D is for Dreams

I think we all have dreams and most of the time your dream will always be a dream. But for me a dream came true. One if my dreams is to help people in need. On one day when I am old and wise?? I like to go to a place and help.

But we are in New Zealand and I think all of you know we had some horrible earthquakes and people have lost love ones, houses, work and much more.

They need help and the only thing we can do is donate money, lots of money.

We came with the idea to organize a high tea and make money to send to Christchurch.

I can tell you it was big and beautiful and a great success. We made approx $4500 dollar. Have a look at the pictures and see what you think of it.

C is for Cake and Coffee

I am not a big fan of breakfast and lunch, but I love morning tea. I don't eat cake every day, but I could! I have to bake a lot . In my shop I organize craft classes and I always serve morning tea or afternoon tea with some home made cakes.

This is the blueberry cake I made last week for the girls in the class. I am not sure if they come for craft or cake, but we always have great fun.

And for me is morning tea not complete without a nice cup of latte ( this one is made by my daughter , she did a coffee course in the school holiday, lucky me!!)

I am off now making myself a nice cup of coffee without cake :(

Wish you a lovely day!

B is for Beach.

Everybody that reads my blog every now and then knows I love the beach. So it was easy to find a subject with a B for me. I love the beach in the early morning, on a stormy day and on a beautiful evening.

I try and have a beach walk every day, just love it. And I'm so lucky that I live on walking distance from the beach.

A is for Apple

This year I want to do the alphabet, not sure if I can find a subject for all the letters but I try to do my best.
We start of with the A for Apple.

When we came to New Zealand almost 6 years ago we bought a apple tree and this year we can harvest our first load of apples. It is not a lot but I think we have enough to make a nice "Dutch" apple cake.

Maybe when it is time for the C for Cake I can show you the apple cake. But we have to be patient for a while they are not ready yet.

Back to normal.

Everything is back to normal again. All the girls are back to school after a long long holiday and I am back in my shop. If you look at the photo's you won't believe me if i say we had a wet very wet and windy holiday. We went for a camping trip to the Coromandel a beautiful part of New Zealand but is was so wet and windy, not nice if you have to sleep in a tent.

One of my girls spotted a love heart puddle, isn't that sweet.

The beach is great there.

But believe it or not after a camping trip like this I was happy to be home and to be back in normal life.

Merry Christmas to you all !!!

I like to wish you a merry Christmas !
With love Jacoline.

Christmas in Summer ??

I still can't get used to the idea of Christmas in the summer, but for us it is real.
In my shop is it really busy at this time of the year, everybody is in the Christmas mood, buying presents and decorations. At home the Christmas tree is decorated and the 750 little lights are burning every evening. But still it doesn't make sense to me to celebrate Christmas in the summer.

Every day I come back from my garden with fresh flowers. I love to pick flowers every day.

My little girl is the same. On the school route there are lots of flowers to pick and 9 out of 10 she is coming home with some flowers as well. She told me : Mum when I'm a bit down I always pick flowers and feel great afterwards. Isn't that sweet.

Here are some garden flowers on my kitchen table.

For all of you who are in the Christmas mood, enjoy!