Leaving on a jet plane....

We received word today that our sister, Fredia, is not doing so well. We have changed our reservations to leave as soon as possible, which will be at 7:40 PM 22 Dec 2006. We, naturally, regret not being able to spend more time with Dale and Shane but they understand that family is our priority.

We were first led to believe that Fredia’s body was riddled with cancer, but have found that not to be true. She is, however, not doing well and we feel that our place is with her. Fredia and I have always been one another’s rock and I cannot be that here.

So, I will end my New Zealand blog with this entry.

My love to you all and God bless.

Billy

Poor People-Carol

billy didn't tell you when I was helping wash dishes that I broke both French Press coffee makers. I thought "oh, poor Shane." Their poor you know. Shane told me so, and I believed him. NOT! Hes always fibbing to me and gullible me. Now if his lips are moviing I know its another fib, with a straight face. I just laugh at him and say "yeah right."

Tea was very good last. Was tied in knots worrying about my sis. Didn't know id I could eat or not. But I never pass up Billys cooking. Have lost 4 pounds though. Running up and down stairs and all about the place probably.

More later maybe.

What Happened To Yesterday?

The pork loin I bought while at the butcher the other day was very tasty. We cut half of the meat into pork chops and enjoyed it thoroughly. Then yesterday I took what was left after cutting the loin off and enough some of the other meat for stir-fry, sprinkled it with a generous helping of salt and roasted it in the oven about 350F until it was very crisp. We broke it into pieces and munched on it until my pancreas began to act up…lovely stuff that crisp skin and fat. Haven’t had that since I was a kid and my mom made cracklins.

Found out today that my youngest sis, Marilee, took Fredia to Portland and put her in the hospital there. They found, almost immediately, that she had low potassium and sodium, which was making her throw up, dizzy and fall down. They are running extensive tests to find out what’s going on with her. She is also on my niece’s floor [niece, Dione, is the assistant charge nurse on that floor], which means she will be well looked after.

Let’s talk about what we had for tea last night. Carol bought what she thought was a brisket at the butchers and was going to make Corned Beef and Cabbage. When we got home, I looked at the piece of meat and told her it wasn’t a brisket, more like a rump roast. So we had Beer Braised Rump Roast, fried okra, mashed potatoes and the gravy from the roast. The meat was so very tender and moist, just falling apart. Shane went to the store for cornmeal since they didn’t have any and brought back a box “they” called cornmeal. It was very fine, more like corn flour. Today we will get some proper cornmeal and have some cornbread to go with the leftovers. Shane was very surprised to discover I’d used heavy cream in the potatoes instead of milk. Needless to say, there wasn’t a smidgen of potatoes or okra left. Shane had told me that I’d made too many potatoes and I’d said, “Oh, I don’t think so.” While at the store I’ll have to get the ingredients to make my Carrot Cake and Sugarbrown’s Mama’s Mama’s Banana Cake. Soon I’ll be making the Parmesan Chicken Roulades, the Tomato Concasse and maybe the salad that went with it…the name escapes me. Oh yes, we have to go to the cheese store for more cheese today. It’s all gone! We must have had burglars or something.

I miss all the “stuff” from my kitchen. I was looking at all the empty space in Dale/Shane’s kitchen and thinking about all the “stuff” they had room for.

I think we’ll have Shane drop us downtown Pukekohe or maybe it was Papakura, one day this week so we can browse around through the different stores. Maybe go back to the Pastry shop/Espresso place and get some recipes.

Sure have some strange names down here and they put the emphasis or accent some where other than we would which makes it sound even more strange. We are going into Manukau today to visit a shopping mall where there is a store similar to Target and a seafood store. So, I’ll be back later to tell you all about it.

At The Party

First we went out to Shane/Dale's daughter Elizabeth's place to see her pets. She has a Kune Kune pig, without a doubt one of the ugliest animals I've ever seen; 25 chooks [chickens]; 2 dogs; 2 horses; budgies [parakeets]; fish tanks; frog tank; sheep; all kinds of wild birds; peacocks and about a million miles out in the country. We then went on over to the party where there were about 40-50 people and lots of food. We remained at the party for several hours. I ate mutton [about a 2 year old lamb], ham and lots of different types of cold salads and some yummy desserts [I'll try to get some recipes for you].

I'll post some more pictures for you in a little while.

Here ya go: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v499/bjcotton/New%20Zealand/

ET Call Home

I spoke with Fredia this morning. Apparently she isn't doing to good. The Dr. gave her an inhalor to prevent bronchitis from turning into pneumonia, which she is prone to. She is also having dizzy spells and has fallen a couple of times. Two of my nieces look in on her every day, but she is alone at night. I suggested that she go up to our sister Marilee's and stay with her. I gave Shane a heads up that we might not be staying the entire 6 weeks. We'll have to see what happens.

We are going to a friend of Dale's and Shane's birthday party this afternoon. Apparently he has slaughtered 4 yearling sheep to BBQ. I do hope it clears off and doesn't rain. Guess I'll be tasting NZ lamb for the first time today. I'll let you know what I think of it.

I bought Fredia a mohair shawl, not thinking she can't wear wool. So I fear someone else will be getting a nice shawl. Bought myself 4 pair of cotton shorts which I just figured out I paid way to much for...I won't tell you how much as I've been berating myself all morning about it.

I prepared tea for us last night. I made Lorraine's Leek, Gruyere, and Cream dish, of course I bastardized it with bell peppers and celery. All seemed to really enjoy it. Will probably make my Pork Stir-Fried Rice tomorrow, which the rice isn't really stir-fried. I marinated the pork in Cabernet Sauvignon, Sesame oil and Balsamic last night. Sure smells good.

We visited a Tourism office yesterday and came away with a whole arm full of brochures. Carol got a little stuffed toy Kiwi bird that you squeeze and it chirps; also, got a card with the bird on the front which when you open it, it makes the Kiwi bird sound.

We stopped by an Espresso/pastry place yesterday and I'm sure when we left they had to clean the drool marks off the display case glass. Oh yes, Jean, I asked the owner about the Sausage Rolls. They use the phyllo dough to wrap them in. The meat is already cooked and well drained before rolling the pastry dough. I asked if they used phyllo dough and they didn't understand what I meant. They finally said phyllo pastry?

Well, I've got to go shower and shave for the party. See y'all later.

shopping day-Carol

Carol

Hi everyone. Had a day of shopping. Shane threatened to lock me in the car or take my purse away. Which would have done no good since Bill has the money. I got a nice silver and abalone bracelet, wrapping paper, bows, face creams and a sweet. I don't think that was to bad. Much better than Bill and Shane getting groceries. Those guys spent 190 New Zealand. Of course 2 bottles of wine were for me. Bill got 2 ice creams. I bought Dale.....and some waffle cones.

Some little midgies are biting Bill and I at night. Mostly on the face and neck. I told him people might think we're bringing them measles or something.

Shane is such a fibber. He gets me everytime. Then I look at him and know I've been taken in again.

The weather is getting warmer. Today was very nice until we got into the car. Then it was hot.

Bill will be fixing tea soon. Don't know what it will be. He and Shane talked about so many things I lost track.

Must call home tonigh and see if Ronnie is home from elk hunting.

Bye for now.

A side trip

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v499/bjcotton/New%20Zealand/

Today we went on another sightseeing trip up and down some high hills and along the Auckland coast road. I can again verify that there are some huge private "summer cottages" as I call them. You could put a family of 10 in some of them and they'd have trouble finding one another.

These Norfolk pines are really beautiful and are quite plentiful here. In a couple of days we are again going up into the "mountains" to photograph the small ferns here. They are the size of trees...huge things. I also want to photograph some of the noxious plants along the roads, they are beautiful and closely resemble wild iris', both lilac colored and white. There are many lovely plants and flowers here. Another noxious plant is the Banana Passion Fruit. The fruit is apparently edible, but doesn't compare to the real Passion Fruit.

We ate in a small Greek Sidewalk Restaurant for lunch today. Shane had a Greek Salad, Dale had a pizza, Carol and I had Rice Pilaf with Sauteed Chicken and Mushrooms. Shane says the salad was fresh and exceptionally good. All I could see were a couple of different lettuces, red onion, tomato, cukes, Feta and half a lemon. There was olive oil on the salad. I couldn't tell what was with/on the pizza. The Pilaf sucked, just plain rice, but the sauteed chicken and mushrooms were very tasty. It was topped with Walnut sauce which couldn't hold a candle to Jean's. I had "lemonade" to drink, which turned out to be a clear liquid with somewhat of a lemon taste. Shane said if I wanted lemonade such as we have in the states I would have to order lemon juice.

I fired up both of my coffee makers this morning, one for coffee and the other for my beloved green tea [infusion].

We have another party to attend Saturday. One of Dale and Shane's friends, a bbq. Either lamb or pork I'm given to understand.

I'm off to grocery shop, will talk with you tomorrow.