winter postcards

Spring takes a little longer to reach us here. There's signs if you look, daffodil stems poking through soil lining the footpaths to houses. Lamb ewes with their mothers dotted across the landscape as you drive by on the Monaro Highway. Right now we are dealing with rain and lingering winter illnesses. The mountain man and I declared this to be one of the worst winters for us in nine years. I was then surprised to come across some photos that showed things might not of been so gloomy after all and that there were some beautiful moments to be grateful for.

Starting with friendly afternoon visitors...

The excitement (and relief) when the mountain man brings home another load of wood to be stacked. There's nothing more comforting than being surrounded by piles of wood when you live in a cold region, knowing you will continue to have a warm cosy house and dry clothes in the morning.

 

Family skiing at Selwyn Snowfields. Finally a year where we could all ski together. We only managed a few days skiing in the entire season due to illnesses and bad weather and the snow then being rained away but it did come back! Unfortunately at the same time our wood piles were pretty low and mountain man had to spend a couple of weekends in the woods chainsawing. But never mind, I was so relieved I could even manage some time on the snow after my health issues this year and to do so with my favourite peeps was bliss. Luckily I took some photos with my phone camera, as you can see our hands are literally full.

How was your Winter? Are you yearning for Summer? I am! Bring on plenty of vitamin D and mouth watering fruits and salads. If you are heading in to cooler weather, are you ready? Well then, you better get your knit on.

23/52

Archie: playing in the early morning snowfall, on the first day of winter, in the Southern Hemisphere.

Joining in with the 52 Project 

first snowfall and a knitted hat

 

Knitted hat with ear flaps

Morning snowfall in our front yard

Morning snowfall in our backyard

We woke to a winter wonderland on Monday morning, marking the first day of winter.

I also cast off a knitted hat. My first attempt at knitting in the rounding using 5 double pointed needles and circular needles. Demystified.

I took Caddy Melville Ledbetter's class using her own personal pattern. I made the large hat but it turned out quite small even though I thought my swatch was right. Although...a flashback has reminded me that a little toddler was diving across my lap trying to grab the measuring tape at the time and I even remember thinking 'that'll do' and handed him the tape:) Lesson Learned. Details Ravelled here.

I'm sure my small Ruby knitted hat will find the love at The Thredbo Beanie Festival.

How was your first day of Winter or Summer? Depends where you are in the world! What have you been making?

Joining in with all the crafty folks at Frontier Dreams and Yarn Along at Small Things.

bathing bird summer survey

Last winter I participated in a volunteer bathing bird watching survey.

The research is used to look at which bird species are using birdbaths to drink from and/or bath in, the changes between seasons (winter versus summer) and how garden habitats and what we do might impact on what birds visit us.

The Bathing Birds survey runs for 4 weeks starting on Friday the 23rd of January and finishing on Monday the 23rd of February.

Would you like to join in? Only for folks  and birds living in Australia:)

All you have to do is observe your bird bath for 20 minutes a day, 3 times a week. It's fun, you can involve the kids and you get a fancy new title, Bathing Bird Citizen Scientist.

For more information and registering, visit Bathing Birds website.

taking stock september

Joining in with Pip's Taking Stock Snapshot. Here's my shorter version...

Smelling daffodils! A reminder that Spring has arrived as we continue some wintery habits such as tending to the wood heater. The snow season has been extended to mid October so we are not yet out of the wintery woods.

Watching our afternoon visitors, Eastern Grey Kangaroos, and their delightful joeys. Spring time brings new life and an opportunity for new beginnings!

Reading The A to Z of Home Remedies for Children's Health. An online course based on Chinese Medicine that gives you the knowledge and tools to help boost your child's immunity. I wish this course was available seven years ago for my first child. Every parent should do this!

Making Ossco Bucco, recipe from the above course. Nutrient dense stock is made from cooking the meat in water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (I use Melrose or Braggs) onions, mushrooms and carrots. Served on white rice; brown rice is too hard on children's digestive systems. Less is more in Chinese Medicine and "clean" slow cooked casseroles instead of "rich" type casseroles are very good in calming inflammation such as eczema or on-going colds.

Feeling excited and anxious at the same time as we prepare to move house. We had a unique opportunity to live in a little village in Kosciusko National Park but now it is time to move on.

We'll still be living in the Snowy Mountains region...for now. This is where we began our lives as a family and we have seven years of precious memories here. I'm definitely looking forward to a new chapter in our lives and especially the decluttering of our things! It is a bittersweet time.

Knowing we will miss all this open space!

 

Loving the hard work put in by Rob to keep up with our vegetable garden. Garlic bulbs have been broken up and planted in our enclosed garden beds. In a couple of months we'll have a bumper crop to harvest. See our snow covered garden last month.

What are you taking stock of this Spring?

a snowy evening

Our region was hit with a wind storm with gusts up to 150km/hr. Inevitably we lost electricity because a tree blew over and hit an electrical cable. Through our window we watched a team of service persons fight against the wind to repair said cable. Then we watched the evening replacement service team work tirelessly against the ferocious wind and darkness until we got too tired and cold to watch anymore and retreated to the wood stove.

We had no electricity on and off for a couple of days and one full night. Needless to say we are very grateful for the first world comforts we get on a daily basis. Even though at this time of year I often complain about how cold I am inside the house and about the continual hanging and drying of clothes in my lounge room!

So I wrote a positive letter commending said team for all their efforts and returning our home comforts. As the old saying goes, "One good turn deserves another."

Then we had a snowy evening and all was calm again.

How has your July been?

winter mornings

While the little one eats breakfast in his highchair by the wood heater...

And the bigger one looks for his elusive school beanie...

Mama captures the morning frost before the mid-morning arrival of Mrs Thaw.

Welcome King Winter to the Southern Hemisphere!

Hope you are all staying warm and well nourished.

autumn days

 Chasing the sun after a few dreary Autumn days.

Autumn Nature Table. This time up high, away from little fingers.

Easter Buns from this wonderful book, Baking Bread with Children.

 It's not even my birthday! he exclaimed excitedly. Handmade pillowcase. Helpful tips here.

 These two always working hard around the house together.

 Even the little one helps out. Bless him!

 Capturing these precious days at home. This is an important mama job, yes?

How are your Autumn days?

daily life

Heirloom tomatoes enjoyed fresh on sourdough with butter. Lebanese zuchinni's too bulbous to make Kousa Mahshi. Disappointing. Must speak to my "live in" gardener about that. Nevertheless, waste not want not. To the morning omelete you must go.

Painting old frames ready for snaps taken from my new DSLR canon. Happy 10th Anniversary says he to me.


An uplifting surprise win (after a glum few weeks) from one of my favourite reads.

 A great collection of books found at the tip shop.

Washing vintage linen on a sunny day. Thinking of sewing projects such as repurposing in to this or this.

Preparations in Autumn...looks like we will be spending another winter in this draughty house.

How is your daily life?

 

knitting in the heat of summer

Unravelled :: Red yarn for mum that turned out to be a little "too pink" for said person, and a cluttered mind, makes for not a very successful outcome. The beautiful Shalom Cardigan. Free pattern here.

My first cardigan :: This time red yarn turned out to be the perfect rusty red tweed and along with joining a knitting class makes for a very motivating and harmonious project.

Our beautiful Summer nature table :: With all the knitting going on around here you could be confused as to what season it really is: A very hot and fire hazardous summer!

Joining in with all the lovely hand makings at Keep Calm Craft On.