26/52

"A portrait of Audrey, once a week, every week, in 2013"

You have discovered if you touch the lamp next to our bed it lights up, touch it again and it becomes brighter, touch it again and it becomes even brighter, touch it again and it turns off. The other night I could hear "one" "two" "tree" "awwwww, "one" "two" "tree" "awwwww" coming from our bedroom. I walked in to find you mesmerised by the lamp and its magic powers...

Belinda's wonderfully creative take on her three loves made me smile.

- Joining in with Jodi and a world of talented bloggers -

Making Friends With Raspberry Jam.

Making friends at any age can be daunting, so when Audrey's teachers told us she had made a friend at school I was so happy for her. Then the tales of Giselle and Audrey's mischief came! With every end of day pick up a new cheeky tale of these two little girls... Having to be separated at sleep time because they were dancing and singing in the their cots, showing the younger children what they can and cant play with and where they can play, kissing and cuddling the boys, always asking for seconds at lunch and private meetings and giggling in corners. So what does a parent do with news like this? She invites the other cheeky monkey and her parents on a picnic! The way I see it these girls have found each other and formed a bond without prompting or intervention from adults. The only problem was I had no idea how to approach Giselle's Mum. I have never been an overly confident person and situations like this scare me, we don't really cross paths at drop off or pick up time so just leaving a note felt awkward. Today I had a list of things I needed to cook for the week ahead and realised I could make a little treat for Giselle and her parents with a sweet note to leave in her basket. Audrey and I had a blast making the jam, decorating the jar and sampling our sticky treat.

Now we wait, hopefully we hear from Giselle and her Mumma soon. Everyone likes raspberry jam don't they?

A Fort For Three.

The rain still falls outside our windows, the cold wind pushes its way under our door, blankets and woollen socks and jumpers cover our cold limbs. A teething toddler with a case of cabin fever means it is time to get creative! Vintage sheets, some bunting, chairs and pegs create a magical world she helps to build. Under a golden roof she lays her head and listens to the the pitter patter of rain on our roof. A request for Lor Lor (The Lorax) is met with a smile and we lay down as a family in our brilliant fort for an afternoon movie.

These are the days I want to remember.

 

 

 

Mulled Wine - One For The Ma's & Pa's

“Love like rain, can nourish from above, drenching couples with a soaking joy. But sometimes under the angry heat of life, love dries on the surface and must nourish from below, tending to its roots keeping itself alive.” 
- Paulo Coelho

Rain falls outside our kitchen window. Soft music plays in the background and I get lost in the lyrics. I can hear giggles and conversations in the next room, my two loves enjoying an afternoon inside. As I cut lemons and grind the peel I remember a time when there were just two in our small home, it feels like so many moons ago.

Our life has been enriched by Audrey in only the way a child can, there is more laughter and adventure, there is chaos and madness and there is love like no other. We enjoy our time as a family and cherish the days we spend as three but there must be time for our relationship to blossom and grow, just as our frog does. We have been trying to find small moments of bliss in the everyday (a post that will be up later in the week) and making time to talk and encourage one another. Life can sometimes take it out of you, especially with a small child and help so far from home, it becomes easy to forget to nourish the relationship that started it all. Last night Luke and I put Audrey to bed early, we sat on the lounge with our mulled wine and cheese platter and we talked. Nothing special was said and yet every word was special because it was said with love and laughter...

Mulled Wine:
80g ground raw sugar
250g water
20g freshly squeezed lemon juice (and I added some rind)
2 cinnamon quills
10 cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 bottle red wine (no need to spend any more then $10)

- Place sugar, water, lemon juice and rind, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg and heat for 5 minutes.
- Add wine and cook for 7 minutes.
- Serve hot!

* Variation: for spicy mulled wine add 1/4 tsp chilli powder in step one.

25/52

"A portrait of Audrey, once a week, every week, in 2013"

You wait, you sit on our front step and you wait. You know he will come home from work after the sun goes down, he will come home and cuddle you and tickle you and kiss you. He is your best friend, he is your Dadda.

Little Lucy's feet.

- Joining in with Jodi and a world of talented bloggers -

24/52

"A portrait of Audrey, once a week, every week, in 2013"

Everyone we meet comments on your stunning eyelashes and it is easy to see why, they are long and dark and frame your hazel eyes beautifully

Sage in all of Autumns beauty.

- Joining in with Jodi and a world of talented bloggers -

Green Tea & Sun.

I was not feeling my best today. My bones ached, my limbs felt as though they were foreign, not mine and my head was somewhere else. As Audrey slept my husband came in from outside and smiled, he took my hand and lead me to the backyard. A picnic blanket, a pillow and a cup of green tea with ginger and lime were waiting. I lay in the winters sun, I sipped my tea and my dog Oscar lay beside me. I could hear Luke busying himself in the yard, the chickens pottered around me, I thought of our child sleeping peacefully inside and with each breath of the cool air I slowly forgot about the turmoils that had been within me.

Nature Walks

Can you hear the ducks? Look Audrey, the trees are moving in the wind. Can you feel the rain on your skin? Would you like to smell the flowers? Feel the squishy mud in your hands.

A few months ago I was introduced to Meagan from Whole Family Rhythms and her daily rhythms. Meagan's daily rhythms are a series of seasonal guides created and designed to help achieve greater peace, calm and rhythm in your home. The rhythms have encouraged and eased our family into a wonderful routine, we are more aware of our surroundings, we take the time to appreciate the meals laid before us and we have learnt about the importance of recognising change in the world we live in. One of our favourite parts of the week is our "weekly bush walk" or as we call it, our nature walk. The weather this week has been miserable and two of us have runny noses but we decided to rug up and head out the door anyway. The fresh air invigorated our senses and left us feeling energised, it was the perfect remedy to lift our spirits on this wintery day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Days In The Yard - Raising Chickens

Our family has a love of fresh air, of green grass between our toes, of adventures both near and far and exploring the world we live in. We spend our spare time in the backyard tending to our fruit and vegetables, our plants and herbs and our motley crew of chickens. Life is explored not passed by and we grow as we learn about the land and our ability to live off it.