6 months consistent enough?

I think so!

Silent Sunday

4. Trees

I've missed this out for a couple of weeks.  But I'm back! This will be one of the shots I enter in the set subject of 'Monochrome' this month for Photography club.

Things I'm Loving

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is.

There is just one thing at the front of my mind today so it is all consuming of the 'Things I'm loving'.  

My little lady. Who had us at the emergency department at 3am this morning. Things I'm not loving? Croup.  Up yours croup.  You suck! She's kept up her smiley disposition the whole time and after some medicine to open up her airways is feeling lots better.

Poor mummy!  I think I need to recover more than anyone!

Monte Cecelia Park, Auckland

Today is ANZAC day and although as a family we remember the soldiers that fought for us in our own way we didn't actually head out to any dawn services (unless you count the 'dawn' service Leah woke Mr. Man up for at 4am!).  I actually might put attending a dawn service on my next years 'list'. Both my grandfathers were servicemen and one of them fought in Egypt in WW2 I believe, so I might even be able to rustle up some medals to wear.

Being a public holiday, and beautiful weather, we thought it would be a good idea to get out and about.  I had had Monte Cecelia Park on my list of places to explore for some time but things just kept getting in the way and we weren't sure if we could take dogs there, which kept slowing our plans. But after a quick search on the internet this morning that showed a photo of a dog in the park we were off.

What a beautiful place!  It's huge and has many beautiful large trees.  Great place to walk to dog and has heaps of walking,/jogging/biking tracks and great scenery. We even got to see some war planes flying about, possibly from some kind of service.  The Pah house which is situated in the park was built in the late 1800s and used to be an orphanage and school (Mr. Man told me after reading a plaque).

Here are a few photos of our morning <3

 And how idyllic.  We got to see a little white tailed rabbit skip along the luscious grass!

Little miss had a wonderful time crunching in the leaves...

...and eating them.

We're one of those horrible families that actually let our dog have a good time when we go for a walk!

Mummy never gets to be in 'family' shots.  Must train that dog to take photos....

And my favourite snaps of the day were a cheeky bubba trying to steal daddy's hat.

Clevdon Farmers Markets

Boom!  There goes another one off the challenge list. 

I actually did this one earlier in the year but the weather was yucky and I didn't like the photos or enjoy myself as much as I did today.  So, no cross off until today where I really got to enjoy all of those things the challenge was about.

This beautiful Autumn Sunday we went to  Clevdon Farmer's Markets.

There was lots of 'green' and vibrant rainbows of the organic produce.

I listened to the activity and the cheery 'good mornings' said to passers by.  I heard the ca-ching of income for many happy farmers and stall holders.  Above anything else I heard beautiful guitar music. All the sounds blended into a happy, busy hum.

I could smell delectable meats being cooked for the tasting, freshly cooked bread and country hay. 'The cupcake tree' provided as with the taste of a sickly sweet treat which was washed down by a cup of organic apple juice. Mmmm

Even our little boy got something to enjoy upon our arrival home.  A possum cupcake, yum yum!

"Painting is easy when you don't know how and very difficult when you do"

I was delighted a month or so ago when Leah created her first paint masterpiece at day care. When I read the learning story (a diary of learning) that went along with the painting I couldn't help but laugh.

"Leah began to paint on her piece of paper by rubbing the colours together...When she had finished she decided to rip up the paper and continue painting on the table".

We're even lucky we got one to hang on the fridge! Little miss, it would seem, likes to rip up paper. Today was no exception.

A while ago (when I was pregnant) I found this recipe for edible paint on pinterest.  I pinned it and put it in the back of my mind for when Leah was a bit older. After seeing how much she enjoyed painting at daycare I decided that now was the time to dredge it up and gets to mixing.

Making the paint is quite easy.  The tutorial on the link above is brilliant.  Basically you mix 3 parts milk powder with 1 part water, add your food colouring and you're away laughing. See below.

Leah had a great time. She added some 'texture' to her paintings using some grass and in good fashion with what we'd learned from her learning story, she ripped up one of the paintings. One this is for sure, messy time is fun!

Things I'm loving...

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is. 

1.  Loving my family, and I do all the time, but I've been feeling a bit down over the past month or so and they really have made me feel better. <3 Love you Mr. Man, Love you Leah, Love you Jake.

2.  Loving my mumma! Not only did she teach me to knit last weekend but she's also making monthly date night possible for Mr. Man and I.  Starting next month for Mr's birthday.  She also let me take photos of her and nana for my monochrome assignment this week.

3.  Love friends that take me out for sushi...on a plate!  I've never had it on a plate before, lol. Thanks Lynn.  Even though it was a slight 'business lunch' it was lovely to see you and was nice to talk <3

4.  Love these two faces...

5.  ...and love the photos we get from what has become a monthly photo shoot.  I'm starting to like the outcome so much I may have to do it more often!

Even when the model is 'over it mum!'

6. Love this message <3

Challenges Challenges...

Two more things to cross off....

The first I eluded to in my post yesterday.  And now it's printed and in it's frame.  Granted it isn't hung yet but I'm taking my time finding the best place for it in our bedroom.  Will be hung by the end of the week. DONE.

I've been wanting to do this since I was a wee one.  Many of my friends knew how to fold these but I never did... and it's SO easy.  Oh well, now I have one on steroids as I used lots of my crafty stuff on it.. whoop!