smells like ROTORUA

Day 9: Rotorua

Ahhhhhhhh

just ten more days 

and I'll be sipping this

with him

morning with my matty and chai is perfection

we started one of our last days in NZ at Hells Gate, a geothermal area and of course, a natural spa

This place of wonder is smelled before seen.

And to this day we still smell some lingering Rotorua in a few items we wore there (particularly our togs).

lots of steaming, popping mud pots

this was a happy little steaming pile

The trail ended at a little hut where you were taught to carve, and then make your own souvenir. I chose to carve the Maori symbol for compassion and Matt did loyalty -- not as easy as it seems.

back in the day they had the natural spa right at the falls,

but today - to help preserve the natural wonder - they still use the water and mineral-rich mud, but they have been transported to baths, pools, and private spas

 and we weren't leaving without trying it all

things got dirty pretty fast

but, it was all ours for the taking

glorious silky mud

awesome until you HAVE to take a cold shower before moving on to the next segment

 and robes for inbetween

soaking in the sulphurous Wai Ora spa

feeling nothing but love

our next adventure:

following a little trail along Kerosene Creek

to the toastiest waterfall

he jumped in, and I had to inch my way slowly in

sooooo insanely melt-your-body hot

so after Matt's dunk, a group of soaking old ladies told us of an unseen little critter that loves to climb up your nose, and how you should NEVER put your head under the water

veggie burger madness (in NZ known as a "vege burger")

our last stop for the day

rare ancient Maori rock art, off the shores of Lake Tarawera

after a long busy day and late night drive

nothing welcomes sleep like dolphins 

--- ---

 -- more NZ 2010 --
Pre-trip preparation
Day 1: Auckland
Day 2: Orewa to Paihia
Day 3: Paihia to Kaitaia
Day 4: Ninety Mile Beach to Rawene
Day 5: Rawene to Hamilton
Day 6: Hamilton to National Park
Day 7: Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Day 8: Taupo to Rotorua
Day 9: Rotorua
Day 10: Thames to Hahei
Day 11: Coromandel

Piece of Heaven

Most of my large, ever-growing family came into town for a family reunion. But that lasted only a day, and then I had quite the little load of guests, the majority of them were 3 and under. Tired of being in cars, cooped up and crowded in homes and hotels, I had the perfect remedy for all ages. The Grotto trail!

The sky was perfectly blue and all the leaves glowed.

  Everywhere you looked called for a photo op.

Bonny and her cutie pie twins, Willow and Autumn.

the trail is ever so inviting

And easy, which makes some very happy mamas, who don't have to worry about having tired, whiny kids.

And who would complain in this wonderland?

cozy leaf-lit nooks 

new furry friends at every step

lots and lots of fun little bridges for little feet

sharing the magic of fall

good old-fashioned banter about trees, soil, and sunlight

Did I mention all the little bridges?

I was the good shepherd, herding up the rear. The parents actually had a hard time keeping up with the kids, which is the best when hiking.

And then before any of us knows it, you're here!!

Wendy and Ivy couldn't tear their shoes off fast enough

and then couldn't get their feet out of that freezing water fast enough

pure blissful Dolly and Teddy

the sun starts to slide and we know it's time

To walk the planks once more.

Baker City Family

Labor Day weekend. First stop was at Sumpter's Flea Market with my brother Rustin and his adorable family. This little Oregon town goes all out for their weekend flea market parties.

Old time murals are always the best!

With all the walking and treasure-finding you need a full tummy of:
snow cones
soft pretzels
cups filled with ice and soda
fries

Jarom found and treasured a whole old collection of Boys' Life magazines

Orion and Winter were ecstatic to find Bumblebee

The girls LOVED and sported their newest classic 80s accessory - and they were only 10 cents!!

total cuteness you want to bring home with you around every corner

A day of flea market shopping wasn't enough for some - we were lucky to drive right into a mini storage sale. The stuff here was incredible.

picking huckleberries right off the roadway is a MUST - in the Wallowa Mountains

My best pickers!!

After a long hot day of walking, shopping and picking, the Cove Warm Springs (in the teeny town of Cove) was the perfect way to wash the dust from our skin and berry-stained hands and become whole and refreshed!!

cowabunga

yeehaw

The cousins favorite part (besides the jumping) was making uncle Rustin dive down for the heavy black rocks in the deep, so they could hold the rock and let it give them a free ride to the bottom.

Can't come to Baker City without visiting the Sloughhouse Ranch. Just so happens we are very tight with the owners and they love to share their animals, Otter Pops, and the beaut land.

Jenny and I lounging around the ranch in our Etsy clothes. Jenny was an awesome sister and helped model some clothes for our store - Sunbeanbella.

The newest and adored family members - three cute mini donkeys!! Maria, Isabel, and Fireball all loved to be groomed and hand fed!!

Our souvenir - a load of farm fresh eggs collected by the kids themselves