Blessings

Everyday I am blessed. Today I was reminded of just how much I am blessed.
Brenton has an opportunity to go to Indonesia for 2 weeks on a mission trip with Medowie School - however we haven't the funds for him to go.
We both feel as though God is saying go and so we believe that the money issue will not be a problem. This morning we got together as a family to talk about it and to pray about it.
After we had talked about it Connor ran into his room and bought out his money that he has been saving $3.20. I cried. It was so amazing.
Then we prayed. Kenzi prayed that we would trust to see the way forward.....not our words, her words.
I cried. It was so beautiful.
Even if the Indonesia thing doesn't happen we have those moments from today that will live with me forever. What amazing, incredible blessings I have been given. Every day I need to remember that.
Have a great day! Count your blessings and enjoy them!

Bloomin' Marvellous

Gardening season is back in full swing.  Classes are running again and we're getting down and dirty.

Remember this?  In just a few months it's gone from well ordered little plants in a big soil patch to a full grown jungle, aroooooga! 

Jetska (Yetska), a really great Dutch lady who wears the funkiest clothes and has the vegetable patch diagonally opposite mine.

 We got to harvest a few things today, I did mine hurriedly while everyone was heading home.  That's the problem with not understanding what the teacher is saying, you stay with your head stuck under your pumpkin plant intent on weeding like a pro and miss out on the good stuff.  Oh well, next week I'll start stuffing things in my bag right at the beginning.  I forgot to bring home thyme and beans today, but this is what I did score, with a few other un-photographed things like basil and a red onion:

My new found wasting-time passion, rolling balls of wool.  So insanely cool and such a great waste of time.  But doesn't it look pretty?!

And this:

Became this:

MMMMMMM.  It was good.

There's something incredibly amazing about digging a hole, planting a seed, digging up food a few weeks later and taking it home and cooking it.  It somehow tastes better.  I was proud of this meal in a way that I've never felt before.  If I hadn't hoed and weeded and watered and sung, we wouldn't have been eating this for dinner.  I love having my little garden patch.  Not sure what I'll do without it, but I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

Four Sister Limericks

There once was a girl from Carrington

Who had a whopping load of estrogen

When Aunt Irma came to stay

She told her to go out and play

And that was the girl from Carrington

There once was a girl from New Zealand

Who got her nose stuffed with sealant

She blew and blew

Til her head exploded like stew

And that was the girl from New Zealand

There once was a girl from Denmark

Who just like a dog started to bark

She chased cats up trees

And ate all her fleas

And that was the girl from Denmark

There once was a girl from Amsterdam

Who got her head stuck in a pot of jam

Her eyes got all red

Then her bottom fell out of her head

And that was the girl from Amsterdam

the creative family

I love this book.
It says everything that I believe or want to do in such an easy reading style. I am inhaling it at the moment. Every parent should have a copy. Pobj is reading it next. He has been impressed by some of the things that I have read out to him.
I especially loved what Amanda had to say about imaginary friends. I read that chapter after we had cooked some fairy cakes, hidden some biscuits wrapped in silver, made a stuffed toy and generally set up for Lucy's birthday party. Lucy is Kenzi's imaginary friend. She tells everyone that she is her imaginary friend from a land called Narnia. Recently Lucy's baby sister Esmeralda died and Lucy was sad in her heart, but knew that Esmeralda was with God. This was Kenzi working out a conversation I had had with a friend of mine who had a miscarriage. Children's minds are so amazing!
Connor has a mini Olympic day tomorrow. He is China. I am sewing some red shorts for him tonight. Wish my camera was fixed for it.
Three posts in one day!!! Hopefully this makes up for my lack of communication. However, quite frankly how can I compete with all the gallivanting, crafting and new babies. Oh well, you just have to hear about the ho hum of life in Oz. Not complaining, just hope these are not boring!

Limerick Book

This is a photo of Limerick City just to remind you fo the upcoming deadline.
Tomorrow is the close of the limerick competition.
We will be making a book from all the entries and reading them on burger night.
We will then cast votes as to whose entry is a winning entry.
We will let you know after that.
I hate competition and every one deserves to win. They are all so great. However, there can only be one winner and that person needs to have their moment of glory.
So stay tuned and get those limericks in!

Fertiliser

I found this image here.

This was a great story from a friend of mine whose daughter is a very girly Year 4 girl, but lives on a farm...so knows all the ins and outs of how to grow good stuff. It made me laugh out loud, especially because of the four Macdonald farm girls. Her daughters name is Elise. Here is her story:

Elise was relaying a story to me over breakfast this-morning about having to play the recorder in music lessons yesterday.
Elise to Kelsie: I don’t want to put this in my mouth when all these other people have been sucking on it!

Kelsie: It’s alright Elise, Mrs Blatch has fertilized them.
Elise: EEEEEWWWWWWW that’s disgusting!!! I’m soooo not putting that in my mouth. Do you even know what that is Kelsie?
Kelsie: No what?
Elise: Its chook poo!!
Elise and Kelsie: EEEEEWWWWWWW

Mick the Thick

There once was a man called Mick,

And he was a little thick,

He was asked to rhyme

One hundred and sixty-two lines,

But he came out with a lim-er-ick.

(Andrew's first attempt)

Birthday Extensions

The great thing about getting birthday presents late is that it extends your very special day. You feel extra special for extra longer.....especially when the gift is so amazing.
I got a fabulous bag of fabric from my fabulous Amsterdam sister and brother in law for my belated birthday gift. I love fabric and this fabric is exceptional. I haven't yet spread them all out, because I am way too excited about how they look all in a pile, folded...a promise of what is to come...the unfolding...the creating...the wearing.
And isn't it nice when you know people know you well.
Thank you lovelies for my lovelies!

16 to Go

I got crafty again this morning and made my first piece of children's clothing, number something-or-other on my list.  I'm totally proud of myself, I even made the bias binding from scratch!

The bias binding is from a sheet that Andrew's poppa had, seriously vintage.

Here's my little 'Strawberry Jan' tag sewn into the seam.

And a pocket, a real live little pocket!  Useful for baby's mobile phone, house keys, cheque book etc.

To Russia with Love

I have two great sister -in-laws who are Russian. (I have another sister in law who lives in the UK, but this is not about her) One of them lives in Russia, so I don't get to see her very often, nor do we chat very often because I am not a big phone fan. I am looking forward to the time when she too is in OZ.
One of them has recently moved to Oz from Russia and we have hung out a bit. One of the glorious things about this is that Yulia is doing a beauticians degree at Tafe and guess who her guinea pig is??? Me!!!!!Not me in this photo! Find it here.
How can I say no if it is in the name of education. It is my duty. So I must grin and bear the hand massages, ex foliations, back massages.....I could go on and on and on, but I won't.
So I say yippee for sister in laws!

Sewing It Up

Getting back into the swing of studying isn't the easiest after 5 weeks of rambling about all over the place.  So yesterday I set myself some goals.  I made lists.  Lists are my saviour.  And I promised myself that if I finished everything on my lists I could do something I wanted to do.  So I finished them, and then I sewed.  My first foray into the joys of elastic cotton and shirring.  Here's my creation, in all it's different forms.

Easy-peasy lemon-squeezy. This is instant gratification sewing.  I feel a little hippyish, but those guys seem to have all the fun, so why not join them!

Tick, Tick

Numbers 11 and 18 of my list of 26 got ticked off while Mum and Kati were here.  

Early one Friday morning we headed up north to the Alkmaar cheese markets.  

The crowds were thick but we eventually made it to the fence to watch the action of the cheese being shuffled around by men in funny hats.  The Dutch sure are an interesting bunch.  

After this we stocked up on poffertjes (little pikelet things) and wandered around the town.  

Kati was intent on going to see the street performers, good idea Kati Mac, these girls were fab!  

Then to finish off our adventure Kati had a go in Het Concert Des Levens (The Concert of The Lives) by the Odd Enjinears.  

I'm guessing that Kati will post about this one eventually so I'll just put up a little picture.  

Before Mum left Amsterdam we headed to the Anne Frank House, number 18 on my list.  

No photos were allowed in the Museum so I stole this one and a few other ones that are so blurry and dark I have no idea what they are.  

It's an interesting visit, and the people who helped them out are totally inspiring.  I always wonder what I would have done if I had been around then.

I thought I was flying through my list but I just counted it up and I have 17 to go.  Here's hoping I'm done by April 26 2009!