Mother Nature Rules - part 2.

The second ( larger ) creek on our property runs from a spring high up the hillside behind us and down the valley through our land. For years we had a lovely water feature - a pond ( or dam or small lake. ) One night in March almost 2 years ago their was a landslide which rushed down the valley and filled our dam with mud, trees, rocks and debris of all sorts. It ripped out many of the trees we had planted along the way. A real eyesore. Gradually it has softened as things have rotted and wild plants have overgrown other areas and we just left it to solidify. There was no chance of digging it out again; the expense and logistics being impossible. Since then the small stream has meandered where it likes across the area that used to be the dam, then under our bridge and on down the gully on it's way eventually to the sea. The outfall which goes under the bridge and down a spillway has to be kept clear or it builds up behind causing flooding which could if left unattended wash the access track across the dam ( to the avocado blocks ) away.
 With yesterdays' high rainfall I feel Mother Nature might be trying to form a new dam for us.  Certainly the creek bed will be more clearly defined now. We'll see what happens.

The edge of the bridge is on the right with the water flowing out under it.

Under the bridge and down the spillway.

Butterflies and Kingfishers.

Oh, you should have been here half an hour ago we were having freshly made date scones for morning tea ( at the computer ) ( no crumbs in the keyboard )! Next time perhaps.
It is raining and raining so we are very pleased.

This misdirected young Kingfisher tried to fly through the ranch slider and had a sore head for a while. Luckily he has flown away since. ( he is possibly one of a young family who hatched in a hole in the bank  directly behind the vege garden. )( Lots of birds fly into our glass - I thought that only happened if it was really clean .)

I worked on this Red Admiral Butterfly motif for the felt ball last night. It is smaller than it looks here and still has to have details added once on the ball. I made a cricket bat and ball too, but I think it could be mistaken for a bottle of wine!

Yesterday I made a big batch of Chutney to use some of the excess courgettes and beans and tomatoes.

As the rain keeps sweeping across in heavy showers I think any garden activities will have to wait. I have been wet already today so will now try and stay dry and perhaps get my requirements ready for a class on 20th Feb with Mary Transom. She is coming to 20 of our group for the day. The class is Agapanthus ( that weed! ) but most of us want the technique rather than the suject matter.( the photos are on her site on the right hand side if you wish to see some of her wall hangings )

I might even get some other sewing done, but will need the lights on it is that dim.   BOP ( Bay of Plenty ) never does anything by halves hence the name - today it is rain - heavy rain. 

*Molly your clutch ball looks great - very bright.
* Thimbleanna, I'm so glad you now know I am a Kiwi not an Australian ( giggle ). We are similar but not interchangeable.
* Good, today I have time to look at everyone's blogs.

Rather Moist.

Like many places in the world this week, New Zealand has been getting lots of rain.
For us that was 170 mls or 6.77 inches in the last 7 days.

Trees and shrubs with evergreen leaves are washed very clean; deciduous ones are dank and smelly everywhere underfoot.This morning is just dull overcast and dreary, so I picked up my camera and went seeking out spots of colour. These are some I found in my garden. Mentioning garden - I need to get out there - I have lots to clean up. I am clearing a patch to extend some decking over when Spring and Summer arrive.

Deciding what flowers or leaves or berries to pick for the house gets tricky too. I love fresh flowers in my house, and always try to have some there for their perfume and to please the eye. I found 5 late yellow roses for a blue vase - poor dears won't last long I know, and I think I have sucked all their smell away as I bend to breathe it in every time I pass them.