Roar

We are going to the zoo in the holidays and the children* are excited!  

It is a shame I can make a giraffe look short and stumpy; adjectives not usually used when talking about that animal.  Perhaps I should have bought a hippo costume...

*Possum is an elephant but she is at school so that photo will have to wait.

Random Ramble

Yesterday I had an appointment in town so it was a good excuse to ditch my standard  SAHM (stay at home mum) uniform of jeans and a tee and put on something a little neater.  I also did my hair which did not go unnoticed down the street.  Georgia took a quick photo before we rushed out the door, it isn't in focus and the light is wrong too, but the grass was wet and I was late so I did not bother to set up anything better.

The fact I am wearing high heels, and you still can't see my feet is a pretty good indicator that I need to mow the lawn...  Today, at lunch time I am still in my pj's.  Funny how two days right next to each other can be so different!  

Happy hump day :)

Smile

At least one of us managed to smile...

A Milestone

Normally I post about the children's milestones, but this one is mine.

Today I finished my first semester of Uni!  I know lots have people have done it before and I know I have a long way to go but I feel the need to celebrate the small things as well as the big things.  I am now waiting on the results of the three units I did, but I know I passed so I am not worried, but by how much did I pass?  Time will tell!

Three units is considered full time study.  I am really proud that I managed this while still taking the children to their Playgroup, pre-school, music lessons, swimming lessons and Little Athletics.  Did I forget anything on that list?  Phew, we are busy!  I had said I would study in my spare time, as long as the children didn't pay the price for it in terms of missing out on their things and family time.  The house missed out, and some nights meals may have required imagination and an open mind to eat but we got there in the end.

Of course, the Mr picked up a lot of slack for me.  Thank you.  I don't really have words that will convey how much he has done, but it was a lot, and I am grateful for it.

And now I have time to read, knit, relax and enjoy Summer before starting again next year.

The Christening ~ Part 3

The small Church just up the road where the service was held. I love that this Church still opens it's doors once a month. Beautiful!

And a photo taken during the service, as well as a shot of the Sunday School craft action after the main service.

Christening ~ Part 2

A Christening is a great excuse to dress up and take some photos.

Both children looked wonderful dressed in their Christening clothes. I would have liked to have them in the family Christening gown but I left my run a bit late!

They had fun too.

A rare photo of the four of us, I may have to get this one framed.

And in case you were wondering why this is part 2, I decided showed off the cake I baked and decorated in the last post. It was pretty good (if i do say so myself!).

edit: Yes, it is a Polly Pratt dress. I love it a lot!

A Festival

A rock climbing festival!  It has been a long time since we have climbed anything of note but when we noticed a festival advertised that was within day trip distances we had to go!

It was a beautiful day to be outside.

I didn't do any climbing given we have been working pretty hard here over the holidays and I didn't want to overdo things (sensible me!).  The Mr did tick off a few bouldering problems which made him happy (he also wants photo credit for taking the shot of me on a log).

A day trip this year, next year will see us camping and having more fun at the festival.

Searching for Happy.

Malabrigo Silky, to be a shawl one day, if I ever get around to finishing...

Right now I don't feel like blogging, or knitting, or sewing, or cleaning, or baking, or crafting away an afternoon with the kids.

I feel like sleeping. 

I am just so TIRED!

I have a short fuse, short attention span, and a surly disposition.

I am on Iron tablets for the anemia.  I hope they start to work soon.

My ill health is making me unhappy.

I will be back soon.  When I feel better.  After my nap...

SIT ~ In which I appear

I am not a fan of photos that include myself, but in the interest of full disclosure, here are some that I have seen popping up from the big weekend away.  I look tired in all of them, next time I might skip the shopping and sleep instead (or not!).

Good friend Kylie and I on the last morning.

Stitching away with Renae and Posie

At Material Obsession

Kylie and I again on Saturday night :)

I shamelessly stole these photos from Kylie and Kathy.

If I see any more pop up I will add them in.

My Creative Space ~ Shalom

Hurrah!  With all the knitting I have done it is hard to believe that this is the first time I have knit something for me!  I have already ordered wool for the second 'me' project so I am reversing the knit-for-children-only trend this year.

This is the Shalom Cardigan.  It is knit in 12 ply on big needles so didn't take long to finish.

The pattern is free here via Ravelry, or here on the designers blog.

I feel like my knitting has turned a corner of late.  I even managed to modify this pattern to add the 3 buttons to the front instead of just the one the pattern called for.  I also manage to add the increases and decreases in the body to fit me, which involved taking out a heap of rows too.  I am glad I did as it is actually a pretty good fit for me now.

I am surprised I have had time for knitting with all the other stuff going on around here.

There is the new pup,  storm damage, and ram woes.  Never a dull moment!

For more creative spaces visit here :)

My Creative Space ~ Quilts for Queensland

 Now that the amazing Flood Appeal Auctions are over and the final tally is in ($99,089 raised woot!!) I though it was time to turn my thoughts to Corrie's Quilts for Queensland Project.

In order to keep it quick and simple, given we are busy with plasterboard and other fun stuff I decided to do a simple 9 patch block.  Quick and easy to whip up and should still look good in a finished quilt.  Anyone can make these given they are simple 4.5inch squares sewn together with a 1/4inch seam.

 

Corrie has started a Flickr group too.  She also had the idea that it would be nice to get photos of people holding up blocks that they have made for Quilts for Queensland.  The Mr took a photo of me but then told me I look tired and that perhaps I should not use this photo.  I thought I would post it here at the very least since I am not given to putting photos of me out there that often.  So here I am, looking tired, in an old shirt and no makeup holding up a couple of blocks that I will be posting off to Corrie soon.!

Next up on the creative agenda  are some Hope Softies.

For more Creative Spaces click over here :)

The Santa Photo

Next year, remind me to smile...

Craft Fail

Earlier in the month we had Dye Day where Possum dyed her own wool with food colouring.  I had told her I would knit her something using this wool so I thought I had better hop to it.

I choose the Loopy Pixie Beanie from the Amanda Keeys book.  I love that book!  I was really happy with the way Possum's wool was knitting up and she was getting excited to see the little hat come to be.

The 'Craft Fail' part of this story didn't happen right until the end. I think I should have paid more attention to gauge because it would seem that Possum's Pixie hat actually is a much better fit on me...

What do you think, can I pull off a pixie beanie? Or is it just going too far...?

Mt. Kaputar

Mount Kaputar National Park is 50km East of Narrabri in the North West Slopes and Plains of New South Wales.  This volcanic rock dominates the horizon for miles at 1520m above sea level and is a view I grew up with and remember fondly.

It is said that on a good day, from the various lookouts in the park, that you can see up to 10% of New South Wales from here.  Amazing!

The Mr decided to try out a fake smile* much like Possum uses for the camera...

There are plenty of picnic and camp sites in the park and at $5 per tent and $3 per adult I think we will go back soon!  It was a great way to spend part of the long weekend.

One of the few photos of me with both children.  Possum still has her fake smile in place and Blue is trying to escape!  Now wonder we don't have any photos with the four of us in it!

*Like it isn't hard enough to get a good photo in the first place, serves him right that I am using it regardless...

Catching up with Friends

On the weekend we drove South to catch up with friends at Burrinjuck Dam.   They are like family and it has been too long between catch ups.  Four of the boys managed to avoid being in this photo so we were quite a large group in all.

There was plenty of time for fun in the park and fun feeding the birds and kangaroos that were all so quiet they would eat from your hands.

Possum could not skim rocks, but loved watching them splash.  She was not put off by the amount of time in the car to get there as she keeps asking to go back to the small house (cabin).

Me

Kylie at A Little Red Dress tagged me so now I get to show off one of my favourite photos of myself.  I don't put too many photos of myself on this blog so I thought this meme would be a good chance to do something about that.

This was taken in 2005 at the wedding of my Brother in Law.  The original shot was not great with people and cars in the background but with the help of Photoshop I turned myself into something worth keeping.

Why is it so hard to like photos of yourself?

I won't tag anyone formally, but I hope you will join in on the fun and post a picture of yourself too!

Blogtober #2 ~ Knocktober

Amy at Badskirt has some great ideas for topics of inspiration during blogtoberfest.

I am starting with Knocktober, Knock Knock, who's there? A few facts about me to introduce myself. This may sound simple yet I find it a tad tickly. How much do I tell? What if you think I am boring? What is interesting? What if no one leaves a comment?

Am I worrying too much? Maybe, or maybe not, I think I am shy!

1. I am a beginner sewer/knitter/quilter/photographer. A professional hobbyist if you like.
2. I was once employed as a semen collector (of Bulls!).
3. I like beer, and not wine.
4. I once had a pet ferret.
5. I am a tad OCD.

So there you have it, me in five dot points. Now please leave a comment so I can sleep at night ;)

38 Weeks!!!

I have just spent a boring two days in hospital while they ran tests on the Sea Monkey and myself. All is well, just uncomfortable which can't be helped.

While sitting in bed waiting for doctors etc I was worried that if I went in to labor at that moment I would not have a 'bump' photo at the end stages for the album. As soon as I got home this morning I put DH on the other end of my camera...



My weight is now 65.25kg so I have put on just under 10kg. Most of that is the baby :)
I am 41 inches around my tummy and unfortunately my bra size has not increased at all LOL.

Not long to go now, and I have my 'bump' photos taken so I am organised!!

20 weeks ~ Bump

** WARNING **

There is a photo of me below, and I'm not wearing much.
There, don't say I didn't warn you!
Read on and scroll down if you dare...

20 weeks, that's half way to meeting the little Sea Monkey! Very exciting stuff really. I can't decide if it has been fast, or slow. It seems to depend on how I am feeling at the time...

Being 20 weeks means that I have another scan coming up which is VERY exciting, I love these brief glimpses into the murky beyond to see the little one.

Sleeping in a comfy position is getting harder, but I love feeling the little kicks, ticks and flutters that are frequent in the evenings when I first lay down in bed.

I am now 58.2kg so have only put on 1.2kg since the start. Remarkable when I look at the size of me!

So there you have it, all the info you didn't really need, but had to have anyway :)

14 weeks ~ Ultrasound

I thought I had better get around to uploading this little picture, I am a bit behind... This was taken at 14 weeks and I am now nearing the halfway point for this preganancy.

This is a terrible quality shot as it was a photo taken of an X-ray style film which does tend to lose a bit in quality, specially when it is stuck on my window!

DH and I have both felt the kicking, the first time was a very strong kick the day this ultrasound was taken. I now look pregnant which is great, I am much bigger of tummy this time round than I was with Miss Possum but I hope I finish at the same end point.

I have had no cravings, but the smell of fish makes me icky which is awful as I used to love cooking fresh fish. I hope it is temporary!

Things will start to happen faster now that we are at this point so I will update a little more often on the Little Sea Monkey's progress.