Finally The Crafting Bug Has Bitten

While Surfer Boy is out in the shed making me some frames for my new potato garden I thought I'd show you what else I've been up to.

I had been putting off a visit to Spotlight all week as I had to buy some filling for a quilt order and I just wasn't motivated. When I finally made myself go I fell in lust with some fabric and decided my project to redo the cushions on my couch should begin now. I spent the rest of the afternoon throwing out my old covers and making 6 new ones.

.

I'm pretty happy with the result and more than happy with the $29.00 it cost me. Even Surfer Boy likes them and he usually isn't a fan of couch cushions.

The only problem now is that the cat seems to have taken a major shine to them and is hard to oust from the couch.

The Mum Song

One of the Mums at school just sent this to me and I thought I'd share it. How many of these lines have you used on your kids?

Timbaaaaaaa

I was going to show you my mulching - very boring - but I realised this was much more interesting. I have the kind of husband who actually does stuff as soon as I've asked. I happened to mention that nothing would grow in one of the beds because the tree was blocking the sun so five minutes later he had the chainsaw out and half the tree was down!! I'm sure he thinks I don't appreciate him but one day, if he ever reads this blog, he'll see that I do - very much.

Now to abuse his kindness and think of some more things I want done...

Glorious

Autumn is not the time of year when I usually feel inspired to hit the garden but this year the weather has been so perfect for gardening in Melbourne that I can't help myself. I even bought myself some gumboots today! Now that the veggie garden is nearly done I'm moving on to the next bed.

.

Next Step

Moondoggie has the day off on Tusedays so after our usual breakfast at The Corner Shop in Yarraville Village we headed off to Poyntons Nursery in Essendon.

It is always a treat to visit Poyntons but especially with a project in mind.

I closed my eyes to all the other treats on offer and headed to the veggie section. As planned we chose broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, chives, strawberries and some herbs. I also grabbed a passionfruit for the fence and some sweetpeas to add some height to the bed.

As is always the case a few extras some how ended up on our trolley and by the time we got home we had a blueberry bush, 2 salvias and some catnip for Oscar. Because I am hopeless I also snuck in some hollyhocks and Canterbury bells that I just could not resist. 2 bales of mulch, seeded potatoes and we were on our way.

Phew! It wasn't until I wrote it down that I realised how much I'd bought.

We spent the afternoon planting and this is the result...

The Herb box.

Blueberries and Catnip!

Next step - mulching!

I Wish

Do you like my new header photo? I kind of like logging on just to have a look at it. Do you think anyone believes it is my actual garden? Maybe international readers who don't know that inner city Melbourne doesn't have thatched cottages! What I wouldn't do for a garden like this. I can appreciate a modern, water concious, minimalist or native garden but I am a complete romantic sucker for a cottage garden. I know it's cliche'd as far as gardens go but I just can't help myself. There is something Green Gables, with a touch of fairy about a cottage garden.

Here are some more shots of the same cottage...

Sustainable Living in Kingsville

Moondoggie and I have started a new project. We decided to make a veggie garden and with the help of a certain Surfer Boy who happens to be good with a hammer, it is starting to come along nicely.


Our back garden has always been a bit of a dog's breakfast due to the fact that 8 years ago we thought we would be renovating soon so didn't want to waste money on an area that would eventually be flattened! We've whacked in some garden beds, pulled up all the concrete and grown some grass but in general it leaves a lot to be desired. The advantage is you can clear a whole bed without losing anything of value and start again with a - veggie garden.

I'm very proud of us - usually I just want to put everything in so it looks pretty but this time we're actually preparing the soil first. A sprinkle of dynamic lifter followed a few days later by manure and a couple of handfuls of lime.

Surfer Boy edged it properly for us and he's promised to fix the window box on the cubby so we can plant herbs there.

Moondoggie and I have decided to only plant things that we like to eat so we have chosen carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and maybe some strawberries (yes we know they're not veggies but gee they're yummy) We might try and grow potatoes too but I think some research needs to be done there first.

I'll keep you posted on our progress.

In Awe

I took Gidget to visit her godmother yesterday at the Park Hyatt. Gidget loved seeing Kris and her family but she was even more excited about the actual hotel! I had forgotten how exciting a luxury hotel is when you're small. The glitz, the glamour, the lifts, the piano man! She was in awe. I think afternoon tea visits to Melbourne's hotels might be a great idea.

I, on the other hand, was in awe of Gidget's godmother!

Kris gave birth to her beautiful daughter on Thursday, and you would swear she didn't raise a sweat. She radiates calm and is happily holding court at the Hyatt with her usual grace and charm. Even the arrival of her three boys did nothing to outwardly disturb the tranquility although she did mention that she wouldn't be encouraging them to stay too long!

I find it amazing and comforting to know that after 26 years Kris and I are still there for the big moments in each other's lives.

Congratulations Will and Kris - she is divine.

Kris and Jen - 1985

Love a Good Quiz

Over at Stars Hollow K. posted this fantastic quiz. She was a 'Christopher' and look who I am - 'Luke'. I think the fact that I find a toolbelt very sexy might have been the clincher. Who is your perfect Gilmore Girls man?

Citrusey Love

I haven't done much house related stuff lately but this shot courtesy of Serena and Lily is lovely. I think it is the soothing colour palette that I love. Might have to go and hunt up some more inspirational interiors....

World Class at the Logies

Freddy

I forgot to mention that yesterday, while travelling home through Wittlesea we came across a bric a brac store and look what I bought!!!



Doesn't everyone need a giant paper mache bear? His name is Freddy and he has taken up residence in the living room - at least until Surfer Boy gets back at the end of the week! Don't you think he'll love it?

Sunday Outing to Flowerdale

A little while ago my friend Leslie and I were talking about the Victorian bushfires and what we could possibly do to help in any small way. We decided that visiting the affected areas and spending some cash might be a good start. We worried that it might be seen as rubber-necking but after seeing pleas on the news for just this help we determined to do it.

So today we packed the kids in the car and headed up to the Flowerdale pub for lunch.

Travelling through Wittlesea, the King Lake area and on to Flowerdale was a revelation. The devastation is appalling but the spirit of hope is palpable.

We had a wonderful time, on a glorious sunny day, lunching in the beer garden, then popping in to the Hazeldene general store for some goodies,

continuing on to a nursery where we all chose a plant to buy to commemorate the day.

As you can probably see, all the businesses we visited were ringed by fire and we were continuously astounded that they had survived. This last photo shows us outside the nursery and the countryside looked like this on all four sides of this property. It was an oasis of green amongst the burn and it was overwhelming.

Hopefully our outing will help these businesses in their bid to stay afloat and I highly recommend you head up there to support these amazing people who have suffered so much. Not only will it help bring business back to the area but it was one of the loveliest days I have spent in ages.

http://helpflowerdalenow.blogspot.com/

http://www.standrewspub.com/

http://kinglake.vic.au/

Gift Horse

YAY!! I met Kelly today - my wonderful benefactress who sent Gidget and I off to the Hannah Montana premiere. Moondoggie had his 5th birthday party at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre - or Frog Slide Pool as he calls it, and Kelly came up and introduced herself. It was so lovely to put a face to the name.

Gidget got her school book club forms yesterday and she has chosen to get the Miley Cyrus autobiography! Maybe Kelly will want to read it after we have to make up for missing the premiere?? I know you'll all be dying to know if it's as good as it sounds so perhaps I'll review it when I've read it!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Over at Stars Hollow I did a post that led to memories of this fabulous 80's film. It is such a ripper of a film that I had to post about it here too. Girls Just Want To Have Fun and Valley Girl were my ultimate movies while I was at school and I still get such a kick out of them every time I watch them. The Solid Gold dancers were a little before my time but I would have given anything to be on 'Dance TV'.

THANK YOU KELLY - We Love Hannah!

I got a very exciting email during the week.

Hi Jenny,

You don’t know me but I am a customer of Chalk and a reader of your blogs. I got from work a 2 person pass to the new Hannah Montana movie for this Sunday morning and thought of you. I can’t go to the movie but if you would like the pass, I will drop it off at Chalk for you. Just let me know.

Regards,

Kelly in Yarraville

I couldn't believe my luck!! And once again I marvelled at the generosity and general loveliness of the blogging world - and clearly my CHALK customers are rippers as well!

So thanks to Kelly, Gidget and I went off to the HANNAH MONTANA MOVIE premiere this morning at the Jam Factory. Gidget was thrilled and loved every minute of her big outing.

And I got to see a movie that I thought I was going to have to sneak off to in secret.

As Hannah Montana's popularity begins to take over her life, Miley Stewart, on the urging from her father takes a trip to her hometown of Crowley Corners, Tennessee to get some perspective on what matters in life the most. The movie boasts many special appearances with Vanessa Williams, Taylor Swift, Tyra Banks and others popping up throughout the movie.

It was a great movie - all the Disney boxes were ticked with some lovely moments between Miley and her dad Billy Ray. (I don't know if I was over tired but I am afraid to say that I actually cried, and not just once either!!) The cast were all delightful, Miley got to have a chaste kiss, and the more country music they can squeeze into a movie the better as far as I'm concerned!

It was also fantastic to have a special outing with my special girl. Now that she is at school I feel I hardly see her so sharing the Hannah experience was double the fun.

So if you get a chance, and you can grab a kid to give you cred - get yourself to HANNAH MONTANA The Movie.

THANK YOU KELLY!!!

Awww... so cute

I have a little crush on our Prime Minister,

but even I will admit that he looks a lot like this bloke...

Oh well, there are worse things you could look like. Everyone loves the Milky Bar Kid.

The Secret Scripture

We've just chosen our May Bookgroup book and it sounds fascinating...



Nearing her one-hundredth birthday, Roseanne McNulty faces an uncertain future, as the Roscommon Regional Mental hospital where she's spent the best part of her adult life, prepares for closure. Over the weeks leading up to this upheaval, she talks often with her psychiatrist Dr Grene, and their relationship intensifies and complicates. Told through their respective journals, the story that emerges is at once shocking and deeply beautiful. Refracted through the haze of memory and retelling, Roseanne's story becomes an alternative, secret history of Ireland's changing character and the story of a life blighted by terrible mistreatment and ignorance, and yet marked still by love and passion and hope.

Bath Time

Yum - or not!

Moondoggie and I have just made cup cakes to his instructions! Luckily the base is a Coles Butter Cake Mix so at least they are basically edible, I just don't know to what degree.

He informed me that we were going to shove marshmallows in the centre of each one and then add more cake mix. This was good in theory but during the cooking process these delightful mallows started to bubble up out of the mixture and dribble down the sides of the tray!! (I am dreading to think how I am going to get it off the floor of the oven!)

We took them out - stared at them for a while and then Moondoggie declared that more mallows needed to go on top.

These have now gone all runny from the heat of the cakes and will hopefully, fingers crossed, be a taste sensation.

I think I'll bake on my own next time.

One Night With Zac

I thought it was time to tell you about our evening and share a couple of shots from our night with Zac - Our first glimpse was as we sauntered up the Red Carpet, trying to look cool and autograph worthy...
The yelling and screaming became sooo intense that we realised Zac was not far away. Sure enough he was furiously signing posters, posing with fans and generally making 100's of girls very happy.

K. and I strolled past him and I am proud to say that we were both very well behaved and apart from a momentary double take and a couple of sneaky snaps, on we waltzed up the red carpet.

After our brief encounter we were giggling like school girls and entered the theatre hoping for good luck and great seats. As expected there were none at the front - we had been so spoilt at HSM3 and we thought our luck couldn't hold - until K. spotted an ex work colleague and our luck started looking up. This lovely man ushered us into the as yet unopened theatre where our 2 solitary front seats beckoned. With massive grins from ear to ear we staked out or turf and refused to be budged. We also happened to now be in the theatre with the reserved VIP seating so we had the added fun of watching everyone arrive. The Red Carpet was being shown on the screen so we gazed at Zac (and Brett Tucker) until he himself arrived in our theatre!!!

I will admit both K and I drew in our breath and I think we both held it for the entire time he was there. STUNNING. As K. mentioned he was literally 3 feet in front of us and he was charming, and personable (and hot!). By the time he left K. and I were a ridiculous mess but we managed to keep it together long enough to actually watch the movie which is apparently why we were there. The movie was great - great fun and lovely to see Matt Perry on our screens again.

By the movies end K. and I were pretty wrung out but there were more treats in store. On the way out of the theater we were given this -

Of course K and I were the only ones to receive Zac's personal message (not) but it was a lovely touch anyway and kudos to Roadshow for making the whole evening very enjoyable. We all received loot with posters, magazines, popcorn and drinks all supplied by Roadshow!
The fun didn't stop there as we adjourned to a nearby restaurant to discuss the evening and Mr Brett Tucker also had the same idea. (see pic 3) Not only great pasta but great eye-candy too. Could 2 girls be any luckier?

Red Carpet

Tomorrow night I'm off to the Melbourne premiere of '17 Again'. I can't wait as any movie that teams Matthew Perry with Zac Efron has to be good in my book. The added bonus is that Zac will be there and there's nothing like a good perve to start the week!!

It Runs In The Family

I am so impressed.
Not many people I know are on Facebook. I don't know why, my friends just aren't in to it and in fact few of them use the computer for anything more than checking in every once in a while to read their emails. There are exceptions but in general they are Internet illiterate. (sorry girls, harsh but true)
I am constantly trying to get them to read my blogs, reply to emails, or at least know what MySpace is!!!
Imagine my surprise a few minutes ago when I received a Facebook Friend Request from..... MY MUM!!!
How cool is she!
Not only does she know more about the Internet than 90% of my friends but she is not scared to try out new technology and is always up for something new.
At the moment I am Mum's only friend so if you want to pop by and say Hi - (she's really very nice and interesting) here is her link - http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1033809726614#/profile.php?id=1124956394

GO MUM!!!

The Slap - Discussion Questions

The Slap Christos Tsolkias

At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own. This event has a ripple effect on a group of people, mostly friends, who are directly or indirectly influenced by the event.
In this remarkable novel, Christos Tsolkias turns his unflinching and all-seeing eye onto that which connects us all: the modern family and domestic life in the twenty-first century. The Slap is told from the points of view of eight people who were present at the barbecue. The slap and its consequences force them all to question their own families and the way they live, their expectations, beliefs and desires.
What unfolds is a novel about love, sex and marriage, parenting and children, and the fury and intensity - all the passions and conflicting beliefs - that family can arouse. In its clear-eyed and forensic dissection of the ever-growing middle class and its aspirations and fears, The Slap is also a deeply provocative novel about the nature of loyalty and happiness, compromise and truth. (Book dust jacket)

1. Did this book make you question your immediate resonse to Harry slapping the four year old Hugo.

2. Did Rosie breastfeeding Hugo at that age affect your opinion of her?

3. Every nationality seemed to be represented at the B.B.Q. - do you think there is a reason Tsiolkas did this? (Greek, Vietnamese, European, Indian, Aboriginal,)

4. Did you think Tsiolkas's character speech was effective?

5. There seemed to be many marital issues brought up throughout the book, infidelity, domestic violence, alcoholism. Do you think this is a true picture of a group of friends or has the author thrown in too many provocative issues for effect?

6. Do you think The way we treat our children says a lot about our culture and our society?

7. The anger in The Slap is quite confronting – so many of the characters are wracked by frustrations and ready to snap. Do you think this is an endemic problem of Australia's middle class?

8. Do you think Australia is in an age of new conservatism and over-the-top political correctness? What are your feelings about that?

It's Not That Big!

We had our first camping trip with the kids this weekend and it was a huge success. The kids loved it and a great time was had by all. The most exciting thing was the success of the new tent. Last Christmas Surfer Boy and I bought each other a tent for Christmas. I was put in charge of buying it and came home with a 16 man tent and Surfer Boy nearly had a heart attack!

It was so big we weren't able to put it up before we went as it wouldn't fit in the back yard. We contemplated setting it up in the park but thought we might get in trouble. The golden rule of camping is always to make sure you have put up your tent before you go so you know if there is anything vital missing, like the poles, or so you don't get caught in the dark trying to put up a tent you have never seen before.

We arrived at out camp site at 9.30 in the evening, it was dark, starting to rain, and we had a frigging enormous tent that we had never seen out of it's bag! Not good!

With the help of the car headlights and teamwork we had it up in a surprisingly short period of time and had the kids tucked into their new home quick as a wink.

Surfer Boy seems quite happy with the 'Taj Mahal' as it has been nicknamed, and is eating his words.

Here is the 'Taj' in all it's glory.

Yay For The Boys In Blue.

My phone beeped to tell me I had a text while I was waiting to pick up Gidget from school. It was from Victoria Police and my immediate thought was - shit... Surfer Boy has fallen off a building!! Luckily that wasn't it - it was a message that went like this...'Extreme weather in Vic expected Mon night & Tues. High wind & fire risk. Listen to local ABC radio for emergency updates....etc.' How bizarre - the police love me and are keeping me safe. It quickly dawned on me that they loved everybody, not just me, as more and more people waiting at school read their text messages!

I find it frightening that Victoria is under such fire threat this summer that the police are sending out state-wide texts! It feels surreal and a little apocalyptic.

I heard one parent comment that it would just worry people but hell, I'd rather be worried than ignorant. I had no idea we had another HOT day coming let alone 140km an hour winds!! It hopefully won't affect as as we live in the inner city but for those in outlying suburbs any warning is good based on the events of the last couple of weeks!

So Victoria Police - Thank you!

It wasn't! Oh god it was!!!

Don't you hate it when you miss a birthday!! I am usually pretty on the ball with birthdays, I even have a birthday calender in the kitchen. Imagine my horror when I realised that a very dear friend celebrated her birthday on Sunday and I had no idea! I even spent Monday night watching the Oscars with her and still the penny didn't drop. I felt sick when I realised.

I think I should blame her for not constantly mentioning it over the last few weeks like I would have done! I firmly believe that everyone should send out a global email or text letting every person they know, know that it is their birthday coming up, that way no one need to be embarrassed at forgetting....

So now that I have cleverly passed the blame and made myself feel better, Miss Ali you had better expect a visit from your hopeless friend bearing gifts and a sheepish grin!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALI !!!!

Pray History Doesn't Repeat

Tomorrow is shaping up to be another hell day in Victoria as far as bushfires go! 100's of schools and kinders have been closed as a precautionary measure and towns all over the state are on high alert. Please stay safe where ever you are and if you're not a Victorian, please keep your fingers and toes crossed for us.

When is funny, not funny?

Over at my Stars Hollow blog I talked about the 'train wreck' that was Joaquin Phoenix's interview with David Letterman a couple of weeks ago. (If you haven't seen it or don't know what I am talking about then head over and check it out)
There is much debate over whether he is staging the whole 'flipped out' routine but the majority of people seem to think he is genuinely struggling with some major demons. He has a history of instability and drug dependence.
This brings me to the point of my post. I was wondering in the light of this what people thought of Ben Stiller impersonating Joaquin at the Oscar's?
I found it treading that very fine line between humour and plain bad taste that I guess is what comedians are so good at. I just felt that although it was wickedly on the money, should we be ridiculing a man who clearly may have mental health issues?
What do you think?

Valentine's Gifts

I'm not sure if I have talked about this before but Surfer Boy is a collector! What does he collect? LEGO MEN!!

Most of our friends check their kids lego stash when we leave in case he's pocketed any. It is almost at the problematic stage. Most nights are spent checking online for any he may not have yet. What started as a bit of a joke as spiralled out of control.

Here is one of the trays that house his collection.

The reason I thought I'd mention it is that Surfer Boy gave me a present yesterday! Very exciting and unexpected and you can imagine my excitement when I discovered my gift came in a jewellery box.

Here's what I opened it to find.....

Mine are green but you get the general idea.

I was going to the movies with 10 other girls and Surfer Boy told me that if I didn't wear them then he would know that I didn't like his present! Sneaky bastard. I wore them.... I will keep wearing them and even better Gidget suggested I add other lego to them and guess what, it works. Tonight I came out with various additions and a lego man hanging off each. I think that is what I will wear next time we go out with his mates.
I wonder what I'll get for my birthday?

Drop In And Visit

I have always loved the Murray River. Our family spent many Easter holidays camping by it's banks, swimming in it, jumping from trees in to it... My Dad lived by it for some of his youth.

My love for it was cemented when I fell in love with Philadelphia Gordon in 'All The River's Run'!! (The wonderful mini series of the book of the same name by Nancy Cato.)

Actually now that I think of it that was a ripper of a book and I must get it out and indulge in another read. For that matter I think I need to start googling and buy the DVDs too...hmmm..... Anyway, where was I?

Oh yes - I sat down to enjoy my lunch in the sun and have a read of my Country Style magazine when I came across this picture.

I have not been able to stop staring at it and I'm sure if I look hard enough and long enough I will get magically transported there! What a way to spend the weekend. Floating on the majestic Murray listening to the laugh of Kookaburras and sniffing the smells of the bush. Perfect tranquility after a week of tragedy.

Victorian Bushfires

As I watch Australians come together here and around the world in support of the victims of Victoria's bushfires I thank god I live in this country. We may be suffering from extraordinary floods at one end of the country and apocalyptic bushfires at this end but the spirit and compassion of the Australian people is astonishing, wonderful and not at all surprising. The tears keep falling but my heart is warmed and so proud of us!

One of the hundreds of C.F.A. firefighters who are still coping with the fires.

For those of you who may be reading this from another part of the world, this is the beautiful township of Marysville in Victoria which has suffered so tragically in the fires.

And here is a view courtesy of the channel 10 chopper of Marysville as it is today.

With fears that the death toll may reach 300 and fires still burning out of control the news is mind numbing but with the ongoing support of Victorians, and all Australians Marysville, Kinglake, St. Andrews and all the other decimated towns will slowly heal and rebuild.

http://www.redcross.org.au/