Carlucci Land

After a lovely two weeks spent exploring Wellington and the surrounding area together, Dad and Lucinda have gone back to Kansas, and J and I are enjoying a peaceful weekend at home. I have lots of wonderful pictures and stories to share from their time here, and will do so in a series of posts over the next few weeks.

Early on in their time here, we took them to Carlucci Land. We had seen it from the road ages ago, and thought that Dad would really like it, as it consists of many repurposed and recycled things used it creative and beautiful ways. We've since learned that these are also things Lucinda values, so it was perfect to all go together.

The experience of Carlucci Land is described on its brochure as follows:

"Admire the sculptures as you weave through this unique Wellington landmark, get up close and interact with the remarkable metal sculptures that make this a truly exceptional mini golf course. These intricately place art installations complete with strategically placed rocks, allowing you the golfer to get up close, revealing how the behemoths were formed by nature. Discover small ferrous kiwis only inches high to giant metallic spiders, snakes and other metal creations inspired by nature.

Sit amongst the old recycled furniture and feast your eyes on a collection of curios from the past. It is a truly spectacular mini golf experience."

(I find their grammar dubious, but I still enjoyed the description.)

Here is the view from on high, looking down on part of the course. 

The mini golfing itself was fun, as mini golfing always is, and it was interesting to see the use of recycled parts to add challenge.

We loved this hole, with many different tubes and tracks the ball might end up rolling down.

None of us profess to be mini golf experts, but I think we did quite well.

We enjoyed the different levels and creative nooks and crannies.

I was so fascinated by this looping track (and the adorable people on top) that I forgot that J's ball was going to come out, and stood right in its path. Oops!

The enormous rocks all throughout the course were lots of fun, and we scrambled all over them as we found vantage points to watch the others' turns.

I was deeply entertained by the fact that our balls ended up in prison at the end of the course. They also made a delightful 'ping' as they landed. We freed them, of course, and returned them to their home.

Once we'd finished the mini golf course, we had a great time looking around at all the other sculptures and creations. They are made by Carl Gifford, who created Carlucci Land, and is passionate about "rocks, recycling, making steel sculptures, art and also eduction."

I may have taken a somewhat exorbitant number of pictures, but I couldn't resist. Everything was very cool, and if you knew how many awesome things I didn't take pictures of, you'd see that I actually showed admirable restraint. I feel that the pictures speak for themselves, and will therefore refrain from commenting unless there is a detail I'd like to highlight.

Notice the beautiful butterfly that kept us company. It's one of my favourites of the kinds I see here.

I was completely delighted by this whimsical depiction of climbing up to the moon. I don't know what it is about it, exactly, but I just adore it.

I checked, and it seems that this contraption would actually move forward, if you were strong enough to push it.

We love dragons (exciting news on that front later), and I thought this one was particularly charming.

The four of us had a delightful time at Carlucci Land, and I anticipate that J and I will return there many times, perhaps by ourselves, or perhaps with future guests.

Dad and Lucinda Visiting

Sorry for the lack of a post last weekend, but I was busy spending time with my dad and his partner Lucinda, who are visiting from the States. It is a goal of mine to be more present in my life, focusing on the people I'm with, and not dividing my attention by trying to do too much.  I have been doing that with Dad and Lucinda, which has been great. I will likely not post anything until they've gone home in another week, as we will be doing lots more fun things together.

In the meantime, I couldn't resist sharing this picture of this amazing golden tree. I don't know why its leaves are yellow, as it is not autumn (and most trees don't change here anyway), but it sure is beautiful.

Serendipitous Meeting

While we were in the States, we flew to Alabama to visit J's family, and then back to the Manhattan Airport. When we arrived, we waited in the entryway for Dad to pick us up, and a lady asked if there were cabs that waited at the airport to take people into town. We weren't sure that there would be, and she seemed disappointed, so I offered her a ride ("generously" offering Dad's car and time, but I knew he wouldn't mind, as he doesn't stuff like this all the time, and had actually given someone else a ride just a few days before after he'd dropped us off at the airport). The lady's name was Kat, and we found out that she'd never been to Manhattan before, and she was actually going to a new restaurant, which she had helped to get started, and was in town for the launch.

The restaurant is called Cowboy Chicken, and I'm convinced that it will do very well in Manhattan. We had a lovely chat as we waited for Dad, and then in the car on the way into town. She asked us to come back for the grand opening the next day, and wanted to give us a free lunch to thank us for the ride.

This was my lunch, every bit of which was delicious. I got their signature wood fire rotisserie chicken, a baked sweet potato, and corn fritters, all of which were amazing. I'm actually a bit hungry as I'm writing this, and really wishing I could just head over to Cowboy Chicken again. The memory of the corn fritters especially is making my mouth water.

Kat took time out of her very busy day to come and sit with us, and we continued to be amazed by how much it felt like we were old friends catching up, rather than new acquaintances. So fantastic to meet people with whom you have an instant affinity.

We all had a wonderful time together. It was truly a beautiful moment, and I'm so glad random chance (and a generous father) brought us together.

P.S. If you live in Manhattan, I highly recommend trying Cowboy Chicken. It's out by Target and Panera, and well priced as well as delicious.

Kiwi Christmas Songs

J and I are having a very relaxing, peaceful Christmas, just the two of us. We've been so busy for ages, getting ready for the trip to the States, and then the whirlwind trip itself, and then getting organized and back into work afterwards. So it is nice to have some time to just relax together.

To wish you all a Merry Christmas, I thought I'd share a couple Kiwi Christmas songs I really enjoy.

The first is Pohutukawa Tree, which I just learned this year. We actually learned and sang it with the children at our End of Year Celebration, which was wonderful. To watch a video of it being sung, click here. I find the lady singing it a bit strange, but she does the actions well.

I know I post every year about Pohutukawa trees, but that is because I can't get over how awesome they are!

I took this picture of one that I walk by on the way into town from work. 

And here's a bit closer, so you can see how much they look like fireworks. They even have the tiny touches of gold at the ends. They're just so bright and happy, and I love them.

I didn't take this picture, but I thought you should see a picture of a whole tree. Their colours range from this deep red to almost orange.

I also thought you'd enjoy A Kiwi Jingle Bells. This is another one that we sing often with our children, using the book in the video, which you can watch here. It's lots of fun - you'll notice many Kiwi trademarks and traditions. I think it might be more fun for me than it is for the children, because all of this is just ordinary for them, whereas I'm delighted to recognize each unique bit of Kiwi culture. I feel I should mention, on the food page, that when it says "cheerios in bread" it means those little pink sausages next to the kid with dark brown hair. I still find this hard to remember when people talk about cheerios, but I'm getting there.

If you're wondering about any other lovely Kiwi words or traditions, feel free to comment and I'll explain further.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Fun with Family from India

One special thing about this visit to the States was the we got to spend time with our newest family members - Patty's in-laws from India. It was amazing to get to know them all, after hearing so much about them from Patty. They were as lovely as she described them as being, and it's just a pity to have to go back to the other side of the world when we were just getting to know each other.

Sowmya, Patty's sister-in-law (and so ours as well, I think), very kindly offered to do some henna for my cousin Maria, Patty, and me. It was actually her first time to do it herself, as her mother, Latha, usually does it. She was amazing at it from moment one!

For those of you who don't know, henna is a dye made from henna trees. It is applied by squeezing out thin lines of paste, which is left on the skin for up to 12 hours to dry and soak in, and then washed off. The result is rich brown-red stains in amazing patterns. Sowmya explained to us that in her region of India, they mostly do henna on special occasions or celebrations, and usually on the palm of the hand.

Maria and I both had a turn doing some on her hand/wrist, before the expert took over.

This was mine after washing off the paste. Sowmya and Latha explained that it gets so much darker on the palm because your pores are more open there, and also because when you sweat, it helps darken the dye.

This was Maria's. She did the back of her hand because she had to drive us to Grandma's house right after we were finished. Also, can I point out the that small flower right in the middle of her hand, as well as the side-view flower near the base of her thumb were my contribution? I was really proud until I saw Sowmya's bold, sweeping designs and realized I'd been rather missing the point. But still, they're pretty!

This was Patty's. You can see the hand-wrist change in hers as well.

One other very generous thing they did (among many) was to let me wear a sari for an evening party we had. They wrapped and tucked and pinned it around me with amazing skill, and I don't think I've ever felt so fancy in my entire life! 

They also brought this sari as a present for my mom, their new mother-in-law. It is totally stunning as well and Mom really enjoyed wearing it.

Whanāu/Family Photos

After a lovely 3 1/2 weeks away, we are back in Wellington, tired and happy to be home. I'm finding it a bit challenging getting back into the swing of things at work, but it's only day three, and I'll get there. J is coming back to lots of new things to deal with, but is doing well.

For perhaps the first time ever, I remembered to take pictures of family while we were together. I was inspired/motivated by my Whānau (Family) Leaf at work, which needs updating. Each child and teacher has a leaf that goes on the huge tree that I painted, with pictures of their family on it, to celebrate and affirm our connections to our families. Mine, sadly, has outdated pictures of each of my family members separately, because on the rare occasions that we are together in person, I never think to take pictures. My lovely children sometimes have a hard time making a clear connection between the disparate pictures on my Whānau Leaf and an actual family, both because we're each alone and because many of us don't look very much alike at all. Anyway, the point is, this time I took pictures, and my new-and-improved Whānau Leaf is going to be amazing! 

Here's me and Dad at his birthday dinner.

Here, in all it's glory, is documentation of the first time in many, many years that all my siblings and siblings-in-law have been together in the same place.

For those of you who don't know, my mom is next to me and J, with my sister Patty in front of her. My brother Abe is in the middle back, next to my brother John, and his partner Alyssa is in front of him.

This is J and his dad. Notice the family resemblance.

Me and Patty.

Me and John and Alyssa.

(Side note: Alyssa made that awesome mirror-flower creation behind us. How cool!)

J, his mom, and is brother Dan.

Me and Abe.

Me and Mom.

Most of us were together for Thanksgiving, and everyone was a good sport about me insisting on pictures. It was so amazing to get to spend time with my family, and I think that I have learned to appreciate it more over the years I've been on the other side of the world. I'm already looking forward to next time! Luckily, Dad and his partner are coming to visit in just a few weeks, so I don't have to wait long!

We're off!

It's a beautiful day, and in just a few hours, we'll be flying into this stunning blue sky, off to visit friends and family in America. I'm sitting here appreciating this amazing view, so thrilled to be on my way to see so many people I love, and also thankful that I'll be coming back here afterwards, because I truly love living here. I think that's a pretty lucky situation in which to be.

We'll be in Kansas, Iowa, and Alabama for the next several weeks, and I am not promising any blog posts during that time. I am not even taking my laptop, in an effort to go into full relaxation mode and focus my attention entirely on the people I'm with. But I will hopefully remember to take pictures.

We're about to embark on about 27 hours of travel time, which is a lengthy journey, but not nearly as long as the insane itinerary we had last time. Also, we have invested in a variety of tools to help me sleep on the plane, as I have never been able to do so, and the results are not enjoyable for anyone. So cross your fingers that I manage to sleep. (You can cross your fingers for J, too, if you'd like, but he's usually asleep by the time I've put on my seatbelt, so we're pretty safe there).

I'm still wearing my brace for my sprained wrist, which I was hoping to have finished with by the time we left, but that's okay. I also have a softer one that the physiotherapist said I can wear sometimes, so that is nice.

The house is clean, the bags are packed, the taxi is scheduled, the comfy travel clothes are on... here we go!