7 Oclock Closing... Garden Love.

Cant believe it. Ive just dragged myself inside, away from the Garden. It is SEVEN OCLOCK and the day is  just now coming to a very serene and beautiful end.
The sky is a creamy yellow, and in the horizon, streaks of high cloud and the occasional puff of grey clouds, but just little ones. Fingers crossed, tomorrow will follow as one in the same.
I like this time of night, it is so peaceful, and although it is getting dark now and hard to see, the garden looked a good bit tidier than when I began this morning. Bliss - achy bones and satisfaction. Cant wait for tomorrow, and all it has in store.

We were sitting outside having dinner, and admiring the sky, and noticing the plants that are seeding. Giving their all, so they can continue through their seed.  We have tall towers of black kale, and purple cabbage with nodding seed heads, lots of buds full and about to flower.
The calendulas big flower heads are so very noticeable being neon orange in the half light. Like big beacons. Beautiful newly planted pineapple sage flowers look like cheeky little tongues, a good splash of scarlet red as the sun goes down.
 Everything is growing on and on, the small plants becoming bigger with each week. I love this time of year, the time of Promise.

I promise, Im going back there tomorrow :)

Love to You and Yours,
EBUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

School Closures... Changing Days... Composting Goodness

Miss B's Beautiful Spring Tulips

Have had a chance to process the information given on the scheduled School closures here in Christchurch - specifically Chisnallwood Intermediate, as at the moment, that is the one that directly affects us in our family.
Not to worry, the brilliant staff are not going to give in and take it lying down, Richard Patton put this in the last line of the letter home -
   ...To our Chissy students - I simply say you have been through enough.
Be reassured that your parents and your school are here for you. That we are proud of you, and that all this will work its way out...
And from the signs around the school area, the parents are networking already to do what they can. If it is enough, good - no, great stuff, but I wonder. It is a huge change that is scheduled - unfair and uncalled for, but then there are plenty of unfair and uncalled for changes happening of late.
We are learning to negotiate through them.

What a changing day it has been - just after three oclock this afternoon, the beautiful breezy day that was hit the decks and followed up with a massive gale and icy showers. It has subsided and its time for the heat pump to go on, the cat to cuddle up and the puddles to rise. Our street has a hump in the middle of it (dont know what that is called, but the water runs off to the sides...) and it doesnt usually flood, but because of the angry thick rain, it has started to puddle everywhere. The birds dont mind, their bread has got wet, makes it easier to eat I guess, they are *sitting in* out there, pecking away...

We did some composting this afternoon before the weather bomb landed.
Cardboard layers in, some horse manure on top...grass etc The pile here needs a good stomp on, will get that done next week when the crew arrive to put the new lean-to together. The Aloes cant wait :) They love the light, but dont like the heat so much, nor the frost of course so have been inside over winter.

Then onto the liquid mix - some more horse manure added to a large blue bin and mixed in with water, comfrey leaves and some other goodies like seaweed, some very well crushed egg shell and some dried and crushed dock leaves. Full of goodness for the plants when it gets there.
Ive left it a few days before stirring, and decant it into lemonade bottles (plastic ones) so I can take it across to school for the rhubarb too. Have been giving it away with the lettuce seedlings too... Better than putting raw poo on, or composting it in, and finding the seeds from the grass and weeds that spring up out of nowhere. Comfrey is such a gem!

Speaking of seeds - I have my first lot of red pickling cabbage (*Red Rock*) seeds heading up nicely this week - its really nice to see the flower heads appear, but its so satisfying when you winnow out the seeds and see them all lying in the bowl.

Well thats it for today,
Splashing along :)

EBUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

Wandering Foxglove...

I had the devils own job being a successful bidder on my foxglove seeds, which must mean theyre pretty awesome, being so popular. I sowed some seed last year. I dont know if youve sown Foxglove, but they are  so tiny! I got 50 seeds - Pams Choice - a showy one. All of a sudden, there are no plants growing, so Im thinking my bid was a donation to the cause rather than a purchase!
Yesterday we replaced a gas bottle, and just on a whim, I went down the back of the house to see if the native plants had self seeded - it seems they like to grow in the shade, and can be transplanted throughout the garden. No - no seedlings this time. BUT. To my surprise, I see four or five rather large clumps of FOXGLOVE. Uh huh. So that ends the mystery. They didnt like it out in full sun, theyve taken up residence down the back side.

Oh Lord - the heavens have just opened and it is raining slushy hail. Very thick. A nice day to be inside. We hadnt planned any gardening today, so I will research the next few steps instead. I have two sickies at home, so its a good day to stay in! It has changed so quickly, I was just sitting here admiring the sunrise. I could see the sun creeping its way into the sky, and a bit of blue sky. Now it looks like we may get the snow promised.
Such is this transitory weather into Spring eh?

Nearly all my excess crown pumpkin seeds are gone - I think I have about six packets left, and I started with 72... So somewhere in Christchurch there are people planning Pumpkins in their gardens which is cool.

Yesterday I planted my ulluco, who probably wonder what the heck happened given todays weather :) And two rows of later yams, and another 2 varieties of potatoes. Potato salad here we come! Its a Summer favourite here.

Well, back into it I guess, dishes to do, people to fuss over, and homework to complete...
Love to You

E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX

High Tea and Birthday Cake - Spring Fling

It cant possibly be a week since we celebrated Arlais' 6th birthday surely?
The week has slid by very smoothly, and Missy is enjoying being six. She has asked constantly what she has to look forward to, being six now. What will happen in the next 12 months? Heck, I dont know... I ve stopped asking that myself... Apart from losing more front teeth, and learning how to read and write, what else happens habitually as you turn from six to seven? ...
We had cake, of course. We all love cake.

Thank Goodness for family - while some forgot, the others did her proud - they gave her some beautiful gifts, including a biscuit (cookie) maker. It wasnt about the gifts for Arlais, it was about the FOOD! Pink Lemonade, and High Tea in cups and saucers. Crackers and Dip, Chips and cheese.

Arlais' Lemon Cupcakes

Arlais made the perfect Hostess, she offered food around, and kept her visitors engaged with her excited chatter.
Missy chose her cake, and we had butterflies and big balloons.
Who doesnt love cocktail sausages  with their chocolate gateaux, topped with six pink and purple candles ?

The Birthday Girl was exhausted by seven oclock, and Im sure it was all the chasing of balloons.
The tea set gets carefully washed and packed away, and as long as there are no more big earthquakes, it will be brought out again next year for another round of High Tea.  Happy Birthday Darling Girl! You made a fantastic Five Year Old, and you make a Gorgeous Amazing Six Year Old! We love you so much!




As it gets lighter, at nights we have been going for bike rides - Arlais has a shiny new bigger bike, her birthday present from me. She isnt yet as confident as she was with the older one, but it wont take long Im sure, as this girl is an Amazon - tall, beautiful and fearless :) Blaise rides like he is master of the chariot, in fact I some times wonder if hes awake at all, he has a very relaxed pose on his bike :-)

Hmm, why dont I believe this?

She loves being out and about too, naturally curious, and absolutely loves being near the river and seeing what is happening in our neighbourhood. Of course, theres plenty happening, as usual!
It is *that* time of year when change happens - Spring brings new ducklings, goslings, cygnets, in the River.

Miners lettuce - Full of nutritional goodies!

 Then theres the bulbs - a whole band of new plantings along the Avonside area, the Red Zone - where all the houses are being pulled down. Someone has very thoughtfully planted daffodils and narcissus along the walkway. They are a beautiful memorial, and of course in September, we pass another memorial date.


Planting is underway here, Ive sprinkled seeds everywhere... Some more later in the month when things warm up a little. Even inside, Ive started my tomato seeds, with greater success now Ive done it before. Im so looking forward to eating fresh tomatoes. We have missed them!

Foxglove

Poppy  Seedlings

And Basil - nothing goes  with tomatoes as well as Basil. I love the smell, its lemony zing. Theres lettuces everywhere... Ive photographed everything as usual... Bear with me :-)

We have sprouting borage seedlings, some poppys self sown, foxgloves peeking from unusual places, violets creeping down bricks, and cats lying in the sun next to the catnip. Its my favourite time of the year because it brings with it, so much promise. Potential.

Loving My Garden
Love to You
E Butterfly
XXXXXX

This Old House... Clearing the Way... Spring Forward!

This Old house indeed...
It is full of cracks and this week, it seems to have developed a squeak - it now has an identifying squeak when theres a truck going past or theres an aftershock. Its been quite audible overnight and it sounds like we have mice. Better than Bats in the Belfry, I say :)
We are all concerned about the excessive speeds down our street of late, and I see one of the neighbours has sprayed big *30* signs on the road in spray paint,  to encourage people to slow down, but it doesnt seem to have worked. We have more traffic than ever before, given our main thoroughfare is blocked off and down to one way so crossing over our street, is like playing Chicken.
It isnt surprising, about the squeaky house, everywhere you look we have road works, diggers, noise, dust etc - on all sides at the moment, even our side road is blocked off with people rearranging road cones, leaning on shovels with their bright orange vests and hard hats on.
They may be filling in the crater that appeared after last weeks eq. Its quite an impressive size. With all this rain, it has filled with water, and I do wonder when we will get our own water feature. You know, you want what the neighbours have, right?... not so much, in this case :)
Its a familiar site around Christchurch though, those deep holes in the road, surrounded by road cones... theres no forgetting where you are, especially when you drive into one!

Things to be grateful for, there are a few - AWESOME WEATHER - it has taken on good form the past couple of days, and it is glorious to see the sun! We have got out and about, and taken advantage of the heat. It wont be long and it will be seed planting time again, how quickly it comes about.
I have started PLANNING THE GARDEN for this season. And clearing out the weeds that have grown over the cold snap. Im sure there will be other cold bits, but I might as well get ahead while I can.

Its nice to see some of the SEEDS COMING UP already. (self sown ones) We have a fine crop of 3 kinds of lettuce, some kind of onion and beans, and the silverbeet has survived well. I cant say the kids are keen about that :) but I am.
The berry plants have buds and are growing away quickly. Black currants, red currants, raspberries... We also have lots of self-sown plants, I love discovering them all. Strawberry, Borage, calendula and chamomile, marigold and some native trees. Ive also found some bits  I plucked off trees and bushes have grown, so  Ive got myself a fine start on a forest :)

We have been FEEDING THE BIRDS, and love watching them out the window. The bird feeders we made have been great, the birds come back again and again - carefully dodging our clumsy cats and their efforts to catch either a tasty bird treat, or climbing the tree to see if they can reach the fat with seeds in it... No luck, thank goodness theyre all far too well fed.  We have wax eyes, starlings and sparrows as usual, but also a family of three magpies, which have ventured over from the park. Theyre very polite, and wait up on the lines until Ive put the bread out before they come down.

Back to the Garden... Let is Spring, I say!
Thanks to some kind friends, I swapped some lavender for some vege seedlings, and I have a good bunch of seedlings and some mint to put in. Im going to isolate this mint, given it grows here like crazy, and we have some already that just takes over... it doesnt even mind the concrete, it just pops up through the cracks, but I have found that boiling water takes care of that. I also have an eau-de-cologne mint, which is lovely. I really like the smell of it, and have just recently been shown how to make a tea with lemon balm, the mint and honey. Very nice!

On My List of Must-haves this year - more carrots, more onions (more than I planted last year!) more potatoes in several varieties. Oh and Yams... Parsley, Basil and Coriander in successive plantings... and Im sure there will be other things later :)

Everyone is KEEPING WELL, despite the Winter chills. Its been a really crazy SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, but we are managing to use our time together wisely... Baking carrot cake, doing some art classes with Miss B, Reading, visiting, walking, taking some cool sea photos, packing some seeds, going to Kaikoura, going fishing (and catching a SALMON! wahoo!) and catching crabs on a handline. Lots of neat stuff. Making up for the time we spent last holidays in the hospital or at home, waiting for news.

Lots to get on with, and it looks like today might be another day outside, around in the garden.
Yes, thats why Im up early.
Roll on July!
Hope you are all safe and well,
Keep Warm
E Butterfly
XXXXXX

Happy Shortest Day...

It sure is Winter!

After the last fortnight, I think cabin fever is rife around here. Ive been knitting some beanies to help ward away the cold!
Its been so wet and cold, snow, rain, sleet, hail, watery sun. We've had The works!
I keep telling myself that this is good. And this too shall pass :)  It means all the soil in the garden gets cleansed, and all the bad things in it get washed away, then it gets frozen so the soil is clean and ready to go in the Spring. I just dont like wet feet. Or Icy sidewalks, Soggy socks, holes in gumboots... yuk :)

We've had a lot of illness in our schools these past two weeks, and its worrying that our children dont have the strong immune systems they might have once. We as parents, need to work on that. Fresh fruit and Veggies. Expensive as ever at this time of the year, when we dont have them in great supply in the garden (Im down to onions, toms (inside) and Silverbeet! ... even if the local supermarket has 1kg of frozen veg for just 99.c - an awesome special - its a good start though.
The Intermediate school my son goes to gave Flu injections free this year. A first. Oddly, they have been down to just 7 at school out of 30 last Friday! Its a worry! After speaking to his teacher, she hasnt had a full complement of 32 in about a month.

Cant wait to start the new seasons growing.
It seems ages since I went out for a morning in the Garden. Ive pulled it all out, the citrus and pots are under cover, waiting for some warmth, which, without being too hopeful may happen this weekend if the weather man has it right :)


There are the odd eqs still happening too, but theyre getting smaller, less often, and wide spread. We share them with a lot of other parts of New Zealand at the moment, and... even Melbourne, Australia. Poor Sods, its scary.
No matter what size, when you least expect it, it is SCARY.


So yeah, Happy Shortest Day.
This means we are half way to Spring? I sure hope so...
Did you plant your Garlic? ... Do you have plans for your new seasons Garden? Ive finally listed some seeds on a local auction site, but Im also giving them away where I can, it makes good sense.
Herbs, Vegetables... dont forget the companion planting...Marigolds, calendula, tansy, and lots more... Then theres mulch and compost, a light fertilizer, working into the soil while you work at keeping warm inside!

Thats me for now,
Stay Warm, stay safe,
Roll On Spring...
XX
EB

The Benefits of Spring!!

Have had a pretty good day today, despite it being the 27th - the prophecy for the End of Christchurch is tomorrow apparently, so Im making a blog post just in case I get caught up handing The End of My World As I Know It and dont get a chance...
It is GORGEOUS weather in Christchurch at the moment - fresh crisp frosts in the mornings giving way to high blue skies, and if there are clouds, they dont dare stay long so the sun is making his presence well known. I love Spring!
Unfortunately the children have both seccumbed to their big brothers virus, and have sore throats, so we bundled along the river bank this morning to make our way to the Park. Woodham Park is looking its best at the moment. Love love love it.
We found our good friend The Dog there. He loves Blaise, and always finds a stick so Blaise will throw it for him. It did the kids good to get out in the fresh air, and the sun is a good healer.

All the bulbs are starting to show their gorgeous faces, and the blossom is a reminder of all the good things in the world.

Our seedlings inside are growing slowly, but steadily. Tomatoes are almost ready to be put out to harden off so they can be planted next month.  I cant wait to have my own tomatoes growing again!
Well thats it for now. Photos to add today...

Love to All,
especially those in Auckland :-)
E Butterfly
XXXXXX

No Duck Talk! ... Drifting Riverside, The Whiff of Memories - Remembering

Thinking of You!
To All those lost 9/11

Black Swans, Avon River 2011

Canada Geese, Avon River 2011

We walked for a while without talking, when we were accosted by a couple of ducks.
We are always followed when we walk along the Avon river, the bird life is still constant, and this time of year sees them out and about, looking for morsels of food, small nests in the willow trees or in the rushes at the side of the river.
No matter about cracks or liquefaction, these birds are constant.
Every year weve watched them. Weve oohed and ahhed over their babies, fed them and shared our bread... It was a bit hairy seeing them this time last year, but we still made sure we took some bread down to feed them. They were just as hungry as we were!
Two ducks came up to us this morning, and  as usual, being the wonderful bird whisperer that I am, I clucked my tongue and called to them, as you do (dont you?) and they called back, that slow chuck chuck kind of ducky noise.
Muuuum. (Rolls eyes) The little girl sighs.
They cant hear you, Miss 5 says, hands on hips.
Oh. Why not Arlais? I ask.
Thinking quickly, how do I explain simply that ducks DO have ears, you just cant see them etc. 
Well, they cant hear you Mum,
because you
DONT SPEAK DUCK...

I am enlightened.
I swear that girl thinks on her feet for one so young, and will one day turn peoples heads with her thinking.
So I need to learn DUCK.

It is THE most gorgeous day out there.
Bless. I love the sunshine, and this morning it hurt my eyes when I opened the curtains, in fact Mister 11 remarked on it. It was if the sun was shining with his best shirt on, expansive and full. I love today.

We walked down the river, the way we used to for years until our Avon Loop bridge was *munted*.
We stumbled over holes, loose metal on the road, liquefaction, debris from diggers. Theres so many empty houses, some things are broken, some is overgrown, messy and yet... It still has a beauty about it.
The River still glistens, it still moves gracefully if you choose NOT to notice the debris and the mud, the missing trees and the fresh gashes or the sandbags.
I chose today not to see them.
Let me walk in ignorance of the negative things.
The Willows and the Oak trees are pushing upward, the new leaves are about a breath away from expanding outward from bud. The sky is a perfect blue, and the meagre clouds small and puffy.
Today I noticed something that made me smile and remember other times.
The River has a smell to it. Like the smell of algae and water mud, of willows and brackish waters. It reminds me of a time when I was young (ooh Im so old!) and we lived beside the Waitaki River.  After flooding, the river always had landlocked pools of green algae that hid under big  willow trees, their leaves falling into the pools making them brackish and strong smelling. Today that smell leapt at me, from the river... Memories.

Well, memories I guess, make us who we are to some extent. For good or bad, happy and sad. And as you get older, you recall things so much easier, perhaps until you get so old you cant remember anything *grins*
Life is funny. Not ha-ha funny.

Wow, a very deep post today... Just hoping I can fling off all this and start to be the crazy cat lady with the big garden and too many kids who knows weird stuff soon. It is all part of the Life Process I guess.
Now. Where was I?
Thats right... We are off to paint River stones with bright coloured paint for the garden, and talk about our walk around our River.

Love and Blessings,
Remembering 9/11 and the way the world changed...
From My Heart to Yours,

E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXXX




Holy Tree Batman!



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

Its a BOOK BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARLAIS!

So the little Miss turns FIVE today.

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY ARLAIS!!
We had a few little presents, mostly books this morning...oh and some BARBIE MAKEUP which I secretly dislike intently, but then we dont do *big* birthdays, and she just LOVES lipgloss at present...
Some CUT-OUT dressup dollies, which look like fun for Mum and Daughter :-) And some gorgeous books...Animal ones mostly... A beautiful cupcake shaped notebook which Madam has written her *name* inside.
Doctor Seuss Flipcards for Numbers and Letters... which look awesome too, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish... Hop On Pop and all that.... I hope we learn them quickly!

Glorious sun and high blue skies today.
A frosty start, but who cares when the days are slowly getting longer and everything feels lighter because of it! Of course, we have some anniversaries looming - its six months this week since the February earthquake that took so many lives, but it is almost a year since our lives changed because we experienced the September earthquake...
Its not all doom and gloom. There are a multitude of Daffodils and Narcissus poking up their happy little faces from the dirt.
This signifies SPRING!
And of course...
This Friday is Daffodil Day, raising money for Cancer Society of NZ -
LOOK THIS YEARS DAFFODIL DAY - NEWS HERE!
My Mother died of Cancer, ironically in September many years ago, and I fully support Daffodil Day in memory of her, because she loved Spring.

Lambs and Daffodils certainly here in NZ, signify Spring!!
Its not always about donating money either, theres also other things you can PURCHASE to help raise money for cancer research and support.
You never know when you may need the Cancer Society, and they are the only charitable foundation I look at to support these days. As they say, Everyone knows SOMEONE who has had their lives changed because of Cancer.

Well, Im off to feed the ducks.
Avonside Drive has changed so much this year, it doesnt feel like it is the majestic Avon river that meanders past many of the broken sites further through the city. I think of it as that dirty brown river that is often swollen and has new stony grey banks now, not the gorgeous grassy banks dotted with bulbs and reeds, and planted with huge willows and oaks and other specimen trees. I miss that grand old Avon river... and our River walk that has slowly slipped, in the past eitht months, back into the river in some parts, or lies broken in others...

Will take the camera.
Bye for now,
Happy Days!

Love
EButterfly
XXXXX

Worming Our Way...

Theres nothing like a bit of physical stuff in the Garden.
I moved half a tonne (seemed like it) of compost today. Gooey, brown, luscious composted stuff.
After all that, Im not entirely pleased with the outcome. Ive got some work to do on the design of the new bin, but for now this will do until the bin is ready...
An unusual sky today, but the birds sat up in the trees and serenaded me, which usually is beautiful.
One in particular today was very loud. A thrush maybe, but its call sounded like it was berating me - Youre A Geek, Youre A Geek!.... Youre A Geek - Nincompoop.
Seriously - I asked Mr 11 what he thought, but he just looked at me strangely and asked me if Id been outside too long... The fresh air got to me, maybe?

WORK IN PROGRESS

By the time Ive jumped all this down, it cant be seen from the top...

In my quest to tidy up that corner, the straggly plum tree thing with the nasty thorny bits has gone.
My hands bear the scars, but thats ok. Im thinking I need a garden plan though so I can do things in stages.

WORMS!!

And, the best part of moving the compost was finding small pockets of compost full of big fat juicy worms!

A real surprise, and a delight to the little Miss 4 who is curious about everything that creeps --- she is keen on worms now that she knows they dont have teeth. However, we arent too keen if they do the wiggly thing when she picks them up. That meant a loud scream in Mommys ear.

Very brave though, she was. Oh that sounds like Yoda from Starwars...

And with that, and the piles of *Spaghetti roots* we dug out today (Convulvulus roots throughout the compost!)

Im out of here ...

Happy Gardening!!
Love,
EBUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXX

Happy Days Are Here Again...Aloe, Aloe... Vera?

Yeah!It is a good day. For a Tuesday!
The birds are singing - or were singing - seeing its Dark Just Now.
And it was a good day in the Garden.
With my
 Darling
Mr EB.
Side By Side.
Him with the Man Saw, Me with the piddly wee bendable thing (ugh!)
We cut and slashed, hacked and ripped out some scraggly plum type trees that have never done much
except make a mess. We talked as we hacked, planned, dreamed, schemed.
Now I have a corner for my new compost bin. A big 'un!
Now to move the contents of the old piles into the new bin...
Guess who gets to help with that job... Boys? :-)
Why have two gorgeous teens unless they can do menial tasks for you and then tell you they love you?
Ha! They havent heard my demands yet, but I guess I ll need bribery too :-)

So after the compost bin is in place, filled with glorious rotting stuff, I can start shopping for Worms.
Yes! A Worm farm. Im looking forward to long, fat, skinny, slimy, grubby wormies! I love it!
And then, the next on the list, is the extension of the herb garden, down the length of the property.
And grubbing the new ground for the vege garden
Selecting some seeds to start sprouting for Spring - Petunias, Snapdragon and Phlox,
Repotting the Aloe babies into their own pots
... I feel like a new mother - they have sprouted babies everywhere again!
I think I ll have upward of 30 Aloe Vera plants after this next lot are repotted.
Where to put them, is the question? Running out of places... Might have to Trademe some.

So onward to Wednesday...
Love to All
EBUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXX

The News Weve all been Waiting For ... Avonside/Dallington - Street Sinkhole, Photos

A big day for some of us in Christchurch. Homeowners finally have some idea about what is to happen with their homes, properties and their futures.
Weve been glued to the news. Its really important for us who live here to know what is happening to those who own their own homes, so we can support and understand their decisions... and be the Ear that they may need... Lots of turmoil, it must be heartbreaking - we watched Campbell Live last night, and it is truly heartbreaking to see the families and homeowners and hear their stories about their lives since September 2010...
Heres some News Links here...
Emotional day for Avonside and Dallington

How It Works - Pay Out Case Studies

Crown to buy 5100 quake-hit Christchurch homes

Cathedral Dome to be Removed  - Ever since I was a little girl visiting Christchurch, it was always a sign that we were near the central city when we could spot the Catholic Cathedral domes. Seeing the Angels sitting amongst the badly damaged Cathedral in the first few months, and then the devastation in the second earthquake when they started demolishing the buildings, it all makes me so sad that My Christchurch (like a lot of other peoples CHCH!) is changing. I loved that building, it was truly beautiful. Majestic beauty. Sob. Today theyre removing the crosses. Because of the bare land spots throughout the avenues, it makes Christchurch quite a changed city site already... Just miss the familiarity. Remembering today especially, all the lives that passed away, and the remaining lives that changed forever on those shaky days... Nostalgic grey kind of day today maybe...xx xx

Big Ups. We are moving into a new planning phase. Mr EB and I are actively seeking new things to do to support our (self sufficient) lifestyles. This will bring us closer together, and we will be better able to support ourselves and our family.

Our garden is always surprising us. SURPRISE! It must be ... Spring? Heck no. Yesterday was the shortest day or somesuch... but! WE HAVE FLOWERS :-)

Oh and Holes... Middle of the Street. Broad daylight (actually Wintry Gloom today, rain and such!) but there it is... a Sink hole!

And then there is our brave Geranium cuttings that seem to eat Liquefaction for breakfast, cos theyve grown WILD baby!
WAHOO! Pretty too...

Liquefaction in the front, under the lounge

Geranium Cuttings that grew like Topsy!

And then theres our poor old Chimney. Old being the best word to describe it... The top has been removed, and its capped off inside and on the roof level... but the outside is coming further away from the house with each shudder... EQC need to assess it, before the landlord will do anything further. Gulp. EQC are so over-worked... It isnt a good scenario.

This Ole House!

And thats it for now...
Another day in the life of a Earthquake Turtle.

Love Ya!EBUTTERFLY
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
XXXXXXXXX

Old Memories, Good Memories... Making Memories...

Its been a brilliant but active, tiring day - high blue skies again, makes you feel like you walk about half an inch off the ground with your head high, enjoying the light breeze and the nodding plants - we had a family day today!

Its been a while, and it doesnt happen often that I have my gorgeous family all together. The older boys live with Dad, going to High School now on the other side of town, and we miss them. They both came for *brunch* this morning, and we had pikelets with jam and cream, and buns with cheese etc for breakfast/brunch. We went for a wander along the usual routes, ending at Woodham Park.

It was a super-sweet time, bringing back memories of other times when we used to go to the park often, when we all lived together. Blaise, the one with the longest of memories, said that being on the swings was bringing back *Old Memories, Good Memories* and ... well, there we were, making new memories... and that was so cool.

We delighted in spending time together, I watched them, camera in hand - I had warned the kids I would be in *picture* mode, and I snapped 94 pics today, most of family, some of the flora... and no, I wont bore you with them all... But here are *My People* --

Duncan is so tall now, hes working part time, and I do wish that we saw more of him, the little people love him dearly, he is their Big Bro, they respond to him mostly. Hes my first born, I love him regardless of where he is in his life... I miss the talking we share, I love his creativity, and I do wish him well in his search for His Truth.

Gordon is beginning to shine, to come into his own, and under the surly exterior, the petulance and defiance that seeps through sometimes amidst the teenage confusion, there lies the heart of a true Leo. He is an interesting mix of compassion and steel. Finding his way, as teens seem to do... He has a beautiful mind, and it is like the proverbial steel trap, once he reads something, he retains it and has the ability to recall things he may have read ages ago. It is a joy, and sometimes such an annoyance :-)

Blaise loves to swing, but prefers to be pushed on the swing, he is a joy to watch. Today he took a bread bag to collect some Acorns to plant. We like the idea of lots of Oak Trees growing, like we have at home.
When Blaise laughs, we all do. His chuckle is infectious. Easily hurt, He takes himself off into his imagination to hide his hurts, but you can see it in those gorgeous expressive eyes. He is a man of compassion, of passions and talent - of heart, and of love. He is so like his Grandmother, whose heart was full of love for others. A man of many talents, some just reaching the surface, a definite Work in Progress, bless him.

My Miss, well, she enjoys being the centre of attention amongst the lads, and they cant help but be cutesy with her, she draws them away from Other Things.
She identifies with Duncan and misses him, theyre so similar in some ways, and have a similar need to be liked, to entertain, an energy of creativity. With Gordon Arlais clashes, but in her contrary manner, she misses his gregarious nature and talks about him... wondering what he is doing, when he isnt around.  And Blaise she adores and annoys with regularity - he is so patient, and she tries him at every turn, but she loves him dearly, and they are chalk and cheese - but two peas from the same pod. She is such a conundrum, she is a girly girl, but stands up for herself if she feels the need... There is a lot of curiosity with her, and she isnt fearful of much now although she will tell you, *Im just a tiny girl*... if it suits.

Being a Mum, a Mother, a Mummy, The Mothership, has been an exciting, sometimes scary, daunting but enduring journey...
Cant wait to see how it progresses...
I love my (not-so) Little People.
Thanks for looking!

E Butterfly
xxxxxxxx