From Soulemama {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.
I love your moments too. Â So feel free to leave a link in the comment section for us all to see. Â Have a beautiful weekend. Â Jacinta x
We awoke to the most glorious sunrise this morning. Â We were all transfixed by the amazing show of colour that changed by the minute. Â I love that this amazing show from the heavens followed the Autumn Equinox. Â Certainly a most wonderful and magic way to start the day. Â Ah yes, cue knitting by the fireplace and warm cozy slippers. Â Oh and perhaps some mulled wine too, hic!
The view from our kitchen
To top the off day, Scarlett’s school had their annual St Michael play (in this instance, St Michael is know as the conqueror of the dragon, the heavenly hero with his starry sword (cosmic iron) who give strength to the villagers).  The school doesn’t allow photo’s or video of the play, so no images to share with you unfortunately.  Scarlett’s class played the part of the menacing dragon.  They did a marvellous job of shuffling and stomping.  The highlight for all the kids was most certainly the slaying and burning* of the dragon’s head at the end of the play.  There is nothing like some wielding of a sword to restore peace and order now is there.
*Please note, there were no actual dragons or children hurt in the slaying or burning of the dragon’s head 😛
I hope your Equinox was filled with a little St Michael magic and fun too. Â Jacinta x
– Keepin’ It Real captures the true essence of family life that I know are fleeting, keeping this mama grounded –
I put Jairah down for his usual afternoon sleep yesterday. Â He will often play for a bit before having his sleep. Â I went about my afternoon, listening to him playing quietly. After about 40 minutes he started calling out to me, which I know is a sure sign he won’t be sleeping on that particular day. Â I went to his room and this was the sight I was met with….
Care to guess what all that mess used to be? Â His change table mat! Â He’d certainly had a lovely time with it. Â It was even in his hair. Â Together we cleaned up the mess. Â Suffice to say, his nappy changes are not so comfy anymore! Â I am tempted to make him a tee-shirt with the words ‘Mischief Managed’. Â I think that would be rather fitting. Â Jacinta x
It seems we had our first successful potato harvest this weekend. Â My veggie patch has been somewhat slow this year, so it is nice to think we have enough potatoes for a few meals at least. Â I still have a few more spuds to harvest in the next couple of weeks. Â The Sebago potatoes did really well and are a favourite. Â The Low Carb Carrera, were numerous, but small, although they are a fairly small variety to begin with. Â I’m thinking the kids will love the Carrera boiled in the skins. Â I will have to report back as to how they taste, as they are a variety I have never tried. Â Tenneille was my garden helper today and gladly helped me dig up the potatoes. Â We agreed that is was as fun as digging for treasure!
I think if you squint, it kind of looks like treasure!
Tenneille very kindly arranged the Carrera pototoes according to size.
Sebago spuds are loaded up ready to go!
I’m still waiting on my first tomato, which is hard to believe, given we are now in Autumn. Â The season has been really delayed here. Â Even my pumpkins are not doing much. Â I don’t think I am going to get any watermelons either, even though the vine is growing well. Â I am thinking I’d be better off with a greenhouse! Â What is your garden up to at the moment? Â Jacinta x
From Soulemama {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.
I love your moments too. Â So feel free to leave a link in the comment section for us all to see. Â Have a beautiful weekend. Â Jacinta x
Joining in with Ginny at Small Things for yarn along this week.
Well it seems Autumn has inspired me to pick up my needles and cast on a beret for myself.  I purchased the yarn as a gift to myself for my birthday last year.  It is the softest alpaca wool.  The pattern I have chosen is by Classic  Elite Yarns called Soft Linen Lace Beret.  The pattern is on Ravelry.  This is my first go at lace knitting.  I will be brave and hope that it turns out ok.
As for books, Â I have read a few since I last joined in with Yarn Along. Â I loved Julia Child’s book, My Life In France. Â I would have dearly loved to have met her. Â The book made me want to visit France too.
I’ve read a few Amish books (I seem to have been sucked into them). Â Mostly written by Cindy Woodsmall. Â I read the trilogy, Sisters of the Quilt. Â She has a way of making you love the characters. Â Of course there are dramas as well as wonderful moments in the lives of the characters too. Â The books are mostly based on a character called Hannah and her trials and tribulations of living her life amongst the Amish. Â A life changing event happens to her, throwing her Amish life into chaos and leaving her feeling she needs to escape. Â If you like Amish fiction books, I think you will like this series.
Another book, Plain Wisdom also written by Cindy Woodsmall and her Amish friend, Miriam Flaud was a good read. Â It is a lovely insight into the lives of Cindy and Miriam and their connection across the Amish and English worlds and the stark difference of their ways of life. Â It’s written in short chapters using Scripture quotations to intertwine their stories.
The wedding Gift, by Marlen Suyapa Bodden was a Kindle special. Â It is based in Alabama in the 1850’s and is written from the viewpoint of a slave called Sarah Campbell. Â She is the playmate of the daughter whose family own the plantation where Sarah and her mother and sister are enslaved. Â It follows their lives and Sarah’s dream of running away to be free from slavery. Â It was one of those books I couldn’t put down and read it in just a few days. Â There is a wonderful twist to the story, but of course I’m not going to give it away!
Looking forward to seeing what everyone is crafting and reading. Â I always find Yarn Along is a good reference for finding books to add to my ‘must read’ list. Â I don’t think that list can ever be too long! Â Jacinta x
With my dad in tow, we left Greg and Jairah at home (our little boy is no fun out and about with no afternoon sleep), we took the girls on the train for a rare city visit. Â With a long weekend and Moomba, there was plenty of things to see and do. Â We spent our time at Southbank watching street performers. Â The girls were mesmerised by a magician who had his entire audience in awe. Â He certainly was entertaining.
Most of the time I felt like I was a shepherd, trying to keep an eye on my wonder, Tenneille, who loves nothing better than to flutter like a sweet butterfly all over the place, which this mama finds a little stressful when in such big crowds. Â Alas, she was oblivious to my inner stress and had a glorious time.
Dinner was finished off with ice creams for the girls that practically finished off the girls. Dad and I got the left overs, of which was most of the ice cream! By this time it was getting late and both Tenneille and Scarlett were fading fast.
Stopping to take a few photos, we slowly made our way back to the train with happy, but very tired girls. Â We thankfully didn’t have to wait long for our train. Â With a few deep breaths, we made it home, glad to have made the most of a lovely autumn afternoon in Melbourne.
The Eureka Tower
Jacinta x
From Soulemama {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.
I love your moments too. Â So feel free to leave a link in the comment section for us all to see. Â Have a beautiful weekend. Â Jacinta x
This is an all time favourite of mine. Â It brings back memories of sitting in my nana’s kitchen, enjoying every flavoursome mouthful of homemade soupy goodness. Â I loved nana’s soup so much, I requested it every time we went to visit. Â She always made the same soup and I never tired of it, ah yes, food for the soul. Â Nana used to add a few more ingredients, but I have simplified the recipe over the years without compromising the flavour.
I have made this recipe both on the stove top and using the slow cooker. Â The slow cooker certainly produces a more flavoursome soup.
Ingredients:
2 lamb shanks
2 onions, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2-4 carrots, depending on size, coarsely chopped
6 celery stems, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup pearl barley
stock powder to taste
approximately 3 litres water
1 tbsp oil
(cream optional)
Method for slow cooker:
Cooking time may vary depending on individual slow cookers
place oil and onions in a pan and cook for 2 minutes. Â Add lamb shanks and brown slightly. Â Place onions and lamb shank into slow cooker along with the other ingredients, except pearl barley. Â Pour in water. Â Cook on high for approximately 6 hours. Â (I often put the soup on in the evening and cook on low overnight for approximately 8-10 hours).
Carefully remove lamb shanks, ensuring there is no bone left in slow cooker. Â Cut off meat and set aside. Â With a slotted spoon, scoop out most of the veggies. Â When cooled slightly, place them in a food processor and blend until smooth. Â Add the blended veggies back into the soup along with the meat and pearl barley. Â Continue to cook until barley is tender. Â Add stock powder to taste. Â Serve with buttered toast if desired. Â For a creamy soup, once served, add a dollop of cream.
Method for stove top:
Add oil and onions to a large pot. Â Cook for 2 minutes. Â Add lamb shanks and brown on all sides. Â Add the garlic, carrots and celery. Â Pour in water and simmer soup for at least 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally. Â Carefully remove lamb shanks, making sure no bones are left behind. Â Once cool enough, cut off meat and set aside.
With a slotted spoon, scoop out most of the veggies. When they are cooled slightly, place them in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Add the blended veggies back into the soup along with the meat and pearl barley.  Continue to cook until barley is tender.  Add stock powder to taste.  Serve with buttered toast if desired.  For a creamy soup, once soup is served, add a dollop of cream.
This boy of mine love his soup too, or "zoop" as he calls it.
Enjoy! Â Jacinta x
A little over a year ago, I purchased some gorgeous fabric designed by Sweetwater called Sun Kissed and their quilt pattern called Summer Breeze. Â I knew it would be fitting for Tenneille. Â Originally I was going to make the quilt for her 5th birthday, but of course, that didn’t happen, however, it was completed in time for her 6th birthday. Â I worked on it over about a period of about 5 months, in between other projects. Â I ended up adding an extra border to the outside edge, as the original pattern was a little on the small side for a single bed quilt. Â The finished size is approximately 55″x55″. Â I could have made it a fraction bigger again, but I didn’t have enough material. Â Still, it sits nicely on her bed and compliments her curtains and wall colour. Â Â The fabric quality is excellent and the colours are just divine. Â I must admit, Moda fabric is now one of my favourites. Â I originally purchased the pattern and fabric from The Fat Quater shop.
I promise I didn't make her pose, this was Tenneille just being sweet.
Reverse side of quilt
I still have enough fabric to make up a cushion cover or two, hopefully I can do that before she turns 7!
Jacinta x
