The sun has got his hat on......

Well for one day anyway!! 

Yesterday (Actually Tuesday a week ago as I didn't have Internet at Mum's and unable to post) we finally had a lovely day in Hokitika after 10 days of rain.  Now I know this is nothing compared to what some of the Coasters have endured in the past but it was enough for us to rejoice a little at being able to get outside for more than 10 dry mins at a time.  The highlight of the day though (aside from actually getting a load of washing dry on the line!) was the sunset on the mountains behind us.  Having been hidden for over a week they majestically farewelled the sun as the light turned to dusky pink and coloured the snow.  Honestly I'd make a useless chef as I keep taking photos each minute as the light changed and in between just standing and staring, memorized, by the scenery out the window instead of cooking tea! 

The view from our back deck as the sunset.

The exemption is still a work in progress and is turning into a thesis now as I go over board with detail and then change it all when I think of new ideas to do ;) Everywhere I look at the moment there is information and articles about how it is beneficial to leaving 'schooling' till after 6 so I am trying to find that balance and then trying to explain how the learning will still be occurring without us sitting down to do 'book work' so that the MoE (Ministry of Education) will happily grant us the certificate.  Having said that Jasmine saw some resource that I was looking at for Maths and wanted to do a page.  Thinking that once she begun she wouldn't want to continue I agreed........ well guess who was wrong and guess who now asks for maths worksheets daily!!  So much for the best laid plans ;)  Hopefully over the next few days I can finish it off and then get someone to check it over.  Good thing is that I can just cut and paste a few details for Daniel and won't have write everything anew. 

View looking back over Waimakariri River - not bad for on the go!

We ventured over the pass early last Wednesday morning, tagging along with Liam who had to go over for a course.  It was so beautiful, no cars and enjoying the relaxed journey of a passenger.  Poor Mum waited for an hour for us at Darfield as we slowed the pace but it was worth it because then she got a full three days of us :)  Well we enjoyed it - the sun was out every day and the kids loved climbing trees (and getting suspended by them), hunting for chicken nests of eggs and finding metal.  Mum's used to be an old Blacksmith's house so the ground is laden with treasures. Jasmine thinks we are on holiday all the time now that we live in Hokitika.  Hopefully she doesn't come out with that one if any education officers appear.

The kids up the trees at Mum's

Liam joined us on Friday night for the journey back home, through the snow again and back to rain.  Thankfully the last few days have been sunshine so we have got out and about down the river to get our dose of vitamin D on this side of the hill too. Holidays and visits are great but there is nothing like home even in the rain and the kids always seem happy to find their new, old toys again. Once home we finally got on the Internet to receive exciting news that we can collect the keys for our new place early so we are now eagerly waiting for the weekend to get started on all the jobs - well Liam anyway.  I've started dreaming about where I can put things and designing things for Liam to make so it will be good to actually get there and get things started.  Will sign off now as we are headed down to Wanaka to visit Liam's family for a few days (Hmmm..... maybe Jasmine has a point!!) then back for the weekend to collect the keys - Yay!

In Arthur's Pass, preparing to ambush me!

Hope this finds you happy, healthy and warm.
For those just about due - the whole gaggle of you - thinking of you all and best wishes. ;)

Arohanui
Y
www.becominghealthy.co.nz

It's raining.....It's pouring.....

Well the rain has arrived and been with us since Saturday lunch time!!  Strangely timed with the arrival of my Mum and sister to the Coast - yes I'll put the blame anywhere ;)  There have been the odd displays of sunshine however they manage to arrive just as we are in the middle of something and then vanish just as we begin to head out the door..... leaving us to greet yet another downpour.  It isn't that bad though and I'm enjoying getting a few more inside jobs done (for now anyway).  It was great having family over on the weekend and the Granny flat was finally used for the first time, and probably last time.  The kids loved having everyone here with all the goodies that came with them .... especially Yuri (Nan's dog) to take for walks.  Daniel is very keen to have a dog (Jasmine wants a cat but for some reason Mum didn't bring her cat Serendipity) so he loves having Yuri around to practise on.

Daniel showing Yuri around the house

We have had a good week despite a few moments of pent up energy and the kids have enjoyed going for a walk down to the beach (last Friday before the rain), visiting friends and making things at home.  Daniel has begun to get creative in the kitchen recently and after weeks of talking about making 'pear chocolates' he finally talked me into letting him create it without any prior recipe approval. It was a very interesting concoction of ingredients I can tell you. Thankfully all edible and mostly sweet in nature. It was eaten in its entirety by both of the kids with no visible side effects so he has obviously picked up some skills through our Monday baking.  It was so funny listening to him explain what he was doing in a very serious voice and watching them together that I wrote it down. Just in case you want to try it - disclaimer to come - here it is;

1. You don’t need your apron cause you’re not baking
2. Cut the orange and juice it
3. Add 1 teaspoon of chocolate bits
4. Chop apple in ½ and then juice half (this job he delegated to his sister)
5. Cut other ½ in ½ and slice some for the mixture and the other bits you stew
6. Melt it all together (double boiler with apple to stew in the water at bottom)
7. Add stew apple to mixture
8. Add rice milk and more orange juice
9. Scrape spoons off
10. Add more orange juice
11. Add cow’s milk
12. You just feel it and if it’s cold it means it’s not finished and if it’s warm it’s finished and if it’s warmy cold it means it’s not warm.
13. You need some cream now
14. Now icing sugar and more ‘a-greed-i ents’
15. I don’t really 'remembra' but you need golden syrup.
16. 1 slice of cheese
17. You mix it with 2 spoons.
18. Add more apple and orange juice
19. It’s going to be cooked up and frozen
20. Add 2 eggs for people to help (that's one egg per person helping... thank goodness I only have 2 kids!)
21. That’s the end
22. You put it in the oven, then the fridge and then the freezer
23. Put it in the oven for 10 mins ( We then baked it at 100 C for about 20 mins till egg set.)

  

I have begun the exemption process for homeschooling Jasmine...... man what a mission!  Luckily my teacher head has kicked in and while I am trying to find the balance - still - I think that the pages of typing and planning I'm creating should satisfy the powers that be that we are educating "....at least as regularly and well as in a registered school.".  It is a bit nerve wrecking though having to get all the paperwork together to be legal about having herself at home with me.  I know that she is all fine and dandy and progressing well..... putting that on paper to show someone else is another thing altogether.  Part of making sure we are all on track is having all the before school checks over the past week.  Hearing and eyesight  were last week and then the Public Health nurse check today.  Jasmine went into charm mode and supplied endless amounts of 'correct' information, along with additional 'probably not needed information' such as that she didn't eat any tea last night because it was yuck!!!  Man I wish I had advance warning on that question ( What did you eat for tea last night?)  and then I could of made something that I know would have been eaten and approved of ;)  Oh well 'hei aha'.

Hope this finds you all dry, happy and healthy
Arohanui
Y
www.becominghealthy.co.nz