mobblegobble

This is what scares me

what I find scary often changes day to day.  Today I am just a little bit scared of this - but ready to tackle it:

this is another drawing to be stitched - a seahorse - can you see it's teeny eyes and mouth??  It seems like a big job and that's the bit that scares me.  Trust me to get a kid who has to include every minute detail into her drawings.....   The next top three things that scare me today are: wolf creek and people who set out to hurt others; people who think it's ok to protest that someone has gone to hell because they played a gay cowboy in a movie; and my youngest daughter's headstrong attitude and how we are ever going to rationalise with her.

I'm a bit partial to the type of fear that can be exhilarating.  One of my most vivid memories is having to ride up the shop for a packet of smokes for my dad when I was about 8 (give or take).  It was dark and going up avocado street past the "haunted house" sent my adrenalin through the roof.  When I made it I was exhausted but pumped.  Similar feeling to jumping out of a plane, bungy jumping, public speaking etc.  The anticipation makes your hands shake, your stomach churn and lips and voice quiver but once you've taken the plunge there's no looking back!!!!!  And when its over - you want to go again......

This is

a new game.  I have joined in three buttons "this is" game.  Apparently it's a meme - but will have to call someone to find out exactly what that means....(assuming its an all about me expression - oh I am such a blog novice).  The first week's theme is "this is my favourite cup" and here's mine:

The artwork on this cup is quite like my tattoo.  I have four of these cups (freedom cancer charity initiative a few years ago) given to me by friends who saw the cup and thought of me ink.  I don't drink coffee and rarely have tea but I do try to drink a lot of water.  This cup holds 400ml - I have one going on the sink all day, and it's big enough to take to the couch or desk and you don't have to refill it after one tiny eeny weeny mouthful.  I love drinking out of a big cup - no thimbles for me thanks.  Unless it's butterscotch schnapps!!

two fish...in stitches

No, not the punchline to daggy joke, nor traditional cherokee name.  But two more blocks for someone's quilt.  Should be finished in time for her to leave home.....  She drew the pictures yesterday and I used nifty iron on transfer pencil (from Clegs - thanks Pip) to trace, iron and then stitch onto fabric.  I think I will frame the picture for her room too.

My first block

freestyling - quilting that is. I finished a block this morning - this one is of fabric from last year's scrap swap with stephanie.  I can see why there is a quilting phenomenon - its soooo addictive.  I had to do another one.  D's quilt is underwater theme but very much "as you go" and a bit of a sampler really - with stitches, and a few made up quilting techniques.  This is as complex as it gets.....

the rest of the weekend was spent lying low with the family - lovely

back at the janomes

A cape for birthday bloke.  And a dress in the pipeline for my sister.  Gotta work out what to do at the hem - not sure about the stretch stitching.  I made one for myself a year or so ago and did a ruffle around the bottom.  Any ideas??

So whats top o' the list of projects coming up? I'm going "recreational" for a while (luxury):

- finish above dress

- one for me - maybe with halter /drawstring neck

- more of underwater quilt (damage making another bed so would be good to have it ready for then..)

- another top with rounded neck / yoke. Friend down the road has a top which I like so I am going all single white female on her and going to copy her shirt.  Although I can demonstrate some quite frightening stalking-type behaviour, I am yet to be convicted....

- catch up on other blogs.  got quite a bit of getting kidnapped by the computer to catch up on.

That should be keep me busy for a bit.

"You stay there Mum"

Creche doesnt go back until next week but I had work to do.  Thankfully M & T were able to have girls for a play on wednesday, then the inkblots on thursday. Big up to them for helping us out xoxoxoxox

As we pulled up to their place on thursday morning, I unclipped the seatbelts in the back and went to get out of the car.  Dusts starts climbing over to the front and with her hand out tells me to "Stop, stay there, I am going by myself.  Just open the door."  Which I did and they both pile out of the car.  I mean she's only three....

willowy winds

For Christmas this year I bought the birdcages and the runalots tickets to see wind in the willows.  We cashed it in on tuesday. Between us there are 9 kids  - I think they all had a great time.  And it was great to see the blokes out too.  The oldest runalot has just had an operation on his hip which has him hanging out in his wheels with his legs in plaster and braced apart.  He gets around no worries.  On Tuesday night the older boys were taking turns in pushing him around.  It got hairy when they starting pushing him down the hill.... the parents were on the top of the hill with our hearts in our throats as the speed hit scary.  He was able to leap out and the chair tumbled into the garden....  the best thing - the laughter and smiles it all caused...no tears....

planning simply with Simple Planning

My first and last course dish-delucious mate has just started a new blog.  She has four kids and therefore a pretty busy life but she is still the one organising tickets to gigs for me.  She plans, therefore she is....able to squeeze in time for her stuff too.  Go and say Hi, and tell her what you are having for dinner.  I actually planned my meals last week:

Mon = grilled chicken salad (fancy lettuce, toms, cuc, etc) with some of tomo's yummy gomo dressing,

Tues = teriaki beef & veg skewers with pot mash (mash was on request),

Wed = Tuna patties with salad (with left over beef burgers for anti-tuna pattie diner),

Thurs = lamb, fetta & olive greek salad,

Fri = salad of fish & chips prepared by fishnchip man,

Sat - Asian Beef salad with lemon, soy & ginger dressing and lots of mint & coriander (Damage has started a Meals Photo Book - well at least he has started taking pictures of any "special" dinners in the vain of The Castle's "What do you call this love? Yer but what did you do with it?" I am going with it because in spite of it's brick like subtlety, I find myself feeling quite important and very nigella.)

I have a rough plan this week too but its 12.44 am and I don't know where it is.

melbourne - free stuff to do

Melbourne really is a grand old town.  Especially when it's not 100,000 degrees in the shade.  If you are stuck for things to do, check out

http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/info.cfm?top=259&pg=2183&cID=86

We painted a tile this week that is going to be used in a mural at the docklands (for a building company I think for any anti-corporate types).  Next week we are going to get our thoughts on canvas (read poster paper) at flagstaff gardens where they provide all you need.  They have got circus, dance, sporty stuff organised as well.  Not all is free but I dont think it's that expensive.  Would also like to check out some ArtPlay activities when my kids are a bit older - does anyone have any experiences with them?

The Queen Vic market has free painting for the kids on tuesdays during school holidays, and i think they are doing face painting (and maybe animals to scare the living bejeezus out of) on thursdays and fridays but don't quote me.  The painting man is definitely back there next Tuesday tho.

And on Sunday night we rocked out to the infectious sounds of Frankie Wants Out at the Fitzroy Gardens.  The kids ran around like nutters and we sat and drank wine - does life get better than that?

If you are stuck for school holiday ideas, you can also check this out

The resolutions...baby

Better late than never, For the record this year I will:

- get out of Melbourne at least one weekend every month (we already have about 7 booked in so that leaves room for a couple of dates and maybe one or two mystery weekends..)

- do some exercise (even walk more instead of using the wheels)

- eat more salads (might be made easier with help from my very organised friend at simple planning)

- investigate renovating our house

- finish a few crafty UFO's that have been around for wwwaaaayyyyy too long. 

That's enuff - we'll see how I go.