Butterflies to Sunsets

I will start this week's blog with a butterfly right outside my kitchen window.  Mike might not be able to send me a North American Orange Breasted Robin but he can send me an orange butterfly.

Although December is the official beginning of winter, this was a cooler and very wet week.  I am beginning to understand when kiwi's describe their weather as four seasons in one day.

Midweek we attended the opening for the student art show at Uxbridge.  It was a kick!

David and I explored the oldest suburb in Auckland and supposed favorite shopping spot of Bill Clinton (You have to love those tidbits) on Saturday.  We went to the famed Elephant House, a wonderful gift shop with products made in New Zealand.  After tea we bimbled up to Holy Trinity Church which is just beautiful and were treated to a choir practice.  Then on to the famous Rose Gardens.

The pix of the garden does not do it justice.  Needless to say what I thought was going to be an easy Saturday browsing through shops along the brick lanes of Parnell and having lunch turned into hours of walking and exploring a unique area near downtown Auckland.

Sunday proved to be one of those 4 seasons in 1 day type days so David and I headed for Mission Bay and walked along the harbor toward downtown Auckland.  We were amazed at a gentleman swimming  in the Bay.  The ocean was rough with lots of waves.  This lone swimmer was several meters from the beach and swimming parallel to the beach.  He appeared to be going nowhere --- that is how strong the tides were.  Eventually reassured of his safety we continued walking.  There were also a number of folks sail boarding --- it was a perfect day for that and several even had a race.

View of Devonport from Mission Bay.

My new home choice facing the Bay --- there's room for everybody …..  I especially love the clock on top!

Minutes after this pix we were running back under this incredible tree for protection from the rain.

And Sunday night we orchestrated the Candle Lighting here in Howick at the Old Selwyn Church.  Here's a pix as we were just setting up.

There were only 9 brave souls for this first candle lighting so we all stood around the tray on the table in front and lit our candles and put them in the sand tray, did the readings,  listened to music and shared about our children.  This old 1800's church was a great setting to start the wave of lights that will continue for 24 hours across the globe.

And an appropriate ending to this blog requires no words.