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'....

More nicey niceness

Looky here! The wonderfully generous and prolific knitter and spinner extraordinaire Happy Spider sent Miss Lily a hat. And its the softest, smooshiest most snuggly thing I've ever touched. Thank you!!

Wonderful idea....

http://inchmark.squarespace.com/inchmark/2008/9/9/magical-thinking.html
Keeping track of things kids say by scribbling them on a piece of paper and sticking them in a jar...

George and I would have had a few last friday when we met up at the National Museum with the kiddlie-winks... The kids did some painting which was part of an indigenous art display, then we went outside with [lukewarm] coffee to bellow at the kids like fishwives watch the kids playing. At one stage George asked Pirate Jim to put down a stick, at which point Lil started singing 'put down the stick when I ask you too' with all the passion of an opera virtuoso...

Last night would have yielded a couple of memories too as Lily shouted 'You're a meanie' at the arsehole who owns The Front in Lyneham and threatened to call Astroboy to come and 'teach him a lesson' . After last time this man/establishment is should be named the 'knitters nemisis' after a second 'shunning of knitters'. No one else has written this up yet I note, but in summary:

*Bells has taken matters to the next level and posted at The Riot Act *

our regular Monday at Tilley's wasn't to be as there was a concert on. QuiltingMick acted quickly to find an alternative and rang The Front, asked if they were 1. open and 2 amenable to a group of 10-15 of us coming in. No problem, she was told. But when we turned up last night there was a problem. A private function. I suspect this function wasn't put on at the last minute just to ensure that our renegade group of knitters could not congregate, but I wouldn't put it past that mob. Anyhoo, we decided to adjourn to All Bar Nun and asked if we could put a note up. Sure. But by the time we drove past the establishment, the note had disappeared. So Bells popped back in to put it back up. Up went the note again, and this time we watched as the bastard took it down. If they didn't want us there then they should have just said so. If he doesn't want financially secure (you'd have to be with a yarn habit), artistically minded, vocal women frequenting his venue then fuck him. I won't lose any sleep. I will however probably design a badge so that the world can know what a poor example of customer service that establishment provides.

Apologies for the swearing.

A hunting I will go.

This weekend while visiting the old folk in Nowra, I wandered in the footsteps of the great yarn hunters, to Sew'n'Tell in Berry, NSW. I, unlike others, didn't come out empty handed. I had a couple of pattern ideas in mind, and I came out with some Mirasol Hacho (303) and some Freedom Spirit (505).

by withahookby n0nnahs (pardon the copied Ravelry images. I'm lazy and its dark and gloomy, so no good for photos.)

The Twilley's is nice (I've used it for felting before), but the Hacho makes me swoon. I could barely wait to get home to get stuck into it. However, the washing and general fall out from a weekend away will have to come first. Then, my pretty, then we shall yarn cake you and create a suitable form for your beauty.

Of course, no visit to Nana's would be complete without coming away with a bag of things she claims "I'll never use, Naomi"! She'll then accuse me of filching said items at a later date. This haul included three small flower design patchwork fabrics, a little thingo for attaching press studs, the press stud bits, a bias binding maker, a yarn needle, some rainbow overlocker thread, one million little shell buttons and god only knows what else. Nath fears my forced forays into Nan's sewing room - it usually means more piles for my sewing room.

In other news, I signed up for Backtack. I've not done a swap for sometime, but I decided to get in on this one and devote my all too it. The theme is Gold Frankincense and Myrrh. Mmmm. I love a challenge!

Toodle pip. Best away and do that cleaning thing.

What's not to love about a first day back at work?

I started work again yesterday and it was lovely! On the first day back to an old job no one needs to show you around or introduce you (except to the new staff who are finally meeting the 'Naomi' they've heard reference to for the past 11 months - they appear underwhelmed), you spend time going through emails and setting up all those preferences that seem to have disappeared from your computer profile, you chat, have coffee, catch up on all the gossip and generally have a nice time.

I know this is going to change, but it was so refreshing to have a day totally in my own headspace. As a parent you much have very little time to ponder the direction of your day - its all dependent on the little folk and their wants, needs and desires. To be able to have a thought, and follow through with it (ie mmm, coffee, i'll get one, oohhh that's what hot coffee taste like!) was nice. And I feel heaps more motivated to do stuff at home, knowing that the time here is precious. I think I need work. Anyhoo, the kidlets won't know much different, Nath has gone part time too so Paddy doesn't have to go into childcare and Lily gets a whole day with her Dad.

I also made a little project bag the other day... I don't often get time near my sewing machine, what with trying to be an attentive parent and all. But Lily decided to play games on ABC kids site so I got to sit beside her and sew - periodically helping her to find Iggle Piggle or dress Mixy. I got the fabric from Calico Patch at Gold Creek, and put a little pvc window in so I can see what project is contained within. It was such a quick job, but it does the trick!

And here is a look at some poppies that my mum gave me... they looked stunning in the 6am sunshine... Sometimes I'm grateful that my little man gets me up at 5.00.