Category: Random Things

This is the view from our ‘Condo’ in Queenstown.  I think it was the Silver Villas or Platinum Villas.  AND this was the bad view!!! No Joke!

there is about a 25% ‘hudson’ instagram filter on this to vignette it but otherwise this was the view… the whole place looks like a Bob Ross painting mixed with a Paramount logo.  It’s a massive matte painting everywhere.

It’s as unbelievable as it is remarkable!

That said, we also visited a place where cross country skiing olympians train from around the world, The Snow Farm.  That was the same view issue, the views distraction will cause you to wreck.  BUT BUT BUT BUT they were kite skiing there!!!

Kite Skiing is what I use to do every year for 10+ years back in western PA.  I miss it so much, next year the gear will be here and I WILL be down at the snow farm.

Side note a lot of tire and car companies test traction control and tire patterns just next door to this place!!! That may sound boring to a lot of people but I’d love to see that someday.

Jill read a article yesterday morning that they best thing to do today(yesterday) was to grab your cat, snuggle up in bed and just stay there.  Everyone here has been saying that it’s been a very mild winter but with the radio warning everyone of the weekend and next week, it truly is here now.

It was cold, granted it isn’t as cold as it gets in PA in the winter/spring. I think it’s more of the wild temperature swings.  If the sun is out it’s probably great! if the sun is out and it’s a northerly then it’s cold. If the clouds are out then it might be ok during the day but if the clouds are out and it windy, bundle up.

Ned does have plenty of insulation but most of these Kiwis are tough cookies.  They will be out in t-shirts and shorts and I’m fighting the urge to wear my Dr.Who scarf.

That said, I do miss snow.  Seeing it on the mountain tops is really a treat and next weekend we are going skiing!

 

 

Jill travels for her work. Ned and I miss her on her long trips and we know she misses us. So when she had a Friday trip to Napier Ned and I joined in. Thankfully we found the Fern Motel, which allows dogs.  Rather nice place too.

I need to go out next week and photo all the lambs that were born in the past week and a half. It really is adorable to see.  Since we were in a car getting to her destinations as fast as is allowed I couldn’t take those photos.  Somewhere in Central Hawkes Bay, which so far has the best 2nd hand/antique stores I’ve run into, I snapped this from the passengers seat.

I really want to head back out to this spot on a clear night and set up for some night sky photography.  One can easily see the Milky Way from our house near Wellington, out where this old house is it has to be stunning!

 

So, most days I take Ned up to the dog park to get his socializing in.  If the weather is ok and the tide out I’ll take him to the beach just a block away.  This day I parked, walked Ned up and threw the ball,  And as Ned ran out ahead of the second ball a little black head popped out the water. He was coming straight in and to the beach and looked at me and then at Ned, did a backflip and was out of there!  This photo is from about 20 seconds after that when he kept popping up and looking at us with a, ‘what in the world are they!’, look.  I watched him swim south (where he needs to go).  The odd thing was no one else on the beach, which their were a good number of people that day, even noticed.  So I’m glad I got a few photos and a few seconds of video I need to post.  The video shows Ned FINALLY noticing him.

That night he was reported a bit further south but still not near where he should be.  I guess the young male pups will leave their parents and swim north on their own while the females stay close to mom.  I don’t know if this is true but it is what I was told by locals.  He had plenty of energy when I saw him (in my opinion at least) so I’m sure the little fellow is ok but what a sweet experience.