Crochet

I'm happy to be far from a superwoman. I'm ok to not know how to change a tyre, to be slow with the garden, and to almost always have one messy room in the house. And it's good to have some crafty things that I just can't do. Fortunately for me, there are a few people in my life that are great at those such things, and who bless me with gifts!

Debbie is a clever girl who made Elara this as well as this jacket which we both love (and a vest which I'm still to photograph)

My Aunty makes these great washers...

...and creates these amazing freehand crochet blankets.

Who needs to learn crochet when I can admire the giftedness of my friends and family!

The Candy Store

It's unusual to have a baby shower for your third baby. But since each of our children have been anticipated as much as the others, I've always thought we should have a celebration for each. Baby one was 'morning mocktails'. Baby two had a 'gelati party'. For baby three we opened a 'candy store'! It was the best way I could think of to involve the girls and to get them (even more) excited about our upcoming arrival. The day went a little like this...

Visitors arrived and were welcomed by the friendly candy shop staff.

They were each given some 'baby dollars' to spend...

...at the store!

They chose from a selection of home-made candy: fairy floss; peppermint creams; freckles;...

...turkish delight; sherbert spoons; orange sticks; chocolate fudge; marshmellow & sherbert cones;...

...pistachio nougat; peanut brittle; honeycomb; coconut ice; and marshmellows.

Then the shopkeepers charged whatever they thought was appropriate! (We did overhear Elara at one point..."wow, you've got lots! That's one hundred and forty please"!)

Then everyone was left to enjoy the food and make some predictions about the baby. It was so much fun, and a great celebration for this 'sweet' one soon to arrive!

Life is Sweet

It seems there are a few of us who have been a bit out of touch with 'blogland' lately. I have missed the sharing and encouragement and inspiration! I have been particularly busy in the 'real world', getting ready for my 'candy shop' baby shower. Here's a little taste of the sewing/crafty preparations...A gift (and reminder) from my sister.

Candy colourful bunting.

Aprons for the girls to wear (pattern found in this book).

The lollipop style invitations.

Ha.ppy.Ro.bot.Birth.day.

Last weekend we celebrated the 3rd birthday of this cool kid, in robot style. His Mum had thought of plenty of clever food and party decorating ideas, so I had to really widen my ideas file to make our gifts robot-like.

It began with this caribena pouch filled with a few treats.

Then a picture: made, wrapped and decorated by Elara.

A robot wristband (now who hasn't wanted one of these before)!

And finally some robot cupcakes (an amateur version of these). Beware...I will only make these for very special people...they took a long time (though not so long to be devoured by hungry kids at the birthday party)!

Yes, I must have found my overdrive button after all. What a shame I couldn't just plug in to the power socket and recharge after all that crafting and baking!

Tasmania Top Ten (from a man of few words)

Tasmania Top Ten (a Mother's version)

1. Tasmanian apples straight from the farm

2. My favourite town of Dover

3. Mother's Day picnic lunch at Richmond

4. Church buildings of all kinds...grand, old and quirky.

5. Curry at Annapurna Indian restaurant.

6. Family sing-along to this cd, while driving, driving, driving...

7. Salamanca markets. Oh how I wish I'd bought a raspberry swirl meringue! Or some tempura mushrooms!

8. Breakfast on my birthday.

9. Those autumn leaves that we largely miss in Queensland

10. And best of all, time with the family.

Tasmania Top Ten (Elara style)

1. Being silly with my Aunties.

2. Making a teeny tiny snowman.

3. Buying and sending postcards to my friends and family.

4. My special 'Lola' wheelie bag.

5. Seeing a real Tassie Devil.

6. Throwing snowballs at everyone...especially Daddy.

7. When the emu at the zoo pecked the whole food bag out of my hand!

8. My fairy coloring book.

9. The conservatory and carousel at the Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens.

10. Hiking with Dad