Playhouse

Back in 2013 we were given this little house, it looked nothing like this when we got it.  the lovely neighbour had no use for it and the birds were nesting in it so we took our little loader up there, took a few fence pails off and hooked it on (can't find the photos of the removal, i'll keep hunting).  i was going to post when I'd painted it and our house as well but its never happened and was asked to send a few pics of it to a friend so here it is.

We reroofed with leftovers from our new roof, changed the verandah around, changed the door, now perfect for serving coffees as its usually used as a cafe.  I trawled the op shops for pots and cups and saucers.

Maybe this summer I'll get painting! The kids look so young back then!

Another blanket ta-dah!

A blanket for Marco.  And he loves it, its very warm and cosy.

Pattern is from Simply crochet magazine on a 5mm hook, wool mostly from my stash or mums stash and a few from Skeinz bargain bin.

The rug on the floor is a good size to match blanket size too, did for Lillies blanket as well.

Its very windy out there! Team work!!

And an elf house made by Lillie!

And something I made earlier and just found the pics for my nephew.  Love this book!

Doctor Foster went to Gloucester

Look what arrived in the mail all the way from England.  I'd be wanting one for ages but they were quite pricey from the areas that I lived in London so I'd given up looking.  I haven't lived in Gloucester but love it anyway.  My uncle is a bus driver and was given some old bus blinds and very kindly posted one off to me!

I went and bought some dowel and borrowed the young boys saw from his tool kit then sewed across top and bottom making a hole for dowel to thread through then tied some rope to hang.

And look on the back, they have what name of town is on other side, wondered how they knew when to stop winding!!!

And ta-dah!! Need to move those hats now!  

Blanket Ta-dahhhhh!

After 13 months of hooky I have finished the blanket!!  It all started when I was given a big bag of wool from mum-in-law when she moved house.  There was wool in there that the kids had vests from that she had knitted.  It was going to be all hearts but they took ages to make and I had to really concentrate while watching TV!!  So then the stripes started, some wool from my stash and some op shopped wool.  All is 8 ply wool.

Lillie is very happy with the new blanky as her baby blanket is getting rather small to snuggle on the couch with.

And it can even be used as a wedding dress and veil!!

So now I can crack on and finish little brothers one.

And I'm going to enter it in the Deramores blog competition to win a heap of yarn.

This post is my submission to the Deramores Craft Blog Competition 2015. Deramores is the UK’s number one online retailer of knitting and crochet supplies. Visit www.deramores.com for more details. 

Kiwi Chicks at Cape Kidnappers

Today we went to Cape Kidnappers to release two kiwi chicks.  They had been hatched at Rainbow Springs in Rotorua.  Grandad Bull got up early and picked them up from Rotorua and we met him out at Cape Kidnappers.

We carried them into the bush a bit until we found a nest and burrow that had been made up for them.  They keep them there with the fence around until they are used to the new surroundings.

They were called Manchitas and Woolly Bugger!

First Tamzin had to put a radio transmitter on their legs so they can keep an eye on them once they are released.

We had hoo hoo grubs for them but they weren't hungry.

Lillie and Marco both had a cuddle and pat.  Their feathers were sooo soft.

Then Tamzin took us to the bird aviary, we saw kaka and kakariki birds and we fed them the hoo hoo grubs.  Marco held the grubs out and slowly the kaka came to grab them.  First they pull the head off the grub then suck out the inside, all yummy and juicy!

What a great day we had!  The chicks only stay there a few months then are released elsewhere when they are bigger.