Hello dear friends & readers
It is no secret to you all that I like to live my life vicariously through other peoples homes :-)
And so at the begining of December when my friend Jane suggested we take a drive up to Auckland to see her sister Sallys new home -
I jumped at the chance!
I dont get up to the city very often -
so it is such a treat for me when I do
Sally had moved house since Jane & I last visited her together
She was now in an amazing place perched on the side of a hill
with wonderful views through the bush to the water
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| Sallys dining area looks out onto the native bush hillside (note the handcrafted owls on the dining table - gifts ready for Jane to take back home for nieces) |
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| note the handmade rag wreath on wall |
the thing I think I love the most about Sallys house
is that she has this total vintage look running right through it
unlike myself, with my eclectic mix of mismatched items
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Looking through to Sallys kitchen area - LOVE this shelving
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| Note Sallys collection of vintage aprons hanging on her vintage hook Imagine gazing at this while cooking dinner . . |
Sally had begun her christmas decorating before we arrived
I LOVED her tree decorated with snowflake ornaments
she had hand-made from vintage wool blankets
She had been framing some old calendar pictures for her wall
I fell in love with this pastel grouping of pictures :-)
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| woops - sorry to chop some off but was trying to get couch in also :-) |
Off from her dining area she has the loveliest little private courtyard & she has set up a little seating area
with her vintage cane chairs & granny rugs
However . . .
it was when I saw her craft room I got seriously envious! ! !
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| this is my idea of what heaven would look like ! ! |
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| Note the doiley bunting across the window |
Oohh I wanted to stay in this room forever ! !
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| vintage tea wagon holding craft supplies |
If there is a syndrome called "craft room envy"
then I definately have it ! ! !
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| the cross stitch up on theleft is Sallys handwork |
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| the wall above her work desk Sally has a real "dottie angel" look with her decorating I feel very Granny chic - This is the chair I got to sit in with my cuppa |
(I think it had been Sally's Granny's chair)
A couple of pics of Sal's bedroom I snapped
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| vintage crochet bedspread & handmade cushions & a final snap of the dining area before my camera decided to "die" on me :-( |
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| door to courtyard just to left of photo - note pile of vintage wool rugs on stool |
Sally writes a blog of her crafty makes
you can see more of her wonderful handwork here . . .
sistersofsylviacraft
Jane & I had the very bestest days outing
It is so exciting to visit "the big smoke"
especially when it doesnt happen that often.
(I must add a footnote here -
the house was actually much nicer than my pics show
I blame my outdated camera having yet another "off "day)
And then yesterday morning I had to take another little trip
this time just around the corner from where I live -
to Alphra Lavender farm
I had to take some more of my D.L.E cards to Bev
& this is what I saw on arrival, out my car window. . .
Jane & I had the very bestest days outing
It is so exciting to visit "the big smoke"
especially when it doesnt happen that often.
(I must add a footnote here -
the house was actually much nicer than my pics show
I blame my outdated camera having yet another "off "day)
And then yesterday morning I had to take another little trip
this time just around the corner from where I live -
to Alphra Lavender farm
I had to take some more of my D.L.E cards to Bev
& this is what I saw on arrival, out my car window. . .
Bev & Ian have been running the lavender farm for 15 years now
you can see the wonderful products they make & sell in their
on site shop at the lavender farm
They are hoping to begin their yearly flower harvest next Friday
& then they extract the oil in their distiller
to be made up into all their lovely products.
Honestly it is a feast for the senses paying them a visit
both visually & aromatically
the above bushes are 5 years old now
I remember when Bev first planted them
& had such a problem with rabbits constantly digging them up
the small bushes in front were planted last October
& the ones behind a couple of years ago
You can go visit their website here
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| Bev has a beautiful garden to complement the lavender Before I go I just wanted to share with you a christmas gift I received that I had actually requested sometime ago This gift was definately not romantic nor personal but has actually made such a difference to my life already |
Yes - I now have a gate buzzer !!! :-)
Although we seem to be having a few volume problems
it is rather loud ! !
Even deaf ol' Mr Wolf heard it yesterday
& beat me out to greet the lady in her car
who didnt see his approach & when he put his head around her door . . .
she let out this bloodcurdling scream ! ! !
It was awfully embarrassing (for Me not the dog)
I apologised profusely & she did also for being so dramatic
once she saw the big deaf ol' fat fluffy was harmless
then when we got in the cottage . . .
I got a fit of the giggles ! ! !
honestly, I could not stop laughing at her scream
I was mortified - at myself
(I actually seem to spend an awful lot of time apologising for that flipping dog & his antics)
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| stupid ol' Mum making things up about me again & that stupid o'l gate buzzer |
Well thats about it from me this week folks -
but just wanted to send out a bit of a plea . ..
is anyone else having problems uploading pics with blogger??
for some reason the browse pics button I used to use has gone
& I now have to go into HTML to add pics instead of Compose
which instead of 1 hour to do a post -
takes me 2 days ! ! !
If anyone has a solution to this I would appreciate any info
but please bear in mind . . .
I am NOT computer savvy
Wishing you all a happy weekend ahead
thanks, as always, for stopping by
much love, hugs, friendship,
Julie Xoxo
