Too.......hot.......to......type........

brain's scrambled, enthusiasm is low - i'll return when the temperature drops below 35C.
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summer lovin

you know, i think there's nothing better, as a parent, than watching your kids have fun, listening to the squeals of excitment as the next wave comes in and seeing how brave they can be in uncertain situations. Moments like these make summer worthwhile for me.
cheers
l
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mmmm apricot jam

I really wanted to make apricot jam this year but I couldn't get hold of any apricots (well not cheap ones). But the other night, when I was right in the thick of getting ready for interstate visitors, and really too busy to make jam, my father came over with a bag of apricots. Fantastic! BUT, they had to be made into jam quickly. So, I quickly cut up the apricots, sugared them and left them overnight whilst I scrounged jars from my sister and the next morning, when I should have been mopping and dusting I made jam!

Do you know what I like most about my home made apricot jam? It's knowing that inside this jar is just apricots and sugar - nothing artificial - oh and maybe a bit of my sweat! lol

There's really nothing better on hot buttered toast!
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PIF from Granny Loz

Look what I got in the mail! Granny Loz has been very busy and very creative.

This calico bag may not mean much to you, but to me it means a 5% discount next time I visit the store and after eating the peaches and apricot coconut thingies I'm definately going back. "What peaches?" you ask - "I can't see any peaches!" you say - well that's cause I ate them before I could photograph them. mmmmmmm! They were delicious.

Inside the bag were these little goodies - a cute tin!

This groovy bag - which Emily and I were both fascinated by!

and finally

Isn't this bag goregous - and it was perfect for taking my camera and phone and water to the beach yesterday - all nicely zipped up and safe from the sand!

Thank you so much Lorraine!

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A little bit of paradise

Our campsite at Port Clinton (that's our white car in front of our beautiful tent!)

Sunrise

Sunset

I'm not really a camper - well I never thought I was. My idea of camping was hiring a cabin, with an ensuite and heating/cooling. But, the boys were keen and so last year we borrowed a tent and I went camping for the first time in probably 24 years (obviously I was very young the last time I went camping lol). Well, we recently bought our own tent and camping gear and we decided to go camping just after Christmas and not just any old camp, but we wanted to camp by the beach! We were so lucky that these people could squeeze us in as there aren't really any places available this time of year on the coast. In fact when I rang to make a booking for earlier in the week she just laughed - and when I asked her where else I could try she suggested maybe inland, very far inland! lol
Anyway, this particular spot served us well as it was nice and close to my niece Karen, who has just moved into her own house so we were able to check it out. And Karen loves the beach so much that we decided she should come and have a bbq with us which she did.


The view from our tent - just beautiful

Early morning beach visit

Here are the boys playing in the water. This beach is amazing as it's really shallow for about a kilometre which is great for little ones. But, when the tide goes out, it goes out for about a kilometre too - making it a loooong walk to water.

Karen taking photos on the beach in the evening.
We had a lovely time just getting back to basics - no tv, no computer no nintendo - just the beach, the playground and each other.
Like I said, a little bit of paradise.
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Christmas in Dutton

We had our Christmas dinner in Dutton this year.

Here's Louis playing with his auntie and grandpa.

Getting the ball out was a little pecarious but lots of fun.

This is where we ate with gusto, lucky to be outside on a warm balmy evening.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy 2009! May all your dreams and wishes come true this year. We are hoping for a healthier year, and one that is just as happy as last year was for us.

We are off camping and will back soon but until then stay happy :)

cheers
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