What a truly wonderful thing is Spring

Daffodil Day on Friday, unfortunately no real Daffs, as the snow had killed them all.

sugar shaker

Very useful shopping basket.

Pretty in pink.

Sweet peas planted yesterday.

Washing on the line..........drying in warm wafting breeze.

It's been a interesting time here at Mayberry, Basil turned 60, unfortunately he had been sick for a few days, but luckily he was still on holiday. I've just reread that and it sounds so callous but I mean that he didn't have to go to work while feeling crook, it was his heart of course, the cold weather always makes him poorly. We celebrated quietly with a family dinner, I had one of those "woman things" test at the hospital..........say no more, and Spring has finally arrived a few days early but welcome just the same. The joy of a line full of washing can't be underestimated can it, I'm watching them blow around in the breeze and hoping they will be dry by lunchtime and I can put more out by lunchtime. Who would have  thought when we were young, that getting clothes dry on the line would provide such pleasure, as does the wonderful Bellbird which is serenading us from the tree next door. I am really turning into mum.The market has shrunk in size, as the car park, that it used to be in, is getting fixed, unfortunately some of the new concrete is already cracked from the earthquake earlier yesterday morning, it was quite a noisy one, but I thought" bugger it" I'm not getting out of bed. We had a decent rumble at work on Tuesday morning, we were talking, as you do, and Matt said "move away from the wall girls" which we did, waited for half a second to judge the strength and went on talking, that's the way to do it. There is a Vintage market planned for the 4th September it is at the old house, which is the market I blogged about in my second or third post, I shall not be going as it is the first anniversary of the "big one" and there is to be an attempt at the world record for the biggest hug and we are going to hug the CBD, what is left of it. But I am going to the Creative Flair Fare which has been set up in place of the Aussie craft fair that isn't coming, probably scared of the earthquakes, they came to Christchurch last year and it was brilliant and were meant to come this year I don't know what happened and I do hope they will return next year.The CFF seems to be local craft stores and I'm hoping that as it's in the local Race club it might have some stores from other parts of NZ, I wish this because I took this week of work for it, and I want to spend the money I have saved up..........God I get sadder by the day. So with the joy of Spring in my heart and the need to but the washing machine on a again I say farewell. Aunt Bee

yes, Miss Holly we got snow.

Mayberry in the snow

Is Robin going to get me to work tomorrow?

What the best dressed snow bunny is wearing this year.

Don't Aj , you know your'll be sorry later.

The Main North Road and few cars are out and about.

The first sign of spring

Beautiful but bloody freezing.

I liked this strange movie or do I just like Daniel ?

I loved the movie, yes it was strange, the alien thing, but somehow it was o.k. I know you'll say it's because I love Daniel, but it really did make an unusual movie which was exciting and enjoyable. The weather is bad, but no snow falling yet, hail and sleet but they say tomorrow will be the day.Love Aunt Bee, hope you have a nice day where ever you are, and the weather Gods are kind to you.

My obsessive pursuit of Mollie nears an end.

Ok, quick post to say something happened today, which was very exciting, if the distribution point in New Zealand for Mollie Makes is exciting, then this is exciting. Well it is to me, I emailed them to ask could I buy the mag here and they said if I sent my location they would let me know where the nearest bookshop will be...........it's exciting in a who cares only me way, but then my life is rather sad, here speaks the woman going to Cowboys and Aliens becos she adores, yes you read it right adores, Daniel Craig and has managed to persuade her husband he wants to see this movie too. And the other news is we are awaiting a big winter storm bringing snow, more snow than last month and for longer, hell's teeth maybe 2 or 3 snow days, I wasn't happy about this, well not as happy as my work shy colleagues who on Friday were drooling over the thought of days of work, but then after doing the shopping and stocking up on the important things such as loo paper and cat food, and the dawning realization I could do some much needed sewing I am ready for this coming weather event, though it is due while we at the said movie. Yes, on one hand Daniel, on the other snow storm, howling winds and warnings to stay home or again, Daniel, so you can guess the answer to that, I hope he will some day realize what I did  for him and the dangers I placed both myself and Basil in. Right, good night, time for bed and I've just remembered I didn't put the electric blanket on earlier, to engrossed in Lewis, which truthfully had so many red herrings I was a bit bored, but it did have that really gorgeous Robin Hood in it, as the baddie so I had to watch to the bitter end. Aunt Bee. The Robin Hood who went on to Dynasty or one of those hideous American shows, he was a Prince and they all got shot in the end, so hideous I obviously didn't ever watch it, yeah right.

Things I picked up over the last few weeks.

I love these shawls especially the one on the left.

More needles, aaaaaaaaargh someone stop me

Absolutely fabulous tea Chris bought me back from Melbourne, truly delicious

felted fingerless mittens, and my square peasant hands, but warm hands

Dave 1, Aunt Bee 0

I love gingham and a Indian tablecloth which I have worn as a scarf, as you do.

Great find, crochet mag from the 70's,  I remember them well.

Dave's petty revenge when I didn't dish up his dinner  quick enough.

mmmm,  must remember to take lid of box containing  lovely Christmas decorations,  before I photograph them.

Sorry about lack of posts, everyone including me has had the flu, actually we all still have the flu. The camera went walkabout, oddly enough in my bag, believe me it's the Black Hole of Calcutta in there, and then I couldn't download photos till I found the cable which of course was under Aj's bed. Where else would it be ? But on a happy note Aj can drive without us in the car so for the last two days he has taken Basil's car to work, yahoo!, no more getting him to work at 7.30am and then waiting in my work carpark for an hour till I start work. Will post again tomorrow as I have more to show and tell, including the weather forecast, and it's all bad. Love Aunt Bee.

The week after the last post.We did find snow the following Sunday.

4am early Monday morning, July 25th.

Dave is not happy does his duty then spends the day under Tom's bed.

This is looking good for a snow day.

For 2 days I'm forced to watch DVD's, crochet and  read books.

Aj is persuaded to clean the snow off the Sky dish, while I take photo from inside.

Yes I finished the blanket, and we needed it, I love and so does Basil.

The no snow trip. July 21st.

This is our destination, the Southern Alps

Only 1 hour from Christchurch.

I was driving, no 4 wheel drive, no chains and 6 other people, only one other who could drive.

Just about here when we turned back, something about icy roads.

And this was the snow, just ice, bloody freezing as we had already started to climb.

Back to the Springfield Station for lunch, shelter plus toilets what more could we want.