For years, I've been hearing about the marvelous creation called packing cubes. Packing has never been a problem for me. I'm an experienced traveler and, therefore, have a lot of experience packing suitcases. Who needs packing cubes, I thought. Oh, how wrong I was. Last year, on a whim, I purchased a set of packing cubes. I decided on a set of four cubes plus a shoe bag and used them during a...
Yay! Maverick Lovers is here. At long last, Christina gets her story. This story was a challenge to write, and it percolated for a long time. *grin* I hope you enjoy Maverick Lovers. BTW, Maverick Lovers is book 6 in the Friendship Chronicles series, but it can be...
From August to March each year, visitors get a ringside seat to the goings-on at the gannet colony. There are nests with chicks and busy adult birds feeding their offspring. We watched the birds for ages as they flew back and forth, rode the air currents, and...
The pohutukawa tree is a New Zealand Christmas icon since it flowers during November and December. Christmas never seems right to me unless I see the pretty scarlet flowers. The pohutukawa grows in coastal areas and is part of the myrtle family. The Maori people...
A forty-minute ferry ride from Central Auckland, Waiheke is one of the many islands in the Hauraki Gulf. It's a popular place with daytrippers and the third most populated area of New Zealand after the North and South Islands. The convenient proximity to the city...
This is a continuation of my post about my visit to Hobbiton in Matamata. Part one is here. I was busy taking photos of Hobbit holes and my surroundings and saw something moving. It took me a moment to realize the pheasant was real and it was busy feasting on the...
I've wanted to visit Hobbiton in Matamata for ages, and yesterday, I finally got to explore the home of the Hobbits. In order to visit it's necessary to plan and book ahead. My tour was for 10:30 and Hobbiton central was very busy with tours going out every half an...
