365 in 2014

For once, the Pohutakawa trees (the Kiwi Christmas tree) are blooming with
perfect timing

We've had a quite a few days lately that have been really warm AND sunny
AND not windy - a miracle for Wellington. I took a long bike ride home
from work via Oriental Bay and there were heaps of people at the beach, some
even swimming - also a bit of a miracle in Wellington

For our team Christmas 'party', we went to Social Cooking.
It was a lot of fun. We made some stuffed chicken breasts with
kumara galette, a tomato salad and beans. This was my team's effort.
Looked great and tasted even better, if I do say so myself

Just to break up the Christmas photos, here's a couch, standing
majestically on a grassy knoll. I love Newtown

The Christmas tree at the boy's parents' place. Complete with
a working train that goes around the tree. Amazing

I made some Christmas gingerbread cookies

And also my favourite Christmas treat - Candy Cane Chocolate Bark courtesy of
Hungry and Frozen. So quick and easy - plus it would make great gifts. I took some
of these treats to work but they were mostly just to have around the house
over Christmas for guests....and me

365 in 2014

My garden is coming along nicely - and it's gotten
even bigger since this was taken! The leafy veggies are being
eaten at the moment and all the herbs are doing great - except the basil
 which has been total bug fodder. Any gardeners have any tips for basil?

We thought we'd get a water pistol to keep Moxie from climbing in the Christmas
tree, getting behind the tv and scratching the furniutre. The boy got this massive one!

Christmas time in the office. We' pimped our pod and
our chosen theme is tacky Christmas. It doesn't much tackier than
a flashing light up Santa ball and a Christmas hat hair clip

We went to Otaki for a couple of nights and stayed at a very random and somewhat
run-down motel/bird park. We found this beauty roaming around

Otaki beach with Kapiti Island in the background

Our Christmas tree. I love Christmas and always
insist on a real tree. I love the smell and how dreamy the
lights look at night

I was home alone for dinner so made some stuff the boy doesn't really like.
Salmon and fresh asparagus picked up on the way back from Otaki - yum!

365 in 2014

I visited a friend for lunch who is now working for my previous
employer. They've moved to brand new offices since I left, complete
with a fancy cafe in the foyer. I had hoki fish cakes with asparagus,
poached egg and hollandaise.

I did a two day training course for work. I was pretty excited
when they gave us a chocolate elf  with popping candy inside!
My first Christmas treat of the year.

The surprise purple flowers the pink quill from a couple of weeks back sprouted!

For the first time, I am taking part in a Twitter Secret Santa, run by
NZ Post. It's really fun, and it combines two of my favourite
things - stalking people on Twitter and Christmas! This was my
gift ready to be sent to the Santa Storehouse. Excite!

Can you guess what my work Christmas party costume was?
The theme was heroes and villains. I even had a Luigi!

We picked up our kitten! It was a very exciting day for all involved. Her name
is Moxie and she's a beautiful 3 month old tortoise shell. We are in love with her.

I know - two cat photos in a row, but she is so cute!
We pretty much spent all weekend with her, making her
feel at home with us, and she's doing just fine.

365 in 2014

I took a little detour on my ride home from work. These are the boat sheds on
Oriental Parade.

This lily is from our garden, however I can't take credit for growing it - the plant was
already there when we moved in and the flowers have just started to bloom.

I got some chocolates from a colleague. And we have
these cute recognition cards at work too. 

I won a free lunch at Mexico, to give their weekly specials
a try. These were coffee and ancho braised pork spare ribs - yum!

I spent a weekend with some family on their farm, Cordy Lea, in
Hororata, Canterbury. I was sleeping in the games room, and I love
these curtains. They have been the same since I was a kid
(and probably years before that).

I captured this busy bee in some foxgloves in the garden at Cordy
Lea. It was such a lovely sunny day to sit in the beautiful garden.

We went to visit some family graves while we were here. This is the Hororata
church which was, sadly, badly damaged in the 2010 earthquake.
My cousin and her husband were the last couple to be married here.

365 in 2014

My window sill was a sea of green before I planted these lettuce seedlings
(to replace the 6 the snails ate). The mint will live here permanently as it tends to
take over in the garden. Having a herb garden is just one of my favourite things ever

It was my third and final day of this training course I've been doing for work at
Maranui Surf Life Saving Club. Every day we've been here has been stunning

No photos for Wednesday and Thursday. But I swear I've been better since then!

Friday drinks with one of my favourite people, who's just
moved back to NZ. I love this cool bar, with it's craft beer,
pizza and bulldog - and now it's warm enough, the
bean bags on the grass outside are back!

We had our house warming party! It was forecast to rain and we have new carpet,
so we made it a shoes off party, and joked about people wearing their best socks.
And they actually did. Which was fun and pretty cute. Someone missed
the memo though

We were given this beauty as a flat warming present. It's called a pink quill, it's
from Equador and it's a bromeliad, which means it's related to the pineapple!
It just sprouted a cool little purple flower the other day too

365 in 2014

This week I forgot to take both my Monday and Tuesday pictures - I seem to be getting worse the closer it gets to the end of the year.

I said goodbye to this faithful companion - White Lightening headed
off to a new owner and I'll be taking the bus and riding a bit more

Another city tui! I spotted this guy right by the library. He even struck a pose
for me

Some girlfriends came over to check out the new pad and I made some pizzas
for us. The bases and sauce were gifted by a friend who owns 58 Base - really good!

Saturday brunch at a favourite local spot, Monterey

It was a perfect Sunday to give mountain biking a go at the
Wainuiomata Trail Project, with a more experienced pal 

365 in 2014

Took my car through the car wash for the first time since I bought it - over
a year and a half ago! This was in aid of it looking all sparkly clean to be sold.
I do love a car wash. Probably because we didn't have a car when I was a kid.

A rainbow over Wellington Hospital

A box of fun...which was delivered with a pizza. Amazing times we live in

Pub quiz night = pizza. But tonight it was a burger.
It was pretty average but they were on the right track with the beetroot - beetroot
in a burger is always a smart move

Pretty evening sky reflection in our living room window

A beautiful day over in Martinborough with some
girlfriends for lunch and a few wine tastings.
We're so grown up

The result of last week's recipe - Pumpkin and Spianch Rotolo Bake. Which
actually turned into a lasagne as I didn't have fresh lasagne sheets for the rotolo part.
Delicious but a LOT of work with everything made from scratch

365 in 2014

First proper meal cooked in the new house - chicken,
capsicum and eggplant bake (and some pretty flowers
from my mama).

Aaaaand....no Tuesday picture this week. Boo

I like the way the afternoon sun lights up the town belt.
This is the view across Newtown from our bedroom window

Fish and chips at the beach!

Awaiting trick or treaters with a glass of wine. And a very squashed pumpkin donut
that I picked up for the boy at Dunkin' Donuts in Auckland airport, on the
way back from a day trip for work (because Dunkin' Donuts isn't in Wellington)

Thought this recipe looked good when I saw it in a magazine
at the hairdresser. Stay tuned for the result next week!

Spent Sunday afternoon weeding this garden bed - and stabbed
myself in the arm with a trowel in the process.
All ready for a little veggie and herb garden now though.
Results of this, also next week!