Picket Fence Fancy

New Old Carpet

2012-09-03T19:56:00.000-07:00

To quote Margaret Olley "I've never liked housework. I get by doing little chores when I feel like them in between paintings. Who wants to chase dust all their life? You can spend your whole lifetime cleaning the house. I like watching the patina grow. If the house looks dirty, buy another bunch of flowers is my advice"

I adore the sentiment.

However, in real life, I'm not the biggest fan of dust ( Hello asthma) ... so for a few years now, until yesterday, our house was a carpet free zone. I let the patina develop on our floorboards instead.

But then, the house down the road was sold, a beautiful old brick, tile and fibro job with solid hips and dowdy knickers, and of course her new owners set about making her serviceable.
I knew she had lovely carpet so I asked if they were going to remove it. As luck would have it they were ripping it out and it was heading to the tip (gasp)
They were kind enough to get their tradesmen to rip it up and roll it up for me. I am so grateful. Isn't she lovely.

Now, I know that some parts of her are worn down and faded, but she whispers secrets of a by-gone era and for me that is precious.

So now, I have Axminster runners and rugs... I shall vacuum more often (maybe not) but I will know that I am sharing my house with a gorgeous part of the old house down the road ... a little piece of history, nearly lost forever. And, because I think she fits in just fine, I'm off to find another bunch of flowers :) For the memory of Margaret Olley and for a celebration of the parts of her light and shade that I find in myself.
Above is a photograph by Ben Rushton of the celebrated Australian Artist Margaret Olley at her home in Paddington 2010.

Pumpkin Soup and Life's Journey

2012-08-21T23:19:00.001-07:00

I grew a pumpkin vine this year....we filled an old bathtub with compost and planted some seeds. I toiled lovingly over the plot for weeks, watching an enormous vine grow and flourish, it twirled and took over a substantial part of the back yard. It was a mighty fine vine which produced....absolutely nothing. Not a single pumpkin. Disgusted I gave up, declaring myself a pumpkin growing failure. Shortly after this a small shoot sprouted in the corner of my vegie patch.... a clump of not completely composted compost produced 2 fine pumpkin vines which produced a ridiculously good crop, multiple pumpkins of two varieties ... I couldn't have failed in a more spectacular fashion.
There's a lesson here.....sometimes we get so focussed on following our journey that we forget that much of our route is pre-ordained. Sure, I spent ages tending a barren vine, but the garden had supplied its own fertile little shoot elsewhere. Even when we are flapping about thinking we are working on the essential details, life is quietly looking after the master plan. Have faith.

Here is my go to Pumpkin Soup recipe for the slow cooker ( Busy girl's best friend)

Ingredients.

Pumpkin peeled and cut into chunks

3 teaspoons of Massel Vegetable Stock Powder ( I choose this brand because it's gluten free)

2 Teaspoons of Curry Powder

1 litre of Hot water

Pepper

Cream for serving ( Or Philadelphia light cream cheese for a low fat option )

Chives

Method.

Throw all of the above bar the cream into a slow cooker for 6 hours on low.

Puree and serve with a dollop of cream and a sprinkle of chives.

Bam. It's that easy and so good.

Instant domestic goddess points. My children will not eat pumpkin but they love this soup.

(N.B I used two pumpkins. This made enough soup to feed a football team and then some. Reduce the quantity of pumpkin but leave the other ingredients the same and you will get a more controlled result.)

This year, I'll plant another vine... I'm going to tend to it but not stress too much, as ultimately, I know everything will be OK. The gardens got it sorted.

Love is Team Family

2012-08-15T16:11:00.001-07:00

Those who know me would describe me as driven ( more likely annoying ). I get an idea and then I do it. It can't wait, it has to happen yesterday and I won't settle until I've done it. Actually, I'm pretty darn twitchy until it's completed. These ideas have included and are not limited to; baking a new type of cheesecake every day for a month, blogging, learning to surf, knocking out walls on a whim without calling a builder, repainting the once white house pink and then painting it white again, dragging home busted up caravans to become hen house castles and taking on a new course of study.

Recently, I've taken on some things that have involved putting myself out there. Things that scare me. Things that perhaps would have people pass comment on. Things that I believe in.
It has been an amazing journey and full of personal challenge. Sometimes it's hard. Mostly it's character building. However, always, just when things seem darkest and most grubby, just when I feel like it's all going to fail in the most spectacular fashion...there comes the reassuring twinkle of light that is
"Team Family".
Solidly behind ordinary old me are my children, but more often so, there's "himself" Mr Picket Fence. I often feel unworthy of his unshakeable trust.
I know that there are many types of marriages out there and that the "Team Family" dynamic varies greatly. But, for my little place in the world, I am grateful. What ever I do, no matter how unexpected, no matter how contentious, no matter what "People may say" Mr Picket Fence is running beside me cheering me on. Proud of me for setting goals, carrying my flag and nurturing our family when I need him to cover my bases. Proving that sometimes, it's not the person driving the car that wins the race but the engine who hummed along the whole time, often with the knowledge that nobody could see him under the bonnet, ploughing on without thanks, getting the car across the finish line.

I really don't know what I did to deserve him. I'm just plain glad he's mine.
I love you Mr Picket Fence . Thank you for helping create our "Team Family"

Life Lessons and Pot Holes

2012-08-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

The thing about life is that it's like the road trip you've made a hundred times before....there you are, humming along enjoying the ride, chatting away thinking of the next destination, when bam, you hit it, the pot hole. The pot hole was always going to happen, you didn't expect it, it shook you, maybe it even dampened your day....you drive on.....a little ruffled but more determined to watch out for that kind of road issue again...you are on alert. You decide to stay safe.
It makes sense that when you are taking the journey we call life, that you remember that pot holes happen. No amount of planning or good management will prevent them cropping up and you probably will only avoid maybe 80 % of them. Would this keep you from driving? Or perhaps you would only drive on the safe roads....at 50km an hour peering over the wheel...got to avoid those bumps. You'd never find new places...or new parts of yourself.
My whole adult life I've driven the safe roads ( my parents would probably disagree but this is my perspective, not theirs)...it's been lovely....there's been the very odd bump and jolt but in the scheme of things I only hit the edge...I never blew a tyre.

I watch Master Picket Fence play with his cars. He pulls the tyres off and drives on the rims. Over and over again he tries different roads. Bumpity bumpity bumpity bump. He lives life to the fullest, safe in the knowledge that there is a greater plan. His role is to explore. To take new roads. To ride over the pot holes with wonder.
This year, I've decided to take some dirt roads....big whopping cavernous pot holes every where. I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and putting my foot to the floor ( the seat belts keeping me safe are friends and beautiful family)
Will you join me?...Imagine the places we could go? Just think how much is out there that could add to your world? How much of you is there yet to develop? Lets take the tyres off our rims and move out of our comfort zones. There are amazing roads out there waiting to be discovered.
Pot holes and all.

I've been away

2012-08-11T14:06:00.000-07:00

Oh My Gosh I've missed you.

I've been um....absent, AWOL, missing.....busy AND I'm sorry.

This year , in addition to the kids, work, blogging and day to day stuff, I started a post graduate diploma. It takes hours of my time. To compound things, to sort my body out and funnily enough indirectly, my soul, I added to the chaos ; I started running. That also chips into my time. I thought I didn't have time to blog until I finished my diploma. I put down my camera and justified it as a non necessity.
The truth is I need it. I need to put stuff out there and I do have time. I miss this.
So I'm back :) And I'm excited to be here. Woo Hoo come say Hello....if you're still out there ?
Yesterday, with two girlfriends , I went North and attended a workshop with Tim Coulson. I realised that despite the fact that I thought I knew what I was doing, I've not been using my dslr very well at all. He showed me in the most clear and simple way how to work some magic. He and his wife Kesh are currently on the top of my wonderful people list. Tim is holding workshops nationally....you should contact him.
Oh yeah...and I'm back...are you pleased ??

Instagram March Photo A Day Challenge

2012-04-02T23:48:00.001-07:00

So many photo's in this post so I'm skipping the words ! March Photo a day round up.... Picket Fence Style :)

An Industrial Chalkboard and Some Lists

2012-03-21T10:40:00.001-07:00

I am a list person... I write copious lists and cross stuff off. It makes me feel ordered. This week, I'm getting virtual. I'm using my iPhone "calendar" and the "notes" section to try and organise my world. This could eradicate my diary and my notebook.....maybe, if things go well I might even look at getting an iPad (I know , but a girl can dream.... )

I love diaries and notebooks , pieces of paper and journals. I especially love chalkboards. Bare with me... I'm heading somewhere.....

This mirror was an op shop bargain with issues. It was a bit too foxy but it had a lovely oak frame and I thought I might be able to fix it. I didn't fix it. It hung around looking foxy for quite a while. A long while actually. Just being...well.... foxy.

As I said "issues"

In walks the hero "chalkboard paint" I seriously love this stuff

One Coat

Two Coats

Bam. A lovely industrial style chalkboard for lists, family inspiration and gorgeous giddy scribble. And , just quietly .... I think it looks kind of foxy :)

Are you a list person ? Are you more ordered than me ? What do you use ? Any suggestions ? I'd love to hear xx

Oh BTW .....I got a new second hand lens this week. It's a tilt shift lens and I haves much to learn. This is Master Picket Fence doing his own version of a tilt shift portrait....yep......we've got it sorted ;)

My Forgotten Oak Cupboard

2012-03-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

Life gets busy. Sometimes too busy. It happens at marathon pace. In between raising children, working, hunting for vintage treasure and maintaining a creaky old house.....sometime I forget stuff. This old cupboard is a good example of that.

See that mildew.....that's what happens when you score an amazing bargain on EBay, have it delivered miraculously intact by Australia Post, hide it down under the house to explain to your husband later ( i.e. put it in the house while he's at work and say "Oh that old thing, we've had that for AGES" ) and then, well, forget you have it ......for say 8 years.

Then, a pretty picture a friend posted on Face book made me go...." Hang on... I've got something like that somewhere" ( Thank you Melissa xx)

I dragged her out , scrubbed her down, put her door back on and apologised to her profusely.
Actually, sometimes 8 years wait can be a good thing. 8 years ago, I would have stripped this girls paint off and waxed her.
Now I'm in the whole original paint and patina phase and I'm so so pleased she was.....forgotten.

This is her now....waiting to be filled. When Mr Picket Fence comes home and lays eyes on her, he will raise his eyes and ask questions. I will be able to say with much joy and honesty
"Oh that old thing, we've had her for AGES"
Have you ever forgotten something?

February Photo a Day Done and Dusted

2012-03-05T01:45:00.000-08:00

This is it people. The last of my February iPhone "photo a day" photo journal. Phew I must admit I found a few of these challenging......It's funny how sometimes, it's the little things that bring you unstuck.

Day 20 "Handwriting"
My Grandma's Coconut Ice recipe in her own handwriting (So much nicer than my own) She would make vast quantities of Coconut Ice every Christmas holidays. I associate this treat with her. Completely.

Day 21 " A Fave photo of you"
This was taken about 10 years ago. Special to me for so many reasons. Amongst other people , you can see my grandparents and father in this photo, they have since passed away and I miss them dearly. That's me in the white shirt clutching the photo shy child. My twin brother is next to me and my younger brother is the only sensible person it seems, in a hat. Lesson here.... appreciate family while you have it. Hey brothers...if you're by chance reading this. I appreciate you.......BIG TIME.

Day 22 " Where you work"
I like to keep work and home/blog separate hence the lack of detail...its about life balance :)

Day 23 "Shoes"
Not Stilettos (Ever)

Day 24 " Inside my bathroom cabinet"

I have a higgledy piggledy selection of collected bathroom cabinets as our built in one is kind of ugly. This is the inside door of one of my favourites. it holds toothpaste and soap and stuff :)

Day 25 "Green"

Day 26 " Night'

Day 27 "Something I ate"

Day 28 " Money"

I found this one tricky.

Day 29 "Something you're listening to"
Miss Picket Fence read in the morning. It's a ritual :)
Short and sweet.
I can't quite fathom how quickly this year is flying by. Are you sick of the "photo a day" instalments ? I hope not :) They keep me humming along...so I'm doing March too xx

Chocolate Coated Ice Cream Castle

2012-02-27T17:41:00.002-08:00

It's birthday time at the Picket Fence house. In a fit of "whimsy", Miss Picket Fence declared she wanted a castle cake. In a fit of "Not really thinking about the consequences and nodding Uh Huh", I agreed. This resulted in me purchasing the red silicone mold she passed me with twinkling eyes.... Note to self...10 year old girls have blind faith.

This red silicone mold stimulated much discussion with my loyal and patient friends. Advice was put forward, worried nods and comforting words were exchanged and multiple referrals to web pages occurred (Thank heavens for cooking savvy web friendship !!)

A plan took shape.

Melted milk chocolate .

Painted onto the mold interior and set in the freezer for 5 minutes.

Softened ice-cream packed into the chocolate covered mold and layered with drizzled choc fudge sauce.

Frozen for 24 hours ( Cover the edge with the exposed ice cream with cling wrap to prevent bloom on the chocolate)

Peel off the mold just prior to serving. Stand there and declare how clever you are, to all that will listen :)

I made some bunting out of scrap paper and little self adhesive letters.

Rolled gluten free ice-cream cones in melted chocolate.

Then sprinkles

Assembled, the cake looked like this. Sorry about the poorly photo-shopped name on the bunting but Miss Picket Fence prefers to be known as Miss PF :) Also....apologies for the wax dripped cup cakes holding the candles. The candle spikes wouldn't go in the chocolate !

Anyway...there you have it . A chocolate coated ice cream castle ...easy to make and enjoy. Let me know if you have a go at this. I'd love to hear. We loved it. Happy Birthday Miss Picket Fence 10. You make me build castles, and for this , I adore you xx

A Wheeled Industrial Toy Box

2012-02-21T19:47:00.000-08:00

I wonder how many of you are like me ? I have a million unfinished projects ....or to put it more positively "Works in progress" I see something I could make or do or have a go at and I get this uncontrollable itch to have a go. I get depressed if I'm not planning, doing or near completing a project. It's lovely when it's finished but I really much prefer that feeling just before it's finished.... When you can nearly see the end but not quite. I spend far too much time looking for new ideas..my brain is bursting (with ideas , not with intellect !)
I have always been this way but I've suddenly realised not everyone is the same. Sometimes I forget that I have four children and a real life job when I plan big projects like major interior colour changes ( I'm still painting) or ripping out a wall. It gets a bit crazy. Fortunately my children love the feeling of "Flux" when projects are happening. They have of course, grown up around this kind of chaos. I hope they look back on it with love.

Anyway. Here is a box I've had squirrelled away .... No real plans for it but too lovely to leave at a garage sale.

Four casters I rescued off a lounge by the side of the road at council clean up. I am an embarrassment to my children at that time of year :) Yes I do carry a screw driver in my handbag.

Bam , that old box looks like it has a function. Project completed !!

Too easy

It now holds Master Picket Fence's farm animals....in any room he chooses.

A boy needs wheels :)

Note my sons paint stained play clothes. That's us all class ;) I told you I get distracted .

February Photo A Day Part 2

2012-02-19T20:33:00.000-08:00

Welcome back to my photos from Fat Mum Slim's "February Photo A Day". Here we go with the second instalment :)

Day 12 "Inside Your Closet"
My clothes closet is pretty ordinary. I tend to spend more money and time picking antiques and vintage bits and bobs than I do clothes. (I am my mothers only daughter...Such a disappointment ! ) This is a section of my linen closet. A tidy section.

Day 13 "Blue"
It had to be Master Picket Fence's treasure. I waited a long time to buy blue :) Humour me.

Day 14 " Heart"
On my Lounge room wall (I do love a pretty Dust Collector)

Day 15 " Phone"

Day 16 "Something new"
As I mentioned. I bought a quilt.....

And here it is again. You can get one from Lazybones in Australia or Anthropologie in the USA

Day 17 "Time"
That's 0245hrs and I was at work..... sigh.

Day 18 "Drink"
Chocolate milkshake in an old cream bottle. Tastes better this way.

Day 19 "Something you hate to do"
I need a working dishwasher.
So thats it .....another little peek into my world. This list is good because it makes me photograph things that I'd never think twice about. Next post will feature another simple project that I finished this week. Always a triumph to finish something , no matter how small. I have a life long stock pile of projects. Do you ? Or are you more organised than me ? I'd love to hear xx

It might even look like this.

How to Hang a Mason Jar and Look Super Tricky

2012-02-16T19:19:00.000-08:00

If you haven't found Pinterest yet, then I'd have to demand you whizz down and have a look. It's a virtual pinboard...where you pin ideas and pictures that inspire you. If I have spare on line time, this is where I like to spend it. If you want an invite, then please email me... I'll happily send one out to you. You can also check out my boards by clicking on the Pinterest link on my sidebar xx It was on Pinterest, that I saw the idea above....Its from The Created Home

O. K
A Mason Jar.
Not tricky ....

A Curtain Bracket....2 self tapping screws and a near 3 year old assistant.
Still not tricky :)

Extra wire ( because I'm fussy )
And... just like that.... "Pow" .....you have a hanging Mason vase.
Which looks ....
tricky :)

Even decidedly tragic supermarket Tulips take on a new air here.....
I love to look Tricky :)

Maybe with a vase or too hanging around Mr Picket Fence might pick me some daisies ? Or, if you're like me, you will pick them yourself :) Life's too short to wait for someone to bring you flowers. Go on, Check out Pinterest.....you need to do this ;) Soul therapy xx

Because I didn't get flowers, I bought a quilt....Sometimes love is made from Jersey cotton and comes delivered ;)

February Photo A Day

2012-02-10T14:38:00.000-08:00

OK in case you weren't bored enough with January. I'm sharing my Photo a Day instagram shots for February. Have you tried instagram ? It's seriously the most addictive little iPhone app ever. It comes with amazing filters and is complete with its own community of photo crazy users ...some of whose photo's are seriously amazing. Check it out. To find me ....look up @Picketfencefancy . If you don't have an iPhone,you can find me by clicking my followgram button ( under my twitter button on the sidebar ). I'd love to have you join me xx

Day 1 " Your view today"
My town :)

Day 2 "Words"
This photo is part of an original bus destination roll given to me as a "friendship necklace"... My dear friend has half the roll and I have the other half. I treasure her friendship even more than the roll and boy do it treasure this piece of black and white industrial gorgeousness ( feel free to tell me that there is no such word....the sentiment's there )

Day 3 "Hands"

These are the hands of my colleagues in my "Not so Picket Fence job" I spend hours a week with these hands and I value them more than I sometimes tell them. I guess I do have a "Picket Fence kind of job" after all !

Day 4 " A stranger"

Oh I found this so hard. I felt like a complete stalker. I will never be any kind of paparazzi :)

Day 5 "10am "

Another part of my precious town.

Day 6 "Dinner"
I'd like to pretend I was cooler than this.
But....
I'm not .

Day 7 "Button"
I do love my buttons.

Day 8 " Sun"
And right on cue...
It rained ;)

Day 9 " Front Door"
This is my huge lead light front door. to cut a long story short...I have to thank Mr Picket Fence for his patience here. I bought it as a bargain and a soul choice. The head choice should have probably jumped in because it was much bigger than our original door and we had to seriously renovate the entrance to make it fit. It was worth it. I love you Mr PF xx

Day 10 " Self Portrait"
You know how I feel about these....I nearly drew one instead. I am less artistic than I am shy.... I am horribly shy and as artistic as a house brick ...hence you get a photo.

Day 11 " Makes You happy"

Living here makes me happy :) Oh yes sir indeed, I know how lucky I am ... I pinch myself every day.

Well it's the weekend . I hope you have a wonderful time. In a moment of madness I agreed to go with Mr Picket Fence and the children to the Speedway this Sunday....ahem.... so not me... however a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. Mr PF used to be a racing car driver, so this is kind of his thing, in a big way ...think of me and send me car appreciation vibes xx

Wondering why this photo is here? I love my iPhone but was feeling DSLR guilt . Master Picket Fence and I spent a morning playing with my Canon EOS. ( It's like having two boyfriends...camera love, spoilt for choice)

Poppy

2012-02-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

Here at the Picket Fence house, life is always a little chaotic. Mr Picket Fence and I are big believers in learning through play, dirty hands and joyful hearts .We believe that life is better experienced than viewed and that simple pleasures, family based activities, make great platforms for the learning of solid values. We had the opportunity to welcome a new puppy into the fold and in a heart-beat knew that this little girl was the perfect fit for our family. So now...we are a family of six humans, 2 cats, 2 dogs, 9 chooks and two gorgeous ducks. Eleven weeks old....This is " Poppy"

Sleepy in the sunshine.

Happy to bounce with a little boy.

Perplexed by the said little boys "flight"

Absolutely gorgeous and loveable

Not adverse to a scratch in just the right spot

We are all so happy that Poppy has come to live with us. She feels like a perfect fit.

We really need to thank her foster parents Tim and Kesh Coulson as without them we would never have met her. Check out Tim's pictures of Poppy here.

See you soon with this weeks photos of my February photo a day challenge. Todays subject is "The sun" and its missing .....today is grey and overcast..... I might have to think more broadly! Fingers crossed for inspiration xx

January Photo A Day Round up

2012-02-03T17:28:00.000-08:00

Better late than never :) here is the final week of my Photo a Day challenge for January. I've decided to do February as well . Jump on board it's so much fun. Thank you Fat Mum Slim for putting it all together!

Day 22 " Your shoes"

Yes it's true ...in total I own 3 pairs of shoes. My blundstone boots aren't in the photo...they are far too grubby . I'm not a "shoe girl "

Day 23 " Something Old"

I found this one tricky. So many things in our house are varying degrees of old. This is my Mattei Bros church statue, chippy, tall and wonderful she is a definite contender in my favourite old thing stakes !

Day 24 " Guilty Pleasure"

Um ... I Love Lollies....way too often :)

Day 25 "Something you made"

This is a quilt I made when Miss Teen Picket Fence was only 3. The hearts are from the dresses she wore and grew out of that year. It makes me very sentimental...time rushes by so quickly.....

Day 26 "Colour"

We have a lot of colour in our house which I am trying to rein in....we are aiming for white walls with splashes of vintage colour .

Day 27 "Lunch"

Day 28 "Light"

Through my front window where a basket chandelier hangs.

Day 29 "My Fridge"
The clean part :)

Day 30 "Nature"
Buddlia in my kitchen.

Day 31 "You again"

Gah....how I dislike photo's of me....here it is regardless :)

This week I was featured on an amazing American Blog I've had so many lovely emails from this and it feels pretty awesome. I love my American friends...you guys seriously know how to make an Aussie feel loved ! Thank you :) Pop on over and check out Brenda's blog http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/...it is the real deal ...just gorgeous.

Anyway next post is going to be about our most recent addition to the Picket Fence House.... she has 4 legs and is super cute....she's not the cat pictured below with Master Picket Fence ( our elderly and most patient Tom "BJ " ) We're excited :) Can't wait to see you then xx

Chalkboard Paint and a Scooter Cupboard

2012-01-30T10:07:00.000-08:00

Busy times at the Picket Fence Household. School holidays ended and school went back yesterday. A big part of me is sad because I love having my brood about me, another part of me is grateful because I think I need the enforced routine that comes with school to get things done. My world has become a little more complex this week. Some dear elderly friends have become in need of support, they are both getting a little foggy and we have only just realised how foggy. They have no family, just us and so, to keep them living independently, we are incorporating their world into our Picket Fence chaos. Frequent daily visits and support are going to be the order of the day. I'm grateful to have them in my world, I love them like family. I'm just not quite sure how I'm going to fit it in with four children, and a not so Picket Fence Job. It's do-able, I just need to get myself organised. I do know that this silly little blog keeps me sane :) I'm grateful to the funny world that is blog-land yes sir indeed!!

This is the cupboard on our back verandah that we use to store scooters and surfboards, hula hoops , skateboards . All that stuff that needs to go somewhere but is difficult to place. Note the taped up broken lead light window stage left. Waiting for the glazier. Ahem , a little too much Picket Fence enthusiasm and a tennis ball......the joys ! (My walls in the above photo are not this colour ... I took this on my iPhone and its an odd instagram filter )

This is how it looks after a coat of blackboard paint.

Now they can draw all over it to their hearts content. Unleash their inner artist and perhaps ...play less with tennis balls on the verandah :)

On the subject of inner artists...I am collecting supplies for lino cutting. I haven't attempted lino block printing since primary school and I thought it might be fun to do with the Picket Fence Children. I envisage making some cards and maybe some personalised bed sheets. An owl or perhaps a tug boat...we shall see.

New bedspread for Miss Teen Picket Fence from the op shop. Score ...I swept the 8 million pairs of tried on and discarded clothes to the side for this photo. The reality of parenting teenage girls is the concept of a "floordrobe"

Yes, I'm STILL in the process of painting the inside of the house. The school holidays have made this near impossible so the paint brushes have had a January respite . I did however realise that many of the curtains around my freshly painted windows weren't necessary and in fact added to the clutter I'm trying to reduce , so I pulled them down ...and cut them up....

And turned them into cushions instead :)

I'm working on decluttering.... but I found this tin yesterday. Patina to die for and containing nozzles from an old Tala icing set. Love it.

Oh and yes still trying to practise with my camera. This shot I took is one of my practise shots....seconds before Master Picket Fence tipped a plastic cup of water all over me. Hmmm, Picket Fence Chaos...Just how I like it. What have you been up to ? Is school back in your household ? Are you grateful for the routine or are you whizz bang organised all the time ?

Week 3 Photo A Day Challenge

2012-01-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

Week 3 of The Photo A Day Challenge ! Oh my heavens... aren't the holidays flying by !

Day 15 "Happiness"
is moving closer to self sufficiency.

Day 16 "Morning"

This photo makes my heart beat harder . I realise how short this period of my life is, and I relish every single moment.

Day 17 "Water"

Day 18 "Something I bought"
Check out Down that Little Lane to buy these....

Day 19 "Sweet"
I bought this from the Divine Lisa Madigan...and guess what I met her in person the other day . She is the sweetest girl and her paintings are exquisite. Talented Talented Talented. ( With a capital T)

Day 20 "Someone I love"
Missing Mr Picket Fence and Miss Teen Picket Fence in this photo... but, you get my drift.

Day 21 "Reflection"

I apologise for the fly by post today....it seems my life is running on a fast motor this January...Sending you much love, and joyful days ..I'll catch up next week ( Maybe !! )

A Photo A Day Challenge Week 2

2012-01-15T01:23:00.000-08:00

Here comes the second instalment of my version of the photo journal challenge thought up and blogged about by blog queen Fat Mum Slim. For my first seven days look here and you should definitely check out Chantelle's blog Fat Mum Slim (always cheery and current.) Everybody seems to be following. She has after all got millions of people photo journalling January and loving it.

Day 8 " Your Sky"

Yes Indeed .. on cue for day 8 ...it poured rain :)

Day 9

Daily Routine " Trying to simplify"

Day 10 "Childhood"

Day 11 "Where you sleep"
Looking forward to painting these walls white ( School holidays have held me back a little in this department)

Day 12 " Close up"
My breakfast plate

Day 13 "In your bag"
Confessions of an asthmatic ;)

Day 14 "Something you're reading"

( again and again, I love this book )

So there you have it, another week of iPhone photos, a different result to those shot on DSLR but perhaps more engaging, they remind me of the raw honest shots of a Polaroid camera. This is us with no frills. I'm looking forward to week 3 and hope you will come back and see. Have you joined in yet ? If not , then why not either catch up or just do the rest of January ?...It's worth it xx

Picket Fence Style Salsa Di Pomodoro

2012-01-11T10:42:00.000-08:00

We are having a massive season with our tomatoes. With such a big crop we have eaten bucket loads and traded even more. I was looking at making chutney when a dear friend suggested passata di pomodoro. This being a tomato puree with the skins and seeds removed with a sieve. We don't have a moulle or a decent sieve ( on the list !) so the Picket Fence children and I made a twisted version of salsa di pomodoro...a Neapolitan style tomato sauce....we left the seeds in :) 5kg of tomatoes gave us 7 jars of sauce ( 750gm jars) What I loved about making this was the fact that it was a family effort...the Picket Fence children did the lot (with supervision ) we learnt how to preserve and they had lots of fun...life skills, self esteem points and education ...love it :)

Halve fruit and remove stems, Cook in a heavy based pot with a little water. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 30 minutes. Cool .

Spoon into a food processor and give the mixture a quick whizz. This is enough to let you pick the skins out . Discard the skin. Process for around 1 minute until pulpy.

Throw some Basil leaves into sterilised recycled jars. ( We sterilised ours in Milton antibacterial solution and cold water....too easy. You can however, boil your bottles or sterilise them in an oven)

Ladle the mix into the jars through a funnel ( Note to self...hunt for vintage enamel funnel on EBay) Leave about an inch at the top of each bottle. Seal immediately with sterilised lids.

Place jars in a pot with water to cover ( I found my old vacola steriliser unit after this ) and boil for an hour.....let the bottles cool in the water.

Employ industrious kitchen slaves to make bespoke labels out of recycled bits and pieces.

Your sauce should last 12 months in a cool dark well ventilated place. Add onions, garlic etc at point of use. Don't panic if the sauce looks to separate in the bottle after time....this tells you it's not full of chemicals to bind it and seduce customers on a supermarket shelf. Shake it :) and enjoy.
Next we are going to try making mint jelly and then jams....fingers crossed we succeed . What are you doing in your school holidays ? I'd love to hear !

A Photo A Day Challenge

2012-01-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

Have you heard of Fat Mum Slim ?
If you haven't then run on over here This girl has the most amazing blog and in January she is running a photo challenge Basically there is a list of themes for every day in January. You snap a picture each day, be it on your whizz bang DSLR, iPhone, mobile phone or basic point and shoot camera. You can then either
Face book it, Twitter it, Blog it or just put it on your desktop as a happy reminder of January.
Well you know I love photos and you know I love happy.... I had to do this. It was a given .
I chose my iPhone and picked instagram as my app of choice , some of my favourite filters give a grainy look to my photos ( I like that) If you have instagram ( be warned it's addictive) you can follow me on same.... I am picketfencefancy....don't say I didn't warn you about the addiction though ;)
I thought I'd do a weekly summary....Lets go !!

Hardest photo of the lot and I look like I'd just woken up (I had).....Day 1
"Me"

This week one of my beautiful Picket Fence Children was diagnosed as Coeliac , I'm going gluten free as support ....no more weetbix for me (Send her a mental hug , it's been a big week )
Day 2
"Breakfast"

Day 3
"Something you adore"
(Taking photos of my children)

Day 4
"Letterbox"

Day 5
"Something you wore"

Day 6
"Makes you smile"

Day7

"Favourite"

Favourite thing to do being playing catch with my brood :)

Well are you going to do it ? I think you should, it's a great way to familiarise yourself with your camera , it's spontaneous and I'm not fussing too much with the details....it's loads of fun. You will be left with a beautiful chronicle of January. Early days so you can play catch up. Come on...if I can...then you can !!! Do it :)

Summer Done Simple

2012-01-03T11:29:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year !! Here we are in 2012. Awesome :)

I hope you had beautiful Christmas. Here at the Picket Fence household we are enjoying summer holidays and all the things that come with that.

Simple things, home based, family focused activity because, increasingly, I'm realising that this is what my children really want.

Not expensive toys, holidays to far away places, or thrill a minute game parks ( but they wouldn't refuse if these were offered !!) ( Blurry phone picture but still appropriate)

But, time with myself and Mr Picket Fence. Just being us.

I'd forgotten how simple the formula was.

Wishing you the most awesome, fabulous, wonderful 2012 and the clarity to see, that what is important is right in front of you.

You may have noticed that little twitter icon on my sidebar. Click it, follow me, and if you like you can keep up with the day to day Picket Fence happenings. I was awfully slack with my Face book page so have replaced it with twitter...I'm much better at that. Hope to see you there !!
P.S I received , read and enjoyed the ton of emails and comments from my last post. I'll be getting back to you all this week. You are valued, I'm blown away each time someone takes the time to write. Thanks for rocking my Picket Fence world ! Hold on 2012 ... Here we come :)

P.P.S I've left auto behind, and in 2012 ,I'm shooting in manual. Forgive my not so perfect photo's , I'm determined to learn ( and having so much fun with it)

Sharing with Sarah at A Beach Cottage :)

Painting it Out.

2011-12-19T10:20:00.000-08:00

So, I'm assuming you will forgive my bloggy absence this past few weeks. I've been painting the Picket Fence digs. It all started with a window removal. This is the old window. Which mind you, I loved. It just made things a bit ...dark. In an old house you live with elegance, character, moving walls, squeaking floorboards and most often ...a severe lack of light. I wanted light , hence , a pre Christmas reno.... madness. Yes, the people who told me I was mad, painting prior to Christmas. You were right .

See below..... dark.com :)

Anyway, this is the new window, forgive it's unpainted state, but you will get the idea. It goes all the way to our very high ceiling. I bought it for $13 on Ebay. Score :) See the pressed tin on the walls .... I'm still stroking it. I've always wanted tin and due to some damaged tiles...I have tin :)

I love him :) Perhaps even more so, with tin ;)

Eventually we will get new cabinets , cook tops and hopefully a big deep European sink , but that's not in the Picket Fence budget for another say, 10 years. That is unless I find a bargain. I'm thrilled with this as it is for now.

To add to the light , I've been painting. Yes you guessed right :) Antique white USA by Dulux on the walls and the trims in Dulux China White. The following photos show this in progress. Prepare for scenes of great chaos.

I started with great optimism.

And gusto.

Later I'll paint this too. But for now. I'm over it !

Mr Picket Fence looking for his remote control :) No, actually, he's removing some brackets.

A friend consoled me about the paint in my hair, big flecks of white amongst the dark. She said I looked arty. Truth be known , some people look arty with paint in their hair. I don't. I looked scatty .

Vertigo.

Before

And nearly after... see the window in the next picture.

Worth it ? Yes :)

Some tidier pictures :)

I'm dreading painting the pantry.

I'm also doing a huge declutter... New Years resolution.

Fresh.

Who dirtied up my mirrors ?

And now Christmas is upon us. I have stopped. I will continue the marathon in the new year. For now, I'm ignoring the parts I missed and eating cake :)
Wishing you all a Picket Fence kind of Christmas. That is, a beautiful , happy, family orientated ,simple kind of Christmas. Filled with joy, love and plenty of lovely Christmas food :)
Thank-you for your friendship, patience and lovely comments and emails throughout the year, you've so often made me smile. See you next year... Cant wait ...See you there with bells on !!

Busy Busy....

2011-12-07T02:58:00.001-08:00

Guess What I've been doing ? Can you guess ? I wonder if anyone can see anything different about this picture hmmmm ?

Picket Fence Family Tin Can Advent Calendar

2011-11-29T01:31:00.000-08:00

I know I promised a hedge planting post and some painted cane furniture. I really hoped I'd get both these things done this week, but life got in the way and I had to push these tasks sideways. I did however take some time out to do some crafty things with the Picket Fence Girls.
We made an advent calendar . Very easy , we used , some tin cans, bits and bobs an old door and a glue gun.

First , save 25 cans or buy 25 cans of something cheap you can use and freeze the contents. Tomato soup all round in this house.

Wash them , admire their shiny exteriors and pop them aside.

A salvaged door. Here it is before I painted it with one coat of Dulux Antique White USA.

Some paper numbers. 1- 25

Fabric strips of your choice. Which I then cut into small squares. 25 small squares ;)

Some ticking 25 pieces...about the circumference of the can in length

25 Vintage buttons.

Cut up 25 pieces from a cardboard box. I punched holes in them and then changed my mind and didn't use the holes. Ignore the holes. I covered them with buttons ( a quick fix)

Ready to begin. Heat your glue gun and thread some string through your buttons. Purely decorative.

Drill a biro size hole in the back top area of each can. Or enrol a husband to do same while you photograph his oh so gorgeous hands ;) Thank-you Mr Picket Fence xx

Glue your ticking on the cans.

Get that glue gun out again and stick a piece of cardboard on, followed by a snip of fabric and then on top, stick a number. Glue your button on. I glued my button over my accidentally punched holes :) I think it actually held together more securely because of the holes. A happy accident!

Hang your cans on the louvre door in random order with small sized "s" hooks. To the top, I added a poly resin angel I had tucked away ...you could add whatever makes you smile or just keep it simple and add nothing.

Fill each can with a treat a day to count down until Christmas. We are going to have little scrolls of paper with activities and recipes in each can. Topped off with a wrapped home made toffee, I think it will be quite a countdown, thats if baby Picket Fence doesn't raid every can within reach.
Feeling festive yet ? I'm off to eat soup and dream about planting that hedge . See you soon!!

Sharing with Sarah at A Beach Cottage