playing in mud puddles

Passed by this house recently...

..and just loved the colours (especially the yellow gate)...

Cookies!

I've been participating in Heather Bruggeman's Whole Food Kitchen workshop for the past 10 weeks.

It's been very informative, full of yummy recipes, luscious photos and a great group of people.

Being that the course is about to end, I thought , perhaps, it would be beneficial to actually MAKE some of the recipes (rather than just keep looking at the pictures).

The strawberry (our version has been raspberry) thumbprint cookies were a lunchtime success...

arranged prettily on the plate by...

eagerly eaten by...

...and so it goes (yum yum)

 

now...

time for (another) cup of tea and on to the promised chocolate chip cookies...

it's a good day to be at our house..

Fuzzy Footed Friend

Was given this lovely bit if sweetness the other day...

Have you ever tasted a home grown organic pineapple?

It has the most amazing flavour! So sweet, with a hint of coconut.

It lasted about 5 seconds in our house (there are some who are ALWAYS hungry, unless it involves dinner and vegetables).

All of those fuzzy feet are miny little tiny weeny pineapples just waiting to be placed in the ground!

It only -ahem- takes two years to grow a pineapple.

We savour the sweetness with great appreciation.

Found

You never know what you'll find on the toilet block wall...

...we came across this cocoon (?) yesterday. How amazingly interesting.

The skeleton of the leaf is still holding it in. Whatever IT is.

Everyday mysteries found in unexpected places...

In other news, getting ready to face the massive weed pile which was once our beautiful garden. Hoping to have pictures soon.

x

Treasures

We spent Wednesday leisurely driving home. We had had two days of catching up with wonderful old friends about 5 hours north of where we live. 

We took an exit at Fingal Head and found...

This was stumbled upon after walking upon sandy bush tracks which meandered in many directions. All the while native trees and flowering bushes beckoned us to play hide and seek along the way...

 

This is called Echidna Rock and is a sacred site to the local Bundjalung people.

All of those little segments are actually hardened lava. How incredible! 

The lava beds that we were standing on weren't as worn down - a bit rougher and sharper. Obviously, the powerful sea isn't softening the edges as much as on Echidna Rock.

There is also a lighthouse here. Now operated by electricity. 

The foundations of the old lighthouse keeper's house remains. We sat and pondered all of the life, laughter, love, sadness, challeneges, hope and prosperity which occured here, where trees are now standing amidst the remains.

The lighthouse keeper was actually born in the house and then went on the raise eleven (yes ELEVEN) children with his wife in the same house! 

Imagine waking up to this view every day...

...and imagine what it must feel like in a storm, while you're trying to keep the lighhouse lit, all of the hours of the night.

We returned to the car in a shared silence wondering of times past and pondering our own present.

Beautiful moments found in the spontaneous. 

Wishing you beauty in the unexpected this weekend...

 

Simple happiness

What is it about ....

... that is just so neverendingly endearing?

These socks have lived through three children and are still working their magic.

Now, don't get the wrong idea here. This photo is a rare moment where any of my children are wearing TWO MATCHING SOCKS.

Yesterday, in buying his first pair of "Mum, I NEED a pair of lace up shoes", the sales assistant made the usual comment of , "OH! You're not wearing matching socks, little one."

We didn't mention that he was actually was wearing socks that, not only were mismatched, but had also been on his 10 year old sister's feet not 5 minutes beforehand - ahem.

On the positive, my children are learning to be flexible, industrious and quick thinkers.

But, oh, the rainbow socks!

Yum.

Yum.

Yum.

Wishing you a rainbow in your life today...

Holidays

Holidays are finally here!

Time to stay out of the car for a wee bit.

Time for eating lunch at home (and not packing in the morning).

Time for being together (and remembering how to).

And most importantly, time for...

Hope you are enjoying your holidays.

What are you up to?