May Reflections: New Beginnings and Cherished Moments

May 28, 20243 min read

May has been a month filled with new ventures, beautiful escapes, and precious family time. As the days get shorter and cooler, there has been a sense of renewal and excitement in the air. Here's a glimpse into what we've been up to at our little bed and breakfast A Deer Cottage, situated overlooking the Kaipara Harbour in Kaukapakapa, in Auckland and beyond.

If you wish to find out more about A Deer Cottage, or to book your stay click here

Welcoming Nadia, Our New Massage Therapist

One of the highlights this month was meeting Nadia, our new massage therapist. She will be joining us at A Deer Cottage to offer her expert Swedish massage and other services to our guests. We're thrilled to have her on board, as we believe this addition will provide an extra layer of relaxation and wellness for those who visit us. Please note that these sessions come at an additional cost and are booked directly with Nadia. However, the benefits of a soothing massage in our tranquil shiatsu room are well worth it. If you'd like to watch my YouTube interview with Nadia, it will be available on June 8th at 8:30 PM NZ time.

A Blissful Retreat to Bland Bay

Te Kani and I took a delightful trip up to Bland Bay, where we stayed at our cozy bach. It was a perfect escape, filled with long walks along the beach, soaking in the serene coastal view, Macy our catahoula always loves her beach adventures as well. My sister and brother-in-law joined us, making the trip even more special. We spent our evenings playing board games and card games, sharing laughter and stories that we'll cherish forever, just a perfect little long weekend escape!

Growing Our Pottage Garden

Back at A Deer Cottage, we've been busy enhancing our pottage garden. This month, we built new planter boxes to expand our space for growing organic vegetables. Gardening has always been a passion of mine, I find there's something incredibly rewarding about cultivating your own food, and I certainly can't wait to see our garden flourish in the coming months.

Crafting Knitted Mice

In addition to our gardening efforts, I always find time to indulge in some crafting. I made some adorable knitted mice, which turned out quite cute! Melrose & Melvin are going to be heading over to Australia shortly in Te Kani's and my luggage. And their offspring Mallory and Maxwell, have been adopted by Caitlin and Cameron, I hope they have a "squeaky great life". What a fun way for me to unwind after a busy day in the garden. Check out Melrose, Melvin, Mallory & Maxwell as they had a trip up to Bland Bay, played games on the ironing board, and then caused havoc as I tried to type this blog...cheeky little mice......

Anticipating Our Trip to Australia

As May comes to a close, we're eagerly looking forward to June, when we'll be jetting off to Australia. The highlight of our upcoming trip is meeting our newest grandchild, Bodhi Sage, who was born just over three weeks ago. The excitement of holding our little one for the first time and spending time with family is truly heartwarming.

Weekly Vlogs: Stay Tuned

For those who enjoy following our journey, don't forget to check out our weekly vlogs. We've been documenting our activities, from garden updates to our travels, and sharing them with our followers. It's a wonderful way to stay connected and share our experiences with you all.

May has been a month of new beginnings and treasured moments. We hope your month has been just as fulfilling, and we look forward to sharing more adventures with you in June.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Until next time, stay well and enjoy the simple pleasures life brings.