Today

I had a terrible night sleep.

It all started with a hair appointment for the kids after school.

Our days seem to always be like this lately.

Our hairdresser was running late, so we went for a walk. By the time we were done with the haircuts, my Mum had arrived for work at her cafe (next door to the hairdresser) It was just after 4pm so we thought we would stop in for a coffee. But Mum was too busy for that, so we waited. The kids ate a piece of baklava, a chocolate milkshake, some cheese and bikkies and some chocolate. Eventually, Mum sat down with me for a quick coffee. We ended up arriving home at 6pm. This is the time we are usually eating our dinner. Last night I was organised with a simple meal: meat patties and salad, pre-made and ready just to fry in the pan. But no one was hungry. We didn't eat until 7:30, which meant the kids didn't get to bed until almost 9.

I don't like days like this. 

I sat flicking through a new library book for about 15 minutes until I knew everyone was fast asleep, I could barely keep my eyes open. I hate waking up to a messy kitchen, so I soon got to work in there. Once done, I turned on the TV, to see the last 5 minutes of 'Kirsties Vintage Home' and I should have turned it off right then. I was soon watching some stupid movie I would never normally watch, I was soon overtired. I watched the movie to the end and then, with energy not usually seen at 11:30 at night, I started folding. I sorted the washing for today and swept all of the floors. I took a pile of tiny post it notes off of my fridge and compiled it into a new and precise list of things of things to do today. I went for a shower at about 1am. At 1.45am I was still awake and got up to get a drink. At 2.30am, my daughter came in to go to my toilet and crawled into bed next to me. Who was I to fight this, I just wanted to sleep. At 3.15am my son wanted his hot water bottle refilled, he told me he was freezing. Then some time before the sun rose I heard his little voice again.

"Can I go on the computer?" "No"

A little later....

"Do we have any butter menthol's?" "No"

And as the sun was starting to peek through the blinds....

" Mum, can I watch TV?" "Whatever"

Finally some sleep, for maybe an hour and then another little voice. This time my daughter. 

"Good Morning Mummy, I'm here behind you in bed. I was dreaming that I was licking sugar (yawn) I was dreaming I was licking sugar off of real fairy wings. She was flying around our christmas tree. You and Daddy were licking it too."

And with that sentence, all of my anger at lack of sleep simply disappeared.

Today is a public holiday in our local area. I am grateful. Nothing to do, nowhere to be. Bliss. Yes, there is a long list of odd jobs made in the dead of night, but nothing pressing. Today, things will get done when they get done.

Right now, one load of washing is already hanging on the line and another one is in the machine. The kids have served themselves yesterday's cold leftover pancakes for breakfast and my son is making an invention: a spinning weed chopper!?

I'm still in my pajama's and am about to make myself a much needed coffee. Today, there will be baking, I'm sure of it. I might even get a chance to catch up on some blogs or call a friend for a long chat. There will definitely be a 'nana nap' this afternoon.

How about you, what are your plans for today?

These photos are totally unrelated to this post - taken about a month ago when we went out. I asked the kids to pose for a nice photo, you know how that goes!

Running

I can't believe how much the last couple of weeks have flown by.

Our current busy schedule has left little time to stop by in this space. In fact, most days the computer has stayed off. Some days for 3 or 4 days at a time, if that is to be believed!

I find myself running, from 6:00 in the morning until I fall into the proverbial heap, usually around 9 or 10 at night. I am running to keep our home operating smoothly and my children happy. Right now my days are being spent elsewhere. But this is what is right for right now. It's OK, it won't be forever, hopefully soon I can make my way back to baking and crafting.

My camera has sat, neglected on the shelf. Today, I leave you with some random photos, a few words and no promises. I will be here when I can.

Thank-you to all who are still popping by for a visit :)

What we have been up too

Well it seems that things are finally sorted out here with our computer. Fingers crossed.

Hooray!

So what have we been doing with ourselves over the last month, you ask?

• The camellias have bloomed in the garden, making me catch my breath every morning when I open the curtains.

• We received free tickets to a magic show. It was a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Afterwards we sat in the sun in the almost deserted main street, eating old fashioned ice-creams - a magnum, a drumstick and a have-a-heart. We don't do that much.

• I have cleaned, culled and tidied 16 cupboards and drawers, but can you believe it? There is still more to do!

• We have had 4 dentist visits and 7 doctors visits... and guess what? There will be more of that too.

• I have made my own laundry detergent. I've had the ingredients in the cupboard... waiting... for nearly 6 months. I love it. I am converted for so many reasons.

• Instead of calling my daughter by her name, I have started calling her 'my memory'. For example:

"Where's my memory? Oh there you are. What was the name of that person/show/place.....? who was that person who said/did/went...?"

She remembers everything, while I am either rather sleep deprived or showing my age, or both.

• This brings me to bedtime. I haven't been to bed before midnight in over a month. I am not a late night person and our household wakes with the sun regardless of what time I went to bed. I am trying to shift this disagreeable sleep pattern. It does not make for a very happy or productive Mummy.

• Because of the said waking hours I have been drinking lots (lots) of homemade cappuccinos. I usually only drink coffee at home on a Sunday morning. The rest of the time I can be found drinking way too many cups of tea. But cappuccinos have been getting me through lately, sprinkled with cinnamon instead of cocoa, the way my Mum and I drank them in Turkey almost 20 years ago.

• I have washed and repacked all of my children's saved baby clothes. It was a nice trip down memory lane.

• The children marched with their school on ANZAC day. We almost passed out with heat stroke and ate way too many ANZAC bikkies.

• Our printer broke down, the vacuum cleaner died and the toaster caught on fire (just a tiny spark - don't worry)

• We have had 4 visits from the tooth fairy.

• I have halved the contents of my wardrobe and I know I can half it again. It's all about mindset. It feels good.

• I have been spending way to much time on Pinterest. I keep telling myself that it is just another way of organising my life. And it is. Instead of things filling up computer space or having piles of paper and lists laying around, I have been pinning things instead. But it is true, that every now and again, I go off on a little tangent. It is a fun place to be.

• The kids ran their cross country.

• I have completely lost count of how many boxes I have taken to the op shop, or brought home from the op shop! I think it's pretty much an even swap so far. I'm not sure if that is what you would call good de-cluttering, or not. Out with the old and in with the new, that's what I say.

• I have finally found an inner strength at the library. Right now I have only 3 books out from the library. Yes! 3! And 3 dvd's. The norm is to have maxed my library card with 30 books, dvd's, cd's, children's books and magazines. And then, if there is no more room on my card I use the kids cards - always. Usually, nothing gets read. At best I might flick through the cooking and homemaking books, but any serious reading books are returned with only the first chapter read! This was not ideal. I have turned a corner, and I am excited.

I have also been thinking a lot about how I want to live my life, right now and in the future. Changing my mindset, taking a step back and re-evaluating things.

Life keeps moving at a very fast pace. I am trying to keep up with it. How about you?

A bit of a breakdown

I have been avoiding my computer.

I've been having MAJOR computer problems for weeks now. Read: tearing my hair out! Technology can be great - but that's only when it is working.

This will be a quieter week, hopefully with a little more time on my hands to sort out these computer problems once and for all.



Here are some books that I got from a local church fete on the weekend. $2.65 the lot!

 .... my favourite, favourite.





Oh dear books, how I love you so. Such a reliable source of information. Always there when I need you.

Have you bought any good thrifted books lately? Or maybe your reading a new book?

For any of my family and friends who may have e-mailed me in the last few weeks, I am still without e-mail. I am not ignoring you, promise.

Feeling poorly

I guess that it was inevitable, that I too, would get sick.

A vomiting bug had spread through almost everyone we knew and I was the last person to get it.

We had had happy plans for our two weeks of school holidays: simple days of play dates, baking, sewing, crafting, beach walks and bike rides. But instead we've spent the last 10 days housebound. All of us taking our turn lying on the lounge feeling miserable, sleeping away days and not eating.

Today the little monkey's returned to school, better, not contagious, perhaps a little tired. I have spent the day trying to return order to our home. Clearing our family room of piles of blankets, pillows, clothes, soft toys, barbie's and lego. But it is a slow start back to 'normal'. I've just had to make myself a cup of coffee to be able to make it through to dinner time. Because in reality, right now, I would love to trade places with the girl in the picture above.

I believe some people are still on school holidays and others are just starting. Stay well and enjoy.

Crepe myrtle love

This morning I have thrown out the, almost bear branches of this crepe myrtle that has been brightening my home all week.

I love crepe myrtle trees. Here in Queensland there are not many trees that change with the seasons. The crepe myrtle is a tree that looks beautiful anytime of year. Yesterday, as I drove into town I saw that the trees too, had now lost their bright lolly coloured blooms and their leaves were starting to turn and fall.

Autumn is my one of my favourite times of year, although I have mostly lived here in Queensland, without a true Autumn, my memories of living in other parts of the world are strong. How I would love to rug up and venture out for a long walk under the branches of ancient, golden trees. I'd love to russell and crush my way over layers of fallen leaves. I'd love to sit on a park bench with my children and drink hot chocolate from a thermos.

But you have to take what you can get. Right now, I am glad that the crepe myrtle is getting ready to show it's Autumn colours.

Do you have a favourite tree? Do you like Autumn or do you prefer another time of year?

Pretty little bunting

While poking around in the craft basket in the back room of my favourite op shop last Monday, I found a little plastic bag of goodies. While some people might think that this was just a pile of tiny practice squares, good for nothing, I saw bunting!

I quickly snapped up the $2.00 bag, excited, knowing exactly how good this would look with our Easter decorations.

The bunting finally got hung on the evening before Good Friday. On Tuesday of last week I drove half an hour to a shop, that I was sure sold floral liberty bias binding. But when I got there, I was wrong. Instead I chose a large polka dot in a deep coral. It looked great with the colours of the little crochet squares in the shop, but the next day when I started sewing it up, the colour was just too dark. Once hung, all you would have noticed would have been the coral strip of the bunting top and the soft pastel colours would have just disappeared. So after school pick up, I dragged the kids to Lincraft, another half hour trip. I deliberated between a soft grey and peach for over 10 minutes. I am not a 'peach' girl. But the grey was just wrong.

On Thursday afternoon I finally sat down and sewed up the tiny bunting. More than once I thought that I should have got the wider bias binding, as sewing 5x5 cm uneven crochet wool and cotton squares was just a tad fiddly to say the least!

But in the end, it was perfect, it was exactly how I imagined it would look.

Have you given any thrifted crafts finds a new life lately?