Day 22 - TODAY'S SKY

Clear and blue just how I like it! In fact, it was such a beautiful mild day today that I really wish I had of gotten outside (such a shame). Instead I baked these

Or to be exact I made two lots of ANZAC biscuits from different recipes in order to try and work out which was the best. I'm really not sure we could decide.

Oh and whilst I baked, she had fun pretending to!!

Day 21 - TODAY I SPENT TIME WITH....

...these two, Mia 4 years and Luke 8 years as we went on a shopping expedition into the city so they could buy a birthday present for their soon to be 11 year old brother. We call them 'The Curlies" :o)

Day 20 - SOUVENIRS

I have been lucky enough to have travelled to many overseas places over the years: London, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Nashville, LA and Hawaaii. During these travels we've collected some lovely souvenirs but I have to say that one of my favourites is actually the least prettiest of the lot.

This may look like very plain, boring old stones and in a way they are. Until you find out where they came from. These were the stones I collected and placed in my Ugandan made shoulder bag from the dried up river bed of the Zambezi River in Zambia, as our family of then 4, were lead on a guided trek. 

In telling this story I had to include a photo of the two gorgeous Zambian guides who carried my boys (aged 3 and 5 years) on their shoulders for the two or so hours trek. In what was an almost 40 degree day in Africa this was no mean feat. They were awesome and gave us the best time.....especially since the trek ended with this amazing experience for Paul and 5 year old Owen.....

(Devil's Pool, Livingstone Island, Victoria Falls, Zambia, 2006)

Day 19 - SOMETHING BOUGHT

If Hobartians had a uniform this would be it.....the puffer jacket. After seeing them absolutely everywhere here I realised that the puffer jacket must be the secret to surviving the Tassie winter. So when Kathmandu had a sale at the weekend Paul and I headed over and got ourselves kitted out. With it's light weight but warm goose down filling I can tell that I am going to live and die in mine! So are we officially Hobartians now??

This little one also needed a winter coat. Disney Princesses for her! :o)

Day 18 - SOMETHING FREE

My new infinity scarf!! Ok so I'm not really sure whether this counts as free or not. It supposedly came free with a $10.95 copy of Harper's Bazaar magazine. But the magazine itself was one of those ones that seem to be solely made up of ads. So I would never in a million years spend that amount of money for such a rubbish magazine. But I figured that $10.95 for a scarf was a cheap buy. So did I buy the magazine or the scarf?? Either way I'm happy!

Day 17 - SOMETHING BLUE

So the first thing that I found that was blue was my lovely teapot that I bought for myself many years ago, and the sugar and milk set that was part of an engagement present. I love tea! I am a tea drinker. But unfortunately it has always been a quick tea bag deal. But now we're in Tassie I've been trying to do lots of new things so one of which is taking the time to make a pot of tea, slow down, and enjoy the process. I've also been inspired to do this by finding this lovely Tassie grown tea. Support local!!

Also, I was recently discussing collecting with a friend and we both decided that if we ever were to start collecting anything it would be teapots. I currently have two but don't have my own kitchen yet, so maybe it can be a slowly built collection in anticipation of it's permanent home :)

Day 16 - SOMETHING OLD

This cottage, whilst not necessarily my favourite is located in what is probably my favourite spot in all of Hobart, which itself is in my favourite suburb - Battery Point. This cottage is one of the 15 original Georgian mariners' cottages built between 1847 and 1852. They are built in a circle around a small village green containing a couple of benches, two swings and three gorgeous horse chestnut trees known as Arthur Circus. I can't help but share more photos taken earlier in the year of my favourite spot!

Day 15 - SOMETHING NEW

Ok, so I realise that I haven't done a "something old" post yet but I'll get there! So for "something new" there's been a few new recipes being tried around here lately. This is something that's always a little risky as I never seem to like any of the new recipes myself even if everyone else does....sigh! If only we could afford to eat out every night and I didn't have to cook!! Anyway, last night's new recipe was this Roasted Pumpkin and Feta Risotto, and since it required a little white wine in the recipe then you have to finish off the bottle once it's opened right?

Day 14 - AT THE END OF THE ROAD

This is the view my boys and I see lying at the end of the road their school is on as we walk back down to our car. Feel like I could keep walking down and straight into the water.

Day 13 - SOMETHING BORROWED

Something for Mamma and something for Mia!! (although I did try to watch Mia's with her this afternoon but fell asleep :s)

Day 12 - CHILDHOOD

Memories from my childhood:

• running through the sprinkler on a hot day
• eating cola flavoured Freezers with a spoon
• 20c Twinpoles
• the marble craze
• playing elastics
• The Muppet Show and the Muppet Babies cartoon
• He-Man and She-Ra
• butterfly cakes
• Mr Men books (of which I still own my entire childhood collection and my kids are now enjoying them)
• Choose Your Own Adventure and Pick A Path books
• 1c lollies and 20c mixed lolly bags
• baby dolls, Barbie dolls and Cabbage Patch Kids
• Spokie Dokies (sp?) on your bike
• The Smurfs, Worzel Gummidge and ALF
• Roald Dahl and Judy Blume books
• Fat Cat and Percy Penguin
• cassingles and making a mixed tape off the radio
• returning old soft drink bottles to the deli to get money for lollies
• Mrs Pepperpot books
• chocolate crackles and so many more........

.....this post was just way too fun and I'm sure I could keep going all day!!! :o) Do you remember any of these??

Day 11 - WHAT I'M READING

So on Friday night, for the start of my blissful, relaxing weekend, we decided to snuggle up under some blankets and watch a family movie. We Bought A Zoo with Matt Damon turned out to be a really good choice. It would go down as one of my favourite movies so I thought I'd go ahead and read the true story by the actual guy the movie is based on. In this situation I am totally glad that I saw the movie before reading the book as I think there is no way I would have enjoyed the movie half as much. As it was, I was a little disappointed when I  discovered that the real zoo is actually in England and not California. Typical Hollywood. I would actually really like to see an English version of this movie. If Matt Damon can't pull off an english accent then maybe they could get someone else....Ewan McGregor perhaps?? Anyway, the real story has been downloaded on my kindle ready to go!

Day 10 - WEEKEND

I absolutely LOVE the weekend!!! I live for the weekend (which I'm not entirely sure is the best way to be). I wish that every weekend could be a three day weekend and the weeks only four days long (especially since Thursdays always feel like Fridays to me). When it gets to Friday evening I breathe a sigh of relief. No homework. No school lunches to be made for the next day. A sleep in for the next two days.....

So this photo here makes me think of the weekend and all that I love about it. The chance for unscheduled blocks of time. Relaxation. Not too much hurrying and rushing and having to be somewhere at a certain time. Sleeping, reading, watching movies, chilling out......Simple, open, slow.....bliss!!

Day 9 - CREATIVE

When I think of the word creative I think of this guy:

My middle son Luke, aged 8 1/2 years

Whether it be inventing his own game, writing his own book, drawing elaborate pictures or endlessly changing the characteristics of avatars on every Wii and Xbox game possible this guy is CREATIVE! Here he is at a Year 3 Holidays and Celebrations Expo at school today. His choice was to do ANZAC Day and that is his poster that he made in the background (the one with all the black and white faces). Oh and just to show how much I love him this Mumma could be found baking ANZAC biscuits at 8.30pm last night instead of relaxing in front of the tv. Now that's love!!

Day 8 - RED

So today when I think of the colour red I'm reminded of my favourite building in Hobart city....the old Savings Bank on Murray Street. First of all I just love this little row of buildings because they remind me of London so much. This photo doesn't really show it but the iron railings and the floor below street level are just what you'd find in any London city street. I also love this building because of the bright red awnings....though apparently they caused quite a stir when they first appeared! This building is now a private residence owned by some businessman from Sydney (insert jealous sigh here - why isn't this my house!! LOL!!) He added these awnings much to the disgust of the heritage people who were outraged at his additions to a heritage listed building. So a poll was conducted in the local paper (The Mercury) and it was found that whilst they weren't impressed, the Tassie locals loved them! I have no idea how he won in the end as apparently he installed them illegally, but there they still are and I can't help but turn to look at this building whenever I am driving by :)

(You can read the original article in the Mercury here).

Day 7 - WEDNESDAY

So the usual thing for me on a Wednesday is that I go into Owen's Year 5 class for an hour and a half every week to help out with either reading, comprehension or lately some rather fun science experiments. I absolutely love doing this! It's quite different being in an all boy classroom and all the boys are just so lovely. It's always fun! But this week I got a special surprise in that I was able to visit my little girl Mia's school and watch her do a half hour PE class. This week it was about learning to throw underarm and run in relays. It was just too cute watching 3 and 4 year olds try and understand the concept of a relay. Are you supposed to join the end of the line after you've ran? Does it have to be your own group?!!! Too funny!!

Day 6 - WHAT I'M WEARING

Hats! I am not a hat person at all. I just don't think I look very good in them, or at least, have never found one that I do. But when it is really hot and we're going outside I am forced to wear a sunhat to prevent my scalp getting burnt (ouch - something that has happened many times before). Especially now that we live in Tassie and the ozone layer is thinner here, even on a slightly sunny day I really need to wear a hat as you can so easily burn. But I have certainly never worn a hat in winter before.....never!! But I found this one recently that doesn't look too bad and since it was a particularly cold night it got added to the scarf and coat combo.

(photo taken with my big boy Owen who is almost 11 years!!)

Day 5 - OUTDOORS

It was cold but on the weekend we decided to head into the outdoors and do a bit of geocaching. We love bushwalking as a family and so geocaching is like bush walking with a purpose. It also enables you to find spots not far from where you live that you've never seen before. This hidden spot was only about 5 mins away at the base of Mount Nelson.

Day 4 - LOVE

My Mother's Day card and UV colour change bead bracelet made by my oldest (almost 11 year old) son Owen. I feel so undeserving of the amount to which my three gorgeous children love me. Though I love them about a million times more!!!

Day 3 - DINNER

So since it was 6 degrees at 6pm yesterday we needed some yummy hot pumpkin soup made in my Thermomix to warm us up for dinner. Brrrrr!!

Day 2 - OUT THE WINDOW

This photo is taken from my bedroom window. You can see Wrest Point Casino, some of the masts from the boats at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania across the road and some of the houses that reach up the hill. Blue skies today!

Day 1 - COLD

A first experience of snow, touching snow, snowball fights, making a snowman and catching snowflakes. It certainly is pretty cold stuff!!
(photo of my 4 yr old daughter Mia taken at Mt Field National Park)