Awesome Autumn... My Fruit Rant :)

Harvest

Well its Autumn... and its been awesome so far - not too much of the wet stuff, but lots of the windy stuff, which we anticipate at this time of the year anyway. It would be great if todays low cloud could blow away and the sun could climb through.
Have been thinking a lot this week about Japan and her people. Im hoping theyre slowly starting to heal and rebuild. I know how we feel here, and the numbness takes a long time to abate, the healing is slow, and time ticks away before you know it. The memories of our Events come back. And we are so lucky we didnt have the complications they had in Japan. My heart goes out to them, I wish there was more we could do, or say, that would help.

Winter Deluxe Pie - Pie Pumpkin

I was washing dishes (arent I always?) yesterday, and I washed a lid of a jar that had 3/12 scribbled on it. I had a flash back to last year, all my preps were covered in the date 3/11 because it was then I had started to prepare in case of emergency. I thought back to my confusion. Then, it was so obvious to me. I have grown since then. I actually AM better prepared than I was. There IS less confusion. I DO know what Im doing, and I am well guided, by whatever that force is that motors the Intuition.
I looked through the Preps. We could do a short stand-off (LOL Like theres going to be a Siege?)
Now to prep for the mid-length stand-off... Its all a part of my plan, to down-size, live harmoniously, but to live SIMPLY. Thats the hard one.

Cornucopia of Tomatoes!

This week, I heard on our TV news that Parents have been criticized for feeding their children too much fruit in their bid to feed their children their 5+ a day... which has been leading to accelerated rates of tooth decay.
See, I worry about reports like this. Firstly, parents DO THEIR BEST. With whatever knowledge and resources they have available, for the most part, parents DO try their best. Criticism hurts and doesnt change a thing, nor teach us how to counteract the problem.
Secondly -Why do the media choose such a strong way to get this message across? Responsibility. They have no accountability for what they write, its ok to take a negative stance... and it sells. And everything has become about the dollar.
It is also about educating Parents about the problem and how to solve it, without that condescending attitude.
People need to want to learn new things at any level  - Educate people on the importance of Milk and Water being offered with every serving of fruit, or put fruit after the main meal. Argh. Its NOT about criticism, it is about CHILDRENS HEATH. It is about Educating people, so they can make strong decisions based on good information.
PUT OUR CHILDREN FIRSTHave we forgotten the art of diplomacy and tact? I think as we fracture in society, we are becoming Islands. It is sad, but it is happening. Who can you depend on to give you accurate information about the things you need to learn? Do you learn something new every day?
We get out of the way of learning, but sometimes, it is just as important to REFRESH OUR KNOWLEDGE about important things, and not stop learning all together.



Broccoli - Waltham Seeds in Pods

 Prepping this week involves saving more seeds for next season. I have brocolli, lettuce in three kinds, soon to be four if Im quick :) And beans galore. I love the pink scarlet runners... Happy Beans!
We have Lollo Rosso, which is dark red, and likes low light and cooler days, a frilled green which grows everywhere and makes an attractive addition to a mixed salad. Theres a traditional buttercrunch, and Im waiting to see if we can catch up with seed from Little Gem who is a one-person sized  lettuce, compact and sweet. I often find Miss 5 hanging around the Little Gem, the leaves are very tasty. I have iceberg growing too, and it seeds later. I love watching the lettuce towers as they grow tall and then go poof! The seed is like dandelion fluff, the seeds at the bottom of the fluff go everywhere. Great for self-seeding.
Finally collected seeds from our carrot flower which seems to have been there for forever. Its taken a good four or five months, but we finally have some Nutri-Red carrot seed. These are our favourites, so theyll be replanted. Im trying to keep other carrots to seed, but it is so hard when the kids prey on them :)

Lettuce Fluff!

Well I best be getting on with it. The sun is making an appearance!
This week is shaping up to be a very diggy one.
Lots of weeds to evict... and poo to shovel.
Hope all is well with your world,

Scarlet Runner Beans - 3rd year!

Take care,
Love
E BUTTERFLY
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Finding The Sunshine - Links - Good Things Happening...

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...

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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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Sometimes you sense a change in the wind...Time to Move On Maybe?

The second of June, and Im re-evaluating things I guess.
Might be time to move out of the city and start somewhere smaller, with less shakes.
I noticed, after watching the news, that stupid report that talked about further big earthquakes for Canterbury/Christchurch. I stopped listening, and looked at my two childrens faces. One was watching intently. The other, the younger of the two, was fidgetting with her hands, and it was then I noticed, she was shaking.  That news report was not lost on either of them. They are old enough to understand the language. It was just a shame that some of the percentages and relevant information was incorrect, or even missing.
Scaremongering at its best.
Christchurch people seem to have been sitting on the edge, waiting for the next Big One for so long now. Its tiring. Stressful. We are empty!
Im not giving up, or giving in. IF I decide to, I will be moving for the health of my little people. So all their tomorrows are filled with good things, and not waiting for another earthquake, or doom and gloom. Misery loves company - it sure does, you only need to be here to hear that - Not always, but a lot these days.
The East vs West is a big one - how horrible it must be to live in The East of the city.
Well actually, no... it is not. It was hairy there for a while, but we rallied. Together. New friends and associations were made. We RALLIED.
Now, and here is my rant... how dare they tell us, theres 23percent chance of another *Big* Earthquake between now and 12 months time.
Do they think that those of us who care enough to read up and keep in touch, dont know that? -  We live on a fault line for godssake! Why put it on prime time tv, in the front page of the paper, and scare the ones who DONT read up, and DONT take time to understand the statistics. Wouldnt it have been MUCH better... to actually say, with 23% chance of another earthquake ANYWHERE DOWN THE FAULT LINE, it means there is a greater chance (77%) of NOT having another serious earthquake anywhere...

Media sensations suck. Sensationalism sucks. And, Earthquakes suck!!

But ... Looking for a new start... Thats Awesome *Thumbs Up!*
So... pick a dart... and a map of NZ... its a bit like that... Watch this space...

Loving it!
Hugs from my heart to Yours,

Earth Butterfly & Co.
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