Motuotau Island skies

 

For us in the Southern Hemisphere today is Christmas Eve - depending where you are in the world we are about a day ahead. Traffic has been bumper to bumper and very slow, supermarkets have been chaotic and people are out and about doing last minute shopping. 2 of my elderly clients (a couple) presented me with a beautiful sheer Summer scarf as thanks for me helping them - made me feel very thankful and I will definitely use it.

While searching for some calm photos in my archives I found this one from when we lived in Mount Maunganui about 3 years ago. This is one of the many paths to the beach and in the distance is the Motuotau Island which was once the scene of a massacre. Confiscated from local iwi after the 1864 Battle of Gate Pa, the island was returned and then later purchased by the Crown. Today the island is a wildlife sanctuary and home to 500 little blue penguins.

I hope you have an awesome Christmas wherever you are, stay safe, kia kaha.

Linking up with Wordless Wednesday, Timeless Thursdays and Skywatch Friday.

Winter skies in Paeroa

Night skies in Paeroa - (pronounced pie-rower) with petrol station to the right. 
Winter 2016

So I'm down with the flu...again! Must be the 4th time in the last few months - the joys of working with the public I guess. And after having my annual checkup at the doctor's last week I was pleased to hear that my blood pressure has gone down since last time I was there, I think it's the fact that I've lost weight that's helped but the doctor did say that going through the dreaded menopause (like I have been for the last 2 years) can slow your metabolism down to almost nothing so it explains probably why I'm so tired alot of the time. I think if it wasn't for the daily vitamins and supplements I take I'd be more worse for the wear.

I did get a chance to try some new chocolate bars by Cadbury - they've put out a larger bar of Picnic, a larger bar of Moro and a larger bar of Moro Gold, not sure what I think of them, they seem a bit rich and overly sweet so think I will stick with my favourites. Anyway...4 working days till I finish work - yay!

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Christmas day at Mount Maunganui

Christmas day has come and gone for us kiwis. We spent the day vegetating, playing wii sports (at which I failed miserably), drinking the odd Tequila shot (which knocked me on my knees), battling the humidity and heat then driving out to Mount Maunganui for some fresh air. As you can see from the photo above lots of people had the same idea as us by swimming to cool down and this part of the beach isn't even the whole thing.

At the other end of the rocks in the above photo there were some fishermen surfcast, not sure if they caught anything but I'm sure if their fishing rods weren't secure in the rocks it would be likely to take off if a fish got on the line.

This last shot is of the light shining through the clouds over the apartments and buildings that line the beach. A short time later it rained which made things alot cooler. That's about the gist of my day - hoping yours was Christmasy and full of catching up with family :-)

Spring sunsets over Orere Point countryside

While at Orere Point last weekend, I happened to spot this sunset from the kitchen window. Since I'm a sucker always for a good sunset I quickly grabbed my camera. In the distance are a few trees but on the right if you can just see it is a farmhouse. Once Summer is here I'm looking forward to spending more time outside in the evenings.

For more Skywatch Fridays click here :-)

Spring sunsets and a full moon over Otumoetai

Last night while loading my car with groceries after food shopping I spotted the full moon in the sky above the carpark, since i take my camera everywere I go I quickly snapped a photo of the sky and the surrouding area. Hope your week has been good...for more Skywatch Fridays click here :-)

Winter reflections over Tauranga Harbour

Last week as I was driving around on errands I couldn't help but stop and take a photo of the scenery and view I get from the area I live here in Tauranga. This is just down the road from me and it's a view of the harbour when the tide was out. The pathway along the bottom is actually a hike/walk - not sure how long it goes for as I haven't tried it out yet.  Welcome to Winter!

For more Weekend Reflections click here :-)

Those winter night skies over Otumoetai...

This is one of the sights that I see on my journey home from work - night skies, chilly evenings, traffic heading home - there's something special about this time of day for me, it's the time I get to go home and enjoy a chance to wind down.

Luckily last night I snapped this photo when I was about 5 mins from home - we've had a couple of weeks of very cold temperatures here, no snow but electric blankets and heat pumps have been on but it's one of my favourite times of the year.

I hope you are enjoying life wherever you are around the world :-)

For more Skywatch Fridays click here...

Winter full moon magic...

So...after taking a brief break away from here I'm back feeling alot more renewed. Last time I posted I was only just getting over a bad dose of the flu, well the other half ended up with it too and I've been going to a few job interviews so it's been pretty busy. Unfortunately one job wanted someone with more corporate background experience and another wanted someone with a background in the private Hospital industry so I lucked out. All I can do is keep trying and sometimes being at home drives me up the wall but last night through the lounge window I saw this lovely purple pink sky with a full moon proudly showing itself off to me.

There's something about sunsets, skies and moons that makes me feel renewed and refreshed...here's hoping for a better week to come :-)

Anzac Day sunset and flaming skies

Good morning! I hope this Friday is treating you well so far. Last Saturday for us Kiwis and those in Australia was Anzac Day. After an emotional day here in Mangawhai this is what I saw from my backyard. At the moment in our street we have lots of new houses being built as there are quite a few empty sections and the skies looked very vibrant almost on fire so thought taking a photo of it was quite appropriate.

Hope your week has gone well - for more Skywatch Fridays click here :-)

Skywatch Friday - Spring Sunsets after work

We've had some neverending rain here over the last few months that it was a nice change two nights ago to see these spectacular skies on the way home from work. This is the main road into the town where I live - I pulled over just before the school into a road, parked my car, grabbed my cellphone and took this shot. Not the best quality but hopefully you can see what I saw - amazing colours here in Northland, NZ.

Spring is here!

For more Skywatch Fridays - click here :-)

Skywatch Friday - the after work Spring sunset

One of my favourite things to photograph are skies - sunset and sunrises hold amazing colour combinations to me. Sometimes we can get orange, pink, red, yellow, gold - all sorts in all different patterns and shades. This one was taken last night just as I had arrived home from work - had to quickly grab my camera so i didn't miss it. Perfect start to Spring!!!

For more photos of skies check out Skywatch Friday :-)

Winter sunset over Wellsford/Tomarata

I had to quickly grab my camera tonight when I was leaving work when I spotted this winter sunset through the office window. I just love the way the moon is poking it's head out from behind the clouds.

Late evening Autumn sunset

How's this for a stunning late evening Autumn sunset seen over part of the Mangawhai estuary along by Mangawhai Beach School?

Summer sunset - Kiwi Style

I just love the colours in this shot. You get some really lovely sunsets around here over Summer. Very vibrant shades.

Spring sunset over the Thelma Road subdivision - Mangawhai heads

Photo taken tonight from my driveway...

Spring sunset in Mangawhai Heads - view from my back deck

Vote Craig Brown!

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

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