On to Queenstown....

A couple of days after the wedding, we all (Mum, Robin, Pat, Jim, Aunty Jan, Uncle Mal, Brody, Tori and I) drove to Queenstown for a couple of days.

My good friend Sue lives only 1/2 hour from Mum, and she managed to score us a house for $60 a night...right in the centre of Queenstown....but before we got to Queenstown.....this was the drive....



Sandy

Continuing...

the NZ holiday.....

Once we arrived in Mataura, there were some final preparations for Mum and Robin's wedding.

And then the big day........

It all went so well!!!!

Mum looked beautiful, and her and Robin make such a great couple!

Sandy

New Zealand....

bugger this travelling through different time zones.....I have been up since 3.30am......

Sharing some photos of NZ....these 3 were taken looking out of the plane as we were getting close to Christchurch to land....

beautiful tree at the hotel in Christchurch...

and these in between Christchurch and Akaroa....

driving from Christchurch to Mataura....

there was still lots of snow on the ground!

More photos tomorrow....

Sandy

Snow in Queenstown...

...actually the snow was at Coronet Peak.

We have just spent 4 nights in Queenstown. Managed to get a bargain of a deal, with my friend booking us a house right smack in the centre of the town. Nine of us stayed the first 2 nights, then Sue came with one of her kids for a night, and then Brody, Tori and I stayed a 4th night.

Whilst Sue was with us, she drove us up to Coronet Peak for the day. It was the kids first touch of snow :)

Brody tried snow boarding......

...and Tori went skiiing...

...while Sue and I sat inside the warm cafe drinking coffee and eating....oh, and we managed to fit in a neck and shoulder massage :)

Sandy

Turn your back for a minute.....

and this is what the kids get up to.....

Last weekend I had the twins for a night, and then the next morning Shayla and Willow came over for the day. I had nothing in the house for breakfast, so at 8am ducked out to grab some food. I was away for 20 mins and when I got back....the kids were sitting at the table....playing poker!!

A short time later it started hailing....and this is what the front lawn looked like....

Almost like snow :)

Sandy

When life gives you lemons....

make lemon cordial!!!

A friend gave me a couple of bags of lemons, and then one of my bosses brought in 2x bags of the biggest lemons I have ever seen.

So after dinner Tori and I cut and juiced......

We added sugar and then simmered......

And ended up with 1 bottle of full strength lemon juice and 3 bottles of lemon cordial

I haven't even touched 2 bags of lemons and the bowl is spilling over..

I will juice some more and freeze it and then when I am getting more eggs will make up some lemon butter.

Speaking of eggs....we lost a chicken today.

Tori rang after she got home from school and the new next door neighbour's dog and jumped the fence and killed one. The dog was just sitting in the pen looking out. The chicken was dead on the ground, I think it maybe just shook it and broke its neck...it was pretty floppy.

So I dug a hole next to the passionfruit and buried it.

The neighbour came over and was very apologetic and offerred to pay for another one.

I am going to wait until after we get back from NZ and probably buy a couple of small chicks.

Sandy

Beautiful, sweet, little,,,,,,

Isabella Roma, born 28 July 2009.

The new little daughter of my cousin Bec and her husband Justin.

Sandy