Home Sweet Home??!!

Well after a whirlwind trip to Perth, we are now back in red dirt country. And with mixed feelings. There's nothing like the comforts of your own home, your own beds and all those little things that just make life easier and more pleasant, especially with little ones. But when all your belongings are in the middle of a red dirt nowhere, and with 40 plus degrees everyday, well, it can kind of take the shine of home.

We loved the sea breeze and mild temperatures that we had in Perth. The chance to enjoy more cultured things with one another. We didn't miss the heat, the sun that restricts when we're able to go outside, or the almost constant swatting of flies from your face when you do venture out. There's beauty in these parts, but living here, brings with it a more complicated view perhaps. One that certainly hit home, as soon as we landed and drove back into town.

What I am grateful for. That living here for two years, allows us to be together as a family. And is allowing me to enjoy those fleeting few years at home with the girls, before they start school and I return to work. And at heart, home is really more about the people you're with, not just where you find yourself and your belongings living (I'll keep reminding myself of that one!)

Can you spot our airport in this picture and the one below?

Plenty of hi-vis wearing men at this airport!

It's the Little Things

There are many positives of living in this part of the world, and lots of new experiences to be had. But it's the little things that I've most enjoyed during our stay in Perth. 

Thumbing through books in an independent bookstore (much more enjoyable than buying online). Sharing gelato (I use that term lightly, as all I really was allowed was to lick the drips as they ran down the side of the cone). The abundance of new parks to visit with white, not pinky red sand. The sight of water, be it river, beach or small water park. Good coffee and Rudolph red nosed baby cinos (who barely lasted past this photo).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holidaying with little ones can be exhausting stuff. Especially when you're trying to make the most of every little minute around middle of the day naps. I started off like a bull at a gate, but I exhausted us three. Tired and cranky kids, makes for tired grumpy me. So the week that started off as a sprint, ended at a snails pace. 

I didn't get to go to some places that I wanted (let's just say a screaming crying toddler who wants to go home NOW in the middle of the David Jones food hall, does not make me want to sit down and relax with sushi and a coffee). And I didn't get to see everybody who I would have liked too, which was disappointing. But I'm sure I'll find myself another reason to visit again soon.

Apologies for the small text, and different texts in the last few posts. Something has changed in my formatting since we've been in Perth (I'll blame the slowest internet reception at our apartment/hotel), and I haven't quite worked out how to fix it!!
 

A Day to Ourselves

A day to ourselves. To do a few errands (like pick up a snorkel for the bumpy car), and then one of those just see where the rest of the day takes us kind of days. 

 

First, a visit to our old stomping ground. A quick visit to those missed favourite places. Coffee, baby cinos and pastries at Fiorentina. A touch of shopping on Angove street. 

Happy faces. Chocolate faces. And lots of wows at all the beautiful things. Seems Miss A has forgotten all about our life before the red dirt move and Miss J, well she very much enjoyed her first taste of the "real" cafe scene.

 

Then in the afternoon after a nap, we had lunch by the river followed by a hop, skip, run and jump around the bell tower.

 Peekaboo

Some times the unplanned days, are the best days.

Oh yes, and this is me, getting my white on, as much as possible!!

My Favourite Christmas Finds

With next to no shops for us in town, almost all of our Christmas shopping has been purchased online this year. So many shops, and suppliers, it can all get a little daunting trying to find that "perfect" gift, without spending too much. This year I've managed to find some lovely things, which I'm hoping will be loved. I've tried to purchase as many things as I can, that are handmade in Australia.

I love all things handmade, and I feel it's important to support smaller businesses at times like this in the year. Christmas is the most important time of the year for any small business. So if you're lucky enough to live surrounded by unique, small giftware stores, then support them and get shopping! Shops don't survive on your good comments alone, as you're browsing through.

If like me, you're stuck in the middle of nowhere, then here's my go to list, for shopping online this Christmas!

1} The Chevron necklace by miscii. This gorgeous necklace is handmade in Perth, WA, by the lovely Celeste. Thankyou to Karen from Yellow Dandy for bringing this lovely range of jewellery to my attention.

2 } The Sonny Angel Christmas Kewpie Doll from Candey Stripe Cloud. These are just gorgeous, and a deviation from both my handmade and made in Australia rule. But they were just too cute to leave out of my shopping cart. These aren't a gift, but will be added to our collection of Christmas Ornaments for home. I envisage these sitting on the mantle of my own fireplace one day!! Candey stripe cloud had sold out of these last I checked. But you can find them here (last I checked they had some in stock). Or you can buy the complete set of 12 from Beezer. Not all retailers sell them as a set of four. Most will sell them individually. They are actually more of a lucky dip type purchase, as each doll is boxed separately in blind, identical boxes, so there is no way to know which kewpie doll you are receiving. Until you open it. Candey Stripe Cloud predicts the design in each box by weight to ensure you receive four different designs.
 

3 } The Crochet slippers from White Noise Maker . I just love these. They have been sitting in my favourites list on Etsy for sometime, waiting for that right time and person to buy for. I purchased one as a gift, and one for me. Ooopsey.

4 } The Bunting necklace in mint and black. The sweetest of necklaces by Petite Deer. I particularly loved the multi coloured bunting necklace, but the mint and black suited my giftee better (so I hope anyway). I may or may not have purchased one of these for me too.....

5 } I have gifted this delightful cup from Rowemade before. So cheery for that first of too many cups of coffee throughout your day (or is that just me). They also have a great Dad cup too, that might just make it under our tree also.

6 } Easily one of my favourite stocking fillers this year, are these handcrafted chalks by The Chalk Chook. You can find them in various shapes and colours, hearts, stars, gingerbread men, princess fairies. There are so many to choose from, and they make a great alternative as a party favour for childrens birthday parties.

To my friends and family members, yes, your present may just be one of the above. But I won't be telling, you will have to wait for Christmas day!

A Riverside Playdate

Oh Perth you are pretty.

And while I haven't missed you personally there are some things about you that I have missed.

Today's mild weather.

Your beautiful parks.

Your beautiful waterways.

And some of your people.

Muffins by the river with a good friend and her boys. The best way to spend a blissful morning x

The Garden Share Collective { December }

A monthly (and my second), post for the Garden Share Collective. Started by the lovely Liz from The Strayed Table to encourage more people to grow their own organic food at home. A blogging community, who share a garden update about their own vegetable patches, big or small. What is growing, what has been harvested and what has made it onto the do-list. 

While not unexpected in this part of the country, I can't help but mention that we have been experiencing some hot weather lately. Everyday is around 40 degrees. A cool day for us now is in the low 30's. It seems I have started to acclimatise to this weather, as a 30 degree day, now sees me feeling cold and wanting to wear trousers and a long sleeve top. Despite all this, our vegetable garden has continued to thrive in the heat, even if we are slowly wilting beside it. And most importantly, our daughters are enjoying helping us look after the vegetable garden. This is as much a garden for children, as it for us to be able to grow a small amount of vegetables for us to eat.

This month, we planted a few additional vegetables. Some spring onions, zucchini, and even though it was a little late to be planting them, some carrots. We had the room, and I thought it would be worth the try. Maybe I might regret it! The corn is looking very tall indeed, the Sunflowers (of which I've decided we planted too many) are looking very sunny and happy, the Lebanese cucumber plants have been gently thinned out and are also growing nicely. Alongside that, are some chilli plants, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, purple runner beans, coriander (which sadly seems to have gone to seed) and some parsley.

We have continued to harvest yellow and red cherry tomatoes, and also lettuce. A slow, but steady amount for a garden that is 3 months old. Though I can't help but wish, that we had made a larger vegetable bed for ourselves.

The to do list continues to grow. But mostly concerning restructuring of the garden and what we have planted, to make the most use of the space that we do have. We have too many sunflowers and chilli plants. And I'm considering removing the coriander and parsley, and planting it in pots, beneath the lemon and orange plants. This will leave me with a lot more space to grow vegetables. From there, it will be choosing plants that will be best to grow in this dry heat, keeping in mind it will only continue to get hotter for the next three months.

Thank you to this monthly share collective, which gives me the initiative to go out and weed the vegetable garden in readiness for its photos! Enjoying sharing in other's journeys with their vegetable gardens also.

A Return to Civilisation

Our first trip out of the red dirt of the North, and back to the big city lights. Our first in almost six months. My husband will be on a work course for the whole of next week, and we're tagging along. Leaving myself and the girls, free to roam and explore. By that I mean shop. Catch up with old friends that I've missed dearly. Enjoy the sites of green luscious parks. Playgrounds on the riverside. Good cafes. Sushi. My favourite pattiserie. The David Jones foodhall. The Christmas trees and lights in all the department stores. Bookshops. I could go on.

Packing for the non red dirt world, heralds quite a few things. It means, the bringing out of all your white clothes, your good clothes, your cooler climate clothes and your non-pilbarised shoes. For me, that means leaving the one pair of thongs that I have been willing and able to bring myself to sacrifice to the elements up here. And I'll leave them behind gladly. I'm sick of wearing them on a day to day basis. There are a couple of other pairs of sandals that I have worn up here at times. But only when the occasion has involved nothing more than a fast dash from airconditioned house to airconditioned car, into airconditioned  house or shopping venue (of which there are few).

While my shoes aren't necessarily expensive, or that fancy, they are all shoes that I really like. A collection I've added to slowly over time, as I'm just not a big shoe shopper. I don't want the red dust staining them in the hot months, or the red mud staining them in the cool months. So, it looks like I need to go shopping for shoes while I'm in Perth. One's I'm willing to let get a little dirty, and that are a little more stylish than my ugly shoes.

Yes, we will be leaving these grubby dirt stained shoes behind at home. If they look a little red here, sitting on red stained concrete, then they certainly will once we arrive back on city soil.

Best get packing!