Hello to all of our faithful readers! Happy, happy non-denominational holidays to you all! The author of this post is me, Mel, the 5th addition to the crew. For those of you who don’t know, I went to high school with Danielle and Megan, and fell in love with Christy and Lauren during several road trips down to SLO. I’m coming up on my one month anniversary here (I’ll probably just buy myself some flowers, keep it low key). I’m writing this post on Christmas Day from the kitchen table at the wonderful home we are house-sitting at during the holidays. Let me fill you in on the back story to our situation: we were eating at our favorite café in Dunedin, Circadian Rhythm, when a woman sitting near us named Tace struck up a conversation about our travels here. Less than two minutes into our conversation she mentioned that she needed house sitters over the holidays…according to her we have “honest faces”, which we couldn’t agree with more. The next day we went and checked out their place, which is in a teeny town called Waitati (Y-Tah-Ti) about 15 minutes outside of Dunedin.
Tace, Simon and fifteen month old Olive live in our dream home. They are on a nicely sized piece of property with bountiful gardens, a green house, a caravan that Tace lived in when she first came to NZ (planning on only staying a week…)and five lovely chickens, Cinqo, San DiEGGo, Hoo-hah, Feathers and Raisin. The house itself is absolute delight, complete with a wood burning stove, spacious kitchen and two bedrooms, our favorite being the ‘sun room’ where we lounge around all day. Nicknamed our Goddess Haven, general consensus is this home has led to most relaxing week we’ve had in awhile. We usually don’t leave the house until around 3 or 4 (if we do at all) and dinner every night is filled with fresh veggies from the garden and eggs from the ladies. Truth be told, we have only had one night to ourselves here! We’ve had four nights of house guests, starting with Georgia and Grace, Lauren’s awesome little sisters, then George and Jack our wonderful English (not British, we were taught the distinction over dinner) friends and Sarah Brooke and Keith, friends from the US.
We’ve had a pretty adorable Christmas Eve and Day. Christy and Megan knitted (knat?) and crocheted stockings for all of us, which we hung in front of the stove, with care. While jogging yesterday I came across $5 Christmas trees in someone’s front yard- they are more along the lines of large branches, but nonetheless it is standing proudly in the corner of our living room. We decorated it with our headlamps, flowers, popcorn strings and various red-colored clothing. Last night we sang our favorite holiday tunes by the crackling fire and then watched Love Actually, a group favorite. Before we went to bed I made sure to leave a note out for Santa. We are sure he’ll be able to find us, even in New Zealand.
This morning we woke up and made Christmas Day pancakes while listening to the Nutcracker, Starbucks and Sufjan Stevens holiday CDs, respectively. After that we opened our sparse but meaningful pile of presents and took some cute holiday photos which will surface sometime soon. The rest of the day has consisted of the usual book reading, knitting/crocheting, movie watching, skyping with friends and family and good quality lounge time. We are really perfecting the art of just hangin out. The most memorable part of the day for Megan and I has been cleaning out the chicken coop; it turned out to be much more difficult and smelly than we expected.
Well, quite the post! Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful, magical holiday with loved ones wherever you are <3
Mel, welcome to the blog spot. My only complaint is you girls don't blog enough. Despite the meager showing of comments left (come on people... don't you know these girls stop by often to see if anyone out there is reading them??? I know you are, but THEY don't.... leave them a comment so they know they are not writing to a blank wall). I digress... despite the few comments, many people are stopping by to see what you are up to. So blog on....
ReplyDeleteThe fine art of doing nothing is threatening to be lost. I'm glad you girls are perfecting it so well and keeping it alive. One needs times like these to fully appreciate the hectic days ahead during the rest of your lives. I go at 100 miles an hour, as Christy will attest, yet spent 4 long months on a Greek island in the 70's, where time slowed down and we could only do one thing each day, or were overwhelmed. Maybe walk to town(done for the day)... or hand wash clothes (must rest), or walk the donkey trail to visit a friend (time to sit the remainder of the day). The knowing that I could slow down that much pops into my mind many time, even 40 years later. Like now for example!
So enjoy your knitting, you coop cleaning, your reading, your banagrams, your hand-made xmas adornments, and even your xmas carols down under. they are truly once in a lifetime. You'll never forgt them. I guess you aren't from SLO for nothing. Now you are in SLOW!
The most merry of Xmases to you all, and I'm so proud of you for taking the reins and driving your life where you have. So many people I tell of your journey tell me they wish they would have done something like that, but got a job right away, then never had the time or money again. Or they didn't have a friend to do it with... and look at you! 5 of the coolest girls to have an adventure with. You are supremely lucky, but even more supreme in the way you have chosen your friends and chosen your paths in life. I bow down to you.....
Aww gee. Thanks Mama... We've learned from the best.
ReplyDeleteAnd I learn from you every day....
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