26.04.15

Look the autumn's coming!
Grateful for the lovely summer we've had but a little sad that the weather is changing!

25.04.15

Norm turns 50 - so glad today to have a lunch to celebrate Norm's return and of course, his 50th. Glad to have have had friends to be able to invite and with all their bits and pieces we had and absolute feast. Happy Birthday Norm!

Grateful for being married to this lovely man and sharing more than half my life with him. Also, for him being back after a 7 week Italian stint!

23.04.15

ANZAC dawn service at Stockad Hill.
Always a moving and special time as we remember the men and women who fought for the freedoms we have in NZ today. It wasn't too cold and despite feeling full of cold myself (and headed home straight to bed) it was a moving service.
Grateful for a sense of belonging in Howick and feeling part of the community and its events. Feeling at home. (not sure why pics gone upside down!!!)

22.04.15

well - we finally managed a photograph of our whole Area 1 team...even with Amanda. Thanks to Janine's puppy B Mac (Short for Brendon McCullum). Now at least I have a pic for our Area 1 magazine page! Am just reflecting on how much more a group we're beginning to feel - we seem to have stopped seeing each other as the enemy and are actually working OK together. Only took one term...I wonder how things will pan out later in the year?
Grateful for a supportive team..finally!

19.04.15

Last day of the holidays and what a great walk Catherine, Mitch, Ben, Tessi and I had to Harker falls at Onewhero. Somewhat muddy but just in lovely bush and some farm land... I do like it out that way - ever so peaceful and rural.
Grateful for beautiful places to walk and time to prepare for the term ahead.

18.04.15

Oh dera - not ab good moment in our day - we came home form a lovely game of squash to see Tessie had got into all Rachel's sailing gear: 2 boot zips gone; 1 catch on  alife jacket and this arm ripped out on her sailing jacket. She was not a happy chick and Tessie was int he dog box.
Grateful for squash and being able to give Ben a bit of a run around. Not so grateful for our puppy tonight!

17.04.15

Walking with Senta and Ben down to Mellon's Bay beach. Just the most lovely lichen en route.  So detailed and just so much of it. Way to pretty to walk past and not record.
Grateful for a body that can walk (even if it doesn't like the hills so much any more), friends to walk with and family who appreciate my need to spend time with them.

16.04.15

Yay - got the amamagraphs done and are really pleased with them!!!! here's hoping the kids are as chuffed...and Amanda!

15.04.15

How I spend my holidays! Turning kid's art work into creations! This time its amanographs. This is the gluing bit - next comes the folding and then trying to get it all to stick to give 2 different pics from 2 different angles. All good fun and I'm hoping some of them will look stunning for the beginning of term! The ones with stronger colours are definitely the better ones! Grateful for inspirational ideas - this time from Meghan Wood!

11.04.15

Rachel turns 17.
It started out with family presents; waffles made by Matt; a day with Matt at Kelly Tarltons; dinner at Genghis Khan with a 6 friends and then flowers on Pigeon Mountain Hill with Matt. (Not quite sure what else happened there!!!!).
Rachel has beamed throughout the day and it's been wonderful seeing her so happy.
Lots of love Rachel on this happy day.
 

12.04.15

Freedom Writing journal

Zebra gumboots

Once upon a time I had a pair of zebra gumboots...in fact I still have a pair of zebra gumboots but they have quite a story to tell!

They were bought from the good old  'Warehouse - where everyone gets a bargain' and bargain they were, I thought, for I bought a second pair (spotty ones) but that's another story.

These zebra gumboots have been my defense against bee stings when I've raided my hive; my feet tucked safely inside. No green grass stains have ever spoiled my clean-soled feet after mowing the lawns as the zebra gumboots have walked in grass stains for me. I've never had to worry about mud squelching between my toes after a heavy downpour as I've hurried outside to feed the chooks; the boots have born the muddy brunt for me. Huddled in my down jacket watching Sam, Ben and Rachel play soccer, I've had warm dry toes - because: you've guessed it: my zebra gumboots are hugging my feet tight and dry. In fact I'd say they were closer to my feet than a Dulux paint coat on the light house we always see advertised on TV.

Then we got Tess. 

Now, don't get me wrong I love Tess but she has created a few upsets in our house and one of the first issues I had to deal with was her endless energy poured out on my zebra gumboots. How she loved these. Day after day I would retrieve a  soggy gumboot from the front lawn; sometimes even out of a hole she'd tried to dig to bury it in. Out one of them would come, looking ever so dirty and bedraggled.

Slowly she worked the black clasps off the side, until even the strap holding the clasps lay strewn across the lawn.

Final insult however was kept for  the left foot when one day it was slit open from top to toe. The pink inner lining was shredded as far as her teeth could wrench the pieces out and it was abandoned on the front door step.

I've lovingly taped the left boot together with tape. I still wear them and each night I store them high up on a shelf, away from Tessie's teeth. I'm not sure however they'll be up to the formidable tasks facing them this winter of keeping my feet dry at soccer games, so it may be time to head back to the Warehouse for another pair of zebra gumboots. (I wonder if they'll still be a bargain?)

What have you had that's been destroyed by one of your household pets?

10.04.2015

Dad scored big points today with the arrival of flowers fro

m him for Rachel's 17th birthday tomorrow. She was sooo chuffed and I'm delighted she was home to receive them. Such a  pity he's not here to celebrate with us but I'm sure he feels the loss too.
Grateful today for lunch with Caro and Lesley, checking out Caro's new home in Onewhero. What a  great outing. Has really re-ignited so many of the desires I have to move out of the rat race - not sure about Onewhero though...I think I'd need some way of earning a living off the land and bring people to me...camp site?!!!!

07.04.2015

With daylight saving having taken place this past weekend, I'm still caught off guard about how early I'm waking up but also how early it gets dark in the evenings. I had anticipated taking Tessie to the becah for a run but it was way too darjk. Instead we alked through howick and I came across tis lovely window display in the optician's shop. All ready for Anzac but it was beautifully done.

Grateful for the sacrifice of people in the past who have enabled me to have the freedoms I have now; despite the large cost to many of them and their families.

06.04.2015

One of those great walks - came up through the cycle track in the bush at Macleans reserve. This tui was so close, singing loudly and with the sun shining on its coat was bright blue. I felt it was a treat just for me!
Grateful for living so close to open spaces to walk Tessie - with wildlife!

05.04.15

2 posts today: one of the lunar eclipse that I saw the start of last night and then of course Easter sunrise. feeling grateful for the chance to see the dawn break at the time we were on Stockade hill sharing the triumph of Jesus' resurrection from death .
Grateful for my faith and a Saviour who loves me dearly; the opportunity to worship intredenominationally - that's more and nmore important to show our unity as one faith and also for great natural events that we can glimpse it. Like an eclipse. (Not that I had a good night's sleep because of it!!!)
Also pleased to have had  along Skype chat with Mike and family - loved the chance to connect for the first time this year. Special.

03.04.15

Another walk - this time along the Cascades walk way. Brutus was the name of this lab - a very overweight 1 year old but he loved Tessie dearly and they had a great cuddle, if not a snog!

Grateful for time to myself to potter and read a good book, without having to justify it!

04.04.2015

Walking with Tessie - the Massey-Cossey track out at the Hunuas. Just lovley to be able to take a dog out into these wonderful places. She was somewhat spooked by a lot of the narrow tracks and a couple of men with walking sticks caused her to turn tail...but oberall she was just wonderful.
A great 2 hour walk (done way quicker than the 3 hours the board said!)
Grateful for wonderful weather and a dog for company!

 One day I will find a piece of ponga to make coasters out of!

A low Cosseys Dam from the lookout