One more logoon shot


Through my windshield (hence the spot- it's not a UFO.. i don't think) back to Kumara. I like this photo with the old and the new. Can't quite see but the old Lions Club "welcome to Kumara" sign and the new "KUMARA" sign in the background depicting goldminers. It's a good example of how the old town is slowly beautifying itself. This place used to be one of the biggest spots for gold in New Zealand, maybe even the world.. I wouldn't be suprised and even now people are still prospecting. The town, now about 300, has a bit of a ghost town feel since the mining has mostly ceased and people have to find new jobs to pay the bills. There was a working dredge here up into the 80s.. not too long ago at all!

On my way back

A beautiful, calm, peaceful lagoon - I love it! Always changing and so relaxing to walk beside, especially after the usually wild ocean at the begining of my loop


going in or coming out? hehe couldn't get it without my shadow!

Kaiya loves the logoon too

Mid walk

looking upriver... sun was right in my eyes...will get better photos another time

River Mouth

The two photos above are of the mouth of the Taramakau River, one of the bigger rivers near us. This is Looking north along the coast.
Lots of birds

Serpentine beach- the begining of my walk

Looking south


Looking north

so yeah, I'm back into blogging. I've figured out a way to do it whilst I bounce around getting other things done in between waiting for screens to appear and pictures to load. I have more free time now too because we don't have a garden since we are living at our friend's house, and we can't do projects round home either in the same way as the past so yup I'm back in the blogging world. I'm into it too. Taking the time to take pictures of everday things I might have only noticed in passing.

Stormy morning at home

Can you see the rainbow?


I love the weather here! It's either super hot or super rainy (in kiwi it's "pissing down"), stormy and wild. This morning the sun was struggling to come up as the dark clouds and storm were moving in from the west. Amazing colors!

The love saga

Kaiya went into heat a few weeks ago and it has been oh so exciting around here since then! She's had lots of suitors come poking about but only one has been lucky enough to make it past the gate. Zeke. He's our friend's dog who lives a few blocks away. Zeke comes visiting everyday when his owner leaves for work. He's about 13 years old so usually moves quite slowly. Except when he's excited and he barks loudly while wagging his tail and jumping about (well trying to). When Kaiya went into heat she was keen for Zeke to, well, you know. She stood for him for a few days, always postioning herself in front of him, eager and ready. Zeke took no notice. Kris thought maybe he was too old. I thought he just really loves her so he didn't want to simply mount her like he has most other bitches in our small town.

I think she just wasn't quite ready yet because as soon as she stopped bleeding Zeke got down to business- often! He was so eager yet couldn't quite make it happen- too old, his legs too short, Kaiya too big. Poor old Zeke and sexually-frustrated Kaiya who wasn't getting the loving she so yearned for. In any case after a few days Zeke mastered his technique. I looked out one afternoon and thought "they must be trying a new position" yet lo and behold they were knotted! Yay for them both! It happened a few times in the following days and now it's all over. Zeke still comes round to visit but Kaiya doesn't stand for him and he's content to just lay around. I think that means he's done the deed and she's going to be a mama. We sure hope so! I'll keep you updated- we should know in a month or so.

Kaiya not getting any lovin'

Yay!

whew! Finally time to rest

Sunset

at home one evening

These are the types of things that are really exciting to me... this pantry where we are living fit all our food into one great L-shaped closet- everything (well food at least). I love it! This is me..loving it.


The house we are staying at. It belongs to a friend of ours who lives in Dunedin fulltime and this is his holiday home. It works out really well since we have to wait a few months, at least, until we get the title to start working and building on our land.


A plum cobbler I made one rainy sunday. Kris picked the plums from a neighbor's tree...mmmm yum

Our current abode

The view from the front door, looking northish. There are sheep in the paddock...somewhere...

Our favorite view, looking west from our doorstep. We've decided that attending the catholic church next door is a really good way to spend our time- much better than drinking beer and gambling. We sure do love god!
and looking southwest from the doorstep. I love seeing the broken down car with its smashed in windows and dented hood each day. There's a backboard next to it where I sometimes play tennis with myself. I've got to be feeling very patient though because it ends up being a bit of running after the ball when it's too wide or is lucky enough to go through one of the holes in the board. It sure is nice and high though! The other backboard in town is a couple mins walk and so I sometimes play there too. Same situation though except this time the board is too short so my balls often fly over. Very tricky this playing tennis on the proper backboard. I'm hoping that someday I'll have friends to play tennis with. I still haven't gotten Kris to play with me yet- he's too scared of losing, I reckon. He will play frisbee with me though, as long as no one sees us...hehe. He's a bit shy, ole Kris.
and looking northwest. I'll take some more pics of the mountains when the light's better and all that. This is actually my favorite view, not the silly church. This morning we awoke to a red, orange, pink and all the shades in between sunrise...mmmm now that's a good way to start the day!