From the monthly archives: September 2012
Wowsers! What a fab, fab day to be out and about.
I have a habit of cramming in as much exploring as I can each weekend, trying to soak up sun, create new things and spend some good quality time with the tribe along the way.
Today started with what is now becoming part of our West Australian weekend, an early morning trip to the beach. After a couple of long winters in Europe, the whole tribe still seems somewhat starved for sunshine. So whenever we get a chance, it's straight to the beach. This year the lovely Big A and I are prepping the elder two for nippers/surf lifesaving (it doesn't get any more Oz than that, does it).
Beach brilliance...
Sandy and now ravenous (what is it about the sea air?) we headed home to pick up a packed lunch and a good friend, then headed off to our favourite outdoor picnic/adventure spot.
Three hours whizzed by, finding flowers, spotting frogs swimming in the creek, and building, building, building. I find it amazing and quietly comforting how much my little tribe love being outdoors. No squabbling, bickering or arguing over toys/ tv/ turns. They are far too busy, planning, chatting, experimenting, exploring and generally having a fab time.
Hope you had a happy Sunday too!
Enjoy xx
Staying between the flags, the tribe checks out the surf
Beach time, This Grand Life style
Architectural gold via Cottesloe Surf Lifesaving Club
'We built a sandcastle with a new friend'
Cubby house construction, I think the results are brilliant!
Little L's gorgeous little toes cooling off in the creek during dam-building
Cheesy title I know! However there is an element of truth to that little piece of kitschy wisdom.
For me blogging provides a creative outlet, a way to reach out and connectwith people, all of which is good for soul.
That's also my key to success. Write about what is on your mind, what you are doing, seeing, making, creating. Your blog will then become authentically, well, you!
As an added benefit, if you're like me, you feel a brilliant rush of achievement when you post a great piece/ photo/ recipe/ how-to guide.
Enjoy xx
Inspiration from nature, I get out and about whenever I can
My little tribe provides inspiration every day!
Part of the deal with a large slightly chaotic life with the tribe is encouraging independence…from a very early age.
This does not come easy. At all.
This is not one of those things that gets easier with time.
Cultivating independence takes a big risk, a lot of holding your breath, heart thumping loudly in your chest kind of moments.
This was one of times.
This is how you learn to climb (the under 5’s edition).
Enjoy xx
Beginning the ascent... Little L bravely charges on
Hurrah!! Little L reaches the summit (I breathe a huge sigh of relief)
The tribe enjoying some quality time at the family farm, Central Queensland
Top spot for coffee and getting the creative juices flowing
Today I thought I’d give you a quick peek into what the tribe is reading at the moment…
The lovely Big A: Don’t tell Mum I Work on the Rigs: She Thinks I’m a Piano Player in a Whorehouse (Paul Carter)
Me: Meet Me at Mikes (Pip Lincolne), John Carter (Edgar Rice Burrows), the latest issue of Frankie, Lonely Planet Guide to Paris. So that would be craft/sci-fi/design/more craft/adventure/travel. As always, 101 things on the go, which is business as usual.
The Mini-Fashionista: EJ 12 (Susannah McFarlane), Pippi Longstocking (Astrid Lindgren) Stories about cool/adventurous/naughty/cheeky heroines…can you see a pattern here?
Captain Jack: Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney), The Encyclopaedia of Animals (Jonathan Ephick and Jen Green) Fiction versus Non-Fiction. My future architect/ veterinarian/ poet loves to curl up with a good book or three!
Flashdance: Charlie and Lola (xx, xx), Aliens Wear Underpants (xx, xx) Best friends, tomatoes, bugs and aliens…fab stories for the five-year-old set.
Little L: (on high rotation) Hippos go berserk (Sandra Boynton), Ten Little Fingers (Mem Fox) and Where is the green sheep? (Mem Fox) What can we say, we love you Mem and Sandra! I have purchased five copies of the Where is the Green Sheep? over the years because we keep wearing/reading them out!
Popular at our nightly story-time sessions:
Wanda Linda goes Berserk (Kaz Cooke) There’s a hairy-nose wombat, the Terrible Underpants, and the mother of all tantrums…what’s not to love?
Little Lunch: volumes 1-5 (Danny Katz) Awesomely funny, laugh out loud stories about what happens at recess. Bum, poo and other hilarious stuff for the under-nine crowd.
Enjoy xx
The Mini-Fashionista: EJ 12 (Susannah McFarlane), Pippi Longstocking (Astrid Lindgren) Stories about cool/adventurous/naughty/cheeky heroines…can you see a pattern here?
Pippi Longstocking. Kooky, fun and a little bit naughty!
Everything you ever wanted to know about EVERY animal
Little L: (on high rotation) Hippos go berserk (Sandra Boynton), Ten Little Fingers (Mem Fox) and Where is the green sheep? (Mem Fox) What can we say, we love you Mem and Sandra! I have purchased five copies of the Where is the Green Sheep? over the years because we keep wearing/reading them out!
Those crazy hippos! Party animals!
Wanda-Linda and Glenda, very funny stuff from a fab comedy duo
Town Hall, York, WA. Also home to a very helpful Info Centre lady!
Golden fields...literally, York, Western Australia
The Old Mill, a 'must see' in York
Architectural inspiration via The Old Mill (YAWN says the tribe)
Eat your heart out Jeffrey Smart! Design gold at The Old Mill
Flashdance and the Mini-Fashionista conquer their fears and The Suspension Bridge
Even the gumnuts on the ground seem prettier!
My daily dose of wonderful - thank you Little L!
My favourite tree, offering a fabulous view from the top
Somewhere over the rainbow, Western Australia (photo kudos to my lovely Mum)
