Thursday, 31 December 2009

Day 179 - Giant macrocarpa



Giant macrocarpa tree

Wednesday, 30 December 2009

Day 178 - Race day



Chatham Island Race Day
Wild Eye bringing up the rear

Tuesday, 29 December 2009

Day 177 - Basalt columns




Basalt columns

The basalt columns are a naturally occurring area of volcanic rock which can be seen when out towards the western side of Chatham Island. Erosion has diminished their height over the years. However, the columns are still a remarkable sight to see.

Monday, 28 December 2009

Day 176 - Gingerbread house



Gingerbread house
Made by my cousin for Christmas and enjoyed by children of all ages

Sunday, 27 December 2009

Day 175 - Anglican church





Anglican church
Chatham Island

This is the tiny Anglican church on Chatham Island, the site of four family baptisms on Christmas Day. The service started out informally and then deteriorated rapidly with two of the children being baptised protesting loudly and numerous parents and godparents trying to collectively calm down an hysterical crescendo of screams! All of my father's siblings were baptised at this church, many of my cousins, and now most of their own children. It only seats about 30 people, almost the number of family members who were present at the baptism that day.

Saturday, 26 December 2009

Day 174 - Flounder



Flounder
Freshly caught and cooked for breakfast

Friday, 25 December 2009

Day 173 - Crayfish



Crayfish
Freshly caught and ready for cooking
One of many delicious crayfish meals during our holiday

Thursday, 24 December 2009

Day 172 - Paua shell jar


Paua shell jar

This jar full of paua shell fragments sits on the corner of my grandparents' grave as a reminder of their love for the sea (Grandad was a fisherman) and Grandma's Maori heritage.

Wednesday, 23 December 2009

Day 171 - Wedding dress



Wedding dress

This is my sister-in-law's wedding dress in the back of the plane we flew to the Chatham Islands in. The air hostess was so excited to see a wedding dressing hanging in the cargo hold that she whipped out her camera as proof for when she told the story to others! We thought it was a great photo opportunity, too.

Wednesday, 16 December 2009

Day 170 - Christmas tree



Our Christmas tree

It's rather demure this year, as we will be away for the big day, but the sentiment is just the same - and the pile of presents is growing!

Saturday, 12 December 2009

Day 169 - Santa and Mrs Claus



Santa and Mrs Claus
Already sharing the Christmas spirit
Looks like Santa had a go at putting on Mrs Claus' makeup!

Friday, 11 December 2009

Day 168 - Gingerbread decorations


 

Fresh from the oven

Thursday, 10 December 2009

Day 167 - Kids' camping chairs



 

Kids' camping chairs
I want one!

Tuesday, 8 December 2009

Day 166 - Buzzy bee ride



Buzzy bee ride
My 21-month-old nephew would be thrilled!

Monday, 7 December 2009

Day 165 - Knight in unpolished armour



Knight in unpolished armour
Coming to the rescue!

Saturday, 5 December 2009

Day 164 - Christmas tree



Christmas tree
Midland Park, Wellington

Friday, 4 December 2009

Day 163 - Lemon



Little lemon
Look closely or you'll miss it!

The first lemon to survive from my sweetie's lemon tree - almost as big as a $1 coin ...

Tuesday, 1 December 2009

Day 162 - Sunset



 

Sunset

I rushed outside as I saw the last of today's sun illuminating my front windows. Unfortunately, my camera couldn't do justice to the sunset over Cook Strait. I tried to zoom and capture the little rings of light peeking through the clouds. It was a moment of true beauty.

Thursday, 26 November 2009

Day 161 - Sunbathing Santina



Sunbathing Santina

Santina loves the sun. This is the first time I have ever seen her try to spread out both wings to catch those precious rays. If you look closely behind her neck you will see that, at certain angles, the sun reflects the light on her black feathers, giving off a shiny pink or green glean.

Wednesday, 25 November 2009

Day 160 - Lemon raspberry cupcake



Lemon raspberry cupcake
with lemon buttercream frosting

Tuesday, 17 November 2009

Day 159 - Seagull


Seagull
Unsuccessfully appealing for food

Saturday, 14 November 2009

Day 158 - Spring flowers



Spring flowers
Sheltering from the wind

Friday, 13 November 2009

Day 157 - Naked lady





Naked lady
In all her glory

Thursday, 12 November 2009

Monday, 9 November 2009

Day 155 - Gum tree



Gum tree

This is one of the many giant gum trees on a friend's lifestyle block just out of Levin. We estimate it to be about 30 metres tall, and there are others on his property which are probably another 5 metres taller again. How easily dwarfed we are, sometimes!

Sunday, 8 November 2009

Day 154 - Corrugated iron teacup



Corrugated iron teacup

This corrugated iron teacup, near Levin, has often caught my eye while driving through the Manawatu district. It's certainly a colourful and eye-catching way to grab the attention of drivers and passers-by.

Saturday, 7 November 2009

Day 153 - Giant mosaic ball





 

Giant mosaic buoy
Himatangi Beach

This giant mosaic buoy stands in the centre of the roundabout at Himatangi Beach. It features beach themes and is quite an imposing scene at its resting place, even if it took some time to work out what it was.

Friday, 6 November 2009

Day 152 - Red(ish) cupcakes



Red(ish) cupcakes
 
Well, they're supposed to have turned out more red than this. They still tasted great - vanilla cupcakes, with vanilla buttercream frosting.

Thursday, 5 November 2009

Day 151 - Toilet thief!



Who stole the loo?
An unusual, yet amusing, sight to see
Here today, gone tomorrow!

Wednesday, 4 November 2009

Day 150 - Yellow buds





Yellow buds
So full of promise!

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

Day 149 - Sunbathing pigeon



Sunbathing pigeon

You've heard of the sunbathing cat? Well, birds like to catch rays sometimes, too. Santina joined me for a bit of sunshine as I was lying in the sun reading a book. Luckily I had my phone close by so I could sneak a photo of her before she noticed.

Saturday, 31 October 2009

Day 148 - Deathly treats



Trick or treat?

Sunday, 25 October 2009

Day 147 - Guard dog



World's most passive guard dog

He sits outside this retirement village all day long. The sign opposite the gate warns "Beware guard dog", but I've yet to see him even stand up, let alone "guard" anything!

Saturday, 24 October 2009

Day 146 - Grass-covered car



Grass-covered car

This car covered with fake grass was a conversation starter for teza teas outside Craft 2.0 at The New Dowse today. With samples of their products in the window, I thought this was an incredibly creative form of advertising, given that their website appears to currently be down.

Friday, 23 October 2009

Day 145 - Coloured seats



Coloured seats
Petone Police Station

These coloured seats are simple and nothing special, yet they always catch my eye as I walk past the Petone Police Station. Did someone set out to buy four different tins of paint when they were first constructed, or did their colourful decoration come about by someone collecting up and using left-over paint? There is another pair of seats nearby with four more different colours, which also remain a colourful mystery.

Thursday, 22 October 2009

Day 144 - Interislander


Interislander ferry float
Grounded!

I was surprised to see this parade float of the Interislander ferry on terra firma recently. It was created by Westside Studios in Shelly Bay and is one of the many floats, props, and large-scale decorations casually lurking in the area.

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

Day 143 - Colourful caravan



Colourful caravan
Anyone got a paintbrush?

Tuesday, 20 October 2009

Day 142 - Sunbathing cat



Sunbathing cat
That's the life!

Monday, 19 October 2009

Day 141 - Endless vines




Endless vines
Tirohana Estate, Martinborough

Sunday, 18 October 2009

Day 140 - Bedding



 Bedding
 
I love the bold colour scheme of De Vine, the brand new holiday house we stayed in at Martinborough this weekend.

Saturday, 17 October 2009

Day 139 - Cosy fireplace



Cosy fireplace
Tirohana Estate, Martinborough