magnolia report

The little tree on the street is now in flower- less than a week after I noticed its buds. I love those creamy white flowers- like small ceramic cups, perfectly formed.

I've been loving browsing around on etsy lately. Last week i bought Tom an olive green tie like this (for the rare occasions he needs one) and am already dreaming of the Christmas shopping possibilites that this site will bring. Stress-free, and from the comfort of my own home- hooray! This week on etsy, my friend Caireen opened her little store- the patchwork dress- selling her beautiful recycled cards and little elephants. She gave me some of her unique cards a while ago, and I loved them so much, I had sent them all over the world within a week.

We had a lovely weekend, despite suffering from the 'flu (I think). I took Nurofen for the first time (I don't often get sick) and felt I could do anything. It was like magic! So we caught up with family, looked at blossom, walked to a busy farm to see the roosters, ducks, and kunikuni pigs...

and ate delicious spring food made by Tom's Mum.

(I love the idea of a huge platter of things to put on bread... she had beautifully arranged salad greens and herbs, chicken, cooked potatoes, pesto, eggs and peas, with calendula petals covering everything.)

And we also spotted this kereru on our walk- unusually close to us.

Their feathers are a bright, shimmering purple/green, with white markings that look as though they're wearing an apron. We used to have lots of them in our garden when I was a child, getting drunk on berries and plum leaves, and swooping through the kowhai trees. This is the closest I'd been to one before though, and I was surprised by how sleek and graceful her head was.

Comments

[charlotte]

goodness me that salad looks just marvellous. I shall have to make it this weekend for lunch. Isn't it exciting it's spring!! hooray hooray hooray.

We've just got astrid off the nurofen - today is her first painkiller free day. Excellent :)

Hope you're feeling better and you can get some of your orders cleared.

[Lori]

I love, love, love when you tell us about the different local wildlife and such Melissa.
I feel like I am visiting New Zealand. :o)

Sounds like a lovely way to have the flu.
Spring is coming full force for you isnt it?
We are heading into our rains here soon....need to get the roofing materials off the front lawn and onto the roof! ~grin~

I welcome large pots of soup and warm sweaters.
Your friend,
Lori

ps. I put a couple of things in my Etsy shop before the camera had a melt down if you want to see some of what I make...
www.lissilulu.etsy.com

[jen]

i saw lots of spring blossoms and flowers this morning on my walk
and that salad looks SO good

[Taryn Domingos]

Loved hearing about your day! I always get a kick out of the idea that our seasons are happening oppositely! I'm getting anxious for autumn while your getting giddy over spring...this way I can experience two seasons at once! How lovely!

The salad looks lovely, I think I may try something similar to that one day. It's inspiring. Tom's mum seems to have a good eye for beauty. Tom is a lucky guy to have TWO women close to him that are so creative...

[sixty six stitches]

What a lovely spring post!

[caireen]

thanks for the sweet comment!Xx that bird looks amazing, and eating a chupachup too! - like the apron analogy. - and the beautiful salad arrangement. We saw "Shark Vs Eagle" yesterday at the cinema and got a little taste of NZ - did you see it? Cx

[Gill]

Hi Melissa looks like we both had a weekend bird watching. I love kereru, I wish my gareden was big enough to provide a place for them to stop and feed. The blossom is adorable, can't wait for mine to come out. X

[VictoriaE]

Neurofen! That is funny - that it had a big effect on you, something for you to file away for the future.. I love the idea of a big plate of things to put on bread too, that's a good idea for having guests for lunch. I will use that. I enjoyed all your animal photos too.

[PG]

Ah, this always sends my brain in a spin - you have spring, though it is August...and we are going into autumn in the UK...

I've got that tiemaker in my Etsy favourites, if my other half is very lucky he may get one for Christmas.

[Sarah]

It is so interesting to watch spring arriving for you as we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of fall over here.

[Tash]

Gosh what an exotic looking bird, and a tasty looking lunch (the plate, not the bird!). Gosh, it's a relation of the pigeon - certainly not like anything we get over here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_Pigeon )!

I cannot believe how quickly this year is going, it seems like it's disappearing! Over here we've missed summer altogether and went from a warm spring to a very wet Autumn! Enjoy your beautiful magnolias!

[heidi]

i can see the spring coming through your post!! awesome. my favorite time of year!

[Zelia]

What lovely photos of a lovely time:)

[Chara Michele]

I love seeing your pictures and hearing about life in New Zealand... It is amazing the different types of birds and other wildlife that you have there that we don't have. I love it! :)

[Gisele]

It looks like spring is on the way. Good for you! Thanks for sharing New Zealand fauna and flora with us. Your pictures are always beautiful.

[carolyn]

That is a really pretty bird, hope you've all recovered form your flu like symptoms.

[Felicia]

I hope you are feeling better. Those buds are beautiful. I am in love with that egg dish with the flowers on top! What a talent his mom is.

[Kate Shuttleworth]

Beautiful pictures Melissa - hope Mum and Dan arrive home happy and smiling. I love the kereru.

[amisha]

such beautiful blossom photos. and i am loving that platter... a gorgeous presentation and looks delicious too!
xo