Seachange

 

 

Why move?

 

Our goal* is to eventually live on a large block of land (or as G would have it, a farm) where we can grow more of our own food. We did do that to some extent at our last home in the Perth Hills on 1/2 acre; we had a sizable vegie patch, 20 or so fruit trees, and kept up to 10 chickens while practising organic principles. Moving to the South Coast brings us closer to that goal, closer to another side of the family, closer to the lifestyle we envisage for our family.

So why, now, the smaller block near the beach? We no longer have any chickens**, our vegie patch is growing in pots, and there's not a fruit tree in sight!

 

It's all part of The Plan.

 

This house, while lovely and brilliantly located, is our 'Stepping Stone House'. It's purpose is not only to provide us with a beautiful place to live, it's also a gateway for us, a house through which we hope we can achieve our ultimate lifestyle dream - our 'Forever House' - once we establish ourselves in the community, and locate the larger block that we dream about.

 

Even so, this house suits us right now - and this has surprised us. It might be that we stay longer than we original planned.

 

A Seachange!

 

But I still miss my chickens.

 

 

Sam xx

* An idea triggered, once again, by Allison Tait and her Life in a Pink Fibro blog. Thanks, Allison!
** which have found (or rediscovered) loving homes before we left! I wouldn't leave them with just any one!!

Boxes, Bonnets and 'Brellas

 

Hooray and thank you to the movers who delivered all our furniture on Christmas Eve, and especially to the moving man whose truck broke down on the way back to Perth at 5pm with still a 4 hour drive ahead of him! Poor thing!!*

 

But for us it meant that we could wake up on Christmas morning in our new home, surrounded by tinselly decorated boxes. Phew! We made it!

 

And thank you to the talented and generous Greer of Typically Red and Christina who ran the Giveaway. The beautiful red bonnet arrived in time for Christmas. I had intended to keep it as a gift for a younger child, with both Greer and I thinking that it wouldn't fit a four year old, but it was quickly snaffled by Miss J when we collected it on Christmas Eve, and she would not remove it, not even for bed! And it was HOT on Christmas day - certainly not the weather to be wearing a woolly bonnet, nor for using the brand new umbrellas that a thoughtful and practical Santa had supplied:). However, the bonnet did come off the next day. I think even Miss J agreed that a bonnet is not quite the right attire for a swim at the new local beach!

 

And just how local is our new beach? Oh, only a leisurely 2 minute stroll. And a really good one is just a short drive away. Hee Hee!

 

It is truly beautiful down here in our new town, in many ways. But right now I am laid up in bed with a tummy bug. Which isn't so beautiful. So I'll write more later**. Of course!

 

 

Sam xx

 

 

*I am told he did get home before midnight. Please. Next time, take a mobile!

** Because writing in bed while flat on your back is not easy, not matter how stubborn you are!!

 

 

Spoilt

 

Farewell to the craziness that packing up a house brings and, while we may not have our furniture delivered until Monday*, we will be setting up the Christmas tree as soon as we gain possession of our new home!

 

Until then, we are staying with my parents for longer than expected, enjoying some quality grandparent time before we head south tomorrow. 

 

And it's not only the kids who are being spoilt with our stay here - I get to squeeze in some sneaky knitting on my Mara shawl before the unpacking begins. Hee hee!

 

 

 

Merry Christmas!!!

 

Sam xx

 

 

* Hooray to the movers who are bringing our furniture to us on Christmas Eve!!



'Typically Red' at Christmas

Certificates of Currency, Electrical Safety Certificates, packing boxes, butchers paper, packing tape, Orders and Requisitions......

 

and amongst all this......I had a little win.

This morning I received some very good news. Christina, of Christina Lowry Designs, has been running a "12 Days of Christmas Giveaway" to showcase Australian artisans and their hand made artworks. Day 12 focused on the knitted bonnets by Greer of Typically Red (blog and shop) -  gorgeous, adorable pieces!



Bumpy Bonnet, Watermelon, Toddler Size. Handmade, Vintage-Inspired Woollen Hat
by Typically Red

And I managed to win! Hooray!!

 

So, thank you so much, Christina and Greer. What a great idea, to share all these clever people with us. I've been having a lovely time checking out their websites, blogs and shops, and am already looking forward to next year!

Sam xx

 

Mara Shawl #2

Hello!

 

A couple of days ago, I finally finished this, my 'started first / finished second' Mara shawl. It's for Jacquie, my Mother-in-law, who a couple of weeks ago moved to the town on the South Coast that we ourselves are moving down to in a couple of weeks.*

 

Once again, I have used yarn frogged from an earlier project - Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed in Paper Rose colour way. This Mara version follows the pattern, using yarnover increases, until the cast off - I tried out “Jenny’s surprisingly stretchy bind-off” for the first time, but I think it has left the fringe almost too loose. The Mara pattern’s instructions for binding off are my preferred technique.

 

And, while the yarn is wonderfully soft and is beautifully light weight, it isn't very strong; I wouldn't use it to sew seams if I had made a garment from it - I would use something strong and sturdy.

 

Once again, "Yay" for the Mara Shawl pattern from madeleinetosh.com (but available on ravelry.com)! I have already begun another one, but this time for myself!!

 

But I am having fun....., even if I'm not packing as many boxes as I should!!

 

Sharing with Creative Spaces here.

 

 

Sam xx

 

*A couple of weeks? Aahhh!!!!

Nectarines

True to form, our nectarines are ready in this, the first week of December; gorgeous, juicy, delicious, richly luscious nectarines - my favourite fruit of Summer, by far!

 

Yummy yum yum!

Maybe it's time to make some nectarine jam, too?

 

 

 

What's your favourite summer fruit?

Do you grow your own?

 

 

Sam xx

First Crush

 

A couple of months ago, Miss M told me she was going to marry Alec from her class.

 

"Oh? What is it about Alec that you like so much?"

 

"He has cool hair."

 

Oh. Well, she is only 6 years old. Seems a good enough reason to me!

 

And I thought nothing much more about it........until she started sobbing last night.

 

"Darling! What's wrong?"

 

"Alec isn't just on holiday. He's moved away. To a country on the other side of the world! I didn't even get to say goodbye! And I'll never see him again!!!" And she continued to sob; an hour of inconsolable sobbing!

 

What?? She's only six! Is the world really going to end?? And did I ever feel like that with my first crushes??

 

The funny thing is, I can't remember most of them - I actually came across an old journal of mine while packing and I scanned through it, only to discover my lamentations over a boy whom I can no longer remember. Who was this boy? My grand passion sobbed out on to the page, unrequited love - like most of my crushes.

 

And isn't that what a crush is? Unrequited?? In Miss M's case, not so, it seems - Mr Alec had told her he wanted to marry her, too.

 

Some detective work (a gossip with the class teacher) uncovered the details of Alec's departure - his family have moved to a country town - not unlike what we are about to do, only in the opposite direction. Even so, this seemed to placate my eldest's concerns - Alec's living in WA. It's okay. He's not so far away. Maybe she might see him again?

 

And off she trotted, to giggle with her friends.

 

Her first crush - she may not remember when she grows up, but I will!

 

 

 

Do you remember your first crush?

 

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Sam xx

 

 

Photo of National Geographic Magazine, February 2006 - something else I found while packing!