-nut.  Unfortunately, I also find them quite irresistible!

Son bought us one each to have with our lunch today. 

The wind we have had recently has knocked several flowers over, so I picked some and brought them inside.

Our day began with fog, turned sunny, then came in and rained briefly, before settling down to cool and cloudy.

Hopefully the sun will shine for longer tomorrow. 

Margaret xx 

White Mint Slice Gelato

Three of us went out for lunch today, at Burger Burger in Made Market at Hamilton East.

Afterwards we wandered around the artisan shops, bought some Old Fashioned Beef sausages for tea, and a jar of Feijoa & Ginger jam.  'Foraged' focus their business on sustainability, preserving excess seasonal produce gathered from their local community at Raglan. 

Finally, we finished off with a Gelato each.  Many places sell Gelato but, believe it or not, I have never tried it before.  I chose White Mint Slice flavour - it was refreshingly delicious!

I think I will need to be careful now, or I may just become a Gelato addict!

Margaret xx 

Farewell Whitianga

With one last look out the window this morning, we checked out of our motel and headed home.

We made several stops on our way, the first being for delicious hot scones at Mat's Cafe in Whitianga. 

At Hot Water Beach we could see people in the distance digging for hot water to sit in, but we didn't linger.

The two people in the photo had their spade and were heading off to join the crowd.

It was on to Tairua next, and over the infamous Pepe Stream bridge - in summer holiday traffic, trying to cross this one-way bridge (the only bridge) can be near impossible and tests the patience of many drivers (and passengers!).

We took a longer route home, stopping at Whangamata for lunch and a brisk beach walk.

At Morrinsville it was time for an icecream, before finally reaching Hamilton and home.

We had rain for parts of our journey, but it got steadily worse as time went on and we were welcomed home with grey skies and constant rain.

 

I'm feeling a bit tired tonight but glad to be home again.

However enjoyable traveling is, there really is no place quite like your own home!

Margaret xx

Wilderland Organics

What an incentive to be up by dawn every morning! The light here is amazing and changes so rapidly.

My personal Dawn Show began like this at 6.45am.

Twenty minutes later the mist had cleared, the sun rose, and the day had arrived. 

After two days of more-activity-than-usual, today I needed to have a rest.

That didn't stop me from visiting Wilderland Organics though, to stock up on raw honey. Unfortunately they were out of comb honey, so I only purchased a jar of raw honey sourced from wild flowers.

The rest of the day I put my feet up, pottered on the laptop, and watched people on the beach until the rain chased most of them indoors. 

As the rain got heavier, the wind increased. The sea is no longer calm, although the waves are still small.

The wind whistles around our building, making it sound stormier than it is.

We have the heat pump going, and our unit is snuggly and cosy. 

It's a perfect way to enjoy stormy weather. 

Margaret xx 

A Relaxing Day

There were a lot of people out and about early this morning, mostly walking their dogs.

Not that long after, Mercury Bay Area School arrived and we watched the children racing up and down the beach.

We decided we would have a Slow Day today.

I wandered some shops and bought a few clothes, and found a couple of owl ornaments in a charity shop.

The wharf is close to the town centre.

I spent some time sitting there, watching the ferry crossing the short distance back and forth across the harbour.

I sketched a fishing trawler sitting at anchor.

And went for a walk along the beach.

Now it's time to put the feet up and enjoy the evening. 

Margaret xx