Introducing

Lucy. Tri coloured Fox Terrier born 31 October 2008 and too cute for words!

Our Christmas Present

Happened today! We went and looked at a litter of Fox Terrier pups and picked one out for ourselves! I am so excited.

Tomorrow we are off shopping for a bed, toys and puppy biscuits and if all goes well we go straight through to Dommett, near Cheviot from Rangiora and bring her home with us tomorrow.

I will post a picture of her when we get her

Shortbread

Tasted some of this last week and it was yummy so asked for the recipe!

1/4 cup sugar
125 grams butter - softened
1 cup of flour
1/4 cup cornflour

Cream butter and sugar.
Add the sifted combined flours a bit at a time.
Roll and shape or cut
Bake in a slow oven 125c to 135c for about 40 minutes

Christmas 2008

The tree is up and the Xmas cards are in the mail! Just can't believe how organised I am this year, especially getting my cards posted.
This year I decided to keep my cards simple and used the Cuttlebug.

With this card I used the dots embossing folder and rolled it to about 2/3rds of the way down. The tress were die cut and then embossed.
I love the simple elegance of this card! It is white on white. I used the Xmas tree embossing folder but I only embossed half of the tree enabling me to use the ribbon to embellish and the greeting.

It is really amazing the things you can do with the Cuttlebug and I am so pleased that I bought it last year!

A Pumpkin Bag is revealed

When Kirsten, my niece, asked if I would make her a pumpkin bag I have to admit I was scratching my head as to what on earth she was talking about! Several searches on the internet and I still didn't have a clue. Fortunately, Kirsten managed to get hold of a pattern and sent it via email. Trouble is it still didn't sense as I had no idea what it was meant to look like. Fortunately, her partners mother had come across one in an op shop so she was able to photograph it for me! Aha, now it all makes sense.

Voila, here is the pumpkin bag that I have made for her. She is going to use it as her son's nappy change bag (or something like that)! It was very easy to make and I enjoyed making something so useful as I haven't done any sewing for a long, long time.


It really is quite roomy inside. The white patches are velcro so the sides aren't so open

Toothache

I have been pondering today and I think I have come up with a subject that EVERYONE in the world would be in agreement with - TOOTHACHE - the most awful pain you ever had in your life! I haven't come across anybody that doesn't agree with me!

Well, I had toothache x 3 over recent times and finally managed to wheedle myself an appointment at the dentist last Wednesday. 2 x-rays later I was confronted with the fact that I had 3 infected teeth - eek! Nothing for it but to have them out! Now I am 3 teeth less in my mouth - won't be many left at this stage!

SENZ

Well, by rights I should have been getting myself sorted to fly up to Wellington on Tuesday for the SENZ expo on the 10/11/12 Oct at Trentham.

So, what happened? Sadly a deceased dog leaving a legacy of a large vet bill which needs priority to be paid. Next a new pair of glasses were badly needed. Ok, so finances were looking pretty grim but add to that the non communication from an outlet I was supposed to be helping for the weekend. Nothing whatsoever since the message saying they would love me to help - now I find that really hard to deal with. It is dam well rude! It doesn't take 2 minutes to send a reply to me!

So, here I am $122 poorer because I had to cancel my flights that were non transferable and non refundable

Needless to say I won't be volunteering my time again, especially for that outlet

I can't believe it....

It is raining again. In fact it has been raining all day! I am so, so sick of the rain. Please turn off the tap...............

The tap has been turned off - for now anyway

Meaning, it has finally stopped raining! From Sunday evening to 12.15p.m. Tuesday 26/8 we had 165ml of rain and then another 10ml on top of that. There are slips everywhere on the road out to the main highway and yesterday we were isolated completely. All clear to get through now though, thank goodness. I have never seen rain like it before.

This latest rainfall also flooded the Motunau River for the second time.

The first deluge of rain fell at the end of July and we thought that was pretty huge at 110ml. This gave a much needed flood to the River as prior to that you couldn't launch a boat at the boat ramp but had to have a tractor or 4 wheel drive to launch near the river mouth.

Before these rainfalls you at least knew the river layout but now it is an unknown factor until everything settles down.

It seems that North Canterbury has been badly hit both times, causing road closures north of here with huge slips on the main highway, no trains running because of slips. This must affect people of all walks of life.

A Sad Day

Last night my little 15 yr old foxy, Peggy passed away at the vets. She had been suffering for a week with an immune system crash. Nobody knows why this happens. The red blood cells are attacked as they enter the blood stream.

She was put onto steroids and initially she seemed to respond and become alert at what was happening around her. However, the following day she just vomited and vomited. I took her back to the vet on Thursday who told me that she was reaching near the end of her life span and I had 2 options - to say goodbye to her there and then or see if she responded to the steroids and other meds via an IV drip, which meant leaving her with vet. After consultation by phone with my husband, Jock, we made the joint decision to give her a go.

Sadly, this was not to be and she has now gone to doggy heaven where she will feel no more pain.

Peggy, we will never forget you. You have shown us love and affection, given me kisses, made me laugh, made me cry, made us go for exercise every day. You had such funny traits and today, the first day without you I miss your little bell rattling as you shake your head, your little yelps as you dream, you weren't there waiting for a biscuit as I made my cup of coffee and these are just the start of my missing you. Lady wonders where you are, she has lost her canine friend as well

Little girl, look out for me so that we can cross The Rainbow Bridge together........

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again. just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Her bright eys are intent; her eager body quivers. Suddenly she begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you are your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross The Rainbow Bridge, together..............
(autor unknown)

Self sufficiency - My Way

A few weeks ago I went on a self sufficiency bender! I was sick of paying such high prices for vegetables. We had this lovely mint patch that had been overtaken by a horrific weed so I got some carpet from the recycling centre (which was the perfect size) and placed it over these ugly weeds, bought some pea straw and loaded that on top and put in some silverbeet and brocolli. These has started to do well. I actually planted these before the cold weather spell so were lucky to survive.

At the same time I bought some seed potatoes (Jersey Benne) and have left to sprout until now. I have been saving all the newspapers to turn another patch of ugly weeds into productive growth and today placed all the papers on top of the weeds, really thick, put out some pea straw and planted my spuds.

I feel that between $4 and $5 is far too much to pay for a cauliflower or a cabbage. Dh reckons you can't grow cabbage here because of the white butterfly - watch this space in time for next winter!!!!

Is life really so boring?

I just don't seem to have anything to report for the past month. It has been a case of tighten the belt, think 3 times before taking the car out and when I do go out, cram as much as I can into the outing - quite stressful really, but hey, that's life!

I have been doing a wee bit of scrapping and putting together a couple of baby photo albums to send out to the mothers of the babies. That reminds me, I must take photos so that I can refer to them if I do another one.

Well that's it from me on this wet and dismal Saturday

Cupcakes

Did you know that they are the latest craze? Well they are! I had noticed them popping up everywhere and a friend assured me that indeed they were very fashionable.

So, in the true spirit of entering this world of fashionable cupcakes I have crocheted a couple of Cupcake Drawstring Bags and listed them for sale at www.felt.co.nz which is a New Zealand site for handcrafted goods.

If you know anybody that would be interested in purchasing these would you direct them to my site please? This is called a 'Get me to SENZ' fundraiser.

Ta very much. Ok without more ado here they are

HUGE Catch up !!!

I can't believe it is so long since I blogged but part of the delay has been the fact that I haven't been able to sign in and access for a new post.

The highlight of April was attending ScrapCamp in Otaki, Wellingon for 3 nights this year and not the usual 2. The weekend away fell over what is referred to as ANZAC weekend because the 25th fell on a Friday it gave everyone a long weekend. Once again it was a fabulous weekend and thanks Jenny for all the organisation and yummy meals. Jenny said it was the last one she was going to organise but we will wait and see!

Here is a birthday book that I made at a class taken by Jo B.


Crafts
I have been doing some new crafts lately. One that I enjoyed was 3D'ing a serviette onto a canvas. The 3D was made by using the same kind of plaster when you break a bone. Here are a couple of Paua serviett/canvas


In May I went to a 2 day workshop on Harakeke (flax weaving). Flax is one of NZ's native plants and traditionally it is woven by Maori. It has always fascinated me which is why I registered. I learned a lot about the plant itself and how and when to harvest it for weaving.

Here is what I made over the weekend.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning how to do this.

Family
My eldest niece gave birth in April to my new great niece Matilda Louise to be known as Tilly. She looks cute as a button from the photos that I have seen.

Yet another month gone - long post

I can't believe that it is the end of March already!

Easter Break
We spent Easter with our friends in Little River, Banks Peninsula. I can't remember ever having such lovely weather as we did this Easter, it was fantastic except for Saturday when it rained.

On Easter Sunday they had family come out for a barbecue and this time we had a new generation join us, their great great granddaughter just 3 weeks old. I always like to catch up with their family, having known them all for what seems like years now.

Grandad was out fossicking down the bottom of his section and he came back with a birds nest that had fallen out of a tree. We think it was that of a Wood Pigeon as they love the area. If it was that of a Wood Pigeon I am amazed at the size of it. It is amazing how birds make their nests and what they find to us


Grandad loves to grow Sunflowers and on this one he has made a face

On Easter Saturday it was my birthday and a friend sent me this information which I thought was really very interesting and worth recording:

Do you realize how early Easter is this year? As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 24). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar. Found out a couple of things you might be interested in! Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare. Here's the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!).And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier ! Here's the facts: 1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!). 2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

So there we are!

On Easter Monday we all went for a day trip over to Akaroa. The weather was just stunning and breathtaking. It is years since we have been over to Akaroa and I was blown away at the many changes that have taken place and the number of new properties that have been built. My, it was busy and parking was at a premium. There are so many eateries and bars there but we chose to have the good old fresh fish and chips and we weren't disappointed either. On the way home we stopped off at the Hilltop where I was able to take a photo of Banks Peninsula.

If you don't have a panoramic lens this is a good way to take a panoramic photo that my brother showed me. You focus on the same place on the horizon and at the start of your scenery, take your photo. Keeping your camera focused on the same line, slowly move your arms to take the next station and so on until you have completed.

To get the photo joined up there is a program called Photo Stitch. Mine came with my Canon software and it stitches all the sections together for you lining up automatically.

That is how I took this photo and the one on my header


Signs of Autumn


Playing around with aperture setting on my camera


Last, but not least, a photo of ME with my two dogs Peggy and Lady!

Another month gone

Yep here we are on the 2nd day of March already. Dare I say it but where have the last two months gone?

I have finally settled down to make some cards but as yet no scrapbooking. So, dear brother if you are reading this, have you remembered you were going to send me some photographs of a certain little girl?

Around here on the beach, we get stones, little rocks that have holes right through them. Over the Christmas period I started to collect some of them and threaded them onto fishing line to form a hanging sculpture. Can't say that the idea was mine as they are everywhere but it was good fun putting them all together. Now waiting to see how high winds will affect it as I don't want holes in the exterior walls of the house!


Weather has still been humid (for here) and warm but yesterday we had rain all day and just had a shower today. The other week we had 100mls rain in one day and that certainly helped everything to grow rapidly, including the weeds! Can't belive how green everywhere is looking now.

I have been very quiet

Because it has either been too hot to sit at the computer or I have been busy sorting through family history documentation.

I started looking into the family history about 10 years agao and then I got very sick and was unable to drive to Christchurch to visit the Family History Centre. 10 years ago there wasn't much information freely available over the internet. Just recently my brother in Australia has started to get involved. He had the opportunity to visit London prior to going on a photography tour and was able to do some research there. He uncovered some very useful information which got me going again. He ordered birth, marriage and death certificates for certain members of family and these would ascertain whether or not we were on the right track.

The certificates were posted to me and were fascinating to study when they arrived. How could somebody who once listed his occupation as Gentleman ended up dying in the Workhouse? Then you start investigating conditions in the Workhouses and boy, it soon makes you realise just how lucky we are.

I had to scan all the certificates and send copies over to my brother via email - a very slow and laborious task when you are on dial up!

So, there in a nutshell is why I have been very quiet and as the weather has turned cold and wet I will probably be doing more research

Today

Today is our 16th wedding anniversary. Can't believe it was 16 years ago and what we have achieved in that time. Most of all we are true friends as well as husband and wife

Yesterday

Yesterday (25th) was the anniversary of my arrival into New Zealand. I arrived on 25 Jan 1974 which happened to be the day after the opening of the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch. This means I have been here 34 years and very much a true Kiwi !!

New Zealand mourns Sir Ed 1919-2008

Yesterday at 9a.m on 11 January 2008 Sir Edmund Hillary passed away. The man who put New Zealand on the map by being the first person to reach the top of Mt Everest in 1953. An editorial in The Christchurch Weekend Press states that
- in 1956 he went to Antarctica to establish Scott Base as leader of the New Zealand section of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition
- 1957 Scott Base officially opened on jannuary 22. Hillary winters over with 22 others.
- 1958 Hillary and four others arrive at the American base at the South Pole on January 4, becoming the first to reach it overland since Robert Falcon Scott. Hillary returns to Scott Base by plane, returning to meet Vivian Fuchs when he reachess the pole from the Weddell Sea on January 18, then guides the group back to Scott Base.

A quote on the front page of the Press prints a quote made by Sir Ed which is very poignant
'It is not the mountains that we conquer but ourselves'

A state funeral will be held for Sir Edmund Hillary, Tuesday22 January 2008. Sir Ed will lie in State until his funeral

Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this sad time in their lives.