Elsa Beskow Book Giveaway – Check it out

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Jacinta

Valerie over at Jump Into A Book has the most amazing giveaway running until 31 July.  It’s open to international entries too.  The giveaway is for 19 (can you  believe it) Elsa Beskow books.  We love her books, but only have a few at present.  The illustrations are gorgeous and the stories are lovely too.  The books included in the giveaway are:

  • The Sun Egg
  • The Land of Long Ago
  • Princess Sylvie
  • Children of the Forest
  • The Curious Fish
  • Peter in Blueberry Land
  • Emily and Daisy
  • Pelle’s New Suit
  • Around the Year
  • Woody, Hazel, and Little Pip
  • The Flowers’ Festival
  • aunt Green, Brown, and Lavender
  • Christopher’s Harvest Time
  • Peter’s Old House
  • Ollie’s Ski Trip
  • Peter and Lotta’s Adventure
  • Uncle Blue’s New Boat
  • Peter and Lottas Christmas
  • The Tale of the Little, Little, Old Woman

Picture source here.

There are extra ways to enter, so head on over to Jump Into A Book to check the giveaway out.  Good luck!  Jacinta x

 

 

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Keepin’ It Real

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Jacinta

We had one of the painters back yesterday finishing off the last of the painting we had done last week.  I had the kids corralled down one end of the house away from the wet paint.  Enter some morning playtime shenanigans and the result was a broken window!

I called a local glass repairer and thankfully he was able to come within the hour.  In fact, he arrived just after the painter had left.  It was kind of like tradie tag.  I wonder who I could have called next?  Suffice to say I think my faith has been restored in local tradesmen and the other bonus is the glass is safer than what was previously there.  He was quick and efficient too.  The paint job looks good too by the way (photos to come once the rooms are back in order).

Considering all the fun play my kids have indoors and the fact a lot of our windows are floor level, this is our first broken window.  I like the idea of having safer glass, but perhaps avoiding breakages all together is more budget friendly (kids are you listening?).

Now for the rain and wind to die down so I can send my kiddos outdoors to play.  I’m hoping your week has been filled with shenanigans of the gentler kind.  Jacinta x

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Yarn Along

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Jacinta

Joining in with Ginny at Small Things yarn along this week.

I have made pretty good progress on Jairah’s jumper/sweater this week while staying at mum’s.  I should have it finished before the end of the week if all goes to plan, especially as the weather is too wet to do much else.  I have plans to go to a friend’s place for craft tonight, so will aim to get started on the sleeves.  But knowing me, will probably do more talking than knitting.

I am reading a kindle freebee called, Letters of a Woman Homesteader, by Elinore Pruitt Stewart.  I have only just started it, but so far, so good. I finished reading The Secret Holocaust Diaries by Nonna Bannister.  I found it hard to put down and read it in a couple of days.  I’m glad she write about her experiences, as tragic as they were.  It’s the kind of book that stays with you and makes you realise how good things really are.  It reminded me of a book I read in high school called Elli, by Livia E. Bitton-Jackson.  It too is based on a holocaust experience.

I can’t wait to see what you have all been knitting and reading this week. Jacinta x

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This Moment

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Jacinta

From Soulemama {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words (well just a couple) – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

Jairah was so besotted with the babies in the paper, he kept kissing them over and over again and saying "sweet dream".

I love your moments too.  So feel free to leave a link in the comment section for us all to see.  Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful weekend lovelies!  Jacinta x

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Keepin’ It Real

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Jacinta

– Keepin’ It Real captures the true essence of family life that I know are fleeting, keeping this mama grounded –

Jairah has the funkiest hair.  It is so fine and whispy, that it often stands on end or has the beginnings of dreadlocks.  But of course he doesn’t at all mind.  He loves to pose for a photo, bed hair and all.

I will admit now, that some days it doesn’t get brushed and looks like this all-day-long.  It certainly doesn’t bother him and well, I think it kind of sums him up very well.  I can’t say I look that good on my bad hair days though!  Jacinta x

 



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Yarn Along

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Jacinta

Joining in with Ginny at Small Things yarn along this week.

Now I have finished Scarlett’s dress, I have cast on a jumper/sweater for Jairah.  The yarn is by Cleckheaton and is deep green with a slight fleck through it.  The pattern is out of a book probably fromt he early 80’s.

I have just started reading The Secret Holocaust Diaries by Nonna Bannister on Kindle (hence no photo as I used my phone to take the picture).  I am only a few pages in, so have no opinion as yet.

Can’t wait to see what everyone is up to.  Jacinta x

Posted in Craft, Knitting, Yarn Along | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

On A Little Adventure

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Jacinta

The kids and I are visiting my mum in Ballarat this week.  Well, we sort of had to evacuate at short notice as we have some serious painting happening at home as of today.  The painter was able to slot us in this week.  There are too many paint fumes and dust for wee children and a mama (who took almost 6 months to rid herself of a cough) to be around.

I am expecting to return home to a vastly different colour scheme than I have been used to.  So be gone you hideous colours and please paint gods/goddesses let the colours we chose be better.  I have lost sleep over the idea of getting people in to help get the painting done.  It seems so different when you are doing the job yourself, but paying someone to do it makes it more real, so to speak.  All of a sudden, I found myself doubting the colours we had picked out for months and wanting to pick up every home magazine within reach to somehow prove our choice.  I felt like I should have visited more paint shops for colour samples (like the 20,000 I had looked at already wasn’t anywhere near enough).  I was a woman on the edge!

In reality, we have to use oil based paints for the windows and doors and it isn’t ideal for us to be home.  Mind you, we have left Greg home to oversee the job and I hope he isn’t seeing double for his efforts.  As I left today, the heady fumes were already wafting through the house, even with all the doors and windows ajar.  Nothing like a stiff winter breeze and paint fumes to hurry a mama out the door and on to a 3 hour road trip!

I am both nervous and excited about the whole thing.  We have never gotten someone to paint for us, but this job was bigger than either Greg or I could accomplish.  Every single surface in our house has to be painted.  It would take us a month of Sundays just to get the first coat done and it seems it takes at least three coast of paint to hide the previous colour, ceiling included.  So now I will try to go off to sleep tonight, knowing that I have handed over a job that was doing my head in and feeling the peace of knowing I can move on to other things.  I’d like to think knitting and craft, but Greg reminded me of all the house jobs that needed doing.  Nothing like bring a mama down with a thud!

I hope you are able to find a little more peace in your week.  Jacinta x

Posted in Family Life, Renovations (Renos 101!) | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Scarlett’s Dress

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Jacinta

I finally got around to taking some photo’s of Scarlett wearing her dress I knitted.  I had hoped to get some photos outside in natural light, but this time of year that is next to impossible, along with the fact it is really hard to get photos of her without her tongue sticking out or silly faces (well I thought I better add one honorary photo). Thankfully she loves it and wore it to her School’s winter festival last week.  It was the perfect outfit, as the evening was cold.   Notes for the dress can be found in my Ravelry page.

Jacinta x

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This Moment

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Jacinta

From Soulemama {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words (well just a couple) – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

We *heart* you too Cardamon

I love your moments too.  So feel free to leave a link in the comment section for us all to see.  Thanks for stopping by and have a beautiful weekend lovelies!  Jacinta x

Posted in This Moment | Tagged , , , , , | 21 Comments

Keepin’ It Real

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Jacinta

– Keepin’ It Real captures the true essence of family life that I know are fleeting, keeping this mama grounded –

As we are in the midst of renovating, different rooms get reassigned their use.  The playroom is currently also Scarlett’s bedroom.

It seems a bed in the middle of the room makes for fun play and jumping on and off of course.   So while the playroom is in shambles, Scarlett’s room is getting its finishing touches before Greg starts on the floating floors.  The house is definitely a work in progress.

I hope if you have renovated with kids, it has been a mostly fun journey!  Jacinta x

Posted in Keepin' It Real | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments