monkeemoomoo

From the mouth of babes

2012-02-06T15:47:00.004+10:00

(waterlilies collected on a morning walk)

As the year slips silently into February (already?) we are adjusting to new routines in this house. I am working out what is best for both me and my family for the coming year.

I will be taking a break from this blog for a little while.

It could be one month or it could be five, I can not say. Right now, I have other things going on that are demanding my full attention. My blog is feeling like just one more thing on my 'to do' list... that's not right. This is my happy place.

I want to thank my followers and my regular readers for stopping by, when I return you will be the first to know. I'll still be cooking and blogging over at my other blog, 'jelly, peaches and ice-cream'. My words for 2012 are simple and slow. I will be cooking (attempting) more foods from scratch, so if you are interested, pop over and take a peek.

We have started having breakfast meetings in our house, discussing our day and talking about what is happening with each person; at school, after school, etc. Lists are made and plans are discussed. Over breakfast last week, I asked the children to tell me one thing they wanted for our family life this year.

"Don't go on the computer" was Spunky Monkey's reply.

How could argue with that?

My flea market finds....

2012-01-29T18:41:00.009+10:00

There was no op shopping for me this week, however....

My Mum went op shopping and this is what she found for me.

Oh my, such embroidered linen goodness!

She also bought me a pair of $2.oo jeans that I just tossed aside. (Sorry Mum) Fashion is her thing, not mine. It was a crazy tomato preserving day, the day Mum dropped by, I don't think I thanked her properly for the great finds.

Thanks Mum, I'm a very happy girl indeed.

Love, love, love.

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

Our busy 'back to school' week

2012-01-27T12:36:00.022+10:00

This week the kids have gone back to school.

Actually, Miss Moo Moo has just started.

She was very excited about starting school. On Monday morning while I was still at the breakfast table, she disappeared. She soon re-appeared, dressed in her school uniform, socks, shoes and hat (it was raining - it was 7:00am) She had her lunch and drink bottle in her bag and her bag was in her hand ready to go. She had cleaned her teeth and brushed her hair.

I wish I could say that Spunky Monkey has the same enthusiasm. This morning it took me over half an hour to get him to get himself dressed, then he carried on about his sock feeling funny for almost 45 minutes.

Miss Moo Moo has made a best friend. They clicked within the first five minutes of day one and have been inseparable ever since. Running up and hugging each other on arrival and drawing little pictures for each other. How lovely to be five.

We have been loving and hating the rain.

Loving: crumble and custard for dessert, yummy soups for dinner and for lunch, an excuse to go to the movies again, splashing in puddles after school, hot chocolate and cookies for afternoon tea, snuggling up in bed in the mornings to read before breakfast, long slow cooked roasts.

Hating: get soaked at school pick-up despite having umbrellas and raincoats, too many damp towels, tea towels dishcloths and washers piling up in the laundry, local flooding, missing out on a traditional Aussie barbecue on Australia day, mould all over the outdoor furniture, including our daybed mattress and cushions.

I have started reading this book. I borrowed it from the library just before Christmas, I read half of the introduction and went on line to buy it immediately. I have only this week had a chance to sit down with it.

I think it is a 'must read'.

I know that I need to simplify the things in our home (oh my, the stuff!) both for my own sake and the children's. This book tells why it is so very important.

I have just discovered there is also a website, you can take a look here.

Yesterday we celebrated Australia day. We started our day with barbecued bacon and egg burgers for breakfast (yes, is it actually stopped raining just long enough) But with all of our usual traditions canceled, we took Mr Moo to the cinema to see 'The Muppets'. The rest of the day was pretty quiet with a nap, some sewing, a bit of gardening in the rain and an early dinner.

I have spent some quiet moments stitching. It's been a while.

And I spent a day in the kitchen preserving this box of tomatoes that I had bought locally for just $4.00.

Unfortunately the day ended at 4:45pm in disaster!

Today I've already had a doctors appointment and later today I have a dentist appointment. We need to return overdue library books after school, a 20 minute drive away and grab something on the way home to make a simple dinner.

Tomorrow and Sunday I am planning to fall into a heap, and maybe some more reading.

Have a lovely weekend.

Our last days....

2012-01-21T20:05:00.012+10:00

We have really been enjoying the last few days of the school holidays. I am very aware that these casual, lazy days will soon be over. In just few days, new routines will be made, stricter bedtimes will need to be adhered to.

This year, both of my children will be going to school.

Our farm stay was so much fun (as usual) we did not want to come home.

Soap making, apple, rhubarb and peach crumble, pink fairy dress ups and baby dolls, baby chickens, leg ham and salad sandwiches on fresh white bread, swimming pools, sandpits and ice-blocks, crochet, embroidery and vegetable gardens.

My cousin and I enjoyed many cups of tea and some lovely mummy chitchat. Despite the constant interruptions that come with seven children, a husband at home and a kitchen renovation in full swing, we happily found time to discuss motherhood, op shopping, expectations, crafting, family, homesteading, dreams, reality, gardening, blogging, farming and slowing down.

This morning (back at home) we went to see "Charlotte's Web" a fantastic production put on by a small local theatre company. I loved it! Lots of laughs and fun for all ages. Tonight we took the book off the shelf and we have started reading our first chapter book together.

But it's not all fun and games. While Mr Moo and the kids watched "Horton Hears a Who" on DVD this afternoon, I had other things on my mind.

• I brought in, folded and put away three loads of washing. I put on another load of whites to soak overnight.

• I unpacked our farm stay bag.

• I made three batches of bolognese sauce and three batches of taco mince to go into the freezer.

• I cleaned out the fridge and tried to find room for the three large boxes of fruit I bought on the way home from my cousin's farm. There is sauce making and preserving on the list for later in the week.

• I sorted out all of the school books (and supplies) ready to be covered and labelled tomorrow morning.

I am really looking forward to bed tonight.

Are you ready for school? Are your children rested?

Rest and relaxation

2012-01-18T08:25:00.020+10:00

It's five more sleeps until school starts here in Queensland.

Where has the time gone?

With just days to spare, we are squeezing in little farm stay for the next few days.

It's been raining here all week, I'd better pack the gumboots!

(this cute image is from the book 'Marie Claire - Real and Simple')

My flea market finds....

2012-01-15T15:06:00.003+10:00

During the week I cut up some of my Australian vintage tea towel collection. I am making 'Australia Day' bunting to decorate our house on the 26th.

I found this very hard to do. This first one I actually haven't cut up yet. I think I would prefer to see it left whole as a cushion. But the rest have been neatly cut up into little triangles ready to be sewn up this afternoon or tomorrow. I really want to do it today, but we have started cleaning out our garage this weekend (and that's no quick job!) It is not nearly as fun as making vintage tea towel bunting.

Do you remember these calender tea towels. My Nana used to sticky tape her calender tea towels to the kitchen wall. Did yours?

Queensland

New South Wales

Tasmania

And South Australia.

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

Not much handmade

2012-01-13T16:25:00.005+10:00

Our Christmas wasn't as handmade as I would have liked. I started a few things for my children that didn't get finished in time. Those projects now sit in my WIP basket for another time. Perhaps once the children return to school.

For friends and cousins we made some little vintage style dolls and christmas tree decorations. I used the last of this transfer paper, (I now prefer to use this product, even though it is more expensive) and some paper doll images. Miss Moo Moo was very particular and picked out a doll design and dress for each person. Mr Moo was in charge of photoshop.

I also made some library/tote bags from vintage fabric, sorry no photos.

But since then it has been all ideas and no time to get anywhere near my sewing machine.

I have been doing some mending: a little cow toy now has his tail sewn back on, a mermaid dress has it's straps repaired, there has been new buttons put onto an old dress, two dolly pillows have been mended, a thrifted dolly's ballet tutu has been mended and now dolly is ready to twirl, a reindeer antler has been reattached to it's headband and a small rip in Miss Moo Moo flamenco dress has been darned.

On Sunday I started cutting up my Australian vintage tea towel collection to be made into bunting, (hopefully) this weekend it will be sewn up.

The third most important gift

2012-01-12T18:47:00.032+10:00

"laughter is the third-most important gift you can give"

- "The Muppets"

The first being - children and the second being - ice-cream.

Life here has been hot, busy, exhausting.

I'm so glad that we decided to go and see "The Muppets" this afternoon.

It was just what I needed.

I laughed (and cried) I absolutely loved it. I want to go back to see it again tomorrow!

Oh, yes, the kids loved it too.

My flea market finds....

2012-01-08T17:16:00.000+10:00

I seem to have hit the 'vintage sheet jackpot' over the last couple of weeks. On just two different thrifting days here are the latest additions to my vintage sheet stash.

15 pillowcases and 7 sheets, total cost $12.00.

Included in that price was a vintage bunny cot sheet - I'm thinking Easter pillowcases here.

And two tiny pillowcases made from this vintage Australian/Christmas cotton.

Delightful.

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

New things

2012-01-05T15:10:00.012+10:00

Can you believe it, I am only now, this morning, finding a home for some of the new christmas presents that have come into our house over the last few weeks.

This year I did most of my own (for me) Christmas present shopping. There is nothing quiet like a little bit of spoiling.

A beautiful soft pink nightdress from Lazybones was wrapped under the tree for me.

A few pairs of gorgeous earrings from Emeeme had been slipped into my Christmas stocking.

'The Notebook' DVD was also found in my stocking.

New cookbooks: 'Rose Petal Jam' and "The Real Food Companion"

New long sleeve swimshirts: for me, and for the children.

Beautiful antique china.

And lovely handmade gifts.

Also looking for some cupboard space this morning is a new blender and popcorn maker.

Did Santa bring you what you wanted for Christmas?

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T15:58:00.011+10:00

It was happy chaos at our house last night.

I hope you enjoyed some happy chaos too.

And that was Christmas....

2011-12-31T15:27:00.005+10:00

(Miss Moo Moo takes her turn to stir the fruit mince and makes her christmas wish)

Christmas is over for another year.

I hope that you and your loved ones have had a happy Christmas. We have been having a lovely time over the last week, eating way to much food and drinking a little bit more wine and coffee than my body is used to.

We are having a lot fun with our extended family, but this time of year can also be very exhausting. I must remember that this time is a holiday and make some time to rest.

More family are arriving tonight and will join us to celebrate New Year's Eve at our place. I am looking forward to catching up with some special people I have not seen for a while.

No photos of Christmas this year. Santa did not give me a new camera for Christmas (even though I had hinted) However as fate would have it, our camera officially died on Christmas morning. I braved the crowds yesterday to buy a little cheapie to get me by until I can really work out want I want from a new (more expensive) camera. But lucky for me little cheapies seem to have come a long way in the last five years. I can't wait to play around with it.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T14:31:00.002+10:00

I just want to wish all of my lovely readers a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe holiday season.

I hope that your day is merry and bright.

We are going to a family Christmas Eve gathering tonight...

Let the festivities begin!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2011-12-23T18:04:00.009+10:00

The tree is trimmed, the twinkle lights are hung; on the tree, on the house, in the garden. The stockings are hung. The Christmas bunting is hung. The countdown calender is hung and our countdown candles are being lit.

The rums balls, the cherry ripe slice, the Christmas cake and Christmas cookies have been baked. The panettone and stollen have been bought. The jelly and custard for the trifle have been made. The mangoes and cherries and watermelon have been bought.

The presents have all been wrapped. The Christmas carols have been playing. We have watched Christmas dvd's at rest time and read Christmas stories before bed. I have been flicking through Christmas issue magazine's over breakfast. We have been Christmas drawing, Christmas colouring in and Christmas crafting.

We have attended Christmas break-up parties, Christmas carol concerts and Grandma's church Christmas pageant

Tomorrow, I will make my trifle, tiramisu and a white chocolate cheesecake in the morning. In the afternoon we will decorate our gingerbread house.

We are ready.

Two more sleeps.

"Christmas is a time of giving"

2011-12-21T08:46:00.011+10:00

I am absolutely loving this little vintage book that the elves delivered as one of the countdown calender presents this year.

Well actually.... I had seen it here last year and found a copy on Etsy. This copy is in immaculate condition, like it has never been read.

Not only do I love (love!) the illustrations of this book, but it captures the very essence of Christmas for me. While we do not have snow or sleigh rides or village carollers in Australia. This book gives a real sense of Christmas being a special family time of togetherness. That is Christmas to me.

'Christmas is a time of giving.

It's a time of wrapping gifts

and making cookies'

'A time of presents tucked in secret places...

and of children waiting'

'Christmas is a time of family...

and good friends meeting once again.'

'For some people, Christmas is a time of remembering...

remembering other happy days

filled with laughing voices...

and other treasured times, now past.'

'Christmas is a time of giving...

a time of hope...

a time of joy.'

Thank-you Sarah for sharing this lovely find and giving the details of this book on your blog. Another fantastic book discovered through the blogging community. The author is Joan Walsh Anglund if any body else is interested in seeking it out.

From the UK with love

2011-12-18T15:06:00.012+10:00

Yesterday afternoon I discovered a lovely surprise sitting at the front door, it had been delivered the day before and missed. An unexpected parcel from an old family friend in England. Oh my, what goodness!

I have a soft spot for the UK (you may have read here) I can often be found checking out the cute British wares at this webshop. But here was our very own special bundle of UK love.

For the children. We love these Katie books, have you seen them? We have not seen this one before. There was lots of excitement.

This beautiful enamel plate is a copy of a 16th century porcelain design. So pretty. Perfect for biscuits, the next time someone comes to tea.

And this gorgeous library bag. Lined in pink (yay) for extra strength. Screenprinted, embroidered and sequins. This mummy is one happy lady. I was desperate for a new library bag. Things really aren't the same when you carry your borrowed books around in a Coles green bag!

I have bought most of my own Christmas presents this year (have you?) I am really happy with the loveliness that awaits me on Christmas morning. But there really is something to be said for surprises.

Happy 40th Birthday

2011-12-15T16:05:00.005+10:00

Today a very special person in my life turns 40.

This person is like a sister. Somebody I couldn't live without.

This person has been by my side, guiding me through every part of my life. At every age, no matter how close or far apart we live.

This person gives me the strength to be the person that I want to be.

This person inspires me, constantly.

This person is always there to listen, even if she has heard it all before.

This person make me laughs. Oh, the stories I could tell!

She is the most wonderful mother, wife, friend.

I just want to be near her all of the time. Her energy is pure love.

I wish that I could be with you today, on your special day.

But I know that where you are, you are loved and hopefully being spoilt - just a little bit.

I shout it out to the world - Happy Birthday. I love you.

(these pictures are lobster and swan images from here and here)

Christmas crafting? I don't think so

2011-12-12T17:45:00.006+10:00

I was planning an afternoon of Christmas crafting today.

But instead I have spent the last 2 hours hand picking nits from my son's hair! It seems like the tooth fairy is not the only thing making it's 'first ever' appearance in our house this week.

I have been dreading this day and thought that we had got through another year head lice free. I knew that there had been head lice in class and with all of the last day hugging and goodbyes, a rogue louse has jumped onto Spunky Monkey's head. Of course two days later - eggs have been laid!

I'm off now to wash bedding and lounge cushions in hot water. I would be grateful for any home remedy tips if you have any.

The tooth fairy has been

2011-12-11T17:03:00.012+10:00

I made my son's tooth pillow about two years ago. I was happy that he was finally able to use it.

He carefully wrapped his tooth in a tissue and tucked it gently into the pocket.

Before turning out the lamplight we pulled the 'tooth fairy poem' from the small pocket to read. There was wonder in his sleepy eyes. He tucked his tooth pillow under his arm and was asleep in minutes.

In the morning he jumped into our bed excitedly (and very early) The tooth fairy had been, not only had she left golden money but...... a tiny stone turtle. Spunky Monkey is rock crazy. He was beside himself with happiness.

This beautiful idea of a keepsake stone and this poem came from Ella's lovely blog. I am glad that I went out and bought 10 little stone beads and hid them away ready for this day. Some are carved animals and some are plain, the idea is to eventually thread them all together and hang them up like this (but stones instead of crystals).

Here is the poem that is tucked into the pocket of Spunky Monkey's tooth pillow.

Calling all Tooth Fairies

This night it is a special night
As fairies dance upon the roof.
All the fairies must alight,
For _____ just lost a tooth!

The Fairy Queen gives her commands-
Twelve bright fairies must join hands
Then together in a circle stands
To guard _____ while he sleeps.

The Tooth Fairy into the circle leaps
The hidden tooth she borrows
Ah, but has far to go
Before returning tomorrow.

Three times around the world she flies
Over valleys deep and mountains high;
Skirts the storm clouds thick with thunder,
Wings over waves all wild with wonder.

Deep within their earthly homes
Finally she finds the gnomes,
Who upon the tooth must work
Never once their magic shirk.

Some are hammering, hammering, hammering,
Some the bellows blow
Others sweat at the sweltering forge
And then cry out, “Heigh Ho!”

The tooth’s been turned to a shining stone,
A glimmering, glowing gem
The Tooth Fairy takes the gnomes’ good gift,
And bows to all of them.

She returns to ____ bed,
Before the sun’s first rays are shown,
Places the gift beneath his head.
And then - - - away she’s flown!

Elves and the TOOTH FAIRY

2011-12-09T17:57:00.010+10:00

In the mist of all of the Christmas craziness.

We have lost a tooth!!!

Well, not we - Spunky Monkey. At six and three quarters he has lost his first tooth while eating a candy cane. Their is much excitement in the house.

So tonight, not only we will have the elves (who sneak about in the wee hours delivering special countdown calender presents) but the tooth fairy will be coming as well.

There will be much scurrying on felted feet and the soft flutter of gossamer wings to fill the darkened hall as we sleep.

Magic.

Rum balls - A family tradition

2011-12-08T16:19:00.031+10:00

When I left home at 17, I took my mother's rum ball recipe with me.

I have made them every Christmas since. No matter where I have lived in the world, I have shared these rum balls with friends, teachers, work colleagues and family.

But making rums balls has never been as fun as it has been this Christmas. My children are so eager to help and take on a tradition that they know so well.

Miss Moo Moo practically made this first batch of mixture by herself.

After school the kids rolled them. Yay! finally, there is someone else to roll them.

I have many memories of sitting on the floor watching old movies by the light of a twinkling Christmas tree. Late. Exhausted. Rolling, rolling, rolling. Always leaving things to the night before. Rolling so I could have the rum balls made and ready to share the following day.

I may have some helpers now, but not much has changed. We made our third batch of rum balls yesterday afternoon, ready to be given out for our teachers gifts today.

I wish I could have bottled this moment. My children with their crafted Christmas crowns upon their heads. Rolling, rolling rolling. The carols were loud, LOUD. There was coconut everywhere.

The laughter was infectious!

No, making rums balls has never, ever been this much fun.

Candy Canes

2011-12-07T16:27:00.002+10:00

Candy canes are all the rage again this year at Spunky Monkey's school. There was no way Miss Moo Moo was missing out on all of the fun. Today I made her, her own "Santa's Little Helper" bag to take to Kindy.

This afternoon they have happily filled their bags full of candy canes (tasting one or two) ready to give out to their friends tomorrow.

Oh the fun! The last day of school!

You can read here, about the one I made for my son last year and how I made it.

An apple for the teacher?

2011-12-06T14:37:00.004+10:00

No, there will be no apples for the teacher this year.

Yesterday afternoon we painted cups to give as 'end of year' gifts to the extraordinary teachers that we have had this year.

This was my son's idea. I love having my little ideas man around, it really does take some of the pressure off at this time of year.

We used some glass paints that I have had in the cupboard for years and never used and these markers. (I bought mine from Spotlight) I had first seen these markers used on tiny happy's blog and bought them a few months ago. Again, I had never used them.

Miss Moo Moo wanted colour and fanfare.

While Spunky Monkey kept with his preferred minimalist look.

We had so much fun doing this. The first chance we get, we are off to the op shop for some cheap white china. It is the perfect holiday activity and I can't wait to see what we come up with. I'm already thinking about some Christmas morning cups and plates using the red marker.

What are you giving out as 'end of year' gifts this year?

Christmas carols and growing up

2011-12-05T15:52:00.033+10:00

(image from here)

Last night we went to our local Carols by Candlelight.

It was a lovely community event that reminded me of the Christmas Street Carnivals that I went to as a child. A sausage sizzle and rides. Tea, coffee and homemade biscuits from the ladies at the local church. Friends and glow sticks and Santa. Christmas carols and fireworks.

But something happened at the end of the night that left me feeling a little strange.

Just for a moment.

My six year old, Spunky Monkey was happily running around with his friends. I had forgotten to tell him that there would be fireworks. When it was announced over the loud speaker, I watched him, (we were sitting about 10 meters away) he jumped excitedly into the air, screaming out with his friends.

I had expected him to come running. Running to me. To sit on my lap and watch the fireworks, with his hands over his ears. Just as he had done last year and the year before that. Just as Miss Moo Moo was doing.

But he didn't come. He and his friends just dropped down where they had been playing and joined in the countdown to the first firecracker BOOM. For the first five minutes, I watched him, not the sky. He watched the fireworks. His face smiling broadly, full of excitement.

I was totally unprepared for this independence.

I know that this is a good thing, but secretly (selfishly) I was devastated. He is ready, so I too, must be ready. I took a deep breath. He was fine, he was safe, he was happy. I snuggled into Miss Moo Moo and enjoyed our time watching the fireworks together, realising that this may the last time that I will watch the fireworks this way with her.

As most of you reading know, some days as a parent are hard: tired kids days, sick kids days, unreasonable kids days. But days like this, days when you must let go, even just a little bit; are the hardest.

Soulepapa wrote a beautiful post about this very thing recently. You can read it here.

Enjoying the festive season

2011-12-04T14:32:00.008+10:00

We are really enjoying the festive season around here.

This is what we ate for lunch today. Just us. Just because. We were feeling relaxed and festive. It was a nice change from a quick cheese sandwich.

The kids loved it.

O Christmas Tree

2011-12-01T17:41:00.044+10:00

I believe that the silly season has begun.

This morning (bright and early) we put up our Christmas tree.

We always put up our tree on December first.

This year it is Spunky Monkey's turn to hang the Christmas angel on the top of the tree. Miss Moo Moo will be the first to turn on the Christmas lights tonight.

We always alternate these special traditions between the children each year.

We will decorate the tree after dinner tonight.

We always decorate our tree on December first.

This afternoon we made the first batch of rums balls for the season.

We always have sweet Christmas treats when decorating our tree.

I have a new Christmas Carols CD to play later.

We always play our Christmas carols loud while decorating our tree.

How about you? Are you getting christmassy in your house today too?

What traditions are special to your family?

I'm taking a little blog holiday

2011-11-16T13:22:00.019+10:00

I have decided to take a break from this blog for a few weeks.

I don't know how it is in your house, but things here are a little bit too crazy for me. There is much 'end of year' rushing about to do and a handmade christmas list to attend to. Yesterday I almost, left for school without the kids school bags and this morning I almost, went to the shopping centre without my purse. And just 5 minutes ago I found my kitchen tongs sitting in the fabric cupboard! I have been looking for them for over a week.

I just need to clear my head.

With just 3 and a half weeks left of school, I want to be ready and organised for the holidays. I just want to have fun with my children once school ends. I want us to do the things that they want to do. I don't want be dragging them to the shops, running errands or have them watching way to much TV while I finish my sewing projects.

I will be baking some Christmas treats and still blogging on my other blog, 'jelly, peaches and ice-cream', so pop over there if you want to see what I am up to in the kitchen.

I will be back in time for the silly season........or has it already begun!

Enjoy.

Christmas Cooking

2011-11-09T17:53:00.028+10:00

I went Christmas cookbook crazy at the library yesterday. This year I wanted to get in early before they all disappeared. I love, love, love Christmas.

To quote 'Delia's Happy Christmas':

"Happiness is getting a grip early"

Today I had a chance to sit with a cup of coffee and these books. I have been Christmas dreaming ever since. Actually, white Christmas dreaming, as most of the cookbooks are English.

Glazed Ham, Stollen, Roast Goose, White Chocolate and Sour Cherry Cheesecake, Bush de Noel, Panettone, Brandied Custard, Terrines and Fruit Mince Pies.

Everyone is the house is interested by what we will be eating this Christmas.

Miss Moo Moo has reminded me that we must have a tray of mangos and rum balls (we always do) And then, last night as I went to tuck Spunky Monkey into bed, instead of finding him engrossed in one of his bug/snake/shark/spider books as usual, he was happily flicking through "Margaret Fulton Christmas."

I think it will be another happy Christmas, with way too much food!

Another weekend in the garden

2011-11-06T16:51:00.042+10:00

We have spent another weekend at home and in our garden.

The first to come out were our baby beetroot. All harvested, making room to plant out the purple beans. All that needs to be done now is to give them a trim and a scrub. Some will be grated fresh into our salad for dinner tonight. The rest I will roast whole tomorrow night.

We pulled out the last of our mixed lettuces. They had shot quickly to seed in the warm weather. This made room for our extra roma tomatoes that needed to be planted.

Any remaining leaves from our lettuces were taken inside to be washed, spun and stored for this weeks salads. I better buy another mixed punnet on the weekend, I will miss going out to the garden to pick fresh lettuce leaves for my new 'twice a day' salad habit.

The children's 'lets garden' enthusiasm waned not long after we started.

We pulled out two poor-fruiting paw paw trees. They had grown from compost seeds and were taking up way too much room in our tiny vegetable patch. A couple of okra plants have taken their place.

I discovered wondrous new blooms, hiding behind our barbecue. They were instantly snipped off and brought inside.

We watered, mulched and fertilized our new seedlings in our new garden beds.

We even spent some time re-potting and tiding up Spunky Monkey's little cactus garden.

What about you? Do you have spring fever too? This is all really new to us, but it is all so very lovely.

Our week

2011-11-04T12:23:00.003+10:00

Monday

This is the second year that we have celebrated Halloween in our house. It was CRAZY! We had friends over for dinner, who were happy to join in the madness (or so they say). There were so many Trick or Treaters at our door that it took over half and hour to get the food from the oven to the table. In the end, I had the guests handing out the Halloween lollies, just so we could sit down to eat.

And then came the tears.

Spunky Monkey had wanted to go Treat or Treating. We had already invited our friends over for dinner, so I had told him that we would go next year. But as soon as he saw some of his school friends at our door. That was the end!!! I won't go into it here, but lets just say he was very upset.

Like I said, the night was crazy. Fun, but exhausting. I know now, what things I will do differently for next year, as I had written last year, "I guess we will work out what best suits our family for this new tradition as time goes on."

So much for my final day of Blogtoberfest. As soon as we had tucked the little monkey monsters into bed, I, myself fell (literally fell) into bed. Blogtoberfest forgotten.

Tuesday

Miss Moo Moo and I went to a friends house for lunch and to watch the Melbourne Cup. We had so much fun chatting, drinking champagne and eating (way to much) yummy food, that we forgot to turn on the race - Opps!

Wednesday

I was the Kindy mum on roster. This will be my last time (ever) that I will be helping out at Kindy and it's a little sad. A bit of a wake up call too, the school term is almost over and next year 'my baby' will be starting school. Where have the last five years gone?

Thursday

Grocery shopping, washing and baking. Grandma came for afternoon tea and left with a pile of fabric to make Miss Moo Moo some summer dresses. We also went to the library.

Today

I have written out my Christmas presents list and have been doing a bit of on-line window shopping. I might have some lunch now and curl up with this book until school pick up

I hope you have a great week too.

Day Thirty: New seedlings

2011-10-30T20:24:00.010+10:00

Rainbow chard, purple beans, climbing beans, lebanese cucumbers, mixed cucumbers, okra, parsley, chives, garlic chives, kale, shallots, watermelon, roma tomatoes, watercress, zucchini's, rosella's, elderflower, chillies, sorrel, rocket, aloe vera and corn.

We have been planting our new seedlings today.

I think I got a little over excited at the markets and forgot that I live on a small suburban block. Oops!

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Twenty Nine: Today

2011-10-29T20:59:00.015+10:00

Today.....

We carved our Halloween pumpkin.

We bought new seedlings for our extended garden.

We have been enjoying the new blooms in our garden.

We have been reading these books.

We ate freshly made double chocolate muffins for afternoon tea.

We have been watching this dvd.

We cooked a traditional lamb roast for dinner.

I hope you have had a lovely Saturday too.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Twenty Eight: No excuses

2011-10-28T10:26:00.002+10:00

I'm sorry that I haven't posted for the last two days. There are no excuses.

My spring cleaning has lead me to the most dreaded room in our house - our office/craft room.

My fabric stash has been overdue for a clean out for a while now. I haven't been able to fit any new fabric into the designated fabric cupboard for over six months. A simple solution would be to stop buying. Yes! Easier said than done. Instead I have sorted and sorted and sorted over the last two days. I have filled two large boxes with fabric that has either been thrifted or given to me. Fabric that I may never use, synthetics and wild patterns, that could come in useful for costumes or handmade softies. So two boxes have gone to the garage to be stored. Just in case.

I have three boxes lined up in the hallway. One, a small box of fabric that I could use to make Spunky Monkey some pj pants. A larger box filled with lots of pinks floral offcuts for Miss Moo Moo. Most of them with just enough fabric to make some lazy day skirts, summer dresses or nighties. And a huge box, huge! filled with fabric for me. Quirky thrifted fabrics that I love or lengths of fabric (thrifted or bought at half price sales) that could be turned into summer dresses. What is the point of piles and piles of fabric lost in my fabric stash, when I could turn it into my much needed new summer wardrobe.

Oh my, what I mess I had. No wonder I had lost my crafting mojo. Now my fabric cupboard is filled only with fabrics that I love, love, love. Mainly vintage. It's so organised, I can't stop looking at it. I have also spent my time colour coordinating buttons, ribbons and trims. Embroidery threads (also colour coordinated) and hoops have a new home and I have finally found my tape measure. I have made a fairly ambitious list of things I want to make/craft now that I actually know where to find things.

So I am 90 percent finished with my fabrics. However today I will move on the the paper problem in this room. Piles of paper are on every surface: floor, desk, shelves and cupboards.

Recipes, filing, children's art work, recipes, library books, print outs of craft projects, recipes, to do lists, to do lists from 3 weeks ago, recipes, board games, cardboard for craft, unopened mail, papers to scan, photos, and recipes. I also have two big boxes of books on the floor, either thrifted or given to us that are looking for a new home somewhere in our home.

Wish me luck I might not see the light of day .... for days!

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Twenty Five: A day at the beach

2011-10-25T17:45:00.005+10:00

Today it was off to the beach for Spunky Monkey's school excursion.

It's been a long day and I have had a bit too much sun. While I was running around looking after my little group, re-applying sunscreen and making sure that they had drunk enough water, I completely forgot about myself. I am sunburnt and have a headache from not drinking enough. I will be more prepared for the long summer months ahead - I have learnt my lesson.

Rock pools, cone shells, sea cucumbers, collecting litter, face masks, magnifying discs, binoculars, sea creature talks, bird life talks, shell collecting (and shell returning), baby prawns, net fishing and hermit crabs.

There couldn't have been a better 'first ever' school excursion for my little boy.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Twenty Four: A reminder

2011-10-24T19:01:00.020+10:00

This week Spunky Monkey will go on his 'first ever' school excursion. A reminder notice came home with him from school today.

I love it. (I will translate)

• hat, school uniform, shoes
• sunscreen
• water
• fruit
• lunch
• Be at school at 8:30 am

I will be a mummy helper for the day. When I told our little Grade One friend that I was going, she was really sad. Her mother will have to work and cannot go.

Seeing her reaction made me realise how lucky I am to be able to go along and how much it means to our children.

Perhaps I better make more effort to get to school for reading hour!

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Twenty Three: Flea market finds

2011-10-23T17:06:00.005+10:00

This morning we visited the Annual Fair at a local retirement village. We wandered the stalls of jams, cakes and Nana handicrafts as we listened to the old ladies choir. But most importantly, we were there for bric brac.

Admittedly, it was slim pickings, luckily we went early and acted fast. I am very happy with our finds. I also bought 2 retro aprons for a dollar each, but they are in need of a good soak in the wash. The children didn't leave empty handed either, beads, rocks, a key ring, barbie furniture and a vintage toy horse all found their way home with us.

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am by this pair of breakfast plates and cups. I love the pattern, I love the detail, I love how fine they are, I love that there is two and I love that they only cost me $1.00.

I even love the friendly old gentleman that sold them to me.

More excitement. Fifteen souvenir, linen tea towels from Australia and around the world. Collected but not used.

Last week I vowed that I would not buy any more books (I ran out of bookshelf room long ago) But I didn't have these and I did need them, really I did.

A chamber pot for the lounge room, it's a pity I ran out of money or I could have picked up a cheap plant from the plant stall to go in it.

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

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Twenty Two: A day in the garden

2011-10-22T15:25:00.013+10:00

This morning, bright and early we had some soil delivered. This weekend we have plans to spend in the garden. It is well overdue for some tender love and care. Some trimming back and much weeding needs to be done. Our main goal is to extend our vegetable patch so we can produce some more food.

At the moment we have some very happy lettuces, lettuces and herbs have always been very kind to us. But we are wondering, if we actually put a little more effort into our garden, could we produce more? We are a little clueless, and usually go for the "lets plant it and see what happens" approach. Even though we have a very small suburban block. I want to do more.

Unfortunately the weather has had other plans for us today. It is pouring rain. Mr Moo has moved all of the dirt in the rain while the kids have run about getting filthy. As for me, I have put together a collection of photos and the story of our vegetable garden so far.

I will start from the beginning.

On a sunny day back in July we re-vamped our long neglected vegetable garden. It had lay dormant for almost a year, after our dreadful summer when nothing survived. The vegetable patch had been taken over by a huge patch of oregano and nine paw paw trees, that had grown up from the compost. We ripped out all of the weeds and half of the oregano. We moved all but 3 paw paw trees into another part of the garden. Next it was a trip to the market for seedlings.

We planted french beans, baby carrots, heirloom beetroot, cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes and capsicum. And herbs: dill, parsley, rosemary, mint and thyme.

In August we bought a couple of punnets of mixed lettuce from our local market and added them to our garden.

By mid September there was at lot of new growth in the garden - things were looking promising.

We even had a stray tomato bush growing up between the concrete and the fence.

' No snails allowed' signs were made.

By late September we were, and still are, picking lettuces and herbs daily.

Two weeks ago we picked our pineapple. And last week we enjoyed a small harvest of carrots.

It's a start, however I am aspiring to bigger and better things.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Twenty One: The converted

2011-10-21T17:06:00.019+10:00

Miss Moo Moo doesn't like tomatoes.

Well she didn't yesterday.

The first of our cherry tomatoes are starting to ripen in the garden. This morning, the children came running into me in the kitchen, breathless and excited. They were talking over each other trying to get their story out.

Then clearly and loudly, Miss Moo Moo spread out her arms and pronounced: "Just ate a tomato and I LOVED IT." (eyes popping wide)

Then she put both thumbs up in the air (she likes to be dramatic) "Homegrown - AWESOME DUDE!"

It's nice to see that she can see the value in homegrown.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Twenty: Every little bit helps

2011-10-20T17:09:00.052+10:00

This is Amina, a beautiful mother of six and seller of yams

Last year I became a Kiva member, you may remember Jacqueline.

Today I have re-loaned to another small business. I find such inspiration from these entrepreneurs around the world, starting up businesses despite their circumstances. It is hard to choose just one.

Maybe you want to be a Kiva lender too? $25.00 is the minimum loan, that's not much really, and every little bit helps.

I have loaned to Amina who lives in Togo, West Africa. She requires the loan so that she is able to buy more stock to increase her sales at her market stall. Her goal is to give her children a better future.

Isn't that what we all want?

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Nineteen: By my bed

2011-10-19T15:39:00.004+10:00

On my bed side table today:

Beautiful flowers from Grandma's garden.

And "A Home Companion ". This morning I picked this book up from the library. I had reserved it back in May - finally, it's my turn! I can't wait to crawl into bed early tonight to start reading it.

What do you have on your bedside table?

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Eighteen: A sad day

2011-10-18T15:55:00.005+10:00

Today was a sad day.

Our neighbours, little Miss M and little Miss A moved out. They are moving to Western Australia. Travelling across country by caravan. A big adventure for them, but they will be missed.

As we ate breakfast outside this morning it was a lovely surprise to see their heads pop up over the fence for a chat.

Later the girls came over and played all day while their parents did the last of the packing. We have just waved them off. Caught up in their excitement as they drove away, packed in like sardines, roof racks piled high and towing their vintage caravan. As they rounded the corner I could still hear Miss M laughing and yelling out the window "I'm so squashed, I can't breath"

Whatever will my kids do after school now?

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Seventeen: Missing out

2011-10-17T10:56:00.006+10:00

Yesterday while I stayed home to bake a cake for our lunchtime barbecue. Mr Moo, Poppy, Tiya Ning and the kids went to the beach. I didn't mind staying home because today is a student free day in Queensland. I had planned a day at the beach with the kids. A yummy picnic, collecting shells and a play in the park.

But I missed out. On all the fun. I have woken today to horrible weather. Giant grey clouds, gusty winds and drizzling rain. Bummer.

Depressed about the situation, I decided to make chocolate french toast for breakfast.

Things are looking up.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Sixteen: Opps!

2011-10-16T10:39:00.013+10:00

It appears I have skipped a beat.

Our easy day at home yesterday ended up being filled with visitors. It was lovely and mostly unplanned. Grandparents and more grandparents and even great grandparents. Friends and little school friends and neighbours and neighbours children.

So after tucking my little monkeys into bed far later than usual, I went for a quick shower and straight to bed myself.....

Without another thought to Blogtoberfest. - Opps!

So today, please accept these flowers as an apology.

These flowers that I picked this morning and that are now spilling out of tall vases around our house. These flowers that have been transferred from flower bed to flower bed each time that we have moved. Theses flowers that were in the garden of our first home when we bought it 12 years ago. Each year when these flowers bloom, where ever we are, they bring great joy.

I hope you are having a great Sunday. We will having more visitors for lunch. The sun is shining, the meat is marinating and the chocolate cake is in the oven.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Fourteen: making jam

2011-10-14T17:47:00.013+10:00

Today I made strawberry jam.

Spunky Monkey was home sick from school. He helped out a little bit. But not a lot.

I haven't made this for years and I have been missing out!

Firstly, I love, love, love the sweet smell of strawberry jam as it cooks. However Spunky Monkey has a different opinion of the smell. He walked into the kitchen with his hand pitched on his nose, asking what stinks?

Secondly, the taste of fresh strawberry jam is to die for. For afternoon tea we made a batch of pikelets and lathered them with still warm strawberry jam.

Make some now. You won't regret it.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Thirteen: Is it summer already?

2011-10-13T20:08:00.011+10:00

Tonight Miss Moo Moo was the first in our family to taste this seasons mangoes.

Mr Moo and I were too full from dinner and Spunky Monkey is sick. She had begged me to buy some at the shops this afternoon. She was in heaven, her tiny face turning orange in minutes.

Mangoes to me, mean summer. Is it really that close?

Is Christmas really that close!

This photo was taken last christmas holidays, my camera is on the charger tonight. But you get the picture - delicious.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Twelve: Egg mayonnaise for lunch

2011-10-12T20:15:00.015+10:00

Miss Moo Moo's favourite lunch right now is egg mayonnaise sandwiches.

Today we even made our own mayonnaise. Although Miss Moo Moo questioned it's authenticity

"That's not mayonnaise, it's not white"

We ate our sandwiches out on the grass in the shade of the trees. The warm spring breezes playing in our hair.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Eleven: Harvest time

2011-10-11T20:02:00.027+10:00

OK, so we won't be winning any prizes at the local show.

These are the first carrots that we (I) have ever grown. Obviously we have a lot to learn. I think seeds would be a better way to go. Just clumping a punnet of seedlings willie-nillie doesn't appear to get the best results. But I for one am happy that we were able to get a meal out of our carrots, truly, I hadn't expected it.

Despite their mutated appearance they were delicious roasted with wine, thyme and cumin seeds for dinner tonight.

Any tips on growing carrots? I'd love to hear from you.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Ten: My christmas wish list

2011-10-10T21:08:00.029+10:00

The Real Food Companion

Forgotten Skills of Cooking

The Original River Cottage Cookbook

The River Cottage Meat Book

A Slice of Organic Life

Over the last couple of months I have been lucky to have these great books constantly by my side. Great tomes of information lugged everywhere from parks to play dates, from coffee shops to school pick up.

I love my local library, I really do. But sometimes you come across books you just don't want to give back.

Today I had to return the last one (The Forgotten Skills of Cooking). The others had been returned on their due dates over the last couple of weeks. It will be strange not to pick up a book with 600 odd pages, just to answer a question in my head.

So I have started my Christmas wish list: These five books and a little 5 acre farm with a cottage on a hill.

Thanks Santa xo

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Nine: Baking bread

2011-10-09T21:14:00.019+10:00

You may have read on my other blog about the bread maker that mum bought me at a garage sale. Today I finally got around to using it, and it worked. Fresh bread!

I got 10 slices from the bread, that gives only five sandwiches. I will need to do a bit of costing to see if this is a good or bad thing. It would be easy to bake daily as it is foolproof, but it is cost effective? Do you bake your own bread? I would love some advice in this area.

I can see that there will be much trial and error along our journey for the perfect everyday family loaf. This is just the start.

I actually prefer multigrain bread to wholemeal, and prefer rye to multigrain. But wholemeal flour is what I had at hand and it made a nice wholemeal loaf.

There was so much excitement over our 'first ever' loaf of bread that Spunky Monkey (fresh from his bath and wearing pajamas) asked if he could take a slice of bread to the neighbours.

" Mum, don't forget to cut it into four so everyone can try a bit. They are going to love it!"

And they did!

Have have written the recipe here, as much for me as for you. My bread maker is a Panasonic (SD-200) I'm not sure how different they are.

Here is what I did:

Large Wholemeal Loaf

• 1 1/4 teaspoons dry yeast (I've kept mine in the freezer)
• 400 grams plain wholemeal flour
• 2 teaspoons table salt
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 tablespoons raw sugar
• 370 ml water

Put the ingredients of your bread into the bread maker in the order of the ingredients list. Yeast first and water last. There is no need to mix. Press the menu button and select wholewheat. Press the select button and select bake. Press start and walk away. When the beeper beeps to indicate that the bread is ready lift the lid immediately to remove the bread. Remember to wear oven mits and shake the pan several times to remove the bread. Place the bread on a wire rack to cool.

Et voila, fresh bread!

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Eight: Home alone

2011-10-08T20:34:00.022+10:00

I have been home alone today.

No... not in a movie and hot chocolate kind of way.

I have been spring cleaning - like a mad woman.

With no interruptions and no time to eat or drink cups of tea, I have washed, wiped, scrubbed, vacuumed, dusted, rearranged and rearranged again, tidied and sorted. Walls, floors, drawers, cupboards, wardrobes, bookshelves and windows. The children's rooms and playroom look amazing. Lets hope some pocket money (bribes) will help keep it that way.

Still more spring cleaning on the list for later this week, but today has been a great start. I am happily exhausted, there is nothing like a bit of spring cleaning to put a 'spring' back into your step.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Seven: Preserving beetroot

2011-10-07T11:31:00.010+10:00

This morning I have been preserving beetroot.

My hands are pink and my kitchen smells vinegary, but I don't care. I can't seem to wipe the smile from my face. There is nothing more satisfying than home preserving.

Hmmm.... unless of course I had grown my own vegetables.

I am working on it.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Six: Embroidery

2011-10-06T19:26:00.004+10:00

Over the school holidays I had a chance to get started on Miss Moo Moo's 'tooth fairy' pillow.

I have finished the embroidery this afternoon with a just enough thread. It was touch and go there for a while. I had chosen this colour as the perfect match to the backing/pocket fabric. However I only had a small amount; it had come from a thrifted bag of collected thread.

Tomorrow I will sew it, stuff it and pop in the cupboard for when it is needed. Spunky Monkey's tooth pillow has been sitting in his cupboard for the last two years waiting... waiting....

To see more creative spaces, click here.

and...

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Five: Time out

2011-10-05T16:13:00.030+10:00

Today, Miss Moo Moo went back to Kindy. It was the first time I had been alone for three and a half weeks. I hadn't realised this until I fell into a heap.

I had grand plans: bread making, jam making, preserving vegetables. Not to mention the much needed tidying (culling) of the toyroom. I even thought I would squeeze in a little bit of embroidery.

But I felt crappy and the weather was crappy. So after a bit of grocery shopping I came home, made some hot chocolate and curled up under the blankets to watch "Miss Potter"

I'm feeling much better now that I have had some me time, I even managed to cook a yummy casserole for dinner.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Four: Fresh fruit

2011-10-04T20:22:00.017+10:00

And it doesn't come any fresher that this.

Spunky Monkey picked a pineapple from our garden for afternoon tea today. The cut top from a market bought pineapple had been planted over two years ago.

With such a long time coming, we savoured every juicy morsel.

It's just a pity it was all gone in about 5 minutes.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Three: This mornings breakfast table

2011-10-03T11:24:00.026+10:00

It was hard to get back to into the swing of things this morning. Today it is back to school, but by the look of our breakfast table you would think that we were still on holidays. We did manage to get to school just as the bell rang. Maybe I shouldn't have cooked fried potatoes and eggs.

A recipe inspired by this book. I fried some of these leftover potatoes and poured over a couple of beaten eggs to cook. Sprinkle with salt - Yummy.

But school is back, I better get back to muesli, yoghurt and fruit for tomorrow mornings breakfast.

Do you have trouble shifting from holiday mode after the school holidays have ended? Maybe it's just me.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day Two: Making muffins

2011-10-02T11:58:00.008+10:00

Everyday of this last week has been spent with our little cousins. Some who live close by, some who live far away and some who live very far away.

With so many hungry mouths to feed, the kids and I have been baking. A chocolate cake and batches of muffins: orange and chocolate muffins, strawberry muffins and this morning we baked our favourite blueberry muffins when more little friends came for morning tea.

As it was school holidays the kids were much more hands on than usual. I allocated more time for the task and turned a blind eye when more flour ended up on the floor than into the mixing bowl. It was messy, but, oh my, it was so much fun.

Take a look here to see who else is participating in blogtoberfest.

Day one of Blogtoberfest

2011-10-01T17:00:00.018+10:00

This year I have decided to join 'Blogtoberfest ' and post everyday in October.

I intend to (hopefully) post a picture daily for the month. A snapshot of our every day.

I know that others are planning all kind of giveaways and excitement, but at the moment this is where I am at.

I am trying to shift the rhythm of our life to a slower pace. My plans for October are: some crafting, some 'from scratch' cooking and a bit of spring cleaning. Hopefully you will be happy to come along and see what I can achieve.

Today I share a picture of the anniversary flowers that are scenting our whole house right now.

I wish you could smell them too.

•••••••

I have also signed up my food blog "jelly peaches and ice-cream" to be part of blogtoberfest. This may be a little ambitious. What are the chances of me cooking something really yummy everyday in October and then getting around to posting the recipe? It's a good thing that Cathy is very lovely and a bit flexible in the rules.

I shall do my best.

Well, hello there

2011-09-28T07:58:00.004+10:00

Have you seen the Hello Kitty collection at Liberty?

How beautiful to see Miss Moo Moo in a floaty summer dress made from this.

Love it!

City Slickers

2011-09-27T09:47:00.039+10:00

We have returned from a great weekend in Brisbane. Packed full of visits to some of our favourite old haunts:

• The Three Monkeys for coffee and chocolate mouse cake just as day turned into night.
• Vietnamese for dinner, Yum Cha for lunch
• An afternoon lost at Newfarm Park, disappearing into the trees and wandering through the roses bushes. A yummy picnic of cheeses, pate and breads.
• The Woolloongabba Antique Centre for morning tea and much swooning over quirky old finds.
• We loved the ballet. So beautiful in every way. The boys went to the Science Museum
• A visit to Samios (like an old friend) for supplies
• We even drove past our old house, our first house.

In a city that has changed so much in the six years since we left, it was nice to rediscover some of our favourite places.

I will point out that a five and six year old are not that interested in trips down memory lane.

I realised later that they are creating there own memories. They were not that interested in hearing how many hours I have lingered over coffee at the Three Monkeys cafe over the years. I have been going there since I was 16 years old. They will remember it for themselves; for turkish delight and chocolate mouse cake and the place with the garden courtyard out the back.

Everyday, memories are being made by these little people, to be stored somewhere in their sub-conscious for later, when they are 14, 26 or 37.

It is so important not to forget that.

Sleeping Beauty

2011-09-23T13:36:00.015+10:00

One of the reasons that we are heading to the city this weekend is because Miss Moo Moo and I have tickets to this ballet. Last year we saw their amazing production of The Nutcracker.

Loved it, loved it loved it.

These pictures are of last years beautiful Nutcracker production. Many more photos can be seen here.

I am bursting with excitement, I can't wait for tomorrow's production of Sleeping Beauty.

Miss Moo Moo is also very excited. Mr Moo wishes he was coming too, however Spunky Monkey does NOT want to go to the ballet.

(all images are from here)

Relaxed

2011-09-22T16:26:00.013+10:00

(hummingbird cake we made for afternoon tea on Tuesday)

It is school holidays here in Queensland, we had planned to go away, but Mr Moo could not get time off. You'd think I'd have learned by now that September is his busiest time of year. The same thing happened last year, and the year before that.

But oh, how I love to travel in the Springtime!

It doesn't matter, it seems that things have turned out for the better. The children (and me) have really enjoyed our lazy week at home. We taken our days very slowly: late breakfasts, sandpit play, water play, lego, tea parties, gardening, cooking, reading and crafting. The kids have been playing so well together (dare I say it) I'm almost bored.

No, never, not with so much pottering about to do.

Tomorrow we are off for a mini-break in the city. Hooray. Mr Moo did manage to get one day off.

If you are holidaying too - Enjoy.

Vintage sheets

2011-09-21T07:45:00.008+10:00

In all of the excitement of birthday celebrations and plans I had completely forgotten that this little bundle of joy had arrived in the post for me last week.

A big thank-you to 'green tea and me' for organising the vintage sheet FQ swap.

I am bursting to get started on my vintage sheet quilt. I have been given a few tips recently so I might even be able to pull it off. Unfortunately quilt making is way down the bottom of my 'to do' list.

But look at my new goodies. So lovely. Maybe I have one your sheets?

Where you involved? What are you making? Oh how I love secret parcels in the post!

A country show

2011-09-20T10:10:00.048+10:00

(image from here)

On the weekend we went to a country show.

The last country show that we went to was with friends in New South Wales, before our children were born. It was so much fun. The pavilions were filled with prize winning baking, flower arrangements and giant vegetables. We watched wood chipping competitions and wandered through the livestock pens, patting prize winning goats, lambs and calves. We spent ages in the poultry shed, imagining what chickens, ducks or geese we would one day like to have running around on our farm. At the time, we owned 5 acres of land - but that's a story for another day.

But this country show was a little different. We did watch the wood chipping and I absolutely loved wandering through the old pavilion: cakes, jams, biscuits, embroidery, quilts, beautiful spring blooms. But with the exception of the pig races - which were a real highlight by the way. There were no farm animals.

But there were horses. In fact I felt a little out of place without my cowboy boots and cowboy hat. There was the usual show jumping, etc. and then there was the rodeo.

I realised that there are two very different type of horse people. The gorgeous young girls dressed in smart riding attire and polished boots. Their hair braided and tied with ribbons. They rode immaculately groomed horses, whose manes had also been braided and their tails neatly trimmed.

Then there are the cowgirls, who follow the rodeo circuit. Dressed in jeans and checked cowgirl shirts, their pony tail hairstyles loose under giant cowgirl hats. Dusty cowboy boots in the stirrups. Most of their horses were decorated with a bit of 'bling' of some kind.

I'm not trying to make any generalisations here, more of an observation. I'm not a horsey girl. I don't move in these circles. I just found it interesting.

In any case, the day was lovely. The weather was magnificent, we grabbed a yummy steak burger and sat in the shade of huge trees and watched the dressage events. Later we piled high onto the grandstand to watch some of the rodeo. We bought Mr Whippy ice-creams (now called Mr Whip for some reason) and pink fairy floss.

On the long drive home the kids fell asleep in the car while I looked out the window across the farm paddocks. Cows, sheep, goats and chickens.

The belated birthday party

2011-09-19T08:34:00.072+10:00

It was a week ago that Miss Moo Moo turned five. Unfortunately Poppy had to work last weekend, so we had a party for her yesterday instead.

Just family: grandparents, aunts, uncles and the cousins. It was perfect.

In the months leading up to her birthday, Miss Moo Moo had alternately requested either a wedding cake (she drew me a picture, it looked like this) or a barbie cake.

We went for the barbie cake.

The day was casual and relaxed. The three boys playing in the sandpit for hours and the three girls inside playing tea parties and babies. We brought out our little pool and had some water fun (it was 30 degrees) and then their was cake.

After everyone had gone, the kids continued their fun day of play in the street with the neighbours kids. Miss Moo Moo took her new bike out to show everyone. Just as I went inside I heard her yelling out to her friends:

"Look at me! I'm riding my bike all by myself. My Daddy isn't even helping me"

I quickly went back outside and yes, she was! Finally. All she needed was a bigger bike and she was away.

The day was perfect, but leading up to the day, everything that could go wrong - did go wrong.

• Firstly the cake: the butter layer cake was from the latest kids issue of Donna Hay Magazine. It looked amazing but it didn't taste so great. On the day I blamed Donna, but I know that it is because I was short on time and put all four cake tins into my oven at once. This gave the cakes an almost steamed texture that I have eaten in chinese sponge cakes in Chinatown. If I was to do it again I would make sure I had more time.

• We couldn't decorate the cake until the morning of the party because it wouldn't fit in the fridge. This left things a little stressed, especially when I ran out of icing and had to make more at the last minute. We finished decorating the cake one minute before the first guests arrived.

• Any pre-cooking plans went out the window as I spent the whole week with my son home very sick. I couldn't even start the cake and freeze it. I had no eggs, no milk, no butter, no sugar (who ever runs out of eggs and sugar?! or butter and milk for that matter)

• I had made a batch of zucchini slice, five minutes after I put it into the oven I realised a band-aid from my finger was missing. It ended up NOT being in the slice (Mr Moo and I have eaten it), but I made another one just in case. Not before rushing off to the corner store for more eggs.

• Instead of party bags, we were to give out a hand drawn picture and a gingerbread person. When making the gingerbread I did not let me hot mixture cool enough (again rushing) before adding it to the flour and egg. The whole thing was curdled mess. It went in the bin. I went to make another batch and I had run out of golden syrup - back to the corner store.

• We ran out of time to decorate the gingerbread people because I had to make the gingerbread late at night before the party. We only gave out some of the drawings.

• I didn't get time (because of said sick child) to make the pretty party bunting I had wanted to make. I completely forgot to hang up the paper lanterns I had in the cupboard and opened the party box on the morning of the party to see that the kids had been into the balloons there was 3 white balloons and 1 brown one. We did not have balloons.

I guess in the end ...... none of that mattered. Miss Moo Moo went to bed happy and exhausted, her eyes blinking shut as I kissed her goodnight.

Flea market finds...

2011-09-18T16:41:00.047+10:00

We almost didn't go.

But I'm glad we did.

It was a quick fix, but we like that.

Yesterday morning with only an hour to spare, we went to Grandma's church garage sale. We spent $4.50 and bought this: A cream bowl, you can never have to many; a tiny enamel cup, too cute to leave behind; a small jug - made in South Africa, you can never have too many of those either; 2 melamine egg cups in perfect retro colours.

Spunky Monkey picked out the marmalade jar, not really my style, but for 50 cents, who was to argue. It has grown on me since getting it home, I can't wait to make some marmalade and put it on our breakfast table. Look how good it looks with the egg cups!

Miss Moo Moo came home with a tiny (ugly) glass sculpture, a small wicket basket that is now a bed for her dolls and two pairs of dolls shoes that seem to fit nearly all of her dolls. She is very happy with that.

But wait there is more...... included in our $4.50 spend was this $2.00 cookbook. Although the cover is ripped, I don't think that it has ever been opened. It is a gem, if you only ever had this book only on your shelf you would eat very well. It has been such a nice surprise to flick through it's pages and discover it's delights. I only bought it because of the name:

"Mrs Appleyard's Family Kitchen - A Treasury of Vermont Country Recipes"

Doesn't that name just epitomise all that is wholesome and good?

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

I'm grateful for...

2011-09-17T16:41:00.008+10:00

This week I am grateful for orange juice.

Fresh oranges from grandma's tree, squeezed by the hands of babes.

My poor little boy has been home sick all week. I think it was Thursday, when I started getting cabin fever. I laid the big picnic rug in the backyard and ordered everyone out into the sunshine. Miss Moo Moo brought her board and drawing pencils, I bought a pile of books. But Spunky Monkey was still miserable. His pale limp body glowed in the sun, he headed back into the shade of the patio. He sat on a chair swinging his legs then asked "can we make juice?"

The panadol had just kicked in and we had a good hour or so until he would be back on the couch curled up in a ball. I said yes, and helped him bring a bowl of cut oranges, the hand juicer and a jug to the table, he brought out three cups. I was happy in the sun with a new cookbook from the library, so I left the kids to get started. I listened to them discussing how good oranges are for you as they worked.

Spunky Monkey squeezed as much juice out of the oranges as he could, then gave them to Miss Moo Moo, who ate whatever was left inside, every so often, I would get the remaining juice from any oranges Miss Moo Moo hadn't eaten.

It only lasted about 20 minutes, but it was the highlight of my week, that simple bonding time between the three of us, and the juice.....

It was delicious - made with love.

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

Our weekend update: part three

2011-09-15T08:32:00.037+10:00

(yes, it's true, Miss Moo Moo has worn her ballet outfit four days in a row now)

Part three: the Real Food Festival

On Sunday it was back into the car a back to Maleny for the Real Food Festival at the showgrounds. The weather was gorgeous, Saturday's winds had completely disappeared.

Such a fantastic atmosphere and so much yummy food. Almost immediately we pulled up a hay bail and bought some lunch. The kids had pizza (unfortunately a disappointment - Miss Moo Moo wouldn't even eat it) However what we shared was amazing: west african goat curry and 'to die for' chicken satay.

We wandered for hours, looking at the stalls of yummy local produce. I would have liked to talk to some of the producers, but with two tired children, a couple of balloons and a husband that I kept losing in the crowds: it was a little hard to do.

I did manage to have a chat to this farmer about his produce boxes. Even though we don't live anywhere near his farm, he said that we could possibly work out a delivery system. I am excited.

The day ended just as it should, sitting on a grassy hill in the sun, eating locally made organic ice-cream.

Strawberry, berry delight, creme caramel and chocolate. So good, I can still taste it.

Our weekend update: part two

2011-09-14T10:48:00.014+10:00

Part two: Maleny Dairies

Despite being one of the coldest days we have had this year and almost getting peed on by Devinia the milking cowing, we had an amazing couple of hours at the Maleny dairies on Saturday.

Firstly, this place is beautiful. The colours of the day were lolly bright: blue skies and rolling green hills. But on Saturday, icy winds whipped across the mountain top, my hands were numb and I found myself stamping on the ground trying to keep warm.

As our tour got started we got to meet a beautiful, obliging, Guernsey cow called Devinia. She let us all pat her and we were able to taste some of her milk. The kids didn't want to try it, but for me it was fantastic.

I was instantly transported back to my Nana's farm and the cold misty mornings when my uncle would bring the fresh milk up from the dairy. I'm ashamed to say it now, but I hated fresh cows milk back then. To me (a townie) milk was suppose to be white. I didn't like that hot creamy milk on my cornflakes, and often ate toast instead.

Now that I know better...... I want a house cow! That milk was so yummy.

Then we got to feed the baby goats and calves. So much fun.

We all had a go with the milk bottles, except for Spunky Monkey. He wasn't that interested and just wanted to wander off into the paddock instead.

Miss Moo Moo loooved it. She was a natural. She is the real animal lover of the family. If she had it her way she would have got a kitten for her birthday.

When she wasn't feeding this little goat she would just pat his soft, soft coat.

"Mum he is so soft. He is so sweet"

Mr Moo is feeding Penny the calf. The calves were quiet a bit stronger than the little goats, and complete guts. This little one ended up with the hiccups, which was pretty cute.

The old farmers hut is now a chicken house. However the cheeky bantam chickens spend all day wandering the open fields. Who could blame them.

At the end of the tour we got to taste some of the yummy Maleny Dairy products. There was no need to convert us on their milk, we already buy this product. But I was impressed by the flavoured milks. We never buy flavoured milk, but tasting these flavoured milks took me again, back to my childhood. Of days when I would sit in cafe booth seats with my parents and drink flavoured milk straight from the ice cold metal milkshake container.

We left with one of each flavour; strawberry, chocolate and coffee.

Our weekend update: part one

2011-09-13T08:51:00.063+10:00

With such a busy weekend just gone I have decided to post about our weekend like this:

Part one: the birthday - five, footloose and fancy free.

Despite a late night at our wonderful school musical, Miss Moo Moo was up early and into our bed. When I wished her happy birthday she said,

"Look at my teeth Mum, can you see how big they are. They are very big now that I am five"

As is our usual birthday ritual, she opened her presents in our bed. A pile of dress-ups and some 'Angelina Ballerina' books.

Straight away Miss Moo Moo was into her dress-up's. The 'much wished for' ballet dress. A brides veil, a mermaid costume, some 1950's nana slippers and frilly pink 1950's brunch coat. All thrifted over the last month or so. She was over the moon.

Daddy made some special pancakes for the birthday girl.

Then we drove to Maleny and to the Maleny Dairies that was to be our outing for the day. It was really fun, but oh so very cold!

More about the Maleny Dairies tomorrow.

Before we went on our farm tour, we had some morning tea cupcakes in the car park.

After a wonderful morning at the farm we went to the nearby Maleny Cheese Factory for some cheese and into Maleny to find a sunny spot in the park. We sat here for hours protected from the icy, biting winds by the local library.

We enjoyed a simple, delicious picnic. Homemade zucchini slice and yesterday's cupcakes from home. Maleny cheeses: triple cream brie and tuscan cheddar, wood fire breads: a crusty white called 'snow cap' and a walnut and rye. A punnet of very ripe cherry tomatoes and sliced ham from the local butcher.

As I sat in the sun and watched the children happily playing, I savoured the simple food that I was eating. Happy in the fact that 80 percent of it had been produced within a kilometer of where we sitting.

After a long day the children both slept (yes slept!) in the car on the drive home. Home just in time for some quiet play and a bath before dinner. An easy barbecue of sausages and marinated chicken that had been requested, followed by cake.

Mr Moo's chocolate cake topped with coffee icing. We had to light the candles three times - you know what big brothers can be like. Eventually Miss Moo Moo got to blow out her own candles and we all enjoyed a piece of cake.

The perfect end to a perfect day.

Sustainable House Day

2011-09-11T09:47:00.011+10:00

(this image is from here)

Don't forget today is Sustainable House Day. Go here to check out what houses are open in your area today (10am to 4pm).

We are off to have a sticky beak in a house near our place and then we are going to a food festival. YUM.

We are having a great weekend, I hope you are too.

Happy Birthday Miss Moo Moo

2011-09-10T18:12:00.010+10:00

Miss Moo Moo turns five!

Miss Moo Moo : A time capsule of sorts for my baby girl.

• You are my little princess. In quiet moments I watch you in awe.

• You are mad for everything ballet, although you don't want to go to classes.

• You love, love, love to dress up.

• You love all things French: croissants, hot chocolate, baguettes and cheese, the Eiffel Tower, poodles. However you don't want a beret, you tell me that only artists wear them.

• You really like playing with baby Liesl (doll) You named her after Leisl in the Sound of Music. You love changing her nappy, feeding her and putting her to bed. Apparently she does a lot of poos and vomits.

• I love your bedtime routine - every night you get your favourite toy of the moment, have a drink and when you are tucked into bed, you ask me "What was your favourite part of the day?"

• I can't believe how smart and wise you are. Much smarter in life than me sometimes. My little teacher.

• I like to watch the determination in you face when you are trying to do something that you can't.

• In the middle of the night you sometimes get up to go to the toilet. You come to me and we silently do what we have to do, both of us half asleep, trying not to bang into the walls. The only words spoken are when you are back in bed and I am leaving the room. Deep from under the covers your tiny voice speaks: "Love you" It melts my heart every time

• I love watching old movies with you when the boys are not home. Funny Face and Singing in the Rain are your favourites right now.

• I wish that you wouldn't change your clothes seven times a day.

• I love to secretly listen to you while you are playing with your barbies.

• You are desperate for me to make some more dolls clothes. You really like to dress up your dolls.

• You love all Disney Princesses: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Snow White. You often ask for your hair to be put up like Belle's.

• I love to see you playing with my dolls that I had as a little girl - Wendy the Wendy doll and Christopher the Cabbage Patch doll

• I love your hair. I love how you wake up in the morning and it still falls beautifully. Actually I'm a little jealous

• When you watched the original Batman movie, you told me you liked Cat Woman and hated The Penguin. (just like me)

• You don't like it if I know all the words to a song and you don't. You ask me to stop singing and give me a funny look.

• I love to watch you dancing to the Flashdance LP. You know all the moves because I showed you once on you-tube.

• You make me laugh when you sneeze, you add a deliberate "achoo" at the end of your actual sneeze.

• I love that you little hand reaches out for mine as we walk along to school, at the shops or on a walk.

• You have just started to eat (some) salad, a month ago you only liked potatoes, pasta, bread and meat.

• You will often jump up from the dinner table and 'act out' an event or a feeling rather than just telling the story.

• You love to make funny faces.

• You sometimes laugh with a over the top, wicked laugh. You love the reaction you get from this laugh.

Happy birthday my lovely little princess.

One day until someone turns five

2011-09-09T07:29:00.025+10:00

We have just finished decorating 30 cupcakes to take along to Kindy this morning. It is Miss Moo Moo 5th birthday tomorrow and I am the 'mummy helper' at Kindy today. So... let there be cake.

Miss Moo Moo had been very specific about the cupcakes: chocolate with chocolate icing and white sprinkles. After going to three shops (the things you do) the best I could do was pink and white sprinkles. She is a little worried that the boys won't want to eat them. One of her little friends, Master D, does not like pink at all and she is worried he won't want one. I am confident that he will.

I cooked the cupcakes yesterday but half way through baking the power went off for hours, completely upsetting my day (no oven, no mixmaster, no phone, no computer, no re-heated lasagne for lunch and no cups of tea) I finished baking as dinner was being prepared. It was all too crazy to be decorating cupcakes before bed. But it is done now and we are ready for another busy day: Kindy, grocery shopping, school pick up, more cooking: baking and dinner and then we are out to a school concert tonight.

And sometime after all of that, I'd better wrap Miss Moo Moo's birthday present. Opps!

Olive Juice - so yummy

2011-09-07T07:51:00.005+10:00

Katie Shorties

Buttercup Blouse

I am such a sucker for little girls clothing. Design Mom always seems to point me in the right direction for lovely 'little people' clothing. Today I discovered "Olive Juice Kids" through Gabrielle's blog.

I love the old fashioned simplicity of these gorgeous clothes. This is just a peek of their range, I love it all. I know for most of us reading, the cold weather is on it's way out - but there is always next year!

Elsie Skirt and Classic Wool Cardigan

Gabrielle Dress

Natalie Dress

Jacqueline Cardigan

Liam Topper

Claire Beret

To cute!

Happy Father's Day

2011-09-04T09:18:00.007+10:00

Daddy, Spunky Monkey and Miss Moo Moo in their house (Spunky Monkey)

Daddy, Miss Moo Moo and Spunky Monkey having a water balloon fight (Miss Moo Moo)

Happy Father's Day Mr Moo, Poppy, Grandpa and Poppy Don.

We have just cooked daddy a 'boy' (read unhealthy) Father's Day breakfast. Our plans for the farmer's market followed by a simple picnic by the river are a little shaky due to the big black clouds that are hovering in a otherwise blue sky.

We will go now to the farmer's market and keep our fingers crossed.

I hope you enjoy a special day with the Dad's in your life. Sunshine or not!

I absolutely love the pictures that the children drew for Father's Day, both at separate times, kept private until we wrapped daddy's presents yesterday afternoon. Both of them had drawn only themselves, their brother/sister and their daddy. No mummy. That's OK. I love that they realize that this is daddy's special day. But that doesn't stop this mummy bursting with pride.

Today and everyday.

Spring!!

2011-09-01T07:58:00.003+10:00

Last night when I woke up to Miss Moo Moo in the middle of the night, the soft, sweet scent of jasmine came drifting through my bedroom window to greet me.

Today I see that:

Spring has Sprung!

The sun is shining. We have happy 'sunshiny' music playing on the CD player - loud. We have been to the vegetable garden to inspect for slugs on the young lettuces. Miss Moo Moo has skipped off to Kindy in a floral dress.We have eaten apple pancakes.

A time for new beginnings. I love it.

(sorry about the slightly fuzzy photos, my camera seems to be on it's last legs - clunking and groaning into action most days. Santa if you are reading - a new camera is 'number one' on my christmas wish list)

Last week in our kitchen

2011-08-29T09:03:00.022+10:00

We had lots of fun making apple pie and decorating it with our new alphabet letters.

We enjoyed a simple roast chicken for dinner - midweek. Served with roast vegetables, steamed greens and gravy.

We tried a few new 'chicken nugget' recipes. Served with lemon roasted potatoes, tzatziki, garlic yoghurt sauce and always, a salad.

We cooked chickpea and feta fritters and greek zucchini fritters. Served with a herbs salad, tomato and olive salad and leftover tzatziki and garlic yoghurt sauce

During the coldest week we have had, Spunky Monkey decided to make fruit iceblocks before school one day. This is how I found him in the kitchen. We were out of yoghurt, so he had decided to use milk instead.

They were well received that afternoon after school - despite the chilly temperatures.

We boiled some fresh peanuts that we had been given by a friend. Go here to see how I cooked them, or to learn more about boiled peanuts. Apparently they are not to everyone's taste!?

My husband cooked me this breakfast on Sunday morning. Poached eggs, garden spinach, roasted mushrooms and feta on rye. And my all important, Sunday morning, strong black coffee.

We had fun making homemade pizzas with some leftovers

We made pancakes for breakfast on Saturday.

What have you and your family been cooking this week?

Another week

2011-08-26T12:42:00.017+10:00

Another week has past in a blur.

This time of year is always very busy for us - many birthdays and anniversaries.

Dinner out to celebrate two birthdays. Big family lunch at our house on Sunday to celebrate three birthdays. Chocolate coffee cake was made and enjoyed. Book Week costume making and a parade. Grandparents Day at Kindy - savoury muffins were baked. Fun reading mornings at school. Birthday presents to be bought and hidden. Our little friends birthday presents to be bought and wrapped. Birthday parties to plan. Fathers Day celebrations to be organised.

And a bit of op shopping and coffee with a friend this morning to keep me sane.

I hope you are enjoying your week too.

Book week

2011-08-25T12:47:00.006+10:00

This morning we had Spunky Monkey's 'book week' parade at school.

Last year, the parade was cancelled. Last year he wanted to go as the tiny seed.

This year, he wanted to go as the tiny seed. We went through some of our favourite books on the book shelf. Ideas were put forth: Charlie (and Lola), the Hungry Caterpillar, Donald Duck, Blinky Bill, the Fly, Knuffle Bunny, Harry the dog, Max... or the tiny seed. Every day for a week I double checked: "Yep Mum, the tiny seed"

On that very first night that we discussed 'book week', he went and pulled the fabric from the cupboard that he already had in mind for the costume. Some half finished, maroon, velour jumper that I had collected in one of my 'fill a bag for $1.00' op shop raids. I drew up a design and got the approval to go ahead. I had intended to put elastic at the top and bottom to make it look more seed like, but as I don't really like sewing, I skipped it, the costume only needed to last the hour after all.

In a sea of costumes (Little Red Riding Hoods, Pirates, Princesses, Tin Men, Dorothy's, Harry Potters, a brilliant Queen of Hearts and a Mad Hatter to rival Johnny Deep himself ) my son stood proud, in his original choice. Sticking firm to who he is (my little nature boy - simple, uninfluenced). My tiny seed.

It wasn't the best costume in the place. But he loved it and I loved him in it. I asked him, when he put it on, "do you like it?"

"It's perfect!"

This week - our rhythm

2011-08-19T10:04:00.011+10:00

This last week has been a bit of a blur. In seven days we have done this:

• this book arrived - just now. Hot off the press!
• I have been to the library four times
• we have watched the complete series of "Escape to River Cottage" on DVD
• we have had to two hairdresser appointments, one teacher appointment, one bank appointment and one doctors appointment.
• I have bought eight new books, some from the op shop and the others on line: this one and this one
• the children had a fun afternoon having professional photos taken at Grandma's place. Followed by a delicious afternoon tea: lemon cake, pumpkin scones, mini orange cakes, and chocolate strawberries
• one night we ate out at Mum's restaurant for dinner
• we spent a lovely morning at a friends place for a playdate
• we took Mum out for breakfast to her favourite cafe on her birthday - the traditional big breakfast, great coffee, glorious sunshine and kids happily playing in the park
• I have been to the grocery shop 4 times - once I forgot my purse and two other times I forgot my shopping list so I came home with only half of what I needed.
• I have baked gingernuts and apple crumble
• we have made homemade pizzas together
• we had a date night out: a yummy Thai dinner and this movie
• we went on a picnic by the river (picnic chicken, salad, gingernuts, strawberries and orange wedges) Just as we laid out the food, a big black cloud came up from behind and it started pouring rain. We ended up eating our picnic lunch in the car on our laps.
• we went fishing, but didn't catch anything
• I did some on-line shopping at 3:00am
• we played board games and did new puzzles
• the boys have been on three early morning bike rides
• we have visited two community gardens
• I have been op shopping and going to garage sales
• we went to a farmers market and bought lots of yummy local fruit and vegetables
• we went to a school carnival and ran into friends, which was nice
• I have almost finished reading this book, the first book I have read in 2 years. Thanks Michelle for blogging about it.
• I went to our first 'craft night' in 6 months.
• the kids had a pupil free day, mid-week.
• I have done seven loads of washing
• we have visited this cafe twice - it has the best coffee around.

Tonight we are going out for dinner to celebrate my Dad's and his girlfriends birthday's (Happy Birthday Nora) and this weekend I am hoping to............ breath.

Our table

2011-08-15T12:50:00.003+10:00

I'm loving our kitchen table right now, laden with colour.

The last lemons and grapefruits from Grandma's tree.

Nasturtiums picked by my daughter from Grandma's garden.

Wattle from the roadside.

Oranges from a friend.

Books and blankets

2011-08-14T13:28:00.004+10:00

Some of my op shop finds from the last couple of weeks.

Firstly - two, like brand new, lolly pink wool blankets. I didn't need them, but for $8.00 each I could not leave them in the shop.

Secondly, some new (old) books. I have been avoiding the book section in op shops for ages as I have run out of bookshelf space. No problem, they are now piling up on the children's bedside tables.

I could not resist these finds. The eat your carrots book is a scream:

Eat your carrots, Sally

Please Sally, don't pick your nose

Clean your teeth, Sally

Put your bike away, Sally

Don't play with the television, Sally

(the picture here is of an old eighties TV with dials and knobs - I was always being told this)

And not really blankets or books, just some pretty patterned flannelette pillow cases - 50 cents each.

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

Happy Birthday Mum

2011-08-13T08:02:00.011+10:00

I wish I could give you an armful of parrot tulips.

I wish I could give you boxes of the finest Belgian chocolates.

I wish I could fly you to an exotic location for a long holiday.

But all we can give, is us, lots of love, big hugs and huge kisses.

And breakfast at your favourite cafe.

See you soon!

Happy Birthday Mum. Thank-you for always being there.

(the tulip photo is from here. You must go visit - beautiful, beautiful)

Art, inspiration and 'family draw' time

2011-08-12T12:45:00.011+10:00

(original works by Robert Holcombe)

Last weekend we went to the opening of a art exhibition. Unfortunately, we don't often get a chance to do this, but we really liked the work of the artist, so made the effort this time. I do love a good exhibition opening, always such a fun event and this one was no different. Happy chatting and mini hazelnut bundt cakes, organic Colombian coffee to warm our bones and inspiration abound.

(original works by Mr Moo)

Mr Moo is a graphic designer but hasn't done anything in the way of 'art' - forever. His style is very organic, much like the artist from the exhibition. I think he was just a little inspired. He doesn't get a lot of spare time in his day (read - none) and he doesn't have a little studio in the back yard to disappear to. But... I told him that if he just doodled a little everyday (this advice was inspired by this amazing lady) then who knows what will come of it.

Mr Moo and I have been discussing this family drawing concept a lot recently. Where the whole family sits down for a period of time and draws together. We have done it before, but it is rare that all four of us sit down at the same time. We have been wanting to connect this way again. We have noticed that Spunky Monkey is not drawing so much as he once did, and often when I ask him to draw something he says that he can't do it, eg: "I don't know how to draw an elephant"

(original work by Miss Moo Moo - shopping picture - you will see sausages, a loaf of bread, fruit: a pineapple, an apple, an orange, pineapple juice and milk)

Last night dinner was delayed and we had 10 minutes to wait for our roast chicken to finish cooking. I suggested Mr Moo read a story with the kids, but luckily, for all involved he turned around to me and said, "how about family drawing time?"

We all had so much fun and got so involved with our drawings, sharing colours and offering advice, that I almost forgot about the chicken. Then today I got this e-mail from Mr Moo:

Hi, I just wanted to say that the family all drawing together was a good thing - the kids really enjoyed it, and after years of not doing any art I finally did some and got something out of it as well. I want to do more of this, maybe a weekend thing. Love Mr Moo

I don't think that there could be a better plan.

Vintage sheet FQ swap

2011-08-09T12:49:00.024+10:00

This morning I pulled out all of my vintage sheets to see which ones I could part with.

I am very excited to be part of the second 'vintage sheet FQ swap' being hosted by Green Tea and Red Nails.

I dusted off my rarely used cutting mat to cut my fat quarters.

I have ended up with seven fat quarters to go in the post this afternoon. I had picked out at least five more, but in the end I just wasn't ready to cut them up.

Miss Moo Moo and I are keeping a quiet day here today. We've done a couple of loads of washing, had friends for tea and pikelets and easy fettuccine carbonara is planned for dinner.

Would it be a bad thing if we curled up under the blanket to watch this movie before picking Spunky Monkey up from school?

And then there were two

2011-08-08T14:54:00.003+10:00

Congratulations to Kate - the winner of Masterchef 2011.

Australians, have you been watching too?

It was great to see Kate going from strength to strength throughout the series. She is a brilliant and clever cook. If someone had put that carrot/snowman dish in front of me and asked me to make it, I would have passed out.

I had secretly wanted Kate to win. Of course I did, we are close in age and are both stay at home mothers who love to cook. I had read on the Masterchef website that she didn't go into cooking as a career because of the hospitality hours, me too! I guess I could relate to her.

What amazing support she must have had for her to be able to follow this dream. Being away from her children for 14 weeks would have been a hard thing to do. She has said that she wanted to be a role model for her children, to show them that you can do anything that you put your mind to.

As Gary said on the show last night, she was not only a role model for her family, but to to all of us.

Good for you Kate, proving that anything is possible, whatever your dreams.

More Martha Stewart

2011-08-07T07:11:00.014+10:00

I can't seem to get Martha Stewart's garden out of my mind.

We don't really watch TV in the morning, but one day a couple of months ago I switched on and discovered The Martha Stewart Show on at 7:30 am. On that first show that I saw, Martha was giving a tour of her beautiful gardens, grounds and stables at her home, Cantitoe Corners in Bedford.

You can see a similar tour of her garden and stables here. Read more about Cantitoe Corners here, or see a few more photos here.

I want one too. Please. Pretty Please.

Here's what I love about her garden.

• a cutting garden - flowers to picked just for the house
• a thriving vegetable patch
• a tree lined, hedged driveway
• daffodils and bulbs planted under the deciduous trees
• weeping willows on the wetlands
• live stock and a chicken palace - know as a coop to you and me
• an orchard
• a large barn for parties - Martha uses the stables, but I'm not a horsey kind of girl
• a guest house in the woods
• her use of recycled timbers - the fences were brought down from Canada and remade on her farm
• and so much more.....

I know we are not all Martha Stewart, we (I) don't have an inexhaustible budgets and an army of workers to work our land (I don't even have land!)

But inspiration has been found.

Wouldn't you like to wander the grounds of Cantitoe Corners too?

(All images are from Martha's blog)

Having a 'sick holiday' today

2011-08-03T14:09:00.005+10:00

I have both of my children home from school today. More for recuperating than anything else. It has meant that they (not me) are still in their pajama's and the TV has been on since early this morning. At about 11:00am, Spunky Monkey, who hadn't eaten all morning, requested I make pancakes. Instead of pancakes, I cooked these Irish griddle scones that we had seen on The Martha Stewart Show yesterday morning.

I don't know how they eat them in Ireland, but we all stood at the kitchen bench and ate them smothered with golden syrup or maple syrup. Yummy.

Miss Moo Moo is calling this our 'sick holiday'.

It does seem to be a bit of a holiday. I have just peaked into the family room, the kids are quiet, snuggled and cuddling on a single mattress, under the doona; two tiny heads sticking out watching ABC kids.

I secretly love these kind of sick days. I know they will be feeling better tomorrow after this day of rest. (well, I hope so) As for me, I'm about to bake a batch of cookies and do a bit of crafting.

A holiday? Indeed.

My Symphony

2011-08-01T09:45:00.012+10:00

My Symphony

To live content with small means.

To seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion.

To be worthy not respectable, and wealthy not rich.

To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes, and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.

In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.

This is to be my symphony.

I saw this poem on someone's blog just recently. I'm sorry, I can't remember which one it was? But If you are reading, I thank-you. I loved it so much I thought I'd better share it here too.

It is by William Ellery Charring.

Flea market finds...

2011-07-31T16:37:00.013+10:00

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...

2011-07-30T10:16:00.012+10:00

(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

2011-07-26T09:51:00.012+10:00

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

2011-07-25T10:21:00.030+10:00

(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...

2011-07-23T13:41:00.003+10:00

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

2011-07-22T17:00:00.020+10:00

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

2011-07-20T10:20:00.002+10:00

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

2011-07-19T15:44:00.043+10:00

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)