New socks

Here is a picture of current BQ progress - not much to report this week but it is still getting there...


And here are my new socks!! After a week of freezing toes I went out and bought some! Mind you, I think I should have gone to Safeway instead of Target - there was very little there. And I don't think it was because they had run out either... I wish country stores were better stocked!

Anyway, these socks have some wool and angora in them and I am looking forward to wearing my new luxury item!!



And here is the reason why I have not been stitching so much - I have been trying to teach myself to knit! (Well, start agian anywya - my Nanna did teach me!) I have decided that I want to knit myself a pair of socks - I just have to wait for the needles now as the local place didn't have them in stock. I think that knitting socks is just one of those things that you need to say that you have done then you never need to do again... rather like roasting a chicken with all the trimmings...and smocking. Mind you - I may like knitting socks, and if I continue to be unable to find a cardigan I like I may have to bite the bullet and knit one of those too.

Oh, just a note - SIL is in labour so will let you all know if I am an aunt or an uncle in the near future... :)

Snippets

Discussion while getting ready for bed...

TG: They [pyjamas] are a bit short, aren't they?
Mum : yes, we might need to buy you some more
TG: yes, we might need to go to the shop... to Target and buy some more...we will go to Target to buy me pyjamas...

What the???

And how did she know????

As I type, it is 2.2 degrees C outside - no wonder the cat is tying himself in knots to get in front of the heater!

Oh, and here is a picture of what I served up for dinner tonight. It was very yummy.



And here is a picture of the child that refused it...



I just love this jumper - it may not go with her Dorothy top but it is lovely and warm!

The Creative Process...

Here are a few photos of the Girlie's afternoon scrapping. We very nearly had ALL the stickers we bought this morning on her LO but luckily I conviced her to save some for next time.

The Girle says..."uuttejuttttttuufnnnnjjjffffffffffffffffffk" which I think means "we had fun..."

Of course, it might not mean anything at all.

Buttons!!!

Here are some photos I took tonight of TG doing her own buttons. She wanted to do it all herself tonight and I must admit she did a great job!

There are also a couple of extra photos - one of both of us that I took and one of my NEW STASH!!! Can't wait to do those bookmarks.... :)

A day at home

It is still very wet and windy and cold (so the rain is freezing AND horizontal!) so today we stayed at home. Mostly.

We had some friends come over to play this morning (and the Mummy of said friends) while I went off for my "lady's check up". The Girlie had a lovely time even though my friends had some difficulty with my DVD player. Oh well... they don't always have to watch TV! They had fun anyway.

We did briefly go to the shops to get groceries and TG had a great time counting the vegies - now she just has to learn to eat them! She was pretty good for a grocery shop - I think that all this holding in her number 2s and also climbing in to bed with me at odd hours of the night (and proceeding to chatter all about the day's activities! *sigh*) might be tiring her out a bit. I am loathe to put her back to bed as it seems obvious she needs a bit of extra security at the moment. Thankfully it is not every night.

We also went to meet the emergency day carer this afternoon and TG behaved herself impeccably. She remembered the kids she met (and especially the cat!) and knows that she will be going there on Friday (and that Mummy will be coming back after work! LOL) and seems okay about it. Let's hoe that she is okay about it on Friday morning.

She didn't eat her tea tonight but at least she didn't make a big thing of it. Although now that that is not a big thing any more she is having a good go at making bedtime difficult. Luckily she is so tired that she drifts off very quickly.

I have a tidy lounge room and both the washing up and the folding are up to date - so I am going to bed a happy woman.... LOL

Still cold...

In fact - last night I forgot to turn the heater off and I didn't even notice!! Normally it would cut in and out - waking me up - or I would get too hot. But no! So cold it must have been...

The Girlie was sick this morning - poor thing. Who knows why. I thought that perhaps she had caught whatever the other little girl at daycare had last week but, as she was bouncy and happy and not sick again, it would seem not.

I am also thinking that her behaviour generally has been much better the last few days - hopefully that means my new no-nonsense approach is helping. Bedtime is a bit difficult now - I mean when they say they have to go you can't say no, can you? There's nothing I can really tighten in the routine so I am hoping that it will work itself out.

Here is a progress pic of BQ - I was going to put it up last night but I was so very tired after those over-one violets that I went straight to bed. Well, after the very interesting episode of CSI: Miami (in which I finished the next two bands!) and the even more interesting (and perhaps more educational!) documentary on Moorish Spain! (Am I still allowed to call it that? or is that non-PC nowadays. I tend to live in the Middle Ages a bit so if someone could tell me the proper term it would be much appreciated...:) )Of course, it was by then 11 pm - so well and truly past my bedtime.

And it's almost there again now - so more from me tomorrow!

I did it!

Yes, I ate porridge. And it wasn't too bad with a lot less sugar on it than I normally would use!!!

Went to the chemist today to get some stuff for the Girlie - why do kids always try to strangle you with your scarf when you are talking seriously with someone????

hmmmm.

And why is it that people who have been able to stay home with their children say "You don't have children to put them in daycare"????? As if I don't *know* that!!!!

We had chops and vegies tonight. Well, I did. And they were very yummy. What a pity the girlie missed out on such a nice meal...

Mean Mummy

Today I have signed up for the Mean Mummy Army - yet again!!!! I spent 1/2 hour on teh phone to the Maternal Child Health Nurse helpline trying to make sense of meal time techniques. ARGH! So, that is it. The Girlie will now eat what I eat - or not at all. There will be no custard afterwards. And no toast during the week. Just porridge. And no cordial after dinner - just water. Hopefully this will not just help her be more healthy - it might also help the other end... :p

Of course, that means that I will have to eat porridge in the morning too - bleugh!! And I might even have to eat some fruit for snacks! Shock, Horror!!!!

I just hope it's worth it.

Some things I learnt today...

...and possibly already knew...

• 6.45 am is apparently a perfectly reasonable time to get up and demand cuddles from Mum.
• Toast is far more desirable than porridge.
• The world stops for Play School.
• Chocolate Chip muffins are yummy, especially when served warm with cream.
  
• Warm latte will become cold latte - very quickly.
  
• Slippers are unavailable for purchase on a Public Holiday.
• 3 year olds like to tip blocks on the floor at every available opportunity.
• 3 year olds need their own cutting mat.
• You can never have too much glue or too many stickers.
• Bed does not equal sleep.
• No sleep = bad afternoon. But everything still stops for Play School...
  
• Silly toddler + no sleep + sewing box + turned back for 30 seconds = cut beaded scissor fob.
• = CORNER TIME!!!!!!!!
• 3 year olds do not like to pack up the play dough.
• 3 year olds like bubbles.
• Bedtime can be stretched only so far before it gets absurd.
• Work may come as a blessed relief.... :)

What kid of bra are you???

Seems they'll let you blog anything these days...lol

As seen on Stuff with Thing - a fellow stitcher's blog

You Are a Lace Bra!

Dreamy, romantic, and ultra-feminine You're a womanly woman who makes guys feel like men Your perfect guy is strong, determined, and handsome With a softer side that only you can draw out

What Kind of Bra Are You?

BQ update

Here are a couple of pics of BQ. I haven't doen much this week - that over-one stitching is a bit of a killer! I've put in a close up so you non-stitchers out there can get the idea of what I mean.

Enjoy!

Chatter...

Just thought I would pop in and let you all know what I've been up to the last few days.

I have been home sick with this horrible cold virus that keeps coming back so have been reading a fair bit. I have only 1 1/2 books to go and I will have finished all the books on the Older Readers list. This will be a first for me - even though it really should be part of my job! LOL...

Also managed to get 4 episode of Stargate Atlantis season 3 watched - such great sci fi...and the lovely gentlemen actors are starting to dress even better....

I went shopping today with some friends - we went to a scrap shop and I didn't buy anything! So, you see, my stash diet is holding. (It helps that I have a couple of vouchers in reserve that I am going to use this week perhaps... :P) I did, however, buy a copy of Love Struck by Melanie La'Brooy - I now have all three of her books and it looks like I will be laughing all the way through this one too.

Just finished watching Ocean's Eleven (the 2001 "remake" of the 1960's vehicle for Frank Sinatra) It's one of those films that I watch every time it comes on television - even if I already own it on DVD! (For the record, I don't own a copy of Ocean's Eleven - hint hint to any family members out there...). I just love that sort of film that keeps you guessing all the way through (well, keeps me guessing, anyway!) And some of the actors in it help out with that too.... I have always said that Sneakers, while an excellent film, is one that my mother would watch even if all the actors stood still for the duration of the movie... :)

Looking forward to an extra day this weekend - it's always nice to have a relaxing day at home.

Brrrrrr....

Welcome to winter!!!!!!!

The rain is great - but do we have to have the cold too?????

Well, to brighten up your day, here is a progress pic of Barnabee - I am up to some "over one" stitching so don't expect miracles next week!




I am also expecting a parcel (ordered WELL before my stash diet...lol) of a few long-awaited goodies so that may slow down my progress as well. More on that later this week.

I have managed to get through 3 of the 6 CBCA shortlisted Older Readers titles in the past few weeks, and hopefully I may even get the Younger Readers ones read as well.

And on a final note... how does a person (albeit a small one) fit into an even smaller esky???



LIKE THIS!!!!!!!

More scrapping...

Here is my layout for the 123 May Challenge. It had to have 3 patterned papers, a transparency and flowers. I had a fair bit of trouble with the rubons but I think they turned out okay.
I am so tired at the moment - something to do with going to bed too late I think! Must make an effort to get tidied up and under the sheets earlier than usual tonight.

Guess what?? I locked my handbag in the house today. There we were, clouds threatening to burst open at any moment as I walked the girlie to daycare. Luckily it is a short walk and I was able to ring work and then my cleaning fairy who has my spare key. Of course it rained as I walked home to meet her - and I discovered that I now have NO shoes that do not let in water. So I can't put it off any longer. I will have to go and spend lots of money - because, of course, the cheap ones NEVER fit...

And I need two pairs.

grrrrr......

Just as well I am on a scrap diet...

A productive weekend

Great fun was had by all this weekend at the Scrapbook Divas cybercrop! I only got two of the challenges done but am happy with the results. Especially as I was halfway through the title of the first LO and realised I didn't have any blue 's'es left. Grrrrr.

The third LO is the girlie's attempt at the kids challenge. I am not sure she understood the concept but she got to use scissors, glue and stickers so hey, she didn't care! And she even got to put buttons on!

Well, it is back to work tomorrow! Fun Fun Fun... :p Well, gotta pay for the scrap supplies somehow!

Yea, verily, I have scrapped...finally!

Here is my latest crafty offering. I really enjoyed doing it. It is my entry into the 123 Challenge CC. Hope you all like it!

Here, Puss Puss Puss...

Tonight I was most surprised to have to call the cat inside. It is still pelting down, windy , and bitterly cold (well, relatively speaking anyway). I called him from the back door and then proceeded to check (again) all the usual spots. The cat was nowhere to be found... until a few minutes later when I was washing up I heard a faint meiow and there he was, in the suitcase. Why, I am not sure. Perhaps he just doesn't want to stay home when we go travelling anymore... :)

I also made some muffins tonight. Chocolate choc chip muffins to be precise. Oh, and with the added healthy bit of zucchini... :o Let's hope the girlie can't tell...

Can you tell it's raining??

-
This is the cupboard above the fridge. Hopefully they will eat the bait and BEGONE!

Bloody ants.

Another sure-fire way that you can tell it is raining is that the cat has spent far more time inside than out. Also, I have washing on the line... grrr

In other news...

• The Girlie has begun pronouncing "i"s as "oy"... they were perfect up until the other day....hmmmm...
• I have spent the majority of this evening perfecting a new (for me) Photoshop technique, and I think it was successful. You will have to watch out for the results coming soon to a blog near you!
• Yesterday we bought a lunchbox for the Girlie as a result of an earlier conversation. Which began something like this... "Mummy, I don't have a runchbox" ... Now that she has a hideous contraption only a 3 year old could love I am hoping she will not be disappointed to find that it still only contains the same old sandwich and yoghurt...
• Robin Hood (on the ABC) is still not very good television. Unfortunately, it is slightly addictive.
• Second Life is now becoming less so - thank goodness.
• And last but not least, an update pic on Barnabee's Quest. Enjoy!

Simon Says...

As I was walking back from the canteen with my lunch, a group of senior students were walking back and talking about the class they had just left. They were having a good laugh and let me in on the joke...

Apparently they were winding down the class with a game of "Simon Says". One of the kids said "can I have a go?" and receiving an answer in the affirmative promptly said,

"Simon says, stand up"
"Simon says, pick up your books"
"Simon says, leave"

While this was clever and funny it was also rude and I told them they really should go back and apologise... as they refused to do so I had no choice but to do a report.

Thankfully I was able to do it in private. It is very difficult to write seriously while trying to keep a straight face...

No stitching tonight

Instead, I have been playing with Second Life -*shock horror* I hear you gasp. No, don't worry - I still have a first life, I just wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

It is very addictive. After tonight's effort (where I completed all the tutorials on "Orientation Island") I am going to have to set a timer! The graphics are a bit clunky - especially for those of us who are spatially challenged - but I am hoping that I will work that out in time to actually get onto the 'mainland'. It's off to "Help Island" sometime later in the week!

Apart from playing on the computer I have made meatballs (enough for 7 meals!) and goen to playgroup and done some washing (not necessarily in that order!) The meatballs were yummy (well, I thought so, the girlie refused to touch them even though she had fun making them) playgroup was fun and I forgot to take the washing in. So lets hope tomorrow is sunny enough to re-dry the towels and then rains as soon as I've taken them in!

Hear ye, Hear ye... :)

Lime Tart has a new blog! You can check it out here. Not only have they uploaded their newsletter and ideas for their latest kits, they also have a comp running! Leave a comment and link to them to be in the running to win a Gourmet Tart. More details can be found on Top50.

And I know that that will give me fewer chances to win - but hey, that means you might have read my blog, and that's gotta be good... lol

...and if you win... let me know so that I can drool over your new kit in cyberspace...

Good Luck!

BQ update #3

I am quite tired tonight so I will just post a pic of progress this week rather than write a big long screed.

I will also miss Eurovision...how sad...

Not to mention Terry Wogan getting progressivly drunker and even less politcally correct about this year's entries...

I've been tagged!!! Again!!!

Well, apparently this is the going thing and I thought I had gotten out of it! But no such luck... LOL

Both Helen and Tannia have 'tagged' me, so I suppose I will have to come up with something... *sigh*... :)

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

(Tannia's version has 8 items needed so I think I will go with Helen's version...lol)

1. I don't like marshmallows 'raw' - I have to have them in hot chocolate or toasted.
2. My daughter looks more and more like me every day and it is terrifying!
3. I have only ever lived 2 years without a cat.
4. I am good at organising other people but shocking at organising myself!
5. I think that all fruit salad tastes like melon - even when there is none in it.
6. I start more craft projects than I finish.
7. My favourite colour combination is green and purple.

So there you go - I have played the game. I am not going to tag anyone - but do have a go if you feel you would like to!!!

A second Sunday's stitching...

I thought that I might give a rundown of my busy week - and put up an update pic of Barnabee's Quest.

Monday: Work. Went to craft shop after getting petrol (I think some fell out when they replaced the fuel pump last week...grrr.) Just got there as she was walking out the door...grr again.

Tuesday: Work. Went to craft shop and got there after it was closed but I was lucky and she let me in! YAY! Got two threads needed for BQ. Had Soul Purpose Craft (group) at my place so rushed around making dinner and muffins. Had a really lovely night stitching and chatting.

Wednesday: Work. Was v. strange working on a Wednesday. Highlight? of the day was havign to get books off the shelves adn return them after a well-meaning teacher put them back on the shelves to save us all the trouble. Luckily we were eventually able to laugh about it. Finally got to the post office and there was my latest magazine waiting for me so that was a bonus.

Thursday: Travelled to Melbourne. We met friends for lunch halfway, which of course meant going through Geelong at school time and then we hit the Western Ring Road at 4.30. An hour later we finally arrived at our destination. *Sigh*

Friday: Professional Development. Was v. good even though I missed two trains due to the first being cancelled and then not being able to get onto the second one. Honestly, if they can't run the trains on time what are they doing with all the money???????

Saturday: Travelled home, taking in easy. It took us 11 hours!! LOL. We stopped and had a coffee and a little shop, had lunch on the move, stopped for a break (ie, sleep!) and then dropped in at friends' place for a little party. It took a lot of convincing the girlie that there weren't any party hats. Poor thing.

Sunday: Church, Housework, stitching and now - bed!

Goodnight!

Sunday Stitching

Well, after a very busy Saturday (which included: a scrapping class on Twinkling H2Os, lots of noise from 3 children (we had visitors), chocolate, sudden silence (one child sleeping, the rest gone home), un unexpected cybercrop MSN chat and an almost forgotten online class) Sunday has been comparatively very restful. I have caught up mostly on the washing up and have done 3 loads of washing (due to the girlie wetting the bed after 2 completely dry months - even Jarmie Bear was soaked! - I had to wash ALL of her bedding.) And I even got to do some stitching! To the left you can see the start of Barnabee's Quest designed by Nan Caldera of Just Nan. I have wanted to do this design for a while now and it makes a nice change from Teresa Wentzler's dragons!

Of course, I didn't get all of this done today, just the flowers and the stems, but with any luck I should get the other side done tonight and then do a bit more border perhaps.

I am only working 3 days this week - then it is off to the Big Smoke for some Professional Development looking at libraries in the Digital Age. Should be interesting! At teh very least I might get some good shopping in...LOL...

Hooray!

I have my freezer back!!!! It still needs to be carefully wedged between the wall of the laundry and the washing machine so I haven't actually pluygged it in yet so I don't really know if it works. They say they fixed it so I will give them the benefit of the doubt for the moment.

Of course, when I rang them this morning at 8.30 and said "I will be in all day" and they said "Good, we'll drop it round this morning then" I didn't think they meant STRAGHT AWAY! I looked at the clock and decided that yes, I did have time for a speedy shower. Lucky it was speedy as as I was just finished drying off and thinking about my toothbrush I heard the van drive up. Five seconds later I have my tracksuit on and my towel off my hair. Unfortuantely I had forgotten to pull the zipper of my top up so it showed a little bit more of my chest than I bargained for as I opened the door. Luckily for me it wasn't x-rated footage. The delivery boy was a lovely lad I remember from year 12 a couple of years back and was just as polite as I remembered him. Thank goodness! :)

Well, back to work again tomorrow after spending a snotty day with the girlie. Why do kids never drink enough when they have a cold??? Or full stop for that matter? I have had to fight her every step of the way with fluid today. Oh well, she's not my problem tomorrow... he he he...

Some scrapping

Here are a couple of challenges I did as part of the cybercrop at The Little Scrapbook Shop last weekend. The box is about 2x2 inches and the LO is the normal size.

Enjoy!

Movies: 57 out of 239

I found this one on Teresa Wentzler's blog...
“It’s been said that allegedly if you’ve seen over 85 movies you have no life. Mark the ones you’ve seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste it in and put x’s by the ones that you have seen. Add them up, change the header adding your number, and post it.”

( ) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
( ) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
( ) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
(X) Neverending Story
( ) Blazing Saddles
( ) Airplane
(X) The Princess Bride
( ) AnchorMan
( ) Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
( ) Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates
(X) The Princess Diaries
(x) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Total so far: 8 out of 22.

( ) Scream
( ) Scream 2
( ) Scream 3
( ) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
( ) American Pie
(x) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
( ) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
( ) The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch

Total so far: 14 out of 43.

(X) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
( ) Signs
(X) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
( ) 13 Going on 30
( ) I, Robot
( ) Robots
( ) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
( ) KingPin
( ) Never Been Kissed
( ) Meet The Parents
( ) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
( ) Joe Dirt
( ) King Kong

Total so far: 16 out of 66.

( ) A Cinderella Story
( ) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
( ) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving Christmas
(X) Flubber*
( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(X) Practical Magic
(X) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards

Total so far: 19 out of 90.

( ) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child’s Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(X) Ten Things I Hate About You
(X) Just Married
( ) Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
( ) Sixteen Candles
( ) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(X) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
( ) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Sleven
(X) Ocean’s Eleven
(X) Ocean’s Twelve
( ) Bourne Identity
( ) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(X) Ice Age
( ) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George

Total so far: 25 out of 121.

(X) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(X) E.T.
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
( ) Maid in Manhattan
( ) War of the Worlds
(X) Rush Hour
(X) Rush Hour 2
( ) Best Bet
(X) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
( ) She’s All That
(X) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
( ) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(X) Ever After
(X) Wizard of Oz
( ) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
( ) The Terminator
( ) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3

Total so far: 33 out of 147.

(X) X-Men
(X) X-2
(X) X3
( ) Spider-Man
( ) Spider-Man 2
( ) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
( ) Catch Me If You Can
(X) The Little Mermaid
(X) Freaky Friday*
( ) Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
( ) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
(X) Shrek
(X) Shrek 2

Total so far: 40 out of 165.

( ) Swimfan
(X) Miracle on 34th street*
( ) Old School
( ) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
( ) Krippendorf’s Tribe
( ) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
( ) The 40-year-old Virgin
(X) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
(X) Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
( ) Lord of the Rings: Return Of the King
(X) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(X) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(X) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Total so far: 46 out of 181.

( ) Base-ketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
( ) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History X
( ) Three
( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(X) Monsters Inc.
(X) Titanic
(X) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard

Total so far: 49 out of 200.

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(X) Hook
( ) Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
( ) Waterworld
( ) Kill Bill Vol. 1
( ) Kill Bill Vol. 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) The Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness

Total so far: 50 out of 220.

(X) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(X) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
( ) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(X) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(X) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(X) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks: Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks: The Battle For Endor
( ) The Matrix
( ) The Matrix: Reloaded
( ) The Matrix: Revolutions
(X) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
( ) Red Dragon
(X) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal

So a grand total of 57 out of 239.

I thought I'd be much closer to not having a life than that...LOL.

(Of course, there's no Bridget Jones or Love Actually type films on this list. If there were I might be in real danger...LOL)

For the record, Teresa got 30.

Oh no!

I'm out of book!

I finished The Villa in Italy by Elizabeth Edmondson last night - it was fantastic. Great story and well written.

So now I am left with Seventh Heaven (the 7th book in the Princess Diaries series) and The Poison Principle by Gail Bell - which is not a book I feel like reading just before bed. Not surprisingly considering that it is an examination of poisons and poisoners. Interesting though.

We are starting our book club on Scrapbook Divas next week so I dropped into the library to see if they had got the book in for me but it wasn't there. We are reading The Rain Queen by Katherine Scholes. I really enjoyed The Stone Angel so I am hoping this book will be in a similar style. So I picked up Make me an Idol instead. I also realised that I have a Michael Pryor book (Blaze of Glory) to read that someone lent to me last year, so I had better pick that one up and check it out.

Oh, and I didn't win the CC (except for the bring a friend prize!) but I had a really good time and it was good to get some scrapping done - finally! Hope you all enjoyed the layouts!

And yet another

I have had a productive weekend!

second new LO

And I finshed another one!!!!!!!

New LO

Hope you like it!

Out of the mouths...

We have recently suffered a few power outages, one of which happened this morning. Of course, I had to explain to the girlie just why the lights had all gone out.

Later this afternoon, when I wanted her to pay attention to what I was saying, I asked her as usual, to "turn her ears on". (No she's not deaf - I just like her to concentrate!). When I asked her if she was listening she said "I think my power's gone..."

Back to the Stone Age!!!!!!

Well, I don't seem to be having much luck with electrical appliances.

After deciding that the lino really wasn't that bad (Max the moving man bringing my washing machine home early helped in that decision!) I moved the new little freezer into place (well, Max did) and then helped him move the washing machine in. After I had cleaned the floor of course. I'm not sure which of us was more excited about the new freezer actually...

After he had left and I had sorted out a few bits and pieces, I turned it on.

2 hours later it was a little bit cool.

The next morning it was a little bit cooler.

I decided not to test it with icecream but with esky freezer blocks instead.

When I got home, the freezer blocks were a little bit cool but as close to frozen as a snowball in...well, you know.

So I turned it off and hoped that there wasn't something I missed in the manual. Now I get to play another round of phone tiggy with a repairman. Oh, joy...

...at least it is still in warranty.

On the up side, my washing machine is working fine. It's still dirty in parts I can't reach to clean so no doubt it will clog again, but at least it is working. Now I can just sit back and wait for the bill...

Book musings...

I have recently become addicted to Chick Lit. Like most other addictions it has come to me gradually - a little bit Of Louise Rennison here, and a little bit of Bridget Jones there... until eventually it is all i am reading! At first, I was ashamed of my little personal problem, but now I shout it out from the rooftops! I am a chick lit fan!!!! Well, perhaps not shout, maybe more of a little "hey, I'm really enjoying this book".

So, why do I like it? When I have been a hard core fantasy buff all these years??? I'm not really sure. They have escapism in common, but not much else. One purports to deal with real life (but how many sexy gardeners do you know who routinely take their shirt off in chapter 14?? Not enough, that's how many!) and the other has magic in it that tends to happen at just the right time... hang on.... maybe they do have more in common that is evident at first glance LOL.

Like all genres, there are good and bad books, some more 'fluffy' than others. And as the characters get older it's called Hen Lit!

Some that I have found good are - Sophie Kinsella, Helen Fielding (of course, the founder of the movement!), Melanie La'Brooy, Lousie Rennison (teenchiklit) and Ilsa Evans.

And if these are all out at your library, put them on reserve and ask your ever-helpful librarian to recommend something new!

Careful, someone might hear you...

Yesterday I was driving across a road and hadn't noticed that the car rapidly approaching had turned off his indicator. As I hit the accelerator I said a word.

"Where da ship, Mummy??"

Book review: Youse Two by Andrew Daddo

Twins Josh and Jack Pickering are impossible to tell apart. Well, by everbody else, anyway. In reality, they are, of course, quite different.

Andrew Daddo has written a rip-snorter of a boys' comedy that will have the reader trying very hard to hold in their laughter during silent reading times. While the humour is obviously directed at boys it will be enjoyed by both boys and girls of all ages.

Watch out for the sudden ending. I'm not quite sure what happened there...

Check out the book here.

ARGH!!!!

Well, it never rains but it pours!

On Thursday night I decided to do Friday's wash as we were going away for the weekend. It got as far as the final rinse and then wouldn't drain. Turns out it has a blocked pump. Squeezed clothes in towels, bucketed water, sopped up excess, etc etc.

Rang F&P on Sunday and they said, shall we send someone out to you? I asked if they knew where I was calling from. Yes, you're in Victoria, came the reply. ROFL! (eventually anyway.) They gave me the number of the local bloke.

Turns out the number was wrong. I found the right number. Rang it. Left a message. Thankfully the grapevine works well and someone at work told me he's having a shoulder reconstruction. So he wasn't likely to get back to me.

Rang F&P today, again, and explained the situation. They then gave me the number of someone 100 km away and I got onto them first time. They gave me a number for a courier bloke who came and picked it up for me. He was even going to help me take the laundry door off, but resourceful me managed it myself. LOL.

So that was the washing machine.

I decided that now would be a perfect time to remove the old chest freezer (which was blocked in by the washing machine) and replace it with my new mini-upright (which is still in the back porch waiting to be used!) so XDH brought his mate's trolley to help me during his visit tonight. While I was setting the video to record Spicks and Specks I heard an Oh crap. Turns out the freezer buckled and ripped the lino. Not even gaffer tape is going to fix it.

So now I have to go find someone to re-lino the laundry. Before the washing machine comes home.

And before the fish I found at the bottom of the chest freezer defrosts...

I'm going to be....

a bridesmaid!

My sister is getting married (the current date is "sometime in January" but stay tuned for updates) and she has asked me - along with two of her friends - to be a bridesmaid for her. I am honoured to be asked and perhaps even a little excited.

I would perhaps be more excited if I wasn't faced with the prospect of Eighties-style fashion this winter (and possibly next summer *shock*). The thought of puffy sleeves, drop waists and (heaven forbid) shoulder pads just makes me shudder. I didn't really enjoy the Eighties much while it was here, much less a revisit!

So, please, R., I do know that it is your day, but think of your poor sister who fades in pastels and gets lost in puffy sleeves... :p

There is one really good thing about it though - at least I don't have to worry about choosing something to wear!

More Darwinian Trainees

I blogged a couple of days ago about stupidity. Little did I know that more prime examples would come my way.

With several 35+ degree days looming, most people would take the initiative and wear something appropriate.

As the Scouts say "Be Prepared".

In my naivety, I consider reading an excellent activity during the heat. It involves little expenditure of energy and might even take the mind away from its current situation, ie. HEAT. So it was a great shock to discover that I may have been wrong twice in one week! When faced with the aforementioned activity many students complained that it was "too hot". On closer inspection these same (female) students were seen to be wearing a) school dress, b) 'outerwear' (apparently it is fashionable to wear a singlet over a dress. I can only assume that these people have not learnt anything from Superman...) and c) a thick woollen school jumper, all artfully arranged to show the least amount of dress and the largest amount of (pink) 'outerwear'.

Perhaps they are proving that they are just as good at this as the boys??

In training...

The other day some boys were seen teasing a local cat. They were also in possession of a video camera.

Turns out they were filming themselves for their media project.

Not only did the film themselves teasing the cat - they also turned in the film for assessment.

Now, apart from the obvious disgustingness of cruelty to animals, is there no end to stupidity??? Not only do these guys jeapordise their marks, cash, and respect, but they seem to have lost their brains somewhere as well. I have heard some stupid people stories in my time (see The Darwin Awards for inspiration) but I haven't really been that close to one myself. I couldn't quite bring myself to believe that people could really be quite that stupid.

I guess, for once in my life, perhaps I was wrong.

I escaped!!!!!!!!!

Ably aided and abetted by S. and S., I enjoyed a nice dinner of garlic focacia, seafood fettucini and a glass of the house white all the while fending off barbs from both sides... :-)

Since the S. on the left is leaving us for sunnier climes we thought that a night out was in order and it was great to get together without five children in tow.

To S.: We have enjoyed your company and friendship these past 14 months and we wish you all the best in your new business. Our thoughts go with you... J.

Exciting news!

We have wees!!!!!!!!!

No, not asthma - wee, plural...

The girlie has decided (like the Little Princess) that "nappies are yeuuch!" and that the toilet is a good place to do number ones. Last Thursday she very patiently explained to me how it would work and most of the time it has...

And we are both very happy about it. :-)

Needleworkers Unite!!!!

Hey, all you lovely stitchers out there!!!!!

Yes, you - the one with floss all on your armchair, and the one with 10 WIPs and who knows how many UFOs! And even you - the-one-who-eats-chocolate-and drinks-red-wine-while-stitching!!!

Craft Critique needs you!!!

So far the site has focussed on reviewing paper-based crafts but are now looking for reviewers from crafts external to the industry.

So, let's show them what stitchers can do!!! Drop into the blog and leave a comment for them. You might even win something...

Antopia!!!

I found it!!!! The thing the ants were all gunning for.

It was the Children's Panadol....grrrrr.

So now I have a lot of souped up ants...LOL

Would that be why the baits didn't work??? Perhaps they were so doped up they didn't feel the pain...

Hopefully this will be the end of it - until the next time!

Two questions...as yet unanswered...

1. Why is it that supermarket staff bother checking in mushroom bags to see what's in it?? You'd think that with mushrooms at $8.97/kg there would be very little you could hide in there and actually make a profit!
2. Why, oh why, do I still have ants in my kitchen??? Despite numerous baits and cleanings still they come.... and I can't even figure out what they're after! The sugar is in a screw top jar and the honey and golden syrup are also untouched.

'Tis a mystery.

I have new hair!!!

Well, no, it's the same hair I had before - just cut and coloured. But it looks really good!!!! Well, I like it, and that's all that matters...LOL

A strange event occurred today...
"Let me guess!" I hear you cry. "The sky turned green? You phoned your mother??"
"No, stranger than that" I say.
"You phoned your sister???"
"No, even stranger than that! I walked past a scrap shop, and into Spotlight and didn't buy anything!"

Now that is really wierd. Perhaps I am sickening for something... :P

Have been back at work this week (perhaps that's it LOL) and it just whizzed by. The pace of this first week bodes ill for the rest of the term - it will be Easter before we know it. Apart from swimming and athletics days, the first term isn't too bad - there are several public holidays. And then the promise of chocolate at the end. Hmmmm... The girlie thinks she likes chocolate now - must disabuse her of this notion by Easter if I am to keep my choccie!

Haven't done any reading this week - have been too tired by the time all the housework is done so am really looking forward to getting some in tonight. I would try tomorrow afternoon when the girlie is asleep but I think Stargate may take preference then... LOL

Well, I'd better hop to it if I am to read. Goodnight All!

Tomorrow, tomorrow...

I go back to work....

Hmmmmm....

Do I have to???????

Ok, whine over!

I went in today and there is a 2 month pile of periodicals to put on the system. Thanks go to our wonderful library assistant who has prepped them for me so all I have to do is put them through the computer. YAY! Our doors have also been painted. The outer one is blue and the inner ones are red. Hmmmm...wonder who came up with that colour scheme??? It's not too bad really, the colours are quite deep. I'm sure I'll get used to it....

The girlie went into daycare today (and apparently had a marvellous time) so it was my last day of freedom. It was so nice to have done all the major tidy up things so that I could enjoy it!

I went the library and borrowed some more Ilsa Evans as well as that old bastion - Mrs Christie! Am looking forward to a good old fashioned over the top Miss Marple murder. What is it about that woman that attracts crime??? St Mary Mead seems to be a lot like Midsomer - by the end of the episode you wonder if there is anyone left in the town to murder!

Anyway, early to bed tonight - sandwiches are done and the washing up will take but a moment - got to be on time to work at least one day this year!

See, I can tidy!

I thought that I would show you all what my table looks like without my scrapping stuff strewn all over it!

I also thought you might like to see that my girl really is her father's daughter. Anyone who knows him can attest that he also has a penchant for shoving things up his nose....LOL...or in his ears... Hopefully she will become more sensible with age. She should - after all she is female...LOL

I have just spent the last couple of hours watching the tennis. The match between Federer and Gonzales was fantastic. The other finals have all been a bit one-sided, so it was great to see a match where the players were a bit closer. It was also good to see Federer challenged a bit for a change! Bring on good tennis!

I also watched a bit of Midsummer Night's Dream. The modern version. I had forgotten what a cringey play it can be. Sucha comedy of errors. Young love and all that. Still, the performances were good. I did enjoy Taming of the Shrew better though!

Only one more day at home! Back to work on Tuesday. ARGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!

What the...?

Welcome to my mess!!! So much for cleaning up the dining room!

Well, to be fair, I did clean it up, but I messed it up again.

But I did create three layouts (if you look closely you can see one of them!) Well...2 1/2. One isn't quite finished yet... I will put them up tomorrow.

In other news...

I have put batteries in the girlie's kitchen and now it makes noise. I think I must be insane. Oh well, at least she seems to be enjoying it.

It's raining! Well, a little bit. And that's better than nothing.

My kitchen is still tidy.

I finished my book - and it was good.

Decluttering again....

Here are some pictures of my decluttered kitchen. They were requested by my mother. I expect she didn't believe me! Ignore the clutter in the dining room part - it won't be there next week anyway... :)

The first photo is of my friend's little (5lb 13oz) baby. He was born on the 20th, so is just 6 days old. He has bad jaundice, poor thing, so they'll be in hospital a bit longer. But isn't he beautiful??

I go back to work on Tuesday - I hope to get a fair bit more done this weekend before that.

Well, it's time for bed. Off to read the sequel to Spin Cycle. It's called Drip Dry, and it's even better! Well I think so, anyway!

HOT! HOT! HOT!

That pretty much sums it up!

We are supposed to get a cool change sometime tonight but it doesn't feel likiely at this stage. It was still almost 30 degrees Celsius at about 6 pm here tonight.

The girlie has had a temp all day as well as colic last night. I am hoping that it is the heat and teeth rather than anything serious. She seems to be much better since her cool bath (even though she hated it!) and has finally gone to sleep.

Anyway this heat has got me exhausted so I am off to bed. I finished Spin Cycle this morning so I think I will move onto The Devil Wears Prada tonight, just for a bit of fun. I can read my book group book tomorrow.

Oh my goodness!!!

She ate some potato! I am still in shock! It was only about half the size of a five cent piece but I am sure that is progress of a sort LOL!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch - we are in the midst of stocktake at work - argh!!!! I do so hate stocktake. Backache, armache and the feeling that you never want to look a novel in the face again... Still, we'll find out how many books got nicked this year... :)

I have my Christmas list sorted out (not going to post anything here cause my mum reads this! :) )so that is a weight off my mind. Next to work out is the Christmas card list and then I have to write them! So much to do!! Only 2 1/2 weeks left!

That means there are only 2 weeks left of work (8 working days for those of you playing at home!). Pippee! Pippee!

Girly... yet elegant...

...is the look I was after.

I do like my new bedlinen.

And the best thing about it is that I got to choose it. No-one else has to have any input in it except ME!

"I'm in a big bed!"

Yes, it has finally happened - my little girl is now in a big bed! And very excited she is too!

She has slept in it for two afternoon sleeps and once overnight so far - she managed to fall out once last night reaching for Zoe (a small furry puggle-like creature - photo to follow at a later date) but has not been so bad the rest of the time. I bought a trundle as well, so she has fallen onto that. The trundle is not only handy to break falls - it also doubles as a step. Yes, that's right, the bed is TOO HIGH! After all my checking and double checking at the shop it turns out that this mattress is about and inch higher on this bed than the other one. And she can't get in it.

Oh dear.

She also doesn't know that she can get out of it anytime she wants - an idea I do not intend to disabuse her of... :) But I'm sure she'll work it out herself soon enough.

IN OTHER NEWS:

It turns out that the main character of Spin Cycle is a librarian. Curiouser and curiouser... :) This book is getting closer to home all the time! :)

Thanks to Fleurie for setting up some more links on the side of my blog. I will update them soon (ie. when I have time to figure out how to do it...LOL)

There are only 3 weeks to go till Christmas. That means there are less than 3 weeks to go till holidays!!!!! I just have to get through stocktake first. Hmmmm... Stay tuned to see if I survive...

ARRGH!

I just spent 1 hour and 36 minutes on the phone.

While it was lovely to have such a great conversation with a great person, I have done no folding, no dishes and missed Agatha Christie. And my ear is still sore... :)

Still, I did get a nice cup of tea. And I got to have an adult conversation with and intelligent and learned person, so all is not lost.

And the writers muck with the endings of those Agatha Christie specials anyway. Fancy inventing new characters and new motives into an already full plot!

Tonight is the girlie's last night in her cot. Yes, I have gone out and bought her a bed. I intend to take her out tomorrow and buy a nice doona cover and some nice sheets to go with it and then we will come home and put it all together. She likes helping do things like that. I might nip into the store quickly before she does and hide the Wiggles' sets first though.... :)

I have been able to do some more reading recently. I have found a new author, Sophie Kinsella. Her books can only be defined as chick lit, however the book I read, The Undomestic Goddess was lots of fun and a really enjoyable read. And not too cringy - unlike Bridget Jones' Diary! Currently, my bedtime reading is called Spin Cycle by Ilsa Evans. I haven't gotten very far into it but it seems good. Partly because I have a fairly intimate knowledge of the part of the world she has set it in. It's very weird to think that you know exactly where the character is when she's having lunch... :)

Anyway, I am going to go and read it now - the dishes can wait. I, too, can be an undomestic goddess.... :P