Cold but Beautiful

We're currently experiencing our 5th day in a row of frosty overnight temperatures without it warming up enough during the day to fully melt the ice from the night before.  The highest temperature recorded over those days was 5 degrees, the lowest was -8.  We've heard of pipes freezing and splitting and toilet bowls freezing solid.  Thankfully we prioritise heating over most other things, unlike the flats of some of the local hospitality workers!  The next 10 days are forecast to be much the same, which will make for some very interesting driving conditions! 

Part of our section stays in the shade of the hedge all day at this time of year and so the frost is building up quite nicely into hoar frost on the grass and what's left of our vege garden.

The frost actually grows into what looks like little frost trees.  Ironically especially on the leaves that have recently fallen off the real trees.

More frost trees!  And grass that goes crunch when you walk on it, it's actually frozen and it snapping off when you walk on it.  So we're trying not to walk on it too much, considering it won't start growing again until spring.

One of the last remaining spinach plants in the background.  It's not dying, but it's certainly not growing either!

Watch your step!

This might look like a freshly groomed run up at Coronet Peak after a night of snowmaking...

But it's actually our new boat cover with half an inch of frost on it.

Christchurch

Last Wednesday I (Greg) was heading up to Christchurch for my most recent follow up with the surgeon about my shoulder.  The forecast was for snow but you never really know how accurate a forecast will be.... 

The plane managed to land at the airport just as the snow was really starting to fall. On the way to the doctors office the cab driver was struggling to see past the snow on the bonnet of the car...  

 

Arriving back at the airport a few hours later it was quite obvious that I was going nowhere fast... 

Gratefully, I was able to stay two nights with one of Andrea's workmates until I could fly out again. The next day dawned cold and clear, making for some great scenery... 

 And finally, the new bass guitar. Something I have always wanted to learn to play and now have the time to...  

The Daily Dozen

Now that my shoulder is finally starting to improve, I am able to get out and start exercising. Most days I walk around Kelvin Heights walking track which starts on the other side of town and makes its way around the lake edge and ends up at Jacks Point, taking a total of about 9 hours if you were to do the whole thing.

We only do about an hour of it in a rough circle around the house, starting by walking down towards Kelvin Grove where we do our wakeboarding. Looking back up towards our place... 

The scenery is amazing, but I think what I enjoy more than anything is the peace and quiet. This morning I only passed one other person, a lady walking her dog, and on weekdays I am often the only one out and about!

Heading down to the beach... 

Although it looks sunny it was only about 5 degrees this morning, and not swimming weather.  

 Around to the yacht club, which doesn't get a lot of use at this time of year.  

 Looking across to Queenstown with the gondola up behind. 

 The track goes through Kelvin Heights Golf Club and starts heading back towards the beach across the road from our old place.  

 The old stomping ground.

 This is where we leave the track in Jardine Park, which is just up the road behind our place. From here it's only 5 minutes back to home. 

 Home sweet home!

Scout Float

Last weekend for the annual Autumn Festival the Scout group put together a float for the parade.  We did really well and ended up winning the "Best community float" prize which gave us $500 towards the group's funds.

The float was based around a camp scene with a rock climbing wall at the back, which we had 2 kids "abseiling" off.  We borrowed the rocks for the climbing wall from our neighbour who is a set builder for movies etc.  The float was completed with a fake camp fire with a smoke machine and a flying fox across the top.  One of the hardest parts was choosing only 1 kid for the flying fox and 2 for the abseiling!  They all had their hands up!

Greg supervising the final touches:

About half of the group involved with the float (about 1/3 of the whole scout group):

Jamie and Jak proudly displaying their abseiling skills

The group starting to walk, in front of the spectacular autumn colours that are the reason behind the festival

The front of the float - we thought the big scarf was pretty awesome - made from a sheet wrapped around novacoil, then a sheet of building paper spray painted the right colours to make the scarf itself.

Isla was pretty pleased to be the one chosen to dangle off the flying fox but her arms must have been pretty sore by the end!

Autumn at the Grove

It's been a while since we last blogged, and a bit has been going on around here!  Greg had surgery on his shoulder on the Wednesday before Easter so things have been a bit quiet in terms of things worth photographing.  We went for a walk this evening (the second short walk Greg's been able to manage since the surgery) down to Kelvin Grove (our wakeboarding beach) and the golf course, and Autumn has definitely arrived.

(Photos taken on a camera phone so not quite as great as they usually are)

Autumn evenings are typically clear and still, and tonight was no different:

They say that when the Rowan trees are well laden with berries, that it will be a long winter.  As far as we can tell though, there's hardly any difference year to year... but the red, orange and yellow leaves look pretty with the red berries!

The quintessential South Island Autumn shot of poplar trees..

And up close:

Cecil Peak looks different every time you look at it.  On Autumn nights it's crisp and clear like the nights are!

And sunset - not blood red or orange like some of them but gorgeous all the same.  Taken from the golf course.

First taste of Winter

This morning we woke to find a gentle reminder that winter is only just around the corner...

 The snow will probably melt by tonight but it was enough to put smiles on our faces! 

Proof is in the pudding !!!

here tis