Creatively Corrigated and a Friendly Adventure

Evelyn was fragrantly, flagrantly waving to me as I passed her by in the rain,

 just last drizzly Tuesday.

 I plucked her as we left 

and her scent filled the car for the whole journey.

 About half way there & around lunch time, I just happened to catch a fleeting glimpse of vibrant pink in the far reaches of a rest stop.

 Meandering down the bumpy driveway we found the perfect spot for a picnic...

This glorious rhododendron was just humming with bumble bees & had showered the ground with her blossom.

 We made big fat sandwiches before we left on our adventure..

 & wholemeal apple bran muffins the night before. They tasted so delicious out in the fresh air in the middle of nowhere.

Soon enough, we found a shepherd..

 & a very large sheep

 and even a dog.

 I am sure that he's pointing the way to the best coffee in town.

 See, just across the road is Alleycats. They're very used to feeding visitors, feathered & otherwise. That's the kind of thing that happens a lot in Tirau. A place to pass through on the way to..

well, in this case, Te Aroha...the mountain of love.

 We love coming here.
 It's a little place that we both just seem to relax in.
 Surrounded by the comforting sounds of church bells that have not kept pace with the advent of daylight saving & fire sirens that may go off at any time day or night, urgently summoning the volunteer brigade from far & wide.

We stay at the base of the mountain at Aroha Mountain Lodge.

 Lovely peaceful views, bush walks just out the front door & the legendary hot soda springs are just a few metres down the road.

 Greg & Linda's hospitality is exceptional & warm.
 They have become dear friends over the years.

 We could put our provisions in the fridge & help ourselves to the kitchen at any time. The smallest gas hob wasn't keen to stay on so Rob improvised to make coffee.

 Te Aroha has a friendly organics shop

and an abundance of creative people.

There are lots of older buildings & warm-hearted people & the moody entrancing backdrop of the mountain is ever changing & ever present.

 Here we found Second Thoughts Collectables & owners Donna & Pete..

 oh look & Greg as well..

 Such an interesting little shop.

 I popped my head around the corner of the veranda & found a bird bath tucked into the lavender bush..

 and at the foot...a fairy dell!

 One of the things that makes my little heart sing when I am in The Waikato is the fields & by-ways of wild flowers.

 The daises & honeysuckle & the bishop's weed..

 I have so much more to tell you, but meantime, here is a clue to one of the most wonderful things that we did.

I'll be back very soon with more of our traveling tales.

First of all I need to do some visiting & catching up with everyone.

I am so glad that you're here!

Thank you for popping in to see me.

Much

 ♥♥♥♥♥