New Bird on the block

We have been seeing a large bird hanging around and one day I was able to get some close up photos. Having searched our bird books it appears that this could be a white faced heron and possibly looking for a mate.

Long time no write

Because I haven't had much to share! However I have been busy weaving harakeke (flax) and have been enjoying the change of thought. Also costs nothing to create as there is an abundance of flax where I live.

I went to a class last weekend where I made the 2 small bowls, bag and bowl. A few of us got together again on Wednesday and I created the wine bottle holder which I am quite pleased with.

Queens Birthday weekend

This fell the last weekend in May and Monday was a Public Holiday. I flew up to Wellington for a weekend of scrapbooking and had a fantastic time despite the cold blast of weather! Yep, hail and sleet even though we were staying at sea level.

However, I had a very productive time and completed 24 pages and started on a fairy castle mini album for my great niece Faith's 5th birthday later this year.

I was so chuffed to achieve so much as usually when I go away I talk and don't do much!

I was pleased that Jock dropped me off and picked me up as it was a late flight and we didn't pull up the drive at home until 10pm

Now I need to get my photos of my Motunau Island trip printed for scrapbooking at a crop this Saturday

My trip to Motunau Island

28th May 2009. My friend Rita and I flew over to the Island in a Squirrel helicopter along with Dept of Conservation (D.O.C.) employee, Anita to meet up with other DOC employees who were there for different reasons

I was meant to go with Anita and Rita down the track to the bottom of the Island to check bait stations and help plant some Captain Cook Scurvy Grass - problems, because of lots of rain, the track (originally made by the penguins trundling down to the water) was extremely soft and very, very slippery. I got about 3/4 of the way down and decided enough was enough and told them I was going back up to the top. That was another toughie, at one point I was on my hands and knees climbing my way up!

Scurvy Grass is actually part of the brassica family and has a peppery taste to it. Motunau is a Maori name and translated means Island of Scurvy Grass. DOC have had success in planting this on and around parts of the Island and are continuing to extend the scurvy grass plants.

Fortunately for me, when I reached the top I caught up with other D.O.C folk who were going to check the bait stations on the top of the Island and look for Gecko's and Spotted Skinks. They needed 5 of each to take DNA from. This is done by taking about 3mm to 4mm of the tip of their tail. Sounds awful but you could hardly tell this had been done. This is a Canterbury Gecko.

I actually held one of these and they are so unusual. Their skin is very velvety to the touch and their little claws are like sucker pads as they travel across your hand. Never thought I would see the day when I wanted to, let alone hold one! So cute.

Gecko's shed their skins quite frequently and this is what we came across!



Heaps of shredded skins! They are very opaque and still in the shape of the Gecko. They wriggle out of their skin headways which leaves the shape behind. They feel just like tissue paper.

This is a spotted skink

I was informed that the Gecko is a very social lizard and they like to 'hang out' together in the bait stations. Look at these that we found in one bait station!

Motunau Island is one of the few breeding grounds for the White Flippered Penguin. One was found in it's burrow

They say that all good things must come to an end and they did. About 3p.m. we returned back to Motunau Beach aka 'the mainland'

All strapped in and ready for take off back to the mainland. This trip I had the front seat and my stomach gave a real turn when we suddenly had no land underneath us, just a cliff face and water

I am hyped up

Why? Because I have just spent the day over on Motunau Island! Thrilling. Tiring. Fantastic. I could go on an on for ever but I am still coming down to earth!

Am away for the long weekend but I will be updating my blog next week with some great photos

Atrocious weather

Sleet, freezing wind that would cut you in half and of course the trip to the Island tomorrow won't happen again!

However, I have put my time to good use today by getting 'sort of'' page kits together for my scrapbooking weekend away on Queens Birthday weekend. By 'sort of' I mean that I have picked out the cardstock to match my photos that I will be taking. Then I will just chuck all my rub ons and some embellishments into my tote. That's the downside when you are flying as you have to take weight into consideration. I will be taking my lap top just in case I run out of photos and I can potter and do some digi scrapping.

Postponed

Our trip to the Island, that is. Bad weather and hail forecast tomorrow. Next trip planned for Thursday but the weather looks like it could be just as bad then as well so will be a wait and see situation.

However, the opticians have just rung to say my new glasses are ready so I am going to pick them up tomorrow and then we are heading to a funeral in the afternoon for a lady that has lived at the beach for many, many years until moving to a Retirement complex a few months ago so I am pleased we will be able to see her off, so to speak

Dam and Blast it

Should have posted this on Monday but I was still trying to find my old glasses as my little witch of a dog has mangled my 8 month old glasses! I was playing with her when my glasses fell of and she whipped off with them and hid under the bed! Finally retrieved them with one lense out and chipped and the frames bent and twisted.

I rang the insurance company and fortunately they are coming to the party (thank goodness for insurance).

Went to the opticians on Wednesday (yesterday) but they can't replace the same frames and no other frames that would take my one salvaged lense. End result is total replacement with me paying $100 excess. So a good result for the frames but pooh at the $100 excess as I need all the money I can get my hands on for a weekend away at Queens Birthday

on the 19th May

Jock and I are being taken over to Motunau Island by helicopter courtesy of D.O.C. I am so excited about it! While on the Island with D.O.C. staff we will check approx 30 bait stations for rats and mice, watch another staff member catch lizards to be transferred elsewhere and help plant some new plants.
I am a bit cautious as it is pretty rough terrain and lots of penguin nest holes to look out for but oh the joy and privilege of being able to visit this mighty Island which is so close and yet so far and untouchable to thousands of people because you have to have a permit to land on it.
If the trip has be cancelled due to weather conditions, the cancellation date is the 21st

New cards for April

A few people have asked why I don't post the cards that I make. I don't know why! Anyway here are 4 cards I made at my monthly card group earlier in the week. The focus was using the nestabilities put out by Spellbinders.

I learned a few different techniques so it was quite good.

The scans are not the best but here they are

Jeepers Creepers

-what's with this weather? Woke up this morning and it was 18 deg - the high got to 27 deg and now it is a very sultry and still evening at 18 deg at 8pm. This weather is often referred to as 'earthquake' weather because of the stillness.

Lucy has been barking at who knows what and I can only put it down to the stillness of the night.

Another Monkey

Has been born! This one is Molly and is a present for one year old Tilly (another great niece)

Daylight Saving

How can you let your pets know that daylight saving has finished? I got woken up at the usual time of 6.30a.m. by Lucy, except of course it was actually 5.30a.m. (aargh) because the clocks were turned back one hour. I might just have to have a Nana nap this afternoon!

One pair of socks

Yep, one pair of socks is all it takes to make a sock monkey! It's incredible, hardly anything left over! I attended a class yesterday and here is Bert, my first ever sock monkey

He is just so cute, I will keep him and never let him go!

A Beautiful Day

This must be our Indian Summer - a really stunning day here today

Lucy has become very camera shy and I haven't been able to take any photos of her so I decided to take the camera with me on our walk this morning.

She is just about 5 months old now and I would say almost fully grown

A Link for you to visit

Go here
and see what is happening

The Breadmaker

The new breadmaker that we got is a Sanyo Bakehouse. Makes a lovely loaf until last week when it decided to finish cooking before it was baked, not once but twice!
So, I took it back to the store and asked for a replacement which was duly given. As soon as I got back home I set too and made a loaf and yummo we are back to a decent loaf of bread again. Hopefully, this one continues to do the job

Men

are also expensive to keep! last year it was the microwave, now it is the breadmaker. He forgot to put the paddle in the pan and it all burnt out at the bottom. He noticed it was leaking and lifted up the lid to see small flames!
I think I need to take out risk insurance against him.
Oh well, off shopping tomorrow for .................. you guessed it - a new breadmaker

Finally read a book

Yes, I have finally finished a really good book. I was beginning to despair at getting it finished what with an active puppy keeping me on the go.

The book is called 'The Firemaster's Mistress' by Christie Dickason. It is based on the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and I found it very interesting and wanted to share it with you. I am about to start another of her books called 'The Principessa' which I collected from the Library on Friday. Hope it is as good

On this day

in 1974 I first set foot on New Zealand soil! 35 years ago!

Catching Up again

Having had a few problems logging in it has put me way behind.

Puppies

Can cost you a lot of money if you don't keep an eye on them! Lucy cost me $35 because she chewed a library book - yikes! However, on the upside she is giving us a great deal of fun. I finally got around to figuring out how to take a photo of the 'hurricane' in action - sports mode! She has this toy with a long tail that she takes in her mouth and swirls around and around - it is hilarious to see in action.


Fortunately, Lady continues to tolerate playtime!
As all vaccinations are up to date we are all out walking now - great.

Weather

We have had a a tremendous spell of hot weather again - I really feel the cold when the temp drops below 20 deg now!LOL Took Lucy down to the water yesterday - her first dip - not ablink of the eye she was in and playing. Couldn' t swim as I still had the leash on her but i can see she is going to be a water dog.

Now after all this time of not blogging, I can't remember what I was going to write - duh

Crayfish

I nearly forgot the highlight of the fishing for Jock - a huge Crayfish

Weighing in at 2.5kg

Happy New Year

Well it is a very belated one I know but for some reason or another I have had no luck in getting into blogger when I have tried several times. Also since Lucy joined our family life has taken a turn to rather hectic and full on days. She is a darling though and very quick to learn.

Weather wise we have had very hot days, one particular day hitting 40deg C - just didn't know where to put myself that particular day! Sleeping at nights has been very hard as we just aren't used to hot nights. On top of the bed seemed to be the best solution with a fan whirring away all night. However, it has been a great holiday period for those who have been on holiday here and much fishing has been done. One day there were 93 boats out, which is a record, and I have it on good authority that 1416 blue cod were caught and 380 something crayfish. Makes you wonder that there is still some left out there.

Here are some pics of Lucy and you will notice how much she has grown in the 3 weeks that we have had her:

27 Dec 2008
All tuckered out!

2 Jan 2009
A very tolerant Lady!

4 Jan 2009
Hole dug now for something to play with

10 Jan 2009
I can play with Lady when she is sitting up now!