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Tuesday, September 26, 2006

A bad start to the week...

We left Nan's early yesterday and I drove most of the way back. I was only about 25 minutes late to the planning day, but already people were right into the drum segment of the morning. Oh dear, I thought. But it was great. These guys were from Monkey Jump and the drums (and maracas and sticks) - even though played by mild mannered public servants - made the most incredible sound. The rest of the day went as planning day's do. Eh. It was held at the National Museum of Australia, so DH and Lily wandered around for an hour or so until it was time to pick me up. I think they had a better time than me... I was tired and exhausted from all that 'planning' and a little grumpy.

Shortly after we got home I began to feel a little 'bloated' and not long after that I was struck down by some gastro-type illness. It was not a fun night. Today hasn't been much better. So I'm home. Two quick snaps... a bag I made ages ago out of a placemat - complete with little magnet clasp thingo - tres professional.

And the other is a sneak peek at something I making for someone... The blogger herself will know what it means (and anyone else who reads her blog...). It will be fashioned into something fantastic and amazing, then packaged up and sent south. Just as soon as I can spend more that 5 minutes at a stretch away from the bathroom...

Sunday, September 24, 2006

And the wind blew

After 10 days from hell, we've had a lovely weekend in Nowra for DH's Grandfather's birthday. We came down Friday, and spent the night watching the Bulldogs lose their chance at the Grand final (sad for DH; I'm indifferent). Then a beautiful warm day (bit of wind) with family, great food, and lots of laughing at children (Like poor Lily when she jumped in the pool with me. Let's just say it was very 'bracing'. Not so funny was her picking up the phrase 'bugger him' from Uncle Dave...). On Saturday night I spent the night playing with my Nana's 'new' Bernina 1630. It was alot of fun! It writes, embroiders, and pretty much runs itself. A far cry from my old Elnita (Elna). I've made a couple of things for various blog-folk. Watch this space for sneak previews.

We got up early this morning and got ready to come home. My grandparents had just got home and had narrowly missed being hit by a falling tree. My grandfather's cat-like reflexes and the early hour were the only things that had stopped them being squashed. Nana got hot coffee all over her lap, but better a hot coffee than a large tree...

The wind had picked up heaps and by the time we left there was a gale force wind warning. The road was littered with broken branches and detritius was flying about everywhere. DH and I commented that it you wouldn't want to be a motorcyclist out in this weather; too dangerous. Just out of Kangaroo Valley we had to stop because of an accident. It was only 100m in front of us. A motorcyclist had been hit by a falling tree and struck off his bike. His bike had continued on without him for a further 200m until it hit an oncoming car. The poor driver of the car - visibly shaking - was telling people to turn around. It had happened moments before and the Ambulance arrived about 2 minutes after we got there. As this was one of the only roads back to Canberra we stopped tentatively under a huge gum. DH got out to see if it was possible for us to pass. That's when he saw the ambulance officers lay a sheet over the man. Meanwhile, more and more people were getting out of their cars to walk up and see what was happening. Right up to where this man was laying. Upon finding out what happened, many were just pissed off that they'd have to go hours out of their way to get home. This man's death was considered more an inconvienience than a tragedy. More an interesting story to tell than the end of a life. We turned around and tried to go down the Berry Road, but only 2km I had swerved to avoid 3 trees on the road. Given Nana and Pa's close call, the accident we'd just seen and the prospect of driving at least 100km through heavily tree'd forests we decided to come back to Nowra. DH's parents decided to try and get back to Canberra via Ulladulla, but got stopped by a fire. It ended up taking them 8 hours to get home. If it had been DH and I we'd probably have done the same, but we couldn't do it to Lily. Anyway, we're back at Nana's and will be doing the dash back early tomorrow morning because I've got a planning day for work.

The whole thing has shaken me. I can't identify exactly why, but it was just so sad and tragic. And close. And real. I thought writing about it would help. It hasn't helped me understand why I feel so bad, but I don't feel anxious anymore. Thanks blogmosphere.

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Australian Lungfish...

or Queensland Lungfish,

  • are a link with our prehistoric past
  • has gills and a lung
  • can grow up to 2 metres long
  • is pretty freaky looking
  • has kept me busy for a day or two...

Monday, September 18, 2006

Spring has sprung...

We went to hear my dad singing in a combined public service choir on Sunday at Merici College and they had the most amazing blossoms!

The singing wasn't too bad either - featuring the ever amazing Shiny Bum Singers.

Spring has definately sprung!

We spent alot of the weekend outside because it was such lovely weather - and we even had a Zebra in the backyard!

And a little bit of crafting... A lovely woman at work gave me some snowdrop bulbs, which inspired me to make this little one.

Peek-a-boo! She's hiding in my clover-infested bulb pot...

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

A couple of cosmetic changes around here. I got sick of the brown and had been tinkering with another template for a while, but it just wasn't coming together. So here we are. In soothing green. Ah.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Don't look at this if I'm swapping with you!!!

Firstly, here is a little Japanese girl I made to go with the babushka doll. She rocks. I also love that she's sitting in our one blossom tree. Well, our one tree actually. And it was already there when we bought the house. I need more trees!













And the other thing I've been doing is this gorgeous little set of stuffies for a craftster swap. My partner likes mermaids so I thought I'd just go with a whole sea theme. I love the mermaid and I'm so proud of her. Usually I get to the face and they are ruined with a dodgy smile or wonky eyes. But she looks like she's just laying back, resting her eyes and enjoying the spring sun. Which is what she was doing when I photographed her on these big water-feature-rock thingos at work. Needless to say I got some interesting comments and stares. Different-ness is not always embraced in Canberra...

Monday, September 04, 2006

I sound like a broken record (or scratched CD for those post Gen-Xers out there...)


I love freezer paper. I think I might have said that before... Since I found out that you could print on fabric with the assistance of freezer paper (thanks wee wonderfuls) there has been no stopping me. On Saturday I made this little chicken. She's based on a babushka doll, printed on calico, machine sewn, stuffed and da-da! I love her. I still must get some Bubble-jet Set because the minute it gets damp it the ink runs. I did one of my Lil too - sooo cute. I can take her everywhere now!

I also used freezer paper to make a picture for DH's Dad for Father's Day. It had 'World's Best Poppy - Poppin' since '04 and a picture of him. And I did a t-shirt for DH's workmate who was leaving. I'll post them later as we're on our way out to dinner at my brother-in-law's.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Counting is... strange...

I overheard this conversation between my husband and Lily this morning. They were counting...

DH: 2...
Lily: 3...
DH: 4...
Lily: 5...
DH: 6...
Lily: 6...
DH: But what comes after 6 Lily?
Lily: Yellow!