Procrastinating

Firstly may I say thank you to everyones lovely comments concerning my upcoming trip to New York. I appreciate the excitement you feel for me and it is lovely to be able to share this news with you. Now the most pressing thing on my mind, of course, is packing. I have my wardrobe and shoes mostly sorted but am in a dilemma about whether to pack boots. Would this be overkill for October? I am taking super comfortable Merrill walking shoes, a low heeled mary jane for dining out and am also debating whether to pack a pair of sandals. Will it be warm enough for sandals during fall in NY?? I stalk the weather reports and read trip advisers for recommendations but am getting mixed signals about what the weather can do during October. I have decided to take my light wool coat just in case. Any suggestions would be appreciated as I'm trying to stick to my usual three pairs of shoes limit. While I sat this morning in my pretty room deliberating world peace and which shoes to take I snapped some instagram photos and wasted time playing with filters because isn't this just the best thing to do when procrastinating? And writing blog posts when I should be actioning all sorts of jobs and errands!! Annie xx

Am I the only one having trouble with the new blogger interface layout? My draft is written with appropriate spacing then preview and published post is bunched together plus I can only enable the large size photo and I prefer the extra-large option plus the photo is no longer displayed in the draft, only codes? :-(

Counting the Days until....!!!!!

Oh yeah we are leaving for New York in less than two weeks!! I am excited about this trip for many reasons...I have never been to the east coast of America, NY has been on my list of must see cities and it is Mr red roses and my 30th wedding anniversary. I know, that achievement is a miracle in itself! We have our plans all mapped out and it will be thoroughly wonderful and I dare say I will be hootin and hollerin just like the sailor boys (from one of my favourite musicals by the way). Photos will be taken with gay abandon which I shall be Instagraming like nobodies business. Free wi-fi in the hotel and hot spots will be utilized I assure you. Lots of action is happening at the house before we fly away so the remainder of this year makes for hectic times. Fun Fun Fun! *Apologies for the scrunched up post, the clip may have altered something or this new fangled blogger interface might be playing tricks on me? Annie xx

The Art of Pottering About

Saturday morning is one of my favourite times to cruise through my home..pottering about.
I adore rearranging, sorting, plumping up cushions, flower arranging, admiring my surroundings and snapping photos.
I can spend an incredible amount of time pottering about my home and seeing the beauty in everyday things. Even a glance through a window screen from our upper storey to the blue sky and towering trees.

Might be classed as wasting time to some folk but I argue it is good for the soul.
Enjoy your weekend and spend time just pottering about, you will benefit .. I promise.

Annie xx

Screens are common in Australia for keeping out flies, mosquitoes, birds, snakes, lizards, spiders, beetles and any other pesky fauna which would like to invade a household.

Celebrations and Blue Skies

Last weekend saw us skipping down to the New South Wales south coast for a family celebration.
We enjoyed ourselves immensely and it is always great to catch up with far flung family members. The weather was perfect if just a little bit windy and chilly.
Just look at our brilliant blue Australian sky...glorious.

In the blink of an eye the weekend was over and it was time to fly home with our memories.

Hope your weekend was lovely too

Annie xx

A Creative Moment

Hello all, winter here and it's cold. The dog and I are chasing the sun around the house to warm our bones.

Thought I would share this little assignment I gave myself recently. My daughter has a huge collection of fashion magazines so I commandeered one issue of Harpers Bazaar to make a simple layout of cards for my mother's care home. Many stylish ladies of advanced years still appreciate gazing at pictures of pretty clothes and I felt some flash cards would be nice for the residents to peruse.

I enjoyed myself immensely and may do a series for the residents if I can gather more visuals of shoots which are appropriate for the mature lady. Luckily this edition contained pics which were not risque.

The effort reinvigorated a creative side of my personality I should nurture.

Unfortunately this photo would not load correctly so the models are standing on their heads which is kind of funny. Why do some iPhone photos do this I wonder? For love nor money I couldn't get those gals standing on their feet.
Anyway I hope you get the idea...

Cutting (I use a mini guillotine contraption), spacing, layout and laminating is therapeutic and not to be underestimated.
If the opportunity to be creative comes your way embrace it, for it matters not how big or small the task... just Enjoy.

Annie xx

Tuesday and Instagram

Happy Tuesday all.

For some unknown reason to me my Instagram photos are not loading on my sidebar and while it's probably easily rectified I shall put on my lazy hat and wait for my IT literate son to sort out the glitch. 

Meanwhile if you click on the newly installed 'followgram' link on the sidebar all my photos are displayed. As I have mentioned before I am having the time of my life with Instagram taking visuals of fanciful things and just recently discovered a free app called Frametastic and now my addiction knows no bounds!

I shall leave you with a serene shot of the most divinely scented candle and the most vibrant red nail polish my nails will be sporting by days end.

What girl doesn't enjoy having gifts bestowed on her...I Love It!

Thanks A-M & FF 

Wednesday Wanderings

 Hong Kong

Hong Kong is on my mind because we are planning on returning later this year and I am excited.

Honkers is one of my very favourite places and it was my first choice to revisit when Mr red roses and I discussed destinations.

The food

The shopping

The scenery

The buildings

The people 

The food.....

What's not to love about Hong Kong!

Next time I aim to pack minimal clothes (yeah right) so I can pack a empty suitcase inside a bigger suitcase.
The Countdown has begun!

 Annie xx                                                   

Meandering

Well yes I am being very naughty and procrastinating today. I should be activating little jobs before we up, up and away to Beijing and Hong Kong but no I sit and stare at the fan whirling around on this rather warm day.
Someone take this smart phone away from me please. Of course I love it to bits but the camera component is a major distraction.
Any excuse to avoid what I should be doing.

So out to the garden I go for a meander....

The agapanthas came with the house (first time around for moi with this flower). Can someone tell me when they will bloom?

Starting to think I should have called this blog Yellow Roses as the yellow bush is leaving the red bush for dead. Come on red rose bush get your act together please.

The transplanted frangipani is going great guns!

The duckies are a permanent garden fixture and both have required surgery to reattach a beak and a decapitated head.

So looking forward to the beams being overhauled. Can you guess what the new colour will be, knowing my penchant for a certain shade?


Enough meandering. This little duck needs to get back to business folks.....


Annie xx

Sorting and Sifting...

My friend A-M popped in to help me fine tune this here blog. Who knew there's a ton of info to grasp when one ventures into blogland. Learning never stops, doesn't matter how old we are.

 Well we set to like only women can and created miracles (after tea, cake and chatter of course).

Very nice mani there A-Me and I so want the ring! 

Of course this set off a chain of events for yours truly because I realised my system left a bit to be desired if I was to become an efficient Miss and create posts in a timely fashion without trawling through squillions of pics. Hence over the last two days I've spent, oh about six hours sorting hundreds (felt like thousands) of photos into new folders...click...drag...click...delete...and so on until I had morphed into a robot.

Do you update your photo folders etc on a regular basis to enable easy blogging?
Must say I feel quite chuffed now it's organised, just wish I could be enthused to attack a pile of paperwork that's staring at moi.

But not right now. I need a drink!
xx