Cooking

The good night's sleep motivated me today I got a Corned Beef and cabbage dinner prepared for the crock-pot for our supper and Sheila made Curried Pumpkin and Mushroom Soup. We really enjoyed that for our lunch.
I did a laundry of dark things this morning and before I could get them on the line it was raining, so they hang in the laundry room. No electric dryer in this house!
It is sunny now but cooler than the past couple of days but I couldn't be bothered hanging them out because the sun disappears behind the hills about 3PM.

Tomorrow is Mom's birthday it is hard to think she is going to be 89. I'll be giving her a call to help celebrate, but I will do it on Monday here.

I attempted to fix my handle on my suitcase which was broken on the Transpacific flight but ended up taping it with duct tape so the handlers wouldn't be tempted to use it. And that will stop it from flapping when I am pulling it behind me. The rivet came loose from the frame, it must have happened because they pulled it too hard.

Queensgate

Friday June 27, we decided we would try to get to the Queensgate Mall in Lower Hutt. It was a breeze, just two buses and an hour later and we were there.

A lot of the shops had 50-75% sales so I managed to find a couple of sweaters, slacks and a dress. All suitable for a Canadian winter.

Then we got some suishi and took it home and enjoyed it for supper.

Shopping is tiring by 2100 I could hardly keep my eyes open so toddled off to bed.

The Chocolate Frog

I am just back from our lunch with some gals at the garden center.


We had a lovely lunch at the Chocolate Frog which is in a garden center. I think that is a great place to have a cafe. Lots of nice plants and gifts to browse through. I'll bet they do a good business because of it. Maybe the garden centers home should try it.

The gals were very nice and one of them, Gail used to live in Vancouver and had been in NS. Actually spent 5 days staying at the manse in Middle Musquodoboit with the minister of the United Church and Sheila knew the minister. So it was a source of wonder that someone actually knew where Musquodoboit was!!!

The other lady was a nurse in her former life but hadn't worked for years. They owned a supermarket.
She and her hubby are heading off to Melbourne, Australia next week to house sit a dog for four months. Last year they went to London for a period of time. It sure sounds like it is the perfect way to travel and limit the expenses and Louise who lives next door and got us all together quilts...

We all had quite a bit in common and conversation wasn't a problem.

I had salad that was delicious, Smoked Chicken with fennel, pears, walnuts and blue cheese and mesclun. i couldn't identify the dressing but it was delish! I could have licked the plate. It was so yummy.

Coming home we could see the Southern Alps in the distance, way across the Cook Strait, they were magnificent in their snow-capped splendor. Unfortunately I didn't get a shot with my camera the car was travelling too quickly!

Winter

Well these past few days we have seen some not so pleasant weather, but this is winter in NZ. It has been rain, rain squalls, occasional hail (in some areas of the city) and sun with fluffly clouds.
But we didn't have to shovel anything and we weren't freezing our patooties off so it is very bearable

Yesterday we visited the National Museum of Natural History, commonly known as Te Papa. we spent about 5 hours there and to see the whole place would take days. An exhibit I really enjoyed was entitled The Scots . It featured the migration to NZ by Scots since the early 1800's.
It was interesting to note that the Kicking Horse Pass through the Rockies was discovered by James Hector, (who named it after he was kicked by a horse) he was a geologist working on the route for the CPR. After his Rockie Mountain adventure he moved to Wellington and started collecting samples etc and was really the founder of the museum.

Also there was a feature about the Highland Games in Waipu. They started about 130 years ago and have been going strong ever since. Waipu was founded in 1840 by Dr. Norman MacLeod and his group who emigrated from Cape Breton via Australia. I guess they were seeking the promised land.
The video showed dancing., piping, caber tossing, and the Nova Scotia flag and the Canadian flag were briskly flapping in the breeze.

It made me wish I was going to see the Royal NS International Tattoo this year.

Today the sun is beautiful and at the moment I don't see eany clouds, but they might be forming out on the Cook Strait.

We are going to lunch with several of the gals in the neighbourhood. it will be nice to meet them.

New Look

Gee it was interesting and exciting to see the new look of Pastiche this morning, many thanks to the creative gremlin who did this.


Sunday we had an enjoyable day with Margaret and Tony who live in Wellington. They shouted us for brunch at the cafe at the Civic Art Gallery and then took us on a scenic tour of Wellington. We enjoyed vistas from Mt. Victoria and also the Turbine, Wellington's only wind turbine (so far).
It was really interesting to see the views from different areas.
Then, they took us for tea at their daughter's home. She doesn't live far from us here in Seatoun, but the drive and walk to her home are very steep. She has the best view of all. The harbour entrance, airport and Cook Strait to the South Island. Unfortunately I forgot my camera so didn't get any photos. Perhaps when Margaret visits us in July we shall venture up the steep slope again.

Yesterday was a rainy, rainy day, but this is winter. We stayed put and read, napped, talked to cats and enjoyed the smells coming from the slow cooker. I made the Saucy Pot Roast, a favorite from Chatelaine magazine. it was tasty and just the thing to have on a cold evening.

We will be heading out shortly to finally post the mailers, the sun is peeking through but the forecast is for more rain this afternoon and possibly hail. So we shall make hay while the sun shines

Thanks for the comments DH and Char.It is exciting that the plans for the Italy trip are finalizing, that should be a wonderful time for you.
Another place I'd love to visit.

Today

We stayed home today and vegged. Slept late and eventually made my way to the coffee.
I knit a bit on the never-ending poncho for Claire. I sure am struggling with it but hopefully I have had the final restart and am on my merry way to completion. I knit this same pattern for Char when she was two so I do know it is possible. I guess it is a case of too much sewing and quilting and not enough knitting lately.

We walked to the corner store to get mailers to post stuff home so Char and Patti keep your eye on the mails. I haven't sent them yet though, probably tomorrow.

This is Gavin's birthday today. I'll celebrate with him when I get back to Vancouver
I can't believe that he is __ years old, it seems like only yesterday that he arrived and DH put hairspray on his underarms instead of deodorant becuase he was so excited.

A little cooler today it almost feels like late September. The moon has been shining brightly the past two nights. It reflects off the harbour and looks ethereal. I must try to take a night shot this evening.

Tomorrow we are going shopping into Miramar with the gal next door. She is going to introduce us to her Greek market so we can buy some delish foods.
There is a cat show in the afternoon too! We may go and check it out, we are not taking the cats no matter how much they meow to go.

On that note I am out of here.

Out and About

Visiting Wellington and exploring the city is very easy. The transit system is very good and I can buy a $5.00 ticket for a day pass and hop on and off the buses until 8PM.
We are doing the downtown today and visiting a few of the trendy shops along Cuba Street. It is breezy and I need to wear a sweater but this is pretty good to my mind considering it is winter.
We took a hike along a harbour trail yesterday not far from the house and the view was once again spectacular. Lots of climbing and the cliffs were near by, we didn't get too close to them. We looked over Breakers Beach, the nude beach in Wellington, but it must have been too cold for the hardy. The only critters on the beach were feathered.
This is a view from the headland looking towards Breaker Bay.



The folks left yesterday and the three cats are finding we are the substitute parents. Sitting on our laps in the evening.
Sheila and I made a Butternut soup last evening, trying to clear out soem of the stuff in the fridge. It was quite tasty and felt nice to cook again after my brief hiatus.
The computer at the house takes a dogs age to boot up so I am once again at the Wellington libray using a large screen monitor and faster speeds.
I managed to find a sewing machine store selling Husqvarna and some fabrics. Colossal prices, the fabric was $28.00 a meter and the machines were about $2500 more than home, for the top of the line models.
Fun to look and realize how lucky I am to be able to live in Canada.
NZ is a great place but the gas is $2.12 a litre and the food prices seem more. They are complaining about cheese prices but it looked to be on the same level as home. Restaurants are pricey a sandwich and coffee, always a struggle to find a decent cup. will run about $10.00.
I will sign out now before the computer disappears. Love to read the comments from all of you.

Resting

I am taking it easy today. Did a little wash and got the maple syrup sweater washed. the view from this home is lovely. It looks right over Wellington Harbour and you can see the ferries and freighters and every other kind of boat plying the waters.

The gardens around the house are beautiful and the winter flowers are blooming. I even have my sandals on instead of shoes, and this is winter?

I was going to try to post a few photos but I don't have the USB hookup to use for this pc and it doesn't have a spot for the memory card.
So that won't happen!
I think I have taken about 350 shots, some good some bad. Mostly scenery.

I am running out of adjectives to describe NZ . Wow, awesome, spectacular. stupendous don't seem to describe it all.

I had a nice chat with DH and all seems well in Dartmouth. Marg has called twice too to see how we are settling in. I think she is missing being the tour guide

South Island travels

Well, what a week. We saw so much of the beautiful South Island my brain is spinning!

I forgot to write that on the first day we climbed a very steep road, thank goodness she has a Camry, to the Mt. John Observatory which is run by the University of Canterbury and looks at the stars etc. It was 1017m high and the breezes were blowing. The view was fantastic, I did buy a DVD about it and some SI views which will be nice to see when I get back home.

We did the scenic route while making our way to Dunedin and eventually arrived there at about 1930.
Bill and Yvonne were very hospitable hosts and we had a hearty dinner of roast lamb and roasted potatoes , kumara, which is our sweet potato and pumpkin. And for dessert Yvonne gave us some berry pudding and ice cream.

We each had our own room and enjoyed a great sleep. Their home is about 2 years old and has the latest gadgets . Bill has a large motorcycle so I sat on it and had a photo taken. I might even consider going for a drive on one like it since it seated me comfortably.

June 4 we toured Dunedin and visited the woolen mill factory outlets.Ii bought myself a outerwear vest. There were lots of things to buy but I restrained myself. We settled in with the hosts for a quiet evening and enjoyed a lovely chili and Duke of Cornwall tart for our dessert.

June 5 we headed out towards Queenstown and saw lots of mountains and breathtaking views. And sheep, too numerous to mention. We made it to Queenstown at 1730 and had a bit of trouble finding the holiday home we were to stay at After travelling right down to the main part of the town we discovered we had to go back to the beginning of the town, Eventually we found it. we were hungry so enjoyed soup and rolls and a nice bottle of NZ wine. The house was right on the lake so we had spectacular views of the town and the mountains, the ski hill was lit up. and the gondola etc.
It is a pretty commercialized place and lots of shops etc. Lots of young people as well. It is very much like Banff.

The next day we visited Arrowtown and enjoyed a nice picnic there and later a lunch.
It was fun to know that I was seeing some of the same spots Charlotte had visited when she was in NZ.
I tried her Mac Gold ale and Sheila and I both liked it.


The weather was forecasting a major blow so the next morning we got out of town fast. Lucky we did too since that area of NZ had about 15 cm of snow and high winds.
The skiiers were happy though.

We made it to Haast that day and had a nice evening with the locals at a cafe and even looked at 1/2 of the rugby game between Ireland and NZ. The all -Blacks won 21-11
The motel was basic but clean and fairly warm we used our hot water bottles and extra fleece bankets Margaret had sent us.

We drove towards Fox Galcier and found the Mountain Helicopter folks, we were going flying. Wow was that fun. Margaret and I were in the front with Mike the pilot and Sheila was in the back.
Now this is a little Bell helicopter with the large plexiglass front and a metal bar to put your feet on. When you look towards them you see treetops. Anyway I held on to the strap for dear life and only closed my eyes when we made a turn to the right or left.
I just kept snapping the shutter on the camera and got some great shots.

After we landed we couldn't believe that we had actually done it.

Later on we saw a film about the glaciers and had a nice supper at a local restaurant.
There were a few tourists in there so we had interesting conversations with them.

This is a good time to visit because there are so few people about.

Monday morning we headed back to Greymouth, saw Margaret's apartment, met the cats and her Mother and caught the TranzAlpine for the trip back to Christchurch.

Another spectaular trip. it was raining and foggy when we left but cleared when wwe got away from the coast. Some snow at Arthur's Pass but it seemed to be melting.

We were met by Jon at the station taken home fed and in bed early.

We had to catch the TranzIsland train at 0700 so we were really up early. It was lovely too, as was the ferry ride to Wellington. John met us, he was looking for two ladies with pig bags. Margaret had given us some carry bags with pink pigs on them and the log which said Like Pigs not Pork...


We had a lovely meal with them, met the three cats and being quite exhausted headed to bed early.

Travelling the South Island

The trip was long and I didn't sleep any more than 3 seconds but we made it. Once we arrived in Christchurch, had along nap and felt refreshed.We stayed two nights with Brenda and Jon and met two of their critters. Ringo the rabbit and I believe the guinea pig is Jesus.
The jet lag hasn't seemed to affect me although I am writing this in the middle of the night.
It was really nice to meet my Christchurch relatives. Louise and Mike hosted all the family for a wonderful supper and Sheila was an honourary Anderson for the evening.



Top photo: Louise and Brenda
Middle: Sheila, Margaret and Bob
Bottom: Gwen , George and Bob



I am in Dunedin now and today will be exploring this city. The road trip here was spectacular and we saw lots of the mountains etc. we even ventured to the Mt John Observatory in Lake Tepako.


Very high and very windy. And what a road! I am sure it must have a website, it is run by the University of Canterbury in Christchurch and scientists worldwide come to look at the stars and heavens.

My camera battery died so I had to find the adapter pronto and charged it at Marg's friends during lunch in Timaru.

The weather is cool but nice for traveling and my hat and mittens are close by... my wool sweater has a few splats of the maple syrup but I am flicking it off and by the time we get to Wellington it may be all gone.

I miss Canadian news but I am not hearing any NZ news either!.

I will try to update tomorrow and then it may be a few days before I can do it again.