Wordless Wednesday #2

Wordless Wednesday

wordless wednesday

he's sick this week...

I have handed the baton to B. With almost identical symptoms to how I was last Monday, it is safe to say that he will be no good for work, or anything much else this week. It is a particularly nasty virus, and even though I made it to work today, I left early afternoon, due to the persistent headache which led to being a bit nauseaus, and 'jointy aches'*.

So with all this sickness, it was only right that I make chicken corn soup for dinner. So easy, just the thing when you need to keep your fluids up, and just what B made for me for dinner last week. It is almost foolproof, as proven by me, no measuring required and goes something like this:

Ingredients: onion, chicken, stock, vegetables (carrot, turnip, potato, capsicum, or whatever you like), and two cans of creamed corn.

Brown onion and chicken in pot, add stock bring to boil, add veges bring to boil and simmer slowly for half and hour or so. Then add creamed corn and simmer till ready to serve. Too easy and great with crusty bread or toast.

*achey joints, when I am not 100% I make mix words (sic).

Splat Designs Competition

This looks as though it could be fun...

she's sick this week...

Well, all has been a bit quiet this week (sorry), but L has been sick, right after our appointment on Monday morning.

We were in the waiting room, and she was sneezing, runny nose and getting a fever of sorts. So after the visit to the clinic, we went home and L simply went to bed, and that is where she has stayed almost all week. She went off to the doctor the following day expecting a day off, but she ended up with the whole week! Can you believe it?!?!

So what has she been doing from her sick bed*? Apart from a lot of sleep, she has now caught up on the latest Dr Phil, Judge Judy, Bargain Hunt & Antiques Roadshow! Mind you, she has also done some housework... It was discovered this week that the Dyson Vacuum cleaner has better suction when the filters are CLEAN! Fancy that hey...?!

Also on the list of achievements has been finishing some of her longstanding craft items; Various quilts and a tapestry.

*Note, whilst all of these have been completed whilst sick with her 4th Flu this winter, she has been either called or SMS from her manager every day, the absolute clincher was this evening at 6.10pm, GO HOME FOR GOD's SAKE!!!

Wordless Wednesday # 1

RBG Sydney

wordless wednesday

post about... nothing really...

I was going to post on something along the lines of our recent Thursday 13, but I am under advisement not to at this stage, until we have some firm news. I will say, however, I have to go to the clinic tomorrow to supply a sample that will be used later in the morning!

Anyway, may I present some random photos from this weekend of our 'other kids', Macc and Jasmine (neither of whom mind where they sleep... )

Jasmine on my jumper

Jasmine on the Royal Cushion

Macc-on-bed
And here is something 'L' completed through the week...

Homemade-Beaded-Necklace
And here is Orchid, just beginning to open. It is just 2 years old, and has 2 spikes!

Cymbidium-Orchid-Bud

Cymbidium Orchid Spike
And just a couple more from our garden...

Camellia

Chanti-Pansy

Hope you have enjoyed!!!

thursday thirteen #6... the highs and lows of IUI (or IVF)!

Thirteen Things about the 'Highs & Lows' of IVF (or IUI) For those who do not know yet, we have started IVF. The treatment that has been 'prescribed' by the Specialist, is the IUI. This involves a lot of work, pain, hormones etc, and I am dedicating this weeks TT, to it. So please 'enjoy'! 1…. Hormones, they have been terrible! At times, 'L' has been fine and happy one minute, and within a second, she is either crying or is angry as. Apparently, as the Estrogen rises, this will stabilise! 2…. Whats effecting the hormones, easy, I am having to give 'L' a nightly injection which started out at 75 units, but has been increased. This is because her estrogen level is slowly rising (43, up to 144 and the last result was 340). We need to get up to at least 500! 3…. Injections. 'L' does not like these. They are a very fine Epipen but it is not nice. I have had a very brief induction in how to do these, but still I get the tears (almost) every night. A couple more days to go... 'L' has to go for a blood test every 3-4 days (yes, more needles) until the target is achieved! 4…. Once the estrogen level is achieved, 'L' has to go for almost daily internal ultrasounds. Now, being a male, I can not appreciate how this would feel. However, after my spinal surgery, where I was catheterised, I think I can only imagine it to being when it was removed where I just about hit the roof... Feeling for you 'L'! 5…. The internal ultrasounds are to measure follicle size. They want to get NO MORE than 2, 15-18mm follicle's. Any more, then the treatment will be suspended as there is a greater risk of triplets, quads or more... 6…. Once the 1 or 2 follicle's have reached the right size, then 'L' (yes another needle) will get a massive hormone injection in order for the ovaries to release the follicle's (egg(s)). At this time, I might move given the increased hormones!!! 7…. Apart from doing the daily injections (my only 'input' at this stage, it is now my turn to participate. I have to offer up a ... sample... or an 'injection of love' This has to be completed in the early am, where it is then spun, cleaned of all the rubbish (there words not mine), concentrated, added to a new material and made ready for insemination! 8…. Some 24-36 hours later, 'L' will have to be at the clinic to be inseminated. After this, she can the go off to work as if nothing has happened, and there is the very real possibility of an 'Implantation Bleed', let's hope not! 9…. Wait 7-14 days, return to the clinic for a pregnancy test (hopefully good news)! 10…. Next in the list is then to contact a Gynaecologist and we are off and racing! 11…. Then through the pregnancy, numerous ultrasounds, internal examinations etc... 12…. Get the baby room(s) ready and delivery! 13…. Pray for us or at the very least, for me to get through this unscathed!!! Isn't making babies meant to be fun??? Seriously, I am being supportive in every way I possibly can. I do not understand what 'L' is going through, nor would I claim that I do. She is my rock, my mate and someone whom I would do anything for. I love her dearly, and I hope that she gets what she has wanted for a very long time. We have been seeing our IVF Specialist for just on 2 years now, with no success so far. There are many stand-in uncle and aunts (not to mention ACTUAL uncle and aunts) who are also wanting and wishing us success in this. The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! thursday thirteen

thanx mr postie

for my etsy deliveries. What do you think of this as the centrepiece for a lap quilt?

Home Sweet Home in Olivey Lime
This is one of my etsy purchases created by the very talented Shannon Lamden of Aunty Cookie fame. I just had to have some of this fabric and it must have been fate that I ended up with a piece. When Aunty Cookie blogged that she was going to be listing it the next day on etsy, I committed the time to memory, however, as it was a work day I got distracted doing well, work. And by the time I remembered, it was all sold, except to my fortune, Aunty Cookie had miscalculated and had 50cm spare, and I happened to read about this before anyone else.

moi presents

it is my mum's birthday but somehow it feels like mine, I have been the happy recipient of a chenille bedspread, thanks dad, a collection of buttons, a buckle, and

buttons and buckle
a couple of needleholders, thanks mum.

The vintage cupie doll needleholder is particularly cute, my mum thought I might be able to make something similar, you know so that I could give up my day job.
needle holders

too many works in progress

quilt in progress

the discipline that I have tried to exercise, that is not to start a new project without finishing the one at hand, has gone out the window. I currently have three quilts in progress, one cross-stitch, and now this tapestry.

noah's ark

And although I might have been disciplined in not starting new projects without finishing the one at hand, I have never been disciplined in the purchasing of kits, or materials for projects. I have dozens of cross-stitch patterns waiting in the wings, half a dozen quilting kits lined up, in addition to an assortment of crafty projects, and thanks to today's visit to Prints Charming's new store in Annandale, I have a few more crafty bits.

Prints Charming

birds

rocket ship

Topped off by a visit from Special P this afternoon bearing gifts and I am truly gone in keeping my golden rule.

fabric gifted

thursday thirteen #5... holiday destinations!

Thirteen Things about our holiday destinations Been too... 1…. Tokyo, Japan (2004 & 2005)! 2…. Copenhagen, Denmark (2004 & 2005)! 3…. London, Bath, Bristol, Liverpool, UK2004 (2004)! 4…. Aalborg, Denmark (2004)! 5…. Llandudno, Nth Wales (Loved it, 2005)! 6…. Manchester, UK! 7…. Auckland NZ(2006 (Ellerslie Flower Show))! Where we would like to go... 8…. Singapore! 9…. Hong Kong (to see Pako from Uni & visit the Hong Kong Jockey Club)! 10…. Dubai (for the shopping)! 11…. Shanghai, China (again, for the shopping (for 'L')! 12…. Anywhere in Vietnam! 13…. More time in Tokyo, Denmark and the UK! That's my lot, what about you? Please tell me where you have been, and where you most would like to go... Links to other Thursday Thirteens! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! thursday thirteen

I am going BACK to work for a rest, WHAT a weekend!!

On Friday, L and the M.I.L went to a Quilting show in Sydney Exhibition Center (whilst I worked) and then we stayed over for dinner, Indian Curries.

Saturday, I had pre-arranged to take the F.I.L to get his new printer, an ex-lease PC (his CD rom drive had died, and it cant be replaced so I found a very cheap ex-lease one for less than IF they had the parts...), and a new graphics card for our old desktop. This ended up being an all day event, that had me going back to the store with his new (old) as they had forgotten to load XP before they close at 4.30!!

Then on Saturday night, we went to a Sri Lankan festival event, my god, what a night! Heaps of food, and the music was great. We had a ball, but a very late night and still no graphics card installed!

L&B

Sri Lankan Festival

To much food

Dancing

Entertainment
Sunday morning had me off to complete an early morning task and to return with breakfast. I was home for all of 5 mins and finally installing the card. This was a very easy thing to do. By the time this was done however, we were off to L's favourite brothers place (he has just moved in) and then for some Yum Cha. We finally got home around 4.30pm and I could finally start playing with my new toy...

Friday, I got a new toy, a Canon EOS 400D, and a Navman as well (although, this will save mobile calls from L asking how do I get from here to where I'm going... I am LOST).
Here they are, taken with old camera:

New Toys

And the old toy, taken with the 'NEW' toy:

Old Toy

This was actually the first photo taken with the new toy...

Macc

So, with one of these, I off to work in the morning for a rest...

Coffee

thursday thirteen # 4... why I love where I work...

Thirteen Things about why I love where I work... 1…. When it looks this good, wouldn't you? BGT-Aerial-View 2…. In one Garden, we have a bog, and in another, we are almost in a desert! 3…. We have remnant Cumberland Plains, and also show Cold Climate plants! 4…. Showcase Plant Diversity, whilst researching Conservation! 5…. We entertain with Events, and educate through our Education Department! 6…. We maintain the long dead (Herbarium) yet breed (in the Nursery)! 7…. Australia's OLDEST Garden! 8…. We tell the stories of our Indigenous people! 9…. We have a great Shop! 10…. Not to mention a good Restaurant! 11…. Sydney Gardens:- It's Harbour views! RBG12…. Mount Annan: - Showcasing Australian Native Plants! MABG 13…. Mount Tomah: - Picturesque Mountain views across the valleys! MTBG

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

thursday thirteen

pa's birthday

pa's birthday 2007

at thirty seven I am extremely lucky to still have my maternal grandparents. It was my grandfather's ninety second birthday on the weekend and of course we celebrated on Sunday, with an afternoon tea at their home. And for a sweet tooth this was the perfect picture of him surrounded by sweet treats and my grandmothers china tea cups.

BGT stalker...

Last Thursday, in between a meeting at work and a site visit within our Heritage Glasshouses, we came across this little critter. She is an Echidna and is only young. Needless to say, that it took a little longer to get up to inspect the Glasshouses!!

BGT Stlaker

She was a visitor from the Zoo to our Education department, and was one of two that had recently been attacked by the Zoo's resident Ravens...

Isn't she cute?

thursday thirteen # 3 'my dad'

Thirteen Things about my dad

1. 'nevertheless' is one of my dad's words


2. my dad has been married to my mum for 38 years


3. he is the youngest of 5 children


4. he has a passion for traditional bookbinding which he has learnt to craft through TAFE


5. my addiction to shopping and collecting is to a good part in genes I have inherited from my father


6. I look like my dad and his side of the family


7. if you need a pep talk you can count on dad


8. dad is a master handyman, he fixed all the broken panes of glass in our house when we moved in two years ago yesterday


9. he is also the master provider; when we needed curtain rods he miraculously came up with enough for every room in the house and for the neighbours too if they had wanted them. The rugs in the loungeroom, dining room, bedroom were also supplied and come to think of it quite a bit of the furniture. I think this reinforces number 5


10. he likes to watch Home and Away, although when we were growing up he would call it Far and Away


11. he still closes the door to the car for my mum when they go for a drive. If you are female he will also see you safely into the car and close the door for you


12. he is the most careful driver I know


13. my mum is responsible for one of his passions, the family tree, she wanted some photos of our ancestors to put into an album for my 21st birthday. I never got the album because dad is still working on it.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

thursday thirteen

would you look at this

Vicki now has a website, and isn't her art great? Vicki and B used to work together and became friends, and I am proud to say I am the owner of 'walking the dog' which you can view in the gallery on her website. The trees are collaged (not a word I know) and the man in the photo is B walking Macc (our dog). These last two aspects are my interpretation. But that's what art is all about isn't it?

There is a nice little story about how I came to own this picture, B had taken me to Vicki's exhibition at the glasshouse in the Botanic Gardens, he was supporting his friend and knew I would love her work. A lot of the artworks were sold but this was among those left and I loved it. I am a bit of a procrastinator and couldn't really justify buying art, what with a mortgage and me being the home financial nazi. Crazy really because we have a lot of art on the walls, I have a real weak spot for it. But I wasn't really expecting to be be buying art this particular day.

Anyways, B had a quiet word with Vicki that I didn't know about, and back at work made arrangements to divert his superannuation payments for a period of time to pay Vicki for the painting. This was particularly sneaky because it would not affect what was being banked from week to week. I was given the painting for my birthday that year, and I was sooooo surprised.

joining in

given the fathers day celebrations that seem to be taking place in the USA and UK, here is a photo of my dad taken recently.

Dad enjoying High Tea in the tearoom

I really love this photo it was taken a few weeks back at the tearoom in the QVB when we were celebrating B's graduation with High Tea. My dad looks so well, handsome, proud of our achievements, and pleased to be treating us to tea and cake.

So even though it is not fathers day until September here in Australia, I thought I would share and join in on the celebrations nevertheless*.

*'nevertheless' is one of my dad's words

TT # 2... l's thursday thirteen

Thirteen Things about 'L' 1…. My family home was number 13! 2…. I love chocolate, if you leave it in my presence for too long I will eat it. Sorry! 3…. My favourite colour is blue, although currently in a pink period! 4…. I am a 'Magazine Aholic', we have thousands...! 5…. I will NOT barter for a better price at market stalls. I have 'B' to do that! 6…. I procastinate too often and for too long! 7…. Anxiety and me go hand in hand! 8…. I'm additcted to eBay! 9…. Eldest of 4 children, and last to become pregnant (but working on it...)! 10…. I am a sucker for something marked as reduced or SALE! 11…. Although I say it now, I have finished doing any more study (until my next degree..)! 12…. Celebrating International Webloggers Day on 14 June! 13…. It has taken me three days to put this list together and I needed B's help to finish it (he knows me better than I know myself)!! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

thursday thirteen

Like father (my favourite brother) like son.

Like father (my favourite brother) like son.

I love this photo of my favourite five year old nephew. After a day of x-box with a bit of gardening thrown in, it was time for a nap whilst watching ABC kids.

What I really love about this picture is that it is a bit of history repeating. His dad, my favourite brother, always made sure his toys were comfortable and taken care of before he went to bed at night, even if this meant there was no room left for him in the bed. I am sure this is an indication of a caring and gentle personality.

My favourite nephews were spending the day with me whilst renovations were being carried out on their new home, so whilst the terrible (tongue in cheek) two year old was napping I planned to sew on the binding of the little boys quilt that was inspired by him and his lurv of cars. However, the five year old nephew decided it was right just as it is, and who can resist such admiration of your work. Not me.

i saw a circus

circus in central park quilt top

I have spent the day with mum and dad. It would have been a good day to spend at home as it was unbelievably stormy, and in typical me fashion, I got us real lost right from the get go. Thank god, I have a navman, he is called a husband on speed dial.

I had planned this day to get dad out of the house and as a bit of a distraction. Anyway, I totally distracted him, I think he was a bit incredulous that I had got us lost only 15 minutes into the trip. The destination for the day was Dural, where we could take in a couple of antique shops, and lunch at Greenshades in the warmth of their open fire.

If we hadn't got lost we wouldn't have seen the red and white striped circus tent at Silverwater that has provided me with the inspiration for the backing fabric for the Circus in Central Park quilt top that is now sewn. I shall just have to find it.

thursday thirteen...

Thirteen Things about burntofferings (L & B) 1. We own a Greyhound (Macc), a cat (Jasmine), an inside fish (Fighting Fish that Jas drinks from) and fish in the bathtub/lilly pond up in the back garden. 2. We are both keen gardeners, but only one has a qualification. 3. L enjoys any sort of craft (Quilting, X-Stitching, Knitting…). 4. L has finally finished her studying (for now). 5. How stupid am I, as I am doing another degree! 6. I have 3 scars from two operations. 7. Both L and I have a combined age greater than our house which was built in 1928. 8. On average each day, both L and I, we do in excess of 150klms to get to and from work! 9. When L smiles, she does not have any dimples in her checks. 10. The longest time away from L was in July 2005 when I went to Nth Wales for 3 weeks. Not bad in the 10 years I have known her! 11. I would like to get a new car (Suzuki Vitara of course). 12. I love it when there is the smell of fresh cut grass and a thunderstorm is approaching. 13. I love you L.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

a point in time...

I know, so it's a little bit silly, but hey, we need a laugh about now...
Date/time of post:
12.34 on the 5/6/7!

the week that was... a review!

Well folks, let me update you all on the week that was.

As you will remember, last Monday, the F-I-L-M (Father-in-Law) went in for (using his words) a small procedure on his heart. 49 burns to his heart & 10 hours later, a very heavily sedated FIL returned to the ward and all concerned family were around his bedside. Tuesday, which was to have been his return home, found the MIL in a very distressed way, so I left work no sooner after arriving (and not to return all week mind you, thanks for a caring boss...) so it was me dashing off to pick her up, down the M2 and to the hospital. At this stage, FIL was in considerable discomfort in his chest.

We left the hospital that afternoon so as he could rest and to get some lovely Lebanese food for lunch, returning a couple of hours later. A very late night after visiting the FIL, we were exhausted and L had to pack as she was going to Melbourne the following day.

Wednesday saw me taking the MIL again to the hospital as the FIL was still in pain. More tests were required today and by the evening, he was being ventilated and another drip was put into his arm for IV antibiotics. That night, his AF heart rhythm had returned and sent him into depression and in a phone call to the MIL, he was quite upset as this procedure was to have helped, even though it was experimental. So, off again I go to pick up the MIL, off to the hospital, sit there all day with them whilst tests are being performed... yikes, it was a long day, and have you ever noticed that hospital food is not that great!! Even the FIL was not impressed, come on, your in Coronary Care, of course you can't have SALT with your dinner!!!Whilst L was in Melbourne, I was trying hard to keep her informed enough so as not to be distressed, not that there was anything she could do, but she almost was going to fly back home, I was also either at the hospital, at the in-laws, or getting to bed very late! Needless to say, NO study was done during the week for my Uni.

After what seemed an eternity, we finally got discharged and off home we go along the M2. After dropping the FIL at home, I took the MIL off to the shops as there was going to be a roast pork for dinner, YUMM!!! During the evening, L calls to see how everyone is going, and I couldn't resist so I put on the nephews on to say hello, then the FIL, then the MIL and back to me. Then found out that she was rushing between a meeting and for the business dinner that she was there for so I was only able to say a quick HI!!

Friday saw L busy all day in Melbourne and on a return flight home in the early evening of which we stopped by to say a quick hi to the FIL and home about 10pm...

So, that was the week that was. The FIL is continuing to get better, although, bitterly disappointed in his heart operation not being a success. So it was a weekend back to the books, or in the case of this subject, to the PC as it is all on-line about Global Environmental Systems: - Climatology!