t-shirts and tax time

It's that time of the year when I get really inspired and start to ferret out all sorts of things that need to be streamlined or cleaned up…... and so I've been going over our business papers and rearranging, re-sorting and generally re-thinking how we store and file all the paperwork that needs to be kept. 

I'm sure my great idea of using an old T-shirt for tying up folders, has been used before but I thought I'd mention it anyway. I know I've used T-shirting for staking tomatoes and other garden work but never indoors, so when I desperately needed a string and all I could find was a shirt that was going to be used for a rag……well, I used it !!! 

Not beautiful but functional and sometimes that's all that's needed! 

stills

Snapshots of our days this past week: 

1: Fresh (Chioggia) beetroot - the first from the garden. 

2: Floral arrangement of gone-to-flower carrots and field yarrow.

3: A mail order of stevia and moisturiser to be divided amongst my girls and I.

4: Feverfew and clover bouquet.

5: Potatoes in flower (and new potatoes for our dinner at last).

6: Muffin in a mug - my sugar free, grain free breakfast.

7: Chamomile blooms prettying up the shoe rack.  

dreams

Last week when my Golden Girl (who I shall from hereon in call Nina because really, I've decided I"m ok with that, and so is she) visited for a few days, we settled down to create a dream board each. I've been doing a bit of self development and positive living type reading and one of the things that I really liked was the idea of having a tangible vision of what I want to come into my life. Something that gives me a nice little reminder of what I'm working towards. 

So after a scrummage through boxes of magazines that have accumulated in our shed and a hunt for glue and scissors we started cutting and tearing, arranging and pasting. It really is very therapeutic! We used cardboard from the back of a block of art paper for some and larger sheets of coloured cardboard for others.  

The one above, is Nina's - she is wanting a little house, some land and a nice productive garden……can you tell??? 

This one was put together by the Dj and now hangs in his awesome little hangout called Post 133 (which I will post about shortly) I think he just used images that appealed to him but it's interesting to see what he likes!  

                         

My Fairy finished hers in record time - she knew exactly what she wanted! A cubby house beautifully decorated (there is a cute one under construction out the back) books and more books preferably in a huge wall of shelves, some creativity, some magic and fairy business and nice food! 

I've enjoyed seeing what the children have come up with on their boards. 

  

And mine. Not finished but relaxation is dominant as are large bright, white houses!!! Oh and an airfare for another overseas jaunt! 

If you are wondering what to do with the children on these hot days (or cold days if you are in the north) or just for yourself, you could try this great way of letting a little bit of your dreams become reality!!

If you want to see some more creativity, pop over to Natural Suburbia and have a look at all the beautiful things others are making! 

hot and cold

Living in Tasmania means that we rarely get temperatures above 30°C and if we by some lucky chance do, it's considered extraordinary! Last week while the rest of south eastern Australia sweltered in the 40's we too were rather hot under the collar with four days of 28 - 30°C. And believe me, when most of the year is only in the 'teens on the thermometer, thirty makes you sweat and feel a little crabby with those near and usually dear to you! 

I'm embarrassed to say, but I will tell you anyway, that before we moved here I didn't get up in the morning if it was below 12° and the fire hadn't been lit!! It didn't always work of course but I certainly tried, naughty me! These days, I consider 12° reasonably balmy due to most of the year being well below that and have to smile when I recall my younger self!! 

So, all that to say that we have had hot weather here too although no where near the temperatures that Linda and Kate have been enduring up on the mainland. I well remember hot, sticky, sleepless nights with fans and wet wash cloths (and secretly, I do prefer them to the endless cold)!!

Anyway, last week we resorted to ice blocks to cool off. Our Small Elf had her first one ever, made by her lovely mama, and enjoyed the experience so much she repeated the fun when she came here to visit. 

That lovely yellow one in the funky shaped mould is made of - 

2 mangos 

1 cup coconut cream

1 cup water

Whizzed up in the blender and frozen till yummy! 

This super red delight was whipped up by our Fairy Girl from -

2 cups mixed berries

1 cup fruit juice 

1 cup water

Sadly today it's quite cool again, not even reaching 20° and we are back to wearing long sleeves and socks but I live in hope that all that glorious summer weather returns again and we can repeat the easy living, easy eating of hot summer days. 

Oh summer, how I love thee!!! 

Wir haben momentan etliche Heise tage und zum abkühlen gab es eis zum schleckern. Zum ersten mal für unsere kleinste maus.

Die gelben sind Mango mit Kokosnuss creme und etwas Wasser und die roten, etliche Beeren Sorten und Früchte Saft.

Die kleine geniest es so sehr!!  

   

year end and year beginning

                          

Im not sure now, where Christmas and New Year went - they both passed in a sea of tinsel, family and biscuits! Every year the big day (evening for us) creeps up quickly, is immensely enjoyed by all and then is just as quickly superseded by New Year and all the resolutions, intentions and new beginnings that come with it. 

We baked copious quantities of sugary, spicy Austrian biscuits, devoured many pre-Christmas meals with children and their partners as they slowly trickled in from faraway places, decked the half finished extension halls with tinsel, trinkets and all manner of fairy lights and tried desperately to finish off last minute hand made gifts. 

I don't know why this is so, year after year. Last year, we picked names out of my old straw gardening hat way back in August and still, at least half of us were madly sewing, woodworking or painting on the very last day! We have been picking names earlier and earlier for the last few Christmas's and for this year we have been really early….. it's already done!! Yes, we all have the name of our secret Christmas person tucked neatly away in our wallets and purses (well, ok, the younger set have saved theirs into various digital devices and I have mine in my purse) so dare I hope that there won't be a mad scramble???

As always though, Christmas Eve was beautiful and relaxed. There is of course the added bonus of having the Small Elf amongst us, which certainly makes it all more exciting.
I even managed to make a couple of new felt tree ornaments which I like to do each year. 

Later there was dancing!! Yes. An impromptu relearning of Tina Turners Nutbush City Limits dance routine. Do you remember it? I sort of did and we all practised and sweated and laughed till we could dance a whole song without mucking up! Oh and the Macarena too. Lots of fun!!! 

Now it's the new year and I am just beginning to feel like I've surfaced from a long period of 'unusual activities'. Still not quite the usual as we don't have any lesson times to anchor the day but nice and relaxed none the less. I'm about to start on a new patchwork quilt, I've written in my 2014 planner, the Best Man and I have had many planning discussions, the overgrown garden is calling my name and most of the visiting children have returned to their own homes. 

It was a wonderful, busy, family Christmas. 

As it should be.

Wishing you all a very relaxed and happy 2014.
And may all your wishes come to fruition.