As the list of people lost to Tuesday's horrific earthquake in Christchurch grows, our hearts ache for the people who have lost loved ones, homes and livelihoods.
As the earthquake has scared the land and our hearts it has also scared our small country.
However, during our collective grief, I have never felt more proud to be a New Zealander and of our nation.
The selflessness, generosity and banding together of communities to help and support those who have been traumatised and displaced has brought tears to my eyes again and again.
Kia kaha Canterbury
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Mildly Outraged!
A trip to the supermarket on Saturday was yet another illustration of soaring food prices here.
$3.98 for a lettuce! In the middle of summer! Can you believe that? I told another shocked woman beside me "I'm not paying that for a lettuce!" (in my best indignant voice). Although reluctant, she did buy one of the golden lettuces, where as I opted for a menu change and went for a small head of broccoli.
My grand plans for successive lettuce sowings has been hampered by bad weather and laziness - if I'm honest.
So needless to say, I scurried home and sprinkled a whole tray with lettuce seeds, which in the current humidity have germinated in a day and a half!
How single income families manage to feed their children on modest food budgets without producing some of their own food, I'll never know.
Well I do know - nutrition suffers! When you can buy a bag of frozen chips for cheaper than the cost of a bag of dirt covered potatoes!
Anyhow, I need to go an rescue my tomato plants that were battered by the gale force winds we had over the weekend. They are laden with fruit, so I'm watching out for blight and other nasties.
Till next time x
$3.98 for a lettuce! In the middle of summer! Can you believe that? I told another shocked woman beside me "I'm not paying that for a lettuce!" (in my best indignant voice). Although reluctant, she did buy one of the golden lettuces, where as I opted for a menu change and went for a small head of broccoli.
My grand plans for successive lettuce sowings has been hampered by bad weather and laziness - if I'm honest.
So needless to say, I scurried home and sprinkled a whole tray with lettuce seeds, which in the current humidity have germinated in a day and a half!
How single income families manage to feed their children on modest food budgets without producing some of their own food, I'll never know.
Well I do know - nutrition suffers! When you can buy a bag of frozen chips for cheaper than the cost of a bag of dirt covered potatoes!
Anyhow, I need to go an rescue my tomato plants that were battered by the gale force winds we had over the weekend. They are laden with fruit, so I'm watching out for blight and other nasties.
Till next time x
Saturday, January 22, 2011
From the Kitchen
We've had a busy time trying to cope with the glut of vegetables from the garden, but have been enjoying the fruits of our labour!
We've made, marrow and banana jam, cucumber pickle (which is one of the most delicious pickles I've ever had - if I do say so myself!), home cured bacon, 3 flavours of sausage plus some pickled walnuts. Also our water kefir grains have been bubbling away nicely
The walnuts were a total experiment and since I've never had them before I've got nothing to compare them to, but they are very strong and salty and go well with cheese.
There are 2 very large walnut trees on the farm and they are groaning with walnuts, so it's nice to be able to put some of them to use.
Friday, December 31, 2010
12 Blankets for 12 Angels
To honor the passing of Malachi. I've decided to knit a blanket each month to donate to SANDS.
My thoughts and love are forever with his family x
My thoughts and love are forever with his family x
Monday, December 27, 2010
Elderflower Cordial
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Cello Obsession
For the last few months I have been learning the cello - far from a musical virtuoso, I am really enjoying it, but I'm slowly spiraling down into cello obsession - chewing through our bandwidth watching youtube videos, lottering on cello forums, searching for brand reviews... I could go on and on...
But I hear you ask, why is she not actually playing the cello? Well, I was hiring a rather frustrating instrument from the music school where I have been having lessons but had to return it over the holidays and to be quite frank, I may have ended up throwing it out a window or running over it in my car - the pegs kept slipping and I could never get it to stay in tune, the bridge was not sitting well - it had had a hard life!
I had a plan B to be able to continue playing over the break, but to cut a long story short - thanks to my generous husband and the amazing people at Virtuoso Strings I am getting a new, wonderfully set up, mellow toned student cello with a case, new bow and rosin - what more could I ask for! I'm totally blown away Elizabeths (from VS) generosity and flexibility. Now I must make my new instrument sing! I'll be sure to add some picture when it arrives.
But I hear you ask, why is she not actually playing the cello? Well, I was hiring a rather frustrating instrument from the music school where I have been having lessons but had to return it over the holidays and to be quite frank, I may have ended up throwing it out a window or running over it in my car - the pegs kept slipping and I could never get it to stay in tune, the bridge was not sitting well - it had had a hard life!
I had a plan B to be able to continue playing over the break, but to cut a long story short - thanks to my generous husband and the amazing people at Virtuoso Strings I am getting a new, wonderfully set up, mellow toned student cello with a case, new bow and rosin - what more could I ask for! I'm totally blown away Elizabeths (from VS) generosity and flexibility. Now I must make my new instrument sing! I'll be sure to add some picture when it arrives.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
What a busy weekend we've had!
DH was away at a men's retreat - luckily here in Cambridge we were spoilt for choice with activities.
Every November, Cambridge hosts an amazing Armistice commemoration weekend. 2 days of re-enactments. Military vehicles, aerial displays and fly-overs and all sorts of military paraphernalia for enthusiasts.
After living in Cambridge for the past 6 years this is the first time that we've actually been along. Although the kids were more pre-occupied with wanting to go on the bouncy castles, we still enjoyed all the displays and activities.
I must admit I was in 2 minds about the battle re-enactments.
Like most New Zealanders I have had various past and current family members serving in the NZ Army. I suppose, as an observer of those battle scenes you should see it for what it is - playing with toy guns (don't get me wrong, it was interesting to see period appropriate vehicles and guns etc) and perhaps the only authenticity should be the hardware. But I felt that calling it a re-enactment of the Vietnam war (for example) and the mock taking of lives, sometimes in an at flippant manner, dishonors the sacrifice of those men.
All in all we enjoyed the day, which has obviously had so much work put into it.
That evening Ally and I went on a date to see the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra preform music from Disney's 1940 Fantasia. It was Allys first time hearing a live Orchestra and shamefully, only my second!
They featured the most mind blowingly talented Fiona Pears as the soloist violinist. Preforming her own compositions - I did giggle, the way that she called them tunes - like this complex, artful arrangement was like some little ditty she had whipped up!
She was animated vibrant and a real joy to watch preform.
The Orchestra itself was fantastic. I had my eyes glued to the cellos - unbeknownst to me, my cello teacher was the principle cellist. Ally was also mesmerised by the violins.
A very late night out for my little lady, but a wonderful evening!
DH was away at a men's retreat - luckily here in Cambridge we were spoilt for choice with activities.
Every November, Cambridge hosts an amazing Armistice commemoration weekend. 2 days of re-enactments. Military vehicles, aerial displays and fly-overs and all sorts of military paraphernalia for enthusiasts.
After living in Cambridge for the past 6 years this is the first time that we've actually been along. Although the kids were more pre-occupied with wanting to go on the bouncy castles, we still enjoyed all the displays and activities.
I must admit I was in 2 minds about the battle re-enactments.
Like most New Zealanders I have had various past and current family members serving in the NZ Army. I suppose, as an observer of those battle scenes you should see it for what it is - playing with toy guns (don't get me wrong, it was interesting to see period appropriate vehicles and guns etc) and perhaps the only authenticity should be the hardware. But I felt that calling it a re-enactment of the Vietnam war (for example) and the mock taking of lives, sometimes in an at flippant manner, dishonors the sacrifice of those men.
All in all we enjoyed the day, which has obviously had so much work put into it.
That evening Ally and I went on a date to see the Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra preform music from Disney's 1940 Fantasia. It was Allys first time hearing a live Orchestra and shamefully, only my second!
They featured the most mind blowingly talented Fiona Pears as the soloist violinist. Preforming her own compositions - I did giggle, the way that she called them tunes - like this complex, artful arrangement was like some little ditty she had whipped up!
She was animated vibrant and a real joy to watch preform.
The Orchestra itself was fantastic. I had my eyes glued to the cellos - unbeknownst to me, my cello teacher was the principle cellist. Ally was also mesmerised by the violins.
A very late night out for my little lady, but a wonderful evening!
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