A little sightseeing

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

I added some photos yesterday after our sightseeing trip. In the middle of Auckland are some extinct volcanos. Our trip included a journey to the top of one where as you turned 360 degrees you were still seeing parts of Auckland. Although it is a city of 1 million people it is quite spread out and extends over many miles/kilometers. It's kind of like the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, "water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink." As we drove through neighborhoods, there were many magnificient homes, truly huge and expensive. You were as apt to see an insignificant home cheek by jowl next to it. Shane, Carol and I drove through the country and he pointed out some newly constructed homes that were large and obviously cost lots of $. As in town, there is liable to be what could be considered a shanty on the next lot.

As Shane and I strolled around the property here, he would point out a plant and say it was a noxious weed, tell me what it was and I would say, we put those in pots and grow them as a house plant...Wandering Jew was one of them; another that we plant in our flower gardens was Oxalis [probably spelled that wrong]. I asked him what these cute birds were that are literally all over the place and he said they were Myna birds and a nuisance. Another pretty bird here I wanted a picture of was a Magpie and another nuisance. The have another lovely bird that is an irridescent dark blue, a Paka..something or other [a Swamp Hen] that is about as big as a chicken and I asked him if they were good to eat. He said, "Oh yes, you put them is a large pot, put some stones in the bottom, put the hen in, cover it with water and boil/simmer for an hour or so, throw the hen away and eat the rocks!" If you like eels, there are plenty in the stream that runs through the property. It's a really lovely country and the place here is quite soothing.

While I've been trying to complete this blog entry, first Carol came and started yammering, then Dale came in to join in. I am the type of person that cannot study if music is playing, can't think and type if someone is talking, etc. So, I said, "Why don't you two go into the office and talk while I finish this." Dale said, "Did you just tell me to bugger off?" I said that I had. They have been gone about 2 minutes and I'm done!

See you later.