Straws

Not being a consumer of the spiritous liquors I tend to order apple juice or sugar based carbonated water drinks when we are out. Virtually every time the beverages are delivered to the table mine has been defiled by a sadly limp plastic straw. This winds me up severely. Just because I choose not to part-take in alcohol doesn't mean I don't know to use a glass. Not only is a straw an insult. it also adds to waste stream. It would be an interesting and life threatening experiment to see the reaction of a rugby team being served their beers with a straw flopping around in it.

Farewell Summer

The warmth of summer has finally evaporated and the promise of cool autumn shadows is upon us.
Daylight saving has ended. Which seems to bring with it a sense of urgency in the garden. Time to put the warm weather accoutrements into hibernation. As the sun gets lower it streams into my studio, bringing heat and the joy natural light embuing everything with an intensity and beauty that no artificial light source can ever match.

Tree Stump

This is an intriguing way to disguise an old tree stump. This lovely wooden picnic table was outside a real estate agents premises in Foxton

Dog

This fearsome beast is half of a pair guarding the driveway of a Foxton beach residence.  Casting concrete animals is a dying art that I hope makes a come back with the whole retro revival thing going on. I'm sure there is interest out there. Talking with the owner of the 'dog', she said they had had many people wanting to purchase these ornaments. Our garden has a couple of concrete critters that occasionally make an appearance. One is a fawn, the other is a yellow rabbit. I'll break out the camera next time they are spotted.

Food

Chowing down on fresh simple food outdoors with family and friends on a warm summer evening is about as good as eating gets. I'm sure it's something primal. Maybe we feel closer to nature because we aren't cocooned by the perceived safety of four walls. Just as an aside, the lettuce that prawns are nestled on is a variety called 'Iceberg' apparently it is the preferred type for many prawn salad fans. I have been begged to grow it at home. I have yet to find the seed or seedlings anywhere.

Hydrangeas

Blue and pink hydrangeas in conjunction with old timber and corrugated iron, a truly fine visual combination.

Toilet

I'm sure I'm going to get in trouble one day for taking pics inside public toilets.
The example above is in central Napier.
This type of private public interior decor appeals to my sense of the humble. It doesn't get much recognition, yet I'm sure it is much more important to a lot of people than the latest, flashiest pieces of architectural 'brilliance'.
Matching the colour of the toilet paper packs with the tile walls is a nice touch.