Flea market finds...

I have been on a bit of a op shop shopping spree lately.

Vases, jugs, platters, wool blankets, vintage sheets, vintage flannelette pillowcases, clothes, dress-ups, kids clothes, tins, retro picnic ware, australian tea towels, japanese fabric and more.

I have spent today on the couch (aches and pains and a headache) so I have not taken any photos. But I did take this one during the week.

Doris Day Nana Slippers - for dress ups for Miss Moo Moo.

Just glimpse of one of my fab finds, I'll post some pictures of the rest next week.

I hope you have been finding some good buys too.

Go here, to see what other treasures have been found this week

I'm grateful for...

(lining up for yummy dessert at my aunts house - pear, sticky date and chocolate pudding)

Today I am grateful for the last few days that we have spent with our cousins.

My cousin and her little ones having been visiting this week. It is not often that they get to come and hang out at our house, so it was nice. Lots of tea and chatting, although not nearly enough crafty chat, as we had intended.

On Thursday, I gave my kids the day off school and we hung out at home: playing, dressing up and making a 'good pure fun' mess. It is so beautiful to see the next generation of our family forming loving bonds, just as we did at their age.

Running, laughing, scheming, creating, laughing, tackling, jumping, laughing, squealing, singing, dancing, laughing.

Go over to 'maxabella loves' for more gratitude posts.

Enjoying the sunshine

Our weekend - part two: Enjoying the sunshine



We do love to make a good beach shelter.







Everybody got to work and we lost a whole morning amongst the dunes.







I hope you are enjoying some winter sunshine too.

Christmas in July

(This beautiful Carl Larsson painting "Christmas Eve Banquet" is from here)

Our weekend - part one: God Jul - Christmas in July

On Saturday night I caught up with all of my old craft night friends for a fantastic "Christmas in July" night. Once again Leanne hosted the night in her beautiful home. Scandinavian styling, handmade bunting (lots of it), candles and hand stamped place cards. Heaps of delicious food, good conversation, kris kringle and yummy wine.

Life has got busy and craft night has fallen by the way side this year, so it was really good to catch up with everyone. The swedish meatballs I took along were a bit of a disaster, but everyone else excelled themselves. Not only are all of these women clever crafters but very good cooks.

Here's what we ate:

glazed baked ham
meatballs with vodka dill sauce
swedish meatballs
mashed potatoes
braised red cabbage
broccolini with pancetta
green beans with garlic breadcrumbs

baked cheesecake with frozen cranberries and hot caramel sauce
chocolate, ginger and rum truffles
cheese and crackers

The perfect cold winter fare.

I'm grateful for...

Today I am grateful for.... open gardens.

During the school holidays, in between being sick and our farm stay, we went to visit a local open garden.



After first getting lost. (I was on the wrong road - who forgot the map?!)

We almost gave up. But I'm glad we didn't. We eventually joined hundreds of people walking down the long birch lined drive into the valley, autumn leaves crunching underfoot.







We soon came to the luscious gardens that are Camellia House. Over 600 species of beautiful matured camellias growing in the dappled shade of large pines and poinciana trees. It was beautiful.



The children loved getting lost in the hidden pathways that opened up to a large pond surrounded by fruit trees, tiny bridges and a giant chess board.

For someone who has a backyard the size of a postage stamp I am so grateful for the people who open up their gardens to share. I always come away feeling not only inspired but truly relaxed. So happy to have had the chance to wander in the magnificence of a large garden like this.



Go over to 'maxabella loves' for more gratitude posts.

Stood up

We were stood up this afternoon.

We had a play date down at our local park, but our friends did not show. Perhaps I had a premonition, because as I was walking out the door, I added this book to the basket with our afternoon tea. I would never usually do this. Why would I do this? we were going to catch up with friends that we hadn't seen for almost a month.

I have had this book reserved at the library for a while now and I was very excited to collect it yesterday afternoon, but had not even had a chance to open it.

But now, I have just spent a blissful afternoon sitting in the fading sunshine on the grass reading it. The children collected sticks and rode their bikes while the kookaburras laughed in the gum trees surrounding me. My head is now filled with dreaming: of home-cured bacon, keeping chickens and a sprawling productive vegetable garden. And... this book was hot off the press, the new revised edition printed only this year and delivered to the library just days ago.

Bliss indeed.

Nikki McClure - two

More of Nikki's beautiful work today. This is where my head is right now.

Such inspiration.

(All images are from here)

Nikki McClure - one

I love these posters and artwork by the very clever by Nikki McClure.

I love the simplicity of her message. Words to live by.

(All images are from here)

The magic of a lullaby

A couple of times yesterday, Miss Moo Moo told me she had a sore tummy. "Like string wrapped around it". Poor little thing. Then last night, at 2 in the morning she called out to me. This was the conversation when I entered her dark bedroom:

"My tummy still hurts" - Miss Moo Moo

"I'm not sure what I can do" - Me

"Hush little baby" - Miss Moo Moo

And that was it.

I softly sang the words to this lullaby that has soothed her since she was a baby. She was sound asleep before I got half way through.

It was all she needed.

When my son was 6 weeks old we were given this beautiful CD from a friend. We played it every night at bedtime for the next 18 months until my daughter was born. With a new baby having different needs at 6 o'clock at night, this beautiful night time ritual soon became no more. So instead I choose one of my favourite songs from the CD, and sung it to her at bedtime. I did not know at the time how important that one song would be to her.

Hush, Little Baby 



Hush, little baby, don't say a word.

Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird

And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring

And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass

And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat

And if that billy goat won't pull,
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull

And if that cart and bull fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town

I wish I was here

I'm still here, but.....

I feel miserable and exhausted. I now have a fuzzy head, sore ears and aching eye sockets. It feels like all of my teeth want to fall out. Since I have been home from holidays, I have been busy with day to day chores: washing, grocery shopping and cooking. I won't mention cleaning, because there has been none of that - somethings gotta give!

The children are back at school today but I feel that they are not rested enough. They are still a little whingey and tired. They are no longer sick, but we just didn't seem to have enough fun over the school holidays.

When everyone in the house is sick it is natural that the mother will keep going. Up all hours soothing sick children, cleaning bed linen in the middle of the night if need be and washing, hanging and remaking the bed the following morning. The one that continues to cook the wholesome meals, checks that everybody is keeping their fluids up. It's the mum's who administers the panadol and is constantly up through the night checking on fevers: taking covers off, putting covers on and filling hot water bottles at 3am in the morning. I am not complaining. But it does make you realise how important it is to look after yourself. Because I haven't really stopped over the last weeks, excepted for a few days on the lounge. I still feel absolutely rubbish. And that makes me a little cranky.

Apparently I am not invincible.

So, I wish I was here..... on this bed, deep in the woods, laying in the sun for a whole day.

Uninterrupted.

Recuperating.

I really hope you are keeping the winter flu at bay at your house.

Home

Collecting eggs before breakfast. Spunky Monkey actually did this every morning. Here is Miss Moo Moo taking all of the glory.

Here is the first days egg collection. Heaven!

Peaceful moments in the house yard, loving the shadows cast by the late afternoon's dappled sunshine.

Miss Moo Moo had all of the dress-ups to herself!


One day we went into town to do some op shopping. It was well worth it.


With all the time on our hands, we made meatballs and spaghetti together.

Yes, we are back from the country.

We had a very nice time, but it just wasn't the same without my cousin and her little (big) family.

The highlight of the whole week was the night and day that was spent with them when they returned home.

There was excitement and chaos, just as it should be.

The Mum's as well at the the kids!

Roast pork and chocolate bread and butter pudding for dinner.

Fresh scones, berry jam and whipped cream for morning tea.

The last of the mandarins picked from the tree and eaten in the winter sunshine.


Here is my gorgeous belated birthday present that I found waiting at the farm for me. I can't believe my cousin taught herself to crochet on 'you tube' about a month ago - amazing. LOVE THIS!


This is what we came home with: homegrown lemons, oranges and mandarin's. Fresh eggs from the farm and purple carrots bought by my cousin from a roadside stall. And I can't forget - the farm fresh lamb that's in the fridge. Yummy!

I hope you've had a lovely week.

Farm sitting

We have managed to drag ourselves out of bed and get dressed today. We are ready (kind of) to venture out of our little cocoon for the first time in six days.

We are going to be 'farm sitting' for the next week while my cousin is on holidays. I expect to be sitting on the verandah reading a book, baking in her country kitchen or sitting by the fire and crafting. I hope that is all that is expected of me.....



Because I don't know a thing about sheep!

All images are from here.