31.01.15

Last day of January 2015 and one of our last family days for the summer holidays. A lovely evening spent enjoying a lamb roast and a game of Gumption. of course, there was the usual cheating and a dersire to 'end it quick' by some family members...Dare I say i won (again) although Sam's adamant he did, as he did a trade as I was paying my money. Cheaters!!!
Then of course Ben couldn't decide on which box of chocolateto eat so he brought all 4 through and somehow more than one got oppened. Not sure how to gett hese kids t listen anymore! A lovely family tome whcih feeds my soul.

I'm grateful for a summer with all 3 kids at home; being part of a family and having the specific family I ahve - tey are truly special and I'll miss Sam when he heads back on Tuesdasy - even though I know he needs to go to fulfill his own destiny and the purposes for which he was placed on earth at this time.

30.01.15

Strange - thought I had takena  picture of something else! Still this one encapsulates our work for the week: a week of planning and getting reday for school on Monday. It';s been a week where we've had to go from scratch in terms of getting to know one another, decide on a topic, how to set up the area, how to use teh space and still get along. So this board represents a LOT of discussion, listening, negotiation and working it out...a good place to be for starting the new week off.

Today I'm grateful for a job; the prospect of a new year of teaching and Tak Bhan'a talk on leadership at church tonight. A really honest look at Leadership - the highs and lows of it in his own life and how it's turning out. reassuring that we will be left with 'Mysteries' - put them in a box and don't let them convert to bitterness...God will explain - in his time which may of course be on the other side but don't let the experiences ruin what God can do ow. Very true words in deed.

29.01.15

It's very rare for me to post pics of food - but this is a special one: dinner cooked by Rachel and Ben with no whingeing, juts did it and it was delicious. How I'm loving having teenage kids who can help out (eve if a bit of encouragement is needed at times!)
Grateful for my kids and dinners that are cooked and served to me. I'll happily wash up on these evenings!

28.01.15

This is one cat with a sense of humour! Ben spent a few days building his puppy a kennel - firts person in was Roxy the cat and she hasn't left since. All very funny - bt she is the boss.
Grateful today for a fascinating day of PD - looking at brain development and what happens when the stress response is stimulated. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made.

27.01.15

Tessie is just the coolest dog out. She's fun, the right size, trainable and has this incredible zest for life that means she never seems to want to stop. Our garden is pretty destroyed, she gves the chooks a hard time; she has chewed her way through a multitude of things but gish she's a cool dog.
Grateful for pets and the joy they bring to our lives: chooks, fish, Tess and Roxy!

26.0.15

Today's 'All things bright and beautiful' post is the beginnings of my stumpery. Having seen the idea a few years ago on a Grand Designs TV show, I've longed to have one. By chopping down the half dead tree at the front fence we had stumps to use. These are now in place and with the trails the chooks have made, the ground has been pretty flattened do we shouldn't be squishing too many plants. Now to work out how to use it to the best way of creating a lovely flower bed. It's so exciting!

Today I'm grateful for Auckland Anniversary Day meaning we have a public holiday so  Norm was home. We had  a wonderful cycle ride to the very end of the Rotary walk way; then a walk with Tess and Ben through the Point View reserve (it was very hilly and hot!) and then time to work in our garden. i;m pooped but its a good feeling and we'll finish the job tomorrow.

25.01.15

  

Bee time and wow what a haul. We skipped church this morning just to work while it was still slightly cooler and we have never ahd somuch homney before. Top super was light coloured and very runny honey - very easy to strain; lower super was darker and a lot harder to strain through the colinder. Bees worked well with us and hive looked healthy although I wuld like to have seen more brood being laid - it was a little patchy and not as much as I'd thought there's be.

Today I'm grateful for the miracle of taking time to marvel at how nature works - from nectar we get honey. It's the most incredible process and yet its all done by a bee smaller that one of my finger nails. Truly its a marvelous world. Thank you Lord. I'm also grateful Norm didn't get stung (first time ever) and for time to have to do it together.

24.01.15

Dinner at the Brodericks - a chance to meet new people; have some earnest church discussions, enjoy excellent food and good company. These balls o the ciffee table remind me of Adrica - they're natural, made of wood and rustic. A greta reminder of the nature around us. how do they get them so smooth and polished?
Grateful for weekend, friendships - old, new and those developing; safe driving for Rachel on her road trip, afternoon sleeps (just 'cos I can) and the peacefulness of home. It still feels a privilege to have our space again. Oh and sorting out cupboards and ditching things no longer needed - a privilege to be able to pass on and de-clutter.

23.0.15

Yip it's a bit out of focus but I'm not able to go back and redo it! Had  a great bike ride Bucklands Beach through to Eastern and then home (despite sore bottom, burning muscles and feeling very fat and unfit!) Believe it or not this was  new moon and with the flash on Norm's phone it's come out as a full moon.

Grateful today for being able to go and watch Ben's soccer game at the end of his weeks goalie coaching; fabulous service at Pak and Save at Sylvia Park and relaxing with Norm - with no fear of judgement, sprawled out on couch watching a romcom (The Ugly Truth)...oh it feels soooo good!

22.01.15

I have to smile at today's pics - they show the measures we've gone to to try and eliminate flies form our home. Norm, scoffing at all Grapevine suggestions has a lethal solution to end it - his vaccum cleaner contraption. he takes great delight in huntingt hem down and cornering them!
Today I'm grateful for the pleasure of having my home all to myself for the first time in 2 months. What a luxury to just enjoy doing my own thing without including/explaining or talking to anyone else...Bliss!

21.01.15

20.01.15

 

Today was one of those tricky 'last days' but I was ever so grateful that Sam was released from work as he has the ability to make light of things...off we went to the Botanical gardens with Tess in tow. They were looking lovely and Tess had a great run around. A good way to take the pressure off it being the last day! I did have to smile as dad would never have sat on a  bench with a statue at the beginning of his trip - he has 'grown'!!!

19.01.15

 

One of those choice family photos - celebrating mum and dad's visit; Norm and my 50ths and just a wonderful summer. Great food in a lovely setting at the Windross in Cockle Bay...forget about the bank account for a while though; and the pose Sams pulling!~!!

Today I'm grateful for being able to help others: making a  meal for the Worsfolds; glorious summer weather; Ben enjoying is goalie course; time with Sam who wasn't working today an subsequently full of grief ...and swimming this evening in the sea after Norm got home from work. It was gloriously refreshing.

18.01.15

The weather has been truly magnificent, yet again today. We popped down to Cockle Bay for a picnic lunch and a swim. Sam enjoyed Eskimo rolling in is new kayak. He really has the technique down pat! It was fun watching him explain to Norm and Ben how to do it.
Today I'm grateful for a lovely church service with a message about healing the roots of our behavior patterns; family all together, sunshine, uncrowded beaches, warm water to swim in, cool evening breeze for a dog walk and watching the immense satisfaction Sam gets from his kayak and other gear.

17.01.15

Wow - our shower is truly bright and beautiful today. Norm's done a fantastic job cleaning it.
I'm truly grateful for a hubby who does some of the jobs I hate doing.

16.01.15

Finally 3rd magnoli tree in place along the front fence. Thanks to Norm for picking over the hard ground anddad planting it. The three are going to be beautiful in a few years time.
Today I'm grateful for men to help me dig big holes, a garden I can plant in and just the way nature grows and gives us such beauty.

15.01.15

Finally - today was the day we were able to find some Lewis Chocolate milk on the Countdown shelves. We bought 6 and that was our dessert this evening. Yip - tasted good: granny and grandpa seemed unimpressed and I got to thinking about how marketing shapes our purchases. Because we knew how hard it was to obtain this cholcolate milk we valued it more than they did, who felt it was fairly average.
How sad!!!
Grateful today for Lewis Chocolate milk (a perfect marriage of chocolate and milk!), new plants to put into the garden and a way of seeming to reduce the flies in the house; keeping the sliding door shut in the afternoons!

14.01.15

What a wonderful day over on Motuihe Island - went there courtesy of Nautigal...blue skies, mirror ocean and sun sun sun! Now that the island is predator free, birds are able to breed successfully. These 2 Rock Oyster chicks greeted us just next to the wharf. Fabulous to see.
Grateful today for volunteers that work so hard to  clear and plant up islands like Motuihe so we can release endangered birds there and help them survive; for seeing a saddle back (extinct on NZ mainland) but a few breeding pairs have been released on Motuihe; Norm being on holiday to help facilitate us getting over there with boats etc; Sam's return to faith after this Scripture Union camp and Rachel's great results: Excellence for English!!! Thanks Lord: lots to be grateful for.

13.01.15

I spent the better part of today driving Rachel up to Dargaville for the great re-uniting with Matt Broderick who she hasn't seen for "31 days"! spent about 6 hours in the car with horrendous traffic around the harbour bridge - and then got 2 great big rocks chipping the windscreen. it did make me wonder why I hadn't continued with my original idea of putting her on a  us in the first place!
Dargaville is teh capital of kumara growing here in NZ - rachel was tickled by this sign as to whether we got our kumaras!
Today I'm grateful for safe driving; a lovely first boyfriend for Rachel and time to spend driving miles! Also for a husband who gets the edges trimmed, lawns mowed (with Grandad's help) a kennel built and Sam's oil leak in his car looked at!

12.01.15

What more could Ben possibly want after a holiday away but to snuggle up with his beloved Tess? Looks like she's had a manic holiday at Jo's with lots of doggy friends and now needs to calm back down to our home and our ways.
It's lovely being home: cooking in my own kitchen, having all my own utensils to use, knowing how things work; knowing the state of cleanliness of everything; having my own bed; catching up and thanking neighbors for looking after our home while we've been away...it's good to be home after a good holiday!

11.01.15

Oh dear - I quite forgot to take a photo today...that's not good! Will have to make up for it with 2 in the next few days!
Today I'm grateful for being able to attend a church service at the cardboard cathedral in Christchurch and worship God in a  way that is a little unusual to Eastgate's ways. A lovely cathedral - great acoustics and a real sense of the reverence of God

10.01.15

One of the things I had been anticipating all day on our drive back from Fox Glacier to Christchurch was  a bowl of fresh raspberries and cream at the Iron's (freshly picked from their garden,of course). How I love picking them and eating them the same 5minutes! Sadly the neighbours had helped themselves (or Geoffry!) -which they were quite entitled to do of course, but I still managed to find a few hidden ones behind leaves...they were every bit as delicious as I had anticipated!
Today I'm grateful for laughter at outrageous things - we stopped at the Bushman's Lodge, outside of Ross on the West Coast and read some very non PC comments about absaloutely everything before having a coffee and the most delicious fruit scone....e.g.In the past a vegetarian was a term for a piss poor hunter!!! etc

9.01.15

 

Gillespie beach, 20kms from Fox Township . Stumps deluxe to choose from for my stumpery...hmmm how to get them back home?!

today I'm grateful for a chance to gaze upon both Fox and Frans Joseph Glaciers. Looking at the amount they have retreated, I'm not sure how much longer they will be with us for. Even in the 20years since we last saw them they are very reduced. My challenge is what am I doing to reduce Global warming and help reduce the warming effects on our planet?

6.01.15

Aren't I just the luckiest to be married to this handsome hunk!. Traveling from Invercargill to Queenstown. This is at the far end of Lake Wakatipu heading towards Queenstown.
I'm grateful for marriage and finding someone as wonderful as Norm to have in my life and journey together.

8.01.15

Driving from Arrowtown to Fox Glacier we stopped off at the Blue Pools - glorious blue coloured icy cold pools and a beach full of stones. I created and added my own face tower to the many stone towers on the rocky beach.
Today I''m grateful for not having as stiff a neck as I have had and the chance to continue sightseeing trough our wonderful country.

7.01.15

Spent the day at Arrowtown just walking along the river. It was the first day in 2weeks we didn't climb in the car and it was lovely to walk along (and in) the river. I love Arrowtown. One thing that I was struck by was the wide range of pine cones that were around - look at these differences.

Today I'm grateful for lovely crisp white clean sheets, a comfy bed and time just to walk in beautiful surrounds with my family. Thank you Lord!.

5.01.15

 

After we dropped mum and dad at Milford Sound  for their overnight cruise,we headed off to Te Anau for a Glow work tour. This was the wake from the back of the boat as we went off to the island. It was a glorious evening and I felt privileged to be off to see something that was made special. little glowworms hanging strands of mucousy material juts to catch an insect...what a life!

4.01.2015

 

Nothing special caught my eye today but with that in mind, I realise that I am surrounded by some fantastic things all the time. Today's photo is of the Cathedral Caves in the Caitlins. They are truly spectacular and a privilage to see during low tide. I got wet trying to get around to the smaller caves and watched Norm navigate his way around the most enormous sea lion I have ever seen...all to try and find a Geo-cache!
I'm thankful he made it back safely and would REALLY miss him if he wasn't in my life. I'm a lucky woman to be married to him.

3.01.2015

 

 

Today's brightness was definitely a smelly one - the glorious smell of 900 roses  in Invercargill Queen's Park. Before even seeing them one could smell them. They were heavenly and a reminder  have 5 senses with which to identify things bright and beautiful. How could I not include my bright and beautiful daughter: what a treasure she is to me!

In the light of the news about Jordan's set back, I'm grateful for being surrounded by family and good health.

2.01.2015

 

Photo today taken n the Caitlin's on the way to a lighthouse. Lots of wildlife to see on the rocks below but I chose these white flowers because of the way the wildlife supports each other. The windswept succulent type of trees have no flowers of their own but are made beautiful by the white flowers which need their strong stems for support. Both are valuable even if the one is more easily seen and stands out. 

Let me never underestimate the value of being a strong branch to support other's growth.

Today I'm grateful for wild scenery, dreams and ideas for the year ahead.

1.1.2015

All Things Bright and Beautiful

January

1.1.2015

Today begins my e-diary: all things bright and beautiful. It is intended for me and will be a reflection of my thoughts as I go through 2015.
My first photo is taken at Port Chalmers outside of Dunedin. I was struck by the different perspectives sunlight brings. Blocking the sun elicits a dull-lifeless shell but when the sun shines fully then it is transformed to something twinkly and eye catching. From which perspective do I choose to view this year?
Even whicle taking the photo I had a choice: to be upset by the 2 foxies that jumped enthusiastically on my prepared site - fortunately teh sun was shining and tehre was lots more beach!
today I'm grateful for sunshine, holidays to new places and the chance to start a new year and think about how I want to live this year,