Heart Felt

Patuna Chasm

More information on Patuna Chasm here.

Winter holiday

We just came home from a few days playing in the snow.  We aren't a skiing family, but the kids had a list of things they wanted to do.

1. Throw a snowball
2. Make a snowman
3. Touch a icicle
4. Ride in a ski lift
5. Make a snow angel
6. Eat snow

All the above have been checked off.

Lake Rotorua

While away the weather wasn't great.....except for a pocket of gorgeous warm weather on Sunday afternoon. 

With spades in hand they dug themselves hot water pools on the lake shore. 

This was one of the highlights of the trip. 

  Shots taken with my Nikon.

Rotorua

The second part of our road trip we spent in the thermal district of Rotorua.  We made the best of miserable weather, but in a way it made the sites look more dramatic.

Wai-o-tapu when translated means 'Sacred Waters'

The mix of naturally formed chemicals and minerals created amazing colours.

This is called the Devil's Bath.

 

Charlie's imagination was sparked with our visit to the buried village.

History of a devastating volcanic eruption, stories of a ghost canoe and fascinating remains of a village made this visit very exciting and airy.

 

And lastly the beautiful Redwood forest.

 

Sadie's birthday wish.....

Sadie's birthday wish was to visit Hobbiton.

If you ever get the opportunity we highly recommended it.  A fabulous tour in a beautiful part of the country.  All the children loved it. 

The guide was full of interesting facts and stories as he was involved in the initial construction of the film set.

The tour guide asked if anyone wanted to act out a small scene from the movie and up went Sadie's hand.  She was a hit.

I think Hugo thought it was there just for him.  Because our group was unusually small the tour guide let him try a few doors and open letter boxes.

At the end we all had a ginger beer in the Green Dragon Inn.

Even if you're not a LOTR fan I think it would be hard not to be impressed.

Road trip

 
The café is a tie and it's hard to get away for even one night.  With a month gone since mum past I decided to pack the car up with a few things and the kids and head up north for a little road trip to visit my brother and sister; leaving Ian behind to keep the café running. 

It was a big decision to go on my own, but I'm so glad I did.  Now that I know I can do it, I'll try and do it a bit more often.

 

Rivendell ~ Lord of the Rings location

I never realised that the scenes of Rivendell from Lord of the Rings was filmed so close to us. 

A short drive and we were transported into Middle Earth. 

Obviously all the sets have been removed, but it is well documented with signs and they have kindly erected a replica arch piece for prosperity.

Either way it's a beautiful spot.  In the summer take a picnic and your swimming togs and if you feel like walking further a field there are plenty of tramping opportunities.

 

Claytown Greytown

Over the summer Charlie and Sadie participated in a community project called Claytown Greytown.  The aim was to make a miniature version of the town Main Street out of clay.  The project was run by our Village Art Shop with the help of local artists, Sam, Maggie and Janie.

 

Sadie and Charlie wanted to do our café Cuckoo,

 

On day two they sculptured people, animals and characters.

 

Day three, they painted their creations.

 

They then were displayed in the Village Town Centre as part of the Greytown Arts Festival.

 

 

 

Now that the arts festival is over they are currently displayed at the Village Art Shop until it's decided what to do with them next.......

 

Climbing Castle Rock

 

I never intended climbing Castle Rock with the children.  It did cross my mind that Charlie could possibly do it, but forgot the idea by putting it into the 'too hard basket'. 

But that evening we watched 'Beyond the Edge', a wonderful movie documentary about Sir Edmond Hillary's climb up Mount Everest.  That put the fire into Charlie's belly and so we did it!

I felt so proud of these two (and of myself actually) and they couldn't wait to get down the bottom so they could tell everyone about their conquest of Castle Rock.

Pictures taken with my phone, not my Canon.

Sand dunes

Sea waves are green and wet,
But up from where they die,
Rise others vaster yet,
And those are brown and dry.

They are the sea made land
To come at the fisher town,
And bury in solid sand
The men she could not drown.

She may know cove and cape,
But she does not know mankind
If by any change of shape,
She hopes to cut off mind.

Men left her a ship to sink:
They can leave her a hut as well;
And be but more free to think
For the one more cast-off shell.

- Robert Frost