Friday 28 October 2016

More randomness :)

As you will see, the weather has been random if nothing else.

A couple of weeks ago I walked to help raise money for Hart Walkers.  These walkers or 'child orthotic trainers' cost $NZ9,850. I thought the response to this appeal for people to walk was really disappointing. Below is a picture of everyone who turned up at the event where I took part. We walked around one of the local race courses, several times in fact. I did 10 ks.  I'm not sure how much was raised. It started out cool and overcast and became 
warm and overcast :)


One lovely sunny morning last week both my girls arrived over and decided to take me shopping for flowers for the garden. We headed out towards the airport where there is a roadside stall with an honesty box and picked through the plants for sale. I came home with some lovely pansies that I've planted out into boxes. There was one pottle of sweet little black ones but my daughter got to them before me. Bummer :) That evening we had thunder and lightning and a hailstorm.


I spent long time one evening wrapping small gifts for a ladies afternoon tea I was going to. Isn't it  amazing how long it takes to wrap these small parcels, you look at them and think this won't take long, but in fact when you have a reasonable number of them it can take hours. Still they were appreciated by the people who received them. I took them outside to photograph mid morning after a soft rain had been falling most of the night.


I went to the Christmas ( I know, it's still a while off, well only 8 weeks actually) afternoon tea yesterday and had a nice relaxing time. My little mother came with me but was ready for home after an hour or so. She enjoyed watching the 'passing traffic' as she called everyone, and she had a catchup with one or two people she hadn't seen for a while. There was a nice spread and I was able to bring home a couple of goodies for my GKB. It was a lovely warm day and we had the doors opened out to the lawn so people could stroll about if they wanted to. The lawn has a haha wall before it drops to a lower level and has a lovely view out over the plain. 

looking north towards the hills

 I've finished reading one of the Narnia books as part of the 
reading challenge I'm taking part in and have started on my next one. I know The Magician's nephew by C.S. Lewis is aimed at children but I enjoyed reading some of this series to my kids. I can't remember reading this particular one to them though and enjoyed it anyway. Easy reading. Some days have been warm and sunny and I have been able to sit outside for a while to read. Actually I rolled my trouser legs up one morning and noticed later in the day that my legs were a bit burnt!


joining Amy and her friends for:
Five on Friday

23 comments:

  1. Wonderful to get out with your daughter and Mum! Pansies are such happy little flowers. I have not read the Narnia books yet, but always wanted to. Beautiful scenery you have shared of the lovely green valley. xx Karen

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  2. I totally agree about wrapping it takes a surprising amount of time, I'm always shocked at how long.

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  3. What a beautiful view! Your wrapped up parcels look great fun. Glad you've had a good week.

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  4. Hi Diana. Good to see a post from you, and I was glad to see that you were able to take mum out for a little outing. I love pansies, with their cheery little faces! I agree, wrapping parcels can take an age. That does look like a disappointing turnout for that charity walk. Well done you for participating 😊👏.

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  5. Wrapping parcels can certainly take a lot longer than you think. I like to make a start as early as possible for Christmas, I can't stand the last minute stress. I love how you topped your parcels with a candy cane, such a simple but effective idea.

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  6. I'm glad you were able to get some pansies to plant. Such sweet flowers. I've wrapped small parcels before and yes, they do thake time! It is hard to believe that Christmas is so close! Have a lovely day.

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  7. So glad to see a post from you this morning Diana. Like you I am thinking of Christmas and making and purchasing some gifts. You are right, those little packages are fiddly!! It seems my fingers are not as adept at wrapping as they once were. So glad Little Mother got to have an afternoon out. Give her a hello from me.

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  8. Sounds like you had nice times with your mum and daughter. The packages look really cute all wrapped and presented in the basket like that. Your flowers look so bright and colourful.

    Happy Five on Friday

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  9. Good times you have been having! It is a shame more people were not there for the walk, but it is good that those who made it went and walked. Beautiful gifts for your friends, glad you had a great time at your tea. Thank you for being part of Five On Friday, hope you have a great weekend!

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  10. It seems your weather has been mixed, but perhaps more sunny than showery and you were able to get out with your daughters to shop for some pretty pansies for your planters. That's good. I'm glad you were able to take your mother to the afternoon tea and that you could take part in the Hart Walk which was for a very good cause. The basket of gifts looks lovely and I'm sure appreciated. I hope you enjoy your reading challenge and also your devotional book.

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  11. Pansies are one of my favorite flowers! We can usually enjoy them for three our of the four seasons here. Occasionally through winter on the porch even. Bless your heart for taking the time to raise money for a good cause. We are in a rainy time of the year here so reading outside sounds dreamy...

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  12. It sounds like a busy week but fun and productive. I will especially seeing your flowers during the next number of months as we are getting to end offall here and winter will be around the corner in Canada.

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  13. Diana, I can't believe it is only 8 weeks until Christmas! I am not ready at all! Love your flowers!

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  14. Hard to believe Christmas is so near. It will be here before we know it.
    Nice that you mother got to go to the tea with you. : )
    The pansies are very pretty.
    Too bad about the low turnout for the walk but at least some people were there. Every little bit helps.
    It will be nice to enjoy a bit of spring through your blog while we get set for winter here. : )

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  15. Oh, I am so happy to know that your little mother is doing as well as she is and that she was able to go with you. Those memories you are making together are just so precious. God bless you both to make many more!

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  16. Sounds like you have been extremely busy. Love the pansies. And your mums comment 'passing traffic' that made me chuckle. B x

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  17. Pretty views and sunny pansies! Enjoy your weekend!

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  18. I like the idea of a Ha-Ha and keep threatening to put one in. It does take forever to wrap packages.

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  19. Your mom sounds like mine...wants to go, but not for long. I'm your newest follower, number 84. I love your beautiful photos of the hills and fields.

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  20. Nice to get out with your daughter and your Mom. The pansies are lovely. I love pansies -- they are such a happy flower! Tis the beginning of the wrapping season ... we'll all be experts by the end of December! I have a bunch of birthdays to wrap up this weekend so they will be ready for the post on Monday. Have a great week!

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  21. Your pansies are beautiful. I love how you were able to go to a Christmas tea, it is coming up quickly isn't it? We have started to discuss what to buy for Christmas presents here, time just gets away. It was so nice that your mother was able to come with you, I bet she enjoyed herself. Very interesting about the haha wall. I have never heard that name before but I'm sure I must have seen some over the years. Very pretty. Have a wonderful week, Kelly.

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  22. Love those sweet pansy's... I haven't been to the nursery in a while. Funny I can't wait for Christmas decor, I found some sweet golden things fir decor I want a golden Christmas this year., hope you are well my dear with love Janice

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