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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Thursday Challenge : Lake




WATER (Drops, Glass of Water, Ocean, Lake, Pond, Pool,...)

When you are married to a water engineer, the places you go are bound to be near water,

http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html
roseThursday Challenge is a place for photographic fun and learning.

Monday, January 28, 2013

ABC WednesdayLetter C


 Tracks closed because the Kauri trees are infected.
 These long chairs are funded by charity.
 To save the butterflies, Families and schools in New Zealand plant Swan plants to feed the Caterpillars and the kids gain a lesson.
Courgette or zuchinni plants, they grow some sort of a powdery stuff, which do not hurt the plants, so no need for poisonous synthetic chemicals.






http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.nz


Saturday, January 26, 2013

Thursday Challenge: Shiny



The gold bauble is special,
We were given one Christmas eve,
and we wrote to design it.
I drew a heart
For Cheryl.

This disco ball is special,
We bought it before the $2 shop sold them for 2 for a dime.
Now it is not special anymore. Sigh!!

http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html


"SHINY" (Mirror, Reflections, Chrome, Plastic, Glass,...)
Next Week: WATER (Drops, Glass of Water, Ocean, Lake, Pond, Pool,...)
roseThursday Challenge is a place for photographic fun and learning. 

Knitted: Doll.




Right timing for me, my daughter came back from abroad 7 years, and I was delighted she kept her precious knitted doll.

She kept it in a clear plastic canister and the customs officer in the airport ask her what it is.

Here is the history from my book: Diary of a bereaved Mother, Goodbye my baby.


One day, Deborah was very excited. Some kind ladies had knitted lots of little dolls for the hospital and left them at the crèche. Andrea told her to bring one bag for Andrew, and one bag for the rest of the little babies in Ward 11A.  There were more than 10 dolls in Andrew’s bag. She chose a doll that she wanted to give to Andrew, another for Gabrielle’s gift to Andrew, and finally mine. She chose the one I liked very much. She chose one for herself and one for Gabrielle. Then she confidently went to all the other six nurseries to distribute them to the rest of the ICU babies.
When Andrew died, I asked his nurse if she would pack a doll for him to take it to Heaven, meaning it would be buried with him. I was very happy that Nurse Daphne chose the one that I had given him. She kept the puppy dog, as she knew I wanted to have it back. Whoever those ladies were who knitted the dolls, I wish I could thank them. I hope all the other babies that day survived and took their dolls home.
On 16th December, 2010, Mrs. Nesbitt, one of my British blogging friends, posted photos of knitted dolls of the Nativity scene. She invited readers who wanted the patterns to tell her and she would email to them. One of the dolls was Mary holding Jesus. It looked very similar to the doll I gave to Andrew. I told her I was interested in her patterns, and would explain why I wanted to knit one. She sent them to me the next day. It seems so strange that after 21 years, I get to see a doll that meant so much to me and at the time when I am writing this book.


~ Knitted ~

The PhotoHunt for this weekend is Knitted.

Dora commented on FaceBook " It's going to be hard for me to find something for next week theme "Knitted" since I don't knit . . . I believe I'll really have to stretch it about and go out side of the box "



http://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.co.nz/

Knitted: Jumper





Knitting was what I did as therapy during my bereavement. isn't the jumper stunning? People, strangers came up and asked me where I bought it. They couldn't believe that I knitted it. Then they offered to buy it or commission me to make one for them.

I told them, my knitting was not for sale. As each knit or purl I made, I thought of Andrew. Deborah loved wearing it. The pink skirt was part of a set. I sewed that too.




~ Knitted ~

The PhotoHunt for this weekend is Knitted.

Dora commented on FaceBook " It's going to be hard for me to find something for next week theme "Knitted" since I don't knit . . . I believe I'll really have to stretch it about and go out side of the box "



http://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.co.nz/

Knitted: Baby blanket




  I used to knit a lot, but have stopped because I spend too much time on the computer.I walked to the local craft shop, and it was difficult trying to tell the lady that I was going to knit for a dead baby.  Then I decided to knit for premature ones. So now I go knit purl, knit purl. This is easy.

 I found on the internet, the neonatal website and called. A very friendly voice answered. She even offered to come and pick it up. But I wanted to go and visit NICU, the last time I went was last year when I went with Dr Aftimos to deliver my book, Diary of a bereaved Mother. Andrew was in NICU for 55 days in 1989 in a different hospital.

Here is Chanelle, showing what the neonatal trust does. She says, they always welcome volunteers. I know where to go during my next long holiday. Chanelle was a NICU mum, Hers is a successful story. Her twins stayed at NICU for 3 months. They are noe 4 years old.
In order to become a volunteer, please fill out the below form.
Volunteer Registration Form (Word Document, 161kb)
Please note, you may be required to undergo a Police check to become a volunteer at the Neonatal Trust. 



~ Knitted ~

The PhotoHunt for this weekend is Knitted.

Dora commented on FaceBook " It's going to be hard for me to find something for next week theme "Knitted" since I don't knit . . . I believe I'll really have to stretch it about and go out side of the box "



http://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.co.nz/

Friday, January 25, 2013

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

ABC Wed: Letter B for bait




Bait, not any bait , but fly bait.
In summer, we are blessed with warm sunny weather,
But we are also swarmed with unwelcome flies.
We got these sticky made-in-china tapes.
It really works,
It looks awful and rather embarrassing,
BUT it works.




http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.nz


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Stay mellow with Yellow. Playgroup equipment.


This "Merry-go-round at Western Springs was a scary piece off equipment. My older kids playing on it found it challenging. It could be dangerous for little kids. I saw this two weeks ago. Either it is dismantle for renovations, or they were taking it away.

I will give the answer next week.


Gemma has now begun the meme Monday Mellow Yellows for anyone who would like to travel on with yellows!
Thanks so much Gemma.

  
Stay mellow with yellow!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Photo hunt: Haven



We have a place called Beach Haven.
Harbor, a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored


http://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.co.nz/

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Thursday Challenge Children's games




Tit-tat-toe in a New Zealand Playground.

"GAMES" (Chess, Video Games, Card Games, Children's Games,...)

http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

ABC/Outdoor Wednesday: letter A Amazing Adventure


In 2009, we went to Mulu Caves, in Borneo.
 A gentle giant Ah Kiong took care of our transport to and from the airport.
 These amazing plant has only one leaf.
 These needle like things are ammunition of the rattan plants to protect themselves.
 The adventurers came from all over the world.
Sam and me, Sam was not very happy, I was annoyed. We walked miles and miles to see millions of bats from flying out. The rains dampened our spirits and we were disappointed. Not one bat came out.




http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.co.nz



Monday, January 14, 2013

mondaymellowyellows: What is this?


I will give the answer next week.


Gemma has now begun the meme Monday Mellow Yellows for anyone who would like to travel on with yellows!
Thanks so much Gemma.

  
Stay mellow with yellow!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Flowers: Amazing Grace.




Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind but now I see.

"Amazing Grace" - the hymn that inspires hope in the wake of tragedy ?


Although Newton first wrote the words to "Amazing Grace" in 1772, it was not until 60 years later that the text was wed to the tune to which it is sung today.

I was in middle school when my American teacher Miss Jackie Fries taught us at assembly two hymns, Amazing Grace and How great  thou art. They remain my favourite songs. 


During the early days of my bereavement, when everything seems lost, and God was so far away, I couldn't read or pray. Singing Amazing Grace was one way to cry out to God. 


Some people tell me that I dwell too much on my loss. To move on. God gave me Andrew and then take him away gave me a special ministry. I minister not just to bereaved parents of babies. I minister to any bereaved mums.


Today, something very special happened. I did not want to go to church because I had a nasty fall and I have scabs all over my knees and elbows and a bruised eye. I woke up at 4am. I wasn't going to church. But God had other plans.


A woman who had come to ESOL class before, and I had invited her to church, came. After church, I went to talk to her. After a brief chit chat she told me her daughter died. Then it connected that I knew about this accident from two sources. I asked her, and she said yes. I led her to sit down and I told her, "It's OK to cry." She had been suppressing her grieve and things are so bad that she didn't want to live.


I am going to walk with her, and help her. and I will encourage her to listen to Amazing Grace. 


I told a matured Christian, and she said" Yes, that's your ministry."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jbe7OruLk8I



Thursday, January 10, 2013

Photohunt: Celebrate




 A friend had a birthday. Another baked a cake secretly to celebrate the joyous occasion.
 I was very pleasantly surprised at a restaurant in Singapore. They had a briefing in before the action started. I thought such briefings happened only in textbook or TV. At the end, they clapped. They will be all psych up to serve people who come to celebrate.
Posted these 2 photos for Freddie Wong.

12th * Celebrate

http://whistlestopphotohunt.blogspot.co.nz/

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Thursday challenge: Airplane.


Deb was visiting her grandparents, cousins , Uncles and aunties in Australia. First a practice on this little plane.

 AIRCRAFT (Airplane, Jet, Helicopter, Radio Controlled, Toys, Vapour Trails,...)
http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Save the world: When is a Veg, a veg and when is it flower?


I was going into a restaurant when I saw these love plants at the entrance. Is it a veg or is it a flower. It is both.

I couldn't resist this story. 30 years ago, as young marrieds, I got very interested in organic gardening. The back yard was down in a chasm, and was a jungle of years of neglected weed. I couldn't even start to remove the weed. so I did what this woman did, http://www.naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=09F5170370D594E931B4423BAB17634A
and converted our front yard into a veg garden. It became both our hobbies. The husband, then a grad student found it very therapeutic .Friends LOL at us. We did this for one season and had wonderful crops. The council never disturbed us.

This is the second time the authorities used a sledge hammer on a little house owner. Why don't they use the court cost to feed all the hungry ones or education them to grow some food like Jason and Jennifer Helvenston?


http://www.examiner.com/article/fl-couple-to-be-fined-500-a-day-for-growing-front-yard-garden

Don’t ask Jason and Jennifer Helvenston of Orlando how their garden grows. The answer — “At a cost of $500 per day” — is too painful for the couple to contemplate.
The website clickorlando.com reports that the pair have been given until Thursday, two days from now, to uproot the 25-by-25-foot veggie patch in their front yard and replace it with a lawn or beginning paying the fine.
The garden is not in compliance with the city's code, but the Helvenston’s argue that the statute interferes with their constitutional right to use their property to grow their own food. Jason Helvenston told reporters:

In 2011, I blogged of a similar case. My friend Diana Strawer said the case was dropped.
http://ann-mythoughtsandphotos.blogspot.co.nz/2011/07/abc-wednesday-zucchinis.html


  • Diana Strawser Yes, Ann , thank you for that. And I do remember the lady from Oak Park and her difficulty and that the charges were finally dropped against her. victory!