The changing of the seasons

It's been a long 2 long months of harvest. We've survived rain, deluges, flooding, storms and bogged headers. After what seemed only days ago to be a season we wouldn't survive, today there was a light at the end of the tunnel. White fluffy clouds in a bright blue sky and paddocks of stubble as far as the eye can see. This bittersweet season of harvest is finally coming to a close. Soon there will be no dust rising from an overworked header, no flash of green tractors speeding past the gate.

Soon we will be on holidays, and this year we will relish every step in the soft white sand, every spray of ocean and every sip of ice cold beer as we say goodbye to a season we hope never to meet again.

Grateful for..... a chance to be creative

With harvest dragging on so slowly, we have spent a lot of this week at home, giving hubby lots of moral support and cooking up delicious batches of whoopie pies, cakes and slices. And instead of busy nights sewing custom Miss Goodie Two Shoes, I have had the chance this week to leisurely create some new designs and sew some pretties for my friends. 

Tonight while perusing my fabric stash it occured to me how grateful I am for this chance to relax and recuperate from such an insanely hectic 2011. In sewing I have found my new love, my little niche in life. I get immense joy from crafting and creating for little girls (and big girls alike!). It is with great excitement that I plan the release of Miss Goodie's new collections and new designs.

But for now, I am so very grateful for the chance to sew at whim and for the special little people in my life. To catch my breath and prepare for another incredible year of Miss Goodie Two Shoes.

I hope you too are having a week to be grateful for, I'm playing along with Maxabella Loves. Why don't you pop on over and join in too.

Harvest "the act or process of gathering in a crop"

Pop on over to Faith Hope & a whole lotta Love to share in Wordless Wednesday xx

Beating the heat, one tub of water at a time

Despite the seasons telling us its autumn, this extended summer has been relentless. I can't remember the last time we had a day well below 30 degrees. All I can recall for months on end is being hot, sweaty and uncomfortable. My skin is shrivelled and dry, my hair parched and dull.


I'm dreaming of wet wintery days spent snuggled in front of the fire. Layers of beautiful wool fabrics and pretty beanies with flower clips. Steaming mugs of hot chocolate, rich lentil soup and slow cooked chicken casseroles. I cannot wait for the nights I can cuddle under my doona, rather then swelter in front of the fan.
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Oh how I love winter!
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In the meantime, we are beating the oppressive heat, one tub of water at a time. Thank goodness someone is enjoying themselves!

And in very good news, my camellia plants survived their repotting, and have just started to bloom.

And after an initial hiccup (whoops, too much sheep manure!), our grevillea plants are reshooting and looking really pretty.

Do you share my love of wintery weather? Which season is your favourite?

Wordless Wednesday: the perfect canvas

I have a passion for photography and life on our farm is the perfect canvas. What I love most about not knowing the rules of photography, is that I can't break any. I shoot from the heart.

These images were taken at dusk using the Hipstamatic John S lens and Ina's 1935 film.

I'm playing Wordless Wednesday at Faith, Hope & a whole lotta love, pop on over and share your special photographic moments too xx

Swimming lessons

Part and parcel of living in the country is missing out on the things that people in the city can take for granted. Even the simple things, like swimming lessons. Oscar simply adores the water, and we wholeheartedly encourage his enthusiasm and desire to be a fish. But with open dams situated so close to our home we're increasingly fearful of the fact he has no awareness of water safety. 

You can imagine our excitement then, when our local pool announced that for the first time it was offering baby and toddler swimming lessons. I had considered driving 1 1/2 hours so that Oscar could attend lessons, so I am incredibly grateful that a swimming program was developed locally. 

We've been to three lessons already and Oscar loves them! We're heading to the pool again tomorrow and already Oscar is full of excitement. Next year will be Mathilda's turn, so for now she sits on the sidelines with her Nan and watches her big brother splash, play and sing until his hearts content.

It's wonderful knowing that along with all that fun, my little fish is learning how to keep himself safe.

Would you swim with the sharks?

 
It was a searing 39 degrees in the sun so a trip to the Melbourne Aquarium was the perfect way to end our fabulous holiday in the east. Oscar had such a fabulous day, he couldn't quite decide which part he loved most. For me, it was the Emporer Penguins, they are so beautiful. And the little chicks were so cheeky chasing one another across the slippery snow.

 

 

 

 

If you haven't already taken a trip to the Aquarium, I suggest you do, its such an enjoyable experience. Did you know that you can swim with the sharks in the huge 2.2 million litre dome aquarium? That's if your nerves can handle it!

 

Splish splash I was taking a bath

   I find it quite ironic that as the east of Australia was being deluged by torrential rain, we here in the west were sweltering in 38 + degree temperatures. Ridiculous as it sounds, I was praying for some rain to ease the unbearable weather.

And lets not forget that only weeks earlier, the north of Western Australia was facing flooding of its own. Carnarvon and surrounding residents were evacuated as the Gascoyne River reached record levels.

It's quite a poignant tale of how mother nature can encumber our wide country with complete extremes of weather. And as Australians we battle on as best we can.

Thankfully with the heat, we here in the west got the better deal. As horrid as the oppressive temperatures were, we at least found some relief by splish splashing in the bath all afternoon. Oscar has a whale of a time creating his own mini tsunami in the laundry.

 

I guess you could point out the irony of little kids in the east paddling boats down their main street. What a crazy world we live in!