more pics to show and tell

hexagons in Dunedin

More hexies in Dunedin

Queenstown in the early morning after a dusting of snow

Queenstown once the sky cleared

first glimpse of Doubtful Sound

Doubtful sound

doubtful Sound

Sorry they aren't in order of travel. We had the most perfect weather for our trip to Doubtful sound. The tour guide commented how lucky we were as these type of days were quite rare, I think he said lucky if they got 50 days a year as calm and sunny as what we had. Dolphins swam alongside the boat and we saw penguins and seals. It was just so magnificent. We even went down into the Manopouri power station under the mountain. Awesome.
cheers for now
Marina

here we go ready or not!

Get ready for some snapshots. ... Part one..
I know they are all scenery shots but the scenery is just amazing. Just wait till you see my shots of trees and mosses!
 I hope my photos can come close to doing these beautiful places justice.

red tussock grass- this valley and the mountains enclosing it were covered in this beautiful grass. (yes I know it's only grass, but it was amazing)

view from the road up to Mt Hutt

Mt Hutt

Lake Tekapo- this was just amazing!! The colour of the waterways was all this turquoise blue, just phenomenal in the  sunshine.

outside Twizel

We didn't get to see any wildlife except for two types of birds one was a pukeko and the other an eagle type bird. New Zealand has no native mammals and some of the native birds are quite rare due to introduced mammals that have become pests like the stoat, possum and deer.
Hope you have enjoyed this instalment of photos, I am afraid the next lot will be of more mountains and trees. I just didn't tire of looking at the different landscapes hope you don't either.
Next post may even include some crafty items....
cheers
Marina

been gone a little bit.....

Well things have been a little quiet here due to a few factors such as lack of inspiration, direction and creativity but also because of  a big holiday to New Zealand!

Fiona please note how well your travel bag co-ordinates with my luggage!

We have been away for a lovely 10 days touring the south island of New Zealand. We travelled over 2000 km and even more if you include the boat cruises and bus trip and initial plane trip to get there and back. I know it sounds cliched but sometimes the scenery really did take your breath away.  I took lots of happy snaps of what will seem the most boring things but to me they were just wonderful. Our older boys who didn't come with us said while looking at our photos 'what another mountain?, what's with the trees?'. So if you weren't there I can imagine it would be a little like that. So be prepared over the course of time to be bombarded with a pic of a tree or a mountain or two!
One of the highlights of the trip was being in Queenstown at the same time as the Quilt symposium. No I didn't get to go as it opened at 1pm on the day we had to leave but I did get to meet up with Lisa who was my partner in a Christmas swap last year and was there to attend the Symposium. She and her friend Helen came to dinner with us and we all had a lovely meal and laugh together. It was wonderful.
Patchwork shops were a little sparse but we did hunt two out on our travels. Towns were quite sparse also so we would travel quite far without going through a town at all and when we did they were usually small country towns but they were very sweet.
Before I left I ordered some new books for some new inspiration and they arrived while we were away so I am hoping that I can get fired up in the few days left of our school/easter holidays. Fingers crossed!
So stay tuned for pics of lakes, mountains, trees and glacier carved sheer cliffs!
cheers
Marina