Announcing the arrival of our newest family member!

We are absolutely thrilled and ecstatic to announce to everyone the arrival of our newest family member.

Mum & bubs both doing really well, and Jakob and Eli couldn't be more pleased.

cousin Schulz, 1 month prem.
5lb 11ozs

Back to School

All is becoming normal from a routine point of view. Nothing will be normal for ages and every class has children who have not been able to come back as they are moved, or temporarily somewhere else. But our gang are back to school daily

Kids (and Dogs) get away with anything after an earthquake

The picture says it all.

How to ride a deer

I bet you have never ridden a deer. Well both Jakob and Eli rode Benny the Venny. Not that Eli had much success. As you can see from the photos Benny tried to run off with Eli on his back and Amanda only just caught him in time. Jakob had a little more success.

What to do when an Earthquake closes school

Go on holiday. The boys and I headed out to Amanda and Ewen's farm. What a stress buster that was. I had not realised that the kids were so shattered by it all. On Saturday night Eli went to bed of his own accord at 5pm - he was done in.

We fed lambs three times a day, calves twice a day, rode on the back of the truck feeding out. Rode on Benny the Venny (short for Venison). Tried to ride on Sammy (the steer) but he wasn't keen. Picked up deer buttons (the base of the antlers) and other general farmy things.

Finally Finished

I have finally completely finished the bag that I started at the quilting day I had with Rosealie Quinlan and Leanne in Chch. I am pretty pleased with it as there is a lot of handstitching. All the strips are hand quilted and the motif is all hand appliqued. Well done me.

Swimming lessons were fun

The boys have been doing swimming lessons at QE11 and have gotten on really well. At the end of each session they play in the pool for a bit. Unfortuneately the lessons are in hiatus as both this pool and our local pool are in structural doubt and may get pulled down.

Helping hands

This is Aaron and Jakob helping Stephen to clear his and the adjoining neighbours driveway of all the liquifaction gunge. It took them two days and what a job they did!! Jakob did an amazing job and just kept going like an ever ready battery.

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.