GETTING THINGS DONE.

Monday was a busy, tiring day.  We headed up to Kaitaia to visit friends up there.  We left home at 8 a.m. and made good time to Kaitaia (about a 2 hour trip).  We managed to visit all the friends we intended  as well as having a pleasant lunch and got back home at 7 p.m.

On Tuesday we were still quite tired but went into town to do some shopping for gifts and I ended up buying a trinket for the tree.  It is actually "a dream catcher" but it just took my fancy.

Yesterday, Wednesday, we were supposed to go down to Orewa to visit Doug's eldest daughter but she is coming up here on Saturday so it saved us a trip.  Just as well as I managed to get a cancellation for Intense Pulsed Light Therapy for my eyes.  Something I dislike and the only good things about it are that it is quick and seems to help.  We then went into Kamo to pick up Doug's cuckoo clock which has been in for service (it was given to him by his late wife for his 70th birthday so was overdue for a service).  While there we had a prescription to pick up and I ended up buying a couple more trinkets that caught my eye.  Not the best light for the photos.

As well as this Doug is busy building a hutch dresser in the dining room but more of that later and I have been busy with the usual chores plus getting final presents and cards organised.  I think we are on track though.

CHIPMUNKS

Every year my cousin north of Toronto sends us a Pewter Ornament - this year it is of chipmunks.  I received it about a month ago and usually don't open until Christmas Day but last night I not only decided to open it but to put the Christmas decorations up as well.

The tree is in almost the same position as last year but the big difference is that last year it was outside on the deck with some corrogated roofing protecting it from the weather whereas this year it is inside in the new Sunroom.  

Apart from the new pewter ornament each year I also buy something for the tree, not that I have done so this year.

                                                          and in the Front Hall

I also put up the wreaths at the front door.

CHRISTMAS

We had a lovely Christmas Day - seven around the table enjoying the meal.  From my lovely Stepdaughter in Australia we received a wonderful Food Parcel with various Gluten Free items which also  included a bottle of Raspberry Wine Vinegar and a bottle of White Truffle Infused Olive oil both from the Southern Highlands where she lives.  There is also a packet (still to be opened) for my birthday.

The lovely Christmas throw was from her parcel last year

I am told the cake was delicious but I had a separate gluten free one.

                                                            The goodies from Australia

                                                  Doug received a beautiful hand made eel.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Earlier in the week the temperature was 31 degrees C. when taken in my porch and it was very humid.  Still humid but, thank goodness, the temperature has dropped and it is a very pleasant 24 degrees.

There will be seven of us around the table tomorrow (Christmas Day) and we decided to have a cold meal as I don't like the thought of having the oven going if it is a hot day.  The forecast is for 22 degrees which is fine by me.

A leg of lamb has been roasted, a mix of vegetables has also been roasted for a salad, trifles are in the fridge for the jelly to set before the custard goes on and this afternoon the turkey will be cooked.  That leaves the small ham to be glazed tomorrow morning when the new potatoes and homegrown beans will be cooked, a couple of salads made and the pavlova decorated.

It seems as though everything is under control.

The garden is coming on well.  We should have tomatoes in the next few days and, hopefully, potatoes next month.  Beans, courgettes and cucumber are already prolific.

and "No Feet" has been back for feeds.

and Kim has made herself at home

So all that is left is for me to wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MERRY KIWI CHRISTMAS

Almost all Christmas songs are about snow and winter but I have just heard this lovely New Zealand (Aotearoa) Christmas song.  Enjoy!!!.

                             Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy 2017 to everyone.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

A couple of weeks ago we went down to the Town Basin to a concert put on by the Basin City Band and on the way saw this pohutakawa (also known as the New Zealand Christmas Tree).

A bit further on was this Christmas Tree alongside the Marina

I took these close-ups of pohutakawa flowers on our recent visit to Limestone Island.  If you enlarge these photos you can see the detail.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2016.

CHRISTMAS

In spite of everything going on with Max I had a very enjoyable Christmas.  We spent it at Doug's with two ladies who would, otherwise, have been on their own.

I had a lazy day as Doug insisted on cooking the meal.  He usually, no, always, comes to my place for his evening meals and said it was my turn to have a meal cooked for me and delicious it was too.

I visited Max on the way there - he has not been very well lately and the Rest Home has just started to mouli his meals.  He has been their best eater but lately has been holding his food in his mouth and not swallowing hence the mouli.

He is sleeping more and more and it is rare for him to wake up while I am visiting these days.  Because he was unwell I have increased my visiting.

One of Doug's daughters and her children 18 and 19 were going to come for a meal late afternoon on Christmas day but, at the last moment, it was decided that they would come on Boxing Day for lunch - a much better idea so we had a second Christmas meal then.

Yesterday, after walking Sophie at the Town Basin, we did some shopping - I wanted some trousers for Max but could only find 3/4 length ones as he has to have elastic waist.

More shopping today in another part of town and I got just what I was looking for at Farmers - only one pair in his size left  and they will need to be shortened by a good few inches.

My stepson arrives tomorrow to stay for a day or two and see his Dad.  Must get ready for him.  Have just been to Hikurangi to pick up some freshly caught fish from one of Doug's nephews.  Enough for about six meals plus mussels plus a crayfish.  Yummy.

Yesterday, the flowers in the house  needed replacing so I picked this bucket full.

Every year my cousin in Canada sends me a pewter ornament from Amos Pewters in Nova Scotia. Here  is this year's one - a nautilus shell.  I always receive them in November but wait until Christmas Day to open them.  It is on the tree with all the others - must be getting close to 30 now.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas

I have been very pleased with a couple of flowers in particular over the last couple of days - a surprise as we have had such terrible weather, rain, rain, rain.

The above is a flower from my Oak Leaf Hydrangea.  The flowerhead is 15 inches long.

Yesterday morning I discovered this in flower just at eye height - it was all over this morning but was wonderful while it lasted.

and here is a smaller Hydrangea with some Christmas Decorations.

The best news of all is that Max and I became Great-grandparents on  the 17th - a 7lb baby girl called Taylor.  The photo I have is in a format I am unable to transfer to the Blog.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I haven't posted for some time.  Life seems to have got in the way.  Still it is good to be busy.  The following are a couple more photos from Gibbs Farm.  Two live giraffes and a giraffe sculpture.

We have done a lot since then - mainly walks including a couple up Parihaka.  The plan is to walk up (or is it over) Mt. Aubrey during the holiday period and also re-do Mt. Manaia.  A lot of this is to with a birthday coming up this month with a zero on the end.  Feel I must keep my fitness up.

It also helps with the stress.  I am finding it hard not to feel guilty as far as Max is concerned.  The Home had a Christmas lunch last week but I don't think he knew what was going on.  I will visit him in an hour or so (It is Christmas Eve here) and then again on Boxing Day and try to enjoy Christmas day without any guilt.  There will be ten of us at Doug's so I will go straight after church and help with the preparations.  He is roasting a leg of hogget and I will glaze a small piece of ham which we will have hot tonight and cold on Christmas Day plus a joint of beef and someone is bringing a couple of roast chicken.

Weather here has been good, 27 degrees C forecast today - a bit cooler with showers for Christmas Day but that will mean I won't have to water the garden.  Up at 6 a.m. watering the garden for an hour or so this and most mornings.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2014.

Christmas is over for another year

I had a pleasant Christmas Day - much better than last year.

Every year I receive a pewter ornament from my cousin in Canada (they come from Nova Scotia).  This year it was a polar bear which her cubs.

I started the day by attending a service at Christ Church in the Regent.  I must admit I have not been to church for a long time and the service had changed a lot.  It was, however, most enjoyable.  

Following the service I went straight to the Rest Home and found my hubby being fed some "Rocky road" and wearing a Santa tie that was in his Christmas present from the home.  There seemed to be extra staff but I think it could have been the usual number but just that a lot of the residents had gone home for the day (or an hour or so).  As it is a hospital rather than the previous dementia unit he was in a lot are able to go home.  His lunch was going to be turkey, ham and lamb with all the trimmings.

I gave him his present (a red shirt in a brand he has always liked) and another toy for him to fiddle with.  I spent about an hour with him and he was quite happy when I left to go to lunch with my friend/hairdresser who lives around the corner.  She had two elderly widows for lunch as well as they would have been on their own.  In the afternoon I was pleased to get phone calls from both my stepchildren.

Boxing Day was quiet.  The weather has been miserable over the whole holiday period mainly drizzle with some heavy showers but very muggy - I see the humidity has gone down to 82% although it doesn't feel like it.

Today (it is now just after 5 p.m. on the 27th) I went with a friend on a dog walk and then went to visit M and help him with his lunch before going to the shops to change a couple of items.  The carparks and the shops were full - I thought having left it until after Boxing Day that it would have been a little easier.  Still I sorted everything that I needed.  The sun has finally come out.  I see that on Saturday we finally have a fine day forecast (although only the one day).

Merry Christmas

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2013.

I have been busy today delivering plates of fruit and bunches of the Christmas coloured Alstroemeria to friends and people who have helped me over the past year.

The weather is a little cooler and it has been raining most of the day.  The forecast for tomorrow is for rain and on Christmas Day "a chance of a storm" .  This is the remains of the cyclone that hit Samoa and Fiji a week or so ago.

I went to the New World Supermarket to get a couple of items that I missed in yesterday's shop and when I got to the car park wished I had got them earlier as it was practically full.  I managed to find a park and quickly got the items I needed.  Amazingly as I came out of the last aisle there was a teller in front of me that became free and I was through in no time at all.

I came home and have finally made my small Christmas cake (or loaf) - it is in the oven right now and smells delicious.  I usually add whiskey but had forgotten that I used it all up in some whiskey macs over winter so have used brandy today.

Getting There

It has been a difficult time.  I visited my lovely hubby on Monday to find him not pleased to see me.  I don't know whether it was vivid dreams or hallucinations but I had been doing all sorts of things.  Luckily, he settled down and was quite content when I left telling him I will collect him on Christmas Eve and bring him home.  I am not sure whether he knows where home is though.

I have finished the two lots of double antibiotics I was given and been having lots of rest.  For the first time in my 68 years I didn't really feel like putting up the Christmas decorations but I made the effort and am pleased with the result.  I finally went into town today and did a supermarket shop so we shouldn't starve for a few days at least.  I also bought some lettuce and penstemon plants and got them in the ground this afternoon.


Tomorrow I will bake some bread and a cake and gets lots more rest.