Around here

 

 

I've finished setting up my sewing space.  It looks really cosy.  There is a lot of natural light and sun filters in from early in the morning.  My materials are tucked away in the draws, but that doesn't mean that I don't find them thrown about the room on occasion.  And the pin cushion is a constant drawcard.

 

 

I have a corner spot for some of the boys toys.  The chairs sunny position is great for reading a book and drinking a cuppa and I can watch the boys play in the front garden from here.  Bell likes to use the space to practice her dancing in too.  Mr H still has his dart board up, which I have decorated with bunting, ha!

 

 

Channelling my inner Julia Child..........butter with everything.

 

 

Moving things round in the kitchen.  Glass milk jugs on display.

 

 

Doesn't take a lot these days to make me happy.  Bubbles and chocolate will do it.  I branched out and tried Lindt chocolate.  No where near as good as Mr Whittaker's.

 

 

My well worn Edmonds cookbook.  Complete with graffiti.

 

 

Pikelet's for morning tea, smothered with Nutella.  I'm a jam and cream girl myself.

 

 

Teachers only day for Tom on Monday - Pikelets, a movie and Lego were requested.

 

 

Signs of Autumn creeping in.  Leaves on the water tank are turning crimson.

 

 

But it has still been hot with only one day of rain in the weekend.  We are still swimming and eating outside.

 

 

We have two new family members.  Alfie and Robert.  The cutest little Guinea Pigs I have ever seen.  I'm a bit smitten.  I take them out of their home during the day for cuddles and take vegetable treats into them throughout the day.

 

 

 

 

Hope you are having a good week!

 

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is."

Joining in here with Meg and here with Em.

 

Always room for one more............

Introducing Kevin.........

I missed out on this little guy over a week ago and then received a phone call the day after we bought Maybell home saying there had been a change of plans and that he was available again.  We were introduced and after finding out his name was "Kevin" how could we NOT take him.  I love people names on dog's so have also given him the middle name of Murray.............poor chap.

He is a miniature foxy cross and a big sook.  I had an afternoon snooze with George yesterday and woke up to find Kevin in between us.  He does'nt like being on his own and follows me everywhere.  He is working out to be a great little mate for Maybell.  They chase each other around outside like crazy and will hopefully keep each other company during the day if we are not home.

The kids love him and he gets lots of "squeezes".  He is another great addition to our home.

School holidays, mushrooms and Maybell

It is the first day of school holidays here in New Zealand. I love the term break, even more so when everyone behaves! We have swimming each morning this week which will be a good motivator for getting everyone up and out of the house each morning.

And the rain has come, the damp conditions I think have been a factor in the arrival of the vast amount of mushrooms which are growing in the back yard. I need to do some research to see if they are edible.....will test them out on Mr H first.

We don't have any huge plans for the coming 2 weeks. Friends over to play, baking with the kids and some craft are on my list as is the need to get into the garden. My very overgrown vege garden needs weeding and planting up. Now that the much needed rain has arrived - the timing is perfect.

Most exciting of all around here is the arrival of Maybell. Mr H and Bell travelled south on Sunday to pick her up. She is a farm dog who has no interest in sheep or cattle so they could'nt keep her. She has the loveliest nature and is lapping up all of the attention with the added bonus of being allowed to sleep in the laundry. She was a working dog, so she is in heaven with all the fuss we are making of her.

Have you had or are you in the midst of school holidays? What are your plans? Any great holiday fun suggestions?

Do you have a vege garden? What are you planting?

Around here...........

Fresh flowers around the home.  The white ones are from my Sister n law Em and the pink ones picked on one of our walks.  I have no idea what they are hence the "white" and "pink" names.

Smoked chillies from a friend.  He grows them and smokes them himself.  Not sure what Mr H has instore for these, but they smell so good I just want to eat them from the bag.

The North Island of New Zealand is currently experiencing a drought.  Some areas have not had rain since Christmas.  After the few days of grey last week I put the winter woollen blankets on the bed.  This week they are off again and I even have the fans out too.  Our area is predicted to not get any decent rainfall until May!  Last year we had such a wet Summer and Winter.  So this has come as a bit of a shock.

My  poor vegetable garden.  The idea was to not plant this up until Autumn/Winter as the Summer heat just burns everything.  It is so dry at the moment.  And even though we are on tank water there are huge water restrictions in place everywhere so I don't even want to use our garden hoses which are hooked up to the vineyard bores.  Today it is 30 degrees.  And I think we had a light shower during the night........which probably amounted to a tablespoon of water!

I have started on my china cabinet.  Mr H showed me how to use the electric sander, but I hate it.  Not kind on the senses.  The boys hate the noise too.  So I'm going to continue the sanding by hand.  I have a beeswax polish to finish it off with.

Spaghetti, cheese, bacon and onion baskets.  A weekend snack for the kids.

Our new furry friends.  Violet on the left and Dash on the right.  I was only mean't to get one.  But they are brother and sister and I did not want to separate them.  We have hardly seen them since they arrived on Saturday.  They spend their days hiding in the corn fields next door.  We are going to tempt them inside for a few days so they can get used to us (and the noise).

Have a great week!  What's happening in your part of the world?

 

 

Charlie

 

 

 

 

It has been a very emotional weekend in our house.  Our dog Charlie died.  He was hit by our car as we left the house Saturday morning.  He has always chased everyones cars as they left the house.  This particular morning we thought he was clear........

 

It has been very devasting for Bell.  Lots of extra TLC needed here this weekend.  I thought it would be Tom who would have difficulty with Charlie dying, but as children often do he has been a total surprise.  Hugging and kissing Charlie before we buried him and comforting Bell.  I wonder how he will be as the week goes on and Charlie is'nt around to play with.  He was so loyal and always stayed with the boys when they played outside.

 

We have buried Charlie by the vineyard fence.  He spent his days running around the vines and following the vineyard workers everywhere (even riding on the quad bikes with them).  He used to be out all day and then would come back in the afternoon to snooze in the sun.  What a life!

 

We love and miss you Charlie. xo

Charlie

This is Tom with our Jack Russell pup Charlie who is now 5 months old.

 

 

I thought it would be great that now we are in the country the kids could have a puppy.

 

I wondered to begin with what on earth was I thinking.  With 3 kiddies it feels crazy enough somedays without adding a naughty puppy to the mix.  We had a love hate relationship to begin with as he seemed to like peeing and pooing inside and never outside!

 

He is starting to grow on me now though.  As it is still cold at night he sleeps in the laundry but is free range outside during the day which is exactly how I hoped it would be.

 

He is Tom's best mate.  I love seeing the both of them running around outside together.  Charlie loves his walks in the vineyard and chasing the rabbits if he can spot them.

 

He is (now) a lovely addition to our family.