Ribbon Bombed

 

Noticed our front fence has a sweet new detail. A post with a neckerchief...

Mx

Stormy Skies

Now that the record breaking harvest is in, I can pray to the weather gods and ask for more of this! I love a good summer storm (and winter ones to be honest). So exciting, and such beautiful, dramatic skies.

More please!!

Mx

Rag Rug

Jodie over at Ric Rac is making a rag rug and I am too. Well so far I'm making rag strips. I might just be the last person to finish their rug in this rug-a-long, but I've made a start.

I'm going with a 1.5 inch width for my strips and we'll see how that goes.

I like the neatness of the rugs Emily makes, so I'll be aiming in that direction (something my husband can live with). Here is a lovely example of her work.

[source: recyclingartistemily]

I hope I can be that neat!

Mx

2011 looking back

I know everyone else has already reflected and are forging on into 2012. I'm much more punctual than this in real life.

in 2011 I...

:: moved house twice
:: realized my dream of living in the country
:: made new friends
:: wore my jeans rolled up in one big cuff
:: had a fringe
:: met the ex missus
:: joined the CWA
:: ran for local council
:: gave up on having a clear blog reader
:: became more domesticated and slightly more organised.

I look forward to being able to repeat the last dot point again at the end of this year. It's my perpetual resolution.

Mx

Oatstraw Tea

A refreshing (and healthy) summer drink I'm enjoying at the moment is something my Mum came up with. It sounds strange, but stay with me... iced oatstraw tea with honey and apple cider vinegar, .

The first time Mum gave it to me I thought it was a soft drink, it had that kind of tang. I really loved it. I brew the oat straw overnight like the Wise Woman says to do, making a nourishing herbal infusion and then add a couple of tablespoons of Wescobee apple cider vinegar with honey to my cup.

I've tried making a jugful too instead of adding the vinegar cup by cup. I didn't have any of the vinegar with honey so I used straight acv and raw local honey.

Here is the recipe for a jugful:

1 Litre Oatstraw nourishing infusion
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup honey

by the cup:

1 glass of oat straw tea
2 - 4 Tbs of Wescobee apple cider vinegar with honey (depending on the size of your glass)

You will probably want to adjust the amount of vinegar to your taste, I like it pretty strong, and with plenty of ice.

Mx

Babewatch

I thought Charlie looked very "Hoff" in his red speedos at the beach last week. We made a special trip to the coast to make sure Charlie spends some time at the beach every summer.

Mx

Sourdough

Well blow me down, I've finally baked a decent sourdough. I was desperate for it to work this time, I've already been back to Yoke twice for more starter, and did not fancy going back a third time as a failure.

I've only been meaning to get around to this since I was pregnant in 2010! I'm counting on the fact that I should only get better now with practice. I would definitely recommend a class if you'd like to make sourdough too.

Mx

Sashiko

I bought a sashiko panel at the Perth Craft Fair and made it into a cushion for my bestie for Christmas.

She loves orange, so the buttons are a little pop of colour that I knew she'd like. This was my first button back cushion and I used this video to help.

I really enjoyed doing it and have plans more. It's a really handy project to have on the go.

Mx

Leaf Heart

I still like to photograph hearts whenever I find them. Charlie has a birthmark heart on his calf that I'm yet to photograph well.

Mx

December

my Project 365 in reality turned out to be a Project 144, nowhere near a photo a day or even a photo every second day, but I'm still calling it a success. I have more photos than I would otherwise and I really like the photo journal thing where I've got one photo to describe the day.

Anyway, December was...

:: blink and you'll miss it quick
:: end of year lunches and dinners
:: less trips than we planned
:: a family bout with gastro
:: Zooper Doopers
:: the quietest Christmas ever

Mx

Lets finish the year with something crafty!

I do get a little bit of crafting done around here.

A little quilt for a friend's new(ish) baby.

And of course you put a quilt down to photograph and you end up with little helpers, of the skin... and fur variety.

We're looking forward to staying in tonight for New Years, with a little bit of reflection and maybe a bit of resolution making. Whatever you are doing tonight, have a good time, and all the best for the new year!

Mx

Gastro: The Grinch Who Stole Christmas

(photos of Charlie at our CWA Christmas lunch last month, he looks kinda Grinch-ie don't you think?)

The fun times have continued at our house with the Mr succumbing violently enough to put him in hospital and on to an IV drip. Suffice it to say, not well enough to travel, and really, we think this is the kind of Christmas present we should keep to ourselves.

So we're having a quarantined kind of Christmas, hoping Charlie wont notice there'll only be one gift under the tree (and that isn't even from us!). My last minute gift shopping on Christmas Eve is not going to happen.

The fridge and cupboards were already eaten down, so I've put a late order in with the butcher and I'll get some supplies tomorrow, we might want to eat by Sunday!

We'll miss seeing everyone, but it will be nice to have a little Christmas at home too, remembering what's really important is that the three of us are together.

Merry Christmas,
Mx

Tis The Season

Fig season that is!!

We came home from Perth on the Weekend to the first figs and I couldn't be happier. Except of course if I wasn't still laid up in bed since Tuesday morning feeling woeful.

eat it from the bottom Charlie

I experienced my first child spew at half past one on Monday night (as opposed to a baby milk spew). Charlie spewed all over me and all over the bed, then rolled in it. So we both needed baths and the Mr had to change the sheets. Fun times. He seems to be fine now, but not I.

At least I can console myself with figs... once I feel like eating.

Mx

Mango Smoothie

I made this for breakfast this morning and it was good. I wrote it down and I'm posting it here so I don't lose it (and one of you might like to try it!). Oh, and it's a good breakfast if you have a broken tooth. Dentist tomorrow.

1 banana
2 frozen mango cheeks
2 cups almond milk
1 Tbs dark agave syrup
1 Tbs bee pollen
1 tsp vitamin C powder
Wizz in the blender and enjoy.

And here is how I make the nut milk...

1 cup soaked nuts (or seeds)
4 cups filtered rain water
1/4 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
Adding only half the water, wizz everything together in the blender. Strain through a nut milk bag and add the other two cups of water. Keeps for a few days in the fridge.

Mx

The Weekend

Was lovely and low key. We stayed in except for a little birthday celebration and a quick dip in the town pool.

Mx

Lights

They might be my favourite part of Christmas.

I put some lights on our tree the other night, and it made me happy.

You can see the tree is up on a side table to keep it out of Charlie's reach a little. The lower limbs have been de-baubled but I think it's fairing pretty well.

Mx

The Weekend

We drove over to the Nungarin markets on Sunday morning, and the Mr patiently stopped for me along the way so I could take a few photos.

And we played tennis in the afternoon. Charlie had his first real experience of sunscreen.

I have avoided sunscreen so far, worrying about the chemicals, but today the sun had a real sting to it, and I don't know where I've put the 'organic' sunscreen.

I hope you had a lovely weekend, mine was particularly good.

Mx

November

little bits and pieces of November

:: the unexpected return of Aunt Flow
:: Back to The Bush Veterans
:: back to back trips to Perth
:: Kings of Leon
:: first few hot days of summer
:: mostly mild days
:: our first family Christmas tree
:: a leather anniversary

The prettiest hen house in Perth

I've been wanting to post photos of our friend's chook yard, look at it! Even without chooks I had massive hen house envy the first time I saw it.

While I snapped away at the chook house Charlie enjoyed their swing, hung from a huge old olive tree also in the back yard.

 

Mx

Weekdays

I was in Perth last week during the week for the first time since we left. It was great to have the extra days to relax whilst there. Did a spot of cloud watching with Dad.

I even had time for a bit of this!

We had lunch in Freo and Charlie fit in perfectly, look at him with no shoes on! It's ok, big Charlie bought him his first pair of sandals across the road at Target.

We'll be back again this weekend for Kings Of Leon!

Mx