Another Month has flown by!!!

Oops, well this has been a long time coming. I cannot believe how fast the weeks are going by.
This is going to be a bit photo heavy I'm afraid, so lets get started.

Saturday 21st September 2013

Thank goodness its the weekend, although they go by all to quickly. I am working on Christmas projects at the moment so unfortunately you won't be able to see some of these until after Christmas.
Today while having lunch a Mummy duck and her babies came by for a walk.

We also have this unusual bird hanging around, I have never seen it fly and it wanders up and down the grass verge.

The weather has started to turn stormy, so we did some baking this afternoon, I made an Exotic Butter Chicken, no cans or packets here, all made from scratch.

Malcolm made Lemon Meringue Tart

Monday 16th September 2013

Today the Royal Australian Navy Frigate HMAS Perth arrived in Auckland for goodwill visit.

Sunday 15th September 2013

Malcolm cut the hedge during the week and while doing so a 

Thrush flew out at him, on closer inspection what did he find?

Today we went to Green Bay Beach as I was looking for Pine Cones for a project I am working on (I know yet another one!)
I brought some back from Dads last week, but needed a few (read lot!) more.

Who knew the beach had a waterfall.

LOL, Waterfall!!!

There were Kingfishers and Fantails flitting around.

Saturday 14th September 2013

We have been watching Better Homes and Gardens Australia, which is a bit of a worry as it seems every time we watch this we end up making something from the program.
Malcolm's daughter Linda who lives in Perth, has also given us a subscription to this magazine, meaning we have double the amount of things we want to do.
This week Malcolm made these platters shaped like a jigsaw, which you can use as individual 'plates'. This works so you don't have to juggle you plate and glass at a BBQ, you can also use them joined together as a table runner or even use as a pot stand.

Tuesday 10th September 2013

So I hear Sky City Casino has now bought a boat to take out the high rollers, nothing big or flash, but meet Horizon II. How appropriate you can see the Sky Tower in the background.

Sunday 8th September 2013

Mmmm, Whitebait
Today we went to Euro for the first Whitebait of the season, and it was amazing.

As we were about to leave the police launch Deodar pulled up to the wharf out the front, along with a police dive squad team and a boat from the Naval Base.  There were Military police, local police officers and detectives. Could not find out what was going on but it all seemed quite dramatic.

Saturday 7th September 2013

Today I went to Maungaturoto to visit Dad for his 75th Birthday, while Malcolm went fishing at Uretiti Beach which is in between Whangarei and Waipu

Dad works on a farm and calving is in full swing, went and visited some of the babies. There were also a lot of birds around, Kingfisher, Canadian Geese, Fantails, Yellow Hammers and Chaffinch.

The Tulips were also coming into flower.

Mother Duck and her Babies

Kingfisher

Canadian Geese

The calves are only a few days old, and you'll be pleased to know the farm is now so large no calves are sent to the works.

We also cannot forget the dogs.

Jake and Peppy

We then drove down to Whakapirau which is located on the Pahi River 

Looking over the river to Pahi

Historic Bridge

Looking down the bridge

In the afternoon (before the rain) I wandered around the back of Dads house and took a few photos of the old shed.

Friday 6th September 2013

WELL, what a glorious day in the City of Sails today.

Sunday 1st September 2013

Today we went to Victoria Park Market as we had heard it had re-opened after a major refurbishment. Unfortunately it was very disappointing, they say 85% of the buildings are leased, but there was hardly any shops actually opened and not many people at all wandering around. It is certainly not going to be how it was a number of years ago when it used to be packed with people and you could hardly move, and there was the smell of incense and 'pot' in the air. Feels like it is going to be nothing like the 'Market' it once was when(if!) it gets going.

Another place that was a disappointment to visit was the Auckland Tourist Market, it had only been open a few weeks, but there was nothing to get excited about, maybe it will get better, there were mostly food stalls and not much craft happening.

Saturday 31st August 2013

I made a couple of birthday cards today, one for my Dad who turns 75 in a few days time, and one for our book of samples that we show to customers.

The weather was beautiful today, and the waxeyes were having a feeding frenzy on the flowering cherry tree.

Tuesday 27th August 2013

Today I saw the Owner/Chef of The Foodstore, Mark Southon, and also Aaron Brunet the recent winner of Masterchef who is working at Euro for Restaurant Month.

Mark Southon

Aaron Brunet

Thursday 29th August 2013

There is a new Mexican restaurant opening at the Westfield Centre, Downtown.  Could be worth trying if its this HOT!

There was also a Sweet Treat tree at the Downtown Centre, lollipops all around.

Friday 28th August 2013

With Auckland Fashion Week starting next week, Soul Bar were previewing Yvonne Bennetti and her upcoming collection.

I also wandered around the Viaduct and saw 'Little Toot' 
(SS Puke)

Monday 26th August 2013

Once again it is another extremely foggy day.

Tonight the new TV program The Block NZ airs, and they were organising a Block Party at The Foodstore.

Sunday 25th August 2013

Decided to go for Tacos at The Lucky Taco truck today, arrived at 2.00pm and would you believe they have sold out..NO.....LOL. Better luck next week.
Went for a ride to the Auckland Fish Markets and bumped into Oliver Driver.