June 23, 2017 – Takaka



I love these mornings were I wake up early enough to stretch and type before Marilyn wakes up for breakfast!  I go to check the clothes in the dryer and find them still damp.  Marie is just outside and comes to show me the magic buttons. Then we make our appearance for breakfast.  Serge cooked yesterday;  but he’s off trimming trees before they leave for Europe on Monday, so Marie does the honors.

This morning we’re going to bite the bullet and bring in all our purchases for inventory.  Marie thinks we must have bought presents for all of America!  We have spread out all our stuff across her ten-seater table and are making a list before we try to stuff everything in our suitcases.  It’s quite a lengthy process but eventually we’re successful!  We’re pretty sure we’ll be able to get everything home and know what we’re missing.  And our laundry is now dry and folded and stashed as well.

Charlotte feels like a very expensive plush toy!  And she loves people!
That means we have time to go into town!  Marie assures us there are some really cute little shops and we’re ready to explore.  It’s only a drive of about five minutes and we park right on the main street, appropriately name Commercial Street.  As we get out of the car there is a horn honking at us!  It’s Serge and Marie!  They’re shopping for presents for their trip!

We decide to walk down one side and back up the other and first off choose a place for lunch.  I’m interested in The Dangerous Kitchen, but it turns out to be a pizza place and not what we’re looking for.  We settle on The Wholemeal Café and order a fish we’ve never heard of, gunard. It comes atop a potato dish like hash browns called potato kumara rosti and is covered with seasonal salad  and salsa verde.  What an unusual and enticing flavor.  The fish is mild and is balanced well by the crunchy potatoes.

Lots of fun public art!





He's a European starling

It appears that the café has live entertainment sometimes.  There are big speakers, a baby grand upstairs, spotlights and mikes.  That’s probably a summer thing.

After lunch Marilyn treats us to raspberry muffins served with a tart yoghurt that sets off the sweet berries beautifully.

With our tummies full we’re ready to shop!  In and out of half a dozen shops and we find nearly everything that we think we need!  Excellent!

Back home we take some photos of the property and then get ready to experience the official Finnish sauna with the wood-burning stove!  Once we’re settled in, Serge comes in and pours water over the hot stones, releasing the aroma of eucalyptus – and lots of steam!  We last the full fifteen minutes and are ready for the hot tub.  Marilyn is a good sport and even takes the cold shower in between!




Louise is the queen of the household!
The hot tub is the perfect end to the day!  When we’re cooked we come in, get dry, put on our jammies and get a little dinner.  Tonight’s culinary delight is another round of guess-the-tuna!  Marilyn has no interest in the coconut one, so that’s mine.  We also have some crackers and the two Whitestone cheeses we found at the grocery store yesterday! Quite a feast!  We’re ready for bed;  but it’s too early, so we retire to play with our pictures and watch another round of Master Chef.  It’s quite the national addiction here and I am beginning to understand!

This has been such a wonderful place to stay!  It will be hard to leave in the morning and head to Nelson.

Comments

  1. CourtenayJune 30, 2017 at 6:48 AM

    I'm so glad you always have a cat in the pictures you take. They always look so charming, and happy to see you. I love the pan with the traders of the lost art. Good times!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mama dragonJune 30, 2017 at 7:05 AM

      I love it when I can get my kitty fix! I tend to go into withdrawal!
      Kiwis are really fun, funny people!!

      Delete

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