Midwinter Christmas Party

We just enjoyed our annual mid-winter Christmas dinner last night - this time at the lovely home of Cathy and Gordon, who did an excellent job of setting it all up, having the tree decorated and the ambience just right, AND the roast lamb looking mouth-watering.
Peter came with a good selection of wine which joined the wine brought by others, and this is a typical profile of him about to open the 'right' bottle. . .
and this was the roast dinner spread when all laid out. Naomi did a great job of the roast vegies, which included some wonderful yams.
Little pockets of conversation and laughter all night. Here's Linda, Dave and Mike catching up on a year's news.
AND who knows what these lads are talking about.
Naomi and I in red and green.
The table is almost ready. The camera never did get the right angle.
Lovely Helen and Naomi!
The roast is carved.
Gene providing entertainment (of sorts)
and finally we are THERE!
Linda had made an apple and berry pie, and I made a boiled pudding, which we lit and served. And later, with coffee, we enjoyed Helen's homemade chocolate truffles. YUM.
To finish the evening we opened the presents under the tree, swapping them if we didn't like them as much as someone else's. Great fun.

Ashley heads to his school ball

Ashley's last year at school, so he's headed off to the school ball tonight, taking some of his friends in his car, and sorting out an outfit to wear. We think he brushed up rather well.
Grandma phoned to wish him well . . .
caught at the door before heading out to put on shoes. . .
and just about to leave. What a handsome lad.

Squally weekend

Here are my dear nephew and niece on the day she is heading down to Rotorua for two weeks. Ash is going to drive her to the bus stop, and she has been ready for hours! She can't wait to see IAN who is waiting at the other end.
. . . and took a rare chance to have a photo with Ashley!
Ash is in his car, and his Mum is having some final words with the two of them. . . sniff, where did those 'babes in the wood' go? Only yesterday they were needing to sit in bumper seats in the back!
Farewells with Mum and Daughter.
. . . and they're off.
THEN Helen and I went walking in the Waitakeres, with the customary chicken soup in a thermos.

Saturday Farmers Market, Matakana

It was a glorious crisp winter day today, so I set off early from Auckland for the one hour drive North to Warkworth, and then out to Matakana Farmers Market. I visited a friend from my design course who lives here with her husband, and my good friend GENE. Here he is on the balcony of his Snells Beach home with flatmate and I for lunch.
Gene attempting to make the cupboard door knob his eye.
The Matakana Farmers Market was wonderful. I'm heading down the hill towards it here. . .
Fresh Puhoi cheeses. . .
Rows of pretty stalls with red and white canopies. . .

Duck all ready for cooking/serving.


Bought a bag of these mandarins. . .
the jazz players were going in the background most of the time
and across the road, the antique and second hand market was in full swing. Bought a lovely paua necklace here.

I have new paintings. . .

What do you think?? Check them out here or on side link. "You know you want to!"

Queen's Birthday Weekend in the Waikato

Well, another lovely four days spent down at the Nursery. Here's the crisp clean view from the main living room window. What a pleasant relief from the usual rows of house roofs.
Every morning there was a fog except for this morning. . . still, it made for great photography


. . . Peter was his usual self - here he is with a cup of tea AND cup of coffee, after they overlapped in his slowness in sipping.
I enjoyed roaming the Nursery gardens again and taking photos.

On Sunday Peter and I went bushwalking - through pretty drippy, dense bush too.
the flavour of the season is MUSHROOM and TOADSTOOL. These are just some of them:

unbelievable aren't they? These are lattice-like basket toadstools on the side garden at the house.
Peter drove my new car - I'm sure Dad would be pleased to see this photo!
and we'll finish with the lunch we had after the bush walk at Pirongia.

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.