25 October 2010: Settling In

Happy 30th Anniversary Mom and Dad Jenkins!

So the last two days have been vastly different than our trip down to NZ. Our landlords have been quite amazing in helping us get accommodated and acquainted with the area. On our first day here they stocked our frig with a few essentials and treated us to homemade biscuits, tea (this is becoming a nasty yet comforting habit already) and pumpkin soup for lunch. Yum!! They have also showed us the location of the three grocery stores, a pharmacy (Kiwi’s don’t know what contact solution is, so we had to get contact cleaner at the pharmacy), and will be taking us to the “green” grocer (fruits and veggies) as well as the bulk food store for pulses and grains on Wednesday evening.

Our landlords live on quite the productive plot and they are continually working about their gardens or with their sheep. It appears we will be well stocked with lemons, grapefruit, leafy greens, rhubarb, and other yummy veggies and herbs. Megan will even be learning to make the Rose 5 month supply of gooseberry jam next week. Vivienne (one of our landlords) has even offered to start spinning lessons in a few weeks (how cool!). Here are a few pictures of our NZ cottage and the gardens:

Kevin on our deck enjoying tea and breakfast

A look at the Cottage from the Gardens

As a side note, we did get asked on our flight to LAX whether we were on our way home. We both paused and laughed and said, “Kind of.”  It is amazing how our sense of home is growing and shifting as life moves along. Thus, in the spirit of enjoying and relishing in our new home, here are a few pictures from our time in Hamilton Gardens and Raglan beach over the last two days:

Megan in the India Garden in Hamilton Gardens

At a beach in Raglan

The entrance to Raglan Harbour at low tide

Love and hugs!