News at Hand - 2015

Change is afoot! 
And I find, Im needing more than a hand to do so :)
Hello from Woolston.
We have a new home!  In a city where exorbitant rents are rife, and fixed homes happen slowly, our house in Avonside is finally getting fixed. We wont be going back, the repairs are going to take months to complete, and after that the landlord has decided he has had enough and will sell it. How sad it was to say Goodbye to twelve years of memories. And my Garden. Oh dear :(
So here we are.
It took me almost four months to find this place, affordable - only just. And it has no garden to speak of. It has however, carpet without holes or mould, and a gorgeous new bathroom and kitchen. A beautiful kitchen, that means I have space to bake and cook and preserve and ... well its just really blissful!
We have no garage at present, which means we have boxes in the lounge. I went to pick up the keys and asked about the garage plans. Oh no, they said. No immediate plans to build the garage within the next eighteen months, but we will let you know.
The following Saturday, a rather large man knocks at the door. Im Andrew, the builder... About that garage... We start on Monday...

So, we have foundations in place for a huge double block garage. And a carport. And here I was, just hoping for the washing line to be erected... It was another casualty of the EQs :)

No photos as yet. I can find the camera, but have no idea where i put the box with my batteries...
We have had to downsize, sadly, our cat family. Sam and Zander , the old boys. remain and we have at present two kitten and their mother. She came to us as a foster cat who was pregnant. Shes a delight and will make someone a really gorgeous pet. I have the tabby kitten, Trudie, sitting in front of my computer at present. She makes it very hard to type, but shes undeniably cute and gets away with all kinds of things.

So Im just taking stock of what I have by way of seeds, space and enthusiasm. Im a little sad at all the plants I left in my garden, but I reckon theres a reason for change, and maybe the next person who goes into that home will need those plants even more than we did/do.

One observation I have made, is that although we only moved a mile as the crow flies, away from our previous home, the soil here is quite different. Not a lot of nutrients in it, it is very sandy with no *guts*. Plenty of mulch and some compost is needed. Give me time, and it will get what is required, I have started the list already. I also need a new compost bin or two.

We have 2 peach trees here, a golden peach and a (yum!) black boy. The black boys have fallen due to the bad winds we have had in the past two weeks. Ive been boiling them up for breakfast on cereal.
The back section has been subdivided and sold on, so we have what amounts to a very small courtyard garden. I have my pots that have lemon trees and tomatoes and strawberries growing in them. Ive planted pots of dinosaur kale and coloured lettuces to get us through the winter. The yard is sheltered and mainly concrete, so I have to remember to water regularly because things wilt quickly. I also planted two rhubarb crowns so we wont lose that valuable nutrient-filled treat!

Next to go into the garden, is the chilean guava - nz cranberry plant. I love these, if grown efficiently in a hedge form, they smell heavenly - like candy floss in fact! They taste like heaven too if the berries are left til theyre large and juicy!
The kids can be found sitting around the bush when they are ripe :) I hope to let this one grow a bit, then take cuttings. The school could do with some to plant in their edible garden.

Wanting to utilize all my space, I have some wall planters here that I want to plant out with something that will attract bees. I also have my favourite chilli - Rainbow Thai, growing inside on the windowsill. It gets full light and some warmth there too. I hope it will grow well throughout the season, as they are handy to have, but also, they sell well.

So there we go, an update on whats happening. Time to make changes, and to plan for more positive things ahead!
Hoping all is well in your world,
Happy Gardening!!

Earth Butterfly 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PLEASE  Dont leave it to the last minute. 

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

Have a wee read HERE and be prepared






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

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

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

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

Fishy Smarts... Fishy Tails - A Good Sunday

Watering day today, and its grey, cool and misty when I wake.
How did I know before I even opened my eyes?
A fluffy tail complete with raindrops and a wet cat-nose in the face let me know before I realized it was morning. She is very determined to be fed these mornings, is our Washington.
So, it was a good day to catch up on the housework, do the inside things, and perhaps take a wander. The boys were restless, so they wandered off to meet friends at the bridge around the corner to take in some fishing. The Avon isnt well known for its fishing. Its Whitebaiting maybe, but not in the past year or 18months, due to silt, sewerage and other nasties that poured in. Its ok, we wont be baiting our hooks and eating our catch...
Its just for the experience of doing something interesting and inexpensive, and the kids love it.

So off they go, theres a few regular fisher-guys who hang out on the bridge too, and Mr 11 is the youngest by far. The tales are colourful - almost as colourful as the language, but if you can get past that, its interesting to hear the Fishy Tales.
What made great sport, was a huge rainbow trout swimming below.

Fishy Smarts 
The Grandaddy, they reckon. The Guardian of the smaller fishes, I say. He wasnt being caught by anyone! In fact, he seemed to throw the smaller fish in front of him so they were caught in his stead.
Its obvious theyre all keen on the dangling bait but this fish has got to a very nice size by not being tempted, and again today, it seemed to use its innate sense of which pieces of bread werent on hooks to eat, very nicely Thank You, and escaped anyones hook! It will live to taunt exasperated fishermen another day. ( And to be killed when we catch it tomorrow says a very keen young Fisherman from behind me!) We also see big eels and tiny bait fish under the water, so there is plenty of life left in the Avon River, despite people saying otherwise.


Fishy Tails

The yellow-eyed mullet run in and out with the tides - we live in tidal Avonside, and the Avon goes in and out daily, swelling as the tide fills, and the boys hook the mullet on small hooks and sinkers, with bread for bait. Its exciting, when, from standing up on the Bridge, you see them nibbling your bait below... nibble, take and there you have them. They hit hard when theyre hungry and are taken up onto the bridge easily by the kids.

We dont eat these fish, they do however, provide a nutritious feed for our cats, and the guts/heads/fins etc are excellent in the garden. My new rose today got the benefits, a bucket of fish buried deep alongside its roots.

How will we make ends meet if our society changes?
What skills will our children need, that we have ourselves forgotten? This is why I have no objection to taking my children fishing - of course, theyre of an age where they can take themselves, but sometimes as parents, we need to make sure they are provided with the wherewithall to do these things easily... Learning is best done when its fun, before the need is there. Fishing experience is an excellent skill to have here in NZ because our landscape lends itself to us being able to use it for fishing for food.

So, for us its been a really Good Sunday. The Bestest Day of My Life, Miss 5 told me as we wandered home. So - Whats next?
Im in the process of planting out the cabbages and broccoli for Winter, sowing parsnip seed, and watching the pumpkins swell. I cant wait for the beets to do their thing, and I have potatoes to dig soon. The garlic has dried nicely, and the tomatoes are changing colour daily - slow, but getting there! Life is good.
I hope with fingers xed that Ive got it right for some continual harvesting later in the year, as with the climate changes, the good weather is pitifully absent, and we may incur some losses.

Heres hoping things in your garden are growing nicely, with abundance.
Love and Blessings
E Butterfly
XXXXXX

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

Magnificent Monday and Other Stuff

A Magnificent, Moving Monday... Well, it started out just magnificent, but since I decided the magnificent part, its been a bit shaky too! A 4.3 to help us digest our breakfast with... Shake those cornies down...

So, where have we been lately? ... Not outside so much, a week inside at least because of three days of very heavy snow, though the snow did leave us on good terms with the beautiful weather post-snow.
Gorgeous blue skies, those billowy white clouds and some knock-out days in the garden!
Been cleaning and tidying mostly. Trying to organize the spare room into something other than Survival Central. Of course, now Im reconsidering :-) Maybe the Survival Stuff can go back where it was, and me and The Boarder - well, we can all just huddle in the lounge or curl up on The Sofa together and admire the view.  

Have had the kids down with *suspected measles* - they had some of  the symptoms, and Miss 4.11 came down with a  rash, but nothing seemed to *happen* other than temperature spikes and night and lethargy.
All over now,  ten days and we bounced back again very quickly, pleased to report... My children touch wood, dont tend to get ill apart from the occasional cold. Im very grateful for that I might add!

We have Tomatoes! <--- technically, just the plants... of course... But our seedlings have sown nicely and are cheerfully growing so they can see out the lounge window... Weve been watching them grow morning by morning, and noting who grew first - Tomato Chocolate is the laziest, and our Bloody Butchers seem to be having issues with which way is UP!  The little yellow cherry tomatoes just grew and grew - they took three days to sprout, and they have their first set of *grown up tomato leaves* now.
So most of these varieties we chose are supposedly early, so I hope they remember to Grow Strong.
We have a bbq dinner riding on whose tomatoes fruit first --- we cant have Uncle N winning because he cooks superb bbq!!

All in all, we have some fenugreek seedlings looking fantastic, some awesome Basil Red Rubin - very pretty purply red shoots! and then theres assorted tomatoes... Its going to be fantastic if we can successfully grow them all, Im stocking up on the Tomato recipes in anticipation...
Have some companions going in too, some calendula, some parsley and some marigolds, also looking to snip some cuttings from my lavenders.

The Police are blitzing this part of town lately checking warrants, registrations and licences.
It seems ironic that because of our bottlenecks with traffic works, they use that to their best advantage.
The traffic is so slow at rush hour anyway because of the holes that open up so frequently, or the roadworks that is ongoing, but this morning they had the incoming traffic slowed to a halt almost as they checked the cars...
It isnt a worry for me at the moment, but sometimes it can be a few days in between getting things ship shape, and its a big stress for most people round this part of town.
In My opinion, the cost of living has risen, but wages and benefits do not reflect this rise. I do worry about where it will leave people, as their first and foremost concern is surely family care and comfort - power and food, warm clothing and footwear, over whether vehicles are legal?
Another stressor now of course, is having to have a *second supply* of things, in case of power cut or earthquake. It IS a stressor here.
It doesnt always equate to *bad planning* if you dont have everything you need, it may be that there is just not enough funds to spread between the things you need from day to day, and the things you *may possibly/probably* need in case of emergency.
ARE YOU PREPARED? Do you have things stored for your family?
It is something I am coming up against, but I tick along ok. It is a question that is often asked when you talk to people - Do you have a first aid kit? Do you have stored food or water?
For me - it is a must. Basics. As I said to Mr EB yesterday, God I hope we dont have to survive on my survival kit, as RICE is the main component! Im sure I love rice... sigh.

 Im committed to planting my garden with vegetables and companion plants rather than the usual perhaps showy plants/flowers that I would like...
It is simply, it makes sense.

Well, on that note, I must go and rethink my supply cupboard.
I have masks and gloves, water and matches, lantern and tarpaulins to find homes for.

Healing Thoughts to my friend Spencer,
We love you Spence.

Thinking Of You, and Your Garden
May all Your weeds, be edible :-)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
EButterfly






       

Prince William Arrives... Memorial Service Tomorrow... Not alot of Shaking!

Just a little post tonight.
I had it all written, photos included, all ready to push publish.
I did... and then something malfunctioned.
Sigh. I lost it all, nothing was saved. That was the Malfunction.

Life along the Avon River... Ducks, Seagulls & Blaise

Busy Day --- Crazy Shoppers out there, Christchurch seems to have come alive this week.
I cant decide why but given the empty shop shelves today, Im wondering if people are taking things seriously about the threats and prophecies about more Earthquake Action.
Seriously - Bishopdale New World this morning before noon was crazy. I know it was benefit day, which usually makes things busy, but holy moley! It was rushing and shelves were empty - super busy. Of course, tomorrow is a Public Holiday, but the shops will reopen on Saturday... honest.
There will be people coming into town I imagine, for the Memorial Service in Hagley Park tomorrow.
I will not be going. My respect and love goes to all those who were lost and their friends and families, my children dont need to be part of a huge crowd of very sad people at the moment.
Heavens above, what would happen if there were a noticeable aftershock during the Service? And given the lack of portaloos/sewerage I dont think my 4 yr old would survive 3 hours without a potty stop!
Theres a huge crowd expected, I hope the weather is good for them... not too hot, not too cold... A bit like Goldilocks porridge.

Prince William flew into town today. A busy whirlwind tour of course, as they always seem to be. He has been everywhere already, a tour of the business district in town, then off to the West Coast to visit the families of the Pike River Miners, which is good for them, after all this time, it is good to know they are not forgotten. Then hes back into town and out to Sumner tomorrow  before he attends the Memorial Service, from what Ive heard on the radio. What a busy life. Bless him for coming. It helps.

Not alot of shaking going on today. Awesome news is at Canterbury Quake Live - just eight quakes in twenty four hours which is awesome. So far, only one today - a 3.1.
Long may it last, however, the air temp out there is fresh, the sky is inky black and there is a high sky. The moon is a shave off being a full moon and theyve been talking about King Tides. Weve been here before, so fingers xed we get through it again...

The lad is still not back at school, they are on the priority list for sewerage, and we have been to see his teacher this week. She isnt bothered by the lack of academia. We have been working on some things ourselves. Mr 10.5 has been working on how many essentials for survival you can fit into a standard sized bucket. How we can waterproof matches. How tectonic plates work, where they are and what happens to us when they knock together or rub over one another... Fascinating stuff.

So thats almost  it for now -
Just one small gripe... 
If youre out there, and youre driving around town - please, please, take care and DRIVE SLOWLY. Today was hellish. People speeding where the roads are good, to save for the time they must slow down over the broken roads... and there are LOTS of them - see my photos below.

There are some- in the east, most, suburbs who have seriously damaged pipes and roading. I have such a new respect for the Roading Contractors and their workers. They are out there from very early and our roads have been repaired so quickly.
Awesome!!
So many roads have subsided with the continual aftershocks too, which must be so frustrating for the workers that have been filling holes and ripping up tarseal to get new surfaces underway...

Have a read and a bit of a smile here - GRUMPY CHRISTCHURCH

Thinking of you,
Love to all,

E Butterfly
xxxxxxxxx 

So, what about Tsunami?... Mini-post

Have been listening to the news, even Campbell live have been talking to Scientists and such about what will happen and when, and what can we predict, what do we need to watch for... Very interesting. Basically, the end story is the same - BE PREPARED.

So... What about Tsunami?
Have a look at this - if youre a Kiwi, this is a start to useful info.
http://www.prepare.co.nz/disasters_tsunami.asp

And I find this a good start to Info to File Away -

The three types of Tsunami 
There are three distinct types of tsunami.
The type you encounter depends on the distance you are from the place where it is generated.
Distant tsunami are generated from a long way away, such as from across the Pacific in Chile.
In this case, we will have more than three hours warning time for New Zealand.
Regional tsunami are generated between one and three hours travel time away from their destination.
An eruption from an underwater volcano in the Kermadec Trench to the north of New Zealand, could generate a regional tsunami.
Local tsunami are generated very close to New Zealand.
This type of tsunami is very dangerous because we may only have a few minutes warning.

As you were... Just a Mini-Note tonight.
Hope youre all enjoying the fine Chch weather, and keeping busy.
Some of our children are back at school for an hour tomorrow to pick up their bags and see their classmates.
Not starting in earnest til next week. Its nice to know theyre happy to go back and get into routine again!

Love to You
EButterfly
Information Searcher-Upperer.
 PS Enjoying the stillness - not a lot of shaky shaky today! Dare I say it!?

Things getting back to *normal* - Whats Normal?

Todays post is tongue in cheek. 
Ive done lots of thinking since I built my shelter in our spare room.
Here it is, and thanks to those who I discussed this with - Everyone here is in a similar mind set, we all want to know and experience some Peace of Mind. We think that starts with PREPAREDNESS. No narrow thinking, and some practical adjustments to the way we live our lives given where we find ourselves today. Its a different place to where we were last month...

I read on Stuff.co.nz that they estimate that around 60 000 Christchurch people will have returned to the city this weekend.
Today, a return to businesses because the Red Zone in the CBD was to be opened, a return to school for some, Several schools are doing a double shift beginning at 8am to accomodate students from schools that still need to be fixed,  maybe some returning for work, or whatever - it all means that the citys traffic on post-quake roading is horrendous. I heard the traffic *hum* from my bed this morning - it was a familiar sound this time last month, but since the EQ, the noise was noticeably absent.
Not today though.

It gives me the feeling that maybe Cantabs feel life in Christchurch is restoring to the *normal* of before maybe?

Whats normal though?

How will you go On from Here?

We were chatting earlier, three neighbours, about how things restore, and we get back to our own lives - well, until the next disaster. Since this last one, we have got a lot closer. We actually care about each other, our families, our welfare. We check on one another, and chat over the fence, we give fresh produce or time, and compliments, ask questions, seek help of one another.
Do we want this to stop forthwith because we have power and water again?
Nah. We still share.
I hope this will last for as long as we are neighbours, it reminds me of the words
*Do unto Others, as you would have Others Do unto You...*

And I think we are all  *Starting as we mean to Go On*.

If you can do things to help yourself survive in these recent events, how about passing it along?
Or maybe you can learn something from them...?
Teach someone else about it too. Pass on your knowledge. Doesnt cost you anything except a little time. It may save lives.
Those neighbours you have are valuable - to you, to their families. No man is an Island.
Just because we dont shake so much, doesnt mean we are home free. Look at Japan. Indonesia... What next? How will we feel if this is how life is from now - if natural disasters around us become our *normal*?
(Civil Defence Website says Dont think If, Think When)

It may be that the links you make in normal circumstances with people around you can help you through the natural disasters, the personal situations and more... The web between us grows stronger if we can give and take.
Its not rocket science, its simple, relatively inexpensive if you do it little by little, and its Survival.
And believe me, I have thought lots about this, this week.
Article about Kit Expense Here

What was Important to You Two weeks ago?


Is it still important to you, that to survive the past few weeks, you needed Hand Sanitizer, Toilet Paper, Bleach... Non-perishable goods? That you had to boil water? Pooh in a bucket? Bury it in the Garden? Or sleep when it was dark because you had no power?
Those early nights I remember well! And we slept for 14 hours in amongst dodging the Aftershocks!
But what use was that flat-screen TV that fell off the wall when the shaking started, once you had no power?
Do you have your bbq all clean and ready to go again... just in case?  I do, in fact, Ive even started looking for a camp cooker to go in the back of the car...
Oh. Did I mention Im saving for a 4x4 to get through the liquifaction?
Hows your supply going now that you have power back?
My fridge still looks relatively bare. Ive become the Queen of buying only what we can consume in two days. The rest is tins. Packets. Survival. I tell you, Ive been thinking about this (dangerous territory, me and thinking!)
And I have things I will buy now, to put away *Just In Case*
... Have you restocked your Freezer?  Do you have plans to add to your Kit?
Can you put your hand on some dry goods? A bucket? A water container?...

Please dont forget these things are important, as well as getting back to Normal Living.
Last time, we knew we had help coming - half the city was relatively unaffected - roads were clogged, but we knew we had petrol, gas, supplies, and that the entire country could help.
What if the entire country was affected?
Keep your basics handy.
Your Water Up.
Your Kit Stocked.

 Basics to have in a Kit - Christchurch City Council - Link

KIT TIPS

* Replace food and water every year. 
Consider stocking a two-week supply for prolonged emergencies.

* Check all batteries every three months. 
Battery-powered lighting is safest and easiest to maintain.

* Don't use candles because they can tip over in earthquake aftershocks or gusts of wind. Don't use kerosene lamps, which need ventilation and are not designed for indoor use. However, have candles in your kit JUST IN CASE you run out of battery power for torches or similar.


*Have a cooker/burner or bbq with gas bottle available - use older pots if possible, have them stored in your shed/garage.

*If in doubt, BOIL Water for 3 Minutes

I guess what Im trying to say is... 
We lived through a Disaster.
Our Second Disaster, we knew help was coming.
We lost people, but we endured, and in our Grief, our Sadness, many will rebuild and stay. Some will go. 
This time we had Aid. Search and Rescue. Police, Army, Members of Parliament, The County Council - all working together. 
From All over the World and All over the Country, they came to help...
There were individuals who gave what they could, did what they could, sent things. 
We had Doctors, Food Banks, Plumbers, Electricians, Builders, Roading Contractors, Architects, EQC People... We had them all here... 

We HAVE Them all here still, and Im so grateful for all the work, all the hours, the time, the efforts, the support and the care we have been given. Im grateful that there are people here that have come, leaving their own homes and families to help others.

But... What if there was none of that?

If they didnt arrive. 

And it was just Me or You.

Then What? 

As always, Love from My Heart to Yours,
EBUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXX 


 

We are ROCKIN' Again! Christchurch Earthquake Aftershocks...

Aon Celtic Graphics

Not big 'uns, We check HERE at GEONET, but enough to let you know that Mother Earth Rules... Ok?!
Some a a rumble and a shake, some are like a quick rough shake, others a light sway... Odd and disconcerting after getting used to it not happening for a while. How quick we forget?
We have had four *small* (under 4.0) aftershocks since half past eleven last night, and quite frankly... Im over it.
No damage done here, but today is Kitchen De-clutter, a timely reminder that theres a lot of things that could be broken amongst a whole lotta things I really no longer need, or even dont use at all. Theyve gone.  Ive noticed the china moving along the shelves, so its gone too... either packed away or chucked. Just in case...Ya know - Murphys Law and all that... Just in Case!
Its quite disconcerting, wondering if theres another big one coming...
There has to be, maybe Mother Earth just wants to roll over in her bed.
Im picking, in my unscholarly manner, that next month - March, may be a very interesting time.
Im replacing our water and tucking it away, checking the bbq, getting things sorted, just in case... there we go again... Just in Case! Will.Not.Go.Unprepared.

Lots is changing, seasonal pulls and tugs, into the seriousness of Autumn. I must say, I dislike watching the throes of Autumn take hold, trees and plants shedding, dying, changing. Ahh such is life I guess, I dont have to like it, but I do have to embrace it.

Well, we are all on our way out the door to step into the garden. I have found some squirty bottles. Im thinking Water Fight. I heard on the radio this morning we are due for some showers... the kids havent seen me coming, I have showers of their very own in my mind... I of course have a bottle too. Boy its HOT :) Must go and find a bucket...







Love to all.
Having Fun in the very hot SUN~
Shaking and Rocking it~! 

Lazy Days and Shaky Nights!

Here we are again,

Fresh & Wide Awake
on a Lazy, Shaky Sunday...
This week has gone a bit slower than the last few,
it has been nice to enjoy some normality.
Some photos...

Cracks around reclaimed land/swamp area

Traffic backed up due to detours on main roads

Going to School past houses condemned because of damage

 - Lots of Canterbury cats went missing, some never arriving home, this guy looks pensive. 

rubble piles everywhere still

cracks in concrete and paving everywhere

Tall blue skies and fluffy cottonwool clouds abound, and the signs of Spring lie blown from their branches, or standing proud on the tops of green stems. Beautiful! Such pretty scents, blown by our North West wind that bothers those with hayfever, and delights those of us who love the smell of daphne!
Weve had some rather big rude after shocks in the past few days.

Add to that constant delays, heavy traffic flow because of broken drains and detours, more structural damage to homes and minds, Cantabs are a bit fractious at the moment, and who can blame them!
Since Friday, there have been six from a size of 4+ !  In most instances, a four on the richter scale does damage in itself, and is well noted by residents. Not here so much now -Ya know, its true, you can get used to them. Some people dont, but I think we have for the most part, and I dont want that to sound like bragging...
Its just that my stomach doesnt lurch like it used to and my brain isnt so tortured. Its still scary when they linger, but meh. We got through the big one, surely we can do these aftershocks too, even if they make us a bit anxious - you cant escape!
What can you do?

Ya gotta rally - SEE Kelle's blog, I got that term from her - I LOVE her blog... Now where was I?

We are prepared mostly. 
Last night there were two fours in a row, with minutes between and that got me a bit concerned.

 Little Poppet decided to collect up her books in her Barbie back pack. She gathered (rallied?) her new baby dollies (Thanks Uncle N) and wouldnt move from the middle of my bed. We talked about our *plan*. I have a table in my bedroom, and the kids know to dive under it if the shaking doesnt stop. It is good practise just in case. We like playing outside, cos if youre outside and on the trampoline, you cant feel the shaking! YAY!
Well, once again, the drill is over - it amounted to nothing further than a few shaky moments for a couple of hours last night, and we were good to go to bed. Of course, four in the bed, and the little one had the most room...(The cat!)

Today it looks like Angels painted the sky with bold brush strokes of the most gorgeous cornflour blue, it is so blue, high and cloudless. I love these Spring days. Im a girl of Spring. Everything has its ebb and flow, and I think I like being in the balance of those two. Not too much of one or the other... Growing and Green are good, Hot and harsh, or Slow and dying, Winter and bleak days, Summer and Arid days are not me.
 

Find Beauty in the things around you that you love - 

Tomorrow, as Memories, 

they will be all the more important...

<<                   Flashlight at the ready! Water too             >>>

Signing off til Next time

With love, 

E B

xxx