one spring day

another beautiful start to spring meant we could explore a central place of our local area ...

huia and whatipu

a chance to visit family and do some errands in auckland this weekend, found us in huia and whatipu, the beginning of the waitakere ranges and a place of raw beauty...

together

it's such a joy to see little cousins together, calling for each other and giving away hugs whenever possible. we had a great time with my brother, sister-in-law and beautiful niece visit today...

around our neighbourhood

we have been back in new zealand for seven weeks now and in this time i have found my camera not too far from my reach. if i need to get out of the house, i jump in the car and go and find a new road to drive down and stop to enjoy this beautiful area we find ourselves in...

this kiwi girl is home

we have been home for a little over three weeks now. settling, adjusting, exploring and savouring the goodness of being on kiwi soil. 

i wanted to share some moments that i captured as i adjusted to home and the gems found along the way...

Spring is in the air

Spring is finally here on the peninsula... With spring returns the sound of birds, colour and vitality. There is something so magical about life 'springing' back from the bleak and barren nature of winter here.

One year later

Last year for the first time we visited the Garden of the Morning Calm; beautifully established ornamental grounds set in the hills of Gapyeong-gun. Thinking back to that visit, I was just about ready to fly back to NZ a month earlier than Mark in order to prepare for baby Hub's arrival. It was our last chance to document our time as expectant parents.

So it was so fantastic to take Isaiah back to the same places and think back about all the changes and journeys we have gone through together since then. It surely has been remarkable.

Thank you, Icheon!

One of my favorite festivals here in Korea is the Icheon Ceramic festival ~ held in a small town which is known to foster talent and creativity through this ancient art.

We ended up going twice this year! The return trip was to pick up a piece that will commemorate baby Hub's first birthday which I will share at a later date.

The surrounds are just beautiful at this time of year, there is freshness amongst the hills which we don't always experience in the city.

There is food to sample too, and on the second trip, I had to stop and sample a german-style sausage... Oh so tasty!

The people are very friendly and enjoy interacting, we had many people coming and talking with us while perusing the stalls. I love to see raw talent and individualism shown here, as quite often we don't see that flair in other areas of society. 

an ode to march

march is the soft pink of new blossoms

the sound of once-silent birds spreading their tune

march tastes like sweet fruit smoothies and crispy apples

and smells like a fragrant warm breeze

march looks like the shedding of layers and bright colours escaping

it feels like celebrations and hope all wrapped into one

anticipating:

my birthday

baby hub reaching the three month milestone

spring break (eeep)

not wearing my down jacket anymore

getting my nails painted

touch rugby starting up

longer evenings of sun streaming through out apartment

going for walks in the evenings

refreshed by spring once again

i hope march is full of good things for you!

joining in with Meghan

Come, Little Leaves

by George Cooper

"Come, little leaves," said the wind one day.

"Come over the meadows with me and play;

Put on your dresses of red and gold,

For summer is gone and the days grow cold

Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call,

Down they came fluttering, one and all;

Over the brown fields they danced and flew,

Singing the sweet little song they knew.

"Cricket, good-bye, we've been friends so long,

Little brook, sing us your farewell song;

Say you're sorry to see us go;

Ah! you will miss us, right well we know.

"Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold,

Mother will keep you from harm and cold;

Fondly we've watched you in vale and glade,

Say, will you dream of our loving shade?"

Dancing and whirling the little leaves went,

Winter had called them, and they were content,

Soon fast asleep in their earthy beds,

The snow laid a soft mantle over their heads.

All photos from our trip to the Garden of the Morning Calm, South Korea. I adore this beautiful poem, such gorgeous prose.

To all those in the Southern hemisphere, enjoy your spring weather! I am coming back to NZ in 2 weeks... 

Do you have any Spring photos to share?

Falling for Fall

Crunchy leaves

A Cool breeze

Scarves

Rusty shades

Boots

Endless blue skies

I love Autumn here 

easter weekend 2011

here above you is proof that south korea has surf! yus. so exciting - we are going to have many adventures ahead because of this discovery.

mark has been majorly missing the ocean over the last 9 months and i can so see why. this weekend he organised a trip by bus to sokcho, on the east coast. we went biking and walked along the beach, took time to take in the slow paced town with many fishermen and friendly people.

i didn't realise how much i missed having the salt air wash over me like i used to have most evenings (no exaggeration). it was so good and so fun to explore and get out of the bubble we can sometimes find ourselves in. 

happy day everyone. 

I just cant get enough of it!

Oh I am loving being outside!

I realize that the last winter we have been through was the harshest and coldest I have ever experienced. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't all bad, there was some amazing memories from it but I am such an outside person. I wasn't used to all this 'apartment living' - so it has been so freeing to be outside this weekend and enjoying the beauty of our maker's design in this amazing season.


Long may it last!

Spring is borne.

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: 

if we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” 

Anne Bradstreet.