Quake News... Video of the City Centre and Preparing Things

Sometimes things on here (esp lately~) are nothing to do with Gardening or Butterflies *grin*...
Found this on Stuff.
Its the updated video of what is happening inside our city centre.
The Red Zone... sounds so ominous. It is definitely a hive of activity, past and present - hard to identify where you are. Thank God we are seeing some progress. Now, what about those houses eh. Time to move along.
Its about PEOPLE not BUILDINGS. Right?
LINK TO VIDEO 

The latest aftershock of size was this morning ... A Four on the richter scale, gave most of us a wee fright, Im sure. Just when you think we are moving on to better things and you get a shake-up :) LINK Belfast got centred  by it this morning!

Its things like THIS HERE that make you go BOOOOO!!! - We have heard this story before, havent we?  Because its scary... we need to keep preparations foremost in our minds, quietly preparing, gently preparing... we (as families, parents, communities)  cannot change what we do not know, but we can learn what we NEED to know to cope...
But these wide and erratic predictions do nothing but feed and spread fear which stymies any growth. I think the media and other responsible bodies need to be cracked over their collective heads for allowing these stories to gather any credence. Give us knowledge - teach people what they need to know to cope, dont feed them part of the story and let them wonder? Another LINK  

Some things below to think about... do, plan.. save etc.

HAVE A PLAN - CHECK THE PLAN
Alter the plan as you need to.
Let others know what your plan is, in case you need to be found for any reason.
Where do you meet in an emergency?
Who picks up who?
What are alternatives?
Who do the children trust in an emergency?
Talk it through with your partner, your family, your children. Even your work-mates.
Use possible situations like...
What would we do if ...
Where would you go if Mum wasnt here...
If Dad couldnt get to...
Help the kids understand and  listen to their ideas,  explaining things in simple terms, a calm voice,  no need to add too many details, answer their questions - if theyre like my children, they may have many.

Know what you need and have it handy - especially Formula, Bottles etc, Nappies, Sanitary Pads etc, Warm clothing and MEDICATIONS. Batteries, Radio, Childrens favourite toys/cuddly - Maps if required.
A leash for the dog. Dog/Cat food.
Just in case you need to get out.

Prepare - buy what you can, know what you can make do with, or gather alternatives.
Necessity is the Mother of Invention :-)
LEARN - Read what you can, know about the possibilities, without feeling the fear. Mind power is awesome. Believe in the possibilities.
Positive Ideas, feelings and outcomes.

PLEASE  Dont leave it to the last minute. 

Fill and Store Water Bottles and Refill them regularly (2-3 months)
First Aid Kit - gather what you need now, and have one in your car

Have a wee read HERE and be prepared






LINKY LINK!
THE NZ SHAKEOUT- At 9.26am on Wednesday 26 September, we aim to have one million participants in the New Zealand Shake Out earthquake drill, the first ShakeOut drill held nationwide in any country!

Participants at home, work and school will practice "Drop, Cover and Hold"—the right action to take in an earthquake...

Im not talking about fearful worrying panics. Im thinking things through, talking, planning, overcoming issues, surrounding yourself in the knowledge we will get through whatever comes our way.

Love, Blessings
And Warm thoughts...
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

And Another Link... Bear With Me - Kitchen Gardens International - Roger Doiron

Another good link to something that is foremost in my mind... Growing Food.
Roger Doiron - A Subversive Plot: How to Grow a Revolution in Your Own Backyard

Roger Doiron is founding director of Kitchen Gardeners International, a network of people taking a hands-on approach to re-localizing the global food supply. Doiron is an advocate for new policies, technologies, investments, and fresh thinking about the role of gardens...

Another Interesting Link... Have a read

Knowledge is Power

Love,
E BUTTERFLY

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...

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

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
XXXXXXXXX

 



Things Ive been making for Christmas...

A bit of a craft nut - thats me. I like to see what others do, seldom completing things myself... I have no enthusiasm to start something now,
I love seeing others projects though!
One of my favourite places is 
www.oneprettything.com

Im a knitter, and several of my favourite places inspire me. Im fortunate that here in NZ, yarn and wool is relatively inexpensive. Being a bit of a scrooge, and choosing to recycle, I have also discovered places I can purchase cheaper secondhand wool or there is always recycled sweaters/jerseys that can be unpicked for desirable yarn to be re-used.
Ive started knitting for Christmas. Mainly for the girls and their dollies - so much easier to do when you can finish things within an hour or two, they dont take up much yarn, and dont need a lot of concentration to complete... so here we go, the photos...
These ones I intend to sell, each set takes a day to complete usually!

 

Some places to go, if youre a dolly-knitter like me

... not all are free, but reasonably priced, and they email you your patterns, so no matter if you are International! 

Cant be more simple, using credit card or paypal! (I am not affiliated with any of these by the way, I love pointing people in the right direction for dolls stuff!)

www.danielbingham.com - Barbie or 16inch Doll Patterns .PDF files

www.ravelry.com - People, toys and dolls

www.etsy.com - Patterns and all kinds of handmade things!

http://www.theretroknittingcompany.co.uk/dollspatterns.html  Some great PDF Files!

http://www.stickatillbarbie.se/ - ABSOLUTELY Awesome site for Barbie!

http://www.sindyclothes.com/Sindy%20Knitting%20Patterns.htm - This site is AWESOME

Well, back to the needles...
Hope all is well with You and Yours!

Take care
EB

XX 

Winter Weeks... Soup, Saving Seed and other stuff...

<--- This is Santolina or Cotton Lavender Isnt that beautiful? - a real silvery Beauty. Nature is so clever!

Another week comes to an end, and I realize Winter is here. (Christchurch city, New Zealand, Southern Hemisphere - we are back to front!)
I was up very early this morning, and the sky was as clear as a bell, the air very fresh, almost freezing. The sky was so beautiful, dont you just love seeing the stars out twinkling happily?

The Southern Cross is so easy to see here, even in the city - there it was, just out my back door and up, up ... up quite a bit really.

Soup has been on the agenda this week - 'cos weve had rain and lots of it. Soup is part of our Winter tradition, theres nothing as comforting as a big bowl of veggies with *soldiers* - buttered toast, cut into lengths, to dip into your bowl. Yes, I recall my own mother having our soup ready for us when we got home if it was raining. Funny how you remember things, and they invoke memories - it was soup with soldiers, and the smell of wet wool (school uniform, included a woollen jersey AND if you were of the female persuasion, a big woollen kilt that weighed heavy and clung to your legs when wet!)

My children eat soup all up, a really good way to get the dreaded veggies into them, they love it.

(Click on the word SOUP for an easy veggie soup recipe!)

This year with my new dehydrator, Im thinking I should begin to dry as many different types of vegetables and herbs to add to the Soup mix! And to add to stews or other dishes, or for making decoctions and infusions.
What I have done so far, is dry some Santolina (Cotton Lavender) leaf - apparently it is very good for making bunches to keep moths at bay - putting a small bag of leaf into the pockets of your coats when you store them is a great idea. It still smells - but it is a natural kind of smell, as opposed to the smell of moth balls. I have some tansy leaf also, but I wont be using that while Im pregnant as it is one of the herbs that can cause problems with pregnancy.

And I wasnt going to mention it, but *blush* we are 12 weeks and 2 days pregnant. Due on 11 November. Im starting to feel the quickenings, and *Baby* reminds me of how wonderful it is to be a pregnant woman! I am somewhat of a veteran, this being baby number 5... but each and every pregnancy is exciting, Im so fortunate to be keeping well so far. (Fingers crossed!) We have three sons and a daughter, and each has their own ideas about what the new baby might be... Bless them!

Some Links...
While browsing I found this which amused me somewhat.
I dont think Ive ever seen more than two ladybirds at once in any one spot... but this could fix it all --------> LOOK HERE



A great NZ Website that is written by one of the Trademe Mummies from the Parenting Board -----> SLINGBABIES - Jessie has an awesome informative site for using/wearing a sling for carrying our precious babes in - she also reviews different types/styles/labels of sling too... Great Stuff!! I spent ages on here, learning all kinds of things - having your hands free while being able to carry a new baby is awesome and if you dont know where to start, Jessie can help.


Well thats me for now, but I ll be back...

Now - Whats for dinner?


Have a Happy Day!

LEST WE FORGET... and some links...

Ive been browsing, its Friday night, everyone is either off to bed or busy doing their own thing... *hears snoring in the chair*

Heres a link I found to a very interesting site that has old herb monographs... The information is older, but still relevant, especially for those interested in plants and herbal medicine... (I am!)
HERBDATA

Ive spent quite some time looking on this site, I love seeing the old hand drawn or painted pages that show the life cycle of herbs from seeds to plant, root system etc. If only I could paint/sketch like that! ...

An Ironic thing is, Ive just this week purchased a copy of Mrs Grieves *A Modern Herbal* and I see she is also *online* even though the book was first published in 1931 - see HERE
I cant wait to get my copy and have a good read!

Ive also been given a whole stack of Australian GRASS ROOTS magazines from the early seventies and eighties - theres a whole lot of reading in there, about self-sufficiency and doing-it-yourself, on the land mainly... very interesting reading, recipes and feedback. I do wonder if I could milk a goat, and be successful making cheese from said milk... what a challenge for this city gal!

HAPPY ANZAC DAY to those to whom it is relevant

-New Zealanders and Australians and those who lost loved ones...

The flower below is a poppy.

It's a traditional symbol of remembrance for the fallen.

LEST WE FORGET

"In Flanders field the poppies grow..."