Fairies, dinosaurs and winter colour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter is officially only a few days away.  And the past couple of days have been really chilly.  We have had the fire going and wrapping up warm first thing in the morning.

 

The boys have been playing outside till dinner is ready or until it is just too cold when they very reluctantly come indoors at my request.  They seem to withstand the cold a lot better than I do.

 

I have given the fairy garden an overhaul.  It was looking a little sad.  So out came all the old plants and I have replaced these with lots of different seedlings so in a months time or so there should be bursts of colour coming through.  We added lots of shells and coloured stones to fill in the gaps until things start to get growing.

 

The dinosaur garden needed nothing doing to it.  The plants have done really well in their space and have filled in the barrel well, along with some rosemary which has self seeded itself a spot along side.

 

And with winter making itself known I've been thinking about garden colour.  I have started with the pots on the outdoor table and will look into planting in more border colour about the garden.  Would be really nice to have some pretty flowers to admire and pick come the thick of winter.

 

Hope your week has been a good one?!

 

 

Isla and Olive giveaway winner

 

 

Thank you to Isla and Olive for providing such a beautiful collection of stationery for this wonderful giveaway..........

Featuring a woodland animal/floral theme, all invites, cards and tags are beautifully handmade here in New Zealand and printed on quality card.

 

Prize pack includes:

 a pack of invitations (10 invites)

two packs of cards (1 in each pack)

four small packs of gift cards. (1 in each pack)

 

 

And the lucky winner is:

Stacey Knight

(Winner chosen using Random.org)

Please drop me an email with your contact details to: alittlebitcountrynz (at) gmail (dot) com so that I can post you your prizes.

 

 

Happy week to you lovelies!

 

 

 

TwentyOne/52

 

"Portraits of my boys, once a week, every week, in 2014."

 

Tom - complete concentration and determination while learning how to jump rope.

George - free spirit, absolutely.

 

Joining in with Jodi's "52 project".

10 random things

 

I hate bruised fruit - turns my stomach something awful.  I'm always inspecting fruit before eating it and if I see it in the bin I have to cover it up, yuck!

I can only drive automatic cars, can not for the life of me learn how to drive a stick shift.  I've had lessons, the works.  The best I can manage is a few dismal bunny hops.  I can't parallel park either.

I can turn my eyelids inside out, gross but really effective in frightening small children.

I played the piano from the age of seven till my high school years.   I played the violin for a short while to but wish I knew how to play the cello.

I am not a food snob.........due to the fact that I love cheese singles (the ones in plastic wrappers) on toast, comfort food to me.  See told you I was classy.

I've been wearing glasses since I was nine.  I'm so used to wearing them that on the odd occasion I have contacts in I find myself still pushing them up on my nose.

I laugh LOUDLY.  And when I'm nervous.

I would love more children...........Mr H is not keen.  He said he would like to sleep more.  Some days I am in agreement.  I think I will always be broody.

Two years ago I never thought that our "trial" move to the country would be permanent.  I never dreamt I would fall in love with where we are living and want to stay for a very long time.  I can't believe I make jam and keep chickens!

I love an Eighties Love Ballad - one of the many good things about living in the country is that you can play music loud and sing your heart out and no one will hear you.............unless there is a courier.........standing at the window........laughing.

So there you have it.  10 random things about me.  Tell me something about you.  Go on you know you want too!

Don't forget to enter this gorgeous giveaway!

Twenty/52

 

 

 

 

 

"Portraits of my boys, once a week, every week, in 2014."

 

Tom - foraging for acorns in the afternoon sun.  This Autumn has been good to us.

George - enjoying the sunshine.  And that hair - has a mind of it's own.

 

Joining in with Jodi's "52 project".

 

Isla and Olive giveaway

I haven't done a giveaway since last year on the blog but couldn't resist as the stationery collection above is beautifully handmade by a very good friend and it's something I know a lot of readers will love.

 

 My very creative friend owns Isla & Olive - some of you may know her from previous posts.  We met in antenatal class coming up six years ago and have been firm friends since.  She is always up to something creative, this being her newest venture.

 

Featuring a woodland animal/floral theme, all invites, cards and tags are beautifully handmade here in New Zealand and printed on quality card.

 

One lucky winner will win:

 a pack of invitations (10 invites)

two packs of cards (1 in each pack)

four small packs of gift cards. (1 in each pack)

 

All you need to do to enter is:

 

"Like" Isla and Olive on Facebook and leave a comment below.

 

Not on Facebook?  You are most welcome to enter, just leave a comment below.

 

This is an International Giveaway.

 

 

Giveaway closes on Sunday 25 May at 11:59pm (NZ Time)

This giveaway is now closed.

 

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

Milk glass, welcome treats and making

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

The colder weather is settling in and with that a little more time is spent indoors (for me anyway).

 

My milk glass collection is starting to take shape.  The vases are sitting with my recently potted succulents.

 

A few treats were enjoyed on Mothers day, breakfast in bed, chocolates (long gone) and homemade treats from the kids.  Mr H did well (although I did hint heavily) with a Maeve Binchy book and the newest My Petite Kitchen cook book.

 

Scraps of vintage wallpaper and tourist maps have been made into necklaces.

 

The wool blankets are on the beds and the fire place ready.  My slow cooker has been working over time, playing host to beef and lentil stews and Sophie's shared recipe of Country Chicken soup.  Cottage pie was enjoyed one night this week, along with creamy pasta dishes and heaving bowls of steamed mussels.

 

I've been baking biscuits, chocolate/coconut cake and date loaves.

 

The Autumn colours are still showing off as is the sweet afternoon light.

 

 

Hope you have had a good week so far? 

 

Tell me what you have been up to or pop in a link in the comments section so we can stop by.

 

Joining in here with Meg and here with Em.

 

 

Nineteen/52

"Portraits of my boys, once a week, every week, in 2014."

 

Tom - climbing, adventuring and always chatting.

George - cheeky, happy, busy and most often grubby faced.

 

Joining in with Jodi's "52 project".

 

Succulents in Crown Lynn cups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've never been very good at keeping indoor plants, they tend to die a long and slow death.  I love having fresh flowers inside but as far as plants go, up until today I had only one lonely succulent occupying our home.

 

Now, as some of you long time readers may have worked out, I have a (ahem) bit of a thing for Crown Lynn crockery.  In particular cups and saucers.  I have a small pile of cups with no saucers so I thought that they would be perfect to house a some succulents in.

 

I put a few stones in the bottom of each cup and filled with potting mix and a succulent each.  These need limited watering so they don't require a hole in the bottom for drainage.

 

I now have my three Crown Lynn cups potted up with a pretty succulent and they will sit quite happily I think on the Granny Cabinet.

 

 I have more cups to fill and maybe the odd Teapot too.

How are you with indoor plants?  Flourishing or flailing?

 

Any ideas for different types of planting "vessels"?  I always liked the look of plants in old boots by the front door.

 

Op shop finds for an outdoor play kitchen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My boys love playing outside, even with the colder weather approaching they still love to be outside.  And preferably if mud and water are involved.

 

My kitchen cups, plates and pots usually end up outside followed by a very hot cycle in the dishwasher after scraping all the mud off.

 

For this winter (and beyond) I want to create an outdoor play kitchen for the boys for them to make their mud pies in.  Nothing expensive or fancy.  Just op shopped kitchenware and anything else I can get my hands on.  A basin will required along with cupboards and shelves.

 

Over the school holidays I visited a couple of op shops and found a great assortment ranging in price from 50 cents to $3.  There are still a few things to find but I am nearly there.

 

Next is to source some crates or unused furniture to turn into the kitchen.  A spot under the eaves of the house in the garden will provide a bit of shelter.  Other than that it is a kitchen to be used for creating and getting no doubt very muddy - it is not going to be a pretty one!

 

My favourite finds are the picnic set with mugs and matching plates in great retro colours and the white Corning Ware coffee pot.

 

Looking forward to showing you the finished "kitchen" very soon.



 

Eighteen/52

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Portraits of my boys, once a week, every week, in 2014."

 

Tom

George

 

Joining in with Jodi's "52 project".