flowers

Low cloud hangs over hills and the Whanganui River at Papaiti Road, Whanganui. Su Leslie 2018

Late afternoon rain clouds, Papaiti Road, Whanganui. Su Leslie, 2018

While some months can certainly be summed up in a single image, June hasn’t been one of them.

The first part of the month was shaped by my father’s admission to hospital. He’s nearly 86 and has a series of medical problems. On the plus side, this means that any change in his condition is taken seriously by his doctors and he receives swift and usually excellent care; on the minus side it’s incredibly worrying for my step-mother and for me.

Visiting my dad entails a six-hour drive through some of the North Island’s most beautiful countryside (well it would be six hours if I didn’t stop to take so many photos). Whanganui itself is a lovely place and turned on one day of glorious sunshine during my visit.

Whanganui River — looking downstream from Aramoho Rail Bridge. Su Leslie 2018

Whanganui River — looking upstream from Aramoho Rail Bridge. Su Leslie 2018

Bearings, by David McCracken. Sculpture installed at Moutoa Quay, Whanganui. Su Leslie 2018

Mt Ruapehu with fresh snow, North Island, NZ. Su Leslie 2018

SH1 leading to Mt Ngaruahoe, North Island, NZ. S

Clear skies to the right; Lake Taupo at Waihi Reserve, near Turangi, North Island, NZ

And on the left, Waihi Village, with geothermal steam clouds obscuring houses and the village church. Seen from Waihi Reserve, North Island, NZ. Su Leslie 2018

Waikato River, at Whakamaru Dam, Waikato, NZ. Su Leslie 2018

My drive home was also favoured with brilliant — if not particularly warm — sunshine. An early morning stop in the small town of Hunterville revealed these beautiful frosted roses in a series of little gardens lining the main street.

Frosted rose; testiment to freezing overnight temperatures in the central North Island, NZ. Su Leslie 2018

Beginning to thaw. Morning sunshine on the roses. Seen in Huterville, North Island, NZ. Su Leslie

Su Leslie 2018

Back home, and relieved that my dad is recovering, I could turn my attention to a project I’m working on with artist Claire Delaney to document the life of her studio over a year; this month hanging out at a couple of weekend workshops as well as a regular weekday class.

June has been particularly special in the studio as it’s where Claire hosted the launch of a book she illustrated. Dining with Vikings, written by local chef Penny Webster, is part cook-book, part family memoir.

Dining with Vikings, written by Penny Webster, illustrated by Claire Delaney. Su Leslie 2018

Some of the limited edition prints from Dining with Vikings. Su Leslie 2018

What’s a book launch without music? Su Leslie 2018

Su Leslie 2018

… or cake? Su Leslie, 2018

Drawing faces workshop. Su Leslie 2018

Su Leslie 2018

Introduction to oil painting workshop. Su Leslie 2018

Su Leslie 2018

Introduction to oil painting workshop. Su Leslie 2018

Su Leslie 2018

Drawing faces workshop. Su Leslie 2018

The shortest day has now passed, and while the weather will undoubtedly get worse before it gets better, we are now heading back towards a time when the outdoor furniture will be covered in food rather than leaves.

Su Leslie 2018

About The Changing Seasons

The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.

If you would like to join in, here are the guidelines:

The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic):

Each month, post 5-20 photos in a gallery that you feel represent your month
Don’t use photos from your archive. Only new shots.
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so that others can find them

The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):

Each month, post a photo, recipe, painting, drawing, video, whatever that you feel says something about your month
Don’t use archive stuff. Only new material!
Tag your posts with #MonthlyPhotoChallenge and #TheChangingSeasons so others can find them.

If you do a ping-back to this post, I can update it with links to all of yours.