Pictures of my week

We have had several gorgeous days that have seen us enjoying coastal views and a picnic, coffee in the city, wondering at sea swimmers when it is April already, walking around our hills, and just enjoying being in our place.

A trip to the west coast just north of Wellington for a picnic lunch:

The view from my walk around my neighbourhood yesterday:

The inner bay this morning:

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Autumn: The season of complicated emotions

The arrival of autumn is often a shock to the system, not so much because it is a surprise, but because I had been hoping that summer would hang on just a little longer. That’s when I have complicated emotions about where I live, a lost summer, and not travelling in NZ enough to really enjoy summer. It’s the season when we look at projects we wanted to do, and see them unfinished, or worse, even unstarted! It’s the season when we realise that the year is one quarter over already, and yet New Year’s only seems as if it were yesterday. But once I have managed to reconcile those feelings, there are more things I love about autumn. I’ve written about them before (and there may be some repetition), but here are five favourites:

• Seeing the changing colours. We don’t get a lot here in evergreen Wellington, but there are plenty of deciduous trees in gardens, and as their leaves turn, we get to enjoy the changing beauty of nature. Today we were driving down the street, and a single orange leaf was floating straight towards us, reminding us of the season.
• It’s a gorgeous season in my house. Our house looks so good when the sun streams in; it brings light to all the rooms, and the rimu wood floors and ceilings glow a glorious warm golden hue. In summer, we end up having curtains and blinds closed on the western side of the house, as it heats up too quickly, too much, and we have no way to cool the house afterwards. So we try to avoid getting heat in. But at this time of year, when it is chilly outside (as it has been the last week or so), welcoming the sun in feels happy and joyous.
• Sleeping is so much more comfortable. We have a heavier cover, the light is a little later (though not quite so much after daylight saving ended), and it’s colder in the mornings, so snuggling in bed is just lovely!
• Exercise is easier. I don’t have to worry too much about sunscreen when I go on my walks around the neighbourhood hills. Likewise, it’s cool enough to wear some kind of jacket with pockets, meaning I can easily carry my phone (important for my audiobooks/music etc), keys, tissues etc. (I have a good portable snap-on pocket holder for the summer, but my new phone doesn’t quite fit.) And the weather is calmer too, and I’m more likely to exercise outside. (I hate walking in the wind for various reasons.)
• Apples and spices are perfect at this time of year – some of my favourite flavours.

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A busy few days

We got our new heater installed last week, just in time for our “delicate flower” visitors from the north to arrive. Of course, as soon as they arrived, the weather improved, the sun shone and heated the house beautifully, the wind dropped, and it wasn’t needed. Murphy’s Law! It is nice to have it done.

A few days with the family was lovely. Lots of wine, good food (if I do say so myself), the zoo (to see the new snow leopards) and other favourites, shopping for clothes (a convenient way for an aunt to buy the niece’s birthday present), a dinner out, lunch at a pub, and a rugby game on Saturday afternoon in the blazing sun. Of course, being rugby, it was truly “a game of two halves.” We were very polite, though, and let the visitors win. It’s only the hospitable thing to do, don’t you think?

I don’t write “What Charlie Taught Me” posts any more these days, but I will note a few things here:

• The baggier the jeans the better (apparently)
• Crocs are “in” again (apparently)
• It’s hard being a teenager
• 14-15 year olds can be both lovely and awful, sometimes in the same minute!
• The lovely outweighs the awful
• Enjoying school is cool
• The years pass really quickly (I think I knew that one)

Two online chats with friends, an early start today, and a gorgeous walk this morning up and over the hills around about (my legs are sore now) in the bright sun and a gentle breeze. Kids were at a soccer camp at the playing fields just down the road, the harbour was calm and blue and beautiful, and I’m writing this with the skylight above my head open. It’s a perfect April day. And best yet, some weight had gone this morning when I stood on the scales. It might only be a few grams, but better that than a few grams the other direction.

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A birthday tree

As noted in my previous post, this time last year I was touring the South Island with the Husband. The autumn colours were fabulous, and I snapped away happily. I’ve hardly seen any autumn colours this year, thanks to living in evergreen Wellington, with the exception of the oak tree outside my kitchen/dining windows.

One year ago today, the Husband and I headed to a popular vineyard café near Arrowtown for a late breakfast/brunch to celebrate his birthday. Winter had arrived that week, and it was freezing, so we walked past the outdoor tables and headed for the warm indoors, where good coffee and food and a fire awaited us. But on the way in and out, I delighted in this tree, catching the morning light.

Another in the Tree Love series – find all the other bloggers doing it here this week.

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Autumn is in the air

Every summer I buy a basil plant, and nurture it on the kitchen bench in a pot a good friend gave me. She was the one who taught me when and how much to water it, and I rarely have a failure. This year, my $4.99 plant has lasted for months. But the other night, the temperature plummeted, and it now looks a bit limp. When the basil days begin to end, you know summer is on its way out.

Summer has been good though. We’ve had picnics and ice-creams, more barbecues and drinks on the deck than we can remember, and plenty of lovely warm days. I’ve made my tomato relish, and I’ve enjoyed summer veges and salads and fruit. But it is time for it all to go. I wasn’t ready in March to say good-bye to summer, but it is April, and now it is time.

Daylight saving has switched, and the sun is now disappearing behind the hills to my west around 6 pm. There’s a different tone to the light, it is softer, though the sun still packs a punch if I’m standing or sitting in it. But the seasons are changing. The leaves are turning. The oak tree by our deck is the only tree on our property that loses its leaves. The tree all over is developing a yellowy tint, and some leaves have already leapt fully into an autumn golden glow. Does that mean it is time to change my blog header? Maybe not quite yet, but soon.

Due to lack of closet/drawer space, I often swap out seasonal clothes about twice a year, and it is time to start the process now. I know if I do it too soon, there will be a lovely warm day and I’ll have to go and hunt up something cooler to wear. But it is time to start moving out the sun-frocks and shorts etc, making way for jeans and longer sleeves. I noticed this morning that there are some favourite tops I’ve hardly worn this summer. Is it because I’ve avoided going out a lot the last two months? Or do I need to cull my wardrobe? It would be nice to have more space. Hmmm, I’ll have to think about that. As I do every autumn.

Finally, it is Easter this weekend. The supermarkets are full of hot cross buns (though they’ve been there since January!) and chocolate Easter eggs. Easter is often perfect for seasonal baking, and the beginning of the winter comfort food, which makes the arrival of autumn easier to take. Though if I’m honest, I think autumn is my favourite season, once I can shake off the disappointment of losing summer. By Easter, I’ve usually been able to do that, and fully embrace the change of light and the lower temperatures, and the lower UV index. I’m looking forward to baking some hot cross buns later this week. And maybe this weekend will be cool enough for some red wine and a hearty stew. Autumn – bring it on.

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