In haste...

Since I want to get to my scrap desk while I have some creative intentions!

1. Got the job!! The panel was unanimous so that was nice. :) I'm happy about it.

2. I have started biking to work. Missy Moo very calm about the new mode of transport. She got the helmet out this morning (Saturday) and was keen to go again.

3. Hard to sleep in when you have 2 space invaders.











4. Do we have another Mad Photographer in training?

5. The crop last night was enjoyable but I suddenly seem to lose my mojo. It's partly the photos I'm working with - MIL's ones, and 8x8 so not much scope or incentive to be very creative. I feel down about it because I spend a lot of time in the week thinking about things I want to do, even jotting them in my idea book, and then when I sit down I lose all enthusiasm. *sigh* Any suggestions? I do schedule some creative time in on the weekends but it's very limited with all the other boring stuff I need to do to keep our family going.

A big congratulations to the new SBO DT members and a big "Well-Done-You-Creative-Chicks" to those who are standing down!

Woohoot Wednesday

Well it's Thursday but never mind.

1. The interview went well I think. I believe I answered all the questions coherently! So we shall see. They did interview one other person that I know of. C'est la vie. I'm kind of over stressing about it actually. It was a strange situation being interviewed when I've been here 8 years or so. I think it was good for at least 2 of the interviewers to actually see my CV and have the opportunity to get a better understanding of what I've done. Trying to thicken my skin in case I'm not successful.

2. DS went to the Tip Top ice cream factory yesterday and apparently enjoyed all the machines. But the highlight of his day was when the tow truck came to take Nan's car to the mechanic and he got to press the control button to winch it onto the truck. Oh boy! He spent the evening playing with a complicated Mobilo construction that had a ramp, wheels, winch and a remote control that I had to keep pressing to make the "car" go up the ramp.

3. I've discovered where the shower is at work, so tonight I'm pumping up the bike tires. I am so unimpressed by the bus service this week I'm going back to the bike. At least I can rely on me to get me to work on time. I have no doubt that DD will like being propelled along by Mummy to daycare!

4. Tomorrow is Friday which means the SBO cybercrop, friend Nel coming to play with stamps etc while I crop, and the weekend! Are you coming to the crop? I'm curious to know what is happening with the DT there.

5. My Hero Arts clear stamps and my Stampin' Up stuff arrived. :-) Want. to. play.

QOTD: what do you think angels look like?
Just curious. The Bible doesn't really describe what they look like. Just what the reaction of people to seeing them which is one of awe. So they must be awe inspiring. Anyway, angels... an interesting study.

Menu Plan Monday 25/8/08

Haven't done one of these for ages, but I have been menu planning!

Monday - pasta puttenesca, salad (DH cooking)
Tuesday - Mexibake from Planning Queen
Wednesday - Lamb chops with veges
Thursday - lamb shanks tagine, cous cous, salad (gotta remember how to turn on the delayed start on my oven!)
Friday - Chilli con carne
Saturday - chicken tagine with lemon and olives
Sunday - not sure yet, maybe pizza

Today I'm working my first late night so I start at 12noon and finish at 8pm. It's nice to have the morning free to do the kindy run and some other odd jobs. Not sure how I'll feel at the end of the evening yet! My colleagues have kindly arranged for me to use the car parking under the building so I don't have to walk in the dark to the other public carpark. Tomorrow I'll be catching the bus to work. I've been hoping to do this for a while because it's cheaper, and I'm wanting to reduce my car usage. If I get the permanent position I'm hoping to resurrect the bike for the summer, but I need to find out where the shower is at work!

Speaking of permanent positions.... I have the interview for this tomorrow at 1.45pm. I hope they don't ask me curly questions! Despite the business of my life now, I am keen to get the job. I like working so close to home, I like the actual job too. The children seem to have adjusted to the new routines and DH has picked up his game in terms of childcare and household responsibilities. I struggle to find time for myself to create but it's getting better as I get used to what needs to be done vs what would be nice. Scheduling things seems to work, as well as asking DH for help to get some jobs done. I do miss being at home, I can't deny that. But I knew it wasn't for ever.

I started this LO last week and finally finished it yesterday.



















Right, better hang out the washing. I live in hope it will get dry!

Read While Waiting

On behalf of another librarian.

Read While Waiting is an event/project which is happening at 3pm tomorrow , Saturday.

Basically - at 3pm tomorrow , wherever you are in the country ,you stop what you are doing - head to a public space, either alone or with friends and start reading for 15 minutes.

The idea being to celebrate and participate in the world wide happening, Reading While Waiting project,  being organised globally by the people at Random Alphabets in Malaysia

The organised bit - 3pm tomorrow - Saturday 23rd

If you live in Auckland , Christchurch or Wellington and want to make it more of a group happening thing - then head to either Aotea Square, Cathedral Square or Civic Square -- i.e outside the City Gallery.

You can also go to the Face Book group pages

http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=20394646490

There are pages for Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch ..

Also there are going to be groups assembling in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, KL , and a whole heap of other places.

There are also a whole bunch of new videos and other news at the Random Alphabets site
http://randomalphabets.com/?p=492

There you go - spread the love!!

Hope people join in

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Food Meme

Saw this on CW's blog.

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle. well kind of... I had Truffle infused oil.  I would love to have the real thing. 
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes (fejoa, elder berry)
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters (don't like them.  Think "Out vile jelly" when I see them)
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi (but mango lassi is my favourite)
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea (By Jove yes old thing).
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo (I've had my version of this.  It's probably not quite like the original)
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects I've seen what's inside insects and it's not much.
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu  Nah...
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut.
50. Sea urchin We once did a lab on them up at Leigh and my lecturer then salvaged the gonads to make sushi to serve to us. I just couldn't do it. The smell alone was enough for me! I'm just not a strong sea food eater.
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal. Not that keen on Maccers on principle.
56. Spaetzle Yum yum
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis (tastes like stuffing)
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette.
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu.
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam Kind of disgusting
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee (wonder if there is a free trade option for it)
100. Snake.

I'd like to think I'm reasonably adventurous when it comes to eating, but it really depends on the environment as well as the food.  For example, I think if I ever got to India I'd be vegetarian for the duration.  If I went to China I'd be reluctant to try snake there because of the way they dispatch it, (not to mention other animals that get eaten there!) 

Other things I could eat if I had to be polite, but the texture/source puts me off - like kidneys for example.  I can't divorce my mind from the fact that the odd texture is an organ that filters out stuff... and here I am eating it!  Ick.  I think that is why I'm not keen on shellfish and the likes either - at least by themselves.  I can't ignore the fact they are filter feeders and plus I'm eating their gonads.  (But they are okay in chowder... sort of).

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Vive le Weekend

Ahhhhh the weekend. Shame it's nearly over. Still, it's nice to be able to play a bit with my stuff. Managed to finish a layout, Mel's bags, make gnocchi and 2 cheesecakes plus 4 loads of washing. Drying it is another matter. I'm afraid I had to resort to the evil carbon crunching dryer. *sigh*

Our lawn is like a swamp - just need a few flax bushes, tussocks and pukekos and we'd be sweet. DH suggested digging a few holes to make a pond so some Paradise Ducks could come and make their zzzzzt zzzzzt noises in our back yard.

Still, I have seen evidence that spring is coming. The Magnolia trees and flowering cherries are in bloom, plus the daffodils too. And I believe there are some lambies frolicing out in the paddocks down on the farms. So... there is hope. But boy oh boy am I sick of the rain already!

DS is a delight lately. He's been so polite and thoughtful. (Interspersed with playing rough with his sister!). I've been getting lots of kisses, and lots of compliments. "You're so beautiful Mummy" and other such stuff. Flattery will get you everywhere my son. ;-) This morning he got me my toast and vegemite.

As for this rat - well, we have a totally different personality in this cupcake. She's going to be a right minx I think. Both kids have bad coughs and yesterday DD actually puked from it.

Unfortunately I was holding her at the time and it went all over my back. Since I hadn't done my hair up, all over my hair as well! Puke conditioner anyone? So we jumped in the shower to clean up. I washed my hair (as you do) and when DD saw my towel wrapped over my head she insisted on having one too. Fortunately I have a few micro-fibre mini towels that suit the job perfectly.

This is a layout I started at the Waikato crop and hadn't finished. I have journalled on it since (had to get a slick writer thing). We visited West Lynn gardens a while back. Lovely gardens. They have a butterfly house for Monarch butterflies there, but unfortunately it's not the right season for them. We'll have to go back in the summer I think.

July Reading Round Up

For some reason I didn't read much last month.

The drowning tree / Carol Goodman
Juno McKay is about to begin the delicate restoration of an historic stained glass window. She's restoring it with the help of her friend, Christine Webb, an art historian. Then Christine is found dead in a boating accident which eerily echoes the fate of the Lady of Shalott. ~ From the blurb. Quite enjoyed this one, and it kept me guessing until the end about the murderer which is always good. Interesting issues with mental illness and it's treatments, perception and attitudes.

The Grenadillo box / Janet Gleeson
Nathaniel Hopson, journeyman for Thomas Chippendale, the famous 18th-century English furniture designer, finds himself a reluctant detective when a lord of the realm and a cabinetmaker's assistant are found dead on the same night. ~From the blurb. I found this book a bit hard going in places. I had to re-read parts of it to remind myself of events. Okay.

The omnivores dilemma / Michael Pollan
An ecological and anthropological study of eating offers insight into food consumption in the twenty-first century, explaining how an abundance of unlimited food varieties reveals the responsibilities of everyday consumers to protect their health and the environment. ~From the blurb. Must read for any thinking person who is concerned about what they eat. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although it's non fiction, Pollan writes in an easy to read manner. The topic is one close to my heart and his book engrossed me.

The Boleyn Inheritance / Phillipa Gregory
The year is 1539 and the court of Henry VIII is increasingly fearful at the moods of the ageing sick king. With only a baby in the cradle for an heir, Henry has to take another wife and the dangerous prize of the crown of England is won by Anne of Cleves. She has her own good reasons for agreeing to marry a man old enough to be her father, in a country where to her both language and habits are foreign. Although fascinated by the glamour of her new surroundings, she senses a trap closing around her. Katherine is confident that she can follow in the steps of her cousin Anne Boleyn to dazzle her way to the throne but her kinswoman Jane Boleyn, haunted by the past, knows that Anne's path led to Tower Green and to an adulterer's death. ~from the blurb. I always enjoy Philipa Gregory's treatment of historical figures and this is no exception. The Tudor period is one of my favourites since I studied it at school so I feel like I know a bit about it. I liked the way she gave the different characters their own voice and perspective. Great read.

The botany of desire / Michael Pollan
Another one by Pollan, but this one is about the relationship between plants and humans and their co-evolution. Very interesting read. Again, his style makes for easy non fiction reading and the 4 different plants - apples, potatoes, tulips and marijuana - tie together the different themes he's conveying very well. Recommended for those of you who garden or are interested in plants. Like me.
(As for layouts, I've not kept track for July but I've done about 4-5 I think.)

Kid cuteness

Some sayings from DS have me laughing.

To me during the week:
"I have to give you lots of kisses so your dreams come true."

One morning a month or so ago:
"Mummy my p***s is just small. It needs to grow bigger when I'm a bigger boy."
(I assured him it would).

In the bath:
"My p***s is not pointing down!"
(He'd been playing with it, with predictable results. Heh heh)

Frequently I get told in a wistful voice:
"I've never been on a [insert current vehicle obsession e.g. fast train, steam roller etc] before."

Having told him there were fast trains in Europe that he might go on when he's a big boy:
"You can come with me too."
(I'll remind him of that if he does an OE when he's older!)

Today for the first time, Missy Moo waved "ee ya" without any fuss or tears. I was almost miffed! But really, I am happy about it since it means she is settling into the new routine. Hopefully she will sleep a bit longer at day care though. She normally has 2-3 hours at home but at day care she has only done that twice so far. Makes for a very grumpy, clingy girl in the evenings. (And a very guilty, harassed mum).

So it's the end of another week. Looking forward to the weekend. I do hope I'll get some creative time this weekend!! I'm such a contrary creature. I seem to spend a lot of the working week (while sitting on desk waiting for customers) thinking about scrapbooking and sewing. When I'm not working I whinge about not having a job (or more to the point, no salary). I know part time work would be good (it's worked for me before). Hopefully something will come up soon. I do know that the salary I bring in (be it full or part time) takes some pressure off DH which is a Good Thing given his predilection for depression when he is stressed.

Photo Mosaic

1. Penny Having Fun, 2. Water waits, 3. B block corridor, 4. Summer Berries Red Current01, 5. fangirl, 6. A Small Parisian Alley HDR, 7. Red.Source, 8. Ice Cream Dressed in Red, 9. Socks, socks, socks and more socks. Long live SOTTS!! ~Day 146, 10. family picnic, 11. 霧中倒影 / Misty Lake, 12. Edward Dugmore - Untitled, 1954

This has been on a few blogs lately.
Using Flickr, enter the answers to the questions below in the search box and choose your favourite. Then use the Mosaic maker to create a 3x4 mosaic.

1. What is your first name? Penny

2. What is your favourite food? Indian

3. What high school did you attend? Mt Roskill Grammar. (Couldn't believe it but someone had posted a pic of my exact school. I even know where that was taken. heh.)

4. What is your favorite color? Red (it could've easily been green or blue too.)

5. Who is your celebrity crush? Colin Firth

6. Favorite drink? Coffee

7. Dream vacation? France (or Italy, or New Caledonia, or India, or... just about anywhere)

8. Favorite dessert? Ice cream

9. What do you want to be when you grow up? wise

10.What do you love most in life? My family

11. One word to describe you? kind (well I had to say something!)

12. Your Flickr name. pdugmore2001 (in the end I had to use just dugmore because there were no results).

His & Her

I've been MIA - lots to do, ILs staying to help with kids this week because my Mum is doing jury service, shouldn't really blog at work etc.....

But Hannah tagged me with this meme which looked quite fun. :-) And it's our wedding anniversary tomorrow too.

1. What is his name? Rod (Rodney actually but not many people call him that). I call him "sweetie". DS thought that was his real name for a while. ;-)

2. Who eats more? Him.

3. Who said, “I love you” first? Um.. not sure actually. I know he said, "I really, really like you Pen" first so perhaps that was it. (Heh heh)

4. Who is taller? Him - I'm 1.65m and he's about another 10-15cm taller

The next question seems to have vanished somewhere in cyberspace, but Hannah/Teeni made up her own one so I’ll copy her …

5. Who drives most when you are out together? He does.

6. Who is more sensitive? Me!

7. Who does the laundry? Me again.

8. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Me again. I can't remember how we worked that one out. We bought out bed prior to getting married (the first purchase together apart from the rings) and he slept in it at the flat before I got there so we must have had a discussion about "sides" but I don't remember exactly.

9. Who pays the bills? Mostly me, but that was because I was at home more. Probably now it will be a mixture.

10. Who cooks more? Me. He can cook but doesn't. I should ask him to do more in that area.

11. Who is more stubborn? Oh him definitely. Man. I think it's a Dugmore thing. Seems like most of the males on his side are like it! Little daughter has inherited it too... going to make it interesting for her partner.

12. Who is the first to admit they are wrong? Me. I can't stand it if there is bad feeling. So I say sorry even when it's not my fault. (See 11).

13. Who has more siblings? Me - I have 2 younger sisters. He has 1 older sister.

14. Who wears the pants in the relationship? Hmmm... I defer to him in many things but we do make big decisions together. We also defer to each other's expertise where necessary. Of us both I am probably the "stronger" but when I'm not myself (e.g. the first 6 weeks after DS was born I was a bit of an emotional hormonal wreck) he can step up to the plate and be there.

15. What do you like to do together? You really want to know? *snort* Okay... BK (before kids) we did a lot of tramping type activities and we still like to do things like that. Both of us have an interest in nature, science and related things. Both of us like to read, do stuff on the 'puter, eat and drink nice food. We also have individual hobbies that complement each other e.g. he likes photography, I like scrapbooking. I wish we'd had opportunity to travel before we had kids but the old bio-clock was ticking. We do the garden together much to his sister's amusement because she could never persuade him to help her do gardening. Ahh the power of lurve. ;-)

16. Who eats more sweets? He does. He's a sucker (pun intended) for marshmallows.

17. Guilty Pleasures? hee hee!

18. How did you meet? He was boarding in a basement flat belonging to some of our friends from church. They introduced us in a sense. I'd know who he was for ages but never actually talked or approached him.

19. Who asked whom out first? He did. I blogged about it here. Totally surprised me! :-) And my sisters. (Doncha love siblings!?)

20. Who kissed who first? oooo. I think it was our 3rd date. I went to see him off home again and he said "I was hoping for a goodbye kiss actually". So he got a chaste peck. But they soon developed into rather more than pecks. *giggle*

21. Who proposed? He did. On the top of One Tree Hill (while it still had a tree) on Waitangi Day 1999. I knew he was going to ask some time because he warned me, "One of these days I'm going to ask you to marry me, so you'd better have an answer ready." We went home and told my folks - my sisters went wild and my Mum rushed downstairs and wrapped up an engagement present she'd bought in anticipation! LOL! We rang his folks and they were pleased too. His sister took a bit of time to get over it though. She was a bit envious I think.

22. His best features and qualities? He's a gentle guy. The strong, silent type. He puts up a tough front sometimes but he is actually a big softie. He has a good sense of humour and we have some silly times together. He's intelligent. He can fix complicated electronic stuff. He is quite creative.

23. Tag some people. I’m tagging these people (if they feel like it and have the time):

Rachel
Heather
Em
Sarah (only if she wants to since she's just had her first baby)