a belated 'call to the midwives'...

As it was 'International Midwives Day' on Sunday, May 5th, I wanted to share with you the most delightful, heartbreaking and emotional series that is 'Call the Midwife'.  Currently showing on the ABC, it is truly one of the most inspirational TV shows I have ever experienced.

It is a BBC period drama series starring Jessica Raine, Pam Ferris and the hilarious Miranda Hart.  The show was created by Heidi Thomas, based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth and set in east London in the 1950s.

If you haven't already, I encourage you to keep an eye out for this memorable show (current episodes available on abc iview).  Your heart strings will be pulled, warmed and given a thorough workout...

project update #2...

I was hoping to get a few updates in prior to the final renovation week but it just hasn't happened that way.

So here we are...

1/3 Bathroom Renovation:

During the first week of January my lovely Father came and removed as much of the old bathroom as possible so we could get moving on the project.

It's amazing what you find when demolishing and I was hoping for something cool and vintage (Bah!) instead we got hundreds of dead snails. That's right, snails - it was disgusting...

Instead of making this project update last the duration of Abraham's existence, I'll split it up and do a sole bathroom reno update.


2/3 Veggie Garden:

Unfortunately, the plans we envisaged for our vegetable garden has not come to 'fruition' since we are most likely going to rent out our little beachy abode in the next couple of months.

I know, I know. We have a brand new bathroom - WHAT WERE WE THINKING???

However, we pulled an amazing amount of peaches, a handful of nectarines and our fist apricot off our trees this year!

Anyhoo, I hope to produce a more portable veggie garden for our future home(s). I'm going to Pinterest the heck out of transportable gardens and provide you with some wish-list-pics for the next update.


3/3 Creative Projects:

Some great projects, if I do say so myself, made over the festive season...

Felt Christmas Tree for Nora

Stocking's for Joel, Nora and I

and a cute, slightly fuzzy, bow-tie onesie for my future nephew

There it is...

relocation dreaming...

I've just come across Beá 's website La Tartine Gourmande - WOW!

Her latest blog post is advertising a Food Styling and Photography Workshop in East County Clare, Ireland....Oh My Word.

To do this would be a dream come true. The opportunity will hopefully show itself when the kid(s) have all grown, the man and I are living in a recently renovated barn on King Island, making cheese, growing 'things' and our superfunds are bountiful. HA!

The 'tell him he's dreaming' scene from The Castle is on repeat in my head right now...DARN.IT.

One day...

waiting for spring to sprong*...

Winter is still lingering throughout my body and I have no genius to share...

So I'll be back soon I hope when Spring has properly sprung and Winter is out of my sinuses.

I'll leave you with some borrowed genius:
1.  I'm eating ALL of this in my mind - Small Measure.
2.  A Birth Story - Described beautifully by Imogen Eve.
3.  Sewing Exploits - Thank God I have such creative friends.


*Sprang?! Sprung?! Sprong?!

Melodies...

I had terrible taste in music.

Thankfully, my good man gently guided me in the right direction.  My goodness, there's some amazing music out there.

A few of my favourites:

City and Colour
Daughter
Gin Wigmore
James Vincent McMorrow

A new one in my collection - Birdy. So young, completely amazing!


Check it...

...and no, I won't be divulging the monstrosities I used to listen to.


P.S.  If your so inclined, my Spotify list - 'Lee-Anne's Playlist'

Project Update #1...

Here it is!
As promised in this post, here is the #1 update of my current projects.

1/3 - Bathroom Renovation:

It's a small update for the bathroom as there isn't much I can do other than plan at this stage. We have organised with my very talented Father and Brother to do most of the labour.  This will happen in the January holidays. We plan to knock out the wall between the toilet and the bathroom to make it larger. So even though the toilet will be in the bathroom, I think it will make the house more valuable to any future buyers. Dad will be coming round in the next few weeks to measure and then draw up some plans.

This bathroom would be ideal:

Thanks my scandinavian home

However, I think that something a little more simple will be more appropriate for the future...and our pockets. Especially if we decide to go through with this.

2/3 - Veggie Garden:

Thankfully, I've made some serious progress. (In the midst of rescuing Nora from sitting in idle dog poo and stopping Digby, our dog, lick my feet..ew!)

It's more fruit related than veggie but still in the garden.  Here is our new strawberry plants from Perry's Nursery, which I've planted in a bargain pot we bought from the Willunga Lions Auction. 

We also purchased a dwarf granny smith tree to cross-pollenate with our other apple tree. Advice received from our friend over at One Small Orchard.

It's been refreshing to get outside a bit more!

3/3 - Creative Projects:

Two little newborn beanies to get my juices flowing. I've just learnt how to change colours while knitting...WOOT!

Now for the next creative project.

Knitting Beauty...

My project updates are on their way. This has been a great motivation and I'm looking forward to sharing with you where I'm up to.

For update #2, hopefully one of these will be included. Thank you Purl Bee:

Just beautiful, right?!

Projects - 3/3...

After my post last week about never having enough time (and some lovely support), I decided to get my groove on and start some projects.

I have three things in mind...

Our bathroom renovation:

Our current tiny, pink bathroom

The veggie garden:

The weedy, soon-to-be veggie garden

And some creative knitting/crocheting projects like these:

I"ll focus on completing some angle of these projects, however small, and will keep you in the loop about where I'm up to each week.  Hopefully, my interweb peeps will be the motivation I need to keep going...

...even when my floors are crying out to be scrubbed!

Where does the time go?...

I love reading blogs...

It only started a few months ago and now I'm hooked.  It's inspirational, motivating and gets my creative juices bubbling. My only problem is, I get so swept up in the mummy/working role that I don't seem to have the time to utilize those juices.

The ideal week would include spending time with family, working, researching, cooking, friends and some kind of craftiness.  At present, I'm so exhausted from working that the days I have at home are spent playing with Nora, cleaning and sticking to some kind of routine.

I would really love to be able to create this:

Thank you icandy handmade

and make this:

Thank you Manger

Oh well, at least I have these two lovelies to keep me busy!

How do you make time to be creative? To do the things you love?
I'd love your thoughts.