Another consequence of Gary's departure for warmer places is a change in soaps. Every time I go to the local craft market I stock up on my favourite soaps from the soap-maker's extensive range. I admire all the strong and/or flowery scents but couldn't possibly use them (or even store them in my house) as the smell makes me feel ill, but they ( Read more... )

... hello to jigsaw!


( Read more... )

We gathered at my brother's place on Sunday night to celebrate my dad's 76th birthday (23rd May).

While there Niece #1 was handing out sheets of paper to everybody. What were they? Her list of things she wanted for her upcoming 13th birthday. I really admire an organised person who knows what they want!


( Read more... )

It has been getting colder here in Palmerston North; autumn, with a bit of rain, but no real bite ... yet. Just cold enough for the slippers to be disinterred from the back of the wardrobe and brought back into service ( Read more... )

... I start buying bulbs.

Got a bit inspired. Won't think it's such a great idea when I'm having to plant them, I daresay.

70 daffoldil bulbs


( Read more... )

I went off to the garden centre to buy some hay for the hedgehog house (to supplement what a friend had already donated ... it's a hedgehog mansion after all!) and for various reasons ended up coming home with barley straw. I am a complete townie and have only just had the straw/hay difference explained to me but the barley straw did seem nice and ( Read more... )

After spending thousands on clothes at one particular shop ... and not wearing a single thing I bought more than once (and most not at all) I finally cracked it with a wonderful tunic top in purple. Then the next season they had the very same top in another colour, something that's not their usual thing. Naturally I bought that too. And then ( Read more... )

I know I've been whining a bit about the early arrival of autumn/winter but though it was 4 degrees C overnight it is a lovely clear, bright day today and I took some photos of the views we see on our walk along the river bank.

Yesterday I walked the route in the other direction and though the walk much more pleasant.

( Photos )

I went a different route on my walk today and as I turned into the main street outside our little 'court' I saw a white-bodied, brown-legged cat crossing the road up ahead ( Read more... )

Autumn is here. I'm not a big fan of the season start dates which says that atumn starts on the 1 March, but this year there's been very little summer (apart from a bit of a mini heat wave a week ago) and how it's autumn. No mucking around - straight into it ( Read more... )