Yes we were shaken and stirred

Well it has been a while since I put anything on my blog. Pathetic I know. 10 days ago we were shaken by a 7.1 earthquake that has demolished our town.
We spent days after clearing out the liquifaction muck, getting people out of houses, getting water to people. We got water and power on at about 4pm that evening. Our local people have done an amazing job. After that we were priviledged to have my brother-in-law, his wife and their teeny tiny baby stay with us due to concern about the continuous aftershocks and the effect it was having on their house. Unfortuneately for use they have gone back home. But that is also good as there house is ok to live in. We loved having them here.

The boys are now back at school and that is a relief for all, as it means there is some normalacy again. My parents-in-law house has not fared well. They are still without sewage and have a port-a-loo in their street for all to use. They do have power - they got that on Saturday - they got water late in the week. But with each aftershock more cracks appear.

I think there are enough images world wide for all to see the destruction. But here are some of the back yard of my parents in law.

But in the midst of it all was the perfect sign of spring, the most amazing bunch or beautiful daffodils.

It seems very strange to be going back to normal knowing that so many people will not be near normal for 12-18 months.

No photos

Oh my goodness. for the last three weeks I have been so busy that I have just been keeping my photos on my camera and keep meaning to get around to blogging them all. Well finally went to download them all and the memory card is corrupt and I have lost the photos.
So you will have to imagine photos of the boys at QE11 swimming, the boys with the all-blacks at a special kids training day here, and us all at the All Blacks game here in CHCH.
Boo hoo.

My Orange Peel

Every year I wait for the NZ Orange season. They are amazing, delicious, sharp and tangy. I never buy imported ones. I have made peel a couple of times using a recipe from my sister Ruth. It has often been a bit sticky and need to be stored in the freezer. This year I put a bit more sugar in and have incredible results.

As you eat oranges save the peel (I think I had about 10 oranges) remove all pith and then thinly slice. Into a pot put the peel and enough water to cover. Use equal quantities of sugar to water. Heat on low temp until sugar all dissolved. Then bring to the simmer and simmer for 15 minutes, stir occaisionally. Turn it off and leave in the pot. Next day bring to simmer for 15 mins, turn it off and leave it in the pot. Next day the same, stiring occaisionally. Next day the same but stir frequently and when the sugar starts to cristalise (Sp?) keep stiring. Once looking like being set tip it onto baking paper on the bench. As it cools start separating the strands by banging it with a wooden spoon. You end up with beautiful transuculent peel and sugar that tastes amazing. Store in a jar. It will not be soft or soggy.

The Army Party

Eli wanted his party at the airforce museum. It was great. They learnt to salute, march, do PT, jump out of planes etc. Fantastic boys stuff. The person leading the party was not amused when the boys kept talking of the "army party" they were having. She kept having to say AIRFORCE!!!

He Turns Five

Yes Eli is now five. Pictures of the very cool bike that Gran and Pop gave him and the birthday cake that we made.

The school holidays

As usual the boys get up to interesting things. This school holidays it was all about pirates. They spent $2 and for that they got a gun, an eye patch and a pirate earring. Eli then discovered a wet suit in the cupboard and kept insisting that we go swimming in the sea. He gave great demo's of how he would dive into the water

My Quilting Day

Two weekends ago when Aaron was in the USA I got a chance to go on a course with two amazing ladies from Australia.

Rosalie Quinlan from Melly and Me fame and also her own designs.www.rosaliequinlandesigns.typepad.com and another lady that she works with heaps - Leanne.

These ladies are amazing. I had the most amazing day. Learnt lots, how to needleturn applique,how to balance a quilt that you are designing. Anyway it was thrilling. I will have pictures of my projects on here in the future.

But until then here are a couple

of pictures of their stuff.

Eli's school visit

Well Eli has been going to Kaiapoi North for school visits. But he will not wear his normal clothes and has to wear his uniform. Here is Mr independant - I had to deal with something for Jakob and Eli took his lunchbox off me and said"you go and deal with Jakob, I will go to my class". Off he went. When the bell went I got back to the classroom and there he was, on the mat ready to go.

Recession Busters - The big revamp

ell this month we all started with an object from home to redo or from an opshop.

Kylie had a duvet from Save Mart that she turned into a cover for her enormous floor cushions. Very canny it was too as she left the bottom with the domes to take it off and on the cushion for washing and just cut it down the other three sides. She was the first to finish - but yet again my camera went --------- and the finished article shot was corrupted. I think the card is corrupt at that point as it has happened before at the same number of photos.

Paula bought a gorgeous blind from the "free shop" took all the stitching out, washed it and turned it into a gorgeous floor cushion cover with lovely backing. As not having sewn for many many years it was great to see the finished article at the end of the night.

Steff started with a bit of left over curtain material from her bedroom and commenced her first ever Roman Blind - not something that you can finish in a night (unless you are some kind of wonder woman!!!)

Penny started with shirt/dress that she loved. Got rid of the shirt style bottom and made is straight. Made a cummerbund belt out of a different colour for the waist (looked almost japanese like) and was still doing bits as we left. So no finished photos.

I started with a table cloth I got for $3 at the local opshop and turned it into an apron in a style that I had seen last Xmas at a shop in Thames. the pocket had to be sewn on at home the next day - just pined in these photos.

I have missed one person's efforts altogether but she was knitting. We were all impressed and I will keep you in suspense until we get to see the finished article and try it ourselves.

 

recession busters - the slippers

Well a month later the slippers were either a hit or a flop. Well not literally. We all loved the slippers. Now there are small kids ones being made, ones for aunties, neices, sons, the list goes on............. Some of us are knitters and some are not but we all had a go.

Next up - watch this space for a gorgeous head warmer for girls, not quite a hat  - this was started being knitted by Kylie's mum when we were sewing this week and I am waiting with baited breath for the pattern.

the boys going to bed

I was in the middle of watching a programme on TV the other night so told the boys to get into bed and they could read a book until I came to tuck them in.

I went looking for Jakob and he was not in bed. About to get angry at him I went in to see Eli and look what I found. Now how can you get upset with that?