One year ago

One year ago today,

builders started cutting into our roof.

I took this photo after they left for the day.

And eventually, 

over the next four months

our home went from this

to this

Here's a whirlwind reminder

of those days.

Somehow we lived 

through it all,

and even hosted Emily's birthday party,

we remembered today

(when she asked about this year's party)

I look back through my blog now

and realise that life went on during those times.

Laura graduated from primary school,

concerts were attended,

Christmas cards were made.

I carried on with my elimination diet,

cooking everything from scratch.

Somehow.

But, it was worth it all.

We have space to breathe,

space for each girl

and space for my craft equipment

with another quiet spot to retreat to.

There's still lots to do,

the fence is only half-painted

and the garden is a mess.

It's been quite a year.

But at this end, it's been a good one.

The chaos of the building 

was forgotten on about the

11th March,

the day after we moved the 

furniture into the upstairs.

It's true,

you really do forget about it afterwards.

Just can't believe a year has passed

since it all began ....

Still Sweet

It's rough that I have to 

slowly work my way through

the leftover

Gluten-free Cupcakes

and Melting Moments.

. . . 

But someone has to do it.

Good busy

Life at the moment is good busy.

Laura's birthday is on Thursday,

so on Saturday we celebrated with family here.

26 people, and among them lots of other 

birthdays to catch up on, too.

I think we sang "Happy Birthday" about 6 or 7 times,

most of them with multiple people named!

Laura requested a marble cake,

which I decorated with rainbow sprinkles,

piped chocolate buttercream

and smarties.

Steve photographed the cake while I frantically 

worked on last-minute cooking and cleaning, 

 including (with Laura's help) assembling

gluten-free Melting Moments

Yum!

Fortunately all our visitors were

politely at least 10 minutes late,

so we even had time to look up and smile at the camera.

Can you believe my baby is almost 13?

And here she is later in the afternoon,

enjoying some of her gifts -

fluro coral sunglasses, 

a lion handpuppet

and a very gorgeous and beloved rug

crocheted by an aunt.

We had a wonderful time

all together, it's rare that 

every single member 

of our extended family

can be all together.

And of course the afternoon tea table

was groaning with plates of 

sweet and delicious food

(thankfully not all cooked by me).

Lovely to see the nieces and nephews 

growing up, too.

Good times.

* * *

And in other busy-but-good-ness ....

I have been requested lately 

to source various items,

including (but not limited to):

pink, black, white or silver schoolgirl dress

chains

pink hairspray

fishnet gloves

(for a punk schoolgirl themed dance at school)

Mad Hatter's hat 

(for Emily's birthday party soon)

many and various 

birthday presents

(some of which can't be named yet)

craft activity and lollies 

(for Laura's party with friends)

leis and flowers for hair

(for ballet concert)

food for parties and a goodbye present

(a friend of Laura's moved to another state)

formal/military style dress

(Emily is going on a formal harbour cruise

with her youth group)

.... and I haven't even started to think 

about Christmas presents yet!

But I like shopping,

and the challenge of finding 

the perfect item at the right price.

So it's all good.

Right?

* * *

How busy is your November??

Inspired by Bento

 Lately I'm inspired again by bento lunches. 

Here and here and here.

Up till now in our family lunchboxes have been a throw-together affair.

crackers (for morning tea)

one bread roll

little packet chips

apple (slinkied, lately)

treat (mostly from a packet - a milo bar, or mini cookies)

Pretty boring, but easy to make at the last minute. 

I would count the items and if there were five of them it was time to stop. 

But now that's all changed.

If I get organised the night before ...

... and if the components can fit into a divided lunchbox ....

... then it's bento all the way here!

These photos are of the best of the lunches

in the last fortnight.

Catering for one vegetarian daughter

and one temporarily gluten-free daughter

(both fussy eaters)

and making it all look appealing

is not easy!

October, so far

Since school went back

life has been too busy.

School terms often seem to begin like this,

for me, at least.

This time:

Christmas cardmaking night for 30+ women

A little more accompanying of exams

Scripture teaching for an absent friend

Miserable with a cold

Laura gluten-free for 10 days.

But now the load has lifted

and life feels good again.

I've tidied the kitchen

and the living room

and there's room to breathe.

I feel like cooking again.

The sun is shining

and my everyday responsibilities

and weekly commitments 

to help and encourage others

start to feel like a pleasure again.

I minded a Little Person with cute feet today.

Just the two of us

Mum and Dad took the girls for the weekend, leaving us with some rare free time alone.

Unfortunately I was sick with a cold and Saturday was a complete write-off, but we went out on Friday and Sunday when I was feeling alright.

Friday took us in search of shade, it was 33deg with hot winds. We went to Echo Point, Roseville, and were not disappointed. We sat on a hill in the shade, eating chicken salad, overlooking beautiful Middle Harbour, while cool breezes blew up from the water, lovely.

In the evening, we went for dinner and a movie. We saw Arbitrage, starring Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon. Not the best movie I've ever seen, but engrossing to the end.

Saturday we stayed home, me with my box of tissues, and watched a few (not so great) movies we had recorded earlier.

Sunday after church we headed to Newport Arms and enjoyed another good meal by the water, in beautiful cool but sunny weather, then visited a nursery and picked up the girls.

A good break for us both before heading back into fourth term. Life has been busy lately!

A Long Weekend in the Garden

In Spring 

with the warm weather

I remember that we have a garden.

On Thursday I borrowed a stack of 

garden design books from the library,

and I've been poring over them,

my mind filling with plans.

Even my old gardening books have come out for an airing.  

On Saturday we enjoyed a family lunch

in my parents'-in-law's garden

(where our new trestle table and chairs worked a treat)

to celebrate my father-in-law's 85th birthday.

Sunday some of us weren't feeling so great,

so a quiet afternoon ...

Then this morning I decided that the murraya hedge 

couldn't go another day without a good trim

It's not perfect now, but as good as I can manage,

considering the obstacles.

And really, how long does one want to stand 

at the top of a wobbly old ladder on a public pathway?

Although I did get to chat with some friendly locals.

The celery I grew in a bowl 

is really growing at last.

And from one of the gardening books

I've been thinking again about focal points,

and axes ...

and the importance of having places for the eye to be drawn,

and so for now have moved a seat 

to this empty spot where the 

murrayas would never grow 

for some reason.

\

Tara Dillard says that a bench as a focal point 

always suggests repose,

even if it is never sat on.

One day I'll have a nicer bench there,

and perhaps an arch or pergola over it.

We had lunch on the verandah 

(another area I have plans for)

and played badminton in the front yard,

to the sound of the ukulele.

A good weekend.

And just as I was about to press "Publish" 

the doorbell rang,

some local relatives were walking by

and we invited them to stay for dinner.

I love spontaneous hospitality,

it's so stress-free!

An extra good weekend.