deux

A small party for family and especially for cousins and little one.  There was a cracker of a storm but a pocket  of sunshine where we could eat outside with our baked fish, home made potato salad (thanks Babcia) and poached beetroots with thyme and the home made cakes that I stayed up until 2.30 am baking and decorating.  The lolly train was a hit with the kiddos.  For bigger people there was a scrumptuous pear and chocolate cake, made twice and stacked.  I highly recommend this cake.  From the most amazing blog for recipes my darling lemon thyme.  I used almond meal rather than linseed meal and wholemeal spelt flour rather than potato flour. The pear really came through, the cake is not to sweet and the orange chocolate icing really gives the punch to pull it all together.  Yummo!

Not many photos were taken as I am a novice at this party thing, despite my age and I was running a bit.  As I lay in bed before the birthday boy woke up, on early Sunday morning those memories of birthing two years ago were all so intense.  For this day I really wanted to enjoy the moment.  Not feel overwhelmed by the preparations.  Being together as a family is what really mattered.

                         Che thinks everything of his cousins.  He recites their names as he drifts off to sleep.


                                                    We love you, you crazy kook of a boy.

                                                      Happy happy  birthday Che.

up early

Actually I think I have been awake since 4 am.  I have been up pottering around now since 5.  Made a pot of tea (trying not to add sugar now) and had Berrima baked bread toasted and Che has slept into now. 5.55am. I have never managed to do this, since he has been born.

Some chrissy decorations are up.  Now just got to make the birthday cake for this weekend.  My inspiration is from here.  Any tips?  Should I do the packet butter cake thing or make some very healthy concoction like pear and chocolate cake made with spelt flour and rice flour.  Making the cake tomorrow as working today.  And hope to put it together early morning Sunday.

Have a good day everyone.

time

                              Do often find time your friend and your foe.  Best if time is slow I think.  Thanks Sally.

Breakfast here often seems to stretch out for 2 hours.   Up at 5.30am, cuddle and breast feed ( our only one left ) and then the snacking begins.  Trying to get some protein to last the morning.  Having almond meal in our porridge.  A tea cup seems to appeal.

Made borscht from Women's weekly slow cooker recipe book.  I  through caution into the wind and invited Babcia over for an early tea.  This recipe was probably more of the Russian style.  The Polish version has more beetroot and less cabbage and the potatoes are served as a side dish rather than within.  I got lots of great tips and next time I will also add some white beans and more vinegar.  It was pretty yummy with natural yoghurt on top.

                                                                                Oh and of course lots of dill.


Thanking you lovely ladies for your kind words of friendship and encouragement on my last post.  The days go by and being your real self is what matters most.   Sending you all warm and caring thoughts and hope you have the time to day to breath and be.

A new place I like to go and practice my french.  The lights and the words are very calming.  Ledansla.

around here

There is the heady scent of the invasive honeysuckle and the fickle spring weather which means sometimes nudie and then the next day wrapped up in our scarfs and cords.

It has taken some time to adjust being back in the Eastern Metropolis.  The days go quickly and there just has not been time to come and post here.  Although I have been around to visit you all most days, but have not been up to the commitment of late.

I do cherish the connections I have made here.  Your spaces really light up my day and forge me into being a functional person and not so introspective.

I do find my work isolating even though I am with people everyday.  There are people I would really like to befriend and make play dates with their children but I have no other way of connecting outside of work and wonder if it is inappropriate to initiate a social connection.

It has just been the timing that has not matched well in making opportunities to be more connected with others.

How do you find it?  Being connected with the local.  There are many more ways I know that I need to seek out.  And more time.

Our family is well. Our Danny boy back lab is still wagging his tail, now eating his dinner and loving his daily walk, despite the cancer diagnosis.  WE WILL BE BASKET CASES WHEN HE IS NO LONGER WITH US.  But until then we love and cuddle him every day.

Chester our Cavoodle had the most dreadful haircut from the Broken Hill RSPCA.  It was almost shameful to take him out.  He looked like a pea head on a sausage.  I think I should learn  how to clip myself.

Marty travels 3 hours one way on the train for his work in the city.  We do love it here but we really have been missing our old friends on the coast.  Hence a bit too much time on realestate.com .

We both have been asked to return to work in BH.

So , yes, we are a bit all over the place.

One week now for a birthday for an almost two year old who can count to four, knows his primary colours and  his very frequent phrase is " go away Mama" and then has a melt down if I do.

I have done no party preparations or even thought about Christmas.  This is my project for the weekend.

Thanks for reading if you have come  this far.

Much love

Jill

xxx

just something a little happy

home sweet home

And how sweet it is!  Wearied travellers arriving home to a dusted house and lawn all mowed, by sweet family and friends.  To sleep in one's own bed.  Soft grass underfoot.  Forgotten toys making a little boy so full of joy.  Everything is so green.  I feel so comforted by the little things that make up our home.

To say I am weary, well.  Do you have that feeling lying in bed where you feel your body does not exist? I certainly need to start doing some exercise to have some mind-body connection again.

This week has found me dozing at every opportunity.  A rental inspection on Tuesday made us unpack quickly though.  It seems like hundreds of loads of washing has been done and line drying has been snuck in between spring rain.  How sultry has this weather been?

An unfortunate moment occurred on our first weekend here.  Lightly dropping into a garage sale around the corner, within a few seconds of not looking poor Che was attacked by a neighbours Jack Russel and bitten many times over the face,  especially around his left eye.  Mainly puncture wounds and scratches.  He is alright now.  At these times I tend to pull in close and not lash out.  No reports made.  Owners feel guilty enough.

Already, there are plans being put to tempt us on more adventures.  But breathing in the peace and solace of our abode.

Much love
Jill

the boy

I know this is my second post today but I have been wanting to document how our baby has turned into a little boy.  There has been an awakening of his consciousness.  Listening to the meaning of what is being said and chatting it back to us.  He is such a clown and loves making us laugh.  Cheeky.  I am relieved.  I think the baby daze of motherhood I was often scared.  Scared of him.  Have you ever felt that way?

I love doing sloppy kisses  all over his squishy cheeks.

I think he is going to be fast runner, like his Mummy and Daddy.

x
J

ps I am not responsible for how he is dressed now days  Trackie - dack buddies they are.

No shame.

My Broken Hill Bloggy Buddy Bunting

A lovely crafty memory I have of my time here in BH is taking part in the bunting swap, organised by the most talented Rach from Squiggly Rainbow.  I was thinking that all the different creations may not necessarily go together, but once all sewn up with red bias binding, I think it really is a testimony to all the collective goodness that is the blogging community.  I don't think my time here would not have passed so happily without you out there.

Our last few days here are what you can imagine.  So apologies for now for not coming by your place at the moment.  Likely to see you back when I am far East of here.

x Jill

my creative space

I have been spying lovely garlands and necklaces around blogland and have been learning some different hooky ways late at night.  Consistency with tension and finishing off are my stumbling blocks.  Little bit like life really.  Wouldn't it be great to have a little crochet buddy to sit down and learn properly.

   Little bunting pieces that I think I will gift to my sister.  She has had a rough time of late.  We will stay a few days in Leura on the way home to be with her.  Think I might cry  when I see her.

Off to explore other creative peeps here.

p.s sorry I was meaning to include the star pattern was adapted from Panda "Summer Crochet" pattern book.  They had it made into a thong  (Aussie version that is). Mmm maybe  not for me.  Made with Panda 4ply cotton.  The bunting is simply made using double crochet (UK) and decreasing the stitch after each row.  Easy peasy.  The flower pattern were found at amazing Lucy's blog, Attic 24.

remote living

We leave Broken Hill in 12 days.  Our minds are preoccupied with finishing off work, projects and reflecting on our time away.  The quandary for me is the life that I have dedicated as a professional women and the desire to have a nourishing home life.  I have  a lot of skill and knowledge to offer.  People depend on me.

I have worked remote before and really loved it.  I lived on an Island, in another culture.  I still have waves of thought about doing this again.  Then the pull of being part of a community, having one's own abode and putting down roots tugs at me.

                             Next year the door is open.  Really anything could be on the agenda.

What are your plans for the next year or so?  Maybe too big a question?.

Much love and peace to you
x

desert rose

The roses have been in full bloom here in Broken Hill for a few weeks now.  Most gardens that are  not overgrown with salt bush seem to have a few bushes adorning their entrance.  Their scent is easily caught on your afternoon walk.  They seem to thrive in this semi-arid climate.

Thank you for all the tips on my sewing dilemma in my previous post.  I been making some design changes in my head.  I really have been wanting to create something sweet for my early morning breakfast.  I think every woman needs a  cheery start to her day.  I may wait to finish this project for when I return to my own dining table.  To pull the whole thing together.

A bit of sad news yesterday.  Our dear Dan the dog has been confirmed to have bladder cancer.  So it is only a matter of time.  But we don't really know how long.  I know you cannot compare apples with oranges, but it is the same type of cancer that my best friend succumbed to earlier this year.  Endeavouring to make his last days the happiest.

Much love and peace to you
Jill
xxx

Could I ask some sewing advice?

Our time in Broken Hill is drawing near.  Three months ago I was having private panic attacks about the whole move, the pack up and drive, starting a new job in a town we did not know so far away, working full time, being away from my son during the day, Martin doing the stay at home Daddy thing.  Yadda yadda  yadda.

We have made it work.  This adventure has given me confidence.  Dealing with change. Making the most of where you are.  Concentrating on the positive.  Looking underneath the surface of things.   Our relationship has grown stronger and the difference in Che is astounding.  I actually do feel more confident in my parenting and feel like I am stepping out of an intense zone of babydom.  As bitter-sweet as that is.

Crafting is how I have been spending most of my spare time here.  Far away from other distractions.  There are quite a few projects that I aim to finish before we leave.  For one,  I would like to ask the sewing fraternity out there some advice.  I found a damask table cloth at the Anglicare oppie for  $2 and some assorted doilies for $10 bucks.  My idea was to sew the doilies onto the top  of the tablecloth.  There are linen- embroided ones with a crochet trim and then fully crochets one as well.  Being a complete sewing novice I am guessing that for the cotton ones it may be best to applique them on first with some sort of bonding interface.  Am I right ?  Then I thought I could just hand stitich the crochet ones on?  I also had ideas about doing some running stitch sweet words in some places.  The tablecloth had no trim, so I found a sweet dolie style trim at the local haberdashery and machine stitched it around the edge.

What do you think ?  Will it work?  What sort of interface would you recommend?  Or should I just hand sew them all on?

I so love travelling around the world visiting all these amazing creative crafty peeps.