26.12.15

A day on Nautical and Motuihe and Browns Islands. I just love being off the mainnland and exploring the bays of the offshore islands.
Grateful for the. quip meet we've been able to borrow over the years from Young Mariners like Nautical.

27.12.15

One of those magic days when the sun is shining,  the family are all on board and it just works out. At Bethells Beach. First at the caves which we hadn't visited before and then to the lake and dunes.
Grateful for our friendship with the Wheelers which has been going  a number of years now. We always have a good time with them - or nearly always!

25.12.15

Happy Christmas 2015. Plans for a boat ride and a picnic didn't quite happen as the weather was a bit iffy! Still a ham with salads and family is always good!

24.12.15

Very excited to be playing with a new Christmas present: a Samsung tablet. I'm having to transfer all sorts of addresses and figure out how to get photos across. Very thankful  for my new toy!

30.09.15

Walking with Ben and Tessie on Mellons bay Beach. Greta rock features which I've never really  noticed before!
Grateful for the most wonderful sunny warm weather the past 4 days...and for feeling better from my cold.

01.10.15

First of the sweetpea flowers for the year - here's hoping they flower as well as they have grown in the veggie patch.
Grateful for all the lovely flowers in a spring garden

02.10.15

Picture of kowhai trees in full yellow bloom - ona walk through Macleans reserve.
Grateful to have Norm home after 31/2 weeks in Italy

03.10.15

A great walk out to Harken reserve with norm and then of to Point Waikato.
Grateful for my marriage to this man - a truly great friend!

This sign said male toilet: I wonder what on earth the women do?!

Erosion at Port Waikato beach

One of those lovely random NZ scene: concrete painted animals painted in a field

Fabulous little park of garden...
?Crouhurst park...beautifully maintained by volunteers

23.09.15

Blossom - the plum tree has been fully covered in blossom but I just didn't get there to picture it. This is the last one. Hopefully a good season of plums!
Grateful for the promise of a harvest from our very own little garden!

24.09.15

I joined the Auckland bee Keepers association - my first open day with them. A fabulous group of people who just love their bees.
Grateful for sunshine and hobbies and interests that I can develop

25.09.15

World Vision Leadership day
A fabulous day to have shared with these FCI kids at the World Vision leadership day.
 Grateful to have the day out of the classroom and to see the potential in intermediate kids for world vision projects.

26.09.15

Walk in Whitford forest - never too late to find a chair: think it'll become ammunition for writing in class next week. Even did some of the bike tracks on foot - way too scary to ever do on a bike that's for sure!
Grateful for a dog who's always available to walk!

29.09.15

Walk at Kawakawa Bay with Rachel and Tessie. Had the whole beach to ourselves and it was just the most magnificent day
Grateful for time spent with Rachel, especially as I'm aware these days won't be forever!

28.09.15

Visit to Caro's for lunch  out on her plot. Loved meeting the pigs: Rosemary and

Pepper who followed a piece of apple wherever you went!

27.09.15

Heritage trail through Manukau. Check out these grave stones. Discovered St Matthias'a Anglican church with fantastic stained glass windows

06.07.15 - 15.07.17

One of those multiple posts that covers a number of days of our time away in Gold Coast. Despite it not being their warmest weather we LOVED the sunshine and blue skies. It restored my faith in the glorious weather we can have in different places and at different times. grateful for family time, holidays, sunshine and new places to explore

16.07.15

Starting to gear up for Term 3 and determined to try and get a this little guy out for some adventures with classmates. Not sure it'll be seen as cool by everyone...but some may go for it on their blogs. Here's my attempt to start a new line of blog posts. Grateful for enthusiasm of new ideas and the chance to give things a go in my 'new' classroom this term where I trust I'll be able to bring back some of the enthusiasm for learning - that seems to have gone a bit last term so I'm glad for the changes.

17.04.15

So, just who's in charge here? Tessie or the humans?!

18.07.15

There's something about the rain that makes me ever so grateful to be indoors. It's a pity about the 4 games of soccer the kid are involved in today. I've only got to attend one of them and even that one I'm hoping I can sit in the cart to watch. Grateful for a cosy warm house and the smell of baking, a car to get around in and a fire on the go...with lots of extra wood just under the carport roof: I don't even have to get wet to get it!

23.06.15

Planning for Term 3 - it's getting pretty collaborative around here! Grateful for a topic that I'm keen on: sciencey things all to do with adaptations!

22.06.15

Walking at Whatipu - a long black sandy beach, wetlands and caves - all with a strong wind howling: certainly makes for a breezy (and cold) walk. Grateful for a body that can walk miles and for warm clothing to wear - especially my beanie!