Introducing...

While we were away Dada made a promise to little man. And he came through on that promise. So now I'd like to introduce the most recent addition to our family...Spiderman!

What a name. Only a three year old boy, huh? I love it. This boy has never seen a Spiderman comic or movie but I guess the name itself is pretty cool.

And here's Spiderman putting on his cool face.

P.S. I'm with out my camera this week. It's in for a service. I must admit I feel a little lost with out it. But in the meantime my phone is doing the trick.

Wonder full: something for the senses

Something to hear, something to see, something to smell, something to taste, something to touch, or something to know....

Something to be thankful for.

Sunday Morn: 

reading books with in a loungeroom cubby, 

made with cushions, and chairs and sheets and pegs. 

A day at home

We had our day at home together. It was quiet, and happy and fun.

These two men got creative. Well, mostly the big one, but little did help the best he could. The outcome and after dinner treat was this.

I spoke with the bears, as a group, before they got in their cars. We discussed safe driving, road rage and fatigue. Looks like a few of them didn't listen very well. The aggression is visible on a few faces and we caught three yawning before the race even started.  Tut, tut.

Granny and Pompa got this idea from a magazine. Not much sugar here......Ahem.

Swinging sweethearts again. 

Oh, how we love their visits. And miss them when they go.

Summer Blues

Then there was the biggest knitting project I've attempted yet. A jumper for my man. (Ravelry link) It was all finished bar the neck band when we returned, so when he was away for work I finished it off and it was wrapped and beneath the tree for Christmas. It's cotton and loose like a fisherman's jumper.

Some how the sleeve length and body are just right!. It matches up with his other jumpers so well. I don't knw how this happened. I liken knitting this to a marathon, it's a mental challenge, you just have to keep going. Somewhere along the journey, in the car when we were travelling we, him and I, worked out how many stitches I had done so far, I think it was about 16,000. I was half way up the body. I am full of admiration for anyone who has knitted a man's jumper.

I knitted it in the round (as is my tendency at the moment). I reduced the stitches by a couple either side for seam allowance and adjusted the sleeves accordingly. Seriously, I'm not sure how this jumper actually came together! I think it could be and inch longer and, if I'm being picky, I think it needs the structure of the seams. So to remedy this as best as possible I pressed it to increase the length a little and ironed directly onto the side and sleeve 'seams' to define it a little. It's a mild weather jumper but it's still too hot here so it's yet to get alot of wear. Time will tell how it fits into his days.

Tomorrow is a Public Holiday so we'll all be home together with Granny and Pompa. Hope you have a lovely day, however you spend it.

Crafty catch-up

In those weeks I was away from this space I managed to complete a few of those little projects that are always chugging along in the back-ground.


Firstly, there was a third Tiny Tea Leaves. I managed to finish this one (minus buttons!), for my littlest lady, Winter, just in time to snap her wearing it with her cousin and sister before we left the UK. Then, I decided I wasn't happy with one of the button bands and pulled it out and re-did it when we got back. And sewed on the buttons of course. Little deer.

 And there was one, very little, lady on my side of the family who was yet to have her own Tiny Tea Leaves, and I just happened to have enough of the right wool just sitting there. Well, what'ya know...! It's the same colour Madelinetosh Vintage as the one above, just a different dyelot and significantly darker. 


She's just a wee one though, and the pattern starts at size 2 so with a little bit of math, some measuring, and some help from Dada I worked on a size 1. I'm calling it a Teeny Tiny Tea Leaves and I think it's worked out! So hopefully it'll fit her just right for this coming winter. The kids and I found these buttons, that we think are just right for a little flower, in the town near where we stayed when we first arrived.

All of the Tiny Tea Leaves I have made have full length sleeves and all but one have three buttons. I also changed back to the smaller needle size for cuffs and button bands as I was after a little more delicate look. I'm sure you can guess but I really like this cardigan. The pattern just works so beautifully and the way it gently slopes over those little girl shoulders makes me smile. I find I need to use a crochet hook to close up the 'hole' that appears at the front and back of where the sleeves are picked up. 


I wonder how long before I revisit this pattern again....

Wonder full: something for the senses

Something to hear, something to see, something to smell, something to taste, something to touch, or something to know....

Something to be thankful for.

Happy holiday

And after just a few short days at our house, where we set up the Christmas decorations as priority waaay ahead of unpacking, we set off to the beachside where we congregate with Dada's family and some of mine for festivities, catching up, and lots of laughter. Where we, again, set up Christmas decorations.

Gotta love the Christmas tree, the nativity and...the thongs (flip-flops). One of those things that makes Christmas in Australia wonderful. And eating pancakes and berries for breakfast.

We were blessed with the beauty of being there to witness a little fairy leave her footprints along the shoreline for the first time, on Christmas morning. We had the beach almost to ourselves, I couldn't have wished for anything more from that morning.

There is always more love to be shared in an extended family that continues to grow.

Lots of time just playing, often incorporating fishing rods, tutus, the outside tap and snorkling sets. As you do....

We had visits from cousins who enjoyed playing with this crazy family.

New slippers fromt the local craft co-op which we love but are not very practical on shiny wooden floors. But all the same entertained Mama and were loved by this little girl.

There was afternoon napping after long days at the beach.

Playing secret games with your cousins, even when you're just one and can do the talk thingy very well yet.

We found time for special one to one time on a perfect beach morning where we could collect beach treasures.

One step forward, two steps back

We landed back in Oz and everything seemed so startlingly different, yet similar to where we had been. The beauty surrounding us was so familiar and warming. We arrived at a resting place before we could move back into our house. This place was incredible. We arrived late at night and the frogs sang as we made our way up the long dirt drive under the gums in the pitch black.

Next morning the birdsong was oh-so-different to what we had been hearing but so deeply familiar and comforting. Magpies, cockatoos, galahs, rosellas. The cockatoos flying overhead. Almost too cliche to be true. I stepped outside, that first morn, to find a large huntsman spider onthe outdoor table. Ha, ha. We're back.

A day later the tumble into sickness began. All of us. It kept us low for a few weeks.

We filled these couple of weeks with visits from friends and family, walking in the bush (enojoying the shower of butterflies that arose everytime), riding horses, playing in a new paddling pool, crafting and making it feel a little like Christmas.

Sadly Dada went straight back at work. They were a quiet few weeks but that's just what was called for.