and the post will be LOOOONNG.

 Here are a few things that have been happening in the Shire over the last week..

(so there is a new show on T.V called "the Shire" and I am thinking someone has been reading my blog and STOLE it! .. )

After dining out at our friend B's birthday party and eating amazing mexican goodness, I decided to come home and give our own a whirl. With guacamole and salsa and cucumber and mint yogurt. Nachos and cheese and sweet chilli and sour cream... delicious!! Thanks for the idea B - I am NEVER not EVER buying a nachos pack in a packet again.

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Then,  Boy decided to wear his undies on his head instead of his bum & we started (half - heartedly) toilet training.

Half-heartedly because I wanted to do it in summer but he seemed so obsessed with the toilet that I thought we'd give him a chance. We are still in the process of recognising when we "wee".. As in "Oh I wee.. toilet?" rather than " oh toilet... I wee" but we have had a few fluke wee's in the toilet and it gives us enough encouragement to keep trying.

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Then on Saturday we took a trip ..in the car..

I found a few artistically taken photo's from Boy of the trip up (to remember the day by, obviously - because his Mumma is slack and didn't take ANY pictures.)

We picked up Daddas new car ("hooray!" I thought. "I have my car back")

{he'd been using mine while he sold his old one}

Then we took a drive into the city to see Annie!

just for Boy.

AND! he LOVED it! // well, he loved the "dog" and when Sandy wasn't on stage kept asking for "amnal" (animal) to come back.

He was so good- sitting, dancing, singing (honestly so cute) and clapping for 3 hours, that we might keep an eye out for more stage productions to take him to now.

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Then on Sunday:

I had a talk in sacrament on the commandments. Yeah, you should totally keep those.. just sayin'

Then in primary we played..

 GIANT snakes and ladders 

which Boy & I had made for primary singing time during the week but as Sis G was sick and couldn't take sharing time we ended up playing it the whole time as a combined sharing time and singing time.

SO as a team when they landed on a particular number they either sang ( a pre-allocated) song OR told us about something kind they could do for their families.

We also talked a bit about what the songs we sung mean (as last week was about kindness) to tie it all in together.

phew now that's over I shall blog about my (literally, no exaggeration) near death experience.

Stay tuned.

And there will be birds..

Last Saturdee (yes I know I am behind, whats a girl to do?)

after some face touching..

We took a trip to Le Zoo...

When we got to the first exhibit -- we saw a BIRD! a BIRD! (in with the gorillas)

As we were walking along.. we saw a BIRD! a BIRD! (in with the tiger)

then.. more birds! (around the kiosk)

Then, yes, we saw pelicans, fair dinkum zoo exhibited birds... hooray!

The Melbourne Zoo has a fairly new seal exhibit - accompanied with (of course) freaky seaweed that lights up and makes noises. 

The seals even had a wave machine just for their simulated sea playing pleasure.

Best Zoo Bit Ever.

(worst Zoo bit ever, going to the Zoo in Thailand and walking around and seeing a dead domestic cat decaying in one of the exhibits.. but thats another story)

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Then on Sunday:

It was ALL about the wise man and the foolish man 

Of course the foolish man built his house on sand..

And the wise man on a rock.

Of course, when the rain came tumbling down (I poured water into a colander with a storm cloud attached to the front) the foolish mans house washed away.

Awesome.

Next week? Giant snakes and ladders I think!

A blog of Tea

Just a quick blog to share my tea delight.

As a Tasmanian ambassador I wish to inform all Geeites (that is people of Geelong) that I have found and purchased Ashbolt tea in the local area - this information may also be beneficial for any Tasweigans (that is people of Tasmania) who have migrated to mainland Australia.

I attribute my spritely good health and looks to the wonders of the Elderflower.

I now quote (well really copy and paste) from the Ashbolt website.

Health Benefits of the Elderflower

The elder has been used for four thousand years and is reportedly the oldest herb cultivated by man.

Nearly all herbal books refer to the elder as “the medicine chest of the country folk”. Amongst the claims found in a number of herbal and historical references (refer to any herbal history/encyclopaedia) are the following:

• Traditionally used as a de-tox, to build the immune system by clearing toxins thru the lymph glands.
• For respiratory problems, elderflower was used to treat asthmatics in the days before “modern” medication; and as an expectorant to clear catarrh.
• To build up “poorly” people (especially children and the elderly) before winter – as coughs and colds and influenza were killers through a cold European winter.
• In spring, elderflower concentrate, also known as elderflower cordial, was used to relieve the symptoms of allergies to pollens etc; to reduce the effects of sinusitis.
• Elderflower tea was used as a blood purifier; and as a tonic or ointment to fade freckles or skin blemishes. Many modern skin tonics still contain elderflowers

(here endeth the copy and pasting)

I got myself some Elderflower concentrate.., yum!! And some Elderberry concentrate. For tea I add about a tablespoon of Elderflower to 250ml of hot water and a slice of lemon or lime (or both if you're keen).

Perfectomundo!! Its winter, (aka Tea season) so grab a cuppa (of herbal tea of course) because its filled with antioxidants and all that good stuff.. like water. sigh.. whose that mug!