Happy New Year... 1 month down

Black Cherry Tomatoes

Happy New year.
We are already a month through - where did that go?
Wow, it seems like an age since I last blogged. Life has been busy, and Im enjoying the change in pace.
Have finally got the little people sorted into some kind of order, and now its my turn.
We had a full-on holidays, and it has been hard to settle into that back-to-school routine again!
I spent the day in the garden yesterday, amazed at how much it has changed.

Broccoli - Waltham

I have the garden in several stages at the moment.

Russian Giant - up to 12 ft

Lots of seeds still coming on.
Lesson learned - its messy when theres carrot seed, kale seed, mizuna and fennel etc all doing their thing. Each week Im turning out seeds to winnow and then package. It isnt pretty, but it has been productive. I have had more interest this year in seeds so far, than ever before. Long may it last. At present Im planning where to take this. I have started looking at packaging options.

Ive changed my focus, alongside the regular vegetables we eat now, I have started a juicing garden. Spinach, Kale, carrots, cucumbers, celery, silver beet and chard - all things I grow in my own garden! I  also have three or four lemon trees, and mandarins, and apples... for the fruit side of things

Im sure youve heard of Joe Cross? - Fat, Sick and nearly Dead -  he stars in an inspirational movie about how he lost weight and ended up healthier and able to come off his prescription medication for urticaria - and he started by juicing vegetables and fruit...
What better way to reduce the fats and sugars and reboot your health with a quick nutritious hit of vitamins and minerals!?

Joes favourite Juice recipe goes something like this

6 Kale leaves
4 Sticks of Celery
2 Green Apples
1.2 lemon (peeled)
1 thumb sized piece of ginger

Blitzed in the juicer, and drunk over ice.

And as I sit here, mine doesn't taste too bad...
Im not sure Im in for the entire sixty day challenge that Joe did... not yet.

Happy Gardening!

EB

After our fantastic Electrical storm and the thunder and lightening displays over the city the other night, yesterday was another good day, the weather was perfect for gardening. Between the enthusiasm of the little people and the planning we had done earlier, our garden turned into something pretty fantastic in just an exuberant hour.

Drunken Women Lettuce

7 or 8 helpers have planted Sage, Rosemary (upright) and Thyme, Chives, 2 Lavenders (grosso) and 5 strawberries (chandler) and about 40 lettuces! (Buttercrunch, Drunken Woman and Austrian Greenleaf frilled) The children really enjoy helping, but as one pointed out, Weeding is Boring, so the planting is the best thing.
A liberal composting ( horse poo), a sprinkle of blood and bone, a check of the bokashi units, and a flick over with the hose, and they look like theyre at home!

Today is a bit greyer, but the atmosphere is warm, a light breeze. I heard this morning they expect the wind to be a problem later but for now, its really pleasant, and very nice to have all the windows open, and the doors secure so the house airs out. Its SPRING! Definitely has that feeling about it. Time to throw things out, dust things off, and plant like crazy!?

Weve been making soup today - using up all the ends of the vegetables in the freezer, including the last of our tomatoes from last season. Apparently it tastes great... I asked the peeler of the carrots, and she reckons its good...
On to using up the lemons and oranges. We have sewing group tomorrow, so we are going to take some soup and lemon cupcakes IF WE GET THEM MADE in time... Theres a little procrastination going on, I think Miss would rather go for a walk to feed the ducks :)
Who can blame her, the River walk is always interesting, and we are looking at the moment to see if the ducks have ducklings... Its the cute factor.

Have just looked in on the citrus (we now have 9 trees) and Im really pleased to say, they all survived the Winter ( is it over yet?). I thought I had a problem, but the one that had dropped all its leaves has started with new growth everywhere, after my fussing over it. Its great news, as it was our favourite, The Clementine mandarins, which are easy-peel and taste fantastic.

The *Mother* Garden is full and looking promising. It is the shaded garden where my comfrey grows in abundance. I have built up the soil, and mulch with my grass clippings in there. Then I pick bits and pieces off  where I can, and place them into the soil to let them root ( no rooting hormone, just fingers crossed!) It works, and Im pleased to say, this year I will have a few extra currants - unknown as to what colour at this stage, but theyre all welcome. I also noticed the cuttings from the hydrangeas are taking too. Again, not sure on what colour, but theyre going back into my own area, or over in the school maybe, so it doesnt matter about colour at this stage.



SEWING GROUP

Tomorrow Im meeting with a few other community Mums to do some sewing, knitting (or other crafts) and have morning tea together. Im really looking forward to it - its a morning that Im putting aside just so I can get some knitting or sewing done, it never seems that I get enough achieved when I try to do so here at home...And it gives me a heads up on getting some christmas presents made or started, so I can have them done well before December. Ahh to be organized!
Anyone local want to come, youre most welcome...drop me a note below for details!

Well that is what we are up to, it looks like we are going for that walk, Miss has got herself organized.
So, no cupcakes just now. Maybe later :)

Love to You and Yours,
E BUTTERFLY
XXXXXXXX

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

All Day Rain... Working Indoors

Rose Front Lawn. Not its name, its location ;-)

A brilliant wet Wednesday.
The Chance of All Day Rain is what Miss 5 told me she had heard on the news. Funnily enough, she was still snoozing when the weather forecast was on, but she is right so far... All Day Rain.
Which is a good thing, and a bad thing. The good thing is the garden gets a decent wash of rain. The bad of course, is that Im stuck inside having to attend to Housework and Other Inside Work.

Doesnt matter that Im procrastinating. This is the second coffee, Ive sat here and dawdled through the listings of plants & pots on Trademe. Ive checked in to Ooooby to see whose around. Ive read about when & how to harvest Garlic. Sigh. The dishes are half done.

Garlic On the Rise

Ive fed the cats, and the worms...

Odd isnt it, the cats do bugger all, nothing... and get fed twice a day and they whine about their food quality, quantity... the wind chill factor, anything at all.

The Worms... are far and away more productive, dont ask for a thing, and eat anything theyre given... and never say Boo... Which do I prefer? :-)
This is what I laid my eyes on first thing this morning. Im captivated.
Thank Nature! A truly beautiful thing!


Now to see if I can get a poppy head with viable seeds... I hope so. Theyre gorgeous :)

I snuck down this morning to check out the pumpkins.

Murphys Law, and I find myself putting compost around the base of the pumpkins, chocka block full of wormies. Nek minnit... Next minute, I see a big fat Lady Thrush pecking out the worms... Epic FAIL on the composting...

And WHERE on Gods Green Earth are my Furry Purries? Not doing their job, saving my worms from birds... Theyre all blobbing around the Catmint or lazing under my window  waiting for it to open so they can be fed... Theyre being fed too well!
Well enough of my chatter.

Today is the middle of the last week of school for my Mister 11 and Im so looking forward to having them all home... and picking our own tomatoes to eat, lettuce, onions, and all the rest...

Love,

E BUTTERFLY



Busy Times... Holidays & Garden Plots

Between the Christmas Shopping and the Weeding, its been a busy month already.
Have just put in another little bed which Ive planted in carrots, two sorts, Nutri Red and Paris Ball, Some celery, and some Leeks.

The Back Run - Bath, Corn Bed and Pumpkins (Winter Deluxe Pie)

Zucchini & Stevia, Small Basil plants

Bath 2 - Eggplant & Stevia, Chicory and Basil

Corn Bed 2

New Gardens - Raspberry & Tansy in Front, Carrot, Leek & Celery behind

Higgledy Piggledy Garden Stuff
Tomatoes Red Russian

Basil in Front, Big Boy Tomato in behind, then Red Russians & Missouri Love Apple...
A Work In Progress

All sorts, still sorting out this corner. Mizuna & Lettuce, Basil, Poppies & Tomatoes

I dont know, I dont plan like I should, so Im going with the Flow. It felt right, and lets face it, Miss 5 ate her way through the last bed of Nutri Red carrots pretty quick, so Im going to make sure there are plenty. Its awesome to know she loves fresh veggies!

My echinacea looks gorgeous - second year, and a new position in the garden, and it has five flower heads promising to colour up. I had no success with raising seed from last years, so maybe this year I will do root division and have better success!!

Sunflowers, Companion to Corn



Self-sown Scarlet Runner Beans
Happy to see them, love those flowers!!



Chamomile - love that daisy head!



Calendula



Boysenberry!

The calendula have taken off, I love their golden faces poking up everywhere, they really are like Garden Sunshine! Im collecting seed, and have dried some heads to make Calendula Balm in the Winter.

The Grosso Lavender has been cut and dried this week. The plants have been much more successful this year, I think getting rid of all the clutter around them and improving the soil quality has helped. I love the scent of lavender, and it was nice to have the house lavender-scented whilst it dried.



Echinacea - My Favourite!


The dehydrator has had good use this week - We also dried some catnip. Im thinking of some little felt mice to amuse the cats... Another good Winter project with our newly dried catnip.

Hmm,  What else? ...I have companion planted the Raspberry canes with Tansy.

We are watching out for the large poppies to colour up - they all have buds that are emerging slowly!

Have put a light dose of Epsom Salts in with my citrus. I noted today too that the wind has relieved our Akane apple of most of its blossoms, so I guess that will mean no fruit. How sad, but until I get it settled into a grow bag, it wont really matter.

Have dug out a very misshapen deformed Missouri Love Apple (tomato). Still have three of these beauties, love the name! ... They are better shaped and will hopefully grow strong and healthy from here on in!
One purple calabash plant, a very tiny one. I hope it will grow up big too, I so cant wait to see its fruit...

The others all seem to be going well. The Albenga Oxhearts and the Red Russians are my main tomato crops this year. Im really loving seeing fruit setting on my Bloody Butchers too!

Our Red onions from last season were yummy! I dug them, set them out to dry, and really couldnt resist. They were so sweet... I think I have four out of two dozen left. Next time I will be planting more... Its amazing how you notice how many you use when you plant and grow them yourself!

Hollyhock

Have planted a bed of lavender, all Grosso, so hopefully they will take and be my welcome patch for the bees in the coming years!

And now, some photos! :)

Love,

E BUTTERFLY

XXXXXXXXX

Whats New Pussycat? -- Sunday Snow...

Whats New Pussycat?

What's new pussycat? Woah, Woah
What's new pussycat? Woah, Woah


Pussycat, Pussycat
I've got flowers
And lots of hours
To spend with you.
So go and powder your cute little pussycat nose!


Pussycat, Pussycat
I love you
Yes, I do!

You and your pussycat nose!

What's new pussycat? Woah, Woah

What's new pussycat? Woah, Woah

Pussycat, Pussycat
You're so thrilling
And I'm so willing
To care for you.
So go and make up your cute little pussycat face!


Pussycat, Pussycat
I love you
Yes, I do!
You and your pussycat face!

What's new pussycat?
Woah, Woah
What's new pussycat?
Woah, Woah


Pussycat, Pussycat
You're delicious
And if my wishes
Can all come true
I'll soon be kissing your
sweet little pussycat lips!

Pussycat, Pussycat
I love you
Yes, I do!
You and your pussycat lips!

You and your pussycat eyes!

You and your pussycat nose!

(Tom Jones)

 

Snow!

Slush! Slippy slidey sidewalk...

Our Street!

The new Garden, complete with White Stuff!

It is snowing ~
Oh Yes it Is! Its as cold as a frogs foot, and as wet as the pond the frog lives in.
I like thick chunky snow. The kind that comes along quietly, sits on the ground and banks nicely, then goes away. Not this namby pamby cant-decide kind of snow that is weasely wet and thin on the ground... I shouldnt complain...
There seems to be snow all over the South as I look online at the weather report. Motueka to the North, Dunedin to the South, and all over Christchurch... Even Mr EB in Oxford has it apparently...The ski fields will love it :-)

Of course for the second week of the School Hols, it makes us inside like a bunch of sardines, but that is ok.

We had a great first week. Maybe the snow will decide to move on out after a couple of days...

Then we can get back to the Real Stuff... Outside.

Ive joined a Seed Swap. Im really pleased, Im learning a lot, and I have really found something I enjoy. I spent the afternoon making tiny paper envelopes to put seeds in. Ive just found glue sticking my hoodie to my arm, how creative is that?!
 Also, on OOOOBY, I found other people I can chat with about my favourite subjects - seeds, veggies, gardens, sigh. Happiness is so easily found for some...

I am waiting very patiently for my parcel of seeds to arrive from Kings seeds this week. I have the seed raising mix all ready to go, and Im going to crow now about the success of my indoor capsicums... so just hide your eyes if youre over it :-)
I raised them from seed, first time ever. They went green, grew nicely on my windowsill in my bedroom ... and now have gone a shiny red. Thanks to moving them into the room with the new heatpump...Yay!
I will have to watch them, as Miss 4 LOVES eating capsicums, and they are well within her reach.

Got to love this weather, its time for soup.. veggie is nice, but I love PUMPKIN Soup... That is tomorrows job. It lasts us just a day or two, but its hearty and filling and it keeps us warm... Yum!

Well, not a lot to report just now,
Hanging in there til we see the sun...
Dreaming of Posties with fat Seed Parcels, including our Swapsies.

 

This weekends Movie... Quite fitting title :)



Love to All,

Especially those in The North.
Come Home Soon :-)

Take care,

E BUTTERFLYXXXXXXXXX



Long Days and Rainy Nights!!

Mermaid Princess on Dolphin :)

Pre-teen Posing

Mummy & Teen :) Rare Footage!

Mr 10 peeks in Army Truck

Its Sunday again, but not so you'd know.
It seems the weeks are going by very quickly here. I thought for most of today that it was Saturday!
We have been reorganizing things inside, cleaning the floors, the shelves, and dusting off grey silty dust off everything. The heavens opened and it has been raining on and off for the past two nights. The garden loves the rain and things have picked up and started growing again... no more drooping beetroot! We have little clumps of fresh basil growing, the new silverbeet is huge now, ready for picking again! I love it - fresh vege from our own little plot! ... Even some of the beans have produced seeds for next year. Thats exciting.

Candy Floss!

Mr Whippy Icecream!

...And the Clown had PINK HAIR Mummy!

Spent the day on Saturday (Yesterday) with the children and Mr EB trying to get around to do things. It seems to take so long at the moment to travel to places, negotiating roads and planning routes. We got there in the end, and found a Kids Day at the local park. The kids loved spending some outdoor time on the playground, the bouncy castle, eating free Mr Whippy Icecream, and generally being spoiled. Arlais couldnt believe her luck when she was given some Candy Floss (spun sugar) ... And the best thing... it was PINK!

We've moved The Lad into the side room. It was formerly the front porch, but after our aftershock last night of 4.9, the piles in the back bedroom are a bit soggy. Not liking the sound it makes when you walk into the room... It was a very good shake - lasted a while and gave us all a fright. It took a while for my hands to stop shaking and my heart to settle into rhythm again! Also seemed to come from a different direction, and was centred in Mt Pleasant Road, so not too far away...

Ive kept busy trying to organize the house, clean up etc.
Also, Ive tried my hand at stewing some fruit, seeing we were given lots of it, and it just doesnt keep long in the hot weather... Im so proud, see Mr EB told me I could do it!

I should listen to him, he knows Everything yanno! :-)  And its so yummy in the mornings on cereal with milk...!

Bless Good Friends who, after a hellish week supporting each other, make dinner for you and bring it over just as you are scouring cupboards wondering *What to Make* ... Thank You Nat!! It was so nice not to have to engage my very little brain power to make such important decisions :) And we loved the quiche!!

Heres hoping that with the end of the week and the refreshing rainfall, that the next week brings good things, changes, new beginnings... lots of positiveness for the people of Canterbury, the people of Christchurch, and the people throughout the World who are finding life a bit of a struggle just now...
I know its not just local, its global...

Love to you and yours,
EButterfly
xxxxxxxx

Spinner! Gord has last word :)