Such a Colour-full World...

A week or two ago, before the storm called Lusi (glad they didn't spell it the other way) howled through our land, we found we had to be in Napier early one Friday evening to run a little errand. This strip of Art Deco inspired garden, green lawn & Sound Shell has always seemed welcoming & cheery, so we stopped for a small cider & cheese sort of picnic. The sun was still warm & friendly...

& we found some nice people had organised their friend a birthday surprise. We were pleased too..the music was lovely.

The following day we walked just around the corner from home to our dearly beloved & favourite Cornwall Park where my cousin Sally had organised her 14th International Cultures day. The event is always so colourful & full of life. I was enchanted by the Russian stall in particular this year.

The woman had made beautiful cakes.

Don't you love the tummy in the background of this photo!

And this gorgeous shouty heart. Joy!!

I stopped & got a mandi. The henna smelt very strong for hours but I loved it. My lovely Indian neighbour Sumana told me it was called a mandi. I look forward to seeing her wedding photos as apparently she had mandi painted all over both arms. Golly, she'd had to have been very still for quite some time so as not to smudge the wet henna. I didn't do a very good job of letting mine dry.

People are such great participators & volunteers, there were dozens & dozens of happy, willing folk out in force last Saturday manning the stalls at St Luke's Fair in Havelock North. I love Church fairs...they use affordable currency. I bought bags & bags of very old sheep manure that I'll feed to all the roses in the coming months.

There's a lovely retired Dutch man called Peter, who lives just down the road, who has been selling me his figs. They are magnificent! He has netting over the trees so they get to fully ripen without the birds getting in first. They taste like ambrosia. These ones are called Brown Turkey.

Sumana's little daughter knows where to find the "ballet dancers " in my garden now.

And dear Nina is a happy Fruit Lady assistant. 

We can hardly believe that we've had Lucy almost a year.

Don't quinces smell so wonderful.

Did you have a Nana who made quince jelly?

It's nice to just lie in the sunshine sometimes, isn't it.

We finally recieved a Cath Kidston catalogue in the mail last week, after years of asking.

Rob very soon spotted these chaps & rather took a fancy to them.

We've given Lucy a freshen up..

she does so love flowers.

I think we'll have to plan a little tea party to thank her for being such a wonderful friend.

It would be so nice if you could all come too.

And now she's also "safe as houses".

With much love to you all for a happy week,

Catherine, Rob & Lucy.

Thanks so much for popping in!

♥♥♥♥♥