In The Moment

On a whim!

2011-04-22T20:21:00.002+10:00

Do you believe that we create our own reality?
You may have read "The Secret" or be a long term devotee of the idea of the self fulfilling prophecy. Well the other day I was feeling a little lost in my daily routine - you know the one - get up, feed kids, wash clothes, clean house, feed kids, clean house, feed kids, go to bed .... we all have those moments.
You feel like you are just going through the motions, getting through each day and each moment losing your connection with the "bigger picture".

So on a whim I scrawled a note on my trusty whiteboard
( the one that gives me my daily reminders like "milk" or "sport day Thursday")that said:

"I need to see more of the sky!"

Well I have been looking at that note everyday as I go about my business, and guess what? today as I passed by that little reminder I had a secret smile to myself as I realised that I had created my reality this week.
Everyday I have been outside enjoying the autumn sunshine, at the park, on a picnic, at the park again - "unintentionally" I had given myself what I needed - some grounding, surrounded by mother nature, just enjoying the moment. And guess what? I feel much more centred and calm, my house is more organised, I don't have a to-do-list as long as my arm and I have finally found the time to sit down to catch up with my favourite Blogs and to update my own!

My message - give yourself permission to be "in the moment" and the rest will just fall into place.

Have a Happy Easter...

Luna Park Sydney

2011-01-21T19:08:00.001+11:00

As promised, here are a few snap-shots from our trip to Luna Park Sydney. It is an iconic Sydney fun park, located on the harbour just next to the northern end of the equally iconic harbour bridge. The big face is the entrance and to get inside, you walk through the mouth.

Luna Park has just celebrated it's 75th birthday. There is another Luna Park in Melbourne - but I think ours is much prettier!!!

The view from inside Luna Park, looking back towards the bridge.

A Sydney ferry heads to Luna Park from Circular Quay , which is a main port right next to the Sydney Opera House (in the back ground)

My Boys and I.

Mark & I

Ooops .....

Awesome fun !!!!! Sydney put on some beautiful weather for us and it is always a beautiful day by the harbour.

Kelli xx

True Aussie Mates!

2011-01-13T00:00:00.002+11:00

As you may or may not know, we are having some pretty devastating floods in Australia at the moment. Someone on facebook had taken this photo of two natural enemies helping each other out in their time of need (see the link above to the cause). I thought that this was pretty amazing and that it epitomises the true Aussie spirit of "helping a mate in need". Please join me in sending Prayers for those who have lost their lives, loved ones and homes.

PS: Please check out the button I have added above for the Queensland flood appeal auction, to support the victims of the floods.

Christmas Cheer!

2010-12-29T18:52:00.000+11:00

Here is our little bit of Christmas Cheer,
for it has been a while since I was here,

The joy of the season has come and gone,
it did not last ~ all that long,

Long school holidays are now here,
Sunny Sydney it's skies are clear,

The sand and surf are now the way,
to spend a long, hot summers day.

So do drop by now and again
to have a look at where we've been!

So Sorry!

2010-12-16T00:23:00.000+11:00

Hello dear friends,
stay tuned ..... I'm still here .... just a little preoccupied....sorry I will catch up soon

produce

2010-11-05T22:32:00.000+11:00

A while ago we planted a little plot of veggies on our back garden, we have snow peas, tomatoes, baby spinach, spring onions and baby capsicum (peppers) as well as a few pots of herbs, strawberries and jalapenos. After lots of rain and lots of fertiliser ~ we are now eating these:

Unfortunately, not many have made it to the table ~ because the boys keep eating them from the vine!!!

Just loving the fresh produce ... can't wait for the cucumbers and the strawberries!

Happy Friday!!!

You Capture - Spring

2010-10-29T01:24:00.000+11:00

As you may have guessed, it is spring down here in the southern hemisphere (finally!!!). The assignment this week over at Beth's was for Autumn (or spring if that applied).

This week I tried to get a different perspective, so I was laying on my back under my rose bush, trying to get some sun-flare happening. Unfortunately the sun would not cooperate!

This was the result!

I also took a photo of the whole bush, so that you could see just how many flowers it has at the moment. It has gone crazy this spring (we've had a fair bit of rain in Sydney). It is actually a standard (or topiary~that is a ball on top of a tall stem) but it has so many flowers ~ and is so heavy that it is touching the ground.

Head over to see more photography at Beth's:

Thanks for visiting, I love comments, so let me know you stopped by!

Chocolate Log

2010-10-26T19:06:00.000+11:00

I thought I would share a little secret recipe that my sister gave me a while ago. It is SO easy, and a real hit for dessert, so here goes!

You will need:

Large thickened cream

double choc chip cookies (preferably soft not crunchy)

Jam

1} Whip cream with a hand-mixer

2} smooth a layer of cream along your tray

3} Now the fun bit (the kids love it - it's messy). On one side of cookie spread whipped cream, on the other side spread jam. Then stand it up on layer of cream on tray.

4} Continue layering until all cookies are used, (save one or two to crumble over top for decoration) Then cover whole log with whipped cream. Crumble crushed cookies over top.

Now for the final step {This is the most important step}.

Cover log and refrigerate

OVER NIGHT.

Yes, it really does need to be overnight, because the cookies will soak up the moisture from the cream and jam, and what you will then have is a gooey, yummy dessert that is like cake on the inside. {Mmmm}

You can do two rows of cookies together if you like, and I like to cut mine diagonally to show the layers. You won't believe how yummy this is!!!!

It usually looks a bit nicer than this, but isn't that always the way?

Hope you enjoy this, don't forget ~ it's supposed to be a secret!

Have a great day.

You Capture ~ Orange

2010-10-21T07:49:00.001+11:00

The subject for this weeks You Capture assignment is orange,

this little bit of orange was found in my little guy's

marble jar.

Next we had a little tea party

OK, possibly a little more red than orange? But fun.

I have a funny story to share about the word "Orange" ~ In our family we play a rhyming game {made up by the five year old},

someone says a word then everyone shouts out words that rhyme.

(Loud and over the top of each other!!!)

So one day we were playing and my brother says to him "ok what rhymes with orange" {knowing that this is a non-rhyming word and thinking he had beaten him at his own game}. So, quick as a wink Mr 5 shouts back "porridge",

the funny part being that he says it like orange "Porrange".

Very funny, and still gets a giggle at our place!

Head over to Beth's for more orange inspiration

Thanks for visiting, have a great day!

Virtual Coffee...{ thanks for coming! }

2010-10-20T12:16:00.002+11:00

Welcome .... this is the first time I have met you for coffee, thanks for coming.

If we were really meeting for coffee today we probably would have to meet "out"

because my lovely~shift~working~hubby is sleeping. So I might have asked

you to meet me at the new Cafe just near my place "the Chocolate room",

Mmm Mmm ~ they sell yummy handmade chocolates and the best coffee

(skim Latte for me please).

The Chocolate Room

I would have to tell you that my big boy is two nights into a five night camp and

although I didn't think I would miss him {too much} ~ I do!

In this time when we are used to instant communication,

I feel a little lost because I can't call him and ask how he is,

are you ok? are you sleeping? are you homesick? .....

I do have to confess though,

that I did send him a message on facebook {OOPS],

in the hope that one of his friends did smuggle a phone to camp {contraband}.

Although, the activities look like too much fun,

and I'm pretty sure he is not missing us at all!

He is at his happiest outdoors.

I would tell you that the boys started Softball last week

{ although last season they played Baseball }

and they have a little bit of adjusting to do,

learning new rules and different methods.

Their first games were last Saturday, when we had unseasonal wind {for spring!}

and it snowed two hours south of us ...

it was freezing and the ball kept blowing off the tee for the tee-ballers!

I might tell you that I need to go home to do housework ... what a mess

and that I have a mountain of ironing waiting for me,

that will still be there tomorrow!
{there is NO magic fairy my friends!}

So it probably was a good idea for us to meet out this week.

So if we were really meeting for coffee today,

my little guy is probably getting a little restless by now

and I will need to head off.

{via the grocery store ~ because we are out of stuff again!}

Thanks for meeting me today, I'll look forward to our next coffee.

p.s: Head over to Amy's to join in. xx

On the fridge

2010-10-16T02:27:00.002+11:00

Does your fridge gather JUNK? Mine does!
Sometimes I fear that it will topple right over with all of the stuff that collects on the doors. As you can see from the little sample here .... {this is only half of it! ~ truly} Mine has a serious clutter issue ~ which directly reflects how busy our week is.
School notes, awards, reminder messages scrawled onto the magnetic whiteboard, the calendar, little artworks {self-hung at 5 year old height}, the weeks dinner menu....... etc etc.
Sometimes the notes become three deep, and the poor magnets can't cope ~ which results in the whole pile sliding down the door every time the door is opened or flying across the room if a breeze blows through! Some days I wish for a bare fridge, one without notes and reminders, without little grimy hand prints or thousands of magnets ~ but then I remember that time is fleeting and one day I will miss the clutter.

Enjoy the moment!!!

You Capture ~ Animals

2010-10-14T19:08:00.027+11:00

{..Henry..}

This week the You Capture challenge was Animals, which was great for me - because I have Henry. He is our five year old Labrador X golden retriever. He is a pretty excitable boy, who loves the kids, water and table scraps. When he was a puppy, Jack {who was 3} used to call him "my brother dog" and head-lock him {& usually plant a big kiss on his nose too!}.

He actually posed for this photo {only because Jack told him to stay & smile.. }. He is a beautiful boy, and only a little bit naughty now that he is five!

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy some more animal shots over at Beth's .....

Owl softie

2010-10-13T22:37:00.004+11:00

So, another lovely friend of mine recently gave birth to a beautiful baby ~ this time a boy.
He is of course GORGEOUS!

I decided to make him a little softie as a birth gift, so first stop was my local fabric shop where I could not walk past the fluffy chenille {what textile lover could!} ~I added some lovely green quilters fabrics and some delicious wool felt.

Next stop ~ google image search for inspiration ~ giraffes, monkeys, elephants ... but I could only get excited about the OWLS!!!. Hundreds of beautiful softies, tall ones, short ones, fat ones.....skinny ones. Some with wings, some with feet, some with large eyes some with no eyes!

I took a little bit of inspiration from the hundreds that I looked at, decided on some elements that I liked - big eyes, little wings, no feet and then began to create a pattern.

I decided to use a little of this vintage ric~rac {that I inherited and has a price tag of 16c ....hehehe} . It's so lovely!

So then I pieced together the details to the front panel

And then joined the front to the back

Ta Da!!!!!

And here is his back

I love softies!

Here is the link to the story of my sewing machine for those who have been loving it!

WORDLE

2010-10-11T00:51:00.001+11:00

After my post last week for that lovely etsy find, I stumbled across this great place where you can create and print this cute word-art. I had a little play with it and came up with this ... not quite as fabulous as the previous one, but I'm sure with a little experimenting and perhaps a nice recycled frame this could be just as effective! {p.s - the quality of the above image is poor, but I think that was because I enlarged it}.

There are heaps of samples of other peoples ideas and creations to view, I saw one where the person had put a child's name in large font in the centre and then lots of cute words to describe him around it - great idea to decorate a child's room. Anyway, head over and have a look, it's a little bit of fun!

Wordle

P.s. I had to go back and fiddle again and came up with this...ta da!

You Capture - Faces

2010-10-08T22:53:00.000+11:00

I Haven't joined the You Capture for a few weeks, but when I saw that this weeks assignment was "faces", I had to join in. This is my Jack, he is my kind & gentle boy. I think these photo's really reflect his personality - and he is relaxed in front of the camera {comes from years of torture from the snap-happy mother!} which helps!

The big brown eyes just kill me! {always have, always will...}

A little out of focus I know!!! But still SO cute.

Thanks for looking, head over to Beth's to see some more inspiring photography. I love your comments, please let me know that you came by!

Beautiful Forster!

2010-10-08T19:08:00.000+11:00

Well after a few hiccups, the boys have returned to the nest!
The comedy of errors began when Dad was called into work at the last minute and had to miss out on the trip. So I {armed with the trusty GPS} set off alone with the little guy on the four hour trip to Forster. Within ten minutes of arriving though, the little guy had skewered himself on one of the beautiful scarlet roses that grow in Pops garden {while trying to sniff it}! It was a bit nasty - but he quickly recovered and was running around {read: being a maniac} in no time.

Bed time was when the action really happened though, with boys bed - hopping and constant trips to the toilet {!} as well as a mysterious itching attack that had middle guy wriggling and jiggling for at least an hour. Needless to say - Mummy didn't get much sleep!

After a very long five hour trip and only several hundred "are we there yet's", we finally made it home, Exhausted!

My poor camera unfortunately did not get let out of the bag, so the above image is borrowed. The Boys LOVE the dolphins and this is always the highlight of the trip. Hopefully next time I visit I will get to wriggle my toes in the warm sand though!

{Image}

Be Happy, Laugh out loud, Smile....

2010-10-06T02:50:00.000+11:00

Barn owl primitives

I came across this beautiful sign while I was browsing around the other day on etsy {see link above to the Etsy store}. I loooove this. Couldn't we all use a little reminder of these simple principles on a daily basis? There are lots of other cool designs too, including the old classic {Keep calm and carry on} as well as some cute Halloween signs for my U.S friends.

Maybe I will write these up on my chalk board for now {& keep it on my wish list!}, hope you like it ~ let me know what you think. And remember ~ Love one another & say your Prayers!

Always a Daddy's girl!

2010-10-04T13:16:00.000+11:00

So, there I was waving goodbye to the precious cargo I had stowed into the backseat of my Dad's car {read: two big boys!}, wondering why I had thought that it was a good idea to send them off on their first big trip away from home {read: ME} alone, when I am SUCH a stress head with that sort of thing!
Then it occurred to me -{light bulb moment} that I was entrusting them to the only person I know who is ~~just as~~ more safety conscious than me - MY DAD. And after-all he did manage to get me through childhood relatively unscathed!

My Dad is a bit pedantic - and I think quite truthfully he may have driven my Mother around the bend when we were little, ensuring that we were safe. He put up a big TALL fence around the pool before they were required by law, he baby-proofed the house and he was the one who checked and double checked that we were wearing our seat belts before he started the car.

In truth - I was a bit of a Daddys' girl , being the youngest - but I think I secretly loved that he treated me like precious cargo all of the time. I think children feel loved and cared for when their parents are concerned for their well being and I don't think it really does any harm. {I am truly NOT a princess now -TRULY}......

My eldest son gets a little frustrated with me ... he is the explorer, the ground breaker, the thinker. He thinks that I treat him like a baby ... when all of his friends are allowed to do this or that and he is still waiting to be allowed...... He grits his teeth and says "OK Mum". I tell him that we have rules because we love him ... I know that deep down he knows this and that maybe one day he will look back and be grateful for the way that we are! Just as I have done {it only took me 36years and three kids!}

So, for today I will be grateful for the great start to life that I was given by my parents, I will trust that my boys will have a great time on their BIG trip away from home and I will hope that maybe they might come back with a little insight into how I became the Mum that I am!

Bon Voyage....

2010-10-04T01:31:00.001+11:00

They're leaving me!!!! Tomorrow (or today cause I've stayed up so late packing) my two big boys are travelling 4.5 hours away to stay with their Grandfather at the beach. There has been much anticipation about this holiday, counting the days until the big "Trip", planning the fishing equipment required and writing and re-writing the packing checklist. Only thing is, now I think I'm going to miss them too much! My little guy is staying ...thankfully ... but now I'm thinking,
"what are the school holidays - without the school kids???"
Anyway ... I will have to take my own advice (~the advice you will often hear me uttering under my breath~) and {suck it up Princess!}. They are going to have a ball {if the rain stops} and I'm sure that the little guy and I will find plenty to keep us entertained. Have a safe trip my boys .. I'll miss your mess!

Pretty-In-Pink

2010-09-15T23:35:00.000+10:00

Spring has sprung! My blossoms are here! the bees are buzzing, the grass is greening, the washing is drying, the sun is shining and our days are getting longer .... Hooray for Spring ~ Welcome back!

I want to bottle this!

2010-09-08T16:07:00.000+10:00

It's September!!! Where did this year go? and last year, and the one before that???? I like having a five year old to chatter away to me all day, to bring me little bunches of flowers, to stand on a step ladder to hang the washing on the line, to ask for snacks all day ..... before long he will join the ranks of "full-time" school boy, just like his two brothers before him. After 12 years of having a little person to fill my days .... I will be without a chatterbox! So I want to bottle this moment, and every moment between now and February.

The three musketeers!

2010-09-01T19:48:00.018+10:00

Just sharing one of our latest photos, they are all growing too quickly and when I thought about it - I hadn't taken any fun group photos for a while. I received the phone call that I have been dreading today..... KINDERGARTEN INTERVIEWS !!! I'm not ready for my littlest man to be a a big school boy 5 days a week ...boo hoo ....4 months until THE day..... I think I will be taking lots of trips to the park between now and then!

And just a little glimpse of all the other photos ..... I took 297 in about half an hour!

Everyday Items - You Capture

2010-08-12T23:01:00.000+10:00

This is my breakfast! (hard boiled egg in a cup)

This is how I spend the better part of each day ...keeping company with my clothes pegs!

And...this is what keeps me going each day ... coffee, tea and sugar... they live right next to my kettle!

Head on over to Beth's Blog to see some more captures from this week's challenge

Thanks for stopping by

Finally !!! my dolly....

2010-08-05T22:13:00.001+10:00

A few weeks ago I posted a tutorial where I made a piece of wool felt, with the plan to make a beautiful doll as a present for a dear friend who is expecting her first baby girl {after three lovely boys!}. Anyway, I FINALLY got around to doing it and here is the result. The auburn hair is of course the piece of felt from my tutorial, and I was really happy with the results.

{you will notice in the background my vintage sewing machine ... this was a hand-me-down from my older sister, she gave it to me when I was about 8 and I learnt to sew on it and have been sewing on it ever since. It hasn't missed a beat and I wouldn't part with it for the world! - even if I was offered one of those fancy computerised gizmos. In fact I think its one of my most treasured possessions!}

The idea and pattern for this dolly was inspired by a tutorial posted on 60 Piggies blog, go here to have a look at the beautiful softie created by Nicole.

So, hopefully the dolly will one day become a treasured possession for a little girl, yet to be born ..... now, to name her..... any ideas????

You Capture - summer

2010-08-05T21:32:00.003+10:00

Summer!!! Down here in the southern hemisphere it is still WINTER...brrrr, this is my contribution to the You Capture photo challenge over at Beth's blog. I was resigned to the fact that I would have to miss this weeks challenge and then I made this salad for dinner and the amazing colours reminded me of carefree summer barbeques and sunshine, and I just had to capture it!
So when you are finished with the sunshine in the north ..... please send it our way!

Head over to Beth's blog for more beautiful images.

The Weekend...

2010-08-01T23:18:00.004+10:00

I dream of weekend escapes to far-away places, of beaches and above all S-I-L-E-N-C-E {nb:read child-free weekend}. That is not how this weekend played out! Instead I decluttered the mess that masquerades as a child's bedroom, washed-folded-ironed about ten loads of laundry and refereed a gazillion brother-love squabbles. It is at times like this I like to remind myself that the time is fleeting and that I should treasure each moment {whatever that may be} .... this is the little piece of Zen that I have attached to my fridge door this week:
"This too shall pass"
This I have found helps me to keep perspective when I am counting to ten under my breath for the 50th time....1,2,3,4.........
Hope you enjoyed your weekend!

Play - You Capture Photography

2010-07-29T22:12:00.011+10:00

Well, the laundry basket is overflowing, the fridge still needs cleaning out and there is a growing pile of unopened mail (that will still be there tomorrow!) ........but I did get my camera out quite a few times this week, which was my aim after all! The theme of this weeks challenge was play, easy you say - especially when there are a load of little "players" in the house, the trouble was taking a special photo.

So, the lovely subjects of this study .... they all have a different idea of what it is to PLAY, one likes imaginary play, one likes exploration and one is up for anything!!! As chance has it .... they all like being outdoors, as is the nature of boys. So following is a little sample of our playtime this week.

Social butterfly...with a new friend at the park.

Fishing Boy

Thanks for stopping by, please leave a comment, I love to hear what you think. Have a look at the other You Capture photos over at Beth's.

B&W - You Capture Photography

2010-07-23T22:36:00.000+10:00

This is my first entry into the YOU CAPTURE photography challenge, which is a wonderful opportunity for people interested in photography to practice their skills and have a bit of fun in the process. (See the link below to You Capture) This weeks theme is Black and White photography, so I had fun finding things around the house to photograph.

Yummy Strawberries - interesting in B&W I think!

Abstract stuff!!!

My Little Man!

So there it is - my first entry, please comment if you stop by for a look, I would love to know what you think!

Here is the link to see more great photos:

http://www.ishouldbefoldinglaundry.com/you-capture

Ps. Thanks for the opportunity and inspiration Beth :)

It's all about the beanie!

2010-07-18T22:09:00.004+10:00

This is our man of style, the beanie has hardly left the head since it joined the family this winter. As you can see ... it even goes with PYJAMAS!!!!

Wool Felting

2010-07-17T18:22:00.001+10:00

Well here goes.... my first foray into blog-world creative arts. So, I was inspired to make a doll (for a friend - but need to keep it under wraps for now) after browsing Etsy.

This led me to a link:

http://60piggies.blogspot.com/2008/10/softie-doll-tutorial.html

for a beautiful doll made by the very clever Nicole Owens. Which in-turn encouraged me to begin my own blog ....... in the hope that I might stop procrastinating and start creating - and here we are.

I have a gorgeous selection of hand-dyed merino fleece that I have had for a few years (this is just a small sample of the amazing colours). I was shown a while ago how to wet-felt and needle-felt, but have never really found the time to actually do it!!!!(relate??). To cut a long story short, I thought this might be the perfect first project for my blog and will be the beginning of my Nicole Owens doll when my felt becomes beautiful auburn hair.

da da! First step, decide on the colour

(probably the hardest part)

Best to do this in a wet-tolerant area (kitchen, laundry, outside) because it IS VERY WET!!!

You will need:

Sushi Mat( or bubble wrap - haven't tried this but was told it works?)
Dish wash liquid or liquid laundry detergent
piece of lace curtain or similar fabric (same size as sushi mat)
Hot water (I use it from the kettle)

Tip: The hotter the water the quicker the fibres will bind together, but be careful, make sure you use rubber gloves.

Gently layer fleece in a horisontal direction across the mat, then position the next layer in a vertical direction. I do this in three layers for a medium weight fleece, but you will get a feel for how many layers you need after a practice. Make sure that there aren't any gaps that you can see the mat through before you begin.

TIP:To pull the fleece apart, you need to be gentle - pretend it is a cloud that you are working with.

Lay net over fleece and sprinkle with detergent and gently pour some hot water over. Using your gloved hand, gently work up a lather with the soap. (Until it looks soapy)

This is where the muscle work starts! Keeping the net in place roll the sushi mat over. Roll back and forth, adding more hot water and a little more soap and repositioning fleece now and again (including flipping sideways so that it is getting even rolling). This bit can take a while, but it is also the sudsy/messy/fun part for those of us that are tactile! You will know that it is ready when it feels thick and there are no thin see-through areas. When you think it is ready, rinse through with cold water to remove all soap, then gently roll dry in the sushi mat. At this point you can also pop it into the clothes drier to thicken it up, or just lay flat to dry.

Voila!!! Lovely auburn wool felt.....

My First Post

2010-07-17T01:55:00.001+10:00

Well, it's almost 1.30am and I have just managed to set up my blog (with only a few small hiccups!). I thought I would start by adding a few photos - to introduce us and also because the page looks so bare, so here goes!

This is the whole gang on a recent day trip to Wombeyan Caves, NSW.

The beautiful Australian Bush!

The BIG Merino Sheep .... Goulburn, NSW.

Sheep country ....Taralga, NSW.

(which is kinda funny because there are cows in this photo)

Well, that's my first post .... plan to get moving with some artistic stuff, hopefully some very inspired photography!! watch this space...