PRESSED FLOWERS

Only a month now to the start of Spring, but our Norfolk Island gardens cannot wait, and are already starting to produce some lovely early blooms to delight us. I have enjoyed gathering the lavender, floral sages and the early violets to use in some projects.

Many years ago I bought a microwave flower press, and have made use of it on many ocasions. It takes just a minute or two to do what takes weeks and weeks between the pages of a heavy book, or in a normal flower press.

One of the main reasons I have been pressing flowers lately is to make cards like these.

I will tell you more about these cards in another posting.

Every January and February, meanwhile I gather the floral spikes from the silver artemesia for the Country Womens' bookmarks that I make. Because I need so many, and use them throughout the year, I  dry these between the pages of a heavy old atlas.

I had not made any bookmarks for a while, and Margaret had offered to come and learn the process so she could help me keep up the supply. So I removed the artemesia  foliage from the atlas and placed them in a plastic container.

Imagine my amusement and amazement when I discovered I had another helper. Basil decided to help the pressing process along! Now Basil is a very large cat, but he remained squeezed into that container for a whole day!!

CELEBRATE

REMEMBER

FIGHT BACK

Once again, Norfolk Island has shown that it is a generous and caring community, with a wonderful spirit of participation.
We staged our first "Relay for Life" over the weekend, and the response from individuals and community groups was overwhelming.
It was estimated that over a third of the island's populatiuon regidstered to be involved, with many many more also taking part, making donations, providing supporting activities, cheering people on and in many other ways. And I know of many, young and old, who decided on impulse to do a few laps of the oval- and found it to be a wonderful experience.

The event took place on the Malcolm Champion Oval at the school. It began on Saturday afternoon, but we did not get there until the evening. By then the school grounds were a sea of tents and marquees, providing some shelter from the cold weather to those who would be running during the night, or entertaining and feeding the crowds.

Candles in paper bags had been placed around the oval by people wanting to honour family and friends who had been cancer sufferers. As you can see in this picture, even a broken leg was no barrier to participation!

On the hillside, a number of these candles had been arranged to spell out "HOPE."

There was a wonderful feeling of camaraderie.

From the other side of the oval, the  tent city took on a "carnival" appearance!

This group of participants had decided to focus on the "CELEBRATE" part of the theme for Relay for Life.

Now, as part of the event, Alex Mackenzie from New Zealand had decided to come and use the oval and the event for a challenge that could put him in the Guiness Book of Records. He planned to run 200 km on grass. He had only arrived from New Zealand that morning, and began his marathon at 1 p.m., expecting that it would take him around 24 hours. All through the night, he was accompanied on his laps, not only by members of his own support team, but by locals.

At about 9 p.m, he was a little more than 1/4 of the way there!!

The next afternoon, although the official relay was finished, there were a number of people continuing to walk the track just for the sheer joy of it!!

And Alex was still running! The oval had proved to have a harder surface than he had expected, and he still had a fair way to go to complete his 200 kms.

You can see how the grass on the track has been worn down by all the walkers/runners!

Alex finally completed his marathon just 3 minutes short of 30 hours! What a feat! And how proud we were to have him do it here on Norfolk Island!

I am told that well over the $20 000 target was raised for Cancer support and research. And the best thing was that it was such fun, and really brought the community together.

JASPER'S FIRST MEAL

Jasper is now 5 months old, and obviously thriving. He looks so big next to his two day old cousin Nate.

Up until now, Jasper has been more than contented on Mother's milk. But the last few days, he has watched us eating with great interest, and has been keenly following with his eyes as the food goes from our plates to our mouths. He had even begun reaching out his hands, as if to grab some for himself.

Tina and the children came in while we were having a late breakfast the other day, and his eyes lit up when he saw us eating our avocado on toast.

So we decided to try him on some. After all, avocado is the perfect baby food, and mothers in Israel are known to wean their babies onto it.
I thought these pictures of Jasper taking his first food were so delightful, I had to share them with you! They speak for themselves!

You mean I can really have some??

Yes - I like that!

Quick - I need some more!

Tastes pretty good

In fact, I might get it quicker if I feed myself!

Tina says that since then, there has been no stopping him. He was truly ready for solid food, and cereal, bananas, avocadoes and other foods have been eagerly disappearing down his throat.
This morning Tina was called outside while she was feeding him a bowl of mashed banana. When she returned, Jasper had it all over him - he had been trying to feed himself! And he badly needed a bath after that!!

M-mmm-mmmm - this is the life!

WELCOME TO OUR WORLD

Nathaniel John Christian-Bailey arrived yesterday morning. He was a little earlier than expected, and there were dashes to the hospital in the  wee small hours of the morning.

Big brother William was brought up, still sleeping, to our bed. But he was half awake when the phone call came to tell us the good news. "Yeah!!!!" he called, holding his fist in the air. He had been awaiting the arrival of Baby Nate for what had seemed ages to a small 3 year old boy.
We slipped down to the hospital later in the morning, and the little fellow was parked in the nurses' station, while his Mum had a well-earned rest.

To our eyes he looks very much like his big brother.

He was all bundled up, and we would love to have explored his fingers and toes. However, we did pull back the beanie and discover that his hair is quite a lot darker than his brothers.

There will be plenty of time for cuddles later!!

Meanwhile Nate and mum Kim are enjoying the loving care from the wonderful staff at our Norfolk Island hospital!

We are so grateful to have our lives enriched by another beautiful grandson!