Firsts times two

TWO free-range chickens

TWO school girl plaits

TWO brand new bags

TWO identical lunchbox’s

TWO lunchbox love-notes from mumma

TWO quiet tears running down my cheeks.

TOO hard to let go.

Friday Feelings

Friday is….

…. Feeling a little twisted

…. Emerging yourself into a world of fantasy.

…. Playing ‘eye-spy’ something starting with ‘P’

…. and something starting with ‘B’

…. A late afternoon kip to escape the heat.

…. A few stolen moments of rest

How’s Your Friday Feeling?

Comfortable Families

Yesterday, we were given two precious hours with my beautiful niece. She lives in another country with her mum so these moments are rare and very, very special to me.  She is a ball of electric energy and reminds me so very much of my brother with her over-the-top personality and imaginative and very honest mind.

The five of us, my dad and my nana met her at the top of the Gold Coast. We spent till 7 that night playing  in the water, laughing at her jokes, watching her mermaid impressions and chasing her across the bay.

I was amazed that even though the children haven't seen her for over two years, they played together like close friends. They all felt comfortable in each others company, comfortable in their own skin and comfortable to be there, together.

Blocking

I'm not sure how it is with other knitters but I have a real problem with finishing. I cast off on one project put it in my ‘finishing basket’  and cast on a new project that night. With my feral wombat spending a lot of time in her snuggle, knitting had become near impossible with her ripping the needles out every few minutes so blocking, crocheting edges and beading was becoming more and more appealing. So I jumping into the ‘finishing basket’ hand washed in eucalyptus wool wash, blocked then set about finishing all my recent projects.

I knitted this baby blanket up about 6 months ago (told you I had a finishing problem) I fell in love with the pattern from stitch n bitch. Its such an easy knit yet almost elegant in its simplicity. I knit it up with Australian organic merino wool on size 6 needles (circs cause its kinda big) and the little bear is organic bamboo from my local yarn store and stuffed with roving. I didn't have a pattern for the bear or the little pocket so just estimated and I think they turned out really nice. A friend of ours has recently had a baby boy so if I can pry the bear off the wombat that instantly fell in love with him, this little blankie and bear should have a nice new home. 

The first pair of socks. Oh my, I am so proud of you. Don't you look so rugged and warm casually lying there on that rock. How you make my heart soar with pride and love for you. My wonderful, beautiful, uneven, saggy, ill-fitting first pair of socks. I will forever cherish the both of you.

This is a shawl I made for my wonderful mother in law. It was knitted up for her for Christmas but lay unfinished until now. Lucky for me she has a birthday in April otherwise it may have mysteriously ended up in my closet. It is stunning. A simple wrap yarn twice over needle and drop stitches pattern but the different yarns and colours all mix together so beautifully. I put a few little beads on the arms and some black moonlight ribbon through the ends and crocheted around the whole shawl. I will take some more pictures of her wearing it soon.

This little hat (which she stole from the ‘finishing basket’ a while back) was finally washed and dried. I love this pattern and have made a few of them as presents. The yarn was Noro left over from the socks and knitted on size 5 circs. Isn't the little button adorable? I wish I had a little butterfly or lady beetle button to sew on but the brown one is still gorgeous.

So, for now, my basket is empty. There are still a few other items that I cant post yet as they are presents for people with birthdays coming up that I know read this blog…. you know who you are…

Friday Feelings

Friday is….

…. A nice big drink after a long hot day

….  A little food from free ranging hands

 

…. My beautiful babe with a reaction to milk

…. Wild tomatoes ripening in the compost heap

…. Flowers on the hops vine

…. Falling in love with a beautiful Malabar vine                    (the spinach has a unique taste eaten raw and we have dedicated an entire garden bed to this vine. I love the colours and the way the vine twists and turns around the wire. I spend so much time every day just being in love with this vine, its nice to find beauty in the food you eat.)

How's Your Friday Feeling?

A wombat’s refuge

Last night the five of us spent the night at the hospital. Wombat had fallen over while carrying a porcelain bowl full of ice cream. Her hand has a gash the length of her palm which is held together with glue, (did anyone else know they did that instead of stitches now????) butterfly clips, and bandages. 

She is now licking her paws in her wombat refuge, better known as our ellaroo or sling. Her head is placed right next to my heart, her small hands lightly griping my arms and the deep sighs of comfort and love let me know she feels safe in her ‘snuggle’. In this position I can go about my day, with free arms and a clear mind while she laughs, sleeps, and plays. Here she knows she is safe, warm and loved. She spends all of her illness’s right here for the duration. Be it head cold or sore teeth…. or sore paw.

Here, in muma’s arms, everything is as it should be.

  

Friday Feelings

Friday is ….

…. Luscious, fresh & ohhhh-so-good summer breakfast

…. Summer love

…. Summer fun

…. Summer storms

…. Summer planting in the garden

The five of us planted these pink grapes today. The daddy man dug the hole, I put the vine in the ground, first free ranger put the dirt in the hole, the wombat added fertiliser, second free ranger mulched. Five sets of nurturing, gentle hands with loving purpose helped these vines back into the soil, in turn these vines will gently nurture us with lovely fruits to eat. All children should experience this closeness with mother earth.

These are the moments that they will cherish.

How's your Friday Feeling?

~I am so sorry to all the new people that tuned in just as I went AWOL. Living in rural Australia suits us just fine but apparently the internet carriers here would rather we didn't. This area is due for a tower network upgrade so currently (if I'm lucky) I can get around 10 minutes a day of uninterrupted broadband. In that time I need to check bank accounts, do payroll, answer emails for work and of cause write my blog. Unfortunately the blog had to be second fiddle…… hopefully the madness will be short-lived.~

Its all about how you look at life

Happy New Years!!

We ate fine vegetarian fare until our hearts were content with many a bottle of moet & chandon to wash it down with.

We watched a live glam rock band playing covers all night long.

 

and we danced in the new year with wonderful friends.

Ok so the ‘fine vegetarian fare’ were lentil pies I made in my kitchen, and there was just the one bottle of Moet. The live band played ‘nursery rhyme’ covers all night and we didn't actually make it into the new year (the wombat managed to stay awake till 10:30 though!!!!) We did spend the night with wonderful new friends though, laughing, telling stories and enjoying our (combined) 8 sweet, happy and playful children who really did rock the house with twinkle twinkle little stars.

What a magical night, what a magical life, what a magical year ahead.

Life really is how you perceive it.