Surfing Ninja

The Ginger Ninja has been mad keen to try surfing again after enjoying his first lesson on a school camp.
A trip up the coast with Dad seemed like a good opportunity.

I was initially sceptical, but apparently you can either surf or you can't. I can't. He can.

The instructor says he's a natural.

Textile and design...

This year for textile and design, Briar Rose learnt to use the sewing machine. This is her first project - a circle skirt. Grandma L provided a couple of lessons, then Briar Rose tackled the very very long hem (after attaching an elasticized waist band). The wrap around her shoulders was her own design from some fabric scraps.

Chrismas present from Great Auntie C!

Great Auntie C sent the children some money for Christmas, and we've been saving it for the right shopping moment. We decided to go to a character breakfast at the local factory outlet and shop for new linen for the girls' beds.

The girls were allowed to choose their own linen but decided they both wanted matching sheets and had no trouble choosing a pattern they both loved. I was anticipating having to conceal my winces while buying sheets covered with purple dinosaurs or Barbie, so pink roses on a blue background was a delightful choice!

Thank you very much, dearest C - and I'll update after the boys select their presents.

And in February...

Another busy month getting back into the school routine. Sorry I can't get the photos into chronological order...

Possum was invested as a House Captain, which gave us both a nice warm glow - first time I've had reserved front-row seating at a school assembly!
Suki grew faster than The Little Prince, but is still puppy enough to enjoy baby games in the sandpit. 
Ginger Rose had a "white" week at preschool, which I thought was asking for a serious parental  investment in bleach.
The Ginger Ninja finally had the cast removed from his right arm, but the plates will be in there for another six months or so. This means he SHOULD be careful with his arm...
Our favourite puppy visitor came to dinner. Hi Dufus!
I took a trip to Sydney so Briar Rose, The Little Prince and I could spend time with my mother, sister and nephew. These cousins are going to be great friends, I think!
Despite being sick, jet-lagged and teachign for a full day, Grandma E still put on a delicious dinner for us.
The Degas exhibition had a family activity room that was so wonderful we didn't bother seeing more than 50% of the actual Degas exhibition!
Even The Little Prince was encouraged to express himself artistically!
And Ginger Rose loved the opportunity to dress up as a ballerina or a jockey.
Briar and Ginger Rose started piano lessons. We're learning Suzuki and it's very slow going at the moment, but I hope once we get the knack of it we'll move a bit faster!
The Little Prince enjoyed taking Ginger Rose back to preschool. He's really very well behaved in the preschool room, and does a good job finding the puzzles that are most suitable for him.
This was the first day back at preschool. Ginger Rose was so excited to be back with her friends, and was very happy that last year's teacher was present to help them settle in for their first day with their new teacher.

So, we're up to date!

What we did in January

It's been too long between blog updates - life seems to be racing past just now! But looking back at January's photos, we really were particularly busy!

Probably the most visible change in January was to Ginger Rose's gorgeous locks. They disappeared. Dramatically. I cried.

And I was still finding the odd golden lock in the girls' bedroom weeks after. There were a lot of curls on the floor.

Briar Rose and I pulled out the sewing machine and the on-going quilt project.

We found a great new malted oat slice recipe that's perfect for lunch boxes.

Stewed and froze the garden surplus of silverbeet and tomatoes.

Played with play-dough.

Loaded five children and five instruments into the car each day for a fortnight's music camp in scorching hot weather.

And enjoyed plaster painting activities at the shopping centre while the big kids were away.
Lots more happened, but there's only so much space...

Artisan Bread

A friend sent me instructions for a fantastically quick and easy bread, based on the recipes in Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day.

(I don't have a copy of this book, and it's not in the library, so if anybody's looking for a good birthday present for me - please feel free to check for it on Booko! )

In a large container add:

6 cups lukewarm water

3 tbs seasalt

3 tbs yeast

13 cups flour.

Mix.

And leave on the counter for a couple of hours...

While it grows...

And grows...

Until it's knocking at the top of the container and you panic and stick it into the fridge for 3

 hours.

Sprinkle some flour over the top so you can easily haul out a handful, saw it off, play with it a very little, and place on a polenta covered board.

Toss a cupful of water in a hot tray in a very hot oven, then bake until done. Takes me around 25 minutes. The bread is delicious and makes a fantastic pizza, especially when combined with tomatoes fresh from the garden!

How cute is my tea cosy?

Did I mention that I love love love the tea cosy Grandma L knitted us (on request) for Christmas? I was very distressed when it disappeared yesterday morning - but I think it looks so sweet perhaps we should ask for another one without the holes for the handle and spout?

Christmas carols 2008

Instead of singing Christmas carols this year, we played them! Grandma E was given a box of crackers with tuned whistles, so we formed an impromptu ensemble. Anybody actually recognise the carol?

Camera work by the Ginger Ninja.

Return to the garden

It's amazing how fast a garden grows in just a few days' absence. The Lemon-Tree-in-a-Barrel isn't doing too well - we had plenty of blossom, lots of fruit setting, but the lemons are all ripening at this ridiculously small size for the second year in a row. Any advice welcomed! The Barrel is also home to some rocket, coriander and strawberry plants.

Dh was keen to see if the zucchinis would keep growing while we were away - and they did. Unfortunately, they don't taste as good oversized (and I was careful not to say "I told you so" LOL). We'll still get our zucchini meal a week.

My home-made Earth Box is doing well, though I'm hoping it's not too late in the season for the zucchinis. They're planted in potting mix with additional dynamic lifter on the top, and will have plenty of water so if it's possible, they should just make it...

An overview shot of the garden, not showing the cucubit patch to the left. At this stage, most things are growing nicely though I'm late mounding the potatoes and leeks due to the garden supply store being out of cow manure for the entire season! I think we're going to have to bite the bullet and stick with some straw and chook poo.

The joy of reading

I am incredibly grateful that Ginger Rose is such an enthusiastic reader, because The Little Prince has been a little slow to become enthused by books. He's only just starting to take an interest - and gets the most pleasure out of books when he's sharing them with his big sister.

Tonight's dinner

Tonight's dinner will include a salad. I know it won't be appreciated or eaten, but I'm determined to at least make an effort towards using the actual salad vegetables we've grown!

We'll be stir-frying broccoli, spring onions, green beans (first pick of the season) and a lovely bright red capsicum. I went out looking for a ripe tomato (perhaps tomorrow!) and found this tiny bell capsicum had gone red without a hint of warning.

Further adventures of The Little Prince

Guess who can reach the table now? And while his cereal was totally uninteresting when being fed to him, apparently self-feeding is the new developmental stage. A very very messy stage. I am so glad we've got a puppy to help clean up!

The sandpit is very popular this year - Possum thought The Little Prince and puppy's combined efforts at hole digging deserved a reward. Sadly, the puppy wasn't as willing to be buried as the baby.