Friday the 13th

Today is meant to be all about black cats and ladders etc. Round home it felt like real life Scooby Do. Low flying helicopters bussing overhead. Lots of unusual traffic - police cars, SES vehicles and news vans. The helicopters were flying so low it really felt like you could reach out and touch them. Very unnerving.

Investigations led us to believe they were looking for a missing local woman who hadn't been seen since 16 December. I don't know her or have never seen her, but still don't like things like this happening around here - my safe little pocket - my home.

As the day progressed, the news got worse. What they were searching for had been found and it was not good. It was closer than I had thought - in fact we regularly ride our bikes past the area and had no idea of its gruesome secret.

By nightfall, the news was in - a body found burried in their backyard and a husband charged.

While it is terrible, terrifying and no one wants it happening around thier backyard, my heart and thoughts go out to her children. Boys, 15 and 11. Not only have they lost their mum, but they have also lost their dad. Words fail me - I just wish them Hope.

Time

Time really was on my mind today. For the first time in a month I had some time to myself. I was off to my pilates class and happy to get back into the routine a little. I had missed it. Not only the exercise, but the opportunity to be by myself - regroup and focus. The chance to have a clear thought. This year one of my goals is to do that more. I am a better person all round when I do - and a much better mum.

I was then lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet up with a girlfriend to wander the shops. Both of us sans kids - I couldn't remember the last time thats happened. It was nice to be able to have a conversation that flowed without interruption, but I was conscious of mum at home with the kids so it didn't last too long. I got a calendar and pens from a lovely friends generous gift and went home to use them. Now I have a lovely little hub where everthing should be organised from. With two little boys heading off to school shortly, I need to be on top of things.

Glamping

I was lying in bed, lamenting the non-existent summer. The news came on the radio - more mild weather, thunderstorms and severe storm warnings. This was not a day to go camping - even if the tent was going up in our backyard. The elements were agains us - but there was a promise made so I had to delver.

We pack up into the car and off to bunnings. The boys love the idea of a campfure- yet at most caravan parks it is prohibited so apart from Solstice they have rarely seen one. We walked the ilse with two small trolleys until we found what we were looking for. I even needed to buy wood in plastic - so terribly suburban I know, but when we got home we lit a fire.

Even the now light rain wasn't enough to deter them and we were toasting marshmellows on skewers. The sun even came out for a bit and we enjoyed sitting by the fire and playing out in the yard.

Then the other surprise - we set up the tent inside. A smaller one - with sadly no room for me, but a tent none the less. The TV was off and the sleeping bags out. Even the electricity was off. We ate sausages outside from the BBQ - the fire wasn't that reliable - and then finished the evening huddled around the picnic table playing games of uno and pass the bomb. All in all our Glamping (glamourous camping) was declared a success by all.

Away for Another Year

Christmas is officially over in our house. Today I gathered all the remnants of the festive season and packed them back up into the roof. I did however take the time to organise things a little to make it easier next year. Like things are together and the ornaments all sorted. It does feel good. Having been sick most of the lead up to christmas this year I felt I didn't do as much as I had wanted to or planned, a lot of that was because I didn't have the energy to find it.

Now everything has a place and of course I even have a folder of christmas info. I do need to get a christmas card list together as another year has flown by where only those people who I saw got a card! Whoopsie. I even wrote a letter!

The kids were entertained with the rhythmic nature of lego. I am loving this Creator set which has three levels of houses and cars to build - each harder than the previous. This is one of the first 'sets' I've encountered where you are encouraged to pull apart and rebuild....love Lego...

Backyard Soccer

Happy Birthday Hugo

A lovely evening celebrating an 8th birthday
with an outdoor movie night
thankfully the weather held out - and the kids enjoyed themselves
it is nice when a posse of kids can get along
and there were sparklers
Thanks Nay for a lovely night and Happy Birthday to Hugo!!

Sewing - Drawstring Bag

I love drawstring bags. I use them for everything. For keeping things sorted but especially for gifts. Often they are the wrapping, but sometimes they are also part of the present - as in this case.

Hugo got a Magic book - along with a couple of magic accessories - but every magician needs a magic bag..... This one is denim with a silver lame (I think that word needs an accent to change it from daggy to sparkly) H appliqued on the front.
The fun part it is reversible - and I managed to have the H look good in red zig zag on the bag.
Double thread with some silver china cord and toggles complete the package.