shhh... he's here

charlie20, originally uploaded by summer pickles.

He has arrived. Charlie Francis has come into the world a calm, peaceful and content baby (with a very healthy appetite).

Born 9th August at 8.47am, weighing 4.04kg and 54cm long.

He is a delight and being smothered in kisses by his two older brothers.

We are thrilled to be a party of five.

Hope you are well and happy, have fun,
xx

pinned it, did it

Hi again

I often wonder if I am spending too much of my life pinning bits and pieces on Pinterest. That is, until we have some time for quiet play, boys who don't want a bath, or a few hard boiled egg sandwiches to make!

Here are some of the things we have pinned, and done at our place over the past two weeks:

  a little arty/science magic with bicarb and food colouring + vinegar 

 

printmaking with blocks, cans and wool



easy hard-boiled egg peeling (how did I not know about this before)

 

nope, not an alien invasion, but a bath + glow sticks

(a great way to get tired and cranky boys into the bath, by the way)

Do you have a favourite Pinterest find that has worked wonders for you recently? I would love to hear about what has and hasn't worked out at your place.

On another note, we have just four weeks now til baby three is due to arrive. The boys are getting excited, and whilst the house is not ready, I am. Ready to meet another wee, warm little person, and the times they bring. Not long to go now!

Have fun, and take care,

xx



Ah, the serenity

Hi there!

Hope you are well and happy. We're all fantastic, loving the new life in the country.

Country living though, isn't quite so serene when you have to go on a chook hunt in the early evening. No chooks to be found tonight - not in the chookhouse, the backyard... nope, they were out the front, roosting up in a tree at about 2 metres high. Picture one very pregnant woman, trying to gather said chooks from tree and carrying them one at a time to the chookhouse in the backyard. And meanwhile, hoping that the two small men inside were playing nice...

Ah, the serenity.

crafty crocheted owl show and tell

crafty owl, originally uploaded by summer pickles.

Hello there! Back already with some crafty goodness! 
This is a freshly crafted crocheted owl.

He is very much inspired by this lovely owl by peanutbutterdynamite on etsy.

He is my first stuffed crochet project ever!
He is intended to be for gracing a chair in a nursery, for resting a head when reading, or just being cuddled.
Sadly, as my first ever, his stitching is way too loose around his centre, so you can see the wadding through the wool. Anyone who knows much about crochet could probably have warned me of this, but, a beginning crocheter, I just made up the pattern and gave it a go.

Next time I may even line the front or use a smaller hook, or different stitches, or use double strands of yarn. Next time.
Any advice from you seasoned crocheters out there who know what you are doing?
xo

home-grown fruit is the very best

home-grown fruit is the very best, originally uploaded by summer pickles.

Okay, so I have been missing for ages. And ages. Sorry! I am trying to finish up this uni degree, work part-time, be a reasonably decent mummy and make it through pregnancy number three (whew!).

Not a lot has been going on at the pickles ranch - we have been eating a lot of home-grown citrus (our limes were beautiful, mandarins are soooo sweet, and the oranges and lemons are getting ready to eat). We've been playing in the autumn leaves, puddle-jumping and climbing trees. Autumn is just the best season, isn't it?

And I have been using my evenings for crafty adventures - making some things for Sprocket (pickles baby in progress), some for the boys, and some for me. I promise to pop back in here with crafty photos!

I hope you have been able to get some outdoorsy time in too.

Have fun, chat soon xx

happy easter

Well, hello! Hoping you are enjoying the loooong weekend for Easter. We are, and whilst having some lovely family time, the boys have also been crafting...

Wishing you and yours a lovely and safe Easter xx

a shocking surprise

Well, helloo!

It is a terrible thing that I haven't posted for ages. But when one has a burning secret, it is hard to post anything at all. You see, we are expecting another Pickle.

Quite the shock really! Those of you who have been visiting for some time would know that I am, according to all modern medicine, completely, 100% infertile. Our two beautiful Pickles boys were the result of years of hard work and fertility treatment with a brilliant and gorgeous team in Melbourne (Drs Cate and Stan we will love you forever).

So, there we were, minding our own business, when I started feeling quite ill, for quite some time. It was a few weeks in before I finally did a home pregnancy test (because it is not a natural progression for me to think, "hmmm, I have been feeling horribly nauseous and exhausted for weeks, perhaps I am pregnant?") and then went to my local doctor to see if it was a false positive. It wasn't.

So, um, we're having another baby! A bit shocking at first, but now exciting as Sprocket wriggles around and as the belly grows bigger and bigger... (we're at 21 weeks already).

On other news, country life is suiting us beautifully, we have some new members to the family (chooks!), the boys are so happy here and James Brown The Pug is loving sniffing around and yes, occasionally eating wombat poo (!).

Chat soon xx