Bird feeder experiment

Wondering how that bird experiment is going? Well here are some of our visitors. Not sure exactly what the little birds are - some type of finch? If you know, please drop me a post. Otherwise it is to the library to look up some Aussie bird identifier books.

So far it looks like the small seeds are most popular (of course the photo above shows just how many came one morning - must say it was a little hard to count as there were this many more nearby on fence - they seemed to take turns feasting their little bellies)

It has been amazing to see birds coming from all over the place - such beauty and a reminder that the Lord looks after these little birds and cares when even one sparrow falls to the ground...

Funny Logic

Mum told me I should keep a record of the funny things my kids say... so I have a little book which I keep in the pantry (close at hand) and have jotted some down from time to time. Here are a few funnies...

This first one was only a couple of days ago:

Mum, what is your favourite type of weed? (this one had me chuckling!)

When Josh was about 4 he said to a friend who was staying with us:

"You look different today... maybe you had a bath!". Thankfully it was taken in good humour!

Another time Joshua (5 + yrs) was praying and said "It's funny that you made people out of dust, isn't it Lord?"

After a meal that must have made some sort of impression:
"I am very content with you cooking that yummy meal, Mummy!"

...And some logic from our then 4 year old:

We had just bought a new computer and Joshua was asking if he could use his special CD, Reader Rabbit on it. We had just sold our old computer. Daddy explained that Reader Rabbit only worked on the old computer. Joshua thought for a minute and then said "Oh well.(sigh).. we'll just have to wait until it's old!"

What are some funny things your kids have said to you?

Curry Puff Tutorial

Here's a fun recipe (cheat's version - I don't make my own pastry) that I make every once in a blue moon for a morning tea/snack or something to take along to a party, etc.

Curry Puffs

Ingredients:

• 500g mince meat
• Indian spices - I use cummin seeds, garam masala, tumeric and curry powder (use whatever spices your family likes)
• frozen peas
• 2 finely diced onions
• grated zucchini (optional - found it added a tiny bit of moisture without being to soggy for pastry)
• garlic - to taste (we love garlic and I used about 3-4 large cloves.
• 1 egg lightly beaten
• puff pastry

Method

• Brown mince - drain off fat/water so that the mixture is not too moist (or it will leak out of the sides of pastry - making it soggy.


• add diced onion and finely chopped garlic - continue cooking


• add indian spices
  
• throw in peas and grated zucchini
  

Cut 1 sheet of pastry into four squares (no wastage - yay!). Cut each of these squares into two triangles like this:

Picking up one triange - fold the long side of the triangle in half and pinch sides together like so:

Fill with a Tablespoon of mince mixture

Pinch the top points of the triangle together and it will become a square shape. Pinch open ends together like this:

Place on baking tray. Brush with egg.

Cook in hot oven (approx. 220C) for 15 min. or until golden brown on top. Serve with chilli sauce or with some cucumber raita for a meal. Enjoy.

You could also cube pre-cooked potatoes and add to mince mixture - or even forget the curry thing and make spinach and fetta pastries - might try those sometime...

Rosa wasn't too sure about the curry mixture but had three helpings of Raita. Josh was keen on the pastries. Owen probably preferred the Raita but made a huge mess all over the floor! Think I had better go and clean up more of the remains I just spotted...

What is your favourite recipe to take to a party/special occasion?

Doulos

We have all come home exhausted but having had a wonderful afternoon & evening exploring the Doulos ship which is in port in Brisbane at the moment (and are here till' 19 August for those who still plan to try and make a trip). Even Daddy was able to join us as he worked a bit of overtime in previous few days .

We joined some other home schoolers on board the ship for a bit of an overview about the ship,

some multi-choice questions in a quiz, watch a couple of little skits (one about how people from different cultures greet eachother) and then enjoy a wander around the book shop (oh and nice prices on books with international money unit and Aussie dollar ;) Found a lovely Kate Greenaway book... (just love her illustrations!)but that's another subject...

A while later we went on a tour of the ship with a friendly tour guide from Nigeria.

Took a peek in the noisy engine room

Unfortunately Owen got taken away in the dirty laundry bin (honestly Dad's are so much fun to take on excursions - just can't resist opportunities to tease, can they?... and just look at Owen's face - just loves it!!)

Joshua and Sariah enjoyed trying on the Captains cap.

A little later our guide pointed out the real captain of the ship himself, and it was "Aye, Aye, Captain!" from our cheeky Josh... and a too hard to resist photo opportunity!

Overall it was a lovely day and great to see so many Christians working and living together in tight quarters (and the room they showed us was tiny indeed) - learning to serve the Lord together.

Our tour guide was telling us about the many opportunities for Bibles to be available in countries that normally oppose them being available to non-Christians. Seems that when Bibles are forbidden to those of other religions - they just want them with a passion! They have even had trouble keeping up with the demand in some cases!

My advice to any who wish to visit the doulos with kids:

Take plenty of drinks & snacks and more drinks and snacks (never seem to have enough of these with my kids), warm jackets, camera and be prepared to carry little ones for a while (quite a bit of walking and very steep stair cases)... oh and try not to let your little one lie down from exhaustion right near the entry way stairs on the way out like my 5 year old did (had to scrape him off the ground he was quite ready to sleep there on the hard deck... yikes... what type of mother allows that??)

And do you know what? Our kids have all hit the pillow and there is not a peep to be heard!

Special Needs (don't we all have those?)

I've just spent the evening with my Owen. Joshua went off to church with Daddy and Rosa had an early night after a long day at church and visiting dear friends (Jeff and Anya) at their new home with their new (very cute)lil' girl.

Tonight has been one of those rare treats - time alone with one child! We munched some dinner together (Daddy made some yummy home made chippies before he left). We talked (or sort of) and just enjoyed each other's company. Then we snuggled on the couch and looked at picture books. Owen is thrilled about cows, ducks and mowers (harvesters)....

Then it was to the potty, pj's on and teeth brushed ... and of course a sip from the tap after that (Owen loves to have a drink cupped in my hands after brushing his teeth). It was off to bed for an early night but not before singing a couple of songs together. Owen's favourites are "rock" (not a rock song... but the wise man who built his house on the rock :),

"car" (a funny song mum made up about different colours of cars,

"sheep" (song from CD about animals praising God),

"banana" nothing spiritual here, just learned Bananas in Pajamas at Prep

....there are loads more. He just loves songs and rhymes!

Sometimes I wonder what it must be like to have a disability. I wonder how his mind thinks, what he perceives about life, how much he is aware of his being different (not much at this age I think), how he understands relationships.... I wonder ....

I do know that one little chromosome extra can make a lot of difference. It can mean a difference in how your muscles work, how well different organs function, how people interact with you, how you play, how you look, talk and whether you will have a hard time getting a job later in life... It can take away some inhibitions, mean more trips to the doctor, a longer time understanding and a harder time applying one bit of information to a different situation... It can make a big difference, one little chromosome...

Having said all that, this morning at church while we were getting settled at church - you know... all that gear that you tend to take with kids... nappy bag, books, etc. Owen made sure he went and sat near a gentleman sitting on his own.... then a few min. later he saw another lady in another row sitting on her own. He made his way over to say hello to her. Then he spotted our neighbour, somewhat new to the area... Owen went and plonked himself next to him. Having no inhibitions can sometimes be a good thing. He managed to make a few smiles before we sat him down for the service.

When grumpy about something - a very small thing can make him break into a big smile. Forgetting (why he was grumpy) ... not always a bad thing!

Sometimes that floppiness (low muscle tone) can make for a very lovely snuggly hug! Very little twitching, struggling to get down and run to somethings else. Just pure hug.

It has certainly been an interesting journey having a special needs child . How does his disability impact on our everyday lives? I guess, in many ways the same way any other child does - there are nappies to change, a huge trail of mess to clean up, moments to snuggle and learn, putting piles of things back that were pulled out, disciplining, training... etc. etc. I guess the difference lies in the fact that achievements along the way are huge achievements because it took that much longer to get there. Joshua was estatic when Owen learned to roll over and again when he learned to walk. Every new word he learns is something to rejoice over. A concept grasped is a bigger "WOW" and funny actions or comments he comes out with can leave us gob-smacked!

Just a few insights into special needs for those who haven't had the challenge and priviledge...

Thank you Lord for Owen ...for entrusting him to our floundering, incompetent hands.

For wisdom with all our children we pray...

Czech Paper Art

Here is a craft that I came across during our time in the Czech Republic. I spotted them in the windows of Czech homes and apartments on our walks to and from the grocery shop on cold, grey, wintery days. It seems that some Czechs really know how to cheer an otherwise gloomy spot with their simple, artistic designs.

Paper cut outs (not unlike traditional fold-and-cut snowflake designs, only more intricate...)


I bought a few packs of these designs (for the equivalent of about 60c each)
and cut some out.


After sorting out some bits and pieces recently I came across them again and was especially delighted that I had these ones cut out already ...





just don't know if I would have patience for it at the moment with two more children and a big to-do list...

I like the fact that they are made from two things - paper and scissors.

On a rainy day why not sit down with a pair of scissors and paper and wa-la - you could invent some art to frame on your wall for next to nothing! Might look nice mounted between two sheets of glass in a frame against a coloured feature wall.

Any other inexpensive/simple art ideas you have come across? Please post them my way!

See more pictures from the designer here (please note the site is Czech - but term Fotografie might just lead you in the right direction;)

Bird Feed Experiment

Today when Rosa and Owen went down for a sleep Joshua and I dug out some wood pieces, a saw, chisel, some screws, hooks, some fence paint and brushes and set to work making a stand for our bird feeders. Ta-da!

Over the next few days it will be out with the binoculars, and sitting by the front window to observe our local birds (we positioned it so we could observe from front window) and conduct an experiment. We are on the lookout to see which bird feed is most popular with birds in our yard

This type of large sunflower seed-

Or this smaller mix of seeds-

So stay posted in a week or so (whether permitting) and we'll keep you informed!

When we finished our stand the younger two woke up and the three had a jolly romp around...

Nice to be outdoors again after a chilly morning!

Green Testament Girl

Rosa has really taken to this little green New Testament. She took it to bed for her nap the other day, layed it snuggly on her pillow as she does with her Lou Lou (doll), made herself comfortable and slipped into the land of nod.

Today she has been carrying it about again (even matches her jumper!)

Why don't you have a read?

Tinker Tailor ....

My big boy has been having a go on the sewing machine. We had a simple panel print of a friendly snoopy given to us by David's Aunt. Josh very slowly (only because Mum insisted on this:) sewed around the edge. Without too much unpicking he managed to do it by himself. He even stitched up the opening without too much blood!

One very proud tailor!

Good job Josh Tom!

Cranky

It has been one of those cranky days...hmmm... well actually the day wasn't cranky. I was. Groan. Somehow I just couldn't work out why Joshua wasn't understanding the way I explained division to him... or rather got annoyed that he just didn't listen while I explained... (wish I had remembered my own struggle with this...) Owen and Rosa were at eachother's throats. Owen would nudge her or sometimes just look at her and she would squalk...then I got involved in a small painting project (bad idea) and fel t cranky that one would need to go to the toilet or be playing in the sand pit emptying sand on the other. Oh... just wish I could have been a calm, collected, sweet Mum with nothing but gentle/calm words to help them back on track, with uplifting words of encouragement...but .... well, I was cranky. No excuses. Just shame.

Later in the day my Bible study on Matthew came to mind. The study from Matthew 14 that showed Jesus' compassion on the people. The same people that had been following him to watch one of those awesome miracles - just to be able to boast about it to their friends so they could come and gawk too. Those people that just wanted to be fed, to have their sicknesses healed. Those people who missed the whole point of his message and wanted to make him king by force. Jesus had been absolutely flat out. His cousin had just been murdered brutally. His disciples had just come back from mission trips to various places. They needed Him. He had withdrawn to a mountain to be alone. The people followed. A whole crowd of them (there were 5000+ later in the day so likely quite a large crowd). I have just been gob- smacked at how Jesus could feel any compassion on these people. He actually felt compassion towards them!

So glad to have a God like that!

(no photos in this post - a cranky Mum doesn't make a pretty picture:)