Panting up Pirongia

I delivered a painting to Hamilton on Saturday and went on down to Ngaroto Nurseries again for a couple of days. Yee ha. This was Peter pointing out to a customer some plants in the distance as I sat and read the paper. BLISS.
View from the cafe. . . cute wee topiary hedge, isn't it?
Ah, and then on Sunday, Peter and I tackled Mt Pirongia (often seen from the house in other photos). This was my view most of the way UP, and it was a steady UP! Never got closer to those legs and you miss the sound of heavy wheezing breath but try and imagine that as a background. (MY breath - Peter always looked as if he was on a country ramble).
. . . and finally after clawing my way over rocks and almost perpendicular slopes - I am the florrid complexioned one on the right!
. . . as I lay in a recovery mode, I kept seeing this silhuette everywhere. . .
. . . and if I tilted my head up, I could see some nice scenery. . .
. . . one way or another. . .
It really was quite wonderful, and well worth the staggering trip uphill.

Fairy Grotto. . .

I've come back from a weekend away to find the fairies have taken over the garden! These were dotted across the lawn. Pretty cool.
. . . sweet dish full of raindrops. . .
delicate tones amongst the leaves. Awwwww.

Toadstool Time!

Ah, well, no comments on last blog, but I'M MOVING ON!
Just glanced out at my front lawn and found that the toadstools are growing. BURSTING forth out of the ground almost explosively. Yee ha. There's such a lot of wonderful stuff to enjoy in every season.
Will you look at these beauties! This one is so big it dwarfs my slipper!
These two are just popping through and will be huge in a couple of days.
There are the brown wiggly ear types as well - camouflaged among the leaves.

and I found a few genuine mushrooms for dinner tonight. (If you don't see any more blogs, it's because they weren't mushrooms).
. . . and to finish it all nicely. . . here's a useful toadstool poem:

Under a toadstool
Crept an Elf,
Out of the rain,
To shelter himself.

Under the toadstool,
Sound asleep,
Sat a big dormouse,
All in a heap.

Trembled the wee elf,
Frightened, and yet
Fearing to fly away
Lest he get wet.

To the next shelter ---
Maybe a mile!
Sudden the wee elf
Smiled a wee smile,

Tugged till the toadstool
Poppled in two.
Holding it over him,
Gayly he flew

Soon he was safe home,
Dry as could be.
Soon woke the dormouse ---
"Good gracious me!

"Where is my toadstool?"
Loud he lamented.
--- And that's how umbrellas
First were invented.

Soupy Celebration in Springbank Lane

Ah well, first of all, my trusty steed for the last six years is on auction at the moment. Dad's offered his car to me and it's in slightly better condition with fewer miles, so this beloved vehicle is going. . . sniff
Last night we had a 'soup celebration' "in our church that meets in this street". It was a pretty rich night, with nine of us spread around the table and the kids all watching DVD in the hut outside. This is Mark with his crown and sash on. Matches his eyes.
We sang first of course, and then moved into the three course soup meal with the variety of breads that Mark had purchased for the occasion. Quite a communion of saints it was.
Between each course we sisters had some verses of a lovely poem we'd found to sing.
. . . and it was Steve who purchased the crowns and sashes which made us all the more regal.
when the kids came in the crowns found better homes.
. . . just to prove I was there, and the old Persian outfit is still finding places to be worn. It must be 12 years old at least!

Christchurch, South Island

Lucky me, I got flown down to the Christchurch by my good friend's husband as a surprise for her birthday. This was the first evening enjoying a meal cooked by Duncan for a few friends. Lovely occasion, lots of laughs, and as you can begin to see, their renovations are looking good.
Went to dinner with the two of them the next night, and this was taken then.
They own a cafe called Caffe Roma, which is a popular spot in Christchurch, and it looks quite different to the ones I usually frequent in Auckland at the moment. The weather turns cold a tad sooner, and the lovely fireplace and panel walls, make this cafe cosy and warm on the coldest day. It used to be a Gentleman's club, and it still has that feeling. It's wonderful. Had breakfast here every morning, oh joy.
You can see my usual choice of muesli and fruit, and the perfect 'flat white' coffee awaiting.
The boys were with us most of the time, it being school holidays. This is Louis enjoying his hot chocolate.
These are more of the renovations in the house. Aint it grand?
Jack is here holding the poodle, Coco.
Took a trip out to Sumner beach, and that's our wee cluster on the left by the rock. Nice day.
Took the boys and their cousin to the Museum, and on the grounds of the extensive gardens there's this newly repainted fountain.
The old Civic Council buildings are sooo beautiful. Christchurch truly is the most English of New Zealand cities. Check out the flagstones and the panelling.
And I was introduced to Steve Fullmer's pottery and sculpture at the Clark home. Wonderful quirky whimsical work. I loved it. Here's his dog.
. . . and this is the pottery. Will keep my eye out for it in the future.

Easter weekend behind me. . .

Just had a splendid weekend down at Ngaroto, and doing bushwalks on Mt Pirongia and environs. This is Peter and I on the one we did today - plenty of ups and downs and very pleasant.
Nothing beats the dawns in the country, unless you compare them with the sunsets. These were all taken this morning when there was a fog lingering as the sun slowly rose.
Lovely weather for mushrooming. . .
The subtle colours of the trees and various layers is beautiful. . .
So much potential for painting. . .
I'm off to Christchurch tomorrow, so until then, enjoy.

Easter is coming. . .

Ah well, Peter's going to LOVE this - but I had no other picture to put up here on my blog and I wanted something FRESH before I went off for a week. Borders books have been putting out these books by Beatrix Potter, to coincide with the movie out at the moment, and since I am indeed heading down south into rabbit country over Easter, to Peter's place, it seems singularly appropriate to do this:
I trust all 'my readers' have a great Easter, and that the significance of the season does not escape you - no, it's NOT all about rabbits and chocolate. I'm to Ngaroto until late Monday, and then to Christchurch until the following Friday. Yee ha.
Back on the blog again then.