Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Seals
This morning we packed up the car and got on the road again. We drove several hours and stopped for lunch at The Store (The Store is restaurant name). The last thirty minutes in the car was right next to the ocean. At one point we started to see a couple of seals basking in the sun on rocks. We pulled over and got out of the car to look at them. Then we realized that there were hundreds of them along the shoreline. Some were fighting and making cool noises and some were getting out of the ocean. When we had seen enough we got back on the road again. We stopped to see a small waterfall that was close to the ocean. Apparently in the winter up to two hundred seal pups frolic in the pool below the waterfall. After we unpacked our stuff in our room we went out to a small aquarium. I learned that there are wild seahorses in the area. Then we got to go out for dinner. Dad had crayfish (rock lobster) for dinner. When he was finished I cracked the shell and got more meat for him. I had lamb for dinner. It was delicious!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Monday, February 25, 2013
Packing up
After we did schoolwork all morning dad took us to the kids camp one last time. When we arrived there there were at least forty other kids already there (the most amount of kids I've ever seen there). I made lots of new friends and had a ball war with some of them. While we were at kids camp mom packed. After dad picked us up we had sushi and pizza for dinner. The next morning we would get back on the road.
New Zealand Fact Of The Day- Deer were brought into nz in the late 1800's, but they soon became pests. They began farming deer in the 1960's. Now there are more than 1.7 million deer on farms in nz. Their meat is very healthy for you.
New Zealand Fact Of The Day- Deer were brought into nz in the late 1800's, but they soon became pests. They began farming deer in the 1960's. Now there are more than 1.7 million deer on farms in nz. Their meat is very healthy for you.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Schoolwork
Kylie and I did schoolwork all morning while dad went fishing with his new friend (who is also a sushi chef). They each caught two fish and had loads of fun. After lunch Kylie and I played with a giant pillow wall that I made until she knocked it down. Dad finally came home after dinner and we all watched the rest of last night's James Bond movie.
New Zealand Fact Of The Day- Miss Bumby was possibly the first to bring honey bees to N.Z. In the 1920 there were 100,000 hives in N.Z. By 1988 there were 335,000 hives. Kiwis eat 3 ibs of honey each year. Only female honey bees work. Male honey bees don't even have stingers.
New Zealand Fact Of The Day- Miss Bumby was possibly the first to bring honey bees to N.Z. In the 1920 there were 100,000 hives in N.Z. By 1988 there were 335,000 hives. Kiwis eat 3 ibs of honey each year. Only female honey bees work. Male honey bees don't even have stingers.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Helicopter
We got up and did schoolwork all morning like usual. After lunch I got my new water-spraying helicopter out. It was so easy to fly and it hovered great. But the best part of all is that it shoots water. I chased Kylie around spraying her like crazy. We both had fun if you were wondering. After a great dinner we all watched a James Bond movie (Live and Let Die).
Mom Interjection - Ryan failed to mention Tim's day of fishing and crabbing. He fished (out on the water) from 8:00 until 2:30 with no luck but still had some good times. He then worked as a real life crabber from 2:30 until 5:30. He was the bait guy. He had big boxes of herring that he had to empty and get ready. To do this he cut up the fish with a 12" fillet knife while the boat was moving and swaying without loosing a finger. He was successful. He had to take the old bait purses and make new ones along with managing the crabs and bait system. It was some major hardcore manual labor. He did see a pod of orcas come through but was unable to get a photo in time. The big gloves may have been a hindrance!
New Zealand Fact Of The Day- Captain James Cook introduced hens to the island in 1773. In the early 1800 missionaries and settlers brought hens too. The two main egg laying types of hens were the Shaver Browns and the Hyline Whites. 83 million dozen eggs are produced each year. Each Kiwi eats about 230 eggs each year.
Mom Interjection - Ryan failed to mention Tim's day of fishing and crabbing. He fished (out on the water) from 8:00 until 2:30 with no luck but still had some good times. He then worked as a real life crabber from 2:30 until 5:30. He was the bait guy. He had big boxes of herring that he had to empty and get ready. To do this he cut up the fish with a 12" fillet knife while the boat was moving and swaying without loosing a finger. He was successful. He had to take the old bait purses and make new ones along with managing the crabs and bait system. It was some major hardcore manual labor. He did see a pod of orcas come through but was unable to get a photo in time. The big gloves may have been a hindrance!
New Zealand Fact Of The Day- Captain James Cook introduced hens to the island in 1773. In the early 1800 missionaries and settlers brought hens too. The two main egg laying types of hens were the Shaver Browns and the Hyline Whites. 83 million dozen eggs are produced each year. Each Kiwi eats about 230 eggs each year.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Still in Nelson by MB
We are on our 4th week in Nelson but have to, sigh, think about heading back to the "real world"...yeah, yeah I'm well aware that we are far from living in the real world! For a few more days we will still have our amazing view (which calls out very loudly for a big glass of wine) and the weather has been just spectacular! The huge find here is that the fish market has fresh salmon daily which makes for the most buttery, yummy sashimi. Kylie loves it too! And it is dirt cheap. The one and only inexpensive thing in New Zealand is the salmon :) Ok, I'll take it!
Tim has managed to become friends with half the town according to Yuki, our local sushi chef, who he is going fishing with on Monday. Tomorrow (Sunday for us) Tim is going tuna fishing with the guys that took him and Ryan out crabbing the other day - they invited him. Tim may end up working the crabbing shift after the fishing is over. He would be the first mate, bringing the traps in and baiting them. Ryan is dying to go now that he hears that may be the plan......
This trip has been amazing and life changing in many ways. I know the kids have experienced so many things that they will look back on in awe in the future. I know I have! I love how adaptable they are and how a new place can become home to them. They still bicker like crazy but have slept in the same room every night even though there is another one available. Kylie eats Pikelets every morning (which are pre-made pancakes from the bread aisle) and they are huge fans of Eaton Mess as Ryan likes to mention. We are embracing Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noir's (because we have no choice and will wallow in Camus when we are home). I have learned a completely new angle on cooking and can make the best vegetable fritta ever! I long for all the green vegy's from home along with so many other things!!!
Tim and I need to enter one of the reality cooking shows as we have become quite the cooking team coming up with all kinds of good creations. Tonight it was snapper, which he and Ryan brought home yesterday, stuffed with crab, from yesterday, and shrimp served with a white wine/shallot/cream sauce - mine was that plus lemon. Oh and a plate full of tuna and salmon sashimi with our Japanese guac. I am amazed to find that one can throw a whole, uncovered, snapper in the fridge for a solid 24 hours next to fresh fruit and have it be as if it never happened!
The Saturday market is just so much fun. We have run into some really wonderful people - imagine that.....All kinds of handmade items and all the fresh fruits, vegy's, cheeses, preserves and baked goods. Very dangerous!
On Wednesday morning we head out for the last 12 days of our New Zealand Experience. We will be heading further south to Christchurch and Queenstown with lots of stops along the way. Not so much school work and, I'm sure, many adventures to come. Tim mentioned something about bungee jumping off a bridge in Queenstown but started backpedaling when we saw an extraordinarily high, cool train bridge on the North Island that may have put things in a new perspective.
We are not ready to move here as we miss everyone so much! Being halfway across the world for this amount of time is quite the challenge but we would love nothing more then to spend more time here in the future! Ok, the very near future :)
Tim has managed to become friends with half the town according to Yuki, our local sushi chef, who he is going fishing with on Monday. Tomorrow (Sunday for us) Tim is going tuna fishing with the guys that took him and Ryan out crabbing the other day - they invited him. Tim may end up working the crabbing shift after the fishing is over. He would be the first mate, bringing the traps in and baiting them. Ryan is dying to go now that he hears that may be the plan......
This trip has been amazing and life changing in many ways. I know the kids have experienced so many things that they will look back on in awe in the future. I know I have! I love how adaptable they are and how a new place can become home to them. They still bicker like crazy but have slept in the same room every night even though there is another one available. Kylie eats Pikelets every morning (which are pre-made pancakes from the bread aisle) and they are huge fans of Eaton Mess as Ryan likes to mention. We are embracing Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noir's (because we have no choice and will wallow in Camus when we are home). I have learned a completely new angle on cooking and can make the best vegetable fritta ever! I long for all the green vegy's from home along with so many other things!!!
Tim and I need to enter one of the reality cooking shows as we have become quite the cooking team coming up with all kinds of good creations. Tonight it was snapper, which he and Ryan brought home yesterday, stuffed with crab, from yesterday, and shrimp served with a white wine/shallot/cream sauce - mine was that plus lemon. Oh and a plate full of tuna and salmon sashimi with our Japanese guac. I am amazed to find that one can throw a whole, uncovered, snapper in the fridge for a solid 24 hours next to fresh fruit and have it be as if it never happened!
The Saturday market is just so much fun. We have run into some really wonderful people - imagine that.....All kinds of handmade items and all the fresh fruits, vegy's, cheeses, preserves and baked goods. Very dangerous!
On Wednesday morning we head out for the last 12 days of our New Zealand Experience. We will be heading further south to Christchurch and Queenstown with lots of stops along the way. Not so much school work and, I'm sure, many adventures to come. Tim mentioned something about bungee jumping off a bridge in Queenstown but started backpedaling when we saw an extraordinarily high, cool train bridge on the North Island that may have put things in a new perspective.
We are not ready to move here as we miss everyone so much! Being halfway across the world for this amount of time is quite the challenge but we would love nothing more then to spend more time here in the future! Ok, the very near future :)
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Crabbing
Last night we got a call from the only crabbing company in the Nelson area. They told us we could go on the next trip with them in the morning. I was so excited!
This morning dad woke me up at six. We snuck out of the house and got in the car. An hour later we arrived at the dock and met our captain.
When we came to the first pot the captain steered the boat next to the buoy while the first mate grabbed it. Then he would hand the rope to the captain who put it on a pulley that pulled it up out of the ocean. When the pot was on the boat the first mate separated the keepers from the little ones. Keepers were ninety centimeters or bigger. After he threw the little ones back into the sea he re-baited the trap and tossed it back. This was done over and over again. Sixty-five times!
If a trap was not doing too well they would move it to a new spot. Each good pot had about fifty crabs in it and twenty percent of them were big enough to keep. Most pots had a piece of zinc in it to keep the pot from rusting. After sixty-five pots we had about eighty kilos of good crabs. All the crab was processed so they made about One Thousand Four Hundred dollars. The captain gave us five crabs and a big snapper that we found in one of the pots. I learned a lot!
One kilo of crab per pot would end up in an ok day. Twenty-five percent of a crab's body is the meat. Today we got about twenty kilos of crab meat. One kilo of crab meat is worth seventy dollars. One kilo of live crabs is ten dollars.
This morning dad woke me up at six. We snuck out of the house and got in the car. An hour later we arrived at the dock and met our captain.
When we came to the first pot the captain steered the boat next to the buoy while the first mate grabbed it. Then he would hand the rope to the captain who put it on a pulley that pulled it up out of the ocean. When the pot was on the boat the first mate separated the keepers from the little ones. Keepers were ninety centimeters or bigger. After he threw the little ones back into the sea he re-baited the trap and tossed it back. This was done over and over again. Sixty-five times!
If a trap was not doing too well they would move it to a new spot. Each good pot had about fifty crabs in it and twenty percent of them were big enough to keep. Most pots had a piece of zinc in it to keep the pot from rusting. After sixty-five pots we had about eighty kilos of good crabs. All the crab was processed so they made about One Thousand Four Hundred dollars. The captain gave us five crabs and a big snapper that we found in one of the pots. I learned a lot!
One kilo of crab per pot would end up in an ok day. Twenty-five percent of a crab's body is the meat. Today we got about twenty kilos of crab meat. One kilo of crab meat is worth seventy dollars. One kilo of live crabs is ten dollars.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Berry Good Berries
This morning we got up and did schoolwork until lunch. After lunch dad took Kylie and I to a fruit farm. We picked lots of delicious strawberries and raspberries. Dad also got us real strawberry ice cream (and raspberry ice cream for Kylie). After dinner mom used some of our berries in our dessert (Eton Mess). It was so good!
New Zealand Fact Of The Day- The first pigs in New Zealand were the Kune Kune and Captain Cookers. They destroyed crops, lambs, and native habitat. Pigs were first raised on dairy farms and were fed left over skim milk. Now pigs are raised on pig farms with rules that keep the farm clean.
New Zealand Fact Of The Day- The first pigs in New Zealand were the Kune Kune and Captain Cookers. They destroyed crops, lambs, and native habitat. Pigs were first raised on dairy farms and were fed left over skim milk. Now pigs are raised on pig farms with rules that keep the farm clean.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Kids Camp
This morning we got up and did schoolwork while dad went fishing. He caught fifteen small fish and one shark. After lunch dad took Kylie and I to kids camp. We ordered two slushies (like usual) and played with our new friends. After dad picked us up we all went out to a sushi restaurant. We all had sushi and I got to play Roblox on dad's iPad.
New Zealand Fact of the day- Exotic animals have been raised in New Zealand for many reasons. Alpacas and llamas have been raised for their fur. Ostrich and emus have been raised for their eggs, meat, feathers, and leather. Angora goats have been raised for there silky fur. Water buffaloes are raised for their meat and some for their milk. I would not want to milk a water buffalo!
New Zealand Fact of the day- Exotic animals have been raised in New Zealand for many reasons. Alpacas and llamas have been raised for their fur. Ostrich and emus have been raised for their eggs, meat, feathers, and leather. Angora goats have been raised for there silky fur. Water buffaloes are raised for their meat and some for their milk. I would not want to milk a water buffalo!
Monday, February 18, 2013
The Beach
I did schoolwork all morning then we all went to the beach. Mom laid out while dad and I went fishing. Kylie played in the sand and tried to find pearls inside of oysters. I caught one big fish and many little fish.
On the way back we stopped next to a road-side stand and bought some delicious, mouth watering strawberries.
We arrived home around five thirty and had baked ziti for dinner. It was very good but not as good as Palmero's!
New Zealand Fact Of The Day- New Zealand has three special holidays.
Labor Day (in 1890) celebrates the day when trade unionists got their wish to work only eight hours per day.
Anzac Day celebrates the day when Australia and New Zealand tried to take over the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. Poppy Day is the Friday before Anzac Day. Volunteers hand out poppies and earn donations for the veterans.
Waitangi Day is basically New Zealand's Thanksgiving. It celebrates the day when the Maori and England signed a treaty which allowed England to colonize New Zealand (in 1840). It was not made an official holiday until 1974.
On the way back we stopped next to a road-side stand and bought some delicious, mouth watering strawberries.
We arrived home around five thirty and had baked ziti for dinner. It was very good but not as good as Palmero's!
New Zealand Fact Of The Day- New Zealand has three special holidays.
Labor Day (in 1890) celebrates the day when trade unionists got their wish to work only eight hours per day.
Anzac Day celebrates the day when Australia and New Zealand tried to take over the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. Poppy Day is the Friday before Anzac Day. Volunteers hand out poppies and earn donations for the veterans.
Waitangi Day is basically New Zealand's Thanksgiving. It celebrates the day when the Maori and England signed a treaty which allowed England to colonize New Zealand (in 1840). It was not made an official holiday until 1974.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Fishing Trip
Around six dad woke me up to go fishing with him. After driving an hour to the boat we met the captain and set out on our adventure. The captain drove us to a good Blue Cod spot (Blue Cod is a type of fish) and we stayed there for a while. We caught about thirty and kept nine of them. When we were bored of catching cod the captain took us to other spots. The only type of fish we caught on the whole fishing trip were Blue Cod and one big Snapper.
Our captain showed us several mussel farms and an oyster farm. According to our captain, the way they raise the mussels is by attaching cords to buoys that hang down in twenty-five ft deep water. The mussels grip onto the cords and feast in the nutrient rich water. When the mussels are ready to be harvested they are striped off the lines and shipped to the market.
The man who owned the oyster farm told us that the oysters are kept inside mesh bags that float close to the surface of the water. Once a month they are collected and put in a tumbler. Small holes are in the front of the tumbler, medium holes in the middle, and large on the end. The small oysters fall through the small holes, medium ones fall through the medium holes, and large ones fall through the large holes. Each size falls into separate bins and are put back into separate mesh bags so the bigger oysters can not consume all the nutrients in in the bag areas. When the oysters are half grown they are shipped to another place to fatten up.
After fishing mom and dad had some of the fish for dinner and mom made Eton Mess for dessert. It was delicious!
Our captain showed us several mussel farms and an oyster farm. According to our captain, the way they raise the mussels is by attaching cords to buoys that hang down in twenty-five ft deep water. The mussels grip onto the cords and feast in the nutrient rich water. When the mussels are ready to be harvested they are striped off the lines and shipped to the market.
The man who owned the oyster farm told us that the oysters are kept inside mesh bags that float close to the surface of the water. Once a month they are collected and put in a tumbler. Small holes are in the front of the tumbler, medium holes in the middle, and large on the end. The small oysters fall through the small holes, medium ones fall through the medium holes, and large ones fall through the large holes. Each size falls into separate bins and are put back into separate mesh bags so the bigger oysters can not consume all the nutrients in in the bag areas. When the oysters are half grown they are shipped to another place to fatten up.
After fishing mom and dad had some of the fish for dinner and mom made Eton Mess for dessert. It was delicious!
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