Tui in action...

We had some old family friends from Canada here last weekend. They're actually on their way down here again today, which will be very cool. This time I get to see a girl that I grew up with, but whom I haven't seen since I was 9.

A bit freaky. he he.

We used to spend every Easter at their farm in Edmonton till we moved over here.

Anyway.... We took Tui for a spin last weekend. Was great fun, and she went so well. She's hardly acting her age. Turns 25 in May.

Time to let go......

The house is on the market.

It feels like the right thing to do now, and yet I'm sad at the idea of letting go. The blood, sweat and tears that went into that place.

Still, a new season and time for big changes. Hopefully the house will sell quickly, and there won't be any more dramas with tenants who aren't paying rent. he he.

More character and more growing.

New Plymouth

I was down in New Plymouth back in January for a friends baby Baptism.... a great weekend catching up with friends. Think that's the last time I'll be down there for a very long time, though I get a regular phone call asking me when I'm going to come down. he he.

I'm trying to be staunch and tell people that if they want to catch up with me, they really need to come here. I just can't do as much as I try to do - and the weekends away, while being wonderful adventures just can't happen now.

I can appreciate that there is only one of me and often many o

f "them", but I've always been the one to do the traveling. Now, now I need the time to go into the studies.

Boring, huh.

Darling, Nifty and I went for a walk down the waterfront while I was down there to check out some stone carvings that had been done. Some of them were brilliant!

my boy....

Tredway Aritocrat..... known as Jesse James.

He's such a funny boy. Dad's got his two stallions that he deals with, and I've got Jess. We bonded when he first arrived, and now.... he doesn't really like dealing with anyone else. I mean he's never bad - but he follows me around his paddock, and comes running when I call, neighs out to me - even when he sees my truck. Who wouldn't fall in love with a rebel like that?

inside my head.....

Autumn is nearly upon us here on the other side of the world......

With it comes the noise from calves being weaned, leaves falling and pages from large books being scribbled upon.

Yes, University has begun once more..... with a very full on couple of terms ahead of me before it's all over once and for all. I'll come out of this game with a jumble of letters to go behind my name, which will mean that I'm now more able and eligible to teach a room full of young children than I was previously.

There's a small problem with that idea. I have no intention of teaching small children.

So, why the need to finish the degree that I started 10 years ago?

It's been hanging there, and I couldn't seem to move on before this was finished.

So, come July it will all be over. The work I've got to get through in the next 10 weeks is HUGE, but I know I can do it. Not only that, but that I will do it!

After that the next adventure begins.....

Sadly till then I'm not a nice person to be around while I try to do it all... and do it well.

Bare with me world while I stumble along.

Poppa and Israel

Israel went for his first tractor ride with Poppa last weekend. He's become a super cheerful little guy who is a tad obsessed with balls and anything that could possibly be used as a ball. Super funny.

The cousins....

hope and love.....

Another wedding this month.

Yes, it would seem all of the cousins are getting married off, with just 3 of us left now. It would seem that it's my family who is letting down the side. he he. Strangely it's my older cousin, Jeremy and I who are a mere 3 months apart in age and my youngest brother who are left in the lot.

How do I feel about this?

While all of my family are marrying off and beginning families of their own every Christmas I somehow feel more left out of this happy little circle.

I realise that's not the case, but emotionally, it does feel somewhat alienating. Irrational?

Thank goodness I get to be a work in progress as I figure things out and grow up.

Greetings. . .

Back in the land of reception. It's been kind of airy not being in contact with anyone via cell or email. Figure it can all wait till i'm back. That, and it's physically impossible. He he. Reality does hit when i get back to work though. What a sweet holiday it's been. Gonna soak up the rays and the peace. X

Need i say more?

One of my favourite stores in Napier.

East cape light house.

755 steps to reach the top. Gorgeous view from walk up and at the top. The lighthouse was originally on an island, but earthquakes had caused so many landslides they had to move it mainland. Would have loved a swim after the climb, but lots to see and do today!

Ah, another beach.

It rained a lot last night, but woke to find the most gorgeous day. Blue sky for miles. Now just need to find coffee to complete the feel good morning. God is good all the time.

Ah, coffee. . . .

Another coffee in the next town we've come to while driving around the coast. Suspect this will be the end of cell reception again. Ah, the joys of being in holiday mode. Till we meet again, crazy material world. Be well, friends.

The road trip.

Traveling around the coast with my friend Gavin. Was desperate for some time away. Of course way more interesting when traveling with a goof. :)

Happy New Year....

We've made it.... another year!

We found ourselves looking after Mandy's grandchildren - a littler of 5, who are adorable! This is the runt of the bunch. A small girl - though according to the vet, she only looks like a runt because the others are all HUGE. :)

It's been fun having them, especially now that they've all opened their eyes and have just begun to move around - almost a walk.

Mandy knows that something is going on out in the garage, and would love to go and check them out - but we'll leave it for a few more days I think. They've just reached 21 days old now.

Now we're just waiting for foal number 4 to be born.

Welcome to the zoo.

new years eve....

~

There have been so many adventures this year..... overseas and here in NZ.

I feel incredibly blessed.

And yet - I'm praying that next year will be more.

I sat down by a lake today and pondered what it was I wanted to work on for the year 2010.

I know that I need to work on being gracious and merciful, but I was also thinking that I really did want to live a life of reckless abondonment.

I don't mean that I want to live a life not thinking about what it is I do - but I would like to stop over-thinking the things that I do do.

Those thoughts that we have where we feel totally alive and know deep down that this is something we have to do - that we were born to do. Designed to do.

I want to jump more than think.

I want to live and breathe the life that I was meant to live.

To give when I'm not feeling gracious.

To laugh when I hurt.

To smile at strangers.

To look on the brighter side.

To share all that I have with those around me.

And.... to look adventure in the eye and say YES!!!

Small things?

Merry Christmas...

Here I sit, Christmas Eve in New Zealand......

The Christmas music is playing in the background while I sip on Christmas tea, and all I wish right now is that it would snow!

After all these years it still feels incredibly wrong to be summer and Christmas. However, I am pleased that being in New Zealand does mean that I'll get to spend tomorrow with family and friends for more fun and madness than you could imagine. I'll even get the opportunity to defend my golf title that Tamati and I won last year.

It's been an interesting year for me, with quite a few big changes. The house I'd been doing up in Morrinsville has been finished and is now rented out and I'm back at the farm with mum, dad and Alex who moved back up from Christchurch a few months ago.

The farm is absolutely gorgeous and I do feel spoiled to have the space, animals and ideal location for adventures. At the moment we have 3 foals, 5 puppies and a number of chicks running around. All are amazing time wasters, though I find I'm often running around in any spare time I have.

I decided to try and fit in some university papers during the second half of the year, which was supposed to happen after I'd moved to the farm, but coincided badly with the move. I managed to get everything done and just found out the other day that I've passed both which means I have just two more papers to complete. Hopefully they'll be done by the middle of next year.

While studying I also managed to fit in a trip to Australia with my friend Jiljane. We met in Adelaide and drove from there through the Barossa Valley to Sydney. I had an amazing time learning more about wine and exploring some stunning countryside. I would love to get back there again sometime to see more of the wineries and of course try more of the wines.

There was also a trip to Rarotonga for my brother; David's wedding in May. It was an absolutely gorgeous ceremony and one of the most intimate and sweet receptions I've been to. We actually each gave a little speech which was quite special. While I didn't cope well with the climate, and was desperate enough to even try and return early - Raro is a stunning place to visit. It certainly cemented the fact that I'm a cooler climate girl!

Dave and Sara are now living in Victoria BC, Canada (Sara arrived there today!!) And I suspect they may be there for a few years?

After years of not traveling overseas at all - I managed to fit in two trips to lands unknown and find that the feet are more itchy than ever. We'll see where I end up next year.....

I hope this finds you well and that you've done more than just survive another year.

For now, have a wonderful, blessed Christmas and all the best for the year ahead.

Much love,

CJ xxx

beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

~
It is that time of year once more.....

The Christmas tree is up, and there are presents underneath all ready to be torn apart on the day, and I've been baking like a wild thing.

Most of my clients have received their gingerbread men, though I will need to do another baking stint this weekend to get it all finished.

This time of year seems to be more chaotic than typical, and I have to remind myself the reason for the season - which is NOT to stress yourself out and get all wound up about what you haven't done.

Before I know it - the new year will be here.....

For now, I hope I can catch my breath and enjoy the season ahead.

Hope you all do as well!

Be blessed.

goodness.....

Again.... another month.

Whew.

I can't believe my trip to Australia was already over a month ago now. While I say that.... so much has happened since then.

My camera broke while I was in Oz, which caused some heart flutters. Th

ankfully I've just got it back from the repair agent, which is super exciting. :) Of course, over a month without a camera is quite something.

To celebrate I bought a macbook pro. Actually, I need to start calling it an investment into ME.

I've just scored the job of wedding photographer at my second wedding which is in December, and since I moved and sold my old PC, all I had was my work laptop, which really wasn't got to cut it for editing photos.

In breezed the beautiful mac.

I've hardly had a chance to sit down and play with it, so still getting my head around things. But so far, so good.

To celebrate - the photos are of Theo who came out to keep me company while I got a horse ready for a show the other night.

Theo and Rhapsody..... sharing the love.

Darling Harbour, Sydney.

I spent the afternoon wandering around the city. A tad overwhelming for the limited time i have. Now time to find a train and then pack. The suitcase is going to be a mission. :) at the airport at 6.30am. Wohoo.