I’m glad that I took the opportunity to take Quinn for a walk earlier in the week, because the last couple of days, weekend included? Nothing but rain, and fog, grey wintery days.

Walking by the lake is so nice. While Quinn isn’t a fan of water (not even a little) he does enjoy standing on the pier and watching the little fish that look like minnows swim out and about in the water. So much so that he’ll dash from side to side, almost as if he doesn’t want to miss anything :)

Also? Loving that these wintery walks give me a reason to wear the silly hat with the bobble. Yay!

Just some shots from one of our walks this weekend. We had fabulous weather: gorgeous blue skies and there was still a chill in the air. Good for layers and crazy hats. :)

Hopefully there will be more walks like this one :)

Perhaps it’s just me, but sometimes I think it’d be wonderful to have a dogs nose, and to be able to smell all the interesting smells. This weekend just past Quinn and I went for a rambling walk, and for once instead of being quick smart about it, we ambled. And the more we ambled, the more he stopped to smell everything. The fallen leaves, the ferns at driveway corners . . . it was quite sweet, actually.

There should be more paying attention to the little things, I think. The change in seasons, the leaves that fall. And more taking the time to enjoy them. Oh, I wish there more sunlit hours in the day to go on more brilliant ambling walks!

These were taken when we were in New Plymouth a while back. It’s been so dismal in Auckland the last little while. Rain and wind . . . and often it’s so dark by the time that I get home that it’s not me taking Quinn for daily walks anymore. :(

I’m glad we still have all these photos. It was a great weekend away, the walks were new and different and quite dramatic, actually (check out the surf, and the black sand, and the driftwood scattered over the beach). We don’t have walks like this in Auckland.

I’m holding out till the weekend, we’ll have our walks then, I think.

Autumn is most definitely here. There is a street Quinn and I walk up to get to the local park that has completely exploded in colour. All the trees have either turned super bright yellow, or are a fantastic mix of red and oranges:

It’s super cold at the moment (even when the sky is super blue) and going outside means multiple layers, but I love ironic the colour change – all the trees almost look like they are on fire. It’s brilliant, really.

Before we drove the 5 hour drive back to Auckland The Boy and I took Quinn for a walk to tire him out (there’s nothing worse than a hyperactive little dog on a long car trip. Last time he wiggled under the drivers chair and kept popping out by the pedals).

The easiest way to tire him out is to have him run back and forth between The Boy and I, standing maybe 50 metres apart.

Worked like a charm :)

The Boys folks used to live in New Plymouth for years and years and years. I’m grateful that they live closer now, it’s reassuring I think to have them in the same city as us. It also means more home cooked meals and puppy love for Quinn.

While we were in New Plymouth we collected up a bunch of driftwood for them. Apparently they used to have a bunch on their porch in NP. So we got some for their porch in Auckland too.

It was a pretty nice way to spend such a grey afternoon, in wind clambering over rocks and things. Selecting the dry, white branches bleached white by the salt and sun.

The Boy’s friend, Steve, set up a facebook group to ‘stop this cycle of internet addiction’ and get people out in the world doing things. In this case, it was an Orienteering mission. Post three photos of yourself doing very specific things.

The April Challenge was thus:

1. Get on up!

(Go to a really high up place and take a photo)

Summit of One Tree Hill, 183 metres above sea level, one of the largest volcanoes in the Auckland Volcanic Field, and a prominent Auckland landmark. Win!

2. The Weirdo in the Warehouse

Go to your local warehouse / DEKA / walmart or the local equivalent and find two items that if purchased together would make the checkout operator think that you’re a total lunatic.

Insect Soil Killer and a salt shaker? A spade and large carpet? Win!

3. Feed some fowls / dine with ducks / break bread with birds

Go to the park and feed some ducks or any other flavour of feathered flocker

Those geese were MOST ferocious! Still, they ate our bread. Win!

Doing this was a pretty fun way to pass a couple of hours, and a good way to encourage people to get out of their houses and DO things. If your keen to join in next month – join the facebook group! :)