When a cow.....

Just how many people can say that a stray cow came up their driveway but I can.  Yes this cow wandered up our 1/2 km long driveway a couple of weekend ago.

She had walked 1.5 km down the road looking for her calf.  The class I teach on Thursdays just loved hearing the story about he cow with horns that visited their Thursday teacher.

Wordless Wednesday 12 November

Just thought I would have a play with the functions on my SLR camera last weekend and this is what I was trying to achieve.

 

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Mondays Menu 10 November

I am trying really hard to get my food eating under control.  So a great deal of thought goes into my weekly menus at the moment.

Monday   Barbecue Beer Braised Beef

Tuesday  chicken, vegetable and noodle stirfry

Wednesday  cold meat, new potato and green vege.

Thursday  cold meat (again) with salad and corn on the cob

Friday   homemade hamburgers

Saturday  bbq again....summer is here. 

Sunday  leftovers.

I am linking this post to I'm an organising junkie

Fridays Fabulous Five # 67

Here are my finds for this week.

• This is fun one.  Toilet freshers especially for when visitors are on their way.
• How to transfer a photo onto glass.
• Things to do with mason jars.   We don't call those jars that in New Zealand so this post could be called What to do with AJ Jars.
• If you have children in sport this article might interest you.  It's not just words.  10 smart word choices of smart athletes
• To finish off with....Quick Healthier Blueberry Oat Bran Muffins.

Have a great weekend.

Stairs at last.

We have spent most of this winter just gone without stair that lead from our garage onto the deck that leads to indoors.  Now that the weather is warming up we have finally decided what to do with regard to stars and a wrap around custom made stairs are the plan.  We have googled it (yup thats right), found the you tube video that was similar and my DH set to it.  We are novices when it comes to building.  Everything we know we have taught ourselves.

While I am busy at work my stairs get slowly cut and prepared for assembly.  The weekend arrives and the one child in my house who will never have the capacity to hold down any job (due to his disabilities), is the only one keen to help.  With his battery powered tools and a keen eye he imitates the job.  I just love the intensity at which he is observing the work at hand.

When the deck is painted I will post a photo.

Wordless Wednesday 5 November

My husband job takes him all around the world.  The other day he was flying over an active volcano in Iceland and got this photo.  I just had to share it this week. 

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Monday Menu 3 November

I am on top of the eating well and healthy thing and as a result my family is by default.

Here is my menu for the week.

Monday  wholemeal wraps with beef and salad veges

Tuesday  felafel and tabouli

Wednesday  Buffalo Burger Quesadilla 

Thursday  cold meat, baked potato and salad

Friday   Skinny Skillet Lasagna in About 30 Minutes



Saturday   bbq with garden salad and grilled vege

Sunday Leftovers.

I am linking this post to I'm an Organisng Junkie

Fridays Fabulous Five # 66

Another week gone and before I know it the end of the year will be here.

Here are my finds for this week.

• Even though we do not do Halloween in our house this looks like a bit of photography I would love to try.,,,Spooky Silhouettes
• I am going to be sure to try this fabulously healthy dessert.  Maple Grilled Banana
• I had not seen this speech by Emma Watson to the UN.  While I am not a feminist it was well worth listening to what she has to say and having a good think about the He for She programme.
• For those emergency moment around the house try this blog post.
• then this blog post...The Secret Weapon of Photographers: Back Button Focus For Sharper Images

The End of One Journey

In about 6 weeks time one of life's journeys will come to an end in our house.  My baby  (yes he is the youngest of my children) will finally leave primary school and  enter the next part of his educational journey. 

Today we were off to get his uniform for next year.  He was busy smiling broadly the whole and I was busy checking to make sure that the uniform was going be big and will  last many years while him being able to hold it up.

I am so excited for him and the opportunities that will come his way as the journey from Year 7 through to Year 13 begins next year. 

Wordless Wednesday 29 October

Just a weed at the side of the road as I walked.

It really is not that red but I like how it looks just as I have tweaked it.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

There is nothing like a leisurely afternoon.

Spring brings all kinds of challenges around the house.  We have the largest yard.  I used to take me about 4 hours to hand mow.  So we decided that it was a waste of time and energy spending time mowing lawns and what was needed was a ride on mower.  Since that time we have never looked back.

The only down fall is that every time we are out mowing my disabled son cant wait to help mow.  Hmmmm now, two days later I understand why I am suffering from stiff shoulders.  Hayden was constantly trying to help steer...the wrong way.

Monday Menu 27 October

Just as the last term of our school year looms I am already starting to feel tired.  So my menu is vital to keep me sane.

Monday  homemade pizza

Tuesday  Beef Teriyaki and Vegetable 

Wednesday  paprika chicken and potato salad

Thursday  creamy coconut beef stirfry  (scroll down a bit)

Friday felafel and tabbouleh

Saturday  bbq at home still working on the menu

Sunday leftovers.

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie

Fridays Fabuous Finds # 65

I am so looking forward to the weekend and time to sleep in.  Well just a little more than I can during the school week.

Here are my finds

• Make your own fruit leathers

• My favourite recipe for the week is Lentil Vegetable Curry.  It makes plenty and when children love it what more do you want.
• What about the top 10 DIY Essential Oil Recipes
• How about these funky cable holders.
• How about for those of you interested in the likes of subway art.  This great little post about how to mix fonts.

Have a great weekend.

October brings........

As always the holidays brings the arrival of spring and all the out door chores that come with the introduction of a little warmth to the weather.  You know the chores.......cleaning the house, washing the windows, staying on top of the fast growing lawn and the sad looking garden.

So when I am busy pulling those pesky weeds out, yes they are knee high after a winter of neglect, a smile is bought to my face when I see my boys out playing.  A spaceship with accompanying astronaut and  of course what spaceship would be complete without its mode of movement and navigation (the one having to pull the spaceship around.)

Now just to find an easier way to to keep the garden weeds at bay.

Wordless Wednesday 15 October

Here is a photo from last weekend.  My golfer and my disabled son who likes to try and play golf too.

I am linking this page to My Little Drummer Boys

Monday Menu 13 October

Here we are for the week.   I am hoping to include a few meatless meals


Monday  Lentil Vegetable Curry

Tuesday  crockpot steak and kidney

Wednesday  Corn fritters and garden salad

Thurday  Falafel with hummus and tabouli

Friday   Middle eastern pizza

Saturday  bbq meal.....celebrating the fact that spring is here.

Sunday   Leftovers

As I write this it is the evening of Monday so here is tonight's dinner.  It was new to us and delicious.

 

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie

Fridays Fabulous Five # 64

Here we are on the last Friday of the school holidays......yes that is a Friday and I will be posting this little series.

• With Christmas just under 80 days away I thought that 24 Random Acts of Christmas was a really great read.
• Oh boy this blog post from a Mother of a child with a rare medical condition brings tears to my eyes.
• What about this All in one Yoga Pose
• Try 14 Photography Project ideas.
• One last photography idea...I Don't make them Say Cheese.  

Now off to enjoy my weekend.

Summer brings...

Summer brings all those delightful smells of freshly cut grass, the appearance of the beautiful colours of summers, the sounds of new life and..........


                                                the exhausted me returning from walking the roads.   

  I cant wait to get fit and enjoy these moments of relaxation and start to live life full of energy.

Now not to contemplate why I let myself go so much but to look forward and start looking after myself.

Wordless Wednesday 8 October

It is all about the selfie.  I know I am resorting to the phone photos again but I havent unpacked any photos from the last week so this is it. 

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys

A fresh look on life....

Time to breathe in the Spring air and take a good hard look at life.

(credits can be found here at Lilypad)

Mondays Menu 6 October

The third term of the school year is always the most hectic of the year.  Thank goodness it is the school holidays I have a chance to recover and even have time to blog.  So here is my menu for this week.

Monday  spaghetti bolognaise

Tuesday  corned beef with baked potato and green salad

Wednesday  cold meat with baked potato and garden vege

Thurdsay  Teriyaki beef soba noodle salad

Friday  beef in black bean sauce

Saturday  buckwheat crepes with spinach and tomato

Sunday  leftovers

I am linking this post to I'm an organising junkie

Wordless Wednesday 17 September

Here is what hockey practice looked like as the girls got started,  from the pavilion as the girls got started last Monday.  Taken on my cell phone.

Now I wish I had my good camera with me.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Don't you love it when....

I love the fact that my 13 year old daughter is standing in front of me with her pj's on and her hockey stick in her hand doing aerial skills.  I love it too that she went to a clinic with the most amazing Jamie Dwyer, 5 times named worlds best hockey player, got her stick signed.  Now I understand why she says her slightly too short stick is not ready to be given up for a new one.

Long may her interest in sport last. 

Monday Menu 15 September

Two weeks until the end of the third school term and we are really tired in my house.  Roll on the holidays.

Monday  steak with baked potato and salad

Tuesday  thai style stir fry beef (recipe to follow tomorrow)

Wednesday  beef crockpot

Thursday  bacon and egg pie with salad

Friday  easy fried rice

Saturday curry chicken pasta

Sunday  leftovers

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie

Fridays Fabulous Five # 63

 

Here are my 5 finds for the last couple of weeks.

• with summer almost here, I found 8 tips for taking under water photos.
• Then there is the post about not saying cheese when you take photos.
• Now how about 8 veges you only need to buy once.
• I love this blog and all the hand lettering 
• This bed throw is just wonderful.  I might just be tempted to get my needles out and give it a go. 

Now roll on the weekend and a little time to catch up on sleep.

Too tired to think

I know when the end of the winter sport is coming to an end, when I am not keen to be mother taxi any more.  I know this always happens in a school term when my work load really picks up and everyone in my house is recovering from a common cold of varying degrees of severity.  That is when the college student in my house has some evening events to attend thrown into the mix.

So as I sit here waiting for the year 9/ 10 Proms to begin I am gently closing my eyes in the hope I can catch a cat nap before paying attention to the 7 pieces of music mu daughter is going to play.

When you think it is all book marked.......

Just when I thought that I had all my stirfry sauce recipes all bookmarked on the internet I  discover that one of my links has been taken down disappeared.   Thank fully I took a printed copy quite some time ago and today I stumbled upon it. So in the hope of preserving this go to recipe that is great with veges here it is .....




Sweet and Sour Stir Fry Sauce.

Serves two

Mix together 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp tomato sauce.  1 x 227g tin pineapple pieces in natural juice.  1 tbsp white wine vinegar, 2 tsp sweetener and tsp corn flour.

Pour into stir fry and finish cooking.

My family love this recipe.  Tonight we had leek, broccoli and yellow capsicum along with a little meat that was left over from the night before.  I needed added some round egg noodles that are cooked.

Wordless Wednesday 3 September

I can't believe it is September and officially Spring.  So here today is a photo of the wood we just bought so that we can get back outdoors and finish the last of the big jobs.  Yes finish them.  I have challenged my family to have them all done by 31 December 2014.  Fingers crossed we can achieve it.

This is what happens when you have to take your children with you.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Monday Menu 1 September

Here we at my house with only 4 at home for the week.  Kind of good in some ways because the Mum taxi service is not so busy but I miss my 13 year old.

So here is the menu.

Monday  bacon and egg pie with baked potato and green vege.

Tuesday  Thai green curry

Wednesday  Chicken Korma

Thursday  meatballs and spaghetti

Friday  shepperds pie

Saturday  bbq with all spring vege

Sunday  Leftovers

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie.

Friday's Fabulous Five # 62

 

My week of finds summarised here this week in my list.  There is always so much to read and explore on the web.

• The post What a teenage boy needs most from his mum is a great read.
• Photographing sport....I thought I would give this tutorial a go.
• My favourite pinterest collection at the moment is tabletops
• There is a fabulous charity that makes sock monkeys for children who are hospital.  I have linked you to there facebook page and here is a pattern to make one if you are keen to participate.
• Finally How to Smile naturally for photos

A moment to pull on your heart strings.

This is my youngest sons last year at primary school.  He is 10 and with him moving on to college next year it just may be the last time that he wants his parents/ grandparents to come and be part of anything very much he does at school.

So my heart tugged somewhat when I turned up to collect him at the end of Grandparents day and for the first time I heard the school doing the Irish Blessing they do traditionally on special occasions.




An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

 

 

It was just a touching moment.  What a pity I could not get a better photo.

I think that I might just shed a tear or two when the end of the year arrives.

Wordless Wednesday 27 August

I found this photo on my computer from earlier this year.  I thought it would be the perfect post as spring is definately in the air.  I can't wait for summer to arrive.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Team-ness

My daughters hockey team is just  starting to learn what a team is.  So it really has got me thinking about what is it that makes a team, one of any kind.  So in no particular order her is what I came up with.

• Trust that everyone in the team are there for the same reason.
• That everyone is committed to the same idea.  In sports team it is something more than just winning.  
• Respect that everyone is in the team because they have earned their place.  Respect of the team leadership and support systems is also vital
•  Supporters are positive and encouraging.

Not much of list really but in my experience the recipe for team-ness is relatively simple to assemble but far more complicated to implement and make a reality.

Monday Menu 25 August

Oh boy every year I think, when August comes around how I have forgotten the business of winter sport and consequently how my blog gets a little neglected because time has got so precious.

Anyway  while I am a day late I am posting this here is my menu

Monday  Cajun chicken wrap

Tuesday  Super Easy Pasta Dish

Wednesday  Caramel Chicken and rice

Thursday  slow cooked beef and pasta

Friday  pumpkin soup with homemade bread

Saturday  lime and sesame beef stirfry

Sunday   Leftovers.


I am linking this post to I'm an Organizing Junkie

Wordless Wednesday 13 August

Here is my photo for this week.

There is nothing like the hint of spring to bring us all outdoors.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys

The Foot Saga Continued.

Hayden dislikes any intervention when it comes to his health and well being.

So this is what it looks like when you weight for an xray.

 Scared still.  Not wanting to go in the room.  Three nurses and me to get the xray.

Than after another long wait,  sedation,  he finally had a back plaster and padding to be worn another 3 days before  it all would be finally be removed. 

So Hayden, recovering from sedation and the nausea again feeling sorry for himself.

Hospital visits are such a trauma for him.

Monday Menu 11 August

Here is this weeks menu is as follows

Monday  Pumpkin Soup and homemade bread. (too many sick people in the house to do much else)

Tuesday  Barbecue Beer Braised Beef

Wednesday Beef and vegetable pies with salad.

Thursday stir fry beef

Friday  spaghetti carbonara

Saturday Tuscan Margherita pizzas

Sunday  Left overs


I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie

Fridays Fabulous Five # 61

Another week of finds.  I hope the sun is shining in your part of the world for your weekend.

• Jake Shimakbukuro on the ukelele ....simply incredible.
• How about making chalkboard chalk.
• I love this water bottle.   I might just have to get one myself.
• How about this decedent fuss free fruit tart.
• Of course what list would be complete without the cleaning tips.

 

Without asking......

What is it about the world wide web that people think that they can lift other peoples images from anywhere and send/ use them as they like.  That they can take the images they want to make them say or mean something else than originally intended.  Maybe even make people think they own that image. But most hurtful is when that someone is a person you know.  That she they have used an image of yours without asking for permission (yes I am only a phone call or txt away) then it really hurts. 

What is about this generation of young people that they think they are untouchable from behind their smartphones and smart apps.  Where has the looking people in the face and watching their reactions become not important?

 (image source is here)

Just maybe the person receiving the image is now crying.

So from now on my images, yes my ordinary everyday images will have a water mark on them and this makes me really sad.

Wordless Wednesday 6 August

Taken on a Samsung smart phone.

A magnolia flower just after rain one morning two weeks ago.  I just love all the photos so had to post them all.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Spring is here ..... maybe

Spring is supposed to arrive in my part of the world in about September.  I am constantly amazed though, that come August, the coolest month of the year, lambs are busy running around my neighbours paddocks.

Don't get me wrong,   I love summer and the warm sun so seeing the lambs running around is exciting as summer is not too far away.  The sunshine will warm up, the grass will smell fresh and green and happiness reigns.

(DD with a new born lamb at the neighbours house.)

Mondays Menu 4 August

I had to take a break from blogging life really got in the way and I got tired.  I have just got my life back so here is my Monday menu

Monday  Slow cooker..... Barbequed Beer braised Beef

Tuesday  chicken wrap

Wednesday  Beef nachos with chunky guacamole

Thursday  nasi goreng

Friday  Pumpkin soup with homemade bread.

Saturday beef and tomato kabobs with dill dressing

Sunday. left overs

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie.

Wordless Wednesday 23 July

Just last weekend a rare moment in Auckland.

It was a bit cold on my bare toes as I tip toed outside to take this.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Monday Menu 21 July

The first week of term 3 of our school year has just started.  I am feeling like I have not had a holiday and it is only the end of the first day of the term.  Hmmm

Winter is well and truly here and there will be no more breaks for the school holidays for 10 weeks.  Oh I can't wait. 

So here is my menu for this week.

Monday  beef wraps

Tuesday  steak potato and green vege steamed.

Wednesday  beef stirfry  (creamy coconut sauce to go)

Thursday  chicken and corn quesadillas

Friday   Pumpkin soup with homemade bread.

Saturday  mediterranean Bonelss Pork Chops

Sunday  left overs.

 

Photo of Pork Chops from skinnytaste.com 

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie.

Fridays Fabulous Five # 60

Here is my week of finds

• 5 uses of coconut oil.  I had never even thought about purchasing this product.  Now I am thinking about it.
• I used this Moroccan spice mix recipe.  Sure will use it again.
• These look lovely.  In my younger days I could make these macrame hanger.  I love how they look in this setting.
• My favourite do at home exercise routines.  I have been completed week one and I love it.
• Finally these baubles.....to be stored for later in the year I think.

I would love to be linked to any of your favouite finds.

Just what does it take to create a science project for school.......Not my project.

In my opinion it takes a lot of skill to teach your child how to take pride in their projects.  There are many components to a fantastic project and for me the list looks something like this.....Ok I am a teacher and that makes my thoughts will be scewed a little.

In no particular order

•  Help find/ get the research material necessary for the project.
• The research and content of the project needs to be the child's own work.  It needs to be edited and proof read with the teachers support.
• Have all printer charged up ready to go with ink and paper.
• Marker pens, felt tips pens, pencils, erasers, rulers etc (Make sure your ruler is a long one)
• Finally a tonne of patience for the planning of the presentation and assembly

So exactly how much help is too much. 

In my opinion my 10 year old son, who had never been asked to complete any science project like this before, needed some basic direction.  His report about Pluto was written at school.  Everything else he planned and completed at home.  I provided the balls that made the model, the display board.  We found around the house everything else you see. 

As for laying out his project I showed him how to cut out his work using my cutter, how to line up all his report so they were straight on the page and spaced nice to the eye.  Of course there is the place and look twice before using the double sided tape.

My son painted and put glitter on the board, he drew coloured in etc the central panel, he drew the orbiting patterns (I provided the idea of using liquid white out at the planet paths).  He wrote all the interesting facts etc.  It took a whole day to assemble this project.  The model was made a few weeks earlier by putting paper mache photos of the planet, onto the model. 

Wow it was fabulous.  I would say 95% his own work.  My guidance the other 5%.

Oh he came second too and of course I am so proud not only of his effort and care with his presentation but that he came second too.

Wordless Wednesday 16 July

A quick snap shop through the window this afternoon.  No editing of the photo just uploaded as it was taken.

I am linking this to My Little Drummer Boys.

Monday Menu 14 July

My blog took a break.  It is the middle of the school year here and we have a two week school holiday.  I needed some time to relax and do the things that you when it is the middle of winter and school holidays. 

So here I am this week back with a fresh look at life and one that is not so sleep deprived.

Monday  Easy Fried rice

Tuesday  baked potato, steak and green vege.

Wednesday vegetable spring rolls with vegetable stirfry

Thursday   beef pie (using filo pastry) and salad

Friday  pumpkin soup with homemade bread.

Saturday  Shish kebab on rice with salsa

Sunday  leftovers.

I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie

Wordless Wednesday 2 July

7am last Friday after dropping my DD at school hockey practise.  Auckland Sky Tower from my cell phone.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Mondays Menu 30 June

The last week of the school term and here I am trying to stay on top of things before the holidays hit and our busy schedule

Monday  steak, baked potato and green vege.

Tuesday  beef burger

Wednesday  beef and vegetable stirfry

Thursday  spaghetti bolognaise.

Friday  bacon and egg pie green salad

Satuday  pumpkin soup with homemade bread.

Sunday  leftovers


I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie.

Fridays Fabulous Five # 59

It is heading for the end of the school term here and we are all tired.  I have to say being a Mum taxi driver is exhausting.

Here are my links for this week.

• For Minecraft fanatics here are some free printables.
• The batteries in my kitchen scales stopped working so this link really helped when making cookies in my house last weekend.
• I am a teacher so I think this paint is just what every teacher of new to school 5 year old could find handy.
• Looking for new fonts.  How about this list of great title fonts from eighteen25
• Asthma awareness is coming up in New Zealand and a video competition is being run.  The school where I teach has entered so enjoy.

Enjoy your weekend

I am going there again.....

Next time it is freezing cold, wet and plain old miserable I think that I want to go to  watch my children play hockey here.

 

Now look closely, those red looking lights are not lights but heating.  Yes you read it here.  On the seating......stand for spectators there is over heat heating.  I think of all those very early frosty Saturday mornings and  no heating.  Now DD is playing secondary school hockey we get heating.   

Now to have a word in the ear of the person who writes the draw so they can make this location happen for us every Thursday evening.