Greens

It all started with lawn grubs. They joined a committee and decided to attack when our attention was diverted (we had guests). They had a jolly good feast. The lawn was left weeping, sobbing and, well, naked! Half of our back yard was left mere dirt with a few odd clover popping through. Those fat lawn grubs were rolling about with gorged out bellies. They were laughing. We were not.

This led to the introduction of Mr turf. Hopefully he is a well-adjusted character with strong determination and the ability to influence his power. At any rate he looks nice, leaves no residue inside the house on the bottom of little feet and has been a welcomed addition to our back yard. No more Mr Lawn grub please - you are most unwelcome and we will see to it that you find your visit as distasteful as we do yours.

With the introduction of Mr. Turf came the regular watering and then the idea that maybe the veggie patch could do with a bit more attention. Enter baby spinach, lettuce, beans, snowpeas, chilli plants and coriander. Then when visiting, our Liberian friend introduced us to potato greens (she cooks with the leaves of the potato plant) and casava plants. So our garden is beginning to thrive (despite me).

Baby spinach before shot:

Baby spinach after:

The thriving baby spinach (really should be re-named in our case - massive spinach) has been a staple part of our diet of late.

Potato greens:

Introducing Spinach and Fetta pie:

ok, Mr. Lawn grub, though I do not like you (not a bit) maybe your influence has led to this yummy result. Kind of. Indirectly. So ok, a little thanks to you... but we shall just shake hands at the gate - that is as far as our friendship goes.

And as for this ugly box that I collected from the side of the road. I have plans. Red, fruity plans for this box.

greens

...and a sneak peek of some outdoor fun I've been having

About time she says!

My very generous and sweet, kind-hearted and game hubby suggested that my longed-for trip to Canberra take place the last week of term while he had no work between programming contracts (oh, I so love those spaces between contracts!). In fact he suggested it on a Saturday afternoon and I was on the plane Mon. morning! Anyone might think he was keen to be rid of me for a week;)

I jumped at the chance. Here is the very sweet reason why... my sweet lil' sister lives down in that far away cold place! And as she would heartily agree - it was jolly high time I visit her!

Was loverly just to catch up - sit together, watch her J play violin, demonstrate her very clever arty side (like her Mamma) see where she and S go to school...

Check out her favourite Koko Black to see if it was really what it was cracked up to be. It was.

Watch my hilarious brother-in-law play with toys he assured me he purchased for the kids. Ok I admit, S had great fun holding up a cloth for him to aim at. It really is a Father/son toy (with emphasis on the Father part:)

My lil' brother decided to drop in, too while I was down there. He had a few weeks before his new job whisks him away further north. We got to meet his sweet heart Zoe. Not bad, Sam!

We also managed to squeeze in a trip to the famouse Floriade flower festival

Awww... but have been missing them so since coming home! Oh, I just love that face, S! I am missing that cute, Grover-ish boy talk too, S! XOX

post

...to blog or not to blog ...

Ah... NO - i am heading to bed:)

Ever feel that way and waste blog space saying so?

Yes, i know, I'm weird:)

Idle children

What do your children get up to when having unsupervised play? In our house I have discovered that being idle (more likely to happen when unsupervised:) tends to be an unprofitable exercise for all. I do not fancy idle children though I must confess that it is inevitable at some stage... no two ways about it. I love to see my kids busy doing something - even if it is contemplating their bellybutton as they lay on their bed (though I could think of kazillion things better to contemplate:) Sometimes I am surprised to see the activities my kids get up to when left to themselves... productive activities, that is. Like...

Inventing their own games. I've no idea what this one was about except that it involved putting your feet up on the table and obeying orders from big brother (funny I think he was boss in the last game I observed;)

Or this...

I believe this one involved waiting until big brother was out to conduct a musical duet which involved the piano (played rather aggressively) some maracas and a little plastic tambourine which Owen scored from brother's treasure drawer for following big brother orders in the last game they played:) It was quite the duet. I think the song could be titled something like "while brother is out we shall sing with all our gusto for we may never get the opportunity again!"

Unfortunately idle children in our home do tend to find their pecking order, seem to need to be very vocal in sorting out their differences and seem to need to continue pursuing their original intent in being 'king' or 'queen' of the castle.

There, now, I have been completely open and honest and though I might sound quite negative I now have it off my chest and would love to hear any wisdom and insight into how I should/could help my children to show more than the odd occasional signs of affection for one another.

I know, I know... I guess it comes back to heart issues so I guess it is back to my knees again! Never should have left that position in the first place!

un-squeezed

Sometimes it troubles me just to what degree the world squeezes us... no, rather, me into its mould. Life just kind of passes by in front of my eyes and so often I don't really stop to challenge my thoughts and view them in light of Christ. I find myself justifying why I like or don't like something, or tend to tell myself that it is ok. But I guess the lingering other question at the back of my mind is... "but is it profitable"(spiritually) ? Not that everything we do must have a spiritual goal but that I, as a Christian remain un'squeezed (there, I think I invented a word), that I remain confident in who I am in Christ, that I not feel I need to be like the world.

Persecution always seems to put things in the proper place... I deliberately picked this book

recently to help me and my Joshua to appreciate a few things - the freedom we have as Christians, the true value of things and the joy that comes from Christ even in the midst of suffering (oh, and I so hate to suffer!! I also so hate to be misunderstood or thought of as wacky and fanatical!)

We are only part way through the book (and Josh is constantly trying to beg me to read more to him (I have to forbid him from reading some books so we can do some together reading - so love to have these times... and to discuss things as we go, too...)

The book tells the story of Natasha (year is 1975+), eldest daughter in a family where the father is jailed for 6 years merely for preaching the Gospel in communist Russia. It tells of the constant fear Christians lived under of the police spying Christian activities and making arrests... Children who accepted Christ were so cruelly isolated and tormented (under teacher's encouragement)and had to learn early the cost of following Christ, to be wise if they were interrogated (giving out names of no other believers) and to treasure the precious, uninterrupted Sunday School lessons, etc.

Of course books like this are intended to stir, to provoke, etc. and I confess to often feeling such thoughts and challenges after reading... at least for a little while... I guess that is why I need to make challenging books like this more a part of my diet - to help me gain a better perspective.... not just to appreciate my freedoms in Christ but to make better use of them, to treasure and guard them and pray for those who suffer, remembering that they, too hate to suffer, are mere humans (not some stoic saints who are stronger and more 'suited' to suffering).

get out of the rut, Mum!

I have been personally challenged as I scurry to and fro, doing what mothers do that I tend to get stuck in a rut. Though most of what I do is for my family I have been challenged to take the time to let them know how much they mean to me. To let them know I don't just clean, run them places, etc. etc. because it is what Mums do but because I love them. I tend to get less creative and more routine-ish over time. I guess when I think about it, when left to myself I get selfish and not think about how I could create those special times for them, or take that little bit more time to put some flowers on the table, say that compliment (because I am still cranky that he/she hasn't made their bed yet:), show that extra care, etc.

I decided to call upon the creativity of others. I have found lists like this helpful before (marriage ones are always good for reminding) Here are some ideas for showing kids/family you love them, I found floating around cyberspace:

I so desperately need this list to remind me!

• Spend time alone with each of your children. Go out to lunch, take a leisurely walk, or just hang out together letting them know you value them as individuals.

• Celebrate everyday accomplishments. Make a special dinner with your child as the guest of honor to toast losing a tooth, making the soccer team, getting an A on a science paper

• Read "just one more book" even if it's late and you're tired. And don't forget to read to older children who already know how to read themselves. It's a great opportunity to snuggle.

• Get out the photo albums and their baby books and tell your children stories about their beginnings.

• Remind them of something they've taught you.

• Tell them how wonderful it is being their parent and how much you like the way they're growing up.

• Let your children choose their own clothes. It shows you respect their decision-making ability. Besides, everyone will know you didn't dress them. You would never mix plaid and stripes!

• Get messy with your kids: put your hands in the finger-paint, and mush up that clay.

• Get to know their schedules, friends, and teachers so you can ask, "Did you and Sam sit together at lunch today?" or "What did Mr. Rogers sing in music class?" instead of simply, "What did you do today?"

• Stop washing the dishes and talking on the phone and really listen when they are talking to you.

• Teach your children to play jacks, use a yo-yo, knit, or do something you loved as a child. Or let your child choose something new you can learn together.

• Bend the rules. Let your children put on their boots and jump in the puddles you usually tell them to avoid.

• Cut their sandwiches into shapes with cookie cutter hearts and stars.

• Slip little love notes, jokes, poems, and words of encouragement into your children's lunchboxes, backpacks, or next to their beds (if you leave before they wake up), just to let them know you're thinking about them all day long.

• Let your children overhear you complimenting them to someone else.

• Wear the "jewels" your children make for you and display their artwork proudly in a special, visible place.

• Try not to do all the things your parents did that you vowed never to do to your children.

• Create a secret word, sign, or gesture of affection that only you and your child share.

• Forget about yesterday. Start each day fresh. It's a new opportunity to have a better relationship with your children and to fall in love with them all over again.

• Hug them, kiss them, and say, "I love you" every day, no matter what. Kids thrive on it and it's a daily fix we all need no matter what our age!

..these are someone else's ideas, some may/may not suit you. I just like the idea that lists like these stir up in me the reminder to treasure my God-given family more.

What do you like to do to show your family you love them?

painting

Here's a recent project of mine.... canvas painting of branches. Simple but brings a bit of outside in. I had debated for some time (way too long:) as to what to put here as hubby was keen to use this wall with his projector... and wasn't so keen on multiple screws/nails on wall.

I actually found the painting very therapeutic and would sit for 5-10 min blocks in the evenings to work on it.

This picture was my inspiration/art source:

Problem now is that every time I sit to feed Jayden I look at it and find a few bits I want to change:(

The process was the fun part with this one

our little plot of dirt

The outdoors beckoned us again - to enjoy its beauty. We do not have a huge back yard but I just love it - a place to call our own. I love that the children can enjoy their little space, investigate insects, run around wildly, poke sticks around and get some dirt between their fingernails:) and most of all as a place to let out that ginormous, endless supply of energy...

Josh was running wildly around with a Tonka truck warning all in the way to clear out before they got run over, Owen waddled around in the little go carty thing, Rosa fiddled with some dirt, and Jayden was convinced that there must be some hidden delights in eating leaves that his mother kept grabbing before he could savour their delicacies on his cute lil' lips!

numbered hooks

...and finally the After photo of my frames (well one of them, anyway)...

Here are the before photos to refresh you...

I painted the framed pieces, printed out numbers in a font I liked and transferred them onto the board (I simply used a lead pencil and covered the back of the outline and then traced over the front of the number with a pencil - leaving a mark underneath), measured and drilled holes and added little door handles (raw pine). It cannot hold heavy things because the wall where I wanted it doesn't have studs in the right place. I am planning just to use it for aprons, hats and other do-dads for each family member. I simply attached mine to the wall (laminate wall near our kitchen) with a strong, double-sided tape.

Presenting - the after shots...

As for the other two matching frames - have thought about opening an Etsy shop and making a few to sell as well as other bits and pieces I make from time to time... might be a bit too ambitious for me at the moment....