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Monday 30 May 2011

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
♥♥♥♥♥

Monday 23 May 2011

Winding down through autumn

Winding down through autumn, leaves falling, colours blazing, wax eyes feasting on the last of the over-ripe figs. The days are drawing in, the light has changed the shades of day to depths of wonder & intense vigor  
 Fragile poppies have emerged in all their sweet delicacy.

 and sol d'or's have rumbuctiously burst forth like over -zealous dancers, stumbling on to the stage before the orchestra strikes up the opening bars.  

I have had the strangest week or two. I had a filling break again (the one that always breaks when there is something wrong in the family) & my dentist couldn't see me for 8 weeks or more. Then came the pain & all my teeth seemed to be on edge. Pain & anxiety are hopelessly distracting & highly detracting from the nicer things of life. Eventually I got in to see Rob's dentist & the fix wasn't so hard after all. I've now "crossed over"... I certainly don't want to go through that performance again. And the family thing..a biggie & I think that it's just plain broken! (Rob's that is)

With a few days of very high winds, all kinds of things came to ground, other than a myriad leaves. Luca & I found these on or journey home from kindy last week. They are from an evergreen magnolia tree.  I'm not quite sure if they are beginnings or endings?
 With a texture like velvet.

Every May issue of the British Country Living magazine, with the reinvented display of bluebell woods sends me in to raptures. 
 And look Betty, there's our picnic (sewing basket) right there in the middle of things.
I have continued making use of every last guava from our highly obliging tree & have also managed some quince & feijoa paste as well. If you'd like to see how I've made it do pop in here.

 We are finding the moon in unexpected places & the evening skies are often drenched in satisfying colour.
I bought this linen bag from Trade Me this week for an Op shop price..40's fabric, in unused condition.
  I just adore it!!!
 Which reminded me of a picture in an old Country Living from 2004. Just the cutest idea for a peg bag.
 And I simply must make some of these little pot handle holders for the handles of our enamel cast iron frypans. The frypans are fabulous for making frittata but you can forget how hot they are when they come out of the oven...ouch! The ones in the picture were made using an old felted jersey & vintage woolen blanket scraps.
 I loved this cute autumn setting too.
I came across this dear wee coat on Trade Me this week. Just the sweetest, warmest little coat. The seller missmollycoddle also makes fabric shoes. I don't suppose anyone has a pattern for a coat like this one floating around in the sewing room somewhere...I certainly have a blanket or two that could be put to good use?  

I recently found this vintage wooden dolls cot in Connections. I crocheted the little blanket years ago when we lived in Taranaki & all you could find for inspiration was the occasional McCall's magazine. I found my very first one about to be cut up by 5 year olds in a classroom!

 I came across a bunny friend for Bertie for 50c this week... he's French ; )
 I never seem to have quite enough time to do all the things I'd love to do so I'm quite keen on taking shortcuts like acquiring 50c French rabbits.
 You may have already discovered Pinterest, a virtual pinboard/ scrapbook site. I've had fun there this week having a wee look around & found this cute pic.
 I was really pleased to find this pretty top at Savemart on Thursday & the cotton scarf/pashmina at the Sunday market this morning.
 Such pretty colours & so unscratchy & warm. I 'm sure any of these brooches would be sweet with it too..don't you think?
Charlie found himself a happy place in my wheelbarrow under the feijoa tree this afternoon.
 Silly old thing.
When I was 17 I stayed up all night once, with my friend Stephen & we took turns reading from Winnie the Pooh, until we had read it right through with silly voices & tiddly poms. 
 " If the the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may be that he simply has a small piece of fluff in his ear". Now what do you say...any one keen to join in a favourite things from Winnie the Pooh week, or the suchlike?? Do let me know what you think.
Thanks so much for coming by. Always lovely to see you.
Oh yes, I nearly forgot. The flowers below came from a Far Far Hill blogspot...such wonderful free down loads of pretty things.  
♥♥♥♥♥

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