playing in mud puddles

Makings... sweet little rug

With four constantly growing little ones (I'm sure they grow overnight sometimes), there is a steady flow of clothes going to the op shop. I've had moments... sometimes even collected little piles of really special pieces that I promise myself I'll make a quilt out of...

I usually find these pieces months later all mouldy in a box or bag somewhere (it's very humid and mouldy where we leave, hence the lush green of everything, including the clothes, shoes, etc, on occasion).Yucko!

Yummo! I was inspired by Pip at meet me at mikes (look in "Learn to Make Stuff"). She had crocheted a sweet little rug. I thought, "YES! I can do that!"

Then, things got even BETTER because she included a link to knitting on trains which included a link to  MAKING YARN FROM OLD CLOTHES (WOWEE!!!) ! So, I was an uber blogger linker extraordinaire which led me to this...

 

Yippee!

So, a quick recount...

*inspired - Pip at meet me at mikes (remember to look in "Learn to make stuff")

*further inspired - Jess at knitting on trains

*recycled kid's clothes into yarn - craft passion

*crocheted rug in an amigurumi spiral round - 

                magic loop for spiral - wire my soul on youtube

                beginning amigurumi spiral - wire my soul amigurumi spiral on youtube

 

I used a big wooden crochet hook ( I think I bought it about 5 years ago and never used til now) and an old scrap of the children's knitting as a marker (purple bit in corner) for my rows. Perks to being a bit of a hoarder...

 

Here I am ("Smile, mum!") crocheting while we all watch Junior Masterchef...

 

 

Here I am, concentrating. Even though it's really easy, I'm a beginner and I have to remember to  COUNT while I stitch (and after 4 babies I lose track really easy - concentrate! focus!).

 

 

Success! And, I've heard the kids explaining the HISTORY of this little rug...

"That's my old singlet.That's my old nightgown. Those are our old yellow t-shirts. Those are the yellow t-shirts that mum washed with the dark blue clothes...."

Oops.

 

Now, I just have to let people step on it....

Go on... have a go... 

Chicken life

Can you believe it? You know how "they" say it takes 21 days for a broody chook to hatch her eggs? Well, it took EXACTLY 21 days (how clever)! And they all hatched at the same time, even though we put a few eggs under her a couple of days after the others - mother nature is so AMAZING I tell you...

Broody Chook chose to be broody right next to our front door. One of the perks of this happening is that we can watch all of the newborn mummy chook baby chook things that happen which you normally wouldn't see. 

 

Last night, I moved the new family out of the basket and transferred them into a cage. This allowed a bit more room for the chicks to move around and gives a bit of extra protection from the creepy crawlies in the night... They seem to be enjoying their new digs.

 

She obviously trusts us (I assume that based on her nesting choice) and doesn't mind us having a cuddle with the little chicks (as my friend in below picture assured me). This is also helpful so that we can put food and water in without her pecking us.                                                                                                                                                                    

It is so absolutely adorable how, already, she is showing the little bubs how to eat and drink

 

And the cooing and other mummy chook talk is so sweet and gentle.

"Over here now.. Have some food.. Yes.. Yes... that's how you do it.."

 

What a priveledge to be able to witness such peace and tranquility.

Wishing you peace in your day...

ET Phone Home!

OOPS! Can you believe it! I can't find my phone anywhere! Which means that all of my high end photography (shot on my iphone) must wait .... which makes a blog post a bit lackluster, don't you think?

But, thought I'd check in with some exciting news...

We were in a mad rush to make the bus this morning (madder than usual - -in a happy sort of way). We arrived with about 30 seconds to spare, which gave me just enough time to pop out of the car and ever so quickly do everyone's hair... THEN, my eldest realized she had forgotten her flute (we were getting the EARLY bus this morning to get to school in time for THE FLUTE LESSON). 

SO, 2  and 3 of three got onto the bus while 1 of 3 got back into the car with race car driver mum - the pressure was on... we had to DASH back to the house, up the almost kilometre driveway, FIND THE FLUTE, and then DASH back AHEAD of the bus and MEET AT THE INTERCHANGE...

Let me tell you, THE PRESSURE WAS ON! (You see how much easier homeschooling was?! Sigh!)

Well, I drove like I was 16 again down the country road. And (of course) driving like I was 16 insured prompt arrival back at the abode.

BUT (this is the best bit), as we were DASHING out of the house, we heard a teeny weeny itty bitty, "cheep, cheep..."

And broody chook (who has been broody right next tot the front door ) is celebrating (and so are we)! 5 little gorgeous fluffy balls of chicks! How wonderful!

So, we currently have mama dog with puppies in the laundry and broody chook with baby chicks at the front door...

When I find my phone (ahem) I can show you pics...

(and, by the way, we made it back to the bus on time. "WOW MUM! I didn't know you could drive EVEN FASTER THAN DAD!!" was said by eldest (with flute in hand). Note to self, must talk to Dad about how fast he drives with children in tow - hmmmmmm)

Sweet Monday in the garden

Evidentally, it was barefoot in the garden kind of weather this weekend

(though I reckon gardens are always better in muddy feet, don't you?)...

 

Things are progressing in a lovely manner and we are celebrating little gifts of new flowers, baby tomatoes, baby cucumbers, etc. every day. We found little baby corn starting to peek its head out today and some small wonderous eyes simply can't believe it.... "Will the corn ACTUALLY get TALLER than YOU, mummy?!"

My lovely friend, Sophie, gave me this wonderful bag. I would often look at it sitting lonely in the closet, and think, "I really should use this more". Here and there around town just wasn't cutting it for me.

There it was recently , when I needed to collect some lettuce, and well, you can see the results. 

This lovely little bag has become our treasured garden treats basket. It is filled daily with lettuce, mint, rocket, kale, spinach, basil - so lush, I feel like a queen having so much to eat every day from the garden!

The other wonderful treat is that in using this bag every day I get to think of my lovely friend whom I don't see often enough, but hold in my heart. 

These are simple sweet things that bring me such joy.

Wishing you equal joy on this lovely day xx

 

Puppy Love

Have happened across these moments when checking on Dolphin (mummy dog) and her puppies...

This is mostly what things look like - mum laying still while her pups feed. She gently is constantly rotating them ... feed, gently pushes them to the side so they can rest while the others feed... feed, rest, feed, rest, feed, rest... you get it. Hard work.

I came across these sweet moments amidst the constant rotation and thought I'd share.

Sleeping mum with little pup on first night of life...

Sleeping mum another time with another little pup...

What a good mum

Here's to all the good mums out there ...

 

Jam on

You may remember our peach tree in the backyard. 

Well, we did the most amazing thing the other day... WE MADE JAM!

I know this is a very obviously simple task for most of you. For me, I am jam challenged.

When I am challenged with something I get this (secret)(secret)(so secret I can't even tell myself and I have to write only in parentheses) MASSIVE amount of fear and anxiety which I have to keep totally hidden.

The end result is that I just DON'T DO IT. 

I'll gather materials, buy books about the topic (got the recipe from "Jams and Preserves"), even read up on the said "challenge". But really, that's all a mask for NOT DOING IT. Then, I 'll start the head chatter -

"Do it!"

"But, what if..."

"DO it!"

"But, this could FAIL...."

"DO IT!"

"But, I could never be good enough.."

"Do IT, already!"

See, you're getting tired just reading this! You can imagine all the time I waste...

Anyways, the "DO IT!" voice eventually wins (Thank goodness). It may take a couple days, a couple weeks, it may take a couple years (like getting the courage to give this blog thing a try)...

But, always, in the end, cool things happen -

like making jam...

We collected the peaches from the tree for a couple of days. All were unripe, so we kept them inside to ripen for a couple more days. 

Then, we had to peel the skins off after covering them with boiling water. Because they weren't completely ripe (?), most had to be peeled with a knife.

(I was given instruction, "Smile, mum!" by said super photographer)

Then chopped up into itty bitty bits...

Then, lots of boiling with lots of sugar and a little bit of lemon (and chopped up apple in a muslin cloth for pectin )

And voila!

This sure gives me a new appreciation for jam.

And guess what... I gave some to our lovely neighbour (who is a jam queen) and SHE LIKED IT! She said it actually tasted like peaches, not just sugar (which made me do a secret WOO HOO! and made me feel all swirly whirly inside). 

So, go on, give a secret something a go today and see how you feel. Even if it doesn't work out, at least you have COURAGE to give it a try. 

How'd you go?

We are out of coffee

This post is actually supposed to be about making jam.

BUT, after being up delivering puppies (who would have thought it would be so dramatic and exhausting - I didn't even do the hard work) for almost 24 hours (I am not kidding) the fact that we are out of coffee is LATE BREAKING MIND BLOWING stuff! and will have a direct impact on my ability to write this post -

AH HA! it's all coming together now -

Did I mention that we live a 20 minute drive from any coffee selling establishment ?

- it will be a "lots of black tea" type of day, I think (which really isn't the same - when I need a coffee - I NEED A COFFEE - sigh

Actually, I think I'll talk about making  jam tomorrow... you understand.

(Time for a brief morning sleep)

Puppies!

Seven so far.. one stillborn (bless)

It's been quite a night.. and still happening...

((makes me glad I'm not a dog))

(more importantly ... reminds me of

                the beauty

                the fragility

                the sacredness

                                                of all life)

The good life

 

Dog in labour - dogs friend's keep peeking in - giving clucks of encouragement...

Sweet Monday

Savoring a cleanish spot in the house - and the mish mosh mash of colour over those beige lounges makes me feel so....much more at home, in my home (which is always a good thing)

Hoping the mish mosh mash of Monday is going well for you...