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.

our week

Howdy.  How is everyone?  We have had a week of  a  few milestones.  I actually forgot that Che was 18 months last Saturday.  We are climbing everything, mimicking eveything Dada does, dancing, putting some words together ("get down")  and loves saying "hello" to all that he meets.  We are eating more but still wanting to breast feed, like all the time.  I only just feel like I am keeping up.

Dada had his own birthday and we had a date out for dinner for the first time in 18 months. Babcia kindly looked after the little man and we dined on Japanese food.  It felt so strange to part of the world again.  Looking around at all the other diners.  Feeling like I have been on some other planet.  By 9pm I was stuffed and ready for bed. 

Some inspiring books to read  for planning our new home.

                             Che's beach rocks.

We had a country drive today to Exeter.  There was a family gathering for Marty's father's 90th birthday.  Brunch at the warm and inviting General Store.  Having cousins play and laugh together is so heart warming.

We have a month until we head off to Broken Hill.  My goodness I need to get my act together.  I have a list of cupboards to sorted out and cleaned, op shop runs, craft projects to be completed, thank you packages
to be dispatched, many forms to be filled out, authorites to be notified, resigning of rental lease.

I just wanted to let people know who read here that I am seriously thinking of ending my blogging journey.  I so want to keep visiting all the amazing clever, creative people who I have enjoyed so much and want to thank those special people who have left their sweet words or hand of friendship in becoming a follower.  It is a connection that has changed me forever.

It is a complicated thing, but it is just a gut feeling and I often have to run with this.

28 days of gratitude - day 2 - my life

I have made a lot of mistakes but am ever so grateful that I am here now.  Taking things day by day.   I think I am a bit of a late bloomer, in many ways.  Its funny I feel a sense of equanimity now.  There is always two sides to the story.

I worked this morning and then had a surprise lunch date at Craigeburn, Peppers Resort for my birthday.  Our good friend Maren looked after bub for a few hours.  We have not had a date like this since a few days before his birth.

Maybe I am only half way through?  The possibilities are enormous.

A late storm came through and washed away the intensity of ourselves.  A vast storm is brewing and threatening our northern friends.  I am  grateful to be safe.  Baby now softly sleeping. 

Just sneaked in this post before midnight.


nb. dress from op shop $6.  purchased when heavily pregnant.  can now only just do up the zipper.

birthday boy, beach boy, last summer of baby boy

Happy birthday to our little man.  We had a small gathering of some groovy people we have only just met  from playgroup.  The kiddies were of different ages but it seemed to work well.  Our new friends made the day special.  Thanks heaps. xxx

The next day busy packing to go on our little beach holidy that we planned months ago.  In hindsight maybe trying to do too much at this normally hectic time of the year.  Exam done and dusted.  Think may have got through but I will not find out until mid January.

We rented a dog friendly cottage in Currarong beach on the south coast of NSW.  It lies on Jervis bay.  This old fibro shack was built in the 1930's.  Its was a tiny one bedroom beach hut with views directly onto the water.  Pretty cute don't you think?

 

We were lucky with the weather. Our little man spent the days playing in the rockpools and sorting through the shells, seaweed, anemones and flotsam and jetsam and digging many sand holes to match Dannyboy.

I took the plunge with a new swim suit into the water.  It was pretty cold.  It took my breath away.  The doggies had a pretty good time too.  I think they miss living by the water.

 

5 days with no computer, emails, TV.  I had plans of starting a novel but ended up taking some time to really just sit and be, and gaze onto the water.  We ate very simply steak, fish cooked on the BBQ.  I sat breast feeding thinking how next Summer might be quite different.  Our little one will be much bigger, I may not be feeding him anymore, he will be running not crawling and will not be a handy little bundle in my arms.