{a long weekend}

This weekend we are hanging around home. A long weekend of eating, knitting and spending time together.

There are hotcross buns rising as I speak and the kettle has boiled many times today.  The days are getting shorter and cooler.

A few of us here have other plans.  He is busy preparing his kayak for a paint job.  Goodbye canary yellow.

What have you got planned for the long weekend?

Terrariums...

A gathering of a few things at home.  Goggle and youtube searches by Miss 7 and a head full of ideas saw us head out collecting.

The rain and wind did not stop us.  With shovel in hand, bucket over arm and raincoats on, we ventured out.  Stopping to investigate and talk about the different moss along the way and searching for the piles that were the perfect green.

Scooping down again to gather rocks and a few succulents.

Home to put it all together. 

What a wonderful activity to end the school holidays.
Have you all had a great time?
I am not looking forward to the routine of getting out the door 5 days a week in the pea soup sky and sleet that greeted us on our walk to school this morning.

Sometimes...

Sometimes living on an Army Base means that we are exposed to some really cool stuff.

Last week the Tigers flew in as part of an exercise (think big bangs, the type that make the house shake)  They invited us to the air strip to get up and personal with the helicopters before they headed home.

 Baden was very interested in all of the buttons and asked a lot of questions.  Last week he wanted to fix helicopters, this week he wants to fly them.

Floating though the weeks...

Where oh where has the past 6 weeks gone?  I did not mean to have that long of a blogging break.

The start of the school year has been crazy.  All have settled in well.  Amelia hit Year 2 running and ready to learn.  Baden is doing a second year of Kinder to give his confidence and language a little help before the formal learning years begin.  He has developed so much in the first 6 weeks at a new Kinder that we know that we have made the right decision.

Me, I am floating through the days in an attempt to keep on top of everything. I spend many hours driving and sitting around waiting for Kinder, Dancing and Swimming to finish (the story of every Mum I am certain)  I have been attempting to utilize this time away from the house and write shopping lists, knit and have even managed to read a book (with another on the the ipad ready to read)

I hope that you are all well. Is the weather cooling down where you are?  We have had a long hot, dry Summer this year and I am looking forward to Autumn finally getting its act together and working out that it is her turn.

 
Do you have any plans for this cooler weather? 

Joining in over here for the first time in months.

One of the Locals

I live in a very unique part of Australia where we do actually have Emu's and Kangaroo's roaming the streets (and getting into our back yards if we forget to close a gate - They make for excellent lawn mowers)

They have not ventured into the housing area much this year as there has been alot of green pickings on the ovals and the paddocks.  This fellow came for a wonder yesterday.

I am hoping that he is the head scout and we will soon see Daddy Emu's with babies following behind.

In the Garden #9

I thought that I would share with you my little herb garden.  Some of you may remember the herb garden  I built when we moved in.

I collected all the odd bricks, broken pots and rocks that I could find and went to work.  I am so pleased how it turned out and pleased to report that most of my herbs survived the winter and the frost.

The only herbs that lost were the lemon grass, chilli and basil. (but then they are all warmth loving herbs and plants)  I'm thrilled that the strawberries are already flowering. The thyme has also gone to flower and is bringing in the bee's to work their magic.

A golden find...

It has been months since I have had an op shop find.  This one however saw my heart skip a beat and me handing over the cash a quickly as I could.

A positive in the week of sickness that we have had here (Yes, the little man is still unwell) We have been back and forwards from Dr's and Hospitals , tests have been run, blood has been taken and we are now playing the waiting game.

We walked out of the Dr's surgery yesterday. We wandered across the road and into the opshop. I had a look around, let Baden chose a car to go with his growing collection and was about to walk out when I spotted it.

HORN...

A quick skip over, the nod from the lady to say that it was infact in working order. The exchange of cash and into the back of the car (lucky for me the man of the house insists I drive a Ute) and home we went.

Today I cleaned it up and placed the machines in their new home. The man of the house says that it is ugly and is researching paint.  I however am just thrilled to have somewhere to put my machines, a space to sew and a bargin to end all bargins.

Now to find the safe spot I placed my sewing scissors when I unpacked all those boxes. Hoping to have something of the sewn variety to show you in next weeks Creative Space.

School Holidays...

Our school holidays are quickly coming to an end.


We have spent the two weeks enjoying the time together, no real plans and just enjoying time together.

The little people have been crafting up a storm.  I bought a few new pens (the girl is thrilled with the purchase of Gel Pens, it is all the rage for 6 year olds I believe) a few stamps and foam stars and an animal pack.  Hours and Hours of endless fun.

There was also the making of an Easter Tree and Easter Chickens.

My creativity has been in the kitchen. Lots of cooking to feed hungry happy stomachs.

We also had visitors this past week.  A house full of four girls, one boy and two mums.

And a little late night knitting with my lap warmer at the end of the day is keeping this mumma content. For more creative soles and some creative kids head over here.

Have you all had a great holiday?  Am I the only mother out there that enjoys having her children at home on holidays?

My Creative Garden Space...

There is not alot on the crafting front here. Well there is but it is rather slow going. The change in the weather is playing havoc on my hands and they are not liking the purling of this knit. 

I have been in the garden.  Trying to turn a pile of  bricks into a herb spiral.  I am getting there.  So far this project has only cost me the soil, straw and the herbs.

Looking forward to getting it finished so I can get the herbs in.

The inspiration for the spiral garden comes from The Nature Learning Centre Blog

Thinking that I might have to cast on something in the round just so I have something to knit when the hands won't let me purl.  For more creativity of the yarn, thread and material kind, pop over here

A new routine...

With school going back and the sun still high in the sky we have implemented a new bedtime routine.  After the normal brushing of the teeth, we have always read to the kids.  This will not change as I feel that it is important for the kids to be read to.

However, now after we read to them they are now allowed to read to themselves.  We have set up lamps in the room and allow them to choose their own story that they would like to read.

Do you like Baden's pile beside his bed.  The one who is still up to reading the pictures and making up his own story is the one with more books.

It seems to be working and they are excited to go to bed even with the sun still up.

Hello Kitten...

Welcome to our home

You are going to be very loved and cared for.

You have your own little bed that has been specially crocheted for you*

Now would you PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE sleep at night.

Frank Sinatra (Franksin for short) was welcomed into our home on Saturday 28th January.  A very loved and fluffy addition to our family.

*Wool in its previous form can be found here

Exploring our new environment

We have been spending the days going for walks and riding around our new neighbourhood. The new hood is different to that of many.

We are a community plopped in the middle of a defence training ground.  We are 14km from the nearest town and you can flip a coin at the front gates and decide which road to take to explore (that will take you over an hour to get to) 

We share our neighbourhood with the animals on our flag.  They wonder up to our front yard of a night and have a nibble of what green grass we have. I have not managed to snap a photo of them up close yet.  Our friend seems to want to spring them and enjoys watching them run away from her.

There are plenty of birds to find and identify.

We are all feeling very content here and at home.  The boy (who loves to explore and collect rocks and sticks) is in his element here. 

I have plans for this spot in the backyard.  It will become our vegetable plot.