Category Archives: Rambles, Waffles and Digressions

Rambles, waffles, and digressions…

loving this week

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Loving this week

When packages that were long since given up on with knitted goodies from distant great-grandmothers and birthday presents for young cowboys finally turn up. I adore my grandmother’s knitting and I’m very aware that having a grandmother in her 80’s being able to knit beautiful clothing for my little baby daughter is indeed a very, very special thing.

Loving the shift in energy this week. One side is still tired, too busy, and with an aching back, but that’s not a very exciting side. The other side is an untapped creative well that has been fun to dip in to whenever a free moment has presented itself. Little Monkey wanting to tell me a story for half an hour was the perfect opportunity to be relatively still while I listened intently and crocheted for my Wednesday group.

Breathing in the ocean air. Crystal clear winter waters, that make you want to swim and splash like a mermaid.

Watching Monkey Boy come back from a new class. A class that I had held my breath through the duration in the hope that he would love it and he wouldn’t turn into a bundle of frozen nerves. Holding my breath seemed to have worked as his excitement afterwards was through the roof. Oh boy, that was a proud mama moment.

Listening to overhead black cockatoos make their dawn journey back to the park. Their lingering calls to each other crossing the skies as the sun creeps up.

“Often life’s pleasures pass us by simply because we don’t take a moment to focus on them… Make a point of noticing everyday something that uplifts your spirit or tickles your heart… Stop to breathe in the joy of this moment and then tell someone about it. Share your joy and revel in it. When your joy is savoured, and then shared, it is magnified…” ROBIN GRILLE

If anyone else would like to do a ‘loving this week’ post, (or simply write something in the comments). Please let me know, link back to this post and I’ll do a link up. I would love to know about those little moments in your week that have tickled your heart.
 

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Some other lovely bloggers who have taken a minute to breathe in those beautiful moments.

Christine @ Slow Living Essentials

Kim @The Little Black Cow Blog

Gina @ ZazaSeaCow

Racheal @ Maven in Training

cowboy, racing car, rocket…

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Nine months ago he had started talking about his next birthday. Nine months notice to organise a cowboy-racing car-rocket birthday. I couldn’t really say no, after being given so much warning now could I?

Cowboy outfit

– local shop ordered in a kids cowboy hat for me

– opshop shirt (thrifted and still new)

– bandana from a stash at home

– cowboy pants and vest made by my mum

Racing car

– Playforever car

Rocket

– vanilla cake, strawberry jam and vanilla mascarpone inside.

– A chocolate ganache for the outside.

– Rocket made from sugar paste and colouring.

Honestly, birthdays make me just a touch nervous. I adore birthdays, love the fact that we are slowly creating our own traditions for our little people, forming hopefully wonderful memories, while also having had many beautiful birthday memories of my own.

So why would they make me a little nervous? It’s the overload possibility factor. An overload of “things.” I don’t generally feel that comfortable stipulating what people can and can not buy for my kids. I don’t want to sound like a poop, but I really don’t want people to purchase things just because they feel they have to. Environmentally, living in a small space and the fact that The Monkeys really don’t need much are also factors. So each year, I suggest certain family members contribute towards something bigger, (or something they really do need). A combined gift that can be enjoyed for a long time and later can be passed on, instead of a quick gratification, breaking and ending up in landfill.

For friends this year I’ve also said that no gifts were necessary. If they would like to draw a card, Little Monkey would love that. Otherwise just them being there and getting to share a cupcake at the park is super exciting for the little fella. I’m aware that I may not be able to do this forever. Perhaps in years to come, if one of the boys has a party and there is an envelope there to put in a dollar or two and then that money can go towards something of his choosing? How would people feel about that?

A friend of mine gets people to donate to a charity of her choosing and close to her heart instead of bringing a gift. This is a wonderful idea but apparently people still want to bring a gift as well. Who wouldn’t, a lot of people love giving gifts…I love giving gifts!

Then there is hand made gifts. If someone goes to the trouble of making something by hand or even purchased from someone who in turn had  hand made something…. oh I’m over the moon, but hang on, I said no gifts!

Aaahh, you see… this is why it makes me a little nervous each year.

Anyway, a lovely day was had. Little Monkey loved every minute of it and now gets to be a cowboy any day of the week that he chooses, (and it looks like it well may be every day this week.)

 links for people that may like a few little-people gift ideas.

Playforever car- these cars will last FOREVER. Beautifully made, they look awesome and would appeal to any sex or age (Mr Chocolate wants one now.)

Tiger Tribe car boxset- everything packs inside its own box. Handy, compact, well made and fun.

If you are in Australia I bought both of them through this company.

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What’s been your favourite gift? To be given or to give?

This is my go to cake at the moment for a basic cake recipe. Simple and can easily be used for mini cupcakes or scaled up to a larger cake.

Vanilla Birthday Cake

150g softened butter

150g caster sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

80mls milk (1/4 cup)

2 tbls natural yogurt

225g s/r flour (1 1/2 cups)

In a mixer, cream butter and sugar until changes colour to a white shade, then add vanilla, eggs, and milk/yogurt. Fold through flour.

Bake at 180C for approximately 10-15 minutes for smaller cupcakes, and obviously longer for bigger cakes.

Icing

1 tbls softened butter

1 1/2 cups icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla

For the icing you can switch the tastes round to basically anything you feel like. Lemon juice instead of vanilla, with some lemon zest through the cupcakes, amaretto, a little chocolate. Lots of possibilities…

this boy

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this boy…

with the soft warm little hands

that still want to hold mine

this boy…

who runs with his big brother,

and sometimes needs help with his shoes

this boy….

who loves to eat apples

and listen to stories of old red trains and happy french lions

this boy….

who still likes to wear a cape

and yellow work goggles up the street

this boy…

who’s big brown eyes and long camel like lashes

that make you melt with the love that it sparks

this boy…

who will never be three again,

and instead will now be four

weekend colours

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buddhist temple orange citrus

cleansing yellow incense

you’ve got my attention red vine

comfortable old colourful friends

my quiet love affair with new colourful friends

new reds and greens in my kitchen from old flowers that were stashed away

new colourful interests for little baby fingers

blue winter australian sky

little person colour

*****

Hope your weekend has been a colourful one.

waving goodbye with my fork in the air

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A good friend has just moved away. Away to a land of tropical fruits, green rolling hills, yoga with a rising sun, organic road side goodies and visiting pythons.

If there is anywhere to move, that tropical land is a good place to start. A new beginning, a new phase, a new rhythm for their family.

Although, there is a hole in our coffee club now. A rather significant one. There is also a hole in The Monkey Club. Two little blondies that are going to be missed as they find new places to swing, build and create.

Letters to write, pictures to send and promises of visits soon.

Waving goodbye with my fork in the air, as this idea was passed on from her. A little fork, a little prociutto and just a little more please.

See you soon L.

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Baker’s Help– My Sunbeam Mixer Professional series has died. Three times this year the same mechanism has conked out. Why? Probably because I’ve given it a huge flogging with mixing sourdough, and to be honest I’m surprised it’s lasted this long. (I hadn’t really thought I might be exceeding the size limit, but alas it seems I have….and it’s been waaaay over!) Kitchen bench space is teeny tiny, and while I can get by with very little kneading for my bread. Just incorporating the salt can be a pain when it’s 3 plus k’s of dough in a 40cmx40cm space with ‘stuff’ on either side.

SO, what I would love to know is…

what kind of kitchen mixer do you have?

Kitchenaid pros/cons? What is it like with small amounts? Say two egg whites?

Kenwood? At the moment I’m looking at a Titanium Major KM020. Could easily change though… This model takes 2.4k of dough where the kitchenaid’s only take 1.3/1.5k. Has anyone used upwards of this on a long term basis?

Any other snippets of mixer information would be very much appreciated!

this weekend…

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this weekend…

I got stuck trying on a vintage dress at a vintage and jazz fair. Arms shooting skyward in the change area, I was wedged in with no one to help. Call quietly to the stall holder or rip it and declare yes I would love to buy this one. The moment of panic passed and I was able to wriggle my way out. Dress back on the coat hanger and dignity left on the floor. (That’s the problem with these lovely vintage dresses, they look fantastic… but not a lot of give in the fabric.)

I fiddled with forced perspective photography. Seriously fun, but I have a bit to practise.

I made sourdough.

I made apple and sultana scrolls for my Monkey Boy’s lunch box.

The Monkeys went a scootering. Winter leaves under feet, winter sun on our faces and wind in their hair. Until we lost Little Monkey’s brake. How is a little fella to scoot without a brake? With speed, determination and probably a splash of luck I suspect.

This weekend, I started a cowl for my niece. I unravelled the start and began again. I stopped and am doubting what I should be doing with the wool. It’s so lovely and soft, I want to do the right thing by it… maybe it should be knitted? Speak to me baby alpaca and silk balls of softness.

Speaking of knitted, my nana knitted these. My nana is cool… these socks are very cool. Actually they are very warm which is why they are on my feet. Yep, warm cool socks. Who would have thought it?

This weekend I would like to officially apologise to my neighbours. Sometimes the need for loud chunky guitar music is stronger than the need to be a polite considerate neighbour, (it was brief…reasonably.)

What are you up to this fine weekend?

thoughts from the weekend

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cold winter beach with coloured skies

the pinks, blues and greys draw Little Monkey in

what goes on in that little three year old mind?

when all he wants to do is stand and watch the ocean

is it the magic of the water drawing him in?

or is it a snapshot preview of years to come?

wetsuit zipped up, surf board in hand, watching the sets roll in.

warm snuggles with my girl on cold days

quiet reading with Monkey Boy, (Wind in the Willows is serious business)

a visit from my midwife,

will there ever come a time when there isn’t a golden glow around the door way when she appears?

I don’t think so

sipped hot drinks with Mr Chocolate

and conversations that poke, prod and pull at dreams.

thoughts of how disgusting this lingering cough sounds from the beast virus that felled four of our family

to the untrained ear I’ve either been smoking 4 packs a day for the past 20 years or have contagious stamped all over me

it’s neither, but denial seems futile.

and cheesy toast, oh cheesy toast

how is it  you taste so good?

sourdough, cheese, grill it, a grind of black pepper

you can keep your packet junk foods,

cheesy toast is where it’s at

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what’s happening in your weekend?

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Spiced Hot Chocolate

hot milk frothed up in a coffee plunger

pinch of cardamom

a shake of cinnamon

enough squares of chocolate to keep you happy, drop them in

sipped with satisfaction

trying something new

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At the beginning of May the lovely Kate set a challenge to herself to do a motif a day in May, and asked if anyone else would like to play along by setting their own challenges for May.

I did, I wanted to play. My challenge was to crochet a little every day, as I wanted to get better. Not show stoppingly better just better than the very, very basics I did know. I wanted to understand what the hell all of these terms meant like, hdc2tog, sc, treble clusters etc. So I did, and now it makes a little more sense instead of looking at it as if I was reading ancient Greek. May is now over and I’m determined to keep practising and keep getting better, (as everyone needs a hat with flaps and ears I think.)

Coming to the end of the month, I came across this short TED talk. He talks of trying something new for 30 days. I was in again. It didn’t have to be big, it could be really quite small. Teeny tiny steps towards doing something I would like to do.

I still want to keep crocheting to get better, so I think I’ll keep that one. It might not be every day, but it will be there for a whole lot of it. I thought I might also try two other challenges during June. One, I want to make each person in our family laugh. Not by performing a slapstick comedy routine, but just to find a genuine chuckle each day from them. My second thing I want to do is read about coal seam gas. Not technically your usual combinations, but important ones for me this month anyway.

I asked Mr Chocolate and Monkey Boy if they would like to play along. A lovely yes from Mr Chocolate. He is going to practise playing his new ukulele each day. Monkey Boy was a bit unsure about the whole thing. But he was happy enough at the suggestion that he and I read a little of a special book every day, and Wind in the Willows we are starting off with.

How about you? Feel like doing something each day in June?

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* I really was so very humbled by all your lovely comments from my last post. That sort of honesty that so many of you wrote about in the comments is invaluable. Not only for me but for any other mums out there that might be reading and not commenting. So really, a heart felt thank you.

the pause

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I had a long honest post. I wrote it. It sat there. I read it, then read it again.

I then decided it was probably a bit too honest, and then deleted it.

So instead I’ll write… I stopped, I paused and that feels a whole lot better.

I also want to acknowledge the fact that parenting is hard. Juggling two small children, a young baby and a husband that works really long hours, with no other help can be hard at times. Really hard.

So what do I need to do?

Acknowledge that some moments, days, weeks are hard. Allowing myself to feel that and not try and suck it up all the time.

Be realistic and not try to do too many things. Lower my expectations a little and remember that things change all the time.

See beauty that sits around me.

Take time out for me. The world won’t come to a rolling stop, if I take a half an hour off to sit and stare vacantly into a coffee cup.

Remember to stretch, and most importantly… breathe.

Honestly, I think things will be just fine and for those days when it’s not so fine?

That’s fine too…

(and there is nothing quite like a family fun beast of a virus to give you some perspective.)

*****

Thanks for all your comments, I really appreciate all of them lovely people.

Now, what’s been happening with you?


Sunday

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Finished crocheted cowl

just in time for cold wild windy Sundays

nibbling on soft sweet

Vanilla Champagne Coconut Cupcakes

thinking about the next jazzed up caesar salad

and marvelling at how quickly

a baby girl can grow

*****

What are you up to this Sunday?

and

(to all the mama’s, Happy Mothers Day. You do an awesome job.)