A Special Beach

Once upon a time, my parents lived in this little house on the Awhitu peninsula. My brother and his family used to live there but they bought the section next door.

And my brother built this house, so my parents bought the old one. They were just across the road from a new regional park and Dad got a job there as a ranger.

During his time there Dad planted many trees including the ones each side of this pic. As you can see already the view is lovely and there is water.

Yes! There are two wonderful beaches in the park, with a tiny Island you can walk to at low tide.

The long white sandy beaches are wonderful and it was a lovely high tide when we arrived on Tues mid morning. Straight in for our first swim of this Summer. 

The cool clear water was sooo refreshing as we lolled about trying to work up an appetite.

There were a few others enjoying this treasure, but it certainly was not crowded.

I sheltered under a small tree while we had lunch and a read.

I kid you not. They go most places with me, where I think there might be book browsing time.

Wisdom on collected. Mmmm! Actually very encouraging and forgiving for me.

I gaze at these walls in Tifs house so often in wonder. I have no walls, so am planning on a small space of wall in my studio.

Kerry has gone back for seconds. I'm not going to be left out!

The tide is receding, the sun is scorching, I think we need more shade.

Along there, across the small creek. Now the tide has receded we can cross over there.

AAAH ! That's better. Now to just relax in the cool under these awesome branches that have stretched out here for yonks.

Let's reminisce a little. Our youngest was only  year old whe Mum and Dad moved here. The park wasn't properly opened at that time so we had the place to ourselves. Many school holidays were spent here. This world really was our oyster, complete with shining pearl.

We swam, we walked the many paths through bush and along the seaside and across the mud flats at low tide. We fished, we forraged, we played, from dawn till dusk. Then Dad would smoke or cook the days catch.

Just like this little family, today, have found a tiny sandbar Island to have an adventure on.

Some others are hoping to find some shell fish, but I think the beds a rather depleted these days.

We'll just lay back under this wonderful canopy and savour the memories. 

And maybe read another chapter of my book. Do you like the title. "The Cure For Death By Lightening".

A rather good novel actually, set in outback America, post WWII .

Well....It's time to crunch the shells under our feet and make our way back to the car park.

Along the path where the trees and flax were planted by Dad.

Across the little stream that feeds the wetland sanctuary.

Up the lovely path shaded by the native bush.

One last glance at a wonderful slice of heaven that we have had the privalidged of being part of. There have been family gatherings big and small in the park. We have camped in the very basic but beautiful campsite. Soooo many rich memories here along with my folks ashes. Where else could they be?

We'll be back again soon, you bet!

Hope you enjoyed our day at our special beach.

Many blessings, love, Trills,xx

A BIG BIG MISTAKE!

Now you must know by now, how proud and thrilled I am with my little cottage garden. Doesn't it look lush,mmm,LUSH! L U S H!! Sorry, just a little Miranda moment. But a lot of the LUSHNESS, came from the Russell Lupins.

Yes! I was very thrilled with these flowers and their antiquey colours. Not many of the plants flowered though, but they did grow big and LUSH!

As I gathered the water from the washing machine every other day.

Even doing extra washes of unnecessary yet still delightful subjects such as these doilies and linens.

The garden was kept lovely and moist, growing more and more LUSH!

Then I noticed that the roses were disappearing among the Lupins leaves so decided to prune their leaves back.

Just a wee pruning job I thought yesterday morning. One Lupins was very close to a sad rose so I pulled it out. WELL! As you can see, it was a BIG plant with BIG ROOTS! AAAHHHGGG!!

When I saw those big roots with little nodules on them I was horrified. I had no idea! I thought they spread by seed, so had faithfully cut the flowers off before they dried.

But LOOK AT THOSE ROOTS! And the size of the plants with multiple heads from those little harmless plants in the punnet that I planted in Spring.

It quickly became my mission to dig them all up, pronto! And dispose of them with haste, leaving big gaps in the garden but now the roses can breathe again and won't have to share the water with those greedy roots.

How's that Munstead Wood. 

And The Lady of Shalot.

And you, tiny bud, now uncovered and breathing free. That's much better, isn't it?

Here's hoping there are more rose flowers to come now, and I will be checking out the nursery for more suitable plants to fill some of the gaps in an unintrusive way.

So! My dear friends, beware the Russell Lupin. Beautiful as they are, they are not suited to a small cottage garden. Maybe they do not grow so robustly in the Northern climes but I know I will not plant them again, and will no doubt have to be constantly on the look out for new plant popping up from where they were growing. AAAAAHHHHHGGGGG!!

A lesson well learnt.

Bye for now and May blessings, love, Trills,xxx

A Dottie Angel apron.

I first met Dottie Angel in the book Granny Chic, that I did a post on some time ago. That book and the other book by Tif Fussel, Dottie Angel, are never far from me. They are sooo full of inspiration on upcycling, granny chic style, and doily crafting. Up until now I had no results from all my browsing and drooling and inspiration. Well this year is going to be different.

First was this crocheted jar cover from Dottie Angel, holding my small collection of vintage knitting needles.

AND!! TADDAAHH! A Dottie Angel apron. YEAH!

It was sooo goood to get busy with the sewing machine,( I haven't named mine yet), and stitching together the tea towel, doily, serviette, lace and old sheeting. 

The High Hopes was embroidered on by mio, as per the instruction and I like to think on this and the high hopes I have to make more projects from these books.

I don't have a chicken, or vintage scene, or the right camera for my shots, but I am thrilled with the results.

And I am very excited about the next project, to be revealed in time.

I have also been making some changes in my studio. Still an ongoing project.

I hope to do quite a few different crafts. Some from these books, and others from inspiration gathered elsewhere.

Like this little paper mâché doll I found in a thrift store. There was a tag to say it was inspired by somebody Arkel. Can't check on that just now. Maybe Julie. Yes that's it Julie Arkel. I must look her up. Sooo cute. Haven't named her yet either. 

I have ideas galore darting through my mind. More to be revealed.

Bye for now and blessings to you all. Love, Trills.xx

Three bags full.

The days are hot and one tends to stay away from the sunny areas, but this morning I looked out the bedroom window and realised the sun did not reach the vegi plot till late morning.

So on with my gardening shoes, out with the tools, and weed bag, oh boy did I need the weed bag!

I think I may get the prize for this grand silver beet flower. With our concern about saving water we don't worry about planting any more veges past Spring, so this is the left overs plus the invaders.

I had weeded the smaller patch with the few strawberries, rhubarb, and the special chilli. Well now for the big one.

Don't procrastinate Trills, admiring that flower. It has to go. But most of all those pesky weeds.

Halfway there and already 3 bags have gone over the bank. We are lucky to have an area we can dispose of garden waste.

Well the sun has caught up with me so I'll finish it tomorrow. Truly! Yes I mean it!

Time for a cuppa and some awesome summer fruits. At last the cherries have gone down in price and I can have one of my favourite treats.

Cheers! Have a great day. Blessings and love, Trills.xx