Santa - NZ style

The Christmas Story

The story of Christmas as told by the children of St Paul's Church, Auckland, New Zealand. Anyone is welcome to show this film publicly, but not change it in any way, nor make money out of it. 

Te Harinui

(sorry about the quality of sound in this video - it was the version I could find)

Te Harinui - a New Zealand Christmas hymn

Samuel Marsden, the first missionary in New Zealand, arrived in the Bay of Islands on 23 Dec 1814 on board the ship Active. They anchored near Rangihoua on the North side of the bay.

On Christmas Day Marsden held the first official Christian service in New Zealand, using the text '“Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10).'.

There is a beautiful New Zealand Christmas Carol, Te Harinui, which was written by Willow Macky to commemorate this event. 'Te Harinui' translates into English as 'Great Joy'.


Te Harinui

Not on a snowy night by star or candlelight;
Nor by an angel band there came to our dear land.

Te Harinui, Te Harinui
Te Harinui, glad tidings of great joy.

But on a summer day, within a quiet bay,
The Maori people heard the great and glorious word.

Te Harinui, Te Harinui
Te Harinui, glad tidings of great joy.

The people gathered round upon a grassy ground,
And heard the preacher say, "I bring to you this day:"

Te Harinui, Te Harinui
Te Harinui, glad tidings of great joy.

Now in this blessed land united heart and hand,
We praise the glorious birth and sing to all the earth:

Te Harinui, Te Harinui
Te Harinui, glad tidings of great joy, glad tidings of great joy.

______________________________________

Its a wonderful simple hymn, and always spells Christmas to me. Our children at end of year school assembly would sing it beautifully, it suits childrens voices.

Pull the Cord!

Waiting for the axe to fall..............

Psa (Pseudomonas syringae pv actinidiae) is a bacterial kiwifruit vine disease. It was noticed in New Zealand and in our area in November 2110. Since then it has spread rapidly, at first mostly attacking the Gold Kiwifruit vines, but now rampant amongst the green varieties as well.

It can result in the death of the kiwifruit vines but carries no risk to human or animal health and does not affect plants other than kiwifruit. Psa is believed to be spread by weather events, namely wind and rain, and plant material. It is also believed to be spread by footwear, vehicles and orchard tools.

It is present in some countries overseas and has probably entered the country on infected plant material. We have very strict Agricultural control at our airports and ports, so strict that many visitors are surprised, but being a country that relies on our horticultural and dairy industries we are very vulnerable.

I have blogged before about our own kiwifruit orchard. Here, here and here.

If you have time, visit those links to see photos of our orchard, and you will see how devastating it will be if we get the disease in our vines.

So far our vines are clear of the disease, but further up our road there is an infected orchard. Most think it is only a matter of time. There is no cure.  If Psa is found, the vines all have to be ripped out and burned. 

Our orchard is 32 years old so the vines are large plants. 

We are just hoping that the disease will bypass us. Scientists are working frantically to come up with a cure or spray that will shield the plants but as yet there is no protection available.

The last four Blocks

These are the last four blocks. Now my 12 blocks are completed all that remains is for me to tidy them up a little, make sure each is exactly cut to 12 1/2  inches, and take them to Carol at Katipatch.

The Friendship quilt challenge finishes in March so I have a long time to wait until I get 12 blocks back again and can make them into a quilt.

Oh yes, one more task - I need to carefully write my name and the date carefully on each block using a pigma pen.

Silver Fern

The silver fern is often seen as an emblem for New Zealand and used frequently by sports teams. Our Netball team is known as the Silver Ferns.

The fern is a tree fern, and can grow to a height of 3 or 4 metres or more. You can see in the picture the silver underside of the fern frond.

When I was growing up our farm backed onto a bush (NZ term for forest) reserve of many thousands of acres. There were always silver tree ferns growing right throughout the undergrowth in various stages of maturity.

I was always taught by my Father that when walking in the bush if I decided to go off the tracks,  I must leave a trail of overturned fern fronds to mark my path for return. The silver side shows up extremely well in the shade of the canopy cover of large trees.  Something like Hansel and Gretel leaving breadcrumbs in the fairy story!

The Koru

You will notice that I have used the koru symbol often in my blocks. The koru (Māori for "loop") is a spiral shape based on the shape of a new unfurling silver fern frond and symbolizing new life, growth, strength and peace.

 The circular shape of the koru helps to convey the idea of perpetual movement while the inner coil suggests a return to the point of origin.

And two more........

Friendship Quilt Challenge

For the last few years one of our local quilt shops has run a Friendship Quilt Challenge. Those taking part must make 12 blocks with a particular theme, each block must be 12 1/2 inches square and contain at least one piece of the designated fabric chosen by the organiser. The background fabric must be white cream or a pale colour matching the fabric. We put our name and date on each of our blocks.

We are expected to be completed by the end of March 2013 when all blocks must be submitted.   We receive twelve blocks back again, one of our own, and eleven from other participants. There are a number of people who have put their name forward, some from the UK as well as local quilters and others from further afield. You can read more about it here.

This year the theme is hearts. I have decided to participate - there are many different types of heart designs to choose from, and its a chance to experiment with colours and techniques. We can make every one different or some or all the same.

Here are two of the blocks I have completed. The designated fabric is the floral in pinks with a blue/green background. Its probably not a design I would have chosen however it lends itself well to including lots of other colours that blend in.

I have made some using paper piecing, and several are in various stages of completion using applique.

A Moving farewell to Three of our Soldiers killed in Afghanistan

Changing mats

 These are baby changing mats - a pink of course if the new arrival is a girl and a blue one just in case.

I made one for my d.i.l. when their baby daughter was born a year ago and she has used it often.

 They are a  handy size to just keep in the backpack she takes when they go out - you know the one - as well as spare nappies (NZ for diapers), there are spare bibs (feeders) creams, sun screen lotion, wipes, and all manner of amazing things etc etc.

It opens out like this with two pockets that just fit a nappy on each side.

The lining is a waterproof pre quilted sheet that I can buy by the metre from Spotlight..

They are very easy to make.

A Burst of Creativity!

There is nothing like the occasion of a new Grandchild expected to cause the knitting needles to fly and the sewing machine to work overtime!

 The little booties are special as the soles are sheepskin making the inside very very soft and warm. The upper is knitted first then crocheted onto the soles.

Volcano update

Just a quick update on the volcano situation.

Mt Tongariro seems to have quietened down but people in the lower half of the North Island are complaining of a sulphur smell which can be irritating to the eyes and respiratory system. People are advised to stay indoors if they are having any problems.

 GNS vulcanologist Brad Scott said the volcano was degassing, producing a lot of gas and steam.

"It's putting out about 2000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide and 4000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per day. That's what people are detecting and smelling."

And White Island just off the coast near us, is just steaming away steadily with no more signs of anything further happening.

And yet another Volcano!

25,000 sq km pumice raft floats in sea

Last updated 13:31 10/08/2012

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Navy officers with a piece of the pumice.

A navy ship heading to the Kermadec Islands has sailed into a huge 25,000 square kilometre raft of pumice north of Auckland.
It is believed to be from New Zealand's third erupting volcano – the undersea mount Monowai.
The navy said the raft – 463 kilometres by 55 kilometres – was spotted by an RNZAF Orion returning on patrol from Samoa.
Canterbury, which left Auckland on Wednesday, sailed to the raft to pick up a sample.

Read more here at Stuff.co.nz

And our very own Bay of Plenty Volcano flexes its muscles

Ash from White Island volcano sprinkles     

Papamoa

New Zealand Herald

10:29 PM Thursday Aug 9, 2012

EXPAND

White Island. File photo / supplied

Orange flashes are lighting up Bay of Plenty skies tonight as White Island continues to erupt.

Ash from the volcano has drifted as far as Tauranga's coastline, and has coated homes and cars along Papamoa beach.

GNS Science volcanologist Mike Rosenberg told the Herald the crater lake on White Island was drying out, which was causing less water to be pulled into the ash cloud. That was creating static which was being discharged as lightening.

"We're getting reports of big orange plumes and all sorts. It's a natural, typical phenomenon in ash cloud. It is not a sign of increasing activity, it doesn't mean there's been a big eruption ... it's blowing at the same intensity as it has been over the last few days.''

Authorities had been monitoring the volcano, which is about 51km north of Opotiki, since a series of eruptions began this week.

Scientists flew over the island for the first time today and confirmed it was erupting.

Black ash was rising up to 3000m above the active vent on the southwest corner of the crater.

It was the first ash emission from White Island since February 2001 and represented the start of a new phase of volcanic activity at White Island, GNS said.

Volcanologist Brad Scott said visitors to the uninhabited island were now at the highest level of risk since the end of the 2001 eruptions. Explosive eruptions could happen at any time with little or no warning.

White Island is the little dot on the map north of Whakatane.

 Papamoa (mentioned above) is on the coast at Tauranga.

Latest creations

 We have another grand child arriving in the New Year! But the down side is that our daughter and her husband live in Bahrain.


These are two cot sized quilts I have just finished for them. They will be suitable for cot quilts or perhaps floor covers, they have tiles through out the house so if they want to put baby down to play they will need to put him/her on something soft.

These are just preprinted panels, borders have been added, backing, and a hi loft batting then quilted. It is good for me to practice my free motion quilting.

More volcano news.

There have been several small earthquakes in the area overnight.

'Gas and sulphur smells from the Mt Tongariro eruption have travelled as far as Wellington this morning.

The crater spewed rocks and ash when it came to life for the first time in more than 100 years at 11.50pm on Monday night.

Many people have reported a smell of sulphur in the air in the capital.

GNS Science duty vulcanologist Craig Miller said it was most likely the smells were caused by the eruption and there had been quite a few reports from the lower North Island of a sulphur smell.' (stuff.co.nz)

Boulders gouged out metre sized 'impact' craters along the Tongariro Alpine Crossing track.

Tongariro National Park

An interesting video to watch here.

I should explain further about the location of the volcano.

South of where we live in the Bay of Plenty, about four hours drive away is the area of New Zealand called the volcanic plateau. A large part of this area is the Tongariro National Park, an area of great beauty. It is a popular area for outdoor recreational sports - there are two major ski fields, and numerous tramping tracks.

 It contains three active volcanoes - Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro. Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe have erupted a few times in my lifetime, and now Tongariro is having her outburst. When there is an eruption the ash drifts around the country causing major disruption to road and air travel. It is a health hazard also as it consists of fine metallic shards and is dangerous to inhale. When it lands on cars it has to be very carefully washed off to prevent damaging the paintwork.  Thankfully we live too far away to experience boulders etc landing around us!

The photo shows Tongariro on the left and Ngauruhoe on the right. Ngauruhoe is a cone shape and Tongariro is lower but with several 'hot spots' and small cones.

We are on the coast in Tauranga (Bay of Plenty). At the moment the prevailing winds are taking the ash over to Napier and the Hawkes Bay region.

Mount Tongariro erupts

One of our volcanoes in the Central North Island is erupting. Mount Tongariro sent out rocks and an ash plume overnight. It has been dormant for 100 years.

Full report here and here.

"The mountain erupted at 11.50pm, sending ash across roads and prompting a potential threat warning for central North Island regions.

The eruption threw rocks and spewed ash from the Te Mari craters, near Ketetahi hot springs, on the northern side of the mountain"  (Stuff.co.nz)

Steam Train outing.

Last weekend we went on a steam train excursion down the middle of the North Island, from Hamilton to National Park.

At National Park we went off to the Chateau for lunch then back to the train for the return journey.

These are some photos of the countryside.

 




Our engine.

Mount Tongariro and Mt Ngauruhoe, both active volcanoes. In fact Tongariro has been raised to Alert Level 1 recently which means signs of volcanic activity, the mountain is stirring.

This is taken from the verandah at the Chateau. The Chateau is a wonderful grand old building - it's a very large hotel at the base of Mount Ruapehu.

 The Chateau, National Park











Mount Ruapehu - I climbed this mountain way back when I was younger and fitter! It is a popular ski resort.

Ruapehu has a steaming hot crater lake at its summit.

More countryside. Very typical farmland of the interior of the North Island. Mostly sheep country.

Rain

Yes its raining! To whoever controls these things - we have had enough thank you very much.
We often get the comment that our country is very green. Well tourists - now you know why.

Rain Rain Rain

 It rained and rained and rained and rained,
The average fall was well maintained;
And when our fields were simply bogs,
It started raining cats and dogs.

After a drought of half an hour,
There came a most refreshing shower;
And then the queerest thing of all,
A gentle rain began to fall.

Next day 'twas pretty fairly dry,
Save for a deluge from the sky.
This wetted people to the skin,
But after that the rain set in.

We wondered what's the next we'd get,
As sure as fate we got more wet.
But soon we'll have a change again,
And we shall have......... A drop of rain

New Zealand has lost one of our favourite children's authors - Margaret Mahy died yesterday.

Margaret Mahy wrote more than 200 books and poems and won many prestigious children’s book awards, including the Carnegie Medal, and was the only New Zealander to receive the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Last year she won the New Zealand Post Children's Book of the Year award for The Moon & Farmer McPhee with Dunedin illustrator David Elliot. Mahy was made a member of the Order of New Zealand - the highest of the country’s honours and open to only 20 living people at one time - in 1993. Photo - NZ Herald RIP Margaret Mahy, you made our world a richer place with your wonderful imagination.

The Latest Hairy Maclary Book

An article taken from SunLive:

Slinky Malinky is blacker than black, a stalking and lurking cat – but the only thing lurking in Tauranga’s Books A Plenty store today were fans lining up to hear Dame Lynley Dodd read her new book. About 120 fans gathered in the Grey Street store to listen to Lynley read her new book Slinky Malinky - Early Bird and more than 50 books were sold within 30 minutes of her appearance. Lynley, a Tauranga-based writer, says the determined and cheeky Slinky Malinky is much like her pet cat, who wakes everybody up before the crack of dawn. “It was based on the activities of our cat, who probably like everybody else’s cat gets up far too early in the morning. “In this book all he does is get everybody up and go back to bed,” says Lynley. The renowned author set out to amuse children in the hope they would enjoy the language of rhyme. “Rhyme is a big thing with children. Because if we all think about our childhood playground chants and rhymes, it’s the rhythm and the sound of the language that gets to them.” When Lynley writes, she attempts to remember her childhood and imagine what would have appealed to her as a youngster. Turning out to enjoy the reading were Tauranga youngsters Honey, 7, and Poppy, 5, Drew, who brought along pictures of their favourite cat Slinky Malinky. Two adoring fans, Honey and Poppy Drew coloured in pictures of Slinky Malinky to give to Lynley. “I like cats because they are soft,” says Honey. This newest edition is not the end for the adventure of curious animals and memorable rhyme, says Lynley who says she is not ready to give up writing quite yet. “I don’t think I’m ready to stop no, but these days its getting quite difficult to get down to the creative work because there’s so many other aspects of the whole thing that actually take up so much of my time now. “That’s disappointing because I’ve got lots of ideas id like to get on with, but ill have to try.”

Good Idea?

I wish I had thought of this 30 years ago! However I did have my ways and means of getting the message through. Just not quite as inventive and organised. The threat to vacuum up the treasured lego pieces lying around was enough to get some action. As was the threat to give away to the Salvation Army any toys I found on the floor after the second warning.

Our own Hairy Maclary

A statue of Hairy Maclary has been made and will be displayed permanently here in the Bay of Plenty. The little dog is a firm favourite of all children and the news is very well received! Update: The news has apparently not been so well received by some members of the public who object to the money spent on such a whimsical subject. I disagree - we need food for the soul too, and so do the children in our city who make up a fair proportion of the population.

And another project .......

I made this quilt for a much loved daughter in law. It is not full bed size, more to use as a 'cuddle' quilt, for lazy winter evenings lying on the sofa! It has many elements in it that are especially for her - the border is Hershey's kisses, some of the handbags are chocolate fabric, (yes she loooves chocolate)the ballet shoes are her daughters dancing shoes, the jandals (flip flops)are for her sons, and the trainers her husbands. In the bottom right hand corner is a 'kete' - the basket of learning - she was a teacher.

Latest Project

I made this table topper for an Aunt who has one of those 1950's formica tables, in pristine condition, with still the original chrome and red vinyl chairs to match. The table is not square, just two inches off, so I had to be very precise with my measurements. The top has batting and is quilted, but the sides are just fabric. I am pleased with the result, it looks very good on the table and fits perfectly. It was for her 93rd birthday. The name of the block is 'steps to the altar' which caused much hilarity!

Not a lot to look forward to this week!

Ode to the Fallen - ANZAC Day

Kiwifruit harvest time - again

We have been out at the orchard working under the vines. Picking will be in about 4 weeks time so we are thinning out the reject fruit. If our reject rate goes above a certain percentage we are charged a penalty by the packhouse, so it is worth our while to pull off any imperfect fruit.

Fruit can be rejected for a number of reason - signs of disease, misshapen fruit, small fruit etc. In the first photo you can see all the thinned fruit lying on the ground. It is a crime to waste so much fruit, much of it is perfectly good, just with minor flaws. I dislike wasting fruit at any time, so thinning is not a pleasant task.(Apart from that I get a sore neck, shoulders and arms!)




These are just a few photos of the vines. And one of some reject kiwifruit that you will never ever see in the shops!