afternoon

I've so enjoyed the afternoons this spring. Our front verandah is large and made of concrete and is positioned to attract all the day's sun. The lizards love it. So does the cat. I like to sit in this chair (another tip shop find) and watch the sun disappear behind the hills while the girls play with the masses of rose petals in our garden, or ride bikes up and down, waiting for Swayer to come home... I like to hide behind the white lilac bush with my cuppa and a book and soak up 5 minutes of quiet time if I'm lucky... I'm too busy to enjoy it this week, but hoping to get back there soon and looking longingly at my spot as I race in and out the front door. *sigh*

Lucky finds

Along the way in our quest to consume less we still get that occasional need for some retail therapy. Or perhaps its just the excitement of finding something useful in the rubbish heap. Not sure... I do know that we love the Tip Shop! This morning Swayer asked me what we have ever bought from there that was useful. I went on to list a large number of items we have found among the rubble. Pyjamas, fabric, records, bowls and plates, bikes, my fave afternoon chair... Today we found some more fabric, a basket, bamboo placemats, a book, a spotty shell and a picnic basket we've wanted for about forever... all for ten bucks!! Love the tip shop.


We did some digging around the backyard too and found there are potatoes growing under the potato patch!

Holidays

We had a brilliant time in Melbourne. The girls picked a thing to do on each of the free days we had. As Little Owlet is so into animals right now, the Zoo was her pick. She says she loved the Zebras best, but I think the whole day was a success really. We were especially impressed to find her favorite bird of the moment, the Tawny Frogmouth, sunning on a log.


Big Owlet's fave place is always the Museum. She's a science nut these days and particularly into the human body on this visit. The highlight had to be the digestive system display where the food travels the body and, well we all know what happens at the end, but the fart button was a nice surprise for a 5yo! The silly mirrors were pretty great too.

We returned home exhausted and so happy to be in such a peaceful, green place. Melbourne is so much fun... loud, colourful and busy. We love catching up with everyone and packing the days full of fun stuff. But how wonderful to wander out to the garden barefoot and feel dirt and green things growing all around you, to smell that fresh air and hear nothing but birds and the breeze. I'm looking forward to the next visit, but I'm also really excited at the idea of a few summery months right where we are.

Skirty

Some bits of old fabric and ribbon...


make a great skirt to twirl and whirl and run and play in...


and one for mama too...

We're off to Melbourne for a few days for a wedding (hence skirts) and the zoo and museum. Hopefully a little inspiration too..

Baggy Craft

Audrey and I had a few quiet moments so we whipped up this drawstring bag for her to decorate with fabric crayons. I love how her drawing is developing... love the attention to detail with the fringe and the borders, a new addition to most of her drawings. And of course, one must draw one's name right up the top front and centre... Cute huh?

Lazy long weekend

We've had a beautiful four day weekend... time to breathe at a rather hectic time of year. It was Show Day here on Thursday, so of course we went to the show. Even though we said last year that we wouldn't. The show was loud and packed and smelly and we all left with worn out feet and ears. We did have a great time on the dodgems and patted a few animals and Audrey had a ponyride... and all the free apples we could eat!


We also discovered that our 9yo puss may in fact be a Norwegian Forest Cat, rather than just a plain old stray from Wantirna... Some of us have fallen in love with her all over again, but I remain unmoved... As does she.


So the relaxing bit came post-show. Dinner with a lovely friend, paddles at the beach and a weekend of dreaming, gardening and flopping. I must say I am feeling rather creatively frustrated, so I've been planning ways to do more. I made Audrey a skirt (below) with some bits lying around. So now there is a long list of sewing requests, as well as a return to screenprinting in the works...

Two owlets and a box of facepaint...

Its all about the headband...


Its so much more fun when they play with the colours themselves don't you think?