Back to the real world

I don't usually study the sky too much during daylight but I just happened to look up when taking the washing off the line. The moon looked so clear and close over the tree tops that I just couldn't resist taking a photo of it.

Well, my Christmas break has come to an end, I return to work tomorrow not knowing when ,my next break will be. We are having a new state wide computer system taking over from the old system and all hands need to be on deck. It is lovely to be needed but not when it may impact on my much need break away from the drudge of work. I am totally convinced that I only work to feed my habit of eating and paying bills.

Revamp and Face Lift

I thought with the coming of the New Year I should overhaul my blog. I have spent several hours putting the new look blog together, I hope you all agree with me. I would love to hear your comments, so, leave comment if you like.
Last night we helped my Brother in Law to celebrate his 50th Birthday, usually we sit in the blazing heat but not this year. My Sister decided to have an evening celebratration this year because last year the temperature soared around lunch time. But, this year the temperature plummeted so low that we sat around fire pots to keep from turning blue with the cold. Guests big and small enjoyed the warmth from the fire, Clancy, my Nephew from Townsville, was the chief stoker for the evening.
Just a few days ago we were loving the heat but I can't say we are loving the return of winter.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all my readers, I hope 2009 brings you all the joy and happiness that you deserve. I hope you all had a safe and joyous night doing what ever you do on New Years Eve. I spent the evening with my brother and sister and their families at a public gathering at the local football oval. There was live music all through the night, food and drink stalls all around so no one went hungry or 'thirsty'. The weather was more like Autumn evening than a summer evening but we all rugged up to enjoy the festivities and the fire works display. This is my Great Niece Maya, who turns 2 in a few days time. I am not being biased but she was the prettiest child of the evening! Don't you agree? Last year she was mesmerised by the fireworks but this year she was more aware of the noise and didn't like them at all. We all left just before midnight, I have a 30 minute drive home so I arrive home a few minutes before midnight, just in case I turned back into Cinderella!! These are some of the photos I took, we weren't positioned well to get good shots but I am happy with what I got.

LETS START 2009 THE RIGHT WAY..By giving

I found this lovely giving idea on my friend Laura Ann's blog. I decided to play along because I think giving is something we all should do more of. I have just pasted the rules here from her blog Artisan Memories

The first 3 visitors to my blog who leave a comment saying that they would like to be involved will receive a handmade gift from me within 365 days.

You must email me to confirm your details. These 3 visitors must have their own blog, place the PIF logo on your blog and link it back to me. Then you must offer the same to the first 3 visitors to visit your blog and follow the above steps that I have done. Remember there is no stress...you have one year to PIF.

Big Day Out

It has been so long since I have been to the beach, a pass time I really love but rarely indulge in. My Brother is visiting from Northern Queensland so we spent the day touring around. We followed our noses and ended up on a beach that I haven't visited for about 20 years! I took these photos and am so pleased with the results, I used my digital camera and couldn't see a thing through it because of the glare from the sun, so I just went with my instincts and pointed and clicked and these are the results. I was so surprised when I downloaded them to the computer, perhaps I should use the blind persons technique of photography more often. The water was perfect for body surfing as long as you had a thermal wet suit!! The wind was amazingly strong but not as cold as you might think. We were sand blasted while descending the steep dunes to the beach but it was worth the experience to get to our destination. The wild life on the beach was extraordinary, a Fairy Penguin, Fur Seal and a Wallaby and the most extraordinary thing of all was that they were all dead!! The Fairy Penguin and the Fur Seal were washed ashore but the Wallaby was mumified!!
So, all in all it was a day out for us all to remember.

Mother Nature

Isn't Mother Nature a magnificant creator?

I was adding roses to my dehydrator to create some pot pourri when I stopped for a moment to look at the blooms before I turned them into dried petals.

These beautiful creations leaped out at me just asking for one final photograph before I flicked the switch. Now I feel bad because I am turning something so beautiful into a dried up thing for my so called enjoyment. I really have difficulty making Pot Pourri with such magnificent flowers but I do enjoy them while they are in full bloom, only picking them when they are past their prime. That way I can continue to enjoy them for many months to come. I suppose in a way I am doing my bit for recycling.

I am flattered

What a lovely surprise I had yesterday when I received this award from Laura Ann. It is my very first blog award, I will treasure it forever.

The rules are simple...to keep the award active...just * Put the logo on your blog or post.* Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.

Now for my chopice of 5 blogs I enjoy reading.

Karen - Karen's Dolls and Stuff

Kirrily- Five Roses Prim and Pretty

Lisa- Craftye Ladye Creations

Crystal-Ewe and Me creations

Susan- Rabbit Hollow Prims

Enjoy your award Ladies, you deserve to be rewarded for your beautiful blogs.

Twice in one month - a record!!

I can't believe that I am blogging twice this month, let's see if I can make it thrice!!
I had the good fortune of reconnecting with one of my doll artist friends today - Flora Dora. I haven't spoken to her for ages and finally caught up with her on Face Book. It is such a treat to find friends again and continue on as if you haven't been parted, that is a sign of a good friendship.
Flora Dora is such a beautiful artist and doll maker that she gets me inspired every time I see her work. I haven't created a doll in ages, time has just been very limited.

I have been working on my garden and hope to get some more weeding done this weekend, I have a friend coming to visit and I hope I can tempt her to help me out. My garden had really been neglected during the winter months but now the warmer weather has arrived I have a renewed enthusiasm and a need to make the garden come to life again. Having had these beautiful roses sit on my desk for a week and smelling their perfume I am rearing to go. I arrived at work on Monday morning to find a glorious bunch of roses in a vase sitting on the counter, dear Gabby had bought them from her garden. what a magnificent garden she must have if she could spare these beautiful blooms for her work colleagues. Thank you Gabby I have drooled over them all week.

Darby and Joan again

I have just shed a tear or three as I waved part of my precious family goodbye. Hubby and I have had our treasures eldest son, his beautiful partner and their precious son Corbin for 5 days. I am too much of a cry baby to drive to the airport for farewells that my dear Hubby has to be brave and go it alone. It has been nearly a year since they visited, Corbin was just a tiny baby of 3 months and now he is a thriving bundle of energy at 15 months!! It was just a treat to be 'real' Grandparents' for a few days, it is hard to be a long distance Nanny and Pa when your Grandchildren live in another state.
Once again, I had a smile on my face as I was driving around with a car seat on the back seat of my car. It might seem such a natural thing for most Grandparents to do but for me it is a once a year special treat. I thought
I had child proofed my house so Corbin could run free relatively safely, but alas, there were many things I thought he wouldn't be interested in, What a silly Nanny I was. I did remember to move all my dangerous cleaning products from under the sink but of course I forgot to tie up the kitchen draws didn't I?
I was reminded of the strange shows little people love to watch on TV, gone is Sesame Street and in it's place is Iggle Piggle. I have to say that I much prefer Iggle Piggle to the whiny voices of the Sesame Street characters. Even at such a young age the world stops at 9am for Corbin to sit glued to Iggle Piggle, a whole 30 minutes where grown ups can do whatever they want without a little helper tagging along.
How strange it was to wake in the middle of the night and hear a little voice chatting away or crying as it happened on a couple of nights. Last night I thought about getting up to him then I remembered that I was the Nanny not the Mother, with a rush of sudden relief I rolled over and went back to sleep, not like the old days!!
Now I'm off to finish 'unchildproofing' the house till next time.

How time flies

Well I did say at the very beginning that I wasn't a regular blogger. I hadn't realized how long it had been since my last post.
Spring is well and truly here in Australia. Wattle blossom blooms all around me at the moment, every second year the wattles put on a display of glorious gold for all to see and this year is no exception. Bulbs are flowering, making my garden look colourful. I took a bunch to work last week and had so many comments on the colours.

I haven't been making dolls for several months now, but this weekend has been a time of reflection for me. I awoke this morning and decided to start up again but with a little twist. I have loved art dolls for a long time now so, have decided to give them a try yet again. I have a few dolls that I was never happy with and as I write one of them is drying by the fire. I have decided to give her a good paint of gesso and see what happens. I just love the feel of paint on cloth and my hands, so my new venture is to paint my dolls with various paints and gels to see what effect I can come up with. I have also decided to minimize the size of my dolls, I usually make 12 - 18 inch dolls but want to try some smaller ones ranging in size from 6 - 10 inches. I have found some inspirational blogs this morning with an array of textures and colours so I am very eager to give the new styles a go.
I can hear my doll calling me, saying that she is dry and ready to decorate.
Stay tuned for the next installment of my new style of dolls saga.

Back to the real world

Today is the last day of my week long holiday.
I took the week of work just to do stuff for me and I have had a wonderful week. I got up when I wanted, ate what and when I wanted and best of all did the housework when I wanted which I have to say wasn't very often. I thought I would have a sparkling shiny house by weeks end but I can tell you that it is not shinier than it is on any other Sunday afternoon. I think that just goes to show that I am not a housework nutter like some people I know.
However, I have done some cooking this week that I would usually take about 2 months to do. I have made spanakopita, two batches of cupcakes, apple strudel, braised steak and onions (well I am going to make that before the day is out) and my husband have loved me for it. I am not known for my love of cooking, perhaps that has something to do with the fact that I work full time and am usually too tired to cook much at night and too busy washing and cleaning at the weekend to cook.
Well, I'm out of her now to make some phone calls and get the braised steak and onions cooked so my husband will love me more!!!!!!!!!!!