Latest snap shots

One of my new flower gardens in bloom.

New retaining wall on the road leading to "Heaadlands."

What it looked like before. Not only was it ugly but also a liability in heavy rains. Slips created havoc with our road.

Max, Major and me in "Little Red" on a fine spring day.

It's nearly Christmas as the Pohutukawas are flowering.

Spring at "Headlands"

Flowers are bursting out at "Headlands," including nasturiums....

My first passion fruit buds...

a passion fruit flower...

Rengarenga lillies, a native lilly.

A Cook Islands Holiday

Beautiful beaches everywhere!

We toured Rarotonga in grand style.

Bernard and Hannah at an impressive waterfull.

Our hostess Lady Marito Maoate, Bernard, Hannah and Katharine.

The guest house at the Moate's, our comfortable home in Rarotonga.

The two K's and Bernard enjoy fresh coconut milk and Kathryn sports her new Cook Islands hat purchased at the Saturday morning market.

Bernard learns to husk coconuts.

Our unit at Paradise Cove in Aitutaki.

Roosters are everywhere on Rarotaonga. Katharine makes a friend at the beach. The Maoate's lovely home and gardens in Rarotonga. A baby red-tailed tern. Paula, our hostess in Aitutaki, sponsored a stand of local island crafts, including her own, for visitors from a cruise ship. We, of course, had to shop too.

In late August I traveled to the Cook Islands for some warm weather and adventures with my good friend Katharine Bowden and two of her grandchildren. We stayed with long standing friends of Katharine's in Rarotonga for the first part of our trip where we toured the beautiful island, ate gourmet meals at home and in restaurants and swam and snorkeled nearly every day. We also flew to Aitutaki and stayed at a wonderful resort owned by their son and daughter-in-law. Called Paradise Cove, it really was a piece of paradise with bungalows on the beach where we swam and snorkeled. We also toured the Aitutaki Lagoon and its beautiful islands and again found wonderful meals at restaurants and at Paula and Junior's home. Above are some snap shots of our time in the Cooks Islands, where I wish I were today as it is bucketing with rain at "Headlands." But my newly planted gardens will appreciate the soaking. Photos of spring at "Headlands" in better weather to follow. (To learn more about the Cook Islands, see http://www.cookislands.travel/.)

Visiting Kaua'i

Brad and Ampy invited me to join them for a 10th wedding anniversary holiday on the Island of Kaua'i the first week of August. We swam, snorkeled, ate great food and met up with my cousin Connie and her husband Ron who live on the island (eighth photo). A fabulous time was had by all. Above are a few snapshots of us and of the beautiful places we visited.

Steve's tree is standing upright again

With lots of talent, two hours of work and two assistants, friend and neighbour Guy Bowden put the puriri tree upright again, supported now by three wire guys. We've decided not to prune it yet. Guy and his wife Sandra own the native plant nursery nearby and he knows New Zealand native plants and trees. He is hopeful the tree will survive because puriri are so hardy. His assistants, daughter Hanna and me, mostly watched in awe although we were able to help with forming the padding around the wire and Hanna had a good go at sawing down the guy pegs. Everyone please say a prayer, novena, chant or whatever for Steve's tree. Major was there giving us moral support. Sorry about the photos being back to front, but I am still getting the hang of posting on this blog. If you are interested in native New Zealand plants, please see Guy and Sandra's web pages at Tawapou.co.nz. Great photos and great reading.

What a Storm!

Last night it blew and blew--gusts up to 130 kilometers, we think (my wind gage isn't working). It's still blowing today but not as hard. Sadly, the gusts blew over our beautiful puriri tree which was planted in memory of our Godson's father, Steve. We are hoping that we can prune it back and stake it back up for new life to come. We can't do anything until the wind stops blowing so as not to damage its roots anymore than they have been damaged. We also lost some branches off other trees and shingles off the roof. There is plenty of work to do tomorrow! In the meantime, we are watching the huge swells crash on the rocks.

Ronald's rainbow

Yesterday was the second anniversary of Ronald's passing. A few friends and I went down to the point to lay fresh flowers where his ashes are and suddenly it started to rain, just as it did on the day of his Memorial Service. And then as we walked back to the house the most amazing rainbow appeared, just as it did on the day I wrote on the Carepage that he had passed. Coincidences? I don't think so. Here is Ronald's rainbow.

More photos from the USA

I'm a bit tardy but here are more photos from my trip to the USA. Above is my Aunt Orel reading to her great grandson Ronnie and Dad and me at his home, both photos by cousin Ron. Below are my photos: Brad with Ginger; Dad and his new car; dinner at the Tuscan Table in Circleville with cousin Ron, wife Milisa and son Ronnie, Dad and Marilyn.