Bird Talk

 I went for a hike through the Cascades with some friends awhile ago and when we had lunch I noticed this Magpie watching me as I ate  my lunch.  I was able to get right up close and hand feed him some crusts of bread.  In the top photo he was more interested in what I had in my cup!  I'm sure he would have tasted it if I had offered!   After these were taken he flew off up the hill and disappeared.  About twenty minutes later I went up the hill to the golf course and called him.  (No, I didn't know his name!)  From out of the bushes he came, running & skipping along the grass and came right up to me to get some more bread!  Other Magpies came too but none of them would come close to me except this one.  I think he was sorry to see me leave!  Thanks for dropping by: {{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)

My Furry Friends!

 This cute fluff ball above is my friend Sarah's cat, "Chi".  She is absolutely gorgeous!  Love that fur coat she has!

This gorgeous bloke here is Sarah's dog, "Chunky".  Look at those beautiful eye's!  'It's time for a nap', he says'!  He's such a big softie and wouldn't hurt a fly!

Thanks for visiting; {{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)

My Favourite Flowers

 These are my all time favourite flowers at the Auckland Domain.  Anytime I visit there in the summer, these are the flowers I always photograph.  The white one above was in the indoor pond, and the purple one was in the big pond outside.  The white one has a slight pink blush which fades to white as it opens out further.  

The one thing that bothered me that day was, there was a big sign by the indoor pond asking people to please NOT put their hands in the water.  There are fish in there and as well as that the oil and grease form your hands affects the plants and also the fish.  I saw many people choose to ignore this sign and put their hands in the water.  Shame there wasn't a shark in there, people might have taken a bit more notice of the sign then! 

I had taken a train into the Auckland Domain last week as it was such a gorgeous hot sunny day.  It's not far from here by train and is a very pleasant ride.  There are acres and acres of lush green grass with gently rolling slopes; tree's galore and of course, the gardens which I love, and the Museum too.  Although it was busy there is plenty of room for everyone.  It was so relaxing and peaceful and great to get away from it all for the day.  I came home feeling very relaxed and chilled out - slightly sun kissed and very happy!  I will go again sometime this summer as it is such a beautiful place.  If you visit Auckland you must go here!  Google Auckland Domain and see for yourself!

Thanks for visiting, sunny {{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)

Cat Monument

 The cat was on top of a very tall monument thing at the Domain.  Although I have been here many times, this was the first time I noticed the cat! It is beside the pond at the Winter Gardens. 

This interesting looking thing is actually a big bud from one of the waterlilies which is in the pond inside the Winter Garden.  It would have been great to go back in a day or two and see if it was open!

Thanks for visiting, {{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)

Cooling Off!

 While I was sitting by the lake having lunch the sparrows were busy keeping cool in a shallow pool which was on the side of the lake.

I have to say, it was very tempting to join them as it was so hot that day!

Mr. Blackbird took shelter in the shade of a fence.  He had his beak open to keep cool. Thanks for visiting, {{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)

A Day At The Domain

 This blackbird was feeling the heat and sat on the grass with his wings and feathers spread, and beak open, to keep cool.  He was not at all worried at how close I was and posed willingly for my camera!

"Which is my best side," he seems to be saying, as he turns from one side to the other! Thanks for dropping by, {{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)

Can Anyone Help?

I'm just wondering if anyone out there can give me some advise please?

I need to lose weight for health reasons.  I have slightly high blood pressure which, at present, is controlled by medication.

I also have arthritis in both hips and knee's so any extra weight puts more pressure (read 'pain'!) on both area's.

I also have a sugar addiction which I have never been able to manage.  My GP has not offered any help so I am doing this on my own.

If anyone has any idea of how to get control of my sugar addiction please let me know!  An addiction cannot be managed by just saying "I won't eat/buy sugary things ."  If that was the case I would have had this under control many years ago.

I walk a fair bit as I don't drive so I get a reasonable amount of daily exercise and I am out walking most days. I've had this sugar addiction since I was about 10, which was around the time I had to start talking all kinds of medication for my health problems, and I am wondering if the addiction is related to that. As I said, my GP has not been any help.  My other option is to see a different GP, which is easily done.

I thought I would ask you guys out there first and see what response I get!

THANK YOU in advance!

Enjoy the day:-)

{{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)

New Christmas Card Idea

This is a Christmas card I made for a friend last year.  It's quick and easy to make not mentioning FUN too! See the rest of the card in the post below. I can still only publish two photo's max at once so that's why this is card is in two posts.  It's frustrating and very very slow.

At the back of this card, the red bit folds over the back so it can open.  You will see what I mean in the post below this.

Thanks for visiting, {{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)

Christmas Card

This is the card open (top photo) and the bottom photos has the red piece open to show the vellum which has the message written on.  The pink card is covering the message so I could take the photo.  It is not part of the card.  To make the slits to thread the ribbon through I have used a punch I have.  It was a whole lot easier than cutting them with a scalpel!  (And less dangerous!)  I used a heart die to cut out the heart, but you could use any shaped die you like.

Thanks for visiting, {{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)
 

"Ouch!"

Here's what happens when you close the door (with force!) on your thumb!  At that precise moment in  time, when the pain hit, I became aware that I could swear in seven different languages - previously it was only two, English and Italian!

This was taken the day after I did it and the nail went even blacker than it is here!  It is now (4 weeks later) starting to peel off and the new nail is underneath.  The nail bed is damaged but I think it will recover.

Thanks for visiting, {{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)

Handmade Heart and Ponies

 This is a heart I made for a friend, for Christmas.  I used one of my heart nesties to cut the felt.  I also used a snowflake die to cut the snowflake out.  I hand stitched both items and added a gem stone to the center of the snowflake.

These are some ponies I made several years ago.  I decided to hang the from a miniature umbrella and added them to my Xmas decorations.  I stitched these together on the sewing machine.

Thanks fro visiting today:-)

{{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)

Butterfly Mask

 Just before Christmas I went to a bbq where the theme was Masquerade.  You had to make your own mask and wear it.  I made a butterfly mask and decorated it with various 'things'.  I attached a piece of elastic to the back of it.  The mask was made from a piece of pink Bazzill card with a backing of some white card to give it some padding.  I won the prize for the best mask!  Third year in a row!

Here is a close up of my mask.  Lorraine M might recognise some of her flowers on here, the pink and yellow ones are some you sent me!  I made the butterfly at the bottom of the mask and the three flowers opposite the butterfly.  I sprinkled some fine silver glitter on the mask then sprayed it with hairspray, but it is not really visible in this photo.
I also sprinkled glitter in my hair...I really sparkled that day!!
Thanks for dropping in; {{HUGS}} from me to YOU:-)

Chocolates and Christmas Crackers!

 This was my prize for winning the mask competition.  Sadly the chocolates had nuts in them which meant I could not eat them.  I have a severe allergic reaction to any kind of nuts.

Happy New Year From Bella-Rosa and Piglet!

Piglet watches over Bella-Rosa...

what a cute couple!