Beach walks

We made a startling yet obvious discovery recently: TV is bad for Mapera and going out and doing stuff is good for her.
We had been allowing her to watch up to 1 hour of kids TV every other day or so as a treat, and I was finding she was getting more
difficult in the afternoons and evenings and getting worse as the weeks went by. She was also starting to refuse to do her jobs, and
no amount of threats to remove stories, CDs, TV etc seemed to help.
So, we have a new system: the sticker chart for every day jobs - making her bed, helping to feed the cats,tidying her toys and helping with dishes -
if she does all these things she gets a trip out the next day (playground, park, beach or pool). She also gets bonus points for using her nice voice
all day, listening properly and sitting properly at the table. I also dole out bonus points for other stuff as they come up. The bonus points are added
up at the end of the week, and if she gets 10 or more she gets 1/2 hr TV, 20 or more get an hour.
She is also allowed to watch a kids TV DVD if she stays in her bed all night (except for loo visits), and those don't seem to have such a negative effect.
I think it's cos they are definite, individual episodes with an obvious start and finish, unlike the Disney Channel which seems to be a constant streat of stuff.
Her favourite at the moment is Ivor the Engine :)

We've noticed an improvement in her behaviour already, and we've got out a lot more as a family as a result.

Quick flashback

I didn't see these pics cos they were in a different folder, here's our entrance going in!!

Tired children and completed fences

The terrible twos are a fallacy, we have had more screaming tantrums from Mapera during her third year than ever before, and they get louder, longer and nastier as she gets older.
We have various strategies for dealing with her - calmly asking her to talk in her nice voice, threatening to remove privileges, the dreaded naughty corner - and they each work depending on the situation. However the one time we can't seem to get over is the pre-bed screaming match.
We have the normal bedtime routine:
Bath, pyjamas, drink, brush teeth, points and stickers, story, light on for 20 minutes then lights out and lullabyes.

Mapera knows (and is constantly reminded) that if the light is on she stays in her room (except for loo visits), and when the light goes out she stays in her BED (again, except for the loo), but she is constantly coming out of her room with various excuses, all of which we ignore and tell her to go to bed. Then begins the screaming and shouting.
After both of us threatening removal of various privileges, she usually ends up in bed with no lullaby at lights out and no DVD allowed the next day, she invariably falls asleep before the light goes off after that.

I'd like bedtimes to be a calm and peaceful end to the day, is that too much to ask?
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In other news, Tareka and his Dad have completed the fencing around our new entrance!



We've also chosen the colours for the roof, joinery and interior walls; along with the kitchen cabinets and bench top. We're just waiting for the council to give us the all clear and the builders are ready to start!

WE HAVE LIFT OFF!!

My wonderful husband took photos of the new entrance being put in at our new property, even though I have the digital camera. Our contractor Paul Steiner has done a great job at a great price, so we are officially underway!

We also have a name for our property, handed down from Tareka's Grandparents' house. Their house in Healds Green was called it, and the name came with them to New Zealand, and when we bought our slice of heaven, my lovely father-in-law asked his Mother if we could have the name. So when she passed away recently, we were given the name.

I present to you, "Top of the Meadow"

Branching out and taking risks

Having been completely inspired by my visit to Colin McCahon's house, and the lovely Manager Cynthia, I have been playing more at art club:

Cubist-inspired trees and children

My two little nods to Colin McCahon

Playing with colours and bricks

A little picture for my friend

Fire and Fencing

Tareka and Alec have been down on the farm preparing the fence ready for the new gateway and driveway. We also have permission from one of the neighbours to take water from his supply during building - hooray! The power company have been unusually efficient so the power should be at the boundary now, and the phone line has been marked so we know where to dig.
Finally got the engineers reports corrected, so they will be going to the builders ready for the permit applications, and Tareka bought a MASSIVE fire for $3500 woo!

Our Logaire Kronos Multi-fuel stove - heats the house, heats the water and you can cook on it too!

My art epiphany

My art club and I had an outing to a gallery and studio today. The gallery was interesting

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I saw a new angle on ceramics, and how a scientist becomes an artist, and I saw some painting that I didn't get at first.
Luise Fong was Artist in Residence at McCahon House recently, and painted a series of acrylic on board works inspired by her stay there. To my eye they were nice enough, muted colours, lots of oval and circle shapes, blobby bits made from some sort of wax and not a lot else. THEN I went to McCahon house and saw the kauri trees that inspired her and it finally MADE SENSE! I had an "oh I get it" moment, and it was wonderful.





We also spent time at McCahon house, learning about Colin McCahon - a very famous and important NZ artist, I am sorry to say I had not heard of before (I am a new tourist into the art world). The manager who showed us around was very knowledgeable but also obviously very passionate about McCahon's work and art in general. We talked about "modern" art and I admitted I am a bit of a "yes, but is it ART?" kind of person when faced with people like Damien Hurst and Tracey Emin. The manager (Cynthia Smith, I think), told me something that really struck a chord with me.

McCahon was severely criticised for some of his work, called childish, ugly, useless, and this criticism drive him to alcoholim and death. Yet he is now considered a seminal NZ artist and his work is known around the world. Cynthia said to me that if a new artist presents something challenging, or something you don't understand or don't like, don't attack it. Give it the respect the artist deserves for simply pushing the boundaries and taking a risk. Art is no longer about producing something pretty that you can hang above your couch, it is supposed to inspire you, intrigue you and maybe even disgust you.

Coupled with the "oh I get it" moment I had earlier, I find I have a new found interest in art and the inspiration behind work that I might otherwise dismiss as "something anyone could have made".

Cynthia told me "enjoy your art, and take some risks."

I'm off to create...