In the hands of the Gods!!

Hi Guys,  unfortuately the long anticipated Milthorpe Markets were cancelled due to the huge amount of rain we and loads of other places have been receiving..... Sad.  BUT we made the most of an awkward situation and travelled to Orange and displayed some of our hard work under cover at the Rotary Markets.  Which I must say were more successful than even I thought Millthorpe may have been, so thank you thankyou Orange.

My New Love Lavender Range

Introducing.....

Kells and Kanga

Love Lavender

Love Your Body, Soul + Home Products

I am so excited to have my new range up and going.  Ready for this weekends Markets!! (providing the weather is kind to us all!!

Rain, rain stay away just until we finish market day.... 

A very big thank you to my friend, Nicky- the very talented designer for my Logo. I LOVE IT!! 

Seee you there!

"Hoot'n & Toot'n Mad!" at the Millthorpe Markets



Millthorpe Markets
Be There or Be Square!!

HOOTIE LOVE OWLS....LOOK - LISTEN - FEEL - SMELL - TOUCH - SHAKE + SQUEEZE!

More Beautiful Mobiles!

"Hootn Tootn Mad!" this is a small selection, sneak preview for the up and coming Millthorpe Markets

Christmas comes early

A planned Christmas present comes unexpectedly early, so we set it up for the kids to enjoy. It is huge!

Puppy Love

Puppies are 3 weeks old now and growing fast.  Love Love Love Puppies. Puppy Love Puppy Joy.

This past week...

 I look at my children and feel overwhelmed.

I love them so much.

Our Beautiful puppies have started to open their eyes, they are 2 weeks  old today.  They are enjoying each others company in the washing basket while we air out their puppy bed.  So precious!

I have finally taken some photo's of the other Lavenders that we have planted. There are 350 in this plot all "Avonview" beautiful for colour and fragrance and is at the enterance to our property.  These plants back onto already established rows of "Miss Donnington" + "Alba"











 

I am amazed at the growth that the Lavenders have put on since plantng.  They have trippled in size.

The first flash of colour.

New plants in the distance. this will be the car park area.



                                   Hailstorm that made it look like winter!, all Lavenders survived but the fruit trees copped a hammering.  30mls of rain overnight.

Where did October Go???...

I always seem to be busy.  Busy, busy, busy.  I hear you saying "Well Kelly, you do have 4 kids, not to mention- a farm, with too many animals, a small business etc, what did you expect!?!" Well what I never imagined was a month that would slip by without me even noticing. October.  Now I really have to think hard about what was acheived this last month it's a bit of a blurr really, but there actually seems to be alot  more than I realised.

School Holidays...arrh bliss no alarm clock... But of corse always chores to do- like feeding Bambi Bub + Pearly Hazel our lovely calves with no mummy.  Visitors, we had Poppy visit twice over the hols and 3 times in October Pop always stays over at least 2 nights in a row and the kids love it.  Birthday parties total of 2.  Friends sleep overs which last the weekend, kids love this aswell- total of 2.

Sick, sick, sick.  Yes with 4 kids someone is usually feeling under the weather at some point and my poor darling Henry had another bout of bronchitis, not fun, this was in the first week of the holidays and then to take out the 2nd week in style my poor Tia {baby no 2} came down with the most dreadful viral infection that had her battling and very high fever for 6 days in a row, blood tests ect.  So the holidays didnt really feel so relaxing this time round and I am already ready for the next lot!

What else happened in October.....



Ridiculously fat Roooby.



We planted 700 new Lavender plants!!!,  We built a welping box for Ruby our Labrador, whom was unexpectantly expecting her first litter to her long time boyfriend.  This all happened while we were in Melbourne many weeks ago, because it was unexpected we really thought that poor roob's was just getting rediculously fat, untill it dawned on us that she would or could possibly be becoming a mummy herself! And yes all evidence and suspicion was confirmed when we could see and feel the pups inside.  Needless to say we had very excited children with the prospects of having "PUPPIES, I LOVE PUPPIES EEEEEE" my 3 eldest are now thrilled to tell the whole world that Ruby delivered 12 (yes12) beautiful and healthy Pups. So hopefully some lucky families will be exending their families for christmas- sadly for us hhhmmmm.  

Soccer finished and cricket started, my eldest is sport mad.

Snow half way through October poor freezing cows!

Charli being ever so helpful, planting Lavenders



The creators





Typical Male looking completely satisfied!

 Snow- our first game of cricket was called off due to the huge amount of fallen snow!! Yes cricket + snow, weird!.

Henry scored 2 more teeth.

and
I have had orders to fill and some that I am not sure if I am filling just yet when I get 5 I will make some calls.  In between doctors visits!

Finially
 The month was topped off by the most beautiful wedding ever "Gemma, Chris + Mia- the same day as my husbands birthday so we ended October on a gorgeous all frocked up note.  Check out this amazing photography; http://www.cupcakesphotography.net/  -totally wicked and awesome! If ever you need someone that has an eye this is the gal to contact.



Lavender plot 1 only 130 in this plot- all Grosso 570 to go...





Guarding plants very important
silly rabbits tried to destroy all our hard work!



Hubby and Pop, preparing to replace plants lost in drought

Whelping box.

Current fabric collections that I LOVE right now

Adnorn it- The hoot collection




Mexican Oilcloth- so cool

 

I am not sure what to call it....De Ja Vu

With the last day of September looming I all of a sudden have so much more on my mind, its the middle of the night and I can't sleep. I have been asleep but have woken to my beautiful baby boy whom I fed and then after sneeking a long lovely cuddle put his contented little body back into his cot.  I have been laying in bed for over an hour and a half waiting for sleep to come.... but everytime I think I am close to dropping off, this little voice inside my head clears its throat and says ......Hmmmmmm.
So whats on my mind tonight thats is so different from the rest? A few things. I dream of crafty designs (both day and night) and have developed a new "Hootie Love Owl Collection" that I am very pleased with, I have had a Christmas stocking request that seems to be panning out terrifically in the development stage.  I have had requests and orders to fill, that have been a flow on affect from the Market Mayhem Night- Fantastic.  It's School holidays again, which I love, but haven't had the opportunity to sit and stare at the computer screen to blog about our lives- mainly because a little person(s) always seems to be sitting in my spot, tapping away merrily at the keys, researching, creating stories or powerpoint presentations- who am I to stand in the way of creativeness? and besides, it's rather easy fixed- I could alway buy my own computer! (or continue to get up in the middle of the night to blog) all of these things are not really so different from what normally looms my stylish corridors. So what's the nagging Hmmmm all about?  Is it that I am missing my family in the west so much that it breaks my heart everytime I think about it? could be.  Is it that I feel very tied down at the moment and know that its not possible for me to just up and visit them like I want to?( my Henry is too unwell to travel those sorts of distances- this last lot of antibiotics dont seem to be working either.) could be-but these are things that are like I say, always looming or at least have been looming for a while.  So as I warm up my Milo in attempt to feel sleepy again I know what most part of the nagging hmmm is. It has dawned on me because everytime my mind wonders in that direction the hmmmm gets louder.  Maybe it's not even a hmmm, maybe its more of a whoosh whoosh whoosh.  You see we discovered today that a wind farm is going to be built on our surroundings, actually we didnt discover this today we were told a couple of months ago by a neighbouring property owner that these towers were going to be built, but that they were going to be built so way beyond yonder that it would hardly affect us in any way and that that was the reasoning for the lack of consultation and information.  HMmmmm.  What we have discovered today is that- a or many 150 meter ( yes 150 meter) wind towers will be infact built directly in front of us, as close as 1 kilometere away.  Major hmm.
I keep thinking that this is dejavu!  When we bought our first house in Orange, we chose the house for a few reasons a) location and b) the view.  We were situated up on a hill and were engrosed by both city and rural views and were so very impressed with the city lights at night plus the front  seat spot for celebration fireworks you name it we thought you beauty this is great.  Now I know that you can't and probably shouldnt stop progress or change and we knew that eventually our rural veiw would be developed and turned into more...city, or more domestic stars in the distance at night, anyway we were fine with that.  What we didnt expect was that our lower neighbour directly infront of us would build a montstrosity of an extention that would block more than half of our daydream view and leave us looking blankly at an ugly brick wall which was later covered by an equally ugly colorbond fence extention-all of which was without council approval or consultation with us. But it happened. So we sold. We were so put off by living in town where things could happen in such a manner that we headed "outback" for beautiful  uninterupted space, quietness peace and serenity.  We found the perfect spot, our little patch of heaven, perfect- Kangaroo Flat Lavender Farm- no nieghbours to unexpectedly build montstrosities before our eyes, or so we thought. until today! Our home seems to be the closest to the turbines ( right in our front yard) than to any others in the huge project so why were we the last to know!?
So now its getting really late and my kids will be up in a couple of hours I thought that it might help me sleep if blog my mind alittle, I am afraid now that it may have had an opposite affect time will tell. Lastly and tiredly hmmmm.

Kelly

Market Night Mayhem.... Preschool Fundraiser

Friday Night- Market Night- What a Night.
Last night was the second market that I have ever been to with my Kells and Kanga Love Lavender gear, and after the first market I wasnt sure how I felt about the whole...a) putting myself out there, b) being in a way- judged, for doing the things that I love doing and  for, c)  doing those things my own way etc, etc, etc.
But it all went perfectly fine.  I turned up on time- good start (5 mins late actually but we had an hour to set up, so not bad. I seem to be always running late lately).  I was far more organised.  Less product, more organisation, and I was even able to have a quick drink to calm the nerves ( I was hugely nervous) before things got kicking. I had my gorgeous friends next to me with all there gorgeous gear from "Dayoff Designs", "Wild Poppy", "Chef's Toolbox" and "Paling Yards Grove". So what was I worried about? - Who Knows!  I met some awesome people, had some great conversations, recieved some really fantastic positive comments and over all had a great night.  Earlier in the night I took some photo's and asked a friend to take one of me with my stuff (featured on the left),.... WOW.... I don't think I'll wear that dress ever again, I think it makes me look pregnant (Which I am not, if anyone was wondering! With 4 babies I think that I have reached and probably exceeded my potentional in that area of my life!) And I could have accessorised a little better!, I need one of your gorgeous colourful necklaces Nicky!!

Moving on, My obsession lately has been fabric button hair clips, hair ties and gorgeous Lavender pouches, I will be listing some that I have left over the next coulple of days in my ebay shop and will try and organise made it aswell. I found the button making gear on craftumi, great site! Check it out! http://www.craftumi.com.au/

I had such a great response to these little cuties.

What I Love about Spring

Our blooming Spring driveway!

Spring is actually my second favourite season, Autumn is my most favourite for completly different reasons- All four of my babies were born in Autumn and I married the love of my life in Autumn...  One of my most truest friends named her baby Autumn (precious!), so all in all Autumn means to me- Love, but enough about Autumn its Spring, so.....

What I love about Spring is

The blossoms that line our driveway- so beautiful

Hanging out the washing, feeling that its not a total waste of time- knowing that the warm spring air will actually dry the clothes so that they can just be folded and put away and not rehung over everything and anything!

Opening the front door and being able to leave it open.

Winding down the car windows and letting the warm fresh air fill our lungs

Not having to wear 7 layers

Being outside more often and feeling alive again

Flowers, all of them

Daisy chains

Buds on my favourite plants, makes me smile

Watching the number of calves being born, grow...amazing!

Longer days, not too long, not too short- for some reason I feel that I acheive more?

Bee's. Bees are a  good sign of oil for our Lavender

Planting more Lavender

Planning the vegie patch, this will be my second year, last year I planted so much that I could have fed an army, until we had a very destructive and dishartening hail storm.  I then had to replant which took some time and probably I left it too late.  This year I will plant more of what we eat, I cant wait!

Freshly cut grass, love the smell, love the look.

That Spring brings us closer to Christmas, bbq's outside, family, friends and closer to Autumn. 

T'was the day before Spring!

Favourite slice at the moment...Choc Caramel...What else!!

My kids cant get enough of it, I eat too much of it, it never lasts long enough!!! AND it works everytime.

Chocolate Caramel Slice

BASE

1 cup plain flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 coocnut

125g melted butter

FILLING

1 tin condensed milk

2 tblspns golden syrup

50g butter

TOPPING

200g good quality chocolate

1/4 cup cream 

Preheat oven-180 deg, and prepare your tin.... I use the same tins for the every slice I make

1- Combine dry ingredients for the base, add melted butter, stir, press into tin and bake for 12 mins.

meanwhile.......prepare the filling

2- Combine all filling ingredients into large a microwave safe dish- I use 2 lt pyrex. Microwave uncovered for 3-4 mins, checking and stiring every min or so. It will slightly thicken and turn golden.

3- Pour caramel fill over warm base..... and bake in oven for another 12 mins

4- Cool for an hour..... sew, do dishes, hang washing, play, whatever....

5- Choc topping, use same microwave dish..... Combine chocolate and cream and microwave uncovered 1 min at a time stirring with a metal spoon until smooth.  Then spread over the cool caramel.  You could wait till it sets before cutting, sometimes we do sometimes we dont....  Delish. 

Surprise!!!

Surprise Aunty Jodie!!! Last Saturday we ventured down to Melbourne for 4 days as a surprise for my travelling sister and her gorgeous family, they had travelled all the way from WA on the spare of the moment and as a treat organised by her awesome husband Chris.  Little did Jodie know that we had decided to tag along, boy was she surprised!!!

We organised the farm animals and packed up the kids (all 4 of them) filled the car to the brim and headed to Melbourne! It took 8 hours of driving which wasnt bad, the kids were so excited about seeing their cousins that they could hardly contain themselves.  Our Weekend was full of fun, excitment, curiosity and best of all, FAMILY!!

Snug as lotsa Bugs in the Car on our Surprise Trip x

While being in Melbourne I couldnt not go to a Lavender Farm so off to Serendipity we trecked, I wanted to do more research about planting and products and to see the shop set up, as eventually we are going to open our farm to the public.  I also wanted to check out the Markets to gather idea's for set up etc. Aunty Jodie has some really cool shots of our adventures so when she emails them to me I will upload them.  The kids really were fascinated with all the activity that Melbourne holds! Trams, Bus's, Trucks, Cars, Horse Carts, Shops, Footy..... WOW you cant half tell that we are from the country! Brush the gum leaves off kids we are in the city!

I gave Tia my camera to take a few pic's. I love seeing what she see's. This is my Favourite photo that she took, I wouldn't have thought of taking it- So clever!

This was our view at night from the apartment we stayed in, very beautiful, overlooking the Yarra River! We spoilt ourselves- the 3 bedroom apartment had 3 bathrooms and was bigger than our house!!!- Desparetly seeking house extentions and reno's!!!!

It is Official "WE LOVE MELBOURNE!!! WE WILL BE BACK!"

link to my ebay shop

http://stores.shop.ebay.com.au/Kells-and-Kanga-Love-Lavender

Can't believe its August already!

I cant believe its August already, which means its been like a month or more since I wrote my first post! Well School holidays are well and truely over now, they were so great. During the school hols we had a dam dug, it was pretty exciting and great timing, the kids got to see all the action because they were home, And- ever since the dam was finish it hasnt stopped raining, now the dam is choc ablock full, excellent! We also went to  Peak Hill over the hols to catch up with Grandma, Poppy and family that was fun, kids had a great time. We cooked and cooked, over 200 sausage rolls, lots of muffins, cakes and slices and put them in the freezer, hoping that it would help making lunches on school mornings not such mad chaos! sadly there isnt much left already!
I have a shop on ebay that has been doing really well so in between everything else I have been sewing and creating templates. I have also had more orders from local stores, which is exciting.  At the moment I am working on my doorstops and thinking about house reno's! We have the builder coming around this week to get to ball rolling I will try and upload some photo's tonight when kids are sound asleep. I will also try and link my shop to my blog. Have a great day. Kelly

I nearly forgot it is so cold here at the moment.... The kids went to school on the bus yesterday and it was snowing! snowing on the way there and while they were at school, not huge amounts but enough to roll  into balls and throw and to make a snowman! Makes winter magic!

My very first post

Wow this has been along time coming!, I am still trying to work out how to create the perfect page! It is freezing outside, just 3 degree's last time I looked- with snow predicted! School holidays have just started, I love the School holidays, it is the perfect time to reconnect with my little loves, I also LOVE turning off the alarm clock!!! I loathe chasing the clock! Please stay tuned, I am so excited and cant wait to put up some pics of the groovy things I have been up too and will get up to!!