Prep Underway

It’s beginning to feel a bit like Christmas. 

Aloha

No update for the last couple of weeks as I was at a conference in Hawai’i. 200 indigenous librarians gathered for the first time in four years and it was amazing. We started in the Waimea Valley before three very full days at the University of Hawai’i. 

And because we got there a couple of days early there was also some beach time and shopping. 

If you look closely you’ll see that this amazing sculpture is made of jelly beans!

It Begins

The weavers have taken up the mammoth challenge of weaving a traditional sail. After months of talking backwards, forwards and backwards again today we began. 

Not Bad

A lot of weavers finish off their pieces, especially kete, with a little koru flourish. It’s not just decorative, it contains the ends and tidies up the plaiting. Koru and I have never really got along. I’ve made various attempts over time but have never really been happy. Until now. This is not bad. 

Slow Week

Nothing much really happened this week, just the usual; up and down weather, ignoring housework, days solid with meetings. 

So here is a progress shot of my latest weaving project. 

Overload

Last weekend was our Labour Day long weekend and the much anticipated National Weavers hui, this year in Whangārei. It’s the first one I’ve attended but I think it’s safe to say it won’t be the last. 

Over 100 weavers doing their thing…

Whariki/mats under construction 

Much excitement over a new style of kete base…

Lots of learning, talking, sharing over three solid days and in between, lots of eating to keep all that creativity fueled. 

Drenched

There is a little maverick part of my brain that seems to have taken over. This is our weather today, a proper Wellington day…

Low cloud and although you can’t see it, rain and swirling wind. So, what has that little maverick achieved? I walked to my local polling place to vote and did a load of laundry. Result? Wet shoes and jeans and a clothes horse full of wet clothes. Sheets and towels are just going to have to wait. 

Wow!

WoW is the World of Wearable Art and it really is Wow. A group of us weavers went last week and totally geeked out on materials, construction and what the heckness and that’s without the music, dancers, acrobats and light show. 

Landing

This week at work we received this amazing scaled down waka hourua. It’s going to Auckland eventually for their education programme but until then it’s gracing our foyer. 

It’s made almost entirely out of recycled materials and can be taken apart for easy transportation. Beautiful. 

And These!

 I have lawn daisies!

As a complete non-gardener these are something I’ve quietly always wanted. I know they are probably technically a weed but they definitely spark joy so they’re staying. 

Spring Equinox

It’s definitely spring. Flowers are either out or on the way and there’s a light dusting of yellow pine pollen over everything. It’s also definitely the equinox with crazy weather including gale force winds. 

Cuzzies

Last weekend was our annual cuzzies weekend away in Taupō and we’re getting pretty good at balancing lazing around and gentle activity.  Sunset over the lake,

Boat trip to the carvings at Mine Bay

Huka Falls 

And yes, we also had a soak in the hot pools which has become a mandatory part of the weekend. 

Milestone

I’m not what you’d call a gardener, my style is very much set and forget. Ages ago a friend in Taranaki gave me a kawakawa seedling that I set under a tree until I decided what to do with it and, well, kind of forgot about it. 

This morning I looked out my fabulous newish kitchen window and realised not only how big it had gotten but that it’s hit a couple of milestones. 

Holes! This means the leaves are sweet enough for the bug that makes them and some say their medicinal properties are enhanced.

Fruit! These will turn bright yellow when they are ripe and taste peppery if I get to them before the birds. 

Perfect spot. 

Aftermath

 

Hosting last weekend inevitably leads to laundry this weekend. Three loads down and two to go but they will have to wait until tomorrow for obvious reasons. 

Great Concentration

The weavers from up north are back and we’ve got three full days of trying to remember what we’ve previously learned, learning new things and literally weaving it together. 

Bright Side

Winter weather has arrived with howling southerlies and rain but also with rainbows. 

Wellness

It’s properly cold, wet and I’m still a bit under the weather so wellness support is important.  Today’s version is samosas and jalebi for lunch. 

Manawatia a Matariki

 

At some point over the last week or so a good number of New Zealanders have got up before dawn to look for the New Year stars of Puanga (Rigel) and Matariki (Pleiades). While Matariki is hard to see in this area because of the hills I can see Puanga which rises over my garage.

That’s the moon in the photo, didn’t get up quite early enough for a good photo of the stars, you’ll just have to trust me that they’re there. 

Laying Low

It’s been a super quiet week. What I thought might be an arthritis flare actually turned out to be shingles, luckily in a manageable spot and super luckily, not at all itchy. 

So I’ve been working from home, resting lots and weathering the stink eye from Huia as I fail to meet her snacking topping up and lap immobility expectations. 

Still Going Up

The new building next door to work is really progressing and I got lucky the other day as I walked past when they were about to hoist pillars into place. 

Winning (mostly)

It’s been a weird and exhausting week but there have been bright spots. For one I’m a recycling champion!

And we got crafty at work making paper stars for Matariki. 

Hedgehog!

I’ve spotted this little fella before but never in daylight. He had a shadow for a good while Monday afternoon but didn’t seem at all bothered by it. As far as I know they both came out unscathed. 

Goodbye Poppy

 

2008? - 12.6.23

Catching Up

It’s been a while but I’ve been away enjoying some family and friends time in Aus. 

And yes, that was one heck of a desert platter; lemon tiramisu, cannoli and chocolate/vanilla ice cream cake. 

Up Before Dawn

More overload (in a good way) this week with four days away at a wānanga in Waimarama, Hawkes Bay.  A gathering of work colleagues who have all done the same cultural capability programme over the last few years and a chance to refresh our learning. 

The first night we had a lesson in reading the stars from a local navigator then up before dawn the following morning to go with him to the Atea star compass.

Then off to Waiohiki to help with cyclone cleanup. Shovelling silt, clearing under houses generally doing whatever we could to help.

We also had a session with a maramataka/Māori calendar expert talking about seasonal cycles, reading the weather and changing our concept of time.

And it’s Waimarama so a few visits to the beach as well. 

No Straight Lines

 More weaving, this time thanks to a workshop with a local artist who does Random Weaving. Starts like this…

Finished looks like this…

And here is a beautiful collection of little random whatnots.