Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Saturday 31 January 2015

We all had a Summer Haircut

 

The boys next door have a new chum, another boy, and they all came home with “short back and sides” nice and cool these hot days.

Without further ado… Drum Roll!!!!!

My Breakfast, one blade of grass at a time

I was so close for this  next shot, about 18 inches from his face!!!

The Four of Us

 

Do you ever smile at the girl next door??

Alpaca Boy #1

Quotation of the day,  from Larry David

“Anyone can be confident with a full head of hair. But a confident bald man -

there's your diamond in the rough”

Greetings from Jean

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Heat Wave!! Heat Wave!!

 

We have had days of temperatures over 30 Celsius, too hot to be outside,  every window,and door is open, hoping for the slightest breeze to cool things down. A while ago I must have answered a home survey,  about home heating.Well, we have 2 wood fires, solar panels for hot water, and a chip heater also for hot water. It seems that I also entered “ Do you have air conditioning?”,…NO… So the lady  phoned, and asked how we cooled our home, I replied, open the doors and windows.Well, she said, their agent was in our area and she  would like him to call and give us all the details of their products that would cool our home.She felt this would be most beneficial.

I replied, “ my husband is seriously ill and we are not having any visitors at all right now”( Maybe a slight exaggeration, but the last words were correct)

She replied “ Tomorrow our agent is in your area and I would like to make an appointment”

NOW.. normally I am so polite,  considerate, compromising,and do not reply with strong words, but  would have just said  thank you,maybe another time, I was so angry that she didn’t listen, I said

“Didn’t you hear what I just said? My husband is seriously ill, we are not having any visitors, and I do not want your agent to call”

She replied , “Would you like me to make an appointment for another time”

NO THANK YOU, and please do not phone me again.

Joyce and Hugh laughed in the background, as this is so out of character for me!!! The agent for HRV did not call.

I needed to think of something cool/cold/ freezing, so the new header photo reminds me of our beautiful mountains and their winter snow.

This temperature was on Sunday 25th, ice cream blocks and cold drinks all round.

Temperature guage 33.3C  Jan 25th 2015

Our TV news is showing photos of the massive snow storm that will affect millions of people, disrupt air travel, close roads, schools, shops, businesses, and travel through at least  7  states in the North-East of US .

By the time many of you read this, conditions may have changed.

I hope you all stay safe, and keep warm

=====================================

Details below, courtesy of the Internet.

Forecasters say Winter Storm Juno could dump up to 76cm (30ins) in some parts of New Jersey, Maine and New Hampshire.

All non-emergency vehicles were banned in New York City from 23:00 on Monday (04:00 GMT Tuesday) and subway services were suspended. Similar measures were in place in Boston, Massachusetts.

Some 60 million people may be affected.

An emergency has been declared in the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Over 6,500 flights have been cancelled

=======================================

Down here in NZ,  remember we have a total land area about the same size  as Colorado, and a population of 4.47 million ( 3013 data), this is so hard to imagine.I dream of snow falling on our lawn, but realise the fairy wonderland in my mind can be a harsh reality when it happens like “Juno” right now.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“Politeness is the art of choosing your words carefully before you speak”

Greetings from Jean

Friday 23 January 2015

Did You Know #3

 

New Zealand is a small country,   268,021 km² , or    103,733 square miles , compared with Colorado, which is 269,837 km², and listed as the 8th largest  in US at 104,100 square miles.

Here we have rivers, lakes, mountains, snow,  long coastlines, tar-seal and gravel roads, sheep, cattle, pigs, deer,alpacas, and more.   In a day’s outing, we can see all of these.

The other day, we went for a short drive, and here are some of the views. I am linking up to    TexWisGirl  for the Good Fence link.

Barbed wire and battens

 

hydrangeas at the gate

This  old piece of machinery has no doubt many stories to tell, well worn, rusty, and there at the side of the road for all to see, reminisce, and enjoy.This was maybe towed by a pair of horses, with the farmer walking behind.imagine the miles they walked together.

Old Farm Machinery

Our days merge together, with medications, hospital visits, and I’m hopeful for a referral to a specialist at Wellington Hospital soon, This is because I rang a long time school friend from 1954, who is a retired orthopaedic surgeon  in Dunedin. He was the most helpful of all medical people for some time, and  with his reply phone call, we might finally see a surgeon who specialise in spinal problems.

The mountains in the South Island had a sprinkle of snow last week, here we have had a few cool mornings, some heavy dew, leaves are falling, the lawn is dry and brown, the vege garden is prolific, beans, cauliflowers, courgettes, lettuce, radish,chives, parsley, carrots, and then there are the strawberries, plums, apples still ripening, feijoa bushes in flower and  with tiny fruit, and the hose is in use every day.

Quotation of the day, by H Jackson Brown, Jr.,

“Remember that creating a successful marriage is like

farming: you have to start over again every morning”

Greetings from Jean

Sunday 11 January 2015

Did You Know??? #2

 

Air Canada (TSX: AC) is the flag carrier and largest airline of Canada. The airline, founded in 1936, provides scheduled and charter air transport for passengers and cargo to 178 destinations worldwide. The corporate headquarters are located in Montreal, Quebec, while its largest hub is Toronto Pearson International

Airport, located in Mississauga, Ontario.

The Fleet includes Boeing, from the 777, the Airbus and Embraer, a total of 205, then come the Bombardier and Beechcraft, total of 164, and finally Air Canada Rouge, with Boeing 767, and Airbus 319, total of 28.Flight routes go all over the world.

All above courtesy of Internet.

Jennifer,

if I have misquoted any details, please correct me

Air Canada #2

Air Canada

My travel is a dream, and the reality is that I probably will not be able to  come and visit, but a dream is so worthwhile to have and hold.

A flight from NZ to Vancouver would go  from Auckland, via Sydney, Australia, and travel time a total of about 22 hours. In NZ Dollars, from $2000, upwards, depending on the class of comfort chosen.

Onto more mundane things, we have hot days, about 27Celsius, overnight cooler, the grass is drying off, cracks in the ground, farmers are so worried, water shortages might be happening, so far we can  use unlimited water  for the lawns and gardens.

The NZMTB races are at Wanaka this weekend, the Downhill was yesterday, the Cross Country at Snow Park, Wanaka,  today.  Go well today, Josh, wish  we there there to watch.

Photo below,courtesy of Internet, one small part of the track for today!!! I hear the uphill parts are so steep, gear changes have been made!!!

XC track at Snow Park, Wanaka

Photo, courtesy Nick Lambert Photography, Josh at Tokoroa in 2014.

Josh at Tokoroa, credit Nick Lambert Photographer

Some Family photos from the Calendar, a Christmas Gift for Hugh

Josh, after a MTB Race

Josh after a MTB Race

Danielle riding “ Fire”, over the jump, and with ribbons

Danielle  over the jump

Danielle with Fire and their ribbons

Annette and Mike at a business evening event.annette and MIke

 

Thank you all so much for Hugh’s birthday wishes, we had a day out, lunch at a lovely cafe, and he will probably spend all that cash on Tuesday!!! Maybe the best part is thinking of the choices.

Quotation of the day from Eleanor Roosevelt

“ The Future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams”

Greetings from Jean

Saturday 10 January 2015

Did You Know???

 

When I come to visit my friends in Canada, after I arrive,  I will fly by “ First Air”. I made this decision after I read an article in “ The Dominion Post” our Wellington publication. When they fly as far as Resolute Bay the 3kg tracking system must be a great reassurance to pilots and passengers.

All words and photos courtesy of the Internet.

Resolute Bay routes

 

DHC6 Twin Otter

First Air  Hercules

 

L382G Hercules

L382 HerculesFirst Air operates the only two civilian owned and operated Hercules aircraft in Canada. Gravel and ice strip equipped, the Hercules is suitable for landing “on site” at mining and exploration locations.  Using its aft loading ramp and door, the Hercules aircraft can accommodate a wide variety of heavy and oversized cargo, such as: helicopters, fire trucks, vehicles, oversize construction equipment and bulk fuel.

While attention is paid to aircraft tracking systems following the disappearance of two passenger jets, a Canadian airline’s planes are outfitted with a system that makes them nearly impossible to disappear.

First Air’s entire fleet is protected by a 6lb electronic tracking system that activates when something goes wrong while a plane is in the air.

The hardware is the size of a hotel safe and helps to pinpoint an aircraft’s location during an emergency situation.

All the above, courtesy of the internet.

==============================================

Today is Hugh’s Birthday. not a party but out to lunch, some gifts, phone calls and that lovely cash in an envelope, so he can choose his own goodies.This is what I wanted to get, but they are not made or sold in NZ, well, not anywhere near us, so will ask our friend who  I am sure will make one, “made-to-measure” , photo  below courtesy of Internet.

popmech-grill-cart

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“On your birthday, you do not need fancy wrapping

paper for the love and wishes coming your way”

Greetings from Jean

Saturday 3 January 2015

The Last and the First

 

The last day of 2014 gave a beautiful sunrise, heralding in a day of fine weather, warm sunshine, and many New Year Greetings all round.

No celebrations here, no staying up till midnight, no ringing of the bells, a few fireworks in the distance, and next thing, 2015 has arrived.

I wish you all ….  happiness in whatever you do, with family, and everyone who lives with you , your horses, dogs, cats and birds, not to forget  the deer or turtles,  and continued friendship with each-other, as we share so much together.

I am so thankful for all your care,love and messages across the oceans,  as this year starts with new medications for Hugh, with the hope that the pain is less, and a  new  Doctor may see it all with  fresh eyes and ears.

Sunrise views from the back lawn, 31st December 2014

Early morning, December 31st , 2014, #1

Early morning, December 31st ,  #2

Early morning, December 31st , #3

Flowers in bloom, January 3rd, 2015

White Gladiolus 2015

 

Blue Hydrangea 2015 #2

Pink Water Lily 2015

Quotation of the day, from Sai Baba

 

Life is a song - sing it. Life is a game - play it.

Life is a challenge - meet it.

Life is a dream - realize it.

Life is a sacrifice - offer it. Life is love - enjoy it.

Greetings  from Jean