A Weekend Off

My mum is a bit unsure about this blogging lark.....

in fact when I told her I was planning to spend a weekend with 5 bloggers I hadn't met in person before, she got really worried.

And then when she realised she wouldn't be in the country when this meet up was taking place.... she got even more anxious, 
afterall I'm still her little baby in her eyes....all 32 years of me!

But Mum I can tell you, you needn't have been.

The moment I met these girls, I was greeted with smiles and hugs, 

I felt completely at ease, and my butterflies dissolved away.

It was awesome to finally meet these girls that for a long time I had been corresponding with behind the scenes. 

And Deb who had so much wisdom to pass on to me - thankyou x     
It was so refreshing to be able to talk about blogging and all that it entails without judgement or a blank expression.

Infact I enjoyed myself so much, my camera never ventured out, 

I was enjoying living in the moment and all it had to offer. 

( Most of the photo's from the weekend are courtesy of Juliet)

I often scour the pages of facebook where friends of mine without kids ( or just started ) are jetting off to exotic locations and attending this party and that concert with friends in tow...life looks glamorous, I would be lying to say I'm not jealous...
 though of course I know, their life is not all a bed of roses. 
But I think it's only natural that I wish I was there, 
joining in with them.  I'm sure I'm not alone in this?

 I realize my choices of starting a family young and relocating to the country has affected my ability to connect weekly with my friends and pop down to the local cafe and catchup....or go overseas...
But I would never change that....

I am with our decisions... happy in my garden pottering around, 
creating at my kitchen table 
and dreaming of the life that we are striving to create for ourselves and our children

sharing a sunset with my mike x

However what this weekend highlighted for me, is that I don't need my friends nearby.... they can be spread far and wide, 
at the end of the day they will still be my friends and we will just pick back up from where we have left off...And I can add to my friends, friends with mutual interests thanks to this little blog... and we can banter back and forth in the background...
but best of all we can attend weekends like these, where we get quality time without kids clambering for our attention.

Photo courtesy of Cat

Thankyou Juliet, Miriam, Deb, Cat and Leonie
I had a wonderful time... and thanks to Sammy and Simone for travelling an hour to see us on a Saturday night

And last of all thankyou to my Mike for travelling 6hrs to look after the kids for the weekend and extending that to an extra 2 days to help me recover from my weekend of late nights of nattering and crafting till midnight xx

My Creative Space - Little Plaid School Dress

This little dress has been in my UFO pile since September.

I started it on my birthday, as part of a sewing day with my mum, though it has lingered since then waiting for sleeves and a skirt.

I started with a simple sleeveless dress pattern and 

added the details as I went, 
their is pin tucks, ruffles and self covered buttons, including a my favourite a hand stitched hems

I couldn't resist calling this her "Little Plaid School Dress"
as she is soooo ready for school although she's only 3!

On the weekend we received a lot of lovely comments about it.....though at the moment it is a bit roomy, and she kept showing off a bit of her shoulder....but at least it will fit her next year too!

And I'll leave you with this photo.....I have loads of these pics, as she cracked me up with her many attempts to get that water out..... including sucking it from the source! ewww!

Linking in with Our Creative Spaces here

Inspired to Give

Recently I read this post here by Miriam from Make it Give it....

she talked about teaching her young boys about the power of giving rather than receiving,

and it inspired me to get involved.

Following along with her idea, the boys and I looked up the Operation Christmas Child website, 

Once I assured the oldest and my youngest boys that they wouldn't be giving away their toys 

( obviously they are in need of this lesson ) 

We watched the videos of children receiving their gifts, and that really helped the kids understand how big an impact giving would have on these kids....

Together we decided that the gift would be for a boy in the 5-9yrs old category, and wrote out a list of items that would be nice to receive.

Once again inspired by a fellow Our Creative Spaces crafter 

Fay from Monkey Makes Three 

I made the pencil case she recently linked to here.... 

a great tutorial, and perfect to hold some school supplies

Next up was something to play with, so I made a car rollup

This proved itself to be very popular in this household

 It was hard getting a photo without Lil Miss getting her little hands on it :)

Finally Mr B, who really was the most interested in the idea helped me wrap and pack the box....

Infact wrapping the box was the hardest part! Truly! Try wrapping a box with a attached hinge...nightmare ( well at least it was for me)

And at the end of the day....did the boys learn anything? 

Well I should have known my naturally compassionate Mr B would.....as for the other two? 

We're working on it!

Joining in with Our Creative Spaces

Spring Knitting

There was a small gap in the rain today 

so I sneaked a couple of pics of Lil Misses new cardigan

Gingham dress made by my Mum

I realised I have been so busy knitting for new babies, that she was still wearing a cardigan I knitted her last year....

 so this became my project during the school holidays.

I'm not convinced whether I like the ribbon or not, since it doesn't tie together properly and it makes it bunch up, which gives the illusion that it doesn't fit.... so I might change that? 

Maybe a button instead? What do you think?

Despite that I do love the colour and the construction was quite unique.

Knitted in a lovely Possum Merino blend from Utiku 

( The Wool Company )

Pattern - Jane by Tikki Knits

For the first time in a while I'm linking in with

Our Creative Spaces

September - October

So whats been happening here in the last month?

Busy gearing up for planting.....

Moving a huge truck load of wood shavings with the 

help of my three boys.... I knew there was a good use for having three boys

The cows are weaned, we've had a couple of new lambs been born

and we're enjoying the sunshine, spending hours outside... 

which for Lil Miss that usually includes taking all her 

clothes off when my back is turned!

Our very own Lady Godiva ")

Been viewing properties with mum.....she loves it here and is now actively looking! yay!

Also we are in the last couple of weeks before our house down Sth is handed over to it's new owners! Double Yay!

So I have been back there to box up some more stuff to squeeze into every gap we have left here.

And the boys have started a new school.... 

as the last one just wasn't working for us.  

Today was their first day and Middle B said this afternoon that he can't wait to go back tomorrow!! 

I've never heard that one before!

And then there is the endless enjoyment of those wood shavings.... it seems to be quite an attraction for all the visiting children

I guess it's like a giant sandpit? 

Just keep your eyes closed when the wind blows - ouch