This week / next week

On Thursday evenings I host a craft evening at my home. Only a couple of friends come but it's nice and low-key and we chat as we get on with whatever projects we're busy with. Last Thursday I put together an idea that I've been mulling over for a while.

I took these two long frames (Ribba frames from Ikea):



And I put strips of scrapbooking paper in them with circle punches and letter stickers. Voila, a weekly planner showing this week and next week, that I can write on with dry-wipe marker:



Underneath each week I stuck a little clean release hook so I can hang Daniel's weekly homework (Noah gets daily homework) or other papers that have to be dealt with that week so they don't get lost.



(Yes it's Father's Day on Sunday in NZ.)



I covered little clips with patterned paper:





The frames hang (with clean release velcro strips) beside my desk where I can see and update them often. As this week finishes I will erase everything and write "Next week" at the top, then I'll change "Next week" on the second frame to "This week".



The dry-wipe marker sits on top of the frame. I plan to stick a circle of felt onto the lid to act as an eraser.

P.S. Yes I realise I got this week's dates wrong!

P.P.S. Please ignore the as-yet-unhung picture propped up against the wall. Those clean release hooks are expensive!

Auckland Botanic Gardens again

On Sunday we headed out to the Botanic Gardens again. I was pretty tired so we didn't walk as much but I still managed to take a bazillion pictures again. Noah brought his yellow dump truck with and had fun playing with it and sitting in it for rides down slopes.













There was this cool tent and boat made out of bricks and tiles.







Noah has the world's smallest bottom for a six-year-old. Lucky for him, it can fit into his truck.



See? No bum.







While the boys played I slept on the grass like a homeless person.



Portrait of a Dump Truck by Noah Morris.











Daniel crouched and watched this sleeping duck for ages.



















Eels in the pond. I find eels so creepy.





Daniel pushed Noah all the way back to the car, even though most of it was uphill. Noah absolutely loved it.

Playing Xbox

My birdie friends

Here is the view from the sliding doors in the dining area of our kitchen:



Whenever I have a crust of bread I throw it out onto the grass. Then my little birdie friends start chirping to each other and line up on the fence, waiting until they are sure the coast is clear.





Then it's a free-for-all as they attack the bread.



I love watching them chatter and peck, always alert for danger.





Sometimes a mynah bird or two visits too.





I guess these birds are the closest we'll get to having pets for a while.