All available aids

My new theory, fresh from the memory of having to recycle heaps of good crafty stuff when packing up to come here - use everything. Don't keep it for a rainy day. Don't save it because you know it will be really fun and you want it used 'right'. Just pull it out, turn off your inner perfectionist, and let them play. And so, a really smart packet of post it notes was ransacked to create a five minute artwork that was later destroyed before dad could come home and see it. I'm not sure if my soul is completely surviving this, but I'm really trying!

Yummy bacon

This is the bacon we can find. Most bacon seems to be like this. Wood smoked, 50% white fat, long skinny strips, and so, so yummy. I try to chop the easy fat off if possible (ie, on the left hand side of this lot) and then we just enjoy it and try not to think too much about it. It is a lifetime away from our (practically fat free) short cut bacon in Australia.

Good packing decisions III

Number 3 - Masking tape. Uses - possible toy on aeroplane, though we didn't end up using it this time. We shut our food containers with it (ie, to stick cereal packets shut), and we are also using it as a fridge magnet to stick up important bits of paper, until we manage to get some fridge magnets. (Possibly, consider packing some fridge magnets next time, they wouldn't have taken up much room!) Finally, labelling the baby's drink bottle when he goes into childcare situations.

More snow!

A storm came through last night, it rained in the evening, but started snowing early morning, and by 3pm when it stopped there was about 15cm of powder. It was so beautiful! I saw the actual snowflake shapes like what you make with paper cutouts in primary school! It is completely silent when it snows. It just all swirls down in silence. I don't know about anyone else, but I love this weather.

Good packing decisions II

I thought it was stupid at first, but I'm convinced now - plastics for the children. They took up a bit of space, and had we known that the little one would chuck a tantrum over being given plastic bowls and plates when everyone else had china, we may have just brought the cups, but...

Very few kitchens will ever stock plastic stuff for kids, unless they themselves have kids. So the furnished apartment provided by our employment here had none, and it wasn't expected. It is great not to be on a knife edge every time someone wants a drink!

Australian wine!

Yes, we did it, bought Australian wine. Not sure if we got a bargain or not at $7.99, but nice to taste something more familiar than the Italian reds we've been drinking. 

More sausages

I think I finally got it. They're like frankfurters, only you know what is in them... More beef franks, only this time, I boiled them. I felt a bit funny, it just doesn't seem right, but they still tasted ok, and no-one has food poisoning. In fact, oldest child is quite enthusiastic about "American sausages".