We managed to get our loot back to NZ and were glad to be back in our own beds. Mikaylie and Nani had spent only 2 nights in their new rooms before we left for the US. Brylie and Nani share a room so Brylie had it to herself for the 3 weeks we were away. We had just moved the basics into the house prior to our trip. There was (and still is) LOTS of moving yet to do. Slowly but surely I'm chipping away at organizing and getting things into their appropriate locations. I had hoped that the kitchen would be completed while we were away but NO WORK was done during that time. Guess when I'm not there to text or ring looking for the workers it just doesn't happen. The kitchen sink that was already here was so small I could scarcely wash my large stock pots or my Crock pot and I use them on a daily basis cooking for our large family. Also, the door to Graham's room was originally in the kitchen but we put a door on the other side, opening into the new lounge where all the kids' rooms are off of. Where Graham's door was is now closed in with another section of kitchen drawers and shelves, of which I can never have too many. I've set up a coffee station there which is nice to have kind of out of the way.
At this point the house is 99.5% complete on the inside, lacking a couple of spots that need plastering or mudding (here they call drywall "gib" board and mudding is called "gib stopping"). Those areas also need paint as do several touch up spots the painters overlooked. The stairs also require a handrail to be "signed off" on by the Council but I haven't chosen what I want because I really don't care if there is one or not. Outside there is more to be done (entryway, concrete in front of garage, redoing the drive and miscellaneous landscaping) but we'll do that as we have the money or time.
I've also been looking for a trekking horse. Trekking is trail riding, often over rugged terrain. There are trekking clubs and overnight treks. I'm hoping for a quiet, laid back horse to rebuild the confidence I've lost over the past couple of years. I still plan to ride Joe but want to have more confidence before I start him again. He is also not trekking horse material. I found a horse of interest on TradeMe, New Zealand's version of eBay. I was able to bring Lofty home to trial for a couple of weeks and quickly fell in love with him. He had only to pass the vet check and I was ready to buy him. In the meantime, tragedy struck when Mikaylie and her boyfriend, Caddison, were coming home from his house and found our dear Pete dead in the road. He'd been hit by a car. Mik, of course, was hysterical. Thankfully, Caddison was a real blessing used his "favorite towel" to wrap up Pete and they brought him home. I was devastated. Pete was my little shadow and our bed buddy. And he'd travelled all the way here with us. My poor Petey. Billy buried him in the orchard with a cross and his collar marking his grave. I can see the spot from the kitchen/lounge windows which is kind of difficult. I still cry for him.
It was a blessing to have Lofty as a enjoyable distraction while grieving Pete but that was short-lived as he failed his vet check. Apparently Lofty had been ridden very hard in his earlier days and perhaps even started too early. In a nutshell, he showed lameness after a flexion test on both hind legs. While still ridable for the time being, he is not suitable for trekking. The vet valued him very little: basically at the price he'd fetch for dog tucker. Yikes! Again, I was so brokenhearted. The girl from whom I'd gotten him was quite possibly more disappointed for me than I was! After conferring with the vet, she agreed to let him stay with us for a couple hundred dollars. She'd also given me his blanket and some supplements for him. I can ride him on shorter, less demanding treks (i.e. beach rides, hacks out on road) and she can know that he'll never be pushed beyond what is in his best interest. The girls can ride him as well. I'll still be looking for a trekking horse but in the meantime, hopefully Lofty can help me get my riding head on straight again.
Finally, our new addition... Caddison's uncle's dog had a litter of pups, one of which Cadd brought over to show us. He was a cute little guy, a Maltese/Shitzu/Bichon mix. Billy said, "Aw, you are so cute". He also said, "No". A couple days later he said go ahead so Mikaylie and I went to see the whole litter. We came home with Pippa, a fluffy, white ball of energy.
Our next big event is the 2nd Annual Viner Family Thanksgiving Celebration so I'd better get organizing and decorating...
14 November 2012
13 November 2012
Catch Up- Part 1
Wow, it's been a looong time since I'd last blogged! Nearly two months! So I'll play catch-up now and hopefully keep up better.
Mikaylie, Nani and I spent 3 weeks stateside visiting friends and family, shopping and eating, the latter two in excess! Our trip had to be adjusted to spend more time in Memphis with Mark and co. since Grammy had fallen and broken her hip there. It was nice to get to spend more than the one night we had originally planned to stay with Mark and the kids, though much of the time was spent beside Grammy's hospital, then rehab, bed. Her post-op week was a little hairy and I couldn't not see her again before leaving the country so we returned to Memphis for one last QUICK visit before our 13 hour drive to Daytona Beach to see Kaigan and Mickey Mouse. Grammy was doing much better by then, though the PT was wiping her out! It was a relief to see her in better spirits before we left.
Between the Memphis stops was a week in Kentucky. We visited with my sis and nephew and even met Jenn's boyfriend. We had a great time at a Hibachi restaurant and just spending time together, though not enough. We also visited Nani's little horse, CJ at his new home. He seemed to have shrunk as Nani has grown so much! He looked great and his new people really love him.
We went to our old church and visited with our church family there. Nani got to play with some of her friends and we visited many loved and missed friends around the Somerset area. I could not bring myself to visit my old horses and absolutely could not go by the old farm. It was an emotional week!
Mikaylie had the hardest time as she got to experience first hand all that she's missing of the American high school experience. We arrived to Somerset the night of Somerset High School's football homecoming game and this really put Mik into a state of grief and regret. High school in NZ is NOTHING like high school in the US as it is all academic and, while there are sports and other extracurricular activities, it without the spirit and excitement of that in the States. Few parents even attend high school sporting events here and many are even during the school day. The whole Hollywood image of high school and all that it entails is actually fairly accurate. Its such an epic experience with Friday night football games, prom, graduation, etc.
With Mikaylie's eye set on playing soccer at the university level one day, we are considering her transferring back to the states for her senior year of high school. We have some wonderful friends who have offered to have her stay with them and we will prayerfully consider the possibility. We spoke to her former school there and she will be taking the ACT in December so that she can be placed in classes should we feel led to bring her back.
We met Kaigan in Daytona Beach then went on to Orlando and Disney World. Mikaylie seemed to be more enamored by the Magic Kingdom than Nani who had never been, and she even conquered her fear of the characters that she had since her first visit when she was 3! Kaigan, who had just been in February with Billy and Brylie, was quite over the whole thing and really only put up with it and us for the free food and shopping. Okay, maybe he had a little fun too. Nani did enjoy the parks (Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom) and rode every ride the big kids did, and even one that Kaigan wouldn't! I'll let him tell you which... We had a great visit with Kaigan and he showed his sisters around his school and let his momma hug his neck... a lot!
The last few days were spent in the Mississippi/Louisiana area with Mom who was home only temporarily from Gram duty. There we visited more friends and family and ate the best of the foods we miss the most (i.e. seafood!). We shopped for the last odds and ends that we wanted to bring back to NZ and had a heck of a time trying to keep all the luggage under weight! In all we bought 13 pairs of shoes! Shoes in NZ are so expensive and those that aren't are rubbish! We brought shoes back for Will, Brylie and Graham and the girls and I got a couple or three pair each. I had also had homeschool material sent to Mom's house that needed to be spread throughout our bags. Um... yea, books are heavy! Not to mention the beignet mix, goodies for those left at home and good ole American candy!
The entire 3 weeks stateside, I was addicted to talk radio and all the election stuff. As much as it disgusted me, I just could not turn it off and I became more and more concerned about the future of our home country. I also felt increasingly grateful that we are currently living here. I know this upsets many people and think us unpatriotic but we choose to follow God's will for us and right now that is very certainly living here. I do love America but have come to detest the entitlement mentality of many Americans and the wicked government that enables such behavior. Additionally, having heard multiple stories of overseas and homebound voters not receiving their absentee ballots in time or at all (myself being one of them!) and other questionable voting, election, ballot issues, my faith in the American election process is left at zero. I could go on in defense of our decision to leave America, etc. but I shan't... for now anyway.
Leaving Kaigan, Mom and the rest of the family is sooo very hard when you live so far away and have no definite plans to reunite. But the departure was somewhat easier for me as I was so excited to get back to our nearly finished new house. And that is where I will pick up tomorrow...
Mikaylie, Nani and I spent 3 weeks stateside visiting friends and family, shopping and eating, the latter two in excess! Our trip had to be adjusted to spend more time in Memphis with Mark and co. since Grammy had fallen and broken her hip there. It was nice to get to spend more than the one night we had originally planned to stay with Mark and the kids, though much of the time was spent beside Grammy's hospital, then rehab, bed. Her post-op week was a little hairy and I couldn't not see her again before leaving the country so we returned to Memphis for one last QUICK visit before our 13 hour drive to Daytona Beach to see Kaigan and Mickey Mouse. Grammy was doing much better by then, though the PT was wiping her out! It was a relief to see her in better spirits before we left.
Between the Memphis stops was a week in Kentucky. We visited with my sis and nephew and even met Jenn's boyfriend. We had a great time at a Hibachi restaurant and just spending time together, though not enough. We also visited Nani's little horse, CJ at his new home. He seemed to have shrunk as Nani has grown so much! He looked great and his new people really love him.
We went to our old church and visited with our church family there. Nani got to play with some of her friends and we visited many loved and missed friends around the Somerset area. I could not bring myself to visit my old horses and absolutely could not go by the old farm. It was an emotional week!
Mikaylie had the hardest time as she got to experience first hand all that she's missing of the American high school experience. We arrived to Somerset the night of Somerset High School's football homecoming game and this really put Mik into a state of grief and regret. High school in NZ is NOTHING like high school in the US as it is all academic and, while there are sports and other extracurricular activities, it without the spirit and excitement of that in the States. Few parents even attend high school sporting events here and many are even during the school day. The whole Hollywood image of high school and all that it entails is actually fairly accurate. Its such an epic experience with Friday night football games, prom, graduation, etc.
With Mikaylie's eye set on playing soccer at the university level one day, we are considering her transferring back to the states for her senior year of high school. We have some wonderful friends who have offered to have her stay with them and we will prayerfully consider the possibility. We spoke to her former school there and she will be taking the ACT in December so that she can be placed in classes should we feel led to bring her back.
We met Kaigan in Daytona Beach then went on to Orlando and Disney World. Mikaylie seemed to be more enamored by the Magic Kingdom than Nani who had never been, and she even conquered her fear of the characters that she had since her first visit when she was 3! Kaigan, who had just been in February with Billy and Brylie, was quite over the whole thing and really only put up with it and us for the free food and shopping. Okay, maybe he had a little fun too. Nani did enjoy the parks (Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom) and rode every ride the big kids did, and even one that Kaigan wouldn't! I'll let him tell you which... We had a great visit with Kaigan and he showed his sisters around his school and let his momma hug his neck... a lot!
The last few days were spent in the Mississippi/Louisiana area with Mom who was home only temporarily from Gram duty. There we visited more friends and family and ate the best of the foods we miss the most (i.e. seafood!). We shopped for the last odds and ends that we wanted to bring back to NZ and had a heck of a time trying to keep all the luggage under weight! In all we bought 13 pairs of shoes! Shoes in NZ are so expensive and those that aren't are rubbish! We brought shoes back for Will, Brylie and Graham and the girls and I got a couple or three pair each. I had also had homeschool material sent to Mom's house that needed to be spread throughout our bags. Um... yea, books are heavy! Not to mention the beignet mix, goodies for those left at home and good ole American candy!
The entire 3 weeks stateside, I was addicted to talk radio and all the election stuff. As much as it disgusted me, I just could not turn it off and I became more and more concerned about the future of our home country. I also felt increasingly grateful that we are currently living here. I know this upsets many people and think us unpatriotic but we choose to follow God's will for us and right now that is very certainly living here. I do love America but have come to detest the entitlement mentality of many Americans and the wicked government that enables such behavior. Additionally, having heard multiple stories of overseas and homebound voters not receiving their absentee ballots in time or at all (myself being one of them!) and other questionable voting, election, ballot issues, my faith in the American election process is left at zero. I could go on in defense of our decision to leave America, etc. but I shan't... for now anyway.
Leaving Kaigan, Mom and the rest of the family is sooo very hard when you live so far away and have no definite plans to reunite. But the departure was somewhat easier for me as I was so excited to get back to our nearly finished new house. And that is where I will pick up tomorrow...
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