. . . Endeavour . . . : New Zealand

Showing posts with label New Zealand. Show all posts

Lake Tekapo

It's truly amazing the revitalizing impact 24 hours, open country road, alpine-spring fed hot pools, and a sleepy lakeside town situated at the foot of the southern alps can have on your mind, body, and spirit.

Awwe, yes… I am so happy September is over. I can confess with certainty that it was one of the most exhausting and trying months this little family has experienced so far…. I’m not complaining. Really. Quite frankly, I know its just life. And I know that many of these stresses are self-induced or merely consequences of the choices and sacrifices we’ve picked. However, I am recognizing that several of these milestones have been significant and should not be glazed over as though they’ve left no impact on our home.

I know I am being vague. Honestly, I have been writing and re-writing this post, trying to articulate some of the things we’ve been struggling with, but I keep running into a wall that just doesn’t feel right…. This happens to me sometimes when I write. Usually, what this tells me is that the details I think I would like to print probably aren’t the necessary items to share…. And really they aren’t the reason I want to write this blog anyway. What I want to capture from this season and share with you are the good things; the positive moments or lessons learned from our journey as a recently married couple working together to create a new home from scratch in a country as far across the globe as you can get from the security of everything familiar to us… Really, in this case, what I want to share with you is the vast and gorgeous landscape we encountered last weekend while we spent some much needed family time reconnecting and rejuvenating together.

This was our first over-night trip since moving to the South Island. Yes, Drew and I spent nearly 2 months traveling the North Island coast before settling in Christchurch last February, but since then we’ve been spending every single extra penny on either setting up our new house or securing residency, so we haven’t had time or money to do much exploring of the region we now call home.

Our residency application has finally been submitted (actually, we were recently notified that its now being processed - Yay!), and the medical expenses we’ve had to pay for my multiple recent and unexpected doctors visits are at a place where we can come up for air, so we decided it was the perfect time to indulge in a quick, romantic get-away to help us detox and relax.

Lake Tekapo is about a 4 hour drive south-west of Christchurch. It’s a sleepy pass-through town on the way to bustling and tourist infested Queenstown. It sits near the foot of the Southern Alps, is home to only about 300 residents, and is well known for a just few things - A secluded little set of hot pools fed by nearby alpine springs, which we immediately indulged in upon our arrival and were absolutely amazing! We decided next time we will be sure to budget more time at the Springs. The price you pay is for an all day pass so, really had we given ourselves more time we could have stayed far longer than we did. They have an onsite cafe and spa too, so if you get overheated or want to really indulge the senses you can easily make it an all day endeavor.

The historic stone church fondly known as the Church of The Good Sheppard has one of the best views of the surrounding mountains situated right on the lake-shore. I was surprised to learn that it is still a functioning church and offers several interdenominational services a month (we just missed the start time, so we’ll have to come back to experience it). Regardless, it was a great place for a little picnic and quick photo opp.

The lake itself is known for having extremely intense blue waters, an effect of a particular species of algae living in it. However, the cloud cover and lack of wind throughout our visit hid much of its intensity and instead created some beautiful reflections of the surrounding landscape. The water was so still. It looked like glass. The balcony of our little bungalow provided epic views of the lake all evening! Totally relaxing and mesmerizing!

Lake Tekapo is also known for stargazing. Yes. This town is known for stargazing. It is so far removed from any city lights that the night sky is supposedly one of the most majestic sights to behold. There’s an observatory in the town that offers night tours. However, at $125 a pop, we chose to pass! Perhaps next time we visit we'll splurge on the night tour. We did hear that its worth the money... but, considering the cloudy night sky we experienced that evening, I think we made a good choice to splurge on our little villa instead! It was totally worth it!

And although this early spring adventure was a mostly cloudy, somewhat stormy trip, we still managed to capture a few good camera shots and thoroughly enjoyed our short escape from the city noise and construction! Mission accomplished!

Ten on Ten :: June 2013

Happy Ten on Ten!

Finding life and beauty in the ordinary things of our day to day!

Joining my sister, Rebekah, again this month for Ten on Ten. I'm really glad I finally joined her for this project. It's so lovely to see just how different each 10th day looks from month to month and I love being able to take the time to stop and reflect on how many blessings I collect in a day....

{laundry day} {as winter crept in} {exposed plumbing} {no more hot-plate!} {island loving} {heart of the city} {winter on the Avon} {chrome gnomes} {windmill} {the neighbors}

Today was a pretty low-key day spent at home, but full of blessings none the less! That beautiful island top is the newest home project cooked up by Mr. Robinson over the weekend. It's still in progress and needs a base, but I am absolutely loving how it's turning out and am so excited to gain the extra counter space! Doesn't that lovely little bowl of chesnuts and walnuts that I gathered on a recent forage at the park look great against the reclaimed-pine table?

Our new (refurbished) stove was finally installed this morning too! Very exciting! So, of course I had to wander over to the market for some chocolate chip cookie baking supplies to test out our new oven! As I walked, I realized a new section of the city has been reopened, so I found myself wandering through to check out the progress. I didn't walk all the way through to Cathedral Square, but from the first city frame you can see Christchurch Cathedral straight ahead (down the trolly line) in the heart of the city rebuild project, cost of which will top 30 billion dollars before she's fully restored. It's been said, it will take upwards of 50 million dollars alone to restore the Cathedral. That last frame is the road construction currently underway right outside our front door. You can't tell in the picture, but the construction runs all the way down Montreal (spilling onto Gloucester) for 5 blocks! Bit of a headache right now, but will be lovely when it's all done.

Have a great week everyone!

Findings of Fall and Spicy Plum Jam

Yesterday started out as one of those total crap days. Sorry to sound like such a downer right off the bat, but I was really feelin’ the bah-humbug all morning.

Drew and I have been irritable with each other for the past couple days. Not arguing, but both in our own place. I haven’t been sleeping very well and yesterday, morning specifically, the sky was as grumpy as I was feeling. The wind was howling and the rain was pouring…. Hmmph. This was really the first blustery fall morning we’ve had since we’ve been in New Zealand. We’ve experienced some interesting weather along the road, but this particular morning I just wasn’t feelin’ it.

Honestly, I’ve really been looking forward to fall here on the South Island. Back in November of last year, when we were getting all packed up, I was so ready to leave Portland and the wet fall weather that was just getting into full swing. We were heading to the southern hemisphere where we could enjoy spring roll into summer. I couldn’t wait! And it was great. But it was also surreal experiencing the drastic change of seasons and scenery.

At first, it was so exciting. Being that we had just wrapped up a full and gorgeous summer in the northwest and were heading into another one, we were about to experience nearly SIX full months of beautiful summer weather! Yes, please, I will have another! However, I was never able to wrap my brain around the holidays that came and passed. My birthday was spent for the very first time laying in the sun and playing in the surf – in the middle of January! As great as that seemed at the time, it has become obvious to Drew and I that we’ve really missed the holiday traditions of home. Now that fall is here in Christchurch and we’re heading into an empty holiday winter season, I’m just not sure how to handle it. There are pumpkins at the market! Apple pie. Cider! But no NFL, Macy’s parades, Christmas carols, or holiday lights in our near future! It’s like a weird dream… I’m beginning to think that the anticipation of this ‘holiday-less’ winter may be contributing to my bah-humbug and keeping me from enjoying the beauty of God’s creation as it prepares itself for winters sleep so naturally and beautifully.

We have the 4^th of July to look forward to, our country’s Independence Day, but there will be no fireworks. No BBQ. No camping or beers at the beach with a handful of our favorite people. …. Yep, the more I contemplated it over that second cup of coffee it became quite evident to me that the anticipation of this ‘holiday-less’ winter (and the missing out on the upcoming traditions of an American summer) is what’s really been bothering me.

So, I forced myself to bundle-up and go for a walk (luckily the rain died back at this point. Otherwise, I surely wouldn't have been brave enough to venture out). As I crankily kicked rocks through the park and sulked by myself, I realized I was really just letting this day slip away and was wasting an opportunity to enjoy something that I love doing most on crabby weather days - Cook!

I am so blessed right now to have the opportunity to be at home while Drew goes to work everyday. Who knows how long this lifestyle will last, but for now I am absolutely loving having the chance to be home and nest…. I’ve never had the time to do this before. I felt the responsibility and demands of my last job so deeply that I barely had enough energy to make dinner when I got home let alone have any remaining energy to be creative and make our home stylish and more livable. So, I decided to stop sulking, embrace the day, and go home to be creative doing something I love with this time I’ve been given.

As I walked home, I remembered that my new friend Shannon, also a recent transplant from the northwest, had given me a lovely box of plums several months ago during the peak of their season! I had cut them up and stored them in the freezer ‘til I figured out just what I was going to make with them. Now I know - Spiced Plum Jam! Perfect for such a blustery fall day.

It sure didn't solve the matters of my heart right right now, but at least for the time being I’m able to embrace where I am and concentrate on these gifts instead – new friends and their generosity, the time God has given me to slow down, nest in my new home, and enjoy every moment of the day, being creative, and making sure I spend at least a little time each day doing something I absolutely love!

Drew had a colleague at work who just moved back to the UK. Before she left she gave me all the spices and baking supplies from her pantry. One of these spices was cardamom. I've always loved cardamom for it's warm, spicy aroma, but rarely use it so I never buy it. However, being that I have an abundance of it on hand right now I thought it would be a good time to experiment by adding it to a simple jam recipe along with some of my other favorite fall flavors! I think the secret to this jam however, is the cracked black pepper. You don't have to add it, but if you're feeling brave go for it!

This jam is delicious, tangy, and rich with the goodness of fall! I will definitely be making more for the cupboard and gifts!... although next time I may try orange instead of lemon for a little added sweet over tart... xo

Enjoy!

Spiced Plum Jam

5 cups chopped and pitted plums
1 cups white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoons fresh ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (preferably fresh)
1 teaspoon grated ginger
zest and juice of half a small lemon
20-25 cracks of your black pepper mill
a good size knob of butter

Add the plums and sugar to a medium-sized pot, stirring until the plums begin to break down and release their juices. Bring to a slow boil and let cook for about 20 minutes stirring frequently to be sure the fruit does not stick to the bottom of the pot. Then add the lemon and ginger, continuing to stir with a long handled wooden spoon, breaking up the plums against the side of the pot. Add the butter, reduce the heat to a simmer and allow to cook down until the plum mixture is thick, about another 15 minutes. Add your spices near the end, after about another 10 minutes. After the spices are added, allow to slowly simmer for another 10-20 minutes.

You'll know your jam is done when it passes the 'wrinkle' test. This can be achieved by placing a small dish in the freezer for a couple minutes. Once chilled, place a dollup of jam on the plate. Slide your finger through the jam. If a path remains where your finger passed through then your jam is ready.

Apartment Therapy :: Session I

If I had a dollar for every drawing my husband has sketched to help me understand the vision or engineering behind the project he's engaged with at the time, I would have a lovely nest-egg by now. I've been wanting to share what we've been working on over here on Gloucester street for some time, but just haven't known where to start... because, well, I've been a bit hesitant to share images of our current living situation... because, well, let's be honest, the size of our place is a bit shocking and the living conditions a bit sparse (ie - Un-Inspiring!).

Let me give you the tour....

This is the 19.5m2 (approximately 210 sq foot) self-contained flat that I share with my 6'5" tall husband in the heart of City Center, Christchurch. There is no bedroom. No closet. That's right - No refrigerator! (At least when we moved in). Our landlord finally got around to installing our heat-pump, so we no longer freeze at night (YAY!), and that stove - nothing but a hardwired piece of installation art at this point (we're working on affording a new one)... But, all-in-all what you're looking at is the potential for very efficient, simplistic living.

One of my favorite features about this space is the boatload of light we get everyday! I absolutely love (and am one of those people who needs!) lots of natural light in my home. And this place delivers! It wouldn't be a stretch for me to assume that Drew's favorite feature about this place is the price tag :) Since so many homes and apartments have been devastated by the earthquake, we've found that quality, affordable housing is hard to come by. Along the road, we've met a number of people who've been displaced from their homes and a surprising number of them either living at holiday parks or there for extended-stay while their home is repaired - and this is 2 years after the earthquake!

Although this space is teeny and...um...basic, we both agree that the location of our new home really can't be beat! Christchurch may not have much of a nightlife right now (I'm assuming it's) because so many businesses have been shut, moved away, or their buildings torn down, but our current location puts the rebuild quite literally right outside our front door. We're within a one block walk to many concerts, festivals and activities that take place in Hagley Park. And nearly every day we see new buildings breaking ground or new boutiques and restaurants popping up. It's really exciting to think about and it's really amazing to watch this city rebuild. The people here are lovely. Other than the occasional grump at the market, most people are very warm and excited to learn that we've relocated here. And I'd say, those who've chosen to stay to see this city get back on it's feet are some of the most resilient people I've met.

We moved to NZ for the adventure, challenge, and opportunity to slow down and live more intentionally. Not to say we couldn't have done that back in the States, but cleansing ourselves of most of our belongings to make this move happen, we have embraced the opportunity to build a newly-wed life from scratch as we participate in a community also starting anew. This move was also and opportunity for a newly married couple to focus on something else that is important right now. Us. My husband is a structural engineer and the opportunity for him to gain international work experience in a field that is in very high demand right now in New Zealand was a career choice this family couldn't pass up.

We don't know for sure how long we will be in New Zealand, but we do know that everyday counts. Although we are reminded everyday of the sacrifices we chose to make to move here, we agree it was definitely worth the risk. And even though we desperately miss our family and friends... and Sam, our handsome, easy going golden retriever, we agree this was the best time in our life to take such a risk if we were ever going to.

Ehem... Getting back to our apartment - It's going to take a lot of thought, design, and some time to get this place up and fully functioning, but Drew and I have become quite comfortable in this space already. Perhaps living in our semi-converted campervan for the first couple months we were in New Zealand, touring the north island countryside helped us realize just how spacious and full of potential our new home really is!

This is what we upgraded from....

A 1994 Toyota Townace that was once used as an electricians work van. The company decal including contact info is still visible from both rear windows. I love it!

And here are couple more photos of us enjoying 'life on the road'. See, it's not too hard to live without all the common amenities we're accustom to, right? Ok... I will admit, there were days I wished I didn't have to put on my shoes to use the lou, but in reality, I would do it again in a heartbeat!

That wooden 'box' with the folded cushions on top ufolded into our bed. We would unfold it and use the cushions as sleeping pads every night and then put it all back together the next morning so I could cook. As you can see from the photos, Mr. Robinson also designed a drawer that pulled out of the box, which held our camp stove. I don't have a picture of it, but I bartered with a guy at Bunnings (like Home Depot) in Rotorua to sell me the floor model of a rolling hard case toolbox for 40% of it's retail price. I used it as a campbox, which stored all of our pots, pans, dishware and spices. It worked great as our portable kitchen and kept the rain out too, so I could leave it sitting outside during the night, but packed away easily when we were ready to roll! However, now that case has been turned over to Mr. Robinson who uses it for actual tools that he brought with him and a few that he's started to aquire.

Here are a couple of photos of Drew building our 'first home' in New Zealand...

And this is the view I enjoyed for most of that project... Not bad, right?

This last photo isn't much to look at, but it is one that always makes me smile. There were so many places along the road where we just pulled off the highway onto a beach and we could set up shop. Drew would pull out the spare car battery we bought at a garage sale in Whangarei and he somehow hooked up his power tools to it to outfit our campervan. This picture depics that activity very well... We actually spent 4 nights at this beach. Mostly because it was free (which is pretty hard to find unless you're traveling completely self-contained), but also Drew had a couple finishing touches to do to our bed, so this is where he worked... in the rain! And yes, that is my laundry hanging out to dry over the passenger side door. :)

I'll be back soon with updates on the loft bed Mr. Robinson is building for our new place and some design inspiration I'm planning to use as I decorate our flat!

Have a great week everyone!