MAGPIE MOTH

While we were having lunch on the back porch a Magpie Moth flew in.  They used to be plentiful but we haven't seen one for ages.  I went for my camera and, of course, it flew outside and disappeared.  I saw it again later but, once again, it had gone when I got my camera.  We are hoping to see some more around.

photo courtesy of the Taranaki Educational Resource Centre.

I SEE A KOALA

A few days ago I noticed a picture of a koala in the pattern of the tiles in the bathroom.  Now I keep seeing it.

Wonder if anyone else can see it as well.

Perhaps I don't have enough to keep me occupied although it doesn't seem like that.

TRIVIA

Yesterday, while I was working in the kitchen (cooking lunch or peaches I can't remember which) Doug came and asked me to go through to the back porch.  This is what he wanted to show me:

He had just emptied the stick vacuum cleaner we purchased recently.  It was only 4 days since he had vacuumed the house and in that time he had vacuumed the worst of Sophie's hair up with the hand held vacuum.  It is surprising she isn't bald as she also gets a daily grooming.  Seriously though, we are amazed at how much this new vacuum picks up.  He empties it each time he uses it.

Today, for a change from cooking and vacuuming it was the Operatunity Concert.  This time it was a tribute to Glenn Miller and the Big Band Era with songs such as Sentimental Journey, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Girl from Kalamazoo, Big Spender  and Accentuate the Positive.  Only three singers and a band of 5.  We thoroughly enjoyed it.

RAIN SHOWERS.

We have had showers for a few days now with continuous fine drizzle today and our first water barrel is now about 2/3 full.  

This was the view through the lounge window this morning.  There should be hills in the background.

The garden is loving the rain and the lawn is starting to green up.

Unfortunately, the Far North where it is most needed has not had as much rain and we are still being told that we can expect the drought to continue until May.  People on the coast north of here are also being warned about using bores as the aquifer is getting low and there is concern that it could get flooded by seawater.

PARKINSON WALK

Today, we did a walk we have not done for some time, it was chosen because of the shade but has actually been cloudy and cooler with a couple of light showers.   It was a very pleasant walk (in fact so pleasant that I forgot about taking photos).

Unfortunately, we had two falls.  One man had emailed to say he was not coming as he had muddled his meds and was not feeling the best but he felt better and decided to come.  As we were not expecting him we had gone on and, in his hurry to catch up, he took a tumble and arrived with a bloodied knee.  Then on the way back a new walker had a tumble.

A while ago there was a craze for putting painted rocks (or pebbles) tucked into places on the tracks for children (or adults who haven't grown up) to find.  We had not seen any for some time but came across a small painted pebble at the weekend so Doug decided to paint some for the group today.  They went down very well but I forgot to take a photo of the only one I noticed on our return.

The showers were very light although we now have a grand 2 inches in our water barrel.  More showers forecast during the week.

SATURDAY

so it is Market Day and as Sweetcorn is in season I bought my usual 8, most of them have been blanched, taken off the cobs and frozen but we have just watched a Jamie Oliver "Veg" programme so I made his double corn salad.  I popped some corn I bought at the supermarket this morning and combined it with some grilled corn and served it with a dressing made from blue cheese, cheddar and  yoghurt.  We had this with some black rice, brown rice and quinoa left over from yesterday, some home grown beans with peas,  tomato and capsicum that had been gently cooked and scallops. It was delicious.

The weather is still hot (for us) 29 today and 30 yesterday and the fire danger is now extreme.  I see that next weekend there is a chance of rain, fingers crossed.

THE DROUGHT WORSENS

We hear in the news that the Army has now been called on to deliver water further north.  To start with to community facilities and marae in the Kaitaia area but possibly other areas later.  The coastal aquifers north of us are also getting dangerously low.

I also read this morning that when the milk tankers leave Whangarei to collect milk they will be carrying water and then returning with milk.  What a great idea.  I have noticed a lot of water tankers around here in the last weeks also some flat top trucks with a tank on top.

On Tuesday Doug and Gillian went for a walk to see the Whangarei Falls.  There is still a fair amount of water going over but is quite a difference between Tuesday (above) and August (below).

                                         

Yesterday we went to Mair Park where it was lovely and cool (and green).  Two views from the bridge.