Life has been busy around here lately. Relaxed, but busy.
I've been doing lots of weeding gardening. Which of course has necessitated buying a few new plants...which in turn has meant regular visits to our local market - an ever faithful source of vintage enamel ware, old books, bargain clothes, oh yes, and cheap plants. :)
Yesterday I wandered down with Miss C and we managed to find a couple of gorgeous vintage Enid Blyton books ...a lovely old copy of Wind in the Willows for only $4....a white enamel mixing bowl...and these divine red metal kitchen scales.
Remarkably, I even remembered the plants - some sweet lavender and daisies - just perfect for my cottage garden! ;)
I have also been busy inside the house. That's right, I've actually been tidying and reorganising my cupboards and bookshelves. And we've painted the pantry - gone is the dark abyss, an apparent breeding ground for multiple packets of icing sugar and popcorn - all half empty. Now we have fresh white shelves and food stored in sparkling jars.
Why all this madness, I hear you ask. Well....let me tell you why. In just 5 weeks time (yes, I'm counting down the days!) we have 14 relatives coming to stay. 14! Plus our 8, makes 22 people living, eating, and sleeping in our house for one crazy, funfilled, outrageous, fantabulous weekend of partying. Yes, in a moment of spontaneity, which I am known for, we decided it would be fun to celebrate two of our children's January birthdays with as many of our Melbourne family as possible. Crazy, but definitely wonderful!
So while I count bed linen..and re-organise cupboards..oh and weed garden, my hubby - 'event co-ordinator extraordinaire'- is printing off spreadsheets. It's true. And this is the difference between he and I. He knows how to make spreadsheets. I don't even know how to read one. :)
Anywhoo....back to the family get together.....and those spreadsheets...hubby has planned the entire 3 days. There is to be an Amazing Race...team sports...a costume dance party...a Pride and Prejudice inspired afternoon of croquet and prose reading...brunch at the local bakery...a meander about my much loved market...and a picnic at the nearby raspberry farm.
Which are all reasons why I married this man. I'm pretty sure that if he worked at home there would not have been 15 packets of popcorn in our pantry.
And so...I'm a little busy. I have one final, much anticipated birthday to plan for this year... Christmas with my brother and his family...then 2 children's birthdays in early January and a whole bunch of fun loving relies coming to stay. How blessed am I?
In the meantime, I have this cup to sip tea from.
And if that fails...well then there's always this.
Mel xo
Hahahaaa,
ReplyDeleteLove it Melie. I can only imagine what you must be going through. 14 of us. Coming. In 5 weeks. 5 weeks!!!!!!! All I can say is keep sipping tea from that mug. It will be so wonderful I am sure. We absolutely can't wait.
Love love love the red kitchen scales. I found something vintage for you today actually, but I shall keep it a surprise for when we visit. Keep calm Mel and carry on. If all else fails buy another pot of lavender....xo Rach
Aren't they sweet Rach? And only $15! Impossible to even try to resist them! Can't wait to go thrifting with you!! xx
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're in for a whole lot of fun! Yes, I understand the planning husband and the not-so-routine type wife..ahem! I want those kitchen scales...
ReplyDeleteNow about that guest post you said you would think about....can I use this: http://sweetblueskydays.blogspot.com/2010/10/some-days.html EMAIL ME (address on my sidebar) xo
Hi Jo! I did say I'd think about that didn't I! Another spontaneous moment no doubt!! Yes, you can use that post. I will still email you though...just to chat! x
ReplyDeleteWell your excitement is very contagious and no joke we are all doing the same thing here in our house...literally! We have sooo many friends and family coming to stay this summer my husband & I have been cleaning and de-cluttering and have done 6 trailer loads to the tip and about 16 or more garbage bags drop offs to the op shop. WOW, what a FUN itinerary! You guys are going to have a blast. xxx
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're busy too Sarah! Aren't we lucky to have friends and family coming for the holidays - plus it's a great excuse to de clutter and tidy up! I'm sure our kids will have wonderful memories made this Christmas season! I'd come and have a cuppa with you if we lived closer!! xx
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to have that 'CUPPA' with you Mel and meet your family one day! :)
ReplyDeleteStones? You mean, I've finally found someone else who can manage a Stones? No one I know seems to even know what it is!!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVEEEEE your red kitchen scales- they are a great score.
Good luck with all your organising, planning and being with friends n family. You are blessed!
Susan - yay! A girl after my own heart! :) Yep, hubby and I do love a ginger wine with lemonade...although straight is good too, especially beside a campfire. Thanks for dropping by, Mel x
ReplyDeleteI can't believe our husbands can be so similar in some ways and yet so different! ..Spreadsheets? Seriously!
ReplyDeleteMy darling refuses to decide anything until 5 minutes before we do it!
Sounds like lots of fun is planned. Sad we will miss it; oh well, we shall have to have our own unplanned fun :)
Love you, Rachelxo
Some wonderfully, delightfully busy times ahead for you. Your pantry looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Amy! My older two girls (14,11) did a lot of the painting and enjoyed it. It's been over two weeks now and so far it's still tidy, which is good news! ;) oh and I won't have to buy another bag of popcorn kernels until 2013. :)
ReplyDeleteRachel, so exciting to read a comment from you! Hooray! We would LOVE for you all to be coming in January. I think it's time we planned another get together. Maybe it's our turn to come to NZ? Time to look into passports for the kids perhaps.....and buy a lottery ticket! Love you! Mel xx