A Day Out in the City and Surroundings, Lest We Forget...

Soldiers wearing their black berets and ANZAC poppies can be found all around our city at present. Busy, proud and helpful, friendly smiles from most seen today, and willing to chat, answer questions, generally make you feel at ease.
Makes you feel proud to be a kiwi.
Certainly proud that we have an Army who cares about its general population.
Talking to these young people makes you realize, for most, theyre glad to be able to help where they can... some have been here since the very first days and weeks after the EQ - some from as far away as Northland. Many talk about the family they have living here in CHCH or the friends they know from *Back on Base* from Christchurch... Good on them all, I say.
Theyre full of compassion  and I think we love having them here, if only the circumstances were different...

Entrance to High Street - Road Closed

Anyhoo - we were out and about today. Ive taken some photos to show you the devastation. And Im not being *down on it* Seriously. Take a look - if I didnt know differently, I would wonder which street I was looking down. Im not a Cantab by birth. I dont know the city streets as if I were bought up here, Im an Otago Girl... but c'mon... I had to ask Mr EB, is THIS Colombo Street?


Colombo Street - almost unrecognizable from the road


Looking down a street that you know people lost their lives in, is taking me back to those first hours on that very day. Too wrapped up in my own family, their lives, our lives... it is so hard to register what they went through.

A Floral Tribute left at the base of the Cordon on Colombo Street in Central City

Part of the process of understanding the depth of suffering and  grief. The photos and images come to the fore, and honestly, we were so lucky... and it registers that sentiment over and over.
WE WERE LUCKY, so lucky. To those whose lives are not the same since that day, my heart goes out to you. I now see some - such a little part- of what went on in the city. Scary stuff. And the Change that is occurring to the city we knew... Constant change - the landscape, the people, the outcomes...

ST Asaph Street, one of the many *holes*in the buildings where shops used to be.

Our day actually started with a few laps of the wargaming tables at the National War Gaming Convention at the Woolston Working Mens Club.

Awesome stuff, lots and lots of people (men mostly, me and Miss 4 and one other Wargaming Widow were present this morning) and ... well, it still amazes me that you get such amiable groups of men who guffaw and banter, debate and hassle each other and yet always go back for more... Where were they all when I was looking for a suitable mate back in the day? ... Im guessing they were all inside, happily painting models, throwing dice and building the most amazing scenery and props for said games... If youre creative at all, youll appreciate the time and dollars that goes into some ... no, most, of the pieces. Not only do they touch up the most teeny tiny of models in the shapes of men, horses, and some of the most amazing (some mystical and two headed) creatures, they make fantastic replicas of buildings from all kinds of  time periods, in all manner of repair (some bombed or shot up by cannon fire) ... Amazing stuff.

downstairs next to where Adam and Eve were

upstairs next to where Adam and Eve were



The right side of Colombo Street. Note how less damage there seems  when you look at first.




Someones Thoughtful Tribute on the Cordon Fence in Colombo St




oophs tilting street signs everywhere!




Signs on Local business windows




The Christchurch City Council Buildings




Autumn Colour in the leaves, City Centre





Dance of the Road Cone... Popular in our City!





Autumn Leaves in city gutters

 So then, it was on into town, having a quick look then on we go, to let the kids spend their Easter Egg Dosh. Done...and Dusted. Easy when they have Super deals at Pak n Save that leaves their bags groaning with chocolate eggs (creme eggs 2 for 99c!!) and theyre happy for the rest of the weekend.

Have to say, there seems to be an *air* around, that feels Earth Quakey. I sure hope Im wrong. Tomorrow Im going to spend the day sorting out the Bunker :)
Spent the week chasing my School Holiday Tail, and finding it nowhere... I think sometimes Im not versed in organizational skills when I have three children at home. They seem to make far more mess than two... Half way there though, so fingers xed next week goes nice and quick so we can get back to *normal patterns*

Ok so thats it for today.
Now tomorrow is Sunday, its Easter AND Anzac Day so dont expect big things... Dawn Service? Or Lie in?Tea? or coffee?... sunshine (hopeful) and some chocolate...lots of chocolate?

Loving This,
All the VERY Best,
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Whirlwinds and Beans... Fresh and Hand-picked!

Woo hoo! It is Friday again. Another week slips by.
I have to say, its been a real whirlwind this week (see the dog above)!
It went so quick, Im sure I didnt blink. Its been a low-energy, no motivation week unfortunately. Well, we all have days/weeks/months where things seem static.
Heres how it went...
It rained some days, big drops... The washing pile expanded... I looked  the other way and did some gardening...
I admired green tomatoes, of which we have plenty growing - all tucked up in their little green leafy nests... I oohed and ahhed over the non-acid tomatoes growing, theyre orange - transitory stage til red, Baby! So thrilling to think we will be eating our own toms soon! And another success story is our Scarlet Runner beans - a handful a day we pick. Theyre awesome. Im trying to decide which way to store the beans... At present we munch through them cooked as a stirfry... The kids like their crunch.

On Wednesday, We, as a family, walked on the beach... I had a hand or two and we collected some seaweed and made seaweed food for the Garden... Im sure I heard the capsicums singing as they soaked up their seaweed goodness! I love the way plants look when theyve just had some water/fertilizer. Its like they *perk up* and stand up straight :) Basil plants are delightful to grow. Their pretty green leaves gently pucker, like someone did some sewing and pulled the threads to gather their leaves... And the bonus is, they smell heavenly.

Pic From HERE

Theres a new resident on the Echinacea plant.
The plant has some broad leaves at the top, and under one of these leaves, there is a preying mantis. It was out on the top yesterday as we sat there weeding (I weed, Miss 4 sits on my knee) ...
The mantis caught a fly - a green bodied fly. The noise was terrific. A real battle til the death, of course the mantis won.
We watched, dear darling daughter was horrified at the ferocity of the mantis. *Let him go*, she said. *Let him go! ... Awww, youre awful* she said to the Mantis... who was sucking the innards out of the fly relentlessly. Hehe.
He didnt let go, he wasnt listening, and as we watched, one of the fly's wings fell off onto the leaf. Miss 4 couldnt look away. I have to say, it was quite interesting, but it lead to a few questions... Why?... Where?... When?... But Why Mum?

I spent time digging in boxes trying to find coloured paper and glue, so I scrapbooked with my darling daughter...(She loves glue and is very good with scissors around shapes!)...
I have yet to sit down and actually get working on any particular craft project, but Im picking up some ideas from ONE PRETTY THING which is one of my favourite places to visit online at the moment...
Also, there are places like Crafty Tart , Better Scrapbooking and Absolutely Crafty  that I spend time drooling browsing over.

Im planning to do more scrapbooking this year. I have a *To Do* list...I really enjoy the headspace I get to when Im creating something, and Id like to spend more time with Arlais in an enviroment that she enjoys too, and I love the way she picks up on new skills... She isnt interested in writing her name or counting, though we do spend time with those skills, we are both happier when colour, paint, glue or paper is involved... other skills will come from that too Im sure...

To my surprise, I found myself channelling my Mother this morning, and it wasnt to growl :-) ... My Mother loved to sing and she had a lovely voice. This morning while Arlais got dressed, we had a cuddle and I sang to her, she nestled in, which doesnt happen often, and I remembered songs that my Mum used to sing. It is now part of me, that part of her.
It makes me happy thinking about the times she and I spent together when I was little, though she has been gone for... wow, almost 14years! I want to create times for Arlais to remember of her and I, and our times together, so she can recall them when she is an adult. I hope that doesnt happen too quick. I like being Mummy to a little girl, confusing and cute, curious and annoying and all the other things that go with it.
I can hear Mum saying * She is so like you...* And that might not be an altogether good thing :-)

Two little Dicky-birds sitting on a Wall,
One named Peter,
 One named Paul...
Fly away Peter
  Fly away Paul...
Come Back Peter,
Come Back Paul...

 

graphics from HERE
 
The Pre-teen is happy. Still happy with his new class. Finding new friends... Discovering old friends from last year. The friends thing is getting confusing. Boys - friends. -Girls - friends. Boys and Girls... argh!! We are just discovering that some boys dont like it when their mates get friends that are girls, and who want to *hang out* too... Its just *that age* I think...And hes a good lad. We started homework last night... He did well.

So all in all, I think it is fair to say, its been *One of Those Weeks*...
Looking forward to the Weekend...
Family time, Shopping, Gardening, Sleep-ins... Even Sunday.

Love to Your Heart From Mine.
PS Dont forget your Valentine...

EButterfly
xxxxxxxxx