7,8,9,10

I've slipped.  It's not that I forgot about my Photo A Day Challenge.  I just literally have not stopped to take a photo!  This week has gone a little like this:

Monday - swimming lessons resume.  Return home to start cleaning house.  Start doing some sewing.  Start doing washing.  Do not finish any of before-mentioned tasks due to play date!

Tuesday - had planned to sew all day.  Fail.  Can't even remember what it was that stopped me from plans.  Oh, hang on.  Yes, went shopping instead.  Whoops.

Wednesday - Went to work.  Got call at 1pm to say biggest boy was in sick bay.  Picked him up, took him home, administered Panadol and returned to work.  Turns out he had a virus with high temp.

  

Thursday - Biggest boy stays home from school.  I shelf all ideas of sewing - again.  Instead I get in car at 8.45am.  School run.  Shops to get husband's glasses fixed.  Visit "Gold Buyers" for first time ever, and am pleased to say they hand me $157 for the bracelet and ring I found lurking in my drawers.  Many thanks to my husband's ex-girlfriend for the spending money.  Drive around the world picking up bits and pieces and running errands.  Return home to sick child, who has miraculously managed to hang up my washing and make muffins.  Nice.

Today - Work again.  Slept in again.  Didn't have time for a shower again.  Just picked up children, posting this blog, then off to under 10's cricket.  Fascinating.

For those of you who have been waiting for my four days of photos - here they are:

Day 7 - Buttons.  Just happens that these little (well, big) beauties landed on my door on that very day!  45mm
self-covering buttons.  I obviously didn't measure 45mm when I ordered, as they are much larger than I thought!

Day 8 - The Sun.  Ok, so I didn't take a snap of it that day....just went out earlier on this strange day in Melbourne.  It's not actually that dark outside, my iPhone just didn't appreciate that glare when pointing directly at the sun!

Day 9 - Front Door.  Self explanatory.  This is the same front door I have looked at for almost eight years.  The same one I keep commenting to myself "needs to be painted".  Also the same front door I always forget has see through glass when I'm walking to our bedroom in my undies......

Day 10 - Self Portrait.  Just got home from work today.  So looked in my favourite mirror and laughed at my unkept look - but took a photo anyway!  This is what I look like when I sleep in on a work morning, and do not manage to make the shower....noice.

Tomorrow night we have an 80's party to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday.  I cannot decide between disguising myself as Wonder Woman or Madonna??  Obvious remarks from friends are that Wonder Woman has rather large lady lumps - something I do not have.   Help??

Three Years Ago Today

On this very day, three years ago, Victoria was in shock.  Australia was in shock.  I think the world was in shock.  Some of the most beautiful parts of our state were burnt to the ground.  173 people lost their lives and hundreds more were injured.  Over 2000 homes were destroyed and countless other losses were recorded.

I can still remember that day as if it were today.  The eerie atmosphere outside, the intense heat - it was well over 40 degrees celsius - mixed with a heavy looking sky made for a very strange feeling.  We had the house closed up all day, trying to keep the heat out.  So when I ventured to the local shop late afternoon, I was puzzled with the sky.  I had no idea.

The images on television later that evening will stay with me forever.  The fear and pain was obvious in people's eyes.  And the full "story" was only just unfolding.

One of the hardest hit towns was Kinglake.  To say I was relieved that my Father-in-law and his wife had only settled on their land up there and not yet built is an understatement.  It could have been a very different story for our family if that weren't the case.  

My In-law's block of land after the fires....
* Photo thanks to Allan G.

Each time we drive the hour to visit them, we travel the same roads that wind around the mountains.  We have watched the trees go from blackened sticks on hillsides, to lush green landscapes.  Looks can be deceiving.  There are still temporary accommodation buildings in Kinglake.  Some have not been able to re-build.  Or are just not ready to commit yet.  It is a constant reminder that things will never be the same.

Kinglake Spring 2010 - Nature is strange.
* Photo thanks to Allan G.

So today, my thoughts are with all of those affected by the Black Saturday fires.  May you find some peace in knowing that you are remembered.

Love, love, love...

I love my husband.  I do!  I really really love him.  At times, I wonder if there are other people who love their partners as much as I love mine?  I know - soppy huh?

Why am I blabbing about love tonight?  Well - just as the kids were getting ready to go to bed tonight, my hubby and I were having a kiss and cuddle and my eight year old daughter was very amusing.  She got all funny and was laughing, then closed the door on us!  I was laughing and said to him "We are going to be very embarrassing to them when they are teenagers".......

Whilst I don't want to have huge public displays of affection all day long, for our kids (or anyone else) to see - I love the fact that they know we love each other.  I like to think that it makes them feel safe.  That their parents are a tight unit.  One that will always be there for them, for our family.  

Whilst my memories of my parents as a child aren't really clear, I don't really recall seeing them "lovey dovey".  I certainly don't remember ever being embarrassed by their displays of affection, so I'm thinking there weren't any/many!  Which would probably make a bit of sense considering they split before I hit the teenage years.  So if I can leave my children with memories of their parents still being madly in love after ten years of being together, I think that's ok?

The latest (albeit blurry) iPhone snap of us out together on the weekend xx

What I got up to today in between swimming lessons, play date, uniform shop duty and basketball training!
 Crayon Rolls for a customer.  Love my Instagram app!

Day 4 - Dinner - Love tacos!

Lastly - my day four of Photo-A-Day-Challenge - Dinner.  Monday nights are always a tricky one for dinner.  Basketball training goes from 5pm-6pm.  We usually eat at 5.30/6pm.  I decided at approximately 2pm today that we would have tacos.  It's a no-brainer.  EVERYONE, yes all six members of this family, will eat tacos!  So I cooked the meat up before training, and when we raced in the door at 6.15, it was re-heated and devoured!

What is a sure-fire dinner in your household?

Day Five

10am - Finishing off a very cute little custom order.

I had a couple of hours this morning to do what I please - so I got stuck in to a couple of outstanding orders that I had not been able to concentrate properly on whilst the kids were still on school holidays!  I love the feeling of achievement when I'm able to make something that a customer has ordered using specific fabric combinations.  This sweet little playsuit is enough to make you sigh.....

ahhhhhh.......

Day to Day

This Photo A Day Challenge is keeping me on my toes!  I remembered late last night that I needed to take Day 3's photo.....so today I have two to share....

Day 3 - Hands

 Surprisingly - I have not had a good look at my hands lately - have You?  I painted my fingernails last night, to cover the fact that it is almost time for me to get the gel overlays refilled.  I found after demolishing biting my nails for years, when they did grow back, they were frail and did not take well to the daily beatings they were receiving in my line of work - both paid and unpaid.  So I took the plunge and had gel overlays put on, and they now look remarkably well looked after!  I only have little hands, which is very strange considering my Mum has rather big hands, and I have taken after her in so many other aspects of my genetic make up.  I would love an "eternity ring" - but my husband laughs and asks where I am going to fit it given my wedding and engagement rings only just fit on my finger!

Day 4 - A Stranger

I didn't really cross paths with any strangers today, but when out at my veggie patch earlier, I noticed a stranger had been to visit.  Some nasty little sucker is getting in to my tomatoes!  The vines have taken approximately four months (!) to grow crazily and are now laden with fruit.  But these pesky little poops are chomping in to my produce.  Any ideas what could be the culprit?

And just a side-note........ I read Mrs Woog's blog post today, as I do most days, and was filled with emotion.  Her Father-in law, whom shall now be known as the amazingly insightful Dr Woog, wrote his thoughts on friendship.  It is a beautiful piece of writing, and mirrors the feelings I have for a wonderful circle of friends I have.  I've written before about how blessed and lucky I feel to have the beautiful friends I have in my life.  So I'll say it again.  Thank you dear friends - for without you, at times, I would be lost. xxxx

Patting Myself on the back!

One of the many things I wanted to share here yesterday, before the fear of burnt fish crept in, was that I have been trying some new patterns!  And I have been rather chuffed with myself - as I am finding that my abilities and sewing technique far outweigh what I thought I could actually achieve!  I continue to surprise myself!  So today I'm patting myself on the back.....

The Pierrot Tunic

The Vivienne Skirt and embellished top

I popped the pattern photo of the skirt up on my Facebook page and had an overwhelming response!  And then broke out in a cold sweat wondering if I could actually make it!  Turns out it wasn't as hard as I had anticipated - or I am cleverer (is that a word?) than I thought....It's also interesting to note that one's imagination seems to return when one's children return to school!

Today also happens to be Day Two of Photo A Day Challenge, so here is mine:

WORDS

I tried to remember reading something....anything today - and this was it.  The school newsletter.  Which leads me to this - YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!  Yep, the kids are back at school.

Do you not give yourself enough credit with your abilities at times?

Photo A Day Challenge.....better late than never!

The start of 2012 brought lots of great things.....one of those things I saw lots of, but our holiday and then life got in the way of me joining in from the beginning - so here I am now!  You should by now have seen the Photo A Day Challenge, started by fatmumslim?  If not, head over here.  It's a great way of capturing your day/month/year in images.

Today I have remembered and forgotten numerous times about my challenge for the day.  Probably had something to do with being at work, picking up children, visiting Lincraft and dealing with dinner?  But here is today's photo:

YOUR VIEW TODAY

Not very enthralling to most.  But whilst I sit here and tap away on the keyboard, I am within close proximity to most that is going on in our household.  This little room is not only our office/workspace, it is also the thoroughfare from lounge room through to kitchen.  As I type - the kids are watching tv in the next room, the microwave is beeping at me to let me know something has finished cooking, and I can smell the fish cooking in the oven!  But I can also see all the glorious piles of fabric and crafting goodness awaiting me!  I think I'm pretty lucky.

That's it for now.  I have lots more to tell you, but I fear the fish will not survive.  Ciao for now!