Making Bunting

One for my beautiful baby grand daughter Emmalyn

Celebrating all things Vintage/Natural ........... Pink Vintage Nursery Toile with a Calico backing & bias binding

And for no other reason than my teenager expressing his inner child....and that bunting is FUN! for anyone.......Navy blue with tiny red stars, Red backing & bias binding.

Who can I make bunting for next??

Caroline xo

Dear Soldier Boy

Your faith warms this Mumma's heart

Afghanistan 2012

Brothers

                        
                        A brother is someone

with fun-loving ways

with wit and good humour

to spare.

He does thoughtful things

without any fuss

and when you're in trouble

he's there.

A brother is more 
than just part of the family..
he's also a friend
through and through.
And that's a description
that certainly fits
a wonderful brother like you.

Thank you for both being such awesome sons, that a Mother could have.
Mumma xo

Daughters, Dogs and other Ramblings

Received a sweet little text tonight from my darling daughter saying

she's glad I'm back blogging. 

In the age of Face book being so important in people lives, I'm so happy she takes the time to check in at her Mumma's "OLD" blog.

Mmm...she never comments though ;)

So of course after that, I had needed to put some darling photos up of her and her gorgeous Border Collie Stevie.

Despite 2012 being such a hard year for me this year I am endeavouring to move forward with my life. Last year my home suffered greatly & so I feel did many of my close friends & family as they supported me through what was such a difficult time in my life. 

I've always been a person who thrives in a neat and organized environment & after a year of merely just "EXISTING" in my home I think it is well in need of an overhaul. I'm bursting with excitement at some of the plans and changes I've got spinning around in my head. Just to wet my appetite a little in advance of things I have just come back from an afternoon of furniture shopping (Whoops)

Another exciting thing I plan to do is nurture and develop some new friendships I made in the past year. As you get older I found that you rarely make "new" friends and we all become creatures of habit as we tend to move around in the same circles. Have any of you found that true for you as well?
When my children were young I found I was constantly meeting new people in various ways- the school, sports and other community and social groups that I was involved with through my kids. 

With last year being what it was I felt I didn't embrace my new friends caring, kindness and friendship that they gifted upon me BUT this year I fully intend to return that favour x 10 :) 

z

Also, last year I joined a small community group in our little town that is full of like minded people. I must say I was most pleasantly surprised when I joined as in many ways I had struggled with some aspects of this town :0

You see it wasn't a place I would have ever personally have chosen to live in given, the choice that is but desperate times made for major adjustments to our life and the way we lived so when I moved here (many moons ago now) I never really expected to stay!! As a young widow at only 26  with 3 very, very young children I had to move where there was a decent job that would support us, then I met my partner and dare I say- I think it was all "written in the stars"

Anyway it was such a blessing to have found this small group that when I continually came home at night raving about it my partner decided to join, it's all the more lovelier as it something we share together now. Finding things to do as a couple becomes more and more important, I feel as the children grow up and fly the nest spreading and testing their independent wings.

I have a few new projects that my darling partner helped me start last year. His part in my journey by helping & supporting me (& selflessly putting his own feeling aside despite them being as deep as mine)was helping me find new hobbies to learn, explore & enjoy. 
I hope to be able to share a few of those in time here, at my blog. 

So, I hope you all will continue to join me in my journey throughout the year as I regain(hopefully) my strength after 2012 the year that was!! 
Thank you to those few kind bloggies that sent me awesome messages/emails & to my faithful followers.It was encouraging to see in my absence I didn't lose any of you and that I fact in gained some newbies :)

Enough rambling, hope you all have a lovely Sunday, cheerfully spending quality time with those that you hold dear.

Caroline xo


  

Welcome 2013

Happy New Year

Blessings of hope, health, laughter & happiness to you all this coming year.

I couldn't wait for 12oclock this morning to welcome in 2013, I was very happy to put the year 2012 away to bed. Hopefully not to be repeated anytime soon.

Without sounding TOO "dramatic" (cause I am so not a drama queen) it was one of the worse years of my life!!

EXCEPT.........

for one blessing that was sent to us 2 days after my Soldier Boy son arrived home safely from Afghanistan (Whoops, that was a blessing too! ) & the day after Mothers Day.

On May 14th 2012 my first beautiful Granddaughter was born.

"Emmalyn Jane Rose"

Squeamish people please avert your eyes

-proud Daddy cutting the cord.

Proud Daddy, Soldier Boy & Emmalyn.

So what did all of you do for your New Year celebrations??
(quiet & peaceful, loud & disorderly.....tell me all the goss!)

We usually just have a quiet night but to make sure we REALLY did put 2012 to bed we lived it up over at "The Sunshine Coast" it was a lovely night.

 I suppose the moral of the story could be, even in a bad year there are always blessings.

Welcome 2013, I am excitedly looking  forward to getting to know you better.

Cheers

Caroline xo

I am Loved

Lately my friends & family have been laying so much
love on me.


 Words of  comfort ( and wisdom) little treats to make a day special, coffee @ weird  hours 
of  day and phone calls at even weirder times.

Tears of  sadness BUT many of laughter.

at hard times it's just what one needs.........I feel lucky.

Thankyou, I love, cherish & appreciate you.

Caroline xoxo

Wordless Wednesday

The Show Ball

It was our towns show ball here on Saturday night. It was a great night and all the Show Queens & Princesses all looked lovely, they had put so much effort in over the last few months.

 Ds partnered one of the show princesses, she of course looked beautiful & my son most handsome

if not just a little James Bond'ish don't you think?

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend, we had  friends visit and with 10 to lunch on Sunday it was lovely. 

Caroline xoxo

Soldier boy comes home

Told you all last week I'd have some very exciting news..........

Soldier Boy had a quick & unexpected return home from his overseas deployment, Dil had a few baby problems and the Army very compassionately made the decision for his deployment to be terminated.

 (as if any of us are complaining)

For a family that were all struggling with the fact that he wouldn't be here to see his first born arrive,

nor see her until she was a few months old we are absolutely thrilled to have him safe home to our own terra firma.

No one told the "little poppet" that S.B was coming back, only that we were going to the airport to welcome some other soldiers home. She couldn't believe her eyes when he walked through those airport doors. Neither could we AND we knew.

Greeting his little bubba,

 he never expected he would see his wifey (as he affectionately calls her)

still pregnant.

                                                           He said to me "she's huge MUM"

I could have slapped him around the ears, (jokes)  if I could have seen him through my tears.

Yep, definitely Bro's & definitely happy.

Mumma and Soldier Boy.

Unfortunately Darling daughter wasn't here to see his safe arrival home, this year has probably seen her not make the wises of life choices, but then sometimes being 18 (or any age) can be hard.

 As long as she realizes her family are all still here when she needs them and we all love her VERY much  :-)  ENOUGH SAID!!

and of course you can probably all guess what my next post is going to be about......

it's so exciting!!

Caroline xoxo

(A relieved MUM)

Soldier Boy's Birthday

As Soldier Boy isn't here to celebrate his Birthday we  thought we would all get together & celebrate it for him. For obvious reasons we thought we would do the "Aussie + Army theme. 

We all had a ton of fun with lotsa yummy food & cake. We even set a place for him with his photo so he could "join us". 

Everybody got groovy Aussie party favours.  D.I.L & I got super sexy make your ears sore Australian Flag earrings (courtesy of our local dollar store) While we all looked simply stunning  in our stylish Australian party hats.

A good night

Caroline

Happy Birthday Soldier Boy

How time flies son. It doesn't seem that long ago you were playing soldiers & digging trenches through the back yard (yep! he really did)

So much has happened in just the few short years since this picture was taken.
You've been married, had lots of good times & some bad, been on two deployments and now to top it all off you will become a daddy ANY day now!!

We had a little Birthday party for you tonight, darling wife & the "little poppet" came, it was kinda weird that you weren't  here but far far away in a place that seems so strange to us. We hope your day wasn't TOO bad, and the boys didn't give you to many belly slaps. Ha Ha!!

Loving you as always
Stay safe
Mumma xo

Smoked Cod Pot Pie Recipe

• 500g Smoked Cod
• 2tbsp. Butter
• 2tsp. Curry Powder
• 1tbsp. Plain Flour
• 1 1/2 cups Milk
• 300g Frozen Mixed Vegetables
• 800g Potatoes (cooked & mashed)
• 2/3 Cup Fresh Parmesan Cheese (grated)

Boil fish until tender, drain well & remove all the skin & bones.
Flake the fish into pieces & place in a bowl, add the frozen vegies & gently combine.

Heat butter in a small saucepan, add curry powder & flour cook for 1 minute to develop the flavour from the curry powder. Stir in milk, stirring until the mixture boils & thickens. Pour sauce through the fish & vegetable mixture.

Stir the grated parmesan cheese through the hot mashed potato ( I always whip my mash with the electric beaters to make a light fluffy potato topping) 

Place your mashed potato on top of your fish/veg mixture & cook in a 180c oven until nicely browned on top.

ENJOY!

Does certain food evoke memories of the past for you? It does for me.

 I made this pie a few days ago. I hadn't made it since my two eldest children were very very young. It bought an instant picture to my mind of my eldest (soldier boy) sitting up at our breakfast counter with a big spoonful saying "This is yum MUM" then laughing as he had rhymed his words, then his little sis who had just started talking copied  his exact words "This is yum MUM" 

 (she ALWAYS copied whatever  he said)

Caroline xoxo

On a Cool Rainy Saturday

• A game of battleships for the boys
• Little dog & me on the lounge snuggling & reading

26days to go

till I get to meet my first grandbaby.

Little grandbaby will now be born on the 14th May.

Had a great dinner at Dil's last night there was 9 of us all up, all of us family along with Dil's Aunt & cousin from England.

Mmmm... maybe or maybe not my youngest son might have been a bit sweet on the 15yo cousin (he won't be :) at me when he sees this lol!)

And who do you think calls while we were all sitting around eating, talking & laughing?? Soldier Boy so of course the phone got passed around & around the table. Everyone got to have a good chat as he was able to stay on the line a fair while. Needless to say lots of love hugs & kisses were sent down the phone.

One last kiss for Soldier Boy's firstborn babe-he won't get to

see his babe till it's a couple of months old.

Last photo's of a BIG/little brother - 61/2yrs between them

you wouldn't thunk it!!

and of course the sad little sister

Goodbyes.......can't wait till the day I see my baby hold his baby.

It's a beautiful autumn day outside so I'm going out to enjoy it...

Caroline xoxo

It's a hen's night

in more ways than one atm....

Tonight I have been invited to a friends Hen's night at one of the hottest little places on the Sunshine Coast-Hot Pipis at Mooloolaba which I'm so looking forward to.

The trouble is I'm in a bit of a dilemma as to if I should go or not. The thing is it's a bit of a drive over there-say around 50mins - to far for public transport, so if I go I can't have a drink as I have to drive, darling partner honey that he is says he will drive me there & he'll sit in the car doing crosswords as he wants me to go. I can't expect him to do this even though he is quite willing too. The bottom line is he would be willing to do anything for me it's just not right for me to agree to it.

Besides I know it will be a LONGGGG! night.

Anyway I'll think about that one.

Before then I am going with my Dil today for a blood test & scan as she hasn't been well. She has had to have blood transfusions & lots of other yucky things happening.

I so wish my Soldier Boy son was here for her at this time but he can't be & that's that.

Very excited though that it's only 6wks to go till I meet my first beautiful grandbaby.

So coming to the other hen problem last night a fox? Town dog? got in & took one of my best hens & her 8 six wk old baby chicks. I am disappointed as she was such a good mummy & the last couple of years has hatched me out about 20-25chicks a year. Which with the sale of them always helps towards paying for chook grain. The poor thing.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend whatever you do

Caroline xo

Sorry about being absent so much.....

but this is how it is atm....

thank goodness for these.....

It's a rough time but everything ALWAYS works out in the end.

On a lovelier note my darling youngest son is partnering a young lady in our local show ball. At the moment they are learning several dances along with etiquette. Not bad for a young man with Aspergers. I am so so proud of him (as I am of all my kids) but over the years this boy has continued to surprise & astonish us with his way.

I'm so excited for the night of the ball!!

Hope you all take care in my extended absences....

Caroline xo

Ham & Cheese Scrolls

Ham & Cheese Scrolls

Brought to us by an up & coming cook .

WATCH out for his name in lights.....

Not to mention utterly delicious on a wet Sunday.

Hope your having a lovely day

Caroline xo

Another Update- Emerald's Sleep Apnoea

For the ones that have asked of late-

It seems like we finally have a handle on Emerald's sleep apnoea & with many thanks to her fantastic surgeon the operations a success and she doesn't have to sleep on a CPAP machine. Thank goodness for that it would have been devastating at such an age.

Mind you she wasn't overly impressed with the ultra fashionably leg wear she had to wear her entire hospital stay!!

Of course waiting around hospitals is never easy

but....

if you have to be in a hospital The Noosa Private Hospital was great.

Fantastic care & attention & the nursing staff were lovely & very attentive.

This was the lovely bush view from Emerald's hospital bed, such a lovely peaceful setting has just got to be an advantage with patients convalescing. There was always something new to see looking out the window. Plenty of birds flitting around along with lizards scurrying to & fro.

Must say very good for mothers sitting beside for MANY hours.

and so life continues....

Have a great weekend (flooding in our area again)

Caroline xo

Summer Fun

Cooling off

Totally oblivious that a crocodile is about to amputate

a leg or two

Watermelon, Swimming & Summer

Enjoying a Snuggle

Caroline xo

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to you all.

I hope you all had a Wonderful & safe Christmas & New Year.

A big thank you to all my followers & to the people that take the time to read my posts & leave a comment for me. It makes my day!

Just before Christmas I was lucky to be able to go to my Dil's ultrasound with her & my son.

WOW!

I may or may not have shed a tear.

After, we went shopping for baby clothes in the applicable colour.

NO! I'm not telling.

Guess what?? I'm even lucky enough to know the name. Everything has to be discussed & decided well ahead of time as Soldier Boy will not be here for the birth.

Nup! I'm not telling you that either.

BUT.... I do promise to keep you posted.

Best wishes for 2012

Caroline xoxo

PS- A big yeh for me. I actually took down all my Christmas decorations on the 1st Jan.

GULP! they have been known to stick around way into February ;0