where have all the honey bees gone?

can you see the bumblebee near the middle?

Where are all our honey bees? They have disappeared this year. Usually the flowers and bushes above are alive with bees in the Summer but this year not a one. I think I have seen one honey bee and three or four bumblebees. The only good thing about it is that there are no wasps about either.

I guess this will push the price of honey and fruit and veges up in the next 12 months as nothing will be getting pollinated. I read on the internet that this happens occasionally, that the bees just disappear without a trace and no-one seems to be able to explain why. It is quite uncanny to be sitting outside,
 having a coffee, beeless so to speak.

This is the calendar I won last year from
Miyako at Orchids Daily Voice

The photo does not do it justice, it is very pretty with lovely delicate colours and I have it on a shelf in my lounge. Thank you Miyako.

We have had a lot of extended family around during December and January and so it has been a rather social time. Last Friday night we went to Woodhaugh Gardens and had a barbecue and a game of cricket. Well the kids and grandkids played cricket and the four grandparents did what we do best, cheered them on. While they were here three of them celebrated birthdays and another 2 celebrate in early Feb so we hired a small hall and had a combined party for them. Lots of family and friends, lots of fun.

oh dear, we missed a name

 And guess what one of my wonderful daughters gave me for Christmas? A Pohutukawa or New Zealand Christmas Tree. They are very large trees in their natural state but when I rang the garden centre they told me I could grow it in a pot so that is what I am going to do. I hope. I don't have a lot of success with growing living things. Wish me luck, or wish the tree luck really.

Thank goodness for pots - a great solution. I really didn't know where I was going to put it as everywhere I thought of when I looked there were power  lines or it would block the sunlight or shade the neighbours...
and this way if ever we move I can take it with me :D)

Have a wonderful week, 
Diana

A few pictures...

...as promised a few pictures of the demolition

 of the gingerbread house.

And a couple from our lunch down on the plain a week or so ago.

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

The photo's are loading again - all I had to do was switch to 'google chrome'. I thought we were already using it, but no.

 So simple. 

One or two other little niggles I had have 

now also disappeared.

Thank you Rian.  (at - Older, but better...?)

...just checkin' in...

I know it's a little late to be wishing you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year, but there you are, the year is disappearing already.
I hope that 2013 is all you are wishing for.


 I can't load any photo's at the moment apart from ones I've already used so I'm hoping that blogger/google will straighten it out soon seeing as several other people seem to be having the same problem. So today my post will have to be a little naked. Oh dear.


We had a whopping 35 or 36 degrees Celsius yesterday, today we are down to 16. Grey and wet. Somewhere in the middle for a few weeks would be really nice. Yesterday was lovely for lunch out with eldest grandson and my little mother. We drove down the plain to a little tearooms and sat out under the trees. Grandson has been staying with us since just before Christmas and is away back to Wellington/home tomorrow.

My GKB and I have both worked through the holidays so we are taking time off at the beginning of Feb. and heading away to the caravan. I'm looking forward to it, slothing by the lake and watching the fisherman. We have thought we should occasionally do one or two of the touristy things as well, so we can say we have, but I draw the line at bungee jumping. I don't mind watching but I don't see the point in tying myself to a large rubber band and jumping off a bridge! I shall pursue more sedate activities - like jet boating or white water rafting, ha ha. Or maybe just a leisurely ride on the lady of the lake - the SS Earnslaw.

We have finally demolished the gingerbread house. The kids from 4 to 83 all enjoyed it, a lot of fun. Have photo's, will show some of them someday :D)

Well I'm gonna sign off now and hope the photo thing gets sorted out soon.


Have a good week everyone.
Diana




Gingerbread house

 

The gingerbread house made by my eldest grandson for the rest of the kids, for Christmas day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, a lot of work involved.

The kids, young and old, loved it.

 

We still have to make a date, in the not too

distant future, to demolish and eat it.

 

 



Hoping you've all enjoyed your Christmas as much as we have.

 

 

blessings,

Diana

 

 



Merry Christmas

Pohutukawa aka the New Zealand Christmas tree

The presents are bought and wrapped.

The first pavlova is in the oven - one to go.

All that is left for me to do is get out my good cutlery to take

to youngest daughter on Christmas day.

Plus the serving dishes.

Oh, and make a salad, I'd better not forget.

Eldest grandson is here on holiday and is making

 a gingerbread house. The little boys will love that.

Then we're good to go.

Pohutukawa flower

I want to share a poem with you,
 written by Dawn McLean

Son of Joe 

Once in a manger long ago,

There was a man and his name was Joe.

His wife was with him there that night,

Mary her name, a pure delight.

She bore for him a child so famed

That everyone still recalls his name.

Jesus was the name they said

As they lay him down in his manger bed.

And the kings they came to see that night

And the shepherds too, by the star so bright.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

The angels sang,

For hope is born again for man.

So when you're feeling sad and low,

Remember Mary and the man called Joe.

But remember most of all this day,

The child that in the manger lay.



Merry Christmas to you all.

Christmas cheer

 

 

 

 

Wishing you all the blessings of the season,
Merry Christmas folks.

Diana

An olden Christmas

At last, Christmas morning

  

         At last it had come, Christmas morning. The Christmas cards had been displayed on the mantle piece for weeks, school was over and yesterday, Christmas Eve, the Christmas tree had arrived and been planted in its bucket of broken bricks inside the front door.

 

We had all gone away to bed far too early to sleep but in great anticipation of hearing reindeer on the roof and of what the morning would bring.

 

 

And here it was - daybreak!

Just light enough to see that the empty pillowcase left on the end of the bed was now bulging with goodies.

Toys, books and lollies, a bag of seasonal fruit and a striped peppermint stick.

We had been good enough for Santy to come, not that we kids ever doubted it.

 

What a happy racket, now everybody in the house was up to share in the excitement. Out we rushed to see the tree - no longer drab in an old bucket, but decorated with tinsel and baubles, shiny glass balls and pretty lights, topped with a shining star and standing in a red wrapped container. Hidden amongst its branches were more presents to be opened later.

 

 

Out to the kitchen for breakfast, oh what a glorious sight. The walls were hung with green garlands and balloons and crepe paper streamers criss crossed the ceiling. Chinese lanterns hung down along with paper balls and bells. Santys elves had been extra busy while we slept unawares.

 

A wonderful morning finished off with our traditional roast Christmas dinner and plum duff filled with sixpenny pieces. And a small bottle of fizzy each.

 

 

 

 

Wishing you all the blessings of this Advent season.

 

Diana