Happy Happy Christmas

 Well here we are again, the end of another year & christmas crept up on me really fast again, I am finally ready although havnt done the groceries yet but pressies all bought, wrapped & sent, although a little late, I have heard they have all arrived on time... I am usually a little more organised than I am, but I have been busy with my bag orders so at least I have an excuse... the girls are so excited for Father Christmas to arrive & open their presents that are snuggly sitting under the tree, it looks fantastic, I hate it afterwards when all the presents are opened & the tree is bare & sad looking, so here are a couple of pictures of my new fabulous white tree, I bought a white one so every timeI look at it it reminds me of Nana & Grandpa...

The Jungle

1. What one thing about being a parent makes you scream “Get me out of here!”
Answer: When I'm trying to concentrate on something & all I get is mum, mum, mum, mum, its rather annoying.



2. What skills, if any, do you have that would be useful in the jungle?

Answer:

Not much, I love animals!!! & fit men with no tops on..





3. How are you likely to annoy people in your were stuck with them for 3 weeks?

Answer: whinging about the toilet situation, lack of food & all the bugs



4. What is the worst thing you have ever eaten?

Answer: mussels I think




5. What luxury item would you take into the jungle with you?

Answer: mascara







6. What is the most daring thing you have ever done?

Answer: given birth for the 2nd time




7. Who would you miss most if you went into the jungle with a bunch of strangers?

Answer: My girls







8. What celebrity alive or dead would you like to have with you in the jungle?

Answer: Chris Angel, for obvious reasons!!!


9. What would scare you about being in the jungle?

Answer: All the horrid bugs


10. After leaving the jungle, you go to a luxury hotel. What would be the first thing you did on reaching your hotel?

Answer: Shower & a glass of bubbly





11th mission should you choose to accept it is to tell us why the person who tagged you is a star. (For the uninitiated, stars play a big party in the television programme)

Answer: Because she's my beautiful talented sister & I love her  very much xxx




Pippa - I tag you to have a go - I know you'll have great answers; and enjoy the fun. Any one else who passes by - you are more than welcome!

Book week & school masquerade disco

Last week the girls had book week at school & had to dress as a favourite character, Milli went as Dora which was easy enough as she only had to wear shorts & a t shirt & I made her bag, "backpack" from scratch & just from a picture, was very pleased with the result!!

Kenya went as Izzy the indigo fairy, her outfit too was nice & simple but effective.

The same week they had a masquerade disco at school where they had to wear a mask. Milli made hers in class x

A Spiced Up Rug

I saw a simalar rug in a haberdashery store called Spotlight (for those not familiar with the shop) it was larger & very expensive, so I got on my hands & knees & studied how they did it & a lightbulb appeared above my head & I realised I could probably do my own take on one & as it happens I think mine is better not so gaudy as the store one. I did it on a smaller scale & used silk or nylon scarfs as they were easier to use & lovely & soft on the feet.
Before,

After...

Long weekend in Jervis Bay

Last weekend we had the good fortune of spending a few days in a house 2 minutes from the beach at a gorgeous spot called Jervis Bay, its about 3 hours south of Sydney, we went with my bestie Jo & her husband Tim & kids, the house belongs to their next door neighbour who is away in Europe for 6 weeks & left them the keys..

It was sooo lovely, we left friday morning after I went to the Dr to get anti biotics for my swollen face because a spider or something horrid had bitten me on the face & caused my eye to swell up, I looked like Quasimodo, so that put a bit of a dampner on the weekend a bit but once the drugs kicked in it was a lot better. We moved into the shack at the back which was divine & very beachy & Jo etc were in the house, we too were in the house most of the time & slept in the shack which was very comfortable,thanks very much..The weather wasnt the best but luckily we only had one downpour & that was at night, we had lovely long walks on the beach, collecting shells & other interesting things Jo & I drove to Berry for a spot of shopping on Saturday morning, what a fab place with lots of curiousity shops, we were in our element, lots of Oohing & arghing, got a couple of bits & bobs..

We had lovely food cooked by Tim & lots of wine & a few cheeky Gin & Tonics with fresh lemon picked from the tree outside, delicious few days had by all, cant wait for the next one!!

Gotta luv a spring fair !!

OOOhhh I do love a school/church fete, not only spring but any season, you never know what you are going to find bit like a flea market or junk shop, its an Aladins cave of pure mystery & goodness, Its an array of white elephant stalls, homemade treasures, tombolas & second hand books, takes me back to my childhood of St Mary's church fetes & all the preparation that went with it, it was a fab atmospere that I try to relive, when life was simple & we had no worries, spending all our pocket money on Joan's tombola, book marks make out of felt & knitted mice!!, here are a few pics of the goodies I picked up at Jo's childrens school spring fair

Talking of Spring fairs, we had the girls fete last saturday, I shared a stall with my friend Tanya & I sold 5 market bags & 2 lunch box's was well pleased, as it was a last minute thing, have been so busy lately.....

Mt Selwyn snow fields

What a fab weekend we had at the snow, 6 adults & 6 kids, we all left after lunch & it took about 5.5 hours to get there with stop revive, survive breaks & a wrong turn by Pete!! got to our 2 star hotel! which incidently was warm, clean & fab just in time for dinner, we were starving, as it was above a pub it would be rude to not stay up for a while for a few beverages, after deciding who was sleeping where, we all had a great nights sleep all ready for an early start & a full day of skiing.

Up bright & early, we all hired ski's & snowboards & everything that goes with it & off we went to the Kosiosko National Park, we could see the snow as we got nearer the girls were so excitedI, had a fab day, I didnt get on too well but the girls were excellent, flying up & down the slopes like real pro's, they did so well was so proud...I managed to borrow all our ski clothes from friends before we went, so was pleased about that, Sat night we had dinner & drinks in  the rooms & then bed exhausted. Same again for half day on Sunday then left after lunch, for the long drive home, I am lucky Emo doesnt like my driving as he drove all the way home, poor thing.. same time & place next year then!! x

Home made lunch box's

I wanted to make the girls some new lunch box's & thought this design would be perfect, its light weight & doesn't take up too much room in their school bag, It is supposed to be like an oil cloth type of material, but its so expensive so I found something suitable & a third of the price, it works quite well but I need to tweek it alittle, I am wanting to make some more to sell along with my bags..

The next bag is 100% mohair, I found a job lot in a charity shop I think they were supposed to be snood's or if you wanted a woolen boob tube!! I could see a bag with it straight away so I got 15 of them for $2 each & da da a bag was born...

The coulourful Ikea fabric with the gingham I made for Carla for her birthday...

xxxx

Garden Update

Its another month until Springtime Happiness, my favourite month of the year.. but already we are starting to see the beginnings of the happy season, the daytime has been very clement although mornings & evenings are still pretty cold, my hot water bottle is still in use at night & layering is necessary during the day clothing wise.. 
     Here are a few pictures of my daisies, I am very pleased with them I bought them from a market last year, they were small in a pot & now have spread along the garden bed at the front, giving it a fresh happy look, the white one is smaller but has flowered first, the pink one is bigger but is still to flower. there are lots of buds on it though.

    There is also a collection of some pottery garden ornaments I have made over time, apart from the Gnomes!! at the front of the house I have painted tree stumps green as extra seating but at the moment they have plants on.

Another comp for Milli

Mill's had another gymnastic's comp at the weekend, this time it was at the gym she trains at, she did really well & got 2 first's a second & a third, well done Mill's, we are very proud.

The Simple Pleasures in Life

My birthday present from Milli was this lovely magical garden, she has been collecting bits & pieces up for about a week even bringing stuff back on saturday from her playmates house to embelish it, she wouldnt let me see it til monday morning the day of my birthday, it was gorgeous she had laid it all around the tree in our garden & arranged her littleist pet shop animals in it for effect...The picture doesnt do it justice x

 On Saturday night I had a few friends over for drinks & nibbles, it was really nice & intimate only inviting people I knew would get along, a fab time was had by all, was pleased with the deck even though I say so myself, invested in some bistro blinds to keep out the cold & the outside heater was fab, nothing worse than being cold I certainly didnt want my guests to be...

Jo, Jo & Liz

Kenya made this flower from her craft book, with a bit of help from me, she did an excellent job & hope she will make some more, french knitting is great once you get the hang of it... 

Autumnal

Well the winter is definately coming, the weather is getting decidedly chilly, which I kinda dont really mind, I get fed up with continual hot sun for months on end, I love wearing my jeans & boots & today I have on a beanie which isnt usually me, but now I'm a soccer mum standing out in the mist & fog at 8.30 on a sunday morning I felt the occassion warranted it, fortunately Kenya's team always win so all is not lost. Today she got player of the week, great for her but not for me as I have to wash all the shirts!!  

I do love the crispiness of the Autumn leaf fall &

all the gorgeous colours although the trees look really

bare & sad but the garden is looking great at the moment & the grass is nice & lush. The lemon tree

has an abundence of fruit & all my suculents are loving the cooler weather.

 

Even more gappy

The next day after my last post about the wiggly teeth low & behold 2 more came out on the same day, one at gymnastics (if you please) & the other later on while I was brushing her teeth, the tooth fairy was very busy that night & had very empty pockets!! she looks so cute though with no teeth at the front, my baby is growing up x

Little Miss Gappy

Milli has had 3 really wiggly teeth for ages & ages, they just don't seem to want to budge, then finally the other day with a bit of help from Dad one front one suddenly popped out, that night she put the tooth under her pillow & drifted into her slumber with the hope that the tooth fairy will visit in the night & as if by magic she did!! she had even made the glass of water pink....now we are waiting for the other one's to come out which hopefully wont be long, as she looks a little like Nanny Mcphee!!

Pariotic

Well its been a week since 'THE WEDDING' & I'm still feeling very patriotic...It was a wonderful wedding with all the pomp & ceremony that only the British do best!! shame Posh couldnt smile at least once, if I was there I would have been beaming from ear to ear, she doesn't realise how lucky she is.. I hope they have a long & happy life together, I saw her on the tv today shopping at waitrose, bit different from her big day only a week before.

Thankyou Geraldine for all my souvenirs, I will cherish them x

 When I was little I had a blue story book, with a different story for every day of the week, I loved it & I can still picture my mum sitting on my bed reading to me everynight, miraculously I have ended up with the book along with a few others, equally as fab, one of them is from A Janet & U Michael & was given to me in 1972. I too sit on the girls beds & read them the same story books, which they too love listening to, I guess that not much changes if you give your children the same simple values in life xx

Childhood memory's

Flea Market Finds

Look at the precious gems I picked up from Trash n Treasure last sunday, We saw that the markets were still open even though it was Easter & we went for a nose, there wasn't many stores, but this week it was quality not quantity!! & I only spent $10.20, well happy, A gorgeous Moroccan looking bowl in muted yellows, greens & browns, the yellow book has a hand crafted elephant on the front with rustic pencil & hand made paper pages inside. I gave the "how to crochet" dvd to my lovelie friend Jo, who is dying to learn...lets hope she can make me a granny square blanket in no time at all!! & a gorgeous beachy basket to carry it all home in, fab x



My goodies!



Have made a tote bag with the 20c tea towel, quite pleased with the result x

The 4 stages of life

Afew weeks ago

half way through

full bloom



End of summer

Happy Easter xxxxx