Not quite as planned

Our nice soft buttercup and daisy spotted lawn, our picket fence and gate and rambling sweet smelling rose, our Jasmine in full flower.
Now look like this.
And the water tank is gone.

Smashed to pieces, (much to Liam's horror, poor boy), by a big noisey house shaking digger. That old tank just wouldn't move, it was stuck to the earth like a giant deep-rooted tree. So we waved goodbye to it as rumbled off up the driveway as a dusty pile of rubble on the back of a truck.

It was all rather exciting, and kind of scarey,



and loud, really loud,
and kind of claustrophobic-ish


(um, just don't either of you hit the house, please)

and muddy,
yeah really muddy actually. It probably would have looked quite funny, seeing me and a truck driver being showered by a tidal wave of dirty water. Head to toe. A perfect example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. - And of course no water in which to clean ourselves. Heh.
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So now, we have no water tank, which of course means we have no water. And we can't get a new tank in until Monday. Today is Wednesday. Meaning six days without water. Meaning tomorrow me and the kids are off on an impromptu holiday to stay with family down the line.

But hip hooray our house extensions have officially started, and that big pile of dirt out there will be covered by some lovely new rooms, eventually.

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Wishing you a lovely week, that hopefully involves running water from a tap.

This time last night

Officially starting our house extensions.
Preparing for the digger to come today, to move the water tank.


Emptying our (precious) water into the drain.

Little toes in the dirt.

I had to get a photo of all those promises of red juicy plums before the poor tree is severely cut back. I'm a bit sad. But at least we get to keep the tree.

Me inside making rice salad for dinner and ginger molasses muffins - both yummy, I'll have to share the recipes later. The little toes joined me half way through.

... And tonight

Takeaways for dinner, no water, no water tank, we'll pretend like we're camping.

I'll share more tomorrow. Better go and give the kids a sponge bath.

Just now...

It's really cold, it's December, in the southern hemisphere, and I'm thinking about turning the heater on, the one I nearly packed away last week, when it was really hot and we were sweating with shorts and t-shirts on.

The washing is hanging undercover on the deck outside, but it's still getting wet.

(Thanks for the jasmine you left on my windowsill Frith xx)

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Isla is wearing a vest, overtop of merino.

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And socks.

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We're staying indoors, baking bread.

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It's only about 4pm and it's dark enough to have the lamp on and we're snuggling up on the couch eating popcorn.

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Last Friday's weather seems like a distant memory.

I hope you have a lovely weekend, whatever your weather may be :)

Siblings

I love it how these guys hang out together.
Of course there is the odd fight. And a bit of arguing now that Isla is talking more, which usually sounds like - I not, do, I not, doo, I NOT, dooooo , I NOT, DOOOOOOO - this can go on for a wee while sometimes, and I think the majority of the time either one or both of them don't actually know what they are arguing about.
But most of the time they are just the best of friends.

Shop things

I've been getting around to listing some of the collections of things I have to sell. It can be a slow process and pretty much impossible to do with the kids jumping around me. So I've been doing it bit by bit as they have their afternoon naps.

These are a few things that have been added to the Felt and Etsy shops just lately.

Still lots more to do.

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Cake and zoo

So we finished off our birthday celebrations for Isla with some cake and singing on Friday night, and a trip to the zoo on Saturday - so much fun.
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Here are some photos.

Hope you had a great weekend.
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Wholemeal carrot cake with cream cheese icing - Yum!

Birthday celebration candle holder - like the one I made for Liam

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I made her a special crown too, like Liam's, and then forgot to give it to her!
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We all loved our zoo visit

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It's so amazing seeing all these magestic animals in real life

I love how they were just peacefully basking in the sun.

There was a baby playing in the grass.

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Look at this guy's hair!

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Isla posing by the otters - she's such a girl :)

Happy Birthday Isla

Two years old today.
Our sweet little bundle of cuteness.
Sometimes I do wonder how you can be so darn cute! he he xx


(group hug this morning - with new baby doll from my dad - she LOVES it, see)

It's a stunning day here today, a lovely day indeed to celebrate being born.
And a lovely day to take a walk to the beach for a little picnic if I do say so.

(getting the sand between our toes - which we weren't actually that pleased about)

(collecting a big pocket full of sea glass in pretty colours)

(testing the water)

(which led to this...)

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(which then led to this...)
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(...which resulted in this. And mummy, foolishly, didn't bring extra clothes.)
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They're both fast asleep now, all worn out and salty and I've just finished decorating the cake (which you will have to wait till Monday to see). So there is happy birthday singing and candle blowing out etc etc on the agenda tonight, and then tomorrow we are off to visit the zoo - unless the skies open up and the rains come down - but going by today - surely not.