Life has been busy here.  We've been touristing in the Nelson area, and being somewhat domestic as well!!!  I've taken to wearing 3 layers on top, so I stay warm!  The sun is really warm, the wind is cold.
Sunday we joined Andrew and Bella on a family picnic for his first annual AGM for his beer club. The guys meet once a month, to compare and share the bottles of beer they made that month. We drove out to Rabbit Island and enjoyed some food and the beach.

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After everyone left to put their littles to nap, Jer and I decided to walk around the island.  We ended up walking about 11 km!!! Gorgeous!

Yellow bushes blooming all over the island

Tasman Sea (or ocean) behind me

Came back to our kids house, and Bella had prepared a delicious roast lamb for supper.  Will try that once we are back home!

Tide's out!!! Monday morning walk with our Kiwi family!  

Christmas is coming!  This Santa looks a little different than the Canadian Santa!

While I've been off watching our grand daughter at her music class, or helping drop her off at her daycare (preschool), Jer has been busy building her a sandpit for her birthday!!

She is very excited to be getting a new sandpit!

One of my jobs at Bella's mom's house (where we are staying) is to water the gardens and plant pots, while she is away. I'm also attempting to do some weeding, but not always sure what's a weed!!!

Love this job. Almost makes me feel like a local!!

On our 6 km hike into Marsden Valley yesterday, we saw some really neat plants.

chick n hens???

It looks like a poker plant!

wild poppies

Arum lily growing alongside a creek

....and some birds NZ birds!!!

Pukeko!!!

And today, back on Rabbit Island, we watched our son at work!  To quote some of the guys, some of the days, it couldn't be better!!!

First, at morning tea right on the edge of Tasman Sea....

....then, at the top of some 80 ft trees!!!

We continued on our drive around the countryside, and stopped for some yummy fish and chips in Mapua.  An interesting twist on the coleslaw....it had mint in it.  We found a quilt shop in that little town...fabric was $24.00 to $28.00 a meter!!!!!

Gurnard fish