Thrifting lately...

A bit of a mixed bag of late...

We spent a few days away this week and I picked up a lovely dictionary and bingo set for $1.00 each while visiting Beechworth. Also a couple of pillowcases to add to the mix of  preloved quilting fabrics, 50c each.

This little apron was found at the local Salvo's, just $1.00. I love it's bold colour and print.

Stool, $6.00 This is after a good sanding and it's also had a coat of white paint-photo coming soon.

And some gorgeous Johnson cups, a couple thrifted and a few gifted. 

This last one is quite possibly my favourite design yet!

For more thrifted goodness, pop by here.

Anzac Day

Our gang has been away enjoying the last few days of the school holidays. We spent most of today travelling home. Because we didn't participate in any community celebrations this year, we had our own Anzac celebrations around the dinner table.

I made some Anzac biscuits of the chewy kind-the best kind in my opinion.

We picked a sprig of Rosemary from the garden.

Instead of me telling the kids all about Anzac Day, I decided to have them tell me what they knew.
And we had a little pop quiz, if you like.

What date is Anzac Day?
What do the letters ANZAC stand for?
Why do we celebrate Anzac Day?
Why is a sprig of Rosemary worn on Anzac Day?
Name five ingredients in Anzac biscuits.

We then discussed these interesting facts about Anzac biscuits.

• The original Anzac biscuit was known as an Anzac wafer or tile and, along with beef bully, was part of the rations given to our soldiers during World War I. They were included instead of bread because they had a much longer shelf-life.
• These biscuits were so hard they prompted a Lieutenant A L Dardel in 1915 to comment that "the man who can eat Gallipoli stodge (called bread) can eat anything... somebody will break his neck someday wandering round with his eyes shut and his teeth clenched on a biscuit trying to bite it through".
• Many soldiers ground these biscuits into a type of porridge to make them more palatable.
• The mothers, wives and girlfriends of Australian troops back home must've got wind of the terrible Anzac tiles and were reportedly concerned that their boys were not getting enough nutrients. Knowing that oats were a food of high nutritional value, these women used the recipe for Scottish oatcakes as a base and developed what we know of today as the Anzac biscuit.
• Before being named Anzac biscuits, these biscuits were said to have been called soldier's biscuits.
• Along with oats, the other ingredients - sugar, flour, coconut, butter, golden syrup and bi-carbonate of soda - were used because they would be able to withstand the long journey via ship that the biscuits had to make to reach the troops.

• Eggs, a common binding agent in biscuits, were purposely not used because of the high likelihood that they would spoil before they reached Gallipoli or the Western Front.

Source

The Mr and I were lucky enough to travel to Gallipoli, pre-children. It was one of the most memorable parts of our 6 month trip. I pulled out a couple of photographs from the vault-1998.

Anzac Cove... so strangely beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Such a huge loss of lives.

Words by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk,  the founder of the Turkish Republic and it's first President. 

"Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives…
You are now living in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours…
You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace, after having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well."
Ataturk, 1934

Have you been to Anzac Cove?
How do you commemorate Anzac Day?
Do you play Two Up?

Shenanigans at the farm

Edited to add: that last shot is the sunrise. The six kids and I slept in the caravan for the night. The kookaburras laughed and woke us all up at 5am!!! It wasn't that funny. By 5.30am they had eaten a bunch of lollies ad were chasing sheep around the paddock-the kids...not the kookaburras.

I wish I was one of those bloggers who think up clever and quirky titles for their posts!

It's school hols at our place so there has been little time for blogging and blog reading but I am so excited about a recent purchase...I just have to do a little show and tell.

I saw this piece advertised at the local second hand place. It looked lovely in the photograph so I phoned the owner and went around to check it out. I have two other matching pieces already but I decided to go home and think about it for a bit. I know!!! And it wasn't the price...it was only $80!!! I just needed to reshuffle some other stuff about to make way for this beauty. It's in very good condition (or it was before the delivery guys put a couple of character dings in it. I guess that what happens when you are a cheapo and have your dad and dad-in-law pick it up for you ;)

I absolutely LOVE it!

I moved the other cabinet up into our playroom area.
You can just see it peeping out over our half wall-next to the map.

Now my photography skills are pretty crappy. Despite having a decent camera, my pics are very hit and miss but you get the idea.  Note to self: must learn to use camera out of auto mode. 

I gave it a polish with some orange oil (which cost more than half the price of the cabinet) and it came up beautifully. I am still 'dressing it' but for now I have gone with the 'less is more' approach. Should I add a few more trinkets? What do you think?

Thrifted

Despite wandering in all five oppies this week, I didn't have a lot of luck.

I did however, find this little table at Vinnies early in the week. It was a bit pricey at $30.00 but it's something we need, I like the shape and size and it's nice and sturdy. It will probably end up with a coat of white paint...eventually.

I also found these little Johnson teacups, all three for $1.00 It's a lovely design, I think.
They were without their saucers so I'll add some Johnson saucers to my thrifting list.

And finally, this little fireking bowl was a recent purchase that I gave our Miss 10 for her birthday. I thought she might keep some jewellery in it on her dressing table. She loved it but of course had other ideas! So.. it houses a little collection of squinkies instead.

 

Thanks so much for popping in. I hope you found some lovely things op shopping this week and that you enjoyed your Easter break as well.

For more op shopped treasures, pop on over to Her Library Adventures.

Good Friday

Today we headed out for a little day trip into Kosciuszko National Park. We were able to take a 4WD track most of the way in before heading up the walking track to Landers Falls. The walk was just over 3 km up and back. Boo, not being 100% well at the moment coughed her way up and was first to reach the lookout. Ollie may have mentioned he needed a tow truck at one point and of course the little love needed to be carried from time to time but we all enjoyed the walk and it was the most beautiful day weather wise.

It was really good to be outdoors, listening to the quiet, beauty all around.
A breath of fresh air was just what our little family needed today.

I hope you had a Good Friday too.

Op shopping

Just when I was thinking my blog (and my house) was looking like a bad episode of 'Hoarders' I stumbled across this fabulous find. Imagine!

So my new mantra...'keep on op shopping'.
On that note, let me introduce you to this weeks finds.

Pretty flannelette florals. I can't get enough of flannelette sheeting these days. I am loving the soft worn textures. Some lovely chenille bedspreads. Great condition! One for the bed and one for a quilt back. I now have everything I need to make Ollie a vintage quilt.

Some lovely books, damaged and perfect for paper crafting.
A pretty floral pillowcase and a sweet mustard yellow cup and saucer.

 

Have you found anything special this week?
As usual, I am linking in with Flea Market Finds.