At Last When She Looked She Saw Herself As She Really Was

Okay, officially this painting is on the OTHER blog - but I am so pleased with it, I've put it up here as well. Hope you like it too. Check it out in its fulness on my art blog. I think it speaks for itself, but those words run around the outside frame.

Helen's actual birthday tea

I know, it's a week ago, but this was Helen's birthday dinner, and she's opening the present I've given her.
See! Cute little glasses with a carafe.
Ashley was really impressed!
And Liam and Jem couldn't get close enough.

Beloved sister Helen's birthday

Helen's birthday yesterday, and I found some illustrations by Anne Anderson, who was a favourite of ours when we were growing up. This is an illustration from the Willie Weeties book my mother used to read to us from. I've put Helen right where she belongs, in the centre playing the pipe.
Happy Birthday sweet sister!

The sisters in Springbank Lane

We sisters here at Te Atatu have an honorary sister who is always with us in spirit - Linda from Canada. She is struggling through the rigours of cancer at the moment and we feel very close to her, and a part of her life. She is also a great part of ours.
SO, today we took photos at various favourite locations around our street, and I have photoshopped her in, to send to her, so that she can actually SEE herself with us.
It was a lot of fun. And as you can see, we're a great bunch of sisters!
This is us at Jan's house.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is not til tomorrow, but Mum's got a lot on tomorrow with Mandolin show etc, and some fuss being made of her by sister and nieces, so I chose today to do mine!
Thought of braving the crowds and finding a place that does High Tea somewhere, but then remembered my OWN tiered cake rack sitting forlornly in its alcove, and so gave Mum what she always likes: a nice quiet uninterrupted chat about life and its meanings. . .
oh, along with yummy mini spring rolls, salmon club sandwiches, lamingtons and raspberry tart. Polished up the silver teapot and found the last of the summer roses for the table.
We didn't eat it ALL - but we tried! Took the rest home to Dad for him to feel a part of it. I'm sure it's all gone now.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to my wonderful, caring, sweet, big-hearted Mum, who has put up with a lot through her life, much of it from her eldest daughter. I'm sure the Lord has a special crown lined up just for her.

'New' old car. . .

It's been all about cars lately - NOT my usual fascination. Here's the 'new' old car of Dad's that I now own. Sold my old one, and now this is in it's place in the garage. Must admit, it's not my usual colour and style, but it has no rust and lots of little extras I'm not used to, like AC!! Dad has since bought a sporty automatic Hyundai.
Meanwhile. . . Jan and I have become the self-appointed policewomen of the neighbourhood, always finding something to check out and remedy, be it a burglar alarm going off at the local florists, or - recently - this car wreck left on the corner of our street (by the tacky neighbours who are always in trouble). They pushed it around the corner and left it, and over the course of the next few days it was slowly dismantled in the dark of the night until it was a shell on blocks. We called the police and council and eventually it was towed away last night.
. . . the perpetrators of the little drama kept lurking around and at one point unbeknown to us both, Jan and then I approached them separately as they hung around the wreck and asked them what they were doing. We both got our cameras and took shots as they sped off into the distance. This is mine. Hee hee. We're having a day off from policing today - it's someone else's turn.

A small personal bit of research . . .

I would love to have your opinion about which style of painting you prefer. Want to head down a direction, and there are so many, so I thought I'd ask my trusty readers and friends for their own opinion. I don't think you need to sign in, so if you could just cast your eyes over the latest item in this blogsite and leave a comment I would be very happy. THANKS