Free spiders

Usually my organic groceries come with free ladybirds and the odd caterpillar. Today it came with free spiders in the grapes. AARRRRGGGHHH!~~~~
Have I ever told you I'm an arachnophobe?
Scared the daylights out of me - lucky I didn't wake Moo who was having an afternoon nap for once (woo hoo~)

Comings and goings

It seems a lot has been going on here lately.
* Hubby's Grandad's home was flooded. He still is unable to live in his home and it's sent his blood pressure sky high.
* Moo's Nan and Pa have visited twice from the country and stayed the weekend
* BIL and SIL are expecting surprise baby #3 made just 3 months after #2 was born. SURPRISE~ They will have to buy a new car (3 car seats won't fit in their current car) and sell a buy a new house all before the baby is due on November 1st. (Thinking of you Y!)
* Dad's sister has been diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer. (Praying for you, D)
* Moo has visited the preschool we wish her to attend. Can't believe that we are already having to book her in for Primary school....... *sheesh* She's not even 2.
* I've been trying to continue with decluttering, de-wallpapering and painting which seems like an exercise in futility. I guess it will end at some point and will be fantastic and I will wonder what I can do next. : ) Looking on the bright side.
* Hubby's had a big work project on the go and has been working every day including weekends. Thank goodness it's finished today and life can go back to 'normal' (whatever that is...)
* Although I quit my job I am going to have to work out some way of earning some income. Going in and out of the city was not going to be practicle but now we have school fees to think about......

OH NO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Can you hear my cry?

I just heard that Genki is closing down. I'm so sad : (

Magical March: Day 27

Well, as you may have noticed there hasn't been too much magic going on around here. No crafting either.
A certain almost 2 year old (not mentioning any names....) has decided to cut out her daytime sleep but then gets so tired that tantrums abound. Enforced quiet time results in wall kicking, rolling about on the floor turning blue and screeching like an enraged banshee.

Moo is at creche right now. This is the first time I have been alone in about 2 weeks and it sure is magical.
It seems like such a luxury to sit and drink a cup of tea in complete silence.

*sigh*

Can you hear that? It's silence and it's beautiful.

Magical March: Day 17

Warning: the following content was written by a negative Nelly.

My Mum always said, 'If you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.'

Today was one of 'those' days but I'm not going to go into it. Let's just say that I am going to go to bed and hopefully the gremlin that plagued me today will be gone (at Granny's house!) and I can wake up on the right side of the bed.

Magical stuff today: Nothing. Nada. Absolut ingenting.

Magical March: Day 16

Well, I think it's official. I'm magic-ed out.

I did resign from my job today so that's something off my mind. I've been on maternity leave since March 07 and have been struggling with the decision to go back ever since I left work. But, finally, I sent in an official resignation and it's a weight off my shoulders. Woo hoo~ My brother says that now I am an unemployed bum I should put a couple of chairs out on the deck and order a pizza. Oh, those were the days. Young and carefree, hanging out with my bro (and unemployed and poor....). I don't think a nearly 2 year old will be happy just hangin' on the deck, eating pizzas and drinking beer though..... and maybe child services might have something to say about it too. I think those days are long behind me!

I haven't been crafting lately. Moo has decided that afternoon sleeps are not for her (which doesn't stop me from trying....) and Granny is taking her every other Wednesday instead of weekly. My 'me' time has been reduced significantly. What time I do have has been spent keeping things in order. *bah* But keeping the house clean helps to keep my mind decluttered. I'm finding a messy house stressful at the moment so I tidy when I get the chance these days.(Ie, picking up all the toys that Moo has flung about. I sometimes wonder what I did before she came along.)

My creative genius has been simmering away though and I have plenty of ideas for things I want to do when I get the chance. Yay!
And, through reading blogs I can live vicariously through other people's crafting fun. It's better than nothing - that's for sure!

Magical March: Day 15

Family love is magical.

Yesterday we had a downpour. The large storm water drain across from Grandad's was blocked and his home was flooded. He was just sitting watching TV when the water starting lapping at his feet! In the garden you can see where the water got to - about my shoulder height and inside the front of the house it was just over ankle height.

All the grandkids got together today and helped to salvage what we could. I used my insurance savvy to deal with the insurance company. We all worked together, carting and packing, sorting and shaking. We sat down together for fish and chips and tried to consol Grandad. Unfortunately some precious things were lost but he's OK and that's what counts most.

Family love and togetherness is magical. It's the special magic that glues us together.

Magical March: Day 14

This afternoon I was thinking about what I would write today on the subject of magic. It was while Moo was having her afternoon nap and I starting thinking about what life used to be like not too many months ago. Then, after reading Ellieboo's post I decided that today's magic would definitely be a good nights sleep.
As far as newborns go Moo was a great sleeper. After just a few weeks she was letting me sleep from 11-5. But then things went pear shaped. Moo was lactose intolerant (not that we knew it then) and her sleep was being disturbed. She got into bad habits and this lead to terrible multiple night wakings. We went through a period of getting up hourly and I was a mess. We tried all kinds of things to get her to sleep except for controlled crying because that was totally unacceptable in my book. (Just my personal opinion. I'm not judging anyone). Finally, we weaned when she turned one, changed to lactose free formula and went through the learning to sleep again journey with the help of Elizabeth Pantley's book, 'The No Cry Sleep Solution.' Now she sleeps from 8-8 and naps from 2-4 and I'm the happiest Mum in the world. That's no exaggeration. I can now appreciate a good uninterrupted sleep.
I know what it's like to feel so sleep deprived that you feel like you should be admitted to a mental institution and I know that there are some of you out there have felt the same - you've told me. Sometimes I think it's the 'mum's secret shame' - especially when other mothers are going on about how their little darlings sleep like angels!

So, to cut a long story short, truly, getting a good nights sleep is magical.

To all the mums (and dads and carers) out there, I hope you get a good nights sleep tonight......

PS - I think I may still have cot/crib bar indentations on my forehead from all the hours I slept sitting up with my face smushed into the side of Moo's cot. : (

Lejonkungen - The Lion King

I got the Lion King in Swedish for Moo (perhaps for me???)
She's gonna love it!
I remember I went to see it at the movies when it first came out and there are still some songs in it that I know the Swedish words better than the English ones!

I'm always surprised when I see animated movies and they have 'the same' voices in Swedish as they do in English. How do they do that?

singing *snart är det jag som är kung* la lalla la la lalla la la~~

Magical March - Day 12

It's a day of celebration and magic.

Happy Birthday to Nicole and welcome to the world Georgia.

I have just been out for a nice lunch in the park with my friend, whose birthday just happens to be today. Happy Birthday Nikkinoo.

Got home and opened my email and saw a note from one of my Mum's group pals apologising for not attending this morning because her daughter - Georgia - had just been born. 10:30 this morning while all the other Mum's were chatting and sipping tea!

Congratulations to you both!

Magical March: Day 10

I went to a funeral today. Actually a better description would be a thanksgiving of life.
It was a lovely service and as happy as it could be.
Someone there mentioned the cycle of life. How at one point of your life it seems that lots of people are getting married. Then they all have babies and more babies. Then come the 18ths. The 21sts. Somehow along the way you end up at the funeral end of things.
It's a magical thing to live a long life. To make it to the end of the cycle having met all the milestones in between.
Today I'm thankful for all the magic I've seen so far.....

Want to read about more magic? Visit pottymouthmama and see who else is playing.

Fun 'unfortunately *insert your name here*' meme

Via bugandpop via Pip at Meet me at Mikes. Rules here.

Unfortunately, Amanda's wild ways are just too much for the Headmistress.
Unfortunately Amanda's life isn't as glamorous as it used to be. (Ain't that the truth!!)
Unfortunately Amanda has been working so well for us (i.e. it never breaks) that I haven't had the opportunity to learn how to troubleshoot it.
Unfortunately Amanda's campaign took a knock when she managed to walk into a bollard and almost fell over outside the hotel. (Sounds like me.....)
Unfortunately Amanda had missed the ’sitting in a ladylike manner’ class at finishing school. (hmmmmm)

ha ha ha ha

Magical March: Day 9

You know what? It's hard to think of something magical every day. I try to be a thankful person but sometimes it's hard when you are busy living life - especially with a headstrong "spirited" child.
I believe that being magical and being happy are closely related so here are some things that I have been thankful for today;

• going for a walk to the park with the whole family. Nan and Pa included.
• the lovely weather. Warm in the sun. Cool in the shade with a nice breeze.
• aromatic fresh coffee.
• left over beouf bourguigon toasted sandwiches for lunch - yum!
• Mum watching Annie while she's sleeping so hubby and I could go out together for a few hours.
• sitting on my bed typing this post, listening to the birds twittering outside.
• public holidays. Hubby is home today instead of at work. Yay!
• having a happy family, food on my table and a roof over my head.

Remember, things don't have to be amazing to be magical. : )

I think I'm going to lie down on my comfy bed in the sunshine and be thankful for a few minutes. I might even close my eyes so I can concentrate.... maybe take a quick nap? Magic.

Eye spy.... something that makes me laugh.

Monty Python's fish slapping dance.
Anything Monty Python will make me laugh.

Thanks Anja for this weeks them and to bugandpop for hosting.

Oh dear.

How to get a concussion - also known as MHI (mild head injury).

Bend down when you drop something on the floor.
Stand up quickly because you are in a hurry.
Smack your head with full force into the corner of the towel rail.
Think, 'Gee that smarts' and something else which you've forgotten.
Loose 15 mins because you don't remember what you did after that.
Some time later, brush your hair and wonder what is wrong with your hairbrush that it feels like it's scraping your head.
Continue your day thinking how you've got a terrible headache and must have slept funny and feel a bit sick.
At about 9pm that evening, while watching TV, feel something stuck in your hair.
Wonder what the hell your toddler has put in your hair.
Realise it hurts and seems to be a large cut...... suddenly remember you hit your head and freak out because you actually forgot it totally.

Oops!

I don't recommend doing this. Not at all.

Please mind the towel rail everyone. x x x

Magical March: Day 8

My husband woke up early this morning and went off to work (in the home office in his PJs). Now I'm awake too but Moo is still sleeping. I'm all alone and snug in bed. The house is quiet. The street is quiet. All I can hear is the beautiful song of the magpie.

Photo from here.

One of the things I missed the most when I lived overseas was the morning song of the magpie. (And roast lamb, the smell of gum leaves and meat pies....) We live near a park so we hear them all the time. It's really lovely. Magical even.

Enjoy your Sunday and if you are in Victoria - enjoy your long weekend!

Magical March: Day 7

Today we had lunch at the Cuckoo. There was bell ringing fun for all. Moo danced to the accordion man's music and Mummy had dessert twice.

Taiwanese tourists took photos of Moo who was dressed in a little Bavarian Miss outfit for the occasion which weirded me out a bit.... But she did look super cute!

A magical lunch in a magical little Bavarian cottage in the hills. Yay!

Magical March : Day 6

You can't get more magical than Totoro.

I've been a huge fan of Studio Ghibli for over 10 years now. Recently I've been able to buy English language versions but my original DVDs are in Japanese.

In particular, I just LOVE となりのトトロ Totori no totoro (My Neighbor Totoro). I bought the English language version for Moo and she is sitting now watching it, totally mesmerized. It makes me so happy that we can watch it together - I don't know who likes it more......

I can't wait to introduce her to the rest of my collection.

Ranting again

I called my insurance company tonight to make a claim for a lost item. It was lost at my in law's home (small jewelry item - probably down the sink but who knows?) and I was told that I need to make a police report. I was told by the insurance company that I could do this over the phone. So, I call the police station. Nope. If the item was stolen I can but not if it was lost. I have to go there and fill out a report that says I lost an item in the home of my husband's parents (because they are criminals and maybe they stole it.......?)
I don't drive. I have a toddler. I don't live near a police station.
They want proof of ownership - even thought it was a gift and I don't want the person to know the item was lost.
A police report (which is an official document) is not enough apparently. Or the fact that you are required under the insurance policy to only tell the truth - it says so in the PDS. No, you need to do three things that would stand up in court.....
The claim is for about $70. Not a huge sum. I know this having seen about 1 million insurance policies in my time.
This is a giant pain in the butt.
Grrrrrrrrr.


At least I called late at night so I didn't have to wait on hold for 30 mins x 2......... *blah*

Did I tell you I am an employee of this insurance company?
That I'm supposed to go back to work for said insurance company in exactly 12 days and counting. That it is part of my job to listen to ranting people that are annoyed with their insurance policy. HA!~ A big fat dose of irony, my friend.

OK - I promise that my next post will be about crafting, or baking or something sweet and nice and not just me getting stuff off my chest! I know you want the pretty stuff ; )

Magical March: Day 5

It's early to be blogging - I'm actually typing this from my cozy bed drinking a nice hot cuppa. Hubby made me a cup of tea this morning before he went to work and Moo is still sleeping. Happy Birthday to me!

However much it seems that Moo still sleeping is lovely - it's only because she was up between 4 and 6 this morning. Stumbling through the dark at 6, going back to bed I stubbed my toe on the vacuum cleaner that I had stupidly left at the foot of our bed. I couldn't help but hiss, 'Happy Birthday Mummy.'

But, I'm over it now. It was just that all I wanted to do was sleep and you know how much it hurts when you stub your toe!

I've decided to stay in bed with the 'interweb' until Moo wakes up and then we're off to Mum's Group. I'll have to find the rain cover for the pram - we haven't had to use it in.... say.... about 6 months or more....... My garden is getting a birthday present too.

Have a nice day everyone!

I'm just saying...

.... because I want to rant.....

Why is there such a long wait list for child care/kindergarten?

I finally, after much deliberation (mostly about the fees), decided on Montessori schooling for Moo. Well, that's all fine and dandy but now I have to find a place! She's two at the end of April (2 days before the cut off date for schools) and I have her on a wait list for 'early starters' with the hope that she may be able to start before she turns three..... What? 14 months on a wait list? Our local council run childcare has a 2 year wait list.... and I have been told that I need to enroll Moo for kinder AS SOON as she turns 2 to even have a chance of getting her into the kinder I want. Mind you, I have to pay an application fee (non refundable) and pay for her to attend from January because her birthday isn't until April. Or I can wait for the next year and she can be the oldest in her class instead of the youngest. She's very bright and waiting a year is not going to benefit anyone. (OK, all Mum's say this I guess, but she definitely doesn't need to wait a year.)

I didn't know when Moo was born what sort of child she would be. Whether I would go back to work or not (not). What our financial situation would be. How am I supposed to make those decisions before she's born so that we can get on a wait list and hopefully get a place in a few years time? Why can't we have a system like Sweden? Why don't I just move back there? 'Cause hubby would have to learn a new language and I'd miss fresh vegetables and Vegemite...... ha ha ha

It's all out now. Rant over. : )

I just have to say it....

It's too cold, dark and rainy.
I wish it were summer again...


NOT!

Magical March: Day 4

Well, it may not be magical to you but it's magical to me..... I have a clean house! (almost....)

Today Moo is at Granny's house and I have been busy. Thanks to my mostly kept to New Year's resolution I have been able to spend my free time doing things on my 'to do' list rather than just catching up with the cleaning! Yay! Truly magical!
This morning I dusted, sanded, dusted, masked (around 8 panes of glass), bottom coated, second coated the double doors (French?) between our entrance and dining room (50's house). I steamed off some more wallpaper from the hall (grrrr) and then did the housework. And, I even have a couple of hours to sit around and bludge before Moo gets home. Or maybe I'll find something do - I'm feeling a little hyper after all my crazy running around.....

How about a little to do list for the rest of March?

• get rid of the two cots that I have lying about (homes to go to, just need to organise. Long and boring story about why we have two - no twins here!)
• remove the rest of the wallpaper in the hall
• prep skirting boards and architraves in hall for painting
• go through Moo's wardrobe and work out what she needs for winter
• sew or buy the missing items from e-bay
• do the same for my own wardrobe!
• continue decluttering

It's raining outside. The wind is cold and it's only 15 degrees. All my dreams come true!

Hope you are having a Magical March!

Magical March: Day 3

Some things I like about March/Autumn:

• birthdays. Lots of friends and family have their birthdays in March.
  
• autumn leaves. Not sweeping them up - jumping in them!
  
• cool evenings
• getting out the quilt so I can sleep with a quilt and a feather doona/duvet.
• eating casseroles again. I'm so sick of salad by the end of summer.
• going for walks without getting too hot
• playing outside without burning your bum on the slide at the park. (On nooo, I don't ride the slide..... : )
• wearing jeans again. Woolly tights with long boots. Scarves. Hats. Anything knitted or felted. Flannelet pajamas.
• rain. New growth on my plants that survived the summer somehow.....

Finally, after a yucky day today we have had a cool change accompanied by rain. I'm sitting here listening to the rain and the breeze rustling the trees. The curtains in my room are breathing - in and out, in and out.

I'm taking a deep breath and letting the summer out.........

Welcome, Autumn!

Photo by Amanda (craftedfromtheheart@flickr)

Magical March

I celebrated the coming of March with a trip to the shops for a nice new pair of cool nights jammies. I couldn't find any nice flannelet in Spotlight or Lincraft and then saw these lovely green/brown ones that I HAD to have..... Target. $17. I don't think I could buy the fabric/notions/pattern for that.... So, store bought we have... And of course, I just needed to buy matching (kind of) cable knit socks/slippers ('cause I can't knit).

A magical wish for some cooler autumnal weather and a hooray for flannelet PJs and slippers!

*edit - it's going to be 32 degrees tomorrow. : (

My band meme

I was in the school band.
I played French Horn.
I didn't think it was a cool instrument.
I always wanted to play flute like the 'cool' kids.
Now I think the French Horn is way cooler than the flute.....

Anyhoo, here is the cover of my very first fictitious album!

Band name: Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre
Album title: Never better than knowledge
Artwork via here.

Meme via Pottymouthmama - make a visit if you you'ld like to join in and release your first album (and to see the rules of the 'My Band' meme)!

I spy..... something(s) that make me happy

As usual, I couldn't think of just one thing. So, I went back through the archive and chose some of my happy pics......

Pretty things, nephews and uncles, drinking tea, crafting, my family, my Moo, Op shop finds, sunny days, traveling, fun and games, baking, holidays, sewing, nature, chocolate and comfy slippers.

Thanks Iris + Lily for this weeks happy theme. To join in pop on over to bugandpop.