Kreativ Blogger Award

Please forgive a little break in transmission, we have all been a little unwell. Perhaps I have been hit the hardest, so my brain has been taking a break. However, I am on the mend and so pleased to be the recipient of the Kreativ Blogger Award, thankyou alecat.

Being creative each day is essential for it to bring me joy and I am glad that I have so many opportunities to be creative in my everyday life as a mother of littlies. Each blog post is a creation in itself but I am also glad to share some of the other things I make along the way also.

In the spirit of creativity I have decided to challenge myself to write 7 things, which are somewhat descriptive of me, using only one word or phrase, as I have written honestly about myself previously. So if I prompt any questions you'll have to ask me in the comments.

Okay, the rules:

1. Thank the person who gave this to you!

2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.

3. Link the person who nominated you.

4. Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know.

5. Nominate 7 other bloggers & let them know they are nominated.

1. Eldest

2. Pioneer

3. A stitch in time

4. Voice box, recorder, clarinet, ocarina, piano etc.

5. Committed

6. Faith

7. Resourceful

I'd like to pass this award on to some other lovely creative people in blog land.

Juliane of Fröken Skicklig

Salihan of Salihan Crafts

Mel of One Crafty Mumma

Erna of Blij als Mij

Nina of Nö's Familie

Postcards from the Limestone Coast: Penola/Coonawarra

I used to visit and revisit it a dozen times a day, and stand in deep contemplation over my vegetable progeny with a love that nobody could share or conceive of who had never taken part in the process of creation. It was one of the most bewitching sights in the world to observe a hill of beans thrusting aside the soil, or a rose of early peas just peeping forth sufficiently to trace a line of delicate green. ~Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mosses from an Old Manse

We stayed in Naracoorte in this delightful cottage, yet we would have rathered stay in Penola. The cottage was beautiful, very restful with a room for each of us, the fire already set for us to light, toys for the children to enjoy. I very much enjoyed 'playing house' in this cottage of yesteryear but there were delights awaiting us in Penola which we had had to drive past half an hour earlier in the day.

So we returned!

Taking country roads

The vines of the famous Coonawarra wine region

Honeyeater and bottlebrush, enjoying Spring!

Day be day we drove from Naracoorte to Penola to help little Eee fall asleep in the car for her afternoon nap. At least that was our excuse, we wanted to enjoy lunch in Penola (among other things).

Dining at diVine Café and Gourmet Delicatessan was wonderful. It was the first time we had an option of eating gluten free while on our trip. At last, I could order sandwiches for the girls without worrying they were consuming too much wheat. They enjoyed them so very much. I ordered a pasta salad which I have not eaten in ages. I loved the way the menu was written - it didn't have a gluten free listing from which your choice was limited, my salad was a menu item which was noted to have a gluten free option available - wonderful!

I wanted to return to Petticoat Lane to visit Sharam's Cottages and Garden. These treasures were built in 1850, reputedly the first in Penola. Granny Sharam died in the cottage around 1910. I am not sure what the family did with them directly afterwards, but since the 1960s they have been cared for by the National Trust and are open to wander through... take a look at these eye opening pictures of a cottage of yesteryear.

Look at this adorable baby's cradle.

Now the pièce de résistance, the Herb and Vegetable Garden, also maintained by the National Trust.

This is my dream garden, lovingly cared for after being built over 150 years ago to take care of a family. Over a century later, our family wandered through and delighted in being able to pick, smell and take home for tea. We enjoyed the Rainbow Chard left in the basket for visitors. I'd so love someone to be walking through my garden next century and enjoying its produce.

The last peek of Sharam's Cottage for you is of this ancient doll found underneath floorboards. I was awe-inspired to see the handwork of a lady of so long ago and wander what games the girls got up to with this treasure. Was she beloved and taken to bed religiously each night? What she placed on the shelf with other doll friends? Was she carried out to the garden to tend it with her owner and mother? How long did it take to make her? Was she a gift to the owner by her mother, aunt, grandma, sister? Was she playing hide and seek when she slipped and fell through a hole in the floorboards, unable to climb out again, unable to cry for help, unable to make a little searching girl hear her call for help? There she remained, as floorboards were repaired, covering any evidence of her fall, until they were pulled up again years later. Was she ever recognised by family members grown up, with girls and dolls of their own now?

I wonder if one of the dolls I have made for my treasured pair will be discovered in years to come!

Hope you enjoyed Penola too.

Pretty Table Linen and more rosy pink "prettyness"

The Rose Bowl is the only bowl I've ever seen that I didn't have to clean. ~Erma Bombeck

For a long while now I have been wanting to make some fabric serviettes for our dinner table. There are always very sticky fingers at meal and snack times leaving us searching for something to wipe our hands on which usually turns out being the washer little Eee has used to wipe her face. Thus, as my girls are growing older rapidly, I think we need to use the washer less and embark on adding some prettiness to our days with some fabric serviettes.

The table runner I made after being inspired by Ess' twirly skirt was all I needed to gather inspiration for our new linen. It brightens our white outdoor table setting and always entices me and the girls outside. Today it is hot!, about 35degC outside, yet little Eee and I still enjoyed lunch outdoors with our pretty pink table linen.

I've used these delightful ribbons again from my stash to add a touch of whimsy, and to delight and intrigue little eyes.

Now, while we are outside and enjoying all things pretty...

here are my first rose blooms of the season.

I know you must see my roses more than once each year, yet I cannot resist the beauty of these blossoms. The fragrance is impeccable and the delicate scalloped edge is so very pretty. Here they are again - My Children's Rose.

Postcards from the Limestone Coast: Dartmoor, Victoria

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now. ~Chinese Proverb

Carved Cypress Tree in the Village Green

We darted across the South Australian border towards Dartmoor as soon as we heard of the Nursery Rhyme/Fairy Tale Cypress Tree. There are 38 characters carved in the old tree planted before World War II.

The carvings have been made by Kevin Gilders, a professional chainsaw carver/artist.

I'm sure you'll recognise many of them, as we did.

After a quick visit to the Village Dunny we left the Village Green and headed towards the main street of Dartmoor.

There is an avenue of trees which has been carved as a memorial to soldiers of the local area. Do have a read about the Avenue of Honour. I found it a wonderful opportunity to share with Ess about the times of war as we wandered along the avenue. She was particularly interested and asked many questions. It was somewhat of a paradox, we came to Dartmoor to enjoy seeing nursery rhymes and fairytales in carvings yet found ourselves immersed in conversation about some important real life issues.

Why were the trees not left alone you might be asking? As I did. It seems that arborists recommended the trees be cut down. They had been planted to commemorate those who had gone to war from the community around Dartmoor. Each tree was planted recognising the direction in which their home lay. I guess if a tree needs to be chopped down then this is a special way for the commemoration of these important people to continue.

Now tell me, which characters from which rhymes and tales did you see carved in the old cypress tree?

The Twirly Skirt for Ess...complete and enjoyed!

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

Our days are quite full here. Spring days full of warmth, colour and twirling and whirling with giggles and laughter.

Ess' skirt has finally been finished and, a few days later, is here for you to view.

I do hope you like it. Because you see, it was not I who designed it. I merely put the stitches to work. We used the pattern from here, I chose a selection of fabrics from here, yet it was my dear daughter who designed it. "I want the swirly, whirly, twirly fabric for the main part and the butterfly fabric for the hem and the top (ie the waistband and tie)", she stated clearly. Admittedly it was not my original choice, and I shared with Ess my own ideas. However her reply was, "but Mummy it is my skirt so please can we do it my way!?" It was not really a question and I knew that if I made a skirt of my own choosing it may not be worn, it may not be loved, it would certainly always be remembered as the skirt which 'Mum asked me to choose fabric for, but which she ended up choosing herself.' This was not my desire for a new skirt for my little girl to love and enjoy, to twirl and whirl in, and to consider her own.

Indeed I have come to love this design. I grew fond of the half-finished skirt as it inadvertently became a table runner to brighten our cool spring days last week. Now I have made a table runner for our outdoor area from the leftover fabric. It does look very springy by the fishpond and water fountain, now it is finally warm enough to sit by them and soak in the atmosphere in those few seconds between eating and being needed again - to play, to clean up, to move on to the next thing to keep pace with our little girls.

Enjoy your Spring, or your Autumn up north.

PS Hope you like my new Springy blog header ;) You'll have to pop on in to take a pic if you're reading in a reader.

Postcards from the Limestone Coast: Port MacDonnell

Praise the sea; on shore remain. ~John Florio

Just when you thought there could not possibly be anymore photos, and that the coastal scenery was a thing of the past, here I am again. Take a look at Port MacDonnell. We absolutely fell in love with this area and, in fact, if we were to come to stay around Mt Gambier again, we would look to stay in Port MacDonnell, it is only about 25mins drive south of Mt Gambier.

This small historic township is known for being "The Rock Lobster Capital" of Australia. However I was very happy to remain ashore here and leave the fisherman to their work. This rugged coastline is renowned for the many shipwrecks around the area. The one which comes to mind is the SS Admella 150 yrs ago, which is arguably the most tragic shipwreck. It was spotted by a Lighthouse Keeper at Port MacDonnell as it was in trouble along the coast at Carpenter Rocks. The ship split in two and people on shore watched passengers die as they could neither get to them or deliver food and water. There were numerous failed rescue attempts.

The above photograph is taken from the site of the original lighthouse - so very very close to the treacherous rocks. I am sure I would have felt uncertain staying here. However who knows what it would have been like 150 yrs ago, no doubt there has been a lot of erosion since then.

Such beauty bursting from in between sandy rocks and crevices. Another delightful South Australian Wildflower!

Little Camel Rock

Many of the rock formations around here have been named. They are indeed very easily identifiable.

Rhinoceros Rock

Frog Rock

We stood at South Australia's Most Southern Point and took stock of where we were - a very long way from most of the larger cities of Australia.

We spent a long time wading in rock pools, exploring shells and building sand castles as one must do on any beach. :)

I admired this absolutely enormous piece of seaweed which was not alone washed up on the shore with so many other leathery pieces of kelp.

As the afternoon sky faded, we drove to Dingley Dell, the cottage of the famous poet Adam Lindsay Gordon. His life story is one worth reading about - very wreckless and tragic.

We concluded our day viewing a beautiful sunset over the southern ocean,

while we waited to view the baby fairy penguins as they came out of their little caves to greet their parents coming in from the ocean with the 'catch of the day.'

The only thing I am sorry about is that we did not stay to dine at Periwinkles. This is no doubt, one of the reasons I need to stay in Port MacDonnell next time:)

"Yeah they were all Yellow"

Tell me how many beads there are
In a silver chain
Of evening rain,
Unravelled from the tumbling main,
And threading the eye of a yellow star: -
So many times do I love again.
~Thomas Lovell Beddoes

The lovely Nina of Nö's Familie was given the challenge to find seven light blue things around her home which you can see here. She has passed the task on to me to find seven yellow things here. At first I was very challenged at the thought of the colour yellow as it is perhaps my least favourite colour. I do not wear it well at all. Yet as I have been enjoying working with a bit of yellow of late, I knew I'd accept that challenge.

The yellow pansies blooming beneath our budding roses were the first yellow things that came to mind. Nearby I see the bright yellow faces of the Johnny Jump-ups, jumping up year by year and endearing us all to them once again.

While in the garden I also discovered some bright yellow gumboots often worn by the owner of the sweet little yellow watering can as she accompanies me around the garden, now requiring more and more water as the days warm. It is definitely Spring here now.

As soon as Ess came home from school, we were all on the hunt for yellow things. We found this buzzy bee, a recent garage sale purchase made by Ess for little Eee who was in need of a moneybox. She absolutely loves placing money in through the slot, opening the bottom to watch it all fall out and resuming the task of refilling once more.

The bright yellow duckies in our bathtub bring smiles to all. Some were gifts as Ess was born yet the two smallest were kept by my Mum and passed on to me. They were mine as a child, loved especially by Mum as "they float so well and don't have a hole allowing them to fill with water and hence mould", she recalls!! Daddy even found a few more things in our bathroom on his return. Not so pretty to photograph!

I have loved watching Ess wear this sweet little vintage dress with yellow ladybugs all over. The cotton is so soft, no doubt worn thin by the many times I wore it as a child.

The bright yellow ribbons I made for Ess to wear on her Sports Day earlier this year.

A bright bowl of fresh fruit - bananas and lemons from Grandad's tree - sitting on our Spring time table outdoors. Finally it is warm enough for us to dine al fresco (and not yet too hot!)

And a highly coveted mango, fresh from Australia's Northern Territory, much loved by myself and my daughters. Sadly my Generous Gentleman never seems to get a look in when these are around.

I am sure I have found at least seven things!!

All the while I have been singing this Yellow song in my mind. As I reflect, I note that all these yellow items represent the things in our home which are important to me: my family/my children, my garden, wholesome nutritious, fresh food.

Thanks Nina for a lovely challenge. I'd like to pass this challenge on to Diane, alecat and Jackie to find seven red things. Have fun! And of course, if you have a red song, I'd certainly love to hear that as well!)

"Look how they shine for you" ~ ColdPlay