THESE DAYS

1. Coffee and walnut cake from Jude Blereau's amazing book Wholefood Baking. I was lucky enough to meet Jude last Saturday when she did a baking demonstration at the Organic & Sustainable Market. She made a delicious apple tart, and these scrumptious oat and barley scones, and then we feasted on them fresh from the oven with cream. The coffee and walnut cake did not last long in our house, but I remembered to take a quick snap before I devoured the last piece!
2. Freshly hung Donna Wilson plate (that I was gifted almost two years ago! Better late than never...)
3. Tulips from the husband
4. Gum leaves collected on our weekly Saturday morning outing
5. Everly loves to make us cups of tea. I am forever tidying up random cups all about the house, it's very cute!
6. 'Driving the car' while we waited for the rain to stop
7.  Delicious wood-fired oven pizzas at a friend's 30th
8. Freshly baked bread on a Sunday morning
9. A beautiful card from a dear friend congratulating me on two years since my birthing day
10. My little succulent friend
11. Picking up stones to make stone soup

THESE DAYS

A replacement (Sorry Fern!) /
She walked up while I was snapping photos, mandarin in hand which she'd pinched from the fruit basket. She tried to dig her thumb in to peel back the skin, then handed it to me. Once peeled and given back to her, she held it out in her hand and said emphatically, "I need a bowl, Mummy!" /
Beautiful soft-petaled carnations, a surprise from Mark after he went shopping at the markets /
I am in love with Lhami products - a gorgeous natural skincare range with certified organic ingredients. (Thank you to Vanessa who recommended these beautiful products!) I had been looking for a replacement balm for Vicks and this Eucalyptus Balm does just the job. When Everly has had a day out in the cold wind or rain, I rub the balm into her feet and cover with socks just before bed-time, to help prevent cold and flu. I also bought the Baby Balm for nappy changes and to treat dry skin, eczema and insect bites, and am loving the natural roll-on deoderant too! /
This girl amazes me with her beauty that seems to pour out of her entire being /
Reaching up to touch the wall decal, after jumping on the bed!

Joining Emily from The Beetle Shack in a weekly collection of snaps. 

THESE DAYS (POPPIES + PEEKABOO)

Poppies from the farmers market - bright oranges and yellows, then later in the week new blooms appeared in peach and pink /
Dining table scene /
A fallen Autumn leaf collected on our day out at the Botanic Gardens /
Full fruit bowl - we have been devouring new season apples and pears /
Delicious, crusty no-knead spelt bread using this recipe /
Peekaboo! /
Everly's latest 'game': pulling the shoelaces out of her shoes (fun for Everly but not fun for Mum, especially when we're running late for playgroup!) /
Autumn leaves collected and taped to the playroom wall /
A single bloom on the bathroom windowsill in lovely late afternoon light. Whenever I buy a bunch of flowers I like to scatter single blooms about the house - the bathroom, the lounge, on the bedside table. Flowers make me happy! /

Joining Emily from The Beetle Shack in a weekly collection of snaps. 

THESE DAYS

These are the only photos I managed to snap at the farmer's market on Sunday before my camera battery went flat. Devouring apple rings (despite Everly's intense frowning face, they are a favourite treat of hers!) and then pistachio nuts, it appears the only way I can get a decent photo of this girl at the moment is while she's eating!

There is not much variety in my collection this week I'm afraid, but I didn't pick up the camera until Sunday, and silly me didn't check the battery life before we left home. We had a busy week of playgroup, collecting our organic co-op order, catch-ups with friends, and getting caught out in a storm (hello soggy shoes!) with a flat car battery. (Hmmm, there seems to be a flat battery theme this week...)

Joining Emily from The Beetle Shack in a weekly collection of snaps. 

THESE DAYS

A friend of Everly's from playgroup, Adelaide, turned three on Monday, and so Everly experienced her first 'big kid' birthday party. I have a terrible habit of hanging around the food table at parties, and it appears my daughter has the same affliction, as I observed her slowly working her way through the popcorn supplies! She was obsessed with the trampoline, but was too frightened to go on with the big kids - you can see her in the last photo above, gripping the edge and peering in. There were a couple of moments when the trampoline was free, so Everly took her opportunity to quickly have a turn - a blur of jumping and giggles and so much happiness! Abby, Adelaide's Mum, did an amazing job with the birthday cake (vegan and gluten free, to suit everybody's food intolerances). I always love to watch children flock around a birthday cake to 'help' remove the candles for cutting, whilst sneakily enjoying fingertips of icing.

Everly had such a great time, joining in with the other children on the treasure hunt and the egg and spoon balancing. I saw glimpses of the little girl she is becoming. Everly will be two on Thursday. My little baby is growing up!

THESE DAYS

This past week has been busy moving around furniture in our house. Our third bedroom has always been a bit of a junk room slash study, but last weekend I decided to turn it into more of a playroom so Everly could play next to me while I worked on the computer. So this week has been a bit unglamorous with shifting and lifting, sorting and binning late into the evenings, followed by dusting and cleaning during the day (around a toddler, who is petrified of the vacuum cleaner!) Thankfully, it's all looking a lot tidier now and I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend doing absolutely nothing!

1, 2 & 3) Somewhere in amongst all the chaos, Everly and I delighted in some morning tea together - spelt and pear crumble cake with warm peppermint tea. She begged to have her own cup of tea, so I obliged.
4) Everly discovered this animal puzzle while we were sorting through her toys. When I found it at an op shop a few months ago she wasn't quite at the age to understand it, but now she loves it. First thing in the morning she runs to find it: 'Puzzle! Puzzle, Mummy!'
5) She used to frown and turn away, but now she'll occasionally smile for the camera when I ask.
6) Bouncy, auburn curls. Her hair is getting so long!

Joining Emily from The Beetle Shack in a weekly collection of snaps.