I was lucky enough today to have a kiddie-free afternoon and dive down the rabbit hole! I can only gush about how amazing and lush the costumes and sets are. Actually can you even call them sets these days now that they're virtually all CGI? Whatev, it's beautiful.
I love Johnny. I love Helena. (Always have since Room With a View!) And the Aussie girl who plays Alice has a quirky graciousness about her that I found appealing. Anyway, loved it!
It was to my great delight that I discovered the big shade tree who's canopy hangs over the garage is actually a prolifically fruiting walnut. So for a few days in Summer, the girls and I delighted in gathering the fallen nuts and as the photos show, ended up with quite a harvest.
A bit of interwebs research told me that I needed to don stain proof garb and get to hulling and washing the nuts before leaving them to dry out before they would be ready to eat.
Alas, due to my time restrictions/procrastination/sheer laziness our harvest has been neglected and as I did not get to hull and dry them quickly enough the walnuts have either become dessicated or gone mouldy. I resolve next year to set aside a day or two after harvest and finish off the process in time so we can enjoy the omega 3 packed goodness from our garden!
I might be a little late to the party but I am smitten by the lovely Emiliana Torrini whom I discovered via a beautiful birthing video by this special lady. And total buggeration, she has just finished an Australian tour!
It seems I have a thing for kooky Icelandic singers. You know who else I'm talking about.
Happiest of new years to you lovely, patient peeps who still may drop by here (Yes I know February starts next week!).
We hilltop hoods have been busying ourselves with a lovely balance of activities at home and away, with company or not, and I've even managed a little time to myself!
Here's some of our summer adventures and activities so far......
A trip to fairyland by way of the Fitzroy gardens.
Painting sessions.
A teddy wedding. Where some of the guests were found to lack a little self control!
I am slowly coming to terms with how slow my oven is, but obviously I have had this realisation since making this pie. The meringue was more foam than chew (but we devoured it anyway!)
Divine homegrown dahlias. Note to self - next year, stake the flowers before they sprout so they don't fall over.
And many an evening pondering nature.
For someone who occasionally complains of too little time to read these days, I have managed to demolish the entire Twilight saga in under two weeks and I must say, thoroughly enjoyed it! I had no intention of reading the series until they were foisted upon me by my sister who said something like, "Read. You will love." Ah, and I promptly found myself back in the teenage world of delicious angst, drama, fantasy and romance...
Finally, we've spent lots of time in the company of this lovely fella, Ambrose, and his accomodating family who also happen to be my parentals. They put us up whenever our fire plan says we have to leave the mountain, and I get the sweet bonus of spending extra time with my mum! I hope she doesn't mind too much.
This week the girls and I were lucky enough to spend a couple of days at a beautiful beach house for my dear friends birthday week. We had to leave the baby-daddy behind to work but thoroughly enjoyed our little break from daily routines.
It's amazing how even a small break can be a breath of fresh air into your life, especially when spent in good company.
Munchkins on beach patrol. Man in background is the pied piper.
Dork on a swing
View from the deck. Nice.
Looking with intent!
A moment later Willow was in the pool, instinctively dog paddling but underwater. No photo to show it as I dropped camera in a flash to fish her out (fast as lightning automatic mum response)! Gratefully (me grateful) she recovered quickly and was fine but geez I'm going to have to watch that one. I suspect she's responsible for the missing Christmas tree decorations from the lower branches of the tree. Anyone else having that problem with their littles?
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
We've dusted off the old fakey and put up the decorations to the dulcit tones of Bing Crosby.
Somewhat of a tradition now if I think back to last year.
I never imagined I'd use a fake Christmas tree, and I never imagined I'd enjoy Bing singing Christmas carols in such a big way. Maybe my tiny house elves are inspiring my mood. There's one above with a magnified eyeball. And one below in a basket.
Recent baking adventures inspired by the beautiful photography and recipes of M.E
Ooh hello dear neglected blog. It seems the drudgery of life has gotten in the way of my posts to you....
To get me kick started I think I'll indulge in a little of loobylu's what's hot/not game. (But I'm gonna start with the nots so I can end on a positive note).
Not. *Well it's not all drudgery but I do feel up to my neck in domestics and fire plans. Every time I hear the CFA siren go off my stomach flips a little. I've had to pack bags twice already but at least those times have been a good practise run.
*And why did we buy a house without a bath????????????
*Creepy relatives-out-law imposing themselves on our Christmas day. Am I just not getting into the Christmas spirit? Bah - humbug!
*Those bloody deer. Yes the war is on already and the need for very tall fencing has just moved up the priority list. I saw a couple at the bottom of the driveway today so I know for sure we don't just get very tall possums at night and although they are truly beautiful beasts but will somebody tell them to please stop munching on anything that's new in the garden?! (Otherwise we may include venison on the Christmas menu). ((Not really! - I couldn't go there.))
*Wonky hips discovered on smallest householder involving trips to professional peeps with opinions. More opinions to come.
Hot
*A planned mid-week getaway for next week to this place for a special friend's birthday.
*Tickets to the circus on the weekend. It's the people circus not the caged animal circus so we'll get to see flexible folks in fancy costumes doing amazing things with their bodies. We likey. Ribbon stick and hula hoop sessions are currently commencing daily around here in anticipation for the Saturday spectacle put on by the NICA almost-pros.
*This beautiful run of mild, sunny days dotted with enough rain to stop the forest from drying up. Just a little longer please.....all these bushfire meetings and pamphlets on 'is your home ready to withstand a raging bushfire at the bottom of your garden' are freaking. me. out.
*Where the Wild Things Are is finally here! And my friend is inside one of those Wild Things suits. I can't wait to see it! www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NOkQ4dYVaM
*An upgrade on the kinder teacher for next year.
*Also hot is this sandy playground.
We graced it with our presence on a recent sleepover to my sisters lovely seaside abode.
The littles haven't yet kicked their city habits.
Contrary to Willow's opinion I thought the coffee was quite good. (Don't worry Mum, hers was all milk).
And finally, please excuse the blurry photo but this scene of sisters hugging voluntarily must be enough to warm the cockles of any mothers heart - well mine anyway. My favourite one year old has been busting out much spontaneous affection in the form of bear hugs lately. Mama likey.
It was to my great delight that I discovered the big shade tree who's canopy hangs over the garage is actually a prolifically fruiting walnut. So for a few days in Summer, the girls and I delighted in gathering the fallen nuts and as the photos show, ended up with quite a harvest.
Believe me, I'm kicking myself.
A trip to fairyland by way of the Fitzroy gardens.
Painting sessions.
A teddy wedding.
Where some of the guests were found to lack a little self control!
Garden tea parties involving sickly sweet, mouth puckeringly sour, gooey but somehow highly addictive lemon meringue pie.
Many a moment relaxing in the garden.
And swinging at the park.
A trip to the ballet for a small girl.
Divine homegrown dahlias. Note to self - next year, stake the flowers before they sprout so they don't fall over.
And many an evening pondering nature.
This week the girls and I were lucky enough to spend a couple of days at a beautiful beach house for my dear friends birthday week. We had to leave the baby-daddy behind to work but thoroughly enjoyed our little break from daily routines.
Munchkins on beach patrol. Man in background is the pied piper.
Dork on a swing
View from the deck. Nice.
Looking with intent!
A moment later Willow was in the pool, instinctively dog paddling but underwater. No photo to show it as I dropped camera in a flash to fish her out (fast as lightning automatic mum response)!
We've dusted off the old fakey and put up the decorations to the dulcit tones of Bing Crosby.
Somewhat of a tradition now if I think back to last year.
I never imagined I'd use a fake Christmas tree, and I never imagined I'd enjoy Bing singing Christmas carols in such a big way. Maybe my tiny house elves are inspiring my mood.
Recent baking adventures inspired by the beautiful photography and recipes of M.E
We graced it with our presence on a recent sleepover to my sisters lovely seaside abode.
The littles haven't yet kicked their city habits.
Contrary to Willow's opinion I thought the coffee was quite good. (Don't worry Mum, hers was all milk).
And finally, please excuse the blurry photo but this scene of sisters hugging voluntarily must be enough to warm the cockles of any mothers heart - well mine anyway. My favourite one year old has been busting out much spontaneous affection in the form of bear hugs lately. Mama likey.
