Spent yesterday skiing/snowboarding at the Remarkables! It was great. Queenstown has been gorgeous. We have been staying at Darrel's friends apartment right downtown. Very fancy! Heading down to Milford today and the weather is fabulous. It is the rainiest part of this rainy country, but I think we are in luck. The only minor setbacks have been that I came down with a fluey/cold thing and dad lost his credit card for 24 hours. On the mend now!!! We will be coming back through Queenstown after we check out Fiordland. Mom might even take the opportunity to sky dive!

Just a quick update... too tired to post photos... too much snow...

We went to Mt Hutt today, they got 90 cm of snow in 48 hours and couldn't open up until this morning, it was a mission to get to, but it was worth it. I even saw my new workmate in the parking lot that you stop at to put chains on your vehicle, we gave him a ride up the hill. Yes we have an All wheel drive vehicle, we had to put chains on, and we actually did really need them. The access road is a bit scary, I did the driving and by the time we got to the top I was all pumped up with adrenaline and ready to hit the slopes. The road has no guardrails and drops away on both sides at some points of the road. You just don't look down!

Tomorrow we head to Queenstown and then on to Milford Sound. Hopefully the weather is good for the trip.

Mom and dad have been here for over a week now, we have spent some time sightseeing around Christchurch, but I have also put them to work. Dad has been painting trim and Mom has been helping me make curtains, and of course I have not made it easy for her since all of my planning and measurements are in metric!!!! Regardless, the trim and the curtains look gorgeous!!!

Must get some sleep, long day driving and sightseeing tomorrow!! Will post pics when we get back!

-Josie

Well all week I have felt like I was on some home renovation reality show counting down to the big reveal when my Mom and Dad arrived in Christchurch from Vermont. The pressure was on because last weekend our spare bedroom was still being plastered and wasn't dry enough to be sanded smooth until tuesday! But we pulled through, like they always do on the show, and after a few late nights it was all painted and ready for guests, well almost. Rachel and Ted arrived at 8:30 AM on Friday, after leaving JFK 30 hours beforehand. - Josie

Dad and I at the cathedral in the heart of Christchurch

Paradise ducks near the Avon River

The Chalice in Cathedral Square

We had a great trip. The people at JFK thought we were crazy with our boots and skis but.... everything made it safe and sound. As we raced from the international terminal to the domestic terminal in Auckland, the only thing Ted could think of was the Amazing Race. But!!! we made it and arrived in Christchurch and Josie!!!! The house is great-- very comfortable. Josie and Darrel have done alot of work. Christchurch is a neat city. We have been here less then 3 days and Josie made sure that I visited a quilt shop. Today, Sunday, Josie, Darrel, Ted and I went skiing at Porters. It is the beginning of skiing here. So July is our January. It was a great day! - Rachel

Check out www.skiporters.co.nz

Tomorrow we plan on visiting my workplace, eating lunch at a culinary school/cafe and touring wineries and market gardens. Lots to plan, so much to do, but we are going to make time for a bit of curtain making and trim painting. We promise to keep you posted on all the happenings!!! -Josie

This post is for you Jodie!! Thanks for all the encouragement, thought you New Englanders out there would be missing all that snow you had last winter. This is as snowy as it gets around here. My friend lives on the hills to the south of the city and her road closes when it gets icy! She almost got stuck in the flats down here with us little people.

(Do you think we should fix up our letter box?)

This photo was taken for my mom, she celebrated a big birthday this year. I missed the celebration, but am looking forward to seeing her and my dad in less than two weeks!!!