Archives

Sunrise

A good night’s sleep had improved my motion sickness immensely. Oh, how grateful I was! (Here’s a link for that story 😦 )And now before us lay two weeks of South Island adventure. Pretty excited is probably an understatement 🙂 Drawing back the curtains in our apartment had me immediately oh-ing and ah-ing and racing […]

Read More

Whanganui Detours

The Desert Rd was closed due to all that wonderful snow that had been sent at my request. So, around the western side of the mountains we went enjoying places we had picnicked at during the Summer months now all covered in freezing white.We drove past trees packed with fresh snow driven against one side. […]

Read More

Tauhou

Waxeye… Whiteeye… More correctly, Silvereye. So common here in New Zealand. But what I did not realise was that it was not known here before the 1830’s. It was believed to have blown in from Australia, thus the Maoris called it ‘Tauhou’ which means ‘Stranger’ or ‘New Arrival’… good name, guys! Don’t be a stranger…click […]

Read More

Soft Falling Snow

Finally the moment had arrived. All the preparing, arranging and packing had been done. Little notes were stuck to appropriate places around the house so that birds would not be forgotten, dogs would be cared for, plants would be watered and still alive on our return. The car had been checked over for oil, water […]

Read More

Huka Falls

This was my choice of painting destination…the amazing Huka Falls. I was excited. Arriving at the arranged time at the top lookout I got myself organised and ready. Enthusiasm was flowing. Excitement for the next two hours of en plein air painting with Trevor Dowman, an amazing mentor. “Be bold”, I told myself. I tried. […]

Read More

En Plein Air with Trev

When you get the opportunity to paint alongside an experienced painter you grab it and that is exactly what I did when it was suggested we go and paint out on location together. How much I have to learn and here is someone who has been on the painting journey for over 35 years as […]

Read More

Avalanche

Clever daughter had been giving me photography lessons. “Sit on the rocks and use your knees as a tripod,” she had been telling me. “You get great movement shots of the water.” It had seemed such a long way down to the ground after all our sitting in the car that I declined the offer for […]

Read More

Whangaroa Inlet

A day trip away with my darling dearest had me relishing in the idea of en plein air painting in a new location. I was keeping an eye out for anything special that might be a good subject. And there it was… It must have been because I was paying particular attention because I have […]

Read More

Autumn Watch

A normal morning walk with the dog was all set up to be nothing but normal until… Until I heard that quiet voice telling me to take my camera. I hesitated. The dog was already doing circles in the back of the car all eager and excited, and I had a list of things to accomplish […]

Read More

Colour in My Culinary World

We have no garden, so I have made a substitute with pots and although I can grow quite a lot of vege there is no way I can grow it all. So, that beautiful logistics co-ordinating daughter was online even before I had finished my moan and found me an online source that delivered to […]

Read More