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July 22, 2015 I'm going to start today to record on a daily basis whatever happens to strike my fancy. So, it is a very cool breezy day. I just posted 5 short book reviews to The Monthly Reading Challenge. I'm suppose to put away some winter wood today from the woodpile outside but I'm playing hookey from work to write so starting this blog will get done. I'm having a daily fight with a flock of English Sparrows that are trying to take over my barn. They are making a terrible mess so they have to go. I have destroyed several nests so far they don't leave but they get out of the barn when I am around. I'm just starting the fight so I guess I don't know how far I have to go to discourage them. I'm trying not to spread myself to thin on WDC because I find so many things that are interesting here and I am trying to work on a new story. I really enjoy sitting at my desk with a cup of tea and reading blogs on WDC. |
Short Story:  Migrating to New Zealand by Judith D (Apondia) As I walked to the barn, the wind at about 25 miles per hour was picking up snow, blowing it 20 feet into the air and pushing it along the ground 4 or 5 hundred feet, like a huge cloud, then dropping it as the gust lost it’s power. Birds were huddling in at the base of limbs up against the main trunk of trees all fluffed out to keep warm. In the barn rabbits had built nests in the hay which was piled against the ponies stall walls, to keep out drafts. Perfect circular holes going into one end of a pile of hay and out the other. An old possum had wandered in leaving drag marks on the sandy floor with it’s tail. It was sheltering in the niche under the hay room. And birds were perching in the rafters of the walk trot after squeezing into the barn, under the cracks where the roof meets the edge of the outer walls. I called my son and left a message about feed and care for the resident creatures. So, I migrated. in a plane. I rode the 8,814 miles on an 18 hour trip. That really isn’t too bad. I read somewhere that it takes 25 hours to New Zealand from some parts of Europe. I rented a 2 bedroom ground floor flat with a patio. It was clean and neat until I dumped my luggage in the middle of the living area. It was a small village. A lot of the buildings looked similar to the place I was staying. The architecture wasn’t much. Rectangular two story buildings, housing migrating people instead of birds. The rental faced the ocean, with mowed lawns and a path leading out across the property toward the sea. Two long docks stretched out into the water but, they were both empty. No people, no boats to be seen. A dark sandy path stretched along the water’s edge. After a quick change into some appropriate hiking clothing I decided to see where the path along the water’s edge would take me. “Hi.” I turned to my left and saw a tall, lanky blonde woman standing there. “Hi, to you too.” “Where you going?” “I just arrived, I was thinking I might just see where that path over there goes.” “Can I walk along?” Unsure exactly where this would lead I hesitated. “Umm.” “My husband and I arrived yesterday. He has business and won’t be back for a the rest of the day. I just thought when I saw you moving your luggage in we might get to know each other. We’re in the flat above you. My name’s Mandy.” “Do you hike Mandy? I’m Java.” I offered my hand. The one not holding the birding binoculars.” “I like to go on long walks. Is that the same as hiking?” “Today it will be pretty close to the same, cause I’m going to just explore the path, see where it goes, and take it slow.” “Can I go with you.” Well it’s unusual for me to make a new acquaintance so quickly in a new place but, it would not hurt to be cordial to the people who live above me, so I answered, “Sure.” And we started off across the lawn to connect with the path. Mandy had long blonde hair tied back with a colorful bandana. If we met any rough going I would have to stay slow. She wore tan slacks a solid shoe and a long sleeve silk blouse. An outfit to suit an easy walk down a well worn path. And, yep That’s an umbrella under her arm. At first we walked in silence along the water’s edge. The water was clear and blue. Mild ripples were washing toward the shore. The weather was 80 degrees but kind of balmy and did not seem to bother either of us as we walked along. Soon the dark clear cut trail left the mowed area and entered an area that was over bearing with jungle foliage. The flowers, plants and trees rushed up on the path as if to over run the brown loamy walk way. Still, there was lots of the room on the trail and we could maintain a side by side walk. The water was on our right. But, now it was swampy with dark mounds of foliage sunk into the marshy waters edge. The marshy waters reached into the sea, about 25 feet. It made a good nesting area for local water birds. I kind of lost track of time as I halted to examine many of the plants along the edge of the trail. “look at those trees.” Mandy was pointing at a group of trees growing along the right side of the path. “I saw a lot of those in different places when we were driving in from the airport yesterday.”Mandy was pointing at the ti KouKa (cabbage tree). Standing on the ground and shading my eyes with my hand the 20 meter tall tree had long, narrow, spiked leaves at the top which were growing in clumps. “European settlers call them cabbage trees.” I know they like the swampy coastline, actually they grow everywhere in New Zealand. To me they are an herbal specimen because you can make beer from the roots. Parts of the tree can be used as food and medicine. “ As we walked along we noticed many different types of ferns. “I’ve seen pictures and art depicting the coiled spiral leaves of this fern.” Mandy was quick with and explanation. “The Maori use the coiled shape in art. The shape is called ‘Koru.’ It is the way the young fern leaves are shaped before they open. “Hmm. I read that one of these native ferns called ‘ra rahu’ has a root that can be dried and eaten.” “The Ponga has a silver underside, the plant is used as a national symbol.” “Mistletoe grows here as well. It has white, red, scarlet, and yellow varieties.” We moved along the trail sharing knowledge about the foliage and other New Zealand oddities. Suddenly, the jungle let loose to another piece of well mowed lawn and a small trading store. “Hey, I wonder if they carry tea?” “What a good idea. Let’s look.” I purchased a couple packets of green tea in different flavors. “I’m startled to find this convenience so close to where I’m staying.” “me too. I think I’ve gone far enough though let’s go back.” An older gentleman standing by the door turned to introduce himself. I’m Tobias, where are you from. “We just walked down the path from part of the village about two miles back.” “I have a small boat. I am heading back down the edge of the water to a dock. Would you like to ride along?” Mandy and I looked at each other and smiled. “Yes, absolutely.” Another dock stretched into the sea at the edge of the mowed lawn area around the store. A canopied cruising boat that looked like it was used to haul tourists around was tied up to the dock. We were back by our own docks and yard in no time. “would you like to come in and try my new tea Mandy? You too Tobias? Of course it is a great pleasure to have a cup of tea in the afternoon. So, even before I had unpacked I put on a kettle found some teacups and we three sat around discussing flora and fauna. Mandy and I learned that Tobias has a family and lives here permanently. He was also able to share lots of new ideas about the plants we found. For instance there are 200 species of ferns on the Islands but, 40 percent of them are only found in New Zealand. Because, New Zealand is an isolated paradise 80 percent of the plants here are only found in New Zealand. After Tobias left with a promise to have us over for a barbecue, Mandy and I agreed, that it was a successful afternoon and we would be doing some more hiking another day learning more about New Zealand's special plants and animals. |
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