I won't be fooled

The sky is blue. The air is warm. Flowers are everywhere. But I won't be fooled. I have learnt that this is not in fact, a sign of better things to come but really just a tease. We might be peeling off our layers but we are also being lulled.

Last weekend the girls had a fabulous time running around the neighbourhood in their togs with other kids; water balloons in hand. We even had our first barbeque in months. But I've been here before...

We first moved to Auckland in September 2009 and being naïve, I fell for the ol' blue sky trick. I'd look out the window in the morning and the Martha Stewart in me could say: What a great day for washing! After the clothes went through the cycle and the last peg squeezed down onto the line, the skies would open. I'd be left madly unplucking them all, with no other option than to shove them into the dryer. Oh, how many times did I have to do this before I learned spring is not a season to be celebrated in Auckland.

Well, I may be a little harsh, there are the flowers after all.

I've also been trying to have more plants in the house as they take in bad stuff and turn it into good stuff. If only there was a plant that could do the same with kids.

I cut a leaf off a lush, green plant the other day and put it in my trunk vase. That prompted Steve to ask: Why is there a spinach leaf in the vase? [I think he meant silverbeet actually.]

The answer was: Because!

Cake anyone?

Oops, sorry, it's all gone. This cake that Ava made did have chocolate icing slathered on top and was colourfully decorated but it disappeared before I could get a photo. [OK, I forgot.]

PS. It was yummy.

Eadie's creation

The other day it was Eadie's turn in the kitchen. She made a custardy pear dessert, [the proper name of which escapes me] and while it may have been a little over done around the edges [which was probably my fault], it tasted great. As if I'm [ever] going to complain when someone steps into the kitchen to create!!

Well done Eadie! Come again anytime :)

Chocolate to die for

The other night Ruby tantalised our taste buds with molten centred chocolate pudding served with a raspberry coulis and vanilla ice cream.

It tasted even better than it sounds – if that's possible!

Tutukaka on a gorgeous weekend

I think there is some variation of a rope swing in a Pohutukawa tree on just about every beach in New Zealand.

We went to Tutukaka for the weekend; a tiny dot on the map. Most of these beach pics were taken at nearby Sandy Bay. Yes, I was just showing off with my last post but can you believe I posted it whilst I was standing on the beach – gotta love that technology. I was playing around with the settings on my camera and ended up with a lot of pics...

Sunday morning we took a walk to the [unimpressive] lighthouse. The view definitely made it worthwhile. It was a 40 minute walk either way which got quite steep at the end. Years of dragging the kids along on walks must finally be paying off – they didn't complain once!

We went back to Sandy Bay before heading home. The Poor Knights island group is in the background.

Ava and I at Whangarei Falls on the way home.

Sandy Bay today

Fun at Piha

We went for a drive to Piha beach last weekend. The weather was good and so was the surf which is a bit of a rarity; Piha is renowned for its huge, unsurfable surf.

What I love most about New Zealand beaches is the ruggedness; it's quite different from the white sandy beaches in Queensland. Not that there is anything wrong with that of course, it's just nice to have something else to appreciate.