Tallarook Birds

This week Peter provided ply parrot shaped birds to colour in and timber pieces to assemble as stands. There were just enough nails to go around but it was a close one. Each stand needed two nails to keep the middle piece fixed. The rubber bands worked a treat for holding it all together. The birds did not need a coin to weight it any more down because Peter had extended the tail in proportion to the body. He should have done "that" years ago. It was a well "pitched" woodcraft club event for the kids involved.

Whittlesea Birds/Buildings

This week Peter introduced a partially redesigned parrot, one that did not need a coin to hold it up. The parrot stand was completely redesigned to have the bird sit on a rubber band which held the sticks together. The kids caught on how to assemble it quite quickly. The students who missed out were happy enough to make more building shapes similar to those the week before.

Whittlesea Building

When Peter visits opportunity shops (thrift shops) he is on the lookout for children's playing blocks. These once loved sets of wooden blocks have a second life in Peter's school woodcraft clubs. When particular kits are not available, the kids are happy enough to see what they can do with these random blocks creating building shapes. All that is needed is a reliable three-ply baseboard... or two...

Coffee with Dan

It was nice to catch up with our son. He is hard to catch. We will enjoy having him over because he is a master at board games. It was also nice to see him wearing his 2013 Menergy t-shirt. He was there as part of Sun's catering team.

Easter Market Sign

Our monthly market in Whittlesea landed on Easter Saturday this year. Not many people came because it was holidays plus there was a large community festival only a suburb away. So it may have been extra helpful to have a friend dress up as the Easter Bunny and wave at traffic for a time. We may have got a few extra people come. We plan to change a portion of this sign for next month's market. Maybe it will say "Cafe" of "Coffee" and Peter will wear a dinner suit holding it.

Easter 2017

We were involved in a couple of Easter celebration events with Missional Community. So we shared in large table meals exquisitely prepared. Without these times together our Easter would have been a shallow memory indeed.

Crown of Thorns baked fennel

Watching "The Passion of the Christ"

Our yearly reminder

Easter Cruissants

Happy Easter to all. This celebration seems to be married to chocolate these days and it does not have to be an egg shape (representing new life). From a theological perspective this is a huge deviation except that Barb is given opportunity to make nice gifts for family and friends. And that is a good thing. Her chocolate croissants are famous among family and friends and she puts in. They are best eaten fresh out of the oven.

Jet Overnight

We had Jet overnight for a few nights. We played board games (7 Wonders) and watched many DVDs. We visited Savers where we found marble track blocks and a circular puzzle. Plus, we had cuppas out a number of times. Thanks Jet.

Chestnut Harvest

After missing this for a number of years we resolved to get there this time. It was pretty crowded with people but there were plenty of chestnuts to find if one was willing to stick at it. A warm autumn  wind was blowing through the chestnut orchard and new chestnuts were always dropping to the ground, most of the time still in their husks. Sometimes we had to stand on the spiky spheres to force an opening. Peter was very glad he had brought his rubber gloves because the spikes were very sharp.
The Gembrook Retreat has an open to the public harvest day each year for anybody to come and make a day of it. Some families must take theirs to market if the number of bags they take away is any indication.
It was a perfect day this year and it was made extra special because other family members were also present, and friends too... lots of friends...

Centre View Grandkids

When we are at Greensborough shopping centre we usually stop by at Centre View for a cuppa. And that's what we did recently. We had the young one for a few nights playing board games and watching a few movies.