Round up time

It's a long time since I've been here or even visited anyone so I thought I'd take time to do a bit of a roundup of the past month or so.

I hope you don't get too bored while I catch you up :)

It's been a busy time since the end of October. At the end of the month my sister in law celebrated her 84th birthday and then the following weekend she and her husband celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Only half their family were able to make it to their celebration dinner but the whole bridal party were in attendance. Unfortunately no one got a photo of them together. We all had an enjoyable evening together - and the waiter was a robot :)

Family at 60th wedding anniversary dinner.

I've already shared about clearing out the two spare bedrooms and then before we knew it it was time to head to the airport to pick up my sister who was arriving from Australia. Grandson arrived the following morning on the redeye flight and was picked up by his aunty, she was already up and had been at work so volunteered.

It was a busy few days with sis wanting to catch up on all the family so we had lots of visits, coffees and meals out.

On the morning the day before the wedding Grandson rang his sister, the bride, to have a chat. She was in a bit of a fluster trying to get the venue set up with only a couple of others helping her so we all piled in the car and went over to help. It looked lovely by the time we had finished, even if some of us had no idea how to tie a bow. I just pretended I was tying a bow in a little girls sash.

Then it was back to the house to finish blowing up balloons to take round to decorate the newlyweds house and bedroom. Someone decided it would be a nice idea to put red balloons, petals and chocolates in their room to surprise them when they arrived back after the wedding. I think they enjoyed it :) I hope so.

I'd like to say the wedding day dawned sunny and warm but no. It was fine but no sun and a very cold wind. The bride's dress was backless, sleeveless and beautiful and she must have been frozen as it was an outdoor wedding. The venue was lovely but to be honest I was hoping they'd move it indoors. We weren't the only ones who went home between the ceremony and the reception to have a warm drink. Caitlin was given away by her paternal grandfather, he looked so proud. Her father had passed away when she was just 13 years old. It was good to catch up with them again.

proud Grandad and Granma with Caitlin

The reception was fun, it was only a small wedding and most people knew each other. Round tables and family groups.

The next day we were all invited to a barbecue lunch at Caitlin and Brayden's. It was also a chance for the kids to come as well, they hadn't been invited to the wedding. We spent a relaxing couple of hours chatting, playing with the kids, they had outdoor games set out for them and catching up again.

Then it was home for a freshen up and out again for dinner at a Chinese restaurant in town with our son and his wife. We were celebrating his 50th birthday. Just them, his sisters, their husbands,  his aunty and us. A lovely immediate family time. 

We'd spent part of Friday wrapping little parcels - 50 silly presents for 50 years. It was a lot of fun watching him open them all.

And I've also had a Christmas/end of year function to attend where the food was delicious and we sang Christmas carols accompanied by the harp. So unusual and lovely.

And after all that Sis got back home and discovered she had covid. Youngest daughter and I are currently recovering and my GKB has come down with it. Wonder if we picked it up at the wedding? Who knows. We were out and about a lot that week.

So, I hope you haven't been too bored - if you got this far.

Keep well and enjoy this Advent season.

Diana 

It's been busy

Just checking in so you know I'm still around. It's been a busy couple of weeks and when I look at my calendar leading up to Christmas I can get a bit overwhelmed. So I don't, I just look at what's happening tomorrow and leave it at that. 

It started a couple of  weeks ago when I volunteered to make mini Christmas cakes as gifts for people at a Christmas function. Usually I make a big cake and it's cut there and we partake with a cup of tea or coffee but someone thought it would be nice if we gave everyone a mini cake to take home. They're done and in airtight containers waiting to be packaged up. I don't mind really as I enjoy making Christmas cakes and usually make up to half a dozen each year for the family and ourselves. I'm just not sure when I'm going to get time to do the family ones. It'll have to be after the wedding in a couple of weeks.

We've been back down to the Owaka in the Catlins for a church service and it was nice to go in the morning on a lovely spring day. After another delicious lunch we went and had a look at the local museum - my friend's father was an archeologist and came from that area and there was a display  - photo's and some of his equipment along with a book that had just been released on his work. My friend's wedding dress was also on display and I should have taken a photo but didn't. :(

And we've been out to lunch with friends, some of whom were down from Auckland for a few days. I was pleased my GKB came as since he has started losing his hearing he hasn't wanted to go out so much and I think he's becoming a bit isolated. It was a nice enjoyable couple of hours.

In between times I've been tidying up the two spare bedrooms so my sister and my grandson have somewhere to sleep when they come to stay. Our middle granddaughter is getting married in a fortnight and they're arriving for that. Does anyone else tend to store things in the spare bedrooms? I had three or four bins that needed to be moved out, full of all sorts of stuff that you think you might need but have nowhere to put. I've had a good cleanout of books and they've gone to the book sale bin at the supermarket and our son took another bag that had been left here as well. They were supposed to go to the book sale too but didn't make it.

Granddaughter was told she needed a garter to wear on her wedding day and her mother and aunty thought it would be nice if she could wear mine as some of the other brides in the family had also worn it. But do you think we can find it. I thought it would be with my wedding dress but no! So I'm assuming it's with the lucky horseshoes and slippers I was given at our wedding but I can't find them either. And none of the other brides has it. A mystery. Oh well, still one or two places to look.

And that's it from me for now. 

Take it easy over the next few weeks and enjoy the season.

Diana

 

Mission accomplished

I am not arty or crafty so when youngest granddaughter gave me a Diamond Art picture a couple of years ago it really challenged me.

Why? You may ask.

Because it was a kit and I had to make it myself.

I would sit of a winters afternoon and take it out, look at it and put it away again. It is only 4x6 inches but it scared me. What if I did it wrong and spoilt it?

But this winter I bit the bullet and started on it. And guess what? I actually enjoyed doing it. It is now framed and sitting where my granddaughter can see it next time she comes over :)

So, mission accomplished :)

Enjoy the rest of the week.

See you next time :)

Diana

 

Celebrations

 It's been a week of celebrations for our family.

On Friday we had a visit from middle Granddaughter and her new fiancee. They came around especially to tell us they had just become engaged. She is a lovely thoughtful girl and he is an outgoing and caring man and I think they are well matched. We're very happy for them. 

On Saturday my daughters took me out and bought me a 'decent' pair of walking shoes for my birthday. All the kids contributed. Asics. They've taken a bit of getting used to, and I think I look like I'm wearing Daisy Duck shoes, but they're really comfortable. Just as well for the price :) That evening we went to number one son's home for a lovely birthday dinner. 

And a couple of days later we welcomed a new addition to the family. Theo was expected to arrive on my birthday but he had other ideas. He wanted his own day :) He is our grandson's son and our fourth great grandchild. He is well loved :)

I will leave you there and try and have a catch up with everyone as the day goes on.

Enjoy your week, keep well, 

Diana

Cowboy boots, lace and pearls...

The weather had been dreadful leading up to the wedding. Even on the day we were all nervously watching the skies. The aunties and Granma joked about buying bright pink, sparkly gumboots and wearing them, instead of our nice high heeled wedding shoes. But it stayed fine and was quite a nice mild day and we were able to hold the service outside under the trees in the garden at the venue.

Me and sis ready to leave.

We had thrown umbrellas in the boot of the car.

The cake made by the bride's big brother.

There was a bit of drama with the cake as it was so

 hot where he was making the decorations that they

wouldn't set so he ended up bringing it down

uniced and icing it on the morning of the wedding.

We ended up with fresh flowers on it as a substitute

to the artificial ones he had hoped to make.

It looked beautiful.

Siblings, Monica, Andrew and Caitlin.

Caitlin was one of the bridesmaids.

Monica made her bouquet along with those

of the bridesmaids and the rustic table centerpieces,

which I never got a photo of.

The radiant bride and handsome groom

with their groomsman.

She wore cowboy boots under her dress :)

That was one of the borrowed things.

The other was a string of pearls.

With her proud grandad :)

The dress was beautiful as you can see.

Dancing with her proud Dad.

Mum with her partner.

On the dance floor.

A great day was had by all. and all too soon it was over.

Sooner for us older ones than for the younger ones,

oh well we still enjoyed ourselves, but I was glad

to get those heels off when I got home :)

Maybe I should've worn pink, sparkly gumboots!

There was a photo of my little mother and Monica's other grandmother on display. Both had died in the past twelve months and this was a nice way to include them in the celebrations.

Diana

joining Debby for

Friday foto friends

A busy week

When I was a child growing up summer began in August and lasted until March. We ran around in shorts and sun frocks and by Christmas when our southern cousins arrived for a holiday we had lovely suntans. They didn't. Now I live down south near those
 same cousins and summer is much later arriving :( 

Sometimes by Christmas, like this one, we are still wondering whether summer will arrive at all and whether we will get a suntan.

But family time is still as good as it ever was and that is what really counts.
************

So what has my family been up to this week? 

rain beginning at grandson Jack's assembly

First of all Jack had his final assembly for his primary school and parents, grandparents and all the pupils gathered at the appointed hour. Rain had been threatening but we were all ever hopeful the assembly would be over before the rain arrived as it was being held outside. We decided to put our rug and cushions under a tree and took our umbrellas with us, just in case. Well you guessed it, just as proceedings were about to begin the heavens opened and the rain bucketed down. The upshot was that the kids were all herded inside, those who could fit went in with them (small hall) , and people like me went home. So I missed Jack's final assembly.

Caitlin (grand daughter)  and her proud Mum

The next night both my GKB and I had Christmas breakups to go to for different organisations. So we went our separate ways and met up at home again later in the evening.

 I didn't miss the next important event on the calendar though, this was Caitlin's graduation from her Tourism and Travel course, the end of two years hard work. My GKB and I both went and we are so proud of her as she was also nominated for the Integrity and Development Award. It was an interesting graduation with a couple of items from the cultural group - the Pacific Island community lent a lot of colour with several of them graduating as well. We thoroughly enjoyed it all.

Sunday brought a special seasonal church service, Lessons and Carols. Once more we sang several carols we had sung the week before at the Carols in the Park and we listened again to the Christmas story unfolding. A bonus was that people from the congregation who had not been able to attend the park were able to join in the songs with us.

Yesterday my little mother had her 87th birthday. Tonight her youngest grandson is taking her out for a meal, she has been resting all afternoon so she is able to stay out for a while this evening. She is much better than she was but still awaiting a date for her heart op. All of her overseas Christmas and birthday parcels arrived at my place so I took them around yesterday (two boxes full) and she enjoyed opening them and putting her Christmas ones on her decorated hearth to wait for Christmas Day.

And that has brought us up to today. I've taken my little Mother shopping and in the afternoon my GKB and I went and, hopefully, finished our own Christmas shopping. Phew, if I haven't done it now it probably won't happen :)

************

And so to end I would like to share a couple of photos of some of the fun things around the neighbourhood. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas,

filled with, fun, laughter and love.

Diana

The week just gone...

No, the photo below is not taken in Rotorua at the geysers 

but one day during the week as my GKB

 was heading up the road to pay a couple of bills.

Council workmen had hit a water main while

 digging up the street, for goodness knows what,

 and this was the result. He actually rushed back

 home to get the camera so he could take some shots.

a geyser - not

It looks quite spectacular, as, I think, does my lovely girl below. 

This is Caitlin, our middle grand daughter at her graduation.

She has just finished a years study and could

 leave her course now but has decided to go on

 and do the second year and get the full diploma.

So this was her graduation for the components

 she has already achieved.

Caitlin - middle grand daughter

And below are some of her proud supporters.

Five daughters, four grand daughters, three mothers

 three cousins, two sisters and one great grandmother. 

Which adds up to five ladies believe it or not, not eighteen.

Of course this is just my side of the family, 

her other grandparents were there as well as a couple of other family members. All very proud.

grandmothers, mothers, daughters and cousins

We all had a lovely evening at the Town Hall,

 good food and drinks, non alcoholic as well as alcoholic.

 Lots of photos taken. And I won't tell you 

about the tiki tour I took on the way home. 

Suffice to say what should have taken approximately

 10 minutes took me about 25. I took one wrong turn 

and things went downhill from there, haha. 

 I knew where I was, it just wasn't where I should have been.

food bank collection vehicles

 And that brings us to tonight when we were sitting home 

quietly minding our own business and we heard sirens coming

 down the street and then an ambulance pulled up outside.

But all was well, it was the annual food bank collection 

with the ambulance heralding the arrival of the collectors.

We had forgotten to get anything for it but I managed 

to find some things in the cupboard that we could donate. 

The service clubs man (woman and child) this appeal just before

 Christmas to boost the food bank supplies over the holiday period.

Christmas goodies

And talking of Christmas holidays, 

I have decided to take this week 

off just to do those things I need 

and want to do for and with the family. 

Apart from a lunch date I have on Friday 

that has been organised for a few weeks.

One of the things to do is wrap Christmas presents

 and I need to do this before school finishes

 and little grands start to appear occasionally at the house.

Tomorrow morning is a visit to eldest daughter

 and then some Christmas shopping with little mother.

**************

joining in this week with:

Blue Monday
and:
roses of inspiration

And that's it for another week.

Happy Christmasing.

Diana

A birthday celebration

Last Saturday our middle grand daughter turned 18.

Lovely Caitlin

She decided to go out for an evening meal 

and invited all the family - children excluded.

When she turned 16 she didn't want any 'old' people there

and all the kids got to go. :)

I laughed and told her mother that she would 

either have a very big 21st (which is the coming of age party) 

or a very small one.

Anyway we all duly arrived at the restaurant

 to discover tables being moved and rearranged. 

They had set us up at four different tables if you please.

entrance to restaurant

Eventually we were all seated at two tables, 

'old' poeple at one and younger people at the other.

That was a lot better than 4 tables and we were

 all close enough to interact with each other.

Her older brother and his partner travelled down from Christchurch 

 - and brought the cake with them, arriving after everyone had eaten. 

He had been up until four in the morning making and decorating it,

with an emergency trip to A&E to get his thumb stitched up.

sweet 18

The cake looked even better in person, so to speak, than it does in the photo.

It was beautiful and delicious to boot. Vanilla cake filled with mock cream.

This is what he is training to do, and his other sister is inclined this way as well. 

I'm trying to encourage her to do a course in cake decorating.

Eventually we all headed home after a lovely night out. 

Grand daughter had not been really well and 

whereas she had been hoping to go out for the rest of the evening

 with her fiends she just headed home and went to bed.

She said she had a good night out though, so that's the main thing.

joining in with;

roses of inspiration

And that's it this week. 

Keep well until next time,

Diana

Days of our lives...

As I said last week it is autumn in the south.

Today you'd be forgiven for thinking that winter had arrived.

The temps have dropped and the wind and rain have been howling through.

As usual for Tuesday I went to little mother's group 

and then took her out to do her weekly shopping.

I thought she might decide to stay home by her fire, but no, out we trotted.

Being so cold and miserable when I got home I decided it was time to get out

 one of the jigsaws I kept at home and started doing that.

It's only 500 piece so shouldn't take too long - I hope.

Buuut there's a lot of water all looking much the same, oh well.

When it's finished I'll put it in the library at church with the others.

Of course it was Mother's Day at the weekend 

and my girls and some of their kids arrived out for a visit.

I was given lots of sweet stuff, yum, 

and some smelly candles, yum again.

And my son skyped from Japan just before they arrived 

so everyone had a good catch-up.

I had taken my little mother to church in the morning 

and she had already gone home, so she missed them all. 

She always likes to go home early on Mother's Day 

to be there in time for my brother and his partner arriving.

Our middle grand daughter is turning 18 this week

so we are going out with her next weekend for an evening meal.

We gave her an early birthday present.

You may think this is a funny gift to give an 18 year old 

but she was really thrilled as she is going away this week for the course

 she is doing and was hoping to borrow some of our luggage.

And when she graduates she hopes to be travelling some more.

So what else would we give her? And blue is her favourite colour.

What else have I been doing? 

Well I was given these...

...quinces, apples and pears fresh off the trees.

So I have been peeling, stewing and freezing a lot of it.

Some of the apples and pears I kept to eat, lovely and sweet 

even if they had to be washed or peeled to get the bird poop off. 

I have to admit that I gave most of the quinces away, not all of them though.

Because they are such an old fashioned fruit 

and not seen much I think they are probably an acquired taste,

 especially for younger people.

I gave them to some older ladies I know 

who were really quite thrilled as they hadn't had them for years.

One was going to make jelly and the other was going to stew them whole.

Everyone has different ideas about what to do with them and how long to cook them.

I just stewed the ones I kept and froze them with the other fruit.

My little mother gave me a teaset a week or two ago. 

She had already given me one she knew I liked, or what was left of it...

she used to have tea parties with some of her great grandchildren 

and I rather think they were broken then. 

So I am on the lookout for replacement pieces for it.

Anyway  here is the newest one. A Yamato fine china.

It's black, white and silver and I think it is rather elegant and unusual.

 

Unfortunately I'm not too good at taking photo's at night

(something I'll have to try and remedy) 

and the trim looks gold here rather than silver.

Oh, an update on Mack, eldest grand daughters wee dog.

He is standing on all fours again to everyone's relief

 but still has to be confined to his cage for a few weeks yet.

So no drastic decisions have to be made :)

joining with:

roses of inspiration

Martha's favorites

 Well I think that's it for tonight,

 so until next week I will say goodnight.

Diana