The Changing Seasons: February 2017

/ Su Leslie
Cows and a bull grazing on a hillside against brilliant blue sky. Seen on the Awhitu Peninsula, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

Another roadside attraction … Seen on the Awhitu Peninsula, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

The Big T was overseas for 18 of February’s 28 days, so it was a raggedy month where life’s normal rhythms skipped a bit.

A growing disaffection with Auckland’s rampant urbanisation, overcrowding and endless traffic congestion has driven me (at painfully low speed) from the city as often as I could get away. Trips to Karekare, the Awhitu Peninsula, the Waikato and even the Helensville A&P Show are all part of a quest to reconnect with the parts of Aotearoa New Zealand that the Big T and I love and feel connected to.

Sunset at Karekare Beach, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Sunset at Karekare Beach, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Sunset at Karekare Beach, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Sunset at Karekare Beach, Auckland, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Sunrise, Te Kauwhata, Waikato, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Sunrise, Te Kauwhata, Waikato, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Morning mist, Te Kauwhata, Waikato, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Early morning in the Waikato, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
The English Flower Garden, Hamilton Gardens, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Seen at Hamilton Gardens, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Farmland around Glen Murry, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Farmland around Glen Murry, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Highland dancer preparing swords for her dance. Seen at Helensville A&P Show, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Highland dancer competing at Helensville A&P Show, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Highland dancer competing at Helensville A&P Show, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Highland dancer competing at Helensville A&P Show, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Waiting for a turn, Highland dancers at Helensville A&P Show, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Waiting for a turn, Highland dancers at Helensville A&P Show, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Judging, junior calf rearing. Helensville A&P Show, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Judging, junior calf rearing. Helensville A&P Show, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
Brother and sister; enjoying shave ice at Helensville A&P Show, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017.
“Ready for my close-up” Sheep awaiting judging at Helensville A&P Show, NZ. Image: Su Leslie, 2017

This post is my contribution to The Changing Seasons, a monthly challenge hosted by Cardinal Guzman. Please visit to see the Cardinal’s month, and find links to other participants.

There are two versions of the challenge:

Version 1 (The Changing Seasons V1):

Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons
Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery.
Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.

Version 2 (The Changing Seasons V2):

Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons
Each month, post one photo (recipe, painting, drawing, whatever) that represents your interpretation of the month.
Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!

41 thoughts on “The Changing Seasons: February 2017”

    • Thanks Leslie. Scottish country dancing seems to be a feature at all the shows; I had no idea it was still so popular. The girls were such troopers — it was incredibly hot and they looked so composed in their kilts and tams.

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    • We had to stop and photograph the cows because they were on such a steep hillside, and traditionally in NZ cows are on flat land; sheep on the hills. They were a bit wary of me when I got too close, so the best shot was the first one. 🙂

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  4. I can see why you go to these places, Su. That first photo is funny. The more I looked at it, the more it looked almost posed or unreal…all the cows in B&W in the background and the differently-colored bull in the foreground looking a bit bull-igerent. 🙂

    janet

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  10. You used your time in February to great advantage – it’s a beautiful collection of photos. The sunset photos at Karekare Beach are stunning, the gorgeous rolling farmlands, and the little dancers … all favourites.
    Sometimes the soul just needs to get far away from the city!

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  11. Wow! So many stunning photos in one post! You totally spoil us, Su! Can’t get enough of them and scroll them up and down, down and up… 😄 The cows are awesome as is that lovely sheep! The highland dancers are fantastic – I would so have loved to join them! And those beaches and sunrises – each like a perfect jewel! Thank you for brighten my mood my friend! 🙏😄😚

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      • Aww – thank you, I can definitely need a bit of sunshine – it doesn´t stop raining here! Well, as long as that means that spring is on the way, I won´t complain 😉
        Took the last of the antibiotics today and hope that that will be it! I always kind of choke on them, they´re so big – uugh! 😦
        How´s your cold?? Just knitting a pair of socks, so I´m sending you their imagined warmth right to your feet! 😀 xxxxxx

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        • I hope the antibiotics are doing their thing. I hate taking them too. Do you have some probiotics to help restore your “good bacteria”? My cold is much better. I’m still a bit snuffly, but I think that is from allergies; at least I don’t have any of the other symptoms.
          I’m seriously impressed that you can knit socks. I like to knit, but scarves and beanies are about the limit of my talents. 🙂 xxxxxxxx

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          • Yes, I’m taking prebiotics that’s to say I drink Kefir, eat yogurt and almonds 😄 Oh, you’ve got allergies? That’s awful! No good cure for them, right? Hope the snuffling will stop soon and that you’re feeling better again!
            Knitting socks is actually not as difficult as you might think. I learned it a couple of weeks before x-mas via YouTube 😉 Wanted to surprise my mom 😄 I should have started earlier though as the first pair didn’t look that great 😂 xxxxxxxx

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          • I never think of YouTube as a way to learn stuff. I think I’m a bit old-school; I need books or face-to-face demonstration. I love the idea of knitting your mum socks for Christmas. What a wonderful gift. Handmade things, especially the things our kids make, are always the best presents for mothers. xxxxxxx 🙂

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          • So… 😉 I kind of press the wrong button all the time…
            Anyway, YouTube is actually great do learning stuff I think as it is kind of face to face of there’s no one around to teach you. I could have not asked my mom how to knit socks could I? She would have known what I was up to since I always try to make something handmade for Christmas 😉 I also learned origami via YouTube. And it’s also fun to get distracted by yet another funny cat video 😉 xxxxxxx 😄

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  12. The sheep staring back at us proudly waiting to show off is an awesome finale to a big collection of photos. Thanks for sharing and hope that March doesn’t keep you both apart for quite so long!

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