Nina's stuff 'n things

The List...

2010-01-02T17:31:00.002+13:00

So on New Years Eve the 'crew' got together to see the new year in (me, Tim, Kate and Ray). On discussing our last years hopes and dreams and if they had come to pass, we all decided to create 'a list' of 10 things we'd like to achieve in 2010.

Everyone agreed that it would be fun and challenging to see how many things we could all do on our list; who would complete their list first; and how much fun we would all have in sharing our evidence (photos have to be taken of each item achieved - somehow) at the end of the year.

Some harmless fun I thought as I sat thinking of a few things I'd like to do this year, when my creative uncle pipes up "How about we each pick one thing that we'd like all of us to do". So now our list of 10 items has at least 3 items on it that I haven't chosen. Naturally me, being the quiet control freak, I start getting a little flustered, but agree.

Then the next suggestion comes from the ever inspiring Kate, "why don't we flick open this book (called '101 things to do before you die') and whatever you open it up to you HAVE to do. Now might I warn you this book covers everything from swimming with a whale, becoming a human guinea pig, getting arrested to other dodgy ideas.

By now my 'this should be fun' attitude is turning into 'I want to hurt you now' attitude, but again the group agrees.

If things aren't challenging enough the all inspiring one (ahem again Kate) decides that her idea she wants everyone to do is going to involve travelling. So she grabs a map of NZ and begins to write down some locations and whatever we draw out of the hat, we have to somehow go there and send everyone a postcard from that place!

So people it is with bated breath that I reveal the ever challenging list for 2010! Some things I'm looking forward to doing, others.....not so much.....some will be a challenge....some not so much....but it will be entertaining.

Oh and Kate wanted to punish the person who doesn't complete their list, I on the other hand thought it would be better if we give a prize to the person who finishes their list first. How can we be related? The mind boggles.

2010 List:

1 plant a vegie garden

2 have a baby

3 cook a 3-course gourmet meal

4 hold a Zumba class

5 skinny dip at midnight (chosen by the book)

6 do something nice for a complete stranger (everyone)

7 travel to Hastings and send a postcard (everyone has a location)

8 learn to sign language the entire alphabet (everyone)

9 speak for one minute in a new language

10 win a competition (everyone)

You may laugh (or cry with me),you may give me some ideas, but you may not take photos of one certain task!

What's on your list? :)

Good times....

2009-12-02T10:45:00.010+13:00

Sigh....the end of the year is nearly here and the days are getting longer, the weather warmer, and holidays and feasts are approaching!

Thanks to Paisley Jade, it's good to remember the special moments in our lives, so here's what's been happening in the world of the Canons.

Muffy the cat has come to live with us and while her and Tim have an abvious love/hate relationship (Muffy loves Tim, he hates her with a passion), I love this cat.

She is a miracle cat who once disappeared from home for 4 months and then miraculously returned a bit bedraggled, but in one peice! She just loves people and loves worship music.

Whenever I give a guitar lesson she comes inside and sits right at my feet. She's about 12 years old, so I'm cherishing these last couple of years that she'll be around with us.

She also 'sits' on command - yes a very clever cat!

Mmmmm....food. Here's a massive pizza I made right from scratch, the dough and everything.

And while this may be an easy task for some people, I always have a sense of "I can achieve anything" if I manage to cook something that actually tastes and looks good!

Thanks Australian Masterchef for the inspiration!

"La Belle Epoque" - was the name of a fashion show I went to lastnight where a special young friend of mine celebrated the first year of her fashion course along with her fellow students.

Her label name is Charmae and I must say she is one talented young lady with an obvious flare for fashion. Here she is posing in one of the outfits she made for her course this year.

I can't wait to see what she will be making next year! Go Charlotte!!

We are slowly renovating our little house, and while it can be hard work, the fun part is choosing vinyl and carpet for some of the rooms we have done.

Unfortunately after a trip to the dentist for husband, it might be 'goodbye carpet - hello root canal' for now.

But it's still fun to look at different designs and get a good feel of what we are after. I may just paint all our cork floors and chuck some funky rugs down until we can afford some carpet.

And lastly it's been great to see husband grow in his teacher role. It hasn't been an easy year with the kids, having had a few with huge behavioural needs (one ran around naked in the bathroom, another licked a used condom he found, and another brought a mashetti to school!)

But he really loves his job and secretly loves the 'drama' too I think.

Well done my love for all your hard work this year. I know that the kids you teach love you to smithereens and are better in life because of you! As you can see in this picture he is in need of a haircut! The ringlets are even making a comeback!

And of course while he is working hard in his classroom, I take cheesy photos and run around making funny noises, which he just politely ignores, but that's okay.

I'm not good in confined spaces for too long.

Have a blessed Christmas and New Years everyone. I'm sure we'll see some of you for a summer bbq or beach picnic soon! Yay!

My POD.

2009-11-05T15:49:00.002+13:00

My POD = 2 x vegetarians + 1 x lactose intollerant + 1 x 'can't eat any meal where the ingredients have been mixed together'

for reals.

I love my POD.

Roadtrip Revs

2009-09-22T09:28:00.003+12:00

So the 'Canons' hit the road lastnight and headed for Auckland. What unfolded over the next several hours might give you some giggles:

Wife began trip with a very good hair day.

We drank two bottles of V.

We never drink V.

It was on special.

Wife drove most of the way as husband said, "you're the better driver."

Wife liked the comment and said to husband, "you're the better navigator."

It started raining.

We hit our first lot of road works.

We passed our first truck and nearly wet our pants as we couldn't see through the spray from the trucks tyres.

We live to tell the tale.

We hit our next set of road works and were glad that we left early.

It rained harder.

Wife and husband stopped to stretch legs and husband took over the wheel.

Wife sucked back the last of the V.

After half an hour husband (aka "Navigator from Na'am") was back in the passenger seat equipped with map and confidence.

It rained harder.

We hit another set of roadworks.

We went through the tunnel.

We made it to Auckland and took the correct off-ramp.

We missed a turn-off, so Navigator got flustered.

Wife wondered if Navigator meant 'left' when he said 'right.'

We were now headed towards Hamilton.

We found correct way to get back to our route.

Got to the road which was going to save us alot of time only to find it had been closed due to....ROADWORKS!!!

Navigator flustered some more, wife wanted to swear but didn't.

Half an hour later we were at our destination.

Found a Turkish cafe and ordered some food.

Wife went to the loo only to find her good hair day was now resembling something more like a creature from Narnia.

Wife came back into the cafe and scolded husband for not telling her about her hair.

Wife thanked the Lord for hair ties.

to be continued.....

Pie

2009-09-03T09:41:00.003+12:00

I love going to different cafes and trying their home-made pies! Last week in Auckland, husband and I decided to spend the morning of the end of the conference having breakfast at Verde - a cottage/garden/gift shop/cafe.

So my pie instict kicked in and I decided I was hungry enough to have one for breakfast. Chicken, bacon and leek it was - and boy - Yumbo!

Being inspired by the savoury delight I tried making my own version with short pastry.

Being smaller than the average 'guy pie', one is not enough! Ideally puff pastry would be better, but it has heaps of butter so I opted for the 'lighter' version. Like my crosses?

What pie fillings do you like?

Pasta Night!

2009-07-31T09:35:00.010+12:00

So I've been wanting to make home-made pasta for ages, and since my amazing uncle Ray has a pasta making machine, we decided to make a night out of it. And what fun it was! I'm sure I'm half Italian as I could just live on the stuff.

We made two kinds of pasta. Ravioli, filled with basil feta cheese, pastrami and sundried tomato, and smothered in a Alfredo sauce (oh the smothering!), with cracked pepper and a fresh garden salad.

And with the left over pasta dough we made Tagatelli - which had to hang on our clothing rack overnight to dry! I knew that clothing racks had other hidden talents.

And believe me, once you've eaten the fresh home-made stuff, you will never want to eat the packet pasta from the shops ever again! I am now ruined. I was surprised to find that after eating a plate-full of home-made pasta, I didn't feel stuffed or bloated either.....mmmmm interesting thought.

So here are a few pictures of the night. Everyone had a go at rolling the pasta - and of course eating it!

The dough.

Preparing the filling.

The rolling.

Making the Ravioli.

Wa-La! Lets eat!

Thanks clothing rack.

The good or the best

2009-07-30T10:17:00.006+12:00

I've been thinking alot about the will of God lately. I used to struggle and work myself into a frenzy always questioning myself, "am I in the will of God, am I in the right place, am I pleasing God, am I fulfilling the calling that God has put on my life", etc...

I was put at ease a few years ago by something Christine Caine said. She basically was talking about being obedient to what God asks of us. So in other words, do what God says, and then do the next thing He says. And that's it! How freeing is that? Why do we make it so complicated? Why do we make it into a mysterious thing that only the super spiritual person can contain?

I was challenged the other day though, that we can have the good things of God in our lives, which are in themselves awesome and full of life, but then there is the BEST of God in our lives. Those opportunities that we need to grab with both hands. Those moments where we just sense that Heaven's eyes are watching us, those stirring times in our spirits that come and go like the wind.

Just sitting here now I think about how God asks us to step out of the boat and by faith, walk on the water. But you know what? We have to be in the boat to start with! Our boats must be on the moving water, going somewhere - which speaks to me about being obedient to God, and moving where His Spirit leads us.

If your boat is on the shore, then your stepping out will be on the sand. Which is familiar ground. Steady ground. But not ground that will cause you to grow. Because you already know that ground and what it feels like, will you need God to help you walk on it? I doubt it. You've already walked that ground, you cannot grow anymore on the shore. And life will become frustrating, maybe even boring. Like going through the motions.

Don't sit on the shore and watch others walk on the water.

"Lead me unto You
And let us run together..."

I heart

2009-07-02T15:30:00.010+12:00

It must be time to share again - about the things I'm loving at the moment. So here we go!

Nothing beats eggs on toast for brekkie, or lunch, or hey even dins! But if you're in a rush - make them in the microwave! Yes it only takes around 2 minutes to cook the perfect scrambled egg. No frying pan or cleaning up afterwards!

In a large microwave safe mug, beat two eggs and a quarter cup milk. Add grated cheese and salt and pepper if you like. On high microwave the eggs for 2 minutes. Stir and if the consistency is to your liking, then serve. (if they are still a little runny, microwave for another minute). So yum, for sooooo many reasons.

Oh and FYI, if you don't at least break the egg yolk, your eggs WILL explode in your microwave. Been there, done that.

I'm enjoying some delicious South African chocolates and sweets that came back with my uncle on his trip back home.

My utmost favourite are these delightful little treasures called Gum Chums. They are kinda like M n M's here except they are filled with a bright pink, chewy jelly centre, surrounded by a creamy layer of milk chocolate and a crunchy candy coating.

My bag is nearly finished....saddies :(

I'm finally enjoying my fringe. After a shocking experience at the Snip n Style, or the Style n Snip, whatever, I have now come to terms with my new look. Even if I have to straighten the fringe everyday, it is a fun doo to try.

I have of late been told that I need to lose a few kg's, needless to say I have been walking, thanks to an organisation that sent me a goal chart and some information about the simple, yet effective way of exercising. So here we go people, I'm eating Gum Chums and then walking - a losing situation? Maybe, but at least the Gum Chums won't be lasting too much longer....goodbye my sweet little darlings....

A friend gave me the new Katina's cd sometime last year, and while I'm not a huge fan, some of the songs on this album have crept their way into my heart. They have even written a second verse to the very much loved Eagles Wings, originally by Reuben Morgan. Might do it on Sunday morning. But I love listening to older songs that have been refreshed and brought back to life by just adding a new or forgotten verse.

And lastly but not leastly, fundraising has been FUN draising, if you know what I mean. Last week a bunch of us made waffles as RYM's first fundraiser and made $50! It was very enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to doing more very soon. Anybody got any good fundraising ideas?

Peace out, munchkins.

Give it up for June!

2009-06-30T14:06:00.006+12:00

Since this month is nearly over, I thought I'd share some of God's goodness that has happened to us.

We have been under some financial pressure for the last 6 months, buying a home at the beginning of the year tends to help in that department. But a lesson for us all to remember is that God blesses obedience, especially in the area of tithing and giving.

So things have been a little tight lately, with our car having a service, and some of those unsuspecting bills coming in the mail. But this month we decided to tithe none-the-less (what a funny word), and give in a couple of different ways.

God has blessed us in a few sneaky God-like ways.

I have been out with a couple of girl friends and both times they have shouted me coffee and yummies!

We got given a forgotten reimbursement check for nearly $80 from the school that Tim works at.

I have been summoned for jury service - and they pay you for each day you attend!

He's also blessed us in other personal ways not regarding money because He can.

So yes, give it up for June! And give it up for Jesus, be obedient to what He asks you to give, and watch and see what He does.

Ode to Kiwifruit

2009-06-07T21:43:00.005+12:00

Right now if I was a ferry - this would be me:

There once was a girl named Neen

Who drove out to Poroti

In a packhouse she stayed

Counting kiwifruit all day

I'm surprsied her sanity she did keep

Kiwifruit round, brown and furry

Made Neen's eyes very itchy and blurry

But on Friday at last

The season did pass

And she's back to live life in a hurry

Neen learnt many things on her journey

Like plixes, OB mites and staff fury

But coffees and cake

More cheery things did make

And she's sure to miss her new mates

Goodbye little haywards so fluffy and brown

I will not miss you nor wear a frown

Instead I will sleep

Hopefully counting sheep

And dreaming no more of getting up at the crack of down (dawn)

PEACE OUT!!!

Nina - over & out

2009-04-30T18:39:00.004+12:00

Well my friends, it is with great anticipation that I announce that the Kiwifruit season has begun!

Which means that:

if I don't write a blog for about 8 weeks

if you walk past me and I don't recognize you

if I seem to be drinking copious amounts of coffee

if I laugh at jokes that aren't funny

if I nod my head and say 'yes' or 'no' to a question that doesn't require a yes or no answer

if I stare into space like a zombie

if I bite my fingernails more than usual

IT'S PROBABLY BECAUSE ALL I'VE BEEN DOING IS BREATHING, EATING, SLEEPING AND SEEING KIWI FRUIT ALL DAY

EVERY DAY

Unless it rains....

Pray for rain...

So this is Nina - over and out.

I heart...

2009-04-15T21:38:00.008+12:00

Here are just a few things I'm loving at the moment...

Having my piano home! This little beauty I bought about 4 years ago for a meazly $400. And while I would have paid to watch the two guys try get it up the driveway, up the stairs and through a rather small sliding door again, I'm just glad it's back within my reach for a tu tu.

Watching my preggie friends grow bigger and bigger! Please note the difference in tummies. It goes like this (from left to right): Due now, due next month, due in two months, and not due at all!!! Women - you are true inspirations!

I love what I call the "Dr Seuss Trees" out the back. They remind me of the illustrations in his books.

Yummy hot banana puddings on a cold night! Real easy to make and healthy too! Cut bananas in half and then slice each half. Fry them in a non-stick pan, coating each side with honey and cinnamon. When brown, remove from heat and serve, with yoghurt and ice-cream. (if you don't have honey, brown sugar will do!)

Missed a spot...

2009-04-03T09:41:00.012+13:00