playing in mud puddles

Awayawhile

there's this bus / caravan / home of an as yet unknown person which appears around town every so often. I've watched it become a bit more dented and rusty over the years - a bit more of life's experiences written upon it. across the back of the bus in blue capital letters, it speaks to all... AWAYAWHILE . I have this relationship with this bus, unbeknownst to the driver. I imagine the stories and the specific moment where this person decided to turn it all in and wander. Was it a saved up for journey, an ended relationship, a new beginning, an escape? Or a bit of everything whirled into one moment ? Well, we're AWAYAWHILE too. But only for the week - one whole long open-ended no rules or responsibilities seven days of AWAYAWHILE in the big smoke of Sydney. We'll soak up a bit of city life business, beach, museums, musicals, meanderings and musings (sorry couldn't help that "m" moment) So far so good.... Back in a week... Util then, wishing you a wonderful one as well xx

Found (lucky us)

Problem (not really a problem) solved - yippee!!!

If only my life was filled with those kinds of problems...

I'll pretend (it feels good).

AND - YIPPEE - we are off and away on saturday....

This is how I'm feeling....

 

Trying...

Trying to book a holiday in sydney for a week - seemingly an impossible task (unless you have more than $2500 - yikes!). Evidentally, the rest of Australia also wants to be in Sydney as the only place I seem to be able to find (we are a family of 6 which doesn't help matters) is called "The Rock Star" (with rock start rates) or a backpacker's whose reviews claim it's teeming with cockroaches (no thanks) ... 

Oh well, we'll see where our luck takes us....

Any bright ideas?

Morning walk

Some finds on a morning walk...

Wishing you a peaceful weekend...

summer nights

 

Do you remember that bursting sense of freedom and "anything is possibleness" that you would feel on a summer day as a child? 

For me, I think of sea salt dried on my skin, saltwater clumping my dried hair together. Feeling tired, yet strengthened from a day in the sunshine...

Well, it was that kind of day yesterday (except I'm 40 now)...

The children had been in and out all day. Alternating sunshine with the shade of the fig tree. The temperature was just right. Hot enough to be summer, but not so hot that I wished for summer to be over. The sky was blue and fiiled us with possibilities. There was even a gentle breeze.

Inspired, we all jumped into the car and headed to the beach for  fish and chips. By the time our order was ready (which is another wonderful story), it was nearly dark. Undeterred, we walked over, spread out our blanket and enjoyed dinner, smiling and chatting with the last glimpses of the day.

Then, there it was again... that feeling...

"Let's go in the sea!" I found myself saying.

"MUM!" they replied, "IT'S DARK!"

"Exactly.... let's go..."

And we did. 

And I watched the thrill of young girls stretching their own boundary. Their own comfort zone. 

 

Wonderful.

And, of equal importance....

 

... the thrill of building a sand castle in the darkness of night...

Here's to that feeling...

eggplants anyone?

The zucchini and cucumbers have called it quits.

The eggplants are another story...

 

 

anyone have any good kid friendly eggplant recipes?

too hot to go...

The strangling heat of summer is here. Melting my brain. Leaving me yearning for ice and a raw food diet. We are in bed with fans a few inches from our heads and cold wheat packs have replaced the hot water bottles of winter.

The humidity is so thick ... I can eat the air (or perhaps it's eating me).

We spend our days in and out and in and out and in and out and in and out of the pool (thank you bank for loaning us the money - it's my favourite bit of debt - and still, a year on, I prefer the pool and 6 of us cozied up in our 2 bedroom house than the thought of no pool and more bedrooms).

 

Friends come and sit,  slurping  on icy poles and asking for smoothies.

The seemingly endless days of summer are sinking in on slow simmer.

I forgot how much I love this (for a few days anyways)... it forces me to be slow. Allows me to be still.

Reminds me to be.

 

 

Did it...

Some of you may remember the children's "hair clip factory"...

As the excitement of making ended and the discussions of "where to sell the goodies" subsided, the gorgeous little creations had a long rest in a small red box.

Then, this past Saturday afternoon, they were remembered...

Chatter began, which led to inspiration, which resulted in the setting up of a trial stall in the driveway...

 

 

With confidence boosted and selling dreams restored, it was decided to take the next step and go to the local weekend market...

 

This was just after set up at about 7:30 AM (we left the house at 6:15 AM - thank you coffee)

 

 

They set out everything themselves and, though most of the profit was spent on shave ices (thank you for the "natural flavour" option mr shave ice man), we all left with full hearts.

 

 

The children left a littler taller, I think, filled with pride (and shave ices) at not only selling something they had made, but also at overcoming their fear to go and sell it in the first place. This was a sunshiney moment (and I was definitely one proud mumma)...

In the garden

 

I never understood why some cultures regard corn silk as sacred (for both it's healing properties as well as it's beauty) until I saw this ...

I am not the only one who appreciates corn though...

This is what most of our corn looks like after all some incredibly beautiful King Parrots had a feast. Totally enjoyed it all (perhaps they had a late New Year's Party in the corn?).

At least I was able to appreciate the silk - isn't it beautiful...

Cupcakes!

With the two oldest away at horse camp (how lucky!) for three nights, we have shrunk to a family of four. The two youngest are not yet complaining. Rather, they are enjoying a bit of extra attention and extra space. It's amazing how much more chatty they are (they claim it's because they FINALLY have room to TALK, as certain older siblings are "ALWAYS TALKING so nobody else can" ). 

Amidst this extra space, there has been time to do some more... Which brings me, in a round about way to this...

Do you remember book orders from school? Well, they are still as popular, and desired (in our house), as when I was a child. A couple of months ago there was deep pleading for a largely overpriced  (in my opinion) cupcake recipe book.

HOWEVER, a similar one was found (by a mother who doesn't always forget everything), and given to a very happy girl, for Christmas.

 

 

 

The end result? A very proud little girl (and tasty cupcakes too!)