pressing flowers

Spring is all about flowers for Doots. In the spring after she turned two she was obsessed with flowers; gathering them, naming them, arranging them, displaying them. She couldn't walk past a front yard without scoping out it's floral potential. She'd grasp at stalks in a frenzy, knowing she was not allowed to. Her word for flowers sounded like "fwow-wufs". I gave her this old silver-plated sugar bowl to display her bouquets in. She arranged these all by herself. I was amazed at how beautiful they looked and wondered if it was a fluke. 

But no, she still amazes me with her eye. She puts things together in unique and beautiful ways. 

So, fast forward a couple of years. The obsession is long gone but Doots still appreciates a good bloom. Now she imagines which ones would make the best faerie dresses and which ones are good for daisy chains. 

I remember pressing flowers as a child, with my crafty step-mum. We collected pansies and violets and pressed them between the pages of Dad's enormous thesaurus.

We must have forgotten about them because it was years before we found them again. I was amazed by how the colour and details had remained vivid and bright after all those years... Reminders of an act almost forgotten, a season long gone.

The other day Doots and I decided to press some flowers too, so we strolled around the block and limited ourselves to two or three per house, and then only if they came from prolific shrubs. 

We pressed them in a layer of kitchen towel between the pages of a big encyclopedia...

 ...and wrapped it all up tightly. We put some heavy books on top and here they will stay for a couple of weeks. 

 With the leftovers, Doots played. First, she turned them upside down like little dancers in a row. And then, this cow (who happened to be grazing nearby) became the flower shop keeper. "Why do shop keepers 'keep' shops Mum?"

 What's lovely in the flower shop today Cow?

 And along came a cat. My, Cow, what beautiful flowers you have! 

I'll have three white daisies and the red fluffy one please.... Would you like them wrapped up?

Lots of terrific play ideas over at We Play  at Childhood 101. Go see!

Shadow Shot Sunday

Springtime picnic at the gardens, rolling down the grassy hills, making her first ever daisy chain, dangling it around and playing with the shadows...

I'm playing along with Shadow Shot Sunday for the first time, for more visit Hey Harriet:

Four things

Warning - formatting disaster ahead for which I apologise - I've spent too much time trying to fix it so as uncomfortable as it makes me feel, I'm now just going to leave it as it is!

My favourite number is 4. Always has been. The fours were my favourite times tables (actually my absolutely favourite sum was 3 x 8 = 24. I have no idea why, but it was beautiful in a really satisfying way to me. Still is - and no, I am not a maths nerd. Actually I struggled with maths towards the end of high school). I've never talked about my favourite sum, until now, and now that it's out there it seems completely loopy.

When I was a teenager my basketball number was 4. We are a family of 4. My firstborn is 4. My birthday is in the 4th month. My children were born on the 13th (1+3+4) and the 22nd (2+2=4). And weirdly, right at this second my computer's clock says 4.04 - No way! I didn't even make that up...

Anyway, the unstoppable Jane at Life on Planet Baby has tagged me to share some more of myself. Four things, she claims. Dearest Jane, I must point out that it's actually 4 x 4 things.  So here are 16 things about me...

Four things that are in my handbag backpack:
I had to tweak this title as my trusty tote has been temporarily replaced with a backpack. The broken strap and zip could not be abided any longer. I'm hoping for a new handbag for Christmas.
























1. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
I have suffered from eczema on my hands since I had my children but this hand cream is the business. I put it on about 14 times a day and it has changed my life.
2. Blistex
I'm not a day-to-day lipstick wearer but I don't feel dressed if I haven't put my favourite lip balm on.
3. My wallet
I've had this wallet for about 6 years. It's made from green canvas with a botanical print and it's by a Japanese designer living in Hobart called Kyomi. It has just the perfect number of compartments inside and I love it's understated style.
4. Prescription Sunnies
These are looking a little old and tired. The arms are skew-whiff and have actual teeth marks in them. The blame for this falls squarely on the shoulders of a particular toddler. I put these on as soon as I leave the house - sunshine or not. I'm slightly short-sighted - not enough to need glasses all the time but I feel better driving with these as they sharpen my focus.

Four things that are in my bedroom:

1. Painting

This painting by Tim Waller (couldn't find a link to the artist) is big - it takes up the width of our mantle piece. It's not a valuable piece but I could look at the colours in the sky, grass and water all day. And I would really love to live in that white house on the hill with the big tin roof. It was a bargain purchase from the annual Image of Tasmania exhibition, and when we got it home Stephen spotted an absurd hidden dog somewhere in the painting - can you see it? Hint - look closely at the trees. 

2. Bay windows

I love this spot, the delicious afternoon sunshine pours in and onto the bed. Just wish I could sneak off for an arvo lie-down now and then.

3. Bedside stool

There are two of these stools, purchased from Blueprint in Richmond when we were still in Melbourne. They were built during WWII for women working in the munitions factories west of Melbourne. Apparently many of them still have womens' names etched on the underside - how I'd love to have an Alice, Edna or Florence, but ours just have numbers. 

4. Ceiling rose

Our room is at the front of the house, and in typical Victorian fashion it has the most ornate details. The further from the front door you are, the plainer the plaster work, fire surrounds and skirting boards. I love looking up at this ceiling rose - but we'll have to change that light fitting one day.

Four things I would like to have done but didn't:

1. I wish I'd leaned how to read music until I was fluent. 

I've been watching as Doots has been learning to read music - from age 3! In a fun class setting, it's done very gradually, so after about 18 months they've learnt just four notes - doh, ray, soh, la. But doing it so slowly and in an age appropriate way makes it effortless.

2. Related to reading music, I wish I'd continued playing french horn at school. I gave it up when the music became too complicated, and it was too hard to carry the case on my bike! But I really love the sound. 

3. I wish I'd done a better job of keeping in touch with my old school friends. Facebook has been fantastic for reconnecting, but I wish I'd made more of an effort.

4. I wish I'd learned Auslan while my grandparents were still alive. Both my Dad's parents were deaf and although we communicated with gestures, I'd love to have been able to have in-depth conversations in sign language with them.

Four things you may not know about me:

1. I was once chased out of a small Gippsland town by shotgun toting rednecks. We were a mini-bus full of greeny student types on our way to Canberra to protest against logging in East Gippsland. We needed a toilet stop and the Cann River pub seemed like a good idea... Comfort stop - um, no. 

2. I love to sing and can hold a tune, which is funny because nobody else in my family can. Actually my father is an amazing whistler, so maybe that counts. While I was doing some family history research I discovered a great great uncle who was an opera singer! He moved from Melbourne to the USA in the late 19C to further his career. Isn't that now a well-worn career path for entertainers.

3. I also discovered that my great great aunt (the opera singer's sister) was Mary Card, a famous fillet crochet pattern designer. Crochet work that has been done to her patterns is very collectable, they pop up on ebay every now and then - lovely and very expensive.

4. I'm interested in memory. I have memories of being in my cot - which surely shouldn't be possible but I've described a 'scene' to Mum and she has confirmed that it's accurate.  There was sunlight streaming through the window and Mum was doing something by the window. I was watching dust motes floating in the sunshine. When I told this to Mum she said that she was probably shaking out and folding a pile of nappies. 

So, that's that. And now I'm going to tag these four lovely girls and challenge them to tell us four (ok, 16) things about themselves. They are all lovely and interesting mums/moms who I would love to know a bit more about and I can't wait to read their answers! 

Rachael at Squiggly Rainbow 

Nadiah at Playing Fair 

Janey at Sweetest Jane 

Bec at Memory Garden 

x Sarah

The good scissors

When I was a girl, Mum sewed quite a bit. She had an old Singer sewing machine and I loved pottering about while she sewed, the stop-start hum of the Singer in the background. She'd sew in the afternoons and I clearly remember that luxurious feeling of spacious time - nowhere to be, no other plans, just ambling through our days.

I coveted her scissors. The 'good' shears for cutting fabric and not paper, and also the pinking shears which made that magical zigzag pattern. I think I cut paper with them quite a lot even though I knew it was forbidden. Mum said that if you use fabric shears to cut paper they go blunt. I didn't believe her.

Doots longs to use my good scissors too.  On Wednesday she came home from preschool to find little piles of fabric all over the kitchen table, and the pins, the scissors, all the good stuff. I'd been cutting out triangles to whip up some bunting for my lovely sister-in-law while Oesch was napping and I hadn't had time to pack it up.

She was so excited and told me she wanted to make some 'flags' too. So I helped her pin her template down, gave her the scissors and off she went. I was surprised at how well she did given how little her hands are and how big and heavy the scissors are. But she was trying so hard and she was really focused. She pinned and cut two pairs of flags, all by herself. Check out the concentration tongue, above.

I was so proud of my Doots. She is not the most goal-oriented little person in the world, which is lovely in many respects, but sometimes she gives up quickly if something is too challenging or if she thinks she can't do it perfectly. I also remember, not so long ago, the frustration she felt trying to master scissors. She hasn't yet developed a strong 'handedness' or preference for one side over the other, so skills like using scissors and the tripod pencil grip (once dreaded, now mastered, thank god!) have been a little tricky for her.  So I was very, very impressed that she pushed on even though the scissors felt uncomfortable for her. 

I think she demonstrated just how kids can challenge themselves to step outside their personal comfort zones when they're genuinely interested in doing something. Self-directed play really does lead to real learning.  And hooray for that!

Show Day!

It's Royal Hobart Show Day today. The weather is glorious, so this morning there was nothing for it but to grab hats, stroller, sunscreen and drinks, brace for the crowds and head for the showgrounds. We went early and didn't stay for too long.

I'm always surprised by how noisy the Show is - music blaring, teenagers screaming, spruikers shouting, roosters crowing. Perhaps I notice it these days because one of my children has a low threshold for noise and crowds, and too much sends her into meltdown mode. Doots can barely tolerate a vacuum cleaner in the other room, so I was bracing for the worst. Oesch, on the other hand, loves all things loud, fast and raucous - maybe it's a boy thing...

Just near the entrance, Doots spotted the pony rides. "Yay" squealed my inner child. I was such a horsey girl and I love sharing that with Doots at every available opportunity; basically whenever there is a pony ride to be had. She chose the biggest pony, a docile mare called Charisma, and I got to lead her around, which meant that I didn't get a photo of her on the horse, but she was not a bit nervous and she smiled all the way.

So here is Charisma after the ride. 

Next up, the poultry pavilion. Personally, I'd have skipped the chooks and made a beeline for the animal nursery, but Stephen thought it would be a good idea. And he was right - not crowded, but full of lovely birds, big and small, plain and fancy. Doots loved the silky bantams. She pretended to be a 'silky' for the rest of the day and at various times insisted that we all waddle. 

Here she is, doing her best silky bantam...

This one was rather fancy - if a little artificially enhanced.

I'd so love to take this fella home. I don't think the neighbours would be impressed though.

Oesch loved the atmosphere and did lots of people watching.

And pony watching - neeee neeee.

The poor boy was desperate to climb aboard this ride, but I didn't think I could entirely trust him to stay seated.

Doots' very first show ride. She chose the aeroplane ride which went around and up in the air. She was just quite sure that this was the one she wanted - not the cars or the little train - the planes. Funny girl! She looked so serious going around - no waving, just the occasional hint of a wry grin. But she loved it...

I remember watching the woodchopping at the Royal Melbourne Show as a child and it bored me silly. So this was Stephen's choice, and just like the chooks, this was a winner with the kids. We found seats in the little grandstand, shared a bucket of hot chips and watched these very strong men make chopping wood look like chopping carrots. Oesch and Doots were enthralled.

This man is preparing a big log for competition.

After watching all that exertion, we headed into the animal nursery, and I am sad to report it was a little disappointing. It's probably no surprise, it was always crowded, dark and smelly when I was little too. And so it was today, so we moved into the next shed and looked at the lovely sheep and watched some judging. (no photos as it was too dark inside the pavilion).

And then, the art pavilion. Easels were set up in a row under the big shady awning and children were invited to paint their impressions of the show. Usually when Doots is given access to paints and an easel she just plays with the colours and does splodges all over the page. She saves her representations for when she's drawing. So I was interested to see what she was going to do...

Not a splodge in sight. She announced that she was painting her impression of the show. She painted the blue sky and the big sun - yes, it was a sunny day. And then this red thing. A baby animal? A rooster? Charisma the pony? The aeroplane ride? No....

The woodchopper!  Remember the big bloke in the red singlet? And those black lines are the four big logs we could see in the foreground from the grandstand. The finishing touches (not shown here) were his arms, and a big axe of course.





















We'd seen quite a lot and it was starting to get really busy - it was time to call it a day. As we trekked back to the car I noticed that something was very different to my own childhood show experiences. No show bags, no balloons, no crappy plastic toys, no fairy floss. Just this very lovely painting taped to the back of the stroller (it was still quite wet) and lots of happy memories. I wonder how long it will be before they discover the delights of lolly-filled show bags and horrendous over-sized stuffed toys?

pencil box decoupage

Last Christmas I was given this box filled with lotions and potions from my favourite skin care brand Aesop.  The products are beautiful, subtly fragranced, nicely packaged, Australian-made. And I love the neat bamboo gift box which is definitely too good to throw out with the wrapping. It became the pencil-crayon-scissor-gluestick box. It's the perfect size, it keeps everything handy and tidy and easy to plonk up on the table for everyone to share.

I don't love this big ugly label on the side though. They released a few ranges for Christmas, each skin type featuring a different poet. Cute marketing, but ugly all the same. I never got around to peeling it off. I think the only thing worse than an unwanted label is the effect you get when it doesn't come away cleanly. 

Empty of drawing materials, you can see how well-used the box is! I decided to give it a little decoupage facelift. I'd never attempted decoupage before, but it looks so simple, so I gathered up some left over wrapping paper, some unused cardstock, old cards, a couple of bars from her old music book, and a couple of small pieces of Doots-art.

Then, a satisfying evening of cut and paste, and paste and paste. The result is by no means perfect - you can see all the bumpy bits - but Doots is thrilled.

I felt a little guilty about doing it all by myself, so Doots is going to add some 3d dragonfly stickers she won at a friend's birthday party - we've been saving them for a special project!

I love the lid the best.

Doots loves the kitten.

I even included her favourite number.

wordless Wednesday