Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl

Our little beautiful munchkin turned 3 years old on the 16th August, this year she has been very aware of what is going on around her and one morning she came and told me that she was having a birthday party with a birthday cake and presents, I hadn't thought about doing a birthday party for her but she was so happy and jumping with excitement that I decided to do a small party at home during the school holidays.

It was such a lovely morning I set up in the front garden, this way we could use the grass area at the front of the Whitecottage to ride our ride-on car and the kids could run up and down the hill.

In the garden I had three tables, one for the food one for the children and one for us mums, it was so easy and relaxing, we sat and enjoyed the morning sun and a cup of tea and some beautiful Salted Caramel tarts made by the Country Lady who had come to stay overnight just for the occasion.

The kids did arts and crafts, they ate sausage rolls and fresh fruit then ran around the garden, it was such a joyous occasion, baby munchkin as we call her was so excited I have never seen her so happy she was jumping and laughing hard.

The party was an all day affair and we had friends popping over throughout the day.

It was a fun day full of love and laughter, I think baby munchkin had a good idea when she told me she was having a birthday party.

After two parties in one month I think I will take a break and put my feet up.

Happy Birthday beautiful girl I love you so much, Mum.

 

An impromptu birthday party

Our middle munchkin turned 6 last week, he was unsure as to what to do, his brain was working overtime with all the ideas he had first he wanted a party at home then at the play centre, then he thought he should take the whole class to the countryside after 20 millions ideas he came to the conclusion he didn't want a party after all.

His birthday came, one of his longtime friend was also born the same day, he had a lovely party that was the game changer Mr munchkin decided that he did indeed want a party which was great that he made a firm decision but that meant I only had about 5 days to invite his friends and prepare the party itself.

I sent an email to the whole class and some of our old friends to meet us on Friday afternoon at the park.

I would have to say that it was relatively easy to prepare we loaded the GO GO mobile with all sorts of toys and party food and Viola!!! we were on our way to a parrrty.

Once at the park I set up like a playground wonderland we had a craft and arts table, tenpin bowling,  a ride on car, a giant parachute and soccer balls for a bit of a soccer game.

I decided to keep the food front fairly easy I ordered a couple of antipasti and fresh vegetable platters, we had the usual children's party food lollies, chips a fresh fruit platter and of course I made the Ninjago Cake and the cupcakes.

The kids seemed to enjoy themselves and I must say that us adults had a good time too, I was able to sit and have a chat.

and this is how we had an impromptu Birthday party.

No fuss and plenty of fun. 

arts & crafts table

must always keep hydrated

Ninjago cake

Pumpkins at the Whitecottage.

Well something exciting has happened in the Whitecottage, we finally have pumpkins, we haven't had  much luck in previous years but this year we are on a roll I picked one yesterday and I made my delicious pumpkin soup (click for recipe)it is always a winner around here.

Today is raining and I am enjoying the last bowl with a dollop of sour cream and toasted bread.

Perfect Saturday!!!!1

What's good about winter - Kalfresh Carrot Field Day

Well we all know that my favourite season is Winter, I love that I can wear fabulous coats, wool hats and long boots and who can argue with a good cup of hot chocolate, but what I most like about winter is all the fantastic events hosted in winter time.

Last year we were so lucky to go to carrot picking at Kalfresh (read here)after I posted this I had lots of emails asking me when and where the next one would be so here it is people the  Kalfresh Carrot field day 

We had so much fun we learned about where carrots come from and how they are cleaned and packed, the people at Kalfresh were so friendly and happy to answer all our questions, after our tour  we got to pick our own very  carrots to take home, the munchkins and maybe myself were jumping with excitement. 

Anyhoo if you want to go for a fun drive  and join the  carrot festivities get on their website and book a spot.

See you there.

Karla

ps. Not sponsored just happy to spread the word for grow local eat local.

Good Neighbours and the Whitecottage Harvest

A few months ago our new next door neighbours moved in, a young couple and their baby, after a week or so after they moved in I popped over with a warm cake to say hello and welcome them to the neighbourhood, the lady expressed how happy she was by our gesture and that this made it more affirmative that they had made the right decision to move into our street.

I told her that's what we do in this neighbourhood we welcome people with open arms.

I went on my merry way back to the Whitecottage and life got busy as always and hadn't seen the neighbours much except for the casual wave as they leave for work and us for our school run.

The other night she came around and she needed some help in her home Farmer Joe went and he was back in a flash.

The next day we got a knock on the door the neighbour had come over with a gorgeous chocolate cake to say thank you.

Our vegie patch is going so well at the moment we don't have lot of variety but what we have we got plenty of it.

I needed to take back the cake plate to our neighbour and since we have plenty on our little crop and eggs thanks to our trusty chickens, I decided to make a little hamper and take it over, baby munchkin and myself made our way next door.

 

and this is what we left by the front door.

Farewell Chicky Babe

Today was a cold day, today was a sad day, early this morning we found one of our trusty chicken dead.

Earlier in the week our chicky babe was looking sick her beak was down and she looked like she couldn't walk, Farmer Joe said to me

"I think the chicken is on her way out if she doesn't improve we will have to put her down".

With these words I started to cry and felt terribly sad, you see we have had these chickens for 4 years, she was one of the original chickens, and she represented what we are striving for, our little urban farm. I remembered when we got her from the farm produce store at Dayboro, the old man helped us choose the chickens, he said make sure they eat plenty of greens and give them lots of hugs, so we did.

This chicken brought us so much happiness and made me cranky at times, she made me happy with the wonderful eggs we would get every morning, I love how she runs around the backyard or when she would sit on the outdoor couch and I would yell at her

" Hello!!!! get off the couch you are a chicken"

She made me cranky when she would poop on the tiles and I would ask myself and her why the tiles when there was so much grass around or when she ate my rose bushes, that was not a happy moment.

Yes she pooped everywhere, yes she ate and scratched everything in her path, yes she made me cranky at times but mostly she made me happy, she made all of us happy.

With her passing it made me realise that even though we live in our little urban farm I don't have the resilience of a farmer, life and death on the farm is just part of life but here at the Whitecottage our chickens are our pets, more than animals that provide us with eggs every morning.

Farmer Joe told me "You knew this day would come" but I thought to myself no I didn't think this day would come... so soon.

I made a vet appointment for tomorrow so they could help her go in a humane way but she passed away during the night in her own home.

As I write this I feel terribly sad and now faced with the fact that I have to break the bad news to the munchkins and I am now faced with telling them about life and death.

I hope I'll do it justice.

 

 

The good, the bad and the ugly

Well we are in for a long haul of rain. This morning was pouring down, we left early to go to school to beat the traffic in all this rain, the morning ran smoothly there were not too many "huurrryy up we arrre running late" kind of deal so I was happy.

There was no time to apply my eyeliner and mascara, but after a couple of red lights I was very impressed with my handy work, by the time we got to the school the rain was furious, I could barely see past my nose, I quickly got the munchkins out and my tin full of vanilla cupcakes for today's tuckshop.

There was a slight problem we had 3 umbrellas and 4 people so needles to say I missed out on the umbrella, we ran across to the school well with the exception of baby munchkin she was walking at the pace of 20 turtles making her money's worth on those pink Hunter boots and the water paddles.

I told the boys just to run for cover and I would meet them, baby munchkin was still shuffling along I knew my face was going to be a hot mess when I got to the tuckshop but I am always hopeful and I thought it would stay perfectly.

When I arrived to the tuckshop I asked Louise,

"is my make-up alright" before she could say (scream/giggle)I knew the answer

Louise said NOOOooo...!!! laughing her head off along with some grade 5 girls.

I quickly dashed to the toilets and this is what I looked like

Yes this was me hair and all I had mascara all over my face, I couldn't believe that after all that effort earlier on I was trying to rub off mascara with paper towels (Beauty therapists look away)yes paper towel after a hard rub I was all good to face the day once again.



Baby munchkin and I went to playgroup and we had the best time, we made art, we danced to rhymes and ate loads of healthy snacks.

 

 

I received a message from the school to all parents to let us know it would be a good idea to pick up our children early due to the weather, so off we went after playgroup to pick up the boys and since we were home early I baked some scones and they went down a treat.

 

 

 

After the scones it was time to start thinking about dinner, yes I was happy with the scones but apparently these kids eat like they have never eaten. I was lost for ideas so call a friend Eddie, so I did and I called the Country Lady to ask the hard questions

 

A: Chicken Cacciatore or

B : Beef Lasagne

 

The country lady said B)make a huge one then you have something to reheat over  the weekend so I did, and we are having it with a side of steamed beans.

 

 

 

Well this is the good the bad and the ugly. Stay safe peeps this weekend. cheers Karla