{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  Inspired by soulemama

 

 

Garden Update

I wish I'd made our garden bigger :-) This is our most successful harvest in the last 3 years (probably because I'm learning more every day, and also every time we plant).

I'm currently harvesting 250g of green beans a day. What we dont use daily, I blanche and freeze. We've eaten all of our lettuces and spinach and just planted some more lettuces.

I lost one of my roma plants to early blight, but after ruthlessly pruning the others they are doing really well. My mistake was not re-staking the plants before we went to Adelaide, so they drooped onto the soil. But they are all fruiting like crazy now.

My zucchinis, pumpkins and cucumbers are still slow. But I have 3 baby cucumbers growing and 2 zucchinis *happy dance* This is the first time in 3 years that my zucchini plants have fruited. No luck the first year (but that was inexperience) and last year every seedling was eaten by snails / slugs (I gave up at the 12th seedling). Fingers crossed my pumpkin plants start producing too!!

Edited to add: While watering this morning, I noticed that we now have two eggplants growing as well. Up until now I'd been too scared to touch the old blossoms in case they dropped off :-)

Summer Reading

"Honour, duty and a properly brewed cup of tea ... get ready for the Major to steal your heart in the sweet, moving and uplifting story of a highly unlikely relationship between a very proper English gentleman and a widowed Pakistani shopkeeper".

If you would like a great book to read over summer, I can highly recommend "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand". It's a first novel for Helen Simonsen and is a lovely relaxing read. The story evolves quietly but completely sucked me in. I would even re-read it again at some point in the future which is a big endorsement for me :-)

New Years Goals

It's that time of year again ;-) On New Years day I sat down to reflect over the last year and contemplate last year's goals. I'm happy to say that we managed to do most of them except plumbing our toilet and washing machine into water tanks, and getting new fruit trees.

I love how far I've come with my knitting and I loved our first "real" holiday with Little B in South Australia.

So here is my list for 2011:

* increase the number of our veggie beds again (we'd like to have 8)

* since I didnt get any new fruit trees last year, I'd like to add an apricot and plum tree this year

* to expand on and improve my sewing skills

* make more of my own and Little B's clothes

* preserve more food (home grown and store bought)

* to keep improving my health

My word for this year is "Enjoy"...

* I'm going to enjoy my last year as a stay at home mum
* I'm going to enjoy my sewing and knitting
* I'm going to enjoy spending more time in the garden
* I'm going to enjoy more time with Mr B (thanks to his new part time job)

I've decided that this year I am going to enjoy more simple pleasures, more colour, and investigate my arty side.

2010 was not the best year for us, so we are looking forward to the changes and adventures that 2011 will bring :-)

Today you are 4

Four years ago today, a cheeky monkey was born...

My darling child - I admire your kindness and your compassion for others.

I couldnt live without your wicked sense of humour, your laughter and your cuddles.

I thought I had the most full and interesting life and then you came along, and improved it ten fold. You have bought me the most amazing highs, lows, joys, challenges and passion for life. And you add the most amazing colour to both Mr B and my lives.

As you tell me daily - you are my big boy now but you have and will always be such a beautiful physical representation of my heart xxx

“Making the decision to have a child - It's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”- Elizabeth Stone

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  Inspired by soulemama

 

 

Peace, love & happiness

Dancing be the heart within us,
Open be our souls to bliss,
Courage vanquish every shadow,
Greet Midsummer with a kiss.

- from Celtic Devotional - Daily Prayers & Blessings 

Wishing you all lots of peace, love and happiness at this special time of year. May you be merry, full of joy and playfulness during this Christmas holiday time in whatever form you celebrate.

  A kindy Xmas gift from Little B to us