Loving... 5 Simple Things

1. Loving Generous Hearts

Love that when our school announced Canterbury Day and the creation of a "coin trail" for Christchurch, my daughter raced to empty her piggy bank.
"They need the money more than I do, mum," she said as she counted out her coins and wrote on her whiteboard "I am giving muny to chrichorch"
$4.20.
"It's a lot of money aye mum?" she asked and I agreed wholeheartedly, thinking of the widow's mite.
Every little bit helps. And I am sure that Heaven blesses the coins given out of a generous heart.

In the aftermath of such a tragedy, it is heart-warming to see the love and generosity being poured into our stricken city.

I applauded the Student Volunteer Army who went to dig silt.

I cheered for the farmers who rode into town on their diggers and set to work clearing away debris in the suburbs.

I was moved by the Mexican search and rescue team who paid their own way to come and help.

And of course I am inspired by my friend Gail and her counterparts in Wellington who are raising money by walking. I'm walking too. Sponsor us?

2. Loving Autumn's Return
My favourite season. Crisp weather. No humidity. Warmer layers. Jeans. Jackets. Misty mornings. The end of Daylight saving and the return to reasonable bedtimes. Hot Cross Buns (and figuring out a way to make some gluten free ones). Falling leaves. Cosy evenings. Beautiful days.

What's not to love about Autumn?

3. Loving Planning Another Party
My littlest one turns three next month and the party theme has been declared by all: Toy Story!
Scrag drags Buzz and Woody around so much you'd think his name was Andy.
Our house echoes with shouts of "Reach for the sky!" and "To infinity... and beyond!"

This is going to be so much fun. What can't you do with a space ranger and a cowboy?
You can make a rocket pinata. Have hobby horse races. Wear cowboy hats bought for $3.90. Launch pump rockets and rocket ballons. The possibilties are endless... and relatively simple.

And it's a great way to take your mind off the daily grind... and other drama. I love planning parties!

4. Loving Cakes
I was inspired by PaisleyJade's Neopolitan Cake, baked to "Cheer them all up".
I thought, hey we need some of that!

But I am lazy and couldn't find my gel colours. So I made it into a marble cake... which, um, didn't really look like anything except a chocolate cake that hadn't been mixed very well.

But the butter-cream icing was good. And it was pink. And it cheered us up.
So a couple of days later I baked another one.

This time I forgot to sift the flour and measure the milk, so it's a bit spotty inside.
But. It tasted fine. And once again... yummy icing.
Now I've run out of GF flour, cocoa, eggs, milk and sugar so I better get to the shops and get some before Leonie comes to stay tomorrow...

Oh. You noticed that? Yes, it's True!

5. Loving that Leonie is Coming to Stay Tomorrow!

Through a roundabout set of emails the Kiwis at Heart (minus the daddy) are coming to play and stay with Team G.
That should cheer us all up!

Last time we met up our kids got on like a street of houses on fire so a weekend together will be fab. Accompanied by a few blog friends over for virgin pina coladas and dairy-free gluten-free fudge cake on Saturday night. (If you live in Auckland and want to meet Leonie and hang out for a nice girly night in around the brazier let me know and I'll send you the details)

Yeah. So I'm loving that we have awesome plans for the weekend. And the week is nearly over. And we have survived and even at times... smiled.

What are you loving this week? (Join in with PaisleyJade here...)