2/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013" via Che and Fidel.

Lola: Antics outside my office window.

Pearl: "Can you do piggies, mama?"

Stella: A chocolate ice-cream treat on a very hot day. I promise she'll have a clean face for 3/52.

Sometimes...

..words can't do this pair justice.

43 Degrees

This time last year, I was bemoaning the chilly summer days in our new country home, wondering if we'd ever be properly warm again. After the past few weeks, I realise that dead-of-winter cold isn't the only thing this region does well. 

A pre-planned trip to Sydney with my girls meant we were in the big city for yesterday's outrageous 43-degree day. It also meant we inadvertently avoided a "catastrophic fire danger" in our village.

We kept cool with a trip to the aquarium, a splash in a water park, and easy time and catch-ups in the air-conditioned kitchens of friends. Oh, how I love to while away time in the kitchens of friends, cup of coffee or glass of wine in front of me, children playing happily (or otherwise) nearby.

I had a fright in the middle of the day, a text message from a local friend saying there was a fire on our street. I imagined the worst. I've seen the news for enough summers in this country. 

It was a grass fire, quickly contained, a couple of blocks from our home. A near escape. Others haven't been so lucky. Thank goodness for the cool change today.

Sunday Lovelies

A sample of the loveliest lovelies from the past week, and beyond - making up for the lack of a Christmas post this last year.

1) Cousins.

2) Before.

3) After.

4) Thanks for the purple bubbles, Santa. Not messy at all.

5) I'm sure there are similar photos of me, my siblings and cousins at this age.

6) Ladybird.

7) A woman's work is never done.

8) Fruit picking in our own backyard!

Wishing you all a lovely, lovely week.

1/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013" via Che and Fidel.

Lola: She washed her dolls' clothes and couldn't resist a dip herself.

Pearl: Daydreaming, with bow lips.

Stella: Despite being my fussiest eater, she always seems to have food on her face.

I've been so looking forward to the new year to start joining in with Jodi's weekly portrait project (posting on Saturdays so that the Sunday Lovelies can continue).

New Day

Just another new day. Another new calendar on the wall. Another chance at new beginnings. Another battle with what to resolve, or whether to at all.

One thing, only one...to stop sitting still hoping things will get better all on their own.

Happy New Year. Let it be a good one.

Merry Christmas

I thought I'd take a quick moment away from the kitchen, and the making of the jellied ham terrine and frozen berry meringue parfait, to say me-e-e-e-erry Christmas! Thanks for your support, kind comments and good cheer this past year. 

I'm going to take a little break until the new year is upon us. Wishing you all a wonderful end to 2012, lots of relaxing time with family and friends, and some seriously good tucker on the buffet tomorrow.

Ho, ho, ho!

Sunday Lovelies

1) Spaghetti for dinner. Not messy at all.

2) Ruby slippers print from Flower Press for a 'Wizard of Oz' loving preschool graduate.

3) Santa on the back of a fire truck.

4) Great slabs of rocky road. It must be Christmas.

5) There was a little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead...

6) Dessert.

I'm looking forward to sharing some Christmas cheer with my sweet sister and her family at the beach this weekend. I hope there's something lovely happening where you are.

My emails have been disappearing into people's junk/spam folders lately. If you think you should have heard from me, perhaps check there. And sorry!

Subdued

When all about is red and green, silver and gold.

When everywhere is technicolour and bold-print and sparkle-glitter-sparkle.

When everything is jingle bells, ding-dong merrily, hark the herald angels sing.

When volume levels are increased to deafening, and visuals are just as loud...

How soothing to sink into these beautiful, undyed natural hues.

As soft on the eyes as in the hand.

Wending its way into tiny newborn hats for the shop.

Like knitting with bunnies and cotton wool and creamy hot chocolate.

And reading? Nothing. Completely nothing.

It doesn't feel right.

But I wanted to post in the last Yarn Along before Christmas anyway. 

Wishing all the lovely knitters out there a soft, gentle, natural, soothing festive season.

On the Last Day

We have been focusing so much of our energy on next year's momentous 'first' - big school - that I almost forgot the significance of today, her last day of preschool. She's been spending part of her week in some form of day care or preschool for three years, and today it is over, complete. She has been a little emotional. Make that a lot emotional. Wrapped up in all the end-of-year excitement, the Christmas tree cookies and cards from her little pals and presents for the teachers, has come the slow realisation, for her and for me, that time is a-rolling on and we are powerless to stop it. When she expressed her sadness today, I crossed my fingers behind my back and told her she could choose another year of preschool if she really wanted it. And she said no without hesitation. She's opting for the unknown, the adventure, the big wide world. Because without even realising it, she knows that's the right choice, and it's what she wants.

Homemade rhubarb chutney for the teachers suggests we are far more organised and crafty at this end of the year than we really are. It is chaos around here.

And I noticed that my last post was my 500th. That's quite significant. Milestones all round.