As I write in New Zealand in an overcast 17C/62F, John is going out to milk the cow in Ilinois in -17F (-21C). not good. So far all is well. They are all alive at least. But cold, cold.
My sister and her family have a house on Breaker Bay. I went to visit her yesterday.
We carried wicker chairs and a cup of coffee onto the foundations of an old boathouse and watched the world go by. We saw seals and dolphins. Lots of birds. Birds with chicks in the rocks too. It was a perfect day for a little paradise exploration. 
Mostly we just sat in the sun and watched.
The beach which is all rocks is tiny and slim. With little houses clinging to the bottoms of the cliffs. Small and playful they were probably Hectors dolphins.
A perfect little beach house in New Zealand.
Breaker Bay is directly opposite the rocks that the Wahini ground herself on in a terrible storm. She breached the hull and went down in terrifying slow motion, very close to shore but too far for the 51 poor souls who drowned that day. I was too small to remember much but I can recall many conversations over the years. And the television footage. An awful day. My father always called the sea a cruel mistress. But I could never understand why someone would even get on a boat with such storms coming in.
However, to be fair, we are living in a world of incredible weather technology. The Wahini Disaster was in 1968. We cannot judge backwards. We are much, much better off now. And getting better every day. The little people are much more informed now.
Still, that day was a disaster any way you look at it.
My new favourite weather app is called Windy. Even that little app would have saved this captain from his decision to reverse back up the channel and into the rocks in 100 knot winds and 0 visibility. Poor fellow.
There was wildlife of a different sort peering in the kitchen windows when I got back to the house on the hill. Escaped.
2018 is here for us all now. I thank you all for a wonderful 2017 and wish you all the best you can make for 2018. Remember a good life does not just happen. Let’s make it as kind as we can. Consciously kind. Imagine a year of kindness. The worlds barriers would melt.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Love celi
WEATHER:
ILLINOIS, NEW ZEALAND
Monday 01/01 0% / 0 in
Sunny. High -1F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Monday Night 01/01 10% / 0 in
A clear sky. Low around -10F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Sun
7:17 am 4:35 pm
Moon
Full, 100% visible 4:32 pm 6:32 am
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND
Tuesday 01/02 20% / 0 in
Partly cloudy. High 72F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.
Tuesday Night 01/02 20% / 0 in
Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 63F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Sun
5:51 am 8:57 pm
Moon
Full, 100% visible 8:53 pm 5:43 am
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The Kitchen's Garden 
46 responses to “BREAKER BAY”
love all your photos and your words about kindness are so very very wise.
Great pictures.. Have A Happy New Year !
My children get upset with me when I talk about home, because they think they are my home, and they are. But they forget there’s another, before-them home. Do all your homes feel like home in the same way? Do you have various heart homes too? You sound like you are “at home.”
The word home is such a difficult word. I only really feel at home in New Zealand- the us has never felt homely to me. Though the animals do if that makes any sense at all
I need to read up about New Zealand. The names of all the places are so familiar but so distant also. I have spend some time in Maine and the native names there are reminiscent of the native names in New Zealand. Wiscasset , Arrowsic etc. What if the natives of Maine who named the rivers and byways were descendants of New Zealand? How would they have traveled that distance? I mean we all came from somewhere….
Happy New Year dear! And Happy New Year to Our John and all the characters here. P
What beautiful pictures sweet friend. And good for you – sometimes you need to sit and just be. You work hard – you so deserve some down time to sit. Love you friend – have a great New Year. XOXO – Bacon
Great photos, I love just sitting watching the world go by, preferably with a nice glass of wine! Happy new year to you and yours.😀
You are forced to let go and enjoy the moment where you are. Hard to do I know. The animals will do fine. Sounds like everything is under control and we know how resourceful and smart animals can be. I bet Sheila’s bed is up to the moon by now! Enjoy and safe travels home. You will be home before you know it.
Kindness is very under rated. Wishing you joy for 2018.
beautiful up close photographs as well as all other scenery. Happy travels.
Best wishes for the new year, Celi — and yes, kindness would solve the world’s problems in a flash. Such lovely photos of a lovely spot on the earth. Breaker Bay is ethereal looking. And yes, horribly cold but this, too, shall pass. Enjoy the warmth when you have it. — Mame 🙃
Hey dear Celi … we are being hammered by the wind in Akl as I type! Nasty … Breaker Bay looks lovely … I hope you are having a great holiday. Happy New Year 😃
Lapis, carnelian, amethyst too
Beach tones gemstones
of every hue.
Lichen all encrust the rock
with hidden beach shrub,
Surf tossed scallop
Frond of kelp,
An seed come distant shores.
Driftwood mixed
With Pau shell bits
But wait is it a sign
We do recall that Yes
There may be dragons…
Boulders smooth
the low tide shows
So close and yet so far
Those wicked teeth
All razor-sharp
What scored Wahini’s spine
Rust-stained aggregate
A steep descent
To periwinkle hue
Breezes toss the curtain’s skirt
While Hector’s Dolphin gambol by
Flip a tail up to the sky
Of perfect crystal blue
All this
On only one sweet day
In summer time
on Breaker Bay.
It has been very cold here, too. At least I don’t have any cows to milk. I have been breaking ice on the pond for the cows for about 2 weeks and I have to remember to dump the chickens water out in the evening. Geeting up early to give them fresh water is hard because I am not normally an early riser. Have a great and wonderful 2018!
Dumping the Undrunk water is so important- I bet there are little piles of ice all over.