On the needles at the moment

Yes, I have started yet another project. I love knitting but the boys don't wear home knitted things now that there is merino available. Aaron had too many jerseys and I don't need any more. But I had over 1kg of my mother's home spun wool and it is light and lovely. I ransacked the local library for more Biden knitting books and find a very funky pattern.

So on my needles are two stands of wool at the same time imported on 8mm chunky needles. A textured shrug. An really enjoying sitting in front of the fire knitting in the evenings.

From Farmers Market to my plate

We went to the Riccarton House Market on Saturday morning after doing a lovely walk or run or scooter or skateboard (depending on who in our family you are!) around Hagley Park.

Oh the amazing new juice we found. Organic apple and lime made locally. 1 litre for the price of a cup of coffee. Heaven.

From these gorgeous ingredients we made dinner fit for those who are into food miles and organics and mid winter vitamin C shots. Bake Potatoes in a super hot oven until crispy outside and soft in the middle then add your toppings as you desire. Hugh "fearlessly eats it all" eat your heart out!!

This Is my favourite possie

Full of the most hideous cold I have had in a long time. Had to take days of work. Sofa bed, feather quilt, friendly dog, coffee and fire.
Wow could not have done this week without the fire or coffee! Both make me feel better!

Thankful for an abundance of lemons

At our new house we have two citrus. One had only just been identified as a Kaffir lime, taller than me, when the first frost -6 deg C hit it and it has just kept dying ever since. But the other - the lemon tree - is doing stunningly well and we have masses of fruit that make you feel healthier just looking at them.
Well I have needed that health. I have been struck by a gale force cold. It came on fast and it hit hard. I should be under the bulldozer by now. I even had to have some days off work.

Divinely restorative Lemon ginger hot drink.
Three of those lemons, a thumb of chopped fresh ginger and some honey from the hives of our friends. Added four cups of water and muddled it all with a wooden spoon. Oh the heavenly aroma (if I could smell!!), but boy I can taste. The pungent heat of the ginger cuts through my cold and I sit in front of the fire (Yes finally permitted) and sip this restorative drink.

 I link to these places

Mad Hair Day - "I never want to be a girl"

For Mad Hair Day at School the boys wanted hair colour and lots of tufts all over. Jakob got 11 tuft but Eli screamed the whole time. "It hurts", "I can't move my face with all the bands pulling tight" etc etc..... 

They decided that being a girl was  horrific and went to school asking all their friends how do they manage to put their hair up every day. It was a whole new outlook for them.

The day was organised by a few girls in Eli's class. Having gone through some pretty horrific experiences in our Christchurch earthquakes, the Nepalese earthquake being 8.something just resonated with everyone. We understand. The girls wanted to do something so the principal approved a mad hair day with gold coin going to Nepal. Well done to a bunch of 9 year old girls and yet again proving why we chose to put our boys into the school. 

Whipping up some Merino Kids trousers

My brother in law and all the family came over on Saturday. After a bit of discussion about how difficult it was to find trousers that fit wee Alex, I decided to jump on the sewing machine.

Only 15 minutes later he had a new pair of Merino trousers. Get an adults jersey - this was a old fashioned cardigan. Cut the arms into leg patter shape at the top. Do not cut down any other seams and make sure the cut leaves enough leg that it becomes the hemmed bottom of the trousers.

Cut a waistband and sew it on with the appropriate length of elastic. Voila. A very happy three year old.
I link to these places

A couple of glimpses from Rarotonga

A very small glimpse of Rarotonga. Lots of beach dining, cocktails over looking the water and snorkelling. Did a lovely 4km walk up the beach at dusk to one of the best dining experiences we had. The Castaway at Wilsons Bar. Very unexpected to have such consistently good food from the tiny unassuming place.

Back Friday night and then on Saturday we went sledding in the snow!! What a temp shock 26 deg in the tropics to -2 deg in the snow.