my new favourite jeans

look what i accidently got from the wallaroo opp shop this morning, benny jeans!!! for some reason i spotted these jeans and fell in love with them even though its almost summer (they have realy cool buttons!) i didnt even try them on (you dont wana know why, lets just say that it was washing day) so when i got to the beach and tried them on i was so pleasantly suprised to find that they were a PERFECT fit and had my man beautifuls name in them. oh boy was i happy!

so i cristened them in the water. while wearing a dress that i got also .dont worry, i wasnt trying to make a fassion statement in my dress and jeans combo, just desperately had to wear them both 'right now' because they were new (to me)

here they are dripping away and looking pleased to be my new faves

and here is my dress that makes me feel like twirling

ive had such a fantastic day off work, one that just makes me breathe deep and smile

happy and sad

its officially 3 and a half weeks until i finish work. after this i will be living in my new home and have time off while i set up for day care in Wakefield. i haven't had much time off since last Christmas so im really excited and sooo excited about setting up my new house, living with benny.

im really getting impatient but also feeling like I'm not making the most of my time left here. I'm going to miss these kids here so incredibly much and i doubt ill see them very much. the saddest thing for me is that i know if i see them when their a little older they probably wont remember me. I've spent so much time with them, they are such a big part of my life, they are all so special to me. there not work for me they are honestly like family. how could i play such a big part of raising them and not get this attached? its different when one or two leave to start school or move, i don't think about it so much and just hope i see them around, but all of them at once is so hard for me.

i guess this is another reason why I'm so eager for the next few weeks to pass by. in a way i want work to be over so i don't have to spend each day with them knowing that their aren't many left. i look forward to meeting my new kids and starting again so i don't have to think of how heartbreaking it is to leave. I've been struggling a bit this week, not wanting to have them because it hurts.

but I've been trying my best to have fun, we put up the Christmas tree with mum today. and they love love love the chicks (there are 5 now, their so cute!) we even had a few little holds

this is what I've been up to in the garden this week. this used to be the bins spot, a huge waste of shade now that the weathers getting warmer. we've been shifting all my pots over to be in a cooler spot. their looking much happier already. and i can see just how many plants i have ready for our home. i cant wait to put them in the ground

the last few months Ive been growing lots of things from seed rather than getting seedlings. prior to this id always been too impatient but I'm really enjoying it. i love checking on them daily and watching them slowly emerge from the soil. i love that they teach me to be patient.

i feel like i get so much more for my money, not because i get more plants for cheaper, but because i spend more time on them which means more relaxing time. i get to see and enjoy and learn about their entire life cycle. as i nurture the seeds they nurture my soul.

and here are a few of the chickies. there are now 1 yellow, 2 white, 2 black. any name ideas?

we have babies!!!!

so, i went out half asleep this morning to feed the chooks. while they eat is gennerally the only time to collect extra eggs without a crazy little lady trying to swipe my arm off, so i went and collected 5 beautiful eggs. and thought to myself oh no, one of the eggs is broken, i guess thats one less chicken (yes embarassingly i realy did think that in my just-woke-up state).
rubbed my eyes and noticed this beautiful gal/guy nearby!

isnt s/he just the cutest?:)

what im loving right now...

1) a big sweet, extra juicy pear

2) four silently sleeping little girls (who are just as sweet but seemed to be soooo noisy this morning!)

3)memories of a fabulous weekend of visiting, picnicking, barbecuing, opp shopping, knitting, chatting, laughing, with family. we went to adelaide to see my oma, opa and aunty helena who have just got back from holidaying in holland (lucky them!) and managed to see almost everyone (levin and family, you are at the top of our visiting list for next time. we were hoping to come over sunday after tea to say hello and see your cool pin wheel quilt but unfortunately ran outa time)

4)and of course the start of christmas crafting with the little gals. pics to come

we love it!!!!!

the house is absolutely perfect, we are so in love with it! we didnt see the owner, just had the key so i was unable to ask if i could take pics but i will show it of when were in it.
i so cant wait to move in, were going to move in within the next month, perhaps in two weeks or so.
i already have it all planned out where everything will go, the kitchen overlooks the 'garden' (lack of at the moment, but wait till i get there, that will change!)
there are cute blue and white tiles in the laundry(the first thing i noticed, they are so pretty i will almost want to do washing just to hang out in there. almost...) it is all very new and neat. best of all its only $160 a week because the owners are good friends with bennys parents

so in cellebration we planted lots of seeds in trays yesterday so by the time we get there they will almost be ready to go in the garden. lots of poppys, callifornian poppies and marigolds to brighten our days and veggies to get a veggie patch started (the back yard is HUGE! so i have plenty of space for the chooks to have a yard and as much veggie patch as i like!) i am so incredibly thankfull today!!!!!!

my happy place

the garden is my absolute happy place. I've been spending too much time inside and starting to feel a little stressed so yesterday afternoon i went into the garden... and honestly would have stayed there forever if the sun didn't disappear. the veggie patch was looking a little unloved so i swept the paths, pruned away dead leaves, discovered many caterpillars munching on leaves (the chickens got a tasty treat). i feel so relaxed in the garden, everything is slow and has a soothing rhythm.

i dug up potatoes, gathered basil for pesto, lettuce, nasturtium leaves, garlic chives and beetroot for salad and we made a yummy little tea and ate it outside

this morning i got up and just felt so fantastic. i need to spend more time in the garden. just being.

where is your happy place?

looking forward to tonight, 5.00 we go see the house, fingers crossed it is just perfect for us, i cant wait to check it out! and then we are going swimming, i bet the water will be so warm after the last two days!

weekend knitting

while i was knitting the ben was doing this... (putting spare sock knitting needles through his earing holes. strange man but i love him:)

i finished knitting my pair of socks

and then an arm band as requested for benny. hes a bit in love with the softness of bamboo yarn. me too

hope you had a great weekend xo

we found a house!!!!!!!!!!

i am so relieved, we have a house that will definately be ours if we want it, thanks to one of bennys mums friends. they are doing a few things to it (including putting in a new lawn, yippe!) and it will be ready for us mid december, which is perfect timing for us.

we had just started realy getting into the idea of buying as nothing quite what we wanted was up for rent so we are still going to keep looking into buying, but have this as a back up plan. its soooo comforting to now have a back up plan. its such a weight off my shoulders. not that i was too worried, but i just smile all over now that i know we have a back up plan.

we are going to have a look inside on wednesday night, fingers crossed we love the inside as much as the outside xx(they are my crossed fingers) ill ask if i can take and share pics.

until then, here are some pics of what will be in our house, i got some great garage sale finds-$5.00cupboard (i know, the handles must go!, $50 pine table and chairs, and because i just love them, had to share th funky draw liners, love love love them!

thankyou!

thankyou so much levin for introducing me to mixtape magazine, i love it so much, its green and crafty and what more could i possibly want in a 'zine'! also, one of the first things i found in one of them was an add for made it, which is like etsy but in australia!!!!! a while back i set up a shop on etsy but with the converting to american dollars and overseas postage it was all to intimidating so sadly i gave up. i looked for something similar in australia but couldnt find anything. now that ive found it im setting up a store to sell little bits and pieces made of natural materials, i plan to make hemp tea towels with binding made of funky quilting fabric, natural toys, things knitted with natural fibers (i have bamboo, cotton and soy to try out) and who knows what else

today i was making some little birds for my tree and i decided to make a few for the shop asweal. but that would mean parting with them and their so darn cute! i think perhaps id better whip up a few more:)

and a close up of my favourite little sleepin babe

food dying play silks

today we had a go at dying the kids play silks. ive heard of people dying them with food dye but havent heard how.
heres what we tried:
*we put a playsilk in microwave container, added aprox 3 tablespoons vinegar
*add enough food colouring to have a strong colour
*microwave for 4mins, take out and stir
*microwave 3 mins, take out and rinse until water runs clear.

colours came out great but have no idea how many washes they will last. never mind, kids thought in was great fun so im sure they wont mind if we have to dye the again!

weve been having lots of fun with them as capes, blankets, dancing cloths for twirling and swooshing (listening to jack johnson, i luvd it too!) peekaboo, and their favourite is me gentlydrifting it over their heads. and cubby houses (where we all squeeze under 1, cozy fun that gets hysterical laughter)

remember these from your childhood?

these are my two favourite books to read the kids at nap time. admittedly sometimes i read even after they've fallen asleep if its 'getting to a good bit'. I have so many memories of mum and dad reading me Enid Blyton books as a child, drifting of to sleep and having sweet imaginative dreams inspired by the adventures id been hearing about as i fell asleep

water babies is a nice one i found at an opp shop recently. beautiful pictures and beautiful story.

what books do you remember from your childhood?

a cozy sock and a multi-purpose tree

also while i was away i found this beautiful tree and just couldn't seem to walk past... so it came home with me. it is my house warming present to myself/christmas tree/christmas present from aj. Im going to make some felt christmas ornaments and have a go at needle felting something for the top (not sure how its going to balance on top but ill work something out hopefully)

it reminds me of this mr magee tree that is so farmilliar to me (i used to have to read it to twins i look after to get them to sleep. wasnt so fun at the time but now it is a fond memory. i have had them the longest and will miss them verry much so it is nice to take a special reminder if them with me when i move in just 6 weeks time

and here is my first sock (well my second but first one that fits and looks good) its lovely and soft, made of bamboo yarn. (ps, in case you thought it, yes i was being brave wearing my sock around outside while owning free range chooks. poopy mishaps avoided!)

fun times at maslins beach

i went to visit my awesome sister aj for the weekend at maslins beach. i so so am jelous that she gets to live there, its such a nice little town with a breathtakingly beautiful beach and beautiful mosaic murals all over the place (one you can see here, and the others i must photograph next time and post about)

we spent lots of time at the beach, playing with her puppy mia. and i spent lots of time knitting socks (picks later, there looking good!)

i was lucky enough to happen to be down the right day for christies beach(a town nearby) markets. that morning it had been raining heaps and we were very dissapointed and presuming the markets would be canceld. we had some things to do at the shops so we headed off and realised the markets were on afterall! (i seriously nearly jumped out of my pants in excitement,no exageration!)

i sooo love going to visit aj, kane and mia at there lovely beachy home, i always come home feeling so relaxed and happy (oh and sleep deprived!)