Raindrops on Roses... and Liquefaction on Roads - Roll on Monday!



Arlais' Rainbow, hand painted :)


Raindrops.. Lots of Em! Its been raining for a while now, so long that this morning the first thing I could hear on the roads was the swish of the slop as the cars went past on their way to Whereever - liquefaction + rain = Sloppy Grey Sludge. And its so slippy - Mind that Cyclist! I went to get petrol and saw one guy almost lose it as he turned right. Not good. The weatherman (Tamati Coffey) says  up to 10 degrees today. Brrr. Take that Christchurch! Its not so bad, but after the lovely days of last week, we really are going to do it hard.
Its still dark, and its quarter to eight... Monday again! A week ago we were in a different place, and Im hoping the aura of that day is gone, to be forgotten.

The De-Clutter is still progressing. The Great Garage is starting to look emptier, which creates a good feeling... The Trademe & Freecycle accounts are heaving with new entrants. I hope the sales go well, have added pea-straw and some rather bright Summer fabric to the watchlist... oh and some rather special Tomato seeds to try!

Onward. Got to be brave. Last call. Into the Fray!
Tug on the rope if you cant find me, I ll be in the Garage!!
Love to Tony and Evita - If youre out there... keep in touch
Love to those, especially in beautiful New Plymouth, who have had continued experiences with Mother Nature - Thunderstorms, Typhoons, Tornadoes...which has caused extensive damage and flooding. Kia Kaha - Be Strong!

Hope youre doing well, Keeping Safe and Well,
Love to You
EBUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXXX

Slowly does it, Sunday!

IN CHRISTCHURCH AND FINDING IT HARD TO COPE?

CLICK HERE FOR SOME IDEAS

Had a late night last night, repacking the car, folding washing etc, so today we are off and doing with a slow start... though I see it isnt morning any more, its now almost two oclock and honestly, I admit it - Im a lazy tart! I simply cannot get out of my own way today...

Dishes are done, washing out. Sun is trying very hard to get through what looks like a very thick cloud... Some blue sky is visible, Mr 10 just asked me what I would knit with the blue bits we can see, was there enough to knit anything?
His Great Aunt used to say, when asked about the weather, If theres blue sky - enough to knit a hat with, it must be a good day! Hehe, its a family thing.

Free Coffee at the Supermarket is a good start to anyones day, though being at the S/market on a Sunday isnt my idea of fun... We were there sorting through what colour and essences to get for our Sunday Project. Mr 10 and I are going to make some play dough to keep Miss 4 busy. We decided, if we did that, she would be kept busy so we could do our *stuff*...

The school shoes are shiny after some spit and polish this morning, Mr 10 is almost ready to get back to regular schooling. I have to be honest, I will miss him, hes a darling.
I think the threat of heavy earthquakes might just escape us for a few weeks... As I write that, the desk shudders and I hear the wood creaking in the hallways as an aftershock hits. Meh. A little one, thank goodness. Ive decided, theyre not going anywhere, neither am I, so there we be, an empasse. I can live with them... if I have to, and I think we might need to.
The Earth is doing what it does, it is just a shame Christchurch city is situated right on top of where the Earth wants to do its rocking and shaking for now.
We are getting better at ignoring the routines of the Earth. Weve had a succession for the mid three to mid four range. Theyre enough to give you a fright if their onset is quite rocky, but otherwise you sit them out and breathe through it.

Thank God and the wonderful Naturopaths for Rescue Remedy and Flower Essences. We are using them at present, and Miss 4 has responded well to her *flower medicine*.

The city is beginning to show signs of progress. There are still big problems with bottle-necked traffic at peak hours, but people are working things through by making sure they check their routes before they go out... (some, not all!)
There are always going to be arrogant rude people on the roads, but most of us care... and show that by tempering our speed... or not going out at all. Im deciding not to use the car unless I have to. The biggest thing in my decision was the cost of fuel. Petrol is now $2.17 a litre. My car takes over $100 to fill, and I just dont need to do this. Everything I need is within a good walk, or if neccessary one trip a week... barring earthquakes and emergencies... I have taken to asking around before I go to the supermarket, in case others need things. We are going to car pool for school pick ups and drop offs... it makes sense.

The roads are still a myriad of bumps - mountains and craters, complete with diggers, work men, diggers, did I mention diggers?

Oh and the gorgeous big orange signs, arrows and cones... Im glad I am not just learning how to drive, Christchurch streets are confusing at the moment. I have such respect for those men who are hard at it, digging and cutting into the streets to fix the roads. Theyre awesome :)

Now, a plain and easy Play Dough Recipe ...

PLAYDOUGH


2 c flour
1 c Salt
1 t cream of tartar
1 T Oil
1 c water
======================
Add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil or essence to add scent
and/or a couple of drops of your favourite food colouring in to the mix too...


Store in airtight container, lasts a couple of weeks.

=====================
Weve ended up with some banana smelling yellow, and some coconut smelling pink playdough!!

Hope your weekend is going well,
Love and Sunshine!

EButterfly
xxxxxxxx

Choice Day Bro! ...

Isnt it good when you get something you need for less than youre willing to pay?
... Enter Trademe.
Youve got to love a good auction, when its going your way and oh my! You WIN! And a quick pick up. And a satisfied buyer and seller at the end... plus positive feedback. Well - you get it.

Warmth!
I lucked in today!
I got two oil fin heaters, barely used, seller is going overseas etc. For... cough. Im almost embarrassed to say... $4 a piece...
Theyll be excellent for the childrens rooms this winter instead of the old clunkers weve had. And of course now we have no  open fires and no chimneys. Oooh. Thats going to be interesting!
So Im getting organized... just a little. I dont want to scare myself, - or you, for that matter, if youre a kiwi reader, but... Its not long now til Winter.

 Had a *Choice Day* out and about with the Family.
We took off to pick up said heaters, then burled onto the beach at Spencer Park with great gusto.
It was NEAT.

My boy -  he digs those waves like an eager fish and dug for pipi or similar like he had shovels for hands. I love seeing him in his head - you know, absent except for action - there were no words, just him scurrying into the Ocean, that surged furiously. He loved it. Every minute. And he was in his own space. It had been a long week.
With unique and rare unison, Mr EB and I made a  driftwood cottage for the littlest Earth Butterfly who busied herself digging holes and making sandpiles oh, err... castles... sand castles. 

Of course I cant show you, because I lack a camera, ... Im rectifying that soon I hope.
But it doesnt detract from our gorgeous day.

The water was cold, but once your feet froze, you were right. You cant feel the cold thru the numbness :) Mr EB got wet up to his... pockets and I to my knees, with jeans rolled up to my thighs...who cares, it was all part of the fun.
And there was a cool breeze, but we werent cold, it was sunny, but not enough to burn us to a crisp... Not like last weekend... So it was Awesome!

     

Home and lunch, and lots of chatting and busy-ness. Now its Idol Time again, and the kids are glued. Mr EB is home on the farm, and Im catching up on the washing... Eagerly awaiting our Maryland Chicken for dinner...
Tomorrow is Sunday again. I turn around, and there is Sunday, snickering at me again. Sissy... Go on, you love me really...

Well thats me for now. Im going to start on my recipe book tonight. No, really... I am!
And Spencer if youre reading this... Somebunny loves you Baby!!

Love and Blessings.

From my Hearth to Yours!
EButterfly

From The Height of Summer we write...Counting Blessings here!

We are in the height of Summer of course, being in the Great South, and today the Nature Goddess was making itself well known. Beautiful sun, idyllic puffy clouds, just a whisper of a breeze... and lots of ions in the air that cause those nasty headaches.
Poor Mr EB is susceptible to migraines, and this perfect weather and the nor'west winds just play havoc with his head, my darling suffers terribly. Add to that the bright sun, and it hurts the eyes, so the nearest thing to a cure is a day in bed, hiding in the dark. Not how you want to spend a day or two, but my god it takes away the ability to function... Poor Babe!
 And Whilst I lament, Ive not heard from my new gardening friends in France this week either. I do miss their emails, and I hope things will be better soon, best wishes to them!
*WAVES TO PHILLIPE & FAMILY*
I had wondered if they were indisposed with Winter ills, but from what I have seen and read, they too have winds, but of high strength which has in turn, knocked out their power and their cables!  Which could be okay, but of course they have very low Winter temperatures, ice, rain and snow at present, that has bought everything to a halt over there! I am thinking of them, my Dear Friends, How the Nature Goddess plays havoc with all that we do :-) Be it blessings or quite the reverse...

Ive been planting seeds tonight to put on the window sill until they sprout.
We enjoy watching their progress. We have been talking about the plans for the chook house too, hope to come up with a plan and a price for materials... All good :)
The Lazy A children are all sorted and excited about next week and the recommencing of school.
Im going to like being able to get better organized, or maybe that is just a dream I tell myself to get myself through the holidays... hehe maybe it doesnt really happen at all.... time will tell I guess :)

After languishing in a hot bath, I have been thinking about the things I have in my life that Im grateful for...
kind of  a Counting of the Blessings... 

Im grateful I live simply, regardless of the stem or flow of money, life doesnt get too complicated and for that Im very thankful...
Im extremely grateful I have a beautiful, healthy family of good people learning to be better good people as they grow.
Ive just checked, and Im grateful I can spell grateful, because I did wonder if it was in fact greatful... but no, as you were... it is grateful (anal? who me?? :-)

I have a generous, loving man in my life, who puts up with alot, he truly is a blessing and I love him dearly.

My garden has saved my sanity, filled my hands, my heart and my cupboards, and it came to me very easily...
Life goes on, sleepily for the most part, but without complications 

And although I had my reservations, I do love my cats... some more than others, I never was a *cat person*
but my Persian Princess and The Rogue are my best fur-blessings!

And for now, thats me. 
Can you believe it is nearly February?
Mr EB mentioned that it was now only 11 months until Christmas... which made me cringe.
Im sure he was just trying to help me organize myself :-)
I wonder, will it work?

Love and Blessings from my Heart to Yours

EButterfly
XXXXXX

PS some information on Companion Planting, also fantastic people for seeds - LINK! LINK! LINK! - Awesome NZ SEEDS - BUY ONLINE OR ON TRADEME/SELLA