What a wonderful day

"Thank you, Mooey"

Can you get over that "stance" on big boy?

My traditional ham rolls on my new vintage plate from my girl.

... and an afternoon spent with dear friends.

We have had a lovely day. We are off tomorrow for a wee while..
Merry Christmas - be back in the New Year. xx

Silent Night.

The magical evening is upon us. Three babes asleep.

Stockings are filled and waiting for sleepy morning eyes to spy them.

Santa has drunk his milk and taken his carrot out to the reindeer.

I am exhausted, but excited for all of the specialness of tomorrow.

Sweet dreams everyone and I wish magic to visit your house tonight too.

The Madness!

Today is Madness. Why do we do this to ourselves? Among the Bailey's Trifle, roasted pumpkin, rice salad, Pumpkin Pie and Tartletts, Cinnamon Rolls, Reindeer Cupcakes that I am madly trying to make, there's wrapping Christmas presents, feeding Monty, attempting to be present to rat-bag toddlers, house cleaning, washing, and the list goes on and on and on... And we are supposed to be at Fireworks tonight, lunch at friend's tomorrow and leaving to go to Walcha at 5 a.m. on Boxing Day. In addition to that, my husband want's to do a 19 hour drive south of Melbourne once we've finished at Walcha. So I have to pack for that too? I just dont think so. I am not an octopus.
I AM NOT AN OCTOPUS!
I am a very busy mother and I have to do everything for these little ones as well as myself (which is Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down the list from everything else. - believe me - you should see my hair right now.)
I now need to go and take 10 deep breaths, lay on the floor to pop my back (which has been out for over a week now and progressively getting worse).. and get on with it.

Post Script: Life has just improved. All 3 kids asleep for afternoon nap and I kicked the Mr. out because his lack of tackling tasks was driving me nuts! and most importantly I've found the dark chocolate lindt balls.

50th Good Value Giveaway

Blog post NUMBER FIFTY!

Okay, so to mark this special occasion, I am doing a "giveaway" of sorts.
I am going to giveaway my Grandmother's recipie for Rich Rich Cheesecake.
For all of the women that live in Gundy and Talwood and Toobeah, they will know that this is an extravagant giveaway because this is my treasured "knock their socks off" standby.
It works. everytime.

My Grandmother had an amazing vegetable patch, drank gin, had amazing pouty lips, travelled the world, made me frozen chocolate dipped bananas in the summertime, wore a wig, and for some unknown reason had WHITE carpet in her dining room (of which I dutifully dumped an entire bowl of cheerios onto - but that is another story in itself). We played croquet in her garden, picked berries with her, visited her in her extravagant trailer that she and grandpa drove around on holidays in the USA, gobbled up her gingersnaps and chocolate chip cookies. She did simple food very well and this recipie is a true treasure.... (sorry Mom, I know your tissue box will be getting a work out, but I totally enjoyed bringing those memories up.)

Rich Rich Cheesecake
by Jeanne Sullins

1 1/2 c finely smashed graham crackers (I use Marie bikkies)
1/4 c sugar
1/2 c melted butter
combine and press into a medium to large spring form pan and push up the sides slightly.
pop in the freezer to chill while you mix the cake.

3 pkg philly cream cheese (leave to stand on bench for about 1/2 hour to soften a bit first)
1 1/2 c sugar
1/8 t salt
4 eggs
2 t vanilla
I mix this in my blender, because if you get it really smooth it ends up beautiful. It takes a fairly "grunty blender tho!

pour cake into crust and bake at 170 for about 40-50 minutes.
it should jiggle, but not be runny/wobbly in the centre.

put heat up to 200 and stir together:
2 c sour cream
1/4 c sugar
2t vanilla (use good vanilla here - not the dodgy stuff!)
pour over the hot cake and chuck back in the oven WITH A DRIP TRAY UNDER THE PAN for about 10ish minutes.

chill thouroughly and serve on its own or with a raspberry coulis.

I will be enjoying a fat slice of this tonight with my friends after dinner. And probably tomorrow for smoko with more friends!
Have a lovely Sunday.
Let me know if you give this a go. xx

POST SCRIPT...
ummmm, yeah. I am blonde and thought that this was my 50th post, however it is number FOURTY EIGHT. Who gives a shit? Enjoy the recipie anyway! 

Sunday Quote

"

RATITUDE for the present moment and the fullness of life now is true prosperity."
E. Tolle

Christmas cheer..

I just had to share a bit of our Christmas cheer around the place.
I found this woodland creature wrap at David Jones while shopping with my mother in law. How could I possibly resist those bitty owls with party hats? Or squirrels with scarves?

The "free radicals" (thanks, Leonie!) have had a marvelous time wrapping pressies and stowing them away under the tree. I think they are getting the concept of giving - which is lovely.

I'm feeling a bit more on top of things now after a LARGE tidy up around the house with hubby. We have dinner guests tonight and tomorrow and didn't want to share our filth with them. Dinner in a brothel is probably frowned upon.

baby boy bunting

I've made a special little somethin' for my baby boy for Christmas.
It will look adorable with his quilt.

lunch

The Mr. made me lunch.
I think I'll be pretty regular now.
Those mangoes are SLURPY good.

tubbin'

Do you think it's time to get a bigger bathtub?
As small as it is - they don't complain.. Especially when Monty boy is Rockin' out with them.

oh yeah, I forgot!

I've just worked out my baby's frustrations. He wants to SIT UP!
Why do I forget these things? You'd think I'd have a clue with him being my 3rd baby!

fair trade and fabulous!

Have a go at these. Scowling cats!

How much more perfect can you get for my little miss moo?

They are to be Monty's Christmas gift to his big sissy.

We picked them up at Eumundi Markets a few months ago from Community Projects Worldwide and they are sustainably handcrafted by Nepalese women in the Himalayas.

This was way back when we considered wearing slippers. Now I cannot think of any worse torture than wearing 100% merino wool felted slippers, however, she will love them and want to wear them anyway, I am sure.

Chrissy preparations...

My current project for my Monty Boy. Stay tuned..

Baxter and Gretta got stuck into making Chrissy paper chains. Baxter really loved the project - and did a long chain on his own. Gretta was a bit more sporatic and did a lot of dancing inbetween sticky taping sessions. 

I've been in a bit of a rut at the moment. I'm keen to do projects, but I'm unable to. There's always something shoving a curly one in. I am feeling anxious and uneasy. My back is out and my rowing machine is a bit lifeless for the last 3 days - which does my head in as well. Monty has been a bit fussy and needy, and I think my uneasyness has rubbed off on the other two.
Maybe I need to just give up on it all and go with the flow?
Any suggestions?

owlie tee

Made this owlie teeshirt for the princessa last week. Had to cover up spag bol stains on her white top. Turned out too cute and is one of her fav's now! Do you think it needs some wings?? Too bad. It wont get wings. I like it the way it is.
And those stickers on her hands are for toilet training.
We worked on it for 2 days and she's just taken the ropes and took off! Even at night - no more nappies for this little girl! What a legend.

the accident

I accidentely dropped this precious little soul yesterday.

There were a lot of tears to be had. More of mine than his in the end.  It's a difficult struggle to work out how I can hurt something so happy. so perfect. so divine.

As soon as the thought ran thru my mind that I was holding onto the bar instead of the chair part of his bouncy seat he was flat on the floor with a trickle of blood coming from his beautiful little nose and a loud terrified scream. It took him a long while to settle down and drift to sleep in my arms.

I had a rush of emotions that came to a head yesterday so I am feeling cleansed somehow and utterly in love with my beautiful 3rd baby. As I was apologising to Nic he said, "don't worry about it. shit happens!" I just wonder why shit happens to perfect little innocent souls.

Birth wars

Although I have not had a homebirth (yet?!) I think it is violently wrong to take that right away from women.  This video is a bit raw, but worth watching.
Listen to the words carefully. Cry. Get angry. Do something about it.
view the full version here.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

JJJ

I'm stokked to find out that I can get Triple J live thru my computer. I always get my fill when I go to Toowoomba, but now I get it at home!
We're groovin' today.
Hot as hell, but groovin'.
Grouchy baby, but groovin'.
Busy husband with few words, but groovin'.
Trashin' toddlers, but groovin'.
Could be worse - the air con could be broken or something.
And very happy for my mate today. xx

Climbing a mountain.

I fed this.


(he who sports two little teethies!!)

I did this.

(got it yesterday from the hire to by place in Toowoomba - yay!)

And now.. I am tackling this! Holy Crap!

all after a fairly sleepless night (poor little grizzly man with teethies) and before 6 a.m. Yes, that is the worlds largest cane basket underneath all of that. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN??

You would think that my children would be wrapped in tea towels for a lack of clean clothing, but most of this is from the Mr.

My housecleaner hasn't been here for 2 weeks and it shows. I better start drawing a line in it somewhere!