Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Hot Cross Buns


Will and I made up our own recipe for Not crossed Hot Cross Buns this year based of the hand made bread recipe I keep in my head and the things we like best- Cinnamon and lots of fruit. I don't usually add mixed peel to my buns but decided to on a whim and it was a stroke of brilliance- they wouldn't have been nearly as good without it! 


Kneading was second only to eating as the best part of the process as far as Will was concerned.








Should have glazed them for good looks- but we just wanted to get them cooked so we could eat!!

 ♥ 

Monday, May 30, 2011

HCMAC Open Day

No words just photos because once again I wasn't there to know what went down.But Les and Merenia were.


 ♥ 

MOTAT

 Les took the kids to MOTAT over Easter weekend- I scored a free pass in a competition which was about to expire... I should really get someone to guest blog this post as I wasn't there to give any details. I am not surprised by the following photos though Will has some thing of an obsession with 'contraptions', machines, and in particular "Pwepellors"- you should see the "GINORMOUS" one down by the Marina- it's a popular sight!








This has potential......

 ♥ 

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Random thoughts from the other week that was...

One of the biggest international news items this month was the US killing Osama Bin Laden. It happened the day after they (technically NATO) also killed Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi's son and grandchildren. I don't claim to be terribly knowledgeable about politics and I also realise that having not been an American or even anywhere near the USA for 9/11 I have little real knowledge of the intensity of the feelings of the people there toward Osama Bin Laden. But just on a human life to human life level I really struggled with the sentiments expressed at Osama's death- they were literally dancing in the streets. And the lack of protest over Gaddafi's Family killings- I realise that this event was over shadowed by the Bin Laden story- but how is it ok to kill 3 children (they were all under 12)?

In the same week as this happen the following quote was doing the rounds on facebook which was kind of comforting as I guess others were feeling the same way.


"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that" -- Martin Luther King, Jr


And I also read a post on Brene's Blog that was about the feelings that some people have in relation to war veterans.

"When I let my politics dictate my level of compassion for veterans, I contribute to their pain and to the suffering that is happening in the world."

When I step up (and through my beliefs about war) to hold space for the grief and trauma that they are holding, it changes their lives and creates a more loving and less violent world (which is ironically the goal that holds us back from reaching out to them)."


This is not such an problem in New Zealand but we do have a couple issues that I believe deserve some attention. These are never more prevalent than on ANZAC day.


The first is that we do not given our veterans, their families, and the ceremonies that we have to celebrate them anywhere near the respect that they deserve. Not many people come to ANZAC Parades and when they do some talk through ANZAC services, or allow their children to run amok. They don't take the time to understand what's happening or reflect on what we commemorate and why we commemorate the way we do.

The second thing is that we give little or no respect to our currently serving defence force. And if you think that we don't need a defence force and that it's a waste of money, or that they are not worthy because we are going to be involved in a war any time soon then you obviously don't know nearly enough about what they do to even have an opinion. It's not your entirely your fault. They don't have money for promotion and PR beyond the bare minimum needed for recruiting. They aren't really allowed to speak to the media all that much for fear of a smack on the hand from the Government. They aren't given the respect due by the Government ever. And there are the small details which seem irrelevant but actually just go to show how much people don't know and therefore shouldn't judge. Silly things like a media that refers to "Army Helicopters" meaning the Air Force Iroquoi- it's basic ignorance and it fails to recognise the work and skills of a whole Squadron of Maintenance workers, officers, and pilots.

The members of the New Zealand public who are currently serving in the defence force have a myriad of jobs to do and do them really well and for the benefit of all New Zealanders and a number of international citizens as well. And just because you can't see it right in front of you like you can the postie, the rubbish men, or your kids teachers doesn't mean it's any less important.

Just sayin' is all.
 ♥

Saturday, May 28, 2011

What Will said 28/5/11

We've just got home from dropping Les off to work for a dining-in. We drove out of base the long way past the pool and the hangars to see what we might see. In this case one Herc and two Boeings.

Will: I've never worked with Boeings before.
Me: Haven't you buddy, what aircraft have you worked with?
Will: I haven't worked with any Aircraft.
Me: Have you worked with the Seasprites?
Will: No, I said I haven't worked with any aircraft!

In my defence I was thinking that maybe he'd 'worked' with the same things as Les and didn't class a Helicopter as an aircraft. Yeah I know, silly me.

Easter 2011



Our bunny bring Lego Mini figures- how cool is that??







Friday, May 27, 2011

I ♥ Photoshop

I have spent a bit of time on photoshop this week working on a couple of little projects. It can be a bit love/hate sometimes and it would be super cool to take a course as I am totally self taught when it comes to using it. But I'm generally happy with the results....


This is my Book plate for the books I am going to release as part of Bookcrossing.com. I had Les print a bunch for me which I am going to stick into some books over the weekend. And then I'll work on releasing them next week.


 When I was sorting out the drawers for the baby's clothes this week I found an envelope of photos that I had promised Sylvia some time ago that I would try and restore. I then promptly stashed them out of sight and therefore out of mind- so was a bit alarmed to discover them this week!! This is Sylvia's Dad- I'm not so happy with the nose job I have given him- but it's still an improvement on the original!


 The bridesmaid in this photo is Sylvia's Mum. I could figure a way to get rid of the fading that has happened on parts of the male attire without it looking textureless... despite a good couple of hours of internet searching- Google you failed me! But still an improvement on the rather munted original.

 ♥

You listen to Classic Hits that's how...

I was trying to brainstorm the other day for a scrapbook LO that would be cool to make:"The Sound Track of My Life" I pretty much drew a blank.

And then this morning I went to the Supermarket and they were playing a Simply Red song. The first ever concert I went to was Roxy Music at the Dunedin Town Hall- I don't really remember it. But I strongly recall going to 3 Simply Red Concerts over the course of a few years in Christchurch with my Dad (and at times others). The first time was definitely my favourite as I just remember it as me and he and he got me the T-shirt.

When I jumped in the car after the supermarket the radio which Les had obviously changed to Classic Hits was playing Lily Allen. Which reminds me very strongly of Kieley- she gave me the CD not long before we stopped being friends and I listened to it heaps. I have amusing memories of the big kids singing the song with the Lyrics that sound a lot like 'THANK-you' except it's not 'thank' it's another word that rhymes with Truck- it took the kids a few renditions to figure that out.

What full Friday at home with a cold is complete with out a Frap? So I headed to Starbucks :-). When I got back in the car they were playing Tubthumping by Chumbawampa. When I was about 34 weeks pregnant with Kieran Les got posted back to Auckland after Senior Course. I hadn't managed to find a home before we got back so was just quietly living in Barracks (yes two of us, one with a big baby belly, in a single bed in a tiny barrack room)- during the day I watched a LOT of TV main Juice- the free music channel back then and the Chumbawampa song was the song of choice back them it probably got played every hour!!

In the space of about 15 minutes I now have 3 songs for the sound track of my life... there were a couple more possibilities during the rest of the drive too... Classic Hits- thanks.

Painting the town



Probably one of simplest and yet most fun activities- all you need is a sunny day, a bucket of water and a paint brush for each enthusiastic preschooler in your presence. And then let them go to town 'painting' everything in sight!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

What Will said 26/5/11

I forgot something really intense and funny that Will said the other week because I didn't write it down soon enough... the blog is my note paper... here's todays offering.

We have a saying in our house that generally comes out when the big kids have finished an appropriate sized plate of dinner and start looking for more food:

"Just wait a little till your stomach sends the message to your brain that it's full."

So today we are stuck in the before school traffic which is abysmal in this crappy rain and Will says:
"Mum, my brain is telling me I'm hungry!"

Kindy the after effects

Kindy takes it out of a kid on the best of days - the worst ones always seem to be when we have to go and pick up the big kids- normally Kieran from Hockey practice- especially if it's a warm day we are highly likely to get a double dose of sleepy red heads!


 Today is our last day with Teagan and Emily. I am both relieved and sad. I'm getting big and huge and consequently tired and they are a small but definitely added load. Plus the big girls have really been niggly with each other in a way that only big girls can- What is with that?
That said, Will and Emily have come such a long way and whether they are doing something I have organised for them or working out their own game of fixing, dressing-up, kite flying or what ever else they imagine up- when it is just the two of them they are really great together. Emily is a sweet little person and we have had some lovely afternoons reading and talking.