This last week

During the last week I have....



Been surprised by my mother, she turned up unexpectedly at my door with this gorgeous bunch of flowers. It is amazing how much fresh flowers can lift your mood.

During a week that should have been all about her, she was thinking of me. Wow, that is why we love our mum's so much!


 I have started eating healthier lunches - outside, instead of in front of the computer.





 I have chosen the fabrics for two quilts. One for the girls.





And one for the boys. To snuggle under while reading or watching a movie during winter.

They will be made from vintage flannelette, a collection of flannelette from my own childhood and thrifted finds. A fairly ambitous project since I have never quilted before. I will be keeping it simple that's for sure. I would like to get these made before it gets too cold. Now all I need to do is work out a pattern (random squares - but what size?) and find the time.

Perhaps I don't need to stress too much, we slept with our fans on again last night!


I have baked three different apple cakes.

I ironed up all of my Irish linens for our St Patrick's Day dinner last Sunday night. I'll share my Irish recipes over at 'jelly, peaches and ice-cream' tomorrow.


My 'Miss Maggie Rabbit' kit arrived in the post. In truth, just in time for Easter. However, with one very busy week ahead and an already bulging basket of Easter gifts hidden away, I will sadly put this kit aside for now. Instead it will be made for Miss Moo Moo's birthday in September. She is bunny mad at anytime of the year.



I have spent some time helping out at my Mum's cafe.



I have washed up some of my new op shop finds.

I have finished sorting through all of our seasonal decorations. Our Christmas decorations were in four different places throughout our house, stashed here and there, some in baskets, some in boxes, but now they are organised. Six large plastic containers of Christmas decorations alone. I have containers for Easter, Halloween, Birthdays, Bunting, Fairy Lights and Australia Day.

This week, I need to make some pretty labels and move these onto the shelving in the garage. In turn, that means I need to sort out the garage, Arrgh! A job that might need to wait until after the holidays. But these must be moved, because right now, I have 16 containers in my entrance hall, no one can come in the front door. Oh dear. Yes, this week.

I have also been to a church fete, swimming lessons, and an 'eighth' birthday party.

I have caught up with a friend in the park for a play date, babysat for another friend and I have  enjoyed an evening by candlelight for Earth Hour.

What have you been up to this last week?  Have you had a productive, busy week too?

Making me smile

I know it's has been a long time since I have written about our garden. Between the rain and the grasshoppers there is not too much to tell. Lets just say, that it's not pretty.

Devastation and neglect are two words that come to mind.

But here is something that is pretty. Here is something that is making me smile every time I look out the back window.



I bought these for a couple of dollars at the market about a month ago. Rain or shine the flowers wake each day as if to say "good morning". Their blooms, the most fabulous lolly pink, brighten my days.

They remind me of my Nana and her garden. Does anyone know what they are called?

What is happening in your garden right now?

Have you started new plantings? I think I should have. Again the word 'neglect' comes to mind.

A beachy mini break

At the very last minute, Mr Moo wanted to go away for his birthday. I rang our favourite place, almost laughing as I asked the question and yes! they had one cabin, this weekend or not until June. I guess it was meant to be.

The highlight of the weekend was an evening spent on the beach, after dusk and before darkness. I sat with a glass of wine in my hand and watched as the children danced in the waves on the edge of the shore. They splashed and ran and jumped and skipped and hopped and tripped and leapt as the sky blackened behind them. They shrieked, they yelled, they sang, they screamed, they laughed.

Pure joy.

And then there was this day. The morning of our departure. A Monday morning. We had the entire beach to ourselves.

Deserted beaches, on blustery days, my favourite way to spend time at the beach.

What is your favourite way to enjoy the beach?

Happy Birthday

A happy belated birthday to Mr Moo who turned 45 on the weekend.

After a pretty basic stick people drawing on her daddy's card. I was happy to find this picture drawn by Miss Moo Moo on the morning of his birthday.

I love it. It is so her. It is so him.

We have been away for a few days, I'll post some photos tomorrow. But if you are interested, I have just posted the chocolate cake recipe that I made for Mr Moo's birthday, over at 'jelly peaches and ice-cream'.

A little bit of Downton Abbey

I have been out and about a lot this week... and you know what that means: if I'm in town, I'm op shopping.

I've found vintage children's books and sheets, a few more bowls - a pyrex one with strawberries on it! I've found some glassware, a new dish rack, a pot plant holder and more than a few vintage suitcases (more about that later). I've found some beautiful tea towels and another tablecloth. But I think that this is my most favourite find of the week.

I'm not sure if I'll be wearing it too much - white! but it looks absolutely beautiful hanging in my kitchen.

Have you been op shopping this week too? What was your favourite buy?

Our February days

February always seems to fly by.

I find that it isn't until March that things settle down and we are able to find a rhythm for the new year.

What have we been doing over the last month? There has been lots of rain...

There were 'big bulk baking' days.



There were 'teddy bears picnic' days.




There were 'surprise package' days.



There were pancakes for Pancake Day.





There were 'library' days.


There were 'chocolate cake' days.

 There was a Valentines Day dinner out.



There were 'lego' days.



There were 'popcorn and movie' days.



There were 'op shop' days.



There were 'shopping for new babies' days



There was a Chinese New Year dinner party, just us. (you can read all about it here)



There were 'hot chocolate' days, even though it wasn't actually cold.




And there were 'de-cluttering and re-organising' days.

Well now, about de-cluttering and re-organising. Remember this post and all that talk about the 'year of the homemaker'. Before I am able to go to far down that path, I must de-clutter. It is paramount that I do this. To clear some space in both my home and my thoughts. When I am not feeling overwhelmed by 'stuff', I know that the other things I want to be doing (baking bread, making soap and focusing on my vegetable garden) will come easily.

So I have started de-cluttering and reorganising. The problem: I really have years of 'stuff' to sort through. But it has started, and that's a good thing. I'll give you an update when I can.

How have you spent you February days?