Goodbye

I am finding it hard to write the words, to actually accept that she has gone. My dear mother-in-law, pictured  with her first great grandchild, only a few weeks ago, passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, surrounded by her loving family. Even knowing this day would soon come, it is never easy when the moment  arrives to say a final good bye. 

Gone — flitted away,

Taken the stars from the night and the sun

From the day!

Gone, and a cloud in my heart.

~Alfred Tennyson

Twenty

My first born turns 20 today. WOW!

It seems impossible to imagine that my funny, cheeky  little girl is now an independent young woman, ready to embark on her career in the travel industry with an exciting new job.

A Christmasy Collection

 

 

It's all about the food, the home, the family, the friends, the stories and the love xx

A Beautiful Birthday

 

Exactly 2 Weeks before Christmas it was my Birthday, as it always is. December 11th to be exact. Sometimes it gets a bit lost among the hype of the silly season, but that seems to matter less with the more Birthdays that I have. 

source                  LOL!

This year I had lovely gifts (none wrapped in Chrissy paper)and a delicious dinner cooked by Mr M, including dessert. I had hugs and cards from my kinder kids and cupcakes to share, and lots of birthday messages from far and wide.
And did I mention that I am getting a new sewing machine? (*squeals)

A Sweet Collection

 

 
 

 

 

WOW, where have the weeks gone? 
There has been so much going on, at home and out, at work, with Mr M. and with my beautiful daughters. 

1. Filled with egg-nog custard. How can one resist?
2. Birthday cupcakes ready to take to kinder to share with my class tomorrow
3. My special "helpers" on loan from kinder
4. Cookies (2 ways) to serve during 'Grandparent's week'
5. Churros and special drinks with fruity garnishes
6. Love Date night (Mockingjay @ the cinema)
7. Waiting with a chai latte to pick the Ballerina up from  Katy Perry
8. Concert spoils
9. Early Birthday cake from IKEA
10. Ice-cream play dough- too irresistible for my kinder kids not to eat!
11. The sweetest billy buttons (now I want some)
12. Taking the kinder children to the local op-shop
13. Breakfast at my favourite cafe, and going back for my birthday 
14. first spray tan!
15. Under the sea costume, imagined by her, made by me!
16. Graduation 
17. Ballet concert 
18. One Proud mumma (and BUG!)

A Historical Collection

It was the loveliest weekend just gone. One of old fashioned markets, a crafty fundraiser and a back-to celebration for Mr M's family.

Friday evening involved a fundraiser for my work's relay for life team. I organised a crafty make and take table and had a lovely evening chatting and making with lots of lovely ladies and a few of their daughters. So many were (pleasantly) surprised that the old laborious way of making pom poms on cardboard was indeed a thing of the past.

On Saturday we visited  an old fashioned bazaar at a local town, which has been running for 130 years, and I suspect not too much has changed in this time. 
The vegetables were freshly picked early that  morning, and were crazy cheap.
The tea (which was extremely strong and hot) came from a real teapot and the scones were served on paper doiley-lined plates. The craft was of questionable taste, but lovingly made.

Sunday was all about 'Back-to -Yarra Junction'. We had lunch at a Pub that's menu heavily featured the parma in all it's international guises  (mashed potato and gravy topped schnitzel anyone?) We wandered through the local museum whilst chatting to various long-lost relatives. We had old photos scanned and I enjoyed browsing through albums of old school photos and momentoes. The Ballerina came with us (not because she wanted to) and I was pleased that she got to share in the remembering of some  of her Grandparent's History.