Vintage fabric - yes please

On Saturday morning on our way to the farm, I couldn't resist a quick 5 minute stop at our local church jumble sale. You know how I love a good church jumble sale.

I spent $4:75 and needed Mr Moo to help me carry out my purchases to the car. These are just some of the fabrics I picked up for a song. I also got a very large pile of books. I guess you are not surprised. More fantastic vintage childrens books, a huge pile of Real Living magazines and a couple of really good 10 cents cookbooks. And a cute, french juice jug for 20 cents.

Imagine what could have happened if I had; half an hour, $10.oo and no husband and kids with me!

Birthday Bunny

We are back from the farm after delivering this special Birthday Bunny to Miss A for 4th birthday.

I only got around to finishing it off at lunchtime on Friday. My original plan to have it wearing a pleated white tennis skirt with matching embroidered tennis bag went out the window. With only hours to spare, we went with a cute Amy Butler lazy day skirt and a fancy brooch. Miss Moo Moo and baby Leisel certainly liked hanging out with the bunny for the afternoon. I hope Miss A likes it just as much.

Staying at the farm was fun, even though it was a little more crowded than usual. My amazingly calm cousin, mother of five, happily opened her house to eleven extra people staying over night. And this is after everyone else left the official birthday party held during the day.

We were one of the lucky ones sleeping over, happy in her nest.

Thank-you Karen, you are such an inspiration.

Tennis anyone?

We will be away for the weekend again. We are off to my cousin's farm to celebrate her daughters 4th birthday. "A tennis party," it should be fun.

I'd better pack the white V-neck sweater (he he) as it might be pretty chilly this weekend.

I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Tantrum

(this image is from Mo Williams book, "Knuffle Bunny, A Cautionary Tale" This is one of our favourite books and if you know it, you will know that Trixie has a very similar incident to the one described below)

Today was girly day, but Miss Moo Moo and I did not dress up and go out shopping or lunching. We stayed home, consequences for what happened last week.

Last Friday was the day that Miss Moo Moo decided to throw her biggest tantrum ever! I remember the day Spunky Monkey threw his biggest tantrum ever. It was a few years ago now, but I remember it, just like it was yesterday. It was in a very crowded Spotlight store and it was not pretty. I did not keep my cool and wished that the ground had swallowed me up. Biggest tantrums ever, only ever happen in very crowded places.

I don't usually write about bad things on my blog, as that's not the point of why I blog. I blog to remind myself of the good things in my life. The things that can sometimes be overlooked in our busy lives. So I find myself writing today only to tell you this:

I kept my cool.

I totally stunned myself. I handled the situation beautifully, well, as well as could be expected. Here's what happened.

We were in this shop, in this street, when my I said to my daughter, "Time to go". "But aren't we buying anything today Mum" was the reply. "Not today, lets go."

This has never been a problem in the past and I know you're are probably thinking that my daughter must get something every time we go shopping, in fact, it is quiet the opposite. Lunch out or a piece of cake at a coffee shop is our treat for the day.

So today, instead of walking happily out of the shop and on to the next one, she screamed, and cried and screamed a little bit louder. I got down quietly to her level and said "We are now going straight home," which led to a higher pitched scream. I picked her up, kicking and thrashing about and walked down the steps and out the door, thirty pairs of eyes on me. Out onto the street, she threw herself down in the middle of the footpath, still crying and kicking. I kept calm and walked on, she eventually joined me, I told her if she stopped crying I would pick her up. She did and we walked on to a seat in the shade and sat and chatted for a very long time. It was explained that there will be no more girly shopping Fridays for a while.

It had been a very crazy week and different circumstances on different days had seen the kids getting to bed an hour past there bedtime on four or five different nights.

There is a reason I am totally adamant about bedtime in this house.

This is the reason.

I forgot to mention, that not only was my daughter thrashing about on the footpath, but she was wearing a hot pink jumper, hot pink tights and hot pink tutu. She was not to be missed.

Book Week - from the time capsule

(The only two surviving photos of me dressed up for Book Week in primary school. Alice in Wonderland and Little Bo Peep)

To say I was devastated when dress-ups for Book Week at Spunky Monkey's school were cancelled, is an understatement. He was unfazed and in truth, probably wouldn't have dressed-up anyway. Just as long as he didn't miss out on the play in the school library, with a real working drawbridge! he was alright. But after weeks of talking about it, I was a little sad.

What has happened to kids dressing up? Disco's for primary school kids instead of Fancy Dress Balls (the highlight of my school years), and now, no Book Week costumes. Perhaps like my photo's, my ideals are old fashioned. But I know I can't be the only one thinking this.

It was lovely to walk into Miss Moo Moo's Daycare and see little storybook characters running about the yard everywhere. Playing tea parties, painting, making shapes from playdough, riding bikes.

Cinderella, the Queen of Hearts, Snow White, Captain Hook, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderful.

Just as Book Week should be.

Lazy rainy day

(this image is from EmersonMade)

Just when I thought that winter was well and truly over (I have the sunburn to prove it!) Yesterday and today have been particularly bleak, drizzly and quiet chilly.

So Spunky Monkey and I spent the day happily lazing about at my Mum's place. With soup to warm our bones and many cups of tea, I also enjoyed some time on line, reading blogs.

And, I am inspired! Watch this space.

I visited all of my old favourites, new favourites, my followers, blogs I follow, Made It and lots of Esty. I have discovered some really cute girls dresses, many more crafty mums, yummy new recipes and fabulous craft tips. It was fun to have day like this, I know it will be while before I can do it again.

Thanks Mum.

Made

Searching through some photos last night I realised that I had not shared these photos of my Family Hearts. Inspired by The Family Heart project in Amanda's book, I made them the day after receiving my copy of the book in the post.



This is unusual for me. I am a procrastinator by nature and often start projects, but don't finish them. So to have made not one, but four Family Hearts over a day or two, is really saying something.

I was just so inspired by this simple and beautiful project.



In case you are wondering what this is all about, here is a quote from the book:

"This Family Heart project was created as a small token of family, love and connection that loved ones can carry with them as they leave the family to pursue their own adventures. With a little pocket for love notes, the stuffed family heart can be wonderfully comforting and a soft reminder of the family love we all carry with us - regardless of our physical space from one another ."



Amanda makes only one heart in her book, but I made one for each of us. As my children are small and often a sleepover means going off to Grandma's together, I thought it would be nice if they both could snuggle into a little Family Heart of there own. And sometimes we have visited friends or relatives and Mr Moo has had to stay home because of work. In these times, we have filled his Family Heart pocket with notes and drawings. (I don't think he has been sleeping with his!) This is a beautiful way to show your children another way to express their love.

I'm also glad I could use some of my treasured vintage flannelette fabric for these little keepsakes.

Making

(My interpretation of Spunky Monkey's drawing, embroidered with white thread on taupe linen)


(The original drawing, a card made for Mr Moo on the back of a cornflake box)

Inspired once again by Meet me at Mikes, "I'm making this" I finished off this apron yesterday afternoon. I had finished the embroidery the day after craft night, but never got around to actually sitting down at the sewing machine to hem it up.

So now, happy cooking, as it is finished.

And as for my old favourite apron, well, I refuse to show a picture. Lets just say that it has seen a lot of cooking over the last 13 or so years. It is headed for the bin.

I'm also currently making a couple of birthday presents for some special little girls in my life. But for that you will need to wait a couple of weeks to see.

PS: I'm not so sure that my embroidery efforts are up to the standards of some of the other amazing crafty folk over at Meet me at Mikes. At least I am giving it a go and that's what it is all about, isn't it?

The roaring forties

I watched this movie again last night. I have always thought that I should have been living my adult life during the 1940's. Of course, I would not have liked to endure the terrible suffering and heartache of that time.

but, oh my...... the fashion!!

Our country weekend

With Poppy, there is always a big long walk. Bush walks, lookouts, red mud.



Old fashioned playgrounds.





With old fashioned gardens.



And way too much yummy food. Chicken adobo, pancit noodles, chicken stir-fry, ming soup, spring rolls with sweet chilli sauce, fried rice, chicken, steak, steamed vegetables. Corn chips and nuts before dinner. Mud cake and strawberries and ice-cream after dinner. Bacon and egg sandwiches for breakfast. Pink champagne to celebrate Tiya Ning's birthday.

This picture is just some of the food for lunch on Sunday. Friends for lunch. A lovely day sitting in the sun in the backyard.

Going bush

We are off to the country for the weekend to visit Poppy and Tiya Ning.

I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Playing hooky

On Wednesday, Spunky Monkey and I spent a relaxing day at the beach. As before, there was no agenda. So when Spunky Monkey asked, "Mum, can we go to the beach today?" it was an absolute pleasure to say yes, instead of rattling off the usual excuses.



It was wonderful to sit on the riverbank, eating our picnic lunch with nothing else to do other than count the passing boats. Ferries, yachts, fishing trawlers, tinnies, jet ski's. Twenty-six, in case your wondering. All kept count with our primitive tally system, a pile of sticks.

After our lunch we went off for a walk. Hours were lost as we explored an unfamiliar coastline, clambering over rocks, searching for treasures and poking around in shallow rock pools. We had been at the oceans edge for a little while when Spunky Monkey stood up and and said "look Mum". I stood up and looked over my shoulder to see this....





We had been so busy digging around between the rocks looking for seaglass and unusual shells that we hadn't even noticed our beautiful surroundings. Because it was a weekday, it was practically deserted. Bliss.





I am really loving this time that we are spending together, it seems so precious and I know it will soon end. I really love listening to him. Seeing him. Knowing him.

Watch out! They are growing up fast, these little monkey's of ours.

Lucky find

I was just putting away the books I bought at the fete last week when I found this real treasure.

The book jacket was ripped and stained and I thought the rest of the book was too. On the day I remember thinking that the illustrations were so great, I would just frame any of the undamaged pages. Then this morning I discovered, that it is only the jacket that is in disrepair. The book itself is in excellent condition.

It's called "Tobi" and it is a delightful story about a cat up a tree. I love it!







I even love the endpapers.



And did I mention it cost only 20 cents!

Our winter garden

This is about the extent of our winter vegetable garden at the moment. We are still getting passionfruits daily and we have a large bunch of banana's ready to be cut down, but other than that, this is it.

Tucked around the corner of the house and slightly neglected, I had no idea that this chilli bush was still thriving in the vegie patch.

Over the last few months I have already made sweet chilli sauce, preserved chillies, red curry paste and green curry paste.

Any recipe ideas? The kids have now picked all of these!

Green

"If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come."
- Chinese Proverb















Today while I was drinking my lunch time cup of tea, I stumbled upon 'Meet me at Mikes', Colour my week - Green, via 'little eco footprints' lovely blog.

So this afternoon, with the children happy in the sandpit and instead of baking a cake as intended, I picked up the camera and had a little play. Not for long, as real life beckoned and dinner had to be cooked, but it was fun while it lasted.

The photos above are some of the the green things around our house at the moment. The very first photo, however, is from the archives. Miss Moo Moo, almost three.

Of course, there was food

This last week has been very busy. Here are some of the things we have been up to:

• We went to the school fete with Grandma and Grandpa. Bratwurst, cupcakes and cappuccino's in the sun. Seven books for $2:00! Gotta love a good school fete.

• We went out to the club with my extended family. I ordered my favourite, slow roasted pork belly served with roasted fennel, parsnips, onions, gravy and yummo potato bake. The kids treat, ice-cream with chocolate topping and chocolates from the chocolate machine.

• Last Sunday we celebrated my Dad's birthday. A barbecue at our place. Beers by the barbecue, good wine, yummy marinated chicken and sausages and a huge everything salad. After a big walk, we ended the day with chocolate birthday cake and banoffee pie.

• I caught up with old friends and new friends. Nachos for the kids, Monto Carlo biscuits and many cups of tea for us.

• Made an army size pot of bolognese sauce. Some for us, some for the freezer and some for a friend.

• Went to the hairdressers and then over to Mums for lunch. Seafood fettuccine.

• I had afternoon tea with my Granny one day. Jam drops. Morning tea with Grandma another day. Scones. Then afternoon tea with Grandma on even yet another day. Pumpkin fruit cake, still warm from the oven.

• Watched "The Graduate," snuggled under a huge blanket eating strawberries and ice-cream.

• On Friday, Miss Moo Moo and I took my Mum out to breakfast to celebrate her birthday. Breakfast by the sea. Mum and I both ate smoked salmon with poached eggs on rye bread, asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and tomato breakfast relish. Sunrise juice for Miss Moo Moo and cappuccino's for us.

• Shared gelato with Miss Moo Moo at our favourite gelateria. Mango and strawberry. The mango was to die for.

• We went out for lunch. I ate rump steak with mushroom sauce and salad in the sun with a lovely view, a lovely glass of shiraz and my lovely husband.

• And yesterday we had pizza's for lunch at Mum's restaurant. Thai, Turkish and Hawaiian for Spunky Monkey. Double chocolate and sour cherry brownies and cappuccino's.

I am hoping for a quieter week with a lot less eating!

Weekend walks

It was lovely to while away the hours this weekend outdoors.

Saturday afternoon.









Sunday afternoon.