HO HO HO

The blog has been having some alone time, but now it's ready to rock....Jingle Bell Rock that is!

We haven't seen Naomi since Christmas a year ago - in Boston. So it was great she could stop in today on her way to San Francisco, yay! We decided to go christmas crazy. We listened to christmas music, built our christmas tree, made paper chains and snowflakes, and exchanged presents.

Now we're just waiting for santa to leave us a puppy. Hope he doesn't gore himself on our steel tree.

Our blog promises to be better to you from now on...

C+C

Summer 2010 in NZ - random times...

Coromandel holiday in November:

Birdwatching in Miranda:

Harvesting an enormous Mangel Beet. Didn't taste good.

Guy Fawkes Day back yard celebration:

-Carl

Three Siblings

Emma visited us for one sick weekend before heading to the Philippines and then moving to London.

Todd introduced us to his favorite pub:



We went on a roadtrip to the seaside. We had the whole beach to ourselves as we had paella for lunch:




Looking for crabs:

Throwing rocks:


Throwing rocks at other rocks:






Boogie on the bluff:
Boogie on the beach:



Can't forget a ridiculously cute lamb picture!


For more Wells fun visit Emma's fantastic and charmingly titled blog "Life, London, Tea and Little Cakes"


We all missed you Naomi!



-Carl

a weekend in the country

We got some quality lamb time over the weekend. Since we got back, I've replayed this little video of lambs trotting around on their green hilltop overlooking the sea every time I need a smile.




We decided to spend a night in Waiwera, about 45 minutes north of Auckland. It was a much needed retreat after the perpetual motion of the past couple months. It still amazes me that such rural and quiet places exist such a short drive from the city. One of the homes we drove past when we got a bit lost on the back roads:


We rented a quaint attic apartment at a hotel just a short walk from the Waiwera thermal spa. I swear I could have moved in.


The walk where we saw the lambs was in Tawharanui, a beautiful reserve just a bit further north. We also walked through native bush and saw the endangered New Zealand robin and wood pidgeon up close. Don't you think it's amazingly green for winter?


Camille

Dad's Elektra visit

Dad came up for the most challenging concert of the year here in Auckland: The New Zealand premier of Strauss's opera Elektra. It was a great success - the first full standing ovation I've witnessed in the three years I've been here! Read the review here. During the applause, the Maestro gave his big bouquet to the Principal Oboe player, who later gave it to Camille who gave it to me who gave it to Dad. Immediately following the concert was a fancy reception to celebrate the APO's 30th anniversary - so Dad was forced to show off his bouquet mingling with all the divas and donors!

Back at home showing off the flowers and a soloist's smile:


The next day Todd and Dad and I hit the road north for a weekend roadtrip. After a few hours we got a flat:


When we finally got to the Kauri forest the rain was pouring down in sheets:


But when you're soaked to the skin you can't get any wetter! We still had a grand time visiting these amazing 2,000 year old monster trees:

The next day we went on a Dolphin cruise in the Bay of Islands. Unfortunately we managed to defy the 97% odds of seeing something. We still had a great time on the boat - it wasn't even raining!



We stopped on an island and saw an ancient Pa site and of course some baby lambs.

We visited the Waitangi Treaty grounds and inspected an extremely large canoe:


And how could we pass on a pitstop at the world famous Kawakawa toilets. The most photographed toilets in New Zealand! I've been forbidden to post an action shot I took from inside, so here is the entrance:




Thanks for the trip Dad and Todd!

-Carl

A Shroom with a View

So guess what we just ate for dinner. It began with a few alien tentacles sprouting from a bag of woodchips...


Almost overnight, they grew up and flattened out....

After a few days, these beauties were ready to harvest.

And the oyster mushrooms wound up on a very delicious garlicky, sagey, cheesy homemade pizza!

The fungal fun was shared with Todd and was followed by cake and a very exciting game of scrabble. The handsome men hard at work:


I would encourage anyone who likes mushrooms to try growing them from a kit! It was easy and not at all messy, and they taste divine sauteed in butter and garlic (splash of white wine optional!)

-Camille

South Island Winter!

Just got back from a lovely long weekend in Christchurch with my family. A big highlight was skiing with my dad at Mt Hutt:






And a road trip to a spectacular valley near Mt Somers. In the Lord of the Rings movie there is a scene where the rocky hill in this picture has a wooden palace built on it.







Thanks Mom and Dad for being wonderful hosts - I love visiting! And Emma, I appreciate you taking time out to hang out. You're awesome!

-Carl

Poll

This is huge: here is your chance to shape my future, and my face!

Please analyze the picture below and decide for yourself whether my new chin hairs should stay or go. Please vote on the side panel. (update: added poll but it seems a bit hard to use for some reason)



I say yes!
Camille says no!

Nihotupu Dam Good Walk

Here's Carl doing US taxes. It's important to use as much furniture as possible to so we can write it off as our "office".


-Camille

Toronto

I recently spent two busy weeks in Toronto. I took an audition for the Toronto Symphony, had some much needed horn lessons, got valuable inspiration attending some great concerts, caught up with old friends from my university days, and visited my family.


It was strange to go back to U of T. I spent a lot of time in this building!



I stayed with my lovely and gracious cousin Katie. Here she is with her dashing Mike and a friend met in passing. I think she was bicycling across Canada?! (please someone remind me)


I had a lovely visit with Ruth and Colin in Kingston. Very much enjoyed this short time, especially visiting Moana, their new catamaran.


Colin and I went to see the Flying Dutchman at the new opera center in Toronto. Look closely - he's even wearing his "F.D." tie!
Though rather near the ceiling, we had great front row seats:

Catching up with old friends Mike and Lisa. Sadly I can't make their wedding next month.


The newly renovated Museum subway station needed a little maintenance:


Another highlight was visiting grandparents Trix and Norman in Victoria. Wonderful hosts. We took a lovely walk with beautiful views of the Pacific:



We took tried to take a different way back but were stymied by a locked gate and barbed-wire fence. There MUST be a way:



Here I am at the Sydney airport waiting for my final flight back to Auckland.

May I present a sleeping self-portrait with beard: