aah! the steakeater is rubbing against my legs right now! i think she might eat me next!!!! any cat that needs a door big enough to let a hen and a dog in the house is scary. she's sharpening her claws on my chair!! ....phew, gone. for now.
so today as a put up baseboards i discovered i have an unusual talent. i can hit each one of my fingers in turn without ever actually hammering the nail. my fingers are tender even as i write this. not to mention the saw's effect on my thumbnail (don't worry mom, it wasn't the electric one)....
went on a walk today up winding roads. that's the only kind here actually. as we walked, the girls pointed to the top of a tall hill and said "we're walking there". okay, i will die, i thought. when we reached the top though (still alive), all i could see were rich green, craggy hills all around. dotted among them were sheep and their lambs. it reminded me of scotland, where i've never been. anyway, it was beautiful. the trees here are huge, and streams and marshes fill the low places. it rains a lot, but chances are if you wait about 20 minutes it will be sunny again. it is alternately warm and cool. my feet are cold right now because i need to do laundry and have no socks.
tonight my host was telling me about what they used to do for fun in her day. she was into meditiation (although she was a "sunday meditator", the other days her and her friend just went to spy on the hot monk doing his yoga ;) she told me about protesting in the 60's, how they went and got in fights with the police and got beat up and such. what made these stories even more entertaining was that she told them all with a huge meat cleaver in her hand (she was making dinner). so when she demonstrated the police going poke- jab with their sticks, it was actually a bit frightening. we had a nice chat though. very eccentric lady, but wonderfully nice. as i sit here there is a huge papier-mache pregnant belly hanging over my head. not your average wall decoration. my host is a midwife if that helps. still not your average wall decoration.
so things are never dull around here and i am having a great time living the life in new zealand. prayers are always welcome and i would love to pray for you too!
till next time, peace
becki