Heart Felt

Cwmglyn Farm & Middleton Model Railway

In the school holidays we took the children north of Masterton to Cwmglyn Farm (pronounced Coom-Glin) where Biddi the owner makes the most exquisite cheese from her free range cows.  The sweetener for the children is the Middleton Model Railway located on the same property and run by Biddi's husband.

While you taste the cheeses the children get to push buttons and make the model trains go round and round the tracks.

A must visit and of course to purchase some cheese straight from the source.

For operating hours click HERE

Tyrannosaurs - Meet the family

Tyrannosaurs - Meet the family

Te Papa Museum ~ Wellington

27th September 2014 - 8 February 2015

Blueberries

 Saturday afternoon I took the children blueberry picking at an organic property ~ Blueberry Farm in the beautiful Akatarawa Valley.  

It was super hot and hard work, but the children did well picking nearly a bucket full of small sweet blueberries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The property has access to the river so afterwards we were rewarded with a lovely swim in the river.

A beautiful place to visit with very friendly owners. Take your swim gear, unfortunately don't rely on the cafe to be open, but they are happy for you to bring along a picnic with you. 

Blueberry Farm 

1229 Akatarawa Road

Upper Hutt,  5372

(04) 526 6788

[email protected]

http://www.blueberryfarm.co.nz

 

P.S. We made blueberry ice-cream and blueberry pancakes ~ so good!

 

The lost treasure of Captain Yellow Beard

Last week we flew up to Auckland to visit Captain Black Dog (aka Grandpa) ~ you can read about Captain Black Dog here.  

He lives on the coast about 40 minutes from Auckland in a small settlement called Kaiaua.

As we explored the beach Sadie found something amazing!

The long lost treasure map of Captain Yellow Beard!

 

 

"At Taramarie where the godwits fly,

Boots and shoes are hanging out to dry.

100 paces north by the south,

Drowned post,

There's a driftwood tree long lost.

Here neath the 'X' I laid to rest,

My loot and plunder in an old treasure chest!

 

The next day we set off to search for Captain Yellow Beard's treasure, clue by clue ~ shovels in hand.

Adventures at the beach

Our four day holiday at the beach turned into a week!   The children had a fantastic time, although we experienced four seasons in one day ~ typical of New Zealand weather.  One moment it would be sunny, then gale force winds, we got caught in thunderstorms and then experienced the most beautiful harvest moons in the evening.   It didn't bother the children either way, they still went swimming every day, made sandcastles, explored the landscape and wildlife and went fishing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pinnacles

On Sunday we had another family adventure.  I've been keeping this trip for when the children were a bit older, but thought we would give it a go.  My parents took us here when we were about 7 or 8 years old. The last time I was here Ian and I had just met and I use to take him on these crazy outings, places he had never been before.

The Putangirua Pinnacle walk follows a stream bed up into a valley where you discover incredible towers of rock.  They are breath taking and the photographs don't do their natural wonderment justice.  This is a must see!  They are naturally made by time, erosion, wind and rain.

 

If you are Peter Jackson fan you might recognise the location in his movie Brain Dead or more likely from the movie Return of the King where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli ride along the Dimholt Road to meet the Army of the Dead.

The walk isn't too hard, but you do have to pick your path carefully along the river bed.  Be prepared for muddy and wet feet.   I wouldn't really recommend taking small children unless you're prepared to carry them some of the way or if they are use to walking distances.  Charlie and Sadie have been groomed to walk tracks, while Oscar still needs a little help.  Good shoes are needed, a water bottle and take a light snack with you.  It can get cold so be prepared.

Oscar called the pillars 'castles' and he said we were 'looking for treasure' and then he got all scared because of the 'dragons'.  Fantastic imagination, but in a way it felt so airy he could of been right about the dragons!

 

Charlie was in heaven ~ discovering fossils

The eels of Anzac Bridge ~ book giveaway

One of our favourite times of the day is snuggling up in front of the fire with a couple of picture books before bed time.  

After Anzac Day Charlie has shown a lot of interest in soldiers, the world wars and especially his great grandfathers who fought in World War II.  

His choice of book this particular evening was "The eels of Anzac Bridge".

Eels of Anzac Bridge

Written by Ali Foster

Illustrated by Viv Walker

Published by Wairarapa Archive and Fraser Books.

 

It's a thoughtful but beautiful tale of a young man who leaves his home and family and travels far across the seas as a soldier in the Great War.  His journey entwines with another great journey of a local eel as it too travels far to it's breeding grounds in the Pacific Ocean ~ both eel and soldier never to return.

While the baby eels made their way back to the river of it's parents a memorial bridge was erected in memory of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the war ~ and was named 'Anzac Memorial Bridge'.

The story stirred thoughtful contemplation within both Sadie and Charlie with them both agreeing that (in Charlie's words) "everything has a life cycle".

What made this story even more interesting is that Anzac Bridge is a real bridge located north of Masterton in the small community of Kaiparoro.  So we decided to make a family pilgrimage to visit the place where the story was inspired.

The bridge was opened in 1922 and has a lovely Art Deco style to it.  Names of those honoured are listed and it was exciting for the children to compare the illustrations to the real bridge itself.

Under the bridge is a perfect home for eels.  We didn't think to bring some meat with us, it would of been fun to lure any eels out of their hiding places.

Daddy played a trick on the children by finding a piece of driftwood that looked just like an eel!

GIVEAWAY...

Wairarapa Archive has kindly offered my Heart Felt readers the chance to win their own copy of 'The eels of Anzac Bridge".  

All you need to do is leave a comment and you are in the draw.

Giveaway is open to anyone around the world.

I will randomly select a winner this time next week.

Or you can purchase your own copy at the Wairarapa Archive or online here. 

Good luck! Jx

Castlepoint

We spent three glorious days at Castlepoint with Grandma and Granddad.  It was quite windy, but it didn't stop us from exploring this fascinating landscape.

The lighthouse is always interesting and the views are beautiful.

There's a native moth that only resides here at Castlepoint and also a rare yellow daisy that grows wild only in this area!   How special and amazing is that!

Charlie was in fossil heaven, I will share his findings tomorrow.

The kids made friends with the local seagulls by feeding them everyday.

Lots of sand castles, amazing sand art

and scavenger hunts.

(Sadie ticking off 'feather' on her scavenger list)

The sand dunes were fabulous

along with the big tractors that pull the fishing boats in and out.

Castlepoint is a special place, along with it's beauty, wild life and landscape it holds an amazing history.

(Castle Rock in the background)

The Maori name for Castlepoint is Rangiwhakaoma, which translates as 'where the sky runs'.

How beautiful is that?

Wellington

Exploring the City to Sea Bridge

Te Papa Museum is always a favourite.

Charlie was in awe of the raptors

and Sadie had the kids well organised in the

play shop in the Kiwi Corner Store at the Inspiration Station.

Lunch and bottles of Foxton Fizz at Maranui Cafe

A drive around the bays on a summers afternoon is a perfect way to end the day.

Charlie's holiday to Auckland

Charlie and I had a marvellous time up in Auckland.  His first plane ride was exciting and exhilarating.  He shouted out 'Yee Ha!' as we took off which made the whole plane chuckle.

Grandpa met us at the airport and he took us out for dinner.  Charlie said it was the best meal he had ever had.

The next morning Charlie met his pen-pal Billy.  Billy and Charlie share the same birthday, so it was great to finally meet him, his brother Arlo, Gabrielle and Ange.  Billy showed Charlie how to play pinball, he had a great time.

That afternoon we went to Kelly Talton's Aquarium.  Charlie has now added Marine Biologist to his list of career options (which also include Archaeologist, Paleontologist and Vulcanologist)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auckland  is a volcanic area and Charlie was fascinated with the rocks and earth formation.   We went on some beautiful walks.

 

 

 

Saturday was the show 'Walking with Dinosaur's.  It was INCREDIBLE!  

Sunday we visited some local markets and then spent the afternoon at the Auckland Museum.  I love 'old school' museums.

Happy to be home!

Thank-you for entering the Heart Felt giveaway.  I will announce the winner tomorrow.