tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5081761309949732912024-03-14T13:23:09.548+10:30Levin Loves to KnitLevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-26708786712611161982011-06-08T10:08:00.000+09:302011-06-08T10:08:55.010+09:30FinallyHere I am.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpHWrgfqA0OU3FNiDVoT0HUfOWexT1ryiLeyidrKno1P28jMhM-nLcpQiUzVGxmAkM1PZsWwoED0_EFuACyFB7d9nVVHlyNuNN5xnVba4K8Q6txJdphPvNOVI2OYyxEXN2fmZKS-H4v4/s1600/IMG_2934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbpHWrgfqA0OU3FNiDVoT0HUfOWexT1ryiLeyidrKno1P28jMhM-nLcpQiUzVGxmAkM1PZsWwoED0_EFuACyFB7d9nVVHlyNuNN5xnVba4K8Q6txJdphPvNOVI2OYyxEXN2fmZKS-H4v4/s400/IMG_2934.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJb0_NGHLPMAICEZ84tqAOTAHYKVaErdUtvjcV3m9CwlTBxZRHpjI9MVgJy1kJ90gY3ZP6SMp-Z-e2w2qVmunH7jPpJufPCKdA5U_zkgvh8IogUeaLS2ZMXpo9Cy4fHWfXZ15ubmENdU/s1600/IMG_2936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">In my new cardi</span></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span>What a year it has been so far and what a lot to digest. Where have I been....well, a couple of months ago I suffered a miscarriage and I have been struggling to blog, but to be honest I lost my mojo much earlier. Let me start at the beginning.....<br />
<br />
In early February I found out I was pregnant.<br />
Wow. 41, three kids aged between 17 and 7 and pregnant again.<br />
41, three kids and just started her dream job (and the horrible studies to go with it), and pregnant.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYB1Axb5BDqh1OY-pOaTkdOJDTkRZVvKMa_1opVzz4_WCtqlqHahvf18j4txncVj27O3KckyvRdHYoYhoft-r_cY5oAuPMeONgfe_oIKUkm4POgeWXoF-rIqbMhcHTTgZMLUrJeK-Huk/s1600/IMG_2940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYB1Axb5BDqh1OY-pOaTkdOJDTkRZVvKMa_1opVzz4_WCtqlqHahvf18j4txncVj27O3KckyvRdHYoYhoft-r_cY5oAuPMeONgfe_oIKUkm4POgeWXoF-rIqbMhcHTTgZMLUrJeK-Huk/s400/IMG_2940.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Another new cardi - <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tappan-zee-cardigan">Tappan Zee</a></span></div>Honestly, initially I was devastated. I mean we have never managed to get into a strong financial position, we are still renting a house, still paying off a car, still pouring all our income into daily living. But working took the burden off a little and it was a relief. And yet it would stop because of a new baby.<br />
<br />
After a big long talk with David, and telling the kids, my fears were allayed some. I mean having another baby was not the worst thing that could happen to us.<br />
Still it took some time to digest. And I was tired.....boy was I tired.....and scared. Scared to give birth again - not that any of my births were bad - scared to be a mother again - scared about .... well everything. But the kids were so excited, and our families and friends were so excited and slowly but surely I got excited too - once I put down the birthing books.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKrXJfelJ3ZdgsZZFBr6inbHBxt1aySMpxswW2io74M6ZEXfVZgeIWYYxGq9syWtlJ-re3cbVYPCtEugj2ALSH4Uhg4aJo7VOmDk23d4p20FhxojbXLOZiS1s3DxsNGO7Xl1qHkQP7kQ/s1600/IMG_2931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKrXJfelJ3ZdgsZZFBr6inbHBxt1aySMpxswW2io74M6ZEXfVZgeIWYYxGq9syWtlJ-re3cbVYPCtEugj2ALSH4Uhg4aJo7VOmDk23d4p20FhxojbXLOZiS1s3DxsNGO7Xl1qHkQP7kQ/s400/IMG_2931.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mother's day chrysanthenums</span></div>I had just got to the point where I was even feeling happy about it when all of a sudden I was filled with doubts. What if something went wrong. Why do I feel so detatched and negative about this pregnancy. Once I hit the 12 week mark, I intended to blog about it, but I always made excuses not to. I started questioning whether it was because I was older, and more scared, or whether it was mother's instinct - my body telling me all was not well. I discussed these feelings with a close friend, and then my mother and whilst my head felt reassured, my heart didn't quite get there. <br />
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24 hours later I started bleeding and 18 hours after that I had lost my baby.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhMe8mhsdcijjj6HDB3PVpKra36VXqPDkMjwoiLcSMSgbpKj-yis8y_5VBqgpjgXzsKxrl9o0jUfbfAmOBZ1l1uy-r3yU6Tg_uFzFGc2ddjyKFxun38eCH674oL3SEOtyEMRFMYsM9Kc/s1600/IMG_2881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWhMe8mhsdcijjj6HDB3PVpKra36VXqPDkMjwoiLcSMSgbpKj-yis8y_5VBqgpjgXzsKxrl9o0jUfbfAmOBZ1l1uy-r3yU6Tg_uFzFGc2ddjyKFxun38eCH674oL3SEOtyEMRFMYsM9Kc/s400/IMG_2881.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Summer rain - so much fun!</span></div>Miscarriage is such a sad thing to go through. My baby had never really developed properly - it was never meant to be. But I still had all those feelings of guilt ... "was it because I was so negative", "did I do something wrong". Truth is that things had gone wrong before I even knew I was pregnant, so the short answer is 'no' I didn't do anything to make this happen. But at 14 weeks, I felt very, very sad.<br />
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Since that time I have come to realise that I have a wonderful life, three beautiful children, a gorgeous husband and a great job. To quote a favourite blogger... I am a 'familionaire'. rich with family and love.<br />
Life has returned to normal, and in all honesty, I had all that I needed before I got pregnant, I didn't need another baby to make my life complete. It would have been nice, but not necessary.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBlN4sOINR9Q9SsMr0tjHYZ5GL6xenoWds2IM_RoaLGh3WJG7kJ_20xNg5MtMuc0OrCYlAPUOE72Aska5BxWq7fl2EIS95RFZur-pZdniMpafW5w8X9U-VE3RlZRb__WZqOLs7PNeknU/s1600/IMG_2935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBlN4sOINR9Q9SsMr0tjHYZ5GL6xenoWds2IM_RoaLGh3WJG7kJ_20xNg5MtMuc0OrCYlAPUOE72Aska5BxWq7fl2EIS95RFZur-pZdniMpafW5w8X9U-VE3RlZRb__WZqOLs7PNeknU/s400/IMG_2935.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lady-kina">Lady Kina</a> - a wonderfully easy knit on ravelry</span></div>I have spent the last six weeks or so catching up on all that fell by the wayside over the previous 3 1/2 months and finally here I am. And I seem to have put all my energy into (catching up with study, and) KNITTING!! By my standards I have been prolific - four scarves/shawls and almost two cardigans. So there is an upside to everything.<br />
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Hopefully I will post more often, but to be honest, with work and study and kids and knitting, blogging may not happen as often. But I still read all your blogs, and I still think of you lots :) and I wanted to share this journey with you because I you are my friends.<br />
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L<br />
xLevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-18268197088261903102011-01-14T10:11:00.000+10:302011-01-14T10:11:19.483+10:30Holiday Craft<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">Come holiday time, it can sometimes be difficult to find things to do with the kids but today the boys are being very industrious.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uDZkUOoqTmUxE8jYuUDVr-k1mMfRlhtBZQ0wUnw1bJY_1-9UyFLSdAspf_ZKKwfj3GeZ0Fr_SCPBCNXByybpeGOzM0S1GEKrg85-r5k3fIb_cYjk1401jH88Ua9ehY14hTk9JpdXMOc/s1600/IMG_2872.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7uDZkUOoqTmUxE8jYuUDVr-k1mMfRlhtBZQ0wUnw1bJY_1-9UyFLSdAspf_ZKKwfj3GeZ0Fr_SCPBCNXByybpeGOzM0S1GEKrg85-r5k3fIb_cYjk1401jH88Ua9ehY14hTk9JpdXMOc/s640/IMG_2872.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Louis is using fabric scraps to cover a box that he painted a few years ago. The box is still good, but as he likes to point out "the painting isn't that good, cause I did it when I was a kid".....I'm not sure where he sees himself in the scheme of things, but in my eyes he's definitely not an adult. Although he regularly disagrees - as far as he's concerned he can do whatever he wants to......hmmm </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7fiQfP_qkbSt83ZQsrgYvOD4O3Xx1x3GhWE-muMppxDYFD3zY10xBYviJuZms2hbWx-xg0q748gcVrw5NzZsyG4M5tFOhLhvVnBDJzvMk2s0-0rtr4FURspv_YLeQjdd7wbrjja2yT4/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7fiQfP_qkbSt83ZQsrgYvOD4O3Xx1x3GhWE-muMppxDYFD3zY10xBYviJuZms2hbWx-xg0q748gcVrw5NzZsyG4M5tFOhLhvVnBDJzvMk2s0-0rtr4FURspv_YLeQjdd7wbrjja2yT4/s640/IMG_2873.JPG" width="480" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, back to the post - he's using the scraps from the Japanese quilt I made him. He's taking his time and being quite meticulous. Once it's covered we are going to lacquer it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIuTw-W9dJkqmsZE0HIEBDKsYZSEhhvHhyphenhyphenOOTe3E_9VbM23tP8dYn5CerSSCDBG19Rf2QZDEvZZTbCex8d1yNs2yN8kB8uoQApJ-fXl0ZnfiPnNskXftsPN62VY_GF-7M7G7ZucDngRQ/s1600/IMG_2874.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIuTw-W9dJkqmsZE0HIEBDKsYZSEhhvHhyphenhyphenOOTe3E_9VbM23tP8dYn5CerSSCDBG19Rf2QZDEvZZTbCex8d1yNs2yN8kB8uoQApJ-fXl0ZnfiPnNskXftsPN62VY_GF-7M7G7ZucDngRQ/s640/IMG_2874.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Julian has slowly been collecting Scheich knights and last week he bought this dragon. As we all know, every dragon should have a cave so he started making one and is now sitting down to paint it :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Which means I have time to get on the computer and blog about it and then hopefully I will also have enough time to pin my table runner together so I can start quilting today - yipee! That will mean another project finished.....one of many ufo's I seem to have stashed everywhere.....that's the trouble with spring cleaning - it unearths a multitude of sins ;-)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cheers</div><div style="text-align: center;">l</div><div style="text-align: center;">x</div><br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-50427539487930030402011-01-05T19:32:00.001+10:302011-01-05T19:34:16.974+10:30Sometimes you are never too old<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifA6K6MWVtoRdUAA4ZvulnZcAyfa3vnmZ_wB-M2AtYAXMYewz-Qq3XYBbKcUhH3u6K_yySqd0srdFfQZ_QTzUvAKpQNY3jLt9bIGuF0dxADT-AF8AQsz4ZVoyhK5qZzLVO8cTAtrYOySQ/s1600/IMG_2857.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifA6K6MWVtoRdUAA4ZvulnZcAyfa3vnmZ_wB-M2AtYAXMYewz-Qq3XYBbKcUhH3u6K_yySqd0srdFfQZ_QTzUvAKpQNY3jLt9bIGuF0dxADT-AF8AQsz4ZVoyhK5qZzLVO8cTAtrYOySQ/s400/IMG_2857.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We had to buy a new washing machine the other day. Isn't it typical - two days after Christmas ours broke down :(</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5dsaYNhPGcJ4K2l87nIrQodCttdiKkvPhlN2wCJRhpArBeSX_fUuP8nuowNPPnCmFxGtJuQ0utw3FDb3iM2gL9BS-9sw_hbCpA4Ng-omcKGfqj8JN1XUk2LazLk-OMRzDfFhh7Uqe7M/s1600/IMG_2858.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5dsaYNhPGcJ4K2l87nIrQodCttdiKkvPhlN2wCJRhpArBeSX_fUuP8nuowNPPnCmFxGtJuQ0utw3FDb3iM2gL9BS-9sw_hbCpA4Ng-omcKGfqj8JN1XUk2LazLk-OMRzDfFhh7Uqe7M/s400/IMG_2858.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">A lovely man came to deliver and install it and as part of the service he took the old one away. He left all the rubbish though and it got me thinking how a few years ago the box would have been so much fun for the boys but I was pretty sure they wouldn't be interested in it now.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC93B0hWP6O8CjppQKR2TUCwY1UpVzKYUwCbkt_QtD1HMnLsFuOEPJStu_b1-nzBVLoO6tIN_hr7S2AigDe7lGRwI4nE6a0sEaVRxdPQyyKqWPobGLDfZSFK3LDYR8CbryiIooH_BUJPU/s1600/IMG_2859.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC93B0hWP6O8CjppQKR2TUCwY1UpVzKYUwCbkt_QtD1HMnLsFuOEPJStu_b1-nzBVLoO6tIN_hr7S2AigDe7lGRwI4nE6a0sEaVRxdPQyyKqWPobGLDfZSFK3LDYR8CbryiIooH_BUJPU/s400/IMG_2859.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Think again......<br />
not only the six year old, but the nine year old have both had so much fun (and so many arguments) with this box. They asked if perhaps we could buy something else big to get another box.....<br />
and where were their Christmas presents???? Safely tucked away in their room, not being played with!!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">l</div><div style="text-align: center;">x</div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-71346912421008556962011-01-04T10:13:00.001+10:302011-01-04T10:21:12.194+10:30Happy New Year<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmsG9im3CQkdU9WLiDdh3Wm6RWzm9rbV6slg0YVTw1QK7t24iEhwkm_nCMUx6s3uRf9Zyz3XAM9ZIgo9BEQgm-Tw1z8u4Vwucwxl4hWITrjEMh5XDCor35DAn7Vnrtc0CfSrRrYH8Ioc/s1600/IMG_2845.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmsG9im3CQkdU9WLiDdh3Wm6RWzm9rbV6slg0YVTw1QK7t24iEhwkm_nCMUx6s3uRf9Zyz3XAM9ZIgo9BEQgm-Tw1z8u4Vwucwxl4hWITrjEMh5XDCor35DAn7Vnrtc0CfSrRrYH8Ioc/s400/IMG_2845.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">For as long as I can remember my mum and dad hosted New Year's Eve parties. There was always lots of people - adults and kids - and the night was spent playing board games and chatting and generally having fun. I remember as a kid having so much fun running around in the dark and staying up really late!!<br />
Lately though, there have been less family as they are growing up and doing their own things, and the friends that used to come have moved on or away......And mum and dad are no longer up to hosting the parties.....so I've taken it upon myself to revive the days of old and keep the tradition going. </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oL1YR6IHIma26iPcset8K9QXULrrNX8vSJiwPC4xFPF5pWHaS6o0yQzuAXdhGjAh7qV0hhRnEvkOifs7ZD-lCKW07DUmYIxeyQLaQJhcJ_hZtuusQQhM6F9Z-KEbBrtyWV2u2z-RGwM/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oL1YR6IHIma26iPcset8K9QXULrrNX8vSJiwPC4xFPF5pWHaS6o0yQzuAXdhGjAh7qV0hhRnEvkOifs7ZD-lCKW07DUmYIxeyQLaQJhcJ_hZtuusQQhM6F9Z-KEbBrtyWV2u2z-RGwM/s400/IMG_2846.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's Louis with the big stack of board games (just a few that we own). We tidied up the garden, lit the lanterns and got ready for a little gathering. We were lucky that a cool change blew through, dropping temperatures from the high 30's to the 20's. </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpfvLARbAw3EkT1rfjatGZ6qUEW1ETGSdxpYZZfbZmwdOEiNlKSZttzgeO3MVxLPFgAMFBhP5QQBX1OREwpTqeHtZ4RRBLeUHVPoLSoV6sD0D8DkeB0g_1CigH24HQDsuZ6rHxQvmspY/s1600/IMG_2847.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpfvLARbAw3EkT1rfjatGZ6qUEW1ETGSdxpYZZfbZmwdOEiNlKSZttzgeO3MVxLPFgAMFBhP5QQBX1OREwpTqeHtZ4RRBLeUHVPoLSoV6sD0D8DkeB0g_1CigH24HQDsuZ6rHxQvmspY/s400/IMG_2847.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the little nook where my dad settled himself until the sun went down. I love this spot in the garden - it's gorgeous on those really hot mornings when you take your breakfast outside and sit in the shade of those vines........</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr57pG4QZIrKzcw1Yskjoxb4yJvdQAqwI7YUAwSRxQ-LSZtBGYyrQwPfkFtDmSZN5HUb56qjClcVHQDbSTZZGPFrankNLElaVMKouTVaav1eqDI8nd-iSesrasG2FhMTDUMFqncCTg7yA/s1600/IMG_2848.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr57pG4QZIrKzcw1Yskjoxb4yJvdQAqwI7YUAwSRxQ-LSZtBGYyrQwPfkFtDmSZN5HUb56qjClcVHQDbSTZZGPFrankNLElaVMKouTVaav1eqDI8nd-iSesrasG2FhMTDUMFqncCTg7yA/s400/IMG_2848.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here we are at night, enjoying a few games......there still weren't many of us but at the end of the evening we decided it was so much fun we will make sure to invite more next year.<br />
<br />
Part of the tradition of New Year's is to eat <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliebol">Oliebollen</a> - a dutch treat reserved for this occasion. I remember when I was growing up that my dad would spend the whole day making them - usually in 40C heat! He would sit under the grapevines with a deep fryer and I would love to watch him do it. These days he doesn't make as many but we still love them so he makes us a few :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year my friends - I hope that 2011 brings much joy and happiness your way</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">l</div><div style="text-align: center;">x</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-65730081491392257512010-12-26T11:27:00.001+10:302010-12-26T11:53:50.399+10:30A gift from DaisyChain<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> In amongst the chaos that was Christmas, when I was up to my elbows in cookie dough, a parcel came for me. <br />
Louis was convinced it was for him!</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCENES2aoV3oMYWioQpY845gQjNAiXInf5Z_WQas9ZnhuN8adfl-DndGKezRpX5CYUGWb4QJnW61DX1155CO2UAE-rIX_zdMY_LOi7AApPPL4jgE8qXNB_bvmTMqi_F3hDF3jex5aX80U/s1600/IMG_2828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCENES2aoV3oMYWioQpY845gQjNAiXInf5Z_WQas9ZnhuN8adfl-DndGKezRpX5CYUGWb4QJnW61DX1155CO2UAE-rIX_zdMY_LOi7AApPPL4jgE8qXNB_bvmTMqi_F3hDF3jex5aX80U/s320/IMG_2828.JPG" width="240" /></a></div> Inside was a gorgeous bag and cushion from the very talented <a href="http://daisychaindaisychain.typepad.com/my_weblog/">DaisyChain. <span id="goog_784547574"></span><span id="goog_784547575"></span></a><br />
I had intended to photograph it as soon as I had finished my gingerbread dough and when I went to find it I discovered this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2Mw_lZXDSJCtHEbwVDBgjZTSBQ49uQaJPG9Hze5RSIbmM0RL61P2dr-YnmB9t1B_LplacTJucUFoKzxW2sOT_0s_25SqK70frH5hfQsx7Tb6jFYCbiheiwc5_vzR2CvQaQ_ZxjjtsCQ/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2Mw_lZXDSJCtHEbwVDBgjZTSBQ49uQaJPG9Hze5RSIbmM0RL61P2dr-YnmB9t1B_LplacTJucUFoKzxW2sOT_0s_25SqK70frH5hfQsx7Tb6jFYCbiheiwc5_vzR2CvQaQ_ZxjjtsCQ/s400/IMG_2830.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
How can you argue with that?<br />
Louis might think it is his pillow, but I know better ;-)<br />
Thank you Jenny :)<br />
l<br />
x<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-64028626724718245912010-12-25T09:20:00.001+10:302010-12-25T09:25:57.657+10:30Merry Christmas to all<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGxOMR9CpuHVqxH_9Fwbxbz7Lw4SXTHUGIIe_ET1C68mWemfs84RUrxXx9uVK4E6kkYfyyf0RVxKbMdjQ8WhqW7egOAFnivsIFB6jTpta9FZSlXUUfSJP3cDzB5eHXrK8i7MLeolyEeY/s1600/IMGP0936.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGxOMR9CpuHVqxH_9Fwbxbz7Lw4SXTHUGIIe_ET1C68mWemfs84RUrxXx9uVK4E6kkYfyyf0RVxKbMdjQ8WhqW7egOAFnivsIFB6jTpta9FZSlXUUfSJP3cDzB5eHXrK8i7MLeolyEeY/s640/IMGP0936.JPG" width="480" /> </a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">One of my favourite photos of the night - my beautiful Emily and her big cousin Ben. Isn't her dress just beautiful. </div></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm1KATzZqeE6dPzXpkjPQJ5XCAx42LMdC33UdNqwztJ91r-pf8stIT4vhgpBga4Cl_-EFX3UzwQPgHOajihISbE2GzmXAYduEmncgz1R6lophsK4HGD2d-9WBVhq3h8JUTjHQHx9OH8g/s1600/IMGP0950.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfm1KATzZqeE6dPzXpkjPQJ5XCAx42LMdC33UdNqwztJ91r-pf8stIT4vhgpBga4Cl_-EFX3UzwQPgHOajihISbE2GzmXAYduEmncgz1R6lophsK4HGD2d-9WBVhq3h8JUTjHQHx9OH8g/s640/IMGP0950.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Eagerly awaiting the present unwrapping. We have a big family with lots of brothers and sisters, cousins etc. It makes for a very special night. </div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MyG4DHCG7nhdsFKt-jqYsbJ5N2lPcYGHkPy3rrUc0j1HrtdntzpY26aRGNw3hyZa8IZj8Zi98zywI-2NWs3hFnDLHhsKK9TnWXUzQUX9gPCkraArRJWYgBH-oHsGREKxcLYBzjcKIok/s1600/IMGP0971.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MyG4DHCG7nhdsFKt-jqYsbJ5N2lPcYGHkPy3rrUc0j1HrtdntzpY26aRGNw3hyZa8IZj8Zi98zywI-2NWs3hFnDLHhsKK9TnWXUzQUX9gPCkraArRJWYgBH-oHsGREKxcLYBzjcKIok/s640/IMGP0971.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Christmas morning - what better present can you get?! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas to all my blogging friends. May 2011 bring much joy and happiness your way :)</div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYVgpOfphFYumCnamcuyVz0j4gDhiy_guUnHHdTYcR_6VSFwiFdBe0PhYTyoZv_clURHsN2SR53oC1XOQVger8hsppQBzDTnc5ZMlD9v-xhwA-oSJNDDCB-_VMURO-TJUZcJ8j2ZXjSc/s1600/IMGP0980.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYVgpOfphFYumCnamcuyVz0j4gDhiy_guUnHHdTYcR_6VSFwiFdBe0PhYTyoZv_clURHsN2SR53oC1XOQVger8hsppQBzDTnc5ZMlD9v-xhwA-oSJNDDCB-_VMURO-TJUZcJ8j2ZXjSc/s640/IMGP0980.JPG" width="480" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-87430014995126703172010-12-02T08:17:00.000+10:302010-12-02T08:17:52.583+10:30Changes...<div style="text-align: center;">There have been some changes in my life which have been all consuming!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is where I have been spending a lot of time lately....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fkOW3gxlyrt0kEqT9rBLkpXp2NsGn3pPzPs3glnc8nFF68ylVgqk7Vp1ttdClL6_qhT-YzUzcqWL8mCUTbCxwhuWsVNdTO3Dr_ZhzDOvhDVmR1SPPbEy2re3RbOS-6hyphenhyphenFUQeD9hgVf4/s1600/IMG_3797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzvJJZlJorqLNBhfqOEsb9_SUbAZm6fR43r3E9w1vdqCl3O4ROZ64kk31273kEZ5qQJC0zHmgqAFUiEPloggw1g_qSyy-EfVi1HYzbey1hKleFDvy9-P0ew-kzZyzWd6aGmccDjGOFb8/s1600/prospect+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzvJJZlJorqLNBhfqOEsb9_SUbAZm6fR43r3E9w1vdqCl3O4ROZ64kk31273kEZ5qQJC0zHmgqAFUiEPloggw1g_qSyy-EfVi1HYzbey1hKleFDvy9-P0ew-kzZyzWd6aGmccDjGOFb8/s320/prospect+library.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I've got a casual library job with the Prospect Library which has been all consuming. This is kind of hilarious given that I haven't done that many hours - but with my studies and my children.....and my desire to be perfect at a job I have never done before.....well lets just say it's all consuming :)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">But I hope to blog more soon - once the kids are on holidays and I have more time at home. And I hope to post about my knitting adventures and other crafty pursuits. And I also hope to catch up on all of your blogs - because I haven't really been spending much time on the computer at all :(</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Of course with the Christmas season upon us, there's a good chance you won't see me until the new year ;-)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">l</div><div style="text-align: center;">x</div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-74482624535417936442010-10-16T16:00:00.000+10:302010-10-16T16:00:53.088+10:30Our road tripDuring the school holidays I decided to take my boys to Kadina to visit my sister, <a href="http://dinekesdiary.blogspot.com/">Dineke</a>. Being a one car family (and David needing it for work), we had to take the bus which was probably the most exciting part of the holiday. Sorry, no pictures because I just wasn't that organised.<br />
I did however manage to get shots of the beach at Moonta: <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZCybxh-4SZ6kgusdtdKJecMDtUXRuvRwy4lf1H7iZrvJvybncHd38bLygM7EodFq13_NvZpXNKt9Zv2sGxXtoH7tF7HsIqJRVsX0qW68CWXhxqcGQriP3eIl3j1jlpJBJGLTcxfXuGc/s1600/IMG_2742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZCybxh-4SZ6kgusdtdKJecMDtUXRuvRwy4lf1H7iZrvJvybncHd38bLygM7EodFq13_NvZpXNKt9Zv2sGxXtoH7tF7HsIqJRVsX0qW68CWXhxqcGQriP3eIl3j1jlpJBJGLTcxfXuGc/s640/IMG_2742.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetWOAdFEVddCAQ-_jyf6OM559lCagWR8HeirIWOMnlBgoB8jmUIXDJKNZpvAwh81qD_0DLroFb7-kVXyVXOhV217zkRooiLIrVntt27Q8v3AQEAvh3Q5Ur6pZL5SXd51trmsMY9WBg1U/s1600/IMG_2748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjetWOAdFEVddCAQ-_jyf6OM559lCagWR8HeirIWOMnlBgoB8jmUIXDJKNZpvAwh81qD_0DLroFb7-kVXyVXOhV217zkRooiLIrVntt27Q8v3AQEAvh3Q5Ur6pZL5SXd51trmsMY9WBg1U/s640/IMG_2748.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> And a couple of photos of the boys and my wonderful mum at a wonderful little coffee shop in Moonta. We had the most delightful cake and coffee there.<br />
And don't you just love the boys hats - my niece, <a href="http://barefeetandafreespirit.blogspot.com/">Karen</a>, bought them for the boys at an op shop - $0.50 each!<br />
We were joined on our second day by another sister, Jo and two of her children. I love the way all of the cousins get on so well, from the very little to the very big. It's one of the nice things about being part of a close, big family. <br />
Kadina is a great break for us - it's very relaxed up there, no hustle and bustle - just slow and easy. I'm looking forward to heading back in the next holidays :)Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-39250774133387477572010-10-10T17:22:00.001+10:302010-10-10T17:22:51.837+10:30A little time for us<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">After 16 years, David felt it was time for a little holiday on our own. This was inspired by the fact that David has just started a new job and for a little while (we hope) he will be doing lots of hours. Having children spread out over a few years meant that we never really got to have a break on our own. Not that we minded really - but I guess the time was right for us to finally have a weekend away together - just the two of us. The only small problem was that the weekend in question was right in the middle of the holidays, right on a long weekend :(<br />
<br />
But, with a bit of negotiating and a lot of determination, we managed to find some accommodation for Thursday and Friday night instead (luckily David didn't have to work on Friday).<br />
Thursday was busy - not only was I packing for the boys, who were going to my mother's for a night and my sister's for a night, I was also packing for us - AND I had also offered to look after not one but four other boys - which in the end meant that I had 7 boys under 10 in my house (the neighbour's boy decided to get in on the action too). Not that I minded - they all got on so well that it actually worked out to be a blessing (much better than having my boys continuously asking if it was nearly time to go yet.....).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLyfly68XLOZlesnmj41gvScl4meIpBT0a_NK-gk3Fx6OQKBZN24cAnvDoa0MHYEVZx1N_DVLlJDTcOxvZgcvD1kX0qPGEOWDDUjN_bJz6qRuvVM9gdee4zlOVEp97zfxH55IcwgdxPEE/s1600/Image148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div> In my haste I forgot to pack my camera, so you will have to put up with my terrible phone pictures and you will have to trust me when I say it was wonderful. We stayed at <a href="http://www.vintage.net.au/">The Vintage</a> - which was absolutely beautiful- in the <a href="http://www.vintage.net.au/library%20gallery.html">library suite</a> (because that's what I'm going to be one day - a librarian). I loved all the books on the shelves - so pretty - and I didn't really bother with reading the books - I just gazed at all the different titles - finding treasures everywhere. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrfKLV9lJC60n_8tl4bfZMN6EHHaKFXX8FydmmfYKcqaYcrCJKWkIFdgoNxDOw7iuNHpK1sIwGHlO4X52ZxEGwW-vEYD3AJDrtbboBUkTg4mKRPQ3z3MBDQE5HHwQjLT39HPAJoU4m_Y/s1600/Image150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrfKLV9lJC60n_8tl4bfZMN6EHHaKFXX8FydmmfYKcqaYcrCJKWkIFdgoNxDOw7iuNHpK1sIwGHlO4X52ZxEGwW-vEYD3AJDrtbboBUkTg4mKRPQ3z3MBDQE5HHwQjLT39HPAJoU4m_Y/s400/Image150.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>the view from the front of the house <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgML55Qlc8-GCAnJqfAtdrHglMYKe_FM09QKk9Ru0T6ZLiNTzsS-6Ftp8neBhIcLBBz9Bd-svVdi02HuQeZKCmVgshAxiTF3VACoxkIctweQCPK8wFTqnPauiJXBoNOb7kle8ZT5Nagf6E/s1600/Image151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgML55Qlc8-GCAnJqfAtdrHglMYKe_FM09QKk9Ru0T6ZLiNTzsS-6Ftp8neBhIcLBBz9Bd-svVdi02HuQeZKCmVgshAxiTF3VACoxkIctweQCPK8wFTqnPauiJXBoNOb7kle8ZT5Nagf6E/s400/Image151.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>the entrance hall <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6bMwt8NAFDioCvKe4zK6dJjLznXGkjeMj-2tdyKOd21I2-0kWfkAaB-Cr5HRzF9kg3e-AYNaUJOiN4vSFWdzwWfyKSVnd4W1epj8JS0tsQtndh1nxTet-Ve9hlmACVIVO_qW3UbY_cg/s1600/Image148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6bMwt8NAFDioCvKe4zK6dJjLznXGkjeMj-2tdyKOd21I2-0kWfkAaB-Cr5HRzF9kg3e-AYNaUJOiN4vSFWdzwWfyKSVnd4W1epj8JS0tsQtndh1nxTet-Ve9hlmACVIVO_qW3UbY_cg/s400/Image148.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQsUckgWF77UDHY8M_0XdZG-63YQwCrcZQs4uBe9pJUlg6LtL9uF8XcSRRNWqDuLmTTsfv_9kSkFRyw3JiBrSt2igjOjhyphenhyphenkYRdYvygznW7o52lfXszKTN28rkpzGERvA-NSAEvWTKSww/s1600/Image152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>the Picasso print which I really liked</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a two lovely days of long conversations that were never interrupted, long moments of sitting in companionable silence - reading, knitting, we visited galleries where we didn't have to worry about the kids breaking things, touching things and we ate under the stars, with a gorgeous glass of 'just bought' red and some lovely takeaway. But most importantly, we packed up on Saturday morning feeling happy and eager to get back to our family. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZjCp0kiABTLd1h1QwaGiQLRSsNBSJ_ExV1-9iGf3u2lPeNEJIAwBzeD_jbKEtEBCxKfhfAQ4M1aGfrOHMRySsY9HvxuC11tyXri8-PUAzvFnzRDwQTfgUbdgQYlAZ3x06SP5shkhyhI/s1600/Image138.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZjCp0kiABTLd1h1QwaGiQLRSsNBSJ_ExV1-9iGf3u2lPeNEJIAwBzeD_jbKEtEBCxKfhfAQ4M1aGfrOHMRySsY9HvxuC11tyXri8-PUAzvFnzRDwQTfgUbdgQYlAZ3x06SP5shkhyhI/s400/Image138.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The lounge room (it was so lovely to recline on the chair and read)</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX9uA-hg_zoF3dKo8CKQwe1PK0jP-qbeqESpKF-JO9D9mU5ZAG-euNypX12ZAYP1Yt-eg0siHhZRjjsUISCzvlwk5eUzZRSQvJtob-_P6yIpoP8265vkm0sVIRIzQcyTMh2lq7u2nd8w/s1600/Image139.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX9uA-hg_zoF3dKo8CKQwe1PK0jP-qbeqESpKF-JO9D9mU5ZAG-euNypX12ZAYP1Yt-eg0siHhZRjjsUISCzvlwk5eUzZRSQvJtob-_P6yIpoP8265vkm0sVIRIzQcyTMh2lq7u2nd8w/s400/Image139.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-1442843178593235492010-10-07T21:50:00.000+10:302010-10-07T21:50:57.204+10:30Someone else's treasure pt II<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeUsVAuiT87GT2nMwakrh-J2VbtoBMi-q2XdyRH_PQQYod8VOwWGo3uCjdeKwMPOSOugcPgNJoLHhErccxSVgw7CTmwgVF8kT-vWWkr1bhG2ErHFgyuIbMg5Ig3putmvDs3it_1md8bg/s1600/IMG_2716.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeUsVAuiT87GT2nMwakrh-J2VbtoBMi-q2XdyRH_PQQYod8VOwWGo3uCjdeKwMPOSOugcPgNJoLHhErccxSVgw7CTmwgVF8kT-vWWkr1bhG2ErHFgyuIbMg5Ig3putmvDs3it_1md8bg/s400/IMG_2716.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">My sister used to clean for a lovely lady. Recently she sold her house and moved into a retirement village and as a result, we cleaned her house for the last time. It was sad to see the empty shell - the house used to be filled with treasures and lots and lots of photos - it was a pleasure to clean because there was so much to see. Anyway, when I had finished doing the inside of the house I went out to ask her if she wanted me to do some of the outside of the house. I found her in the shed and as I walked in I spied this beautiful sewing machine on the floor. Naturally I was beside myself and I exclaimed (read blurted) "isn't that sewing machine just gorgeous" to which her head popped up rather excitedly and she said "do you want it?". Apparently the only reason it wasn't in the bin was because it was too heavy for her to lift......can you believe it???!!! She told me it wasn't much use because the foot pedal was lost but I didn't care - this sewing machine would make the perfect ornament in my overly full house :) </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">I love other people's trash!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MKFIB9PGVCD-eFUTa1QAs6EVxsQbwjEnf4b_M-Oj-RuUlt8VRCswRYlScuDHN7K_kEnXVVqzKaRi3dPpP8fVjzHkhH-KMuNejr55nQqygkJN4QIOTgiBqdB3pFnuU154G1FoX9iXL8A/s1600/IMG_2718.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MKFIB9PGVCD-eFUTa1QAs6EVxsQbwjEnf4b_M-Oj-RuUlt8VRCswRYlScuDHN7K_kEnXVVqzKaRi3dPpP8fVjzHkhH-KMuNejr55nQqygkJN4QIOTgiBqdB3pFnuU154G1FoX9iXL8A/s400/IMG_2718.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, this is a pretty crappy photo - but you get the drift - they used to make sewing machines pretty - what a shame they don't do it any more!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">cheers</div><div style="text-align: center;">l</div><div style="text-align: center;">x</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhdmpVoB56IL3k0tlh0fssZbu8iBQEbTCYsx8r2g4P96Z6C-t5g162Zx2aN9qDc5CKtgS3oZwjDt8L85rqquSL8wfU2L9aRunSGwTeUPO0ll5LWNsRjN7pvEsH5XRph0nIqOsQKSiPjI/s1600/IMG_2719.JPG"></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-48760218160512024242010-09-10T19:46:00.000+09:302010-09-10T19:46:24.708+09:30Someone's trash = our new treasures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnwoAraE2ngl9Pz9UDCPKkOpaIoKMWjwUkTcV0O1W3VcEHE2xzLlxn1iXBl4DL45FjK7eycc1nOHfN3H-DcaKJbjrpnpxF0O22ngw0PNCddJpxQlSw_T8Is1frtJfba5ieNe5rznXi4A/s1600/IMG_2674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Yesterday I was running late for the hairdressers but as I walked up the street I saw some old cane chairs out on someone's verge. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I went through this whole dilemma of being late and thinking 'should I tell David about them'? 'Will they still be there when they get back'. 'Are they worth it'? I tried to ring David, who was home, but my mobile didn't have any reception which was completely frustrating as I was close enough to yell and he probably would have heard me, but I guess I didn't want to look silly. So, I ran back home and suggested he have a look to see if they were worth taking. Fortunately, after all that hassle they were. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnwoAraE2ngl9Pz9UDCPKkOpaIoKMWjwUkTcV0O1W3VcEHE2xzLlxn1iXBl4DL45FjK7eycc1nOHfN3H-DcaKJbjrpnpxF0O22ngw0PNCddJpxQlSw_T8Is1frtJfba5ieNe5rznXi4A/s1600/IMG_2674.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnwoAraE2ngl9Pz9UDCPKkOpaIoKMWjwUkTcV0O1W3VcEHE2xzLlxn1iXBl4DL45FjK7eycc1nOHfN3H-DcaKJbjrpnpxF0O22ngw0PNCddJpxQlSw_T8Is1frtJfba5ieNe5rznXi4A/s640/IMG_2674.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">So here are our new garden chairs on a beautiful spring day in a beautiful spring garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS33j7wfDfPzMO9ZoRBFiyyg2cV69-ateo1VoHWpTCtUmlBnn6ZsT22oV1ygU_gnjC-gb2tWBZtz8xU6f2pwLRly_HQdFUT_N4YYGtGugvSe1a047cX2gkhYJYFER75nNSCiFhR4_xEpg/s1600/IMG_2675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS33j7wfDfPzMO9ZoRBFiyyg2cV69-ateo1VoHWpTCtUmlBnn6ZsT22oV1ygU_gnjC-gb2tWBZtz8xU6f2pwLRly_HQdFUT_N4YYGtGugvSe1a047cX2gkhYJYFER75nNSCiFhR4_xEpg/s640/IMG_2675.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> I love the fact that our washing was dry and put away all before the sun went down!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaX0E-uxeiPe12iKJd7Kwuu12T7GwDDeSqTVOMEPvS2o70ppC7qyMa74rd4_m0poaEyjgTh7L3nN6l9zbCA5Wi5Us3eFZRpli8aAmpiZ0kMQOg-1MUG8QKa__AydKVxgTmC7ZSUQCg2E/s1600/IMG_2676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaX0E-uxeiPe12iKJd7Kwuu12T7GwDDeSqTVOMEPvS2o70ppC7qyMa74rd4_m0poaEyjgTh7L3nN6l9zbCA5Wi5Us3eFZRpli8aAmpiZ0kMQOg-1MUG8QKa__AydKVxgTmC7ZSUQCg2E/s640/IMG_2676.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">All those delays meant I had to power walk to the hairdresser, but heck, it was all worth it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMemW7U5n4dN0sQRCYAstLPzH38Ys4TlFFWIcP8Oo8JPWFry1YCZ3XV8R2qLOaTvJoC72FQw5_E72OgUEoniLDkz3k5weyAvkjEAyPDOSQP7PTR6bx0up7P8R8Gm_kNhYMoc4y20dZrwc/s1600/IMG_2677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMemW7U5n4dN0sQRCYAstLPzH38Ys4TlFFWIcP8Oo8JPWFry1YCZ3XV8R2qLOaTvJoC72FQw5_E72OgUEoniLDkz3k5weyAvkjEAyPDOSQP7PTR6bx0up7P8R8Gm_kNhYMoc4y20dZrwc/s640/IMG_2677.JPG" width="480" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlxH82k545Pb_s_ABf7LT0t92-bLCttYrgF0-PYWAuSUz01Es-N2G5XBZBPdvpB0lgY6X8vSuAOVjLqSIk6g_jUv3q6dgvQ3uD8mhxwOYA0at05GofB6Vci0WuNR6TIxpg82xZTDbe7s/s1600/IMG_2678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlxH82k545Pb_s_ABf7LT0t92-bLCttYrgF0-PYWAuSUz01Es-N2G5XBZBPdvpB0lgY6X8vSuAOVjLqSIk6g_jUv3q6dgvQ3uD8mhxwOYA0at05GofB6Vci0WuNR6TIxpg82xZTDbe7s/s640/IMG_2678.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Isn't spring just beautiful!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cheers</div><div style="text-align: center;">l</div><div style="text-align: center;">x</div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-14243103574273293262010-09-10T11:09:00.000+09:302010-09-10T11:09:03.734+09:30Winter warmth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-qBJs3KyuBCsOzcxKrJUUPK6PVp5XuwvvQ89UTMHf0vCx7-1ov2pBp8Yz7hdkvqZ9mnKbRN1S3MOqbAQggzOrRlSKb99ukHGwDVYMJadMr2IVOz1WDC7M3di-lqg8N98CURTN27qI5M/s1600/IMG_2672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's been a particularly cold and wet winter this year. Normally we get lots of fine days with blue skies, but not this year. So it was heavenly to have a little moment of winter warmth before the next lot of rain came out way and what better way to soak up the sun....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-qBJs3KyuBCsOzcxKrJUUPK6PVp5XuwvvQ89UTMHf0vCx7-1ov2pBp8Yz7hdkvqZ9mnKbRN1S3MOqbAQggzOrRlSKb99ukHGwDVYMJadMr2IVOz1WDC7M3di-lqg8N98CURTN27qI5M/s1600/IMG_2672.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-qBJs3KyuBCsOzcxKrJUUPK6PVp5XuwvvQ89UTMHf0vCx7-1ov2pBp8Yz7hdkvqZ9mnKbRN1S3MOqbAQggzOrRlSKb99ukHGwDVYMJadMr2IVOz1WDC7M3di-lqg8N98CURTN27qI5M/s640/IMG_2672.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>The three of us sat in the sun and read, whilst David kept an eye on the chooks who were happily scratching down the back. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's to more sunny days </div><div style="text-align: center;">:)</div><div style="text-align: center;">l</div><div style="text-align: center;">x</div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-59971733631312779432010-08-30T09:10:00.002+09:302010-08-30T09:27:07.182+09:30Escapees<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzjWi-fPKiBYa0vYFQZpU6irXaCpuHOxZobXI3pV1YFjc3X7xNjn81Cb4L-BqMBNe2TX7PVA4nI1p8z9ofrbg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div></div><br />
the other day we came back from kicking the soccer ball and i was typing on the computer when i looked up and found one of our chickens in the garden. i smiled - it's such a lovely sight......then i realised - 'hang on a cotton picking minute, we don't let our chickens out in the whole garden'. upon closer inspection i found it was not one, but all four in the garden - having a super time. they had such fun, and they weren't too naughty that we decided to do it again. it makes david super nervous - especially when they discovered the veggie garden - but for me, i just love watching them scratch around! there is nothing funnier than a bunch of chicken's bums in the air - and feet madly scratching away. <br />
<br />
l<br />
x<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-40072373273853962642010-07-31T17:13:00.000+09:302010-07-31T17:13:52.990+09:30<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISMDbdmfAhO9jQWngAZN5oX9WGOVw67coMFHL3vDVGw240W3sG0Rq4skwjPbLWxkYChTt0Yi20FEms1YRP7ciPqmslGg3g5hL7HjSSihmJYQB76-k8o6GdnBXQ1D3E_DOdE1zWu14l-U/s1600/bird+house+a+oct+05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISMDbdmfAhO9jQWngAZN5oX9WGOVw67coMFHL3vDVGw240W3sG0Rq4skwjPbLWxkYChTt0Yi20FEms1YRP7ciPqmslGg3g5hL7HjSSihmJYQB76-k8o6GdnBXQ1D3E_DOdE1zWu14l-U/s640/bird+house+a+oct+05.JPG" width="480" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">this is a birdhouse that david and the boys built in 2005. </div><div style="text-align: center;">we recently had a bit of a storm and the birdhouse was blown off it's perch and it broke.....beyond repair :(</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">so, david and louis built another another one using wood that they scavenged (david is a great scavenger). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">it took a little while to build but they finally put it up in the garden and louis was quick to make it cosy and comfy for the birds. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">the next morning we noticed the sign: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51MCxxMYPSb-_ZVUq895wKxbCy9daYlxnav342vkaD1_C_iFOT2QvMpwq5AP3jisCqUpB9FIvgFL6ePzWX7bJmYdfEPdGTR49JglFlOSQbEMLo8Wt6JZ2USitkk6ul7KrxZT9T7UKDpw/s1600/IMG_2645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51MCxxMYPSb-_ZVUq895wKxbCy9daYlxnav342vkaD1_C_iFOT2QvMpwq5AP3jisCqUpB9FIvgFL6ePzWX7bJmYdfEPdGTR49JglFlOSQbEMLo8Wt6JZ2USitkk6ul7KrxZT9T7UKDpw/s640/IMG_2645.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JPY0ZSqxEeyQwX3bE-E5hZ0VJ9zXwYFAU1ZFRKXiH_98xt1Vnk1yFw84CP57zZ1yYgc2cSINCQudncH0dcF40LkrQNB-Kwcsa4xl1mqZZg-CgahUy4Ojdgi4SsMCWPMmIwjBBuZGQ34/s1600/IMG_2647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JPY0ZSqxEeyQwX3bE-E5hZ0VJ9zXwYFAU1ZFRKXiH_98xt1Vnk1yFw84CP57zZ1yYgc2cSINCQudncH0dcF40LkrQNB-Kwcsa4xl1mqZZg-CgahUy4Ojdgi4SsMCWPMmIwjBBuZGQ34/s640/IMG_2647.JPG" width="640" /><span id="goog_1866789455"></span><span id="goog_1866789456"></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAGrbwwaRErl2zZ9efSN-DXGO6l14PMWej_Sn-kGiOog3exCStJr8otEaRyKMMaYS89HbI9y3KJylSmDFxjJVIBDHFjSi1fGrFaXWqTFkDPQTdnmu13JXXz51W2oKD0zeq4QIPu3axiI/s1600/IMG_2646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAGrbwwaRErl2zZ9efSN-DXGO6l14PMWej_Sn-kGiOog3exCStJr8otEaRyKMMaYS89HbI9y3KJylSmDFxjJVIBDHFjSi1fGrFaXWqTFkDPQTdnmu13JXXz51W2oKD0zeq4QIPu3axiI/s640/IMG_2646.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">too cute for words really :)</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">l</div><div style="text-align: center;">x</div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-20524748674821400932010-07-28T09:51:00.000+09:302010-07-28T09:51:09.683+09:30on my needlesfirst of all, i need to thank all you bloggers that i regularly read for inspiration, because, boy do i need it to keep me motivated. i'm one of those crafters who loves the thrill of the hunt - new project, new materials etc... then i make a start and then i lose my enthusiasm :(<br />
well, i started <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mr-greenjeans">this cardigan</a> a while ago. got quite far with it (far for me) then noticed it had not one, but three mistakes, so i pulled it out and started again. i was finding it very hard to regain my enthusiasm for this project but then i would trawl blogs and see what you guys were knitting and making and i would be reminded that it's good to persist....that the end result is what will make it all worthwhile. and that <b><i>i</i></b> could do it too - this is probably the hardest one for me to come to grips with - but i <i>could</i> make beautiful things if i try - i have the necessary skills, i just need the patience and determination.....<br />
anyway, here's where i'm at so far. the wool is from <a href="http://www.bendigowoollenmills.com.au/">bendigo woollen mills </a>- luxuary 10ply (aran) in the colour 'lake'. it's lovely to knit with.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqy7hWXIVS2272CrqjtKTEv4u4u8EivqHZy1-tHRUL1JN7x1RRpe15TXdaKC-jvSUlSS_I2ZLBwXKBK_eHmB4lu6N9uwjNKcy_D8iKXrIKxIEMPeXHFniLzJIhoTk2cGjn0qcHrlnotjc/s1600/IMG_2662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqy7hWXIVS2272CrqjtKTEv4u4u8EivqHZy1-tHRUL1JN7x1RRpe15TXdaKC-jvSUlSS_I2ZLBwXKBK_eHmB4lu6N9uwjNKcy_D8iKXrIKxIEMPeXHFniLzJIhoTk2cGjn0qcHrlnotjc/s640/IMG_2662.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>secondly i have to thank <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">ravelry</a> - for the pattern, for the inspiration and for just being there to remind me that it's all worth it in the end. if you haven't joined ravelry and you're a knitter or a crocheter or a wannabe you should join - they say the best things in life are free and this is definitely one of those things :)<br />
<br />
l<br />
xLevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-1353400345712501202010-07-13T08:53:00.000+09:302010-07-13T08:53:04.627+09:30holidays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We are in the middle of the holidays here and life has taken on a slightly more relaxed mood around here. One of the things I appreciate most at the moment is mornings like these:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETpDDOOZaNFpZcqbm38MgM1ey5-DmQZHUudgH2_311ew5r8VN0wXapOYClh5v3pK734e6csAqJI1AhrMG3zSO28fTJi1JihfgU4cubEFAwnx9aY5KhLrybqP5DND4plAD-dGvQ20k62M/s1600/IMG_2614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETpDDOOZaNFpZcqbm38MgM1ey5-DmQZHUudgH2_311ew5r8VN0wXapOYClh5v3pK734e6csAqJI1AhrMG3zSO28fTJi1JihfgU4cubEFAwnx9aY5KhLrybqP5DND4plAD-dGvQ20k62M/s400/IMG_2614.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>I love our mornings of lying in bed (excuse the bad photo) where we all read our books, or if they are very lucky (which they always are) I read to them.<br />
Recently there was a public holidays and at 9.30am there was a knock on the door. Someone that I had studied with needed some help. She was shocked to find that I hadn't got up yet and for a moment I felt guilty - especially because not only were we still in bed, but the house was trashed!!! Anyway, later I thought about it and I thought "do I want to be remembered as the mother with the very clean house who was very organised, or the mother who was happy to let it all go to play". I choose the latter :) Don't get me wrong, my house was cleaned up the very next day when they had all gone back to school, but when they are around I've decided to relax a bit.<br />
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So, what do you do after a morning in bed......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eVAk1LpW0k-AXwIzU31V6_TaP17BDAhCNpI3N9cXZ5tDs4YM8zFHnlYFTbr1SlaVSW9I__NyGXROKImkfSXh7CLraWJsSr7rpkNEApS5DZu0DmdJ1nebL4jJAP4yhWX-hUzpqZXVV0U/s1600/IMG_2621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eVAk1LpW0k-AXwIzU31V6_TaP17BDAhCNpI3N9cXZ5tDs4YM8zFHnlYFTbr1SlaVSW9I__NyGXROKImkfSXh7CLraWJsSr7rpkNEApS5DZu0DmdJ1nebL4jJAP4yhWX-hUzpqZXVV0U/s640/IMG_2621.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>You teach the kids self sufficiency with basic cooking lessons - today it's french toast and freshly squeezed orange juice. For the record, the eggs are from our chooks and the oranges from our tree :) and yes, I <i>love</i> that I can say that!!<br />
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Enjoy your day<br />
l<br />
xLevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-58981878341926286682010-06-08T16:25:00.003+09:302010-06-08T16:30:46.681+09:30holidaying....<div style="text-align: center;">we've just been on a little holiday. now that david works as a contractor, he doesn't really get time off but he had to swap shifts with another physio and it meant he had a four day weekend so we decided to go away.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">this is the second time we've been to <a href="http://www.council.robe.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm">robe</a> in the south east (south australia). it's a lovely spot and if you go in winter, it's nice and quiet. mum and dad came with us too - it was a great opportunity for them to get away as well. we are lucky enough to be able to stay in a <a href="http://www.rent-a-home.com.au/accommodation/sa/south-/robe/12550">friend's house</a>. it's a gorgeous place - steeped in history</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIBKQRYIOdenP2Ox3zArzvL87qksQvMN0YxLhqBUd3FTuTs2AF3F7zGG3HDt2fLqjB5p8KltPYz1FApAl-Pn3axfZ03v8S5CDy1WYHsh7_zoeQT6IBAqgH3WkCr8MURt5p8vFVF-GiaA/s1600/IMG_2582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIBKQRYIOdenP2Ox3zArzvL87qksQvMN0YxLhqBUd3FTuTs2AF3F7zGG3HDt2fLqjB5p8KltPYz1FApAl-Pn3axfZ03v8S5CDy1WYHsh7_zoeQT6IBAqgH3WkCr8MURt5p8vFVF-GiaA/s640/IMG_2582.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's dad and louis making pancakes for lunch.......mmmm. i love watching my dad teach my kids things that he taught me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUc5SODvGJBqkX9YzLhlXi9N4J3u9QvGdsLwJIsi7_j1rNUuNBeVJahmDvAZPsFzwF_oJ6BJ_J56HzCkiUXwp38Hs1gLM9UfJUb8lbtAqLd2iMHITvaB_xUBy0Dgj7jBs1WX0A3EFhmA/s1600/IMG_2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUc5SODvGJBqkX9YzLhlXi9N4J3u9QvGdsLwJIsi7_j1rNUuNBeVJahmDvAZPsFzwF_oJ6BJ_J56HzCkiUXwp38Hs1gLM9UfJUb8lbtAqLd2iMHITvaB_xUBy0Dgj7jBs1WX0A3EFhmA/s640/IMG_2584.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZG8jokutLtqjkiEBjck4BVStfXfEhw6IC-OEbxEeV7qgYBHX9Imop82IlcgvJHz4tv-ZdrS2s8ONVAVyJykecDK3tSfuspsEtuKN521KCEu4ZG6JuvV7Dz9ubSE-JaTJOalWIv1dsPbY/s1600/IMG_2586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZG8jokutLtqjkiEBjck4BVStfXfEhw6IC-OEbxEeV7qgYBHX9Imop82IlcgvJHz4tv-ZdrS2s8ONVAVyJykecDK3tSfuspsEtuKN521KCEu4ZG6JuvV7Dz9ubSE-JaTJOalWIv1dsPbY/s640/IMG_2586.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">and here's mum and david relaxing. mum spent so much time running around after the boys, taking them for walks on the beach, spoiling them with love and attention.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kY-hxYIt5dsWMRP8TFcgq-wRBg77CgYK17gPRxXkSUQa00FC_0Hiag18UiX5h1zp0_x3rlVsm93pTcvMsluflBqy4zaMpWrcxLaZ7YZQkr9m9wglMjbYRTQJ_kHP45tkTe9RiU8Pp6A/s1600/IMG_2590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kY-hxYIt5dsWMRP8TFcgq-wRBg77CgYK17gPRxXkSUQa00FC_0Hiag18UiX5h1zp0_x3rlVsm93pTcvMsluflBqy4zaMpWrcxLaZ7YZQkr9m9wglMjbYRTQJ_kHP45tkTe9RiU8Pp6A/s640/IMG_2590.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">julian and louis bought themselves cap guns and recreated old westerns.....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">we went for a nice long walk in <a href="http://www.australianexplorer.com/tourist_attractions/9001881/profile.htm">beachport</a> and discovered these dunes and and beautiful wild and wooly sea. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsA-VpoeAZcRuXbJ0Q5YrIaZ6Jv6oTXJX3yj1ylBWQ9LbkrCROTykhletdaAySPGY7iFlbK5TRertreFIqORJ7WqisGlf2YcWZ-CxcxWcufM4L1_00oHyg7oCgw_xECynv6URMZpuQqiE/s1600/IMG_2599+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsA-VpoeAZcRuXbJ0Q5YrIaZ6Jv6oTXJX3yj1ylBWQ9LbkrCROTykhletdaAySPGY7iFlbK5TRertreFIqORJ7WqisGlf2YcWZ-CxcxWcufM4L1_00oHyg7oCgw_xECynv6URMZpuQqiE/s640/IMG_2599+-+Copy.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVs37zKB3o86Gv_BzR_cLkPzIrU_nbVMT-F2pKjJUQVLjfgBb8GxhSbWjnG9RIYcXGQSpM6QitqOQygu3ao6UV6G_yJpmax2sJ7JcHd6kaFQoQRHFr4_cZhnIFgdP9Je-09sz6dNuwc8/s1600/IMG_2601+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVs37zKB3o86Gv_BzR_cLkPzIrU_nbVMT-F2pKjJUQVLjfgBb8GxhSbWjnG9RIYcXGQSpM6QitqOQygu3ao6UV6G_yJpmax2sJ7JcHd6kaFQoQRHFr4_cZhnIFgdP9Je-09sz6dNuwc8/s640/IMG_2601+-+Copy.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The boys had such fun with their oma and opa. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVuhOXslMRl8KT7QD6PSjc0f69E4NKoL02KZxfE43NGYtp_WX0JulNwuOZRXJRCDqtLNw_Z78BPx8osAwigGIE5A_LxabxBOzz7lpEUTxH9TixB-sErhOzz8OUgNCFYPrKyVKOBkWtd0/s1600/IMG_2605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVuhOXslMRl8KT7QD6PSjc0f69E4NKoL02KZxfE43NGYtp_WX0JulNwuOZRXJRCDqtLNw_Z78BPx8osAwigGIE5A_LxabxBOzz7lpEUTxH9TixB-sErhOzz8OUgNCFYPrKyVKOBkWtd0/s640/IMG_2605.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And we were rewarded with a beautiful sunrise on our last morning. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsA-VpoeAZcRuXbJ0Q5YrIaZ6Jv6oTXJX3yj1ylBWQ9LbkrCROTykhletdaAySPGY7iFlbK5TRertreFIqORJ7WqisGlf2YcWZ-CxcxWcufM4L1_00oHyg7oCgw_xECynv6URMZpuQqiE/s1600/IMG_2599+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtgKmyfJpRJw7KwCtnqfAX1kyu8p7TLYInIUXLJr3O0iEuD1RI7LssevSQn6nrGQt5hPu5KJtP6YySE3_KYUzdQtzFaY_GwgHvuOf1_Xs8KimQqH_jimPJrOkW1AWCGwHkbhO2T597XI/s1600/IMG_2608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtgKmyfJpRJw7KwCtnqfAX1kyu8p7TLYInIUXLJr3O0iEuD1RI7LssevSQn6nrGQt5hPu5KJtP6YySE3_KYUzdQtzFaY_GwgHvuOf1_Xs8KimQqH_jimPJrOkW1AWCGwHkbhO2T597XI/s640/IMG_2608.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">i feel so blessed to have been able to have this little break, to have been able to share it with people i love so much, to have taken a trip down memory lane, memories which are so dear to me. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">life is pretty darn great</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">l</div><div style="text-align: center;">x</div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-59014528305149809352010-05-18T15:00:00.007+09:302010-05-18T15:07:14.075+09:30I'm here ....... with pics!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7zNQYGfrQ0uHmMfnPuexaCQFGCdWKb_TkIpYSPiqu_hlnpopE7UH1f9E3uFODCvMitRkY2Z-Zs2jmKgK-1DZcgHhn98xiUCvTrM3pNEtLWdyRb4J8ETYYQJ2QWgs0jepfu_yarjpr6M/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7zNQYGfrQ0uHmMfnPuexaCQFGCdWKb_TkIpYSPiqu_hlnpopE7UH1f9E3uFODCvMitRkY2Z-Zs2jmKgK-1DZcgHhn98xiUCvTrM3pNEtLWdyRb4J8ETYYQJ2QWgs0jepfu_yarjpr6M/s320/008.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9E2JdpTlJDSHrmMt0kZqZYJieHFdM5GPTBr5sChPyaCb0of2gvANkAaLTt_eOkT0Ir-EVWaZ14RTkbYbEVKFi1g8PuwrcxIID72qNTyc853CmRU7BVL1ZR235L9fBXrIpee-rbKigi7o/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9E2JdpTlJDSHrmMt0kZqZYJieHFdM5GPTBr5sChPyaCb0of2gvANkAaLTt_eOkT0Ir-EVWaZ14RTkbYbEVKFi1g8PuwrcxIID72qNTyc853CmRU7BVL1ZR235L9fBXrIpee-rbKigi7o/s320/013.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Look what we found! It was so exciting to find my first eggs. It's amazing how absolutely perfect they are. I think my girls are very clever and I'm rewarding them big time with fresh spinach and lots of lovely seeds. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've been doing a little knitting lately. I guess it's because the weather has become cooler and the thought of knitting seems comforting. My knitting skills are pretty average - but lately I've been reading a <a href="http://us.macmillan.com/knittinginplainenglishupdatededition">book</a> which has explained lots of things to me and I've just been giving them a go. I mean if worse comes to worse, I can just rip it out. So, here are some of my winter warmers so far....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQq-foUgFqQn_pndkVoEE2s4JleqkA-8r4XqsPZVqRnyWTUVpTB5S0EX3mrNKmaqNzJzjJ1L28b_TVHcjEYl_XyHlMJlnHKq5L43Zc1cGaS3Poze9YH5E06PdloYy3eEfaFdRHdwGvVE/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQq-foUgFqQn_pndkVoEE2s4JleqkA-8r4XqsPZVqRnyWTUVpTB5S0EX3mrNKmaqNzJzjJ1L28b_TVHcjEYl_XyHlMJlnHKq5L43Zc1cGaS3Poze9YH5E06PdloYy3eEfaFdRHdwGvVE/s400/023.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The photo is pretty dodgy - but what can you do when it's just you and the bathroom mirror? This was a lovely pattern from Ravelry called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/windy-city-hat">Windy City Hat</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I've also made some fingerless gloves from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/delicate-dutch-braids-fingerless-gloves">this</a> pattern. It took me five attempts but I finally figured it out. I'm very happy with them - they were very easy to make and I love the cable pattern. Have I ever told you how much I love <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>????!!!! It's so much fun :)</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh8e0V9hkfItj6rCAcRVrnnLsZqQmp2z6AcxWn7xvrIXnDDrBWBAKwUviiKXuOHENRleO7YvXdpecV6TD2XdVNZ7olLNRctjreK0tEpylnppaGKaIcORyovlX6FF0-ZiJlcYyMPL9jLU/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDh8e0V9hkfItj6rCAcRVrnnLsZqQmp2z6AcxWn7xvrIXnDDrBWBAKwUviiKXuOHENRleO7YvXdpecV6TD2XdVNZ7olLNRctjreK0tEpylnppaGKaIcORyovlX6FF0-ZiJlcYyMPL9jLU/s400/016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-3922574600627178452010-05-11T08:33:00.000+09:302010-05-11T08:33:18.149+09:30I'm hereLife's a bit tough at the moment. I went to see a naturopath two weeks ago and i was put on a diet and boy did I suffer some withdrawal symptoms. For over a week I've had headaches, joint aches, lethargy, irritability and anxiety......<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>But, the good news is, I'm starting to feel better.<br />
<br />
This is the reason I've not been blogging - I was going to blog about a beautiful pair of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/delicate-dutch-braids-fingerless-gloves">fingerless gloves</a> I made but my photos all turned out blurry and I was too despondent to try again.<br />
I have been knitting a lot lately. I've suddenly realised that if you read the books and do what the instructions tell you, things work out (I have a nasty habit of looking at things and thinking they are 'too hard').<br />
I've also been spending time with my chooks - they are so entertaining. Their personalities have really come out now and we are able to hand feed them which is so much fun. I never thought that I would pass the time by sitting and watching chooks!<br />
<br />
Back soon with pictures ;-)<br />
<br />
Cheers<br />
l<br />
xLevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-12699668177515690882010-04-23T07:07:00.000+09:302010-04-23T07:07:01.726+09:30a life in study<div style="text-align: center;">Just before the holidays were lucky enough to get five of these: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HpMvn3-4WSbQAMs9LB_7_Rs1hGImV5GBXpwIOCtb0HNFVN9oQ-YwvuABDX6qFd-FTJuOgk1pMIZYm5aA42SSLIEEOl3LGwiFQfuh6OvWpklGsmf6ah0M-IIhbjN5_wc43-o4TXg5GOc/s1600/IMG_2421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HpMvn3-4WSbQAMs9LB_7_Rs1hGImV5GBXpwIOCtb0HNFVN9oQ-YwvuABDX6qFd-FTJuOgk1pMIZYm5aA42SSLIEEOl3LGwiFQfuh6OvWpklGsmf6ah0M-IIhbjN5_wc43-o4TXg5GOc/s320/IMG_2421.JPG" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX9GD6U7PQc-k2O6lm-IkZHL1Wz-tbFIbGGnWayOi6ocbGKrd9o91p6BC-A05K0h2Ah9rRAR4m5jkoVLpPzKoBva_E_tspV6OgjHHxtsDAF5G5QOKrl0Bef1tZBBuI8tkagnltzens-M/s1600/IMG_2420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX9GD6U7PQc-k2O6lm-IkZHL1Wz-tbFIbGGnWayOi6ocbGKrd9o91p6BC-A05K0h2Ah9rRAR4m5jkoVLpPzKoBva_E_tspV6OgjHHxtsDAF5G5QOKrl0Bef1tZBBuI8tkagnltzens-M/s320/IMG_2420.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">which formed into five of these:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3DHJioVEinpHCtaaMKVT3C1HHAjuCMjV1LBXo07uE0wHOcsNHmLtdjokEskY85MnTCGLUFfzQwGStoOATcE0fMnOaa1FCiaYn2QPq6TWylG-8btvHt6PLVMXJiPpiESDbxpJgiW6fn0/s1600/IMG_2464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3DHJioVEinpHCtaaMKVT3C1HHAjuCMjV1LBXo07uE0wHOcsNHmLtdjokEskY85MnTCGLUFfzQwGStoOATcE0fMnOaa1FCiaYn2QPq6TWylG-8btvHt6PLVMXJiPpiESDbxpJgiW6fn0/s320/IMG_2464.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6FA8rEBHNHppE3v7m8Lo4kwTbM6dDYYgoT_r4wm3kHOmEaSzH2shd4BM6uDybKtZ-RBJIcSEhqsUMx7YhbZd0Xd8kzEDuxFkDKJhUR42s5QtnkiyLDfN1n302yeEZ-aypIRgXeQuvw0/s1600/IMG_2465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6FA8rEBHNHppE3v7m8Lo4kwTbM6dDYYgoT_r4wm3kHOmEaSzH2shd4BM6uDybKtZ-RBJIcSEhqsUMx7YhbZd0Xd8kzEDuxFkDKJhUR42s5QtnkiyLDfN1n302yeEZ-aypIRgXeQuvw0/s320/IMG_2465.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">which became five of these: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy2T6M_nMT2Edl0coiesruQdsvLhVw6shCNkNxYbzSE4SOkD__KJAK93vSswL_wLAzvUDNP8zjzyzbuFTGOdPwtSLWCp0zuRAKVNdZF4PZuylHJ0OYWLvXL29uERvUGUjAnfIyfki3OY/s1600/IMG_2494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizy2T6M_nMT2Edl0coiesruQdsvLhVw6shCNkNxYbzSE4SOkD__KJAK93vSswL_wLAzvUDNP8zjzyzbuFTGOdPwtSLWCp0zuRAKVNdZF4PZuylHJ0OYWLvXL29uERvUGUjAnfIyfki3OY/s320/IMG_2494.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLska_mzBF_gnvHw-neoL2P0uJKaCYljXVv7vRzjWrSrM_YTMKHuyOSABT6UHaLy7IyjqnxciIW0WdjI9TMj79jOEb6o61JMKw28G7tF0ecq7R6KYPBrThdm0Z_sbKmXzVoCs8imqCdSc/s1600/IMG_2480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLska_mzBF_gnvHw-neoL2P0uJKaCYljXVv7vRzjWrSrM_YTMKHuyOSABT6UHaLy7IyjqnxciIW0WdjI9TMj79jOEb6o61JMKw28G7tF0ecq7R6KYPBrThdm0Z_sbKmXzVoCs8imqCdSc/s320/IMG_2480.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">And they flew away and lived happily ever after!</div><div style="text-align: center;">l</div><div style="text-align: center;">x </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-11346397590330256722010-04-16T10:30:00.001+09:302010-04-16T10:31:53.070+09:30and introducing Sabine....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The coop is finally finished - right down to the sign: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQjedWgtUlJX9ylFyfKapR82yWiMh5cvXY3NfOIKsrT4VtUUN9EkYAUvkVlVFzrLjR3bp7gA0H3Ej1Gr3uThgJ0vdsFl5-hui5EjU6899cf7w1RRnS1zCmWhoyp4LF1Q69yWiZ7sFsfM/s1600/IMG_2499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQjedWgtUlJX9ylFyfKapR82yWiMh5cvXY3NfOIKsrT4VtUUN9EkYAUvkVlVFzrLjR3bp7gA0H3Ej1Gr3uThgJ0vdsFl5-hui5EjU6899cf7w1RRnS1zCmWhoyp4LF1Q69yWiZ7sFsfM/s400/IMG_2499.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The chickens are very happy these days, spending most of the day outside foraging for food and being happy. And, we have introduced a friend, Sabine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX8hRchpbToqSe0IphcVzni-nTnPKN3v7HvlZR5MBf_Gkc6dUsHcMdrldhyphenhyphen6Vco4Bd739JQtx3x9D_ZmQwZogpE7oUzSMGaoJv8DRD_bp4zlH8Xq5OjQZmBSXCtOZY1H32hKGb5RlCOY/s1600/IMG_2498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjX8hRchpbToqSe0IphcVzni-nTnPKN3v7HvlZR5MBf_Gkc6dUsHcMdrldhyphenhyphen6Vco4Bd739JQtx3x9D_ZmQwZogpE7oUzSMGaoJv8DRD_bp4zlH8Xq5OjQZmBSXCtOZY1H32hKGb5RlCOY/s400/IMG_2498.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Sabine came from <a href="http://barefeetandafreespirit.blogspot.com/">Karen's</a> house and has settled in happily in her new home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She is the cutest little thing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8aGunHWXFDPjJtOLRoDpZpl2H4wNPN6tk22H_lifZ6RFTVm89uObsZgJTFA9Eqp84iSmlrdq_S28PJsPXaWdKfJk53d9u04jTEpb-25LasHRWXDjm6bQIq5rMO85-hPeSLpMKpTgOS0/s1600/IMG_2495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8aGunHWXFDPjJtOLRoDpZpl2H4wNPN6tk22H_lifZ6RFTVm89uObsZgJTFA9Eqp84iSmlrdq_S28PJsPXaWdKfJk53d9u04jTEpb-25LasHRWXDjm6bQIq5rMO85-hPeSLpMKpTgOS0/s400/IMG_2495.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> We hope to get one more chook and then our family will be complete.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm off to enjoy the sunshine and to watch the poulets. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">au revoir </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">l</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">x</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-44540980301994598372010-04-10T09:50:00.004+09:302010-04-10T10:04:47.454+09:30annoucing the safe and speedy arrival of our girls<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">Yesterday we finally bought our brand new chickens. </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">For months, David has been working on the 'Château des poulets'. He's managed to build almost the entire thing from people's waste (hooray for hard rubbish).</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnogLpIZDO5DfkiR4hAGSUVEWrLVJwk8QJw_2p2Hejo0gQbojBehRjhqHjBtCzINNrVFdxahQNgZogLqGAQmxLnY0kwvJPPKtt7jg6MRkJkhfb3AUj_lzZUoZcKI-8qADnx98Gr4cha4/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJnogLpIZDO5DfkiR4hAGSUVEWrLVJwk8QJw_2p2Hejo0gQbojBehRjhqHjBtCzINNrVFdxahQNgZogLqGAQmxLnY0kwvJPPKtt7jg6MRkJkhfb3AUj_lzZUoZcKI-8qADnx98Gr4cha4/s400/IMG_2470.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Meet Claudia (above) and Giselle (below) - our new babies.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclSBgR4GtGjnyDBxZZi99RRoJT0tV4B8TvZ3Hlt7jHKmMkW5NHroscY7WmuiIrqvjh1-D7mC_lDBUzhZl7UY8TAdHjMOdHUooEwkV5eqgpT1P09qJ-C-X3MTDMidmbFrDxI1fUxR5GYA/s1600/IMG_2471.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclSBgR4GtGjnyDBxZZi99RRoJT0tV4B8TvZ3Hlt7jHKmMkW5NHroscY7WmuiIrqvjh1-D7mC_lDBUzhZl7UY8TAdHjMOdHUooEwkV5eqgpT1P09qJ-C-X3MTDMidmbFrDxI1fUxR5GYA/s400/IMG_2471.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3vGjUD2MnKSKYrSXAYzfRBkoQti_bB3keGqptBxScNPXplYHK_w4lKj80AxdaLTF3c24hYlATBjRg33VzdyGrUzsfJv-j8ik2fixYSJut2l_ki8e8QqYECEkbJF84vp6v0jiCIJw_cM/s1600/IMG_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3vGjUD2MnKSKYrSXAYzfRBkoQti_bB3keGqptBxScNPXplYHK_w4lKj80AxdaLTF3c24hYlATBjRg33VzdyGrUzsfJv-j8ik2fixYSJut2l_ki8e8QqYECEkbJF84vp6v0jiCIJw_cM/s400/IMG_2472.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSrVLdmJ8ds0Pev-TmjK0m1rjiZKAGPmCfN0b9gvNhdrRbgrEIuiNeGzPePirsvorKxtrvVyAfSgy75_6Un8p7z66BZ3eFGSGkc18OcYo1aYtCjnfMUwO0gE7L9JMCsA_TxCqn_V0o7A/s1600/IMG_2469.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSrVLdmJ8ds0Pev-TmjK0m1rjiZKAGPmCfN0b9gvNhdrRbgrEIuiNeGzPePirsvorKxtrvVyAfSgy75_6Un8p7z66BZ3eFGSGkc18OcYo1aYtCjnfMUwO0gE7L9JMCsA_TxCqn_V0o7A/s400/IMG_2469.JPG" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpg1A97QxkLotx0wnz4gQuJoHrxRpxDld8e9GiDaeoXQcHWnM2Uv8IQmWtKLXd2bQuALkEmwdNvizg-v6CxojL0QRP4RMkrKXGanaTB3wfupAogUMesxI9Ie584lizVgbt8ovBYl8Aw0/s1600/IMG_2476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpg1A97QxkLotx0wnz4gQuJoHrxRpxDld8e9GiDaeoXQcHWnM2Uv8IQmWtKLXd2bQuALkEmwdNvizg-v6CxojL0QRP4RMkrKXGanaTB3wfupAogUMesxI9Ie584lizVgbt8ovBYl8Aw0/s400/IMG_2476.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The boys have been having so much fun with them trying desperately to make friends with them.<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrthfIgu9uE4wjOmqUXtyPfVOLLf9n2qDIvYyIZj8kKm7Ax8SdgV7tCQmQG3mhPEVq8cBN2GcNcNHHKk1rEsx5tRsZXB3XJ6tMSxfMuA0m4jAsVV2gTpgjuru7TA6AGY60SiSxOHdQWs/s400/IMG_2461.JPG" /><br />
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This is inside their house - with their roosts and nesting boxes. </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I can't wait to find my very first egg :)</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">l</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">x</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-68702192176398417722010-04-07T09:49:00.000+09:302010-04-07T09:49:19.033+09:30Eastery Goodness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineWYmtDP0MHwMTpErevr3-jJNnMN0zkxpq3ZCgsLCcSSCGXu4QvUWIHiZUv_bfY9lSK5mRIn8DkjEXA4sjX0PBiDC9FZKtP8a09A7AVPw9WfGiULHLv7vd_VXiPqWEllvkWf97vROFHQ/s1600/IMG_2450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEineWYmtDP0MHwMTpErevr3-jJNnMN0zkxpq3ZCgsLCcSSCGXu4QvUWIHiZUv_bfY9lSK5mRIn8DkjEXA4sjX0PBiDC9FZKtP8a09A7AVPw9WfGiULHLv7vd_VXiPqWEllvkWf97vROFHQ/s640/IMG_2450.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">early one morning........very, very early,</div><div style="text-align: center;">the easter bunny came to town</div><div style="text-align: center;">and boy was it exciting </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUuGzDQiuKTc0V1KUhqX2lMMAOnSXpUBChRlz0mSM63-NxrmqeIlT_wwSIKt2Hm1EKogg-ObijazFkxsL3hTGq2z2AX8JjNp69rbmis0Kb5Buel8sqXpncJqVjUKUSCJSqoqr7g15aBc/s1600/IMG_2444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUuGzDQiuKTc0V1KUhqX2lMMAOnSXpUBChRlz0mSM63-NxrmqeIlT_wwSIKt2Hm1EKogg-ObijazFkxsL3hTGq2z2AX8JjNp69rbmis0Kb5Buel8sqXpncJqVjUKUSCJSqoqr7g15aBc/s400/IMG_2444.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> it's what i love most about having kids</div><div style="text-align: center;">they bring back all the magic of being young </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">hope you all had a happy easter</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-85061086397081867122010-03-21T19:44:00.000+10:302010-03-21T19:44:04.308+10:30on my needles and up my tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPKEa9qsYyiJGTV99NDDP-hH8fD-6SpVI6DIVuYqdqak-TWZljs2EOBdj0Y4YHxYrJ-JDdpQHiClzwCUpaB4D4q9F4CcZnTHorPnQzIFLMgfnbua5qTSUC-cu0aoYkhMn_Xnt82Z26D0/s1600-h/IMG_2409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPPKEa9qsYyiJGTV99NDDP-hH8fD-6SpVI6DIVuYqdqak-TWZljs2EOBdj0Y4YHxYrJ-JDdpQHiClzwCUpaB4D4q9F4CcZnTHorPnQzIFLMgfnbua5qTSUC-cu0aoYkhMn_Xnt82Z26D0/s400/IMG_2409.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I found this gorgeous 4 ply hand dyed merino in my niece's long forgotten stash and I decided that it would look gorgeous as a scarf for her (or me) (or us). So, I sat on Ravelry until I found the perfect pattern that would challenge me a little more, but not put me off completely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYddBIZhoftAF2pwC67f4428ut1Q8XrkPyHCYM_w3qRSiUX4Tv53wVOkVAgQo2ALgrLEgVl_EGiODS1PK_NKJRH84zEPPx4J2ARoHkHqIEyGOmhJMm_m7exKs_XJQ6OHELKqTjEnUQox8/s1600-h/IMG_2410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYddBIZhoftAF2pwC67f4428ut1Q8XrkPyHCYM_w3qRSiUX4Tv53wVOkVAgQo2ALgrLEgVl_EGiODS1PK_NKJRH84zEPPx4J2ARoHkHqIEyGOmhJMm_m7exKs_XJQ6OHELKqTjEnUQox8/s400/IMG_2410.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure which photo reflects the beauty of the yarn - I'm pretty sure that both my dismal attempts at photographing it do not do the colour justice. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm enjoying knitting this up, although it is slow as I'm not too sure about unknitting lace and the pattern requires some concentration - not that it's hard, it just needs to be accurate. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This weekend the boys have pretty much been away from any screen type products - preferring to be outside and adventurous (it helps that we had to go to two parties as well). This morning I found them in the backyard making cubbies - one for each of them in our two almond trees. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2CoiJYI_vpZ9lY9tF5e4jOg5vplHDNf_h880p0P2q1ZhrJkIUNsTt6lDWPJn-2X5TeIart-r-C-n8ni4xJrK6G27Zs4wwP09eREczWX5loR65oA9qVPd2T7o0_I4HGTqZiyQjkftVJs/s1600-h/IMG_2413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-2CoiJYI_vpZ9lY9tF5e4jOg5vplHDNf_h880p0P2q1ZhrJkIUNsTt6lDWPJn-2X5TeIart-r-C-n8ni4xJrK6G27Zs4wwP09eREczWX5loR65oA9qVPd2T7o0_I4HGTqZiyQjkftVJs/s640/IMG_2413.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the backgound you can just see the almost finished chook house - affectionately called the chook penthouse as it is so large! I can't wait to get some chickens and to collect our first eggs.......</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Hope you are all having or have had a great weekend.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cheers</div><div style="text-align: center;">l</div><div style="text-align: center;">x</div>Levinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10167382670215032422noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-508176130994973291.post-47814479083588541502010-03-13T10:15:00.000+10:302010-03-13T10:15:49.289+10:30one cold, wet, wintry day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last weekend we had some rather lovely cold, wet (how beautiful that rain sounded), wintry weather - perfect for being indoors and for crafting. <br />
Emily and I were knitting leaves for her sports day costume and the boys asked if they could make something and "did I have any spare wool"?<br />
Silly question.... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJm_XFKSv3AJOkn-N1mWlqGqjBbK8iEPOF8pUR8u35wNkmj6OUBypT-IjG4ciXQJ683-rQO7yEZIl013UrcWWMW_XH7DJ46L947Xl0Ts9iFott8Nj_oSTwcs210gFwRVEXqV02upzv8E/s1600-h/IMG_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJm_XFKSv3AJOkn-N1mWlqGqjBbK8iEPOF8pUR8u35wNkmj6OUBypT-IjG4ciXQJ683-rQO7yEZIl013UrcWWMW_XH7DJ46L947Xl0Ts9iFott8Nj_oSTwcs210gFwRVEXqV02upzv8E/s400/IMG_2349.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is just a fraction of the wool I have stashed around the place. It's been put away for this exact reason - so that my kids will have something to play with.<br />
To start with they decided to make gods eyes for David's birthday - something for him to hang up in the garden. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> But then Julian asked if I could teach him how to knit again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEJSVRcn0lZfkK5hodPF7b-yyGfcvN6ks4xZdnwT-mEyklo1OG3eF2trsmF6fD16keTAdE3SofQb6numzOKiFN08JoUOrV3gK6PU98BYETc8YO0XQ0cbttVz9-i_8w6Ehf8Yx2D1RLw4/s1600-h/IMG_2351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEJSVRcn0lZfkK5hodPF7b-yyGfcvN6ks4xZdnwT-mEyklo1OG3eF2trsmF6fD16keTAdE3SofQb6numzOKiFN08JoUOrV3gK6PU98BYETc8YO0XQ0cbttVz9-i_8w6Ehf8Yx2D1RLw4/s400/IMG_2351.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The look of pure concentration. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> He got it - okay, there were lots of dropped stitches, and lots of made up ones - but he actually managed to do quite a bit of good knitting. He needs to understand the concept that he can't really knit without watching what he's doing though - not at this stage.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU22KwiA1pDgxwYvTaMZlG9_P5V46NJCh4MZVDwJBsjopAeg4jkXIn_Kr9VqP_Omqm94O1crt3yinG_OGR_imcXupBt9E_B5VWynrUH4N9CzhF1-0cR8fOESiMZNjlgSJWQGEL-_FWUVg/s1600-h/IMG_2352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU22KwiA1pDgxwYvTaMZlG9_P5V46NJCh4MZVDwJBsjopAeg4jkXIn_Kr9VqP_Omqm94O1crt3yinG_OGR_imcXupBt9E_B5VWynrUH4N9CzhF1-0cR8fOESiMZNjlgSJWQGEL-_FWUVg/s400/IMG_2352.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Louis ended up trying to do some stitching, whilst the others were knitting. So there we sat, safely ensconced in our warm house, enjoying our grey, wintry day :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">l</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">x</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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