tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81238372428704324412024-02-07T16:16:27.224+13:00Live the Good {slow} LifeMindful musings on living a better life.
Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.comBlogger606125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-13356497199323036892018-10-14T13:26:00.000+13:002018-10-14T13:26:34.334+13:00Meditation for living a better life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTRuOkibNluLvtViDOdZS0IBhIJO5ktJ3xN6RYA9oABnmwtnpCgMbrlpzmrEchZwsLzLaW-ypnkTbu8byCRGSZxGr0OKHqnhVkJFnaFJIA7c6mgNPvT5i5pCHk6kYWp3f2hcrBUnSWKg/s1600/nature+in+sunlight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTRuOkibNluLvtViDOdZS0IBhIJO5ktJ3xN6RYA9oABnmwtnpCgMbrlpzmrEchZwsLzLaW-ypnkTbu8byCRGSZxGr0OKHqnhVkJFnaFJIA7c6mgNPvT5i5pCHk6kYWp3f2hcrBUnSWKg/s320/nature+in+sunlight.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have
written about mindful meditation before (and the associated benefits), but not
about the other forms of meditation that I also frequently do. There are so
many styles out there originating from different philosophies that there is no shortage
in finding a style that will suit you. Below are several types of meditation I
prefer for various reasons and which one I choose on a day depends on my mood, the amount of time or freedom from distraction I have, or whether I need to relax
and rebalance, or if I’m wanting to seek information or solve a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Mindfulness meditation</b> - can be used in daily life anywhere and anytime and creates calm and focus</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Guided meditation </b>- can be useful for full relaxation and creating peace within</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chakra meditation</b> - can be useful for clearing energy blockages and relaxation and healing</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Third eye meditation</b> - a deeper spiritual practice that connects to source energy beyond this physical world. Can be useful for seeking information or gaining insight. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Mindful
meditation</i> – in this form the aim is to bring my attention to focus on the Now without
being distracted and really is the centre of all meditation types. I often do
this in the form of awake awareness where I can do it as I go about my everyday
life…sitting on the train, while having a massage, sitting in a café, walking
in nature, doing household chores or just to take a mental pause from what I am
doing and detaching from any thinking. This
style is great to create space from thoughts and worries and to take a break
from ‘myself’ and my chattering mind, brings on relaxation, helps release tight
muscles, creates focus and grounds me (as in it brings me into the present) and
creates a state of calm. The idea is to tune in to the present moment, let go
of thoughts, stay aware, and allow yourself to observe and experience what’s going
on around you without reaction or judgement. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Guided
meditation</i> (which is also known as guided imagery or visualization) – in this
form a teacher or guide leads the meditation and allows you to focus on their
words and to be guided with the result being relaxation and healing (you can
either attend a class or find an online version). They will often start with
focused breathing, relaxing all muscles from your toes to your head, until your
body is in a relaxed rested state. Then, depending on the nature of the
meditation, the guide may then talk in positive phrases for you to focus on, or
they may assist you to visualize a pleasant scenario such as walking in a
meadow, or alongside a stream or into a safe sanctuary inside a cave where you
can associate this image with positive words and feelings and feel rested and
at peace when you are finished. I like to use this style of meditation if I’m
having trouble shutting down what else is going on around me – it assists with
the focusing and is really only used for relaxation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Chakra
meditation</i> – this style of meditation focuses on balancing and clearing the
seven energy centres within the body known as chakras. I usually find a guided
chakra meditation online which helps me move through each chakra for this type
of meditation. Chakra meditation can be great when things in life are feeling a
bit out of kilter and that they are not running as smoothly as they could be or
you are experiencing difficulties in certain areas (each chakra is associated
with different energy such as health, expressing yourself, giving or receiving
love, various health problems, creativity etc). As with the other styles of
meditation, this creates a sense of calm and relaxation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Third eye
meditation</i> – in this form, it is a spiritual meditation that is founded on
connecting to source energy and consciousness and is a way to gain perspective that is
beyond our ordinary senses. This style
of meditation creates a gateway into this inner world. I can often just be
sitting in a chair or lying down, close my eyes and allow my inner focus to relax
and drift to the third eye region inside my skull between my eyes and visualise
a circle of light or colour. I form a relaxed ‘lazy’ focus on this image and
slow my breathing. Depending on my level of relaxation when I begin, I can
connect very quickly within a minute or two by allowing myself to ‘go into’ or
become one with the light (which for me also shows up in my third eye
as many colours that swirl and blend and change as my emotions/energy changes) and this
is where I feel extremely relaxed and the sensation of my physical body
disappears and my mind and senses expand and merge into a sense of everything,
but nothing, all at the same time and time itself falls away and just becomes a
‘gap’ and brings a sensation of emptiness. This is where I know I have left my
physical world behind and I exist as the energy and am connected to all other
energy and consciousness in the fifth dimension. Once here I can either just
enjoy the space and energy I am experiencing and allow images or thoughts to
appear or I can then ask questions to seek new information or for insight to
come forward (which sometimes is instant and at other times it 'pops' into my awareness after the meditation is over). I find it impossible to do this type of meditation when I am
stressed or have busy thoughts so I may need to do sessions of mindfulness or a chakra clearing in the days before to get
myself prepared for this inner work. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bringing some mediation into your daily life can
be a very powerful and useful tool in your personal development and enhancing
your sense of wellbeing. How can you bring a little purposeful meditation into
your every day?</span></span>Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-41983176210065183262018-10-06T09:38:00.000+13:002018-10-06T14:51:51.240+13:00Finding Magical Mindful Moments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiACnNd1PB8mDFQBT-pJdG3b0gtsT5RbMLTPcVeq4Oa5-jX8zvsWGpxssV2qJeejEKVuR3k0ipV8Itd3v9TRvORRRSNABqUrLIyCx3Bl6QBjiLSBVscu9I_jm51JIGOVMCk6SoQnaxT8/s1600/beach+collection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1478" data-original-width="1600" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiACnNd1PB8mDFQBT-pJdG3b0gtsT5RbMLTPcVeq4Oa5-jX8zvsWGpxssV2qJeejEKVuR3k0ipV8Itd3v9TRvORRRSNABqUrLIyCx3Bl6QBjiLSBVscu9I_jm51JIGOVMCk6SoQnaxT8/s320/beach+collection.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Want to
take a pause on your busy life and increase the experience of mindfulness? There are so many good reasons to bring mindfulness into your daily existence and
many benefits that tuning in to the present moment can bring:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Reduced
stress and anxiety</li>
<li>Bringing on a state of relaxation</li>
<li>Regulation of emotions</li>
<li>Clearing your mind of thoughts</li>
<li>Helping your brain and mind feel clearer</li>
<li>Increasing your attention span</li>
<li>Lowering your heart rate…and it feels good too!</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This post
has been written by request for a very busy friend who is wanting some ideas on
how to bring little “breathing moments” into her day. Here you go! </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It can be
tricky making or committing to regular time to just pause and live in the
moment. I have tried many, many things over the years only to let it all go
when I found the commitment too much. What I have found to work for me now is
to go <i>small</i>. Introduce little moments of mindfulness multiple times a day
without routine or expectation. Even one minute's break from your busy thoughts and actions is one minute of peace and connection to the here and now. I find now that I rarely “can’t be bothered” or
find myself “too tired”. All I can put it down to is the lowered expectation to
do more or for longer or even to do it at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Maybe it’s
also really believing that living a life with more mindful moments is
beneficial and pleasant and my soul starts to crave these little daily rituals
I now carry out. I have only listed below activities that I REALLY enjoy, but
there are so many ideas out there, that anything can essentially be turned into
a mindful activity. I don’t do all of these daily (maybe only 3 of them are
regulars), but I know the others are there when I really feel inspired to bring
in something a little different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Yoga – sun
salutation:</b><br />
I wrote a few weeks ago about my 10 minute mindful yoga ritual. I carry this out
every night before bed during the week, and usually in the morning during the
weekend. It is so easy to do and makes me feel so good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Make a cup
of tea or coffee:</b><br />
I am a tea drinker and probably drink about 8 cups of tea a day. When I
remember, I slow down the process and really tune in to my awareness of every
step I am taking as I make my tea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Clear out a
drawer or space:</b><br />
This is an old favourite of mine and something I have been doing since I was a
teenager! Once again, start small if you have a lot of clutter to work through
and I generally like to pick an area where I can see the results. But, take it
slow and enjoy the process! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Shine the
sink:</b><br />
This one makes me smile, but I actually still do it occasionally! When my
children were little I came across FlyLady.net. FlyLady has a regular routine
of shining your sink </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "wingdings"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span lang="EN-US"> While I don’t do it daily, do still find joy
in making this tiny space within my home shine - and it only takes a few minutes.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>5 senses
activity:</b><br />
This is something I have been doing for a few years and came across it after
experiencing a panic attack at work. For a while after the incident whenever I
was in the same situation I found myself experiencing the early signs of
panic…so I started to carry out this ritual which is very mindful and brings me
back into my body and out of the racing thoughts in my head. Focus on 5 things
that you can see, listen for 4 things that you can hear, reach out and make
contact with 3 things that you can touch, identify 2 things that you can smell,
and take note of one thing that you can taste. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Make the
bed mindfully: </b><br />
While it’s not something I do during my work week, I really enjoy making the
bed in the weekend. I like to tune in to the moment as I slowly make the bed
and make it look nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Walking
meditation:</b><br />
This is something that can be done anywhere and at any time. You can do it at
home or walking to or climbing those stairs at work. Really tune in to your
body’s responses and the breaths that you take.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Nature
boost:</b><br />
If you don’t feel like going out for a big walk or don’t have the time, just
step outside the door and take in the view, breathe in the air, feel the sun on
your face, pick up a leaf, or go hug a tree! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Daily
writing:</b><br />
After reading The Artist’s Way, I really liked what the author proposed about
writing Morning Pages which consists of writing (typed or handwritten) a stream-of-consciousness
(which is a method of capturing the flow of your conscious thoughts) for 750
words – this can take about 15 minutes. During this exercise you don’t judge,
don’t think, don’t plan, don’t aim to write anything in particular, and don’t
edit it as you go, just bang out what comes to mind. What this activity is
great at is to clear out all those messy thoughts or chatterings that might
otherwise take up mental space throughout the day and allows me more moments to
fully tune in to the present moment. Often creative thoughts and ideas pop in
as I’m allowing my mind to simultaneously switch off as well as clearing my
thoughts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Take a photo of something seemingly insignificant:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I find sometimes a little thing within my home or when out and about brings me such a feeling of peace when I notice it, that I just want to capture it. It's not so much so I can go back and reflect on it, but I think it's going through the process of tuning in for that moment and it's just a quick little thing to do as I bring my attention to the here and now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Doodle art:</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I have always been a doodler for as long as I can remember. About four years ago I discovered the art of creating tiny versions of these using intentional, simple, repetitive patterns that allow your mind to take a break, to let it move into creative mode and just zone out for 15-20 minutes (depending on how big you want to make it). I use a very fine ink pen (mine has a 0.4mm nib) and good quality sketching paper in that is no more than 10 cm square. That way I don't need to create a large masterpiece or get to a place where I feel bored, but it's long enough to tune into the moment and let the world around me slip away. Recently I have started doing them on square post-it notes at the end of my working day and attach them to the front of my work laptop as a little reminder to tune in throughout the next day.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XUeIDhpkY3aJFeZPZ4PK2EKDTZUPXzn9i_reSzEjpWUFn8lKCf7myybTlLzWqEJRHjVRQvW4d1BBwChfFifMMIDTmFKShl8zHOm2X_En0K_x69nK-TBUPq2XKIQuqXGzmX1KlESD6k8/s1600/20181006_092232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1600" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XUeIDhpkY3aJFeZPZ4PK2EKDTZUPXzn9i_reSzEjpWUFn8lKCf7myybTlLzWqEJRHjVRQvW4d1BBwChfFifMMIDTmFKShl8zHOm2X_En0K_x69nK-TBUPq2XKIQuqXGzmX1KlESD6k8/s320/20181006_092232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What every day activities or rituals do you
already do that you can attach mindfulness techniques to (such as slowing down and
tuning in to the present moment) and thereby bringing mindfulness into your
everyday life with ease and enjoyment?</span></span>Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-49876410417379537792018-09-29T08:38:00.004+12:002018-09-29T11:52:38.906+12:00A little spring foraging...for nature's medicine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz58Z7bkWt_PclXgayI3bquFVGdqlZenJcPRL3zH22KhpaC1K1rHH1Vrfvfp5mlUPKc34vXx9GRar-PepGriz0qhhiD8u5Ky60whrCaabQdfYJ4MWrLmKBsWT-LZuHu1lF2JHcrFVZe6E/s1600/foraging+collection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1600" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz58Z7bkWt_PclXgayI3bquFVGdqlZenJcPRL3zH22KhpaC1K1rHH1Vrfvfp5mlUPKc34vXx9GRar-PepGriz0qhhiD8u5Ky60whrCaabQdfYJ4MWrLmKBsWT-LZuHu1lF2JHcrFVZe6E/s320/foraging+collection.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have
written before about foraging for wild edible plants, but I also like to forage
for plants that have medicinal properties. Most often, the haul I take home
will serve multiple purposes as it’s a bit difficult to separate the activities!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have been
waiting for Spring to really announce itself so I can get out and forage! And
last weekend, which happened to be the spring equinox, was perfect for a long relaxing
walk with the opportunity to gather some wild goodies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Foraging is
very much a spiritual and mindful experience for me. I get to exist in the
present moment as I engage with and walk among nature. From the moment I put
together my foraging kit (my bag contains good kitchen scissors, a small bag (preferably paper) to hold the herbs, garden glove for thorny or stingy plants), choose the walk to take, then identifying, harvesting
and later preparing and using the plants it’s a special experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Before
heading out, I usually have in mind what I would like to gather, and how much I
require. If I am going to be using it for adding to a meal, I will only take
what I need for a few days as the wild greens are often softer and less
resilient so tend to lose their freshness pretty quickly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If I am
gathering herbs for making into medicinal remedies, I will still only gather
enough to prepare and store for what I think I need over that season. Although
the greens are free and I usually don’t deplete an entire plant, I don’t really
like to waste what I forage unnecessarily. I also tend to only collect plants
that I think I will actually use. That means I need to put in some hours of
research to and make a plan for what I want to find.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have a
large collection of books that I spend many hours pouring over as I research
what I want to gather, how to prepare it, if I want to turn it into a remedy or
just store as a single plant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZxwwqi_25l9ihJpaseh8Oh7aNSsU0q8r9TaytzUci29czHTzwTPqPSkAdnbV1XeKl3Mb4tzgKRrg8uPigfYZJ144HJzo1I6Dhupe0TrJkwF1gadNhz0yj2dBZp8jJe5BUVDg0CufMqc/s1600/herbal+book+collection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEZxwwqi_25l9ihJpaseh8Oh7aNSsU0q8r9TaytzUci29czHTzwTPqPSkAdnbV1XeKl3Mb4tzgKRrg8uPigfYZJ144HJzo1I6Dhupe0TrJkwF1gadNhz0yj2dBZp8jJe5BUVDg0CufMqc/s320/herbal+book+collection.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My haul
over the weekend included the following for both food and medicinal purposes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Dandelion</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Parts used:
<i>Flowers, leaves, roots</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Season
harvested: <i>Gather the young leaves in Spring when they are less bitter taste, and
wait until Autumn to harvest roots (although these can also be harvested in
Spring).</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Uses:
<i>Flowers and leaves are edible and good for using in salads or can be added to
cooked dishes. Leaves when dried can be made into an infusion that can help
with digestion or as a diuretic. With this collection, I used all the leaves in
our dinner.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Red clover</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Parts used:
<i>Flower heads</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Season
harvested: <i>Spring and early summer</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Uses: <i>The
flowers can be dried and stored, or used fresh. Fresh they can add colour to a
salad. Dried and stored they can then be made up into an infusion and used on
skin that is inflamed with eczema or can be gargled for sore throats or mouth ulcers.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Blackberry</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Parts used:
<i>Collect the young leaves early in spring before flowers appear</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Season
harvested: <i>Spring</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Uses: <i>The leaves
are dried and crushed for storing. These can then be made into infusions that
can be applied as an external use on skin that would benefit from antiseptic or
antifungal treatment. The dried leaves can also be made into a tea and drunk by
someone who has a cough or used as a gargle for a sore throat or mouth ulcer</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Chickweed</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Parts used:
<i>Leaves and stems</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Season
harvested: <i>All year round</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Uses: <i>As
food chickweed makes a great fresh addition to salads or cooked into a meal
such as a pasta sauce or curry; it can also be made into a lemonade style drink
using the juice of the chickweed as it is a good source of vitamin A and C. I
used all this chickweed in our dinner. Chickweed is also great to use topically
either turned into an ointment, but also to crush and use fresh as a poultice
for itchy skin and rashes.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Also, since
my special spaces post last week I have now found the perfect spot in my
laundry to pop a small set of drawers for herb storage with the top to dry them
without being disturbed. And even better, it’s not out of sight and therefore
not out of mind (which can sometimes lead to forgetting all about them!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kRXxeI2LTaRcWdXbvPsRw97VGv1eYHUEc6rmujfgeBgrjPhd9DGzogJ90HTnGbUZhXbmB-_OeyTLVkIHOCj3OfFBjF5_kKG-Ami68wp32xIpZ2Ovn5sR1SqIEQsQuwmTABCTIRN56xI/s1600/herb+storage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="911" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1kRXxeI2LTaRcWdXbvPsRw97VGv1eYHUEc6rmujfgeBgrjPhd9DGzogJ90HTnGbUZhXbmB-_OeyTLVkIHOCj3OfFBjF5_kKG-Ami68wp32xIpZ2Ovn5sR1SqIEQsQuwmTABCTIRN56xI/s320/herb+storage.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Future posts
will build on my herbal collections and include recipes on how I prepare and
use them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-8026040894902651812018-09-22T07:10:00.001+12:002018-09-22T09:05:23.939+12:00Meaningful spaces...emotionally satisfying<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKWtjIxUhvCUDVaRZllclqT0pvHSZu411WDDmiTSSeRmu5Ix6eEgd5Ad2fWfjVvoEVfosNgMxMgOVO3ytyo7sJsYWry2O1JwS5zFuqgSCjBHYKdlcsyrqHs6Nn2pvnHVP59OLyAqb17c/s1600/fern+and+sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1032" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKWtjIxUhvCUDVaRZllclqT0pvHSZu411WDDmiTSSeRmu5Ix6eEgd5Ad2fWfjVvoEVfosNgMxMgOVO3ytyo7sJsYWry2O1JwS5zFuqgSCjBHYKdlcsyrqHs6Nn2pvnHVP59OLyAqb17c/s320/fern+and+sun.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
I’ve always cherished certain spaces within my home. I guess most of us do. It could be just a small corner set up with a few little things that I love or it could be out on the deck with a seat facing a lovely view and surrounded by potted
plants and herbs. Often it might be a collection of
nature items nestled together on a shelf that remind me of the connection to the earth, or a tidy stack of books and
magazines that provide inspiration and learning. And one outdoor special space
for me is underneath a lovely maple tree in my back yard with some of my herbs
growing underneath. <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sometimes it
might be the way the sun streams in across a bench or bathes the floor in a
patch of bright warmth on a cold day or at the end of the day snuggled down
deep in a comfortable bed with soft bedding piled on. There is definitely a
seasonal aspect to how I appreciate certain spaces within my home or garden – I
like to acknowledge the seasons and my relationship with them by bringing a
little piece of the outside inside. This also helps keep me aligned to the present
moment and connected to what is around me. It reminds me of my physical
presence on this earth as I simultaneously seek a higher vibrating, non-earthly connection.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What all
these spaces have in common are the emotions that are experienced and the
energy that is within them. For me they all speak of warmth, belonging,
comfort and coziness, a sense of well-being, safety, and “my place”. Every little thing I
have placed within my home is there because of the feelings they generate. These
are spaces where my soul hums and feels alive, nourished, and connected. Even
if I’m feeling out of sorts, anxious, upset or irritable – they bring a feeling
of being safe to just sit, relax and heal within the energy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sometimes
the space can be inspirational for other reasons or symbolize the heart of the
home and the people in it or those who visit. It could be a creative space,
cooking space, study space, spiritual space, art space, garden shed (I used to
dream about having an awesome potting/garden shed), herbal prep and storage
area (yet to find a place to recreate one of these) or living areas where
everyone gathers together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Each of the
special spaces within my home serve a purpose and are closely associated with
the activity that I do within it. For example, my yoga space is always the same
– on my bedroom floor looking out the window whether night or day. My
meditation space is in or on my bed where it is warm and comfy and quiet and
private from disturbance. My study and blogging space wanders around the house – living areas or
on my bed (I tend to follow the sun if I can!) – so long as I can spread out my
books and papers and computer I’m happy providing it’s warm and comfortable. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>What
each of these spaces also have in common is that every time I walk past
them I feel a call and commitment to the activity and ritual that I associate
it with.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And
sometimes...these spaces all need a good shake up and for the energy within them
moved around. I have a few yet simple rituals I like to do that achieve this:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Opening the
doors and windows and<i> </i>let in the
sunlight and fresh air</li>
<li>Clean all
surfaces of dust</li>
<li>Giving the
room a spritz of fresh essential oil (homemade air spray using oils such as
lavender, geranium, lemon) or burn some nag champa incense.</li>
<li>Set out fresh
flowers in a vase</li>
<li>Shake rugs
and blankets</li>
<li>Turn on a
few table lamps on dim days or in the evenings (especially my Himalayan salt
lamp that gives out a lovely warm glow)</li>
<li>Put on some
music</li>
<li>Clearing
any clutter or those little bits and pieces that get tucked away in corners of
the kitchen bench or table top.</li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What
favourite spaces do you seek out when you need a bit of recharge time?</span></div>
Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-24793613197264219812018-09-15T08:41:00.000+12:002018-09-17T07:37:40.556+12:00Need to breathe and take a pause on life? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZCucqNzzNaSwVuHjcMLCbTp454CSSJZ1NtTjhqJlvP4NUn4tKCSwEl2LNmDyYeR2dk45SNtdPvPtZO_nLvc0T8zvXokx9mcBx14zi-_mBqpdJLxTWD6VZm__TcWlBLFFqWa4ox10H4k/s1600/sunset.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="611" data-original-width="956" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZCucqNzzNaSwVuHjcMLCbTp454CSSJZ1NtTjhqJlvP4NUn4tKCSwEl2LNmDyYeR2dk45SNtdPvPtZO_nLvc0T8zvXokx9mcBx14zi-_mBqpdJLxTWD6VZm__TcWlBLFFqWa4ox10H4k/s320/sunset.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:451.2pt;height:4in;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/NIKKI/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I have
written before about how to bring meaningful little rituals into your daily
life in ways that work with the lifestyle that you have, the time you have, and
the situation you are currently in. One activity that I like to make a part of
my daily routine even if I’m short on time or not really in the mood for it
is a little bit of yoga. And because I don't often have a large amount of time to dedicate to both yoga <u>and</u> mediation, I tend to bring some meditation into my yoga to get mindful yoga.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I might not
get the same benefits as if I were to do a one hour session with a larger range of poses, but this is my version of taking a little pause on life and
giving myself 10 minutes of attention and self-care. My mind can rest and my body can
stretch and ease any tension. I will do it either at the end of a day or the
start of the day – either works for me. If I do it in the morning the focus I
put on the sequence is one of stretching, warming, and invigorating myself for
the day ahead with positive active affirmations and words if gratitude to set me up for a wonderful
day ahead – the sequence is carried out with a little more pep and speed. If I
do this sequence before bed it is one of slowing down and really taking my time
to breathe, restore my body and mind, easing the aches of the day, and resting my mind and turning into my body and bringing it back to the present moment ready for sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The routine
that I have always loved right from the moment that I learned it almost 20
years ago is the Sun Salutation / Surya Namaskar. This sequence is a great set of flowing poses that align and stretch and strengthen your body. I have even
done this routine on my stand up paddle board
and it’s particularly nice on a late summer evening when the sun is
actually going down! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I tend to
only do three repetitions on an ordinary day. Because I tend to take my time to move
through the poses, and take between 3 and 5 deep, slow breaths in each pose it
can take me 10 minutes to get through. I also find 7 repetitions a good number,
but really it’s up to you. It’s your choice on what mindset or intention you
want to bring to your practice and how long, slow, or fast you do it. There are
benefits for all approaches. There are also many versions of this routine, so
if you want to add other poses such as lunges there are lots of options.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This simple
version of the classic Sun Salutation is made up of the following poses:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xhJHdRU7X6yChDdQ8_tzIFPKL-uIuNU580jbyoq0hI9GyRrR0BBBmL5FxZFZIoWa5dz8cjTJiRiGbStWfSJodlHW0XIp-yd9wFnr4efe2V7K0pifGDMgZecjI6PsvHwzOPOi73Yqpz8/s1600/sun+salutation.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="876" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xhJHdRU7X6yChDdQ8_tzIFPKL-uIuNU580jbyoq0hI9GyRrR0BBBmL5FxZFZIoWa5dz8cjTJiRiGbStWfSJodlHW0XIp-yd9wFnr4efe2V7K0pifGDMgZecjI6PsvHwzOPOi73Yqpz8/s640/sun+salutation.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:451.2pt;
height:148.2pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:/Users/NIKKI/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.png"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">1 –
Tadasana (Mountain Pose)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">2 – Urdhva
Hastasana (Upward Salute)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">3 – Uttanasana
(Standing Forward Bend)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">4 – Ardha
Uttanasana (Half Standing Forward Bend)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">5 –
Chaturanga Dandasana (Four Limbed Staff pose)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">6 – Urdhva
Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">7 – Adho
Mukha Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">8 – Ardha
Uttanasana (Half Standing Forward Bend)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">9 –
Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">10 – Urdhva
Hastasana (Upward Salute)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">11 –
Tadasana (Mountain Pose)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
How do you take a pause on life and give yourself a bit of self-care?</div>
Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-47171534947519181142018-09-08T08:07:00.000+12:002018-09-08T08:39:30.294+12:00Peace begins when expectation ends...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdS0ldL9F2OiqNTkJQmc48DWkEUGMuETkNfiwqsA_sUKuxdMNEwZqh8q5_haVERz6O7Eic0P0NzicYZ3s1MNX-_OYp4tK0CAknWZzAFUrR9fP5J25kQD7PJbSBRssHQUvY7rrMweII7V0/s1600/20180907_232500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1600" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdS0ldL9F2OiqNTkJQmc48DWkEUGMuETkNfiwqsA_sUKuxdMNEwZqh8q5_haVERz6O7Eic0P0NzicYZ3s1MNX-_OYp4tK0CAknWZzAFUrR9fP5J25kQD7PJbSBRssHQUvY7rrMweII7V0/s320/20180907_232500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This quote from Sri
Chinmoy so simply sums up a lot for me. All interactions I have on a daily
basis, all activities I engage in, and really, anything at all that I do can either
be accepted as they are and allow me to live a life of peace or can be the cause
of suffering because they don’t meet my expectations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Expectations. Most of
us have them. We have expectations on other people (wanting them to respond in
a certain way or give us a hug or do something for us). We have expectations on
how a certain event might go and when it doesn’t it can ruin it for us (we
wanted the day to be fine and sunny and instead it’s windy and a bit rainy or maybe
the train ride to work took longer as the train broke down). Or it could be
bigger things like a trip we’ve planned out and really looked forward to isn’t what
we thought it would be (the airplane got diverted through a different country,
or our luggage got delayed and arrived two days late, or the hotel wasn’t quite
what we had in mind or there were too many other tourists at everything we wanted
to do). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The emotions that are
triggered through all these seemingly “bad” experiences all stem from the expectations
that we had. How would it be if we didn’t have expectations on how those
moments would turn out? What if we just accepted that sometimes public transport
breaks down and see an opportunity to read the kindle for longer on the trip, or
accepting that the sunny lunchtime walk with a friend instead could turn into
lunch in a café, or that overseas trip…how about just accept all those ‘annoyances’
as all part of the adventure and take each moment as it comes and approach the
trip with openness and acceptance. How much more joy and wonder you would experience
without preconceived ideas and expectations on what it might be like? The
outcome is the same whether or not we get annoyed at the inconveniences,
because we can’t control what happens, but we can choose to approach each experience
without expectation and therefore suffer no disappointment or anger or frustration.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How many arguments start
because someone had an opinion they were attached to and we expected a
different outcome? Or the sadness that is felt when you break up with someone
or a friendship is lost because of attachment to the expectation that things would
always stay the same? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Placing expectations
on people is going to lead to problems and suffering! People are not predictable
and are constantly changing. Being attached to the idea of how a person should
behave or act or remaining attached to what you once had, or what you dream of the
relationship being all leads to suffering. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Years ago, I became aware
of the downfall of placing expectations on others and the consequent pain and
suffering that can occur when a friend said to me that I was upset because I
wasn’t getting the response I wanted and was expecting something else. While it
wasn’t nice to hear, it quickly dawned on me that yes, he was right! It was my
attachment to expecting a certain response or outcome and not getting it that caused
my suffering – not him or the response that he gave me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">These days, while I am
not free of putting expectations on others, I am certainly aware of the
emotions such as disappointment or anger or sadness that kick in when I am unconsciously
doing it and they serve as a really good reminder to remove my expectation of
wanting a different outcome or response! I know that these feelings can stop
with me as I have no control over what someone else says or does or doesn’t do.
To end the need to control and therefore taking an approach of non-attachment allows
me freedom, it allows the other person their freedom, and it leads to a stronger,
healthier, unconditional relationship that is full of trust and care. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It should be noted
though, that non-attachment is not the same as non-engagement – it’s not about being
indifferent or apathetic to another person or when engaging in an activity (and
these are behaviours that I can sometimes fall into, so it takes awareness to
bring myself back into the present moment). In fact, through non-attachment you
can be fully present and engaged and exist in the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How I practice
non-attachment and let go of expectations…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don’t get
attached to an expectation or image. This doesn’t mean we can’t still dream big,
practice creative visualization to attract what we want in life, or meditate on
how we might like to live life better - just don’t get attached where it becomes
unhealthy or an obsession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I take a walk
in nature or get my fingers in the earth of my herb garden. By bringing my
physical senses into the now (and sometimes I go through a little mantra of “what
can I see”, “what can I hear”, “what can I feel”, “what can I touch”) this
allows me to focus on me and my energy and brings me out of my head. When I am
feeling stronger within myself, then I am less likely to place expectations on
others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I find a guided
meditation to help me let go or to release any energy blocks. I like ones that
are about 30 minutes long so I get to a really good relaxed place and then can
allow my mind to switch off to the chatter and cleanse my mind to where I feel
I can start afresh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I become aware
of emotional reactions when I have interactions with others…partner, friends,
colleagues, or strangers or when going about my day. If you find yourself judging
or criticizing or feeling jealous or irritated or any other strong reaction…first
acknowledge it and thank it for reminding you of the attachment you have (I
tend to smile to myself because I have caught myself out), then I do a little
deeper investigation on why I might have been triggered in this way and remind
myself I can’t control anyone and to allow them their freedom. If the answer comes
I acknowledge it and this is usually enough to change the way I react in future.
If nothing comes, I move on. There will be plenty more reminders ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Peace begins when
expectations end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-23434445058307459542018-09-01T13:59:00.000+12:002018-09-29T08:44:04.600+12:00Spring…bring on the adventure of Wild Food Foraging…nature’s food!<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7ghJUfSeF55zIThR3gff8wLSfElUZX8x9TLsqK5aygEu_9851jH0YgthtjkM2lPXwde5Ktgl52lxciFfSfm0wQf1MHxlr4uv8HAxNhC0ZCxMtiwwGqrqagfrdHXhERg49emtsfjKLFg/s1600/20180901_135020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1600" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7ghJUfSeF55zIThR3gff8wLSfElUZX8x9TLsqK5aygEu_9851jH0YgthtjkM2lPXwde5Ktgl52lxciFfSfm0wQf1MHxlr4uv8HAxNhC0ZCxMtiwwGqrqagfrdHXhERg49emtsfjKLFg/s320/20180901_135020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">The first
day of Spring has officially arrived (here in the southern hemisphere at least).
I’ve been enjoying (and only slightly impatiently) watching the plants in my garden,
and while out walking the dog, start to grow and come back to life over the
last month so I can get back into foraging some wild greens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I have enjoyed
foraging for wild greens for over 10 years. It’s something that I actively became
interested in when I studied Organic Horticulture and visited a wonderful
permaculture property on one of our field trips. As we wandered around the rural
property and looked at the various areas of cultivated vegetables living among
the ‘weeds’ it was an Aha moment for me that we don’t need to rely just on
growing the vegetables that we want to eat. That a lot of other vegetables, aka
edible weeds or wild greens, grow out there on their own and bring the same
nutritional value or same sort of quality to a meal and take NO effort to grow
and come with NO cost. So why not start using them? At the time, my home was on
a decent size of land in suburbia in an old, established part of town, which
brought with it old trees, hedges, and craggy areas left to run wild <link garden="" of="" old="" post="" to=""></link>. This very overgrown backyard became my learning
ground in the early days of plant identification and gave me the ability to harvest various wild
greens to try them out as food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This then
led on to every bush walk or beach walk becoming one with a secondary focus on
foraging! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Over the
years, this desire to forage and find fresh food has stayed with me, even though
the pace of life has changed and it’s not as easy to forage on a day to day
basis when I no longer have an overgrown jungle of a backyard and I’m out of
the house from 7am until 5pm. But now, even with the rest of life there needing
my attention, it’s something that has become important to me to bring back into
my daily living in some way whether it is actually foraging or maybe finding a
new recipe or a new plant to locate when I next get out there. This all fits
with my desire to live life better and more mindfully and sometimes it’s just baby
steps and putting in as much time as I have <link dream="" life="" living="" my="" post="" to=""></link>
- even if it’s just once a week I’m winning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I was
intrigued during my travels to Italy during Spring that in a restaurant in
Porto Venere, which is a bit more regional, that there was an item called “wild
herbs” on the menu. Our Italian guide explained that this was common in
restaurants and that the items were gathered through foraging…I saw this for
myself the next day as we walked the Cinque Terre walkway with the abundance of wild
edible greens out there on the cliff sides among the olive groves and grape
vines. It was in Italy where the Slow Food Movement was founded, and this was
certainly noticeable in particular in the smaller regional towns with easily accessible
wild greens in the surrounding countryside forming a core part of this philosophy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>How do I
use my wild greens?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Some of my
favourite ways to use greens simply and without any effort is to add a handful
of wild weeds where I might otherwise use spinach or other leafy greens to a
meal such as a bolognaise sauce, a crock pot meal, an omelet, frittata, salad, or
a green smoothie. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>What are my
top 7 wild greens for food?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<ol>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Chickweed</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Dandelion</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Plantain</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Sheep sorrel</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-US" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Clover</span></li>
<li>Nettles</li>
<li>Wood sorrel</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Dos</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<ul>
<li>It’s really
important to clearly identify your plant! If you’re not sure, err on the side
of caution and don’t eat it.</li>
<li>It is great
to take a walk with someone who knows about harvesting wild greens. Sometimes I
see advertised on Facebook an event to take a group foraging walk. I did one of
these in my early days and it was hugely helpful and it’s lovely to meet up with
other like minded people.</li>
<li>Find a good
field guide on edible greens - there are some great authoritative books out
there with really clear photos and descriptions for identification.</li>
<li>Your own
backyard is a great learning ground – check along fence lines, or edges of your
house or garden sheds or below trees and shrubs. There are some very easily
identifiable greens that you can usually find anywhere such as chickweed,
clover, plantain and dandelion (although you will need to learn about the
dandelion impostors even if they are not harmful). </li>
<li>Some weeds that have runner roots can easily have a piece broken off and replanted at home if you want to cultivate your own (sweet violet, nasturtium, and red clover are ones I have successfully done this with).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><b>Don’ts</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<ul>
<li>The main
rule is: Don’t take too much of what you find. You want to ensure that you don’t
wipe out the whole plant or create an imbalance in the environment around it
(and you want to have a place to come back to another time!)</li>
<li>Only
harvest from healthy looking plants.</li>
<li>Avoid areas
that are possibly contaminated – my favourite dog walking area probably isn’t
the best place to forage so I don’t as there are not only lots of other dogs
most likely using the plants to pee or poop on, but it is set down lower from
the main road and housing and therefore a likely place for pesticides or stormwater
run off to contaminate the plants.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Pick a plant today and add it to your meal
tonight!</span>Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-48097650426223573642018-08-24T14:05:00.000+12:002018-08-26T18:43:05.227+12:00Choosing to live my dream life...steps to finding my way there!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Today I am
living my dream life. It might appear to be an ordinary day on the outside that
started off in the same way as every other work day. But on the inside, I am
feeling that this IS my dream life. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">This
morning, as I sat in my favourite sitting room at home with my work laptop
positioned on the couch beside me and a hot cup of tea cradled in my hands I
felt inspired to write about it, to capture the moment(s) and have something to
remind me of this dream life I am already living. To be reminded that it’s not
unattainable, or something for another day, or for when I’ve finished this or
that, or when the sun is shining. As I sat there with my cup of tea warming my
cold fingers I gazed out at the rain gently falling on this chilly end-of-winter’s
day and listened to the raindrops on the roof and it felt perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I had woken
as usual with my alarm at 6.25am even though I was going to be working from
home that day. Upon waking I decided that today I was going to live my dream
life…the good life…do all those lovely things that I think about and want to do,
yearn for, but don’t have time for, AND still get my work done! My image of a
dream life is not one that is necessarily busy and full of amazing and new
things or packed with fun and excitement by buzzing from one activity to
another, but one that lives in the deepest part of my soul – one which is also amazing
and full and exciting. It was going to be one that included all my seemingly
ordinary activities such as getting children ready for school, getting ready
for my day, or tidying the kitchen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What was
going to enhance this day and make it so much better was to go about it with
more intention and using my time wisely and mindfully and moving seamlessly
from one moment to another. I knew I was going to include some meditation and
yoga to get my mind calm and my body loosened up. I knew it would include
writing a few pages of stream of consciousness to process thoughts and clear my
mind for the day to come. I would then start into my work. While time may be a
concern (and often is enough for me to stall and not do the things I really
want to do) and while I my preference might be to spend 30 minutes doing yoga,
a further 45 minutes doing a meditation before taking 20 minutes to write a few pages of words, what I acknowledged and accepted easily was that I did have limited
time – but that was no reason to not do all those things – I just needed to
take a different approach. So, I spent 15 minutes doing a combined yoga and
mind clearing meditation followed by 20 minutes of writing my few pages of stream of
consciousness. I then started my work just after 8.30am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What is
also noticeable about my dream life is the awareness of the way I go about daily
routines. Routine can be useful and we all have them, but they can also be done
on autopilot with your mind elsewhere, distracted, just processing and doing
life. Day in and day out. Mindfully approaching my routines on the other hand with
a sense of ritual speak to me on an emotional level where I am fully engaged
and are done with a sense of purpose that is meaningful and done mindfully. I
am living in the Now. It is like an extension of meditation in that I am
actively focused on what I am intentionally doing. I am tuned in to what I am
doing in the moment whether it is cleaning the bathroom, wiping down the kitchen
bench, making a cup of tea, talking to the dog or saying goodbye to my children
for the day. My attention is focused on the activities as I carry them out, not
just ‘tick, one more thing completed, Next!’. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It is about choice. Choosing to
embrace the slow, mindful pace of life while still doing the things that needed
to be done rather than focusing on the busyness and losing myself in it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">As I now write
this at the end of my day I note how liberating it was to be fully immersed and
experiencing each moment. Taking the time to feel it and allow that feeling to
be etched into my inner being. A gentle reminder that this is attainable every
day no matter what my situation is. It is also attainable when I am based in my
office at work…I can still maintain this peaceful mindset while doing my train
commute, the walking to work in the wind and rain, the sitting at my desk
working my way through a multitude of emails with an approach of mindfulness
and peace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few points that I find good to remember...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li>What things do I put off doing due to lack of time or because I'm not living in the right house, or the weather isn't ideal, or I don't have a room to set up for an activity, or I have children needing my attention or no partner to do it with? Can I do one of those things in a modified way to make it happen today?</li>
<li>Can I give myself a reminder to get my head back into the Now...bring my attention back to what I am doing and empty the distractions from my mind so I am fully focused and embracing the feeling to existing in this current moment?</li>
<li>Am I rushing through my routines when I could turn my attention to them where I begin to enjoy them and they become a ritual associated with this good, mindful life.</li>
</ul>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">How do you embrace your everyday life in a way
that allows you to live your dream life? Will you make time to do something off
your dream list and turn your day into a good day too?</span>Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-12904276453573472372018-08-23T14:07:00.000+12:002018-08-26T18:10:24.651+12:00The Good LifeThis site once existed to capture the day to day living with my children as we homeschooled - that was 7 years ago and life looks a little different now with the kids now teenagers and I work full time! I have less time to live the simple, slow life of before...but inside I still have a yearning for creating a good and better life no matter how my life looks from the outside.<br />
<br />
You'll find here my musings about living a better life. The Good Life. This can be through daily rituals, habits, or mindfulness. I might sometimes discuss other interests around herbal medicine and foraging, meditation and yoga, what makes us all tick, living a simple and pared down life, personal development, living with the seasons, creativity, and generally experiencing a delight filled life. I have range and often unrelated interests that I am ready to share and discuss.Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-62473914434462538272011-08-23T13:45:00.000+12:002018-08-26T09:54:22.443+12:00Just playing around...I got my new-to-me camera on Saturday, so have been having a wee play with that too. I haven't used a manual camera before, so it's been quite a learning experience. Thought I'd capture a bit of the action and colour going on in my garden at the moment, while learning something new.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaW8QS6LBOHMgAJmn4z5SKZUTYzmI4AbzMUHRV0XnrtJ018s9FQGYlmwUAFI1vbNRC6RZBfiF4_IacvTDBWGRx4TXY2V6WHJxEV87IYyxhp28ZvGdaezAiV49vOn1FweYw8oxBG0t4mXo/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaW8QS6LBOHMgAJmn4z5SKZUTYzmI4AbzMUHRV0XnrtJ018s9FQGYlmwUAFI1vbNRC6RZBfiF4_IacvTDBWGRx4TXY2V6WHJxEV87IYyxhp28ZvGdaezAiV49vOn1FweYw8oxBG0t4mXo/s320/124.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VBR4zNKod8s-1pgMMI09aHKiD2ETYOYSjmV2wSWgYlkMioLBPFb2pUC1VkoA9vk9hX7YZa5nVgLmy_XyHUlXjlgwB0xySTLnSLLKXtDfPJD9FTFikFFdkzBNHBf2aeBj6yvLjgJS-d0/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VBR4zNKod8s-1pgMMI09aHKiD2ETYOYSjmV2wSWgYlkMioLBPFb2pUC1VkoA9vk9hX7YZa5nVgLmy_XyHUlXjlgwB0xySTLnSLLKXtDfPJD9FTFikFFdkzBNHBf2aeBj6yvLjgJS-d0/s320/125.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhdJsXCPQrdkBOAAUktxBgHiY9bKS-htCJ6i6NIz5silWQhoRjMU5ILLZP-U6QVqqZ6imYxzvLDrBdv9tDErJF4nMOCBVFoPF8GNtui9oAyGkTQf3JgyxoOfRlPDT_4vtRZ8-BgXoaRo/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhdJsXCPQrdkBOAAUktxBgHiY9bKS-htCJ6i6NIz5silWQhoRjMU5ILLZP-U6QVqqZ6imYxzvLDrBdv9tDErJF4nMOCBVFoPF8GNtui9oAyGkTQf3JgyxoOfRlPDT_4vtRZ8-BgXoaRo/s320/137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2hiTScFgsuVQ0ok53nCo5uYgTLC5Fn27ORl4XX1EVgvF0LPpuFEWM6zLkxoTCSEYEqtBRqnYXnFRv58aOPQNIn8JGIYjBnVSzdTTKTVFJNpswPHHEFvSHH6N7UIA0_BYG3Kxrs8h8tk/s1600/151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2hiTScFgsuVQ0ok53nCo5uYgTLC5Fn27ORl4XX1EVgvF0LPpuFEWM6zLkxoTCSEYEqtBRqnYXnFRv58aOPQNIn8JGIYjBnVSzdTTKTVFJNpswPHHEFvSHH6N7UIA0_BYG3Kxrs8h8tk/s320/151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WJYJ9d-GERVvR0XSXs9sjZzwg4_cZOXb3KvAkYRmkue9iUmY6BNGIWk8D_VMa43iV5mtXQfVvZJ9I_6WUvmQv_lkSf5sibNvk1q8FDq9D0y1ZWVt738bTDudkrhrN4jd9z6Uta3f83Y/s1600/139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2WJYJ9d-GERVvR0XSXs9sjZzwg4_cZOXb3KvAkYRmkue9iUmY6BNGIWk8D_VMa43iV5mtXQfVvZJ9I_6WUvmQv_lkSf5sibNvk1q8FDq9D0y1ZWVt738bTDudkrhrN4jd9z6Uta3f83Y/s320/139.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCnGeAh-odDvAdht6a2LwYemGBKkdar9pMAgHDddgnhYm2ohbxqJaE3ITbSrXVqY49rmrDAyioiGEP3NoV1DAQFGOKfxUFz2mWuBejx0LYC3dYVIvaXtX4I_YBYMsUt9U85KtrIwFIiM/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCnGeAh-odDvAdht6a2LwYemGBKkdar9pMAgHDddgnhYm2ohbxqJaE3ITbSrXVqY49rmrDAyioiGEP3NoV1DAQFGOKfxUFz2mWuBejx0LYC3dYVIvaXtX4I_YBYMsUt9U85KtrIwFIiM/s320/153.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! All 3 chickens are now laying.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Loving the aperture setting, just need to figure it all out now!Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-25338968077653038432011-08-19T07:58:00.004+12:002018-08-26T08:27:28.924+12:00Books, books, books...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9iK9l4IKq3e7phhzfeidt37tCymk1fSWxfwvKqiYvMMCmU2wTjmpuvWuo8_OeY3HjVA11n29hmwmfc_V3qbGWD9KXIeASGMa9PunP-ZYFfIhXWwhntDKpppmsp4eS10PESEqRhhbNn8/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9iK9l4IKq3e7phhzfeidt37tCymk1fSWxfwvKqiYvMMCmU2wTjmpuvWuo8_OeY3HjVA11n29hmwmfc_V3qbGWD9KXIeASGMa9PunP-ZYFfIhXWwhntDKpppmsp4eS10PESEqRhhbNn8/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'd love to say that I've been on a spending spree, but no, we just visited the library this afternoon.<br />
<br />
~ I've been looking out for a 2nd hand version of this <strong>Ukulele</strong> book, but pleased to get to try-before-I-buy. I spent a bit of time yesterday studying up on music theory (a mix of internet and this book). I have never in my life learnt anything musical (although I'm sure I briefly learnt the recorder and ukulele when I was in primary school), so this is all new and quite interesting to me. <br />
<br />
~ I grabbed the first book I found on <strong>SLR cameras</strong> - my mum is giving me her 8yr old camera, so I need to now learn how to use it!<br />
<br />
~ I picked out a variety of <strong>drawing and painting</strong> books to carry on with once I'm done with my course.<br />
<br />
~ I saw Dorothy Hall's <strong>herbal</strong> book on display, so added that to my pile even though I've had it out before.<br />
<br />
~ I also saw on the returned shelf this cute book with some neat little <strong>crochet </strong>projects. The author uses a variety of materials including: jute twine, wool, and leather cord. I don't currently own a book on crochet (I have only self-taught myself off Youtube tutorials), but this one has made it onto my wants list. I've got my eye on these projects... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3alCRWO1wdvc9JnU2KhsPsGFb5FtSEyKZ3sqJ8c-03eZpvgUygsH_hOOgQm2SMSKK5xENz-ELY695YoIV0W1kWdCMaRMtUXfjunyMCDjweRaRwKMyJE4SAsqkbSnImTfR0jMabt-HYHw/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3alCRWO1wdvc9JnU2KhsPsGFb5FtSEyKZ3sqJ8c-03eZpvgUygsH_hOOgQm2SMSKK5xENz-ELY695YoIV0W1kWdCMaRMtUXfjunyMCDjweRaRwKMyJE4SAsqkbSnImTfR0jMabt-HYHw/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZE5piXCwp2SzImbDWqS6QZv1HpxtfotEoWcayONTe-2eniOqc46_dOMQq7WQQNeSYt-ub8UbOLuZWxLzhzKzfNLtoC5yf4dkNqWQKi0qKsmI9G7nJ-9o2WXqwZyxcEjLlx9jbQhuzQxI/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZE5piXCwp2SzImbDWqS6QZv1HpxtfotEoWcayONTe-2eniOqc46_dOMQq7WQQNeSYt-ub8UbOLuZWxLzhzKzfNLtoC5yf4dkNqWQKi0qKsmI9G7nJ-9o2WXqwZyxcEjLlx9jbQhuzQxI/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBRu02lXfo8DD2JcGQsU0gXYapU6xD2zDOUt7u7vyVloDjgyHJmjDJCMr5LBvNYdcbarEilrxLWZ5ZMTTa20bkriG-UAgSx9VtjRGv36_n5A2c4e78enzUQQdUS-ILOie32CILRBzD9I/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBRu02lXfo8DD2JcGQsU0gXYapU6xD2zDOUt7u7vyVloDjgyHJmjDJCMr5LBvNYdcbarEilrxLWZ5ZMTTa20bkriG-UAgSx9VtjRGv36_n5A2c4e78enzUQQdUS-ILOie32CILRBzD9I/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbL9EWdy-3AmvzEMt_tYY5Wmbbb8OAOP2PkacC-yqtrS9em6sTfDJJx1qwEum0PUi784jPIUJlIeGaLg7R9WJIqKc9xN7auY3ZeR1d8ib-0HFyJqvlOlA4XTD4QIWzOxCu3Ki2YWjs4O0/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbL9EWdy-3AmvzEMt_tYY5Wmbbb8OAOP2PkacC-yqtrS9em6sTfDJJx1qwEum0PUi784jPIUJlIeGaLg7R9WJIqKc9xN7auY3ZeR1d8ib-0HFyJqvlOlA4XTD4QIWzOxCu3Ki2YWjs4O0/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
But first, I've had a job come in that will consume my weekend. I'd love to go on a book buying spree with the $$ from that, but I think getting a plumber in is a bit higher up the list of priorities!Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-33741835835006913512011-08-18T09:37:00.001+12:002018-08-26T08:27:28.990+12:00Icy outside, but tucked up inside<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YbkgAdFguMmAMmSmucKhwIS_heiwp5g1v-5oGDM4lZj6sJbK_6JSuhVXI9Y47QRN88vURVCoLFBxDDumUsyOZ-itOcShcS8dWW5rs3kFC1UnTsWdIEy3D8GEHCclUPhONDFw0sbuEYM/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YbkgAdFguMmAMmSmucKhwIS_heiwp5g1v-5oGDM4lZj6sJbK_6JSuhVXI9Y47QRN88vURVCoLFBxDDumUsyOZ-itOcShcS8dWW5rs3kFC1UnTsWdIEy3D8GEHCclUPhONDFw0sbuEYM/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's all the snow that remains on the hills. <br />
They were completely covered in white. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Well, the snow seems to have gone, but the icy weather continues.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81cpP-zOBtlYJ-TzGc83SOM1VpdmR-V2YdZaDPTQPilk0Efu3OBAJVSs5SlbTpbP2NZ466pLV0xqq5YArEt0GVmpWUmZpmXY-Jrudq8uBufkLZmFDRDbQd2zZU_PWqbDfckfHNT8vDjc/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81cpP-zOBtlYJ-TzGc83SOM1VpdmR-V2YdZaDPTQPilk0Efu3OBAJVSs5SlbTpbP2NZ466pLV0xqq5YArEt0GVmpWUmZpmXY-Jrudq8uBufkLZmFDRDbQd2zZU_PWqbDfckfHNT8vDjc/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sum total of snow that settled at our house on Tuesday night! <br />
And it was slushy due to all the rain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Yesterday I was tucked up inside again and decided I needed to do a bit more practicing ... first the <strong>ukulele</strong> (I've been trying to master strumming along with changing chords) and then some <strong>drumming.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Drawing</strong> - I really need to make this a bit more regular, but I felt inspired by looking at an aloe vera plant I'd recently moved and realised that I was visualising the negative space within what I saw and that I was mentally drawing it - so out came the sketch book and pencil and off I went. <br />
<br />
I've been <strong>rearranging</strong>! Although our lounge is quite large, we're quite restricted on how to place the furniture. So after a bit of mental planning, I decided at 11.30pm Tuesday night that it *had* to be done right there and then lol. I don't usually like to cover over the window with the couches, but I find that the lounge doesn't seem cosy, or warm enough for my liking because it's so spacious and so much window (there is the same amount of windows/doors right next to this lot). So this way, it creates another area that we can now use as a comfy floor spot. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKeffKfICSqdOQcWUrjws6BQUW1TDqkQNVQcI0BGKTKvoePKvos7je2uGY2qOo3Z2sLIhj1_QTSAuxeuV05p9hV14YARGm124mu4tsBWjAcvOxNaCgib2qSxInlnV3kcYC8xD9kuqeKU/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBKeffKfICSqdOQcWUrjws6BQUW1TDqkQNVQcI0BGKTKvoePKvos7je2uGY2qOo3Z2sLIhj1_QTSAuxeuV05p9hV14YARGm124mu4tsBWjAcvOxNaCgib2qSxInlnV3kcYC8xD9kuqeKU/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4-9kEOa1Hw8FnCWhyo2JpYF2IHbahTLdNtYSoCFIONdDQ-S4OLrcR9HgBsz7KMmciYPN5OEqA_Axh1iWh8_X-IhK9FS72P6LTk6BcB_NrB20AILEUuReJuwckhGmC4RhyJU7pOW8-iY/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4-9kEOa1Hw8FnCWhyo2JpYF2IHbahTLdNtYSoCFIONdDQ-S4OLrcR9HgBsz7KMmciYPN5OEqA_Axh1iWh8_X-IhK9FS72P6LTk6BcB_NrB20AILEUuReJuwckhGmC4RhyJU7pOW8-iY/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Kid <strong>decluttering</strong> - yep, while rearranging furniture I managed to find another bag of games and puzzles that are no longer used.<br />
<br />
<strong>Crafting</strong> - I have been wanting to make one of these <a href="http://thenaturalweddingcompany.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/recycled-vintage-wool-blanket-bunting/">recycled woollen blanket buntings</a> for a while now, but didn't have a suitable blanket, and hadn't gone looking for one. I did recall I had a very thin piece of woollen fabric though (apparently it was a very old-skool nappy-wrap back in the day and came from my nana...). Same red pin-stripe down one side and same size as a flannel nappy. So I made this up yesterday afternoon. I'm quite pleased with the results! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebiGSwDroCuVj-gfccMPrt-lpeTwlPYkQ0n303sssy1yBlO3bqcq1LiKML5s9xYnZdZSIEi8V0wFLE1Smvpn1eQKdenCnm5oynerH1KkYxaQoH8ir1OS3Wg7kWvOYHzrm5uHNcMwk_Kg/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebiGSwDroCuVj-gfccMPrt-lpeTwlPYkQ0n303sssy1yBlO3bqcq1LiKML5s9xYnZdZSIEi8V0wFLE1Smvpn1eQKdenCnm5oynerH1KkYxaQoH8ir1OS3Wg7kWvOYHzrm5uHNcMwk_Kg/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEdqx7FIac9AtggYsmUVlcrQkunafhhPzu-F3atbBc6xRHMSCLkx1msRTMIxRiEO7_-qdg69s8sD9ZX25SpfQiZ7VcF_43BbqbSu1k-YHrKZYYDprjLd_vreA4Qdy7_7ZdQJ8ipfDe08/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEdqx7FIac9AtggYsmUVlcrQkunafhhPzu-F3atbBc6xRHMSCLkx1msRTMIxRiEO7_-qdg69s8sD9ZX25SpfQiZ7VcF_43BbqbSu1k-YHrKZYYDprjLd_vreA4Qdy7_7ZdQJ8ipfDe08/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-7319760205267615092011-08-15T18:19:00.000+12:002018-08-26T08:27:30.101+12:00The day it snowed...As the polar blast heads over the country, we were very fortunate to get more than a sprinkle of snow too! This is a rarity - a once in 50yrs event!<br />
<br />
At school the kids went out to play when the snow came, and they were fortunate that the last 20mins of school-time a heavy dumping came down. Simon arrived to pick them up to see the whole school running around crazy enjoying it. <br />
<br />
Once home, we decided to head up to the hills (a 10 min drive) and find some real snow! The rain that was coming down quickly turned to snow, and it was quite magical driving into the hills. There were a lot of people coming and going, and we finally found a place to stop. Terrible photos since I didn't have my flash on, and the light was getting pretty low.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTU6n_UtTvnDh11cj_vJG_U3h1z0gcWfioBg7D8eE0YSopUeTf-xiHPOggehX8_AF8viVrRbZbpPo6DLlX2-_wOSYrq3x_vHOj98Td_J-YxJVng8lcrogowALBHgiYIXHMeabzzbwHq0/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTU6n_UtTvnDh11cj_vJG_U3h1z0gcWfioBg7D8eE0YSopUeTf-xiHPOggehX8_AF8viVrRbZbpPo6DLlX2-_wOSYrq3x_vHOj98Td_J-YxJVng8lcrogowALBHgiYIXHMeabzzbwHq0/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhlTHn6UX4HG-_utrKG5PrSA_AsHyCdluEFzk0vUQHsZD_vgrEh0dCrIq6nkkHcOAFJNv9I4fhK9L0ItCa0XQZkNwctiX6EjjJEUHVwUP5p3gQOLYbOz31ksVO-JYqePJueXElkHn964/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhlTHn6UX4HG-_utrKG5PrSA_AsHyCdluEFzk0vUQHsZD_vgrEh0dCrIq6nkkHcOAFJNv9I4fhK9L0ItCa0XQZkNwctiX6EjjJEUHVwUP5p3gQOLYbOz31ksVO-JYqePJueXElkHn964/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFi8n3_WUKlZ6aRpK856qPM2doOhvi4swAx2_Fw10PglLxkWWeSGrDQBqeyMlcu1FQhkKsYj7Y5MiitBu1VN0J87skJkkihQKAcWOmA7ZQwNm3MkAYqJ_yB1jNfq_57dhyphenhyphenLij38svEzY/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFi8n3_WUKlZ6aRpK856qPM2doOhvi4swAx2_Fw10PglLxkWWeSGrDQBqeyMlcu1FQhkKsYj7Y5MiitBu1VN0J87skJkkihQKAcWOmA7ZQwNm3MkAYqJ_yB1jNfq_57dhyphenhyphenLij38svEzY/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiga5SJv8XvZkYKLEHUHZdNb19BM7VSua0zRormbiBKz6wT0NG5EjWEBx3Z0uvFy859MesFQzq3F1LD74ZI-vUYzFlPvjcGPP_MwGTOyIV21aQ9DW9mA4Ka_QJ-epc9sW6D8tVaVyAwM/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiga5SJv8XvZkYKLEHUHZdNb19BM7VSua0zRormbiBKz6wT0NG5EjWEBx3Z0uvFy859MesFQzq3F1LD74ZI-vUYzFlPvjcGPP_MwGTOyIV21aQ9DW9mA4Ka_QJ-epc9sW6D8tVaVyAwM/s320/017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids collected snow to take home...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-TUtASmzT_RHSr-LXl5dEFs1vLWCVPWh26KuNS67bLNj4ZLKSa88x_3SkQr1Sa2PHE0ZkmYQ4ze9H3xCFMXFzG4KA6eRGq2SVnKfT-1lgDnDXI7hFq9iynwKtUSZFlq1TcNG66IkdhI/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-TUtASmzT_RHSr-LXl5dEFs1vLWCVPWh26KuNS67bLNj4ZLKSa88x_3SkQr1Sa2PHE0ZkmYQ4ze9H3xCFMXFzG4KA6eRGq2SVnKfT-1lgDnDXI7hFq9iynwKtUSZFlq1TcNG66IkdhI/s320/018.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnq5DHE4McYwxAvE5XVk-6ZXdPitmZ7hBBoQoxSvyG3suxh5ITb0Nnwe0LO7ovgsBXdNUtuIrz4w-giEvJAXAT1CQa1qnUWtqMPSw4GYvSVGL8OahkqbP1quVJx-ZkBvB9YUiyVYiBDs/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnq5DHE4McYwxAvE5XVk-6ZXdPitmZ7hBBoQoxSvyG3suxh5ITb0Nnwe0LO7ovgsBXdNUtuIrz4w-giEvJAXAT1CQa1qnUWtqMPSw4GYvSVGL8OahkqbP1quVJx-ZkBvB9YUiyVYiBDs/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unloading their snow to continue the fun in the front yard.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsziME4OiJ_wF-WnICXIUfYsBSG7MeFsQyUgX3UqATK8QvlLhxuxWTOgP8QD2ifncnd24koqam_Ua9ozykOYpZKpc_yF8Zy13a4ouTvSwTetVNy3qV-cWtMbQa0GowgVZ9ZCSWxYO_wA/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsziME4OiJ_wF-WnICXIUfYsBSG7MeFsQyUgX3UqATK8QvlLhxuxWTOgP8QD2ifncnd24koqam_Ua9ozykOYpZKpc_yF8Zy13a4ouTvSwTetVNy3qV-cWtMbQa0GowgVZ9ZCSWxYO_wA/s320/022.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-6915935929533597442011-08-14T21:56:00.002+12:002018-08-26T08:27:29.970+12:00Full moonOn Saturday night I went to a <a href="http://www.maharagallery.org.nz/upcoming-exhibitions.html">local art gallery</a> with a couple of friends, for the opening night of an exhibition featuring local artists and craft makers. Amongst many beautiful works, I noticed a display of ceramic pendants for sale - made by the same woman who is making my pendant for me (she is apparently doing a firing this coming week, so not long to wait now!).<br />
On our way home from the exhibition in search of a cafe, we had a delicious view of the almost-full moon.<br />
<br />
Tonight our women's group intended on a casual get-together for the full moon, but with some nasty weather due to come through we weren't sure on what to do. In the end just four of us got together in someone's cosy lounge room with the woodfire burning and chit-chatted about all things wild woman lol. We did manage to spot the moon as we were leaving though so had a little chuckle as we howled at her haha.<br />
<br />
<br />
Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-56622934069920660632011-08-12T17:52:00.022+12:002018-08-26T08:27:29.839+12:00Another week...<strong>Garden:</strong> Yay, I got into the garden earlier on in the week! I dug in my blue lupens, sprinkled wood ash over them, added more chicken poop and lightly dug it all through. Not too happy about the HUGE blister I got of my hand though - didn't even notice it chaffing over a sticky-outie bit on the spade until it popped. Got me out of doing dishes for a night anyway ;) <br />
<br />
<strong>Chickens:</strong> All three chickens now have bright red, plump combs, so I know that we'll shortly have 3 eggs a day - can't wait! As it is I've already stopped buying eggs with just one egg a day.<br />
<br />
<strong>Drawing</strong>: Yesterday the weather turned cold and miserable. Perfect drawing weather! Just what I needed to get stuck back into my course. So with the fire roaring, and my cup of tea beside me, I started by brushing up of my skills. I continued on with another portrait before moving onto the next chapter on shading.<br />
<br />
<strong>Tattoo:</strong> For a while now I've been wanting to get another tattoo (I got my 2nd back in January), so spent a bit of time online finding inspiration for designing my own. I've finalised what I want, and have it all booked for in 3wks time! It involves a lotus, a bird, spirals/korus, and the elements of nature - and it's pretty! <br />
<br />
<strong>Ukulele:</strong> Went to my 2nd ukulele class today. I have been practicing my chords all week, as well as trying to get the strumming down pat. I tend to have a problem with getting my fingers stuck between the strings and pinging them. So, I've spent a lot of time researching the problem, and finding ways to overcome it. It just all seemed to click for me yesterday, and I found the perfect place for *my* fingers and thumb to be when strumming. Then I moved onto learning some different strum patterns. Number 10 of <a href="http://www.ezfolk.com/uke/Tutorials/Strumming/strumming.html">this tutorial</a> is my favourite so far. <br />
<br />
<strong>Illness:</strong> Ick, poor Simon seems to have come down the flu. He's been in bed since yesterday morning and his symptoms so far seem so similar what I had a few months back (sleeping all day, fevering, sore throat, headache...). I'm really hoping that his one is the same variety as the one I had - I really don't want to get another flu!Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-13616965056664429622011-08-05T13:16:00.000+12:002018-08-26T08:27:28.792+12:00The weekThe kids have been making board games!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp5JNVimCf-41uysodpkgHqcwZaPgdL1t9lfQEDK7WogMTFaC5Z4jMrReBKONIGrbFYwHwdqhKXnWXocEjfV-h2R-YW_52y00wUKzlDAZd0VsiN_7JNuq2ukaa0VKluUx5_aIh0RqUr8/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp5JNVimCf-41uysodpkgHqcwZaPgdL1t9lfQEDK7WogMTFaC5Z4jMrReBKONIGrbFYwHwdqhKXnWXocEjfV-h2R-YW_52y00wUKzlDAZd0VsiN_7JNuq2ukaa0VKluUx5_aIh0RqUr8/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the lighter evenings, they've been spending some time before dinner outside in the sandpit and working on constructing a "shop". Nathan intends on stocking his shop with swords and bows and arrows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppiUEzfbvIHAnoFM7GMHJj3rXOvwBEVdi9pnSt4TqF22RvRSryqswl1o7jECdCzuICOS7pv209_bvzi5vLHtayhOBRfCnA3heKfYnWbS9xUI192wqVfWbluDzH8jXLu7JRyCHPUNYq1s/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppiUEzfbvIHAnoFM7GMHJj3rXOvwBEVdi9pnSt4TqF22RvRSryqswl1o7jECdCzuICOS7pv209_bvzi5vLHtayhOBRfCnA3heKfYnWbS9xUI192wqVfWbluDzH8jXLu7JRyCHPUNYq1s/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3BY4_5oDHswJ1xX1oJO6nXK1XVQEHoC_0-PkBvSF8IeuG-yW_0nfylGp_yFuKbwRdC0lHHkauKyGzi6WHpKOmcKzDG4uw1XxanlHn2bCY114GqaPJNMEiPyBrsKwpM0mDtx95vjUAzY/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3BY4_5oDHswJ1xX1oJO6nXK1XVQEHoC_0-PkBvSF8IeuG-yW_0nfylGp_yFuKbwRdC0lHHkauKyGzi6WHpKOmcKzDG4uw1XxanlHn2bCY114GqaPJNMEiPyBrsKwpM0mDtx95vjUAzY/s320/003.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I went to my <strong>ukulele group</strong> this morning. Had a great time! I had self-taught myself three chords before going along (and then when booking, the teacher asked if I could learn another three so I was up to speed with the rest of the group) since they have all been going for a couple of months already.<br />
<br />
<strong>Spring cleaning</strong> - I probably blog about it whenever I do more than the basics on housework lol! Well, with all this gorgeous spring-like weather I have been torn on where to spend my time. So yesterday I made my way through the kitchen, laundry, and bathrooms, as well as checking and sorting my stock in my herbal cupboard. Not a lot to toss out, a little rearranging, but mostly deep-cleaning.<br />
<br />
The <strong>garden</strong> has also been calling me - with the herb garden all busy doing its thing, now is the time to start planning the Spring/Summer vegetable garden. I have most seeds I need (I do need to get some carrot seeds though), so it's just a case of planning my timing and placement. I do need to also get down into the lower garden again and clean out the chicken coop to fertilize the beds, dig in the lupen, and weed around my garlic and onions. I have a few buckets of wood ash to dig in too, to raise the pH and alkalinise the soil - I have an abundance of dock and creeping buttercup still down there, which are strong indicators for acid soil conditions. When using wood ash instead of lime, the recommended is to use about twice the amount - I don't really know how much I need, but am going to give a liberal dose to help things along. And strange for this time of the year, but the garden is looking like it might need some water!<br />
I haven't done anymore on the<strong> drawing course</strong>. I really feel with this lovely weather, that I'd rather be physically doing other things and enjoying the sun - make hay while the sun shines and all that. I'll save the rest of it for a cold, rainy day (I'm sure there will be more of those to come).Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-82092089097917169002011-08-03T09:33:00.002+12:002018-08-26T08:27:30.232+12:00ImbolcOn Tuesday we observed and celebrated Imbolc here in the Southern Hemisphere. According to my moon calendar it was the 2nd August, but it seems there is a lot of information that states it's either the 1st or 2nd or both!<br />
<br />
So anyway, Spring is on the way! The earth is waking up, the days are continuing to get longer (and at a faster pace now), and I see signs of spring everywhere I go.<br />
<br />
I've been walking the kids to and from school this week and it's been so nice to go at that slow pace and take it all in. I've seen a lot of Jasmine vines all coming into flower, as well as daffodils and many other plants that have been in hibernation over winter. My own plum tree is now in full blossom.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFooKVMv2WNvVIXuyRMdPEcq4cDZW4f5PUYFbnQZcwz0B6ml_fXg4dySFhYp6voizd16D0qq1AYl9_UDRau_QbbkAnU323xwChBj1pGNVWN-LjjO1rMvvORBf6dqkuG_dDfOjcVRNO-AU/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFooKVMv2WNvVIXuyRMdPEcq4cDZW4f5PUYFbnQZcwz0B6ml_fXg4dySFhYp6voizd16D0qq1AYl9_UDRau_QbbkAnU323xwChBj1pGNVWN-LjjO1rMvvORBf6dqkuG_dDfOjcVRNO-AU/s320/006.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken this morning before the<br />
sky completely clouded over.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Over dinner on Tuesday night, the kids and I chatted about the things we all each look forward to over the coming year. We had a meal based on the colours white, yellow, and orange to represent the return of the light - a chicken and chickpea curry served on rice!<br />
<br />
After dinner I headed off for an Imbolc celebration with my women's group. We gathered outside and were able to be at a venue with a lovely firepit to sit around and discuss what things we'd like to let go of over the next year, and what things we'd like to work on creating. We then shared a delicious hot cup of chai tea! It was pretty cold out there in the beautiful, crisp, clear night, but nice and toasty by the fire.Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-52129263895405309662011-08-02T08:00:00.000+12:002018-08-26T08:27:29.642+12:00More natural healingThis winter has really taken its toll on us. We're all good at the moment, but it seems that we have a week of nothing and then one or other of us comes down with something new. I can't blame it on stress or being unhappy - we're all in a really good space and enjoying life.<br />
I think this is a combo of several things:<br />
~ First, we are being exposed to more than any other winter with the kids now at school (we're not actually getting any more sick than any of the other school families though, and not getting sick with the same thing even). It just seems more than it is, we've each only been sick with about two things each, but spread that out amongst four of us and not at the same time, it has felt constant! <br />
<br />
~ Lack of Vitamin D! I really think this is one of the biggest changes. When we homeschooled I was able to get us out for regular sunshine at the middle of day during winter on sunny days - not possible at school! At school, lunchtime only starts at 1pm, past the best time to make Vitamin D during winter. <br />
<br />
~ No vitamins or supplements. For some reason I had fallen off the wagon with supplementing this year (and one less meal to include a wider range of veges and nutrients ie. school lunches mainly comprise of a simple sandwich along with fruit and popcorn, not the cooked up meal that I was used to making them). I've now started them on vitamins again (a kids multi as well as a fish oil with added Bs and iodine), so we'll see how we go as we head into Spring.<br />
<br />
Both kids have had an ear infection this year. Ear infections are not something that they generally suffer from, and usually the ear pain doesn't last longer than a few hours when I get onto it right away (usually a combination of either colloidal silver, garlic oil, vitamin C, and homeopathics). Last time though, Danielle had had some strange viral thing that led to a ear infection that became a bit prolonged and required antibiotics (our doctor doesn't usually prescribe them as a standard treatment). Saturday night she said her other ear was aching (4 weeks since the last one), and I got onto it right away. I came across a timely post on <a href="http://watchingkereru.blogspot.com/2011/07/mighty-onion-compress.html">Watching Kereru's </a>blog and tried out her onion wrap when Danielle went to bed (I used a woollen sock of Simon's, one of my cotton knit headbands, and Simon's head wrap he uses when he rides to hold it all together). No lingering pain in the morning (I removed the wrap after about 30mins), although there was a small amount later on towards bedtime (so I repeated it).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigN26uP5YyfVJFbGMUSQ2YhyphenhyphenY9fPnBzx5A2D88E67xAXQZxKQL0SnPxdSWpE3MGJt5DQdQK-bdQhmosWgmA1oKHt1GPFgi8ccrB-xEBV11PDcZJxRsjleVwZREo1er9AhyDs-raXxI0mM/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigN26uP5YyfVJFbGMUSQ2YhyphenhyphenY9fPnBzx5A2D88E67xAXQZxKQL0SnPxdSWpE3MGJt5DQdQK-bdQhmosWgmA1oKHt1GPFgi8ccrB-xEBV11PDcZJxRsjleVwZREo1er9AhyDs-raXxI0mM/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I have also been suffering from a lingering cough, which started after my flu and then I got a second cough a few weeks later (my cough had progressed to many uses of my asthma inhaler, which usually only gets used a few times a year normally!). Over the weekend I chanced upon some reading on fenugreek that reminded me of the benefits, so started right away drinking 2-3 cups of tea a day (I had a jar of the seeds in my herbal cupboard). Some of Fenugreek's benefits are that it relieves congestion, reduces inflammation and helps fight infection. It also has expectorant properties that are good for helping with sinus and lung congestion, and loosens and removes excess mucous. Sounds good to me! It's pretty tasty too. Just a warning though ... if like me your body needs a bit of a detox, then this will also produce sweat (and all over the skin in fact) that smells very fenugreeky/curryish - this only last 3-4 days though. Oh, and I haven't used my inhaler since!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZSbvphDBFjihTtxaQnT8zwluBF7pLnwMH3Bkd4PJZZEvTz33vGumJLBgtEhfD5WzYJWSl_cSnDOoPIYGYZ64uv_JGTyteQNxsE2P7xLwnaszr0dDEDYrM7d8aYVm7HT3fmUGgtfwGkg/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZSbvphDBFjihTtxaQnT8zwluBF7pLnwMH3Bkd4PJZZEvTz33vGumJLBgtEhfD5WzYJWSl_cSnDOoPIYGYZ64uv_JGTyteQNxsE2P7xLwnaszr0dDEDYrM7d8aYVm7HT3fmUGgtfwGkg/s320/014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-72694303164297886182011-08-01T06:44:00.001+12:002018-08-26T08:27:30.036+12:00SundayWell, the school holidays are over and we had a really nice, relaxing time. <br />
<br />
I was talking with the kids how Imbolc will be on Tuesday, and what we'd like to do to celebrate it. Imbolc symbolises The First Light - the start of the return of spring and new growth. The kids really look forward to a family meal (although Simon won't be here for this one), a story about the seasonal changes, and a few decorations that help us tune into nature and the seasons. I'll be heading off for a meet up with my women's group.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FQU3m44i_fRpCxyVYkJSTTcJoNnD7c38ZCw-k30UXRZSQ3N29iNimnxQniFA_mtl0br5q4eRqmVeRPIFeV1nDu5ygDIGVDx5er5ONRP6Pysr5hVKdHtVzHDL1-_QSJPi6x5qkRqcMSA/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FQU3m44i_fRpCxyVYkJSTTcJoNnD7c38ZCw-k30UXRZSQ3N29iNimnxQniFA_mtl0br5q4eRqmVeRPIFeV1nDu5ygDIGVDx5er5ONRP6Pysr5hVKdHtVzHDL1-_QSJPi6x5qkRqcMSA/s320/006.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>All that talk inspired Danielle to pull our our Earthwise activities book, find the winter activities and browse for something to make. She settled on these little paper decorations (although they are for valentine's cards and the wrong season for that ... as well as the fact we don't do anything for valentine's anyway lol). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPg5blOQv1oJw-4RIG27LAwL1vO1Lcd3LbykqvPTfMGG3L7kFc0cCUIBZ_odT0Fl7OuWZhAey8qOcFOBiuNIupjeS5HhUXyDmUMWS6NqXNpvjd2pq5uFI-W8MeneGSCYyvQewJ2P_AT_M/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPg5blOQv1oJw-4RIG27LAwL1vO1Lcd3LbykqvPTfMGG3L7kFc0cCUIBZ_odT0Fl7OuWZhAey8qOcFOBiuNIupjeS5HhUXyDmUMWS6NqXNpvjd2pq5uFI-W8MeneGSCYyvQewJ2P_AT_M/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Simon arrived home with another trailer-load of sand from a Freecycle offer. The base for our garden shed is almost ready lol. The chickens thought it was great having us all down in the garden - especially since there were bugs on offer! The kids spent ages sifting through the sand to find tasty treats for them to snaffle. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sH1Ws6eNBjzDDY3s3CtmSCR9ay55F8ka4vK0774Uhpla7aoYDYxq5v_EYGSFCBgt4EX0TiNre-sx0aUX7I66XiHktuCsQnCfDq2zuKlsZQYYip053K02qO-gOqUnzbd4SQc3GRhV_Lc/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2sH1Ws6eNBjzDDY3s3CtmSCR9ay55F8ka4vK0774Uhpla7aoYDYxq5v_EYGSFCBgt4EX0TiNre-sx0aUX7I66XiHktuCsQnCfDq2zuKlsZQYYip053K02qO-gOqUnzbd4SQc3GRhV_Lc/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And there was plenty of sand left over to refill the sandpit! Enjoying a little play until they were shooed inside to get warm!<br />
<br />
I'm now onto the fourth Earth's Children book - The Plains of Passage. I zoomed through The Mammoth Hunters last week while on holiday (and no computer in the evenings...). I realised while reading The Mammoth Hunters that I hadn't read this far into the series before.<br />
<br />
I'm going to get back into my drawing this week and hopefully finish off the course.Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-55670487249831900052011-07-31T08:52:00.004+12:002018-08-26T08:27:29.773+12:00A spring-like dayIt was quite a lovely day yesterday (aside from a bit of a breeze in exposed areas). I had a list of errands to get through, so the kids and I ventured out of the house late morning.<br />
<br />
~ First up we headed to get me a new SIM card for my phone. I had decided when my pre-pay credit had disappeared, that I was going to switch over to 2 Degrees (about half the price for sending texts). I'm not a high mobile phone user, so don't need 100s of texts per month, and never make phone calls - just wanted the cheaper standard text rate. <br />
<br />
~ Then to the library to return half our books (we usually get the maximum allowed of 30 books).<br />
<br />
~ Off to the market to stock up on fresh fruit and veges for the week.<br />
<br />
~ Then over to the park to feed the ducks and have a play in the playground. My kids have been a bit deprived of feeding ducks. Eating gluten free has meant no cheap bread in the house to sacrifice for the ducks (although, with Danielle at school now, I do make her sandwiches with a good quality wheat-based bread), and I freeze all our bread anyway, so there is never stale bread lying around. However, after having been on holiday for 5 days, we did have some slices of stale bread to do something with (the GF bread was used in last night's dinner). <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWvDEW0JUFOOEccRwKtibtHRrhknIlZi6BEk6dBZpFpPnxNVWPaF4qENgv5n5bniE1tEsKokCtQKLhJRlnPbw_lKgVo1ZJ2bHeBkXzhQofOUl8k9b0ltbSiGrmXYV6dZZv2lX9BkEGY8/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWvDEW0JUFOOEccRwKtibtHRrhknIlZi6BEk6dBZpFpPnxNVWPaF4qENgv5n5bniE1tEsKokCtQKLhJRlnPbw_lKgVo1ZJ2bHeBkXzhQofOUl8k9b0ltbSiGrmXYV6dZZv2lX9BkEGY8/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyDzikY7ouXEv9XD9OiB2bX6nzIchpf05u67o3CjCj6oCWZQmK-_N_oLfaZoh2P5GfHqHeCjvfUcKq8t7K8upQuQ-mNfCijFcme8mOrEf2fdOHwgHe5p9JkDKRHvmpniBixCZlTkzNUs/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyDzikY7ouXEv9XD9OiB2bX6nzIchpf05u67o3CjCj6oCWZQmK-_N_oLfaZoh2P5GfHqHeCjvfUcKq8t7K8upQuQ-mNfCijFcme8mOrEf2fdOHwgHe5p9JkDKRHvmpniBixCZlTkzNUs/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>~ I then went and browsed a local designer shop for a ceramic pendant necklace I've had my eye on. There wasn't one on display as I exactly wanted, but was able to put a request in with the artist to have one custom made (it will be a combo of 3 that were on display). I'm not a huge jewellery wearer (just a simple bangle, a moonstone ring, and my pounamu), but this just took my fancy as something a bit different to pop on on occasion.<br />
<br />
~ In the evenings I've been enjoying the warm glow from my Himalayan rock-salt lamp. When we visited a friend while away on holiday, she gave me a lamp she no longer had space for (she had six). They are meant to emit negative ions into the atmosphere (these are good despite the sound of it). I haven't done a lot of reading into negative ions, but I have heard of thunder storms and beaches being very high in them - I sure do enjoy the feeling of both of those, so who knows?!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3bX6qN19epmx7Yt0eogPqYym8-M7nrBK90tcWL-_Gy6qh0OvoFF1LLG3X5THiWzhFsplzhnmETAjvskZX681yLKfwgytZhVsQho_X70waeAZZvCBkwCKc0VH0EcU41uyW3MWvqB45j4/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3bX6qN19epmx7Yt0eogPqYym8-M7nrBK90tcWL-_Gy6qh0OvoFF1LLG3X5THiWzhFsplzhnmETAjvskZX681yLKfwgytZhVsQho_X70waeAZZvCBkwCKc0VH0EcU41uyW3MWvqB45j4/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-38991304873071182972011-07-30T10:22:00.000+12:002018-08-26T08:27:29.251+12:00A productive day in the garden...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabKI-TiIviDXbkqmHBO11iV9YCf8Y1MUngPJefiWsHkvbMFq_VFOH9MxZ_xBp0sVBVR31lgQU-qkoudwhnRd3EiMeK4XkAP2-wh05xdOk9sx-bp1wrKa3Qk1qSgdUvJJbm4SLKI-ZKic/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabKI-TiIviDXbkqmHBO11iV9YCf8Y1MUngPJefiWsHkvbMFq_VFOH9MxZ_xBp0sVBVR31lgQU-qkoudwhnRd3EiMeK4XkAP2-wh05xdOk9sx-bp1wrKa3Qk1qSgdUvJJbm4SLKI-ZKic/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our eggs, my first lemon, kale, leeks, lettuce, radishes, spring onion, and parsley.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Yesterday the kids and I got out in the garden for the first time in a while. It's really ticked through winter quite nicely this year and producing some good colour and veges - this would be my first winter where I've had a good amount coming through. Out of my kitchen garden I pulled out what I thought was a weed (didn't recognise the leaves), but discovered a forgotten radish in there. I haven't grown radishes before, but had some in a bundle of seedlings I purchased from the supermarket a while back. After looking over the rest of the garden, I realised I had most of a meal out there waiting for me. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFIU8oRQXbLfkxPaXJxVNfaUGqW7yEMFbta_sbvT8XIiGRvPGf9gTe4rC8vYxlf3453ryz9z3tyarPJ8ePCdMY0L3ev49yBs5_Im_6Q0evhozsvyjXY7T_cACL27xGjdVeDBgY7K9nfU/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFIU8oRQXbLfkxPaXJxVNfaUGqW7yEMFbta_sbvT8XIiGRvPGf9gTe4rC8vYxlf3453ryz9z3tyarPJ8ePCdMY0L3ev49yBs5_Im_6Q0evhozsvyjXY7T_cACL27xGjdVeDBgY7K9nfU/s320/005.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
I made a self-crusting <strong>quiche</strong> - just added in some GF flour, cubes of potato, chicken, milk, and cheese to my leeks, kale and eggs.<br />
Served with <strong>salad</strong> made with lettuce, radish, egg, spring onion, and lemon juice all from the garden.<br />
<strong>Crutons</strong> baked in the oven with butter using semi-stale gluten-free bread.Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-55583138783191436682011-07-29T09:38:00.001+12:002018-08-26T08:27:29.708+12:00Instrument bag #2After making the bag for my djembe, I was keen to make one up for my ukulele too (it came in a plain little bag). <br />
<br />
I found a piece of dark denim that was an off-cut from a long skirt that I refashioned last year, but it sat around while I spent a bit of time pondering how I could embellish it and figure out how I was going to close it.<br />
<br />
Last night I found a wide strip of fabric with mushrooms on it that I adore. I used one strip when I made Danielle's foraging bag last year, but there were still two strips of mushrooms left. I think it looks great set against the dark blue of the denim. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwvBffpwnHgpcSYeD35hJZOcjIy8TTNSF0JAzwFkuP0Y52e5kgGK-QPvXf-dAd56fEAVlBKXShBoSV9J3ACVGlpLarxKgGJG769gbP9n7xaKAsGRoXEGDKdoyi-U7gDLPaedAVEWyXQ0/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwvBffpwnHgpcSYeD35hJZOcjIy8TTNSF0JAzwFkuP0Y52e5kgGK-QPvXf-dAd56fEAVlBKXShBoSV9J3ACVGlpLarxKgGJG769gbP9n7xaKAsGRoXEGDKdoyi-U7gDLPaedAVEWyXQ0/s320/001.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
For the closure, I kind of winged it. I don't think I could recreate it if I tried lol. I ended up putting a button on it, so will see how that works.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZcMHUQuK5rWkh4kFURsCJBxY7ETJmps6ivxdWat4_ICc65ItvYoksp-k7GanmTOmYFx_MDmhnYwohlfymCkqqeaeH9ziMgt0B0b8rg5WcRFZjoxR7_NrF44TJKhnQcOC2CGv7__0guU/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZcMHUQuK5rWkh4kFURsCJBxY7ETJmps6ivxdWat4_ICc65ItvYoksp-k7GanmTOmYFx_MDmhnYwohlfymCkqqeaeH9ziMgt0B0b8rg5WcRFZjoxR7_NrF44TJKhnQcOC2CGv7__0guU/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-40373622183679576592011-07-28T18:33:00.000+12:002018-08-26T08:27:29.316+12:00A quiet day...It was a day of catching up on chores, laundry, and just hanging out. We had the perfect winter weather for drying clothes on the line (plenty of sun and a little breeze) and for heating the house without needing the fire.<br />
<br />
The morning started off early (would have been nice to have a lazy start to the day) by taking Danielle to see the dental nurse, then home quickly to hang out two loads of washing before heading off to meet up with friends at the local theatre to see a production of Charlotte's Web. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kapitikidsconnect.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Charlottles-Web-large.jpeg"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-10277" height="320" src="http://www.kapitikidsconnect.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Charlottles-Web-large.jpeg" title="Charlottles Web large" width="220" /></a></div>The kids really enjoyed it, and it was neat to see a couple of ukelele players up there (including a very talented 8-9yr old). <br />
<br />
After lunch Danielle wanted me to help her make a soft toy like one she'd been given by a friend while on holiday. So she designed a long dog (modelled off my parent's daschund). She sewed the body and stuffed it, and I completed the ears and tail for her.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh033mj3Ka1jjRREcVED0C0z_A5Eo_xf07qR3BIyw3ZcV9oNpNVufzqpL1hP2vw60ylCpcwp52MzqHg2LuWUXx3X4-cG2foic6SzxPl-c-IO-non-5dCoyhcxVu-O-WSw_p1LZLkw-RnKs/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh033mj3Ka1jjRREcVED0C0z_A5Eo_xf07qR3BIyw3ZcV9oNpNVufzqpL1hP2vw60ylCpcwp52MzqHg2LuWUXx3X4-cG2foic6SzxPl-c-IO-non-5dCoyhcxVu-O-WSw_p1LZLkw-RnKs/s320/001.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkk2u1S89SmRWlfMCXkC31tYV6WIBDFBeqU5SDXLm19Zx94gcu9cQsVSbl9SzB3kWclWm_K_q8mvw4cz5tnAPDeNtdyWyCI9Ak5XdjEq01jkG28as8mxZ3wK2UVGrWifl5iBgiDlWt1k/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkk2u1S89SmRWlfMCXkC31tYV6WIBDFBeqU5SDXLm19Zx94gcu9cQsVSbl9SzB3kWclWm_K_q8mvw4cz5tnAPDeNtdyWyCI9Ak5XdjEq01jkG28as8mxZ3wK2UVGrWifl5iBgiDlWt1k/s320/002.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iiQs9OH2ugDz7f83baSgT88j6gIVB9eTgEhpew6P421Pa8qifx96AlhFzfdE5i39tm80hnHVCe8lXxFmuQPo46GBe4NzogBUmXAcHIMTbrNvN4zfohYLguGoqM_uxXp60FJfNlWXAFk/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iiQs9OH2ugDz7f83baSgT88j6gIVB9eTgEhpew6P421Pa8qifx96AlhFzfdE5i39tm80hnHVCe8lXxFmuQPo46GBe4NzogBUmXAcHIMTbrNvN4zfohYLguGoqM_uxXp60FJfNlWXAFk/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-4877212635118891002011-07-27T23:08:00.000+12:002018-08-26T08:27:29.577+12:00Relaxed and refreshed...Ahhh, it's been so nice to be away, but so nice to arrive home again!<br />
<br />
I couldn't have asked or a better time away. We got through out list of places to see and things to do. We even had the unexpected surprise of finding some snow to play in (along with a lot of other New Zealanders too). The cottage we stayed in was cute and set on a local artist's property. She had vege gardens outside our door that we could help ourselves to as we wanted, and around the back of the cottage there was a lovely view of the mountain (sadly, not from our windows!).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K8lZ82fwODJ-vuU70llm43p12zIs-710t1Q2nWT0EjgSoqmhrRiKeoo8pAS05iNP7VHAhnG4HxErECY39eAoo5LvY_7ttu-I_nCr9kZ-OWuWSm_EKu-9TSJjpit58k-h6uP1LnD0YHI/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0K8lZ82fwODJ-vuU70llm43p12zIs-710t1Q2nWT0EjgSoqmhrRiKeoo8pAS05iNP7VHAhnG4HxErECY39eAoo5LvY_7ttu-I_nCr9kZ-OWuWSm_EKu-9TSJjpit58k-h6uP1LnD0YHI/s320/052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Our first day</strong> travelling had us stopping for lunch with some friends, before heading on into New Plymouth for the evening. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet5Pydl0JDO1uLgXIg2uw3iheYiNzYZlRuyj4vxKQ_gv4wRUQA3qOYUNAGYuiFEtAfNsuFyARKtOO1Apn4lv-PDnzkk3CYyx0FqzUz3SpP-NxcJeaBJHaRtloXOZCNSREP66ARP7De6M/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet5Pydl0JDO1uLgXIg2uw3iheYiNzYZlRuyj4vxKQ_gv4wRUQA3qOYUNAGYuiFEtAfNsuFyARKtOO1Apn4lv-PDnzkk3CYyx0FqzUz3SpP-NxcJeaBJHaRtloXOZCNSREP66ARP7De6M/s320/011.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Car snacks all packed and ready to go!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMRXf73mOohAtmi03BQJwn6GuP-nmN5uSahdK0uTAqToffE-g0Qv375VskgXG4NDY-UtuIHKYCa6OPiChKpuQbAMbxPaIXcqeQsRhuIqUwaBv6sGB2e94Cmx7lGNTONgjkl8cFdCnrIY/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMRXf73mOohAtmi03BQJwn6GuP-nmN5uSahdK0uTAqToffE-g0Qv375VskgXG4NDY-UtuIHKYCa6OPiChKpuQbAMbxPaIXcqeQsRhuIqUwaBv6sGB2e94Cmx7lGNTONgjkl8cFdCnrIY/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids found the trampoline straight away.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<strong>Day 2</strong> we headed out around 10am, and because the weather was quite mild, we planned to visit a local botanical garden and petting zoo. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzMSSQCuFqP7csK3F7G9ScTJRihcrhxQuV6OPR_QNL7E47MAj5nSPNVmv7gOcI2PEQv-nZsnOBpoOw9pge3bJvSs6jXWrNkCs2Q81Owkt5z6wma67uDR7ZWQcEUmCUhW8Oa9onm9El9g/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzMSSQCuFqP7csK3F7G9ScTJRihcrhxQuV6OPR_QNL7E47MAj5nSPNVmv7gOcI2PEQv-nZsnOBpoOw9pge3bJvSs6jXWrNkCs2Q81Owkt5z6wma67uDR7ZWQcEUmCUhW8Oa9onm9El9g/s320/003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkibpu65mmcSVN1uMB1Fe5uZT1EWuxycZSZVxbg08AuY4B6INNWcyH-RISYnUZWI4iaBku1ibANGmZhOT3GTAd8rEqR9yxHbpq6GtOUyGtCPOjVcVuT7UvdaBzuRHL0OVXrXlgzvp90JY/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkibpu65mmcSVN1uMB1Fe5uZT1EWuxycZSZVxbg08AuY4B6INNWcyH-RISYnUZWI4iaBku1ibANGmZhOT3GTAd8rEqR9yxHbpq6GtOUyGtCPOjVcVuT7UvdaBzuRHL0OVXrXlgzvp90JY/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7CEh1Sc4bxL0IYRGNc8TZNwDTU6pWqLHTX99xGMIv7UErawcsQlz_xxX4NjkbIq4D_S4VZrHyZKUydMxATXCo063ELMm5YeLk2Q4I1tVDiMHOCCLFvWFtrX9qoxPDB2l7frmsZxPo5U/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7CEh1Sc4bxL0IYRGNc8TZNwDTU6pWqLHTX99xGMIv7UErawcsQlz_xxX4NjkbIq4D_S4VZrHyZKUydMxATXCo063ELMm5YeLk2Q4I1tVDiMHOCCLFvWFtrX9qoxPDB2l7frmsZxPo5U/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WAi7bYbQzQDPI748e_VXeWj50Zq4_N03-AIj6Lt73pd7UzliuW_bvaUbdPwMOatdwG2xjF38gXT7t9BM4DPKCotu7gkuUbLgKjjWrBqIj4pZIrENbN2g8WZ6iG3TpWU69WcGujsjGwY/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WAi7bYbQzQDPI748e_VXeWj50Zq4_N03-AIj6Lt73pd7UzliuW_bvaUbdPwMOatdwG2xjF38gXT7t9BM4DPKCotu7gkuUbLgKjjWrBqIj4pZIrENbN2g8WZ6iG3TpWU69WcGujsjGwY/s320/010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQrrouFwFmI3n2PhrX-sHbK-ut1ZKdJriLKpUs7wDVFv1zI1yFCp2eVTTOgL44GujsfL9hJYRSZL7Z8mrG2bHDiLQCDAZNtq0KAvquxVu4Du0XzqOZb070g40AZ8NpwKCOw3hC3TZRk0/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQrrouFwFmI3n2PhrX-sHbK-ut1ZKdJriLKpUs7wDVFv1zI1yFCp2eVTTOgL44GujsfL9hJYRSZL7Z8mrG2bHDiLQCDAZNtq0KAvquxVu4Du0XzqOZb070g40AZ8NpwKCOw3hC3TZRk0/s320/012.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdLWcYNG5NX_q8U0yhSGx4w92YMQst55gMu8YKwMs-gLrGD05bDwdLaNrm1AET5j977VjdaCmxDy1u-He8ylF7oMxECTgrrp5cYAO5anIg9fk7lsg6tQvBmSsGTZvfiScLlh1DUotJbc/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdLWcYNG5NX_q8U0yhSGx4w92YMQst55gMu8YKwMs-gLrGD05bDwdLaNrm1AET5j977VjdaCmxDy1u-He8ylF7oMxECTgrrp5cYAO5anIg9fk7lsg6tQvBmSsGTZvfiScLlh1DUotJbc/s320/013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwQJsHvsz0w-viegw3kOifcQHdH3iNXfUlXSqbklZeNRSnP3ZlBBiMJZEK36cgCpTvHCXz247UdL2ATzECsDBNeY4Sp_yFVvHTrVyds2TgEoDvKW3wBjgnqEbBOM8gYsfW15-iXVKLuU/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwQJsHvsz0w-viegw3kOifcQHdH3iNXfUlXSqbklZeNRSnP3ZlBBiMJZEK36cgCpTvHCXz247UdL2ATzECsDBNeY4Sp_yFVvHTrVyds2TgEoDvKW3wBjgnqEbBOM8gYsfW15-iXVKLuU/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj1c2gCp9-drP7p6mKcAuuam9yPjTi5jmp8oKiFAzmOEeZd-UZqrdy_UO4P8V3ZARthRa1FOEDgPGw77j2b71n1lQDQvhSDkmT-ztJ7wNUqzknZ392kdW4pgX8kMGiifUprPP9xmyv_U/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizj1c2gCp9-drP7p6mKcAuuam9yPjTi5jmp8oKiFAzmOEeZd-UZqrdy_UO4P8V3ZARthRa1FOEDgPGw77j2b71n1lQDQvhSDkmT-ztJ7wNUqzknZ392kdW4pgX8kMGiifUprPP9xmyv_U/s320/019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1wlQJsRZr5VsKd7HKBMbdINdGrBNT1fu6j65SST7SGV73k4_W6bZEghqmtVmTHpuzbQfXi1Twtlzq_pbs2NlsJk3KQB_Yj19LIJO-qvNcgBz-bYnZ1KYxGb-KA5XR-_T5BWQT5lOpeU/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1wlQJsRZr5VsKd7HKBMbdINdGrBNT1fu6j65SST7SGV73k4_W6bZEghqmtVmTHpuzbQfXi1Twtlzq_pbs2NlsJk3KQB_Yj19LIJO-qvNcgBz-bYnZ1KYxGb-KA5XR-_T5BWQT5lOpeU/s320/021.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
A quick lunch back at our cottage, and then headed out for the afternoon to meet up with another lot of friends down at the local aquatic centre for the afternoon. <br />
<br />
<strong>Day 3</strong> we decided to visit a couple of the historic cottages in the area - unfortunately, both were only open on the weekends (managed a visit to the museum too), but we noticed snow falling on our windscreen as we were driving along. I then received a text from my friend we'd had lunch with a few days before to say they'd had a huge dump of snow overnight. I then texted (yay for mobile phones!) another friend who lived just out of New Plymouth and asked her about the status of snow out her way. Nothing at her house, but since she lives on the road leading towards the mountain, we thought we'd go back to the cottage, have a quick lunch, then pack our snow gear into the car and go for a drive to see what we could find. As we got to the village where the road turned into the mountain, there was a large sign saying the road was closed and only residents could go beyond that point ... well, we figured we could pose as residents if required ... and we weren't the only ones with that idea.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7pcvjouibQ5I4C2UsOT6bLxnfOHubZ0Z9rcxY4gMkDU-sF_-fKITuZY8PVmVc8pYHHNPtgWdzkoj9jx-tktq6MubDm0Fo2G-3qKvZRFiWYnsA4oyl8rV9dY-JL9LON4ueXwmsTcWVmg/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7pcvjouibQ5I4C2UsOT6bLxnfOHubZ0Z9rcxY4gMkDU-sF_-fKITuZY8PVmVc8pYHHNPtgWdzkoj9jx-tktq6MubDm0Fo2G-3qKvZRFiWYnsA4oyl8rV9dY-JL9LON4ueXwmsTcWVmg/s320/023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N-FKyX5vKtRZTQ0zBcRSc7AZivwzA3tnS1PGeYsk2_jD53g6NERcEm3zZW24SSXmRBc3DqUnlj_nkZWg_JY_jPuC5argkW0iskXKJL_bgvGxZr1HMKlAjPyxn6ikSAKniK_9s80e0Q8/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N-FKyX5vKtRZTQ0zBcRSc7AZivwzA3tnS1PGeYsk2_jD53g6NERcEm3zZW24SSXmRBc3DqUnlj_nkZWg_JY_jPuC5argkW0iskXKJL_bgvGxZr1HMKlAjPyxn6ikSAKniK_9s80e0Q8/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow on the windscreen lol.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnLBhb-2FiN34DrTAEQwfR_RUg6QeIKufiJ7kbl28ZLASMjeKinfVankC-Mp-0Q9i_TxbwYMUWbDHoKG1cBahvp9tlLXM0GDPb0Ka0QU56LwOWLBaMJhUBA1E1YtH8LUePIglsmwBs0Y/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnLBhb-2FiN34DrTAEQwfR_RUg6QeIKufiJ7kbl28ZLASMjeKinfVankC-Mp-0Q9i_TxbwYMUWbDHoKG1cBahvp9tlLXM0GDPb0Ka0QU56LwOWLBaMJhUBA1E1YtH8LUePIglsmwBs0Y/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1rHsyI8JI_sn3ZV7-Yoo3ZYSNKgvhLeeXOm382rBSVl-qmhc66ELJ95FVH5VDs6RJHgOWQ454vq6P9DdvJskHhfUcI0A6nBq4RlERtNatWUuhxfATS1dtmhEwvEOTfsnx3Ia9nJIB5s/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1rHsyI8JI_sn3ZV7-Yoo3ZYSNKgvhLeeXOm382rBSVl-qmhc66ELJ95FVH5VDs6RJHgOWQ454vq6P9DdvJskHhfUcI0A6nBq4RlERtNatWUuhxfATS1dtmhEwvEOTfsnx3Ia9nJIB5s/s320/028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVc16HzC7_t8dICHIAQGh62ua2Oom0bCok9oO4mIT8Jj9fID4KM1NHSr9afg9QEhZjYzrnr10UBteMAn9JgXUnPakRK_d3Hj5xfUZOSa70zI02BtvtJGLpAVgBPqHUPSPd_MC9pp0jwo/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVc16HzC7_t8dICHIAQGh62ua2Oom0bCok9oO4mIT8Jj9fID4KM1NHSr9afg9QEhZjYzrnr10UBteMAn9JgXUnPakRK_d3Hj5xfUZOSa70zI02BtvtJGLpAVgBPqHUPSPd_MC9pp0jwo/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoOjg4Lh4RvS5Ui-T73Y90HC7UVqumZa1e0jJ3tNRwJq1B947QAFRYYtvzuVaODhFId7aES5FmJQp7-ppGaRd0EGNBeigSW7Et8GowP2Ba3jotrOfPe-m5A0hIEJ27kSd58t4ft5_aGM/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpoOjg4Lh4RvS5Ui-T73Y90HC7UVqumZa1e0jJ3tNRwJq1B947QAFRYYtvzuVaODhFId7aES5FmJQp7-ppGaRd0EGNBeigSW7Et8GowP2Ba3jotrOfPe-m5A0hIEJ27kSd58t4ft5_aGM/s320/032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN5RuB9p-E7m17VFTYN4kazQEPmj8rxfb54_i59V2m03-9ImKtg9seYx6ZR_5i2Qw8NVOAAhl3ZokbzAnx8d4SSf9FW-C4KUNcMODKLaHAenjBM-AinTDGtWNTT37ZQXMP0vhwvuMM2g/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAN5RuB9p-E7m17VFTYN4kazQEPmj8rxfb54_i59V2m03-9ImKtg9seYx6ZR_5i2Qw8NVOAAhl3ZokbzAnx8d4SSf9FW-C4KUNcMODKLaHAenjBM-AinTDGtWNTT37ZQXMP0vhwvuMM2g/s320/034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_Q9IVYu-FXnbjiVfRKUW81uDyyewrC3NyRGi-txhrraXbmk1V6dShEuZWvscCIwHLpMSFl8eL9Rxk-havRz4HCjv4_na8OAMFHXI9BKIvNx2s184_s0Kd5TkC1Tt5ySrmauCRxXWteY/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_Q9IVYu-FXnbjiVfRKUW81uDyyewrC3NyRGi-txhrraXbmk1V6dShEuZWvscCIwHLpMSFl8eL9Rxk-havRz4HCjv4_na8OAMFHXI9BKIvNx2s184_s0Kd5TkC1Tt5ySrmauCRxXWteY/s320/035.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
On our way back from having a good play, we stopped in with our friends and found hot soup and a cup of tea waiting for us along with some animals to pat and feed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFQsFh8dhOqXhDAKYZUPZM5lafW1syz0jJ6eaXfmMeIhYBI1VQ1GRXurAkolxvziGsH8kEwBTVhLUtQ8OSLiQl8_iIhBgEBbHhRSYYir__gqUGRLZg4wynaYAupxBYjIDsiJ5a4TEYJs/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgFQsFh8dhOqXhDAKYZUPZM5lafW1syz0jJ6eaXfmMeIhYBI1VQ1GRXurAkolxvziGsH8kEwBTVhLUtQ8OSLiQl8_iIhBgEBbHhRSYYir__gqUGRLZg4wynaYAupxBYjIDsiJ5a4TEYJs/s320/039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8tZJKq8TxIDECu87cFa6NB3vod3Mm4D9dpDqOosy61qDAhi5YCVn-3nAtui3rlT3DCg9NXilgmN7xH1tqizJ02pnWfyeSGyJ47eXnbK74eo1ZSgxvmFMiuUXbQ0hr0ZSRBUzbhQ68so/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8tZJKq8TxIDECu87cFa6NB3vod3Mm4D9dpDqOosy61qDAhi5YCVn-3nAtui3rlT3DCg9NXilgmN7xH1tqizJ02pnWfyeSGyJ47eXnbK74eo1ZSgxvmFMiuUXbQ0hr0ZSRBUzbhQ68so/s320/041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5174nG4BRMUvqP6ELcAV1FT8fhzeo-I-qXzykBOeJ32NXWTBo4e7YYLtxVmrgJKNVMU5uKvQmIySewugU1aCskQjgIResv2YYm3GULCWq9FWUaGKLMi8Z1eQ0LAEB4jvJGwQxVJmYLU/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5174nG4BRMUvqP6ELcAV1FT8fhzeo-I-qXzykBOeJ32NXWTBo4e7YYLtxVmrgJKNVMU5uKvQmIySewugU1aCskQjgIResv2YYm3GULCWq9FWUaGKLMi8Z1eQ0LAEB4jvJGwQxVJmYLU/s320/043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgruWGfF5dC_GLDw3hmk0MTvk6_I6-th5_ugDbpqqYhiib8ODWKg5_pN5Ee6Tue05L251jGoowvovWidd086rz8pr6dL7d_3eWKhO3zlxN_5ctgshAN_2VJcqo_1JB-gqAQOexb4tjCsw/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgruWGfF5dC_GLDw3hmk0MTvk6_I6-th5_ugDbpqqYhiib8ODWKg5_pN5Ee6Tue05L251jGoowvovWidd086rz8pr6dL7d_3eWKhO3zlxN_5ctgshAN_2VJcqo_1JB-gqAQOexb4tjCsw/s320/044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Day 4</strong> we wanted to check out the coastal walkway, so took the scooters out for a while before heading home for lunch. We then hit the shops in the afternoon for a quick browse.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtje3mlz9HhmgW8HpsTCRQt1dOoonCha2NBrYhrn718GpSaIhhTgXQ8mjcgVI1_6EdB_vOS77OGB2IcEOKLeRxUHDftxCXaR1GscLwq2he0qN-bMsgfM2AvMrxmXAjc377RCpHhXvu9Q/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtje3mlz9HhmgW8HpsTCRQt1dOoonCha2NBrYhrn718GpSaIhhTgXQ8mjcgVI1_6EdB_vOS77OGB2IcEOKLeRxUHDftxCXaR1GscLwq2he0qN-bMsgfM2AvMrxmXAjc377RCpHhXvu9Q/s320/047.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHY9jNCd4v-qXzfA3vrq2mKW1MgKYK-fR8k-Nx2kSQguIazNyvLJkkQv0ewCgXbxjI0zr0MGakmBFkxU_cXsbla6DwS1BEr-WoC2NBPyJwQJwlOjYJPGoZ1cFHo8G7VJf6VxT6eJP_B4/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHY9jNCd4v-qXzfA3vrq2mKW1MgKYK-fR8k-Nx2kSQguIazNyvLJkkQv0ewCgXbxjI0zr0MGakmBFkxU_cXsbla6DwS1BEr-WoC2NBPyJwQJwlOjYJPGoZ1cFHo8G7VJf6VxT6eJP_B4/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwW-dMas57N6e5BwpfUt5kzt1bZDXd_M57qorxTgYzj7gSSPZNXKeUxv5oZU_COmd3yPED0dJdEFkYqhtrKEykqbE49j0qSQpwsgfDFsyqMKWhmvi30iu2YABZ0XmABpSDJvugYPJ9T0/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwW-dMas57N6e5BwpfUt5kzt1bZDXd_M57qorxTgYzj7gSSPZNXKeUxv5oZU_COmd3yPED0dJdEFkYqhtrKEykqbE49j0qSQpwsgfDFsyqMKWhmvi30iu2YABZ0XmABpSDJvugYPJ9T0/s320/049.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSk98CDltmy4mheyPqHZ-IoWdq8mtyXW0g1K_C4Knl-HFt_rcyF_ClkaILhibundS_HBDKLRVyshYLNEAUch4BP_U-0TUwgTtKqLnT6XSLqSdGXJ4LHhdcbfAtiPUGdqCkdmyxMfJSmMA/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSk98CDltmy4mheyPqHZ-IoWdq8mtyXW0g1K_C4Knl-HFt_rcyF_ClkaILhibundS_HBDKLRVyshYLNEAUch4BP_U-0TUwgTtKqLnT6XSLqSdGXJ4LHhdcbfAtiPUGdqCkdmyxMfJSmMA/s320/051.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L9eIig15mqtqehFXAlFN1O3x-iPkG10u64ohzmvWuKvpwAdCMRMhgk6eL6klD2Ph3VDWhiqpq_92_uRFc4baOUqlTwdGjMqIAUFEu1XXa5uybh_z8eGVVG0kbDVzoQQLpH2OfCULre0/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7L9eIig15mqtqehFXAlFN1O3x-iPkG10u64ohzmvWuKvpwAdCMRMhgk6eL6klD2Ph3VDWhiqpq_92_uRFc4baOUqlTwdGjMqIAUFEu1XXa5uybh_z8eGVVG0kbDVzoQQLpH2OfCULre0/s320/056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFA1zMoePxmTNXrE_BBrEu9F6XVgGMexBrIRgrY0ghvY10Ep_-G21VVMUZ_L6XeUKcN98jbXOsZ8TibZecQekYxo8DBDzz7E1uk5hvCRNPKCgK2opCZWQ6X3W6pUtHEbgrSqnkfFw_MQ/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyFA1zMoePxmTNXrE_BBrEu9F6XVgGMexBrIRgrY0ghvY10Ep_-G21VVMUZ_L6XeUKcN98jbXOsZ8TibZecQekYxo8DBDzz7E1uk5hvCRNPKCgK2opCZWQ6X3W6pUtHEbgrSqnkfFw_MQ/s320/060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvA_nam3WvV30mRnEHM41ywVW2xXBYVaSEMm9CCOUfIFRTzzFeQnKTw_tgXEL7kzahKw_xVxqPXtOgp83W0krOKhHhP-GmW-JBHWZYULq1SkDXltt3_qtHfMoUV0RAj6oIQgyymux5RsE/s1600/066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvA_nam3WvV30mRnEHM41ywVW2xXBYVaSEMm9CCOUfIFRTzzFeQnKTw_tgXEL7kzahKw_xVxqPXtOgp83W0krOKhHhP-GmW-JBHWZYULq1SkDXltt3_qtHfMoUV0RAj6oIQgyymux5RsE/s320/066.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong>Day 5</strong> we packed to head home. We had planned to stop in with our friends from the pools for a play at their house and to visit the Pioneer Village in their town before heading home to my parent's house for dinner. The snow from 2 days before was still scattered around. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZYIr9w_MhYiqGx6Gj2ch0NkkZC2Pu9DJTXS06ItN2Hqp-O24_JamAmmOcMpsR9CERgklspug-VSFZJaXCKwWl3F-yyokyqxszpNKb0YWGLLf2eou9lVhKt_xD5RD7J5o6wEZa2QHrQU/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZYIr9w_MhYiqGx6Gj2ch0NkkZC2Pu9DJTXS06ItN2Hqp-O24_JamAmmOcMpsR9CERgklspug-VSFZJaXCKwWl3F-yyokyqxszpNKb0YWGLLf2eou9lVhKt_xD5RD7J5o6wEZa2QHrQU/s320/068.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTGp2x4cgbxO1zGWDabvjuKFoegdDngksaKqlQa-qW1aQ4qFyzCdvBTX6B32Kj9g5-JsaRzSNm2nvZOmAnH9mpYH11zIOoYJGqgHui4-8lgO8oC7wUf2WxN6GFhf5PgBTmpCsoi5Zc5I/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTGp2x4cgbxO1zGWDabvjuKFoegdDngksaKqlQa-qW1aQ4qFyzCdvBTX6B32Kj9g5-JsaRzSNm2nvZOmAnH9mpYH11zIOoYJGqgHui4-8lgO8oC7wUf2WxN6GFhf5PgBTmpCsoi5Zc5I/s320/069.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLva0J6S8DcQHZmPoHSwKJ51_trgYKW83KWm-89rwFaevOK9sPG4umr_XlQ5Y2w4sRaT4hmv9UbZmz5eKFCbZjWFQtQYV0395z9ImGVjWLPUPdpC7djbBfuWwisIniAhN2pjTXlfPd77o/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLva0J6S8DcQHZmPoHSwKJ51_trgYKW83KWm-89rwFaevOK9sPG4umr_XlQ5Y2w4sRaT4hmv9UbZmz5eKFCbZjWFQtQYV0395z9ImGVjWLPUPdpC7djbBfuWwisIniAhN2pjTXlfPd77o/s320/072.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GVO_oelKqijG80PtMgMSs9znZPyKsXalh6nUJCnuqqTce_qQ4ErUufTsze-EEu9Cg_gbe_nQaXIDmmjrIFxXf_VYJjTX_RHoKqvSa5nIMgR9wdU6yrkPox4bnf_tWAK_xubug8Ll9I8/s1600/077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GVO_oelKqijG80PtMgMSs9znZPyKsXalh6nUJCnuqqTce_qQ4ErUufTsze-EEu9Cg_gbe_nQaXIDmmjrIFxXf_VYJjTX_RHoKqvSa5nIMgR9wdU6yrkPox4bnf_tWAK_xubug8Ll9I8/s320/077.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4GtPYAzO5G2vuDoE5fgJZNfAEa9qfNd12HoNqcjc6GkneYqLTwWvXMvvcGcmPFo4GT04nyT4OzMsWg5vdIPSsCA-2XtO7Y7IhbDoj-YNn9RzDDBfglWQBXbyuxDoVpbu9-qbjz9sMG8/s1600/078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4GtPYAzO5G2vuDoE5fgJZNfAEa9qfNd12HoNqcjc6GkneYqLTwWvXMvvcGcmPFo4GT04nyT4OzMsWg5vdIPSsCA-2XtO7Y7IhbDoj-YNn9RzDDBfglWQBXbyuxDoVpbu9-qbjz9sMG8/s320/078.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvrbwNMvW9EHHp1iyilBqOBr5eSI92oXhGaav8G2hUa6fw0AATGRiukWCe9QqTuFhkWU63pyXLifauG9zOSu4d4oolQN9cPKorbqAhSU2TV7G6rG9ukS92Yu9WAiGoY6DZkjZE5DtxIo/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvrbwNMvW9EHHp1iyilBqOBr5eSI92oXhGaav8G2hUa6fw0AATGRiukWCe9QqTuFhkWU63pyXLifauG9zOSu4d4oolQN9cPKorbqAhSU2TV7G6rG9ukS92Yu9WAiGoY6DZkjZE5DtxIo/s320/079.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWX-crbW-5Gjuzu923NorTcMgMRGcqZKfKgxcTQfNrWt4TeRQwFiDsLc92YGhQXurYnoG1ubpfrpwtWlRUtCjLUnqEYOA8ROCMxHUMEK_xgtUlN-lG0Vv9T-_BrIAn6Et-28RLfQ013qk/s1600/081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWX-crbW-5Gjuzu923NorTcMgMRGcqZKfKgxcTQfNrWt4TeRQwFiDsLc92YGhQXurYnoG1ubpfrpwtWlRUtCjLUnqEYOA8ROCMxHUMEK_xgtUlN-lG0Vv9T-_BrIAn6Et-28RLfQ013qk/s320/081.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApeP9EsjmRYiDh74bQ9Z1gF5Cpeswsif6joy2HUBdUE-09tBWnWdUfRcPvZjyc_iouGPgHTjpyECrufdd-_7OT0NsXprtd3OaajgPelhBlOAbzXnEePHTSgxJVdqssLKddwVUSfeRwtI/s1600/082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApeP9EsjmRYiDh74bQ9Z1gF5Cpeswsif6joy2HUBdUE-09tBWnWdUfRcPvZjyc_iouGPgHTjpyECrufdd-_7OT0NsXprtd3OaajgPelhBlOAbzXnEePHTSgxJVdqssLKddwVUSfeRwtI/s320/082.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
We all had loads of fun, and it felt nicely spaced out where it was enjoyable as well as relaxing.Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8123837242870432441.post-3748943148449976732011-07-22T10:45:00.000+12:002018-08-26T08:27:29.186+12:00In holiday-preparation mode...We're going away for a several nights, and very much looking forward to it. We haven't been away as a family since last September/October (Simon works all the days around Christmas/New Year and we generally like to stay around home over summer). We do usually get away for a winter holiday though!<br />
<br />
We hadn't made plans to go away until a few weeks ago. We like to explore areas of NZ that we haven't been to before - so this time around we're heading to the Taranaki. A few years ago we did head up that direction, but by-passed New Plymouth to head further north. We have friends in Stratford, so will stop there for lunch and a catch up before heading into NP for our stay. I have compiled a list of about a dozen things I'd like us to get to! Not sure how achieveable that is in 3 whole days (we're away for 5 days), but we'll give it a go.<br />
<br />
So, today's list of to-dos are:<br />
<br />
~ Clean out the chicken coop and preparing it for us being away (my mum will come to check on them and collect "the egg").<br />
~ Empty out the car of all the ... ummmm ... crap<br />
~ Do our big fortnight grocery shop and decide what to take and what to just buy while away.<br />
~ Give the house a tidy up and clean (I do like to come home to a nice looking house).<br />
~ Get a map so I can mark out where we want to go!<br />
~ Pack bags (kids already did theirs two days ago so I could make sure they didn't wear clothes that we needed).<br />
<br />
Better get onto it then!Nikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15723737293799500326noreply@blogger.com2