Coming Up Close

The teens and I discovered these strange markings on the rocks at Mangawhai Surf Beach. On my photo page on facebook some people thought maybe sea worms or sea slugs made the trails. Anyone got any other ideas?

  I spent some of my day yesterday taking part in a photo session with some friends of my oldest son at our local skatepark. The boys wanted me to take some shots of them on their bmx bikes.

My daughter and I drove down to Mangawhai village this morning to have a look at the Saturday markets. One of the stalls was laden with books which were unfortunately a wee bit expensive for us.

We tend to get some nice coloured skies overhead some mornings. This morning was no different - this one over the subdivision where we live was tinged with orange.

Snapped this a while back of some fishermen surfcasting at Te Arai Beach here in Mangawhai. Not sure if they caught anything but it sure was a blustery day.

This one has been painted a very colourful blue, turquoise and red. You tend to see a few of these around, sort of fits in with the seaside theme...

Seeing as we have a storm currently over our heads tonight there's no chance of me getting a photo so here's one I took on Sunday. It's the branches of a green punga native tree leaning towards the blue sky.

The teens and I had a refreshing walk along Mangawhai surf beach tonight - typically there were loads of periwinkles plus baby oyster and mussel shells stuck to the rocks.

Daughter and I decided to take a walk along the beach this morning after the massive thunder & lightening storm we had last night. See what washed up this morning. Not alot unfortunately but I do like the colours on the broken piece of this Mussel shell.

Talk about nerve wracking! Watching Emirates Team NZ racing this morning while outside it's windy and raining - storm is here - arggghhhhh!

Quiet day today in my house, it's my day off - cleaning and housework done, incense lit, rain outside - perfect!

Seems like this place is still popular through winter - caravans occupying sites at Mangawhai Heads camp ground.

What a lovely Spring morning we woke up to today. Mangawhai Estuary looked so tranquil and peaceful...

I was out on the water fishing - got 9 snapper in the end - made for a very peaceful afternoon. woot!

We've had a stormy weekend. Here's the view out my window this morning of the sun trying to come through the clouds - Mangawhai Heads - Spring.

Welcome to a sunny Spring day overlooking the Kaipara Harbour. I took this while driving down the Kumeu for the teens orthodontist appointment. What a view.

My 2 teens at Te Arai beach - Mangawhai. Think they were throwing pieces of seaweed at each other.

One Mocha please! This is Gary making me a coffee at Pepper's Cafe in Wellsford.

Vote Craig Brown signs seen in various places along the causeway of Mangawhai Heads - plus sunset at dusk.

Winter sunset at Mangawhai Heads surf beach - windy and cold.

One of my favourite things - scented candles - at home...

Wild and windy afternoon in Matakana today - no cold, late Spring just perfect!