~ around here lately ~

 

 

 

Around here lately I'm still not finding time to blog at least weekly (which is my aim).
These are some catch-ups from the last two weeks - including a lovely long weekend up north for Easter.

1.  He wanted new sand shoes with laces.  I showed him twice and then he taught himself how to tie them in less than an hour.

2.  Beautiful dahlias, snail mail and a miraculously tidy kitchen table.  (We've actually got two rectangular tables in the space at the moment as we look for a large square one to fill the room).

3.  I had a night in Melbourne and had a fun afternoon at the park with my brother and his little family.  

4.  Lovely new magazines (my friend Sarah is featured in Fete this month) and coffee

5.  My little family at Baker's beach on Easter Sunday - it was a gorgeous day and we walked through the National Park first (spotting loads of birds, wallabies and gross caterpillars but fortunately no snakes) before hitting the beach.

6.  She needs time alone (just like her mama)

7.  Baker's beach track

8 and 9.  Easter egg cartons and small crates for the children and the in laws

10.  Gorgeous autumn light over the paddocks from my sister-in-laws farm house,

11.  Windflowers in my garden

~ Sunday snippets (with bunnies and eggs) ~

 

 

Our week through my lens (es).  I've had all 3 cameras out this week - yay!

1.  Planted some more windflowers to fill some holes in our "forest of weeds" back garden.

2.  Had my first ever successful dying experirment.  This was a white shirt that had had a pink texta incident.  I chose some Rit pink dye and was thrilled with the colour and how the embroidery stayed white.

3.  A surprise.  My husband had this re-upholstered this week without telling me. I thought we'd decided the fabric I loved was too expensive and that we had other priorities!!

4. and 5.  We went walking at Mt Field National Park yesterday.  A 2 hour plus walk that we all did without too many moans.  The stillness and beauty of the bush and the waterfalls were amazing.

6. We've been making cards, envelopes and signs with these cute eggy stickers from here

7.  Unprompted democratic division of eggs after the hunt (in the sleety wind and rain).  Love them so much!

8.  I found these sweet chicks at Spotlight and filled them with eggs.

9.  We decorated the light switches as well.

10.  Gracie made me the sweetest bunny brooch at school.

11.  Pavlova for lunch is an Easter tradition around here - this one looked amazing but the collapsing sides needed a lot of cream support.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend with your loved ones.
Joining up here (even though we weren't as creative as some) with the lovely Em.


♥

~ mail exchanges ~

This week my post box has been full of lovely mail as the first of this years elevated envelopes have started trickling in.

This time instead of a set theme there were several to choose from.

{theme: black and white from Wendy}

{theme: black and white from Suzanne}

{theme: nature attacks from Florence}

I am simply in love with this hand painted bunny one - it came with carrot seeds from Germany too (shhhh!...don't tell customs).

{theme: I wish I had a bunny from Ivonne}

I choose "its a zoo in there" (complete with thumb print animals, glittery zoo bars and zoo stickers inside) but my efforts paled into comparison next to some of these.  

{the ones I sent}

More bunnies hopped in my letter box this week too as part of the good mail club Easter exchange that the lovely Sarah organised.

{bunnies, recipes, tags, beautiful cards from Megan and Sarah}

{bunnies, recipes, tags, beautiful cards from Megan and Sarah}

{envelope from Sarah}

{goodies from Sarah}

I was a bit late getting into this as my list went missing somewhere in the ether but the girls and I have been loving the all the super cute stuff I've received.    

The felt finger puppet, the cupcake toppers (not shown) and the jointed rabbit are already hidden away in bedrooms.   

Mine were very simple but I hope they bring a smile.

Its such a cliche.. but it really does brighten my day when a little envelope of loveliness comes my way.   

Please follow the links above if you'd like to join the fun.

♥

  

~ grateful for ... our family Easter time ~

gorgeous and easy choc/noodle nests (with mini-eggs!)

I've always loved Easter.

As a child, I remember trips up north to our friends farm near Stanley.

We would hunt for thistles, round up cows, drink amazing iced chocolates and play endless games of 500 and scrabble.  There was always a complex jigsaw on the go, the Nut to climb and mountains of delicious food.

I want my children to grow up with that same sense of it being family time, time to indulge and enjoy, time to relax and unwind, time to see old friends.

We made Emma's nests yesterday for old friends from Melbourne and we've constructed amazing Lego creations today.  We've baked and cooked and tonight we had a lovely, loud dinner with family.

I'm grateful for this time to enjoy my family, to indulge our love of chocolate and to keep making those special memories.

However and whatever you celebrate at this time may it be joyful.

♥

(linking with Maxabella for all kinds of gratefuls)