Scenes from the North and South Island

 

Some photos from the family album, after their trip to the South Island in 2011.

This is how it began, rough  water in the Cook Straight.

Lake Wanaka, a beautiful area. This appears to be propped up, in fact you can rotate it , by a hand worked crank

 

Punakaiki Pancake  Rocks and Blowholes , on the West Coast, Spectacular on a high tide when there is a westerly swell coming in.

The Kea ,  in the South Island, is  well known to be social, inquisitive, and will try to take your belongings if they are left out.

 

I am not sure which lake this is, but popular for Ice Skating when totally solid ice.

Finally  two  of my own photos,  the first taken in July 2004, Mt Ngauruhoe, an active  stratovolcano or composite cone.It is  2291 metres high ( 7156 feet), and has had activity  45 times in the 20th Century. It is around 2,500 years old, the youngest  of the three volcanoes in the Tongariro National Park.

This is the view from Waihohonu Hut, we did a one day tramp there in January, 2012

Quotation of the day from John Muir

“ Climb the mountains and get their good tidings”

Greetings from Jean

HELP !!!!!

 

 

I changed my blog design, title font, layout, didn’t like it so altered it again,  and guess what…

My reader list has gone, everything else has gone , gone , gone!!! I have looked at Weebly, is that better??

I still have my list, but only a few are there, where did they go? Is this the new  Blogger reader removal starting early, or did I do something totally wrong? Any help will be so appreciated.

I don’t like my new layout  either.So that will need to be changed, is there an easy way I can go back to the old layout???

We have frost. – 0.9  Celsius , sunshine shining through the trees.

This was taken in July, 2012, our front lawn.

 

Quotation of the day,

“ Beware of the unknown, it will happen unannounced”

Greetings from Jean

Our Place, Sunshine and Snow

Takapari Road, Ruahine  Range , August 2011, This was as far as the quad bike could go.

Snow fell at our place on August 15th, 2011, the first time in decades. Like fairy-wonderland, we woke at 5 a.m. to silence, and snowflakes slowly falling. Careful not to walk on the lawn area, leaving the whiteness alone, Hugh  took  photos from the  front driveway. I took the photo of the table at about 5 a.m.

 

Hugh walked up the drive to capture this one. The snow did not last long, and after another fall that night, it was almost all gone the next day. However ,the previous  photos were taken in the Ruahine Range, about 1200 metres asl. , where the snow lasted for many days.

This was taken at almost the same spot, earlier this year.

I grew up in South Auckland, in a farming area at TeHihi. I didn’t see snow at all until  I was  27. We drove to Mt Ruapehu, and I marvelled at the wonder , but for all my friends in the Northern Hemisphere, when it lasts for months, so deep, freezing cold every day, it would not be so attractive at all. Pretty when white, not so good when it turns to mush and slush .

Quotation of the day,  from Ralph Waldo Emerson

“ The years teach much which the days never know”

Greetings from Jean

Yesterday’s Photos

 

A  few more from yesterday, out and about.

Photo courtesy of the internet, on the way to work  near  Dunedin,South Island.

This was taken in August 2010. the one below from almost the same spot, yesterday May 28th 2013.

 

Finally, a Bearded Iris from our garden, a few years ago. A reminder that after winter, these will flower in their beautiful colours again.

Quotation of the day, from Rudyard Kipling

“Flowers are not made by singing “ Oh , how beautiful ”

and sitting in the shade”

Greetings from Jean

Snowflakes Fell Down South

 

Real life photos , as it happened on the farm down south today .

 

 

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ Snowmen fall from the sky, unassembled, then they sit  for a while,

till they melt  and fall onto the frozen ground”

Greetings from Jean

I stayed Home!!

 

The two men had a wonderful time at Piropiro this year, some thrills, some spills, lots of mud,slush, and tracks that were  narrow, difficult, and scary!! This is from  Hugh’s  Gopro Video camera, so has wider borders. Edited from a total of over 4 hours of film.

This  morning  the full moon slowly dipped behind the elm tree, signifying planting time. See Leanne’s blog for all the gen on when to plant and more.               Leanne's blog

One of our trees has these small cones, this one shone in the sunlight.

The bridge over the Clutha River at Alexandra, Otago.

 

Weather details from Metservice, courtesy of the Internet.

Central Otago region forecast

Alexandra Temperature

Today

Scattered showers, falling as snow above 300 metres at first, but turning to snow at all levels this evening. Cold gusty southwesterlies.

Issued: 3:19am 27 May

5°C  High-5°C  Overnight

Tomorrow

Scattered showers, with snow down to 200 metres at first, clearing in the afternoon. Cold southwesterlies easing.

Issued: 3:19am 27 May

3°C  High-3°C  Overnight

Wednesday 29

Fine, with morning frosts. Light winds.

Issued: 11:53pm 26 May

8°C  High-4°C  Overnight

Will we be stocking up on Merino clothing, warm boots, hats and scarves??? I have  heard it is a “dry cold” and does not feel as cold as the same temperatures up here.

One of the country roads in Otago, after days of heavy snowfalls. Even the 4WD vehicles were not able to get through the deep drifts, tractors to the rescue.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

Snow falling, silence early in the morning, whiteness everywhere”

Greetings from Jean

Autumn in its Glorious Colours

 

Leaves are golden, yellow and brown, falling to the ground with each gust of wind. Soon branches will be bare. Bulbs are showing signs of green leaves, the Camellia,  and the Rhododendron still have flowers blooming. The Horse Chestnut  Tree, ornamental fruit only, is golden in the sunshine. Snow will fall in the far south tonight.

  

One bulb, unknown, beautiful pale pink blooms.

Sunlight on the grass under the trees,maybe a few years yet until they are cut down for firewood.

Camellia Flower, surviving in the wind and rain.

The Alstroemeria still flowers, the dark red one has finished for the season.

These bulbs are growing taller each day,  maybe they are Freesias, waiting for a few months till the delicate, scented flowers will show.

Quotation from Helen Keller,

dedicated to Gary and his beloved Boomer.

“What we have enjoyed, we can never lose…

all that we love deeply becomes a part of us”

Greetings from Jean

I am entitled to Brag, Installment #2

 

Danielle is our #1 Granddaughter, and here are some pics of her, from some years ago to right now, in 2013.

Today is “ Teachers’ Day Only” , so I hear you are off with a friend to the Gym, to practise cheerleading! !!! Have a great day, I’m so proud of you and all you can do.

At our home, in 2005

At Blue Lake, Rotorua, 2008

On her horse at Lake Rotorua, 2013,  photo courtesy Annette

Ditto, another horse, another place, 2013. Another new skill you have achieved with much hard work, practise and days out in all weather.

Quotation of the day, by Dwight D. Eisenhower

“ Accomplishments will prove to be a journey, not a destination”

Greetings from Jean

I am entitled to Brag, Installment #1

 

At the weekend our grandson was in the  Cateye Moonride 6 hour race at Rotorua.Their 3 person team, Connor, Lewis and Josh,  came 1st overall  in the 6 hour team race, and 1st in the junior 6 hour. Gold medals. WOW.. The track was very muddy and deteriorated as the day went on . This year it was held at  Waipa Mountain Bike Area, Rotorua. Photos from Annette’s phone/camera.

Danielle’s photos will be here tomorrow.

Clean gear at the start of the day

 

Mud and slush added to the excitement

Gold medal time. Winning team in 6 hour event.

Congratulations, Josh. Last year I was there to watch the race, this year photos tell a great tale.

Quotation of the day from Rishika Jain

“ In the race of life don’t  waste your energy and time

trying to compare with others;

Sometimes you are ahead, sometimes behind,

the race is long, and in the end it’s only with yourself.”

Greetings from Jean

Guess where We Went Today??

 

The  day out, some outlet shopping at Otaki, further on to Papaparaumu, then a visit to a special friend on the way home. Where?? You will have to find out with photo clues!!! Hover your mouse over each photo for details.

Clue#1        Molly

Clue #2      Geese ready to find their new home

Clue #3  One lovely girl who might have twins this year

Clue #4 The paddock , perfect for the jeep  thrills on the hill

Clue #5         James’  Gate

Did you solve the puzzle? Clues also at one of the blogs on my side-bar.

Yes, we met Leanne  and  Abbey at Mandaburms, James we met earlier this year.

This was definitely the best part of my whole week.  I hope they will visit us up here soon.

Quotation of the day ,  from Donna Roberts

“ A friend knows the song in my heart,

and sings it to me when my memory fails”

Greetings from Jean

Anonymous Comments

 

To all the people who leave an  “ Anonymous” comment,please stop these comments. Believe me, I am not interested in any of the following…..

Viagra, Haemorrhoid cream,  LV Handbags, exercises,  help with your blog, help with my own blog,  leaving you a comment in return, or  visiting any of the  frivolous, crazy or disgusting sites  you might be coming from.

The comments vary from…...” Your  blog with some tweaks would make  my  blog stand out!!!”     “I visit  your blog every weekend for enjoyment,”      “You would benefit from my products, contact me for details”

“Will you tell me how to set up my blog so more people read it? You have lots of readers” . “Do you want more people to read your blog? I can make this happen”

Look at the steam coming from my ears, this is what happens  when I open my inbox, and there are more anonymous comments than ones from my friends . Comment moderation will continue . Your anonymous comment will not be published.                      

Clip art courtesy of the internet.

 

We have had some rain, grey clouds, a little blue sky, and the fires are both going right now. Comfort in the cheery red blaze in the firebox, warmth,and some photos from Hugh’s week away in Pureora Forest Park, staying with Bruce in his bus.

A foggy morning,  frost on  the ground, no doubt the fire was going to keep them cosy while having breakfast.

The campsite taken from the top of the hill.I understand that it was called “ bush-bashing” as they made their way through thick scrub, gorse and blackberry to the vantage point.On their quads, naturally, way too hard for “foot-slogging”.

Bruce, the intrepid, fearless man,  you are guaranteed lots of fun when you go out with him  on  the forest tracks. They rode together, one following the other, thrills and some spills, I have not seen the video or heard the language yet, but understand it will need severe editing!! Lots of bruises, but no broken bones!!I’m glad I stayed home.

 

The top of the hill does not look very high, but it is a real hard climb through scrub and bush, not a real track at all. Well done, Bruce and Hugh, I am sure the trail you forged will be well used by many  others, thankful for your hard work.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ The only job where you start at the top is when you dig a hole”

Greetings from Jean