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packing up
Published on 2013-06-18 07:30:00
We are in the middle of moving house. I will be back with pictures soon...
We'll try this again..
Published on 2013-06-06 20:57:00
We found another house! This time, it's through an agent, so I don't think there will be a problem with keeping it. I admit that I was attracted to the 'other' house because it was shiny and new (less than 20 years old), but the fact of the matter i
What a difference a day makes
Published on 2013-06-03 07:02:00
Yesterday, we went to see a possible rental house. The house was one that the owners built on their property to live in while they restored the homestead--that took about 3 years. We loved the house immediately. It was in our price range, with 3 big
snow
Published on 2013-05-28 21:01:00
This was out backyard this morning. It is one more time that proved Hubby wrong when he told me that it only snows every 12 years or so here! I don't really mind it because it was gone soon after this was taken. In actuality, there have been
perceptions
Published on 2013-05-17 03:43:00
I have never been one to try to 'dress to impress' or make sure my makeup and hair are done 'just so' when I go out.
Hubby and his baking
Published on 2013-05-09 07:51:00
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 an
It dos your heart good!
Published on 2013-04-17 05:37:00
New Zealanders can be proud of their generosity to a fellow Kiwi in his time of need. 3rd Degree (TV show) aired the plight of pensioner (retiree) Vernon Gardiner who was in a Filipino prison facing 20 years for a debt of less than $5000. He needed:
still adjusting after all these years
Published on 2013-04-15 19:10:00
As I'm sure you could figure out (if you ever thought you had to) that an island country in the south pacific is quite small with very little manufacturing. Because of that, we have to import most things and they are, of course, more expensive than l
Technology brings back Granddad's sea chest
Published on 2013-04-05 17:57:00
A cabin chest that carried the belongings of a World War II sailor all over the world has come into the hands of his granddaughter after she spotted it on an online auction. More than 70 years after Stanley Jervis left on a Royal New Zealand Navy
Some weather observations
Published on 2013-03-26 20:17:00
This is the first year that we have had a 'real' summer since I've been in NZ. Of course, it's been pretty much a drought all over the country, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the warm weather. It's the first summer I have not worn sweats track pants t
How to make photos larger on blogger
Published on 2013-03-15 23:35:00
For those of you that would like to make your photos larger than the sizes offered by Blogger, here's a quick tutorial on how I enlarge the photos on each post. Note: I don't change the template to make all photos larger because I don't always wan
I'm a celebrity!
Published on 2013-03-11 06:21:00
Well, maybe not a celebrity, but I was interviewed over at
They are living our dream!
Published on 2013-03-01 23:40:00
Hubby and I have both been fascinated by the old, abandoned dairy factories that are spread across the Taranaki region. We have photos of most of them that have any parts still standing, with one picture of just a generator part next to a plaque that
A little senior humor
Published on 2013-02-27 15:02:00
Yesterday, my daughter asked me again why I don't do "something useful" with my time. Talking about me "doing something useful" seems to be her favorite topic of conversation lately. She was only "thinking of me" she said and suggested that I go down
2 years after the earthquake
Published on 2013-02-14 23:43:00
Most of the time, Christchurch could be a million miles away from Stratford. Like most of the world, we heard about the killer earthquake and any other newsworthy bits on the telly. You don't think about it if you aren't involved with anything going
Happy Valentine's Day
Published on 2013-02-12 21:24:00
Waikari Tearooms
Published on 2013-02-12 05:21:00
During our holiday in the Christchurch area, we stopped for a cuppa at Waikari Tearooms on Weka Pass Road. The lady that runs the restaurant was very friendly and always had a smile on her face. She even had 'filter' coffee--for my Yankee friends, t
Not much news
Published on 2013-02-04 05:14:00
It finally rained today, for the first time in several weeks. The lawn and flowers are happy to get a nice, big drink of water. It had been in the 80's and 90's 20's and 30's for most of two weeks (or more) and I didn't complain once, even if every
I turned out OK....mostly
Published on 2013-01-23 17:37:00
I don't have any little kids around but I can't help but see articles on kids, from birth to teens on the internet--some are newspaper articles, some are blog posts. They didn't have them when I had young ones around, but apparently, there are boo
Let there be ice
Published on 2013-01-14 19:00:00
The first time I ordered a drink in a restaurant here, I was surprised that my drink had no ice in it. It was nice and cold, but without ice. I immediately thought of someone I grew up with that always ordered 'without ice' because he wanted his mone
Bring up the past
Published on 2013-01-07 19:12:00
In the last few days, I have had some comments on a post I wrote on the 29th of October, 2008, called Rude Kiwis...again!You can click here to read it if you want. I
It doesn't take long....
Published on 2012-12-27 16:09:00
Just a few days after Christmas, there are 1834 listings on trademe (NZ version of ebay) under the category of 'unwanted gifts'. I hope none of the gift-givers decided to check on their gifts.
Merry Christmas!
Published on 2012-12-23 08:09:00
Pohutukawa --NZ Christmas tree
One Minute on New Year's Day
Published on 2012-12-20 18:37:00
What a fabulous way to start the new year--praying for someone else, in circumstances beyond our comprehension!! I stole
Speaking English
Published on 2012-12-14 04:53:00
When I started this blog, I put a lot of thought into the 'description' (the words under the title at the top). I thought NZ culture would be something that I 'got over' and used to, but NZ English still messed with my head, even after 6 years. Like
5 years of being married
Published on 2012-12-01 04:10:00
It's hard to believe that today marks 5 years of a marriage begun in a boat in the Tasman Sea... ...with a reception on the beach of fish and chips and a John Deere cake A lot of living and loving and changing and coming and going has happene
it's all in the editing
Published on 2012-11-25 20:12:00
For those that have asked about some of my 'larger than life' photos, rest assured that it's not because my camera is super-expensive or has special powers :) It's all in the post-editing. I took these 11
The end is near!
Published on 2012-11-21 18:15:00
I was always perplexed about the prophecy in Daniel and how it related to the prophecy in Revelation. I only knew what I was told by pastors and theology students and didn't really know what resources to used to figure out for myself what it really m
R.I.P. Wheelie
Published on 2012-11-13 18:42:00
Our street only has 3 houses on each side and connects to a dead-end street at one end. So, we don't have a lot of traffic at all. Just now and then somebody is driving by to the main road. Yesterday, I was watching Wheelie, our second cat, as she s
are we the last to have this?
Published on 2012-11-11 05:21:00
For a few weeks now we have had tv ads from Coke about 'share a coke' campaign. And, of course, there are huge banners and ads at the stores, too. Have you seen these in your part of the world? If you have, how long have they been around? I'd really
Everybody talks about the weather....
Published on 2012-11-02 05:11:00
Even though I live on an island in the South Pacific, it's a bit farther south than the image that comes to mind when you hear the words 'South Pacific'. But that's ok because it's about the same distance from the equator as the state of Kansas, and
I can only imagine
Published on 2012-10-26 21:59:00
If you need a bit of inspiration today, it's here in this video.
New things since I arrived - Repeat
Published on 2012-10-23 21:03:00
This is a repeat from March 2009. US vs NZ list I was thinking the other day about things that I never
A lifetime commitment
Published on 2012-10-15 22:52:00
Stratford has several parks in town and one of them has a pond where people feed the ducks on a regular basis. In fact, this pond was one of the first places that Hubby showed me when I got to New Zealand. In the 6 years that I have been here and visited the pond, there is always just one white goose among the ducks. I've seen a pair of white ducks on occasion, but never more than the one lonely goose. I know that geese mate for life and I guess Goosy has lost his/her partner along the [..]
How the internet works
Published on 2012-10-08 16:20:00
Provided by:
Happy tail: How the Internet changed ’floating dog’s’ life
Published on 2012-10-01 15:07:00
Happy tail: How the Internet changed ’floating dog’s’ life Knowing he might be only days away from having to euthanize his beloved dog of 19 years, John Unger wanted a friend to take a picture of the two of them together one last time.Courtesy Julie McGarvie Unger"I've taken him for walks on trails that we haven't been on in three years."The resulting photo of Unger floating peacefully in Lake Superior while comforting his ailing shepherd mix, Schoep,
Things I never thought I'd do - repeat
Published on 2012-09-26 21:08:00
Another early post repeat Things I had never done...part deux When I was looking at the
Trivia - A repeat post
Published on 2012-09-19 21:12:00
More NZ trivia My first post of NZ trivia can be found
Early post repeat
Published on 2012-09-10 21:06:00
This is a repeat from 01-09. Well, it's getting to be summer again.
Who watches this stuff?
Published on 2012-09-05 07:05:00
All my life, I was under the impression that shows are on tv because a) they are suppose to be interesting to the general public or
Nancy Wake, the White Mouse
Published on 2012-08-29 22:18:00
I guess guilt was his downfall
Published on 2012-08-20 21:51:00
Here in NZ, 'boy racers' are those young, disrespectful punks that have loud engines and leave tire marks on the road at all hours of the day or night--mostly, night. And, in just about every neighborhood, there is one house that has one boy racer associated with it. Ours is no different. That house is the one that has cars parked all over the yard garden with little kids' toys strewn about. Most of the time there is no problems between neighbors, but on weekends, there is an extra car that sh [..]
The real story behind Curiosity photos
Published on 2012-08-16 21:12:00
Tips from a cult
Published on 2012-08-12 21:40:00
I don't usually watch or even listen to Dr Oz on tv. His followers remind me of a cult and it creeps me out. But, today I had it on in the background and heard some shopping tips that were interesting. Most of the information from his guest makes sense and was enlightening. But the one thing that caught my interest is the 'fact' that those who shop in a clock-wise movement spend less money. Hmmm.Who knew? (Besides, of course, the researchers who make a living finding out these things.) Of cou [..]
Volcano erupts in NZ
Published on 2012-08-06 18:24:00
The first eruption in over 100 years at Mt Tongariro may spark months, weeks or even years of volcanic activity - but poses no immediate risk to the community. Mt Tongariro rumbled into life at 11.50pm last night, sending ash and rock a kilometre into the air and across roads, prompting a potential threat warning for central North Island regions. The "small scale" eruption was a total surprise, GNS volcanologist Michael Rosenberg said. It threw rocks and spewed ash from the Te Mari craters, n [..]
Cats
Published on 2012-08-02 18:00:00
Both Grace (on the left) and Wheelie think my right shoulder is the best place in the universe to sleep. And I have learned how to lean so that the cat doesn't fall off and I can still type with both hands.
Do you remember??
Published on 2012-07-27 18:01:00
A friend sent me a link for some nostalgia from the 50's. Wait for the clowns. They don't make 'em like this any more. Click here for the home page of 'You Remember That'.
My name is Betty and I'm a cheapoholic
Published on 2012-07-18 08:33:00
Yes, indeed, I am pathetic at spending money.
They sound plausible
Published on 2012-07-14 05:41:00
I love trivia. Most word and phrase origins are lost in antiquity, but I really enjoy finding 'facts' that make sense. I don't know if the following 'facts' have any basis in reality, but I don't care. I like the sound of them, so please don't tell me they are wrong. You can't prove they are wrong any more than I can prove they're right! ******************************** In the late 1700's, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down fr [..]
Praying is a dangerous thing!
Published on 2012-07-06 00:14:00
(Blue-you, Red-God) Our Father Who Art
I need my coffee!
Published on 2012-07-01 19:42:00
I quit smoking, gave up men except for one, try to watch my language, can live without alcohol, but can't live without my coffee. Just before I left Kansas, I was lamenting that the casino where I worked had changed from fresh brewed coffee in the machines to Nescafe instant. Since I was used to the fresh brewed stuff, it seemed quite a step down. Little did I know that I would learn to love it. When I
Advice from a tree
Published on 2012-06-26 07:11:00
taken at Hollard Gardens, Kaponga, Taranaki
Wise words from a NZ judge
Published on 2012-06-23 17:47:00
FEBRUARY 13, 2012 Wise Words from a Judge in New Zealand - for Young People and Adults I shake my head in disbelief at some of the things judges say ... but this hit the mark: "Northland College (NZ) principal John Tapene has offered the following words from a judge who regularly deals with youth. "Always we hear the cry from teenagers 'What can we do, where can we go?'... My answer is, "Go home, mow the lawn, wash the windows, learn to cook, build a raft, get a job, visit the sick, st [..]
Some things you might not know about NZ
Published on 2012-06-22 01:37:00
It was probably a New Zealander, Richard William Pearse, who took the world's first flight near Timaru
facts about the ocean
Published on 2012-06-12 20:53:00
I was contacted by email with this and thought it was interesting. The code is at the bottom if you want to share it. Created by: MastersDegree.net [Created by: MastersDegree.net]
cat collar
Published on 2012-06-08 17:50:00
We've had Wheelie for about 5 months now and, as you can see, she has acclimated herself to our home quite nicely!
Caramel popcorn, take 2
Published on 2012-06-01 20:13:00
I really love popcorn and used to make flavored corn. I can't remember where I got the recipe, but I would make it for holidays and pass out popcorn balls to coworkers and friends. That recipe was simple: 1 c corn syrup 1 c sugar 1 box jello (jelly for the Brit side of the world) Bring to boil over medium heat, pour over popcorn, stir. Butter your hands and form balls. Cool on waxed paper (baking paper) on counter. But, since I had no idea what corn syrup was called here and had to be lucky to [..]
Changing environments can change a lot
Published on 2012-05-25 19:26:00
I have blogged about the differences I have found between NZ and the US many times. You can click on 'cultural differences' in my label cloud on the side to read them at your leisure. Sometimes, I'm torn between thinking the NZ government is good or bad with its decisions about health and the environment in general. But, I'm sure they mean well. Before I moved to NZ, I smoked. Mostly just out of boredom, I think. There were no thoughts of 'You have to have a cigarette. Now. Go. Light up. NOW!' [..]
old habits die hard
Published on 2012-05-22 20:31:00
Until this week, the weather has been quite
Never thought of it like this!
Published on 2012-05-16 17:59:00
At least, we're on the green side of the grass!
I can comment on Chrome again!!
Published on 2012-05-12 07:23:00
I really like using my Chrome browser but, for many weeks (or it seems like it, anyway) was having some problems commenting on embedded forms. The blogger help forum has been changed around, so I couldn't really find any help there. I did, however, find that those using IE8/9 were having the same problem, but that didn't apply to me *sigh* So, I downloaded Firefox (my second choice of browsers) and would copy/paste the comment forms from Chrome to Firefox for those few (or not so few, actually!) [..]
supermoon in monochrome
Published on 2012-05-11 00:40:00
supermoon
Published on 2012-05-06 08:47:00
Photos by Hubby and me of the Super Moon on May 6th.
what I learned at the zoo
Published on 2012-05-03 18:23:00
At Pouakai Zoo, outside New Plymouth, there are three white Bengal tigers. We learned a lot from their keeper while we spoke at feeding time. As beautiful as they are with their white and black coats and glimmering blue eyes, we discovered that they are purposefully inbred to get that way. Sadly, their organs are severely damaged from inbreeding. They have to be fed often to keep their weight on, even though they will eat anything that is fed to them. Their beautiful eyes are crossed and badly [..]
And the light went on
Published on 2012-04-27 19:04:00
A few weeks ago, as I was, once again, wondering why the door wasn't closed as I had requested on numerous occasions, I had an epiphany. You see, in the perfect world inside my head, all the interior doors in the house would be left open for ventilation and heat flow and the door to the outside would be closed to keep out flies and other unwanted creatures that didn't fit through the cat flap (or turn the handle and walk in uninvited). But, alas, it seems that the very opposite is my reality. [..]
Rerun
Published on 2012-04-19 18:10:00
My last post reminded me of this one that I thought I'd share-again. I've been in New Zealand for 19 months now and I'm still surprised at the differences. I was just thinking about the first time I was at a public thermal pool. It was outside of Auckland, in July--cold as can be--and a new experience on my second day in the country. My first reaction was excitement for a new experience combined with a bit of sensory confusion.
Tarawhata Hot Mineral Baths
Published on 2012-04-14 18:46:00
For my birthday last week and his next month, Hubby got us coupons for several dips in the Hot Pools. It's soooo relaxing to sit for 30 minutes in a private spa pool filled with as-hot-as-you-like mineral water! There are many such places in New Zealand that use the natural waters that bubble underground as theraputic waters--like Teddy Roosevelt used back in the day. Here are some facts I found about the place we go to in New Plymouth. The Historical Tarawhata Hot Mineral Baths were exploi [..]
Some things cannot be un-seen
Published on 2012-04-09 07:10:00
Today, I saw something that I wish I could un-see. We have a channel that is dedicated to programs in the Maori (indigenous people's) language. As we scrolled this evening through the few free channels that we have, I noticed on the Maori channel that it said 'Mr Ed'. Considering that Kiwis abbreviate everything I didn't think much about it the instant I saw it. A few seconds later, Wilbur and his horse came to mind and I had to back up to make sure that the show wasn't what my brain was tryin [..]
I spoke too soon
Published on 2012-04-03 17:44:00
I was thrilled for a day or two that Blogger fixed my comments problem, but I spoke too soon. I am still having problems with non-pop-up comment pages. I copy and paste the comment page url into Firefox for now and it works ok. But it's just not the same! Hurry up and fix it, Blogger! I paid good money....oh, wait....no I didn't! I like Blogger much better than Wordpress because it's much simpler to use for photos, so I will do what I have to do until it's all 'Otay!' again!
They should have paid attention!
Published on 2012-03-31 17:23:00
On Saturday, we went to the 75th anniversary of the NZ Air Force at Ohakea Air Force Base.
Hooray!!
Published on 2012-03-26 05:53:00
I can make comments with Chrome again! Yay! I downloaded and was using Firefox when I wanted to comment on a blog post that didn't use the pop-up page, but I do love my Chrome and it was like I was cheating big time. Thanks, blogger. I knew you'd come through!
rerun 03/09
Published on 2012-03-24 23:05:00
I have learned many interesting points and many new uses for words since I was in Kansas.
forgiving
Published on 2012-03-18 20:25:00
For other quotes and scriptures, click here.
Peeks into my blog posts
Published on 2012-03-14 18:46:00
I was looking for past posts about a subject I will address later and realized that some of my posts have had lots of visits. Out of curiosity, I scrolled through all of my posts and found some very interesting stats. I'm happy to say that my several posts about NZ trivia got a combined looksy of about 500. The Hawera Push-Bike Pub Crawl got a lot of attention with about 640 clicks on two posts about it. Not surprising, my posts about the 'are kiwis rude?' debate have garnered over 1000 views [..]
Hubby's timing..
Published on 2012-03-07 17:38:00
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!
Flatto peaches and how curiosity killed the cat!
Published on 2012-03-05 16:59:00
I never saw Flatto brand peaches until I got here. The are, indeed, flat, but also delicious! I had finished baking some cookies and, for whatever reason, left the oven door open. A while later, Wheelie was inside the oven but I didn't get the camera fast enough.So, now you know how it could happen!
Sorry, bloggy friends...(2)
Published on 2012-03-03 21:38:00
It seems that I can only comment if the comment form is a pop up. Those embedded at the bottom of the blog page will not publish my comments. Weird. I hope it's remedied soon!
Sorry, bloggy friends...
Published on 2012-03-02 16:56:00
I am not able to comment on many blogs at the moment, so please know that, if you left a comment on any of my blogs, I have visited you!! I hope this is resolved soon.
Can't be done in NZ
Published on 2012-02-27 04:28:00
There is a new reality tv show from Australia starting soon called 'MasterChef Junior'. Like all the reality shows, there can only be one young winner. I'm not sure that I agree that kids should be subject to such things. But I do know one thing. That program would never work in NZ. In NZ, you are taught from the get-go that everybody is a winner. Everybody gets recognition. What we used to call 'graduation' (that was only for your last year in school) is called 'prizegiving' because, you guess [..]
Recipe update
Published on 2012-02-22 18:56:00
I have found a different Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing recipe and have made changes in my recipe posted here. YUM!! http://bettysnzblog.blogspot.co.nz/2009/09/cream-cheese-icing.html *Edit* I noticed later that this recipe has had over 200 views!
Grace's version of Charades
Published on 2012-02-19 16:07:00
I blogged earlier that Grace loves to sleep on my shoulder (click here for that post and photo). But only when I'm on the computer. It sure makes it hard to type with both hands when a large part of my torso is used as a prop for a full-grown cat and I'm slouched at an angle away from the keyboard, but being the sucker that I am, I accommodate her most of the time. Sadly, I'm the only one with that special touch, much to the dismay of us all. I assume it's because I'm here all the time and am m [..]
Baldrick's Big Day Out
Published on 2012-02-13 14:46:00
Living in Stratford, with obvious connections to Shakespeare (he lived in Stratford upon Avon, I live in Stratford upon Patea), we have occasional days to go medieval. Last Saturday was one of those days with "Baldrick's Big Day Out at the park. There were wenches... and maidens.... and knights! Oh, my! And a very tall guy named Stumpy. Click here for more photos.
mystery solved!
Published on 2012-02-07 16:59:00
A couple of weeks ago, I posted about our little container garden (click here for that post) and how pleased I was with its growth. As I went around the house taking photos to upload, I noticed this pot where we had planted some mystery bulbs. Since they looked a bit sad, I was wondering if we had carried the bulbs around too long for them to grow properly. Or maybe they didn't get quite enough water, since the pot was under the eaves. Obviously, we did get a bit of growth, which [..]
about people
Published on 2012-02-03 05:12:00
When I first started blogging, I described myself as being 'older than dirt' and my new family had quite a few good laughs about it.The fact of the matter is, I've been around the block a few times and I've learned a few things about human nature. I'm certainly not a psychologist, but some things about people don't need a degree to be figured out--like the fact that we all see things based on our past experiences. Sometimes, the negative stuff others have had to deal with makes your words [..]
rerun 5/08
Published on 2012-01-28 04:48:00
It's weird living in a wee country that you lose a day of your life getting to. You find that you have taken most everything around you for granted. Like television. In Kansas, I knew that the shows I saw were relatively new. I always figure the American shows we get here to be those that didn't make it very well--you know, the ones that TVNZ can buy cheap, after all, this is a small country with a small budget for EVERYthing. So, I was surprised to find that "Legend of the Seeker" is only a ye [..]
the start of a new garden
Published on 2012-01-22 21:20:00
We have been at the new house for about three months now and the bulbs and seeds that we brought with us have become very happy indeed! I thought I'd share our container garden with you. They have dahlias, impatiens, carnations and the train that Hubby made has begonias. The other plants, I have no idea of names, but I bet you can help me out!
new addition!
Published on 2012-01-20 00:27:00
We have a new addition to the family. It was by default, but nevertheless, she's here. Let me introduce you to Wheelie! (Because she's wheelie stinky when she farts!) She was thrust upon Otterboy by a local personage last week when he stopped to pet her on his way to town. We put up a 'found' poster but got no response so she's now part of our family. She has wasted no time making herself at home.
Who'da thunk?
Published on 2012-01-19 16:57:00
There's so much in this huge world to see that I will never see with my own eyes. Who'da thought 40 years ago that I would be able to visit Siberia or see inside a cell or into outer space?! I am grateful for those that bother to share their world with me. That's why I like to share my photos with those that will never make it to NZ. And for those that set up memes to help me share them without any fuss, a big thank you. Of course, I find some of the places I visit in the blog world a bit like [..]
My personal stats
Published on 2012-01-16 18:26:00
I love to check my feedjit and stats occasionally just to see how folks end up on my blog. I am happy to announce that there has not been one search for 'rude kiwis' or 'are kiwis rude' for about five days now! There have been about 12 searches that ended up at my 'pay it forward' post. And there were a few visits from a blog that I have never heard of before, which is a bit disconcerting. Several Kiwis checked out my post about the memorial to the homeless lady. There were quite a few visit [..]
Back to the grindstone
Published on 2012-01-08 17:00:00
Over the holidays, Otterboy is in the 6-week break between school years and Hubby took 2 weeks off work. Since I don't really get a day off (...a woman's work is never done, you know!) I requested a week of no dishes and got it! That was a heavenly week, let me tell ya. And the dishes were done without complaining or reminding each night. I have the best guys! Otterboy and Maniac (his best bud) are pretty much inseparable these days and it's good they have each other to help with the entertainm [..]
Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark
Published on 2012-01-02 17:58:00
ONE: Don't miss the boat. Be flexible enough to see what's going on around you. TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat, so be kind. THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark. FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done. SIX: Build your future on high ground even if it doesn't make sense to others. SEVEN: For safety's sake, tr [..]
Five years, already?
Published on 2011-07-05 01:08:00
I woke up this morning to Hubby saying 'Happy Anniversary' in my ear. When the fuzzies left my brain, I realized that it's the anniversary of my arrival in New Zealand. Yes, 5 years ago today, at 5:30 am, I got off the plane in Auckland and saw Hubby
How heavy is a glass of water?
Published on 2011-06-30 01:22:00
The young lady confidently walked around the room while leading and explaining stress management to an audience. She raised a glass of water, and everyone knew she was going to ask the ultimate question, 'half empty or half full?' But, sh
Rerun 8/08
Published on 2011-06-21 06:37:00
I wrote quite a few lines before my blog got the benefit of actual readers and followers, so I thought I'd repost some things that you might find interesting.This is a post from August of 2008. Keep in mind that it's winter in our neck of the hemisph
French Silk
Published on 2011-06-16 22:26:00
I haven't tried to make French Silk in years, but I thought I'd give it a try for my chocoholic son. Being that I don't ever remember to buy pie crusts, I just serve it in a bowl like a mousse dessert. It takes a lot of mixing but was a smashing succ
Land agents and hot water-take 2
Published on 2011-06-13 16:14:00
Last October I wrote this post about the trials of trying to get hot water over the weekend. As it turned out, we decided to let the landlord know about the lack of help from his agent and he was as shocked as we were. A few days later, I got a
Baked tacos
Published on 2011-06-09 20:18:00
Otterboy doesn't care for plain flour tortillas, although the rest of us do. When we make tacos for a meal, he eats all the fixings without eating the shells. When I was single, I would sometimes fry one at a time and they were really good, but I can
white kiwi
Published on 2011-06-01 18:52:00
White kiwi makes move to life outdoorsSHABNAM DASTGHEIB MIKE HEYDONWHITE DELIGHT: Manukura, a rare white kiwi chick, hatched at Pukaha Mount Bruce.The white kiwi chick hatched in Wairarapa may be destined for a life in advocacy, having already attrac
1898 Mailbox is retiring
Published on 2011-05-25 17:57:00
It's the last post for this PenfoldJARED SMITH JARED SMITHBOXING ON: NZ Post Hawera postie Mia Aarts and South Taranaki District Council's John Sargeant with the Penfold hexagonal letterbox that is being retired.It has stood tall since the late 1800s
L and P - World famous in New Zealand
Published on 2011-05-24 20:04:00
Otterboy wanted an L&P on our road trip the other day, but all we could find was L&P Dry. I was proud that he decided to 'try it one time' (something he has learned lately). He was reading the label out loud to us as we rode and I thought it
NZ telly
Published on 2011-05-20 01:18:00
So you think you have nothing to watch in the evening? Be glad you don't live here! These are the American shows I can get at the moment. Keep in mind they are not always shown in order nor are they totally up-to-date and they can disappear any
The times, they are achanging???
Published on 2011-05-17 03:20:00
blame
Published on 2011-05-16 22:34:00
thoughts
Published on 2011-05-13 23:26:00
I don't get how people act crazy when a FREE service goes offline for a bit. If I paid for Blogger, I think I would have a right to complain, but I think they did an excellent job of explaining what happened and I don't plan to jump ship any time soo
Happy Mother's Day!
Published on 2011-05-07 16:51:00
Happy birthday, Otterboy!
Published on 2011-05-01 22:01:00
Otterboy turned 15 this weekend. Since he and his bestie, Maniac, are sooo into wrestling, Hubby built a wrestling ring to put around the cake--he's so clever! Happy birthday, kiddo.
Monument for part-time homeless lady...only in NZ
Published on 2011-04-30 20:54:00
Once seen, never forgottenJONATHAN MARSHALL SuppliedMargaret HoffmanSince swinging 60s it's provided refuge for vagrants, beggars and an assorted cast of stiletto- wearing sex workers.For Aucklanders, young and old, Karangahape Rd has long been the
Teen Challenge founder killed in traffic accident
Published on 2011-04-29 09:06:00
One of the greatest evangelists of our time has gone to be with the Lord. Published Wednesday, April 27, 2011 8:30 PM David Wilkerson David Wilkerson — founder ofTeen Challenge which has its South Carolina headquarters in Georgetown County — h
Kinda makes you go, 'Hmmmm...'
Published on 2011-04-25 05:32:00
Sadly, computers do what you program them to do, not what you want them to! Pak 'n Scram tests moralityDAVE BURGESS About 24 people cruised the aisles at Hamilton's Mill Street 'Pak 'n Save' store on Good Friday morning after a computer glitch inc
Classic Carson with Jack Webb
Published on 2011-04-22 18:44:00
I got this in an email and thought I'd share it with you. YouTube - Johnny Carson and Jack Webb by alexjonesnowondailymotion
Who has the power?
Published on 2011-04-17 22:23:00
I'm the type of person who finds logic very comforting. I need to know all the 'why's before I can truly understand the whole picture. For example, back in the dark ages when I went to college, my biology teacher couldn't tell me 'why' a cell decides
Law of the Garbage Truck
Published on 2011-04-10 14:37:00
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car b
It's birthday time!
Published on 2011-04-06 18:48:00
My birthday is in a few days, but with Hubby's schedule and Otterboy only being with us every other week, we usually schedule such celebrations on the last day when we all are at the house. I got a cake baked by the wonderful Otterboy on Tuesday--cho
This is true love
Published on 2011-04-03 18:34:00
It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderlygentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a
looking back
Published on 2011-03-28 16:46:00
I started this blog about a year before I found my way around blogland, long before you wonderfully followers and readers found me. There were a few interesting things you might have missed, so I thought I'd pull up a few highlights. This was a
settling in
Published on 2011-03-22 17:09:00
It seems that I have settled into my new homeland quite well. After all, it's been almost 5 years since I started on this new journey. My new life has taught me many new things. Kids can always melt your heart, no matter where you live. It's pretty
Christchurch memorial service
Published on 2011-03-18 08:58:00
There was a memorial service for the city of Christchurch today. I don't usually watch this kind of tv program, but this one was really moving. Here's what the local paper had to say about it. They came in their thousands, the family, friends
A little help, please
Published on 2011-03-14 23:50:00
This guy and several of his siblings are climbing all over one wall of our house to find a place to become a chrysalis to hang out on the side of the house. I think it might be for a white butterfly, but that's just a guess. Does anybody else have a
thought on this and that
Published on 2011-03-11 03:34:00
Why do I have to enter a code on my tv to watch adult shows but anybody with my remote can upgrade or change my service without the code? And why does the high school still make the students make title pages for reports? They did that in grade schoo
NZ telly
Published on 2011-03-07 23:41:00
There aren't many TV shows or movies that are produced in NZ. Oviously, there are not the resources available to produce shows like there are in the US. I am rather picky about what I watch and a few new series don't appeal to me. I have, though, wat
Who would you like to talk to?
Published on 2011-03-06 04:43:00
I don't know how many times I've been asked this question: "If you could talk to any historical person for one hour, who would you choose?" I'm sure my answer depended on my mood at the time because I really don't have one particular historical fig
Hrumph!
Published on 2011-03-01 17:50:00
Otterboy made fun of my ringtone the other day. It's the Mighty Mouse theme song.... Here I come to save the day!! When did I get that old??
Sometimes, no words are necessary
Published on 2011-02-26 17:46:00
A member of the church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening when the pastor found the man at home, alone, sitting before a blazing f
Kiwis pulling together
Published on 2011-02-23 22:18:00
Hubby showed me this link on trademe (NZ version of ebay) that lists help for the earthquake victims. Christchurch earthquake support link As of this posting, there are 1172 emergency accommodations listed for those who have lost their home
Another earthquake
Published on 2011-02-21 20:20:00
It was in Christchurch again--the same place as last year. This one seems to have done damage to different parts of the city and is quite devastating. I am in the north island, so was not involved. Pleass pray for those that were.
Old-fashioned Hay Day
Published on 2011-02-21 17:28:00
Being a city girl, I really didn't know what to expect at the 'Hay Day' in Tariki last weekend. I was surprised and amazed at the old equipment and vehicles that were still running like new! Grindstone for sharpening blades This is a 'pit saw' for,
Proof
Published on 2011-02-20 18:53:00
...that New Zealand has a low crime rate!!
Kiwano
Published on 2011-02-17 15:31:00
Something happened to me when I moved to New Zealand. I don't know when it happened, but it happened. I became much more curious and adventurous. Maybe it's because I had someone to experience things with. Maybe it's because there are so many things
My husband is a dirty, rotten, stinking liar
Published on 2011-02-14 02:33:00
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
Introducing.....
Published on 2011-02-12 17:49:00
...Gracie, formerly of the Hawera SPCA. A couple of weeks ago, her picture was in the Hawera paper as a new arrival at the SPCA and I told Hubby I wanted her. I never thought I'd actually get her! She's about 2 years old and was given to the
Hubby's been at it again!
Published on 2011-02-10 13:36:00
This is Hubby's latest creation that he sold on trademe. It's a friesian mailbox bought by a dairy farmer.
Are Kiwis rude?
Published on 2011-02-06 15:37:00
This is a question that I have been trying to answer since I arrived in New Zealand four and a half years ago. (You can click the 'rude kiwis' label to read my earlier posts on the subject) For those who haven't followed the whole story, here's a q
The last leg of our holiday
Published on 2011-02-03 18:03:00
The last morning of our trip, the kids got to go fishing one last time. We dropped Hubby's Mum off at the train station to visit her sister in Christchurch and we headed to the ferry terminal. Hubby took these photos while I napped. I enj
various photos from our holiday
Published on 2011-02-02 06:09:00
We rented a 'cabin' (it was an actual house that was as big as ours back home!) for 5 days that had this fella and one of his siblings (or him again) inside every day! This kid was just happily digging his little heart out on the beach. When I inquir
Farewell Spit
Published on 2011-01-31 05:25:00
Click map for larger view to follow our virtual holiday tour. Farewell Spit is a scenic reserve and bird sanctuary. The only way to get to the end to see this lighthouse, without a special permit, is by tour bus. A Maori carving is
Pupu Springs
Published on 2011-01-30 13:54:00
Click map for larger view to follow our virtual holiday tour. Waikoropupu Springs is the clearest water I have ever seen. It's of significance to the Maori people with the following legend: Waikoropupu is the legendary home of the fem
Touch the Sea, Mapua
Published on 2011-01-28 22:59:00
I can't find a website for this small-but-great aquarium, but it was a lot of fun for everybody. You can touch many of the creatures of the sea, including a huge manta ray, huge eels, baby sharks, many fish, starfish, anemones. These baby rays wer
Great holiday, as usual!
Published on 2011-01-27 21:39:00
We had a really great holiday, as we always do. Hubby is the best planner in New Zealand and we were all amazed at the great things and places he found. Hubby's Mum (HM) came in from England and we picked her up at the airport in New Plymouth on Tu
I'm back from holiday!
Published on 2011-01-26 18:11:00
We had a great time and, of course, I took a jillion pictures! Here's a little video that was you might enjoy while I get my photos and thoughts in order...not to mention catching up on some sleep!
TV ads
Published on 2011-01-15 17:10:00
I was looking on YouTube for the New Zealand version of the Aqua Lazer (steam mop) ad. Apparently, the company thinks the ad they show us in New Zealand is too demeaning and condescending to even have it out there for the world to see. First they sh
Life lesson--things are not always as they seem
Published on 2011-01-12 23:40:00
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's' wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. &nbs
Life lesson--everybody is important
Published on 2011-01-10 23:40:00
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"Surely this was s
Pay it forward
Published on 2011-01-07 20:16:00
I was taking some 'me' time, clicking on blog hop sites and ended up at The Lungos blog. I found this fabulous idea (that she had stolen borrowed from another blogger who had stolen borrowed it from another blogger--isn't blogland great!?!)) of
My favorite nameless flower
Published on 2011-01-03 13:54:00
I picked up this flower from a garden center a couple of years ago because it was suppose to be able to withstand drought. I have been trying to find out what it is ever since. In the meantime, I call her Gracie. If you know what she is, please let m
How time flies!
Published on 2011-01-02 02:45:00
I just realized that I had a bloggiversary in December. My very first, tentative post was in December 2007.
I truly started my blog so I didn't have to bug people 'back home' with email updates. I wanted a place where they could catch up w