On the way to my friends house, and our last stop in this New Zealand journey, I saw this sign. Cool!
And here is a New Zealand garden. A little paradise right in town. Auckland has a wonderful climate for plants. 
She even has chickens tucked away under the trees. 
And her daughter goes fishing for dogs with a ball on the end of a string!
Above are the remains of a corrugated iron sitting man that I made for my friend years and years ago. I transported him to her house in the passenger seat of my little car wearing a seat belt. He is as big as a man. His name is Alfred, his arms and hands have fallen off and he is becoming a tree.
Today is my last full day in New Zealand, shortly we are off out to collect a few last little bits and pieces. Then the repacking will commence once again.
Today will be my last post from these shores. I leave Auckland on Christmas evening and arrive in Chicago on another Christmas evening. So I will take this opportunity to wish you all a lovely, lovely Christmas day.
The next time I post will be from the Farmy. Which will be a great relief. Back to work we will go, you and I. And the suitcase will be stored back in the attic until next time. You are never anywhere where you don’t miss somewhere.
But that’s OK. I am all stocked up with memories to last for a wee while. Going back into the cold might be a bit of a shock though. Our John is going to bring my big warm coat and hattie when he picks me up. He will dress me in all my layers and then drive me through the cold dark back home. It will be good to be home.
Have a lovely day. I am coming home. See you soon.
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
65 responses to “A New Zealand Garden”
Safe journey home. I bet John and Tonton and Daisy and everyone will be jumping for joy to see you home.
wonderful photos!!! have a very merry Christmas. I hope that God will bless you and your family each moment throughout the holidays
Almost time to sing this to you Celi:
Pö atarau
E moea iho nei
E haere ana
Koe ki pämamao
Haere rä
Ka hoki mai anö
Ki i te tau
E tangi atu nei
Safe travels and happy landings at Christmas time in the north.
PS Thank you for invoking the spirits of summer – we have had some hot, summery weather since you arrived in New Zealand :-))
Have just had the time to look at the Maori version of ‘Now is the hour’ . . . Celi, you could not have had a more heartfelt and wonderful farewell . . . methinks ere I sign off for a few days or so, shall go back and sing it along to make your flight smoother . . . Am not a crybaby, but that song always makes me . . .
Kia ora, kare, ka kite ano.. and i loved every minute of my mini summer.. c
If there is warmth in a home, perchance summer lasts all year long, wherever . . .
I wonder if Daisy will snub you the way my firstborn son did when I came home after I’d left him for a couple of weeks! Your journey has been lovely, full of beautiful places and family and good times and memories. But I know the farmy folks, all of them, will be ecstatic to have you back. Thanks for sharing your travels with us. Now, safe travels home, and a blessed Christmas.
I am sure Daisy will make me suffer for a while, i will be interested to see if the pigs remember me though! c
merry xmas celi! have a safe trip home!
Celi – what adventures! Dog fishing, and beautiful gardens (now that’s a lovely environment for chickens – they are bound to be happy!)
We should all be as brave as Alfred the tin man: sturdy core, but able to branch out and try new things.
Enjoy your starry Christmas flight. (and give Santa a wave as you cross paths?)
Good point, i will watch out for the old fella! c
What a beautiful garden. I would love a home like that and the photo of the dog in the air brought a smile to my face. Merry Christmas to you and all your family, Cee xx
Merry chritsmas to you too.. c
Such great pictures – the fishing dog ones cracked me up! How did you do your photo layout, is it a WP thing that I don’t know about?
Safe travels. I am sure the two legged and four legged back on the farm miss you greatly.
BEAUTIFUL place! Love the chickens 😀 Have a wonderful Christmas…times two!
What a wonderful place to say good-by Bitter sweet memories. The Farmy and all who love you are waiting for you. Safe trip my dear Celi. V.
I wish you a safe trip and all the best for Christmas and the New Year.
Thank you for taking us along with you. 🙂
Did you try a Serious Lamb Burger? And do they taste better than Silly Lamb Burgers?
I am happy and sad for you. Happy that you will return to your own cozy farmy, but so sad that you have to leave home.
Safe travels!
You are too funny, i look forward to catching up on what has been happening in your world! c
Have safe journey home, C. What a beautiful vacation you’ve had, with lots of wonderful memories stored up. We are gearing up and excited about Christmas; my family celebrate Christmas Eve, very fun.
Be safe and have a wonderful Christmas!
and I wish you a very merry christmas eve, Eva! c
May the journey home be blessed: am certain the welcomes will be too rapturous for you to notice the cold!
That will be closest you will ever come to being in two different places at the same time! 🙂 Happy Christmas to Our John and the Farmy and safe travels to you as you wing your way home. Laura
Home. yes, i am ready.. have a lovely christmas Laura! c