from the blue shed

Mother's Day

Four months with my mum has quickly come to an end. A nice chunk of time like four months let's you settle in to the groove of daily happenings. We thoroughly enjoyed a laze around together and I was able to steal some time for myself. She was here for many firsts. First books read. First tooth lost. First ride without training wheels. I was so glad she was here for those milestones when she lives so darn far away. 

Today on this slightly overcast Mother's Day we all are enjoying the cosy little places she has left for us. Quilts afghans and pillows for us to cosy up under and think of her.

Thanks Ma for a lovely visit. Happy Mother's Day. I love you. 

birds nest tutorial

Inspired by a tromp through the bush, here is an easy, inexpensive family craft that gets you out there in the elements. Easy enough to whip up in time for Easter this weekend.

Head out to your nearest park or bushland.

Collect dry grass and reeds and any other small treasures suitable to feather your nest with.

Get nesting.

To make nest

1) Make a solution from white craft glue and water. This is not an exact science. The consistency needs to be not as thick as glue, not as thin as water.

2) Cut grass down to pieces a about 1 foot long and mix in a large metal bowl with the glue solution, coating all the grass.

3) Using a small round bowl (we found metal best) start building the nest by wrapping the long pieces around the inside of the bowl.

4) Let dry over night. 

5) Tidy up the nest and trim off any wild pieces of grass.

5) Run a knife gently around the outside of the nest to loosen from the bowl.

A scrumptious little nest any bird would be proud to nest in. A perfect place setting for Easter, ready to nestle some chocolate eggs into or to perch on a counter top with a few treasures inside. Another great craft from my mum. Clever lady. 

a queen's 4th birthday

I usually run out of steam by the time Rowen's birthday rolls around, just 6 weeks after Piper's. Piper usually has elaborate ideas for her party and with it being almost a year since the last one, I'm always up for the madness. I think I actually create most of it.  With Rowen's this year and most years really, it was all rather simple, subdued and really rather enjoyable. Funny that. 

This year Rowen just wanted to be a Queen. Pink, sparkly and regal. I made a few party suggestions that she liked and with a handful of friends very casually invited over an email, a fourth birthday was had. 

Rowen wore a sparkly dress made from fabric of her very own choice. What a good gran.

 

A few games were played and crowns were decorated with all sorts of sparkly bits.

We ate cucumber sandwiches - naturally

And the queen had her pink palace

Apart from the 3 day hunt for dragons for the treat bags (there is a hole in the market there people) A very stress free party. Mantra to self 'Simple is stupendous!'

Happy Birthday Queen Rowen. We love you very very much.

a long overdue tromp through the bush.

I love trees

 

suburban farm update - mini key lime tarts

A little update on our suburban farm  The lovely ladies out the back are struggling a bit with this sweltering summer. They are off the lay a little and one hen is a bit broody, just waiting for a non existent chick to hatch. The poor thing is off food and looking rather pathetic. I wasn't really prepared for this aspect of "farm" life. The watermelon patch that threatens to swallow up our back garden is producing melons at an amazing rate. If you sit very still, I swear you can watch them growing. Homemade pesto is a new favorite. Slathering the made from scratch variety onto a bag of pasta just really makes it feel like you cared about dinner instead of screamed in the door frantically at 5:30 in a oh no what's for dinner kind of panic and just whacked it together. The limes are falling off the tree. We are concocting all sort of lime recipes. mini key lime tarts, dressings, salsas and I am on a mission to perfect the Mojito.

We are ready for our third round of seeds to be planted. As I have said before, I never thought our veggie patch would amount to too much, not being much of a green thumb. We have however enjoyed watching it grow from seed to seedling to edible veg this summer. The best tomato I have ever tasted in my ENTIRE life was a few weeks ago straight from the garden. I didn't realize they could taste like that! If you don't have a little green patch of your own; a bed, a bathtub or a pot you really really must. Really.

rock star party

We awoke, a little groggy from late night party prep, to a 42 degree party day. Whoa. Our very excited party girl was dressed (sweating) and ready by about 8am. 10am, the guests arrived, looking fabulous. with sequins and rhinestones to pearls and mohawks. Who wouldn't want to go all out in this heat? 

The stage was set for our 15 VIP guests to rock out. Song requests had been emailed to us during the week so everyone had a song to sing. As the morning sweltered along, we amped up the music to get everyone in the mood. Did I mention how hot it was?? Although only a few were courageous (or conscious) enough to get up onstage and do a number, everyone had a little boogie, with mics in hand to their favorite songs.

The ice cream cone cupcakes practically worked. There was enough black icing to hid any undesirable bits. We had made a little hole in the bottom of each cone and added a licorice cord. I will try these again and post the results. I just need to find the right recipe!

To wind up the party, each child was given an autograph book and pen to take home. There were a few 'where are the lollies' looks but once we explained what the books were for, all of these new writers got right into it, practicing their signatures. A fun time was had by all considering, well, the heat!

On the eve of turning six, my mum taught Piper this poem;

When I was one I had just begun
When I was two I was barely new
When I was three I was hardly me
When I was four I was not much more
When I was five I was just alive
But now I am six and as clever as clever
I think I'll be six for ever and ever

A.A. Milne

Happy Birthday Piper. We love you. 

The river, a kayak and mussels for dinner

A forgotten post from last week but an evening I wanted to remember.

Savouring the last of the summer holidays, we headed to the river with a few families and a couple of kayaks in search of dinner. We gathered, scraped and scrubbed approximately 2 billion and 3 mussels. Gorging ourselves on creamy wine, thai and chili mussels until the sun went down. 

Ahhh holidays. 

rock star party prep

Our eldest daughter will be turning 6 in a couple of days. The last twelve months have seen her go from adoring pink to loving black. From wearing dress ups to wanting a bra - seriously. From wanting to be a Snow Princess to wanting to be a Rock Star. I wasn't expecting the 'maturity' level to progress so quickly! Oh dear.
I am usually fairly prepared when a birthday approaches but this heat, oh the heat, has made it hard to get my rear in gear. Thankfully my mother arrived from Canada just in time to help with the preparations for the Rock Star's party. With a beautiful new stamp set in hand, we set about stamping our guts out and personalising everything from VIP passes to autograph books. I think our Piper may be expecting a fully lit stage, with amplified speakers and a smoke machine but hopefully the homemade microphones will do. 

We are attempting ice cream cone cupcake microphones for the cake. As it stands, they just aren't cooking. Once again pulling a night-before-party late one. 
11:45pm, one last egg, wish me luck.

suburban farm update

My loss of sleep over the well being of our seedlings was unnecessary not to mention slightly crazy. Our veggie patch is actually producing food and we have even managed a watermelon! The kids are loving collecting their dinner from our garden. Our meals are becoming more simplistic and better appreciated by the picky eaters. Hmmm "they" were right!

It's amazing what a bit of TLC not to mention reticulation on a timer can do. 

Favorite salad of the summer

Roasted beetroot
Rocket
Feta
Toasted pine nuts or almonds 
Toss with freshly cracked salt and pepper, olive oil and lime juice 

end of year scrapbook

And just like that, it's a new year. The last 6 months have been a whirlwind of new adventures. Some thrilling, some disappointing. My small business grew a little. A second business with a fabulous partner began. My daughter very objectfully (a made up but excellent word) started daycare one day a week. My husband became a single parent on weekends. My eldest began to read and write. My youngest traded her dinosaurs for ballet shoes. My husband ventured to India to lend a hand and experience the amazing culture. A year full of dramatic new experiences.
As the year chaotically came to an end, we packed up the car and headed 9 hours south for our annual camping holiday with friends. I relaxed myself close to a coma. Fabulous stuff.

 Refreshed now to start a new year. My plan of attack listed in a fresh notebook, oh the possibilities.
Thank you for taking time over the past year to stop by and have a read. I truly appreciate it. On the list, to pay my wee blog a bit more attention. With my crafty mum on her way for a four month visit, be prepared for the onslaught! Happy New Year!