Op Shop Bliss

So much going on in my little world, but for now let me share this morning's op shop finds. :) With school holidays coming up next week, I was thrilled to find a whole table of half price children's books - and when the books are only 50c or $1.00 to begin with, that's pretty wonderful!

Miss Saraya and the school librarian are practically best friends these days, she visits so often. And she's practically read every suitable junior fiction book in the town library. Sigh.

This pile should keep her busy for a little while anyhow.

And skirts! Two gorgeous long skirts for Saraya, and a long denim skirt for me - something I've always wanted actually. Total spent for skirts and books - $12. Happy dance!

Things I'm thinking today....

* I love Maryborough. In so many ways, it's just the perfect town to live in, for us! Something seems to affirm that every day.

* I adore our markets. Honestly, those stall holders are so traditionally generous - last week I was short for strawberries, but the lady insisted I take them anyway (and Saraya insisted we find her today, to pay our dues- which we did!); one man today noticed Will was a bit cranky, and quickly plopped some grapes into a little bag "for the children to share" he said to me,

holding it out. So nice!! Today we loaded up the stroller and our arms (children's too) with locally grown bananas, strawberries, avocados, broccoli, pineapple, shelling peas, apples, pears and the biggest cabbage I've ever seen. Also from a little further afield, kiwi fruits, capsicums, and these:

I rarely buy flowers at the market but this big bunch of sweet-smelling Gladioli was irresistible.

My Nana was named Glad, and she apparently loved Gladioli. :) I told the children they are for Nana - which led to a long conversation about who she was, mostly just that she was wonderful.

* It feels like Spring today!! Still another 2 weeks of Winter officially to go, but today is quite hot with a very Spring-like wind blowing. Warm and gusty and we've pulled shorts and summery skirts out this afternoon, yay!

* Another thing I love about Maryborough is that you drive for 10 minutes in any direction out of town, and you're in the bush. It's great! And......... Stuart and I are talking through the idea of a little fun house-hunting again, just to see what's out there. Last night we found a house we're very interested in, on just over an acre about 7 minutes from the school where Stu works. It just looks like us. So, we might go have a look through on the weekend. We went for a drive out there this morning after our market shopping, just to check the location etc. SO QUIET out there!! I then got to take the children for a play at Wook-oo wildlife reserve (3 minutes from the house) afterwards so they were happy.

* I'm thinking I love the cafe in town "Between the Buns" - great name and great food. :) Very affordable, good child-friendly toasted Panini options, and really super-nice coffee. I've been taking the children there for lunch after market shopping every other Thursday and it's becoming a nice tradition. The staff there know the children now and are so lovely with them! And today the girl asked if I'd like "my usual" coffee. :) On the off-week we go to the library.

* I'm wondering when Cathy is going to go into labour!! She still technically has a couple of weeks to go - but I'm expecting a call any minute these days. :) So excited to be going along with her and Gary as her female support-person. Bring on this baby, I just can't wait to meet her........

Thrifting

Before Saraya's dance class this afternoon, we hit the op shops for the first time in ages -probably a year. :( I LOVE the chance to look for treasures in op shops! It was a handful with an unhappy William (teething and a slight cold), but we found a few great little books for the children, a few clothing bits and pieces for all of them, a 50c doll for Saraya and a 50c little clicky toy thing for Elijah that he really really wanted........ and a new top for me, some gorgeous homemade very Anne-ish pyjamas which I'm currently wearing.......... and these.

A Target dress - not $30, but $6. Yay, I'm happy!

This long and floaty skirt - $4. I've been wishing for more skirts for ages but they're so hard to come by.

And my absolute favourite find......... this very vintage, French-looking dress for $6. I. love. it. Bring on Spring!

Wow!

What an amazing reception I've had regarding the shopping. Thanks so much for sharing all your great ideas! They are all so different and varied but all helpful in varying ways.

I've been thinking lots about it, have spoken to Stu about what he thinks will best suit our family at this time, and I've decided to stick with Woolies and the markets. I'll be shopping on Monday evenings, straight after dinner- and taking Saraya with me. Today was the test drive. The children and I sat down this afternoon and they helped me plan the meals for the coming week. We then looked at a few recipes and put together a shopping list. And my sweet helper tonight was in her element- all Mama's attention, out at night time, chatting her little heart out. :) It was good, good time with her. We talked about many things, naturally and incidentally covering such topics as buying in bulk, comparing products in dollars per kilogram, aisle contents, brand comparison, organic foods, what brand of yoghurt we buy and why (Janla, by the way), etc. etc. AND she wanted to help me bring it all in and unpack it when we got home. Which was by 7:30pm. She was in bed and asleep by 8pm. And Stu put the boys to bed (a nice time for them too, apparently), and cleaned up from dinner. All in all? I think it's going to work beautifullly! The shops were quiet, the children were involved (though the littler ones didn't have to come), it didn't eat into our daytime routine or William's nap time, and I had help with the unpacking.

_______________________________________________

This past weekend was great. Friday had been a long, emotional and tiring day for me- I sang at a funeral for a man from our church who we were quite close to; Stu was unable to come so I was there with all 3 children on my own which had some challenges. Thankfully my beautiful friend Desiree (my dance teacher extraordinaire) cared for Will while I sang and generally just helped me out when I needed it. A sad morning.

So when Stuart took the children out for 4 hours on Saturday, doing wonderfully fun things including shopping for new shoes for Will (that boy is growing fast!), pine-cone collecting for the fireplace, lunch in town, a big run and some "fun maths" at Woocoo (the wildlife reserve just out of town)... I was SO happy. :) I cleaned the house from top to bottom (now a Saturday job, just trialing that change), did a few loads of washing, had a nap, read, planned, gardened and pondered. Wonderful.

I am grateful to have such a dedicated husband and father to our children. He has also been getting more involved in the homeschooling which I really appreciate..... hence the "fun maths" after some tears from Saraya during the week over her math work! He's stepping in more which is good for all of us. So good.

___________________________________________

Today we have launched into a new week, and with it some basic changes to our routines. I can't believe how much I learnt during last week about what works and what doesn't! When we're a bit more settled into it, I'll post more about that. Day one Week two went smoothly. :)

Yesterday Stuart did a few things in the yard, including weeding what we affectionately term our "roof garden" (in other words, cleaning out the gutters.....) and cutting back the offending trees overhanging them. This pile of branches was the result, and Stu hauled them all into the middle of the yard for a temporary tree cubby for the children. They had a great time in it today!

I hope everyone's had a nice Monday.

Thanks again for your responses to my last post, I really appreciate it.

Some advice required!

Well my friends, I need some advice. Nothing too deep and troublesome, I promise!

I've just been spending time this morning revising our routines and things after learning a lot during our first homeschool week. And I have one thing that I just can't seem to find a good time to slot in.

The grocery shopping.

We've been doing the groceries on Tuesday afternoons after Saraya's dance class, at about 4 o'clock. However, this late in the afternoon is always VERY busy and the children are tired and hungry- not a good time to be doing it. Mornings are tricky now due to schooling, but we do pop out and about as part of our week so it could be possible.

I'm just wondering.......... when do you all find is the best time to do your grocery shopping? (please don't tell me there is no 'best time'- I'm already fearing this may be the case!!). Also, where do you do your shopping? I get all our fresh fruit and vegies from our local markets- it's well-priced and beautiful produce, most of it locally grown, and well worth the effort of going. I'm a Woolworths shopper for our pantry/fridge goods, but just so desperate to cut down what I've been spending that I'm willing to try anything! Buying organic meat in bulk straight from a farmer was mentioned by a friend recently, and I'm looking into this- cheaper and fresher, and no middle man! Has anyone got a positive / negative opinion of Aldi? We've got one in town, but I also like to buy Australian and wonder if a lot of their groceries are imported???

Thanks in advance, I value your input!

Thrifting in Biggendon

I mentioned yesterday that on our day trip on Wednesday we found a wonderful thrift shop.  You know the *real* thrift shops, where things are so cheap it almost seems like stealing?  

Still, we found some treasures and were more than happy to support Lifeline at the same time. :)

How could I resist the bright orange zoo animal pattern on these soft denim overalls for William? Like new, and only $1-.

Saraya and I found this pattern for old-fashioned pyjamas and nighties for 50c - "oooo Mamma, do you think Nanna could make these for me?".  Well, um, Mum?  What do you think?........... ;)

There were 8 of these teeny tiny little glasses (they may be shot glasses...?) and I bought them all to use for tiny servings of dessert eg. jelly, for little people.  10c each.

A doll with a handmade dress, bloomers and shoes for Saraya $3- (she had a little birthday money left, burning a hole in her pocket.... and didn't seem to mind that this poor dolly has had a few fingers chewed off by what I imagine was a distructive puppy.......)

A koala backpack for Elijah (he loves this little guy & has been wearing it everywhere!) $2-

And a big sturdy wicker basket with handles for me $5- my most favourite bargain.

And finally, these 4 ironstone soup bowls, handcrafted in Japan, are crying out to me from the kitchen hutch as I type.  They were 70c each, deserve to have a good home.......... and will each have soup in them by the end of this weekend.  I can't wait to use them!

Some rain, blustery wind and the weekend

Well, "fun in the sun" yesterday quickly became "freeze in the breeze"........ make that blustery wind!!  We still had fun at the pool, but the weather wasn't exactly ideal for babies.  William wasn't too fond of the chilly water and winds blowing on his wet skin, nor of the very heavy rain which followed, with us huddled under a little sun shelter (thankyou Helen!).  Elijah had a great time paddling with this friends though.  And we ended up having a drink at McDonalds on the way home so he was very happy!

The weary travellers arrived home at about 6:30pm last night, with lots of stories of the zoo to share.  There's a photo I'm going to ask Stu to scan in for me today, but I won't tell you what it is until I can put it on!  They had a great, but exhausting day.  Once again watching the tigers swimming and playing with their carers was a highlight. 

Well, the weekend is here and with it the dreaded final 2 days of movie production for Stuart's Prep movie "Joseph".  The screening is on Monday afternoon after school.

Is he stressed?  YES!!

Is he exhausted? YES!!

Do I need to make the children scarce over this weekend as much as possible?  YES!!  So as well as finding quiet things for them to do at home (always a challenge), we'll go out.  This morning Elijah and I are both having hair trims.  Then all the children and I going Christmas shopping.  Now that's something I'm looking forward to!  We might just have to have morning tea or lunch while we're out too.  

This afternoon Stu is taking Saraya and Elijah to visit one of Saraya's classmates who's in hospital this week with severe athsma ............. while William and I are going to an afternoon tea for all the girls in our circle....... lots of conversation, cups of tea and delicious delicacies to be consumed I am sure!  We do it once or twice a year and I'm really looking forward to it.

Tomorrow?  Church in the morning.  Some quiet times with the children through the middle of the day.

And come 3 o'clock, Stuart is ours again for a couple of hours for one of our most exciting family days of the year.  We are decorating the house for Christmas, putting up our Christmas tree, listening to carols and having our traditional Christmas nibbly supper as we work!!  I can't tell you how much I enjoy this time, the transformation of our home and transition into the Christmas season.

Our town's annual Christmas concert outside Town Hall is on tomorrow evening, and Stu has said he will take a couple of hours off to come to this as well!  I'm not singing at it this year , so we'll find a spot together and watch the carols and the annual lighting up of the town.  All hard work, but someone's got to do it!!

I'd better go make breakfast.  Wishing you a happy Saturday!