squeezing in stuff..

its that time of day, just enough time to want to start something..not enough time before school pick up..
I planted potatoes today - dug my trenches, tossed in the seed spuds and gently covered them in their warm blankie of sunny earth.
I'm dreaming of jersey bennies at christmas this year, some for us and some as gifts..Yum!
..turned around to find chooks were de-bugging the landscape with considerable enthusiasm and hurling of earth..
As long as the spuds stay in there we'll be fine, but the minute I find a spud on the path its chook lock-up time!
Hoping to get my peas in the ground too, may enlist child labour for that as we all know those peas will never make it to the house and if you're going to eat it like candy well you may as well plant it.
Its the simple pleasures we squeeze into our days that make it all feel good, a whole cup of hot tea, a fresh slice of bread, the sun on my back as I muck out the lawn ornaments, laughing at the dog as she runs like a mad thing, - these are the things that are precious, not the gold and silver, not the cheers of the crowd (although it doesn't go amiss) but the small droplets of sparkles from everyday squeezing it in..

verbosity...

..a friend said to me, I never need to call you - your whole life is on facebook..
well! thats a conversation stopper!
I must admit, its easy to add to, I can have a whole conversation..over days..and some of the jokes are sooo funny!
But also, how much do my friends need to know..?
How much is too much.. do I love the sound of my own voice in my head so much that I can't shut up ?
Maybe.. which was why I started a blog - so I didnt fill face book with a constant stream of consciousness.
So much of our lives are out there on the web, I keep up with friends overseas and just around the corner - even my next door neighbour when we're both busy with mumminess -
Is big brother really that interested as some of my more paranoid friends say, or are we just cheerfully chatting to ourselves like the budgies do all day?
Many of the blogs I read fill me with hope and joy and make me feel normal and sane. They inspire and educate and I laugh and cry with the writers, as I burn cakes, bandage knees and struggle with the daily drudgery of mummidom.
My life is pretty great, but some days are tougher than others, and venting online and out of my house into the world frees up my headspace for just getting on with life.

Thus the reason I started.. so as not to bore my friends with my verbosity, just to set it all free and maybe amuse the occasional reader..who isnt my mum !

the rhythm of baking..

mmmm so its nearly nearly christmas day... the anticipation is making the kids effervescent..little bubbles of sunshine keep bouncing off them. !
Was up at 6.30 am making fresh cookies to replace the 4 dozen we accidently ate already ..or gave away..however by now at 10.30pm..have given most of that 6 dozen away too...mmmm cookies...
ok..so I ate a few..and so did the family..and we're all filled with christmas from the inside out!

Much to my amazement  I received a chuffed smile from my postie, a couple of bags of chaff,(wow) a bag with home grown sausages and bacon, a mystery gift from a friend who now has a bag of delicious shortbread to offer her guests, and a beef roast also home grown..wow  - ya had me at the smile :)
This also goes back to the magic of homemade - tastes like butter cos it is.. smells like vanilla cos I dropped those seeds in myself - and the rhythm of creating it gives me peace and tranquility in a hectic season.

My house was filled today with cinnamon and cardamon and orange zest and shortbread smells.. those cookies may have gone but a bit part of my tired worn out self is feeling like its been hugged and nurtured and loved - the act of gifting just comes back tenfold..and I hope they feel the same way .
..thank you wonderful friends for your generous gifts - but thank you most of all for just being you..wonderful - fabulous  - and a really good reason for baking ..xxxx

fabulous delicate..magical tree..kirigami style..

find it here.. its really lovley and so is this blog..
http://www.bloomize.com/fold-cut-a-christmas-tree-with-a-star-topper/

pre-christmas insanity..or being resourceful and therefore accused of earthmothering tendencies..

... I've notice that when i bake, or sew or do something like craft.. even plant anything ..people toss around the phrase earth mother.. and oddly enough it sounds like an insult, no matter how kindly they mean it..
in my head i see round old lady who talks to her cats and recycles her teabags..and wears one of Those aprons..
 Now.. I may be somewhat rounded, have been known to dig out a pinny - and yes - my cats do chat to me..(mostly about the price of fish or lack of it) but I like a fresh t-bag and some thrash metal on the stereo as much as anyone else..
 I just choose to nuture my family and friends - and myself  - with homemade love.
.
I'm a terrible house keeper..but today my house smells like fruit cake..and later there'll be gingerbread in there too..and maybe even lemon curd- with cutsy home crafted labels..
These will be handed out to friends and teachers and the other precious folk in my life..with cheerful optimisim and a belief that homemade love is welcomed by all.
As much as i wish to spoil them with dollars and cents, precious time and a bit of effort will tell them I care and they matter to me, without breaking the bank or even glancing off its shiny expensive credit card decorated surface..
So merry christmas precious ones,  from the earth mother ..who may or may not have taste tested the liquor for the chocolates - (to prevent accidental poisoning of the innocent) .. I shall shoulder the slings and arrows of well meant titles and continue to spread glitter in my wake where ever I wander..

sunday ..the bliss of a long weekend...

of course the best part was the easter bunny didnt have to hop out the bedroom window to deliver eggs on the front porch this year..phew.. last year bunny fell asleep on the couch and missed the delivery window ..
. bunnies do sweat!!
so  - left my chocolate munching kiddlies with Daddy.(thanks honey pie).Drove  up to the paddock..listening to tragically hip.. pretty much brilliant start..followed by lovely docile horse ride on my big plonky donkey girl..hanging with horsey friends and later reading with my eyes closed on my bed when i got home.. the best kind of nana nap ..mmmm
A long weekend is a little piece of magic really, a little extra breathing space, time to pause and laugh at the man, and with the kids. Time to play games with the dog, teach the kids how to cook stuff.. and then a lovely calm evening cos we all get a sleep in..
. thank you  thank you thank you..

those anzac were amazing people and for giving me this time to remember that and hang out with my family I thank you .. RIP un named warriors.

germs...

has anyone else noticed that kids germs knock you flat in the blink of an eye..
One minute you're making drinks for everyone and supplying tissues..the next you're wishing there was a nice dark closet to crawl into....and everyone else has gone back to school...
.
or in my case.. are just sick enough to stay home (instead of leaving you in peace) but not sick enough not to lie down, they bicker and demand entertainment...
sigh..

if I hide under the duvet will they still find me..?.
...if I feed them oreos and rice crackers for tea is that child abuse...?