Sunday best

Submitted this to Innovations but the deadline for the relevant theme has passed and I haven't heard it was accepted so here it is on my blog! Did this a while ago - BG Lime Rickey collection.

I've created a monster

I finally let DS have at the lego collection my sisters and I had when we were younger. The first thing he does in the morning is dig it out. As soon as he is home he is playing again. I'm continually getting pestered to "help" i.e. make things from the "constructions" he's found in there.

I surprised myself when I did actually sit down with him and make some stuff up - remembered how much fun it is to build things.

Style Quiz

Here's something fun to do - take the style quiz from International School of Colour and Design.

Here are my results... nostalgic nest ;-)

Waikato Crop II

Last Saturday DH and I left the children with my long suffering Mum and sisters, and made our way down to the Waikato. DH went looking for waterfalls, and I joined a bunch of scrapbookers for a crop. :-)

It was a lovely warm room and a nice, low key crop. I enjoyed it very much. Great company, sweet baking and generous Prima goodness from Andrea at SBO too! It was nice to have no "pressure" to do anything in particular... not that there is anything wrong with that from time to time, but I wasn't in the mood for it that day.

I got 3 layouts done...

Biker chick - about how DD likes to ride with me on my bike to daycare/work. Not that I'm doing much of that right now! Too rainy and too dark on my way home. The papers are Cosmo Cricket's Snorkel range.

Time out - DS in time out for some misbehaviour. He looks so pathetic! LOL! Still we love him even when his behaviour isn't so good. This one used Basic Grey Lime Rickey.

Morning cuddle - this one mostly uses stuff from one of the SBO kits. The birdcage is Basic Grey Porcelain "Windermere", a beautiful paper. :-) The base paper is MME Bella Bella Bellezo "Pappillion", also very beautiful. I like the muted tones. The swirl is a Basic Grey Marrakech "Honey Bush".

Some of the participants - Vicky, Trina, Rae (holding sweet Arlo), Vicky and Maria..

Bridgett and Neen - seem to have missed out Neen's sister sorry!

Favourite things

Somebody sent this to me via email today:

It wouldn't be funny if it weren't so true... Julie Andrews turned 69 and to commemorate her 69th birthday on October 1, actress/ vocalist Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan 's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP. One of the musical numbers she performed was "My Favorite Things" from the legendary movie "The Sound Of Music."

Here are the actual lyrics she used:
"Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Cadillac's and cataracts, and hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favorite things..
When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.
Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Back pains, confused brains, and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short, shrunken frames,
When we remember our favorite things.
When the joints ache, When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad."

Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores. Please share Ms. Andrews' clever wit and humor with others who would appreciate it.

Well, I'm not quite in that category yet so here is my "middle aged" version of my favourite things... feel free to add your own verses!

Sleep ins and unbroken sleep in the night,
Laughter and singing and kids that don't fight,
Occasional chances to have a wild fling,
These are a few of my favourite things...

Dinners with chocolate and wine in clean glasses,
Undies that hold in the wobbles and flounces,
Dresses that make me feel fit for a king,
These are a few of my favourite things!

When the kids whine,
when the cat pukes,
when the day goes bad...
I simply remember my favourite things,
And then I don't feel so drab.

Family that helps out with odd baby sitting,
Thighs that are covered to hide all the pitting,
Husbands that stick with you through PMT,
These are a few of my favourite things...

Good books and coffee and time to enjoy it,
Crafty activities and scrapbooking friendships,
Fellowship and faith that gives my heart wings,
These are a few of my favourite things!

What that bill comes,
when the tea burns,
when I'm feeling sad..

I simply remember my favourite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

:-)

June Reading Round Up | June's Book Club Book Review

The notebook / Nicholas Sparks
In a Southern nursing home, an 80-year-old man reads from his diary to his wife, suffering from Alzheimer's. It's the story of their teenage romance, followed by years of separation because he was from the wrong class, followed by her decision, on his return from World War II, to be her own woman and marry him.~ from the blurb.
Call me cynical but the idea of grand passion is something I'm not sure I believe is possible. I'm all for romance but this one just seemed to good to be true. The real bits were the struggles and pains of the old man seeing his wife deteriorate... the rest was just too fairytale and contrived for me. Maybe the movie is better?

Living the good life / Linda Cockburn
A day-to-day account of an inspirational family experience - to see whether it is possible to live by the principles of domestic sustainability to their utmost degree. Alongside are fascinating facts and anecdotes on the environment, recipes and tips for people interested in changing their own way of life.~ from the blurb
Very much enjoyed this one - a true story set in Queensland, Australia of a family who set out to be self-sufficient (from their own backyard) and not spend any money for 6 months. Authentic and inspiring. They are fortunate to live in a climate where things grow mostly all year (rain issues notwithstanding). Not sure it could be done in Auckland! The goat might cause some neighbourly problems...
Linda has a blog - she and her family now live in Tasmania and are building a straw bale house. (extreme jealousy from me! at the straw bale house, not the Tasmania bit).

Journal / Hélène Berr ; translated from the French by David Bellos ; with an introduction and an essay by David Bellos ; and an afterword by Mariette Job
With her colleagues, Helen Barr plays the violin and she seeks refuge from the everyday in the "selfish magic" of English literature and poetry. But this is Paris under the occupation and her family is Jewish. In March 1944, Helene and her family are arrested, taken to Drancy Transit Camp and soon sent to Auschwitz. This is her journal. ~ from the blurb
I'll have to admit I found this one pretty harrowing - not so much because of the writer's experience but the horrors she relates happening around her. Especially to children. I find it very hard to read about that kind of stuff at present. Her writing is extremely poignant and some of her observations are thought provoking. Recommend you read it when you feel like a gloomy read.

Book Club Book of the Month
The Zookeepers Wife/Dianne Ackerman
Synopsis:
A true story, in which the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo saved hundreds of people from Nazi hands. When Germany invaded Poland, Stuka bombers devastated Warsaw - and the city's zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead, zookeepers Jan and Antonina Zabinski began smuggling Jews into empty cages. Another dozen "guests" hid inside the Zabinskis' villa, emerging after dark for dinner, socialising, and, during rare moments of calm, piano concerts. Jan, active in the Polish resistance, kept ammunition buried in the elephant enclosure and stashed explosives in the animal hospital. Meanwhile, Antonina kept her unusual household afloat, caring for both its human and its animal inhabitants - otters, a badger, hyena pups, lynxes. With her exuberant prose and exquisite sensitivity to the natural world, Diane Ackerman engages us viscerally in the lives of the zoo animals, their keepers, and their hidden visitors. She shows us how Antonina refused to give in to the penetrating fear of discovery, keeping alive an atmosphere of play and innocence even as Europe crumbled around her. ~ from the blurb

I was a bit disappointed in the book because I felt the writer didn't do the story true justice. There were moments of great descriptive writing, and the people themselves were obviously highly interesting people with a great story... but the book seemed to lack spark.

Janine, Mel, Sharon, have also reviewed this one.

I'm off to the Waikato on Saturday to crop in the presence of greatness! Some famous NZ scrapbookers will be there. :) :) I'll be in the corner fiddling with my photos and papers whilst trying to prevent my jaw opening too wide - might have to take some Malteasers to help keep it shut. LOL! Seriously looking forward to sitting down and doing some creative stuff. I'm managed to put together some page kit things and will attempt to leave the kitchen sink at home.

Wonder if I have time to make cookies to bring....

An award :)

Mim - over at Mim's Muddle has kindly awarded me with a bloggy award:

The Love My Friends Award is given to those bloggers who aspire, inspire and share the most beautiful of human attributes: art, wisdom and friendship. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more.

Wow - that is something to aspire to for sure... art, wisdom and friendship.

So here we are with my picks:

Rachel - my IRL friend who lives in KL at present. Very much admire her crafty productions, value her friendship and chats about parenting, faith, family etc. So annoyed I was sick this weekend and couldn't entertain her before she heads back.
Sharon - fellow scrapbooker/Twitterer/food lover, excellent photographer, mother to two boys and fellow book club member
Janine - I enjoy reading her posts, seeing where her creativity is taking her and what she's making and her honest blogging.
Kristen and Amy - my online friends who I met on a parenting forum before DS was conceived and with whom I've shared numerous milestones, discussions, worries about parenting. They both have green aspirations like me. I really, really want to meet them IRL someday, somehow. Both explore photography as a form of creativity.
Mel , Em & Hen - who make me laugh, faithfully comment on my blog and Facebook, share the book club books, parenting "issues"....

I also have a number of non-bloggy friends who I am grateful for their friendship, their creativity and just for being there.

weekend away

FIL has been in hospital for a gall bladder removal, so we went up north to see the whanau on the weekend.

We decided to go for a $2.00 thrill and check out the new toll road and tunnel. Reckon for $2.00 the tunnel should have been longer! ;-)












On the way up we thought we'd visit Tawharanui to see what it was like. DH wanted to vet it for photographic possibilities and I was keen to see what it was like for camping. It was a lovely crisp, clear day.

The kids and I played on the beach while DH wandered round the rocks.

Both of us have favourable reports about it so looks like we will re-visit it.

After lunch we headed further north to Whangarei. Tim complained about having a sore tummy. I thought he was just grumbling until he chundered all over the back seat, his car seat and the foot well just as we came into Warkworth. *gag* So we had to pull into the rest area and clean him up. Amazing what you can do with tissues and wet wipes! Thankfully we had some clean clothes for him. DH was ready to give up and go home but we'd come so far, and I knew SIL and MIL were keen for our visit. So we pressed on. Tim seemed ok - a bit pale but he thought it was cool I let him have chewing gum.

"I hold it with my teeth and don't swallow it eh Mum?"

We got there with no further puking incidents and I wrote it off as car sickness, but he did have another go after dinner so I sent him to bed early. He was fine the next day.

We visited FIL several times and spent a quiet weekend with them all. The kids enjoyed the novel toys, I enjoyed them messing up somebody else's lounge for a change!

Here they are Sunday morning before we headed out for church.

Here's SIL teasing her brother by giving him a kiss.

Here is MIL watching her kids being silly! :-)

FIL has been allowed to go home today, so everyone is pleased about that.

Welcome to the blogging world!

DH surprised me yesterday with the announcement he has begun a blog. :)

If you are interested in photography then you might like to add this one to your rss feed and make a few comments. He intends to blog about his work, techniques etc. Without sounding immodest, I do think he knows quite a lot about the topic ;)

Here is the link: http://roddersd29.wordpress.com/

Backyard Princess

Backyard Princess
Originally uploaded by pdugmore2001.

Was thinking of submitting this to the new magazine Innovations but can't be bothered writing out all the stuff I used so am posting it here instead. Lazy huh?

just for a giggle

Not sure what they are barbequing here at this new restaurant near my work but I'll bet it comes in pairs.

May Reading Round Up

Bonk: the curious coupling of science and sex /Mary Roach
Okay - you can stop snickering now. Honestly! You may remember me reviewing this author's other book Stiff (ahem). Well I happened to see that she'd written this one, and had also been on TEDTalks talking about her book so intrigued I got it out. Being a G-rated blog I can't tell you some of the more interesting items inside this book but suffice it to say it is well written and very interesting. And also funny. As a highly dedicated observer of humanity I very much enjoyed it. :)

So what else have I read?

I haven't read the Book Club's book of the month yet (still on the hold list) so I can't review that but some of the other girls have:
The 19th Wife / David Ebershoff
Mel, Susannah, Janine, Sharon,
Sharon has reviewed June's book as like me, she was on a long waiting list at the library. I've also read this month's book but will wait to post my review later - mainly for my own continuity, others need not feel such compunction.
Kate has reviewed April's book as she's had a lot of real life to deal with lately!

I managed to delete my reading history off my library card record so I can't remember if I read more than Bonk. Silly of me to rely on technology I suppose. I know I started to read The Opium Clerk/ Kunal Basu and couldn't get into it. There was also a book with a yellow cover but can't for the life of me remember what it was.

Oh!! Now I remember - I read these two.
Call the midwife : a true story of the East End in the 1950s / Jennifer Worth.
Shadows of the workhouse / Jennifer Worth

These are Worth's autobiography and I highly recommend them. As the title suggests, she worked as a nurse/midwife in the East End during WW2 and after. The stories she tells will make you laugh and some will make you cry. There were some beautiful stories of people overcoming poverty and others that will make you want to rage at the injustice. Great stuff. Includes a women who had 25 children. No, really!

She's written a third and final book which I've yet to read.

And I'm now on a Gabaldon kick right now which means I started on Cross stitch and am now on Fiery Cross - 4 books in2 weeks. I know they aren't everyone's cup of tea but I find them engrossing. I really like the ongoing story of the Jamie/Claire relationship. So many stories stop at the marriage day and leave it as "happily ever after". I also like the strange diseases etc she describes. I'm going to be very sad when the series ends. I hope she writes some more in similar vein since her other series (Lord John Grey) doesn't entirely reach me.

And apropos of nothing, I see Elizabeth George has killed off Inspector Lynley's wife and unborn child. *meh*

Jack Frost has been visiting

Yeah yeah, I know you Southerners have to "lick motorway clean wit' tongue" and all but the frosty mornings have provided us with a bit of entertainment. DS claimed he was going to "tell it for news" when he saw the ice in his sandpit.

Parenting Fail

DD is toilet training her baby.

I had a little pony

I made a little pony
I hoped you'd let it stay
'Cause Mummy has been anxious
For some cute hair dressing play

I've seen you by the mirror
Admiring your pretty self
I think that you resemble
A pixie or an elf






























Oh - and that is a ginger beer bottle she's holding. An empty one.

Here are some layouts I managed to do on the weekend instead of weeding the garden.

"Bur-day 2u": this is what DD says when she sees a birthday cake. In fact, ANY cake is a birthday cake. If you ask her who's birthday it is, she will say, "Yidia!"

In case you didn't know you must sing "Burday 2 you, hip ray hip ray hip ray" whenever you have cake. I am sure you will do that now. Don't let me down.

I broke out the BG Lime rickey for this one. Love the paper, not sure I am happy with the layout.




























This one is an attempt to scrapbook those inevitable "school" photos. I've created a pocket for the class one to go on the same layout (behind the pink dot PP). They laminated the class one much to my disgust. Again, this one didn't really turn out how I envisioned but never mind!

making a pig of yourself

With the recent attention on the ethical raising of pigs for pork production I thought I would post about some sources of free range, organic suppliers that I use or have purchased from in the past (with good results).

This is by no means a post to induce guilt trip buying frenzies - what you do with your hard earned money is your business. But it does help to know of options available if your conscience is making you think a bit.

Eco-organics

I signed up to Eco-organics last year and have been happily munching their produce off and on since. You do have to register with them but once that is done, it's just a matter of filling in their order form and you'll get a delivery on either a Tuesday or Thursday depending on when you order. They will take internet banking or credit card (but you do need to wait for processing to get the latter set up).

I visited their farm just north of Kumeu last year. They send me weekly emails telling me what's new in the garden and what activities are happening. I rather like that connection with them. I've never had any issues with their services and I like knowing that much of my vege box is locally grown. Sometimes I've asked that certain veges are not put in (because we've got plenty in our own garden) and that has never been a problem. It certainly means I get a variety of vegetables.

I find this option works for me. I love going to Farmer's Markets, but I have so many commitments on the weekend when they are held, I find I don't get there regularly. I do grow some produce for our family but don't have the time or space to supply everything from my garden.

Eco-Organics are connected with Super-Janes Organic Meat. This is beef raised organically on the East Coast and it really does taste good. I've ordered packs from them quite a few times and been happy with the service and the cost.

Naturally Organic

Before finding Eco-organics I used Naturally Organic for a vege box. The quality of the produce was great but I found the delivery fee to be a bit steep. However, if you spend over $100 with them and live in the Auckland Metro area the delivery is free. They stock dry goods and other things as well, so it is easy to reach that target if you include things like flour, shampoo etc.

Their service is prompt and reliable, and they contact you if there is any problem.














Organic Direct

This website groups tgether a number of small businesses. Their aim is

"to assist organic and sustainable businesses to market and promote their products and services. With regularly updated educational and informative content, and easy-to-find business directories, we make it easy for consumers to make the conscious decision to buy organic".

I use them to order free-range eggs and chickens from Rolling Hills. Rolling Hills did a promotion via DH's work and I liked their eggs a lot. Of course, if I'm shopping myself I'll pick whatever free-range egg option is available. But if I'm also wanting to get a whole free-range chicken I can get a good deal through Rolling Hills: 2 Size 14 free-range chickens + 2 dozen free-range eggs for $44.70 (delivered free to my door). In fact, the last lot they sent me was actually 1 size 14 chicken and 1 size 16... so that was a good deal I thought.




















Havoc Pork

I've been impressed with the product from these folks. Their pork really does taste better than the stuff from the supermarket. Their sausages are great too. Unfortunately they don't have an online order option, but they are very responsive to emails. I notice they will now send a pack of a mixture of their products to the North Island for $125.00 (delivery included). I've also organised a pork fest with some like-minded friends and shared the cost of the delivery of a 20kg chiller box - we chose what we wanted, it was delivered to someone's house and we reimbursed that person. Works well.

These suppliers are just the few I know of. If you have any others you have used let me know because I'd be interested.

I'm also blogging at:

The Room of Infinite Diligence

I'm going to move my librarianship related blogging to the blog above. It's a joint blog with some other librarians. This is what we're about:

The Room of Infinite Diligence is community blog consisting of a number of professional librarians from around New Zealand. We hope that you will find our musings both entertaining and thought provoking. We also hope that not only will you read us, but will engage with us to create a community of thought, where librarians from all parts of the sector can discuss the issues and problems of interest to them.

This blog (Walking Upside Down) will be my personal blog for stuff about me, my family, crafts, reading round ups and rants.

And just for your entertainment:

DH to DS: Do the lions in Africa eat zebras?
DS: No. They eat meat.

bag winner!

Thanks to Random.org we have a winner! :-)

Step right on up

Beverley said...

rain streams down window
blurred lights shining through dark night
nice and warm inside

7:03 PM

Beverley - email your address to me at pdugmore2001 at yahoo dot co dot nz and I'll send them on down.

Thanks for playing gals ;-)

It's been 3 years

since I started this blog - my actual blogaversary was last month but what with one thing and another I didn't post about it then. So to celebrate (albeit belatedly) I'm having a giveaway.

I'm giving away a set of Onya Weigh eco bags. You can see a photo of them on the website.

These are really neat inventions to replace the plastic produce bags you get in the supermarket. They are see through so the checkout operator can see those pesky stickers on the fruit and what sort of vegetable it is. They weigh next to nothing so won't add anything to your bill. Mine arrived yesterday and I'm delighted to see these ones will fit in your handbag. I'm all for things fitting in my handbag.

You can read more about Onya bags at their website.

So if you'd like to be in the draw to win a set of 5 Onya Weigh bags you know what to do*.

Actually... since I don't think one should get somethin' for nothin' I'm going to make you do something!

*throws head back*
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA. HAHAHA. HA. HA.
*cough*

In order to be in to win you need to tell me what is outside your window while you write the comment. In haiku format.

*rubs hands together*

Here's mine:

Upright in stacked rows
Silent until opening
Reference books wait

*NB: I will post overseas. Comments close on Wednesday 13th midnight New Zealand time.

birthday suits

Me to son hooning around house after his shower: Have you got your pyjamas on yet?
Son: No! my skin is all out.

Blogged with the Flock Browser