A collection of diggers etc.

They have just been down clearing the road and driveways. Caught a nearly 3 min video of it with lots of comments from the kids. This photo is off the video. There is actually a fourth digger parked down the side of the house. It is rather hard to see in the photo.

Snow again!!!

After a large amount of snow on Monday more snow fell overnight and on Tuesday morning.

Not much work being done on demolishing of the house across the road this week.

Stephen had clear half the driveway on Monday afternoon. You can just see the line of where he has cleared.

The table and tops of the rail had been cleared on Monday afternoon as well.

Another snowman. He didn't last long as Andrew decided it as much fun to build them as to knock them down. He has told me that my snowman skills have improved.

Stephen hard at work again.

The pile created.

My attempt at making snow candy. I might have another go as it was really soft. I think I didn't cook it long enough.

Wednesday morning and school was open. Aunty Margaret offered to walk Andrew to school with his cousins provided I looked after Joe. Here is Andrew all dressed for the snow. They were having a mufti day so he isn't wearing his shorts under the snow trousers. They did only walk half the way before getting a ride. Aunty Margaret is going to organise a ride home. But Andrew will be able to tell his kids about the day mum made me walk to school in the snow.

This photo shows why we weren't keen on driving down our driveway. We might put some sand on it tonight. Stephen was able to get a ride with a workmate who has a 4wd. The roads are better once you get past Albert Tce. (or so I have been told as I haven't been past 58 since Sunday afternoon).

We managed to capture the snow falling.

Rachel the sheep

Over the last two days while we have been snowed in Rachel has decided that she wants to wear her sheep outfit. I was trying to get a picture in the snow but it was too cold.

Mr Flatman

Above is the flat snowman Andrew built this afternoon. Below is the poem he wrote about it.

He is a boy.

He likes snow.

He likes friends.

He is clever.

He knows everything.

He is not small but he is not as big as the deck.

We like him.

He has melted now.

More fun in the snow

This morning the skies were clear, and the sun was shining, so in places the snow has started to melt, but there is plenty of snow to have some fun.

I was quite fascinated by the way the snow on the deck railings melted with holes in it. I tried to catch it in some arty shots.

The view from our deck this morning.

Before I could get the washing on the line I had to move our fallen tree off the line. I attempted to remove all the branches but after it had fallen another 10cm of snow had fallen so I need to wait for the snow to melt before I can get rid of it all. I trimmed enough to clear the line and removed the snow. It was rather strange standing in snow to hang out the washing. It was worth it as some was almost dry when I got it in and the rest of it should be dry by morning. Very little of this snow has melted.

Stephen shoveled enough of our driveway to get one car out (and back in) so he could get to work mid afternoon.

Andrew and Ethan playing on the deck.

The view as the sun set on another day in the snow.

Rachel isn't completely comfortable walking on the snow but thinks it is lots of fun.

A snow plow Christchurch style.

The rubbish truck managed to make it down the road late this afternoon. It did have a few problems with parked cars and had to wait just past us for a car to be towed out of their driveway. Maybe the green rubbish truck will come tomorrow.

Fun in the snow.

Since they first woke up this morning the kids have wanted to go out side to play in the snow. I said they had to wait until it was light and I had had coffee.

Here we are all rugged up to go out in the snow. If anything I was too warm.

Rachel liked making footprints in the snow. They are now slowly disappearing as the snow continues to fall.

We had plenty of snow on our deck to build a snowman. Below is our finished snowman. He is wearing Rachel's hat, has two plastic drink bottle lids for eyes, a plastic carrot nose and a plastic chili for nose.

With our finished snowman.

After about 15 minutes I decided it was time to come back into the warmth as it was starting to snow again. We might go for a walk later. If we do we will probably post more photos.

This is our first experience of snow on the ground at home.

Let it snow

Stephen woke me about 11:30pm to show me this view of our street. We tried to wake up the kids to show them in case it didn't last until morning. They were too sound asleep.

The photo above was taking at 11:30pm last night and the one below was taken at 7:30. The table and railings show how much snow fell in between. We think that we have at least 15cms by 10am and it is still snowing.

During the night we heard a crack, and whoosh sound. When we look out the back we saw this tree lying across the vegetable garden. I had been considering getting rid of it anyway as I wanted to plant berries there. It might have damaged our winter vegetables.

Our BBQ area. The lump in the foreground is the sandpit.

I am a little concerned about the effect of 15cm of snow on our new grass.

The view out our window is quite magical and I could sit here all day watching gentle snow falling, the snow falling off powerlines and trees, people out playing in the snow.

Andrew's snowman story.

He is white.

He is Santa.

He is wearing Rachel's hat.

He has a carrot for a nose,

and a chilli for a mouth.

He has a sleigh.

We built him on our deck.

It is now snowing on him.

By Andrew Denne

Our deck and grass

We have nearly finished our deck project so here are some photos taken during the process.

After day one when they had cleared the plants and started to clear the bricks etc.

After they had cleared the section then they dug holes and put in the posts. On June 13th the builder had spent all morning getting the posts lined up when we had a 5.5 and 6.3 aftershock. The poor guy was under the deck for the second one. He did come back the next morning to finish the job.

There was a slight delay as they had to have the holes checked by the council before the concrete was poured. Due to the significant aftershocks this took longer than normal.

Here is the truck backed up to deliver the concrete.

The posts all braced so that they don't move in any shakes.

That is what it looks like when you remove all the boards. The new supports were attached to the old supports which go into the structure of the house.

Rachel and Joe enjoying the new deck. It is great for running on. It is about 2.5 m wide and over 8 long.

It is amazing how it quickly looks like it is finished when you use rolled grass. We can't play on it until spring and needs to water regularly.

We like this retaining work. These stones they dug out when they cleaned the ground at the beginning.

All that needs to be done is put up trelessing under the deck and other side along the retaining wall. It will need to be stained once it gets warmer.