Links!

Interesting language history.

Great life advice.

Teacher life (5 & 6!!)

Dedicated journalist!

An interesting look at life with autism.

I need this right now.

Breathtaking.

This hit home this week.

August Goals Review

• Start my new job (and find a new routine) - no...
• Keep up with the videos - done!
• Get back to my lowest weight of the year - no...
• Day out with the kids - no...
• Get the garden in order!!! - in progress.
• Gonis Power Start. - no....

So it has been a struggle this month. Hold ups with my new job and in general have really set me back. Hopefully things will get back on track in September.

Garden Harvest

Despite our like of time and energy to really work in the garden this year, we have had quite a successful harvest.

It started with the fruit - we had so many raspberries that we have snacked on them, baked with them and even prepared raspberry rum.  

We had our first cherry, a couple of apples and lots of grapes so that Nico was able to make grape juice and turn it into smooth jam.

So far we have had one pumpkin which Nico turned into a roast dinner on Monday.

Yesterday I enjoyed my first caprese salad of the year, almost entirely from the garden, with our own tomatoes and basil.

These are our staples in the garden.  I finally feel like we are emerging from the mist of those newborn months and I am looking forward to working more in the garden next year, partly with the kids, to get back to some of our other staples like potatoes, carrots, courgette and beans.

Recipe: Easy chicken roast

Ingredients:

• Chicken pieces
• Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Rosemary
• Oil
• Seasoning
• Onion
• Garlic

Instructions:
1. Chop the onion, garlic, potatoes and tomatoes.
2. Spread on a baking tray with the remaining ingredients, topping with the oil, rosemary and seasoning.
3. Roast in the oven at 180 for an hour or until the chicken is cooked through.

Make it Monday - Flamingo Stencil

Here's a summery flamingo stencil that I finished before my Gonis party at the weekend to highlight a few different products.

I started by gluing together some lollypop sticks. I'd seen examples where the background is also painted but I quite like this effect.

Then I used one of my stick on stencils and Gonis Paint to make the flamingo. A little really goes a long way.

Finally, I used a Decopointer to do the eye. I love the pointers for finishing different projects.

When I have finished showing this one, it will go in Isabella's room.

Weekly Wisdom

Kindness is free, sprinkle it everywhere.

The Saturday Update

On the whole I've had a quiet week because I'm still chasing down papers and permissions for my new job and haven't started yet.

I've got a fair bit done around the house, made a start on the garden and caught up on various appointments both for me and the kids.

A friend came over for tea and cake yesterday and it was lovely to catch up.

I also had plenty to do with my Kindergarten work this week too.

Last night we camped in the garden. We were a bit apprehensive but the kids were fantastic - sleeping straight away, and it was a great test run for October despite the rain. 

Today I'm doing my second Gonis presentation, at home. Looking forward to that and we're catching up with friends tomorrow too. Busy times.