Sons of Korah

Today I want to share with you my most favourite band, Sons of Korah.  They are an Australian group of guys who have put the Psalms to music in a gorgeous way.......... their music puts me at peace, inspires me, strengthens me, teaches me new Psalms, and all in all I just love to play their cd's!!!  I was trying to work out how to add a playlist to my blog but haven't yet.. so in the meantime, please click here to hear their music (click "listen" - they have a great selection of samplers from all their cd's), read more about them or purchase a cd.  They tour internationally , and last year we were fortunate enough to see them sing live at a church in Hervey Bay.  They are wonderful!!  

"I will sing a new song to You, O God; Upon a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You".  Psalm 144:9

Feminine Friday - a quote

"The wife, on her part, ought not to be less desirous than she was in the days of courtship of winning her husband's admiration, merely because she now wears upon her finger a golden pledge of his love.  Why should she give up those pretty wiles to seem fair and pleasant in his eyes, that were suggested in love-dreams?  Instead of lessening her charms, she should endeavour to double them, in order that home may be to him who has paid her the greatest compliment in his power, the dearest and brightest spot upon earth - one to which he may turn for comfort when sick of business and the weary ways of men generally.

How shall a man retain his wife's affections?  Is it by not returning them?  Certainly not.  The secret of conjugal felicity is contained in this formula: demonstrative affection and self-sacrifice.  A man should not only love his wife dearly, but he should tell her that he loves her, and tell her very often, and each should be willing to yield, not once or twice, but constantly, and as a practice to the other."

How to be Happy Though Married - being a Handbook to Marriage

published 1885

Building a Railway Track

Our home is currently having a bit of a makeover in preparation for Christmas.  Our tree will sit in the corner of the middle room in our house (the play area), and I needed to do some rearranging to make room for it.  So the boys room had some changes yesterday too.

The reading / music / dressup "nook"

The little blue table is in here too now, for puzzles etc.

Today I haven't been feeling too well, so Elijah and I (and Will!) spent some time playing on the floor in the boys room.  After some deliberating, it was decided we'd play trains.  

How to build a railway track in  5  easy steps............

1.  Dump everything onto the floor

2. Sit and have a little think about what to do next

3.  Choose an engine and some carriages for your train.  Build your track (winding under the bed of course, for added interest!)

4.  Drag the train over to the track

5.   Play!!!!!

Oh, and do some spontaneous experimenting with the repelling / attracting properties of magnets........... just to add to the learning experience........ :)

Wordless Wednesday - Old Books

Mum was clearing out recently and asked if I would like these.

I'm a lover of old books, and with titles such as "Uncle Tom's Cabin", "Little Women" (I already have 2 or 3 copies, but couldn't help myself)........... and "How to be HappyThough Married" - yes you read that right, "How to be Happy Though Married"!!! published at least 100 years ago- how could I refuse?  They are happily finding a home on my bookcase. :)

I'll provide some interesting quotes as I flick through that last one- it's bound to be interesting!

Psalm 27:1

Our family memory verse for this week:

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?     Psalm 27:1

I have taped this up in a few spots around the house.  Elijah thought it was hilarious, as he went from room to room and found a few copies of this verse.  I realised he at first thought it was the same piece of paper, moving rooms somehow and "following him" wherever he went!   I explained that I had written out multiple copies.  "Ahhh...", he said, the lightbulb clearly going off in his head.  Very cute!!

Great Peace - God's Word

Hello friends!  It's really hard to blog at the moment.  Life has been busy and when Stu is home, the computer is his to work on his movie!  So I'm snatching a minute to at least start a post, while my big 2 are having a shower, Will is playing on the bathroom floor on towels, surrounded by bath toys and listening to their banter, and Stuart is outside mowing the lawn.

It's been a relaxing Sunday today.  I sang in church this morning for the first time since having William.  It was wonderful to be back up there.  Will wound up in the sling and fell asleep while I was singing, so it all felt right. :)  We've all had decent rests, doing quiet things this afternoon.  Saraya even had a nap which is unheard of for her.  That will hopefully fuel her for the school week ahead.  We watched an episode of "Little House on the Prairie" after that (while eating icecream-it's hot again today!), which is always a nice thing to do together.  It prompted lots of discussion as it often does.  They are great stories!

I have SO many posts written in my head, I could hardly decide which one to write today.  I've decided to completely copy a page out of my "25 Days Till Christmas Advent Celebration" book, by Rebecca Hayford Bauer for you.  It's a great book for getting ideas, and this particular page talks about passing on the importance of leaning on God's Word to our children.  It struck me this week that I really  want to pass this on to my kids.  I want them to get into a daily habit of reaching for their Bibles as they go through the joys and struggles of life, just as I have learned to do as an adult.  So anyway I enjoyed this passage from Rebecca's book this week, and I thought I'd share it with you today.............

"Great peace have those who love your law", promises Psalm 119:65.  And if there is anything that I could ask for my children throughout their lives it would be peace - spiritual peace, emotional peace, physical peace, international peace; educational, economic, vocational, and domestic peace. "Peace" is truly the great cry of our time, the longing of every heart and the "impossible dream" of each generation.  Yet this Scripture gives a clear-cut course of action for attaining peace in every arena of life.  "Great peace have those who love your law".

Deuteronomy 6:7 further exhorts parents, "You shall teach them (God's commands) diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."  What an assignment! And the beginning is the biggest challenge.

We begin to instill in our children a love for God's Word by loving it ourselves- and living it.  I'm not talking about a letter-of-the-law legalism, but a living, breathing, life-changing, principle-shaping Word of God that is applicable to every situation we face.

Begin by involving the Word in your life.  Are you in the Word daily?  Do you apply its promises and commands to your personal life?  We can tell our children that the Bible is important, but we also have to live it.... Kids can spot a fake a mile away!  Be in the Word every day.   Draw on the spiritual nourishment that the Lord has provided.  Let the Word of God in music fill your home and spirit with His peace and joy.  As that happens in us, we can begin to impress a love for God's Word in the lives of our children.

When our children were small, we read a chapter in a Bible story book each day.  We provided them with Bible music tapes as soon as they could talk well enough to sing along, and when they began to read, we gave them a Bible of their own and encouraged them to read a portion of Scripture on their own each day.  We've memorised scripture together, played Bible trivia games at dinner, and applied specific verses to problems each of the children have faced.  Being in God's Word should be simple, interesting, and fun!

What would your children enjoy?  What will "hook" them into digging for the treasure that has been given to us in God's Word?  There's still time to prepare another gift to slip under the Christmas tree!  Ask the Lord how you are to introduce his word to your children and then watch as His peace begins to transform their lives into His image!"

___________________________

I love books which challenge and inspire me as this one has!

God bless you in the week ahead.  As we go about our daily lives, may we know God's incredible love and peace, and find opportunities to minister to our families and those around us.  As our visiting pastor shared with us today, let us aim high in sharing our joy and enthusiasm for Jesus with everyone we encounter this week.  Rather than burying ourselves in worry and fear and doubt (so easy to do!), let us instead run the race toward Heaven and eternity with our faces and hearts turned toward Him!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas........

I know it's only November, but just today it feels like Christmas is right around the bend.  I feel that adrenalin I always get at this time of year, building towards Christmas time.  Yes, I am an avid lover of the Christmasy celebrations, always have been, always will be!  Today when my boys were napping (and I should have been) I lay on my bed thinking through Christmas gift ideas.  Oh, how I love love love Christmas!!!  AND.......

Today it is hot.  Really  hot!  Summer kind of hot.  My kids will be playing with ice this afternoon after school, and this weekend we're bound for the town pool.

The wind has a certain dry summery feel to it.

There is only 4 1/2 weeks left until the holidays.  Hooray!

My kitchen smells like peaches. Mmmm......

And early this morning at the markets the strawberry lady wished me a merry Christmas!  When I looked quizzically at her, she informed me that this will be her last week as the strawberry crop has run out.  "And", she advised me, "There is only 7 weeks until Christmas"!

And today my little Will is SO much better.  So the world just feels wonderful. :)

There is a time for every season

"To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven."  Ecclesiastes 3:1.

How true this is.  

For now, in our family, this is a time of feeling disconnected.  

For me, a time to dote on William (who, as an aside, is getting slowly better.  He is clingy and not himself, but no temps and more sleep.)  A time to try to get back on top of my domestic duties- a mountainous task, though with the help of meals from friends (thankyou!) it's manageable.  And a time to give myself massive guilt-trips about the way I feel I'm neglecting my older two children.  How is it we mothers are so tremendous at loading guilt upon ourselves?

For Stuart, a time to be completely immersed in his work life.  This means he is living at (almost)....... well, living and breathing Prep.  This is hard on all of us.

For Saraya, a time of spending much more time with her school family than her real family.  This too is hard on all of us, but most of all me!!  I miss her.

For Elijah, a time to just be Elijah.  Praise God, he is such a happy little guy who is more than happy to stay home 7 days a week and just potter around in his imaginary world singing  made-up songs about whatever's on his mind.  He's doing fine.

For William, a time to heal.

That's us this week. :)

Who would have thought.............

Who would have thought that a tiny little guy like this could cause so much worry for his Mamma?

Well, he has succeeded this week, yet again!  A few more grey hairs on my head I presume, and another year or two off my life for the anxious, sleepless hours spent pacing the floor with my feverish, wailing little bundle.

Yes, that's right..... William has been unwell again.  Nothing like the first year of life for my other two, he's had so much sickness!  My thoughts are that his rocky start to life, plus that first respiratory tract infection at 3 weeks of age have made his system more susceptible to general congestion and "clogging".  I have had around 2 hours sleep in the past three days, and he has had only a little more than that.  We wound up at the emergency department for a few hours last night and it seems Will has a middle ear infection, and possibly a urinary tract infection as well.  :(  They are testing the urine sample in the lab to be certain, and further investigating will follow if needed.  For now, anti-biotics, panadol, breastmilk, sleep as he can get it, and lots and lots of cuddles!  Your prayers would be appreciated for his continued healing.  And for my sanity.........

Saturday Swap Part 2

I can just tell this is going to be a rambling post.  A no-photos, lots of ideas flowing, thoughts pouring out kind of post.  Sorry in advance.....

Today was our Saturday Swap with our Bentley friends part 2.  It was our turn to have a day as a couple (plus baby!) without our kids.  Saraya and ELijah went to have a terrible time with their buddies, doing treasure hunts, swimming in the backyard pool, making craft, eating icecream, having bubble baths, and all sorts of other very non-fun activities.  Needless to say, they are exhausted and now sleeping soundly in bed!  Many thanks to Cathy and Gary (and Chloe and Declan too) for giving them such a great day. :)

After spending a couple of hours at our church's working bee this morning, grocery shopping and dropping our children off, we came home.  The house had an unusual stillness about it without the buzzing of Saraya and Elijah.  It was nice.  I missed them, but I just love peace and quiet so much that I really appreciated it!  Stuart and I managed to fill the day with general pottering about the house, having naps, drinking cups of tea, going out to lunch, having a walk in Queen's Park, and doing a few little jobs we'd been saving for today.  A few pictures got hung, William's cradle packed out to the shed (my heart is aching over that one! :(), the highchair pulled out ready for use by our big 5 month-old boy.............. oh, and of course Stu managed to fit in an hour or two pottering on the computer doing some work on his Prep movie.  A few hundred more hours to go on that, and it will be complete!!  Then onto writing report cards.  Got to love term 4.

Anyway, it was a lovely, quiet, slow day.  We actually both enjoyed the extra bonding time with William.  And it was nice to have some good conversation.  I love going out to eat together. :)

I've been thinking a lot lately.  I mean, I always tend to think a lot but I've been really thinking heaps about family life.  My friend Helen  posted her own thoughts and yearnings the other day about how to achieve a simple life.  We all yearn for it, that peacefulness in our daily lives....... that feeling of being- well, in control.  Feeling on top of things.  Feeling at ease, with ourselves and our families.  Feeling connected in our relationship with God.  Feeling content with what we have.

Stu and I were really super good at this before we got married and started our family.  In our heads, and in our plans, everything was just perfect.   We were going to live an hour or so from Brisbane (the city where we grew up) on a lovely block of quiet acreage, have a nice Queenslander with sweeping verandahs surrounded by cottage gardens; we would keep a few horses, ducks and chooks of course, and maybe a nice farm dog sleeping on the verandah or running around with our children.  Our children would always be happy.  They would always be obedient, helpful, and they would hold my hand with their little chubby ones and tell me they loved me, and thank me for all the hard work I do to care for them.  We would homeschool our children.  I would be up at the stove, wearing my lovely long skirt and apron, stirring vegetable soup made with crops from our garden.  A baby sitting happily on the floor playing with the pots and pans.  The older children sitting quietly at the big kitchen table, independently working on their math and copywork.  We would have many children, a large family, and the older ones would help teach the younger ones.  The smell of the flowers blowing in on the afternoon breeze.  Stuart arriving home from work on horseback, fresh loaf of bread from the nearby bakery under one arm.  A lovely long embrace for me first, followed by cuddles with the children.  They would of course then play happily out in the garden, just like in a painting, while Stu and I sipped tea on the deck and the dog slept at our feet.  The dog, of course, would never smell bad or poo in the garden.  Our chooks would free range, but never ever touch my vegetable patches.  We would set up a little business, a shop, with absolutely no capital.  We would earn very little, but just enough to buy everything we needed plus a few little luxuries.

Because we would choose the simple life, our lives would be simply wonderful.

That was our dream.

It's funny, 10 years down the track, to look at where we've ended up.  The reality of our family life looks very different from the dream.  Sure, there are days where I feel very very content and at peace with my life.  Most days in fact.  Many afternoons where the children DO play happily in the back garden, my baby does sit nicely playing on the floor while I'm cooking dinner, which does have some fresh produce in it from my gardens.  

However, we have not ended up living an hour from Brisbane.  It is too expensive to buy there, and anyway we have fallen in love with this little town Maryborough.

We do not live on acreage.  We own a relatively small suburban block.  It's sort-of on the outskirts of town, but still there's quite a bit of traffic going by.  We have discovered that Stu is not a natural handyman, and he doesn't really enjoy yard work.  At this stage of life, and maybe forever, a suburban block suits us more practically.

We currently do not homeschool our children.  This is still a point of heartache for me, because I still dream of having my children around that kitchen table, close to me.  However, I've had to face that my little girl is incredibly social, and her personality calls for a different pace of life than I enjoy.  She loves to be busy, getting out there with her friends and she genuinly loves going to her school.  She loves to come home to a quiet, peaceful house and enjoys the special times we do spend together.  But, being home all the time simply isn't for her.  School has been brilliant for Saraya, and I've realised that homeschooling her (or any of the children) may never be a reality.  

A large family is also no longer our dream.  The physical reality of caring for 3 young children, the constant exhaustion I feel, plus the physical toll taken on my body in the last 7 years has brought Stuart to the decision that he would like our family to be complete now, as it is.  That is a whole post in itself!

We don't own any animals, despite our children being real animal-lovers.  We don't want to own a dog on a block in town, and although we did have chooks earlier this year, they all died of a chook virus.  Yep, our first attempt at keeping animals was a complete flop.  Are our children keen to get more chooks?  Yes.  Do I want fresh eggs again? Yes.  Am I a bit put off after our last experience?  Yes!!  Once again, the dream was different to the reality.  The chooks were expensive to keep, troublesome around my vegie gardens, and eventually they all died anyway!  Very sad indeed.  We will give it another go, though.  We've learnt quite a bit from the experience and will do things a little differently this time round.

All this to say that I am amazed how differently our lives have turned out.  We've always been big dreamers and planners, full of ideas.  It's wonderful fun to sit and pour over our "brainwave" sheets of paper from back in our pre-married years.  Oh, the life we were going to lead!!  

But you know what?  Even though there are days when I wake up and wonder how I'll ever get through the day; when I desperately want a day just to myself, alone; when Saraya has hurt her knee and Elijah needs help on the toilet and William is crying loudly for a feed and the rice pot is boiling over and the phone is ringing, all at once, and I'm shouting out "STOP world, I want to get off!!!!!!!"............., I am, generally speaking, really, blessedly content!  I feel an inner peace in my heart that surpasses the day-to-day circumstances of my life.  My husband is my best friend in the world.  I feel privileged to be married to him and just love sharing the bumpy road of life with him.  I love the home we own together, and the children we are growing together.  We have a fine roof over our heads, a good income, and beautiful, beautiful children who love and look up to us.  We have everything we need, and more.

This is not exactly the picture I would have painted for my life.  But it is God's picture for me, and I feel so blessed to be in it. 

Pay it Forward.........

Well, I was going to photograph Saraya drawing the Pay it forward winner this afternoon..... and then my camera batteries went flat.  :(  But I assure you we did it all very officially, and the random winner is.....

............ my Mum!!!!!

(photo from my birthday 2 years ago)

Keep your eye on the post, Mum.  There's something special coming your way!   :)

Wordless Wednesday - New curtains for Saraya

Don't forget I'll be drawing the winner of the Pay it forward contest tomorrow (well, Saraya will!).  If you'd like to play along, please leave a comment here.

A Photo shoot with my boys

Will was a little grizzly, but I was still happy with how these turned out.

My cook-up

I sent Stuart and Saraya off with the car this morning, and Elijah and William and I stayed home for the day.  It was quiet and so nice to not have to go anywhere at all!  The days are long when we do this, but I find I get SO much more done then when I do the school runs.  

Elijah was great and kept himself busy playing, had some dvd time too.......... and I had fun in the kitchen and managed to get a fair bit done.  Anyway, Renata asked me what I was cooking today so I thought I'd take the opportunity to share a few recipes.  

Chicken Noodle Soup

Diced chicken breast

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 small piece fresh ginger, finely chopped 

any vegies you like.......... today was broccoli, capsicum, carrot, peas and corn

Chicken stock, salt and pepper

Brown the chicken in a little olive oil.

Add the onion, garlic and ginger and saute until soft.

Add the other vegies and saute a further few minutes.  Cover in chicken stock and bring to a rapid simmer.  Allow to simmer for about 10-15 minutes, add a small bundle of noodles or small pasta shells and cook for another 5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Coconut Muffins

2 cups self-raising flour (I use 1 cup white, 1 cup wholemeal)

1 cup sugar

1 cup coconut

100 grams vegetable oil (I use rice bran oil)

1 cup milk

Large handful of sultanas

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.  Easy!!

Spoon into muffin pans and cook in a 180 degree oven for about 10-12 minutes or until browned and spring back to the touch.

This is a brilliant recipe- a family favourite!  Today I made 2 trays of mini muffins which are a good size for the children.  There was quite a bit of mixture left over.  So I added about 1/4 cup of cocoa and about the same of chocolate chips, popped it in a loaf tin and put it in the oven with the muffins.  This made a yummy coconut/chocolate/sultana loaf.  It's a really quick and versatile recipe.

Honey Oat Bars

1 cup rolled oats

1 cup sultanas

1/2 cup wholemeal self-raising flour

1/2 cup raw sugar

1/2 cup coconut

155g (5oz) butter

1 tablespoon honey

Melt the butter gently over low heat. 

Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl.

When butter is melted, add the honey and melt.

Add butter/honey mixture to bowl and mix well.

Place in a greased square tin and cook in a 175 degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until golden.  Wait until completely cool before cutting into squares.  Yummy!

Today I used dried cranberries instead of sultanas, just for a change.

The good thing about a cook-up is there is plenty to share with friends.   Plus you get days worth of food out of one big cooking and dishes session!  Today I also made a large batch of pasta bolognese as well.  

Remember to leave a comment below in my "Thanks Renata" post, to enter the pay it forward competition.  Friends, near and far, real-life and bloggy, domestic and international, family members, regular commenters and non-commenters......... please leave a comment so I know you are reading!  I mean, um, to enter the draw!  You have until Thursday!  :)

Another birthday weekend!

We've just finished a full, happy weekend.

After picking up my girl and hubby yesterday morning, and discovering how exhausted they were (Saraya had 4 HOURS SLEEP at the camp, from 1am until 5am- I couldn't believe it!!!!!), I decided showers and naps were on the agenda.  Saraya ended up falling asleep at lunchtime and slept for 3 hours, until I woke her at 3pm!  Amazing.  Stu napped for awhile as well. 

My Mum and Ray (who couldn't make it up for the party last week due to Will's chicken pox) arrived soon after she woke, and were with us until this afternoon.  We had such a great time together.

Yesterday was...........

"Happy hour" at 4pm :)

A game of boules in the backyard

Dinner at 6:30pm - Meat and vegetable pie (my 3rd pie attempt; I'm enjoying experimenting and they've all turned out so far!), new potatoes, and salad.

Bed at 8pm for the little ones

A spin around the block in our new car for Mum and I, then a spin through the McDonalds drive-through for Stu and Ray.......... and sundaes back home for us all. :)

"Ironman" for entertainment.......... and a little napping on the side.......

Bed too late to remember when it was, but boy sleep was good.

Today we all headed up to Hervey Bay so Stuart and Ray could enjoy their combined birthday present.  Mum and I sent them up for a 25 minute helicopter flight, something Stu has been dreaming of doing since he was a little boy.

Isn't it a gorgeous little one?

They flew over the bay and out to Fraser Island.  

Mum and the children and I sat at the airport and watched them take off ( a few prayers whispered!), and watched them land again soon after.

This is a picture of Fraser from the air- not one Stu took, but one I found on the net!

I'll try to put one or two on the blog in the next few days...

Elijah was adamant that he really wanted to go up for a flight too.  I talked through it with him and explained that it's something Stu has had to wait for for a long time.  This prompted much discussion, and eventually both children decided they would like to have a flight for their 21st birthdays respectively. :)   This gave us all a laugh!  Nothing like planning ahead!

A picnic by the beach followed.............. ham and cheese breadrolls, and the nicest rockmelon I've had all season.

A walk out along Urangon Pier (nearly 2km all up), and an icecream before saying our goodbyes. I always find it hard saying goodbye to them.  Hopefully we'll be together again in about 4 weeks, providing Stu can afford to take a weekend away in the madness of 4th term!  Only 6 weeks to go until the summer holidays, and loads to achieve in that time.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to a quiet home day tomorrow.  We've all had a fair share of sunshine today, so I'm thinking spending a few hours in the kitchen tomorrow is in order.  No doubt Eljiah will be right there to assist - he really is a champion spoon licker. ;)

Happy Sunday everyone.  I pray your week ahead will be filled with special moments.  I pray that peace will be upon your homes and within your hearts.  

Oh, and a Psalm for today....

"The precepts of the Lord are right, 

       giving joy to the heart. 

       The commands of the Lord are radiant, 

       giving light to the eyes."  Psalm 19:8

Times, they are a-changing.............

From my computer chair I can see an empty little gir's bed in the next room.  Where is my Saraya baby?  At her very first ever sleepover.  My heart is sad!

The sleepover is at her school.  They're calling it "Jungle Camp", and the night includes dinner, dessert, outdoor games, a disco dance, an optional movie, sleep (I hope!)..... then in the morning, an exercise session and pancakes for breakfast!  Will she be exhausted?  Yes!!  Will she have an abslolutely wonderful time?  Yes!!  Was she at all nervous?  No!!  Did I really really want to put her back in the car and bring her home with me?  Yes. 

I guess it's times like these that I realise how quickly the years are fleeting by.  I remember so clearly her birth.  The first time I touched the soft folds of skin on her tiny head.  Her baby fingers clinging to my hand.  The ecstacy of those early days of being her mother.

And now she is 6 years old, and at her first sleepover.

The little boys and I had our "special time"as the sun was setting, just the 3 of us, at the nearby nature reserve.  Dinner was breadrolls. :)  A warm milo at home (with marshmallows of course), a story, a very chatty toddler, and finally, sleep.  

Home feels empty when we're not all together.  I think I'll head to bed too, and dream about all the wonderful, simple, fleeting moments I treasure so much.

Bring on 8am - pick-up time!!!

Thanks Renata!!!

Well, I was fortunate enough to have my name drawn out of Renata's "Pay it forward" hat a couple of weeks ago.  And what arrived in my mailbox yesterday?  My lovely gift!  

Enclosed was a lavender soap, a gardenia scented candle (I love candles, how did you know?), a notebook with an inspiring quote on it, 2 little information brochures from Renata's town, and a mars bar.  Why is the mars bar not pictured?  I er......... well, I misplaced it. ;)  Yum!  Thanks so much Renata, I just love getting things in the mail!

So now it's my turn to "pay it forward".......... if you would like to enter the draw to win a little package from me, just leave a comment on this post.  I'll pop all the names on paper and get Saraya to draw one out of a hat next Thursday, the 30th October.  Good luck!

I took these photos of William yesterday.  It's never to early to start enjoying a good book, I say!  And for him that means brightly coloured pictures, and good sturdy cardboard pages to chew and dribble on!

My husband, the king of the forest.......

You may remember me mentioning that earlier this year I performed in a local community theatre production of "Oklahoma". Well our town is gearing up for next year's musical, "The Wizard of Oz" and Stu and I decided that this time it would be his turn to be involved. I'm finding life so busy with the 3 children, and this musical isn't one I've always dreamed of doing.... so I'm quite happy to oblige Stu the chance to go do a show! (though I know I'll envy him once rehearsal season starts...)

On Saturday (yes, at 8:30am before the birthday party started!) Stu scooted on down to the Theatre in town, and auditioned for the role of the lion. He got a call-back for Sunday afternoon, and later that day the cast was announced. He got the part!!!!

"If I were King of the Foraaaaast......."

...... do you remember that song? He also sings "If I only had the nerve".

Wow. I have to admit I'm really proud of him! It's a big part, and our community theatre puts on fantastic productions. And the theatre happens to be state-of-the-art. Did I mention that I really really love musical theatre?? Woohoo! Next year is going to be fun. :)

"I just want to sit up"!!!!!

If William could talk, I'm sure that's what he would say.  I think his little rocker's days are numbered.  Whenever he's sitting in it, he strains forward, lifting his head and trying to sit upright.  He LOVES to sit between my legs on the rug with us when the children and I are playing..... give him a little people person or even just a plastic 
 spoon to slobber all over, and he's as happy as a pig in mud.

The tricky part is, he can't sit unsupported yet.  Which means that during Will's playtimes, I've been stuck on the floor with him, holding him up!!  Lie him down or put him in the bouncer, and he'll object loudly.  

Anyway................ I think I found a solution to get us through this phase!!

Elijah's littile lounge chair is a perfect nook for William!  Now we're both happy. :)

The harvest that was.....

About 3 weeks ago, my friend Andrew asked me to blog about my garden.  In times gone by, my garden has been a place of plentiful harvest.  I've really enjoyed learning as I go, trying out different vegies and herbs and feeding my family fresh food I've actually grown myself.  Sadly in the last 10 months or so, the garden has been really badly neglected.  We've harvested very little in the way of vegies.... more in the way of a baby I guess. :)

The herbs have kept going strong, as herbs do.  And the lavender.  But that's about it.  Still, Andrew's request encouraged me to get out there and start weeding out those vegie patches.  And I'm pleased to say, I've done it!!  3 patches weeded, soil improved, and seeds sown.  I decided to be frugal and use up all the seeds I already had rather than buying seedlings (tempting as that was).  So we should have a mix of radishes, carrots, and various flowers up in the next few weeks!  It's been such a relief to get under control again.  

Blogger is driving me NUTS!!!  I can't get pictures to sit where I want them, so here they are, all out of order.....................

One of the weeded patches, minus a coriander plant which self-seeded - I couldn't pull it out!

The frangipani tree, with all it's lovely new Spring growth.

This is what my garden tends to do............ that little plant next to the pots is another coriander seedling which popped up on it's own...... the seeds tend to blow across the garden, so I'm always finding surprises!  Just this morning Will and I were walking in the front garden looking at the natives flowers when I noticed a big tomato plant which had popped up out of the compost!  It had 3 ripe tomatoes on it, which I promptly picked and Elijah and I had with our lunch!!  Gotta love permaculture-style gardening. :)

A much younger Elijah holding a basket of plenty.

Ha!!!  This is my VERY overgrown garden during the wet season of early this year.  It was completely overgrown and neglected.  In this photo you can see sunflowers, groundcovers, lots of mint, basil gone to seed, wild tomatoes, my rosemary bush, the lemon tree on the left at the back, a homemade scarecrow, corn along the back fence, and lots and lots of weeds!!

These ones are black and white because they went on our Christmas letter year before last.  Harvesting grape tomatoes and pumpkins. 

The pictured weeded garden, just a few weeks ago, BEFORE I weeded it!  Full of nasturtiams, calendula, and flowering coriander and basil.  All self-seeded.

The gardens a couple of years ago, the way Andrew remembers them.   I'll get there again.  Slowly, slowly, but surely.