Last Monday I spent the day travelling by rail and sea, as I headed North to Wellington. I love travelling by train. I find it so relaxing, and with brand new carriages, it's rather luxurious as well. So I snapped a few shots on the way, and then once on the Interislander, found a nice long couch and had a wee nap for a good chunk of the very calm crossing. I was woken up by the announcement of scones fresh from the oven, with cream and jam, and with an hour to go of the journey, sat back and enjoyed one of these along with a drink.

Beverley kindly picked me up from the ferry, dropped me at Janines, and then came back later with her family and we all had tea together, thanks to Mike and Janine. The following day we (Janine, Beverley, myself, Jessi and Alexander) headed off to see the gorgeous tulips at the Botanic Gardens, before doing a bit of a tour of Miramar and Seatoun and having lunch at the Chocolate Fish Cafe, which was just gorgeous, and yes I did have a choccie fish ;-) Of course my camera battery went dead and so no photos of this... Janine I had a wee wander around town and a suburb that starts with K that I'll attempt to spell lol, Kilbirnie? I had such a relaxing time at Janine and Mikes and was spoilt rotten.

I raided her scrappy pile that was heading off to charity (sorry to the charity that was going to recieve this, but really I don't think I made much of a dent in it LOL). And I tried to read her wonderful stash of magazines and made pretty good in roads, but I think I'd need another month to get through these LOL. Lucky Janine and I share a love of reading. Wednesday I headed off to Mandys (and raided her books to read lol). We spent Thursday in professional dialogue (that's teacher talk!), visited her kindergarten and went out to an Emporium where I brought a few things for work but was concious that I needed to fit them into my one suitcase. Mandy had also organised for us to do high tea at a beautiful spot, just perfect for such a thing. We went into the city on Friday and did a tour of Parliment, which was excellent. So much hidden behind those walls. Thanks Mandy for your hospitality (and tour guiding!).

Before Mandy headed off home, and I stayed in the city, we visited the Christmas part of the shop, Kilcadie and Stains. This is like H J Smith to those who are in Southland, or Bally's to those in Chch, and Smith and Caugheys to those in Auckland. Each year the shop puts on a wonderful display of Christmas wares, which are of course for sale, but it's a magical spot to visit and view in wonderment.

Friday night through to Sunday was spent with my niece, my sister and a friend of my sisters, along with her two girls (I've known her a long time to - she was at my wedding). We shopped of course, and ate out and spent Saturday night at WOW (where I managed to catch up with Janine again for all of two minutes lol) - but with a sold out audience that was an impressive feat in itself!

And finally I headed home on Sunday. The crossing was a bit rough with quite a few sick people on board (nope, not me). But a glorious day all the same.

How lucky we are to live in such a stunning country, with such wonderful people.

The internet now plays a huge part in our lives. In our house it is used more than the phone, more than good old fashioned 'snail mail' and certainly more than texting. However like all technology it has it's good and bad days. And lately it's had more bad days than good! We don't get broadband to the gate, we use mobile broadband and so are really stuck with having to use one provider. We good use satellite but at eight hundred to set up, that's probably not going to be a happening thing. According to Telecom we should get broadband to the gate in 2020, oh well, that's not too many more years to wait!! I mean we only live on the outskirts of the second biggetst city in the country ;-) Anyway the point of this waffle?? To say sorry if you I haven't commented on your blogs for a week or two... Last week we had these gorgeous young souls over for a visit...One of my cousins is married to a Cantab, and while they live in Auckland they are frequent visitors South and so we get to catch up fairly often. A few months ago (well five to be exact) she gave birth to this young chap - Finlay - and we got to meet him for the first time last week. That's his big sister Helene, with him. She loves to raid my scrapbooking room when visiting 'Aunty Tracey'. And she's quite the artist I must say.

Like everywhere else in the country, Spring has well and truly sprung around these parts. Here's the evidence of that! It's a little difficult to resist taking photos when everything is blooming beautiful ;-)

In scrappy news, I've been busy putting together a Project Life album for next year. I've brought the Becky Higgins page protectors for the year (a whole lot of random ones as I love change) and I'm making up the cards to go in there. I know if I do it before hand then I'll enjoy the whole process, where as if I try and do them as I go along, I get too time driven and then it just doesn't work for me. Having had a break from doing Project Life this year, I'm really looking forward to getting back into it next year. Also here are my two final layouts for my guest design team spot over at Scrappin Patch.

Here's wishing you a great end of the week - Mandy, only two days to go!!

From the mountains to the sea...

Many, many months ago (actually there was some debate about this, could hav possibly even been last year...) an idea was mooted by a very wise woman, about a catch up weekend between a group of friends, where two friends lived in Malborough and two lived in Christchuch. After many days of counting down, the weekend finally arrived and this bunch got to meet once again...

Many emails went flying backwards and forwards as accomodation ideas were discussed. Would there be a spa pool? Waiter? Tent? Then the list was narrowed down and the decision was made, and we got to stay here...

There were locals for us to visit. Very cute locals with big brown eyes. There were mountains and beaches. We took photos of lots of these things. And then we just kept taking more photos because we are scrapbookers...

And so we ate out, and we ate in. And we ate party food. And we drank water. And we drank other beverages (the ones that need to be really nice and cold to drink...) And we had real coffee and hot chocolate. There were shops for us to visit. And places we had driven past but never been into because husbands always say we are in too much of a hurry to get to the next place. We got to go to those places.

What a wonderful weekend. Must do it again.

Have a fantastic week everyone.

And this week

I'm glad it's not my job to predict the weather. This morning the weather forecast for Tuesday this week said, "snow to five hundred metres." That would mean a cold day for us, but no dramas. Then two hours later it read, "snow to sea level" hmmmm okay, will have to make sure the stock have plenty to eat, and that we've got the bbq in the garage in case we lose power, no probs, will get it sorted. Now just before writing this, "sleet in Christchurch, snow to 200m" okay, could you just make up your mind!!! I would rather have the worse case scenario and prepare accordingly. Snow to 200m means we will get it at home anyway. So once my hubby gets home from the airport (he's been in Auckland for the weekend), we'll be moving the cows and pigs, along with a few electric fences.

This month, it's my turn to be guest designer over at Scrappin Patch. I created four layouts with the goodies Adrienne sent me, and here's the first two:

Other news...

*We finally have our fireplace installed, just need the council to visit and sign it off.

*Donna has started moving stuff into her house. A few little jobs left to do, like the wardrobe rail etc. Need council to come and sign the house off as well.

*Hubby took his Mum to the SPCA this weekend and she now has a cat called Emma. Her cat Buddy got put down a few years ago, due to lots of things that happen in old age.

*Three weeks of term left.

*Have decided to do Project Life again next year, and am so looking forward to it. Glad I had a break this year.

*Sunday baking is all done. Ginger crunch, chocolate brownies and some hokey pokey.

*Am totally looking forward to catching up with some wonderful friends this weekend. Am preparing to have sore ribs from all the laughing.

Here's wishing you all a fab week.

Hanmer Springs!

You often hear of families that don't get on for one reason or another. I consider myself pretty lucky in that I love the company of both my own family and the family that I married into. Since they all come and visit often the feeling must be mutual ;-)

This last weekend has seen my brother in law and sister in law here for a visit. We spent time wandering around Christchurch (and buying a few pairs of shoes lol) before heading up to Hanmer Springs, where we soaked in the pools, had a lovely dinner out and then sat and watched a movie. On the way home we dropped them at Weka Pass railway and they took a quick train trip (it's about forty minutes) - we met them at the other end.

I've also been busy as Guest Designer over at Scrappin Patch, so keep an ey out over the next few weeks on their blog, to see what I created with the lovely goodies that Adrienne sent me.

Short and sweet post this week, so much to do! Have a great week everyone!

August

This last week has seen us living in a castle. Just look at our 'moat'!

The ducks loved it, so they came visiting. The chickens were going to have to take swimming lessons, so they spent Monday free ranging in our garage, fortunately by Tuesday it had mostly drained away, so they got to shift back to their homestead ;-) Our neighbours who have lived here more years than I've been alive, said it's the most/worst flooding they've seen, which was kind of good to know. At no point was it actually near enough to the house to be of concern. Hard work pushing a wheelbarrow through it to feed the cows and pigs though!

I have been playing with paper and associated products, but since mostly they are for challenges so I can't put them up on here yet. Seems to be a feast or a famine as the mojo comes and goes lol.

With the sun coming out these wee beasties found the best spot for a nap.

I've a busy couple of months coming up, with most weekends someone either staying with us, or us going away. Lots of wonderful time spent with wonderful people to look forward to.

And a big happy birthday to my brother who turned turned forty something on Friday!

Have a great week everyone.

Farm life

With the blowing up of a building in Christchurch today, I wonder if it will be reflected in our play at work this week? How many block towers will be built and then 'imploded'? Then they'll grab the hard hats, vests and clipboards to make sure it's all safe. This would all be wonderful play...except it's meant to rain all week. Hoping the weather forecast is wrong. Exploding buildings and wet days, means children inside or under the verandah and you can imagine the sound effects that will have to happen from the buildings coming down... not sure how much of that I can take LOL.

Here's a few scenes from the backyard at about five tonight (Sunday).

Looks like I have a two headed pig living here ;-) Or the boys are just snuggled up together enjoying the last of the days sunshine.

Scrapbox's last challenge was to use the colours of Scrapbox, so here's my entry.

I've cleared my scrapdesk now, and have searched out a few more challenges to get me scrapping again. Funny how I can't work if I have 'stuff' waiting to be done. Now that it's organised I'm ready to get stuck into creating again.

Hubby is doing a bit of creating himself. He's ripped up some carpet in the lounge and is in the process of laying some tiles, ready for our new woodburner to go in. Just as the weather warms up LOL. Still, at least it will get it out of the garage where it's been living, still in it's plastic and box for the last year. Through three snowstorms. Kind of would have been handy then. Bet there's not snow for another couple of years now, Murphy and his law being what it is!

We will have some new critters living at our house (well actually Donna's house) when she moves in (which should be the first week of September, as the carpet gets layed on the last two days of August). She is taking on two cockateils. They belonged to an elderly couple where the husband is now in a home and the wife isn't coping with the two birds, two cats and the dog. The grandaughter has taken on the cats, and Donna's preschool is looking after the birds till Donna can take them. The wife is enjoying just having the dog to care for and of course dogs are great company.

Donna brought them a new cage off Trade Me and we went and picked it up this morning (it's huge!). I then got myself a new light for my scraproom and a new iron. So nice to have a flash new iron ;-) Good ole Briscoes and their sales!

Have a great week folks.