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.

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.

a simple tuesday

Today was like any other Tuesday.  You are already in my bed  when Dada leaves the house to catch the early morning train.  You are kicking and thrashing around, head butting me and keen to get going with the day.  You swivel your butt around so you go down legs first and then patter off into the house to greet the doggies good morning. You bring numerous objects to the bedside to encourage me to rise.  I moan a bit and roll over,  sit up and then  let the light in.  Our day begins.

I turn on Radio National, open up all the blinds, change your nappy, put on the kettle and peel you a banana.  I start the daily ritual of porridge, pot of tea, some peanut butter toast  and trying to distract you with your ongoing cheeky requests for "more booby?"  Books , books, books.  Then into the cupboards again.  Back to books and then on to brmm, brmms.

Already the house is half trashed as we sit down to our oats.  You are still really full on at the table.  Constant requests for food from my bowl, wanting my spoon instead, more milk.  It is hard keeping you on the job.  And yes food still goes everywhere.  You are gradually learning to wait and have a little patience. 

Then comes the big clean up.

I can now leave you playing so I can have a shower by myself.  Something to really savour.  I get myself ready quickly and then we decide what you will be wearing. But getting you pinned down and changed I understand the term 'baby wrangling'.  You have started protesting on certain clothes, a big scream tells me not this one today.

When you are dressed the dogs start getting excited.  They run back and forth with some mirth and you are hankering to get out the door.  I double check we have everything.  Today we needed lots of tissues as well as your nose is running like a tap.  Off we go, along the creek, trying to find the sunny spots as the icy wind is piercing.  You never want to stay in the pram.  So once across the road and into the safety of the park, you are released from your shackles and off you march.  Collecting sticks of all sizes for me to store on top of the stroller.  You wave hello to all passers by.  The excitement on your face when you see older boys wizz past on their scotters has me thinking of years to come, when that will be you my spunky boy.

After an hour we are home.  Playing outside.  I usually boil some eggs for a snack and also prepare an early lunch for you.  I check emails, blogs, do some swift comments, think about dinner and make some small preparations for. Unload the washing maching and dishwasher.  You help me hang the clothes on the line.  You are so  strong wanting to carry the basket on your own.  Before I know it you are eating again, food is  going everywhere,  you are getting whingy and asking for Booby now. A much treasured small breastfeed.  You really snuggle in, playing with my hair and  my shirt. Off to bed now, a book and then to  your midday sleep.

Finally I can have my daily cup of coffee.  I tune into the radio again.  Today I needed then to do some packing of boxes for our trip in one week.  Then I started on dinner.  Beef and vegetable casserole.  I  tell myself I really deserve this last piece of the chocolate cake I made on the weekend.  I explore new camera options on the net and check out a few more blog updates.  Phone calls and bills made.

You stir at 3pm.  We read  a book on dinosuars.  We play with building blocks.  You turned 19 months yesterday.  Your language ability is exploding.  Perhaps 5 new words every day.  You ask me "what's that?" constantly. You have started saying little sentences.  We gather up your dear softies and we cuddle on the lounge.  We listen to some of your music.  You are a crazy dancer.  Then you happily play alone for sometime as I finish more chores.

At 5pm the door bell rings.  Dogs and you run to the front door.  Invariably you are bowled over by Dan.

It is amazing how this day has just gone.  It was completely occupied by simple domestic chores, the essential dog walk and your sleep and your joyous play.


Today is the last Tuesday that we will have time like this together, just you me and the dogs for a wee little while.  I love you very much sweet Che.  I can't wait to have these simple Tuesdays again.  Only  3 and a bit more months my little man.

Maybe I will find this harder than you.  Dada will be there with you.  It will be me hurrying home to greet your shiny face at the door.

being comfy

I worked this morning, but it was very quiet at the surgery.  The family are doing a day trip without me.  After closing the doors, I wondered into the local market, had yummy samosa and chai tea,  sat idle and did some  people watching.  It was icy cold but there was blue sky and out of the wind the sun tickled me around the edges.  I love watching families meet and look happy in their catching up.  There were lots of little babies bundled onto mother's chests with toddlers out front in their stroller.  Adventurous preschoolers running a muck.  Across the road at St Judes Church there were well dressed guests rolling out of the ailses and then a very beautiful bride and groom receiving sweet kisses all round.

I scurried home facing the headwind and started cleaning up the house.  Making chicken and vegie soup and chocolate cake. I am slowly regaining my blojo.  Feeling more positive again.

In two weeks we are drivng 1200 km to Broken Hill.  I am doing a locum in Indigenous Child Health and hoping to contirbute to the Healthy Start programme.  As time draws closer, getting those predicted jitters and wondering why am I upheaving my family to somewhere unknown when we are all comfy here?


My mother would often say I always choose the hard way to do things.

I have this obsession with making the home welcoming when we do return.  Organizing the home and making it pretty and cosy. A place where one could just walk in and start baking, sleeping and relaxing.  Maybe I am focussing too much on this?  Some friends are coming to stay while we are away.  I hope they like this space.

It is without doubt going to be a challenge with our little man.  Someone who thrives on knowing what is coming next and having a gentle rhythm to his day.  Even more will be the heartache in having to leave him every day for work.  He will be with his Dada and the dogs, so hopefully we can put some familar structure and they can get into a good routine but still be able to explore their new surrounds with fun and laughter.

Hope your weekend is filled with love and peace.


xxx

thriftiness

Linking in with the newly found gorgeous Sophie from Her Library Adventures for Flea Market Finds.


We desperately needed a tea cosy and little blue tea cup and saucer just matches so nicely.

Cute lime bread bin, fowler bowl and red saucepan to help make scrumby muffins.


Hope everyone is warm and dry and all little ones are tucked up into bed.

xxx

guess who is coming to dinner?

I received Jamie's 30 minute meals as a little pressie.  Last night I tried to put a page to the test.  The caulifower macaroni, chicory salad with insane basil and anchovy dressing and stewed peaches with vanilla ice cream.  I was doing well until I realised at 5pm after waking from a glorious afternoon kip ( we still have 4am starts with our little man) that  in fact we did not have all the ingredients.  Quick dash to Coles.  Back at 5.30 pm.  Used  a packet italian salad with radicchio instead and had pears instead of peaches.  Well in my small kitchen with hardly any bench space and not owning a food processor, it took me an hour.  But can I say the caulifower macaroni was a big hit, little man loved it and yes the basil anchovie dressing is deliciously insane.  Little man pulled a few faces with this one though.

Have you tried the 30 minute meal test?  What do think of Jamie?

I would be pretty proud if he were my son.

Anyway conversation around the dinner table was quick as  a little someone  becomes bored quickly and is still prone to a bit of food throwing if we get our timing wrong.  But a topic keeps coming up.  If you could invite anybody in the world to a dinner party , who would you ask?

Here is my list:

Jamie (he can help with the cooking)

Mick Jagger

Jim Jarmusch

Germaine Greer

The Dalai Lama

Micheal Nyman (composer for The piano).

Salmon Rushdie

Aung san suu kyi (hopefully free to do so)

I think conversation would be pretty interesting.  Now a few more come to mind but a dinner part for 8 guests would probably be my limit.


Big question really, but who would you like to invite?

today i'm loving

   

    These beautiful Autumn days that bring so much joy, colour and comfort.

    Time to think about our food and menu plan.  Today using left over bbq lamb from yesterday that was still pink in the middle for one of my favourite lamb curries.  Indian food is one of my passions.  I adore mixing the spices, grinding them and exploring the different spices from different regions.  Recently I discovered that  each region has its own blend of garam masala.  We have introduced spice into our little man's meals since early on.  A pinch of cumin, coriander, nutmeg and now he really loves a bit of zing.  I did accidentally once put sweet chilli sauce on his sausages instead of tomato sauce from a bottle.  The faced he pulled was pretty impressive.  I have been to India twice.  Once on my own and then again for a wedding.  A truly amazing place.

   Trying to feel more graceful and gain some ease of movement by doing a daily practice of yoga and meditation.  Many years ago I had an altercation with a train.  Its a long story but I feel asleep whilst driving, my car leapt off the road onto the railway tracks in front of  a train.  Remarkably I only sustained a broken nose and a whiplash type injury to my neck.  Neck pain is now an constant irritation.  With the sleep deprivation and  breastfeeding the tension has been increasing.  Now I haven't been able to sleep because of this ache.    I have been making some time before going to bed to do some simple asanas and a few moments sitting on the meditation cushion, having a big sigh and feeling the emotional release.

  A  lovely package arrived today with a courier.  Thank you so much Posie.

  Hope you have a lovely week and once again thank you for stopping by..

our weekend shared with friends