It's school holidays time again. A time I really encourage the kids to just be and chill out. Do nothing. Yesterday I was stoked that the normal no TV past 8am thing in the morning still existed (most days for us we let the kids watch some TV until 8am and then it's off for reading or homework or … [Read more...]
Monday arvo water cooler catch up
April 11, 2016 by 18 Comments
Ah school holidays...when "working" at home becomes a juggling act and if you are not organised, which I am not, the day time routine goes out the window! Which is lucky because the windows are wide open and there is a stunning Autumn day out there. Washing drying, kids playing outside, baby … [Read more...]
Saturday arvo kitchen: how to make red wine jus
April 9, 2016 by 13 Comments
The other night when I cooked up a couple of large pieces of rib eye, I made a couple of sauces to go with it: béarnaise and a red wine jus (jus is a French word meaning a thin gravy or sauce made from meat juices). The béarnaise is far from traditional or "proper" but it's always tasty and this red … [Read more...]
Friday morning ramblings
April 8, 2016 by 27 Comments
A gal asks for some help and BOY did you guys deliver! Thank you for all your comments on yesterday's post...I will have that bottom sorted in no time! I really appreciate it, and boy do I love the community we have here...no problem too small. I found myself on the blower this morning to a chemist … [Read more...]
Skin deep
April 7, 2016 by 86 Comments
Is there ANYTHING better than a cool change after a hot day? Overnight one swept through here so that when we went to bed and it was 25 degrees we woke to 10 this morning...delightful! I've had a productive morning stacking wood for the fire that will be on tonight, mopping floors and pottering … [Read more...]
Feeding crowds at home
April 6, 2016 by 38 Comments
Over the years of being down here and hosting visitors for various meals at our home, there's one thing I have gotten good at: feeding crowds of people. While having your entire family over for Christmas lunch, or a christening or birthday party can seem entirely overwhelming, if you keep it simple, … [Read more...]
3rd times a charm: baby-led weaning with my 3rd kid
April 5, 2016 by 49 Comments
I've had a few people ask about how we feed Maggie, having seen many an Instagram shot of her in her high chair knawing on a piece of sourdough or covered from head to toe in a roast chicken dinner. So I thought I'd write a post about it, to help others have a crack at this baby-led weaning … [Read more...]
Monday morning water cooler catch up
April 4, 2016 by 29 Comments
Sheesh that was a long morning wasn't it? Anyone else ready for School 1.5 hours earlier than usual? Or was that just us? The old change in time always keeps you on your toes, or your tired toes. All those people that talk of enjoying an extra hour of sleep obviously don't have children because it … [Read more...]
One thing: Adulting
April 3, 2016 by 29 Comments
Oh it's been a week. I managed to collapse into a heap after the Easter long weekend and succumb to the nasty cold that Harps, Daisy, Mags and I think Rob started with a few weeks ago. Sigh. But this morning I am finally feeling more like me, albeit with a bit of a headache from too much wine last … [Read more...]
Let’s hear it for the girls!
March 31, 2016 by 68 Comments
You know what's happened around these here parts? I've stopped breastfeeding. Well, it just kind of happened. It's been well over a week now since I last fed Mags and so I guess that kind of means we're done right? No last significant, memorable feed. Just a refusal from her for a few days in a row, … [Read more...]
Things I like {The 30th March 2016 edition}
March 30, 2016 by 21 Comments
Whilst I have been in a little cloud of Negative Nancy land due to prolonged sickness I must say that the sun shining today has lifted spirits and I'm feeling a little brighter. There's much to like round here today, didn't take far to find it. 1. Autumn hydrangeas I may or may not have been seen … [Read more...]
48 out of 60
March 29, 2016 by 39 Comments
It will come as no surprise you you to know that at School I was very neat and tidy. I took great pride in my handwriting being neat, my uniform being neat, hair neat and my pencils and margins just so. I was never really all that bright (well I don't think at least) I got by and loved things like … [Read more...]
Easter 2016
March 28, 2016 by 38 Comments
Because our summer holidays were cut short with Perfuckuss I said to Rob some time in the trenches of late January that we would start the year again at Easter because by then, we would all be better, and we would just start the year over. So you can imagine how happy I was when last week Harper was … [Read more...]
My friend, the Author
March 23, 2016 by 31 Comments
I met my friend Mrs Woog for the first time 5 years ago last weekend. It was the Digital Parents Conference and I was nervous and unsure what was going to happen when I walked into that conference room and met actual other people who wrote blogs, and "got" being online. I'd written to her in emails … [Read more...]
One thing: Date night
March 22, 2016 by 28 Comments
There's been something I have been meaning to do for well over 10 months now...one of those things that definitely gets put off week after week and month after month but something so simple and SO important: a date night with Rob. You see, since Mags was born, we have been REALLY bad at spending … [Read more...]
Monday meal ideas: EASTER
March 21, 2016 by 8 Comments
I don't want to alarm anyone, but Easter is THIS WEEK. As in this Friday is good Friday. I know! It was just Christmas, and it's still entirely too hot for any kind of enjoyable Easter, but it's here and there's nothing that can be done to change it. At least we are all in for a shorter … [Read more...]
Over the Back Fence Podcast {Season 5 Ep 7}
March 20, 2016 by 1 Comment
In what may best be described as the sports edition, Neighbour and I discuss Jarryd Hayne (again), The Matildas, Olympics memories, Thorpie as well as non-sporting things such as: Sex like Ice Cream and other 'chats' with your kids, War and Peace, The Martian, Kimmy K and using her power for good … [Read more...]
Saturday baking session: lemon syrup cake
March 19, 2016 by 10 Comments
This is an old recipe from the files but very good (albeit a little flat most times I make it). Perfect weekend afternoon cooking if you ask me. Got some lemons? You've got cake! And can we take a moment to enjoy little Harper? Why do they have to grow? Lemon Syrup Cake 3 tablespoons melted … [Read more...]
Mumcore
March 18, 2016 by 11 Comments
Greetings from fatal hard drive land where I have seriously just broken yet another laptop in our house. Got word from Keith the computer guy that my Macbook pro is DED and a new hard drive required and so I was making do on my very old Macbook that was pretty much broken but I managed to revive for … [Read more...]
Hello, from here
March 17, 2016 by 33 Comments
I woke up this morning, and you were the first thing I thought of. A year, a whole year passed since you left. I can't imagine how all your family and close friends are today, as they stop and remember you. It's not like we ever stop though. Reminded of you in small ways, almost every day. A … [Read more...]
