The One Ring was forged in the fires of... Nelson?

Bet you didn't know that, did you?... And you thought it was Mt. Doom...


The sign in the lower right picture reads:

"In J.R.R. Tolkien's story of Middle-Earth, many seek to claim ownership of the all-powerful One Ring.  In real life, you are standing on the doorstep of the One Ring's true home- Jens Hansen Gold & Silversmith are the original designers and creators of the One Ring for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.

Famed for decades of ring-making craftsmanship, in 1999 Jens Hansen was approached by the film's Art Direction team to design the Ring.  Jens made 15 prototypes, crafted in a variety of weights and finishes but each boasting the same elegant simplicity.  From this extensive collection the final design of the One Ring was selected.

There can only ever be One Ring, but to fit the many ring-bearers and the different scenes in the film, over 40 rings were actually required.  These ranged from small solid gold versions that perfectly fit Hobbits' fingers, to the large ring seen spinning through the air in the prologue of the first movie.  With a massive eight inch diameter it was somewhat impractical to make this ring in solid gold, so it was crafted in lathe-cut steel and then gold plated..."

Pictured above: the original prototype of the One Ring on the left; on the right is a replica of the larger "One Ring" worn by Sauron and retrieved by Isildur in the prologue of the first movie

Below is a replica of the HUGE ring used mainly for the spinning and reflection scenes.  So heavy!

My precious...

Picture of the Day: Pastries!

OmNomNom!

Exploring Nelson - Part 3

One of the things I love about Nelson, and about New Zealand as a whole, is how laid back the atmosphere is. I just get the sense that a lot of times, in the States, you really have to “get away” in order to find time and space to just relax and meditate without the busyness and distractions, whether that be a weekend retreat or a trip out in nature. But here, all that is so easily accessible; just a hop, skip, and a jump away.

Which brings me to my 6^thand final reason (for now) of why we love Nelson:

The parks/gardens!

Even though New Zealand is known for its scenic beauty, this fact is not lost within its cities. Most of the parks and gardens we have seen have been more than just grassy areas with a few trees thrown in- they were works of art (which is very fitting for Nelson). The ones we saw in this city had a way of transporting you to a different time and place, and they often had a story or a history behind them.

Take Queen's Gardens for example.

Located right next to the Suter Art Gallery, Queen's Gardens was the first public garden in Nelson. It was opened in the late 1800's to celebrate the 50^th Jubilee of Queen Victoria's coronation.

Since it was right in the city centre, Andy and I initially drove by it multiple times without giving it much thought, as the most we could see from the street was a wall of trees behind a wooden gate. But the minute we stepped foot in this peaceful garden, we were instantly transported to 19^th century England. Who knew? Once you are inside this intimate Victorian style park, you forget that you are even in New Zealand.

We had a similar experience when we visited the Miyazu Gardens. Surrounded by tall bushes and shrubbery, we couldn't see what was within until we got out and walked through the rocky pathway, and were met with this:

All of a sudden, we were transported to Miyazu, Japan, Nelson's sister city.

The Nelson City Council website describes it this way: “As soon as you walk through the gate made from old timber recycled from the port, the street noise is screened out with an immediate feeling of enclosure. Still reflective ponds, trickling bamboo spouts and melodic cascades enhance the sense of serenity.” I couldn't have said it better myself.

Can you imagine a more tranquil setting for peace and contemplation?

Though planning for this garden began in 1900, it was not officially opened until 1995 in celebration of the strong friendship between Nelson and Miyazu. These two cities share many of the same characteristics such as their coastal environment and their fishing, horticulture, and tourism industries. Within the garden, plant species from both countries were included to symbolize the harmony between the two cultures.

Another park that we wanted to visit was Founders Heritage Park, which included historic buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s that had been restored.  Like the gardens mentioned above, it was meant to transport you to a different era, in this case, life in early Nelson.  Unfortunately, though this one was fairly inexpensive, it was not free, so Andy and I decided to wait until we found jobs first.

Speaking of the job hunt, we are still spending much of our time in the library and working hard to secure employment.  Though there was a lag in our efforts as we both (especially Andy) caught a bug last week, we hope to recover soon and hit the ground running.  Please keep praying. :)

Picture of The Day: Granodiorite

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...

Exploring Nelson - Part 2

Continuing on from the last post, here are a couple more reasons why we love Nelson:

4.) The beach

Tahunanui Beach is conveniently located just minutes away from the city centre:

And if you get bored soaking up the sun and watching the waves, nearby you can find a library (with free wi-fi), a zoo, a skate park, a mini golf course, and a hydroslide (among other things).   Tons to do!

5.) The walks

There are a number of great walks/hikes around Nelson. A couple of days ago, Andy and I decided to hike up to the Centre of New Zealand lookout point. The trail started at the Botanical Reserve, which was the site of New Zealand's first rugby game played in 1870:

From there, it meandered up a hill, boasting great scenery at every turn:

Before long, the trail intensified to a steep climb and just when we thought we couldn't take it anymore (yes, we're out of shape), we were rewarded with this amazing view of the city:

The hike there and back took no more than an hour or two, but with all the trails we passed that branched off of this one, it could easily have become a day hike.  Perhaps we will make an attempt in the future.  We shall see...

Check back for the conclusion of our three-part Nelson series!

Exploring Nelson - Part 1

When we first thought to move to New Zealand for a year, one of the big questions that arose was “where would we settle?” You really can't go wrong in this country, but for us, a few factors came in to play. We didn't want to settle in a big city, so that took Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch off our list. But to be honest, the biggest factor that drove us to Nelson was this: it was the sunniest region in the country. Can you blame us? We come from Seattle.

Now that we've been in Nelson for a little over two weeks, there are a myriad of other reasons why we love this city. Here are just a few:

1.) The coastal scenery is beautiful- especially at low tide. Here is what we see every week driving to the grocery store:

2.) The city center has much to see and do. We got a chance to browse the downtown area briefly and to visit the outdoor market held every Saturday and Sunday.

3.) It is known for its vibrant local arts and crafts scene. From glassblowers and wood carvers to hand weavers and potters, Nelson is a community full of creative people. Hundreds of artists and craftspeople work (and showcase their works) in studios in and around town. Nelson even holds an annual Art Festival and is home to the “World of Wearable Art” museum. Ever since I was a kid, I have always been the creative type. I loved to draw and have always preferred making presents over buying them. Being in an environment where that is encouraged has really inspired me to pursue that creative side of me again.

So last week, Andy and I visited the Suter Art Gallery, which features a variety of artwork created by local artists (and has free admission on Saturdays!). Here are just some of the works we found there:

There is much more to say about Nelson, but I will leave that for part 2. But just to give you an update on what we've been doing for the past couple of weeks (other than exploring our new city), Andy and I have been staying at a very inexpensive campsite just a few minutes away from the city center and have been spending a lot of time at the local library where the job hunt is well underway. We found a small church at the heart of downtown that we feel is Spirit-led, and plan to look for an apartment as well once we get jobs secured. Though we are fond of this region, we are still very flexible and open to the possibility of moving, so please continue to keep us in your prayers as we seek God's guidance and direction.

Food for Thought - Part 3

To round out my thoughts on food and my relationship to it I have gone back to the basics, as one might say. In the museums we have been to, there were exhibits showcasing the Maori ancestors' hunting and gathering culture. Collecting mussels. Hunting giant ostrich-like birds. The skill with which they were able to dress and shape stone tools were all on display and although I have read about hunter-gatherers it is always impressive to see their skill.

Food for Thought - Part 2

Food for Thought - Part 1

For a little while now, I have wanted to share my thoughts on the food here in New Zealand compared to the food back home in the States. After arriving in Auckland, one of the first things we noticed was the high price of food. Case in point: beer. A 12 pack of Corona is $22 ~ $24 NZD. Milk is also quite expensive working out to about $6 NZD a gallon. After adjusting for the USD exchange rate (.81 USD per NZD) some items cost less, but on the whole, prices are much higher here than in the States. Obviously, importing beer from across the Pacific is going to raise the price. A lower supply of cattle and farmland will increase food prices as well.