New life, new blog

I have just started a new blog, about the house my husband and I purchased in stunning part of the NZ countryside.

The address is coneysthorpecorner.blogspot.com

Come on over.

Retro in Paekakariki

A retro fix and caffeine fix at the same venue 

"The Beach Cafe" Paekakariki, Kapiti Coast, New Zealand

Guarding the laundry

I dry our clothes on an airer underneath the "down draught" of our central heating system. This happens to be in front of our French windows. Madame likes to perch on the daybed to watch the birds outside on the deck. I have just ruined her view by getting out the airer and placing it in front of said French windows.

There should be a speech bubble with "humph" dangling over those grumpy whiskers!

Winter on the S. Island

Morocco meets Yorkshire

Last night, starting around 5pm Wellington was battered by the worse storm in over 40 years. In some parts there were 200km/hr winds. The destruction this morning was all too evident. Our suburb had intermittent power over 17 hours, and I listened to trees around our house creak and groan most of the night. Currently there are 30,000 people in the city without electricity. All flights and trains have been cancelled.

On the whole, our part of the suburb where we live came off "lightly" and our house only lost electricity for about 10 minutes. A blessing on such a terrible night.

We are due to fly to the S. Island tomorrow to view some houses. The winds may delay or cancel flights, we aren't sure at this point.

So, what to do after such a night? Make a lamb, chick pea and vegetable stew in the slow cooker. I decided at the last minute to top with mashed potatoes - a tribute to my Yorkshire heritage. A perfect finale to the Polar blasts of the last 24 hours.

Weta catching 101

Cumin has taught Ruppin to catch wetas. This evening's quarry required a jumbo sized jam jar to protect it until we could distract the cat. The weta was duly deposited outside in the dark night. THREE minutes later, tabby cat brought in the cousin and hit it under the bed. Jam jar in the bedroom was then utilised. I feel like I live in the middle of a biology experiment!

Weta Family 2 Tabby Cat 0

Curiouser and curiouser

You see the funniest things. Volunteering for a charity this morning at a local supermarket, I was in prime position to see the contents of the trolleys exiting. One tall chap in a lumberjack shirt swaggered out carrying a very large bag of oranges and two cans of lager.


Sossled Satsumas anyone?

Ruppin's bedtime routine

Every night he jumps onto my computer table for a smooch. Then he curls up on the furry cushion pad for a purr and stroke, then he puts himself to bed (on our bed, dead centre).
Last night he was fascinated by an episode of "Simon's Cat", nose to the screen, following the animation!

buttonaholic

A few weeks ago, I had a bit of an epiphany. I love buttons, and there are several million people on planet earth JUST LIKE ME! Why not ask people to give me their buttons to sell for charity? So that's what I'm doing. Here are some of the items I have listed currently on NZ's auction site Trademe.

Back in the saddle again

I'm back! Hubby is home after 5 weeks away, so I'm smiling again. So, just a few photos from the last weeks. I have started to make my first Matryoshka doll cushion cover (it's in progress in the photo)

Cumin having a meditative moment on the ironing board, 

Otto telling my husband in no uncertain terms that he is not allowed to go away again for SOME TIME

Ruppin recovering from anaesthetic after 4 biopsies. Poor Lad!

Milestones and memories

In four hours time it will be my mother in laws funeral. I will not be there because it is on the other side of the world. When my husband went to be with his mother for the second time this year, he didn't know that three weeks later he would be leading her funeral. It feels so wrong to be so far away. All our friends have been very kind and supportive. It is difficult to explain that I want to hide away and not talk. Life is expected to go on, and it should, it has to, but of I'm really honest, I am living emotionally in a dark cave at the moment, and I would quite like to stay there. On the outside I am still engaging with the world, but it is a pretence. On the inside I have holed up in a secret compartment, and I'm not coming out for a while.

Fabricabrac - bootiful booty

The most fun event I have been to in a long time, accompanied by my friend Charmaine (she's the lady with funky handbag)!

A fundraiser for the Mary Potter Hospice - Fabricabrac, in the Massey University Hall. Stalls were hired out to crafters to sell their "surplus to requirements" fabrics. So we went to stock up (as if we didn't have enough fabrics!). I came back with a large bag, my friend came back with FOUR.

This is my booty. Lots of retro stuff. I also got some buttyful buttons!

Next year Charmaine and I will have a stall together.
It will make us feel better if we part with some of our supplies for charity:-)

Long radio silence

Sorry dear blog that you are ignored and unloved this month..... Indeed April is the cruelest month! I have been nursing a sick cat, saying farewell for the second time to my husband who had to go back to the UK again. I was also busy at work. Thanks for hanging in there with me.

Introducing Zhenya

She has taken a while to complete due to interruptions. Husband had to fly back to the UK and our 16 month old tabby boy has been diagnosed with an immune disease. Poor lad has needed lots of love and nursing. He assisted a lot by purring and generally being a model patient. I am now selling my dolls at the NZ craft website Felt.co.nz. You can search for "Caravanserai" and you will find the dolls under "Collectables/Dolls"

Eastbourne, New Zealand

Introducing Sasha

Here is the lovely Sasha. She is made of bark cloth and linen doilies and vintage lace. I am now selling my dolls at www.felt.co.nz. 

Introducing Elena

In a few days time, all my dolls will be available to purchase from www.felt.co.nz

Introducing Yelena

Whilst she was collecting berries, a ladybird was also collected on the shawl.

Can't beat Wellington on a good day.

Hill Street Farmer's market

Wellington Harbour

Monarchs on Shabbat

Walking home from a friend's funeral, had the joy of watching these gorgeous Monarch butterflies. Thankfully I had my camera with me.

Introducing Tatiana

Here is my latest Russian doll, Tatiana. She is made from vintage linen (back of the doll) and glazed cotton from the 1960s at the front.

Russian dolls on Facebook

If you would like a stroll over to my virtual haberdashery shop, check out "Caravanserai and Kopek Russian Dolls" on Facebook. And if you think any crafters you know may be interested, please feel free to share. Thanks for spreading the word.

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"The Dome" disco / night club onboard Pacific Dawn, on the 14th Deck.

Pacific Dawn

Today we were privileged to be guests on the P & O Cruise ship "Pacific Dawn" which sails with just over 2000 passengers and 700 crew.

Being onboard, we saw famous landmarks in Wellington from a totally new perspective. This is the Westpac Stadium, called the "Cake Tin" by locals. Many of the Rugby World Cup games were played here.

And this is one of our major exports, after milk and meat - logs!

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Every day I see this view as I drive to work. Today it was really foggy (the airport had to close for a time). This cruise ship had just arrived, one of hundreds over the summer months. At lunchtime I took pity on a couple of Senior Citizens who looked exhausted from their tourist wanderings and drove them back to their ship. They were from Queensland which is experiencing heavy floods even as we are experiencing our worst drought in 70 years.

Introducing Katya

Life has been rather tiring recently, recovering from pneumonia, returning to work and routines. So my apologies for the lack of blogs. Here is my latest doll, going to lovely friend Kat in Canada. She has a delightful blog over at Elora www.mylittletownont.blogspot.com. Why not pop over and say I sent you.

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Kings Cross Station London

Wishy washy

The ultimate cat lick wishy washy. Poetry in motion.