Hooray it's Friday!

What a busy week! The decision has been made - we're relocating half way around the world to Portland, Oregon in August! How exciting - there's so much to do and sort out. R will be away for most of the coming months - so Turtle, Mu & me will be packing and planning alone. I hope we find somewhere lovely to live - I will miss our sea views. Hopefully we find somewhere with lots of character and a lovely vibe. So very exciting! Here's some lovely desks and inspiration boards from Martha Stewart Living.

And as it's Friday - that means riding - yippee!

Image from The Equestrian Corner.

Monday - it's grey & cold...

A good day to curl up with a book but I am keeping to my word about baking, and whilst I'm at it I also plan to make soup - today is definitely a soupy day. Mother's Day yesterday and I was thoroughly spoiled by my boys with a voucher for some serious pampering at East Day Spa, and two gorgeous cushions from Madder & Rouge. I feel so lucky to have three such silly, crazy, wonderful people in my life. Check out Helena Christensen's New York home as featured on The Selby via Paris Vogue.

Books, books, books....

As always on our recent trip we found some great books. Given the state of NZ's dollar, and the 'weighty' issue of luggage on planes we did our best to limit our purchases - but we did bring home....

Birds by Jeffrey Fisher an Australian artist living in Paris. Jeffrey's bird illustrations are so gorgeous - we're tempted to have several framed!

Blackstock's Collections by Gregory L. Blackstock, an autistic and artistic savant from Seattle, Washington who creates visual lists of everything from wasps to hats to emergency vehicles to cabbages. The detail and information in each illustration is astounding - what a wonderful and extraordinary mind he must have!

Vintage French Interiors by Sebastien Siraudeau. A wonderfully inspiring book showcasing antique shops and flea markets in France.

And for our two unruly boys - How to Speak Politely and Why by Munro Leaf. A fantastic children's classic (from a series) that shows good manners and that treating others how you would like to be treated is timeless. Munro Leaf is also responsible for the fabulous book The Story of Ferdinand - a childhood favourite.

It's raining....

A very wet grey winter day today. Less than a week ago we were experiencing Portland's pretty spring. Days like today it's nice to have pretty things to help cheer the gloom up - like these Kate Spade bangles.....

Turtle and I made cupcakes after school yesterday - yum! (photo by Turtle)

At this time of year I always feel like cocooning - and have decided to try and bake at least once a week. Although I'm off for coffee with S this morning to talk about some work - so may not have yards of spare time soon. Off horse riding this afternoon - hooray. I've not been for over a month!

Changes may be afoot...

Changes may be afoot for us - we may be leaving our lovely house to travel afar in search of new adventures..... I will miss my study...

And the memories....

We hope to know more early next week. R is very excited, Mu is on the fence, and Turtle and me are excited, but also a little sad..

Back home

We're back from the most amazing trip!

Five weeks in the States - Portland Oregon (to be exact) with a few side trips. It's so good to be home and once again surrounded by our bits and pieces. Here's a random selection of images from our trip.....

A wind swept northern Californian coast...

An old school bus nestled amongst blossom on the Redwood Highway

A beauty from the de Young Museum in San Francisco

Turtle & Mu investigating fake poo at the Oregon Zoo - boys!

Chinatown San Francisco - so many things to explore...

Wouldn't you love this as your entrance? We stayed near Nob Hill / Russian Hill in San Fran.  I spent many a morning wandering past the most beautiful front gates and doors.

We arrived in Portland at the same time as Spring - there was blossom everywhere....

We saw and did so much - a lot seems a distant memory. Changes could be afoot for us - watch this space....