Hi Pam.. gosh.. a lot is happening for you.. thinking of you.. hope you're feeling better today, and the itches go.. fast..

Hi Julia.. hope you've had a fabulous Mother's Day since that day.. and got thoroughly pampered..

I had phone calls from my kids on Mother's Day and Jenni and her Partner will be here during Queen's Birthday weekend so having a lovely dinner cooked for me then - she roasts chicken way better than I do, so that's on the menu so far..

It's a sunny day, and quite cold here.. will get some firewood in soon. Having some unusual happenings in my garden with the unseasonally warm weather we've been having - went to the market here yesterday with short sleeve top on, was so warm. I've picked strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, Alpine strawberries and raspberries in the past few days - just a few of each - not usually ripe at this time of year though.. they tasted good.

I've been busy.. purchased 20 large smooth-skinned choko's yesterday.. 50c each.. picked them myself so beautifully fresh.. and picked up two 10kg bags of Granny Smith Apples at the orchard just outside town here.. $5 each.. have made 13 large jars of Apple Chutney, 17 large jars pickle and 7 large jars of piccalilli.. have around 11 kg's of apples left, will make some more chutney, trying it with everything chunky this time, so a rustic result, plus will preserve the rest of the apples as pulp and juice. Have done 20 jars of feijoa's, and have one last lot to do.. my preserves store looks great.

The man who sells the choko's from his home has Babaco trees growing, and sold me a cutting.. glad to find one as had them growing at a previous home and we enjoyed them.

Take good care all..

juliewn - 2012-05-21 16:15:00

Nice to see you here again Julie. It sounds like you are well stocked and have been very busy with the preserves. It is just the most rewarding thing to see that your hard work has sated tummies isn't it? Amazing that you are still getting all that fruit. The weather in Rotorua has still been very fine and I am still picking a couple of strawberries a week from my few plants!
Cooks, I really hope that the itching is resolved soon. I am certainly no doctor but watch those brown marks left by the hives. My son had Henoch Schonlein Pupura once as a toddler and that happened. Nothing drastic but might be worth a read about it.
My best wishes to those friends job hunting and house hunting. It is so hard to settle down isn't it.
I have had an unsettled start to the year too. My lovely husband was hit by a car while cycling just a week before Christmas and is still off work. Unfortunately he landed right on his head and has had concussion since. It is a long process but definitely making progress. It is the tiredness that is most frustrating and the lack of understanding from other people who see him out and about and wonder what stops him from being at work. Not long to go. We have been very lucky with the support from doctors and specialists. Thank goodness for Recipes. I have tried different ideas to make new things to eat while he has been home too. Great to try something new after a day at work.
Take care everyone and Enjoy!!

evorotorua - 2012-05-21 20:48:00

This message was deleted.

cookessentials - 2012-05-21 21:50:00

This message was deleted.

cookessentials - 2012-05-21 22:05:00

That picture just makes me what to scratch. My son's were individual hives but a lot of them and also sore joints from where there were internal hives. I would rule out my suggestion of HSP above. Allergies are a P in the B to diagnose and often just trial and error. A skin scratch test would be worth a go especially if you think it might be sulphates. I think one of the scratches is for that.
Sorry about my "feeling sorry for myself" bit above. I was feeling a bit low last night but today is another day and hopefully the sun will be out again! I can tell you every cloud has a silver lining and certainly the weather has kept my spirits up this year. It has been just glorious to contemplate the world in this lovely sun we are having.

evorotorua - 2012-05-22 06:22:00

The member deleted this message.

cookessentials - 2012-05-22 11:59:00

so sorry to hear about your husbands accident evo, ive learnt as ive aged that do not judge another until you have walked in their shoes...and yes some injuries are such that people do not see nor understand, glad to hear he is on the mend, and good luck with finding an answer cookes...i reckon its going to go away one day soon ...as unexplained as when you started to get them...i have another job interview this week, plenty of work here just the are a bit funny on how the recruit and who they recruit. they want you to have the exact experience...ah well i hope i can post some good news soon ...take care oh and evo ...ive seen enough sun to last a lifetime, i wouldnt mind a storm LOL

motorbo - 2012-05-22 12:21:00

evorotorua wrote:

Sorry about my "feeling sorry for myself" bit above. I was feeling a bit low last night but today is another day and hopefully the sun will be out again! I can tell you every cloud has a silver lining and certainly the weather has kept my spirits up this year. It has been just glorious to contemplate the world in this lovely sun we are having.

That's what's so good about having a circle of friends here ... everybody needs to be able to 'vent' or express where they're at but we don't always like to burden those nearest & dearest to us. Here you have a group of cyber friends who are happy to share with you in good times ... and in bad!
The good lord knows how much the people here have 'listened' and helped me through moving, earthquakes & big changes in life so please don't apologise :) That's what friends are for!!!

And speaking of changes in my life ... I've just received a phone call to arrange an interview next Tues for a job I really want :D
I'm doing a happy dance on the inside right now as I'm sitting in the Motueka library & don't want to be asked to leave lol!
It would mean moving into Nelson but I can live with that if it means a good job & permanent contract.
Ooh I'm so excited!!!

winnie231 - 2012-05-22 12:39:00

oh winnie how exciting...i wish you all the bestest of luck!!!

motorbo - 2012-05-22 12:41:00

Thanks motorbo :) Good luck for your own interview!

winnie231 - 2012-05-22 12:50:00

This message was deleted.

cookessentials - 2012-05-22 13:25:00

Evoro,so very very sorry to hear about your lovely hubby,glad he is on the mend,hope you are looking after yourself too,that is very important.
Winnie and motorbo,thinking of you both,hope you both have some good news.
Cooks hope things improve for you to,you have had it rough,sure hope that they get to the bottom of it,it is not much fun,with the ichy skin.
Hope you hubby is feeling better too.
Having a quiet day at home today,have a busy day tomorrow,starting off with a course that I am doing at work.
Hope everyone enjoys the rest of there day,and to anyone I have missed,have a wonderful day.

earthangel4 - 2012-05-22 14:06:00

Ditto,
I see this posted alot,what does it mean?

earthangel4 - 2012-05-22 14:09:00

earthangel4 wrote:

Ditto,
I see this posted alot,what does it mean?

'Ditto' comes from Latin, and means about 'as has been said before'.
People often use it to mean 'me too'.

winnie231 - 2012-05-22 15:12:00

This message was deleted.

elliehen - 2012-05-22 15:15:00

Thanks everyone. Better today! It IS nice to vent here and to feel listened to. Much appreciated. Cooks, another allergy to be aware of is Soya. That's in all sorts of things. Even things like ice blocks. It would be a shame to exclude items from your diet if you don't know for sure that they are the problem. My dad developed a soya allergy and has to be very careful especially when eating out. He is in his 70s and it only came on about three years ago.
I love happy dancing too. Good for you. Everyone should try. Just shut your eyes and let loose. Have a great day.

evorotorua - 2012-05-22 15:54:00

elliehen wrote:

The meaning of the word 'ditto'? It's said or written after the comments of someone else to say that you agree absolutely with what they have said. It roughly means, 'as said before'.

'Ditto marks' ( " ) are often put beneath things in a list to save writing the word out again.

Thank you Elliehen,should of thought that,lol

earthangel4 - 2012-05-22 18:39:00

winnie231 wrote:

'Ditto' comes from Latin, and means about 'as has been said before'.
People often use it to mean 'me too'.

Thanks so much Winnie,it does make sense,lol

earthangel4 - 2012-05-22 18:41:00

just poped in to say i got a fulltime job, it took forever cos i was living in the wrong place to begin with...but only took me 2 weeks after arriving in perth...am thankful

motorbo - 2012-05-25 01:02:00

That's fantastic Motorbo. Great news. You must feel so good about that. I think we may see some cloud here today so i will do what I can to blow it back over your way!

evorotorua - 2012-05-25 05:30:00

Congrats motorbo! That's fantastic news :D
My turn next!

winnie231 - 2012-05-25 08:28:00

Fantastic Motorbo,now it is your turn Winnie,and it will happen.

earthangel4 - 2012-05-25 08:47:00

This message was deleted.

cookessentials - 2012-05-25 12:21:00

This message was deleted.

elliehen - 2012-05-25 12:26:00

thanks everyone...and yes its your turn now winnie im sending the good luck job vibes yir way lol...elliehen....my plan is to spend 2 to five years here..then come home again

motorbo - 2012-05-25 16:36:00

Sending out a big cyber hug to all our Cantab friends here after today's rumblings.
Your ongoing strength is amazing!!!

winnie231 - 2012-05-25 16:42:00

ditto winnie....hugs to them all

motorbo - 2012-05-25 19:25:00

winnie231 wrote:

Sending out a big cyber hug to all our Cantab friends here after today's rumblings.
Your ongoing strength is amazing!!!

Angel hugs xx

earthangel4 - 2012-05-25 23:19:00

Hi, I'm keen on cooking and food, and always after a few great ideas and a chat with like minded people

shellpat - 2012-05-26 10:19:00

This message was deleted.

elliehen - 2012-05-26 11:20:00

elliehen wrote:

Hi shellpat...the good thing about this thread is that it doesn't disappear and anyone can ask any question at all and not feel silly about asking :) Poster cookessentials is a mine of information about everything in the kitchen.

Amen and warm welcome Shellpat,lovely to have you in here.

earthangel4 - 2012-05-26 11:47:00

Thanks ladies, and thanks for the welcome

shellpat - 2012-05-26 13:02:00

This message was deleted.

elliehen - 2012-05-26 13:55:00

welcome shellpat...we do talk about food sometimes lol

motorbo - 2012-05-26 16:52:00

Omg. I made the most to-die-for brownie last night. First one I've ever made and it was a hit. Yum!

shellpat - 2012-05-27 11:40:00

This message was deleted.

cookessentials - 2012-05-27 18:21:00

My friend sent me the recipe

shellpat - 2012-05-27 20:02:00

Only I haven't worked out how to copy a photo off my ipad

shellpat - 2012-05-27 20:04:00

This message was deleted.

cookessentials - 2012-05-27 20:09:00

This message was deleted.

elliehen - 2012-05-27 20:26:00

Thinking of you tomorrow Winnie.

earthangel4 - 2012-05-28 11:58:00

as EA said Winnie....will be thinking of you tomorrow!!!

motorbo - 2012-05-28 12:47:00

Thanks so much ladies :D
I went shopping on Sat for a tunic dress & I've had my hair cut & coloured.
I'm feeling confident .... bring on the interview!

winnie231 - 2012-05-28 13:02:00

This message was deleted.

cookessentials - 2012-05-28 14:01:00

cookessentials wrote:

Knock em dead

lol lol

earthangel4 - 2012-05-28 14:09:00

This message was deleted.

cookessentials - 2012-05-28 14:42:00

This message was deleted.

elliehen - 2012-05-28 22:28:00

Haha - love it!
Thanks everyone :D

winnie231 - 2012-05-29 06:28:00

This message was deleted.

cookessentials - 2012-05-29 10:46:00

cookessentials wrote:

Got my toes crossed...not that you need it.

Ditto

earthangel4 - 2012-05-29 14:02:00