The world can feel a bit much sometimes. We’ve trouble stirring in our little community, with someone anonymously campaigning against dogs (not quite sure how else to describe it) and rather than talking to owners, going straight to the authorities. … Read More
How to make bathroom wipes (Or, a craft project for non-crafty people) 1. Pick up some darker coloured flannel from the fabric store or upcycle old pajamas 2. Borrow some pinking shears (this stops the edges from fraying) 3. Decide what … Read More
I’ve been working Saturdays which has meant missing the farmer’s market and our local fruit and vegetable dealership burnt down – everyone was okay, and they’re going to rebuild, yay! I’ve been at a loss with where to buy our … Read More
It was the weirdest thing. I was on the lookout for some butter-soft grey linen to make a shirt exactly like this. We’d taken a friend who is unable to drive to the doctor and while waiting for his blood tests, … Read More
January. I don’t know about you, but I got steamrollered by the end of 2018 and am still trying to catch up. Here’s the highlights of what I’ve been watching/listening/talking about. Sometimes while drinking a gin and tonic. That Gillette … Read More
I was researching graphic novels for the youngest in the family and requested a selection from our library. I used this list of 14 recommended graphic novels for teens list. Marie Lu’s Legend series is a big hit with the … Read More
Waterfall. This is our local. Sometimes we’ll go months driving past on our way to the beach, or work or whatever is going on but we’ve been there a bunch lately. Taking friends who haven’t been there before and getting … Read More
I had the pleasure of meeting Niva and Yotam of Pakaraka Permaculture recently. (I wrote about that here.) The result is this feature article in the summer issue of Organic NZ Magazine. I’ve seen many small market gardens in many countries and none … Read More
Evening walk on our nearest beach – extra points for spotting the dog doing a meerkat impersonation After a long rainy spell, we’re suddenly in summer. Even the overcast days are warm. Evening walks and picnic dinners as the sun goes … Read More
This is my favourite photo from this holiday season. Sometimes its not the perfectly framed in-focus photos that top my list. Bodicea has had so much fun with the tree. Jed insists on a cut pine from our traditional source … Read More
Kittens have invaded our music room. It’s the very best of invasions. A friend found the little tortoiseshell kittie in their garden three weeks ago, all scrawny and hungry. Then the tabby one all hissing and spitting just a week … Read More
One in five people in NZ live in poverty. This is a hard time of year for lots of reasons, economic disparity being just one. I know we want less consumerism and plastic in the world but we also don’t … Read More
Bring on summer I say. Swimming, picnics with friends and summer fruit here we come. It takes no time at all to burn between the hours of 11 and 3 here in NZ. We try and stay out of the … Read More
The boy found a cookbook at the library that led to a week of fabulous lunches. I love it when you find something that sparks a flurry of creating. It can be a new set of colouring pencils, a cookbook, … Read More
A few Sundays ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Niva and Yotam of Pakaraka Permaculture for a feature article in the summer issue of Organic NZ Magazine. Watch out for lots of tips and insights into market gardening and a fab … Read More
All you non-crafty sewy types might want to scroll on by this one! Sarah from SewKnitLove posted a request for pattern reviewers for their new Coastline top on facebook and was swamped in hours. I was lucky enough to be among the … Read More
Flashback alert. One of my favourite places online had a thread about the times we’d lost our kid/s. Okaaaay, so out of context, that sounds terrible but let me just say, for those of you who aren’t parents or haven’t … Read More
Photo credit to Giacomo Ferroni Reading through the blurbs of each fabulous woman in the NEXT Women of the Year 2018 nominees list I was wondering why I wasn’t grabbed by their stories. Every one of them is doing amazing … Read More