Tuesday 21 June 2011

more cupcakes

I only put cupcakes on my blog because thats all I ever cook with the kids. Ha, no.They go on because they are so colourful. These were made for a fundraiser for school camps. (Kids pointing at the ones they like.)

They have done a good job, those kids.

These are some 'duds'. They look ok to me, but the kids said the actual cake wasn't up to scratch.

We have also made toppers for these cupcakes. Some cute, some whacky. I'll photograph them today in situ. That's all for today folks.

Sunday 19 June 2011

Ma's Birthday






Well, it's Mum's Birthday today!! We went to town and we all 'got things'. Mum had her teeth cleaned and her plate reshaped, then she had her toenails manicured at the chiropodist, then we picked up new glasses for me. Ones that stay on my face the whole time-progressive and pink and plastic. No more taking on and off, on and off, breaking the frames, peering over the top of, standing on the glasses, falling off my head. Yay, life gets simpler and more complex as we age I thingk! 
This is a photo of me taking a photo of my noo glasses, cleverly stretching out my 'softening' face . Not bad.


This is the trio in the front, driver, navigator and spotter. They do a splendid job, while I lanquish as much as one can wedged between walking frame, shopping and stuffed toys- more on that in a minute.



This is the view from the newly revamped pub at Kohatu. Really nicely done. In keeping and not trying too hard at anything.


This is us- well Bob and Granny- but you can see my coffee- having a Birthday lunch. It was ok,  but we think the people are new at the game so  for just three of us we waited a long time. Never mind they will probably get better and we wish them well because it's got all the elements of a go ahead concern.
 I said we all got something and I wasn't lieing. Mr Shortstuff got 4 new stuffed toys from the recyclers- for wait .....$1. Bargain.
We let him have them one at a time. This is number one once we got home. Dog heaven.




And my darling? Well besides a day with us he came home with papers to fill out to become a 'licenced building practitioner'. And here he is filling them in.xxx my darling. See his lovely shirt and waistcoat he pur-chased in America.
By y'all.
P.S. There will be a free giveaway for anyone who can tell me how old Mum is. No, not really, just playing 'real blog person'!


What's new?



I'll tell you what. Bob is back from the States and he had a fantastic time with horse people and horses, and a not so fantastic time feeling lonely sometimes especially amid far more people and traffic than he is used to. What's also new is that we have both been a bit coldy, snuffly, headachey. Too bad. I take paracetamol, nap in the afternoon and get over it. Bob sweats it out at night, ick. Anyway here are some pictures from over the past couple of weeks when I haven't blogged and even one from way back. I just liked the colour. AND specially for the blind or partially sited an upside down photo. I know, I do my best to increase my audience. This is a morning shot 'Sun through Fog'. Taken a couple of weeks back. Back then I thought winter might actually happen. I have my doubts- it is so damn warm. I love frosts, fires, ice, snow even, getting warm after a cold walk, comfort food, no weed growth. I'm beginning to feel cheated. But next week it is the shortest day and maybe the saying "As the days get longer, the winter gets stronger' will kick in. Here's hoping. Many of you wont agree.


Hey did you notice something odd about this pic? No worries if you didn't. It's especially for you.xx

I've added this because this is an OLDEY but a goody, simply because I like the colours in the picture and the shape of avacados and also they remind me of our friends Brett and Jane who grow them. Too bad they also remind me that the weather is not much different to what it was back when Bob brought them back from Golden Bay over a month and a half ago.


This is a Moth Orchid in my Mum's room that has finally flowered again. My brother and his family gave it to Mum probably four years ago now. It is generally a regular flower bearer- well once a year I guess. Beautiful plant.



Hey, who's that English Professer/Beekeeper giving feed to Sassy and Princess? OMG It's Bob! Back from America and looking...British. I don't get it.
But there it is.



This is Sassy. She is a sweetie, but surplus to requierments so she is for sale. We'll help her find a good home.


And finally  a new Geranium I bought for Mum to repalce the Mother's day Chrysanthemum, which is now in the garden. It lives with the Moth Orchid. I hope it will be very happy. I love Geraniums. So does Mum. Luckily.

Saturday 4 June 2011

Happiness is colour (or color-for my American friends)


Well, no I haven't posted recently. I've wondered about that and it wasn't until Bob said so to me this morning on the phone that I thought about getting back to it agagin- Bob's still in USA. back soon tho!
And I realised that actually I'd been quite busy with other things. The top shot is a typical interaction between friends.



 This shot is a fabulous morning sky that did produce rain in its wake. And we are still in the thros of that precipitation two days later.
 This pic is a cakestand I made out of card and old National geographic maps and paint and glue. Taken from a pattern from a book called ? I left it at school. The kids are funny though. I thought it would inspire them to see one finished. It actually seemed to have the opposite effect because they are actually finding it quite time consuming and fiddly. They need to 'cowboy up' those kids. they give up too easily. I wanted to challenge them. Its part of a cake decorating unit I'm doing. We make cakes, decorate them, make props, set up shots and photograph our stuff. They made the paper butterflies/flowers. That was almost under challenging. The thing about teaching is that you can never pitch it right every time. So hanging in there and keep throwing stuff their way is as good a plot as any I reckon. Some of it, done with good humour and good management is going to stick!
 These are hand sewn/handpainted floorcloths I'm working on. Took them to show my sewing group the other day. They liked the idea of floorcloths. They hadn't heard about them before.
And this is a painitng on a cupboard in honour of a famous old blues song. I listen to the Old crow Medicine Show Version quite a lot.
Why the cat? Why the cupboard. Why is a crooked letter and zed is no better.