"Can we play with some playdough?"

"Can we play with some playdough?" 

My six words this week give me a chance to belatedly post about one of the gifts I gave to one of my nieces this year. 

My niece is two and loves playdough at the moment. We were talking today about the next time she comes to visit and what we might do. She asked, "Can we play with some playdough?" We can as I have some in the house, left over from some I made her for Christmas. 

I'm sure we'll have a lot of playdough fun, as well as some of her other favourite activities like hide-and-seek, reading and painting. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - January 4th, 2015

Some resilience and its shadows today. 

Most Sundays I post a photo or photos of a shadow or shadows from around my house and yard. 

You can see other people's shadow shots at www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com. 

Happy New Year! May creativity continue...

We are a creative household, each of us in different ways. I'm sure the creativity will continue throughout 2015. Earlier this evening Alysha painted this canvas for her cousins (who are huge Frozen fans). I'm sure they'll love it. 

Happy New Year! May creativity continue...

This is a Six Word Saturday post. You can see how other people describe their week or part thereof in six words at www.showmyface.com. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - December 28th, 2014

Lots of shadows in the front yard this morning. 

You can see many more shadow shots at www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com

So different...just a day later

I enjoyed doing something different on Christmas Day this year. My daughters and I had a lovely lunch at home and then we headed into the city to see Into the Woods. It was a preview session so we feel lucky to have seen it before it officially begins showing here on January 8th. All three of us enjoyed it too. 

Adelaide was very quiet on Christmas Day. I haven't seen it so quiet in a very long time. Rundle Mall was especially quiet given that no shops were open. I took a photo of the Malls Balls. 

How different the mall was just a day later. We decided to head in to the Boxing Day Sales in Rundle Mall. It's the first time we've been to Rundle Mall on Boxing Day and I expected it to be busy but was surprised by just how busy it was! Here's a photo taken in approximately the same spot. 

So different...just a day later

We had a successful day shopping (well, a couple of hours) and bought what we planned to. Can't say I'm keen for those crowds again anytime soon though. Part of the reason for being able to visit the city on Christmas Day and to do some shopping on Boxing Day was that our family Christmas get together was held belatedly due to various family member's commitments. We've just got home after a very enjoyable picnic in the park. Now, after a great day in the sunshine today, I'm looking forward to a relaxing day tomorrow (and some reading). 

The front of a card made by my niece Teya, 7

See how others describe their week or part thereof in six words at www.showmyface.com

Shadow Shot Sunday - December 21st, 2014

Three quite different ones for Shadow Shot Sunday today. 

Me and some thistles

On a palm tree. 

A curly shadow from an old chair

To see other people's shadow shots go to www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com. 

I have some reading to do!

I plan to read these five books in the very near future. I have started The Signature of All Things and have been enjoying it but may switch to Colorless Tsukuri Tazaki and his years of pilgrimage and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings as they are from the library. 

These five will join the other books I've enjoyed this year - 

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

The Sea of Tranquility - Katja Millay

Madness, a Memoir - Kate Richards

The Night Guest - Fiona McFarlane

Apple Tree Yard - Louise Doughty

Mazin' Grace - Dylan Coleman

The Rosie Project - Graeme G. Simsion

The Pure Gold Baby - Margaret Drabble

We are all completely beside ourselves - Karen Joy Fowler

I'm looking forward to discovering more great books in 2015.

What's on your reading list?

See how others describe their week or part thereof at www.showmyface.com. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - December 14th, 2014

I've been busier today than is usual for me on a Sunday so the shadows are later in the day ones. These ones were on the back of the house. Perhaps it is time to pull those weeds out but they make such great shadows!

See other people's shadow shots at www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com. 

Apricots, apricots, apricots...and more apricots

I've been a little obsessed with apricots this week. Even the word appears four times in my six word description this week for Six Word Saturday. 

Apricots, apricots, apricots...and more apricots.

I have an apricot tree in the backyard and it's a bumper crop this year! I have probably picked 20 kilograms already, mostly this week, and there are still more on the tree. The tree is a bit wild and some of the apricots are too hard to reach. It's nice to share some with the parrots and wattle birds too! My intention is to prune the tree (or have someone help me prune the tree) before next season. 

I'm very glad to have been able to pick many this year before the birds got them all and have shared some with friends. Last year most of them got eaten or dried on the tree before I had a chance to get them. 

The plan is to stew some and freeze. I love apricot crumble! I have also made jam for the first time. It tastes super yummy but is a bit thick (as in almost solid!) so may experiment a bit more and try another recipe. 

Some of the apricots I picked yesterday

The bowl of apricots I took to poetry group this morning

The tree in all its wildness

A branch full of apricots

Some for the birds

Initial attempt at making jam

Alysha has decorated a jar.
If we manage to make some jam that is possible to spread
we plan to give some away decorated like this.

To see how other people describe their week or part thereof in six words go to www.showmyface.com. 

Shadow Shot Sunday - December 7th, 2014

Lots of shadows this afternoon! I particularly like the one that looks like a whale but was from a pair of work pants that had twisted around the washing line. 

late afternoon washing line shadows

a close up of the 'whale'

apricot shadows

some shadowy gum leaves

great thistle shadows

and a close up of some whispy shadows

To see great shadow shots from others go to www.shadowshotsunday2.blogspot.com