Tamara's Titterings

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-25T07:25:00.000+13:00

I am back from holiday and here is my favourite photo. Our first night with our friends at Ohiwa Beach. Just a perfect moment as the sun was setting, lighting a fire so we could all roast marshmellows. A perfect evening

I am linking this to My Little Drummer Boys

Holiday is good for....

2012-01-24T22:05:00.000+13:00

I love summer holidays. We always plan to go camping to the beach and then simply relax and forget that my everyday life is always taken at full spead.

These holidays for me alway give me a chance to sleep more, read more and notice the little things in life. But most of all they really give me time to appreciate my family and how wonderful each and everyone of them are.

We go camping on a no electricity tent site. Now don't be fooled into thinking I can do without any luxuries in life....mine just happen to be a clean flushing toilet and a clean hot shower (with hot water for not less than five minutes long). I need my phone just incase Haydens respite care facility needs to get in touch with me.

My favourite things to do involve not wearing a watch, playing board games with my family and relaxing. Ofcourse listening to the gentle waves washing up on the sand helps keep me at peace.

So if I was to bottle it I think you would find

the sound of waves gently washing up on sand
time, plenty of it with nothing to fill it.
happy and contented family.
clean facilities for my benefit
and sunshine.

I sure do not like and would not include

rain....tenting and rain to not go nicely together
too much to do.

Monday Menu 23 January

2012-01-23T21:51:00.002+13:00

I am back from holiday and ready to plan my menus. I really appreciate how much planning menus helps to keep my evening from falling into panic....well that is an exaggeration but you know what I mean.

So hear is this weeks menu. One that is easy to do as we are still on summer holiday here and not rushing around doing all the in term things.

Monday

Tuesday zucchini loaf with potato and mixed vege

Wednesday chicken salad with wholemeal pasta

Thursday mediteranian pizza with salad

Friday lamb steak on couscous with steamed corn on the cob and grilled tomatoes

Saturday hamburgers with green salad

Sunday leftovers

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie

Wordless Wednesday 4 January

2012-01-04T07:20:00.001+13:00

Welcome to my first Wordless Wednesday post in 2012. I have a photo today of the first activity of the New Year and it was raining. This is Hayden and me just after I have been for a run pushing him in the buggy. He is to big for the buggy but that is another story.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Breathe

2012-01-03T21:41:00.003+13:00

This year I am giving myself permission to breathe and live life to it's fullest. I want to dig deep and make my life more whole, not defined by any one thing or person. You know in my life that one person could easily define who I am. I want to move on from last year finding the essence of me and now dig deeper. What will help me achieve this? Not entirely sure but I am giving myself permission this year to reflect more and do even more. Define the word family not only by the people but by the memories they create together. I know one thing for sure that to be able to achieve this I will need to include everyone in my little family but most importantly find time for me to reflect and move forward, even journal about to help the journey.

To help in this endeavour I am joining an Art Caravan. Who know what my art will look like (I know.... I hear you saying, Tamara an artist....well I think I am a novice artist and thats all that counts.)

I am not sure how this will all mature as the year goes by but I know that I am going to give it my best.

Monday Menu

2012-01-02T19:10:00.001+13:00

Here it is the first menu of 2012. It is also a short menu for this week as we are going camping and it will require a different plan.

Monday Noodly Dinner

Tuesday Chicken Carbonara

Wednesday beef and broccoli stir fry

Thursday chicken, peach and ginger stirfry on noodles (I will need to blog this recipe)

Friday camping

Saturday camping

Sunday camping

I am linking to I'm an Organising Junkie

Noodly Dinner

2012-01-02T18:55:00.002+13:00

This recipe has evolved in our family over the years and is affectionately known as the Noodly Dinner. It is perfect for adding veges to your childrens diet and introducing some Asian style flavours.

Noodly Dinner

Serves six people

Ingredients

1kg of egg noodles
4 eggs
a handful of meat (chicken, beef, today I used leftover ham)
1 large carrot grated
1 green capsicum cut into bite size pieces
1 cup of of frozen peas
2.5 cm of freshly grated ginger (I store my ginger in the freezer)
2 Tbs of soya sauce
2 tsp of sesame oil

Method

Pre cook the noodles as per package
Wisk the eggs in a bowl until well beaten. Heat a fry pan with a spray of oil. Cook the eggs like an omlette. Remove from pan when cook and when cooler to touch cut into bite size pieces.
Cook meat through then remove from the heat.
Put all the veges and grated ginger in the fry pan which has been sprayed with oil. Cook until meets your taste, we like it just a little crunchy but you might like it really soft.
Finally mixed all the veges, egg, meat, soya sauce and sesame oil together in a large bowl.
Serve and enjoy.

(Photo is by me. It is slightly out of focus. I am promising myself to work out how to take better food photos)

Happy New Year.

2012-01-01T18:46:00.000+13:00

With 2012 well started and the end of the first day nearing I thought it would be timely to look back so I can move forward with the new year.

In one way or another lots happened in my life in 2011. Moving house was probably the single most challenging thing. I guess technically we moved house twice in 4 months. While it was the best thing we have done it also bought about many challenges for my family. Firstly we had to share accommodation and then once we had bought a house we had to get it ready for us to move in. All this I have written about on my blog.

I tried hard to embrace the essence of me which I hope has set me up for a more happier and joyful New Year. I tried to get fitter and healthier, go out more and entertain more. This is an emerging science for me and I hope this will see more entertaining happening. No excuses.

I guess the three words that would describe me at the end of the year were very tired, busy but happier. What more could I want?

So on to 2012. I am a planning type of gal. I like things committed to paper. Love to be able to tick achievements off. So watch this space. I am off to put the plans in place and committment then to my blog. I am confirming my One Little word and will off running as they say.

So onwards and upwards I say. I can't wait for 2012 to get going.

Images of Christmas

2011-12-28T17:21:00.002+13:00

Here is just a few images of Christmas in my part of the world. I hope yours was a joyous time too

(The credits for this page can be found here)

Wordless Wednesday 28 December

2011-12-28T07:32:00.000+13:00

Finally the last Wednesday of 2011. It has been a magnificent challenge taking a photo a week to share with you all. I hope next year to keep up sharing photos with you all. I might just be able to improve my photography a little too.

These are my favourite photos from Christmas Day. My children and some of their cousins spent all afternoon fishing for native eels. It is a catch, look and release project. They are plentiful in the creek at the bottom of my parents place success is almost guarenteed.

I usually link to my Little Drummer Boys

My Little Word 2011

2011-12-27T21:42:00.000+13:00

Essence was my word for this year. You can read about my intentions here.

As I sit here and reflect on the year that was in the context of Essence I know honestly the moving of house did make me loose some focus in the middle of the year. I have been trying hard to step outside my usual comfort zone, go places and do things that I would usually choose not to do but would really help me realise what I really am deep inside. You know what I mean....I am trying to search for the me as Tamara, not Haydens mother, a hockey mother, my teacher etc etc. Sometimes I really have not have any energy to push myself into discovery mode, do things I know would embrace life and me a little more. Moments like this it is easy to use Hayden as an excuse for not paying attention to myself a little more. But in the last three months or so I have made a concerted effort to be out there a little more and rediscover me. No excuses acceptable. I can see that from this effort life can be more joyful and happier. Finding the true essence of me. Long may it last.

(The credits for this)

Monday Menu 26 December

2011-12-26T21:44:00.001+13:00

With it being just after Christmas I thought that I would try this week and do recipes that involved using my leftovers.

Monday   freezer meal (need the container so it needs to be eaten)

Tuesday Ham and feta quiche

Wednesday zucchini, ham and feta pizza (scroll down the link to see the recipe)

Thursday Grilled ham sandwich

Friday   cold ham, new potatoes and salad

Saturday (time for a break from the ham) grilled chicken with a grilled vege salad and new potatoes

Sunday   Left overs.

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T19:41:00.002+13:00

Where ever you are what ever you are doing I wish you all a very merry Christmas. For me it is Christmas Eve in the evening so it will be my last post for a couple of days.

I hope you all enjoy the festive season and look forward to a very prosperous New Year.

Chefs in Training.

2011-12-22T20:26:00.004+13:00

We had a family barbeque today, and this happened.

Yes you saw it here, my three boys all with their aprons on were managing the barbeque. Each with tongs, each managing the turning of the food. Chefs sure were in training today.

Life is good when I don't have to be in the kitchen on a hot summers day.

Wordless Wednesday 20 December

2011-12-20T19:38:00.001+13:00

Nothing like a little group of fun photos all of McKenzie just after she had her first official visit to a hair dresser (birthday present). So I have been made redundant. Just as I was thinking I was really good at cutting straight lines.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Christmas Party Menu

2011-12-20T18:11:00.000+13:00

Here is my menu for this Thursday. It is our celebration with one part of the family for Christmas day. Thankfully the weather forcast is for a sunny day so we will be happy that all little people can play outside.

Nibbles

cheese board
fruit and vege platter with chocolate treats with hummus

Main Meal

lamb cutlets
cranberry sauce (made with lite sour cream, cranberry jelly, mustard powder and spring onions)

new potatos
hot salad (topped with feta cheese and lite Italian Dressing)
salad (x2) provided by guests

bread

Dessert

meringues

fruit salad (fresh pineapple, strawberries, grapes)

berry compote ( berries mixed with honey and lemon rind)

ice cream

lemon meringue pie

Christmas minces

Afternoon Tea

tea and coffee

Christmas Cake....I don't ice my fruit cake.

slice

I think that is all.

Fingers crossed all goes well.

Monday Menu 19 December

2011-12-19T23:15:00.002+13:00

Oh my this time next week Christmas will have been and gone and I guess we will be eating leftovers.

So taking all things into account here is my plan.

Monday Corn fritters and Advocado Salsa

Tuesday Beef stew in the crockpot

Wednesday coconut beef stirfry on egg noodles

Thursday We are having a family Christmas lunch at our place. Here is my menu

Friday ham and salad

Saturday using leftovers to clear room in the fridge

Sunday Christmas day buffet at Mum and Dads house.

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

Look what Toothpaste can do.

2011-12-19T21:00:00.001+13:00

Yes I have been cleaning the windows in my house. In fact I shifted into this house in September and it is the first time they have been cleaned since then. Sadly I notice that next time I clean them I will need to leave a little more time because there are pain splatters all over them which will need to be removed.

Today, though, I came up with another problem, water stains on the glass. The usual cleaning technology (vinegar and water) did not remove it. Good old fashioned elbow grease did not work either. So the internet then became my next best friend in the hope of finding a solution. Of course you can't believe everything that is put into type and published on line but bearing this in mind a searching I did go. Well every solution from highly toxic chemicals to house hold chemistry was to be found. Me will I wanted to started at the house hold chemistry level and the easiest solution with all the necessary 'things' found at home. You guessed it toothpaste. In fact the post I saw on line even mentioned a brand which I also had. I also needed a paint scratching blade thingy which I also had.

Oh me oh my it works a treat. I bit of finger action to rub the toothpaste on the glass, a quick going over with the blade then some water and a cloth to wash it off and wow the stain was gone.

The toothpaste on the window.

Me in action cleaning the window.

There is my clean window

So all you out there who have water stains on your glass look no futher than tooth paste.

The Summer List

2011-12-16T23:45:00.000+13:00

With summer here (well it is raining and feeling terribly summery today) and the school holidays have just begun so I thought a list of things to so will be the best way for me to collate my results. My mind is jumbled with lots of things I want my little family to try and things that I must do while the weather is warmer.

So it would be fun to

find some more walks through the reserves similar to Hunia
take the children to an off road biking venue
take Andre to the beach to help improve his confidence in sea water
take Andre fishing I think we all can go
Have a go at surfing after some lessons
Playing some board games. I especially like Cranium but any fun games will do

Then maybe we could make

~~some seasonal cookies like these~~ ~~peppermint cookies,~~ ~~rocky road,~~ ~~chocolate pretzels,~~ ~~shortbread cookies~~
special treat cookie dough fudge
a vege garden....the key being start small and at the end of summer as I have a clay soil and will need to create a raised garden while planning to protect it from the rabbits I see in my yard.
~~a new desert for when guests are around~~ ~~lemon meringue pie~~
homemade freezer jam to be made

For the house I will need to

work out what kind of edging I will need to do around the gardens I will have soon. The flower need sorting and start working on that
think about lighting and try to improve the quality of light inside and out.
decide on the paint colour inside and out so paint can be purchase and curtaining can be decided on

Getting ready for the new school year

~~sort out McKenzies musical instrument she has to learn this year.~~
stationary will need to be ordered on line
~~the last school skirt for McKenzie will need to be purchased when in stock~~

Craft things with the children

a little recycling by making shrinky dinks
make a keleidocycles
Hang the tyre swing up
help finish building the tree house
tote bag

This looks like enough for the moment.

I can't wait to get started.

The Birthday Party for an 11 year old

2011-12-14T21:00:00.001+13:00

Do you have any idea on how hard it is to come up with a party idea for your soon to be 11 year old daughter? I find these kind of thing incredibly difficult to plan because I am trying to be realistic and entertaining in an age appropriate way. Maybe I am a bit of a prude and fussy about what type of party an 11 year old girl might have.

After a lot of soul searching and suggestions from DD that she should have '.........' kind of party because her friends have had them we finally came up with a short list. This list ranged from everything including a sleep over for many and a pool party. Finally DD decided it would be really good to go rock climbing. I raised my eyes upwards and thanked them up stairs for providing me with the perfect birthday party. One that was easy to organise, with an area for a party and of course plenty of time for a bunch of girls to talk, giggle and have fun.
We picked the rock climbing venue (just take a look at the fun climbing environment) just perfect for children of all ages from preschoollers to adults and sent the invites.

(all products come from Weeds and Wildflowers)

The day arrived and fun was had by all. Here are just a few photos showing a couple of the climbing walls.

Here is some cartoon show (gosh I am showing my age.)

(Dinosuar bones)

(Jack and the Bean Stalk)

Now to start planning DS3 birthday which is just after Christmas.

Wordless Wednesday 14 December

2011-12-13T20:39:00.000+13:00

Here is my photo. McKenzie is the pink t'shirt you can see up high on the rock climbing wall. This is what she did with her friends to celebrate her birthday.

I am linking this to My Little Drummer Boys

Monday Menu 12 December

2011-12-12T20:44:00.001+13:00

Can you believe that it is nearly the middle of December already. School is in its last week before the summer holidays and in our house we are all very tired. Roll on the end of the week.

Monday Chicken with baked potato and salad

Tuesday stir fry beef with noodles (thai I think i will try this week)

Wednesday Meatballs on noodles with green salad

Thursday chicken and vege asian style noodles (I will blog the recipe)

Friday blue cheese chicken burgers

Saturday honey ginger chicken and vegetables on rice

Sunday leftovers

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

A busy Weekend

2011-12-12T16:42:00.001+13:00

Nothing like a busy weekend. So here it is in summary

McKenzies birthday party was a rock climbing party. Here are McKenzie and Andre climbing.

You can see McKenzie right at the top in the pink t'shirt.

After delivering the girls home there was a couple of hours break and off to my BIL's 40th birthday party. No photos there sorry. Finally on Saturday there was the lights down Franklin Road, Ponsonby. My photographer (7 years old) did not know about night photography so I got some really good special effects

Sunday was just as busy with us off to the Champions League Mens hockey tournament being held in Auckland. The worlds top 8 mens team were here playing so off to see the one game that we could fit in.

Then off to collected hayden from respite care so we could take him to the Kids First Christmas Party at Sky Tower.

Hayden was scared of all the people and entertainment. He spent most of the time out in the foyer and being carried. This being his happiest moment. I think he liked the idea of seeing Santa and getting a gift. Nothing more.

Finally as we left here are the family.

Phew so this week we all will be recovering for all the fun things that we did.

Today being Monday I have been taking some me time to relax just a little. Of course I needed to fit in a run, my hair got attention today with a cut and colour and then the inevitable snooze on the sofa while listening to my favourite music.

My Photobooks have arrived.

2011-12-07T17:49:00.001+13:00

I am so excited to finally see some of my scrapbooking pages printed. so without delay here is a little look at the final product. Sadly I have not worked out how to photograph this well but well you get the idea.

Here is Project 365 2009

Now Project 365 2010

Now I wonder why I did not get these books done earlier.

Wordless Wednesday 7 December

2011-12-06T20:24:00.001+13:00

I thought that this week I would put up my very difficult Christmas card photos....well just about a third of them.

Enjoy

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys

Joyful

2011-12-06T20:11:00.001+13:00

At this time of the you it can become difficult to retain some focus on the positive things in life. So with that I came up with this list of things to be joyful about.

My little pearls of joyful moments.

looking out the window on a crisp winters morning.
the sound of my children laughing
my husband wishpering in my ear.
the sight of new life in spring
the sound of waves lappnping on the beach while I read a book.
celebrating my families special moments
date night

What does your joyful list look like

(credits Awesomeness kit by Lindsay Jane Designs Page mask a blog freebie by Lindsay Jane
Font is CK Bookworm)

Monday Menu 5 December

2011-12-06T06:05:00.001+13:00

I cant believe it. December is well and truely underway.

Here is my menu

Monday Steak with baked potato and salad

Tuesday Beef Wraps

Wednesday individual fritatas with salad

Thursday flafels on rice with cucumber salad

Friday Birthday Girls Choice

Saturday Out to a barbeque

Sunday Cold meat with potato, fresh corn and salad

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie

My Faith in Human Nature is Restored.

2011-12-04T16:32:00.001+13:00

As I am out in the general stream of life sometimes I wonder exactly where the fabulously kind things in life happen. I never seem to hear of them (except on TV) and yet there seems that there are the needy out there.

It just so happened last week the needy person was me.

Hayden and I were at Starship hospital for an appointment latter in the day. When it was time to leave the appointment he decided that he did not want to go where I was going and do what I was doing. No way. Instead he packed a proper 2 year old tantrum and there I was having to carry my 22.0 kg strong child all the way to the car while carrying medication in one arm and him in the other. I thought I would give him a chance to walk and at the chance he prompty sat on the footpath and refused to move. All the people about just stood and stared at me. Hmmmm I was thinking as I stood there contemplating what my next move would be. So I had another go at carrying everything and everyone. Only able to move a little further an angel appeared from behind me and asked if I would like some help. Of course I accepted this help and the lady carried the medication to the car for me leaving me with two hands to carry Hayden. she walked out of her way to do this. I am ever so grateful for her help

I am sure my faith in human nature has been restored. I am going to make sure I provide help when needed unasked for unexpected. No thanks required. No recognition just the thought that someone has been helped will be enough for me.

(credit for photo photobucket)

I am worth it

2011-11-29T21:28:00.001+13:00

I want to get fit and healthy. I have work hard all year to loose a few kilograms and to be able to run 5km around the roads. Not fast understand but at my gentle pace. I was truely prompted to do this when in November 2010 I got seriously sick. I then realised that I couldn't afford not to look after myself and set out on this journey.

Now 12 months later I am finding my balance weight and can run as I wished.

I have done it.

I am worth it.

(credits Fragile Strength by L Grier)

Wordless Wednesday 29 November

2011-11-29T19:34:00.001+13:00

Here is my photos for today. Spring (well almost Summer) is such a beautiful time of the year.

I am linking to My Little Drummer Boys

Reaping the Rewards

2011-11-29T19:26:00.001+13:00

There is nothing more satisfying than sitting outside on my deck after a hard days work reaping the rewards of all that labour. It all started looking like this

and here we are now, well for the moment. (Of course there is still work to be done but it is somewhat of a long term project.)

Peace reigns and I can briefly sit back and enjoy. Long may it last.

Monday Menu 28 November

2011-11-29T00:15:00.001+13:00

Can you believe that it is nearly December. Thankfully there is only 2 1/2 weeks until the end of the school year and then we can relax, well that is after I have organised one birthday party and a Christmas party.

Here is my menu for this week. I am linking this post to I'm an Organising Junkie

Monday Quiche with salad

Tuesday freezer meal

Wednesday Meatloaf and salad

Thursday Beef Stirfry

Friday Hamburgers

Saturday Leftovers

I hope have a great week.

Out

2011-11-27T22:31:00.001+13:00

I have to honest I don't get to go out in the evening so much. This is for an number of ~~excuses~~ reasons so this year the opportunity to go to an end of the year function came my way. DH was away so I organised my baby sitter (thanks Dad) worked out how to manage Haydens needs, and off I went. I had a lovely time and have promised myself to embrace these opportunities that come my way just a little more.

(credits bug trail from Happy Garden from WW
scatter elements from SS4 from WW
paper and butterfly from Midnight Magic by Digi Illustions at Nuts4Digi

Font is Brown Bear)

I have to admit that it is a terrible photo of me as I forgot to get a photo before I went out so you get to see the really tired me.

As DH is away working much of each month it is pot luck as to whether he will be home to accompany me out and about. So if I am to do this some more then I will have to plan for him being away but hope he will actually be rostered home.

I voted

2011-11-26T22:44:00.001+13:00

It is not compulsory in New Zealand to vote at a General Election but I always feel that I can't sit here and complain about the state of things if I don't vote. So with the children in tow off I went.

Excitedly the children spotted the signs tells me where to go to vote.

Of course a technical hitch meant I had to make a special vote. Five minutes of paper work, naturally Hayden needed a toilet break at this time, and McKenzie asking me full volume what I was voting for in the referendum. 30 seconds later the voting done and I am out the door.

Balance

2011-11-23T22:19:00.001+13:00

Just sometimes life needs a little balance. ...especially at this time of the year. Fingers cross life doesn't get too hectic at this time of the year for everyone.

(Credit Chakra by Viva Designs)

Wordless Wednesday 23 November

2011-11-23T06:34:00.001+13:00

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday.

and then there is the one that is not quite in focus

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys

Monday Menu 21 November

2011-11-21T21:56:00.001+13:00

Three and a half weeks until the end of the school year and everyone is getting tired so my meals are getting much easier to throw together.

Monday Meatballs and spaghetti

Tuesday Steak and Kidney crockpot stew.

Wednesday flaffels in pita with rice with salad

Thursday sweet and sour chicken stirfry

Friday homemade pizza

Saturday quiche with salad (the link is a video)

Sunday leftovers.

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

10 Reasons not to Play Violin.

2011-11-21T21:41:00.001+13:00

So Andre plays violin and as I sit there I have noted the reason he is handing me as to why he should not learn to play violin. This happens as he gets really tired towards the end of the school term and especially the school year as it is now. So here they are ....

1. I don’t like pracitse.
2. I never wanted to play anyway.
3. It’s all your fault Mum.
4. It takes too long.
5. I can’t see my fingers to get it right
6. Practise is boring.
7. I have given up.
8. I don’t sound good so I shouldn’t play.
9. I can’t remember that bit.
10. Hayden is distracting me.

( This page is made with Crescendo kit by Nutkin Tailz Designs at Nuts4digi)

The Best time of the Night...

2011-11-18T20:12:00.001+13:00

The best time of the night is when sleep over takes the racing mind and dream land arrives.

I love the fact that all the soft toys keep Hayden safe and tonight he is holding the book really tight in his sleep.

Wordless Wednesday 16 November

2011-11-16T06:33:00.001+13:00

Another Wednesday and two of my children have been playing with boxes. They decided to see if they could get inside the little boxes we have plenty of.

They got stuck and I had to help them out.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Cute Conversations 2

2011-11-15T18:32:00.001+13:00

Andre Hmmmm Lifes goooood when you are eating Fahijas

...................................................................................................................................................................

I guess there is nothing more to be said.

Mondays Menu 14 November

2011-11-14T21:37:00.001+13:00

Welcome to Mondays menu in my house. Nothing exciting this week but it is food and we all need to eat.

Monday Whole chicken (in crockpot) with baked potato and green salad

Tuesday chicken (leftover from Monday) Fahija ( I will post the recipe for this when I blog later this week and link it)

Wednesday Tuna patties in burgers.

Thursday corn fritters with salad

Friday meatballs on pasta

Saturday cold meat and salad

Sunday left overs

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

Chocolate Chip Brownies

2011-11-14T12:27:00.001+13:00

I thought being the entertaining time of the year I would test drive and sweet treat or two to whip up for such moments.

Today I tried the Chocolate Chip Brownie. Actually I found the recipe on the packaging of one of the ingredients...being the sucker for advertising I am I bought what was needed and here we are.

I am no way linked to the products or the website that the recipe is from but there you go. One very delicious, perhaps slightly undercooked but delicious brownie. I would say only for special ocassions as it is very rich.

Fridays Fabulous 5

2011-11-11T08:00:00.000+13:00

I thought this week I would share some of my favourite craft I have found on the internet. Of course I am jealous that I do not have a craft moment in me, but that is not for the want of trying.

1. Paper clips.....ok I can do this one and they are so cute.

2. DIY Pantone chip magnets

3. Stenciled tote bag

4. Lanterns

5. Ceramic tile coasters

Now there must be something I can manage here. Off to think about it.

Discouraged

2011-11-10T07:30:00.001+13:00

There are days when I feel discouraged. My life revolves around my family....I wouldn't have it any other way...I love it in fact. But today Hayden has a gastro bug and with his medical condition it needs serious attention. While he is not sick enough to be in hospital (which is what the case would usually be) he can't go to school which is fair enough. Sadly being home with Hayden when he is sick is not like my other children. He is not tolerating any of his medicines and that means special plans, careful hydration processes and constant monitoring. A lack of behaviour modification medication means he is unable to sit still or concentrate on any task for any length of time.

Today Hayden is not sick enough to be lying around. He does not know what to do with himself and because of his ADHD, today he is unable to do anything and it is extraordinarily difficult to keep him entertained. In fact today Hayden behaved anything but sick except for the many visits to the toilet.

It really is discouraging, that today just like many other in the past and as will be in the future, Hayden runs the fine line of being in hospital or not. Oh how I wish sometimes, that thing are not the way they and my child life was medically just like every other fun loving child.

Just as well these thoughts are short lived isn't it.

Here is Hayden at 7am today. Looking a tad dehydrated (by about 1kg in weight) hooked up to his pump which is pumping water directly into his stomach.

Wordless Wednesday 9 November

2011-11-09T06:55:00.001+13:00

It is Wednesday again. Wow the days and weeks are rolling around quickly.

Here is my photo.

I am linking up to My Little Drummer Boys

The Greatest Gift

2011-11-08T21:40:00.001+13:00

The greatest gift I can give my children is one of opportunity. One that listens to their inner self and finds a way to help them start on the journey they dream of. In fact it might even be an opportunity that they have not yet identified in themselves but I can see. it. No pressure from me to be a ‘little me’ but an opportunity that matches their special skills and talents.

It sure is the greatest gift I can give.

This scrapbooking page shows Andre learning violin.

(the credits for this page can be found here)

Monday Menu 7 November

2011-11-07T19:51:00.001+13:00

Here I am again. Got to love summer this side of the world and all those fabulous vegetables and fruits that you can find around and about.

Here is my menu.

Monday chicken stirfry and noodles (a fabulously easy recipe)

Tuesday tandori lamb kebabs

Wednesday spaghetti carbonara

Thursday crock pot whole chicken with baked potato and green salad

Friday dinner out with my children.

Saturday tuna patties in hamburgers.

Sunday bbq

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie

Cute Conversation 1

2011-11-06T16:58:00.000+13:00

You need to read this remembering that Haydens cognative age is 2 - 3 years old even though he is 9 years old.

Me     What are you doing Hayden?

Hayden      Making

Me    You need to turn the hammer around Hayden

Hayden    No I can't I am 4 (years old)

Me Can I help you Hayden

Hayden ...continues hammering away.

Me   ouch (as he hammers my fingers)

still under renovation

2011-11-03T22:40:00.000+13:00

Still upgrading my blog.....I can see there are some errors but that will be for tomorrow.

Sorry

My blog is under renovation.

2011-11-03T00:07:00.003+13:00

Ok my blog is under renovation. Please excuse me while I make some changes. it could taken me some time to work things out.

Wordless Wednesday 2 November

2011-11-02T07:08:00.000+13:00

Here is my photo this week. More renovations but as you can see my son immitating his father by helping. I love the candidness of this photo.

I am linking this post up to My Little Drummer Boys.

Happy Wordless Wednesday

My Camera

2011-11-01T22:52:00.000+13:00

It doesn’t matter which way I look at it, my camera is all I think of when it comes to a precious possession. All the memories that it records, all the journalling that I am prompted to write. The good times, the sad, the happy and mad time all recorded to look back on and wonder what would it have been like if I did not have my camera. Cherished moments forever safely recorded.

Now I just need to get my scrapbooking printed out then it can be enjoyed by everyone.

(the credits can be found here)

Monday Menu 31 October

2011-10-31T20:45:00.001+13:00

Here is this weeks menu

Monday Quick quiche. I did not make this last week so here it is today.

Tuesday Freezer meal. I have a busy night so a preprepared meal is waiting to be served. It is a beef crockpot

Wednesday Meatloaf and salad

Thursday Roasted potato, chicken sausage and peppers with green salad

Friday chicken wraps

Saturday steak with a rub with pasta salad.

Sunday Leftovers

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie

Moving the Pool Part 3

2011-10-30T19:22:00.002+13:00

As you would have read here and here just on a month ago we moved the swimming pool in our new house out of the ground. I don't know if I said before but it needed to be moved for the safety of everyone but especially Hayden. You could get access to the pool from every ranch slide in the house. In the middle of summer those doors would be unlikely to stay shut thus a huge safety risk. Also space. We live on 1 1/2 acres and had no yard....this had to be fixed.

So the pool sat in our yard for sometime until I got into get to sell it on Trademe. This is a site like Ebay.

Rather an eye sore if I might say so.

So after 10 plus enquiries the pool sold. We were so excited that it would be gone and that we would have a few dollars to easily finish the last of the jobs before summer really arrives.

This is how the pool left our property

In comes the truck, it braces itself, gets its crain ready, attaches strops and chains.

The pool is drained of water and lifted onto the truck. It is a tight fit but does the job.

The pool is situated lopsided on the truck because of our driveway. It is going to overhang our fence line. It is a really tight fit, it even scratched a little mud off the bottom of the pool.

Then finally there is the tight 90 degree turn to navigate. The pool needed to be repositioned on the truck to get around the corner.

We all stood there heaving a huge sigh of relief. Please that it left our house in one piece and that the truck was able to get around the corner.

Now our yard is looking like this. The photo was taken this evening. Hmmm all that grass will have to be sowed and mowed but that will be for next weekend.

Relax

2011-10-27T20:43:00.000+13:00

When time was mine and mine alone I used to love lying there on my back, enjoying a summers day just looking at the sky. I loved to feel the sun beaming down on me and listening to all those native birds enjoying life around me. A book at my side completes this picture. Sadly there is very little for this in todays world.

Just maybe one day in the future this will happen. again but at this time I am more than happy to give it up.

I hope you all find your moment to relax

Wordless Wednesday 26 October

2011-10-26T06:22:00.000+13:00

It is three photos today. Not the best photos but I hope they tell they story.

Firstly there are the trees at my place.

Then there is the ladder that McKenzie and her cousing built. They used only sisal for this part.

Finally the tree house.

So we have plenty of bamboo and some figure eight rope tying skills were developed but two days of work during the school holidays and these two were happy.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Toasted Museli

2011-10-25T22:48:00.002+13:00

I have been looking for a new breakfast. Toast was getting really boring so I have taken with this homemade toasted museli. I double the recipe because my children love this too.

2 cups of oats
1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup of sunflower seeds
1/4 cup of sultanas
1/2 cup of maple syrup

Mix all above together well. Cook in a fan baked over at 160 degrees celcius for about 20 minutes.

There it is straight out of my oven. You really need smell-a-vision. Just perfect to look at better to smell.

Serve with yoghurt and fresh fruit. Hmmmm I cant wait for the morning.

Monday Menu 24 October

2011-10-25T22:48:00.001+13:00

Well Monday here in New Zealand was a Public Holiday so my blog took a break too. But I did have a menu so here it is

Monday sirloin steak, potato and green vegetables

Tuesday Steak and Kidney crockpot on rice.

Wednesday Chicken wraps filled with salad vegetables.

Thursday meatloaf and salad

Friday tuna burger and salad (McKenzie wants to make this for dinner so this is the night for her to have a go)

Saturday quick quiche and salad

Sunday Leftovers

I did think that this week I would make toasted museli. You will find the recipe here on my blog.

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie

New Water Tank Part 2

2011-10-23T23:30:00.002+13:00

Following on from this post you might have guess that our 30,000 litre water tank in now installed and working. Of course it has not rained to start filling it. The new pipe work all done by my Father and DH who have pottered around at this for 2 days. I have to say that they have done a marvellous job. It is so neat and tidy.

So after the first days work no pipe work but we still had water from the older concret tank. You might as why we need to install a second very large tank. Well it is very simple Hayden. Yes we do many things for him and his needs. He creates one load of washing mainly consistently of bedding on a daily basis. He needs to use the toilet twice as much as the rest of use and thus flushing, then there is all the water he drinks, the water he plays with etc. Of course I can not ignore the fact that I will have teenagers in my house soon and the whole idea of a short show will be foreign.

Here is the tank after the first day.

It is not a good looking tank but it supplies us with all the water we use. At the moment it is about 3/4 full and summer is just about here.

Then there are my wonderful workers studying the pipe work that was in existence.

Then there it all is. Lovely looking pipes. I still have water running, my big hole (yes right there in front where the dirt pile is) just needs a little grass seed tomorrow and some plants to make things look a little more like eye candy.

Naturally I still have a few more jobs before we can sit on the deck and enjoy the summer but that will be for another post.

The New Water Tank Part One

2011-10-21T21:25:00.001+13:00

We have been waiting sometime to put together the cash to finish installing the water tank and today was the day to being phase two.

The Little Yellow Digger needed to return to finish the hole and help us find the feeding water pipe. While at our place a couple of other jobs were finished too but that is another story. As you can see we have an exsisting concret tank from the 1980's. While there is nothing wrong with that tank Haydens medical condition uses a lot of water through washing and flushing the toilet etc.

Behind the fence the hole is for the next much bigger tank. Then the little bit of grass that is good enough to mow was defaced because we needed to find that all important pipe. Hmmmmm more mud created.

So back to the hole. In rolls the digger.

He increases the depth and width of the hole that we had there already. Of course it is always worth a look I say.

Especially when this is what the action looks like.

So tomorrow I will post Part two with it all in site and my wonderful helpers.

Wordless Wednesday 19 October

2011-10-19T08:46:00.000+13:00

Here is my photo this week. It has rained here a lot during the school holidays. A trip to the movies was an obvious choice so here my lot are after we got home having thoroughly enjoyed the 3D version of The Three Muskateers.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Monday Menu 17 October

2011-10-17T22:30:00.000+13:00

Another monday is here and summer is trying really hard to show itself to us. Sadly the rain is trying very hard to hang around which is keeping the air temperature a little lower than I like. Anyway I don't have many internet links this week sorry. If you really like the idea of something not linked leave me a message and will blog it for you.

Anyway on to the menu for this week.

Monday Chicken Wraps

Tuedsay Baked chicken and feta bake with green vegetables

Wednesday Indian Lamb Cutlets with sauteed potatoes and green vegetables

Thursday Garlic and chilli beef with ginger and soy vegetables

Friday Pumpkin bacona and feta pizza

Saturday pasta with bacon, tomato and sourcream sauce

Sunday leftovers

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

Lemons and Grapefruit, what to do with them?

2011-10-16T22:54:00.001+13:00

I have inherited a prolific producting lemon tree and a grapefruit tree. While these trees look like they have had little attention (my sort of tree really..little attention required and but plenty of positive results.) they are now bearing so much fruit I am not sure what to do with it all. It seems like such a waste for this fruit to fall on the ground and go to waste. So I thought it was time to put my Edward De Bono Thinking Hat on, Green Hat is best suited, and see what the options are for me to consider on top of what I already do.

(lemon photos mine from my tree today)

Make marmalade. See my previous post here about this.
Use a cut in half lemon in a saucer with a little water. Turn the microwave on for about 1 minute. Then wipe clean. Such an easy thing to do.
Bake with lemons making such things as lemon mereinge pie (or the light version here), muffins, lemon cookies and lemon honey.
Then you can stuff the cavity of a chicken with lemon. Bake it and hmmm beautiful
Squeeze lemons and freeze the juice for later use.
Candied Citrus Peel
In New Zealand a hot lemon, honey in water for sore throats. Maybe elsewhere in the world you use this.
If you have a rubbish disposal system in your kitchen then a cut up lemon down this with sweeten up the disposal and maybe even clean somewhat on the inside. I use oranges and grapefruit also for this.
We use lemon and baking soda on oil that has stained the garage floor.
Wipe the inside of my fridge down with lemon juice in warm water. Hmmm not only is your fridge clean but is smells great too.

I am sure there are other things I can put to this list so please leave all your ideas. I am sure that I can make good use of them.

My Fabulous Little Helpers.

2011-10-14T20:37:00.004+13:00

As you might know my 'yard' requires quite a bit of manual labour to knock it into shape. The labour force is all home grown so, even though my DH is away, we began on what a fairly major chore at my house.

You can see from the photo that pile behind the trees, the pile that is taller than my children, it was the focus of our attention today. We had already moved a pile slightly smaller and easier to manage yesterday.

Eagerly with gumboots on and wheelbarrows at hand we started.

Two hours of lugging stuff, you know the sort...wooden fence pails, branches, trees, bamboo etc, we had to finish because there were other committments in the afternoon and my helpers and I were getting tired. I guess we are half way through the stuff that needs moving but another bin will be required to properly finish the job. At least there is a little more lawn that can be created for the children to play on which was one the big incentives for the move.

I am very proud of my childrens effort. I have promised that tomorrow should be the last of what can be done without another bin.

Making Marmalade

2011-10-13T23:01:00.000+13:00

I thought, since I have a more than plentiful supply of grapefruit and lemons, I would have a go at making marmalade. I can't say that I was filled with confidence about my chance of success but it was worth the effort I thought.

So I found this recipe that did not involve me having to peel the fruit and I was ready to go. I did a little research to work out how to sterilise the jars in the microwave, which by the way was very easy and hot.

Anyway it is now 10.44 pm and I have just finished cleaning up the bench in the hope to avoid attracting the ant colony that seems to know when the bench is not cleaned properly. It has taken about 4 hours from fruit recovery to having a clean bench at the end with 8 jars of marmalade on the bench. It is too soon to tell wether it will set property (the spoon test) told me I should be right for an easy to spread marmalade.

So fingers crossed for a marmalade that can be used on toast not one that acts like a sauce.

Wordless Wednesday 11 October

2011-10-12T07:19:00.000+13:00

Wow it is Wednesday again.

After yesterdays hospital visit with Hayden I thought that this photo was very appropriate. If it was to have a title then that would be 'Still Waiting'

I am linking this to My Little Drummer Boys.

A Day in Hospital

2011-10-11T20:40:00.002+13:00

Hayden needed to spend 6 hours in a planned hospital visit today. He was having a renal function test done and that requires time to get it right. The day went something like this

Arrive at the hospital, go to Daystay to get the needle inserted into Haydens port a cath
Go the Nuclear Medicine Department....wait
Have the special dye inserted into the port a cath access point (the vein)
Wait for two hours.
Have blood taken
Wait for one hour
Have blood taken
Wait for one hour
Have last blood taken
Go home

The hardest part of this day is that there are limited things to do at the hospital and Hayden, with a short attention span, did all of these things in half an hour. Oh boy. The rest of the time was simply difficult and tiring.

Here is the port a cath ready for todays action.

Having a ride on one of those $1 ride things.

Hayden got to particiapte in a holiday programme and made this fish.

Monday Menu 10 October

2011-10-10T18:40:00.000+13:00

Mondays menu is here again. I am linking to I'm an Organising Junkie

Monday Sausage(from our homekill man), baked potato and mixed vege

Tuesday Indian coconut beef curry on noodles

Wednesday wonton soup with stirfry vege

Thursday bacon and pumpkin pizza with salad

Friday Freezer meal

Saturday vegetable samosa on noodles with yoghurt

Sunday leftovers

Have a fabulous week.

(source photo of bacon and pumkin pizza from here)

The Holiday List

2011-10-10T16:30:00.001+13:00

I loved Melissa's idea of making a list of things to do in the holiday. This is especially so because I am a list sort of girl. So I thought being the beginning of the holidays I would make a start remembering we have some serious manual labouring to do to the outdoors of the house we have just bought.

Visit the Fan Zone at Queens Wharf, Auckland. I guess a must do thing as the Rugby World Cup is being held in New Zealand and the finals in Auckland.
~~Take Hayden for his EDTA kidney function test~~
Go to the movies
make Toilet Roll Seed Starter
~~make~~ ~~marmalade~~
make Rocky Road Bites
send my scrapbooking books off for printing. Very exciting.
start a photo time capsule
bake with the children home made bread.
make dinner together starting with these homemake pita breads
Go walking in the Hunua Ranges.
make Strawberry Lemonade
take photos for Christmas Card with this template as inspiration.
~~hire a bin to fill and take all the rubbish away from our new house. (Ok so the bin was not nearly large enough but one bin is full and one more will need to be hired.~~
Movie and popcorn afternoon at home.
plant grass in my large needy spot
finish bracing the deck.
pizza garden

Lastly lots of outside play and fun.

How much rain is too much?

2011-10-06T19:29:00.000+13:00

I know that living on a block of land requiring rain to keep us in water is something new. I know that we have been crossing our fingers and toes for a little rain to keep our water tank full until we can get the new one installed but really and truely the weather Gods truely took my hopeful thoughts way too litterally. This was after about 15 minutes of really heavy rain and a dash of large hail balls. Just take a look.

My husband out chicking the current water tank to make sure we are collecting maximum water.

A closer look and you can see the DIY moment as the water collection pipe is going to need futher repair on a dry day. I can just see the children listening to 'dont't play with the wood please'.

Then ofcourse you find our yet to be grassed spot well watered. I suppose when the seed goes in next week the sun will shine for weeks with no rain.

Wordless Wednesday 4 October

2011-10-05T07:13:00.000+13:00

Another Wednesday. This week you can see the story of this moment.

Here is father and son just last weekend. Hayden is disabled but is paying a lot of attention to the art of DIY.

Fixing the drill bit.

Immitating fixing the drill bit.

Just check out the goggles....hair stuck inside but Hayden is oblivious to it.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

Monday Menu 3 October

2011-10-04T07:24:00.001+13:00

Here I am linking again to I'm an Organising Junkie. With in being the last week of the third term in this school year I can truely say I am hanging out for a holiday.

Monday   freezer meal

Tuesday Herb and garlic beef stir fry

Wednesday Ham and capsicum Fritata

Thursday   Sweet and sour stirfry

Friday bbq chicken with salad and vege kebabs

Saturday   chicken wraps

Sunday left overs

That Puddle

2011-10-02T09:43:00.000+13:00

We have a puddle in our yard... well it is not really a puddle but a hole we are getting ready to put the 30,000 litre water tank in. You can see the sence of scale when comparing the water tank to the trampoline just beside it.

Unfortunately the water table on our land is very high and when you dig down water comes to the surface and this is what is causing our puddle, along with some rain. This photo shows what happens after you have pumped the puddle out and you can see the bottom.

This all leads to my photo from Wordless Wednesday . Andre asked if he could rescue Haydens gumboots, which had been thrown in the hole when it was 3/4 full of water. Without looking I naturally said yes. The next moment he is there in front of me in his swim suit and goggles waiting to get wet.

So knee deep in water, in he gets and the wet gumboots are found. We all spent the next 10 minutes laughing especially as the swim suit and goggles did not get wet.

I scrapbooked this.

(The credits for this can be found here at Nuts4Digi)

Wordless Wednesday 28 September

2011-09-28T07:16:00.003+13:00

There is a story to go with this photo but that is for another day.

I am linking to My Little Drummer Boys

Monday Menu 26 September

2011-09-26T19:06:00.003+13:00

I am all go this week. It is nearly the end of the third term of the school year and we have just moved house. On top of that I am working three days a week and life is generally busy.

My menu is my life saver so here it is.

Monday Indian Coconut Chicken Curry

Tuesday Homemade hamburgers

Wednesday Thai style Beef Stirfry (scroll down to see the stirfry sauce recipe)

Thursday Spaghetti with mince sauce

Friday baked flaffel on rice with salad

Saturday beef sweet and sour Stirfry on noodles

Sunday bbq yet to be decided

Here is mondays meal. We have just had it and it is sure one to be repeated. (Food photography is much harder than it looks.)

I am linking to I'm an Organising Junkie.

Travelling with children

2011-09-24T22:42:00.002+12:00

There is nothing like a list at your finger tips of things that will help keep you children entertained when in a car travelling for long distances. I recently had a need to think about some of these. i know that reading a book, or colouring in do not necessarily conjure up ideas of happy stomachs so I think that simple and old fashioned are the best.

I spy.....great for all ages. Starting with colours even developing into a number plate version of I spy
A game of 'It'.....I guess this is like playing a game of tag but with no room to run around you use words only. The 'It' person has a phrase they must say everytime they are asked a question. Lets us say the phrase is 'smelly socks'. Now everyone in the car asks questions of the 'It' person who only can answer saying smelly socks. It truely is a barrel of fun.
A scavenger hunt is something for all ages. Here are a few examples from the the net.

one from The Organised Housewife.
Try Planning Fun Road Trips
Even convert this idea by Martha Stewart into a scavenger hunt.

Personally anything that keeps them laughing is good for me.

Wordless Wednesday 21 September

2011-09-20T23:31:00.001+12:00

I just could choose which photo today but it really should be entitled 'Girls can do anything'. My 10 year old took the photos.

Mother (me) and son installing the door handle

So the existing space needed some adjustment.

Of course there is a need to pose with the tools.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys.

The Hockey Season is Over

2011-09-20T23:24:00.000+12:00

After two school terms of spending Saturday mornings watching McKenzie and Andre play hockey it has finally come to a seasons end. While I love standing at the turf watching, this year the weather was more often wet and cold (with no protection from the weather) even bitter. Just sometimes I wish my children had chosen a sport like badminton where they are alway playing indoors.

Anyway, as a very proud mother of my childrens effort and improvements this year, here they are enjoying one of their final games of the season.

McKenzie is quite short and young in her grade. The year 8 boys are starting to be much taller than her as you can see.

Andre, well here he is defending a penalty corner. He is the little hockey player in the blue top.

I can't wait to see what next years hockey brings.

Monday Menu 19 September

2011-09-19T22:13:00.000+12:00

Here I am finally and hopefully now I have moved house I will be back regularly posting menus on a Monday.

Monday Chicken Salad with wholemeal pasta

Tuesday spaghetti bolognasie

Wednesday Cold meat (done in the crockpot) with salad as there will only be two of us at home for dinner.

Thursday Then leftovers from wednesday

Friday bacon and pumpkin pizza

Saturday vietnamese vegetable spring rolls

Sunday bbq - with these side dishes. I am thinking that the kebab sticks will be a starter.

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

Moving the Pool part 2

2011-09-19T21:35:00.001+12:00

So the pool was moved from the yard last friday. I shared the photos in a post here last weeks. Since then it really has rained so much that the ground I am trying to get ready for lawn seed, (being spring it is the right time of the year for grass seed) has just been too saturated to work with.

Meanwhile I sit here looking out my window looking at all the manual labour that I will need to put in to help get the yard into some sort of order. Nothing too ambitious to start with a bit of grass would be good. So to give you an idea. We have 1.5 acres and these views show where the yard is going to be.

So starting from the left. There is that pool that was pulled out of the ground. We are not sure what will happen to that at this stage.

Scanning across you can see right in the front the spot that the pool came from and just a small clump of tree for a little privacy.

Then you can see out the left of my view. They are fruit trees you can see and supposidly a mowable lawn. Mind you quite a bit of work will be required to get that grass into a state that a lawnmower will go over it.

Of course there is nothing like completing the picture. Then there is the finishing work required on the deck. Hmmm.

I feel the strengthening of my ~~bicepts and tricepts.~~ major muscle groups happening.

Moving the Pool

2011-09-10T23:16:00.002+12:00

As you may have already ready we are moving into our new home. It is taking sometime to actually get to the stage when we will sleep there because there has been this pool right outside the ranch sliders at the house. Four ranch sliders give access to the pool just metres away.

Initially we thought that this fibreglass pool would need to be broken down and covered but the local digger man thought otherwise. Naturally the intial thought remained as plan B and then this is what happened.

A little preparation first to remove some of the decking last saturday and then friday...well just take a look. At 7.30 am the digger arrived...naturally it is a Little Yellow Digger just like in the book. It is about to clear some of that garden and transplant the trees to provide a privacy belt. Then a trench the depth of the pool was dug and the pool was popped and no long sucking onto the clay soil below.

The pool is still in one piece.

A ramp is made with the soil.

This is where the magic happens. One little yellow digger and a strop haul it out of the ground, very slowly.

There we have it. One gaping big hole the level of the water table evident and the pool out there is one piece. It must be our very lucky day as the digger driver tells me we needed to take out a Lotto ticket.

Watch out for more photos tomorrow so you can see what the yard now looks like just two days after the earthworks have been done.

If we are really organised we might just be able to move into our house this week.

Favourite Finds on Friday.

2011-09-09T23:40:00.000+12:00

I have found some fabulous links this weeks so thought that I would share them.

Firstly moving house and all I thought I might just have to have a go at this storage idea by Anna White.
What about this ottoman from The Country Chic Cottage.
I love the chalk board hereby Cecilia Rosslee this might just make it to my kitchen I think.....maybe I will use magnetic paint if there is such a thing.
I love these crochet hooks by Donna Duncombe. It is just a pity I don't crocket.
Then there are these laundry bags from Freckled Laundry.

An ebook review

2011-09-08T22:29:00.000+12:00

Did you know that there is close to 100 days to Christmas. Personally it is very difficult to get my head around this as spring has only just started.

Anyway I have been reading this ebook 100 days to Christmas. It is like a way to be planned and stay on top of things when Christmas comes you way. I am thinking that last minute jobs just might become a thing of the past.

Now while I am a person that likes to be well planned and organised the reality it does not always happen that way. What with 16 of September making just 100 days untill Christmas...a very scary thought I must say especially as I am in the throws of moving house which seems to be taking forever to achieve.

This ebook was written by Created by Jennifer Tankersley of List Plan-It. It includes some planning pages to get you started along with some budgeting ideas, what to do if you are into the handmade gifts, planning the baking etc etc. In fact it seems that no stone it unturned. Add to that a little inspiration and I must admit I think I might just be hooked into someone else helping with the planning.

It does, for us who live here in the land Down Under (New Zealand), include some planning around some USA holidays which we do not fully embrace but hey nothing like a little insight to what other parts of the world do at this time of the year.

For me it is worth printing out and even linking to the facebook page.

Wordless Wednesday 31 August

2011-08-31T05:10:00.000+12:00

Here is my photo taken just last week after our very cold Antartic blast of weather. Thankfully this weather has made way for much warmer mornings.

I am linking this post to My Little Drummer Boys

Monday Menu 29 August

2011-08-30T23:54:00.001+12:00

Who can believe that it is the end of August already. For us summer is almost here.

Here is my menu for the week.

Monday Meatloaf with baked potato and salad

Tuesday Cold meat and salad (ok it is a very busy night and an easy meal is called for)

Wednesday Crockpot chicken and potato soup

Thursday Stirfry chicken and vege

Friday Ham Feta tomato and asparagus quiche with salad

Saturday meatballs on spaghetti

Sunday easy peasy meal

I am linking to I'm an Organising Junkie

A Smile is just priceless

2011-08-30T23:44:00.000+12:00

Smiles are just priceless. Infact I think we all should try and find more reasons to smile...try even to smile at ourselves.

So without any further words from me go out and smile

Wordless Wednesday 24 August

2011-08-24T08:01:00.000+12:00

Here is this weeks photo. Two book characters....Tintin (and Snowy) and the witch from Room on the Broom

I am linking this up to My Little Drummer Boys

A Perfect Day

2011-08-23T19:53:00.000+12:00

Today started just perfectly, there was no frost to be seen, it was feeling like spring was in the air, the children all had a well organised and peaceful start to the day, the purchase of our house is going very smoothly. Of course the day ends just as it began.

What more could I want. Maybe there is a common thread to this morning that I should record. You know things like smiles on childrens faces, Hayden is calm even before his behaviour management medication, Andres violin goes off without a hitch, it is not too cold and the sun is up before we are.

Now all I need to do is bottle this so it can be repeated on demand.

(source: my photo taken a Pukekohe Golf Course at 5pm today)

Monday Menu 22 August

2011-08-22T18:30:00.000+12:00

Here is this weeks menu. I am again emptying the freezer so I am trying to be creative with the food that is in there.

Monday Corn (and chicken) fritters on noodles with steamed veges

Tuesday Bacon, tomato and zucchini quiche with salad

Wednesday Beef Tacos

Thursday steak and kidney with vege in the crockpot

Friday Pumpkin Soup

Saturday Steak, baked potato and salad

Sunday Leftovers

I thought I might have a go at making these for the lunch boxes this week.No cook Chocolate Oatmeal cookies.

Chocolate Chippie Biscuits

2011-08-18T22:17:00.000+12:00

My children love helping me bake. McKenzie has shown a real interest in baking by herself so I thought I would share the best kiddie friendly biscuit for home baking. It can be beaten forever and even be stored in the freezer for one of those time short moments.

Chocolate Chippie Biscuits

(source a well tested and tried recipe my Mum has passed on so that is why the measurements are imperial rather than metric)

Ingredients

8oz butter
8oz soft brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 egg
12 oz self raising flour
chocolate bits to your taste

Method

Heat the oven to 180 celsius

1. Cream butter and sugar.

2. Beat in the vanilla and egg.

3. Stir in the self raising flour and finally add in the chocolate

4. Using a teaspoon spoon the mixture onto a cookie tray lined with baking paper. Flatten the mixture with a moistened fork.

5. Bake for 10 minute or until brown.

6. Cool on a rack.

(Made by McKenzie just last week)

To Medicate or Not

2011-08-17T22:49:00.000+12:00

To be honest as a young primary school teacher I used question the use of medication to modify childrens behaviours.

On one side of the debate there seems to be those parents who are searching to find a cause for the their childs behaviour and their first choice is to medicate. Then there seems to be families who luckily have discovered that their child has an allergy or such like that can be managed and helps to improve the undesirable behaviours their child is showing. Of course there is also the group of people who are very judgemental and think that they know best when it comes to these situations. Quite simply this vocal group are very keen to condem the choices of others without knowing the full details.

I guess the beauty of the internet is that a wide range of opinions can be found. Some quiet vigorously expressed and often with little thought to taking the tactful approach. This gives people who are facing such decisions a wide range of thoughts to consider before making the choice to medicate or not in conjuction with their medical advise.

In our case Hayden is on a wide range of medication for many things. ADHD medication in one of those things. We tried may different behavioural modification strategies and none worked, not even a little bit. So Hayden continued to do what seemed like 20 activities a minute and was constantly angry with the world. We knew that food was not the issue as he takes very little orally (that is where the mickey button comes in handy). We also have an MRI scan that shows acute brain atrophy.

In all honesty for us it seemed ultimately in Haydens best interest that he be given the best opportunity to learn and be happier. It really was a no brainer. Even though it took me 12 months to accept this pathway I know that there has been nothing but positive outcomes for Hayden and naturally with a calmer, more complient and happier child less stress for us.

So here is my little whirlwind immitating ironing with his ever faithful Barney who Hayden tells me loves him.

Wordless Wednesday 17 August

2011-08-17T05:14:00.000+12:00

On Monday, a freezing cold day here in Auckland it offically snowed for the first time since 1939. While the snow at our place did not last here is the best photo showing what we got. I know that this is not very plentiful but since it was somewhat of a momentous moment here I thought it was worth a show.

I am linking to My Little Drummer Boys

Monday Menu 15 August

2011-08-16T22:25:00.000+12:00

Here is this weeks menu. I am trying a few new things so we will see how the children like them considering it is mid winter and seasonal food is limiting my access to cheaper vegetables.

Monday Salmon Rissoles with spinach, advocado and grapefruit salad

Tuesday Lamb curry on noodles

Wednesday Chicken and vegetable casserole

Thursday Beef crockpot meal

Friday Beef skewers on jasmine rice

Saturdays Thai curry Pumpkin Soup (try looking down the posts in this thread to find the recipe)

Sunday Leftovers

I am linking this too I'm an Organising Junkie

Wordless Wednesday 27 July

2011-07-27T08:47:00.000+12:00

Not a pleasant site but it is cold here and this is me ready to go for my run.

I am linking up to My Little Drummer Boys

Learning to Read

2011-07-26T18:41:00.000+12:00

Andre is at long last loving to read. These books he loves are not ones I would have picked for him but they are books and he is reading them none the least.

On his list are

TinTin
Paul Jennings (anything written by him)
Dirty Berty

So it just goes to show that as long as you listen to your child read every night, they have a quality reading programme at school and you read to them at home, sooner or later you will land on the right motivation for them to read for themselves.

Monday 26 July

2011-07-26T17:10:00.000+12:00

My poor blog is being a little neglected at the moment. I am sitting here in my cold little cabin writing this and my fingers are not working.

Anyway my menu for the week is.

Monday spaghetti bolognaise

Tuesday Beef Pho

Wednesday Beef Carbonade

Thursday Provencal beef pot roast

Friday Pizza Melt

Saturday Chicken, roasted pumpkin, spinach and feta filo parcels

Sunday leftovers

I am linking this to I'm an Organising Junkie

Wordless Wednesday 13 July

2011-07-13T09:27:00.000+12:00

I can't believe that it is Wednesday here again. My how the days are marching on by. Here is my photo.

My sons favourite book to read.

I am linking this up to My Little Drummer Boys.

Monday Menu 11 July

2011-07-12T20:48:00.000+12:00

Here is this weeks menu. It is difficult at the moment to do a decent menu as we are sharing a house with a fussy eater. Here I go anyway.

Monday   Sweet and Sour Stir Fry

Tuesday Ginger Noodles and Vege

Wednesday    Thai Style Stir Fry

Thursday Crockpot Provencal Beef

Friday Thai style pumpkin soup

Saturday Hamburgers

Sunday   Pasta Bake

I am linking this to I'm an Organizing Junkie

My Cabin

2011-07-12T18:28:00.000+12:00

My cabin is cold, it smells of fresh paint, and I have to go outside in the middle of the night to do Haydens medication. But the end can be seen. All going well we will own (well the bank will own it with us) a new home to live in.

So in 7 weeks time it will be goodbye to my cabin and welcome to a new home.

I have been reminded of what I value in a home while I am using my cabin. My need for a little me time, how I value the warmth during the winter and need space of my own to put my few things.

Here is your little view of my space. (Ok it is very hard to keep it immaculately tidy)

And finally the little trek I make to tend to Haydens needs very night. Out the door, along the deck, down the steps, up the steps and then inside his cabin. Only to return to my cabin 3 minutes later. Just remember it is winter while I am doing this. Thankfully it does not snow in Auckland.