PINK!

Savvy marketers know that if they make a product in pink then it will sell to someone who might not ordinarily buy one.

Like a pink computer, a pink cellphone, a pink camera ... I'm not a super-consumer but I have those things!! Two years ago I bought the computer - 2nd hand and a real good bargain. The cellphone was purchased nearly 4 years ago with flybuys points, the camera was an "old model" about three years back so it was marked down by $100 ...

I am still amazed that God provides all our needs (food, air etc) - and often he provides things we don't necessarily NEED but he knows we will like.

And he gave me this photo of this beautiful magnolia flower.

It was free.

It's made by God.

And it's pink.

Gorgeous.


Blessings
The Mummalady

PRECIOUS PLAY

This little boy loves the dolly Mumma made. When I look at the dolly I see the mistakes I made with the head, the lack of stuffing in the chest ... but he doesn't see any of that.

He watched me making the first dolly for his big brother, and then patiently waited for his own. When it was finished he named it "Daddy Joffa". We don't know why!

Yesterday we had a lovely walk together as a family - Daddy Joffa had to be wrapped in a blanket because he didn't have any trousers. :o)

So this morning I made some snazzy purple stripey trousers and because Daddy (the real Daddy) was home keeping the little ones busy with a project I was even able to find time to make this baby carrier for our little man to tote Daddy Joffa around in.

He loves it!


Blessings
The Mum

LOVE IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

This hard-boiled love-heart gave us a smile and helped us to remember to spread a little more love around.

Blessings
The Mummalady

NO READING AT THE TABLE!

NO READING AT THE TABLE is a very fine and sensible rule.

Trouble is, when nobody else is sitting with you it can be boring getting breakfast into you, and so if your book isn't borrrowed (from The Library, or from a friend), then maybe it's ok ... maybe?

We have lunch together as a family normally (except Daddy - he's at work), and tea is ALWAYS together - around the table - which apparently is quite unusual in today's culture.

But breakfast is often taken in shifts while other family members are using the bathroom, or doing chores.

And when children are brought up with a vast but carefully chosen selection of books, it's kind of comforting and a bit of luxury for our 15 year old to sit for 10 minutes, reading quietly while he chews on his muesli.



Blessings
The Mummalady

DOING ART AGAIN!

I'm not afraid to get messy, and that's a blessing for a Home Educating Mumma.

Sometimes, of course, living in a small space with 6 children we get FAR TOO MESSY - and that's a sign to de-clutter, tidy up, organise - all hands on deck type thing (we get seriously messy and cluttered sometimes - believe me!).

But on the particular day shown above we had the table clear (!) so we thought we'd do some art! We got out the nice soft pastels - drew a design - and then painted over with lovely swishy, puddly watercolours.

We are aware that the fun is in the DOING not the end result, but we still end up with heaps of pictures to put up on the pantry and laundry doors!

For the LONGEST time I have been meaning to get Mona Brookes book "Drawing With Children". Well - I've finally bought it and have finished thoroughly reading the introduction and the beginning lessons and have taken the children through the first lesson.





It was great fun, and we are very, very excited about doing further lessons. So right now I should not be on the computer, I should be sitting with the children in the lounge, fire lit, rain falling on the roof doing some more ART!!

Blessings
The Mummalady

WE'RE STILL HERE!

Yes, it's been a while since we posted - there are a couple of reasons for that.

Number one: We've been busy. Had friends staying actually. What a blessed time we have had - for eight weeks!

Number two: Our internet connection has been slow and getting a blog posted takes a LONG time which leads me onto number three.

Number three: I have been cutting down a lot on my computer time - some days I am only on here for minutes! Sometimes a half an hour ... not more than that.

The Mumma of our visitors and I had long discussions about the computer stealing time from our families - the horrible THING that happens to Mummas when they are on the computer and they ignore the children, or brush them off with a "wait a minute" type of comment.

So I've been teaching our 17 year old about running our family business on-line - he's getting the hang of it.

And in the meantime Daddy has been busy in the workshop with a couple of orders. The stool in the photograph above was designed by a client and made by Daddy.

Better go and get my precious little ones into bed. I am turning the computer off right now and will go and read to them instead.


Blessings
The Mummalady

Collections

Once upon a time a not-so-small boy found a discarded old toy in an op-shop toy box.



"Wow! One of those!"




"What is it?" asked Mummy.


"A Smelly Belly - they had them when I was little."




Apparently he'd wanted one when they were the Latest Thing - some years back, but at $6 each this Mumma had decided they were not a wise purchase.



Especially because they came inside a plastic egg, so you could never tell what sort of Smelly Belly you were getting inside. That's a nasty marketing scheme if you ask me. Introducing the children to gambling.




But now that Smelly Bellies are not so popular, they can be found in the bottom of op-shop toy boxes all over the place! And there is no gambling involved because you can see what you're getting!!




So, now that the not-so-small boy has a little money of his own, he rummages in the bottom of every op-shop toy box he comes across rescuing more Smelly Bellies. He likes them. They generally cost 20 cents. Ah well - could be worse.



And if you were wondering - the beautiful wooden shelf unit is available from Willow Cottage!


Blessings
The Mummalady