24/02/07 - Rodeo

Today we went to a rodeo - my memories of rodeos stem from the couple I went to as a child; and weren't pleasant.

The one today was great fun - and most importantly the animals all were happy and treated well too.

E even had a go at sheep riding! Click here to see the video of her (short) ride.

It was just too hot to stay long though so we left before the "professional" stuff in the afternoon.

23/02/07 - Americarna

550 American cars have arrived in town for the "Americarna Rally" - all ages from Model T's through to current day - its a bit like being in a movie set to drive around and see cars ilke this at traffic lights and carparks!

22/02/07 - Vege Garden Update

After 6weeks of warm weather it is looking alot more garden-ish than it did (click on word and scroll down to see how the garden looked on newyears day)

21/02/07 - YAY!!!!!! Concrete!!

Yes! We have a floor!!

We are having a burnished concrete finish to the floor - which if it turns out right won't need any kind of finishing or ployurethane coating. Basically they float and float and float it until it is dry - the last stages of floating are done by this ride-on float - WEIRD looking thing that it is!

20/02/07 - Favourite Things

Tidying up this evening I noticed this part of the mess actually contains J's current favourite things - a ball; his (yes pink) gumboots and the chair we read in (he's dicovered books in a BIG way).

19/02/07 - I asked for "nice smiles"

and got these -

18/02/07 - J Swims

Its hot enough now that we have been swimming most evenings.
The local community pool is now heated and has a cover so the temp is a lovely 28-29C just lovely for an evening cool off.

17/02/07 - Not Yet Blackberries

When we bought the land I think the blackberry must have been recently sprayed or removed in some way so there wasn't much around - but over the last 15mths we have had it resprouting all over the place - will be interesting to see how many berries we get.

16/02/07 - Kitset

The whole kitset is on site now - thats the whole house AND garage in the photo - kitset steel buildings are very compact to transport.

We also had a chat with the kitset company fellow today and have agreed on new deadlines - concrete now due to arrive next Wed - and yes, its been ordered!

15/02/07 - Veges for Tea!!

Today for the first time our vege plot supplied all the veges we needed for dinner! I've never managed to grow decent carrots before - not sure why these ones worked when others haven't but YAY!

14/02/07 - A's Garden

Now because discussions with lawyer friends (THANK YOU J!!!!) about what to do with slack kitset companies isn't good photographic material I thought you might like to see how A's School Garden is growing.
I don't think I have put this in the 365 before - the kids school has a garden competition. The kids choose veges, flowers or herbs, pay $2 entry and get given a set of seeds to grow over the summer holidays. E's herb garden has had several tragedys befall it but A's veges are looking GREAT!
At the front you can see corn - behind that is beetroot and spring onions, the big mass is potatoes and hidden behind them is lettuce and carrots.

13/02/07 - yoohoo.............concrete..........

This *should* be a photo of a newly laid floor - why isn't it?
Well, we hauled the kids out of bed at 6am (today of all days they wanted to sleep), shoved brekkie into them and then just as we were about to leave to go see the concrete arrive (was due at 7am) we thought we had just better check it hadn't been delayed or anything.....
"no, not doing it today"....
"um?WHY?"..........
"We forgot to order it" ....................... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

12/02/07 - Road Resurfacing

Was caught out this morning when our 4minute dash to school was made significantly longer by road resurfacing! so much for my New Years resolution of the kids not being late for school!

11/02/07 - Sunset

10/02/07 - Hosefun

J has discovered that the hose is quite fun - so long as he is holding it!
You can see our massive self sown pumpkin plant in the background - very different to the 4 I carefully planted in my vege garden. This one is in the compost heap and us just HUGE.

09/02/07 - Reinspection - x2!

Well this morning our inspector loved our deeper footings - but they need plastic to go all the way to the bottom AND he found some pipes to be the wrong place (he should have found that the first time!). Luckily our kitset company sent some guys up to fix the plastic and our plumber (who is awesome) came out and moved the pipes this afternoon. So 4pm we got it reinspected AGAIN (pulled a few favours to get to happen as next inspection slot was next Thurs) - and got the OK to go ahead. YAY!
So all is OK for concrete Tues still.

08/02/07 - And the enginneers report says...

get thee some deeper footings and bigger holes - so we did.
Reinspection tomorrow. Then concrete next Tuesday!

07/02/07 - Mr Independence

Yup, he fed himself breakfast and also fed breakfast to his p.j's; the highchair and the foor - then did his favourite "you can't keep me in this highchair" standing up trick and (politely??) requested a change of location.

06.02/07 - Giant Gumboot

YUP! In NZ when you want to promote your town you just build a really big thing - Ohakune has a carrot, Paeroa a huge drink bottle and Taihape has a gumboot! Love it!

And why was I in Taihape? My lovely friend J was humouring me and taking me to Utiku to get me some of that yummy varigated yarn!!

05/02/07 - Birthday Boy

This little fellows birthday was the excuse we used to go visit Raetihi - isn't he a CUTIE!

04/02/07 - Trampolines

A and N were in the same playgroup as babies; constant companions for their first 2years and now even though they live in seperate towns just pick up their friendship like they have never been apart.
Good friends are precious precious things!

03/02/07 - We all LOVE weddings!

We attended a wonderful wedding today - just awesome! To V and P - wishing you MANY happy years together!!!!!!!
Was a long day though as straight after the wedding we left to travel to Raetihi (middle of the island and near Mt Ruapehu), should be a fun weekend!

02/02/07 - J Looks

In my continuing efforts to get a decent pic of J feeding I managed to get this one - hand up to grab the camera off me!

01/02/07 - Waterfall

Our local park has a festival of lights each summer. Coloured lights illuminate trees, paths and in this case a waterfall; live music each night and other entertainers through the park, its GREAT. Oh yes, and in real life the colour of the waterfall changes regularly, here the colour change is just starting at the top.

31/01/07 - Babes in the wood

30/01/07 - Wool Stash

I spent the morning at a friends transforming some hanks of yarn into nice tidy balls - all ready to knit with. Not all of this is mine - I seriously want to get some of the varigated wool here - its just GORGEOUS, it comes from the wool company.

29/01/07 - J and L

We had an unexpected surprise today a visit from some dear friends who live in Auckland. J and L haven't seen each other since they were babes - but were straight in there playing together! So cool to catch up.

28/01/07 - Tree Fern

27/01/07 - Asleep.....again...car this time!

26/01/07 - SummerFun

Finally its getting HOT! YES!!!!

25/01/07 - IceCreamSoda

In a dairyfree house its a rare occurance; they had a great time all sharing it and I had to get a pic!

24/01/07 - Playsilks

Had fun at a friends place today dyeing some playsilks - YAY for friends that send me koolaid so I can do this!! The kids love doing it too, the ones E is wearing are ones she did herself.

23/01/07 - Kitset onsite!

After yesterdays disappointment it is cool to see that part of our kitset has arrived on site!
The rest is arriving soon.

22/01/07 - humph!

NOT the news we were expecting - we failed the inspection! Seems the council inspector isn't happy with our footings - wants them bigger and an engineers report to confirm how much bigger they need to be. On one hand we are pleased for problems to be picked up now BEFORE concrete pour but on the other hand the last time we needed an engineers report we waited 5weeks for it!!
Tall man is the kitset builder and the small blue man is a smurf - no just kidding - thats our lovely council inspector!

21/01/07 - Is it ready?

Apparently this is ready for the concrete pour now - so the council is coming tomorrow to inspect it - if we get the green light then pour should be later in the week!!

20/01/07 - Clock Tower

This week I had a good friend visiting - was great to have a chance to show her around, made me realise I haven't shown many pics on here from around town. This is our clock tower - the original one was taken down many years ago and when I was a kid there was a huge fundraising drive to raise money to rebuild it. The bell in it is the original one.

19/01/07 - Last Day of Camp

We had the camp concert tonight - none of the pics inside the hall were any good (and i didn't take many as too distracted watching) so this is one of E and her Daddy with her favourite horse; taken before the concert - the cover on the horses nose is to protect it from the sun.

18/01/07 - Face Painting

This week the kids have been at day camp - having a GREAT time. This is how E came home today

17/01/07 - Taranaki Coastline

16/01/07 - Mt Ruapehu from the Naki

On a clear day from Mt Taranaki you can see all the way to Mt Ruapehu - for those not from NZ Mt Taranaki is on the west coast, Mt Ruapehu is in the middle of the island.

15/01/07 - My big boy

He is loving wearing his hair in a "more-hawk" at present.

14/01/07 - He can be a good influence too

After the playstation photo I thought I had better show A being a positive role model too! (and yes thats matching sweatshirts - a rare occurance).

13/01/07 - I could do with seeing more of this!

12/01/07 - My baby is 15.5mths!

And he is delightful.
VERY busy and VERY able so into lots more mischief than his siblings managed at the same age.
Now has quite a few words - favourite being "hi-lo!" (hello) said whenever anyone new turns up or whenever anyone returns to a room, very cute.

11/01/07 - Overlocking!

Finally had a chance to give my new overlocker a workout - its GREAT (though my overlocking technique needs more practice!). These are some cloth wipes and some extra microfibre inserts for J's cloth nappies.
Also did some BKT/Hemp flats.

10/01/07 - Insulation and Pipework

We are putting polystyrene under the concrete slab as extra insulation and (when combined with the passive solar design features of the house) will (hopefully!) eliminate the need for underfloor heating.
The pre-pour pipe work has also been done!

09/01/07 - The Garage is ready for concrete

Just have to get the house site fully prepped; then its time for the floo to be poured!

08/01/07 - Imitation is the...............

07/01/07 - MMmmm Strawberry!

J just *LOVES* Strawberries.

06/01/07 - Ouch!

A moments inattention while preparing veges.