On the Road

This is how we traveled:

 

in the huge white van David rented--and drove so skillfully--over long drives, in the rain, around steep and twisty roads, fording through water,  and braving young voices singing many, many, MANY rounds of "Narwhal, Narwhal swimming in the ocean......."

Our first stop was at the Elephant Rocks on our way to Wanaka.  

Huge rocks--

 

irresistible to climbers,

home to many cute sheep,

 

a charming picnic place to those who chance to find a spot amongst the sheep poop! 

 

 A fun spot to explore.

 

Exploring Dunedin

New Zealand:  Day 2

 

Waitati, Rachel and David's town, is perhaps 20 minutes from the bustling city of Dunedin (named by the Scots after Edinborough) 

 

 

This is the train station--amazing architecture!

 

 

 

 

Family photo with great back drop.

 

 

 

Walking downtown--on our way to explore the Cadbury Chocolate Factory.

 

 

 

 

Stopping on a bench in the public square, 

 

 

and on to the art museum which had a coloring room for the kids  

 

 

and where we made sure they knew we had been there.

 

 

 

Then back home: David on the porch with a setting sun  overlooking Blueskin Bay

 

and a delicious catered dinner featuring, guess what, roast lamb!

(there must be three million gazillion sheep in New Zealand)

 

 

 

Love the vases of flowers Rachel had all over the house.

 

 

New Zealand--at Last!!!

 

 

Sam and Jess, Maddie and Max and I made our (long) way to New Zealand on November 10th to see the beauty of NZ and finally, happily, reconnect with the Page/Bethel clan.

My NZ blogs will be a bit scattered, but to see a really good account of our trip check this out:  http://kenderpage.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

After more than a 12-hour trip and a good night's rest at Rachel and David's in Waitati (south on the South Island), we went to the Blueskin Nursery, a great little spot where Rachel often went for coffee and work on her computer--

 

 

 

 

 as it's also a cafe.

 

 

Love the tea cups here!

 

 

That afternoon everyone climber a small mountain called Mopanui.  Not me however--my knees were giving me trouble--but I got to explore a small wildlife area and have another wonderful cup of tea.

 

 

 

Here 's the summit. 

 

 

 

 

Then back to the cozy Waitati house for a delicious lamb stew dinner, 

 

 

settling in,

 

 

 

snuggling in,

 

 

  

 

hugs and smiles.

So good to be together.

 

 

 

October Happenings

Sam and the Feinsteins (Carl and Lea, Adam, Jessie and kids) come for dinner --

kids at the craft table 

with Maddie (picture on top) showing Greta Feinstein (picture on bottom) how to draw advanced eyes--see the pupil and then the reflection?

Lea has arrived LA...finally!  Moved her studio down here from San Francisco.

Pumpkin carving at John and Erin's (Page Kender friends)--it always astounds me how inventive the carvings are!  The winner on the top shelf you can't see--it's totally black.

School Halloween parade:

Max as Foxy from Five Nights at Freddy's

and Maddie as the Statue of Libery.

Incredible creations by Amelia, the whiz seamtress grandmother!

Toby--my guy.  I think he's very handsome in black.

Some of my work: 

 

September in Chocorua

First stop--at Sarah 

  

and Alan's who so graciously stored my car, Mothball, from the last visit to this.

 

Weekend painting class I taught at ArtWorks in Chocorua. 

 

Very special one night visit from Bill and Lenore. 

 

Down south to Wareham, MA, for storytelling.

Painting Halloween masks--

quite eerie by candlelight!

Up north and back to Chocorua for Sunday discussion group with author and philosopher Jonathan Kaag.

Quickly over to Bangor, Maine for the annual get-together with Annie Moody and Christina.

We're not great at selfies but fabulous in spirit as we talk about everything and eat well, thanks to Christina.

Back to Chocorua to meet Toby's old student Rob Letzler who successfully located most of Toby's book on Toby's backup files.

Myles and Ned for dinner on my last weekend there

Sad to leave good friends for the winter!

And a wonderful send-off Sunday dinner at Julie and Andy's.

Weary but glad to be back in Burbank on September 25th