Tuesday 4

Welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4...

Let's talk about your week okay?

1. Is anything interesting on TV this week?  What will you be watching?

We quite enjoy The Brokenwood Mysteries. A New Zealand  programme so we understand the humour, it's a comedy/drama and now into it's tenth year. Each episode usually features a well known New Zealand actor as a guest star. Other than that I enjoy Thursday night when Jacqui and I chat on the phone while watching The Great British Sewing Bee. We try to pick the winner in each catergory and critique the outfits :) Friday nights is also relaxing with The Repair Shop. I love some of the stories that go with the items brought in and find myself grinning widely when the owner sees it restored. 

2. Any books on your horizon right now? What will you be reading?

I'm reading a couple of books at the moment. One is by Jonathan Cahn - The Dragon's Prophecy. Very thought provoking and I'm only able to read small sections at a time. The other book is Gaylene's Take by Gaylene Preston. I went to school with Gaylene and she was the principal speaker at the dinner when I went over to our school reunion. She is a film maker and her book is interesting. Her style is very chatty which makes it an easy read. And it helps to know some of the places and names she mentions. I'm enjoying it.

3. What's been on the menu lately?  Any new recipes caught your eye?

I've seen a couple on YouTube that I like the look of. I liked the look of some easy bread and berry puddings, comfort food because it is winter. But I'm not a cook and so simple and quick are what I like. Last night we had mince pie with potatoes and mixed vegetables. More comfort food :)

4. Who will you spend time with this week?

Later today I'm going to visit my friend in the rest home. Jacqui has been doing some clothing repairs for her so I'll take them in. And I'll deliver a parcel for our newest addition to the family to his grandmother.

Earlier in the weekend we went to see Arlo who turned seven. He's into all things army at the moment so we gave him a little tank with toy soldiers. And later in the day he went to the circus. Lucky boy, the circus arriving in time for his birthday. Here he is with his Dad.

Here is the link if you would like to join us this week.  Tuesday 4

 

And that is about all for this week.

blessings to all,

Diana

Baby has a name

My GKB was up and out of the house before I was out of bed today. I was wide awake at 5am and sound asleep when it was time to rise. He saw where the greengrocer had very cheap fruit today and didn't want to miss out, especially on the strawberries. It was all sitting on the bench when I went out for breakfast. I think we'll be enjoying strawberries and ice cream some time during the evening :)

It was a beautiful blue sky day last Saturday when five of us drove down to Gore for an Aglow leaders retreat. I'm no longer a leader but was invited to go, which was really nice. We had a lovely day enjoying each others company and eating lunch out on the deck. It was a bit breezy but warm and with a garden like this who cared? Not me:) During the course of the day I had some personal insights which were then affirmed on Tuesday evening by a lady who hadn't been there and knew nothing about me. Very encouraging.

This is a beautiful garden with several 'rooms', the one at the very end of the section with seats and a swing :) Good fellowship, good teaching and good food! What more could you ask for.

And as per the post title, baby has a name. 

Lucia (with a soft c) Carolitta. Very pretty I think.

This is Lucia after her first bath - which didn't happen until after the cord had fallen off! Things have certainly changed since I had my babies :)

It's been very warm and wet in the past week or so and so the growth around about has been lush. This is down the side of our driveway. The foxgloves are looking a bit shabby because of the wind, which hasn't really let up though it isn't so strong as it was. We're hoping eldest daughter's partner is going to come and cut bushes and hedges back before too long.

 I'm slowly getting what I call my garden into shape for the holidays. With the wind has come the pollen and I can only be out in it for about twenty minutes at a time then need to come in. Hayfever is a real bummer. I blame my lovely wee maternal grandmother :) she used to get it too and spent most of spring and summer indoors due to not having the access to antihistamines that we have today.

On the domestic front I have finally got cracking on my Christmas cakes. We bought the ingredients a few weeks ago but I've only just got started today. This is the GF one for Jacqui. I think I'll need to buy a new cake pan though as this is not quite as big as the normal cake so is not so deep. I think it would be a nicer cake if it was deeper.

And that is about it for now. 

Keep smiling until next time and enjoy this Advent season.

Diana

Random happenings

I've been out tidying up the garden in front of the house today. I started weeding it about a week ago but rain interrupted and I never got back to it until now. It was looking awfully untidy once the jonquils had died leaving just the leaves. They still haven't died off but I managed to get the weeds out and it looks a lot better. 

Peony in bud. It's going to look gorgeous when it flowers. 

 Miniature rose in full bloom. No I don't know what it's called but I love the colour. Sadly it's not scented.

This is the wee jacket I sent our new baby, the grey is lighter than it shows in this picture and it looks quite attractive. They decided not to find out whether they were expecting a girl or a boy and I thought these colours would suit either. And no, she doesn't have a name yet - I just call her Sweetpea at the moment. As my sister said we can't keep calling her 'she'.

And this wee fellow came for a visit at the weekend. Theo was our youngest great grand but now he is a big cousin. Here he's eating chippies and laughing at Great grandad who was pulling silly faces. He's a sweetheart at 18 months.

A couple of Sundays ago there was a plant sale in the grounds of the school where we hold our church services. We were praying for good weather as if it had rained we would have had to move out of the hall so they could come inside. It's an annual event and as you can see the weather was good to us. Several of us wandered around after the service but I never bought anything. I had plants at home I'd already been given and still have to get in :)

And a sunset one night last week. The colours were quite deep, they haven't shown up very well. It's not the Aurora which I forgot all about, and was quite spectacular from the photos I've seen. I thought our sunset was quite spectacular too :)

And that is all I have for this time.

We haven't been out and about much of late 

so not a lot of interest to talk about.

Keep well, keep smiling, until next time,

Diana

A new addition

          We have welcomed a new addition to the family. A lovely little girl joined us at the beginning of last week.

  Big brother was very, very disappointed she wasn't a boy but now is quite besotted.

Big sister is just in love and very proud.

    She doesn't have a name as yet but I'm sure it will suit her beautifully when she does.

    I don't know when we'll get to meet her as she's in the North Island but I hope it's not too long.

That's all for now.

See you soon,

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

And so we waited...

We have a new great granddaughter and her name is Alice Dawn.

It was quite a lead  up to her arrival. Her Mum was still working, due to finish that week, but when she went for her midwife appointment during her lunch break she was told "You need to go back to work and tell them you are finishing immediately. Baby's head is down."  

So she did. Then went home and rang her mother, who was in the South Island, and told her. Mother was booked on a flight to go up later in the week, in plenty of time for the birth, so she thought. Then the waiting began. 

And we waited. 

The proud granny got on her plane and flew up to the North Island

at the end of the week.

And we waited some more

 - to the point we all thought Granma was going to be back in the South Island again before baby put in an appearance. 

And still we waited.

 But, as we know, babies will make their appearance in their own good time. Eventually, six days after she was due and almost three weeks from the midwife instructions to finish work, wee Alice came into the world. She is a week old now and a beautiful wee button. And the nice thing is that her Granma was able to spend a week with the new family, enjoying baby and lending a helping hand. She comes home tomorrow afternoon and the other granny flies in that evening, so ongoing support for them just now.

Sweet Alice ready to go home.

 Wee Arlo, three months old now,
 visiting with his aunty.

And now this besotted great granma is going to sign off.
Keep well until next time,
Diana

Queen's Birthday Weekend 2019

Well that was a weekend and a half...but we got through it :)

Queen's Birthday Weekend happens in June, and you guessed it, we commemorate the Queen's birthday. A long weekend, Friday through until Monday.

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It started off with our expectant mother going into labour late on Thursday and giving birth to a lusty son on Friday via emergency C section. He weighed in at 9lb 1oz and is named Arlo. We haven't been to see him yet as, although he is doing well, mother is a bit overwhelmed and isn't up to visitors. So we'll put it off for a few days and go when she's ready. Sorry no photo's, you'll have to take my word for it that he's a good lookin' dude!

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On Friday night I helped my daughter decorate the church hall for a baby shower. Yes, we have another little person joining the family in August :) A little girl this time. So it was a pink theme.

Very traditional.

Chloe lives in the North Island. She came down for the holiday weekend so her Mum decided a shower would be nice for her,

and for her old girlfriends.

She was given some beautiful gifts, the girls and the family did her proud :) Someone was even thoughtful enough to give her a big pink fluffy dressing gown for herself.

Her aunties and grandma's provided most of the afternoon

 tea and it was a lovely spread. It was also very cold with snow threatening which is why we are all dressed in our winter woolies.

We managed to get a photo of Chloe with all the grandma's.

Left to right we have two great grandma's, grandma, mum to be, grandma and great grandma.

As you can see we decorated with little baby outfits and dresses - from back when my girls were babies and toddlers.

I didn't know they had kept them.

 The only trouble with decorating is that it all needs undoing but the young girls all stayed behind and helped. I thought that was a really nice gesture.

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Now it's Tuesday evening and I've spent the day away at

the funeral of a friend. He was only in his late 60's

 and his death was unexpected. But it was a joyful funeral,

he had a deep faith and has gone home to be with his Lord.

As I said, it's been quite a weekend, but we got there.

So, have a good week folks,

until next time,

Diana