{ surrounded by loonies }

2012-02-01T11:58:00.001+11:00

Just discovered the most amazing vintage pattern sellers!

I am in love !!!

Edwardian Rose

So Vintage Patterns

Best Vintage Patterns

Sorry Wendy i just LOVE patterns.

This is my latest purchase...

I just love the pleats at the back of the skirt.

I am a freak for vintage

2012-01-18T14:59:00.001+11:00

I bought this necklace from Etsy to hopefully go with the dress I am making!

This is the pattern...

And here is the dress (this is the back view with the lovely pleats and cross over at the back.

I had to the crossover the opposite way in the pattern because I BURNT some fabric with the iron.
But now you cant see it!!!

Note to self - check IRON temperature BEFORE ironing... LOL

The necklace is coming from California so I hope it comes before the Melton circuit assembly in February!

Anyways, cheers to vintage, I love it!

love this place !

2011-12-02T10:53:00.001+11:00

Fit'n'Fast
Forest Hill.
I go at lunchtimes about 3 times a week, and hardly anyone goes at lunchtimes which is great.
There are TV's everywhere (never get bored) and the occasional buff man walks past for eye candy. (only joking).
Bring on the bikini (ok maybe later when i've lost a few kilos)

my babies

2011-11-29T14:08:00.001+11:00

I think I have always loved chickens.

i dream of a fancy place for fowls

2011-11-29T14:03:00.001+11:00

I am getting a chicken coop soon (being mailed out to me)
And thinking of decorating it...which design do you think is the coolest?
I am so in love with these mini houses. So beautiful and yet they must stink.

And another layout!

2011-10-31T06:17:00.001+11:00

Celebration of pearls and lace.

Did some scrapbooking!

2011-10-31T06:13:00.001+11:00

A layout of Laura when she was learning to swim!

My new 2012 diary

2011-10-12T10:27:00.001+11:00

House being painted slowly

2011-09-27T14:26:00.003+10:00

Painted the baseboards...with Laura's help

Colour is Windswept, or is it Windspray?

The house is 'shale grey'

Alistair's fancy concrete slab

Smoked grass

2011-09-19T15:09:00.001+10:00

That's the Taubmans colour for our front door.

I want to go to...

2011-07-17T18:43:00.002+10:00

Orson and Blake

I love this place

2011-07-12T15:50:00.002+10:00

Ummm Yummo I love this shop in Nunawading....
I only ever buy the cheap things there but its affordable kitchenware too.
Provincial Home Living

lincraft sale

2011-07-01T14:03:00.003+10:00

I just went to Lincraft in Nunawading on my lunch break...they are having a 30 % off sale.
I got a curtain track for our bedroom, a black quilt cover set for Anton, a black sheet set for Anton as well, a chicken tea towel for me and 2 pet beds for my naughty cats!
I am so sick of the cats lying on the couches on MY cushions.

I am going to paint Anton's room off white, and make it a black and silver theme with green cushions.

chook update

2011-07-01T11:43:00.004+10:00

Well its been a while between posts.
Here are the highlights...unfortunately there were no trips to Santorini...:-(

I made a soy based GF white sauce to mix in with the mushroom & beef for the beef strogonoff... it was really nice.

I made my own pastry for hunza pie.

The steps to the house are almost in.

The ducts got cleaned yesterday. The heater repaired.
The heater is 25 years old and still going strong.

My new sign for the loungeroom to encourage people not to walk muddy shoes on my rug.

My babies are growing fast. Love them. So soft and fluffy and cute, and they love cuddles.
They really don't have much brain though. No brain, no brawn. But hopefully plenty of love and eggs are coming our way. Quite happy to clean out the poop if we get eggs.

Thats' it for now.

costume making frenzy

2011-07-01T11:35:00.003+10:00

It started with the fabric and some old patterns.
Ainslie needed a costume for her 1800s day.
Megan sent me some pictures for ideas.

I made a skirt, shirt, apron and bonnet.

I made a reversible bonnet!

So cute, I love bonnets.
Ahhh the days of the regency, the romantiques, the victorians...

Here she is little darling!

more renovations

2011-06-17T20:32:00.004+10:00

I bought a pine frame thingy from an Op Shop for $3... painted it Shabby Chic in Black.
And then I bought these groovy coasters with chickens for $5...and I just need a little sign above it now...

Made a Bon Appetit Sign for the kitchen...
I bought the letters and they are screwed into a black board.
The board was this dumb thing I got from Dimmeys and its nice and Shabby Black now.

Its sort of like giant scrapbooking letters isn't it?

Here is the link to my newly painted bathroom.

old fashioned tweets

2011-05-31T09:28:00.003+10:00

Remember the old days when tweets and twitters actually came from baby chicks? Well we had two of them last night.

Anton's friend at school Tinkerbell asked him to babysit "little one" overnight. I think her chick actually looks like an "Aunt Mildred".

Pingu was happier having a friend with her but I think she still is the loudest and chirpiest chick I have ever seen. She just goes on and on and on and on.

new baby in the house

2011-05-27T16:42:00.001+10:00

meet "pingu", the biology experiment. SO CUTE!
he was originally named "shadow lord !
but he does look like a mini penguin...
I am hoping he is a "she" because otherwise he will be renamed "Chicken Chasseur"

Kitchen upgrade

2011-05-22T19:37:00.001+10:00

Painting ... and some new antique chairs .. eBay chairs .. $50 for 6.

Some simple scrapping

2011-05-15T07:55:00.001+10:00

I'm doing Anton's baby photos. Its been a long time between scraps.

cushion frenzy

2011-05-10T09:33:00.003+10:00

Ok... so this is the top of my new table.

Finished my cushions for the bed.
Made from pillowcases I got really cheap from Bed'bath'n'table.
Please ignore the ugly doona cover!

Made a couple of large cushions for the loungeroom.

And this is a variation on a night light! Laura likes the light on in the kitchen at night so I got some Twig Lighting from Lincraft and put it in a vase from the bargain shop.
I want to fill the vase with rustic pebbles or perhaps some pot pourri or something.

My newish kitchen table!

2011-05-08T22:24:00.001+10:00

An eBay special! Wanted a french provincial look!

More renovations

2011-04-28T21:40:00.001+10:00

Had Louise and kids visit this holidays
This is meg. We put the kitchen ceiling in, and did some concreting at the front ...

My new curtains

2011-04-27T15:27:00.001+10:00

On holidays

2011-04-21T06:41:00.001+10:00

Having the week off .. really need it.

yummy soft brownies

2011-03-25T11:23:00.000+11:00

Recipe can be found here...

Date and Nut Brownies

My new blog!

2011-03-22T14:35:00.001+11:00

Bon Appetit!

boulangerie

2011-03-22T12:47:00.002+11:00

I love the smell of freshly baked home made bread. We bought a new bread tin (one of those really solid awesome ones) and I have made a few loaves by hand so far. I don't have time everyday but the difference between home made bread and the packaged supermarket kind is kind of obvious I suppose.

I just wish that the occupants of my house wouldn't eat great slabs of home made bread with buckets of butter in front of me.

Takes a little white to make, rise and bake the bread, and then about 5 minutes for them to eat it! Don't you just love these old pictures I borrowed from google images (sorry about copyright)!

changes.. slow but to be sure...

2011-03-15T09:42:00.003+11:00

Some more shots of the bedroom at the back..

Loving those paris prints!

The loungeroom is comfotable but the sofas looking a little sad..
Loving my new baby in the laundry...

My red chair needs to go to the doctor...I just have to borrow Al's car to take it to the man that can fix it for me...I couldn't be bothered to do it myself anymore.

at random...

2011-03-09T16:26:00.001+11:00

Gelati looking ever so cute. The vet told me that he has a heart murmur so I am a bit sad everytime I cuddle him now.

The rest of these photos are from Megan's camera.
This is Anton at Emma-Claire's Graphic Design graduation.

Us

Spraying Anton at Nana's party

Anton playing celebrity heads...

hanging pictures after a year...

2011-03-09T09:19:00.002+11:00

Its been one year since the hailstorm damaged our house.
I am finally hanging pictures on the walls!!!

I hung the clock Jayne bought me in the loungeroom because Alistair always asks me what the time is, so hopefully he can find out for himself from now on! ha-ha!
Couple of frames in the hallway need new pictures.

Old postcards from 1900's fill up one of my frames, and frames in the bedroom of our wedding are almost up on the walls I just can't seem to drill holes in masonite very easily. I have to borrow Al's drill of course...
Notice the $3 lampshade!!

before shots...

2011-03-07T15:15:00.003+11:00

Before the invasion of girls this weekend, {where one in particular has a habit of dropping wet clothes, dirty socks and everything else on the floor!!!}...
This is what the " Bedroom 3 " looked like before the invasion!
Looks rather plain without rugs and a proper timber floor tho...but notice the excellent painting skills on the woodwork!!

I had to use things we had, like old cushions and the original curtains but it looks OK
The paris pictures are hung up. Now onto the bathroom...

On the weekend...

2011-03-02T15:40:00.001+11:00

We spent HOURS sorting out the cupboards and threw out lots of rubbish. I had to sneak out in the dead of night like a trash-ninja and fill up the bachelor bins in my street! Also we have new lamps but the photo doesn't show them to effect with the lights on!

anton's room organised

2011-03-01T09:22:00.002+11:00

Anton's room is usually a mixture of nuclear fallout, clothes, books, insects, dirt, plants and cat hair all over the place. But we managed to get him a bit more organised on Sunday and gave him the giant bookcase because 1/ I hate it in the kitchen; and 2/ He really needs it!

I still have to paint this bedroom but the bathroom and kitchen need to be done next, those well used ceilings need sealing and painting asap.

Last night I baked a chocolate coconut slice with choc chips and almonds. It was lovely but by the time it cooled for the freezer storage, Alistair had eaten half of it.

New bunks!

2011-02-28T09:58:00.000+11:00

We got some solid bunks for the bedroom i have been painting! These bunkers beds are awesome.

burning the midnight candle

2011-02-25T09:13:00.004+11:00

Not really sure why I worked like a dog this week to get bedroom number 3 finished before the weekend, but bedroom might have to wait for visitors another time....

At least it is just about done, and nearly habitable for whoever decides to visit and whenever they decide to visit!

Sort of girly theme for my step-daughters and the curtains Emily and Angela made will go up and add a nice white blind to keep the morning sun out for sleepyheads.

Just needs a set of solid bunkers bunk beds (that I am currently bidding for on EBay) and some wardrobe doors and a long mirror and some carpet or a rug and also, a sliding door that works in the room entrance !!!
As you can see, all their junk fits in the 2 wardrobe spaces.

I painted the walls in White on White and then I did one of the walls in a soft blue called Blende Blue from Dulux.

I got some really quaint pictures of Paris and flowers from a 2nd hand shop, that looked beautiful with the feature wall. I love pictures of Paris.

Finally

2011-02-21T10:05:00.001+11:00

I finally worked out how to blog from my phone. The old grey matter must be shrinking!

so nice to have grout

2011-02-14T14:49:00.003+11:00

Look I do enjoy going to the launderette sometimes...
Especially 7am sunday mornings when no one is around...
Peaceful quiet time with the dirty washing...but I will miss the 2pm Thursday afternoon visits because there are 3 op shops in the vicinity!

This is my new machine waiting to be connected...

And the bathroom/laundry grouting has been completed at last.

I have to paint the bathroom yet.
But hoping the machine will be connected very very soon.
Then I can wash at home again! Yes its nuts at my place!

Unfortunately, what broke my heart on the weekend was that the dishwasher died again...
Oh dear... is using the dishwasher twice a day too much, or is my dishwasher a dud???

cookie monster & holy cat

2011-02-07T12:00:00.004+11:00

Well progress has been made on the back room, I have painted the inners of the two wardrobes, and starting on the rest of the room this week. I had to do 4 coats in the wardrobe and 3 coats on the skirtings/architraves. The walls had chipboard panels at the back, they had to be strong to hold the brackets and wardrobe shelving etc.

On saturday (after the deluge) I stayed home mostly as per recommendation on 774. So I baked Weight Watchers Frittata...Megan & Ainslie came over for lunch.

I baked Gary's cookies (From Masterchef)

They were Yummy and very bad for the waistline.

I love my oven, this is the cookies baking away...

Also I discovered that Stimpy has a liking for spiritual matters, I found him doing some research at the table...LOL

But he got pooped out after a little while and lay across Alistair's notebook in a contented manner...

I hope everyone was fairly safe and sound on the weekends with the flooding...

last day of the holidays

2011-02-04T10:49:00.002+11:00

Yesterday was Anton's last day before school starts...
i woke up late because I had got up early to check the news to see what Cyclone Yasi had done, of course it was too early to tell, and I went back to bed.

So once I woke up again we went to Cafe Romano's in Boronia for some Eggs Benedict and coffee and read about the Cyclone in the papers...

Then we did some school stuff shopping, and then we went to the Metro to see Tangled.
I loved it! It was so cool. Loved the little chameleon character, he was georgous.
It was very entertaining.

Then we got the weekly shopping and stocked up on school snacks.
I cooked WW Roast Lamb with Red Currant sauce, delicous. Only 9 pro-points. I am using this cookbook at the moment. Its terrific when you work all day come home and want to make something...yes... SIMPLE!

I was hungry later so I had a school of low fat ice-cream and a cup of tea.
Its hard going back to WW because I have to re-learn all the new pro-points system.
I lost 600 grams one week, and then gained 700 grams the next! Go figure!
Oh well I am enjoying getting back into trying the WW recipes and planning my meals again, I got really derailed last year with the house renovations etc.

But back to it now! Tonight we have left over lamb with risotto.
Next time I am planning on doing the ham, feta, cherry tomato quiche, yummo!

sunny weekend at melton

2011-02-02T09:48:00.002+11:00

Fiona took this photo of Alistair and I at Melton - we went to the Circuit Assembly for 2 days. It was SO hot on Sunday but the air con held up and kept us as cool as can be in an auditorium of 1000 people! I recently rejoined Weight Watchers and last night I gained back the weight at my weigh in that I lost last week! Not happy since I went back to Gym and ate salads on the weekend. Oh well. Back to tracking everything I eat...and doing more exercise! I suppose it didnt help I had 3 slices of pizza on sunday night but I was so Hungry and So Tired....bad michelle.

awesome!

2011-01-24T13:44:00.003+11:00

Last night we saw Mary Poppins, it was an awesome show! Really enjoyed it, so wonderful. Big thanks to mother-in-law for buying us the tickets, if it wasn't for her present, we wouldn't of been able to afford it! Great sets, and great actors and dancers!

evil osteopath

2011-01-21T16:12:00.002+11:00

This is Alistair's new cap. I made him buy 2 hats at Myers the other day. I think every man should be a "Dapper Dan" if they can.

Been in a lot of pain for a few weeks. I sprained the joint between a rib and my spine and the pain was absolutely unbelievable. The osteopath fixed up most of the damage with some evil neck cracking techniques, and some vigorous purse emptying; but its gonna take some time for the old girl to feel fit and healthy again.

This is me after a trip to the Knox, and the hairdresser, for a little trim and getting my hair straightened. Nothing like some retail therapy and pampering.

Going to see Mary Poppins on Sunday!
Alistair's Mum buys us a family present once a year or so, because we don't celebrate Xmas etc. So therefore she shouted us to Mary Poppins the musical.
One of the family opted out, (no comment), but I found an replacement from within the family, that mother-in-law suggested, because it was really stressing me out... I certainly appreciate my mother-in-law spending $550 on tickets on such a fantastic show.

Hopefully we will really enjoy this treat. I LOVE musicals! Nothing like a good old song to make you cry. I did some amateur musical theatre work about 10 years ago, and can only imagine the amount of work, preparation and professionalism it takes to put on a big musical like this.

Anyways have a great weekend my friends.

more camping pics

2011-01-10T09:26:00.006+11:00

Decided to cook curried lamb skewers.
instead of lentil stew! They were yummo!

Wye River beach at sunset

Our friend, he had a girlfriend too, they enjoyed the titbits we dropped off the table

Sisters... just like Lizzy and Jane in P&P...awww

Anton reading about strange animals.

"I am NOT going to boogie board, Dad"
Well she did!

Anton and I, sunset walk

scenes from wye river and surrounds

2011-01-04T14:11:00.009+11:00

Camping highlights....

* surfing was great - but I can't surf
* camping next to the beach, listening to very loud waves
* alistair did the cooking on the stove
* gin&tonics, wine and port
* jogging on the beach with black cockatoos flying overhead
* swimming in Erskine Falls - so amazing (refreshing in 40 degrees)
* the gas bottle lasted for 5 days
* meeting the lady who takes a bird for a walk on her head along the beach
* hospital staff in Lorne were excellent (anton cut part of his toe off)
* doing crosswords, playing games

lentil and lamb curry on the camp stove

2010-12-22T14:45:00.002+11:00

We are going camping down the coast in a few days we will be on the beach...hopefully relaxing in the sun and not raining excessively! We haven't had a holiday for 2 years...

I have a new gas burner stove (x2). Well its an ebay 2nd hand item but new to me!
I am looking forward to using my Khadai and making one night a nice daal gosht...

Also I have a new griddle for eggs, bacon and mushies for brekky...

I love camp cooking...the smell of onions frying...the waft of pancakes and toast...and the sound of the camp kettle singing...

cookin' like the CWA

2010-12-20T08:46:00.004+11:00

I decorated next year's diary...graphic45 style...

This is the colour scheme in my bedroom, red and purple...
I made the cushion from some pillowcase covers i bought from bed bath'n'table...

Cooking like someone from the Country Women's Assoc I baked some wholemeal scones on Sunday morning... Some with cheese and a pumpkin seed on top...

Yummo

Alistair's fake smile for the camera, I think the flower has a more naturale smile!

The kitchen is starting to come together...

Adious for now... might not have much to post until we come back from camping after new years...

the source of my casheroo

2010-12-15T14:16:00.003+11:00

This is my notebook at work, its a To Do list and scribble pad, and memory jogger.

This is my view from my window, the carpark. The silver camry is mine, not the blue aldi. Is it an aldi?

Here are the cousins from Sri Lanka having a scrum with their Project Manager in the hallway. Discussing all things programming for a customer.

This is my desk, I have a computer screen for each eye.

So this is where I live 4 days out of the working week, the place that pays my mortgage!

last batch of mould and cat teddy

2010-12-14T08:49:00.005+11:00

This is my baby.. Gelati, decided to join the teddies this morning
I am pretty sure that they all have the same IQ.

And this is the lovely bread basket that Aunty Karina got me from Austria, we used it on the weekend for our warm bread, for dips and olive oil & balsamic

This is Laura in the kitchen, and showing the new ceiling
The last of the mouldy hail damaged ceilings is gone
In fact all the damaged stuff has gone now, it has taken 9 months to get rid of it

Alistair doing the pine lining boards, which I love to paint...not!
We have a new rangehood put in now, and a new bulkhead...
I will take some more dodgy camera photos when I paint the kitchen.

keep your dirty hands off my white washed walls

2010-12-10T10:25:00.003+11:00

It's been raining a lot lately you may of noticed if you live in Victoria.
It was literal flooding off the roof the other day!

Anton decided to rescue some loquats from the rain and this is the puddle at the back of our house.

It's really hard taking photos of husbands and cats.

This is me yesterday with my boofy 80's fringe (yuck) and the new hallway.

Its very white!!! And alot of hard work. I am actually aching all over from painting.

I think I might ban people from the hallway (#1 #2) ...or make them wash hands in bleach every time they walk through.

#1 (The ugly hole is the for air return vent).
#2 (The ugly door is going to be replaced by something with glass, let the light in.

bathroom ceiling has landed!

2010-12-03T11:43:00.002+11:00

Finally the bathroom ceiling has arrived. It took Alistair three hours.
A lot of tricky cutting around pine boards for the light fitting.
And more tricky cutting around for the shower recess.

I now have to put on a good coat of sealer and then paint with some anti-mould bathroom paint (hopefully its not a gimmick).

random musings

2010-12-03T10:06:00.003+11:00

My new hallway cupboard. Alistair built it for my towels. I like the ugly see through shelves because I can actually see what is on the bottom of a shelf!

Sunrise this morning

Painting the hallway at the moment, white comes up nice, after about 4 coats...my neck is really hurting and as much as I love white, its hard work

The state of my kitchen, work centre for all things carpentry

Emma-Claire at her Graphic Design course exhibition

Anton eating some cake at the exhibition

recent phone cam snaps

2010-11-30T09:46:00.004+11:00

A few recent happy snaps...

One of my favourite things to do is have breakfast at a cafe with husband-boy...
I love something with mushrooms and eggs or raisin toast; he loves Eggs Benedict...
This was at a little cafe in Boronia, near the Kmart car park, nothing special to look at, but the food and service are wonderful..

Last night I did the sealer coat on the hallway ceiling...

And last night Anton concentrated on his maths homework by sitting outside on a picnic rug...
He did really well, did nearly 2 hours of maths (it was overdue maths of course and he hates it, but he did it) Pleasurable surroundings is what he needed!

The Thinking Man pose...corny.. but yes he can.

wedding post 5 or 6 I think - aussie wedding

2010-11-19T11:04:00.003+11:00

Amar's beautiful dress

Megan

THE Cake!!

Amar's Family

With Mr California (he sneaked a Gin and Tonic to Alistair when my back was turned).

Amar and her parents before the ceremony

Amar and Nigel coming to dinner

Oh well I think that is the last wedding post....I gained 2 kilos after the wedding and I am now working hard at Gym trying to get rid of it!!!

Wedding post no. 93675378 - the real photos!

2010-11-15T12:51:00.003+11:00

Stick 'em up! LOL!

Emily

Sisters

I love some of these shots!
These professional photos are from whitepoint

The photographers had some really show off cameras!!

wedding post - more indian wedding photos

2010-11-08T10:14:00.005+11:00

One of those rare moments where teenage daughter allows Dad in the vicinity

Emily took this close up of the dress. In fact Emily took most of these photos, thankfully I have lots of photos, gratefully...

The beautiful dress she wore

Nigel probably requesting Anton to behave here!

Cuddles from Ainslie

The beautiful Emma Claire my niece, one of many beautiful nieces!

The newly married couple

ad break - hunza pie

2010-11-05T13:40:00.005+11:00

I am just taking a break from wedding blogging... I had to share my recipe.

Many years ago I made hunza pie (hungarian recipe) and i am pretty sure it had potatoes and spinach as the main ingredients, and it had a wholemeal crust.

Other recipes call for cottage cheese, rice and silverbeet mixed with egg...
Well last night I made a variation, and it was delicious.

Sorry about the half eaten dish in the photo but that's all I have.

I basically had this huge bunch of real spinach (not the silverbeet) and some mince to use, so I made my "Mish-hunza" Pie as follows:

1/ Chop 1 onion and fry on medium heat in a dash of olive oil until soft.
2/ Add about 400 g of mince and 1/2 cup chopped bacon and fry until cooked.
3/ Add some paprika, cajun, beef stock powder, pepper and mixed herbs to taste.
4/ In meantime, microwave steam 2 cups or more of frozen chopped potato pieces until just cooked.
5/ Steam the chopped spinach leaves until just wilted, make sure you had a couple tablespoons of raw sugar and a teaspoon of salt.
6/ Mix all ingredients together and add into a rectangle baking dish (line with baking paper to save cleaning later).
7/ Cover with roll of shortcut pastry (preferably use wholemeal flour and wheatgerm) and poke a few holes in it, baste with milk
8/ Bake for 20 mins or so, on 190C
9/ Cut up and serve....

The real pie has crust on top and bottom but sometimes its easier to just make a pie top and bake it like a lasagne...

wedding post 3 - indian wedding

2010-11-05T08:43:00.004+11:00

Before the ceremony we all had to dance to the beat of the drums in a procession to celebrate (or announce to the neighbourhood) that the groom has arrived!!! I love this photo it is so embarrasingly funny.
What am I doing? Singing or pronouncing a message of doom? I have no idea.
That is Jayne next to me on the left, looking divine in green.

Jayne and I dancing some more...

Amar coming into the temple with her two sisters behind her, Mani and Preeti.

Nigel and Amar after the ceremony.

Nigel and Amar sat on the floor for most of the ceremony except when they walked around the podium 4 times. Connected by Nigel's scarf.

I like this photo. I took this photo leaning on the official photographer's bag.

Amar's cousins carried her outside on a chair to the car, where Nigel had to pick her up and put her into the car. The cousins were from all over the world!

wedding post 2 - the sangeet

2010-11-03T10:31:00.004+11:00

Jayne and Megs

The Bride To Be ...Amar

My henna design..

Amar's family...

Mum, Alistair and Mr California

Amar and cousins..

Amar's henna hands

My mum's hand

Emily's hand

My brother Nigel and Amar...

The sangeet was prior to the wedding on the 28th. This event usually takes place 2 or 3 days before a wedding, and for Amar and Nigel it was quite a nice cosy family affair, held at Amar's parent's home. Ladies are usually the only people to take part in the event. But in this case men were there, all close to the bride or groom.
During this event a couple of older ladies sung some traditional songs, and joke around with guests. I think one of the ladies was banging on a dholki, like a two-sided drum.
Also, there was a Mehendi, where the ladies got lovely henna designs on their hands and feet.
Amar had her hands and feet heavily decorated, it was beautiful.
The bangle ceremony was lovely, I got quite emotional watching Amar's uncle dip all her wedding bangles in milk and placed them on her arms.
There was a lot of dancing and a lot of delicious catered food! The Sangeet was really a good time for the family to get acquainted with each other, especially good getting to know Amar's cousins from overseas. (London, Montreal, California, etc).

wedding post 1

2010-11-02T21:46:00.006+11:00

on saturday my brother nigel and his new wife amar were married in an indian wedding ceremony. this is anton and i after the ceremony i think...
we all wore traditional indian clothing and had to wear modest head coverings for the ceremony.

we had to dance to the beat of drums before my brother was married

above, megan and myself dancing...

check out my matching shoes, did i look like a giant peach or apricot?

group shot of all the girls in nigels life
and yes that is my brother in the fringe and turban

more photos to come...
wait till you see the bride...

apricot salwar - Yes or No?

2010-10-27T10:04:00.006+11:00

This is what I am wearing to my brother's wedding on Saturday...I don't really like it anymore. I want another Salwar Kameez. Not sure if I have time to go to Dandenong (little india).

Apparently it has to have a lot of bling and colours are the order of the day. Not sure if I like the fabric on the kurta top thingy ... and since I started studying latest fashions for punjabi weddings, I don't think it is "2010".

But it wasn't expensive since we had to buy outfits for everyone in the family, for three occasions, the sangeet, the indian wedding and the formal aussie wedding ... do you like the apricot??? Is there too much gold???
Am I just being ridiculous!!?? Does anyone care what the older sisters are wearing??? I do feel old, so perhaps I should just wear it and stop complaining!!! :-)

battle of the hair dye, ginger won

2010-10-25T08:50:00.003+11:00

Last Sunday at the orchestra I got to sing couple of arias at the concert for our orchestra (DRO), which turned out to be a lot of fun! I even got a bunch of flowers (ok just call me Diva! LOL).
I sang Connais Tu Le Pays (Mignon) with Pat on Flute and Elizabeth on keyboard, and L'amour est un oiseau rebelle (Carmen - 'Habanera') with keyboard and chorus! I made a yummy gluten free chocolate cake for supper and half of my family came to watch - which was great. Mum played one of the first violins for the orchestra of course, and I played 2nd violin really badly. But no one heard the off notes I think, I don't play loudly unless I feel confident its a reasonable sound. Two girls played solo in the Bach concerto for two violins, which was a beautiful piece of music, well done to Rebecca and Alicia. I don't have any photos but probably just as well. I tried to dye my hair black (to look like a gypsy!) but the ginger in my hair said "NO" and it turned out a chocolate colour.
Anyways better do some work...Signing out, Mish.

oh what a white-fog-gy morning

2010-10-13T12:57:00.004+11:00

This morning was so white and foggy, it was like an old victorian winter's morning!
Sorry about the rubbish photos.
These are more quick and easy happy snaps from my camera phone.

And I finally put my new picture on the walls.

It's a lovely example of Art Deco/Cubism portrait work.

beautiful weekend

2010-10-11T09:07:00.003+11:00

The weekend was so beautiful. My back garden is a jungle but I love the greens.

Getting some mulch into the garden before weeds come back!

Sunset reflection, and showing my beautiful temporary curtains.

Lawnmower man came on saturday, and cut back the jungle.

Cant wait to see the roses come out.

Mulched my fruit trees. Only 2 lonely fruit trees.

Alistair made roast lamb on the weekend. His marinade included Cumquat Jelly.

I am painting my french country kitchen cupboards totally white of course.
I have completed 2 doors, they need 4 coats each!!!!
No wonder my skin and nails are ruined!!!!

Hope you all had a great weekend.

getting nervous

2010-10-08T12:17:00.004+11:00

Only 1 week to go before the Concert!!!!
I have to completely and FULLY remember lyrics to 2 french songs by then. Nearly there.

Still getting stuck on remembering "S'il lui convient" and "tu ne l'attend plus".

I have been taking the bus to work this week (Alistair has borrowed my car whilst his car gets the pock marks taken out of it!) and working on the lyrics with my Ipod, and I sort of look crazy. Like a middle aged lady mumbling bad french to herself. If I added a bit of rocking to and fro, I am sure they would take me away!

I am going to really enjoy playing the violin in L'Arlesienne, there are some slow movements that I can play most notes on the violin. Loving it!
Anything else too fast I just try and play the first note in the bar.

The program will be :

1. J. Sibelius (1865-1957): Finlandia
2. J.S.Bach (1685-1750): Concerto for 2 violins and strings BWV 1043
3. Two French songs for mezzo soprano
A. Thomas (1811-1896): “Connais-tu le pays” from the opera Mignon
G. Bizet (1838-1875): “Habanera” from the opera Carmen

Interval and afternoon tea

4. Three pieces for wind band
5. G. Bizet(1838-1875): L’Arlesienne Suite No. 1 (arr. Fritz Hoffmann)
6. Lionel Bart: Selections from “Oliver!” (arr. Alfred Reed)

2010-10-04T08:45:00.001+11:00

Click Image Above

Near, far, wherever you are

2010-10-01T09:07:00.003+10:00

Yesterday Anton and I went to the Titanic Exhibition.

It was amazing to see so many artefacts rescued from the bottom of the ocean.

I couldn't believe a first class ticket on the Titanic (870 pounds) would of cost about $60,000 today.

The food menu was outstanding. (Yes being a foodie I spent the most amount of time checking out the crockery, cutlery and food menus).

First Class Dinner Menu
R.M.S. "TITANIC" April 14, 1912

Hors D'Oeuvre Varies
Oysters
Consomme Olga
Cream of Barley
Salmon
Mousseline Sauce
Cucumber
Filet Mignons Lili
Saute of Chicken
Lyonnaise
Vegetable Marrow Farcie
Lamb Mint Sauce
Roast Duckling
Apple Sauce
Sirlon of Beef
Chateau Potaoes
Green Peas
Creamed Carrots
Boiled Rice
Parmentier & Boiled New Potatoes
Punch Romaine
Roast Squab & Cress
Cold Asparagus Vinagrette
Pate du Foie Gras
Celery
Waldorf Pudding
Peaches in Chartreuse Jelly
Chocolate & Vanilla Eclairs
French Ice Cream

Yum!

I particularly enjoyed singing the Titanic movie song (My heart will go on) around the place, much to the embarrassment of Anton.

We went to Imax to watch Ghosts of the Abyss, the documentary about the Titanic and exploring under the ocean.

Anton had his bug fix of course.

Here is a dodgy photo of the Photo we bought from the exhibition!

And remember the old lady that played the old Rose in the 1997 movie? (Gloria Stewart). Well she died at the age of 100 this year, and this is what she looked like in her heyday!

sewing with a Tyrolean theme

2010-09-29T08:41:00.004+10:00

Yesterday instead of violin practice and cooking dinner, I did some sewing.

Here are my sewing boxes. I love plastic boxes I don't know why.

Aunty Karina (from Tasmania) gave me some beautiful tea towels from Tyrol a while ago.
I made some pillow cases from them, using some other Indian cotton tea towels.

I love the red and white colours.

Here is the first pillow!

And here is the finished Innsbruck pillowcase.

Here is the finished pillows with Teddies.

Awww, teddies love the new pillows.

Also, I made some cushion covers, using plain cushion cases, and sewing on some little Austrian thingies. Are they doilies or placemats?

Look at the happy cushions!

Ok they don't really match the other cushions but I had fun making them!

I sewed somethin'!!

2010-09-27T08:58:00.004+10:00

Lookie Lookie! i sewed this cushion on the right (the one with the 18th century people).
The zip was crooked because I forgot how to use a zipper foot but I sewed something!!!
{Hey the cat cushion is Anton's...not mine!!!}

Alistair replaced the hallway ceiling yesterday.

It so nice and new. So much painting to do though. (sigh).

cleaning up the kitchen

2010-09-24T09:29:00.003+10:00

Yesterday I had to snap a quick shot of Stimpy on the roof of Alistair's car.
He was sunbaking on the top of the ute, and he looked so content, so warm and fuzzy.

I did a huge cleanup yesterday. You can see where the walls are supposed to be for bedroom #3.
And how one of my new cupboards just squeezes in that 1 metre spot!

These are the sliding doors at the back of the kitchen.
See how cupboard no. 2 just squeezes in between the wall and the fridge!

Here are my new powder blue mugs (50 cents each at the Op Shop!)

And here are some items on my 2nd cabinet.
My lovely morter and pestle for grinding curry spices!
And the fruit currently NOT being eaten by the boys.
I hope they get scurvy!!!

And last but not least, this is my newly organised storage wall.
One day it will have sliding doors.
One day....

new picture

2010-09-22T15:18:00.007+10:00

I bought a new poster/print today on the internet, to fill up a 1940s frame for the loungeroom.
Most of my previous pictures were of the pre-raphaelite or neoclassical style.
But I am really into Art Deco and Art Nouveau at the moment.
So I bought "Portrait Fille" by Tamara de Lempick. I love this style of painting. Reminds me of all the Poirot episodes I have watched.

My other picture on the same wall is "A corner of the villa" by Poynter.
Always loved this picture.

hanging pictures and avoiding parrots

2010-09-22T09:14:00.003+10:00

Yesterday I had the day off (thank goodness I am SO exhausted). Anton and I went to spotlight to look for curtain material and i spent an hour looking and not finding ANYTHING i liked. Trouble is even if I find a decent pair of curtains that I like in a vintage shop, they wont be big enough the window is 3 metres wide!!!
So I might have to get them made properly because the curtain maker up the road has all the beautiful fabrics I like from Warwick fabrics etc.
We popped into the fish'n'feather on the way home and Anton found an $9000 parrot to play with of course. I hated being near it, it really made me nervous, it was huge, and had a very big nasty looking beak.

Horrible thing. I do like birds but this one gave me the heebie jeebies.

This is my loungeroom with pictures on the walls!!

It's very cosy now. Its So nice to have a loungeroom did I mention that?

2010-09-20T09:39:00.003+10:00

Well we finally have some bookshelves at last!

I spent two hours this morning loading up most of the shelves with beloved and old books.

Looking good Vern.

Ok one more angle.

Don't ask me how many hours i spent painting it.
I have RSI in my arm and thumb joint I think.

Umm three coats of acrylic enamel. Noice.

My "new" hutch/buffets from Ebay. No more lack of storage space.

Come over for a cup of tea in fine bone china.

My cats doing their thing again. I love it when they sleep or stand in the same way.

Not sure if Stimpy is copying Gelati or vice versa.

This boy is nearly 15, and going through some stuff at the mo, but doesn't he look good with a rake? He has been working hard to help us.

Alistair doing our bedroom ceiling.

one forgets what it is to have a lounge

2010-09-17T09:09:00.003+10:00

At last we moved our couches out of the kitchen into the new lounge!
I painted the walls in Whisper White (3 coats!)
I have to do the enamel on the woodwork but I can paint that over the weekend pretty easily as long as everyone remembers to keep off the wood work!

Here is Anton sitting on the couch in front of the new window. Drapes are the order of the day.

It was so nice to kick back and have ONE clean room in the house.

Renovations are the pits!!!

my new cupboards

2010-09-15T10:55:00.002+10:00

Yesterday, after weeks of searching I finally found two kitchen cupboards on ebay.
It was $350 for the two, and i needed two the same. Same size for holding crockery, plates, platters and all the general kitchen stuff. They look neat and clean and quite solid.
I love dark rustic timber and they were the perfect size for the 2 different 1 metre spots in my kitchen.
I am getting a courier to get them (other side of city) soon because Alistair has a bad cold and to be honest, getting two cupboards will mean a large trailer and lots of kilometers. Who can be bothered? It was a great idea of mine. Sorry, actually it was Alistair's idea.

So for about $500 I get two cupboards, and that's much cheaper than buying from a store I think.
I like them because they are plain and go with the style of old dark furniture we both like.

Last night I painted and cleaned up 11pm. That was 4 hours of labour after work. No wonder I can't keep awake today.
Better go and do some work.

Love, Michelle
X

the lounge and matters of the heart

2010-09-13T12:09:00.005+10:00

Going through a lot of personal stuff at the moment. With family issues, stacks of hard yakka renovating to do, and also I as supposed to be with memorising and singing two french arias in 4 weeks, it's a really hard time. I have been working really hard for 2 weeks, 5 am starts and also scrubbing floors, painting ceilings, etc.
In not so recent times I could get a bit negative about things. I would be overwhelmed by everything I might not see the light at the end of the tunnel.
But I read a really nice article this morning about "How you can combat negative feelings". W/Tower Oct 1. After a some consideration, its my goal to be more prayerful and more focused on things that matter. I really appreciated a friend, DQ taking the time to talk to me at the meeting on Sunday, thanks DQ. Things like that is what I am going to dwell on. And thinking about all the comments from my friends too, on this blog. They really help me to be positive, stay positive and feel positive!!!

Well, here are some more work in progress pictures.
I must take more so that one day we can look back and think "What were we thinking!!!! We were mad!!!!"

I hope my next post is a happier one, and that no matter what happens, I don't get overwhelmed by life's pressures. I feel blessed by another friend who rang today, really wanting to catch up for coffee. I like to think we all deserve some happiness and appreciation in this really stressful times.

blank canvas

2010-09-10T11:54:00.002+10:00

09092010293,
originally uploaded by mishmaccas.

Yesterday I spent the whole day doing just one undercoat and one coat on the ceiling. I was up at 6am doing the first coat, took Anton to school at 8am, came back and did more painting. Then I did the washing at the launderette for coupla hours (where I watched my icky feather doona transform in the machine and dryer from yellow peril to cream coloured delight). Then I came home and did more painting. Anton was a little late coming home so I had a little cry thinking something had happened to him...I must of been REALLY tired. I should of known he went to get a slurpee at 7 eleven and take the next bus..
Then we went to Angela's to pick up our meals on wheels. She has been doing our dinners for a few days this week whilst we have been working 24/7. She is the best cook. Last night was delicous beef casserole with soft scruptious dumplings cooked in a clay pot, with a side serving of shredded sauteed cabbage, and steamed buttered taties. Then Anton and I did the shopping ( to stock up with food for the weekend - girls coming). I would prefer to buy blue cheese, bagel crisps, grapes, passionfruit and wine, but it seems that Tim Tams, fish fingers, waffles and creamy soda are the order of the day. Kids!
Well my lounge room will be pure white on the ceiling. and Whisper white on the walls. A blank canvas for my chocolate sofas and some bright cushions. Alistair has built two inbuilt bookcases so I just that we have some storage space for old books, mags and collection of kids dvds, Cant wait to have a lounge room back. And the awful smell of rotting ceiling has gone!!!
Why did the painting take so long? Well Alistair decided to use Pine Lining Boards (country style wooden ceilings) and they all have grooves in them don't they? And the roller doesnt get the paint into the grooves does it? Aaaaggghhh. I had to cut in all the grooves TWICE.
The third coat will be just plain rolling thank goodness!!! And 3 coats will make the ceiling pure white, like the driven snow.

I never want to see a tarp again

2010-09-07T11:02:00.003+10:00

Before

After

Back home

2010-09-06T13:22:00.002+10:00

This week we came back home. It's pretty messy.
Pretty disgusting really but the house is dry and since the gas heating is disconnected, we have 3 or 4 portable heaters to keep us from turning into ice.

This is Anton in the front room, surrounded by stuff.

This is the lounge room ceiling that took 5.5 hours to do.
Putting pine line boards on the ceiling is evil work.

Going to paint it white white white. Glorious!

We enjoyed the convention very much, this is Ainslie and I,
a bit grainy and unfocused but it was about 8am in the morning!

Laura and Daddy (Dad looking really fuzzy!)

new house, new nails and convention girl

2010-09-02T11:30:00.002+10:00

This picture was taken yesterday.
I think alistair has about 10 weatherboard to go.

This is Stimpy, he has gone slightly mad from loneliness.
I did feed him every day but he didn't have mummy or anton to snuggle with.
We are moving back home this week so I suppose he will recover.

Alistair again on the ladder doing work.

This is Ainslie at the district convention we attended last weekend.
Little angel of course.

Here are my beautiful nails (fake ones done by me!)
Anyone want some fake nails?

my new baby

2010-08-06T09:23:00.003+10:00

Yesterday I picked up my new machine from the lay-by department at Spotlight...
and compared to my old clunker - this runs like a dream...

Going to make a new red dress for an upcoming christian convention and I am actually looking forward to doing the zip!!

It has 30 stitch settings and what I liked about it - is you can set what stitch you are on, and adjust the width and length using a bright lit up screen with numbers for the visually impaired!!

Its sort of ugly and square looking like a volvo, but I suppose most sewing machines look square?!

Happy sewing everyone!

piccies from the soiree

2010-07-15T21:03:00.005+10:00

Here are a few happy snaps from the Soiree!

Photos taken by Anne, Thanks anne!

Singing "Connais Tu Le Pays" with Pat (flute) and Elizabeth (pianoforte)

they were wonderful!

Playing duet with Nadine
She is really cool! She teaches maths and japanese at high school!

Another Boring Post about the Roof

2010-07-15T14:00:00.002+10:00

I would like to apologise in advance for my totally boring posts of late.
But the new roof is on! Minus the gutters but totally brand new now! The old tiles- BEGONE!
I would like to post next time about my red chair and various sewing projects but I have to upload the photos from my camera of course!
The new windows are coming soon, and then we can get someone to do more weatherboard and then I never EVER E V E R want to see a Blue Tarp ever again.
Bye for now
Mish

blank

2010-07-08T13:42:00.003+10:00

I cannot think of any adequate words that express how I feel. The roof is being done at last.

Silly really. Some people have no home at all, live in dodgy housing estates, or on the streets.

ideas - part 2

2010-07-05T16:54:00.003+10:00

Ok so the roof isn't on yet but I am getting excited.
I bought a copy of home beautiful and decided to that i need to utilise what I have to decorate my kitchen. I think I am going to go for a white, blue and grey theme in the kitchen.
I have tons of blue and white plates that I can put on display and buy some funky blue cups to intersperse on shelves. Mix the modern with the country and hopefully it will work. Here are some ideas I borrowed elsewhere..

Also I have this awesome art deco chair that I want to re-upholster. It has beautiful wood but I want to paint it red, and make my bedroom red and white, using the white doona covers that I already have, and add splashed of red cushions, and a nice red chair!!!
Yes I think I am planning it now...Arent these chairs just SO funky???

i want to go home and decorate my kitchen

2010-06-30T09:29:00.007+10:00

Here are some of my ideas, of course there is a lot of work to do before I can go home.. sniff sniff...

These cupboards are awesomely red, would I get sick of the red colour?

This kitchen is pretty cool with its red walls, but I think I might just have a nice red tablecloth on the dining table instead.
I want to get a 80s white dining table with tall white chairs ...

I like this kitchen because of the white cupboards and grey walls with shelves of white crockery...

progress

2010-06-24T09:47:00.002+10:00

back of house,
originally uploaded by mishmaccas.

This is the back of the house on the weekend.
As you can see the new roof isn't in yet...but the beautiful sliding doors are! This will be the kitchen/dining room.
The sliding doors are awesome, they are white white white!
Loving the way they slide like they are swans sliding on a lake...le lac de transparent!
I am hoping we can walk out onto a concrete deck and BBQ there in the summer!

Getting more excited now, roof guys planning to do the roof any minute now!

And this is the front of the house....

Oui C'est la!

2010-06-23T08:52:00.003+10:00

I am relieved the aria went well. Here is Teresa Berganza singing it (famous spanish mezzo soprano). The flute was lovely, and the piano was really terrific! Even my violin duet went off without too many painfully cat shrieking moments.

It was a great night, there was flute ensembles and clarinet groups, violin quartets and violin and cello solos! It was the highlight of my week, but no photos because I forgot the damn camera.
Feedback was people really enjoyed the aria, and one girl said she felt a bit teary.
Being a mezzo means the voice can sound very sad, tragic and forlorn, sort of like a cello.
Emotive, certainly not angelic like a soprano!
But the bonus is that I have been invited to sing in a guest spot in the October concert...I hope it eventuates!
BUT I am feeling rather nervous about that.
What shall I sing???????
A Bach Cantata ?
Mozart Deh Vieni?
Carmen Habanara? or
Elgar Sea Pictures?

neeerrrrvvvvoooouussssss

2010-06-21T13:23:00.004+10:00

This is a photo of an singer playing the part of "mignon" (opera by thomas ambroise).
This is me tonight, minus the costume!!!!

Tonight i am singing in french. "Connais-tu le pays"...for 5 minutes. With a piano accompianament and flautist! I am SO nervous because my nerves are shot!!!
Our orchestra is having a soiree at Upwey high school, and I am singing and also doing a violin duet with a friend. We are playing Vivaldi Autumn and Skye Boat Song.
Mum is playing too, with her quartet (Grade 7+ show offs!!)
Aaaagggghhhh, I wish i was feeling more confident, but I am rather glad to sing again. And its exciting to be performing with the violin (and believe me, I am SO bad at the violin, people will cringe!!!)
Here are the french words I can almost pronounce, but they are so hard to remember!

Connais-tu le pays où fleurit l'oranger? 
Le pays des fruits d'or et des roses merveilles,
Où la brise est plus douce et l'oiseau plus léger,
Où dans toute saison butinent les abeilles,
Où rayonne et sourit, comme un bienfait de Dieu,
Un éternel printemps sous un ciel toujours bleu! 
Hélas! Que ne puis-je te suivre
Vers ce rivage heureux d'où le sort m'exila! 
C'est là! C'est là que je voudrais vivre,
Aimer, aimer et mourir! 
C'est là que je voudrais vivre, c'est là, 
oui, c'est là!

rare snapshot

2010-06-19T22:27:00.003+10:00

Hey! My brother's fiancee sent me this photo of Alistair and I dancing at their engagement.

I think we were doing the hustle or swing or rock'n'roll. Can't remember.

OOooo I have sexy legs. LOL.

Sorry, I just had to say something nice about myself.

And...Alistair bought my dress and bolero at the 11th hour before the party!

Wasn't that nice of him???

Engagement Party news

2010-06-07T09:42:00.001+10:00

Amar,
originally uploaded by mishmaccas.

Nigel and Amar were officially engaged on Friday 4th June at Mosq, South Yarra. Lots of great bollywood dancing, drums, fantastic wine and yummy finger food. Everyone looked very spiffy indeed. Fun night, happy occasion, imagine the weddingS!!! (Yep there will be TWO weddings). Yey! Get to dress up twice!!

return to hard yakka...

2010-05-18T10:53:00.006+10:00

Last week I was feeling really sick and I thought my liver was dying.
I was so thirsty all the time. I had a few different tests, but everything was fine.
Must of been a virus.

Actually it's my Mum that is actually not very well at the moment, her heart isn't good.
She is trying out some drugs for a few weeks, lets hope and pray that works, its a real worry.
I can't bear thinking about it!

Anyway, what else is new? Well since I was feeling better yesterday...back to gym I went.

I am SO sore today, I cant believe it only took one week to turn me back to jelly.

I like this photo, this is a very apt business name!

So now I am only 1.8 kilos away from goal. If I keep up the hard yakka and refrain from copious amounts of the demon drink, I should reach it ... soon...

Its my brother's engagement party in a couple of weeks, so I have to make sure I fit into my red cocktail dress. I bought these silver shoes on Ebay...to match the red dress. But they are so painfully uncomfortable. They look good though... I might have to grin and bear it.

What else?

Well Orchestra was great last night, we have our guest conductor Willem doing our concert on June 6th.
I play 2nd violin up the back. I can play all the easy notes, and when it is too fast, I play the first note of each bar.
It's terrific experience for motivation, learning to read music, and training your ear to the right pitch.

Its SO amazing how every violin sounds so different from the other. Beautiful instruments that are so unique, almost as unique as the human voice!

At the Soiree in late June, Nadine and I are doing a violin duet...and also I will sing something operatic with piano accompianment.

Have a good week... back again one day soon...

not quite the same

2010-05-03T15:23:00.005+10:00

I am feeling so inspired to write, paint, sew, play music and sketch at the moment.

It is just finding the time for it. Thank goodness for orchestra with Mum on Mondays to keep my musical aspirations going.

Hey am I going through a mid life crisis? I suppose there is nothing quite like some good old fashioned heartache and homelessness to get you there in a hurry.

Some things that happened this year have really changed me, the emotional whirlwind, the household changes, have all conspired against me to make me look at life quite differently. I just don’t feel the same anymore, I feel so different, it’s really really really weird.

Now… I want to get out of the stunned mullet mode and soar into the air on the back of a giant bird like those silly blue people in Avatar. But with more clothes and less blue of course.

I must say some things are the same about myself. I still have a great fondness for watching romantic jane austen movies and also, pottering in the kitchen cooking gluten free Indian breads… but I think some of my other tastes and feelings and perceptions have changed.

You may have noticed scrapbooking has been parked for a while, but that’s OK, I will probably do more decorative journaling one day, when I am ready.

Anton is at camp for four days this week. I hope I can find some time to do some reading and writing about him…that would be great, and very therapeutic. Its about time I wrote what I have learn't about aspergers in his blog...gotta do it!!

Before I go, and here is my new car…it is currently - quite clean.

beautiful wendy

2010-04-30T08:56:00.004+10:00

I finally visited my friend wendy in mentone yesterday...check out her blog "the textured leaf".
She is a wonderful writer, so funny and her missives are so full of character.
And of course she is particularly skilled in interior architecture and decorating and has the most awesome sewing/craft room you have ever seen.
I really enjoyed seeing you at last Wendy. Luv you!

Wendy and her happy snap machine

The studio has a jug of paintbrushes on the table, how awesome is that!

Anton's Tasmanian Adventure and Recent pics

2010-04-30T08:49:00.004+10:00

Silvan Reservoir (anzac day holiday)

With Orla

Grandma, Anton and Uncle Derek

Grandma Erika, Anton and Aunty Karina

The Derwent River

At the Marina - Hobart

Anton took these photos in Hobart with my little Lumix camera, which is pretty crappy or perhaps I have the wrong settings, I dont know. Anyway its handy for holidays and happy snaps, I modified the colours in most photos of course!
Anton is going to be 15 this year - I cant believe it!!!

All happening at once and making my eye twitch

2010-04-16T22:18:00.003+10:00

Tomorrow I pick up my new car - near new toyota camry with tinted windows
This week the house has been re-stumped
My cats havent run away yet, I go home and feed them every day, i miss them
Soon we have to organise removal of evil aspestos house cladding
Have to find a tradie to re-clad outer walls in weatherboards
gotta find a few new windows as well
The roof has to be replaced too, that has to be booked in
I want to do lots of sewing, cushions and skirts
I wish I had some time to practise my violin and singing lieder
I am currently reading a fantastic book to help adolescents with aspergers
Alistair sometimes works 6 days a week poor old thing
I think I gained a kilo over easter so its back to WW menus
Anton had a great time in Tas - his photos coming soon, many thanks to aunty, uncle and grandfolks - he saw his Dad again after 7 years
i am going to do a gluten free pastry making course with my younger sister next month at Wild Oats
i am very proud of my older sister jayne for her self sacrificing and loving efforts to help others
and still living at mums of course, we are driving her nuts

over and out for now

a month has gone by

2010-04-06T22:08:00.005+10:00

The last few weeks have been quite eventful.

Firstly we had to move out of our house due to storm damage since March 6th, so we live with Mum in Belgrave. Its been good with Mum, but there are so many things to organise with insurance and repairs and so forth. Work starts on the house in 2 weeks.

Alistair removed the back veranda over the easter break so a lot of old junky wooden stuff has now been removed. And the stumps are being redone in concrete in 2 weeks!!!

The new roof goes on after that... and if we decide to stay and not sell, the back part of the house will be fixed and ceilings repaired, and new windows, etc etc etc etc.
Finally we might have a house filled with white open spaces and not dark dingy possum infested ceilings.

Also last week my car was written off. Looking at a much nicer car at the moment, see what happens! When I turn in my hailstorm decorated Hyundai, I hope to get an OK insurance claim payout and buy it.

Re Photos..above...I organised Soiree #1 a coupla weeks ago... my first "cultural" social gathering in ages, and it was a great night. Laura, Ainslie, Sarah and Tamryn were wonderful when they sang for us!

We had drums, jokes, songs, interpretive dance, classical music, piano duets and stories.

I am trying to organise a series of soirees, for those in my local congregation, with numbers of people I can handle, I decided I couldnt do the big dance party for a while, its too much pressure at the moment. So Soirees are fun and when held at a venue large enough for 20-30 people...its great fun. And sort of more personal.

Tonight was an emotional night....I took Anton to the airport, and waved him goodbye on a Jetstar airplane.

A week's holiday with his family in Hobart. I felt so miserable when the plane took off! He rang from grandparents place in Sandy Bay at 9:15 and I was SO relieved...he had received $100 from grandpa already...money bags. I hope and pray he has a fun time, and can develop his own relationship with his father as well. I hope for a better relationship not based on my sad experiences over 10 years ago, but his own experiences.

He should have a great time with his Aunty and Uncle for sure. Its a lovely place to stay, lots of animals, lots of good food, lots of relaxing herbal teas!

I will miss him...but he should have a great time.

Over and out for now, until next months boring missive returns.

a bit of graphic 45 lovin.. but bring on the tissues...

2010-03-09T22:20:00.002+11:00

Here are a few of my items from the G45 DT call...didn't make the cut,

I was the fish John West reject, but hey!

I will always love G45 papers!

They remind of the Poirot series, so art deco and so stylish...days gone by...

Dreams - love the papers in this layout...and I painted multi colours on the chipboard to add some contrasting greens

Antons first shave...

The gift of love - simple layout but the papers are so rich, they need a simple design I think

1962 - heritage style layout with a touch of wheat

my turn to be homeless

2010-03-08T15:17:00.004+11:00

Well ... the hailstorm on Saturday caused many holes in our roof (and dints in our car).
So due to water damage and no electricity, a broken window and a lounge room ceiling that is about to collapse, we have been staying at grannie's places.

First, we stayed with Angela (mother in law) which was lovely, and now we are staying at mum's places (she has a few more rooms).

I have spent the last coupla days in tears, but I am sure that will pass, once the SES put a tarp on our roof, and the insurance people do something to help...I hope! I cant even get through, had to lodge the claim via Mum's Internet...

I spent half the day cleaning up leaves, branches, etc outside our house, and mopping up water puddles in the house. Anton was a great help. (of course he wants to get paid for his exersions) Alistair spent some time with Laura today, since she was here this weekend, wasnt the best weekend for her to visit, we were in the car when the hailstones hit! It was more noise than anything, we had golf size hail not the large rocks elsewhere.

Our cars are a bit pock marked but atleast our heads didnt get dinted or we were swept away by floods.

It just one of those things that happens and is more of an inconvenience than anything, the old routine gets a bit pushed out.

And by the way, I didnt make the Top 20 finalists on the Graphic 45 DT.. so I will post my piccies of my layouts tomorrow...
Sniff sniff...

Well I'm off to get a nanny nap, haven't been sleeping very well these past coupla nights...
zzzzzz....

PS

2010-03-01T16:30:00.005+11:00

Also I had to buy the SIMS3 for Anton this weekend ... we went shopping ... he got the deluxe edition, with the swanky green crystal USB.
It was $109...I nearly died. But he loves to create, and I figured it isn't a violent game, and more creative. (He loves to design houses).
I bought him a book at Borders and he has been laughing all weekend, some Wimpy Kid book, he is still catching up with reading levels, but its great to see him reading.
We went to the Knox Festival on Saturday and he went on these ridiculous rides. My ride days are over thank goodness. Some pretty girl from his school gave him a high five (and was quite happy to see him). I was pleased about that, because having social skills problems all these years, finally its nice to see fellow classmates NOT running away.
And heaps of kids said "hi Anton" that walked passed, and of course Anton doesnt know their names, just only remembers if they are in Year 8, 9, 10 or 11.

Also, if you are on a diet, bring your own lunch to these sorts of places.
I ate some turkish thing in the end that wasnt greasy or fattening but incredibly boring and totally devoid of the vegetables that were promised!!