please do not bend

I miss my old postman. he would ride his bike up my drive and leave magazines lying flat on my doorstep. The current postman prefers to fold them in half and do his best to shove them through the slot in the mail box, leaving them sticking out half way, seemingly to be sure the crease in the magazine is firmly set. I like my magazines perfectly flat (at least those I intend to keep, like Donna Hay).
So the latest issue arrived today - and includes 25 soup recipes, so I guess my new soup ritual will continue nicely.
I can be easily bought. Well, I can easily give you money if you decide to publish a cookbook. I am sold by rustic looking photography - vintage dresses, wooden spoons, good food, fresh produce and a nice family story will do it.

I bought this cookbook for a bargain $19 today (for David of course!) But this one does have recipes I know I will use.
I feel terrible - it is almost the end of May and so much happened at the beginning of the month that I am yet to record. Least of which was David's birthday! I don't even have photographs. We had a wonderful afternoon tea with friends - one of whom took some photographs with his mobile phone, so when I see him on Saturday night I'll ask if he can download them and email them to me. David finally got the watch that I have been promising for years. We love him very much and are so glad he is in our lives - the kids LOVE celebrating a birthday!!
And of course it was Mother's Day. David has been very thoughtful in helping the kids make me feel special on Mother's Day over the years. I feel very spoilt as I tend to treat these events largely like commercial endeavours, but it is nice to know you are loved.
I have almost finished reading Jane Eyre, which I have really enjoyed. I love the way it is written in the first person, I love the descriptions of rooms, objects and clothing. I think that is why I have enjoyed the BBC adaptation (the most recent one) so much. The detail is beautiful. And what do you know, a new BBC adaptation of Emma is released next week.


Since this adaptation is by the same woman who wrote the screenplays for Jane Eyre and North and South, I am sure I'll enjoy it. I am certainly overdosing on 19th century literature at the moment - and loving it! (Although David doesn't know how I can watch the actress who played Briony Tallis in the film adaptation of Atonement playing Emma...)

A final clip for a marathon post - David and i took Nicholas to an open night at the local primary school last night. I love witnessing Nicholas' excitement as we embark on this new adventure.

When we came home and the kids were in bed David and I enjoyed watching an episode of Grand Designs Revisted with a cup of tea. Here is the last few minutes. It was an amazing episode to watch - the house was hand built and is gorgeous. It didn't surprise me that this was voted the most popular episode.

soupe du jour

I have a new routine. On Sunday afternoon I make soup. Something simple, something tasty. Really delicious in this almost cold weather. Especially with a good crusty loaf. Today it was potato soup, last week pumpkin soup with a good dash of curry. The week before I made vegetable soup which we had with onion and cheese melts. We eat it for dinner that evening and then the next day I take some to work for lunch, which of course makes me feel super productive! Reading Molly Irwin's One Good Loaf blog has me tempted to try my hand at baking bread. A woman I work with said she has her mother's recipe from when she was younger and living on a farm. Maybe I'll start with that one - it is supposed to be fool proof. I'll test it!
[image from Country Living]

scratchy post about nothing in particular

I am envious of knitters. I tried knitting...once. When Nicholas was a baby I (with my mum completing it!) knitted Nicholas a jumper from a Debbie Bliss pattern, with Debbie Bliss wool. It is a book full of beautiful things. But knitting is definitely not my thing. I pull the wool too tightly. I drop stitches and I take forever. In the time I attempt to knit something I think of all the other things I could have sewn. Or all of the work around the house I could have accomplished. I'd love to knit scarves, gloves, beanies. beautiful warm jumpers. I have been admiring all the handiwork on this blog. Oh well. i will continue with my envy. She also sews a lot of Oliver + S patterns, so I will take comfort in working on those.
Last Saturday night David was chefing (which always means he is gone from the afternoon until midnight) so when Nicholas and Audrey went to bed I sat on the couch hand quilting and watching North and Sounth (I love it Heather!) Move over Mr Darcy :) with Mr Darcy we always know we aren't supposed to like him because he is mean and proud. But it was easy not to like Mr Thornton. by the middle of episode two though I was willing the main character to fall in love with him! I watched the final scene about 4 times, and won't post it here so i don't spoil it for anyone who wants to watch it, but here is another clip.


I went to bed last night with the two patterns I have for Audrey, intending to read the instructions through carefully. And I promptly went to sleep. No wonder - I had a huge day (not to mention the past two weeks) at work.
An early morning post. The kids are still asleep so I have been able to have my breakfast alone in the quiet - a little luxury for me before our day begins.
Last week we had daisy (the class monkey) for the week again. Audrey loves it almost as much as Nicholas! (They are dancing in the background of this picture)
Nicholas is having pyjama day at school today! Very cute. he is very excited, but told me to pack extra clothes in his bag in case other people weren't wearing pyjamas. Does that self-consiousness really start that young?? I hope not. I want my children to be oblivious to that and just to enjoy being who they are.

what a day, week, month...

...and something to make me smile.

I cannot describe how work has been for me the past couple of weeks. I have always said I handle stress well. I don't know if I have ever really felt stressed but in the past weeks I have certainly felt pressed. You know the saying, "if you want something done, give it to a busy person...?" Well enough is enough! While it is flattering to be considered capable, I don't want work to take up any of my mind space. Or any space outside my work hours. Which just so happens to be three days per week only, I would like to remind them!
Anyway, enough to say that I am actually seeing my doctor tomorrow as my body has been behaving unusually, and I think it may be my body's way of saying "Enough Already!"
So last night I finally pieced my quilt together (with Melanie's help as she has so much common sense when it comes to this stuff). I drew my stitching lines and used a million safety pins to keep it together.
What better thing to do that stitch to take my mind away from things I don't want nesting there. And to do it all while listening to Jane Eyre (I have been reading some and listening to some) or watching North & South, care of Heather.
When I came home tonight, this package was waiting for me. A beautiful print each for Nicholas and Audrey. Nicholas LOVES dinosaurs and the other day set up his own dinosaur museum - with bones, drawings of the dinosaur the bones "came from", ropes, a bookshop and himself as the tour guide. All himself. Something to make his wanna-be curator mum proud! Apparently my job is to write three notes for our "neighbour-doors" (Nicholas-speak for next door neighbours) inviting them to his museum. I think he will love the print I got for him.
Much nicer to think about all this instead of work...

we love books!

David took Audrey and Lachlan to story time as part of his Literacy on the Street assignment...

It was therapeutic, yesterday. Splitting the pods and letting the tiny seeds fall into a small bowl. It was addictive. I kept thinking "just one more pod". Now I have more rocket seeds than I needed to plant, but nothing that I couldn't place in an envelope for another time.

Caterpillars have been munching on the broccoli and cabbage leaves in the vegetable garden. And what they haven't had, I fear the hail got to in the storm on Tuesday!

Now I am reading about companion planting. Marigolds would look lovely too. If you came to our house and went to the bathroom, you'd think you were in a greenhouse! Our basil is coming along really well, and hopefully the rocket seeds will sprout soon.

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We visited friends this morning. They gave Nicholas a set of soldiers. He spent all afternoon setting them up. Soldiers aren't something I have considered buying for him before. He loves them. He insisted on holding the box in the car. They weren't to ride in the boot! They are pretty special.

Children's Toys

"Real isn't how you are made" said the Skin Horse.
"When a child really loves you for a long, long time,
not just to play with, but really loves you,
then you become real."

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

I love that Nicholas and Audrey have their favourite toys. Toys they really love. They always go to bed with them, and they have to have them if we travel anywhere. they take them to their nan's house twice a week while I am working...

Nicholas has 'Puppy', 'Humpty' and 'Winnie'. David bought Winnie the Pooh when Nicholas was born.

Audrey (who cannot stand still for a photograph!) has 'Teddy' and 'Baby Giraffe'. We are good with naming toys!