Yarn Along – Also, check out my giveaway

Posted on April 21, 2011 by Jacinta

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

I have cast on a vest this week.  We went camping over the weekend and I took my knitting in the hope of finding 5 minutes to cast something on.  I in fact, found a whole hour! I got to knit the night we got home too.  The pattern is the Pebble Vest.  I have made quite a few of these over the last few years.  I find it quick to knit and love the fact it is knit all in one.  I am using a 70% wool and 30% soya blend yarn.  It is lovely and soft and I would describe the colour as mocha.  I am knitting it on 5.5mm needles (US 9).  The size will probably be around 6-12 months.  I have another Pebble Vest on Ravelry, that I made for Jairah, if you want to have a look.

I am trying to get through a book by Barbara Kingslover, The Lacuna.  I was enjoying it to start with, but I must admit I am finding it a bit long winded the further I read (I’m about half way), even though it is well written.  I usually devour Barbara books, but alas, not this one.  But I want to finish it before I start reading another book.

I have a giveaway for Easter if you are interested.

Jacinta x

Posted in Yarn Along | 4 Comments

I Wish I May, I Wish I Might

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Jacinta

Today the children and I spent a beautiful autumn day out with some lovely friends.  The sun was again smiling upon us (such a treat after months of hideous weather).  We went to Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick, Victoria.  My friend and I spent the first half hour watching the girls playing around the wishing well as you enter the gardens.  We could hear the girls discussing how they could possibly get the money from the well to make a wish.  My friend mentioned to them that if they took the money, then someone else’s wish wouldn’t come true.  That got them thinking.  I didn’t hear what Scarlett and her friend wanted to wish for, but Tenneille wished she could have a baby dragon!  Of course I had absolutely no change on me for them to throw in the wishing well, so we will have to see if wishes still come true, regardless of payment.

We spent the rest of the afternoon in the playground.  I think Jairah may have worn off a layer on the slides!   I was a great day out, even if I did get a little sunburn (opps) and photos were few.  Oh but I do love autumn and little people wishes.  Jacinta x

Posted in Family Life, Recommendations, Seasons | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Hot Cross Buns

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Jacinta

We spent the afternoon waiting for our hot cross buns to be ready.  I used a recipe my bread machine came with.  The buns always come up so soft and yummy and have a spice glaze.  While waiting for the buns to cook the girls were singing renditions of Hot Cross Buns and a cute song they made up that went “Mama is the best cook in the world, cook in the world” over and over.  So very cute!

Scarlett helped me glaze them and she couldn’t get enough of the smell, (well they are so gorgeously spicy in fragrance).  Of course lashings of butter were in order to top off our afternoon snack and a cup of tea for me to wash down my bun buns.  Now the question is, do hot cross buns suffice as dinner?

Jacinta x

Posted in Celebrations, Family Life, Gastronomic Explosions - aka Yummy Food/Recipes | Tagged | 8 Comments

We’re Back!

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Jacinta

We have just returned from a few days away camping with friends.  We went to Warburton, which isn’t too far from home, so that in itself made it worthwhile.  We camped in tents at the caravan park, right along side the river.  It is a dog friendly park, so Cardamon was able to join the fun.  It didn’t rain and our days were full of sunshine, blue skies and happy children.  We went on walks along the river and spent the evenings around the campfire.

Blue sky - a rare treat of late

Walking track along the Yarra River, Warburton, Victoria

Quiet spot along the Yarra River, Warburton, Victoria

 

All this fun caught up with one wee chap!

Of course there was rolling down grassy hills, basking in the beautiful sunshine and ice creams to end the holiday.

Grassy hills, means lots of fun rolling!

Ice cream and basking in the sun - This is living!

 

We have come home relaxed and rejuvenated.  It really was a lovely mini-break and we are looking forward to doing this again once the weather warms up again.

Daisy picking by the river

Hope your weekend was well spent too.  Jacinta x

Posted in Family Life, Recommendations | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Check out this giveaway

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Jacinta

I love spreading the word on great giveaways.  Check out this giveaway from PS I Quilt.  It is for a fat quarter bundle of Modern Workshop by Leisl Gibson.  It’s open till Friday.

modern workshop 1

(Permission was granted from Rachel at PS I Quilt, to reproduce the photo here)

Jacinta x

Posted in Giveaways | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Rub A Tub Tub

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Jacinta

I got home late the other night and of course still had to prepare dinner.  Jairah was needing me and I needed my hands free to get dinner on the stove.  I figured our water loving boy would be very happy sitting in a tub.  So in the middle of the kitchen I placed a plastic container and filled with water, bubbles and a few bath essentials and enter, one happy boy.

Blurry, but this boy moves fast!

I’m happy to say we had dinner and peace reigned once again.  (Oh, and just incase anyone is concerned, he was at arms reach the entire time).   Jacinta x

Posted in Family Life | Tagged , | 12 Comments

This Moment

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Jacinta

An idea via Soulemama

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Feel free to leave a link to your moment in the comments for others to see. Thanks for stopping by and have a gorgeous weekend!  Jacinta x

 

 

Posted in This Moment | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

Meet My First Steiner/Waldorf Doll

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Jacinta

I have finally finished my first Steiner/Waldorf doll.  I recently participated in a doll making course which ran for 6 weeks.  Of course, I didn’t get to finish it before the class ended as I missed one of the classes and I spent lots of the time chatting!  But I had done enough to finish her at home.  The girls absolutely love her and Scarlett thinks her little smocked dress is very pretty.  I think I am going to have to make more dresses so that the other dolls don’t have dress envy!  The smocked dress pattern is one I made myself.  If I ever get organised enough, I will put it in the tutorial section.
She is made out of organic cotton.  Her hair is a wool/silk blend.  I can’t fathom the thought of cutting her hair, so I think I will leave it long.  The fabric I used for her dress came from a craft swap I participated in last year, on a forum that has now closed down.  The fabric is where I got the inspiration for the dolls name – Violet.

I am hoping the girls will love playing with Violet and she doesn’t meet the demise of the other Steiner dollies, who I often find strewn throughout the house, with little or no clothing!

Jacinta x

Posted in Craft, Sewing, Steiner/Waldorf | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Yarn Along

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Jacinta

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

I found this free pattern at Spotlight and thought it would be great for Scarlett for school.  Scarlett’s favourite colour at the moment is blue and I just love the colour of the yarn I chose for her.  It is a greenish blue colour.   However, the yarn is acrylic which has that cotton wool feel to it, which I don’t like.  (I purchased it in a rush and didn’t realise it wasn’t really soft).  So I am having second thoughts about using it.  I do have some lovely pure wool that is white, that I am thinking of colouring, which would be much nicer.  I just need to get my head around unraveling all the balls to dye them.  So technically, I haven’t gotten anything on my needles at the moment, but it is consuming headspace!

Reading-wise, I purchased the books pictured below, at a book shop that has gone into liquidation and they were selling books a very reasonable prices.  I couldn’t help myself and purchased 3. The are all lovely and I think I will be giving away the Happy Gloves book by Miyako Kanamori, in a future giveaway.  It’s really cute.  All the projects are made using a pair of gloves.
The Wrapped in Love book by Felicity Dawson, I have eyed off in the past, but couldn’t resist it this time.  The Fuzzy Felted Friends book by Saori Yamazaki is gorgeous and has heaps of cute projects.  Lets just say, I have more than enough inspiration to keep me busy, just need to find more time (don’t we all!!)

Jacinta x

 

Posted in Knitting, Yarn Along | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Nippers Championship 2011

Posted on April 5, 2011 by Jacinta

Sounds rather fancy doesn’t it!  The championship was held this weekend past and was the last Nippers meet for the season.  It was a cold, blustery day.  Scarlett was none too impressed about having to go.  Of course once she was there, it was all good.  The kids completed in their age groups.  Scarlett’s age group competed in a flag race, run/wade/run race and a board race.

The water was really choppy and the current was running parellel to the beach, so the younger ones had a hard time going out into the bay in the board race.  They got around the buoys eventually and back onto the sand.  Scarlett and the girl next to her kept bumping into each other, sending each other off course.  It was kind of funny to watch.   She almost placed in the flag race, but of course the boys were all about winning at all costs and she was shoved out of the way.  Oh well, I have a great action shot of her diving for the flag in the previous heat.

 

Flag race ariels

Scarlett is to the far right

Scarlett in the middle

We finished up the day with a sausage sizzle and we went back to a friends place for a catch up we had been planning all season, only too us 6 months to organise!  It has been fun and a great excuse to get to the beach every week.  We are hoping Scarlett and Tenneille will continue next year.
Nippers is a great way of introducing your children to water safety while having lots of fun at the same time.  It is very family orientated, which is why we joined Scarlett up.  Here is a link to check out if you’re interested in finding out more.

Waiting for board race to begin

Emerging from the surf

So proud of you girl!

Jacinta x

Posted in Family Life, Recommendations | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments