12-16/52

E: Apple picking at the farm in the delightful Autumn sunshine.

E: In the 'hanging mat' at the farm. One of the delights of you learning English and German has been your mistranslations of words learnt in one language but not the other. I need to remember to write them down because they disappear all too quickly.
E: Licking the bowl. E: Eggs. E: "I'm a good chef Mama. I cooking fish and chips with caramel. Would you like some? Wet or dry?" I told you I liked caramel (in my easter eggs) and since then it has been a necessary addition to every meal cooked in your restaurant.

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014." 

 Linking up with Jodi.

Falling behind in the posting, but I'm still managing to keep up on the taking of photos. E is becoming an increasingly difficult subject to capture; a reluctant and mostly defiant subject with an innate sense of how to move out of frame. I'm being forced to step back.  Having said that, this last shot is one of my favourites.

11/52

E: Ready for a trip to the market; Hippo, purse (with money for Borek) and gloves to fight a fire. Naturally.

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014." 

 Linking up with Jodi.

9/52 10/52

E: Sleep eventually found you, mid-sentence, reading to Hippo.

E: A weekend at the farm. You loved it all.

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014." 

 Linking up with Jodi.

I had one of those remarkable fortnights where my computer malfunctioned, I ignored it, it broke a bit more and then eventually and rather reluctantly I took it to the shop where, knowing it was off warranty, I would likely have to pay some ridiculous amount for the repair.  When I got there the repairman mumbled something about "running some diagnostics" before shaking his head and telling me it was a hardware problem not a software problem. It took me a few seconds to work out what this meant and it is quite possible that I may have tuned out a little as I said a prayer to the computer-gods because a new computer was not part of the 2014 budget. The next thing I heard was "Australian consumer law... blah, blah, blah... no cost to you... blah, blah... we can also replace your computer screen... 10-14 days if you leave it with us now". Um... okay.  So there it was, no computer for two weeks but a fixed trackpad, new screen and no questions asked. Computer-gods you'll make a believer out of me yet! 

7/52, 8/52

E: Sleeping by our bedside. I keep having to remind myself that you will not being doing this when you are 18, but it would be nice to have our bedroom back.

E: You dressed yourself. The scarf was a last minute addition, which I have to admit, made the outfit almost work.

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014." 

 Linking up with Jodi.

A week behind. Starting work full-time with a long commute both ways caught up with me this week.  After the initial buzz of a new job and new rhythm, the reality of our new 'normal' hit me. I'm sometimes not home until 7pm and then we head full tilt into dinner, bath and bedtime before turning around and getting ready for the next day. Relaxed meal planning has been replaced by weekly 'menus' with an emphasis on slow cooked meals that can cook through the day and be ready to serve when E and M get home at five.  At the moment I feel like we're walking a delicate tightrope between order and chaos.

6/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014."

E: All cheek, both in mind and body. After much discussion you decided you wanted to get your hair cut. It took all my strength as a mother to allow you this choice - I have so very much loved your pigtails.

Linking up with Jodi.

This picture looks all together green on blogger but it seems fine in Adobe Bridge and okay in Flickr. Strange?! I'm reluctant to edit it again before hitting publish and seeing how it looks 'on the web'. What do you think; have I made little E green at the gills or is it just my imagination?

5/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014."

E: Fish, Chips, Sauce. I think, if give the choice, you would eat this every meal for the rest of your life.

Linking up with Jodi.

4/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014."

E: it's been such a big week, too many changes all at once. But today, oh today! You let loose with your cousins and you smiled and laughed and everything felt good.

Linking up with Jodi.

3/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014."

E: Showering by yourself. "I big now Mama. I don't need you anymore." Slow down, sweet girl. Don't move so fast.

Linking up with Jodi.

2/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014."

E: Television has slowly crept into our afternoon rituals; episodes of Spot and Peppa Pig while we're busy cooking dinner and you're too tired for anything else.

1/52

"A portrait of my daughter, once a week, every week, in 2014."

E: A highlight of the week, the rubbish trucks arriving on Monday morning

Knitting

I am still without camera. The insurance company did, amazingly, come through but unfortunately my particular camera is out of stock and I am waiting on the next delivery. After pestering perhaps a few too many times last week I've been told that I will be "first to know" when they arrive. I'm resisting the urge to call again. In the meantine my phone will have to suffice.

Cool winter days and an open fire and I've got my knitting mojo back. I've finally finished a hat for me and I've been trying to quickly knit up a few baby friendly gifts as there seems to be another little baby-boom going on amongst our friends.  All the knitting and crafting goodness has been duely noted by E. Lastnight she insisted on doing a bit herself. Curious to see what exactly she had in mind I loaned her a "to be frogged" jumper. With the exception of not having a piece of wool in her hands, her technique couldn't be faulted. Lots of click-clacking with her eyes firmly fixed on the documentary playing on the Mac.  After a few minutes she was off being busy doing something else although it did get me thinking about crafty, woolly things that she might be able to do herself.

Does anyone have any ideas?  Woolly, crafty things for toddlers. I'm all ears.