Front Yard Snorkel

Weekends

We have been having such an amazing time here. We both just can't wait for the weekend so we can explore and enjoy our home. This past weekend was particularly wonderful. We started it out right by slipping on our wetsuits and walking across the street to our little beach. Tobi desperately wanted to come so we buckled her little life jacket and let her tag along for comic relief. It was a clear sunny day with no wind. We walked right into the water and snorkeled around the rocky shores. At first Tobi freaked out a bit. She refused to walk out on the rocks. So I got out and walked down to a spot that had a more gradual shoreline so that she could kind of wade out if she wanted. Morgan snorkeled over to meet us. I hopped in and put my face in the water to see what was going on down there. And... it was beautiful. There were amazing little kelp forests swaying back and forth with tiny hawk fish and groupers scurrying around. What looked to be a bulb of kelp swam toward me in a zig zag pattern until I scooped it up to have a closer look. I am still not sure what it was. But it had legs and went limp when I took it out of the water. I put it back in and it went on its way. Minature starfish were everywhere, decorating the rocks like someone placed them there because they thought it would be cute. At the most it was maybe ten feet deep. It would be very shallow and thick with sea weed and kelp. Then I would come into a small clearing that was deep. Sometimes it was filled with round river looking rocks. Other times, rigged volcanic looking rocks covered in iridescent sand crabs and sea snails would be there. It was so relaxing. With my wetsuit I just floated like an otter as happy as can be. I convinced Tobi to swim out to me. To my surprise she did, about 20 feet or so. She got scared and climbed up on my back while I swam. I was laughing so hard. We swam over to some rocks and I left her there as I snorkeled near by. Could you just imagine an English Bulldog wearing a life jacket and sitting on rocks 20 feet off shore? Unfortunately that was when my camera stopped working. Then we all walked home and rinsed off. Its so nice to live so close so we don't have to worry about peeling off our wetsuits in a parking lot and getting them all sandy.
Later we took rocks out of the pond in our backyard that was filled in a few years back, and built up a vegetable planter. I went to Roller Derby practice for the first time that afternoon. Its good to be involved in it down here. All of the girls are totally nice and personable. Then I came home and we had Sarsaparilla and Ice cream floats,(since you cant get root beer here).
Today we went to church in the morning. I haven't found a church that I felt comfortable in for years. But this one is really nice. People are very casual, a little shy, and as they say, "non threatening." It was really nice of Morgan to come with me since I always feel a little like a target when I go to church by myself, getting bombarded with introductions and lots of questions. Anyway...
Then we stopped over at the farmers market to pick up some venison salami as well as gooseberry and brandy jam. At home we finished up the planter and the pond.Next week we hope to get some fish for it.
Now as the sun goes down, the chickens and the duck are wandering back to their little coop after a few hours of grazing, and Morgan and I are making home made garlic and cheese bread. Yum.
p.s. We finally got our Kitty back (eight days late). She was held in quarantine longer because the Ministry of Agriculture thought her anemia could be masking some weird, contagious disease. But of course she didn't. Anyway, after all that she is home and happy. The medication she is on is working and she has gained a lot of vigor. This morning she brought in a cicada that she had caught. The beetle clicked so loud that it woke Morgan. Nina has never been much of a hunter so it is good to see her actually catching things.

Good Things

Its been about two weeks since we moved in our new house. During that time we haven't had Internet. This has actually been quite nice. Ive been forced to slow down, read a book, paint, garden. I planted tomatoes, cucumbers, celery, and succulents in our garden. It has been wonderful. Our back yard is long and lush. It stretches way back to the foot of a mountain. Then it climbs up abandoned terraces that someone made and never maintained. There once was a fish pond that got its water from a natural spring. It is filled in with boulders now. But I am contemplating replacing them with fish. I have been reading a New Zealand History book, which has been so interesting. I often fall under the trap of thinking that all Polynesians are very similar when it comes to culture and history. But this is actually very untrue.
We went on an awesome hike on Valentines day. It was the Tongariro Crossing. We went up and down through wetlands, desert, brand new rocky earth, into a grassland, and then down into a rain forest. The hike was about 19km. But we added an extra three hours because we wanted to climb a volcano. This was the volcano that they used as Mt Doom in The Lord of the Rings. It was pretty ridiculous how steep it was. There weren't any real trails. You just walk and crawl up to the top the best you can. When you get to the top, it just stops and you are standing on a cliff looking into the crater of the volcano. It is amazing. Coming down is a lot of fun. You just have to book it without falling on your behind, which I did several times. Continuing on, we came across several bright blue and green pools. They were milky from all of the minerals. There was also a stream that flowed a creamy white. And steam vents were everywhere. Stinky. It was great.
We got Tobi from quarantine, but are waiting for our cat Nina to be released. The department of agriculture and forestry made a big deal over the fact that she was anemic. So they sent some blood tests to the UK and are awaiting their results before she can be released. When we get her, we will really feel at home.
There has been a lot of surf. But since we just got our car, and just got settled, we haven't gone yet. I am a little disappointed in myself for this. But, there will be more surf. Right now it is very windy.The ocean it moving fast and I can see the ferry and cruise ships going back and forth between the North Island and the South island from our living room window.
This weekend we are going to build a chicken coop and hopefully get chickens... I cant wait.

Observations

Something that I really love about the house that we are going to live in is that it isn't even part of town. The closest one is Miramar, where both mine and Morgan's jobs are. After work today I did a little bit of exploring there. Its a nice change from down town Wellington where our hotel is located. Its small and has beachy feeling. The houses are almost all made with wood siding and have sun rooms on their front porches. People have Victory Gardens right in their front yards, not because its trendy, but because its economical and rewarding. Most homes do not have electric dryers. Rather, they hang their clothes outside to be dried by the wind bright sun. When we moved here I was a little sad because I had to dismantle my succulent garden and give away all my plants that had grown from little clippings that I found around our old Berkeley neighborhood. I was so happy to find that people fancy succulents here, just like back home. So it will be a new adventure, hunting around for new succulent starters to plant all over the front and back yard of our new house. Rose bushes and citrus trees decorate the quiet, wide road neighborhoods. Seagulls are ever present, just like in California. But they are miniature and even a little bit cute. Their cry is a higher pitch and a little more comical. Miramar has no high apartment buildings like where we are staying now. Its just a little town with one main grocery store, and lots of second hand shops. I like it very much.
There are some funny little differences between New Zealand and the states. Claritin, my allergy medicine of choice, is spelled with a Y. Things are quite a bit more expensive. But when you factor in quality, the cost of importation, and the fact that tip and taxes are included, things seem a little more reasonable. If you go to order a milkshake, you will get flavored milk. If you ask for a thick shake, you will get flavored milk with a glucose thickener in it. Pies are generally made of meat, not fruit. And the drinking age is 18. So at times, down town Wellington feels like prom night.
I can't wait to move into our little house and begin painting, taking walks on the beach with Tobi, and collecting shells.