Always an honourable mention in each edition of the Palmy Dirty 30 is #31 Be a tidy kiwi.
We try and maintain the philosophy of "leave it better than you found it". Did you know that the PNCC has a reporting app that can be used for reporting community issues? In particular:
More info here
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The evening was so beautiful so it was only right to ditch the work clothes, chuck on shorts and a helmet and get out for a bike ride.
Mr 1 was stoked. He loves going on bike rides. We hit the river pathway and headed down to the bike trails near the Albert St entrance. I timidly rode the pump track and got cheered on by my little boy. Some cool teens arrived so I decided to fade into the background rather than show off my sweet moves... We ventured deeper into the woods and stopped for a mini picnic. Toddler practiced running and jumping as well as saying "hi" to those that passed our little spot. We rode up to the Esplanade and back past the lagoon. We saw our friends, the Duck Army. Lots of cyclists, runners and walkers enjoying the heady summer evening. How lucky are we to have such a great river pathway to explore?? Go on a night walk.
It wasn’t truly dark but it was almost bedtime. The little one asked to go from a walk. I was feeling the same so we headed out. Down at the park, we found some friends. We had a swing. Then we went to our friends' and ate iceblocks and birthday cake. We observed their pet rabbits. Then we went home to bed. Neighbourhood adventures are fun. Neighbourhood friends are special. Today we participated in some organised nature time!
Me and my little guy headed out for a spot of Kanga with the lovely Ally from Kangatraining Palmerston North. We started at He Ara Kotahi and briskly walked the bridge loop with our little ones in carriers and/or pushchairs. On the way we stopped to do some body weight exercises for legs and arms, and work on our balance and flexibility. Oh and pelvic floor work (very important Mamas!). Some lovely yarns with some lovely Mamas. Next we headed to the Esplanade for a splash in the paddling pool. Always a good time. Today we brought a picnic lunch but the barbeques were in constant use by other families and the cafe seemed to be doing a roaring trade. The Esplanade is a great place to start and then simply see where your children lead you. Today we stuck to the pool but the train was running, the pond full of ducks (do not feed them bread!!), Wildbase always has exciting wildlife to learn about and observe, the bush walks are lovely, the orienteering course is permanent and the playground provides many adventures. Today we took a circuitous adventure. It started as a backyard sit while I destoned apricots and my little one tasted them and went on mini adventures with his penguin and a car. Then little one asked for a walk. No reason not to. My big one was immediately displeased to be removed from the couch so every few steps we would implore me "let's stop and sit down or go home". "Just a little bit further" I coaxed. Bearing in mind, we were only five minutes and about 200 metres from home at this point! We ventured slowly down to the river pathway and eventually made it home 4 hours later with both children full of joy, enthusiasm and a little bit of remaining energy. Here in Palmy, our river, Te Awa o Manawatu, provides a varied adventure. Today we headed down to a river bank clearing between Ruahine and Rumahanga. While my big one stripped off and read her book, my little one threw stones into the gently moving water. A little further down the river we heard a splash. We looked over to see bubbles wandering over the surface of the water. Then a splish-splash again. We ventured down to have a look. We spotted four fish - fish colour with some white tinges! We waded into the water a little for a closer look. We watched for a bit (mostly me as my little couldn't see them and big one wandered back to her book). My little guy decided he wasn't quite sure about the water continually moving over his feet so he happily accepted a pick up. Soon he was ready for more rock plopping. We moved back upstream and left our fishy mates to it. Our little one threw more stones and encouraged us to join him. We looked flat stones and tried to skim. We will keep practicing before we can tick this one off the list...
Snacks snacked, drinks drunk and many stones sploshed, we headed back up to the pathway. We took a long route home along busy Napier Road and via Pita Pit for an unexpected lunch out and the supermarket for dinner supplies. The quietness of the river pathway is so pleasant and the busyness of the road so noticeable. Still, I was in pleasant company. We stopped by two playgrounds on the way home for a "wee" aka swing. We would have stayed much longer but our little guy needed more food and I was keen for some shade and more water! Today we picked apricots and plums, practiced ladder climbing, tidied the yard, drove cars in the dirt, and became very interested in a new, old TEA20 Fergusson tractor. My parents back garden is the perfect place for an afternoon of adventures.
Today I finally got around to making jam and chucking some berries into the dehydrator from a recent berry picking adventure. We gardened and sat around watching the clouds, the sleeping babe, bird watched (we have a few resident pals), listened to their birdsong and our favourite music and just enjoyed time together. But first, as sometimes happens on Saturday, we had the urge to rush to Bunnings for supplies for backyard maintenance adventures. Today it was plants (it usually is). We arrived home having eaten our obligatory sausage in bread with all the trimmings and set up camp under the shade of our big tree. Mr Wonderful, who had got a bunch of jobs done done in the morning while I faffed with the jam, set up shop in the hammock. We put down some rugs and chairs in the shade and watched our wee guy explore. He spent his time plane spotting, whacking the ground with sticks and throwing balls. Once he was ready, we lay down together and he fell asleep under the shade of our big old backyard tree. After a bit more lying around, I was ready to get the plants in the ground. Mr Wonderful supervised from the hammock.
It started with the pops of colour on the Clubhouse wall and a large pizza thyme on the table. Then I got down to business on the teeny, tiny vege bed that I am trying to keep. I weeded and pulled some spinach and rocket that had gone to seed and replanted some cauliflower (my garden diary told me to), basil and chives. Then removed a big fluffy grass and then decided my garden bed needed some edging. I found some stones (we have many around the place!) and made rock piles (does this count as rock sculpture!). Our little guy woke and we did some watering and he carried on with more water play. We admired our great looking yard and ate a cheese platter. By the time we came in it was after six and we were feeling wonderfully relaxed and sufficiently dirty. A good day, a good adventure. |
AuthorI'm Kate. I have 3 children - 2 bios and a steppie, 1 under 5 and 2 tweenagers. I am determined to spend more time outside this year and share more of Palmy's wonderful places and free play activities. Categories
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