May 2017

May started in Country NSW on the farm, after a great Market in Coonamble on the Saturday, some play time with Chooky on Sunday in the chookshed (aka sewing shed). I enjoyed being the farmers helper baking treats for the shearers in the shed and delivering them. Whilst Donna was at work, I also got to stitch and read, and just enjoy the bliss of a city mouse on a farm. Brian played farmer, rounding up the sheep and helping out in the shearers shed... think he still looks like city slicker, playing farmer though. 

Back home in the big smoke again and it was custom orders, coffee dates and stunning blooms.

My one and only bloom didn't compare to the garden full in Neutral Bay

Then there was the beginning of the big move, my office/sewing room is moving upstairs. So whilst, hubby got to lining s few walls with pallets... a design feature. I had to sort and sift, and refold, from drawers to baskets. It's certainly not a quick job it will take more than the month. Watch for more updates. I did sneak in a bit of reading daily and finished reading Big Little Lies. And my new Machine moved into her new home... 

Then it was time to get the boys on board with a Whole 30 challenge... no dairy, now gluten, no sugar and that means no alcohol...oops we lasted about 10 days. Chooky and Mr Chooky arriving, it was time to open some wine. Well it was an easy excuse.. but seriously the eating side isn't too bad and the boys are trying. 

Mother's day, Baked treats, lots of cooking, sadly no photos 15 for breakfast family, friends, and then the day just somehow got a little messy, we shouldn't have brought out the drinking Jenga.

These muffins, I will cook again, they were Gluten-free choc Raspberry Muffins from the here. I tweaked, to use my dairy free choc chips, Coconut Yoghurt. So almost clean eating involved in this one.

On May 19 I started with Betty Rocker's 30 day challenge, I knew that some days I wouldn't have wifi but I figured I would just walk those days, so it may be more than 30 days for me but I am rocking it out doing that 15 minutes a day. Working and sweating hard. 

Which has lead to more walks in the Autumn sunshine, enjoying more coffee dates too... all walks seem to lead to a coffee break.

 Lucy, grew more in May, but she also met her competition, Down the Rabbit hole which is a BOM that I am doing with Sarah Fielke.

 Somebody had a birthday, so walks to family lunch at Shelly Beach Boat Shed... can't go past that bucket of prawns... but somebody did note, he was bloated after all that bread... so he is learning how that feels, so he must have had enough Gluten free days for it to make a difference.

 My body, is learning to fight off colds... my supplements help, what would have taken me weeks to get rid of was gone in a few days, I have learnt to rest when my body says rest....

Those walks we are taking, mean we are seeing both sunsets and sunrises.... and they really are just special parts to the day. 

I have learnt this month that sometimes we have to be the rainbow in someone else's cloud.

Books, Books, Books

Although lately I have been spending loads of time with my new best friends, the aloe vera tissue and the buttermenthols....I have had plenty of time to do other things that don't cause too much movement...that might cause me to cough and splutter and that would be with my all time passion of reading...yep those books have called me...back to bed many times over the last few weeks.

I have enjoyed many books, and the pile is ever growing beside my bed.

I would have to say of the latest reads in my reading list in the side bar over there>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the ones that effected me the most would be the Lisa Genova LEFT NEGLECTED and the Jodi Picoult SING YOU HOME, both books cover hot topics - this latest from Jodi really got me thinking. I love the way she writes about tough issues, which make you think what is right, what is a family today...and I loved being able to listen to songs that Jodi had written too..

This one in particular touched my heart Sammy's Song - you can listen to it here, but just the words touched me too.

Sammy’s Song

It's five AM, we're in the kitchen, after a nightmare

We're making pancakes and there's batter on your face, your hair

The sun comes up and paints the sky, and you just stop and stare

Do it again, you say, as if I might have hung it there.


I don't remember who I was before you came
I know the life I have will never be the same
You think my arms are a fortress
You think I have all the answers
You know it’s a fact
I love you to the moon and back.


And now you're nine, under the covers, and your eyes are bright
With dreams of princesses and fairy dust and fearless knights
Just one more page, you beg, but I turn out the light
You find me, even in the dark, and hold me tight.
I don't remember who I was before you came

I swear this love's so big it doesn't have a name

You think my arms are a fortress
You think I have all the answers
You know it’s a fact
I love you to the moon and back.

Bridge:
I'll be your shoulder to cry on
I’ll teach you all that I know
When it’s time to break free I'll
Somehow be strong and let go.

Verse 3:
Now you are thirteen and you tell me that you've just been kissed
It's no big deal, you say, but you glow as you reminisce.
I always knew that one day it would come to this
Just underestimated all the moments I would miss.
I don't remember who I was before you came
My heart was yours before you ever staked a claim.
I’ll watch you take the wheel now
Find your own sense of direction
You’re right on track
Keep heading to the moon and back.
Baby, I’ve loved you to the moon and back.

and well what can I say I love to quilt and the Jennifer Chiaverini books are just like a good comforting cuppa....I can highly reccommend them for just good everyday reading...the laters The sugar camp quilt covers some history on slave travels with secrets hidden in the quilts hanging on the washing line ...love it!!!

And I have read a few pages into the Ireland Awakening - which is drenched in history and dates....

What are you reading right now????