phew, they're done ...

but what a mess!

We are celebrating Twinkle's (aka Woo, Woosie, Noo noo, and many others) first birthday soon, too soon actually. I can hardly believe that she's almost one. She's still so little though, no teeth, little hair, not yet walking.

Labour saving strategies. I messed around for too long with the little holes and stiff, but not stiff enough, ribbon. Eventually I threaded a paperclip on to the end of the ribbon and got a great pile done at once.

I applied the same thought to the mounting board and ran miles of double sided tape along the tops at once and then separated them. Again, I'd used too much time by doing one at a time.

I have had all the invitation guff for a week now and have fiddled and diddled around until today when Woo had an almighty sleep, after a very, very, very restless night. You should see me typing this, I'm more on delete than typing forward ! So, I really got going with them and I think they've come together quite nicely.

I knew that I wanted a red and white theme, and although I wanted chinese references I also wanted it to be in keeping with my own style. I found the perfect paper, simple, pretty and a hint of Chinese with the lucky ladybird. It was as if I had it commissioned. I'm so pleased.

I've never been a scrapbooker so I've never learned all the scrappy terms and techniques so I always feel a bit daft when I go in asking for 'tiny little document clippy things' am usually received with blank stares and then as I keep desperately explaning what I'm after the glazed expressions suddenly register, "Oh you mean brads". "Yes, yes, them!" I say, hoping to goodness that they are indeed what I'm after. Bingo! It's is them. I feel exhausted and thrilled at the same time. I think the sales staff feel the same. Anyway, long story to say I'm not using 'brads' but I did find a nifty hole punch to make the holes to thread ribbon through. Hang on, I've got the packet here ... it's a 'leave it to weaver border punch' by fiskars!

They made the post on Sunday!

hollywood children's farm

Collingwood Children's Farm or 'Hollywood' Children's Farm as a little girl I used to teach called it!

We met up with our friend's who are posted in Dubai at the moment. It's 48C there right now, so a chilly, but gloriously sunny day, was the perfect change for them.

Kylie all rugged up.

How could anyone eat them? Honestly. Having said that I have a pot of beef casserole on the stove for the meateaters here and am making myself some Tourta, courtesy of my friend Lisa.

Joshy and Tigs and hungry Nanny Goats

The boys had a wonderful time feeding all the animals. They, the animals, that is, are so used to all the children and are also incredibly greedy. There was a great balance to their relationship, the children fed them and the animals succumbed to the patting.

more boys and more goats

Oh, it's just so lovely there. You're a mere blink from the city and yet it's so tranquil and rural. It's the most wonderful place for the children to go and enjoy 'farm' life and for the adults to gulp in the country ambience.


Cockadoodledoo! Isn't the red spectacular? You can even buy the chickens (for $5) if they have some babies available. Kylie's husband Alex, ever the joker, was overheard asking how much chooks were at Coles, "Because 5 bucks seems like pretty good value!". Ha Ha Alex.

Even the usually grumpy geese rested quietly and preened, a sure sign that these
Goosey-goosey's have little to worry about - if you know what I mean.

We had a yummy organic lunch in the cafe overlooking fields and fowl!

I do hope this dear little piggy is not going to market. Look at those beautiful lashes s/he was so inquisitive and brave. S/he has 5 brothers and sisters, their big, exhausted mummy Maisy lay wallowing as her one month old babies jumped around her and skittered through the mud. They are so cheeky and adorable.

A closer look at those lashes. I want them! Actually I'd keep the whole piggy if she wasn't going to get so enormous. I've a long held dream to have a mini-pig as a pet. They are SO clever, prefer to be clean and George Clooney had one! They make puppies, even very smart ones, seem a little daft. I'm told that the brightest of pups will learn up to 50 commands, that'd be Spice, but a pig can learn 200 without so much as an 'oink'!

Tiggy making friends

Dear 'Ony Rosey.

Animals make her a little nervous but eventually she made friends with some of them too. Isn't she gorgeous?

a little night light

On these cold winter evenings I love to light my candles and let the evening glow around me. Snug and warm, happy and content.

I have a pot of hearty chicken soup on the stove and the house smells heavenly. I have boiled the stock for about 4 hours so it should be delicious for the meat-eaters in the house. Not sure what I'll have yet.

Off to get Tiggy now. Have a lovely evening or a fabulous day, wherever you are in the world.

x

o

the apron ...

Take two mummy's, 3 happy children, an endlessly boiling kettle, the most yummy muffins and Tourta for lunch and no, you don't get an apron ... You do have a great day though.

boys playing, not with each other for much of the day but had fun nonetheless

lisa's first tentative moves towards her fab new machine

dah nah! lisa's very first machine made needlebook! look at that happy smile!!

This was the sum total of our sewing achievements for the day. I am thrilled that Lis was able to make something that will be useful, and a little reminder of her first steps into the wonderful world of sewing and creating. It's such a great world to be a part of and I'm delighted to have been able to give Lis a little helping hand. She was a great student and also great at a straight line - which is quite a skill actually!

We made it home late, after feeding Flossy's puppies, one of whom should have joints that will last forever, having downed a bottle of glucosamine! She's a bad puppy that Spicy-girl. Lucky she's so adorable.

After a day of Tiggy constantly trying to escape Woosie's interference and a day of Woosie desperate to be a part of Tiggy's world. They made up by snuggling up to a recorded episode of Lunar Jim.

What a lovely day we had Lis. Thank you so much.

Yesterday Momo came for the day and we decided to go to Fabulous Fine Food for lunch. It's so delicious there. Woo loved her first proper restaurant lunch especially their raspberry bread and butter pudding. Mmmm Mmmm!

fabulous image from here

brrrr

Last night Robyn and I chatted about the weather. I gloated. "No, we never get frosts down here". Oh yes we do! And to serve me right on the day when I had to drop the car in to be serviced and walk home!

flock - love the old desk - $280

So with my 'latte-half-full' attitude, thanks to Mr Burch, I walked home past gorgeous Flock Upholstery and Polkadot Parties. I noticed there is a new framing shop opening and an Indian dance studio - how exotic. Flossy, so you know, it's opening in the old crystal healing shop, the one that burned down and I know you're always a champion of adult dance classes!!

flock - vintage bar

But it was all together too much for my snuggle-bug who fell fast asleep the whole way home.

what a lovely day we had

Today Tigs, Twinkle and I headed to the bush. We went to visit my friend Marina (who declined to be included on the blog!) and her two gorgeous boys. Her property runs alongside a lovely National Park. It was just glorious. Very chilly, but if you could find a shaft of light and a sheltered spot it was heaven.

flopsy, spencer and twinkle

told you the weather was gorgeous

Today was so special. We took the four children for a lovely walk in the park down to the river which was running, gently, but running nonetheless (happy Floss, you love it when I use 'nonetheless'!).

tigs with his bird-watching 'bino-clee-ars'

The park was beautiful with the Bell birds singing, magpies warbling and even the parrots up high in the eucalypts sounded good. The air felt so clean and fresh and I found myself drinking it in before we returned to the big smoke.

look at those cute boys with their matching stances. a bit of hero worship on tigs behalf!

such great boys - all of them and considering there's 7 years between the top and the bottom they get along so well.

felix almost caught doing his Zoolander impression

desperate to keep up with the big boys. lots of hair flicking to prove he was fine!

he just couldn't make it all the way with the biggies

mossy rocks

still following!

Marina and I have known each other for about 16 years or so. We did our Montessori training together and worked with each other for the most rewarding year of teaching. We'd often stay back at work until 10 at night studying, preparing the rooms that we assisted in, making materials for the children to use and learning as much as we could about Maria Montessori's method of education. There was much talking about our dreams and hopes and a healthy dose of chatting about life in general! We'd even order pizza in. Talk about dedication. I can hardly believe it was only one year that we worked together but it set the foundations for a friendship that has endured much and is strengthened even though the time between visits gets longer as life and family take over. I really value Marina and am so lucky that she's my friend.

Thanks for a super day.

xx

Apron may not make it's appearance until later in the week!

how did a week come and go?

Time travels too fast. A week already since I last posted.

wild and woolly on the beach

charming - self-portrait found on my camera - by Tiggy

It's been a busy week. One evening and most of the next day taken up with adoption playshops conducted with Jane Brown. It was just amazing and although Tiggy coped with the sessions, I was a blithering mess for two days afterwards.

Our children have so much that they will have to contend with in their lives. Extra layers that children living with their birth families, will never have to even think about. In spite of the playshop being brilliant it left me feeling somewhat inadequate and completely unprepared and unqualified to be my children's mother. Both Tigs and I were really exhausted me emotionally and Tigs probably physically too. The children's session was quite active with tug-of-war and 'adoption power' chants!! Having spoken to some of the other mum's who went with their children too it seems we shared similar experiences.

dear little one

just scootin' around

By Friday I pulled myself together a bit, although the magnitude of it all is still with me - no hang on I was still a mess.

I must have pulled myself together by Saturday. That's right, I did! Flossy and I went to see a movie. I haven't been for too long. We saw Coco avant Chanel. Wonderful. Beautiful. French. Audrey Tautou every bit as lovely as you'd expect.

The story of Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel before the rest of the world knew about her. Her rise from humble, unfortunate beginnings. Her exotic, rebellious, daring, journey to her success and permanent place in fashion history. It is beautifully filmed against simple French backdrops with Audrey Tautou capturing Coco’s wild, determined yet feminine and elegant personality (what a bundle of contradictions she was).

On Sunday Twinkle turned 11 months.

my how you're growing baby girl

We left early for breakfast at the beach – something we did every weekend before children – and a lovely, freezing walk along the beach afterwards, Tigs scooting, Greg and I walking and Twinks, well she was fast asleep!

On Monday we had a fun three year old party. Trains galore, happy children everywhere, super-fun activities set up by Annie so that the children were busy and the mummy's enjoyed themselves too.

Back soon with a new apron. I’m helping my friend Lisa learn to use her new sewing machine this week and told her today that we’re going to make one start to finish.

And that, my friends, is how a week evaporates!