January scavenger hunt

It's that time of the month again when we join Hawthorn for a photo scavenger hunt so if you are interested in seeing what others have come up with head over to I live, I love, I craft, I am me 
and have a look.

I'm also joining Debbie at Breathing in Grace for

friday foto friends

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Yellow

I went out one morning to see that one courgette flower was fully unfurled and shining in the sun. A lovely bright yellow. If you look closely you can see two or three others still tightly curled, they came out as the day progressed and the sun heated things up. I've since picked that one and am waiting for the others to become a decent size so we can use them. The courgettes, not the flowers.

Starts with an ... O

I was out walking one evening and saw this circular latch hole in a gate and thought it looked like an O. I know it doesn't begin with an O unless, of course, you want to call it an 'ole. Sorry, cringe :)

Light

Dark clouds threatening rain that didn't come. We've been watering our veges most nights. I loved the way the evening sun was breaking through the clouds and the silvery light it threw, but alas, it didn't come out as well as I had hoped.

Found

Walking on the beach a couple of weeks ago we 

came across a big old log. In one little cranny 

we found a mini garden growing in some sand.

Colourful

Don't you love the this colourful display of tulips.

 This photo was taken by my daughter when

 she was in Wellington a few years ago.

My choice

I was browsing through my photos a few days ago and decided to share this one as my choice. Taken on a Kobe Harbour cruise while we were in Japan for our son's wedding in 2008. 

L-R: DIL, son, middle sis, me and my GKB.

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I'm expecting my brother and his partner arriving in the next day or so from Australia. A week later middle sis also arrives from Aussie and then between then and March youngest sister is also arriving from Aussie so we are in for a busy time. Not sure where everyone is staying apart from my brother who will be with us. I hope to catch up with you all during this time, but we'll see what happens.
Brother's partner said they were coming over to cool down but they won't unless the temps fall dramatically, although it is just 25C at the moment and that is a vast improvement on the 40C we had a week ago.

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And that's it for this week. 

Diana

A family barbie

We've had some high temperatures this past week, 

touching on 40 C. Just a little bit hot for us southerners. 

It has cooled down somewhat today with a bit of rain

 but not enough to do much for the ground or gardens.

But before that sort of heat set in we managed to have 

a barbecue over at our son's home last weekend. 

Getting the fire started, one to light and several supervisors. 

Son in law hadn't arrived yet so couldn't stand there with 

the others giving helpful, or not, advice :)

The pohutokawa (red flowering tree) in the

 background was beautiful, in full bloom.

Daughter in law and visitors from Japan - they haven't 

cottoned on yet that the blokes do the cooking 

and the girls leave them to it. I can see there is some 

educating to be done. But never mind, 

the food was delicious.

Relaxing on the deck. Youngest daughter and her 

 hubby came over too. Our eldest daughter was away  

for the weekend so couldn't make it, and as it is school 

holidays the kids were away doing what kids do with 

their mates during the summer.

Later we adjourned to the garage to play pool and darts 

and as our new Japanese friend had just celebrated

a birthday we had a birthday cake for her

 much to her surprise and pleasure.

Brother and sister facing off. He has just knocked her

 off the table, up until then she had taken on all comers

 and won. Oh dear :) I didn't realise I'd caught them like this 

until I saw the photo and it just looks so funny.

Well that's it for this week.

See you next time.

Diana

joining Debbie over at
Breathing in Grace for 
friday foto friends

A walk along Brighton Beach

One day earlier in the week my GKB suggested we go for a walk on the beach at Brighton. It was a grey day but not cold, even though we look like we are wrapped up against the weather. In reality we were in short sleeves under our jackets but there was a bit of a stiff breeze blowing off the Pacific Ocean. 

In the pic above my GKB is standing on the bottom step, 

there is about a metre drop down to the beach from here 

where the sand has been eroded by the sea. It was interesting hauling ourselves back up when we got back.

Just strolling and refreshing my soul :)

The tide was going out so the beach was good and wide.

Rock pools,

seaweed,

and mussel beds.

A child or hobbit size cave in the bank 

and kelp just in front of it.

We enjoyed our walk and I hope you did as well.

Until next time,

Diana

joining Debbie at Breathing in Grace 

for Friday Foto Friends

Time for a round up

Well, what has been happening in the last few weeks? Not a lot really (apart from Christmas of course) and I have to admit I am enjoying just relaxing before the year gets back into full swing.

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Christmas Day found us over at number one son's home with all the family. The only one missing was eldest grand daughter who was on holiday with her fiancee ... but we'll let them off this year :)

After we had eaten the main course we exchanged the presents.

This is always a fun time and usually the youngest child gives 

them out. This year though he thought he was far too old for 

that, being the grand old age of 11, so number one son did the honours.

  After this we had our desserts - the mains had had plenty of time to settle. Below are DIL and eldest grandson rolling the ice cream.

They are the family foodies :)

Yes, he has a cigarette in his mouth. No it is not lit.

 DIL had been worried there wouldn't be enough food, she had never done what I suppose is a 'pot luck' Christmas dinner before but this is our normal. All in all we had a lovely Christmas with everyone. And there was more than enough food!

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New Year's eve was spent at home and we were in bed before midnight but listening to the countdown on the radio. 

I have started going out for walks again, and no this is not a New Year's resolution. I was relaxing in the bath one evening between Christmas and New Year and thought to myself that I would start going out walking 'next week sometime'. But I decided to start straight away, the excess weight convinced me :(  So I am pleased to say I have been out walking every evening since and so far am enjoying it. 

Eldest daughter gave us some freshly picked peas and

 broad beans a couple of days ago so I spent a very pleasant hour sitting under the sun umbrella in the back yard yesterday 

morning shelling and podding them before the day got too hot.

And yes, there are enough left for the pot :)

And of course we had a super moon a night or two back and it was quite spectacular. Not long after my GKB took this the sky clouded over, which often seems to happen with these super moons in our neck of the woods. This is the best one we have seen.

Anyway, that's my round up for now, 

I'll see you all again next time.

Diana

joining Debbie for 

Friday Foto Friends