mount goodbyes

When my beautiful mother-in-law Merle died last year, it was the end of an era in many ways. With our final goodbye to Merle, came other goodbyes. Her house and beach house were sold as part of her estate. So many memories, family gatherings, good times and holidays reside in both of those houses. To celebrate all of those good times the family gathered for one last holiday at Mount Maunganui. It was so much fun to be with the cousins. It was the usual rowdy gathering round food, drinks, conversation, board games, joking around and laughter.

You know you are nearly at the Mount when you hit Matamata. We stopped for some sustenance from the Kaimai Cheese Cafe. Delicious!

Next stop the Mount, with the first stop there - the beach...

Hugo loved fun times with Beth

Then later that evening we got out this fine looking lady, who was a gift for my 40th birthday. She has spent many happy years here by the beach. It seemed fitting that we would light her up on this final visit. As you can see, she is quite spectacular. Although by the end of the weekend she looked like the gruesome victim of extreme sun exposure!

The beach house is like a time capsule from the 60's and 70's. I love all of the decorative touches. The eclectic gathering of furniture, accessories, fabrics, leftover paraphanalia from all of our houses. It's been the final resting place of many an off-cast piece of furniture, kitchenware, bedding, books and games. Check out these classic "bach" styles. (We were never allowed to call it a bach. It was definitely a bit more upmarket than that - a beach house!)

Archways and shagpile carpet

Decades of glassware styles 

The classic imitation candle sconce

Vintage styles in the sleepout

 Seaside touches

So many complicated, frustrating jigsaw puzzles have been completed on this table. Always the bigger, the more pieces, the better... leading to conversations like "Do you think this blue piece is the sky or the sea?"

All of the paintings at the beach house are oils by Merle. She was the most amazing artist. 

Then it was time to say our goodbyes. It was so special to be able to gather, remember, reminisce... to think about all of those special memories we've shared and the people who helped create them, especially Merle and John. 

 And this is why we love the Mount...

Beautiful!

Goodbye. Thanks for all the memories...