The good life

We've spent the past 3 days at a vineyard in Marlborough, a region on the East coast of New Zealand's South Island. It's an area known for its wines and sunshine. These past few days have been incredibly relaxing and enjoyable and I am most reluctant to leave. We stayed at the Straw Lodge, a bed and breakfast set in 20 acres of Pinot and Sauvignon grape vines. Our hosts, Nettie and Jane, live in the main building and have added 3 Spanish-style suites where they accommodate guests. They have been most gracious, giving us access to their living spaces and outdoor barbeque area.

We cooked a lovely salmon dinner on their grill, complete with fresh asparagus that we bought from a roadside stand. Yes, it is indeed asparagus season here! We didn't think about the fact that coming halfway around the world in winter would mean we got a second asparagus season. We've also eaten strawberries and cherries grown locally. Breakfast each morning is fantastic. We get fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, muffins, toast, espresso drinks made to order, and hot cooked breakfast of our choice. We leave each morning totally stuffed and have just had light picnics for lunch each day.

Our first full day here we drove to Picton for the aforementioned kayking trip. Our second day we toured local wineries. There are probably 20 within a couple miles, but we decided to take it easy and only toured 4. Unfortunate item umber 1: most of these wineries do not have distributers anywhere near Wisconsin. Unfortunate item number 2: Adam and I can only bring back 2 bottles each, duty free. We purchased 5 bottles so far (including 3 of Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough's sigature wine), so we'll have to drink at least 1 before we fly back. We weren't sure if we were expected to be wine experts when going to all these tasting rooms, but it turns out that all the hosts were extremely gracious and did not make us feel dumb for asking what were probably really basic questions. We also tasted some amazing olive oil (grapes and olives like the same kind of soil) and chocolate.

Dinner last night was a bit of a splurge. We went to a restaurant in a vineyard called Gibb's. Adam had some delicious lamb and I had John Dory, caught fresh from Nelson (an hour away). We had dinner with a lovely Australian couple who is also staying at our lodge and finished the night in the spa at the lodge. This morning we're heading back to Picton to catch the ferry to Wellington. I can't describe the incredible relaxing days we've had here and I know that we will come back here some day.

PS 1: Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Did you go around the table and say what you are thankful for? I'm thankful for sunshine, chocolate, God's amazing outdoors, and my wonderful husband.

PS 2: April- has Zoe arrived yet?!!