chooks + chooks

we already had a big duck hunt/fiasco about a week ago. free range duck w/ ducklings needed some help defending themselves on the crusty paddock to grow old and quacky. they were netted and placed in a nice big chicken hut. only after i dodged the mama duck flying at me instead of nabbing her. paul was pissed but big birds are pretty darned freaky. in the photo below there's a similar scenario taking place but substitute duck for chicken (aka chook). again, mama chook came at me (they must sense my weak-link-ness) and got by. paul and heather (pictured below) took matters into their own hands successfully. next time i'll stand clear and film the event.

bacon (ham) and egg pie

i think this was a good one

this is june's usual napping spot these days - to and fro the beach

post-nap at lion's rock, piha
wish we had black sand booty pic - next time

the family wagon - ford telstar
soon to be seen at the 'burn out comp' in dargaville!

overlooking piha beach - my favorite

at gulf harbour whangaparoa
see my new hobby on display? june's proud anyway.

june's mates

june on kerrie, a lovely arab horse. she lives in a paddock where we are staying with her pals bunty and bonnie.

june refers to every cat as 'gee gee', which is what she learned to call 'greta' at home. there are two baby geegees here - puss and boots. i'm not sure which is photo'd here. regardless, june's fascination with the geegees is purely emotional - she's scared to touch them. especially while sitting on a horse.the promise of food trumps good horse sense.


paul met up w/ some friends and their progeny at the domain one gorgeous day.
neko, june and maria had a gay old time. in case you don't believe me.

country living kiwi style

stairs leading to our flat. june in typical kiwi kid gear.

so we're here. finally. after years of thinking and talking (admittedly not much planning) we got our collective booties over to neuva zelandia. transitioning has been quite easy. i'm even driving solo already. june is really blossoming and finds the beach to be 'lovely'. paul got all kinds of surf on immediately upon landing. we are settling in and figuring out how to be somewhere else for a while. weather is great and views are divine.

us at pakiri beach.

andy in my favorite shirt

we are living above a friend's parents in our own flat on a farm/ranch about 20 minutes outside of auckland. every morning we hear roosters (much like on E3), ducks, geese, cows, horses, sheep, goats, kitties and dogs. june makes her rounds every day to check on all the livestock and give them an excited 'hi' and 'bye'. yesterday she got to ride kerry the horse. she was alright with it.

june's new pal, thomas. don't tell paul about this one.

we are eating farm fresh eggs produced by chickens that eat our compost, thank you very much. we were invited down to dinner the other night and ate 'beast' and lamb right off the ranch. so incredible. occasionally i raid the garden for a bit of herbs and flower gathering - the flowers are vast and will deserve a post all their own. june's waiting for the blueberries and apples to ripen. lucky ducky girl.

one of the first days we were here an elderly woman stopped to show paul a coin she found in the gutter, 'my lucky day'; then commented on june being a 'wee little soul'. we also learned to call her 'grubby' from playground talk which fits the bill more often than 'wee little soul'.

grubby no more. june's washing machine tub. puro kiwi style.

just spent a fantastic weekend with andy, theresa and kyle at cook's beach/whitianga/hot water beach/ pauanui. we feasted and got in some good beach time. i managed to afford four stiches to my pinky finger as well. kiwi living may be tough but as we learned on our last trip,
'Every day's a good day to be a kiwi!'.
waxin and relaxin / pauanui 'the wave'

until we meet again

so for those who aren't 'in the know' we're off for new zealand tomorrow. we are scheduled to be away for 2 months. whoa. i think i've done all the packing damage i can do. paul's still got some loose ends. june hasn't a clue. poor babe. here's a little something to keep you busy whilst we are in transit. many gorgeous photos to come. don't be too jealous. love you all!

june and her pawpaw hangin' tough

new year day at barton springs. brrr.

working the crowd. LOVING elmo.

hippy chick.

hamming it up with poppop

at stacy park w/ fletch and susan. susan's developed quite a little beer belly.