xenabonjovi

New tattoo

2011-10-29T14:54:00.000+11:00

Yesturday I spontaniously went and had my tatto to mark getting my white star done. I had been planing on getting one done but the moment kind of just happened.
I had been heading to Penrith for a couple other things and thought I may as well go and find out about getting it done. Then when I got there ended up just booking it in for later that day.

Pretty pleased with it and shall be marking each star achievement in the same way going further up the arm.

Really has ti been that long

2011-10-28T10:08:00.000+11:00

I have been reading others blogs but did not realise till now how slack I have been on my own blog.
Hmmmmmmm really need to change that.
Well there has been a lot happening. First up I have changed from Uni study to TAFE study to gain my diploma in Community Services. Sooooooo much better than the slog of Uni via distance education.
I have still being going hard on my Roller Derby training. I passed my white star this week. YAY for me. So I can now be known by my derby name of E Lecktrick Beat-Her.

Need to have my helmet sticker redone as it was spelt wrong

The league is growing strong we have just over 50 members now with about 40 regular skaters and our fresh meat intake is about to happen again.

Some of the girls who went in the parade for Winter Magic back in June

It's been a year since my split with my husband. WOW that went quick.
I will be more vigilant I swear on this blog.

Kids art

2011-05-17T21:56:00.000+10:00

I love the art works my kids do. Especially the collage pieces. Lots more imagination goes into those. I always like to see what they can turn different objects into. Here are some of their lates work.

Jazynthe

Jaedyn

Jazynthe

Having fun in the sun

2011-05-17T21:48:00.000+10:00

Sunday may have been an Autumn day of cold in the air but it was a good sunny day. One best spent outdoors having fun. So after the usual lazy Sunday morning breakfast and mucking about at home myself and the Chicken and the Monkey ventured of to lawson markets. I had been thinking of going to Ironfest but funds were limited and there was the want to go to Lawson and get seedlings from the mountain seed swapper stall.
Not only did I pick up some seedlings of kale, spinach and parsley to get ahead of the seeds about to go in the ground. I also picked up some plums for us to eat while we wandered about but Jazynthe got herself a pizza making kit in time for her pizza party this Friday. EEEESSSSSHHHH my girl is turning 6. Jaedyn got himself a toy train. He was on a mission from the time we got there to find a train.
after we ventured across to the little park nearby for fun.

The kids always love playing about there. Jazynthe especially takes the oportunity to turn it into a stage. See those metal looking circles around the edge of the wooden platform. You step on them and they play a musical note.

There should be more play areas like this one out there. Expecially would be a great thing in the infants areas of schools I think.

I promise to take photos of my seedlings in the ground tomorrow. The backyard is sure getting a complete work over. I pruned back the overgrown passionfruit vine very drastically to remove a fence and a number of other things and the yard looks so different already. Lots more to do. I want it to be fully functioning vegie, fruit supply destination with my chooks running about and to be able to start entertaining in it come summer.

New Vegie patch

2011-05-14T16:56:00.000+10:00

I've been slowly working on a better vegie patch when weather allows or I am not busy doing something else.
The last one had gotten out of hand in weeds, grass and over growth. Took several hours to get to a point I could do anything close to what I wanted to end up with.

I used some old sleeprs I had about, nails and star pickets. Then netting to keep the pesky chooks from spoiling all my hard work.

Still a lot of work to do in the yard to get back to a fully working garden again.

New feathered friends

2011-05-14T09:46:00.000+10:00

On Thursday I was given a new rooster and a hen where I buy my chook food from. I know they are bantams but not the actual breed. Anyone know?

As you can see they love to roost in the tree. I did not discover this trait till last night when I went to put the house ramp up......hmmm now I know why there was crowing at 4am.

I haved named them Gomez and Morticia Addams.

Loving to be training

2011-05-10T20:43:00.000+10:00

I have to say despite the pain and the bruises from falls I am loving Derby training. Past all the physical pain I am in due to general lack of fitness and Derby being all about pain I sure am mentally feeling fantastic with it all.
It had been 15yrs since I last was in training for a sport. Back then it was water polo. I've always loved team sports that are hard going and can be a bit on the rough side. Before water polo I played field hockey since I was 5yrs old.
Derby training will make you feel muscles you didn't know you had and be prepared for falls onto hard surface but what you get out of it in the way of social and mental health far out weighs the physical pain.
This week was all about turning on your skates (which i could not master in the ten minutes given for that), skating as low as your body can curl, pushing other skaters in a line, weaving between skaters and jammer laps. I'm not that fast so for me to catch up to the pack took a few laps. I can say however I can skate pretty low. I'm glad I can master a plank for well past a minute but boy I need to work on my ability to do push ups in skates.
Looking forward to next week and learning booty whips.

First Bout

2011-05-08T18:26:00.001+10:00

well not my first actual bout but the first one I got to go and watch. Yes that's right I'm a derby gal who just loves the sport but has never been to a live bout. Boy I'm kicking myself for not going till now. Plus also for forgetting the camera.
I took along Jazynthe as she was upset to hear I was going to one without her. She was rather excited about it and went dressed like a mini derby girl in her purple tutu and black leggings and a shirt. We got great seats not far from the action. Close enough to be on top of the action and see the whole rink and all the booty blocking action. Who doesn't love to witness girls at top speed on skates driving their rivals of the rink with booty blocks galour.
First bout was between team Unicorn from Sydney Roller Derby League and The Boutlaws from Western Sydney Rollers ( my league). This was awesome! The Boutlaws are very new to the world of bouting and sure did put up a good fight but sadly were well and truelly out done by the Unicorns. The atmosphere was fantastic to be sitting in amongst others cheering on the Boutlaws. Jazynthe was going of and really cheering them on. She was really yelling for their Jammer everytime she was even close to getting any points. Some of those girls on WSR team sure can block with the best of them and can Jam like there is no tomorrow. However those unicorn girls are a force to be reckoned with.
Next bout was between Screaming Assault Sirens from sydney roller derby league and D'viants also from Sydney Roller Derby League. Now this was an absolute screamer of a bout it certainly was close and the most ever between the two teams was 10 points and in derby world that can change in one Jam and it did several times. The girls from both teams were amazing and I sure have a LONG way to go to be even close to the abilities of these girls. In the end D'viants one by 14 points with a result of 123 to 109. It came down to the last Jam. With girls filling up the box seats it sure was on for any girl who remain skating. I have got to say SAS's Little Whippet is probably my favourite derby girl she sure can Jam like lightning and block with her booty like someone twice the size. HA maybe there is hope for a tiny girl like me to be a Derby Queen.
I sure learnt hell of a lot about strategy by seeing it all live as opposed to watching you tube.
After the bout out came a huge cake made by Planet Cake of a giant roller skate. Which promptly got distroyed in a food fight.
I'm looking forward to the next bout on June 4th at Homebush Sports Centre.

keeping busy

2011-04-05T16:14:00.000+10:00

I currently am keeping myself rather busy well that is when I'm not being lazy and reading endless blogs to distract myself from what I really should be doing. Apart from the usual Mum stuff and runing of a home. Which sometimes looks like chaos has it it because I prioritise something else instead of the housework. 1950's Mum I'm not on the home keeping front.
The one thing that can keep me the busiest is University. With the endless hours of reading and note taking along with weekly work and preparing assignments. I know I scrape by on the hours I put in but when your a single parent who is also trying to run a business or two that's all you can do some weeks.

I tell you statistics can confuse me some days and sends my head in a spin but when I actually get it boy I feel relieved. My other unit of Aboriginal cultures is bit of a breeze as it's all reading and essay writing. Although my first essay I did send it of before I realised "damn it I did not put the bibliography on the end to go with all the referancing I did". Anyone who has done Uni knows how big of an issue that is.

A before and an after

2011-04-02T16:02:00.000+11:00

I have a table here that the kids use for all manner of things. it's done rather well for how old it is. this table my parents bought and was used by my now 15yr old niece. Over time with the hard cleaning it's had the paint had become rather worn and the table was looking tired and well worn.

So I gave it new life with a fun function apart from being a table. The kids now love it.

I first painted with some ceiling paint I had in the garage around the edges and on the legs. Then once that was dry some blackboard paint then once that was dry a coat of clear laquer over the blue so it could be easily wiped clean for those messy times. I did the chairs in the same blue.

Office area re-do

2011-03-24T15:26:00.000+11:00

Today after writting my first essay for Uni. I got to fixing up my little space I use as my office area. Before it was a quick thinking put together when my ex moved out and I need to have a desk to use. I had used a camping table and a shoe rack for this purpose. It functioned good but was bit of an eyesore. Plus the entire area was bit of a mess.

I had come up with the new idea a few days ago. I had sitting in the garage/studio a wooden trestle table that was once used as my cutting table but more recently I have gone back to using the dinning table so I can be indoors with the kids. So I painted the wooden part up with a couple coats of semi gloss paint I had in the shed. I plan on also making a skirt for it when I find the just right fabric. I'm on the look out for some fabric that can also be used to re-cover the chair and also my lounge. I'm hoping to find something fresh in the colours of white, red and aqua.
I'm also hoping to replace the curtains with something that matches too.

I also used a shleving unit I had sitting in the garage that was just being used for not much but somewhere to pile stuff.

It all looks so much better now. With plenty of space to do other little work that requires a desk.

I'm still around

2011-03-14T18:44:00.000+11:00

Gee I've been gone from here for a LONG time.
I've still been reading others blogs. I just ahve been absent as I have been sick rather sick for nearly the entire time I have been gone.
Anyway in that time I have done a couple of things. Firstly a couple of weeks back I got a rooster found him through Freecycle. He was hatched from eggs from the breeder we bought our two Wyndotte hens from.

He has been named Tommy Lee but I have been toying with the idea of droping the Lee and getting a hen of the same age and calling her Gina. Bon Jovi fans would know the Tommy and Gina naming of a pair.

On the weekend I went to the Sydney Tatoo & Body Art expo. All very interesting and helped me decide further on where I want to get the rest of my Tatoo work done (there is a heap). I want to be finished with a 3/4 sleeve on my left arm. The sleeve will have tatoo work all surrounding the people, activities and things I love with filling in of rose vines, fire and stars. Then there will be a thigh piece of the land and environment I love. Kind of a rainforest scene. Then across my back will be a piece that links the two together.
Also remember this blog entry from just over a year ago? Well one of those aims is about to come true. I met Roller Derby League teams there. One of which was a local team to me. I'm now trying to figure out how to get together the funds to buy my gear and pay the fees needed. Plus what to do for child minding while I train. Then i'll be getting my skates on and on fire.

I so can't wait.

Amusing a child is easy.....

2011-01-30T11:58:00.000+11:00

.....especially when you have a large box or two.
The last week my children have been amusing themselves with two large boxes. They have been houses, spaceships, boats, cars,beds, turned them into turtles and all manner of things.

Jaedyn especially has been busy with them.

His loved hiding in them and waiting till someone comes near and popping out to say either Hello or Boo the saying Bye and ducking back inside.

Lost!

2011-01-29T15:45:00.000+11:00

The other morning I found a little frog who had lost it's way into my bedroom. It had been rather sinking hot for the previous few days and nights. My house probably seemed like a decent refuge from the heat for the little creature.

So I got it into a little container to relocate it across the road into a little frog pond one of my naighbours has in her backyard.

Did not take long for it to disapear into the water.

Cluck cluck anyone home?

2011-01-23T18:44:00.000+11:00

That's what I think my little red hen Penny Lee was saying this morning when I spied her nosing about at the back door.

Our back porch is a little high about a couple inches above my knee and the girls regularly jump up and walk about. However I have never spied them at the door.

So Jazynthe decided to feed them some wholemeal bread scraps through the unfixed hole in the screen door.
Friendly lot they are.

Although I still am yet to be able to go pick one up yet. I'll leave that to the chicken whisperer Jazynthe.

small wonders

2011-01-22T22:05:00.000+11:00

This morning when I opened the curtains to my bedroom windows i spotted a little creature suning itself on my driveway. Happy to be there looking about.

Sometimes I'd love to be a little lizard for the very fact I could sit out in the sun without being disturbed or even have to do anything but soak up the sun in peace.

I Love....

2011-01-10T19:00:00.000+11:00

....... homemade Pavalova.

I was over waiting for my passionfruit to rippen up so decided to make my first pav. in ages. I usually love my pavalovas to be smothered in fresh passion fruit pulp. But given the weather I still would be in for a long wait for the passionfruit to be ready.
Anyway yesturday made one with just berries a little banana. So yummy I ate two slices.

Once the kids go to bed I'll be eating more......none for them tonight as dinner dramas has ment the yummy risotto I made has not been eaten. aaaarrrghhhhh over food being rejected, what happened to my kids who would eat anything. In the last couple of weeks Jazynthe has turned into that bratty child who will only eat sausages and pasta.

Summer Storms

2011-01-02T14:00:00.000+11:00

I love hot sunny days of summer. I love them because the sun shines brightly down on you and you get to wear pretty dresses with thin straps ( or you can be nude and not feel cold), indulge in yummy summer fruits But what I love most on a summers day is a quick summer storm. If it's a nice one it brings enough to cool you down enough not to be sweating to stinkdom. I love standing out in the rain on a summers day and feeling the raindrops hit your warm skin. So refreshing.
Today I got to do just that stand out in summer rain as the thunder rumbled over hear. Pity I had to wait till I finished kneading my dough for my bread. I was out long enough to feel my dress to be ever so lightly dotted with drops of rain. Wish I had been able to be out there enough to be drenched.
Of to eat some yummy peaches!

Learning, laughter and love....

2011-01-01T14:34:00.000+11:00

is what my New Years Resolution involves. I want this year to be filled with Learning, laughter and love.
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all.
Last night as a went to bed I thought of what last year had been filled with and it was certainly a year of big events. My girl went of to school, I took on a new business of selling products I love, I ended JazyJae's, I ended my marriage of 7yrs. I also mentally wrote letters to people who have hurt me through the year telling them how hurt I was by their actions and how much these actions impacted on my year being full of self dought and heartbreak. Just before I fell asleep I noticed the clock turn to 12:01 and with that decided that was the end of feeling betrayed and nothing was going to break me for the year ahead.
When I woke this morning I felt like the sleep had totally washed away that anger and hurt I had and felt hopeful for what layed ahead for the first time in a very long time. Then I said out loud to myself I only want this year to be full od learning, laughter and love.
So with that I endevour to write blog entries as much as I can about any of those three L's.
What resolutions have you made.

A bushwalk

2011-01-01T14:00:00.000+11:00

On Thursday I took the kids for a nice little bushwalk through Leura Cascades. It is an easy walk especially if you have to carry a toddler the whole way back.
I shall let the pictures do the talking.

Lovely isn't it.

Boxing Day 2010

2010-12-26T20:38:00.000+11:00

Today we were visited by my step-daughter and my grand daughter. Remember my post about her arrival in the world way back here? Well that was the last time I saw my step-daughter and her cherub. A long time ago it was.

So it was fantastic to see them again. Alana is a joyous little girl with a big cheeky smile.

Jaedyn who is almost 18mths older than her is not much bigger than her.

All the kids had a lot of fun together and it was lovely to have three little ones all together. I sure loved having another little one around.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-26T18:25:00.000+11:00

Christmas this year was a little different than usual and very different from the one I thought we would have been having up until a few months ago.
For the first time in a few years we had no one either around nor did we go anywhere. I enjoyed that of not having to bight my tongue and smile and eat what I wanted to eat plus for the first time in a number of years DRINK and be merry. After all I was the cook so really I could do what I wanted.
The night before Jazynthe had decided that Santa needed some of my yummy homemade Rocky Road, a santa shaped chocolate and his whiskey without a glass. Plus a carrot for the reindeer.

he also needs a special key to get in the house

The day started of later than what I had expected. Jazynthe woke me at about twenty past seven but because no one else was awake she crawled into bed with me and was very quiet. Till I decided that it was time to get up and everyone else needed to as well. Which included waking Jaedyn.
It was then that Jazynthe discovered Santa had left footprints everywhere and had written her a letter.

Lots of paper was torn and thrown around as excited children opened their gifts and were more and more pleased as they went.
Jazynthe was rather impressed with her Buzz/Woody costume as well as her Toy Story bike and Paper Jamz guitar.

She was also very happy to finally get a real sewing machine. Has requested I teach her to sew.

Jaedyn was very very happy with his Thomas the Tank engine presents.

He pretty much has played with it non-stop since.

Then there was the food for the day. First up I did a twist on the bacon and egg breakfast. I cut up rashers of bacon and put them into vol-e-vonts cases and then cracked an egg in each. If only I could work out how to have fully cooked the egg before burning the cases.

I then put out snacks to keep the hungry satisfied till the rather late lunch was ready.

i got to set the table how I pleased.....although I did not go all out as I would love to one day.

The lunch was a hit. with using potatos I had recently harvested and spinach freshly harvested minutes before washing cutting for cooking. I followed a couple of the recipes Curtis Stone did for the Coles recipe ideas for Christmas. Including this potato gratin...

and the Dill carrots....

I also did Turkey legs in sage and thyme butter and a small pork leg roll.

Then later for dessert I did steamed pudding which I got from Women's Weekly Christmas recipe book I bought a few years ago. Along with some of my homemade ice-cream.

By the end of it all I was well and truely stuffed with food and from exhaustion of doing it all myself. Plus I was easily pickled with alcoholic beverages.

Bon Jovi - Hallelujah Sydney 19.12.2010

2010-12-23T11:37:00.000+11:00

Found a video for you!

Bon Jovi - The Circle Tour - Sydney Football Stadium 19th Dec. 2010

2010-12-22T13:24:00.000+11:00

This is the video I got at the concert...not fabulous footage as I took it on my 3yr old mobile phone.

Bon Jovi - The Circle Tour Concert

2010-12-22T13:20:00.000+11:00

Well I think it is obvious I love Bon Jovi. This time they came to Australia I got to go to a concert.....wish I could have gone to more than one but hey money is tight and the tickets were not cheap.
Anyway I went to their very last concert here in australia which also happened to be their very last concert for the year. Which probably made them play an even better concert than they usually do. I may be biased but also hope I am not to biased with the fact I used to go to a LOT of gigs and concerts of bands back BK (before kids). These guys are true professionals who put on a great show no matter what....even if it is raining like it was on Sunday 19th December.

Unfortunately I arrived late due to impossible traffic and impossible parking. Sadly I missed 8 songs, note to self never drive right to a concert at Sydney Football Stadium ever again.
sitting in traffic over the noise of the traffic I got hear glimpses of songs like "Bad Name" "We were'nt born to follow" and "Believe"What I did get to see was absolutely fantastic. The rain was comming down lightly and I did not care nor did they. I had to strain my neck to see as being as short as I am has it's disadvantages when it comes to concerts.

As I was walking as fast as I could in my stilleto heals I could hear the end of "Blaze of glory" and the full songs of "It's my Life" and "No Apologies" I arrived at my seat just as "We got it going on" started to play. Oh boy do they ever have it going on. Jon certainly knows how to have the crowd especially all the ladies eating out of his palm hanging of every word and shake of that bum.
The rest of the set had some real highlights like up until "Halelujah" the rian was spasmodic and came down in light patches, as soon as this song started the heavens just opened up and litterally poured down. Making it even more beautiful. I think this song is a wonderful song and how Jon sings it is breath taking. After finishing the song Jon said "the rain is all the Australian angels crying because they did not get a seat to this concert" he then said "I don't mind the rain as it's just like singing in the shower....with thousands of your friends" of course all the ladies in the crowd went wild over this. Me I don't mind it raining at concerts either as I love dancing in the rain.

Photo cutorsey of Ef

he continued to shimmy and shake out in the rain for "What do you got" then invited the rest of the band to join him in the rain whilst they played "Squeeze Box".

Photo curtosey of Ef

The next highlight was "Happy Now" this song is even better live.

Then three songs in a row were just amazing "Dry County" which had tears well up in my eyes as this song was played and sung with such conviction and this song always reminds me of our poor farmers here in Australia. "wanted dead or alive" is always special live as to be standing in amongst what ever capacity SFS is that are all sing along is amazing so imagine what it must be like to stand on stage to hear it...I have been right up the front in the past and it is an amazing and breath taking atmosphere enytime this song is played. then was "Living on a Prayer" which Jazynthe loves to sing so I took a video on my phone for her.

The band then gave their bow but of course came back and played 2 more songs of whic I can't remember now such a blur and the crowd demanded more so one more song was played. At this point Richie and Jon stood there looking humbled by the good five minutes of crowd cheering.

Then Light Out

Our tree

2010-12-07T13:11:00.000+11:00

On sunday I went and bought the Christmas tree for the house. Each year I like to buy one from the local RFS shed. We get an awesome tree and we also get to help out the fire shed for all their hard work they put in every year.
They also delivered it for me too.
After going to my parents for lunch we cam home and Jazynthe helped me decorate it.

I think it looks great it is now waiting for the usual handmade decorations that come home each year from school and day care.

Rain rain go away come again another day...

2010-12-03T10:57:00.000+11:00

yes I am asking for the rain to go away. We need warm sunshine for at least 2 days to let the ground dry out before top soil just washes completely away. I also need to be able to get all the weeds out of my gardens and for Jaedyn's nappies to see some sunshine for at least a day.
I have had to resort to using disposible nappies at night due to the week of rain and cold weather. I hate the idea of using them but when your down to just a few dry nappies which are the ones that go to day care (due to their ease of use for the young girls who have never seen a non-enviromentally damaging nappy before) you have to bite the bullet and use the horrid things. I do need to get a few more MCN's but with little money in my pocket now and it being so close to him being toilet trained I can't justify spending the money. So I spent a few dollars on a small pack of yucko nappies.
Anyway with the rain my vegie patches are like jungles at the moment. Vegies are on fire but so too are the weeds. I get in and pull a bucket full each day and chuck them into the chook pen which has become a muddy area.
A month ago not too much was going on in the garden the flower pods for the passion fruit had started to appear. There are far too many to count now. Looks like passionfruit curd a plenty will be made if this weather goeas back to summer so the fruit can rippen.

A month ago this flower was like this

Now it is this

There are three different passionfruit vines in the yard. One is about three years old now which is the one in the photos above. The others were planted last year and one is growing very well the other needs attending to as I need to get in and direct it over some frame work as it now is all over the place. The good onehas a lot of flowers on it which look like this.........

My fennel is really big and lovely now. Ready to pull out but will wait till sometime next week when I decide what to cook with it. Any suggestions?

This is what it looked like 6 weeks ago......

Unfortunately the weather has brought with it pests on my beans and potatoes and with all the weeds my beans are stunted in their growth just look at the poor things.....

My raspberry vine has taken over an entire area. I'm loving going and eating raspberries fresh of the vine. Ever so sweet and yummy.

This morning I discovered a visiter on the wall near my back door......

Baking Day

2010-12-01T19:59:00.000+11:00

Today was a day of baking for me...well till lunch time then I visited a neighbour for a while for a chat.
It was also good weather for baking third day straight of constant rain. I know the rain is good but we also need at least a days break just so the ground can actually soak it all in instead of the top soil just being washed away.
The other day baked Christmas Fruit Cake. I did two of them one for us to eat now and the other for when it is a little closer to Christmas. The recipe I followed obviously was for a conventional oven not fan forced. So I had to readjust the cooking time. So this one turned out looking pretty good. If the first one is anything to go by for taste it will be even more of a winner.

I have fruit stewing in brandy for the puddings that I will get around to doing tonight.

Today I baked fruit loaf for our breakfasts for the next few days and for a snack for me...I love snacking on fruit loaf toasted with lathers of butter.

I also did Muesli Slice for Jazynthe's lunch box snack. It got demolished largely already by Jaedyn getting into it whilst it was cooling on the board.

I also did choc chip cookies which are a big huge love in this house. Plus last night I did wholemeal bread for lunches.

Big Changes

2010-11-20T19:54:00.000+11:00

Big changes have been happening in my home. Of which have kept me from blogland....well the writting part anyway. I still have been keeping up on the blogs I have come to love to read.
A few weeks ago I made a BIG decision one that has been comming for a long time but I had held out hope that I would not need to do so. I split with my husband of 7yrs.
Over the years I have had to do a lot of fighting for the relationship of which I had had enough of doing. It's time I was able to be myself without the constant worry of how that would impact upon others.
It is a heart breaking moment but then again it is like I can breath again and feel content in making the decision. There are moments of absolute terror over the fact the 'family" is not the traditional family and me asking myself "oh my god what have I done" then I realise it's most definately for the best and we both can go repair ourselves and become happy with ourselves. Better do it like we have than become bitter people at one another which is not good when there are children involved. as DRr Phil says "children would rather come from a broken family than live in a broken home".
The children seem to be dealing with it rather well so well that Jazynthe rather confidently anounced in class that "my Dad has left our house but I still will get to see him" Fingers crossed she will remain this good about it and will continue to be the wonderful girl she is. Jaedyn is too young to understand what is going on and is used to Dad not being around for what would seem to him like long periods of time due to his job.

Absence

2010-11-14T20:49:00.000+11:00

Sorry I have been absent from the blog world. Going through some major changes here at the moment will be back when things have settled a little better and I have the words to use.
I have been busy though with some good distraction so will just post photos for now.

Crayons

Up-cycled shirt from baby wraps.

Homemade ice-cream

2010-10-28T20:21:00.000+11:00

Last night I made ice-cream.
Such a simple and easy thing to do. For my first go I made vanilla just to be sure it was a good one before experimenting with flavours.
I found the recipe on the $120 a fortnight blog I told you all about.
All you need for the base is 600mls of thickened cream, 1/2 a tin of condensed milk and 1tsp Vannila extract.
Whip up the cream with your electric mixer till soft peaks form. Mix through the vanilla, then with hand whisk you whisk through the condensed milk. Pour into a container, seal it up and freeze for 12hrs. You then get yummo tasting ice-cream like this........

I then tonight made Rhubarb and Strawberry Crumble which I found on the same blog. It to was yummo.

Now after this batch of ice cream is gone will start experimenting with some flavours to make my own gourmet ice-cream.What are your favourite added flavours do you love?

Convenience and leftovers

2010-10-27T18:14:00.000+11:00

yesturday with it being the day before grocery shopping is done I was throwing together what was left in the fridge for dinner. This is especially an easier option when it is just myself and the kids at home for dinner. In the fridge was a bit of left over spag. Bol. sauce, bacon, carrots, limp but still ok celery. I chopped up the extras and threw them in the pan whilst I searched to see if there could be an added yummyness ....yep found the jar of olives so I chopped a handful of those up. Lucky also there was an opened Passatta bottle to add a little more moisture. Threw that all in and presto dinner for three hungry humans. Oh I also scrounged up the last of the dried pasta to make it a full meal.

Whilst doing all that I was in awe of another blog and had to bring the laptop into the kitchen so I could read and cook at the same time.....multi-tasking at it's best with the convenience of a laptop. I got my laptop as I was sick of waiting for hubby to be away from the computer for my blog surfing etc. But also loved the idea of being able to keep up with my social needs on the internet whilst anywhere I pleased.

Anyway I babble away! the blog I am currently loving is one about surviving on $120 a fortnight to feed a family of four. Hmmmm I couldn't do it this comming fortnight. Think I need to cut a few things for that. I'm hazarding a guess that the $120 does not include re-stocking pantry with much needed flours,oils,bread making ingredients, hair care etc etc. Plus when you drink a lot of soft drink it adds up. So I do aim to get it down to the $120 but I think it will be a matter for me slowly reducing costs down....which for this family with a child in night nappies, a mother who loves her chocolates and other treasures means going from nearly $400 at worst (and that was with deciding to treat the family to a wide range of yummy fruits like pawpaw)down to the $120.
You can find the blog here.....lots of awesome recipes.

This Is Love This Is Life - Bon Jovi NEW 2010 (FULL VERSION)

2010-10-26T20:11:00.000+11:00

In case you totally missed it I love Bon Jovi...LOL (yeah dumb joke I know). I love this song from the future album.

Plain to very funky

2010-10-26T18:32:00.000+11:00

Back at close to around beginning of term two of the school year I in a state of misguided stupidity donated all my daughters size 9 shoes to charity. Well the ones that were not so badly scuffed and falling to bits. I had no clue what with being new to the whole school child thing that school shoes are sized differently to everyday shoes. She had out grown her size nine school shoes and was pretty much outgrown her slippers. So in my want to clean out her wardrobe as it to was full of clothes that were no longer suitable for a little girl to waer without either baring her midriff or her nickers.
It was not till later when I bought her size 10 nice shoes for going out I realised she was not really size 10 but still a size nine. Lucky for me I was able to find size 9 shoes in thrift stores. All except that nice pair of shoes that nice outfits need.

I could not afford to buy another pair of nice shoes so made do with her looking a bit daggy till I could with her wearing joggers.Then I found a pair of shoes tha with a little sparkle would be awesome pretty shoes. They were marked down to $9.

With a bit of glitter and pretty ribbon we have funky pretty shoes.

Plus one happy girl who realises these are shoes no one else will have.

Stilly broody

2010-10-25T15:36:00.000+11:00

Lara is still sitting on eggs. She stoped on Wednesday but was back at it on Thursday and has been fiercely guarding them since.

At the moment there are six under her. Not sure how fertile they would be considering the dad was culled a week ago. If anyone can enlighten me on that it would be great.

Bread

2010-10-24T20:12:00.000+11:00

Today I realised there was only 4 slices of bread left in our pantry. With no money to my name and no car to go get some even if I did it was baking some as the only option.
I just had enough flour to make what I did.

I ran short of having enough for flouring my bench top so used Self raising flour for the kneading out and shaping of the loaves.

Lets hope this lasts till pay day on wednesday.

New Shorts and pants

2010-10-23T15:32:00.000+11:00

Last night I started on some new shorts and pants for Jaedyn. he was in much need of some that fit and were good for warmer weather.
I got stuck in and did all the overlocking after the kids went of to bed.

Then this morning completed one pare of crocodile pants for him to wear today. He was rather impressed with them especially once he realised they were for him.
Then this afternoon I finished of the other pants that are made from some fabric I bought of an online friend. I think these ones are rather funky.

Then to finish of with 3 pairs of shorts.

the spotty and vehicle ones will have a matching button up shirt made out of the same fabric so they can be worn as a set or as seperates.
I have two upcycled shirts to finsih of and will blog about them once they are completed.

Obsessions

2010-10-22T18:41:00.000+11:00

My son has a major obsession. That obsession is Thomas The Tank Engine. Everyday can not stay before a Thomas DVD is watched. Thomas is very much a BIG part of his life.

Books go to bed with him as do some Thomas toys too. Does your child have an obsession with a child toy or character that drives you a bit batty?

Green paradise in my back yard.

2010-10-20T20:20:00.000+11:00

There is a green paradise developing in my back yard. What with alternating days of wet and gloom followed by warm and very sunny it's a recipe for a lush garden. Even more wonderful is the water saving your doing.....if only I could afford to install a water tank!

Fennel

Climbing Beans

The vegie patches are certainly loving it and showing their gratitude by becoming full of lovely vegetable full areas. I love watching the way plants develop especially in weather cycles like the one we currently are in.
I can't wait to be able to harvest these lovelies and cook them up.

Lettuce

a variety of potato

I want to plant some Luffa and a few other things next.

The passionfruit vine

I however would love to know what is eating my sunflowers. I will be trying to see if a plastic half tube thing will work in saving what is left.

Jaedyn admiring the spinach

One happy girl

2010-10-19T20:11:00.000+11:00

Jazynthe is such a happy girl now. It has been such a long time since she was able to run around the back yard and play with the chooks. She was out in the drizzling rain so happy. Jaedyn was out there too. At first he was a bit unsure looking about to see if he could see the rooster anywhere. Once he understood it was safe he went nuts. Totally loving calling after the chooks. He was running about yelling "chook chook chooky B" I have no clear understanding about the B part but he was yelling it over and over whilst chasing after Lara.

We did think Lara was being a broody hen as she had been sitting on eggs all day and refused to let us collect them. So we set about setting up somwhere for her to be on her own with them. Found an old council recycling box set that up with a spare nesting box and wood shavings. Went up collected her of the nest put her eggs in the new box put her in and proceded to take her to the laundry.She flew of and would not go back on the eggs. So looks like we were wrong.

She did stay like the above pic all day till we went to help her out and be on her own.

Culling a Naughty Rooster

2010-10-18T21:58:00.000+11:00

I don't advise you read on if you can't seperate animal from pet when it comes to chickens or livestock of any kind.
For a while now it has occured to us that it just was not going to be a good idea to keep our rooster under the conditions he was putting us under. He was constantly attacking anyone who was with five metres of him. chasing us down and really going for it. He even had run Jaedyn down on a few occassions and really pecked at him on the ground. The kids no longer could be in the yard if the chooks were out. Nor could Jazynthe do her one loved thing of collecting the eggs. The poor kids had started to become afraid of the chook area. Jaedyn especially was traumitized by him. If he and Jazynthe had gone down the yard and played in the cubby and he had been left behind, he would not leave the cubby as the rooster would be crowing nearby. Poor kids need to enjoy having chickens and love the whole experience. Plus I'd like to be able to have my chooks out and not have to walk backwards through the yard so I can keep an eye on what the rooster is up to.
I had researched on all the ways to try and curb this behaviour and tried them all. Nothing was working it all just seemed to make hime worse.
So after finally being able to chat with the lovely friend from which I got him from and explained to her about what has been happening I got her blessing to cull him.
Well tonight I did it! I had to wait till I had help as it takes two people really. I had done it before on a hen or two but that was sooooo long ago now. So I went on line to you tube to reaquaint myself with the procedure and actually found a few very good videos on it.
So with a small sharp knife I slit it's neck right on the jugular...got it first time. So I was relieved I had done it first go. Although I did slit a couple more times just to be sure I had done it. I do advise if you have to do the same for the first time that you focus on the fact it's an animal and not a pet otherwise you will be like my husband and actually be a bit too emotional about it. He told me after there was no way he could have done that on our first cull. However I told him next cull he has to do it so he can get past that emotional obstical.
But got to love Jazynthe's attitude when we explained to her this afternoon of what we needed to do. "Oh but we need to wait for him to give us some chicks" we then told her no we can't wait for that as this needs to be done. Straight of without missing a beat "can I watch I want to see it done" needless to say I said no not this time I only want you to see it when we are good at it.
I tell you what though roosters are much harder to pluck than hens....much much harder. Yes we do plan on eating.....why waist such good meat that has been culled in a humane way. Seems a waist of good meat to me. However the rooster all plucked, gutted etc is in the freezer. If he gets pulled out and cooked and eaten could be another thing.....might have to give it a little while.

what a discovery

2010-10-18T13:07:00.000+11:00

Today I discovered the best blog ever! Well it's pretty damn good I have to say...can't call it the best one ever as I have not read every blog there is out there in the blog world. Lets face it if I was reading every blog out there I would have no life to blog about myself.But this one is worth it to go and read for your laughter purposes. After all laughter is the best medicine of all. The blog entry on the cake makes me think of my son. he reacts to cake in the exact same way.
Anyway go read it just go here.http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/
She certainly has a LOT of followers. I think this is the most read blog I have ever been to. Found out about it from my husband. Who recanted one of the entries to me when he got home from night shift this morning.
I certainly will be going back and reading as much as I can.

What to do with 14eggs

2010-10-17T20:40:00.000+11:00

Well tonight I used up 14 eggs just on dinner....I've been lazy and not baked the cake or biscuit for the week yet. As I got side tracked and started spring cleaning. Anyway for the use up of eggs I consulted my trusty Homemade recipe book. decided upon Frittata for the main...

Then for dessert my version of Blueberry Croissant pudding. I use raspberries in mine.

The frittata asks for 6-10 eggs however with home chooks I had to use 12 to cover all the veggies and meat. You can get a pdf copy of the recipe book here. Not sure if you can get the hard copy anymore. This book I think is a must have in every home. something every young lass or lad should get given as the pack their bags and leave the nest for their first home. it is full of easy recipes and has everything from dips to desserts, munchies to mains.

A dream.....

2010-10-17T08:35:00.000+11:00

.....that I have is to go to Tuscany. not just to visit but to stay a week at least and in that time go visit this wonderful place. I think it would be an absolute wonderful time and imagine what you would learn in that short stay. lately I have been getting loads of hints, well maybe not hints more like slaps in the face of you need to go here.
For instance my team manager for my job won a holiday to London and Italy and it was a focus of Tuscany. I got to draw her name as one of the winners. Then there was something on the ABC about Tuscany that I happened to flick over to in the middle of. Then there was an advertisement for the Culinary interludes in Masterchef magazine. The next one was Jamie Oliver's show and he was in Tuscany,then another friend was talking about her memories of Tuscany without me having mentioned it, another was walking past a travel agent and on the floor next to a customer near the window was a brochure on Tuscany, then another friend mentioned on his Facebook status he was in Tuscany, the next was a calender fell of a shelf in a shop onto the floor right at my feet And picked it up to put it on the shelf it was a calender of Tuscany. Then I went to watch "Eat Pray Love" was in awe of the scenes in Tuscany.

What do you think... do you think the universe is telling me to go to Tuscany?

Busted

2010-10-15T10:45:00.000+11:00

Yesturday afternoon whilst I was busy trying to clean up Hurrican Jaedyn's path of distruction I heard some non play noises comming from the kitchen so I went and investigated and caught one cheeky monkey in action.

helping himself to Rhubarb and Rose Petal jam on bread. I strongly suspect that at least every second dip in the jar was going straight into the gob and not onto the bread. This little monkey is addicted to jam, honey and vegimite. he would eat bread and one of these spreads all day and everyday if he was allowed....stuff the balanced diet he says just give me sandwich and spread.

A thrifty Thursday

2010-10-14T13:24:00.000+11:00

where do you go when you feel like shoping but only have a limited budget...why the St.Vinnies of course.
Today I stoped by my semi local StVinnies today for a browse and hope of finding some bargains and I did.

If someone could tell me what this is actually called I'd be gratefull. I know it's for fine *mashing*.

A shirt for Jaedyn

Shorts for Jaedyn

A skirt for me

And a bag for me..matches the skirt i think.

I got all this for $9

Self Portrait

2010-10-13T15:55:00.000+11:00

Well today is a self portrait day so after many attempts I got this one.

This was the first one where my head was not cut of or my eyes were shut.

sleep my boy

2010-10-12T21:37:00.000+11:00

yes his asleep in that box....

he was playing one minute asleep the next

Weekend antics

2010-10-10T20:53:00.000+11:00

Over the weekend there was a bit of fun here in our household.
Yesturday was bit of a dreary day with pockets of times for outside play to be possible. The kids loved the idea of getting out on their bikes for a break from the cabin fever. They went down the bush with their Dad. This is where I really appreciate having the bush at our doorstep. The kids have a world of adventure when they go down there. Especially after there has been some rain as in a few little spots there are large puddles of water in which frogs lay their eggs. So the kids get to see tadpoles and little frogs a plenty after rain. another fun thing after the rain is puddles.

This time Jaedyn was in rather deep so his pants were rather soaked through. He had a ball in the puddle at the bottom of the drive. When it was time to come in he was very upset about it. Not a happy boy at all.

Then today whilst the kids went of to the indoor swim centre I got stuck in and cleaned a bit. Then went about baking.

First up was a Banana Cake. The recipe I got from Easy Baking from The Womens Weekly. I need to add the passionfruit icing yet. An easy one to bake.

Then onto the choc chip cookies. The jar was empty as of this morning so before school goes back tomorrow we definately needed it to be filled once more. I love these. They are the same ones as I did last week but this time no nuts seen as they are to be put into the school lunch box. The school very well though rule of a "No Nuts" policy is a good one given the high percentage of nut alergies these days. So I just add extra chocolate bits....makes them even more yummy. Whilst I had these going I also made some lemonade. Which is rather refreshing. Already half the batch I made is gone. In a few weeks I have a "Girls Night In" event which I will be part of so I think I might have a go at making a pink version for that.
Speaking of pink take a look at the hot pink play-doh I made today.

Been a little while since I made play-doh. I used to make the non-cooking one but have forgoten the recipe and could not find it. So lucky for me I have a store bought container of cream of tartar in the cupboard. I used to buy it in the food co-op but been such a while since going there and buying most of my dry goods.

The kids certainly appreciated getting some today to play with out in the brief sunshine period.

Apparently they were making cakes.

Eat Pray Love

2010-10-10T00:45:00.000+11:00

I just got back from a spontanious movie outing. Although the movie I saw was not so spontanious it was a spur of the moment decision to go watch it.
I was originally planning on seeing it last thursday but gave up on that idea within 24hrs of when i first made that plan. I then thought tuesday next week would be a better time. But earlier in the night as the kids were of to bed I decided to look online to see if a somewhat local theatre was showing it so I did not have to trvel all the way down the mountain on Tuesday. When I found it was already showing I made the instant decision on going to the late screening. Told my husband I might go, his response was OK that sounds good.
My instant realisation was "shit I stink best go shower" It was just before 8pm the movie was screening at 9:10pm.
Now I am not one to go see a movie before reading the book I have been meaning to get myself and read. but lets face it by the time I actually go to sit long enough on enough occasions to read from cover to cover the movie would have been out on DVD for some time.
It was kind of exilirating to go and see a movie upon such a spur of the moment decision. Mnay years ago when I was single and living in a rundown old home with one other person in Newtown who was hardly there, I used to go and watch movies weekly. Back then i would just go to the movie theatre on a Tuesday pick a random movie from the board, buy the ticket for the next session. Then I'd eaither just wander about if it was a short wait or go eat a meal if I had the time. so it was rather apt that it was this movie that I had chosen on such a whim.
Anyway the movie was not a fabulous movie but it was very enjoyable all the same. It had it's moments of tears, laughter and light bulb moments. Which i am sure are through the book also. It sure is a movie that not everyone will understand the point nor enjoy. I myself relate on some levels with some areas of the movie. except I can't just take of to the other side of the world. It is a movie to go see if you have the inclination to see a chick flick with a little message. The message may not be interpreted the same by everyone. I don't really understand why some reviewers have not like the movie at all. I myself think it was a good movie to watch as an escape and not have to think, or try to keep up with what is happening on the screen. yes it is about a woman being entirely selfish and indulgent but hey we all should do something self indulgent and selfish. Maybe not on the scale that Elizabeth Gilbert did when she went on this journey but we all should do something

.
Some of the picturesque scenes just make me long for travel to these regions. This is especially so from the perspective of visiting Rome and Tuscany. I have a dream of visiting Tuscany and learning Italian from the locals, learning true Italian cooking and of course just imersing myself in what the region has to offer. i'm not so sure on the visiting India part but i do wish to go to Indonesia. I love the food and also have a strong want to also go there and enjoy what there is. I have had many friends come back from there and talk so wonderfully of their visit. I also have a friend from this area shown in the movie and she talks of great beauty and love of her home. The pictures always leave an inprint in my brain.

freshest eggs around

2010-10-07T08:49:00.000+11:00

I love getting freshly layed eggs everyday from my own backyard!

Donna Hay how I love you!

2010-10-06T13:54:00.000+11:00

Anyone else just love Donna Hay? Such decadent yet simple recipes. Then the way in which her team put together her magazines and books just make it all even more apealing.
I have tried out a whole lot of her recipes over the last couple of years. Some have been not as good as I imagined mostly because of my skills I think. However mostly they have been scrumptious triumphs.

I'm not one to buy loads of magazines ( although I have bought every Masterchef issue thus far) only have purchashed a few of hers. The cookbooks I do have are one's I found in Jimmy D's a secondhand bookstore not far from where I live. My finances have not allowed me to purchase as many as I'd like. Boy if I had bought every cookbook I really wanted I'd have an extremely large collection of books.

In the last couple of days I tried my hand at a White chocolate tart recipe which was in one of the lastest issues of the magazine. A very simple and easy one and even basic skills in cookery could get you by doing this one. You could cheat and use a pre-made pie case or you could use pre-made shortcrust pastry.

By doing this one I got to use my new pie dish with a removable base which I purchased at Myer.

For it I could not be bothered or the kids were in too much of a hurry to wait for me hull enough strawberries to go on top all so lovely like the one in the magazine. It still tastes fabulous! If I really want strawberries with a slice I could always put some on the plate.......ooooohhhhh along with freshly whipped vanilla cream.

Anyway it was simple, quickish and taste delish!

What to do on a rainy day..

2010-10-04T14:35:00.000+11:00

...well I baked choc chip cookies.
When it has been miserably wet for more than one day I tend to loose all motivation and wish I could just curl up under a quilt and watch chick flicks whilst eating chocolate and drinking hot chocolate. Ha those days are long gone, with small children who are very very active and always wanting food or drink the chick flicks have to wait.
So I pulled out my Homemade recipe book and found a choc chip cookies recipe. The kids had eaten up the last batch so with a 2yr old who asks for a biscuit at any given oportunity I had to get them done. I had no walnuts so I substituted with almonds instead.....and I only just had enough slivered almonds left.

On the telly is Commonweath Games no chick flick and Jazynthe is enthralled already and there have only been a handful of heats. she has gotten one of her chairs out to be a starting block and pretend she is a swimmer like the girls on the telly. No chick flick but entertaining enough for me.

Besides the lounge has become Mount Clean Washing and really could not be bothered folding to gain access to enough space to lay out on there anyway.

Oh when the saints..

2010-10-03T21:46:00.000+11:00

Oh when the saints.

I have no interest in rugby League or NRL as it is called by the followers. However my husband and Jazynthe love it. My hubby is an avid Bulldogs supporter and out of nowhere Jazynthe chose to support The Dragons as of two seasons ago about hald way through the season.

This year was a big year for her as she began to really be excited about them and wore her Dragons shorts to soccer every week. She also got given a shirt towards the end of the season I bought her a shirt. She wore the set for two days running.

Anyway I am babbling..... this year her beloved team became the minor premiers then went on to make it into the Grand Final playing The Roosters.

Today was the day of the game and with much excitement she was singing songs and making up chants all day. she also got me to make her a red and white cake.

Before it was cooked, couldn't get the camera to work after.

Lucky for my sanity for the next few months they won...not only did they win they blitzed The Roosters. Upon which she was running around yelling and cheering with excitement. So few one very very happy girls as oposed to what could have hapened and I'd be dealing with extreme dispointment.

Sydney Children's festival

2010-10-02T20:26:00.000+10:00

Today whilst I was of in the city at Rydges in World Square for a launch of Christmas products for the wonderful company I am a sales consultant for my hubby took the kids to Sydney Children's Festival.
Now I wished I could have been there with them to experience their pure joyous and fun filled day, I also got to expirience a great launch. Lucky in this day and age of digital cameras I did not have to wait till the film came back from the photo lab developed to see in picture form what they did.

By all accounts they had an awesome day and loved every moment of it.

If your in Sydney at all during these NSW school holidays I highly recommend you take your kids along. There is an enormous amount of free activities to do and some that need to be paid for which at most you will pay $17 per person.

There is a garden for them to be involved in.

Dress ups

Circus Fun

Small kids fun

Aboriginal Dreamtime story telling.

these are just a few of them.

I can't wait for next years!

Blogtoberfest day #1

2010-10-01T14:42:00.000+10:00

Today has already been rather eventful. Well eventful in what was planned went a little astray. So something a little interesting for you to read........or it's all I have given the day has gone astray.
This morning I took Jazynthe of to visit one of her old day care friends. One who she insists is going to be her future husband. They have known each other for just about four years now. With a bond that you only see in adult life long friends.
Whilst there she was happily playing then out of nowhere burst into tears and was complaining of being in pain. After some resting and coaxing I talked her into letting me take her to see a doctor.

But before we left I made sure I took a photo of the two of them together. Their bond is soooo cool that they even want to have very similar jobs when they grow up. She wants to be a vet and he wants to be a zoo keeper.
The trip to the doctor was a loooooooong trip. It normally takes 15mins max to get from their house to the suburb we live in. HA it took nearly an hour as all the holiday traffic trying to get through the only road over the mountain that has loads of road works along it is a trying drive. So with the people not being able to get out of their streets who actually live here in the mountains it was for the first time ever a walk straight into a doctor. We usually can expect to sit there for a good hour.
Turns out my little miss has a uninary tract infection.....once again. So plenty of fluids and antibiotics are the doctors orders.

Pasta making

2010-09-23T23:05:00.001+10:00

Since having the new kitchen in I have very busy in there. One thing I have been enjoying making is pasta. With a toddler about I had to come up with a way to hang it to dry out of his reach. So I grab the kids chairs and hang it over the back of them with the chairs up on the bench.

Jazynthe tonight helped out with turning the handle on the pasta machine for the flatening out stage.

this past I made with 150gms '00' flour 150gms semolina 1 good pinch of salt 3 eggs and 1 yolk. When it comes to the amount of eggs for my pasta it can change depending on the size of the eggs. With free range home chooks and 3 different breeds each egg is slightly different in one breed let alone all three we have.

I like using an egg yolk extra as it gives a good colour to the pasta. Plus the taste is even more yummy.

I've taken a big step

2010-09-22T20:32:00.000+10:00

For those who read my blog regularly may have figured I love cooking. No I absolutely LOVE cooking. When I was a teenager all I wanted to be was a chef. So much so I did all my school organised work experience in kitchens of small resturaunts and big ones. I applied for a number of apprenticeships but always got a negative response in me being female and not being able to handle the kitchen environment.
Well I'm going back to my old dream and have taken the first step in applying for a spot on Masterchef.
Eeeeeek I now just wait to see if I get to the audition round.

random find

2010-09-12T16:44:00.000+10:00

today when cleaning out the side of the house from broken pots I found.........

Can you believe that? The plants themselves were brown and dead. This find was amongst a thicket of weeds almost knee high.

Kitchen Renovation

2010-09-10T10:20:00.000+10:00

Our kitchen finally got renovated...YAY! Our landlord has been talking about doing it for a while now and it finally happened. It was a long process the kitchen people came looked at the old kitchen mid May and the final instalation finished yesturday. So four months of waiting till the fit out was complete.

The old one was BAD it was falling apart and was just plain ugly. The tiles used were awful to try and clean and with having no range hood it was an effort to clean with all the muck that had already built up by previous tenants not caring to clean properly.

I was so happy to see it get gutted and slowly transform from a tired old and ugly kitchen......

to a kitchen that is clean....

easy to maintain and cook good food in.

The oven is great and no longer burns everything.

The bench space has ment I now can make pasta and pizza from scratch once again. I'm loving having a decent kitchen again. The last time I had a good kitchen like this was ten years ago when I lived in a brand new town house in Melbourne.

All that is left is a coat of paint and for me to make up a nice blind for the window. I am also comming up with a few decore ideas. I promise to keep you posted on the progress of it becoming a kitchen that looks like a magazine kitchen. I'm on the look out for cute and differnt decore items that are red. I have come up with an idea for making a clock and a rack for the pots to hang from the roof.

Planting has started

2010-09-07T22:37:00.000+10:00

Today seed sowing was started. We have started with broad beans, two different types of sunflowers, marigolds, capsicum, carrots and rhubarb. I shall be putting tommies in pots to start of with as well as some capsicums. in the ground will go celriac.
Shall be of to Blackheath growers markets on the weekend to get lettuces and a few othersof the seedling man.
I already have strawberries in one of the garden patches.
There will also be potatoes going in the upper patch where our chooks were once kept.
What else do you think is essential in a cool climate vegie patch? We still have heaps of space to fill. i do plan on picking up eggplants. We have some Luffa to go in later when it is a little warmer.

Gee has really been that long?

2010-09-06T17:10:00.001+10:00

my goodness I did not even realise I had not blogged in so long. So many reasons and so many excuses.
Plus have not really had the motivation to blog although I have done a lot and a lot has been going on in my home.
Today I will talk about the chookies.

I love them so and boy have the newer ones grown. Sober is rather the dominant Rooster who also tries to go at the kids rather aggressively especially Jaedyn. So they are let out to forage about when the kids are inside. he does try to attack myself and Brian at times but it's the kids his not happy about.

The girls are all laying and we are getting up to six eggs a day, the productive girlies are a happy lot producing rather tasty eggs. I can't keep up with the baking to use them up so some friends get them regularly. One family swaps for a bag of lemons when I hand over a carton of eggs to them.
Today I got to work on securing of our vegetable growing areas as the Wyndottes showed the others how to get into there and they all proceeded to totally dig up the entire area. which destroyed what was left in the winter crops after the bad frost we had killed a number of plants.

Although we lost all our winter crops they really turned over the soil much better then we could ever have hoped to do.

So in the next couple of weeks a lot of planting of seeds, potatos and seedlings will be happening. I promise to keep you updated.

flying

2010-08-05T17:31:00.000+10:00

Today I flew for the first time in a long time. The last time I flew was when I was 5months pregnant with Jazynthe. So I am now in lovely Melbourne for my job.
A job I can't really talk about on line much as it is considered adv ertising and advertising is not allowed by the company rules. But I can give you a hint one of the products I sell is in a review in the current issue of Frankie magazine. A all natural beauty company that also does a lot of community action and community projects throughout the world.

Jaedyn got to see planes close up for the first time and boy he loved it. He watched planes taxi to runways and to passenger gates. He was enthralled with them taking of and got excited to see buses also.

Renting and a vegie patch

2010-07-31T18:53:00.001+10:00

On Gardening Australia this week there was a great little segment on building a raised vegie patch.
Renters can take advantage of this style of bed particularly as it does not alter the yard but also because it can be dismantled and taken with you when you leave.
In the past I have talked about being self sufficent in a rental you can find that entry here

You can find the segment I am talking about on this link.

Need for action

2010-07-29T09:14:00.001+10:00

I ask my readers, especially those who live in NSW to copy and paste the following letter and send it onto our premier, minister Firth, your local member.

thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au
office@firth.minister.nsw.gov.au
LOP@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Murrumbidgee@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Dear Premier,

It is with extreme disappointment that I write to express my dissatisfaction and anger with the government's apparent backflip, or delay, in relation to the removal of unflued gas heaters in public schools throughout NSW.
Minister's Firth's announcement on Tuesday brought the government into line with existing scientific evidence and its own $2 million study. It is incomprehensible that a government can quickly find significant monies to,
for example, retain sporting events in Sydney, and yet not be able to convince treasury officials of the importance of protecting publc school children and teachers' health.
It is equally incomprehensible that your Minister, a lawyer, would have made an announcement as she did without Cabinet approval. An endorsement of Tuesday's announcement of a change of heating policy and the funding for it must be announced immediately.

Yours...

Please send this letter to the premier, cc local memberand opposition people. Only takes a minute. Thanks jo

thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au

office@firth.minister.nsw.gov.au

LOP@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Murrumbidgee@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Electorateoffice.bluemountains@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Dear Premier,

It is with extreme disappointment that I write to expressmy dissatisfaction and anger with the government's apparent backflip, or delay,in relation to the removal of unflued gas heaters in public schoolsthroughout NSW. Minister's Firth's announcement on Tuesday brought thegovernment into line with existing scientific evidence and its own $2 millionstudy. It is incomprehensible that a government can quickly find significantmonies to, for example, retain sporting events in Sydney, and yet not be ableto convince treasury officials of the importance of protecting publc schoolchildren and teachers'

health.

It is equally incomprehensible that your Minister, alawyer, would have made an announcement as she did without Cabinet approval. Anendorsement of Tuesday's announcement of a change of heating policy and thefunding for it must be announced immediately.

Yours...

My Boy is two

2010-07-19T19:23:00.001+10:00

My little monkey boy turned two on Friday.....WOW two, who can believe that two years have passed since he was born? What a two years they have been!
His one amazing little boy now.....no longer a little baby but his becoming a full on boy with all the energy a boy could possibly have, which keeps me busy and on my toes.

He now climbs anything that he believes is climbable.
He is one little cheeky boy.
Full of love for his big sister especially.

Makes me laugh every single day.
Always is amazing me with the little things he does.
Has the most amazing smile and an infectious giggle.
Loves his snuggles with me after his bath before he goes of to bed.
Now loves to play all sorts of games with his big sister.
Loves trains, cars, trucks and buses.

Has a thing for hats and shoes....he can not start the day without shoes on and can not leave the house without a hat on.

On Friday we gave him a little train which he has played with everyday since. We also gave him a drum, and a drink bottle which I purchased from Everything Boys.

For dinner I cooked up his favourite of Pizza. Then for dessert was a basic cake. He was thrilled with his cake especially his green icing with sprinkles.

Then on Sunday we had a small family gathering at a resturaunt. I did a cake especially for that a train theme one.

Jaedyn my boy your now two and boy do I love everyday I spend with your cheeky ways.

The passing of Shadow

2010-07-15T14:47:00.000+10:00

It's taken a little time for me to get to this blog entry. Our loyal young dog passed away in the night nearly two weeks ago.

She was a loyal and lovely dog especially to Jazynthe. Jazynthe and shadow were best of friends and had been that way since jazynthe was born.
We got Shadow as a dog I rescued from the local paper. At first I was a little apprahensive of taking her when i found out the person who brought her around to our home was the friend of the owner. However as soon as I met her I changed my mind. I was about 6months pregnant with Jazynthe at the time. Shadow took to me straight away.

When she was let in at night for a brief time she would get up on the lounge rest her head on my swelling belly and drift of to sleep. Once Jazynthe was born Shadow would always stay near her. Once jazynthe could walk the two of them would always play with each other in the backyard and there was nothing the two enjoyed more than go bushwalking together.

We have no idea what happened to her but I do suspect she got a strain of Pavo virus even though she was up to date on her vacinations. The last few days of her life she was not interested in anything, we had planned on taking her to the vet on the Sunday.....I could not lift her myself and Brian was at work. She died in the night before. The poor thing!

She will be greatly missed by us all.

Look at them now!

2010-07-14T16:52:00.001+10:00

Our chickens have come along a rather long way. Our four original chooks are now on their second lay, having moulted and back on the lay. Even though the black ones are being rather slow.

The newer girls have started laying themselves. They have become very pretty girls, especially Casey our Silver Laced.

Sober Mick is now very protective of the girls so much so we have to watch our backs as he takes a good run at us. he has taken a good peck at Brian and Jazynthe but has knocked Jaedyn down on a couple of occasions.

Great chookies we have. Can't wait to see when there are baby chookies here.

A cosy warm blanket

2010-06-04T18:22:00.000+10:00

Today I whipped up a quick little blanket for Jaedyn. He had in the past only been sleeping in sleeping bags. So he was in desperate need of a good warm blanket as he only has one.

I made this one with some number polar fleece I had in my stash and the reverse side is made using red with white spots flannel.
It turned out alright and I just enough flannel to make a blanket to cover the bed well.

I have some yellow duck fleece to make another for a friend's new baby. Need to go and get some matching flannel for it. Might even make another for Jaedyn if I find some Robot fleece and matching flannel.

Well used in my kitchen

2010-06-03T12:32:00.001+10:00

At the moment there are three main books I use in my kitchen for cooking at the moment. I am one to try new recipes regularly. I love keeping the variety of food that is eaten in our home fresh and exciting. I hate the whole traditional Australian way of meat and three veg. Soooooo boring and lacking any real flavour and making the dinner meal especialy a family affair. I really love having the family all sit together and eat together at the dinner table. It certainly makes you set good values for your children and keep communication open and free between all family members.
One well used book is Homemade which I have previously blogged about here. If you were to look through my copy you can see that it has been well used and that I am bit of a messy cook, in that there are water marks through the pages as well as the odd smear of spillt ingredients.
my other favourite to use at the moment is The Australian Women's Weekly Slow Cooking book. This is great for the busy family and with the weather cooling right down here in The Blue Mountains food from the slow cooker is fantastic.

We eat from this book at least twice a week. I have tried a great many recipes from it. So far the family favourite would probably be the Spinach and date Beef Tagine, with that one I substituted Beef cheek for chuck steak. Beef cheeks are way too expensive for us and if slow cookers are good for anything it would be the fact you can use the cheapest of cuts of meat available and have the most amazing taste and tender meat. I love slow cooker food for the main fact you touch the meat and it falls to pieces.

then for the sweet tooth moments I am loving The australian Women's weekly Easy baking. So many yummo recipes in that one. My favourite has been the Chocolate and Raspberry brownie recipe.
Baking can be a nightmare here as our rental home has the most terrible oven. It burns the bottom of things a lot before the entire thing is cooked and the back of the oven can be a source of charcol on many occasion. It is also a pain for cooking meals as the grill is in the oven so you can't grill any food and bake at the same time. So I always am at a loss as to bother baking. I have to watch things like a hawk and check from halfway on for the cooking time said in a recipe. Which in itself can stuff up the process as we all know opening the oven drops the temperature dramatically (well it does in my oven).
Lucky for me the landlord is renovating the kitchen in the near future....the sooner the better! That week will be a lot of slow cooker eating I think.

The fabulous Party

2010-05-24T11:27:00.001+10:00

Yesturday we celebrated Jazynthe's 5th birthday with a fabulous party. A LOT of her friends from school were invited with a couple extras as well. The theme was Princess,Fairies and Pirates.
Which was great in itself as all the children came dressed as one of those things. Jazynthe was a fairy princess. It was also great to see one girl came dressed as a pirate and she was the best pirate there. We had a backyard full of Pirates, Princesses and Fairies. Kind of looked like it was "Treasure Island" here. especially with the pirates chasing around the fairies and pirates.

We also hired an entertainer (far less stress) who also did face painting. which in itself was amazing. She was fantastic with that and made it all look so quick and easy to do.

She then played some fantastic games with all the kids in which there was no winners or loosers. That I though was great as there is nothing worse than an upset guest and no parent in sight to console the poor child. Having her here sure made for a smooth running party I was able to make sure guests were fed and had drinks, bathroom was directed to and take photos plus talk to parents that actually stayed.

I cooked way to much food.....maybe because the kids were having so much fun they chose not to eat as much as I have seen be eaten at other parties. We have left over bolognase sauce and pasta to last several meals in the future (for those I really can not be bothered cooking nights). Plus I forgot to put out the jellies I made as well as the honey jumbles.

Jazynthe was overwhelmed with the amount of gifts she recieved I think.

The cake I had a wonderfully talented friend make was out of this world and way beyond what had expected her to do.

Can you believe this was her first real novelty challenge cake?

The details she added was outstanding and I was floored with how great of a job she did.

We still have a lot of it left.mmmmmm yum cake all week.

My baby girls Birthday celebrations

2010-05-23T20:25:00.002+10:00

This week has been a whirlwind of a week my baby girl turned 5 on Thursday. My goodness where did all that time go by. It has been the most amazing journey these five years. I would do it all over and not change a single thing. She is one amazing girl with a thurst for life and knowledge, the most amazing compassion for others that is beyond her years and full of enough energy to light up the entire world. She always has a sparkle in her eye and a smile that lights up the room.
I'm amazed by her every single day and love her endlessly.
Her birth seems like it was only yesturday and I remeber after she was born I hardly slept that first night as all I could do was stare at her in wonder.
This year her birthday was celebrated in two parts. There was her actual birthday wich was on Thursday then there was her party which was celebrated today.

For her birthday I bought some lovely items from various creators who were fellow stall holders at Poppyseed Markets that I was part of last week on Sunday.

I purchased a cool and funky crown that was made by Sarah from Gifts Created , I love it so much and so does Jazynthe.
I also got for her some hair accessories from Butterfly Garden Hair Accessories Jazynthe especially loves the headband and has worn it every day since getting it.

I also met a lovely girl who makes amazing TuTu's and ordered one from her through her Madeit store. Jazynthe has also worn this every day since getting it.

Giveaway Winner

2010-05-23T19:39:00.000+10:00

Well today is the day I do the draw.
Thankyou so much for all of you who have dropped by, I just hope you all stay!
So without further a do....the lucky winner according to random number generator is 37 and that lucky person is: Lis who is all the way from the UK.
congrats to you I will get your little bundle of to you on my next payday. Look out for an email!

Birthday cupcakes

2010-05-19T21:48:00.000+10:00

I made cupcakes for my little Princess to take into school for her birthday. I was given an alergy friendly recipe from a neighbouher when I went to grab some egg replacer from her so I could make them so her little boy and any other egg alergy suffers could join in on the fun.
I think with how common alergies are especially egg that it is rude not to consider the possiblity of children in your child's class could be alergic to at least eggs. Think how those poor kids feel to see the entire class is eating cakes and they are not. I know you could consider not sending in cakes at al but what is the fun in that. Doing something special for the birthday child is half the fun especially if they are at school with all their friends and not at home really for their birthday.

I also made some frosting to go on top and added some fun with sprinkles. I am pretty sure there is no dairy alergies in the class but if there was you could do glace icing or lollies instead.
This was also my first time of using a piping bag, that is a tricky thing to do especially in cold weather. Hmmm next time shall do it in the day instead.
The recipe originally came from Anaphylaxis Australia Inc. Plus this week is actually Allergy Awareness week here in Australia.

So here is the recipe for you to go and do for your child next time you send them of to school or pre-school with cupcakes for their birthday.

Party Cup Cake Recipe

1 1/2 Cups Self Raising Flour
1/3 Cup dairy and egg free custard powder
1 cup sugar
1/3 Cup canola Oil
1 Teaspoon vanilla essance
1 Cup cold water

Preheat oven to 180 Celsius
Combine flour, custard powder and sugar
Add oil,water and vanilla essance and mix real well
Pour into patty cases/ cupcake cases till almost full
Cook at 180 degrees celsius for about 20minutes or until skewer is inserted and comes out clean.
Cool on a rack then decorate.

Giveaway Day

2010-05-16T20:16:00.001+10:00

I am putting this up a day early as mornings in my household are crazy. I could not garuntee I could get to this post till in the afternoon which would be too late.
In the pack you will get the following items:
A self covering button kit along with some scraps of fabrics (these will match the fat quarter I am including) to use with them if you like.
A fat quarter of Amy buttler fabric
A spool of Gutterman thread
Plus I will make a little tote bag that will suit the winner.

To win leave a comment and tell me what you would do with the thread, fat quarter and button kit.

200 posts giveaway winner!

2010-05-16T18:33:00.000+10:00

According to random.org the winner of the giveaway is number 3. So that makes Desi the winner. So Desi send me an email jazyjae.bigpond.com with your addy.
You are recieving Christmas themed fat quarter,vintage lace, self covering buttons kit, bobbins, embroidery thread, some scrapbooking/crad making supplies and maybe a couple other things.

The Sewing Machine (song)

2010-05-11T19:18:00.000+10:00

through my You Tube browsing look what I found. I like it....bit of a giggle.

Caught in the act!

2010-05-10T22:45:00.000+10:00

Tonight whilst I was out in the studio I was hearing a right royal racket. I popped my head out the door and my dog was sitting there at the door looking like I interupted her sleep. so went back to sewing away. The noise started up again.
Thought I better go investigate what all the commotion was.
Fetched a torch and went down the yard. Could not see a thing but heard the familar growling of a possum. Hmmm best check that the chooks are all fine. yep they were safely locked up in their house. I checked their feed in the old cubby, yep that too was fine all sealed up. Discovered a huge dent in the fence. Hmmm nothappy about that. first blamed the dog. But then again i would have heard her barking not just a bunch of loud banging that I at first thought it was possums on the shed roof.
I went inside and rang hubby at work to see if the dent was there earlier today in case he had forgotten to tell me about it.
whilst on the phone the banging started up again. So I hung up on him and ran out in the dark and waited till I got real close before turning on the torch. I discovered this huge Brush Tail possum on our bird feeder.

S/He is bigger than our adult male cat. So this is the culprit of all our late night noise in the yard and the reason why the bird feeder is empty each day!

It's giveaway time.

2010-05-09T15:25:00.001+10:00

Well I have reached my 200 blog entry and a couple more on top once this entry goes up.
So in celebration I will do a giveaway. I'll do a mystery box which will be added to for every comment and new follower I get. You have till Saturday 15th May to enter.
First thing in the box is a fat quarter of christmas fabric...a nice funky one. Plus about a metre of vintage lace.
I'll edit this entry with updates of what goes in the box. Once a number of things are in I'll also add sneek peek photos.
13th Update:
I only see 4 comments hmmm surely there has to be more readers than that! OK some hints on what else I have added...... something for your sewing machine, something for gift giving, something for embeleshing fabric or similar, something for crafty goodness that is flexible in it's use for example photos or cards.
There are more things set aside but until I get more comments all I'm letting out is cryptic clues.

Mother's Day today.

2010-05-09T12:32:00.000+10:00

Today is mothers day here in Australia. I was woken to hubby at work, a screaming toddler who was not happy about being in his cot and a yucky nappy. Plus my beaming girl with loot for me.

She had made me a card at school, plus painted a portrait of me. I'm apparently yelling at her in the portrait........hmmmmmm. probably telling her to leave her brother alone for the 50th time that day. She also drew me a couple of drawings. One of which she had awarded herself a sticker on.

Jaedyn had a hand in a card that was made for me at his day care.

After morning of getting ready to go out and had breakfast. I took the kids up to Blackheath Growers Market for a spot of shopping of local produce. Shall not go by myself with the kids again. Not as enjoyable with no one else to watch out for them.

some of the Autumn leaves up in Blackheath

I got for myself some nice local wine, marinated goats cheese, dolomades, local bacon and sausages.

This year....

2010-05-07T20:32:00.000+10:00

I shall be participating in this years Giveaway day should be exciting come back here on the 17th to see what I will be giving away. Check out this blog for details.

Ohhhhh and this is my 200th post. Hmm I'll think about what I'll do for that and come back and do a blog entry over the w/e for that.

Bathroom is done....almost!

2010-05-07T14:05:00.000+10:00

Well the bathroom has been finished in the way of painting. I'm very happy to longer be living with such an awful bathroom.

it now is calling for a few little things to brighten it up. I plan heading to Howard's storage world and IKEA...any excuse to go there! I know I want a couple of the bamboo bathroom storage items that Howard's Storage World has. they have a nice shower caddy and bath caddy that i think will be great.

I bought from the reject shop today a couple tealight candle holders that have purple and gold glass.

The bathroom needs a few little colourful things in there. I also want a framed picture or two in there and I also think some new towels are called for as well.

Bathroom Renovation

2010-05-04T12:39:00.001+10:00

Since we moved into this rental property there have been a number of issues that have needed great attention. Thebathroom being one of them. This house had a major mould issue and by major I mean it was everywhere.
It got so bad that it actually destroyed our bed and a few other pieces of furniture.
The landlord put in fans under the floor to help draw moisture out from under the house. This has stopped anymore building up in the home.
However the damage had already been done to a number of areas especially the bathroom.
So currently we are living with no bathroom till Thursday but already I'm super happy with the progress.
Before starting it was awful and probably a health hazard. Not good when you have a toddler who is asthmatic.

Above you can see how bad it was. You can also in some of the photos see how the paint was peeling and cracking without the mould problem. A couple of areas was back to the gyprock.
in order to remove what damage had been done the painter had to use some pretty full on cleaner, he was wearing a mask and advised us to be out of the home while he used it. He had tried to use the usual sugar soap but just like me discovered that was a futile thing to even try.
Now look how it looked just after one days work of cleaning and filling.

I will post up more pics. as it progresses. Today he has been re-grouting, sanding and about to prime it all ready for painting and to get rid of that awful green also.

Morning Laughs

2010-05-01T13:49:00.000+10:00

This morning Jazynthe and I ventured down the mountain for Gala Day at Emu Plains for soccer. I have not laughed so much in a long time. Jazynthe's team were definately the team in it for the fun of it. They were all running around in circles a lot during the first game.

By second game Jazynthe had her team all doing handstands and playing stacks on with each other. At one point the other team might as well have been playing by themselves. Us Mum's on the side line were in hysterics. Jazynthe at one point kept on running around with her shirt over her face.

Have no clue if her team one either game or not and frankly I don't care neither did they. They all were having too much fun to care.

Renting and being self sufficent

2010-04-26T20:42:00.000+10:00

I often read and or hear people say "Oh but I rent so I can't do that whole self sufficency thing" and I have to say this bugs me a lot sometimes beyond words. I have yet to come accross a landlord or real estate agent that has no problems with me as a tenant using any empty space in the garden to plant what ever I please. As long as I am maintaining the yard to a good standard they don't really care. Besides self sufficency is not just about gardens there is so much more to it and what ever you choose to do to lessen your impact on consumer driven living your making a positive impact. To me self sufficency is all about just that doing what you can to not rely on others for your survival.
I have gone and asked past real estate agents if I can add garden beds or no dig garden beds and every time I have had a yes. In my adult life I have restarted my garden at every home I have lived in and that has been a total of sixteen times.
It can be as small as one of my efforts in an apartment in Kings Cross that was so small that the entire apartment could fit in my current lounge room with space to spare now.At that apartment I had herbs in pots on the window sills of my lounge/bedroom/kitchen and of the bathroom. I did have up on the roof some fruit boxes with vegies in them till I went away for a long w/e and they died in the summer heat.
Then it could be as much as we currently have. When we moved in the backyard would have made any green thumb enthusiast collapse to their knees and wonder what sort of person lets this happen to a yard. All the garden beds were filled with grass and weeds along with the manure of the previous tenants 3 very large dogs. It took us over two months of hard work to get the entire areas cleared of any sign of the previous nightmare. We have only on one small area measuring aprox. 3m by 5m gone outside garden beds for everything in this bed there has been a rotation of potatoes, beans, tomatoes, broccoli and now chard, beets and soon parsnip will be added along with broad beans. We have kept our 6 hens and one rooster in an area previously barren of life within what should have been a garden bed. All other areas of the garden have some sort of vegetable or herb growing in them
Yes we are lucky to have a large area to use but that is pure luck and us being able to negotiate around the large bushes and trees to achieve what we want.
You could use old food tins to grow miniture plants like tiny toms and herbs.
So I guess what I am trying to say just because you rent does not mean you can't be self sufficent to some degree.

Some photos from the new camera

2010-04-23T16:48:00.000+10:00

Well today I got to go out and play a little with my new camera. Took a little how to work out the manual settings so as I could take the photos I wanted. All a big learning curve in learning how to adjust the aperture for a start let alone all the rest. I took SLR photography in high school but that was nearly 20 years ago and I have not used an SLR since then.
I managed to get a few that I was happy enough with to post up here. So enjoy my beginner photos.

New toy!

2010-04-21T19:03:00.000+10:00

I'm so excited about being able to go and pick up a flashy new toy tomorrow. I'll be getting myself a brand new camera. I can't wait to play happy snaps and test it out for what it can actually do. So look out blogland!

A vinatge sheet fat quarter swap is on.

2010-04-21T18:13:00.000+10:00

Go on to over here for more. They are loads of fun.

Nimble Fingers and Creative Minds to Compete for Art and Craft Glory

2010-04-06T16:23:00.000+10:00

2010 Royal Melbourne Show Art and Craft Competitions: Entries Open

Lovers of all things handmade and homespun are being called to enter the 2010 Royal Melbourne Show Art and Craft Competitions, to be held Saturday18 to Tuesday 28 September at Melbourne Showgrounds.
Thousands of entrants are expected to once again compete for the much-coveted blue ribbon in more than 180 competition classes, which cover everything from millinery, crochet and recycled fashion to short films, animation and even bark art.
According to Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) General Manager, Exhibitions & Events, Joanne Jeffery, the 2010 Art and Craft Competitions are expected to attract a host of entrants from around Australia, both male and female, from the young to the simply young at heart.

“The past 12 months has seen a resurgence in DIY and traditional hobbies, with arts and crafts shaking off its old-fashioned image and re-emerging as a popular social and leisure trend,” Ms Jeffery said.

“This new-found popularity, coupled with the undisputed prestige of the highly sought after Royal Melbourne Show blue ribbon, ensures we will see another strong field of new and experienced competitors in each of the art and craft events,” she said.

The 2010 Royal Melbourne Show will also feature the inaugural running of a host of new creative classes including: theatrical costume; cultural costume; and photography. Putting a new spin on the concept of high fashion, ribbons will also be awarded for the best ‘decorated shoe’.
“From arts and craft champions to budding fashion and costume designers and casual enthusiasts, the 2010 Royal Melbourne Show has a competition to suit all interests and experience levels,” Ms Jeffery said.
Entry forms for the 2010 Art and Craft Competitions are available online at www.royalshow.com.au , with entries set to close on Friday, 23 July.

I was sent this above media release today!

Busy Day.

2010-04-04T19:36:00.000+10:00

Today I was rather busy. Been a while since I sewed for things to stay here in the home. I'm so distracted all the time for sewing JazyJae's that I forget about things I want for me and what the kids could do with. The poor things get the JazyJae's of loads that I am not 100% happy with.

So today first up I made a much needed set of pot holders. A big set too so holding those huge pots and baking trays will not be an art of making sure your not going to burn yourself. These were made from a combination of old thrifted pillowcase, thrifted vinatge fabric, a bit of scrap homespun and insul bright.

Next was a rather dodgy attempt at converting a pillowcase into a new peg bag our basket was no longer holding the pegs in as they were dropping through the large holes on the sides. It may not be perfect but it will do the job.

Then I made Jaedyn a couple of PJ pants with matching shirts to come. I've been waiting for him to be big enough to make PJ pants from the flanel Micheal Miller cowboy print I bought back not long after he was born. I will get a couple of long sleeved shirts and sew a matching patch on the front. He also has a couple of hand knitted pants he wears on cold nights already they too need a matching shirt each. So I guess Target will be having me spend a bit on shirts very soon. I tend to like their ones best as they hold their shape better and are not expensive to then sew something on the front.

Tomorrow I hope to get to sew up a few PJ pants for Jazynthe and a better library bag then the one she currently uses ( an Oxfam calico bag with the strap knotted of to fit.). I have some of cuts of cord fabric about might sew them all together to make up a patchy bag with a flap and shoulder strap.

Easter 2010

2010-04-04T09:54:00.000+10:00

Our Easter festivities this year included attending Jazynthe's first Easter hat parade. I was a bit on the disapointed side that it was not like when I was a kid that you made your Easter bonnet or hat at home with Mum and Dad. I was rather looking forward to sitting down with my girl and coming up with a great bonnet together. At her school they create them in class and they all look pretty much the same as each other. Although each class seemed to have their own thing going the basis was all the same with each childs own twist all using the same materials and colours etc. (The disapointment of a creative Mum who believes the school uniform is enough to have the same...let alone everything else. hmmmfffff)

I got over my disapointment enough to deal with it and enjoy the parade for the fact it was my girls first one. Lucky they have a teacher who is not afraid to look silly and danced about getting the little kiddies to do actions to "The Lion sleeps tonight."

I was then disapointed to find out I also will not be helping create a book week costume this year as they alternate between Easter hat parades and book parades each year. Bugger.... I have to wait till next year to have my creatives juices flowing with my girl and her school activities.
yesturday we travelled up north to visit Brian's family for a BBQ lunch at a great park....i took the camera but did not take a single photo. IDIOT! How can a blogger not take a single photo?

Anyway this morning was egg hunting at our house... that was fun playing bunny and letting the kiddies try and find the eggs.

Jazynthe was a bit blind and kept walking past several even when I gave her clues as to where she could find them.

Jaedyn once he worked it out that there was a number of eggs about was pretty good at it, we only had to point out the area they were in for him and he found them and dropped them in his little bucket.

Of course it would not be Easter without chocolate for breakfast and boy was Jaedyn dispointed when i went to restrict him having another egg not realising that Jazynthe had been allowed another.

I found it impossible to find any Fair Trade Easter chocolates so I myself did not buy any. Brian did not think too much about it where the kids were concerened as Jazynthe was rather aware of the fact of Easter bunny from school yard information.

Brian missed out on recieving anything from me this year as i refuse to pay for non fair Trade chocolate. however he found some for me. He ordered through Oxfam site. why did I not think of them? At least I know for next year where to get them from.

Harvesting to making

2010-03-30T20:41:00.000+11:00

Today in the drizzle I went and did some foraging in the garden. I had noticed when going to check up the chooks that several basil plants had some sprouting of flower stems just before the flowering stage.
So this evening I went and picked all the top leaves and some of the parsley plants.
Whilst out there I grabbed a couple of tomatoes, a couple of eggplants and a number of chillis.Plus a small capsicum.

The chillis have been all put up in a basket with a whole lot picked over the last week. They will be dried for use later.

My tommies that are rippening up on the windowsill might be saved for making a tabouli with some of the last of the parsley before it starts going to seed ( I have picked the last lot of buds last week hoping to save seeds).

The eggplant and capsicum will be used as part of tomorrows dinner. As for the basil I made a big jar of pesto. I threw in some macadamias that have been sitting in a container untouched instead of waiting for the purchase of pine nuts and in went some parmesan cheese and a few lugs of olive oil. Blended away and yummy pesto packed in a jar.

Dressing Up

2010-03-30T19:57:00.000+11:00

My little munchkins spent the good part of Sunday afternoon playing dress ups. Jaedyn still is in that lovely stage of not seeing the difference between traditional boys and girls dress ups. Which I think is great too much is put on what a boy or a girl should be it's unfair I believe. That day was one of those days that the two of them decided it was fairy day.

A few days earlier Jazynthe had been pretending to be a pirate captain of a ship.

I even was asked to make tiaras and wands. Jaedyn was rather upset at Jazynthe having had them for herself and I had yet to make him a set.

They make rather cute little fairies.....reminds me of the next Tatoo I'm getting but more about that another time.

Many photos tell a story, don't they?

2010-03-30T19:40:00.000+11:00

On Saturday up here was Foundation Day for Springwood so here are some of the photos I took.

Moving house!

2010-03-18T13:01:00.000+11:00

No we are not moving house....although a bigger house on a bigger plot would be nice.
Last night we moved our Wyndotte babies who are not so much babies anymore into the big chooks area.

So far so good! there apears to be minimal pecking fom the older chooks happening. It certainly is not the same big scale hen pecking that our poor Rooster got when we first attempted to introduce him in the pen area.

The girls have certainly grown a great deal since I last blogged about Casey and Lara. Also boy has Sober Mick chnaged too. He now looks like his wearing a bad 80's bleached blonde hair do.
We will see how this new adventure now goes with hope of blogging about chicks this comming Spring. However before then we need to get some good eggs from the newer girls. I'm interested to see if the taste of eggs will be different from our other chooks eggs.

Unflued Gas Heaters in our schools

2010-03-17T17:32:00.000+11:00

Some of you who read my blog may be aware of the fact that Unflued Gas Heaters are currently being used in the state run schools and education facilities of New South Wales.
This is an unsafe form of heating in the fact that dangerous unseen gases are released into the rooms of where they are used. They also have been shown to have a link to Asthma and other related respitory illnesses especially in children.
I could go on forever on the subject. I'm extremely passionate about the need to have these dangerous heaters removed from our education facilities. We need to think about the health of not only our children but also the staff and volunteers.
So I'm asking that readers of this blog if you are on facebook please join the group against these heaters by going here if not on facebook please sign the online petition on this page.
Then if you could mention on your blog and or facebook page I would greatly appreciate it as too would many other families of New South Wales.

What a find!

2010-03-08T19:43:00.000+11:00

Today I found a great book at a store in Springwood.

I'm not a giant fan of good ol' Martha Stewart but I do like her and her great ideas (well most of them anyway).
This Book apealed to me for the fact it was of a subject close to my heart. Upcycling those great finds at yard sales and the like.
Some wonder ful ideas in there below are some of the ones that have caught my eye on first flick through.

Old biscuit tins striped and used for storage

Soap dish shelves

Enamale wear storage and magnetic notice board

bake wear polished and used for candle mounts.

Old suitcase turned into a picnic case.

Old jars used as water gardens.

With in five years!

2010-02-18T15:54:00.000+11:00

I've been meaning to write this kind of list for a while now. I've never come up with a list like this before. So before I turn 40 I'd love to achieve as much of the list as I can possibly achieve. fingers crossed I do the entire list.

1. Visit Uluru (always wanted to visit the big rock and the area around, I feel a great pull to go there)
2. Visit Broome in storm season. So much want to see how beautiful this area is suppose to be especially when lightning is cracking across the sky.
3. Skydive
4. Learn to rollerskate well enough to be able to form or join a roller derby team
5. Living on my own property where I don't have to think about the impact on a rental for my dream of being as self effecient as possible
6. Travel outside Australia
7. Geat my motorcycle licence
8. Own and ride a Harley
9. travel across Australia via rail on the Indian Pacific

That should do it!
Ambitious maybe but got to aim high to achieve greatness.

A handsome cockeral and gorgeous girls.

2010-02-17T18:03:00.001+11:00

Time has gone by rather quickly in our home. So much has been happening but I have been slack on the photo taking so blog in turn is neglected.

My little girl has started school and my baby boy has started care for two days a week. I had bit of a cry about both, lucky for me a good friend was out in the car park to give me a hug after he was droped of for his first day.

We have had heavy rain for over a week since the huge hail storm, so much rain was comming down that we had a creek running down one side of the yard through the chicken run (lucky they could go to higher ground in the hutch. the chicks on the other hand had to be rescued and taken indoors to keep from being drowned.

The chicks have grown a lot since my lost blog on them. Casey is looking splended with fantastic colouring. Lara is still not so clear in colouring but she still is looking gorgeous.

the handsome boy among them is looking rather handsome. His starting to assert himself a lot more now. Although he does run of every now and then from the girls. He has been crowing a small amount. Not a clear crow but is crowing. What makes it all very funny is Lucy tries to crow herself, all in an effort to try and keep as the boss. Too bad it's not working as well anymore.

Hail that could kill!

2010-01-29T10:35:00.001+11:00

Late yesturday afternoon a storm rolled through the mountains. Nothing unusual for here we have been getting plenty of that lately. Most of the time it's been just a bit of rain or a dry storm. However the frequency of hail is becoming a weekly event.

I was out in the yard doing some tidying up around the garden edges and trying to make it all look a little more respectable out there instead of the grass over growing every where. If it was up to me we would have no lawn. However we have a dog so she really needs her space to run around. Being a Kelpie all the more space the better.
Whilst out there black clouds came over a bit of light rain and a whole lotta noise. I ignored it all as I really wanted to make some progress and frankly could not care less about getting wet. After completing one side of the yard edging I ventured over to one of the vegie patches to inspect how some of the fruit and vegetables were comming along. A lot more noise and heavier ran apeared whilst in there and it became even more dark. So I thought it would be best if I did head indoors.

Lucky I did as no sooner had I poured myself a drink and had a mouthful full on heavy ran came down and then the hail started whilt I walked over to the door to watch it come down. When i say hail I mean big huge pieces of hail the size of a tennis ball. Had I decided to ignore the storm some more no dought I would hve been in a bad way if not absolutely covered in giant bruises.
The family stood and watched this hail come on down for a good five minutes which then turned to average sized hail for another five minutes or so. It was then that I grabbed the umbrella a raced out to check the chooks and chicks.

Two stupid hens were out in the pen huddled together and watching the spectical around them. The rest were hiding up in the hutch.The chicks were fine huddled up together under the tarp I have over their area.

On the way back to the house I grabbed a piece of the larger hail to show the kids and of course take pic to blog about it. This was now a good ten minutes after the hail had stopped and it still was huge.

That in her let hand is the hail and a standard ice cube in her right

Checked on the gardens today and only damage was a number leaves of the apple trees and some leaf damage to the eggplants.