Greetings lovely friends & readers
Some jugs of dahlias & zinnias picked last week before Cyclone Vaianu hit the garden with winds & rain.
Easter came & went for another year. My Easter decorations have now been packed away - a job that normally takes me half a day took longer this year as I appeared to be having "issues" with one of my storage bins π!!
I thought I'd share a few Easter decorating photos - very similar to previous years.
~ Kitchen ~
~ Dining Room ~
~ Corners of my Lounge ~
I've tried to insert a short video here of my lounge mantle but blogger won't load it so if you click * Here * on my Instagram post, you may be able to view the video hopefully.
~ Lounge ~
On Good Friday we had a brief visit from my step grandaughters as they travelled south & I was able to give them their Easter bags. Our neighbor spent a few days burning the large heap of trees that he had removed in * this post *. It was perfect bonfire weather.
On Easter Sunday I baked all day as I planned a trip down to visit Alec my eldest Grandson & family. I baked Banana bread, Rice bubble crisp & (more) chocolate cupcakes with choccy eggs on top.
I couldn't wait to get my feet in Lake Taupo again. We had a picnic lunch down at the Lake & then in the afternoon my daughter in law & I went for a 20 minute hike to a secluded Bay.
I'm pretty sure * this * was the track we walked - to Whangamata Bay.
Such a wonderful secluded spot with a stream running down the hills & into the Lake - Sarah said she often hikes down here & brings her book to read or swims.
~ Easter Crafting ~
On Good Friday afternoon I pulled this old wooden box out of the woodshed where it was buried under a plethora of rubbish other items. I scrubbed it & then painted it using first some leftover white paint to really cover the wood & then chalk-paint in the colour Old Linen. This was very much about using up what I had on hand. It took 3 coats all up to get a good coverage.
I'd purchased this wooden embellishment on our recent trip to Paint me Vintage so I glued it to the Lid & once dry, painted it the same colour.
I still had some transfers left over from when I revamped this drop leafed table so I added these to the lid & front of the box. Then I lightly sanded the edges & gave it a good wax.
Now it was time to tackle the inside. I should have photographed it when I first opened it - it was a sorry sight indeed. I vacuumed it out & then scrubbed it & left to dry. I only painted the edges of the lid & the sides of the base as I planned to use up some left over wallpaper for the rest.
I had just enough of this gorgeous Cath Kidston wallpaper left to do the insides. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out & I'm sure it won't take me too long to find something to fill it up π as it's a good big size.
Thank you so much for staying through this lengthy post dear friends,
I shall be back soon with Part two as I felt this was long enough for today.
Wishing you all a wonderful rest-of-the-week,
With much love & friendship to you all,


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Julie, your Dalia's and Zinnias look stunning. Beautiful colours. Your trip to Taupo was special especially the hike to an idyllic place. So peaceful. Your box make over is lovely. It has many uses xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandy - yes the dahlias & zinnias are coming to an end now unfortunately. Lake Taupo was freezing but its always wonderful to dip my toes into it - so crystal clear. Have a lovely week Sandy xx
DeleteLovely Easter decorating Julie. I like what you have done with your box. How lovely to paddle in that beautiful clear water. xx
ReplyDeleteAnother great post I to loved the Flowers such lovely colours .
ReplyDeleteYour Easter ornaments are amazing . Oh and the box you painted is just beautiful.
Great post, Hugs June.
ooooooO! It's Tuesday morning, and l've just had breakie..!
ReplyDeleteThe suns out, and shining through the Paddington Bear
Curtains, and, l plan to cut the grass, out back, a little later,
we.ve had a week on sun, but still a bit chilly...never mindd,
as it's dry...at last...!
HaHa! I have noticed that Miss Pippi is getting a little laid
back in her help around the place, getting bad habits from
Blackie l suspect, at least she's perhaps keeping 'one'
eye on things...HeHe! Bless!x
And your Easter things are so lovely and beautiful Julie,
so well displayed, and presented, they look amazing..!
Love that little green bunny, any reaction from Blackie,
i expect he's only interested in the 'real' thing...Bless him..!x
I was reading that Harry and Meghan were to visit New Zealand,
as there on a four day visit, there in Australia at present, does'nt
look like a visit is planned, they're visiting Australia...wait for it...
'FOR MONEY'....He's charging $2,400 for speeches, and she's
charging $3,199 to spend time in her company...
There a pair of scroungers, and should be kicked out the Royal
family, much the same as Andrew...! :(
Well...I must get on, get the Flymo out of the shed, give it a quick
service, and a bit of oil, and cut the grass...!
I'll try not to make to much noise...We don't want to wake Miss
Pippi...Do we....Bless!x
πππππππππππππππππππππ
Lovely Easter decorating, although the large ginger 'ornament' may not have wanted to be put away for another year! The do love a box, don't they? Your trip to the lake looked really relaxing and I'm sure the baking didn't last very long! The box looks really beautiful now and I'm sure you'll find a good use for it.
ReplyDeleteHave a good rest of the week.
Best wishes
Ellie
Julie I would say that was one huge bonfire. Probably not one to go toast marshmallows on! I will miss seeing your Easter decorations but I am sure you will find something to share with us to take its place. I put my miniature Easter egg tree away. The eggs are only the size of a penny therefore way too small for a cat to play with. I hope the Cyclone didn't do much damage had knocked down power or trees. I do have to say that we are having an exceptionally warm week this week therefore no furnace needs to run with electricity or generator, lol. I now have crab apple trees blooming around the neighborhood and actually my miniature orange Iris has put out flowers this morning! Next week's a different story so we'll be back to cold. Miss Pip certainly look comfy in a plastic box, now didn't she. I am always pleasantly surprised when you show that you found another thing that's been tucked away out of sight, and you find it again pull it out and make it look absolutely magically beautiful. That's the way the Box looks to me. I'm glad you had a great visit and an opportunity to put your feet in the water. I think I may have to wait another month before it's warm enough to think about that over here. But it's coming. Lynn and Precious XX π⬛π
ReplyDeleteI think the cat was in the box to help you flatten some items so you could get the most of the storage space ;) Lake Taupo and Whangamata Bay look gorgeous. And that wooden box has been brought back to life inside and out. Not sure what you'll put inside but I can think of a few furry things that might want to stand or lay on it ;)!
ReplyDeleteThank you J.J. I swear that cat can sniff out an empty box for miles - she was nowhere to be found when I started & then bingo - asleep in the box!!! Yes she will no doubt sniff out the new box but so far I have kept the lid firmly shut!! xx
DeleteBeautiful things as usual!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Kim. xx
Deleteyou had a busy Easter.. and I love the box finish... looks great... is there a cat in it yet?
ReplyDeleteHugz
What a lovely Easter you had. Your home is always so wonderfully decorated. I have started Zinnia's to plant for the first time ever. The box is finished perfectly.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
System failure with that storage box! Ask for one without a cat....:) One of my favourite places where you hiked, fantastic biking area, a picnic is a fabulous idea. I bet your family enjoyed your yummy baking. Beautiful Easter crafting session, that box is a lovely.
ReplyDeleteLovely Easter post Julie. I'd give absolutely everything for that view from your garden. My bestie's birthday parcel has still not turned up so I guess we can say it's a gonner! Tracking only leads to a dead end here and in NZ!Those flowers are beautiful!xxx
ReplyDeleteBig bonfire - what a lovely blaze.
ReplyDeletePaddling is so refreshing, and a picnic lunch by the lake sounds terrific.
Your work on the box is delightful - it looks wonderful. It just needs a cat to finish it off . . .
That is a lovely collection of flowers from your garden. Glad you got to them ahead of the storm!
ReplyDeleteLooks like that storage bin should have had a "reserved" sign on it.
I enjoyed looking through your Easter decor. I hardly put up any of mine this year. I just seem to get caught up in too many things, and before I know it, the holiday is over.
Wow--the bonfire was quite a sight!
Oh, I wish I could have been there to experience the lake on my toes. Was it cold? Looks like a lovely place.
I marvel at how you created a thing of beauty from the weathered, paint streaked wooden box--but then that is what you do so well!