Lavender & lamingtons

Yesterday Rosie and I and two special friends went to the beautful lavender farm, Lavandula, out at Shepherds Flat. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the little girls ran and ran and ran.

We sat and had a picnic surrounded by daffodils and marvelled at the weather - after a long, long winter it was good to feel that sunshine and smell the spring air. Do you like Rosie's new pink shoes?

Michelle snuck in a cat nap while we went in search of donkeys. Hee haw...

What a lovely place to visit, it always makes you feel good. I don't know alot about its history except that it was once a working farm owned by local Swiss Italians. I'd like to learn a bit more about Lavandula and hope to visit it a bit more often.

The other reason I was there was to purchase some of their lavender. I needed it to fill the little Sleepy Hearts that are my current sewing project. I'll post some photo's soon, I'm quite happy with how they are looking.

I'll be bringing some to the pre Christmas Daylesford Makers Market which is coming up in November, as well as the usual Blanket Bunnies & other Dandelion items. I hope to see lots of bloggy friends there at my Dandelion stall, it's such a lovely way to catch up in 'real life'. Do pop by the DMM blog and have a look, & if you are interested in helping out with the market you can find details on there as well. It should be another amazing market, I'm really looking forward to it.

Besides lavender experiences this week has been choc a block full of things. Raffles at school, PerformingArts night catering, book club, classroom helper, chooks, footy tips & prizes, basketball, art class, ballet, lunches, dinners, washing, sewing, dreaming, screaming (nah..just joking...hang on, maybe there was some screaming... ) and the usual mayhem that is family life. Phew!

Anyway, there has also been Laminton making!! Yep, you heard me, lamingtons. The great Australian cake. Never having been a big fan of these coconut covered delights I am now officially hooked.

Rosie enjoyed the whole process, especially cracking the eggs (No shell in the mix!)

Can you hurry up so I can lick that bowl....?

And here are the little beauties themselves...they didn't last long of course. (If anyone would like the recipe just send me an email. They are easy to make and it's fun dipping the cake in chocolate syrup and rolling them in coconut...mmmm)

So there you have it, another fun packed few days have flown by. I can't believe it's Friday ...hope you all have a great weekend xox

Lavender, birthdays & random hugs

On Tuesday I popped out to the local lavender farm to catch up with some lovely friends for lunch and a bit of peace amongst all the end of year/pre Christmas craziness. It is such a nice place to visit & how fun is it to be with good friends and have a chat & a laugh? A little willy wagtail kept darting past and the resident doggie cuddled up on the bench next to Sam. It is so green and beautiful & there are photo opportunities aplenty!

Lovely Michelle

Phippala & Sam in the flowerbed

Lots of goodies in the shop

Other exciting events of the week have been, Billy's 7th birthday - yay!! He has recovered well from the dreaded chicken pops and enjoyed tucking in to his cake and pressies. The birthday preparations began in earnest earlier in the day with the girls making cards and presents for their brother.

"can I lick the bowl??!!".

I think he was pretty happy with the end result.

So, another busy week has flown by - Number Four finished up her school transition program and had a hoot of a day. Boy is she ready for school! The kids are enjoying all the Christmas hoo- hah. Charlotte put up The Tree yesterday and it's looking fabulous & festive.

Before I go I have to tell you a quick Happy Christmas story - yesterday I received a great big hug from a sweet lady who was pushing her mum in a wheelchair through the crowd at Big W. She stopped to let us through and as I smiled & thanked her she threw her arms around me and said "Merry Christmas & God Bless you darling". What a gorgeous woman she was and her mum was too. I could feel myself starting to cry (doesn't take much anyway) at the simple beauty of that random hug. Honestly, it's people like her who make Christmas what it should be - about love, kindness, togetherness and joy.

Off to the Big Smoke with L & S tomorrow, should be fun! Have a lovely, shiny, happy weekend, x