Greetings New Zealand Friends!

Hello to all our friends in our home away from home! No we are not back in your beautiful country, but rather than send each of you an email with pictures, I thought I would use our blog site to fill you in on what we are doing in our sweet home town of Wenatchee (picture).
I am writing this on our new laptop computer (no Sally,it's not a Mac). Yippee! When we returned from NZ we had a list of home improvement projects and "things" that we wanted to do and buy this year. At the top of that list was a laptop computer, but, as in every household, we had a number of things with the house and our cars and our teeth(!!!) that demanded our immediate attention. Enough already! So, after putting out the immediate fires we made the plunge with a new computer. The learning curve has been steep, but computers these days are so much fun and easier than the "old days".

Let's see, since we returned home in late March, we have had so much fun getting together with family and friends. We have had 2 nephews graduate, one from high school and one from Pacific Lutheran University. We went camping with 6 other couples in Tonasket WA on the 40 acres they bought last year (we call it Camp Splendid), and Jon is patiently trying to teach me how to cast my new fly rod!!!

In April, our son Adam opened a new gym, called the Inner Circle (extreme fitness) with 2 partners. He's also been competing in rather difficult cross country runs and after 3 events he was first overall! Way to go Adam! I've put a picture of Adam and his sweet wife Donni in this blog. Donni just returned home from Haiti after a medical mission of 10 days. She has such a wonderful story to tell and such a big heart. They are an amazing couple.

We traveled to the Oregon coast in May to check out the house we are going to rent this December and January. We found a darling little cottage that we will call our home this winter. We are hoping for some great ocean storms, but no snow! We wish we could return to NZ, but it just isn't in the bank account this year! We are somewhat insulated by the recession, since we are retired and were fortunate enough to have some excellent retirement advice, but all the same, we are being cautious and talk of a inflation is still out there. On a political note, our new president may look and say the politically correct things, but it is obvious he doesn't know squat about running a country. He and his cronnies in Congress are spending money like they have it! Craziness. We may have to take up residence in NZ!!!!!

The Camp Splendid weekend in June really did live up to it's name. Yes, I went camping! Our friend's and property barons, Farzan and Cheri really made it a wonderful camping experience (pic with girls of the campout). They set up the "Vognild Suite" for Jon and I (a large canvas tent that you could stand up in)they set up cots, with sleeping mats and we had down comforters to keep us cozy at night. Each evening, we had a roaring campfire and fun conversations with jokes that had us holding our sides in laughter! I made my now famous marshmallows (plain & mint) and we toasted them and ate 'smores till we were sick. We laughed for 3 days and have been invited back in mid-August for more fun and silliness with our friends. The Vognild Suite has been reserved!

I have a mini veggie garden in the back yard of our condo and this year we have wonderful herbs (basil, rosemary,thyme,dill,parsley,tarragon), cucumbers, tomatoes, spring onions (thanks Tip)and Jon is growing 3 kinds of peppers, cayenne, sweet bell and pimento. I just harvested my first tomatoes and cucumbers. It has been so hot here that the peppers are loving it and the herbs are growing like crazy.

I don't know if any of you are following the Tour de France, which began on the 4th of July. Our little town of Wenatchee is all abuzz. One of our hometown boys, Tyler Farrar is on the Garmin Slipstream team and is a wonderful sprinter. His parents have been very active in cycling locally and all of their support as well as others has paid off. Tyler is at the bottom of the pack as far as overall performance, but on the second day of the Tour he came in second! So very exciting. Tyler has an interesting "back story". His father Ed, an orthopedic surgeon here in Wenatchee was riding his bicycle to work one morning the end of October last year, when he was struck by a car and nearly killed. It was touch and go for about 3 mos. last winter as to whether he would live or not, he did survive, but is a paraplegic now. He is back out on his bicycle each day. Tyler came home to support his family, and then went back to Europe to get in shape for the Tour. He is an amazing young man, and his parents and people here in the valley are very proud of him.

Well, I have rambled on enough. We miss all of you; Ian and our Olive NZ (I have about 2 Tablespoons left),our friends and Tip from our Thai cooking class (we cook Thai each week). The wonderful restaurants and diversity of food and the entertainment options in ChCh that we have to travel 150 miles or more to find! And we are really missing Country Calendar and Kiwi Kitchen!!! Can't view them here, even on the Internet! It is good to be home, with friends and family, but we realize how many wonderful friends live in NZ that to us feel like family. Let us know how you are. You can email us at jvognild@gmail.com

Hope your winter is good. Our summer is good now too!
Our best to all of you.
Jon and Joyce

A Fond and Final Farewell, Christchurch

Our time here in Christchurch is coming to an end and we will be saying a fond and final farewell this Sunday, March 22 to our “summer” home here in Christchurch.

As usual, we are cramming everything into our last 3 weeks here since Mom left the end of February. We are taking a 3 week, 12-hour Thai cooking class which started on the 7th of March. We are enrolled at Shirley Boys High School for what is called here Adult Community Education. Each High School in the areas surrounding Christchurch put on ACE classes. They are varied and usually conducted at the schools during the evening or on Saturdays. We were interested in Italian cooking, Fly Fishing and Thai cooking courses, but in the 2 days it took to make up our minds to the type of classes, all were filled except the Thai class. We have completed 2 of the classes and are loving it. Our instructor is also loving Jon and since he is our token male in the class, so are all the ladies in the class. The instructor had him demonstrate his “stir-fry” technique last week, while I acted as sous chef and dishwasher. He made Pad Thai, and Green Curry Chicken. I, on the other hand, have mastered Thai spring rolls, and have a batch in the freezer for later this week. We have made some yummy soups, one called Tom Yum (translated means “boy” and “yummy”) and Tom Kar, both delicious.
The first weekend in March was the National Pipe Band competitions. We were able to watch several bands perform, and again, it was like being “piped into heaven”, just a wonderful sight. We also attended a concert by violinist Fiona Pears at the Christ Church Cathedral. She is a beautiful long-haired blonde that plays original compositions while dancing around the stage in beautiful gowns and is barefoot!!!!!! It was the third time we had seen here and she didn’t disappoint! Apparently she is now based in London, but grew up and studied here in Christchurch. That same weekend, we were walking around the organic farmers market and we saw Richard Till, you won’t know him in the states, but he has a TV show called the Kiwi Kitchen in which he travels around NZ finding great cooks and they make their specialities for him. Jon saw him and shouted “hello Richard,” he stopped and looked at us and then we introduced ourselves and had a nice chat about his show and he lives here in ChCh. And one more Christchurch native and resident that you see on TV is Phil, host of The Amazing Race. When he isn’t filming, he and his family live here in ChCh. He is a bicycle enthusiast and cycles a lot and some of it is competitive. We haven’t spotted him, but he was in the paper.
This last weekend was the Ellerslie International Flower Show and as it was held just across the street from us in Hagley Park, I think we saw nearly all of the 75,000 people that showed up! We attended on Thursday, the second day and were very disappointed, as it seemed to be mostly a retail trade show, with the usual whirly-gigs and mops and dishcloths for sale, in-between they managed to sandwich the floral displays, but the queues were so long and the displays so ordinary that we gave up after a couple of hours. The paper wrote it up as a “starting point” for Christchurch’s first attempt at hosting, but said that it definitely needed a “spark” of creativity. Had I specifically come into Christchurch for the event, I would have been very disappointed. They following day we enjoyed a bus ride to Lyttelton and a short ferry ride to Diamond Harbour. We had a “perfect” day there sitting on the grounds of an old caretakers cottage reading our books in the 70° sunshine enjoying a glass of NZ wine! It was a perfect day. Made all the better, as we nearly had the harbour to ourselves (probably all at the flower show).
This week, we are saying goodbye to Dean and Stephanie Kirk and the girls. They have made us feel so welcome here and saying goodbye to my gym trainer Karina and her fiancé’ Jimmy. Jimmy, runs the South Island’s hydro distribution and would like to come to the states. We just happen to know people who know people in hydro power! We have one more restaurant to visit this week. Hays for another wonderful lamb dinner (close your eyes Joycey Kay) and then to the opera(!) for one last “hit” of “things we can’t do in Wenatchee”. We are going to see a Puccini opera call Gianni Schicchi. Supposed to be a “tragically comic opera.” We’ll see.
We have spent 2 very lovely days across the harbour at a little burg called Diamond Harbor. We took our lunch and books and enjoyed the sun and the solitude and the Stoddard Cottage. Lots of fun and home of the best, 2-scoop, $2.00 ice cream cone in all of NZ.
We are going to miss lots of things here in Chch. In fact all of NZ, mostly the people, but the coffee shops in every neighbourhood, where they serve coffee in ceramic cups, unless you ask for takeaway (so civilized), we will miss Tim Tams, scones, tan slices, fabulous Thai, Japanese and Indian foods. The great food markets and farmer’s markets with great cheese, pork, lamb and the organic veggies, of which I am a fan, the public library, "scooter boy and his mom" scootering to school each day, and we will miss the sun on our skin each day (or nearly every day). The Metro bus will also be missed, as it seems we have “mastered” the bus schedules and the system. We are liking the “no car” hassle too!
We are ready to return and have missed everyone terribly. We will see all of you soon. Take care and as they say here in NZ, “cheers.” So civilized that!

SHE CAME, SHE SAW, SHE CONQUERED

We have just returned from the airport after depositing Mom for her first airplane leg of 3 today and we are reflecting on all that we saw and participated in. My mom is simply amazing, as I don’t know many people that would hop on a multi-leg 24 hr. airplane journey by themselves! She did it, and we were thrilled to have her here and amazed at how quickly the time passed! We picked her up from Christchurch airport on one of the hottest days of the year, and needless to say, she was slightly wilted, but none the worse for wear. After settling in for oh, 12 hrs, we were off to see the sights. We took in the Botanic Gardens, with roses and dahlias ablaze and beautiful statuary. As we expected, mom was impressed with the trees. They are simply HUGE here and impossible to capture in a picture, but so impressive. We visited the Cathedral Square,the Canterbury Museum, our favourite restaurant, Strawberry Fare, our football bar, No. 4, attended services at the Christ Church Cathedral,rode the bus to the mall for a movie on a very rainy day, grocery shopped, visited the local shipping port and 2 farmer’s markets.
After a week of local sites, Jon booked a rental car, a very new and nice Toyota Corolla, and in keeping with family tradition of naming our cars, he called it the Patty-wagon. We were off to visit the whales in Kaikoura, north of Christchurch. We drove in on a beautiful sunny day and confirmed our reservations to go out on the boat the next day, weather-permitting. Weather did NOT permit, so we booked another night's stay in Kaikoura, drove up the coast to Blenheim, on the way we stopped to watch seals on the rocks and drove out to see a large saltworks operation in Marlbourgh Sound. We also wandered off the path by car through the Yealands vineyards outside of Seddon (they are the largest winery in NZ) and couldn't believe the miles and miles of vineyards. The next day, our whale watching was rewarded, and as luck would have it, we were treated to a very rare sighting of a Blue Whale. It is the largest mammal living, and to put it into perspective, you could park a VW beetle in it’s heart!!! We were treated to sighting of 3 other Sperm Whales and about a dozen Hector dolphins. The dolphins are rare and only found in NZ, so that was fun.

Following our whale-watching fun, we departed for our next destination of Hanmer Springs. It is an alpine resort area that reminded us of Sun Valley or the Leavenworth/Plain area (not as commercial). Hanmer Springs has natural sulphur springs, but they have also created large, natural-looking hot pools and a huge area for families. All the hot pools are heated to different temperatures and so we spent a very relaxing evening “soaking” up the local feature. We had such nice accommodations, that we extended a night and spent 2 days in Hanmer Springs. The weather was overcast, but it was just so relaxing, and we had 2 very unique meals at the local restaurants, it was a great visit. We returned to Christchurch in time to “surprise” mom with a booking for a hot-air balloon ride. We booked the ride for her birthday on the 20th, but after 6 failed attempts (weather problems) we had to call it quits. That was probably the only thing we didn’t do or see. We took a couple day trips in the Patty-wagon to Akaroa, Methven and Geraldine and we spend a wonderful day at the regional Waipara wine festival, good wine, food and GREAT music. Jon was an excellent driver, and was very tolerant of our wanting to stop and take pictures. We saw everything, and every night we would settle into our recliners and predictably, mom would fall asleep at 8:30 (Jon called it her Patty-melt).

All too soon it was over and we had to put mom back on the plane, what an adventure. We will be home in a few weeks, and are looking forward to seeing all of you. Bring on the spring weather, we are experiencing fall/spring weather now!!!!
Jon and Joyce

Uniquely Kiwi

We toured the Canterbury Museum the other day. It's our favourite museum in ChCh for several reasons. It's free (as most museums in NZ are), it is literally just 2 blocks from our home and they change the exhibits frequently, so there is always something new to see and learn.

Last year we toured the day after Sir Edmund Hillary died and in a small corner of the museum they had sir Ed's hat (ball cap with flaps over the ears and back) handmade by his sister-in-law. Lovingly stitched by hand and made of white and blue striped cotton. Imagine making that for the first man to summit Mt. Everest! Also on display were the climbing boots he wore. They were primitive by today's standards and massive, but they gave a us a good idea of the giant (literally and figuratively) this kind man was. Next to the display was a book to write a "memorial message" to Sir Edmund's family. Really very moving. We have many favourite exhibits, but our hands down favourite to date has to be the exhibit know as Fred & Myrtle's Paua Shell home. It seems that Fred had a hobby of polishing and displaying every Paua shell he laid his hands on. The couple lived in Bluff NZ (southernmost point of the South Island). The pictures don't do it justice, but I hope you can realize that dear Myrtle must have been a saint, because not only did she allow Fred to decorate there home, she dusted the little treasures and was even gracious enough to let strangers tramp through her home to see the magnificent collection! It is truly astounding and is one of the best examples of a decoration scheme "gone bad" we have ever seen! God bless 'em –they are gone now, but their Paua Shell palace lives on – just like a Picasso!

It seems that years ago, the Japanese introduced the first sandal to the Kiwi's. So, in true Kiwi fashion, they now refer to a sandal (our flip flop) as a Jandal. When inquiring about sandals, they will politely look at you and exclaim aaaahhhh! You're looking for a Jandal, mate!

Pavlova seems to be uniquely Kiwi also, however there is room for dispute here as it is rumoured that the Aussie's introduced it to the Kiwi's and then claimed it for their own. I don't know, but I love the stuff! The same rumor seems to go around about Kiwi fruit. Will have to check on the Urban legend. We love Tim Tams too, and pies (these are like chicken pot pies) they come in a million different combinations and are more popular than sandwiches! We love that nearly every coffee shop has scones and really good baked goods. Not the prepackaged stuff, and it's almost impossible to fine a plain cup of brewed coffee. BUT you can't find a bad latte anywhere!

We've noticed that some of our American slang has met up with the King's English and that many words are slang-i-fied (!) with a "y" or "ie". For instance, presents (birthday/Christmas) are prezzys, gift cards are prezzy cards, mossies are mosquitos, trolly=shopping cart, telly=telephone or TV, lollies=candy, surfies, boaties, mushy peas (I love 'em), mashies. Then add Danny, Robby, Bobby as names and cheeky, dodgy, and lippy, throw in a "I reckon" occasionally, and you can speak Kiwi!

We are loving it, and the people couldn't be nicer, they are just lovely and we love the differences.

Well, I reckon I should be off.


We are happy and healthy here. Anxiously awaiting Mom's visit this week.

Jon and Joyce

Football, Football, Football

As I write this we have just returned from our favourite restaurant/bar oddly named No.4 after 4.5 hrs of football. American NFL Football! You say football here and people begin to talk about soccer. European-style football. Right now, A-League European soccer is being played between the Wellington Phoenix and the Adelaide United. Go Wellington!
In early November we literally stumbled into No. 4 bar for a late Sunday brunch and noticing the T.V.’s with soccer playing, we inquired about watching our games. Well, needless to say we are now regular Monday afternoon visitors to No. 4 for Sunday Night Football! There is something really odd about lounging about on a Monday afternoon to watch football! The staff at No. 4 has been so accommodating. They have a wonderful old wood-panelled library room complete with leather loveseats, a fireplace and a large flat screen T.V. We have gotten to know the names and personalities of all the staff at No. 4, and they are learning a little about American Football.

Jon turned to me this afternoon and said he didn’t think he could watch football at home without sitting down and ordering up a “pint of black”! Somehow I think he’ll manage. The staff is baffled by our football and it’s rules – we are just as baffled by Cricket (incredibly difficult to understand) and Rugby. We are learning from each other. Cricket just doesn’t “stick” (no pun intended) with me, so I imagine by the time I step off the plane, I will have forgotten.

After our marathon session this afternoon, we are happy for a break in the action until Super Bowl. The library at No 4 has been reserved for Super Bowl………Monday.
Go Cardinals!
We are happy and healthy here.
Jon and Joyce

Happy New Year

Ok, it's been a while since I've written, but I've been busy. Can't tell you what, but I'm sure it was something important. The days just fly by!
J
Nothing says New Years like packing up the chilly bin with food and drink and heading to the beach! Well, Mother Nature had something else in mind for our New Year! We started the 3rd of January with intentions of hitting the surf and sand. We woke up to a slightly overcast sky and a little wind. Thinking it would blow over, we continued with our plans. As our packing progressed, so did the clouds. We decided to wait a while to see what would happen. Wow! Just like Seattle, we experienced all 4 seasons in one day! The clouds continued to build, and soon we thought we were hearing thunder. Then came the lightening and we had a good old-fashioned electrical storm! Then the torrential rains, then the wind picked up…….a lot! It was whipping the trees around violently, more thunder, more lightening, then hail!!!!!! The size of grapes, and people running quickly from the park. It continued for about an hour, the hail quit, but the rain was a gully washer and the Avon River started to rise. We unpacked the chilly bin and decided that it would not be a beach day. We just sat in our apt. and watched the weather. Then, the rain stopped, and the sun came out and we were sweltering! Happy New Year! The beach would have to wait.
Yesterday, we tried it again! Wow, what a difference. We chose the one day this year that Christchurch nearly tied the temperature record!!! Yesterday it was 36C/102F here. It hasn’t been that hot since March of 1998! Doesn’t sound so bad by Wenatchee standards, but we are in the land of high electrical prices ($0.24/kwh) and our apt has no heating or air conditioning and full Western exposure and single pane glass (Mr.V just shakes his head about weatherization). Needless to say, it was hot. The beach was lovely, very loud surf, we found grass and a shady palm to perch under and so as the day progressed, we did too, moving our blanket and packs into the shade. We both came away with wee (small) sunburns, but we did our best to keep covered with hats and sunscreens.
We are hoping that it has been a Happy New Year for all of you. We are enjoying the fact that we can walk around in shorts and sleeveless shirts. The "tourist" season is just kicking off, with people back to work after the 3 week holiday and the weather is settling down a bit too.
Must run. I promise not to take so long in between blogs!
We are happy and healthy here.
Jon and Joyce

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

Well, not really in the traditional sense of cold and snow. We are having very temperamental rain and wind today and for the next couple of days as a low front moves in. According to the TV weatherman, Jim, we are experiencing "a anti-cyclone" off the Tassie (that's Tasman Sea). All I know is that we are in the Public Library (yes, I have a flash new library card), it is raining and Jon is in the cookbook selection while I am at the computer blogging to all of you.

It is Christmas-like with the carols in the Cathedral and the few Christmas trees and some of the music we here in the department stores and on the public buses. Yes, we are riding the buses, and frankly, loving, well enjoying it. You meet alot of interesting people on the bus and so many of the drivers are as nice as can be, and our stress level at finding our way around the town is so much better than last year's experience. Jon actually can relax and gawk out the window while we travel. I'm off task here, but will tell you all about the public transportation later.

We just came from Farmer's (local dept. store) where we bought sport socks for each other for Christmas! We went all out this year. It seems that we are wearing out our walking socks, with our daily treks around the park and our walking back and forth to catch the bus!

Electricity is very expensive here (another Public service I will write about later) and so we are not seeing alot of Christmas trees with lights on them or yards with Christmas light displays. We attended a concert in the Christ Church Cathedral last week and that was glorious. The concert was by the senior choir and brass orchestra. They were excellent and to stand and sing Christmas carols with them in the Cathedral with the acoustics and the large pipe organ was very exciting. We certainly could have done with one of Rebekah's Christmas programs, but have heard that Jeremy did an excellent job at Grace this year.

The food is another part of the Christmas tradition here. We have found that the best fruit mince tarts are at the Copenhagen Bakery, the best shortbread is there too (Jan Herman's excluded) and that the best Christmas cake/pudding is at the Backstage Cafe. They have a Dutch baker there and he is very interesting and we have enjoyed talking with him about his recipes.
For Christmas dinner this year we are going to have a roast lamb (close your eyes Joycey K), minted new potatoes, fresh asparagus and of course pavlova for dessert with FRESH cherries, strawberries and kiwi fruit. It is so hard to get used to seeing new fresh produce in season for Christmas. We keep forgetting that we are in the middle or beginning of summer here.
I have been enjoying the fresh produce and our apt. has a community veg garden. I've harvested a couple meals of fresh NZ broadbeans (similiar to limas) and several meals of silver beet (swiss chard). I planted some basil and a tomato plant last week, we are nuturing strawberries, green or spring onions, lemons, rhubarb and various other herbs. It's really fun to go to the farmer's market, pick up fresh produce and then come home and pluck fresh herbs from the garden to supplement our "market find". Just like summer at home!
I'm going to attach (hopefully) a couple of pictures to this blog so you can get an idea of the "spirit" of Christchurch during the holiday season. The Cathedral tree is much prettier than my picture, and the trolley's have wreaths and tinsel trim on them!
Birthday greetings this month to aunties Nadya and Leigh, and friend Wayne. Congrats go to Aunt Debbie and Uncle Dennis on 2 new grandbabies (boy & girl)in less than 2 months!!!!

Our Christmas wishes and the heartfelt spirit of the season to all of you. Though we are far away, we wish for all of you the love and grace of our sweet and precious baby Jesus. Jesus really is the reason for this season of celebration.

We are happy and healthy and so very grateful to be here.
Christmas love to all,
Jon and Joyce