Tales of an Ordinary Life

April was a rather full on month for us - well me actually. Lots of days squirrelled away in the library trying to get my head around how to write academic essays and promising the kids and husband that we would get out and explore the lovely great south east Queensland. So we ended up at the Queensland Museum and got to see the burrowing cockroaches and the tree snake, Mt French with its amazing grass trees, Binna Burra in the Gold Coast hinterland and a day out with Uncle Jeremy. I think that is not too bad for a busy month.

A day to Remember, a day not to to forget, a thousand miles from home, a sacrifice many did not expect. Children stand in wonder, Adults stand in awe, Of the feats of men and women, so very far from our shores. April 25th is the day, We remember the ANZAC, That they fought for things, that will not make us look back.

It has been a while since I have dropped in here and written a post. What has taken up so much of my time that I have not found time to write even a few lines, well I started studying at university at the end of February. I am doing a Bachelor of Education in Early childhood Studies - this enables me to teach up to eight year olds. Over the past few weeks I have had moments of what on earth am I doing - here I am a mum with 3 youngish children about to embark on 4 years of study and it has been some time since I last studied. Last year I turned 40 and my youngest started school this year and so the questions started in my head - What am I going to do with myself for the next 25 years or so.  I had so little confidence in my own abilities that I did not think I would even get accepted to uni, I cried when I saw I did. So now I am on this very steep learning curve. I have spent the past 2 weeks getting to grips with how to write an academic essay and in the process I learnt that ...

 Saturday was a day of baking frenzy for me . I spent all day in the kitchen. I really enjoy baking much more than cooking meals. So my first effort was Bagels I got the recipe from a show called Poh's Kitchen and you get it here . This is the second time I have made them and I am super happy with how they turn out. These ones are a bit overloaded with seeds because Isabella was helping me.  Then I had to make a cheesecake for the next day. It was a mint choc one that you put in the fridge. The recipe was from an eighties Women's Weekly cookbook and there was a couple of ingredients I had to substitute as they are no longer produced. It turned out great and not too sweet. Finally I made some Banana bread - this is yet to be tried as it went straight in the freezer for an afterschool snack for this week. I got the recipe from a website that is quickly becoming like a cooking bible as it has different versions of the same recipe. So if you want to make something and ...

 I have been enjoying lately making bags for friends and family as birthday gifts - though they often turn up quite a few months after the event. This one is my latest effort and I have never made it before. It is from the book One Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins. All patterns only use around a metre of Fabric. This was my first go at this one and I am reasonably happy with it but I know a few tricks I need to do next time I make it. This one I made for a friend whose birthday was at the end of the year and she only got it a few weeks ago. This is showing the lovely lining as it has a plain yet rugged exterior. It is a pattern from Heather Ross' Weekend Sewing, I have used it a few times and am very happy with the result. I think I will have to make one for myself next - make my own bag of love.

What am I cooking you may say? But it is not cooking but my new shampoo and conditioner. I have been reading a bit about people going no shampoo and it got me interested. I have had dermatitis  on my scalp for years, the only time I have not had it was when I was pregnant. It manifests itself in a sore, itchy and flaky scalp. So my thought is what do I have to lose. I am not as worried about if my hair is too oily as many of my fellow no -pooers are online. For me oil is good. So let the journey begin. My recipe that I tried was 1 tabsp Bicarb soda to 1 cup of water and for the rinse 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (don't ask me why apple cider Vinegar but that is what all I read used) to 1 cup Water. I added a handful of rosemary (because I know that is soothing and good for scalps) in the vinegar/water mix and warmed it up and steeped it like a tea.

I have finally reached a milestone, my youngest went to school this week. I did not know how he was feeling about this momentous occasion as he had not expressed excitement or displeasure at going to school. Monday morning he woke up got dressed and proceeded to ask are we going yet - at 7am. So I knew my answer. I Was not at all sad as I have been waiting for him to go to school so I could start a new phase in my life - I am going to University to study teaching. He is enjoying school but is still wondering why he has to go to school every day-

So why am I only writing Happy new Year now well I have been travelling for the past 5 weeks. We travelled overland to Adelaide via the outback. It was one amazing experience and I just wanted to share some of my highlights. Pelicans at Coorong National Park, South Australia. I have wanted to go here since studying the book Storm boy as a child at school. We stood watching older birds teach the younger ones how to land on water and how to fly in formation. Emus on a salt pan at Coorong National Park. I love these birds and it was stunning to see them in the wild. Long endless roads. Not as boring or as lifeless as I thought they would be. Isabella in a field of Lavender in the Barossa Valley. She was so taken with these lovely scented rows. Desert Sunset - What more can I say. The Flinders Ranges in South Australia was Anthony's highlight it made him want to paint again. The ancient rocks and the vistas just are too stunning for words. The kids at Maggie Beer's farm in the Baro...