Lockdown Day 1

The first official day of lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It seemed to go a little smoother for us than yesterday. The kids had a bit more of a handle on doing their schoolwork online, Hubby started his building project that he organised before the supply shops shut down and I got some work done rather than just hover round the edges keeping an eye on everyone.

And one of the things I got done was some dyeing.

I haven't been doing any fabric dyeing lately because we've had such a severe drought that we are in the highest level water restrictions - essential use only. Dyeing the way I do takes little water, but rinsing uses a bit. So I'm dyeing the fabrics, drying them with the dye still on it and I'll have one big 'ol rinse session when the restrictions lift.

There are two pieces in the pic above, one is normal white cotton and one is a heavy white cotton napkin that I bought from the op shop. I've been worrying about my contribution to our consumerist society. I dye fabric so people can buy it. It gives me the good feels to know I'm making something beautiful that people appreciate, but it gives me the bad feels to add to our 'buy more' mindset. So I've started buying second-hand linen and dyeing that. It dyes up beautifully, sews well, and makes me feel very eco-friendly!

I'm trying to take the time to appreciate all the things that make me feel good. I think I might need them in the coming weeks.

This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed at home

I showed William how to point and shoot with my digital camera. I now have about 45 random shots pretty much like the one above! You can also see my daughter's birthday bounty in the background. Second hand toys rock!

My lounge floor was covered today in little hills of clothes. My sister-in-law has three daughters and we get all their hand me downs. Olivia found the bags and had great fun strewing the contents around, which was a pain, but at least it made me sort them out. Second hand clothes rock too, they're just a little more work!

Other things we've been up to. Baking apple pie with apples sent from the same S-I-L. This was REALLY good. I made the pastry from a recipe in Alison Holst's old Dollars and Sense Cookbook, a fantastic find in an Op Shop.

And making bags. This took me one kid-free morning to whip up from a linen skirt. It's been sent off to one of my sister's for her birthday. (Let's hope it's already reached her or she's just had advanced notice!)

I've worked three morning shifts in a row and it was incredibly busy. Postnatal rooms almost full and births happening left, right and centre. September and October are always busy months but this was crazy. I'm working a 12 hour day shift tomorrow, so finger's crossed it has quietened down a little.