29 September, 2006

strange customs

we keep a lidded container the size of a very small bucket (4L) on our kitchen bench, it is for fruit and vegetable scraps to be collected. On a regular enough basis the bucket is emptied onto the compost heap which is located down the back of our yard. I instigated the scrap bucket when B and I first moved in together, although the scrap bucket was used to feed our worm farm. We were renting, and the landlord may not have approved of a compost heap. When we got our own place I introduced a neat compost bin (less fuss than the worm farm, no need to filter out the onion and citrus skins) and vegetable scrap collections resumed. With yet another move and a bigger yard, the bin is no longer and we have a full scale compost going. Now where was I going with this.... yes I instigated the scrap bucket, my mum had one which she emptied on a compost heap, my grandmother, and great grandmother on my mothers side had one, and they too had compost heaps. Although now my grandmother digs a hole in her garden and buries the buckets contents, moving from petunia patch to rose bed, and so on. I can't remember whether my grandmother on my dad's side had one or not. The point is, and yes I am getting to it, it seems like a fairly normal doesn't require explanation sort of thing to do. But, maybe it is. You see we have a house guest with us, and she has taken to the scrap bucket without question, and has even taken on the responsibility of emptying it. The only thing is I believe that she is emptying it when the garbage gets emptied, into the garbage bin. So it is not making it to the compost. I can't imagine what she must think, why we would separate, only to put it all in the garbage bin. Do others have a compost, a vege scrap bucket for the compost, or a vege scrap bucket for the garbage bin? I am intrigued. Is my family weird carrying out a strange custom? Even if we are, we are doing our little bit for the planet, and our gardens. But it does make me wonder about others and their compost heaps and how they manage the kitchen to heap process*.

* I wonder a lot when I am meant to be doing an assignment.

24 September, 2006

craft withdrawl

there has been a distinct lack of craft posts due to no craft projects being undertaken in recent weeks, or is it months??? I have been loathe to do anything as I am meant to be studying. Keeping up to date on readings, writing assignments, and studying for an exam always provides more than enough motivation to be distracted by a craft project, to clean the house, or weed the garden. And whilst knitting or cross-stitch have been favourite distractions in the past, this time round weeding the garden has probably come in first, followed by cleaning the house, although the standards here are slipping.

This weekend the garden was again the focus of my distraction, with visits to The Indian Bazaar and Wisteria Gardens where we picked up Clivias and Bromeliads respectively for massed displays in the backyard.
Bromeliad bargain
The Indian Bazaar also provided a much needed craft infusion with this find of fabrics and lace.

pretty paisley patchwork fabric

laces

barkcloth

funky fabric

linen bag
7 weeks and counting and I will be MBA free forever.

22 September, 2006

All about poo and worms

I have a new toy, as seen on Better Homes and Gardens, a tumbleweed pet poo converter. My new toy is going to make the regular collection of Macc’s droppings so much fun, because a slick team of worms are going to turn dog ‘do do’ into worm poo that will be the best fertilizer the non-edible parts of my garden will get.
pet poo convertor
The Tumbleweed Pet Poo Converter is just a tumbleweed worm farm, but actually any old worm farm will do. I just like the tumbleweed one as it seems a bit better designed than its competitors, I particularly like the hinged lid, and the pet poo (how many times can I say this in the one post?) converter tag. And in case you are after the Tumbleweed Pet Poo Converter and can’t find one, it is exactly the same as the Tumbleweed Worm Farm except it comes with different instructions. Tumbleweed Sales will provide you with these instructions if you ask nicely.

Basically, the only difference from the standard worm farm is that you can only feed the worms pet poo. Apparently if you feed them anything but poo, they won't eat it. Can't blame them really!

Ewwww
I have had a standard worm farm in the past, but prefer to compost my vege scraps, it is much simpler than having to worry about sorting the onion skins, citrus, etc from the rest.
I am hoping pet poo conversion will be less smelly than bagging the business for the bin. However, I am concerned that Macc's monthly combined heartworm, intestinal worm tablet might have a deadly impact on the pet poo factory workers. The instructions say not to feed them for at least 24hours following a worming tablet but it didn't specify what worming tablet they were referring to. I shot off an email to Dr Harry, but have not had a response to my question. So I guess I am running my own experiment, which I can report back on here. Has anyone had any experience with this already, I would love to hear from you.

21 September, 2006

there'll be no pictures for this post

and I should really keep this to myself but, there really is nothing like getting a new bra, and tonight I got three! After putting it off and putting it off, I finally made the trip to Debra's. With time running out to find an outfit for the wedding of the next sister down, it was decided to sort out the support, improve the shape, and get a boost in confidence* that a new (proper fitting) bra gives.

I went with designer styles by Oroton, Trent Nathan, and a third I can't remember but is a pretty cappuccino colour. Ohhh the choices for tomorrow.

So if you are in Western Sydney (it would be worth the trip even if you are from further abroad)and have not been fitted for a bra, I thorougly recommend the great personal service of Debra's.

*It's hard having stick sisters as siblings. Particularly when your mother goes into shops with you and tells you how great the clothes would look on either of them. Hmmmmmm, pass me another mint slice B.

20 September, 2006

burnt range rover offerings


range rover on fire
great excitement, lots of smoke and not in our kitchen for a change. Our early start, to be in the City to set up a display before my favourite annual conference started registrations at 8.30am, was thwarted by the unfortunate combustion of a new Range Rover ahead of us on the city west link. It stopped traffic for over 45 minutes, billowing smoke into the atmosphere, and requiring the attendance of the Fire Brigade, Police, RTA and of course a flat bed tow truck. Special mention should be made of this bloke who gave assistance (he had a fire extinguisher) until the firies arrrived.

good samaritan
Yay for the truckie!

19 September, 2006

anniversary of sorts

although I can't pinpoint exactly the year B and I first met, today is 10 years from when we struck up the friendship that led to us becoming boyfriend and girlfriend, and later be married. We felt this was a significant milestone and considered recreating that momentous occassion, complete with B cooking a baked dinner, me arriving with our mutual friend A, and a bottle of red wine for me to knock over....... but given it was a work/school night and that we'd had a baked dinner on Sunday, we took in a movie instead. I was spoilt with a movie of my choice and what a great night, Unfolding Florence was fantastic, such an interesting, amazing, and inspirational woman. I am so into all things Broadhurst at the moment.

And because B is a bit of a romantic I also got spoilt with Floral Fruit which B had delivered to work and that we indulged on when we got home this evening. Appetising Apple, with chocolate covered strawberries and apple, grapes, pineapple and rockmelon, a perfect treat.

Floral-Fruits
Here's to another 10 years...

I am so very lucky to have a partner who is my advisor (vocational, fashion and life coach), thank you for being so supportive of me, tolerant of my moods, and just plain fun.

18 September, 2006

it'll be all over soon enough

just so you know, I am meant to be studying/doing my second and final assignment in the last subject (if I pass that is) of my MBA. Also, just so you know, I am loving this at the moment.

So in the name of integration, value creation, and characteristic ambiguity (apparently this is where the significance of the characteristic itself is difficult to discern or comprehend according to Johnson et al) :

M is for Maud who was swept out to sea

B is for Basil assaulted by bears

A is for Amy who fell down the stairs

13 September, 2006

best wishes


poppies

Happy Birthday today to the favourite brother! You get the bouquet mentioned in the previous post.

And for birthday's of another kind we wish a belated 'welcome to the world' to Jacob and Mitchell who were born exactly one week ago. Congratulations K&R we hope to get over to meet the boys soon. It would have been sooner, last Sunday in fact but the hospital told us you were no longer 'on the list'.

Also, Taylor, now 3 weeks old, I look forward to another hold.

11 September, 2006

back to winter

we're back on home soil and even though it is actually spring it feels like winter, it is super wet and COLD! I heard a discussion on the radio recently that describes the warm weather we had started to enjoy (before we went to Qld) as the false spring. The false spring certainly has the gardens about the place confused, all the spring flowers have sprung, poppies, freesias, clivias, azaleas, tulips, there is so much colour.
Spring Flowers
Our garden is looking gorgeous - the rain whilst we were away has certainly been needed to add to the City's dam levels, and has reinvigorated our garden. When things dry out a bit I am going to pick some poppies for the house.

07 September, 2006

lollipops

it was windy, very windy this morning, and a planned trip to the park did not seem like a good idea. Instead we took ourselves to lollipops, a great place for kids and adults except when it comes time to leave and No 1 Nephew decides we're staying and hides in one of the climbing tunnel type things with balls in one section.

B and I had had words on the way to our fun outing when he cautioned No 1 Nephew before we even got there that when we say it's time to go, it's time to go. I mean how negative, anticipating such a problem, we were all in a good mood and about to have fun.

If only I had consulted the crystal ball, I would have reinforced B's caution and thought twice about sending No 1 Nephew to tell B to come back with the youngest nephew to put their shoes on when it was time to go. As this was the tip for No 1 to high tail it to the climbing type things with balls in one section and requiring us to send one of the staff in to find him after giving us the slip for 25 minutes. It took a further 10 minutes mind you until he was recovered amongst the balls, seconds after I had nervously questioned as to whether there was any chance he could have been taken from the place*. He thought it was a great joke, although I wish someone had told me, and the youngest nephew, who was crabby beyond belief and just wanted a sleep.

Needless to say the lollipops that are administered upon leaving were confiscated for another day and we went straight home for a sleep, and lunch before swimming.

I thoroughly recommend Lollipops, the kids have a great time, the coffee and snacks are pretty good, and the staff are really helpful.

*I was assured there was no chance without the receipt and stickers which matched the stickers attached to each of the boys, phew!

queenslanders

one of the really nice things about the location we are in are the fabulous queenslanders. The use of colour, the timber work, and detailing. This morning we took photos of some of our favourite houses in neighbouring streets.


queenslander

another queenslander

yet another queenslander


and another queenslander

and another

boab tree out the front of the queenslander

another view

it's another queenslander

....queenslander

you guessed it another queenslander
and for something a little different, another queenslander

no really something different, an elkhorn in someone's garden

06 September, 2006

eye spy statues

Me: I need a coffee
Nephew No 1: just relax
Me: How can I relax, I need a coffee
Nephew No 1: sit quietly
Me: but I need a coffee
Nephew No1: you need to say nuffing for a while, and you'll be all right
Me: ok

Aside: today I was shattered, I had a broken nights sleep, not from either of the boyz, but from the frog/cane toad that was throwing stones at our window through the night. I first woke at 3 ish, to the racket, lay in bed for a bit listening, yep definitely someone casing the joint, woke B and told him to be quiet and listen, then sent him on a mission to check the back door in the dark. He said it was nothing, came back to bed, and promptly fell back to sleep. 3 to 4 ish, and it continued, listen, there is definately someone out there......

B: is that the sound you're talking about...it's a frog, go back to sleep.

back to conversation:
Nephew No1: What goes riddup and has spots?
Me: I've no idea, a frog?
Nephew: No!
Me: I give up, I need a coffee.
Nephew: a leopard frog

We have played a lot of eye spy lately due to a couple of long drives. I particularly like the version which does not involve letters but a description of what has been spyed, although Nephew No 1 particularly likes to spy trees. Yesterday I spoke with a friend in Sydney, who also told me of a game 'statues' her friend plays with her preschoolers. It goes like this, you have to stay very still (and quiet), the first person to move loses. Note however, this is a little difficult to do whilst preparing dinner if you are also in the game.

03 September, 2006

juggling act

before turning in for the day, I will catch you up on what has been happening (working backwards) ~
plate juggler
Today ~ Yum Cha at King of Kings, great place to go with kids, because any mess (spilt drinks, flung food) isn't out of place. The guy in the photo was pretty cool the way he cleared the tables. The favourite brother took the boys back home for a rest whilst mum, B and I did the Riverside Markets, although I don't know why we bothered, they were terrible, mostly cheap junk. They have gone downhill since the last time I went to them a couple of years back.

Saturday ~ River Cat to New Farm Park, antique shops at Logan Rd (the Gabba), topped off the day at the River Fire Festival to watch the fireworks and F1-11's from the new terminal. And I just love the No 1 Nephew, making sure we got our dinner.

is my dinner ready
Friday ~ Went to Paddington, in the morning, this was really pleasant, had coffee in Paddington Flowers and I did a pee with a view of Brisbane because the No 1 nephew came in to show me something and when I told him I would have a look when I finished, he didn't close the door behind him.

Thursday ~ It rained again today, this was not so bad for the 2 hour drive to Byron Bay and then onto Bangalow. Had lunch at Mongers, in Byron Bay and a pretty fantastic icecream although I wouldn't bother with Byron Bay again I don't think. Bangalow was great, got some funky pj's from Lazybones, and discovered Sharon Steel, a linocut artist whose only art in the gallery was sold, dammit. The visit to Bangalow was well worth the drive.

Wednesday ~ Collected B from the airport whilst No 1 nephew was at daycare. Had a look around the shops at Bullimba, Hawthorne and Balmoral with mum whilst B rested his back, and took care of the youngest nephew (No 2 doesn't sound very nice).

Tuesday ~ Whilst both nephews were in daycare mum and I went to the city by Rivercat. We had a slow start having to wait for the tuxedo to be altered, just as well it was for the favourite brother. We really only managed Queen St Mall, the favourite being Brisbane arcade because of the shops, and in particular Details. I will be hinting to B about a pair of boulder opal earrings I really like.