Here We Go…

…round the mulberry bush! 😀

Just got back from a friend’s place, where we sat and nattered, with a cup of Milo, while the boys thundered over to play with the boys next door. It seemed like, whenever I looked over there, they were raiding the mulberry bush – even taking the stepladder to it to make sure they didn’t miss out on the best ones 😀 Meanwhile, I was helping my friend pick a bowl of snow peas…

… and I thought – that’s what childhood should be about – roaming the neighbourhood with your mates, no worries, and grazing on the fresh garden bounty…

We had a great afternoon.. and will sleep well tonight..

Published in: on October 11, 2011 at 6:58 pm  Leave a Comment  

Gardening, Community, And A Great Salad!

My lovely day was capped off by a visit to the Ipswich Kitchen Garden, in Leichardt. We are planning to go down there every Friday afternoon (from 3.00pm) to help out, but today was meant to be a quick visit to find out the details. We left at 5.30pm, with aching bodies, new friends, and the makings of a beautiful fresh salad 😀 The boys had a great time, and worked very hard (they especially enjoyed using the hose) … I weeded most of the afternoon, and hubby hauled fresh earth around and did whatever else was needed. There were about nine of us, and it was an enjoyable afternoon.
The garden is a no chemical, permaculture design… basically, you put the work in wherever you can, and share the harvest at the end of the day 😀

– two views of the garden –

One half of the garden, including lemongrass, lettuce, nasturtiums, coriander, carrots, tomatoes, snow peas, comfrey, and various others I can’t remember…

The other half, including silverbeet, bok choy, broccoli, strawberries, mint … this side wasn’t as full as the other.

The spiral herb garden. I don’t think there are herbs planted yet, but there are more snow peas round the outside..

Broccoli!

Snow peas!

Afternoon snack… 😀

The boys got a ride round the area..

Action shot..

  Even more snow peas!

Here’s the final harvest – we got to take our share of snow peas, spinach, silverbeet, lettuce, mint, mustard, comfrey, carrots and white radish 😀

It’s well worth a visit (Fridays, 8-10am and 3-5.30pm, because of the heat) Come and garden! (We dig it 😀 )

Published in: on September 23, 2011 at 9:45 pm  Leave a Comment  

Tirra Lirra!

…is the name of the cafe I checked out today! It’s where Word Of Mouth used to be – Bell St, near the corner…

Lovely… I will go back (sometime 😀 )

Here’s the main part of the interior –

Here’s my corner…

I had apple pie, and a lavender milkshake –

Here’s a close up of some chairs near me… painted seats –

random floor decoration…

… and the atmospheric window next to where I was sitting 😀

Published in: on September 23, 2011 at 9:01 pm  Leave a Comment  

Hugelkultur

raised garden beds: hugelkultur instead of irrigation.

Interesting – have never seen this before (as far as I know! 😀 )

Could be good for the future….

Published in: on September 23, 2011 at 7:58 pm  Leave a Comment  

It Makes My Heart Happy…..

Yesterday I found a link on another blog, and clicked… I’ve heard this before, and loved it, but today/last night, I’ve really been listening with my heart…. here’s the link –

Playing For Change

Here’s the philosophy behind it….

“Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world.”
(Find out more here – http://www.playingforchange.com/journey/introduction

Here’s some more songs – check out the rest! 😀 –

One Love – seems to encompass what they’re about 😀

War/No More Trouble – Spot the famous face! 😀

Redemption Song – No, it’s not all Bob Marley!

Don’t Worry – An original song

Check it out… let’s get together and feel alright…. 😀

Published in: on September 17, 2011 at 3:11 pm  Leave a Comment  

BEHOLD…..

….. the magnificence of – The New Oven!!!

No more words are needed….

Published in: on September 13, 2011 at 8:08 pm  Leave a Comment  

Happy Birthday, Sweet Bean!

Today was my littlest bean’s 8th birthday. He was one very excited little sweet boy 😀 We had 6 boys playing this afternoon, which was fun for them all. We didn’t plan a lot for this one… just getting a party together was by God’s grace… we have been very blessed these last couple of weeks!

The boys had a go at the “coley” (not sure of spelling…) game that was put together for biggest boy’s birthday party back in March. We didn’t play it then because of rain, so this was the first time we’ve tried it… they played for a bit, but it didn’t seem to take off… It has something to do with Bionicles. Apparently..

This is the “staff” – you use the spade end like a sort of polo/hockey stick, and the wire scoop on the end to scoop up the (tennis) ball, in order to throw it through…

… the hoops. I’m not sure why there’s three, or how to keep score…

Next up was the three-legged race..

First up… (we had time trials…)

Cheering squad 😀

… and when it all gets too exciting to stand still, run after the racers…

There was some more running about, interspersed with food..

Then – a Bionicle war. Briefly.

Followed by friendly play..

Happy Birthday, Sweetest Bean 😀

It was lovely and sunny today!

Here is the cake –

The last couple of years both boys have wanted ice cream cakes, which makes it very easy for me – I just upend a tub of ice cream and decorate. This year was dark chocolate ganache, and piped (blue) cream decorations.

This is NOT some sort of football 😀 It’s a Bionicle thingy. Apparently.
The “H” stands for “Hero”.

Blowing out the candles.

… and so, two tired boys are now, hopefully, sleeping. We are relaxing on the sofa, too tired to eat, at the moment. It’s a cold, clear night, with a beautiful, bright moon..

… and a good day was had by all…

 

Published in: on September 10, 2011 at 8:26 pm  Leave a Comment  

Spinning The Colour Wheel….

Here’s a photo that I nabbed from someone’s Facebook page…. she makes these coats and sells them on Etsy…. here’s the link to her site – all the other links are on there 😀

www.katwise.com

I would most definitely wear this. And I would live in that house…. seriously – check out the site for more pictures. Apparently the coats sell out on Etsy within minutes…. “like” the Facebook page to be kept up to date on future sales.

So… I would live in that house…

…. and I would like this in my back yard (Maybe as a studio?)

funny real estate - Perk Up There, Droopy
see more Lovely Listing

Come and visit! 😀

 

 

Published in: on September 8, 2011 at 11:51 pm  Leave a Comment  

5 Minute Getaway…

This is a site of photos of beautiful places.

Sit back and dream…..

vacation travel photos - Trotternish Peninsula, Basalt Pinnacles, Scotland

Trotternish Peninsula, Basalt Pinnacles, Scotland

vacation travel photos - Picnic Tree, Lavender Field,Surrey

Picnic Tree, Lavender Field,Surrey

vacation travel photos - Sleeping Under the Stars

Sleeping Under the Stars

vacation travel photos - Let's Sleep Out in the Backyard!

Let’s Sleep Out in the Backyard!

vacation travel photos - Sky at Dusk, Alava, Spain

Sky at Dusk, Alava, Spain

vacation travel photos - Red Roofed Hut, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland

Red Roofed Hut, Hafnarfjörður, Iceland

Dreamy Tree Tunnels

Dreamy Tree Tunnel

Here’s the site 😀 –
5 Minute Getaway

Published in: on September 5, 2011 at 9:57 pm  Leave a Comment  

Oh, What A Beautiful Mo-o-ooo-r-ning!!!!

Looking forward to a beautiful day! 😀

We are lounging around watching DVDs today (They have to go back this afternoon…)
Have had a great week, although health has been a bit dodgy… lots of good meetings and catching-ups though. We have been amply blessed…

Published in: on September 3, 2011 at 9:35 am  Leave a Comment