Pudding & Cake - Ambrosia Recipe

What gorgeous weather, perfect for the first week back at school.
I have today off to get some things sorted, including a warrant. It should err WILL fly through thanks to some tinkering.

We have a birthday party tonight, our son (the fisherman/hunter) is turning 17, and he is having a few mates around for cake and pudding. Im to make the cake, and Im not sure how it will turn out, but it will be simple and full of sugary goodness for sure! I was thinking of something I could sculpt (???) into a fish-like, salmon shape... yeah right!

He wants Ambrosia for pudding... gulp.
Ive found several different recipes that include all kinds of berries, but I will be using blackberries because their juice *acid* changes the marshmellows into gooeyness that mixes nicely with the cream. Yeah I know, it sounds gross.
However, this recipe is looking promising NZGIRLS AMBROSIA RECIPE

Ahh well, off to the kitchen I go...
If you see lots of blue smoke in the East... it may well be my oven overheating with the strain :)

Back to Gardening next post... its time for planning the Spring plot,  and getting some seeds into the mix, yes?

Love
EB
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Stitching Along!

Having a fabulous day, have just been given the bestest-ever present... A new sewing machine!
It has been a while since I did any sewing that wasn't darning or fixing, or hand sewing... This machine is a beauty and my old clanger that got rocked in the earthquake looks prehistoric beside this one that could almost make coffee...! Thank You Honey - it was a lovely birthday present.
What to sew first? Theres a few with requests, Barbie clothes, Dolls House furnishings, fishing rod carriers...  Knew my fabric stash might come in handy one day :)

Haven't been up to a lot of gardening after last week, have not had as much time on my hands to potter and get engrossed in the weeds as last year, but the garden has responded well to the mulch/composting it got just before Winter... There hasn't been the waterlogging I had previously, and the plants seem to have suffered little (so far) from Frosts and wind.

Well thats me for today, I'm off to make ice cream & eat cake with the extended family, thats an extra lap around the block for tomorrow no doubt :)

Take care & Keep Warm :)

XXXXXXXXX
EB

High Tea and Birthday Cake - Spring Fling

It cant possibly be a week since we celebrated Arlais' 6th birthday surely?
The week has slid by very smoothly, and Missy is enjoying being six. She has asked constantly what she has to look forward to, being six now. What will happen in the next 12 months? Heck, I dont know... I ve stopped asking that myself... Apart from losing more front teeth, and learning how to read and write, what else happens habitually as you turn from six to seven? ...
We had cake, of course. We all love cake.

Thank Goodness for family - while some forgot, the others did her proud - they gave her some beautiful gifts, including a biscuit (cookie) maker. It wasnt about the gifts for Arlais, it was about the FOOD! Pink Lemonade, and High Tea in cups and saucers. Crackers and Dip, Chips and cheese.

Arlais' Lemon Cupcakes

Arlais made the perfect Hostess, she offered food around, and kept her visitors engaged with her excited chatter.
Missy chose her cake, and we had butterflies and big balloons.
Who doesnt love cocktail sausages  with their chocolate gateaux, topped with six pink and purple candles ?

The Birthday Girl was exhausted by seven oclock, and Im sure it was all the chasing of balloons.
The tea set gets carefully washed and packed away, and as long as there are no more big earthquakes, it will be brought out again next year for another round of High Tea.  Happy Birthday Darling Girl! You made a fantastic Five Year Old, and you make a Gorgeous Amazing Six Year Old! We love you so much!




As it gets lighter, at nights we have been going for bike rides - Arlais has a shiny new bigger bike, her birthday present from me. She isnt yet as confident as she was with the older one, but it wont take long Im sure, as this girl is an Amazon - tall, beautiful and fearless :) Blaise rides like he is master of the chariot, in fact I some times wonder if hes awake at all, he has a very relaxed pose on his bike :-)

Hmm, why dont I believe this?

She loves being out and about too, naturally curious, and absolutely loves being near the river and seeing what is happening in our neighbourhood. Of course, theres plenty happening, as usual!
It is *that* time of year when change happens - Spring brings new ducklings, goslings, cygnets, in the River.

Miners lettuce - Full of nutritional goodies!

 Then theres the bulbs - a whole band of new plantings along the Avonside area, the Red Zone - where all the houses are being pulled down. Someone has very thoughtfully planted daffodils and narcissus along the walkway. They are a beautiful memorial, and of course in September, we pass another memorial date.


Planting is underway here, Ive sprinkled seeds everywhere... Some more later in the month when things warm up a little. Even inside, Ive started my tomato seeds, with greater success now Ive done it before. Im so looking forward to eating fresh tomatoes. We have missed them!

Foxglove

Poppy  Seedlings

And Basil - nothing goes  with tomatoes as well as Basil. I love the smell, its lemony zing. Theres lettuces everywhere... Ive photographed everything as usual... Bear with me :-)

We have sprouting borage seedlings, some poppys self sown, foxgloves peeking from unusual places, violets creeping down bricks, and cats lying in the sun next to the catnip. Its my favourite time of the year because it brings with it, so much promise. Potential.

Loving My Garden
Love to You
E Butterfly
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Long Time, No Blog... LOTS of Progress Outside.. School Holidays and All

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

Winter? Not here!

Another Full Moon, Another Prediction about TEOTWAWKI

Of course, now that I write about our glorious Indian Summer days here in Christchurch, it will likely turn to custard and pour like a bugger for the next few weeks. Such is Murphys Law!
We have been *done Proud* with the beautiful Summery days and high skies we have had this week and last. It makes getting out of bed such a pleasure in the morning. Ok, well kind of a pleasure... Im a bit of a slouch, I like my bed.
Porridge is for Winter breakfast here, hot coffee and a check up on the news in the morning, and away we go, wrapped up warm. Such a treat to still be able to go for walks and get washing in and out, and its almost June. Yes, it IS almost June. How time flies...

HATS! Ive been knitting here and there, for the small people, and for the bigger ones too - hats mostly. I cant get motivated though, and Im settling in on a small baby blanket to keep me interested. Its not keeping me interested yet, but I will keep at it.

We have had a few small shakes this week, but barely noticeable to us.

What HAS been noticeable though, is the house shaking as the DIGGERS and rollers fix our street.

Finally, we will have smooth roads!! It has been interesting to watch, obviously every little person is fixated on the big diggers and the men in orange vests, and the *Dance of the Road Cones* that seems to be viral across town... and now we have them in our own front yard... almost.



Dance of the Road Cone...

 I think it is fair to say that we have loose piles - our front lounge seems to shudder when the diggers go down, it was worse when they were actually outside digging, I could feel the shaking in the kitchen at the back of the house... The things you get used to, now I barely turn a hair. Turn up the music, you dont hear the diggers, and the vibration becomes part of the dance lol.

Have had a lousy few weeks. Sometimes Life kicks you like a cow. Well, my cow kicked me, gave birth, chewed its cud and then kicked me again..... Just Life Stuff, but meh. Who needs it? The stress levels are pretty toxic, and Ive taken to yelling a bit... not at the kids mind, just at one cat in particular. Poor Moggy

Still Beautiful, even if its Winter, I love my Greens!! BrightLights You Rock!

Miaow

I never was a cat person, and I do believe we have another cat in the wings who seems to have just *turned up* ... I am not having much luck with not feeding him, and I will endeavour to find his People. I simply cannot afford five cats, especially when one of them (Zander The Black Vaccuum) will eat anything that is not nailed down... as long as it is handed to him on a plate... or has fallen off a plate... or it is in the green recycling bin, or smells funny... He likes to rub himself over anything funny smelling, such a delight ;) Full of personality. This wee chap (above) lives in the next street, but I find him often sitting with my lot. They look as if they totally accept him, noone fights him. He wanders around and he talks constantly (which gets my goat, I HATE talking cats!! - its always a demand for more food, better sleeping conditions etc --- DEMANDING!!!)

South Brighton Pumice

We went for a wander down the beach at South Brighton, near the Spit. It was a beautiful day, the birds were all out, of course guess who forgot her camera? Doh!
We did happen upon a wonderful selection of pumice. The children and I collected it, and I have some in my garden, it looks great. Love the texture and the soft lines... Will be creating something with some of it, and passing some along...
Soon all the extended family will appear with soft callus-free heels :)










We celebrated The Lads 11th Birthday this month, he had a very low-key birthday. It was family family family. Just as he had asked, and he got Books... games, books... He was happy.  I felt very uncreative when it came to making his birthday cake, but it didnt really matter.

Anything tastes good when it looks like Pav, tastes good like Pav and is smothered in sweet cream and has Sparklers for candles...

Happy Birthday Blaise! :)
See how much Miss 4 loves your balloons!!
We love you!!


Enough of this, Im off to finish the School baking...
Hope youre keeping things Upbeat.
Love to you

E Butterfly
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