Charmed Once Again

Rob has just had some time off, two weeks in fact. Which seems almost unbelievable after so long holding on & all the "beginning all over again" business of a year or two ago. I had, had that silly tooth thing still going on in the first week so we decided to postpone our one night away...very good call as it turned out, since the week we were to have gone away we might have very well found ourselves blown off the road, such was the force of the rampaging winds that blew through this way for several days. We puttered off to Palmerston North on Tuesday for a night & had a lovely gentle time visiting at all the op shops, secondhand places & antique shops along the way.   

 Morning mist & low cloud in the valleys as we headed out of town.

Woodville is a small place but has a number of great secondhand shops, including the Woodville Mart, which has long been a favourite of ours. It seems that they have recently taken custody of a large extended doll family. They were a little shy (the doll's) but eventually conceded to a photo or two. 

 Apparently they all belonged to the one collector...love the black mammy doll that has popped her head up in the foreground!

 Quite a bedroom full I would think. I wonder what mischief they got up to together?

 We were so relieved to find Urban Charm of George Street still going strong & in fine form. Heather had recently bought some lovely things from a local "mansion" including this pretty bed canopy.

 What a dear little child's folding chair.

 Late in the day when we left our favourite shop we were enticed down the street by the aroma of roasting chestnuts!

 Street stalls are not a particularly common sight in New Zealand so we were so delighted to stop & chat a while & leave clutching a brown paper twist of hot chestnuts. They also had a few other delights like these toffeed almonds.

 Of course you would need a huge wooden spoon for such a task.

 Loved this sign just around the corner.

 Now, we did find a few treasures at our Urban Charm, including another gorgeous old washing basket in great condition, a fabulous vintage bevelled mirror & an Italian leather briefcase for "the man on holiday" who kindly offered to sit & supervise the purchases & eat the organic splendour apple that the chestnut man gave him, while I popped in to Arthur Toy (fabric shop) just across the way. I suppose we may have looked a little odd carting this lot back through town.

 I am always drawn to the fascinating lines of the architecture of the Palmy library. (student city)

 In our rounds we came across this, almost new, traveling bag for Matthew for $6.50 at the Salies, since he is presently a bagless student and off to England with his grandmother for the month of August. The bonus was to find a nearly new windbreaker in one of the pockets & an Australian book on dog obedience..extra useful I'm sure.

 Some of the older buildings in George Street have such a lovely feel like this florist...full of bouquets & pretty gifts.

 On our way out of town this Catholic Church spire loomed majestically up ahead.

 Quite tall really for round these parts.

 Such a lovely rural drive there & back. I can't imagine how this sign has got itself quite so battered..I mean to say, I've never actually hit a sign while driving along myself.

 I love the Tararua Ranges. They are dramatic & ever changing & will soon find themselves snowcapped.

 A lovely vista just out of Dannevirke.

 & along the way.

 20 minutes from home we found a new secondhand place at Pukehou right opposite the school, open Mondays, Wednesdays & Saturdays. I was thrilled to find this sturdy little table...just what I need in my potting shed. Mr Silly thought that he might like to have his tea right here. It fits in perfectly...in the potting shed!

 Good timing...it didn't rain until we were home safe & sound, but not so useful for drying washing. Fortunately, Rob has almost finished rejuvenating the grotty old shed & has created a wonderful place for  a washing line for just such drippy weather. (More about the larder soon)

 The skylight is perfect. I love being in this space. We both kept thinking that we needed to pop back for this delicious inexpensive Welsh blanket. It turned out to be one of those times where when you get it home you just love it so much you can't believe that you nearly left it behind.

 Things turned pretty sodden on Thursday indeed & very ungardening friendly so we gathered all our accumulated old mirrors & picture mirrors & put them on the wall in the front room. Very handy to have two for such a task...it's very tricky to see spaces & placement when you're the one holding the mirror. I had to pop out & get some milk, on my return I ventured out in the wet to capture the magic that we had made.

The sun has since returned & the camelias are beginning to bloom.

I'm still having a lovely time with Pinterest..thought you might like these thoroughly innovative chairs...now that IS imagination! Russian what's more.

Have a lovely week dear ones.

MUCH

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