1048

Happy Birthday to mine, Ella and Leila's beloved.  You are our everything. xx

1047

I've talked about the tradition of Easter hunts in my family and think it's not something everyone does.  Geoff certainly never did in his family, not with clues anyway, just the hunting for chocolate kind.  It's the highlight of the girls' Easter, more so than the chocolate.

This year the Easter bunny had Leila read her clues now she's a school girl and Ella had cryptic clues with the answers in a word hunt.

I'd liaised with the Easter bunny and at the end were handmade Maggie rabbits for each of them and, of course, some chocolate.  The rabbits were adoringly received - so so worth the effort of every stitch, plus a hundred times more.  Enjoy the time with your families.

1046

A delicious Easter dinner at Nan and Pa's when I was far to absorbed in delicious food to take photos.  After dinner activities always include a number of dance performances, both in a pair and individually.  Last night lights off shadow dancing was a highlight - the next best thing to dancing in front of a mirror.

13/52

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

Ella    She's loving her new winter coat and a cosy cowl made by nan.
Leila   Dressed up as a bride at nan and pa's.  Poor scratched little face via an accident at school.

1045

The girl was digging and then put her shovel aside so she could have a break and then her shovel was gone.


























A detective walked along from the park and said "What is wrong?".
"I was digging, put my shovel down, stood up for a break and someone took my shovel".

The detective said "I will look for it".  She went walked and found some footprints and went looking for more clues.

The detective started digging with her hands and found the shovel.  They jumped up and down to celebrate finding the shovel.

A story by Leila.

1044

Definitely no gluten intolerances in this house!  Spiced hot cross buns and Governor's Inn pear cake.

1043

Her first night match with dad.  Now all we need is a win!

1042

I've mentioned our over abundance of basil before.  Both my freezer and bridge are full of pesto, which I love, but it was time for something different.  We buy this basil oil each year and it's delicious, but why not use what's to hand for an even fresher version?

Ratio of one cup of basil leaves, picked, cleaned and dried, finely chopped (not blended) by whatever means you like, added to one cup of olive oil.  Add to a pan and gently bring to a simmer then turn off and leave for a minimum of one hour (I left for 5!).  Strain through muslin and bottle.  You can see in the second shot that this one still has quite a lot of basil particles, so I'll need to pass again and then perhaps through a coffee filter so it keeps for longer.  The taste?  Summer on a spoon.

1041

We've had friends booked in for lunch for yonks but with the weather so lovely we decided to move it to a park picnic.  A great playground, contained, with plenty of grass around for blankets, great setting.

Far too much food for lunch, but grazing is what picnicing is about. A walk after lunch when big sister piggybacked little sister for about 5 metres!

How grown up does Ella look in this snap with her friend?!

Remembering the joys of a sleeping babe that isn't mine!

The joy of being with friends.

1040

 

Post party faces.

12/52

Ella    Beautiful even when brushing her teeth
Leila  Patiently waiting to leave for a friend's party

1039

Time to start the cut over from summer to winter gardens.  We still have Amish Paste tomatoes coming through although I've pulled out the raised bed and the remaining three types of mini tomatoes.  The cucumbers have finished up, the beans from mum and dad still flowering and fruiting.  Eggplants still on the plant and more flowers set.

Today I pulled the last of the purple carrots and three plants of basil from in among the finished tomatoes.  I had to display the bunch of basil in our letterbox as I'm without a gardening companion these days!  From those plants I picked 500g of leaves and made ....... more pesto!  The cayenne chilils are starting to turn red but the habaneros are only just coming on.

After a minor gardening injury from a planting stick in went some of the broad beans into the carrot and fennel bed, Chantenay and Early Nantes carrots and some parsnips went into the tomato bed.  Need to wait for the other bed and veg to finish before I can plant up more broad beans, broccoli and cauliflower.  Anything I've forgotten?

11/52

Leila    Our fairy child.  Always happy to have her photo taken.  We've had our last Wednesday off as part of our transition to school, full time now... boo hoo.
Ella      So much harder to get snaps of this love, she's busy with drawing projects from dusk to dawn.  New characters and stories being created almost constantly.

1038

For all the things you'll never do, 
and all the things you'll no longer see,
I will carry you with me always
and we will go there together.

Happy Birthday Mike x

10/52

Leila and Ella   Our two beauties on a scorching Melbourne day.  Is there a better way to cool off than with a lemonade icy pole?

1037

A weekend sleepover at Nan and Pa's.  Braving the scorching heat, sometimes it's better to be out in it than hiding from it.  A glass of riesling at the Fairy Cafe (cake was on the specials board), my handsome husband, Ella's flawless skin, my lovely Mum caught perfectly before she could protest.

After dinner games of 1, 2, 3, 4 I declare a thumb war, followed by card games of Piggy and Old Maid and finishing up with an after dinner dance performance.

1036

I'm sewing for myself again and for the first time I think I've struck on a winner.

A few years ago, for my last significant birthday, the lovely Tamara was so sweet and made me a lovely nighty as a gift.  It's a fantastic pattern, very simple, but so flattering and comfortable.  Last week she was kind enough to trace the pattern for me and yesterday I sewed up a longer version into a lovely summer maxi dress.  I kid you not when I say I received five compliments on it today, all loving the fabric and amazed at how clever I am!  I'm not great at accepting compliments and greeted them all with surprise followed quickly by "it's not hard, if it was I couldn't do it".

When I got home, the praise I'd received so inspired me that I went out and splurged on the most delicious soft and sheer silk to make a top for a birthday we're helping celebrate next weekend.  My thinking was that I could afford the fabric over buying something new to wear.  Well, by the time I bought silk lining as well, $65 later.....  Now that did include special fine machine needles and silk thread, but still.

I'll try and get a decent picture of the dress but the top, I'll be extra careful with this one, take my time, practice a new skill and hope that I do justice to this lovely muted, watercolour like fabric.