Moving up in the world

It may not look much different from the last shot of me in the kitchen studio, but this is me in the spare room studio, and what a world of difference it is. Look - two desks - and a NEW MAC (almost) with wide screen. I don't know myself. Can't stay off it, hence this blog. Onward and Upward.

Two beloved nieces under the tiger blanket

This is a common sight at my house on a cold winter's night - a DVD on, and the fire going, and both nieces on the couch under the tiger blanket. I looked down on them from above and two sleepy faces looked up. Cute huh?
Anyway, sadly, the one on the right is going out into the world and flatting soon, in Mt Eden, so I won't have Magda staying here at home with me. I'll be keeping an eye on her from afar, don't you worry.

The Rise of Inklings II - the sequel

Just felt I should make a log (as it were) of the beginnings of Inklings again - it seems I might be getting off the ground freelancing quicker than I expected. So, this is the START, (the 'before' picture) - from the corner of the kitchen, where I presently work, and hopefully there will be a progression as the months go by, eventually ending in a studio somewhere.
Meanwhile, it's a cosy corner, is it not? And not too bad even in winter with that wee heater blasting out behind me. Roll in the work!

The Gumstore AGAIN

I know - I can't stay away from this place. Megan came up from Christchurch for a few days, and I HAD to take her here too. We had, as you can see, lovely coffee, French toast and savoury scones, and later shared a wee homemade cake. Meg loved it too.
Oh, and we enjoyed 'Tara Road' on Friday night. A Maeve Binchy film, and with some token caricatures in there, but a great portion of it was most watchable.

Back to Ngaroto Nurseries

Just had a lovely holiday of a few days down in Te Awamutu in the frost and countryside enjoying a break from the hectic schedule of the last few months. The course is now over. This is the lovely entrance and cafe to Ngaroto Nurseries.
On Friday I spent the day in Hamilton reminiscing over our old family haunts, and wandering the banks of the Waikato River. Then I met dear Jeanettie Clarkin-Phillips for lunch at a splendid cafe just off the banks.
Back to the nursery and this is a part of the HUGE and glorious display garden behind the cafe and surrounding the back part of the nursery. It goes on and on for ages and one can get lost in it.
A frosty morning when I donned my hat and gloves and went out to take pictures from the house.
Peter showed me how to stick lard in string bags for the waxeyes, and then he went back out to put cut fruit in their wee house.
Something happened in the middle of my coat, I think I must have stuffed my gloves and hat, and maybe a few cardigans in there for safekeeping. Peter and I when I finally left. Does he look relieved?
Sunset through THAT tree again. Makes it look like it's on fire. What a great time.