Autumn is here. It has technically been here for 6 weeks but it doesn't really feel like Autumn to me until the leaves turn red, daylight savings comes to an end and I start fantasising about switching on the underfloor heating. I was very tempted to do just that today but we are going to try holding off until June. It'll be beanies and an extra blanket on the beds until then.
It's been a lovely weekend just pottering around the house and a visit to the local farmers market this morning. I was chatting to the local Alpaca grower and it re-kindled my desire to get back on the spinning wagon that I started way back when. I spent 2 afternoons at the local Weavers and Spinners Guild when I was pregnant with Flynn and despite the ladies being ever so patient with me I just couldn't get the hang of it. I think I might have to give it another go. I've definitely upped the ante on the knitting productivity and expenditure the past 12 months so even the Mr is coming around to thinking we could be saving money with the purchase of a couple of Alpacas.
We spent an epic afternoon in the garden today. Our house paddock is still very much a work in progress so when I say gardening I mean there were chainsaws, weed killer and two massive bonfires to burn the piles of shrubbery leftover from when Dad was here at Christmas. The area in the front of the house was unusable due to overgrown shrubs and trees which also blocked the entire view but Dad wielded his magic and transformed the jungle into a rough cricket pitch and half soccer field and now that you can see the whole view I don't know why we were "umming and ahhing" for 7 years over the decision to clear the area.
We settled in around the fire pit afterwards and had curry for dinner and toasted marshmallows for dessert. I don't know why we don't do this more often, the minimal clean up alone would make it worthwhile. The only thing to top off the evening would have been a soak in the outside bath next to the fire, a glass of red in hand and a sky full of stars. Unfortunately, there is still not enough water in the tank to meet the requisite water height in the tub and it was overcast anyway. Maybe next time.
How was your weekend? Any Spinners amongst you? Is outdoor bathing your cup of tea? Do you love Alpacas?
Mel xxx
Gorgeous photos and what a great spot for a curry and a marshmallow. Making me miss Tasmania and it's lifestyle as always Mel! xx
ReplyDeleteLoved these photos and that view gets me every time!! I was wondering what meal your children were all digging into... will have to try curry with my girls (does Flynn eat it too?)...maybe I need your recipe. It's still ridiculously hot here in Perth at the moment, in the 30's... yesterday was 35 and today was so warm, the girls and Paul went for a swim in the neighbour's pool! I am desperate for a proper autumn to arrive. Wishing you a lovely week ahead xx
ReplyDeleteIt's just Butter Chicken Amanda. And yes Flynn eats it (anything and everything) and feeds himself and makes a jolly good mess as you can see :-)
DeleteFall is my favourite season of the year. The part you have reached, where the leaves start to turn, is the best of the best. I'm a spinner, but not a very good one. Were you learning on a wheel or with a spindle? I never could catch on to using a spindle. The wheel seemed way more intuitive to me. As for getting an alpaca, I would suggest purchasing a raw alpaca fleece and going through the process of cleaning and carding it before you buy your own animals. A friend and I once went halves on buying an unprocessed alpaca fleece. We still laugh over how awful it was trying to get it clean!
ReplyDeleteA wheel. I just need more practise and it seems like one of these things that you need to have a lot of patience and finesse.....my excitement bubble is slowly deflating at the thought of carding and cleaning, maybe the Kids would love that part??? :-)
DeleteIt looks like a perfect way to spend the day and evening. Fall is my favorite season. It takes awhile to really set in where I live too, but when it comes, you definitely know it. My mother-in-law spins and I enjoy watching, but I've never tried it myself. It looks complicated. I don't know if I'd ever be able to do it right.
ReplyDeleteYes to outdoor bathing! The Balts and Nords are into saunas - the wet variety - and after a thorough sweat a dip in a cool pond or lake is in order. Even in the winter. As your days are getting shorter we are hitting already hitting 32C here in SC. It won't be long until I long for your chilly evenings!
ReplyDeleteIt is so funny seeing you sitting round the fire and getting ready for winter as we are doing the opposite and hoping for summer to come! Hope that you can work out the spinning as it sounds very interesting! xx
ReplyDeleteHey Mel,
ReplyDeleteGood grief that's a fine view you have. I love your candid shots of the children. Mine love sitting around a fire too, and I'm hoping for a little of that action at plot number 10 in a fewmonths time. An outdoor bath sounds chilly. And exposed!
Leanne xx
Our weekend was one of great weather contrasts, sultry and humid Saturday and glorious rain Sunday. Not our usual Autumn fare, but very welcome all the same. We'll be enjoying our last week of holidays while you look forward to yours ... have a wonderful week Mel.
ReplyDeleteThat view is stunning, what a perfect place to sit and toast marshmallows. I'm glad you have a football pitch now, those boys will be happy about it I think. I love alpacas too, the expressions on their funny little faces are wonderful. I do hope you're able to get a couple!
ReplyDeleteYesterday we went to the Chinese supermarket and for a long walk in the countryside, it was fun! Today we did not much at all, just being lazy and happy. There is nothing better than eating nice food around a fire with the family. The views are amazing and I would swap mine for yours anytime. Richard used to have an outdoor shower when he still lived in Oregon, it was fun stepping out and shower al fresco. Hope the tank reaches the right level of water soon. Have a lovely week. x
ReplyDeleteI love autumn too, it was definitely my favourite season when I lived in Melbourne and I think here now too.
ReplyDeleteI have my grandmother's spinning wheel. My neighbour two doors up is involved in the Spinners Guild and kindly offered ages ago to help me learn, but I haven't made the time yet. I love that there is a local Handweavers, Spinners and Dyers Guild - I am interested in all these things!
The ladies at the Guild are so wonderful and generous with their time and knowledge. I went to the Battery Point one, maybe we could go along together when we get organised?
DeleteWhat a perfect evening! We were wondering whether we'll still get the fire going and spend as much time outdoor once we're actually living up at our block, but I love the idea of less mess inside! haha. An outdoor bath would be amazing!
ReplyDeleteStunning photos, Mel - just looking at them, I could smell the air - campfire, fresh air, food and family - is there anything better? Enjoy the rest of the the holidays :-) I LOVE alpacas, they are the cutest things. Happy Easter, lovely. Katie xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a view! And great to see the children outside enjoying the fire pit.
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
Oh an outdoor bath sounds bliss Mel! Love the idea of dinner outside too! Love the photos of your kidlets, they remind me of camping over the Easter holidays when I was a kid. We are heading back to the same spot on the Murray River in two days with our girls. The tradition continues!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds a perfect way to round off the weekend with curry and marshmallows around a fire. Your family pictures are so natural, and the light looks magical. We had a roast dinner in the garden so we could enjoy the heat from the sun but somehow roasts outside don't feel quite right! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteOh Mel the photos of the children are so gorgeous, what special moments to treasure. And you've created a cricket pitch in the garden? I'll put my boys on a plane to spend our winter with you lol!
ReplyDeleteOne of my best friends and near neighbours has quite a big herd of alpacas, which they breed - such lovely creatures.
The "cricket pitch" is just where they play cricket, it's on a 45 degree incline with bumps and ditches all the way along, makes for a challenging game full of twists and turns :-)
DeleteAutumn has arrived here too. From about 4 o'clock of an afternoon there's a bit of a chill in the air.
ReplyDeleteDining outside is one of my favourite things to do, especially in front of a fire. x
We skipped Autumn, went straight into Winter but suddenly it's Summer again! Your kids are just too gorgeous! x
ReplyDeleteI love all the photos but particularly the 4 th one with kids eating dinner, the fire and the view. You will get a lot of use out of that area. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, they look like that are having so much fun. Whenever we do something like that we always think why don't we do this more often? I guess habits are hard to break. x
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post Mel! I love having camp fires at home in Winter - it's lovely to be able to eat your dinner around it, have damper and honey for dessert and then still enjoy the luxury of a hot shower and comfy bed (unlike real camping :-) )
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how grown up Eleanor looks!
Happy Easter,
Sarah x
PS Thanks for your lovely comment on my last post xx
I'm not a spinner. I do love alpacas. Agree on Autumn only really beginning now and outdoor bath or shower? You betcha. One of my favourite memories is being in a spa with it gently snowing on our faces, pure magic (and in Tassie of course :-))
ReplyDeleteWho wouldn't want to take an outdoor bath with a view like that!
ReplyDeleteI love to knit with alpaca, and the beasts themselves are rather fun, but spinning my own alpaca yarn, or any other kind of yarn for that matter, is not for me ... I don't have enough time for the knitting and dyeing I want to do as it is.
hello mel
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely post and i love the wonderful photos!!!!
happy easter,
regina
I love eating outside with minimal cleanup! Love it!!! The views are amazing! Will you ever eat indoors again? Those boys are getting lanky and larrikiny!
ReplyDeleteHi Mel, do try spinning again. It takes a little while to get the hang of it. It took me three weeks. But now, it is a very enjoyable and meditative thing to do. This Thursday, I am having some girlfriends around for morning tea, and they have asked if they can have an introduction to how to spin. If only you lived nearby!
ReplyDeleteHi again Mel, there is also a 5 min program on iview at the moment called The Cute Show and there is an episode about Alpacas. It is worth a viewing. Here is the link http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/cute-show/ZX9669A014S00
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