cold as ice

What do you do when it's too cold to eat an icy-pole in the middle of winter?

Why you have it in the nice warm tub of course!

It makes the clean up easier too. But don't let them know that!

They just think I'm the best Mummy in the 'whole wide weld'!

storm

On Tuesday afternoon Babcia brought Pieorogi for us. We love the potato ones! Just before 4pm (early even for my children) Tiggy announced that he was starving and promptly gobbled 9 pieroshki down at once! That's no mean feat especially for my little mouse. Greg was home early and starving so he ate too! Wacky lot we are.

It was "one of those evenings". The clouds ominous, winds wild. The city folk had been ordered to leave for home early. I was worrying about the birds. I always worry about the birds when the weather is in a bad temper.

The family fed, ridiculously early, the kitchen clean, I decided to let those babies slip on into the shower and get them ready for bed. No sooner had I popped them in than the room buzzed with one short brown-out and then plunged into total darkness. The baby was washed by instinct and the big guy, well I don't think his body actually saw the soap bar that night!!

Fortunately, I had the usual candles lit already and there was a little light still coming through the windows. First things, first, I lit candles everywhere. So pretty. Then I dashed around gathering PJ's, folding back sheets and shutting blinds,clearing a path through Tiggy's catastrophe of a bedroom and fishing out the good ol' Alessi kettle to put on the gas hob. If nothing else I need my tea to keep me going in the evening!

So there we were done for the day by 6pm. Peace and quiet all around except for the rain teeming down, the wind beating against the windows. Woo-Woo went to sleep early and Tiggy and his Daddy curled up on the sofa snuggling a hottie, reading by torch light - excuse the poor choice of literature please - and playing Sudoku together. I curled up on the other sofa, my hottie held tight, a hot cup of tea and slice of Black Magic Cherry Cake by my side and read my Country Living by candle light.

Last Tuesday night was special and we think we'll 'flick the switch' once in a while - just for fun.

table refurb

I had this old table top sitting around for a couple of years. For each child's birthday I used long straps to tie it on to the coffee table - not really my style. It worked though. I had brainwave just before Tiggy's 5th birthday, that it would be a very useful permanent children's work table and found a way of making it fit in the sitting room - no playroom in this house - and it's actually the way I prefer it. I loathe the mess they make but I do like them being near to me. So I had some simple legs made at the local timber supplier and the children love it. Tiggy is able to keep his 'precious' constructions away from Woo and she is able to perch on a little chair and scribble away with a crayon. Happy Babes!

Although it has been fabulous I felt that the black was too oppressive and intense for their work plus I prefer a much softer look. So I found some fabulous oilcloth online, ordered it and then got busy with the staple gun - yes Mother it is the one I permanently borrowed from you - without you knowing!

I stapled one side and then pulled it super tight along the other sides before stapling them down. The flap I have my fingers on was trimmed away to ensure the finished corners were not bulky and rather than an angled corner I rolled the oilcloth to the edge to make it sit flush against the table side.

Et voila! One sweet and spotty table and the children are even happier with it. It's spacious enough that they don't get in each other's way and with the little pots to hold their pens and pencils there has been even more creativity in this little house.

Have a happy Sunday!

well done, the naughtiest girl.

Darling Spice

We can hardly believe it but at last you've proved yourself!

There is no doubt that you are sweet and lovable, but you've pushed everyone to the very end of their tolerance. Fancy being re-homed twice, actually I think it's thrice no less, for 'naughtiness'!

I'm sure that, as you are so clever, you will realise how fortunate you are to have found Flossy. I love you to bits, but not to pieces, even I would have found it hard to cope with your troubled ways! You've torn too, too many things to tiny pieces, the lino on the kitchen floor, papers, books precious and trashy - you don't mind, clothes from time to time, a full bottle of glucosamine , the sofa - twice and that's just what I've seen you do. In spite of it all we love you and are finally able to say we're proud of you too!

Congratulations on earning your Community Companion Dog Class (C.C.D.) title. It's official, Well Done, The Naughtiest Girl!

Please, please try to take your brilliance home with you. I know you're getting better and better all the time but just say to yourself, "Woowoofwo" every time you think you're going to wreak another one of Flossy's things and stop. Can you try? For me?

Love Auntie Em

out of the mouths of babes

Two things to share.

First

Tiggy: (watching The Little Mermaid) “Mummy why did the blah blah blah blah blah?”
Me: (clearly only mildly focusing while preparing supper) “Mmmm-es?” (Obviously some vague combined, “Mmm? Yes?”
Tiggy: “Why did you say Mmmm-es?”
Me: “What are you talking about Tigs?”
Tiggy: “I asked you a question. Why did you say Mmmm-es instead of 'Yes my Darling?'”
Me: Silently, folding myself in two, falling apart laughing at my sweet boy. "Sorry. Yes my Darling?"

Tiggy: Smiled sweetly, "Thank you for that Mummy".

Me: My heart exploding with love and gratitude for my precious son.

Second

My boy can talk, and talk. And talk! After a particularly long-winded conversation he looked up at me and asked, "Do I have 'oval' diarrhoea again?". Of course he meant 'verbal'. He always muddles these sorts of sayings up and I will endeavour to post them here to remind myself and to give you a giggle once in a while.

mt hotham 2009

Aye, aye, aye. Look at that rain!

The scarred land. This was the area that was ravaged by bush fires last summer. These are burned trees with the stark contrast of the new lush green grass. The authorities are warning of the potential for even worse fires this summer. All the green now, will be thick tinder by the summer.

These trees were starting to regenerate. Life after such destruction.

At the mountain and ready to go!

First day out. Got to find those ski legs again.

Hold me Daddy!

Okay, now I can do it myself.

Glorious, perfect weather.

What a magical blue.

Mountain Man! Wild hair hey?

Into Mighty Mites Ski School, onto the Dragon Wagon. He tried so hard for his teacher. What a cutie! She was so sweet to Tiggy.

We were so lucky with the weather. God's work at its finest.

Back at the bus stop. I seemed to spend quite a lot of time here, trudging up and down the mountain with the baby strapped to my back. That's why she's so poorly represented in the holiday snaps. Oh well, next year she'll be on skis!

I heart the snow!!

Take a closer look.

Okay now he's got his ski-legs!

And he's off!

On the third day he earned his wings. Harry the Dragon wings - he didn't get them last year - a little too naughty! But we won't talk about that. The thing is he got them finally this year!

Here's Harry the Dragon. Go the Big D!

Last evening spectacular. Fire twirling and flame throwing, ski jumps and my favorite - fireworks. No photos I was too busy gasping with joy. I just adore them!

Heading for home ...

... another storm to travel with.

Coming down the mountain.

Loving the blues & greys

Spectacular

If I were a quilter I know this shed would spawn a beauty ...

... perhaps I should give it a go.

Harrietville

Such a sweet old town. It's been around since the gold rush. I couldn't help but think of the isolation the settlers here must have felt. It's so far from anywhere.

Plum tuckered.

It was definitely time to leave but wow, what a lovely time we had.

Can't wait to get back there next year.

baby imelda

Little Imelda Marcos

I'm not sure I have the words to adequately describe such excess! I hasten to add that of all these (and embarrassingly there are more that didn't make it into the photo) I bought four pairs. The rest have been very kindly given to us, mostly from my sweet friend Robyn, whose little girl Zoe, is only 4 months older than Woo Woo. I have never seen such beautifully cared for clothes & shoes in all my life. Everything Robyn sends is pristine, smells lovely and always suits Woo perfectly.

Now these vintage lovelies came my way as a message.

On Friday, October 31st last year, having dropped Tigs at creche, I popped by my quaint little Oppe Shoppe, I say 'my' as it is mostly filled with my off-casts! Out of the blue the rain came teeming down. Sideways. As I walked towards the shop I noticed the tables of 'specials' the ladies had set up outside were getting soaked. I dashed in, told them, and asked if they'd like me to move them. Having tucked them safely under cover one dear old lady looked at me kindly and wisely her eyes locking tightly on mine and said sincerely, "Thank you Dear, I hope something wonderful happens to you". "You're welcome," I sang out, as I delved into the boxes of notions looking for treasure. With that I spotted a small, pink box containing the little beauties above and a tiny brush & comb. The box, sadly, defaced with a Sharpie written '$5' right over the top. Never mind about the box, I thought, these are too sweet to pass up.

At this stage I should mention that we were very, very close to removing our file from Taiwan and giving up on our dream of a second child. I was emotionally spent. I wasn't sure who these precious little shoes would be given to but I had to have them.

So, with the little box tucked under my arm I continued to sift through the zippers, crochet hooks, buttons, curtain rings & hooks (why are there always so many curtain hooks in every op shop?) and picked out a few little goodies. I mindlessly moved onto the patterns section, when suddenly my tummy lurched as I stared down at myself, only 20 years younger! "Ah!", I thought, "this is the 'something lovely' happening to me. Not much chop but, oh well, I was photographed in lots of knitting patterns in 'my youth' and I've never found one before". With that I gathered my bits and pieces, paid for them and left feeling strangely tickled at my finds.

It was only three days later on Monday, November 3rd, after a 13 month wait, that our phone rang with the glorious news that we had a baby girl in our world ...

Goosebumps, hey?

And now for a giggle, Me, circa 1986!

Fun-ny!