It seems like ages since I shared some of the good things we have been enjoying. The warmer weather is here, my creativity is slowly returning, and I’m keen to give this old blog a little more love and attention. To begin with, here are some things we like at the moment!
Podcasts
I’ve been listening to podcasts on my way to and from work. They are much better than listening to the news, which is nearly always depressing. My faves at the moment include Young House Love Has A Podcast, The Chris Loves Julia Podcast (both are home DIY podcasts of blogs that I have followed forever), This Family Life by Nicole Avery of Planning With Kids, This Glorious Mess by The MamaMia Podcast Network. I’d love some recommendations for a few more.
Flowers
It’s always a lovely surprise to be given flowers from your graduating students. No teacher expects gifts from students, but it is nice to feel appreciated. This lovely bunch is sitting on the dining table in my back room, reminding me that Spring is here too!
Fresh Home Grown Asparagus
We have been enjoying our first crop of asparagus so much. I blanch them and serve them with soft boiled eggs that have butter, salt, and a drop of cider vinegar added to the yolk. Just dip the asparagus into the yolk and eat. It’s like your own hollandaise sauce. The kids are pretty partial to the asparagus too! Stay tuned for a few asparagus recipes in the next week or two.
Swimmers
As soon as September comes each year, the kids start thinking about swimmers and swim club. After last season’s swimming success, Hannah has decided she wants to do squad training for swim club, so we have got online and shopped around for new pairs of swimmers. The girls have both got some racing swimmers, as well as rash vests and boardies for swimming at the beach. Toby is not yet swimming well enough to need racing swimmers (12 meters doggy paddle is his race of choice), but we picked up a rash vest and shorts for him. He assures me that they make him “look like a shark so I will swim soooooo fast”. Ha. Bring on warm Friday evenings spent by the pool chatting I say!
School Holidays
My work has unexpectedly turned into quite a demanding beast this year. I have been relieving at a higher level for the last 6 months, and while I enjoy the challenge, settling into a new routine and managing to get everything done has taken both a lot of time and mental energy. For the first few days of the holidays, I slept in and then sat on the couch reading and crocheting, giving my body a chance to relax a little. Now that we are well into the holidays, it’s all hands to the deck in sorting the house out ahead of us having to move out when our renovation start ins (hopefully) a few weeks. The non stop rain is really putting it behind, so I’m using the holidays to cull any unwanted items, and get organised. We’ve been to Canberra for a mammoth clothing shop – all 3 kids have their summer clothes sorted, and I’ve tackled cupboards and shelves, culling unwanted stuff which some how breeds (despite my minimalist tendencies).
My Camera
Yep – with work being crazy lately, photography and the camera have had to take a backseat. With the beautiful afternoon light, and the school holidays giving me a slight reprieve, I’ve been grabbing the camera and snapping a few photos around the farm. I’ve been experimenting with Lightroom (photo editing software) to make some pics black and white. I particularly love photos of old farm equipment. The worn patina just lends itself to black and white photography. I currently have a Canon Eos 7D, but I’ve had my eye on a 5D Mark III for sometime. One day…
Captain Underpants Books
Toby is just getting the hang of reading, so I introduced him to some Captain Underpants books I picked up (at an Op Shop). They totally appeal to a small boy sense of humour. I’m trying to find lots of books to get him hooked on readers too. After two girls, we have plenty that appeal to them, but I need ideas for what else would appeal to a boy who is just beginning to read independently. Got any recommendations?
Thank God You’re Here
I often look through the DVD sections of op shops to see if there is anything I like, and I picked up series 1 of Thank God You’re Here for $2. We have been enjoying watching it with the kids. Totally hilarious (though some of the jokes go straight over the kids head). Op shops are great for picking up old movies and TV series, and because they only cost a dollar or two, I’m happy to pop them back in our donation box when we have finished with them.
Instagram Stories
I tried to like snapchat, but to be honest, I don’t have time or energy for another social media channel. So stories gives me the opportunity to see behind the scenes (and share behind the scenes too), and see all the beautiful pics at the same time. Win Win in my book. (you can follow me here).
