Thursday 22 January 2009

Little break.




We are going away for a little break to Coromandel tomorrow. Everybody is busy packing there bags and the car for a great week of camping. Unbelievable what you all have to bring for one week. I did the last shopping for the pick nick-lunch, one of the girls went to the hairdresser, I made some nice muffins from the last leftover apples , so we have a nice treat on the way. And last but not least the never ending washing.
So we are looking forward to a great week.

In the beginning of the week I made a little flower arrangement, I think a house without flowers is not a home. So we have always fresh flowers from the garden true the whole house.

I wish you all a good week and like to show you some pictures when we are back.

Wednesday 21 January 2009

Big day out.

















Every year I go on a big day out with the girls one on one . Last weekend it was Elle's turn. They can choose what we do and where we eat. It is always great fun and during the year they are planning ahead what is coming up for there big day out.
This year we went to the Organic River Festival. It's a celebration of music, good food, creativity and the good Kiwi life. We had a great day. The weather was perfect We had vegetarian pizza for lunch and had some herb tea from the coffee Guru. It was a real big day out.
And of course we came home with little presents for everybody who was left home.

Monday 12 January 2009

Flower wreath




On a rainy Saturday I went with the girls to the river close by and game back with a basket full of wild flowers.
We made a flower wreath. It is hanging on my veranda and it smells divine.
It was great to be creative with all the flowers and we will definitely make more to give away.

Tuesday 6 January 2009

Good start of the new year.


We went away for a long weekend and I think that was a great start for 2009.
Anouk our eldest daughter had a sleepover for 3 night at a friends place so this was the first holiday-weekend without her. It was a bit strange and we missed her all, but we new she had a great time as well so that makes a big different.

A few weeks ago we bought a new big family tent so we have to try it out and we went camping in the Wairarapa in a Little town called Martinborough well known for the great Vin yards.
It's a good shopping place as well with lovely shops. On morning André was out for a long bike ride and the girls and I decide to go shopping and try to buy something in each shop. Of course we didn't do that but we came back with some great buys, new and second hand.



In Greytown we spotted a great sock wool boutique, JOY, where I bought some nice wool for a new pair of socks. I forgot to bring my knitting needles but in a second hand shop I found a pair so I could start strait away back on the camping. I bought some wool designed by Kaffe Fassett in my favorite lavender colour, and some autumn coloured one to make a pair of socks for André.




We went for a walk true the wine fields, visited a lavender farm, visited some places out of my book; crafty girls on a road trip were we had some lovely coffee and brownies, found great shops, the weather was super,so we had a great time. In my imagination it was much longer than a long weekend and it was just a warming up because over two weeks we go away for the real summer break, camping again.





Introducing

This is the first time that I write in my blog.
I am Jacoline, me and my family emigrated to New Zealand from The Netherlands 3 years ago.
I can tell you, we went through some hard times in those 3 years, but we found our dream.

We bought a lovely home close to the beach. I spend a lot of time in our garden which has a lot of fruit trees, a nice vegetable garden and great flowers.

I love to shop in secondhand shops and garages sales are the best invention ever.
My days are filled with craft, cooking , baking and of course my 3 girls.
I try to have a beachwalk every day and on wednesday I join the quilt club.

We are still busy with rebuiling the house to make it a great home.
We like traveling and like to discover our new country.
I keep you updated with new stories, recipes, ideas and pictures every week.