Back Again!!!

We are home again but sadly, not with the tan and aura of holiday well-being I was hoping. Instead we staggered through customs bowed down with coughs, running noses and temperatures. I am sure I saw Jonno consider fleeing when he saw the Hugo and I emerge from the big immigration doors pale and sweaty.

However, after two days at home I am slowly unpacking our suitcases and coming to terms with everyday life again. But oh how my heart is still in its Australian beat. Yowsers it hurts living between two countries. And oh my goodness how I treasured my time with my family.

It was extremely hot for the majority of time I was there which meant Mum and I spent lots of time sitting in the cool inside crocheting... I have to admit, I couldn't see the downside to that. On their kitchen bench, three jugs of cool water huddled like refugees under a shared tea towel so my first job was to liberate them with their own cover as quickly as possible. It turned out to be such a pleasure as she had boxes of beads from my step-grandmother which I eagerly poured over, sorting between doilies.

Hugo had a ball with his cousins (loving their dress-ups to - is there a doctor in the house?) and Archie and Jonno had a great time with the house to themselves. It is just lovely to all be back together again though.

I better go and catch up a little bit more on the whole getting suitcases out of the house caper but will be back tomorrow with photos of fabric bought from my favourite shop in Melbourne.

xxxxxxxxx.

Gardening and Crochet.

Passports are quivering on the table, suitcases bulging with presents for far flung tribes and shoes are resting upside down with their bottoms rather than faces scrubbed. And aren't we just tripping lightly across a little ditch from New Zealand to Australia. There seems to be a lot of preparation involved for such a small flight. This is a good thing I suppose because it gives me the chance to feel like an intrepid traveller in my own backyard.

I thought I had better include a big bundle of photos because I may not be able to post for a few days. However, the really exciting thing is faster internet at my parent's house. It has been so appallingly slow for the last two months, I am now completely looking forward to having a good look around all of my favourite places and commenting and being a social person again. Of course that applies too all of my family and friends in the real world too...

I have popped in a few snaps of the garden as well to remind myself of green and rain in case I become a little too comfortable in Australia (of course Jonno and Archie staying behind will make me anxious to get back too).

The sun is shining and the school bus is still making its winding way to our stop so I had better keep pretending it is just a normal morning for a little bit longer. Hope to see you this week out in cyberland. xxooxxooxx.

From a busy week...

Flowers Archie took to school for his flower day.

Getting the moses basket ready for a friend who is about to drop. I find it utterly bizarre to think Hugo used to fit it in. Right now if he even looked at it the sides would split.
I think the same thing would happen with this jumper. Jonno's mama knitted it for Archie and both boys ended up having a very long turn in it. I wish I could still dress them in kimono style clothing.

Archie's mosaic flower from flower day. Can you even begin to imagine how much I am loving this. And the ring of red beads...

And this is what I have been up to with my makings. I finished it last night trapped in front of 'Daddy Day-Care'. It's amazing what you can end up watching when you are determined to finish something. Strangely, when I finished the piece, I had no desire to watch the rest of the movie. I am sure it all worked out in the end.

As for this week, lots of packing because on Tuesday, I am flying home to Australia for a week. My DNA is needing some family time urgently and as for my skin, it's needing some dry Australian air. I am a little bit nervous though because I have just been told we are in for a hot week in the mid-30's... I am just not emotionally equipped for that, I have been lulled into the New Zealand version of a hot day which is lucky to peak at 28 degrees (c). I better go and weed out most of the woollen jumpers and corduroy pants. Just think of it as a tropical holiday, there you go, that sounds better already.

More pants (and an Iris)...

So pants are obviously the thing I just can't stop making at the moment. And then it occurred to me, knicker-bockers are kind of pants. Wahoo. Did anybody else spend their childhood in knicker-bockers, I thought they were the bees knees and my mum must have too. Actually, I think we called them peddle-pushers as well and I used to think it was hilarious because we often used to drive past a florist called Petal-Pushers.

I have so many things to put on the blog tonight but now the family has been fed, the boys tucked up in bed and the dishwasher humming, I am just to tired to remember all of my amazing insights. So, on that note I will make my way up to the big blue couch and collapse in front of 'Hester Blumanthal's Medieval Feast'. Bring on the madness.

Pants...

Thank goodness I am the mother of two boys who don't mind a bit of retro in their life. It makes pyjama sewing so much more fun. Isn't the print above amazing - apparently it's from Brazil but there doesn't seem to be any brand with it, just a cut-out star fixed onto the roll with 'latest from Brazil' written on it. It's a mystery all right but who am I to question inexpensive, good quality cotton.

I have to admit that Archie was probably more receptive to the pattern because he had been looking at photos of Jonno from the seventies. Jonno was one psychedelic pre-schooler back then.
Well, time to sweep up the little sultana-like balls from the floor as we have a toddler coming over later and I don't really want him eating too much rabbit poo. I am sure a little bit would be okay though, it looks very nutritious, kind of like dried balls of kelp. Maybe.

Perfection...

Life has those moments that you just can't help but recognise. Those moments where life is perfect. Sunshine, bunny rabbits, happy children, kites, grandparents, archery sets and cups of tea. The boys' Poppa was the first snoozy person to have Big Ears jump on his chest. All of a sudden Archie and Hugo were very keen on the whole napping process too. Speaking of naps, it's Saturday afternoon and I am going upstairs to read my book until I too dive beneath my pillow and float into the soft land of sleep.

Big Ears the Rabbit...

Let me introduce our new family member, Big Ears Carrot Lover Bruning, a baby Giant Flemish bunny rabbit who we have all fallen utterly and completely head over heels in love with. He arrived yesterday and survived his first night so right now I am feeling hopeful for his long-term chances.

Needless to say, Archie and Hugo are obsessed but, sadly, their mother is even more so. I have never had a pet rabbit before and I am amazed by how cool he is. Big Ears (Hugo is going through a Noddy phase) leaps up onto my lap and nibbles food from our hands. How did I go thirty three years without experiencing this kind of snuffled rabbit love.

On the creative side of life, I have started sewing a couple more pairs of pants for the boys. Now I have started it is hard to stop. It has been such a long time since I have had so much fun with the old sewing machine. Maybe it is the difference between doing something for the boys and sewing an item to sell... much less stress and no worries about speed and efficiency.

At the moment Hugo is carrying Big Ears telling him softly that he is a fluffy little lad.