And while I am on a roll, the weather today...

Weather forecasts are funny things. How can they tell what the weather will do tomorrow with so many variables involved? Last night, for instance, the weather forecast claimed we would have showers all day...



But this is what we woke up to this morning...sunshine! Not that I am complaining, in any way!!!

Winter Solstice

It is the shortest day here, and I would put my garlic in if I could make it out to the garden ! Winter is here and quite frankly the garlic will be a week late by the looks of the weather forecast! It is also the middle of Matariki celebrations (Maori New Year)...which has become more and more popular over the last few years. Matariki is the Maori name for the Pleiades star cluster also known as The Seven Sisters. The celebrations are to mark the end of the harvest and the beginning of new planting. Matariki literally means the ‘eyes of god’ (mata ariki) or ‘little eyes’ (mata riki). Some say that when Ranginui, the sky father, and Papatūānuku, the earth mother were separated by their offspring, the god of the winds, Tāwhirimātea, became angry, tearing out his eyes and hurling them into the heavens. Others say Matariki is the mother surrounded by her six daughters, Tupu-ā-nuku, Tupu-ā-rangi, Waitī, Waitā, Waipuna-ā-rangi and Ururangi. One account explains that Matariki and her daughters appear to assist the sun, Te Rā, whose winter journey from the north has left him weakened. I just love that more people are rediscovering rituals which centre on the earth, the sun, the seasons, the cycle of life and the pull of the moon.

Stormy Weather...

It has been a day of extremes, sun, rain and now storminess! Our poor old chook, who is still recovering after being chased out of her roost in our lemon tree at 5.30 the other morning, is now roosting on our front porch. Desperate for a perch out of the wind and rain, she has taken to roosting on our jack and jill seat. She does have a perfectly nice coop, but has taken to her feral past of roosting in a tree. And being a temperamental fowl she will let none of us close enough to touch her, never mind pick her up and put her inside her house! So she has settled for who knows how long right next to our bedroom window...I hope she doesn't snore :)