Giveway winner!!

Hello lovely ones..thank you so much for your patience with me, finally today I am happy to tell you we have a winner of my bunny giveaway!!

But firstly I must just say how fun it was to read about everyone's childhood toys. So many people spoke with such affection of these long time friends. It's nice to know that we can carry these often furry and sometimes falling apart loved ones from childhood into our adult life. I remember as a little girl we often visited Mirka Mora in her studio that was always filled to the brim with toys, dolls of all shapes and sizes.  Many of her own creations but there were also old prams, china dolls, rag dolls,it was heaven. It showed me that even grown ups like to play, to dream, to be surrounded & inspired by toys. That childhood is an important part of who we are as adults.

Thank you for sharing little snippets from your own life..here are a few for you to enjoy.

Lara Motta wrote:
My favourite childhood toy is actually a little blue bunny funnily enough. I got it for Easter the year my baby brother was born and he still sleeps with me (the bunny that is). He's been to 11 countries in Europe, NZ and all over Australia. Very well travelled and loved!


Grace said:
My favorite toy as a child was an orange and brown (it was the 70s!) dog called Monty. He was very dear, and fell apart with too much love.


andymona wrote:
I still have my teddy bear. He's tucked away, but occasionally when l come across him l give him a little hug. He was velveteen, but that's all worn of now.


and gardenglut said:


My favourite toy when I was a young one was Scotty. Scotty was a georgeous dark grey West Highland Terrier or 'Scotty dog' toy. Scotty had a wonderful woolen tartan dog coat. He was tuff and texturerd and was great to snuggle your face in! Thanks for making me think of Scotty!  

and lastly from waverider,

My favourite toy from childhood is a baby doll called Susie who i still have. To make her even more special, she is dressed in a gorgeous pink layette that my beloved Nan knitted for her. Whenever I look at her I can see my Nan sitting on the couch in her lounge room knitting away, lovely memories!


What a beautiful memory..thanks waverider.

Sadly there can only be one winner, but you are all winners to me! Congratulations to lovely Alma who left the very first entry. I'm so excited that Bluebell will be flying over to live with Alma and her family in Brooklyn, New York!! What a thrill for a little bunny from country Victoria. I'm sure she will get lots of love and cuddles. Alma if you could email me your details I will pop Bluebell in the mail for you asap.

So that's it from me today. I'm busy in the kitchen making cake and apple & rose hip jelly, thinking too of other ways to use up the huge amount of apples we have this year. Happy days! Hope yours is a happy one too, see you soon xo

Autumn is..

..apples.

Lots and lots of apples. It's a good thing we like apple pie! 

Our trees have been full of fruit this year and although we've shared quite a few with the local cockatoos,

we still have lots left. Our lovely neighbours are making cider, their hallway full of boxes of apples. Maybe we will make some too!

Autumn is quinces. Big, fat, golden quinces.

I love everything about this beautiful ancient fruit. The tree it grows on with it's wide green leaves, that shade our ducks from the warm autumn sun. I love collecting the fruit after a windy day, storing it inside where it gives off it's distinctive quincy smell. I love cutting into each piece, it's such a satisfying feeling. Cubing, boiling, straining. Adding, watching, waiting.

Then suddenly!

Magical jars of ruby goodness. I love quince jelly on sour dough toast with a cup of hot, hot tea. 

I love autumn.

Autumn is Sports Day! A day of red, yellow and blue.

A day of friends, and fun.

And trying hard, of ribbons and family.

And smiles! lots of lovely smiles.

Autumn is potato season. It's brown fields, blue skies, tractors and crates.

Autumn is a time of birthdays - one tomorrow! 

Although it's sad to say goodbye to summer, and although the thought of a long cold winter ahead makes me a little anxious..I really do love autumn. So I'm celebrating being in the now,

I'm loving the cool nights and warm days. Although there is some sadness in my life too right now, I'm embracing all the beauty, the colour and life of this season, of this time. Maybe even more so.

I hope you are too, lovely ones,

see you soon xo

ps: If you haven't entered my giveway yet it's not too late! I'll be drawing out a winner in the next couple of days. It might be you! xo

Summer days

Yesterday our family headed to Melbourne for a long overdue family gathering. We met our lovely extended family at a big park in Elsternwick and I finally met my cousin's new baby, Lily. Isn't she adorable? It was so good to see all my cousins and aunt's and uncles, and of course my brother & his family who are visiting from Hobart.

Back home it seems that summer has finally arrived!

 So today I spent lots of time in the garden, while the kids played, inside & out.

Rosie could be outside all day, she has so much energy. She watered the apple tree for me and jumped in the pool ten thousand times.

Our two apple trees are covered in fruit so I am keen to get nets over at least one of them before the birds discover them. The year before last we had so many apples that I took boxes to school for Fruit Munch.

At our school the kids break for fruit every day at 10 o'clock,  I love this idea, does your school do something similar?

Being outside today was very therapeutic, I love our garden. The recent heavy rain means my roses are looking lovely and my vegies are thriving.

Yay for hanging washing outside! Tragically this is one of my favourite things to do. It's so peaceful out there by the line, just me and the blue sky. 

 Until nutcase Freddie appears and chases Daisy round the garden! Actually it's quite funny and Daisy is not at all phased by being attacked continuously by a mad duck.

Speaking of Freddie I noticed today that he and his girls have finally found the bath I set up for them several months ago. Perhaps the hot weather was the clincher. Anyway, they seem to be enjoying themselves!

Are you on holidays too? I'm enjoying just mooching around, staying in bed late in the morning with a nice hot cup of tea and then seeing what the day will bring. I've been walking every day and that is making me feel good, good, good! I've decided to walk every day, even if it's just a small one, and so far I'm doing well. I walked down to Hepburn, along the fire track today, arriving hot and sweaty at my mum's, but feeling happy & satisfied. I hope I can keep up my walking in 2011, it really clears my head and helps me sleep. Do you have any things you plan to do in the new year?  Hope all is well with you dear friends, see you soon xo

Lots of lovely apples...

Autumn has really arrived here in Daylesford and with it, finally, came the rain. Today, amongst a million other things, I have been picking apples...

and feeding hungry chookies & all the other pets.

It takes quite a while to feed & water all our creatures. Little Lion & Tiger (above) are doing well and Lion really loves jumping on her/his mum for a snuggle and a good view. Mama Chook is a very good mum, she is extremely protective of her children and keeps them toasty warm during the freezing nights. What a girl.

Talking of great girls...last week Rosie had tonsilitis again so we spent alot of time at home, inside, making things & cooking. It's fun hanging out with Rosie, she is so enthusiastic about every thing she does. She loves to paint & cook and play with Max & Daisy.

There was no time to blog, well not much and it also it meant I didn't have any time for this

little fabric book that I am itching to finish. Several nude bunnies are also sitting patiently in the sewing room awaiting noses & clothes (bit chilly!)

Well I started this post with apples so I'll finish with them too. I can't believe we have so many this year. Lucy and I picked heaps today and then dried and wrapped them in newspaper to store away for winter. Apples with holes went into one pile for cooking later and we also filled a basket to take to school tomorrow. Whilst we worked quinces bubbled away on the stove. Tomorrow I hope to turn them into jelly and bottle them up. How much fun is it to grow, use and give away all these beautiful things - and yes, thankyou gorgeous chickens for your eggs too. Take care, see you soon. x