A-maizing!

 This is our forecast for the next 3-4 days with a heavy rain warning included so I guess there will be no boating on B's day off which is Monday every week.  

The photo above is probably the last rainy day shot I got in Spring 2019 of a maize field in Wellsford. Maize is usually a very popular product to grow here in NZ by farmers on dairy farms adding value to the farm's feed supply as well as extracting soil nutrients from high fertility effluent paddocks and it's used as a break crop in the pasture renewal process. After the maize has been harvested the farmers sometimes let the herd in the pull up and eat the leftover roots.

Last night we were watching the American elections and feeling sorry for the people - what a shenanigans. I can't believe people want to riot if their candidate isn't elected - I guess I better stop complaining about our political system. I was talking to some cousins and we are wondering why someone younger with more modern ideas doesn't step up and run for president, why not a female? Why does it have to be 2 old men? 

And it's our Guy Fawkes here today but due to the rain I think it'll be very quiet which is a good thing, I'm all for public displays - there are just too many idiots around. We don't bother buying fireworks anymore, most of them are pretty cruddy budget ones being sold.

Linking up with Skywatch Friday.

Danger on the Hoteo River

I haven't been through this spot for a few years. I use to pass this way just about once a month when I use to take my 2 teenagers for their orthodontist appointments in Kumeu via State Highway 16.

The Hoteo River is located between Wellsford and Helensville on the Kaipara Coast. It's popular with whitebait fishermen, the mangroves provide food for schools of Snapper fish and an annual raft race is held that many people participate in. Unfortunately a waste management company wants to develop a large block of land and supposedly have a lineage structure that will prevent leachates and other pollutants leaking through into the water which is an important source of drinking supply for local communities. The area also has a high rainfall level so there is a huge chance that waste will get washed downhill - there is massive opposition to this idea. I'm not sure what's going to happen but I hope it doesn't go ahead. You can read more about this story here.

A nice little Winter panorama of Wellsford

Here's one I found in the archives, a nice little winter panorama of Wellsford, the town I work in. Must've snapped this on the way home one night and forgotten about it. Such nice skies we get here sometimes. Hope your week is going well :-)

Summer sky through broken glass in Wellsford

Ok so I take a lot of photos of landscapes and skies etc. This week I found something different while I was on my lunch break at work. This building in Wellsford is up for rent, like a few others in the vicinity and unfortunately above the door the glass has been either stood on by someone or smashed by a heavy object. But it made for interesting viewing of the sky above...

For more skywatch fridays click here and have a great day :-)

When a day off really isn't a day off...

Usually Fridays are my day off each week and because I work in a very busy full on job it's definitely needed to relax and have some time out to myself. Today however after having coffee with the girls I drove over to an appointment at my daughter's school with her counselor which was eye opening but a positive experience. And I got to thinking how good it would be if more teenagers could have meetings with their school counselors. There's so much pressure on kids these days and it's so easy to suffer from depression as it's an awkward time, I really feel for people who don't have an outlet for their frustrations.

On the way home I snapped this shot after I pulled over to the side of the road. Now that it's Spring here the cows (in the above photo) and other farm animals are enjoying being able to get outside in the fresh air. Now I'm home, teens are at their father's for the weekend so I'm enjoying some quiet time to myself although it will be good to have them back home on Monday.

Hope your weekend goes well too :-)

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 :-)

Walks around Wellsford - sights I've seen this week

This week it's been freezing cold in the mornings, too nippy for me to get out and walk my dog like I usually do so instead I've been walking around Wellsford during my lunchtime - here's a few of the things I've seen:

This lovely art deco stucco home along the main road of Rodney Street - the owners have looked after it well by the look of it.

Kiwiana artwork along the fence of Wellsford Kindergarton - very colourful for where children play inside.

Wellsford Rsa with a pot of red vibrant pansies next to the entrance way - makes a colourful scene in the middle of winter.

Another lovely well restored house - this one in Batten Street is so pretty! It's been lovingly looked after and well preserved - looks like a large house too!

Indian Spice Lounge Takeaways in Wellsford

There's a new kid in town - The Spice Lounge Indian food takeaways in Wellsford. Every time I walk past I can smell the most tantalizing smells - I've heard good reports about this place too!

The cause of noisy dissension in Wellsford!

These road/pavement works have been the cause of much noise & rumbling outside work this week. Not sure what they're doing but the vibrations have been shaking the building and drowning out the nice noises inside our office such as the music teacher's lessons in the next room. Hopefully they will be finished nice and quick.

Wellsford Gardens - what a pretty display of colour

While running a few errands yesterday at work I passed by these small gardens in the centre of Wellsford. I just love the Autumn colours even though it's the beginning of winter you wouldn't know it because it's still reasonably warm here and alot of the trees still have their yellow leaves.

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.

Stormy colours of Wellsford

This is what a stormy winter's afternoon looks like through the windows of the kitchen at work. Very orange skies tinged with gray & black. If only I'd been at home hibernating - then it would've been perfect!

Bacon n Egg Burgers in Wellsford

If you want something fattening for lunch welcome to these takeaways in Wellsford where you can buy all sorts of fried food including Bacon n Egg Burgers (as the sign says). Not my type of food thankfully...

One Mocha Please!

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