Tis the season :: South Island Wine and Food Festival

I'm not sure what I'm more excited about. The fact that Christmas is only two weeks away or that summer is upon us holding the expectation of another fabulous festival season! Wait... I just reread that last sentence, paused and then totally laughed out loud to myself... What a beautiful contradiction for a girl from the Northwest corner of the United States to ponder... I really don't think I'll ever get use to living in the opposite season as the calendar I was raised on says it is....

Anyway, the impending season was oh so evident on Saturday at the South Island Wine and Food Festival. The weather could not have been any more gorgeous bringing with it a mob of sunshine seekers keen to soak in its rays. I was so distracted by all the great sundresses and cute, strappy sandals that it has me itching to do some serious summertime dress shopping!

It felt so good being out in the sunshine enjoying some of the south island's finest fare, entertainment and sharing the day with so many great people. For the first time since moving here, Drew and I found ourselves toggling between multiple groups of friends from different circles all out for a good time. It finally feels like our network is growing and I had such a great time meeting new faces and getting to know a few of Drew's workmates a little better.

This season is already off to a great start and I'm eagerly looking forward to all that is in store!

A Day At The Races

It's Show Time! Drew and I have been hearing this phrase and seeing posters for Cup and Show Week for at least a month or so, but I don't think either of us really clued into the gravity of this festival... Kiwi's do love any excuse to party. There's really no denying they love their festivals even more, and let me tell you this annual spring festival does not disappoint!

We originally planned to go wine tasting and stay out at Hanmer Springs last weekend since Drew had Friday off work to celebrate Canterbury's anniversary, however we decided last minute to save a little money and stay in town. We knew Cup and Show week was in full swing, but didn't really know what was on, so decided to check out what all the fuss was about... next year we'll be better prepared! 

After doing just a quick search Thursday night we realized C&S week is a full-on festival that kicked off the weekend before with a raging block party, an urban assault obstacle course competition, a fashion show, horse races, greyhound races, the A&P Show (similar to a county fair), and much more! (If I hadn't been out of town for most of last week maybe we would've done a better job earning participation points.) Anyway, after realizing what we were missing we immediately purchased tickets to Saturday's event - Christchurch Casino 150th NZ Cup and New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas Day horse race.

We knew we wouldn't win for best dressed, but quickly scavenged through our closet to find something decent to wear and I'm glad we did! Oh the finery! Ladies in their Sunday best. Dapper gents. Hats galore! I wish I had taken my Nikon and actually captured some better photos... Oh well. This was my first time to a horse race and it was such a blast! We even managed to win 3 out of the 5 races we bet on! We didn't actually win any money, but we did break even. I think that counts for something. :)  For those of our friends weighing a visit next spring - this would be a good time to consider!  We took notes, so next year we can really do it up!

(Oh and I should (although hesitantly mention) it is also Mo-vember, which my husband is proudly supporting... I questioned posting a few additional photos of him intentionally 'photo-bombing' several pics that would have otherwise been rather nice... They were however quite hilarious so I may put them up on FB. We'll see....)

Day Dates are My Favorite!

What a fun weekend! We were intending to be all hunkered down, expecting the Twenty Year Storm over the weekend here in Christchurch, but instead it ended up proving to be more like the twenty minute flurry… wah wah wahhh…. In fact, these 3 images were all I could capture of the blessed ‘historic’ event before my camera died! Lame. By the time my battery was recharged the snow was all melted away and everything was just cold and soggy…. Such a disappointment! 

Sorry about the first photo here. Yes, it's blurry. There's nothing wrong with your eyes or your monitor. I just wanted to show you what I meant about the construction literally being right outside our front door. Drew opened the curtains the other morning and this is the view we got.... apparently our front yard appeared to be the ideal spot for the road construction crew to set up their temporary office. Yesterday, the workman who was pressure-washing the top of it in his big orange jumpsuit actually waved good morning to me. Sigh.... No thank you sir! Think I'll keep my curtains closed!

Anyway, when Saturday morning rolled around and we found ourselves with an unset schedule and no motivation to work on projects around the house, we decided to have a little fun!  After a leisurely breakfast of brown butter French toast bites (more on that later!), Drew proposed a day-date. Since we were all geared up and anticipating some fun in the snow he suggested we take a little day trip! I was so excited! Day-dates are my favorite! And it was such a great and spontaneous suggestion. So we bundled up, wandered down the block toward Hagley Park and hopped the Penguin Express for a weekend adventure in Antarctica! Well, actually the International Antarctic Centre, but some fun family exploring all the same. We had such a blast! And since Canterbury residents receive 50% off the entry fee it was a two for one deal that made Mr. Robinson’s day that much sweeter! 

Little Blue penguins! So cute and fun to watch. There are about ten pairs at the IAC. Most having been taken on and being cared for due to an injury or abnormality. The youngest is the 8months old and was born with partial paralysis... she swims in circles.... kinda sad, but also precious. :)

 

The Hagglund ride was probably the best and worst part of the day. We had no idea what to expect and I nearly lost my breakfast on this thing. Literally!

Sorry for the blur, but this ride was Bumpy! At one point we were submerged halfway under water and it started coming up into the cabin! So much fun though... 

When it was finally over and we found solid ground again I had to calm down and take a break with a little non-alcoholic ginger beer... Drew went the more traditional route with a Stoke Dark Ale. Good man.

Gearing up...

and learning to mush! 

Drew settin' up camp....

And his famous, "Do I really have to pose for you again?" face. I can't tell you how many shots of him I have like this. He really is a dear for putting up with me.  :D

We had such a great time and this was only the first half of our day! Drew also reminded me at breakfast that the Physic’s Room was hosting a workshop that he was interested in attending later in the evening. So after a thrilling half-day out in the snow, we ventured over to CBD Bar, (which I believe to be) Cassels & Sons newest edition to the downtown craft beer scene, for some pizza and a couple good pints to fuel up before we headed back down the block to do a little wood-working and enjoy some local art. More on the Physic’s Room and the woodworking workshop in my next post! Hope your weekend was as fun as ours and you found a little time to do some exploring in your own town too!