Now I am 4

 It was Liv's 4th Birthday on Sunday

 She had a lovely quiet day to play with her new toys, and then a small family gathering for wood fired pizza and ice cream cake.

 With Evie and cousins

 I find it hard to summon much energy for her birthday being the time of year it is, but the simpler the better at any time of year I say!

 Our sunflowers are starting to bloom, always a happy sight.

 And here's the front garden again, a bit over 2 weeks since I last posted a picture.  We've had a few really hot days, but we've also had a bit of rain, so the growth is amazing.

 We even have some artichokes, which I thought we wouldn't have until next year, as they are new plants, and apparently produce in the second season.

Upcycled vests

Not sure why I feel the need to make woollies in Summer, but when I find a nice blanket or woolly jumper as I did recently, the brain ticks over with ideas of what to make, then I HAVE to do it.  I'm happy with the way these have turned out, they're now in my Etsy shop.

Homemade Christmas bonbons

The girls and I made up these bonbons yesterday, after we'd gathered all our supplies.  We collected some toilet rolls, found gorgeous white hankies in op shops (the men's ones were bought new as they couldn't be sourced in op shops).  We bought some fairtrade chocolate treats, and some heirloom seeds to put inside as the surprise.  No plastic and paper junk and waste here.  You could also use cloth serviettes, which can then be used for dinner

Evie's dance concert

 Hairspray costume

 Stayin Alive costume

Chipmunks costume

Evie had her first dance concert last night, and enjoyed herself very much.  I was helping backstage, but got to run in and watch when her performances were on.  I was very relieved to hear the strict no make-up policy for this dance school's concerts, it makes me uncomfortable to see little girls made up to look like adults.  I also like that the music and dance moves are age appropriate.  They even fuzzed over the "sexy lady" part of "Gang Nam Style" in the whole group finale.  She's looking forward to starting lessons again next year, Liv might join her in her class too.

Op shop haul

 Why sideways photos?  Anyway, Evie had a teacher's strike day off today (half day, but who's taking their kid to school at 12:50pm?), so we popped into an op shop on the way to pick up a few things, and this is what we found. 
Lego City aeroplane set for $15 (RRP $60)
Country Road vest size M (Liv's size)
Country Road leggings size 9 (put away for Evie)
Seed cream coloured top size 9 (put away for Evie)
Country Road white short sleeve top size 4 (Liv's size)
Country Road women's yellow dress size XS (Evie could probably almost wear this with the shoulder straps tied tight, or I could shorten it)
Ballet flats (will fit Evie in about a year)
DVD of the nativity in claymation

 It all came to just under $50, I've never spent this much at one time in an op shop, but I think we did pretty well, and I have a fair bit of classic gear for when the girls are bigger.  I won't buy trendy things that will date within a few years.  I get the feeling that the clothing probably all came from the one household, and everything looks like its hardly been worn.

 Had to put up a pic of our curry plant.  It's magnificent this year, as the neighbours behind us chopped out a huge canopy that was growing over and above our back fence.  The curry plant can now grow as it should, rather than out to the left of the pic as it did last year to catch the sun.

We can tell when Jonty's been stalking mice, as she smells like curry- the compost bins are close by.  I've even found an escaped chicken in there a couple of times, a curried chicken :)

Wood fired lamb roast

 We went to the Bannockburn Farmer's Market on Saturday morning, always a good day out.  I picked up 3 new raspberry plants ($3 each!) to replace those that I drowned when I moved them into half wine barrels.  We also bought some honey, a huge punnet of organic strawberries, and a butterflied leg of lamb from Barwon Lamb.  I don't really eat meat other than chicken or fish, but I will make allowances occasionally when Andrew wants to roast something, on the proviso that it is local, and ethically sourced (and I really don't like beef).  Andrew wanted to try out a roast in the wood oven, so that's what we did last night.  With the addition of a couple of large potatoes I bandicooted from the potato patch, some of our fresh garlic harvested last week, and some organic pumpkin, it made for a very satisfying meal.  We also realised that I was drinking my homemade lemon cordial, and he was drinking his homemade ginger beer with our fantastic meal.

Andrew wanted to make the most of the left over heat in the wood oven, so he and the girls whipped up a chocolate cake, and baked a few potatoes that we'll have with dinner tonight.  What a life!

The tablecloth

 I found a beautiful vintage cross stitched tablecloth at an op shop the other day.  It's made from white linen, and the edges were a little frayed, and a lot of threads had come loose, so they had to be woven in.  A bit of a restoration job.  I wonder how old it is, and who made it?

 It was big enough to cut two dress fronts and two little skirts.  I thought it was wise to pair it with the red polka dot cotton, to make it a bit more sturdy, and less likely to stain.

 Love the outcome, the dress is available in size 2 & 3, and the skirts are size 4-6 (34cm long).  In my Etsy shop now