World AIDS Day

1 December is World AIDS Day around the globe. For me, it always brings thoughts of poor communities, particularly those I've seen in Africa, hugely affected by this disease.

I've seen complete despair, holding a skeletally thin woman in a dark hut, in her last days with barely any last comforts available to her. I've met a 14 year old boy, parenting three younger siblings alone after his 16 year old sister had left to marry for a better life, his parent's graves just behind their bare hut. I've been buoyed by the hope of a group of HIV Positive women living a full existence, despite their lack of access to healthcare available to us.

(Excuse the photos of photos from Uganda and Malawi.)

Please be aware and check out the information at World Vision New Zealand, World Vision International and the video links at World Vision US.

Now what?

I bought this very cheaply off a friend's mother. Now what?

I felt it

I felt the felting love this weekend. I knitted A2 a pair of wee clogs. Now everyone else is wanting a pair...I need some knitting elves to sneak in at night for me! Here they are pre and post-felting.

I broke one of the needle heads on my Denise Interchangeables set so after I finished sulking I did this cotton hat from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts to cheer myself up. The cotton looks edible and my sister found it for only $1/ball. Just waiting to see who has a baby which will fit this.

I couldn't resist these cutesy Peter Rabbit buttons to gussy up a plain garter stitch premmie cardigan.

Water Matters Part One

We have been using the fantastic World Vision resource "Water Matters" with the kids for a couple of terms. Today was the perfect day to walk to the river to fetch water so buckets in hand we set off.

A2 loved his "jungle adventure".

Time for a brief cool-down before commencing work.

There was time for a bit of bug-spotting. We identified this guy as a Manuka Beetle, once home.

Back through the jungle.

Yes, it's heavy work - let's do it African-styles.

Even the smallest members contribute to the family economy.

Phew...back home!

And the results? It took the group 20 minutes to collect their water rations. It would take M8 58 similar trips to collect the amount of water she uses in a day - 19 hours of water collecting at the group pace! We hope this has sparked a new appreciation for all the blessings we enjoy in New Zealand.

Water Matters Part Two

Nothing like a late afternoon splash in the river to cool busy children down.

Undies

A2 is psyched for toilet training. We've started his undie stash - Thomas the Tank Engine and Bob the Builder - and away we go. I'm not in the habit of displaying photos of our underwear so I hope Mr Two & a Half won't mind;-)

This signals we are coming to the very end of the Babyhood Chapter of his life. No more nappies (Hubby is psyched about this). I thought it would be a huge hairy deal for me as I was totally into the whole Cloth Nappy scene. But it feels like a natural progression through the seasons of my wee man's life and I'm ready to embrace the next phase.

Let's not get too ahead of ourselves. He ain't trained yet and I'm still not quite ready to sell the cot.

Look away sugar-free peeps!

I have a few friends trying the sugar-free lifestyle at the moment. All power to them. I won't be offering them any of my homemade marshmallows with three different types of sugar: cane syrup, white sugar and icing sugar!

I have an interesting anthropological Marxist analysis on how sugar was transformed "from a rare foreign luxury to a commonplace necessity of modern life, and how it changed the history of capitalism and industry". Certainly puts a different spin on that teaspoon of sugar in your coffee.

Simple Gift

I don't know why I haven't made serviettes for gifts before now. Apart from the dithering in the quilting fabric section choosing colours (very difficult for someone who suffers indecision-itis like myself!) these were easy peasy (unless you're reading this Ali...in which case I slaved for hours over my machine and iron!).

I knitted a Grandmother's Favourite dishcloth in matching chocolate bamboo.

Now, to spend a few hours choosing some colours for our serviettes;-)

Artsy Clutch

Here's my first Artsy Clutch from Bend the Rules Sewing! Hubby mocked my bag collecting capabilities when I said I wanted lots of these in different fabrics. I've had the book since July and haven't made anything out of it until this week! It really IS time to stop reading all the books and actually start making stuff!

W.I.Ps for the next week:
- serviettes for a friend's birthday
- matching bamboo dishcloth
- Wide leg lounge pants from In Stitches
- Felted clogs for A2

Let's not get started on all the knitting UnFinishedObjects.