Busy Gnomes

Advent

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:21:00 +0000

This year I decided that I would make an German Advent calender for each child, everyday they would receive a little gift, to mark the day.

I should have known that it is nearly impossible for me to make the same thing twice, let alone fours times.

So one between four. they are very good a sharing. They have to be!

It sounded like a good idea until I did the maths, um, 28 pressies x four, gulp, oh my, wayyyyy to much brain power for this little treat.

So the list of little pressies included:
beautiful stones
out for tea
Lyra crayons and pencils
out for tea
matchbox cars
stamps
out for tea
chocolate
I think you get the picture.

Our nativety table, For the first week of advent, the mineral kingdom is honoured, beautiful stones placed around the stable.

The second week, the plant kingdom, fresh roses from the garden are gathered.

The third week, the animal kingdom, the fences are made and straw is brought in.

The fourth week, Mary, Joseph and the donkey, make their way to the stable, their journey starts at the top of our stairs, and the angel, so beautifully made by Cadi, slowly drops down day by day to the stable bringing baby Jesus.

What dreams are made of

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:41:00 +0000

Our garden in all her glory,
10 years ago, Our dream was to turn this bare paddock into our garden of eden, and like every gardener, it's still not there yet. But as I look around and see the tall manor gums soaring to the sky, Joey building makeshift cubbies in the hedges, Jim catching frogs and lizards, the orchard bursting with fruit and baby blue wrens in the lavender.

I realise how lucky we really are, to see with my very own eyes, what I had dreamed for, for my children.

The party dress

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 08:36:00 +0000

Besides, socks, jocks and shoes, I've never bought clothes for my children, I've either being given hand-me-downs or it's the clothes I've made for them, I feel really good about that fact.
But for a bit of indulgents, I figure every girl, whatever age, should have one good dress just for party's, whenever the occasion arises.

This is Alice's party dress, beautiful pink dupioni silk complete with angels wings.

I smocked the yoke, bishop style, it is, perhaps, my favourite syle of smocking, dainty glass beads and silk leaves, vines and knots compliment the smocking.

Yes, Alice really does believe she can fly.

Jim's Birthday Party

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:13:00 +0000

This year Jim decided he wanted a fishing birthday party, I tried my darnest to talk him out of it, I was so not ready to give up the birthday party at home thingy.

Well he was, he said 'I don't want girls at my party and I don't want to get dressed up', this comming from my boy who's best friend in prep and grade one was a girl, a gorgeous girl too boot, I'm picking her as my future daughter-in-law, I think arranged marriages are not such a bad idea,( no I haven't had too much to drink!) I mean, you know, DNA is important, and I'm thinking about my future grandchildren.

Okay, I better stop, or my free thinking Steiner friends will tie me up.

So we went to Tuki trout farm, with 9 of his friends, and it was fun.

Secretly, I'll admit that it was nice not having to stay up half the night before, making costumes and party food.
We had a bbq for lunch and the chicken schnitzel burgers went down a treat.

And for a lolly bag?
The boy's got to take their 'catch' home for tea, they were grinning from ear to ear, all that hunter/gatherer stuff , you know.

The birthday cake

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:38:00 +0000

What is with boy's and hammers?

When I asked Jim what cake he would like, straight away he said a soccer cake mum, one that I can smash and it's full of lollies.

This is the third time I've made this sort of cake, I wonder who will ask for it next year?

It better not be Alice!

True happiness is in giving

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:38:00 +0000

Joseph's beautiful basket.
His prep teacher Jacinta is leaving, so he wanted to give this to her, which crushed me, because I wanted to keep it, who knows when he'll do another one!
Well I guess I should focus on the positive, and be gratful that I have generous children.

The tulips have been and gone now, I planted them the year Alice was born, The packet said colourful mix. About a week before Alice was due the first tulip pop out it's head, and it was pink, and I wondered then, wondered if that was a sign.

This reminds me that a need to post two more birthdays partys, they are well over but if I don't post them, well, you'll think I'm playing favourites.

Basket weaving

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:31:00 +0000

I'm sure the troubles of the world could solved by following this recipe:

Gather a group of like-minded woman, with the purpose of crafting together,

share a lovely morning tea together,

order a day of sunshine, and let the children run outside...free....

I know I felt good feelings.

This little one, decided that he wanted to make a basket too, and so resisted the urge to run with the other children and sat and weaved and watched and listened, for the whole day.

I'll show you his basket tomorrow.

Babe

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:07:00 +0000

Now that's one big pig!
The children spied this pig in a backyard on our way to the Otway's

Jim trying his hand at catching fish.

View from up here

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:02:00 +0000

Glorious Mountain Ash.

Paradise

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:53:00 +0000

We had lunch at Paradise Falls, the children all filled their water bottles with fresh mountain water, this walk is great with little ones, there are ten crossings over the stream usually stepping stones sometimes logs (argh!) .

There's a sense of accomplishment for the children, everytime we cross the stream, their faces glowing.

Skimming stones

If I could live anywhere it would be on Paradise road, Appollo Bay.
5minutes to the sea, 5mins to the mountains, and this stream running through your property.

Where is your dream place to live?

Spring

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

What a wonderful spring it has been so far, rain, glorious rain every few days, it feels like the wettest spring for a long time.

Everyone say's that plants are more drought tolerant than you might think, and they would be right, but I can tell you when it rains day after day and the ground soaks it up, and the dams and water tanks are overflowing, the plants, I tell you, are jumping out of the ground, my roses have never look that lush before, the foliage as you look around, is so alive and to breathe in that sweet sweet air.

Oh how we love spring.

My vegetable patch is overflowing with our winter crop, all sorts of lettuce, spring onions, cauliflowers, spinach, silverbeet, cabbage, garlic,brocolli, broad beans.
Tonight we made brocolli soup, I think I cooked up ten heads!
extra went into the freezer.

Heading to the beautiful Otways for the weekend to do some much needed tree hugging.
Have a wonderful weekendxx

Good weather for dyeing

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:37:00 +0000

I'm making a indoor cubby for Joseph's prep class at school.

My intention is to hem and gather the top onto a wooden ring, very free flowing looking!.

In prep at our school (steiner) the prep year so very magical, their play really takes on a different role compared to kinder.

I still fondly think of Jim's year in prep.

Friendships are built, plane's from upturn tables and chairs are built, dolls are lovingly cared for.

Their day starts with a veil painting 'wet on wet' painting, the children are given one maybe two paints to choose from, I get such a kick out of seeing what they can paint with just one colour, the light and dark of the shade, beautiful.

Then there is circle time, songs, verses, dance happen, usually seasonal.

Then outdoor play

A warm lavender foot bath when the children come in, each child has their own tub, apparently you can tell a lot about the child by their feet, or so say's their teacher.

Sitting down to a blessing of our meal then a cooked morning tea, rice pudding or apple crumble.

Then indoor play

Story time, usually a fairytale by Grimm's brother's. A candle is lit, The story is told not read, and with simple props, The story is retold for three days, and alway with reverence.

indoor play usually with dress-up's and usually about the story they have just heard.

Lunch time, the children bring their own lunch which is placed on a plate and they sit around a table.

Play outside.

Craft, at the moment they are making god's eyes

Rest time, the teacher is a world renowned Harpist, so they get to rest to beautiful music playing.

Hometime.

This is our cubby in our playroom.

Now for a bit of a laugh, these are the pants I made today, for me, the pattern said that I'll be good to go in a couple of hours, I wonder where they had in mind? I'm thinking the circus!

So clearly it will take a week to fix them, I'll keep you posted:)

Birthday Boy

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:56:00 +0000

Ahh, my sweet baby boy is four, he wishes that he was as big as his brothers, I wish he was just a newborn again.

He is our 'pocket rocket', I know, it looks like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

When Flynn was born, like all babies he cried, the walls shook and my quietly spoken husband just looked at me, what did I care, I was in love, and I guess you see what you want to see or hear. Sometimes I worry, like when he is at school, he'll alway's be in trouble because it will be his voice that you will hear first.

Flynn is our comedian, laugh, he can make anyone laugh, He has such a fun, open way.

Thankyou Flynn for choosing us to be your family,
thankyou for the roses everyday,
thankyou for being you, my heart bursts with love for you.
Happy 'birth' day Flynn.

When I have said my evening prayer,
and folded my clothes upon the chair,
and mother switches off the light,
I'll still be 3 years old tonight,
but by the very breack of day,
before the children rise and play,
before the greeness turns to gold,
I'll be four years old today,
four kisses when I wake,
four candles on my cake.

mama xxx

Flynn's Fourth Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:13:00 +0000

Flynn's Birthday theme was "come dressed as your favourite animal", there were frogs, dingo's crocodiles, rabbits and of course Flynn went as "Steve Irwin" our beloved crocodile hunter(saver).

Auntie Col, made this wonderful lion's dress-up, mane is to be added.

Dan led the way with song's, five fat sausages, Hokey pokey, farmer in the dell and more,

Lunch

birthday second part

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:33:00 +0000

The story was Flynn's favourite, Three billy goats gruff.

He absolutely love's the end bit;

Sniff, snap, snout,

this tales told out.

Flynn wanted the same cake as he had last year, a hard hat that he get's to crack with a hammer, and lollies spill out everwhere.

A Day Out

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:23:00 +0000

Sovereign Hill, right here in our town, is a leading tourist attraction. It depicts the Gold rush era of this area in 1851. We are reading The Night We Made the Flag at the moment, it is a beautiful, beautiful book.

Over winter they try to turn it into a winter wonderland, This is Sovereign Hill's idea of snow, foaming bubbles! It's a laugh.

The boys dressed up, they are reinacting the convicts aboard the ship from England.

Sweet Alice ready for the voyage.

We come here often as we have a yearly pass, it's fun for the children, they get to make candles, ride the clydedales and or course pan for gold- it's very addictive, you can almost feel the gold fever comming on!

February lady cardi

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:48:00 +0000

Well I've finally finished what's been on my needles since march.

Everytime I visit 'A friend to knit with' in blog world, she has a new jumper knitted every week, I swear EVERY WEEK.

Can you tell I'm jealous?

So this pattern is February Lady
I knitted it in 5ply alpaca yarn, it's beautifully soft and light perfect for the weather we're having right now.

And in case your wondering, I am going to knit a pint size one for my little girl......I just can't help myself!

Fathers Day

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:46:00 +0000

Happy Father's Day Dan,
Thankyou for still smiling when I didn't wake up till 9.00am this morning.
Thankyou for not expecting breakfast in bed (that was the plan).
Thankyou for letting Alice eat most of your fish tonight. Next time I will order her own plate of food.
You were born to be a Dad, and everyday, everyday I am grateful that you are beside me, on this journey, because you are the strength of this family, and I couldn't do it without you.

Spring has sprung

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:05:00 +0000

The first of the lambs, born the day before, doesn't he look healthy

This clever Mama had twins!. Jim got to come and watch one of the sheep giving birth, His words were 'wow".

Oxtail Soup with basil pesto. This is my favourite winter soup, don't be put off by the name, it really is delicous.
1.5 kg ox tail
2 leek
4 rasher bacon
2 carrots
2 parsnip
2 potato
beef stock.
2 celery sticks
brown the oxtail peices, set aside.
saute the leek and bacon together and the veges all chopped finely, add oxtails back to the pan. add enough stock to cover, simmer for 2 hours till meat falls off the bone.
remove the ox tails and pull the meat from the bones add back to pan, add some parsley.
pesto:
small buch of basil
1/4 cup pinenuts
1/4 olive oil (I think, maybe more)
3 garlic
1/4 parmason cheese
whizz together in food processor
swirl a dollop through the soup when serving.
The pesto is a must, it really lifts the soup adding zing to a slow cooked soup.
ENJOY

Clothes for the first born

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:37:00 +0000

Well I can't believe I'm admitting this.....I own a knitting machine. There I said it.
It was my Mum's, I used to give her such a hard time about using it, I'd sit there handknitting ( my barbies had the most amazing wardrobe) in my Holier than thou voice, and say "I just doesn't look or feel right, it's cheating mum".
Well, I was wrong, 10year olds don't know everything.
I can knit a jumper like this in about an hour on the machine, come to think of it, Jim knitted most of it.
It takes longer to sew it together:)
My dear friend Sue, colour combination extraordinare over at Hawthorne Cottage dyed it for me.
The wool is a new wool from CSIRO, called optim wool, so it's soft merino wool that they somehow stretch so it behaves more like longwool, which makes it have a beautiful lustre, so the best of both worlds, lustre and softness, no prickle factor at all.

I love these pants, how long do you think I can keep Jim in plaid?
The pattern is in this years Ottobre for kids.
I've got some lovely wool denim fabric, I might do another pair.

Little red riding hood.

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:10:00 +0000

As you can see I did add a skirt, I get way too excited about sewing for this one.
Luckily she is not opinionated about what she wears.
It's probably wise though that the boys refuse to let me dress them, otherwise they would all look like Christopher Robin. According to the children's uncle, smock tops are not appropriate for boys over two.
What nonsense!.

Joseph's Six Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:42:00 +0000

I originally made the dragons hat that Flynn's wearing, when I foolishly asked Joseph the next day if he like his hat,he said a soft yes, and as Mothers do best, we probe further.
Joseph then asked if I could still sew well, and I proudly said yes, and then he annouced that he really wanted fierce eyes and bone-crunching teeth that go snap!
Oh, is what I said, I was thinking worse.
Could you make it Mama? he said
I think I mumbled yes as I went back to the sewing room
Next time I'll be more humble with my reply.

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:20:00 +0000

The theme for Joseph's party was ' come dressed as your favourite fairytale character'. Do you like Joe's?, I stayed up all night making 'take 2' of the dragons costume and he wore it for a whole 2 minutes.

Dan set up a gauntlet course, scrambling under nets, walking the plank, and through the dangerous scisser-action knives operated by the show-no-mercy eight year old boys.

Sickness

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 05:32:00 +0000

Well, it hasn't been much fun around here lately, three children and one Dad all with whooping cough.
I think we've turned a corner though.
See you in this space soon, I've got lots to catch up on.

The mom's song

noreply@blogger.com (busygnomes) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:49:00 +0000

This song is a laugh, If you're a mum have a listen.