My Boy - HIS blog... Introducing Entering The Ring...

Hi Folks...

Im writing today, in the hope youll drop by to check out my sons new blog.
Its called ENTERING THE RING, and he is blogging so he can express how he feels about life in Christchurch, write some book reviews, (hes an avid reader), and lots more.
His blog begins with his autobiography, which he has done for part of his school homework... So please, if you get a chance, pop across to his blog and have a read. He has LOTS of photos to come, and hes an entertaining chap mostly *grin*... Ok, Im probably quite biased...But he really will appreciate your taking the time to have a look!

Sniffling...
Weve all got a rather nasty sneezy, snotty cold at the moment. It knocked us all for a six this weekend, but Im picking the worst is over for Mr 11 and he will be back into it tomorrow. Miss 5 slept for almost sixteen hours, and woke blocked up, so here we go again. Its a strange time of year to get sick, no?

Weird Weather
Weve had the weirdest weather in the past few days. Hot sun and singing cicadas, through to scared birds and very rumbly thunder and rain... Its a crazy Summer weve had, if thats it all over with. I sure hope not :)
The tomatoes are starting to colour up, slowly. We have big ones that are just starting to turn, so fingers xed we have enough warm days left to get them all through...

Weekend -We went to the Botanic Gardens to see the new Memorial Gardens and The Festival of Flowers that is on at the moment. Beautiful! We went on to the museum, and they have some awesome displays. Theres the Wearable Arts display which is gorgeous. Exquisite details that you just dont get to view from seeing the awards on TV. The intricate details and the colours and textures are amazing. Of course the touch screen monitors draw the children to them, as they are totally interactive and the interviews about what inspired the designers is really cool!!

Then theres the Christchurch Earthquake display. Wow. We were blown away by the coverage. Everything. From the dear old battered spire of the Christchurch cathedral that lies in state as you walk in, to the shoes that the Rescue Dogs wear, the boots that the Search guys wear, and everything in between. Theres a toilet bike (yes, really!) and so much info about the whys, the wheres, and the hows. There are again, touch screen monitors which allow access to lots of footage that wasnt seen, the Forensic examiner talks about their difficulties and findings, there are videos of when the eq happened, there is Police Comms coverage that you can listen to. All in all, we were really quite impressed... And rather subdued when we left...

The thing that helped us *Happy Up* was seeing the kids in the butterfly house. The ladies there are awesome, helping both kids hold monarch butterflies... Awesome. Our kids know the importance of butterflies, and they hold them in some reverance, knowing they need to be gentle with them, and they always comment when they see them... Here theres a room you can go in and watch the butterflies as they do their *thing*... Theyre raising awareness of the butterflies, which is so very cool... Youll find more information about them in the link below

THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY NZ TRUST

Out In The Garden...
Planting Winter crops like brassicas, more carrots and onion, we have a large group of cabbage and brocolli. I havent planted caulis because I know our dear Miss B from along the road has them covered, so we will swap. I have lettuces planned too, and I must remember to re sow the carrots and onions in a few weeks so we have continuous sowing before it gets too cold...

Raspberries that were cut back have gone mad. Suckers everywhere, some of which Im going to pot up to sell... That was always the intention, and we have many bushes now. Awesome. Some are Autumn fruiters, so it evens things out nicely. The tansy buttons look great, by way of companions to the raspberries, but they need to be kept an eye on as they grow so quick...

Well more from me when I get to lend a camera. I must buy myself one... I just dont seem to have any luck with them lasting more than six months, for some reason.

Love to All,
Keep Smiling
E BUTTERFLY
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PS Please... take a look
ENTERING THE RING by Taurus Hunter

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




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
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Daylight Savings & School Holidays...

What an awesome idea, Daylight saving.

Sitting on the raised pavement beside the damaged footbridge on Avonside Drive

Like anything you enjoy, I wish it were longer!

Tonight the children and I wandered alongside the Avon river. We werent alone, this is the first weekend since the EQ that Avonside drive has been open to walk through, and this patch of beautiful weather & extended daylight has meant people in the neighbourhood were all out doing similar.

On our part, it was a little about seeing how our wee neighbourhood has fared, but also to take in the gorgeous sunset, enjoying the great weather to its very last sunbeams at sunset, which given the Daylight savings, it was an hour later - the kids love it.

Nice to catch up on progress, as this suburb has been one of the more badly damaged parts of town  still suffering since the Earthquake - residents along the riverside on Avonside Drive have lost their footbridge, and still have no sewerage in places,  port-a-loos still take their places, dotted along the landscape, like guards in guard towers beside gates.

It makes me sad to see rude slashes left by chainsaws where graceful riverside trees once stood. Some of the trees have been here for longer than the road or the housing, as in this area, Canterburys first farms were tilled long  before the very first housing was built. There are oaks from that very early era along the river, mingling now with huge tortured willows and elms that soar into the skyline. The occasional Kowhai tree adds some playful colour against the greens of the bigger trees, in Spring, and as Ive said before, when its as good as this, it is pure Beauty on the Avon!

Sunset and the pixies are out :)

We have missed the duckling season, or so we thought. Tonight we found several small clutches of just two or three ducklings, which is a joy. Theyre so cute and fluffy, we all love feeding them and watching them grow.

Its really nice to have all this good stuff happening, and be in Holiday Mode.

The children have just finished their third term at school for the year, and it is two weeks holiday until they start again. We love the break in routine, to spend mornings lazing and chatting, watching cartoons, playing in the sun, bouncing on trampoline, walking and talking, planning... Movies are on the cards, we have baking planned, and there will be the usual arguements and differences of opinion, long showers, messy floors, lots of dishes, junk food and not enough sleep...

But I have to say, I love it all.
I love having my children around me. I like them, and they make me proud.
Roll on Holidays, not too quick please, let me just enjoy watching them grow...

Signing off for now,
From My Hearth to Yours,
Love
Earth Butterfly
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