Bring it on......

May you all have a wonderful New Year whatever you choose to do......thank you for reading, commenting and advising.....I appreciate and love my ' blog world' more than you know.........I hope to see you all in the new 2010......... a big year....I can feel it....

Cheers

Just a little bit.....

The Madam cooking Christmas cakes for Santa's snack.....



Opening presents with the Mr.......



Seafood and wine....I'm a happy girl!


A few photos from a beautiful Christmas day......still trying to get throught the 'wierd week' between Christmas and New Years....it's a bit of a vortex really....

Happy Day

Well the madam has finally been talked into bed, the Mr is asleep (no issue there), presents are wrapped, food is made and only a slight feeling of chaos!

Merry Christmas my lovely bloggers! Enjoy whatever you do tomorrow, whatever you choose to celebrate (or not) and know that if I could I would get you all a fabulous gift for becoming such an important part of my life.

The above is the most brilliant song! I know it is a big hit amongst some of my blog lovelies so I thought I would jump on the bandwagon...... I'm thinking maybe our wedding song?

Merry Christmas xx

Summer is........

Cost of pressies for early Christmas parties ...... (who cares!)

Cost of wine and food...........(bloody worth it!)

Cost of getting a great photo of your daughter on the knee of Father Christmas - especially when it was actually my dad, her pa, and her not guessing like we all thought she would!).....................PRICELESS!

Good Karma

This is our new baby oops sorry dog - Karma - she is pure English Staffordshire. She was the runt of the litter so she might take a little strength building but so far so cute ..................







We spent a lot of time researching, talking, more researching and getting many, many opinions! This is not a decision we have gone into lightly and we are looking forward to many years of happiness with our new and beloved Karma!

(and yes you can all watch me eat my words when she starts chewing everything!!!!)

Hello.....

Well..... I know I have been a bit of a slack tart with my beloved blog but I am back. I think I have been letting my 'real life' dominate - which of course is fine - but my creative outlet was just left with no creative out letting - so I made an executive decision about 3am that I am going to give myself just that bit of time in the morning in between slumber/alarm/Mr off to work and the angst cry of 'Maammmmmaaa' to have a bit of blog session!

As far as Christmas goes - the tree is up and lovely and decorated. My favourite part of that is the fairy lights. I don't know why I just love them! I even went on a pilgrimage to Ikea (I know madness!) the other day to look for free standing, battery operated ones but alas there were none. My parents are hosting on our actual Christmas Day but this Saturday we have the Mr's family at his cousins house (for public safety we don't combine). It is beautiful this year as we have a few more children in each family (which tend to outweigh the Grinch's) and I kinda like the idea of Christmas over a week......makes it last longer. I have completed nothing fabulously (I'm making that a word!) crafty so if your are hanging in there for a photo of a Chrissie quilt of handmade decorations I'm sorry).

The Mr just had some male bonding time away fishing/camping/grunting etc. So the madam and I did a few beach excursions and had a few people over, a market visit & joining in a global warming awareness chat on our main street made it definitely a good weekend! The Mr's Aunty is an artist and I went down to her art sale - she creates the most stunning work! She also is mum to two lovely thirteen year old girls who I adore. They were selling some of there creative pursuits as well - I will try and post a photo another day.

As for today I have a friend and her son coming over - good energy people! Thank you to all (Pip, Maggie and Kel my constant sources of wisdom and wiseness!) for the advice about dogs we are still looking and researching and hoping the right dog will come.

I am also working on some submissions for magazines - if they work I will let you know - if not I may fall into that hole of the rejected writer/photographer. I am also working a couple of aromatherapy and slow food 'things'.

Anyway.........hope your all all lovely & happy & see you soon!

* Oh and the Mr found Max our gender confused turtle out the back when he got home after my four hour hunt*

See you on the beach side

When the end of year is near and the Christmas season is turning into one big breakdown and the turtle is MIA (yes I have managed to lose the worlds slowest animal!) throw the kid in the car and go to the beach..............

Chaos and calm........that is summer.

For more summer lovelies rock on over to Jodie at Che & Fidel (link on side bar) xxx

I heart.........

I love,love,love John Butler! And his trio of course! Currently dancing around to this with the Madam - going to keep it going & add a stir fry,some wine and some girlies! Have a lovely weekend and I will be back with some words soon.......off to dance!

The turtle and the road

 

This is our turtle Max - he was a boy but now I think he is a girl - so he is neurotic with a few gender issues but we love him. The other two I took on a random road x

Puppy question

Hello all my blog lovelies! I have a question (cause I love them!) We are looking at getting another family member - of the furry, four legs, tail, variety! We would ideally like a pup only so it can grow up with the madam and as I am home with her till school happens we thought it might be a good time. Just wondering what breeds anyone else has ? How do they go with kids? You know all the usual 'I'm getting a dog and can't make up my mind questions!'. We would ideally like a rescued pup but in lieu of that are going to buy one.

Your wealth of wisdom is much appreciated xx

The Summer of Parks....

This is the second instalment of the summer photos - check out the list of another summer lovelies participating by going to my side bar and clicking on Che and Fidel -Summer is (as anyone around little kids knows) park weather! Due to the mass amount of sun and the lacing of torrential downpours the madam and I frequent most parks around the area - cheap, entertaining and if you can sneak in a ride down the slippery dip yourself - very good for the soul.

This photo was taken at the park this morning.

Reality Check

I have come across this in a few different places - I can't wait to see it! The weird thing is I have been having a 'breakdown' (for lack of a better word) about Christmas (this is also my excuse for being a slack blogger!). Since I had the Madam I have this neurotic freak out about wether she really needs presents, what to get her, making sure everything is educational - you know the deal. I watched this trailer and the last scene with the Mongolian baby is fantastic and has kind of brought me back to earth...........

I'll be back later I have to go and get a cuppa xxxx

Summer love

Well I don't really think the universe knows what it's up to with the weather - today is a little bit murky and I am back in jeans - not complaining as I love it!
Today is the start of the Monday Summer pics from Jodie at Che and Fidel .

This is obviously a bit of a staged picture but it encompasses some of my absolute favourite things about the weather warming up - if I have to endure heat, sweat,and the creatures of summer I will do so! But only with my fruit (mangoes being my beloved) and my juice......

If my link above doesn't work there is a link on the side bar to Che and Fidel - check out all the other lovelies of summer!

To tweet or not to tweet - that is the question?

Just so you know is is 6:41am when I start this post and for the last hour or so I have become that crazy woman doing the gardening......I had an 'Edward Sisscorhand's' moment and started pruning and sweeping my front yard.....all in the clothes that fall by the bed....you know the ones that yes may be the same colour but aren't really a conducive outfit....all while my lovely neighbours are going to work in their cars possibly muttering 'who gave the nutter a pair of gardening shears!'. I think it's the only way to do decent gardening.....bad outfit far too early in the morning!

Anyway....

I know that this will make me seem like I am so far behind but.....to tweet or not to tweet? I had a look at twitter last night as I am finding that with some of my greenie/political/geek news that I am looking for people are 'tweeting' way before you can find it anywhere else - also I noticed a few of my favourite blog lovelies are 'tweeting' as well. So is everyone on it? Does this just up my addiction to my screen or is it valuable? To tweet or not to tweet - that is the question?

Art is not a thing; it is a way. Elbert Hubbard

The above is just a quote I came across that I loved.....

Ladybird love

 

 

 

 

The madam and I went for a morning walk to see some friends at the park.......we found some ladybirds......they seemed to be everywhere from the tree to Madam's hand ....to the rose garden & even on a fence post....what lovely creatures to find on our walk.....

A picture is worth a 1000 words

The above photo was taken when the heat was trying to break - the below is just a few of my favourites things.

Those who can laugh without cause have either found the true meaning of happiness or have gone stark raving mad. ~Norm Papernick

The heatwave broke......and a little bit of wee came out

Well last night the heatwave broke.....for a while there it looked like it wouldn't but we ended up with a great lightening storm and a teeny tiny amount of rain. Yesterday a 43 degrees was just a bit warm but it is a much cooler 29 (I think) today. The first two photos I took just down the street - we could see the storm coming and when you looked towards the sea you got these beautiful colours and the start of a lightening show - when you turned around it was just 'normal' - sometimes it is just wild to see Mother Nature do her thing.

The last photo is obviously the Madam a bit excited about the coming storm - we stayed outside a bit last night celebrating the heatwave breaking with a bit of sav blanc (for me) beer (for him) water ( for madam ) and chicken & salad - we didn't get that much rain but when we did she rain out going

" Look the rain is only little....like wee"

So didn't want to stand in it then.

The power of a picture

I was emailed this a couple of times and have seen it around on a few different blogs - it is phenomenal

“Women are heroes”- A project by French artist JR.

http://www.jr-art.net/

Art...on show until Tuesday

 

When the Madam got up this morning I went to hang out some washing and upon coming back into the lounge room this is what greeted me.

Me: It look's beautiful what is it?

Madam: It's just pretty...don't touch it mama I love it

Me: How long till I can move it?

Madam: Forever ...on Tuesday



Fair enough......this is what will be on show till Tuesday....which apparently is forever.

To chat or not to chat.....

The madam has a wonderfully outgoing personality - she very rarely has any sort of fear of anyone or anything. When I was pregnant I read in somewhere that the majority of fear is a 'learned response' and I have tried pretty hard to make sure she is fearless. She has always been a bit of a mimic but now she seems to be going through a major 'copy cat' phase. My mother in law is scared of dogs so when she is around the madam is scared of dogs, the Mr loves sandwiches so when he is around that is all she will eat and so on.....

Anyway

Where I am going with this is I like to talk. Yes I am the weird Chickie that smiles, says hello and ends up having in depth conversations with random people. I have met some fabulous people that way and had some very interesting experiences. I don't know why I do it as technically I am not really known for that much talking but it is just what I do. A friend of mine had quite the freak out at me the other day for it - she feels like I am teaching the madam that it is okay just to talk to anyone and this will therefore lead to her talking to strangers and thus her inevitable abduction. I actually thought the opposite - that it would teach her not to judge others based on appearance and to feel comfortable if in a dire situation to ask anyone for help.

So my question (cause you know how I love a good question!) is how do you teach your kids to be wary of people but to not judge, be accepting and friendly as well? Is 'stranger danger' still appropriate or is there another way?

Cook up

 

These photos are from a "cooking day" we had last week. I have this weird thing where I have days that all I want to do is cook and even though it all seems to turn out well enough I never want to eat it at the end. So I think after a day of tea cake, lasagna, mini quiches and a few other things we ended up with chicken and salad. Madam had to get through this day with the mandatory 15 dress changes - now she is totally "knickers" she is flat out refusing to wear pants of any sort.

It is beautiful today but the heatwave starts again tomorrow..... I'll be back then

Hot thoughts

 

I have a million things I would love to blog about at the moment but I think the heat has fried my brain. As some would know this blog is my creative outlet in many ways but it mostly started because the Mr isn't really into "deep & meaningfuls" and I think he thought if I could put all my questions & thoughts using another medium to other people it would save him from pulling his beard out (as he has no hair).

The photo's above have absolutely nothing to do with anything - just some random pictures taken on a few of the latest adventures madam and I have been having. I do live in a beautiful area and am very lucky to have the beach, village atmosphere and the country all within a 5 km radius.

So....

My question at the moment is....do we ever really stop striving for acceptance? Whether it be from parents, partners, siblings, friends, random people, the checkout girl at the shop. I don't know. I like to think of myself as a fairly independant, free thinking, "don't give a shit" kinda girl. In a sense I am but I am also a "do the right thing", hope I didn't offend, don't hate me kinda girl. I am not sure if one is better than the other or should I be more of one and less of another...........

Summer creatures & lessons

Day four of the "big heat" (I know I am dreadfully dramatic) and I am learning a few things - gotta love that life is a continuous series of educational moments;

Lesson 1 : when it is hot out every freaky little creature wants to come in (see above photo) I have found so many weird little things coming in through cracks and holes I didn't know existed.....could also be the madam leaving the door open "because my new friends are so tiny and cute" (note to self: get madam new friends)

Lesson 2: Never say to anyone how lucky you are because your child never gets sick - because then they do.

Lesson 3: Photo's taken out the car window when driving sick kid around to distract her from coughing are always going to be on a bizarre angle but make you laugh.

What time forgets

 

She never said a word

I have been trying to go through some old photo's I have and do a bit of organising and editing when I came across this one. In 2006 we went to Phuket, Thailand which is were this photo was taken. At the time I was about 8 weeks pregnant with the madam - I had bad morning/afternoon sickness and made friends with pretty much every toilet in Thailand - I am also pretty sure it was in Thailand my ankles turned to tankles - must try and find them again.

Thailand in a phenomenal place. It has some very western things that are appealing to some tourists - you have shopping malls, bars, really cheap clothes, sunnies, etc. But it also has fantastic people. People that may, by western standards, not have a huge amount of 'stuff' but are incredibly welcoming and happy. When we were there it was about eighteen months since the Tsunami and to see how people had rebuilt physically, mentally and spiritually after such a devastating happening was very humbling.

When I took this photo we had been in a mini bus to go visit a temple - this was a stop at a look out to get some air and to make my face return to white instead of the freaky green it was. I remember watching this lady walk to her place of worship - she had a very peaceful, positive vibe about her (and it's all about the vibe) - she played on my mind for a long time - I can't put my finger on the exact reason why but she did. She reminded me, and still does when I look at this photo, that it is good to embrace who you are, to be in the moment as much as possible and happiness can be found in the strangest places - even a rock ledge look out in Thailand.

It is funny how sometimes, if you look past what is known to the unknown, the person ( or people) that may have the greatest influence on you are ones you will never exchange a word with.

Summer's back with a vengeance!

The weather here this week is all above 35 degrees - considering if it gets above 25 I start melting like the wicked witch I think myself and the madam will be spending a fair amount of the day indoors. In this weather I always try to get out and about early and then 'do a twilight' and avoid the sun later - I love the food of summer - the salads, mangoes, strawberries but I don't actually 'do summer' well. I constantly look like I am freaked out (even when I am actually pretty calm) - glamorous just isn't in my nature.

A while ago now my job for a couple of years was to teach school of the air on sheep stations - I was a governess. I was in the outback 200kms south of Coober Pedy - on days like today it would be about 45 degrees up there. It's funny but the heat didn't really bother me up there. I don't know if it is just because it is a dry kind of heat (if that makes sense) or if it was just that you are up there with no option of avoiding it so you deal with it better.

The first station I was on I only had one student and on the hot days we used to take some school work into the cool room. They had a big meat locker cool room because when you are so far away everything is stored in bulk, so there we would be reading and writing in a meat locker - kept us cool though.

Anyway...maybe being at home as made me a bit precious. This week will definately be a week of trying to keep the house cool - especially because the Mr is working outside all week - and dare I say a few indoor activities for the madam and I .

Stay cool or warm - whereever you are on the planet xx

Sunset & Smiles

Sunset and smiles - gotta love it!

I'm back with my new self

Last week was a soul sucking week . I can't get organised with anything to save my life, we were all sick in one way or another, I have a million ideas and don't know where to start - one of those weeks were you hide in the bathroom and cry. But......

I'm over it - everyone has mended from the exorcist lurgy we had, I think I have an idea on how to organize my chaos (both physically and mentally) and it's all good.

My (kind of ) new thing - Quote of the week:


“Any life, no matter how long and complex it may be, is made up of a
single moment, the moment in which a [person] finds out, once and for
all, who [they are].” - unknown

Conversations with madam

Me: Why are you so naughty?

Madam: Cause I'm pretty and shiny and three



Go figure

Blogetoberfest finale: Exorcist

Well for the end of my very first Blogtoberfest the madam has contracted some exorcist like bug which has seen an insane amount of bodily fluids from all orfices flow through my house last night and today. So the weekends happenings are cancelled and we are opting for a couple of days inside to recoup. Hope everyone has a great weekend and a Happy Halloween ( I caved and bought some lollies in case I get any little visitors)x

Is it just me?

Okay onto other things - I am always in a bit of a quandary over October 31 - do I or do I not celebrate Halloween? I am a big fan of anything with ghosts and goblins involved but I was just wondering if anyone else does it? There seems to be more and more Halloween gear in our stores - is it just another commercialised thing I am getting myself sucked into or is it really starting to take off in Australia? There seems to be numerous lolly eyeballs around - which in a bit of a twisted way are kinda cool - but I think I might be getting sucked into this a bit.......

Something else I am not real sure of is what seems to be an increase of anger for absolutely the weirdest reasons. I have lived in a pretty small, 'hippified' place for a while and I haven't been in the actually 'outside the home' workforce but people are really amazing me sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I am all for experiencing the full spectrum of emotion and I do get a pissed at probably ridiculous things. Things I am not real sure about are the amount of anger in cars, people that get pissed at other people driving the speed limit or waiting for the truck to go before they turned - I always figure if I am late it is either my fault ( cause I am a little disorganised ) or just luck of the draw - in the grand scheme of things is there any point to sitting in your car abusing other people? They can't hear you - they don't care! They just think your a nutter who talks to themselves? But maybe it is just me that doesn't get it. Also, why I am up here on my soapbox, if you talk to people like they are idiots, and yell at them or give them attitude I am fairly sure it comes back to bite you in the ass. In the past two weeks I have seen people get mad about coffee not being right, unexpected guests, weddings, really (to me) 'out there reasons' and in some way I think all this anger turns on you in the end.

I think when you live in a day to day world where the other inhabitant is three maybe you get a different ( or twisted) view on things!

Enjoy your Friday x

Blogtoberfest 30: Light at the end

Well we survived the four days that became the madams third birthday - I am now thirty with a three year old - nothing to make you look at life like an age check!

I think the best part about it for me is that the Mr took the day off and we got to hang out together. As I may have mentioned in previous posts it took a while for the Mr to get used to the madam - we had a fair few unforseen issues but it seems to all be good now. It is funny how the light at the end off the tunnel seems so far away and then it is just a boom and it appears.

Blogtober 29: Just saying hello

Just saying hello - more words soon xx

My place and yours......bedside

This is my bedside table - it is as follows -
* a photo of the Mr and the Madam the night we brought her home her jumpsuit at 00000 was the smallest thing we had and it was to big and the only place she would
settle was on his chest.
* a lamp I love to read by and the Mr loves to tell me to turn off.
* an alarm clock I should use but I don't - my phone does that job.
* a notebook and pen for my million dollar ideas at 3am.
* paw paw cream - nectar of the gods
* the latest Frankie Magazine....every girl should have one.

I showed you mine now what is on your bedside? Play along with us all via
Hello! It's Meet Me At Mikes! . Thank you to pottymouthmama for this week's theme!

Blogtoberfest 26: I'm not a baby I'm a real girl!

I know I have been a slack, slack blogger - but the main culprit of my distraction has been the Madam - she turns three tomorrow. I have a beautiful, lovely, kind, crazy little girl who means the world to me but I am becoming dreadfully aware of how quick time is moving and have been trying to make those last few 'two year old' days really quality time.

This was our conversation this morning:-

Me: 'It's your birthday tommorrow - my baby will be three...'

Madam ' I'm not a baby I'm a real girl....mum you drive me crazy'.

Happy Birthday for tommorrow my baby girlx

Blogertoberfest 21: Circus

Bave Circus from DuDuF on Vimeo.

Watch this - it is well worth your time & gives a whole new perspective on snails!

Have a lovely day xx

Blogtoberfest 20: The birth of the conscious mama

Well.... I did survive the bathroom fall to go on and achieve many more uncoordinated antics so nothing can keep me down long! I have kind of been fence sitting on a few things lately and think I have come to a few decisions (but as always will probably change my mind). I was thinking about going back to study next year - which I love - I am a geek and proud! When I was trying to work out how life would work with my choice of study (which of course had copious amounts of clinical and field work) it just wasn't going to mesh so study - well uni anyway - is off the to do list until next year.

It is funny how much things change when you have a child. I was always a bit of a 'left wing greenie' , for lack of a better word, but it's funny how much more genuinely concerned for the entire well being of the world you become. I think now the madam is getting old (she turns 3 next week) it's all really freaking me out.
I want to bring into a peaceful healthy world a peaceful, healthy constructive member of society.

I am trying to form a political opinion on as much as I can, eat locally, reduce food waste, recycle, op shop, teach good values and morals...........and yes I am an atrociously compulsive list maker! Whilst doing all of this I am trying to make sure each day has a little bit of 'zen' where I am present for each thing I do, I am present when being with my girl or the Mr, I slow down to take in life.

As completely insane as it all sounds I am starting to feel like I am getting there - slowly but these changes in life are starting to work. I have managed to avoid a 'big name' supermarket for almost a month ad just get our food through online shopping - which brings fresh local and organic produce and combine that with my local markets and shops so that part I feel I'm an getting there. Food is a big thing for us as we often entertain and I love to cook and eat very different things so by shopping this way I find I am getting better quality and actually saving money. Things like impulse buys are much, much less and I am much more conscious of what , when and how we eat.


One part of blogging that I am very in awe of and grateful for are the many men, women, parents, people, etc that never cease to suprise and inspire me. I am not a girl that fit really well into mothers group and I have a wide variety of friends from all different walks of life - so more often than not when ideas, advice or just a little inspiration is needed away from my 'day to day life' it is a beautiful thing to find it on my blogroll.

I have also started to think about my future, which of course, is intertwined with the future of the Madam and Mr. She will start education (still thinking about the form of!) next year and I am now really looking at something to increase the cash flow. When I do this I really want to be passionate about it . I know we don't all get the luxury of loving our jobs but I hope I can make it work within the next 12 months on a shoestring budget. I am looking at possibly the showing (and hopefully selling) my photos and pursuing my passion for writing and natural health (together and separately) - if I can get food in there I would have it the jackpot! Who knows! I have to get up and give it a go. I'd rather kick myself for trying than kick myself for just sitting on my butt!

Children reinvent your world for you.
Susan Sarandon

To the fair

 

Had a lovely weekend with my girl - just got back from the local fair with Nanna & Pa here is my first attempt a collage - hope everyone had a great weekend!

Madness and mayhem blogtoberfest 15

There are just those days that make you feel like you are from another planet - there is nothing you can pin point but it is like the world is turning one way and your turning another. Today was one of them for me - it all went to hell in a handbasket. So.....

To turn things around and remove some paint I put the madam in the bath and we put the bubble machine on and filled up the room. Had lots of laughs and great photos were taken. Then....

I forgot how slippery bubbles make the floor and ever so not gracefully slipped and fell and in an effort to not fall near the madam and save my beloved nikon wrenched my shoulder.

There are just some things only wine can solve.

x

Good signs on Blogotober 14

I was very excited by my latest purchase from my little op shop. See the madam isturning three in three weeks and for her birthday the Mr and I are taking her on a picnic - he hasn't been able to be with her for the last couple of birthdays so this one being a bit of a family affair will be pretty cool. It is always a good sign when the ol' op shop comes through.

* For my mum: yes we can share this or I will swap you for your sewing machine x

Take the weather with you (Blogtoberfest 13)

The weather has been a bit crazy here lately - the above photo was taken last Friday the below photo was taken today. I know I have been a bit slack with my lovely blog lately but I will be back with many a word soon - hopefully this afternoon or tonight - I think my mood is going with the weather - but lunacy is not a new thing here! I'm just finding it hard to concentrate on one thing as I have so many ideas! x