An Iconic Kiwi Christmas Tree

The Pohutakawas are all out and blossoming around Auckland. 

They seem extra red this year and there are dozens lining the roads

These pics are from one in the front garden

And in crocheting news, a couple of starfish wash-cloths from a retro pattern. 

I'm celebrating my pattern reading prowess :-)

 

Growing Stuff

Spent some time this week in Tauranga and Taupo.  That boat makes me so angry I can't talk about it.  And I lost my $10 bet on the RWC so i can't talk about that either (serves me right for trying to be loyal to my roots :-D) 

And so lets concentrate on the positive stuff:

What a gorgeous spring day!  I went for a wander round the garden and I spied tomatoes growing, and the sweetpeas are going well too.

Growing on the crochet hook is an experiment in beads and cotton.  I'm aiming for a spectacles case....

And exciting holiday news, we're having a week away in November, and we're off to Nelson, Invercargill, and the Catlins using some of the airpoints I won last year.   And since Andrew is quite anal (oops) a detailed gentleman we're even writing an itinerary!

A Green Scene

A green scene for a lovely weekend :-)

Fab new boots bought on a trip to Tauranga, 

Beautiful bag bought in Italy as a present from my parents, (a pretty close match)

Spike my dwarf cabbage tree, liking his new home

 A great dew this morning. I hadn't washed my face in dew for a while, it felt great!

New poncho with gorgeous greens is coming along well 

Road trip - Te Aroha

Last weekend we popped to Te Aroha. (we went mainly for the 2nd hand shops :-) )

Te Aroha is a really pretty town at the bottom of the highest peak in the Kaimai ranges. How fab would it be to live in a place named after Love?

 I really like the buildings and it has pretty gardens by the museum and hot pools.

This one is for sale - isn't it fab!

I you are ever there I really recommend visiting the felt studio, the lady who makes the wonderful creations from New Zealand merino wool also offers lots of different workshops. It's my goal this year to go and do one of her one day workshops.