Heidi

It has been three years today, since our dear old Giant Schnauzer Heidi passed away.
I still miss her so much, the walks every day, the unconditional love and how happy the gentle giant would be when we came home, after having been out.
She really did bring so much joy to our family over the years and how much our kids and we gained by growing up/older, with our beloved Heidi.
Losing a pet is such a hard thing to deal with.

Dorota of
jewellerybijou.com gave me the One lovely blog Award, many thanks for this.

Now I would like to pass the Award on to the following blogs that I enjoy visiting.
I know some of you are Award free, but just to say thank you for all you share.

mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com
happy-sonne.blogspot.com
nunusgarnundsstofflabor.blogspot.com
homehavenministry.blogspot.com
le-monde-de-catherine.blogspot.com

Hope that you are having a fabulous week
Hugs
Carolyn

The days of black and white.

Grace Kelly

A study in black and white today.
Everything was so glamorous back in the 1940's and I love the black and white photographs, that I would like to share with you.
The Ladies were so elegant, dressed immaculately, with wonderful hats, and jewellery.


Irving Penn ~ photographer


Thank you Maureen for the super comment Award { love the cute Panda}
I appreciate this Award, and always enjoy visiting you and your friendship.
If you do not know Maureen, go and visit her at daydreamliving.blogspot.com

Happy Wednesday
Hugs
Carolyn

Pink Ribbon Month.

As you are probably aware this month is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, so we need to do our bit, by self examination, mammograms and supporting charities.
Awareness, Education and Empowerment need to always be an important part of our life.

I will share a few pink images today.

Martha Stewart
Mary Ruffle
Thank you Marge, for your kind and beautiful friendship and giving me this Award.
Even though we are at the opposite sides of the world, it is great to have you as a friend.
Take a visit and meet Marge and see her wonderful photos of her lovely life in Finland.
elamanhelminauhaa.blogspot.com

Have a beautiful week my dear friends.
Hugs
Carolyn

My favourite tea cup and Happy 101 Award.

This is my favourite tea cup.

There is a wonderful giveaway at http://belle-blanc.blogspot.com

All she asks is that you post a picture of your favourite tea cup and then leave a comment on her blog. (which is beautiful, so go and take a visit )


hauteworld.blogspot.com has handed me the Happy 101 Award, which comes with a tag.
Many thanks for this award. Go and visit Haute-world and see all the wonderful Fashion she has to share.

The tag requires me to make a list of 10 things that make me happy, so here I go.

My husband and children and family life are very important to me and make me happy and proud.

Lily of the valley and hyacinths, always make me feel happy


House & Garden
Soaking in a warm bath, and relaxing with some soothing music and a candle flickering.
Victoria Magazine
To slip into a beautiful freshly laundered sheets, with a glossy magazine.

My Mac computer and my i phone, I love and could not do without.

Walking along the beach barefoot, in the sand and listening to the waves coming in.

I love sitting around the table enjoying good food with family and friends.

Always being busy, like making a bear, or doing something around the home, makes me happy.

Traveling to new and exciting places.

Visiting all my blog friends makes me happy, thank you for your friendship and inspiration.

Now I have to pass this award on and I have looked at most of my blog friends and they either have this award or a blog free.
This time I am going to pass it on to everyone who is reading this, as you all deserve this, so please play along if you would like to.

Hugs
Carolyn

A day for Royalty.

I am honoured to receive ~ The Most Regal Blog Award from the Duchess of Rosetea Cottage.
She has a delightful blog, so do go over and visit her and meet the sweetest blogging friend and see all the beautiful things she has to share. Thank you very much.


Prince William has made his first official visit, representing his Grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The Prince proved a popular Royal envoy on his visit to NZ, meeting All Blacks Rugby players, sailing on America's cup yacht on Auckland Harbour.
William opened the new Supreme Court building in Wellington, then he placed a single rose on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
He also visited the Wellington hospital and charmed the sick children. He brought grins and shy smiles to their faces.
He visited Kapiti Island, where he was greeted by sunshine and birdsong as well as rouge weka and takahe.
His Royal Highness Prince William apparently, got behind the barbie and flipped a few sausages as part of his Summer experience.
Australia is the next stop on his tour, down under.

Country Living

My thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti ~ may they get the much needed help, food, water and hospital care. It is so sad seeing all the destruction, from this most devastating earthquake.

I hope that you are having a lovely week.
Hugs
Carolyn

Christmas cookies

Christmas Cookies.

150gm butter, softened
1 cup of caster sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice or orange
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1 egg, beaten
2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 teaspoons milk.

Cream butter and sugar until very pale
Beat in juice, zest and egg
Sift flour and baking powder and fold into mixture with milk. Chill dough.
Roll out on a well floured board to desired thickness and cut into shapes with cookie cutters.
Preheat oven to 190C. Bake cookies for 8 - 15 minutes until golden.
Cool on racks.

To decorate

Icing ~ Beat an egg white, then add icing sugar until thick and sprinkle on silver cauchous.

Every year we make a few batches of these delicious biscuits.
They are great to give away as little presents.
My daughter made this batch this morning and I thought I would share the recipe, you may like to try making some yourself.


I was happy to get this lovely Award from Susan nearly stylish.
thank you very much.
I would like to pass this on to ~

victoria
dustjacketattic.blogspot.com
thelaurelhedge.blogspot.com
sooznooz-ajourneyoffloristry.blogspot.com
sassyminidolls.blogspot.com

I hope that your week is going well. I walked into the village this morning to post some Christmas cards away. It has suddenly got very warm over here, I think that Summer has arrived.

Happy week
Hugs
Carolyn

What I got up to in the weekend

Country Living

I have had a really busy weekend and it is good to be back home again.
Spent all day sorting through our family home, bit of sadness when you see things like your Dads drivers license and little things like that.
It was lovely to catch up with my Brother his wife and my Sister and her husband and we cleaned and sorted through things.
I got some lovely treasures that I will show some photos of what I got, another time.
My husband and I were so tired when we got back to the City that after the traveling and the work we had done, we felt stiff and found it hard to walk.
I am looking forward to coming to visit your blogs and to see what you are up to.


I was delighted to receive this beautiful Kreativ blogger award from Traude from
rostrose.blogspot.com
Many thanks Traude.

I now have to tell you 7 things about myself.

1 My family is very important ~ we enjoy doing things together and are very close.

2 I love writing letters, with pen and on nice stationery and nothing better than to receive a letter in the mailbox.

3 I love all the blogs I read and to all the people who read my blog and are kind enough to leave me a comment, I like you a lot and want to say many thanks.

4 A day pottering around in the garden, watching bees in the lavender and beautiful birds flying about, is a great way to spend the day.

5.I enjoy cooking, eating and sharing a meal with family and friends.

6.I love this time of the year when we move outdoors to eat most of our meals, especially in the weekend. We had breakfast out on the deck yesterday, watching Tuis, and it looked like they were making nests in a tree, as they were carrying twigs in their beaks.

7.I do not twitter or use facebook, as I spend way too much time now sitting at the computer.

Now to pick someone to nominate for this award, I love all the blogs I read and it is very hard to pick just a few as I think you all deserve this, but I will go by the rules and here are the ones I have picked.

laughingwithangels.blogspot.com
sassyminidolls.blogspot.com
afancifullife.blogspot.com
truebluecanadian.blogspot.com
www.marthasfavorites.com
sooznooz-ajourneyoffloristry.blogspot.com

I just want to wish you a happy week.
Hugs
Carolyn

Award and my Dolls

I love this wonderful award that Susan gave me, go and visit her blog
nearlystylish.blogspot.com
Thank you so much.




Let me show you my collection of porcelain dolls, in my cabinet.
About 25 years ago, I went to a class and learned how to make the dolls.
It was so much fun and I really enjoyed watching them take shape, from the clay mould to the finished doll.
The top shelf are dolls that I made myself including the clothes, shoes and hats.
The lower shelf are dolls that I was given.
Sorry about the photos, I may need to take some more as the reflection of the glass, seems to be showing.

I hope that you are having a great week.
Hugs
Carolyn

Awe-Summm Award

Last week the lovely Lavinia gave me this sparkly Award! Thank you very much.

As Lavinia says on her blog,

The idea here, is to list 7 things that make me Awe-Summm.

Don't reallly like to blow my own trumpet, but here goes anyway.
I will try and think of a few things.

1. I try to live each day to the full and make the most of every opportunity.

2. I am an honest and loyal person.

3. I love to help people when I can - I was a volunteer with a reading recovery program in the school. So sad when children were unable to read.

4. I work hard and love to be making and doing things all the time, sewing knitting and making bears.

5. I enjoy travelling to fabulous places, eating different foods and meeting people.

6. Baking and cooking is a thing that I love to do ~ nothing better than the smell of delicious food wafting out of the kitchen.

7. Love to have the company of friends around, sharing fun, laughter, good food and
times.

Thank you Lavinia at ... Birdbathchronicles.blogspot.com for this award.

Now I would like to pass on this award to the following lovely people ;

Rue ~ Ruespeanutbutterandjellylife.blogspot.com

Millie ~ thelaurelhedge.blogspot.com

Tracie ~ mypetitemaison.blogspot.com

Rosemary~ rosespetitemaison.blogspot.com

I hope that you are having a great weekend.

We have a long weekend here ~ Queen's Birthday weekend and Monday off - Perfection.
Quite an appropriate award for the weekend. I can be a Queen for a day.

Hugs
Carolyn


I love crowns and here are a few I have around the house.