Project Incomplete

We interupt our regular programming...

2008-10-13T20:57:00.004+11:00

... or should I say I am sorry but we momentarily changed the channel around here at Chez PI!

Thanks to those of you who touched base to check that we are still alive we are still here thanks for asking!

It's been a while. Adjustments all round in our household but for the better. Without a doubt.

On the upside

Deliberate Hugs and Kisses
More words
Almost walking
Banana smoothies
Sunshine
Playing outside
BBQing
Weeding
Mowing
Planting
Power tools - should you need a chick to do your drilling or your sawing - I am now your gal!
Shovelling and more shovelling - gravel, dirt , whatever!
Training for Around the Bay
Routine
Hard Rubbish Gold (more to come later!)
Blog lurking.

On the more challenging side

First haircut (ohh the pain the pain the pain of seeing those baby curls go)
The worlds slowest molars - 4 in a month - enough already!
Snot all round
Limited and interrupted sleep (see my comment about said molars!)
Adjusting to said routine
Slow internet

In recent weeks I also received a bit of a wake up call, a reminder about enjoying life whilst you still have it. Luckily the situation did not effect me or my family members personally but it was enough to shake me in my boots and remind me to not sweat the small stuff so much. The situation also taught me to go and get any niggling medical complaint checked out without delay. To trust my gut. Get a second opinion if unhappy with a diagnosis. To get my affairs in order.

To stop procrastinating and start doing.

Love Fridays

2008-09-19T06:12:00.002+10:00

Waking. Feeling good.
Outside.
Fresh Air. Cool and dark.
Watching the sun rise.
Listening to the birds call.
Smelling spring.
Planning the weeks meals.
Writing a to do list.
Feeling calm happy and purposeful.
Anticipating family fun day and a long weekend together - Mr B has the day off!
For now, to market to market...jiggety jig!
Do join Big Cat in some Friday lovin'!

This is....what I do in a spare 10 minutes

2008-09-16T10:06:00.002+10:00

Late again!!

Aside from the obvious - lurking in blogtown, I like to spend my spare minutes looking at what can probably be described as....

... food porn.

No no no no - Mr B and I do not have a penchant for doing strange things with vegetables and fruits and/or other food items. Not that there is anything wrong with that, let me hastily add, it's just not for us!

Since starting market shopping and proper meal planning, I have however developed a real love for looking for new recipe ideas. Not so much for baking but more for meal inspiration.

If I am out and about I will always pick up and salivate over gorgeous glossy cookbooks with glorious pictures. And then put said cookbooks down most of the time.

At home I do love Taste so easy - throw in your ingredients and usually out pops a selection of recipes you can make.

Another favorite is the Exclusively Food site. Great instructions, pictures and foolproof recipes. Check out their to die for Garlic Roast Chicken Recipe.

And a discussion about food sites cannot be left without mentioning Liesl's Stand Back and Throw Meals. What this woman can do with the contents of her cupboard, fridge and freezer to satisfy two young boys is delicious and entertaining!

Thanks to Hoppo Bumpo for coming up with this week's topic and to Sharon for guest hosting This is!

This is.. my favourite band

2008-09-09T10:51:00.003+10:00

Again a belated post...but a post nevertheless.

My favourite band of all time is definitely the Bee Gees. Notwithstanding their questionable fashion sense! Original photo from here!

My parents loved the music of the Beegees, a love which started during their Saturday night fever rise to worldwide fame. Their music permeated our house during my early childhood years. The music is still catchy and uplifting.

I still have a real soft spot for the Saturday night music era and am saddened by the fact that I did not see them live in concert prior to the passing of Maurice Gibb in 2003.

Thanks so much to Curlypops for coming up with this week's theme and to Haidmaiden for keeping an eye on the meme whilst
Angela is away!

Love Fridays

2008-09-07T07:02:00.002+10:00

A belated love Friday post here

A day at home
Introducing Little B to the garden now that he is more aware
Warm spring filled air birds singing dogs playing
Battling weeds, discovering surviving plants from last year
Clearing old and planning new garden
Surprise flowers from the hubby
Opening new CD excitedly and with anticipation as a child would open a christmas present or a premenstrual woman might crack a block of chocolate!
Elation and no definitely disappointment as a familiar calming voice croons new tunes through the evening airwaves (Kd Lang Watershed, love it)
Fresh sushi goodness for dinner from my favourite japanese restaurant, first time in years!

All reasons why I do love Fridays!

Head over to Big Cat to see why else we love Fridays!

I'm all thumbs!

2008-09-04T17:24:00.002+10:00

I am decidedly not technologically minded.

For those of you whose email address may have found its way into my address book following my making a comment on your blog, my profuse apologies to you as it is likely that you have or are likely to receive, an invite to Link In with me!

A case of my ticking the wrong box and Little B pressing enter has lead to invites to being sent to everyone I have emailed in the last couple of years including ebayers, freecyclers and bloggers!

So, if you have received an invite, I would love to Link In with you, but apologise to you if you are not into that kind of thing!

Enjoy the rest of your Thursday!

Getting into the groove of spring!

2008-09-04T11:41:00.004+10:00

Life is settling down for us and boy it feels good!

Earlier this week Little B and I managed to get to the Vic Market to do some fresh food shopping. Boy do I appreciate the fortune of living in this country and being able to purchase lovely fresh meat, fruit, veg and deli goods. The sights and smells of the market and the better than average supermarket quality produce were definitely things I had missed during the depths of winter

In other news, sadly, my annual dump driving and diving expedition has to date yielded nothing of note, not even an extra special special enema kit! Most disappointing as I actually set myself up with a dumpdiving kit - tools, towels, blankets and rope!

One of the things I have however been neglecting is the mail. So this morning it was with great excitement that I remembered that a small package was awaiting my attention! I only just remembered to take a photo of it before ripping it open!

A parcel full of lovely fabricy goodness from the delightful Curlypops! Oh the possibilities!!! Thank you so much Cam, what a lovely start of spring surprise!

Love Fridays...

2008-08-29T10:10:00.002+10:00

Whilst I have been doing my darndest to enjoy the moment a little bit more lately this week has got me beat. I am so glad Friday is here!

Not one but two trips to the emergency room (one for Little B (he's ok now), one with a friend (she is doing better too)), a good cleansing dose of gastro for me, a missed Thornbury Sew Along and some other bits and pieces have tested sorely tested the members of the B Family this week!

But today the fog has both literally and figuratively lifted, the sun is shining and the days ahead are full of sunshiney springy promise! Hurrah!

Finally we have the realistic prospect of spending some time in our much neglected garden and at the park. Not to mention the chance to start scouring our local area for some gems - it's hard rubbish collection time!! Yippee!! Hopefully I will score some loot like the Motherload Pottymouthmamma stumbled across during the week!

For those reasons I love Fridays! Do join Big Cat in sharing with us why you Love Fridays!

This is...my favourite children's book

2008-08-24T14:18:00.007+10:00

Perhaps this post could be renamed these are my favourite children's books as I could not contain myself to merely one.

This first is a book named Sunny by Robin Mitchell and Judith Steedman. A friend bought this back for Little B from the US as a welcome to the world gift.

Sunny is a little fella who rustles up the kids in his neighbourhood to make up a band. They end up having a "hootenanny" of a time. Whatever that is. It is a very cute book, the illustrations are actually all little figurines photographed doing their thing. The book also comes with a very cool cd of songs which has Mr B and I bopping along every time. It is aimed at 3 - 7 year old readers but Little B enjoys it a lot at the moment.

There are two other books in the series, Windy and Snowy and Chinook.

A more traditional favourite of mine is the Hungry Little Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

In today's obesity adverse food particular times I still enjoy this book which is about the caterpillar munching through all sorts of things including an ice cream and a pickle! Which has got me to wondering as to whether he was actually a she! The illustrations of this book are lovely and Little B loves to stick his fingers through the holes!

A final fave of mine is the Lewis Carroll classic, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. My favourite passage is the poem the Walrus and the Carpenter. I am not exactly sure why as I loathe oysters to eat myself! I owned a copy of this book which was illustrated by John Tenniel - very complex, dark illustrations like this one that at the time certainly got me thinking and which now I appreciate even more!

Thanks to Three Buttons for the lovely concept of This is and to Pottymouthmamma for coming up with this week's thought provoking but fun theme!

Thank you fans and air conditioners!

2008-08-21T16:54:00.008+10:00

I am finally getting around to accepting to some blogging awards which I have been lucky enough to receive in recent weeks.

Lovely ladies Hoppo Bumpo and Curly pops each sent me the Happiness award which requires me to reel off 6 things about which I am happy about right now.

Oakalie doakalie, here goes:

1. Week one of work has gone so well. Helped enormously by the fact that our little angel has settled in just so well no tears and no tantrums. I am definitely finding my groove and enjoying my two days a week of get out of bed/get dressed/put makeup on/get bum out of house/child to child care/work 8 hours/go to relaxed lunch/drink coffee slowly thing. I am seriously a different and much more balanced woman!

2. It's raining. Go Melbourne's water storages go!

3. I received some lovely feedback from the recipients of the bibs crafted during Bib-o-rama! I ended up packaging them up as a suprise filling in some nappy cakes. Gotta love the good ole' youtube tutorial. A bit stupidly I forgot to take decent photos of all of the finished cakes but here are some bibs.

4. I am really excited about and looking forward to learning some new things, meeting some new people and seeing new places this weekend!

5. We have made plans to head to Queensland to visit some friends later in the year. They are putting us up so it's also a cheap holiday! Built in babysitters too (mwoah mwoah hahahahaha)(evil laugh he he he)! Yay!

6. Ricky Martin has become a father to twins by a surrogate mother. Whilst surrogacy is not a new concept, and can be fraught with difficulty, it can also present people who might otherwise not naturally easily become parents with a beautiful opportunity. Check it out here . I congratulate and wish Ricky and his new family all of the best (and miss him shakin' those bon bons too!).

7. I finished some aprons for two lovely ladies in my family. Matching mother and daughter aprons in fact. Whilst I am rather (very!!) over the spotty fabric I do think they came up pretty well - I am fairly sure one of my models did not agree!

The very kind and funky Big Cat passed on the Brilliante award! Thank you - I am glad that you enjoy (put up with) my navel gazing!

For passing the awards on, well, those who passed the awards onto me are the top three who I would pass the awards onto myself! I will leave it to those others who read, and whose blogs I read, to take from these awards what you will and share things of happiness and joy to you with us!

Enjoy your Friday!

Love Fridays

2008-08-15T16:41:00.002+10:00

Taxes done - check!

Washing done, folded and up to date (for about ohh I dunno, half an hour!)- check!

Dinner cooked - check! (Yummy Thai Green Curry on brown rice!)

Uggies on - check!

Afternoon sleep had - check!

Five good reasons why I lurve Fridays!

Perhaps the only thing missing is a good hunk of Curlypops' delicious looking perfectly iced cake!

Do join Big Cat in this fantastic weekend welcoming meme!

Enjoy your weekend!

You can go your own waayyyyyyyyy.......

2008-08-14T14:59:00.003+10:00

Today this Fleetwood Mac classic has played itself on repeat round and round in my head.

One of the main things that has pained me so in recent weeks is the return to work issue.

It became clear to me some months ago that conceptually I really did wish to return to work. I had become very worried about my skills diminishing as time wore on, as big changes developed in my field over the last 12 months. I worried about throwing away 6 years of university study. Perhaps a bit over the top, evidencing a self confidence diminished by time away from work, but there it is. I have missed my "old" life terribly, much more than I ever imagined. I never expected to feel so isolated, so lonely when I took on this job of motherhood. Not in a million years.

The greatest stumbling block for me has been reconciling my concerns about the return to work with my issues related to leaving Little B in the care of others whilst I go to work for 2 days a week.

Working form home, part time job juggling, family looking after Little B, child care, family day care - all theoretically options from which we could have chosen. As the months passed and our talks with bosses were unsuccessful, family politics played out and waiting lists lengthened, eventually only really one true option revealed itself, pursuing child care at a creche.

Everyone in sight has had an opinion. And not been shy about sharing it.

"Child care is no good for one so little - he will get sick all of the time, he does not need to socialise with others for so long in any one day." " Childcare will be great - variety of play and environs, can only be good." "Some balance in everyones' life will be the best thing for all of you." "Why do women these days have children if they are just going to put them into care?"

Worst of all I have been saddened and disappointed to experience the most negative of views from other women. Some of whom I have absolutely no doubt have been in the position I find myself in now. Some of whom I thought I had tried pretty bloody well hard to support when they had to make some big decisions in their lives.

I suppose naively I thought that the whole point of the "sisterhood" was to provide non judgmental support to one another in times of need, in times of questioning and in times of hardship. Not so. In my experience anyway.

In recent weeks mothers group catch ups, coffees with friends and family gatherings (including Little B's birthday party) have each felt like mini battle grounds.

As my twelve months of leave are well and truly up, every time without fail I have been asked, so when are you returning to work? There seemed to be no right answer. The question to me implied I should return to work, not waste my skills, that it would not be right for me to stay at home even a little longer. But a discussion about the logistics, the actualities of returning to work oft resulted in (what I probably sensitively) felt was stinging criticism. I have never felt so reluctant to go out and socialise.

I have spent alot of the time following these discussions feeling like an absolute failure.

Do I not have the mental toughness to "hack" this endurance sport of motherhood. I am so lucky to have a lovely son. I know that some people struggle to ever bring a family into this world. They grow so quickly. Why do I wish to spend less time with him?

Guilt has been my constant companion - Should I give up everything I knew pre baby for a little longer, until our family is complete? Is it wrong to want to have a little time to myself? Ironically to have to go back to my (back breaking!) paid employment to receive a break from my mothering role? To take a long term view of things in terms of finances and opportunities for my family? To want to take some of the burden off Mr B who has literally worked himself into the ground physically in the last year in an attempt to compensate for the loss of my breadwinning income?

I have let anger eat away at my insides. What is this concept of feminism, this theory that women can have it all effortlessly? Cranky that the government seemingly does so little to give value to women who stay at home and women who attempt to return to work. Furious at family members who made promises and then failed to come through with the goods. Upset that in my case anyway, there is not a traditional "village" to which Mr B and I belong, can contribute to and which can help our family too.

Last week we were offered a place at a child care centre near our places of work.

After spending some time getting to know the ladies who would be looking after our little one, chatting to the parents who leave their similarly aged children we decided to take it. Two days a week.

I have spent most of this week orientating Little B at his new "school". A few hours a day. Today was the first day I left him on his own. At 9.30am I found myself searching for a venue which served alcohol so that I could have a calming beverage. I had to settle for a coffee and crepe. The guy who served my breakfast seemed non plussed to be confronted by the teary woman who anxiously kept checking her phone and sobbing whilst gulping down her coffee.

Within 30 minutes I received a call. Little B went to sleep no worries! I never felt so relieved. And perhaps a teeny bit put out! When I collected him I learned that he had eaten lots of lunch and played happily on his own and with the other children. He is ready, I am informed, as much as he can be, to try a full day.

And I am ready now too. To give it all a go anyway. To make an informed decision about whether or not it is working for our family in a few months' time.

Like Big Cat , I am looking forward to Spring. The sun. The longer hours of light. Colour. Flowers. Garden. Routine. Some balance. Going my own way!

One

2008-08-07T15:19:00.003+10:00

To my darling little B,

Already 365 days of your presence in my life have passed. Most days I now struggle to remember life without you here.

You are a handsome, lovely, gentle soul just as is your dad.

An amazing sponge, an flourishing flower, watching you learn has been an incredible experience.

Your sense of humour is wicked.

Your newly found (at this stage, tongue filled slopalicious) kisses melt my heart each time you willingly share them with me. The random unexpected smooches are sublime.

Your laugh lifts my spirits immeasurably, your cheeky toothy smile makes my day. Every time.

I am so happy, privileged and lucky that you chose me.

Undoubtedly you are inspiring me to fashion myself into a better person than I have ever been.

Happy 1st Birthday my little one.

I enjoy each and every moment with you.

And remember almost each moment like it was yesterday.

I cannot wait for each and every moment to come.

Serenity Now!

2008-07-31T11:32:00.004+10:00

I have found myself muttering this phrase to myself over and over in the last few days.

Much is going on for our family at the moment which is making life feel more like hard work than I like. You know how when things happen on their own they feel easy enough to deal with but when a number of things come to a head at the same time, as they invariably do, it is easy to feel overwhelmed?

Emailing, blogging and reading blogs have all had to take a bit of a back seat. So to Three Buttons and Kirsty I am sorry I did not get to This is... and On my desk this week.

Time away from the computer has not been such a bad thing.

It took an insomnia induced 4.00am sewing session for me to attempt topstitching those bibs and I was so pleased with the results! Whilst not perfect they have turned out so much better than I expected.

Hopefully I will be back on all blogging fours soon! Enjoy your weekend!

Late Love Friday...

2008-07-27T08:38:00.002+10:00

Running late again!

This week I LURVED Friday as I got out in the glorious winter sunshine and participated in a women's golf clinic.

Mr B managed to swing a work from home day so my neighbour Christine and I could have some child free time! We were guests of the professional at a gorgeous private golf club.

It was a lot of fun. Also very confronting. I am still so out of shape! The ole' bod creaked and groaned at almost every pitch, putt and drive.

I have decided however that I could, in time, get used to being a lady who luncheons at the "club" after a round every week! Not that it is likely to happen any time soon! I don't think golf memberships at exclusive clubs are likely to come up on Freecycle too often!

One of the best parts was getting home, being greeted by Mr B and Little B (all still one piece no less!), putting the trackies on and the feet up.

I do love Fridays.

Thanks to Big Cat for coming up with this positive meme! Just the way to start the weekend!

What is the world coming to?

2008-07-24T15:13:00.007+10:00

Warning - this post is likely to end up as a rant of mammoth proportions.

I make concerted efforts to be frugal and to recycle for a number of reasons.

Financially being on one income we as a family, can no longer afford to be as cavalier with our funds as we once (perhaps stupidly) were. I am now frankly, a tight a**e. And I like it. I don't know that Mr B always likes it. But I like it.

I no longer spend my time in super shopping centres aimlessly wandering and randomly purchasing. If I have to go there, I shop with a purpose. I consider my purchase carefully before I make it. Do I really need that? Could I buy handmade? Could I get this on freecycle or at an op shop? Can I swap or borrow?

Environmentally I am trying to minimise our footprint on this earth so that my children and their children will too enjoy the world as we have and will continue to do so.

As you have no doubt ascertained I also get a real kick out of finding the right recycled goods. At the minute I have the time and inclination to op shop, freecyle and survey hard rubbish! I find it to be a lot of fun.

In light of all of the above I am rather annoyed right now. Not one but 2 of our fairly new electronic goods have given up the ghost in the last 24 hours.

Firstly our printer. It is less than 2 years old. Perfectly good. Print scan copy. Just out of warranty, it is going to cost about $150 to fix and about $90 for new ink cartridges. A new one with better features costs $250 at the moment.

Secondly my Iriver mp3 player. A bit over 2 years old. Used to hold its battery charge for 8 hours. Now no more than 30 minutes. Not even half a walk/workout session or a full train ride home. The batteries cannot be fixed or replaced.

Probably obviously, I feel rather annoyed for a number of reasons.

Neither of these items were cheap to buy in the first place. Their lives should have been far longer given what I invested in them at the time that I purchased each of them. For heaven's sake, I still have my sony walkman which I purchased um...16 or 17 years ago! It still works! If only I could buy a stereo with a tape recorder in it today I would probably go back to using it.

Environmentally, the impact of throwing these items away is not good. Batteries, ink cartridges, plastic, electronic parts. I don't like it one bit.

I feel frustrated that there is no easy answer here.

I suppose neither of these items is an absolute necessity.

I do not have to replace either of them. I could go without the music when I exercise and catch public transport. I could copy out my recipes from the screen and print letters and patterns at my local library or newsagent.

But I like the music. It motivates me and enhances my enjoyment of exercise immeasurably. Rightly or wrongly I need the music to keep me motivated. It also keeps me sane on public transport.

The cost of driving to print things as often as I do would probably soon overtake the cost of the printer. Not to mention the environmental impact of jumping in the car that often.

I guess that they just don't make things like they used to. It is sad. And frustrating. What is going to become of us and our families if we do not change the way we think?

On my desk

2008-07-23T09:42:00.004+10:00

To use a phrase coined by Argy and/or Bargy of Hoppo Bumpo fame my desk is showing the progress of my Bib-o-rama!

All bibs are now sewn together by machine and hand and ready for ironing, topstitching (eek!) and velcroing. It has taken me a bit longer than I thought it would.

I really love the 3 floral prints which are right next to the army men bib.

Also on my desk is a pretty cool Freecycle find, the first 39 issues of Golden Hands magazine. I have been intrigued about said magazines since reading this post by the lovely Thornberry in late May. To date I had not find any at my local oppies.

Yet the Golden Hands gods were smiling on me earlier in the week when I snaffled them via my friend Freecycle. The trip to collect was traumatic to say the least - reading the Melways has never been my forte - but very worth it. I have flicked through, there are some lovely sewing projects and importantly they are described in a great instructional style. Makes me think I need to take up knitting and crocheting to get the full benefit of them.

Do head over to Kirsty's blog to see who else might be playing along.

This is..

2008-07-22T15:44:00.004+10:00

I am running terribly late on this week's this is.

The things that make me happy include what might be the obvious:

1. Belly laughs from my little man

2. Feeling the wind on my face whilst wizzing along on my bicycle (this pic is moi riding along the streets of gais Paris!)

3. The sound of Barry whirring along (definitely the best part of sewing, the actual sewing).

4. Securing a great Freecycle find!

5. The "kerthunk" I hear when my number 1 driver hits the dimpled white ball in the sweet spot!

6. Seeing Mr B when I wake up and when he gets home!

And the not so obvious:

- A good antipasto, proscuitto, cheese, sundried tomatoes. Yum.

- Great music - at the moment old school Neil Diamond (GOOD LORD!!!) and KD Lang are amongst my well played faves

And.

Alone time on the toilet. Seriously. Even if my now usual company is doing their darnedest to crack me up by sharing their best ever Elvis inspired curled lip impersonation with me. **

Thanks to One Little Acorn for coming up with this week's subject matter and to Angela for coming up with the This is concept!

** This picture is a mere representation only.

A new meme - Love Fridays

2008-07-18T17:48:00.003+10:00

because Mr B and I share the ritual of sitting down for a quiet drink and debrief together.

Drink of choice on a cold winter's night - Kahlua on ice.

Join in by signing up with Big Cat!

Ready to Launch

2008-07-18T13:14:00.003+10:00

This cold wet Melbourne weather makes it easy to stay inside and do some sewing.

11 bibs ready for a meeting with Barry.

Why 11 rather than 10 you might ask? Well, you probably didn't! But I am going to tell you anyway.

I have been using Sew Funky's bib tutorial but have been too scared to finally top stitch the bibs I have made to date.

Top stitching is well, so, exposed.

Today I am determined to give it a go.

So 10 bibs, 5 for each lovely newborn recipient. Little B will be the proud wearer of the top stitched bib whatever the result!

Hope you are enjoying your Friday!

Freecycle finds

2008-07-17T11:47:00.002+10:00

Yesterday an Elna Lotus in working order was offered and taken in Melbourne!

What a pickup for the lucky recipient!

Last weekend we picked up a hills swing set for our backyard.

I love Freecycle. I really do.

On my desk

2008-07-17T10:14:00.003+10:00

I was out and about yesterday but early before departure my desk contained an apron which I made for my 4 year old friend Georgia whose favorite colours are red and pink. Little B and I were having lunch there yesterday and the apron was a gift for Georgia whose birthday has recently past.

As I did not have a model to make the pattern for on hand, I had a go at being a bit more scientific about my design and sizing this time using the measurements from a popular children's clothing store website.

For Georgia's sister Mac, aged 2, I made another dotty and pink reversible apron.

I felt very apprehensive about giving the gifts to the girls. My first handmade gift. They were by no means perfect. My straight lines were not so straight in places.

The girls' mum, a lovely lady I met and became friends with through work, previously expressed a great deal of surprise when I told her I had been filling my spare time with teaching myself to sew (amongst other non work related things). To be fair, she has only ever seen me in action in my cut and thrust fast moving adversarial job and only observed me enjoying outdoor pursuits outside of work.

Of course I needn't have worried. Both girls loved their gifts and happily for me the aprons fitted very well with a bit of room for growth. I forgot my camera so did not get a photo of the girls running around playing kitchen and putting their (many!) babies to sleep in their new attire!

My friend was still very suprised about it all. These are so great. I can't believe YOU made these. She said it over and over again. It was hard to decipher what she really meant by these statements.

So I left with mixed feelings. Elated that I had given my first sewn hand made gift and that the recipients were happy with them.

But also philosophical about it all. Why do I sew? Am I enjoying it? Does it matter that it is so different from what I previously filled my time with?

So far I am enjoying it. It is a slow process learning anything new. It's been a while since I have really tried something new and at times I have been discouraged by the bumps along the road.

Does it come naturally to me? My feeling at this stage is no, it doesn't. It does feel like work at the moment. Some days I force myself to get started. Probably because the projects I am working on are gifty projects. I am not sure whether it will become easier once my skill base becomes more solid and I become quicker and defter at it all.

I am still learning Barry's quirks too. Each project so far has made me face something about the machine I have been afraid of - changing a broken needle, having to undo and clean out a jammed shuttle race, changing feet, winding a bobbin. All things which were overwhelming when I first opened the manual.

Will I continue? Yes. I suspect the key is that I have been putting alot of pressure on myself about producing a perfect item each time, first time. Something which I have to stop.

Is it as a hobby what I hoped it would be? Yes and no. Yes because it is satisfying making something which is useful practical and fun. It;s been great learning this new skill and opening up to the world of handmade.

No because I hoped that taking up a hobby like this one would help fill the void which remains following my finishing up paid employment. Nearly 14 months have passed since I commenced maternity leave and every day I have missed my job and almost everything about working terribly. Despite my really loving being at home with little B and watching him grow my feelings of missing work have worsened in the last couple of months as our routine has become more settled (and I have become rather housebound due to Little B still needing 2 2 hour sleeps a day).

Yesterday had me realise that I have been misguided in my high expectations a new hobby would make my feelings go away. Nothing that I have come across to date has given me the thrill and buzz that my paid job gave me on a daily basis. The social interaction I experienced was ongoing and whilst at times very confronting, very satisfying.

I miss that. Alot. Almost overwhelmingly so at the moment. And I suppose that is ok!

One man's trash is this lady's treasure

2008-07-14T15:59:00.004+10:00

I had to run some errands today and in doing so stumbled across the fact that hard rubbish collection is on in one of the leafier suburbs near my home. On this warm sunny day helpfully Little B fell asleep in the car which gave me time to have a drive around to see what was on offer and I was not disappointed...

The following items leaped into my car on the way home:

2 directors chairs nearly new

2 little persons outdoor chairs (those plastic ones, I usually strongly dislike anything like them but I felt ok about taking them as I was recycling after all)

A little table to go with the chairs.

2 plastic containers on wheels with lids which will do beautifully to store my sewing bits and pieces.

1 outdoor blind with all fittings in mint condition which we will be using to shield the heat from the back door of the shed (which is north facing into our backyard and which may become a studio space in the nearish future if my next hairbrained scheme gets off the ground!)

I have decided I must carry some tools in my car so that I can be ready at a moment's notice to dismantle things!

I'm just achin...

2008-07-14T09:54:00.002+10:00

yup yup yup..for some bacon.

In particular, some of Not Martha's Bacon Cups.

If you could make these puppies watertight I would be drinking my coffee out of one every morning!

Some people are just natural born geniuses. Really. They are.

This is... what gives me goosebumps

2008-07-13T15:01:00.004+10:00

Today's topic is well, pertinent.

By way of background, it is fair to say that I am, a teeny weeny bit, under the weather. Entirely self inflicted. Those delicious and enlivening espresso martinis got the better of me again last night. This time at my lovely neighbour Christine's 30th birthday celebration. A great night. But I have enjoyed merely one hours' sleep in the last 24 hours. The buzz is the gift that those espresso martinis keep on giving. Even at 5.00am. Note to self. Remember this for next time.

Anyhoo, this morning Little B, Mr B and I dragged ourselves out of bed for a 7.30am breakfast date - that's right - hungover and sleep deprived - on a Sunday - with our former neighbours, who are now living in PNG but here for a holiday and staying with family just down the street.

As we walked in the door I spied one of these babies on the wall. And promptly broke out in those goosebumps. And not in a warm fuzzy way!

Moreso our hosts were most jovial about their arachnid houseguest. "She's been here over a week" they proudly declared.

I momentarily pondered exactly how they ascertained that said spider is in fact a she but promptly moved on when met with the exclamation "She saves me having to the cobwebs as she eats little spiders and bugs!" And then started to shiver involuntarily upon hearing "I can't wait until she has babies - then we can build up our natural pest control measures"!

I am all for supporting the circle of life and all that jazz. I just prefer that the (I know harmless) huntsman spiders keep their hairy legs and beady eyes outside when I am inside and vice versa.

Needless to say it was a quickish visit. I could not get the possibility of the babies' existence out of my mind!

Thanks to Juddie for coming up with this week's topic!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

TGIF

2008-07-11T11:12:00.002+10:00

Despite having a lovely day on Tuesday I am ready for the weekend!

Little B has been sick with a hacking cough which Mr B and I have both inherited in the last few days. I have become reacquainted with the middle of the night get up. I look back and wonder how did I ever manage it earlier on when Little B was really little? We have been camped out inside the house only breaking out to visit my friendly local chemist for supplies. Sadly we have had to cancel a heap of social engagements which has left me feeling a little like climbing the walls! At least it's the weather for being inside!

Being inside has given me the chance to catch up on some blog reading.

I have fallen in love with the works of Tiffany Scola at Chez Sucre Chez.

And enjoyed reading the inspirational comments following Lisa Leonard's post Bloom (there is a jewellry giveaway here too people!).

And taken such joy from Larisa's post The Trilodie an ode to her much wanted and loved 6 month old daughter Elodie!

Enjoy your weekend!

A good day

2008-07-08T16:22:00.003+10:00

Very much like Cam I have had a lovely day today.

I too received flowers, from my good girlfriend Lyn for whom I hosted a baby shower this weekend just gone. They were the best kind of flowers - home delivered - entirely unexpected, uncalled for and welcomed unashamedly when I needed a real pick me up this morning!

The postman also delivered a little something out of the ordinary - a gorgeous pincushion made by the very clever Liesl of Hoppo Bumpo. My first ever blog prize - hurrah!! I love it Liesl, especially the gorgeous jewel in the middle - very luxurious!

I put it to use post haste whilst creating my first bib (yes that spotty fabric again - I have a few metres of the stuff to go!). Pretty happy with the bib although I had wanted to use some terry towelling as the absorbant middle layer but could not for the life of me sew it "straight". I feel like I am missing something major with my stretch stitching but I don't know what it is. I suspect I am going to need to get lessons in order to conquer the stretch fabric mountain.

Now if only the wet washing would hang itself and dinner cook itself - then the day would be perfecto!!!

I hope you too are having a happy Tuesday!

Here comes the rain again!

2008-07-07T16:24:00.005+10:00

The rain falling is such a lovely sound isn't it?

After a busy few days I decided that Little B and I would have an at home day today which gave me the opportunity to actually finish a project.

You may recall I was working on a smock for my little friend Emily. Well I ran into some trouble on a number of fronts - Barry and the stretch fabric stopped co-operating and worse still I actually tried the elmo smock on Little B only to find it did not fit over his head! Which would then have required me to amend the pattern a task about which I did not feel at all confident.

Not deterred, after a bit of research I decided I would make little Em an apron. Inspired and helped along by Sew Funky's Bib Tutorial I thought I would attempt to be extra tricky and make a reversible apron.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the result. I suspect it might be a little big for 2 and a bit year old Em but she will grow into it!

Everything worked out relatively well except for the front pockets. I had initially planned to do curved U shaped pockets. In the end I could not for the life of me get the bias binding to go around the pocket smoothly. I suspect I did not cut it properly. Whilst initially I had sewed the pockets on the front before I sewed anything else, in the end I handsewed them on when the rest of the apron was done.

I am glad that I managed to get this finished as my friend Amanda has just had her baby - a little girl - Amy - so I am off to try and make some bibs! Wish me luck!

Happy Monday!

This is...my most treasured childhood possession

2008-07-07T08:20:00.005+10:00

I have not kept many of my childhood wares. Like Reenie-Su I did not have a blankie or a special toy.

I did have a cabbage patch kid, her name Mandy Leila. I wanted to be this doll. Blonde hair blue eyes and dimple. Sunniness and Light. But I never really bonded with her. Partly, I think due to her signed butt. I suspect that it was she and her large but hidden bald patches that introduced me to the world of scepticism and cynicism!

I still however treasure this very kitsch lamp I received from my paternal grandmother's estate. She was a flamboyant larger than life old broad who passed away when I was about 8 years of age. My paternal family is very large and my grandma did not have very much. I was very lucky to receive anything at all. It literally and in many ways figuratively shed a very positive light at a sad time. When on it sheds a very warm, cosy and magical light on the room at night. It is very comforting and lovely. It does not match the decor of my home but there is no way I can part with it.

Do head over to Tea Cups on Treetops and Threebuttons to check out some more prized childhood possessions.

On my desk....(more than mildly disturbing)

2008-07-02T14:45:00.004+10:00

We got some junkmail today. It's about all that is on my desk at the minute.

I casually flicked open the happy exciting fun looking Big W toy catalogue only to be confronted by this sobering picture.

Is it just me or are these masks demented and scary looking???

They remind me of the presidents' masks that the armed robbers wore in the film Point Break. ( ...Ahh Keanu - how I loved you in that film. Your first mature film role post Bill and Ted's excellent adventures.....so handsome and grown up....)

Happy Wednesday!

"I've got chilllllllllllllllllllllls and they're multiplyin......"

2008-06-29T13:14:00.002+10:00

Now try getting that song out of your head.
Ok so it has been a while.
Something to do with Little B, two more little teeth and another fever in the last 3 days!
Whilst I thought I had escaped the bug I find me own timbers shiverin' at the present time. Bugger!
Especially as I had to cancel the bib sewing extravaganza booked with my lovely friend Amanda A this afternoon.
Double Bugger.
As I head back to my bed sans cold and flu tablets (how I miss you my friends, it has been almost 2 years) I bring you some footage of Bill O'Reilly a Fox news presenter who needless to say has some anger management issues. It's apparently old news in the states.
It does contain some profanity but I found it somewhat amusing. Who behaves like this??

On my desk...

2008-06-25T10:15:00.003+10:00

I cannot believe it is Wednesday again!

A few things happening on my desk today, I started another smock this one for my little friend Emily. Emily's mum Amanda is due to give birth to Emily's new sibling to be any day now and I like the idea of having a pressie to take for Emily as well as mum and bub so she does not feel left out! I am lining the smock with terry towelling to increase absorbancy, Barry and his stretchy stitching have been very kind to me so far. Although I am sure it also has something to do with the song swilling in my head, Silverchair's Straight Lines of which I have adapted the chorus lyrics to " Come on Barry make it easier, sewing in a straight line, slow and steady through the feeder, everything will be fine..." Sad I know.

In a fit of madness late last week I signed up to ride the 100km leg of Around the Bay in a Day on 19 October. A nice ride for a good cause - the Smith Family. Fear has motivated me to start some serious training so the heart rate monitor and drink bottle have been my companions during my early morning jaunts to the gym.

The elephant pic is actually a leather carving which Mr B and I picked up in Thailand in 2003, it had been hiding in a cupboard which I rearranged to fit in my growing fabric stash - I think it will be nice to have him framed and hung somewhere as a reminder of our travels.

Oh and yes, the half eaten cheese and tomato sauce toasty on Finding Nemo plate. Comfort food at its best when the larder is otherwise empty. Little B has endured his first serious fever over the last 24 hours- whilst the worst is over for him (yay) I am feeling a bit worse for wear! I did not even realise I had served the sandwich up on Nemo's head until I uploaded the photo!

Finally for those sewers out there check out Krista's brainchild site Zigzaggers, a site set up for reviewing sewing machines by sewers. Sadly I only came to this site after acquiring Barry but think it is a great idea. If you have a machine that you love, hate or feel indifferent about please contact Krista with your review - your contribution will help us newbie sewers try and get a machine to suit our purposes. If nothing else check out McKenna Linn's review of the funky greenElna model number 1 aka the Grasshopper. Very cool machine. Always makes me think of the old Kung Fu series - "ahhh grasshopper..." Every time. Happy Wednesday!

This is......

2008-06-23T14:28:00.006+10:00

Kitty selected this week's "This is". She asks us to name our favorite outfit that expresses our personal style!

Personal style in the more traditional sense eludes me I suspect. At the moment I feel the most comfy in my trackies and pullovers. If going out I might graduate to jeans and sneakers! Exciting huh.

So I thought I would share with you a general few faves from my wardrobe.

The first is, love em, or hate em, my army green crocs.

I acquired these babies in the final throes of my pregnancy. They were the only shoes into which I could fit my godawful swollen boat like feet and cankles.

They are comfy as all get out. Easy to pop on to throw out the rubbish or the recycling. And practical too, as in you can hose them down if you step in dog poop in the back yard!

The second item is my camo peaked cap..

Mr B and I each purchased one in the Cinque Terra before our 15 km 5 town hike. We selected these hats after being "inspired" by a bunch of very gregarious American tourists and the movie "Team America".

Each time I pop this hat on I am a woman on a mission. Think Goldie Hawn in Private Benjamin (although I am not blonde nor too perky most of the time) Walk around the block - yes Sir! Washing out on the line - Yes sir! Weed that garden or give me 20 push ups! Yes Sirrrrrrrrrrrreeeee!

And finally, my favourite accessory is my watch.

I was lucky enough to receive one of these beauties for my 30th birthday. I am told by Mr B that it also qualified as a good luck with "pushing a head the size of a watermelon out of the hole the size of an orange" present. I am hoping that I will look after it well enough that my grandchildren will battle to inherit it for their own (as Nanna only otherwise had those crocs and that horrific camo hat to offer!)

Elmo wishes you a happy weekend!

2008-06-20T17:50:00.003+10:00

Thank you for those who provided me with their pep talks and empathy following my last post. I love the blogging community I really do.

I decided to do a trial run of the smock pattern to see how it might all turn out. Here is the result...

Mr B bought this fabric home from Spotlight a while ago. As an aside just quietly I think he is developing a thing for going there too...

The elmo fabric is a curtain fabric I think and the arms are a silky polyester turned inside out. The arms not all that practical but that was the only fabric I had which would match one of the colours in the elmo fabric.

I am relatively happy with the result, the arms did not end up matching up to the sleeve holes as well as I might have hoped, I think this is due to my imprecise cutting.

I also made the bias binding around the neck with a bias binding maker. How nifty are they? I was too scared to go around the neckline with bias binding by machine so did it by hand, the stitching ended up being a bit blurgh but it is covered up by the fact that the binding contains the elastic around the neck and is scrunched together.

All in all it did not take too long so I am feeling positive that I will definitely be able to make these for my little girlie friends. I am thinking a pocket might be nice on the front as a finishing touch.

Have a happy weekend!

Scared

2008-06-17T20:51:00.004+10:00

Am I facing off a spider? Stuck in the dark? In a confined space?

No. I am sitting here staring down a children's smock pattern.

I have 3 little girlfriends each under 5. I have for some time been thinking I might make each of them a smock or apron as a birthday gift (all birthdays are coming up in the next month).

I have read the pattern and get the construction part of it (or so I think!). It is primarily straight line sewing. A bit fiddly on the sleeves perhaps. I am relatively confident I can handle the actual sewing.

I recently purchased a selection of girlie fabrics at the Spotlight stocktake sale.

So theoretically I am ready to rock and roll.

But feeling scared to go any further.

This creating thing does not come naturally to me.

Sounds silly but I am worried about making a wrong decision. Mis matching fabrics. Sewing a wonky line. Not producing a perfect end result.

Being exposed. Anxious about "going public" with my new hobby and very new skills. A new persona. Am I still in any way the old (perfectionist, hard ar*sed, cynical, overtly assertive, long hours working, dogged, loud laughing) me? Who is the new me?

Eekk! Whoa! I did not see that coming! I did not realise I was even looking in the direction of my navel! Apologies for the (unexpected) heaviness of this post!

I think it is time for a bath and bed. And a new start in the morning.

Just out of interest - how do you feel when you start your new projects? How do you get your inspiration, your mojo flowing?

My name is Belinda and I am a....

2008-06-17T19:49:00.002+10:00

......Freecyclaholic.

At this stage I have not been able to find a 12 step programme or any other kind of remedy for my addiction to participating in our local Freecycle group.

I joined a few months ago. All it took was registering with my local groups and then having emails sent to me containing information about goods on offer and goods sought.

If you are after something on offer you merely reply to the email offering the goods in question. Also reply if you have something somebody wants. Then wait to see if you have been the successful emailer! If you succeed you go and get the item in question.

It sort of like op shopping from your own home. With an auction feeling thrown in. Think battling the old lady in the op shop for that china cup and saucer. By email. I suppose it is a little bit more random in that you can't be sure exactly what you are getting until you pick the item you win up.

So far I have acquired some electrical cords, stationary, a sewing machine, some champagne glasses ,a toy electric car set, a tent and a huge bundle of queen sized and king sized bed linen.

All things (with the exception of the car set which I have gifted onto a neighbour) which I had been on the hunt for but had not had the funds to buy. So far I have not been disappointed.

Each day I scour my emails to see what is on offer. It actually is quite a useful way of reality testing - do I really need/want that?

I have also offered some things we don't use anymore and it has been great to receive
positive feedback from people who have really enjoyed the things they have received.

It is great to be part of a collective of people who are aiming to reduce the throwing out of perfectly good stuff around the world.

So if you have not already I do encourage you to go and join your local Freecycle group today! You never know what you might find.

This is...

2008-06-16T10:28:00.004+10:00

my little newly creative space...

The room used to be 2 small bedrooms but the people who owned the house before us knocked the wall down.

I love this room. It is north facing so on days like today, crisp cold but sunny, the light streams in. We painted it a happy yellow colour which I find warm and stimulating. The window overlooks our back garden. This year for the first year ever I really had time to notice the change in the seasons, the leaves falling off the trees in autumn, the leafy bulbs now peering through the soil.

It is also Mr B's workspace. His desk is to the right. He is a web designer, works in the city by day and on freelance projects by night. His other passion is making electronic music on the computer hence the keyboard on the desk!

When I am in here using Barry the sewing machine I have to pop up a barrier to stop little B from getting underneath my desk and playing with the foot pedal!

Don't forget to head over to Quilting Mick who picked this week's theme!

Pooped!

2008-06-16T09:35:00.004+10:00

For the first time in ages I felt almost too tired to get out of bed this morning. But in a good way. My body is just tired after the Eastlink ride.

The ride yesterday was fantastic. Very very busy. But great. The weather good. The company fun. All in all it is estimated that close to 50,000 cyclists took part in the day.

It felt good to be part of a collective.

It was also nice just to have a little bit of child free time!

Ta dahhhhhhhhh....(subtitle - the war and peace of the construction of aprons)

2008-06-14T19:31:00.007+10:00

Many coffees and cans of diet coke later (Jogirl how do you manage to drink the latter it tastes so well um... blurgh) I finally finished these cotton picken god darn Domo aprons.

Overall I am pretty happy with them. In particular Little B's apron. I think it looks a lot like the little guy. I feel a real sense of accomplishment. Like I have banished the demons who lurked and taunted me during my year 10 sewing class (well until next time anyway).

Admittedly I have not photographed the back of either of the aprons. The backs are extremely messy. I would have liked the torso of Mr B's apron to be longer and the legs shorter.

As a gal who is no stranger to drama finishing them turned into a teeny weeny ordeal.

Despite my best laid plans I only managed to finish up these babies this morning. After going to bed at 1.00am and then getting up at 5.00am I finished them at about 9.30am. (Which is just as well as I had a haircut booked for 10.00am, in laws to see for lunch, a bike to collect at 2.00pm, coffee to have with girlfriends at 2.30 and a party to be at by 4.00pm)

I worked hard all week to leave myself all day yesterday (Friday)to finish up sewing them. The weather forecast was cold and wet. I thought a perfect day to hibernate with my mate the sewing machine. (I think I need to name him, at least I think it is a him.....maybe I could call him Barry in honour of the sewing machine man..although it would probably be weird when I take Barry to be serviced by Barry.. "here Barry, take care of my dear old Barry" I would have to say. Barry (the man) would probably think I was most strange... or ask me out on a date..eeek.... sorry sorry sorry... I digress).

Yesterday morning came, I got up and dyed my hair. For some reason it was really important to me that I sit at the machine with my hair all nice and shiny and coloured. Hair colour everywhere in the bathroom. In the white grout of the tiles. On the sink. On the toilet seat. So I had to clean the mess up before I could do anything further.

I then headed off to my local spotlight with the intention of just dropping in to purchase some appropriate buttons for the eyes on Mr B's apron as we had not been able to find anything big enough anywhere else. Second mistake of the day. One never goes to spotlight "just" for one thing! I arrived at 9.00am got in there when it was dead quiet but still an hour later I emerged with metres and metres of fabric and plans to make bibs, aprons, pram muffs, a replica of the Eiffel tower.....oh and yes some buttons which could be covered in fabric for the eyes.

(To be fair it is sale time and I only bought fabrics which were marked down to $2 a metre).

So I lost most of the morning in the black hole of spotlight, got home, sat down, checked my email and saw that a lady was offering fabric and linen for nothing on freecycle. I put my hand up for that lot, lucky enough to "win it" so next thing you know I was back in the car heading out in the pouring rain to collect. It was well worth it she handed over some lovely stuff including a brand new King sized doona cover and very nice Laura Ashley doona cover too.

When we got home Little B started his daily misery crawl, which generally occurs between the hours of 3 and 6 whereby Little B literally cannot be comforted and if put down crawls around wailing mumumumumumumum for no apparent reason. So 10 stories, an orange, a playschool video, dinner and bath later I still had not started.

I was poised at the machine at 7.00pm when Mr B called to request a chauffeur ride from the train station. So off Little B and I went to get him. In the cold pouring rain again.

I got started at about 8.00pm.

To be honest I am not really sure what happened. Things were going along swimmingly until about 9.00pm. I was feeling really good about everything. The machine and I were working well together. A bit after 9 I finished up the machine sewing and I slowed considerably.

First issue arose when Mr B asked me if I could stuff the arms on his apron. I really did not want to as I was worried it would weigh it down and ruin the line of it. We had a bit of a tiff about it. Eventually I relented. After all it is his apron. Then we argued about what to stuff the darn things with. Eventually we compromised on newspaper.

Second issue arose when we came to cover the buttons. Mr B kept proclaiming they were a bit tough. We got there in the end after I read the blooming instructions to him. What is it about men and instructions???

Precious time kept wasting away.

Final issue of the night was the legs on Mr B's apron. I had not cut a pattern for them. By the time I got to the legs it was about midnight and that stage I was thinking "all I need to do is cut the legs and sew them and then I am finished this one". I fleetingly reasoned with myself. "Leave it to the morning, cut it when you are fresh." Then promptly ignored myself. Without measuring I cut the apron. And it was a cut which has probably limited Domo's ability to father children. That's right people, I cut Domo too far up in the crotch which in my view at that time totally stuffed up the look of the whole thing.

A major meltdown ensued. All I could see was that horrible pair of shorts I buggered up in year 10 sewing class. I could not be placated. Despite many assurances from Mr B I was ready to post my sewing machine on freecycle right there and then.

Eventually I got to bed. Slept fitfully and got up at 5.00am. Mr B very thoughtfully (as in I think my wife will leave me by 6.00am if I don't get up now) got up with me, and again reassured me he was happy with it as is. So I kept on trucking and finished both aprons up.

The final seam sewing was very fiddly. I had sewed everything inside out and then turned him the right way in. I found it rather hard to make my hand stitching look like it had been machine stitched inside out.

Little B's apron is a bit too big for him. I have however used velcro as the fastener on the neck and waist bands so I can adjust it. At the moment it doubles as a nice warm blankie for him.

So there you have it.

You are very observant in noticing that I am sitting here posting and am not at the party.

You see, the housewarming was scheduled to start at 4.oopm. Our host who is a good friend of Mr B's lives on the other side of town which is conservatively about an hour's drive away. The deal was Mr B, Little B and I would get there at 4.00, have a couple of hours there then I would bring Little B home so he could get into bed by 7.30 which is his normal bedtime. Mr B was going to stay the night.

Just as we were about to leave we received a call from our host who advised he was going to be...drumroll........

.... late ... for .... his .... own ....party....

Which meant that by the time I got there I would have fed Little B and come straight home to put him to bed. So only Mr B and Big Domo have gone to the party tonight. A bit of a bummer.

But mostly ok as I am pooped and want to get to bed at a reasonable hour so I will be fresh for the Eastlink ride in the morning - yay!

And it meant I got lots of cuddles from little B and little domo.

I hope your weekend has been at least as good as mine so far!! Pray for sunshine over Eastlink between 9am and 12 midday tomorrow and otherwise enjoy your Sunday!

On my desk...

2008-06-10T15:03:00.004+10:00

Ok ok I know its only Tuesday but I am going to be out and about tomorrow so I thought I would post today.

Yesterday was cold and quiet and presented me the opportunity to sit down with the sewing machine for the first time since Barry serviced it (he was very impressed by the machine which for some reason made me even more excited!).

Mr B, Little B and I are invited and going to an apron party on Saturday. Mr B asked me to make an apron for him inspired by the character Domo who is apparently a very popular Japanese cartoon type character. Methinks Mr B (who is a tres creative arty crafty graphicy designy kinda guy) is way more cooler than I am as I had not ever heard of Domo before. You can read a bit more about the little angry weirdo here.

Anyhoo I had some brown polar fleece in my fabric stash ($1 for 3 metres of the stuff, op shop bargain yay) so I got to work in making a Domo apron for Mr B and also a mini one for Little B. So far I have come to the following realisations:

1. I need to acquire a quick unpick fast.
2. Ditto re marking chalk.
3. Make a pattern up before starting.
4. Polar fleece is not as hard to sew as first thought.
5. These things don't take as long as you think they will once you get going.

Anyway the work in progress is pictured in my on my desk photo.

The mouth is made of felt. I have to go and get some eyes from a crafty shop. And sort out some arms. The arms on Little B's apron will probably be the tie around his waist. Mr B's apron is going to be a half apron so I just need to attach some arms (this is where think first sew second really applies, I should have really left a hole in each side seam to sew in the arms but I am probably not going to unpick it now as I finally got my lines straight!).

I also received an exciting package in the mail today - my Eastlink fun ride information. This Sunday Fifi and I are going to ride a leisurely 30km down Eastlink with (apparently) 10000 other riders. I am pretty excited as this is my first time back on the bike since having Little B 10 months ago. I only got excited late yesterday after heading to the gym and riding 30km on the stationary bike to satisfy myself I would make it. It will be the one and only time I will grace this god foresaken piece of road with my presence as I refuse to pay tolls to drive on a road in circumstances where the government of the day initially promised there would be none, but in the words of Marjorie (the fat fighters champion) from Little Britain "that's not for here!"

I am so not excited about the prospect of wearing lycra - my legs are sooooo white and my bum ALOT bigger than it was 18 months ago. I am hoping there will be lots worse out there. And that the weather will sort of be reasonable.

I also stopped by my local oppie (Lions Club, way more reasonable than my local Salvos) and picked up a bag of zips and clips for $5 and this framed Leunig print. I don't love the picture but the framing and mounting has been professionally done so I am going to use it to hang one of our European pics or a new family photo when I finally get around to printing some.

I hope your short week has started well!

Happy Birthday Mr B

2008-06-08T18:07:00.002+10:00

It is my darling hubby's 32nd birthday today.

We have now known each other for more than half of his life. A pretty scary exciting and warming thought. I could not imagine life without him. He is patient, kind, strong, creative and a great provider for our family. He loves me unconditionally and puts up with almost all of my sh*te!

So in honour of him today was his birthday festival! Which meant no work for him. I resolved he would only eat what he wanted to eat, see who he wanted to see and do what he wanted to do today.

The festival of Mr B began early when I rose to cook pancakes from Stephanie Alexander's Cook Companion for his breakfast after he declared that was his desire.

His luncheon request was conceptually simple - Lebanese feast with his parents, sister, brother in law and niece. As funds are tight I resolved to cook up a feast here at home. Lebanese cuisine is a family favourite as his mum was born in Lebanon to an Australian mother and Lebanese father.

So yesterday with the assistance of google and some of my cookbooks we settled on a menu fit for a middle eastern king:

Falafel
Eggplant dip
Garlic Prawns
Hommus
Bread
Lemony chicken ribs
Grilled Lamb
Baked Tahini fish
Tabbouleh
Spicy Rice
Pastries
Rosewater custard

We arose yesterday and shopped at the Victoria Market. So much busier on the weekends! But so much more fun shopping with a mate too!

Last night I made the dips, the custard and marinated all of the meat.

This morning after cooking the pancakes I got to work and made the salad and prepared everything else. I sent Mr B and Little B off on a red herring - to Bunnings to get some picture hooks - so I could clean and cook up a storm uninterrupted!

I find the hardest part of cooking any meal is getting the timing right, that is, everything cooked and hot at the same time. Today, with the assistance of my brother in law and the bbq, I was delighted to have everything ready to go simultaneously.

Whilst by definition the birthday is not about me I have to say I am pretty pleased with my efforts.

We feasted like royalty and enjoyed some family time together.

This afternoon Mr B enjoyed a massage and then a hot bath. He and Little B are presently watching tv together.

Time for a dinner of leftovers and dvds in bed.

And the best part - its a long weekend - one more day of Mr B at home! Bliss!

If you are reading this honey - I am pretty sure you are now - Happy Birthday! I hope you have had a great day!

Return from the simple life...

2008-06-07T12:13:00.004+10:00

I neglected to mention during my self indulgent tantrum filled musings of last week that Mr B, Little B and I were booked to share our first ever proper family holiday adventure! There was some speculation that we would not get away as Mr B has been under the pump big time with a big project at work. But it all worked out in the end!

First thing Monday morning we set on our journey to our chosen destination, a self contained farm stay in the Wimmera,Mountain Duck Cottage on the South Mokanger Farm.

Why did we choose to go there? Well, a few reasons really. Mr B and I had never been to the Grampians. The idea of retiring with a wine before the open fire was most appealing. A roadtrip was supposed to be cheaper than a fly away getaway. Our little poochies could come too! We would have the use of our car. We could visit my nanna and pa on the way home.

We were not disappointed. Our accomodation was fantastic. Beautifully appointed with everything one could want on a holiday. As we both really needed a break from everything the lack of internet and mobile phone coverage was not a problem.

The air was fresh and cool. The sunrises and sunsets beautiful. The quiet deafening in a good kind of way. Each day we set off to see something different. It turned into the thrift store tour of 2008. Even Mr B got into the action. We scoured every op shop in Hamilton, Horsham, Stawell and Ararat! In the end I netted some tuppaware, a jacket for Little B and some thread.

It was most apparent to us that the drought is really starting to take its toll on the land. We had never seen anything like it before. Creeks and riverbeds dry. Farming ground dusty and dry at the start of winter. It suprised us. It was easy to imagine the despair families who have had these farms for generations could feel.

We could also see the appeal of living in surrounds. No close neighbours. Lots of room for kiddies to run around. Fresh produce. A sense of community. All differences to the suburban lives we choose to live now.

We had a couple of attempts at really seeing the grampians. Unfortunately the weather was not so kind to us. The mist was thick and soupy making the Grampians cold and difficult to see even when driving through. We eventually did get the opportunity to hike and take a look at Mackenzie's falls, which were stunning. My thighs are still burning after climbing what I am guessing were nearly 100 stairs to get there!

Every evening we had a refreshing beverage or two before the fire, watched a dvd or two and chit chatted.

If someone said to me 2 years ago that this would be the kind of holiday I would have taken I would have laughed in their faces. But it was perfect for us.

We got back late last night and have vowed to return in a few years time. It will be a great place for young kiddies to experience the farm!

It is good to be home!

Karma is surely whipping my sweet ar*e today..

2008-05-31T11:54:00.007+10:00

It's only lunchtime. I am very tired and grumpy.

I had planned this weekend to comprise of:
1. A haircut; and
2. Mr B and his father getting some retaining walls up in backyard.

I spent yesterday measuring said retaining walls,calculating how much garden supplies would be required, then ringing around to get prices, then ordering wood, cement, bolts and hiring a post hole digger. My father in law just had to pick the digger up this morning. The other stuff was to be delivered. The idea being works would start here at about 9.00am. My father in law goes on holidays in a couple of weeks. This is the last weekend he can help.

That's how it should have been.

This is how it has been.

5.10am Little B wakes me up for feed comes to bed for said feed.
5.11am - 6.29am Little B feeds noisly. Neither of us return to slumber.
6.30am Little B decides he is not going back to sleep. Get up. Get Mr B up.
7.30am Go back to bed. No sleep.
9.00am Attend hairdresser for appointment I received text reminder for yesterday. No appointment booked. Chew out owner in front hairdresser salon. Vow never to go back and tell all and sundry who go there never to return. Mature I know.
9.01am Receive call from Mr B. Father in law can't find hire place. Chew Mr B out for not using common sense and direct him to look up phone book as.
9.08am Receive call from Father in law. He has no wallet so cant hire anything.
9.25am. Go to hire place and collect post hole digger. Ask if all is in order to take (ie all of the right bits there). Am treated like a stupid female. Am asked to sign blank credit card slip as security for return of tool. Refuse. Leave with having executed slip for hire per day price only. Small victory.
10.00am. Get home after hiring post hole digger. Stop for Maccas Breakfast on way. Momentary pleasure. Feel worse after doing finishing. Berate self for succumbing to takeaway in an attempt to fill an emotionally disturbed void.
10.01am. Discover timber, cement etc has been dumped on front path and nature strip thus requiring manhours to move all of the stuff down our driveway. Outwardly curse delivery driver and inwardly curse Mr B for not directing the delivery in the driveway.
10.10am. Unload wet washing for hanging. Discover tissue in Mr B's pocket has spread itself through washing. Inwardly curse Mr B.
10.11am. Trip over dog and drop washing. Have to rewash some washing due to it landing on dirt.
11.00am. Wonder what Mr B and father in law are doing.
11.01 - 11.30am Watch Mr B and father in law attempt to put the post hole digger together without success.
11.31 Ring hire place to see if they have any suggestions. Treated like a fool again.
11.32 Send Mr B and father in law to hire place with post hole digger for instructions. Place closes at 12.
11.40 Mr B and father in law have not left yet due to losing wallet and keys respectively.
11.42. Find keys and wallet and send hem on them on their way.
12.01 Receive call from Mr B. Got there just in time. Hire place admits has given wrong bits. No alternate digger available.
12.02 - 12.34 Ring around other hire places and eventually find post hole digger for twice price of initial one in faraway suburb. Ring Mr B and send him and father in law to collect.
12.35. Make Little B Vegemite sandwich for lunch. Absentmindly spread vegemite on bread as thick as butter.
12.36. Absentmindly serve said sandwich.
12.37. Discover vegemite sandwich smeared all over highchair and Little B.
12.38. Decide to make toasted cheese sandwich with sandwich maker. Open to find skanky bits of cooked banana everywhere. Curse Mr B who has eaten banana brevilles for breakfast every day this week.
12.39 - 12.45. Try and find happy place. Do not succeed. Open liquor cubpoard and carefully consider contents. Find nothing suitable.
12.46. Eat toasted cheese, tomato sauce and mustard sandwich. Again berate self for emotional eating.
12.47. Write off day and eat a couple of tablespoons of Nutella straight from jar.
And yes, if you are wondering, I did double dip. What about it?

It's now 1.28 and works still have not commenced as the menfolk are not yet home.

I am guessing it is just not meant to be!

How is your day going?

On my desk...

2008-05-28T16:32:00.004+10:00

Well it is Wednesday already - time is flying for me at the moment.

The last few weeks have been crazy busy in our household.

Mr B has been working crazy hours. Like come home at 2am and get up at 6am for 2 weeks straight. Which finished up in him pulling an all nighter late last week. Little B and I have barely seen him. I did not realise how many of the little things he does around the house until he did not do them! So if you are reading this honey. Thank you.

And I have been wrestling with the issue of whether or not to return to work. I was due to head back in mid June. That's right. Was.

I have decided to put off my return to work for a little while longer.

It was a decision that I laboured about mentally during almost every second for about a month. I have already posted about the sorts of factors I was considering in making the decision so I won't bore you again! Sleep continued to elude me. I barely functioned.

The crux of it all really ended up being that at this point in time, Little B not being one yet, I am not ready to leave him to be cared for by someone else. Time has ticked on and he is still not, in my view, quite robust enough and ready for creche. I investigated other care options but nothing suitable came along.

I was really worrying about the effect of a slightly more prolonged absence on my career. I work in an industry where things change quickly. I ended up speaking to my boss and other girlfriends about it and felt assured that my worries were overstated. Not unusual for me really. I am by nature a bit of stresshead.

Mr B and I made the final decision over the weekend. I still feel some trepidation about it all. I am now forced to face the unfamiliar on a more longer term basis. I still have to fight my fleeting and irrational thoughts that staying at home to look after Little B is not as valuable as much as working in paid employment. I have to fight the feelings of vulnerability related to not earning an income for the first time in over 15 years. Having to trust that Mr B will continue to travel along well in his job and look after us financially. A burden which for him, is his alone for the first time in 15 years.

I know that exciting, inspiring and happy times lay ahead. After all I am responsible for a little life. I can't wait to watch Little B develop day by day. Teach him new words and things to do. Share new food with him. Take him new places to see new things. And experience the newness of everything with him through his eyes.

I now get the luxury of more time to discover more about who I am. What I like to do outside of work. Sewing. Gardening. Op shopping. Writing. Who knows what is to come.

I have made the decision now. I just have to enjoy it. And not worry about how it otherwise could have turned out. It's time to enjoy the moment.

My desk today is reflective of my state of mind. Calm. Clean. Tidy. Ready for action.

Exciting times lay ahead.

Funday Monday - Trip of a lifetime!

2008-05-27T14:26:00.015+10:00

I know it's a bit on the late side but I badly wanted to participate in Funday Monday. I got this post half written on Monday and have since had to go and attend to other things! I should be finishing those things today but they can wait!

This week's Fun Monday hostess is Alison of RDH Mom. She wants to hear about our favorite vacation.

She challenges us to consider...

Vacations...this is the time of year when most of us go on vacations. Show us and/or tell us about your favorite vacation - where you went, what you did, etc. Pictures would be great. Let's all take a trip around a the world via our FM friends!!

I warn you this post is long, rambling and full of lots of photos! I found it very hard to stop writing as I relived each moment. I have missed so much! The holiday almost felt better for me this time around! If you are brave enough do read on!

My favourite holiday of all time was the trip of a lifetime Mr B and I took to Europe over a month in September/October 2006.

To give you a bit of background, Mr B and I settled down and bought our first home whilst in our early 20s and spent that time trying to get ahead financially instead of travelling in our "gap" years. We subsequently travelled to places not so far away, Fiji, Thailand, New Zealand but had never conquered the obligatory trek through Europe.

Part of the reason why we had never travelled far was that I was very afraid of travelling. I had been involved in an accident whilst on a school trip in high school. I sustained severe spinal injuries but most luckily narrowly avoided becoming wheelchair bound. A number of other students were also badly injured and one fellow schoolmate passed on. All of this happened in a very remote location very far away from medical assistance, home, family and friends.

So for a long long time I did not associate the prospect of distant holidays with fun and avoided the idea like the proverbial plague. Instead I really threw myself into my studies and then my new career. And time passed.

Much happened in 2005/2006 which changed all of that.

In late 2005 Mr B, Fifi and I together decided on a whim to conquer a cycling holiday the following March.

We were all in our own ways, in a funk, and wanted to do something totally totally different. So we trained and eventually together rode 500km in 9 days as part of the Great WA Bike Ride. As almost all of the pictures of that holiday involve one of the three of us in not so flattering lycra I will not subject you to those here!

That holiday turned out to be a life changing experience for all of us in different ways. Mr B and I came home absolutely pumped. We were fitter and happier than we had been in a long time. We had enjoyed a great holiday together and felt that we could take on a bigger things. We were restless to try something new and also started to seriously plan the future of our lives together. Which sounds strange because at that time we had been together 10 years and married for 4.

But until then we had both been studying, working, trying to get ahead careerwise and really had not looked at where we wanted to be in the long term. We realised that god willing, we wanted to start a family sooner rather than later.

And that we wanted to travel afar before our family started to grow.

So in mid July 2006 we made a pretty spur of the moment decision to depart Melbourne and see some of Europe. At the end of the following month.

We decided to do it all ourselves. No tours. No travel agents. Just the us and the net. In the 6 weeks before our departure we booked everything on the net with the help of Tripadvisor and some trusty travel guides. The task was time consuming but in a good distracting way.

It was a huge turning point for me personally.

Beforehand, never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever be inclined to go somewhere so far away and try and enjoy it! A number of times I decided that we weren't going. That I could not do it. About a week out I nearly pulled the pin altogether. The tightwad in me was about the only thing that stopped me from cancelling the whole thing!

Being the drama queen that I am about 3 days before departure I fell and sprained my ankle badly. It was at that point that I realised how badly I really wanted to go (and also how badly Mr B wanted to go and had wanted to travel for many years).

The day we flew out of Melbourne was just perfect. The weather clear. No traffic on the way to the airport. I clearly remember the U2 song "It's a Beautiful Day" playing in the taxi on the way to the airport. I was calm and relaxed, most probably partly due to the Valium I had taken and partly because I knew I had done everything I could to be ready for whatever were to come. The rest was out of my control. A revelation. For the first time in so long I experienced merely anticipation not trepidation about travelling.

Our itinerary was Melbourne-Hong Kong-Frankfurt-Prague-Berlin-Paris-Venice-Florence-Cinque Terra-Rome-Hong Kong- Melbourne.

Hong Kong was lovely but as we had been to Thailand before it did not make a huge impact on us. Except for the airport. As my ankle was still crook I ended up with a wheelchair escort through the airport. Definitely the quickest way to clear customs! We were anxious to get to the European continent and get started on our bigger adventure.

We flew into Frankfurt at about 5.00am. It was dark and cold. The airport was not yet really alive with activity. As we cleared customs Mr B and I held hands and dragged our luggage through the threshold and wondered out loud together what we had got ourselves in for.

We somehow made it to the train from the airport to Frankfurt city. The first thing we noticed was the granduer of the Frankfurt railstation, something which would strike us again and again as we travelled through Europe.

It was starting off as a cold dark day. We checked into our hotel, had a shower and went for a walk. And had a beer and a Frankfurt. I swear that I have never in my life enjoyed a tastier sausage. A ball of excitement swelled in our stomachs together with the beer and we awaited happily for that which would unfold.

The train trip to Prague was an interesting one. People did not take their allocated seats. Smoking was still allowed in the carriages. Neither Mr B nor I had ever seen a decent sized gun before. At the border of Germany/Czech Republic our tickets were checked by handsome Czech policemen. Who were accompanied by other fairly mean looking policeman. Who had some seriously sized rifle looking guns.

We were to see those kinds of guns alot whilst in Prague. On the streets, at the palace, guards everywhere with guns.

We stayed in the Jewish quarter in Prague for three days. And fell in love with the place. The history of it. The beauty of the old buildings particularly the castle. We floated around on highs neither of us had ever experienced before. We wandered over the bridge making wishes on the icons along the way. We did not think we could love any destination as much as Prague.

Yet we did. Berlin was hands down Mr B's favorite place of our journey. It was eclectic, alive, still without a definite identity after years as a city divided. The recent history of the place was horrifying and fascinating at the same time. We enjoyed so many different things, a walking tour one day, a cycle through the city and the infamous Tiergarten the next.

We stayed in a backpackers hostel which frankly resembled a hotel more than hostel. We ate amongst other things, the most gorgeous dumpling soup ever at Susuru Japanese Noodle Bar.

We fell in love with Germany's cleanliness and order. The polite directness of the train conductors, the unsmiling but genuine attempts at assistance from the shop clerks.

At that point we knew we were lucky to be alive. Just so lucky.

Part of the reason that we decided to go when we did was to suprise Mr B's mother who was to enjoy her 50th birthday on holiday in Paris with my father in law. Our next stop was so gorgeous in part due to our being able to finally share our excitement and wonder with others. As it turns out my mother in law knew we were coming. But it all did not matter. We were in gay Paris after all!

Together we wandered the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, dined in restaurant in the Eiffel Tower (very overpriced, food not so great, but the views fantastic) and cruised down the River Siene. One night over dinner my father in law and Mr B delighted in the view of the beauties performing at the Moulin Rouge! Mr B and I stayed in the Marais in a quaint apartment 4 storeys and 56 stairs up and enjoyed the liveliness of that quarter of the city. We toured the city by bike - a most adrenalin filled jaunt - riding through the extremely busy traffic filled Place de Concorde at breakneck speed after the Amercian tourguide declared "Just yell and keep riding - they should stop for us if we keep in a group!!"

We supped on the most simple lunches of bread, cheese, figs and wine in the Tuileries Gardens.

My parents in law left us the day we travelled to the Palace of Versaille. We had no time to feel homesick for our departing relatives as on that picture perfect day we cycled the gardens and then toured the castle by foot. What a joy.

Our move onto Venice was by overnight train. It was a rattly old journey. Watching the sun rise upon riding into Venice was one of the best things I have ever seen. I had studied Italian for 12 years of my schooling and as we rode into Venice the emotion of fulfilling my desire to see the city overwhelmed me.

In Venice we stayed in a hotel which was horrible. It stunk. It was an old building retrofitted with modern day plumbing which apparently was aired throughout the hotel twice a day. Probably the only negative incident of our journey. Riding the traghettos, eating pizza and wandering the "streets" of Venice more than made up for the hotel in which we barely spent any time.

From Venice we went to Florence for a few days. The view from our charming apartment was stunning. There at the recommendation of our landlord we shopped at the local market and enjoyed a feast of fresh pasta with porcini mushrooms, olive oil and parmesan washed down with a Tuscan red. We wandered around, viewed churches and art. A highlight was seeing David in "the flesh."

We trained to the Cinque Terra from Florence. As we headed south the scenery changed and became more beachy. Upon arriving in Vernazza and meeting the owner of the pensione where we stayed, I felt like I had finally reached home. The people were warm and friendly. They tolerated my terrible attempts at speaking italian cheerfully. The foccacias were fresh, the proscuitto sweet. It was in Vernazza that we enjoyed the most beautiful meal of spaghetti marinara. Now usually I don't touch the stuff. But the owner of the restaurant explained to us it was his best dish, he had fished that day for the mussels and clams. We did not want to disappoint him. Most importantly he did not disappoint us. The magic of the sea revealed itself to us in every single bite.

We trekked the 18km hike between the towns in a day. It was a tough hike comprised of stone paths and stairs. But the most rewarding part of the whole trip for me. The views of the olive groves and towns built into the rocks overlooking the sea. It was everything I dreamed of and more. Mr B and I had never been more close as we watched the sun set together that day.

From the quiet of the Cinque Terra we finished up our italian sojourn in Rome. What a contrast. A city full of grime, hustle and bustle. Taxi drivers trying to rip us off. Long lines to get into attractions. When we arrived in Rome I felt some trepidation for the first time on the trip. I had booked an apartment on Via Giulia near the Campo Di Fiori online. The Roman agent was the only one who required me to pay a significant deposit. The accomodation in Rome was the most expensive of our journey and I was worried that the final days of our stay were going to be in a dud of an apartment.

I needn't have worried. The apartment in Rome was fantastic. Top floor. Above the the children's court and the anti mafia police station - we felt very safe. Beautifully appointed with antique furniture and objects d'art. For example antique Hermes scarves framed on the walls. And a rooftop terrace which overlooked other rooftops and revealed a glimpse of the Vatican.

It was a perfect place to finish our stay. We trekked by foot around Rome and saw the most wonderful sites that the city had to offer, the Vatican, the Pantheon and the Spanish steps. We took a (very big) day trip to view the ruins at Pompeii. We each made our secret wishes whilst throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain. At the end of each day we would shop at the local market for some nibblies and retire to the terrace to reflect over the day over some limoncello, bread, cheese, salami and proscuitto.

On the way home we stopped over in Hong Kong, did some shopping and went to China (Shenzen) for some more shopping.

As our trip drew to a close I know that I felt totally liberated. So lucky to be alive and to have faced my fears.

I had experienced delights visual and culinary about which I had never dared dream.

I felt complete and happy. I knew that I was ready to face whatever might come in a way I had not ever been before.

Which was just as as well really...

...as a bit under 40 weeks later Mr B and I each happily and tearfully disclosed to the other that our respective Trevi Fountain wishes had just come true.

Thank you for sharing the journey with us!

Tag you are it...

2008-05-25T06:31:00.002+10:00

It's Sunday again - where has the week gone?

I have been tagged by the lovely Elisha....
Here are the RULES:
1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog .

So on with the show..

1. I LOVE love love to cycle. Before I got preggo with Little B I used to ride the 60km round trip to work a few days a week. I even went on a cycling holiday.
2. I cannot bake to save myself. Not sure why but cakes and biscuits rarely turn out the way the way the recipes suggest. Martha Stewart I will never be.
3. I am a good "complainer" - ie- poor customer service, faulty products - I get a result every time!
4. Whilst I put myself through uni I managed a KFC store. At the time I worked there, the Colonel's 11 herbs and spices simply came in bag called 11 Herbs and Spices with no other reference to the contents in the bag.
5. I have disproportionately small feet for my height. I am a size 6. Which is good when looking for bargains. I can also fit into selected kid's shoes.
6. My eyes are puffy right now due to my having an allergic reaction to something I have not yet identified. Right this minute I look like I have done 10 rounds with Ali. I have eliminated the suspects down to new handwash, pregnancy vitamins and a certain brand of mineral water.
7. I really miss having a baby in my belly to keep me warm on these almost freezing mornings! Having 2 spare tyres instead simply does not cut the mustard...

So the lucky recipients of my ontagging are....

Nikki at My Husband calls me weird
Kirsten at Ready or not (for those fans of Flavor of Love head over there right now for her latest post..)
Crazy Aunt Purl
Kleas
Serena who authors 2 blogs Reenisu and Serena's challenges
Sauntering Soul
Cam at Curlypops

Enjoy your Sunday!

Opportunity for whom exactly?

2008-05-18T15:00:00.003+10:00

I had cause to visit a Salvos in one of Melbourne's more well to do suburbs on Friday.

I was astounded to find things marked fairly heftily pricewise in this particular store. For example, $40 - $50 for dresses (not designer) $50 for a pair of jeans (admittedly Calvin Klein but not the most modern of styles) and a whopping $1500 for a cabinet containing glass and china (and it was just the cabinet not the glass and the china).

Which, in the words of Carrie Bradshaw, ala Sex in the City, "got me to thinking".

Who exactly is supposed to be benefiting more from the op shop - the potential shopper or the charity itself? Is it acceptable for the thrift store to hike its prices to meet its perceived market?

Perhaps controversially I see the situation as one which should benefit the shopper more than the charity. After all, the charity is given the stuff for nothing by those wanting to benefit the charity.

Yes there are treasure hunters out there looking to secure a bargain. I have been one from time to time (I have a penchant for tuppaware and sewing stuff at the moment).

In all reality many op shoppers frequent the stores as they absolutely have to.

And those are the people for whom the op shop should cater above all. It is through finding appropriate goods at a cheaper price that they benefit from the "opportunity" shop directly and easily without waiting for funds to trickle back down to them via other charitable means.

Don't get me wrong, I do understand that running any shop is a big business. There are some expenses which have to be paid irrespective of whether or not the business runs on the goodwill of volunteers.

In the case of many op shops in Melbourne however, I understand that the op shops actually own their premises.

I suppose too, if the market will pay the price, ultimately at least some of the money will end up in the hands of those requiring charity. Whether or not the people who need it the most I am not sure.

I suppose I just don't have the answers!

Pop goes the weevil!

2008-05-17T22:28:00.003+10:00

Yesterday I checked the weather forecast for the weekend and in light of the forecast inclement weather decided to hold off from taking the sewing machine to Barry for a service so that I would have something to play with!

To warm the cockles of Mr B's heart (and his feet of ice!!) I decided to make the Rice Heat Pack featured here at Sew Mama Sew.

I needed to use up some rice we had in the cupboard which today showed signs of having weevils in it. I figured they will not survive a zap in the microwave!

I digress. I am relatively happy with the finished product.

I modified the pattern so that there are only 2 panels of fabric on the outer pouch to keep it simple. I didn't have different fabrics to make something which looks as good as Kirstin's original. Did anyone say trip to spotlight??? I cheated and used stick on velcro for the fastening as that was all I had.

My lines are getting straighter which is good. My pattern cutting is getting better too.

I am not too pleased with the finishing of the outer pouch, the final seams near the velcro end, not pictured, did not come together as well as I would have liked.

The fiddly stuff takes time it would seem and I suppose it would have been better to come back and finish it off tomorrow fresh rather than rush the finish whilst tired as I did tonight.

Lesson learned!

Hopefully I will get the chance to try something different tomorrow.

Enjoy your Sunday!!

I have almost lost control of my bodily functions..

2008-05-15T21:15:00.008+10:00

....I am THAT excited!

The search is officially over.

Meet my new sewing partner in crime (you just know that you can those drums rolling...)

Ta Dahhhh!

I just simply cannot believe my luck. This little beauty of a machine found me. Yes it's true. "We" were meant to be.

Whilst I loved the tester Barry gave me it did not seem quite right. I can't really put my finger on why exactly. I just did not feel fully comfortable using her.

Which made me even less inclined to take the plunge and purchase a new machine not knowing whether or not I would stick with this new hobby and without really getting to know what I might like in a machine first.

I have been combing op shops local, and from afar, with no luck. Most of them don't sell electrical goods anymore.

Earlier in the week I had another idea. Some time ago I joined my local Freecycle group. So I posted a "Wanted" post to see if I could flush out a beginner's sewing machine.

Within 24 hours I received an email from a lady called Kerry who offered me her mother's old machine. She did not tell me anything about it but I hastily offered to collect it first thing this morning. After navigating a petrol spill and a number of accidents during a 90 minute trip in peak hour traffic this morning - I met Kerry and her lovely family at 10.00am.

Kerry's husband insisted on carrying it to my car. "It's too heavy for you to carry!" he cried. My heart sunk a little at that point. But I decided to wait and see what would reveal itself when I opened the case at home.

I was so happily surpised when I unlocked the blue leather (or leather look?) case. A Janome 610. Made in Japan. A late 1960's or early 1970's make. A little workhorse, I am guessing she weighs around 15kg! I am going to have to head back to the gym before I can take her out for lessons!

Kerry's mum had kept all of the bits and pieces I can see myself needing for a while.

I totally dig the case!

What I really love about this machine is its simplicity. I managed to work out how to thread this thing and load a bobbin without the manual. Which is a huge deal!

The most intriguing thing about it is the way the stitches work. More modern machines change stitches at the click of button or turn of a dial.

On this machine the sewer has to manually change the stitch by changing the cam on the machine itself. That's right people, you have to flip the lid open like so...

and change the little blue wheel. Altogether there are 27 wheels with different stitch combinations. Reading the instruction manual reveals that you can set the machine to run with 2 needles and then use 2 different cams to make a combination of 2 stitches work together.

Here is a sample of what it can do..(sorry for the bad pic I sewed on calico which flashed up terribly when I took pictures with the flash).

Whilst I suspect that in time this feature could become cumbersome, at the moment I find it charming. It totally fits where I am with sewing.

I am going to have to really stop and take the time to think about what I am doing.

So I am off to share my find with Barry tomorrow. Hopefully his trained eye will find that she merely needs a tune up. Hopefully he won't need to keep her for too long....

On my desk... otherwise named all about a man named Barry...

2008-05-14T14:34:00.008+10:00

Well it's not really my desk, it is currently on my dining room table...

I received some cashola for my birthday and have so started the serious hunt for a sewing machine. My budget is now a little more than I expected which has opened up some different possibilities!

In my travels I stumbled across Barry from Barry's Sewing Machine Centre. He is quite frankly, a gem of a man.

As the appearance of his website might suggest, he is as you find him. His shop is attached to his work shop. He has been in the business of sewing machines for 48 or so years. He services and conditions them all himself on behalf of the various manufacturers.

Barry gave me almost 2 hours of his time late last week. He spent most of that time trying to ascertain what I would need and want out of a machine. He talked me through various options including new and second hand options.

I had done a little bit of research and so we spent some time talking about some of the better older machines out there.

What I liked about Barry was that he spoke with a real passion about all things sewing. He loved the history of machines and is enthusiastic about today's offerings. He is very no nonsense. He left me feeling that he was actually interested in finding a machine to fit me rather than simply selling yet another customer something for the sake of the sale. He actually made a couple of suggestions which are well under what the top end of my budget is.

All in all I think he just offered good old customer service and expertise. Which I think is rare these days.

The only downside is that Barry did not have new machines available to test even on site so I have had to see some of his competitors to try out a new machine or 2 even though ultimately if I buy new I will probably go back to him.

He did give me a second hand machine to try out for a week. He also shared a penchant for rock n roll music and dancing and leant me some of his cds (for my mother in law who also loves all things rock n roll!)

This baby is probably just about as old as me but in far better nick! Barry has tuned her to purr as she sews. I have not sewn since my high school years and was frightened about handling her but by and large the experience was actually a joyful one!

In my op shopping travels last week I picked up a library bag and art smock pattern for 50cents from the Colac Salvos. I made the library bag without too much bother once I worked out how to read the pattern - don't laugh it took me forever to work out what "cut to fold" meant!! I am not ready to post photos yet - the straightness of my lines leave a lot to be desired for one thing - I have a lot to learn.

I am still not 100% sure if this is the machine for me but I am definitely sure I would like to pursue learning the art of sewing.

And I think that is in part due to blogland and in part due to Barry!

Check out Kirsty's blog to see who else is playing along today!

Frustration

2008-05-13T14:44:00.003+10:00

I have been fiddling with my header and can't get rid of the pink block which appears on the right hand side of the header irrespective of what I upload.
Grr. I am a total novice. Any ideas?

Mother's Day weekend delights!

2008-05-12T12:50:00.006+10:00

To all of the mothers out there, I hope you had a truly satisfying and delicious day!

The weekend just past was all about me as it was my birthday fell on Saturday and then Mother's Day fell on Sunday!

I was spoilt rotten! Not a dirty nappy nor a dirty dish passed through my hands!

I was showered with lovely gifts including tickets to the MSO and a DVD gift set of my favourite tv series - Boston Legal (Denny Crane anyone??)

Mr B and Little B also joined me and my parents for some good ol' yum cha! It was Little B's first yum cha experience and whilst he only managed to get his hands on some steamed rice he had an absolute ball!

Life is good. Really really good.

Back from the brink of madness

2008-05-10T23:14:00.004+10:00

So it's been a while!

I have been too busy to think straight!

A quick run down.

The wedding was last weekend - it's been a while since we have been to a wedding and overall it was a fantastic day 0 the bride and groom gorgeous, their service very intimate and personal, the cocktail reception lovely, the band and dancing great. The hangover post wedding not so good!

A lovely feature of the day was the bride's veil, a 65 year old heirloom piece. Just stunning.

Not that the day was all about me but you may be pleased to know that I did not go to the wedding naked.

My dressmaker friend pulled off a miracle and put together a dress in a half a day prior to the wedding. Inspirational to watch. Really. She did so whilst still serving customers in the shop and taking phone calls, dealing with her bookmaker and whilst Little B was under her feet. Bloody fantastic job Tais!

The whole debacle required me to act under pressure and select fabric for said dress which I pulled myself together and managed. I really am coming to love Spotlight. But have learned to get in there early for quick service and quiet browsing time.

The dress came up a treat. Upon reflection perhaps not quite dressy enough for the wedding but that was my pattern selection and/or fabric choice rather than any doing of the dressmaker!

The pics Mr B took of me in the dress on the day are awful. We were rushing to get out the door to the wedding in the midst of Little B having a tanty about our departure when he took them and I don't think they do the dress justice. So we are going to retake in the next few days which I suspect will be rather amusing as I will have to drag meself out of me trackkies and dolly meself up just for the photos! To come shortly...

Last week I went and visited my nanna and pa who live in Terang a small town in the Western District of Victoria. In between Geelong and Warnambool on the Prices Highway. I did not get back until yesterday (Friday).

I had a great time. It was lovely to spend time with my grandparents. It was their 60th wedding anniversary whilst Little B and I were there which was a treat for all of us. They are still so cute together. They reminisced about their time together including their travels, their child rearing and their working lives. I learnt alot about them both. They absolutely loved spending time with Little B who behaved just beautifully.

I enjoyed some different cuisine, stewed rhubarb and steamed pudding courtesy of my nan. I enjoyed the latter so much that I picked up a pudding bowl from an Op Shop on the way home!

It was sad to leave them. Both of them have declined in health considerably since Christmas which was the last time we saw them. It's hard to say but the possibility of one of them not being around for the next visit is becoming more and more likely as time progresses.

I came home both rejuvenated and exhausted after the last few weeks.

It's good to be home.

Panic stations (well sort of)

2008-04-30T16:24:00.002+10:00

I am in the midst of a fashion emergency.

Emergency in as much as it can be when it relates to one's wardrobe. You know what I mean.

Those who have been here before may recall that I am off to a wedding soon. Very soon in fact. It's on Saturday.

You may also recall that I had found some fabric which I thought would make a great dress. And the fabric had a lovely mothbally smell.

Well we (being me and the dressmaker) thought we had rid the fabric of the smell.

We discovered yesterday that after 4 vinegar washes, a weeks worth of airings and other handwashes with water and soap that the smell has not departed. Each time we washed it the smell seemed to go but came back again by the next day.

So today I have been to my 2 of my local shopping centres which contain 2 large department stores and lots of smaller speciality stores. No luck in finding the outfit of my dreams. Largely to do with the fact that I am larger than I need to be (see my previous post).

I had a quick look at my local spotlight. Which is huge. Little B cracked it shortly after arrival (which was kind of understandable) so I did not get a decent look. I was frankly overwhelmed too.

I dont really have a back up. Damn. Bugger. Sh*ite. F*ck.

Oh well there is always tomorrow. 2. 5 shopping days to go!

Time to get brutally honest

2008-04-29T17:06:00.004+10:00

Inspired by Jo, Elisha and alsoLeo I have decided to get serious about this weight loss, food control and exercise business.

A few things have motivated me to get to this point.

The obvious one is that I am overweight. According to the informative (read slap a cold fish in your face kind of informative) BMI index, I am in fact obese. And it does not feel good. At all.

As a matter of practicality I need to get back into some of my pre pregnancy work clothes by mid June. At the moment things fit but not in a nice way. Muffin top anyone? I suspect clothes may not ever fit me in the same way they used to in some parts (enter here pancake boobs and apron belly). I can accept that when all of the spare tyres are gone.

Exercise gives me clarity. I make decisions better with help from those endorphins. Life is more balanced when I exercise. I can take more on. I cope better. In light of my impending return to work I need to get back on my game.

And resume the feelings of joy I used to take from exercise.

I need to change my relationship with food. To see it as fuel more than comfort.

Little B is more and more aware of what we eat and how we live. It's time to set a good example for him and integrate consistently good eating and exercising habits into our lives. For good.

In coming clean, my main vices are soft drink, chocolate and fast food in particular KFC. And portion control in general.

I didn't put much weight on whilst pregnant. But in the first 3 months post baby I misjudged exactly how much extra I could eat when breastfeeding. I thought I would be one of those lucky women who the weight falls off when they breast feed!

Wrong! I am still carrying at least a dozen Krispy Kreme Donuts around the middle. Oh well, lesson learned.

I have in the last month kicked the soft drink habit so that's one thing down.

Today I signed up to Calorie King to try and get my food diary happening.

Today as example is not good (something about the profiterole and muffin at mother's group leftovers from my neighbour's daughter's first birthday!). Doh!

There will definitely be tom morrow. I can't weight (pardon the pun!)

To market to market....

2008-04-29T16:13:00.003+10:00

This morning we all woke up obscenely early so I drove Mr B off at work and dropped some paperwork off at the office whilst I was there.

On a whim I stopped off at the Queen Victoria Market to purchase some groceries on the way home.

I have not been there in a number of years. It is a journey I will be making into a weekly habit.

It was such a rejuvenating food shopping experience!

I could literally see the freshness in the ingredients. The prices were so reasonable.

It was a great interactive experience. Everything was at a level where Little B could see what was going on.

But the service was great too. The market holders could tell me which mushroom was more flavourful, what cut of meat was right for my recipe ideas and which bread would best suit the ham I bought from the deli 2 doors up!

My only regret was that I had not researched and decided on some new recipes before going! Next time for sure.

I managed to find some recipes to fit the ingredients I bought today. Tonight we are having chicken and leek rosemary hot pot from the CSIRO wellbeing cookbook!

Tomorrow is spaghetti bolognese and then the weekend osso bucco done in the slow cooker! I can't wait for the weekend to come!

Macro catch up - anticipation!

2008-04-29T16:10:00.002+10:00

Tradition

2008-04-26T21:48:00.003+10:00

The subject of tradition has continually crossed my path over the past few weeks.

I have been reading "Untangling My Chopsticks" by Victoria Abbott Riccardi. She wrote the book whilst living, teaching and learning in Kyoto, Japan. She describes and deciphers in great detail various traditional matters relevant to Japanese culture, the tea ceremony, the wearing of a kimono, the New Years' rituals. I am intrigued that the Japanese have continued to pass on information and abide by even the most simple of traditions for literally centuries.

I recently revisited this lovely post from Angry Chicken. I love the dresses she made but more importantly the idea behind them.

Our neighbours are celebrating Greek Easter and their daughter's first birthday this weekend. They are off at church at the moment and are about to break their fast by sharing a meal with their closest friends and family members. There is something lovely about the community getting together to share their traditions.

Another friend of mine who has a son the same age as Little B decided to start baking Anzac cookies on Anzac Day. A nice tradition I feel. Perhaps not good for the waistline but a delicious tradition.

On Thursday I came across this apron which my nanna made and gave to me about 10 years ago.

I very nearly threw this baby out a few years ago when I went through my obnoxious "must have everything new reject everything old school cos I can afford to" kind of stage.

I am so glad I didn't.

We don't have many traditions in our family. But one of the few is that my nanna quite often made aprons for us. As she lived far away it was a treat for us to go and visit in the school holidays. For as long as I can remember she would make aprons for us to wear at her place every year. It was always fun to turn up and discover exactly what she had come up with.

This apron was one that she made for me to use when Mr B and I moved into our new home. To me it was her recognising that I was moving into a new stage in my life. It is lightweight. The fabric is so unusual it has always drawn discussion from those in front of whom I dared wear it!

I am not sure whether or not nanna will be up to making one for me this time around. I hope so. I would dearly like to have her share the experience with me. So hopefully I can pass it one.

What traditions do you and your friends and/or family share? What is your favourite thing about those traditions? What keeps you honouring those traditions?

The fish that inspired me...A Macro perspective

2008-04-26T21:40:00.003+10:00

Twas' this piece o lovely salmon that sang a siren song to only me earlier in the week.

I could not for the life of me get this pic into my post at 2.00am this morning!

Late night self indulgent musings

2008-04-26T00:33:00.004+10:00

Just as I was finally drifting off to sleep to the dulcit tones of the rain falling on our roof (finally!) I heard the sounds of something furry nesting in the roof or wall just above our heads. Hopefully said ruffling was a possum rather than a rat or mouse. Mr B will be on the job first thing in the morning. But now I am most wide awake. I have had a somewhat unsettling few days and find myself pondering all sorts of things!

In no particular order:

Mr B and I watched the Illusionist tonight. A good but not great movie. Jessica Biel looked really different in that movie. Has she had some work done of late? A facelift, nose job or mouth job perhaps? Maybe it was just the make up. Not sure. I do have a penchant for Ed Norton. His accent was not so great in this particular movie. I do however forgive him as he is otherwise a most accomplished actor and director. Intelligent and Handsome. I would struggle to choose between him, Keanu Reeves and Justin Timberlake if they all presented themselves to me and Mr B granted me a get out of jail free card if you know what I mean??

I visited my friend the dressmaker for a dress fitting yesterday. Again a lovely morning. She's got the lining of the future dress fitting beautifully. The only annoying thing is that we have not been able to free my bargain fabric its mothball odour. Washing and airing has not done the trick. She was going to try a vinegar wash today after a spot test. If it does not come up trumps I am off to find an alternate fabric during the week which will make the dress a slightly more expensive proposition (but still not as expensive as a similar one I had seen in David Jones). Oh well. I need a new dress as put simply nothing in my (oh so extensive...) cocktail wardrobe fits these breastfeeding bajumbas anymore. Fingers crossed it works out.

Note - Martha Stewart if by chance you are reading this please please please drop me a comment with any handy hints you might have on getting rid of the smell.

Today our neighbours had a fire in their kitchen serious enough to warrant the calling of the emergency services. All were ok and the house was not apparently too seriously damaged thank god. Little B was sleeping and woke seemingly frightened by the smoke and noise. Which was comforting to me in a strange way. The incident did however prompt a check of our fire alarms this afternoon.

The normally very lighthearted, profane and sarcastically amusing mummy Kirsten of Ready or Not shared this post a couple of days ago. I have been pondering the situation ever since. And have decided I am so blooming thankful that I am who I am and I have what I have emotionally, physically and materially.

In other amazingly interesting news, Little B is just about to cut the last of 4 teeth in 2 weeks, developing a cold and is a bit all over the place sleepwise. He is seemingly in the midst of refining his crawling skills and I am getting up a number of times a night to free him from the corners of his cot where he is banging his head after trapping himself mid crawl. It still amuses me to see him up on all 4s but fast asleep!

I got the call I have been looking forward to and dreading at the same time this week. A child care place will be available for Little B shortly and I am set to start back at work in mid June for 2 days a week. I had been really looking forward to the idea of going back to work. I have been purchasing some new clothing for my return to work in the sales in anticipation of this date for a couple of weeks and had been so excited about it. Time in the real world just for me. Good coffee, adult company and conversation, corporate lunches, mental stimulation and some more cashola to boot.

But now. It's real. "So soon" I cried over and over again on Monday and Tuesday to Mr B. Too soon??? Am I being selfish? Am I making the right decision? Can we tread water financially for another few years until our childbearing years are finished. Will my career bear an absence of 4 or 5 years? Now I am not so sure I am doing the right thing leaving my little boy in someone else's care. Last week I left him for an hour with my mother in law and he cried his eyes out the whole time. What if he does not settle in?

My totally objective unbiased view is that Little B is an absolute darling, a sensitive funny child. Will the potentially dog eat dog world of child care change his personality for the worst or better? Will our generally extremely excellent sleeping/feeding routine be altered due to this change in our life?

I have about 6 weeks and have decided I will reassess closer to the date how I feel about these things. Mr B is so very supportive. He is prepared to do whatever I think is best for all of us.

So at this stage we are set to give it a go and see what happens.

I have been looking around at sewing machines. God it is an overwhelming process. Salespeople seem to all be interested in selling me things I just don't think I will use. And I am not sure how often I will use it so at this stage I am reluctant to spend too much money. As the title of my blog suggests I do have a habit of starting things and not finishing them! I have been tracking some second hand ones on ebay to get a feel for what thing sell for.

I am off to my nanna's house which is in Western Victoria next week. She is now in her mid 80s and all of a sudden her health has started to decline quickly. She is not up to travelling to visit us. I have, in the last week or 2, developed a real urge to go and see her. I want her to spend as much time with Little B as is possible. I am going set with a tape recorder and intend to take as much information as is possible down about her life if she is up for it. She is a very salt of the earth traditional homemaker - great cook and also a very proficient knitter and sewer. Hopefully she will be able to give me some tips and recipes.

To finish Mr B and I totally lapped up Baked Salmon for dinner during the week. I was inspired by seeing lovely lovely salmon at the fishmonger. It was just beautiful rich, orange and glassy. We are growing basil in the garden. It was so gratifying to cook with such gorgeous ingredients. Both Mr B and I felt so fortunate to be eating like kings. Just delicious. I highly highly recommend it even as a treat or special occasion recipe.

Enjoy your weekend!

A relaxing weekend...

2008-04-22T08:56:00.009+10:00

It's been a few days for a myriad of reasons.

Mr B "worked" from home Friday and yesterday which precluded me from really jumping on the computer and updating here.

He's been working rather hard and working from home gave him a little respite from the hustle and bustle of the office and the commute in and out of the city. It also gave him a chance to see what the day's routine looks like as he was to be on Little B duty Saturday night (more on that later).

Not sure really why I am keeping this blog a secret from him. Knowing him he already knows about it, he is a bit of whiz on the computer as he works in the industry! So honey if you are reading this I love you and it really isn't anything personal! And it probably explains all of the questions I have been asking you about blogs and html and google analytics and stuff like that.

Mr B Little B and I enjoyed some time out in the hills on Saturday. After we all woke in a funk early that morning I insisted that we jump in the car to go and watch the sunrise amongst the trees.

We all needed it.

Nothing like breathing in the fresh air and listening to the sounds of the bush waking to cleanse the soul.

I took the camera along to try and capture the morning's activity.

This has been one of the great things about the Macro Challenge.

I have been able to stop and check out the detail in what I am doing and where I am going.

Which is a new perspective for me.

Life before Little B was a big fat rush.

I really actually like having had to slow down.

Saturday evening saw me attend a hen's night leaving Mr B in charge of Little B. All went well on that front which was good!

A girly night was had by all, much champagne was consumed as we all learnt the basics of bellydancing with the lovely Andrea of Underbelly studios in Collingwood.

Just as well I have a more than ample belly (aka "the Apron") really.

It was good to get out with the girlies most of whom I struggle to catch up with post baby unless there is a special event like this. It made me think it was time to try and do it a bit more often!

There will be no incriminating photos however. What went on during the hen's night stays on the hen's night!

One step closer to action

2008-04-17T17:24:00.002+10:00

Yesterday I had a fantastic day.

A friend of mine has just opened up her own dressmaking and alteration business called Ruby Dean. No website or anything yet. The paint is almost still drying it's that new! I am full of admiration for this woman, I think it is such a brave thing to back yourself and start up a business as she has done. For those of you (many readers he he) in Victoria most particularly outer east the shop is on the main street of Monbulk. More details to come.

Anyway I took my bargain fabric together with a dress which I thought would be a good pattern inspiration, packed a lunch for Little B and I and tracked up to see her and check out the shop.

We chit chatted, she came up with some great ideas for the dress and I picked her brain on lots of sewing bits and pieces. As we talked she effortlessly continued about her way, drawing up patterns, cut fabric using the sewing machine. Inspirational.

We talked about the possibility of me taking some lessons from her.

Which would mean me having to acquire a sewing machine.

I am feeling a ball of excitement whell up in my tummy which is such a suprise!

I am not sure where and how I will go about getting the machine. I don't know anything about them really.

But its something new. And I am ready for it!

If there are any sewers reading this how did you come across your beginner's machine? What was it? Do you have any suggestions?

Macro photo number ?

2008-04-17T17:01:00.003+10:00

On my desk and a macro shot.

2008-04-16T05:51:00.003+10:00

Morning y'all!

It would seem I am now firmly in the habit of waking up to watch the sun rise. I actually kinda like it. The world is so lovely and quiet this time of day - I feel alot of hope about the day to come.

My desk has not changed much since last week. Save for one thing.

Inspired by the contributors at I Op therefore I am I have been getting to know my local op shops.

Its a fun activity which I have been enjoying immensely. I find myself regularly thinking "Tell em their dreaming" especially at the Salvos who seem to be a bit more pricey than most other Op shop outfits. (The reference, for those not in the know is a quote from one of my favorite movies "the Castle").

It's funny how life turns full circle really. In my childhood and teens opshopping was fun and cheap entertainment, a time to find treasures. It was an activity I enjoyed a lot with my nanna when visiting my aunt who worked at her local St Vinnie's. In my 20's I turned my back on the humble op shop instead preferring to acquire stuff new a sign of my new found income and what I then felt was prestige and positioning in the world.

And now with more time, less resources and hopefully a wiser head on my shoulders I am again enjoying the challenge of opshopping. I still love the thrill of finding a treasure. I also now really like the idea of recycling and not contributing to the world's need to make more new stuff.

I managed to pick up what I think was a bargain at my local op shop late last week, some fabric.

It is, I think, some taffeta. I can't be sure really I am still learning the ways means and types of fabric. It is red on one side and black with the red sort of shining through on the other. I picked up 7 metres of the stuff ( 1 metre wide) for $7.

I have a wedding to go to in a few weeks time and am hoping it is the right kinda stuff to make a little cocktail dress. Since having little B my dimensions have changed and I don't fit clothes like I used to so I am thinking it might come in handy. I am off to the dressmaker to find out!

Monday Funday

2008-04-14T14:39:00.007+10:00

Today's Funday Monday challenge is being hosted by Nekked Lizard in which she challenges us to:

"FIVE PICTURES - FIVE WORDS PER PICTURE.

Any 5 (FIVE) pictures, any subject, and any 5 (FIVE) words to describe and/or explain each picture."

"Is this my good side??"

"I can't believe we're REALLY HERE!!!"

"Thank god she said yes"

"So good to head home"

" What a lovely surprise - Thanks!"

(the latter also doubles as one of my very behind contributions to the 30 in 30 Macro challenge!)

Happy Monday everyone!

The morning after the night that was....

2008-04-13T06:40:00.005+10:00

Urgh. It is waaaaaaaaay too early on a Sunday morning for me to be sitting here. Through bleary eyes I share with you the following important points:

Espresso martinis are good for those who are returning to the occasion of drinking after an absence. A caffeine hit and alcohol at the same time can be good for those who may be otherwise predisposed to go to sleep after one beverage.
Too many espresso martinis are not so good as they may inhibit one's ability to go to sleep when they are ready to after drinking them.
A teething and unsettled baby and the aftermath of the aforementioned espresso martinis is really really not so good.
A toasted cheese sandwich after unsettled night post espresso martini does not really cut the mustard. Why oh why do I not keep bacon in the house????

Thanks to those who made comments on my ramblings.

It's been a few days for lots of reasons.

My trip to the dentist did not yield happy results. I have to go back for a couple of fillings. Something to do with the acid bath my teeth often enjoyed during my pregnancy journey. Me and my good friend valium will be going back to get those fillings next Monday.

Little B has been teething which has not been much fun for him and less sleep than usual for me! One tooth through another to go. Woot!

Mr B took the day off on Thursday to hang out. I have not told him about this blog yet so did not get to the pc to update. We had a lovely time doing not much with Little B.

Friday Little B and I spent part of the day lending moral support to some friends of mine who undertook the Oxfam Trailwalk . They have only just finished after nearly 38 hours of walking! I seriously admire these people. Like uh, seriously! And for such a good cause too.

Yesterday I got my hair cut. I have not had a great hair cut in a while. You know how you just meander through life going to the same hairdresser time and time again?? That was me. I changed hairdressers and boy am I happy with the result! It's amazing how a good haircut makes one feel so different.

Inspired by the very brave Jo I went to the gym 3 times last week! Two pump classes and a general cardio work out. I felt good afterward however fear any positive effects of said work outs may have been totally erased by my consumption last night!

Last night we celebrated my bestie's 30th birthday. As you may glean from the above I enjoyed a bevo or two. The martinis and company were great! So very refreshing to get out and do adult things again!

My mind did however keep pondering the same question during the course of festivities

Exactly what business do brussel sprouts have hanging out in a mixed antipasto?

Early morning ramblings and on my desk...

2008-04-09T04:56:00.004+10:00

Well I am up very early this morning (its nearly 5.00am, have been cruising around catching up on my feeds for about an hour).

Why???

I suspect its a combination of things. I am still adjusting to daylight savings finishing as is Little B who has been up at around this hour for a feed and a cuddle over the last few days.

I am off to the dentist for a checkup today too. I really really really really don't like the dentist.

Something about laying back there with my mouth open makes me feel very vulnerable, a feeling I first had when I was very young and had to have alot of fillings done over quite a few sessions. I have got better over time as has my dental health. However one of the quirky side effects of my pregnancy has been that my teeth have moved - I am a grinder and wear a splint to bed at night - it no longer fits me - and I am a teeny bit anxious about why that is.

I have also been worrying about my finishing maternity leave and returning to work in the middle of the year. When I finished up paid work last year I was not so sure if I still liked my job and was considering resigning altogether to pursue something different. I had no idea what that was going to be. I have worked full time in my industry since getting into university, usually a 60 - 70 hour week and felt really worn out.

My time away from the job has been rejuvenating in so many ways. I have discovered that I am not my job. I do my job. I have relaxed enormously. I have enjoyed slipping into the shoes of motherhood making them fit and in the process becoming more me.

I am ready to return to the job and attempt it part time in my new shoes. I really did like the stimulation and excitement of the actual job, just not the stress of it. I am hoping to go back 2 days a week and if necessary will work from home half a day a week. My role will be quite different and I am hoping that will help ease the stress considerably. For one thing I will simply not be able to commit the hours required as I previously did. I am looking forward to other things about being back at work, having the extra money, having a little time to myself and being able to catch up with my friends who all work in the city.

The logistics of it all are a bit overwhelming. We live about 35 minutes from the city. Both the hubby and I work in the city.

Finding a child care place of some kind for Little B is the biggest challenge. The options seem to be to pop him in care in the city or close to home. To get a place in the city one has to endure waiting lists of approximately 2 years! That's right, people, you have to decide on your first date whether or not you might procreate together and pop the name of your future babe on the list! At this stage I have not even bothered going down that road.

There are not many places available in my local area either. Frankly I would not put my dog in some of the larger commercial child care centres I have seen since the middle of last year. All places have waiting lists closer to home too. Little B is on 2 waiting lists but I have not heard anything about a place being available despite my making fortnightly check up calls. Perhaps I need to graduate to popping in with morning tea or bearing other small gifts! My council won't take inquiries about family day care until about a month away from when you want the care so I am not yet able to pursue that avenue either. The uncertainty of it all is really getting to me.

I am moreso worried about how Little B might go being placed into care. We have so far spent a lovely 8 and a bit months together, mostly on our own. He is developing into a happy carefree little boy. He is developing a sensitive side which is showing itself more and more. We attend a mother's group weekly which is comprised of kids his age. Over the past few weeks I have observed that he is genteel with the other children, but likes his space and does not always welcome the advances of the other kids (some of whom are particularly gregarious!). Perhaps it is just a phase. Perhaps not. I worry how he will develop as part of a group of between 4 and 10 children.

Part of me feels very guilty about going down this road. About wanting to return to work. About wanting a little time for me. About putting Little B in care. Another part of me knows that if I don't return or at least try the return to work I am not likely to be the happiest camper which wouldn't be the best for Little B either.

It will sort itself out one way or another. I know that in my heart of hearts. Many parents have found themselves in this situation before me and Mr B.

The cool morning air makes it easier to think these sorts of things through.

If you have made it to the end of this long self involved post thank you!

Here is what is on my desk early this Wednesday morning:

Again not the greatest photo. And I suspect certainly not as interesting as others including Curlypops .

The Tupperware jug is a recent op shop bargain! The Hoegarden glass a souvenir of one of our many trips to the Belgian Beer Bar.

The scales are there as I have been ebaying some of the possessions which have been cluttering our lives for some time!

At the back there is a book I have really found useful, The Wonder Weeks by Hetty Vanderijt & Frans Plooij. As the title suggests it sets out a bit of a road map of the weeks of a child's development during the first year. A friend lent me her copy and it has been really good. I highly recommend it if you are in the market for such a book and you can get your hands on a copy!

Well the world is a waking! The birds are just starting to call, the heater has just gone on and Little B has just woken too! Enjoy your Wednesday!

Day 6 of 30

2008-04-08T09:29:00.003+10:00

Its not the greatest shot ever. These are the last of the capiscums in our garden.

I love growing veggies and herbs. Especially now that I have time to cook more, it is so satisfying to just walk out the back door, pick something and cook it knowing where its come from and how its been treated.

Its time to turn my mind to winter vegetable planting. Any suggestions?

Interesting Monday challenge

2008-04-08T08:52:00.003+10:00

Jo Beaufoix has issued a very amusing challenge, which is to tell the blog world about your first celebrity crush.

Upon reflection mine was, shall we say, interesting.

Whilst my friends were salivating over the likes of Johnny Depp from 21 Jump Street or Jason Donovan or Craig MacLachlan from Neighbours I just loved loved LOVED Kevin Arnold (aka Fred Savage) from the Wonder Years (yes people that's right). An embarrassing blip on my adolescent radar? Upon reflection, perhaps.

To contextualise, the show aired over here in Australia in the 80s and we "grew up together" at roughly the same age.

My parents were tv nazis. No Neighbours or Home and Away. Definitely no 21 Jump Street.

That was fine. I just loved Kevin. I used to come home and watch the Wonder Years straight after school. It was my regular zone out. He was just such a great regular guy. With a regular family. With regular teen problems. With a funny friend Paul Cooper.

I so desparately wanted to be his Winnie Cooper. I wanted him to associate me with that lovely music. I desparately wanted her hair so I could flick it in the sunshine.

Admittedly he became less attractive as he got older. And I became less attracted to him.

But he will forever hold a special place in my heart. I heart you Kevin Arnold. I still do.

Cynical? Moi?

2008-04-07T14:42:00.003+10:00

I came across this article recently and wondered whether this is someone's attempt at having us all reduce our water consumption as a clumsy way of addressing the world's water crisis.

Day 5 of 30

2008-04-06T16:41:00.004+10:00

Whilst I don't want to make this blog all about my family and friends all of the time I feel the need to share exactly how much joy I am taking from sharing Little B's discovery of the world with him.

This was the first day it has been cool and dry enough for him to get up close and personal in the garden. Only challenge was to stop him from putting everything in sight in his mouth!

Sunday Funday

2008-04-06T15:57:00.002+10:00

Me and my bestie fifi spent some time today together for the first time in what seems like ages.

Background is we met at uni about 11 years ago and have since become great friends. The sort of friend that you can say anything to about anything. We are able to be truly frank with one another. About everything. She is probably the only person who I would trust to give me a truly honest answer to life's most serious question that is, whether or not my bum really looks big in those pants.

We used to work 2 doors away from one another. We would frequently sneak downstairs to our favourite cafe breadwell to steal a mid morning coffee break together to discuss whatever took our fancy on that particular day. The fruit toast there is fantastic by the way. Our time together always passed too quickly.

About 2 years ago we started sharing the joys of cycling together. We holidayed together in Perth and completed the Great WA bike ride together - which really challenged us but changed both of our lives in more ways for the better that we each would care to admit out loud.

Together we have discovered ourselves and the joy of being happy. And supported each other when not so happy. More recently whilst mostly wearing lycra bike shorts or spikey golf shoes. Who knew eh?

In the last 12 months life has changed for both of us. Alot. Little B was born into my life in August last year and my new job of motherhood has consumed me. Geographically my life is no longer near my old workplace. Fifi has entered into a new serious relationship with a fellow who lives on the other side of town.

These circumstances have meant that it has been hard to catch up as regularly as we used to. I have missed her physical presence terribly.

Today we had a perfect day together - 8 holes of golf in perfect weather (we were both played so badly we stopped counting and playing before the 9th!), lunch and gossip, a hot chocolate and more gossip and some shopping. We talked about everything. I really needed it. It was fantastic.

She is so very happy at the moment. Everything is falling into place for her.

She will next week turn 30.

When it finally comes time for me to share this blog with you - happy birthday fifi. I know we don't say it to each other but I really do love you.

I am so very glad that you are so very happy with your lot. I really really am.

Day 4 of 30

2008-04-04T15:41:00.002+11:00

Day 3 of 30..

2008-04-04T15:32:00.002+11:00

The simple things...

Day 2 of 30

2008-04-04T15:19:00.001+11:00

During the storm.

Back on the horse....

2008-04-04T14:30:00.005+11:00

Well I felt as though all of my blogalicious intentions went out the window when my hometown suffered a large wind storm 2 days ago which resulted in our having no electricity for a day and no home phone or internet for 2 days!

By this morning (day 2 no net) I was rather tetchy. I realised it was because I felt cut off from the world. I had not realised exactly how dependent I had become on the WWW.

So after a coffee and some navel gazing to the duclit tones of KD Lang (I find her very calming) I accepted my situation and got on with some of the things on my list of to dos that never quite get done whilst my little one is asleep due to my preferring to read blogs instead. I feel quite a sense of accomplishment having weeded the front garden, cleaned out my bookshelf, cleaned out some cupboards, paid our bills and balanced the cheque book!

So now I don't feel so guilty catching up on my feeds. And looking at some of the great photos entered by those participating in the 30 day macro challenge - I am still working on how to get the link to the page into my blog!

A Macro shot a day....

2008-04-01T21:05:00.005+11:00

Ok.

Karin at Orange Flower (you might have to grab the link from my blog roll as I have not yet worked out how to insert the link to the site here!) has come up with a great project, shoot a picture a day with your camera in Macro mode.

Frankly I did not even know there was such a thing as macro mode on my camera. I am a point n shoot kinda gal. I have been looking to learn to consistently take a decent photo. It's not a skill I was born with.

Thank god I live in the digital age. I definitely would have wasted alot of cash on film and processing in the pre digital era!

Anyhoo I digress. Here is my first attempt. I just pointed and shot. No adjustments. I will see what I can do in that department in the coming days.

I quite like the texture of the floorboards and feel that the little fella just fits within the rule of 3. The pic is a bit grainy though. Not sure why. Maybe thats the whole idea of Macro.

The first day of the rest of my life???

2008-04-01T07:23:00.002+11:00

So here I am.

After months of dropping into blogtown lurking and reading and spending more and more time here I decided to invite myself to become a citizen!

I am really not sure what exactly might end up here.

All I can say is that I feel as though my creativity is stirring after a very long dormancy. And I am looking forward to having fun with it.