Thursday, October 29, 2020

Return from Mums & Still Running .........................

Greetings dear friends & readers. 

Gosh I have hit the ground running since my return from Mum's & have yet to come up for air.

Hence my blog posting And reading & computer time in general, has been virtually non-existent.

Mount Taranaki was wearing a cloak of snow. I have always referred to this maunga as a "she" but have found out it is in fact a "he".

Firstly an apology ... Thank You to you All for the lovely comments you left me on my last post ... I apologise I have not replied but I don't have internet access when at Mum's & I have just not had a chance since my return home.

I needed a comfort stop at Stratford on my way down so I popped into the local Hospice shop & came away with some treasures - all of this for just $25.

The books in St Mary's Op Shop were all on sale for $1 each so I bought these four to read.

There is a new Arts & Crafts Store in Hawera called The Collective ... I popped in there twice & was able to buy some really lovely handmade gifts for Christmas & a Birthday.


I got to visit Joy from The Joy Within when I delivered the large candle order to her ... I just love having a browse around her wonderful shop filled with treasures.


So much eye candy ........



There was a surprise waiting for me in Mum's garage .  .  .  .

.  .  .  .  my sister in law had picked this tea wagon up off the side of the road where someone was placing lots of furniture items "free for the taking"  .... I look forward to revamping this piece.


Mum had given me a large banana box of items to be taken to her local Hospice Shop.  Of course - in my capacity as Steptoe - I rummaged through it all first !!  The two plates (above right) were at the very bottom of the box so these got fished out rather promptly.


I have been washing the weatherboard walls of my house & decided to add to my plate wall this week ... making my total number up to 7.  



Way back at the beginning of September I decided to make a suitcase planter for my lovely friend Jane who turns 50, today to be precise. 

 I found an old suitcase that had been tossed my way by my friend Elaine ... I added the wooden slats, lined it with a black rubbish sack, filled with potting mix & planted it.

Although I forgot to photograph it when first planted, I have diligently been feeding & watering the plants over the past 8 weeks & they have grown prolifically.


(The suitcase already had the stencilling on the lid when I acquired it from Elaine)

I was able to visit with Jane this week & gift her the suitcase planter - I was really pleased with how the petunias had grown but hope the lobelia that is tucked away in there grows soon too.



Jane was thrilled with her planter & cried a teeny bit but she assured me they were happy tears 😂

Blogger appears to have a total mind of its own today dear friends & is merrily changing my font size & the layout of my alignment as it pleases. I have no idea why it is doing this !


Miss Pip did her usual fretting while I was away at Mums, did not eat & lost weight .... which meant Blackie got to eat her food as well as his & put on weight 😐

Thanks So Very Much for your visit today dear friends,

I hope the week is treating you well - be kind to yourselves & to each other.

With much love & friendship to you all,

Julie & the furry ones x0x0x

26 comments:

  1. oooooO! It ALL looks lovely Julie..
    AND..Welcome back, pleased to had a nice time
    at Mums..at least it gets you away from time
    yo time..! :). Even though Miss Pippi must
    stress a bit..perhaps you should leave her a
    bit of sewing to do..! :o).

    Do like that 'Tea Wagon' as you call it..never
    heard it called that over here, just a trolly,
    nice with the drop down sides..!
    And..the plates pinned up to the wall..lovely..
    but don't you find the food falls off..HeHe!
    Bless! :).

    Well, best get on, lighter in the mornings now
    we've put our clocks back an hour last weeekend..!
    Popping into town shortly, have'nt been ouy for
    a couple days..Rain..l don't do rain..! :(

    BIG (((Hugs))) X's for the furry two..Bless! :O).
    🌱 🌽 🌿 🍅 🍆 🍇 🍈 🍉 🌱 🌽 🌿 🍅 🍆

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have Googled Mount Taranaki/Mount Egmont and it's a dormant stratovolcano
      in the Taranaki region on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island....
      Although the mountain is more commonly referred to as Taranaki, it has two
      official names under the alternative names policy of the New Zealand Geographic
      Board...
      (l'm gonna make a lemon tea, pop back and read some more...I love volcanos)..
      Hope l don't erupt..! :).

      Delete
  2. Lots of pretty goodies. Looking forward on the tea drop leaf tea table transformation, what a nice find.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Julie, I see lots of soy candles dancing in your mind with the lovely collection of cups and glassware you found.
    And the tea cart will certainly take on a quality of it's own when you decide how to finish it. Lovely to see the
    petunias this time of year, and what a cute idea of the suitcase. Glad you showed the mountain. I have only seen
    ones of ours in the West a couple times in my life. Poor Miss Pippi, lonesome for her mum. Bet she perked up
    quickly. Have fun with the upcoming projects you will produce. Lynn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for your lovely comment Lynn. Yes I was indeed thinking soy candles & such like when I bought the vintage china cups etc. Also perhaps some teacup birdfeeders .... Oh the mind boggles! Yes Miss Pip has perked up now that I am home to wait on her hand & foot again!!!

      Delete
  4. what lovely finds, especially the teacups - I am sure you are going to make some pretty things with these. Glad you have had some time with your mum. I like your suitcases, they are very original.

    ReplyDelete
  5. As a thrift store shopper and recycler-er, I love this post. I am drawn to china but don't stop there. Thanks for giving me an eyeful today.

    ReplyDelete
  6. So glad you had a good visit. You got some great treasures. The suitcase garden is such a beautiful gift. Our book club read Truly, Madly, Guilty and we thought it was a pretty good read.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Replies
    1. Thanks so much Kim ... I was very lucky this trip to score some good bargains.

      Delete
  8. I am sure everyone is glad to have you home. The plates look grand outside. It makes me sad that all the good China that my Manas and great aunts would never let us touch or use was just boxed up and dumped when they died.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely post Julie, it is great to see you back in blogland. You had some great op shop finds in your travels and also great present finds. Your china wall looks very pretty and the birthday suitcase is a beautiful present. I bet the furry ones were very happy to have you back home, mmmm maybe not Blackie, he is back to one meal not two!! You have some good reads to look forward to, once you have time. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the tea trolley.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Lovely post and lots to see and read.... you did some lovely op shopping and I'm looking forward to seeing how you do up your new tea trolley....
    Hugz

    ReplyDelete
  11. love the tea trolley! would love one to have as a beverage area (would free up the non existing bench space i use lol) can't wait to see what you do with it, would be a lovely edition to your little cottage.
    i love purple but the red looks good too (the little cupboard from previous post)
    love your plate collection!
    lovely green suitcase gift, glad she loved it
    awesome opshop finds too
    thanx for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  12. Julie, I am in love with that pretty blue teacup set; such a fabulous find. The old tea trolley is wonderful. I can just imagine how amazing it will look when your clever hands do their magic. That mountain is rather majestic, isn't he.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Such a lot you pack into your trips. Love all your purchases and am looking forward to seeing what your do with that table! xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. That suitcase planter is ADORABLE! I love coming here. I come away with so many ideas. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Julie! Oh, the cats! They are so lovely and plump!
    The suitcase is very pretty! I can hear the "spring" in your "voice"!
    I'm glad you had a mum visit. I would so like to go up and see my mother again soon.
    Take care! Sending heaps of love!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Can't wait to see what you do with the trolley! The suitcase planter is just so lovely. Glad you could go and see your Mum.Hope she's keeping well. Have a good weekend, Julie.xxx

    ReplyDelete
  17. HAWERA is the best place to stop for Op Shops/ Second hand stores. Almost every other store is one. A great place to have a cheap shopping day out with a stop for lunch in one of the cafes.

    ReplyDelete
  18. great trolley Julie, gee ones mans trash so they say, love your wall of plates, they are all so pretty, and what gorgeous gifts you picked out, the little woolen blanket scotty dog is adorable. Poor miss Pippi, it's a pity you can't take her with you. We are out of lockdown, well kind of, he still has the 25k radius in play, but that should be taken of soon, no new cases for 2 days in a row now,((yay))) so we should be getting back to a covid normal for Christmas, take care Julie. Chris xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh Julie
    I love your plate wall and the suitcase gift.

    You are so creative.
    Dwbra6

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hi all, I have seen comments from people who have already received a loan from Anderson Loan Finance. I really thought it was a scam and applied for a loan based on their recommendations because I really needed a loan. A few days ago, I confirmed on my personal bank account the amount of $12,000.00 USD that I had requested for a personal loan with a rental percentage of 2%. This is really good news that I am satisfied with and I advise anyone who needs a real loan and is sure to repay the loan to contact them by e-mail.

    They can lend you a loan!
    Please contact Mr. Anderson Ray
    Email: andersonraymondloanfinance@gmail.com
    Phone: +1 315-329-6320
    Office address @ (68 Fremont Ave Penrose CO, 81240).

    Respectful,

    ReplyDelete
  21. Lot and lots of wonderful finds. I wish there were OP shops like the ones you have near you... somewhere here!!! I keep looking out for them!! Your plate wall is a great idea! My daughter has picked up the makeover bug which details of which I will add to my next post. She isn't on blogger as yet (step by step) but I am sending her a link to your blog for her to see just what wonderful things can be created from finds!! I think you must be the Queen of makeovers LOL! That gift for your friend is tops!! keep well Amanda x

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow. I love all your stuff. That tea wagon is beautiful. Love the suitcase planter too.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Nice & Informative Blog !
    Our team at QuickBooks Customer Service is a pioneer in presenting genuine solutions for QuickBooks errors in the face of a changing climate.

    ReplyDelete

Hello, & thank you for taking the time to comment on my posts - I read and appreciate each and every one of your comments :-)
I always prefer to reply to your comments by email unless you are a no-reply-blogger in which case I will reply to your comments in this section here. Thanks so much for stopping by to read & comment on my blog x0x