Last Day of Summer*

*"it's not really the last day of summer!!!" - Forrest
however, officially, 1 March is the first day of Autumn, in New Zealand, no matter what the orbit of the Earth tells everyone else in the world....... never mind.

Let's us do a Summer Recap! Considering I have been FaceBook Free for February (and maybe Forever) and I haven't updated the blog in two months !

Christmas was fun and we had spectacular weather, which is really the best thing to ask for in a Kiwi Summer. We loved Stuart Island and enjoyed feeling like we were flying into Jurassic Park upon landing in Mason's Bay. We saw Kiwi Birds near Freshwater Hut (refer to previous blog post). The Kiwi Birds were amazing! as big as chickens with huge beaks (and Forrest likes to say, Huge Talons and Claws!). After Stewart Island we traveled to the Catlins, which is basically southeast Southland, or if you are looking at a map of New Zealand, the southern part of the South Island. Again, the Weather was AMAZING. After the Catlins we went to Wanaka and hiked to the Rob Roy glacier. Then traveled to do some mountain biking on the Central Otago Rail Trail. We camped most nights, Forrest caving in to a hotel on 2 occasions, one time because there was snow on the ground.

A few weeks after Christmas break we went to Melbourne! It was amazing! We were lucky enough to get tickets to the Women's Semi-Final Tennis match in the Australian Cup and we also saw the Cirque du Soeli show 'Ovo", also fantastic! It was Forrest's first encounter with Cirque so I was happy he enjoyed it. We  basically followed Anthony Bourdain's food recommendations...cleverly outlined on this blog post. Using a local travel guide also helped, check out Unanchor for your next trip.

This month we have enjoyed Waitaingi Day and visitors beginning 8 February through 19 March. Gina and Isaac have come and gone and Anthony is currently here. Tom and Christina arrive in three days and we're very excited to be hosting so many lovely faces!

So if we have been a bit out of touch, it was for good reason :) Now, onward to the Autumn* season, or as Forrest like to call it, "still Summer".

A Kiwi Christmas

For our first Chrismas in New Zealand we decided to take a hike.

 On Stewart Island. 

for 100 km.

On Saturday we will drive from Christchurch to Invercargill and then fly to Mason's Bay on Stewart Island. Stewart Island is the island south of the South Island (named Stewart because they used up the easy names, i'm assuming.) I am very excited (?) to be flying in a six seater plane and landing on the beach! then begins our 100 km walk around Stewart Island. adventure! after 7 days (or so) we plan to fly or ferry back to Invercargill and then drive to the Catlins (area D on map), which will roughly be New Years Eve. After that we will travel up to Area E for the Central Otago Rail Trail which is a 150 km bike trail (approximately 3 days). Then I hope to go home, and sleep. 

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here is our planned driving route road trip!

 

stewart island route (more info)

Happy Holidays to you and yours, may you cherish the time with loved ones and also your hot shower and amazing food, such as prime rib, shrimp and wonderful desserts, since i won't be having any of these thing this holiday season.

also a special note to my family, as this is the first chirstmas i haven't spent at home in my entire life: i love you all so very much and hold you in my heart every single minute of every single day.
xo

02138 loses a rare gem

I set the alarm clock to snooze as it trills at 6am. It feels cold. It's February, 2011.
6:20am, alarm again, still cold. Hop out of bed and ramble to the shower. Peak out the window while showering and realize it has snowed a bucket-load and a half in Cambridge while I was sleeping.
great.
Begrudgingly get ready for work and dress in full winter armour. Snow boots, puffy jacket, scarf, gloves, hat. Head down the stairs to catch the bus. Realize I forgot my lunch on the kitchen counter, head back up the stairs, try to open door handle with gloved hand, with no success.
Hurry back down steps, almost fall to my death while tripping on myself in my big snow boots.
Walk a short distance to Mt. Auburn Street. Feeling exceptionally sorry for myself that I moved back to the Northeastern US, for this, for winter.

"hello honey"
I hear the familiar voice and turn and give mid-60s Lebanese man a smile and a wave, "Good Morning, Karim."
"just missed the bus, honey."
"yeah, just a bit delayed this morning, oh, here comes the next one!"
"be careful crossing the street, honey." Karim cautions as I proceed across 4 lanes of angry Boston bound traffic.

6pm, sprinted from the red line train to bus 73 to get home in enough time to make my class at the gym. exit bus at Aberdeen Ave.
"good day, honey?" Karim asks
"yeah it was ok, hey why aren't you wearing any gloves, it's cold outside?" I question Karim as he pumps fuel for standard sedan that frequents the fueling station where he works.
"the gloves get in the way of using the pump" Karim answers.

Really this epitomizes Karim. Caring beyond his own comfort. My Aberdeen Ct. friends have informed that Karim has passed away from his battle with lung cancer. Karim worked at Nick's Gas for more than 25 years and cared about every. single. person. that he crossed paths with, who can say as much of someone? Especially in a world, such as Boston where "good morning" almost never gets a response and often times a pregnant lady doesn't get a seat on the train.

Even though I have only known Karim for what equates to minutes of his whole life and even though I only spoke with him briefly each day for nearly two years, I am deeply saddened by the loss of this man.
Boston Globes Comments

Rest in Peace Karim Alagha, you will be missed. 

Walking in a Summer Wonderland

 'Tis the Christmas Season and coincidentally the first days of Summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Which is odd, considering all of the Christmas carols reference snow and figgy pudding and fireplaces and wonderlands and whatnot.
In the spirit of things, I made Christmas Tree garland, my first (successful) sewing machine project! Easy, take scraps of fabric and shape into whatever you choose, stuff shapes with other scraps of fabric and sew closed. assemble in some rough order that looks similar to a pattern and sew to a ribbon! voila!
Special thanks to my sister for being Skype-able to aid in my sewing machine functioning properly. (and thanks to whomever invented Skype while we're at it.) For being able to help me sort out my operator error with the bobbin and various other movable parts and knobs that attach to a sewing machine.

Here in this 26 second video is our Christmas Tree for 2012!

I ran a 1/2 Marathon this past weekend, well, it was more of a run/walk as i have been having miscellaneous foot pain for the last 3 weeks. At least it is over :)

Special thanks to Forrest for cheering me into the finish line, and taking this sweet pic. <3 p="p">

Labour Day, Show Day and Thanksgiving Day

New Zealand Labour Day was in October, we headed to the West Coast, as per our tradition. We went to a brewery tour at Monteith's brewery, avoided camping in the rain by staying at a hotel, checked out the Pancake Rocks, tried to hike but the water level on a river was too high, camped in the rain because it is unavoidable and returned home.

Oh we climbed up to Mt. Oxford, it was pretty windy at the top. well really windy, scary.

We planted a garden, tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, Brussel sprouts, kale, lettuce, strawberries and herbs.

Canterbury Show Day was 15 November, sort of a county fair celebration that allows us a public holiday. so we ventured south and hiked the Routeburn Track. It was a 'great walk', well graded trails and easy walking for 30 km. It's just too bad the weather couldn't cooperate. But i can see how it would be a great walk if it were to be slightly sunny.

Thanksgiving Day (we celebrated on Saturday) we hosted 22 friends from near and far (Alicia and Josiah from Washington DC) and had a grand feast. The celebration was really fun and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, even a few people trying out pumpkin pie for the first time! we had a 16 lb turkey and everyone brought a dish to share!

 

August - September Holiday

Yes we did return from our holiday in August and September. How was it? Fantastic.
A Birthday, A Wedding, An Engagement Party and lots of Family!  Thanks to Mom and Dad for hosting and providing the engagement party and to Erica for being the chef and chief of the party.
Then we went to PORTUGAL!!! Portugal was amazing, special thanks to Telma and Pedro, who didn't let us get lost or order bad food! obrigada e beijos :)

Portugal Photos