Endings and beginnings

The church got together at my place last night for a soup pot luck, a roaring fire, and a meeting to follow. After the kids were settled down in Steve's room to see a DVD, we spent some time just singing. Then Mark read out an email he'd received from Nick earlier in the day. . .

Playing with filters on morning walk

Nothing like playing with filters to make the winter scenery on my walk so much more inviting.

Shortest day now behind us. . .

These are the demolished windows from our house, still lying on the lawn weeks later.
Nothing much happening for me but hibernation - lots of reading, lots of lolling in bed recovering from the winter cold, lots of baking/cooking (sigh). Just been over to help Helen dig out her weeds, and it's already dark now at 5.30. No cycling except up to the shops and back. Still, there's something to be said for laying low for a month or so.

Christchurch to see Meg and the boys

Bit of a cold trip down to Christchurch to catch up with Meg. Dropped about 10 degrees, and rain and greyness pervading all.
We managed to get to the movies twice, though, and ate chocolate beforehand.
In the morning, caught up with Jane at Caffe Roma for breakfast in front of fire.
One of a few great paintings Meg is working on.
Jack and Louis bored at Caffe Roma today.
Meg and I NOT bored.
Rather gorgeous view of the ridge of the alps shrouded in cloud as I came further north tonight.

Helen's birthday and other family things

Random photos from the big roast dinner we had last night in celebration of Helen's birthday

The golden season

A lovely thick mist softened all the hard edges on my walk around Te Atatu this morning.
making of a rubbish bin, a hallowed object
setting a small galleon sailing in dewy splendour through the teatree bush
enchanting the eye with this spider's craft

erasing the city completely
and making an oil painting of the inner harbour.

Next deconstruction item. . .

Now the difficulty is finding items to wear UNDER the tops I'm making. Not happy with either of the possibilities below, but I do like the tunic. So easy to put together when someone else has done buttons and collar.

Mother's Day 2010

This Mother's Day, we had High Tea at Woodglen Road, bringing all the little savouries and sweets and setting it all up on Mum and Dad's table.
Steve came on his motorbike with yummy bakery items, we had gluten free items for Jemma, and overall, more food than we could handle.
Lovely little celebration around the kidney-shaped table. (How appropriate)
Helen and Jem (who came up from Rotorua)
Once we finished the savoury items we loaded the tiered cake stand up with the sweet.





Ashley came in a bit later, after being at the bach mowing the lawn, and Phil called from California - Helen is holding phone so the speaker phone can be heard.

High tea for Mother's Day coming. . .

Sunday is Mother's Day, and we're doing a high tea for it - this is my start - some of my favourite Belgium Biscuits. I hope they make it to the weekend.