tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100768432024-03-14T08:22:45.970+13:00BibliophiliaMeliors Simms :
Living in the AnthropoceneUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger818125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-64428736373678834852014-01-05T17:05:00.001+13:002014-01-05T17:05:30.041+13:00WithdrawalOne year ago this month, in my eighth anniversary post I vowed to blog more, but instead I blogged less. In fact, I haven't posted at all for several months. What was apparently procrastination has become a deliberate decision to stop blogging, if not forever, then at least for quite a bit longer. So this ninth anniversary post is a formal farewell.<br />
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On one hand, putting the blog to sleep relates to my withdrawal from Facebook (to which I had become quite addicted) as well as most other social media sites. I currently don't feel inclined to share photos or descriptions of my activities on the <a href="http://www.theschooloflife.com/library/videos/2013/jaron-lanier-on-who-owns-the-future/" target="_blank">Orwellian version of the internet</a> that was <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2013/12/30/orwellian_or_a_blunt_tool_conflicting" target="_blank">revealed to us in 2013</a>. Not because I have anything to hide from the governments, but because I don't feel inclined to contribute more than I have to the Big Data that corporations are increasingly using to undermine the environment, human rights and democracy. Yes, of course my banking, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/series/science" target="_blank">podcast listening</a>, <a href="http://www.geofflawton.com/fe/60356-food-forest-suburb" target="_blank">video watching,</a> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5970496-into-the-beautiful-north" target="_blank">library borrowing</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlcIKh6sBtc" target="_blank">musical preferences</a>, <a href="http://hamilton.timebanks.org/" target="_blank">TimeBank activities</a>,<a href="http://www.ekhartyoga.com/" target="_blank"> yoga practices,</a> petition signing, <a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/" target="_blank">online purchases</a>, Google searches and dozens of other activities are feeding into Big Data, but I don't have to share my thoughts and emotions regularly as well.<br />
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For the past few years almost no one read this blog who didn't also follow me (and thus links to new posts) on Facebook. Thus it's entirely possible that no one will read this (unlinked to social media) final post. If you <i>are</i> reading: Hi! Thanks for stopping by.<br />
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What's filling the gap in my life left by blogging and social media? Chickens and gardening for food, preserving my harvests, face to face time with local friends and writing letters on paper to friends and family who are far away. My creative energies are more focused on solving practical problems like designing and building a chicken coop. I'm committed to developing my nascent carpentry skills, and perhaps this might be another way my art may express in the future.<br />
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Right now, my art practice is low key and unexpectedly papery and collaborative. Frugal with the Bruegel, my altered book collaboration with Bethwyn Littler, seems to be taking a new and exciting direction this year: not just books anymore! And I have added my Adana press and cabinet of lead type to the workshop at Black Fox Press and am excited about working alongside friends typesetting and printing text again.<br />
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So that's it, after nine years of Bibliophilia, I'm putting the blog to bed for the foreseeable future. The archives will stay online of course, but there won't be any new posts. So Happy New Year, and Goodnight! xxMeliors<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YCo9yAPth7w/UsjSQ0HqnII/AAAAAAAAEnE/NwOdRJJTfss/s1600/P1150086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YCo9yAPth7w/UsjSQ0HqnII/AAAAAAAAEnE/NwOdRJJTfss/s640/P1150086.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snoozing chicks at 2 months. They really have that green and mauve disco sheen to their feathers.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-91812774019565729892013-10-09T13:12:00.002+13:002013-10-09T13:12:39.663+13:00Spoils at draw.inc<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s85IaN27nBQ/UlSSfy2v0kI/AAAAAAAAEd0/zGpk-xgmxak/s1600/3.10.13-dispersant+penguin1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s85IaN27nBQ/UlSSfy2v0kI/AAAAAAAAEd0/zGpk-xgmxak/s640/3.10.13-dispersant+penguin1.jpg" width="524" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart Shepherd's ice penguin (foreground) and Dispersant (background)</td></tr>
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There is still at least a week left to see my work in the Spoils exhibition at draw.inc in Hamilton. My two large textile installations share the gallery spaces with Stuart Shepherd's sculptures, conducting a lively conversation about oil and mining, asset sales and climate change.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHp8g7KBCw8/UlSSgNODigI/AAAAAAAAEd4/BjnsUXzoY-I/s1600/3.10.13-dispersant3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RHp8g7KBCw8/UlSSgNODigI/AAAAAAAAEd4/BjnsUXzoY-I/s640/3.10.13-dispersant3.jpg" width="514" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dispersant</td></tr>
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Dispersant has been hung for this Hamilton audience, looking just as lovely though quite different than in a tight space against a blue background as it was<a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/dispersant.html" target="_blank"> installed in 2012</a>.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zaqhlmbRPs0/UlSShupgTkI/AAAAAAAAEeE/7xC7ZzhX0mI/s1600/3.10.13-dispersant5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zaqhlmbRPs0/UlSShupgTkI/AAAAAAAAEeE/7xC7ZzhX0mI/s640/3.10.13-dispersant5.jpg" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dispersant detail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IsgeAe12d_U/UlSSijq4BWI/AAAAAAAAEeM/L9c5Rq55U5A/s1600/3.10.13-dispersant8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IsgeAe12d_U/UlSSijq4BWI/AAAAAAAAEeM/L9c5Rq55U5A/s640/3.10.13-dispersant8.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking through Dispersant to Alexandra Street and Creative Waikato opposite</td></tr>
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Occasional flashes of sunshine through the window and a breeze from the door add movement and shadows unique to this space. Those moments are quite magical, all the more for their rarity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nUDRefzZJu4/UlSSfCSxybI/AAAAAAAAEds/Nm2MNIKSyGA/s1600/3.10.13-dispersant+shadows1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nUDRefzZJu4/UlSSfCSxybI/AAAAAAAAEds/Nm2MNIKSyGA/s640/3.10.13-dispersant+shadows1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catching shadows and a breeze</td></tr>
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The show is in two galleries, facing off on opposite sides of the street. So, across the road from Dispersant, I've installed Memorial (Pike River) which almost perfectly matches the grey carpet in that gallery. It is the first time I've ever been able to spread the 29 pieces out in a suitable space and finally realise my original vision. I played around with different ways of arranging the stitched blanket mounds and eventually settled on the little groupings randomly spaced because it reminded me of the family, friendship and workmate relationships between the men who died two years ago, and still lie underground.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wgCZkeFhV7Y/UlSSjfVx0eI/AAAAAAAAEeU/rXgkXmZDMao/s1600/3.10.13-memorial1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="362" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wgCZkeFhV7Y/UlSSjfVx0eI/AAAAAAAAEeU/rXgkXmZDMao/s640/3.10.13-memorial1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial (Pike River)</td></tr>
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Also in this much larger space Stuart has installed paintings, prints and sculptures. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SmrS2H5OStg/UlSSkHOj6_I/AAAAAAAAEec/h9nPbsisvQ8/s1600/3.10.13-stuart+install1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SmrS2H5OStg/UlSSkHOj6_I/AAAAAAAAEec/h9nPbsisvQ8/s640/3.10.13-stuart+install1.jpg" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuart and Philippa installing his wallpaper, printed off a carved wooden table which forms part of his installation.</td></tr>
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Our opening last Thursday was good fun. I made all our food myself, and everyone said we had the best nibbles of the three openings that evening on Alexandra Street.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VJuvH1LZ6dY/UlSVJBOUiHI/AAAAAAAAEeo/mjuw5tRsMNk/s1600/4.10.13-memorial3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VJuvH1LZ6dY/UlSVJBOUiHI/AAAAAAAAEeo/mjuw5tRsMNk/s640/4.10.13-memorial3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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After we packed up, I put the posies I'd made from my garden for the food table down into the installation, as flowers seemed appropriate for a Memorial.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0mI1k2iLTEo/UlSVJlyQ0zI/AAAAAAAAEes/govlbiiXZgM/s1600/4.10.13-memorial5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="492" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0mI1k2iLTEo/UlSVJlyQ0zI/AAAAAAAAEes/govlbiiXZgM/s640/4.10.13-memorial5.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Memorial with flowers from the opening</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-80874053460909697962013-06-10T09:56:00.001+12:002013-06-10T10:53:31.007+12:00Creating Pathways<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MA1bSsD1i8Y/UbTrB0QGnSI/AAAAAAAAEZk/M6opVs-YED4/s1600/P1140442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MA1bSsD1i8Y/UbTrB0QGnSI/AAAAAAAAEZk/M6opVs-YED4/s640/P1140442.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A new little pathway (with Jaq the three legged chihauhau back by the worm farm)</td></tr>
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I continue to be preoccupied in the garden, making new raised beds for planting, and putting in access paths. Both tasks are hard physical labour that leaves me exhausted if I go at it for more than a couple of hours at a time. But the results are very pleasing, so I'm trying to learn to pace myself better when carrying concrete slabs or digging.<br />
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I'm also trying to avoid unnecessary expenses in the garden so both my raised beds and paths are made with things I've found for free or very cheap: odd paving stones, old bricks, broken concrete, a material that usually ends up in landfill but when reused is sometimes called 'urbanite'. There was a lot of broken concrete lying around the property when I arrived but I've used it all up and now have to go out and collect it from other people's places- more heavy lifting.<br />
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My two most recent path projects are short and sweet. Inside our front gate is a dark damp little wedge which I'm trying to make lighter and more attractive. This is what it looked like a year ago, just before I moved in:<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NT8p9S5tp6o/UbTrW3z7IxI/AAAAAAAAEaA/OWHmIeaKYRo/s1600/P1120926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NT8p9S5tp6o/UbTrW3z7IxI/AAAAAAAAEaA/OWHmIeaKYRo/s400/P1120926.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">That nasty spiky plant positioned to poke everyone in the eye as they entered was the first to go. </td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8I67YPMxc5s/UbTsm-p_HDI/AAAAAAAAEaQ/MHkhMvzSxBw/s1600/P1130170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8I67YPMxc5s/UbTsm-p_HDI/AAAAAAAAEaQ/MHkhMvzSxBw/s400/P1130170.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Weeded, with a few pavers and bricks arranged at the bottom of the steps</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qzeP5E3qBmo/UbTtk7CHe2I/AAAAAAAAEak/lVwgjCEDt48/s1600/P1130272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qzeP5E3qBmo/UbTtk7CHe2I/AAAAAAAAEak/lVwgjCEDt48/s400/P1130272.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cleared for action, with a bunch of tiny baby succulents newly planted and almost invisible on the right. </td></tr>
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I cleared away all the weeds, moved the pebbles around a bit, and planted up succulents against the house. Access to the front door is up the steps but to get around to the back garden and the cottage where my flatmate lives involved crunching over more pebbles- particularly troublesome for pushing a bicycle or wheelbarrow, but it stayed like that for nearly a year. I kept waiting for someone who might help me make a proper path.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fwkONaKq3N8/UbTrBCBlqSI/AAAAAAAAEZY/2gvFU9RugdY/s1600/P1140447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fwkONaKq3N8/UbTrBCBlqSI/AAAAAAAAEZY/2gvFU9RugdY/s400/P1140447.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking down on the new path from the deck</td></tr>
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Then last month I finally just went ahead and made a new little side path, using only materials I already had and laying them onto bare earth. I've researched enough about making paths to know I haven't done it properly, but it looks all right and so far it hasn't tripped anybody up. I still need to rearrange the pebbles some more, and once the planting takes off come Spring it should be a much more welcoming entrance area. Even at this stage of work in progress I still get a little thrill every time I come home and open the gate.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g_wSbLMuEiY/UbTrBUSMj4I/AAAAAAAAEZg/yELCEgD7pOk/s1600/P1140443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="514" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g_wSbLMuEiY/UbTrBUSMj4I/AAAAAAAAEZg/yELCEgD7pOk/s640/P1140443.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An improved entrance- look how well my succulent garden is coming along.</td></tr>
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The other recent path project was to fill in a soggy gap between the wooden boardwalk and the steps to Shirley's cottage behind the house. A few overgrown bits of broken concrete dotted a low lying lawn which collected rainwater, making winter access very muddy. Having gained some path making confidence with the entrance above, Autumn's rains prompted me to finally have a crack at the cottage pathway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2evM9l6riU/UbTsrCD_wxI/AAAAAAAAEaY/OS4I3cuDtK0/s1600/P1130207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2evM9l6riU/UbTsrCD_wxI/AAAAAAAAEaY/OS4I3cuDtK0/s400/P1130207.JPG" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old path, last Spring</td></tr>
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I decided to try and make the path flush between the top of the boardwalk and the bottom-most step, which meant raising the path quite high up from the lawn. I bought a $17 of pit sand for the purpose- the only cash spent on both paths.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-42vxYKD4Q2U/UbTuEzULfdI/AAAAAAAAEa0/Oq6G9nJEHcM/s1600/P1140118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-42vxYKD4Q2U/UbTuEzULfdI/AAAAAAAAEa0/Oq6G9nJEHcM/s400/P1140118.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Summer view showing the boardwalk which comes to an abrupt end halfway to the cottage.</td></tr>
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I dug out the grass first and then put in little trenches on each side of the path to try and help with drainage. Shirley and I put in wooden boards on each side and then filled the trenches and centre with sand, trying to make it as compressed and level as we could without specialised tools.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0HpoXVk7ono/UbTrECSFWZI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/lNukMWAd1rw/s1600/P1140452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0HpoXVk7ono/UbTrECSFWZI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/lNukMWAd1rw/s640/P1140452.JPG" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More-or-less finished path, raised up from the lawn to be level with the boardwalk and bottom step.</td></tr>
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We made the path on a Saturday morning, trying to beat rain forecast for late morning so I had started very early preparing the foundations. Just as I'd laid the first few pavers, friends arrived with a truck load of free firewood which I had to help unload, and by the time I'd done that I could hardly move. Luckily Shirley did a great job to finish laying the path, so it was truly a collaborative effort.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44DGPXcRdj0/UbTrD0T1dgI/AAAAAAAAEZw/jQ42_vo2vWk/s1600/P1140453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44DGPXcRdj0/UbTrD0T1dgI/AAAAAAAAEZw/jQ42_vo2vWk/s640/P1140453.JPG" width="348" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High and dry crazy paving. The feet came with the cottage.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-11815005716843747242013-05-16T22:05:00.000+12:002013-05-16T22:05:09.486+12:00Huhu Grubs and the Hugelkulture Influence<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood on newspaper</td></tr>
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I've been given a lot of rotten wood to use in my garden, as a layer in the raised beds I'm developing in the front yard. First I put down a layer of carpet or cardboard or newspaper to suppress the weeds, then I pile up rotten wood, then dollop on home made compost followed by a layer of soil on top to plant seeds and seedling directly into, then finally mulch. I'm inspired by a permaculture technique called <a href="http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/" target="_blank">Hugelkulture</a> which combines carbon sequestration with soil enrichment. It's a big project and I'm progressing slowly but steadily.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A huhu grub pokes it head out of its hole, perhaps surprised to breath fresh air?</td></tr>
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The advantage of building up a raised bed with rotten wood is two-fold. The wood will act as a sponge, soaking up rain during the wet winters and releasing it slowing into the soil as it dries out over summer. I shouldn't need to water these beds much, if at all, the next time there's a drought like the one we've just come out of. Rotten wood doesn't just release moisture though, its chock full of microorganisms busy converting wood into compost which makes for a rich fertile growing medium. I expect these beds to grow abundant, healthy, productive plants.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bOB2NOm0WmI/UZRDEEX8OEI/AAAAAAAAEYY/oTXQeWBxmtE/s1600/P1140418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="510" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bOB2NOm0WmI/UZRDEEX8OEI/AAAAAAAAEYY/oTXQeWBxmtE/s640/P1140418.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another huhu grub reaches across the newly divided log, looking for its fellow grubs?</td></tr>
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Some of the organisms doing this important work are not so micro. Inside one log, a family of<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huhu_beetle" target="_blank"> huhu</a> grubs, each the size of my little finger, had turned the wood to mush. They seemed quite startled to have there mushy home split in half by my axe. After photo time, I pushed the halves of the log back together to let them get back to their carbon sequestering activities.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A third huhu grub landed on the ground letting me have a good look at its pallid, plump, caterpillar-like body. </td></tr>
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On meeting my huhu grubs, I did consider the<a href="http://grist.org/news/u-n-to-world-eat-your-insects/" target="_blank"> United Nations' recent recommendation to eat more insects</a> as a valuable and sustainable source of protein. But... I feel I'm pretty well supplied with more palatable sources of protein just at the moment. Frankly, the wood-composting contribution of the grubs to my future diet of home grown fruit and vegetables seems more valuable than a mouthful of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=10076843#editor/target=post;postID=1181500571684374724" target="_blank">"buttery chicken" flavoured larvae (according to wikipedia)</a>.<br />
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Huhu in motion</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first hugelkulture bed, half finished. </td></tr>
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I just reread the<a href="http://loaded%20with%20organic%20material%2C%20nutrients%2C%20air%20pockets%20for%20the%20roots%20of%20what%20you%20plant%2C%20etc.%20as%20the%20years%20pass%2C%20the%20deep%20soil%20of%20your%20raised%20garden%20bed%20becomes%20incredibly%20rich%20and%20loaded%20with%20soil%20life.%20as%20the%20wood%20shrinks%2C%20it%20makes%20more%20tiny%20air%20pockets%20-%20so%20your%20hugelkultur%20becomes%20sort%20of%20self%20tilling.%20the%20first%20few%20years%2C%20the%20composting%20process%20will%20slightly%20warm%20your%20soil%20giving%20you%20a%20slightly%20longer%20growing%20season.%20the%20woody%20matter%20helps%20to%20keep%20nutrient%20excess%20from%20passing%20into%20the%20ground%20water%20-%20and%20then%20refeeding%20that%20to%20your%20garden%20plants%20later./" target="_blank"> hugelkulture article,</a> and remembered there's a lot more advantages to rotten wood in your raised beds than I mentioned above. They are </div>
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"<span style="background-color: #faf7f1;">loaded with </span><a href="http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/18.0" style="background-color: #faf7f1;" target="_blank">organic</a><span style="background-color: #faf7f1;"> material, nutrients, air pockets for the </span><a href="http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/3498_0/permaculture/roots-tap-and-otherwise" style="background-color: #faf7f1;" target="_blank">roots</a><span style="background-color: #faf7f1;"> of what you plant, etc. As the years pass, the deep </span><a href="http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/5056_0/permaculture/building-soil-faster-than-nature" style="background-color: #faf7f1;" target="_blank">soil</a><span style="background-color: #faf7f1;"> of your raised garden bed becomes incredibly rich and loaded with soil life. As the wood shrinks, it makes more tiny air pockets - so your hugelkultur becomes sort of self tilling. The first few years, the </span><a href="http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/2592_0/organic-sustainable-practices/composting" style="background-color: #faf7f1;" target="_blank">composting</a><span style="background-color: #faf7f1;"> process will slightly warm your soil giving you a slightly </span><a href="http://www.permies.com/permaculture-forums/2761_0/permaculture/season-extenders" style="background-color: #faf7f1;" target="_blank">longer growing season</a><span style="background-color: #faf7f1;">. The woody matter helps to keep nutrient excess from passing into the ground water - and then refeeding that to your garden plants later."</span></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-33493405802944143292013-05-01T11:09:00.000+12:002013-05-01T11:09:43.605+12:00Incidental harvest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Going outside to tidy up summer vegetable beds and prepare for winter crops resulted in a basket full of goodies. The last of the tomatoes, a second crop of potatoes, some forgotton carrots, radishes and beets joined the usual haul of parsley and feijoa.<br />
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On another sunny autumn morning I dug up my first experimental kumara (sweet potato). Not an enormous yeild, but several meals worth for me, and I love purple skinned kumara the best.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-46388096001948461052013-04-18T11:18:00.001+12:002013-04-18T12:17:24.720+12:00Falling for the Hobbiton Aesthetic<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bag end, home of Bilbo and Frodo (with nasturtium and comfrey)</td></tr>
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It may be unpatriotic to admit this, but I am not a fan of the Lord of the Rings, or Hobbit, films. I enjoyed reading the Hobbit as a child but found Tolkien's LoTR to be a slog. I have watched all the films, to see what the fuss is about, but had trouble staying awake through them. My favourite bits were always in the Hobbit home village.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Child size chair and a stack of firewood</td></tr>
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I do feel a connection with the stay-at-home hobbits that Frodo and Bilbo left behind, with their cosy underground houses, well-stocked pantries and second breakfasts. So when my cousin from America, who is a serious LoTR film fan, came to Hamilton last week I was happy to have an excuse to visit the nearby film set of Hobbiton, now a Waikato tourist attraction. <br />
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I was quite charmed by Hobbiton, not so much by the round doors, but by the consistent attention to quaint detail. It feels like a cross between an historical village and a permaculture farm, all scaled down to child size. Hobbit extras were required to be 5 foot tall, just my height, so being on their the film set was a rare experience of not feeling too short for the world. Even the furniture and tools were to my scale, with practical little ladders scattered everywhere. It was also a welcome oasis of lush green abundance after a long drought.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little ladders come in handy for hobbit-sized folk</td></tr>
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There are no obvious anachronisms once the bus drops you off at the entrance to Hobbiton. In this version of Tolkien's pre-industrial arcadia everything is made by hand of natural materials (or appears to be); from the thatched roofs, fancy iron work, carved wooden facades, lead-light windows to the lush green turf and pretty pumpkins piled around.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Punpkins in the Green Dragon </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hobbit hole facade with doorstep cottage garden </td></tr>
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The original temporary film set has been rebuilt in permanent materials for the popular tourist attraction, now more than 10 years old and entertaining thousands of people every day (70 people every 15-30 minutes all day long every day of the year). It is all make believe, from the empty spaces behind every hobbit hole facade to the painted lichen on the picket fences. Among all the genuine trees in the village there is one (on top of Bag End) which was built from scratch for the first film, at a cost of one million dollars.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Million dollar fake tree on top of the hill, real trees in the foreground: pear grafted onto quince and apple both laden with unpicked fruit</td></tr>
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I was especially delighted and inspired by the gardens which (the guide advised) are kept looking in just this state of tidy fecundity year round by a team of 30 gardeners, who must finish their work before the first visitors arrive at 9am every morning. The gardens in front of the hobbit holes are refreshed with flats, troughs and pots of plants, changed out regularly for year round blooms. Yet this seems entirely appropriate, for the containers are all weathered wood or faded pottery so they look like what Hobbits would use.<br />
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These tiny cottage gardens (which could be replicated in a tiny balcony or courtyard) are complemented by larger community gardens which really reminded me of favourite permaculture gardens I have known. They look like a pretty jumble of plants in polycultures, with great a diversity of not only edible but beneficial insect attracting flowers. These larger gardens are not renewed with pots and flats, but I could see succession planting evident everywhere. Patches of plants abutted in various stages of growth from seedlings to ready to harvest.<br />
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The lush green abundance of the whole set is maintained by more irrigation than anyone in town has been using during this recent drought. It was a welcome rest for eyes seared by my sad dry garden at home. I was also glad my cousins got to see the unique lurid green grass of home that is more usual for the Waikato.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hobbit swing</td></tr>
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Fake as it all is, I still got inspiration, or at least aesthetic affirmation, for my own garden design aspirations: all curves, no hard straight smooth lines or surfaces. Lots of edges, lots of bee friendly planting. Flowers, herbs, vegetables and fruit all together filling every niche.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bee and butterfly sharing pollen</td></tr>
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We got an hour or so to wander through Hobbiton, either at our own pace or following Aiden, our well informed guide. The tour finished at the Green Dragon pub, across a charming stone arch bridge next to the thatched and half timbered mill with working water wheel. There we supped a free cider served in beautiful hand thrown pottery mugs. Sitting by the (real) fire, we looked out across the mill pond, back to Hobbiton. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hobbiton across the mill pond</td></tr>
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The Hobbiton experience is expensive ($70 adult, $10 child) but I think its good value, even for a non-fan like me. I was utterly charmed and delighted at every turn. After an hour and a half I didn't want to leave. My Lord of the Rings-fan cousin was satisfied on even more levels.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJ8x8koxydA/UWtGXBS8xFI/AAAAAAAAET4/bO5jC56YfpQ/s1600/P1140333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJ8x8koxydA/UWtGXBS8xFI/AAAAAAAAET4/bO5jC56YfpQ/s640/P1140333.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charmed</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-68529297970305032412013-03-24T11:05:00.000+13:002013-03-24T11:05:31.037+13:00Another snowy story<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BqHGyYZfMRk/UU4gsXjs6fI/AAAAAAAAESY/Mqof007SCkk/s1600/P1140195+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BqHGyYZfMRk/UU4gsXjs6fI/AAAAAAAAESY/Mqof007SCkk/s640/P1140195+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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This time I'm stitching in the Arctic, thinking about the melting Greenland Ice Sheet. It's shades of cream and white- what ever odd balls of wool I can get a hold of: every one a different texture and weight. Mostly I think of what I am making as ridges of stragusi (wind hardened snow) but sometimes they seem more like ice floes floating on the warming water.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sckabx1fW_k/UU4gsnj_qYI/AAAAAAAAESc/Va_3lj2WQ_0/s1600/P1140197+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="528" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sckabx1fW_k/UU4gsnj_qYI/AAAAAAAAESc/Va_3lj2WQ_0/s640/P1140197+-+Copy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I want to make a big afghan to cover my new big bed, in my Polar themed bedroom. I started out thinking of granny squares, but not so colourful since the room is entirely blue and white, but monochromatic granny squares seem much less charming. After too many hours of trial and error, I finally came up with this project of irregular strips because I had enough white/cream wool to start it off. I will probably hook them together with shades of blue to represent the melt.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5rC6ACqfJ4/UU4gukKTpXI/AAAAAAAAESw/k7y54_HjLZ8/s1600/P1140200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N5rC6ACqfJ4/UU4gukKTpXI/AAAAAAAAESw/k7y54_HjLZ8/s640/P1140200.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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To tell the truth I needed a portable, modular project which could keep my hands busy while I listened. I have trouble not fidgeting, and keeping my attention engaged in meetings or classrooms but if I'm doing something simple, like crochet, I can stay present, retain information and think clearly. It actually works even better for me than taking copious notes. <br />
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Now that I'm finished March's intensive two week training, I'm still grateful to have a project that is easy and portable since most of my projects at the moment tie me to my studio and require intense concentration. I've got Jury Service coming up in April, and this crochet will be my way of surviving the tedium of the selection process. Unfortunately I'm pretty sure no judge would allow me to stitch while actually hearing a case, even though it would make me a better juror.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-49616333542137677302013-03-09T16:10:00.002+13:002013-03-09T16:45:59.318+13:00Watering in a drought<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm hanging out for some decent rain on my garden. A couple of days of drizzle to soften up the ground followed by a couple days of steady downpour to soak in deep would be great, thank you. The official declaration of drought in the Waikato earlier this week was accompanied by a total ban on sprinklers which is fine by me because I have only ever hand-watered my garden. My watering routine is time consuming, but water-conservative. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8yhRNXaeR7E/UTp1YQK3DII/AAAAAAAAESI/VYPmIyOJsQo/s1600/P1140181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8yhRNXaeR7E/UTp1YQK3DII/AAAAAAAAESI/VYPmIyOJsQo/s640/P1140181.JPG" width="551" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A young lemonade tree that was mostly dead when I rescued it from a neglected pot. Planted with nasturtium and chamomile, dug up twice the the neighbour's dog and yet thriving in this dry.</td></tr>
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I try and water all my pots and the raised bed almost every day but most of the vegetable beds are watered only every 2-3 days. Heavy mulch seems to be keeping everything just moist enough to stay alive on this regime. I stopped watering the flowers at all a couple of weeks ago and they are struggling but would be winding down this late in the summer anyway. The beds I planted on top of layers of wood and half-rotted compost seems to be the best at retaining moisture- just as promised in the permaculture resources that inspired me.<br />
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The young fruit trees planted six months ago get watered once every 2-3 weeks. They are also heavily mulched and most of them were planted on some chunks of rotten wood at the base of the hole to act as water sponges for just these kinds of dry conditions. The trees aren't growing much in this dry, but neither are they dying.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8I_A9a84FhM/UTp1XJF3whI/AAAAAAAAER8/TucWOxytwII/s1600/P1140177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8I_A9a84FhM/UTp1XJF3whI/AAAAAAAAER8/TucWOxytwII/s640/P1140177.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My never-watered (and slightly weedy) succulent garden with pebble mulch and the washing machine water diversion hose running along the wall to reach the fruit trees in the front yard.</td></tr>
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So if I don't use a sprinkler or irrigation, where do I get my garden water from? First of all I divert as much household water as I can from going down the drain. Only when I have run out of diverted grey water do I turn on the hose and hand water the rest of my edible plants.<br />
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I start off by showering with a couple of buckets at my feet. I can get up to half of my pot plants (tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, herbs etc) with my shower water. This water includes a little diluted mild vegetable soap and the <a href="http://myhealthygreenfamily.com/blog/wordpress/washing-my-hair-with-baking-soda/" target="_blank">baking soda and cider vinegar</a> with which I wash my hair, it all seems fine on the garden.<br />
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Then I take kitchen rinse water outside to more of the pots. The nutrient-rich rinse water from milk cartons and soaked saucepans also seems to agree with my plants which are continuing to thrive and produce food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vJE0dMNa8Fg/UTp1WifqPlI/AAAAAAAAERw/TgjKH5W5w04/s1600/P1140179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vJE0dMNa8Fg/UTp1WifqPlI/AAAAAAAAERw/TgjKH5W5w04/s640/P1140179.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washing machine water running out on to bark mulch at the base of the young apple tree</td></tr>
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On the rare occasion I fill my bathtub (and sometimes this summer a cool bath is what I crave more than anything at the end of a hot sticky day) I do not drain the water but ladle it out in buckets - up to 24 and slosh them onto my fruit trees and the vegetable garden.<br />
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The latest, and most sophisticated diversion, is from the washing machine. Rather than try and capture buckets of rinse water being pumped from the machine into the tub (which I have done on occasion-its even more of a hassle than emptying the bath) I now poke the hose out the laundry room cat door to flow into a bin squatting unattractively on my front steps. A pipe inserted at the base of the bin channels the laundry water out into a hose which I can direct towards each fruit tree in turn. This means a deep soak for each tree every 2-3 weeks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBAAccHy7lk/UTp1WzdGYKI/AAAAAAAAER4/7yESap7thHY/s1600/P1140175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xBAAccHy7lk/UTp1WzdGYKI/AAAAAAAAER4/7yESap7thHY/s640/P1140175.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washing machine hose diverted to a collection barrel with pipe for directing water into a garden hose.</td></tr>
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Despite this years endless dry, I can remember last winter where it rained every day for months on end. Our all or nothing precipitation will only become more extreme as climate change tips over into post-Arctic-melt chaos. So I am putting my mind to other, more efficient ways to capture winter rains and store them for slow release in summer droughts. I will be setting up as many <a href="http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/" target="_blank">Hugelkulture</a>-type beds and<a href="http://lovelacefiles.blogspot.co.nz/2011/07/project-rain-dancecomplete.html" target="_blank"> rain water collection barrels</a> as I can manage. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-14740634061666977622013-03-03T19:08:00.000+13:002013-03-03T19:08:00.244+13:00From the top down<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-11URWsEuGMk/UTLk6SrA-QI/AAAAAAAAERI/oh9H7mclHuQ/s1600/P1140160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-11URWsEuGMk/UTLk6SrA-QI/AAAAAAAAERI/oh9H7mclHuQ/s640/P1140160.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Felting the contour edges in bush-green tones.</span></td></tr>
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I've picked up a project again that I started last year and then put aside for other more pressing things. In the interim I've lost my passionate commitment to the original concept, but the piece is big enough for me to take it quite a bit further before I have to decide exactly what it 'means'.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ky-5Ll1kKNg/UTLk859RllI/AAAAAAAAERg/jLMo590S5uE/s1600/P1140174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ky-5Ll1kKNg/UTLk859RllI/AAAAAAAAERg/jLMo590S5uE/s640/P1140174.JPG" width="548" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Felting needles in action</td></tr>
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The 50 metre contour lines are those of Mt Te Aroha, as are the mottled tone greens of the New Zealand bush. The way I make a mountain (or any landscape) from blankets is to work from the top down, finishing each contour before adding the next one below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v0GYN30_eyo/UTLk6kB_i3I/AAAAAAAAERM/9y5t6JFe034/s1600/P1140164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v0GYN30_eyo/UTLk6kB_i3I/AAAAAAAAERM/9y5t6JFe034/s640/P1140164.JPG" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over-stitching with mixed strands of DMC cotton.</td></tr>
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There's a lot of colour mixing to do before I felt and stitch the blankets together. I blend five shades of dyed wool into combinations of two or three to get the subtlety of many different plants sitting in light and shadow. The thread is even more work- I separate six stranded DMC cotton into pairs and single strands and them mix six colours into various combinations to stitch as three strands. After all that finicky preparation I eventually apply the wool and threads more or less at random.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gSByZLBh1xw/UTLk6jWOMAI/AAAAAAAAERU/wI4chJsQz5g/s1600/P1140167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gSByZLBh1xw/UTLk6jWOMAI/AAAAAAAAERU/wI4chJsQz5g/s640/P1140167.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out across the mountain top</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-41046705160507057502013-02-18T10:57:00.000+13:002013-02-18T10:57:14.705+13:00Purposeful Permaculture<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aFKNsKqDlTg/USFHLpqfJAI/AAAAAAAAEQE/U5pLjyxwXu4/s1600/P1140123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aFKNsKqDlTg/USFHLpqfJAI/AAAAAAAAEQE/U5pLjyxwXu4/s640/P1140123.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My garden vision: a resilient, beautiful sanctuary for creative work and deep connection </td></tr>
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So I'm a student again which I've always enjoyed, not just learning new things, (which I do all the time as a compulsive autodidact), but also Being a Student: the structure of learning alongside others, engaging with tutors and completing assignments. <br />
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For the <a href="http://hamiltonpermaculture.org.nz/2013/01/29/modular-permaculture-design-certificate/" target="_blank">Permaculture Design Certificate</a> we have to develop, and present a design project of our own choice. I mulled a variety of enticing options for permaculture art and/or community projects but have settled on a permaculture design for the property where I live now. The first assignment is to develop a project brief which means I've been thinking hard about what I want from the garden. <br />
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My primary purpose for this garden design is resilience, both for the ecosystem and for me personally. I live in a rental, albeit fairly secure, so I may not be here to enjoy this garden in its maturity. My landlords are enthusiastic about my vision for their property so I have the freedom to put in place a long range vision.<br />
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I'm gardening as though I will live here for decades, yet know that I probably will not. I'm investing the effort despite the risk because practicing this kind of gardening gives me experience and skills that will make any future garden that much easier to establish. And better to make my inevitable mistakes here and now, while my well-being is not dependent on the results, than in circumstances where the consequences could be more serious.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSgPQDnaV80/USFHL6SXZ-I/AAAAAAAAEQI/NH3v-NTu9ns/s1600/P1140120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSgPQDnaV80/USFHL6SXZ-I/AAAAAAAAEQI/NH3v-NTu9ns/s640/P1140120.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A polyculture of tomatoes, rainbow chard, celery, mint, sweetpeas, sunflowers and cucumber, leeks, radishes and lettuce </td></tr>
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Climate change is well underway, and every month I read another report where some expert says that even recent projections were too conservative. The most noticeable effects seems to hit particular places in pulses: big storms, big fires, big floods. One of several reasons I chose to live in Hamilton, New Zealand is because its relatively safe from earthquakes, tsunamis, forest fires, hurricanes etc. They reckon the most likely natural disaster to affect us would be ash from a major volcanic eruption a few hundred kilometers away. <br />
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Meanwhile like frogs in a kettle, we get used to the gradually hotter and drier summers and rainier winters, but Hamilton doesn't really do extremes of temperature. So developing a resilient garden here means one that can survive summer drought and and constant winter rains, as well as human neglect (and possibly a blanket of volcanic ash some time). <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QT00cKcTcng/USFHML7H6iI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/ruWS7yPbUpA/s1600/13.2.7-flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QT00cKcTcng/USFHML7H6iI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/ruWS7yPbUpA/s640/13.2.7-flowers.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herbs and flowers to attract beneficial insects</td></tr>
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Peak oil has probably passed in the last year or two and now we are setting off into an unstable decline of our fossil-fuelled culture. It seems extraordinary to me that most people continue to behave as though they think nothing will change, except more-better-faster technology. The immanent food shortages, or rather food distribution failures, that are anticipated for swathes of the global population will probably manifest here in New Zealand only as higher prices at least for the next few years. I don't foresee food riots and famines for us, but last week a neighbour came to my door twice asking for help because she can't feed her family. People are going hungry in my part of the world.<br />
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So, I'd like my garden to nourish me in every season, from year to year. I'd like to be able to share homegrown food with my neighbours in need and friends in fellowship. I'd rather spend money on food as treats than as staples of my diet. In an emergency involving food shortages I want to be able to feed myself and others well enough not only to survive, but to allow us to respond usefully and creatively to the crisis.<br />
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Although establishing a resilient and productive permaculture garden will require a lot of effort and resources at first, my intention is that within a few years it will require minimal effort and external inputs to maintain. Permaculture is attractive because it offers the possibility of a self-sustaining complex system that can survive almost anything.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HmtwNArOxOU/USFHQs0ofYI/AAAAAAAAEQc/08a6iVzIgYI/s1600/P1140149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HmtwNArOxOU/USFHQs0ofYI/AAAAAAAAEQc/08a6iVzIgYI/s640/P1140149.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drying heirloom borlotto beans for winter protein and for growing more next year</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-25785392589437802452013-02-07T12:24:00.001+13:002013-02-07T12:24:15.425+13:00Rocket Stove: Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmX8Kjajne4/URLNOCWaiqI/AAAAAAAAEOc/jZw3LQV9INA/s1600/P1140147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GmX8Kjajne4/URLNOCWaiqI/AAAAAAAAEOc/jZw3LQV9INA/s640/P1140147.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocket Stove II made with an enameled tin bucket and some cans (see the scorch marks where the tape caught on fire)</td></tr>
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My friend Chris Fairly made another rocket stove, this time trialling a quick and inexpensive design. He brought it round for me to test and I retaliated with an invitation for him and his partner, Anna, to come over for a dinner made on it. I've been complaining that a limitation of the first, beautiful ceramic <a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/rocket-stove-firing-up.html" target="_blank">rocket stove</a> he made is only being able to cook one pan at a time, so this seemed an ideal opportunity for some two burner action, using both the original Rocket Stove and RS:Mark II. Having a couple of extra pairs of hands to help with feeding two fires was a useful bonus.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQq2m7BYXAE/URLcw6maVhI/AAAAAAAAEPY/hBqcjdGRqVg/s1600/P1140143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQq2m7BYXAE/URLcw6maVhI/AAAAAAAAEPY/hBqcjdGRqVg/s640/P1140143.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocket Stove I is the tiled cylinder in the centre background, Rocket Stove II is the smaller and lower bucket to the right.</td></tr>
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Even with help keeping the stoves stoked and getting the food prepped it was still a very intense and all-consuming meal to prepare and I completely forgot to stop and take some photos of the stoves in action. The big original stove cooked a sort of saag paneer made with silverbeet. The new small stove cooked aromatic rice with ginger, cardamon and cinnamon. Both turned out delicious, if not food-blog-beautiful. Both dishes required manipulating the temperature from a speedy sizzle to a steady simmer. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh4ti_imGzI/URLNQsxCHpI/AAAAAAAAEOs/ALDumZKMA8s/s1600/P1140148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mh4ti_imGzI/URLNQsxCHpI/AAAAAAAAEOs/ALDumZKMA8s/s640/P1140148.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down into the tin can rocket stove</td></tr>
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The new rocket stove is not my favourite. For one thing it smelled yucky, not just woodsmoke but a metallic smell with a hint of burning plastic (probably from the pretty blue paint). Worse, at one point the aluminium tape holding it together caught on fire and flames licked up the outside of the bucket in a worrisome way until I beat it out with a stick. Its only superior feature is the feeder tube which is bigger and longer than on the original but I'm afraid that isn't going to be sufficient incentive to get me cooking on it again. </div>
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I think both Chris and I learned a lot from cooking together on the two stoves at once. My practical experience has been informed by theory and I will be tweaking my approach and hacking a brick stick propper-upper for the ceramic rocket stove. Chris got to see the demands of complicated cooking first hand and proved at dab hand at controlling their temperatures at my request. He also witnessed the value of the taller chimney for more efficient heating and I'm sure will be more circumspect with aluminium tape in the future.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uk1R5TCvETE/URLNORo9lVI/AAAAAAAAEOY/n4xzDmJgins/s1600/P1140136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uk1R5TCvETE/URLNORo9lVI/AAAAAAAAEOY/n4xzDmJgins/s640/P1140136.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious dinner of home and local grown produce cooked outdoors on free fuel</td></tr>
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As always, I had (almost) all my ingredients prepared before lighting the fires. Rocket stove cooking is not very spontaneous. I'd also prepared lots of little 'go-withs': a Thai cucumber chutney, a carrot coconut lentil-sprout, sesame oil and raspberry-vinegar salad, my favourite watermelon-feta-avocado-red onion salad, and aubergine mashed with yoghurt and lemon. I also cracked open the first jar of <a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/sticky.html" target="_blank">plum chutney</a> from my New Year's preserving marathon and put out home made sprouts, microgreens (Fiji Feathers pea shoots) and soaked/toasted pumpkin seeds to garnish. For dessert we had apple and homegrown-blackberry almond crumble with two kinds of homemade ice cream (vanilla and double chocolate). <br />
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Chris and I are going to be demonstrating rocket stove making and using at <a href="http://hamiltonpermaculture.org.nz/2013/01/23/on-the-road-to-resilience/" target="_blank">On the Road to Resilience </a>on 24 February at the Sustainable Backyard at the Hamilton Gardens' Summer Festival. This going to be a fantastic day touching on bee keeping, wind turbines, composting toilets, time banking, earth oven and solar cooking, and demonstrations of pruning and scything. Something for everyone! Come along if you can.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-47839756258590157972013-02-01T11:48:00.003+13:002013-02-01T11:48:39.422+13:00Handmade wedding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wujzNfQfGBY/UQrlN0ZWruI/AAAAAAAAEMs/LnleiQCoQmQ/s1600/13.2.1-couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wujzNfQfGBY/UQrlN0ZWruI/AAAAAAAAEMs/LnleiQCoQmQ/s640/13.2.1-couple.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Bethwyn and Steven just married </td></tr>
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When my dear friend and '<a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=bethwyn" target="_blank">Frugal with the Bruegel' collaborator, Bethwyn,</a> got married last weekend to her sweetheart Steven, it was a completely unpretentious affair. Not small, not plain, but a charming expression of her creativity and that of her many creative friends. Some of my own contributions surprised me- many of the things I've made and given to Bethwyn since we became friends featured in the wedding, giving me a little frisson of pleasure every time I noticed another one.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEjUCUN8D2M/UQrmTq05e6I/AAAAAAAAENM/e0GjDhgk_h8/s1600/P1130620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nEjUCUN8D2M/UQrmTq05e6I/AAAAAAAAENM/e0GjDhgk_h8/s640/P1130620.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handmade paper garland</td></tr>
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My wedding gift to the couple was a book I made a few years ago for the poem I wrote called <a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=do+the+dishes" target="_blank">Do the Dishes</a>.I loaned my bunting which hung alongside the bunting shared by at least two other friends. The many metres of handmade bunting (each maker's character making the different strands distinctive) first decorated the trees shading the ceremony, then appeared again at the hall for the reception. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Q-RwKHu1hg/UQrlLjMA3GI/AAAAAAAAEMU/Pvr3IO75Inw/s1600/13.1.2-garter1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Q-RwKHu1hg/UQrlLjMA3GI/AAAAAAAAEMU/Pvr3IO75Inw/s640/13.1.2-garter1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Handmade lace garter</td></tr>
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My two main (intentional) contributions to the wedding were worn by Bethwyn. I spent many months crocheting the lace for a garter, then stitched it onto a vintage velvet ribbon. The lace pattern is one I invented called <a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/denniston-sampler.html" target="_blank">Denniston Lace</a> after a white frothy plant I admired on my visit to Denniston Plateau last year. Making lace is really hard on my eyes and this garter may sadly be the last lace I make. I love to do it, I love the idea of it, but I'm not willing to sacrifice such an essential sense for it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bSc0hevy3Y/UQrlLxq23yI/AAAAAAAAEMc/JshTto0b_W4/s1600/13.1.2-garter2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bSc0hevy3Y/UQrlLxq23yI/AAAAAAAAEMc/JshTto0b_W4/s640/13.1.2-garter2.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bethwyn trying on the garter on the morning of the wedding, with freshly henna'd hands</td></tr>
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As it comes off the hook, the lace is naturally scrunched up on itself and doesn't look much until it is starched and blocked. I worked though a few iterations to get the starch right for wearing against skin.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I1ss5S7b18w/UQrmYfmGo8I/AAAAAAAAENg/eYvYGAy5i6g/s1600/P1130634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I1ss5S7b18w/UQrmYfmGo8I/AAAAAAAAENg/eYvYGAy5i6g/s640/P1130634.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Blocking Denniston Lace</td></tr>
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My go-to home made starch recipe is designed to stiffen hand made lace for exhibition The garter would have been as scratchy as bark to wear and I wanted the barefoot bride to feel completely comfortable in it. It spent most of the wedding day hidden beneath her long dress, but every chance I got I made her lift her skirts to show me again!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cziIFyrGjeM/UQrlPCUnuFI/AAAAAAAAEM0/lY_9UqmXkVk/s1600/13.2.1-garter4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cziIFyrGjeM/UQrlPCUnuFI/AAAAAAAAEM0/lY_9UqmXkVk/s640/13.2.1-garter4.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Show me that garter again please</td></tr>
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She also wore a garland in her hair, made by us together in our altered book collaboration. I suggested using cut up books when she said she wasn't going to wear a veil and didn't want fresh flowers either. Bethwyn kept saying she couldn't visualise how my proposal would turn out, but she trusted me enough to spend about 5 hours two weeks before the wedding working with me to make it. She was so relieved when it turned out well. I wasn't completely sure how it would work but I also trusted my skills and imagination to try something new.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsPEmuPHaHA/UQrmTbYsWRI/AAAAAAAAENI/TpAqBpGKfbc/s1600/P1130616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZsPEmuPHaHA/UQrmTbYsWRI/AAAAAAAAENI/TpAqBpGKfbc/s640/P1130616.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Planning the layout of the cutouts<br /></td></tr>
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Together we cut out images of leaves, flowers, birds and insects from two copies of An Edwardian Lady's Country Diary and attached them to florist wire to make a wreath. A few coats of sealant made a very resiliant headpiece which complimented Bethwyn's cream and brown gown perfectly.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cEctz3hhajg/UQrmTe0s2bI/AAAAAAAAENE/lfL8DVarzs0/s1600/P1130617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cEctz3hhajg/UQrmTe0s2bI/AAAAAAAAENE/lfL8DVarzs0/s640/P1130617.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half finished garland</td></tr>
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I was just one of many friends and family members with whom Bethwyn shared the pleasure of making the wedding. So many weddings seem to be bland displays for which a couple starts their life together deeply in debt. This one was a celebration of community and creativity as well as Bethwyn and Steven's love and committment to eachother.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9If0bRdLR9s/UQrlQBtKhMI/AAAAAAAAEM8/-qKnWVPeNis/s1600/13.2.1-garland3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9If0bRdLR9s/UQrlQBtKhMI/AAAAAAAAEM8/-qKnWVPeNis/s640/13.2.1-garland3.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The garland in action</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-71852865258762176412013-01-29T10:19:00.000+13:002013-01-29T10:19:53.994+13:00Spill Open<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qtXPztO-O4Q/UQbmKxgBXAI/AAAAAAAAELc/EIPJSQ_sMkE/s1600/P1140017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qtXPztO-O4Q/UQbmKxgBXAI/AAAAAAAAELc/EIPJSQ_sMkE/s640/P1140017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Installing at The Framing Workshop was delightful because Sarah Marsdon is super efficient and super nice. She is also a perfectionist and made sure the work looked exquisite on the newly painted gallery walls. I really liked the hanging system she used for the big piece, which cast shadows like a suspension bridge radiating out from the top of Just a Little Spill.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXZOBFle3yg/UQbmLSgItxI/AAAAAAAAELk/S8DzZgVXXZk/s1600/P1140016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NXZOBFle3yg/UQbmLSgItxI/AAAAAAAAELk/S8DzZgVXXZk/s640/P1140016.JPG" width="464" /></a></div>
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The opening itself was so well attended, so busy and delightful that I didn't have a chance to take any photos until most people had already left. Here are my two good friends, Stephanie and Bethwyn who came early and stayed late, bless them. My <a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/catering-my-exhibition-opening.html" target="_blank">home grown, home made food</a> was a big hit and there were just enough leftovers to reassure me that I hadn't under-catered, but not so much that it was wasteful.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yAsb59k3Mss/UQbmLwoe53I/AAAAAAAAELs/xHKwYywxVHQ/s1600/P1140028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yAsb59k3Mss/UQbmLwoe53I/AAAAAAAAELs/xHKwYywxVHQ/s640/P1140028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The opening was supposed to finish at seven, but people kept arriving (some from the Yanni Split fashion show finishing at the same time at the Museum across town). And just as I was leaving, a red dot went on by<a href="http://www.meliors.co.nz/gallery/seep/" target="_blank"> Seep I</a>, a sight that will warm any artist's heart.<br />
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The exhibition is on until 21 February. If you are in Hamilton, stop by The Framing Workshop at 120 Silverdale Road and check it out (most pieces are visible through the window if you can only go after-hours).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-29556081332710716752013-01-23T12:25:00.002+13:002013-01-23T12:25:48.270+13:00Catering my exhibition openingTomorrow 'Just a Little Spill' will open at The Framing Workshop in Hamilton. The work is long finished, packed and ready to hang. The event invitation on Facebook has a strong response and I've had a couple of local papers show interest. See <a href="http://www.hamiltonpress.co.nz/#folio=10" target="_blank">Hamilton Press</a> page 11 for my photo and interview.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShVaSLPwVG4/UP8evhEsVwI/AAAAAAAAEKY/vUTEDbYsTAM/s1600/P1130599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShVaSLPwVG4/UP8evhEsVwI/AAAAAAAAEKY/vUTEDbYsTAM/s640/P1130599.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a Little Spill with flowers</td></tr>
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For this opening I decided to make some special food using up my garden produce as much as possible. The menu has become a little OTT so I really hope lots of people come along, and come hungry! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fvp14nV0i7k/UP8eNZT6ayI/AAAAAAAAEJw/GFndoF4VGMc/s1600/P1130993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fvp14nV0i7k/UP8eNZT6ayI/AAAAAAAAEJw/GFndoF4VGMc/s640/P1130993.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one corner of one bed of leafy greens</td></tr>
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It started simply enough with my favourite recipe to use up the abundance of silverbeet/spinach/kale/collard and herbs in my garden: feta filo parcels. <br />
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Then, when one of my courgettes hid under the leaves and turned into a marrow I made muffins to top with cream cheese icing. After my New Year's jam making marathon I wanted to use up the storebought jam cluttering up my fridge so jam tarts are the other sweet on the menu.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k9SUPOWduZo/UP8dZsX5_qI/AAAAAAAAEJc/C9--5g0w-nY/s1600/P1140008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k9SUPOWduZo/UP8dZsX5_qI/AAAAAAAAEJc/C9--5g0w-nY/s640/P1140008.JPG" width="504" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It turns out that the frozen bowl of an icecream maker is perfect for making pastry in.</td></tr>
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When I was given some organic homekill beef I added meatballs with my homemade plum sauce, and roast beef rolled around fresh garden vegetables, including some of my glut of gorgeous green beans<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fCkVhiurCdM/UP8dZGaw0FI/AAAAAAAAEJU/pT3GH5CpIzY/s1600/P1130992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fCkVhiurCdM/UP8dZGaw0FI/AAAAAAAAEJU/pT3GH5CpIzY/s640/P1130992.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many beans! Help me eat them!</td></tr>
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But what about my vegan friends? Felafel (the only non-homemade item on the table) and hummus with sourdough flatbreads joined the menu. And just because I love it (and for other dairy eaters) tzatziki with home made yoghurt as well.<br />
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The idea was that cooking my produce would be cheaper than buying cheese and crackers, or a platter of sushi to go with the wine. This way might not have worked out much cheaper in the end, but it will be probably be yummier. If you want to sample some of my home grown, home cooked food (and see some of my textile art) come along to The Framing Workshop, 120 Silverdale Road, Hamilton between 5.30-7.00.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HUFhqZkDohc/UP8dZLAoSJI/AAAAAAAAEJY/vAd_1YIRolk/s1600/P1140003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="590" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HUFhqZkDohc/UP8dZLAoSJI/AAAAAAAAEJY/vAd_1YIRolk/s640/P1140003.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always had trouble growing sunflowers before, but check out these beauties towering over me.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-32536492980066336762013-01-11T09:00:00.000+13:002013-01-11T09:57:11.736+13:00Eight years and renewed commitment<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0isdvfNY6B4/UO55yogDgrI/AAAAAAAAEIk/4120Sg1XngA/s1600/P1130291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0isdvfNY6B4/UO55yogDgrI/AAAAAAAAEIk/4120Sg1XngA/s640/P1130291.JPG" width="488" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New growth</td></tr>
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Most years around the anniversary of my very first blog post here on 12 January 2005, I write a sort of meta-post, where I contemplate 'the why of the blog'. <a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/2012/01/lucky-number-7.html" target="_blank">This time last year I predicted</a> a steady course of more-of-the-same: making and exhibiting beautiful art in response to ugly environmental issues. The first half of the year was indeed a great surge forward along that chosen path, with successful exhibitions and two awards. But my life, my art practice and consequently my blogging were all turned upside down in the middle of 2012 by a wonderful opportunity to move to a new home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ4wj2BAal0/UO55aYYILuI/AAAAAAAAEIU/rZQUAFz0Kz8/s1600/P1130402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ4wj2BAal0/UO55aYYILuI/AAAAAAAAEIU/rZQUAFz0Kz8/s640/P1130402.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Pulling up roots</td></tr>
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When my Hong Kong-based friends offered me affordable rent on their Hamilton house I was still squished into a nearby tiny studio flat. My possessions spilled over into a storage unit, my urge to grow green things was confined to jars of sprouts, and the Big Art I was making was way over-sized for the space, so my practice was awkward at best. I accepted their offer and at the start of spring graduated to a whole house with a large studio, a proper kitchen and an even larger garden.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cwiJXAkv8MQ/UO5587di3bI/AAAAAAAAEIs/mGe2Mras8ts/s1600/P1130189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cwiJXAkv8MQ/UO5587di3bI/AAAAAAAAEIs/mGe2Mras8ts/s640/P1130189.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One corner of my spacious studio (the white wrapped roll in background is Just a Little Spill, soon to be unfurled for exhibition at The Framing Workshop</td></tr>
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I had no idea, before I moved, that my nascent desire to grow a few vegetables would become such a great passion once I got my hands into the soil. After a few art-world disappointments (and the emotional drain of making <a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/memorial.html" target="_blank">tragic mines</a> and <a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/2011/12/oil-spills-and-toxic-mines.html" target="_blank">oil spills</a>) coincided with moving, I gave myself a six months break from major art projects in order to establish the new garden.<br />
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For the past five months I've devoted almost all the time, creativity, research and steady slog to gardening that I would usually have put into making art. During this period, gardening was completely and utterly sufficient for my soul. When people asked 'what do you do', I didn't want to talk about my art, I wanted to talk about my garden. The blog was neglected: I was usually outside with dirty hands, and when I was near my computer all I wanted to do was share the wonder of growing plants, yet didn't feel ready to explain the new direction of my passion.<br />
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As is my wont with any new interest, I read and learn as much as I can at the same time as diving right into the doing. I've been soaking up gardening magazines and gardening blogs of all types, but nothing makes more sense to me than <a href="http://www.permaculturenews.org/about-permaculture-and-the-pri/#permaculture" target="_blank">permaculture</a>. It aligns with my environmental and political concerns, while directing my (possibly unhealthy) obsession with climate change/pollution/extinction into pragmatic, joyful solutions. Solutions that are not just for designing landscapes and growing food, but for all aspects of society.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-Uk9FliPU0/UO55nfgHwOI/AAAAAAAAEIc/9vc5nroS51A/s1600/P1130332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N-Uk9FliPU0/UO55nfgHwOI/AAAAAAAAEIc/9vc5nroS51A/s640/P1130332.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home grown food</td></tr>
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Learning more about permaculture and beginning to integrate its <a href="http://www.permaculture.org.nz/node/30" target="_blank">principles </a>into my life is simultaneously intellectually stimulating, aesthetically pleasing and sensually satisfying. I find myself wanting to apply permaculture ideas to my art practice and express its life-enhancing, hopeful positivity through my art work. I am not sure yet how that will happen or what the results will look like. I expect this blog will be one of the places I figure that out.<br />
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Over my eight years of blogging, the content and tone of Bibliophilia have shifted along with my priorities and preoccupations. I've often felt disinclined to share much about what is on my mind for fear of appearing inconsistent or exposing myself to criticism. If you look at the archive list in the right hand column you will see the frequency of my posts has declined markedly over the eight years: a bit like the statistics for <a href="http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/2012/09/arctic-sea-ice-extent-settles-at-record-seasonal-minimum/" target="_blank">Arctic summer sea ice.</a> Just like the Arctic, 2012 marked a record low for my posting frequency. <br />
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I hope that both my blogging and the Arctic summer sea ice will increase in 2013. I have the ability to ensure one of those hopes is fulfilled. In doing so I intend to document my part in the world-wide, grass-roots social and economic transformation project which is required to slow global warming enough for, not only polar bears to survive, but also all life as we know it.<br />
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I fear, however, that the recent nadir of sea ice is a signal that a tipping point has passed and that accelerated climate change is ramping up and out beyond its initial anthropogenic impetous, let alone the least conservative scientific predictions of a few years ago. It may be that even if governments and big business were to suddenly change their venal ways and start doing what was required five, ten, thirty years ago to slow down this train, even then the train wouldn't slow down in my lifetime.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ByTs7QF6wds/UO549_QYVeI/AAAAAAAAEIM/DHV-3qKDI0E/s1600/P1130606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ByTs7QF6wds/UO549_QYVeI/AAAAAAAAEIM/DHV-3qKDI0E/s640/P1130606.JPG" width="514" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another delicious home grown meal cooked on the <a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/rocket-stove-firing-up.html" target="_blank">rocket stove</a>- zero food miles and renewable energy</td></tr>
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Yet, if my particular perspective on global issues and local solutions can contribute any tiny bit to slowing down humanity's headlong dive into disaster, then I feel I must not indulge in feeling shy about my risk-taking mistakes, my unconventional choices, my wildest dreams or my imperfections. In this week when the Australian meteorological service had to <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/temperatures-off-the-charts-as-australia-turns-deep-purple-20130108-2ce33.html" target="_blank">extend their temperature scale</a> to describe the dome of heat burning up that beautiful country, I begin my ninth year of blogging with renewed commitment.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-42381277762635282072013-01-09T10:52:00.000+13:002013-01-09T10:53:52.412+13:00Spill Sketches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Looking back through my journal I came across my sketches and notes made in the days and weeks following the Rena oil Spill in October 2011. Since the result, Just a Little Spill, is finally going to be seen in public for the first time later this month I thought it might be interesting to share these early ideas now.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fQVfXmMofY0/UOyQOvu0AvI/AAAAAAAAEHg/h2u49wuKp0s/s1600/P1130615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fQVfXmMofY0/UOyQOvu0AvI/AAAAAAAAEHg/h2u49wuKp0s/s640/P1130615.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Words are as important as visuals for me when I am conceptualising a new piece. I'll often have a working title before I have anything else, in this case Folly and Hubris. The working sub-title won out in the end though. I didn't end up pursuing representations of birds either. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywxop4TEUyA/UOyQI1mNc7I/AAAAAAAAEG0/3z9nuPk5FG0/s1600/P1130607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ywxop4TEUyA/UOyQI1mNc7I/AAAAAAAAEG0/3z9nuPk5FG0/s400/P1130607.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz3ls6dDVI8/UOyQJXmk0nI/AAAAAAAAEG8/NNshaZzNhRE/s1600/P1130609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mz3ls6dDVI8/UOyQJXmk0nI/AAAAAAAAEG8/NNshaZzNhRE/s400/P1130609.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2SijadkeMy0/UOyQJJ4CP6I/AAAAAAAAEG4/FQ-1pNQandY/s1600/P1130608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2SijadkeMy0/UOyQJJ4CP6I/AAAAAAAAEG4/FQ-1pNQandY/s400/P1130608.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring the ways oil can spread out on waves of water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t0RzTqa4BNo/UOyQMQtfjmI/AAAAAAAAEHM/RnffJCU2a2s/s1600/P1130611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="441" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t0RzTqa4BNo/UOyQMQtfjmI/AAAAAAAAEHM/RnffJCU2a2s/s640/P1130611.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nitty-gritty details of stitching, felting and size.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXvZ5okXK7M/UOyQNKd42BI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/1ZcNWzB3WrA/s1600/P1130612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXvZ5okXK7M/UOyQNKd42BI/AAAAAAAAEHQ/1ZcNWzB3WrA/s400/P1130612.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photocopied from a book of Japanese prints about 25 years ago, and carried around in my pile of important papers until 2011 when it finally found a place in my journal among the Spill sketches.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8YytH73ggEo/UOyQNT_NMfI/AAAAAAAAEHU/cPXn0O6LLAw/s1600/P1130613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8YytH73ggEo/UOyQNT_NMfI/AAAAAAAAEHU/cPXn0O6LLAw/s640/P1130613.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stitching doodle</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-91325203682599583262013-01-04T07:30:00.006+13:002013-01-04T07:30:46.196+13:00Huffington Post Check out this <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/nancy-campbell/meliors-simms-art-in-the-antrhopocene_b_2395332.html" target="_blank">interview with me on Huffington Post</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-38869630559145579452013-01-03T12:44:00.003+13:002013-01-03T12:44:35.466+13:00Just a Little Spill at The Framing Workshop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9VpWFNpih4/UOTGNdd2t5I/AAAAAAAAEGQ/CjRs2irBuMY/s1600/12.12.28-spill-detail2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9VpWFNpih4/UOTGNdd2t5I/AAAAAAAAEGQ/CjRs2irBuMY/s640/12.12.28-spill-detail2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-50090069041312896012013-01-03T10:30:00.000+13:002013-01-03T10:30:52.481+13:00Sticky<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44oBaoUcLBI/UOOr0WVUKyI/AAAAAAAAEFs/RnclxCWoQCY/s1600/P1130529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-44oBaoUcLBI/UOOr0WVUKyI/AAAAAAAAEFs/RnclxCWoQCY/s640/P1130529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Family portrait, New Years Eve 2012<br />
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I started 2013 with 20 jars of new preserves made over the previous few days. In these uncertain times there is a sense of security having all that summery goodness put away for the cold months ahead. It's been about seven years since I've done any serious preserving and I'd been looking forward (somewhat nervously) to making the most of my first summer in a proper kitchen. I bought a box of preserving jars at the Raglan Recycling Centre for a dollar and then spent many more dollars on seals and rings, and even a special jam funnel, which was a very good investment. Oh, and then I was given an ice cream maker.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-adafpw0BSn8/UOOriUlcTHI/AAAAAAAAEE0/Vktl2wCEsFY/s1600/P1130491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-adafpw0BSn8/UOOriUlcTHI/AAAAAAAAEE0/Vktl2wCEsFY/s640/P1130491.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking my parent's plum tree.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></td></tr>
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I kick started the harvest by introducing myself to my neighbour and asking if I could pick her plums which I have been watching ripen, attended only by birds. They were small, yellow-fleshed and all but tasteless when raw. Five kilograms of fruit cooked up into delicious chutney, even more delicious jelly (flavoured with root ginger, orange zest and cinnamon stick) and roasted plum and vanilla sorbet. I admired my first six jars with a glow of satisfaction.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2W9OfoHl0ro/UOOrcSECU-I/AAAAAAAAEEk/qFDK7MwLFFI/s1600/P1130487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2W9OfoHl0ro/UOOrcSECU-I/AAAAAAAAEEk/qFDK7MwLFFI/s640/P1130487.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rolling boil on a hot day</td></tr>
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That very evening my mother announced that their tree was ripe for picking Right Now! I rushed around the next morning and picked a bucket and a half of purple-red plums that are delicious to eat and tart to cook. I bottled seven large jars of the best plums (without bird pecks) whole, each with a different flavour (bay, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, star anise etc. With the damaged plums I made a frozen yoghurt and then roasted the rest with a jar of too sweet quince syrup mum made last autumn. A night in the jelly bag gave me pulp to reduce and dry into fruit leather and a not-too-sweet cordial for sipping on hot days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-URl8uwJiwks/UOOrfSwDmhI/AAAAAAAAEEs/5uCVYk5QzoE/s1600/P1130490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="528" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-URl8uwJiwks/UOOrfSwDmhI/AAAAAAAAEEs/5uCVYk5QzoE/s640/P1130490.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When will it set?</td></tr>
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The same morning that I picked parental plums I impulsively bought boxes of damaged fruit at the farmer's market: strawberries, raspberries and apricots. Three jars of apricot jam, one of jar heavenly strawberry-raspberry jam, a jar of raspberries in Cointreau, and a set of strawberry-raspberry frozen yoghurt popsicles later, I was very tired and sticky- and satisfied. I love to see the jewel tones that result and I look forward to eating and sharing them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6ybL1d7b-I/UOOrnXXvnJI/AAAAAAAAEFE/L1x1IgR553Y/s1600/P1130510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j6ybL1d7b-I/UOOrnXXvnJI/AAAAAAAAEFE/L1x1IgR553Y/s640/P1130510.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the red cave- the jelly bag looks slightly obscene, like an udder of blood. The sheet is to keep the flies off, and I chose a red one as less likely to show any possible jelly stains.</td></tr>
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The quantity of sugar required for this kind of preserving is a concern. I cut back the quantities required in each recipe as much as I dared to try and save my teeth and used Fairtrade sugar to salve my conscience. After this preserving marathon I won't make more jam or jelly but rather try to focus on savoury products using salt or vinegar as the preservative. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4hR1WuNLGio/UOOrp7tgysI/AAAAAAAAEFM/MIGVp0o-99s/s1600/P1130516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="626" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4hR1WuNLGio/UOOrp7tgysI/AAAAAAAAEFM/MIGVp0o-99s/s640/P1130516.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottled plums, with a clove</td></tr>
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Hearing about my end of year preserving marathon someone commented "<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sounds fun, but like a lot of work, I think I could only do so much before being sick of it." </span>It <i>was</i> a lot of work but no more than many household routines before there were supermarkets and refrigerator. I was a bit sick of it after two days, but also looking forward to the next bout- more plum chutney and plum sauce from another pick of plums next week. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zLZOqIdVkZY/UOOrk-59SCI/AAAAAAAAEE8/EvcdblHtPGo/s1600/P1130497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="514" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zLZOqIdVkZY/UOOrk-59SCI/AAAAAAAAEE8/EvcdblHtPGo/s640/P1130497.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plum sorbet- a much needed cold treat after all that hot sticky stirring.</td></tr>
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I tend to take on big projects that lots of people wouldn't tackle. It's like stitching <a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/2010/03/my-antarctica.html" target="_blank">My Antarctica</a> but tastier. With every big project- whether a thesis, an installation or a weekend of preserving- I grow more confident in my own capacity to finish what I start. I also research, plan and prepare extensively before I start so then once I get going its just a matter of perseverance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuqBK4CwDf0/UOOryZrg5oI/AAAAAAAAEFk/h236_ZXcTXY/s1600/P1130521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuqBK4CwDf0/UOOryZrg5oI/AAAAAAAAEFk/h236_ZXcTXY/s640/P1130521.JPG" width="382" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raspberries in Cointreau</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-88077594187144046582012-12-28T19:17:00.000+13:002012-12-28T19:17:12.101+13:00Blossoms in a vegetable garden<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1uv0NFQZ62E/UN00w7dJ1MI/AAAAAAAAECw/kZI66wDiItk/s1600/12.12.28-blossom1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1uv0NFQZ62E/UN00w7dJ1MI/AAAAAAAAECw/kZI66wDiItk/s640/12.12.28-blossom1.jpg" width="626" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thornless blackberry, like tiny rosebuds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UN-iacDbZkI/UN007iR5qQI/AAAAAAAAEDg/edb63cy4nDw/s1600/12.12.28-blossom5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UN-iacDbZkI/UN007iR5qQI/AAAAAAAAEDg/edb63cy4nDw/s640/12.12.28-blossom5.jpg" width="554" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blackberry a few weeks later, developing drupes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GON7K2R8yDw/UN002iqgtrI/AAAAAAAAEDI/TEoUp_4Hu9E/s1600/12.12.28-blossom2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="608" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GON7K2R8yDw/UN002iqgtrI/AAAAAAAAEDI/TEoUp_4Hu9E/s640/12.12.28-blossom2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southland Sno Pea, a heritage pea generous with its sweet crisp pods and pretty as a sweetpea.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ruDbw-C_Nmw/UN0001I0dbI/AAAAAAAAEDA/WKD7k1IRLwc/s1600/12.12.28-blossom11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ruDbw-C_Nmw/UN0001I0dbI/AAAAAAAAEDA/WKD7k1IRLwc/s640/12.12.28-blossom11.jpg" width="610" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brown onion getting ready to burst into bloom (these were supermarket onions that sprouted, so I planted them in a pot to see what would happen).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXiJthNsdkc/UN004KUVmLI/AAAAAAAAEDQ/_aU09ZRSGq8/s1600/12.12.28-blossom3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YXiJthNsdkc/UN004KUVmLI/AAAAAAAAEDQ/_aU09ZRSGq8/s640/12.12.28-blossom3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet smelling jasmine, one of the few 'proper' flowers round here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3fw0yqTEFw/UN00504pmmI/AAAAAAAAEDY/f3epMp4Kh8w/s1600/12.12.28-blossom4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3fw0yqTEFw/UN00504pmmI/AAAAAAAAEDY/f3epMp4Kh8w/s640/12.12.28-blossom4.jpg" width="622" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Borlotto bean blossom (with fennel)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AodpMyqimNo/UN0096-In4I/AAAAAAAAEDo/WORpp7Ou92E/s1600/12.12.28-blossom6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AodpMyqimNo/UN0096-In4I/AAAAAAAAEDo/WORpp7Ou92E/s640/12.12.28-blossom6.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celery going to seed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SiqnvWqrQ4w/UN00_3NSMrI/AAAAAAAAEDw/5G49scyycG4/s1600/12.12.28-blossom7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="592" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SiqnvWqrQ4w/UN00_3NSMrI/AAAAAAAAEDw/5G49scyycG4/s640/12.12.28-blossom7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chive flowers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZKMpeN49Tc/UN01BtqMwII/AAAAAAAAED4/ApVU9Ya3ndY/s1600/12.12.28-blossom8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="588" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZKMpeN49Tc/UN01BtqMwII/AAAAAAAAED4/ApVU9Ya3ndY/s640/12.12.28-blossom8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rambling red rose that I was so grateful flowered before anything else, and is now rain battered to death. When the rain finally stops I'll cut it back and see if it comes out for another round this summer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cLyOw3Y3xeM/UN00yvaZIuI/AAAAAAAAEC4/hnGG3RLQ4nI/s1600/12.12.28-blossom10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cLyOw3Y3xeM/UN00yvaZIuI/AAAAAAAAEC4/hnGG3RLQ4nI/s640/12.12.28-blossom10.jpg" width="638" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nasturtium for my salads</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b-BwvLfE2sc/UN01DaN2BdI/AAAAAAAAEEA/hTJvcWmgeVM/s1600/12.12.28-blossom9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b-BwvLfE2sc/UN01DaN2BdI/AAAAAAAAEEA/hTJvcWmgeVM/s640/12.12.28-blossom9.jpg" width="572" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty potato flowers</td></tr>
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Mine is not a 'flower garden' but at this time of year it is full of blooms. I wouldn't pick most of them though as they promise fruit and vegetables to come. Many are small and subtle- I'm letting spinach and other greens go to seed in the hopes they will self seed around the garden and save me some planting work later. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-32212304449417469812012-12-19T10:17:00.000+13:002012-12-19T10:17:08.097+13:00Rocket Stove firing up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JpdAsNLJrWQ/UNDOm5RzLOI/AAAAAAAAEBg/zmNwgw1BAsc/s1600/P1130470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JpdAsNLJrWQ/UNDOm5RzLOI/AAAAAAAAEBg/zmNwgw1BAsc/s640/P1130470.JPG" width="444" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocket stove blasts off</td></tr>
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My <a href="http://meliors.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=sun+oven" target="_blank">sun oven</a> stays hanging on the wall on overcast days, of which there are many in a Hamilton summer. Even on bright hot days my shabby old model is not efficient enough to bake or roast- its more of a slow cooker specialising in leftovers, rice and stewed fruit. For the pleasure of cooking outside and in the interests of minimising my dependence on the electricity grid I've been wondering what kind of outdoor cooker to bring into my new place. Barbeques are ugly and getting a gas bottle refilled via bicycle would be a challenge. Pizza ovens too big and inefficient, and besides I want to be able to boil pots not just bake bread. No, the cutting edge of sustainable low-tech cooking these days is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_stove" target="_blank">rocket stoves</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-co3YhdlpPaI/UNDOjI3eaSI/AAAAAAAAEBQ/NOZe5a3Tuvc/s1600/P1130464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-co3YhdlpPaI/UNDOjI3eaSI/AAAAAAAAEBQ/NOZe5a3Tuvc/s640/P1130464.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding sticks into the rocket stove.</td></tr>
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Rocket stoves are apparently easy to make, and I was starting to<a href="http://permacultureideas.blogspot.co.nz/2011/07/build-rocket-stove-step-by-step.html" target="_blank"> research designs</a> and gather materials when my friend Chris Fairly brought around his new one for me to try. Chris is a talented potter and and he's just finished making this elegant stove entirely himself, right down to the glaze on the mosaic tiles. I think its by far the most beautiful and streamlined stove of all the <a href="https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=permaculture+rocket+stove&hl=en&tbo=u&biw=1920&bih=955&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=89XQULXDIcSXiQf_mYHgDg&sqi=2&ved=0CFoQsAQ#hl=en&tbo=d&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=rocket+stove&oq=rocket+stove&gs_l=img.3..0l10.139178.139178.0.140156.1.1.0.0.0.0.246.246.2-1.1.0...0.0...1c.1.6uotfu29ijo&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.aGc&fp=5863ee0cfa9c63a0&bpcl=40096503&biw=1920&bih=955" target="_blank">examples I've seen on line</a> (which are mostly ugly industrial or gigantic hippy earth buildings).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first stages of setting up a summer kitchen on the back porch (the sun oven is hanging on the back wall waiting for the sun to shine again)</td></tr>
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This is Chris's first rocket stove, and now he's seen it in action he's planning to refine the design of the next one. But I'm finding its a pleasure to cook on as well as look at. The stove had its first run cooking steak at my housewarming party in the weekend. Since then I've been cooking simple meals every day using just a couple of handfuls of twigs. I'm out of practice with lighting fires and while I am getting my skills back up that's the most difficult part of the operation (and its not that hard!). Once the fire is going you just have to keep feeding twigs and sticks in through the fuel magazine, so its not the kind of cooking you walk away from for long (but really, most cooking requires regular attention anyway).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheese toasty with spinach picked while I was cooking on the rocket stove</td></tr>
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The fuel is the kind of twiggy wood that is not good for much else. I might have used it for kindling the woodburner, or more likely left it to slowly compost. It's free fuel that I can collect in my garden or just walking around the neighbourhood.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span><a href="http://solarcooking.wikia.com/wiki/Rocket_Stove" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">The pieces of wood or other material burn at their tips, increasing combustion efficiency, creating a very hot fire, and eliminating smoke. The low-mass stove body and insulated chimney ensure that the heat goes into the cooking pot, not into the stove.</span><span style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"> </span></a> (Solar cookers world network)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocket stove fuel (in the background you can see the potatoes I'm growing in sacks)</td></tr>
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Now that I've got comfortable with the basics of rocket stove cooking I'm ready to tackle some more complicated dishes. Check back for results over the next while.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rocket stove heating leftover ginger-garlic rice with freshly picked snow peas (this was before I moved it onto the porch so I can use it in the rain)</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-84574378848310329622012-12-13T05:58:00.000+13:002012-12-19T10:18:40.353+13:00Abundance<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuV8EhGwrmo/UL6LL0q7dQI/AAAAAAAAD_E/bSK-iUyC_4Q/s1600/P1130363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="594" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WuV8EhGwrmo/UL6LL0q7dQI/AAAAAAAAD_E/bSK-iUyC_4Q/s640/P1130363.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eating from the garden every day. Is it possible to overdose on leafy greens? Because I've never eaten so many in my life before, I'm sure.</td></tr>
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Oh dear, I keep forgetting to blog. And then remembering but not knowing what to say. Or having some idea but not feeling ready to share it here. The growing and changing is not all in the garden right now. There are lush developments inside and out that are still too new and tender to expose to the harsh environment of the internet. Also I'm really really busy and not often by my computer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3JZsuFqHq4k/UL6M6uzlIAI/AAAAAAAAD_k/WPw0cwEwhFg/s1600/P1130306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3JZsuFqHq4k/UL6M6uzlIAI/AAAAAAAAD_k/WPw0cwEwhFg/s400/P1130306.JPG" width="385" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before (a polyculture of carrots, mesculun and red onion;<br />
with dill and beans coming on in the background)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after (a month later, thinning for salads every day)</td></tr>
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Growing things (seriously) is still enough of a novelty for me to feel like I am witnessing miracles daily. I am awestruck by seeds germinating. Every leaf and tendril is a wonder. The humblest blossoms delights me. Fruit forming from flowers is amazing. Consuming food that I've grown feels like a sacrament.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty pea flowers by the borage</td></tr>
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I love sharing my yield with friends and family, nourishing them with the unqualified goodness I have nurtured. If you come by, you will find a bag of salad pressed upon you, as the race is on to harvest before this unseasonably hot weather makes all the greens bolt. Soon there will be peas, beans, zucchini and tomatoes to share. But the strawberry harvest is just (almost) enough for me (and the birds and slugs). Only my beloved father gets to also eat one now and then.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the daily salads of 15+ different leaves and flowers, all picked a minute ago.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-56538350006898668762012-11-19T12:38:00.000+13:002012-11-20T21:32:29.738+13:00Not faking it anymoreLast week the fragile crown on a front tooth snapped for the third time in three years. I was eating toast, which had the crusts cut off as usual in order to minimise the risk to that very tooth, but it broke anyway. It's a familiar feeling by now, the veneer coming loose, and I calmly spat out my mouthful, extracted the detached chunk of fake tooth and carried on with my breakfast.<br />
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Every other time this has happened I've essentially panicked- not because it's painful or dangerous but because I'm worried about how other people will react to my gappy smile. Fearful that I would look ugly and weird and worse, that I could not pass for middle class professional just by putting on nice clothes and makeup. Losing that option has always felt untenable before, while piecing together contract work, moving from housesit to sharehouse or establishing new friendships in new cities.<br />
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This time its different. I'm secure enough to know that now my livelihood, my home and my social networks are not at risk because I resemble a caricature of poverty. Oh, I know its ugly, especially with the steel post and grey amalgam filing exposed on the remaining half tooth. There are no photos on this blog for good reason. I'm vain enough to put my hand over my mouth when I laugh, but not vain enough to beg an emergency dental appointment.<br />
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The irony is that my dental health has never been better. I just had a A+ checkup a few weeks ago which amazed my dentist who is used to doing multiple filings every time he sees me. I showed him the book I'm following:<a href="http://www.curetoothdecay.com/" target="_blank"> Cure Tooth Decay by Ramiel Nagel</a> and he was very impressed with the results. Remineralising my teeth through my diet is so empowering that when this crown broke I was able to understand it as a purely cosmetic prosthetic. The absence of half an incisor has little or no effect on my chewing (the two molars missing on the other side have a far greater impact and I've left that gap for a decade because its not visible).<br />
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Nothing screams 'poverty' like a space in the front of your mouth, and I don't think of myself as that kind of poor. But I have higher priorities this month than to find another $400 for a crown that I have to mollycoddle with crustless toast and which will break off again within a couple years. I certainly am not going to borrow thousands to remove the existing tooth and get an implant. I can no longer be bothered with the pretense that I am financially middle class. In my new neighbourhood, which has a 30% unemployment rate, missing teeth are not unusual.<br />
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Learning to speak clearly around the gap is an interesting challenge that makes me sympathetic towards toddlers. It's actually quite demanding have to shape tongue and lips in unfamiliar ways while thinking and communicating at the same time. I spent the weekend with a group at Lake Tarawera and practiced talking lots, mostly inconsequential chit chat. My good friends graciously did not comment on my changed appearance at all (except once, to say how it enhanced my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgFh4RHgn0A" target="_blank">Billy Idol</a> impression). The people newly met didn't seem repulsed by a woman resembling a grafitti'd photograph and engaged me in some of my most thought provoking conversations of the weekend.<br />
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The thing about this broken tooth, now that I'm not freaked out about the social consequences, is that it actually feels pretty good. It is such a relief to eat hard crunchy food without fear, because the worst has already happened. I quite like the hiss of air across my tongue. And best of all there's a sneaky sensual pleasure in the way my tongue caresses the silky inside of my lip through the small gap. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-67768292697976779322012-10-23T11:04:00.001+13:002012-10-23T11:04:05.575+13:00A bit of bunting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v26pRszAUzQ/UIW_HlsGz0I/AAAAAAAAD8s/jn9LtYs6ysQ/s1600/P1130265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v26pRszAUzQ/UIW_HlsGz0I/AAAAAAAAD8s/jn9LtYs6ysQ/s640/P1130265.JPG" width="488" /></a></div>
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Bunting is very fashionable in the crafty-internet world and I have succumbed to its charms. These are fairly large flags that I patchworked together from a variety of scraps of fabrics too good to stuff into a pouf. My second pouf is sewn but only half filled, its yawning mouth greedy for more stuffing but there is a hierarchy to fabric scraps and only those which can't be used more visibly go into the pouf. Also manky old t shirts and anything polar fleece (as I'm trying to do my bit to remove polar fleece from circulation where it <a href="http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/studies-lint-from-synthetic-fibers-is-polluting-the-ocean" target="_blank">sheds plankton sized flecks of plastic into the waterways every time we wash it</a>).<br />
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This bunting is making itself useful by helping as a privacy screen. When I had the large pittosporum removed to let some sunlight onto the main vegetable beds, the back deck suddenly was suddenly opened up to the neighbour's main door and hanging out spot. It will take more than one strand of bunting to achieve the level of privacy I'd like from it, and I'm already working on the next set using a different set of attractive scrap fabrics. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10076843.post-61172088036431271732012-10-09T09:42:00.000+13:002012-10-09T09:42:34.771+13:00Antarctica Unpacked<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s-tvw9KzkbE/UHMw21A2YtI/AAAAAAAAD7g/LeUlx2Mjxr0/s1600/12.10.7-ant1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s-tvw9KzkbE/UHMw21A2YtI/AAAAAAAAD7g/LeUlx2Mjxr0/s640/12.10.7-ant1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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There's a lot of gaps in my new house. After years of dedicated anti-consumerism, simplicity and travelling I simply don't own enough possessions to fill all the shelves and cupboards now at my disposal.<br />
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One thing I do have in sufficiency is art to hang. I have taken <a href="http://www.meliors.co.nz/gallery/my-antarctica/" target="_blank">My Antarctica</a> out of its storage box and placed it in my small blue bedroom where it does much to lighten the intensity of the dark walls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Nj1DF2X9aE/UHM3J9XTGuI/AAAAAAAAD8I/pzoEUzPQB04/s1600/12.10.8-memb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Nj1DF2X9aE/UHM3J9XTGuI/AAAAAAAAD8I/pzoEUzPQB04/s640/12.10.8-memb.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the almost empty book shelves! I need more stuff</td></tr>
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My bedroom also features sections of an installation that I've shown a couple of times called Membranes. (The other half of Membranes is hanging near the dining table, also providing some privacy towards the same neighbouring property.) It looks a very dark room in these morning photos, but in the afternoon sunlight streams in (not onto the wall with My Antarctica- I don't want it to fade- or melt ;-)).<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0bBzCeDyiZU/UHMw5uClgxI/AAAAAAAAD7o/5Ql50YmQ6nA/s1600/12.10.7-ant2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: start;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0bBzCeDyiZU/UHMw5uClgxI/AAAAAAAAD7o/5Ql50YmQ6nA/s640/12.10.7-ant2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I like living with Antarctica for the first time since I finished making it about two years ago. I finally have enough distance to really feel it as a whole object, rather than a series of imperfections in my work. Despite being such a big strong piece it actually works really well in a bedroom, where the blankets feel right at home.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2