A new game for Christmas... wait...

no... let's not reserve this game for Christmas - let's play it every night!!!

In regards to Christmas, at the end of a big family meal like that I play a game of hands up, hands down.

Before the first plate is removed from the table I ask "hands up all who ate here today". Then I say "hands down all who contributed to the cooking and preparation". Then I say "Thankyou to all those with their hands in the air who have kindly volunteered for cleanup duty".

Love it!

An attempt at scheduling

In my attempt at scheduling (aim: more predictable, more prepared and more time-efficent to free up more time), begun this week, I am trying to pencil in the stuff I would like to do as well as what I have to do. That said there's only 24hrs in a day and 7 days in a week so it presents it's challenges!


Here's one thing I want to do. Pancake Sunday. We made these mid-week because I forgot that Coles don't stock the milk we use. So I went there instead of Woolworths so Quinn could go on the escalators, clean forgetting they don't sell the milk. So we had pancakes instead for breakfast the next day. No one complained! So I thought if I can do that on a school weekday morning, then why not on a Sun?

I wash the bowls?

this helper asked me (repeatedly) to fill the sink so he could wash his fork so he could use it 'amorrow'
then he patiently stood at the sink for about 10mins while I finished the other dishes/sorted them
then he waited again in the loungeroom while I got it ready
then he got his own chair and commenced 'washing'

not bad eh
now to train all the others who are OLDER than he is...
*sigh* LOL I do try but sometimes I just wonder where I've gone wrong.

I love 'em all and they love me (even if I'm not always in their good books, but that's ok).

upsides to not having a working washine machine.

Yes, there are some... and I am keenly aware that there are plenty of people in the world without a washing machine nor the basic services that allow us to take these appliances as just part of every day life.

One, I am appreciative of the family and friends who washed our washing for us. I know most people have enough washing of their own to do, and I know the joys (not) of laundromats... so I am grateful and as always happy to return the favour any time when our laundry has a working machine again.

THIS I need to do

Over at IHeart Organising, exactly what I need to do is happening. Especially this as I have a drawer full of photos accumulated from the time before digital, where there was only film, and I didn't have enough albums to put my photos in right away. Silly me. If you've not yet started printing pics make sure you have albums or frames before you do! (well... mostly lol I still think that a special pic can be printed and blue takked or magneted up but maybe that's what got me into a drawer-ful in the first place eh!)

dents and drops

Jake's new dent this week - ice skating (thanks first aid ppl & parents/teacher at the rink for your help) - head hit the ice and split the skin open. It looked worse when I picked him up from school but thankfully looked better when it was cleaned up and glued back together.

There's a party coming up...

sneak peak...


I'll be turning my attention to all-things-party in the next little while, and there will be photos to share when it's all done. If you're celebrating a birthday this week, I hope it all goes grinningly for you! eta here's the links

Quinn's 2nd Birthday - cake bunting/flags and toppers
Quinn's 2nd Birthday - party bags and mini star-focaccia
Quinn's 2nd Birthday - table, cake and other pics

Sweetheart Jam Drops (& variations)

Put together a couple of batches of these Sweetheart Jam Drops this afternoon. Started with the basics, and completed them as the recipe said. Then accidentally-on-purpose one time pushed the cutter too far through, so added another 'design' to the recipe...

unfilled, filled and 'hollowed'...

Luck for Christmas...

Luck at least for my Nanna... This is how lucky my Nanna was this year with the floods in WA Gascoyne region... I realise other people were not so lucky across Australia and the world this December... Here's the back of Nanna's place... water on the rise...


at it's peak...

Sober up

read this, then without your concience even blinking, say 'oh but the other light globes make my lounge room cosier' or reusable items are 'too hard' or 'I'm too busy'... or, if I have the money why shouldn't I consume consume consume... I worked hard for it... right? Too busy to care? Hopefully the roles are never reversed. You don't need to be an extremist or 'perfect' to make a difference, or to care.

What a belly-filling read!

We’re getting all thing-ey for this year’s Spring Fair & Open Day . . .

SUNDAY 24th Oct!

10am - 3pm

West Coast Steiner School

Mayfair Street

NOLLAMARA

There will be Things of Wood and Stone

Rock aficionados and crystal lovers will be delighted to know that Spring Fair veteran stallholder Frank Phillips and wife Rene will once again be offering their wares at this year’s Spring Fair & Open Day. Frank has been scouring the Earth’s surface (and sub-surface) for specimens for his stall, and Rene will be at his side as usual with a tantalizing array of bric a brac for the up-cyclers. (We know you’re out there.)

Nearby, under the trees, Greg Miller will be offering his ‘Joy of Wood’ woodworking activities, for lovers of wood and lovers of wood to-be. A professional woodworker with a passion for traditional wood working tools and hand skills, Greg is also an experienced youth and community worker and loves working with people. Let your ears lead you there, via the clatter and hum of busy kids of all ages creating masterpieces out of their imagination and recycled bits of timber.

righto... pictures...

as promised. Although rather later than planned. Life's like that sometimes eh.

Quinn in the creek bed

oldest sister, littlest brother and a lovely beach on the point...

fossil...mmm where to explore next...

side of the road pedestrian


this is what poles are for... right? Jake, Zeke, Quinn

sunset after some rare rain...

another visitor...
plenty of beaches like this... and fishing to be had

camp visitors... very curious. Although no dingoes this time ;)

A selection of pics. There's a LOT more I'd like to put up but they all have faces in so no will do. Station Country staying with my Nanna, and a Bay in a National Park up north... and yep, reusable nappies all the way. All sorts of animals and things to do and see - fishing, bug catching, jumping waves, lighting the copper, learning how to make fire with Pop, making damper with Nanna, colouring, making, baking, exploring, rock and pebble tasting (Quinn), grotty-getting, sand castles, snorkelling, satellite and star gazing, rooster-listening, egg-checking... and a tonne more besides... No crowds, no city. Just the way I like it!

And finally... some long awaited rain for the country up that way, and all that area really... even the roos were having a tough time... so so dry and even the toughest of plans were dead... will some more Nanna's way very soon...

Painting and unpainting... and why

Bumbling along through random thoughts in the day, as you do, when your mind isn't otherwise occupied with logistics, planning, details of things to come and past, and requests, mediation and the like... I realised that at least three SAHM (stay-at-home-Mums) I know, painted a wall or two recently, myself included.

I did mine for a few reasons. One, because when I sit in that spot bfeeding Quinn, I notice every time what a displeasing-the-eye wall it is (was). And I plan what I might like to go there instead... and think that one over for a few days and change it slightly or completely. Until finally I settled on something.

I did ask 'how come I want to paint a wall?' (read: when there's a billion other things that really need doing) and the answer was (partly) - because if I paint that wall today, when I wake up tomorrow, it will still be painted. It won't be 'unpainted' like it was the day before. I won't be painting that same wall over and over again every day for as many days as the sun rises. It will remain painted. woot woot! LOL

So I worked out yes I wanted it to look nicer, be more welcoming and look slightly (a lot) more cared for. But I also wanted something that would stay completed. Raising and loving our children and caring for the home we do it in, is important all on it's own. And while we see the 'fruits of our efforts' every day in front of us, laughing, running, creating, learning and we see the clean clothes, freshly baked buns, warm yummy smells from the oven and the fruit to be eaten, it's not a ... 'completed' task, rather one that continues. We know that. And it's ok, and special in that way really because it continues and evolves.

Just occasionally though, it's nice to see something that is completed and remains that way, isn't it. Something you can 'see' at the end of the day and know you won't have to redo tomorrow. A more visibly permanent achievement. Just something. Even if you have to finish the last coat of paint on with roller in one hand and toddler-who-just-woke-and-isn't-happy-because-they-woke-up-early-and-are-still tired on the other hip/arm LOL. Even if yes, it's not been touched for a couple of weeks despite needing only ONE final coat all round! haha! It's nice to have that sense of completion. I think anyway.

So not painting neccesarily, but something. Yes?

It's not quite accurate but it's pretty close, as a representation.


My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Quinn's Waldorf Doll finished...

Here's where it started - the pics are in reverse order so scroll to the bottom to start at the beginning and work your way up. Here's the finished doll... named 'Curly'. I showed him to Quinn who came running at him arms open grin on his face LOL and grabbed Curly. Lasted about 5mins LOL which is fine ;) Curly is now in our bed to soak up some Mummy scent. I always wanted to made a Steiner Doll... and finally put the procrastinating behind me and just did... (I did make a few when Brooke was little but they were all as gifts and much smaller) I think the pants need to be wider a little for some 'balance' to the size of the body... that might be on the 'to do' list... also perhaps some knitted clothes but not sure where or how on that one. Happy early Birthday Quinn, love from Mummy xops... maybe not buttons... I was thinking star buttons but then no didn't want buttons on it as I know Quinn would do his best to take them off... so what about a star shape applique to go on the front, sort of to cover the join down the centre and to finish it off... what do you think? And in what colour - the light blue, dark blue or red?
ok so I made Curly some calico pants with wider legs... not sure still what to do about the shirt...

Part 4

the finished wig (thankyou Brooke for crocheting!) pinned into place ready to stitch...

Part 3... the face & wig...

I will admit first up that Brooke is making the wig - she has almost finished it in the time it took me to think about it, cast on and then get confused LOL. I did have a go but I think curly boucle is not a good thing to learn on LOL. Here's the progress pics since the first posts
First post
Second post
and last nights and this morning's efforts. The eyes and feet aren't exactly to the pattern but I think they turned out ok... that is, they didn't turn out horribly. The knitted jumper is purely for the photo. Considering I'm only half way through my first knitting project ever, I think knitted clothes will have to wait. Now I just need to work out how to make clothes for a 13.5" doll with a generous head. I think I'll do some basic pants and top patterns from scratch and see how we go...

Just begun and progress pics - Quinn's Waldorf doll...

Last night I began Quinn's Waldorf doll. Here are the progress pics - the first from last night (the head base) and the rest from today. I will have to teach myself (with help from Brooke, no doubt!) to crotchet to do the hair, and the smile on the piece of fabric is just to give me an idea as to position that I can play about with a little. Don't look too carefully at the tacking stitches on the arms and neck just yet... as I have to go round and finish attaching them.

Oh... and the doll has no thumbs... very annoying story as I really like the thumbs on the dolls... but nevermind. Does have a nose though ;) and the eyes are just for position... will have to stitch them on very soon :) then come the clothes... for those unfamiliar with Waldorf Dolls, this may help you - What is a Waldorf Doll?

Tonight begins...

Quinn's Waldorf/Steiner doll... using a kit from Sarah's Dolls I have finally begun the first of five dolls (one for each of my guys!)... I'm doing the 13.5" Radiance Doll... I made one doll from scratch with the help of a book from the school library long ago when Brooke was little and while this doll is still going and I was so pleased with her little face, she does have fluid retention issues in the arms and legs due to a not-so-good choice in the fabric (my error, but I was really starting from nowhere and chose as best I could)... so while she may be 'resewn in the body' one day, I also knew I wanted to make one for each BJZBQ ... but knew that I had to be realistic. A kit from someone who knew what they were doing, that had measurements and got me started, would be the best way to get there... photos to come... wish me luck!

oh and those clothes that I have kept from each of the children, those 'special ones' (admittedly there's more than just one or two items!) I think instead of sitting packed away in the cupboard for moments of nostalgia, or maybe dreaming I would one day make a quilt (I can dream, don't laugh! I know some people will do it, like you 'N' but I think mine is more of a hope LOL) I may just use them as the fabric for the children's own dolls... that way the clothes 'live on' and with the right wearer too... see how I go... need to make the doll first! LOL

Hope this finds you all well.
K
--------------------
eta one head complete (well the 'underneath' bit anyway). Materials packed away safely and I am heading to bed. Have a positive and productive weekend, everyone :)

see... we're not really a large Family!

Congratulations to S & Family expecting Baby #8... to make eight sons, and very handsome little (and not so little!) men at that. Huge Congratulations & best wishes from all of us as you await his arrival...

and in the light of the safe arrival of #14 for a Family well known in the EB circles, (and my Dad's own sibling count) our Family's really not that big at all huh!