i tried to upload these with the other photos and couldn't do it
more pics of matakana island- the fire pit and view of mainland from matakana.
and a pic of my view of mybelly last weekend - 22 weeks from last weekend...

the roses are going off in the yard- tons of beautful roses- i didn't do any planting of other flowers like i usually do or veggies - so this is all we have. but it's still really nice.
i haven't been sewing and knitting - because i've been x-mAs stressing - not really but i want to get the things together to send overseas soon - or it will be late--as always..
and work has been ........tiring . last night we had a work function that was all day all the way into the night .. it was cool , it was our regional induction hui .. and the Maori King - came and ate with us and there was lots of singing and
kapa haka
performances .. the baby likes singing i think - because he gets active when we sing or others around are singing. at work ,we have kapa haka every week for about an hour and a half , but i don't always go because i am stressing out trying to get stuff done..when i do go - i am so happy that i did.. so i am going to make a commitment to go from now til baby arrives.

random pics , my friend jane recently burnt me a CD of pics from our last year's staff /work retreat we had on Matakana Island. We stayed on a marae and it was so beautiful - it was the first time i'd seen the ocean in a long time - as we live in land a bit-it's about 2 hours to the closest beach ...seeing the ocean made me feel very happy. and we had fresh pipis from the ocean at every meal ... and the kitchen was great!! in a marae you have a big eating house and kitchen and everything is done communally... cooking - eating - cleaning up- washing up.. the kitchen had a great fire pit that you can see ...
and a pic of my studious hubby - who is
in the home stretch of his studies - he's due to finish when baby is due!


i am very excited for the weekend- as once again i plan to SEW- but will it come to be???

i've been concentrating on making baby wraps of different sorts and baby slings. and pregnant lady clothes.. though i am not that big- 36 inches around my opu...at my piko ...and 64 kilos.. i can't wear any of my old clothes save for a few dresses. my entire weekend i am devoting to sewing - first time in a long time- it's just been knitting and crocheting..
I have a few friends that preggers or just had babies-- actually more than a few like 10 people i know- which is cool -- so i want to make gifts for everyone especially now while i have time.
and x-mas is around the corner- which i keep forgeting - because it's getting warmer here and summer is almost here in the southern hemisphere- and it's taking me awhile to get use to WARM - HUMID equals X-mas , cold foggy rain = june and july... so i am completely behind with making anything for x-mas.

anyway - just working alot and try to swim as much as possible- will post some pics this weekend.

here are some pics of my ever expanding belly... and my sweet kitties.. i love them.. though yesterday i came home and there were feathers all over the house ... paul had come home and picked up the dead bird or bird parts and deposed of them and left . so by the time i came home it was just millions of feathers everywhere!!!! fun to clean up!
slowly working on the baby blanket, but now i want to make a little hat for my friend's erin and jan's baby- that is due in April - May. i am either going to crochet a little chenille frog hat or a stripey one- haven't decided yet ,but i'll make it a little bigger so he can wear it in winter 2007 ...

IT'S A BOY - here is a pic of the wee one - 20 weeks in utero...
we went for an ultra sound and found out it's a boy!!!
i still can't believe sometimes that i am pregnant - and half way there !!!
today i went to work - got stressed- bought a huge new bra at lunch time and then went for a swim at the indoor pool - which was really lovely and DE-stressing..
i am going to bed now

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

i made the severed fingers and added some color - so i could call them witch's fingers - everything was going good ....until i baked them..
they turned into MUPPET FINGERS-- perhaps the love child of kermit frog and miss piggy!!!!!

finally finished sage's little pants , the other day.
the tail is removable and the waistband is adjustable with a polka dot tab.
i am also posting a pic of my progress on cotton/cashmere baby blanket for our baby.

this morning i woke up and took a good brisk walk around the event centre by our house. they are having a big show on .. and the was equistrain riders - a circus , carnival.. sheep and sheep herders---dogs-- and more horses and a bunch more tents....... maybe i 'll remember to bring the camera tomorrow morning and take some pics.. it's pretty cool - made the walk interesting for sure..
.then i came home and did some preggie pilates and got winded and didn't finish "the set" ..whatever- some is better than nothing.
i am going to make some severed finger cookies now.....though i forgot to buy baking/parchment paper, i hope that doesn't make to much of a difference... we will see...
i love the weekends!!!!!!!!

here are my wonderful secret pal goodies!!!! i was having such a hard time posting them last night . my secret pal ROCKS!!!

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES - TRIED FOR AN HOUR TO UPLOAD PICS- WILL TRY AGAIN TOMORROW

super cool !!! i got a package from my secret pal - in the UK .... wow - that was so quick!!
i got a great knitting magazine that i am slowly savoring ... polka dot needle case--tooo coool!! , yarn-- very cool cotton - in a deep red-- and an reall y interswting multi colored /textured yarn that goes perfect with the Rowan yarn!!!! and some really cool- ribbon-y yarn .. and amongst all the goodies were little fall leaves and SPIDERS - I absoltuely ADORE!!! and a little crocheted blue flower - it looks vintage.. all wrapped in purple!!!!!!!WOW- thank you secret pal!!! i love this exchange!!!!!

on another note , the preganancy going well - i need to take some pics ...
we finished the spare/baby room , i still need to make sheers for the windows, but i finished the curtains. kind of ..... the lounge area...kind of done .... i have picked out all the fabrics finally and need to sew... one day soon.

also finished and wrapped SAGE's little devil pants ..i'll post that tomorrow. they came out really cute and she'll have room to grow.

and pics of the progression of baby blanket. in 2 weeks we should be able to see if we are having a boy or girl and then i can start making baby stuff - it's hard to pick androgenous stuff-- i like sewing alot - it's a little more instanteous than knitting .

i talked to tamara - sage's mom last night and that was really good to connect with her. it gets lonely here in NZ sometimes . after i got off the phone i realised we've been friends for 25 years - that is frighteningly funny....

the other highlight was i finally got off my butt and went to the pools today - for the first time ever. pretty cool - they have 3 huge pools indoors and a gym upstairs ( which is far too expensive - $12 a session or $170 for 3 months!!!)that over looks the pools and a big pool outside (only $2 top swim).. it's still a little cold out so the outside pool isn't opened yet. i did a few laps and splashed around - practiced all my different strokes and i feel really good. i borrowed a aqua yoga pregnancy book from the library and need to review the exercises.. but this swimming is definitely for me - i wish i started it ages ago!!!

HAPPY ALMOST HALLOWEEN!! too baD they don't really celebrate it here-- no kids trick or treating - or at least in my city... I love Halloween--
this a bat i made years ago- the other thing i want to re-find the recipe and make are this great "finger cookies" sugar cookies - you make them into finger shapes - i added green food coloring to make them look like witch's fingers..and then on the tip you add an almond - blanched almonds- they look like nails and i painted them with red food coloring - they are soooo cool- i am going to make them this week and will post a pic.. even if i can't find the recipe i'll try with a basic sugar cookie recipe and will post if they taste okay..

these are the pants for little sage formerly of tipilandia in canada..... here is pic of sage and her mama tamara. I finally finished knitting them , sewing them together and I crocheted a little scallop edge, folded over the top edge to make a casing for the elastic, which i am going to make elastic with an adjustable tab and buttons.. and the final detail i need to add is the TAIL... la piece d la resistance!!! though, i am think i'll crochet it rather then knit it - i am not comfortable knitting a heart shape ( it's suppose to be like a devil tail)
the legs were suppose to be boot cut - but increased too much so they are bell bottoms -they still look cute
i hope to finish them soon probably before HAlloween ... but they might still be a bit big for her..
i thought about lining them in fleece- but decide they would get used more unlined...

SECRET PAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I am not a huge fan of acrylic. I love natural fibers - silk , wool , cashmere, cotton... i would love to try some of the new yarns - like soy and bamboo

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I have some bags that I made and needle cases.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I'm an intermediate knitter .. I'm definitely not advanced- I like to do mindless knitting, like blankets , hats and stuff like that

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
YEs If you type in my email address (kiilani23.23@hotmail.com) it comes up http://www.amazon.com

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products, etc.)
lavender ... gardenia .. and oils -- but NOT patchouli or musk

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
i love chocolate and SALT licorice and malt and GREEN TEA ice CREAM

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

i sew - i embroider - though i haven't in a while. I like crocheting.... I like crafts of most types.. though i 'm not big on scraping

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
YES YES YES- I love music of all sorts - there is a list on my profile. i like groups like thievery corp - , nick cave, dead can dance , chet baker, 70's rock , zero 7 , female singers-

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

i like black , brown, dark reds - not orangey reds.. i like greens - but not mint green - not yellow

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

i am 16 weeks pregnant -due March 26 , I am married and have two awesome kitties. I live in NZ and miss my family and friends... in Hawaii and California.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Yes -

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
I like to mindless knit.....scarves..hats..... gonna start some baby stuff

13. What are you knitting right now?
a blanket for the new baby in cashmere- cotton in lavender and white( not sure if it's a boy or girl yet). I'm about a third of the way done. and a pair of red knit pants from Stitch and Bitch Nation - for my friend Tamara's 7 month old . they are so cute they have a little tail!!! I 'm about 1/2 done.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
OF COURSE!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?
Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I prefer circulars!!!! I like bamboo !

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Somewhere in Hawai'i I have one in storage.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Yikes -- The three sweaters I talk about in the beginning of my blog- 6 yrs - 7 yrs- yikes

18. What is your favorite holiday
? I love Halloween -b ecause I love bats- and SPOOOKY - hahaha stuff. I was a little goth at heart.. They dont' really celebrate HAlloween here.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
vintage clothes esp. 1930's ( though it 's hard to find anything vintage here ) vintage trims - ribbons - and textiles!

We have spent the last weekend and everyday after work this weekre-painting the lounge and the spare room - the lounge was a disgusting bright buttercup yellow - and it's now a muted sage-y green .. it looks so much better .
I have been planning this job for so long. I have picked up bits and pieces of fabric --because i have 12 cushions/pillows to cover.... and the fabric choice is limited here . I know what i want but can't find it in NZ.. i love my banana leaf fabric i got in hawaii.... but i didn't buy 10 yards, which i would need - i have only 4 or so..

we have the last coat to go on tonight -then we are done painting for while.

here is a pic of my horrible fabric choices - curtains need to be thermal lined because they cover french doors and they are needed to keep heat in .. .. everything is too tan and blah.. choice is limited..
anyway-- you can see the wall color in the background..

This is Apumoana Marae in Rotorua.
All of our campus stayed at this marae. We were there for a national conference for two days.
This marae was so beautiful.

Spring is here. The weather has been beautiful.


we went to the midwife today and got to hear the baby's heart beat !

i have made progress on the blanket and baby pants for sage and will post pics this weekend!

185 days til baby arrives.

got my first ultra sound last week. i was so surprised, to see baby move...seems silly to be surprised about that.

i am feeling alot less tired. i am thankful that it's the weekend.

still working on the knitted red pants for sage and baby blanket for the bun in the oven.

There is a great pizza place here in New Zealand called HELL

when you call they say "welcome to hell" and their number is 0800 666 111-hahahha and if you are interested in their menu - http://www.hell.co.nz/

i am boring and always get the same thing a "limbo" blue cheese , mushroom, carmelised onions pizza sometimnes with olives and sometimes not.

they have other pizza named things like "lust" , "gluttony", "pride" - you get the picture.


all the kids that work there wear all black and wear head scarves-- and the restaurant painted all black inside and benches look like coffins.

but the new feature on their pizza box - threw me over the moon - the punch out coffin!!!! love it !!! except it was all grease-y as you can see.. but it 's a perfect little box to store your left overs in!!!

working on lavender and white striped cashmere baby blanket - yarn courtesy of Jonathan.
and the red knit pants for my friend's baby -SAGE.

I am also posting a picture of a bunch of fabric I bought to make some summer dresses!! It's light weight cotton rayon jersey.. really nice draping .

It just turned spring here, it's still pretty cool though..but we've had more sun !!!

here are some pics of Beauregarde in his sweater i made.
He finally got it after weeks -lost inthe post!!!

my secret pal, Farrah is awesome!!!
i got my special package today and it was so exciting and cool!!
everything inside is wonderful!
from the beautiful card - which is so up my alley - art noveau and the red !!! to the yarn -- wonderful red and black chunky wool skeins and a pattern to use the yarn for- caplet ! tres cool!!
AND some really cool BROWNSHEEP sock yarn .....little T sticky pad...hello kitty sticker!!! - -even a stitch holder holder!!! which i definitely needed -as I just have my stitch holders thrown in with my needles.
and magazines -- which i am sooooo excited about-- i had a quick glance and i can't wait to devour them!!!! and ... a wonderful custom made striped knitting bag!!!!!! wow!!!!! it really felt like it was my birthday!!!
i especially liked the little notes that she included -- really wonderful !!
as you can see from the photos -even the box is loved.. by my cats....
THANK YOU SECRET PAL FARRAH - you made my first secret pal experience really wonderful!!!

LEMON YOGURT CAKE

This is a really fast, easy yummy cake!!!!

• 125 g butter
• 1 c sugar
• zest 2 lemons
• 3 eggs
• 1c flour sifted
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 c yogurt

1. pre heat oven 160 C fan forced (325F fan forced or 350 F regualr)
2. Combine butter sugar ,lemon zest - beat in eggs
3. Sift dry ingredients (flour and baking powder) and add
4. lastly mix in yogurt
5. Bake 45-50 minutes
6. SPOON- icing over cooled cake

ICING

Lemon zest and 1 c icing sugar (powdered sugar) and lemon juice.