Signs of Autumn

The signs of autumn are hard to find around our little neck of the woods. So on the weekend we thought we'd go in search of autumn. And boy did we find it.

Lessons

When I was 11, I took my very first sewing class. It was an elective through school. I remember sewing rows and rows of stitches on scrap material over and over again. At the end of the course I had a handmade bag that I considered ugly and useless. And that was that. I never sewed again.

When I was around 15, my mum tried again to teach me, we bought a pattern and some material, but I couldn't see the point so it never got made (thinking back now on that pinafore pattern and floral material, perhaps that was a good thing). I never had any desire to sew.
And then I had Hyrum.
Suddenly, my mind was full of ideas of things I wanted to make and do and I needed to sew to be able to make these ideas come to life. But now, my mum who was always so willing to teach me, was living a plane trip away in Hong Kong. So I stored the ideas away in my mind and when Mum moved back plans started for a weekly sewing afternoon, my sewing lessons.

This little tote is one of my little projects come to life. I found the pattern for it here. Such a kind pattern for a beginner like me.

And now Hyrum has a little bag to take his fruit and drink bottle along for his Sunbeams class on Sundays. There's even a little pocket, a perfect little hidey hole for my little man's tithing. And suddenly this sewing thing, is very very exciting.

Exploring Puddles

A bit stir crazy around our house when the storms are here. I have such beautiful memories of playing in puddles, chasing newly formed streams to see where they go, building boats and people to travel along, all when I was young. I struggle sometimes to create the same playful passion with my boys, yesterday there was so much pent up energy and an outside adventure just led to tears. I don't ever remember my Mum outside with us, teaching us how to play, we just did. That is my dilemna for the week, how to create more play in our home, despite the rain.

Why I Love the Beach

You may have noticed that we like a trip to the beach every now and then in our family. I love it, love it, love it. I get so cranky when beaches are polluted, or full of people's discarded rubbish. Beaches should be fresh, pristine, pure. And the beach we holidayed at last week with Sam's parents was just that. Not a soul in sight, except the seagulls and kangaroos we shared the perfect landscape with. I think the beach is the ultimate playground for children and I love to watch my boys play when they are there. Play in a way that is so quickly being lost these days.The boys explored the rocks, played makeshift games amongst the pools of water formed as the tide went in and out. They ventured into sanddunes and examined little sea creatures. And Hyrum had his first real go at body boarding and boy did he love it.
I was a bit wary to venture too deep in the water this late in the season but Hyrum and Daddy had some special time sharing a new fun past time together.

Unpacking

Why is it that the prospect of unpacking seems to kill all the relaxing buzz from a break away? Hyrum's off at preschool and Ashton is having a play at Mum's and I am faced with a pile of washing and unpacking. So what do I do? Take pictures of it! Time to roll up my sleeves and get stuck in. Be back soon with some pics of a lovely few days at the beach.