Lately, life has been full and busy. There have also been many moments of stress and extreme tiredness.
This year has been crazy with a capital C, and boy have I learned some very important lessons when it comes to my family and me.
My family is like a garden, which when tenderly cared for, it can flourish and be amazing. Yes, different seasons come and go, but it survives when well cared for.
I think lately my family has been a bit like an overgrown garden, unattended to because of the busyness of life. The weeds are starting to show... in fact I feel like I've been standing on the odd thistle and rake lying around lately because of how unkempt it is! When life gets crazy, extra effort has to be sown into those areas that count.
So I'm taking that little bit of extra time to care for my garden... and for myself!
p.s. Don't you just wish your children thought you were like a soft panda!?!? I know you're envious!
For some strange reason I love mustard yellow yarn (maybe it's Dee's influence thanks to her famous mustard tights?).
Almost exactly a year ago I made these cute mustard yellow crochet coasters using the awesome pattern that Stacey had discovered. I decided to try a different pattern (the one I used here) with the amazing mustard yarn this time and I do like! Maybe not as much as Stacey's... but they're still pretty cute.
I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening
in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for...
no matter how simple it is.
Here are a few of the things I am loving at the moment (Instagram style). So many things to love, in the midst of the day to day of life...
Loving the excitement that a good morning frost brings... my kids are so desperate to experience real snow that they all ran outside and played in the frost!
Loving these little lambs that have been living at school the last few weeks... Ruby & May.
Loving new dresses...
And Dad's who make cool lunches...
Loving beautiful new babes...
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And tasty snacks...
Loving new cushions...
And magazines...
Not loving finding this sleeping beauty IN MY BED!!!
Loving this young man, my precious first-born who is growing so tall!!
To join in with your loving, or see what others are loving, click on the icon below...
My mum makes yum stuff - and her latest baking included this delicious French Butter Cake.
A simple list of ingredients that creates a buttery, shortbread-like cake, delicious served with whipped cream and fresh citrus peel (my thighs LOVED it!).
Ingredients
2½ cups plain flour
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
5 egg yolks
185g unsalted butter
1 egg yolk, extra
1 tablespoon water
Method
Sift flour and sugar into bowl, add grated lemon rind, mix well. Add lightly beaten egg yolks and mix lightly with fingertips. Rub in roughly chopped cold butter, knead gently on lightly floured surface until mixture is smooth; do not handle too much.
Press mixture into greased and greased paper lined 20cm round sandwich tin. Smooth top with a knife. Score top several times with fork to form a diamond pattern. Brush top with mixture of combined extra egg yolk and water. Bake in moderately hot oven 40 to 45 minutes, turn on to wire rack to cool. When cold, serve with whipped cream.
This is a traditional type of cake, originally made by bakers in France to give to their customers during the month of January. It is heavy and buttery in texture, but delicious to eat; serve cut into small wedges. Store for up to a few days in an airtight container at room temperature. The cake will freeze well.
Check out my beautiful family - photo taken on Father's Day (last Sunday).
For some reason my phone tends to squish faces at times, so Symon's head looks slightly squished (but he said he didn't mind ;) He's such an awesome Dad (even with a slightly mishapen head).
Father's Day was lovely, catching up with both sides of our family. Family is so precious.
While ranting at the kids the other night before bedtime, Symon handed me a cup of tea using this new mug. "Keep Calm and Carry On" he said, and I had to laugh. Perfect cup for "Zoo-hour cups of tea"
Also scored this cool as moustache paper bag the other day. Love it!
Best of all, guess who popped over from Australia for a few days? My lovely friend Anya and her awesome baby Neo. One sweet lady right there!
I'm counting down the weeks until the school holidays so that more family time can be had (and more crochet can be done!).
Love this song created by our very own Flight of the Conchords, and sung along with other great Kiwi (New Zealand) musicians to help raise funds for Cure Kids NZ. So cute and funny!!
