Hockey and Hunts

Tanzin & Taylor have begun to play hockey with the Harelston Magpies each Friday night.
Tanzin was selected to play in the under 10's first hockey tournament of the season.
She wasn't afraid of getting in there to have a go!

On Saturday morning (after ballet), we went to a hunt.  Steeped in tradition, it was the club's first hunt of the season.  Fox hunting has now been banned, so the hounds set off in search for hares.  It's a very sociable and prestige occasion.  The horses and their riders are immaculately groomed.

Love the driving down our driveway when the trees are alive with colour.

Jam drops - now a firm favourite after school snack!

I thought this was sweet!  

From the grapevine.  20 litres was eventually juiced and bottled!

The hounds at ready

JP, Max, friend and Ann chatting with a glass of port

Aunty Sam.  (Tom's fiance) 

Huntsman and his hounds

Birthday Girl

Our baby girl Jaimie turned 6 today!

It's been a long party weekend, starting with her friends from her class coming over on Saturday morning, after ballet, to her jewellery making party.  It was all going smoothly until they all ran outside, so that was that...and thankfully, it was perfect weather for us all to enjoy it.

On her wish list this year was a metal detector, and good ol' G&G came up trumps with one, so she is now walking around with it buzzing away in the hopes to find gold! Good luck with that one!  Also on the list were guinea pigs, which I've finally surrended to.., yeah good luck with that one too!!

Friends from Cairns, Scott and Dina arrived in their campervan to stay with us for the weekend, so they had the pleasure of joining in on the birthday celebrations.   After a very lazy Sunday in the sun, G&G came over for a Sunday roast.

It's all worth it when you're 6 and well actually any age at all!

Getting started to make the jewellery

Jaimie's party buddies

Bright and cheerful

With Phoebe & Thalia

6!

Harvest Festival

I've been quick to love this busy time of year.  The vibrant colours of autumn, along with the abundance of apples and pears falling from the heavy branches of the old trees and the dewy spider webs that you see early in the morning.  Ahhh yes, but then there's the shorter days, the brisk air....

Many of my days are spent peeling, washing, cutting the fruit as I can't stand for it going to waste, but it's all worth it when you get to sit down at the table to enjoy it.
Being a new AGA lover, I've loved experimenting in the kitchen with stewing, compoting, juicing, baking and jamming in every which way I can!

Girls at our play park just behind our house

Conkers, crab apples, pears and apples

Squirrels love, acorns

I always feel like I'm in heaven when I visit the green house with these fat, juicy red grapes