House of Barkley

Musos on tour......

2011-06-27T02:15:00.000-07:00

Forgive me Blogfather, for I have sinned....it's been a very long time since my last post. Anyhoo, between Christmas 2010 and New Year 2011, I said to the boys, let's jump in the car and go do a photo shoot with the paper jams. They thought I was mad - but were well up for it, so off we went, around the neighbourhood, in and out of the car - doing the rockstar thing - lots of laughs along the way.....

The pic in my blog header is William, Max and Micheal, at Musick Point, Bucklands Beach, looking down the lane to the old radio station, which started in 1942, and was used to communicate with ships and aircraft around World War II.

Piscies Lad Turns Six

2008-11-24T22:55:00.001-08:00

He's football crazy, he's football mad, hence the cake especially home made by Nanna, for the wee man's birthday back in Feb 2008.

We celebrated further with a spot of ten pin bowling with a few "china plates", which was rather entertaining..........

Ooh My Lord - 10 Years of Wedded Bliss

2008-11-24T00:32:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day, ten years ago in Fab Fiji on Castaway, was the cause for this celebratory bottle of Champers and red Rose from hubby. Fantastic memories....can't wait to visit again....one day, no doubt with the two likely lads in tow......

To celebrate, Davy and I met some awesome friends at the Devonport Wine & Food Festival for a day of pure indulgence!!!

We were in fine form and enjoyed all on offer (as you do!), including the local bands and old favourites Hello Sailor.........and tunes such as Gutter Black and Blue Lady!

Whangamata 2008

2008-10-23T01:42:00.000-07:00

The lads are walking to the beach. Last Christmas (slack yes I know, thought I'd better publish this with Christmas 2008 just around the corner) we had 10 days away at Whangamata, 2 hours drive South East of Auckland. We stayed in a bach on this road, within easy walking distance to the beach which due to fantastic weather, we visited every day.

Within seconds, Scorpio Son and Piscies Lad had made a friend and were kicking about in the shallows.

A section of the beach was roped off to protect the Doterill birds nesting area. This board gave a daily update of their progress, and it was a shame to see that numbers were decreasing, mainly due to attacks by dogs with careless owners. Check out the little shade huts that they build to protect their young.

Scorpio Son had a blast out on the Jetski with his Uncle Robbie.............................................

.............................while Piscies Lad patiently waited his turn, having a snuggle with Nanna.

We were lucky to have a lot of extended family staying at Whangamata, and on holiday from abroad, one afternoon, Ray's Mama and a Papa walked us through making pasta from scratch.

Looking good....................

Sliced, patted down, a little bit of flour and ready for the pasta machine.

Through she goes..................

Deliziosa - fresh Fettucine for dinner!!

On our way back to Auckland - we couldn't miss a trip through the town of Paeroa to visit a piece of Kiwiana. The big bottle of L&P (Lemon and Paeroa) - World Famous in NZ!

Vino Victims....

2008-10-06T01:41:00.000-07:00

A small group of us get together for a wine group once every couple of months, to enjoy tasting fine wine and food, and of course, each others company. We usually have a theme and try to wine and food match. It's great fun and we're very lucky to live in such a great wine producing country! Sometimes we have outings, but this get together was at Jo's house. We tasted 3 matching varietals from NZ and Australia, within the same price bracket, and were pleasantly surprised - with the preference going to NZ on taste and price point!!

Bag-ilicious

2008-10-06T00:09:00.000-07:00

Another Donna creation, a gift from her visit and I'm loving it!! It's lined with a cute pink and white polka dot too. So handy for chucking a few essentials in when I'm out with the "fam" in the weekend. Can't wait to catch up with Donna again at the Pakuranga College 50th reunion in 2010. Click on pic's for a closer look.

Quilting Star...

2008-10-05T23:34:00.000-07:00

This fantastic quilt was handmade by the "friend that puts me to shame" (doesn't everyone have one?), the wonderful Donna. A school friend from Pakuranga College (20 some years ago), she blessed us with her presence with a visit toward the end of 2008. We tiki-toured around the neighbourhood, visiting her old home and schools etc. She handmade this amazing quilt as a gift for our first wee lad William back in 2000. I absolutely love it and have kept it away over the past few years (from typical 7 year old boy hands!!), however it comes out on special sofa spud (couch potato) occasions and I will always keep it to pass on to possible grandies (a wee way off yet of course). Isn't she clever? Double click on this pic and you'll see the special inscription on the star on the underside.

Across the ditch....

2008-02-20T01:06:00.000-08:00

I flew over to Sydney prior to Christmas on a work trip and was lucky enough to get a couple of days in with wonderful friends before work commitments took hold.

We righted the world (as you do) and true to form, ate, drank and got merry, not to mention compulsory dancing on the deck! I was wined and dined and was in great company!!

The entertainment in the backyard was amazing - fairies in the garden (the two mischievous ones), the wildlife (giant black crows pecking at the bbq, spying on the possums in the trees with our torches), Phillip, flora and fauna (beaut garden), laughing with Phillip, the beaut sunset, laughing at Phillip (trying to scale the palm tree with a shoelace holding his boots together, which resulted in major burns to his inner thighs???? Probably thought he was on Castaway).

All too short, but a terrific time was had - can't wait to take my wee Goblins to visit their wee Fairy friends sometime soon. Here are a few pics........

Marshmallow Skies..... AKL-SYD

Sunset Sky.....SYD-AKL

Backyard Lugarno

Don't you love that Jacaranda, purple flowers were falling everywhere.........................

Lugarno Sunset

Two Fairy nice girls....

Rainbows End

2008-01-27T13:46:00.000-08:00

For Scorpio son's 7th birthday, we went to Rainbows End, our local theme park. It was a huge success and he had no fear, wanting to ride everything possible. He has bombarded everyone he meets since to ask if they've been there, and what their favourite ride is. Of course he's hanging out big time for another visit. Here they are above with Rai and Bow the welcoming committee....

Flying Low.......

Log Flume.......

Tiger Woods.......

Steve Williams.......

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow....

2008-01-27T12:56:00.000-08:00

or Morning, Noon and Night, I believe this shrub is known as. The flowers start out purple and then fade to light lavender and then white. This shrub sits behind our front gate, and I thought due to it's name, that it was an apt place for our "Welcome Friends" plaque (another lovely presie from the States...thanks Chris).

Trick for Treat...

2008-01-20T22:53:00.001-08:00

Halloween is not a very celebrated tradition in NZ, although some try to adopt it. Dad and Monique had a trip to the States Sep/Oct and back with them, came presies for the kids - lots of Halloween garb, including these outfits. Nana took the lads down the road for a walk in their costumes and when they returned we had some local kids knock on our door trick or treating. When I asked them what their "trick for treat" was - they performed an awesome haka!! (traditional Maori dance form). It was a terrific treat for us, earned them lots of applause, and of course - some special American Halloween "candy".

Angels Brought Me Here....

2008-01-17T01:05:00.001-08:00

Cheeky NFS (just guess which one she is in this pic), Mel Angel, Angel J and I, got together a few months back for a womens retreat. It was "food for the soul" and we had a wonderful host at the backpackers in Port Waikato, south west of Auckland. Other women of like minds attended, and we were treated to a relaxing weekend, void of all "big city hype" and normal daily routine/responsibilities. Davy was a blessing looking after Scorpio Son and Piscies Lad in my absence.

Beaut West Coast

2008-01-17T00:58:00.000-08:00

A calm day on the West Coast, very therapeutic it was, trekking along the sandy shore.

A Special Soul

2008-01-17T00:38:00.001-08:00

Angel J (thoughtful enviro woman) and I, took a walk to the beach one afternoon - her with bucket in hand (to collect any rubbish we happened upon, and to collect treasures) and I with the backpacker dog in hand (he took me for a walk!!).

Everything's a Phallic Symbol.....

2008-01-17T00:30:00.000-08:00

Oh what a find!! - trust me to spot it....hmmmmmnnnnn - made me laugh, but then what doesn't? And I didn't even try to bring it home......

Mission....possible

2008-01-17T00:18:00.000-08:00

Not that we were asked for one, but if I was, I believe this etching that I made in the sand at the beach that weekend would represent my life's mission statement. Live, Laugh, Love!

Waxing Lyrical

2007-12-18T01:00:00.000-08:00

My first attempt at making soy candles - wonderful for the environment and a joy to make!! A touch of a pink colour chip created this soft pastel effect, and I used Victorian Rose fragrance which is devine.

Every time I pass them by, I get a waft of their delightful scent. The light pink wax really suits the pink and blue mosaic container, and this candle will last/burn for approximately 36 hours!!

Proud Pukeko and Baby at Home

2007-12-18T00:12:00.000-08:00

Up bright and early on my morning walkabout and I bumped into a squad of Pukeko, also known as the "Purple Swamp Hen".

They live in the "boardwalk" area, which is a special wetland reserve, just next to where I live. They're usually out on the footpath with all their mates foraging for food, especially at this time of year when they have their babies to look after. They don't seem to mind the vehicles whizzing past - I guess they've adapted over time.

Oh Christmas Tree -- Au Naturale!!

2007-11-04T01:54:00.000-07:00

Morning walks are a bit of a rare occurrence for me these days, unfortunately. I try and creep out about 6am, so as not to wake hubby or the lads, and I like to take my camera to capture morning magic along the way.

The picture above is of a Callistemon from the Myrtaceae family of which NZ's native "Pohutukawa" tree belongs to, taken on one of my morning strolls around the neighbourhood. The Pohutukawa is known as New Zealand's native Christmas Tree because of the bright red blooms which decorate the trees during the Christmas/summer season. They trigger memories of long summer days and holidays spent with friends and family in, on, around and under these magnificent trees.

I'm a Virgin!!!.......................

2007-10-08T01:46:00.001-07:00

because it's my "first time" on my very own blogspot!

I had never checked out anyone's blogspot until recently, when an old school mate came to stay. Her sister is very creative, and after perusing her blog, it inspired me to start one of my own, so here I find myself......

My hope is, that my blogspot is as much of a source of news and entertainment for family and friends, as it is an "outlet" for little old me!!