tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75610098702335072562024-03-14T06:10:55.237+13:00GreeNZ PeaceOn living simply, sanely, and sustainably on a small urban section whilst still working 40hrs outside the home.
Then realising you want to live the dream more and more. So you resign end of 2015! Now living simply, sanely and sustainably at home!GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.comBlogger218125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-77196355421253478052016-02-21T20:39:00.000+13:002016-02-21T20:50:57.969+13:00GreeNZ Peace is Moving!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Kia Ora! <br />
Since we have decided to resign from fully paid employment and begin a new lifestyle working in our backyard, it seems fitting to move to a more sustainable blog site!<br />
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Thank you for reading some of my blogs, I have enjoyed sharing with you. I am excited to be moving to a new platform and blogging on a new site. If you would like to see what I am sharing, please check it out <a href="http://greenzpeace.org/" target="_blank">HERE</a> !</div>
GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-45975596999539948972016-02-17T15:01:00.001+13:002016-02-17T15:02:57.927+13:00Recycling Tetrapaks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We live in the <i>beautiful</i> Western Bay of Plenty. A quiet, peaceful little village hugging the shores of the Tauranga Harbour protected by Matakana Island. It's a wee gem in the necklace that is the Bay. On a sunny, clear day, we have these terrific glimpses of the inland harbour, over to the headland of Kauri Point, and outcrops of Matakana Island and Mount Maunganui. It's friendly, and people pass each other in the streets and greet you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I am not here to talk about the merits of living here, more to the point, what to do with the useless used tetrapaks we buy at the supermarket when we purchase coconut water (silly! They come in the greatest biodegradable nature-made containers!!), nut or <a href="https://greenzpeace.blogspot.co.nz/2015/08/oat-so-easy.html" target="_blank">grain milks</a> (why not make your own - easy peasy!), or UHT milk (<i>toss-up</i> - plastic or tetrapak, not sure which is better, plastic can be recycled where I live). I have dabbled with a few options but these are the most user-friendly solutions to recycling Tetrapaks I could share. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cut the side off of a tetrapak and cut X's in the bottom with a craft knife, pushing a pencil through to create little holes out of the X's.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BsgXglKJU1s/VdWcroR-YwI/AAAAAAAAH1A/V_LfevP8cmM/s1600/DSCN6119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BsgXglKJU1s/VdWcroR-YwI/AAAAAAAAH1A/V_LfevP8cmM/s640/DSCN6119.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fill the prepared seed trays with seedling mix and sow your seeds. Wait for the magic to reveal itself. The tetrapak seed trays become quite soft, so it is easy to pop individual seedlings out before planting into vegetable beds or garden.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPop_09mLzY/Vf4NZ30_ZmI/AAAAAAAAH9o/qj-WjnQhi4Y/s1600/DSCN6719.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPop_09mLzY/Vf4NZ30_ZmI/AAAAAAAAH9o/qj-WjnQhi4Y/s640/DSCN6719.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Turn an old Tetrapak outer into a suitable wallet coin purse or travel sewing kit by cutting off both top and bottom ends, folding the sides inwards to create a wallet effect. Fold them in half (i.e two concertinaed folds). Cut a top cover to fold over and fasten with either ribbon or button. The one above is a great little travel sewing kit. The irony is that this Tetrapak is for <i>organic coconut water</i>, which happens to have been packaged in a perfectly organic biodegradable outer shell!! But business being business, some company had a great idea! Voila! Let's remove the water from the hard-to-crack outer shell, pour it into a sterile Tetrapak with a longer shelf life and ship it all over the world! Let's not be concerned that the Tetrapak container is not recyclable every where it will end up!! And let's brand it as <i>Certified BioGro Organic</i>! Truly, I think common sense is no longer common!!</span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Above is another little Tetrapak coin purse, using a button and string to wind around to keep it closed. Ingenious, (not my design) but sad that we have to resort to trying to make use of what is basically a <i>useless</i> item of throw away junk! We pay a yearly fee for curbside recycling. A few city councils do recycle these but when I inquired at my local council, they were befuddled by the question and had to hand my on to the next operator, who still could not give me an answer! She searched through her brochures and wall charts, to no avail. When I asked if they had plans to include Tetrapaks in <i>future</i> recycling operations, there was a disquietening silence. And then suggestions I call another company or even look on the Council website for the information (I <i>had</i> prior to our conversation!!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There have been times we have had to buy Tetrapaks though usually I tend to avoid purchasing them like the plague! What to do with our conundrum?</span>? <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How can we create a groundswell movement where we as consumers, tell the producers exactly what we want and how it is packaged? And will they actually listen??</span></div>
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-87288020829870318212016-02-02T09:48:00.001+13:002016-02-02T09:48:38.980+13:00The Writing on the Wall<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> 2.02.16 Post Script to this blog: I have just discovered this bit of writing which I had done, prior to my December seizures. Hmmn, it is interesting to see that my thinking has not changed much between the episodes. Below is what I wrote in November 2015:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Writing has <i>long</i> been on the Wall. My husband had a brain tumor and subsequent neurosurgery 8yrs ago to remove it, and so I have <i>always</i> thought life is very precious, that we should enjoy it to the MAX! With this in mind, I resigned recently, to finish teaching at the end of the year (I am a kindergarten teacher), so I can spend more time with my hubby. Gearing toward time together......I have convinced him to also drop his paid full time work. It wasn't easy but I managed to do it!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Writing on the Wall....</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And then 3 weeks ago, I had 2 brain seizures. <i>Phew</i>! Out of the Blue! No warning. No feeling unwell. Only a minor sore back to bug me. Funny how Life throws curved balls, without you having any indication of them coming, <i>fast and furious</i>! Just<b> Bam</b>! That's it Ma'am! Time to take stock of Things. We learn as we go. No dress rehearsal. Just impromptu acting out on the stage of Life. Learning the dance steps in the middle of the show!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A couple of days short of my 49th birthday, we went to bed after watching something on TV, next thing I woke up on the bathroom floor, wondering what I was doing there. My husband was talking on the phone and the before I could comprehend, there were 2 ambulance officers taking me to hospital! I was hooked up to an IV drip on the side of the road and then I knew no more.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The ebb and flow of Life.....</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Apparently I had 2 seizures, one at home at 2am, and then the second on arriving in the emergency ward at hospital. My poor husband witnessed both and said he felt helplessness and despair. I woke up in intensive care, hooked up to an IV drip. My worst nightmare. Or so I initially thought. This nightmare was rather surprising, and I discovered that I was strong, even in my weakest moment! I could shuffle to the toilet and back, with my Drip on Wheels, and return to my bed, with a sense of <i>Immense Achievement</i>!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have done a lot of writing on the walls around our home!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">In our bedroom....just in case we forget where to sleep!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The doctor was a Nigerian doctor, Dr O, with the most beautiful big liquid brown eyes and smiley face. At first he thought I may have had a brain bleed and wanted to do a lumbar puncture to check if there was blood in my spinal column but I refused, <i>politely but firmly</i>! He tried to convince me but I challenged him to try other avenues, and the blood tests came back to reveal dangerously low levels of iron and magnesium and haemoglobin (the oxygen carrying capacity of blood), so I was given 2 pouches of life-giving red blood cells, and <i>antibiotics</i> (aaargh!) via IV. After 2 1/2 days I was allowed to check out.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Starfish out of Water.......</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> What I learned:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The nurses and doctors in Tauranga hospital are the kindest, warm-hearted people I have met in any organisation!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The ambo's from Katikati are un-rockable, un-flappable people you could ever wish for in an emergency.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am human. I have weaknesses! And I'm learning a lot! About myself, health and well-being.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have <i>so much to do</i> before I expire!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Food's<i> horrid</i> in hospital.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Magnesium is VITAL for human bodies! It helps avoid seizures.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Healthy Living is like flying in the dark, without getting regular blood checks!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am loved and would be missed by friends and family!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have always feared the medical fraternity, but I have come to realise, we need them in times of weakness and illness. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can take drugs (legal) for the first time ever, and I will survive, and even though I look forward to ditching them, for the time, they are maintaining an equilibrium I need.</span></span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leaving Footprints on the Heart.......</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The last hospital stay for me was when I had my first baby (23yrs ago)! And even that was accidental (was supposed to be a home birth but my husband ended up calling the ambo's to find out how long they would take to get there if we needed them - <i>they came anyway</i>!) So I have lived quite a healthy, happy life. Eating organic, much of it home-grown. Don't smoke, don't drink, don't eat meat........ hell, sounds like I don't have fun, but I really do!!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sailing through Life......</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have sailed through life, considering myself extremely lucky to be able to avoid all the niggles of ill health. I thought I was healthy. I didn't realise my menorraghia (heavy, painful periods) were anything other than my "lot in life as a woman"! Silly me! Years of heavy bleeding (hormonal imbalances) takes it's toll on the iron stores in the body, which in turn can cause havoc in the body. Now I know and I want to warn other women who tend to put up with menorraghia; get it sorted!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now I am taking iron and vitamin C supplements, along with anti-seizure drugs - so goes against the grain of what I believe to be healthy living, but the scare was big enough for me to take heed and follow the doc's advice. I have decided I still have lots more to achieve, to do, to experience and to be. I am also using Progesterone cream (my body apparently makes NONE of it's own, 0.2, which should be a 5.5- 10.0 reading !) There will come a time when my body can function on it's own again, without the aid of tablets and potions. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyone interested in getting their hormonal progesterone level checked in Tauranga</span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> can do so at <a href="http://www.naturalhormonetherapy.co.nz/about.html" target="_blank">Patient Advocates Ltd.</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have felt lots of love during this period, from my husband, my children, my friends and family. It is amazing how a scare can bond you closer to others, perhaps they are reminded too, how fleeting this time is on earth. How easy our demise. How fragile our existence. And in the end, all that matters is <i>Love</i>. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Life without Love is like a barren landscape with <i>no</i> hope of rain.</span></span></td></tr>
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Love Hard! Love Long! Love Hugely! Love every day! Love yourself! Wishing you all a long and loving Life.<br />
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Thank you for reading.</div>
GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com1Tauranga, New Zealand-37.687797499999988 176.16512950000003-38.089866499999985 175.51968250000004 -37.285728499999991 176.81057650000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-84716762240551056572016-01-24T21:03:00.003+13:002016-01-24T21:03:46.939+13:00SUMMER, at last!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Summertime, and the living is easy! <i> And</i> we're singing and humming along! So, so happy!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, summer has arrived. We have had a sporadic, <i>half-hearted</i> attempt at summer, up until now! <i>The Land of the Long White Cloud</i> has certainly lived up to it's Maori name, Aotearoa, ALL summer long! Up until now, that is. Yep, world-wide, weather patterns have changed. When most Kiwis should have been out in and on the water, yelling, whooping, skiing, surfing and swimming, we've been holed up inside, scrounging for wet weather gear and even the odd woolly jumper to ward off the unseasonable chill!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Welcome, Sunshine!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> So all's not been roses and sweet peas in the garden, I mean, everything is late in the edible veggie patch! God, in all his wisdom, forgot to put stop-cocks into plants, so much of our tomatoes and plums split while still green, in the persistent, non-stop rainfall, inviting fungal infestations and fruit flies, way before they were even ready to be picked! But such is the life of the gardener. We run with the ups and downs and do our best to dodge the weather gods' wrath. Mouldy nectarines had their "good bits" chopped out to make nectarine compote (still yum!) and the fruit fly-infested plums were thrown to the birds (double treat for them - fruit and flies!). Luckily, there's still some left though, and to ensure a steady supply, I shall have to bag the remaining fruit on the trees, or else the birds will continue their feasting and leave us with <i>nothing</i>. I simply tear up strips of recycled fabric and peg them around the fruit or tomatoes. Then there's the plight of my beans. Beautiful bean wigwams one week, rusty the next from <i>too much rain</i>! Had to pull them all out to stop the fungal spores spreading to other veggie crops! And the weeds.......Weeds that love all that extra rain, having grown to Empire State Building proportions! Oh, boy! The joys of weather gremlins!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At times, we have wondered how the sky could hold so much rain up there! Huge reservoirs of mammoth proportions! While parts of our country have had not a drop, we have considered building an ark in our backyard! It was consolation to hear that we weren't as bad off as Wales, who had 81 days of continuous rain! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So in the middle of summer, the rain seems to have moved on and the sun has managed to part the clouds in a last ditch attempt to shine on us and finally ripen our fruit! The sun is so very, very welcome! </span></span> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We all <i>love</i> the sun!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Having been thwarted by weather and other events and circumstances, my garden has been a little neglected, but since then, I have been working methodically, slowly but surely on trying to control the jungle it's become. Patch by patch, I am gaining control and winning the war on weeds. You don't realise how big your bit of turf is, until you hand weed it, every square centimeter of it!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have begun a systematic clean up programme, and am happy to say that finally, I can look out and see a little order arriving in my backyard!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After a gigantic herb garden sort, chop, divide and ruthless weed culling yesterday morning, our compost bin is overflowing with the fall-out, but now we can see the lovely herbs and access them for our meal prep enhancement. All the "off cuts" have been put to good use and I have dried many herbs in my second-hand dehydrator to be stored and used over winter. I try not to waste much in the food production arena, it would seem self defeating! Which reminds me, I have a big bowl of Omega plums waiting to be processed today. I may just freeze them for later processing into jam or compote in winter when fruit is scarce. I have already made 8 bottles of spicey plum chutney</span></span>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before: Herb Jungle</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After: Herb Garden</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After our gardening mission yesterday, we headed off for a drive and then a splash into our local waterhole on the Uretara River. Cool and refreshing! What a lovely way to end our summer's day. I LOVE summer! Especially, a <i>long-overdue one</i>!</span></span></div>
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<br />GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com1Katikati, New Zealand-37.5519144 175.9197547-37.7533494 175.5970312 -37.350479400000005 176.2424782tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-18826719892922498572016-01-12T17:45:00.000+13:002016-01-12T17:45:17.162+13:00A New Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I haven't written in a long,<i> long</i> time! Not because I didn't want to write. I <i>love</i> writing! Lots has been happening in my life, and I just didn't know HOW to write about it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since our trip to New Caledonia in October 2015, there have been some earth-shattering experiences for me. In October and December 2015, I experienced multiple seizure episodes twice. Out of the blue. I should say, <i>my husband</i> experienced my seizures, as he's the one to have witnessed and dealt with them. I have no recollection, except some briefest moments in between! Every life experience affects us in different ways. What I have gained from this experience, is <i>immense</i> gratitude. So many things to be grateful for!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We live half an hour away from the nearest hospital, and our small local ambulance service rushed me to hospital in both instances. I am <i>most</i> grateful for these fine dedicated ambulance officers, who are mostly volunteers from our small town. I am grateful too, for the dedicated care and attention of the multi-cultural hospital staff in Tauranga hospital. Fine empathetic folk, patient, caring and kind. I am grateful to live in beautiful New Zealand, were all citizens have access to FREE hospital care! Amazing! I am grateful too, for a loving, supportive husband and family, who cared for me during and afterwards, and still do! And I am grateful for supportive friends, who showed their care and love in a myriad of different ways.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lastly, I am grateful to be alive! There is still so much I need to do in this lifetime!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cycles of birth and rebirth. Each year, chamomile reseeds itself and regrows in our garden.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After my first episodes, I left the hospital and I was ANGRY! Angry at my own body for being such an ungrateful traitor! I have <i>never</i> smoked. <i> Never</i> drank alcohol. <i>Never</i> took any drugs, legal or illegal. Ate healthy food. Vegetarian for about 26 years. Researched health <i>extensively</i> and took pains to understand about healthy lifestyles. Grew much of our own organic fruit and veges for the last 15-20 years. So how come I ended up with seizures?? Could not understand it <i>at all</i>. In retaliation, I asked my husband to take me to the supermarket and to his utmost horror, I filled my basket with junk foods, my reasoning: my body was <i>so</i> pampered with healthy options, perhaps it needed to know exactly what abuse was, so it could work harder and be more grateful for all that good care it had been so used to!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, that soon passed. I was wrong! And I discovered the hospital tests revealed dangerously low iron and oxygen levels in the blood, which meant there was insufficient oxygen to my brain, resulting in short circuiting! Hence the seizures. This was apparently a long-standing problem! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I knew a <i>little</i> more, but was still confused. As vegetarians, we have always been aware of eating iron-rich foods.........then... <b>Lightbulb</b> moment! I have had 30 years of <i>heavy, painful</i> periods. But I had always just thought this was just my lot in life. Women's cross to bear. Never thought anything more of it! So we saliva-tested my hormones............... shock, horror! My body produced almost <i>NO</i> progesterone. Hence the menorraghia (abnormally heavy bleeding at menstruation). </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Everything in Life is about Balance.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While still coming to terms with our findings, I had my second bout of seizures. Hospital and independent Saliva tests confirmed the hormonal theory, and CT, MRI and ECG's all revealed nothing too spectacular. Tumours were ruled out. Another aspect to be extremely grateful for. I am now on anti-seizure drugs (haha, <i>me</i>, who did not support the use of any form of drug, in whatever shape or form!), also adrenal support, hormone and vitamin therapy. I am still getting used to being a pill-popper. But at the moment, I have <i>no</i> choice and I am hoping the anti-seizure drugs are a short-term solution which is going to last only 6-12 months till I can get my hormones under control!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Butterflies undergo incredible metamorphosis. This is my metamorphosis.</span></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What I have learned:</span></span></div>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The body is resilient. It has been deprived of what it needed for so long, and yet it still managed to <i>keep on keeping on</i>.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I now have short term memory loss. There are so many, many little things I do not remember since the seizures. Names of friends. What I did in the few months leading up to my episodes. Where I have put things. The list goes on... </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We should not just accept pain and discomfort as "our lot in life". </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When we show our weaknesses, true friends will always be there to show support.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is okay to let someone else take the lead, to hold your hand and show you the way when you have lost your direction.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Every day I learn something new, about life, about humanity, about myself.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You might think you have <i>everything</i> planned, but sometimes, unplanned events just happen, and you have to <i>keep up</i>!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Life is precious, and magical. We should <i>celebrate</i> our living. Do little things each day that make you happy.</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Find the beauty all around you.</span></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are also several changes that I have made in the last few months:</span></span></div>
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mike and I had decided to stop working for a salary, just BEFORE my seizures. Providence, of which I am now truly grateful. Kindergarten teaching is a hectic environment, and one has to give 100% to the job. I am only operating on 80% right now. Our home environment will provide a healing space to be in. Our living allowance will be a <i>Mini</i> budget, not a <i>Mercedes</i> budget, but we are used to living on the smell of an oily rag, so we should survive, particularly since we grow 80% of our food!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am not allowed to drive for 12 months following the last seizure. This is one of the most painful changes, as I have a gorgeous little Honda Jazz that I <i>love</i> to drive, with all the independence and freedom that provides me with. But, I have two working legs, better get used to using them! These are my new mode of transport!</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My husband and I had planned to celebrate this year (2016) as we turn 50 and 60yrs respectively, with a <i>long-dreamed-of</i> trip to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. We still plan to go! <i>Life is precious. Live it!</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We are going to devote more time to getting fitter. We are already on the way!</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These words of wisdom come to mind, which I have always treasured in the past, and even more now, as I face a future I have no idea of what it will look like. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">"...Our
deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.<br />
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.<br />
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.<br />
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented,
fabulous?<br />
Actually, who are you not to be?<br />
You are a child of God.<br />
Your playing small does not serve the world.<br />
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't
feel insecure around you.<br />
We are all meant to shine, as children do.<br />
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within
us.<br />
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.<br />
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.<br />
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically
liberates others."<br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660099;"><i>"Several
years ago, this paragraph from A RETURN TO LOVE began popping up
everywhere, attributed to Nelson Mandela's l994 Inaugural Address. As
honored as I would be had President Mandela quoted my words, indeed he
did not. I have no idea where that story came from, but I am gratified
that the paragraph has come to mean so much to so many people."<br />
</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #660099;"><img src="http://www.aetw.org/images/spacer.gif" height="1" width="285" />Marianne
Williamson</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660099;"><span style="color: black;">Beautiful and wise, wise words, thank you Marianne Williamson! They inspire me to <span style="color: #660099;">Shine!</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #660099;">Let's all Return to Love. With Love, anything is achievable.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A New Life. 2016, Morocco here we come! (Sculpture by Shayni Green.)</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-82305329082914693882015-11-26T11:08:00.003+13:002015-11-26T11:14:47.443+13:00Reflections: New Cal Churches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think it's the Catholic upbringing in me, I absolutely LOVE churches, temples or any religious artifacts! So any travel adventures bring opportunities for visiting churches and cathedrals. On our last holiday to New Caledonia, I snapped these images.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8aav3iSosm4/ViLY28WYZBI/AAAAAAAAIKU/1gwpMHWi8xA/s1600/DSCN6816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8aav3iSosm4/ViLY28WYZBI/AAAAAAAAIKU/1gwpMHWi8xA/s640/DSCN6816.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Often our religious beliefs are set in our childhood, and after being persecuted by our local church for being a divorced mother, our mother told us that you did not need to go to church to be a good person. She told us that our body was the Temple of the Lord, take care to keep it clean. It was good advice!</div>
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G. K Chesterton wrote: "Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car."</div>
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Still though, I like to visit these places. I find them compellingly beautiful, calming, peaceful places when they are empty, clean and pure. There seems to be an essence reflected in these walls - perhaps all those souls having gathered there to pray, over time, collectively, and finding their own solace and peace within.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k4qSqM6A3JQ/ViLZMTmqgaI/AAAAAAAAIKk/9mGiUfWmXJA/s1600/DSCN6821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k4qSqM6A3JQ/ViLZMTmqgaI/AAAAAAAAIKk/9mGiUfWmXJA/s640/DSCN6821.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Details on the stone wall of the stunningly beautiful Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Noumea.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kk9FpxMtobk/ViLZKDgZtsI/AAAAAAAAIKc/1sd-SVD2F8o/s1600/DSCN6824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kk9FpxMtobk/ViLZKDgZtsI/AAAAAAAAIKc/1sd-SVD2F8o/s640/DSCN6824.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nature adds Value!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xmomTtfxhY/ViLZ7ssKWHI/AAAAAAAAIKs/ZDd6PFp0vlQ/s1600/DSCN6825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5xmomTtfxhY/ViLZ7ssKWHI/AAAAAAAAIKs/ZDd6PFp0vlQ/s640/DSCN6825.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">High on a hill, the cathedral towers over the city of Noumea, building started in 1888.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NFUeimS1D1M/ViLaYm46VvI/AAAAAAAAIK0/2S6cai3PuHw/s1600/DSCN6826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NFUeimS1D1M/ViLaYm46VvI/AAAAAAAAIK0/2S6cai3PuHw/s640/DSCN6826.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Built to accommodate 1000 people, late-comers stand at the entrance.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l0iPoMeYBvA/ViLaZFNirBI/AAAAAAAAIK4/TMMWnOMy26g/s1600/DSCN6827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l0iPoMeYBvA/ViLaZFNirBI/AAAAAAAAIK4/TMMWnOMy26g/s640/DSCN6827.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beautiful stained glass windows throw colourful light into a gloomy cavernous interior.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tz7hg09m6Dg/ViLa_T4HV7I/AAAAAAAAILE/pGYEfqPrv5Q/s1600/DSCN6828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tz7hg09m6Dg/ViLa_T4HV7I/AAAAAAAAILE/pGYEfqPrv5Q/s640/DSCN6828.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Under Sunny Skies</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TLoLmDKkO5w/ViLbVAyxmYI/AAAAAAAAILM/YW-1EyqPULw/s1600/DSCN6829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TLoLmDKkO5w/ViLbVAyxmYI/AAAAAAAAILM/YW-1EyqPULw/s640/DSCN6829.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Monument of a French soldier?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mTum9IDxAkc/ViLbh5YS2KI/AAAAAAAAILU/SRhcZXefMFo/s1600/DSCN6831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mTum9IDxAkc/ViLbh5YS2KI/AAAAAAAAILU/SRhcZXefMFo/s640/DSCN6831.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Such architectural details flanking the cathedral....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dA4qNnNoC8I/ViLcET-7vgI/AAAAAAAAILc/PyC0hsPpaGU/s1600/DSCN6834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dA4qNnNoC8I/ViLcET-7vgI/AAAAAAAAILc/PyC0hsPpaGU/s640/DSCN6834.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Blessed Virgin Mary!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tabyokILe2M/ViLcseM1x6I/AAAAAAAAILk/_QxpNn8bi44/s1600/DSCN6835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tabyokILe2M/ViLcseM1x6I/AAAAAAAAILk/_QxpNn8bi44/s640/DSCN6835.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another stunning stained glass window</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">What amazes me, is that much of all these wondrous pieces of architecture had to be shipped all the way from Mother France!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vuINpQ4enxw/ViLdF_6OJxI/AAAAAAAAILs/82IBjIDhL-g/s1600/DSCN6836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vuINpQ4enxw/ViLdF_6OJxI/AAAAAAAAILs/82IBjIDhL-g/s640/DSCN6836.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">An informal outdoor waiting room...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s0T6vlev5iQ/ViLdpalcZSI/AAAAAAAAIL8/fcGTwze9cz0/s1600/DSCN6838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s0T6vlev5iQ/ViLdpalcZSI/AAAAAAAAIL8/fcGTwze9cz0/s640/DSCN6838.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is thrilling to imagine how these massive monoliths were built back in the day, when there were possibly no light-frame aluminium ladders, concrete mixers and a handy hardware store just down the road!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kY2CAuydR3Y/ViLoXIpZd7I/AAAAAAAAIMU/Bj6hu8b0nRg/s1600/DSCN6869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kY2CAuydR3Y/ViLoXIpZd7I/AAAAAAAAIMU/Bj6hu8b0nRg/s640/DSCN6869.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stumbling across another meeting house in Mont Dore...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-adzpIgDwMzA/ViLoSHVkoOI/AAAAAAAAIMM/VuM0lNbANIc/s1600/DSCN6870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-adzpIgDwMzA/ViLoSHVkoOI/AAAAAAAAIMM/VuM0lNbANIc/s640/DSCN6870.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The gated church invites you in only on Sundays!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ASVcMnGhe0/ViLoXZVjlII/AAAAAAAAIMY/9NXzqT-UdvM/s1600/DSCN6872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ASVcMnGhe0/ViLoXZVjlII/AAAAAAAAIMY/9NXzqT-UdvM/s640/DSCN6872.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">That clear blue Pacific Island sky...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5xnOaBN3Nfc/ViLpW-RCEUI/AAAAAAAAIMk/xpWvXYoifDk/s1600/DSCN6877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5xnOaBN3Nfc/ViLpW-RCEUI/AAAAAAAAIMk/xpWvXYoifDk/s640/DSCN6877.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Whom the Bell Tolls....?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nylo7W_ay5k/ViLpvJDdQlI/AAAAAAAAIM0/7WOm5JS_898/s1600/DSCN6917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nylo7W_ay5k/ViLpvJDdQlI/AAAAAAAAIM0/7WOm5JS_898/s640/DSCN6917.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another church on the way to La Foa, sitting in the shimmering sun</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x1yuamy0jk4/ViLpq9RTlVI/AAAAAAAAIMs/7X_pRgVYBR8/s1600/DSCN6919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x1yuamy0jk4/ViLpq9RTlVI/AAAAAAAAIMs/7X_pRgVYBR8/s640/DSCN6919.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mary pronounces that this is indeed, yet another Catholic stronghold!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIZvWfzsjgY/ViLqhxdufGI/AAAAAAAAIM8/64Hav7fgyxY/s1600/DSCN6920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIZvWfzsjgY/ViLqhxdufGI/AAAAAAAAIM8/64Hav7fgyxY/s640/DSCN6920.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Simple and magnificent. Simply magnificent!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhZxL9oz1BY/ViLqp3BQSAI/AAAAAAAAINE/VrH2BdbQ2aM/s1600/DSCN6921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhZxL9oz1BY/ViLqp3BQSAI/AAAAAAAAINE/VrH2BdbQ2aM/s640/DSCN6921.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Reminiscent of the Rising Sun!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1c4jvPblPV0/ViLq_bqMJZI/AAAAAAAAINM/D39MYVLg3NQ/s1600/DSCN6923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1c4jvPblPV0/ViLq_bqMJZI/AAAAAAAAINM/D39MYVLg3NQ/s640/DSCN6923.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The swallows (on ceiling) joyfully dive-bombed us, showing off their aeronautical acrobatics!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1D6pKuWBNYk/ViLr1uvrPpI/AAAAAAAAINY/hBCVirhKt-Q/s1600/DSCN6927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1D6pKuWBNYk/ViLr1uvrPpI/AAAAAAAAINY/hBCVirhKt-Q/s640/DSCN6927.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">These cool interior churches are welcome respite from the heat.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M2pzHebHZ5k/ViLr_FfrBgI/AAAAAAAAINg/C3GNjgYfgaU/s1600/DSCN6930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M2pzHebHZ5k/ViLr_FfrBgI/AAAAAAAAINg/C3GNjgYfgaU/s640/DSCN6930.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Catholic School next door... Notre Dame.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNOEh0HKHSM/ViL5venHQuI/AAAAAAAAIOQ/ma_Ccj6FN20/s1600/DSCN7050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNOEh0HKHSM/ViL5venHQuI/AAAAAAAAIOQ/ma_Ccj6FN20/s640/DSCN7050.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lifou Island churches going to the dogs....!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7KBomIZWcB0/ViL5jT-znII/AAAAAAAAIOI/sxG9CuUtd2s/s1600/DSCN7054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7KBomIZWcB0/ViL5jT-znII/AAAAAAAAIOI/sxG9CuUtd2s/s640/DSCN7054.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The carving welcomes patrons to the church car park</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngPNLNrpJKc/ViL7EsHgVVI/AAAAAAAAIOo/-MI6_IaaDnA/s1600/DSCN7056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngPNLNrpJKc/ViL7EsHgVVI/AAAAAAAAIOo/-MI6_IaaDnA/s640/DSCN7056.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Humble interior.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLRoDvIducg/ViL6h22riwI/AAAAAAAAIOY/vku9lMIEXFg/s1600/DSCN7057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bLRoDvIducg/ViL6h22riwI/AAAAAAAAIOY/vku9lMIEXFg/s640/DSCN7057.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another simple, stunning stain-glass window.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6DnKp7oGxPY/ViL68nZapII/AAAAAAAAIOg/W41czxdzErw/s1600/DSCN7059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6DnKp7oGxPY/ViL68nZapII/AAAAAAAAIOg/W41czxdzErw/s640/DSCN7059.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love this view from the church!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kLzg5lW6euo/ViL7jO9YyQI/AAAAAAAAIOw/DJqVYCVqUJo/s1600/DSCN7060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kLzg5lW6euo/ViL7jO9YyQI/AAAAAAAAIOw/DJqVYCVqUJo/s640/DSCN7060.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Beautiful!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3MAhaGIjE4/ViL8KhqShaI/AAAAAAAAIO4/TD_xosRwBs0/s1600/DSCN7144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3MAhaGIjE4/ViL8KhqShaI/AAAAAAAAIO4/TD_xosRwBs0/s640/DSCN7144.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another church on Lifou, huddled close to the beach.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Protestant Church resembling a castle!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vEh16BECu7M/ViL80InqBmI/AAAAAAAAIPM/cxcuup52Uig/s1600/DSCN7149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vEh16BECu7M/ViL80InqBmI/AAAAAAAAIPM/cxcuup52Uig/s640/DSCN7149.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Passing sultry sky-line.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FqCMV0CBsxM/ViL9NxzG-1I/AAAAAAAAIPc/ENFdqi8Bq-E/s1600/DSCN7162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FqCMV0CBsxM/ViL9NxzG-1I/AAAAAAAAIPc/ENFdqi8Bq-E/s640/DSCN7162.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The side entrance and bell-pull.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDItnv6cMA0/ViL9LzHNE_I/AAAAAAAAIPU/j5im6dSXWpI/s1600/DSCN7166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDItnv6cMA0/ViL9LzHNE_I/AAAAAAAAIPU/j5im6dSXWpI/s640/DSCN7166.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A window reflected in a window...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2onTU1P4zjk/ViL9942udUI/AAAAAAAAIPk/3dhPY3P0Iw0/s1600/DSCN7167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2onTU1P4zjk/ViL9942udUI/AAAAAAAAIPk/3dhPY3P0Iw0/s640/DSCN7167.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Windows in windows, and hidden self portrait.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjHVmqO4bp8/ViL-Qy0Hl8I/AAAAAAAAIPs/ndO2WGPQ6lY/s1600/DSCN7170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjHVmqO4bp8/ViL-Qy0Hl8I/AAAAAAAAIPs/ndO2WGPQ6lY/s640/DSCN7170.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Another humble interior, no less appealing...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slgn5BFo9BY/ViL-fLXxpQI/AAAAAAAAIP0/leWjrObLG-E/s1600/DSCN7172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slgn5BFo9BY/ViL-fLXxpQI/AAAAAAAAIP0/leWjrObLG-E/s640/DSCN7172.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Woven mats for sitting on the cool tiled floor.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-op1TyCFpcYI/ViL_DE3FymI/AAAAAAAAIP8/JBw5T_WT4_c/s1600/DSCN7173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-op1TyCFpcYI/ViL_DE3FymI/AAAAAAAAIP8/JBw5T_WT4_c/s640/DSCN7173.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Something about these colours remind me of Greece...!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h-OatFUocxI/ViL_lXcDO4I/AAAAAAAAIQE/IUHxWGXxiRg/s1600/DSCN7197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h-OatFUocxI/ViL_lXcDO4I/AAAAAAAAIQE/IUHxWGXxiRg/s640/DSCN7197.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It appears as if the church will tumble into the sea beyond...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CALiFhA04uo/ViL_lsvxc4I/AAAAAAAAIQI/rvl2gGOXlvY/s1600/DSCN7275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CALiFhA04uo/ViL_lsvxc4I/AAAAAAAAIQI/rvl2gGOXlvY/s640/DSCN7275.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Strolling to church along the beach....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-owOMQJZ_Mww/ViL_ytPV7OI/AAAAAAAAIQU/rxaKnno852c/s1600/DSCN7512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-owOMQJZ_Mww/ViL_ytPV7OI/AAAAAAAAIQU/rxaKnno852c/s640/DSCN7512.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Standing below the statue of Mary, looking out over Noumea harbor... </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KxWTSDkoCq0/ViMASi77zDI/AAAAAAAAIQc/KZom6W-6X0o/s1600/DSCN7515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KxWTSDkoCq0/ViMASi77zDI/AAAAAAAAIQc/KZom6W-6X0o/s640/DSCN7515.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Majestic Mary</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Sacred Heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Remember, whatever your faith, take heed: your body is your temple, take care what you put in it and how you care for it!</span></div>
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<br />GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-87392345460097290202015-10-10T22:51:00.000+13:002015-10-10T22:51:18.726+13:00Bonjour Bob!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Lifou, New Caledonia</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When deciding to travel somewhere, we should always ask ourselves 4 questions:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. <i>Why</i> do we want to go there?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. <i>What</i> do we want to see/ learn?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. <i>Where</i> do we want to go within our destination?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. <i>Who</i> do we want to meet?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQn1Da3G9dc/VhiiSdqqhPI/AAAAAAAAIIQ/E54Hd8f1Ua0/s1600/DSCN7016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TQn1Da3G9dc/VhiiSdqqhPI/AAAAAAAAIIQ/E54Hd8f1Ua0/s640/DSCN7016.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sun, surf, sand...... bliss!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gCUWC-nanu4/VhicZQDsPKI/AAAAAAAAIGA/3611LZV2yPM/s1600/DSCN6768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gCUWC-nanu4/VhicZQDsPKI/AAAAAAAAIGA/3611LZV2yPM/s640/DSCN6768.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Stunning reflection of the boat on the water is clearer than the actual boat above!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realise the answers will be quite, <i>quite</i> different, when asked before travel, and then if we ask ourselves the same question, when we return from travel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before heading off to New Caledonia, we decided to prepare ourselves for the task ahead: <i>Learn French!</i> So when we received a <a href="http://www.helpx.net/" target="_blank">Helpx</a> request from a French-speaking fella, we put the book away and we jumped on the chance to learn basic French from a real teacher. Thibaut arrived, prepared for a lesser challenge than we presented: for starters, we took several attempts just to pronounce <i>his name</i> correctly!!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G6o70IwDhgM/VhikLKv2McI/AAAAAAAAIIw/zyU9DBSIRDs/s1600/DSCN7103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G6o70IwDhgM/VhikLKv2McI/AAAAAAAAIIw/zyU9DBSIRDs/s640/DSCN7103.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The beauty is overwhelming!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was downhill from there....... the basics took forever, simply because the English tongue is not used to all the softly rolled r's and petulant mouth shapes required to emit some of the romantic-sounds of le petite Francais. However, after a week of daunting challenge, belly-felt laughs and endless repetition, Thibaut left and we felt smugly in control of the basics. We could say <i>hello</i> (bonjour), <i>good bye</i> (au revoir), <i>baguette</i> (bread) and <i>fromage</i> (cheese). Mike also had a phrase which indicated we could not eat egg, due to his egg allergy. <i>Right! </i> We were ready to conquer Napolean Bonaparte, with our command of basic French!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5GT9XwM00sg/VhiiQjtub4I/AAAAAAAAIII/PmIKhuKqjuA/s1600/DSCN7037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5GT9XwM00sg/VhiiQjtub4I/AAAAAAAAIII/PmIKhuKqjuA/s640/DSCN7037.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The sand at Chateaubriand Bay is the finest, softest ground up coral sand. Superb! And it holds it's shape! Wish every sandpit had this kind of sand for children to experience.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were wholly and woefully unprepared for landing in a geographical area fiercely, patriotically, well.... FRENCH! <i>What were we thinking???</i> We had booked a car for the 4 days we were due to stay in a little <a href="https://www.airbnb.co.nz/" target="_blank">AirBnB</a> in Noumea but imagine our horror when we realised that the car's steering wheel was on the <i>left</i> side of the car! And that we were to drive on the <i>right</i>! It was truly crazy, the brain defaults always to it's patterns of old, ingrained, over 40-odd years of driving on the left, so it only took 5 minutes till we turned into the wrong lane, headed straight into oncoming traffic!!! This happened several times over the first four days. Scary!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KcBtWwcnI4Q/VhidB63DA5I/AAAAAAAAIGQ/2CR-Op69hn4/s1600/DSCN6803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KcBtWwcnI4Q/VhidB63DA5I/AAAAAAAAIGQ/2CR-Op69hn4/s640/DSCN6803.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">These gorgeous little French vehicles, a cross between a shopping trolley and a golf cart. Fiat. It has just the two front seats and a luggage boot. Must be super-economical to drive!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Driving was hair-raising, spine-chilling and downright terrifying, kinda like being in a roller-coaster ride, with no seat-belt! My butt was constantly clenched tightly in fear, it felt firmer than doing rigorous aerobic workout classes! Anyway, we eventually arrived at our destination, sans GPS, only with a map, and a compass. A what?? Yes, you heard right! <i> A compass!!</i> My beloved decided to leave his iPhone behind, and take a compass instead, so we could know where we were headed! Only, neither him nor I know how to actually <i>use</i> a compass accurately!! But miraculously, after stopping to ask a couple of people along the way (both times, neither could speak English but pointed us in the right direction), we got to our first destination. We also never knew how <i>big</i> the mainland was!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P-AxsQ4tkD4/VhidsiUazGI/AAAAAAAAIGc/2dfvclChfDM/s1600/DSCN6818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P-AxsQ4tkD4/VhidsiUazGI/AAAAAAAAIGc/2dfvclChfDM/s640/DSCN6818.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shutters, shutters everywhere!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JXm8Ej6yvjA/VhieTmKhT3I/AAAAAAAAIGs/v2QJiK80-uc/s1600/DSCN6852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JXm8Ej6yvjA/VhieTmKhT3I/AAAAAAAAIGs/v2QJiK80-uc/s640/DSCN6852.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Every window is shuttered or has rolling garage doors over to protect the homes interior from the heat!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cCVdmYH_rfY/VhigLii6l5I/AAAAAAAAIHg/9P5LCxbX2EI/s1600/DSCN6928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cCVdmYH_rfY/VhigLii6l5I/AAAAAAAAIHg/9P5LCxbX2EI/s640/DSCN6928.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Windows are smaller than what we are used to in New Zealand.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLRRZqzhRro/VhikdHcIlPI/AAAAAAAAII4/SDigaJJb48Y/s1600/DSCN7179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zLRRZqzhRro/VhikdHcIlPI/AAAAAAAAII4/SDigaJJb48Y/s640/DSCN7179.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Decorative detail on these shutters show the beautiful symbol of peace and tranquility.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OYF4Gye4n6Y/VhilofldxgI/AAAAAAAAIJY/RaQz837fLiQ/s1600/DSCN7338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OYF4Gye4n6Y/VhilofldxgI/AAAAAAAAIJY/RaQz837fLiQ/s640/DSCN7338.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Creating cool interiors. Shutting out the sun.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stayed in a delightful AirBnB for 4 nights, in a wooden Balinese fare in Evelyne's garden in Mont Dore, Noumea. There were 3 very friendly cats, Bob, Titi and Zhuzhu. We couldn't make out which was which, so we just called them all Bob. Bonjour Bob! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had the pool to ourselves and explored the local area at leisure, especially the Boulangerie (bakery) 3 minutes walk away. French breads and pastries - wow!! One day we set off to explore the north to La Foa. The area is dry, scrubby and Cowboy Country. Yep, there are real French cowboys, with Stetsons, boots and cattle. And horses. Big dry horse Ranches. Very interesting. It was so hot that we didn't dare venture further than La Foa, and no-one could speak much, if any English, on any of our stops. It felt like we were Earthlings landed on Mars, where all the road-signs, shops signs and language was Martian, and we were the only ones <i>not</i> speaking it!! Now I know what it must feel like for other travelers who have limited English, and arrive in English-speaking countries!! Even in places like India and Thailand, I never felt quite so out of my depth! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KzhiR02h2J0/Vhikg4sbcgI/AAAAAAAAIJA/OlExS6kHVmY/s1600/DSCN7258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KzhiR02h2J0/Vhikg4sbcgI/AAAAAAAAIJA/OlExS6kHVmY/s640/DSCN7258.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This is a Lifou island cat. But we also called him Bob. Bonjour Bob!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LBqm5JE2CnE/VhiexlHFpnI/AAAAAAAAIG0/5R-HGh5NTJU/s1600/DSCN6860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LBqm5JE2CnE/VhiexlHFpnI/AAAAAAAAIG0/5R-HGh5NTJU/s640/DSCN6860.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Anyone for a game of ball? Island style! Coconut-ball!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We then flew to Lifou Island, cause that's what Henri <i>highly</i> recommended, having lived there with his wife for some time (in Katikati, people call him <i>French Henry!</i>). Henri makes our pizza and pain au chocolat every Friday, at our local market. We stayed in a chalet RIGHT on the beach at Baie des Chateaubriand. STUNNING, if you can look beyond the litter (plastic, plastic everywhere, it makes me truly despair!). Washed up on the beaches, from all over the world!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Kn5fkHeI5E/VhijcPMcoWI/AAAAAAAAIIo/TqpESJ-PRKA/s1600/DSCN7089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Kn5fkHeI5E/VhijcPMcoWI/AAAAAAAAIIo/TqpESJ-PRKA/s640/DSCN7089.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Trees are tagged by young island boys,while the colours of the water take your breath away!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then we flew back to Noumea, to stay another 4 days at Baie des Citron in a hotel right across the road from the beach (the hotel which incidentally, was totally kitted out with plastic!! I kid you not, from the wash basin and shower tray, to the chair, fittings, fabric coverings, doors, windows, decor - all some form of <i>plastic!!!!</i>) But herein lies the <span style="color: #6fa8dc;">jewel in the crown</span>; in our <i>first</i> four days in Noumea, we had (of course) gotten horribly lost trying to find the local fresh produce market, so in sheer desperation, Mike has stopped the car, gotten out and rushed over to a group of people gathered outside a supermarket. Apparently he'd blurted out (forget our hard-learned French), <i>"I'm a New Zealand tourist! We're Lost!"</i> We later learned that the two women were <i>just about</i> to meet each other for the first time, and before they could introduce themselves, this harassed tourist had burst in on their group, and they both, having been to New Zealand, had come to the rescue to explain (in English) how to get back onto the highway. Seeing Mike was not keeping up with directions, one of the women had gallantly offered to drive there ahead of us, so we could follow her. Once there, she gave us her email and phone number in case we became lost again.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5uS64Xpbq80/Vhii_uFD3oI/AAAAAAAAIIY/57cDr6q62Xk/s1600/DSCN7058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5uS64Xpbq80/Vhii_uFD3oI/AAAAAAAAIIY/57cDr6q62Xk/s640/DSCN7058.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">View from within a church on Lifou</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVu1VdzH6co/VhihEoekl3I/AAAAAAAAIHw/ofg19RfnK24/s1600/DSCN7002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FVu1VdzH6co/VhihEoekl3I/AAAAAAAAIHw/ofg19RfnK24/s640/DSCN7002.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The red moon rising</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPTWfKaNSXk/VhiiIL5UipI/AAAAAAAAIIA/-akpDD3TtWY/s1600/DSCN7006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QPTWfKaNSXk/VhiiIL5UipI/AAAAAAAAIIA/-akpDD3TtWY/s640/DSCN7006.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The sun rising (I never did figure out how they both rose in the same spot??)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest of the story is the History of <i>New</i>ness. <i>New</i> Zealand. <i>New</i> Caledonia. <i>New</i> Friends. The second time we returned to Noumea after time on Lifou Island, we arranged to meet up, and both women who Mike pleaded with for directions, and their husbands drove to meet with us. We struck up one of those precious friendships where lack of time forces the constraints of propriety apart, and allows for a kind of thrilling speed-dating-type-relationship to unfold at blinding speed!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EW-AnPvmd48/VhihDrmZWSI/AAAAAAAAIHo/FvXrQ1W7txk/s1600/DSCN6950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EW-AnPvmd48/VhihDrmZWSI/AAAAAAAAIHo/FvXrQ1W7txk/s640/DSCN6950.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bays and water everywhere up North</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H2_GKtl1YOc/VhihKL5ReLI/AAAAAAAAIH4/FOjgwXcxdAw/s1600/DSCN6952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H2_GKtl1YOc/VhihKL5ReLI/AAAAAAAAIH4/FOjgwXcxdAw/s640/DSCN6952.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beautiful colours</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-orUkvCCz14I/Vhif3nQozqI/AAAAAAAAIHQ/LU3Rh2wWIBA/s1600/DSCN6926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-orUkvCCz14I/Vhif3nQozqI/AAAAAAAAIHQ/LU3Rh2wWIBA/s640/DSCN6926.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Palm trees and Blue skies</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HKXshH4rOTU/VhifDbZOSCI/AAAAAAAAIHE/3GvJXX_JgpM/s1600/DSCN6870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HKXshH4rOTU/VhifDbZOSCI/AAAAAAAAIHE/3GvJXX_JgpM/s640/DSCN6870.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Churches, churches to be found all over.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We spent the rest of our 4 days in the company of our new friends, as they enfolded us in their arms and transported us safely through a foreign world, making sense of everything unfamiliar for us. Offering such generosity that we were totally blown away. We ate lovingly prepared vegetarian meals (with no aloef - egg, in French), drank teas and coffees, chatted, shared ideas and were chauffeur-driven everywhere our hearts desired and more! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhAfxGDMdqE/VhigGua06fI/AAAAAAAAIHY/XhsZtYNEF_o/s1600/DSCN6912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhAfxGDMdqE/VhigGua06fI/AAAAAAAAIHY/XhsZtYNEF_o/s640/DSCN6912.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Baguette, the French bread which inspired the chain of Subway!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfuYQSveuFM/VhilmJVo5aI/AAAAAAAAIJQ/y0FbS8UkBw8/s1600/DSCN7397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vfuYQSveuFM/VhilmJVo5aI/AAAAAAAAIJQ/y0FbS8UkBw8/s640/DSCN7397.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Sunken forest. Grand Terre Sud.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-koGKW7i22ug/VhimcdeNo0I/AAAAAAAAIJg/7VZM3sxsFA4/s1600/DSCN7421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-koGKW7i22ug/VhimcdeNo0I/AAAAAAAAIJg/7VZM3sxsFA4/s640/DSCN7421.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shady picnic spot.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were taken to the highest vantage points in the city, shown the immense nickel factories, the crazy lunar-like landscape of the South, a penal settlement from the 1800's, picnicked in a shady glade beside a waterfall = all things that we would never, <i>ever </i>have experienced or discovered on our own! So when answering the original four questions of <i>what, why, who and where</i>, indeed the answers are very different, having returned home; we saw so much much <i>more</i> than we could have dreamed of, met people we resonated with and felt drawn into an instant family connection, a powerful and lasting memory of our time in New Caledonia. We were honoured and blessed to have experienced Nouvelle Caledonie from a <i>French</i> perspective, while <i>speaking</i> English!! And if my Google translator is any good, below is written what I would love to be able to say: </span></div>
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<pre class="tw-data-text vk_txt tw-ta tw-text-small" data-fulltext="" data-placeholder="Translation" dir="ltr" id="tw-target-text" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #212121; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px !important; height: 48px; line-height: 24px !important; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px 0.14em 0px 0px; position: relative; resize: none; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate; white-space: pre-wrap; width: 237.5px; word-wrap: break-word;"><span lang="fr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nous avons laissé nos coeurs en Nouvelle-Calédonie .</span></pre>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(We left our hearts in New Caledonia!)</span></span></div>
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-53641031047095776752015-09-20T15:03:00.000+12:002015-09-21T20:45:24.209+12:00Travel Packing Guide<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Blue skies, swaying palms, golden sands, warm sunshine...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We like to travel. Particularly to tropical destinations. We love Vitamin D - how it feels on the skin as we soak it up, lying on vanilla sands as we gaze across azure waters. Our next destination: <i><a href="http://en.visitnewcaledonia.com/" target="_blank">New Caledonia</a></i>. A little French-speaking island in the South Pacific. Never been there before but if the pictures are anything to be believed, a veritable Robinson Crusoe destination. Multi-coloured blue oceans and lagoons, coconut palm-fringed beaches, mellow yellow sandy coves and desert-like landscapes in the hinterland. Can't wait to explore! We are headed to Noumea, to a self-contained BnB for 4 nights in Mont Dore, then 5 nights on the island of Lifou (highly recommended by an Algerian-born Frenchman who makes <a href="http://www.katikaticuisine.com/our-producers/breadnz/" target="_blank">pizzas</a> in Katikati), and the last 3 nights back in Noumea at a beach-side hotel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A few tropical holidays over the past few years and we now have packing down to a T! We used to start 3 weeks ahead of time, but now it begins a week in advance, using our trusty holiday packing list. This way, we can print a new copy off each time, cross off what we are unlikely to need for that particular trip, add anything new and start to tick off what goes into our suitcase.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The suitcase is a whole new adventure in itself, we bought a second hand, hard body <i>Zootcase</i> on wheels, from the Bowling Club garage sale across the road from us a couple of weeks ago, for a princely sum of $10. Anyone out there who has had to purchase a new suitcase will know that these cost anything up to $180 for a <i>new</i> version, so I am feeling particularly chuffed with this. It has a small ding on the outside (probably why someone gave it up but I have reinforced the inside with duct tape) but inside is like <i>brand new</i>! It's all zips, secret compartments and pockets! The inbuilt combination lock is sans-combination, but that's okay, I have a little combination lock which can be used to lock the zips together. Mike has one side (all fully zip-locked close when done, to separate his from hers). I'm in love!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will share our list, simply because it makes travelling so much easier - adapt it as you will, for the occasion. Note; this is a travel list for <i>tropical</i> destinations!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Travel List<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Clothes/ Extra:</span><span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Cosmetics/other:</span><span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;">Food/other:</span><span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dress/skirts<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nail brush<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stock cubes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Drink bottles<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plunger<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sunscreen<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Massage oil<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dental floss<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Travel snacks<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Towels<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Foot scraper<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Salt <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shorts <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nail clippers<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Skim milk<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Socks <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tooth brush/paste<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sugar <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Swim togs <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plasters<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Empty H2O bottle<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walking shoes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Healing Cream<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coconut oil<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Light jersey<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Koromiko (remedy)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rain jacket<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tissues<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kitchen Sponge <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reef shoes<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Waist pouch<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunlight soap<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunnies <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mobile phone<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Washline<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goggles/snorkel <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Credit cards<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pegs<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mossie Coils/mats<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Money<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ziploc bags<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Diary and pens<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Computer/iPad<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Travel adaptor<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daypack<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shaver<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border: none; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Mending kit</span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Incense<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Shopping Bag<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="background: #E6EED5; border: none; mso-background-themecolor: accent3; mso-background-themetint: 63; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Swiss army knife</span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
<tr> <td style="border-bottom: solid #9BBB59 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent3; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.0pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Travel material<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid #9BBB59 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent3; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Battery Charger <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td> <td style="border-bottom: solid #9BBB59 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent3; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 154.05pt;" valign="top" width="205"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #76923c; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Solar torch</span></span></div>
</td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A footnote on some of the above items: </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i style="line-height: 115%;">Koromiko</i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> is a homeopathic remedy for traveller's </span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">diarrhoea</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">. I have had to use it once in Bali, and it was a lifesaver. The </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">shopping bag</i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> is a little fold-up bag which takes very little space, and can be used when shopping in markets or shops instead of using that unsustainable option - the use-once plastic bag! </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">Ziploc bags</i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> are the new airport must-have, to parcel up any cosmetics, personal care items or lotions. Keeps them from spilling into your luggage, as well as handy for showing or declaring to customs. </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">Incense </i><span style="line-height: 115%;">is a must-have for me, I like to mask smells in hotel rooms, or accommodation where there is a strong odour of cleaners or mustiness. And it makes me feel instantly at home! I like to keep an old fashioned </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">diary</i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> of our travels - I use this to log any ideas, thoughts and experiences. Long after the memories have faded, reading the travel diary evokes strong visual memories and feelings. We don't always take all the food options, depending on where we are staying and what we will doing - for example, I like to self-cater, so </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">stock cubes</i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> can turn any bland meal into something quite delicious and palatable. </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">Tea, coffee, milk powder and sugar</i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> is an essential, along with a small stainless steel (</span><span style="line-height: 18.4px;">indestructible</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">) plunger. I have crafted a bungey-cord <i>washing line</i> which can be strung over the bath, and we usually hand wash our day's clothes every evening so that we do not have to take huge amounts of clothing. A bar of pure <i>sunlight soap</i> works wonders, I use it for dish-washing as well as laundry soap. One item, many uses. </span></span></div>
</div>
<table 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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4JLFFWxgKok/Vf4D3MDwWII/AAAAAAAAH84/330AX-PNlwU/s1600/DSCN5523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="line-height: 24.5333px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4JLFFWxgKok/Vf4D3MDwWII/AAAAAAAAH84/330AX-PNlwU/s400/DSCN5523.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e06666; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Fruit blended smoothies, a great tropical location meal.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have started to take our <i>Nutri Ninja</i>, so we can blend up fruit smoothies even in a hotel. My Swiss army knife prepares many a meal, I just make sure it goes in the luggage hold or else it'll be confiscated!! (Been there, done that before!) I take <i>coconut oil</i> in a small jar, good for skin, lips, hair - all. <i>Sunscreen</i> - well, I make that.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Ingredients to make natural sunscreen.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #bf9000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Melting the wax to make holiday sunscreen fills the kitchen with the smell of honey!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Melted beeswax, olive oil, essential oils and zinc oxide powder whisked together.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Sunscreen on right, in screw-tight, wide-mouthed plastic jar. For recipe, click <a href="http://greenzpeace.blogspot.co.nz/2013/12/chemical-free-sunblock.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xPop_09mLzY/Vf4NZ30_ZmI/AAAAAAAAH9g/xXFzDg0gDVI/s1600/DSCN6719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xPop_09mLzY/Vf4NZ30_ZmI/AAAAAAAAH9g/xXFzDg0gDVI/s640/DSCN6719.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Tetrapak (recycled) Travel Sewing Kit</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We will only be taking the one suitcase (23kg) and 2 small day packs (cabin luggage), so every item is scrutinised for necessity.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">His and Hers compartments. Our Pre-Loved New suitcase - perfect for the job!</span></td></tr>
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New Caledonia, here we come! One week to go........</div>
GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-10042680938288929472015-09-14T15:10:00.003+12:002015-09-14T15:11:34.461+12:00Attracting Birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We don't have any crows to scare. In fact, I want to <i>attract</i> birds, not frighten them away! Birds scratch up the ground (tilling) in search of worms and bugs and eat a lot of pesky insects (pest control). I recently made a Garden Sprite (note, <i>not</i> scarecrow), to be company for our faithful Josephine (another Garden Sprite). The newcomer's name is Aurora. She was constructed in the garden shed, one cold end-of-Winter's day, from off-cut scraps of Cedar shutters. I simply used the pieces in the lengths they were found, so she has a child-like appearance.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aurora, the Garden Sprite</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Aurora's eyes are 2 old wooden door knobs, the nose; a circular cut-out I drilled to make a hole in a bird nesting box, and the mouth a strip of old plaited leather belt (whose buckle broke). I have had a small piece of mirror lying around the shed for ages, so it was a good project to use it on - it gives the appearance of a hole in the center of her stomach! My mother's old broken jandal soles have become her feet. (Sadly, yes, I do horde lots of things for that <i>one day</i>, when I might use it!!)</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FjZu0W8Azt0/VfU0120NUEI/AAAAAAAAH6U/Zc8K-nTN8Ok/s1600/DSCN6424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FjZu0W8Azt0/VfU0120NUEI/AAAAAAAAH6U/Zc8K-nTN8Ok/s640/DSCN6424.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Coming back to attracting birds to the garden, they need <b>food</b>, <b>water</b> and <b>shelter</b> and here are some ways to achieve that:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Improve the backyard habitat and create a <i>safe oasis</i> for birds to visit and live.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As Spring is on our doorstep, add a few <i>nesting boxes</i> around the garden, on a fence or tree, where cats cannot get to them. Ones that open can be cleaned out before Spring, each year, to make way for a new family.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A <i>Bird Supermarket </i>is simply a collection of nesting materials provided for them to forage and use in the building of nests - human hair, straw, string, wool, strips of fabric etc.</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UEOzkyN3mho/VfU01FxmY0I/AAAAAAAAH6M/FMPvgsaul3o/s1600/DSCN6425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UEOzkyN3mho/VfU01FxmY0I/AAAAAAAAH6M/FMPvgsaul3o/s640/DSCN6425.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3 different nesting boxes and a Bird Supermarket on the right.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPWKNNc_M_c/VfU2NcejW8I/AAAAAAAAH6s/dOBt_IBLdrw/s1600/DSCN6426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPWKNNc_M_c/VfU2NcejW8I/AAAAAAAAH6s/dOBt_IBLdrw/s640/DSCN6426.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Bird Supermarket need not be so specific, just a collection of natural nesting materials for easy bird access. This one is made from bits of wood, old perspex pieces and "landing" perches.</span></td></tr>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Birds need access to <i>water</i>. Have several drinking sources around the garden for them on a hot day. If the container is flat, it offers a wonderful opportunity for them to have a quick bath on a hot day. Water needs to be changed regularly, to ensure it is clean and safe.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Shrubs and trees</i> - birds need places to hide, to nest and to forage in - we planted kowhai trees specifically to attract the mighty-beautiful tui. If you grow fruit, then you may need to bag your growing fruit (I have sewn individual little bags which I peg around near-ripening fruit) or else you will be growing fruit only for the birds and none for yourself. I leave the fruit at the top which I cannot reach, for the hungry little birds to eat. Fair share for us and for them.</span></li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This water source is good for a drink, not a bath.</span></td></tr>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Birds need not be fed over the summer months as there is plenty to scavenge in the garden, however, in the colder months, I like to feed them. Scraps of bread or rice get thrown out on the grass and soon attract hordes of wax-eyes and sparrows. I have been making Seed Cups lately (melt coconut oil and mix in wild bird seed, pour into a cup and hang in the tree) and enjoying the Feeding Frenzy that results.</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jlYeqjpst8/VfU2Fhb8NCI/AAAAAAAAH6k/v4i12FUyNxI/s1600/DSCN6430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jlYeqjpst8/VfU2Fhb8NCI/AAAAAAAAH6k/v4i12FUyNxI/s640/DSCN6430.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Seed Cups</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-769cRIMPSLY/VfU2j7V6peI/AAAAAAAAH68/AaJlXvtINJE/s1600/DSCN6431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-769cRIMPSLY/VfU2j7V6peI/AAAAAAAAH68/AaJlXvtINJE/s320/DSCN6431.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My seed cups last about a week as the birds get to know about them!</span></td></tr>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Birds need a <i>cat-free</i> garden, or like ours, a Super Lazy Cat, who allows them to creep right up on her while she sleeps, and sneak her remaining food right out of her bowl! From a kitten, we have discouraged her from catching birds (yes, it can be done!).</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ts0Wkt-3b0/VfU4dlsfSZI/AAAAAAAAH7M/JkfyUulhY_E/s1600/DSCN6427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ts0Wkt-3b0/VfU4dlsfSZI/AAAAAAAAH7M/JkfyUulhY_E/s400/DSCN6427.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our old birdbath (needing a good scrub and filling up with fresh water).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KMBr7RQDUzU/VfU4dCOIwjI/AAAAAAAAH7I/-jd4oiiiy3Q/s1600/DSCN6428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KMBr7RQDUzU/VfU4dCOIwjI/AAAAAAAAH7I/-jd4oiiiy3Q/s640/DSCN6428.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Buddha Head Bath is always a good drinking hole for birds as well as the cat!! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I sometimes used to curse the birds in our garden, as I would find them scratching up new seedlings, or pecking every ripening fruit or messing up my newly laid out pathways, but I have learned to live alongside them. I have a few little blackbirds that forage for worms within my grasp, while weeding. They have come to know and trust us. A few thrushes living in our garden are wonderful garden helpers - we hear them pounding the snails they find, on our stepping stones and it makes us smile, they are working hard at saving our crops from snails! When I plant new seedlings, I have to put collars around them (plastic bottles or cans) to stop hungry little birdies from scratching at their roots - but these extra measures just ensure that we all stay happy, and in <i>harmony</i> with one another! The joy of seeing them in the garden, and the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. </span></div>
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-49141996526063334052015-08-31T14:38:00.005+12:002015-08-31T14:38:56.181+12:00Wood you, could you?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reduce, reuse, recycle. The "Green" mantra these days. Well, I love being able to avoid unecessary waste heading off to landfill. Trying to be mindful and less wasteful, I try to see the possibility in normal end-of-use throw away items. Recently I made enough cleaning clothes out of an old threadbare winter sheet. Long past it's use-by date, with a threadbare middle where bottoms lie, tossing and turning the night away, week after month after year! Usually, sheets maintain their fluffy integrity all around the sides, so I cut the sheet in intervals, tore them into strips and sewed them into user-friendly-sized cleaning clothes. If you use 3 or 4 layers, the cloths are padded and <i>extra </i>strong. I even managed to make a couple for each of my kids to use in their flats. These flannel winter-sheet cloths make for excellent cleaning and leave very little (if any) lint on windows, kitchen and bathroom surfaces or benchtops. They are soft and do not scratch delicate surfaces. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sold? Next time you're about to throw away that old sheet, think again - a couple of year's supply of cleaning cloths lie in them thar unused sides!! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Great little soft housekeeping helpers at hand.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oKIi8BKiiEg/VdlhBkFJW3I/AAAAAAAAH2g/7qDRdmplToA/s1600/DSCN5886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oKIi8BKiiEg/VdlhBkFJW3I/AAAAAAAAH2g/7qDRdmplToA/s400/DSCN5886.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another fun scrap crafting project is to buy hemp string (I buy mine from the $2 shop). Hemp is a rough string and when knitted into a 24 stitch square, it makes an excellent dish cloth. The roughness of the finished knitting makes it ideal for scrubbing plates, pots, dirty cutlery etc. needing a scrubbing brush or extra muscle power.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LBQWU7YTHdM/VdWcivYxpfI/AAAAAAAAH0w/fon7uIjAd_o/s1600/DSCN6110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LBQWU7YTHdM/VdWcivYxpfI/AAAAAAAAH0w/fon7uIjAd_o/s640/DSCN6110.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Down in the garden shed, I have been a busy little bee, enjoying using the cedar scraps which Mike collects for kindling. I sort through them first and squirrel away pieces for my little woodwork projects. Made a few items and working on another scarecrow at the moment (Josephine, our old one, needs a mate).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Little Bay Leaf storage box.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ixs9WmXAGhs/VdWfMyCf3hI/AAAAAAAAH14/u8MFZrIPrNk/s1600/DSCN6132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ixs9WmXAGhs/VdWfMyCf3hI/AAAAAAAAH14/u8MFZrIPrNk/s640/DSCN6132.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I tried to copy a Star of David design which a helpxchanger, Marcus Sykora, made us, many, many years ago. I added a little scrap focal point from an </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">aluminium piece</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> of a "V" can I picked up on the road.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l-VC6ZhXFSM/VdlBRbz3m3I/AAAAAAAAH2I/BT4yjgeKjRA/s1600/DSCN6076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l-VC6ZhXFSM/VdlBRbz3m3I/AAAAAAAAH2I/BT4yjgeKjRA/s640/DSCN6076.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A recipe book holder</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_8uZ5X3-ghs/VdlBR675IKI/AAAAAAAAH2M/v8OWZqLd-Ec/s1600/DSCN6078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_8uZ5X3-ghs/VdlBR675IKI/AAAAAAAAH2M/v8OWZqLd-Ec/s640/DSCN6078.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Holder <i>with</i> recipe book.</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-14GWE2hOMQQ/VeOp0UNyXqI/AAAAAAAAH3w/NMIg0q2zLew/s1600/DSCN6133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-14GWE2hOMQQ/VeOp0UNyXqI/AAAAAAAAH3w/NMIg0q2zLew/s640/DSCN6133.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: small;">A wooden coddling moth pheromone trap, now's the time to hang it, just before bud burst (well, I may be a little early, hopeful really) to monitor the moths and snag some of the lusty males. It's made from scraps - an old sheet of perspex, blind slats, old curtain wire and voila! Should do the job nicely. It pays to change the pheromone plugs after 5 weeks (available from farm supplies).</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coddling Moth Pheromone trap</span></td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a wet and dull day, non-stop raining, I have been stuck inside making sweet treats today, so I shall put on my raincoat and head to the garden shed to continue to make Josephine's buddy. Sweet!</span><br /></div>
GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-11019360518824122742015-08-24T21:13:00.001+12:002015-08-24T21:13:13.397+12:00Seedy Side of Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Seed Cups</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9cxzE9pEo7U/VdWd2VHBQCI/AAAAAAAAH1Y/tZH_6pjXGVE/s1600/DSCN6121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9cxzE9pEo7U/VdWd2VHBQCI/AAAAAAAAH1Y/tZH_6pjXGVE/s640/DSCN6121.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anyone for a cuppa seeds?</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yay, for the <i>World Wide Web</i> of shared ideas! I came across this idea, of creating a feeder for wild birds in the garden. Down to the Opp Shop (second hand store) I nipped and came away with 3 pre-loved tea cups for the grand total of NZ$1.50. Once at home, I threw some rather old coconut oil (that I usually use for oiling my wooden creations) in a pot and melted it, added wild bird seed and tossed that into the cups. It took less than 10 mins!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2GRVAU-jsrM/VdWdrUe5OSI/AAAAAAAAH1Q/HQUNMwciR2Y/s1600/DSCN6126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2GRVAU-jsrM/VdWdrUe5OSI/AAAAAAAAH1Q/HQUNMwciR2Y/s640/DSCN6126.JPG" width="480" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next, I rummaged in my sewing box and came up with some old lace and fabric tape to tie around the handles of the tea cups. waiting rather impatiently for the coconut oil to set hard! As soon as this was evident, I whisked outdoors to hang the seed cups in a tree right in front of our kitchen/dining windows so we could easily view the feeding birds.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNwLta0Xh0U/VdWenwheygI/AAAAAAAAH1g/graKBNe3fv0/s1600/DSCN6127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PNwLta0Xh0U/VdWenwheygI/AAAAAAAAH1g/graKBNe3fv0/s640/DSCN6127.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This seed cup had the remaining melted coconut oil poured over the top to form a hard seal.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I waited and watched. Nothing. De nada! Nil. No birds came. The next day I watched, <i>still </i>nothing! <i>Bugger!</i> They don't work, I fretted! <i>All that for nothing! </i> </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then later in that day, we saw some sparrows hanging upside down trying to get to the seed and I felt a whoosh of joy! It took them a while to get the hang of feeding upside down!</span><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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o354_7YzZhk/VdWe0bLNprI/AAAAAAAAH1o/86yuUT6UgEw/s1600/DSCN6128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o354_7YzZhk/VdWe0bLNprI/AAAAAAAAH1o/86yuUT6UgEw/s640/DSCN6128.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 feeding cups placed at eye level for easy bird watching from inside our house.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>And then</i></span> we were truly rewarded, when we spotted a little Silver-eye, or white-eye hanging upside down and feeding with relative ease, like it was used to eating upside down! I ran for the camera and thanks to a zoom lens, was able to capture these images from about 3 <span style="font-size: x-small;">1/2 </span>metres away, through double-glazed windows! Hooray for modern technology!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHvZFSL0lkE/VdrXqYgdNPI/AAAAAAAAH28/lZcT0t4_46w/s1600/DSCN6155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FHvZFSL0lkE/VdrXqYgdNPI/AAAAAAAAH28/lZcT0t4_46w/s640/DSCN6155.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yummy Bird Treats</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F4Q79DuCoOk/VdrXuGECS7I/AAAAAAAAH3E/mzeLFfapIHY/s1600/DSCN6162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F4Q79DuCoOk/VdrXuGECS7I/AAAAAAAAH3E/mzeLFfapIHY/s640/DSCN6162.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look at this gem - wings beating at a 100km per second, this little guy selected <i>exactly</i> the seeds he wanted!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I see my cat scheming, thinking of ways to reach the seed cups, but I think I can rest easy, these are cat-proof! She often eats the bread or left-over cooked grains I put out for the birds on the grass!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SzXJg0cmtYc/VdrX24s4ZtI/AAAAAAAAH3M/PTxWlIycx6Y/s1600/DSCN6148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SzXJg0cmtYc/VdrX24s4ZtI/AAAAAAAAH3M/PTxWlIycx6Y/s400/DSCN6148.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do I look like a bird? Maybe I'll get fed!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DE8le2KPlL4/VdrYLbNqx0I/AAAAAAAAH3U/821rKXO4SP0/s1600/DSCN6152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DE8le2KPlL4/VdrYLbNqx0I/AAAAAAAAH3U/821rKXO4SP0/s640/DSCN6152.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guess not.... I'll just have to wait till dinner-time! </span></td></tr>
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-48261940934978814652015-08-09T09:48:00.000+12:002015-08-09T13:55:17.342+12:00Healthy Soil, Healthy Food<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ending of Winter. Time to prune and tidy up the garden for the Big Spring into Action! We end up with unsightly heaps like this below. Bring in the trusty little home gardener Masport mulcher. It is the Winter gardener's Best Little Helper. Chews up branches and spits them out in teeny little pieces which can be spread on bare ground as a weed-suppressing mulch, which ultimately breaks down over 9-12 months to feed and condition the soil.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t_THdL4ZvMs/VZs1KekhvvI/AAAAAAAAHoM/T10hSwzk7V0/s1600/DSCN5882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t_THdL4ZvMs/VZs1KekhvvI/AAAAAAAAHoM/T10hSwzk7V0/s640/DSCN5882.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What a mess!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QGfrRES4EDA/VZs1BpZa_CI/AAAAAAAAHn8/2E84Usxk6-Q/s1600/DSCN5883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QGfrRES4EDA/VZs1BpZa_CI/AAAAAAAAHn8/2E84Usxk6-Q/s640/DSCN5883.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chewing through the fallout, one branch at a time.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The only downside of this exercise is that our little mulcher takes branches no bigger than 4cm diameter. And often gets jammed, so I have to wait for the branch to dry out and shrink a bit before I can pull it out and start again, sometimes waiting 2-3 weeks for that process!!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLY2B9hkY_8/VbXbCe0BfuI/AAAAAAAAHrU/QtNfMy7D2Hc/s1600/DSCN6047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lLY2B9hkY_8/VbXbCe0BfuI/AAAAAAAAHrU/QtNfMy7D2Hc/s640/DSCN6047.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The bigger branches which can't go through the mulcher are chopped up with my electric chainsaw, for firewood.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Smaller branches are chopped to size to keep as kindling for next winter's fires.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5ZwVLPSvNU/VcPwQQL4m5I/AAAAAAAAHww/sJVWGdMbHHU/s1600/DSCN6059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5ZwVLPSvNU/VcPwQQL4m5I/AAAAAAAAHww/sJVWGdMbHHU/s640/DSCN6059.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mulch is distributed on cardboard for walkways, or straight on the ground around fruit trees etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I leave the mulch to stand for 5 weeks <i>before</i> distributing, as it can leach nitrogen from the soil as it decays. It works to suppress weeds and over time, fungi decompose the woody chips and help to condition and enrich the soil. We are also lucky enough to have a local tree chopper guy who dumps fresh wood chip for us when we ask, as we would never be able to produce enough on our own. We used to have to pay for loads, so this is a truly valuable contact! If he is in the area, it saves him travelling to dump it. We both win!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before: A mess! Weeds have overgrown this area of the orchard over winter!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Day 1, halfway weeded.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Day 2, job complete and area is mulched for weed suppression.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K_c6KCQMGbI/VcQEFmb3IvI/AAAAAAAAHy4/rdOsIkXJ0rw/s1600/DSCN6083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K_c6KCQMGbI/VcQEFmb3IvI/AAAAAAAAHy4/rdOsIkXJ0rw/s640/DSCN6083.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Asparagus bed and path weeded for spring growth. I have been busy! This area will need mulch too, if I am not to weed it all over again in 2-3 weeks time! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Untreated sawdust makes a good "floor" in front of the bee hives. It suppresses the weeds and is soft and spongy to walk on. Mike occasionally collects a large bag-full from a local woodworker.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Peach tree weeded and pathways mulched.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-luxWTexfQb4/VcP0H6qZoCI/AAAAAAAAHyE/nCm3LRBd8Ug/s1600/DSCN6026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-luxWTexfQb4/VcP0H6qZoCI/AAAAAAAAHyE/nCm3LRBd8Ug/s400/DSCN6026.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bee foraging garden weeded and mulched. Note how the frosts have killed the grassed area!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9HrcTG9kSY/VcQFRUEHUGI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/MMiIiP1Euno/s1600/DSCN6087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9HrcTG9kSY/VcQFRUEHUGI/AAAAAAAAHzQ/MMiIiP1Euno/s640/DSCN6087.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">All those weeds and prunings end up returning to the soil as wonderful rich compost!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n-her1q_gFQ/VcPwCK9oAKI/AAAAAAAAHwk/_dJAo6K7DCE/s1600/DSCN6049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n-her1q_gFQ/VcPwCK9oAKI/AAAAAAAAHwk/_dJAo6K7DCE/s640/DSCN6049.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Time to sort out seeds and plan for a busy sowing season ahead! Yay! Love this activity! A time of planning, renewal and growth.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LERzUIuSyWc/VcQEEzhNIPI/AAAAAAAAHyw/S8BbzScRTYg/s1600/DSCN6085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LERzUIuSyWc/VcQEEzhNIPI/AAAAAAAAHyw/S8BbzScRTYg/s640/DSCN6085.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Compost feeds the crops</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Rct734VHmE/VcQFNz_qKLI/AAAAAAAAHzI/MyfZIVo0ekU/s1600/DSCN6086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Rct734VHmE/VcQFNz_qKLI/AAAAAAAAHzI/MyfZIVo0ekU/s640/DSCN6086.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A brown seaweed sits in water, steeping out all the goodness. I use this, highly diluted to feed food crops, also use it concentrated, in the compost bin to help accelerate the decomposition process. Every couple of weeks, I head down to the harbour and collect a bucket full.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4VuPpKII6lg/VcQGcNlWxjI/AAAAAAAAHzo/3ipt6cfDmME/s1600/DSCN6092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4VuPpKII6lg/VcQGcNlWxjI/AAAAAAAAHzo/3ipt6cfDmME/s640/DSCN6092.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sea lettuce collected from the shores of our harbour, steeped in water or added directly into the compost bin provides a good source of sea-rich nutrients. It can be used as a direct mulch on garden beds, however, I do not collect enough at any one time to put this into practice.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The worm farm in the foreground, provides vermicast and worm-wee tea, which is also diluted and fed to hungry growing food crops.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Winter crops fastapproaching harvest.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-scuK0HBx5Ik/VcQEHDuhY3I/AAAAAAAAHzA/3mAQSaHlCR8/s1600/DSCN6084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-scuK0HBx5Ik/VcQEHDuhY3I/AAAAAAAAHzA/3mAQSaHlCR8/s640/DSCN6084.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Celery looking good. Healthy soil = healthy plants.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrM_C1mxblY/VcQGeEeEfNI/AAAAAAAAHzw/Z3ny03gGBxQ/s1600/DSCN6093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrM_C1mxblY/VcQGeEeEfNI/AAAAAAAAHzw/Z3ny03gGBxQ/s640/DSCN6093.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The citrus is looking good; lemons, limes, mandarins, grapefruit and oranges all ripening nicely, thanks to healthy soil!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recently I have enjoyed making a couple of log bug-homes. It's a simple idea I found on the World Wide Web. Drill several different gauge holes into a section of log. Add a hook on the top, some rope and hang it in a tree. Now I just need to wait and see who takes up residence. I added a roof of old floor vinyl to protect the top from rain.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ag2HcJgaO9o/VcPzsW51TJI/AAAAAAAAHx0/3fimM3Mx_cU/s1600/DSCN6023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ag2HcJgaO9o/VcPzsW51TJI/AAAAAAAAHx0/3fimM3Mx_cU/s640/DSCN6023.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I spied this wonderful sight below, while out walking in Katikati. Someone has used big water bottles with the bottoms cut off, as mini glass houses to protect his/her new seedlings in the veg bed. Brilliant recycling idea! Love it!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U57BQr0Aqd8/VcPxe-kyzWI/AAAAAAAAHxE/mrMuRShAvz4/s1600/DSCN6036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U57BQr0Aqd8/VcPxe-kyzWI/AAAAAAAAHxE/mrMuRShAvz4/s640/DSCN6036.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">And lastly, talking about healthy soil, healthy food..... we are enjoying our smoothies most days - I throw a bunch of garden produce into the blender and whizz away. Simply deliciously healthy kai!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RT0OvKavcSI/VZsyu7h8BDI/AAAAAAAAHnM/wUyqBwFc6uo/s1600/DSCN5818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RT0OvKavcSI/VZsyu7h8BDI/AAAAAAAAHnM/wUyqBwFc6uo/s640/DSCN5818.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I freeze fruit when it's in glut, for lean times like in winter - frozen blueberries and cubes of feijoa pulp. Our one frost-surviving bunch of bananas is slowly ripening in the garden shed, fodder for smoothies over the coming weeks....</span></td></tr>
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-57431013475430169312015-08-03T09:16:00.001+12:002016-02-17T15:12:54.424+13:00Oat-so Easy!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Oat-so Easy!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLRsl2EwPIY/Vb6EVMJVdrI/AAAAAAAAHwQ/kmuRYxBtNlc/s1600/IMG_6078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NLRsl2EwPIY/Vb6EVMJVdrI/AAAAAAAAHwQ/kmuRYxBtNlc/s640/IMG_6078.JPG" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Packaging. The evil villain in planet destruction. So much of it, we are literally drowning in it! For a long time, I have raged against Tetrapak packaging. In New Zealand, we do not have the technology to recycle it (it is made up of 3 or 4 different layers heat-bonded together. So everything goes into landfill, clogging up the earth for the next few decades. I have tried to recycle them myself, after someone shared this idea with me. Make them into wallets. Trouble is, many people no longer use cash, so a wallet is a thing of the past. Recently, I hit on the brainwave of making them into sewing kit travel packs. Inside, I store a selection of buttons, cotton, pins, needle and safety pins (for emergency mending while on holiday). They may make great little gifts to give away for that person heading off on a tropical holiday.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My husband is moving away from cow's milk, preferring to use soy, oat or rice milks. Trouble is, these all come in non-recyclable tetrapaks. And there is only so many tetrapak wallets we can recycle (I don't know that many friends who travel)! So I was mighty fine excited when I discovered Megan May's recipe for making oat milk. Easy Peasy! Reduce the load of landfill stockpiles of Tetrapakaging!! Yay! I have tu-tu-ed with the recipe to make it suit our palate.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OGoQqiXwf-I/Vb59YWiAKDI/AAAAAAAAHvM/g1dj6TfXNhQ/s1600/DSCN6012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OGoQqiXwf-I/Vb59YWiAKDI/AAAAAAAAHvM/g1dj6TfXNhQ/s640/DSCN6012.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Soak 1 1/2 cups oats for 3-4 hours in 6 1/2 cups water. We use organic rolled oats. Add 1 heaped tspn honey and a generous pinch of salt. Optional: add a few drops vanilla essence. Blend everything for approximately 30 seconds.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZ_0mZf7EfI/Vb59RWA8RFI/AAAAAAAAHvE/NFmAxMRdMOo/s1600/DSCN6013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wZ_0mZf7EfI/Vb59RWA8RFI/AAAAAAAAHvE/NFmAxMRdMOo/s640/DSCN6013.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sieve it once, then pass it a second time through a nut bag to remove all oaty residue.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rt7pxVuqqA/Vb59Y09jr5I/AAAAAAAAHvU/E0zBS_jQyFo/s1600/DSCN6014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rt7pxVuqqA/Vb59Y09jr5I/AAAAAAAAHvU/E0zBS_jQyFo/s640/DSCN6014.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The residue makes this a slow process, so one can hasten it by squeezing the bag to extract the liquid.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlw6X76GYpI/Vb5-eL5le8I/AAAAAAAAHvc/ScnVC2xURCY/s1600/DSCN6015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vlw6X76GYpI/Vb5-eL5le8I/AAAAAAAAHvc/ScnVC2xURCY/s640/DSCN6015.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Voila! Oat milk, beautiful waste free oat milk! I have also experimented with freezing, and yes, it freezes well!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xeQuC9KWk1U/Vb5-jVGqhpI/AAAAAAAAHvk/Vy8vyny33QM/s1600/DSCN6054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xeQuC9KWk1U/Vb5-jVGqhpI/AAAAAAAAHvk/Vy8vyny33QM/s640/DSCN6054.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why waste the oat residue? Google an oaty raisin biscuit recipe and use these to dunk in your morning cuppa tea!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> At the end of the day, it is a hassle to remember to make the oat milk for a constant supply - but the process is easy and apart from the soaking, takes about 15 minutes. I can do it blind-folded now! And I love that we are reducing waste - AND saving heaps of money in the process!</span><br />
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-41894540219952108562015-07-29T20:38:00.004+12:002015-07-29T20:38:54.869+12:00All Wrapped Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How to recycle newspaper? New Newspaper Paper. I mean, it can be recycled into <i>new</i> newspaper. But it hardly makes it's way to our recycle bin, specially in Winter! We use it <i>heaps</i> here at home. In fact, we even collect unsold newspaper from the supermarket and bring it home to use. It really is a product of <i>processed trees</i>. We line our kitchen scrap compost bin with newspaper and layer it <i>between</i> the scraps to absorb the liquid and smells. We also use heaps for keeping our fires lit and roaring-hot. But what <i>else</i> could we use it for? Ofttimes I have stapled newspaper together into rudimentary paper bags to hold produce I needed to give away in the absence of plastic bags and they have worked satisfactorily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My friend's birthday was a good excuse to get crafting with the wrapping (awkward-shaped pressie), so I ended up sewing a newspaper gift bag! Tricky (handle) but easily possible!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSvyM3kQcMU/Vbh9FGSjprI/AAAAAAAAHuU/IFev2i3mE-s/s1600/DSCN5841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oSvyM3kQcMU/Vbh9FGSjprI/AAAAAAAAHuU/IFev2i3mE-s/s640/DSCN5841.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The travel section of the paper, complete with plaited handles for added strength.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I saw an idea on the WWWeb. Printed newsprint wrapping paper. So I had a go. Tried a few ideas, discarded what didn't work too well and ran with what did work.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LUy3VIdVtQM/Vbh9yiMmpXI/AAAAAAAAHuk/3Iq8FfeyC0g/s1600/DSCN6067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LUy3VIdVtQM/Vbh9yiMmpXI/AAAAAAAAHuk/3Iq8FfeyC0g/s640/DSCN6067.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2 pieces of the same, sewn together.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3_YhHF7L65Q/Vbh7uSJsIgI/AAAAAAAAHt8/nUksU_H4AR8/s1600/DSCN6062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3_YhHF7L65Q/Vbh7uSJsIgI/AAAAAAAAHt8/nUksU_H4AR8/s640/DSCN6062.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Feeling like Noah - 2 of every type of newspaper page.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6tkB67nkaQg/Vbh9rVL4HXI/AAAAAAAAHuc/HxbodEnGZd0/s1600/DSCN6066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6tkB67nkaQg/Vbh9rVL4HXI/AAAAAAAAHuc/HxbodEnGZd0/s640/DSCN6066.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sewn together to form a larger piece of wrapping paper. let the advertising speak for itself.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I tried painted swirls and patterns onto newspaper, but wasn't too happy with the outcome. So I reached for an old wall stencil of a lotus flower and my old trusty roller. I simply ran the roller over the stencil, using student acrylic paint. Each image takes 4-6 seconds to achieve. Changing colours half way gives a little depth and in no time at all, you have a sheet of wrap-worthy paper.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrWrGDPOQzU/Vbh7wxL25FI/AAAAAAAAHuE/hUFB1CtQoOA/s1600/DSCN6063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrWrGDPOQzU/Vbh7wxL25FI/AAAAAAAAHuE/hUFB1CtQoOA/s640/DSCN6063.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Stencil, roller and acrylic paint. Simple ingredients.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amYzxLFW7bQ/Vbh7yjb5HGI/AAAAAAAAHuM/fhqi7JZX08Y/s1600/DSCN6065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-amYzxLFW7bQ/Vbh7yjb5HGI/AAAAAAAAHuM/fhqi7JZX08Y/s640/DSCN6065.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Several sheets of lotus-wrap ready to use.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T48oPYqVoDU/Vbh97uP635I/AAAAAAAAHus/MNlXl3pDoew/s1600/DSCN6068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T48oPYqVoDU/Vbh97uP635I/AAAAAAAAHus/MNlXl3pDoew/s640/DSCN6068.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Printed newsprint, rolled and ready to wrap'n roll!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Saving money, saving the planet, one present at a time! Now to work on making some earth-friendly pressies!</span></div>
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-13775298256923886352015-07-18T14:50:00.001+12:002015-07-18T14:50:11.982+12:00SunSmart Energy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's a lot of talk at the moment about Solar Power and Sun Energy! But what does it look like, and how efficient is it really? Can we trust the hype? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, it was something we wanted to explore for <i>many </i>years but the cost was exorbitant and so we shelved any Sun Projects. Yet we are Sun-Loving Beings. I am not a winter person, suffering the 7 or so cold months of New Zealand with the glimmer of hope that that sun will come shining through, eventually, in the Land of the Long White Cloud/Aotearoa! And indeed it does, NZ has plenty sunshine hours that make Sun Energy Harvesting such a sensible idea. And with Climate Change, governments the world over should be encouraging people to give energy sustainability a go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have had our Solar Photo-voltaic panels (19 of them) for just over 2 years, and although the system cost us <i>double</i> what it costs now, we are stoked!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our latest project though, is investment in a Solar Tube. A bubble-like spaceship-looking dome on our roof, to afford us natural light in our <i>once-was-dark</i> kitchen. At NZ $1500.00, we hummed and haa-ed for some time, before biting the bullet and giving the installer the thumbs up. And I love it! I don't need to switch on electrical lighting when I am working in the kitchen in the day. Hooray! Revolutionising the way I work! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When the installer came to install, he discovered that he needed to provide a bend, through our bedroom, down into the kitchen below. The result: silver tubing zooming through our bedroom upstairs! I kind of like the industrial look, as if a spaceship crashed through the roof of our bedroom! The installer suggested boxing it in with panels to hide it - but as I said, I like the industrial look!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Water-tight flashing on the roof.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QW2CVmA694g/VZsqBnkd8MI/AAAAAAAAHj8/gBYHuLxYoDc/s1600/DSCN5854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QW2CVmA694g/VZsqBnkd8MI/AAAAAAAAHj8/gBYHuLxYoDc/s640/DSCN5854.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The stainless steel tubing in our bedroom corner.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The result; it appears as if we have a permanent spotlight on in the kitchen!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The upside too, is that we will use less energy, as I never have to have my lights burning through the day in the kitchen. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">While I was up on the roof spying on the solar tube, I took the chance to also photograph our Photo-voltaic panels which work hard every day to harvest sun energy for us. They too are groovy-looking! Like having your own electrical company! Now, a similar system costs between $7 - NZ$9000.00. Costs are coming down with increased demand, almost halving every year! Our system cost us $32 000.00 for a 3kW system. We have no electricity bills to pay in the warmer months, and in winter, we pay a maximum of $180 for the coldest month, as opposed to the $350 we paid <i>before </i>solar! And energy costs rise every year!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--lsCgrPgltM/VZspoMX35KI/AAAAAAAAHjs/LQTEWrZ8uPc/s1600/DSCN5857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--lsCgrPgltM/VZspoMX35KI/AAAAAAAAHjs/LQTEWrZ8uPc/s640/DSCN5857.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have learned a bit about Solar in the last year. Because we do not store our energy in batteries (which are expensive, not fully recyclable currently, and only have a 10-15yr life-span), we feed our energy back into the national grid. Our company, Meridian Energy, pay us a lesser amount per unit of energy we <i>feed</i> into the system, and charge us a higher amount per unit <i>we use</i>. To offset this, it is advised to use energy while the panels are harvesting energy. That means, run all electrical appliances while the sun is shining, if possible! So it is better to use the washing machine or tumble drier in the day when we are generating energy, rather than at night. We should dehydrate fruit in daylight hours, <i>not</i> overnight as I used to, else the dried snacks cost more!! Sun-Savvy!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Roof edge to roof edge panels.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before we installed our PV panels, we already had solar panels to heat our water, a very big part of your energy bill! If the day is dull and too cloudy, we may need to boost our hot water supply, but again, better done during daylight hours so that power coming in = power going out. The solar water heating panels are entirely different to those generating energy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In order to understand the PV system, a normal household uses an average of about 26kW per day, during summer months we can generate up to 30kW. During winter we may generate an average of only 14kW. We use less than we generate in summer, and more than we generate in winter. It's kind of like a banking account, you draw out and go into debit when you have none of your own, and deposit more when you are able to save.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kR_M93CCPSc/VZstVlsP8sI/AAAAAAAAHlE/wOX-UAa1jts/s1600/DSCN5864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kR_M93CCPSc/VZstVlsP8sI/AAAAAAAAHlE/wOX-UAa1jts/s640/DSCN5864.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The far 2 hot water solar panels, a completely different use for water heating only.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So at the end of the day, a sunsmart system costs you money to set up, but in the long run, should save you money! Don't have the money to invest in a full-price system for your home? I have recently found a company called Solar City who have a system called <a href="http://www.solarcity.co.nz/terms-and-conditions/" target="_blank">Solar Zero</a>. They install and maintain a PV system which costs you zero. Then you pay a monthly fee of $79 for you power. Your power bill is SET for 20 years ahead, no nasty surprise rise of power bills. Sounds incredible!! Check it out.</span></div>
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-80152815536109607902015-07-13T09:43:00.004+12:002015-07-13T09:43:35.401+12:00Marriage and the F-word.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Partners for Life; Ganesha and Riddhi (or Siddhi?)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Having just celebrated 26 years of married life, I am left to ponder the little idiosyncrasies of Living Together For So Long. Sure, we are <i>Poetry in Motion</i>. Puzzle pieces fitting together to create a beautiful picture, weft and warp threads in a beautiful tapestry and all that stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But I have to face the Big Secret of Marriage and the <i>F-Word</i>! Farts. And Fart Barometers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyone who has been married more than 20 years, to the <i>same</i> guy will identify with my expose' on Life with Long-term Partnership. I guess time breaks down ALL BARRIERS and we get to <i>intimately</i> know all the good and bad points of someone else!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm talking Matches, and Fire and Brimstone. He thinks he can disguise his smells by lighting a match!! Not sure if it makes it any better - smells like a sulfuric volcano eruption just happened <i>right</i> in our own bathroom! "I wouldn't go in there if I were you!" has come to hold some brevity - I take the warning seriously, in an attempt to prolong my life. Luckily we are a 2-Lavatory household! I can always zip upstairs.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"It wasn't me!" No, we don't have a dog we can blame!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My beloved has a fascination for <i>Food and Farts</i>. "I seem to be very windy today. I wonder what I ate that caused this? Do you think it was the carrot? Or the custard slice this morning?" I remind him that EVERYTHING seems to have the <i>same</i> effect on his digestive/elimination state. Nah, it just is what it is, I'll say philosophically. "Don't you think it's important to analyse it and understand what causes it?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I ponder this question for a long while, then say as diplomatically as I can, : "Why not keep a Food and Fart Journal? That way you <i>can</i> analyse it. By Yourself. Please? And that will help keep a little fantasy/intimacy/privacy in our relationship. I mean, what will we discussing at 80yrs of age??"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This guy's sweet, charming, well-read, intelligent, spiritual, sensitive, all that and more - but he is one helluva farter - he can fart anything from God save the Queen to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata! "Pfu... fee.... pop! Drrt... Bart! Vzzt".... a right Royal rhythmic percussion of the Old Brown One. Followed by a feeble "Scuse me!" Problem is, he likes to leave the door to the Throne open. Not that it makes <i>much</i> difference if the door is shut!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonnie and Clyde. Angelina and Brad.Partners.For good and for bad.<br />
Forgiveness is the Key!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When we have guests, I'll run to put on the music system to drown out the Royal Percussives if I know he has removed himself to the Throne. "Futz-futz-futz-futz......" like a scooter taking off. Then a "I can't help it! It's what <i>you</i> feed me!" and a whiny' "We can't <i>all</i> fart eau d' cologne in a melodious way!" And not to mention the wear and tear on undies - I have been known to darn exhaust holes blasted clean through cotton/elastane which succumbs to the sulfuric fumes. Is is just a Man Thing? We have tried various foods and remedies - all in vain.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I can't help it!"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So I am thinking - we are hell-bent on living sustainably. And you know the saying:" If life gives you lemons, make lemonade!" - well, I have just recently seen a methane gas converter on the internet. I wonder if I could hook up my man - to power all our gas cooking needs?? I mean, it's after all, just a lot of <i>hot air</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enough to power a hot air balloon from Katikati all the way to Te Puke.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooking with gas conjures up a whole new meaning....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Releasing the pressure with an ear candle!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Just a thought....</span></div>
GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-78450257060054285302015-07-09T10:05:00.001+12:002015-07-27T19:22:38.513+12:00Home maintenance and DIY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In our home, I am the fixer-mender-maker handy(wo)man! And I hate to pay for a job I think I could do myself! But some jobs, are best left to professionals. Believe me, I found tiling the bathroom far easier than applying window putty!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Old windows in cottage in need of putty weather-seal</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been meaning, for some time (years, even) to mend the broken bits of putty missing from our cottage windows. I know it's a &*^! job, so have been putting it off. <i>Next </i>holidays, I always say. So eventually, I bit the bullet, jumped in feet first and bought a container of window putty. I googled how to do it, so was miffed off with myself when I followed the instructions - to knead the putty before using, to get rid of hard bits. Well I did that. Enough putty to be manageable. But what I <i>should</i> have done, was knead the <u>entire</u> container of putty first! It was only at the end of the job, I realised how much linseed oil was down in the bottom, which would have made the rest of the putty so much softer and easier to manage in the first place!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Second tip - paint the underlying wood to seal it, or it will soak up the oil from the putty and cause it to crack. Done. I then set about spreading it, cutting the excess with a putty knife but it was most non-compliant! All due to not having much oil in it, so it crumbled as I tried to work it. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First layer of acrylic outdoor paint to seal the wood</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> A job I thought would take an hour and a half, <i>tops</i>, ended up being 3 and a half hours worth of hard yakka! $#@*!! Anyway, in the end, it looks a <i>little</i> better, and in 2 weeks time, I have to paint 2 coats of exterior acrylic paint to protect and seal the putty. But truly, <i>never again</i>! Aluminium framed windows now seem such a blessing. Luckily our house has aluminium framed windows, it's only our guest cottage which still has wood-frame windows. Apparently, this putty should last 10-15 years. Hmmn, hope so. It's not a job I'll do willingly, again!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An okay-job, for an amateur.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's harder than it looks!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">DIY</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have managed to barricade myself down in the shed one blustery day on my off-work-week, to create some scavenged cedar wood-bit projects. First off; this little bird nesting box, complete with hinged roof to make cleaning up last year's nests easy. The landing branch is not yet glued in, as I need to post this one off to friends as a gift, and the job is easier without a poking-out branch!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Bx_nPJIUhg/VZsxvFKHT3I/AAAAAAAAHnE/RLBTfAGybXE/s1600/DSCN5839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Bx_nPJIUhg/VZsxvFKHT3I/AAAAAAAAHnE/RLBTfAGybXE/s640/DSCN5839.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bird Nesting Box.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have made some herb markers, with my favourite choices - Basil, Rosemary, Chives and Parsley. One to keep, and one to give away. Which reminds me - I still need to clean up my herb garden and plant some new herbs in Spring.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IffgB1RoMw4/VZswmQ-efrI/AAAAAAAAHms/5eWHLpC_i4U/s1600/DSCN5832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IffgB1RoMw4/VZswmQ-efrI/AAAAAAAAHms/5eWHLpC_i4U/s400/DSCN5832.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Feeling rather on a Creative High, I set about making yet more projects; a wall-mounted jewellry hanger, an elasticated holder of all-sorts for wardrobe organisation, and some whimsical garden signs.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tree Jewellry Hangers</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0YjDDjI1Sjs/VZswdeKxCLI/AAAAAAAAHmU/j8wc2rmTocI/s1600/DSCN5836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0YjDDjI1Sjs/VZswdeKxCLI/AAAAAAAAHmU/j8wc2rmTocI/s400/DSCN5836.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Elasticated Hanger for ties, scarves or other</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rfzI0yBa_Lo/VZsxtX5aWlI/AAAAAAAAHm0/D7o8zrmST48/s1600/DSCN5837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rfzI0yBa_Lo/VZsxtX5aWlI/AAAAAAAAHm0/D7o8zrmST48/s400/DSCN5837.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Garden Signs</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpMv8iwlnWM/VZs5_MJjWOI/AAAAAAAAHos/pLPI8JrGdyk/s1600/DSCN5843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpMv8iwlnWM/VZs5_MJjWOI/AAAAAAAAHos/pLPI8JrGdyk/s640/DSCN5843.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A corner of the garden, for reflection</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As it is our 26th wedding anniversary, I decided to make my Love a token of appreciation. He loves to travel. He always wraps his shoes in a plastic bag before stowing them in his luggage. That seems so Third-Worldish and we always strive to move away from plastic, so I took one of his old t-shirts and cut it up into sections.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DdPeUN6URcM/VZsy6VUjiBI/AAAAAAAAHnU/J0Q1W9gCTHc/s1600/DSCN5874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DdPeUN6URcM/VZsy6VUjiBI/AAAAAAAAHnU/J0Q1W9gCTHc/s400/DSCN5874.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 pieces of the body will suffice for the project</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHo35vSeWuo/VZsy7qOEFNI/AAAAAAAAHnc/VwUT_WiBFOc/s1600/DSCN5875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JHo35vSeWuo/VZsy7qOEFNI/AAAAAAAAHnc/VwUT_WiBFOc/s400/DSCN5875.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I turned them inside out and sewed them up on the 2 open sides, stopping short of</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the existing bottom hem. I slit the opposite side top hem open too, for threading the</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">closing strings.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3-LEcUDaR-c/VZsz8q5_7TI/AAAAAAAAHns/AdWY_THSIHI/s1600/DSCN5877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3-LEcUDaR-c/VZsz8q5_7TI/AAAAAAAAHns/AdWY_THSIHI/s400/DSCN5877.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some fabric paint, an Indian printing block and we're away....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gko9ZfM62D0/VZsz3K1fzxI/AAAAAAAAHnk/589DL2C4GU4/s1600/DSCN5876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gko9ZfM62D0/VZsz3K1fzxI/AAAAAAAAHnk/589DL2C4GU4/s640/DSCN5876.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A little printing embellishment to brighten up rather plain bags....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EZX7ANrtzDg/VZs1Do-LzMI/AAAAAAAAHoE/W-51q5VC-cw/s1600/DSCN5881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EZX7ANrtzDg/VZs1Do-LzMI/AAAAAAAAHoE/W-51q5VC-cw/s640/DSCN5881.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have 2 shoe bags, and 2 small bags to stow phone charger or other small items easily lost in the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">bottom reaches of the suitcase!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Some time back I purchased a tatty Fiji photo book at an Opp Shop for $2. Yesterday I cut out some pics, pasted them onto blank card and made 10 blank greeting cards out of them. That's one way of recycling something not-quite-useful. I shall make another batch when I run out of these, as there are many more pages in my shabby-chic Fiji photo book!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qz6-SNqFH0Y/VZs0C5-fbBI/AAAAAAAAHn0/Rq3Sypt_Des/s1600/DSCN5880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qz6-SNqFH0Y/VZs0C5-fbBI/AAAAAAAAHn0/Rq3Sypt_Des/s640/DSCN5880.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beautiful images of Fiji</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The winter frosts have really hammered our banana plants. They do every year. So we chopped down a near-ready bunch a week ago and hung it in the shed to ripen - they won't be "tree-ripened" but still will make a great supplement to seasonal citrus.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hg8FMtp6dFU/VZs5_IiSkVI/AAAAAAAAHoo/mNFiJrmxO6E/s1600/DSCN5842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hg8FMtp6dFU/VZs5_IiSkVI/AAAAAAAAHoo/mNFiJrmxO6E/s400/DSCN5842.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyone for bananas?</span></td></tr>
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<br /><br />Post Update 27.07.15<div>
The window putty is painted. Yet another tedious have-to-do job! Done! Yay!<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCrn5BvziNA/VbXbxYXkQZI/AAAAAAAAHrc/n4Ogajvy41A/s1600/DSCN6058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hCrn5BvziNA/VbXbxYXkQZI/AAAAAAAAHrc/n4Ogajvy41A/s640/DSCN6058.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-27900492072250654872015-07-01T20:48:00.001+12:002015-07-01T20:48:03.379+12:00Beach Road Reserve, Katikati<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes we take the beauty of the area we live in, for granted! A couple of weeks ago, we were reminded of that beauty, enough to take our breath away. The nature gifts that are there for us, day in, day out, but we are are too busy to open our eyes and take it all in.</div>
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A 5 minute drive from our home is the Beach Road Harbour. We often drive there to collect seaweed, but usually, we are there <i>simply</i> for the collection, quick to return to all the duties that await at home.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpnnoV33bIA/VXzQbnMk69I/AAAAAAAAHek/QTOm3GPi-mw/s1600/DSCN5536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpnnoV33bIA/VXzQbnMk69I/AAAAAAAAHek/QTOm3GPi-mw/s640/DSCN5536.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A view back to the harbour jetty - a concrete drive extending into the water, for launching of fishing vessels. Note the people who almost appear to be walking on water!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ssvrREVel8/VXzJc6TiklI/AAAAAAAAHcE/0dPnv0M1608/s1600/DSCN5543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ssvrREVel8/VXzJc6TiklI/AAAAAAAAHcE/0dPnv0M1608/s640/DSCN5543.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pine trees which may once have formed a wind break for the shore-line farmer, have been chopped down and the roots eroded to form a network of lattice work above the ground.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kiejoGTsO8M/VXzI0sBk22I/AAAAAAAAHb8/ruHWJDMz1nI/s1600/DSCN5545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kiejoGTsO8M/VXzI0sBk22I/AAAAAAAAHb8/ruHWJDMz1nI/s640/DSCN5545.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Taken from below the latticework of roots</span></td></tr>
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This reserve even allows Freedom Campers, as long as they stay only 3 nights and leave the place in a neat and tidy condition. That is quite generous really - a million dollar view, a rugged toilet and all this for - well, nothing really! I can think of many a camping sight that offers perhaps a better toileting and kitchen facility, with views of <i>other camper vans</i>, for a nightly fee of $16.50 P/P! For those of you out-of-towners, Katikati rocks! We have the murals, of course, but we also have the harbour, estuary, Uretara river (navigable), Bird Walk and Haiku Reserve. And let us not forget to mention, the fantastic community project, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kati-Kaiway/508229822536413?fref=ts" target="_blank">Kati KaiWay</a>. We have planted 48 (plus-some) fruit trees in a local reserve, so that locals and visitors can take a meander through this edible walkway and pick seasonal fruit, for free! There are Nashi pears, plums, feijoas, mandarins, oranges, almonds, lemons, persimmons and Chilean Guavas. Did I mention, they are <i>organically</i> maintained?!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GP9uUSdZ4Fw/VXzKaMhrACI/AAAAAAAAHcc/bd5lBeHcjus/s1600/DSCN5547.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GP9uUSdZ4Fw/VXzKaMhrACI/AAAAAAAAHcc/bd5lBeHcjus/s640/DSCN5547.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dead trees stand reaching into the sapphire blue sky.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-32ZbdmgjITQ/VXzKmah_6QI/AAAAAAAAHck/369fBVZDOqs/s1600/DSCN5548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-32ZbdmgjITQ/VXzKmah_6QI/AAAAAAAAHck/369fBVZDOqs/s640/DSCN5548.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The few remaining pine trees huddled on the shore.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DD-0HGEuctU/VXzLOedvFHI/AAAAAAAAHcw/Fops5WRfMlI/s1600/DSCN5552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DD-0HGEuctU/VXzLOedvFHI/AAAAAAAAHcw/Fops5WRfMlI/s640/DSCN5552.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pine cones make great kindling for lighting winter fires.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KcBXKbUU3uw/VXzLqG_IPzI/AAAAAAAAHc4/KB1u4juagQI/s1600/DSCN5553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KcBXKbUU3uw/VXzLqG_IPzI/AAAAAAAAHc4/KB1u4juagQI/s640/DSCN5553.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">New cones huddle against the cold winter breeze.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MKyuq5z3h60/VXzL3Gp1IGI/AAAAAAAAHdA/VotWBRxq8bQ/s1600/DSCN5554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MKyuq5z3h60/VXzL3Gp1IGI/AAAAAAAAHdA/VotWBRxq8bQ/s640/DSCN5554.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;">The farthest end of the Beach Road Harbour Reserve looking toward Tauranga and the Kaimai mountain range.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--YEq6xvDADI/VXzMggNnFJI/AAAAAAAAHdQ/GMEy5veTAko/s1600/DSCN5555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--YEq6xvDADI/VXzMggNnFJI/AAAAAAAAHdQ/GMEy5veTAko/s640/DSCN5555.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;">Tauranga Moana, with Matakana Island in the distance</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pSoVQ4HLXts/VXzMJRSMZYI/AAAAAAAAHdI/Uo61jM2WkiQ/s1600/DSCN5556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pSoVQ4HLXts/VXzMJRSMZYI/AAAAAAAAHdI/Uo61jM2WkiQ/s640/DSCN5556.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;">The Kaimais surround the jewel that's the <i>Bay of Plenty</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh96sa6GnQ0/VXzM8zqAdKI/AAAAAAAAHdg/xa_0wZeyDEk/s1600/DSCN5558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fh96sa6GnQ0/VXzM8zqAdKI/AAAAAAAAHdg/xa_0wZeyDEk/s640/DSCN5558.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ephemeral Art; Beach Sculpture</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07HrWpjuGqc/VXzNRL5zp2I/AAAAAAAAHdo/cM5EliPGGhM/s1600/DSCN5559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-07HrWpjuGqc/VXzNRL5zp2I/AAAAAAAAHdo/cM5EliPGGhM/s640/DSCN5559.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Harvested cornfields and wide expanse of sky.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FLacIYgFpXQ/VXzM7aoojiI/AAAAAAAAHdY/ZSpEFGeosks/s1600/DSCN5560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FLacIYgFpXQ/VXzM7aoojiI/AAAAAAAAHdY/ZSpEFGeosks/s640/DSCN5560.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Somebody's little mobile home. Note the wind vane for power generation!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ap1vgglmrmo/VXzJ5XZXXrI/AAAAAAAAHcU/FgEZuHpRn3w/s1600/DSCN5546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ap1vgglmrmo/VXzJ5XZXXrI/AAAAAAAAHcU/FgEZuHpRn3w/s640/DSCN5546.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Someone's fence or bridge? Beached as, Bro!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZuzRKfblV0/VXzN_qonvkI/AAAAAAAAHdw/Bh4SIPmYWBU/s1600/DSCN5526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZuzRKfblV0/VXzN_qonvkI/AAAAAAAAHdw/Bh4SIPmYWBU/s640/DSCN5526.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunshine on shoreline.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U-zVCrNurUQ/VXzOEa5bUWI/AAAAAAAAHd4/1Xu8UQ8QQEk/s1600/DSCN5528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U-zVCrNurUQ/VXzOEa5bUWI/AAAAAAAAHd4/1Xu8UQ8QQEk/s640/DSCN5528.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sea- eroded shore surrounds a little bay </span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_MD7RFZrZ8c/VXzPXC21PWI/AAAAAAAAHeM/Sr01TLCorRs/s1600/DSCN5533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_MD7RFZrZ8c/VXzPXC21PWI/AAAAAAAAHeM/Sr01TLCorRs/s640/DSCN5533.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qd7-7ecTMO8/VXzPZ1rz1XI/AAAAAAAAHeY/tbNecGNZEnE/s1600/DSCN5534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qd7-7ecTMO8/VXzPZ1rz1XI/AAAAAAAAHeY/tbNecGNZEnE/s640/DSCN5534.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Still making shadows, Mikey and Me.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7B0qouV8AQ/VXzQbSpwNWI/AAAAAAAAHeg/yYag9tPLbxI/s1600/DSCN5537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m7B0qouV8AQ/VXzQbSpwNWI/AAAAAAAAHeg/yYag9tPLbxI/s640/DSCN5537.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Big Blue Sky</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N-tKA00pUTs/VXzQgyxjYfI/AAAAAAAAHew/lZ5jQra3Tb0/s1600/DSCN5539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N-tKA00pUTs/VXzQgyxjYfI/AAAAAAAAHew/lZ5jQra3Tb0/s640/DSCN5539.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mono-cropping leftovers.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hPZmM5wWy8c/VXzQ4UKIJ_I/AAAAAAAAHe4/nWvd7ndmfV0/s1600/DSCN5540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hPZmM5wWy8c/VXzQ4UKIJ_I/AAAAAAAAHe4/nWvd7ndmfV0/s640/DSCN5540.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nature's Sculptures</span></td></tr>
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Such beauty abounds. I just have to take time out from the hectic schedule of growing food, to explore and discover ever more of it.......GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com1Katikati, New Zealand-37.5519144 175.9197547-37.7533494 175.5970312 -37.350479400000005 176.2424782tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-20301026966590599052015-06-21T20:39:00.002+12:002015-06-21T20:39:42.310+12:00Blueberries, Strawberries, garlic and peas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Winter. Aah, a time for reflecting, for cleaning up in the garden and preparing for the Season of Growth and Renewal that's Spring. I have been making small dents in the HUGE volume of work to be done, after the busy production of food crops in the summer, which left the garden, quite frankly, in a MESS! And to top it off, massive carpets of weeds, mostly Chickweed and Milkweed covered every bare patch of ground, smothering all but the strongest of plants and trees!! I tried not feeling overwhelmed, so made copious lists over the last few weeks, and set about systematically cleaning and tidying up. I think I am getting on top of it. Slowly.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">Garlic Crop</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ao3lr_d6q7A/VXzrFl-EWrI/AAAAAAAAHgA/-pjo_V-Ijg0/s1600/DSCN5777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ao3lr_d6q7A/VXzrFl-EWrI/AAAAAAAAHgA/-pjo_V-Ijg0/s640/DSCN5777.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garlic cloves from last year's crop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r26pVF2n0VY/VXzrF1EmCtI/AAAAAAAAHgE/7hdW_wsrOT8/s1600/DSCN5778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r26pVF2n0VY/VXzrF1EmCtI/AAAAAAAAHgE/7hdW_wsrOT8/s640/DSCN5778.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making furrows to plant the garlic</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82NPoAfl2tw/VXzsQ5b1RgI/AAAAAAAAHgY/ow9yWQaxPug/s1600/DSCN5780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-82NPoAfl2tw/VXzsQ5b1RgI/AAAAAAAAHgY/ow9yWQaxPug/s640/DSCN5780.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sign to denote what lies below.....</td></tr>
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Time to plant the garlic crop. Traditionally planted on the shortest day of the year, and harvested on the longest. Last year I devoted an entire bed to our garlic crop and was inundated with the largest garlic crop ever! More than enough for 3 year's supply! So this year, I have only chosen to plant half the veggie bed, allowing for some to not emerge at all. Note the new layer of compost on top. </div>
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To plant garlic, choose the best looking, healthiest bulbs and break it up into individual cloves. Dig a trench of about 5-6cm depth and place the cloves pointy-side-up, 5cm apart. Cover with a blanket of soil for the long 6 month sleep. It takes about 3 weeks till they emerge, don't lose heart! Garlic needs a liquid feed every 2-3 weeks (ideally). Once harvested, they keep very, very well, for about 12 months, which is why we aim to grow all the organic garlic (and then some) to last us a year.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Guavas</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zkavM4yVBXk/VXzpm_DqOVI/AAAAAAAAHfc/g8-HjylHee0/s1600/DSCN5787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zkavM4yVBXk/VXzpm_DqOVI/AAAAAAAAHfc/g8-HjylHee0/s400/DSCN5787.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow guavas for daily harvest</td></tr>
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I have to confess to feeling guilty about wasting most of the yellow guava crop as I just can't be bothered to go out in the wind and rain most days, collecting fallen fruit. I had over-extended my guava-enthusiasm with the red guava crop, and although the yellows are sweeter and less tart, I was a bit over guava season by the time they started into full production rate.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Blueberry Alley</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Em2_ExfRNx0/VXzqBn2kXUI/AAAAAAAAHfs/n9A6KwTB1So/s1600/DSCN5771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Em2_ExfRNx0/VXzqBn2kXUI/AAAAAAAAHfs/n9A6KwTB1So/s400/DSCN5771.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blueberry patch, weeded; before it had a tall green carpet of weeds trailing up the blueberries.</td></tr>
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We so look forward to our summer time blueberry feast! I have two beds, to ensure we have sufficient supply! I know it's greedy, but it really is a health insurance. The Ancients taught that blueberries were a vaccination against ills and chills!! In fact, their Latin name is <i>Vaccinium</i>! Do I believe in vaccinating children? <i>You bettcha</i>! Give them <i>all the blueberries</i> they can eat!! These little blue guys are phyto-nutrient Superstars! Check it out <a href="http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=8" target="_blank">here</a>:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xl8qoVm4jb0/VXzp9_eMzCI/AAAAAAAAHfk/-qKXk65vTzA/s1600/DSCN5772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xl8qoVm4jb0/VXzp9_eMzCI/AAAAAAAAHfk/-qKXk65vTzA/s400/DSCN5772.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I covered the blueberry patch with 6 layers of newspaper to suppress further weeds.<br />The blueberry bushes (which now resemble sticks after leaf fall) have been pruned back.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EL3jM6wUDb8/VXzq0CTdP3I/AAAAAAAAHf0/rEgVchM4uxw/s1600/DSCN5781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EL3jM6wUDb8/VXzq0CTdP3I/AAAAAAAAHf0/rEgVchM4uxw/s640/DSCN5781.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> We covered the newspaper with fresh untreated cedar sawdust. Sawdust will help create a slightly acidic soil, which blueberries love.</td></tr>
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Now that the bed is prepped, bushes trimmed and soil fed with compost and a drink of sheep poo juice, they can rest till Spring. Actually, I've noticed teeny tiny little buds already appearing! Growing our fresh multivitamin supply. I still have plenty frozen (bought) blueberries in the freezer to keep us going through winter and add them to our smoothies.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Leafy Crops</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-352iX3XSROs/VXzsTc6SBqI/AAAAAAAAHgg/9vCYQCcPoBI/s1600/DSCN5773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-352iX3XSROs/VXzsTc6SBqI/AAAAAAAAHgg/9vCYQCcPoBI/s640/DSCN5773.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The store-bought brassicas I bought to boost our winter crop growth, are looking good. I am trying a new weed-suppressant method; layers of newspaper along the rows, anchored by tree mulch which is well-rested. Using fresh mulch would only rob nitrogen from the soil as it breaks down.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Peas</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uxdQbc7txPc/VXztNF9JCXI/AAAAAAAAHgo/fLGxAvNmlFI/s1600/DSCN5774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uxdQbc7txPc/VXztNF9JCXI/AAAAAAAAHgo/fLGxAvNmlFI/s640/DSCN5774.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first attempt: Building a horizontal pea frame. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-EG8d2D6ls/VYZDEQ_VIoI/AAAAAAAAHhw/jySYX25K0nA/s1600/DSCN5807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-EG8d2D6ls/VYZDEQ_VIoI/AAAAAAAAHhw/jySYX25K0nA/s640/DSCN5807.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google taught me this method, so it is pea frame no.2. Looks sturdier and more beneficial to peas being able to climb vertical hemp twine supports.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lOFTRdY78Zo/VYZDCAllZMI/AAAAAAAAHho/4jbHVa3RyFk/s1600/DSCN5814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lOFTRdY78Zo/VYZDCAllZMI/AAAAAAAAHho/4jbHVa3RyFk/s400/DSCN5814.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naked Lady. I have had to resurrect the avo frost shelter twice in the last 2 weeks as <br />the fierce hurricane winds have all but nearly reduced it to a UFO. It was good to remember to resurrect it, as after <br />resurrecting, it was vital at protecting our young 3yr old avo tree from 3 consecutive severe frosts!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-58cXe370EXk/VYZ3N3v7ArI/AAAAAAAAHiI/7b5G94ZDFJc/s1600/DSCN5809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-58cXe370EXk/VYZ3N3v7ArI/AAAAAAAAHiI/7b5G94ZDFJc/s640/DSCN5809.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wildflower aftermath is not pretty. However, this bed was cleared, mulched and some lavenders planted. Clean lines. Nice.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9iZNMah6zY/VYZDYPfoRVI/AAAAAAAAHh4/kKgo7uoGEak/s1600/DSCN5817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A9iZNMah6zY/VYZDYPfoRVI/AAAAAAAAHh4/kKgo7uoGEak/s640/DSCN5817.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, it's not Spring yet. Only, in my garden, daffodils have a curious habit of blooming mid-Winter, every year!<br />It's a nice cheery sight for my indoor vases.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Strawberries</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OMbUoCXEm-Q/VXztgIdoX5I/AAAAAAAAHgw/aiw9zWPellk/s1600/DSCN5782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OMbUoCXEm-Q/VXztgIdoX5I/AAAAAAAAHgw/aiw9zWPellk/s640/DSCN5782.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberries planted on a cardboard-covered mound.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PCU6Lb43BzE/VXzuFceDxBI/AAAAAAAAHhA/UDF6mnYvdnE/s1600/DSCN5784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PCU6Lb43BzE/VXzuFceDxBI/AAAAAAAAHhA/UDF6mnYvdnE/s640/DSCN5784.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">X marks the spot for each of the strawberry plants.</td></tr>
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Strawberries need to be refreshed every year. The plants get woody and don't deliver much fruit after a couple of years, so before Spring springs into action, I take them all up, divide all the little baby strawberry plants which multiply via runners, and then replant them and the other plants that still look good after feeding the soil liberally with new compost. I think I had a light-bulb moment when I reflected on their name - I am sure they get their name from having to put straw underneath them to keep the fruit protected!! Well, in that case, I am growing <i>cardboard berries</i>!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tpo7k3vehFQ/VXzuO8n45lI/AAAAAAAAHhI/SSWs2F0aOjg/s1600/DSCN5786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tpo7k3vehFQ/VXzuO8n45lI/AAAAAAAAHhI/SSWs2F0aOjg/s640/DSCN5786.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come Spring, these babies should spring into production!<br /></td></tr>
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Slowly, slowly, I prepare for the Season of Growth up ahead..... this week - pruning remaining trees - apples, pears, olives and feijoas. A big task.</div>
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-73689093035575049492015-06-14T11:59:00.005+12:002015-06-14T11:59:36.398+12:00Of Ducks, Redwoods and Rotorua <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We spent 2 nights in Rotorua a couple of weeks ago. On our second day, we headed to Hamurana Springs Recreation Reserve, beside one of Rotorua's lakes. What a beautiful Nature Playground, free for visitors to roam around in. Many local attractions in this Geothermal Wonderland are priced to rake in the dollars for the local businesses operating in the area. This is perhaps one of the best-kept secrets, and we wouldn't have discovered it unless <i>a local</i> told us about it! Definitely worth a trip to check it out! I think I took far too many pictures and it is hard to cull them down to a few favourites. The first sight that greets one as you cross the foot bridge, is the multi-jewel-coloured river, with the clearest water rolling over sand, reeds, moss and pebbles. Like a patchwork river. Quite breath-taking. Below is a photographic essay:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of Ducks:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFHB2NevCdc/VWaREhcQsII/AAAAAAAAHV4/Rv2hhgcEw78/s1600/DSCN5624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CFHB2NevCdc/VWaREhcQsII/AAAAAAAAHV4/Rv2hhgcEw78/s640/DSCN5624.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ducks float on crystal-clear water.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_aq5vUGQZK0/VWaQ3DIJ2lI/AAAAAAAAHVw/_-JOY_RVgVQ/s1600/DSCN5625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_aq5vUGQZK0/VWaQ3DIJ2lI/AAAAAAAAHVw/_-JOY_RVgVQ/s640/DSCN5625.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This little duck floats on water that resembles a swimming pool water, kept in pristine condition!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uEW2g86MNpo/VWaRkYiLOPI/AAAAAAAAHWA/Pc5LCkNEJNU/s1600/DSCN5626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uEW2g86MNpo/VWaRkYiLOPI/AAAAAAAAHWA/Pc5LCkNEJNU/s640/DSCN5626.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Floating over mosses and water weeds</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PQt7JUVQ6k/VWaR6NYn6AI/AAAAAAAAHWI/rcDUfIgupLw/s1600/DSCN5631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PQt7JUVQ6k/VWaR6NYn6AI/AAAAAAAAHWI/rcDUfIgupLw/s640/DSCN5631.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Clear water reflecting the sandy shale bottom</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-14Zw1vJcYE8/VWaSNdAEp0I/AAAAAAAAHWQ/s1FPwBrBlg4/s1600/DSCN5633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-14Zw1vJcYE8/VWaSNdAEp0I/AAAAAAAAHWQ/s1FPwBrBlg4/s640/DSCN5633.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ducks as multi-coloured as the patches of river water!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xfWsWj4bbfU/VWaSkZOcuCI/AAAAAAAAHWg/huJ6vmDGRWQ/s1600/DSCN5634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xfWsWj4bbfU/VWaSkZOcuCI/AAAAAAAAHWg/huJ6vmDGRWQ/s640/DSCN5634.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shades of browns and blues...</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tC8rhQE432M/VWaTLvnjkZI/AAAAAAAAHWo/fAioRk634zQ/s1600/DSCN5638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tC8rhQE432M/VWaTLvnjkZI/AAAAAAAAHWo/fAioRk634zQ/s640/DSCN5638.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FrcHnnba0iY/VWaTcCSKcSI/AAAAAAAAHWw/XYOCA9KxkO4/s1600/DSCN5641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FrcHnnba0iY/VWaTcCSKcSI/AAAAAAAAHWw/XYOCA9KxkO4/s640/DSCN5641.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Little black ducks sleep atop a weed-matted section of the river</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-021Lmuy6Fmo/VWaeFc8-bBI/AAAAAAAAHaU/tSRg1DDgiD0/s1600/DSCN5758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-021Lmuy6Fmo/VWaeFc8-bBI/AAAAAAAAHaU/tSRg1DDgiD0/s640/DSCN5758.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Geese foraging for food in the grass</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of Water:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8_-H04exAvk/VWaTr2Qn4qI/AAAAAAAAHW4/7E4fBN4gSnY/s1600/DSCN5644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8_-H04exAvk/VWaTr2Qn4qI/AAAAAAAAHW4/7E4fBN4gSnY/s640/DSCN5644.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Patchwork river</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Keo6SuJGx1g/VWaUdhYWZ9I/AAAAAAAAHXA/xHN8QSLtglw/s1600/DSCN5647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Keo6SuJGx1g/VWaUdhYWZ9I/AAAAAAAAHXA/xHN8QSLtglw/s640/DSCN5647.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ducks bobbing along with the current...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hWGBttKSdfE/VWaUyH5uRkI/AAAAAAAAHXI/4NtOcmMx56k/s1600/DSCN5648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hWGBttKSdfE/VWaUyH5uRkI/AAAAAAAAHXI/4NtOcmMx56k/s640/DSCN5648.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hamurana; Ducksville</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wa8s9u9s-OE/VWaU_ww8_rI/AAAAAAAAHXQ/tYkBKWHIBSU/s1600/DSCN5652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wa8s9u9s-OE/VWaU_ww8_rI/AAAAAAAAHXQ/tYkBKWHIBSU/s640/DSCN5652.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reflections</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oIclIDOdTt8/VWaVm3bx1cI/AAAAAAAAHXY/KMU6JhF7Amo/s1600/DSCN5659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oIclIDOdTt8/VWaVm3bx1cI/AAAAAAAAHXY/KMU6JhF7Amo/s640/DSCN5659.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Water, water everywhere.....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RA5QCoUTZ-E/VWaWA_LOpUI/AAAAAAAAHXg/MrlbH_Lyb8I/s1600/DSCN5660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RA5QCoUTZ-E/VWaWA_LOpUI/AAAAAAAAHXg/MrlbH_Lyb8I/s640/DSCN5660.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Water painting</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WX47R6qx6Q8/VWaa0SfHsJI/AAAAAAAAHZQ/57IGgbrh3Bo/s1600/DSCN5708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WX47R6qx6Q8/VWaa0SfHsJI/AAAAAAAAHZQ/57IGgbrh3Bo/s640/DSCN5708.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No photo-shopping necessary; unbelievable aquas.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gNOHYk2uQrA/VWab1zvGAdI/AAAAAAAAHZk/UrtPU84xyXM/s1600/DSCN5710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gNOHYk2uQrA/VWab1zvGAdI/AAAAAAAAHZk/UrtPU84xyXM/s640/DSCN5710.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hues of Blues</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zASrhF8yAUU/VWaW4H5mMoI/AAAAAAAAHX4/XFqu26hEq8I/s1600/DSCN5662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zASrhF8yAUU/VWaW4H5mMoI/AAAAAAAAHX4/XFqu26hEq8I/s640/DSCN5662.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Green Underwater World</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GNuCbAPwBrw/VWacD8QZKCI/AAAAAAAAHZs/8b_TEtMl7XY/s1600/DSCN5712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GNuCbAPwBrw/VWacD8QZKCI/AAAAAAAAHZs/8b_TEtMl7XY/s640/DSCN5712.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Monet would have loved this scenery!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J66EwluaYy4/VWaXMXDwj9I/AAAAAAAAHYA/hg3Dlmr8diE/s1600/DSCN5667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J66EwluaYy4/VWaXMXDwj9I/AAAAAAAAHYA/hg3Dlmr8diE/s640/DSCN5667.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cold, icey water wonderland.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sV1Viqh6Sl4/VWaWxqsOYZI/AAAAAAAAHXw/PrBHu_D-BGA/s1600/DSCN5668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sV1Viqh6Sl4/VWaWxqsOYZI/AAAAAAAAHXw/PrBHu_D-BGA/s640/DSCN5668.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reminiscent of a coral reef.....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVAgS5VQ2lI/VWacP_a7U7I/AAAAAAAAHZ0/L2BAS6fipxc/s1600/DSCN5719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GVAgS5VQ2lI/VWacP_a7U7I/AAAAAAAAHZ0/L2BAS6fipxc/s640/DSCN5719.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The source of the river - an underground spring. A million gallons pours out from this spring every hour!!</span></td></tr>
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<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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GWFjEGVbYgk/VWadVcYQ3kI/AAAAAAAAHaE/vlevBgrgYwA/s1600/DSCN5732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GWFjEGVbYgk/VWadVcYQ3kI/AAAAAAAAHaE/vlevBgrgYwA/s640/DSCN5732.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coins glint in the dark watery Aladdin's cave. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of Redwoods:</span><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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFSDkNC2dWk/VWaYFRx4kXI/AAAAAAAAHYM/UU8L6lde1vs/s1600/DSCN5669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JFSDkNC2dWk/VWaYFRx4kXI/AAAAAAAAHYM/UU8L6lde1vs/s640/DSCN5669.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of Redwoods; The path well-trodden</span></td></tr>
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<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5DoPPyh4pl8/VWaYHVrNoJI/AAAAAAAAHYU/Ru8fEFZOAcM/s1600/DSCN5673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5DoPPyh4pl8/VWaYHVrNoJI/AAAAAAAAHYU/Ru8fEFZOAcM/s640/DSCN5673.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Patterns of Nature's Skyscrapers</span></td></tr>
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<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gDZRuflb62Y/VWaZVFYA0lI/AAAAAAAAHYs/1diMokUrOyg/s1600/DSCN5685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gDZRuflb62Y/VWaZVFYA0lI/AAAAAAAAHYs/1diMokUrOyg/s640/DSCN5685.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cold, clear, crisp. Feeling small.</span></td></tr>
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<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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zYLNXiu_tHU/VWaZxPv6P3I/AAAAAAAAHY4/Mi-KrcqrF7g/s1600/DSCN5691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zYLNXiu_tHU/VWaZxPv6P3I/AAAAAAAAHY4/Mi-KrcqrF7g/s640/DSCN5691.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">NZ bush</span></td></tr>
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<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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u16ODxEn1w0/VWaaBs7MfcI/AAAAAAAAHZA/dXUtrEOVho0/s1600/DSCN5694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u16ODxEn1w0/VWaaBs7MfcI/AAAAAAAAHZA/dXUtrEOVho0/s640/DSCN5694.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The trees that are Papatuanuku's Lungs.</span></td></tr>
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<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FAisBcoa1JM/VWaakeiB16I/AAAAAAAAHZI/3vjKy7RkNpA/s1600/DSCN5695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FAisBcoa1JM/VWaakeiB16I/AAAAAAAAHZI/3vjKy7RkNpA/s640/DSCN5695.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tall redwoods against the sky</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58ClM_tSETA/VWaa8s53qdI/AAAAAAAAHZY/Kpwdi-Jx1Mo/s1600/DSCN5698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-58ClM_tSETA/VWaa8s53qdI/AAAAAAAAHZY/Kpwdi-Jx1Mo/s640/DSCN5698.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Where sounds are muted by a thick forest floor leaf litter</span></td></tr>
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<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UHyAua1wb8o/VWadAR8XnoI/AAAAAAAAHZ8/nMF8BsCTnRY/s1600/DSCN5729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UHyAua1wb8o/VWadAR8XnoI/AAAAAAAAHZ8/nMF8BsCTnRY/s640/DSCN5729.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spinnery spider web</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r1FdArJ2gjM/VWadhgqLHsI/AAAAAAAAHaM/Cxu2TW4fWys/s1600/DSCN5753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r1FdArJ2gjM/VWadhgqLHsI/AAAAAAAAHaM/Cxu2TW4fWys/s640/DSCN5753.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A moment to capture a reflective portrait</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of Rotorua:</span></div>
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<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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFyKOfzbWV4/VWafx-2__JI/AAAAAAAAHbA/aDsHcrSx0ys/s1600/DSCN5612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DFyKOfzbWV4/VWafx-2__JI/AAAAAAAAHbA/aDsHcrSx0ys/s640/DSCN5612.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Interesting wooden fence casts wonderful light and shadow shapes. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GluqmPvSoYU/VWaes2gE_qI/AAAAAAAAHak/U9tE-P81Sq4/s1600/DSCN5614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GluqmPvSoYU/VWaes2gE_qI/AAAAAAAAHak/U9tE-P81Sq4/s640/DSCN5614.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A huge log serves as a home for wayward bicycles!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9BLr2AD0ha0/VWafVu5xVcI/AAAAAAAAHaw/F1aMdP-NDI0/s1600/DSCN5615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9BLr2AD0ha0/VWafVu5xVcI/AAAAAAAAHaw/F1aMdP-NDI0/s640/DSCN5615.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The most innovative bicycle rack!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgzrF3nRwYs/VWafaPQKizI/AAAAAAAAHa4/Gi0kP0gSHeo/s1600/DSCN5619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgzrF3nRwYs/VWafaPQKizI/AAAAAAAAHa4/Gi0kP0gSHeo/s640/DSCN5619.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cold, blue winter skies and Autumn leaf colours collide to stunning effect!</span></td></tr>
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<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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pYo9tUfV5eg/VWaf-xgtSpI/AAAAAAAAHbI/l02giBbE5f4/s1600/DSCN5613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pYo9tUfV5eg/VWaf-xgtSpI/AAAAAAAAHbI/l02giBbE5f4/s640/DSCN5613.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This little bench in Eat Street doubles as a solar panel to charge the walk-way lights! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Well done, Rotorua!</span></td></tr>
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<br />GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-78787507156547131792015-05-28T15:42:00.000+12:002015-05-28T15:42:55.222+12:00Frost Shelter, Signs and Pathways<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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ARvVy3PfX9s/VWY9gCYRmiI/AAAAAAAAHVY/puWeS6S36z0/s1600/DSCN5763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ARvVy3PfX9s/VWY9gCYRmiI/AAAAAAAAHVY/puWeS6S36z0/s640/DSCN5763.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamboo strung together with strips of bicycle tyre inner tube </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCbOHldmiMU/VWY9fI83VcI/AAAAAAAAHVQ/F8a0x2neTvI/s1600/DSCN5764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCbOHldmiMU/VWY9fI83VcI/AAAAAAAAHVQ/F8a0x2neTvI/s640/DSCN5764.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;">Avo shelter, back and front (above).</span></td></tr>
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It's that <i>inbetween</i> time, the Autumn/Winter changeover. We had some beautiful red persimmon leaves - after the last heavy winds, no more to be seen! And this morning we woke to a <i>very cold</i> and frosty whiteout in the garden. My poor lettuces are <i>no more</i>! But I felt a lightness in my step, as I gloated over the fact that we had spent a good deal of yesterday preparing our avo area, with a great self-constructed Nomad Tent for our 3yr old avocado tree! I have lost 2 avo trees to frost by not being vigilant enough before, so it was imperative that we build the structure - now I am so glad we did! It looks like a Bedouin tent flapping gently in the breeze. Should the wind velocity increase, I am certain it will become airborne but the lightness of it's construction materials should cause no major damage to anyone else! We get heavy frosts here in Katikati, several in Winter and in Spring, so sub-tropicals don't stand a chance without protection.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r8Ww9kDNNmw/VWToZmynXaI/AAAAAAAAHTo/ZkpLDggM_rs/s1600/DSCN5576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r8Ww9kDNNmw/VWToZmynXaI/AAAAAAAAHTo/ZkpLDggM_rs/s400/DSCN5576.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden bed rotation signs</td></tr>
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My old veg bed signs were looking a little drab, so to brighten up for the coming grey winter, I painted some signs with some old test-pot acrylic paint - took all of 5 minutes, for each one. The wood is off-cut cedar bits which Mike collects from a factory before they throw them away, and we also use them for kindling. I pick out bits I want to use to make things with and they are perfect for garden use. I work a 4 bed crop rotation in the garden - <b>green leafy crops</b> (silver beet, salad crops, kale etc.), <b>root crops</b> (carrots, garlic, onions etc.), <b>leguminous crops </b>(peas, beans, lupins) and <b>fruit crops</b> (tomatoes, eggplant etc.). I had some old wooden decorative shapes lying around from a previous project, so they were glued in place to zhoosh them up a little.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--bWBpucV73o/VWToXQ5orvI/AAAAAAAAHTc/1lMaA6JRGE8/s1600/DSCN5577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--bWBpucV73o/VWToXQ5orvI/AAAAAAAAHTc/1lMaA6JRGE8/s640/DSCN5577.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy-peasy signs - 1,2,3 and they're done! </td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-clVHVfxPZa8/VWToWadroQI/AAAAAAAAHTY/dFIPgUiM028/s1600/DSCN5592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-clVHVfxPZa8/VWToWadroQI/AAAAAAAAHTY/dFIPgUiM028/s640/DSCN5592.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NJOTFmPaZRQ/VWTpm3xSYCI/AAAAAAAAHT8/7C8ETxSxZ7U/s1600/DSCN5594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NJOTFmPaZRQ/VWTpm3xSYCI/AAAAAAAAHT8/7C8ETxSxZ7U/s640/DSCN5594.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0t5yeg2ayo/VWTpl-lcl6I/AAAAAAAAHTw/H0xTEbda96c/s1600/DSCN5595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0t5yeg2ayo/VWTpl-lcl6I/AAAAAAAAHTw/H0xTEbda96c/s640/DSCN5595.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aV9LAcNgSL8/VWTq3rCA8-I/AAAAAAAAHUQ/v3ILB5Vgd-o/s1600/DSCN5597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aV9LAcNgSL8/VWTq3rCA8-I/AAAAAAAAHUQ/v3ILB5Vgd-o/s640/DSCN5597.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;">My leaf bed was looking quite good, s'cepting for the frost this morning which all but obliterated the Tom Thumb lettuces!! Bugger!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dcXTeKkRBmI/VWTq5LWC7yI/AAAAAAAAHUc/T5DExYpwVzs/s1600/DSCN5599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dcXTeKkRBmI/VWTq5LWC7yI/AAAAAAAAHUc/T5DExYpwVzs/s640/DSCN5599.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;">Leguminous crop - my pea seedlings awaiting transplanting.....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLMpcgILM0g/VWTsLd8z31I/AAAAAAAAHUw/YjDIjpPEcww/s1600/DSCN5570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hLMpcgILM0g/VWTsLd8z31I/AAAAAAAAHUw/YjDIjpPEcww/s400/DSCN5570.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;">Old mulch scraped away from path.</span></td></tr>
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And finally, last week I scraped up all of the old pathway mulch in this area, re-laid it under the fruit trees (great rich food source for trees), laid down cardboard and then scattered fresh mulch over to suppress weeds for the next 9 months or so. 12, if I'm lucky! Most all the pathways need this treatment but I do a few at a time, sourcing the tree mulch from a local tree feller/fella! I usually wait 5 weeks before using it, allowing it to stand and break down a little so that it does not rob too much nitrogen from the soil.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wht0rGpBsUw/VWTsLcN0_rI/AAAAAAAAHUs/zKijjxLstTs/s1600/DSCN5573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wht0rGpBsUw/VWTsLcN0_rI/AAAAAAAAHUs/zKijjxLstTs/s640/DSCN5573.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;">Cardboard to line the path will eventually break down - it is made <i>from</i> trees, and goes back to feed the trees!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: small;">Fresh new tree mulch laid on top of the cardboard makes a great weed suppressant.</span></td></tr>
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So it's onwards and upwards as I continue to prepare the garden for The Big Sleep (a.k.a Winter).GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-42104472732239396372015-05-25T12:46:00.004+12:002015-05-25T12:46:44.418+12:00Local Eco-touring: Nature Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Having recently begun a <i>job-share</i> position at work, I now work one week on and have one week off. What that means is that I have a whole week every 2 weeks, in which to work in my backyard supermarket (growing our food), getting chunks of work done in what would have translated to a month of Saturdays!! Yay! It also means I am not under so much pressure to perform <i>every </i>weekend, and together, with Mike, can explore our Wonderland of tracks, nature and fun things to do in our area!! Double yay!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beauty Abounds</td></tr>
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Last weekend we went for a walk on a briskly cool, sunny day up to our local Hot Springs Road mountain track. The designated walks cater to the <i>less</i> adventurous (the likes of us) with a 20 minute walk and the <i>comfortably</i> adventurous, with a walk of 2 1/2 hrs. We chose the lesser version, strolled leisurely along, so the 20 minute walk was more an hour and a half's worth, as we stopped often to admire, photograph and share things along the way. There is a commercial Hot pools and camp ground facility located on the road, halfway up to the tracks. The views are spectacular, over the Bay of Plenty (Tauranga harbour) and the air is <i>fresh and pure</i>! No inhaling insidious fumes down in the Spray of Plenty (agrochemicals).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YNZxafpooTA/VVxJDK1PdoI/AAAAAAAAHQw/vbU87oL4j8U/s1600/forest12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YNZxafpooTA/VVxJDK1PdoI/AAAAAAAAHQw/vbU87oL4j8U/s640/forest12.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnificent Kauri trees</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well maintained tracks make for easy walking.</td></tr>
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The kauri trees that grow along the track are magnificent and majestic, but signs warn that they are under threat from fungal disease and cautions trampers to clean their footwear before starting along the track at the cleaning station located at the entrance. Kauri trees grow straight up, up, up toward the blue skies and lose their side branches as they grow bigger. Truly breath-taking!<br />
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Kauri tree</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Towering Nikau and Ponga ferns reaching for the clear blue skies</span></span></td></tr>
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It seems wherever we go, we tend to find <i>kawakawa</i> in the shade of other trees. Kawakawa makes an awesome tea. In fact, a friend recently shared some information on this panacea of native medicine or <a href="http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/rongoa-medicinal-use-of-plants/page-1" target="_blank">Rongoa Maori</a>. Some time back I had bought a pack of dried kawakawa leaves for my husband to make himself tea out of. It took a while to get him into kawakawa tea but recently he has been enjoying it so we tend to forage and pick 5-6 leaves when we spot a bush handy to a walking track. I also bought a kawakawa seedling to plant in my garden not too long ago (still too small to harvest yet) and so I was thrilled when Mike read the information on the tea and became animated about it. Apparently, it cures just about everything under the sun!! And then some!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dappled sun on a leaf-strewn path</td></tr>
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Ahh, the outbreath of wonderment and awe! To shirk off the confusion and drudgery of everyday life and the things/possessions we surround ourselves with in our homes. To tramp in the Great Outdoors. How fine to be in Nature. Papatuanuku. Mother Earth. And to experience all her splendors. I do think we breathed much deeper in that forest! And I think we came away with a sense of being empowered by all that we saw, felt and experienced. Medicine for the soul. A Healing. On an infinitesimal scale. I think I need less time in front of a screen and more time in nature, to slow my life down even more.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out over the Beautiful Bay of Plenty</td></tr>
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At times like this, I stop and reflect on how beautiful this place is. And how lucky we are to be living here. So close to nature. So close to infinite beauty. I remember driving through the town of Katikati 15 or so years ago, and my husband asking if I could ever live in a place like this. And my shudder of revulsion - "In a one-horse town like this???? Never!" <br />
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The last laugh is on me! We did end up in that one horse town. And I have fallen in love. Sometimes I look up at the mountains surrounding our town and I marvel at their splendor. Parts of the mountain, and certainly, different vantage points remind me of the mountains of Africa. Of Fraanschoek in the Cape. But the green-ness of it all is not replicated in Africa. Here, the greens and blues can <i>hurt</i> your eyes. Their intensity is sometimes blindingly vivid and piercing.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A glimpse of farmland. Verdant green.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light and shadow....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making shadows again.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view into the Underwater World.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An upside down world.... which way is up? Which way down?</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.3199996948242px; line-height: inherit;">My foray into the bush brings to mind a poem which hung behind our toilet door when I was a child: </span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: inherit;">Desiderata, by Max Ehrmann</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">(Desiderata is a Latin word translating roughly to things desired, wanted or needed; a requisite)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.3199996948242px; line-height: 19.7119998931885px; text-align: justify;">Beautiful.</span></div>
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-71040412560077374472015-05-14T09:30:00.001+12:002015-05-14T09:31:14.073+12:00We got bees!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hard to believe our good fortune sometimes!! Mike always says: "Careful of what you want, you might just get it!!" The Law of Attraction! We have always wanted to have bee hives in our small backyard. We even signed up for a course to learn how to care for them. Mike read a book on bees, and how us humans would survive something like 5 years before we died out, if we lost all of our bees! That's how important they are to our survival! Think about it - our fruit, our veggies - all pollinated by mostly bees! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sadly, after our Bee Keeping course, we decided we just did not have the TIME it took to care for the little critters, while working, growing our food and maintaining home and garden. I approached 2 local bee-keepers, offering them the chance of placing bee hives in our bee-wonderland-backyard. Not interested at all. The guy who ran the bee-keeping course said he could place some hives in our garden, but we waited several months and nothing happened. We called. He said he would come. We waited. Still nothing happened and a year went by. So we shelved the idea. Until I recently read in the newspaper that a beekeeper was asking for space to place his hives. I eagerly rang up and offered our backyard. The beekeeper's wife, Alison, promised they would come to have a look. I waited eagerly, but tried not to get my hopes up this time. They came. 2 weeks later, Barry brought 2 hives. We were so excited, we could barely contain ourselves. We watched with bated breathe as he opened the hives and the first little buzzy guys emerged. Barry wore no protective gear and assured us they would be happy for us to walk passed.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9WA_23tBTWM/VVMTtD_AjAI/AAAAAAAAHNE/79z8gHIFuRU/s1600/DSCN5589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9WA_23tBTWM/VVMTtD_AjAI/AAAAAAAAHNE/79z8gHIFuRU/s400/DSCN5589.JPG" width="356" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZoHsAwLY1y8/VVMUHShcsxI/AAAAAAAAHNc/Dw1CZ5a95aM/s1600/DSCN5590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZoHsAwLY1y8/VVMUHShcsxI/AAAAAAAAHNc/Dw1CZ5a95aM/s400/DSCN5590.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These little girls come and go at such speed, it is tiring just to watch them!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Barry and Alison pop by every now and then just to feed the hives and check on them. I LOVE having bees, with their own keeper. No hassle, no fuss, just busy little bees pollinating everything within a 5km radius! And we get to be part of the solution to the plight of the bees - we use no poisons in our garden, so these busy-bodies are safe to gather pollen and do what bees do - keep their colony healthy and safe.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6HZhYMei6BQ/VVMVEbqpzVI/AAAAAAAAHNk/2s4V75LXiYU/s1600/DSCN5591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6HZhYMei6BQ/VVMVEbqpzVI/AAAAAAAAHNk/2s4V75LXiYU/s640/DSCN5591.JPG" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sign I painted to welcome the bees to our backyard. Sweet as Honey!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the bees are happy. We are ecstatic, and the garden is humming! The bees are placed on the southern side of the property, next to the compost bin. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OkUgh-DFjY/VVMVi1h0myI/AAAAAAAAHOs/lCpqhCW1u3A/s1600/Barry2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OkUgh-DFjY/VVMVi1h0myI/AAAAAAAAHOs/lCpqhCW1u3A/s400/Barry2.JPG" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Barry and Mike tend the bees. Barry wears full protective suit. Mike not!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not only is our garden buzzing with bees, but we have several Swan Plants (milkweed), self-seeded. That means an abundance of Monarch butterflies, caterpillars (they only eat the milkweed, so are not a threat to human food production) and jewel-like chrysalises. I recently found a butterfly on our driveway and rescued it. It was a new hatch-ling, I was able to examine it and photograph it.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rr54eaI1FqU/VVO9xHuCZII/AAAAAAAAHPI/TF7eivF3QAc/s1600/pupa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rr54eaI1FqU/VVO9xHuCZII/AAAAAAAAHPI/TF7eivF3QAc/s400/pupa.jpg" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A rescued chrysalis cellotaped to our light chord.<br />We will enjoy watching it emerge.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ozj-MWqqzgY/VVMVVzYVNkI/AAAAAAAAHN0/NtGFteaeOSs/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ozj-MWqqzgY/VVMVVzYVNkI/AAAAAAAAHN0/NtGFteaeOSs/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="478" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beautiful Butterfly. Purereh<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">ua in Maori.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gentle. Graceful.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I put this pretty lady in our olive tree where she hung around for 2 days!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have this theory I'm putting to the test; I have been talking or singing to the bees every time I go to the compost bin. I hope they get to recognize the sound of my voice and know I am not a threat to them. We shall see...... But anyway, if I get stung, I believe it provides a good boost to the immune system! </span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And Stop the Press:</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since the beginning of our Term 2, I have begun a job-share position with a lovely lady at kindergarten, who embodies all that I hold dear - sustainable education. What this means, is that I get to work one week on at the kindergarten and one week off. This is the second of my off-weeks, and I have been just as busy as those bees - pruning, mulching and weeding! I am <i>taking back the garden</i> - it had been taken over by an Overgrown Weed Giant, who didn't allow much sunshine in at all. I can begin to see the sunshine now.........</span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JR0tzzTy1dg/VVMVRHSgtOI/AAAAAAAAHNs/sKTzQMIzOrw/s1600/DSCN5578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JR0tzzTy1dg/VVMVRHSgtOI/AAAAAAAAHNs/sKTzQMIzOrw/s640/DSCN5578.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bees mean more persimmon next year!! Yay! Sun-fruit! Note the radiating lines like the sun a child draws.</span></td></tr>
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-25575606706421484802015-04-30T22:35:00.002+12:002015-05-03T17:48:19.889+12:00We made it (almost!)<span style="font-size: large;">Day 29</span><br />
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A significant day. Our daughter's 20th birthday celebration. Also, the second-last day of our Challenge!<br />
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<u>Breakfast:</u></div>
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Mike complained that carbs are <i>not</i> his thang for breakfast at the end of yesterday (I know, guys can change their minds...) so I made a smoothie - guava, apple, and feijoa. No rice porridge.</div>
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Fired up with all this liquid goodness, I plummeted into bottling our own olives that have been soaking in water for the last 30 days, almost as long as this Challenge. It is a long and arduous activity, not for the faint-hearted, but if you can Eat Local, olive-bottling is a piece of cake!</div>
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Talking of which, I also made rice flour <i>cake (</i>a recipe on Archana's Kitchen website<i>)</i>. Yep, it's definitely possible! Getting adventurous in the twilight of our <a href="http://happyzine.co.nz/2015/03/15/the-happyzine-eat-local-challenge/" target="_blank">Eat Local 200km Challenge!</a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQm0F2kTvj8/VUH1Kxhs_PI/AAAAAAAAHLU/8xdpGlnLhwQ/s1600/olives.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sQm0F2kTvj8/VUH1Kxhs_PI/AAAAAAAAHLU/8xdpGlnLhwQ/s1600/olives.JPG" height="400" width="330" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;">Olives soaked in water and changed 2x daily. Labour of Love.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;">Tools and accoutrements of bottling olives.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LVP15vKOOLI/VUH7oPr_K3I/AAAAAAAAHMg/qJriol1IRsU/s1600/DSCN5520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LVP15vKOOLI/VUH7oPr_K3I/AAAAAAAAHMg/qJriol1IRsU/s1600/DSCN5520.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<u>Lunch:</u></div>
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Actually, I cannot remember, nor can Mike! Probably, as per usual: an entirely uneventful meal; rice flour cheese fingers, avo and tomatoes.</div>
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<u>Dinner: </u></div>
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We picked up a HelpXchange French girl from the bus just before dinner, so we all sat down to a nourishing bowl of last night's Brown Rice and Celery Soup. Then we had locally-grown potato wedges, Daikon Radish pickles, tomatoes and olives. A simple, hearty meal to warm us in the hurricane winds blowing outside!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-By5aq2b4PkY/VUH1CwZtBYI/AAAAAAAAHLI/lNiyP3Bz5LM/s1600/rice%2Band%2Bcelery%2Bsoup.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-By5aq2b4PkY/VUH1CwZtBYI/AAAAAAAAHLI/lNiyP3Bz5LM/s1600/rice%2Band%2Bcelery%2Bsoup.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;">Brown Rice and Celery soup.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U4HHQBYSKwk/VUH1ClSWUyI/AAAAAAAAHLE/5KFH5lFPD7U/s1600/dinner2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U4HHQBYSKwk/VUH1ClSWUyI/AAAAAAAAHLE/5KFH5lFPD7U/s1600/dinner2.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;">Winter night-time photographic skills on Mike's mobile <br />not really appealing!</span></td></tr>
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We had rice-flour apple cake and Tip Top Ice-cream for dessert. It was surprisingly yummy. I wasn't sure about the rice flour in a cake but I will definitely repeat this one, even when we return to normal _ i.e, eating further afield than the 200km Eat Local Challenge allows!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0C8tufUXlqI/VUH6jjqno7I/AAAAAAAAHMM/ULpq4c8WZ3I/s1600/DSCN5514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0C8tufUXlqI/VUH6jjqno7I/AAAAAAAAHMM/ULpq4c8WZ3I/s1600/DSCN5514.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;">Cinnamon-Apple Rice flour cake!!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9MMzBNM8EUE/VUH7nhmC-gI/AAAAAAAAHMc/EHv9OThWhCU/s1600/DSCN5518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9MMzBNM8EUE/VUH7nhmC-gI/AAAAAAAAHMc/EHv9OThWhCU/s1600/DSCN5518.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Day 30</span></div>
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We reminded ourselves that today is the <i>last day</i> of our Eat Local Challenge! Yay, hooray!</div>
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<u>Breakfast: </u></div>
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A simple variation on the humble smoothie, I added yogurt to the blueberry(frozen), feijoa, apple, guava, mandarin mix. Nice.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTwWZPSZ_p0/VUH6VMbij_I/AAAAAAAAHL8/F86q005nM00/s1600/DSCN5523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bTwWZPSZ_p0/VUH6VMbij_I/AAAAAAAAHL8/F86q005nM00/s1600/DSCN5523.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Snacks: We had carrots, and rice flour cheese fingers with home-made beetroot relish and tomatoes.</div>
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<u>Lunch:</u></div>
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I made a stir-fry of capsicum, courgette, carrot, onion and my own stir-fry sauce and rice flour noodles! Yes, they <i>do</i> exist, after a month of missing out on our wheat semolina pasta, I discover that there is a rice-based noodle option!!!&^%$#@*!! Anyway, it was rather dishy!!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gEtwWHEiFak/VUH6YytRH_I/AAAAAAAAHME/a8gtBsLFFqE/s1600/DSCN5524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gEtwWHEiFak/VUH6YytRH_I/AAAAAAAAHME/a8gtBsLFFqE/s1600/DSCN5524.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IW3bhEDm2gc/VUH7liHH5aI/AAAAAAAAHMU/WPSVRM7bTy8/s1600/DSCN5515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IW3bhEDm2gc/VUH7liHH5aI/AAAAAAAAHMU/WPSVRM7bTy8/s1600/DSCN5515.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #660000;">We polished off the rice flour apple cake for afternoon tea.</span></span></td></tr>
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<u>Dinner: </u></div>
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I used the stir-fry mix to blend with rice, parsley and chives, olive oil and lemon juice to stuff some locally-grown capsicum from Auckland. Baked to perfection, halloumi cheese accompaniment, daikon radish pickles, beetroot salad (both home-grown) and avo on the side. Quite filling and yummy indeed!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zueeesyH3qM/VUH1PqrUb_I/AAAAAAAAHLk/REuqBgYXaBo/s1600/dinner30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zueeesyH3qM/VUH1PqrUb_I/AAAAAAAAHLk/REuqBgYXaBo/s1600/dinner30.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;">Stuffed capsicum.</span></td></tr>
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For dessert, we had Tip Top ice-cream topped with guava sauce (which turned out to be more of a jelly).</div>
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Afterwards, Mike cleared his throat and said he had to "<i>come clean and confess</i>". Well, I was waiting for an almighty ground-shaking confession when he reported he'd eaten a <i>chocolate biscuit </i>this afternoon! Wahaha, I laughed. He looked crest-fallen and said he felt he'd let Team Green down. Nah, it's not that serious Matey! You've done us proud! We have survived a month of Eating (mostly) local, within a 200km radius, even on holiday in Fiji, with so much holiday joie d' vivre tempting opportunities, and we have learned so much about a mono-grain diet! Some of which we will take beyond The Challenge. Onwards and Upwards, but I think tomorrow calls for Celebratory Pizza from our local farmer's market!!</div>
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GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561009870233507256.post-83169056043066250272015-04-29T21:03:00.003+12:002015-04-29T21:03:48.741+12:00Are we there yet?<span style="font-size: large;">Day 27</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have felt like the kid in the back seat on a long journey. A month to trial a different way of eating. Only what grows within a 200km radius. It's been tough. Hmmn, and just as we near the end of our Prohibition Lifestyle (Eat Local 200km Challenge), I discover all these great options. We could live like this. Maybe. Maybe not!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Breakfast:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Smoothie: usual, fruit from our backyard: apple, feijoa, guava and small mandarins.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O-OPlyNBfmM/VUAfp2y8d8I/AAAAAAAAHJ0/2bq4wtXokYs/s1600/mandarins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O-OPlyNBfmM/VUAfp2y8d8I/AAAAAAAAHJ0/2bq4wtXokYs/s1600/mandarins.JPG" height="640" width="528" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am home, A BIG DEVELOPMENT in my lifestyle - I have started to work a job-share with a colleague. We work a week-about, alternating every week. Bliss! Now I have more time to make, create and bake! I have always been a working mother, so this is a fun adventure starting this week - more time to do the things I tend to cram into the end of a working day, or on 1 day of the weekend!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snacking: - the usual, carrot sticks, fruit, and I have just learned how to make rice flour cookies - simply delicious!! I substituted/fudged an old Hare Krishna cookie recipe I have. <i>Okay</i>, I used almonds, which are not local, but I figured out, that the walnuts I bought from the market (local) are still drying, and if they <i>were</i> ready, I would have used <i>them</i>, so I just substituted with almonds!)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tNLjddfVFIc/VUAfqLdn3-I/AAAAAAAAHJ4/DhS_UmOYmlw/s1600/cookies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tNLjddfVFIc/VUAfqLdn3-I/AAAAAAAAHJ4/DhS_UmOYmlw/s1600/cookies.JPG" height="640" width="600" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rice Flour Cookies:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup soft butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup rice flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/3 cup sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 TBspn almonds, ground</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp vanilla essence</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tsp baking powder (not necessary but I thought the rice flour may be heavy)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 175degC (350 F). combine all of the above, when mixed, roll into 12 balls and flatten in the palm of the hand. Place on cookie sheet and bake 10 -12 minutes till golden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(I found I needed to add 1 TBspn hot water to bind it all). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We ate them all too quickly. Will have to make a batch a day to keep up with demand!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Lunch:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rice crackers, avo and tomato. Humble meal, not really enough to fill a teeny-tiny person, but hey, we are lucky! Many people across the Globe don't get 3 meals a day!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Dinner:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike made a stir-fry with onion, garlic, butternut, corn and zucchini strips. I made a stir-fry sauce with honey and home-made sweet Thai chilli sauce. We wrapped up parcels of stir-fry and guacamole (locally-grown avo) in rice wraps. Heavenly!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Day 28</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Am loving being at home!! So much to do!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Breakfast:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We started our day with our regular smoothie: apple, feijoa, guava and figs. Not as nice as usual - I think the figs spoil it!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzlly-Zl3fQ/VUAfj7QunoI/AAAAAAAAHJM/sI62fSkPpGg/s1600/smoothie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzlly-Zl3fQ/VUAfj7QunoI/AAAAAAAAHJM/sI62fSkPpGg/s1600/smoothie.JPG" height="640" width="452" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike has complained that he needs carbohydrates to keep him going in the morning. He read somewhere that men need more carbs. So I made him a porridge from rice flakes which he bought from our local Indian supermarket, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spice-Traders/312907825556823?fref=ts" target="_blank">Spice Traders</a>. They have an incredible range of stock!! I wasn't sure of how it would turn out, but cooked with water, milk, cinnamon, pinch salt, sugar and butter - it was like pudding!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mMwFd9YBd3o/VUAfkE11Z9I/AAAAAAAAHJU/TLF323_NCwo/s1600/porridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mMwFd9YBd3o/VUAfkE11Z9I/AAAAAAAAHJU/TLF323_NCwo/s1600/porridge.JPG" height="361" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Lunch:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is one meal that I don't seem to pay much attention to. Too busy in the kitchen or garden! I spent the day inside when it rained, and back out when the sun came out, pruning our over-zealous feijoa trees (I managed 2 of 9). There is a mountain of fall out - perhaps I was a little severe!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lunch was a hurried rice cracker and avo feast. And last night's left-overs on the side.</span></div>
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<table 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="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PuxepEg0R5o/VUAh8FWUUtI/AAAAAAAAHKQ/pBo_8czBx_0/s1600/DSCN5501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PuxepEg0R5o/VUAh8FWUUtI/AAAAAAAAHKQ/pBo_8czBx_0/s1600/DSCN5501.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I used some rainshower time, to sort through my seeds so I could sow some Autumn seeds.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Dinner:</u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made a Brown Rice and Celery Soup, and baked some rice flour cheese fingers to substitute for that need to have toast/bread with soup. It was a veritable feast for kings! Well, maybe not for kings, but for us, anyway! The <u>Rice flour cheese fingers</u> are really simple to make:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">100g butter, cold and cubed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups grated cheese (I used Mount Eliza cheese from our local market)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pinch or two of cayenne pepper</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix flour, pepper and butter in blender, pulsing till mixed, add cheese and pulse till mixed. Pour out onto floured bench and press flat with hands till it is about 1cm thick. Cut fingers and place on baking paper cookie sheet and bake at 180degC for 10-20 minutes until golden. Allow to cool on rack.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4nLb2T2QEM/VUAfkG96o0I/AAAAAAAAHJQ/SyNHqwUwNh8/s1600/fingers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A4nLb2T2QEM/VUAfkG96o0I/AAAAAAAAHJQ/SyNHqwUwNh8/s1600/fingers.JPG" height="400" width="382" /></span></a></div>
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<table 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="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRcBCzSdFQU/VUAibiBRABI/AAAAAAAAHKo/TfR5FVirLbQ/s1600/DSCN5511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRcBCzSdFQU/VUAibiBRABI/AAAAAAAAHKo/TfR5FVirLbQ/s1600/DSCN5511.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brown Rice and Celery Soup, with accompaniments.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<table 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="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J9Pej69PCDU/VUAh8OvsErI/AAAAAAAAHKU/Jta5mvXU08Q/s1600/DSCN5500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J9Pej69PCDU/VUAh8OvsErI/AAAAAAAAHKU/Jta5mvXU08Q/s1600/DSCN5500.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Harvest today. I think I am totally over feijoas.</span></td></tr>
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<table 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="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZsu7bU_M3o/VUAh94VwYhI/AAAAAAAAHKg/ZpiGkIGs0kc/s1600/DSCN5504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZsu7bU_M3o/VUAh94VwYhI/AAAAAAAAHKg/ZpiGkIGs0kc/s1600/DSCN5504.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Sweet little yellow cherry guavas.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmX9--qGTPQ/VUAinfbXlEI/AAAAAAAAHKw/i_JvsGliqro/s1600/DSCN5506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmX9--qGTPQ/VUAinfbXlEI/AAAAAAAAHKw/i_JvsGliqro/s1600/DSCN5506.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Red cherry guavas.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Oh, what to make with guavas... jelly? Sauce? Jam? Last night I took a bag of guavas and excess feijoas and a large marrow to the local Backpackers. Let <i>them</i> eat local!! I'm over this now! No, only kidding, I seem to just be getting into it!!</span></div>
GreeNZ Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05890290777924096917noreply@blogger.com0