Room with a View

I have been lucky enough to acquire my son's old computer as he has bought himself a lovely little AppleMac. Its much faster than my old one which means that I hardly ever curse when things go wrong because they hardly ever do! I have set this "new" one up in the spare room which makes it very handy to my sewing room and also gives me a gorgeous view of the woodland garden.
Those branches will be covered with blossoms come springtime.

For a few weeks the computer was atop a very ugly and large trestle table and I found myself hankering after something smaller and more vintage looking. Last Saturday, after a trawl around a few local second-hand dealers I found this very nice desk - it has two deep drawers for my junk and is just the right size for me. Its painted the white I wanted and only cost me $40. I feel very happy with myself and am enjoying sitting at it right now!

The beautiful screen saver is courtesy of my husband.

Linens to Love

Linens to Love on the corner of Tennyson and Market Streets in Napier are stocking this exclusive line of Sweet Mary lavender hearts - made from a black and cream printed linen with striped ticking back. Black satin ribbon to hang in wardrobe, as a decoration or as a special gift.

Back in Action

My colourful sister is staying at the moment so I have been getting out and about a bit more - which is just what I have needed. Legs are working well, still a little tender but feeling and looking so much better. Its been raining on and off for days but yesterday was mainly sunny so we headed over to Ahuriri for breakfast at Milk and Honey followed by a rather bracing walk around the Perfume Point boardwalk.

No wonder it was such a bracing walk - the breeze must have come straight off those snow capped mountains in the distance. Lovely views though.

Last weekend our Sunday dinner ended up with a Christmas mid-winter theme. Its a popular thing to do here in New Zealand as most of the traditional foods are just to heavy to eat at our summer Christmas. So, out came the ham, chicken ( no turkey!), roast vegies, cranberry sauce, brussel sprouts etc. And a very large bowl of bread sauce - we are a family who LOVE bread sauce. My English husband was very happy and for the rest of the evening told me how delicious it was. So big brownie points there. Luckily we are going to another mid-winter feast very soon.

On my first little outing after my op I bought this cute stool in a local shop. I have since seen them around in a few other shops which hasn't dented my enthusiasm for it one little bit.

Its a cutie.
Lastly, spring is not on the horizon yet but the polyanthus I planted weeks ago are flowering prettily and if you look closely you will see anemones just poking through, reminding me of the milder weather to come.

Out of Action

I am out of action for a wee while - I had varicose veins stripped from both legs last Friday.
Still feel a bit woozy from the general anaesthetic but I am up and about and by next week should be back in my workroom. Looking forward to "lumpless legs" this summer !

A Winters Day

I loaded these photos up on Friday with the thought that I would get back to finish my blog by the end of the day but its now Monday and I am not sure where the last two days disappeared to.
Anyway the above pic was taken early Friday morning from our lounge window looking out over the orchard. We woke up to a frosty morning. The house was very cold and I admit to dreaming quite alot about centrally heated houses. The dreams consist of pushing a button and by magic - instant heat!

The sun soon came out though and our pretty baby, Annie, found a warm spot in the sun curling up on layers of vegetation at the edge of the bamboo patch.

I spent a happy few hours in my workroom (heater on) finishing an order for Redcurrent in Wellington. My lavender wheat bags sell there and at the Redcurrent in Havelock North.

Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter

Over the last few days we have started the final autumn clean-up. Its officially winter here now in New Zealand but there is still alot of autumn colour around. I love pansies so like to fill any spare pots with them - these ones will be red and in the white washed pots should look very striking when they flower.

I think these pansies are mixed colours with an underplanting of anenomes and ranunculus. The bamboo canes are there to support the sweetpeas planted as seeds which hopefully will be climbing up them come the spring.

I wanted to leave this mountain of leaves as a haven for hedgehogs but the landlord doesn't agree so I will pack them into bags tomorrow to mulch down over the winter.

My favourite tree on this property is this glorious copper beech - it is huge and the most perfect shape. Photo taken from the rose garden where I am still picking the odd bunch - see blog below.

Today was a cold but sunny, cloudless, blue sky day.

Afternoon Tea and Roses

I have had a blogging break. I didn't plan it - it just happened. But now I am back and I have lots of pretty pictures to post over the next few days.

Last weekend was a 3 day one celebrating the Queen's birthday but unfortunately we spent a lot of it huddled around the fire as it was so cold. By Monday I had had enough of that and decided that if we had to stay indoors at least we could enjoy ourselves by eating something delicious.

An afternoon tea with friends cheered us all up. I baked the Victoria sponge, something I haven't done since leaving the UK over 6 years ago and it was very, very good if I may say so myself.

Peter made the very delicious cumin and cheese scones (my favourites). I know he would happily give me the recipe or I could maybe work it out for myself but its just not the same if I can't harass him into making them.

Off now to start on a new order for Redcurrent in Wellington but will blog again tomorrow.