Twitchy Fingers

Another year

2011-12-31T19:52:00.001+11:00

Another year has passed with nary a word from me. I think I might come back here next year...

Sunset

2010-12-31T23:31:00.002+11:00

I had plans for the year recap/Paterson's birthday/ end of year post... but like most things in my life it didn't pan out...! I'll leave you with a picture from today, sunset over Shoalhaven Heads. See you next year.

Lillies make me smile...

2010-12-19T18:49:00.000+11:00

I love the windows at the National Library...

2010-12-06T14:20:00.001+11:00

A new venture...

2010-11-19T13:22:00.003+11:00

So I've thought of a new venture... it is small but could be big.

http://elevation-getlifted.blogspot.com

What do you think? Wanna help me?

Time, time, time, see what's become of me...

2010-11-18T08:26:00.009+11:00

Whoa. Its been a while. I've often thought of things to post, but I've been away and busy and I guess just life-y. Anyhoo, I'm cashing in a time-off-in-lieu day today and while its quiet I thought I'd get back into it.

Lily had her first school concert - she was a kookaburra and was very enthusiastic!

Shortly afterwards we went to my grandparents as saw a real kookaburra. My grandfather is a bit like Dr Dolittle, he always has animals at his beck and call...

We had lots of rain and beautiful sunsets...

Which has meant lots of spring flowers...

And spring fruit! This lovely pear was a prize from Olivia at Dreaming all the time. It is one of my most treasured possessions now...

With fruits come fruit-bats. I've just about had my fill of them now.

It was my Mum's 60th in early November and my sister and I made a croquenbouche for her party. Well, my sister made the profiteroles and I helped her put it together. It was a labor of love, it was messy, and time consuming, but it sure packed a punch.

Then came my birthday.

And again my sister excelled herself. You should have heard the ooohs and aaahs when we cut into this masterpiece! I had a lovely day, breakfast with friends, a nap in the afternoon and dinner with family.

And I've been doing a little crafting. I bought a craft punch of a christmas tree and used some green and red manila folders to make little trees then sewed them together. Cool eh? I'll also be using the punch for my freezer paper to make some christmas napkins at Brown Owls on Sunday.

And now its warm i feel a little silly continuing with my lovely Flair cardy. But I'm determined to finish my first ever adult size item. I love the yarn - Cascade 220 Heathers. The colour looks crap here, but you get the idea.

Anyhoo. I'm off. The postman has just delivered a lovely package and I don't recognise the address - a mystery to be unravelled!

Hope to see you again soon!

~~P.S apologies for the dodge composition of this post. I'm obviously out of practice and can't fix it up.~~ Should be a bit better now!

Hey

2010-10-17T15:05:00.002+11:00

Sorry I've been gone for a while. I'll be back soon. In the meantime - how much do you love these word clouds?

They're from http://www.tagxedo.com/

Warts?

2010-08-31T14:20:00.005+10:00

So I just popped over to the lovely Ruby Two Shoes blog and I noticed I was on the blogroll - thanks chickie! So i hovered over my blog link and this little preview box came up with the last few posts on it, and some suggested links (advertising). Nothing odd with that in this day and age. Except that I found one of the suggestions a little offensive.

Observe.

So I get the exercise bike and the anxiety disorder links - I've blogged about them before - but warts??? What are they implying? The metal detector is just weird.... Anyhoo. I'm off travelling again tomorrow; stay tuned for news of my divorce :)

P.S Love you honey and thanks for 'letting' me go away...

Cliche alert...

2010-08-28T21:38:00.003+10:00

Spring has sprung!

Gone batty...

2010-08-14T21:24:00.002+10:00

Spectacled Flying-foxes at Cairns Library.

I've been up in Cairns for the last couple of days... And returned tonight somewhat thawed after a couple of 20+ degree days. While I was in heaven, Nath's been through hell. Poor kidlets have been sick, and poor husband is much tired by the experience. I'm not going to be allowed to go away for quite a while...

Letters

2010-08-10T11:52:00.005+10:00

I love mail. Well, I used to love mail when I got nice mail like letters from friends and postcards and stuff. Mostly its just bills now and that makes me sad. I think the reason so many of us order stuff online now is just so we get something nice in the mail.

I can remember at Expo '88 there was an Australia Post pavilion that had a penpal generator - you put your age and gender in and it would spit out the address of some similar child from another country. 'David'* from Scotland and I corresponded for quite some time. It was always exciting to get an international letter.

Do you like letters? If you do, comment below and I'll randomly pick five folks (from anywhere) to send a letter to (make sure you leave an email address or some way I can contact you). It'll be like having and old school pen pal.

See ya - I'm off to check the post...

*perhaps not his real name - I can't remember to be honest...

There's lots of me to go around.

2010-08-02T21:34:00.003+10:00

I don't like having my photo taken. Occasionally someone will take a photo I don't mind, and it will likely be a head-only shot*. Cos I don't like the rest of the package being photographed. The neck-down bit. Too bulgy. You know? Of course you do. Most of us have body image issues. And I've never been 'down' with exercising, and even less so since we had kids. And I like fatty, carb-loaded and sweet stuff. And for some reason I don't lose weight. Der!!! Not really a surprise. One of my recent favourite quotes (i collect them) is "Nothing will change, if I don’t do anything different".

So I'm giving this whole eat less crap, exercise more thing a go. I found an exercise that appeals to me (exercise bike in front of the tv in the warmth) and a process to avoid avoidance (get into exercise clothes before I put kids to bed so I can get straight on bike afterwards) and logging most of my food at calorieking.com.au which gives me a bit better of an idea of the nutritional value of the food that I'm eating. Like that hot chips are 450 calories. Ouch. I mean, I knew they were not great, but when I'm aiming for 1400 calories a day that's a fair whack of calories. Especially when you add the red licorice... and a finger bun. But I digress. I'm not going to harp on about this, but for the first time possibly in my life I'm exercising with a focus and while not exactly enjoying it, I'm proud of myself for doing it. 10km a night on the bike. Yay.

So maybe sometime in the next year I might like seeing a full-length photo of myself. And that might be nice.

*I even stopped liking head-shots recently due to my hair dresser refusing to remedy a lullet (lady mullet) that was developing at the base of my skull. I've now had it seen to and can be allowed out in public again.

Mama's got a brand new toy...

2010-07-18T20:07:00.005+10:00

We popped down to Nowra this weekend to check on my grandparents and to see Nathan's aunt and uncle.

Nan and Pa are in slow decline; moving slower, thinking slower. Nan's going in for surgery again this week and each time it takes her longer to recover. She's so depressed that everything hurts nowdays. Its hard to watch. And hard to listen to, but no one else (ie her husband or children) want to hear that she's tired of feeling bad and thinks her time is near. I don't want to face it either, but she needs to talk. Anyhoo, circle of life I guess.

After that we went to see Nath's aunt and uncle. And boy did they have a surprise for me. I have long coveted Uncle Dave's camera. Every time I see him I take the camera out for a spin, playing with all the features and stuff - stuff my (more than adequate) camera doesn't do. And I've toyed with the idea of buying one, but can't justify the cost. Uncle Dave said that his mate was selling an old camera which was a similar model, and I asked him to check it out for me. Then forgot about it. Then yesterday he gave me his camera to play with. When I finished he asked if I noticed anything different. I didn't. Then he pulled out his camera and said 'mine's a bit different from yours'. Mine???? He and Aunty Jayne had bought it for me. Oh. My. Gosh. I was floored. In awe. Aware that it was too much and knowing I couldn't accept it, but in no way willing to give it back! How much do they rock? Heaps. So the rest of the weekend I spent playing with Barry (the camera). We took long walks, I looked into his eye and told him how beautiful he was. He responded by taking beautiful photos for me.

When we left this afternoon we drove back and finally stopped in at the Fedra Olive Grove and Grandma's Little Bakery near Collector.

We've watch the olive groves grow lo these many years we've been driving up the highway to Nowra. It was nice to stop in and see it. We very rarely break the journey. The homemade bread, dip (singular), dukkah, oil and a couple of olives was a sparse but lovely. And the pastry platter was a lot of pastry (as the name would suggest) but we took home what was left and I've been munching this evening. Yum.

Then we drove for another 15 minutes and stopped to see the zebra. Looks like they're going to stick around - and a good thing too! The rest stop was full which means people are breaking their journeys and resting. Stop Revive Survive people! Um, perhaps I should take my own advice.

And of course the windmill. Hmm. Not sure how I feel about them - but they are pretty to look at. Especially through Barry's zoom lense.

Anyhoo, back home. Ready to start a new school term (Lily) and brave the caretaker period (me and Nath). Have a great week!

Six is sooo big...

2010-07-14T11:11:00.004+10:00

But not too big for a fairy castle cake (thanks Aunty Nicole).

Aunty Nicole is ace at choosing presents that cause maximum conflict with the children. Sure its a pink barbie car - but its a CAR. Paddy's down with anything car related. You'll note there's actually a car driving the car...

After everyone had gone the cats came out. They're still not jump-on-your-lap-for-a-nap type kitties, but they're warming up.

And just a cute picture of surprise personified. I can't remember what he was surprised at. Its just a cute shot!

Its a long way from here...

2010-06-27T19:08:00.007+10:00

Today I traveled. A long way. Relatively anyway; we're pretty good travelers, us Aussies. But still, here I sit, 947km from home (according to google).

View Larger Map

And now I'm here I find myself at a bit of a loose end (here is lovely by the way).

There are no children to feed or bathe. Nothing to clean or maintain. Just me and free broadband internet. So I've downloaded some photos and I'm ready to bombard you with them. A potted history of our June, if you will.

Lily lost her first tooth! She's been walking around bearing her teeth at anyone who will look... Its pretty disturbing.

We got two new family members - Meggs on the left and Sophie on the right. Meggs is named for the Australian cartoon Ginger Meggs; and Sophie for the main character in Mamma Mia. Lily named Sophie. We tried to dissuade her from that name, but its stuck. Paddy calls them 'Meh' and 'Sousie'. They're still pretty timid - especially Meggs - but they're warming up slowly.

I made this hat for Nath. I love it. Its Marram by Eskimimmi (rav link). Its a really clever pattern that looks far more complex than it is. Only problem is that its too short. Based on comments on rav I added another repeat, but its still too short. Oh well. I'm still really proud of it.

I also knitted this cowl for a colleague at work. He loved it, however my cast off may have been a little tight... like, he got it on then couldn't get it off for quite some time... A little unpicking and looser cast off fixed it though and he's pretty chuffed. The middle pattern is a row of double yarn overs which means that when its on the yarn folds towards the neck, making it extra warm.

Lily and I found the most enormous strawberry in a punnet the other day... it must have been a couple that just grew together... but it was pretty stunning! Guess who had the best lunchbox that day...

And a picture of Paddy as you'll most likely find him nowadays. If you ask him to do something he closes his eyes. If you ask him to stop doing something he closes his eyes. Its his way of pretending to not hear you. He does it alot at dinner time...

So there you go. Amazing what kind of posts you can do with a bit of time... I've still got tomorrow night away - but its the final of Project Runway so I see myself holed up in my 'spa bure' with some chocolate and the remote... See ya!

First Female Australian Prime Minister

2010-06-24T09:46:00.002+10:00

OMG – Australia has its first female Prime Minister – so very exciting! Congratulation Julia Gillard!

Trippin'

2010-06-19T07:40:00.003+10:00

During my work life I've been pretty lucky with work and work trips; working with a mining industry body saw me in an underground mine; I saw heaps of regional Victoria and east-coast Australia working with a Senator; got to live on the Brisbane/Sunshine Coast for six months with CHOGM and meet the Queen.

But the most diverse and wonderful ones have been with my current employer (10 years this year!). They've sent me to Johannesburg for a month, on a tour of far north Queensland's recycled oil reclamation facilities (mostly rubbish dumps and a sewerage facility!), lots of Zoos and recently lots of parts of Australia I wouldn't have seen otherwise.

Now that I have a family I don't like to travel too much - it puts too much pressure on Nath and its draining. Work travel isn't really very glamorous and usually cuts into personal time more than you expect. So next week I'll be heading to northern NSW and losing most of my Sunday in order to get to a pretty regional location for a meeting. As a result I'm going to stay somewhere nice. Nicer than I'd normally stay at but still within my travel allowance.

I think it will help ease the pain a little... and I'm kinda looking forward to it.

Gifties

2010-06-08T21:48:00.002+10:00

I don't have the energy to really blog about these bits - I'm proud of them and they were both gifts for colleagues. The details are on rav.

Kimono for Monica it was pretty but really dense resulting fabric.

And this foxy cowl for a lovely lady who helped me at work.

I've still got a few more gifts for lovely folks. I'm really enjoying knitting at the moment.

Lost and running

2010-06-05T15:30:00.002+10:00

I was looking over at One Crafty Mother and she's just posted about a song her son made up and was singing in the car

"Sometimes, you open your eyes but you can't see da world." Finn sings from the backseat. "You open your eyeeeess but you can't seeeeeee da world."

I ask him what he is singing, but he doesn't answer, just keeps on singing: "and dat's just da way it is, sometimes, wif da world."

It made me think that sometimes kids make you stop and think about where you're going and how you're getting there. It also made me think about the time I was singing "Lost and Running" by Powderfinger in the car when Lil asked me about the lyrics

Oh I'm still lost and running
I can't get enough
No I'm still lost and running
I can't get enough
No I'm still lost and running
Somewhere I lay down my arms
Oh I'm still lost and running
I can't get enough

She asked me what 'lost and running' meant and I said sometimes we don't know where we're going and it might not be the right way but we're going there fast. She asked me if i felt like that sometimes. I said "yeah, sometimes" while thinking "yeah, all the fricken' time". She said "don't worry, you're going the right way." Could've been that we were nearly home, or that she thought I was doing ok. I choose the later. And felt a little bit better.

Little Dutch girl

2010-05-16T19:49:00.007+10:00

My father was born in the Netherlands. He arrived in Australia at four and my grandparents fully integrated into the Australian lifestyle. A bit too much I think. We never really heard much about Holland from my grandparents, which makes me sad. My Beppe was obviously crafty and I think she could have shared lots with me about her life in Friesland. Of course we often realise these things too late. Since she died I've developed more of an interest in Dutch things and have been finding lots of lovely, lovely Dutch bloggers. Here are some:

Grietjekarwietje
This lovely lady likes a bit of upcycling, a bit of drawing, a bit of crafting, and a bit of waldorf doll making...

guusjes-appeltaart
This lass does lovely screenprint art, and a bit of cooking, and posts photos of the most gorgeous children!

Under Dutch Skies
An American (I think?) in Holland, a knitter, online yarn shop owner and an observer of things...

Little Z handmade
Oh my she has some lovely stuff... A thrifter and a crafter.

These two little fellas are transfers - how cute would they be on kids shirts?

Even though I don't understand much of the text on these sites (despite Google Translator!) I love clicking through and checking out where they link to.

Check

2010-04-29T09:52:00.003+10:00

Empty house? Check
Tissues? Check
Humidifier? Check
Vicks - applied liberally to all available flesh? Check
Comfort food - ham, cheese, tomato toastie, pikelets with butter, jam and cream, macaroni cheese awaiting?* Check
Tea? Check
Bed? Check
Laptop with Bleak House ready to go? Check
Heavily congested head and sinus pain? Check

All ready for the day then.

Image from http://s259.photobucket.com/albums/hh297/kbroglio/?action=view&current=sick-girl_032909.jpg&newest=1

*I never lose my appetite when sick...

Another year marches by

2010-04-26T19:37:00.006+10:00

Another ANZAC day in Sydney for me. This year was more sad than previously. Four members left in Pa's Association, Z Special Unit (mentioned here ). My Pa is the handsome man holding the wreath.

My husband was again proudly with him in the march.

After the march we headed to The National Maritime Museum for lunch and a trip around the harbour in The Krait - a small fishing boat (not the submarine in the picture). Pa spent two and a half years on a boat very much like this - the The Tiger Snake.

He and his 9 (8?) mates served in Borneo, in their little junk behind Japanese lines. To be in Z you couldn't have any tattoos. They carried no dog tags. They did have suicide pills. He was not able to talk about this experiences for 40 years after the end of the war. I cannot even begin to imagine what he went through. Pa was the stoker on the Tiger Snake and spent most of his time in the engine room. I got a glimpse of the depth of emotion when he got on the Krait and looked in at the engine room (about 10 seconds after this photo).
He was overcome and got off the boat as fast as he could. He couldn't speak. He just turned to me and said - choked - 'all our mates' and then ran his thumb across his throat. I just squeezed his hand - what could I say? He recovered (with the assistance of two very healthy 'fingers' of rum). And then thanked us for being with him. He didn't go out on the boat around the harbour - my Mum and cousins did and were touched by the experience. My sister, my husband and I stayed with Pa, mostly just to be with him (but also because my sister and I suffer horrifically from seasickness - a story for another day).

I'm so honoured to have shared the ANZAC Day experience with my Pa - and my Nana - for the last 10 years. I'm proud of him and his service. I love you Pa. Thank you.

What a difference a day (or two) makes...

2010-04-17T09:39:00.006+10:00

So after an awful Monday, I had a wonderful Tuesday at a training course! It was enough to renew my spirits (surprising, no?) and on Wednesday and Thursday had a much better attitude. Lots of breathing and trying not to think to much really helped!!

And yesterday I was home with the kidlets.

Since Lil started school I've not had both of them for a full day - it was nice! Primarily because I looked at it in terms of what I could do to make it fun for them - rather than trying to get my stuff done. We went down to the school carpark and Lil showed me how she learned to ride her bike (on Tuesday with my Dad). She was pretty good! Then we went for coffee and a play in the big mushroom at the Belconnen Markets with my sister. Lil ran into a kid from her school who is known as the 'naughty boy'. I didn't know it was the NB. They played nicely and laughed and had a great time. Until it was time to go and he yelled 'bye bye f**king head' - which is his hallmark farewell. Then I knew it was the NB... Otherwise he seemed lovely. I'm loathe to label him a naughty boy, because, well, people in glass houses and all that.

And now its the weekend again. I was just cruising through my blogs and my head nearly exploded when I saw that one of my embroidery pieces was featured on Craft! So hello if you've come by from there. Ironically, I made the picture when I was cleaning out my embroidery floss, which Nana had gifted to me because she no longer used it. Then Nana asked for it all back and I couldn't say no because it was all hers... so I'm not doing much embroidery at the mo! I did do the embroidery button swap over at feeling stitchy and did these for Quinne

And she sent me this lovely package:

Anyhoo, I'm off to visit a friend that just had a bub (great reason to start a baby cardy) and then to Mum's for dinner. Enjoy yours!

P.S The roses are from my inlaws garden. They not only look stunning but they smell divine!

Grrr

2010-04-12T13:10:00.004+10:00

I'm starting in a new area today - for 3-6 months - and I'm scared shitless. I know the people, i pretty much know the work, I know all the parameters, and yet all those stupid fears i have about my ability to do anything competently are banging around in my head and making me crazy.

Its been building up over the weekend and so I've done what I always do - play dead. Not really play dead, but become so paralysed by fear of failure at everything that I don't do anything. Except mope and make a nuisance of myself. Unfortunately my husband is so excellent that he stands in for me and is the only functioning adult in the house. I say unfortunately because if he wasn't so capable I'd have to get my shit together and keep going. But I don't. I sit on the couch while he does everything. And then when he's finished doing everything he brings me cheese and biscuits. And then I drink and don't feel any better (duh) and all of this is just more for me to get down on myself about.

What's worse is that I know how to fix it. I know I have to "fake it till I make it" but with all the energy I possess being diverted to unhelpful thoughts I don't think I can fake it.

You are my sunshine.

2010-04-07T12:15:00.003+10:00

So I find it difficult to come up with post headings most of the time. I always think of the same ones and have to check if I've used them before. And I'm always jealous of those who have a theme like 'song titles' or cities or whatever. So I was thinking about a post (its been a while) and I thought I'd go with a song. But then it reminded me about my history with this song. The story begins now...

When my husband and I were going out we lived briefly with his parents. It was primarily because I had to move to Brisbane for work temporarily and had moved out of my granny flat and had nowhere to go in the interim. Anyway, the day came when I had to go, and I gave him a little gift to remember me by. It was a sponge duck, which when emersed in water would play an electronic beeping version of 'you are my sunshine'. Remove it from the water and it would stop. After this touching gift I'm sure we embraced and then I drove away.

That night as I sat in a hotel room somewhere near the Queensland border I called Nath. He had just got out of the bath and had put the duck in the water. It beeped as expected. Then he took it out. It kept beeping. We agreed that it must have a little residual water in it and took bets on how many hours it would take to stop beeping. The box had said it would go for around 3 hours!

The next morning Nathan rang. It had not stopped beeping. At some stage during the night he had angrily stomped into the bathroom and shoved it in the laundry basket under some towels. When checked in the morning it was still going strong with its incessant 'you are my sunshine'...

That night (24 hours after the fateful bath) it was still beeping. His father banished it from the house.

The next day I was in serious trouble. The sponge duck of doom was still beeping. And although it had been removed from the house it caused the dog to howl all night(the dog had evidently tired of the bloody song too).

I told Nath that maybe he should just rip the damn thing open and step on its infernal sound mechanism. But this was personal. It was him versus the duck. And in the end only one would still beep.

That night (48 hours post bath) it went into the garage in a suitably soundproofed receptacle where its beeping could not enrage or induce insanity in the residents.

For four days post bath - 96 hours give or take - Satan's duck poured forth its demon's song. Nathan vowed that if he ever had to hear it again then the singer would be eviscerated immediately.

Flash forward three years to the birth of our daughter. Night time. Colic-y baby that won't settle. I'm swaying and singing everything short of 'i like big butts' to try and sooth the child. In what can only have been a moment of insanity I launched into 'you are my sunshine'. The child stops. And it becomes the only song that will soothe her.

I estimate that given she is 5.5 years now and that I would have sung it at least 10 times a day for the first two years, and at least once a night every day since that I have sung it 4,927 times. That's all three verses. And that's not counting the times I've sung it to Paddy.

I think I've been punished enough.

Longing

2010-03-24T12:41:00.005+11:00

Last weekend saw me and four spectacular women head down to Longbeach for a girls weekend.

It was pretty hard work.

We had dinner in the Bay on Friday night

then headed back to our humble accomodation...

On Saturday brunched in the Bay and gathered supplies so we had no further need to leave our house.

The other four went for a run and a swim. I did not (see post on aversion to sand).

Our mobile masseuse came to the house and massaged us in turn (for 7 hours!!).

Then we sat and read and talked and knitted and slept and listened to the beach and music and had facials and did our nails and ate and drank and generally relaxed.

It was wonderful. We didn't have to do any parenting, or nagging, or warning or disciplining. We didn't use the TV or the internet (although the phones were a must so we could hear how the boys faired without us).

It was a perfect weekend. And I'm already longing for the next one...

Only a mother could love...

2010-03-16T19:58:00.005+11:00

As a parent, there are no more attractive children than your own.

From the moment their mushed up faces emerge from within you, you are smitten.

Every smile lights up your heart like a little bushfire.

Their eyes dance with laughter and your soul soars.

You peer into the prams of other parents and say 'aren't they gorgeous!' while thinking 'but not a patch on my little sproglett'

And then - one random Saturday - your son; your pride; your joy says 'Mummy...'

But when you turn around it seems all that pride in your child's seems ill-placed...

Then of course the older child wants to join in.

And yes, the backwards facing goggles have been removed and the faces have returned to normal. And yet, the image remains burned into my retinas.

The big O

2010-03-08T21:57:00.002+11:00

Not a huge Oscar's fan but...

Tina Fey looks great!

SJP does not.

Coasting and such

2010-03-08T14:00:00.005+11:00

We went away for a couple of days this weekend, being the Canberra Day long weekend. Nath and I are generally homebodies and don't really like going away. Nathan and I also don't like sand. Or sun. Or sweating. So the coast is pretty much the worst place we could be... but the kids love the beach so it was coastward bound we found ourselves.

Between gritted and gritty teeth we wandered and splashed and played.

I guess it wasn't so bad.

That is until the Ben Hur of the spider world found its way into the house. (Nathan and I also don't like spiders.)

We had an epic battle disposing of this bread-and-butter-plate-size arachnid. Amid much spraying and screaming and jumping and running (ours, not the kids) we emerged victorious. It has confirmed our belief that we must train Paterson to be the great white spider hunter.

And on the way home we had our third experience with 'gum in the hair thanks to Willy Wonka'. From memory, when the Violet Beauregard character (in both versions of the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) is about to try the three course meal gum, she takes out her current piece of gum and sticks it behind her ear.

Three times Lily has attempted this.

Three times she's had large chunks of hair removed from her scalp. Because I'm not that mother that's going to go through several hours of bright-blue chewing gum removal so she still looks normal. I'm the mother that hacks the blue right out and leaves a hole where the hair should be, because she never looks like she brushes it anyway.

Rosie

2010-03-04T11:40:00.004+11:00

Lily and Rosie 2006

This morning we had our cat, Rosie, put down.

I've spoken about Rosie before. As I said in that post Nathan and I got her from the RSPCA just before the 2003 Canberra Bushfires. We found a little cat, about 6-12 months old who was likely to be put down because she wasn't a cute little kitten anymore and decided to take her home. She was a big-looking cat, but was actually just really furry. We called her Rosie.

Rosie loved being with us. She used to sit beside us all night. She sat on my belly when I was pregnant with Lil. But she had been absent more since the children arrived - primarily to escape too much loving. 'Rosie' was one of the first words Lily ever said. She crawled so that she could catch Rosie. Lily used to eat her food. She was often found sleeping under Paterson's cot. Paddy used to try to copy me whistling for her, cupping his hands around his mouth and calling 'who hoo'. She taught Paddy a valuable lesson about problem solving; one day he was trying to hit her with a plastic golf club and she hid under the sideboard. He notice the golf club wasn't long enough for him to be able to reach her, so he dropped it and went and found something longer... (clever, and slightly sociopathic...)

When I got home yesterday i knew something wasn't quite right. She seemed to have a problem with her back leg. I made a vet appointment, and then went to get her to bring her in the house so I'd know where to find her in time for the appointment. She sat quietly on the couch between me and Paddy; Paddy still and very gentle with her for a change. Lily and I took her to the vet and he when she got up to walk he noticed she was walking in circles, and only turning to the left. Apparently it was indicative of brain trauma, or infection. He dosed her up on antibiotics and kept her overnight, saying that if it were infection then we should see a big improvement by morning. And if not, then the kindest thing to do would be to put her down.

She didn't improve overnight.

So this morning I went in to see her in her little cage. She was quiet; she never was one to meow much. I patted her and talked to her about all the other noisy animals in the room, tears dropping slowly onto my shirt. She began to purr quietly. She rested her head in my hand and let me rub under her neck. The vet came then, and I picked her up to take her into the consulting room. They shaved her forearm, and I rubbed her neck. She started to purr again. Then meowed as the needle went in. She purred. Then stopped.

And now I'm at home I see her shadow everywhere she should be. I can feel my self prepare to see her, then the disappointment and sadness when I don't.

The worst thing is that this is not a pain that I'll experience alone. We haven't told Lily yet. We plan to pick her and her brother up, and go to the garden centre together to find a Rose to plant to remember her. I hope that helps her, because I don't really know how else to approach it.

So, bye bye Rose. Thanks for the cuddles and purrs and scratches and friendly bites, and putting up with the kids and their attempts to love you. We'll miss you.

Busy bee

2010-02-28T17:44:00.004+11:00

Paddy had to have grommets (small tubes, not small surfers) put in his ears on Thursday. He's come through really well, but is very quiet, doesn't want to go outside, and only wants to watch Dora. Poor poppet. But that means that I've been able to get a bit of crafty stuff done that I've wanted to do for ages.

Firstly this.
I think I'd seen something similar on the web somewhere. So on Thursday arvo I painted up this random piece of wood (mdf) blue, then brown. I wanted it to look like a eucalypt forest so just drew some long tree shapes, then yesterday morning started carving them out with my lino cutting tools.

Too easy. MDF is totally the wrong wood - no grain showed through, just that fibrous wood. I was going to clean up the edges, but they look better not being 'sharp'. From a distance it looks great. I can't wait to try it again with some decent wood.

Then this.

I cleaned out my embroidery box the other day and gathered up all the stray floss laying around afterwards. It looked so pretty and so I thought I'd use it for something. I was going for a eye type of image and was going to have all the threads coming out as eyebrows.

But it looked pretty good when they kind of exploded out of that shape. Now I don't really know what it is, but I like it!

Mamma mia...

2010-02-25T07:13:00.000+11:00

Last weekend Lily and I went to Melbourne* with her friend M and her mum S.

Lily and M have a love-hate relationship. They've been friends since they first started childcare at 15 months and have been pretty much inseparable since. Except when you have to separate them for their own safety. Or your sanity. In the beginning it was just your standard hair pulling/face biting (seriously)/pushing each other type confrontations. Now they fight about who is the best swimmer, dancer or singer. ALL. THE. TIME. I probably would have discouraged such a competitive friendship long ago, but I really like her mum (and her son gets on really well with Paddy so we won't be parting ways anytime soon). That and the fact that I guess they're kind of like sisters - they fight hard but love harder. And having each other has given them a confidence at school that has been incredible. They are the two that the other kids gravitate to - because they are sure of themselves because they have each other. As long as the other one is there they are fine. And its not like they're totally codependent - they've each made other friends in the three weeks they've been at school. Anyhoo.

We went to Melbourne to see Mamma Mia. The girls love it so we thought we'd do a girls weekend. While waiting for the show we walked around the city a bit and I found my favourite fountain. It reminds me of a similar one in Bathurst...

The girls loved it! They kept re-enacting it - at breakfast, in the hotel foyer, on the tram and down at St Kilda beach.

We went to see the markets and had some lunch down by the beach. It was really nice. Except for the dead jelly fish.

Then it was time to take two very tired, very grumpy children back home. It will be a nice memory for them hopefully. For me it will be a reminder to always take a leash when I'm taking the child to large cities.

* It was a flying visit - and the first time I'd been to Melbourne in 18 months. It made me realise how much I want to go back without any 'hangers on' so that I can catch up with the lovely folk I know down there and see the places I want to see.

I'm hot

2010-02-23T09:11:00.001+11:00

Gentle reader. Please allow me permission to boast. I'm hot, and new according to craftster!!!

I'm positive this is random - but how cool to be on the front page of craftster???

FO - lace ribbon scarf

2010-02-22T21:29:00.004+11:00

I started this in September 2008 and decided that I had to finish it before beginning anything new*.

So here it is. Lace Ribbon scarf, in merino bambino, knitted on nana's old tortoiseshells. I didn't do as many pattern repeats across the scarf as required and in retrospect I think it may have been a mistake. It's as long as I am tall. It could have been longer but I was bored to tears by the end. Great TV knitting though.

It was knitted for my sister. But as she's sitting on a beach in Mexico at the moment she's not received it. I'm frankly a little offended that she didn't hang around to receive it. Screwy priorities I reckon.

*I did start a little jacket for my step niece in bendy 4 ply... but that doesn't count!

More embroidery

2010-02-19T14:28:00.001+11:00

I made this for my sister last year. Another thing that wasn't blogged!

She loves this haiku

Here is the dark tree
Denuded now
Of leafage...
But a million stars

Shiki

I love it too.

I love this embroidery too.

Homage

2010-02-18T13:21:00.000+11:00

I first drafted this post before Paterson was born, in mid 2007. I never posted it and I don't know why. The link doesn't have the image i used anymore - but it does have her other work on it.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Wandering the net one day I found the wonderful Muffin's site... all her illustrations are just delightful, but there was one that truely resonated.

I was so taken with it that I decided to embroider her. I'm nearly all finished - barring the legs. I'm not so happy with my take on her mouth and head incline - Muffin's version captures perfectly the exhaustion? exasperation? resignation? Whatever it is, she's got it right.

In mine she looks almost pleased. And her face is sharper than i'd like. Either way, I'm delighted to have embarked on this endevour, and to know that I once felt that way. Because once this bub is born then I'll never turn my mind to pregnancy again. I also learnt alot about drawing with floss - its hard to get it to look exactly how you envisage it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I did email muffin to and had her permission to post her image. I loved working on this. But three years on, its still sitting in my embroidery bag. I must do it some justice sometime. Check back in 2013!

Embroidery from the past

2010-02-17T13:56:00.004+11:00

My paternal grandfather celebrated (I use the term loosely) his 90th birthday in Bathurst on the weekend.

(we lit the candles and he walked away... overcome? pissed that we took him out for dinner when he didn't want a fuss? just sick of having family around? who knows...)

I've never really spent much time with my paternal grandparents but I remember the bits and pieces that they have around the house. The last time I was there was for my grandmother's funeral. A combination of having my husband and his insatiable curiosity about family and history, and the children's brazen invasion of the whole house made me look at some of these things anew. Like this incredible cross stitch map of the Netherlands (where my family is from).

My dad was born here in Leeuwarden.

The work in it is amazing.

Its filled with lovely little details - an ice skater, a horse, a boat (and three things that look like nuclear submarines - but I suspect not)

It makes me so sad when I think that she could have shared so much with me about her love of craft and her country. But we never really felt comfortable with each other. But she certainly had skill and talent and she must have shared some genetically with me...

Cruel embroidery

2010-02-17T13:20:00.003+11:00

I had this idea about doing a cruel embroidery (play on crewel embroidery) last week. And here it is!Its not 'nice' but I've found that a side effect of this new medication is an unreasonable amount of anger and aggression. There is a theory that says that depression is anger turned inwards. Ergo as you get better the anger is projected outwards. If that's true I'm much, much better. I'd rather channel it into this kind of creative output than yelling abuse. Which is what I've found myself doing to the fuckwits that walk their dogs around my suburb and who don't pick up their dog shit. Seriously. Stopping the car, winding down the window and yelling out 'toser!' or 'Oi, are you going to pick that up?' and then spending quite some time planning how I could pick up the poo, following the offenders home and then flinging it at their front doors... not entirely a positive use of energy.

Vote for Toy Society!

2010-02-10T12:47:00.003+11:00

Vote for Toy Society in the Handmade Olympics! (click on image)

See more here!

http://thetoysociety.blogspot.com/2010/02/vote-for-toy-society.html

My garden is full of n a k e d ladies...

2010-02-07T20:18:00.005+11:00

My mum gave me some bulbs a couple of years ago and said that they'd take a season to flower. I was pretty sure she said they were nerines. Last year we got lots of foliage (looked like agapanthus leaves) and, as mum said, no flowers. This year we got lots of foliage. And no flowers.

We thought we'd got some dud bulbs. And when the foliage died away we figured we'd dig them up. Until we saw these weird little prehistoric looking things coming up from the soil.

And they turned into these...

They're n a k e d ladies. Or Belladonna lilies. But I use the former because 'my garden is full of belladonna lilies' won't bring in the punters...

(Of course I'm putting spaces in the word so that my blog doesn't start attracting freaks looking for pictures of women in no clothes. Freaks generally don't bother me. Just those looking for scantily clad females.)

Aren't they gorgeous. Big, beautiful bunches of lilies, on thick, sturdy, leafless stalks. They were so worth waiting for!

On an aside, there is a little sculpture in our garden - a refugee from our bathroom. And she's literally a n a k e d lady.

Ever seen a hug?

2010-02-07T14:23:00.004+11:00

This is what it looks like.

It requires two people and arms. And this does. One wonderful friend Georgie, and her two arms made this amazing gift for me. To cheer me after the last couple of dark weeks.

I love it. I love the fabrics. I love the hand-stitching on the binding. I'm so touched that such a busy woman spent her valuable spare time making something to make me feel better.

And it does. I can get a Georgie hug anytime I want now.

Thanks George. Its one of my most prized possessions.

Its only the beginning.

2010-02-02T22:54:00.006+11:00

My bubby girl starts school today.

How did she get to be so big? Its only moments ago that she was a baby.

Then a tiger...

Then a toddler...

Then a little lady...

Then a little mermaid...

Then a preschooler...

And now a shy, quiet little girl who hates being the focus of attention...

(mwahhhahahaha ROFLMAO ! Quiet! Shy! I can't even type those with a straight face...)

I think she's do just fine... we can only pray for the teachers.

Livin' the dream

2010-01-27T20:09:00.001+11:00

I'm livin' the dream people. That is, if you dream is to be kept perpetually sleepless and has lots of screaming and whinging and snot in it.... Attend:

Scene 1.
1am.
A couple lay asleep.
Footsteps.
A whisper.
"Mummy, can I get in bed with you?"
"wha mumby grunt" (trans: "whatever." )
Sleep.

Scene 2.
2am.
Couple are squeezed into a space approximately 50cm wide.
Small child is spreadeagle on remaining part of the bed.
Mummy is in the middle.
Mummy is not happy.
Mummy can't move or breathe.
"moof farken ooout!" (trans: Husband, can you please go and sleep in small child's room.)
Shoving.
Footsteps.
Sleep.

Scene 3
3am
"Mummy, i need to do a wee"
"orf an weeing" (trans: off you go then lovey)
Sleep

Scene 4
3.05am
Light on in ensuite.
Small child absent from bed.
"waddayadoin?"
"Nothing"
Suspicion rises, but is beaten by sleep.

Scene 5
3.30am
Light on in ensuite.
Small child still absent from bed.
Mummy sits upright.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, Mummy"
Mummy lays back down.
"Ok then, well come to bed."
"OK Mummy. I'll just pack up"
Mummy sits up.
"Pack up what..."
Mummy out of bed.
Mummy has a quick glance at the clock and realises time. And that child has been up for 30 mins.
Small child sitting on the ensuite floor pretending small water balloons are at school.
Mummy loses it.
"whart farking Arghing blubbing! 3.30 in the morning!!! Jebbing bubling pfiffing!! Get. To. Bed."
Tossing. Turning. Whinging. Tears. Snot. Tissues. Boggie men. For one and a half hours.

5am
Finally sleep.

Happy 'Strailya Day!

2010-01-26T14:26:00.002+11:00

A bit of 'cultcha' for you.. From Banjo Paterson

Weary Will

The strongest creature for his size
But least equipped for combat
That dwells beneath Australian skies
Is Weary Will the Wombat.

He digs his homestead underground,
He's neither shrewd nor clever;
For kangaroos can leap and bound
But wombats dig forever.

The boundary rider's netting fence
Excites his irritation;
It is to his untutored sense
His pet abomination.

And when to pass it he desires,
Upon his task he'll centre
And dig a hole beneath the wires
Through which the dingoes enter.

And when to block the hole they strain
With logs and stones and rubble,
Bill Wombat digs it out again
Without the slightest trouble.

The boundary rider bows to fate,
Admits he's made a blunder
And rigs a little swinging gate
To let Bill Wombat under

So most contentedly he goes
Between his haunt and burrow:
He does the only thing he knows,
And does it very thorough.

Clearing

2010-01-23T19:12:00.004+11:00

This evening I've been working on an analogy. Creating analogies is a pastime of mine. Poor Nath often walks in from another room only to have me pounce on him (not in a good way) and say "You know, [insert current bugbear] is like [insert witty analogy, although more often a long and rambling mixture of words and emotions], don't you think?" He always agrees, but I think its more fear and a desire to get away... Anyhoo. Tonight I will share my analogy with you all. Because you need to hear more about MDD. So it goes like this...

You're at the top of a mountain. Its taken you every ounce of energy you have to get to the top of the mountain. There are other people there with you and you are all looking out at the most breathtakingly beautiful view imaginable. Everyone else seems to be enjoying the experience. They think you are too because you're saying all the right things and smiling. You know its beautiful. And you've struggled to get up there (you tripped over a branch root and landed on your arse. You sat and cried until some others helped you up). You know you're amazingly lucky to be seeing it. But. The wind is so loud and so strong that it seems to be filling your head. And its cold. And its overcast. So while you can appreciate that the view is great, there is so much else going on that you can't really see it.

Then you take some lovely [prescription] drugs.*

And the wind dies down, the sun comes out a little and it begins to warm up. You can see more detail in the view below, and the people around you. You begin to hear the birds and noises of nature. You can think and feel again. You can take in the whole picture and see what everyone else has been seeing. On the way back down the mountain you trip over a rock - and its no big deal. Just a little stumble. You get up, brush yourself off and keep going. Perhaps whistling Glee tunes as you go...

So that's where I am now. Its only day three, I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but the view is definitely better!

* Lets not go into the pros and cons of meds. Or the withdrawal from one med, the anguish of the days post withdrawal, or the blinding headaches and insomnia that accompany the new ones.

You guys rock!

2010-01-21T19:41:00.003+11:00

Image from here.

Thanks for all that good vibes and mojo and such.
I really, really appreciated it.

Keep holding on

2010-01-19T19:24:00.004+11:00

One of the most frustrating things about my depression (or MDD* ^) is my inability to fix it. Its not like my drinking ie drinking makes my life unpleasant, ergo if I don't drink then the unpleasantness caused by drinking goes away. I've mentioned this frustration before. I've read about my condition, I've tried yoga, relaxation, medication, homeopathy, naturopathy, psychology, psychiatry... just about everything I can do (except regular exercise - i can't manage anything regularly!).

I'm pretty exhausted to be honest. Trying to be 'normal' while looking through grey-coloured glasses puts me way behind the eight ball when it comes to dealing with all the other things in my life. And the thought of having to keep doing it for the rest of my life makes me feel desolate. So cross your fingers for me. I'm hoping that my new prescription of an SNRI will help.

My husband and my kids are what keep me trying. If not for them I'd be in a cupboard with a cask of wine right now. Instead I spent a blissful 10 minutes with the four of us dancing and singing to Glee. Those 10 minutes were worth trying for.

(from http://evenwhenyouresad.com/?p=19 - and here)

* I get the feeling sometimes that one can't truly be sick without an acronym or a wikipedia reference - this has both!
^ I'm a Canberran and public servant - I don't feel comfortable with a concept until it has an acronym!

Work

2010-01-18T13:28:00.000+11:00

Being back at work sucks. That is all.

I'm rich!

2010-01-15T18:31:00.001+11:00

I'm the 44,662,751 richest person on earth!

Discover how rich you are! >>

Are you? For 10 years I've sponsored World Vision kids* based on the premise that its such small change for me for big change somewhere else (man I sound like an ad). This puts it in perspective....

* We've sponsored three Brazilian youngsters and one was called Michael Jackson - I kid you not. And not too long ago we were told that Michael no longer needed our assistance. Around the same time as Michael Jackson, singer died. Coincidence? I think not...

Twitchy?

2010-01-14T21:44:00.003+11:00

Have you ever checked out your stat counter? Ever looked at the google search terms that lead people to your blog? I've done it a couple of times (blogged here) and have always felt sorry for the poor folk who went looking for some information on how to control errant twitchy fingers and got stuck with my ravings... Here are some recent searches...

twitchy (fingers, causes of etc)
twitchy stitch logos
twichety fingers (only three hits come up when you search that!!! And I'm one of them!! Don't know why that excites me... )
sans clothes (referred to an image I had of some old-style barbies)
Knitting in literature
Mother's Day bags
Twitchy number 1
Knitty Topaz
this is as good as it gets

Also still get the odd hit from the old Front Debacle of 08 on Riot Act.

I don't have any pictures to accompany this post so I'll add this one of some FO's from last year. (And because I promised images of FO's last post and didn't deliver. Cos that's what I do - promise and fail to come through. Cos I can. Cos its my blog.)

Um.

2010-01-10T13:12:00.001+11:00

I know it's traditional for us craft bloggers to do a bit of a round up of what we did in the past year. And believe me, I want to. But it seems I did very little this year. Not to say that that is a bad thing (I'm battling the 'pathological critic' here) but given that I went to Brown Owls 9 times I probably should have at least 9 partially completed things... I do have some things and they are below. Most of them were never blogged properly anyway. But sheez. I'm seeing a pattern here people. Let me illustrate:

So. A very blunt tool - but more drinking and depression = less blogging and crafting. What do you think my new years resolution should be???

Happy Birthday!

2009-12-31T16:53:00.009+11:00

Paterson's birthday is December 31. I will forever be sorry to him for being unable to cross my legs for another week so that he didn't get such a sucky birth date. In years to come he may be grateful, but for the next 15 years or so he's not really going to be able to have a decent celebration. Every one is away, or going to NYE parties so he gets forgotten. Next year we're going to have a party for him on 31 November instead - everyone is still around and not so absorbed in Christmas. We did have a lovely night at a friend's place on NYE and had a cake for him so it wasn't so bad, but I do feel awful for not going the whole hog for him.

Anyhoo, whingeing aside, Paddy is turning 2. Hence the cake. I made that. I was pretty impressed, except that the marzipan duck in the marzipan pond is freakishly large compared to the vehicles on the road. Not Godzilla large. But half the size of a car large.

Paterson is obsessed with cars and airplanes and trains at the moment. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised - him being a boy and all - but its soooo stereotypically male. And Lily was the same with dolls I guess. She's always had a fair mix of 'boys' and 'girls' toys but gravitated toward the girls toys. We already noticed a difference in the way different gender kids play when we saw Lily and her cousin Marcus playing with dinosaurs. Marcus was making his dino's eat each other. Lily had hers in a school or a hospital or something. Same toy - different play.

Back to Paddy though; he's all man. Loves mechanical things, hitting things with a stick and jumping on the 'leen' while I sing 'get ready to wiggle'. Loves the Wiggles and Thomas. Loves his books. Loves emptying the pencil tin then sitting in it. He has an ever expanding vocabulary, but favourites include: No, Mine, ily (for Lily), Wiggool and 'leen'. He's the most precious little man and I'm blessed to have him for a son.

Merry whatever...

2009-12-26T17:47:00.002+11:00

We had quite a lovely Christmas Day, despite having Old Nana taken to hospital with pneumonia and our family 'drunkle' (that's a drunken uncle) having a go at us for turning in at 10pm. So after a very non-christian-or-christmas outburst at my drunkle this morning * we departed to Nowra to have a second Christmas day with Nath's family. The kids had a lovely day - a quality present which delighted Lily and lots of cars for Paddy which kept him enthralled for hours. Lil also got an Astroboy toy from my sister which was a huge hit. Those of you who've been around for a while may remember Lil's desire for an Astroboy during the "Front" knitting incident last year. Its cause a few sharing issues but they've generally been delightful.

*After he bought my mother to tears I said to him 'Nice to know that it not just your own family's Christmas' that you f*** up, and that you don't mind f***ing ours up either'. I then dramatically closed the door and the curtains so he couldn't respond. Not very mature. And I'm not 100% proud of it. But I'm sick of letting people do/say awful things and get away with it. As the other resident drunk (currently on the wagon) I was the only one that could say it and get away with it.

Yarn bombing!

2009-12-20T20:24:00.002+11:00

We were driving through O'Connor this evening and my ever vigilant husband spotted some yarn bombing! He immediately lept from the car (I slowed down slightly) so he could get a couple of snaps. It was at the roundabout at Scrivener and Brigalow Sts and at each of the four give way signs. Anyone know who's responsible? Kudos.

Pearl

2009-12-15T11:41:00.002+11:00

Guess what Lily's getting for Christmas? Her very own Pearl Barley, made by the supremely talented Michelle at Poppy Bean and Bloss! I'm sooo jealous.

Black dogs and blerg....

2009-12-11T23:09:00.003+11:00

Still yucky - but have prescription drugs now! Not much to say, given my day was primarily conducted from under the covers... except that I have the most wonderful husband who on his day off looked after the kids so I could recuperate and even took Lily with him to his Christmas lunch so I could sleep while Paddy was sleeping. You rock Nath. Night night folks.

Blogging the black dog from bed...

2009-12-10T19:13:00.002+11:00

Not feeling crash hot tonight so I'm going to have an early one. Just in bed now, going to check a few blogs, the tune out with some meditations. Hopefully i will have kicked this sore throat by tomorrow. But I did have a good day none the less! Work Christmas lunch then the kids childcare Christmas party. Yet again Lily was too scared to go anywhere near Santa, and Paddy wsn't really down with the whole experience either. Anyhoo. I'll write more tomorrow.

Belting the black dog - day 3

2009-12-09T21:25:00.002+11:00

Firstly I just wanted to thanks everyone who has commented or sent me good vibes in the last two days - I'm feeling the love! And thanks to the anonymous commenter who suggested a meditation - I got some by that bloke today and I think it will be enormously helpful.

When I went to my doctor on Monday to get some help she was really great and suggested that I might need a professional review of my medication and tried to get me in to a shrink. Using her influence she got me an appointment. In April 2010. Just as well I wasn't too close to the edge. Then I rang my psychologist. February 2010. Thankfully I got a cancellation appointment today which was exactly what i needed. She's wonderful. I'm pretty good at playing my depression down, and she called me on it. We talked through some stuff. Had a good laugh. And I left knowing that I had some tools to be able to belt the black dog with.

Then in the afternoon I took the kids to the Wiggles. It was my our first Wiggles experience and I loved it. These are individuals who must really love what they do and seem to have a really good time up there. Paddy was mesmerised - didn't dance or clap or sing - just stared. And Lil shouted and danced and sung and waved and had a great time. We did notice that Dorothy the Dinosaur and Wags the dog had apparently acquired eating disorders as their costumes looked very sleek in comparison to the old dvds we'd seen. But it was great.

And tonight we were out for my MILs birthday and one of those clubs that have children's play areas built in. Designed to keep kids entertained, but I always spend more time supervising other people's children in there so they're not injuring my kids.

And now I'm home. Kids are asleep. Husband is in bed and I'm keeping up a promise to myself to do something for me. Not a bad day at all! As Bec said today sometimes you need to reflect on the positives rather than the negatives of a day. Its working for me too Bec!

See youz tomorrow!

Blogging to beat the black dog - day 2

2009-12-08T18:40:00.005+11:00

Last year I wrote this post about personal commandments to help me through the day. I notice that things haven't really changed since then... anyhoo. I thought I might revise those commandments.

Stop it!
Nothing will change, if I don’t do anything different
Meditate
I can do anything for five minutes
Get outside
Don't wait to 'feel like it'
CHOOSE to be positive
Be grateful

So I've lost a couple of commandments and got some different ones. I'll let you know next year how this one goes!

Catching up on some long-ago finished items too - here's a little t-shirt I made for my besties daughter a couple of months ago. I wasn't sure how it would stand up to washing, but it went well and was still going strong when we caught up in Adelaide last month.

Stop it!

2009-12-07T13:27:00.002+11:00

So I've been a little low recently, and another lovely blogger brought to my attention the fact that it might have something to do with a lack of sharing. I've had a bit of a love-disklike relationship with blogging, but ultimately I think it provides me with a focus or a filter that I don't get with anything else. I can condense a day into a couple of lines. A shitty day at work is written down as 'tough day' and like that it becomes not a day of frustration or anger or defeated self-esteem but two little words. I just let it go - unconsciously. So on this steep, dark decline into depression, I've stopped blogging. And I think its made it worse. So I say 'stop the rot'. Or just 'stop it!' as the video says. I'm going to blog for 14 days straight people. Blogging to stop the rot. or Blog the black dog. or Beating the big black dog with a blogging stick. Any other naming ideas?

P.S I'm also going to try a guided meditation each day too - any suggestions?

Before and after

2009-10-07T12:18:00.004+11:00

Before

On my honeymoon in Vietnam I bought a ring which I *LOVED* but Nath didn't. So I gave it to my sister and have since spent seven long years coveting it.

After

My sister just came back from Vietnam and bought me the same ring - from the same shop! I feel complete! And we have twin rings which is a nice, sistery thing.

Before

My sister also bought back a lovely ao dai for Lily. She wore it to Brown Owls the other day...

After

It rained at Brown Owls. (Luckily they came up as good as new)

Before
Before today I didn't know I had any followers on my blog *waves*.

After
I found my followers, and one them - the lovely Fyrestorm Creations - is having a competetion. http://fyrestormcreations.blogspot.com/ Go and see her lovely work immediately! Now!

FO!

2009-10-05T08:44:00.004+11:00

Finished Object. This is convertible from Knitty in bamboo. I'm really crappy at remembering yarn and needles and that business. I know that Rose Red did something in the same yarn a long while ago. I modified it so that it was done in two parts and grafted together to satisfy my need for symmetry. Its pretty. And its got a reasonable amount of weight in it too. Its one of the biggest projects I've completed. I love it.

Eeew...

2009-10-04T17:39:00.003+11:00

Someone found my blog by searching "oh oh girlxxx" (turns out it linked to when I announced I was pregnant...)
Others of interest:
* ANZAC DAY CUPCAKES
* twitchy fingers while sleeping x 800!!
* coraline craft
* clancy of the overflow poem- what is it about
* merit badges for parents
* she makes me laugh so hard
* bowl of coffee canberra
* I try to take one day at a time but several
* crush on Yul Brynner

I'm number 2 when you search for twitchy fingers. Even though there is another knitting blogger called twitchy fingers. Which irks me a little. I'm on craftster, ravelry and flickr as twitchy fingers, and while I don't own the term, I feel a little miffed that someone else didn't google the term before starting a blog with the same name. Anyone had a similar experience?

Anyhoo, I feel sorry for the people who come looking for help with irritating sleep conditions who end up at my blog. Perhaps I should add some links to the sidebar to assist those folk???

I also checked by old bloglines account the other day. It has 45 feeds. I've not read it since December last year. And there are 5086 unread posts. So if i'd have read those and it took me an average of 20 seconds (this excludes any 'clicking away' posts) then it would have been about 1525 minutes. Or 25 hours. If you assume between 30-60 seconds then its 42-84 hours. So I could potentially have spent between one and four days just on blogs. Wowee. No self-judgement on this - i'd have enjoyed those four days. It just seems like an awfully. long. time. to have been on the interwebs.

http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/enseign/anglais/Henry/internet_addiction2.jpg

and if you think you suffer similarly - http://www.netaddiction.com/resources/internet_addiction_test.htm

Darn craft!

2009-09-27T18:57:00.006+10:00

So there’s been much chat about mushrooms recently... not the tasty fungi type, but the wooden, darning type. I’ve been darning for nearly two weeks now, and I’ve found it strangely cathartic. It started because my husband is a devoted Bulldogs fan and they were playing for a berth in the finals on Friday night. He wanted to wear his entire Bulldogs outfit - including the 20 year old socks that had long since become NFFPV (not fit for public viewing) due to the large holes in the sole.

Who am I kidding, there was a small amount of sole between the holes. I own quite a lovely mushroom, and like many of my crafting items, it has been gleaned/gifted/stolen from my Nana.

This was not an item I thought I'd be using anytime soon. Under normal circumstances I'd be chucking the socks, not darning them. But a boy with a love of his Bulldog socks melted my stone heart. I just went straight to You Tube to get a tute, got a great one. Darned.

This is another pair I did - the bulldogs pair is rarely off his feet.

And the boy got his socks. It's probably the nicest thing I've done for the old stick for a while - and he was happy. Didn't help the Bulldogs though.

Darning was a really practical crafting activity - and I think that's what I've needed to do for a while. I don’t know if any of you caught my maniacal morning ramblings the other week (i deleted it now) , but I’ve been a bit overcome with the whole being creative thing recently, primarily because I think it polarises my feelings of inadequacy/inaction. That is - I do a whole lotta dreamin' and very little doin'. From the post:

As much as I love the online world I think that the 20 posts daily from Craft and Whip Up et al appear to me to be from one, super-crafting individual and serve to make me feel less adequate/productive as a crafter. The posts from parent hacker and life hacker don't give me tips but make me feel like there are just so many things I could improve because I'm so hopeless.So I'm going to pare down the blogreader to the blogs from individuals - because most people only finish a couple of things a month. I can rationalise that.

I took some action and took a heap of craft sites and put them into a folder on my Google reader called 'Not this month'. Its been really, really good. It reduces the 'noise' of all those competing demands in my head. I've only been doing it for 10 days but I think I've not read about 300 posts. And I think its helped me focus on the things I want to do, and put a bit of time to researching them, and then sticking to them

So i'm starting a little embroidery sampler. Progress photos soon.

It wobbled.

2009-09-08T11:21:00.003+10:00

"How do you know the jelly is ready Lily?"
"Well, Mum, it just kind of wobbled when I looked at it"
"You didn't stick your finger in it, did you?"
"No Mum."

[Just placed her whole freakin' hand on it...]

I'm going in to get my bottom wisdom teeth removed tomorrow. I'm trying not to think about it too much, but I've got lots of protein drinks and creamed rice and soup, and have got everything I need sorted so that if I'm out of action for a week then life will go on. The surgeon told me that women in their 30s have the slowest recovery time - but I'm hoping I'll be the exception to the rule and can then just use the two weeks sick leave for crafting. I've done a little embroidery and some knitting, but I'm a bit scatty about craft at the moment. Anyhoo, hoping I'll be back with you shortly.

Spring has sprung

2009-09-02T19:48:00.004+10:00

Spring has sprung here... although I did take this photo in August. But there is definitely a little bit of warmth in the air and things are popping out all over the place. It is only 14 degrees during the day, but the days are clear and that makes all the difference.

My blogging this time around might be a little more random. I might include a section of 'stuff that I just want to put out there' or 'thoughts irrelevant to the rest of the post'. Primarily because last time I blogged I was so concerned about each post being a well-crafted story that it took ten times longer than it should have to get stuff out. And while I love going back and reading those posts (and half the reason why I'm blogging again is because I realised how much I valued having those posts to go back and read) I don't think that the occasional typo or bad segue will reduce their readability.

So I bring you:

Random Thoughts

I drove to Sydney on Monday and it was so lovely to see the fog rising over the windmills around Lake George.
I sat behind a girl on a train who was blowing bubbles - it was a lovely thing to see on a train full of surly city folk.
Paddy has started talking and one of his favourite words is bubble.
Paddy won't say Mummy. He calls me, Lily and Nath 'Daddy'. It bugs me a bit.
Lily had her first orientation day at big school today. That freaks me out.

Anyway, thanks for the encouragement to come back and do this thing... I'll be back later with a few craft related endeavors.

Ok

2009-08-30T22:18:00.002+10:00

So this is a trial get-back-together. I still have huge issues - and so do you. Let's give it a go.

Dear Blog

2009-08-28T15:12:00.001+10:00

Dear Blog
I kind of miss you. I'm toying with the idea of us getting back together.
Love
Twitchy

I've hit 10,000!

2009-04-21T19:46:00.006+10:00

Random Integer generator says number six is the winner! Sadie and Lance! I'll contact you poppet...

Thanks to you folk, I've been hit 10,000 times... which is incidentally how I feel this week. So to win a little present from me just leave me a joke or a link to a site or something that will make me laugh.

60 and 3 and 1 away...

2009-04-15T10:21:00.004+10:00

I'm:

60 hits away from my 10,000 hit.

3 posts away from my 100th post (well, 2 now) and

Just under a month away from my 3 year blogiversary.

100 posts in three years isn't very much I know, only around 30 posts a year, but I did seem to have a lot on during that time in retrospect. As a celebration of these amazing feats I will be having a little give-away. Three, in fact. One for each of these milestones. The prizes will be in consultation with the winner, but may include one of the many bits and bobs i've spent the last three years doing, such as: embroidery, sewing, felt toys/pictures or any of the things on my old flickr set... http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomes707/sets/72157594313903946/

Entry is by un-stalking, I mean, commenting, on a post that I'll do for each of those three events. I will announce a winner based on a number generator. So stay tuned!

P.S I'd post images, but blogger won't let me...

Meme

2009-04-03T20:39:00.004+11:00

Via Kim

What’s your favorite color gummy bear?
Can't tell you the last time I had one... Who would buy them when there was chocolate covered licorice to be had?

What is the sexiest part of the opposite sex’s body?
The 'crease' between leg and torso

Have you ever made up/sang a song for someone you cared about?
Yes. Wrote and recorded a song for Nath. And I sing to the kids every night. Our hit list includes;

You are my sunshine
Morningtown ride
Once upon a dream
Beautiful world
Over the rainbow
Wonderful world
Unforgettable
Lullaby
Lots of Carpenters, and Beatles and John Denver, and whatever I've heard on the radio.

Ever had a song sang about/for you?
Yes. My boyfriend in year 10 wrote me a song, and then came to a party and sang it to me. I was mortified. In retrospect I'm amazed he had the balls to do it.

Is there a baby in the room with you right now?
Nope. He's in another room.

Do you know how to dance?
Year ago I did tap and jazz, and was a ballet-class drop out. I'd love to do salsa or something now...

Where do you sing the most, in the car, the shower or other?
I'll sing anywhere. But mostly in the kids bedroom I guess.

What is your favorite thing that is green?
Feijoas. Yum. Yum.

What did your last text message say?
Love you. Pretty sure it was from my husband... ;-)

Boxers, briefs or boxer briefs?
Care factor - 0 If he's comfy I'm happy.

What is your middle name? Tineke. It's Dutch.

What is the way to your heart?
Through my stomach. But its taken now.

What do you smell like?
Joy perfume, children, and Benson and Hedges.

What’s in your pocket?
nothing - i'm in my pjs

Anything in your mouth?
only teeth and my tongue

Ever hurt yourself playing Wii?
Nope. Only been and observer.

Do you have freckles?
Lots - although i'd have had lots more if my mother hadn't been a sun-conscious red-head. Thanks Mum.

How many languages can you say “Hello” in?
A couple. Most of which i've picked up from children's television.

What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
Angelina Ballerina goes to sea. Seriously. I was a DVD just being played in the theatre. And Lil hates AB. So do I. I did get some knitting done though.

Ever jumped/fallen/been pushed in a pool with your clothes on?
No.

Are you wearing any clothes that you wore yesterday?
Yep. My jammies.

Are you in love with someone right now?
Yep.

What’s the last thing you watched on TV?
Watching Law and Order right now.

Who is your daddy and what does he do?
Sep. He's retired.

Can you do the alphabet in sign language?
No. We use a couple of signs for eat, drink and more with Paddy. We'd been using two signs that we thought were thank you and eat - until my sister found out that they were 'f*ck you' and 'prostitute'. Not that he would have known the difference. But it could have been embarrassing for him later in life when thanking a deaf colleague for lunch....

Do you wear glasses?
Only once a month when I give my eyes a rest from the day/night contacts.

What can you hear right now?
Thunder.

Did you feel better or worse or the same yesterday?
Worse. I think I'm getting the flu...

Ever been overseas?
Yes. Not since before Lil was born though.

What are your plans for today?
Finish this, and go to bed.

Do you bite your nails?
No. Only to trim them if they're too long.

Do you like your feet?
No. They're ugly and weird-looking. Most people agree. And they hurt most of the time.

Do you sleep well at night?
No. I have children. And until recently I had a bad bed. Now I've got a new, comfy bed - but I'm not often in it. I've actually begun to dread going to bed because I know its going to be shitty.

Conservation

2009-03-19T20:12:00.004+11:00

Conservation through having smaller families - by Nola Stewart. This is a great brochure aimed at children which explains the world economy and how it effects the environment. First time that I've understood economics... Worth a look!

Coraline...

2009-03-19T15:56:00.000+11:00

Coraline.

2009-03-18T15:22:00.003+11:00

Man, I so want this movie to come out in Australia. But we're talking August until its here. Now I've not read the book, but I love the concept of the movie and I want it here now. French and Saunders, people!!! Six months is way too long to wait I say. There have been lots of promo type activities happening in the States and I want to be part of it [stamping foot, loudly]. As blog-land is my witness, I will not rest until I consume all things Coraline.

My little moochi did a mini box swap - wondering if any Aussies would be interested in doing the same?

Look Ma!

2009-03-14T09:16:00.000+11:00

I'm posting from the laptop! In the kitchen... sooooo exciting!!!

"Unfortunately Naomi"

2009-03-14T06:44:00.001+11:00

A meme via thornberry.

All you do is google “unfortunately, yourname” and see what comes up! Some of my favourites:

Unfortunately, Naomi has never participated in a legitimate anger management class. (True...)

Unfortunately, Naomi's hair is reminiscent of a Haitian hillside after 3 days of rain. (That's just unkind.)

Unfortunately, Naomi is only able to visit that pool for therapy twice a week. (Pool therapy hey? Sounds better than anger management classes!)

She is much easier to read than to listen to, unfortunately. Naomi, slow down, speak more smoothly, make people listen. (Sage advice.)

Unfortunately Naomi’s outfit did not impress us at all. (Fair cop - my 'style' is not often classified as impressive.)

and finally,

Unfortunately, Naomi had put all of her faith in her family and material things, and simply did not have much hope for the future. (From the book of Ruth.)

I love Knitty.

2009-03-12T20:10:00.004+11:00

Especially because the patterns they churn out are always the 'wrong' season - which means we've got six months to knit the patterns and have them ready to go at the appropriate time. Instead of starting in spring, and finishing in Autumn.

I'm loving Topaz - might be my first foray into fair isle...

And decimal (although I'll never knit it)

Pioneer - I might have a go. Got some swanky possum/merino from when my mum went to NZ in scarlet. Although it may be a little unattractive on my 'curvy' frame.

Perhaps Hanne (which is strange and interesting all at once) would be better?

Flit and float might be the answer to the malabrigo lace-weight conundrum.
Steggie is cute and might be put away for when Paddles is a bit older.
Aeolian is stunning.

whatdoyareckon?

I try to take one day at a time...

2009-03-03T13:18:00.002+11:00

but sometimes several days attack me at once.
This has been consistently the case lately, and although I still spend my days thinking 'I so have to blog this' I just don't seem to find the time. However, today we just got a new laptop, so maybe now I can blog without being stuck in the study and hence neglecting my children/husband/dinner/important television viewing or other maternal obligations. So. Maybe I'll see you around here again soon. I've got lots to tell. Nothing exciting really, but, you know, stuff.
Toodles.

Canberra Donations for Victorian Fire Appeal

2009-02-10T10:40:00.003+11:00

This announcement is going around at the moment...
______________________________________________________________________
ALLIED PICKFORDS is arranging to transport any Canberra donations of clothing, toys, tinned food, furniture due to the tragedy with the bushfires in Victoria. Many of us lived through this 6 years ago, and can imagine not having any possessions except the clothes on your back.

The community support for Canberra from around Australia was incredible at the time - and we should now help Victoria.

If you have a spare ANYTHING - get it to Queanbeyan. The Allied Pickfords Depot is at 184 Gilmore Road, Queanbeyan - just go along Canberra Avenue past DFO and Gilmore Road is only a few kilometres away. The transportation is happening regularly - so there is not a cut off time.

If you can pack things into boxes, it will help. PLEASE HELP DISTRIBUTE THIS EMAIL TO ANY OF YOUR CANBERRA NETWORK.

If you are not able to help with these sort of donations, Salvation Army and Red Cross have an appeal going:
http://www.redcross.org.au/default.asp
https://www.salvationarmy.com.au/partners/donate.asp?oneoff=yes

When did you last laugh so hard...

2009-02-08T09:05:00.003+11:00

that you cried? This image catches one of those moments. This is me and my bestie Lilly. She has an extremely talented photographer friend Hing Ang (http://www.flickr.com/photos/toadtheory/) who took some photos of us on Australia Day this year.

We've been friends for 20 years, since she was my billet for a music camp. We were little girls, then big girls, then young women, then women, and now wives and mothers. We have one thousand personal jokes and stories about things like camels in pants and partying till you die and the 'thilver thoverin'. We've traveled together, worked together, lived together for brief periods of time but we've never lived in the same city. She's a talented, funny, vibrant and loving person and she makes me laugh. I love her like I love my children - totally and unconditionally.

Gifties and stuff

2009-01-09T10:20:00.001+11:00

I've kind of lost my blogging mojo so you get a picture post...

I made this seafoam scarf from the hacho I bought a while ago. I want to finish it off with some buttons - its more a cowl-length.

This was a beautiful surprise gift from Happy Spider for Lily, to go with the gorgeous hat she knitted for her a while ago. Lil's has insisted on wearing during the last couple of 38 degree days. Really.

And this was a stole that I started to knit with my cursed malabrigo lace weight. I've frogged it because even though it looks great, it was a bugger of a pattern to remember and it just wasn't flowing. I believe this skein is cursed because of cast on about eight projects with it, and none have pushed my buttons. I've now put it aside for a while.

Food for thought...

2009-01-07T08:22:00.003+11:00

I'm a smoker. I don't like it. It never used to really bother me, but with the sense of mortality which comes from having dependents, I would love to quit. Anyway, yesterday as I was browsing the beautiful Malabrigo at yarnandkisses.com I realised that I could justify buying 3 balls of Malabrigo A WEEK if I quit smoking.

Photo credit: yarnandkisses.com

Yes, each packet of dirty, carcinogenic, smelly cigarettes costs about as much as a skein of Malabrigo.

That means, people, that I could buy 156 skeins a year.

So if we assume that I am talking about laceweight Malabrigo that is 430m per skein x 3 per week - 1290m per week or 67080m per year.

That is 151 times the yarn that Bells used for her Adamas Shawl. Or 167 times the yarn the Happy Spider used for her Nightsong Shawl.

So who agrees that this could be a good motivation for quitting????

Happy Birthday

2008-12-31T18:16:00.007+11:00

In the midst of the end of year postings all around (one of which I'm dying to post) I would like to put a 'Happy Birthday' out into the ether for my beautiful little man Paterson, who turned 1 today.

I was frightened at having a boy. I didn't want to find out the sex because if it were male I didn't want my first reaction to my second child to be disappointment. I wanted a sister for Lil so she would have the relationship that I have with my sister. I didn't know what to do with a boy. Please don't bother pointing out all the logic flaws with this - I'm well aware of them. I was only a little sad when he was born, but only because Nathan hadn't decided against calling our son 'Paterson' as I had hoped he would (love you bub!).

But let me tell you, I could not love Paddy any more if I tried. He is a constant source of delight. His beautiful blue eyes light up when he smiles. He giggles uncontrollably at Lily's attempts at slapstick. He squeals when the 'kissing monster' gets him. He loves tackling and rough-housing - although his penchant for biting isn't making him a popular playmate at present. He eats like a child possessed. No one is safe while eating near him. He loves to bury his head in pillows. He loves to stand on all fours and look between his legs while resting on his head on the ground. He talks and goos and points at everything. He loves opening draws and closing doors. He loves de-furring Rosie the cat. He loves to push things - cars, vacuum cleaners, doorstops... Now he has teeth he loves making noise with his tongue against his teeth. And blowing raspberries. And of course biting. I love how he now deliberately puts his arm up around me neck; not just to hold on to me, but for a hug. And I kind of like that he still prefers to come to me when he's sad. Makes me feel needed, you know?

Anyhoo, I wrote this more for myself than anything. You say you'll remember this amazing spectacular moment in their lives - but then the next amazing spectacular moment comes along to replace it*.

So, Happy Birthday little man.

And Happy New Year to the rest of you; I'm a new year's eve grinch (which is why the universe made me have a child on NYE) so I'll think of you at 9.10 when I'm snuggled up in bed.

Naomi

*(except that I will always remember Lil saying 'Mum, when you die and I get older, can I wear your marrying dress?' a couple of days ago...)

Single? Literate?

2008-12-15T12:09:00.003+11:00

Huge props for the National Library for seeing a market for singles who don't dig the drunken/disco scene. I would soooo have gone for this in my single days. I hope this is a huge sucess for them!

Literary Lovers: Speed Dating for Book Lovers

Join us for a celebration of reading and romance. Bring along a book you love to act as an ice-breaker. Find romance, or simply broaden your reading while enjoying a glass of wine in the idyllic setting of ex Libris at the National Library.

Presented by: National Library of Australia
Start: 6:30pm
Event location: National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Parkes
Cost: Adult: $30 Concession: $25
Organised by: National Library of AustraliaMore information: Info: 02 6262 1271
Booking: 02 6262 1271 20 February 2009
Official Site: http://www.nla.gov.au/

2008-12-15T09:00:00.000+11:00

Blue is 'done'
Red is 'never will'
Black is 'not done'

Over half... not bad considering there are some things I wouldn't want to do (like bounce a cheque)

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited The Great Barrier Reef.
5. Stood under the stars in the outback, the real outback – think Uluru.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (But I have given - for over 10 years now).
7. Been to the Gold Coast’s theme parks – anyone, you take your pick.
8. Climbed a mountain - does Kosciusko count?.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sung a solo.
11. Bungee jumped, jumped out of plane, been paragliding or hang-gliding, hot air ballooning – you get the idea, you’ve been hundreds of metres about earth in a seemingly flimsy contraption.
12. Visited Melbourne.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Had a child. Raised a child. Worked with children.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Been to the Snowy Mountains.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Visited the Brett Whitely studio in Surry Hills, Sydney.
20. Slept on an overnight train or bus.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Been backpacking.
23. Taken a mental health day.
24. Been buried in sand with just your head and toes sticking out.
25. Held a possum, kangaroo or koala – or any other native Australian animal. (Why, only last week I held a stripped legless lizard!)
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Been in a fun run. (I just walked)
28. Been on the Blue Mountain cableway.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Played, or watched, summer cricket. (I've been forced to listen - does that count?)
32. Sailed, kayaked or canoed our beautiful waterways.
33. Seen the Daintree.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Visited an Aboriginal settlement or mission.
36. Learned a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (I don't think I realised it at the time...)
38. Toured the Sydney Opera House.
39. Tried rock climbing (indoor or outdoor), abseiling or just simple bush walking.
40. Visit Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art.
41. Been to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
42. Sunbaked at Bondi.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Broome.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone fishing.
49. Seen Tasmania’s old growth forests.
50. Been to the top of Q1, on the Gold Coast.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Driven the Great Ocean Road.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Norfolk Island.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Guide biscuits.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. (But not anymore, mad cow took care of that)
65. Gone jet boating.
66. Visited Port Arthur.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Australian War Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Federation Square.
74. Been on the Murray River.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Travelled, or climbed, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited St Mary’s Cathedral, in Sydney.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Been to Hermannsburg.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited Parliament House. (Worked there too...)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Saved a pet.
95. Been to the site of the Eureka Stockade.
96. Swum in The Whitsundays.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a mobile phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Lovely stuff

2008-12-01T20:37:00.005+11:00

* Edited to fix *&^@%^ photos*

Its been so long since I posted, and time is getting away from me, so here is a brief rundown of what I've been up to. Once this is posted I can get back to some kind of regular posting. That's the theory anyway.

I posted a while back about a Chegal picture used in the movie Notting Hill, and moments later a beautiful package arrived on my doorstep from Miss Dot at Planet Lime! Isn't it stunning!

And nearly a month ago now we (Mother, Sister, Husband, Daughter and Son) went down to Melbourne for my birthday, and my sister bought me this great necklace. Its from Elk - and TSS, they have a necklace with a black pear on it!!!

Also finished a little swap package for Backtack and posted it off to the lovely Kim in Canada - but can't show you that because she's not received it yet...

We stirred the pudding.

Went to my 'little' sister's 30th party

Wrote meaningless stuff in the magnetic words on the fridge.

Watched my kids play together. Really play together.

So. There we are. Back to normal transmissions shortly.

My Daughter the photographer

2008-11-28T09:16:00.000+11:00

I find it interesting to look at her photos. To look at what she finds interesting enough to photograph...

I did leave the picture of her poo out though...

Where you wheely bin?

2008-11-21T20:37:00.002+11:00

Well. Many moons have passed since my last post (When I write that kind of thing it always feels like a confession - forgive me father, it has been 27 days since I last blogged). I have traveled hither, thither and yon. I have worked like a demon on my backtack swap package. Recieved beautiful unexpected presents from lovely folk. I have dealt with sick chillun'. And I'm way past trying to do a catch up post. But I will gradually. I'm back. I've got some FO's and I'll try and get back into the swing of things and post them soon. Here's a photo to keep you happy~

This is... a favourite recipe I would like to share

2008-11-02T21:24:00.003+11:00

We're heading off to Sydney* tomorrow so i'm running a bit low on time...I'm going to be lazy and cut and paste this recipe straight from Jamie Oliver's website. I remembered it when reading about the garlic in QuiltingMick's recipe. This sounds strange but is delicious, and includes huge knobs of roast garlic.... yum.

Chicken in Milk

Ingredients

1 (3 pound/ 1.5 kilogram) organic chicken
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 ounces (115 grams) or 1 stick butter
1/2 cinnamon stick
1 good handful fresh sage, leaves picked
2 lemons, zested
6 garlic cloves, skin left on
1 pint (565 milliliters) milk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C/gas 5), and find a snug-fitting pot for the chicken. Season it generously all over with salt and pepper, and fry it in the butter, turning the chicken to get an even color all over, until golden. Remove from the heat, put the chicken on a plate, and throw away the butter left in the pot. This will leave you with tasty sticky goodness at the bottom of the pan, which will give you a lovely caramel flavor later on.

Put your chicken back in the pot with the rest of the ingredients, and cook in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours. Baste with the cooking juice when you remember. The lemon zest will sort of split the milk, making a sauce, which is absolutely fantastic.

To serve, pull the meat off the bones and divide it on to your plates. Spoon over plenty of juice and the little curds. Serve with wilted spinach or greens and some mashed potato.

* Got a meeting to discuss declining frogs - at Taronga Zoo. How's that for a meeting location?

Strangeness is...

2008-10-30T09:04:00.003+11:00

Strangeness is... walking into the foyer at work while listening to Midnight Oil, and seeing a picture of the lead singer, Peter Garrett, on the wall in front of you. Are you seeing things? Are you so into the music that visions of the band are materialising in front of you. Then the realisation hits you - that's a picture of your Department's Minister. He's your Minister now. Freaky.

(I imagine folks who have to work for Arnold Schwarzenegger feel similarly..)

Images that make me smile

2008-10-27T20:00:00.000+11:00

Not sad versus Sad

2008-10-27T10:08:00.002+11:00

While cleaning up my iTunes this thought came to me

Glenn Mediros 1987 hit 'Nothing's Going to Change My Love for You' is not sad versus any easy listening cover version which is sad.

But how the f*ck did the cover version pollute my iTunes?

This is... something I'm surprised I like

2008-10-26T21:40:00.004+11:00

My husband. Sounds strange I know. But I never expected to end up with someone like him. I met him through his brother - a high flying, well-paid, well-dressed economist. I'd always gone for those types. When his brother told me about him - a 27 year old school teacher who only shaved every three days or so and who still lived at home - well, I wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to meet him. But I did. And his brother hadn't told me that he was funny, sensitive, compassionate, fiercely loyal, insightful, supportive and generally wonderful. And now I know that he's also a fantastic father, and perfect husband (barring the occasional toilet-seat-left-up type offense). Kisses bubby.

Saving Up

2008-10-24T13:48:00.002+11:00

In the car today* Lil's said "Mummy, I'm saving-up to be good."

I only hope that this doesn't mean she's going to be really good, then 'spend' all the goodwill generated by such goodness by being appalling. We live in hope.

(*coming back from the second doctors appointment this week to treat Lily's obscenely large puss-filled tonsil - ewww - that will now require her to have them out)

This is... my favourite film

2008-10-20T06:00:00.002+11:00

Well, I'm going to get back on the This is bandwagon, after quite a hiatus...

My favourite film. Mmmm. Well I can't really narrow it down so I'll do a few.

Notting Hill
I love the last scene where they're in the private park, and he's reading and she's laying on his lap, pregnant, with her birkenstocks on. I also love the bit where they're talking about his Chagall print...

Anna Scott: I can't believe you have that picture on your wall.
William: You like Chagall?
Anna Scott: I do. It feels like how being in love should be. Floating through a dark blue sky.
William: With a goat playing the violin.
Anna Scott: Yes - happiness isn't happiness without a violin-playing goat.

Gone with the Wind
I've always had a crush on Clark Gable. Mmmm. But the rich, indulgent, loving-but-dominant character of Rhett Butler - ooooo!

The King and I
"Shall we dance..." Again with the strong man. Yul Brynner started my love of bald men... It has always been the one thing that disappoints me about my choice in husband; he has a full head of hair, and judging by his genes he won't be losing it any time soon.

I could probably go on. Some of Adam Sandler's stuff is definately up there. And I love a good romantic comedy ala Love Actually. But that will do.

Youth, talent, a killer sense of humour and perhaps a knitter?

2008-10-17T14:32:00.002+11:00

That's what I found when I stumbled upon this Miss at Kitten and Snake. She was mentioned by a commenter on the RiotACT thread and I've devoured her comic offerings. I predict big things.

That's how I roll

2008-10-17T09:00:00.000+11:00

That'd be me if I were a graffiti artist...

38 seconds??

2008-10-16T09:04:00.000+11:00

38 seconds

Created by Bunk Beds Pedia

My favourite question was 'what would you do if the velociraptor lunged at you'....

More nicey niceness

2008-10-15T09:00:00.001+11:00

Looky here! The wonderfully generous and prolific knitter and spinner extraordinaire Happy Spider sent Miss Lily a hat. And its the softest, smooshiest most snuggly thing I've ever touched. Thank you!!

Wonderful idea....

2008-10-14T14:07:00.003+11:00

http://inchmark.squarespace.com/inchmark/2008/9/9/magical-thinking.html
Keeping track of things kids say by scribbling them on a piece of paper and sticking them in a jar...

George and I would have had a few last friday when we met up at the National Museum with the kiddlie-winks... The kids did some painting which was part of an indigenous art display, then we went outside with [lukewarm] coffee to ~~bellow at the kids like fishwives~~ watch the kids playing. At one stage George asked Pirate Jim to put down a stick, at which point Lil started singing 'put down the stick when I ask you too' with all the passion of an opera virtuoso...

Last night would have yielded a couple of memories too as Lily shouted 'You're a meanie' at the arsehole who owns The Front in Lyneham and threatened to call Astroboy to come and 'teach him a lesson' . After last time this man/establishment is should be named the 'knitters nemisis' after a second 'shunning of knitters'. ~~No one else has written this up yet I note~~, but in summary:

*Bells has taken matters to the next level and posted at The Riot Act *

our regular Monday at Tilley's wasn't to be as there was a concert on. QuiltingMick acted quickly to find an alternative and rang The Front, asked if they were 1. open and 2 amenable to a group of 10-15 of us coming in. No problem, she was told. But when we turned up last night there was a problem. A private function. I suspect this function wasn't put on at the last minute just to ensure that our renegade group of knitters could not congregate, but I wouldn't put it past that mob. Anyhoo, we decided to adjourn to All Bar Nun and asked if we could put a note up. Sure. But by the time we drove past the establishment, the note had disappeared. So Bells popped back in to put it back up. Up went the note again, and this time we watched as the bastard took it down. If they didn't want us there then they should have just said so. If he doesn't want financially secure (you'd have to be with a yarn habit), artistically minded, vocal women frequenting his venue then fuck him. I won't lose any sleep. I will however probably design a badge so that the world can know what a poor example of customer service that establishment provides.

Apologies for the swearing.