“when me, Julie and Nana were out taking photos around our area we went to this humongous,awesome tree! by Mackye”

Mackye is one of my darling great nephews. We have had a lovely day driving along the coast road from Thames to Corrimandal. Along the way we stopped at various spots to take photos, walk in the sand, look at the rocks and beautiful scenery. On one side we had the beach and on the other high undulating hills with sheep, cows, and stunning New Zealand bushland. We travelled through arcades of Pohutukawa trees. Nasturtiums covered the cliff faces with their bright red and orange flowers and I noticed honeysuckle lurking about. Unfortunately both species are now classified as weeds because they take over and reduce the growth of the natives.

Our first stop was at the Te Puru community hall, didn’t actually notice the hall it was this very large, gnarled Pohutukawa tree that caught our attention, it leaned over and gave the impression of bowing to allow us to cross over it.

Of course I could not resist taking some photos with Mackye sitting on the large trunk of this beautiful and wonderful tree.

The Sun kept popping its bright face out and as it did the water would turn multi colours of blue and turquoise with sparkles catching our attention.

Another treat was seeing the volcanic rocks large and small scattered along the beach. So many coloured flowers on the rock faces… purple, blue, white, pink and yellow ~ daisies, buttercups, mullein as well as many natives. It appears that our native Callistemons are a popular tree/bush here and not surprising as they are similar in look to most people with an untrained eye.

The beaches in this area are shell or pebble, unlike our Aussie beaches where the sand is very fine. So much driftwood laying around, the wood so smooth from being washed over by the sea.

Once again I have fallen in love with the country side here in New Zealand my first homeland and today I have decided that I want to work towards having a small batch/cottage here in this same type of environment.

We took a detour up a stoney winding old road and it was sooo peaceful. Along side the road was a fresh water creek running down into the ocean. The houses were old and a couple were very typically English country cottage style gardens, one of my favourite designs. 

I have always preferred the countryside over the ocean and here you can have both. I love the beaches in this area as the waves are low and gentle, peaceful and calming…

My Heart has been touched once again by Aotearoa…Land of the long white cloud.

When we came back to my sisters, Mackye ran to collect the mail and the local paper. There was a write up about the Pohutukawa tree we stopped to admire in awe and it is the second largest Pohutukawa tree in New Zealand!

I have a special place in my heart for Pohutukawas as when I was a young lass, there was one very big one in the school at the back of our home, myself, my youngest sister and nieces would play hide ‘n’ seek and I loved to climb that tree and sit in it. It was magickal and I have had many a dream of those times… laughing, giggling, screaming with excitement… What a wonderful world we live in!

Today was a day that brought so many smiles to my heart. Here I sit wanting to share my story with you… the fire is on, candles lit and I have fragrant red roses from my garden, purple Paulonia flowers( which smell like sweet violets) and honey Myrtle flowers ( that smell like cookies and cream) in various vases around me… Plus a large spray of freshly picked jasmine and smaller cuttings also surrounding me… the fragrance is so Divine!

Every where I walk I capture the fragrance of one of these beautiful flowers and my heart sings with gratitude and bliss because I am able to experience such natural beauty in my home ‘Paradise’.

This morning I woke and did my usual, let the horses (Belle, Aranel and Arwin) out to graze around the house while the boys (Cheeky and Simba) graze in the paddock, chookie girls where let out to free range…oh by the way I have been away for a few days and collected 13 eggs today, what good girls they are (smiling to myself). Isit (dog), Cisco (Burmese cat) and myself go for a walk along the creek to see how deep it is. The rain has been wonderful, although it would be nice to have some more Sun at present. The water table is up and we have billabongs that are 3-4 feet deep. As you can imagine ‘Paradise’ is lush and green everything is growing with abundance… not bad for one of the driest continents in the world!

I always have to go to our faerie glade… the energy down there gives me goosebumps it is so alive with fairy wrens and the like, beautiful ferns and rock faces… Oh it is pure beauty in its natural form and to imagine this being apart of the ocean once upon a time…It is healing, meditative and so so magickal.

Back to the house and I sit on the veranda with a hot cocoa, breathing in the fresh clean air, becoming one with nature, my morning ritual. Tis so pleasant being connected with Mother Nature, the birds flitting around the babblers hoping around and those blasted Sulphur crested cockatoos have attacked our old lemon tree and left half eaten lemons lying around and now the horses have decided to have a taste! Don’t get me wrong I love our natives, it is just that they are so naughty when no one is around… I really do prefer the yellow tailed black cockies…

Just as I was about to settle down and get into my to do list, I could see some people walking up our driveway… as they get closer I see that they are two young girls…of course I go out to greet them and say hello. Now we are not anywhere near a main road and I new that they were staying at a neighbours as people don’t just wonder around the streets…well actually they do…lol. However it is nothing like the city.

The girls introduced themselves and told me that they have stayed in the valley before and patted our horses. They were wondering if they could pat them more and also wanted to meet me/us as they loved it here. The young ladies were 14 and 15 years young, ever so polite and chatty, which of course I thought what a delight!

We chatted, they investigated and spent time with the horses, dog, cat, bunny and chookies. They took photos and videos of the animals, groomed the horses and well it was gorgeous.

I asked them if they had, had lunch and they said no, their parents had gone for a drive and the girls just wanted to hang around and chill. So I offered them lunch as we had plenty of eggs, I had no bread though, so very eagerly they said we do and went back to get some bread. When they came back they had a wee picnic basket filled with cheese, wild rocket, wraps and soft drink. I thought they were just lovely and I was so impressed!

Well, we sat down to lunch on the veranda getting to know each other. As I write this I can not help but smile, it was one of the most beautiful days I have had. I really was thrilled to meet such lovely, honest, most polite young ladies, who absolutely loved being here. They even commented on how much they would love to live somewhere like this, which is unusual for teenagers. Well at least many that I know.

The girls are both in scouts, very confident and what really stood out was that they were very aware and very grateful of their experiences here in the midst of Mother Nature herself.

Oh when they came back with the basket of goodies, they brought me some handpicked flowers… A rose, some jasmine and another flower which I am not not of… I of course could not stop smelling the jasmine as I simply adore it and it fills me with fond memories and such happiness. Then the girls offered to bring me some more as they would have to go past our place on their way back to New Castle. Well they spent a good 4 hours here and we all had such a lovely time, I was so happy that they were truly enjoying themselves and that they felt comfy and safe. In such a short time we got to know each other pretty well really, emails and phone numbers were swapped and I told them that the next time they came to let their parents know that we should all have a BBQ and get together. 

Guess what! On their way out they popped in with their Dad and gave me a gorgeous bunch of Jasmine which is trailing from a vase close by. I met their Dad, who said that the girls where excited and had a lovely time. I then invited them back and we all look forward to spending some more time together.

The joys of living in the country where people really do take time to share and care… I LOVE IT!

Oh I did take some photos on my phone however I can not seem to download/upload, whatever it is you do and the girls tried as well. So the photos will come. However I have attached a photo to represent our celebration today.

Blessing s to you lovelies, with Smiles all around xxx

 

Every time I smell Jasmine from this day on I will never forget what a beautiful day I have had…

Our true reality is in our identity and unity with all life.

- Joseph Campbell

Dancing through life …

There are times when it is hard to believe in the future, when we are temporarily just not brave enough. When this happens, concentrate on the present. Cultivate le petit bonheur (the little happiness) until courage returns. Look forward to the beauty of the next moment, the next hour, the promise of a good meal, sleep, a book, a movie, the likelihood that tonight the stars will shine and tomorrow the sun will shine. Sink roots into the present until the strength grows to think about tomorrow.

~ Ardis Whitman

If there are a hundred steps
In thy path to success
And ye have not reached it
In ninety-nine of them
Do not conclude
That the journey is a failure.
Press on and up…
the prizes are generally at the end of an effort,
not at its beginning…
and not to go on
is to miss them.
Be valiant… have faith in yourself.
Success belongs to him
who dares to win it.

~ George S. Forest

The chief beauty about time
is that you cannot waste it in advance.
The next year, the next day, the next hour
are lying ready for you,
as perfect, as unspoiled,
as if you had never wasted or misapplied
a single moment in all your life.
You can turn over a new leaf every hour
if you choose.

Arnold Bennett~

The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give. The joy of life is to love.

William Arthur Ward~

Hold strong to your values…
These define who you are
Lead by example
Your Path of the Peaceful Warrior
Is honour, honesty and integrity
In this will always be contribution and service to others
You will always then be in strong connection with your energy
Resonating out love and abundance.

By Edel O’Mahony

Inside every human shell ………. a person
Inside every person ……….. emotions
Inside every emotion …………..feelings

Each person has the need
………to feel….
……to expresss…..
……….to share……

So let’s not pretend…….we need each other !By: I Love you Forever
Art by Saffet Tuncel