Happy Birthday!

Paterson's birthday is December 31. I will forever be sorry to him for being unable to cross my legs for another week so that he didn't get such a sucky birth date. In years to come he may be grateful, but for the next 15 years or so he's not really going to be able to have a decent celebration. Every one is away, or going to NYE parties so he gets forgotten. Next year we're going to have a party for him on 31 November instead - everyone is still around and not so absorbed in Christmas. We did have a lovely night at a friend's place on NYE and had a cake for him so it wasn't so bad, but I do feel awful for not going the whole hog for him.

Anyhoo, whingeing aside, Paddy is turning 2. Hence the cake. I made that. I was pretty impressed, except that the marzipan duck in the marzipan pond is freakishly large compared to the vehicles on the road. Not Godzilla large. But half the size of a car large.

Paterson is obsessed with cars and airplanes and trains at the moment. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised - him being a boy and all - but its soooo stereotypically male. And Lily was the same with dolls I guess. She's always had a fair mix of 'boys' and 'girls' toys but gravitated toward the girls toys. We already noticed a difference in the way different gender kids play when we saw Lily and her cousin Marcus playing with dinosaurs. Marcus was making his dino's eat each other. Lily had hers in a school or a hospital or something. Same toy - different play.


Back to Paddy though; he's all man. Loves mechanical things, hitting things with a stick and jumping on the 'leen' while I sing 'get ready to wiggle'. Loves the Wiggles and Thomas. Loves his books. Loves emptying the pencil tin then sitting in it. He has an ever expanding vocabulary, but favourites include: No, Mine, ily (for Lily), Wiggool and 'leen'. He's the most precious little man and I'm blessed to have him for a son.

Merry whatever...

We had quite a lovely Christmas Day, despite having Old Nana taken to hospital with pneumonia and our family 'drunkle' (that's a drunken uncle) having a go at us for turning in at 10pm. So after a very non-christian-or-christmas outburst at my drunkle this morning * we departed to Nowra to have a second Christmas day with Nath's family. The kids had a lovely day - a quality present which delighted Lily and lots of cars for Paddy which kept him enthralled for hours. Lil also got an Astroboy toy from my sister which was a huge hit. Those of you who've been around for a while may remember Lil's desire for an Astroboy during the "Front" knitting incident last year. Its cause a few sharing issues but they've generally been delightful.

*After he bought my mother to tears I said to him 'Nice to know that it not just your own family's Christmas' that you f*** up, and that you don't mind f***ing ours up either'. I then dramatically closed the door and the curtains so he couldn't respond. Not very mature. And I'm not 100% proud of it. But I'm sick of letting people do/say awful things and get away with it. As the other resident drunk (currently on the wagon) I was the only one that could say it and get away with it.

Yarn bombing!

We were driving through O'Connor this evening and my ever vigilant husband spotted some yarn bombing! He immediately lept from the car (I slowed down slightly) so he could get a couple of snaps. It was at the roundabout at Scrivener and Brigalow Sts and at each of the four give way signs. Anyone know who's responsible? Kudos.

Pearl

Guess what Lily's getting for Christmas? Her very own Pearl Barley, made by the supremely talented Michelle at Poppy Bean and Bloss! I'm sooo jealous.

Black dogs and blerg....

Still yucky - but have prescription drugs now! Not much to say, given my day was primarily conducted from under the covers... except that I have the most wonderful husband who on his day off looked after the kids so I could recuperate and even took Lily with him to his Christmas lunch so I could sleep while Paddy was sleeping. You rock Nath. Night night folks.

Blogging the black dog from bed...

Not feeling crash hot tonight so I'm going to have an early one. Just in bed now, going to check a few blogs, the tune out with some meditations. Hopefully i will have kicked this sore throat by tomorrow. But I did have a good day none the less! Work Christmas lunch then the kids childcare Christmas party. Yet again Lily was too scared to go anywhere near Santa, and Paddy wsn't really down with the whole experience either. Anyhoo. I'll write more tomorrow.

Belting the black dog - day 3

Firstly I just wanted to thanks everyone who has commented or sent me good vibes in the last two days - I'm feeling the love! And thanks to the anonymous commenter who suggested a meditation - I got some by that bloke today and I think it will be enormously helpful.

When I went to my doctor on Monday to get some help she was really great and suggested that I might need a professional review of my medication and tried to get me in to a shrink. Using her influence she got me an appointment. In April 2010. Just as well I wasn't too close to the edge. Then I rang my psychologist. February 2010. Thankfully I got a cancellation appointment today which was exactly what i needed. She's wonderful. I'm pretty good at playing my depression down, and she called me on it. We talked through some stuff. Had a good laugh. And I left knowing that I had some tools to be able to belt the black dog with.

Then in the afternoon I took the kids to the Wiggles. It was my our first Wiggles experience and I loved it. These are individuals who must really love what they do and seem to have a really good time up there. Paddy was mesmerised - didn't dance or clap or sing - just stared. And Lil shouted and danced and sung and waved and had a great time. We did notice that Dorothy the Dinosaur and Wags the dog had apparently acquired eating disorders as their costumes looked very sleek in comparison to the old dvds we'd seen. But it was great.

And tonight we were out for my MILs birthday and one of those clubs that have children's play areas built in. Designed to keep kids entertained, but I always spend more time supervising other people's children in there so they're not injuring my kids.

And now I'm home. Kids are asleep. Husband is in bed and I'm keeping up a promise to myself to do something for me. Not a bad day at all! As Bec said today sometimes you need to reflect on the positives rather than the negatives of a day. Its working for me too Bec!

See youz tomorrow!

Blogging to beat the black dog - day 2

Last year I wrote this post about personal commandments to help me through the day. I notice that things haven't really changed since then... anyhoo. I thought I might revise those commandments.

1. Stop it!
2. Nothing will change, if I don’t do anything different
3. Meditate
4. I can do anything for five minutes
5. Get outside
6. Don't wait to 'feel like it'
   
7. CHOOSE to be positive
8. Be grateful

So I've lost a couple of commandments and got some different ones. I'll let you know next year how this one goes!

Catching up on some long-ago finished items too - here's a little t-shirt I made for my besties daughter a couple of months ago. I wasn't sure how it would stand up to washing, but it went well and was still going strong when we caught up in Adelaide last month.

Stop it!

So I've been a little low recently, and another lovely blogger brought to my attention the fact that it might have something to do with a lack of sharing. I've had a bit of a love-disklike relationship with blogging, but ultimately I think it provides me with a focus or a filter that I don't get with anything else. I can condense a day into a couple of lines. A shitty day at work is written down as 'tough day' and like that it becomes not a day of frustration or anger or defeated self-esteem but two little words. I just let it go - unconsciously. So on this steep, dark decline into depression, I've stopped blogging. And I think its made it worse. So I say 'stop the rot'. Or just 'stop it!' as the video says. I'm going to blog for 14 days straight people. Blogging to stop the rot. or Blog the black dog. or Beating the big black dog with a blogging stick. Any other naming ideas?

P.S I'm also going to try a guided meditation each day too - any suggestions?

Before and after

Before

On my honeymoon in Vietnam I bought a ring which I *LOVED* but Nath didn't. So I gave it to my sister and have since spent seven long years coveting it.

After

My sister just came back from Vietnam and bought me the same ring - from the same shop! I feel complete! And we have twin rings which is a nice, sistery thing.

Before

My sister also bought back a lovely ao dai for Lily. She wore it to Brown Owls the other day...

After

It rained at Brown Owls. (Luckily they came up as good as new)

Before
Before today I didn't know I had any followers on my blog *waves*.

After
I found my followers, and one them - the lovely Fyrestorm Creations - is having a competetion. http://fyrestormcreations.blogspot.com/ Go and see her lovely work immediately! Now!

FO!

Finished Object. This is convertible from Knitty in bamboo. I'm really crappy at remembering yarn and needles and that business. I know that Rose Red did something in the same yarn a long while ago. I modified it so that it was done in two parts and grafted together to satisfy my need for symmetry. Its pretty. And its got a reasonable amount of weight in it too. Its one of the biggest projects I've completed. I love it.

Eeew...

Someone found my blog by searching "oh oh girlxxx" (turns out it linked to when I announced I was pregnant...)
Others of interest:
* ANZAC DAY CUPCAKES
* twitchy fingers while sleeping x 800!!
* coraline craft
* clancy of the overflow poem- what is it about
* merit badges for parents
* she makes me laugh so hard
* bowl of coffee canberra
* I try to take one day at a time but several
* crush on Yul Brynner

I'm number 2 when you search for twitchy fingers. Even though there is another knitting blogger called twitchy fingers. Which irks me a little. I'm on craftster, ravelry and flickr as twitchy fingers, and while I don't own the term, I feel a little miffed that someone else didn't google the term before starting a blog with the same name. Anyone had a similar experience?

Anyhoo, I feel sorry for the people who come looking for help with irritating sleep conditions who end up at my blog. Perhaps I should add some links to the sidebar to assist those folk???

I also checked by old bloglines account the other day. It has 45 feeds. I've not read it since December last year. And there are 5086 unread posts. So if i'd have read those and it took me an average of 20 seconds (this excludes any 'clicking away' posts) then it would have been about 1525 minutes. Or 25 hours. If you assume between 30-60 seconds then its 42-84 hours. So I could potentially have spent between one and four days just on blogs. Wowee. No self-judgement on this - i'd have enjoyed those four days. It just seems like an awfully. long. time. to have been on the interwebs.


http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/enseign/anglais/Henry/internet_addiction2.jpg

and if you think you suffer similarly - http://www.netaddiction.com/resources/internet_addiction_test.htm

Darn craft!

So there’s been much chat about mushrooms recently... not the tasty fungi type, but the wooden, darning type. I’ve been darning for nearly two weeks now, and I’ve found it strangely cathartic. It started because my husband is a devoted Bulldogs fan and they were playing for a berth in the finals on Friday night. He wanted to wear his entire Bulldogs outfit - including the 20 year old socks that had long since become NFFPV (not fit for public viewing) due to the large holes in the sole.


Who am I kidding, there was a small amount of sole between the holes. I own quite a lovely mushroom, and like many of my crafting items, it has been gleaned/gifted/stolen from my Nana.


This was not an item I thought I'd be using anytime soon. Under normal circumstances I'd be chucking the socks, not darning them. But a boy with a love of his Bulldog socks melted my stone heart. I just went straight to You Tube to get a tute, got a great one. Darned.

This is another pair I did - the bulldogs pair is rarely off his feet.

And the boy got his socks. It's probably the nicest thing I've done for the old stick for a while - and he was happy. Didn't help the Bulldogs though.

Darning was a really practical crafting activity - and I think that's what I've needed to do for a while. I don’t know if any of you caught my maniacal morning ramblings the other week (i deleted it now) , but I’ve been a bit overcome with the whole being creative thing recently, primarily because I think it polarises my feelings of inadequacy/inaction. That is - I do a whole lotta dreamin' and very little doin'. From the post:

As much as I love the online world I think that the 20 posts daily from Craft and Whip Up et al appear to me to be from one, super-crafting individual and serve to make me feel less adequate/productive as a crafter. The posts from parent hacker and life hacker don't give me tips but make me feel like there are just so many things I could improve because I'm so hopeless.So I'm going to pare down the blogreader to the blogs from individuals - because most people only finish a couple of things a month. I can rationalise that.

I took some action and took a heap of craft sites and put them into a folder on my Google reader called 'Not this month'. Its been really, really good. It reduces the 'noise' of all those competing demands in my head. I've only been doing it for 10 days but I think I've not read about 300 posts. And I think its helped me focus on the things I want to do, and put a bit of time to researching them, and then sticking to them

So i'm starting a little embroidery sampler. Progress photos soon.

It wobbled.

"How do you know the jelly is ready Lily?"
"Well, Mum, it just kind of wobbled when I looked at it"
"You didn't stick your finger in it, did you?"
"No Mum."

[Just placed her whole freakin' hand on it...]

I'm going in to get my bottom wisdom teeth removed tomorrow. I'm trying not to think about it too much, but I've got lots of protein drinks and creamed rice and soup, and have got everything I need sorted so that if I'm out of action for a week then life will go on. The surgeon told me that women in their 30s have the slowest recovery time - but I'm hoping I'll be the exception to the rule and can then just use the two weeks sick leave for crafting. I've done a little embroidery and some knitting, but I'm a bit scatty about craft at the moment. Anyhoo, hoping I'll be back with you shortly.

Spring has sprung

Spring has sprung here... although I did take this photo in August. But there is definitely a little bit of warmth in the air and things are popping out all over the place. It is only 14 degrees during the day, but the days are clear and that makes all the difference.

My blogging this time around might be a little more random. I might include a section of 'stuff that I just want to put out there' or 'thoughts irrelevant to the rest of the post'. Primarily because last time I blogged I was so concerned about each post being a well-crafted story that it took ten times longer than it should have to get stuff out. And while I love going back and reading those posts (and half the reason why I'm blogging again is because I realised how much I valued having those posts to go back and read) I don't think that the occasional typo or bad segue will reduce their readability.

So I bring you:

Random Thoughts

• I drove to Sydney on Monday and it was so lovely to see the fog rising over the windmills around Lake George.
• I sat behind a girl on a train who was blowing bubbles - it was a lovely thing to see on a train full of surly city folk.
• Paddy has started talking and one of his favourite words is bubble.
• Paddy won't say Mummy. He calls me, Lily and Nath 'Daddy'. It bugs me a bit.
  
• Lily had her first orientation day at big school today. That freaks me out.

Anyway, thanks for the encouragement to come back and do this thing... I'll be back later with a few craft related endeavors.

Ok

So this is a trial get-back-together. I still have huge issues - and so do you. Let's give it a go.

Dear Blog

Dear Blog
I kind of miss you. I'm toying with the idea of us getting back together.
Love
Twitchy

I've hit 10,000!

Random Integer generator says number six is the winner! Sadie and Lance! I'll contact you poppet...




Thanks to you folk, I've been hit 10,000 times... which is incidentally how I feel this week. So to win a little present from me just leave me a joke or a link to a site or something that will make me laugh.

60 and 3 and 1 away...

I'm:

• 60 hits away from my 10,000 hit.


• 3 posts away from my 100th post (well, 2 now) and


• Just under a month away from my 3 year blogiversary.

100 posts in three years isn't very much I know, only around 30 posts a year, but I did seem to have a lot on during that time in retrospect. As a celebration of these amazing feats I will be having a little give-away. Three, in fact. One for each of these milestones. The prizes will be in consultation with the winner, but may include one of the many bits and bobs i've spent the last three years doing, such as: embroidery, sewing, felt toys/pictures or any of the things on my old flickr set... http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomes707/sets/72157594313903946/

Entry is by un-stalking, I mean, commenting, on a post that I'll do for each of those three events. I will announce a winner based on a number generator. So stay tuned!

P.S I'd post images, but blogger won't let me...

Meme

Via Kim

What’s your favorite color gummy bear?
Can't tell you the last time I had one... Who would buy them when there was chocolate covered licorice to be had?

What is the sexiest part of the opposite sex’s body?
The 'crease' between leg and torso

Have you ever made up/sang a song for someone you cared about?
Yes. Wrote and recorded a song for Nath. And I sing to the kids every night. Our hit list includes;

• You are my sunshine
• Morningtown ride
• Once upon a dream
• Beautiful world
• Over the rainbow
• Wonderful world
• Unforgettable
  
• Lullaby
• Lots of Carpenters, and Beatles and John Denver, and whatever I've heard on the radio.
  

Ever had a song sang about/for you?
Yes. My boyfriend in year 10 wrote me a song, and then came to a party and sang it to me. I was mortified. In retrospect I'm amazed he had the balls to do it.

Is there a baby in the room with you right now?
Nope. He's in another room.

Do you know how to dance?
Year ago I did tap and jazz, and was a ballet-class drop out. I'd love to do salsa or something now...

Where do you sing the most, in the car, the shower or other?
I'll sing anywhere. But mostly in the kids bedroom I guess.

What is your favorite thing that is green?
Feijoas. Yum. Yum.

What did your last text message say?
Love you. Pretty sure it was from my husband... ;-)

Boxers, briefs or boxer briefs?
Care factor - 0 If he's comfy I'm happy.

What is your middle name? Tineke. It's Dutch.

What is the way to your heart?
Through my stomach. But its taken now.

What do you smell like?
Joy perfume, children, and Benson and Hedges.

What’s in your pocket?
nothing - i'm in my pjs

Anything in your mouth?
only teeth and my tongue

Ever hurt yourself playing Wii?
Nope. Only been and observer.

Do you have freckles?
Lots - although i'd have had lots more if my mother hadn't been a sun-conscious red-head. Thanks Mum.

How many languages can you say “Hello” in?
A couple. Most of which i've picked up from children's television.

What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?
Angelina Ballerina goes to sea. Seriously. I was a DVD just being played in the theatre. And Lil hates AB. So do I. I did get some knitting done though.

Ever jumped/fallen/been pushed in a pool with your clothes on?
No.

Are you wearing any clothes that you wore yesterday?
Yep. My jammies.

Are you in love with someone right now?
Yep.

What’s the last thing you watched on TV?
Watching Law and Order right now.

Who is your daddy and what does he do?
Sep. He's retired.

Can you do the alphabet in sign language?
No. We use a couple of signs for eat, drink and more with Paddy. We'd been using two signs that we thought were thank you and eat - until my sister found out that they were 'f*ck you' and 'prostitute'. Not that he would have known the difference. But it could have been embarrassing for him later in life when thanking a deaf colleague for lunch....

Do you wear glasses?
Only once a month when I give my eyes a rest from the day/night contacts.

What can you hear right now?
Thunder.

Did you feel better or worse or the same yesterday?
Worse. I think I'm getting the flu...

Ever been overseas?
Yes. Not since before Lil was born though.

What are your plans for today?
Finish this, and go to bed.

Do you bite your nails?
No. Only to trim them if they're too long.

Do you like your feet?
No. They're ugly and weird-looking. Most people agree. And they hurt most of the time.

Do you sleep well at night?
No. I have children. And until recently I had a bad bed. Now I've got a new, comfy bed - but I'm not often in it. I've actually begun to dread going to bed because I know its going to be shitty.

Conservation

Conservation through having smaller families - by Nola Stewart. This is a great brochure aimed at children which explains the world economy and how it effects the environment. First time that I've understood economics... Worth a look!

Coraline...

Coraline.

Man, I so want this movie to come out in Australia. But we're talking August until its here. Now I've not read the book, but I love the concept of the movie and I want it here now. French and Saunders, people!!! Six months is way too long to wait I say. There have been lots of promo type activities happening in the States and I want to be part of it [stamping foot, loudly]. As blog-land is my witness, I will not rest until I consume all things Coraline.

My little moochi did a mini box swap - wondering if any Aussies would be interested in doing the same?

Look Ma!

I'm posting from the laptop! In the kitchen... sooooo exciting!!!

"Unfortunately Naomi"

A meme via thornberry.

All you do is google “unfortunately, yourname” and see what comes up! Some of my favourites:

Unfortunately, Naomi has never participated in a legitimate anger management class. (True...)

Unfortunately, Naomi's hair is reminiscent of a Haitian hillside after 3 days of rain. (That's just unkind.)

Unfortunately, Naomi is only able to visit that pool for therapy twice a week. (Pool therapy hey? Sounds better than anger management classes!)

She is much easier to read than to listen to, unfortunately. Naomi, slow down, speak more smoothly, make people listen. (Sage advice.)

Unfortunately Naomi’s outfit did not impress us at all. (Fair cop - my 'style' is not often classified as impressive.)

and finally,

Unfortunately, Naomi had put all of her faith in her family and material things, and simply did not have much hope for the future. (From the book of Ruth.)

I love Knitty.

Especially because the patterns they churn out are always the 'wrong' season - which means we've got six months to knit the patterns and have them ready to go at the appropriate time. Instead of starting in spring, and finishing in Autumn.

I'm loving Topaz - might be my first foray into fair isle...


And decimal (although I'll never knit it)


Pioneer - I might have a go. Got some swanky possum/merino from when my mum went to NZ in scarlet. Although it may be a little unattractive on my 'curvy' frame.

Perhaps Hanne (which is strange and interesting all at once) would be better?

Flit and float might be the answer to the malabrigo lace-weight conundrum.
Steggie is cute and might be put away for when Paddles is a bit older.
Aeolian is stunning.

whatdoyareckon?

I try to take one day at a time...

but sometimes several days attack me at once.
This has been consistently the case lately, and although I still spend my days thinking 'I so have to blog this' I just don't seem to find the time. However, today we just got a new laptop, so maybe now I can blog without being stuck in the study and hence neglecting my children/husband/dinner/important television viewing or other maternal obligations. So. Maybe I'll see you around here again soon. I've got lots to tell. Nothing exciting really, but, you know, stuff.
Toodles.

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????