Coffee Filter Cherry Blossoms

Coffee filters are a necessary go to for making flowers.

They are simple to work with, hold colours well and are readily available.

 I used water colours to give the petals a softer, natural look.

 Drying only took about an hour, but I would do them over night to be sure they wont tear.

Glue gun them onto any old branch.
I used a cherry blossom bouquet that a friend gave me.
A great spring table centrepiece to keep or give as a gift.

 I think they turned out rather well for a cheap, quick, sunny morning craft session.

Beading Babes

I used to manage a bead store, what now seems like eons ago.
I have so much still left over from those days that I never really seem to think its worth stopping by any shops to see what they have these days.

After a bead session with a group of homeschoolers at a local bead shop, K's interests have been sparked.
Now we have daily beading sessions and I get to put out my old beads, tools and supplies.

 This is great for hand eye co-ordination, patterns and counting.
Homeschooling in a practical and useful sense.

Love From Jenn Quilt

After I wrote this post I went to bed thinking about all that I should have said, and how I have a profound inability to express my thoughts and feelings. 
My words seem inadequate somehow.
This is the best I could muster at describing, re-telling the event but also leaving out all the little moments that to me are big ones, but just crowd the story. 
Gawd I wish I was better at this writing stuff.
But here goes......

This is a story I want to share, shouting out loudly about how much love I have in my life.

Last year a very special person; a friend, a mother, a part of the community, a fellow book club member and so so much more,  that words would never do it justice, lost her battle with cancer.
I can safely say, I don't think I have learned so much from one single person as I have learned from her.
The way she lived her live and her death has forever changed me.
Her strength and her power for love has changed the world as I know it.

Jennifer Zahavich wrote an inspiring blog, I think it's something everyone should read.
It will tell her story much better than I ever could here.
I can hear her voice when I read it.
That is comforting.

Among the many things Jenn enjoyed, quilting was something we shared.
Not many people our age do this sort of art, so we found a kinship in this together.

When she was diagnosed again, Jenn started making quilts for those she loved.
Unfortunately she wasn't able to finish them all.

I was given her sewing box, a genuine treasure for me.
I found in there a few quilts that had not been completed, and a few ideas of ones she hadn't started.
I scratched out the time over the next couple of months to finish them and give them to the intended recipients.
I think this was my way of spreading her love.

One special quilt was designated for the YANA auction last year.
Jenn had cut out the blocks for her signature heart piece.
All the fabric was there, it just needed to be put together.

                                         This is Jenn and I at last years auction.
                                         This was just 2 weeks before she past.

It turned out to be an amazing project for me.

Another friend and I took on the quilt as a tribute for Jenn and completed it for the annual auction held this past weekend.

 I love how it turned out.
The colours are so Jenn.

 Every part speaks of her.

 I had a patch made for her foundation that is just getting started, Love From Jenn.

It was morphed from "Love For Jenn" that was started for all the fundraising that friends and the community did, in order to help with alternative treatments and the financial support needed to help Jenn, Dave and Coady through that time.

After much hard work and admit-ably some worry and stress, I feel the quilt turned out perfect.

Then came the auction night.

The quilt was set for the live portion of the night and got quite an emotion lead up before bidding began.

I listened to the biding, and was proud of that quilt.

 I had a moment where I felt I should bid myself.

I sort of wanted the quilt, felt kind of attatched.

Many don't know that my special, personal quilt Jenn had made for me, I had given away to another friend who I felt really deserved one, someone who would appreciate it as much if not more.

So I had a little place in my heart that really wanted this one.

But I knew in the spirit of Jenn this quilt was for YANA and the monies raised will help a family in difficult times.

I sat listening to the bids, the auctioneer going higher and higher,

I felt deep satisfaction that all the work was worth it.

That it was doing everything Jenn had wanted it to do.

I let the quilt go, so to speak, and was proud to know I had helped Jenn spread love.

$650!!!

I was moved beyond words.

Happy doesn't quite sum it up.

I took a deep breathe but had to head to the little girls room to let out some pent up tears.

 I found out a friend of a friend had bought the quilt and I was glad it was going to a great home.

Later on, as the auction night festivities were dying out we were called to a group circle.

A closed circle of dear friends and book club women.

People who all mean so much to me, each one so special and I am grateful to have in my life. 

I feel blessed to be a part of such a powerful, loving, talented, diversely amazing group of ladies.

All dressed up and having fun, we hugged and laughed and said thank you for such a great night.

I felt so much love and spirit in that moment.

Then I noticed Mel's eye water and everyone started to look at me.

I knew in that second.

Lucy pulled out the quilt.

I was speechless and elated.

Ingrid said I buckled on her, but I don't recall.

They passed me the quilt, saying it was meant to be mine.

Wow!!

Then they proceeded to tell me the rest of the story.

My dearest, most thoughtful, love of my life, husband bought it.

He had given Mel a blank cheque to buy it for me.

She worked out a pretty good gig, I was absolutely non the wiser.

He knew what it meant and how much I put into it.

He said he wanted it to be mine.

That is the power of the love in my world.

Again...Wow!!

I cried off and on the rest of the night and into the next day.
I couldn't believe that he had done that.
I mean I could believe it, he's just like that...always.
He always puts others first, he is considerate, genuine and kind to a fault, (not that that could ever be a fault).
A huge act of thoughtfulness and love.
He was so excited he said he couldn't even sleep. (cute)

How do I ever say thank you enough?
I realized that because I have always loved him so much, it is hard to love him even more, but somehow he did it.
A whole new level of respect, heart, and love.
He is everything I could ever dream of.
He is my everything.
Thank you to all  my friends who made this moment.
Thank you Jesse for making my world perfect.

Swans (more for our bird study)

 After a brief visit to the local estuary we made our way to the ocean for a walk and a run up the sand dunes, a kids wonderland.

 These two mating eagles were a treat to watch and listen to.
Can you spot the nest in the tree?
I think the call of an eagle is my favourite sound in the world.

 I'll say it again, we sure do live in paradise.

Seagulls

 The weather has been wonderfully sunny and bitterly cold.
The sun makes me want to play outside but the chill keeps is in.
This day was a perfect combination for a winter outing, warm and bright.
Armed with my camera and 4 kids in tow, we headed to the beach.

We are starting a mini unit on birds and the ability of flight.

I couldn't decide which photo to post so I loaded it up.

 I have always admired birds in flight and marvelled at their agility.

 I'd love to be able to soar on the breeze, catching a gust and taking off into the sky.

 A lone visitor, looking for a snack.

Donating a Print

K has created this print with her watercolours and her love.
We framed it for her and she has donated it to YANA for their upcoming auction.
My heart is so proud of her.
I must admit that I will probably buy this as it will forever remind me or her spirit.

Bleaching T-Shirts

 I brought this crafty idea to brownies and, with 17 girls, we made bleach resist shirts.
We put on stickers and freezer paper stencils, then sprayed bleach on.
Within 10 minutes the girls could pull off the stickers and then "colour" in with fabric paint pens.

I can see us doing this quite often, for ourselves or for gifts.
I had the clorox bleach pens too but they were forgotten so I am eager to try those out.

Living Raw Once Again

After a rather long hiatus from the RAW world I am back.

I sure have missed it.

I gained 30 plus lbs since I left over a year ago and am hoping to look and feel better pretty darn soon.

I have tried twice to get back but for various reasons it hadn't work.

I know it was because I didn't have my focus and will power.

I am focussed and my will power is iron clad now.

Bring it on.

Apart from the detox acne that has plagued me this week, ( hubby asked if I was hit with a buckshot) all is well.

My body is adjusting perfect and is really quite happy all in all.

Because this is the case and I am not all sick and stuff I am able to focus on my menu.

 A priority at all times is mylk.
I love my cold cereal with fruits and nuts but can't stomach it with juice.
Has to be mylk.
Chocolate even!
I made this batch with a mix of cashews, almonds and sunflower seeds.
Soak overnight, add dates, salt and fresh water, and blend.
So quick and easy and cheap.
Strain through a mylk bag and its good for up to 3 days in the fridge.

Here is my morning cereal of chai, buckwheat grouts, hemp seeds, coco nibs, gogi berries, sesame seeds and so much other goodness.
I add fresh or dried fruits depending on what I have on hand.

 There are few foods that I an buy anywhere other than a Raw restaurant.
This cheesecake from Rawthentic is my favourite.

 Here is my Chocolate Mousse (recipe below) that fools even the most seasoned fan.
Made with avocados and other Raw goodies, the girls happily gobble it up.

 Harmonic Arts is my haven for ingredients and snacks.
They were just getting off their feet last time round.
They have just opened a store front and I am so glad.

 Here are a few other snackies that I can actually grab on the go and instead of having to make everything.
This helps so I am not tempted in any way to break my will.

 Treats I always have on hand, in the car and at home, are flavoured seeds and nuts, trail mixes and kale chips.

 Dehydrated bananas are always perfect, anytime, anywhere.

Of course fruit roll ups.
These ones are apple and cinnamon.
Simple as blending up apples, spices and add a bit of water, pouring out on dehydrator sheets for an overnight drying.

 Don't forget the endless supplies of smoothies and juices I consume in a day/week.
These orange creamsicle(recipe below) are filling and super delicious.

Creamsicle Recipe
1 1/2 c. cashew soaked overnight
1c. orange juice
1 or 2 oranges peeled and cut up
1/4 agave syrup
2 Tbs coco oil
2 Tbs orange zest
Blend till smooth

Chocolate Mousse Recipe
2 avocados
2 Tbs cocoa butter
1/4 c. maple syrup
2-3 Tbs agave syrup
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp tamari sauce
1 Tbs vanilla
1/2 cocoa powder
Blend at low speeds till all combined the high for a minute or two.
Refrigerate overnight then serve.
Store in fridge, good for only a day maybe two if it can last that long.

Parrot Refuge

 We headed down Island to visit all the local attractions, only to find 4 out of 5 were closed for the season.

Parrot World was open though and that was a relief and a hit.
It's one of those happy/sad sort of places.
Happy that these parrots have a safe, well provided home.
Sad because there are over 800 birds that have been re-homed here for various reasons, most of which are  horribly sad.

Most of the parrots are starving for attention.
Some pick all there feathers out from boredom or neuroses.
The people/volunteers that work there are amazing but there just isn't enough help or money.

We do love to go there and show the birds some love and to learn about all the varieties and species.

When we came home this time I had the kids draw and write about their experience this time.
What K wrote made me see just how she really gets the tenor for the place.
"Pure need for hope"

I have to admit I am in ove with these creatures and if we lived closer we would be there daily.

E had her thumb bitten really hard and so this picture shows which one was nice and which one was  the biter!!

Not so Tacky Thrift-Store Idea

As seen on Pinterest, Martha Stewart and many more sites, these necklace redo's are quick and fashionably sweet.
Take any funky, cool necklace and fold in half.
Tie ribbon on each side and bingo bango!
New up-to- date jewellery for your spring wardrobe.
Great gift ideas as well.