Creating and Crafting - simple toys

In my efforts to declutter the house and rid ourselves of all the excess 'things',  it was inevitable that I would end up in the children's rooms.  I worked and sorted my way through their toy baskets, the shelves and wardrobes, gathering up toys they had outgrown,  that had parts broken or missing, thinning out the excess;  a multitude of mass produced toys slowly being replaced by a few toys that encourage imagination, creativity, and gentle play.  Slowly, but surely there is more paper, pencils and paints, fabric, thread and simple toys inspired by the natural world.

 Recently we made these little Autumn Acorn gnomes, Walnut Boats filled with beeswax and fabric sails, and tiny sleeping babies wrapped in soft felt blankets. 

tina x

Homegrown harvest ....

 

Some of my earliest childhood memories are of eating fresh, homegrown fruit and vegetables from our family garden.  I remember if we weren't feeling well or recovering from illness, mum and dad would make us a pot of whatever vegies were in season, and we'd mash them up and put a little nob of butter on top!  YUM!  Comfort food at it's best.

Many years later, they are still planting, tending to, and harvesting their own fruit and vegetables.   Now I'm able to take my own children into their garden and return with armloads of incredibly tasty and nourishing food.  Today we brought home tomatoes, rhubarb, pumpkin, carrots, capsicum, zucchini, swede, garlic and eggs from their chickens.   Lots of goodness to be made into purees for the wee one, and soups and stews.

As I slowly add more variety to my own humble little vegie patch (which only has tomatoes and herbs at the moment) I'll continue 'raiding' my parents garden.  You just can't beat the taste of homegrown....

What's growing in your garden at the moment?  Don't you think that homegrown fruit and vegetables have the most amazing flavour that you just don't get from store bought?

Have a great week,

Tina xo

Frugal February .... living simply and mindfully

After making a start on de-cluttering the house and getting rid of a mountain of clothes and odds and ends, I've decided that for the month of February I will not buy anything other than the bare essentials.  Not a thing...

I'm not one to buy a lot, my main spending would have to be on books and of late, yarn, so I don't think it will be hard going for me.  I've cut back on buying books anyway due to a lack of storage, and I've been using the local library whenever I can.  My yarn stash is looking very healthy too, so there's no need to buy anymore at the moment.

I have started to plan our weekly meals again, which kind of fell by the wayside during the holidays, but now I'm back into a routine and especially for this month, I'll use what we have in the pantry and plan meals to minimise food wastage too.  

One of my aims this year is to really cut back on 'clutter' of all kinds and to simplify our lives; to be mindful of what we eat and what we buy.  I think Frugal February will be a good start.  Any good tips or ideas for me??

What do you say?  Want to join me for the month?  It'll be great for the hip pocket, no extra clutter in the house and we'll be doing something for the environment.... always a plus!

Leave a comment or link to your blog if you're joining in....

Tina x