My last blog had only been up a few hours when I received the sad news that my lovely Mum-in-law had passed away. I'm very grateful that I had been able to spend time with her earlier in the month and am comforted by so many treasured memories. The Rakiura Weather Gods put on a stunning display of rainbows that day, stretching across the village with deep, intense colours sparkling in the sunshine and reminding me that I was not alone. Ten days later, the New Plymouth Weather Gods did their part too with the funeral being held on a beautiful sunny day with Mt Taranaki standing clear and proud with his new coat of snow. It was harder leaving family and friends this time and I very much appreciate their support and love whilst I was there.
My Mum-in-law loved hearing about the rats I caught and which birds had been singing the loudest. Today I spent an hour in the ngahere, just looking and listening - great for the soul and quite a revelation to see the tiny things that aren't apparent when walking quickly. Firstly, there's the berries...
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| Miro berries and leaves on the forest floor |
and this wee seedling that is growing on a large tree stump - I've christened it 'Optimism'...
Kingdom Fungi pop up in all sorts of places - can you see the white ones on this trunk?
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| Here it is up close |
More fungi in the next blog! I'll finish off with two of the rats that were caught on Thursday - the bigger one is a Norway rat
(Rattus norvegicus), the smaller a Ship rat
(Rattus rattus) and the gumboot is a women's size 5! It's a shame I had already thrown away the small Polynesian rat or kiore
(Rattus exulans) as it would have been great to photograph all 3 together.
