& the school holidays continue . . .

Greetings all,

I'm all about free fun for children during school holidays.  I guess it stems back to when we first had children we didn't have cash to throw around, so we made the most of free activities or hanging at home.  Personally i use school holidays to clean out the children's rooms & they need them to relax from going hard at school all term.  Staying home is not a chore, it's a pleasure.

So here is a typical free fun day at our place . . . 

starting with a dose of home juiced goodness.  I did wash these celery sticks again!!

 Nothing wrong with window shopping & not spending, my children are largely unspoilt with stuff, this Santa falls under the category of unnecessary stuff, no dropped lips or tantrums, she completely understands the word 'no'.

 This is our 3rd school holidays now with chickens, they are the pet that doesn't get old.  Chickens have so much personality.  Pets are the ultimate school holiday activity, to feed, play & nurture.  Dare i suggest our chickens have a fabulous diet.

 I have always found that my children naturally pair up, or enjoy a good dose of solitude in their own rooms during the break.  I have strived to make their rooms inviting & cosy, so they want to be in them.  Actually my twins have talked about moving back in together. 

School holidays are the perfect time to exploit child labour - gardening, cleaning, tidying, baking & cooking.  My guys make a mean chicken schnitzel.  As a housewife, these jobs are normally mine during the day, so i trade with them . . . i unpacked the dishwasher!!

 Then there are the not-a-school-night treats like sleeping out in the lounge or siblings bedrooms.  This is still a huge hit with my son, he's 8 & will bring half his bedroom with him too.  He got a bit cold one night so slept with ear muffs on.  I cannot get enough of this little fella.

So we've stayed home these holidays, one trip to the cinema - with $6.50 tickets - it was hard to resist while i was recovering from a migraine, in the dark with quiet children.  This is how we roll almost every school holidays.  We're not massive must-go-away people, it's too expensive for a family of 6 on a single income, we remain realistic & homey.  Love Posie

my weekend in images . . .

Greetings all,

Poof, after yesterday's post (thanks for your well wishes & sibling stories) . . . i thought i might enlighten you with all the lovelier things from my weekend . . .

a spot of screen printing . . .

mmmm, macarons in Spinderella . . .

thanks Donna Hay!!  Did you know she's doing a flourless truffle cake mix soon, oh you will, i'll have them in a giveaway a.s.a.p. . . .

Farmer's Market orangey goodness . . .

i got carried away juicing & overflowed the food processor (again) so out with the trusty straw . . .

4 children took turns sucking it up . . .

& wrapping up the weekend with a Sunday night Penang curry chicken . . .

with herbs from my barrel of blooming ingredients.  I was informed by the critics - i added too much dill, i just can't love children who don't embrace dill.  I know there are dill haters who read my blog, bite me, i mean, bite dill.

I picked the herbs after an hour of reading in the garden before making dinner & suddenly lost the ability to tell the difference between coriander & parsley.  I sniffed, i tasted, i compared . . . i picked both & tossed them all in the curry!!  I had herb amnesia.  If i inspire you to do anything, it's to grow your own herbs, chillies & salad fixings . . . a little effort with the watering can, will save you a fortune & fresh herbs are the hero of the dish.  Thank you, thank you very much, love Posie