Tuesday, February 14: So glad to be in NZ where Valentine's day is really no big deal. Of course you can buy roses for $250 a dozen, but there is more Easter candy in the shops than chocolate hearts! This was just a quiet day to read and relax. Wednesday, February 15: Max arrived home from his Colorado Ski trip this morning. We visited with him for a while and then set out to do a bit of shopping and visit the Feilding Arts Center. There is a special exhibit of pencil and wash drawings of Feilding buildings as they were in the 50s - 70s. It was nostalgic for us. The rest of the Center houses a display of local, high quality art and craft including woodworking, painting, pottery, jewelry, and fibre art as well as a work area for classes. The items on display are, in many cases, in the juried category. The woodwork was especially nice. Buzz said that if he didn't intend to make all of these things...someday...we could buy them! Back at home we had an afternoon of reading and I made a delicious smoked fish pie for dinner. Thursday, February 16: Sunshine!! It is so infrequent I feel the need to announce it. Got the laundry on the line, and we set out for a drived through the Pohongina Valley just north of Feilding. It is the territory Buzz covered when we was working here. Back in Feilding we stopped at a cafe for lunch and went to the local informaion center to get some brochures about area events. Back home, took in the laundry , had a nap. Life is good! Friday, February 17: Happy Birthday, Savyon! We went to the Feilding Farmer's Market in the morning and then spend a good part of the day with our friends Roger and Doris Berry. Roger was the second in command veterinarian when Buzz worked at the Feilding Vet Club. They are retired and enjoying life. Roger told us that the American Quarter Horse Competition was on at the local arena; so after lunch we went to watch for a while. It was interesting and would have been moreso if either of us knew something about judging horses and riders! In the evening we went to dinner with Lloyd and Evans. They had just moved into a new home when we were here last and have been busy landscaping. It is a monumental task, but the result is lovely. The dinner was delicious, and the conversation stimulating as always. I was able to get an excellent photo of the sunset, and the sky was a blanket of stars by the time we said goodnight. Saturday, February 18: We woke at 6:00 this morning to call Savyon for her birthday. It was hard to tell whether she was more excited about the birthday or the prospect of snow which is predicted for later today in Jerusalem. In the afternoon we took a ride to Woodville and Pahiatua, the latter being the town we first lived in when we arrived in NZ in 1971. It was a fun drive down memory lane, and we had our picnic in the park by the river. In the evening we went to Bulls to visit with our friend Jo Rangooni and attend a a free concert in the park. The first group to play was okay, but the second, a group of high school age jazz musicians, was excellent. We have a soft spot for high school musicians anyway, but these young men were really excellent. Sunday, February 19: Just a lazy day at home and a quiet dinner with friends......we are so fortunate to have the luxury of unhurried travel. The coming week will be busier.