this weekend...

Started with some secret Mother's Day business..

A heart-felt mobile for my mum...

dress ups and roof exploring...

Cubby houses in closets...

Sowing seedlings (and fingers crossed they're strong enough...)

The jiffy pots.. a 0 % success rate..is it me or the pots? I kept them damp, followed the instructions, but no go. We'll try the capsicums again in seed-raising mix in the mini greenhouses..

Celery going in..

A worm farm diversion...

Lunch with parents. This remarkably sweet, albeit fake posy..

Apricot pud!

And some Mother's Day shenanigans.

Hi ho hi ho...

19/52

Stella: serenity in the midst of silliness

Ruby: "this is what I want to wear to the snow"

(how I wish I could take her..)

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Joining in with Jodi, at Che and Fidel

It's cooling down here now. In the mornings we don dressing gowns and ugg boots and embrace the fresh air. We don't have any heating system apart from an old open fireplace and it's not cold enough to justify cranking that up yet. Plus, we still need to order a load of wood.
There's been talk of snow. Three years ago, we drove to the top of Mt Wellington, Hobart, and got to frolic in the snow. It was the girls' first real experience of snow (apart from a trip to NZ when Stella was just 18 months old and Ruby was yet to be born..). There wasn't much snow, enough for some snowballs, but it was rocky and kind of icy.
How I would love to take them on a skiing holiday... I've been very lucky, in my past, to have skied amongst some of the most beautiful mountains in Europe. Right now there are other things that need to be prioritised over such a luxury...
We choose to live a simple life. We both work part time and our reward is that we get to spend a lot of quality time with our children. It affords us to enjoy life on a day-to-day basis and make the most of this lovely area in which we live. It does mean we have to make some sacrifices when it comes to allotting money for luxuries. Last year we had a wonderful holiday to Fiji; the first time we got to take both girls overseas. This year a new (second hand) car and some minor house renovations are top of the list. It looks as if the snow will have to wait..
In the meantime, we do have some short trips planned, which will be loads of fun. A camping holiday with friends in June, a long weekend away to Sydney later in the year; again to visit friends; and a music festival in September which we did three years ago and which was delightful. Hopefully it will be as good this year as it was last time.

Happy Mothers Day to all mums out there..
(Hope you got lots of hugs and kisses)

family boat fun

This post should have been from last week. I really shouldn't be blogging now. I've got all sorts of chores to do. PK has been shopping and is now housecleaning. The girls and I spent the morning bike riding to the bakery and indulging in some pastries for breakfast, then on to the annual Bookfest to pick up some bargain books. I feel a little bit guilty...just a bit...

Last weekend, my dad rented a boat so we could spend the day on the river. He's considering investing in a small sailboat. He's always enjoyed being out on the water. The last twenty years he's been a windsurfer, but I think he's looking to "downsize" to a less strenuous watersport. Plus the sailboat is more social. My Mum can join him; or the girls. Fun for the whole family!

Last weekend the weather was picture perfect. Pelican Boat Hire got us sorted out and on the water in five minutes flat. Dad missed half the instructions, being a little hard of hearing, but we just winged it and got underway

Even at high tide, there's sandbanks and islands to explore. The water is shallow and warm. Birds gather to rest and crabs scuttle busily into holes...

We motored into one of our favourite swimming spots. It was pretty quiet when we anchored, then suddenly swamped with boats, people and dogs.

Jumping off the large sandbags is a popular activity of all kids, it seems. And some adults too. Even some of the dogs were sliding down and leaping in. Very cute!

Back on the water, we had a couple of figureheads to keep watch on our path...

The clouds resembled cotton balls, resting lightly and low in the sky.

It was a great morning out.

(Lots of river posts these past two weeks.)

18/52

The hat post.

Both my girls were reluctant to face the camera this week.

I think the constant snapping and recording might be "doing their heads in"...

Stella: her hat is blue (her favourite colour), old, comfortable and not particularly fashionable.

Ruby: her hat is new-ish, jaunty and a treasured piece of her wardrobe (having been picked out by her older and very stylish cousins)

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Joining in with Jodi, at Che and Fidel

This week, I love the photos here. That baby pout is adorable.

saturday

Catching up with friends, a beautiful warm and sunny day.

A couple of pelicans did well out of a fisherman, sneakily snatching up his undersized fish thrown back..

Our shadows posed on the old wooden jetty..

 This last photo is courtesy of my friend Caz..just beautiful.

These two will be friends forever, I hope.

cat critters

This is what you get when two crafty girls decide to make toys for the cat.

Toilet rolls, egg cartons, rice, sticky tape and blu-tack went into creating these little creatures.

When they were finished, they went in search of said cat, who had disappeared, not to be found..

Anyway, they're too cute to be demolished by a set of sharp fangs.

Don't you think?

friday

This week, I worked more hours than I cared to. Leaving precious little time for anything else...

I am so behind on everything. Family, washing, housework, homework, paperwork, down time..

But on Friday morning, before I disappeared into work, I paused for a moment at my quiet river spot.

The light was magical. Silver and charcoal with a hint of lilac. I spent a quiet few minutes with a lone pelican, who was busy with his morning preen.

And then it was off to work.