About time ...

For a quick catch up on the past few months ...
A trip to Auckland end of March to visit with a brand new grandson

Then a quick visit to New Plymouth to visit the aged, sick and otherwise ..

Isaac met me at the airport coming home and tried out the exercycle with sunhat :)

Then a trip via the internet to Kate's capping.  At least it was lovely and warm by the fire which helped the leaky eye syndrome :)

A quick game of 10 pin bowling after work Friday night.  Stace was displaying her gorilla pose? and Isaac was inspired by where the balls popped up from!

 Later that night a freak wind came along and the largish tree that was at our gate had ended up across the road, and this was all that was left!

Just to show we are still supporting Sri Lanka when we had our organically grown fair trade Ginger Beer..

We along with Isaac have been interested to watch the monarch caterpillars turning into bwutterflies!

The two white camellias were in full bloom signifying another wedding anniversary.  Hard to believe 34 years.  Thanks Dianne & Kevin for the trees - given on our 25th.  They've been a picture of blooms, but the rain this past weekend have spoiled a lot.

Some gorgeous flowers for my birthday - thanks Mabel !

 And a nan sized cupcake from Isaac to have with my cup of tea at work :)  Thanks Isaac it was delicious !

The gingko tree has been spectacular again this year.. liquid gold.

Had a wonderful visit from Sheena & Eldon.  Tasting platters looking out over the water on a fantastic sunny saturday.

Two little boys with one farming toy..

Rex fed the calf while Dave & Stacey were up north.

A good morning tea visit with Les & Iris.

Next weekend we're in Christchurch. Just as we arrived a few police decided to park outside Marks gate to stop all the traffic to breath test and check vehicles... We slipped up the road the other way after discovering the road mileage was well over on the way down!  Of course Mark's pantry was bare so we had to go find food :)

A hired trailer and a vehicle with a tow bar meant Mark could have his long awaited for clean up around the property.  Lots of old broken concrete and bricks and rubbish.

 Buddy's new kennel and a brazier stoked made short work of lots of timber rubbish and shutters.

Mark's fantastic winter garden was in pristine condition with the help of Buddy!!

 Marks new chandelier was perfect for hanging laundry on a drizzly winters day making secondary use of the heat pump - after trying to keep me warm that is!  The neat little cottage turned into a chinese laundry.  Mark huffed and puffed about how warm it was (and how much power the heat pumps were using). It's a wonderful feeling on the other foot :)

Mark and Jody with Buddy after special meetings.

And this past weekend a visit from Matt, Amy & James for special meetings in Nelson.  They found our fireplace pretty hot !!

It was good to see how much James has grown and all the little talking gooey noises he makes.  We had breakfast together the day they left.  Managed a selfie of us keeping warm by the fire! James had been busy with his fingernails to forehead :)

One wasn't very happy about leaving... I wonder if the grin meant somebody was ?!  It was very quiet without them afterwards!

 Well that's a very long update... and now I've got to finish the pumpkin soup to keep me going for work lunches on these cold wintry days.

I'll update on the house renovations when I catch a breath and the electrician has been later this week!

Long steamy days mid March ...

Like everywhere its dry and very warm, and we're a couple weeks away from declaring a drought in the district.  But, its good for building sites :) The steps to our deck were finished.

The concrete slurry was placed down prior to the stonemason starting, and as a base for the pavers that will go on top.  We came home and they were a couple of barrows short, so Dad pitched in.

The stonemason then set up and started cluttering up the front yard.  People have had to come in the back door the past 2 weekends.

And tonight, the four big ones under the gingko are finished along with the two at the base of the steps.  Now Graham will be able to make the trusses that sit on posts to mirror above the front steps with a pergola for our wheeled seat to sit under.

 And the stonemason just has to do the four smaller ones in the centre which have wee copper bollard type lights on top.

The old chaise got a bit of a makeover in new fabric to see if I like the boldness in the lounge for a lounge suite.  The chaise will eventually go in our bedroom window :)

Saturday afternoon was a great day for Isaacs 2nd birthday at Washbourne Gardens.  Fish 'n chips and Thomas the Tank Engine chocolate cake in the park!  We had Margaret Andrews & Karina Chisnall staying with us.

Lots of presents.. including Paul the anatomically correct doll who has a dummy and bottle and wets and potties :)  Its an inspirational toy!  Isaac pulled the dummy out to plant a kiss on its lips, then lifted its vest up to blow bubbles on the tummy.

Some awesome red gumboots

 And a bright yellow shovel

Is it really two whole years since he was that bright eyed wee dot?!

At least Isaac hasn't forgotten how to take the time to smell the roses :)  xoxo

Oops it's 2013...

And I'm the last one to do a blog update!  Not sure who stealed the time away and not even sure where I should start.  Early new year went to Auckland for a 10 days to (pretend) help Amy get something sorted for the baby - guess she will update on all that sometime, and Sunday was a really hot day where we had to eat lunch outside in the park for some air and a walk around afterwards.

Then Kate and I had a couple of days in Taranaki, and got to see the Fitzroy beach - briefly.

 And then Isaac came to stay a night when I got home.... He totally attacked Marks 'big ted' who was 'weally hebby' ..

 Body slamming all over the lounge floor..

Then a little piano playing

And building blocks with Grandad with Big Ted watching on

The curtains are finally up in the smoke room

 Espalier apples looking delightful

 Dad had the digger home saturday scraping out the carpark area and cleaning up so decided to find the patch of lawn that always dies in summer - and yes he found the old septic tank, caved it in and filled it up.

Drains have all been done while we were away a week ago and downpipes connected

Graham concreted in the stormwater culvert on saturday

 And Stuart managed to spread some fill before sunday over all the dirt and drains

The laundry cabinetry is not quite finished.  Couple of drawer baskets to go under the ironing board but this gives you the gist..

The back deck when we got home last week

 And the wee deck outside our bedroom which is having two slab steps down onto the boardwalk fitted today

Tonight there are two new solatubes that are also lights in the laundry utility area, and its giving amazing light even after the sun has gone down!

 Dad's birthday john deere tractor seat on the back deck where he'll take his shoes off as he comes in :) Well that's the plan anyway...

 And our boardwalk ramp to the deck is entirely finished tonight, after I gave the boys the right curves to cut it by!!  Graham thought he would just do straight edges.  Now we can replant this area and hopefully nobody needs to stomp all over my ferns anymore.

And I reckon I've taken long enough here and its past my bedtime ... so will endeavor to not leave it so long next time. G'night.