Days gone by....

Why is it that the days come and go so fast...something that was present or coming is gone and in the past so fast?

It was just school holidays two weeks ago......something that we look forward to greatly in this house......and now...

they are two weeks ago.

We are swallowed back up into the school/work routine and all the things that also claw at our time outside of those staples.

I did head away with a sister ,nephews and  my boy , a friend and her boy for a couple of days....my boy stayed on for the week with his cousins as I had some pressing business to attend too 

The week beside the seaside began cold........and just got colder and colder.....

My sister is a trooper and by then my other sister had joined her and they toughed out the winter break with 8 kids between them.

But my couple of days was filled with cold but also relaxing hangout time with girl friends...eating chocolate, cheese and playing board games while the crazy kids toyed with the ocean and other land fun. 

Stuff memories are made from...fun that become memories all too fast. 

Pie face fun with friends

What else do you do on a day where you have 3 extras and a little sunshine???

Play a crazy game involving whipped cream and a trigger that is very random.......

 

and when every one has had their fill of cream in their face,up their nose and in their hair.....

Make banana splits for everyone......

and yes I did  have a turn...but managed to avoid the cream going off on my turn!!

Our week on the farm

The school holidays ended today...schools in tomorrow for another ten weeks....

Fraser and I headed to the farm with friends for our last week of the holidays....

There we discovered...

Peace and quiet, all bar the deep mooing of the bull..... 

The fun of hanging out with a friend....
 

The intricacies of being on a farm during calving season....

How nice it was having the opportunity to have hands on with the locals..
 

Collectible roadside finds that stretch the imagination....
 

The most friendly and welcoming of farm folk....
 

That technology still had a little place out in the fresh country air...
 

The beauty of uninterrupted sunset watching....
 

The tricks employed to join an orphaned baby with a baby less mumma....
 

That cows have the biggest eyes to stare you down......
 

The most spectacular views only found in the big open spaces of the country...
 

Quirky little gems in the middle of the  town ....
 

Being up close and personal and discovering that it was really fun....
 

Taking time to discover even the smallest beauty..
 

Exploring hidden gems with loads of history...
 

A little kid fun in a neighboring bigger town thrown in for good measure .....
 

It was such a  great week spent with great friends.......it has set us up for heading back to school.....
The weather has turned a bit bleak  out the doors we must all head tomorrow...

Here's to a happy Term Two.

Oh Summer

Oh  Summer...

Why oh why so  so so hot!

I know, I know, that is what summer is ....but no respite day and night is wearing....

Lucky we had a date with friends on the river today....a little boating for the big boys and kids and a big shady tree for the mummies.

{my whinging is falling on deaf ears, as while we were away in the sunshine all last week.....it was very not summery here.}

A helping hand...

 Our day in the sunshine state today gave us the opportunity of visiting with our dear friends up the coast.....they are right in the middle of packing up for a move....so lucky for them we lent a hand ( or maybe we just created more confusion) ....it was the least we could do seeing as we had a very lovely lunch by the water with them
Good friends are those who you live thousands of miles away and yet you can just pop in and lend a hand and have a good laugh along the way.

 While Meg is off doing her thing all week we intend to relax but we are also giving some head space to what our 2016 will look like....we already know it will be different to last year and are very expectant to the new around the corner.....so our ears and eyes are open.....looking for all sorts of inspiration..........
Like this???? .

Walk total  = 7 kms

Nothing better....

 I was on my feet all day today and there is nothing better than returning home to pasta being made.......

 and the next best thing seeing my man sharing his impressive creation with his mates for their regular get together....

Hanging with crafty friends

These school holidays have been different.....usually I set out to conquer a huge list of things to do......you know...

the de cluttering, cleaning, sorting ,working part time, keeping kids entertained, reading a few good books , sleep ins......

Well this time I didn't have a list......

partly because there were quite a few things already in the diary......dance competitions, sleep overs, work days, husband home days, new part time job shifts and repainting bedrooms.

Without me having my own agenda other nice things happened

One of the highlights was Meg having a couple of friends over to sleep and craft...

 

Despite our small house being in disarray due to the painting of the a bedroom....it all worked fine..

 

The weather was perfect for heading outside and making a mess.....the dye kind of mess...

 

Socks, t-shirts, pillowcases...nothing was safe from the colour being splashed around....

 

and when the dye needed time to be doing it's thing, there was some more stencils to be made....

 

I ducked out at one stage to have my haircut and on returning an hour later...a newly gifted pair of jeans had been turned into shorts!!! Lucky her aunt understands her creative niece (they were op shopped jeans)

In true style my girl always has dance on her brain.

It was lovely to see her helping her friends in their crafty endevours.....and apparently her friends didn't mind in the slightest that our home was less than ready for guests....

Ahhh school holidays ...you never really do know what they might throw up ...and sometimes getting rid of to do lists is a good thing.

It also helps that we have a trip planned for next week to look forward to .

I think I will be able to link to Leonie this week.....

Tea in the Garden

A beautiful sunny morning.....

Perfect for tea in the garden..

Armed with my handmade goodies and chocolate balls..... 

A date with the loveliest of lovelies...

The occasion to celebrate all that was created.....

 and

The friendships that were made.... 

Our Host ... was none other than Jody at the studio......

We gathered to give and receive.....to oooh and ahhhhh....

To give a sigh of relief when our gift was well received....

I have only spent 16 weeks with these girls....like minded but all of us so very different....

Not only did we create a huge array of new garments...we have laughed and laughed, even shed a tear two.... and laughed some more.

I was truly spoilt in my secret Santa gift made by a very talented and generous lady.....

 

Thanks Jody for today and  for opening your studio doors each week... you helped me create and learn so many new things and thanks for introducing me to some great gals.