Tall trees, sulphur lakes, boiling mud ...

But could I find a eucalyptus tree ... no. Still we had fun relaxing in hot pools, and making stinky fart jokes as one does in Rotorua. I managed to find a couple of dozen rusted bolts along the train tracks in obscure places and people slowed down to check me out, I think they thought I may be suicidal. I found a big bag of cotton selvedge (I mean big, as big as me anyway) for $3 in Levin, which I am merrily rolling into giant fabric balls. I went op-shopping, we collected acorns, walnuts, chestnuts and a few other weird seed pod things. The boys skateboarded, I did some stitching on one of my new look linen shirts, I pounded some flowers for prints onto fabric and paper, I walked and felt touristy (which was unpleasant being a Maori in a distinctly Maori town), we bought some homegrown music CD's - Kora, KATCHAFIRE, and Whirimako Black - (bass/dub/reggae/Maori mixes), and we mingled with my husband's work colleagues. It was a work function after all. My husband collected water from Lake Taupo for me and then helped me fill a bag with pumice, driftwood, volcanic stones and giant feathers. You know your husband loves you when he carries all that stuff and stops a million times to check out trees, railway tracks, op shops, etc and never once complains or makes out like he's bored or had enough. He's priceless. I am too tired to post photos which for some reason will not download quickly tonight. It was worth the effort, although it was a long journey (9 hours) for the kids. I have withdrawn my withdrawal from my drawing class tomorrow, so need to get some sleep, because that is my toughest subject. I will try and drop some photos tomorrow night. The pain in my shoulder and arm seems to have subsided somewhat, probably because I wasn't sitting at the computer. Have a great week, I plan to!