Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Thursday 25 December 2014

Christmas Greetings

 

From Sunrise to Sunset, and all in between.

Many Good Wishes to all my friends, have wonderful days with family, and  friends, and I send you so many thanks for your love, care, good wishes and support, specially over the last few months. Last night, Santa arrived about 10 p.m. I had visited Trade Me,  Hugh needed a mobility scooter. I sent a message, Wit replied, he said he would deliver( what a wonderful couple they are), we drove up town to the money machine, stopped on the way by a police squad doing breath checks!!!.  The car and trailer arrived,  the scooter  is wonderful, a life-saver in so many ways . Thanks Wit and Roxanne, so very  much. That was yesterday in a nutshell.

sunrise  Dec 17th. 5.50 a.m.

 

house from the front lawn

 

house  from the back lawn

Let it snow, they said, It did, August 2011

house at 7.10 a.m aug 15th 2011

Trees , not a  single one inside  this year, I have left the decorations to nature, The English Elm Tree,  green leaves, branches sloping down, a canopy for shade.

Elm tree  Christmas Day 2014

December 2014 collageSunset colours

Christmas Day here, fine, some  sunshine, a quiet day together, I reflect on the year that has been, and have hopes for 2015 to bring health and happiness all round, with Peace and Joy to everyone.

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ The greatest gift you ever receive is not found in a shop or under the tree.

It is  found in the hearts of your family and  true friends”

Greetings from Jean

Sunday 21 December 2014

Raindrops on Blossoms

 

We had rain overnight, grey skies again this morning, a smidgeon of sunshine peeping through the clouds.

Jim, up North in Nova Scotia,  we do have sunshine, but this year  it is having an extended holiday.

Yesterday we reached 30 Celsius, way too  hot for outside work. This morning grey clouds scattered their way across the morning, with a peep of sunshine coming in when I returned to the Easterly view.

Raindrops on pink Alstromeria flowers

This is looking to the East, not a glimmer of sun yet.

morning sky in grey and white

over to the Western side, much the same.

morning sky in the West in December

Back to the East, and a glimmer of light shining through the clouds.

Here comes the sun

Quotation of the day, author unknown

“ When the wind blows at gale force, hurl the sails,

ride out the storm,

and reach calmer water in due course”

Greetings from Jean

Wednesday 17 December 2014

Do you play a good hand of cards??

 

This morning there was again glorious colour at sunrise. No-one else  nearby to see me wander out in dressing gown and gumboots, so quiet and peaceful, soon at 5.30 a.m.

sunrise  Dec 17th, 5.45 a.m.sunrise  Dec 17th. 5.50 a.m.

sunrise , almost 6 a.m. and a sliver of moon #2

The sky, those colours, and the quietness gave me some sense of peace, after 2 troubling days. Hugh is  again, or continuing to have severe pain from  his spinal problems.Monday was a  blur, Tuesday off to hospital by ambulance. This time, I guess I looked tired, exhausted, I was both, well and truly…. and played the card of despair!!No need to embellish,  or tell  a lie, or even turn on the tears… just told them how it is, and it is getting too hard, for both of us.   Before they could see me deal out another hand, it was all arranged. Second opinion here, another one through our GP at a different hospital. Fresh eyes, different ideas, maybe we will get  some very straight answers. The doctors we saw made the decision quickly, all was done quite some time  before we left,   and the nursing staff were  very caring, and  thoughtful … I cannot tolerate a Doctor who will not tell the truth, and  dodges the answers so carefully.

The wisp of colour floating by

Christmas will be here next week, I am not ready for guests, presents are not ready, baking has not been done,  but after The Sydney Siege and the Pakistan slaughter, our troubles are so small .I cannot understand any of this, and wonder what the world has done to deserve  these atrocities.

Quotation of the day, by Jean de La Fontaine

Sadness flies away on the wings of time.

Greetings from Jean

Thursday 11 December 2014

The Days as They Are

 

I am never sure what a day will bring, and morning arrives far too early.Early for me has been about 5.30 or 6 a.m. but for some time  now it has begun  at 4.a.m. or so.Hugh wakes,  the crutches go clickety-clack up the hall, coffee is made and the fire lit. ( a fire in December, we are already starting to use next winter’s wood, so more trees will be felled very soon!!!)  And friends near us are also still having a fire,  they are struggling to find December is so cool !!!The last time we  visited the hospital I asked, very politely and quietly,  if they could replace these ones with some that do not click!! The nurse just looked at me, as if I had asked for diamonds!!! I’m sure she doesn’t listen to it all day!!! She gave Hugh a new set, and they both click now.

On a bright note… a very bright note,( not to mention  very expensive),… we went shopping on Monday, and Hugh has the Rolls Royce model of a Lazy-Boy chair.I tried to take a photo, but  with so many windows there was too much light. And, guess what, both Felicity and Ginger Boy have found it to be so  comfy. So you can sit, rock, recline,or sleep, Photo courtesy of the Internet.

Grand Courtland recliner

Some flowers taken in previous years to brighten the days of those further North, I see many of you have winter cold,  with snow falling as I write.

Golden Day Lily

First Day Lily October 2013

Bearded Iris Bud

Bearded  Iris Bud

Golden Lachenalia

Golden Lachenalia #1

Japanese Iris

Japanese iris framed

Apricot Day Lily

Apricot Day Lily

Deep Purple Bearded Iris

Deep purple bearded Iris

Bletilla  Striata, delicate and dainty

Bletilla bulb October 2013

Quotation of the day by Doe Zantamata

“ Taking time to do nothing

often brings everything into perspective”

Greetings from Jean