Chilly, no?

Oh these boys.

Good mates. --Finally. It's taken a while to blossom, but brotherly comaradarie has hit.
Monty is seeming to keep up with the full bore of a 5 year old.

Doesnt matter it its mud, trucks, drawing, reading, building, bouncing, wrestling.
Half pint will always give it a red hot go. And now... Mr 5 will tolerate the inexperience, and have a good belly laugh to see him thru.

Be still my heart.

Wednesday.

I think we've finally hit the rhythmic patch and we're rolling along full steam here.  Kids are enjoying their new activities, business is good, and I've just remembered that we've now been here in Victoria for a year (I think even a year ago today!)

we've still got oodles of blackberries to pick - and I'm happy for that, because blackberries are my favourite and my best. Hands down. The picture above just shows you that drains and ditches and mud do not keep us away from plonking fat, juicy little parcels of vitamin C and antioxidants into our buckets.

I drink tea in teacups. Am I the only and last one on the planet? It just tastes better - don't you think?

This one here is from my great grandmother's collection.

look at miss fancypants having a ultra fun mama day in Melbourne with me.

Spoilt or what?

especially when we have chocolate dipped strawberries from Max Brenner for dinner before we go home!

she also has amazing musical talents.....

And here's my ultra cute Montyzooma having South American lunch with mama yesterday

on Gertrude Street. He had every single businessman and woman in their black and grey and brown suits smiling and commenting on how adorable he was as they rushed past to their next meeting. 

I just beam proudly and nibble on him a bit more.

How blessed are we?

xx

P.S. there is a certain young fella that doesn't get to make it to Melbourne with mama on Tuesdays because it's kindergarten day.  However, I think at the moment he would not choose to come with me anyway because he's FAR too busy with Legos. (insert eye roll and nod of understanding here).

my poor neglected blog.

Oh my - there's been so much to do around here of late.
My poor neglected blog has taken the back-burner, but you'll be happy to know that my camera has not!

a few happy snaps from our little walk to Agnes Falls last weekend.

Sometimes it is so nice to just hop out of the house and off the farm to go and see something naturally beautiful.  We had an impromptu BBQ at Walkerville with friends last night and ended up being chased off the beach with lightning!

you have to be pretty tired to fall asleep during pancakes for dinner.

Nic and I have set some boundaries in the kitchen.  

Yes, he did get the short end of the stick when he didn't write in our vows...

"For richer for poorer,

to clean up my coffee mess

in sickness and in health

she will wipe up all of my crumbs and put the honey, peanuntbutter, jam, butter away for me every morning,

in good times and in bad,

she will pick up my smelly poo shirt and stained trousers off the kitchen floor

till death do us part."

Too late now, Honey!

oodles of rhubarb coming out of the garden at the moment.  We've been eating garlic scapes (called "goblin hats" in our family), loads of arugula, lettuces, and heaps more almost ready to devour. The loganberries and plums are getting ready.  I'm getting ready to use my new Fowlers Preserving Kit.  I picked up a humdinger from my neighbours sister.  I have plans for many jars of pears, applesauce, plums, plum/loganberry/blackberry/raspberry/apricot jams.

and last but not least, we did this last week:

but to find out more... you will have to visit my other new blog!

Ruby Hills Organics

have a happy day.

xx

impossible.

How is it possible to be so very smitten with such a little blondie boo? He makes it irresistible. He really does. What's not to love? His cheeky antics, his incredibly dimpled chin, his wild sense of discovery, his tenacity, his blubbery cheeks and thighs. 

Love it. Love it all to bits.

He looked out and pointed and said "tree" this morning. Then he paused and said "aliens."

He had us in fits of laughter. He was squealing, very pleased with himself.

...and loves a good mud hole - as any self respecting boy does.

nesting

We've been doing a lot of nesting around here - except there is no pending baby... don't worry!

More like putting all of our things in just the right places.

I nipped outside to the shed and found this little beautiful treasure from nature a few minutes ago.  It is so pretty and intricate.  

Unfortunately, we might have just a few too many eggs for it... see below....

yep, still coming thick and fast around here.  I've got a couple of new clients in Melbourne, and one beautiful little Organic Cafe that are featuring our eggs.  Will let you know more later..

Meet Lesley. She's our WWOOF'er.

And don't we wish all visitors could be like her.  She's helpful, fun, smart and just plain easy to be around.  

She's helped Nic on the farm, sown my seeds in the veggie patch, read books to the kidlets, ran and played games with them, nipped into the kitchen to do the dishes while I've bathed the kids, baked amazing rhubarb crumbles... and the list goes on! We are blessed.

Many of you may be wondering why this little toe-head isn't featuring in many pictures at the moment...

That's because he is FAR too busy.

He'll have to get back to you later.

xx Amy

seeing red

Shed door and mailbox - Flame Red - check.

old bench pulled out of in-law's shed many years ago...

white and primed ready to go.  Can't decide to leave it white, paint it red, or make a cute little cushion to tie on it.  I have some great fabric from our trip to the states, so I think the latter will win out.

 

Little wooden chair from a dilapidated house in NZ many years ago - painted "bedazzled"

...Now just 2 wardrobes to paint, a superb little towel cupboard I snapped up at the Southern Bazaar, and I'm sure I'll find a couple more things to do before I lay down my paintbrush.

We will be working on the farmhouse as of next week. Hurrah! It will be amazing to actually be living there.  There's a bit of painting to be done first.. and floor-coverings, and a kitchen to put in...  Might be a busy month ahead of us.

And a little Note to Self for Monty....

Teeth are not for smooching.  

No, but holding your mama firmly by her ears, hair or cheeks,

opening wide with a good line of drool coming out of your gob and saying arrraaagh

while smothering me in slobber makes me laugh uncontrollably until I can escape the full on Monty kiss.

Better work on your finesse a bit before you start looking for a girl to smooch.  

I'm not sure she'll think it is as funny!

off the hooter

My baby child is officially weaned.

I have mixed feelings about it because it might have been the last little one that I will ever feed.
However, breastfeeding is hard work for my body and energy, and I need every ounce of that back again.
So, my little darling is weaned. That is it. My longest breastfed baby is now on his own. And without too much harumphing from himself either.
(phew! - because I think I would have easily been talked out of weaning with a little clever nudging and objecting.)

He also had his very first big boy haircut in Melbourne on Thursday.  He wiggled like a worm, but she managed to get the whispy bits that tangle up off and fix up his sideburns to not look like a little scragglemuffin.  Fortunately, he still looks like my baby - just a bit more tidy.

And so.. this begs a question...

Before I  had Monty - I had two little cherubs.  I felt calm, happy, in control, and could manage anything.

Upon having 3 ankle biters, I felt totally overcome, still very happy about adding his precious little soul to our lives, but everything still seems 3times harder, and terribly overwhelming. 

So.... does this mean, now that he is weaned, walking, etcetera etcetera... That those feelings of calm will return one day?

Can I really manage being a calm, happy mamma of three?
Will I be able to sew again?
Do my artwork again?
Get into Gardening again?
Do the simple things that enrich me?
Will I be able to tackle our new (very challenging) farmhouse and get it to be a happy place for my family?

Because, to be honest - those things have had a big handbrake put on them for quite some time. 

Don't get me wrong... I would much rather NOT do those things and have the sublime love and enormous heart that I have for and with my family.

But tell me - is there a light at the end of the tunnel? Is there sleep for me in the future? Is there a chance of having some energy to run on instead of running on empty 24/7?

Monty's day

We have had a beaut little day with our special little ray of sunshine. 
Birthday cake and kite flying on the beach.
Even with all of our snots and coughs we have had a great family day.  I have had a case of the mama guilts for the last week or so thinking that I haven't made such a fuss over our 3rd child's first birthday. But we have had a very special day even with a minimum of pressies and no party.
Don't worry, my little Zooma - I'll throw you a ripper of a party next year or your 3rd year.

He opened some very special pressies from family and friends. His rain stick became a bit of a weapon after he whacked me in the eye with it! He really enjoyed ripping up the paper and playing with each thing.  Smart little cookie.

One year... woooosh!

How in the world did this little tiny person already get to be a year old??
A year ago today we had the most magical birth (birth story here) of this precious little soul that has enriched our lives more than we'll ever know.

Shown here with his 1st birthday milo milkie (made with hot broth and raw milk!) and a nannie.

We will be tucking into blueberry pancakes this morning - zooma's most favourite!

Birthday cake on the beach this afternoon. Guinness cake with lemon filling and cream.

My heart blossoms when I sniff his fuzzy blondie hair and hear his cheeky little voice.  His first steps 3 weeks ago have given him a whole new outlook on life. He loves nothing more than to pass a cheeky smile to one of us and take off in the opposite direction to have a game of chase.  He prefers it if it ends in a massive cuddle, tickle and smooches.

Oh, my littlest love. I love you more than the sun and the moon and the stars above.

Thanks for being my little ray of sunshine. 
Thanks for choosing me to be your mommy.

xx

do you shroom?

I had a creative hour yesterday and whipped up these little trousers for the zooma.

...waaaaay too long and too skinny in the bum for the long term. I used a little pair of stretchy pants of his which I have now altered the pattern to add an inch to each side.  I added the cuff, but when I make another pair I will make it so that the cuff can be rolled and keep the length.  My babes seem to sprout up pretty quickly at this stage, so it wouldn't surprise me if these were fitting before long.

Can you get over the fabric??

Just ONE of my collection from the states last month. 

Just wait till you see the donkeys. They might be the next trou's.

My creative time is SO needed at the moment.  Life is a little jiggled and hectic - money and bank stress, chookens and their delayed arrivals, pending moving (one day hopefully!!)... it's all a bit much at the mo and I need to just play with the kiddos and create.  The house had a good scrub for the auction last week so the housework can wait too. In fact - it can wait all the way thru the weekend.

I'm off to play with my kids and not think about the bank, chooks, money, houses, moving, school, etc. Well, maybe I'll think about it, but I'm not doing anything about it for now.

Have a happy day. Hop on the floor with the kids and let them know you're still there.

xx

timely advice

This little boy and I have just been on autopilot for the last couple of months.
I had a conversation with a good friend of mine from Queensland the other day and she was asking how we were going... Sleepless, unsettled, emotional, sporatic and frequent feeding, etc. but all is okay, right?
Do you know when you are in the thick of things that you sometimes just take things as they are? Like not seeing the forest for all the trees?
We are now nipping that in the bud (and thank goodness it's not my boob anymore!)
Going to sleep on his own in his cot without feeding first thru the day.
Slept all the way thru the night lastnight till 6:30. Sigh. Relief. Gratitude.
Thanks, Em. I needed a bit of a pep talk. I only wish it was over a cuppa after a warm hug!
xx

Isn't he a saucy number in his crazy hand-me-down hat from Gavin and his cowboy boot slippers from Auntie Roneita? Daddy thought so when he got home from milking this morning.

Have a happy day. xx

ratbag.

pretty stinkin' cute ratbag with insomnia issues.

how could something THIS cute be such a little rascal? I am about to board a plane for 15+ hours with THIS on my lap.

Wish me luck and may the force be with me.

ya right.