Earth Butterflys Blog

Practical Prepping... Saving Seeds, Preparing for next Season.

2012-02-19T20:24:00.000-08:00

“The consequences of today are determined by the actions of the past.

To change your future, alter your decisions today.”

~ Anonymous

Tansy

Some Practical Prepping
Given we are almost over Summer, the Garden needs some long-term prep for Winter and the new growing season at the end of it. Everywhere is getting some compost & horse manure, the shrubs and trees are getting a light trim, and Im ripping out things that are long gone and dead.

There are a few of my plants in the garden that have been seeding their little hearts out. Ive kept them aside instead of ripping them out by the roots, and theyre now setting seed. This year Ive collected quite a number of varieties, which helps hugely to keep the costs down for gardening next season.
Sunflowers are starting to die down, the seeds are still hard, but will come out in the next week or so. Three large heads are going to collect around 300 seed if all goes well :)

Sunflower seeding

Seeds of Mizuna, Mibuna, Rocket, Mustard greens etc, all from a Mesculun mix, are all set and collected easily once the heads are dry. They seed in their 1000s which is awesome if you like to resow your own mesculun. Yum! We collect the seeds and I store them in handmade paper envelopes with the name, date and amount if known, on the front. Cool and dry storage, in something like a shoe box works for us. Some people freeze seed, but at this stage, I have very limited freezer space.

Front Garden in Full Colour

Pyrethrum Flowers repel Flies

Happy Blue Borage flowers attract Bees

Anise Hyssop edge the drive with Balm of Gilead (pink)

Tansy, Pyrethrum, Figwort, Balm of Gilead and Anise Hyssop are all giving of their seed at the moment. Pyrethrum is valuable for so many things, especially alleviating flies and other pests, a spray can be made from its leaves. Tansy is a great companion plant for Raspberry, and Anise Hyssop attracts bees.
Balm of Gilead is an unusual herb, very pleasant scent, and smells lovely when brushed against. These herbs once planted are a little like Borage, they are hardy and often spread easily (meaning root cuttings by divison are easy), they are often difficult to get rid of once theyre established, but theyre well worth it for their medicinal and herbal properties. Borage is such an attractive bee plant...
Then we have other attractants like Poppy or Hollyhock, Marigold and Calendula that seed like crazy. Have one poppy one year, the next year you have 1000s!

Hollyhock - Bumblebee haven, seeds easily

Tomato - If you have 1 tomato, you have seeds for many!

Not so easy to get seed from - Carrots

Easy Seeds - Giant Lemon Marigold

Fenugreek - Great for many medicinal uses

So thats what we are up to at the moment.
On the Emergency Kit prepping, we have just added some more bits and pieces - some solar powered garden lights, some rope, tarps, an emergency wind up radio, and torches. It doesnt have to be much at a time, just a little bit each time you see something you can afford. The rule with groceries here, is when you buy something, ie 4 rolls of toiletpaper, 1 goes into the kit. If I buy Shampoo or Cat Food, I decant a small amount off the top so I can keep it aside, JUST IN CASE :-) Collecting up small bottles and containers all the time... So there we go.

Off to check the Tomato bushes like a big over-bearing blackbird, in the chance that with this sun today, some of them have the will to colour up and need picking!

Will catch you up later,
Take care and Enjoy Life

E BUTTERFLY
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Supersized Sunday - Fishin' for the Family - Goodbyes & Mondays always get me...

2012-02-19T01:25:00.000-08:00

SUPERSIZED SUNDAY

The Lady Avon

Avon River -
Gloucester/Gayhurst Bridge, Dallington

This was an awesome Sunday, better than most!
We ate a hearty breakfast ( see the review in my last post!), cleaned and tidied.
Big Bro arrived, and the kids were set.
It became apparent, it has been a while since we were all together under the same roof.
We are so good as a family, I love it when it all works, and the kids are all home together, happy. It is so rare these days. The older teens have lives of their own... and I miss them, but not half as much as the younger two children do...
So there we all were, having some fun, the light banter and teasing, the cheekiness, the laughter. Oh the humour. Well... that of it which I can understand and relate to... some of it horrifies me, other parts make me laugh til I have tears. Happy Tears! I actually enjoy them, and I like the young men theyre becoming, for the most part.

FISHIN' FOR THE FAMILY
One thing as Ive said before is, we enjoy fishing.
It makes it so much better when we are all together, but really we all just go to support the one of us who really knows what he is doing. The others of us are enthusiastic, but Gord (nearly 16) is a Pro. He knows Fishing inside out. He lives huntin'- fishin'- guns and tackle etc.
We smile at his knowledge and his patience with us less proficient fisher people. His instincts are right on track, and he knows his stuff. He ties all the knots, knows which fish is what, and how to get them into the bucket...

So its fair to say, we dont mind cos he caught the most today and the rest of us just enjoyed being there, in the fresh air, cool though it was. Blaise, Dee and I all caught three apiece... yee-haa!

Yellow-eyed Mullet/Herring

What topped the day off nicely (apparently) was Gord catching an eel. A long-finned eel that Duncan stripped, gutted and cooked. All of them love eel once it is baked with salt, oil and lemon juice...

I guess I shouldnt brag, but Im so proud. My boys are all learning GOOD SKILLS that will tide them over, should TEOTWAWKI come. (The End Of The World As We Know It - Native American believe this will be The Event, or Change to come)

Eel prep

Goodbyes after dinner is never fun. The wee girl sobs, the big guy gets sober and sad, and really it isnt a nice feeling for them to say Good bye to their big brothers. They love them. I love them. I wonder sometimes about where we fit in their lives now theyre bigger, but today left me with no doubt. We fit. We matter. They are part of us, and we are part of them... Aww, heck.

Mums the short one now!

Brother!

Duncan and Arlais

The Lazy As

So, then there were the obligatory photos.
And now it is quiet. Monday is right around the clock.
I do wonder, and dare I ask... What will this week bring?

Heres hoping your weekend was relaxing, peaceful and Memory-tastic!
Love from My Heart to Your Hearth

E Butterfly
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Review - BE NATURAL Breakfast - Manuka Honey & Spice Clusters - All good!

2012-02-18T14:25:00.000-08:00

BE HAPPY, Be Real, Be relaxed and Be Yourself -

What awesome sentiments to find on your cereal box in the morning!

BE NATURAL

FIVE WHOLE GRAINS With Spice Clusters and Flakes

Be Natural are launching their new Manuka Honey and Spice Clusters with Flakes this month.
Guess who gets to review it? ME!
Oh, and the collection of Family here this Sunday for breakfast.
As you can see above, this product is packaged in attractive 100% recycled material that states it can be recycled again. That is a good start for this Eco-conscious Mummy, but it doesnt stop there.

When they say Be Natural, it REALLY is. No compromising on taste, and good for you.

Breakfast here is the most important meal of the day because from there, we all go our different ways.
I try to find inspiring ways of filling the little darlings up before they leave... And this cereal ticks all our boxes!

FIVE Whole grains, plenty of yummy taste, fibre and NO ARTIFICIAL COLOURS, FLAVOURS OR PRESERVATIVES

We love honey, manuka honey is awesome! Six Spices include Cassia, Nutmeg, Cloves, White Pepper, Cinnamon and Cardamom. It smells great and tastes even better!
The texture of the spice clusters makes a mouthful interesting alongside the flat goodness of the flakes, and it was THUMBS UP from us! So easy to throw in a bowl with some milk. No challenging preparation necessary!

The bigger kids had two bowlfuls. Even the smaller member of the family wanted more.
Everyone reckons theyre *Properly Full* and *That was Yummy*...
Cant get better than that.
Oh... and noone has complained about having to do the dishes... yet! :)

Thanks for the chance to be one of the first to try BE NATURAL breakfast.
BE NATURAL are obviously a company who care, and that comes through in every detail of their products from the eco-friendly recyclable packaging, to the use of natural, wholesome ingredients, to the uplifting sentiments you see when you first look at the packet.
We LOVE Manuka Honey and Spice Clusters...
Now, to try some of the other BE NATURAL cereals!...

Well thats Us til next time.
I hope everything in your world is going well,
HAPPY SUNDAY
Love from
E BUTTERFLY
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Pics from the Past & Present - Bricking It in Avonside!

2012-02-10T00:56:00.000-08:00

Younger Days

Its becoming apparent
Im going to need a new phone soon.
My old one, according to my 18yr old is *Beyond It* and needs replacing soon. This one has a camera, and today Ive finally worked out (after 4 years!) how to send myself the pics to my email. Safe to say, I ll never be up with the Techno stuff. Im an old-fashun gal!

Car Ride

Swinging at the Park

Big Eyes

Pjs and All

So after fiddling around, Ive got some of the older photos of times long gone-by.
Its amazing how quickly the children grow and change. Dont mind me whilst I reminsce and plaster my page with photos of my babies... Theres others too, theyre not all cutesy and kidlike...

Oven Project - Build Two

...Like Todays Project.
Ive been reading up about making my own pizza oven. Im fascinated by adobe bricks, clay cob ovens, pizza ovens and the like. I wish I had my own piece of land to make a fire pit on, or some kind of oven... but I havent, and I cant make anything permanent... So Im improvising.
I tried the 16 brick rocket oven ( see it on Youtube) I liked it, I appreciate its place, and the value it has... but I wanted something a little bigger...
So here it is. My second version, very rough at this stage...and it will need some work, a bit of a mortar mix is in store, but Im pleased, and it passed its first little *fire-up* this afternoon, despite the drizzle and the lack of decent firewood.

This wonderful structure is created from red bricks, ex-chimney. Theres lots of those available around Christchurch at the moment, and they make good borders for vegetable gardens. There are also slate floor tiles in there, they were being given away on Freecycle, and I just happened to live around the corner. It beats them being thrown into a landfill, eh?

Toms, Zucchini and Green Beans a-plenty!

So thats our Friday. The Week That Was has Been and Gone!
Weve had both kids getting immunizations this week, and its been intermittent good weather. Today is totally bailed on us, and we have whizzly wet drizzle and a strong breeze that makes us wonder if the tomatoes will ever ripen!!

Jaune De Coeur Du Pigeon

Comfrey Tea Mixed for Garden

We have some on show though (see above) - and we love the little yellow pear-shaped ones.
We also have a bucket of wonderful big juicy plums that are ear-marked for plum jam.
Thanks for those Mr Next Door Neighbour :)

Hope all is happy and well at Your Place,
Love and Blessings
E BUTTERFLY
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Finding The Sunshine - Links - Good Things Happening...

2012-02-08T13:01:00.000-08:00

Turn your face towards the sunshine,

and the shadows will fall behind...

Some Links -

COUPLE ON LONELY STREET

LIVING ON THE EDGE - 1 YEAR LATER

SCHOOL ROLL AFFECTED - FALLING NUMBERS

RECORD NUMBER OF PRESCRIPTIONS

PSYCOLOGIST GIVES LESSONS ON COPING

QUAKES LONG TERM TOLL

Hard to find the Sunshine in Christchurch - apart from the intermittent, sometimes fleeting sun we get outside, the news media seemingly focus on the negatives of our City Rebuild.

Things like crime and domestic violence, depression and PTSD are on the rise, there are holes and cracks in peoples lives and homes, unemployment is rising, and now our city Mayor and Councillors are at odds.

It really does seem sometimes that the negativity is never ending.

Im taking myself away from the negativity.

I limit what we watch on TV, tending to spend more time away from the news, not reading the message boards and such. Its called self-preservation, and I think my Garden is more deserving of my time.

It isnt my lack of empathy, but rather the opposite. It affects me greatly to hear the sadness, the unhappiness, the suffering of others... I wish they had positive things to fill their lives with that provided people with a feeling of peace and some Hope! I saw this quote above today and thought it was perfect!

So Im turning my face towards the sunshine... let the shadows bugger off and leave me to it~!

Some Good Things...

Well. We spent the weekend boiling water, because as Murphys Law would have it, the gas bottle ran out on Friday night, and ... they dont deliver until Monday, if I ordered on Monday, it would probably be delivered on Tuesday. BUT - Monday was a Holiday --- Waitangi Day. So, it was a lick and a splash in boiled water over the weekend, it just shows how you can get by if you have to...

Doesnt sound so positive does it? The positive thing was, we managed, regardless. When I rang, I was far further in credit in my account than I thought... Its the small things that count, and this made my day when I ordered the gas bottle... Small Steps... and boy hot water out of the tap ROCKS!

NOTE --- We seem to have another cluster of Aftershocks happening at present. There were a few mid 4s last night I think - I didnt check the size, but you get good at gauging whats what depending on how fast you have to move to the door before it stops :-)

If youre in Canterbury - KEEP YOUR EMERGENCY KIT WELL STOCKED and BE PREPARED. It isnt doom-saying or building negativity - it is REALITY.

THE REALITY of our situation is - We live in a city on active fault lines. We need to be prepared at all times.

SOME ITEMS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR KIT -

3 litres of water per person, per day for at least 3 days
Toilet paper
Batteries

Torch

Radio

Buckets

Plastic bags for waste/rubbish

Non-perishable foods for at least three days

Warm Clothing

Stable Footwear

Blankets

Tarpaulins

Medications

First Aid Kit

DONT FORGET Sanitary items ie pads, tampons

Nappies

Formula if required

CAT AND DOG FOOD and Water for your pets...

**************************************

BIG TOMATOES, and little ones - Yes, theyre growing. We have some Big Boy Tomatoes, Russian Reds, Purple Calabash and Tomato Chocolate, theyre all big ones - Slowly theyre turning and colouring up, and we are enjoying the variety... The ones we are eating almost off the bush because theyre so sweet is the Jaune de Coeur du Pigeon - theyre small, pear shaped and very yellow, extremely sweet! We are going to save some seed from these ones so we can enjoy them again! Very nice on pizza!

Dinner!

The smell of basil, tomatoes, garlic and red onions was delish when we made our pasta the other night. We added chopped ham and some cheese sauce, YUM! Everyone wanted more!

You never find hairs on an elephant

but you always find hairs on an ape

and it's only the hairs on a gooseberry

that stop it ftom being a grape

Ive been potting up some cuttings from our berries in the hope they might take. Ive got some gooseberries, some raspberries and lots of strawberries. Im promising myself a proper bed for the strawberries this year, rather than just popping them in. They were an impulse buy at the supermarket, and I really needed to be better prepared. Im working on it :)
The pumpkins continue to do really well. Im so pleased. I get the biggest sense of satisfaction when I see how big theyre getting. Squash, I think *Golden Nugget* reminds me of my father. It was a variety he used to grow when I was young. I remember him bringing them inside, and me running my hand down the wrinkly hard skin. We have some green ones with yellow bands down them too.

Im not sure of variety because whatever I thought I was growing hasnt turned out that way!! I had thought I was growing a Winter Deluxe Pie, but it doesnt look that way yet... Time will tell :)

The lavender (grosso) has grown very well this year. I just took some snippets off the bigger plants, and shoved them in my shaded area. Theyve grown miraculously. Im so pleased, lavender is my favourite plant...

And I see we have some success with the other cuttings too, mostly fuschia, unknown varieties, and some roses.

We picked up some nigella seed pods yesterday on our way home from school. Theyve got cunning little black seeds inside, and Im saving some for next season. They were growing on the side of the path, and obviously have come from someones abandoned redzone home, amongst some calendula and some other flowers. There is also a huge feijoa which Im keeping my eye on. Id like to take cuttings, but Im not sure yet just how to do that... Im reading :)

Amazing how despite the conditions, the plants keep going... Theres a huge pile of liquefaction in the middle of our local park. Imagine my surprise (and delight) to recognize a growing vine of pumpkin, complete with big yellow flowers, growing up like Topsy, right there. Awesome.

I do wonder how long it will last before someone decides to uproot it, run over it or pluck the flowers from it... Thats Life.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better...Albert Einstein

Well, I guess its time to stop talking about things and get out there...

There are weeds calling my name, and the breeze has dropped for now.

I hope things are going well for you, and your garden is bringing you joy.

Love to all,

E BUTTERFLY
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Fishy Smarts... Fishy Tails - A Good Sunday

2012-02-04T23:10:00.000-08:00

Watering day today, and its grey, cool and misty when I wake.
How did I know before I even opened my eyes?
A fluffy tail complete with raindrops and a wet cat-nose in the face let me know before I realized it was morning. She is very determined to be fed these mornings, is our Washington.
So, it was a good day to catch up on the housework, do the inside things, and perhaps take a wander. The boys were restless, so they wandered off to meet friends at the bridge around the corner to take in some fishing. The Avon isnt well known for its fishing. Its Whitebaiting maybe, but not in the past year or 18months, due to silt, sewerage and other nasties that poured in. Its ok, we wont be baiting our hooks and eating our catch...
Its just for the experience of doing something interesting and inexpensive, and the kids love it.

So off they go, theres a few regular fisher-guys who hang out on the bridge too, and Mr 11 is the youngest by far. The tales are colourful - almost as colourful as the language, but if you can get past that, its interesting to hear the Fishy Tales.
What made great sport, was a huge rainbow trout swimming below.

Fishy Smarts
The Grandaddy, they reckon. The Guardian of the smaller fishes, I say. He wasnt being caught by anyone! In fact, he seemed to throw the smaller fish in front of him so they were caught in his stead.
Its obvious theyre all keen on the dangling bait but this fish has got to a very nice size by not being tempted, and again today, it seemed to use its innate sense of which pieces of bread werent on hooks to eat, very nicely Thank You, and escaped anyones hook! It will live to taunt exasperated fishermen another day. ( And to be killed when we catch it tomorrow says a very keen young Fisherman from behind me!) We also see big eels and tiny bait fish under the water, so there is plenty of life left in the Avon River, despite people saying otherwise.

Fishy Tails

The yellow-eyed mullet run in and out with the tides - we live in tidal Avonside, and the Avon goes in and out daily, swelling as the tide fills, and the boys hook the mullet on small hooks and sinkers, with bread for bait. Its exciting, when, from standing up on the Bridge, you see them nibbling your bait below... nibble, take and there you have them. They hit hard when theyre hungry and are taken up onto the bridge easily by the kids.

We dont eat these fish, they do however, provide a nutritious feed for our cats, and the guts/heads/fins etc are excellent in the garden. My new rose today got the benefits, a bucket of fish buried deep alongside its roots.

How will we make ends meet if our society changes?
What skills will our children need, that we have ourselves forgotten? This is why I have no objection to taking my children fishing - of course, theyre of an age where they can take themselves, but sometimes as parents, we need to make sure they are provided with the wherewithall to do these things easily... Learning is best done when its fun, before the need is there. Fishing experience is an excellent skill to have here in NZ because our landscape lends itself to us being able to use it for fishing for food.

So, for us its been a really Good Sunday. The Bestest Day of My Life, Miss 5 told me as we wandered home. So - Whats next?
Im in the process of planting out the cabbages and broccoli for Winter, sowing parsnip seed, and watching the pumpkins swell. I cant wait for the beets to do their thing, and I have potatoes to dig soon. The garlic has dried nicely, and the tomatoes are changing colour daily - slow, but getting there! Life is good.
I hope with fingers xed that Ive got it right for some continual harvesting later in the year, as with the climate changes, the good weather is pitifully absent, and we may incur some losses.

Heres hoping things in your garden are growing nicely, with abundance.
Love and Blessings
E Butterfly
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Summer Berries... Surviving School start...Survival Stuff

2012-02-04T04:10:00.000-08:00

Scarlet Runner Beans - Yum!

Its the Weekend... already!
And we have Waitangi Day on Monday, so a three day weekend is in store. Awesome!
This week was pretty stressful, and with School starting again for the new year, it was One Of Those Weeks.
However, we got through it and everything turned out to be ok. Mr almost-12 is keen to be back, so far, so good. Miss 5 is almost ready to go, she has immunisations this week, will have treatment for her hands and be on track for starting mid to late Feb.
How quickly the school holidays went, and here we are again, worrying about books and school fees, new shoes and haircuts. Its all a-buzz. And I miss Blaise when he isnt home, but thats ok, hes where he should be.
So to remove some of the stress, we took off to go blueberry picking today. It was so nice to go from the East, where we ride the roads and bump and graunch everywhere down potholes and over sandhills, to the South, where its relatively normal and everything looks like it should.
Prebbleton looked great, Hornby fantastic...
Down Shands Road and past Watties - a taste of The Old Times, as I used to work there way back when... and we found the berry place with no worries.
Have a look at where we went!
Blueberry Bliss - Website
So at $12 a kg, I had decided 2kgs was a good amount for two adults, three children to pick perhaps. Well, Arlais lasted until one kg had been picked. She did very well, but Im thinking she ate more than she picked. Gord (15y) had the best idea, he could reach where most couldnt, being well over six foot. The sun ripened berries at the tops of the highcrop plants were his domain. The biggest fattest juiciest berries too! He and Blaise later found a massive clump of big plump ones to fill up the last of our containers. I wasnt sure Blaise would like them, but I think he ate his fill too :)
I just wandered along picking as I went, stuffing a few in here and there, Im intrigued by the different Blueberry varieties and how different they taste. We got Atlanta and Jersey high crop varieties. Here at home, we have a Centurion bush and a Tif Blue - both of which are very small, but both fruiting at the moment, although they ripen in Feb/March. They are quite different to the high crops we saw today which were very tall. Gulp - I hope mine might grow that size one day :-)

Petunias

Came home from our day out, after picking up my latest trademe purchases - a Feijoa, a white pearl rose banksia rose, and a dwarf ballerina *samba* crabapple... oh, and a Satsuma mandarin of unknown variety, could be Miho, or maybe Kawano apparently. Im very keen to have my own orchard one way or another, and at this rate, it will be sooner. Now to get them organized in their own little... or big pots, with all their nutritional requirements supplied so they can GROW... Grow strong and big as Arlais says to them.

Bought Clementine Mandarins at the supermarket this week - couldnt help myself, seeing Ive just recently brought one myself. They were so super sweet, and so easy to peel. The kids were impressed, and I cant wait for the tiny fruit on our tree to grow.

Have been packing another Survival box. I dont know why, it just feels right. Have not completed it yet, am in the process of getting more things for it, on my list I have rope, some more batteries, lighters, matches, candles. I also need to put in some more first aid things, like crystacide ointment, bandages, pads and toilet paper... Lots of conversations about the additions, adding to the list, more talk... Maps must be added on The List also. Another addition will be a wind up radio, we need to be in touch with whats going on if things go awry. After writing all this, we have just had one of the first aftershocks Ive felt in a week or two. Im sure its not over, but what can we do?
Its not so much scary as annoyingly frustrating now.

Radish and Solar Yellow Carrots

The Garden is looking a bit bedraggled at the moment. Its not been the classic Summer days at all, and there has been a lot of that cold wet stuff (rain) Patchy weather is what I would call it I think!
The pumpkins have taken off nicely. Quite a number of fruits growing nicely. One in particular I can see from under my tree, which makes me grin. I love pumpkins. As a friend said today, they grow by the hour and this one doesnt know it yet, but its going to be PIE!

The corn under the tree was mostly a disaster... Not all however, I have quite a number flowering at the moment in the other bed, full sun. I know it wasnt ideal conditions, position or care, as Im a first-timer with corn, but it seems to be forgiving :)
I am so looking forward to corn on the cob, as is one little 5 yr old girl who licks her lips when she talks about corn cobs with butter!

Echinacea & Bees

The other new garden has been *horse-poohed* and weve dug it over twice or three times now, breaking up the clods, its very nice soil and Im looking forward to planting some medicinal herbs in it.
Everything seems to be taking its time and growing nicely, so we cant complain.
I even have four tiny little olives on one of the trees (J5) growing down the driveway. They certainly cheer me up, what a kick to have your own olives growing!!

Well, thats me for now.
Not a lot happening except the mundane and necessary. Plodding along, and getting there.
Hope life is good in your world.
Happy Gardening
Love,
E BUTTERFLY
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Quick Post - Echinacea Haven is Bumblebee-tastic!

2012-01-22T23:24:00.000-08:00

Its freezing cold out there, and the wind is nasty, and still these little bumbles work over time.
I love seeing bumblebees at work, they are so busy, and seem so happy at what they do :)
Snapped this photo, the echinacea flowers always seems to get mobbed, and the bumblebees cling to their spiny cones, sometimes gathering pollen, sometimes just resting on top and riding the flowers in the breeze.
I never realised just how gently scented the ech flowers are, heavenly!

Love,
E Butterfly
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Rain following the wind... January Snow...How does your Garden Grow?

2012-01-22T06:30:00.000-08:00

Sunflowers over 6ft before wind

Rain Following the Wind...

Long time not a lot of blogging going on, but news has been scarce around here. Its not that we havent done things, its been a lack of camera, and theres only so many stories you can write about without pics...

News to hand is... its raining.

Not just a little bit, but hard rain. Weve had a lot of rain in a short time. Yesterday was mucky and drizzly with some pelting thunder/lightening storms. Today its not mucking around, its serious rain, hard and heavy. The gardens needed rain, but the people who are in Red Zone houses with holes did not.

Nature at its best out there though, providing for its own (plants)

Echinacea

Last week was horrendously windy.

The garden suffered, and everything got trussed up, Ive had to cut back my echinaceas to my sorrow, both plants ended up losing hunks to the wind. Ive tried to salvage the bits that fell off, they both had roots. We shall see! Fingers xed! The blooms have been gorgeous, scented and my favourite - PINK!

So its the middle of the night. Its cold outside, and nice and cosy in here.

Mid Summer... believe it or not :)

I cant sleep, and after pulling muscles in my arms doing some major weeding jobs, (yes... that shows how tough the ground is here!!) sleep has been precious in the past two weeks.
We have a new piece of garden, and some new plants. In fact, they just keep coming.

We have a new Clementine tangelo/mandarin who is potted, two new blueberries - Tif Blue and Centurion.

They went into the new plot, and I was surprised when I picked them up to see that they had fruit on them. Good Lookin!! Cant wait to see how many last the distance.

Clementine

Our Satsuma *Miho* is looking good.

It had small tiny buttons for fruit on it when it arrived pre-Xmas. The tiny buttons are now $1 coin size.

The horsey poo water is fertilizing things nicely, Ive added supa-gro to some of the pots to help things grow on. Im hoping to mulch some hay or straw in in the next few weeks, should finances allow.

Our own compost pile is looking good, it will sit over winter, and I ll put black plastic over it... just like a real farmer and silage :)

January Snow? - Who'd have thought we would get snow in January. Not here, but nearby in Porters Pass area. Its crazy! It leaves us believing that the seasons are changing into a myriad of different things. Perhaps we are amidst this Climate Change thing we hear so much about, and afraid of. I think the whole *Intuitive* gardening helps get through this. Mulching to keep our plants happy, and turning over the soil regularly making sure it doesnt clog with water... Here we are near enough to the water table that it could mean raised beds are neccessary to alleviate any flooding. I think our problem will be if we dont get enough sunny days, nothing will ripen fast enough and you get fruit rotting before it ripens.
Ive thought about these issues, and by far I dont have answers, just want to trial different things to see if they work. One thing is using thermal mass around the garden. Walls of brick to keep things warm for instance. I have built up, bricked-in trenches or edges that Ive got tomatoes in, around the edge of my pathways which are cement. The sun reflects off the cement and the heat of the bricks keeps the soil warmer than the bigger beds. These tomatoes are always the first to fruit, first to ripen... ONLY ones to ripen so far this year. We are at least a month behind where we were last year, and two months behind the North Island from what I read on popular gardening forums. Id hate us to get even less growing season, but if that happens, I have to invest in some glass for a glass house or similar. I simply cant NOT grow things :-)

Because I rent, I cant bear the thought of putting things into the ground and not being able to take them with me. So I pot.

I have some rather large pots now, and I am really waiting for Superman to call in when I need to shift. Cos Im thinkin he will be the only one who can lift the pots!!
Ahh well, maybe Earth Changes will happen and I ll swap my trailer for a Chinese Junk and we can sail to Gardening Heaven?

Home grown Potatoes!

Thats possibly enough of my Mid-Night Ravings, and I should possibly go back to bed and sleep.

Ahh, if only.

Seeding Sunflower

Akane Apple - just the one this year!

Tif Blue Blueberry!

Potatoes with a purple flower, pretty!

Stunning Carrot flower (Nutri-Red)

Bloody Butcher Tomato Babies, Yum!

Black Zebra. Can see the stripes, no black yet.

Jaune du coeur de pigeon - Yellow pigeon egg sized tomatoes

So thats us.

How about this for a Happy Earthquake Song? Love it! SEE YOUTUBE HERE

Take care out there.
I hope youre all well, and happy.

The shaking (aftershocks) - dare I mention? They are easing. For now.

There are other parts of the country that have had shaking too, so life in NZ where ever you move is going to be tenuous.

School goes back soon, and Im not looking forward to being without my Littles.

So Im not thinking about that, and trying to make the best of the time we have left together.

Love to All

Happy Gardening :)

E BUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXX

PS - AFTERSHOCK. See, it never ever pays to mention Mother Nature :)
That gave me a good fright, it was centred around the road, about 3k away and sent the ball of fluff on my knee flying.

Washington, Old Girl

Happy New Year Everyone... Rock n Roll Around The Clock in Christchurch!

2012-01-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

A good nights sleep? Seriously, dont come to Canterbury for one of those at the moment. We get good nights, and then theres Last Night.
We went to sleep just after elevenish. I say ish, because I cant quite remember when, but a goodly time after eleven. Wouldve gone earlier, but with these new type of *creep-up-on-ya* type Eqs, we got a 4.0 at ten pm. It raises the bp a bit, so we sat on a little.
Two pm, and all hell breaks loose. It was a 5.1 and in the dark of night, theyre quite nasty.
Two of us hang on and wait for Number Three to join us. Thank God, she slept through. I have not. Its been a Rock n Roll kinda night.
The unusual thing is, the weather, yesterday was gorgeous - this morning we are in a grey wash of drizzly rain and low grey skies. From the *Earthquake Sky* we talk about, with high blue sky and weird clouds, to THIS? Odd.
But. The Garden loves drizzle and grey clouds!!
Just not too much of it please, cos we need the heat for our fruiting plants... And our growing ones.
The Pumpkins are looking great, the fruit of which there are two at the moment have other buds appearing...
The Tomatoes are looking promising, some are quite sizeable, though no sign of the blush of red yet.
Speaking of red... Scarlet Runner Beans are blossoming everywhere. I have borlottis sizing up, but they are somewhat hidden by enthusiastic Albenga Oxheart tomatoes at present.
Our Sunflowers are doing their thing, getting taller and taller. One is well over six foot, and has grown considerably since Christmas Day when we measured.

So while the Earth turns, and the weather changes, and we Rock On, its mainly all good...
I can do without the five oclock starts, or the rolling and rocking, but it does make you realise how lucky you are!

Happy New Year,
I hope 2012 brings you Joy, and Peace, and Happiness.
And that your Garden brings you much the same, and your Gardening Year is fruitful and trouble-free.
Oophs there we go again, Rock On Cantabs!

Love,
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

QUICK POST - A LINK about the secret food code conspiracy

2011-12-30T23:04:00.000-08:00

Just thought you might like this to read...
More about the THE SECRET FOOD CODE CONSPIRACY -
If we cannot trust in our Government to make good decisions for us, WHO will make them?
WE MUST NOT LET THIS BILL BE PASSED.

2011 leaves with a Shake... so what will 2012 begin with?...

2011-12-30T22:53:00.000-08:00

2011 is leaving.
Well, ceasing. And The Bitch doesnt want to leave us without a decent farewell - We got that!
Today we had a 4.82 that the USGS recorded as a 5.2! Some serious shaking, more damage for some, liquefaction for others - us, the lucky ones, just a stern reminder that Mother Nature Lives Beneath.
After a drive yesterday, we realised sadly, that yes, there are changes being made in Canterbury, but our neighbourhood is now looking like a series of country lanes, empty houses on funny angles, broken bits and bumpy gravel roads and neglected spaces where gardens still bloom regardless. Sad and Forgotten for the most part. The people who drive by, are just there just to look, to Thank God, maybe, that it isnt them? and then they drive back from whence they came.

Did the Mayans truly predict that The World Might End in 2012? Im sure the Mayan who was in charge of writing the numbers at the time, lost count of where he was, and then decided, he had to go to the bathroom. When he arrived back, he looked at what he was writing (The Calendar) and shrugged... Meh. It seemed like a good thing to do at the time, but Im over it... and off he went to lunch. Never would he ever guess that he left us all hanging...
Ok, so thats not it at all, but we will never know :-)
Im picking The Changes that are spoke of, have begun already. Theres an air of unrest right around the world. Chaotic Economic changes, Natural Change, More water, less food, more people, Earthquakes, Floods, Famine. Civilization is Changing.
It is all part of an energy that means we MUST assimilate Change - Into our lives, our homes, the way we educate our children, technology, it all will change.
Change never happens without some sort of negativity or positivity to activate it. We need to get used to the changes, and its tough!
Its what they say - What doesnt Kill Us, Makes Us Stronger.
Im about as Strong as I can be. No - possibly not, but lets not push that to trial.

... Out with the Old, In With the New...I just want to cruise - no - sleep! through the end of 2011. I do not like New Years Eve at all.
My family are not entirely with me, and never are now theyre older and have Social committments. New Years Eve for me brings back sad memories of people dear who are no longer with us, of past Memories that bring home how much I miss the ones I love.
So Im a sad sack, and I ll be happy just chilling with the littles, watching some TV, then drifting off...

OR WILL I?
This year in Christchurch, it seems half the world wants a reason to celebrate... and why not?
Weve had some kind of wacky stuff to deal with this year...
On with the good stuff - Celebrate Your New Year Cantabs~!
Parties on each side of the street here, and lots of music.
Someone was jamming on an electric guitar before - It sounded awesome, even from here, and Im picking it was a few houses down. The unfortunate thing, is that next door have Elton John on Replay, and the two playing alongside one another makes me want to run for cover :-)
Shouting can be heard, (the happy kind) and lots of families walking in the night air. It isnt dark or cooler yet, at 7.30pm its a nice time of night for a stroll around our neighbourhood...
Let the celebrating fill your heart, and let go of the fear - not just here, but whereever you are!
We got through, we will continue to make good.

Love, Light and Blessings
HAPPY FABULOUS NEW YEAR

Roll On 2012!!
Love
Earth Butterfly
XXXXXXXX

FOOD BILL - Dont let this one past or be passed!!

2011-12-29T13:45:00.000-08:00

What a grey day. Cant believe its Friday already though?
We have been up since the Sparrows got up this morning. Its pleasant enough out there, and its watering day!
I think we all went to bed and crashed with exhaustion. We had a very long, rocky aftershock just before bed time, so the little guy (big 11yr old guy) slept nearby. It was a rude shock for us both, and insulted us by being just a 4.3 or something *small* but it just kept going, and was quite noisy. A good sleep was had by all though, eventually!
Ive been sorting out my seeds, and what to keep, what not to. The thing is, what do you do with seeds you no longer require? There seems to be nowhere you can give them to... I have visions of sweeping along the riverside, seeds pouring from my hands, but Im picking they ll know soon enough,. most of my surplus are lettuce, capsicums and pumpkins. The area could do with lots of these things growing freely, there are plenty of people who need food. I have asked at food banks, but apparently people want canned foods and perishables, not good healthy seeds that could give them so much more...

I was plodding through an exercise yesterday with my 11 yr old son.

Heres what we worked out...

ONE average sized pumpkin plant can grow an average of 3 or 4 pumpkins ...

One pumpkin makes pumpkin soup for an average of 3-4 people, which may stretch to say, averagely (get it?) two meals, per person?

That ONE pumpkin, holds within its skin, an average of maybe 150-200 seeds.
You dont use the seeds for the soup.
Save the seeds.

You can hull them, and make pumpkin seeds that you can then roast to snack on - full of nutrition
ORYou can dry them, and plant them.

That 150-200 seeds can feed a lot of people!!!! Or, they can feed livestock! Or you can harvest and onsell, or give away, or use for Halloween...Or sell seed...

Arent pumpkins awesome?

The same applies to most vegetables.

Their inner goodness is more than what you eat, it is what you can do to help feed yourself and others with what lies inside!

This is why it is important we stop the Government and other large businesses in NZ from taking away our rights, our freedom as Market Gardeners, Small Garden Business Operators, and Home Gardeners who may sell what they grow, and save seeds to finance their own Vegetable and Fruit Gardens - and have done for years, it is a way of life!.

THIS FOOD BILL has the potential to Stop us being able to maintain and supplement our food supply, and help others.

We simply cannot allow this to happen

GET IN QUICK because this bill WILL be passed if we do not make a statement and register our disapproval and non compliance to this bill!

HERE - READ FOR YOURSELF - THE FOOD BILL

And the Government cant believe the public backlash? - ARTICLE HERE

So - What can we do? START HERE - Petition

Questions and Answers on the Food Safety Website - READ HERE

OOOOBY says TIME FOR ACTION - READ HERE, Join this Gardening Community!

“Liberty has never come from the government; it has always come from the subjects of it.

The history of liberty is a history of limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it.”
–Woodrow Wilson

FAMILY INTEGRITY WEBSITE has something to say about it HERE

___________________________________

MY SOAP BOX or rather, My thoughts on this ----

In a world where the reality is that sometimes, we must live by our wits, our intelligence and our clever cunning because noone else will do things for us, noone else will pay our way, or give us solutions, in a world where Money is King, Big Business Rules, Possessions are Important and Brands and Labels seem to define Us - we simply cannot afford to lose the right to grow our own food.
For some of us - The Battlers, The Ones who Just Get Along, the Living Simply folk, who live close to, or within poverty, we need to be able to feed our families this way.
If you dont know how to garden, but you want to learn, please ask. Keep asking!
There are plenty of people who will show you the way.
As I have stated, I have seeds Im willing - nay, KEEN to give away, I have learnt how to Garden and Im prepared to show people how - ASK me :)

If you dont live in Christchurch, we can email and I can send seeds to you. ASK!
THERE ARE COMMUNITY GARDENS IN CHRISTCHURCH!For a small donation of your time, you can taste the benefits!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

HERES ONE -
New Brighton Community Gardens
136 Shaw Ave New Brighton Christchurch 8083 - WEBSITE NEEDS UPDATING but here it isand Im investigating news of another community garden in Linwood, behind the temporary Library building on Linwood Avenue...

NEW BRIGHTON NEWS - The Market has reopened!

Well, now the rain has set in. I do not have to water, and the plants will be loving it!
Sometimes my blog starts as one thing, and it finishes as another and today is a classic example.
Im no activist. I simply recognize that we need our voices to be heard, for shame if we lose a fundemental right that other countries have - growing food at home. No, I hear you - Im being extreme. But honestly - do YOU want to read 800-odd pages of legislation, understand it all completely, and do so in less than a month? ANYTHING that is 800 pages in length is not insignificant, therefore it needs a sturdy reaction.
Why was this kept quiet? ... There was an election to run. They seemingly didnt want it well-known that this bill was even being contemplated.
Actions are better than words.
Id march and show my opposition to this. It stands in the way of my lifestyle. My health, my welfare. I use my food to live...
Id march! Would you? Put yourself out there and show people you care.

Ok, signing off now.

Time to go and ground myself with some housework :)

Love, Light and Happy Gardening!
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Thats the Last Time I... Early Hosing... Garden Report!

2011-12-27T11:12:00.000-08:00

Thats the Last Time I...
How many times do we say that? And usually its NOT the last time, for whatever it is.
This morning, my first thoughts were...
Whats that noise? Why am I awake? Is it morning already?...
Then...

...Thats the Last Time I sleep with the window open!
I bounced out of bed when I realized it was light. I could hear little birds singing their hearts out, so I decided it must be a respectful hour. I had been woken initially by next doors shower, their gas heats the hot water, and when it starts is makes quite a racket... Not that I had noticed before today.
So, up I get.
Greeted by a purry furry cat who wants fed. Nuzzling. But not friendly nuzzling, insistent. I want FOOD Skin-Mother. Food, not cuddles.
My life is easier if I feed the four of them first, so out I go. Cat meat in hand, Cats in tow, and just out the door when an aftershock hits. Gulp. Cats Scatter - no, theyre gone, various directions. It was a bit rocky, but nothing specially big, just a rude awakening to someone who has cat meat all over their hands and is barely awake, a 3.9, centred somewhere in North Brighton, poor Buggers!

Old Soldier Cat

So. Its watering day. Hose in hand, I make my way through the garden, sprinkling water...
Hmm, pink morning sky, big clouds, easing into golden sunlight and still more big clouds. Then its just greyish dullness, but it gives the impression its going to clear because it is still very warm. Odd for early morning, but great stuff for the task at hand. Exit Jacket. Shorts on. Coffee in one hand, hose in the other. Great Stuff!

I start realizing things... Its very warm, light and rather pleasant. But very quiet for a Wednesday morning. Its Rubbish day, and maybe the rubbish trucks are late? ... Keep watering. Sip of Coffee.
Along one neighbours fence... watering my wee heart out, no noise from them. Hmm, he will be late for work... Other side... Hang on. I wonder...
I wonder what time it is? Gulp. Maybe Im up too early? ... Rubbish trucks are usually here at six.
So I wander back in, feeling very sheepish. Check children, still fast asleep, tucked up all nice and warm.
No movement at all since I looked earlier.
Turn computer on. Note to self - GET A WATCH
It was five thirty. And I had been up for almost an hour.
I can hear the neighbours now, over their porridge or their oat bran, or their Kornies...
Did that crazy woman next door wake you up with her hosing early this morning?
Did you hear her??
- Whats WITH that?
Oophs.
Sorry folks.

Garden Report this morning - MUST WEED LOTS. I have a need to Weed before the weeds breed...
(No? Sounded better in my head!)
This morning my pumpkins have four flowers, three have big bottoms - thats pumpkins-in-the-making right - Im hopeful?
Theyre trailing madly along the pathway now, which is great. Just what I wanted. Theyre Winter Pie, and I hope theyre going to be giving us enough to store for a bit. We love the idea of Pumpkin soup using our own Pumpkins. Also we have a Red Warren plant under my window... Ive mulched him, the smell of the rat is putrid, but once mulched I cant smell it Thank God! Let him rot, and do his job. Feed my Pumpkin!
We have many poppies out today, I didnt count. Miss 5 and I were looking last night and seeing what would be out today, to see if we could guess who would show their heads today. We counted 11...

Our beautiful rhubarb just keeps growing and growing. It is amazing. We cut some off last week, and have three plants. As soon as one gives us a load of yum, the others get into gear, and we are set for more.
Ive stewed it, but unfortunately the children arent as fond of it as I am.
Weve had several handfuls of raspberries. That truly has to be The Taste of Summer, a fresh raspberry!

Boysenberry

Well enough of me... I guess its time to go and hunt some breakfast and decide what today will bring. Im sad it is Wednesday already. The days I have the children home from school are so quickly passing by.

Love to You and Yours,
Hope you are Happily Gearing up for the New Year
Love,
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Tuesday already...Plans... Globe Trotting Teens... Bikkies for Breakfast.

2011-12-26T13:15:00.000-08:00

Cant believe it is Tuesday already. I know, its Tuesday every week, but this Tuesday has come around so quick. Think about what you were doing last Tuesday. To be honest, Im not sure I can remember the details. It involved reenactment of the chicken with its head cut off, panic, frenzied shopping and Lists. Ahh. Thank Goodness that is over!
This Tuesday Im planning. Ive just bought another red currant. And an Autumn Bliss Raspberry that fruits late Summer/Autumn. I think it is the wrong time of year to buy things like this, but they are On The List of Wanted Plants, and they can sit until the beds are ready to go in. Im planning next years garden already.

My list of Wanted Plants is extensive. I think Dwarf Comfrey sounds good. The blue variety. To put right along my fenceless edge that I share with our neighbours. Theres a huge *hedge* of Flax and Bears Breeches, and Im thinking some dwarf comfrey along underneath might encourage some good soil eventually.
It is very dense soil out there, and it has been sorely neglected.

Also, I have a list of herbs Id like to have access to. Not all for culinary purposes, but medicinal too.
Some of the herbs have the most romantic names - Pellitory-of-the-wall, Alexanders, Skullcap and Lovage...
Watch this space, Ive not made my selection yet, still in the Learning stages - ie, Im reading up on things.
Thank Goodness for my aged copy of A Modern Herbal by Ms Grieve. It is great for reading up on herbs...
Yes, this book information IS ONLINE!

So the Pre-teen with the Cellphone has spent the morning catching up with his brothers. Theyre the Globe Trotting Teens that have this morning, hit Auckland and are looking to see as much as possible while theyre at a Family Function. Its awesome theyve had the chance to go, their Dad is very brave taking two unruly teens on holiday with him and his wife, for a week... I hope Auckland looks after them - if youre up that way and you see one very bedraggled, tired looking man and two perky looking teenagers, its them... :) I hope they have a blast! Its not often they all get away together.

And Im picking Im in line for Bad Mother of The Year award given this mornings fare for breakfast. We have eaten so much of late, and there was a dearth of goodies left, or given... It was bananas this morning, that took their fancy, and shrewsbury biscuits, with milk and shortbread afterwards... Oophs!!

After watching Harry Potter (Deathly Hallows 1) last night, this morning I have the pleasure of watching The Muppets Take Manhattan, with Miss 5. She loves it. The rats are so funny, and she giggles her way through it all... I get more pleasure out of watching her reaction, than the actual movie.

Well thats us.
I hope youre all doing fine, and enjoying the sun if you have it. Remember to Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap if youre in the sun!

Thinking of You,
Love,

E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Settling Down... Post-Christmas Blue Skies - Popular Poppies!

2011-12-26T01:43:00.000-08:00

How are you doing where you are?
I hope youre enjoying the Holiday season, and getting a chance to spend time with those you love!
Here in Quake Central, we are very happy we are that things havent been too rocky today!
It seems Mother Nature has given us a day off for Good Behaviour... famous last words maybe?
Our day has been a bit windy, but hot hot hot! And the high blue skies make it so much easier to get on with the clean up after Christmas, and for us, the tidy up also involves settling down as the family goes their separate ways and it is back to just the three of us.
Its been nice having my big boys home for a while. I love the way theyve grown into their personalities, and they continue to surprise, amuse, delight and horrify me in equal amounts.

Now today, theres the new presents to find homes for, because of course, they cannot stay strewn across my front room floor. Honestly, its a mess. Miss 5 explored everything, tearing packets, opening boxes. The aftermath remains. The fond favourites from past years get pushed aside, and this year we seem to have an abundance of plastic fruit and vegetables, pots and pans, and to top it off, a very cute Tefal Kitchen arrived. Shes happy!

Also, the pre-teen now has a cell phone. Now thats an experience - he is learning about phone etiquette, though Im told Im ...*not even LAST century Mum* ... when I mention the word etiquette. But hes happy too. So are those he spams with Texts!!

My biggest surprise in the garden this morning
was the sight of a mass of Poppies.

Six plants, all about 4 ft tall, and many heads forming, but until this morning, only one on each plant had flowered at any time. Weve had eleven, all passed on to seed pods now, all very fragile with the wind weve had, but this morning, seven new poppies were flowering together.

This evening, just five remained... One seccumbed to a soccer ball (I heard inside, from the garden. Uh-oh, Mums going to *spew*, but Mum didnt...) The other just did the usual, and the petals fell off one by one throughout the day... Gosh they look gorgeous in multiples.

I would love to see a field of big poppies flowering together... And at the rate they seed, it may happen - my neighbourhood will love it... or not??

Our pumpkins are flowering too. An interesting time, given there are five pumpkin plants, four of one type, and I had not anticipated such success with them. Theyre all starting to *run*
The Red Warren pumpkin I have planted under my bedroom window does not have full sun all day and is a bit behind the others, but I think it will catch up as I have cut away the shrubbery so it can *see the sun*... and given it a little bit *extra* - The cats latest rat is dug in beside it, so that will manure it beautifully :)

The carrot seeds we planted, St Valery, Paris Ball and Nutri-Red are all up and growing nicely. Not fast enough for inquisitive little people, Miss 5 is very keen to eat her way through the baby carrots again :) We are trying to coax the little girl across the road to follow Miss 5's lead with her love of vegetables, as she doesnt like to try new things... yet.
The red lettuce seeds have grown quickly, the radishes are up and away too. Its such a busy time of year. The best part is sitting out there and hearing the birds, seeing the busy little bumblebees, and hearing the buzzing of flies and bees. I dont see many bees, but I do see some. Its a start!

Have been rather lazy today, but now that the family are away, I will get back into a routine of sorts. It a bit hard not being able to water every day, but we are doing ok. A drop of rain would be wonderful, but I dont want to detract from the hot weather that is needed by the tomatoes to grow...

Well, thats us tonight.
We are watching a Harry Potter DVD for the second time... It helps that its an interesting story, Im picking I ll get to know it very well in time, just as I have with the other Harry Potter books.

Love to All,
Blessings

E Butterfly
XXXXXX

Meri Kirihimete - Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T23:30:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas.
Its Christmas night and all is quiet. Not much stirring at all which is a joy in itself. Have had a lovely lazy day. Well worth the stress and the sense of never having things *just right*...
The children are what its about, and the sense of family is awesome when they are all gathered in close. Today was lovely. Hard work, but lovely.

And now its all just a ball of paper and a fridge of leftovers to show for it!
Roll on New Year,... As quietly and as sedate as possible please :-)

Merry Christmas to You all.
Enjoy your family time,
Your hard earned holidays...
Shared time together.
Good food, Excellent Company
Making Memories.

Love,
E Butterfly
XXXXXX

The Big Wake Up Call...5.1 for Breakfast!

2011-12-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

Blue Skies with a tinge of cloud, and an aftertaste of SHAKE!
Good Morning Christchurch, this is your Mother speaking - Mother Nature that is!
WAKE UP! Youve slept long enough... Yeah I know, you didnt sleep a wink... Or you lot there (Us!)
I know youve just got to sleep, but cmon - WAKE UP!!...

Zander

5.1 should be enough to wake the dead.
Oh wait, theyre NOT dead, theyre just rather badly traumatized and very very tired!
My Littles didnt sleep well. We went for a walk around the neighbourhood last night, checking on their local haunts.
They came home, we watched TV until late. Sleep. Bliss. Shake. Uh-Oh!
We were awake between the hours of 1am and 3am. Sleep again. Wake Up!!! Mother Nature calls... The 4.2 at 5.50ish I almost slept through, rearranged the blankets and cuddled under again.
6.30ish and we have LIFT OFF.
By the time I get off the floor to check the kids, the damn shaking is over, and I realize that I was the only one moving. The only one awake...Oh except for one very scared, big-eyed cat who meows at me. (And now I think about it, that meow could have been for food, not empathy for our predicament!)

So. Its Saturday, and I have visitors arriving later, Family!
Bring it on. Lets Celebrate all that comes our way.
Best foot forward and besides, its CHRISTMAS EVE.
Joy. Peace. Spirit of Santa - of GIVING, sharing, loving.
The Joy starts when I realize Im alive. Theyre alive.
Im safe. We are safe! We have everything we need.
Most of what we want.

We can celebrate and whilst we celebrate, we can duck into doorways when required...The serviettes may not match, the glassware will be sparse.
It wont matter at all.

Merry Christmas.
Happy Holidays
Blessings!
E Butterfly
XXXXXX

See What Happens... Earthquakes in the East - Christchurch does it again!

2011-12-23T01:38:00.000-08:00

Loving Memory

See What Happens... 5.8, 6.0, 5.0 - Today weve had them all, and MORE. The children say its MY FAULT for tidying up!
So I got up today, early. It was my watering day, so I wanted to make the first watering as early as possible. It takes around an hour, and I had things to do...
So... Clean Up! Outside is looking much better, a huge pile to the dump, not once, but twice. The first load goes well. We are coming out and commenting as we get back into traffic that the skies are looking a bit jumbled, theres lots of different kinds of cloud, including those little odd skiffs... over there. Pointing, laughing. We start talking about how we havent had aftershocks. How the Refuse Station with its massive high concrete walls and roof would be horrible to be in ...
So the second load goes well.
Im out of the car, unloading... BANG and rocking. Its a big one. And the children are in their carseats in the car. Mr 11.5y gets on top of Miss 5. Its viscious.
I want to run, but cant, and get in trying to get them out. Nasty shock... We get in and collect ourselves.
Not nice. I just realise. I could so easily have lost them both. All of us. Gone. Nasty shock!
Not something I want to repeat, then as we gather ourselves, theres another one, and we just head on out of there... As we step off the weighbridge after paying the fee, and speed out... theres liquefaction. We look to Sumner, and there is a dust cloud.
Thank God Baz is driving, because I was still shaking. My heart was pounding for ages afterwards.
Theres a flurry of moving traffic. Pools of liquefaction oozing, some traffic lights not working, some that do. Theres water, and people with phones. And the people with phones are EVERYWHERE. You notice these things. We hear constant sirens. All day Sirens.
Down our side street, and its bumping and cracking and oozing again.
The new strengthened, fixed infrastructure is to be commended. It sustained.
Eighty minutes later, there is another one. (6.0)
We are standing in a friends drive, Im checking on her as I know her daughter is at work, so she is alone. We are talking, standing together.
It shakes violently as we are watching helicopters checking the bridge down on the corner that joins Avonside to Dallington. Violent shaking and we duck down, like we are in a prayer meeting, holding each other. It seems pointless, because we are powerless against that immense force, we get tossed around. We hold each other like we are in a Rugby Scrum.
We laugh nervously about the strength of the two of us, Strong Avonside Women. Gulp. Tested.
Weve had a number of strong shocks today. We roll with them, but its kind of like *Oh no, not again* ... A familiar stance is to clutch yourself and say Oh God, that was a good one.

Thank God we have power and water. We are blessed, life without power and water is so ... tiring.
Weve just been for a walk around the block. Burning off the adrenaline. My little ones are buzzing.
Today was one of *those* days - another landmark.
Tick.
Got through it.

For now, Im thinking about all those who are flooding, or who have *gone red* because of further damage to their homes or those, bless them, who really are at breaking point.
We may have got through it with homes in one piece, but honestly, who can evaluate the cracks on our stress levels, who can smooth the fear and make things ok?
It is telling on us all, and when I look at the little tired and serious faces in my bed tonight - Yeah, it tells on me too.

Be Strong Christchurch, and lets not live in fear, but in hope.
From this, we have to live stronger.
The choice is NOT to give in.

Merry Christmas
Happy Holidays
Blessings!

EARTH BUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXXXXX

All Day Rain... Working Indoors

2011-12-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

Rose Front Lawn. Not its name, its location ;-)

A brilliant wet Wednesday.
The Chance of All Day Rain is what Miss 5 told me she had heard on the news. Funnily enough, she was still snoozing when the weather forecast was on, but she is right so far... All Day Rain.
Which is a good thing, and a bad thing. The good thing is the garden gets a decent wash of rain. The bad of course, is that Im stuck inside having to attend to Housework and Other Inside Work.

Doesnt matter that Im procrastinating. This is the second coffee, Ive sat here and dawdled through the listings of plants & pots on Trademe. Ive checked in to Ooooby to see whose around. Ive read about when & how to harvest Garlic. Sigh. The dishes are half done.

Garlic On the Rise

Ive fed the cats, and the worms...

Odd isnt it, the cats do bugger all, nothing... and get fed twice a day and they whine about their food quality, quantity... the wind chill factor, anything at all.

The Worms... are far and away more productive, dont ask for a thing, and eat anything theyre given... and never say Boo... Which do I prefer? :-)
This is what I laid my eyes on first thing this morning. Im captivated.
Thank Nature! A truly beautiful thing!

Now to see if I can get a poppy head with viable seeds... I hope so. Theyre gorgeous :)

I snuck down this morning to check out the pumpkins.

Murphys Law, and I find myself putting compost around the base of the pumpkins, chocka block full of wormies. Nek minnit... Next minute, I see a big fat Lady Thrush pecking out the worms... Epic FAIL on the composting...

And WHERE on Gods Green Earth are my Furry Purries? Not doing their job, saving my worms from birds... Theyre all blobbing around the Catmint or lazing under my window waiting for it to open so they can be fed... Theyre being fed too well!
Well enough of my chatter.

Today is the middle of the last week of school for my Mister 11 and Im so looking forward to having them all home... and picking our own tomatoes to eat, lettuce, onions, and all the rest...

Love,

E BUTTERFLY

2011-12-12T12:42:00.000-08:00

Mandarin Satsuma Miho

First fruit of 2011 - Bloody Butcher Babies!

Poppy Head, still no showing of colour... Exciting!

Another gorgeous morning in Christchurch, New Zealand.

My furry friends have been out there *helping* me with the composting... See below for some cute furries!

Washington - Rubbing on the sticks that are put there to deter poohing in mummys garden!
See Zander lying in the polystyrene box behind. They all love those boxes, they must be quite warm.

We have water restrictions, and today is not my watering day, so weeding it is, well once the coffee break is over!... We have 26 degrees promised today, which is great for the tomatoes. Not so great for us who wish to have our beds tidy and weed-free for Xmas... but of course, Ive learnt, Gardens are always a work in progress, and as so, are never weed-free.

Parsley Babies... Yum!

Theres always some little unwanted plant creeping up somewhere!
Next year I hope to have some swan plants in, to attract the butterflies. My efforts as such this year are the buddleias - I have a creamy peach one to pick up tomorrow. Below youll see the Barbie Pink one. I also hope to gather others, I love their flowers, they remind me of lilacs, which I hope to have one of eventually too... Then theres Spindleberry, I love their wee berries... Oh heck. Add it to the Plants To Gather list!!

Buddleia. This one is lipstick pink. Like HOT pink!
Barbie Buddleia!

We have Kereru, or NZ Native Wood Pigeons in the trees at the back. They dont stay long, but they nibble the plums next door. I think they must come from Woodham Park which is around the road from us. It is wonderful to see them, though they never stay long enough, big fat luscious berry-eating, branch benders that they are. Theyre far bigger than anything else we have visiting us, and their wings make a definitive noise when they fly!

Maori Potato with flowers. Im new to potato growing, with mixed success. Next season will be better!

The Eau-de-cologne Mint from Miss B along the road is growing nicely.
The scent is quite unusual. She also gave me Sweet Cicely which has made itself at home and is quite sweet indeed, has an earthy after taste with it.

We have two stevia plants that I love. How awesome to know you have sugar when you dont have sugar *grin*

Another thing to do, is to figure out where to put grains. I really am itching to try growing something to provide us with a versatile grain...
Im hooking into Kay Baxters book Koanga Gardens Garden Guide. It is awesome, and very informative for NZers and their gardens... I aim to get my own copy, the library wants theirs back!!

Well thats it for today.
Im glad I wrote, its more real when its there in pictures, and I can look back. I just need to put aside some time to write more often...
Hope youre all enjoying the Spirit of the Season, whatever your beliefs, traditions, culture or location.

Be kind to Yourself,
Love,

E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Busy Times... Holidays & Garden Plots

2011-12-12T02:49:00.000-08:00

Between the Christmas Shopping and the Weeding, its been a busy month already.
Have just put in another little bed which Ive planted in carrots, two sorts, Nutri Red and Paris Ball, Some celery, and some Leeks.

The Back Run - Bath, Corn Bed and Pumpkins (Winter Deluxe Pie)

Zucchini & Stevia, Small Basil plants

Bath 2 - Eggplant & Stevia, Chicory and Basil

Corn Bed 2

New Gardens - Raspberry & Tansy in Front, Carrot, Leek & Celery behind

Higgledy Piggledy Garden Stuff
Tomatoes Red Russian

Basil in Front, Big Boy Tomato in behind, then Red Russians & Missouri Love Apple...
A Work In Progress

All sorts, still sorting out this corner. Mizuna & Lettuce, Basil, Poppies & Tomatoes

I dont know, I dont plan like I should, so Im going with the Flow. It felt right, and lets face it, Miss 5 ate her way through the last bed of Nutri Red carrots pretty quick, so Im going to make sure there are plenty. Its awesome to know she loves fresh veggies!

My echinacea looks gorgeous - second year, and a new position in the garden, and it has five flower heads promising to colour up. I had no success with raising seed from last years, so maybe this year I will do root division and have better success!!

Sunflowers, Companion to Corn

Self-sown Scarlet Runner Beans
Happy to see them, love those flowers!!

Chamomile - love that daisy head!

Calendula

Boysenberry!

The calendula have taken off, I love their golden faces poking up everywhere, they really are like Garden Sunshine! Im collecting seed, and have dried some heads to make Calendula Balm in the Winter.

The Grosso Lavender has been cut and dried this week. The plants have been much more successful this year, I think getting rid of all the clutter around them and improving the soil quality has helped. I love the scent of lavender, and it was nice to have the house lavender-scented whilst it dried.

Echinacea - My Favourite!

The dehydrator has had good use this week - We also dried some catnip. Im thinking of some little felt mice to amuse the cats... Another good Winter project with our newly dried catnip.

Hmm, What else? ...I have companion planted the Raspberry canes with Tansy.

We are watching out for the large poppies to colour up - they all have buds that are emerging slowly!

Have put a light dose of Epsom Salts in with my citrus. I noted today too that the wind has relieved our Akane apple of most of its blossoms, so I guess that will mean no fruit. How sad, but until I get it settled into a grow bag, it wont really matter.

Have dug out a very misshapen deformed Missouri Love Apple (tomato). Still have three of these beauties, love the name! ... They are better shaped and will hopefully grow strong and healthy from here on in!
One purple calabash plant, a very tiny one. I hope it will grow up big too, I so cant wait to see its fruit...

The others all seem to be going well. The Albenga Oxhearts and the Red Russians are my main tomato crops this year. Im really loving seeing fruit setting on my Bloody Butchers too!

Our Red onions from last season were yummy! I dug them, set them out to dry, and really couldnt resist. They were so sweet... I think I have four out of two dozen left. Next time I will be planting more... Its amazing how you notice how many you use when you plant and grow them yourself!

Hollyhock

Have planted a bed of lavender, all Grosso, so hopefully they will take and be my welcome patch for the bees in the coming years!

And now, some photos! :)

Love,

E BUTTERFLY

XXXXXXXXX

Long Time... No Blog... Garden In Progress!

2011-11-14T16:07:00.000-08:00

Pretty Peony!

Well its been One Of Those Months.

Lots of Garden progress though.

The good weather has been interspersed with lots of lovely rain, that means we have plump growth and already we have had several salads!

I love Homegrown!

So, without further ramblings... Some photos.

Tomato *Chocolate*

Lemon Balm

Mizuna - Lots of it!

Things have grown quickly, this was last month

Garlic, raspberry cane and seedlings

Berries, Lettuce, Tomato and Comfrey

We have growing - Tomatoes in the following varieties, Albenga Oxheart, Bloody Butcher, Jaune De Coeur Pigeon, Chocolate, Red Russian, Siberian Speckled, Baxters Early Bush, Sub Arctic Plenty, Missouri Love Apple, Large White, Yellow & Black Cherry... Black Krim and Purple Calabash.

Also growing Herbs like Chamomile, Basil, Chervil, Coriander, Parsley, Mint, Comfrey, Chives, Thyme, Lemon balm, Rosemary, Sweet Cicely...

And Calendula, Sunflower, Aquilegia in two diff colours, Marigold, Geranium, Poppy, forgetmenot,... still to add more seeds into the mix to attract bees!

And then theres veggies - Lettuce, about seven different varieties, Iceberg, a red cos, frilled green cos, buttercrunch, freckles, and a couple of others. Onions, red, white and brown. We eat a lot of onion!
Carrots - solar yellow and nutri red. Mizuna, rocket, corn salad, cabbage, broccoli, garlic, celery, corn though not as successful as I like! Radishes... hmm thinking...

And Berries/Fruit - Lemon, Boysenberry, Raspberry, Red currant, Black Currant, Alpine strawberry, Strawberry, Rhubarb - Victoria & Perpetual. Oh and Olive trees, the newest edition, but already one of my favourites...

miners lettuce

Raspberry

Thats us for now.
Hope all is going well in your neck of the woods.

EB

Gardening - Keeping Food Growing Legal...

2011-10-03T01:22:00.000-07:00

Those who know me...really know me, know that Im not a political person. But Im loyal, and what I love, I love intensely... And this week I was shown an article about legislation that could change Gardening in NZ forever, thanks to large corporations and big business who want *more than their fair share*.... I dont like the world we are becoming - without empathy and compassion, and things being *reasonably fair*, we become less than what we should be, and our lives become small and narrow.
We SHOULD help each other - care for the welfare of one another, and if we dont, what are we becoming and why are we here?... I digress... here it is...
Here it is, the Food Bill that is being talked about on almost every NZ Gardening Forum I subscribe to!
LINK
It scares me to think that this could come to affect us all - from seed banks, florists, markets, smaller growers, organic growers, private gardeners who swap seeds and produce, bartering, trading, selling from the gate, and so much more restrictions and registrations that cost, to be placed upon Gardeners and small gardening businesses - typical of our government controlling the smaller businesses so that Big Business line their pockets - politicians and businessmen alike... the ones who toil and tend their own gardens may lose basic control of that which they grow... Fair? Of course not - but typical of the negative, aggressive and ego-driven, materialistic world that ours is shaping up to be.

Threads like this one HERE and HERE show the fear and stress that these things bring about. This makes it easier to see why these things are passed and agreed upon without intervention - the little people prove to be easy to defeat and have a lot less to bargain with than big business...

Articles like THIS about losing the right to save seed makes me cringe. Im a newbie to the whole gardening world, and I love that I have the freedom to grow what I like where I can... We have to be able to produce food to share - if not, the poor die out, and the richer become even more so.

The silly thing is - SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE has to grow the food... PICK ME :-)

And an update from Sue Kedgeley - HERE

THOUGHTS to end...
Is this a bill that was to be passed through parliament whilst our country congratulates itself on winning the Rugby World Cup?
Or was the timing just coincidental.
Dont believe it - nothing to do with beaucracy is coincidental. Well well, Gardeners - gather and discuss, and as we go to the polls soon -
we need to vote to save our lifestyle and our food!

Im unhappy about this, and I hope that this bill will be thrown out. Im sure I will write about this again, and it leaves a terrible taste in my mouth... or is that the cold coffee I have at the bottom of my cup? :)

Contemplative In Christchurch,
Love to You,
E BUTTERFLY

The Benefits of Spring!!

2011-09-27T00:24:00.000-07:00

Have had a pretty good day today, despite it being the 27th - the prophecy for the End of Christchurch is tomorrow apparently, so Im making a blog post just in case I get caught up handing The End of My World As I Know It and dont get a chance...
It is GORGEOUS weather in Christchurch at the moment - fresh crisp frosts in the mornings giving way to high blue skies, and if there are clouds, they dont dare stay long so the sun is making his presence well known. I love Spring!
Unfortunately the children have both seccumbed to their big brothers virus, and have sore throats, so we bundled along the river bank this morning to make our way to the Park. Woodham Park is looking its best at the moment. Love love love it.
We found our good friend The Dog there. He loves Blaise, and always finds a stick so Blaise will throw it for him. It did the kids good to get out in the fresh air, and the sun is a good healer.

All the bulbs are starting to show their gorgeous faces, and the blossom is a reminder of all the good things in the world.

Our seedlings inside are growing slowly, but steadily. Tomatoes are almost ready to be put out to harden off so they can be planted next month. I cant wait to have my own tomatoes growing again!
Well thats it for now. Photos to add today...

Love to All,
especially those in Auckland :-)
E Butterfly
XXXXXX

Dreams and Aspirations...

2011-09-25T02:43:00.000-07:00

Night Light

Im grumpy.
Ive just spent the past day trying to organize my thoughts into an online forum for self reliant gardeners. It didnt work, and Im annoyed with my lack of skill, and that I spent so much time to amount to nothing much at all. Oh it looks pretty. Thats it. I cant decide where I have gone wrong.

So... Scrap that idea for now.
Ill continue when Ive done a bit more learning. Im quite keen to have a NZ based board to network with other gardeners who want to get some self sufficiency going. Know any? ... Id love to hear from you. I want to network with other people who are struggling to make their food budget stretch. Those who eat from their gardens... any tips, ideas, sharing experiences would be fantastic. Theres a growing trend of people going *back* or moving forward towards utilizing their gardens again. Fruit and vegetables are so expensive. Amongst us gardening folk, that doesnt have to be so. We gather seed, we could share it. We can share our bounty, or perhaps take a look to guide the hand of a new gardener... It doesnt take much to share your expertise, your skills to help someone who isnt so sure of whats what.

The library is a good place to start if youre a newbie to gardening, but then, so is the internet these days...
I love reading other peoples blogs about their gardening passions. It can be a small garden plot in the back yard that they pluck their herbs from, or a self-made brewery that makes cider from their own apple trees they propagated and grew themselves. It is all awesome, and its exciting to see the progress. We can empathise and commiserate in the losses, but celebrate in the successes! Nothing like watching your own sown seed grow into something you can harvest, or drink, or bottle, dry or sell... Or donate, bake, cook... The list goes on.
Ok, so now Im finished my bleat, and now that I have *talked it through* I dont feel so bad about my lack of success. Perhaps I ll stick to Gardening in the Real World, instead of trying to take it into the Cyber World.

I love my garden. Oh wait, you knew that.

But I do.

Peas (Easy Peasy) and Beans (Borlotti *Red Rooster*)

Seedlings - Radish, Beet, Carrots & Lettuce

Onion, Coloured Chard & Lemon Balm

It is still in its infancy, but it is starting to take shape. Not a definitive one yet, it would probably be classified as a Blob. Not a Square or a Circle yet. I still have to shape it to perfection. But I think that is the goodness of gardening, it is always small snippets of perfection - never the entirety, just glimpses... that make you want more...

Garlic on the Up!

New Raspberry Cane

Rhubarb

Roll on Spring, we have daylight saving which turns the bodyclock topsy turvy for a week
Then Wha-lah!! Time for planting, long days, crisp mornings... sunny skies.

Red Currant

Alpine Strawberry - Yellow Fruits

Rhubarb

So there we be.
Tomorrow is the start of another week. We are counting down til school holidays again...
I hope all your plans are fruitful, and you are keeping safe and well,

Til next time!
Love and Violets
EButterfly

QUICK POST - Friday Links!

2011-09-22T16:12:00.000-07:00

Ive found some things Id like to share, heres some links...

LEARN YOUR ABCS - the little Miss loved this site to learn and sing along...

PINTEREST - Crafts, things to do, creative stuff we love! Get ideas for Christmas too?

WATER TABS for Purification - ADD THESE THIS WEEK TO YOUR SURVIVAL KIT!

BREEZEPOD - THESE look fascinating. Id love to live in something like this post quake! Awesome

RAW ZEALAND is becoming one of my favourite places to read up... Love the articles, the recipes...

So theres my Friday Links...
Bye for Now

EB
XX

Berry Beautiful and Other Stuff

2011-09-22T15:57:00.000-07:00

Has been one of those fortnights.
Time flew, and before I know it, all the bills are due at once, not good management on my part, but meh. These things happen - its called Life.
Trying to plan for the extras and the imponderables is impossible these days, money is tight, and energy is low.
BUT! Theres always something good around the corner, and ... we have berries.
I happened upon a person who was shifting out of his house, and he in passing, mentioned his garden. We got talking, as keen green garden-loving people do, and we discovered we both had a love of self-sufficiency and all that stuff. He took me to show me his plants. Yes he did. His PLANTS!
He sold me some berry plants and made my week!
I need to get the camera out, but ... the garden has grown immensely just recently. Soon I hope the frosts will be a thing of the past, and I can get out there with my tomato seedlings. Yay!
I have radishes, carrots, silverbeet & chard, onions, garlic, shallots (that might be dead!) parsley, thyme, 2 echinacea plants, some coriander or chervil? I must look again... and a lemon tree, easy peasy peas, scarlet runner beans, borlotti beans, and and and the berries - 4 black currants, 1 boysenberry, 1 raspberry cane, a gooseberry and a red currant. Yay!
So we are heading towards a crop of goodness there... I received some Honey and Pearl corn seeds this morning. I aim to have a good crop there hopefully, I think I am going to need more than 30 seeds however, seeing Miss 5 loves corn, and Im picking the birds might too?

So see, we are down (a little!) but not out, and certainly things are progressing, despite being cash-poor!
Time for a garage sale, a bit of a tidy up inside... Hoo-eeyy! I dont WANT to stay indoors to tidy and clean.
I want to be outside in the dirt and the compost amongst my plants.

Loving the Garden Life.
Hope youre getting along nicely in your Garden... and Your Life too!
Love to All

E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

No Duck Talk! ... Drifting Riverside, The Whiff of Memories - Remembering

2011-09-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

Thinking of You!
To All those lost 9/11

Black Swans, Avon River 2011

Canada Geese, Avon River 2011

We walked for a while without talking, when we were accosted by a couple of ducks.
We are always followed when we walk along the Avon river, the bird life is still constant, and this time of year sees them out and about, looking for morsels of food, small nests in the willow trees or in the rushes at the side of the river.
No matter about cracks or liquefaction, these birds are constant.
Every year weve watched them. Weve oohed and ahhed over their babies, fed them and shared our bread... It was a bit hairy seeing them this time last year, but we still made sure we took some bread down to feed them. They were just as hungry as we were!
Two ducks came up to us this morning, and as usual, being the wonderful bird whisperer that I am, I clucked my tongue and called to them, as you do (dont you?) and they called back, that slow chuck chuck kind of ducky noise.
Muuuum. (Rolls eyes) The little girl sighs.
They cant hear you, Miss 5 says, hands on hips.
Oh. Why not Arlais? I ask.
Thinking quickly, how do I explain simply that ducks DO have ears, you just cant see them etc.
Well, they cant hear you Mum,
because you
DONT SPEAK DUCK...

I am enlightened.
I swear that girl thinks on her feet for one so young, and will one day turn peoples heads with her thinking.
So I need to learn DUCK.

It is THE most gorgeous day out there.
Bless. I love the sunshine, and this morning it hurt my eyes when I opened the curtains, in fact Mister 11 remarked on it. It was if the sun was shining with his best shirt on, expansive and full. I love today.

We walked down the river, the way we used to for years until our Avon Loop bridge was *munted*.
We stumbled over holes, loose metal on the road, liquefaction, debris from diggers. Theres so many empty houses, some things are broken, some is overgrown, messy and yet... It still has a beauty about it.
The River still glistens, it still moves gracefully if you choose NOT to notice the debris and the mud, the missing trees and the fresh gashes or the sandbags.
I chose today not to see them.
Let me walk in ignorance of the negative things.
The Willows and the Oak trees are pushing upward, the new leaves are about a breath away from expanding outward from bud. The sky is a perfect blue, and the meagre clouds small and puffy.
Today I noticed something that made me smile and remember other times.
The River has a smell to it. Like the smell of algae and water mud, of willows and brackish waters. It reminds me of a time when I was young (ooh Im so old!) and we lived beside the Waitaki River. After flooding, the river always had landlocked pools of green algae that hid under big willow trees, their leaves falling into the pools making them brackish and strong smelling. Today that smell leapt at me, from the river... Memories.

Well, memories I guess, make us who we are to some extent. For good or bad, happy and sad. And as you get older, you recall things so much easier, perhaps until you get so old you cant remember anything *grins*
Life is funny. Not ha-ha funny.

Wow, a very deep post today... Just hoping I can fling off all this and start to be the crazy cat lady with the big garden and too many kids who knows weird stuff soon. It is all part of the Life Process I guess.
Now. Where was I?
Thats right... We are off to paint River stones with bright coloured paint for the garden, and talk about our walk around our River.

Love and Blessings,
Remembering 9/11 and the way the world changed...
From My Heart to Yours,

E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Holy Tree Batman!

RWC Starts... The All Black Prayer... Perfect Weather

2011-09-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

Our players who art in Black,

Hallowed be Thy Game.

When full time comes, thy will be done in 2011 as it was in '87.

Give us each game our Daily Victory and forgive us our previous shortcomings as we forgive those who coached in 07.

And lead us NOT to knock out round failure,

but deliver us from World Cup drought,

In the name of McCaw, Carter and the Holy Webb Ellis.

Amen.

Perfect weather today for Rugby
Spring breezes, blue skies and happy faces. An air of anticipation, and lots of perfectly-timing illnesses requiring half days. A lot of it :-) Thank Goodness for Sympathetic Employers who secretly are pleased to get home to prepare for the sacred ritual of Watching Rugby from the Pulpit of Sofa or Couch...
Im about to hop out into the garden to sow some more seeds. It happens to be a perfect day for Gardening too! Lots of birds out, theyre excellent company when youre digging the weeds.

Love to All,
E BUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXXX

Cupcakes, Misty Mornings and Spring...

2011-09-07T17:27:00.000-07:00

Avonside Swan

One of those blah weeks. Misty mornings make the drive to school vaguely interesting.
The sun is a bit watery, but is so nice to see! Getting out and about is getting easier...
We made cupcakes... two dozen of them, and took them to see friends. There is only 8 left :-)
Sugary Goodness? You BET!
Should I be excited about the Rugby World Cup? Possibly.
Am I? Not at all.
Where is my patriotism, my pride? Who knows. Im just not *Rugby.*
And the hype... the dollars spent... doesnt impress me at all.

Go All Blacks.
There.
Thats done.

Now... show me the Garden, and thats different!
We have PROGRESS people.
The little sprouts of greeness everywhere are exciting to see.
The birds love hanging out in the front trees, eating the seeds in the homemade bird feeder. We cooked up a couple of lard lumps with wild bird seed in them. I hung one in the front tree and had to wait for a few days til they found it. Now they hang out up there most days, and the seeds they drop are growing radish and millet plants which is kinda odd, but neat ...

So there we be.
Not a lot to report here in Christchurch, predictions still stand for an Earthquake soon.
Today I replaced some of my survival supplies while doing the shopping. I never have *everything* but I have *most things* or something that I could substitute for it...
I really do hope we dont need them, but Im prepared...

ARE YOU PREPARED?
Please, make sure you have the basics... Stock some water, stock your pantry. Have a plan. Talk about situations with your children. Have a plan!
Dont leave it to chance, no matter WHERE You live.
You need to have some plans in place for a serious emergency.
My heart goes out to the families involved in the bus crash up North. HERE for NEWS So many young lives, and that poor bus driver whose granddaughter was badly hurt and is fighting for her life at Starship Hospital. Thinking of you all, Kia Kaha!
Also, the families of those killed in the plane crash in Russia, such a sad time. Love and Blessings at this sad time.

And on that note... PLANT YOUR FOOD GARDEN.
It will keep you eating when others may be struggling!

Love to You
From my Hearth to Yours
E BUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXXX

A Year On... The Good, The Bad... and The Very Pink?

2011-09-04T16:12:00.000-07:00

SNOW & Sunshine - August 2011

Chimney Removal. Emergency repairs meant it was removed and gib put up. No stopping, no replaced lino or paint.
Very rough. Very cold area! Mice can fit between floor and wall!

Our Barbie Girl! Birthday Presents!

Planted seeds - Peas, Beans. Early I know... Early Bird catches Cold?

Meyer Lemon

Our Avonside Drive - note the huge cracks. All along the river, the sides are falling inward.

Miss 5 on her birthday

Its been a Year. A Year... A hell of a Year!
Still, we are still here...
Through all the frustrations, we are still plodding along. Despite the constant reminders, we still get through.
Its not been easy, but we do it.
For the latest predictions, have a look HERE
KEN RING reckons ~
Upcoming dates for possible increases in seismic action are

28th Aug – 2nd Sept,
14th-17th and (particularly) 23rd-28th Sept.
Oct 12th-13th and 26th-27th.

There are plenty of reminders locally of things that still need attended to.

Twisted mangled bits of *stuff* lie on riverside

More rubbish.

Contractors Rubbish left on our riverside!

Gateway to the Park. Cracked!

THE YEAR THE EARTH SHOOK - NEWS

ONE YEAR ON - STORY

EXTENT OF DISASTER - NEWS

READING SIGNS BEFORE QUAKE - HERE

WATER RESTRICTIONS - NEWS

FRUSTRATIONS DEALING WITH EQC - STORY

Bus driver who rescued children in quake fights cancer

Im saddened that our beautiful Avon river that we were so proud of, is now a dumping ground for all manner of rubbish and debris. Too many people needing care, to get things sorted elsewhere. It is a shame. Our River smells, is dirty, has sewerage and other contaminants in it and generally looks awful!

Life is Good In The Spinach Patch

On Top Of Things

Helllooooo!

Spring!

Fluffy Bum!

Birthday Cake!! Barbie Style :)

The Birthday Girl

Pink Lemonade!

Big Brother and Barbie Presents!

Cuddles with Daddy

Scooter At Work!

Enjoying the settled weather. The first of Spring has passed, now onwards towards growing...
GROWING BIG AND STRONG!

Shocking dark indoor photography... Family Photo

Tea Party!

The Shiny New Gun!

So who knows what lies around the corner? Something good I hope... I cant entertain thoughts that there is more sadness and frustrations ahead. But if there is, somewhere therein will lie the strength to get through it I guess?
Thinking of You!
Love to All,

E BUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXX

The First of Spring and Shaking with a Fiver!

2011-09-01T14:05:00.000-07:00

Cant believe September is here again!Lots planned around town for commemorating the 4th of September.
Not here, we are too busy trying to stay warm, dry and involved. I have to say, it is very easy to become *uninvolved* with the world around when things are difficult. Disconnected and out of touch. And the past few weeks seem to have been very difficult what with one thing and another. I think we need to surround ourselves with Positivity - positive thoughts and people! And Sunshine (If possible!)

Woke up this morning at 3.30am to a rocking crashing swaying familiarity. Yes, an earthquake. Aftershock. Whatever, it was a goodie.5.0 - definitely worth a mention.
Miss 5 slept through, though she was unsettled. Mr 11 was nowhere to be seen. Neither was the cat. So just Me lay on my bed and waited for the next one. Sigh. No sleep had. No other EQ either. Really not liking this.
Heavy rain last night resulting in snow in other places, but not down low as predicted there mightve been. Im so glad. We just dont need the dislocation and the stress.

So Im still nurturing my little tomato seedlings. Some have grown up and gone out to the porch for the hardening off process. Theyll grow there until I can plant them out further. They look great next to the Aloes, the calendulas and the marigolds, and the fenugreek who are doing so well!
I have another whole bunch coming up too, some have their real Tomato looking leaves on now, its awesome. Love watching things grow! Cant wait to taste our own tomatoes! I hope the shallots and the garlic, the carrots and lettuces grow nicely too. Gosh, its exciting to think I might actually grow our own salad in a bit of dirt outside... Love it! We have planted some thyme, chervil and basil seeds too. It might be a bit early, will have to wait and see. The Lemon tree is looking fabulous. It still has its fruit on it, which is testament to Miss 5s good behaviour. She is itching to pick them :)

The Poppy seeds I have sprinkled came up with gusto after the rain. Im sure it will look magic having big red poppies amongst the hollyhocks and calendulas and giant marigolds. Neato!

Well I best go and make hay while the sun shines, or... put the washing out and make beds.
Life in the Fridge that is Christchurch, exists... A cautious Spring is just waiting for the snow to subside, then things will warm up and start to grow...

Hope all are well, warm & safe.
Love to You
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Its a BOOK BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARLAIS!

2011-08-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

So the little Miss turns FIVE today.

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY ARLAIS!!
We had a few little presents, mostly books this morning...oh and some BARBIE MAKEUP which I secretly dislike intently, but then we dont do *big* birthdays, and she just LOVES lipgloss at present...
Some CUT-OUT dressup dollies, which look like fun for Mum and Daughter :-) And some gorgeous books...Animal ones mostly... A beautiful cupcake shaped notebook which Madam has written her *name* inside.
Doctor Seuss Flipcards for Numbers and Letters... which look awesome too, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish... Hop On Pop and all that.... I hope we learn them quickly!

Glorious sun and high blue skies today.
A frosty start, but who cares when the days are slowly getting longer and everything feels lighter because of it! Of course, we have some anniversaries looming - its six months this week since the February earthquake that took so many lives, but it is almost a year since our lives changed because we experienced the September earthquake...
Its not all doom and gloom. There are a multitude of Daffodils and Narcissus poking up their happy little faces from the dirt.
This signifies SPRING!
And of course...
This Friday is Daffodil Day, raising money for Cancer Society of NZ -
LOOK THIS YEARS DAFFODIL DAY - NEWS HERE!
My Mother died of Cancer, ironically in September many years ago, and I fully support Daffodil Day in memory of her, because she loved Spring.

Lambs and Daffodils certainly here in NZ, signify Spring!!
Its not always about donating money either, theres also other things you can PURCHASE to help raise money for cancer research and support.
You never know when you may need the Cancer Society, and they are the only charitable foundation I look at to support these days. As they say, Everyone knows SOMEONE who has had their lives changed because of Cancer.

Well, Im off to feed the ducks.
Avonside Drive has changed so much this year, it doesnt feel like it is the majestic Avon river that meanders past many of the broken sites further through the city. I think of it as that dirty brown river that is often swollen and has new stony grey banks now, not the gorgeous grassy banks dotted with bulbs and reeds, and planted with huge willows and oaks and other specimen trees. I miss that grand old Avon river... and our River walk that has slowly slipped, in the past eitht months, back into the river in some parts, or lies broken in others...

Will take the camera.
Bye for now,
Happy Days!

Love
EButterfly
XXXXX

Magnificent Monday and Other Stuff

2011-08-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

A Magnificent, Moving Monday... Well, it started out just magnificent, but since I decided the magnificent part, its been a bit shaky too! A 4.3 to help us digest our breakfast with... Shake those cornies down...

So, where have we been lately? ... Not outside so much, a week inside at least because of three days of very heavy snow, though the snow did leave us on good terms with the beautiful weather post-snow.
Gorgeous blue skies, those billowy white clouds and some knock-out days in the garden!
Been cleaning and tidying mostly. Trying to organize the spare room into something other than Survival Central. Of course, now Im reconsidering :-) Maybe the Survival Stuff can go back where it was, and me and The Boarder - well, we can all just huddle in the lounge or curl up on The Sofa together and admire the view.

Have had the kids down with *suspected measles* - they had some of the symptoms, and Miss 4.11 came down with a  rash, but nothing seemed to *happen* other than temperature spikes and night and lethargy.
All over now, ten days and we bounced back again very quickly, pleased to report... My children touch wood, dont tend to get ill apart from the occasional cold. Im very grateful for that I might add!

We have Tomatoes! <--- technically, just the plants... of course... But our seedlings have sown nicely and are cheerfully growing so they can see out the lounge window... Weve been watching them grow morning by morning, and noting who grew first - Tomato Chocolate is the laziest, and our Bloody Butchers seem to be having issues with which way is UP! The little yellow cherry tomatoes just grew and grew - they took three days to sprout, and they have their first set of *grown up tomato leaves* now.
So most of these varieties we chose are supposedly early, so I hope they remember to Grow Strong.
We have a bbq dinner riding on whose tomatoes fruit first --- we cant have Uncle N winning because he cooks superb bbq!!

All in all, we have some fenugreek seedlings looking fantastic, some awesome Basil Red Rubin - very pretty purply red shoots! and then theres assorted tomatoes... Its going to be fantastic if we can successfully grow them all, Im stocking up on the Tomato recipes in anticipation...
Have some companions going in too, some calendula, some parsley and some marigolds, also looking to snip some cuttings from my lavenders.

The Police are blitzing this part of town lately checking warrants, registrations and licences.
It seems ironic that because of our bottlenecks with traffic works, they use that to their best advantage.
The traffic is so slow at rush hour anyway because of the holes that open up so frequently, or the roadworks that is ongoing, but this morning they had the incoming traffic slowed to a halt almost as they checked the cars...
It isnt a worry for me at the moment, but sometimes it can be a few days in between getting things ship shape, and its a big stress for most people round this part of town.
In My opinion, the cost of living has risen, but wages and benefits do not reflect this rise. I do worry about where it will leave people, as their first and foremost concern is surely family care and comfort - power and food, warm clothing and footwear, over whether vehicles are legal?
Another stressor now of course, is having to have a *second supply* of things, in case of power cut or earthquake. It IS a stressor here.
It doesnt always equate to *bad planning* if you dont have everything you need, it may be that there is just not enough funds to spread between the things you need from day to day, and the things you *may possibly/probably* need in case of emergency.
ARE YOU PREPARED? Do you have things stored for your family?
It is something I am coming up against, but I tick along ok. It is a question that is often asked when you talk to people - Do you have a first aid kit? Do you have stored food or water?
For me - it is a must. Basics. As I said to Mr EB yesterday, God I hope we dont have to survive on my survival kit, as RICE is the main component! Im sure I love rice... sigh.

Im committed to planting my garden with vegetables and companion plants rather than the usual perhaps showy plants/flowers that I would like...
It is simply, it makes sense.

Well, on that note, I must go and rethink my supply cupboard.
I have masks and gloves, water and matches, lantern and tarpaulins to find homes for.

Healing Thoughts to my friend Spencer,
We love you Spence.

Thinking Of You, and Your Garden
May all Your weeds, be edible :-)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EButterfly

Winter Again ... Gardening On The Inside

2011-08-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

Its freezing cold today. Arlais has just told me the *Scary Sky* means the clouds are chasing one another, and I think, given the wind, she may be right. The grey/black clouds are chasing the big billowy snow clouds away. Its rained, hailed and blown all day.
It hasnt stopped The Process though!
Im having computer issues, and havent got a clue how to fix it, so I ll stick to what I think I know - Im Gardening On The Inside today - the dreaming, scheming, reading and planning... From the warmth of the lounge, with the awesome bank of knowledge I can find in others books, Mr Google and similar...
Real hard work I tell ya!

Ive also been checking the pots... We have some more little shoots rearing their heads... I feel like an expectant parent, but theyre making some good progress...

So Onward We Go - Snow if you will!
It wont stop the Creative Juices flowing.
Our fenugreek seedlings have set their next lot of leaves, the Tomato Gang - Albenga Oxheart, Black Zebra and Yellow Cocktail are going strong. No sign of Russian Red and his mates Bloody Butcher or Chocolate but Ive just noticed a little elecampane stretching up from its soily bed, - whose going to be next I wonder?

So Im going back to the gentle rest of my chair to sit and peruse the pages of someone else's wisdom
I have on my knee The NZ Organic Gardening Handbook by Brenda Little... so away I go.

Rest Easy,
Hope youre safe and warm

Love to All
E Butterfly
XXXXXXXXXXX

Catching Up on the Inside...

2011-08-11T17:43:00.000-07:00

Ahh well, I guess the rain and cool weather had to catch up on us eventually. And sickness! This week both kids have had sore tummies and all that goes with it. Fingers xed, not me as yet...
So there we are, a week without use of an oven... and no sign of the blimmen electrician, who was due last FRIDAY. Seven days. Hmmpfff. He is *due* today, and is late. Not impressed, of course the landlord is laxadasical too, but as usual, he doesnt have to live with it. End of Rant... What doesnt kill us makes us stronger ;-) We DO have the use of a bbq... its just a bit cold out there for that this week! Im sure the Heat pump has made us lazy!

So! We gathered our seedlings into the warmth of the front room for better growing conditions hopefully. A good decision! We decided to log which seeds came up (or didnt) and I feel very impatient waiting... but I didnt have to wait too long!
Three days after planting, we had two Yellow Cocktail Tomatoes up. Now we have seven, but one looks particularly *munted* Im not sure why.
Yesterday I noticed an Albenga Oxheart seedling just barely poking its head up, today there are three of the much-awaited little fellas... And one of our Meyer Lemon seeds looks like it might be doing something. Growing I hope.
Its funny how basil seeds swell and go blue. I had noticed this last year, and again this year. My first thought was they were moulding! (see, ignorance is bliss!)

Ive just joined a very informative website/forum for Tomato growers. HERE- Tomatoville
Ive spent the past two days reading the boards and learning a lot about all manner of gardening things...
Because the growing season in the US is at a different stage to us, it gives me impetus to get growing again... Already Ive added CUCUMBER to my list of Things I must Grow!

Weve enjoyed the days out in the Garden, Blaise planted his Nepeta (catmint) plant he bought with his own pocket money... Of course the funniest thing, is watching the cats trying to paw through the sticks we made into a tripod to stop them clawing at the plant. They rub and smooch everywhere.
It doesnt stop the Tribal Cat Wars we are having at the moment. We have two boys and two girls. All are fixed. One of the girls is quite indifferent to the other cats, but her brother, is a black and white Tom who just wants to fight everyone else. It is mayhem, the other cats are just not allowed to go anywhere near him. The neighbours cat has been badly beaten twice, and Ive been told to *do something* - Im not sure how we will resolve this issue... any ideas, Id love to hear please! My father always used to kid our Family Cat that he would go *Under The Grapevine* if he misbehaved. I have a grapevine... and that is where our dearly departed cat went several years ago... sigh.

Back to the Garden...
Weve been making growing boxes out of pallets. It seems the most economical way of getting what we need for what we can afford. The soil weve been using is bolstered with pig pooh, dryed and sieved, and some Supa-Grow. I think that has a bit of everything, and is quite mulched already. And then topped off with some peastraw. We are getting there slowly...
And then it rains.

But this is good things, and it gives me a bit of time for reading, researching and getting ready.
Everyone seems to be so excited about the Rugby World Cup this year... I couldnt care less, Im excited about seeing what grows in my garden :-)

Hope youre keeping warm, - I hear theyre predicting SNOW again next week!! Hmm, it was fun the first time... not sure Im quite ready to do that again :-)

Love to all
E Butterfly
XXXXXXXXXXX

Sunday for Thought...

2011-08-07T01:48:00.000-07:00

Another Sunday almost biting the dust. Its been the coldest day weve had for a long time, and we arent happy. The kids are climbing over each other to get out, so out come the hats and jackets, and out they go... Except for the one who has to do homework... Lots of reading, murmurs and plans there...
But Wait Theres More! ...
We had a stellar day yesterday!
Saturday at its very best! Mr EB and Young Sir of 11yrs got down and did some carpentry. Chisel, hammer and nails and some boards, and Voila! If only I had a camera ... Will have to look into it, they have made me the most wonderful gardening boxes!!
Lots of nodding, measuring and the occasional dark cloud, but the results were fantastic! And they have plans to make more...
We bought our first Lemon (Meyer) and put it in a gro-bag so it can be moved, should we move...
Its awesome to have, it has some fruit on it too, which is kinda neat to see when you look out into the garden.

Seeds are IT at the moment - weve started sowing them for our new growing season.
Mostly tomatoes - Black Krim, Yellow Cocktail, Albenga Oxheart, Purple Calabash and Bloody Butcher so far...,

BASIL

Fenugreek

Some Basil - Red Rubin and Genovese, but also some fenugreek. It is growing nicely, so far so good.

Basil Red Rubin

Seven shoots of Rosemary have taken off nicely, theyve just been planted in Supa-grow after spending a few weeks growing roots in a glass of water... one is even flowering, the tiny little blue flowers lead me to think it might be similar to Rosemary *Tuscan Blue*

So thats it for now... Im hoping that for the start of the week, the wind may subside, it is bitterly cold with the wind today and makes working outside really unpleasant.
Or I may just have to make myself a warm hat :-P

Love to all
Keep Warm and Safe!

E Butterfly
XXXXXX

Early Morning Shake Awake!

2011-08-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

Time for an Update.
It seems like ages since I sat down to write...
And why not write now --- I cant sleep. I dream of Gardens lately, but this morning my dreams came to a standstill by way of a 4.3 that just seemed to go on for a while, and Im not good at settling again. I tossed and turned, but meh. Im up now. Early Bird, ME!!
Things have gotten quite busy, and we are making good progress with the new garden and other things.
Since the EQC people put us on the *Critical Fix* list, we have had a few visits from people doing things. First it was the Landlord putting in new curtains and filling in holes and gaps... Then the Heat Pump was installed. Ahh, instant heat!
Well, we have since had two or three visits, and we now have no chimneys, just the spaces where they were. Yesterday and today saw our second chimney being taken out, giving us back the corner of a room and soon our second heat pump will be installed. We have a big *gap* where the old fireplace/wetback was, and our room looks so much bigger! Theyve gibbed it all, and are replacing the tiles in the roof and its hard to imagine there was ever a fireplace in the corner at all...
The front room too, is quite appealing now with the extra warmth, the kids love it.
We also have a new instant hot water unit, thats powered by gas! The landlord put it in, and changed the size of the pipes, so we have added pressure in the shower, which is like hot massage needles... Awesome when you get in from the Garden in the evenings!!
So thats inside.
Outside...Another gorgeous block of Winter weather here in Canterbury.
We got through the snow, and came out the other side with gorgeous days full of high blue skies, no cloud, but frrrreeezing cold frost in the mornings.
Almost like Spring in fact! Wheres the rain gone? I dont know, but I hope it catches up soon. We need the cold snap to help kill off the bugs in the soil, so towards the Spring, the plants can grow furiously... In my new Garden!!!!!!

Im going to take photos *of course*, but for now, just imagine bricks. Lots of them. All lined up in rows ... beds of soil... full of Compost, Mulch and other good growing stuff...
Canterbury has a dearth of bricks at present, given all the chimneys that have been removed! We have edged our gardens, and it looks nice... but will look better when things start growing over the edges of the bricks...
Ive started some seeds off. Planning beds of herbs and flowers like Parsley, Marigold, Calendula, Basil and Heirloom Tomatoes... Some wildflower mix in the front garden will add colour to our bland expanse at the front
Amazingly enough, after me thinking it was too early, the seeds I have sown are already poking through the soil mix at four days old! Maybe theyre just really keen to be here, or my luck is changing!

Have had a wonderful week, a bit stiff in the shoulders, have raked, bricked, dug, weeded, planted, sown, sighed, slept, and thunked about Gardening... and really enjoyed it all.
Even the kids got in on the act yesterday, out there with shovels and forks... Giggling and helping.
Nice family unit we have going on there...
I love it. This is definitely where I belong.
What is it they say --- *Bloom Where Youre Planted*
Im glad I was planted here. Im grateful for what I have.
I love them all.
Just been reminded of where I belong.
Firmly planted with my family, which is where my home is.

Keep Safe and Warm
Love til next time,
E Butterfly
Gardener!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

More of The Same - WHITE OUT!

2011-07-25T01:37:00.000-07:00

White Trampoline!

My poor Garden :(

The Birds Tree - Pretty White!!

My Favourite Snow Princess!

Making Snow People

Blaise recovering after being pelted with snowballs

Wanting to take some inside...

Gord At Snow

River Side

Have had a lazy day. Inside, in the Warm. Thanks to our new heatpump. It has been a nice time for the kids, we took a walk to the end of the street, but didnt venture further, the snow was up to my calves, so for the little tacker, walking was difficult. She only lost her boot once, but fell down a hole and slipped over several times...
The Boys... Well. Lets just say, I almost had to ban Snowball fights, Oww, that one hurt, He got me in the Eye, I cant breathe cos he hit me... etc... It was too much to think that they would be all sweetness and light, and find their own Snowmen to build. However - They did.build.snowmen.

Fifty Families in CHCH without power tonight. I wish I knew where, I would love to have them here in our house so they dont have to bear with the night to come... Fingers Xed that our power network copes, they seem to think the new lines will do so admirably!

It has been made very clear to me, how dangerous a large black out would be. How would we keep warm, and the current trend is... Rip out the fire places, and place large ELECTRIC heating units in. ... So it is up to the individual to have alternative power sources to keep warm with, in case of power cuts... I endeavour to do so, but have not done so yet, due to cost... An LPG Heater is not a good option, it is dangerous to leave this kind of heating going for any length of time... So Im not sure what I would do, given we no longer have places to make fires. The alternative might be to stand around a fireplace outside???
Lots to think about!

So, after a day of snow, some fun, pussy cats snoozing beside the heater and making *comfort food* (in this house, Porridge with Brown Sugar, and Soup) ... We are doin' fine. I even braved walking to find bread tonight but the BP was out. The guy was most apologetic... So, I got in the car and drove to the Stupidmarket. They were closing... and I was very fortunate to get all the reduced bread as there wasnt a lot of people around... just us silly ones... We couldve survived without bread, but I dont make bread yet. I mean to try, I just havent *note to self... Learn to make your own bread!* Also, get jumper leads. Poor girl next to me, in a car with her girlfriends, couldnt start her car. I couldve helped, if I had of had Jumper Leads... Note, get them. It is nice to be able to help someone else... Ya know, Not ONE of the people there helped. Not one! Im disgusted by that. Since when do we think its ok to NOT help someone in need, (especially in the snow when its pouring with rain!) then bitch to others about people who do not help us? ... Yes it happens... It should not. grr. Vent over...

So for now, I say, cos this is my soap box...
Long Live The Snowman ...

My thoughts are with the Farmers who have stock to care for.
And the people who have Houses with Holes/Roof issues/Heating issues...

Hope to see the Sun again Soon!
EB
XX

UPDATE on SNOW!!

2011-07-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

I almost expect to see Santa...
Hehehe. You know how it feels when you crunch in hard pressed snow...?
Or walking outside while it snows - yanno, the flakes whizz past you, cover you, make you giggle?
Because it is SPECIAL MAGIC!
SNOW IS MAGIC!!! (only cos it happens so irregularly here in the city!)

So uhh...Hear that inane adult giggle outside?
You might live in our street... cos we LOVE snow... proper white thick, free falling snow!!! And I giggled like an idiot when I saw it... I went out and took photos... and it makes me feel very very childish, that young-at-heart kinda Good-Stuff-feeling.

Oophs Heres the Garden...

The Trees next to my bedroom...

Winter Wonderland...

Our Carebear Car under Snow Blankets!!

Hey Santa, Wheres ya Sack?

Letter Box with White Top!!

Mr almost-15 was on his way to bed when I heard the gasp... Mum, Mum, come and look, ITS REALLY SNOWING... so here are our updates on the previous post.

My poor, poor garden... My furr-babies are in the Garage, tucked up... And our street is quiet. All you can hear is the whizz of the falling snow, and some idiot giggling :-) *rolls eyes* yeah, thats me.

Uhuh, well Im up late, its Sunday, no school tomorrow thank goodness, cos there is NO way these two boys are going to sleep without another look at the Snow. Just in case it is gone by tomorrow (yeah right, like I needed convincing?)
So its off to dig out my winter-woolies, my hat, my boots and my Snow Board (grin) no, not a snow board...

But to be a Kill-Joy, they tell me its due to rain soon...

Magic, Its a Winter-Wonderland of Magic out there...

Skiing By Yours, dont forget to wave!!

Love

Whats New Pussycat? -- Sunday Snow...

2011-07-24T03:22:00.000-07:00

Whats New Pussycat?

What's new pussycat? Woah, Woah
What's new pussycat? Woah, Woah

Pussycat, Pussycat
I've got flowers
And lots of hours
To spend with you.
So go and powder your cute little pussycat nose!

Pussycat, Pussycat
I love you
Yes, I do!

You and your pussycat nose!

What's new pussycat? Woah, Woah

Pussycat, Pussycat
You're so thrilling
And I'm so willing
To care for you.
So go and make up your cute little pussycat face!

Pussycat, Pussycat
I love you
Yes, I do!
You and your pussycat face!

What's new pussycat?
Woah, Woah
What's new pussycat?
Woah, Woah

Pussycat, Pussycat
You're delicious
And if my wishes
Can all come true
I'll soon be kissing your
sweet little pussycat lips!

Pussycat, Pussycat
I love you
Yes, I do!
You and your pussycat lips!

You and your pussycat eyes!

You and your pussycat nose!

(Tom Jones)

Snow!

Slush! Slippy slidey sidewalk...

Our Street!

The new Garden, complete with White Stuff!

It is snowing ~
Oh Yes it Is! Its as cold as a frogs foot, and as wet as the pond the frog lives in.
I like thick chunky snow. The kind that comes along quietly, sits on the ground and banks nicely, then goes away. Not this namby pamby cant-decide kind of snow that is weasely wet and thin on the ground... I shouldnt complain...
There seems to be snow all over the South as I look online at the weather report. Motueka to the North, Dunedin to the South, and all over Christchurch... Even Mr EB in Oxford has it apparently...The ski fields will love it :-)

Of course for the second week of the School Hols, it makes us inside like a bunch of sardines, but that is ok.

We had a great first week. Maybe the snow will decide to move on out after a couple of days...

Then we can get back to the Real Stuff... Outside.

Ive joined a Seed Swap. Im really pleased, Im learning a lot, and I have really found something I enjoy. I spent the afternoon making tiny paper envelopes to put seeds in. Ive just found glue sticking my hoodie to my arm, how creative is that?!
Also, on OOOOBY, I found other people I can chat with about my favourite subjects - seeds, veggies, gardens, sigh. Happiness is so easily found for some...

I am waiting very patiently for my parcel of seeds to arrive from Kings seeds this week. I have the seed raising mix all ready to go, and Im going to crow now about the success of my indoor capsicums... so just hide your eyes if youre over it :-)
I raised them from seed, first time ever. They went green, grew nicely on my windowsill in my bedroom ... and now have gone a shiny red. Thanks to moving them into the room with the new heatpump...Yay!
I will have to watch them, as Miss 4 LOVES eating capsicums, and they are well within her reach.

Got to love this weather, its time for soup.. veggie is nice, but I love PUMPKIN Soup... That is tomorrows job. It lasts us just a day or two, but its hearty and filling and it keeps us warm... Yum!

Well, not a lot to report just now,
Hanging in there til we see the sun...
Dreaming of Posties with fat Seed Parcels, including our Swapsies.

This weekends Movie... Quite fitting title :)

Love to All,

Especially those in The North.
Come Home Soon :-)

Take care,

E BUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXX

Long Time, No Blog... LOTS of Progress Outside.. School Holidays and All

2011-07-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Diary... Well, thats what this seems like sometimes...
Its been a while since I wrote. Ive thought of doing so often, I just didnt quite make it inside to hover long enough... outside the weather has been GORGEOUS and sunny and we are LOVIN' IT!For a start its School Holidays.
The first week is nearly over, and we have survived. Not too many disagreements as yet. I dislike school holidays, as they usually end in arguments. Teenagers who dont want to be home etc. and have that dislike for Parental Controls, Rules, and Generally Anything At All ...

So far, so good. We have cut down some seriously big trees, made piles of green stuff to be chipped or mulched, or composted. But, do not fear, Dear Devics, I have plans to replace said felled Trees. Lots of Ideas.
The front trees have been trimmed.

Ive begun clearing the vines down the side of the property, and as you can see, we removed a huge overbearing cabbage tree from the house guttering, which lets so much more light into the front porch. Weve also sorted out some pea straw and mushroom compost.

The roses have been pruned rather harshly, given its the first time in ages, and Weve used all the recycled bricks from out of our chimneys in the garden edging.
I have my fingers xed that they stay there post quakes, but I guess time will tell. Ive heard it looks attractive, I have yet to be happy with the result, it will look MUCH better when there is something growing in the front garden. I am not sure, but Im thinking FLOWERS! ... The pretty cottage garden type perhaps. It reminds me of that song... Nana Mouskouri...Uh Oh, here I go again *sings*

In An English Country Garden

How many kinds of sweet flowers grow

In an English country garden?

We'll tell you now of some that we know

Those we miss you'll surely pardon

Daffodils, heart's ease and Phlox

Meadowsweet and lady smocks

Gentian, lupine and tall hollihocks

Roses, foxgloves, snowdrops, blue forget-me-nots

In an English country garden

How many insects come here and go

In an English country garden?

We'll tell you now of some that we know

Those we miss you'll surely pardon

Fireflies, moths, gnats and bees

Spiders climbing in the trees

Butterflies drift in the gentle breeze

There are snakes, ants that sting

And other creeping things

In an English country garden

How many songbirds fly to and fro

In an English country garden?

We'll tell you now of some that we know

Those we miss you'll surely pardon

Bobolink, cuckoo and quail

Tanager and cardinal

Bluebird, lark, thrush and nightingale

There is joy in the spring

When the birds begin to sing

In an English country garden

How many kinds of sweet flowers grow

In an English country garden?

We'll tell you now of some that we know

Those we miss you'll surely pardon

Daffodils, heart's ease and flox

Meadowsweet and lady smocks

Gentain, lupine and tall hollihocks

Roses, foxgloves, snowdrops, blue forget-me-nots

In an English country garden

*************************

Lately, we've talked endlessly about seeds. Today, we sat down and sorted through. Ive just bought a large quantity online, and cant wait for them to arrive so I can start growing things. Several new varieties of Tomato, some lettuce, carrots, onions, Chamomile, Soapwort, Chard and Silverbeet, oh and some Parsnips, Pumpkins and Snapdragons!
I got given a pumpkin last week that Ive saved the seed from. I tried finding out about it, as we are used to the typical grey crown variety... This one just happened to be DELICIOUS, and rather pretty! - a Winter Luxury Pie pumpkin... It is really yummy, thick and sweet - SEE HERE

I would like a couple of citrus trees, and Im investigating growing lemon trees from seed. I know it takes a while (up to five years) for them to fruit, but Ive got plenty of time, and theyre an attractive addition to the pots whilst they grow big enough to plant out...
A lime, a mandarin or two, and a couple of Meyer Lemons are on The Planting List... and now I have the perfect sunny spots for them. We cut away the jasmine or honeysuckle vine that had been growing there since goodness knows when! It will come away again, and be away in no time I guess, but this time we can train it. I have replanted a seedling pittosporum. I love the crinkly leaves, and in no time it will be a good hedging plant.
We are clearing room for a huge root veggie crop. In mind we have some maori potatoes, some sweet potato (kumara) and some potatoes of the mashing kind ( our kids favourites!) ... Looking forward to seeing it all come together. Also want to add some yams. Boy they taste good when roasted...

It is really nice, seeing things coming together... One step further to the Goal of being Self Sufficient!
Going to hire a mulcher and use all the bits weve collected as a bed to the things we would like to grow.
The conifer we cut down was left as a stump that looked reminiscent of The Eiffel Tower, until our dear neighbour came over with his chainsaw and took it off at the base for us. It now is a lump of quite nice fire wood... The pine needles piled high at the base as the tree fell and we have added bucket fulls of them to the compost pile.

Bucket of *Chocolate Hail* - Conifer needles

We had some lard and bird seed with mince pieces inside it, hung on the tree for the birds

LOVING these dear little creatures. Waxeyes or Silvereyes are so pretty... Love watching them!

Another bed in progress. Got to get out the flaxen plant thats swamped my red rose... Loving Memory

We grow the finest silverbeet and spinach.
We also grow the fattest laziest of black moggies youll ever find... Love him tho! (Zander)

This is my Island in the Sun!! Zandy loves his new bed of peastraw!

Occarina - the smallest of our mogs, she is feisty and independent. Not often seen for a photo.

And so there we be... Waiting for the postie and the seed parcel... Ive just found another place to look online http://www.rosesonline.co.nz/

And the next step is getting into sprouting some new plants for the new beds...

Hope youre keeping safe and well... And if youre in our part of the World, that you are safe, well and WARM! Weve just had a heatpump put in, and my lord it is bliss! Changes the whole energy of the house when you dont have to be constantly concerned about childrens cold feet, bare chests, coats, hats etc.

Lovin' the good weather and getting outside!
Take care,

Love

E BUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXX
Love especially, to those in the Coromandel.Miss YOU!
XXXXXXX

Worming Our Way...

2011-07-07T02:40:00.000-07:00

Theres nothing like a bit of physical stuff in the Garden.
I moved half a tonne (seemed like it) of compost today. Gooey, brown, luscious composted stuff.
After all that, Im not entirely pleased with the outcome. Ive got some work to do on the design of the new bin, but for now this will do until the bin is ready...
An unusual sky today, but the birds sat up in the trees and serenaded me, which usually is beautiful.
One in particular today was very loud. A thrush maybe, but its call sounded like it was berating me - Youre A Geek, Youre A Geek!.... Youre A Geek - Nincompoop.
Seriously - I asked Mr 11 what he thought, but he just looked at me strangely and asked me if Id been outside too long... The fresh air got to me, maybe?

WORK IN PROGRESS

By the time Ive jumped all this down, it cant be seen from the top...

In my quest to tidy up that corner, the straggly plum tree thing with the nasty thorny bits has gone.
My hands bear the scars, but thats ok. Im thinking I need a garden plan though so I can do things in stages.

WORMS!!

And, the best part of moving the compost was finding small pockets of compost full of big fat juicy worms!

A real surprise, and a delight to the little Miss 4 who is curious about everything that creeps --- she is keen on worms now that she knows they dont have teeth. However, we arent too keen if they do the wiggly thing when she picks them up. That meant a loud scream in Mommys ear.

Very brave though, she was. Oh that sounds like Yoda from Starwars...

And with that, and the piles of *Spaghetti roots* we dug out today (Convulvulus roots throughout the compost!)

Im out of here ...

Happy Gardening!!
Love,
EBUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXX

Something to Read - A Blog Post from Simple. Green, Frugal Co-op

2011-07-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

I want to share with you, a really interesting post from Aurora over at Simple, Green, Frugal Co-op about storing Food... Ive added my comments, Id love to see more...
READ HERE
And dont forget to add your experiences... there is a wealth of info on their site. Love it! <3

Another good day here in Canterbury.
My eldest (17.5) is in Amberley today with his work experience... He wants to be a diesel mechanic. He is greasing machinery. Good thing he can do his own washing, he will be black by smoko!! And he loves it.
Roll on Wednesday! Gonna be a good productive day *looks at tools*

Shall write later
Love to all
EBUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Happy Days Are Here Again...Aloe, Aloe... Vera?

2011-07-05T01:10:00.000-07:00

Yeah!It is a good day. For a Tuesday!
The birds are singing - or were singing - seeing its Dark Just Now.
And it was a good day in the Garden.
With my
Darling
Mr EB.
Side By Side.
Him with the Man Saw, Me with the piddly wee bendable thing (ugh!)
We cut and slashed, hacked and ripped out some scraggly plum type trees that have never done much
except make a mess. We talked as we hacked, planned, dreamed, schemed.
Now I have a corner for my new compost bin. A big 'un!
Now to move the contents of the old piles into the new bin...
Guess who gets to help with that job... Boys? :-)
Why have two gorgeous teens unless they can do menial tasks for you and then tell you they love you?
Ha! They havent heard my demands yet, but I guess I ll need bribery too :-)

So after the compost bin is in place, filled with glorious rotting stuff, I can start shopping for Worms.
Yes! A Worm farm. Im looking forward to long, fat, skinny, slimy, grubby wormies! I love it!
And then, the next on the list, is the extension of the herb garden, down the length of the property.
And grubbing the new ground for the vege garden
Selecting some seeds to start sprouting for Spring - Petunias, Snapdragon and Phlox,
Repotting the Aloe babies into their own pots
... I feel like a new mother - they have sprouted babies everywhere again!
I think I ll have upward of 30 Aloe Vera plants after this next lot are repotted.
Where to put them, is the question? Running out of places... Might have to Trademe some.

So onward to Wednesday...
Love to All
EBUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXX

Here Comes The Sun! Frosty out there...

2011-07-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

Monday Morning... and here I am again.
HERE COMES THE SUN... just makes me wanna sing... doodin doo dum, Here comes the Sun!
Went out to do the school drop off, and boyo! It is COLD.
Came back through all the fog, and took some photos. Its very clear until you look ahead, then White. Love it. Guess this is what kills all the bad bugs off our plants, or spurs seeds on so theyre ready to Grow... Gotta love Nature in its Wonder!

Had a look at my garden. It may not have fared so well after this frost. Everything has drooped. Maybe they need the warm kisses from the suns rays to keep em going!

Silverbeet/Coloured Chard *Bright Lights*

My new Geranium plants... Ice, Ice Baby!

Bergamot

Still growing Tomatoes - Up the Tree. It is taller than my 5ft 10 high!

Parsley On Ice!

Time to go and find my handy dandy Gumboots :-)

Love.
EBUTTERFLYXXXXXXXX

Mid Winter Composting Ambitions...

2011-07-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Monday... Its so quiet here, not a sign of a shake lately. I do worry when its like this ... She says Tongue in Cheek! Whats next then? I hear you ask...(was that you?) Well, being Me, I Have A LIST.

Its Frrreeezzzing out there, frosty as ever. Last night we went for a Pudding Run to the local Stupidmarket, and it was very misty out there. I think we hit Winter finally!
Im still doing the de-clutter. I have several big bags of stuff to re-home or re-cycle. Its exciting to see bare space!
So whilst Im throwing things out, and decluttering... it strikes me that my compost could do with a new home.
This weekend I have a project on. Time to make a new compost bin or two... Again, its exciting to think it might mean I can adopt some Tiger Worms for a worm farm... We did that a few years ago at our previous address, and that ROCKED. The kids loved checking the progress of the worms, and feeding them was awesome for their education.
So it better be frosty mornings, high blue skies and sun throughout the weekend. Oh. Its also nearly School Holidays too! That snuck up on us, but the school boy is secretly pleased...

Have hauled out all the broken down tomato stakes and old plants. It is nice to see the brown earth underneath, and now the plans abound to see what is going to go where this coming growing season...
Im off to price Pea Straw and Chickky Pooh as a base.

Im dreaming of ... oh lots of warm sun and lazy nasturtiums, romantic petunias and sweet smelling basil. I have onions in growing nicely, some silverbeet or coloured chard that is beautiful and shiny, and small clumps of parsley, dill and coriander.
Inside, Im still pottering with my capsicums who have not forsaken me, they hang from four plants in two pots on my windowsill. Each plant has a couple of good sized fruit, one has several new fruit coming along, and theyre awesome for conversation... It goes something like... Is THAT a green pepper growing there? ... Also, we have a variety of Aloe vera growing in my bedroom window. They all have new shoots, ready to be re potted... Awesome!!

Well, thats a garden catch-up... Next time it will be a composting work in progress!!
And weve been accepted by BLOTANICAL - THANKYOU for having Me!

Thanks for Reading,
Leave me a message & tell me about YOUR Winter garden!
EBUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXX