in the garden...

The past few days have been oh, so wonderful. The sun has been shining and the warmth... oh, the warmth! I am so glad for spring. 
It has been perfect weather for gardening, we've been busying ourselves with planting out seeds and seedlings.
We don't plan on staying in this house past May next year, so most of our vegies are being planted in containers. Pots of all shapes and sizes are being put to use along with any other random container that can be up-cycled.
All of the small pots are on the front balcony away from hungry chookens. Beetroot, rainbow chard, basil and lettuce joined the herbs today. 

I went to town on a garden bed out the back, pulling out two ugly shrubs and removing bark. Boy, did that feel good. In its place are three pumpkin plants, four zucchini plants and a whole lot of straw from the chook house. I can't wait to have a gazillion zucchinis and pumpkins. Positive thinking here. Grow my pretties.

We've got a great amount of tomato plants too, which we're going to put in big pots out the back. I'm doing my research on the best way to grow them in pots, as previously I've grown them along a fence and tied them to the fence. Perhaps dog wire around the perimeter of the pot would be a good support for their heavy limbs.

How is your garden growing?
Do you have any tips? I'd love to hear them.

P.S. It's almost November! Eeeek! Where did the year go?

8/52...

Huckle :: gentle and sweet, yet so loud and crazy as well. 
Arlo :: this one is very, very cheeky. His most favourite thing at the moment is blowing raspberries.

52

inspired by this mama

escape...

A few weeks back, when we were having one of those days and dinner hadn't been cooked... or even contemplated... and it was 4:30. 

We bundled ourselves into the car and drove the 40 kilometres to the sea.

We played in the park while we waited for our fish and chips and afterwards we ventured down to the shore.

It was freezing, the fish and chips were horrible and ridiculously overpriced, but I'm so glad to have escaped.

I'm also glad to have taken the camera too. 

this and that...

 :: I made ginger beer... but it smells like farts {not my words}. 
Sam thinks I caught some bacteria in my starter. 
Apart from the sulphur smell, I think I did quite well. 
It has a lovely light fizz and a gentle ginger flavour... but yes, it still smells like farts. 
Better luck next time.

:: I love cook books. 
Not just any cook book though. I need one with a story, with substance. 
This stack has some old favourites, some new purchases and a borrowed one that needs to be purchased. 
Who needs to smoke or drink when you can buy cook books instead?

:: Spring. When it is good, it is very, very good {and when it is bad, it is horrid}. 
The lawn is proving to be the perfect spot for colouring, tea parties and cubbies.
When not on the lawn, you'll most likely find us on the front verandah. 
Huckle takes great pride in the watering of the herbs {when he's not pulling them out}.
We have oregano, thyme, mint, coriander and parsley. He knows which is which and fetches them for me when I cook. 
Knowing real food is important to me and I hope that I can instill that in my children.

:: There's been a lot of sewing happening over here.
We happened to be near a spotlight last week and I made the mad dash in, sans children. 
I was pleasantly surprised with the designs they currently have {and not at all surprised at their understaffed, unhelpful ways}.
I haven't purchased new fabric in oh, so long. I felt completely indulgent. 
The first three will be used to make pants and shorts for the Huckle and Arlo.
The other two are for me. I'm thinking floaty, summery tops.

Have you made ginger beer before? Any tips?
What's happening at yours this week? Sewing? Cooking? Outdoor tea parties?
Hope it's lovely.

7/52...

Huckle :: in his own little world, exploring the rockpools. our first visit to the seaside for the season. 
Arlo :: he's really getting this "grab and shove into mouth" business down pat

52

of balmy nights and sunsets...

Okay, maybe they're not all that balmy yet. 

The sunsets we get to see here are amazing. 
These were taken from our front verandah and are un-edited.
Truly beautiful.

Do you ever get that magical feeling when you watch a sunset with a loved one?
Isn't it the most divine feeling. 
Like the universe is giving you a great big hug and everything feels blissful.
Sigh.
I get the same feeling when I see an awesome moon, or a magnificent view from up high.

Have a most glorious weekend, won't you.

into nature...

Two is wonderful. 
There is so many new things to learn, songs to sing, stories to recite. 
The world is full of wonder.
But two is also hard. 
There is energy to burn, emotions to figure out and boundaries to test.
When days are hard {and the weather is reasonable} we head outside.
We jump in the car and find a local reserve to explore.
And then we exhale.
The focus shifts from butting heads, to the beauty of nature.
We walk through the bush peacefully, stopping every now and then to study something of interest and to discuss what it might be, how it got to be here and why.
Why is the feather blue? Why did the tree fall? Who cut it up? Where are the ants going?
So, so much to learn.
These little adventures make the day to day a little less overwhelming.
Thank you mother nature. 

6/52...

A little late. 
I've been too occupied with books and thoughts to be in this here space.
Hopefully soon, I'll have a moment to record all these thoughts.
I hope all is well where you are. x

Huckle :: he's a pensive little fellow at times

Arlo :: today he learnt to roll {without the "help" of his big brother}

52

5/52...

Huckle :: tending to his seeds, the spray bottle provides much entertainment
Arlo :: as he watches me, I get lost in those deep blue eyes

52

spotty pirate-y pantaloons...

I've been busting to get back into the making of things other than babies and cakes.
So when I saw this tutorial by the lovely Sophie of Cirque Du Bebe, I jumped in.
When I say jumped in... I actually mean belly flopped in!
My eyes glanced quickly over the tutorial... yep, mm hmm, I see... looks easy enough... and then I went ahead and completely and utterly winged it. Who has time for details when you're juggling kidlets? Let alone measuring the kidlet!
Looking back over the tutorial now, I see how I could have made things a lot easier for myself. But I like to think of myself as a "hands on learner". 

I found both materials at the oppy, these pants probably cost me approximately 33c.
Bargain. 

Huckle calls them his spotty pirate pants. 
Perfect attire for jumping on the bed, don't you know.

You know what else? 
I quite fancy a pair for myself!
Do you fancy them... for your kidlet or yourself?
They're easy to whip up... and even easier if you follow the instructions too, I'm sure.

I'm so tempted to join in on the kcwc. Maybe I'll manage one piece a week rather than one piece a day.

sidenote: it is pretty much impossible to capture a toddler in focus using a manual focus lens

four months...

Where has the week gone?! 

I couldn't tell you what on earth we've been up to. The week is a big melting pot of activities, walks, errands, outings, playing, eating, sleeping... the list goes on. Most days I don't know what day it is and when I do know (or think I know) what day it is, I'm often wrong. 
I don't mind. We have our own sense of time here. My favourite thought each and every day, is that there is always tomorrow. Aaah, thank goodness for tomorrow.

One thing I am certain of though, is that the wee Arlo man turned four months last friday.
He's all kinds of squishable goodness, he is.
He loves a chat and thinks I am HILARIOUS. (well I am... aren't I...?)
There's the oh, so serious chat, the giggly chat and the chat in which he'll talk of chomping down on your cheek and then attempt to follow through. 
He is very aware of what he wants and will crack it until I figure out what it is. In most cases, this will be a want to get in the bath or to steal my food.
This boy is so interested in food. He sits on my lap at meal times, so he can feel a part of the family. And he gets oh so cross that nothing is going in his mouth. I think he'll like food very much. I can only imagine what feeding him as a teenager will be like!
We went to the health nurse yesterday. She said he was a big boy. 
Yep, that's how I make them. He's 8.4kg and growing out of size zero and into size ones.
Oh Arlo man. You're growing too fast. Please slow down.

In other news...
We're off uptown tomorrow for joint 2 and 4 year old birthday party. Huckle is quite excited.
I sewed Huckle some spotty, piratey pants. I'll show you soon.
I need to stop procrastinating here and go and sew the birthday pressies for tomorrow.

I'm off!
See ya!
Have a happy weekend.

one month
two months
three months