Coming Up Close

There's a regular event that happens here in Mangawhai every Saturday morning - the markets are a great way for local farmers and businesses to sell their wares and fresh produce. Plants, herbs and natives are the specialty of the lady above. Clothes for sale and lots of them!   Fresh fruit & veges! I think these were either soaps or bath bombs - not sure but they did smell lovely and scented. There are lots more things sold here, the photos I'm sharing are just snippets. I recently found out that inside the hall a local baker sell fresh sourdough bread and other types of bread he makes. I'll have to check whether he also makes gluten free bread - that would be up my alley!

I was tagged on facebook by a friend to take part in 3 days of blessings - here are some of the things I'm thankful for:   That I live in such a lovely part of NZ, it's fresh, clean, has at least 3 beaches near by: Mangawhai surf beach, Langs Beach and Te Arai. That I can pay my rent, bills and provide food for my teens every week. My family who have always been a huge source of support for us. Life is not always easy being a single parent of 3 teenagers so it's good to have them nearby. My warm bed and my electric blanket. The sun outside that has been here since the last 2 storms we had recently. Fun I had over the weekend with my youngest taking silly photos. And lastly I'm thankful for.....coffee and chocolate - they make everything better sometimes! Wanna share yours?

And dried coral and sponge. Terrible to see the sand dunes so blown away by the recent storm - they looked very different :-(

Swiped from: A little bit country ... Making :  A tidy house. Cooking : Roast chicken & vegetables (Kumara, Potatoes, Carrots) thanks to the olive oil my sister gave me. Drinking : A cup of tea. Reading : blogs on my favourites list. Wanting : A nice cold whiskey with L & P. Looking : my dog under a blanket on the couch. Playing : throwing toys around the lounge for my jack Russell dog Tia Deciding : on whether to clean my windows tomorrow or not. Wishing : I could handle late nights more - unfortunately I'm usually in bed by 10pm . Enjoying : the DVD/video player I was given. Waiting : for a sunny day. Liking : the people I work with - they are a neat bunch. Wondering : what to do with the teens this weekend. Loving :  how it's pay day next week. Pondering : what design to get for my next tattoo. Watching : Time Team on History Channel. Hoping :  we aren't hit with another dose of the flu again. Marveling : at how awe...

Another storm swept through here over the weekend swamping already soggy regions around Northland. Seems we got a respite Sunday morning because I was able to get out for a walk to the surf beach. On the way it was nice to see some colour in the form of this pink heather in someone's garden. This one is Mangawhai estuary viewed from Wintle Street - stormy skies still but the water looking much calmer than it probably had been the night before. Think we definitely need some sun to dry out the land here.

This week it's been freezing cold in the mornings, too nippy for me to get out and walk my dog like I usually do so instead I've been walking around Wellsford during my lunchtime - here's a few of the things I've seen: This lovely art deco stucco home along the main road of Rodney Street - the owners have looked after it well by the look of it. Kiwiana artwork along the fence of Wellsford Kindergarton - very colourful for where children play inside. Wellsford Rsa with a pot of red vibrant pansies next to the entrance way - makes a colourful scene in the middle of winter. Another lovely well restored house - this one in Batten Street is so pretty! It's been lovingly looked after and well preserved - looks like a large house too!

It's been so stormy and mucky here that we've virtually been stuck inside. Today at last the rain stopped and the teens and I were able to drive down to Mangawhai village for a visit to Bennetts Chocolatier . Each season they change their displays and they have some lovely chocolate for sale. We like the 2nds box!

While on the way back home today from an orthodontist appointment I stopped in sunny Orewa beach for a quick walk. Couldn't resist - stunning scenery!

My daughter and I visited the lovely Whakapirau beach on the Kaipara coast earlier this year. It's one of those places that is situated in a quiet scenic area with not many people around. It's family friendly and absolutely beautiful! We're planning another trip out there when it warms up here.