Getting Back to the Basics

You may remember me starting this callenge last year.  With the move (that happened in November) and then the horrid neighbours that we have here I have not been really into the garden (and the depressing fact that our yard is so small here) But enough is enough.  I need to snap out of it and my DH and I have been chatting over the past few days about what made us happy with our last home and the garden came up a few times.  There are others out there that garden in small areas and so I just need to put my thinking cap on and get a little creative with the area that I have at my disposal.

So it is going to be a busy week.  I will work out what seeds we have and am about to make a trip to the nursery to get the soil and maybe even a few seedlings to give us a head start.

•Sowing seed or Planting 
Observing - Neighbours have a passionfruit vine that has grown over to our side of the fence.  I have been fertilizing the flowers and have been told that what grows on our side are ours (how nice of them!) 

I planted basil, parsley, oregano, mint, corriander and rosemary (also planted Thyme - but I lost it) -  it has been lovely walking out to the front garden and snipping these to add to our meals.

•Planning for The Future - Planning meals around what is in season and on special at the Markets

•Working for the Future - DH made a batch of Tomato Sause with 9kg of tomatoes that I got nn special - yummo.

•Building Community - Have found a local playgroup that is attatched to the Kindy that Amelia is attending.

We have found a local church and feel at home there.

Sent an email to a friend that I have not spoken to in a while - will call her next week.

Went to the local Farmers Market down the street yesterday.

•Learn a new Skill - Trying to work out what to plant in Sub-tropical Qld.

Hoping that these things will help us make this house our home.

Finding the Rainbow...

I went for a drive today.  Into Tangled Yarns...

And look what came for the drive home.

New yarn - I have been so good for the last few months with no new purchases.  But I could not help myself.

New socks for Tim are in order (so he will stop saying that every baby in the world has a pair of my socks and he is left with cold feet)  

And a lovely selection of Biggan Design to turn into a Rainbow Dress for Amelia.

If you are interested there is a knit-a-long happening over at Tangled Yarns to celebrate them being a new stockist of Tikki's patterns.  Be sure to check it out.

My Creative Space...

This morning has been spent driving around to a few local schools to get a feel for them.  Amelia will start Prep next year and I am doing the rounds and getting to know what is on offer. 

Let's just say I walked into one today and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up - that one has been crossed off the list.

For more creative spaces - go and check out Kootoyoo - Kirsty is seeing Red today.

Marching on...

March... The start of cool mornings and shorter days, but ALREADY.

Who's bright idea was it to make February a short month, I am sure that it would sound better being
...30 days has September, April, May, June, July and November?  Share the love a little.

So I am living in my own little world and time zone at the moment, my watch reads Wednesday, 31st.  How about yours?

If you have read till this point you have possibly clicked to the fact that I did not get nearly what I wanted to do this month completed.  I did however catch up on January's list (so a positive), however I failed to knit the Feb Lady Sweater - did not even cast it on.  I descided that I would concerntrate on the shawl and of which I only managed to achieve an extra 5 repeats. Lace work is hard going with toddlers and I take my hat off to anyone that enjoy it.

For the 12 in 12 I only managed to sew up a pair of knickers that I had cut out back in hummm July.

I enjoyed making them - but they are HUGE.  And will fit Miss 4 when she is 24 (and I am not being dramatic here - LOOK) (and the other underwear in the picture are big on her to start with)

 So March... Come on down

On the knitting front I have singed up for a challenge, that being to only work on one thing at a time.
I would like to say that I can do it, however I am feeling a little blahblah about the shawl that is on the needles at the moment - it is hard to pick up and put down as I walk around the house chasing the kids, So I think that I am going to change the challenge a little for me and work on the shawl + one other project


Rainbow Dress for Amelia
Finish the Shawl
Milo for Baden
Socks for Tim - finish in time for his birthday - have to make a trip into Tangled Yarns to pick up yarn.
Baby gift - sex unknown - due 16th March

Sewing
I am also going to try and get what I have started finished and then make a start on the kids winter wardrobes.
The 12 in 12 this month is a softie - so something little is in order there.

For the one per month I have a list of recipes and websites that I search when I am looking for a recipe - so will try something from them.

I would also like to try and get a few veges growing - I am missing having a vegetable patch and having that excuss to get outside although it has been raining for a few days here at the moment.  I smiled nicely to the green grocer yesterday and he gave me three boxes and thought that we could start with some lettuce or something in them.

...the tool man

A new little outfit for Baden.  I was a little worried that they looked too much like pj's, so next time I make him shorts I will put on a pocket.  I did do a double stitched seam on the sides and gave him a fake fly. 

The shirt has a machine outlined hammer (a clip art  that I changed slightly) and followed this great tutorial from Clutterpunks blog. (still to get a clear photo of it - a little hard on a moving model)

Have you been following along with the Celebrate the Boy month at Made and Made by Rae?

I have enjoyed seeing lots of the ideas and have an extra long tutorial list now and over flowing ideas.  I recently went to the Matilda's Markets here and was a little disappointed with the lack of boys things available.  I would love to say that I would like to have a stall there and concerntrate on all things boy, although we all know that girls things are oh so cute and yoyo's area quick fix and bring in the $.  I might start small.  There is a new congo cart that has just opened and the sellers are exclusive regular Crafty Mama forum members (of which I am) So keep your eyes open for more info on that in the coming weeks.

The list of Tutorial that I would like to try:

Newboy Cap pattern and tutorial - uses an old mens suit

Dino Mitts - so cute - would make a great gift for a little man or even as a puppet

Soft Baby Book

Pockets for Pants ideas

Boys Sweater Vest

Freezer Paper Stenciling

By Onesie

Car Caddy - this would be great in my bag for Church, Mr B is still 12months off of going to Sunday School

The tie shirt

90minute shirt

Boys Tie

Drawstring Backpack

Fold up cuff pants

Wow - that is a long list - will see how I go.

Wordless Weekend...

Febusave

Have you heard about Febusave?

 I signed up towards the beginning of the month and have been meaning to do a post on it all month.  So here I am almost at the end, so I may as well do a round up for you and so I have a copy for myself for reference in the future.

I made a deal with myself this year that I would not spend money on wool or material that I did not need.  I even walked in to Spotlight the other day and only walked out with elastic and three meters of cord.The credit card, storage boxes and my husband are all thanking me. (Could have saved up to about $100 as all of the summer stock was marked down this month)

Tangled Yarns have been trying hard to get me to part with my money with 10% off a special thing every Friday. Although I did make a purchase this Friday - but there is a certain husband having a birthday next month and I have plans for it straight away (well as soon as I have it in my hot little hands) (Saving of about $200 - there has been a few things that have tempted me, Sorry Kelly)

We have not had takeaway for the month. We did go out for dinner the other night - but that was a special treat.  We have done a few different things that have been fun.  Picnic dinner with home made pizza on the lounge room floor.  A play and bbq at the park. (the potential to be once a week and then lunch after church $200)

We went camping.  A cheap family holiday and everyone had fun.  And when we looked at it, Yes we had the extra cost of a tank of fuel, but if we did stay home we would have ended up at a shopping centre and bought something that we really did not need and then lunch.

I have been very organised and have been managing to stick to a menu. This is great and I still have a long way to go.  The next task is to work out where I can use the rest of the greek yogurt or celery etc before it gets forgotten in the fridge and goes off.  This also means that I am not at the shops all of the time and tempted by other things.
Another thing that I have been doing is taking a lunch box with treats in it from home.  So when the kids start with the "Mum, I'm hungry" they have something to eat and I am not grabbing something extra. (Savings unknow -  but feels good)

I have found a great local butcher and fruit and vege shop (who offer vouchers that you print off and take in eg.Monday and Tuesday - 10% off of your fresh produce) and the freezer is stocked with meat (if you need mince or silverside I am your girl (I grabbed both for $3.99 a kilo last week and have 5kg of each in the freezer)  We also have a milk man that drives past twice a week and if I know that I am close to running out of milk I grab it off of him.  It is a little more expensive (we are only talking about 10 or 20 cents, but by the time I get the kids in the car and drive to the closest shop it would cost me more than that in fuel) (Savings from shopping on a Mon or Tuesday $20 for the month + meat savings + fuel)

I have not managed to get to the local knitting group for the past few weeks due to DH's work and AGM meetings for different things.  The $15 that I would have spent of a coffee and cake has been going away in a little spot for safe keeping (I am hoping to get to a crafty meetup with other mums in a few months)  (Savings of $60)

Dh has been taking his lunch to work a few times a week (left overs or salads and cold cuts) (A saving of approx $100)
I am also a huge iced coffee drinker and instead of buying a premixed one I have bought a bottle of bickfords iced coffee mix and make my own at home before heading out. (Savings of approx $15)

I am also enjoying finding activities to do with the kids that cost nothing or very little.  There is a Kidsports program here that is run once a week and is funded by the council.  There is a large variety of parks around us and many libraries (not only free aircon on a hot day, but I have also borrowed a large selection of the Burda Style Mags, and I have managed to take them back on time thanks to signing up for the email notification that lets me know that they are due back in the next three days as the fines are a killer)

So, I think that I have done well (rather we have done well as a family)  I would like to keep doing this for the year and see how much we can save.  A family holiday to the snow would be nice in a year or two and how nice would it be if I funded it all on the little extra savings that I can make here and there) And lets not forget about the Happy Points (will do a post on those a little later)