I remember when my kids were at Alphington Primary School and they would shop for Mothers Day and Fathers Day presents at the gift stalls that the school would host. This was so lovely as the kids could shop and surprise us! Soaps and chocolates in heart shapes. Also the craft projects made in class were a staple I looked forward to.

All families this year are going to have to rethink Fathers Day in lockdown. So I thought I would write a post about making photo cards.

Taking some time to make a photo card is something that your kids (or you) can do at home in lockdown.

You could use a favourite photo of dad. Or take a new photo together! Put the self timer on and jump into the frame.

If you are older and don’t live with your dad anymore then making an online card could be something you could send via email on the day.

Here are some resources for card design ideas and online e-cards using photos:

• Paperless post (online e-card)

• Moonpig (personalised card & print service)

• Zazzle (personalised card & print service):

And finally, here’s some inspiration from Pinterest for chalk art photos, feet photos, body shape photos, shadow photos and inter-generational photos that might also inspire you to make an extra creative photo card this year for Fathers Day.

I have been religiously watching the Victorian press conferences each day … and at an hour+ a pop I am feeling that SURELY I could be osmosis-ing Auslan at the same time …

So I thought I’d have a poke around on the internet for an introduction video or two. And I found this intro course by Asphyxia - who we know and love, as she taught a journaling workshop here a few years ago (and she used to be Kalimna’s neighbour).

Here is the link.

I am trying to absorb one of her videos of short words (right, wrong, look, see, sorry etc.) … I am hopeful that I will be able to recognise some of the signs next time I tune in … and that I might be able to grow my Auslan knowledge in the coming weeks and months … cos if there’s one thing I am sure of in these crazy days, it’s that I’m committed to those press conferences for the long haul.

Ha! when I looked up images searching ‘Auslan Daniel Andrews’ this is what came up.

Hi Leanne here.

16 or so years ago I worked in the environment department in State Government, and at one point was lucky enough to be in a team with a person who was on secondment from Museums Victoria.

And one day he took us on a tour behind the scenes of the newish (then) museum. It was eye opening. What I learnt was that for every single thing on display, out the back there are storage rooms full of multiples (it was amazing) … my overriding memory is of steel high-school-type science cupboards full of thylacine skeletons and metal-plan-drawers full of butterflies and insect specimens. It gave me a very different perspective on the role of the museum - as an archive of natural history.

Anyway … this week (15-23 August) is National Science Week, that aims to celebrate STEM and encourage children to engage with science both at home/in everyday settings and through school experiences.

This year the theme is Deep Blue: Innovations for the future of our oceans.

And so I thought I could direct you to some Museums Victoria resources. Here is a link to their main page for the week - a good starting point to find all the things.

On this year’s theme, you might like to watch the IMAX movie Wild Ocean. Click here to get the password and link etc.

Or if you have very young children you might like to check out the Virtual Play Box and join Justin and Simone as they explore the ocean exhibit in the museum in Episode 4, Treasures of the Sea (or off theme you could walk with dinosaurs in Episode 1, A Long, Long Time Ago).

There are lots of other interesting things on the website for young and old. Check them out! And happy National Science Week.

My oldest darling India, is in year 10 now … but in Grade 5 she had a teacher (thanks Nicole) who suggested that naming 3 good things each day was a helpful practise for your mental health. And a good conversation starter. Indi brought this advice home. Since then we’ve been doing this pretty regularly. If we sit down together for afternoon tea. Or at dinner time.

When we first started the kids were a bit silly about it, with lists like 1. recess, 2. lunch and 3. home time. But even these responses gave me a chance to ask questions. What happened at recess that was fun? Who did you play with today? etc. Creating a little bit of space for us all to stop and listen to each other. And start conversations that could lead anywhere …

5+ years later the kids can always come up with a good list instantly, and it truly makes my heart sing that the positive is right there front and centre in their minds. They get it that the joy can be tiny, and that actually whatever they say is ok …

So, 3 good things.

This lockdown at our house we have fallen in to just shopping locally, which for us means Station Street. No Coles. No Aldi. No Woolies.

The good things that I think about when I head down there?

1. The walk itself

2. Knowing that we are supporting local businesses, and

3. The chance to (hopefully) say hello to neighbourhood friends along the way!

Also … this lavender in our street cheers me up every single time I pass by.

We’d really like to thank Alphington CWA for donating a stack of masks to Gurwidj Neighbourhood House in Thornbury.

Julie, who runs the North East Neighbourhood House Network (which provides fantastic professional support to all the neighbourhood houses in the corridor from Fitzroy through to Diamond Creek) was speaking with Cindy from Gurwidj, and offered to round up some free masks for her to give out to those in her community who were in need.

Alphington CWA (and Jan in particular), stepped up to help out.

Julie is now also looking to provide free masks for health workers at the Northern Hospital … there is a need for personal masks for staff to wear as they head home. Carlton Learning Centre (another neighbourhood house friend just down the road) is also keen for some masks to distribute into the Carlton flats.

So if anyone loves sewing or is feeling a bit flat and would like to do something for others … here’s a worthy cause! Just let me know. We have a simple pattern that we can share, or you can make your own favourite style, as long as the masks are effective (ie. have 3 layers).

Thanks once again Alphington CWA. What a great group of humans you are! And … aren’t we so lucky to live in such a sharing and caring neighbourhoodly community!

Note: if you still need to BUY a mask, we have them for sale on our website. Only $10. For some reason the shopping cart isn’t working on phones at the minute - I will investigate! but in the mean time - just log in on a computer if you want to make a purchase here. We’ll deliver them to your door!