Blue and White

Have reluctantly decided to downsize  this collection of china of mine, after coming to the realization that  I can't keep everything for ever,  and a change of decor looks good too. Just introducing a splash of green as a recent NZ House & Garden suggested,   provides such a lift.  I rung the changes up at Orewa where my display of blue and white china (Willow pattern and European Christmas plates ) now includes a green capsicum-shaped salt shaker, a green ginger jar which graced the family mantlepiece in my childhood and a beautiful green glass vase from an op shop in Orewa. I have been too busy up there recently to remember to take a photo of it and now it is too late as goddaughter Jane and husband Adam are moving in for a wee while until they find a place of their own up there.

I sold a turquoise Denby mug recently  - they are lovely to look at but when filled with tea or coffee rather heavy for my right  hand .  It went to a good home so I am pleased, as did the little Air NZ  retro china cup and saucer.  These were made by Noritake I believe, in the 1960s I suppose.  I like a small milky drink made in one of these  when I wake during the night.  I still have a couple of these left too.  They remind me of a dolls teaset I had as a child.  Next is the Blue Danube breakfast cup and saucer I sold yesterday.  We enjoyed using Blue Danube china morning noon and night in the 1970s, now I just use the dinner plates and dessert plates once or twice during the week, and two small tea and coffee cups  for occasional drinks during the day.  These two duos belonged to my Aunt Dorothy, so I think of her when I use them. 
Then there is an old Masons aqua preserving jar also gone west to Waiheke Island to a new owner .  I still have one of these under the house to be brought up  and used or more likely displayed  one of these days again. Lastly is this morning's stilllife with feijoas in a special Cauldon dish featuring chariots which Dieter gave me many many years ago.  I now use it for all sorts of things several times during the week in a bid to make the most of such treasures. 

Bus trip to South Head

Had a very pleasant outing with the Historical Society to look at the alpacas at South Head  and then the museum at Helensville.  The fleece is delightfully light and silky and when spun makes a soft warm yarn  which they knit into garments. D bought me a pair of pale blue fingerless mittens  in a pretty lacy pattern.  Must get out my spinning wheel and spin some yarn  myself.  It has languished in a corner for 2 or 3 years now without having been used.  Watch this space.

Somes Island

Somes Island  is about 20 minutes out in Wellington Harbour - in its time it has been  a POW camp, internment camp and also a quarantine station .  Now it is a conservation area and very nice for walks.  There were a couple of school parties and a few oldies like us.  We could use our gold cards to get there on the ferry  which was good. The flowers were beautiful - white ones from the lace bark, hebes and the bright orange berries of the coprosma.  We were delighted to see a large tuatara sunning itself  conveniently along the way.