Tangrams

Recently Zak has been playing with Tangrams online and learning about Tessellating shapes. When book club came in this week, he got a magnetic xmas tangram set. He quickly decided that the patterns in the book were far too easy and that his designs were much more interesting.

Here are a few he made this morning........

Which one is your favourite? He likes the last one the best! :-)

Zucchini anyone?

Yesterday I found that my garden had produced some lovely Zucchini for us to eat. I love Zucchini and cook it often.


The chickens have also been busy laying eggs for us! So what can we make with Zucchini and eggs?


This morning I just so happened to be visiting Ariads blog and she had so kindly posted a recipe for Zucchini so I thought we would try it out.

Click here for the recipe. (She writes them a bit like me LOL so very easy for me to follow!)



I almost followed her recipe to the T but we all know I'm not very good at that! Hehe! I added some Rosemary to the mix and sprinkled the top with Hungarian Paprika to give it a little bite. The results......very nice. A perfect summer dish! Thanks Ariad.


There were only the four of us for dinner as I cooked early. We had some mushroom and tomato salad, some Cacik (cucumbers and yoghurt with mint) and some bread rolls on the side. Nice and light on a hot summers day!



Speaking of Ariad, she also was kind enough to give me an award a few weeks back which I have not yet shared with you. Here it is.........

Thanks Ariad, you are too sweet!

"To accept the award post a post on your blog, and link to the person who gave it to you"

(Okay, I did that up the top! ;-) )

"Pass it on to five other people (if you want to) by posting links to their blogs and leaving a comment in their comments."

(Consider yourself tagged if you are reading this! LOL! If you want to of course!)

And the meme that goes with this award is to think of five random categories and tell us in a post five favourite things about each category.

Hmmmmmm......

Things I love..... family, friends, breathing, babies, animals, craft, water, earth and air (woops I can't count! Sorry!)

Craft......Cross stitch, knitting, crochet, painting, (ok All things crafty)

Leisure..... Singing, dancing, walking, gardening, reading

Food.... Vegies (one and all), Chocolate, Nectarines, Watermelon, Spaghetti

Things I don't like... SHOES, hypocrites, bindi's, glass on the ground, Preservatives!

Okay thats it from me for today! I am taking the boys to the toy raffles, wish them luck! Hugs and smoochies xoxoxoxxo

Book Crazy!

Shhhh! Don't tell anyone, but I think I have an addiction here! Books! I can't seem to get enough of them. And while I try very hard NOT to buy too many for myself. The monthly bookclub for the boys is proving hard to resist. Someone....Please sit on my hands next time so I won't buy any more!

This week I have been trying to sort and catalogue all of the childrens books. Gameboy wrote a program for my computer so that I could add all the books, the categories etc and record where we put them for easier location. It is turning out to be a rather mammoth task to say the least!


Here is just the first two shelves I pulled down. There are 5 1/2 book cases in just this one room. And they each have books in their own rooms too! Thus far I have finished most of the the non-fiction and teaching rescourse books we own. Siphened out two full boxes, which I gave away of books that were mine that I won't read again to make room for the kids fiction books. Just looking at them, I can see it might take a week to sort and type them all in! (So in my case that could take months! Really I can't do it full time!)

Speaking of books. I was lucky enough to win one in Wendy's competition a while back. It is a lovely book all about Korea. It includes stories about Korean culture, poems and songs and is printed in both English and Korean. A lovely book for sure. We will treasure it! Thanks Wendy!

Well I would have linked you to Wendy's blog, but it seems she was not joking when she said she would no longer be blogging. Her blog is no longer there! Boo Hoo! We will miss you Wendy :-(

Anyway, book sorting aside, Its time to hit the books for other reasons! Like education...then we are off to the beach. Hey! Someones gotta do it!

Hugs and smoochies xoxoxox

Fun Monday - Thank you's

Wendishness is hosting Fun Monday this week and here is what she is asking...

"I thought we could consider Thanksgiving Day which will be the following Thursday in the USA. Though I know a lot of us aren’t in the US so don’t celebrate this, it might be nice to share some of the things we are thankful for in our lives."

Well, today, the first thing I am thankful for is the cool change in the weather! I know, not very exciting but hey if you had to put up with what we did yesterday, you would be thankful too!

I am thankful that I met my man so young and that we have grown together and still after all these years, love, live and learn together.

I am thankful to have been blessed with 5 healthy gorgeous children.

I am always thankful for my extended family and friends. I think I would be pretty lost without them.

I am thankful that my children get to grow up in such a beautiful country.

I am thankful for the roof over our heads and that we never go hungry!

I am thankful that my kids have given me some time out this week and that I managed to get a little cross stitching time in.

Most of all, I am thankful for the lessons life has thrown at me. After all, it is through all our lessons learned that we become the person we are meant to be.

Now go on over to Wendy's place and see what everyone else is thankful for today!

Hugs and Smoochies xoxoxox

Oh PS....

I was very thankful this morning, for the laughter that a certain email brought with it (scroll down and consider yourself snowballed! Haha! We can all be thankful for a little fun in our lives!)

HA HA HA

Last night had to be the hottest night we have endured for a very long time. Normally living so close to the beach, even on a hot day, we get an afternoon breeze. Yesterday we had hot winds all day. They stopped in the early evening but the heat did not. It was oppressive. The boys slept down stairs and I crawled into bed about 10pm but did not sleep until well after 12. I probably should not have had that coffee before bed. It certainly did not help me sleep. Somewhere towards morning, relief came in the form of new winds. Nice cold winds. I refrained from getting up to close the windows as it was pure relief just to cool down. Even though the blinds were flapping wildly and I feel like I may just be getting a cold now. (Oh well, bring on the herbs! LOL).

Anyway, (I'm always good at making a short story long hey? hehe!) when I awoke this morning to find this in my email, it gave me a bit of a laugh, considering the lady who sent it to me lives inland and it was probably even hotter at her place last night...........

~You have just been hit with an e-mail snow ball!~
It's the start of.....

Snow Ball Fight 200 9 !!

One rule to this game....

You can NOT hit someone
who has already hit you!

Now...

go out there and get as many
people as you can,

before they get you!

I got you first! and you can't get me back!
Nanee - Nanee - Nanee!
(hehe)

We do not stop playing because we grow old;

we grow old because we stop playing.

Never Be The First To Get Old!!!!!

--------------------------------------------

Yes AOTE! I do try to live by this rule, however, today my poor old body does not agree with me! LOL! Thankfully the forecast is for cooler weather this week!

Have a great day all! Hugs and Smoochies!

Quick Update

Its been another really busy week this week. I had planned on doing a bit of a garden post but have not had the time to resize pictures and actually sit and post. So just a quick update on the week.

Zak has been going great with learning how to play baseball. His team won the last two games which is great. They are up against a few good teams and as they are all new the first couple of weeks they got flogged. He was very proud to receive man of the match this week.

Gameboy has been hiding out a bit in the air conditioned room chugging along with his computer programming. He is doing really well with it.

The weather has been really really hot the past few days. A thunder storm is just passing over but not really cooling us down much.

We did a lighthouse tour and had a picnic on Tuesday. It was a beautiful day! I actually for once did not take any photos. I was too busy playing with the children! They even made me take a run!

Went to the raffles last night and we won a couple of prizes. It was all surf gear which is popular around here. Im not much into brand names myself but the boys were happy with their score. Gameboy got a pair of Billabong board shorts and Zak got himself a Ripcurl cap!

I have managed in between running in and out to finish off the baby sling I was crocheting and do a little stitching (not much but better than nothing).

We went to the movies and saw 2012. Very dramatic but a bit too much of scaremongering there I think!

We also went to the beach a few times. The water is lovely at the moment. Very refreshing!

Thats about it, I think! Other than all the other day to day stuff that goes on. Must away! Dinner is almost ready! Have a great weekend everyone!

Hugs and smoochies xoxoxox

Fun Monday - Whats the oldest thing in your house?

Its been a while since I've had the time to join in on Fun Monday but when I saw the topic this week, I thought I could quickly play.

Ari from Beyond my Slab is the host this week and here is the task.......

"My question is: What is the oldest possession in your house or flat? Describe it or show us a picture. Where did it come from? Why do you hang on to it?"

Well, I straight away thought of my very first doll and my nana's teapot but then when I went to take pictures I realised that the cabinet the teapot is in is actually way way older.

When I was a little girl, my nana had a cabinet exactly like this one and I loved it so much. It was full of interesting little ornaments and tea sets etc. When she passed away, it went to my aunt who keeps it in her loungeroom in a similar fashion. This one actually belonged to my aunts husbands mother and is pretty much the same. She so kindly passed it on to me. I believe it is over 100 years old now. It holds some glasses, a tea set which was my nanas and some trophies that the children have earned over the years. (Please excuse the mess on top, it is currently in our front room which doubles up as our learning room). Yes, that would be a huge piece of paper bark that Zak stuck to some paper one day when we went for a nature walk. He was making a picture and ended up sticking all his leaves etc onto the bark.


Here is Nana's teapot.....I have no idea how old it is but Nana passed away around 23 years ago now. We have used it on many occasions but I keep it in the cabinet so the kids don't smash it. Although I am not one to be attached to "things", it does remind me of my nana and I would be a bit sad if it broke.


And since I mentioned her, I thought you better meet my baby too! She is 40 years old this xmas! She was my very first doll and I loved her to bits, even though I ended up with 23 dolls by the time I left home. She is the only one I kept. All the rest went to my sister. All except one (My ballerina doll which is still in her box and my mum would not let her have it). I still ocassionally bag her out for that! ITS A DOLL MUM! Dolls are for playing with! (And yes she did not let my kids have it either! LOL) Now I am ashamed to say I can't remember her name..I think it was Cindy! But I had another doll for almost as long and I keep mixing them up. The other one was Sally. Or vice versa!


I loved this doll so much that when I was little and it was winter, I put her near the fire to get warm! Woops! She got a Boo Boo....

I think she forgave me though! She has had a pretty good life with me! She got to play with lots of kids over the years. My girls played with her, my boys too! And now she gets a lot of play time with visitors too. She used to say "mama" when she was new. But she has not been able to talk for a long time now. Her eye lashes are gone and one of her eyes does not open properly. Her dress is not her original one. When the girls were little they over washed it and it fell apart. She also has a nice cardigan that I knitted for her! But its a bit hot today! She is well loved in our home and is very happy. Don't you think? She will hopefully play with many more children in her time! (Unlike poor Jessie on Toy Story!)

Hugs and Smoochies everyone! xoxoxox
Don't forget to stop by Ari's place and check out everyone elses old stuff!

Sunday Morning (Updates and plans for the day!)

• Spent the early hours catching up on some herbal studies.
• Said a few prayers and sent out some healing vibes to people who need it.
• Had a little chat with Gameboy.
  
• Went for a ride down to the Lakes Entrance and back on the motor bike. (soaked up the beautiful weather, breathed in the fresh sea air, sent up a few more healing happy thoughts and tried to think up ways to fit in all the things I would like to do this week)
• Drank two cups of coffee and had some toast.
• Played with the dogs for 5 minutes.

• Updated my new blog! Oh did I tell you I have a new blog? Its called Transcendent Anomalies and is more a place to write down thoughts, dreams, stuff related to healing, herbal remedies etc. You are welcome to check it out if you like, it will not be family, homeschooling or craft related so I don't expect everyone to follow it. Its more a place for me to get stuff out of my head.

Plans for the rest of the day.....

• Go to the beach and laze around in the glorious sunshine for hours.
• Play with the kids.
• Go to the afternoon xmas raffle with SIL.
  
• Cook dinner
• Try to fit in some stitching time somewhere (I have been aiming to do a little every day)
• Do a little gardening.
• Walk the dogs. (Not too far this time)
• Have a go at Zumba (dance exercise), it looks like fun.

Have a glorious fun filled Sunday everyone! Hugs and smoochies xoxoxoxo

PS. Could you please send some healing vibes or positive prayers Sayre's mother's way, she is not doing too well. Thank you!

Morning coffee with the dogs....

This morning I took my coffee and camera out into the garden to sit with the dogs and started snapping pictures from my banana chair.....well, I tried to take pictures of the garden but my little helpers did not want me to......This picture pretty much sums up how I get to sit when ever I go out.......somebody needs to sit ON me most of the time.......

Of course Miss Miko takes the time to give me lots of kisses and was very interested in the camera.....

While Miko looks for a way into the garden...Bella discovers a bone under her feet!

Bella's is healing really well and has been putting weight on her knee all week for longer and longer periods of time. It has only been a month and I was told to expect it to take 3 months to heal properly.

Maxi trying to take a nap!

Miko suddenly does a belly flop and looks sad!

As I zoom out I see why....she thinks Bella is eating the catnip!
She does not like to miss out on anything but knows to wait her turn!

Of course, Bella is not eating the catnip, she is retrieving a small bone she left there for later...
Nom Nom Nom
None for Miko!

Looking up.....a lovely blue sky!
(Just a few small clouds)

Miko's turn! She IS eating the catnip! Silly girl!

Mama! I feel sick!

Mama! I am hungry!

Bella is NOT sharing!
Boo Hoo!

Mama! Make her share!

Oh! I see!

She can only dream!

Oh this is good!

More looking up shots!

Hmmmm!

Miko is NOT amused!

Poor Miko!

Bubbles.......

You are never too old to blow bubbles......

Bubbles are beautiful.......

Bubbles can be hard to blow when you are little......

Another new challenging task to learn.........

But you can get by with a little help from your friends........

If you try real hard, you can do anything you put your mind to!

J: I can't do it!
K: Yes you can!
J: But I can't....it's not working!
K: You need to practice...blow softly!
(She blows a bit like a zlerbert and one little bubble escapes)
J: I did it I did it
K: Yes you did!
J: Why? (Her latest every second question!)
K: Because you can!
J:...........OH MAN!!!!

A Wedding......

On Saturday my cousin Erin got married to her long time partner Jordan. It was a lovely day and the reception was loads of fun. Here are just a few shots from the day.....

The Venue - St Johns Cathedral

Waiting to get started......

The lovely couple....Erin and Jordan

Erin and her parents.....

TC and Barbie....

Ninjaboy and Cameragirl
(CG designed and sewed her own dress)

The girls with their 2nd cousin (the brides little brother)
CG, TC and TBF

My Dad and Mum

Blossom and Jaymie

Darren and Alicia (aka SIL)

Time for dancing!

We had a lovely time. Lots of eating, drinking, catching up with family and old friends and of course lots of laughter. The best man, Jordans younger brother did the best speech I have ever heard at a wedding, then topped it off by singing a song and playing guitar. It was fanastic! Of course Karisma's lot were behaving in their usual manner...ahem....

Don't know who these two take after?????

Hugs and smoochies all xoxoxoxox