Happy New Year

For those of you anticipating what 2009 will be like, I can tell you. So far, it's great. Perfect summer weather.

The folks who are staying in the hop kiln invited us to join them to ring in 2009. We had a great time. They're from Zimbabwe, so we started out the evening with a braai (barbecue) ...


the men cooked the meat while the women prepared the salad, pap, veggies and rice.


It was quite the feast...


What a treat to have traditional african food here in Upper Moutere...


Quinne has become good friends with Atu, the little six year-old girl...


They enjoy picking each other up. That's an important part of being five or six.


Later on, we danced to some great Zim music. Amy wasn't afraid to get down and show her moves...


I even had a chance to work on my white-man's overbite...



Hope you enjoy your new year celebration also.
All the best from the top of the south.

Christmas from the top of the south

Beck was the first to wake up and see the toys under the tree...


When Quinne came in, she noticed evidence of Father Christmas. A piece of his coat had caught on the flu, and there were ash footprints leading from the fireplace...


Not only were the stockings filled, but there was a pile of gifts under the tree.


He knew where to find us even down here on top of the south.

Merry Christmas and happy new year from the Webers

A Christmas Poem

Here's a poem dictated directly from Quinne. She actually dictated it in mid October when Amy wrote it down. Quinne's been ready for Christmas for some time now. Here's how it goes...

Star shines bright
At the ringing of Santa's bells.
As Santa comes down through the chimney.
And soon he flies away,
He flies away,
And soon he flies away.
And they all wake up,
As the light of the stars fades away.
Soon the sun comes up,
And the sun rises a beautiful sunrise.
And in the surprise of the children
There can sometimes be a present from Santa Claus.
In the surprise the children see-
They look under the Christmas tree.
And sometimes find a little gift from Santa Claus
That he has brang.
Yes, dear Santa, you have came.

Merry Christmas from the Webers down under and to the side - on the top of the south.

Santa Lucia

Here are some pictures from Santa Lucia day that I've been meaning to post. Santa Lucia was an Italian saint who brought light into the heart of winter with her good deeds. For some reason the Scandinavians have taken this holiday and run with it. I'm right there with them. The children bring coffee and baked goods to their parents in bed on the morning of Santa Lucia day. Not a bad deal. They thought they would surprise me, but I was waiting in ambush with my camera...


Breakfast in bed was good...


star boy was there to help also...


They brought warm light in the middle of, well, summer here...


Santa Lucia according to Quinne...

Golden Bay

We took the caravan down to Golden Bay the weekend before last. I've been meaning to post some pictures, but haven't caught up yet. All in all, it was an awesome weekend away.

This was the view just over the Takaka hill descending into Golden Bay...



We went on a great bush walk after a relaxing meal at the Naked Possum.



Here are a few things that caught my eye on our bush walk...




We camped at a quiet holiday park on the beach. Here's a scene from our beach...


This is looking the other direction toward the farewell spit...


The weather was beautiful on Friday and Saturday and cloudy on Sunday. It made for good pictures.

The kids had a ball on the beach. We camped next to another family with two kids almost the same age as Beck and Quinne. They were visiting from Denmark. They stayed at our place for a few days on their way back. I used them in a photo shoot where I needed a couple in a hot tub. Here's their family in the hot tub...


I'll leave you with a view from the most northern point of the south island...



E haere rā from the top of the south