For a day that started out like this

It was a great day for a winter beach wander.  One of the best things about Waterview is being minutes from Pt Chev, and the BEACH.  Not my pick for a swim, but plenty of shells and sand to get into and on you.

How lovely is this?  I left the washing in the machine and we took off, grabbed some sushi and got in the sand.

The water was so still.

Luna is into shells and wanted to make a sand castle, sand was collected from along the beach until we found the spot for the sand castle, then it was a long slow walk back collecting scallop shells…

Cool thing is she remembers many more shell names, and we’re able to do more with these finds, washing and learning about the animals.

I’m looking forward to spending more time investigating with her, we got out one of my shell books, and found pictures of what we found today.  Mostly scallops!

Such a fun excursion.

Maybe you read my previous posts about my big new venture, Bella Luna, making skin care products from local ingredients, lovely local ingredients, with no nasty petrochemicals, good for people and good for our planet..

Big news is I have applied for an AMP Do Your Thing Scholarship, I’m so excited, if I can get some extra $$ it will make it all happen faster, I have been working on it over the last couple of years, and I’d love to get it out there for people to use.

So watch this space, and if you like, you could even vote for me in the people’s choice award!  Oh and swing by my Facebook page, I’ll be looking for peeps to try some samples…

Autumn is the time for mushrooms and toadstools.

How weird are these?  And so small.

I have no idea what they are, but I took as many photos as I could..

These are all under 10mm in diameter.

Black sand on the west coast is perfect for making sand sculptures.. I used to spend hours at the beach and have made my share of Sand Dragons, now I just try and get one made before Blake dances on it’s tail!

This lady is a bit rough!

I see the occasional Common Janthina shells washed up, but blue?  Plastic.  Don’t see so much on this coast.

Very striking.

Byssus threads on a mussel shell.

Autumn, again at Te Henga, so beautiful and fresh.  There these jellyfish that were like jewels in the sun.

Here’s Stanley, I’ve had this fabric for ages, just a small remnant, about one meter square, one of my favourite pieces, and now it’s become a Snuggly Sea Horse!  Check out Nancy below…

These new Snuggly Sea Horses are the first of my softies to be stuffed with Innergreen toy fill.  It’s quite exciting, Innergreen is lovely and soft and made from corn fibre, so much nicer for you and nicer for our planet.  I’ll be using Innergreen from now instead of polyester stuffing.

Luna has her own Nancy and loves her, she is also made from a smallish remnant of fabric.. love those green eyes!  these new Sea Horses are also sporting my new fabric tags, all very exciting!

This is the last one, Edward, he’s made from some smart glossy cherry coloured fabric.  I’m glad it worked out well for this guy, some of these firmer fabrics just don’t work so well, but Edward looks great!

Wandered up the drive this evening with Blake in the sling, such a beautiful sky.

I found this pine cone while walking around Taupiro Point in Katikati.  It caught my attention in under the pines, bright, dry and lacey I just couldn’t pass it by.

So beautiful, and it absorbs me, lichen gently covering the bumps and curves, in some places more than one layer of lichen. The light in this photo is quite warm too.

So into lichen these days!

Western Springs this week was all crazy busy with people setting up for Pacifika Festival… we took a wander along a walkway that climbs up behind the Auckland Zoo, much more relaxing getting away from all the cars and tents filling the park.  A really hot day, it felt fresh and cool under the pines and ferns.  Luna enjoyed the adventure and Blake slept in the ergo.

Beautiful isn’t it?  Waiorea or Western Springs is where rainwater collecting on some of Auckland’s biggest volcanic cones, Three KIngs, Mt Eden and One Tree Hill filters through lava flows reaching Western Springs clean and clear.  It used to be a source of water for Auckland city, and from the park you can see the original Pump House, in MOTAT.

Just so into clouds these days!

And of course lichen, clouds and lichen, clouds and lichen..

Lichen coating the trunk of a fern, can you see the vinehopper?

A lovely old pair.

I’ve been getting out with Luna and Blake on more adventures lately, visiting some of our precious volcanic cones.  Today was Maungakiekie, One Tree Hill, when I was a kid a pine tree used to stand with the obelisk, this probably Auckland’s most well known sights, it is the site of a Pa or fort.  Such a beautiful day, we had a bit of a wander near the summit, but not quite the top most place to see the view.

But still stunning, we took in the western and southern suburbs.

We arrived around midday after our errands, morning is the best time for activities as the littlees need long afternoon naps.  Then I get to settle down with Blake and Austin on my lap and write this!

Mushrooms and puffballs.

Pine needles…

These girls had a blast too!

Lichen on rocks, and Lucy loves it as much as I do.