Upholding Tradition

It’s been a non-traditional Christmas this year but some traditions stand up well in weird times. So, it’s Boxing Day, I’m having a ham sandwich for lunch and watching cricket from the MCG.

Almost there

It’s been a crazy year and a crazy few weeks to finish it off. But the end is nigh (only tree more work days to go) and after being in bud for what feels like ages my Pōhutukawa is finally flowering. It’s starting to feel a bit like Christmas. 

Cupboards

Turns out it’s really hard to take a flattering picture of a cupboard. Here’s my best attempt with the one in the front room... 

  

The one in the back room has just been painted so job for tomorrow is shelves. Tetris is still very much in place for both rooms and other stash spots around the house. 

     

Waiting

Can you spot who’s waiting for me when I get off the bus?

Sometimes patiently like this, other times running out to meet me. Nice to be missed (even if it’s mostly about the snacks). 

Success (of a sort)

Weeks ago I experimented weaving with Nikau palm. I wasn’t trying to make anything useful, just testing concepts. 

Yesterday I finally tidied it up, plaiting the loose ends so it looks a bit like a low bowl with no bottom. Turns out it’s a perfect cat bed. 

Progress

Tetris was successful and this week the old cupboards have come out...

And the new walk-in cupboards have been framed up.

At the moment I can walk through the walls which is fun and makes me realise just how much space there is. Really looking forward to the next steps!

Home Tetris

 My new wardrobe is in! That all on its own is exciting but it also means that I’m spending the long weekend doing one of my favourite things, fitting things into spaces aka home Tetris. 

So this is the new setup...

Which has made space to rehome my coats (yes, I have lots)

So that these, once totally empty, can be demolished. 

There’s going to be lots more moving and shuffling, packing and stacking, using of all the little corners in all sorts of places around the house and it’s going to be totally worth it. 

Little Things

It’s been a bit of a week but today was a weaving day and it felt great to start and finish a present for a friend. 

Uncovering History

This week my builder was back to continue demolition. A couple of weeks ago he removed a corner cupboard in my room. Yesterday it was a bit more serious and a bit more impressive as a result. From the back bedroom looking like this...

To this...

And by the time I got home, this...

Ultimately the cupboards are getting a makeover including using all that new space! For now I’m just admiring beautiful boards. 

More Treats

Last weekend was a weaving weekend and I came home with more treats, specifically multiple parts of a Tī Kouka/ Cabbage Tree. Huia is enjoying the leaves that are awaiting inspiration striking...

And a couple of hearts which gave the tree it’s English name. I’ve pickled them thanks to a wonderful new cook book from a fantastic young Māori chef who is doing amazing things with tradition ingredients.

Treats

 It’s been a big week. Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori/ Māori Language Week and Suffrage Day commemorating the Petition for women to vote being presented to parliament. One consistent thing about celebrations like this is kai/food so as a purely accidental result this was dinner on Friday...

Hangi (which tasted way better than it looks)

And a camellia biscuit (symbol of the Suffrage movement) for dessert 

It’s Up!

 Our weaving project is up in it’s new home and this morning it was officially blessed and named Whetūrangi, Starry Sky. 

It’s impossible to get all 48 pieces into a single photo and it doesn’t do any justice to the detail of each one but as a group we were buzzing, thrilled and amazed with how it has all come together. 

Scanning In

We’ve been in Level 2 for a while and will be for a while longer. Apart from masks that means scanning in. Everywhere.    

 

Including on the bus  

Just Relaxing

 

Variety

 Nice to be able to change it up a bit. 

Level 2 Version 2

Technically we’ve been in Level 1 for the past couple of months, that looks pretty much like normal life but with closed borders. As of Wednesday we’re back to Level 2 with Auckland at Level 3 because of a virus outbreak. This time, even though we’ve been here before, it’s a little different too.  The main difference so far? This...

With a bit of practice I can now sort out my hair, glasses, earrings and mask combo - no simple task!  Also wearing a big shout out to national treasure Dr Siouxie Wiles, microbiologist and fabulous science communicator.

Work from home arrangements have also resumed although I’ll be back in the office next week. 

Under the Weather

It’s been a bit of a week. I’ve had a bad cold which meant a couple of days off work. Poppy has been in the wars and is now on extra meds and minus her last remaining canine tooth. Most of the contents of my sofa side table are for her, poor thing. 

And Huia?  She’s just fine. 

12 Feet

I have 12 foot ceilings at my place. That’s a long way up and requires a longer ladder than I own. One of my secret ‘decorating’ wishes has always been to have drop down attic stairs but I’ve never had a place where they would work. As of yesterday I have both.

The builder and I did a test and I can open and close them unassisted! I must confess to a small squee of delight. 

Matariki

It’s Matariki, Māori New Year signalled by the rise of the star cluster known here as Matariki, the Pleiades elsewhere. It’s a weaving project weekend too and we have gotten carried away with stars.

Weather

I haven’t done a weather shot in ages. This week, after almost constant rain we got fog. This was the city when I went out for lunch, a welcome hint of blue sky when it finally lifts.

Starting Back

We are well into Level 1 and everything is starting again. Back working at the office, book club is back too and we are back to weaving as well.

Covid Kilos

Lots of people are talking about these but I haven’t seen a change. Then I realised that the entirety of my household’s Covid kilos have gone on here.

Normal(ish)

We are in our 3rd week (I think) of Level 2 and things are feeling a bit more normal, but only a bit. I went to work for a day and there were literal signs of how we are going to be different for quite a while yet.

And our first weaving get together!  We kept it less than 10 (the group limit when we set the date) but it was so wonderful to see everyone.

Out for Lunch!

I took a mental health break on Wednesday and went out for lunch. Out! For lunch! Such a simple thing but so exciting, my first foray out under Level 2 somewhere other than the supermarket and the dairy.

More Blue

The hall is now almost complete, just the bits around the door for me to do.  

And another cat perch sorted. 

Dividers

So, new paint job deserves new shelves. Well, that’s how it works at my place anyway. After no success shopping online I ended up supporting local and getting dividers. Apart from more shelves the big advantage is you can see through them to my new blue.

  

But of course the real reason for getting these was to provide a new cat perch!