Monday

 I have just been for my morning walk, it's an absolutely glorious day, although a little cold, so it will be nice to sit down and have a hot chocolate, a piece of chocolate cake and a quick read of my new magazine, before I do the dreaded weekly grocery shop and some housework.

Hopefully later this week there will be some sewing to show,  that is if I don't spend all my time in the garden.

Mother's Day

I had a nice weekend with my mum staying, and yes I did get a cup of tea in bed for Mother's Day, as well as these gifts.  Flowering Cyclamen from mum, Spotlight voucher from Miss B (guess there is a shopping trip in my plans this week) and this funky candle was made by Mr J at cubs.

Now to do some baking for school lunches and a lasagne for dinner.  See a mother's work is never done.

Winter Vegetable Garden

In winter the sun disappears off most of  my backyard, except for a small corner, where my lemon tree grows and where I can plant a few vegetables for winter harvesting.

This year I am trying broad beans for the first time, now I know to take the grey skin off the beans before cooking them, hopefully they will be a new winter staple and not bring back childhood memories of the bitter ones I used to eat.  I am also growing celery, perennial spinach, parsley and my old reliable rhubarb.

My mum has come to stay for the weekend, which is really nice cos it's Mother's Day on Sunday, so I can spoil her with breakfast in bed, hopefully my children remember to bring me a cuppa in bed before I get up to make it for her.

Happy Mother's Day to all Mums on Sunday.

Colour on a Wet Day

It is a wet grey day in Auckland today, so between showers I decided to have a wander around my garden and see what was flowering.  Not much but we have a few splashes of colour from the Vireyas, Begonias and Iresine that are now thriving in the rain after the long dry summer, and the Swiss Chard in the vegetable garden

Lots of weeds enjoying the rain too - guess that will be my next job when it drys out a bit.

Friendship Bag Swap

I recently participated in my first online swap through Flickr, where we made Friendship bags from this tutorial, filled them with a few treats for our partners and sent them off.

This is the bag I sent Claire in the UK, however I forgot to take photos of the little treats accompanying it.

This is what I received from Maria in New York - thank you - it is always nice to get surprise parcels in the post.