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Saturday 24 November 2012

Isabella and the Threads

The threads of life..
Isn't it fascinating to watch them come together in the weaving of our stories.
Warp & weft, under & over, dark & light, thick & thin..

I am so grateful to my American friends as they continue to share their own Thanksgiving stories & celebrations with us all.
 I have now picked up that particular thread too & I am stitching it into my life....I love the colour of Thanksgiving!
It's an easy thing to do, this catching up the thread, as my darling & I met at just this time, 34 years ago.

How lovely for us to find "Wedding Day" voluptuously sprawled along the front porch of Aroha Mountain Lodge last week. 
It's a comfortable drive from Te Aroha to Hamilton, where Shirley lives.
Mary (left) is my mother who had got lost but is now found, Shirley is my step-mother's sister & a strong thread of steadiest kindness & goodness.
We all gathered for lunch on Wednesday...an excellent plan, as it happens.
There was an exchange of recipes & chutney, lemon honey & Christmas treats.
And I collected my box of Trade Me bought, Old English Rose china, that Shirley had kindly picked up for me some months ago.
In passing, I caught a glimpse of colour..
so we re-traced our steps to find this clever piece of "urban knitting"
The tree tucked in beside this old Spitfire memorial..
coming closer we discovered the poppies around the perimeter..so sweet!
We found ourselves wandering in Parana Park..






Not all was sunshiney during our time in The Waikato..
but sometimes rain makes things quite magical.
Aunty Shirley introduced us to a lovely little shop called Zinnias. I found a wonderful card to share with you.
One rainy afternoon, I sat immersed in the heady fragrance of "Wedding day" & figured out how to make those crocheted angels. A bit wonky, but I don't think they mind.
The day after Hamilton we went to Paeroa, about half an hour away & fun to visit as there are plenty of  vintage shops to fossick in.
 Isn't this the grandest collection of old prams & push chairs.
You'd almost think that we'd been away for weeks when really it was only 5 days!
We were so comfy & relaxed we decided to stay just one more night & on the Friday made a little road trip to visit..Isabella
& Julie!!
As it turned out, poor Julie didn't get much notice of our imminent arrival & was busy mowing lawns before the weather closed in. So sweet of her to make us a cup of tea & let us have a lovely browse in her wonderful Threadbear Cottage. We even discovered that our sons had been born a week apart in the same maternity hospital in Hawera. We certainly did run out of time Julie but it was SO lovely to meet you...in person!
Rob fell in love with this hottie & it's cover!
Julie's mum did the knitting & Julie added the embellishments. There is a lovely crocheted butterfly on the other side.
When we returned to the lodge Greg had left us a bottle of bubbly..isn't that the most sparkingly kind of hospitality!!
Oh we are so thankful!!
God bless you all...I am so thankful for your visits & your friendship..those visible & those unseen : )
and the threads that you have woven in friendship through my life.

MUCH
♥♥♥♥♥

12 comments:

  1. Ahh yes, the threads of life, all entwining and intermingled...what a lovely post Catherine. And you met Julie and now she has a face to her threadbare cottage , am so happy :-)
    I love the crochet tree, the nicest one I have seen, lovely.
    You look so much like your Mum??
    So all that is left to say is Happy Anniversary!
    and send a hug from across the pond xx

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    1. Hello dear Sophie, oh there you are waiting through the back of the wardrobe! It really is another world isn't it & maybe even a much better one. We get to make it all up! Yes it was so lovely to meet Julie at her place & that Rob came too. Thank you for your kind wishes & hugs....back!

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  2. Lovely post.
    I love the crochet.

    Virtual Christmas party at my blog.
    What are your favorite Christmas memories?

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    1. Thank you Jorgelina. I'll pop in & see your Christmas party very soon. Mmm I'll have to ponder the favourite Christmas memories question...

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  3. What wonderful way to celebrate your life together. All the photos were lovely and I'm glad you had a wonderful time. Happy Anniversary from the US.

    Hugs,
    Sharon

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    1. Hello Sharon..thanks so much for your kind wishes. Happy Thanksgiving to you! Good of you to lend me your celebration ; ) Actually, we didn't really go away as an anniversary thing but it's all run in together, so it'll just have to be a thank full month all round! Lovely to see you. x

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  4. I can see your face in your mama's face. I love your flowered bloomers, GK!
    It looks like you had a pretty time of it! I love journeying with you.

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  5. Whoop, whoop I have threading Pom!! I needed code...now applied : ) Isn't it so strange, 'cos no one's ever reflected that I look like my mother before...it's nice. Yes, I love my bloomers too! People keep saying that all the pretties & the florals are coming back "in" & I always look at them funny & say I don't know what you're talking about they never went out!! I am so glad & grateful that you do journey with me..it's made all the difference in the world to my life! Much love & hugs x

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  6. This post was so warm and loving. I think Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday; wouldn't it be wonderful for the world to adopt it as well?

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    1. Hello dear Sandra...I whole heartedly agree. Well at least the effect is seeping further afield...I've caught on yay!! I was intrigued to read your Thanksgiving post. Thank you x0x0x

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  7. Hello Catherine, a lovely post indeed. The threads of our lives are certainly interesting - fancy you & I coming SO close to meeting in the Maternity Home by perhaps a day or maybe even hours - just was not the time for us to meet up then :-) I have been to Arkrights in Paeroa - a very interesting shop to poke about in.
    So glad Rob loves his Hottie - have passed his gratitude on to my Mum. Please remind him he did promise NOT to photograph my "gardening/lawn mowing" shoes! ! ! Thankyou both again for calling to visit, was SUCH a treat. Congratulations on your anniversary also. Love Julie Xox

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  8. Yes well I"VE got gardening shoes just like that so stop your fussing! I thought about chopping our legs off but then we would have been legless & that would never do! Yes so close in that week but ships in the night. Arkwrights is great for the poking around bit but the prices are outrageous! So glad you mentioned the hottie love to your mum. A clever idea the empty baskets to keep the bunnies at bay. If it makes you feel any better my brothers chooks just got eaten by a stoat (or was it a weasle) eek...poor chookies! Thanks for your nice wishes x0x0x

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So lovely of you to leave a comment. Thank you!! So sorry if you've tried to leave one & it hasn't worked. You are welcome to email me at catherine@sunshinevintage.nz instead, if you'd like to, much love Catherine♥

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