New Zealand
As I write it is the evening of January 06 here in New Zealand. This afternoon we've experienced an extraordinary thunderstorm that came upon us very suddenly with much drama - big lightning, crashing thunder, strong wind and driving rain from the east which is rare here. Water even seeped into the passage under the... Continue Reading →
In April 1875 a new stone building was opened as a new one-room school for children in St Bathans (the part of the ruins nearest the lupins). In 1895 an additional room was added for infants (the part with a chimney). The school was abandoned in 1943 after earthquake damage. Central Otago, New Zealand. Photos... Continue Reading →
Today's been a good day. Cut Above Tree Services arrived to cut some bigger trees on our property down to size. Our primary problem was an overgrown golden macrocarpa claiming too much space and dominating our frontage. Connor and Matt dealt decisively with this and other concerns and, bonus, they were relaxed about us taking... Continue Reading →
When the gold miners arrived in Central Otago in the 1860s they didn't bat an eyelid at radically and massively transforming the environment. The initial influx of individuals and small groups gave way to larger operations that harnessed the power of water to obliterate large parts of the landscape. They extracted relatively small amounts of... Continue Reading →
The Uvalde shooting ‘stirred something’ in him. So he gave up his gun. A touching article.. I read it earlier today, from the Washington Post:“He looked like my grandson. I mean, they could have been twins. They have the same face,” Small said, his voice shaky with emotion. “It just stirred something in me.” What... Continue Reading →
In need of spiritual and mental refreshment today I searched Bishop Jake's blog for "life is messy" knowing I'd get results to go with photos I'd already selected; the two photos below were taken at Dunedin Botanic Garden, New Zealand on 07 May 2022.
Five years ago today, on 23 May, I started my blog with a brief and plain post, then launched out into the WP blogger-sphere to see what it's all about. I didn't have a clue! In this first session I happened to meet an Irish poet then working as pattern-maker in Paris, Damien B. Donnelly.... Continue Reading →
"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." We're suffering a pile-on of problems at the moment - in New Zealand and in the world. The old ways of thinking aren't going to cut it anymore! I've read/heard several Americans recently, talking about the pandemic 'waning' in their... Continue Reading →
Jan 6th, Capitol. "That day, and our response to it, contain potential for both peril and promise." [final paragraph] “This is indeed a moment of both peril and promise. But if love is indeed the supreme law of God for life, as I believe it is, then God’s way of unselfish, sacrificial love for each... Continue Reading →
Vinca … Latin: vincire “to bind, fetter” ~from Wikipedia. Vinca‘s also called “periwinkle”, the blue flower colour is “periwinkle blue”. The origin “to bind, fetter” makes Vinca photos perfect for my share..
"..people are more than one thing. Everybody is a mixed bag. With that starting point, I can imagine a very different community from the harsh, conflict-laden one we’re presently creating for ourselves." ~Bishop Jake Owensby, 17-Sep-21/blog. Bp Jake is fourth Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Western Louisiana and published author of 5 books. A... Continue Reading →
I don't know how many of you have links with Louisiana but I hope and pray that the people and places in Hurricane Ida's path can weather the storm. Being a far distant observer I know little about what lies in her path but I've searched online and scanned for links on twitter, and I'll... Continue Reading →
Exploring Colour 