Goodbye 2018!

Christmas 2018 is now just a happy memory.
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful holiday season ...I love these days where all is quiet and you can relax and take things slowly.
It was wonderful to have our family all under the one roof and now they have gone back to their life, and apartments.

Just want to say thank you so much for your friendship, support, and encouragement over the past year and following along. Your kindness is truly appreciated.

Write it on your heart that every day, is the best day in the year
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Best wishes for luck in everyone's New Year... but mostly lots of love.
May you have good health, happiness and Joy in 2019.

hugs
Carolyn x

An Evening out

Last week I had the pleasure of going out with my dear daughter for an evening out.
We were invited to a Chanel event which was a lovely thing to do, to celebrate Mothers Day.
Who could resist a glass of champagne and canapes?

At the pedestrian crossing we were waiting for the lights to change to green, when opposite were some Television cameras pointing directly in our direction.
It wasn't until some of my family and friends texted us to say they had seen us on the evening news and that was the screenshot above.
The Newshub reporters had been doing a story at the Britomart Train station after one of the trains had derailed, not far from where we were.
After we stopped off for dinner at a little Restaurant XuXu  for dumplings.
We had such a fun evening and was great to spend time with my beautiful daughter.

Hope you are all enjoying a lovely weekend
hugs
Carolyn

Happy International Women's Day

 I hope you are having a lovely week dear friends.

Les Fleurs, pour vous

Today and any other day, we can be grateful  for being a woman and I just want to say how very grateful I am, for having the best blog friends.
There are a few things we need to remember:
Feel free and be yourself
Taking time out for your self is not a luxury but a necessity ~ take 5 minutes to breath deeply and clear your mind.
Pamper yourself and take a relaxing warm bath.

 After women, flowers are the most lovely thing God has given the world
~ Christian Dior
 Do hope you have a happy day

hugs
Carolyn

Sending you my love

Hope your day is beautiful - just a short note today with a few photos.
Sometimes it doesn't take much to inspire me, when we see so much beauty around us
from the little lavender heart I have displayed in the hallway

to the big heart in the window of the local floral shop

 my petite Cecil Brunner rosebuds that are making a sweet show on the rosebush and had to bring a few inside to put in a vase.

Be kind to yourself and to others.

Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling the journey with us.
Be swift to love, make haste to be kind.
~ Henri Frederic Amie

Hope you have a wonderful week and happy Valentine's day, my friends.
Sending you kisses, hugs and all the love in this world
Carolyn

It's the weekend!

Pretty pink blooms for the weekend

Blue skies, sparkly sea and hot summer days are here, brings everyone over to the little Island. 

 

Oneroa Bay is a popular spot for boaties to enjoy

What we have found that after Conde Nast Traveller, placed Waiheke the fourth best Island in the world it has become a popular holiday destination. The ferries have become so busy and what is normally a peaceful little place has changed remarkably. 

Little Oneroa beach

We are going out to a long French themed lunch with a group of friends and everyone is doing a course each so should be fun.

It is the weekend, hope you have a lovely weekend 
hugs
Carolyn

World post day

Today in a world where much of our correspondence is by email and texts, it got me thinking there is something very special and satisfying, receiving in your mail box and reading a handwritten letter or card.
Did you know today, the 9th of October is World post day?
What better way to embrace this beautiful tradition is by sitting down and writing a letter to someone special. 
The words are so true, 'To get a letter ~ write a letter

Thank you for your sweet visits and comments you leave for me and I want you to know that I appreciate them very much
Hope that you are having a happy weekend

hugs
Carolyn

Sharing a post through rose coloured glasses

Today it will be nice to share a few pretty pink photos that I have in my album. As some of you know I adore pink, so to make up for the wet days we have been having this will brighten things up a little

A pretty pink building in Nice

The Repetto shop window in Paris - the dress was floating about - pretty

This morning with our walking shoes on, were just about to head out for an early morning constitutional  when all of a sudden it started hailing and there was a rumble of thunder and some lightening, so we stayed home instead.
I truly can't believe that July is almost over!
Do hope the last weekend of July is lovely for you.
hugs
Carolyn

Hello July

Although just a little late.
Hope yours is off to a great start and that life is treating you well
I was happy to bring home this bunch of pink roses, my favourite colour. It is one little luxury that every now and again, it is good to spoil oneself. Love how it  just seems to brighten up the house on a winters day. 

            
I long, as does every human being to be at home wherever I find myself
~Maya Angelou

"Home is where the heart is", as the old saying goes and that is so true and even more so in winter. It just seems like the best place to be, where it is cozy and warm.

My wish is that you are all well and have a wonderful July

hugs
Carolyn

Sweet Roses

 Hello dear friends,
Hope you are having a lovely week
Anyway, once again some more of my roses.
There is nothing quite like homegrown roses and how I wish you could share the sweet fragrance.

On Monday this little bunch was looking pretty on the bush and think this will be the last of them, before winter comes. They have done so well and happy to share them.

 From time to time I like to bring the garden inside and as the last few days have been rainy and windy, thought these would look better in a vase where they could be admired.  I love how they fade to a  pretty pale pink. The ornament of the standard Schnauzer dog is there to remind us of our dog Oscar, we once had.

Victorias Youtube channel

Daughter Victoria has been enjoying making her You tube videos and they can be anything from DIY projects, her love of cooking, to taking a tour around the City of Auckland. She is passionate about putting one out a week, so please if you are able to take a look, would be great, thanks and she would be happy if you are able to subscribe.

Enjoy the rest of the week and wishing you a happy weekend ahead
hugs
Carolyn

Pink roses and a giant pompom!

Dear daughter has just made her first video, a tutorial on making a giant fur pompom.
Playing her own background music on the keyboard and doing the filming, she had fun making this at her apartment.   Now she has a few more  ideas and wants to make more videos. 
So if you have a spare moment please go and take a look

The 25th January marks our 30th wedding anniversary and in some ways it seems such a long time ago and other times it has gone by in a flash.
Friends have loaned us their apartment right on the beach at Noosa Heads - Australia, so we plan on going away for a few days to see some sun and dip our toes in the water.

Thank you for stopping by to see what's going on in my little corner of the world.
Do hope all is well with you and that your week is going great and now I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead
hugs
Carolyn

So long for now

Off on holiday for a few weeks, Martin and I are travelling to London for four days, across to Paris for a week and then down to Provence to spend the last week.
I am so excited and have been brushing up on my French - hopefully all those things that are so different like driving on the left hand side and trying to converse with people, will all work out.

My daughter made this lovely banner where some of my bears are for sale at John Stephens Antiques.
Hopefully when I come back, will be able to get my website up to date - it has been so neglected.

Many thanks for all the kind visits and to new followers ~ blogging is a life changing experience that connects you with people all over the world. I am so grateful for your friendship.
Hopefully I will be able to come and visit you soon.

Congratulations, to team NZ for winning the Louis Vuitton cup!

  Hope everyone has a fantastic week
Au revoir, mon ami
hugs
Carolyn

This week on Waiheke Island

Where did the week go?
Fresh flowers are always a lovely start to the weekend

Days and nights have been stormy here on the Island, so much so, that driving by the bus stop on Monday morning ... it was no match for the strong wind and it ended up on its side.

There is something really beautiful about the beach on a stormy and overcast winters day.
Here are a few snaps from our little Island.

The waves were pounding into Oneroa bay and after the storm there are often shells and debris that gets washed up on the beach

Have shared the boatshed before, always love this and it has been made with recycled materials

The sky over Enclosure bay looked pretty in the early morning light

It's the weekend which I couldn't be happier about.
Enjoy your weekend
hugs
Carolyn

Pink roses ~ joy today

The pink roses were beautiful when fresh, but love how they look now, all dried and turned to a dusky pink, with a vintage look.

I  just dried them in the vase and I did not even need to hang them upside down like I normally do.

More than anything I must have flowers always, always
~ Monet

Today it is another beautiful and sunny day and it reminds me to be thankful.

Thank you for coming by my friend and for new followers, welcome and I really appreciate  those that are kind enough to leave a little note.
Hope you are having a beautiful week

hugs
Carolyn

Pretty in pink

Hello,  dear friends,

In honour of National Breast cancer Awareness month,  I will share a few pretty pink photos I have taken.
Please encourage your family and friends, to have regular screening tests, it increases the chances of detecting breast cancer early. Having a mammogram could save your life.

For the month of October every year, the Skytower in Auckland is illuminated with pink lights.
From the apartment our children live in, this is the view they can see out one of the windows. 
Thank you, DD for taking this photo for me.

I'm taking a blogging break.
Sometimes a break from your routine is the very thing you need.
Look forward to coming back next week recharged and refreshed.

Many blessings to you,
Hugs
Carolyn