Fossage

button compartments

I found this wee treasure yesterday. Collectors generally store their varied collections in these types of display cases. Sometimes ornament collectors hang them on the wall. My aunt has one filled with her collection of owls.

I'm finding it useful while I make my necklaces; to sort and store colour themes and sizes. These necklaces are off to www.toggle.co.nz tomorrow.

Farewell tour

I am moving to India soon. Here are some shots of my farewell tour of New Zealand.

Bike riding with Ron and Stella, his Labradoodle.

The book fair at Founders in Nelson

Flying saucer

I am travelling in the South Island at the moment to visit friends and family. I'm staying in one of my most favourite spots at the moment; Governor's Bay in Banks Peninsula - the home I am staying in looks right out over the sea and back toward Lyttleton. Such a beautiful place. Thank you Ghazala and Anna-Claire for having me.

Today was a new experience for me, Anna-Claire and Lyndon invited me to go plate-smashing with them today. We trekked up the hill and met Lyndon at the Sign on the Bellbird, along the Summit Road in Christchurch. Lyndon had a car load of very old plates and cups for the Super Shed/ Dump Shop.

First we neatly arranged the plates in piles

Then we set to throwing them in all different ways together toward the old brick shelter. A new experience for me, it was fun, releasing and therapeutic. Afterward we sat and listened to the bellbirds; a kind of meditation together. Then we cleaned and swept and took the plate debris with us. We left the little stone shelter cleaner than when we arrived.

Here a few lucky ones that were saved. The plates reminds me of Erik Carlyle.

Women's day

Yesterday was Mother's Day - I call it women's day. It's a perfect opportunity for women who care about each other to get together and celebrate the connection they have with one another - whatever that may be. It's a time to celebrate the contribution made by the wonderful women in your life.

I took my mum and one of her closest friends out for lunch on the tutukaka coast - yum!!

Thank you for all your kind comments since my last post! Yes, I am going to India - good guess!! I head off at the end of June on an internship with CNN IBN, a 24 hour news channel run predominantly by Indian people but part of the wider network of CNN. I will be there for two months, then will spend another three months traveling to other parts of India visiting friends. Then in November I am off to the UK. I would love to hear your travel stories and advice!!

socks and jandals

I have returned for ten days in silence, it was wonderful, but meditating for ten hours a day was never going to be easy. In the end it was a fully rewarding experience that I would whole-heartedly recommend to anyone. The socks with jandals was something of a fashion statement I made on my course, I forgot my slip on shoes, so it was those or my running shoes. I loved the look, I also got quite into meditating in my pijamas, something else I recommend. The book in the background is Gregory David Roberts, "Shantaram" - it's a little taster for my future posts. I have so much to tell you about the adventure I am about to head off on for work and personal reasons. I hope I will also get to post once a week while I am on this adventure. It's nice to be back even if everything is very bright, colourful and there really are too many things to choose from!!!

Posting

Hi there, I am not sure if people are still checking my wee space here. I am sorry I have been a little lost in cyber space recently and a little burnt out from work pressures. But... good news. I am on the mend. I have finished work and today am off on a ten day silent meditation retreat called Vipassana. Sounds scary huh!!! I hope to be posting soon. Lots of love and warm wishes!!!

new beginnings

Today the sky opened up; it poured. We've been in major need of rain.

I stocked up on buttons yesterday from Salvage; I've put them to good use...

I made this clutch purse today - I've had some beautiful silk fabric sitting around. I bought it last year from a fabric sale at State of Grace

Craftwerk here I come.

Abundance

It's been a very dry hot summer - yet there is so much abundance around at the moment. Here's some of the harvest from our garden and shade house from today.

We have beans growing up our apple tree

I am always amazed by nature.

Craftwerk as part of the Cross Street Carnival is coming up - I decided to replenish my button collection. A friend and I are teaming up this time - I will keep you updates this week on our progress.

baking with strawberries

These are the nicest muffins I have eaten; and they were a joy to make.

They're gluten-free, but are the type of gluten-free goodie that is well-conceived and not dry and flavourless like a lot of wheat-free or gluten-free recipes often are.

They remind me a bit of friands that I used to buy at the cafe at the University of Canterbury while I was doing post-grad journalism. They were also wheat-free and delicious.

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

1 cup ground almond grated rind of 2 lemons 1 1/4 cup Chelsea Icing Sugar, plus extra to dust 3 tablespoons fine polenta 1/4 cup maize cornflour 200 g butter, melted 4 egg whites, beaten until frothy 1 cup sliced strawberries

Method

Preheat oven to 200°C. Place paper cup cases in a 12 cup muffin tray. In a large bowl, mix ground almonds, lemon rind, icing sugar, polenta and cornflour. Mix in the melted butter then fold in the egg whites and carefully stir through the sliced strawberries. Spoon into the paper cases and bake for 18 - 20 minutes until lightly golden and springy. Cool on a wire rack and dust with icing sugar. Serve with extra fresh strawberries and cream or yoghurt.

Makes 12

I visited some friends recently on the Kapiti coast - Rach inspired me to enjoy cooking again. It really is my vice of choice in life.