Had a brilliant morning with the Schoolie from the Salvation Army that we have at our Primary, she is an inspirational whizz. A dynamo of a person, and one with a gorgeous heart. She has so many great ideas, and is so amazingly capable.
The sewing went sideways after a little while. It was a beautiful day, good coffee and a real desire amongst us to connect. We ended up teaching three of the mums how to knit. It was awesome, I love seeing people trying something new, and when they get what theyre doing, theyre away like a train ... Brilliance.
The cake was awesome (at this rate we might need the Zumba lessons after all!) and I went on to help with the childrens sausage sizzle. There, there was a need to learn what to do, and master the art of the sausage bread, sauce, sausage and wrap motions. I got there :-) Thanks Room 9. I hope you enjoyed them.
The Garden was abuzz at lunchtime with small and bigger people asking if they could help. Unfortunately nothing was planned, and I had one very keen young man helping me weed, compost and split the rhubarb, which had unfortunately started to rot in the crown. I hope we got to it soon enough, and the four pieces will take off. If not, I have a spare one in my own garden that I can place in the garden. The idea is to have rhubarb and custard at some stage. Im not sure they have enough for the whole school... yet. It will not take long if we continue adding the compost. The bokashi units look interesting. I peered into a couple today and wrinkled my nose. I know that smell (composting fruit) so this is good stuff for the soil.
We got some bread today from the leftovers at the sausage sizzle too, which will go down well in the bokashi. Ive seeded the garden with some of my worm farm inhabitants too, I know theyll love their new home, and work behind the scenes to bring the garden to success.
So thats me... all that. A whole day doing fun things with neat, good people!
Im a bit stiff and sore, but there is half a babys hat knitted somewhere, and a whole garden dug over, waiting for its potatoes to go in next week...
Love to You all,
My Heart to Yours,
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX
Showing posts with label linwood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label linwood. Show all posts
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Exciting Day... Planning Stages
Today has been inspiring.
Great weather, the wind a little cool, but Ive been out with pen and paper doing some planning... It is looking good!
After meeting with Ann, I have some directives on what is required for the School garden, and we are starting with the children tomorrow to compost and plant. Cauliflower, Lettuce, Onion and Beetroot, Corn and Sunflowers, Cornflowers, French Dwarf beans, and Parisian baby carrots. These will go with what they had last season and some self-sown goodies, also a hearty looking rhubarb plant that could easily feed a class! There are plans for custard and rhubarb which can be cooked in the class kitchen areas - this school has an amazing setup!
My helpers and I will be planting thyme, sage, rosemary, chives, lavender, oh and strawberries, and weeding the class beds next week. We have plans to make pots ourselves, and the children are really keen to have a Sunflower growing competition! Russian Giants love compost, and can grow to 7 foot tall, so this is spurring them on!
Next year, it might be a pumpkin growing competition, that sounds like fun!?
We have one large feijoa tree at the edge of one of the beds, that needs a really good haircut (prune) and Im picking will not be any good until it has another couple of feijoa trees planted nearby, as it has not had fruit in the time it has been there, and it is a good size. Some of the newer feijoa varieties self pollinate, but I think this one does not.
I have a lone feijoa tree in my garden, so Im going to dig it up and replant it over there so we can produce some fruit if we are lucky!
There are plans to build up the soil and get regular plantings of easy and short-growing produce growing so the children can benefit from their garden. The second part of the plan includes longer term growing, such as pumpkins and squash, and berries, fruit trees etc. Ann has expressed an interest in having Chickens. It can be done, but not yet. It is something to work forward to.
The longer term is to have a self-sustaining community garden, but this is months/years away. The plans are underway, and talking to the Principal, they are very proactive.
We are talking about planting a variety of companion plants - herbs and flowers, and introducing permaculture ideas in as we can. A worm farm, and they have bokashi units and a compost heap already. It is exciting to see the wheels in motion!
Hope to include some photos of the area as it changes, but my camera ran out of battery power just as I took the first photo today. How typical is that?
Back into it,
Reading, Planning... Dreaming :-)
Love to You,
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX
Great weather, the wind a little cool, but Ive been out with pen and paper doing some planning... It is looking good!
After meeting with Ann, I have some directives on what is required for the School garden, and we are starting with the children tomorrow to compost and plant. Cauliflower, Lettuce, Onion and Beetroot, Corn and Sunflowers, Cornflowers, French Dwarf beans, and Parisian baby carrots. These will go with what they had last season and some self-sown goodies, also a hearty looking rhubarb plant that could easily feed a class! There are plans for custard and rhubarb which can be cooked in the class kitchen areas - this school has an amazing setup!
My helpers and I will be planting thyme, sage, rosemary, chives, lavender, oh and strawberries, and weeding the class beds next week. We have plans to make pots ourselves, and the children are really keen to have a Sunflower growing competition! Russian Giants love compost, and can grow to 7 foot tall, so this is spurring them on!
Next year, it might be a pumpkin growing competition, that sounds like fun!?
We have one large feijoa tree at the edge of one of the beds, that needs a really good haircut (prune) and Im picking will not be any good until it has another couple of feijoa trees planted nearby, as it has not had fruit in the time it has been there, and it is a good size. Some of the newer feijoa varieties self pollinate, but I think this one does not.
I have a lone feijoa tree in my garden, so Im going to dig it up and replant it over there so we can produce some fruit if we are lucky!
There are plans to build up the soil and get regular plantings of easy and short-growing produce growing so the children can benefit from their garden. The second part of the plan includes longer term growing, such as pumpkins and squash, and berries, fruit trees etc. Ann has expressed an interest in having Chickens. It can be done, but not yet. It is something to work forward to.
The longer term is to have a self-sustaining community garden, but this is months/years away. The plans are underway, and talking to the Principal, they are very proactive.
We are talking about planting a variety of companion plants - herbs and flowers, and introducing permaculture ideas in as we can. A worm farm, and they have bokashi units and a compost heap already. It is exciting to see the wheels in motion!
Hope to include some photos of the area as it changes, but my camera ran out of battery power just as I took the first photo today. How typical is that?
Back into it,
Reading, Planning... Dreaming :-)
Love to You,
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Springing Forward - Seed Planting at School
Already we are three days into September. I think I was better or more organized last year. I cant remember why... it just feels so.
Tomorrow we anticipate the anniversary of the first Christchurch Earthquake. Im not sure I should mention it, but Ive never felt such low energy, and Im not alone when I say, Im so glad to see the sun! We have had several days of these low-feeling days - high grey cloud that sticks around, Nor' West Arch skies and so-so pleasant temperatures, without the cool wind of last month. Fingers crossed we can hover through September and October like this!
The garden is looking good, things are starting to pop through the soil and put their heads up.
Its such a great feeling to see them there.
Im still angsting about some of the seeds Ive planted - are they too dry, too wet, will they pop through at all, is it too early, will there be frost...?
My fenugreek seeds this year seem to be taking forever. I love their golden seeds, the plant is a little less impressive.
This morning spent a very pleasant and enthusiastic hour and a half with a class of new entrants. Five and Six year olds - 22 of them. I have to say, their very capable teachers have them all figured out, and their behaviour was excellent. They are all gorgeous - each their own shiny promise of whats to come.
Interested, curious and full of questions. I cannot remember being that keen at six. I hope I was.
We are learning about seeds. What seeds need to grow, how to plant them, and what happens when they start to grow.
We drew and coloured pictures for around the outside of our yoghurt pots, which we stuck on.
Then Mr Wood put holes in the bottom of the pots, and put our names on them.
I put soil in the pot, the children pushed their seeds into the soil, and *covered them up* so they will grow. Then, Ms Hunt put their names on stakes, and they are waiting for some water.
I chose beans, sunflowers and pumpkin seeds for the children to grow. They are bigger seeds, easily handled, and for the most part, they should grow easily. Beans (Scarlet Runner) were mostly picked by the boys, (Jack and the Beanstalk maybe?) and Sunflowers (Russian Giant (5m high) for the girls, but one very enthusiastic wee chap chose a pumpkin (Grey Crown). I asked why, 'Cos they rock! ... Ok, Good stuff!
Thank You for having me Room Two, I really enjoyed my visit, and I look forward to catching up on the seeds and your progress as things grow and change...
As I mention things growing and changing. I am thinking of those who need change, and those who have experienced a lot of growing in the past two years. Not just in Christchurch, as our Christchurch Earthquake and its effects run far and wide. I hope things even out, that things stabilise and start to grow good from here.
Love to You and Yours,
EB
XX
Tomorrow we anticipate the anniversary of the first Christchurch Earthquake. Im not sure I should mention it, but Ive never felt such low energy, and Im not alone when I say, Im so glad to see the sun! We have had several days of these low-feeling days - high grey cloud that sticks around, Nor' West Arch skies and so-so pleasant temperatures, without the cool wind of last month. Fingers crossed we can hover through September and October like this!
The garden is looking good, things are starting to pop through the soil and put their heads up.
Its such a great feeling to see them there.
Im still angsting about some of the seeds Ive planted - are they too dry, too wet, will they pop through at all, is it too early, will there be frost...?
My fenugreek seeds this year seem to be taking forever. I love their golden seeds, the plant is a little less impressive.
This morning spent a very pleasant and enthusiastic hour and a half with a class of new entrants. Five and Six year olds - 22 of them. I have to say, their very capable teachers have them all figured out, and their behaviour was excellent. They are all gorgeous - each their own shiny promise of whats to come.
Interested, curious and full of questions. I cannot remember being that keen at six. I hope I was.
We are learning about seeds. What seeds need to grow, how to plant them, and what happens when they start to grow.
Then Mr Wood put holes in the bottom of the pots, and put our names on them.
I put soil in the pot, the children pushed their seeds into the soil, and *covered them up* so they will grow. Then, Ms Hunt put their names on stakes, and they are waiting for some water.
I chose beans, sunflowers and pumpkin seeds for the children to grow. They are bigger seeds, easily handled, and for the most part, they should grow easily. Beans (Scarlet Runner) were mostly picked by the boys, (Jack and the Beanstalk maybe?) and Sunflowers (Russian Giant (5m high) for the girls, but one very enthusiastic wee chap chose a pumpkin (Grey Crown). I asked why, 'Cos they rock! ... Ok, Good stuff!
Thank You for having me Room Two, I really enjoyed my visit, and I look forward to catching up on the seeds and your progress as things grow and change...
As I mention things growing and changing. I am thinking of those who need change, and those who have experienced a lot of growing in the past two years. Not just in Christchurch, as our Christchurch Earthquake and its effects run far and wide. I hope things even out, that things stabilise and start to grow good from here.
Love to You and Yours,
EB
XX
Thursday, December 29, 2011
FOOD BILL - Dont let this one past or be passed!!
What a grey day. Cant believe its Friday already though?
We have been up since the Sparrows got up this morning. Its pleasant enough out there, and its watering day!
I think we all went to bed and crashed with exhaustion. We had a very long, rocky aftershock just before bed time, so the little guy (big 11yr old guy) slept nearby. It was a rude shock for us both, and insulted us by being just a 4.3 or something *small* but it just kept going, and was quite noisy. A good sleep was had by all though, eventually!
Ive been sorting out my seeds, and what to keep, what not to. The thing is, what do you do with seeds you no longer require? There seems to be nowhere you can give them to... I have visions of sweeping along the riverside, seeds pouring from my hands, but Im picking they ll know soon enough,. most of my surplus are lettuce, capsicums and pumpkins. The area could do with lots of these things growing freely, there are plenty of people who need food. I have asked at food banks, but apparently people want canned foods and perishables, not good healthy seeds that could give them so much more...
I was plodding through an exercise yesterday with my 11 yr old son.
ONE average sized pumpkin plant can grow an average of 3 or 4 pumpkins ...
One pumpkin makes pumpkin soup for an average of 3-4 people, which may stretch to say, averagely (get it?) two meals, per person?
That ONE pumpkin, holds within its skin, an average of maybe 150-200 seeds.
You dont use the seeds for the soup.
Save the seeds.
You can hull them, and make pumpkin seeds that you can then roast to snack on - full of nutrition
ORYou can dry them, and plant them.
The same applies to most vegetables.
Their inner goodness is more than what you eat, it is what you can do to help feed yourself and others with what lies inside!
And the Government cant believe the public backlash? - ARTICLE HERE
So - What can we do? START HERE - Petition
Questions and Answers on the Food Safety Website - READ HERE
OOOOBY says TIME FOR ACTION - READ HERE, Join this Gardening Community!
“Liberty has never come from the government; it has always come from the subjects of it.
The history of liberty is a history of limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it.”
–Woodrow Wilson
FAMILY INTEGRITY WEBSITE has something to say about it HERE
___________________________________
MY SOAP BOX or rather, My thoughts on this ----
In a world where the reality is that sometimes, we must live by our wits, our intelligence and our clever cunning because noone else will do things for us, noone else will pay our way, or give us solutions, in a world where Money is King, Big Business Rules, Possessions are Important and Brands and Labels seem to define Us - we simply cannot afford to lose the right to grow our own food.
For some of us - The Battlers, The Ones who Just Get Along, the Living Simply folk, who live close to, or within poverty, we need to be able to feed our families this way.
If you dont know how to garden, but you want to learn, please ask. Keep asking!
There are plenty of people who will show you the way.
As I have stated, I have seeds Im willing - nay, KEEN to give away, I have learnt how to Garden and Im prepared to show people how - ASK me :)
If you dont live in Christchurch, we can email and I can send seeds to you. ASK!
THERE ARE COMMUNITY GARDENS IN CHRISTCHURCH!For a small donation of your time, you can taste the benefits!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERES ONE -
New Brighton Community Gardens
136 Shaw Ave New Brighton Christchurch 8083 - WEBSITE NEEDS UPDATING but here it isand Im investigating news of another community garden in Linwood, behind the temporary Library building on Linwood Avenue...
NEW BRIGHTON NEWS - The Market has reopened!
Well, now the rain has set in. I do not have to water, and the plants will be loving it!
Sometimes my blog starts as one thing, and it finishes as another and today is a classic example.
Im no activist. I simply recognize that we need our voices to be heard, for shame if we lose a fundemental right that other countries have - growing food at home. No, I hear you - Im being extreme. But honestly - do YOU want to read 800-odd pages of legislation, understand it all completely, and do so in less than a month? ANYTHING that is 800 pages in length is not insignificant, therefore it needs a sturdy reaction.
Why was this kept quiet? ... There was an election to run. They seemingly didnt want it well-known that this bill was even being contemplated.
Actions are better than words.
Id march and show my opposition to this. It stands in the way of my lifestyle. My health, my welfare. I use my food to live...
Id march! Would you? Put yourself out there and show people you care.
Ok, signing off now.
Time to go and ground myself with some housework :)
Love, Light and Happy Gardening!
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX
We have been up since the Sparrows got up this morning. Its pleasant enough out there, and its watering day!
I think we all went to bed and crashed with exhaustion. We had a very long, rocky aftershock just before bed time, so the little guy (big 11yr old guy) slept nearby. It was a rude shock for us both, and insulted us by being just a 4.3 or something *small* but it just kept going, and was quite noisy. A good sleep was had by all though, eventually!
Ive been sorting out my seeds, and what to keep, what not to. The thing is, what do you do with seeds you no longer require? There seems to be nowhere you can give them to... I have visions of sweeping along the riverside, seeds pouring from my hands, but Im picking they ll know soon enough,. most of my surplus are lettuce, capsicums and pumpkins. The area could do with lots of these things growing freely, there are plenty of people who need food. I have asked at food banks, but apparently people want canned foods and perishables, not good healthy seeds that could give them so much more...
I was plodding through an exercise yesterday with my 11 yr old son.
Heres what we worked out...
ONE average sized pumpkin plant can grow an average of 3 or 4 pumpkins ...
One pumpkin makes pumpkin soup for an average of 3-4 people, which may stretch to say, averagely (get it?) two meals, per person?
That ONE pumpkin, holds within its skin, an average of maybe 150-200 seeds.
You dont use the seeds for the soup.
Save the seeds.
You can hull them, and make pumpkin seeds that you can then roast to snack on - full of nutrition
ORYou can dry them, and plant them.
That 150-200 seeds can feed a lot of people!!!! Or, they can feed livestock! Or you can harvest and onsell, or give away, or use for Halloween...Or sell seed...
Arent pumpkins awesome?
Arent pumpkins awesome?
The same applies to most vegetables.
This is why it is important we stop the Government and other large businesses in NZ from taking away our rights, our freedom as Market Gardeners, Small Garden Business Operators, and Home Gardeners who may sell what they grow, and save seeds to finance their own Vegetable and Fruit Gardens - and have done for years, it is a way of life!.
THIS FOOD BILL has the potential to Stop us being able to maintain and supplement our food supply, and help others.
We simply cannot allow this to happen
GET IN QUICK because this bill WILL be passed if we do not make a statement and register our disapproval and non compliance to this bill!
HERE - READ FOR YOURSELF - THE FOOD BILLAnd the Government cant believe the public backlash? - ARTICLE HERE
So - What can we do? START HERE - Petition
Questions and Answers on the Food Safety Website - READ HERE
OOOOBY says TIME FOR ACTION - READ HERE, Join this Gardening Community!
“Liberty has never come from the government; it has always come from the subjects of it.
The history of liberty is a history of limitation of governmental power, not the increase of it.”
–Woodrow Wilson
FAMILY INTEGRITY WEBSITE has something to say about it HERE
___________________________________
MY SOAP BOX or rather, My thoughts on this ----
In a world where the reality is that sometimes, we must live by our wits, our intelligence and our clever cunning because noone else will do things for us, noone else will pay our way, or give us solutions, in a world where Money is King, Big Business Rules, Possessions are Important and Brands and Labels seem to define Us - we simply cannot afford to lose the right to grow our own food.
For some of us - The Battlers, The Ones who Just Get Along, the Living Simply folk, who live close to, or within poverty, we need to be able to feed our families this way.
If you dont know how to garden, but you want to learn, please ask. Keep asking!
There are plenty of people who will show you the way.
As I have stated, I have seeds Im willing - nay, KEEN to give away, I have learnt how to Garden and Im prepared to show people how - ASK me :)
THERE ARE COMMUNITY GARDENS IN CHRISTCHURCH!For a small donation of your time, you can taste the benefits!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HERES ONE -
New Brighton Community Gardens
136 Shaw Ave New Brighton Christchurch 8083 - WEBSITE NEEDS UPDATING but here it isand Im investigating news of another community garden in Linwood, behind the temporary Library building on Linwood Avenue...
NEW BRIGHTON NEWS - The Market has reopened!
Well, now the rain has set in. I do not have to water, and the plants will be loving it!
Sometimes my blog starts as one thing, and it finishes as another and today is a classic example.
Im no activist. I simply recognize that we need our voices to be heard, for shame if we lose a fundemental right that other countries have - growing food at home. No, I hear you - Im being extreme. But honestly - do YOU want to read 800-odd pages of legislation, understand it all completely, and do so in less than a month? ANYTHING that is 800 pages in length is not insignificant, therefore it needs a sturdy reaction.
Why was this kept quiet? ... There was an election to run. They seemingly didnt want it well-known that this bill was even being contemplated.
Actions are better than words.
Id march and show my opposition to this. It stands in the way of my lifestyle. My health, my welfare. I use my food to live...
Id march! Would you? Put yourself out there and show people you care.
Ok, signing off now.
Love, Light and Happy Gardening!
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX
Monday, March 21, 2011
All At Sea... Post Quakey Blues?... Lost my Lustre.
Ever made plans that, no matter what you do, just dont work out?
My week has been like that so far. Im not really *blue* about it, just kinda lavender, bordering on a blue.. :) but I do wonder how things will pan out.
I have my son still at home from school. A good opportunity, now that Ive caught up on bills and stocked up, to go somewhere for a short stay out of town... or so youd think...
So, I decided we would go out to the Farm. But no. Things just dont seem to go my way... so we are stuck at home. Pointless going out to spend time on the farm when it is raining as much as it is at present...
The kids are disappointed. Im the worst Mum in the world... and I feel a bit at Sea at the moment.
Enter the idea of Movies and Popcorn. Nope, fail.
Or perhaps a walk through the nearest mall - Northlands... Nope. Fail.
Not a lot on, its post-quake, its mid-week, and there isnt a lot to choose from...
Might be time to extend the crafts box and get some new paintings underway or something...Hehe we have plenty of broken crockery for Mosaics?
Still. We have all our pets home, our house is intact, our family is together, and we are complete.
Lots to be grateful for in the bigger picture. Im going to remind them of this.
Miss 4 is wearing my boots. Stomping... Survival boots Mum, she says.
She is also carrying a new little handbag, in the shape of a tiny corset, and her newest My Little Pony, who she has named Rockstar. All set for Survival, indeed.
Mr 10 has cleaned his room in the hope that he will earn some extra dosh this week. He has a new first aid kit that he bought with his own hard-earned money. And a solar shower, he is itching to try it out. However, now he wants to buy a bottle of arnica and some lavender oil. He has been reading up what might be useful in an emergency. Im so proud, he loves learning, loves reading... and has taken to the emergency preparation really well. He has some homework still to complete, but is loving being at home.
After the 5.1 the other night, yesterday around town was BUSY! There were EQC people in groups of three in their bright dayglo orange vests everywhere, rechecking buildings. The general idea was to have things checked before business commences, due to the Damage On Damage thing. No stories of any collapses, although the Linwood/Aldwins Rd corner is looking particular fragile, it needs to come down, rumour has it that will happen on Wednesday - Tomorrow! The roads are particularly bumpy, and the bumps are particularly difficult to see at any speed, so its a crawl, which is fine. The people in the houses on these badly affected streets just dont need speeding vehicles... so Im like a road-turtle if I have to travel at all.
Ahh well, thats me for today.
Lost my Lustre somewhere, but itll pick up.
Theres plenty of good to look for, and Im sure this is a temporary reshuffling feeling, this sea sick, post quake bluesy feeling... Bring on the better stuff. Im ready.
I know there are plenty of people feeling the same way...
Take time to enjoy your family, smell the flowers, smile, love and be at peace...
Love and Big Hugs
E Butterfly
XXXXXXX
My week has been like that so far. Im not really *blue* about it, just kinda lavender, bordering on a blue.. :) but I do wonder how things will pan out.
I have my son still at home from school. A good opportunity, now that Ive caught up on bills and stocked up, to go somewhere for a short stay out of town... or so youd think...
So, I decided we would go out to the Farm. But no. Things just dont seem to go my way... so we are stuck at home. Pointless going out to spend time on the farm when it is raining as much as it is at present...
The kids are disappointed. Im the worst Mum in the world... and I feel a bit at Sea at the moment.
Enter the idea of Movies and Popcorn. Nope, fail.
Or perhaps a walk through the nearest mall - Northlands... Nope. Fail.
Not a lot on, its post-quake, its mid-week, and there isnt a lot to choose from...
Might be time to extend the crafts box and get some new paintings underway or something...Hehe we have plenty of broken crockery for Mosaics?
Still. We have all our pets home, our house is intact, our family is together, and we are complete.
Lots to be grateful for in the bigger picture. Im going to remind them of this.
Miss 4 is wearing my boots. Stomping... Survival boots Mum, she says.
She is also carrying a new little handbag, in the shape of a tiny corset, and her newest My Little Pony, who she has named Rockstar. All set for Survival, indeed.
Mr 10 has cleaned his room in the hope that he will earn some extra dosh this week. He has a new first aid kit that he bought with his own hard-earned money. And a solar shower, he is itching to try it out. However, now he wants to buy a bottle of arnica and some lavender oil. He has been reading up what might be useful in an emergency. Im so proud, he loves learning, loves reading... and has taken to the emergency preparation really well. He has some homework still to complete, but is loving being at home.After the 5.1 the other night, yesterday around town was BUSY! There were EQC people in groups of three in their bright dayglo orange vests everywhere, rechecking buildings. The general idea was to have things checked before business commences, due to the Damage On Damage thing. No stories of any collapses, although the Linwood/Aldwins Rd corner is looking particular fragile, it needs to come down, rumour has it that will happen on Wednesday - Tomorrow! The roads are particularly bumpy, and the bumps are particularly difficult to see at any speed, so its a crawl, which is fine. The people in the houses on these badly affected streets just dont need speeding vehicles... so Im like a road-turtle if I have to travel at all.
Ahh well, thats me for today.
Lost my Lustre somewhere, but itll pick up.
Theres plenty of good to look for, and Im sure this is a temporary reshuffling feeling, this sea sick, post quake bluesy feeling... Bring on the better stuff. Im ready.
I know there are plenty of people feeling the same way...
Take time to enjoy your family, smell the flowers, smile, love and be at peace...
Love and Big Hugs
E Butterfly
XXXXXXX
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Prophecies and Every Day Observations...
SO I hear in the pipeline, that Ken Ring *Moon Man* has prophesized another Earthquake around here (NZ) - and a well-known psychic, Deb Webber is joining with him, saying she thought NZ would be split in two (Are we not already as two islands?)
Anyway... Im concerned that people are not listening to their own intuition - their gut - call it what you will.
Dont we notice events, and things, and in hindsight learn from them?
Shouldnt we though?
The night before this last Earthquake, my son and I watched the birds in flocks, flying out to sea. Without a word of hesitation, we watched them go, and chatted about them - wow, theres lots of those birds there... Wonder what theyre doing ... Why did I not put two and two together? I do after all, know its a phenomenom that birds DO go *away* in the event of an oncoming disaster. Did I forget?
Well, I wont make that mistake twice.
Ive been watching the birds like a hawk this week (sorry about the pun!)
In part, its due to the predictions of another big earthquake.
That doesnt bother me nearly as much as having my son at school during the event itself - he was supposed to go back to school this Wednesday. It takes me about an hour to get him, round trip, if something happens. So Ive been worried.
He told me before I checked today, that he thought it would be another week --- I should have listened.
This kid knows things.
I went online today --- no sewerage yet. Another week. He crowed! He is so glad. And I have to be honest, so am I. That gets me through that next date - 20th March 2011-- then we can see whats what.
So many Earth Events happening, just beginning Im thinking, there may be more -
- Indonesia has a volcano erupting.
- Japan, a huge succession of earthquakes, a tsunami, and now problems with their Nuclear plants. Huge death toll, and of course they must be wondering about disease with 300,000 homeless. That is huge :(
- And of course, the Christchurch earthquake last month.
We are working together towards repairing, healing, recommencing, reopening, reconstructing things. There are plans afoot to (hopefully) make a different Christchurch.
Im making an Earthquake *hide* in our spare room (very small single bedroom)
It consists of some of our food/water.
It has taped windows (in a X) to stop glass falling inside and hurting the occupants.
Two shelves one on each wall West and East.
A table in between, and doors on top of the table to reinforce it... Some other bits of wood required to prop up the table should the house fall on it.
Sleeping bags, water, first aid kit and all the things we need inside, and some outside or in the car, as required.
Cos you know, Im not a prophet...
Im not into Scaremongering.
But I am into being Safe, keeping my family Whole.
So I ll be watching the weather, the sky, reading what I can, talking to others, asking questions where I can, learning, looking and searching... making Every Day Observations... and I will make up my own mind about what I hear, what I learn and see.
Trusting My Gut.
Love and Light
From my House to Yours
EBUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXXX
Anyway... Im concerned that people are not listening to their own intuition - their gut - call it what you will.
Dont we notice events, and things, and in hindsight learn from them?
Shouldnt we though?
The night before this last Earthquake, my son and I watched the birds in flocks, flying out to sea. Without a word of hesitation, we watched them go, and chatted about them - wow, theres lots of those birds there... Wonder what theyre doing ... Why did I not put two and two together? I do after all, know its a phenomenom that birds DO go *away* in the event of an oncoming disaster. Did I forget?
Well, I wont make that mistake twice.
Ive been watching the birds like a hawk this week (sorry about the pun!)
In part, its due to the predictions of another big earthquake.
That doesnt bother me nearly as much as having my son at school during the event itself - he was supposed to go back to school this Wednesday. It takes me about an hour to get him, round trip, if something happens. So Ive been worried.
He told me before I checked today, that he thought it would be another week --- I should have listened.
This kid knows things.
I went online today --- no sewerage yet. Another week. He crowed! He is so glad. And I have to be honest, so am I. That gets me through that next date - 20th March 2011-- then we can see whats what.
So many Earth Events happening, just beginning Im thinking, there may be more -
- Indonesia has a volcano erupting.
- Japan, a huge succession of earthquakes, a tsunami, and now problems with their Nuclear plants. Huge death toll, and of course they must be wondering about disease with 300,000 homeless. That is huge :(
- And of course, the Christchurch earthquake last month.
We are working together towards repairing, healing, recommencing, reopening, reconstructing things. There are plans afoot to (hopefully) make a different Christchurch.
Im making an Earthquake *hide* in our spare room (very small single bedroom)
It consists of some of our food/water.
It has taped windows (in a X) to stop glass falling inside and hurting the occupants.
Two shelves one on each wall West and East.
A table in between, and doors on top of the table to reinforce it... Some other bits of wood required to prop up the table should the house fall on it.
Sleeping bags, water, first aid kit and all the things we need inside, and some outside or in the car, as required.
Cos you know, Im not a prophet...
Im not into Scaremongering.
But I am into being Safe, keeping my family Whole.
So I ll be watching the weather, the sky, reading what I can, talking to others, asking questions where I can, learning, looking and searching... making Every Day Observations... and I will make up my own mind about what I hear, what I learn and see.
Trusting My Gut.
Love and Light
From my House to Yours
EBUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXXX
Thursday, March 10, 2011
All over the Country, not just us today!!
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| Notice to Abandon Buildings |
This says it all, the wee stars on the map that usually cover our Canterbury are all over the place!
Its called sharing, People! We know how to share...
Poor Wellington must wonder if they are next on the Shaking List, given the ones they have up there lately! I can only hope its a storm (so to speak) in a teacup.
 |
| One of the Time Traps around the city - Traffic Queues. |
Today was one of those low-key, catching-up days. Nice to get out and wander a little up around the Super Shed on Pages Road.
We got some crayons, some felt pens and some paper to keep us occupied. And Mummy got some good ideas for putting gardens into old baths (for some amazing reason (doh) there are a lot of old baths to recycle this week!)
Im thinking that the garden could be much better if its in old baths and easy to move along if required...
And so the planning continues. Im thinking companion planting, and some herbs, veggies and lots of colour if possible. Got to bring the light in via the plants.
 |
| Army Unimog Parked Outside our Home, the Army deliver toilets! |
Still missing my friend B from down the road. We are feeding her pussycat, and have seen her once or twice, or the twitch of the bushes as she vacates the bush shes hiding in as we pass by.
A bit grey and cold today. Im wondering if this is the onset of Autumn, and the Winter isnt far away again.
Time to bring out the Winter woolies, and the knitting needles. Even the Pussy-cats seem to be eating constantly to build their Winter coats... or are they just being greedy?
 |
| Occarina refuses to move, Mr 14.5 sleeps on the trampoline, so she sleeps on him! |
Well, thats about it from me. Time to eat the dinner Mr 10 is making.
It smells... well lovely, seeing I didnt prepare it... it smells like saveloys :-)
His favourite.
Love and Blessings.
Almost managed to believe we dont Shake today!
Long may it last eh!?
E BUTTERFLY
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Monday, February 28, 2011
Day One - Christchurch Earthquakes, shakes and breaks...PHOTOS
Tonight while Ive been sorting these photos through, we have had about three good aftershocks. Ive been sitting watching some TV and by my reckoning, theyre in the mid-threes. Of course Im not a seismologist, but ya get to know by the amount of swaying and rocking, or the creaking and groaning... and when they dont get you out of your chair to clutch loved ones or catch falling vases or tvs, you know youre ok... Thats making light of it of course, but you do get to a stage where you cope better with them!
So here are some of my photos from the first day -
E Day - Tuesday 21st of February 2011.
Nine minutes to one oclock on a pleasant still overcast day, we were shaken again.
Our children were at school, people were at work, doing what they do every day, every Tuesday. Buses travelled familiar routes, people buzzed by in cars, on bikes, all doing what they do.
By half past one, all our lives had changed. People had lost friends and family, loved ones, or pets, or workplaces. Others had lost homes, cars or both, or all of these.
No discrimination - throughout the city there were pockets of life and devastation alike. Christchurch will never be the same, the skyline has changed forever and history has been made...
Then, to top it off, it began to rain - hard. Those who had lost their tile roofs scrambled to cover their possessions. Some people could not cover things successfully, and with their homes split open wide, they had to leave it to the elements.
There are broken windows, broken possessions, torn up lawns and fallen fences, chimneys... Some that were hit last time have been mercilessly hit again, others who were hit last time were spared by this one. But all of us have been affected somehow.
We headed off over to extended family, across town, to escape for the first night, then came home the next morning to dig in and clean up... get ourselves back together again...Our trip was very slow, through high tidal waters from the estuary travelling up the Avon river that had burst its banks. It was scary, it was astounding. And it took us 2 hours 45 minutes to go what usually took us 30 minutes in busy traffic.
Will put some more photos up tomorrow if we have power...
Off to get some sleep while weve stopped shaking :)
Love to all,
EB
XX
So here are some of my photos from the first day -
E Day - Tuesday 21st of February 2011.
Nine minutes to one oclock on a pleasant still overcast day, we were shaken again.
Our children were at school, people were at work, doing what they do every day, every Tuesday. Buses travelled familiar routes, people buzzed by in cars, on bikes, all doing what they do.
By half past one, all our lives had changed. People had lost friends and family, loved ones, or pets, or workplaces. Others had lost homes, cars or both, or all of these.
No discrimination - throughout the city there were pockets of life and devastation alike. Christchurch will never be the same, the skyline has changed forever and history has been made...
Then, to top it off, it began to rain - hard. Those who had lost their tile roofs scrambled to cover their possessions. Some people could not cover things successfully, and with their homes split open wide, they had to leave it to the elements.
There are broken windows, broken possessions, torn up lawns and fallen fences, chimneys... Some that were hit last time have been mercilessly hit again, others who were hit last time were spared by this one. But all of us have been affected somehow.
We headed off over to extended family, across town, to escape for the first night, then came home the next morning to dig in and clean up... get ourselves back together again...Our trip was very slow, through high tidal waters from the estuary travelling up the Avon river that had burst its banks. It was scary, it was astounding. And it took us 2 hours 45 minutes to go what usually took us 30 minutes in busy traffic.
 |
| My Street minutes after the Earthquake. Liquifaction started pooling immediately |
 |
| Water from broken drains spills out onto the street |
 |
| Within minutes, people panicking travel quickly through the streets breaking the tarseal on the surface of the road, releasing the liquifaction to the surface where it becomes slippery silty mud. |
 |
| My side of the road has less damage for some reason, but because it has such a deep puddle, people avoid it, causing further damage to the middle and opposite side. Several cars pop their tyres on the hard surfaces of tarseal as they speed over it. |
 |
| The hole is caused by the fire hydrant, just opposite my driveway in the middle of the street. It is a deep hole and quite unstable around the edges. |
 | ||||||
| Liquifaction - grey thick silt that *appears* from below and smells terrible whilst drying out |
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| A Neighbours wall lies on its side |
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| A telephone pole looks like its days may be numbered. I worry about this pole through future aftershocks! |
 | |
| Throughout the city, people have ditched their cars in favour of walking home. | Some have run out of petrol |
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| Some have been frustrated by heavy traffic, and walk to get home sooner |
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| More liquifaction - it is everywhere! |
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| At almost high tide that afternoon, the Avon river is grey like silt and almost bursting its banks |
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| Avonside Drive, again in tatters |
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| Starting the drive over the city - many cracks like this appeared |
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| Traffic crawled along Pages Road to the only bridge across the Avon River that separates the East of the city from the rest of it. Very slow progress was made, lots of damage along the way. |
 |
| Note the tiles from the roof. Many of these houses had holes where you could see right through. |
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| Some of these cracks you could see right into. Scary! |
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| An Orion ? Airplane that soared very low, over the city, possibly looking at damage or monitoring traffic... |
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| Someones puppy waiting to be taken to safety! |
 |
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| More tiled roof damage |
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| Thick muddy liquifaction |
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| This speaks volumes. Footwear like this is useless for walking over this stuff. It sticks, you slip, and before you know it, youre covered in the stuff and it STINKS! It is a health hazard all round! |
 | |
| Someones day just got really bad. Middle of Pages Road | - I hope the owners are ok!! |
Off to get some sleep while weve stopped shaking :)
Love to all,
EB
XX
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