Water on aluminium coated board

Happy festivies everyone

Winner of the Christmas lights competition in Palmerston North. This really was a treat, what a great spectacle!

Thought for today

Self Talk [source: www.thoughtfortoday.org.uk]

Everyone talks to themselves. At times it's a conversation that runs continuously in the background of our mind.

So, don't allow negative self talk to creep in and sap your confidence. Increase your self worth by choosing to talk to yourself with complete respect. No criticism or judgement allowed!

Give yourself credit for everything you try to do. And when you catch yourself expecting perfection, remind yourself that you are doing your best.

Just believe in yourself and remember that you're worth it!

Helpful spelling hints

misspelling

The blazing universe sharing coloured dreams

 A paint and pen doodle by me; circa 1994.

Pako Pehu entices company

Pako Pehu [foreground] our local Tui has been visiting the fern frond outside my bedroom window for a few weeks now. His song is so beautiful, varied and skillful. I filmed him recently then played the recording back to him, he sat straight up when he heard the distinctive sound, it's likely he'd never heard himself before.

In any case today, today he enticed the desired kind of companion. Ruawhai is sleek and slim, she dances around him a little then stops to listen. Then after a few more short songs he flies off after her. Looping around the fern together, then off they soar down over the garden into the valley below. I feel rather privileged to have enjoyed their company so up close and wild.

Pako: to make a sudden noise
Pehu: to make a loud noise, explode

Entered in photofriday:graceful

Hear him here:  Pako Pehu wooing on Vimeo

Jane's favourites

Jane's favourites, a gallery on Flickr.

A flickr page made for a reference in a job application.

Tilted Titahi Bay

Tilted Titahi Bay , a photo by imajane on Flickr.

Visited Titahi bay with Brian and the dogs - Poppy and Lucy. The view from up high just called to be modelised. I think I may need more tuition on how to really get that model feel.
Attempt ~4

Wow!  Boys bathing photo

Great advice from Steve Jobs

 

When you grow up you tend to get told the world is the way it is and you're life is just to live your life inside the world. Try not to bash into the walls too much. Try to have a nice family, have fun, save a little money.

That's a very limited life. Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact: Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.

Once you learn that, you'll never be the same again.

Link

Cheeky Kaka

Cheeky Kaka, a photo by imajane on Flickr.

A Kapiti Island Kaka.  I love how inquisitive they are and how they jump along the branches with zest.

Silky ... a caterpillar story.

Silky, a photo by imajane on Flickr.

Silky decided the moving section of the ranch slider window would be a good place to begin chrysalis preparations.  Luckily he was put off pretty quickly when the door was opened several times. 

I was intrigued to see the silk be laid down with big sweeping movements of his wee head.  These layers become the anchoring to hold the chrysalis on in strong winds etc.  The silk layer was really smooth to the touch. 

Robot impressions are so 2008.
Not sure exactly what is going on and not sure I want to find out.
Karate with plants should not be considered a passtime.
I did paint the wall ... not sure it looks better though.
Hi YA!

500 ...

I should probably stop opening new pages ... but I do like 500's portfolio style

Caterpillar World

Catermord has been circling recently
Insane jane has been asleep for a long time
It's nice to see he mentioned the aliens!
[0010110100 11011 0 00001110]

Laser print of the view from our deck when it SNOWED!  The caterpillar on his little yellow strapped world is made of sculpey [bakeable plastic].

I do love to create animated creatures.

Brian and Sheena gave us this beautiful gerbera ... she bloomed for weeks. LOVELY!

Head up here

for the dreamy hills ...

cropped on camera ... the hills of Kelson from the deck

Tauhou waits to nom some chilly bread

First snow in many years. It was a beauty to behold.

Matty B in Lyttleton

Matty B in Lyttleton, a photo by imajane on Flickr.

Good times with my mate Matty B ...
GREAT to be in touch again.
:o)

My history in the Moodjam

seems there may be a theme there ... the pink-purple rule

SPLOOUSH!

We're hanging out on a winter Sunday afternoon
... but dreaming/remembering wonderful
times in winter last year in Raro.

He throws a coconut into the lagoon.

"I'm a little coconut
sitting in my coconut rut
Everybody smiles at me
I'm as crazy as can be
I'm a nut
In a rut
And I'm crrrraaaaazy."

[We sang this at Summer Camp
... way back when ... 1994 ... a long time ago.
My camp kids are all grown up now.]



and back to tropical rainbows ... aaaaaah

Men with Butterflies

We watched these two emerge late in May
[the butterflies that is].
I'm hoping they'll live through winter
to multiply in spring.

Spiralling flax

Spiralling flax, a photo by imajane on Flickr.

Another photofriday entry ... for sharp focus.

monkey cat fight

monkey cat fight, a photo by imajane on Flickr.

Advice from the past

The old skool multitasker!!

The old skool multitasker!!, a photo by imajane on Flickr.

2005 Old Skool ... really? Not yet, surely.

Like a crotcheted shaul the words flowed

Like a crotcheted shaul the words flowed, a photo by imajane on Flickr.
It's a pity she's so sad! Angels should be happy I know.

Sky Domination

Sky Domination, originally uploaded by imajane.

As I entered the clearing my eyes were drawn upwards to the old trunk and dead branches.
The late afternoon light cast interesting shadows on the sun bleached wood. And I had a thought ... how much times have changed since you were but a tiny seed.

Tis time to find the key!

Keep It Locked, originally uploaded by imajane.

Now in use on Potentiate's website: Potentiateglobal.com

Hot all right!

Hot all right!, originally uploaded by imajane.

An outdoor bath ...
How decadent!
The sky went bright with stars as we topped up the hot when the top got chilly.
Love these old skool taps!
Now we want an outdoor bath ...
and who wouldn't want to enjoy being
weightless and warm
under clear night sky with stars blazing
with the odd one shooting!

Link to more Blue Rock Road Retreat photos

Reminders ...

Art of Jack Black : Swirl a cross

IMG_0641: Swirl a cross, originally uploaded by Jack the Artist.

This is one of my favourite pieces from Jack Monaghans latest collection of eclectic hand made sculptures.

I love the swirls and the deepness of burnt wood with the texture of the roped crosses in contrast. The offset angle of the old brick floor beneath makes me love it that much more.

Jack gave me a CD of photos from which I created this flickr page Jack Monaghan. Better still check them out on flickriver Jack Monaghan on flickriver

Fascination

At last the beauty emerges ...
Monarch before first flight.
Frank took this photo on request - thanks Moptop :o)

Spices for dahl - yum!

Spices for dahl - yum!, originally uploaded by imajane.

This dahl is simple & delicious. I love that it’s slightly different every time.

DAHL INGREDIENTS:

2tsp mustard seeds

2tsp cumin

1tsp coriander

1 tsp chilli

1 tsp tumeric

1 tsp curry powder

1 large bay leaf

3 star anise

3 cardamon pods

2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I use olive or canola)

1 large onion chopped

1 clove garlic chopped finely

1 cup red lentils (the orange ones!)

2 tablespoons vege stock

~1/2 tsp salt

METHOD

1. Heat oil and fry onion until clear

2. Add mustard and other spices, cook for 1-2 mins keep stirring

3. Add water/stock & lentils

Cook for 20-25 mins until lentils are tender.

Remove the star anise, cardamom & bay leaves or warn all of impending flavour explosions!

Other vegetables can be added as well as firmer lentils to give it more structure.  Ensure extra time to ensure firmer lentils cook thoroughly.

Serve with rice & mango chutney

We use a pressure cooker cook for 14 mins, leave on element for 2 more minutes then 5 minutes to sit. 

This dahl thickens up over night so is a great filling for pastry / samosas … I’ve also used it as the base for vegetarian cottage pie. That’s a hearty delicious meal.

Leaving nothing but footprints

Leaving nothing but footprints, originally uploaded by imajane.

Take nothing but photos ...

Otahome beach ... Frank's footprint marks the sand
and I enjoyed how the print, sand, sea and sky broke up the photo.

Design your own products - Elegant Bamboo Night Stand

Oooh I like these ...

With three shelves, this simple night stand delivers an elegant 24" tall design with the versatility to fit into any environment.

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