owlet

A is for awesome

2012-01-29T22:58:00.000+11:00

It seems Big Owlet has had a growth spurt and suddenly none of her shoes fit, aside from a pair of thongs. Unfortunately we can't afford the orange Converse she wants right at the minute and all the cheapy shoe places seem to think that it's pink or sparkly or nothing for girls like her... So we wandered down the boys aisle, as we usually do at times like this, and spied the super cheap plain white canvas runners... A-ha! DIY awesome shoes! She set to work, adding bits when the mood strikes, and they keep getting more awesome each day. Just like her :)

pic above by Huz.

I made this :: red pants

2012-01-28T21:04:00.000+11:00

Just something small for my smallest owlet. A pair of stretchy, comfy pants... made from the sleeves of an old long sleeved top of mine, with a waistband from an old belly band thingamy I made when pregnant with Little Owlet. I didn't have a pattern, just used another tiny pair of pants as a template and figured it out on the machine... like most of my projects. I am rather loving upcycling right now. It seems to suit my style of crafting as I rarely have a plan, but seem to always make do with what materials I have at hand. And Tiny rather loves her comfy pants.

Have you made anything new from old lately?

the biggest bed in the world

2012-01-27T21:53:00.000+11:00

We've been playing musical beds around here for such a long time. Trying to keep flexible enough to accommodate everyone's needs as they grow and change and their needs change. Often we (and by we I mean Huz) will need to sleep in another bed so that an owlet (usually little owlet) can snuggle in and we can all sleep soundly. Our combined needs have changed so much that we now own at least one bed of each size from bassinette to king sized bed. And we've moved the bunks way more times than I can remember. They've been in every room as we've moved between variations on co-sleeping and personal space. I'm a little tired of the musical beds game...

What I do know is that we need to provide the space for the owlets to sleep near us if they need. It's always a bit of a tug of war, this growing up stuff. Our owlets ebb and flow through bursts of independence and needing to be a babe in arms all over again. We could choose to not respond to that need and send them back to bed, time after time, escorting them to the loo for the umpteenth time... Or we could just make some room, both in our beds and our hearts. One day they will sleep in houses of their own and we will miss this.

So, right now we have the biggest bed in the world. Well, maybe not that big, but big enough for us. A king and a queen sized bed pushed together, which fills the room entirely. There's ample room for everyone. And there's still a bed to escape to elsewhere should someone need some space. Right now I have three owlets sleeping soundly. Little owlet's heart just about exploded as she told us this was her dream come true... I expect she'll be sharing the space for a while yet, and that's just fine by all of us. Yes, we will sleep well tonight.

on camping

2012-01-26T21:32:00.000+11:00

You know before you go camping that it's going to be dirty. There will be bugs and wildlife and loud noises in the night. That's half the fun. It's a bonding experience and the owlets will love sleeping all in one enormous bed. You expect, when you pack the car and head off camping on the spur of the moment, that you'll have forgotten some things. What you don't know is just how hard cooking on the ground, in the dirt with a baby around is going to be. Or that one of the air mattresses has a hole in it and you'll be pumping it up hourly through the night so that half the family isn't sleeping on the ground... Or that you'll be located in a campsite right next to the toilets. Convenient, but smelly if the wind blows in a certain direction... which of course it will on the night you happened to go camping...

But in the morning you'll wake up and go for a swim in a lagoon so warm it feels like a bath. Fish will swim all around and you'll be amazed by the beauty of it all. You'll go back and have a nap with the baby and realise that your mattress most likely has a hole too and that the ground is quite cold and hard. But it doesn't phase you, because you've survived. And you know how to fix the problem.

Within two hours you'll have checked in to new luxury digs just down the road. The credit card will be completely maxed now, but somehow you don't care any more. Because you will sleep well and be clean in just moments. The owlets will be happy and the holiday will be saved. In fact you'll have loads of happy memories now. The despondent, sinking feeling you had when the second air mattress deflated is now an hilarious story you can tell each other as you saunter off for a spa... And you know next time you'll be better prepared. You've learned a valuable lesson and the whole thing has been thoroughly worthwhile. Glamping anyone?

breathing...

2012-01-25T22:56:00.002+11:00

It's been a whole week. I can hardly believe it and yet, it seems like a lifetime since my last post. Summer has occupied us all so entirely that I've forgotten to record all the moments. I've just been living in them. Enjoying, savouring... All that stuff I aim to do so often.

I'm feeling so blessed that we have this time to pause and breathe. Like one giant out breath, we've been camping and gardening, spending long afternoons at the beach. Finding ladybirds and playing with them until they flutter away...

All sorts of stuff I must update over the next few weeks while I try an reign in my head a little to prepare and make lists and breathe in again.

But for a little while longer, I'm going to just keep getting absorbed in the moment a bit. Prolonging the days, enjoying them... and breathing...

wandering...

2012-01-18T21:02:00.000+11:00

I've been on a little voyage abroad with Tiny Owlet. A little wander back to my hometown to spend some time with my family. We missed Christmas with them and it's been a year since they last saw Tiny. She's grown a bit since then...

It was my first time away for the night from Little Owlet and the longest I've been apart from Big Owlet in three years. I made their fave breakfast before sad faces kissed me goodbye at the airport.

And although it was hard for all of us, I think we all did a little bit of growing.

In fact, the bigger owlets had a marvelous time at home with Huz and he was so brilliantly there for them the whole time.

As they were for him.

Tiny Owlet and I spent lots of time at my favourite Melbourne place, the NGV. In fact, we celebrated the birthdays of two very important people there. We also sampled some cafe culture, amazing food and conversation at my parents' dinner table, sleepovers with my sis and her man and a languid afternoon catching up with old friends. There was just a little bit of time to miss home...

We returned somewhat relaxed, with treats from Mum's kitchen, including her famous apricot jam and some Christmas cake, baked specially... Oh, and a new tooth.

And although I'll miss the food, the conversation and especially the company... It is good to be back in our nest with my owlets and Huz, wandering the garden and sampling summer. I was greeted at the airport by owlets with tiny saved packages of homegrown strawberries and peas. Then at home I was greeted by a tree dripping with beautiful, ripe apricots. Just perfectly ready. All gone now. And so on with summer....

I made this...

2012-01-10T21:26:00.000+11:00

Around the middle of last week I realised I'm off to Melbourne soon and the weather there was very ridiculously hot. And I don't own any t-shirts. Or many pieces of clothing to wear at all when the weather creeps over 30°C, which doesn't happen all that often in Hobart... I raced off on a cheapy t-shirt hunt (did I mention we froze the credit cards?), and found nothing decent. Anywhere. Until I found the Red Cross shop where having a 2 for $10 sale. Yay! Anyhow, among the bits and pieces was this kaftan...

I liked the colours and even the flowers, but so did not fancy myself walking across the tarmac in a tent. Comfy? Yes. Flattering? On my shape? No. And I'm going to Melbourne, not a tropical resort where I might get away with it poolside.

So I chopped it in half.

Today I had a moment or three to spare, so I sewed some fabric ties from some Japanese quilting fabric I had tucked away. I attached them just below the armpit by picking a little hole in the seam and re-sewing. So the top half had instant shape and nice long, breezy sleeves.

The bottom half quickly became a very light, breezy skirt. Super dooper comfy and great for the beach, or garden, or home... anything.

Then I glanced at the bottom of the pile at an old denim skirt I wore before owlet times. That almost makes it vintage... Really comfortable and the shape suits me well, but the length. Ugh. Ankle length denim skirt? Not so much.

So I chopped the bottom off it.

See the pattern here? Then I stood in front of my fabric shelf for a really long time. And I pulled out an old fave piece of vintage Japanese scrap fabric and played with it. I had just enough. Exactly. Amazing.

So I made a border and found it works with all my shoes and clothes and I rather like it.

Brilliant stuff. I now have three extra pieces of clothing to play with. And all it cost me was $5. I'm going to attempt to post about more things I make, while I make them. I'll do a little Christmas catch up too. I'm also making a return to making things for the owlet shop and a return to markets! Yay! I'm really excited to be invited to participate in a revamped, beautiful local market, a couple of times this year. So there'll be lots of making going on. Watch this space...

manifesto

2012-01-05T22:00:00.000+11:00

Not resolutions so much as aspirations... a plan of attack... a manifesto of sorts. When I read it, it seems like a guide to the basics one needs for survival, with some fluffery added in. Like the staples. The spuds, plus a few luxuries... I'll be happy if I achieve the survival mode aspirations. So far so good...

Nurture.

Drink water. Lots.

Eat real food.

Move my body every day.

Build a fort for us grown ups. A cozy place to escape for a moment.

Sew myself some new clothes.

Introduce a night time foot soaking ritual with herbs and salts and Huz.

Study regularly.

Read a book.

Print on fabric.

Go for walks on my own more.

Sleep more.

Sew as much as I can from my fabric stash.

Plan meals.

Go for more picnics.

Learn a language.

Play music.

Stay home more.

Spend time in the garden every day.

Use cash. Freeze the credit card.

Watch a film each week.

Sew a quilt.

Relaunch owlet at markets.

Learn to crochet.

Reorganise the nest.

Save money for something big... maybe a tipi. Or a holiday!

I hope your year has begun beautifully... We're busy revitalising the nest. This morning I woke to a house of agitated owlets, grumpy Huz, grumpy me. It was time for a change... so we're reorganising the lot. Again. Throwing stuff out. Again. Cleaning the slate so we can find our rhythm again... We've also been getting up and doing a daily boot camp. Yay! Fun! And ouch!

Thanks so much for all your lovely comments on Monday's post. I was a wee bit nervous about ending Unschool Mondays. There's just so much to write about. I could keep writing for years! And now it seems I'm meme free... I'll miss all the lovely people I've met along the way... I guess I'm looking for fewer limits for myself. So the posts will continue along the same lines, but they won't be restricted to Mondays. And they won't just be about unschooling, but at the same time, they will. Of course they will. How can they not? After all, it is just living... Anyhow, thanks for the support. It means a lot. xx

unschool monday :: redefining

2012-01-02T19:00:00.001+11:00

So we've begun a new year and we're in the middle of our long languid summer... Our days have found a new rhythm. One that's free and floaty in the only way being on holidays can be. We're eating when we feel hungry, sleeping when we are tired. We've lost track of days and time... Big Owlet, however has started wearing a watch and settles down to table work with regularity. She's wanting some structure. Some reassurance. When I look back at last year, we've been largely without structure and it's taken me until now to sit down and figure out what our rhythm might be, if we indeed have/had one.

I've documented well our journey with screens and bedtimes and food. We've spent the last six months letting go of limits on everything. Radical Unschooling is generally what life like this is defined as. Life without limits... The owlets went to bed when they wanted to, ate what they wanted and when, and watched whatever they liked. They became overtired because they didn't go to bed when they were tired, much the same way that I don't when I'm squeezing the last few minutes of kid-free time out of the day. They watched television and played on screens ALL DAY LONG whenever we were home. Downtime most certainly, but we lost our connection and family rhythm. For months I didn't see much of them or have time to connect because they were glued to a screen. And when they weren't they became violent and rude because they couldn't control the energy in their growing bodies. They reacted to foods in ways that affected their behaviour and health. We were continuously sick for six months, one virus/cold/bug after another. Our credit card debt spiralled as we attempted to meet our owlets ever increasing needs... And, Huz and I lost ourselves a little. Saying yes to everything, removing limits, meant we compromised our own.

I've been a member of online facebook groups and lists where it seems there's one right way to unschool. Radical unschooling is often seen as the pinnacle and there's an understanding that this means removing all limits, including limits on food, video games and tv, playing with weapons and barbie dolls, using course language, staying up 'til you crash out on the floor... If you don't embrace it, you must need help letting go or evolving. It seems there are lots of rules to living this limitless life and there is no room for a grey area... Actually, I found it extremely limiting to myself as a human being and my own set of values and the set of values I'd like my children to find. Our approach is very family centred and for us, radical unschooling meant our centre shifted. Although it works brilliantly for a great number of our friends, for us, this kind of letting go was not the answer to family harmony.

Big Owlet has actively requested more structure for this year. She's asked us to make some decisions on things for her. Asked us to tell her what to do at certain times. Asked for guidance. As has Little Owlet. As unschoolers, we have to listen to that. While we know they've been learning lots, they've not been doing the kind of stuff they like when we are more attentive and we may have become a little slack in that area. So this year sees us working on some themes, sharing ideas more, organising activities and the odd 'lesson' where I introduce a new concept for them to work through. We've reintroduced a gentle bedtime rhythm where owlets wander to bed to read until they are sleepy. They eat family meals and as chief cook, I reserve the right to choose what food we eat. And we give them a nudge when their screen time leans towards excessive. Instead of yes, it's a negotiation. A discussion. And everyone's voice is heard. Sometimes we make decisions on their behalf in the interests of family harmony and health and that's working well. Lots of talking and listening and honesty and loving....

So it seems lately that our approach to unschooling falls a little off the radical register and if it leans towards anything, it'd be Waldorf/Steiner, as it always has. I can hear the radical unschoolers nodding their heads... Waldorf seems to be the anti radical unschooling among those in the radical community... We sit comfortably between the two and can see how they work harmoniously. It doesn't need to be all or nothing as there isn't one type of education that works for everyone. Actually, I think there are as many different approaches to education as there are families. And I don't think creating labels is helpful for anyone. I find judgement creep in and we stop seeing ourselves as individuals. Sets of rules and dogma for particular learning styles is something I find particularly unhelpful when it comes to children learning. Nurturing, loving, security, listening and comfort. These are things children need to learn and live. And however they are provided, doesn't really matter. Whatever you call yourself or your way of life has no meaning really. We're all just living...

And living is what we intend to do. I'm dropping labels from my children's learning experience where I can and just doing what works for us and getting into it head first. A fresh start with lots of new exciting projects on our horizon, listening to their needs. Although I've enjoyed Unschool Mondays and meeting so many wonderful families and finding out about how they're learning and living, I've found that dedicating a day each week to unschooling a little restrictive. Initially I began dedicating a day of the week to unschooling so that this didn't become an unschooling blog, but as learning happens everyday and is really just living anyway, it's impossible to divide it up like that... So I'm letting Unschool Mondays go. They've been a wonderful place for me to define what it is we do and how. But now is time to just get on with it and write about what we are doing whenever and regardless of definition. I'm excited for that. I'll be providing some unschooling resources here and creating an Unschool Monday archive and leaving it at that. From now on, you'll see us living and learning and travelling along with our owlets and enjoying the ride. I hope you'll enjoy it with us. xx

'til tomorrow...

2011-12-31T22:01:00.000+11:00

Well there it is! Almost... HAPPY NEW YEAR! I'll say it now as by midnight I'll have welcomed owlets home from the fireworks, tucked them in, turned off the fairy lights and ducked off to bed early... I'm hoping 2012 brings only the BEST things for you and your family. May it bring your health, happy days, music, yummy food and creativity. And LOTS of laughs. That's what we're hoping for. And some more sleep. So with that in mind, I'm off for a cuppa and an early one. See you next year!

Lots of love from all of us in the owlet nest to you. xxxxx

{these moments} :: because I can't pick one...

2011-12-30T21:36:00.000+11:00

We've had a good year. A long year. A slow and sickly year. A tough, hard slog, lonely, busy, suddenly social, fun, fast and crazy kind of year.

But it has been filled with joy and delight. Watching our Tiny owlet, our baby, enjoy her baby year. And it has flown by.

Her happiness, the one I felt when she was in the womb, is infectious. We've made sure to enjoy each moment, been more patient with her, tried to pause, savour, remember.

We've photographed her moments LOTS. It is ever so much more fun having a baby when you have older children to enjoy the ride too...

Tiny ends her year still dancing when she celebrates, grinning that scrunchy nosed four (almost six!) toothed grin. She is WALKING! *gasp* She has been for a little while, although she's been in denial about it, as have the rest of us. But tonight I watched her stand up and take seven steps towards Big Owlet before falling into a puddle of giggles and cuddles. Big Owlet beamed with pride. Tiny danced.

She loves to kiss, open mouthed and then gestures to be taken to the next family member to kiss, and so on until we've all been kissed at least three times.

She climbs. She's fearless. And loves to read.

She is strong, determined, hilarious. She has a brilliant sense of humour and comedic timing. She understands pretty much everything we are saying to her and can say a word or two, with a wry giggle usually. She's lovely. We are so blessed. It's been a good year.

********

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama.

festively floating

2011-12-26T21:33:00.001+11:00

It seems like all that preparation, all that thought, those days trying to keep our heads above water to get it all done... went in the blink of an eye. Christmas came and has gone and now we are floating in that beautiful no-man's-land between Christmas and New Year. So, as my mind seems to be preoccupied with such things, here's a photographic look at our lovely Christmas. A busy lead up to a beautiful day spent together and with friends in our lovely nest... First preparations, crafting and elving...

Then baking and pausing and anticipating...

Sewing...

Gifting...

Setting the table with my paternal grandmother's tablecloth and my maternal grandmother's silverware... before consuming the feast...

Playing...

Slowing down, admiring, assessing the loot and enjoying the leftovers... Let the floating begin.

I hope you're having wonderful days too, wherever you are and whatever you celebrate. May they be equally festive and floaty and surrounded by love. xoxo

*Thanks to my friend Sarah for taking the shots of the table and twister... two moments I enjoyed but my camera missed!

the wheels on the bus...

2011-12-22T09:31:00.000+11:00

day 17 :: fancy dress dinner
day 18 :: go out for breakfast
day 19 :: put on a christmas play
day 20 :: sing christmas carols
day 21 :: ride on the double decker bus

unschool monday :: gone unschoolin'

2011-12-19T23:04:00.000+11:00

Well, not really. We don't have holidays as such... Regular school-term activities like drama and dancing have stopped for the year, but for the most part our days are the same. Just floatier. We don't put a halt on learning. How can you? In fact, we're probably better at facilitating learning when we have more time... Expect great things from our owlets over the next couple of months!

Things have been busy around here with all the kayaking and crafting to get done. I almost missed tonight's post! What day is it again? No linkup this week because I figure everyone's busy enough this week. But if you'd like to wander back through Unschool Mondays for the past couple of years, you can find them all here.

feeling festive...

2011-12-16T22:56:00.001+11:00

Or trying to, rather... Actually, an alternate title for this post could be "Oh! Christmas Tree!?" For some reason the festive, excited bug hasn't really hit our nest yet and it seems to have snuck up all too quickly. Not sure why... Possibly, like much of this year, the care and attention I'd normally give to things is alluding me. It seems like we're going through the motions a bit. I can feel the dullness and disinterest and dismay at not doing all the things half as well as I'd like, slowly peeling away. I think I just need to stop. Or at least slow down. And so the festive season this year seems more like a finishing line than a time to revel in. Does that make sense? Of course, it doesn't help that Huz is usually begrudgingly festive at this time of year, so the enthusiasm is generated by me and if my stores are low... Well... I'm sure we'll have a lovely time and if I can spare the time to focus on the little details, we'll all perk up enough...

Tonight we decorated our tiny tree. It's small enough to fit on the table out of reach of Tiny's hands until Christmas morning. It's also soft and fluffy enough so she can touch it without much problem when it is within reach. And a native, so we can plant it in the garden when the festive season is behind us. We placed last year's handmade ornaments with this year's needle felted toadstools and Big Owlet's felted star. On top of the tree is the beaded dragonfly given to us by a friend to top Big Owlet's first tree, which was similarly tiny. Here's hoping that along with the street party and neighbourhood santa truck tomorrow, we wake up feeling festive and excited about the week ahead. I am actually equal parts excited and daunted at the Christmas craftapalooza awaiting me and the time promised to work on it... Wish me luck!

Day 14 :: Breakfast for dinner
Day 15 :: Go for a family walk
Day 16 :: Decorate the tree

wordless wednesday :: own two feet

2011-12-14T21:02:00.000+11:00

more here

summer lovin'

2011-12-13T09:06:00.000+11:00

We've had mixed weather, but for the most part the heater is off... Where we live, that means summer! We've been berry picking with friends, eating berries, shopping, puddling and pottering and wasting days, as I suppose you do when summer is stretched out before you...

Making: Wreaths. While listening to Aretha. Like we always do. The owlets still don't really get the joke. I've also been making more fungi and procrastinating on the ever growing pile of christmas sewing doom.

Eating: Banana cake. Bananas are cheap again and we're taking them for granted enough to have cake and smoothies... Life is good.

Listening: To Laura Viers children's album Tumble Bee. Even if you don't have owlets of your own, this is just beautiful. Each owlet has a favourite song and we sing it loud. With the windows down. It's on high rotation here after we gave it to Tiny Owlet for her birthday. Tiny is also right into dancing and has a particular favourite. Robot Rock by Daft Punk is her song of choice. "Rock Rock", which kind of sounds like she is quacking, lets us know she wants to dance.

Reading: Awesome kids e-zines. We've downloaded and printed a bunch of Action Pack and Alphabet Glue magazines and I leave them around for Big Owlet to discover on a lazy day. So many craft/reading/outdoor/science/fun activities there! I highly recommend them.

Planning: Camping trips on our beautiful island. I think a couple of days away would do us all the world of good. I can feel the inspiration and motivation returning to nurture my owlets, Huz and myself... But still, a few days to shake it up and get some perspective would be lovely.

Activity Advent...
* have pancakes (with berries) for dinner
* put up fairy lights in the lounge room
* play mini golf
* go to the movies
* make decorations
* giving day
* write a christmas song
* watch a christmas movie together
* make a wreath

unschool monday :: money + giving

2011-12-12T09:25:00.001+11:00

The concept of giving to others has been a tricky one for our owlets to grasp. They generally have everything they need or want. And when there's something they feel they need, we try to help them get it. They are very fortunate. On the occasion where we can't find a way to provide what they feel they need, there have been tears. And a need for perspective. And slowly, slowly their consciousness of the world outside theirs is growing... They are beginning to understand the importance of caring for others, sharing and giving.

They understand well how to give to family and friends. They enjoy watching the surprise or happy face of a friend or family member opening a gift, or card they've worked on. But days in town tend to turn my happy owlets into a pair of Veruca Salts. I have a choice to either avoid town altogether, max out the credit card, or maintain an open dialogue about money and spending and budgets and, when they are dismayed about it or lamenting a lack of money, discussing with them the reality of poverty while empowering them to be responsible for their own financial situation.

In our nest, we have a formula for pocket money that applies to each of us, even me and Huz. We receive our age in dollars, minus one dollar per week. That dollar is placed (theoretically) aside for the end of the year when we donate it to a charity of our choice. This year we did it properly for the first time and I think the owlets are understanding the concept of giving to others, and what you can do with money when you save it.

The other morning, the advent activity was Giving Day. The owlets excitedly prepared to be given to. Faces dropped when we told them that wasn't happening. They were the ones doing the giving. It didn't compute. We issued each owlet with a token for their saved amount, which they could spend on the charity of their choice. Then we discussed some options with them. They were both taken with the Oxfam Unwrapped catalogue*, Big Owlet choosing a family of chickens and Little Owlet choosing a piglet for families in Laos. With the left over money, they decided to go and purchase a gift to place under the ABC giving tree, to be redistributed to families in time for Christmas. This was particularly difficult for Little Owlet, who would have dearly loved to keep what she chose. But when the ABC helpers removed the gifts shortly after we placed them there, she was thrilled. And so excited for the child who would receive that gift on Christmas morning. The one she chose for them. She made a difference to someone's day, and that felt good.

*Huz and I also chose a gift from the catalogue. Helping create Aboriginal women's circles. Something close to my heart, having witnessed the healing power of women's circles and extending that to people within our community who could really benefit from them.

{this moment} :: dimples & squish

2011-12-09T21:49:00.001+11:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by SouleMama.

my creative space

2011-12-08T09:54:00.001+11:00

I'm making some tiny toadstools for our tiny tree. Big Owlet is joining in and needle felting a star or two. I think it's going to look rather lovely and festive. And gosh I'm enjoying making things again! I've whipped up a couple of custom orders before I get stuck into gifts for family and friends. Lots to do! Happy days!

more spaces here.

wordless wednesday :: flutterby

2011-12-07T08:18:00.001+11:00

more here

unschool monday :: blythe...

2011-12-05T11:37:00.001+11:00

Otherwise known as numeracy, literacy, craft, information technology, history, planning... life learning.... Big Owlet first spied Blythe over my shoulder on a blog one day and was immediately besotted... Then after some research and thought found you can make really rather awesome doll houses for these dolls. And perhaps she's not too old for dolls after all.

So she sat down with ebay and watched auctions and lamented the fact that Blythe comes at such a high price. Her weekly allocation of pocket money meant she'd be waiting for aaages if she saved. But she began saving. And longing, pining. Researching some more and working out just how long until she owned Blythe. Then discussion of credit cards came in... Currently Big Owlet is paying off a substantial credit debt. We helped her pay for the doll, seeing it as an excellent excercise in all of the subjects listed above. And helping her follow her passions.

So now Blythe is here. Her name is Sophie. And she's sitting in Big Owlet's room, waiting for friends. Hmmm... Now comes the part where I set aside time to indulge Big Owlet in some crafting. She suddenly needs to learn to sew and crochet and have someone to share that with, and this doll seems to be the catalyst. Off we go!!

Have you wandered around last week's unschool monday links yet? So many beautiful posts on families exploring nature... and iPhones!Just about my most useful parenting/unschooling tool :)

basket case

2011-12-04T09:59:00.001+11:00

This is part of our garage sale haul over the past two weeks... Suddenly my world is filled with awesome (and useful) vintage baskets.... Can one ever have enough baskets? Huz says yes. Between garage sales and an opshop visit mid-week, we've also managed a ballet costume, a vintage sheet, books, a zen garden...

A vintage cowgirl outfit...

And a festive teaspoon! Who could live without that? Nothing beats a treasure hunt when you're on holiday time...

I'm joining in with Flea Market Finds over at Her Library Adventures.

my place and yours :: advent

2011-12-03T21:27:00.001+11:00

Our activity advent has begun! Big Owlet took the initiative of folding little origami cups again this year and we have been placing a little note with a suggestion for an activity inside each day. We've done this for a few years now and it is starting to get a little ho-hum, so I'm thinking we might try and spice it up a little... maybe introduce an element of surprise for us and some more exciting activities, if I get organised to think about it sooner than bedtime the night before... I just can't believe we're here, in December already!! Amazing! I'm very much looking forward to a relaxing Christmas with good friends and my lovely Huz and our owlets. So blessed!

Advent activities so far...
* have a treasure hunt
* buy a christmas tree
* paint everyone's toenails

See other peeps getting festive over at Punky & Me.

Here's us getting festive with our advent calendar in 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010. You can wander around the month of december for each year and see a bunch of fun stuff we've been up to. xx

cake days

2011-11-30T19:31:00.001+11:00

There's a certain calm that falls upon the owlet nest when the scent of a cake baking in the oven wafts through the air... Everything is ok. What it really means is that mama has time and space to stop and bake. Just because. Or maybe for a special occasion, which is a good thing too. Its a sign that all is right with the world... On Wednesday I baked because Huz officially began his long, long break. And because Nannie came to visit and cake is always great for visitors... But this post isn't about Wednesday's's cake at all. Its about passing on the recipes for two cakes I've blogged recently and you've asked for...

Banana and Maple Syrup First Birthday Cake

We've made this cake for Little Owlet and Tiny Owlet for their first birthdays*. A surefire winner.

125g butter
1/2 cup rapadura
drizzle of maple syrup
2 eggs
2 large bananas, mashed
1 1/2 cups wholemeal flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons milk
Maple Cream Icing
1 cup cream
1/4 cup maple syrup, or to taste.

Preheat oven to 180°C. Place butter and rapadura in a bowl and beat until light and creamy. Add eggs and maple syrup and beat well. Mix bananas, flour and milk into the butter mixture. Pour mixture into a greased and lined 20cm cake tin and bake for 40 minutes, or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool in tin.
To make the icing, whip cream until thick and add maple syrup to taste. Spread over cooled cake and decorate with a sprinkling of rapadura, flowers or berries. And maybe a candle.

Apple Berry Spice Cake

We ate this cake when we celebrated Beltane. It's deliciously moist and fruity. Perfect with a cuppa on a late spring/early summer's day.

2 apples cored and sliced
1 cup berries
2 cups wholemeal flour
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
2/3 cup honey
1/2 cup melted butter
2 teaspoons baking powder
Drizzly topping
1 tbsp butter
1tsp honey
1tbsp orange juice

Preheat oven to 180°C. Keep a few berries and apple rings aside for decorating the top of the cake. Put apples and berries in a mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup flour and spices and mix lightly to coat the fruit. In a separate bowl, blend eggs, milk, honey and butter. Add the rest of the flour and baking powder to the apples and berries. Fold egg mixture in gently. Spoon into greased and lined 20cm cake tin. Decorate the top with the remaining berries and apple rings. Bake for 40 minutes or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool in tin for 10 mins then turn onto rack and drizzle with drizzly topping. Serve warm or cool, however long you can wait!

* Tiny's other cake was made entirely from fruit. It took 1 watermelon, 1 rockmelon, 1/2 pineapple, 3 punnets strawberries, 3 kiwifruit, 1/2 punnet blueberries, 2 apples and a bag of grapes. I put fruit on bamboo skewers, sliced and stacked. Simple as that!