Busy Gnomes

first day of school

2012-02-13T22:34:00.001-08:00

This day has been a long time coming. Flynn's first day of school.

Excitement mounting.

Can you pick my barometer child?

Grins from ear to ear.

You know, I haven't been in this space much, it's not that I had nothing to share, but I think when my stress levels rise, I retreat. But I do need to give you an update.

Last year, well the last two years, have been huge for us. We decided to send our children to another Steiner school, in search of a Steiner high school, which meant many sacifices, we had a school week house, and our home in ballarat on the weekends, you can read about it here.and here.

We had been patiently waiting for Flynn to get a spot in his year as it was full. This meant that he missed out on prep. At the time I thought this would be okay, as it is home based in it's routine.
But what I didn't think of is that Flynn needs to come everyday to drop the other kids off and pick up, he would see his friends and ask when it would be his turn.

Even though we did fun stuff like horseriding, bushwalking, campfires, crafting and cooking, he never understood why he was not embraced by the school as his siblings were. Flynn would try his best at writing and say "I'll take this in to the teachers so they can see I can write, then they will let me come to their school"

Heartbreaking, For me, this was not how a Steiner school should behave.

So, I wrote a letter to the college, and the response was the chance was remote, as there were other children before us, even though we already had children at the school.

So.......I happened to be reading a newsletter belonging to our old school, and saw an ad about a farmhouse in a valley on a river in a rainforest, in New South Wales, and so I rang, out of the blue. It turns out that the house is walking distance to a Steiner school, through the rainforest.

So then I rang the school, Chrysalis, Who would have thought that your life can change with just a phone call. The first question I asked was will you take all four children? I had to find a school that was open to us all.

So we went on a road trip, 1500km there, but it was fun, and we needed some fun:)

Thora valley is out of my dreams, I can't believe this place existed, and that I knew nothing about before.

I have always wished to live in a rainforest, on a gravel bottom river. And of late had been wishing that I could find a house close to the school to walk, maybe a farmhouse.

Can you believe it?

Well I had to convince Dan, he saw the road trip as a holiday, and indulged me with the idea of moving there. Well when I got there, as beautiful as it is, I realised how huge this idea was, and that I would have to sell my beautiful home, the one that I built with the thought of handing it on to our children. They would be the fourth generation on this land.

Could I let down my children? Be the one that it stops with, can I live with that?

part two coming tomorrow.....

Australia Day

2012-01-27T01:42:00.001-08:00

It made me smile when I heard they were serving vegemite sandwiches and lamingtons in the commentry box at the cricket today.

I like my pavalova crunchy on the outside and meringue in the centre, this one is not too sweet.
Recipe: 6 egg whites at room temp.
pinch cream of tartar
1&3/4 cup of caster sugar
1 teas vanilla
2 teas white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon cornflour
Beat the egg white and cream of tartar till soft peaks, add caster sugar one tablespoon at a time it will be thick and glossy, and take about 10mins. Add vanilla, vinegar and cornflour, till just mixed. spoon out on to round baking tray lined with baking paper. about 30cm in diameter. Bake in slow oven 125-150c for a hour, turn off oven and leave door ajar for another 2 hours. Spead whipped cream over when cold, and decorate with whatever ever fruit you like, my kiddo's love passionfruit, strawberrys, mango, and raspberries.

Yum.

This song always makes a lump in the throat, I guess we all know someone which the song is singing about:

christmas day with the willett's

2012-01-02T00:40:00.001-08:00

Miss alice, trying out her new scooter.

We alternate Christmas lunch each year between my family and Dan's, because of the distance. This year it was back home with my family.

Dan used to comment on how loud, overbearing, criticise and bring you back to earth,( like only your sisters can). But I think he has gotten used to it after 18years.

It can drive me crazy how polite, well mannered, only talk about the weather or footy, Dan's family can be. I usually throw a thought provoking sentence out there or talk about the latest conspiracy in the world, and watch them crawl under the table...

This is my mum, Shirley, I used to cringe at the thought of looking like my mum, but let's face it, we all start to look like our mum sooner or later.

And that's okay by me.

Young Joseph coming in for a quick ((hug)).

Joseph is eight

2011-10-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

Eight times around the sun, Happy Birthday my sweet gentle boy.

Ten things you might not know about Joseph:

If he could paint himself invisible he would.

Knows instinctively what people are thinking.

Prefers people to think that he knows nothing about anything, he even has his teacher fooled.

Loves to paint

Loves to make

Loves a cup of tea,

Prefers the company of meercat and scruffy (kitten and dog)

Loves rice pudding, and stirring the other children.

Would love to own his own canoe,

needed two hours in the bath by himself after his birthday party, I'm guessing to reflect.

Looks like me

In the Weekly Times

2011-08-24T21:51:00.001-07:00

Well, I forgot to mention that I now have a walk in shop, called Gathering, with two other lovely ladies, Lisa and Louise:)
We have a write up in the Weekly times, you can find it here.

Winter soltiste

2011-08-19T03:07:00.000-07:00

The night was as still as can be, all the stars were twinkling in the night sky. There was much excitement in all the quietness.

Thoughts for the day

2011-07-22T03:09:00.001-07:00

::wondering where three weeks of school holidays have gone.
::feeling that my head has been in the clouds for most of that time.
::accepting that sometimes, you can't be fully present.
::happy that we are all together as a family.
::loving this song right now.
::smiling at the sun today:)
::grateful for friends and their act's of kindness,
::wishing that Flynn will get a spot at school soon.....
::living out of pure trust.
::knowing that change is apart of life,
::learning to let go.

warm clothes

2011-06-13T18:02:00.000-07:00

Jim needed some warm casual clothes, made from thick cotton fleece, from Hilco in germany, I don't think I've put it in the shop yet....

I think I just get away with this ribbon, I wonder how long he will let me make his clothes, at the moment he is very proud of the fact.

another reason why I love castlemaine

2011-06-07T03:31:00.000-07:00

I'm at 1.30 in a red dress at the back with the kiddo's.
How many supermarkets does this happen at?.

Alice's party dress

2011-05-30T03:04:00.000-07:00

I made this dress for last summer, and now it's autumn, and I'm posting it. Am I the only one who forget's their blog?, yet I want it as a journal of our lives, of my crafty adventures, but I'm so hit and miss. I wonder if I took the challenge of posting everyday for a month, I wonder if I would better at it, that daily rhythmn.

Back to the dress, I was making the feliz dress today, in a rush, thinking that we are going to a bush dance this weekend at Campbells creek, and thought that Alice needed a twirly dress for the occasion. Then I remembered that I had this one, and put the feliz in the corner and went and jumped on the trampoline with the kiddo's.

Back to the dress, beautiful sky blue clipped voile, with an underskirt in a brighter blue. Fully smocked front, and meters of lace, silk ribbon and pin tucks.
What more could a girl want:)

More of Molly

2011-05-10T02:01:00.001-07:00

Alice is still in love with Molly, when I look at Molly, I smile, which is a very good thing, usually I only notice all the areas that I could improve on, which means that they them spend a lot of time on my sewing table.

And then I 'm unsure what to do, because really, they have developed their own look and way, because of the love the child gives them, I then wonder what to do. If I try to fix them how I see they should be, there's a chance that my child would say what has happened to "Tom".

I wonder what other people do.

Molly's clothes fabrics came right out of my shop, and the shoe pattern is from saartjes booties,
Alice had a pair when when was born.
Sadly Saartjes doesn't post anymore, put her blog is still open.

Which brings me to another thought. I love this blogging world, people opening up, talking about stuff they wouldn't share with their neighbours. You actually feel a closeness with your fellow blogger.

And then they stop.

No warning, no goodbye,

They just don't exist in your world anymore, you can't ring them up or knock on their door, just to check that they're still alive....

And then I grieve, first I'm worried, then sad, then hurt, that they think it's alright to just stop. where would the blogging world be without their readers?

Some Mama's have revolutionize the idea of stay at home mums. There is always impact.

Imagine if this happened in amongst your circle of 'real' friends.

There has to be give and take, there has to be understanding.

Meet Molly

2011-04-08T03:33:00.001-07:00

Last year I signed up to do a virtual doll-making class with Juliane over at froken-skicklig, and even though I had made dolls before, I was nervous...... We had to commit to 7hours a week for 4 weeks. I think I took five.

Even though it was intense, I learnt so much, Juliane, really "sees" them, and thinks outside the square.

Molly is of good proportion, she sits unaided, has a life-sized head, and she loves piggy-backs

.

Afternoon tea in the garden.

I'm so glad I finished Molly, I was planning on giving Molly to Alice for her fourth birthday later this year. But Alice took such an interest in me making her, carrying around just the head, then the limbs, and watching intently as a sewed her features, that I couldn't place poor Molly in the present cupboard for six months, how gloomy that would be for Molly.
p.s the next post, will be more of molly.......

A boy's best friend

2011-03-27T02:13:00.001-07:00

I actually make Flynn's little friend a while ago, I'm big on making, not posting.

This is our wool from our sheep. It's as soft as soft. The chocolate brown is from our two precious, but disobedient brown sheep.

The pattern, is from Alan Dart, he is a UK designer, I love his patterns, they are detailed but very easy to follow, and work everytime.
Take a look at these mice........ might be a easter/autumn project......too cute!

the last of summer

2011-03-20T03:55:00.000-07:00

Long three day weekend, called for a beach break down at lorne, we were so lucky with the weather, I can count on one hand how many sunny weekends we have had this summer.

But, really, I would prefer rain over searing heat and bushfires.

This one, loving catching those waves.

Happy for a speed ride.

the last of summer.

Clearing

2011-02-19T15:54:00.001-08:00

It's time to make our weekday house more like home, to make it ours. we decided some of our trees needed to go.
and before you gasp! not real trees like oaks, cedars or elms, I'd move a house before I'd remove those trees, just prunus plums and fortinias and cypress.

The lorax.....

I love this little village we live in, and so do the children, I've lived half my life in a town that would now be called a city, but at the time I didn't see it that way.

The country life is in my blood, and even though I tried and succeeded in creating my own bit of paradise in the city,what was missing was community. The people here are engaged, they are strong and dynamic, and I love it.

the community truck.

The gathering apron's

2011-02-11T20:04:00.000-08:00

This little pixie, who never conform's, decided to come up with his own way to wear the apron's, which actually worked.

They are great for collecting apple's, eggs, lavender, anything really, and when undone, perfect for kneeling on when gardening.

Thankyou Sarah over at cottage at frog creek for your free tutorial.

money raised

2011-01-30T23:19:00.000-08:00

Well, what an incredible community of crafty women, one I feel very proud to be part of, who would have thought we could raise nearly $100,000.

paul kelly is right, from little things, big things grow.

Take a look at this moving tribute to Jordan Rice, who lost lost his life to save his younger brother, who couldn't swim. And to everyone else who has endured hardships as a result of these floods.

Thankyou Jimbo and Aimee for writing this song and sharing.

blueberry picking

2011-01-30T02:02:00.001-08:00

Well it's close to 40degrees today, we have not had much of a summer, but today in the heat we decided to go blueberry picking.

It actually was cooler in around the bushes.

Tomorrow, I will post about how useful these gathering apron's are.

Jim picked over three kilo's, I said maybe next year he could get a job as a picker.

Those yearly rituals, how the children look forward to them with much delight.

in the mail

2011-01-25T21:29:00.000-08:00

Look what arrived in the mail for me today, aren't those button-brooches so sweet.

The illustrations are done by Mandy Sutcliffe and her shop is belle&boo. Look at those faces, I could just squish them!

With the pound so good at the moment for us Aussie shoppers, I also bought some of her beautiful clothing, I will take photo's of miss alice in her coat soon.

And more exciting news, I just started making my( okay alice's) doll through a virtual classroom with the lovely Juliane over at froken skicklig, her dolls are amazing, they truly seem to come to life, it's like they are whispering come play with me.

As soon as she's done you'll get to meet her.

the winners

2011-01-24T03:19:00.000-08:00

Tamara, quilary and melisa, you have all won, I will email you all tonight with details.
Thankyou everyone for digging deep, If you missed out on your bid you still have time to enter into a raffle, click on the link for queensland floods victims, and it will take you to a list of participating bloggers.

Open for business

2011-01-21T17:11:00.000-08:00

It's open, finally, my new fabric shop bloom fine fabrics and trims.

The plan was to have a shop at our house, we have a big house, and so the dinning room and sitting room with it's big beautiful arch window would be the place. I got a beautiful cypress long table made by my good friend Andrew, also lovely white armchairs, to sink into whilst getting inspired, and shelving made to house the fabrics.

The plan was to do sewing retreats, where people come for a morning or a full day, to learn how to make a girls twirly skirt, corduroy pant's for a boy, kid's backpack, ladies peasant blouse, etc, because what I have noticed over the years, is that there are lot's of people who would like to sew, but lack the condfidence to actually 'do it'.

There would be homemade cakes for morning tea, out on the verandah, over looking the garden, and I imagined lot's of chatter, with show and tell, and sewing.

Then I thought, if it went well, I would shift it to the woolshed, and my thoughts went dreaming of how I could do up the woolshed.....

Well the week before opening, we had quickly, but not hastily, decided that the children needed to go to another school, and the school we had decided on was an hour away.

Which means, that we needed to find some where to live during the week. For the last six months, it's been hard to find inner quietness, my mind has had so many thoughts to deal with.

sigh, and of course my shop would have to go on hold.

So while enjoying our summer holiday's here(In one place), I thought I would revisit the idea of a shop again, at the moment it will be an online shop, and hopefully one day a bricks and mortar shop.

I love fabrics, and this idea came about because there is lack of beautiful fabrics for apparel sewing(well, where I live). Some quilting fabric is fine, it depends on the application, but to make a blouse or flowing dress you need drape & width.

I also decided that I was not going to buy anything made in china, because of child and slave labour, which means I had to source fabric elsewhere.

What some fabric companies are doing is inspiring, where heading in the right direction.

There's free postage within Australia.

May these fabrics inspire you.

footnote: The queensland flood auction ending time has been put forward, it will now close at 9.00pm monday night.

Queensland flood relief auctions

2011-01-14T04:53:00.000-08:00

This week, we have watched with tears in our eyes, of the dreadful flood crisis that engulfed south east Queensland and Brisbane.

So much death and destruction. It's heartbreaking.

Click on the link for a moving tribute gallery of the Queensland flood disaster.

A group of creative women in the blog world have launched a flood refief auction, that runs for one week and will finish on monday 24th at midnight.

Up for auction from my new shop - bloom, is one metre of fabric and one metre of ribbon of your choice.

The three highest bidders will each recieve 1 metre each of fabric and ribbon.

Postage is free in Australia, and capped at $6.00 for international winners. The postage is an donation as well, so if overseas, please add the postage amount to your donation.

how this auction works:

You can place a bid by leaving a comment, please include your email address.
Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.
At the close of auction, I will contact the three winners. The winners will pay the winning amount directly into:
Premiers disaster relief appeal and send me proof of payment via email.

You can see more wonderful auctions by clicking the flood appeal button on the right hand side of this screen.

Thankyou for your generosity.

Queensland flood relief auctions, ribbon, part 1

2011-01-14T04:47:00.000-08:00

1. woven ribbon from Europe. 15mm, love and peace ribbon, design by luzia pimpinella

2. woven ribbon from Europe. 15mm, my favourite ribbon, little red riding hood. design by luzia pimpinella

3. woven ribbon from europe, 16mm, eastwind, this band is inspired by the colours of the world. design by luzia pimpinella.

4. woven ribbon from Europe. 15mm, perfect for soccer fans, design by hamburger lieber

5. woven ribbon from europe. 15mm, gumboot's, umbrella's and mouse's adorn this ribbon, design by mymaki

Queensland flood relief auctions, fabric. part 2

2011-01-14T01:38:00.001-08:00

1. Beautiful cotton poplin fabric from Europe, mauve print of birds, flowers and bow's, white background.140cm wide

2. beautiful cotton poplin fabric from Europe. patchwork squares of checks, dot'sand birds on a tree. red and white, would look lovely as a little girls twirly skirt.140cm wide

3.Stunning large flower print, cotton knit with a touch of elastic, from Europe, 150cm wide

4. Classic European style print,cotton knit with a touch of elastic, from Europe, sky blue background 150cm wide

5. Classic european style print, cotton knit with a touch of elastic, from Europe, peacocks galore on a white background 150cm wide.

Photo's from christmas day

2011-01-13T04:16:00.000-08:00

Christmas morning excitment.

Alice with her baby doll serena. I think serena deserves her own page, more to come.

Jim wanted a mantra ray, so I thought that it lends itself as a cushion, Jim declared the night before christmas, that he wanted a mantra ray the year before, (include a big sigh from jim here) and he was still waiting. Nothing like a bit of guilt to get me sewing.

Alice with her Nanna.

the season for giving

2010-12-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

How sweet are these dragons.

This one is for Mary, Jim's teacher.

This one is for Anne, Joseph's teacher. She adores red.

The pattern is from Winterwood.

All the children would like one for christmas.( it's not going to happen, seeing christmas is tomorrow)

Gifts

2010-12-23T20:08:00.000-08:00

Well school is finished, back home enjoying the sunshine.

This apron was a gift for Alice's playgroup teacher, Tania. I used this pattern. I really like the bias cut, and it was super easy to sew up.

Some Alexander Henry fabric birds straight stiched on to the pockets.

bloom

2010-11-20T18:39:00.000-08:00

Bloom, that's the best word to describe the garden at the moment.

When we arrive back home on fridays, the children scatter in different directions, as soon as the car stops. I don't see them for a good few hours.

I, on the other hand, walk around the garden, wondering what did I miss while I was away. Did I really appreicate this place when I lived here? I think so......

The children and Dan seem so able to shift from one place to another. For me it feels like it takes a day for my soul to find itself again.

My latest affirmation that I say hourly, is "love the one your with".

My tree top climber.

Wet

2010-10-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

Still having trouble blogging, hopefully it's on the improve.

Well I think the drought has finally broken around here, this is our little winter creek, usually you can step over the trickle, not this day!

Jim, trying to catch the big one.

I'm home here in Ballarat for five glorious days.

It's been a few months since we decided to send our children to a different Steiner school. and it has gotten easier.

We are keeping our home in Ballarat, too much of us has gone into this place, to sell it would break my heart. But of course traveling everyday is not ideal with little ones, so we have bought a little cottage in Guildford to live in during the week and then come home on weekends.

It's been hard, I miss my garden, my home, it is the centre of who I am.

Lugging a weeks worth of dirty washing home every weekend, and trying to get it dry in two days, is impossible. Did I tell you how wet it has been?

Imagine how you feel when you are packing up to go on holiday, how there's no head space for anything else. Well I've been packing up every Sunday and unpacking every Monday at the cottage and packing up friday and unpacking Satuday at home.

And because I don't have two of everything yet, I do have to pack everything including the kitchen sink.

Crazy....

But I do feel grateful.

Grateful, that I have this option.
Grateful, that I have found more blessings than I realised.
Grateful, that I see it with new eyes.

Nappy free zone

2010-10-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

For ten years, toes have been tickled, belly-buttons have been kissed, songs have been sung and bottoms have been changed on this change table.

Yet, not one photo I have, of a baby on it.

This piece of funiture has followed me round my house for over a decade, it sat by the fire when my first was born. Then it followed Jim into the nursery.

When Joseph came along, it made it's way to the family room till summer then into the cooler laundry.

Upstairs it went when Flynn was born.

And stayed in the bathroom for the whole time for Alice.

If only furniture could talk.

An outfit for Alice

2010-09-21T04:32:00.000-07:00

I don't normally dress Alice in such vibrant colours, maybe the day was grey and rainy( highly likely) and I needed a lift.

Beautiful fine pinwale cord from Stenzo. The pattern was in last years Autumn Ottobre. I love the pants detail, If only I could get them in my size.

Spanish Day

2010-09-12T04:41:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Multcultural day at our school with a Spanish theme. The language taught at the school has always been French, but this year they changed it to Spanish, so fitting to have a celebration with a Spanish theme.

All the children made a fish pinata.

There was much singing and dancing and eating, and we were lucky that the sun shone down on us.

Smiles everywhere.

Our Studio

2010-08-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

This is where we have been living this last month, It is owned by a family from the school. They lived in it till they built their real house. I could live here forver.
Oh, I forgot about the sugar gliders who do a dance ( and more) every night and all through the night!

Everything has been reclaimed, it is so inspirational. And it runs off solar energy and has a composting toilet which I love, they are fantastic, although Joey thought he could fall through the toilet hole, so I had to hold his hand.

The family are professional muscians, and everynight Ron would come down and play the didgeridoo and tell us stories about catching red bellie black snakes and how a perentie carried him up a tree!

Jim was in awe. The next week he brought along his didge to play along with Ron.

Felted goodie's

2010-08-22T05:26:00.000-07:00

The goodie bag for the children comming to celebrate Joey's birthday, each got a felted friend.

I got the pattern from Etsy, I love e-patterns. Instant!

I made one a night. luckily there were only 12 children ( my four make a big chunk). I wrapped them up for pass the parcel, so there was no fighting about who wanted what.

Isn't he cute!.

Joseph's birthday

2010-08-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

I have a seven year old......... just like that.

My party's always have a theme, and Joseph wanted a dinosaur party.

So..... a dinosaur egg race.

A pin the tail on the dinosaur.

Happy birthday, my sweet sweet boy.

Oh, the magic of those first seven years!

Homelife

2010-08-15T04:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry for being off the radar lately, besides pacing the floor, chewing my nails down to their stumps and all, and blogger hasn't been able to publish my posts.

Last month, I thought I would be here in this house, the home that Dan and I built, built for us and the dream of our family to be. ......forever.

This land, our land is family land, our roots are deep and after 10 years, I can see what a wonderful place we have made here.

But life sometimes throws you a curveball, and I've had enough signs to know that this is the right thing to do.

Friends and family are in shock they can't quite believe we are doing this, so quickly, but you know, there's no need to hesitiate when it's the right decision, right for us.

Flynn and Alice eating our bumper crop of apples, we have not bought an apple since Feburary, and it's August! the last of the crop was eaten tonight. we have a wonderful orchard of snow apples, jonathan, golden delicous, pink lady, lady williams, granny smith.

I love this pattern, I think it's been around for decades.

Fully reversable pinnie. I think you all know my obsession with pinnies.

And I love that it keeps her jumpers clean, much easier to wash a cotton pinnie than a wool jumper.

Farewell,

2010-07-20T03:21:00.000-07:00

For the last couple of weeks my head has been in a whirl and my stomach doing backflips.

We have been deciding what to do with Schooling for our children, We love the Steiner way, this is the philosophy we live by.

We love our little school, it's the childrens second home, Jim has been there since playgroup, which has made making this decision so much harder.

Sometimes the hardest decision, is the right one..........who said that!

But our little school only goes up class six. We've looked around at mainstream schooling, children working in a classroom on their own computer, the teacher on her computer, there's nothing human about it.

I'll admit I'm an idealist.

I'm not at all interested in the mark after year 12, for me it's about giving them the tools to find their own way, it about creating enthusiasm in everything they do, to love life and know they can achieve anything they set their mind to.

It's about the whole child, bringing the head, heart and hands together, all of equal importance.

I know I succeded in life in spite of my education, and I sure that's the case for many.

But once the Steiner way gets into your soul, there's no turning back. In fact I doubt that my body could drive my children to a mainstream school.

Which is why
we have decided to send the children to Castlemaine Steiner School.

So today we farwelled our school, and we wished them all the very best, and they for us.

But it was hard, really hard.

Am I strong enough to do this journey ahead? I have a million thoughts going through my head at this moment.

Sigh, it would have been so much easier to stay.

Well the sun will come up in the morning and our new journey will begin.......

Rose necklace

2010-07-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

The roses have been in full bloom this season, these petals are the last of them.

I was inspired by Garden mama's post on rose garlands.

Flynn sorted his rose petals into colour, and was busy for a couple of hours, patiently threading the rose petals onto thread.

A proud boy, and he smelt nice too.

I walk with my lantern...

2010-06-21T01:51:00.000-07:00

All of the four festivals at our school are beautiful, I look forward to them all.

To see the children breathing in, reflecting on this special day, the winter Solstice.

To see my two boy's walking the spiral together, makes my heart skip a beat.

The lantern walk, takes us around the school grounds, the children proud and excited to show us their lanterns they had made for this special occasion.

To hear the children singing......

Beautiful Bargara

2010-06-20T03:05:00.000-07:00

My Goodness, I've been trying to upload photo's for weeks now, thank goodness my blog is working again!

Well, we have been on a sunny holiday up to the sunshine coast, loving the beach, the rainforests, the company:).

This is the view from our apartment, every morning we would see the dolphins comming in.

2010-06-09T04:04:00.000-07:00

play

2010-06-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

There's no place better for the imagination of a child to soar, than at the beach.

Buried

2010-06-09T03:53:00.000-07:00

Wild Dolphins

2010-06-06T03:41:00.000-07:00

We stayed a few days at Tin Can Bay, and we were lucky enough to feed the wild dolphins early one morning.

His name is Mystic, he was so patient and gentle with the children.

It really is true you know; get up close and personal, fall in love, and forever, you will endeavour to protect these beautiful mammals.

Back in the 1950's a fisherman injured a dophin with his trawling gear.

Knowing that the dolphin would not be able to catch her own food, the fisherman fed her and then the other fishermen in the bay fed her too, till she recovered.

Then one day she brought her calf in to say hello.

And since then, most days, a descendant from the injured dolphin, comes in to say hello.

warm pyjamas

2010-05-02T01:51:00.001-07:00

Well, I thought I would make matching PJ's for the boy's, I like the matchy, matchy thingy, but my creative side doesn't or maybe it's my choleric nature that get's bored after the first one.

I managed to get the older two boy's finished, really, boy three has plenty of hand-me-downs( I might make him some new winter clothes instead).

I bought some greatly reduced organic jersey knit bed sheets and chopped them up, for the torso I used some really soft brushed fleecy knit for added warmth.

I bought a cover-pro a while back, and I was really excited with it, but I haven't used it much, it scares me!

I was determind to use it this time.

The boy's chose an animal for the front, and my "steve irwin" chose a red-back spider, a really deady spider that luckily isn't found where we live, too cold i think. I grew up with them on the murray river though.

Alice's Birthday party

2010-04-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

Grandpa adores his youngest grandchild.

Oh my! I was going through archives and I realised I forgot to post Alice's second birthday, so here it is.

The theme was Teddy Bear picnic, and all the children brought their own teddy friend along. I planned to have it in the forest, but it rained and rained, so inside it was.

All the boy's have lovely hand dyed felted birthday crowns, but after seeing Lily's beautiful crown, I just had to make one.

I still can't believe I have my first and last child born on the same day, I mean really, it blows me away everytime I think about it.

I always give a mother a hug on their childs birthday, I know that feeling, of how very special that day is, how every hour, minute, every second of that day is filled with an overwhelming love for your precious baby.

Can my baby really be two?

We sung Alice's favourite songs, five little ducks, heads and shoulders, skip to my lou.
Dan did ' The very hungry caterpillar story', all the children have had the same story at two years.

If you go down in the woods today, you better go in disguise
If you go down in the woods today, your in for real surprise
For every bear that ever there was, will gather there for certain because
todays the day, the teddy bears have their picnic........

Teddy bears picnic cake

2010-04-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

I had a lot of fun making this cake, underneath is a banana cake.

I love how the bears are sitting, having cups of tea.

Autumn Fair

2010-04-11T07:08:00.000-07:00

How wonderful it is to see such community spirit.

We had wonderful organic sausage sizzle, Rod's famous curry's, delicious cakes and real fair trade coffee. Wonderful stalls, beautiful hand carved wooden animals and trucks, childrens coats made of woollen blankets, handdyed felt.

Jim was out busking on his didgeridoo, and Joey who has only just started playing the recorder at school, bravely played some tunes, and then with the coins, went to the cafe and ordered a hot chocolate and a chocolate cake.

Our Steiner school is small, but we are growing, it's so nice watching how well all the children get along. My flynn who is four, has no trouble asking the grade six's for help, and Alice had many hands to hold.

For my stall I mainly had my gorgeous wool, and hats of different styles and slippers for sale.

It was a very joyous day.

This summer I finally bought a dehydrater, and I use it everyday. We have an orchard full of fruit, which I am gleefully preserving.

I made some sun dried tomatoes that are delicious. I quartered the tomatoes and put them in my dehydrater, you could use your oven if it goes down to 50c. Then I mixed a cup of vinegar with a cup of water and let the dried tomatoes absorb the liquid for two hours. I then stuffed them in jars with fresh thyme and sliced garlic, and covered them in extra virgin olive oil.

I made a foccacia, and with a jar of these beauty's and a handful of olives, I was in business.

The Easter Hunt

2010-04-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

All children love a good hunt don't they?

Our hunt is in our forest.

Hope that you got to spend the holiday doing what you love.

Hot Cross Buns

2010-04-03T00:58:00.000-07:00

This week of the holidays has been fun, lot's of cooking and crafting happening.

I think they are making bunnies out of the dough.

My recipe; these are really yum, the eggs are what makes them special.

1 1/4 cups milk
15grams dried yeast
4 cups flour( I used a cup of wholemeal spelt
2 teas salt
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 teas mixed spice
60g melted butter
2 eggs
2 tablespoons currants
Glaze:
2 tablespoons each of milk and sugar

warm the milk, put a tablespoon of it into a cup with the yeast and pinch of sugar. Leave for 15 mins. Put the dry ingredients in a bowl, make a well, pour the yeast, butter, eggs, and milk in . Knead, keep the dough as moist as possible ie; go easy on the dusting flour. add dried fruit, continue kneading. cover bowl and let rise in a warm spot. 2 hours, or until doubled. knead again and divide into 20 portions form into a ball. place on tray , cover, for 30mins. prehaet the oven 190c (375f) make a cross on the top with flour and water. cook for 20mins. boil the milk and sugar for the glaze and immediately brush the buns when they come out of the oven. two coats.

Yes, in case you're wondering I am a Christian, I just forgot the cross. The children were mortified, apparently that is the most important bit to my children.

So yes, I'll make some more, this time with crosses.

Easter Bunny Tutorial

2010-03-29T23:29:00.000-07:00

These little bunnies are a great project for little ones.

You will need, cardboard, tops or slivers wool, glue.

Firstly draw an egg shape, any size you want. This size 20cm x 15cm was for the big bunny. You will need two. Place the two together.

Then wind the sliver around the two pieces of cardboard. Keep winding till you can't fit anymore in the small hole.

Cut in between the two pieces of cardboard, and tie some yarn tightly a couple of times around in between the cardboard.

Okay, yes your right, it's a glorified pom pom.

Now for the ears, place some tops thinly in a flat container, put a thin layer of pink over the top. add a little bit of detergent. Then(adults only), pour boiling water over it. I use a potato masher to felt it up. Then roll it up in between a sushi maker board, and agiate it. let dry.

Cut out two ears and glue them deep in place, you want the bunny to be soft, so don't put the glue near the tips of wool.

Now the fun part, you all get to play hairdessers, or the children do. Trim the pom pom into shape.

Joey(always Joey) asked if I could do hopping back legs, nope I said, just crouching ones.

I need your Help

2010-03-28T02:47:00.000-07:00

After many months maybe even years, I'm going to do it, yes, I going to open a real shop selling quality fabrics.

In Australia, we really don't have, well I can't seem to find, really beautiful fabrics.

We do have great quilting shops, but I think there's a market for clothing, swiss bastiste, Italian silks, Irish linens, european prints, organic fabric, Australian knits and pima cottons from America. childrens, womans and men.

I'm stuck, I need your help, a name is so important, don't you think?
I've loved some names, then after a while I grow tired of the them. And most names I come up with are taken, yeah, all the good ones.

I'm down to two; Gingham Girl or Bloom.

What do you think? I'm open to new ones too!

A dress for Alice

2010-03-24T04:10:00.000-07:00

Even though Alice is two, I'm still able to dress her, really, does she have a choice. With a name like Alice, she was always going to be girly and sweet.

Don't worry, she gets plenty of time to wear short's and pinnies around on the farm. But she isn't a tomboy, by far.

A childs name say's something about them, don't you think?

My eldest Jim, say's solid, earthy and no fuss, just like Jim. People ask is it short for James, and it isn't. James to me has such a different meaning.

My youngest boy Flynn, say's flamboyant, fiesty, I'm here!.

What does your childrens name say about them?

Back to the dress, lovely lilac spotted voile, with a square smocked yoke. This is the first time I've done the traditional square yoke.

Pin tucks and lace adorn the hemline, I figure that pintucks are a sneaky way to let down the hem as she grows.

Oh yes, my clever one can wink, on cue......

Button making

2010-03-22T02:15:00.000-07:00

The boys thought they would make some buttons to sell at the school fair.

Blackwood and manor gum dead branches were sawn away by Dan.

I think I might have to squirrel some away!

What I've been up to

2010-03-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

Our school is having their annual Autumn Fair, and seeing I have all this gorgeous wool, I thought I would do a stall.

I've been madly knitting beanies, crocheting berets and slippers and winding wool.

My wonderful friend and neighbour Sue has been dying my wool.

Oh, I thought I would show you my favourite lounge pants, Although I think I wear them everywhere, made from the softest linen, I used a fancy joining stitch on my sewing machine to join the border, I love this print,I always giggle when I look at the ladies bottoms, I'm the peach lady....... I wish I was the cherry!

Which one are you?

And the winner is....

2010-03-14T01:17:00.001-08:00

Congratulations Wehaf, you have won the silver grey yarn.

Congratulations Evening Star, you have won the natural, cream yarn.

Congratulations Lily Boot, you have won the chocolate brown.

And because so many of you were interested in the brown, Joseph drew again,

Congratulations Laangal, you have won the chocolate brown.

Thanks everyone for playing along.

My email is thegreensnake at bigpond dot com

Please send me your postal address.

Giveaway

2010-03-04T21:36:00.000-08:00

This is the finish yarn from our sheep, I'm so in love with this wool, it is so soft, it feels like cashmere. We have two brown, two grey and four cream sheep.

I think it's about 18 micron, which means super fine.

We were so lucky to get these sheep, it was a case of a friend of a friend's farmer husband was ready to cull these sheep from the flock because of a little colour in their wool.

It just goes to show doesn't it, one person rubbish, another persons treasure.

I think it's wonderful that they are coloured, the farmer did not share my enthusiasm.

It's funny isn't it, they can be fourth generation white sheep, and then for no reason, throw a black sheep.

Beautiful rich dark chocolate colour, even the children just want to smooch it.

Gorgeous silver grey colour.

If you would like to win some of the wool, leave me a comment telling me which colour you like and what you intend to make with it.

If you blog about it, I'll enter you again.

I'll anounce the three winners this time next week.

Our Orchard

2010-02-25T23:47:00.000-08:00

Ten years ago we planted our orchard, and this year finally the trees are bursting with fruit.

The cherries were delicous, Everyday we would stand under the nets and eat our fill. I don't think I even brought any in to the table, just fresh, ripe, oh so sweet cherries straight from the tree.

Perfect on their own.

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

2010-02-20T01:20:00.000-08:00

Gumnut babies, a lovely clean craft activity with little ones.

Summer dress

2010-02-13T01:32:00.000-08:00

On these hot, hot 40c days(that's over 100f for you northeners), I love wearing this dress, in fact I've just made another one. The pattern is Imke the fabric is french general from fabritopia .

I've really missed wearing a dress for the last 10 years, I just couldn't figure out all that ' expose all' while breastfeeding thingy.

Well now that the peasant style is in, I've figured out a way; foe around the neckline, or in this case, make a casing to thread a tie through.

foe is on the sleeves.

I added a frill around the bottom, I cut the fabric on the bias following this great tutorial.

Oh, I've put this photo in because my 4 year old Flynn took it, his very first photo.

Not bad, hey!

New Clothes

2010-02-06T21:24:00.000-08:00

The fabric for the shirt is from Fabritopia, and even though it's quilting weight, it's lovely and soft. I didn't cut the fabric on the bias, it's the pattern in the fabic. The pattern is out of Ottobre.

The shorts fabric is from tip, tapp, stoff, lovely lightweight, reversible fabric, the front pockets are a welt pocket, which just means you have to think about them for a bit.

All the boys are of late, quite interested in where their clothes come from, I guess global warming is on everyones mind. I made a conscious desicion not to buy from china a few years ago.. For many reasons, child labour, support local, quality, the fact that nearly everything comes out of China does not sit well with me. So of course they are very chuffed if their clothes come from Australia, or better still out of the sewing room.

I'm so loving the company of these two little ones, since school went back. My four year old Flynn who thinks he's eight, and always running with the big kids, is back in my arms on the couch, singing together, cooking together.....

In this photo we were heading down the road to get the mail, eating the first of the blood plums from our tree.

Today, our little Flynn gave my husband such a fright, flynn was helping Dad over at the treehouse and he got excited seeing Granpa walking over and started telling Granpa the best way up. Well he stepped back onto nothing but air and fell, I think Dan's torn a muscle in his shoulder from lungeing forward hoping to grab Flynn, but Flynn was already falling, falling down 3 metres. Luckily Dan keeps a tidy work area, all the saws, nail guns, drills are kept under the fooring, so he fell onto dirt, narrowly missing the stacked timber. Well Flynn screamed, which is alway's a good sign, he landed well, as little kids do, and is asleep now on the couch. No broken bones, just some swelling on one side of his face.

Dan on the other hand looks in shock, white as a ghost and a little teary, I guess he knows just how bad it could have been.

We will be thanking Flynn's guardian angels in our prayers tonight.

School's back

2010-02-04T03:26:00.000-08:00

It's over, gone in a blink of an eye, summer holidays.......did we make the most of it?, Oh I hope so. We had six weeks of Sun, beach, fishing, laughing, in pj's till 11, bike rides, treehouse building, connecting together as a family and catch up's with family and friends, yes indeed good times by all.

Joey, excited and very nervous on his first day of Grade one.

In some ways Grade one feels like the first day of school, A prep year(last year) in Steiner Schools, is more like a continuation of kindergarten, The children have their own building(classroom) and playground quite separate from the rest of the school, and it is very much play based, such a rich rich year, for me, the most important year.

This year Joey has his own desk and pencils, his own recorder and best of all, playtime with big brother Jim.

New slippers were in order, in fact, now I look at these photo's; from his hat to his slippers and everything in between, I sewed or knitted up.

This little slipper pattern brings back memories for me, I remember being in hospital getting the routine adenoids operation, I would have been five or six years and peskering the nurse on duty to show me how to make these 'booties'. I already new how to crochet( yes, my addictions go back for a very long time!).

Well I was whipping out these little beautie's left, right and centre. I was alway's getting in trouble for talking(yes, somethings never change) and sitting on the concrete detention area at playtime, crocheting, my heart's content. I was selling them to all my friends mothers for $1 each.

Of course I've deleted the lacey edging and replaced it with ribbed knitting, they do a lot a dancing at school so I needed a slipper to stay on, so many slippers I see go very sloppy after time. I also embroidered a little bee on one foot, so he remembers his left and right, and there's a lovely soft lambwool sole.

If anyone wants the pattern, I'll gladly do a tutorial.

Strawberry picking

2010-01-30T23:07:00.000-08:00

In my garden I have a whole bed, just for strawberrys, it's like 4meters by 4meters, but it's still not enough!. Every year I plant more, hoping one day I'll have enough for jam. But I never will, The more I have the more they eat. I can't blame the children really, who could resist a sweet, warm from the sun strawberry?

This year I gave in and went to a strawberry farm, The strawberrys are never like you grow yourself, but they were not too bad. So I made strawberry and rhubarb jam, straight strawberry jam, strawberry topping for the daily afterschool milkshakes, strawberry vinegar with the tops and this strawberry and custard pie for morning tea.

YUM!

The Guest House

2010-01-28T01:43:00.000-08:00

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of it's furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

-Jelaluddin Rumi.

Shearing

2010-01-23T00:42:00.000-08:00

This is Andy, our shearer.

My Dad was a shearer, it's part of the job description of being a Farmer. His Dad was too. My Dad grew up in a tent by the side of the Murray River, his family were share-farmers, waiting for the day they had enough money to buy their own farm.

I think this is why us kids never went camping as children, Dad just didn't understand why we wanted to leave a comfortable bed, running water and a flushable toilet. He would say 'How is camping a holiday?'.

Back to shearing, My dad, his dad and brothers would travel the district, shearing in the most appalling conditions. It was my Grandfather Jim Willett who was instrumental in starting the shearer's union.

I wish my children could see their Pa shear our sheep, but Pa lives four hours away and in nearly 80years.

I wish my boys see their Pa like I see him.

They see a man who lives in town, I see a man who lives for the wide open spaces. They see a man who struggles to read a newspaper, I see a man who never missed his shot. They see a man who is stiff with the years, I see a man able to climb a tree in one bound.

But still the children are drawn to him, maybe they sense what he was about. I guess this is what they call the generation gap.

Not even in your dreams can you visit the house of tomorrow.

This wool is superfine merino, it is oh so soft!. Joey is wrapped up in the brown fleece.

Flynn made a bed on the white.

The children dragged their bag of fleece upstairs, declaring that they were sleeping in their fleece tonight.

Gorgeous sliver/grey fleece.

Chickens

2010-01-10T20:49:00.000-08:00

Oh so protective this mama is, I'm surprised Joey was quick enough to pick one up. As soon as he put the chick down the hen checked her chick then flew at Joey and pecked his knee.

I think they are two roosters, and I won't tell you what happens to boys on our farm, least to say that girls have a lovely long life.

Hexenhaus

2010-01-06T01:17:00.000-08:00

This one's Joseph's.

Flynn did a tree.

Jim did a stable.

Nibble nibble like a mouse,
who's that nibbling at my house!.

Hexenhaus

2010-01-06T01:12:00.000-08:00

This year, the children drew their gingerbread house on paper first and then we made a template for each one

By the time it came to little Alice I was exhausted, so she just got some dough and did lots of shapes.

She didn't seem to mind.

Advent

2009-12-22T18:21:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-12T04:41:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-29T00:36:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-22T05:13:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-22T04:38:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-18T18:38:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-12T03:31:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-08T05:07:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-08T05:02:00.000-08:00

Glorious Mountain Ash.

Paradise

2009-11-08T04:53:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-25T01:37:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-06T04:56:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-06T03:13:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-06T02:33:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-27T03:23:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-07T02:48:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-06T05:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-01T03:05:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-29T06:37:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-23T07:10:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-23T06:42:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-08-23T06:20:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-18T22:32:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-31T03:49:00.000-07:00

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

Preparations...

2009-07-05T07:47:00.000-07:00

Oh, what a flurry of activity a birthday party brings.

It's past midnight and bed is in the distant future.

The birthday boy decided on a dragon's outfit, so I made a hat with stuffed spikes, thinking this will do the trick, well, um, no it didn't, birthday boy politely asked me if I could still sew, as he would like bone-crunching teeth and firery eyes. AND he told me that he was turning six and did I think that he wanted to go as a baby dragon!

Hence why I am still up, dragon suit take 2

Maybe this is how it's always going to be, you give birth in the middle of the night(well I always did) and of course you're awake, so someone out there thinks you should be awake every anniversary there after.

Whilst the Husband sleeps....

Miss Little Red Riding Hood

2009-07-03T01:49:00.000-07:00

Holidays seem a distant memory, We've been busy around here, preparing for Joseph's Six birthday party on monday.

The theme is 'Fairytale characters', The three boys cannot seem to make up their minds on what to wear, so I started with this little one.

The pattern is in the latest ottobre for kids. I got the fabric from my Ebay stash, it's wool and cashmere, oh so soft. I lined it with a winter weight red gingham, it took no time to make, it was a very simple pattern.

I think it needs a skirt, what do you think?(yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, it's not her party:))

Now back to cooking the curry puffs.

Holidays

2009-06-26T03:33:00.000-07:00

The highlight was the Aboriginal Cultural Park, the children got to play the didgeridoo, do paintings on boomerangs, throw spears and boomerangs.

We enjoyed their dance and song and learning about their way of life.

They truly are an amazing race.

Holidays

2009-06-26T03:16:00.000-07:00

Train ride up in the mountains.

Gondala ride, over the trees back.

Holidays

2009-06-26T03:09:00.000-07:00

Breakfast with the birds.

Mossman Gorge, popular place with the locals to swim as the mountain water is too cold for the crocodiles.

Mango smoothie to share.
A very important first lesson to learn when there is four of them.

Holiday

2009-06-26T02:56:00.000-07:00

Far North Queensland is so beautiful, plants are so lush and green and there is an abundant of birds and animals.

This beach, Ellis beach, is the beach we visited every morning, the water was a tropical 24c, just like a bath.

Alice was unsure to begin with.

This little mountain stream met the sea, the children had so much fun here, damming the stream, trying to catch fish and tadpoles,
everyday was around 27c.

It felt like we had the beach to ourselves, so very peaceful and spoilt.

We really are the land of the Sun and the Sea.

No place like home.

2009-06-24T04:24:00.001-07:00

We've just got back from a family holiday in far north Queensland for a couple of weeks. It was so nice and warm.

Sorry I forgot to say goodbye.

Home now, It's late and cold, quickly changed all the beds to warm flannelette sheets and extra quilts.

Pancakes with blueberries and icecream for tea.

I'll be back on tomorrow to catch up on all the gossip, ahem crafting.

Missed you all.

xxx