Merry Christmas from The Lazy A

Have started food prep for Christmas, and now I wait for the pavlova to cook. Ive nervously checked, and  its looking great... smells how it should. We have ideas for smothering our cream filled pavlova with our own home grown berries this year. Mr 12 is head chef, and Im practicing tonight so he can make another one tomorrow... Lots of cooking to do, and this year, everyone who is going to here, will be helping. It has been thoroughly enjoyable.
We have had a good round of end-of-year functions and pre-christmas celebrations that we have all enjoyed and definitely need more sleep in general :) A bit bleary-eyed you might say!

Before I sign off, I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.
Thanks for reading my blog, I hope next year will be a busy year - 2012 had some big ups, and some pretty terrible lows too. Nothing we cant handle, and I know there are worse here that people have to cope with.

Where ever you are in the World, drive safely, remember your sun screen or keep yourself warm, and swim between the flags.. and pay it forward if you can...
Thinking of  those of you who have lost special loved ones this year and have an empty place at the table this Christmas...

Til next year,

Love and Abundant Blessings,
Earth Butterfly
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Marvellous Monday...

What a great Monday morning!
A drop of rain overnight, and a rather pesky wind out there, but its going to be nice later, so I can get back out and finish what I started yesterday.
I have a few new plants, so Im looking to get out there and plant them.
I have dug around and  found a pot large enough to put my nectarine tree in. It hasnt set fruit (yet), I dont know if it will this year, but thats ok. Its six foot tall, and Im sure its dying to get into the ground and get some growing done! I keep recalling the taste of  sweet juicy nectarines. I hope it does have fruit this year :)
Ive found that the chick peas are growing. Of all place, under the overhang of the potatoes leaves. About six or eight plants, which sounds good! Ive just read up on them, and I dont know if they will come to fruition given we are in the South, but they do prefer cooler temperatures, so who knows. I will try and see. It would be a real boon to be able to have chick peas on the menu, especially later in the Summer.

The first big opium poppy flower popped open on Saturday. It is always fascinating watching the bees, you can hear them too, buzzing inside the flowers, its really cute. The flowers never last long, but there is always another one or two in progress to follow along.

We are waiting for some compost to arrive, and then we can get sorted over at the school. The garden is in need of a  good weed, and  some companions planted alongside the plants. I see someone has donated some tomatoes, which is fantastic. They have a good system in place, that means all the children get a chance to help if they want to. Strangely, they all offer to help pick or plant. Not so keen to weed :-)
Have been reading about a community garden in Northland that has just planted a massive potato garden. What an awesome idea to support the families in the area. Ive been thinking on this, the idea is awesome, and can be expanded upon given more space... Love the idea that we can help each other feed our families!!

Well best get back into it,
The compost truck is here!

Have a happy Monday,
Love 'n' Shovels!

EB
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Great Gardening, lots growing!

What great gardening weather here in Christchurch this week. A shame, I havent been out there a lot this week. Monday saw us out and about in Rangiora, which made for a very interesting and fun day. Its a pretty little place, and we had a good look around, the children had a swim and did some fun activities, theres a neat skate park out there too... must go again!
Tuesday wasnt so quiet either. We had coffee morning with the community group, which is always neat. We got together and had coffee at Allshots, a brilliant little place for intimate chats and divine coffee (and chocolates that are handmade!)  It ended all too soon, and of course, we wont be back together until after the school holidays. I almost cant wait :)
The children had their Duffy books show, and some awards were given. The Garden Children and I planted out some potatoes, and put in the raspberries, a boysenberry and I weeded around the beds. The children have also planted 40 corn seeds. I hope they go well,  room 2 this morning planted their sunflowers next door, as companions. And their beans are already scaling up the wire fence. Yay! Theyve been having a race to see whose bean grew fastest. Im happy to report, all seeds grew, not a one missed which is awesome.
No sad faces :) They were very good at planting their plants and now have something to check in the garden when they get back from holidays.
 I notice we have a sneaky lettuce muncher (or 2)  in our midst. Possibly snails, I think. Theyve not missed a one, but thats ok, we can replace them if they dont rally! We thought last time it was hail stone damage. This time, I think its snails. Time for the good old beer trap.

Have taken some time to do some gardening at home seeing I have the afternoon to myself. It has been a really nice day, and the rain did threaten to spit earlier, but its backed off again. It is a really grey sky, but quite high and still warm. Love it. Perfect for planting out some of the lavender cuttings, have put out the borage seedlings too, and some of the new berry plants are ready for sale. I have about a dozen red and black currants that *took* and are growing well. Have sown quite a number of tomatoes. Not bothered as much this year, will take it as it comes. Have tried a couple of new varieties, but also sowing for over the road too.

Tomatoes for this year -  Yellow Pear, Reisentraube, Guernsey, Black Krim, Sungold, Tommy Toe, Black Cherry, Red Brandywine, Russian Red, Moneymaker, Black Zebra, White Cherry, Black from Tula, Albenga Oxheart and when I get some seed, some yellow Brandywine and Large White.

The raspberries are threatening to take over, so Ive potted up some of those. I think a market might be a good idea for selling them. The strawberries are generally all flowering. The plants are not as big as I had thought they would be, but the flowers are definitely bigger than last year. All except the little white Alpine strawberry. It is sulking, and wont be doing much until it gets a bit warmer, Im thinking. I hope it doesnt die, its Miss 6s favourite plant, and she loves the taste of the fruit.

Well thats it for me,
Hope your School holidays are happy ones, if you have them.
Take care,

Happy Gardening
E BUTTERFLY
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Kaitiaki - Being a Community Guardian...

Im learning all about the meaning of Kaitiaki. Guardianship.
I want to be a Garden Kaitiaki who protects our soil, our plants, seeds, our gardens, our produce, but also, our children. Our Furture. Nurturing them, solidifying the relationships between them. Inspiring children to think about where their food comes from, how eating healthy can make a difference to their lives.

It is important that our children know about where their food comes from. And that they understand the relationship between good food and health and wellbeing.

Guide and teach them, so they can grow their own food, provide sustenance for their families, for their communities and make good choices for their health and wellbeing.
Bringing it back to where we are here in Christchurch, we need to network within our communities. Our families need to know where their support systems are, and who they can rely on. Not the ones who always want something in return, or demand repayment. It isnt always about repaying the kindness. Sometimes it is best if what is required is given freely.
It isnt about waiting for the next disaster, or feeling shy or embarrassed. It has been noted lately, that poverty in New Zealand is a fact. So no turning of heads, it is time to remedy this with what we have, what we can do. People have become very distanced after all the stressors, and some of us who feel we have something, even something small to offer to others, need to come forward and say - Here... I can help. And if I cant help, perhaps I know someone who can?

My Challenge  -Give something to someone who needs it - Ask for nothing in return... 

Every second person you talk to in Christchurch has a sad story... And there is a sense of helplessness when it is you, and you dont know where to go for help. With the women I sat with this last week, amongst us, we had many qualifications, different skill sets and assorted capabilities. And that was just eight women. Think what we could do if we, as a community, all put our heads together - offering assistance to one another.
The light goes on and the fear dissipates. If one cannot help, perhaps another can, or the suggestions to help the problem at hand may be like brainstorming.
I love Community Hubs, the things they offer that you can see, and the intangible things that they give, that we dont see, to those who need it - compassion, empathy, an ear, a cuppa, a hug, smiles, laughing...healing. Together, and as one, we can provide Kaitiaki. Guardianship.



Simplicity and Gardens
If our Children are introduced to food production at school, to understanding nutrition, composting, an ecological awareness, and cooking and preparing the food they grow -wouldnt this be an amazing start - strengthening skills, gaining independence and boosting self confidence/esteem ?
What an awesome way to supply our children with real-life skills that they will need for the future, that they can pass  it on.
It isnt and doesnt have to be complicated. Age-old solution - a patch of dirt and some seeds.

I am passionate about helping assist change in our communities.
We need to make a difference somewhere now, for fear our children will grow up blind.

From my heart to yours,
XX
EBUTTERFLY

PS FREE CROWN PUMPKIN SEEDS - email me or drop me a comment.

Girly Gardening... PINK! Ulluco...

Have had limited success with our ulluco. Aka Peruvian Yams or bifurcated carrots. 
Not as big as I had thought they might be, but after reading, I know why. Theyre gross feeders, and obviously theyve been on a bit of a diet of late, as I have not been in the garden at all.
In fact, at present, I am almost hoping it turns to grass in my abscence :)

These are a cheerful wee plant. They look like and taste like spinach from the tops...

Underneath, theres a fistful of wee balls... Very girly pink and gorgeous deep yellow. Next years crop will be better... after all, Im just learning.

Hope all is well,
E BUTTERFLY in Winter Mode!
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Marmite Shortage... Plants... Seeds etc

Almost a week since I wrote a post, I cant believe how quickly that week has flown by!
Its wet and we are hunkered down today. Mr almost-12 didnt want to get up, and I cant say I blame him. Yesterday was a stunner, very warm. Last night even, was warm, a perfect weekend really, despite the aftershocks weve been feeling of late. The hedgehogs were out snuffling along the drive, looking for remnants of cat food. They make so much noise! We caught sight of one, and Blaise got the torch while Arlais got out of bed to have a closer look. He was a good size, they are such interesting, cute creatures...

So, here I am. Ive just lightly spread my last (ever maybe?) pikelet with marmite. Who'd have thought we would have a shortage of one of our kiwi staples? So Im picking the stores will be selling out too. Its such an unusual taste, but people either love it, or dont like it at all, or prefer Vegemite. Personally, we grew up with vegemite only - Mother loved it on her toast. Ex-hubbys family had marmite. We, when married, always had a jar of both...
Heres the story here - MARMITE SHORTAGE

Anyways... I spent a greater part of a very hot, pleasant day out in the garden yesterday. I dug over the soil and composted. I added horse poo and dug it in. I pulled out many! weeds and spent plants - beans that had given their all to make the remaining pods into seed pods, brown and twisted... and Tomato plants that had really done their dash - time to get ready for Winter and build up the soil. Ive also kept my marigolds tidy and the seed pods trimmed (seed saved) They make a splash of colour in the Winter garden, when not much else is around, and are excellent companion plants to most vegetables, also they create a general deterrent for most garden pests. Ive grown mine alongside my  potatoes, under my tomatoes and around my strawberries.Planting marigolds enhances the growth of basil, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, gourds, kale, potatoes, squash and tomatoes. Marigold also makes a good companion plant to melons because it deters beetles.

Loving the seeds I am harvesting this season. After having three bean plants last year, we had NINE this year. Next year Im going to continue with our old staple - Scarlet Runner, but try something like a butter bean and a string bean, and see if I can successfully get a better crop of Borlotti. I just cant quite keep them healthy for some reason (possibly hedgehogs!!) They grow pitifully.

I have a huge Winter deluxe pie pumpkin seed stash. Next year Ill do three plants of those instead of this years one vine... And hopefully keep the hedgehogs away. I had two live pumpkins on the vine still, but one died -- small nibbles like wasp bites or slug sucks? The other I found yesterday and I gather the vine holding it onto the plant has been bitten open. Im not expecting it to last long. Annoying!
I would also like to try a squash variety next season... I got one squash off our Hubbards golden nugget vine this season. It did very well, given it was late into the soil.
This is whats been happening around here...

Drying Tomatoes to store for stews and soups

Black Cherry - Sweet, but must be eaten quickly. Tend to crack if not picked when ready.

Black Krim and Purple Calabash. The Pleated one is Purple Calabash

A small Yellow Brandywine - GORGEOUS beefsteak that is fruity to taste, excellent cooked

Small Freakazoid Tomato, from F1 seeds. Grape Sized & Sweet!

Tommy-Toe cherry (red) Yellow Pear or Jaune De Coeur du Pigeon

Dried Tomatoes

Hubbards Golden Nugget Squash

Harvest - Black Boy Peaches, Green ripening Toms etc

Green Tomato & Lime Jam

So thats what we are up to... Hope life is treating you kindly.
Love
E BUTTERFLY
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--->> The SIMPLE Answer to providing food... Why dont we do these things?

Ive just been looking at this link - Please take time to read it, and comment as you wish below... What do YOU think?
FOOD FOREST

Oh the possibilities. Especially here in little old East Christchurch where the landscape keeps changing. We have plenty of flat land available for re-construction. SOME OF THAT LAND CAN NO LONGER BE BUILT ON - Perfect for growing food.

Too Simple? ...
Where do we start. Im ready - I would donate seeds or plants, Im sure others would too?...
THIS is an exciting simple thing to do...for us, for our city, and for our Grandchildrens children.
Thinking Outside The Square
Love to You

E BUTTERFLY
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Summer Berries... Surviving School start...Survival Stuff

Scarlet Runner Beans - Yum!

Its the Weekend... already!
And we have Waitangi Day on Monday, so a three day weekend is in store. Awesome!
This week was pretty stressful, and with School starting again for the new year, it was One Of  Those Weeks.
However, we got through it and everything turned out to be ok. Mr almost-12 is keen to be back, so far, so good. Miss 5 is almost ready to go, she has immunisations this week, will have treatment for her hands and be on track for starting mid to late Feb.
How quickly the school holidays went, and here we are again, worrying about books and school fees, new shoes and haircuts. Its all a-buzz. And I miss Blaise when he isnt home, but thats ok, hes where he should be.
So to remove some of the stress, we took off  to go blueberry picking today. It was so nice to go from the East, where we ride the roads and bump and graunch everywhere down potholes and over sandhills, to the South, where its relatively normal and everything looks like it should.
Prebbleton looked great, Hornby fantastic...
Down Shands Road and past Watties - a taste of The Old Times, as I used to work there way back when... and we found the berry place with no worries.
Have a look at where we went!
Blueberry Bliss - Website
So at $12 a kg, I had decided 2kgs was a good amount for two adults, three children to pick perhaps. Well, Arlais lasted until one kg had been picked. She did very well, but Im thinking she ate more than she picked. Gord (15y) had the best idea, he could reach where most couldnt, being well over six foot. The sun ripened berries at the tops of the highcrop plants were his domain. The biggest fattest juiciest berries too! He and Blaise later found a massive clump of big plump ones to fill up the last of our containers. I wasnt sure Blaise would like them, but I think he ate his fill too :)
I just wandered along picking as I went, stuffing a few in here and there, Im intrigued by the different Blueberry varieties and how different they taste. We got Atlanta and Jersey high crop varieties. Here at home, we have a Centurion bush and a Tif Blue - both of which are very small, but both fruiting at the moment, although they ripen in Feb/March. They are quite different to the high crops we saw today which were very tall. Gulp - I hope mine might grow that size one day :-)

Petunias

Came home from our day out, after picking up my latest trademe purchases - a Feijoa, a white pearl rose banksia rose, and a dwarf ballerina *samba* crabapple... oh, and a Satsuma mandarin of unknown variety, could be Miho, or maybe Kawano apparently. Im very keen to have my own orchard one way or another, and at this rate, it will be sooner. Now to get them organized in their own little... or big pots, with all their nutritional requirements supplied so they can GROW... Grow strong and big as Arlais says to them.

Bought Clementine Mandarins at the supermarket this week - couldnt help myself, seeing Ive just recently brought one myself. They were so super sweet, and so easy to peel. The kids were impressed, and I cant wait for the tiny fruit on our tree to grow.

Have been packing another Survival box. I dont know why, it just feels right. Have not completed it yet, am in the process of getting more things for it,  on my list I have rope, some more batteries, lighters, matches, candles. I also need to put in some more first aid things, like crystacide ointment, bandages, pads and toilet paper... Lots of conversations about the additions, adding to the list, more talk... Maps must be added on The List also. Another addition will be a wind up radio, we need to be in touch with whats going on if things go awry. After writing all this, we have just had one of the first aftershocks Ive felt in a week or two. Im sure its not over, but what can we do?
Its not so much scary as annoyingly frustrating now.

Radish and Solar Yellow Carrots

The Garden is looking a bit bedraggled at the moment. Its not been the classic Summer days at all, and there has been a lot of that cold wet stuff (rain)  Patchy weather is what I would call it I think!
The pumpkins have taken off nicely. Quite a number of fruits growing nicely. One in particular I can see from under my tree, which makes me grin. I love pumpkins. As a friend said today, they grow by the hour and this one doesnt know it yet, but its going to be PIE!

The corn under the tree was mostly a disaster... Not all however, I have quite a number flowering at the moment in the other bed, full sun. I know it wasnt ideal conditions, position or care, as Im a first-timer with corn, but it seems to be forgiving :)
I am so looking forward to corn on the cob, as is one little 5 yr old girl who licks her lips when she talks about corn cobs with butter!

Echinacea & Bees

The other new garden has been *horse-poohed* and weve dug it over twice or three times now, breaking up the clods, its very nice soil and Im looking forward to planting some medicinal herbs in it.
Everything seems to be taking its time and growing nicely, so we cant complain.
I even have four tiny little olives on one of the trees (J5) growing down the driveway. They certainly cheer me up, what a kick to have your own olives growing!!

Well, thats me for now.
Not a lot happening except the mundane and necessary. Plodding along, and getting there.
Hope life is good in your world.
Happy Gardening
Love,
E BUTTERFLY
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Quick Post - Echinacea Haven is Bumblebee-tastic!

Its freezing cold out there, and the wind is nasty, and still these little bumbles work over time.
I love seeing bumblebees at work, they are so busy, and seem so happy at what they do :)
Snapped this photo, the echinacea flowers always seems to get mobbed, and the bumblebees cling to their spiny cones, sometimes gathering pollen, sometimes just resting on top and riding the flowers in the breeze.
I never realised just how gently scented the ech flowers are, heavenly!

Love,
E Butterfly
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Mandarin Satsuma Miho

First fruit of 2011 - Bloody Butcher Babies!

Poppy Head, still no showing of colour... Exciting!



Another gorgeous morning in Christchurch, New Zealand.

My furry friends have been out there *helping* me with the composting... See below for some cute furries!


Washington - Rubbing on the sticks that are put there to deter poohing in mummys garden!
See Zander lying in the polystyrene box behind. They all love those boxes, they must be quite warm.

We have water restrictions, and today is not my watering day, so weeding it is, well once the coffee break is over!... We have 26 degrees promised today, which is great for the tomatoes. Not so great for us who wish to have our beds tidy and weed-free for Xmas... but of course, Ive learnt, Gardens are always a work in progress, and as so, are never weed-free.



Parsley Babies... Yum!








Theres always some little unwanted plant creeping up somewhere!
Next year I hope to have some swan plants in, to attract the butterflies. My efforts as such this year are the buddleias - I have a creamy peach one to pick up tomorrow. Below youll see the Barbie Pink one. I also hope to gather others, I love their flowers, they remind me of lilacs, which I hope to have one of eventually too... Then theres Spindleberry, I love their wee berries... Oh heck. Add it to the Plants To Gather list!!


Buddleia. This one is lipstick pink. Like HOT pink!
Barbie Buddleia!


We have Kereru, or  NZ Native Wood Pigeons in the trees at the back. They dont stay long, but they nibble the plums next door. I think they must come from Woodham Park which is around the road from us. It is wonderful to see them, though they never stay long enough, big fat luscious berry-eating, branch benders that they are. Theyre far bigger than anything else we have visiting us, and their wings make a definitive noise when they fly!



Maori Potato with flowers. Im new to potato growing, with mixed success. Next season will be better!


The Eau-de-cologne Mint from Miss B along the road is growing nicely.
The scent is quite unusual. She also gave me Sweet Cicely which has made itself at home and is quite sweet indeed,  has an earthy after taste with it.

We have two stevia plants that I love. How awesome to know you have sugar when you dont have sugar *grin*

Another thing to do, is to figure out where to put grains. I really am itching to try growing something to provide us with a versatile grain...
Im hooking into Kay Baxters book Koanga Gardens Garden Guide. It is awesome, and very informative for NZers and their gardens... I aim to get my own copy, the library wants theirs back!!

Well thats it for today.
Im glad I wrote, its more real when its there in pictures, and I can look back. I just need to put aside some time to write more often...
Hope youre all enjoying the Spirit of the Season, whatever your beliefs, traditions, culture or location.

Be kind to Yourself,
Love,

E BUTTERFLY
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Long Time... No Blog... Garden In Progress!

Pretty Peony!

Well its been One Of Those Months.

Lots of Garden progress though.

The good weather has been interspersed with lots of lovely rain, that means we have plump growth and already we have had several salads!

I love Homegrown!

So, without further ramblings... Some photos.

Tomato *Chocolate*

Lemon Balm

Mizuna - Lots of it!

Things have grown quickly, this was last month

Garlic, raspberry cane and seedlings

Berries, Lettuce, Tomato and Comfrey

We have growing - Tomatoes in the following varieties, Albenga Oxheart, Bloody Butcher, Jaune De Coeur Pigeon, Chocolate, Red Russian, Siberian Speckled, Baxters Early Bush, Sub Arctic Plenty, Missouri Love Apple, Large White, Yellow & Black Cherry... Black Krim and Purple Calabash.

Also growing Herbs like Chamomile, Basil, Chervil, Coriander, Parsley, Mint, Comfrey, Chives, Thyme, Lemon balm, Rosemary, Sweet Cicely...

And Calendula, Sunflower, Aquilegia in two diff colours, Marigold, Geranium, Poppy, forgetmenot,... still to add more seeds into the mix to attract bees!

And then theres veggies - Lettuce, about seven different varieties, Iceberg, a red cos, frilled green cos, buttercrunch, freckles, and a couple of others. Onions, red, white and brown. We eat a lot of onion!
Carrots - solar yellow and nutri red. Mizuna, rocket, corn salad, cabbage, broccoli, garlic, celery, corn though not as successful as I like! Radishes... hmm thinking...

And Berries/Fruit - Lemon, Boysenberry, Raspberry, Red currant, Black Currant, Alpine strawberry, Strawberry, Rhubarb - Victoria & Perpetual. Oh and Olive trees, the newest edition, but already one of my favourites...

miners lettuce

Raspberry

Thats us for now.
Hope all is going well in your neck of the woods.

EB

Berry Beautiful and Other Stuff

Has been one of those fortnights.
Time flew, and before I know it, all the bills are due at once, not good management on my part, but meh. These things happen - its called Life.
Trying to plan for the extras and the imponderables is impossible these days, money is tight, and energy is low.
BUT! Theres always something good around the corner, and ... we have berries.
I happened upon a person who was shifting out of his house, and he in passing, mentioned his garden. We got talking, as keen green garden-loving people do, and we discovered we both had a love of self-sufficiency and all that stuff. He took me to show me his plants. Yes he did. His PLANTS!
He sold me some berry plants and made my week!
I need to get the camera out, but ... the garden has grown immensely just recently. Soon I hope the frosts will be a thing of the past, and I can get out there with my tomato seedlings. Yay!
I have radishes, carrots, silverbeet & chard, onions, garlic, shallots (that might be dead!) parsley, thyme, 2 echinacea plants, some coriander or chervil? I must look again... and a lemon tree, easy peasy peas, scarlet runner beans, borlotti beans, and and and the berries - 4 black currants, 1 boysenberry, 1 raspberry cane, a gooseberry and a red currant. Yay!
So we are heading towards a crop of goodness there... I received some Honey and Pearl corn seeds this morning. I aim to have a good crop there hopefully, I think I am going to need more than 30 seeds however, seeing Miss 5 loves corn, and Im picking the birds might too?

So see, we are down (a little!) but not out, and certainly things are progressing, despite being cash-poor!
Time for a garage sale, a bit of a tidy up inside... Hoo-eeyy! I dont WANT to stay indoors to tidy and clean.
I want to be outside in the dirt and the compost amongst my plants.

Loving the Garden Life.
Hope youre getting along nicely in your Garden... and Your Life too!
Love to All

E BUTTERFLY
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Cupcakes, Misty Mornings and Spring...



Avonside Swan





















One of those blah weeks. Misty mornings make the drive to school vaguely interesting.
The sun is a bit watery, but is so nice to see! Getting out and about is getting easier...
We made cupcakes... two dozen of them, and took them to see friends. There is only 8 left :-)
Sugary Goodness? You BET!
Should I be excited about the Rugby World Cup? Possibly.
Am I? Not at all.
Where is my patriotism, my pride? Who knows. Im just not  *Rugby.*
And the hype... the dollars spent... doesnt impress me at all.

Go All Blacks.
There.
Thats done.

Now... show me the Garden, and thats different!
We have PROGRESS people.
The little sprouts of greeness everywhere are exciting to see.
The birds love hanging out in the front trees, eating the seeds in the homemade bird feeder. We cooked up a couple of lard lumps with wild bird seed in them. I hung one in the front tree and had to wait for a few days til they found it. Now they hang out up there most days, and the seeds they drop are growing radish and millet plants which is kinda odd, but neat ...

So there we be.
Not a lot to report here in Christchurch, predictions still stand for an Earthquake soon.
Today I replaced some of my survival supplies while doing the shopping. I never have *everything* but I have *most things* or something that I could substitute for it...
I really do hope we dont need them, but Im prepared...

ARE YOU PREPARED?
Please, make sure you have the basics... Stock some water, stock your pantry. Have a plan. Talk about situations with your children. Have a plan!
Dont leave it to chance, no matter WHERE You live.
You need to have some plans in place for a serious emergency.
My heart goes out to the families involved in the bus crash up North. HERE for NEWS So many young lives, and that poor bus driver whose granddaughter was badly hurt and is fighting for her life at Starship Hospital. Thinking of you all, Kia Kaha!
Also, the families of those killed in the plane crash in Russia, such a sad time. Love and Blessings at this sad time.

And on that note... PLANT YOUR FOOD GARDEN.
It will keep you eating when others may be struggling!

Love to You
From my Hearth to Yours
E BUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXXX

Early Morning Shake Awake!

Time for an Update.
It seems like ages since I sat down to write...
And why not write now --- I cant sleep. I dream of Gardens lately, but this morning my dreams came to a standstill by way of a 4.3 that just seemed to go on for a while, and Im not good at settling again. I tossed and turned, but meh. Im up now. Early Bird, ME!!
Things have gotten quite busy, and we are making good progress with the new garden and other things.
Since the EQC people put us on the *Critical Fix* list, we have had a few visits from people doing things. First it was the Landlord putting in new curtains and filling in holes and gaps... Then the Heat Pump was installed. Ahh, instant heat!
Well, we have since had two or three visits, and we now have no chimneys, just the spaces where they were. Yesterday and today saw our second chimney being taken out, giving us back the corner of a room and soon our second heat pump will be installed. We have a big *gap* where the old fireplace/wetback was, and our room looks so much bigger! Theyve gibbed it all, and are replacing the tiles in the roof and its hard to imagine there was ever a fireplace in the corner at all...
The front room too, is quite appealing now with the extra warmth, the kids love it.
We also have a new instant hot water unit, thats powered by gas! The landlord put it in, and changed the size of the pipes, so we have added pressure in the shower, which is like hot massage needles... Awesome when you get in from the Garden in the evenings!!
So thats inside.
Outside...Another gorgeous block of Winter weather here in Canterbury.
We got through the snow, and came out the other side with gorgeous days full of high blue skies, no cloud, but frrrreeezing cold frost in the mornings.
Almost like Spring in fact! Wheres the rain gone? I dont know, but I hope it catches up soon. We need the cold snap to help kill off the bugs in the soil, so towards the Spring, the plants can grow furiously... In my new Garden!!!!!!

Im going to take photos *of course*, but for now, just imagine bricks. Lots of them. All lined up in rows ... beds of soil... full of Compost, Mulch and other good growing stuff...
Canterbury has a dearth of bricks at present, given all the chimneys that have been removed! We have edged our gardens, and it looks nice... but will look better when things start growing over the edges of the bricks...
Ive started some seeds off. Planning beds of herbs and flowers like Parsley, Marigold, Calendula, Basil and Heirloom Tomatoes... Some wildflower mix in the front garden will add colour to our bland expanse at the front
Amazingly enough, after me thinking it was too early, the seeds I have sown are already poking through the soil mix at four days old! Maybe theyre just really keen to be here, or my luck is changing!

Have had a wonderful week, a bit stiff in the shoulders, have raked, bricked, dug, weeded, planted, sown, sighed, slept, and thunked about Gardening... and really enjoyed it all.
Even the kids got in on the act yesterday, out there with shovels and forks... Giggling and helping.
Nice family unit we have going on there...
I love it. This is definitely where I belong.
What is it they say --- *Bloom Where Youre Planted*
Im glad I was planted here. Im grateful for what I have.
I love them all.
Just been reminded of where I belong.
Firmly planted with my family, which is where my home is.

Keep Safe and Warm
Love til next time,
E Butterfly
Gardener!
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Mid Winter Composting Ambitions...

Welcome to Monday... Its so quiet here, not a sign of a shake lately. I do worry when its like this ... She says Tongue in Cheek! Whats next then? I hear you ask...(was that you?) Well, being Me, I Have A LIST.

Its Frrreeezzzing out there, frosty as ever. Last night we went for a Pudding Run to the local Stupidmarket, and it was very misty out there. I think we hit Winter finally!
Im still doing the de-clutter. I have several big bags of stuff to re-home or re-cycle. Its exciting to see bare space!
So whilst Im throwing things out, and decluttering... it strikes me that my compost could do with a new home.
This weekend I have a project on. Time to make a new compost bin or two... Again, its exciting to think it might mean I can adopt some Tiger Worms for a worm farm... We did that a few years ago at our previous address, and that ROCKED. The kids loved checking the progress of the worms, and feeding them was awesome for their education.
So it better be frosty mornings, high blue skies and sun throughout the weekend. Oh. Its also nearly School Holidays too! That snuck up on us, but the school boy is secretly pleased...

Have hauled out all the broken down tomato stakes and old plants. It is nice to see the brown earth underneath, and  now the plans abound to see what is going to go where this coming growing season...
Im off to price Pea Straw and Chickky Pooh as a base.

Im dreaming of ... oh  lots of warm sun and lazy nasturtiums, romantic petunias and sweet smelling basil. I have onions in growing nicely, some silverbeet or coloured chard that is beautiful and shiny, and small clumps of parsley, dill and coriander.
Inside, Im still pottering with my capsicums who have not forsaken me, they hang from four plants in two pots on my windowsill. Each plant has a couple of good sized fruit, one has several new fruit coming along, and theyre awesome for conversation... It goes something like... Is THAT a green pepper growing there? ... Also, we have a variety of Aloe vera growing in my bedroom window. They all have new shoots, ready to be re potted... Awesome!!

Well, thats a garden catch-up... Next time it will be a composting work in progress!!
And weve been accepted by BLOTANICAL - THANKYOU for having Me!

Thanks for Reading,
Leave me a message & tell me about YOUR Winter garden!
EBUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXX

Getting Back into The Normal Things...

A message board post tonight on the Trademe Christchurch Quake Board has tips for Getting Back Into Everyday Life... Makes for good sense!

Its normal to feel scared and nervous about everyday things after an earthquake, but gradually returning to old places and activities is important


10 small steps that can help

1. Pick one place or activity you want to go back to

2. Break down the job of getting back into small steps

3. Take one step at a time and be patient with yourself

4. Breathe slowly on each step

5. Stay on the same step until it’s easier

6. Go back if its too hard

7. Its important to take a step often

8. Ask others for support to take steps

9. Notice how far you have come

10. Give yourself a pat on the back

Small steps to going back into a building
1. Go to the building carpark

2. Walk to the entrance door

3. Go into the building entrance

4. Stay on the same level and go further into the building

5. Gradually go to parts of the building you find more challenging



Today was one of those kind of days - Normal Things.
I couldnt concentrate on the inside stuff, it was a day to set myself free into the Garden.
So off I went. My little girl in tow, followed closely by several curious (nosey!) cats...
It was gorgeous. So good to relax and be back... into the Normal Things!
Mr EB has been very generous, I have a new computer... so I havent quite sussed some of the new
whizzy things yet. Im not sure how to get the camera software going, but I have some photos... Garden photos.

I usually find Autumn such a sad time, when you walk under the trees you love and their leaves are falling and dying... the crunch of the beautifully coloured spent leaves as you walk over them, then they clog gutters, rotting and blowing everywhere... Its part of the life cycle, I know.
Ive never been a very good Winter person, but I have seen things through different eyes now that I have my own vege garden. To watch the  plant spew forth its last act of generosity before it dies - it gives of itself in its seeds. I have such gorgeous yellow lettuce flowers. Now who ever heard of a lettuce flower? Not me. Whodve thunk it, a gorgeous full head of lettuce flowers that spurt forth and give their seeds... and so the life cycle continues. Not ending, but giving, so it can continue. I know, emotionally charged, but so wonderful. Life continues through the seeds. Noone should ever tamper with that.
Also, I noticed today that we have on our later plants, some life - the Borlotti beans are gorgeous (similar to Fire Tongues) theyre growing at a faster rate than I ever thought. I didnt know if, when I planted them, we would see beans on them, it was a bit of a lottery. Also, the butternut pumpkin is starting to grow one of itself. A tiny wee shiny green stripey sphere. Glorious! Im crowing about that one :) And I also continue to wander out at night to see if they need covering... Frosts cannot be long away...

So, there we be. Its another Thursday. The seeds are starting to form, and Im collecting, drying, packaging and labelling them as fast as I can. It is neat to be able to see where my garden will be going in the future, how it is taking shape through the seeds Ive collected... Awesome.
I like having things to look forward to... And if I dont give them all away to the neighbours, I may have some good food plants next season... Now to extend the Garden itself ...

Hoping youre all doing fine where you are.
Love and Growth

EButterfly
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Making a List of Things to Do... Frugal Plans

Firstly, THANK YOU Sarah at Kiwi Mummy Blogs. 

We got accepted to be on their blog list. I hope that will mean more views, some comments... 

Glad to be there! 

Awesome reading others blogs too!

Hmm, Got my Serious Face on tonight.
Somehow deep thinking always gives me a headache :-)
I want to start getting ahead in my plans, start targetting things, so Ive made *The List*.
I would like to move things out of town to our own land... I need some clear direction to where we are going, so Im adding things I need to do, to make this possible.
THE REALITY IS... oh I hate that phrase... but the reality IS, that it is going to take me a while to get organized... so along the way, I want to achieve some other *life things* too.

*Plant more herbs... 
*Buy Seeds Often 
*Want to make my chicken coop
*Put up some Outside lights (hehe, so I can garden deep into the night?)
*Get some timer switches for our new heaters (for Winter)
*Get rid of the Clutter that accumulates
*Down-size... Everywhere!
*Get better organized so I can cope with my financials throughout the year... We dont do too bad, but I can always do better, Im sure of it.
*Buy myself a new camera. --- really, this should be at the top of the list, Im emotionally bereft without it!
*Get guitar lessons so I can learn with Mr 10.5yrs who is learning at school
*Make myself a recipe book, somewhere all my recipes will be all together, not on pieces of paper or files on disks etc... Get it TOGETHER!
*Make a song book for Miss 4 so we can sing together, and she can learn to read too.
*Blog more... Get out More... Make more Friends... Influence More People? LOL no, its been done, but the idea is a good one!
*Buy myself a new (laptop?) computer. One that I can take to bed... town... the riverbank... etc.
*Sleep better, longer... and wake up beautiful? LOL right.
* Ressurect my massage bed so I can have clients at home again. I miss therapeutic massage...and the smell of lavender oil. Its lovely when your house always smells pleasant.

So theres some other financial stuff to add to the list, but its boring... ok, its important too, but all-in-all, I just want to downsize. I want to be able to move out of here and not take the clutter too :-) Is this possible? I guess time will tell...

Another one of my wishes for my list, is to better try to LISTEN. Im trying to understand better where my teenagers are at, and sometimes its too easy to SPEAK instead of LISTEN... I found this link, its inspirational...
BEING LOVING OR BEING RIGHT by Hilary Smith

So thats it! -  Friday night, and we are ensconced watching American Idol. Well, not really actually. I am on here blogging, and as I look behind me, The Lad is reading some heavy looking read by Bernard Cornwell. Little Miss Muffet is asleep. She didnt sleep well last night, and subsided early. Hmmm. I just heard an enormous yawn. hehe. It wont be long and it will be me on my lonesome...

Sleep well,
Have a GREAT weekend.
EButterfly

Good Stuff...

Gee, the Good Stuff has Begun..It is DECEMBER finally! (or the Crazy Season as some refer to it!)
Im running around like everyone else no doubt, getting *Organized* (dislike that word, so foreign to me!), knitting furiously - which I enjoy, designing some new outfits for the girls baby dollies - the surplus of which is getting sold online... After waiting almost half an hour to post parcels (serves me right for waiting til the weekend along with everyone who cant get there midweek!) we invested in a sprinkler for the garden *yeah right!* - The children claimed it, and I swear, its the best $10 Ive ever parted with, they LOVE it.
I love seeing them having so much fun, gotta say, the shrieks are tremendous. Nothing like it, happy squeals! Still no camera, but I ll get some pics when I can...

HAPPY 60th Birthday my Darling 
Mr Earth Butterfly

I dont tell you often enough how dear you are to me.
Without you I would be just the empty candy shell of the M&M - you are my Chocolate centre.
You know how much chocolate means to me, so *grin* you'll *get* that.
Im sorry I cant buy you jewels or offer you riches,
just smiles, cuddles and all my love.
 Love you - in so many ways, for so many reasons!
We love you ... xxxxxxx

After a little Nana nap this afternoon, I wrote this to my beloved Mr EB
 *.....I bought an old knitting pattern for dolls clothes last week

its just arrived (in the post). As expected, its an excerpt from an old magazine... but its really cool. It also tells you about the doll that is used as a model in the pattern -, very very cool! From July 1958 --- complete with advertisements, and old stories. Very cool :) Life was simpler then ? LOL Just got up, got a sore throat which is annoying (seeing as though its Summer, and its almost Christmas!). Just wondering if Im actually in for a cold, or the stark truth of it is.... I was snoring?????? HAHAHAHAHAHA. hmm....*

Im really looking forward to knitting this pattern, let me see, here tis

Excerpt from Womans Weekly, July 26 1958

Last night we ate our first fill of Home-grown goodness! We planted some Silverbeet - *Bright Lights* which has coloured stems of orange, white, red and yellow. It has had six weeks in, and already it is substantial enough to pick a couple of leaves from each plant. I remember Silverbeet as being cold and soggy after having had the goodness boiled from it, but Im wondering now, if it tastes better when youve nutured it yourself?
The children ate it, without a fuss - most impressed, as I remember balking... green was never my favourite colour!

Our beanstalks are growing nice and curly and tall, the oak trees are tall and straight, and the other greens like our buttercrunch lettuce arent far from being ready to be used too. We have parsley plants that look like theyre growing nice and healthy, and tomatoes that have flowers on them, and are standing up nicely... despite being constantly untangled from the beans... Yes, we have a menagerie in our garden, but theyre doing ok!

How I love seeing what has grown from one day to the next, the children too, which is cool. I cant remember being interested much as a child, - I guess that is what happens when Mum and Dad own a Grocery store. Everything comes in a box, bag or crate...

Other things... not alot to report, the roses are beautiful, the scent of the numerous Elderberry blossoms springing up is gorgeous, especially at night after dark when Ive forgotten to water the garden in the daylight... it is my favourite time of night - kids in bed, quietly, quietly I creep out to my Garden with hose in hand ... Oh and not to forget the new Sprinkler (Sprindar Miss 4 calls it)... Even the cats bear with me at this time of night, they chase each other and watch nervously for the hose :) I can see the Southern Cross in the sky from my house at any time of night - beautiful. It makes me wish I were out on a spread far away from anyone, lying on my green paddocks, looking up at the night sky... one day, I promise!

Lots of thoughts on where to put the Christmas tree, so thats our next mission - decoration and location unknown at this stage, but I love how their minds work... it will have lots of lights, colour, tinsel, tinsel, tinsel oh and a star!

Our new favourite to add to pikelets, Hagel Slag - aka Chocolate Hail

Yum! Hot Hagel Slag Pikelets for a Hungry Tribe.

And that is it for this post. Back to the reality of What Must Be Done.
Wet soggy togs, dishes and floors to sweep... so I can creep out later to my favourite place - The Garden!

Blessings to all,
EB
Til Next Time, Be good! 
Oh and if you cant Be Good -- Be Careful! 
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