Nice things and changes

With Easter and the first week of the school holidays under our belt things have been busy.  Not frantic, just family life, running around here and there with the kids.  The first week went quickly so I'm going to saviour this week a little more.

 

Here are some nice things from the past week.......

 

Craving colour at the moment so new cushions have been bought.

 

 

 

And a new rug.

 

 

 

Feijoas (Pineapple Guava) season in full swing.  My nephew dropped of another box, just when I had nearly gotten to the bottom of the last one!  This week I have been making Feijoa crumble and sponge cake.  More jam is on the cards I think.

 

 

A parcel from overseas and a friend.  Sewing goodies galore.  I just love the little wicker basket.

 

 

I have finished sew school now and will update you next week of my progress.  I have a few projects on the go that I'm hoping to finish soon.  I've been spending a lot of time in the garden lately and enjoying books and movies in the evenings.  I don't know if it's the change of season and recent bugs but I've been feeling so tired in the evenings.

 

 

A very sweet pin cushion - love the chicken print.

 

 

More washi tape.......

 

 

And new to me fabric tape.  I've bought it for gifts before but have never used it before.....any ideas?

 

 

Pins for my quilting.

 

 

Hazy afternoons and leaves disappearing from the vines.  I love the sight of washing hung on the line.

 

 

We have been moving furniture off the grass and back onto the gravel for the colder months.  Clearing and weeding gardens and lots of tidying up around the house.

 

 

Just love these three.  Bell turned fourteen this week, can you believe it?

 

 

I'll back tomorrow with the 52 project although from now on it will be a little different.

 

I'll just be photographing the boys.  I have noticed a shift with Bell lately.  She has been wanting more independence and with that she spends less and less time hanging out with us.  It has become more noticeable in the past month or so.  A letting go has been needed on both sides.  She is craving more freedom so with that I won't be including her in the portrait project anymore a decision that was decided between us both.  My girl is growing up.

Have a wonderful weekend xo

 

Joining in here with Meg and here with Em.

 

 

 

Weekending

I turned free roadside stall quinces into jam - the best batch I have ever made.  Super thick and tastes really good.  Such a pretty jewel colour too.

A quick banana cake on Sunday afternoon.  Trying really hard not to let anything go to waste.  We always seem to have a surplus of bananas round here.

Vanilla cupcakes for George from a very clever friend - edible decorations on top of buttercream icing.  Say no more!  The kids loved them.

Freshly picked mushrooms from the garden.  Mr H is going to eat them, me not so game.

Have planted in my winter vegetable patch.  After keeping the soil covered in grass clippings for the last 6 months and then mixing through sheep poo and compost the soil is so much more healthier than last year.  It was so compacted and dry but now is perfect for winter planting.  I've planted savoy cabbage, silverbeet and kale.  My sister n law Em is going to plant different vegetables in her garden so we can swap produce when the time comes.

I have only planted half the vegetable garden as I thought it would be too big, but I'm now thinking I may need more room.  I still have the patch under the apricot tree planted up.  I put down stepping stones to make it easier to navigate over the wetter months.  And a border down one side of marigold plants.

An old Dove Cote from our neighbours.  I've been cleaning it out and will put in some hay for any new bird families that may want to take residence over the winter.  Hanging bird seed feeders are next.

Yay!  It's that time of year again.........Feijoa season!

Farmers market bread and tomatoes for lunch.

Snippets from around our home.......

My growing washi tape pile.  Love the stuff!  I have had a couple of months of Birthday and Swap parcel wrapping and I love being able to use my washi tape.

 

Hope your weekend was a good one, here's to a happy week!

Joining in here with Meg and here with Em.

Loving

Birthday treats from my sister.  She didn't know that I love Orla Kiely- but thought the patterns were very Retro and that I would love them.  So very right.  I'm going to pop these on my sewing table for storing buttons and threads.  Too good to store leftovers in I think?!

Flowers that last - Mr H delivered these to me last Friday and they are still going strong........

Favourite breakfast at the moment.  Avocado and tomato on Vogel's toast with sea salt and cracked pepper.  Washed down with an almighty mug of sugary sweet tea.

Tom sat these two together on the chair in my room and covered them with a scarf.  Love seeing this gentle side to boys, instead of throwing them around the room.  "They can be friends, mum".

 

 

  

You may have seen the portrait of my three for week nine of the Portrait Project here.  This is where we had our tea Saturday night.  On the first day of Autumn.  There was a very cool sea breeze blowing but the light was glorious.

 

This week was the first time I have not had to pop a carton of eggs in with the groceries.  At the moment we are getting an egg or two a day from our bantams.  We currently have four ladies, and am hoping to add another two.  I love being able to hear them clucking about as they fossick around in the grass.  They are funny things, and there is most definitely a bossy one in the mix and that would be Betty.  I think her name suits her.

Hiding under the asparagus bed..........

Chicken run!

One of our new girls.

Movie night - I bought Pride and Prejudice over a week ago and finally got to watch it last night.  After much eye rolling and commentary from Mr H he sat at his laptop and popped his ear plugs in.  Amy I thought of you when Basildon House was featured - lucky you for being able to work there.

Tonight Bell and I are going to watch Beaches (insert rolling of eyes here), eat chocolate and hopefully enjoy the movie in peace and quiet!  Love a girls movie night.

Happy weekending!

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is."

Joining in here with Meg and here with Em.



 

Things I'm loving......

Wellington! Three days and two nights away with Mr H. Lots of exploring the city and shops, eating, eating and more eating, Te Papa museum an art gallery or two and plenty of cocktails. I missed the kids but it was so nice to have some time away.



Artwork by Tom and signed. He has never been one for sitting down and drawing so it was really great to find this on the blackboard. As we are preparing him for school in January he is starting to draw and write his name more and more now.









This was our first Christmas tree made from some branches we trimmed from a tree in the garden. After coming back from our trip it was all shrivelled and stinky. So we actioned another non perishable tree.





All dressed up to party. I swear these two have a busier social life than me.



We spent Sunday afternoon at a local winery have a few drinks and listening to a great local band. Kids were welcome and they had a great time running around outside and playing in the cubby house.





We have had crazy weather this week. Hot and humid days and then rolling thunder and rain (and sometimes hail) in the afternoon. I have been loving the fact that it cools everyone down, waters the garden and fills our water tank.





Homemade Christmas mince pies and preserves from Em. I love the tin. The late Queen mum wearing a very fabulous yellow number.



My Advent Swap partner Kimberley from Creative Chaos sent me these gorgeous wash cloths as a thank you. She is so crafty and clever! I'm hoping to photograph my amazing Advent Swap goodies given to my by TracyP tomorrow and share them with you. I'm so blown away by her generosity and attention to detail. I swear she has been in my head!



Have actioned Nigella's chocolate fudge recipe. I made it last year and it is so delicious. It is in the fridge setting as I type and will be cut up and popped into these Christmas ramekins and wrapped up with cellophane and bows. Tom and I stamped labels for them too. He is really looking forward to handing them out to his Kindy teachers tomorrow.

And for the Kindy Christmas party I have made Rice Bubble slice, adding marshmallows this time. Yum!

 So that's me lately. I have the last two Christmas parties tomorrow and a few pressies to wrap. We are packing up and heading North for Christmas in a couple of days. I will be cleaning madly as we have friends coming to house sit and enjoy the music festivals that happen down our way over the New Year. How we will pack up and leave the house spotless in time for them to arrive I am still trying to get my head around. I swear there are naughty fairies who undo all my good work as I go!


Merry Christmas!

"I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something you can be thankful for..no matter how simple it is."

Joining in here.