Red roses

 Hubby brings me flowers every now and then for no reason...

Flowers from Hubby

Hubby  brought home these lovelies for no particular reason!

nothing added

Hubby noticed this message on the side of the KFC

container and we both had a good laugh.

No added hormones or steroids

† Like all chicken in New Zealand

flowers from Hubby

Hubby brought me this awesome bunch of roses for no particular reason.

I thought I'd try some fun edits and really liked the results.

Hubby's plans are the best

When we travel, Hubby does a lot of research and gives me many choices to make as to where we go and what we do. He is very efficient and I think he would be a very good personal travel planner :)

On our SILDI (screw it, let's do it) trip to the south island, we were reminded why Hubby's plans are always way better than being a part of a tour.

For the Doubtful Sound trip, we took an hour trip across Lake Manapouri by boat then through a road pass by bus to the jetty at the Sound. Personally, I wasn't impressed with the trip as both boats were extremely loud and gave me a headache. The bus driver in between was the highlight as he was quite informative and funny. 

As far as I'm concerned, the captain took us out too far into choppy water.  I was not happy with the boat rocking quite hard back and forth just to see the seal colony at the mouth of the sounds--not my idea of a 'cruise'. I would have been happier if he had stayed within the Sound. At least, they had free coffee and tea aboard.

The Milford Sound trip was much easier to get to as we just drove to the Milford Sound Visitor's Center to board the boat. The visitor center was quite busy as there were several cruise check-in counters and many tour buses but it was fun to watch the people scurrying about.
The cruise boat actually had a Pita Pit store and a coffee shop aboard so I'm glad we brought our own lunch. This captain turned around as soon as he hit some bad water, so I was  impressed with that.
I have to mention that an Asian lady insisted that I take one of her family's umbrellas as we waited in the rain to board the boat. I was quite touched by her concern.

All in all, the tours were nice, the scenery was  awesome (even in the rain) and the people were mostly well-behaved but I think I'll stick with Hubby's tours. They are made specifically for me and him!!

taranaki countryside

I have lived in some rural places in my life. A couple of them were on dirt roads, which is understandable when there are just a few houses in the area. There was even a dirt road that was a shortcut to work (it probably had a name, but I never knew it) when I lived in Kansas, so I'm used to dirt roads.

The thing that I'm not used to--and that still makes me giggle on occasion--is the fact that the paved roads in the outlying areas sometimes just turn into dirt and gravel. I imagine the crew paving the road using up all the asphalt and just saying, 'She'll be right,' and going home.

We went down one of those today when I left the directions at the house and we were just winging it, looking around the countryside. [I do have to add that Hubby remembered most of the directions he had written down. Thank you, Hubby!]

We started and ended with a street sign naming the road we were on, but in the middle--as we went up and over a saddle (NZ word for a mountain pass)--the pavement turned to gravel and dirt. It was obviously the 'road less taken' because the sheep ran away from the car as we rode by. After we started down the other side, the asphalt reappeared like magic.

I really enjoy these rides that have no particular objective except to see the countryside around us. The hills are amazing to me and I never tire of seeing sights like this:

I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore

part 1 of our road trip to Napier

I think I prefer short trips of a couple of days better than a week-long vacation holiday most of the time. Hubby is awesome at planning the basics of our trips. He makes sure we get there on time and have a place to sleep. And he always has some places to visit up his sleeve along with some alternatives in case of bad weather. He's a good planner :)

Since it's winter here in our hemisphere, things are a bit slower than usual and that's fine with us, since we don't like to deal with crowds or lots of traffic. But that doesn't mean there's nothing to see!

We stopped at Owlcatraz Bird and Wildlife Park in Shannon on our way to Napier. There wasn't much going on but we were greeted by Joey who is 17 years old. He took quite a shine to Hubby!

We also got to see 6 of our only native owls--called Ruru in Maori and generally called Moreporks because somebody said that's what their call sounded like they were saying.  These are their names. They are 3 pairs of owls that mate for life.

After seeing the captive birds in their enclosure, the owner told us that a wild ruru had been hanging around and she found it sleeping in a tree! Hubby took some great photos of him/her and I will post them on my photoblog sometime soon.

More to come....


Click here if you want to find out more about rurus. 

Hubby was the shining star!

Last night, Hubby completed a 9-month course at work--along with 27 other people from the company that keeps food on our table.
The participants and spouses were treated to a short awards program and a great dinner.

He also got a peer-voted award for being 'most engaged' with his fellow employees. I am quite proud of him as some of the big-wigs were there and were quite impressed with his work.


You're the best, Hubby! 1037 (he'll know what that means when he reads it)

begonias

A few weeks ago, Hubby and Missy came in with a huge collection of begonias from the garden center. Apparently, some words stick in the mind because I had only mentioned them a couple of time (that I remember) when I noticed some angel-wing begonias had found their way somehow from the other house.

So, here's to Hubbies who pay attention when we least expect it!

They seem to like the back of the house that gets very limited sunlight. And, yes, that middle-right photos is a pink and a white bloom on the same plant!

My favorite FB status

This is my husband's Facebook entry last night:

So I'm waiting to check this week's lottery numbers online, it's Saturday night and I'm pleasantly full of home-made pie. I'm sitting here in boardies and an old tee, looking out of the window at my lovely wife taking pictures of another glorious red sunset through the macrocarpas, with the cat following half a step behind her.
A thought occurred to me. Winning the lottery doesn't matter that much tonight. I have a great wife, a great home, and a great job. I'm winning already.

I am one smiling wife.

unique love note

Last night, I left Hubby a reminder to empty the dehumidifier before he went to work. It just said, 'Dehumidifier'.

When I got up, this is what I found--a unique way to say 'I love you.'

I guess you can make a love note out of anything!

A giggly idea

I am so enjoying the peace and quiet and very darkness of living away from any urban setting, but after sundown, you can't  see your hand before your face without some light. Well, I heard a bit of scurrying the other day from Hubby and wondered what he was up to. I figured he'd tell me in his own time and, eventually, he led me to the hallway where he had strung up some Christmas twinkle  what are referred to here as 'faery lights' along the hallway!  

Yes, I giggled out loud when I saw them on! He put them on the same wall as the bedroom door so they just sort of glow when we're in bed and the cat decides to come in. 

made with photoscape animated gif maker

I am impressed, once again, at what goes on in that mind of his. Thanks, Hubby!

Stepping back in time

When we moved to this house, it seems to me that we took a step forward and went back in time. The step forward was getting away from feeling uncomfortable in our own home--no direct sunlight except 2 hours before dusk, yapping little dogs, howling big dogs, music and noises through our thin walls, fences with prying eyes, foot traffic past the house that didn't make sense. For the record, we only moved there because we were put in a huge, immediate financial bind. It was an affordable roof over our heads and I am grateful for that.

The step back in time is a whole 'nother story! The house is probably 60 years old or more, but it's solid. The windows are modern (most of them, anyway) and the sun can actually shine into them all day long.

The only real 'noise' is a train in the distance several times a day, occasional tractors and other farm vehicles, the wind whistling through the hills, cows lowing now and then and birds chirping in the trees and fields. Such wonderful rural bliss!

Being that we don't live within any city limits, our mailing address is 'RD'--rural delivery--which usually brings to mind the old show 'Mayberry RFD' whenever I see it on an envelope. (So now you can think of me when you watch the old shows!) And, for the first time since I've been here, I have to have a night light on for my nighttime potty runs. It's pitch black without it. I love it.

We have a fireplace for heat in the living room lounge which shares a wall with our bedroom so we get the maximum use of it. Hubby taught me how to tend it when I need it during the day--hey, I was brought up outside Chicago, we had central heat--and it certainly saves on the power bill. I'm kinda enjoying keeping it going during the day and watching it at night. I can't imagine having it as the only heat source, but I guess you'd get used to it. Frankly, I think I'd have to sleep beside the fire in winter if that's all the heat there was!

The land agent told us that we can pay for a 'rubbish run' if we need it, but I don't think we will. I'm very happy to have the compost, recycle and trash burn stuff all organized separately. The only other thing to consider is cans that are not aluminum but the farm-share managers take care of that.

As I mentioned before, we (by that I mean Hubby) are getting bulbs planted for some springtime color. I can't wait! It's so nice to be able to work, or even walk, in the yard garden without feeling someone is watching. Sometimes, there are birds watching and an occasional rabbit, but that's ok. I imagine we will spend many a relaxing moment outside and planning for the next season of color!

Hubby and I are both quite content here. It's only 4 km to work for him. I can see us being here until he gets promoted to another part of the country.

I hate it when I realized I need my own advice

For those of you who don't know, I have a blog where I use my own photos and put quotes and inspirational sayings and scriptures on them. It's called Incidental Imagery and I mainly use it to practice editing my pictures with Picasa or Photoscape. They're just there if somebody needs to find them as they google on the internet.

I don't get many views or comments on that blog, but that's ok. (Actually, since I changed over to Google+ and more people get to see them, I'm getting a few more than I expected.)

One of the few post over there that have some comments lately is one that smacked me in the face today. It's this one--
'do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not'.

As you may know, I hurt my back while we were moving two weeks ago. It still has a ways to go to be healed but it's certainly better than it was. It hurts the most when I get up from laying down. That shouldn't be too much of a problem, but the meds I got from the doctor require large amounts of water and I have to get up 4 or 5 times a night. Not fun at all.

Needless to say, morning are pretty achy and I don't get around too fast, even with my walking cane that Hubby bought me last year.

This weekend I kinda lost it because we still have unpacked boxes everywhere and the closets are just stuffed with stuff to get them out of the way. All the things that are 'my' job are not done and I'm slower than molasses in January getting around the house and can't lift to boot. I just couldn't get things done.

And then it hit me. Duh. Do what you can when you can do it and it will all eventually come together. There's no reason to believe this is a permanent back problem--I just want it better NOW, but that's not gonna happen, so I just have to wait for God's timing to be healed.

I know there are many of my own bloggy friends who are going through much more than just a pulled back and I pray for them often. But, it's good to know that He cares about me, too, and any prayers would be appreciated.

For the record, we do have the basics together, like the bedroom and pots and pans and plates thanks to Hubby *kissy*. He cooks and does dishes, and he says he doesn't mind, so I just trust that it will be ok soon.

BTW, this is on top of a skin problem that has plagued me for almost a year.

Hubby and his baking

The other day, Hubby walked out of the computer room and asked me how much baking powder would be needed for two cups of flour to make it self-rising.
He just slowed down a little as he walked across the room while he waited for my answer (about 1 and a half teaspoons, just off the top of my head) and then proceeded a bit excitedly to the kitchen. Calling from the kitchen, the conversation went something like this:

Hubby: Are you sure?

Me: Why do you want to know?

Hubby: Ice cream bread!

Me: Ice cream bread?

Hubby: Yes, ice cream bread!

Me: You have a recipe for ice cream bread.

Hubby: Yes! Is this all the ice cream we have?

Me: Where did you get the recipe?

Hubby: On the forum! It has two ingredients!

And then there was no more conversation. All I heard was some hustle and bustle and then the blender was whirring.

Turns out, it's not bad. I think it's more like a cake than bread, but Hubby disagrees. But anyway, the recipe is as follows:

2 cups ice cream, any flavor
1 1/2 c self-rising flour

Mix, spray a loaf pan, bake at 350F (175C) for about 45 minutes.

If you don't have self-rising flour, use 2 cups flour with 1 1/2 t baking powder and about 1/4 t salt.

Hubby promises that the next batch will be better. I'll let you know.

They should have paid attention!

On Saturday, we went to the 75th anniversary of the NZ Air Force at Ohakea Air Force Base.  Otterboy wanted to go with his buddy, Maniac, from ATC (Air Training Corps--like ROTC but with different letters) but couldn't go on the vans because he's not a member. So Hubby (bless his planning and very intuitive heart) got tickets online and we planned a very early and very crowded day at the air field.

Hubby told me that, 25 years ago (on their 50th anniversary, in case you're not paying attention) the show caused the biggest traffic jam EVER and we opined about how this one would turn out.

We started out before daylight (something I don't usually do since I'm not a morning person) with a packed lunch and lots of coffee and were already in a bit of a back-up in Bulls, about 2 miles out. The traffic was already setting the tone for the day, but we still managed to get there about 9am, well before the air show started.

As it turned out, we were among the chosen few who actually got to see everything. Maniac and his group got there about a half hour before we left at 2pm and there were still cars lined up for miles coming in as we left! We also saw many abandoned vehicles along the road where the drivers had given up and walked to the base.

We had a good time but I'm sure everybody is relieved that it only happens every 25 years!


Here's a link about the whole fiasco. We are parked on the right in the 4th row!!

And you can click here to see some more photos of the air show on my photo blog.

Hubby's timing..

After a surprise visit to the hot pools in New Plymouth for a wondrously relaxing hour, Hubby drove along the water's edge so I could take some photos of the gorgeous sky.

Here's one shot. You can click here for more sunset shots on my photo blog.

Yes, timing IS everything!

Home, sweet home!

Hubby makes moving easy. He and Otterboy got all the furniture and big stuff done in record time and I am so happy and proud of them.

Apparently, this house hasn't been occupied in at least a month but somebody tried to grow a veggie garden somewhere along the way. After a long mowing session and quite a while with the weed-eater, Hubby brought in a huge handful of carrots! They were quite tasty and I thank the mysterious planter of carrots. There are also broccoli and cabbage plants that have gone to seed among other things that I don't recognize. Hay, I'm from Chicago. Give me a break. I'm learning about plants as I go.

The back of the property borders a small cemetery that I haven't visited yet. There are many years of grown of an ivy and a jasmine vine climbing the 30-foot trees that separate the properties. At our 'garden' house (almost 2 years ago) there was a brick planter on the back porch with some of the same jasmine. I loved seeing it and smelling it and was impressed that it was so hardy but seeing a whole wall of it is a bit intimidating.

Otterboy bought another TV for his playstation this weekend It's older but huge! Since our flatscreen needs an aerial and his older TV doesn't, we have traded him until we can get an aerial up. So he's playing playstation on our flatscreen  and we have rabbit ears on his in the living room lounge. It works for me since Hubby and Otterboy don't watch much tv and I usually have it on for noise. 

With the cable company spending lots of money on promoting the Rugby World Cup--did you even know that NZ is hosting it even now as I type?!--and not much else, we had decided months ago to forgo cable for a while. The movies that they bill as 'premier movies' are many that I watched for $1 before I moved 5 years ago! Occasionally, we get  a movie or series that is less than 5 years old but the series usually gets cut off without notice. Knight Rider and Charles in Charge are making the rounds again. Go on. Laugh. I'll wait ;). Sometimes I miss US tv, but it's a small price to pay for NZ and my new family.

So we are officially settled into our new house. I am so loving the peaceful weekends here. Apparently, our house is the only concern on the block for noisy neighbors. OK, it's a very small block with only 4 of the 7 houses actually facing our street,  but, still, I think we will be good for the neighborhood.

My husband is a dirty, rotten, stinking liar

Today is Valentine's Day in our part of the world. Hubby told me last week that he wanted to take me for fish and chips on the beach and I thought that was very sweet. It was not your 'run of the mill' Valentine's dinner and he knows I like the beach. I had no reason to think he was lying.

On the way, he says that it's high tide so we will go to Ngamutu Beach. Liar.

We get to the fish and chips shop and he says that it's a bit windy so we should go to a table just outside the shop because it's more sheltered. Liar.

We get our order. He says, 'Follow me to the table,' Liar.

I follow, innocently waiting for our Valentine's Day meal, having no idea that he's still lying. We get to Chaddy's Charters (he's the guy that married us out on his boat in 2007). Hubby smiles oh-so-smugly and says, 'There's a place in here.'  We walk into the office. 'Chaddy's going to let us eat on his boat,' he says, walking through to the boat launch.

 'Oh,  yes, Chaddy will be on the boat, too,' he says. 'He will be driving while we eat.'

I guess this proves I'm not the suspicious type because he had everything planned, including jacket and hats in case it got too cold. And me without a clue!

So off we went to the place we got married. And while we ate, there was a fishing line trailing behind the boat so we were officially 'fishing', too!

The sea was a bit rough on the way out, but it was still beautiful.

This guy sleeping in the hole in the side of the island might have been one of the same seals we saw on our wedding day!

He also got us pirate get-ups, just for the fun of it.

Chaddy hand-fed this huge sting ray with the innards of the fish we 'caught'  when we got back in port.

Whatever am I going to do with him?! It's definitely not Kansas!

Hubby's been at it again!

This is Hubby's latest creation that he sold on trademe. It's a friesian mailbox bought by a dairy farmer.