Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (Tuesday 24 February 2009 )...

Outside My Window... last night's thunderstorm has left everything clean and freshly washed. The sky is now blue and it's looking like a nice warm day ahead.

I am thankful for... my new bluepearl earrings - a valentine's day present that arrived a little late :)

I am thinking... about all the things I need to catch up on.

From the learning room... lots of lego.

From the kitchen... mmmmm pancakes today - tomorrow is Ash Wednesday.

I am wearing... more striped flannelette pyjamas shades of blue this time.

I am creating... still working on the home journal and the button book.

I am going... to get Wombat dressed before breakfast.

I am reading... this nice idea for prayer during Lent - Lenten Lights.

I am hoping... to get lots of washing dried and put away today.

I am hearing... Wombat sitting on my lap and chatting about a playdough elephant he has made.

Around the house... the bugs have hatched out in the humidity caused by all the rain, so we are all itchy again. Lots of washing and vacuuming to do.

One of my favorite things... Wombat's imagination.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

• try to get to Mass tomorrow


• continue building my home journal


• battle the bugs


• decluttering

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Munchkin - soon to be on the move...


This snippet of my life brought to you courtesy of the Simple Woman's Daybook. If you would like to join in too, you will find all the details here. Thanks, Peggy!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (Tuesday 17 February 2009 )...

Outside My Window... still raining - hasn't stopped all week!

I am thankful for... My car passing its rego inspection with no repairs needed.

I am thinking... about where I might find my missing earring - I think it may have gone flying when I was dashing around changing the sheets on Sunday.

From the learning room... lots of fun free printable matching games from childcareland.com

From the kitchen... food pyramids stuck on the fridge and cupboards as I attempt to explain to Wombat why he needs to eat his meat and veggies for dinner... and why chocolate is NOT on the breakfast menu! Here's a nice printable food guide and eating plan for young children - it's a pdf file. I'm going to make up a similar chart for myself!

I am wearing... purple and blue striped flannelette pyjamas

I am creating... a home journal / log book / control journal - whatever you want to call it! Attempting to get more organized, anyway...

I am going... to do some shopping with the boys today - get them out of the house at least!

I am reading... about washing my hair with bicarb and apple-cider vinegar. I tried it - and it's great! The best explanation I have found for why? is here.

I am hoping... for a little bit of sunshine to dry the washing!

I am hearing... Munchkin gurgling and singing and 'talking' on my lap as he tries to work out how to eat everything on my desk, including the keyboard and mousemat.

Around the house... everyone eles is just starting to wake up.

One of my favorite things... getting a great deal on ebay for something I need.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

• continue building my home journal


• sort the lego


• decluttering

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Blue-eyed Wombat, listening to the wind...

(The overalls are one of the ebay bargains referred to above - $50 Oshkosh for $18 - yay!) Wombat is needing new trousers!

This snippet of my life brought to you courtesy of the Simple Woman's Daybook. If you would like to join in too, you will find all the details here. Thanks, Peggy!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (Tuesday 10 February 2009 )...

Outside My Window... rain! Blessed, gentle, soaking rain!

I am thankful for... answered prayers! The change in the weather and the chance to get the boys outside yesterday.

I am thinking... about the families in Victoria whose lives and homes have been destroyed by fire. I am so grateful we have not had any real threat here this year!

In the past (before kids) my role in our fire-fighting plans was to stay inside the house with a hose and soak the carpets and curtains, watching for sparks while Yeti battled the blaze outside.

Now, the boys are too young and MIL too old to risk their lives, so my job is to drive them to safety and care for them while Yeti stays to fight alone. He is well equipped to do so - we have the only really large water supply in the street and this year we have spent as much as we could afford on two diesel pumps and firefighting hoses.

Once upon a time everyone in the street thought the same way and would have co-ordinated their response. Now they are all city-dwellers and hobby farmers who have moved out here for a "tree-change" and they pile into their cars and leave at the first whiff of smoke. The rural fire service is tiny, staffed by volunteers and can't possibly be everywhere at once. Yeti has more than once put out small spot fires that would have blazed to major infernos if left to burn.

He is smart, resourceful and experienced but I am endlessly grateful that in the 16 years I've been here, the major bushfires have skirted around us and our plans have never been needed for more than a grass fire. As he gets older, the stress and worry of this time of year is getting worse.

Yeti is spending a lot of time studying the changing climate patterns and trying to locate our new home. We have decided we will be leaving here. The only (minor) questions are when, and where we will go. I am praying he finds the perfect solution soon (and drooling over the huge houses and beautiful properties he shows me on Domain.com lol)

From the learning room... We have been cooped up inside due to the heat so much lately, but it has given me a chance to try some new activities. This is one of them.

I gave Wombat a tray of flour, getting him used to the idea of copying letters. He had no interest in copying what I showed him, but did spent a happy hour drawing his own tracks - moving from the tray, to his own table, and then onto the floor. After a bit of persuasion, I even got him to help me sweep up afterwards!

(While this was going on, Munchkin was on a mat in the middle of the kitchen floor, learning to crawl. I didn't take any photos for you, as he was wearing even less than Wombat :P)

From the kitchen... cheese scones for Wombat, rusks for Munchkin, muesli for me.

I am wearing... purple wrap-around skirt, white top, bare feet.

I am creating... lots of origami boxes (masu) for storing phonics objects. I'll do a full post about them when they are finished.

I am going... to do lots of vacuuming today when Yeti takes Wombat shopping.

I am reading... blogs lol.

I am hoping... that the rain stays for a while!

I am hearing... the silence! I am so used to the constant buzz of the portable air conditioner we bought for the playroom, it seems strange not to have it on.

Around the house... MIL is going away for a few days so we will have the place to ourselves :D

One of my favorite things... the tea mug my nieces made me for Christmas - it holds just the right amount for a good cuppa.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

• plant some sweetcorn
• get some sleep
• take some macro photos

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

A contemplative Wombat, eating a pear under a gum tree...



"Mummy, tell me about the tree's blood."

This snippet of my life brought to you courtesy of the Simple Woman's Daybook. If you would like to join in too, you will find all the details here. Thanks, Peggy!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (Tuesday 3 February 2009 )...

Outside My Window... dark and quiet, except for the very fat brush-tailed possum raiding the compost bucket and snacking on catfood on the verandah...

I am thankful for... rare moments of peace and quiet.

I am thinking... that hanging four loads of washing on the line at 2am, wearing only a thin cotton nightie and gumboots, with lightning flashing all around, was probably not the most sensible thing to do - but that I really enjoyed it - and at least I didn't get sunburnt!

From the learning room... I purchased a bead threading set on eBay which has been extremely popular when combined with a packet of pipecleaners chenille stems lol. I thought it was just the plain coloured beads so the little face beads were a lovely surprise in the box. Wombat has been combining them with other beads and buttons from my stash and the holey shells we gathered recently at the beach.




(Wombat tells me the blue fellow is nakey because he is going swimming!)

From the kitchen... water, water and more water... I am feeling seriously dehydrated lately.

I am wearing... just a nightie. I took off the gumboots, lol.

I am creating... one of these lovely ideas for Wombat. He is ready to start learning buttons, but I haven't had the chance to make him a button frame yet... this looks like a fun way to start - and less work for me means more chance of it getting done!

I am going... to take the boys out for their monthly playdate after breakfast.

I am reading... about anger management.

I am hoping... that I can get Wombat dressed in less than the three hours it took me yesterday... also, that I can wash my hair and get some sleep before we have to go out!

I am hearing... Munchkin whimpering as he sleeps in my arms. He is not having a good night.

Around the house... I pace, rocking a ten-kilo baby, until he falls asleep and I can sit down again to type with one hand.

One of my favorite things... Sacred Space.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

• book the car for rego inspection
• check re-enrolment date for the College of Law

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

A freshly washed hairy-bear hanging by his toes...




all fluffy and dry and back where he belongs!

This snippet of my life brought to you courtesy of the Simple Woman's Daybook. If you would like to join in too, you will find all the details here. Thanks, Peggy!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (Monday 26 January 2009 )...

Outside My Window... a golden dawn shining through leaves of sunwashed green. Happy Australia Day!

I am thankful for... life and love.

I am thinking... of to-do lists and control journals and home-made laundry powder.

From the learning room... Wombat has started keeping a nature journal in which I write at his dictation and label his illustrations as instructed. It started out daily but then we missed a few days. My perfectionism wants it to be a regular activity, but I am trying hard not to push it - there are many years ahead of us :)

From the kitchen... a cup of tea and a hot cross bun. Can you believe they already have hot cross buns in the supermarket? It's not even Lent yet, let alone Easter! Talk about commercialism ruining the significance of traditions. Personally, I would boycott them, but my MIL is not so picky... and they sure are tempting once you've got them in the house. I wonder why plain old fruit buns don't taste as good?

I am wearing... a blue button-front nightie and my pink dressing gown. My bare toes are cold.

I am creating... a new blog - lol! I take so many photos that never get seen by anyone outside my computer. I don't have time to do the photo challenges that I used to enjoy, so I have decided to join the 365 days crowd and post a photo every day. You can follow along at Fleeting Reality. In another fit of procrastination perfectionism *ahem* lets-not-label-it-ism I have gone through my pictures directory and uploaded a photo taken on each day of the year so far (can't start out by being behind, now, can I???)

I am going... to fold three baskets of washing, and change the sheets on all the beds today.

I am reading... Charlotte Mason, still.

I am hoping... that my car won't be too expensive to register. I was hoping to take the boys into town for the last day of the Impressionist Exhibition at the NSW Art Gallery, but the cars are being unco-operative.

I am hearing... the hungry whine of an elusive mosquito.

Around the house... lego... lego everywhere.

One of my favorite things... 'Google Reader' lol.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

• Yeti's birthday on Wednesday

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...



Me and my munchkin!

This snippet of my life brought to you courtesy of the Simple Woman's Daybook. If you would like to join in too, you will find all the details here. Thanks, Peggy!

A Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (Tuesday 20 January 2009 )...

Outside My Window... when I started writing this, the black silhouettes of the trees were outlined starkly against the first grey light of pre-dawn. Then Munchkin called me in to feed him, and Wombat woke and insisted I stay, so I lay watching the myriad shades of green gradually emerge. Now golden sunlight is hopping from leaf to leaf and the sky is a freshly polished blue.

I am thankful for... blessings beyond number.

I am thinking... that I really look forward all week to writing this daybook! It is a joyous idea - thank you Peggy!

From the learning room... Wombat has suddenly started stacking his nesting blocks into a proper tower, then unstacking them, nesting them and putting them away (this is a huge improvement over kicking them across the room!)



From the kitchen... another batch of Anzac bikkies are needed. I have been revising my recipe (which originally comes from Flo Bjelke-Peterson - Australians will recognise her as the inventor of the famous pumpkin scone!) Each time I make this recipe I have been adding less sugar and more interesting titbits, and I think we have finally got it perfect. It is SO easy for Wombat and I to make together, and they are healthy enough for me to leave accessible as a snack he can help himself to whenever he wants. They are not as dry as traditional Anzac biscuits, which, being invented for soldiers, were able to be used in hand to hand combat lol. The recipe is very forgiving - add any extras you like, change it around, see what you can create! For example, last time we made them Wombat insisted on cracking the egg himself - half the shell went in the dough and half the egg went on the floor. No problem! Pick out the shell, clean the floor, add another small egg and they turned out as nice as ever!

Wombat's Anzac bikkies

• 125g butter or margarine
• 1 dessertspoon golden syrup (Wombat's favourite ingredient and real reason for agreeing so readily to help make these - he gets to lick the spoon - and ask for a second helping lol; if you don't have golden syrup where you are, try honey or treacle!)
• 1 heaped teaspoon baking soda (don't make a mistake and use bicarb like I did once - the bikkies were still edible, but they really tingled on the tongue!!!)
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1/4 cup sugar (the original recipe used a whole cup - you don't need it - they are still sweet with 1/4 of that)
• 1 cup dessicated coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (here is where I get creative; we hardly ever have enough chopped nuts on hand, so I add extras - sultanas, dried fruit, puffed rice, chocolate chips, whatever takes your fancy and you have in the pantry)
• pinch salt
• 1 egg

Put all dry ingredients in a big bowl. (Wombat likes to sift the flour.) Melt together butter, syrup and baking soda (very low heat and watch so it doesn't bubble). Add melted ingredients to dry ingredients and mix well. Finally, mix in unbeaten egg. Knead mixture for about 5 minutes. (Wombat and I both knead together in the bowl - that's why it needs to be a big one lol). Roll into small balls (I use about a teaspoon of mixture so we get lots of small snacks lol) and place on a greased biscuit tray (we use baking paper on the trays instead) or alternatively, press all of the mixture into a large biscuit tray. Bake in a moderate oven (180-200C) for 10-15 minutes (when you can smell them, they are done)!

I am wearing... a thin pink cotton nightie that was a hand-me-down from my mother, who wore it when she was breastfeeding me, and my pink cotton dressing gown. Nightclothes are the only times I ever wear pink lol

I am creating... a mess as projects pile up waiting for me to get a chance to use my sewing machine.

I am going... to make another cup of tea ;D (same as last week, lol)

I am reading... more about unschooling, and deciding that this eclectic approach suits me better than concentrating on either Montessori or Charlotte Mason, as it inspires me to "strew the path" with the best of all worlds.

I am hoping... that I get the chance to vacuum sometime today.

I am hearing... Munchkin gurgling on my lap as he shoves a fistful of my hair into his mouth.

Around the house... trying to restart the habit of 15 minutes decluttering every day.

One of my favorite things... online book shopping.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

• look back at the plans I have made over the past two weeks and ACTUALLY DO THEM!!!

Still working on that, lol...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

When Wombat, Munchkin and I went to check the mail yesterday, we spotted this BEAUTIFUL huge moth on the trunk of a young Cootamundra wattle. I am in love with the irridescent blue on its shoulders!

One of the concerns about unschooling is that parents may not be able to provide an environment rich enough to ensure that a child fully engages with their world. I don't think I have to worry about that while we live here! There is always another miracle to explore :D

This snippet of my life brought to you courtesy of the Simple Woman's Daybook. If you would like to join in too, you will find all the details here.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (Tuesday 13 January 2009 )...

Outside My Window... a cool mist hovers amongst the trees and the grass is wet with dew. The sun is just rising, welcomed by the chiming of bellbirds. It is going to be hot again, and I am hoping for a rainstorm later in the day as the tanks are almost empty and there are (as always) nappies to wash - not to mention Wombat's (and my) muddy gardening clothes.

I am thankful for... a long-lost friend contacting me out of the blue.

I am thinking... that the 40-day Love Dare Challenge sounds like a great idea.

From the learning room... we are working on replacing a bad habit with a good habit. Also, the letter "B", and hunting for worms and millipedes.

From the kitchen... look at this lovable little face covered in banana!

Munchkin is continuing to delight in discovering solid food. So far he has tried banana, sweet potato and rice cereal. I'm planning to introduce stewed apple this week. He is very independent and insists on feeding himself! As soon as the spoon comes towards him he grabs it, checks what's on it with his fingers and then puts it happily in his mouth. No spoon-feeding for this lad! I'm thinking I need to make him an eating-smock as bibs - and even an old nappy tied around his neck - just aren't doing the job! Either that or give him another bath and clean clothes AFTER dinner, lol. BTW, none of this has decreased his interest in breastfeeding as often as he can possibly manage ;P Munchkin by name, Munchkin by nature!

I am wearing... a red t-shirt, khaki trousers and my chinese phoenix-embroidered mary-janes.

I am creating... little bags and pouches in which to store toys.

I am going... to make another cup of tea ;D

I am reading... Charlotte Mason. I am ecstatic to have finally found a free source for her books in text format that I can load onto my ebook reader (the replacement Yeti bought for me has just arrived.) I think Wombat is really going to respond to the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education - with her emphasis on being outdoors, and on narrative, which he loves - much better than he has to Montessori (though I will still be making Montessori-inspired materials for him).

I am hoping... that the boys sleep in just a little bit longer.

I am hearing... the clock ticking and the chickens clucking.

Around the house... MIL is returning from one of her short trips away today, so I must put on my housewife hat and do what the FlyLady calls a crisis clean. It's not that bad, but Wombat has been wandering around leaving trails behind him (have I told you I also call him Captain Chaos?) I do need to kickstart my control journal again, and get back into the habit of a little bit every day.

One of my favorite things... baby and toddler huggles.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

• look back at the plans I have made over the past two weeks and ACTUALLY DO THEM!!!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Mum gave Wombat a 'touchable' bubble blower for Christmas. They smell a bit chemical-y so I recommend using them outside - plus they leave a slime like a snail trail when they do pop... but they are lots of fun. They hang in the air and move slower than normal bubbles, and they stick when they land, so you can 'decorate' your trees with them lol. Wombat loves that they wait around for him to come stomp them.


Here's a 'popped' one - such a pretty rainbow sheen!

This snippet of my life brought to you courtesy of the Simple Woman's Daybook. If you would like to join in too, you will find all the details here.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (Wednesday 7 January 2009 )... at 2am

Outside My Window... darkness brings a blessed coolness and relief from a sweltering day. The UV index yesterday was at 12 - on a scale of 1 - 10! Today is going to be another scorcher.

I am thankful for... catching up with my mother and brother for a post-Christmas picnic.

From the learning room... I am going to teach Wombat how to play "Go Fish" with the set of Cars cards we gave him for Christmas. I started with SNAP but it was a bad idea - the point of the game was lost in the boyish joy of running around hitting things and yelling SNAP! Fish should help with matching skills, concentration, taking turns and manual dexterity in manipulating a hand of cards.

From the kitchen... very tasty (NOT!) a new batch of playdough is needed.


1 cup of flour ; 1 cup of warm water; 2 teaspoons cream of tartar; 1 teaspoon of oil; 1/4 cup of salt. Mix all ingredients. Stir over medium heat until thick (I keep stirring until I can hardly move the spoon). Remove from pan and knead on a floured board until smooth. Add colourings if desired and extra flour if it becomes sticky (I have used watercolour paints, food colouring and chalk in the past for specific projects, but since it all becomes a uniform grey or brown within minutes of Wombat getting his hands on my pretty rainbows, for everyday play I leave it plain). Place in airtight container.


I used this same playdough recipe to make saltdough ornaments for Christmas. We cut out Christmas trees with a cookie cutter, brushed them with water, sprinkled green glitter, and pressed beads into them for decorations. Worked beautifully just left to air dry for a week.

I am wearing... a loose tunic dress I made when pregnant with Wombat, and an oversize striped t-shirt. I want to make more of these dresses, and some light, long-sleeved peasant blouses to go under them, as they are so comfortable for summer.

I am creating... softies, still. Here are the pictures I promised last week. Meet Bounce (the bunny) and Pounce (the kitten).

I am going... to sneak outside when I finish this post and hang the five loads of washing I did today. It feels so wonderful to be out in the cool and the quiet when everyone is asleep, just me (and the possums, wombats and wallabies) under the glorious starlight.

I am reading... about 'Emotional Freedom Techniques'. Though sceptical at first, I have been trying out this method of do-it-yourself acupuncture without needles and am becoming more and more impressed with it. I really want to share it with my Mum as I think there is a good chance it will help her manage her back pain which is becoming increasingly resistant to medication.

I am hoping... and praying for lasting peace in Gaza. I keep thinking of all the children there, and of how truly lucky my family is to be free from such strife.

Around the house... the heat has brought rats in from the bush to shelter in our roof and walls. The rats drop lice eggs which hatch into invisible itchy-bitey-bugs. So, lots of washing, vacuuming, baiting traps and airing the house until I get rid of them again.

One of my favorite things... the trust of Wombat's hand in mine - and the joyful grimace on Munchkin's face when he first tastes sweet potato.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

• battle the bugs


• re-enrol at the College of Law to finish my graduate diploma


• print out this beautiful calendar


• write a ballade about ants by Friday

Here is picture thought I am sharing... our picnic with Mum was at 7 Mile Beach. The picnic area was quite nice, shady, very clean free BBQs (though we hadn't bought anything to cook this time) and Wombat even got to have a good conversation with a friendly kookaburra (see him sitting in the branch at the very top of the pic?).

The beach, however, was another matter - so windy that we were being sandblasted the whole time we were there. Munchkin fell asleep immediately in his pram, swathed safely under a mossie net and sunshade (Yeti had a great hint for getting a pram over sand - PULL, don't push!) Mum and Peter didn't like the wind much, so stayed with Munchkin and turned their back to the gale. It doesn't look at all windy in the pics, but you can just see the streaks of blown sand near the water's edge. Trust me, it was a rather blustery day, as Piglet would say.

We wanted to make sure Wombat brought home some good memories after driving for hours to get there, so Yeti launched the kite and I did a little bit of paddling, after showing Wombat the shells we had promised him he could collect.

Wombat took to shell collecting immediately, and only when his bucket was full to the brim did he give in to personal comfort and decide "It's time to go home, NOW!"



This snippet of my life brought to you courtesy of the Simple Woman's Daybook. If you would like to join in too, you will find all the details here.

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (Tuesday 30 December 2008)...

Outside My Window... a cool, clear, bright morning which is forcasted to become hot and humid again with a chance of thunderstorms.

I am thinking... better get out early with the boys to hang the washing as the UV has been a real killer this year so we need to get our daily running around time before the sun really kicks in (ie before 9am!).

I am thankful for... Munchkin FINALLY sleeping through the night!!! (after weeks of feeding EVERY HOUR!) and Wombat having a week of dry nights :D

From the learning rooms... reading our Christmas books - especially the new one which arrived yesterday - Room for a Little One. The pictures are absolutely gorgeous, and I don't think I've read a Martin Waddell book that I haven't liked. He is one of my Wombat's favourite authors (Snow Bears, Can't you sleep, Little Bear?, Owl Babies)

From the kitchen... I wanted to make some more cookies with Wombat - the last batch of Anzac biscuits were pretty good, despite using bicarb instead of baking soda and too much of it, so they had a strange slightly fizzy taste... but it's been too hot to use the oven during the day.

I am wearing... Stripy pjs and bare feet.

I am creating... Softies - for a friend's daughter and for the Toy Society. Will post pics of the ones I made for the boys' Christmas presents in the near future. They are hanging on the washing line at the moment - popular enough to have needed a bath already!

I am going... shopping today, if it's not too hot. Munchkin has outgrown his size 0s! and I need some 'baby clothing' in size 1 as all I have is suited for an older child. Wombat also desperately needs new shoes. The last lot fell apart about a week after buying. Only problem is that Big W is only stocking sandals and thongs for summer which isn't much use when there are funnel web spiders and red-belly black snakes in our yard.

I am reading... Elizabeth Hainstock's 'Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Preschool Years'. I was also reading Rabelais' Gargantua & Pantagruel on my ebook reader at night while breastfeeding... but the other night it red-screened and died on me ;( I hadn't realized how dependent I had become on having it! (It was a birth present from Munchkin... as soon as Yeti realized he couldn't fix it, he searched eBay and bought me another one - I love that man!)

I am hoping... that I can do a better job of keeping my patience with the boys today.

I am hearing... Wombat running back and forth to show his Cars collection to Daddy and Nanna in the kitchen, and Munchkin gurgling to his toys in the bedroom while he waits for me to come and dress him.

Around the house... chaos and clutter, as usual.

One of my favorite things... "Munchkin's gurgling happy" says Wombat - brotherly love! The first thing Wombat does when he wakes up in the morning is check where Munchkin is and he is always concerned to tell me if Munchkin is crying or poopy... I have had to set up the portacot for Munchkin to play in, though, as he was getting accidentally trodden on occasionally...

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

• Chat to MIL about Yeti's cousins so I can work out who is who when I'm sending Christmas cards next year.
• Finish the bear classification cards for Wombat.
• Plan a post-Christmas picnic with my mum and brother.
• Post my brother-in-law's present which has finally arrived.
• Find photos of Wombat and get my 'family album' blog up to date.
  

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

I want to thank Tricia Rennea for the beautiful bird sillhouettes.

When my brother-in-law's present (a book) hadn't arrived in time for Christmas, I wanted to make a bookmark in a hurry so we had 'a placeholder' to give him. I grabbed some white cardboard (packing from a pack of singlets), traced the birds off the screen onto plain white computer paper and cut them out, cut two small squares of Wombat's favourite Christmas wrapping paper, searched through the old phonebook where Wombat and I press flowers and found some May flowers and buds, a sprig of spring growth from the Cedrella and one of the pretty, small blue flowers that grow as weeds in our grass. (A weed is just a flower in disguise.) Finally, I grabbed an unused Christmas card with an appropriate message and snipped out the words. I used small dabs from a glue stick to hold everything in place, covered it with clear contact and snipped around the edge with pinking shears.

I don't know if BIL liked it - was too busy supervising the boys to watch his expression, but I was really pleased with how it looked and am thinking of making another for Yeti's birthday... and one for myself... and one for my brother... lol :D Thanks for the inspiration, Tricia - I love your blog!

This is my first time joining in with the Simple Woman's Daybook. If you would like to join in too, you will find all the details here.