hello

  

What happens when you don't blog for almost two weeks?

Lots of stuff happens. School holidays happen..leaves fall...nights grow colder..days get shorter..

and giveaways don't get given away.

I'm so sorry to all those who entered my little bunny giveaway..I haven't forgotten you!

 I so loved reading every single one of your comments, hearing about your childhood toys was music to my ears. The common threads of comfort, company, memories and love ran through each one. It's so sweet how we can all be linked by our childhood toys, they are such treasures to us all, whether they still exist or remain forever in our hearts.

Although mine is a teeny tiny business, producing only a few bunnies in the scheme of things,

even if only one of those bunnies became someones special childhood toy, it would be the most wonderful thing. I remember once I ran into a child holding a Dandelion bunny, all fluffed up and worn, and it was such a magical feeling. I guess toys, especially handmade ones, really represent that precious part of our lives, when we were young.

Anyway, I will draw out a winner, but not tonight. Keep an eye out though as it will be one day this week, and again, I'm sorry I have taken so long.

I've been caught up with sick kids too, who still aren't quite better. And holidays, and a job application that lead to an interview that lead to some part time work! Which is a bit exciting, I'm really happy about it. I'll be working as a Teacher's Aide and start tomorrow. I've also been caught up with birthdays, Lucy turned 12 & also found out she got into her school of choice for high school, she is over the moon.

and our beautiful Sunday turned nine! 

Wow, these kids of ours are really growing up. 

And we somehow got a new bunny, gave our neighbours two of our ducks, had our gorgeous Charlotte home for a long stay (yay!!), did some camping (them not me), and a zillion other things. So if it seems I've been missing in action..it's true!

Sometimes life is for living and not for worrying about blogging. 

Anyway, it's nice to have broken the ice, to have shared some of our days, to be back in a place I love.

See you shortly for a giveaway announcement..take care lovely ones and have a wonderful week 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

Catching up

There seems to be a lot happening at the moment. Change of seasons, weekend activities, The Organic Paddock, school stuff, festivals, sewing & making and a hectic family life. Sometimes when life is busy it's hard to keep up with what's happening with others so it was good to make a time recently to catch up. On Friday a group of us went to Kyneton for dinner in Piper Street to hear all the latest news & eat some delicious food at Pizza Verde.

I love Piper Street with it's beautiful soft bluestone footpaths and pretty & interesting shops, it was good to be in a different town for a change. And how good was Pizza Verde? At least 9/10! Amazing food and great service.

Of course I had to do a bit of window shopping,



I'd love to have a better look inside Lulabelle's Frock Salon somtime.

We didn't get home till late and I stayed at Mum's in Hepburn. It was pretty fantastic having a mini sleep in, don't get that too often!

The weekend was lovely but I was a bit sick so didn't have my usual energy and found it a bit hard going at times. But still ballet was ace, the girls are loving it, and Rosie had a fun party aferwards.

On Sunday we took it easy and Mark made zucchini bread. Mmmm. The girls & I went to Shell's and cut a big basket of lavender to dry for Love Heart production. It was quite relaxing cutting the blossoms in the sunshine, avoiding the bees, and soaking up the fragrence.

Back at home the girls made potions and flower arrangements while I made the lavender into bunches to hang. Then as they settled down for some quiet time I cut and pinned some more of my scrap quilt. It's coming along well and I'm loving matching up all the different shapes and patterns. I really should be working on Love Hearts & Blanket Bunnies but it's also good to do something that isn't work sometimes.

This week I'm hoping to get lots of little things done, it's hard to keep on top of it all isn't it? I feel like I'm always trying to catch up. I do love Monday's though as it's the start of a new week and anything is possible. A new month too, I wonder what March will bring? Summer has been lovely this year but I'm looking forward to Autumn and the beautiful colours & blue sky days.

How was your weekend? Did you catch up with friends or have some fun with your family? Hope it was a good one, see you soon xo

Nice weather for ducks

While it's all very well and good that we have had such a lot of rain lately I am feeling that end of winter mood that seems to sweep over me every year about this time.

It's cold, it's wet, everything seems damp, mouldy...muddy.

The charm of winter has faded somewhat. If, however, you are a duck it's probably heaven.

The changing of seasons in the central highlands is a long and drawn out affair. Kind of like a relationship breakup that takes forever. One sunny day....two weeks of grey. A little tease of warmness and then some long blasts of arctic air. Getting the picture?

The up side is that living here we really do get to feel the seasons. I know from the little bits of blossom around the place, and the jonquils and daffs, that things are changing and spring is on the way. I just wish it would hurry up!

Meet Wolf Man, he called by on the weekend.

Bill spent quite a while in this guise, I really like the colour - it made up for the lack of blue sky!

Extreme weather conditions call for extreme hot water bottle action. Do you like my tea towel cover? I had plans to make more, or should I say HAVE plans, it's a matter of finding the time. Where does it go? Have I told you that shortly I am going to be returning to study? Yep, it's official. I will be attempting to get a Diploma of Children's Studies. This will hopefully lead on to a further year of study doing a course called Pre & Post Natal Care. I really want to work with women and help them through this important time of life. It's going to be a lot of work and I'm a bit scared about how I'm going to fit everything in. But I'm also excited and looking forward to this new part of my own life.

A lovely girl from school made me a little origami horse recently so I made this lavender birdie for her from scraps of alpaca. It smells gorgeous. I've been sewing some lavender hearts too that the kids put in their pillows to help them sleep.

So even though the sun isn't out and things are a bit ho hum I can see light at the end of the tunnel. At least this winter we haven't been as sick as last year, we had a lot of gastro and colds which was horrible. And we are lucky enough to be going away in a few weeks to the very beautiful Mooloolaba! ( The last time we went was before Rosie was born and Sunday was just a wee little baby floating in an orange ring in the pool. Awww. She was so cute.) I can't wait to feel some tropical warmth.

How was your weekend? Did you enjoy some time with your family or friends? Maybe it's becoming autumn in your part of the world. Lots of love to you all xo

ps: I bought this frame recently for two dollars at the opshop. I didn't realise until later that it had a face!

Colourful days..

Today as I was tootling around the countryside I almost had several accidents as I gazed out the window at all the beautiful trees. The colours of autumn are so strong and gorgeous. This tree was just glowing!

Check out this mossy growth ...what an amazing colour.

As for this tree...it is absolutely hypnotic. I could stare into these colours forever.

I also popped down to nearby Hepburn Springs where my mum was having a look at her new little church. Her brother, David, who is a builder, came up to have a look too as he is starting work on it next week. It is such a gorgeous building and has had quite an interesting history. It started out as a school in the bush at Yandoit and was then moved to it's present location where it became a Baptist church. A local historian told mum that many of her ancestors where educated in the building and she also has photos of it being moved. Wow, I love old photos and can't wait to see them.

Can you imagine all the different people that have spent time in this building? School days, weddings, funerals, celebrations. All the people, all the lives. It has a lovely feel to it and I think Mum will enjoy some great times here too.

There seems to have been a bit of a churchy theme to my week. On Wednesday night I set off with Tracey to Ballan where we had a dinner with other Catholic School Board members from the Ballarat region. The pub where it was held was a real time capsule from Australia's past - lots of photo's from the 70's on the walls and a bar lined with characters out of another era. When Monique asked the barman for a cup of black tea he almost fell over with shock!!

Tomorrow is Book Town in Clunes which should be fantastic. Can't wait to check out all those lovely books, it's really worth a visit. To finish of the churchy theme Mark & I are off to a friend's birthday party at the Convent Gallery's Altar Bar on the weekend. It will be good to get out and have some fun and a glass or two of something bubbly. It's been a bit of a tiring week with not enough sleep and too many mice!! Hope you have a great weekend, x