Central Hawkes Bay

On Peter's birthday we went for a drive down to Central Hawkes Bay. Here are some of my pics.

We had breakfast at The Paper Mulberry. Minnie is there so the waitress knows which table to deliver our food too, so much nicer than a number.

Growing old disgracefully

In the lovely spring weather today I found this bevy of beautiful ladies, all decked out in red and purple. I think they must have read this poem.

Growing old disgracefully....................................

When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired
and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
and run my stick along the public railings
and make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
and pick the flowers in other people's gardens
and learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
and eat three pounds of sausages at a go
or only bread and pickles for a week
and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
and pay our rent and not swear in the street
and set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

by Jenny Joseph

Every time I hear this poem I think of my mum's friend Francis. It was read at her funeral, while the snow fell soflty outside.

My pantry

For some strange reason I love the sight of a well stocked tidy larder. I don't know why, I just love to open the door and peer in. Weird or what. Mind you I did find my youngest in there last week reading a book, sitting on the steps and eating crisps. I suppose it keeps the crumbs in one place!

The layout of ours was not working the way we had it set up. So last weekend I emptied it out and reorganised. It works a lot better now. Everything I need can be seen and is in easy reach.

Spring is blossom time

The first blossom has appeared on the plum trees and the quince bushes.

The quince blossom smells heavenly.

I brought some of the quince blossom into the house it was so beautiful.

A strange thing happened to the blossom. It lost its colour and almost turned white. You can see the blossom, a few pics above, is very orangey peachey. I wonder why.

At the bottom of the garden today

The wattle tree at the bottom of the garden is in full bloom and attracting the tuis.

I almost managed to get a clear recording of a Tui at the top of the wattle tree, but the next door neighbours kids screeched at the wrong time. You can still here the sound almost.

Hair today, gone tomorrow............I hope not

One of the side effects of taking Warfarin is that my hair is falling out. I have lost a lot of hair. So far no bald patches, but if they do appear, I will shave my head. I would rather loose the lot than have to have a comb over. Fingers crossed when I stop taking Warfarin, on October 3rd, it will start to grow back.

Today's daisy #91

Today's daisy in the spring light. The first daisy for a very long time.

First signs of Spring

The first signs that spring is on the way have arrived.

Daffodils in pots.

Primroses in tins.

Violets all over the place.

And the mandarins are almost ripe.

Snow White and the seven eggs..............

Can you see the face of one of the seven dwarfs in my frying pan. I wonder which one it is.

Is it a block of wood or is it a cat ...............

What do you mean the birds can still see me. I'm convincingly disguised as a block of wood.

Mid Winter Christmas

A full christmas dinner is not great in the heat of the summer. So this winter we had some mates over and had a full Mid Winter Christmas dinner. Only 6 months late. We did the full thing complete with crackers and decorations. Sorry no picks of the meal, just of the remains the next day.

More winter morning light

Winter sun rising through the mists.

Winter Sunshine

A trip to work on a sunny winters morning.

Past lots of vinyards.

I love the colour of the morning light on the bare winter trees.

Shadows

Walking to my car from work, I noticed these shadows of leaves on the pavement.

Misty Winter's Morning

It's almost midwinter here.

The sun rises late in the mornings at the moment.

And shines through the morning mists.

Very photogenically.
My son was doing the driving giving me a chance to take photos.

My Shiney New Friend

After being dishwasherless for two years, we have got a new one at last. Meet my shiney new friend in the kitchen. Two drawers work well for my family, they are always after snacks, and making more and more dishes. Now when one drawer is working they can fill up the other one. And I don't have to wash dishes anymore. Hooray.

How did she get up there?

How did she get up there? Do I really want to know?

Roaring in like a Lion

Winter has arrived in Hawkes Bay. It has come roaring in. We have even had snow on Te Mata Peak. A very rare happening.

In the few years we have lived here we have not had frost at this time of year. This year I have had to defrost my car on a number of mornings now.

So good to be able to come into the warm with a lovley wood fire. The few below is not from my lounge. It is Keriann's. She invited us round for a lovley afternoon tea last week on the Queen's birthday holiday. Have a look over here to see the lovely food she served up.

Hopefully winter will leave like a lamb, roll on spring time.

Winter Boots

At the end of last winter I bought this pair of boots very, very, very cheaply in the sales. They were reduced by $200! I really, really love them. I have been waiting all year to wear them. The thought almost makes winter bearable.
But then I fell over and broke my ankle. It will be ok I thought, plenty of winter left after I get the plaster off. What I did not think of was the fact that my ankle would be swollen for quite a long time after the plaster comes off. The doctor mentioned a whole year before the swelling went down.

Thankfully that is not the case. I have been wriggling my ankle at every opportunity. And my boots fit, I can wear them at last.

Moon rise

While cooking the evening meal, I got distracted watching the moon rising. One day I will capture what I can see, but till then you will have to put up with the blurry images.