A snapshot of August

• The kiddos finished up their Winter sport-soccer for both big kids
• The weather remained cool, we had three sick kids with Lulu's lurgy hitting her hard. It's been weeks and still the chesty cough for all three lingers on. Ick! There's no such thing as 'just a cold' at our place. Bella had a fantastic review at cf clinic in July! It's amazing what a cold and a few weeks make. The rollercoaster. We are hanging out for the school break when we can all rest and recharge.
• My gorgeous niece tried her hand at candle making and gifted me a lovely soy candle in one of Nanna Belles glasses.
• We visited Junee Licorice factory after soccer one Saturday.
• Little love and I enjoyed a country drive to Lockhart. We headed to 'Ginge and Fluffs' second hand store to find a gift for a lovely friend. The canola crops were a huge highlight of the day out. I've never seen a yellow so cheery.
• I made banana bread over and over.
• Grandy lit the bofire. There was soup, a camp oven roast, motorbike riding and marshmallow toasting with family and friends.
• The bigs had friends sleep over.
• Special mail from a thoughtful friend..Wrapped in vintage wallpaper no less.
• Lulu rode her bike without training wheels for the first time!
• I squeezed in a bit of running.
• We celebrated Kyle's 21st birthday.
• Belle got accepted into selective class at her high school of choice. She is very happy which makes us very happy.
• And finally and thankfully...there were signs of Spring. 

July-a snapshot

Flannel sheets of the lovliest kind.

Rainy days.

A new old chair.

Daffodils.

String of Pearls in bloom. A wee bit excited about that.

In our crazy and wonderFULL family life, I am grateful to have had a few days this month to fill my cup. A special day shared with my gorgeous friend Karlyn celebrating her 40th birthday. We spent a day in the country, there was coffee, pumpkin scones, fruit cake too. We wandered and foraged about the junk shop and enjoyed some uninterupted conversation.  In the late arvo we headed out to the farm for a cuppa and early dinner around the fire with our boys and the kiddos. A lovely day will with lots of lovely.

I was also lucky enough to spend a few days away in Melbourne. I had the very best day wandering the Finders Keepers Markets. I have wanted to attend forever but have patiently waited until the time was right. I spent the day wandering and eating and drinking. Latte and gumbo-not together, red vevet cupcake and coffee scrolls. I enjoyed my own company and came home with a nice haul. Some new discoveries included Little Quarters, Bonsai Kitten and Ellery Fox. I was also able to visit Emily Besser's art exhibition at Hut 13 and am now the happy owner of a lovely new artwork (that still awaits framing!).

 That's me recording July in September pfft!

A snapshot of June

The cold snap arrived and my stress levels rise a notch as we work a bit harder with Boo's health regime.
We have all had a fair share of icky colds and chesty coughs.
I spent two days in bed and am so grateful to have become unwell on a weekend. I was able to sleep on and off, read and rest while the Mr held the fort. I watched episode after episode of Twin Peaks. Have you seen it? I can't say I'm loving it but of course I've been sucked in now and have to find out who killed Laura Palmer.
There's been making of muesli bars and comfort food like pumpkin risotto and chicken soup-I used Lisa's recipe here.  It was absolutely delicious and how clever she was to slow cook it on the fire place. I just used my regular old slow cooker and it turned out GREAT! It has pumpkin in it too and I threw in a handful of quinoa for good measure. You should definitely make it.
Saturday morning soccer has been followed by visits to the Artisan Bakery for baked treats and hot chocolates. Our boys headed to Melbourne for a night to watch their team. Grammy and Grandy sent us some bagpipes they bought while in Scotland. We spent a happy but chilly weekend with friends in Tumut.

Tonight we have plans to don our beanies and polarfleece, light the fire and toast some marshmallows.
Happy Winter! Stay warm!

A snapshot of May

May was a big month.

• There were all the usual goings on... work, school, preschool, the to and fro of kids sport, music, activities.

• The Mr went away on a ten day fishing trip-the longest he has been away from us. I tell ya' I was daunted but surprisingly we moved along like a well oiled machine. Early nights were a key factor.

• We waved goodbye to Grammy and Grandy as they headed off on their UK holiday.
• The first lemon!

• Fundraising was BIG on the agenda forMay. Gah to be honest..It puts me out of my comfort zone at times. I'm sure we've all dodged a fundraiser in the street before. It's a tricky thing asking people for money or their time. But until there is a cure for cf..well, we'll just keep on keeping on. One day. If not for our child, then someone elses. All this fundraising..it helps. It really does. The advancements in treatment and outcome for cf and a range of illness/disease/conditions is truly amazing. Everytime you throw a buck into a charity, please know that it absolutely counts.

As many of you know, our big girl lives and breathes every day with cystic fibrosis. Living with a chronic illness is a roller coaster..for Bella and for us. It is part of our every day life. We try not to let it consume us..but there are times when it does. The rollercoaster. 

May is the month for our national awareness campaign and while we have always been involved in fundraising for cf..our big girl said 'mum, this year I want to do something' and thus 65km for cystic fibrosis was created. Throughout the month of May, she rode her bike a total of 65km to raise much needed funds and awareness for cf. We are incredibly proud of her positive attitude, maturity and commitment to keeping as healthy as possible. Kids with cf have a lot to take on. They need to manage treatments, medications, health and hospital admissions and they live with the knowledge of a shortened life expectancy. As parents, we try not to dwell on this and take each day as it comes but it is always there-in the back of our minds, in the bottom of our hearts.

Every weekend during May our girl rode her bike around our local lake. Sometimes with her dad and me running along behind, on Mother's Day, she and I rode 15km together and sang songs along the way, sometimes she rode with friends. But every weekend she headed out to the lake to clock up her 65km with enthusiam. 
I helped her to set up an everyday hero page where she shared her story and watched in amazement as funds rolled in.

This one little girl managed to raise $4752.39!!!

A HUGE thank you to each and every one of you who took a moment to read Bella's story, who shared her everyday hero page, offered encouragement, joined her for a lap or two or donated to her fundraiser. We are totally gobsmacked by your support. THANK YOU!!!

A snapshot of March

I know April is almost over but March you were beautiFULL!

•  A special birthday breakfast with the ones I love.
•  A night out with some beautiful girlfriends.
• I went to hear Microwave Jenny sing their sweet tunes-their last gig before they headed overseas. Love em.
• Finally, the citrus trees I have been longing for. A lemon, a lime and an orange.
• A birthday celebration for our big girl too. A pool party. Boys and girls. Donut eating competitions. Truth or dare. Hamburgers. An icecream bar. One very happy girl.
• The kiddos played their last game of softball for the season. 
• A FABULOUS day at Talbingo Dam. The kiddos had a ball riding the biscuit. Boo did a super job water skiing. Riley took them skurfing. So blessed to have extended family loving our kids like we do. Our children do not have any cousins of similar ages to grow alongside, to play with. But they are blessed to have patient and caring big cousins. Big cousins that take them shopping and out for lunch. That give drum lessons and take them water skiing. That listen to their stories and wrestle and indulge in their antics despite them being sometimes annoying. I digress.
•  The littlest love ate an apple with the skin on for the very first time. This was kind of a big deal.
• And I cannot forget a special visit with Bonnie. We puppy sat the sweetest little daschound for most of March. We all fell in love with her, including the Mr who has dug his heels in firmly with a big fat no, when we've all pleaded for a dog. I can at least see a glimmer of hope now and we'll keep trying to twist his arm.

For the love of happy mail

Recently I mentioned I would like to host a little mail swap. As a teenager I wrote regularly to my penpal. We often sent each other stickers and song lyrics, posters of Ralph Macchio, Kirk Cameron and book recommendations. We poured out our hearts on pretty notepaper and it was so much fun sending and receiving mail. Despite losing touch as we moved through life, I still have every single letter and I still make her mother's cauliflower soup-a recipe she once sent me.

Inspired by these wonderful letters, I would like to host a little mail swap. This will be a one off swap for those who simply love sending and receiving mail.You will need to fill an A5 envelope with happy mail. You might like to include a recipe, a postcard, a favourite quote, a photograph of something you love or something in your town or yourself!!! movie or book recommendations, stationary items such as cards and stickers, can be handmade or not. And importantly, a handwritten letter. These are just a few things that sprung to mind. You can be as creative-or not as you like. But mostly have fun with it! Have fun putting it together and have fun receiving your own little piece of happy mail.

If this is something you might like to participate in please email me at grantleaingram@hotmail.com with 'for the love of happy mail' in the subject line.
Leax


* The mail swap is now closed

Lately

Things are crazy busy around here. I think it's just life today though. Family life. I think it's our normal. There is always something happening, some place to be, something to do. I'm not complaining. Really. Most of it is really good stuff. I just feel like I need to stop and smell the roses a bit though. And I've missed blogging and reading your blogs!

Inspired by Pip, I thought I'd take stock and jot down a few things in the hope of kickstarting some more regular blogging.

:: Taking Stock

Making: to do lists. Ughhh!
Cooking : cakes, biscuits, brownies and giant freckles for the car boot sale at school.
Drinking : ginger beer, chai latte, merlot, mango smoothie, water, not all at once!
Reading: Flicking through Inside Out magazine.
Wanting: our house to look like a page out of Inside Out magazine, even if just for a day. I wonder where they put all their baskets of ironing for those photo shoots.
Looking: forward to the end of daylight saving and some earlier nights.
Watching: "I melt with you" This was not what I expected at all. Have you seen it? I found it.. unsettling.
Sewing: a quick cushion cover for a little girl's birthday.
Bookmarking: things I want to make from Home by Beci Orphin.
Enjoying: a spot of running and breathing.
Waiting: for school holidays and a break from the busy.

Loving: my little piece of Belinda Marshall art 'Balance'. Something I am always striving for. I adore her colour pallettes. Beautiful hues with a little pop of colour here and there. I received this little print as part of my support of her Pozible project last year. Belinda has a new project at Pozible here.

Hoping:  our carrot seedlings will grow.
Needing: to sort through our wardrobes in preparation for the cool change.
Tasting: fresh pistachios at the farmers markets. Have you ever tried them?

Wearing: boyfriend jeans and stappy heels.
Noticing: this masterpiece.

Knowing: we can only do the best we can in that very moment.
Thinking: about making hats for the Easter Hat Parade.
Feeling: like I'm always playing catch up. Do you ever feel like that too?

Pretty florals-thrifted and gifted

Lately I been lucky enough to find and receive some beautiful fabrics. Gorgeous Kylie generously sent some brand new still in their packets floral sheeting my way. Too beautiful to snip into but perfect for my little loves bed. Thank you once again!!! Kylie. There are some beautiful thoughtful people in blogsville aren't there? It's a funny place to make friends but somehow we do.

My dear friend Yvette gifted me this beautiful barkcloth recently. I love it so much! She made the sweetest dress out of it and gifted the rest onto me. Thank you Yvette. I hope I can come up with something as lovely as your beautiful dress.

While dropping off bags of loot to the oppy recently, I picked up some lovely velvet fabric. Definately enough for a skirt, I think. This sweet lace made it home with me as well. No clue what I'm going to do with it. Sign me up for hoarders!

A couple more florals for the stash as well. The lemon/grey is a sheet and the other is a bedspread. To chop or not to chop is the question!

Are you still thrifting up a storm? Have you been sewing lately?
Sadly, I have not! But I am collecting and dreaming so when inspiration strikes time permits, I will be ready!

A snapshot of February

February was filled with exploding cakes and pool parties.

 

We fell back into the same old same old as school commenced.
The activities resumed with music lessons, saxaphone for Boo and drums for the boy. Softball was the Summer sport of choice for all three kiddos. Lulu played her first season and despite her fab skill level many tears were shed throughout the first half of the season. It was wonderful though, to see her gradually grow in confidence and be able to run the bases without her daddy alongside by the seasons end.
The bigs settled into school with ease, both kids happy with their teachers for the year.

I started running again...a little sporadic at the moment but hopefully the cooler weather with bring an increase in motivation. Once upon a time I was an all or nothing kinda girl. But something is better than nothing isn't it?! It all counts, I think. Never mind that my green smoothie mid afternoon was followed by a glass of wine while cooking dinner. Yep. It all counts ;)

My big girl and I had a wonderful time with special friends when we participated in The Color Run in Canberra. It was such a fun 5km filled with smiles and rainbows, bubbles too. Totally do it if it comes your way!

My little loves had so much fun receiving some snail mail in a little swap that we organised.
I am thinking about hosting a little mail swap soon. Do you think that's something you'd like to participate in? It will just be a one off swap where you will exchange a letter and some other bits and bobs.
More details to come...

Five

Our baby turned five this week!

She's a beautiful little girl. A bit bold sometimes and grown up in so many ways, a result of being the third child I think. And still such a baby, also a result of being the third child. The last child. Our baby.

She loves books and drawing. She has long hair all the way down to her bottom and every night it is a debacle to brush. We let her watch peppa pig on the ipad...a lovely distraction from the task at hand(knots).

She often pops into our bed through the night. She always comes to my side of the bed because she knows her daddy will take her back to her own bed. I savour these bed snuggles because I know they don't last forever.

She loves swimming and she 'canon bombs' in with gusto. She has such an expressive little face when she's telling you this and that. She is a big sweet tooth-like her mama. She is a fussy eater. She rides her bike with her training wheels really fast down the hill..yelling yippeeeee for effect.

She loves big! Oh my goodness, she LOVES SO BIG! She gives the tightest cuddles-so big they hurt. And she always has to love one better. So if I say I love her a gazillion...she says she loves me more or the most or double that.

Happy Birthday to our littlest love.
And just because I always feel a bit nostalgic on my babies birthdays...

That hair!

Today

Today I have done five loads of washing. The back from holidays wash!
Today we had breakie at 10.30am
Today we are sorting through pencils and textas, sharpening the ones that are blunt and tossing the ones that don't work.
Today I am in pjs at lunchtime. If I'm honest, that's not unheard of around here.
Today I am sorting out the tupperware draw. Is yours a crazy mess too?
Today the kids are getting ready for school. They are excited about new lunchboxes, new friends and old and new teachers.

I'll leave you with some snaps from our long weekend. It was a nice end to our school holidays. A change of scenery, salty air and cool breeze. My gang were starting to squabble and it was driving me a bit mad. They are ready for new adventures and a bit of routine. And I think I might be too.

This week

Lately, there has been a lot of eating and drinking, laughing and talking and late, late nights. 
Not this week though.
This week the littlest love picked a basket of her home grown tomatoes.

This week I have been thinking of my one little word and have been taking time to nourish myself with breakfast. Sometimes, I begin my day with nothing more than a quick coffee and a breath of fresh air. Not this week though. I've been taking the time to make myself something good.

This week we had a break from screens. There were cubbies built, board games played and books read.

Multi tasking

This week has been slow moving..just the way I like it. I have been taking time to sit outside and sip my hot coffee instead of sculling a luke warm one. I've been reading books and snipping flowers.

This week has been full of ideas and scribbling down notes.

This week I pulled out my poor, neglected weaving.

This week the kiddos had fun trying out some new art supplies.
Paint your own tshirt anyone?

This week I went wandering and photo taking on my own...just for fun.

A little smattering of this and that

Last weekend my big girl and I enjoyed a little drive in the country to visit some Twilight Markets.
The main street was lined with little stalls. The road was closed off and there were carriage rides by some gorgeous Clydesdales, there was music and sunshine and the local oppy was open late. It was a very nice way to spend the evening. I snavelled this little piece of Staffordshire from the oppy for 50c. I love her pretty pattern and colours.

 

I also poked my head into the local junk shop. My girl exclaimed 'mum this is your idea of heaven'. She knows me well. Let me intoduce 'the chair room'. That's what the sign above the entry said.

I didn't buy a chair but I did bring home this rusty old bakers tray.
I am thinking it will make a nice vertical succulent wall. What do you think?

A couple of other recent oppy finds...two pretty florals and a macrame belt.

In other news, I arrived home from Sydney to find my vintage fats from Zara. Thank you Miss. It was nice to have that little bit of lovely to open. Thank you also for your cute map paper garland. Now to get stitching I guess!

The cherry tomatoes were another pleasant surprise. Lulu has been doing a great job looking after them. She even decided to sample her efforts. After a quick lick, she decided she definately does not like tomatoes!

I'll be back with some Christmas makings soon. With all the goings on I am a bit behind the eight ball with Christmas. I am counting down the days until I finish work-only 3 to go! and then it will be full steam ahead Christmas making, baking and photo taking! My current mantra... I will not take my kids for the annual santa pic on Christmas Eve this year! No I will not!

How are you going with your Christmas organisation? Did you know it's the 11/12/13 today?

September Snapshots

September was joy filled!
On the very first day of Spring our beautiful boy turned 8!

Our boy, you are such a funny kid. Always up for a joke or trick, a play on words or anything to do with farts. This year you have grown in confidence enormously and I am just so happy for you really. You are friendly and helpful. You have enjoyed T ball and soccer and hip hop too. We gave you a big bike for your birthday and your minion cake earned me the title of best mum ever. You celebrated turning 8 on Father's Day and made sure your daddy got plenty of attention too. Such a thoughtful boy...

I've prattled on about Microwave Jenny before and I love them! I do! They make beautiful music and they are beautiful people as well. A while ago we applied for their House Concert Tour and we were lucky enough to have MJ come to our house!!! and sing their sweet tunes to our family and friends. There was bunting and fairy lights, chocolate pretzels and rocky road. We put all those chenille blankies to good use, enjoyed a picnic and a dance. It was just an awesome concert. As well as being super talented they are just the sweetest people too.
LOVE LOVE LOVE their song Mellow. Be sure to listen to the Part 2 as well!
Read more about them on triple j unearthed.
Love her vintage dress in this cover and adore the film clip.  

As if that wasn't fantastic enough for September!!! I also had a wee trip to Sydney for a few days. While I was officially accompanying our daughter on her school excursion-so I could do her CF treatments- I had plenty of time to explore and spend a glorious day with my bestie.
We enjoyed the most divine lunch at The Grounds. She, pear and duck salad. Me, beef cheeks and beetroot relish on aniseed sourdough. We snapped many a photograph and also enjoyed a spot of shopping at Koskela and Mitchell Rd Auction House. I picked up two vintage fold up chairs, just perfect for outdoors...photos to come. When I took them back to camp, the school busdriver asked if I was going to restore them. When I told him that nope, I loved them in all their patina and paint peeled glory, he thought I was a bit mad.

Finally, we ended our September with a few tears as we said goodbye to our Nanna Belle.  We are SO grateful to have had her for so very long. So happy that our children knew their Great Nanna Belle and so thankful that she was well for almost all of her 100 years. What an amazing life! Her children, grandchildren and great granchildren all lit a special candle during the funeral service. Her grandchildren carried her from the church and our Bella participated in a prayer. It was lovely celebration of her life.
Our Isabella is named after her so I like to think a little bit of Nanna Belle lives on in her as well as in our hearts and memories.

Snapshots of August in September!!!

When I sat down to write August Snapshots I just felt a whole lot of busy. The diary is scribbled with school activities, soccer training, dance and music lessons, birthday parties. There has been a lot of driving around from a to b to c and then back again.

So I closed my diary and went to see what snapshots I caught during August. The things that really matter are usually caught on camera.

In no particular order...

Harmony's first painting
Sick kids
Visiting the baby lambs at Grammy and Grandy's place
Book week parade
A new dress and a new do..well a new colour.
Signs of Spring
The Mr started his new job.
I began working 3 days a week, which accounts for the feeling of a whole of busy I suppose. I am hoping the warmer weather and longer days ahead will give me a bit more time in the day.
A spot of stitching-a new dress for loobylu. She of course LOVES it!
Bella made the most delicious crepes with orange sauce from the Masterchef Junior Cookbook.
Quiltmaking

Cross August snapshots off the list!

Helllloooo

Despite my sporadic blogging I am not ready to throw it in yet. Do I miss it? Not really. Do I enjoy it? I do! While there's lots of lovely to look at on instagram, I kind of miss the story telling that you get with blogs. Blogging is kind of like a modern day penpal, I think. Except there are lots of penpals showing and telling and sharing with each other. So in an effort to find my blogging groove I thought I'd do one of those list type posts that record some of the stuff that I've been up to lately.

Drinking: camomile tea
Sewing: a quilt
Enjoying: the most wonderful day shopping and eating with my bff
Making: rocky road
Eating: beetroot relish
Listening: to Microwave Jenny
Wishing: for more hours in the day
Wondering: if I will find the balance
Loving: happy mail from here and here and being so utterly happy with both garments.
Reading: anything I can find by Bill Rogers
Flicking: through Real Living Magazine
Wearing: cardigans instead of coats
Counting down: the days until school hols
Feeling: tired
Hoping: I can pull off photographer at my brother's wedding-eeek!
Waiting: for my orchids to bloom-they are on their way.
Thrifting: doilies, among other things
Opening: a beautifully wrapped gift from a lovely lady. She used to write this cool blog I loved reading.

Depression Glass (found inside beautifully wrapped gift)

Inspired by Pip

Good things lately

1. A spot of making- cushion cover made from thrifted cross stitch, vintage floral and some too small for me jeans.
2. Lemon Crinkles. Thanks Miss Kylie!
3.  Floral tin $5 from a new found treasure trove in my town. I was going to put it in the garden but now I'm having second thoughts.
4. Seedlings sprouting. The littlest love gave me the little biodegradable pot for mothers day this year. It came with a peat pellet and a little packet of mixed seeds. We planted them together and now we are watching them grow.
5. Goodbye Winter
6. Littlest love being her funny little self.

Please let me know if you have a 'good things' type post. I'd love to see what good things make you smile.