It seems like winter arrived with indecent haste this month. Cold air, lowering clouds, morning mists, not to mention the odd thunderstorm or two. On a scale of one to indoor beanie-wearing, we seem to be hovering on Ugg boots.
The first half of the month disappeared in a haze of flu-recovery, but in the last couple of weeks, the Big T and I managed to get away for a long weekend in Tauranga (with a detour to Field Days), and discover a regional park that could become our new favourite place.
Field Days, Mystery Creek, Waikato, NZ. Not really doing justice to a four-day event that attracts over 130,000 visitors. Image: Su Leslie 2019
We’ve been telling ourselves for years that we really should go to Field Days. It’s a huge agricultural trade show, and useful for the Big T to do some business networking. But it also gives a fascinating snapshot of an industry that has both real and mythical significance to the NZ economy and psyche.
It was bigger, noisier and more confusing than I expected, but I am glad we went.
Trusting there is actually a bridge behind the mist. Driving to Field Days. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Image: Su Leslie 2019
I love the sign. What it doesn’t say is that you probably have to buy it at birth to actually achieve that claim. Image: Su Leslie 2019
New Zealand — where police vehicles include tractors. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Never to busy to check FaceBook — or more likely the Field Days app. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Looking as overwhelmed as I felt. Image: Su Leslie 2019
After exhausting ourselves looking at diggers, chainsaws, water flow indicators (as you do) and the latest from Swanndri (iconic Kiwi clothing — what’s not to love about scratchy woollen bush-shirts?), we headed to Tauranga where the skies were blue, and the weather practically tropical (for a while at least).
McLaren Falls Park, Kaimai, NZ. Image: Su Leslie
Sunset, Kulim Park, Tauranga, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Twilight, Tauranga, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
I think this is the remains of a punga log, but I’m not sure. Seen at McLaren Falls Park, BoP, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Image: Su Leslie 2019
Image: Su Leslie 2019
Seen on the wall of an empty building, Tauranga, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Image: Su Leslie 2019
Detail of punga log (or whatever it is). Image: Su Leslie 2019
The Pacific Ocean from Ohope Lookout, BoP, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Twilight, from the apartment balcony, Tauranga. The next residents might not be so lucky as there’s a multi-storey carpark being built next door. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Sunshine on Ohope, BoP, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
While we were there, the Tauranga Art Gallery had an exhibition of work by local artist, Natasha Cousens. Called ‘Let Me Tell You a Story’ it consisted of sculptures created from clay, fibreglass and textiles; all referencing the wildlife imagery common in fairy tales. It’s the artist’s first solo show, and I found the pieces slightly disturbing and sad, but beautiful and exquisitely made.
A rainy-day visit to the Mahurangi Peninsula, just north of Auckland allowed us to discover Scandrett Regional Park. Formerly a farm owned by the Scandrett family, the park still contains the old homestead, with its beautiful cottage garden. Around the coast a little, at Scott’s Landing in Mahurangi Regional Park, the rather grander Scott family homestead still exists too. Both houses have been preserved; the latter by the Auckland Civic Trust which holds occasional open days.
Hauraki Gulf, from Scandrett Regional Park, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Old-fashioned roses, homestead garden at Scandrett Regional Park. Image: Su Leslie 2019
New growth, Pohutukawa tree on Scandrett beach. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Scott’s Landing, Mahurangi Peninsula, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Scott’s Landing, Mahurangi, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Scandrett homestead. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Image: Su Leslie 2019
Scott Homestead, Scott’s Landing, Mahurangi, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
Beach, Scandrett Regional Park, Mahurangi, NZ. Image: Su Leslie 2019
During June I’ve taken part in 30 Days, 30 Songs, hosted by my dear friend Sarah at Art Expedition. It’s been lovely to each day choose a piece of music and reflect on what it means to me. There has also been a certain amount of self-imposed stress, deciding what’s in and what’s not. So you won’t be surprised that I’m going to sneak an extra track into this post.
I love Sentimental Walk, from the 1981 film Diva. It is very like Erik Satie’s Gymnopédie No.1 — another piece I love. Both make me think of Paris, but also of wintertime rain.
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
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
Su Leslie 2018
Su Leslie 2018
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.
Trying to capture winter; tamarillo, persimmon, some fallen leaves and a deconstructed obi. Su Leslie 2018
It rained all through the holiday weekend, and I really didn’t feel like leaving the warmth of home. It meant that meals were a bit “creative” and the fruit bowl is now empty.
Homemade pumpkin soup and cornbread with cheese and thyme. Image: Su Leslie, 2018
It has definitely begun to feel like winter here, so when Tracy at Reflections of an Untidy Mind mentioned making pumpkin soup in her Changing Seasons post, I experienced one of those really powerful taste memories.
Perhaps inevitably, pumpkin soup was on our dinner menu last night, along with some cheese and herb cornbread.
Both easy to make and, as it turned out, quite yummy.
These shots are of today’s lunch (of course there were leftovers).
