• Blog,  Hearth & Health,  In the Home - Organisation

    How We Daily Keep House: Large Family Logistics

        This is the first of an ongoing series addressing how large family logistics play out in our home in relation to household organisation. If you’ve ever wondered how we manage in any area of household management feel free to ask, either in the comment box or send me an email.     Two friends on the soccer sidelines recently shared their observations regarding my household that has set me on a path of reflection. Our conversation began with their comments on; ‘how clean my house was when they’ve visited’ and queries as to ‘how did I manage to achieve a clean home with a houseful of children?’ Their surprise at…

  • Blog,  Blogging - Daybook

    My Daybook: 10th June, 2016

    Outside my window… the world it is in total darkness, I’m up very early carving a moment to write I am thankful… for the heavy deluge of rain on the weekend.  All three tanks are full, our dams are overflowing and there are patches of green grass.  Unfortunately many other towns and cities throughout our nation are flooded I am thinking… about my weekend away. I attended a Conference with great anticipation but sadly came away disappointed, which is a shame as I appreciate how much work and love the organisers poured into it. Upon reflection I realised I went with expectations. Expectations of refreshment, practical brainstorming and time to…

  • Blog,  Book Reviews,  Books - Faith,  Books - Fiction,  Books - History,  Books - Nature

    Books Read Aloud – January Thru May, 2016

    Each month I have intentions of writing and sharing scintillating reviews of the books I’ve read that month, the embarrassing truth though is, the sheer amount of books I devour is daunting so I abandon my post midway and return to reading. Perhaps I should adopt Modern Mrs Darcy’s approach and share, “three books I love, one I hate.”   ‘Diving in’ by sharing some of the books I’ve been reading aloud with our children, certain we’ve read more but my record keeping has been patchy. We have a number of books being simultaneously read from our two/three reading baskets due to our children’s wide age spread, whilst there is much ‘cross over’ of listening with…

  • Blog,  Extensions,  Extensions - Renovating,  In the Library

    Library Reveal

    Last Sunday on Mother’s Day I was crowned ‘Queen for the Day’ and my family gave this book loving girl an absolutely fantastic gift! All day they carried, dusted and sorted the seven thousand books that were scattered throughout the house, into our new library and created our now favourite room. Without further ado, let’s take a tour..  I’m now most likely to be found in the library soaking in the atmosphere, blessed, so very blessed. There is still book organising to complete, seating to purchase and picture book display shelves to build, small details, I’ll potter along. Simply ecstatic with with our space. A huge thank you to my family, in particular to…

  • Blog,  Photography,  Photography - Link Ups

    31 Day Photography Challenge: Linkup Week Two

    We’re currently hosting a 31 Day Photography Challenge here on the blog and would love to have you join us 🙂 A great way to take your photography up a step, pick up your camera and practice, practice and practice.   To join us is simple, just share your post link below and we will pop on over for a visit, you may also share your photos on instagram using #31dayphotography.   Don’t forget to come back and join us next Wednesday 18th, sharing your photos for Days 11 – 17.   Day 4: Flowers   Day 5: Funny   Day 6: Hands   Day 7: Motion   Day 8: Eyes…

  • Blog,  Blogging - Daybook

    My Daybook: 10th May, 2016

    Outside my window… there is the most glorious sunrise, I’ve just spent several moments outside trying to capture the colours, I’ll try again tomorrow with the tripod I am thankful… so extremely thankful for my talented husband who has just finished creating the most incredible home library a book loving girl could have 🙂 Several times throughout the day I wander in just to gaze in amazement and appreciation, I’m blessed, so blessed I am thinking… about our eldest son’s birthday this week, he is turning twenty-one, where have the years gone!!! Excited as he’s talking about a visit home sometime this month, as we spent Christmas with our lads…

  • Blog,  Extensions,  Extensions - Flooring,  Extensions - Renovating,  In the Library

    Library Ready And Waiting

      Once our library floor had been laid it was time to turn our focus to sanding and polyurethane-ing the floor, therefore last weekend we hired a sander and began our first foray into finishing a floor. After PC ran the industrial sander over the floor a few times; Michelangelo, Princess and PC puttied all the nail holes. When we laid the floor we had secret nailed but as our timber was recycled it contained many previous holes. As our flooring was recycled it came complete with ready made ‘character’ in that they had been worn unevenly across their surface in their past life in a classroom.  To keep some of this character we…

  • Blog,  Photography,  Photography - Link Ups

    31 Days Photography Challenge: Linkup Week One

    Last week I invited you to join us for 31 Days of Photography, challenging and stretching ourselves to take our photography ‘up a notch’. Perhaps you’ve dived in and have been snapping away the last few days, or perhaps you have been frozen in indecision, wanting to join the fun but not quite sure how you can improve.   The beginning step is to pick up your camera and click, click, click as they say ‘practice makes perfect.’ Wishing just know how to make those shots even more dynamic? Read posts with camera tips, you may at first be overwhelmed but eventually you begin to become familiar with terms. Add photographer’s…

  • Blog,  Photography,  Photography - Link Ups

    31 Day Photography Challenge: May 2016

      Improving our photography skills is something many of us long to do but for many it seems an impossible dream. I indeed relate as I was once a dreadful photographer, think headless, dark and blurry, thanks to the advent of the digital camera my family begun to retain their heads. More recently my skills continued to improve indeed jumped several notches thanks to; reading photography tips, undertaking a course and most importantly ‘practice, practice and practice’. I’m by no means a professional photographer but as someone who, only ‘moments ago’ was a total rank amateur I can completely relate to your bewilderment of all things camera, yet your keen desire to improve. I’d like to support and…