tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1714409549377400792024-03-14T00:36:47.039-07:00growmamaGrowMama is the lifestyle blog of Anissa Ljanta, a New Zealand based mama, writer and crafter.
The GrowMama blog is my happy place. Where I share things that inspire me.
A little bit of everything beautiful, growing, inspiring, sustainable, crafting, giveaways,
and parenting, with a nod to my love of all things vintage, a splash of political feistiness and tools to live a juicy life thrown into the mix.
anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.comBlogger982125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-82029532265046775892020-06-28T00:50:00.001-07:002020-06-28T00:50:48.200-07:00New website!<br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dear ones.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">GrowMama has moved! After thirteen years here, I now have some spacious new digs over at <a href="http://www.growmama.co.nz/">www.GrowMama.co.nz</a>. </span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The new website brings together all my loves:</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://growmama.co.nz/writing">Writing</a> </b>- content, feature and creative - there's a portfolio showcasing some of my work. I'm doing more content creation these days but have room for more clients. www.anissaljanta.co.nz</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://growmama.co.nz/blog">The GrowMama blog</a></b> - chatting about all the good things: garden goodness, great food, compulsive making and the DIY life, the importance of wild places, rad reading recommendations and more.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://growmama.co.nz/growmama-homesewn">GrowMama Homesewn</a> -</b> a place you can buy simple clothes in beautiful fabrics made using patterns from independent patternmakers. Stocked seasonally in an online pop-up.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Also introducing the GrowMama Homesewn <b>Community Sew Days</b>. A friendly monthly drop-in space for experienced sewists to support learners referred by not-for-profit organisations - folks can learn to sew or have a piece of clothing made especially for them. We use size-inclusive patterns in acknowledgement that everyone wears clothes š. Not an overlocked seam in sight - all clothes are like your nana (or maybe great-grandma) would have made. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Due to life getting in the way, things took a little longer than we had originally mapped out. Big thanks to Leah Harold from <a href="https://www.littlebizonline.co.nz/">Little Biz Online</a> for all her help and patience.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">See you over there!</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">xxx Anissa xxx</span><br />
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-75175218026248082752020-05-03T02:08:00.002-07:002020-05-03T02:08:17.626-07:00The shark tooth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I was about eight, I read a book where the main character found a shark tooth on the beach and it changed her life in wonderful ways. I have been looking for a sharks tooth at high tide marks ever since. I've lived near a beach for the last thirteen years, so that's a lot of tooth hunting.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week I found one. I couldn't believe it. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Those of you who have been around awhile know what nature geeks we are.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The teens were suitably envious. (That was quite satisfying)</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm not sure how much is down to the tooth, but life is certainly changing. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Love to you wherever you are.</span><br />
<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-12630257035826207712020-04-21T09:00:00.000-07:002020-04-21T09:00:08.283-07:00Colour jungle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am drawn to colour in hard times. I caught this photo of <a href="https://growmama.blogspot.com/2019/03/making-with-liberty-print-jersey-cotton.html">a shirt I made</a> on my quilt recently. All that colour and texture gave me pause to breathe in the beauty. More and more these slow days I am reminded of how it's the simple things that give me the deepest joy. An hour on the couch with the dog and a book, the sun on my shoulders, the smell of freshly baked bread, certain colours juxtaposed or jumbled together.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My fabric stash is looking a bit monochromatic. I've been looking for inspiration to hit the sewing studio again this weekend and I'm missing the colour hit. Fingers crossed the annual <a href="https://fabricabrac.wordpress.com/">Fabric-a-brac </a>market goes ahead this year, that's the source of my fabric for the years sewing. SO many wonderful events and projects cancelled this year already. Sigh. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Loving the work of Justine Blakeney and her <a href="https://blog.jungalow.com/">Jungalow label and blog.</a> The colours reminded me.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Missing <a href="https://www.designsponge.com/">Design Sponge,</a> but all the archives are still there, phew.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And if you're a crocheter (I'm not but I admire it greatly) and you love colour, you need to pop along to my friend Alia's <a href="http://www.thelittlebee.co.nz/patterns-2/">Little Bee</a> pattern shop. </span><br />
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-10420583582584587742020-04-17T02:57:00.000-07:002020-04-17T02:57:03.445-07:00Introducing my new comfort food.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I was given a signed copy of Nadia Lim's Vegful cookbook as a Christmas gift from work. (I work for the NZ charity Garden to Table - getting kids into the garden and kitchen through our food education programme.) I heard so many good things about Vegful but had several new cookbooks around that time so hadn't gotten past flicking through. Nadia chose Garden to Table to support when she did Dancing with the Stars and my colleagues who have met her say she is the very nicest person. Yay for nice people!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lockdown has had me reaching for new inspiration and Vegful is providing it in spades.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am not very good at cooking for one. We're into food in this house, really good food, and make a lot of condiments, breads, baking and meals from scratch. No pasta sauce out of a jar here. When my kiddo is at his dad's though, I can go the whole weekend without a 'proper meal'. It's quite liberating to be freed from the despot appetite of a teen but can get unhealthy, especially if I forget to eat. Which I inevitably do. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last weekend I made the Mexican stuffed kumara. And promptly declared it my new favourite comfort food. I stuffed one massive kumara - in two halves - then had a bunch of filling leftover, enough for burritos and nachos the following days. My coriander seedlings aren't quite up to being plundered, but I do have a bag of the most incredible limes from our tiny local farmers market, pre-lockdown of course. A lime tree is the one citrus we don't have on the land. It's on the (post-lockdown) list. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I loved Nadia's Peanut, lime and sesame slaw too (the kid not so much, which meant I got to eat it for lunch the next day too - I'd call that a win) and the success of both of those recipes has me keen to try more. Not driving around to meetings and the kid's swim training and classes certainly frees up a bunch of time. Making the most of that by upping my game in the kitchen. You know how you get in a rut preparing the same old meals, the go-to dishes you know and love? Yup - mixing it up a bit.</span></div>
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-85194927044014552412020-04-12T17:10:00.002-07:002020-04-12T17:16:16.754-07:00A teen-friendly Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An Easter in lockdown has taught me an important lesson about the creative life and gave rise to a great idea for an Easter hunt for teens.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our house used to be in constant creative flux with various projects. It's changed with the teen years upon us. The kid has not been into our usual. At all. And that's cool. But I realised that instead of pivoting and being open to finding new ways of having fun with art, I just dropped it. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Plus, to avoid the rude comments and eye rolls, I started keeping my own creative work to the keyboard (I write) and have been sewing or doing other art late at night, or when the kid is elsewhere. My creative work has largely been invisible to the kid. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then, out of sadness that we couldn't do our usual fun community Easter egg hunt and gathering, grew an idea. We didn't have much in the way of Easter eggs, but on Good Friday we stayed up late painting. We cut colourful egg shapes out the next day and raided the coin stash, taping coins to the underside of eggs, and adding in some prank 'nope, no's and nah's'. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On Easter Sunday we hid them all over a large area - some in pretty challenging places. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The result was a hilarious Easter egg hunt. Perfect for money motivated teens who aren't sure about the 'little kid' version of hunting for chocolate Easter eggs. We did have a few chocolate treats hidden but it was much less sugar-saturated Easter than years past. Raging success. Basking a little bit in that. Parenting wins in the teen years are to be savoured I reckon. Whatever your traditions are - Happy Easter. x</span><br />
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-32792308160818030432020-04-08T23:32:00.001-07:002020-04-08T23:32:23.429-07:00Duckling lockdown project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The boy is fostering eight just-hatched ducklings until they're big enough to hold their own with next door's flock. The mama abandoned them within hours of hatching and they wouldn't have lasted a day out there on their own - between the chilly nights, the rats and the hawk.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Instead, they're a blessing for us in these strange days. I can say that because the deal was that I do none of the cleaning-out or care. I just get to cuddle them occasionally. It's quite the role swap! They are the perfect distraction in these unsettling times. </span></div>
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-63212936499863411802020-04-03T20:13:00.000-07:002020-04-04T02:13:20.844-07:00Lockdown links<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000;">You might say I was made for these times, we have a garden,
make most food from scratch, weāre well set up since we homeschool and work is mostly remote, but weāre usually out a bunch and miss
our friends. Finding it all a bit hard this week. I know some of you are too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">I thought Iād share some of the things that have gotten me
through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Other than cuddles and antics with the animals, some darn good
food and even better books, writing (always writing), stargazing with my boy, great work colleagues,
working in the garden and the figs starting to ripen - there are some damn fine
creative things coming out of these lockdowns in various countries.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">This Wellington family's epic <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WellingtonLIVENZ/videos/2604971913081276/">lockdown boogie</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">What happens when sports commentator Nick Heath can't work? Commentating on random life moments. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ROvdHJj4rI&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2VW0wyh5tFD1Jxdb4pSfmQHa69vGeqftTQ3v6_dpPgKO58x_CEi6L8jG0">The look a bit dodgy solo.</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Karlo Milaās <a href="https://soundcloud.com/karlo-mila?utm_source=actionstation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=blast1961&source=actionstation&bucket=blast1961&fbclid=IwAR2BNRcJtX1sJ4i47giSJLTcWq2KzvQe_zUGUvCOkkxmSZVUL6cvUKFc5E0">guided meditations</a> on Soundcloud. So good. I met her last week and she is all her voice conveys - all the good things.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">The<a href="https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0885wz7/the-reality-of-confinement-with-a-four-year-old?fbclid=IwAR2_DK2uyd6L7n4tUcwgKoPlKH-d07064dbbKGvd86_9K69vHb8Eo0zryjk"> reality of confinement with a four year old.</a> BBC. So good.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Stunning <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10158609137713689&set=a.10151055181093689&type=3&theater">poem</a> from the amazing Nadine Anne Hura.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Anne Salmondās <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120738955/dame-anne-salmond-a-better-way-to-kickstart-the-economy?fbclid=IwAR3kARgQFFGS6x6kuHkFmNVoT2VqT0K5CX5IkJ9HALOBbwxonTvsf2qGXIA">call for a greener economy</a> as we rebuild.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Duncan Bridgeman and Jamie Cattoās <a href="https://vimeo.com/79077968?fbclid=IwAR3_Ebp2bZfV4pH1Pz01qoPYaY4xW9uaBkIhD_FL4fiFiAidfGwcKL5JxUw">1 Giant Leap</a> - an oldie but a goodie. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Jack Black showing off his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RadioX/videos/856188784854055/">home work out.</a> MY VERY FAVOURITE THING ON THE INTERNET. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Matched by <a href="https://twitter.com/twopaddocks/status/1243751961838538754?s=21&fbclid=IwAR2x5fu_cMjbUt6zct3hh4j_4gACrWistWyO9Q5MRFLyo7jVYWclsq3UtUE">Sam Neill</a> with a ukelele radiohead rendition and words of encouragement<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/mar/30/astrophysicist-gets-magnets-stuck-up-nose-while-inventing-coronavirus-device?fbclid=IwAR1XNh0Bf1BxM2859Z5vh0fFY__-RCNO0xRproyDdR77NEnjybjEwaq2Qxk">This story </a>about an astrophysicist that got magnets stuck up his nose then had the bravery to speak to the media about it. You can't make this stuff up. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Spooky and stunning ā Max Penkās <a href="https://www.facebook.com/max.penk/videos/10163074873655183/">collated shots</a> of places that are usually bustling with people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Some <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Natswhatireckon/videos/2558603481018785/">carbonara sauce cooking inspiration</a> from Nat for the teens? Only if youāre
not squeamish about swearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">Lucy from Lulastic has stepped into the breach with some <a href="http://lulastic.co.uk/parenting/homeschooling-now-welcome-jungle/?fbclid=IwAR0MlJEBFMtfaCaxtY3IkkNI8U-iy1n7XejFION1mKxbUNDY6QNfFrKBjD4">insights around homeschooling</a>. Bearing in mind that whatās happening is
actually quarantine schooling not homeschooling. Homeschoolers and unschoolers spend a lot of time out of the house!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">And, on that theme, the </span><a href="https://m.facebook.com/groups/504169507131609?notif_t=group_r2j_approved&notif_id=1584940514568567&ref=m_notif">Unexpectedly Homeschooling</a><span style="color: #990000;"> facebook page. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">If the kids are looking for exercise inspo, check out <a href="https://www.thebodycoach.com/blog/pe-with-joe-1254.html">PE with Joe</a>. If anyone has a lead to teen friendly ones, let me know.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://www.moveitmama.co.nz/">Move it Mama</a> is my workout go-to. They're keeping it real and I appreciate that. Nine live workouts a week for $10 a month. And, in case you're wondering, I don't do nine, not even on a good week!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;">You're welcome! </span></div>
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-10420466745565578432020-03-26T15:27:00.002-07:002020-03-26T18:12:36.721-07:00Thinking out loud: Day one of NZ's lockdown<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tEZgga1fv14/Xn0pFYltb1I/AAAAAAAAJFU/C7GxINcipb8lqi8jVxik8AHWy460AVjsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/20200323_114521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tEZgga1fv14/Xn0pFYltb1I/AAAAAAAAJFU/C7GxINcipb8lqi8jVxik8AHWy460AVjsgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200323_114521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I will start with the hard stuff and move on up from there. Those
who are feeling grim can skip to the middle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our response to COVID-19 is really shining a light on
inequity and privilege for me. Showing up the gulf between those who can afford to
stock up on food and supplies and those who cannot. Those who had the internet
connection, friends overseas in hotspots and time to research and saw what was
coming, and those who were overwhelmed with working several jobs who donāt have
internet at home or smartphones, or time to scroll, who did not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I worry about those living in tense households, in lockdown for
four weeks. In times of tension, domestic violence stats spike and NZās DV rates
are abysmal to start with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am sad for all the single parents who have had to bubble
up with their kidās other parent because of shared care and it's the right thing to do for their child/ren, instead of bubbling up
with someone they chose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am disappointed at the edict about the one person only edict for
supermarkets on Day one of NZās lockdown. I understand the reasons why but there
are single parents who used precious petrol money to get to the supermarket and
had to leave without the food they needed because they had their child/ren with
them and were turned away. If they are the sole adult in their bubble, these parents
have no-one they can leave the kid/s with. And they are with the strong message
that the world is not made for families like theirs and the added financial
pressure of having to find services that will deliver. Weāve shut the country
down with 48 hours warning, so I am sure there will be tweaks that need to
happen, like the launch of anything. Yes, we are all making sacrifices and all have our stories about how we are are affected but some things are basic needs everyone has a right to. I hope we see the one-person in rule adapted soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>But I am so grateful that we have the government we do.</b> I
was ready for a lockdown a week before it was called and am relieved we are
doing this. Our Prime Minister has impressed my socks off. I first heard of her
through friends years ago who know her. Now I see what all the fuss was about. Angela
and Leigh, I will never doubt you again. We have wage subsidies even for freelancers
and charities, extra funding for social services at this time, mortgage holidays
for those need them, rent hike freeze, our heroes, the nurses and other medical
staff, health care providers and police, food producers and suppliers, fire
crews and frontline supermarket workers all appreciated as they should be. They
are all putting their health, and their families at risk for the greater good.
I am in awe. I know there is discussion about whether itās the right thing to
do and Iām not engaging in that, but at the very least this lockdown gives us
space to decide what is next and to continue to prepare our health and essential
services. It will save lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I look to the US, where I used to live, at that clown of the president in power at the moment and am fearful for what is unfolding there. Our
leaders could not be more different. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stay home everyone. Get out for your walks, runs or bike
rides but 2m away from others not in your bubble, and otherwise, be on home ground. Be kind.
Give yourselves slack to grump around and throw your toys but just not AT anyone. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then look for the opportunities. We might as well. To wallow in the mire for four weeks isn't going to lead to anything good. I live in a remote area with a teenager, the amount
of eyerolls directed at me daily would surely fell a lesser being. My point being,
if I can focus on the opportunities, you can too. Weāve decided to set a goal
or two or three a day and keep each other accountable. As I type, there are 32 minutes
until the end of day one and only one goal ticked by one of us, but itās a start.
And it was a good day. Lots of talk about what weāre missing but there was gratitude,
boardgames and laughter, the sharing of memes, good conversation and a gluten-fest of lemon tart and homemade pizza. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is a hard thing, but so is what is coming. We need to keep
numbers of those needing medical help to capacity - protect our elders,
immunocompromised and vulnerable. Staying home is the least we can do for all
those leaving theirs to work in essential services. Our job is to stay home. And
try not to eat all the chocolate. Surely we can do that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are all in this together, apart. You know what I mean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With all this time freed up from daily life out and about, Iāll
be back here with a series on the blog, pulling together cool stuff and links
for you, and the kids. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank goodness for the internet!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-25634849407098485162020-03-22T02:08:00.000-07:002020-03-26T18:12:25.106-07:00The surreal times begin<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8lVOKSoI40/XncWf07lixI/AAAAAAAAJE0/8ebe5Hz5GLMJ7JpKL6eMq1yvYNXCyrg5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/expanse%2Bof%2Bsand%2Band%2Bdog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L8lVOKSoI40/XncWf07lixI/AAAAAAAAJE0/8ebe5Hz5GLMJ7JpKL6eMq1yvYNXCyrg5wCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/expanse%2Bof%2Bsand%2Band%2Bdog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I had been waiting until my new website went live before I dived back into this lovely bloggy place. But. The website has been on hold for ages and when I went to grab the link for the bread recipe folks have been asking for, I saw my last post was September LAST YEAR. Which isn't true at all. Yikes. I need to work out where all the latest blog posts have gone.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I find myself with more time to write all of a sudden. New Zealand is closed and we're in physical isolation due to COVID-19. Like so many of us in the world. Such a surreal time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I work mostly remotely and we homeschool but life still looks very different. There are no days in the office, no meetings, no homeschool group, no swim training, no appointments to get to, no hangouts with town friends, no gigs, no library. Pretty much the whole weekend I had planned was cancelled. Life is, understandably, on hold. I am thinking of friends holed up all over the world, some stranded far away from home and their people, and my heart goes out to all those whose beloveds are sick or worse. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I took the day off news sites. I needed it. I think I will limit myself to certain times of day, the situation is changing so fast, it's tempting to live on social media but I don't fancy what that'll do to my mental health. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was so grateful to be able to get out and go for a walk and work in the garden today.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So lucky to live where I do. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Funny that of all the strangeness, the libraries closing was the thing that freaked me out. I didn't even have time to dash in and stock up. My son gave me a talking to, apparently he thinks the 20 books by my bed, the ones on our bookshelves, the libraries ebook app and kindle should be enough. I feel so misunderstood.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Take care of yourselves lovelies. Wash those hands, keep that distance, keep connected to those you love and be kind out there.</span></div>
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-16357085870598078052019-09-10T04:26:00.000-07:002019-09-10T04:26:40.390-07:00Making: linen top<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xRuu6DKxYI4/XXeCygdBxAI/AAAAAAAAJDY/v41mUh37CuoEE9dTGQ0KhGygxaPTtOPgACLcBGAs/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xRuu6DKxYI4/XXeCygdBxAI/AAAAAAAAJDY/v41mUh37CuoEE9dTGQ0KhGygxaPTtOPgACLcBGAs/s320/030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This one is worn on repeat. It's Sew Knit Love's <a href="https://www.sewknitlove.co/product/boxy-dress-sewing-pattern/">Sarah Dress</a> pattern, the top version. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I've made three dresses from this pattern now and have made some for friends. I may have to cave to pressure and start taking orders soon.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The linen is an ochre-green and the fabric butter-soft. Perfect with a pair of high waisted jeans and a cardigan. I super love this top.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's a fast sew and it's a great pattern basic to build your wardrobe with. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This shirt is a great layering piece. I have my third one cut out and ready to sew. I am not a big t-shirt person, I like these shirts much better.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hey textile loving people, <a href="http://growmama.blogspot.com/2018/08/making-cloud-dress.html">Auckland Fabric-a-brac</a> is coming up in a few weeks. Proceeds go to charity, usually local hospice. It's one of my favourite events of the year. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Might see you there?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-69067424148823199612019-08-19T03:31:00.003-07:002019-08-19T03:31:53.618-07:00The best bread recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fWQMQz0gN2k/XVp5-dClCFI/AAAAAAAAJDE/AxH6pJplLxQZ57iLWdeSnIM5YXx9G2nEwCLcBGAs/s1600/68566710_693535357784772_8559106510750220288_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fWQMQz0gN2k/XVp5-dClCFI/AAAAAAAAJDE/AxH6pJplLxQZ57iLWdeSnIM5YXx9G2nEwCLcBGAs/s400/68566710_693535357784772_8559106510750220288_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am back, by popular demand, to give you the bread recipe I blogged about recently. There were a bunch of hollers on the GrowMama facebook page and a wee stack of messages asking for the recipe. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Every now and then I make a kneadable dough (sensory delight and free therapy you know) but the time and organisation it takes to prove bread multiple times just doesn't get prioritised in this beautifully crowded life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Original recipe credit goes to the amazing Claire Inwood. I have since tweaked it. Most recipes get tweaked in this house!</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Best Bread</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1.5 l warm water</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">9 cups of flour (I use 6 cups of white flour and 3 wholemeal so the youngster will eat it)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">1 egg (or if vegan, I substitute with egg replacer or 2 tbsp ground linseeds)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Handful of seeds (however many you like, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, different linseeds, chia)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I grind seeds for extra nutritional value if kiddoes are of the anti-seed variety.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Whisk the sweetener, water and yeast together and when activated and poufy chuck it all together and mix well. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Use a pastry brush to oil the tins, pour mixture in (it's quite a wet mix) to 3/4 and put in a cold oven.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Heat oven to 190 degrees celsius.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sometimes I set my timer for half an hour but mostly I check it once the delicious-freshly-baked-bread smell hits the house. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And, done! Now you can impress the pants of your friends too! You're welcome. x</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I make the basic mix for the kids loaves, then dose the rest with seeds for me. I like to play with different flours (</span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">I like to use rye and spelt) </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">and you can tweak the wholemeal/white flour balance according to preferences. </span></i></div>
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anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-21006973704886080932019-08-08T19:30:00.000-07:002019-08-08T19:30:04.307-07:00Kid's anxiety about climate change booklist and getting arrested<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cgjSS5mT0LA/XUPPcopMQcI/AAAAAAAAJCw/tXrse427Uhg1lN8BUEUtb6dlJ50IHQlNgCLcBGAs/s1600/Sapling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="540" height="208" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cgjSS5mT0LA/XUPPcopMQcI/AAAAAAAAJCw/tXrse427Uhg1lN8BUEUtb6dlJ50IHQlNgCLcBGAs/s400/Sapling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am a believer in direct action and using your voice for those who cannot speak or who have been silenced. Way back in 1995, I co-organised The Direct Action Conference alongside COP1, the first United Nations Climate Change conference in Berlin. After being arrested, ( a few of us had kryptonite D-locked ourselves to a delegates bus, trying to get climate change in the media, the projections even back then, were scary) I had a bit of time to think. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When conversation with my cellmate, Anika Jones from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/02/greenham-common-women-taught-generation-protest">Greenham Common</a>, faded out, I was left to my thoughts. I remember wondering what the world would be like if our voices went unheard. How would the next generation, the kids, feel about inheriting a damaged world, all because of human greed and ignorance? I thought about that time in that jail cell while I was researching and compiling a book list on Kids with Climate Change Anxiety for The Sapling. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't tell you how much I resented writing that piece. But it's important work. Necessary. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you don't know about The Sapling yet, go and take a look around, it's a special place.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The booklist on Kids Anxiety around climate change on The Sapling is <a href="https://www.thesapling.co.nz/single-post/2019/07/01/Book-List-Supporting-kids-Climate-change-emotions?fbclid=IwAR3jLKONtEhY78HZe2AhAJt09hYkrGkveYRNOGkYBO2Oh4UeAMZyIDJNnDE">HERE.</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there's a documentary covering the Greenhouse Gathering, Direct Action conference and COP1 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9LLq4msncI">HERE</a>, featuring talented activists and social change agents, Paxus Calta, Stephany, Mark, Adam x, Anika, George Monbiot, Hester, Vladimir, Rebecca, Davor, Rod Harbinson and others. Many of these fabulous people have devoted their lives to lobbying, campaigning and working for positive change. Some are well known internationally, some in certain circles, but they are all heroes. People have been working, mostly invisibly, although passionately, for the last thirty years. It's hard to live on the frontlines of climate science for so long and be desperately trying to think of ways of how to reach people, how to make a difference and get humans to act responsibly. So much love to all those people who have been waving that flag for all this time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am at 4.15, 5.41 my son tells me. And that's me with my D-lock being removed from around my neck with an angle grinder. This doco came to light recently, I remember the filming but never saw the finished piece. On seeing it, my son said 'Mama. You are cooler than I thought'. Funny. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My highlights are the ever eloquent Stephany at 7.30 and Paxus on why direct action is important at 20.37. Imagine if they had listened to us and so many others back then and taken meaningful action. Imagine. </span></div>
<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-50453200458335178932019-08-01T22:14:00.000-07:002019-08-01T22:14:15.847-07:00Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IopHgeSIOW0/XUPCD4pUzeI/AAAAAAAAJCk/mKNM_eLZ4gMHiKuGb3oEv4BI43x4Att2ACLcBGAs/s1600/67402343_2889591964415866_9107892624101998592_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IopHgeSIOW0/XUPCD4pUzeI/AAAAAAAAJCk/mKNM_eLZ4gMHiKuGb3oEv4BI43x4Att2ACLcBGAs/s400/67402343_2889591964415866_9107892624101998592_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love this 5-grain bread. It's delicious and fast to make. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People are sometimes amazed when I bring freshly baked bread to share, but that's kind of embarrassing because it's so easy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a no-knead wet mix that gets pops it in a cold oven so you're spared from that awkward moment when you realise you forgot to pre-heat the oven. I have the preparation time down to twenty minutes. And none of those plastic bags store-bought bread comes in. The homemade bread thing doesn't happen all the time but there is nothing like the smell of bread baking. There's something so comforting and satisfying about making your own bread. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I make a plain mix with ground linseeds and fill a tin with that mixture for the boy (who is seed-averse) and load up the remaining dough with sunflower seeds, rye, linseeds and pumpkin seeds for me. After a few days, the rest of the loaves get sliced and popped in the freezer for toast. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It always cracks on the top and although I know that's frowned upon, I can't bring myself to care. I'm juggling all the things and solving that particular issue hasn't featured on the to-do lists. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, the cracked top adds to the rustic feel. Tastes the same!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-noknead-bread-home-109343">This</a> is another no-knead bread recipe I have been wanting to try. I'm on the lookout for a dutch oven. Holler if you see one in the op shop. </span>anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-71033963454707819702019-07-07T23:50:00.000-07:002019-07-07T23:50:00.807-07:00Portraits and projects on the brew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ql3ggedP4SI/XSLkkxRHieI/AAAAAAAAJCM/mimIDEzACmkDwCf_07qpKkK3mBqmwqCJACLcBGAs/s1600/Anissa%2BIllustration%2BFINAL%2B2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="1208" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ql3ggedP4SI/XSLkkxRHieI/AAAAAAAAJCM/mimIDEzACmkDwCf_07qpKkK3mBqmwqCJACLcBGAs/s320/Anissa%2BIllustration%2BFINAL%2B2019.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi All! I just popped in to show off my portrait. I commissioned it from the super duper talented Kirsten Slade for my new website. You can find Kirsten over <a href="https://www.kirstenslade.com/">HERE</a> and there's a cool piece about her <a href="https://www.thesapling.co.nz/single-post/2018/07/03/A-Day-in-the-Life-Illustrator-Kirsten-Slade">HERE.</a> She is all kinds of brilliant. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yes! There are developments afoot over here.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New website, writing portfolio, and a wee business launch are all brewing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The last three years since I separated from the kid's dad have been stressful. In a different way than the previous years before the break-up but stressful nonetheless. I left with two hundred and something dollars in my bank account, clothes, some household items and my kid. Oh, and the animals. I am proud to be where I am today. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have stepped back from the startup charity I was managing and have re-organised my work life to allow time to work on my writing and biz development. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally. I wanted to get this website together ten years ago. Better late than never.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I look forward to sharing it with you. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Won't be long now.</span></div>
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-40119494269601877342019-06-24T12:50:00.001-07:002019-06-24T12:50:34.467-07:00Making: a zero waste bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YTGBOAofrDM/XREezIeMr2I/AAAAAAAAJCA/x8Pe-FMm8asmPbOTdTi4ZgAR7hA1WP0eACLcBGAs/s1600/Green%2Blinen%2BZero%2BWaste%2Bbag%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YTGBOAofrDM/XREezIeMr2I/AAAAAAAAJCA/x8Pe-FMm8asmPbOTdTi4ZgAR7hA1WP0eACLcBGAs/s320/Green%2Blinen%2BZero%2BWaste%2Bbag%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I try and arrange my pattern pieces on the fabric so there
is the least waste, and keep scraps for smaller projects or give them to people
and projects that will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Despite my best efforts, the piles of scrap fabric still
accumulate and as a result, I have been thinking more seriously about with Zero Waste creating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I started with a piece of beautiful linen I picked up at <a href="https://fabricabrac.wordpress.com/">Fabric-a-brac</a> that was too small to make clothing from, but just big enough to make a
bag. Years ago, a friend from Japan had a furoshiki-inspired bag that he
had made from a big scarf and I thought about that as I folded, tacked and unpicked
on repeat, late into the night. My goal was to create a bag that I liked, with
no waste created from the process. I love the tactile, problem-solving aspects
of creating new patterns, but I am spatially dyslexic and it also confuses the
crap out of me to the point of extreme frustration.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">By the early hours of the morning, I was pleased with the results. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A few weeks later I thought to search
online to see if anyone else was working on zero waste patterns and discovered I could have saved myself the frustration. The <a href="http://pm-betweenthelines.blogspot.com/2013/02/triangular-bag-tutorial.html">Between the lines</a> blog has done the
hard yards and created a tutorial on a bag spookily similar to my late night creating. Hoorah! That means I can cross that off my to-do list! You can find her tutorial <a href="http://pm-betweenthelines.blogspot.com/2013/02/triangular-bag-tutorial.html">HERE.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Zero Waste bag is a great way to showcase a fabric you
love, have as an extra shopping bag tucked into your bike basket, backpack or glove box. NZ is phasing out single-use plastic bags (about frigging time) and itās
so great to see cloth bags of all shapes and sizes at the supermarket. After many years of carrying my own hotchpotch of cloth bags and getting the side eye (not to mention getting increasingly frustrated at a society in love with plastic and ignoring climate change), it's satisfying to see the shift. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-20216632265689440742019-06-10T16:56:00.000-07:002019-06-10T16:56:43.442-07:00Periods. And The Good Fund. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Call me an early adopter but Iāve used a Mooncup for years.
Like, lots of years. I used to teach workshops called the āPolitics of Bloodā,
in which we discussed using different blood catching methods. Most of the
attendees had never before spoken or heard said aloud the words vagina or vulva
outside of the doctor's office.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are a bunch of reasons why I went off āsanitary productsā.
One of the things we did in those workshops was putting a popular brand tampon
in a clean jar of water. Toward the end of the workshop, weād give it a shake
and pass it around. The water changed colour and had all sorts of
fibres and random particles floating in it. Pretty ick. An eco-activist and zero waste advocate at the time, I found the
chemical processes in producing that bleached white cotton (and the waste) repugnant. There was
that awful sucked dry feeling after using tampons. Then there was the cost. Have you ever done the math? It adds up quick!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I had always hated the feel of pads, so reusable pads were out for me. A lover turned me onto sea sponges. Yup. You read
me right. They were awesome actually, but I was happy to switch to a more
environmentally sound solution, the menstrual cup. <a href="https://www.mooncup.co.uk/">Mooncups</a> went on the market
in 2002 and I was one of the first in line. Truly re-usable, these last for
years. There are loads of menstrual cups on the market now and theyāve been gaining in popularity. I love mine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And now thereās a new thing. Period
underwear! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Heralded by US company, <a href="https://www.shethinx.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw27jnBRBuEiwAdjQXDM7vYrdZk7tk5dZ2Ek-NH7bEhnQX8vaBp7vSjUKMMchYOHvK_hTNBxoCAcoQAvD_BwE">Thinx</a>, there is a flood (pardon the
pun, couldnāt resist) of period underwear on the market. NZ has <a href="https://iameva.co/">I am Eva</a> and next
door in Australia there's <a href="https://www.modibodi.com/">Modibodi</a>. They're not just for catching blood, but any kind of leak. Women who struggle with pelvic floor post birth, this could be your thing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As anyone who bleeds on the regular will tell you, that
heaviest day of bleeding can be a worry. If youāre travelling,
have a big day at work or just have to be on the go all the time, there is the concern that youāll leak. I well remember the stress about this at high school. Some women find period underwear gives that extra bit of reassurance. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have
some teen friends who are loving the period underwear. I know others who use
the heavy flow ones overnight, or who use the light flow ones as a backstop on
busy/heavy flow days or to catch the drips as their bleeding is almost over.
Some use them exclusively, taking a wet bag with them and doing a change in the
loos halfway through the day, others as back up to their menstrual cup. I know a menopausal woman who never knows when her bleeding might descend and so wears a fabulous pear of period underwear every day, just in case. They even come in g-string design. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And how brilliant would these be in those incessant weeks of bleeding after giving birth? Pretty damn fabulous. Give me a pair of sexy period underwear over those hideous maternity pads any day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I just got my period underwear in the mail today. After being put off for years by the outlay, I bought some Modibodi
ones through a special deal that Emily from Raising Ziggy organised. (Thank you!) The great thing is that function aside, theyāre awesome underwear,
some are even lacey. And I love that there are more zero-waste choices. The
best explanation and review of period underwear Iāve seen is by Emily over on
the Raising Ziggy blog <a href="http://www.emalitza.com/period-underwear-what-how-why/">HERE.</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Did you know that there are girls around the world who canāt
go to school or be out in the world because they rely on rags, mattress stuffing,
moss or even cow dung to catch their bloods? All power to you if thatās your
thing, but bleeding monthly should not get in anyoneās way of having a good
life and doing the things they want to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are some awesome Period Poverty projects around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.daysforgirls.org/">Days for Girls </a>just opened a local chapter here, there are groups
all over- they bring together women to make re-usable pads and bags to send to
those that need them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Which brings me to <a href="https://www.thegoodfund.co.nz/">The Good Fund</a>. A team effort between Emily
from <a href="http://www.emalitza.com/">Raising Ziggy</a> and Kimberli from <a href="https://www.mycup.co.nz/">MyCupNZ</a>, they are breaking down the cost
barrier to women accessing re-usable menstrual products. You can buy, donate or
take part in the huge nationwide Fill-A-Bag fundraiser. Check it
out <a href="https://www.thegoodfund.co.nz/?fbclid=IwAR3hANTDWN2WceboR_85Hd4IfDyF27pM8K-eTfaw2oWHYmGVjvq4r0jrl20">HERE.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And finally, those fabulous women from On the Rag can now be seen on screen! Yes, they've gone all TV. And the first episode is on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS815-ad-WA&t=1s">PERIODS! </a></span></div>
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-12180454248561651272019-05-29T01:32:00.000-07:002019-05-29T01:32:24.074-07:00The Kowtow archive sale experience<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qVZ1gzg5hug/XO5CPkUAavI/AAAAAAAAJBM/ivv09CZhIoQMXlVFq0qpPt3lm6X4EbedgCLcBGAs/s1600/61569144_331904137491263_7782171807649366016_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qVZ1gzg5hug/XO5CPkUAavI/AAAAAAAAJBM/ivv09CZhIoQMXlVFq0qpPt3lm6X4EbedgCLcBGAs/s320/61569144_331904137491263_7782171807649366016_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does anyone else suffer from social awkwardness or inappropriate blurting of irrelevant information?! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to meet a
girlfriend at the <a href="https://nz.kowtowclothing.com/">Kowtow</a> archive sale the other day and had completely the
wrong idea about what I was in for. I had been doing long hours, working hard,
supporting an unwell kid with no other adult contact for ages and wasnāt prepared
for the crowds and social contact AT ALL. I almost messaged my friend to say I
couldnāt make it but hauled myself into town, an hourās drive away. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I arrived,
I hid in a corner and messaged my friend to say Iād arrived, only to find I had
missed her message saying she wasnāt going to make it. EEEP! I took a deep breath. Or four. I donāt shop for new clothes. Not really. I sew,
source things I love secondhand and am an opshopping queen. The Kowtow sale was
a mash of great music, trestle tables piled high with beautiful organic cotton
clothes, racks of samples and hordes of wonderful women. If the setting was in
a forest clearing or on a beach I would have been sweet, but it was a concrete
box. I had to stop myself from bolting a few times but took a few deep breaths
and starting wandering, letting my eye be drawn by a texture, a colour, the cut
of a skirt. I found some beautiful clothes. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking at the line to the changing
room (it snaked around the entire space) I decided to head for the tills. I looked around for the line to pay. Oh. It was the long line I had mistaken
for the changing room queue. Gah! I almost bolted again but hugging my finds, I
decided to stick it out. I am glad I did. Some of the exchanges I had in that
line, with women I wouldnāt have met otherwise, were super interesting. Same goes for the conversations I inadvertently eavesdropped on. I may have
talked too much and possibly inappropriately and revealed my just about to
launch business idea ā previously kept tightly under wraps. But I am getting
better at letting that shit go. The clothes I bought have been on high rotation
since that day and I know Iāll wear them for years. Knowing theyāre organic and
ethically made makes them even better. </span></div>
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-60486220995243627552019-05-08T03:21:00.002-07:002019-05-08T03:21:22.826-07:00Calm in the storm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jdNKnUt68Tw/XNKraJv4jUI/AAAAAAAAJAo/C1Uw3iacwM05fQWFzMeerHhF9vNTIsuUACLcBGAs/s1600/scenic%2Bdog%2BKK%2Bbeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jdNKnUt68Tw/XNKraJv4jUI/AAAAAAAAJAo/C1Uw3iacwM05fQWFzMeerHhF9vNTIsuUACLcBGAs/s400/scenic%2Bdog%2BKK%2Bbeach.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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It's been chilly but we head for the beach anyway. </div>
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To get the heart rate up, the dog out (and peeing on all the things), and to find the peace that waits on the beach. Something about being tiny in a huge vista is so good for human perspective. </div>
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It's been a hell of a summer for many reasons. One I am glad to be out the other side of.</div>
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I am enjoying the new calm and working toward the launch of a new project. Looking forward to sharing that publicly very soon. </div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l9ITq2Ln66g/XNKrcjmJTPI/AAAAAAAAJAs/L6BswIjCGjoKOIs7IKD3wLgmj1RM_RLaACLcBGAs/s1600/Phoenix%2Band%2Bkelp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l9ITq2Ln66g/XNKrcjmJTPI/AAAAAAAAJAs/L6BswIjCGjoKOIs7IKD3wLgmj1RM_RLaACLcBGAs/s400/Phoenix%2Band%2Bkelp.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Y7-UCtxpGI/XNKrhNMXvTI/AAAAAAAAJAw/FUOUlleyPR0VUHtC6ON5EnLrAIRyKhG8ACLcBGAs/s1600/Phoenix%2BKK%2Bbeach%2BMay%2B2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Y7-UCtxpGI/XNKrhNMXvTI/AAAAAAAAJAw/FUOUlleyPR0VUHtC6ON5EnLrAIRyKhG8ACLcBGAs/s400/Phoenix%2BKK%2Bbeach%2BMay%2B2019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-87555502546385209482019-04-07T16:54:00.001-07:002019-04-07T16:54:23.000-07:00end-of-season camping <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4grc1iy0GOo/XKqLVuUDrEI/AAAAAAAAI_0/L2puGO6KA70TTSXSAPf2TUcaUsQObrQKwCLcBGAs/s1600/56189915_326644531372376_4304591677760208896_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4grc1iy0GOo/XKqLVuUDrEI/AAAAAAAAI_0/L2puGO6KA70TTSXSAPf2TUcaUsQObrQKwCLcBGAs/s400/56189915_326644531372376_4304591677760208896_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We squeezed an end-of-season camping trip in. Just before the weather turned too. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The boy and I arrived in time to grab a good spot and had a night just the two of us before the rest of the homeschool/unschool crew arrived. Another ten tents went up the next morning.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kayaking, many good conversations, hangouts at the awesome waterhole, the best coffee, spotlight at midnight. Possum raids on the camping kitchen in the night. NZ camping at it's best.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hardly saw the boy. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was so good. (Those two statements are not related!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love those people. </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p28ooQiGVQc/XKqLXkHyQhI/AAAAAAAAI_4/tR7DNomPRj4GFKEwqyM_fIJ0VDZNnfpewCLcBGAs/s1600/56184368_2190789177656117_6713861618335219712_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p28ooQiGVQc/XKqLXkHyQhI/AAAAAAAAI_4/tR7DNomPRj4GFKEwqyM_fIJ0VDZNnfpewCLcBGAs/s400/56184368_2190789177656117_6713861618335219712_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzGoReBpUwE/XKqLaYAy3hI/AAAAAAAAI_8/mi99QWj0JHQAv_pUy2Z7eQgu__IpYBALQCLcBGAs/s1600/56209505_2194585410637517_7938080838481084416_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzGoReBpUwE/XKqLaYAy3hI/AAAAAAAAI_8/mi99QWj0JHQAv_pUy2Z7eQgu__IpYBALQCLcBGAs/s400/56209505_2194585410637517_7938080838481084416_n.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cn7PIodcBRw/XKqLcbaDk9I/AAAAAAAAJAA/Jg_Zz8GCmV8FaQ8DkIjGzObkLcX2W7djgCLcBGAs/s1600/56295416_304496066911491_1439830246307135488_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cn7PIodcBRw/XKqLcbaDk9I/AAAAAAAAJAA/Jg_Zz8GCmV8FaQ8DkIjGzObkLcX2W7djgCLcBGAs/s400/56295416_304496066911491_1439830246307135488_n.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-81913139863883977992019-03-25T03:33:00.000-07:002019-03-25T03:33:14.882-07:00Making: with Liberty print jersey cotton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LTcUxUyvVis/XIzIIi2-wGI/AAAAAAAAI_E/mp7I3y4pi54ueNviL9dHhhR081kq2SW0gCLcBGAs/s1600/20190316_104146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LTcUxUyvVis/XIzIIi2-wGI/AAAAAAAAI_E/mp7I3y4pi54ueNviL9dHhhR081kq2SW0gCLcBGAs/s400/20190316_104146.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">I picked up this colourful garden print at The Fabric Store's last sale. I couldn't make it in so bought it online and was so gutted when it arrived. It felt all stiff, like a polyester. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">It softened up when I prewashed the fabric luckily. Phew. That stuff is not cheap, even on sale!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">I didn't even know Liberty did a range of jersey cotton.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">I am on a mission to make up every variation of the <a href="https://www.sewknitlove.co/">Sew Knit Love</a> Sarah's dress pattern. It's a bit of a misnomer, because the same pattern makes a short sleeve and longsleeve shirt in woven or stretch, a tunic dress with pockets (you can see one of mine <a href="http://growmama.blogspot.com/2018/08/making-cloud-dress.html">HERE</a>) and a full skirted dress. I love an adaptable pattern. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">I'm loving the cut of this top. It's perfect for layering on top of dresses or wearing with high-waisted jeans or skirts. It's a bit like wearing a garden. And it has yellow in it. To match my favourite new <a href="http://growmama.blogspot.com/2019/02/outfit-post-sunshine-yellow-edition.html">yellow Saltwater sandals</a>. And yes, I am tending toward wearing more colour. It's ironic that my son, whose been highly critical of me wearing too much black over the years, is now tending to wear black himself, being of a certain age. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qPUgD3AfMQY/XIzIKnFY89I/AAAAAAAAI_I/qiXw5pcG3xQn4MF_kKjTKFnxVjgT5YDlACLcBGAs/s1600/20190316_104206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qPUgD3AfMQY/XIzIKnFY89I/AAAAAAAAI_I/qiXw5pcG3xQn4MF_kKjTKFnxVjgT5YDlACLcBGAs/s400/20190316_104206.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-21960781581674113732019-03-18T02:37:00.000-07:002019-03-18T03:09:06.684-07:00From a NZ in shock<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="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgFL4HrEyLw/XI9il8b227I/AAAAAAAAI_Y/s1NwB9ebeAgXX7Mu6HS7vixjJ1FCM25vgCLcBGAs/s1600/credit%2Bto%2Brubyalicerose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tgFL4HrEyLw/XI9il8b227I/AAAAAAAAI_Y/s1NwB9ebeAgXX7Mu6HS7vixjJ1FCM25vgCLcBGAs/s400/credit%2Bto%2Brubyalicerose.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustration credit to Ruby Alice Rose</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The bodies of those shot in their mosques by a white supremacist on Friday are still not back with their loved ones and the nation is reeling. The man who took 50 people's lives with such hatred is in custody but the holes his violence left will last lifetimes and has shone a spotlight onto the darker places in our country. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have heard over and over, that these things don't happen in NZ. But it has. And the question remains, How do we respond? How do we shape change? How do we stamp out racism and intolerance and fully embrace the whole wonderful spectrum of human life? What can we do so this never ever happens again?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I leave you with the voices I have appreciated in these last awful days:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://thespinoff.co.nz/news/16-03-2019/hatred-lives-in-new-zealand/">Susan Devoyās opinion piece.</a> Susan recently served a five-year term as Race Relation Commissioner.</span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/chloeNZgreens/photos/a.326710637664582/872328433102797/?type=3&theater">Mukseet from Massey.</a> </span></span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chloe Swarbrick, a NZ Green Party MP posted this from her friend. I agree with Chloe, we need to listen more to voices like Mukseet's.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheProjectTV/videos/825676911124387/">Waleed Aly</a> in Australia on the Christchurch shootings and the greater</span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> picture of intolerance and hate crimes globally. Brave and heartfelt words.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157256211055116&set=a.10150485943005116&type=3&theater">This image.</a> This image is everywhere at the moment and with good reason. I am proud to have this woman as our Prime Minister. She has responded with compassion and skill in all the ways you would hope the leader of a nation would. Her live-streamed and recorded press conferences are the place to get the facts - and to marvel at her. </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Try </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/RadioNewZealand/" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">RNZ.</a><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Changes to our gun laws are already in progress. (A friend just pointed out that in the background of this image you can see James Shaw, the Green party co-leader with his black eye - he had been accosted on the way to Parliament.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12213358">The faces and stories of those who died.</a> We don't have an official list yet but their photos and stories are emerging. Remember them. Give no airtime to the man who committed such evil acts, ignore his vitriolic manifesto and the media he left behind, drink in the beauty of the good people he killed instead.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And lastly, I leave you with </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/nathanwallisxfactoreducation/videos/1038629766322679/UzpfSTUzNzg5NjM3NDoxMDE1NjI0ODYyNzQ5MTM3NQ/" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nathan Wallis </a>- <span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">on how to support kids through times of trauma, and specifically around the shootings in Christchurch on Friday.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are dark times and I am reminded of something Martin Luther King said,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>"Darkness cannot drive our darkness, only light can do that.</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that"</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am holding onto those words and the hope from the amazing energy of the School strike to protest Climate Change on Friday. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Did you hear what 'first man' Clarke Gayford tweeted on the night before the protest, in response to some schools saying they would punish the kids for striking?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: "helveticaneue" , "calibri" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Get bloody stuck in today kids. Wear any punishment like badge of honour". Nice one Clarke. </span></span></div>
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anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-53873550017547552072019-03-16T02:43:00.003-07:002019-03-17T01:36:20.008-07:00Eco floss is here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-es9rSdxB2ac/XIzA-XVwSgI/AAAAAAAAI-4/k0Bxt_O67LsHArSkAZcH7zrsR4stmLqPACLcBGAs/s1600/20190214_091347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-es9rSdxB2ac/XIzA-XVwSgI/AAAAAAAAI-4/k0Bxt_O67LsHArSkAZcH7zrsR4stmLqPACLcBGAs/s400/20190214_091347.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">A weird thing happened. My scheduled posts disappeared. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">Not sure what that was about. I had other stuff going on and its taken me almost two weeks to realise the silence over here on the blog. Oops. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">I've been a bit distracted cooking up a new website and project. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">So looking forward to sharing them with you soon.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">In the meantime, have you seen The Eco Floss? 100% compostable and comes in a little glass bottle with a metal top to dispense. No plastic in sight. I hope this is the future of all things. Buy some! Buy lots! We need to support all the good things. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">All the packaging, plastic and processed foods in the supermarket just brings me down. Not to mention what it's doing to our planet. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000;">No money exchanged hands for a review or anything nefarious - you know me, I just like to support the good people making the good things. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">(I'm not ignoring the Christchurch shootings, I just can't write about it yet, we're all still reeling.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-small;">You can donate to the Givealittle page <a href="https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/christchurch-shooting-victims-fund">HERE</a>) </span></div>
<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-27745869718384628612019-03-01T23:23:00.001-08:002019-03-01T23:25:37.110-08:00Links round up: what's hot, good or made me think<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What I have been reading, buying, listening to and thinking about in Feb.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Inspirational fangirling on Adrienne Brown David. Interviews on Hey is that me <a href="https://heyisthatme.co.uk/hey-its-my-life-in-a-day-featuring-adrienne-brown-david">HERE</a>, and Design Sponge <a href="https://www.designsponge.com/2019/02/qa-balancing-creative-work-homeschooling-with-painter-adrienne-brown-david.html?WPACRandom=1550729355557#comment-2570603">HERE</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Coveting:</b> <a href="https://www.shyhero.com/">Shy Hero clothing</a> (found courtesy of Frankie
magazine)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Six people sent me <a href="https://soundcloud.com/rescoperadio/017-putting-it-all-on-the-line-tim-winton?fbclid=IwAR2h7eSP4RvhbIWCJUGBMDWpQFD61qiZadNtSRwb6om2oekIcR5nDSmwtmo">THIS</a> interview with Tim Winton. I love it
when folks send me stuff!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Waiting eagerly for my order from Rhiannonās <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/280121779001257/">Toast Clothing studio</a> to be made. She is all kinds of awesome. OOo, and I just found this sweet interview <a href="https://www.walteralice.com/blogs/news/toast-clothing-studio-with-rhiannon-larsen">HERE.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Dreaming about my <a href="http://www.mothermag.com/yuyi-morales/">ideal studio</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/brilliantandamazing/posts/363221560927679?hc_location=ufi">Neurodiversity 101 flash cards</a>. Brilliant!</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">-<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span>Essay on being big. <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/01/weight-loss-essay-tomlinson/579832/">HERE</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Would you go to <a href="http://www.mothermag.com/couples-therapy/">couples therapy</a>? (I would)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Podcasts that are floating my boat lately:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">- Nerdette ā I hang out there a bunch but really liked <a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/399954056/nerdette-podcast">THIS</a> interview with Barbara Kingsolver about her new book, Unsheltered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> - </span></o:p><a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/586165724/the-trouble" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Trouble</a><span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> with Shannon Cason. The 79 cents episode had me
hooked. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Listening and watching all the NPR Tiny Desk concerts.
Still. Itās been years. Itās still good. Hereās <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEVpAefIrU0">Rubblebucket.</a> Youāre welcome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.craftcamp.nz/craft-camp">Craft Camp!</a> Whose going? The lovely and most talented <a href="https://tinyhappy.typepad.com/">Melissa Wastney</a> is teaching. I'm tempted. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Farewell to February.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am ready for
you March. I think. February sort of kicked my butt but I am an eternal optimist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-81764014867056094812019-02-24T12:17:00.000-08:002019-02-24T12:31:58.067-08:00swapping social media for simple pleasures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The world can feel a bit much sometimes. We've trouble stirring in our little community, with someone anonymously campaigning against dogs (not quite sure how else to describe it) and rather than talking to owners, going straight to the authorities. In one case they trespassed on private property and left a note. Creepy! And leaving that person and their family feeling unsafe. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This has people reeling and speculating about who the complainy person is. Things like that can have a big impact in small communities. Tension on our facebook page is up too. Talking to each other is SO much better. Even if it's hard. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I've been thinking about community. And how we deal with hard things. An eco-village in the US I know and love is dealing with their most challenging time yet. Every community's nightmare. I have followed them since early on, visited, have friends there. The updates and news from them are raw, compassionate and heartbreaking in their honesty. Eco-village members are taking care of themselves, each other, and engaging in community process around what happened. It is in the hard times that our support and processes are tested and often improved in the aftermath of crisis. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Though upsetting, the drama in my little beach side community is nowhere near the magnitude of what the people of that eco-village is going through. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Still, everything seems a bit much and once I schedule posts for work I am cutting down my social media time. The time I spend on it has been creeping up and I'm swapping it out to be creative, work in the garden, walk on the beach and finish the book I'm writing. I need to rest in simple pleasures, creative work and gratitude. I'm sewing and drawing again. Big projects are brewing and I can't justify sitting on facebook. If I miss anything important email me?!</span></div>
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-171440954937740079.post-20265945213326750202019-02-19T15:20:00.000-08:002019-02-19T15:20:29.366-08:00Making: a simple zero waste project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How to make bathroom wipes</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>(Or, a craft project for non-crafty people)</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Pick up some darker coloured flannel from the fabric store or upcycle old pajamas</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. Borrow some pinking shears (this stops the edges from fraying)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. Decide what size/s are most useful and starting cutting! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I found this lovely multi-coloured flannel at sale which reminded me that our bathroom wipe stash was getting low. I do a fresh lot every year or so. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The wipes are great for makeup removal, mini-face flannels or first aid. If you're looking to make nappy wipes for littlies just cut them bigger. The flannel is lovely and soft. You just rinse and pop in the wash after use. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will be washing these in hot water for the first wash, just to make sure the dye won't run. Yikes!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I cut mine to fit inside this vintage ash tray that used to be my Nana's. I have so many memories with that piece of china and wanted a way to use it in daily life. I wasn't willing to start smoking, so it houses our bathroom wipes instead. </span></div>
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<br />anissa ljantahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03037312457171874579noreply@blogger.com0