12/30/17

Strange clouds

I snapped this from my front porch a few evenings ago at sunset. 
The clouds over Stratford (to the right of the mountain) looked like a tornado to me!






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12/28/17

William Birch Pool

This is where we actually had our Christmas Day picnic. 
Although I could find very little information on the place, I  did find a few articles.

The Ototoka Stream feeds what was once a community swimming pool known as 
William Birch Pool.
It was built in the 1934 and used by Maxwell School, nearby, according to this site.


Since it wasn't easy to get to the ocean, the Pool became a public place for swimming.


After falling into disrepair, it was filled in with dirt and then eventually restored according to this article with public toilets installed at the entrance gate.


As we sat on a bench eating our lunch, I could imagine the activity this place saw at the height of its popularity with moms in their modest suits watching young ones in the shallow end and older children jumping off the diving board at the other end.



It seems that the water quality [*fighting urge to be sarcastic about 'New Zealand, 100% pure' campaign*] is the main reason it isn't maintained.


It's easy to see why it was a popular place and, even though I never saw it in its heyday, 
I feel quite sad that it sits unused.



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12/27/17

toetoe and WATW


Toetoe is a native grass in New Zealand. It is similar to introduced pampas grass but
isn't as fluffy and usually only hangs from one side of the stem.

Linking up to: My Sunday Best




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12/26/17

more Christmas Day walk

We found lots of fun stuff at Waiinu Beach.














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12/25/17

Christmas Day in New Zealand

At our house, Christmas Day calls for a picnic, usually at the beach.
Some of the beaches were a bit crowded as the weather was hot!


So, we found a not-so-crowded beach and took a stroll.



Because of the dry weather, the pohutukawa trees were blooming a bit ahead of schedule.
There are definite advantages to a southern hemisphere Christmas.


Good Random Fun



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12/22/17

black and white









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12/20/17

Wednesday around the World

Christmastime without cold and snow still doesn't seem like
Christmas, but I'm getting used to it :)

Link up below to share what's going on in your world this week.






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12/19/17

a bit of this and that










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12/18/17

Merry Christmas to my blogger friends






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12/16/17

monochrome










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12/15/17

up the mountain

Hubby took me for a ride up the mountain to show me the foxgloves growing along the roadside.

There was a lot to see in the short ride!




The little flat spot in the middle is an actual ski field. 


Bits of foxglove color popped up all along the road.











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