Last day of school holidays

While Hazel has her lunchtime snooze, Leo and I have been indulging in cups of peppermint tea, snacking on Easter loot, reading books, magazines, and activity books, which are Leo's new fave. Join the dots anyone?

Baking cheesy muffins in anticipation of lunchbox filling. Hello goldfish in the background!


Hazel's birthday cards from 2 weeks ago, nearly time to pack them away.


Tulips rescued from Aldi for a whopping $2.99. Easter lillies from Grandpa Graham.

I will miss my Leo again when he's back at school, he's great for conversation. Hazie is still getting there, she says 'up' and points to the sky when she hears a plane, helicopter or bird. That will have to do for now, I'm sure in years to come she will be a real chatterbox, and I'll be pleading for some quiet!

End of season

'Twas with a sad heart that I ripped out the tomatoes today, they have been so abundant, as you can see. Alas, now they are all straggly and it's time to consider what to put in over the cooler months.
Methinks I shall not have much time, or inclination, to be out in the garden over winter, plus our yard gets a lot of shade at this time of year. I have put a few bulbs in, and some rogue garlic has surfaced, but essentially we're lying fallow this season, and will burst back with something in spring.
We have a few avocadoes on the tree, waiting to be knocked loose with a loooong handled broom. Herbs aplenty, and our first ever lemons soon to be ripe - trés exciting. How's your yard? Any Autumn colour? Hope that you are enjoying these sunny crisp days, and that you are rationing the Easter loot in a sensible manner.

Listening to: Plan B - She Said

Talking yarn

I used to be a dedicated knitter. I wasn't into fancy stitches, just plain thanks, but over a number of years I made beanies for all of my friends, and even attempted a garment or two.

When Leo was a babe, a friend at Mothers' Group taught me to crochet, and from then on I was converted. Only one stitch on the hook! Such lacy effects with no wizardry! Three dimensions! I wondered if I'd ever knit again, I honestly didn't feel any affinity with the needles anymore.

A few weeks ago I was at Clegs in East Brunswick, looking for some tasty yarn to crochet into something fabulous for Hazel. I spied Cleckheaton Country Tartan, a variegated yarn in a mauve/blue/magenta/turquoise blend, and my reaction to it stunned me.

That's it, 3rd from the right!

When I heard it command - KNIT ME - I could only obey. It made perfect sense to knit this yarn, to crochet would have lost the variegation, no, this yarn needed a flat fabric to show off its multicoloured goodness, the fabric that only stocking stitch can provide.


Here I am a month later, happily knitting and purling my way through a zip-up hoodie. I started with some short 4mm needles, but my style of knitting is apparently akin to that of an Eastern European woman - that is, I tuck my right needle firmly under my arm like a bagpipe, so I went to the local oppie and got some longer needles. Ecco a lei!

This garment will always remind me of what I watched while making, hence West Wing memories, ah CJ Cregg you are a Goddess!

PS. I have just been looking for images of women knitting the way I do, and I can't find any. Now I am paranoid about my technique, I just can't hold two needles out in front away from my body. What is your style?

Hazie Dazie we love you xxx

Today is Hazel's 1st birthday, and I have been very sentimental over the last few days, remembering being hugely pregnant, the birth, the brand-newness of her. She is my last baby, so I have been wistfully saying goodbye to that world, as I anticipate the rollercoaster that toddlers bring.

No doubt this year has been challenging, but I feel that we are coming out of the shade, with more independence, new routines and activities. I am so proud of her, and also pretty darn proud of myself, making it this far with my sanity relatively intact!

So today there have been presents, songs sung in her honour, and of course, her first taste of CHOCOLATE CAKE! Chocolate is our religion, and it's great to have Hazel sharing the love. We had a small posse of admirers over to celebrate, and now the small girl is conked out in her pram.

WE LOVE YOU HAZIE!

PS. Her dress is from Pene at Cottage Industry, ain't it sweet?