Helping Out Pop...

I just love me some hand-made goodies - don't you??? 

My latest purchase is from a Facebook Shop called 'Luv Abby'. I'm totally crushing big time on this Shop at the moment. You see, this Shop is a little special to me - it's the brain child of my big sister Abby (hence the name) and about a month ago she branched out from her usual handmade yarn-y craftiness into making brooches, earrings, hair clips and the like.

These super cute little bird-y earrings where picked up for only $7.50!!!

 

And I also got these teeny flower hair pins for my girls and they were only $5 a pack - great value hey??!!

 

And then I couldn't go past grabbing myself one of these super cute GIANT 'burnt birds' for myself - it was only $15!!!!

 

You can check out Abby's Shop here and if you do I'd love you to let me know what you think...

So, do you like to Shop for handmade goodies like me?? What's your favourite Shop?? Have you bought any off Facebook before? Where?? I'd love to hear ALL about them!!! :)

This weekend saw my girls head out for the day with my Dad to help out their Poppy with his sheep work... I was so proud when I went to pick them up, they had worked so hard... I sometimes forget that they are such independent young girls who can already stand their own so very well - they are only 5 and 7 you know... 

I could feel my chest puffing out with pride and tears welling in my eyes (but I chocked them back in) as I watched their Poppy kneel down at the end of the day to tell them how very proud of them he was - I don't think I could have been happier then I was that Saturday afternoon.

My Waste...

A couple of weeks back we took a gamble here on the farm, as you do, and decided to plant a crop 4 weeks later than we normally would...

Well, this week our wheat is up, out of the ground, and making great progress thanks to the gorgeous weather we've been having... We're not expecting to harvest this planting, just hoping to graze some stock on it in a couple of months before sending them to marked...  

 

And with all of this gorgeous weather I've been enjoying many extended hours out in the garden; pruning, mulching, transplanting, and just generally freshening up..... I'm loving that the apron I was gifted by a gorgeous friend for my b'day last year is worn everyday!!! Deep front pockets make it simply perfect - thanks Cazy... xx

 

About 5 years back, for another b'day, I was gifted a 'mulch-er' and must admit that it would have to be up there with my all time favourite gifts!!! I've lost count of the number of wheel barrows full of mulch I've made and distributed around and throughout my garden this week not to mention over the past 5 years.....

 

Not too many days go past round here without all of us lending each other a hand both on the farm and in the home... This morning we were out in the yards in the crisp morning air before retreating to the warmth of our home to start out school day.... 

 

And I love that during the cooler months we get the chance to do most of our 'outdoor' work in woollens...

And lastly, about 6 months ago now I made a conscious decision to stop buying teabags. I hated that with each cup of tea I consumed (which for me is about 6 a day) I was creating waste!!!! So, when I found these cute little tea diffusers (oops, infuser) at a gorgeous Shop just down the road at Bourke I knew I was on to a winner... 

  

I use this EVERY day and each and every time I do I feel so gratified that I've made a decision to reduce the waste I produce, even if it is only just a little... I love that with each cup of tea I'm also reminded of the gorgeous ladies who served me in that Shop on that lovely day - Ladies who I'm lucky enough to call my friends... Thank you Anna, Charlotte and Tanya - I look forward to coming back to 'Carol's of Bourke' very very soon...

Have you reduced your waste lately???

'Big Knit'

I've had the Kerrera pattern and the 8 skeins of Malabrigo that it needed set aside for quite some time now...

I just love Gudrun Johnston's designs and this was going to be my 'Big Knit' for Winter.....

I oohh-ed and ahhh-ed over it many a nights and now with the help of my Mum and her super fast knitting hands this 'epic' knit (you're so right Caz!!) is finally finished......

I love the fluffy look of the Malabrigo Worsted and the patch like packets on the front. The double garter stitch border is also a favourite feature of mine and the reverse knit stitch panels at the top of this cardigan really set it off....

I can already see myself spending many a chill-y days (and nights) snuggled up in my new favourite cardi....

Ohhhh yeah, did you happen to notice my brooch????

It's the work of an awesome designer from Strawberry Hills - NSW. I love her quirky style and couldn't help but buy 4 brooches last week when she had her $10 brooch sale...