Coffs Harbour


One of the highlights of the trip for me was a visit to the Butterfly house in Coffs Harbour. I think butterflies are so fascinating. I just love the tropical landscape on the north coast of New South Wales and Queensland.

The next day we visited the little artistic community of Bellingen. We had a delicious lunch at the Gallery Cafe. It is so beautiful in the hills around that area.

back from the beach


Every summer my husband's family get together for a holiday at Burleigh Heads in Queensland. We haven't been for 4 years because we were living far away in Western Australia. But this year we are living closer and managed to spend a week in the sun and surf. We would have liked to stay another week to unwind fully but we had a good time. Ethan had a blast!! He loved the sand and water but he may have eaten some sand! The sun umbrella in the right hand side of the photo is about 60 years old.

Some random photos from the weekend...

We scored some baby-sitting on friday night so Steve and I spent a few hours wandering the city. On saturday we drove to Newcastle for a birthday party at a nature reserve - hence the koalas. The koala babies were so adorable, curled up asleep! The cute little insect was hiding in the mint my Mum was chopping up to make mint sauce.

My baby Ethan has had three teeth break through today, so he is not his usual chirpy self, poor little man.



Motherhood


I completely enjoy being a mother. I am rewarded every day with Ethan's smiles and laughter! He has lots of energy and curiosity and is so friendly with everyone, even with strangers. I think there is a little of my beloved Nan in him. She used to chat with anyone she met, just like Ethan does now in his own baby talk. Nan passed away last year when I was pregnant with Ethan so she never got to meet him, not even as a bump.

I notified my work that I would not be returning. I have mixed feelings about that, but for the most part I am very happy. If I did go back to work I would feel such a pang everyday leaving Ethan in the care of someone else.

Our days are becoming very full. Monday is playgroup in the morning and my pilates class in the afternoon. Tuesday is mother's group in the afternoon. Wednesday morning we have Ethan's swimming class. Friday is storytime at the library. Add to that caring for Ethan, with breastfeeds, solid meals, naps, changing, play and all the chores. And of course other fun stuff like catching up with friends.

More flowers in Mum's Garden

I know, I know, I'm obsessed with flowers... but another Orchid is in bloom! If these were in season when I got married I would have put them in my hair. We got married in Autumn.


And a Waratah, these are quite difficult to grow. Mum has two in flower on her plant, I can't wait for it to open fully!

Inspired by these

I love these ideas for interiors. They are some other examples from my "Interiors" scrapbook. The bedroom is from Living Etc a UK magazine. Some day I want to make a rough style patchwork quilt for our bedroom similar to this design. I'm collecting fabric from old moth eaten kimonos and an old quilt cover that I love. It will be in deep blue, purple and lilac tones.


The coffee table image is from a Home Beautiful magazine. The silk fabric is a remnant from the silk lampshade I got made for a lamp in our living room. The lamp I had saved from being trashed at work, it was perfectly good apart from the broken
lampshade.

In our garden


The block of units we are living in has some beautiful gum trees, a jacaranda tree and some paperbarks out the front. There is also a hodge podge of flowers and plants that many residents have added over the years. I kinda love the garden, it brightens my day. Here are some beautiful flowers in bloom right now.