a month gone by so fast?

It's ten-on-ten come round again, hard to believe how much we've been up to since last time. Please do pop over to see other people's photos at Rebekah's a bit of sunshine.

Without further ado, here's the day in pictures.



(Bit late with putting the new month on the chalkboard, we are.)

Meet Yellow Pepper

My newest love is a kitchenaid.

It's in yellow pepper, a colour that won my heart the first time I saw it but that I had a hard time tracking down. This yellow (and many gorgeous colours) were discontinued a couple of years ago to make way for the platinum range.  Platinum smatlin, I didn't care too much for all those metallics.

Anyway, this yellow beauty appeared on e-bay two weeks ago.  It was two years old, barely used (so the ad said, at least), and only two suburbs away.  I was feeling a little like it was high time I bought one, I bake so much and even occasionally cater a party. (Shameless plug for my own services there, references available on request!)  Plus I'd held onto some birthday money for over six months. I swore my name was written all this little baby. 

I was willing then-and-there to spent the five hundred to "buy it now."

In my husband and I's relationship we run the big purchases by one another, as I am sure most people do, not asking for permission just sanity. Usually one of us is more sensible and rational, the other is a little excited.

We take turns.  Sometimes he's the crazy one, like the time he didn't even hesitate when I called him from Ikea saying 'You know that leather couch we love, the one we all sat on, the soft comfy one with chaise where we could cuddle up on, can I buy it now?" Not even a pause before the "yes," bless him.

Than time I got off the phone, looking around Ikea wildly, thinking "He just said I could spend a ridiculous amount of money, just like that."  Looking around like people could see the insanity oozing out of me.  I went with his and my irrationality and I am glad, because we still love that couch, and no we never have time to cuddle up on it.

Well, this time Aaron was the sensible one.  He pointed out that the auction had three days left on it, and that there wasn't even one bid.  He said I should wait and see what happens.

It was a long three days.  I watched it, agonising the whole time. On the Saturday of its closing, I was still saying "we should get it." I was afraid someone else was going to get  their hands on all of it's beautiful yellowness.  Time was winding up, no one was bidding,  I said Aaron "Lets get it, I have the $500!" Again with the voice of reason "Let's offer her $350."  Never telling me no, just being reasonable.

She said no to $350, but eight minutes later she listed it at "buy now $400" an, Aaron immediately said  "buy it now." I wasn't understanding all these mixed messages - did he want me to have it or not?  All this shamozel, is this how e-bay works is this what you're meant to do?

"Hit the button then, hit it!" I shouted.   I was panicked someone else would get my Kitchenaid!

I think there was dancing in my kitchen when he hit the button.

He was right, he'd gotten me a bargain I saved $100, that's a lot to us.  I was (in the end) pleased he'd taken control.  Even though he was frustrating the hell out of me!

A few days later and it's a pleasure every time I see it on my bench. It's even more a pleasure when I use it!  Watch this space, a baking onslaught approaches.

anachronism (1 of 2)

miners breath, by various brennemans.

We ventured out this weekend. I was amazed myself.

We had a five day break at the end of school holidays, for Easter and ANZAC day how wonderful, even just thinking about it coming was a little shiver of excitement. Especially seeing as the Autumn weather was perfect on each and every one of those days!

Phoenix and Beatrix's school is turning 125 this year, and they are celebrating it next week by dressing up and doing some activities from the era. There will be a period costume part, and I thought seeing the the Gold rush days of the 1850's in Victoria up-close and personal would give me inspiration. Sovereign Hill, open air museum and object of many a school excursion, here we come.

Two hours drive later, but amazingly enthusiasm un-dampened. Kids good, Aaron good, only got a little bit lost on the way. Maybe 100ks extra, maximum, but we made a great drive/navigator team and the kids made up "we're lost and we're gonna die of starvation" songs, so fantastic really.

I had always remembered the boiled lollies of Sovereign Hill, from the excursions with school when I was younger. So when I saw the shop, I said We have to take the kids in here! Phoenix walked ahead with my Nephew, really excited. He had his own money, and he's a careful spender. Can I buy something? Please?

I say yes and they are off like a shot, coming out with one of those comic-weapon-sized lollipops I have always said he couldn't have. Good on him.

I love the people, like the fella who sat and played the harmonica. There are those who wonder the street like they are going about their business, almost oblivious to your presence. It is really like you are watching them but they don't see you, it's a little eerie.

Of course they will speak if you ask them a question.

See what I mean they really look like they are actually going somewhere, I imagine them whispering about their weekend at the club,about how hung over they are, how can you talk of such things in a gown like that.

It's a wonder these horse drawn carts don't take down a pedestrian, my son Phoenix had to dash for sweet life as one came round the corner. I laughed.

Even these two little lovelies, visitors like us but American I think, dressed the part. As did my husband, despite my constructive criticism. One of the mine workers said it was a "fine hat," but they get paid to say that.

It was just nice, too, to just be together, doing something nice.

Circe was already a happy little camper on this whole outing, with an apple lollipop she wasn't letting go of, but really good and easy. There was one time she was so taken by the peacocks she too would have walked away, a bit too far really. And she leant really far over machinery a few times. And the trampling horse thing, like with Phoenix. But man did she hold on to that lollipop, and that dandelion, and she wasn't going to sleep either until this thing was all gone. At like nine o'clock. But good the whole time, really.

Another really good thing were the houses, you could walk through the little dwellings of various types. From the surprisingly cosy canvas tent with wooden roof and fireplace, up to proper houses that Aaron says we couldn't have afforded if we lived back then. And they were pretty small.

A walk through the cottages, looking at the furniture, it might make you thankful for your Boshe or your Miele. I am glad for the advances we have, but I love the simplicity too. Like the all-wooden trough, sides and all, man I 'd love one of those.

But it was getting late, since we'd left the house two and a half hours late, and there was still lots to do.

(2/2) Soon to come.

it was all yellow

There are a few things I am really loving at the moment, thought I'd share with you just what has inspired me and what I have produced as a result.

I am in love with Yellow, full stop. This colour was so overlooked by me, never got my love, now I want to be bathed, in it want to wear it, want to paint with it. Me and this new love took drastic measures to seal our commitment to each other: I painted a Ikea kitchen stool in Dulux's "Daffodil yellow."

Wow. I love it, the kids think it's awesome and it is certainly a pop of colour.

I am finding fabric so inspiring whether it be some new bargain ream of end of line floral blue, yellow and orange cotton or some old pillow cases with retro prints. Seeing my little baby's chubby feet poking out from some newly made yoga pants is too scrumptious, 30 pictures later and I think I may have one to share.

Receiving fantastic vintage buttons from Beatrix whilst she was away in Tasmania, we both adore buttons. I love the "will not be hurt by hot iron". I am imagining all the ways to use these blue buttons picked up by the friend she was staying with who knew about my obsession with old buttons.

Fabric bundles even made it to the eye level shelf in the dining area- sewing area

cookbooks were moved down a level, then My heart said "no", I love you both. So bundles ended up on top shelf where some precious things inherited from my mother in law were moved to a safer place. I put those in my glassed cabinet away from my climbing, scaling every surface baby. We are living at the moment with chairs on tables, it's just easier this way.

Making a fabric doll for Circe my baby out of scraps and then having Eliza claim it as her own. After all previous attempts from me to gain some of her love for my sewing projects have gone unappreciated and worse still been given the aaarrhhh. She even rejected the adorable Little Miss Frock in light blue polka dots with a deep pocket for stashing whatever a 3 year old stashes, usually their big sister's stuff.

I am loving pockets I want pockets on everything. When you're a mum there is always LEGO and pegs to pick up. I don't exactly know why pegs make the #2 most common item on the floor in my list of 100 most common found useful yet useless item when bunched with 10 other useful items. So I want everything I make to have a deep pocket, very useful when holding a baby for school pick up, keys can fit in front pocket.

Note my adorable patchwork pocket, see special projects for the disaster of pattern misprint resulting in a way too small dress for Me but fitting 10 year old daughter.

I am filling my recently meticulously scrubbed (thank you Aaron!) fridge -front with Eliza's amazing drawings, here she is at work. She spends and an hour and a half then takes a day or two break then wants to work on them some more her dedication and patience are awe inspiring

All my children are talented, Beatrix spent a day this week making a matchbox bed mattress, doona, and two pillows, for a tiny figurine she had bought. Her blanket stitch is fantastic she too is digging yellow.

Thought I'd share the little nibbles that keep me sane, while sewing. Quince paste on mini toast with leg ham, a square of dark chocolate ,ginger ale and cucumber slices maybe with a dash of pims depending on how indulgent I want to be or how many children I am looking after, and how frustrated I am by said misprinted pattern. Yes I ought to be pretty sloshed by the time I make that last stitch.