Big Afros & Riding Bikes

We've been riding our bikes a lot lately. It's starting to get crisp and rainy in Christchurch. The leaves are turning a beautiful golden color before they turn loose.

It's strange to be gearing up for Winter in May. We decided to take a trip to the States in July to break things up. Our friends in Seattle are getting married and they've asked Andy to be their officiant for the vows. So, we are going to fly into L.A. and stay there for a few days to visit Mandy & Emily. Then we will go to Seattle for a week or so & visit our friends there. I will probably go to Arkansas to visit my family after that.

I miss my dad. He's starting to build his house this summer, so hopefully I will get to help out a little and hang out at the barn for an evening hot tub soak. I love it out in Booneville. It's really relaxing. I'm glad he's getting out of Van Buren and out into the woods like he's always wanted.

I'll hopefully get to see some friends and my sisters, Malen, Mackenzie, and Shannin (my cousin-like-a-sister).

I love planning trips. Almost more than the trip itself....well, almost!

Sydney

Last week I went to Sydney, Australia to meet up with a friend from college. He is a hair stylist in St. Paul now and was traveling to Sydney to do hair for a wedding. It was so much fun and so great to see him. We hadn't seen each other in six years, but it was like no time had passed. He looks exactly the same.

Sydney was an amazing city. So much culture and so many things to do. I took a lot of photos and walked around so much. Too much, actually! My feet are killing me. They have great public transportation, but I found myself wanting to do what I call "urban hiking". There are so many beautiful art deco buildings and so many beautiful gardens.

Now I'm back in Christchurch boiling my water. The city is still reeling from our recent earthquakes. The waste treatment plants are not doing well and the water and beaches are still unsafe to drink or swim in. It's going to be a difficult winter for the people of Christchurch.

I haven't found a job here yet. I'm sure that it will happen in time. I've been busying myself with yard work and going to the YMCA every day. Meeting people has been a little difficult for me. Our community is much older, which is fine, but I would like to meet some ladies closer in age that share my interests. Now that the entire downtown is closed off for a few years I'm wondering where people are hanging out? It's sad, it was such a beautiful downtown. And it will be again, it will just take time.

Kiwi Times

Doing some reading, gardening, & cooking in my new home.

I finished "Just Kids" by Patti Smith about her & Robert Mapplethrope. I enjoyed her writing style and thought it was a loving memoir of two New York artists. It’s prompted me to read "On the Road" which I’ve never read before. I think I’m finally ready. And I re-read "Into the Wild", which is a favorite. I also got into Agatha Christie over the last year. Christchurch has a lot of her novels for cheap and they always have an interesting twist.

Growing onions, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, pears, and figs. Trying to grow some sunflowers, but I think it’s too late in the season for that. I’ve got lavendar already started. Roses and dahliah’s too. There are some other flowers and plants already planted and I don’t know what they are. I need a New Zealand plant and herb guide book so I can figure out if I’ve just been growing a pile of weeds.Books can get expensive here so I’m trying to pace myself.

I found a great birding guide that has been very useful in identifying several birds here. I bought a new pair of binoculars (Andy Fever calls them Private Eyes) for birding. We took a hike through the Port Hills to the Pacific Ocean and I saw some dolphins. Their dolphins are small and compact here. Very adorable.

While I was working at the art gallery/retail space in Seattle I was able to buy some nice art supplies. I’ve been working on some drawings and plan to start painting once our belongings arrive by ship in late March.

I’ve yet to start job hunting, but I’m hoping to start volunteering at the Christchurch Art Museum so hopefully that will help me get on there. I already have a work visa so the hardest part is over. Although their recent earthquake has made jobs difficult to find. I’m not sweating it because I’ve got my bountiful garden to tend and plenty of books to keep me occupied.

New Zealand

I finally made it to New Zealand after six long months of waiting for our cats to be able to travel. They are being held at a lovely quarantine station in the country. It might go down in history as the first time that bringing animals out to the country to live on a nice farm was actually not a euphemism for putting them down. They are actually doing fine out on a nice farm until the 22nd of February.

I've been here for a week now and I'm really settling in nicely and have enjoyed setting up our new place. We went for a fun weekend drive to some beautiful areas called Akorora & the Port Hills. Photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mishamac/sets/72157625865696405/