Canberra Donations for Victorian Fire Appeal

This announcement is going around at the moment...
______________________________________________________________________
ALLIED PICKFORDS is arranging to transport any Canberra donations of clothing, toys, tinned food, furniture due to the tragedy with the bushfires in Victoria. Many of us lived through this 6 years ago, and can imagine not having any possessions except the clothes on your back.

The community support for Canberra from around Australia was incredible at the time - and we should now help Victoria.

If you have a spare ANYTHING - get it to Queanbeyan. The Allied Pickfords Depot is at 184 Gilmore Road, Queanbeyan - just go along Canberra Avenue past DFO and Gilmore Road is only a few kilometres away. The transportation is happening regularly - so there is not a cut off time.

If you can pack things into boxes, it will help. PLEASE HELP DISTRIBUTE THIS EMAIL TO ANY OF YOUR CANBERRA NETWORK.

If you are not able to help with these sort of donations, Salvation Army and Red Cross have an appeal going:
http://www.redcross.org.au/default.asp
https://www.salvationarmy.com.au/partners/donate.asp?oneoff=yes

When did you last laugh so hard...

that you cried? This image catches one of those moments. This is me and my bestie Lilly. She has an extremely talented photographer friend Hing Ang (http://www.flickr.com/photos/toadtheory/) who took some photos of us on Australia Day this year.

We've been friends for 20 years, since she was my billet for a music camp. We were little girls, then big girls, then young women, then women, and now wives and mothers. We have one thousand personal jokes and stories about things like camels in pants and partying till you die and the 'thilver thoverin'. We've traveled together, worked together, lived together for brief periods of time but we've never lived in the same city. She's a talented, funny, vibrant and loving person and she makes me laugh. I love her like I love my children - totally and unconditionally.

Gifties and stuff

I've kind of lost my blogging mojo so you get a picture post...

I made this seafoam scarf from the hacho I bought a while ago. I want to finish it off with some buttons - its more a cowl-length.

This was a beautiful surprise gift from Happy Spider for Lily, to go with the gorgeous hat she knitted for her a while ago. Lil's has insisted on wearing during the last couple of 38 degree days. Really.

And this was a stole that I started to knit with my cursed malabrigo lace weight. I've frogged it because even though it looks great, it was a bugger of a pattern to remember and it just wasn't flowing. I believe this skein is cursed because of cast on about eight projects with it, and none have pushed my buttons. I've now put it aside for a while.

Food for thought...

I'm a smoker. I don't like it. It never used to really bother me, but with the sense of mortality which comes from having dependents, I would love to quit. Anyway, yesterday as I was browsing the beautiful Malabrigo at yarnandkisses.com I realised that I could justify buying 3 balls of Malabrigo A WEEK if I quit smoking.

Photo credit: yarnandkisses.com

Yes, each packet of dirty, carcinogenic, smelly cigarettes costs about as much as a skein of Malabrigo.

That means, people, that I could buy 156 skeins a year.

So if we assume that I am talking about laceweight Malabrigo that is 430m per skein x 3 per week - 1290m per week or 67080m per year.

That is 151 times the yarn that Bells used for her Adamas Shawl. Or 167 times the yarn the Happy Spider used for her Nightsong Shawl.

So who agrees that this could be a good motivation for quitting????

Happy Birthday

In the midst of the end of year postings all around (one of which I'm dying to post) I would like to put a 'Happy Birthday' out into the ether for my beautiful little man Paterson, who turned 1 today.


I was frightened at having a boy. I didn't want to find out the sex because if it were male I didn't want my first reaction to my second child to be disappointment. I wanted a sister for Lil so she would have the relationship that I have with my sister. I didn't know what to do with a boy. Please don't bother pointing out all the logic flaws with this - I'm well aware of them. I was only a little sad when he was born, but only because Nathan hadn't decided against calling our son 'Paterson' as I had hoped he would (love you bub!).

But let me tell you, I could not love Paddy any more if I tried. He is a constant source of delight. His beautiful blue eyes light up when he smiles. He giggles uncontrollably at Lily's attempts at slapstick. He squeals when the 'kissing monster' gets him. He loves tackling and rough-housing - although his penchant for biting isn't making him a popular playmate at present. He eats like a child possessed. No one is safe while eating near him. He loves to bury his head in pillows. He loves to stand on all fours and look between his legs while resting on his head on the ground. He talks and goos and points at everything. He loves opening draws and closing doors. He loves de-furring Rosie the cat. He loves to push things - cars, vacuum cleaners, doorstops... Now he has teeth he loves making noise with his tongue against his teeth. And blowing raspberries. And of course biting. I love how he now deliberately puts his arm up around me neck; not just to hold on to me, but for a hug. And I kind of like that he still prefers to come to me when he's sad. Makes me feel needed, you know?

Anyhoo, I wrote this more for myself than anything. You say you'll remember this amazing spectacular moment in their lives - but then the next amazing spectacular moment comes along to replace it*.

So, Happy Birthday little man.

And Happy New Year to the rest of you; I'm a new year's eve grinch (which is why the universe made me have a child on NYE) so I'll think of you at 9.10 when I'm snuggled up in bed.

Naomi

*(except that I will always remember Lil saying 'Mum, when you die and I get older, can I wear your marrying dress?' a couple of days ago...)

Single? Literate?

Huge props for the National Library for seeing a market for singles who don't dig the drunken/disco scene. I would soooo have gone for this in my single days. I hope this is a huge sucess for them!

Literary Lovers: Speed Dating for Book Lovers

Join us for a celebration of reading and romance. Bring along a book you love to act as an ice-breaker. Find romance, or simply broaden your reading while enjoying a glass of wine in the idyllic setting of ex Libris at the National Library.

Presented by: National Library of Australia
Start: 6:30pm
Event location: National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Parkes
Cost: Adult: $30 Concession: $25
Organised by: National Library of AustraliaMore information: Info: 02 6262 1271
Booking: 02 6262 1271 20 February 2009
Official Site: http://www.nla.gov.au/

Blue is 'done'
Red is 'never will'
Black is 'not done'

Over half... not bad considering there are some things I wouldn't want to do (like bounce a cheque)

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited The Great Barrier Reef.
5. Stood under the stars in the outback, the real outback – think Uluru.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (But I have given - for over 10 years now).
7. Been to the Gold Coast’s theme parks – anyone, you take your pick.
8. Climbed a mountain - does Kosciusko count?.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sung a solo.
11. Bungee jumped, jumped out of plane, been paragliding or hang-gliding, hot air ballooning – you get the idea, you’ve been hundreds of metres about earth in a seemingly flimsy contraption.
12. Visited Melbourne.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Had a child. Raised a child. Worked with children.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Been to the Snowy Mountains.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Visited the Brett Whitely studio in Surry Hills, Sydney.
20. Slept on an overnight train or bus.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Been backpacking.
23. Taken a mental health day.
24. Been buried in sand with just your head and toes sticking out.
25. Held a possum, kangaroo or koala – or any other native Australian animal. (Why, only last week I held a stripped legless lizard!)
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Been in a fun run. (I just walked)
28. Been on the Blue Mountain cableway.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Played, or watched, summer cricket. (I've been forced to listen - does that count?)
32. Sailed, kayaked or canoed our beautiful waterways.
33. Seen the Daintree.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Visited an Aboriginal settlement or mission.
36. Learned a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. (I don't think I realised it at the time...)
38. Toured the Sydney Opera House.
39. Tried rock climbing (indoor or outdoor), abseiling or just simple bush walking.
40. Visit Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art.
41. Been to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
42. Sunbaked at Bondi.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Broome.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone fishing.
49. Seen Tasmania’s old growth forests.
50. Been to the top of Q1, on the Gold Coast.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Driven the Great Ocean Road.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Norfolk Island.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Guide biscuits.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. (But not anymore, mad cow took care of that)
65. Gone jet boating.
66. Visited Port Arthur.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Australian War Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Federation Square.
74. Been on the Murray River.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Travelled, or climbed, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited St Mary’s Cathedral, in Sydney.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Been to Hermannsburg.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited Parliament House. (Worked there too...)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Saved a pet.
95. Been to the site of the Eureka Stockade.
96. Swum in The Whitsundays.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a mobile phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Lovely stuff

* Edited to fix *&^@%^ photos*

Its been so long since I posted, and time is getting away from me, so here is a brief rundown of what I've been up to. Once this is posted I can get back to some kind of regular posting. That's the theory anyway.

I posted a while back about a Chegal picture used in the movie Notting Hill, and moments later a beautiful package arrived on my doorstep from Miss Dot at Planet Lime! Isn't it stunning!

And nearly a month ago now we (Mother, Sister, Husband, Daughter and Son) went down to Melbourne for my birthday, and my sister bought me this great necklace. Its from Elk - and TSS, they have a necklace with a black pear on it!!!

Also finished a little swap package for Backtack and posted it off to the lovely Kim in Canada - but can't show you that because she's not received it yet...

We stirred the pudding.

Went to my 'little' sister's 30th party

Wrote meaningless stuff in the magnetic words on the fridge.

Watched my kids play together. Really play together.

So. There we are. Back to normal transmissions shortly.

My Daughter the photographer

I find it interesting to look at her photos. To look at what she finds interesting enough to photograph...

I did leave the picture of her poo out though...

Where you wheely bin?

Well. Many moons have passed since my last post (When I write that kind of thing it always feels like a confession - forgive me father, it has been 27 days since I last blogged). I have traveled hither, thither and yon. I have worked like a demon on my backtack swap package. Recieved beautiful unexpected presents from lovely folk. I have dealt with sick chillun'. And I'm way past trying to do a catch up post. But I will gradually. I'm back. I've got some FO's and I'll try and get back into the swing of things and post them soon. Here's a photo to keep you happy~

This is... a favourite recipe I would like to share

We're heading off to Sydney* tomorrow so i'm running a bit low on time...I'm going to be lazy and cut and paste this recipe straight from Jamie Oliver's website. I remembered it when reading about the garlic in QuiltingMick's recipe. This sounds strange but is delicious, and includes huge knobs of roast garlic.... yum.

Chicken in Milk

Ingredients

• 1 (3 pound/ 1.5 kilogram) organic chicken
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 ounces (115 grams) or 1 stick butter
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• 1 good handful fresh sage, leaves picked
• 2 lemons, zested
• 6 garlic cloves, skin left on
• 1 pint (565 milliliters) milk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C/gas 5), and find a snug-fitting pot for the chicken. Season it generously all over with salt and pepper, and fry it in the butter, turning the chicken to get an even color all over, until golden. Remove from the heat, put the chicken on a plate, and throw away the butter left in the pot. This will leave you with tasty sticky goodness at the bottom of the pan, which will give you a lovely caramel flavor later on.

Put your chicken back in the pot with the rest of the ingredients, and cook in the preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours. Baste with the cooking juice when you remember. The lemon zest will sort of split the milk, making a sauce, which is absolutely fantastic.

To serve, pull the meat off the bones and divide it on to your plates. Spoon over plenty of juice and the little curds. Serve with wilted spinach or greens and some mashed potato.

* Got a meeting to discuss declining frogs - at Taronga Zoo. How's that for a meeting location?

Strangeness is...

Strangeness is... walking into the foyer at work while listening to Midnight Oil, and seeing a picture of the lead singer, Peter Garrett, on the wall in front of you. Are you seeing things? Are you so into the music that visions of the band are materialising in front of you. Then the realisation hits you - that's a picture of your Department's Minister. He's your Minister now. Freaky.

(I imagine folks who have to work for Arnold Schwarzenegger feel similarly..)

Images that make me smile

Not sad versus Sad

While cleaning up my iTunes this thought came to me

Glenn Mediros 1987 hit 'Nothing's Going to Change My Love for You' is not sad versus any easy listening cover version which is sad.

But how the f*ck did the cover version pollute my iTunes?

This is... something I'm surprised I like

My husband. Sounds strange I know. But I never expected to end up with someone like him. I met him through his brother - a high flying, well-paid, well-dressed economist. I'd always gone for those types. When his brother told me about him - a 27 year old school teacher who only shaved every three days or so and who still lived at home - well, I wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to meet him. But I did. And his brother hadn't told me that he was funny, sensitive, compassionate, fiercely loyal, insightful, supportive and generally wonderful. And now I know that he's also a fantastic father, and perfect husband (barring the occasional toilet-seat-left-up type offense). Kisses bubby.

Saving Up

In the car today* Lil's said "Mummy, I'm saving-up to be good."

I only hope that this doesn't mean she's going to be really good, then 'spend' all the goodwill generated by such goodness by being appalling. We live in hope.



(*coming back from the second doctors appointment this week to treat Lily's obscenely large puss-filled tonsil - ewww - that will now require her to have them out)

This is... my favourite film

Well, I'm going to get back on the This is bandwagon, after quite a hiatus...

My favourite film. Mmmm. Well I can't really narrow it down so I'll do a few.


Notting Hill
I love the last scene where they're in the private park, and he's reading and she's laying on his lap, pregnant, with her birkenstocks on. I also love the bit where they're talking about his Chagall print...


Anna Scott: I can't believe you have that picture on your wall.
William: You like Chagall?
Anna Scott: I do. It feels like how being in love should be. Floating through a dark blue sky.
William: With a goat playing the violin.
Anna Scott: Yes - happiness isn't happiness without a violin-playing goat.


Gone with the Wind
I've always had a crush on Clark Gable. Mmmm. But the rich, indulgent, loving-but-dominant character of Rhett Butler - ooooo!

The King and I
"Shall we dance..." Again with the strong man. Yul Brynner started my love of bald men... It has always been the one thing that disappoints me about my choice in husband; he has a full head of hair, and judging by his genes he won't be losing it any time soon.


I could probably go on. Some of Adam Sandler's stuff is definately up there. And I love a good romantic comedy ala Love Actually. But that will do.

Youth, talent, a killer sense of humour and perhaps a knitter?

That's what I found when I stumbled upon this Miss at Kitten and Snake. She was mentioned by a commenter on the RiotACT thread and I've devoured her comic offerings. I predict big things.

That's how I roll

That'd be me if I were a graffiti artist...

38 seconds??

I could survive for 38 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Created by Bunk Beds Pedia

My favourite question was 'what would you do if the velociraptor lunged at you'....