REPORT FROM NEW ZEALAND

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Clearing the track and building our home may take years. Meanwhile, how thankful we are to live in this old shelter, with its atmosphere of early days and the example of pioneer achievements to encourage us! The creek gives us clear water, which I carry in buckets to the house. Washing is a pleasure, standing in the stream as the natives do. We cook outside on open fires when the weather is fine, and bread baked in the camp oven is just as good as what we used to make in the old coal range.

Jos enjoys this sort of life. Her weaving is going well, too (at present she's working on a decorative six-by-eight-foot wall hanging). She's inspired by our great variety of spun wool in many shades—from white to almost black—and finds ideas in the impressive rocks with their patterns of cracks. Our area is rich in lichen growth because of the very wet climate, and many species provide dyes in the deep and bright colors we like: blues, purples, greens, browns and all sorts of yellows. Living in these unspoiled surroundings, being part of them, it's hard not to get the feel of the materials you work with and the themes you want to express.

The children keep up with their lessons by correspondence, and much time is taken up in instructing them. We also teach them to play musical instruments: David the violin, Jaella the autoharp and Reuben the ukulele. Jos also plays the ukulele and I the sitar, and we make joy together on the many rainy days.

And how it rains here! When it comes down it seems as if you can feel the weight of it on the roof. Now and then, though, the sun breaks through and gives us the marvelous sight of diamonds hanging from the steaming leaves. We never lose hope of seeing her again. She'll keep smiling behind the heavy curtain, and so will we.

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