Got me dinner!
An ant I spotted heading off with a piece of potato chippie. I think it thought it was onto a good thing!

Grafitti

This grafitti is on a bridge wall in Hamilton.

I never found it particularly clever, but it just seemed to be making a comment - maybe from an annoyed grafittiist who's work was constantly deleted? I wonder...?

Fungus Photos.

Thanks to my friend Gary in Alaska for these two photos.

Fungus can make fascinating pictures, specially with the amazing variety that can be available in our forests, walking tracks and even gardens.

Being sadly short of photos for this blog due to an unpleasant winter and spring I asked Gary if he had something I could use here and he sent me these and some other photos which I hope to use later.

Thanks again Gary.

Bull Sculpture

This fellow is to be found in the lawn by the highway at Hamilton Gardens. Being a dairy beast he typifies the Waikato as a farming region.

Unfortunately I can not say who carved him as I have had this photo for a couple of years and no longer have any information about this artwork.

Not far away from here is a laboratory where pedigree bulls are kept and their semen milked and stored for artificially inseminating pedigree cattle.

Just a selection of standard lights around Hamilton

The Farming Family statue

In 1990 prominent business man Sir Robert Jones donated this statue to the city of Hamilton to "commemorate the ordinary farming family as being the unsung heroes of our first 150 years".

The statue, is a bronze life-sized sculpture by Margriet Windhausen van den Berg of Timaru, NZ.

The Farming Family consists of a male farmer and his wife, two young children, a dairy cow, a sheep and a dog and is located on a traffic island at the intersection of Victoria Street and the southern end of Ulster Street.
(Click on picture to enlarge)

Clouds

Many bloggers have a facination with clouds and I would be no acception.

This photo is from my archives, from a series which I took a couple of years ago. In a couple of days I will be showing some of the others in the series on my main blog at cimba7200.blogspot.com Many are quite dramatic I think.

(Click on photo to enlarge)

The Waikato River

This view of the Waikato River and Ferrybank Lounge was taken from the Victoria Bridge looking west towards town.

Wooden cat ornaments

These two handsome fellas were hand-made by local people in Phuket, southern Thailand, and were brought back as a gift by our daughter Sandra after her family's holiday there - fortunately before the large tsunami hit.

Jill treasures them and they have pride of place in our lounge.

Baby Toys

While in Tauranga we walked past this shop which had these baby toys hanging in the window. I thought they would make a colourful photo, so here it is.

(Click picture to enlarge)

Picture Grafitti, Tauranga
I enjoy this type of legal grafitti which is painted on the sides of plain buildings to brighten them up and relieve the monotony.

Many of the artists who do these works are very talented. This 'mural' is on a wall down an alleyway among the shops in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty.

Moth Orchid

This beautiful Orchid was at the Hamilton Gardens hothouse last year.

Ground Leaf Mosaic
These leaves were undisrurbed last autumn. I liked their variety and colour and thought that the photo might make a good wallpaper on my computer desktop.

Piha Beach
This must be one of the most dangerous beaches in New Zealand which are used as general swimming beaches.

Piha Beach is located on the west coast, west of Auckland City. It has a very experienced team of surf life guards who are very professional and they are kept very busy during the holiday season rescuing many irresponsible swimmers who don't seem to have the intelligence to realise the dangers, and continue to take unnecessary risks.

The beach is dangerous because it has several hidden current rips as well as strong currents that can throw inexperienced boarders and swimmers against rocks beside the large rock visible here. Another danger can be large dangerous waves during heavy seas.
(Click to enlarge)

Cutlery Mosaic pathway at Hamilton Gardens

I took this photo about a year ago at one of the feature gardens entitled the Kitchen Garden. I don't know what possessed the people setting up this garden to set this cuttlery in the mosaic path but, as with some of the other gardens here, some of the things done were 'tongue-in-cheek.'  I guess as this was the 'Kitchen Garden' maybe they thought this was in keeping with the theme...?

You have to smile...

(Click photo to enlarge)

Look into my eyes!

Looking into a cats face can sometimes be mesmerising.

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Skeleton of a tree

Though still standing magnificently, this tree is no longer alive. Why did it die? I don't know. Maybe it was struck by lightning? Or perhaps, more likely, it was ringbarked by cattle in the same paddock?

(Click on picture to enlarge)

Turtle Lake Waterfall, Hamilton Gardens
This waterfall looks great as a part of the Turtle Lake water feature at Hamilton Gardens. It is part of the flow of a stream which runs through the area and into the lake before exiting to run into the Waikato River further down.

Turtle Lake was man-made in the early days of developement of the gardens and is a vital part of the relaxing atmosphere the Gardens create, and is enjoyed by local people and tourists alike. In summer the Arts Festival is held in and around the many lawn and garden features in the Hamilton Gardens, which belong to, and are maintained by the Hamilton City Council on behalf of the residents of Hamilton. A proud asset and a jewel in the City's crown.

 

The old Pumphouse, Waihi

This old pumphouse building at Waihi, a goldmining town in the North Island of NZ, had great sentimental value to the people of Waihi, so a great effort was made to move it several metres from its original location. It is now a part of the focal point of the town, as is the mighty great hole that the gold mining company has dug just near the pumphouses new location.

The photo below shows what the building looks like now.

Hollyhock Flower
This hollyhock flower is one of about ten or more that grow on a long stem. Though the setting sun gives this flower an inner glow it is really a very deep blood-red colour and was one of my favourites from the approximately eight that we grew that year, The plants are amazing too as this one grew to nearly 2 &1/2 metres (about 8 feet) tall.

 In conversation
These two Asian girls were pretending to fish off this small jetty but seemed to be more concerned with intimate conversation.

Stormwater drain

At first glance not a very inspiring photo is it? Actally it's still not very inspiring even after gazing at it for some time! Ah well, it will do for my shot of the day today ....
(Click on picture to enlarge - it looks better... )

Mr Whippy
I guess most developed countries in the world have people who drive trucks like the one above and travel around the cities and beach resorts in summer selling ice creams from the rear of the truck. As they go they play a popular tune through a loudspeaker on the roof. In the case of this vehicle they play the song Greensleeves and the kids readily recognise who it is when they hear the tune.

They usually come around my area just on dinner time which must annoy Mums who know that their kids probably won't eat their dinner after a big ice cream!

Hamilton Anglican Cathedral

This photo was taken from an unusual angle - the top of the Hamilton City Council car park in Knox Street.

For those unfamiliar with Hamilton this building with the clock is the Anglican Cathedral and is the only building of its type in Hamilton. It is built on land generously given to the Church by local Maori  in the 19th century, soon after Hamilton was settled by Europeans. Land nearby was a fort, originally belonging to Maori but taken over by the British Militia during the early Land Wars with Maori.  The fort no longer exists.

Quaint stone bridge at the Te Awamutu
This quaint stone bridge is located in the Te Awamutu War Memorial Gardens, in the Waikato region just south of Hamilton. These older-style bridges add some magic to public and private gardens alike.

Yellow flower

Type unknown. This small flower was taken by me. I think it was a weed, but it caught my eye as I admired its beauty.

What have you got for me, huh, huh?

This duck looks quite anxious that we may just have a morsel of food for it.

Autumn leaf mosaic

This photo was taken a while ago while walking amongst some trees on a day in autumn. The lovely bright orange, gold and brown leaves beckoned to be photographed as they clung to the branch, shortly to be cast off, their job now completed.

Oops!

This is my attempt at a specialised subject photo. (The salt was spilled on purpose.)

Lady in the garden

This good-looking lass was 'working' in the Vegetable Garden at the Hamilton Gardens.

As you can see, she is in fact a 'scarecrow' figure, probably either made by the Council staff for a bit of fun, or made by children from a Hamilton School, which happens from time to time when an inter-school scarecrow competition is held occasionally. It all adds interest to a Gardens tour.

Well Stocked

This store in a small Waikato township was so well stocked with knick-knacks that I couldn't help taking this photo as the shelves looked so attractive. Click on the photo to enlarge.

Taking a break.

This will be my last blog on this site for a while. I am currently quite busy doing other things (please see my other blog at cimba7200.blogspot.com )

Thanks to those who have frequently visited this site and those who have kindly left comments. Your support has been appreciated. I may return at a later date.

Goodbye for now and best regards,  - Dave

Akaroa Lantern

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This lantern can be located on the jetty at Akaroa, south of Christchurch in the South Island. I like to photograph lanterns and lights as I think that they make interesting subjects.

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An early model American John Deere tractor
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This machine was displayed at a vintage farm machinery show held in Hamilton a while back.
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Playground at Innes' Common, Hamilton

This playground was designed with a 'space' theme. This 'tunnel' complex represents a space station, where kids can climb through the pipes and climb up to the top tower.  Good fun for those with some imagination.

Wainui Beach, Raglan

This is a nice beach at Raglan, on the west coast of the North Island just west of Hamilton.

The Three Mousekateers

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This photo of the two kittens with their hero, our big cat Alfie. They loved him and always ran to be with him whenever he came inside. Alfie used to often affectionately wash them when they gathered around him too. He is a very tolerant big fella, until he gets fed up with the attention they give him, then he might run away or give them a cuff with his paw to indicate "That's enough thanks!"

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Historic Hamilton House

This was the first photo I took with my first 1.3 MP digital camera. The subject is an elaborate and historical house above the Waikato river on the eastern side in Hamilton.

Give a gnome an 'ome

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This little fellow stood watch over our miniature roses for years until we removed them, and him as he was badly faded, but still in good physical condition. I hope one day soon to repaint him and return him to his former glory. I hope....

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Old stone store

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Close up of the old stone store at Kerikeri, Bay of Islands. This is a very historic building which overlooks the river there.

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Exotic Parrot

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This parrot was at the Auckland zoo and was busy digging a hole in a plastic conduit containing electric wires. I'll bet he got a surprise if he managed to cut into the wires!

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A Tuatara Lizard

This unbashful fellow/lady was photographed by me at the Auckland Zoo last year. He/she was very approachable (behind glass) and stood there as I took several photos. It must have been a 'he.'

Ginger playing in the bath

Little Ginger, the kitten likes new places to play and new things to do. Here he is playing with a small ball in our bath. His sister, Grey has climbed onto the side of the bath to watch.

They go to a new home next week.

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Kitties in the window

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We still have them - the two SPCA adoptees. They were due to leave us about a month ago but the daughter of a friend decided she wanted them, but wasn't quite ready to take them, so we are stuck with them for longer than we would wish.

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They are lovely little kids, the ginger one male and the grey one his sister, but they are getting older now and more boisterous, so as much as we still love them we really want them gone, to their new home. Hopefully by Wednesday next week they will be gone.

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What on earth...?

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What on earth is it?

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These figures in partial sun, partial shadow make mysterious figures, almost scary, if you are that way inclined.

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With the things hanging down over their shoulders they look a bit like high court judges, but with bare chests? I don't think so!

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And what's with the sticks they are holding? Could they be shepherds from somewhere minding their sheep?

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Surely they're not real people being that grey colour?

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Follow the arrows down to find the answer.

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v

v

v

v

v

v

. Still no wiser? Neither am I. These two figures are located in the Hamilton Gardens 'Italian Renaissance Garden.' Search as I might I wasn't able to learn just who these two concrete characters are. But I wouldn't want to meet them on a dark night!

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(I am taking a blog break for a couple of weeks to complete a presentation I am preparing for the end of the month. Will be back after that.)

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