stills collection

1. 7am Cooktown. The backdrop for this small town in Far North Queensland where just over 2000 people live is the sea and this stunning mountain range.

2. Main street Cooktown. No swimming in this water, that's reserved for crocodiles! I am completely terrified about the whole croc thing, the one time in my life I feel helicopter parenting is totally justifiable!!

3. Who needs toys when you have a shopping trolley to play with?

4. Buses, caravans, campervans, tents, red dust covered 4 wheel drives, they're all in the camping ground

5. Camp kitchen

6. Sun set over the laundry

7. If you're visiting Cooktown, book a table at The Italian Restaurant (yes that's what it is called). John the owner hails from Lygon Street Melbourne where he was in the restaurant biz for years before setting up shop here in the sun

8. Yes this seafood spaghetti tasted as good as it looks

9. On country learning for River and Sol, looking on as Aunty Estelle Bowen from Hopevale community shows them how to cast a hand line into the Starke River

10. Sol looks tired in this shot but he was so thrilled about being the only one to catch a fish this day. He has decided that fishing with a hand line is better than with a rod :)

stills: a weekly collection

(linking up with Em at The Beetleshack)

I'm cheating a little with this collection. Because I have been away from blogging for a couple of weeks I am rewinding to photos taken on Christmas Day. We spent a peaceful morning at my aunt's drinking tea and preparing food. Then headed to my sister-in-law and brother-in-law's for lunch and into the evening, we were blessed with nourishing food, family and friends.

1. Beautiful table setting. Thankyou Davini and Scott xx
2. Handmade place cards by my creative niece who is 12 soon to turn 13
3. I love the colours of these roasted veggies
4. I was in charge of bringing a green vegetable dish that turned into green and gold zucchini with broad beans and herbed butter. The gold zucchini were grown by Robin + Pete at Transition Farm.
5. A peaceful welcome

stills: a weekly collection

1. Sol's fourth birthday party spread - carrot and cumin hummus with rice crackers, feta and spinach frittata, savoury gluten free muffins, brown rice sushi rolls with tuna, avocado and carrot. (not pictured salsa and corn chips).

2. Chai for the grown ups. I love drinking chai at the park.

3. Sol's jellyfish cake. Thank you Women's Weekly kids party cake book for the inspiration. Yes gasp that is blue jelly you see there.

4. Sol's kinder teacher is an exceptional woman, so loving and nurturing, she creates a beautiful space in the kinder room both by how she decorates it and by her warmth. I am grateful to have her in our life. This is a sign she has at the entrance to the room.

5. Beautiful strawberries, I haven't met a child yet who doesn't love this fruit.

6. Morning light. My favorite.

7. Another piece of kinder inspiration. (Pay no attention to this if you are having a grumpy mummy day ;) that's not the days we're talking about)

(Joining in with Em from The Beetleshack)

stills: a weekly collection

1. Salad from our garden for breakfast, lunch and dinner there are so many leaves to be eaten.

2. Drying cutlery. Takes me back to my restaurant days.

3. Real food has dirt on it.

4. Our favorite pie. You can find the recipe at the bottom of this post.

5. "Mum can we make a TV so I can read the news?" asked River while he was home from school sick this week. He's never seen a news program but somehow he sounded just like a newsreader! (The spoon in the cup is his microphone).

6. Cut up onion in the bowl beside the bed worked wonders for clearing Sol's snuffly breathing, such a simple effective remedy.

7. Hmmm who would those finger swirls belong to in this bowl that held the melted chocolate? River and Sol helped me make Georgia's completely delicious chocolate, almond and coconut bars. Now to hide them from Pete.

(Joining in with Ms Beetleshack Em)