Brrr Frost you say? ... KEEP WARM PEOPLE!!

Greetings from the bitterfly cold Garden City.
It certainly is frosty this week! Ive been a bit busy this week with one thing and another, and its proven to be a challenge not to run inside and find a warm place to tarry.
I dont mind the frosty mornings when I have a full complement of warm clothing, but where did that bitter wind swing from? It drops the temp down completely. Thank god for woollen hats.
And for the wonderful help our schools receive from KidsCan. You guys ROCK :-)
They have provided warm lined & waterproof jackets to some of our local schools, and these kids NEED the warmth provided... Have a read on their site - FINALLY a charity that HELPS LOCAL CHILDREN. It isnt sending money for food to children in Africa, It isnt helping wild animals survive and breed, it is putting children first. And I think its the right place to start - here. In NZ. Our children.
THANK YOU from a Mum who really appreciates you helping our neighbourhood!

Mr 12 and I had a great day yesterday, once the business side of things was over (doctor) I think half of Canterbury is at the doctors this week, Ive heard of so much ill health...
Keeping our houses warm is so hard! I know we are not as bad as some, but Weve doubled our efforts here. Having gaps in gib and holes in the floor doesnt help keep the heat in however. The heat pump IS struggling. One heat pump in a disorganized style of house like ours, is hopeless.


Ive heard of people putting bubble wrap on windows as insulation, to keep the heat in.
Theres also window insulation you can purchase... but whose got the extra dosh after paying the power bill?

Have a look HERE - Perhaps you qualify for the Red cross Winter Assistance Grant. Seriously. If in need - APPLY Because this is why the money is available... We cant have our elderly, sick and young people suffering.  Wear layers, gloves, hats, scarves...

IF you HAVE EXTRA gloves, hats, scarves, blankets, hot water bottles -  how about donating them?
It makes such a difference to someone who cant afford to get their own. The Salvation Army, the Red Cross, will take them. Im sure there are other places who will take them too, Church groups etc. 

Here in Canterbury we NEED to look after our own neighbourhoods, our children, our people.

We use our hot water bottles and extra blankets at night. And theres no way its a fashion competition when going to bed, its layers baby!, any colour but layers... ooh la la, trendy!  Little One has leg warmers this year to put over her pants. She loves them, and Ive had several comments on the idea. The thing is - I  upcycled a black mohair jersey (adults) to make them... I used the arms, cut them off the jersey, measured how long I needed them, to just above her knee, then I cuffed them, with elastic in the hem, top and bottom, and they work nicely. Toasty warm. Im tempted to make myself some wrist warmers too... Mr 12 isnt interested, he would rather die than be seen in something Mum made *grin* oh. Except for his beanie. His ears are warm... and theres no chance of earache with that much snuggly wool  around his head.
Again I say... Thank God for the generosity of SHEEP - Thanks for wool  LMAO 


Fill them up in the mornings - CEREAL is great, with some fruit, but PORRIDGE is hot, sticks to their ribs, is digested slowly and fills them up for longer... Warm Porridge ... yumm!!
My kids are ALWAYS eating at this time of the year. Noodles, Fruit, Toast, Pikelets, Scones... The kids love helping make things.
Variety is good.

The kids seed envelope stuffing

DONT FORGET ... If you want some seeds to help you with next seasons garden, drop me a line
There are plenty available, and I want to share with you! 
Thank You for reading my blog.
I wish I could do more to help where it is needed.
Take care, and remember Hugs keep you Warm :)

Love
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

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

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

Catching Up...Baking Up A Storm... Sunday, Sunday!

Its been a while... This new computer is awesome, but its taken me a while to figure out how to get everything on again... Happy is, having a big hard drive for lots of photos...

Sumner Main Street

So... lets see some... We took family for a break out to Sumner, I have to say, it is beautiful out there, even in its delicate state. It was a central part of the earthquake, and I was astounded to see the damage, and yet delighted to see the heart of Sumners shops still buzzing, slowly maybe, but steadily all the same.

Road to Sumner, paved by Road Cones!

Shipping Containers edge the road below the cliffs

Underfoot, the scars remain

The Beach Footie Must Go on!

The shops that remain open are well patronized, and Sumner still has such unique places to go and find all manner of things you dont find any where else...

Cute Kiwiana!



Idyllic Buildings especially this one!

 Im eternally grateful I dont live on a hill overlooking the sea.

You can see the gashes where the rocks have fallen

Looking up at them always did make me nervous, the pigeon filled cliffs have fascinated me, the birds fly out now and again en masse, and now, looking at the piles of rubble along the base of the cliffs, and the shipping containers placed there to make the roads safe... the mind boggles.

Cave Rock - the Cave is now filled with boulders

The iconic landmark as you go through Sumner on the beach, is Shag Rock. Of course, the one photo that *didnt turn out* was the one of the new and changed Shag Rock. It doesnt even look like the same place... The funny thing was, we were travelling through and when I saw it, I took a photo, but there was a sign nearby that I caught right in front of the Rock, so here ya go

 ... needless to say, Shag Rock is now small. Very odd... but still has the Shags...

Life Goes On, so glad to see theyre open and Ok

Little Lady Goes Shopping With Daddy

Doesnt matter the age, the hands both went out automatically to run along the top of the rock walls :)

Spa Pool Anyone?

What a gorgeous day for having a stretch of the legs, and a small road trip from the suburbs. Well, Sumner is still a part of the city, but so different from our part of things...

Eww Ahh, a Tractor... We saw two actually!

Theres still a dearth of Diggers and Council vehicles... If youre missing a digger or two... I know where they are! Oh and Road Cones. Christchurch has a million... or two.

The Substation next to the RSA in Sumner

We made a big batch of cupcakes this week.

Our first ever try. Miss A was suitably impressed, and we packed them up and took them around to our neighbours. Blue and Pink icing too... yum. Just what you need :)

Actually Daddy was very impressed with them... We have promised to make them again. Four dozen small cupcakes, it was fun! Weve made a couple of our Fruit Loaves too. Theyre yummy! I think Im channelling my inner Domestic Goddess at the moment, its so much fun to bake esp when its cold outside... and Miss 4 has been learning about mixing and stirring... she loves sitting up there chatting as we bake.

Pumpkin

Another week of school and theyre off again for Easter break. Two weeks of changing weather - lets just say, its usually crappy weather this break, hopefully this year will give us a couple of good solid weather days so we can get out and about... before Autumn cracks and lets Winter in.

Bergamot

The Easter bunny better pop in too, Ive heard Creme eggs are on The Easter List this year, as well as Golden Bunnies from Lindt. Expensive tastes, my children!!

Look Mummy, Im a bwide!

Autumn Colours

Beautiful Lillies

And after all that, May will slide in quietly...

Signs of Winter approaching - Our Empty Swimming Pool...

Our weekly scoop from the garden... Seed Pods and Veggies

My bull-headed Taurean turns 11 on the 8th of May. He is my Mothers Day present, bless him.
This year I want to make him something special, hes had a whacky kind of year - two earthquakes, lots of responsibility and not as much schooling as usual. He is holding it together, but the cracks are showing... I think we all could do with a holiday, but where to go? Hes asked for books... so easy to buy for :)

The new Echinacea I bought has flowered, three tall (majus var) flower heads which I watched over as they died and dried... I bought them inside and shook them tentatively... Yes!! We have seeds. Im so pleased. I hope they are viable and easy enough for this amateur to grow from... Excited? Well yes! I am! :)

My pumpkin is still growing ... Im cautious, as I know the first frost will kill it, but even to get one small pumpkin would be so cool. Its so shiny and green, its very pretty...

Our bergamot has flowered beautifully (photo above), the flowers dont seem to have seeds which concerns me. I dont know what Im looking for however, so maybe I have just missed them this year... I must remember to *google* them...

Mr Winks

Not a lot more to report. Ive just put some boxes and old towels/sheets out for the cats. It is getting colder at night and now that we have two extras, they seem to fight over the old dry haunts... so theres a new box in the garage, and another under the table out the back in the porch... I have to growl at them for fighting, and they adore me seriously... no, honest, its true. They hang on my every bowl of food.

Heres hoping your week is a happy one,
Wishing you Sunshine and Light,
From My Hearth to Yours,

Winter Colour amongst Liquefaction

Earth Butterfly
xxxxxxxxxxxx

Making a List of Things to Do... Frugal Plans

Firstly, THANK YOU Sarah at Kiwi Mummy Blogs. 

We got accepted to be on their blog list. I hope that will mean more views, some comments... 

Glad to be there! 

Awesome reading others blogs too!

Hmm, Got my Serious Face on tonight.
Somehow deep thinking always gives me a headache :-)
I want to start getting ahead in my plans, start targetting things, so Ive made *The List*.
I would like to move things out of town to our own land... I need some clear direction to where we are going, so Im adding things I need to do, to make this possible.
THE REALITY IS... oh I hate that phrase... but the reality IS, that it is going to take me a while to get organized... so along the way, I want to achieve some other *life things* too.

*Plant more herbs... 
*Buy Seeds Often 
*Want to make my chicken coop
*Put up some Outside lights (hehe, so I can garden deep into the night?)
*Get some timer switches for our new heaters (for Winter)
*Get rid of the Clutter that accumulates
*Down-size... Everywhere!
*Get better organized so I can cope with my financials throughout the year... We dont do too bad, but I can always do better, Im sure of it.
*Buy myself a new camera. --- really, this should be at the top of the list, Im emotionally bereft without it!
*Get guitar lessons so I can learn with Mr 10.5yrs who is learning at school
*Make myself a recipe book, somewhere all my recipes will be all together, not on pieces of paper or files on disks etc... Get it TOGETHER!
*Make a song book for Miss 4 so we can sing together, and she can learn to read too.
*Blog more... Get out More... Make more Friends... Influence More People? LOL no, its been done, but the idea is a good one!
*Buy myself a new (laptop?) computer. One that I can take to bed... town... the riverbank... etc.
*Sleep better, longer... and wake up beautiful? LOL right.
* Ressurect my massage bed so I can have clients at home again. I miss therapeutic massage...and the smell of lavender oil. Its lovely when your house always smells pleasant.

So theres some other financial stuff to add to the list, but its boring... ok, its important too, but all-in-all, I just want to downsize. I want to be able to move out of here and not take the clutter too :-) Is this possible? I guess time will tell...

Another one of my wishes for my list, is to better try to LISTEN. Im trying to understand better where my teenagers are at, and sometimes its too easy to SPEAK instead of LISTEN... I found this link, its inspirational...
BEING LOVING OR BEING RIGHT by Hilary Smith

So thats it! -  Friday night, and we are ensconced watching American Idol. Well, not really actually. I am on here blogging, and as I look behind me, The Lad is reading some heavy looking read by Bernard Cornwell. Little Miss Muffet is asleep. She didnt sleep well last night, and subsided early. Hmmm. I just heard an enormous yawn. hehe. It wont be long and it will be me on my lonesome...

Sleep well,
Have a GREAT weekend.
EButterfly