Random stuff

It's an awful  day outside today, winter decided to let us know she hasn't quite finished with us yet. We were going to head over to the Rotary book sale at Wingatui but decided to just hunker down for the day. It's on for another couple of days so we have time to get there before it finishes. So I thought I'd just do a bit of a random post and keep in touch.

First of all let me tell you I was really surprised to arrive back at the bookshop after my holiday and discover some of our Christmas stock was already on the shelves! Not only Christmas cards but books, tote bags, nativity sets and decorations! I know it's only three months until Christmas but...

We don't have any fruit trees on our property but the neighbours feijoas overhang our drive which gives easier access to the bio security officers when they come round to monitor them for pests. We get a nice thankyou note and a card from them at Christmastime. This is one of the officers doing an inspection below.

Youngest daughter has had a birthday so we bought her a nice crystal flower. It didn't have a box when i picked it up so  asked the young fellow behind the counter if there was one with it. I'm sure there should be. It will have been stored away from the display area.

This is what he came back and gave me! I just grinned and said I'd make it work but I'm sure there is now a stray box lurking in a storage area somewhere!

Halloween is on display in the shops. Some of the stuff is nicer than others. I liked these friendly looking pumpkins and ghosts but didn't buy anything. We don't get anyone much coming trick or treating but usually have a few treats on hand just in case.

The North Island great grandkids were down for a few days recently but we only saw them briefly at their grandmother's house. They were here for a graduation celebration for the other side of their family. This is a photo of them with one of their southern cousins - you can tell who the southern one is, the kids who are born here don't seem to feel the cold :)

And because i haven't really done a springtime post I thought I do a couple of collages of some of the photos I've taken around town in the last week or so.

Mosgiel is very pretty in the springtime with the blossoms in full bloom and the spring flowers out in the gardens and on the verges.

The daffodils from my last post are on the edge of town.

And that's it from me for another day or two ... or three.

Keep well.

blessings,

Diana

In the garden...

...flowers,

pretty weeds,

more flowers,

apple blossom

and rhubarb.

I realise my posts are a bit light weight at the moment.

I have stuff going on with my little Mother just now and I need to concentrate on her. A lot of hospital visits and other health related appointments. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers, they are appreciated very much.

Diana

Daffodils and blossom

Did you see the Tui in the bottom photo?

Tuis are beautiful native birds.

There were dozens of them feeding 

on the nectar, so lovely to see and listen to.

If you would like to see a better picture of,

 or read a little about, the tui, click here.

joining Amy and friends for:
Five on Friday 
and
Friday foto friends
with

Lunch in Outram

It was a beautiful spring day and as life has been a tad busy lately we decided to head over to Outram for a bite of lunch. It seems everyone else had the same idea but we managed to get a little table outside and dined al fresco.

That's my GKB sitting under the hanging basket on the left.

I had a cinnamon roll and cup of tea which was served in a lovely Queen Anne rose patterned china teacup. Lovely. It's nice to get your tea served in one of these dainty cups when you're out.

One of the reasons we decided on Outram was that we wanted to get some photos of the blossoms and daffodils. And although it is country it's only 10 minutes drive from home.

The pink and white blossom is really beautiful and we could hear the tuis calling to each other as they fed. I have more photos and will put some up next week if I get the chance. 

We had parked in the gateway to a farm road and it is absolutely beautiful. Either side of the driveway is absolutely smothered in daffodils. More photos of those as well for next week, so I guess this post is a bit of a tease.

And finally on the other side of the road were the paddocks with the ewes and lambs. Sure signs that spring is here.

I hope you have enjoyed my springtime photos.

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

Thank you for your concern for my little mother.

She has had a bad year and for someone who is not used to being ill and is very independent she has not coped well. On Monday she had her annual checkup with the heart specialist and on Friday she goes in for tests to ascertain what to do next. She is much happier now she knows something is being done. 

joining:
Five on Friday
Friday foto friends
Teacup Tuesday

Then and now...

Back in the beginning of autumn I took this photo

 from the car park up above the motorway into town.

The autumn colour was just starting to show. 

This is what the same area (taken from a 

different angle) looks like at present.

Last week we had fire sweep through and as if that 

wasn't enough there were also gale force winds.

This is just a little bit of the damage.

Behind the treeline there are houses but

 fortunately no homes were affected

 although a lot of outbuildings were destroyed.

About thirty homes were evacuated 

and more in the vicinity were on standby.

You can just see one of the homes

 through the trees in the top left of this picture.

The cattery where Leo goes on holiday 

(my friend's cat) is up this road

 and had to be evacuated as well.

It's just on the edge of the trees.

The road on the left is the motorway 

so the fire came quite close. 

My youngest daughter lives about 500 metres 

up the road from here, their suburb was cut off 

with road closures at both ends.

Something I found quite amazing was this 

blossom tree with everything around it 

burnt black and yet it wasn't touched.

The crews watching for further outbreaks

 have just been stood down today 

and we are expecting rain so that

 will be a relief for everyone concerned.

I think a lot of people are counting their blessings this week.

Spring in my town...

I went out and took one or two photos today

 around the town I live in.

Spring has arrived and I will not say any more except

some were taken in public places and others in private yards.

The camellias are at my little mother's place and I love them.

camellia

daffodils and snowdrops

flowering cherry, pear and magnolia

hedges and edges

planter box

I hope you enjoyed the spring flowers as much as I do.

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

Seeing as it is spring I thought I would show you these 

pretty Colclough tea cups, saucers and plates. 

They are the same colours as some of the spring flowers.

This is the set my little mother gave me, I had coveted it for years. As you can see it has several pieces missing and so I am 

on the lookout for replacement pieces. 

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

This week I am joining Stephanie at:

roses of inspiration

and Martha at:

Martha's Favorites

See you next week.

Take care until then, 

Diana

The First of September

Below are some photos I took around town today, 

it was cold and grey and the colour was just starting

 to show on some of the trees and bushes 

while on others the branches were still bare and bereft of any life.

Almost as if we were still in the throes of winter.

The poem I've put with them sums up

 the beginning of spring in New Zealand,

where I live, as well as Australia, which it mentions.

The jonquils have been putting on a great show for most of the winter

but the daffodils are the first ones I have seen this season.

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

The morning it is breaking cloudy and gray

It does seem another cool late Winter's day

But the birds in the Parkland they whistle and sing

Believe it or not 'tis the first day of Spring

The first day of September the day of the year

When to Australia in the Southern Hemisphere

The Spring she arrives for her three months stay

With much warmer weather just a few weeks away

The Spring has arrived with her wildflowers and green

And her beauty in gardens and parks to be seen

Spring she arrives and she brings with her new life

And in parks and gardens Nature's beauty is rife

For the first day of September a cool chill in the breeze

But the birds chirp and whistle on the bushes and trees. 

The First Of September 

Francis Duggan

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

Joining in with Stephanie at: 

roses of inspiration

I hope you are enjoying your week 

whatever the season.

Until next week,

Diana

...in like a lion...

 

 

Spring has arrived and and contrary to the saying - 'in like a lion and out like a lamb', September arrived with beautiful, balmy weather. But that was just a tease - tonight the elements are roaring against us and snow is forecast to sea level. The lion has arrived!

The wind has battered some of my spring flowers so I picked them and brought them inside, I like them all clumped outside but like them inside as well.

 

 

 

 

The blossom is out on the trees and the streets around town are looking lovely.

 

 

 

I went out with my camera a couple of times and took photo's. Some on a lovely sunny day...

 

 

 

 

...and some today as the weather began to change.

 

 

 

 

You can see the clouds beginning to build up.

 

 

 

I love the blossom trees and don't have a one of my own so I really enjoy this season, short though it is.

 

 

 

 

And below is a shot of the front coming across the plain from the south. The hill was just disappearing from sight and I reached my gate just as the hail began, it was a race though. Phew.

 

 

 

Goodnight all, enjoy your week :D

 

Diana