a break from the shakes

Lane on the Devonport Ferry to downtown Auckland (via iPhone)

What a nice weekend we had! We traveled to our old stomping grounds, Auckland, New Zealand, to get a break from earthquake-ravaged Christchurch. It turned out to be a great weekend to be away - there was a large (5.3) aftershock in Christchurch on Saturday, temporarily closing some of the city’s shops and infrastructure again. Boo.

We, however, enjoyed a few days of sunshine, warmer temps, family time, and guilt-free toilet flushing. It was just what we needed!

good-bye summer

A couple of weeks ago, Nate and I took the kids to a local school playground after dinner. It was a very warm day, even into the evening, and we knew it would probably be one of the last. Already trees are turning orange and yellow, and the mornings are quite chill. Soon we will have regular frosts and the days of walking around the house without slippers will seem like distant memories.

Good-bye, picnics in the park and walks to the playground.

Good-bye, open windows and warm breezes. Good-bye, bubbles in the backyard.

Good-bye, summer…

Now this is one flower that even my black thumb can’t kill. It’s by Terrain (think Anthropologie, but for your house & garden). On sale for only $8.25 USD, it’s meant to be placed in a pot or garden, but I think it would make such a lovely addition to a Mother’s Day gift - a non-perishable alternative to those supermarket daffodils.

Made some YUMMY peanut butter cookies the other night with Lane. They turned out flat, but soft and chewy - they actually reminded me of Subway cookies. You can get the recipe here. I added white chocolate chips to some - an attempt to channel the White Chocolate Reese’s Cup (which we never buy here because they are so expensive - $2.50 for a two-pack!). It was a good experiment, but I think the plain peanut butter ones were better. What’s your favourite cookie?

Earthquake Incident Viewer

This website shows zoomable arial views of Christchurch before and after the February 22nd earthquake. Use the links in the top left corner to see some of the most damaged sites. Or you can find us - we live in the suburb of Parklands.

20x200

"Frozen" by Katie Baum (available for purchase at 20x200.com)

I love anything that makes art more accessible. This site brings quality, exclusive works to the masses - starting at only $20!

Some of my favourites: Dandelion Clothesline | Frozen | Baby Giraffe #5 | Nethermead

Make sure you check out the “How to Frame Your Art” tutorial for some great tips on inexpensive but timeless framing.

Which is your favourite?

life after shock

Almost a month ago (wow, has it been a month already?!) we experienced our second major earthquake in six months. Our city, Christchurch, New Zealand, was pummeled by a 6.3 that was shallow and close, meaning the destruction was acute - the worst in this country’s recent memory.

As we continue to process this disaster, I thought I would share the journey with you. As we rebuild our lives, and as we work alongside our friends and neighbours to rebuild our city, I will share with you our struggles (e.g., how to build a make-shift toilet in your garage) and our victories (e.g., actually building a toilet in our garage!).

One thing I’ve always known: after earthquakes come aftershocks. What I know now: life after the shock of a major disaster becomes a new kind of life - a braver, more prepared, more determined kind of life. And it seems more precious now than ever.

日本のために祈りなさい

My heart is going out to everyone affected by Friday’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I’ve grown up watching disaster footage on television, and it’s always heartbreaking. But after living through an earthquake (or 2) myself, the footage now triggers a racing pulse and a bit of queasiness as well. I’ve had a taste of what they are going through, and my prayers today are on their behalf.