4 Seasons

The Last Day of Spring

Fresh strawberries growing outside my door. Kind of epitomises this time of year don't you think? I did have them sitting on the deck but I have had to put them up on a low bench, as a certain little 11 month old with a strawberry addiction, kept trying to raid them before they were ripe.

What is happening in your world on this cusp of the change of season? Why not link up.

20% Off Summer Sale

To celebrate the start of summer this week, I am offering 20% off all products on my website The Cloth Nappy Company until December 15. Brands include fuzzibunz, ittibitti and bambino mio. The perfect gift this christmas for any little people you know- a lovely modern cloth nappy.

Oh and we ship worldwide for a flat rate- New Zealand wide $5NZD, Australia $10NZD and Rest of world $15NZD

Advent

Today is the first day of advent. Many do not realise this, as the popular advent calendars start from the 1st of December. But, traditionally, advent begins on the 4th Sunday before Christmas. The passing of each Sunday evokes a different part of the journey taken by Mary and Joseph in the nativity story. The first week celebrates the earth, as they set off on their journey through the mountains. The second celebrates nature, as they journey through the valley. The third week celebrates  the animal kingdom, as they move across the bare grazing lands. And the 4th week celebrates human life, as they arrive in Bethlehem to welcome their baby.

This is a lovely symbolic time. Even if, like our family, you are not particularly religious. It is a time to celebrate the joy of the coming of christmas, of special times with family and friends, of the sharing of food, laughter and love.

This year, I have created this nativity story scene for our home. Setting out the nativity story  journey with the stones to signify the mountains, the flowers to signify the valley, the sheep to signify the grazing lands and finally the stable where Jesus was born. Each evening before bed, I plan to tell a little of the nativity story to the girls. Then, move one star from the path they take and place it on the night sky behind them.

I set up the nature table last night with this little scene. This morning, Holly got up and started her day as usual, only to stop dead in her tracks when she saw our little table. A huge grin broke out across her face as she exclaimed "Whats that Mummy?!". Now she is very excited about the end of the day arriving so she can hear the story and move one of the stars into the sky.

I love that I am able to celebrate with my children in this way, to provide them some of that magic in the build up to christmas.

Happy Advent.

My first Needle felt Figure

My first needle felt figure. It was honestly a lot easier than I imagined and a lot of fun too. We learnt the basics at my Steiner inspired parenting group and from there I just kind of winged it! But I am pleased with the way she has turned out. Holly thinks she is a princess and is loving her arrival in our home.

Think I have caught the needle felting bug, I have just started making an advent nativity scene to celebrate the countdown to Christmas.

Wardrobe Wednesday

This is probably my last Wardrobe Wednesday installment as Claire is no longer going to be hosting this little weekly segment. I think I have pretty much showed you all most of my wardrobe anyway! I don't buy new clothes very often, in fact, I think I have only bought 2 things this year. Anyway, last week I bought these pants and I bought them new! I have to say I love them but I am a bit bummed as I washed them and hung them out and the colour faded big time across the back, so I am thinking I will have to take them back... sigh.

Pants: Ula
Top: Can't remember, has been in my wardrobe for 5+ years
Shoes: crocs
Necklace: Bought from the nelson market about circa 2004

4 Seasons

Spring

There is nothing better than being able to throw off the shoes and walk around barefoot, especially for those tiny little feet that are just learning to walk. Yep, my baby is starting to walk!

What's happening in your world this season? Why not link up?

Read of the Week

I have been reading 'The Urban Homestead' by Kelly Coyne and Erik Knutzen. It is an inspiring book for anyone that has dreams of living the good life within the urban setting. 

We have a reasonable sized garden and I have lots of plans to build a large vegetable garden as well as get a few chickens. After seeing the photo's of Cat's garden, I am feeling more motivated than ever to get onto it. 

This book is great as it lays out all the basics of setting up and caring for a garden as well as many other useful topics such as composting, chicken care and preserving. 

A great read for anyone, who like me, has ambitions to be at least partly self sufficient.

Baker's Delight Giveaway Winners

Winner's of the $5 Baker's Delight vouchers are-

Joanne
Amy Seven Stitches
Rachelle- Warming Crafts
Karey
and from Facebook- Becky

If you can all please email me seasidesiblings@gmail.com with your postal address and I will get your voucher sent off to you.

A little Birds Nest

This week I have been trying felting for the first time. I made these tiny felted eggs by wet felting over small stones. I made the nest using a knitted bowl pattern, adjusting it to make it shallower. I am so pleased with how it has turned out, I know that Holly is going to be so happy with this wee gift on Christmas morning.

Wardrobe Wednesday- Flashback

This weeks challenge was to post your old ball photo. So without further a-do, let me present you with the evolution of the ball-

First school ball age 16 1995

High School Graduation ball, 1996

Canterbury University Law ball, 1998

Canterbury University Law ball 1998

Canterbury University Grad ball, 1999

Hope that gave you all a good laugh!

4 Seasons

Spring

The most obvious sign of spring in our house is the nature table, which takes pride of place in our living area. It is here that Miss Holly puts all her special finds. At the moment the table is full of little flowers. Whenever we go for a walk, she loves to collect flowers along the way. Our rule of thumb is, if it is overhanging the footpath or planted on the roadside, it is fair game.

Everything on the table is organized by Holly except the large vase of flowers which were a gift. Each time when we come home with new flowers, she carefully arranges them, adding them into one or other of her little vases. Her shells, from our frequent beach trips, she likes to arrange in circles. At the moment they have created a 'fairy circle'.

A couple of weeks ago, a blackbird found it's way into our house. Which actually really scared both my girls but after we got him back outside, we discovered several of his feathers in the house. I told Holly that the bird had left them as a gift to say thank you for helping him outside. They quickly took up residence on the nature table. Because cats like to chase feathers, he is up there too, with his little play friend Mr Mouse.

The painting is one of Holly's own watercolors, which I thought looked lovely and bright, much like her sweet flowers.

What is happening at your place that reflects the current season?

Would love you to link up.

Baker's Delight Giveaway

Following on from this post about Baker's Delight high fibre low GI bread (aka brown bread cunningly disguised as white bread). The people from Baker's Delight have kindly donated 5 x $5 gift vouchers for the lucky readers of my blog to win. Just think of the yummy bread you could buy!

So to be in to win, all you need to do is leave a comment  telling me what your favorite bread product is- for me, I can't go past a cheesymite scroll- yum!

I will draw the winners on Monday the 22nd.

These are redeemable at any bakers delight store, so if there is one near you, enter away!

Good Luck!

Painting With My Girl

Yesterday, Holly and I spent a lovely afternoon painting. 

It is such a joy to watch little people hard at work in creation. I think these lovely words by Brunhid Muller in his book 'Painting with Children' sums it up perfectly- "To paint with colours means to live with them and in them". And that is absolutely what children do when they paint, They become so fully absorbed in the colour.

I love the way, as she selects her colours, it begins to tell a little story.

Which is added to with the next colour to create that little bit of magic.

We like to paint using watercolours as it really allows her the the freedom and creativity to express all the beautiful colours she carries with her in her sweet little heart-

Painted by Holly, aged 2 1/2.

My Creative Space

This morning my new nickel plated knitpicks needles arrived! I am so excited to try them out, having only used the wooden tips before. I have heard they make for much faster knitting than the wood.

I am taking part in Tikki's mystery knit-a-long and have been holding off on starting until my new tips arrived, can't wait to cast on tonight!

More creative spaces here.

Wardrobe Wednesday

This is probably the closest you will ever see to me wearing shorts. I just don't 'do' shorts very well. But, it is a lovely day in Christchurch today so I pulled out these pants, which for want of a better word, you could call coolot's (that word brings back bad memories of the 80s for me!)

Top: Country Road
Pants: From a little shop in Golden Bay, unsure of the name.
Shoes: Hannahs

For more wardrobe wednesday's, check here.

4 Seasons- Spring

Summer. My favorite Season. Spring, my second favorite. 

The other day, I watched my 2 year old kindly share her ice block with her very excited baby sister. They sat in the sun, ice-block dripping over their tiny hands while Holly passed it back and forth between their mouthes. Afterwards, they smelt just like summer, that mix of cool ice block breath and sunscreen. Bliss.

Do you have something to share that personifies the season you are in?

Would love you to link up.

4 Seasons- Will you join me?

I have been thinking about this for a while, the idea of celebrating every week with a post that reflects the season we are in, be it summer, spring, autumn or winter. Something from life, something that inspires me or makes me smile. It could be an outing, an activity, a poem, a song, a recipe or a photo that reflects the current season.

So, I will kick off this Tuesday and every Tuesday there after. I would dearly love it is some of you wanted to link up with posts of your own. It would be so exciting to see how you all celebrate the season.  You don't need to be in the southern hemisphere to join in either, I would love to see the juxtaposition of the northern hemisphere seasons too.

See you Tuesday!

My Read Of The Week

The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule

A copy of this lovely book has been calling my house home for the last couple of years. I find myself returning to it over and over again for inspiration and motivation. Many know it's author Amanda aka Soulemama for her beautiful blog.

This was the first book I read when I was looking at an alternative to the mainstream way of raising children. It is about living with less but having a whole lot more. Finding toys in nature, creating and sharing with your children and finding joy in the home.

This week, I find myself again returning to this book for ideas for activities I can do with a little girl who is quickly transforming from a toddler into a pre-schooler, and as she does, so to does her abilities. I never tire of this lovely book, I seem to get something new out of it every time I return to it's well thumbed pages.

This Moment

My Dad with 3 of his 4 grandchildren

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

This Little Piggy Went To Market

 I am having a lot of fun at the moment making knitted miniature toys for the little one's to play with. There is something so incredibly rewarding about making toys for your own children, watching them enjoying the product of your handiwork. 

How cute is this little piggy? He was made using this pattern. To give you an idea of just how tiny he really is, here he is sitting beside a spool of thread-

Next on my list is some teeny tiny chickens... I'm on a roll!

Wardrobe Wednesday

The weather lately has settled into mostly good days, making it much easier to decide what to put on each morning. I must admit, I am defiantly a summer girl, so I am loving it's return.

Tunic: Mesop

Leggings: Glassons

Shoes: Hannah's 

More Wardrobe Wednesday outfits here. 

One Small Challenge for November

I have decided to jump on board with making one small change a month. A change that will in some small way, reduce my negative effect on this world. So, I am drawing attention this month to a bit of  a taboo subject- women's sanitary products.

Several months ago, I swapped to using a menstrual cup, a reusable alternative to tampons. This month I have taken the plunge and also purchased some reusable sanitary pads as an alternative to disposable panty liners. The lovely pads pictured were made and purchased from a local business, Ecomoon.

Did you know that over a woman's life time, she will use, on average 4800 sanitary products, that will eventually end up in landfill? Kind of shocking, eh?