Visit to Bethells | Menu Plan Monday

Spent Saturday evening out at Te Henga (Bethells Beach) with the whanau. DH lent me his Canon 40D to play with and I turned it on Auto and clicked away. But I am afraid I need more practice! Especially in terms of waiting until it focuses before I click. Never mind, it was fun and with digital it is cheap...
Here are some that actually turned out.

Missy Moo posing on a log.

Climbing up the dune banks. Only the angle I turned the camera doesn't tell you how steep it was! Not long after this she face planted and there was much wailing.

DS playing steam rollers in the background, DD coming to see what Mummy is doing.

This is one that DH took as we were walking back to the car. He takes better pictures than me!

But I am quite pleased about this one. I was trying to capture the waves licking DS's ankles and the light was so nice... I think I needed to use the Sports mode to capture things a bit quicker. Missy Moo was all excited about the "wahdoo" until it came up and got her. Then there was more wailing and clinging to the Mummy leg business.

A busy week ahead. Tomorrow is DS's last day at kindy and Wednesday is his birthday, and first day at school. I went and got his books etc this morning. The school is bringing in a uniform next year so I had a look at that and will have to order some stuff in the next few months.

I'm nervous for him. The school visit we had wasn't a total success. He was okay in the classroom but once they moved to the hall to do Jump Jam he stood there looking at his feet, put his hands over his ears and got quite tearful. So we went on to kindy. I do hope it will be okay on Wednesday! I'm taking the day off tomorrow and Wednesday so I can spend some time there with him at kindy and at school.

He lost his first tooth last week. At 5!!! But he got his first tooth at 15 weeks so I suppose it is all relative. The Tooth Fairy gave him $1 because that was all she had in her purse. He wasn't concerned at all since money has no real value to him yet.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Chicken Herby Cobbler a la Janine
Tuesday - Devilled bangers in the crockpot, mashed potatoes plus veges
Wednesday - could be steak, could be Thai beef salad depending on how I feel
Thursday - DH away so we're having hot dogs. With sauerkraut. ;-)
Friday - Thai Meat balls, rice and some sort of vege
Saturday - DS's Pizza Party!!
Sunday - um um um not sure, depends on if the ILs are still here or not

August Reading Round Up

August Reading Round Up

The forbidden frontier / Zana Bell
Convict Charlotte is sent to Australia on a convict ship. Also travelling there is a missionary couple who subsequently offer Charlotte household work. The life of the convicts, settlers and their situations are portrayed realistically and it's not always a pretty sight. Relationships and conflicts make the story more interesting. Charlotte eventually flees Australia and participates in a mutiny that results in her ending up in a Maori village in the Bay of Islands. Sad in parts but an uplifting ending. Feisty heroine will capture your admiration. Great read.

Union Belle / Deborah Challinor
Story of Ellen, her family and community during the strikes of 1951. Her husband Tom is a miner in the Pukemiro coal mines. During this time a new man in town, Jack, shakes up Ellen's feelings and causes her to question her loyalties and role. The story gets a grip on you and even though I started getting mad at Ellen I couldn't stop reading it. :-) Interesting time period, and one that you don't often see in New Zealand fiction I think.

Girl with the pearl earring / Tracey Chevalier
Struck down by misfortune, Greit's family have to do something to help make ends meet, so she goes to be a maid for the Vermeer family (of painterly fame). Fitting into a new household with different religious beliefs, and having to find her feet with the dynamics of each family member, Griet is delighted when Vermeer gives her charge of helping in the studio. Things become difficult when Vermeer develops an obsession with her and his wife begins to realise. Good read.

French Spirits: a house, a village and a love affair in Burgundy / Jeffery Greene
An American poet and his wife transform an old stone presbytery into a home. Renovations and living in a different country make for an interesting story. Heart warming and honest.

Chandlers Run / Denise Muir
Adam and his family emigrate to the South Island of New Zealand in the hopes that the clean, mountain air will help Adam's TB. They discover his Uncle's station burnt to the ground and the Uncle himself mission upon their arrival. They face strenuous hardship to get the station back into order, made worse by Adam's physical weakness, ignorance and isolation. Their neighbour, a grumpy widow and James McKenzie, a shepherd (and NZ folk legend) assist them. Good story even though the ending is a bit "meh" for me!

A small part of history / Peggy Elliot
From the blurb ~ " At the age of 27 Rebecca becomes the third wife of John Springer. Thankfully her four stepsons like and obey her, but Sarah, her step-daughter, is proving to be more difficult. Then John decides to pack up and move to the other side of America. It's a long and arduous journey across plains, mountains and rivers, through blistering heat and blizzards that last for days. Rebecca does her best to feed and care for her new family, despite appalling adversity. At first Rebecca and the 15-year-old Sarah find their fledgling relationship stretched almost to breaking point but, eventually, their bond deepens, and becomes breakable only by death." I really did enjoy this book, but just to warn you, lots of major characters die in it! It's told from several different voices and is well written.

Scrapbooking Layouts
3 (I think)

Cybercrop Challenge Layouts

Some layouts for the Scrapbook Outlet Cybercrop. First one was Lesley's challenge which was to use 5 or more techniques on a layout. I chose borders, hand cutting (the grungeboard title), inking, stamping, and embossing.

Second one is a challenge to use stitching, stamping, an embellishment with at least 3 layers, beading and stamping. I didn't have beads the right colour so I used some jewel things.

This one was a challenge to use white space, doodling, bling and small photos.

Hmmm... these are all about DS! I should do some more for DD.

Hey - check this out. An email went around work about it. TVNZ are looking for a family (or more)

In the spirit of Colonial House and Pioneer House, Te Pa will transport three families back to 1850s New Zealand, to the period immediately after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Two Maori families will live in a traditional Maori Pa and one Pakeha family will live nearby as a missionary or working class family might have done in the 1850s.

A reality show with a bit of educational value perhaps? Makes me wonder how I would manage! It would be hard work.

Thirfty Green Thursday

The Green Baby Guide has begun a blog carnival to celebrate and share ways to save money and be green at the same time. My topic for this Thursday is the miracle cleaner:

Baking Soda & White Vinegar

Photo courtesy of jilldoughtie

I've got so used to this stuff that it wasn't until DH asked me where the toilet cleaner was that I realised that I needed to educate him on my current cleaning procedure.

Some time ago Janine posted about a book called Speed Cleaning by Shannon Lush. Great book! It has some excellent advice, one of which is the use of white vinegar and baking soda as an alternative to other cleaning products.

Now I'd known about white vinegar in particular because it is an excellent solution for neutralizing cat pee (and my mum has too many cats). I had also used baking soda as a cleanser for my pizza stone and clay pot (both of which you cannot use normal detergent on).

So I decided to get more serious about it. I put white vinegar+few drops of lavender oil in an old spray bottle. I went to the Binn Inn and bought a big bag of baking soda which is now stored in a container under the sink with a little scoop recycled from somewhere. I forget how much this cost me but I know it was less than a bottle of spray 'n' wipe.

My modus operandi is this. On the surface of the toilet bowl and seat I spray the white vinegar. Using the scoop I sprinkle over some baking soda which makes a very satisfying fizz when it hits the vinegar. I then use a dedicated toilet sponge to wipe over the seat, and the toilet brush for the bowl.

I also use this process on other surfaces like the bathroom vanity, the bath and the stainless steel bench.

Baking soda is a mild abrasive so is a good option for surfaces like the shower where crud builds up. You could even do it while having a shower!

Baking soda and cider vinegar can also be used as an alternative to shampoo. You can read about that on Amy's blog. I have tried this, and yes it works remarkably well! My hair felt really light after doing this.

One reason I like this way of cleaning is that I'm not washing stuff into our water ways that is going to harm the inhabitants. I'm thinking that when we go camping to the more primitive down to earth camping sites (like the DOC ones) then I'm not going to feel bad about washing my hair in the streams.

Why not give it a go? You might be surprised at how much cheaper (and how effective) this cleaner is.

---

Now a plug for a new challenge.





My friend Amy is running a Ditch the Disposables challenge for the next couple of months. Run on over and check it out.

bikies!

For your edification ;-) I came around the fence corner into the drive and discovered DH waiting for me with the camera! LOL!

I have the Centric Safe seat on the bike because I prefer it to the ones that sit at the rear. My balance isn't the most perfect so this way my centre of gravity is localised. If DD wiggles a bit, I don't notice much. Also, I can see what she is doing.

It's hard to believe but DS has actually gone to sleep on the blue sloped bit at the front. He just lay his head down and dozed off. That is what it's for, but I didn't really think it would be used like that until it happened!

Ignore my butt. I hope to have buns of steel soon.

Pleased to see each other home.

The bus just didn't work. I really wanted it to! After all, they go right by the end of our street down to the bus stop outside my work place. But they didn't arrive at the time tabled time, so I was late for work. Then I waited an hour in the evening with no appearance of said time tabled bus - and gave up. DH came and got me.

So pedal power it is. It takes me 15 minutes to get from home to work. Fortunately for me, I can park my bike in the underground staff parking area so no Trevs can fiddle with it. (Not that it's a cool bike or anything but still, it's MINE).

Fortunately for my colleagues, there is a shower available for me to use in one of the buildings...

Yes it looks as if no one has cleaned it for the last 5 years but I'm trying to sort that out with the facilities manager.

And yes, the temperature is about 2 degree off flippin' freezing but it's very refreshing! *sucks in deep breath!*

One step closer to reducing my carbon footprint.

A day in the life of a Liaison Librarian

Interesting to compare this day with my LO I did when DD was a few months old.

Monday 1st Sept

3.00am Miss 20 Months wakes crying. Comes into our bed for (.)(.) comfort. Very restless. Eventually goes back to sleep.

6.00am Alarm goes and wakes me so I must have gone back to sleep sometime. DH goes for shower. I wake again when he comes back. Drag carcass out to the ablution cubicle.

6.45am Get dressed.

7.15am Finish making lunches. Take out newspapers to be recycled.

7.30am Making brekkers for DH and I. Mr Nearly 5 comes out.

7.40am Miss 20 Months emerges.

7.45am Get kid breakfasts. DH leaves for work. He asks DS who is still in his pj's, if he's ready to come too. Remind him it's my late night.

8.15am Get kids dressed, teeth cleaned, shoes on, kindy snack made.

8.45am Walk up to kindy. Sign DS in, hang up his bag. Say goodbye. Remind him Nan is picking him up.

9.00am Clear up breakfast things. Make bed. Meditate.

9.30am Fold some laundry. Wash kitchen floor and cupboard doors. Look at the carpet but decide I don't have time to vacuum. Bother said Pooh.

10.15am Hang out washing. Put another load in the machine.

10.30am Get bottle and nappies ready. Take Miss 20 Months to daycare.

11.00am Fold more washing. Have some lunch.

11.30am Get dressed for work. Hang out another load of washing. Mum arrives, so give her DS's bag with spare clothes etc.

11.45am Leave for work.

12 noon Drop overdue book back in returns slot. Pick up the Koanga Gardening Guide (on hold for me) from the issues desk downstairs before heading upstairs.

12.05pm Turn on computer, sort out lunch bag, hand bag. Go and get water bottle filled. Check roster and note down when I'm on. Log on and check emails, enter desk duties into the calendar.

12.15am Student arrives needing help with question about the cost of terminal care. We discuss the information I've found for her last week after her question was passed on to me via another librarian. Get a better understanding for what she wants, so arrange to catch up on Friday to pool what we find. Suggest some contacts in the nursing faculty she may like to follow up.

12.30pm-2.30pm Take over the Level 3 desk. Issue, return books and our best "sellers" the infernal laptops.
Lecturer pops by to introduce himself. Discusses a training session he wants me to do with his students. Quiz him about the topics because I'm still new at his subject area. Keep having to bob up to attend to other people who want books etc issued. We arrange to exchange emails about the session and topics and he leaves for a lecture.
Put money on photocopying cards (wheee! I can work EFTPOS machines, how riveting).
Show a student how to get journal articles but can't spend sufficient time to make sure she's "got it" because of Reference Interruptus (people wanting laptops). Sure enough she's back with the wrong information *sigh* Should have sent her downstairs to the ref librarian.
Start processing a trolley of returns from downstairs. Seems like somebody is getting a bunch of fines with some overdue recalls.
Bungle a colour printing job for a student because I misunderstand the question.
Spend about 10 minutes issuing some kits with cassettes, CDs booklets all in one bag... have to issue every item. Explain to ESOL student that his book he put on hold isn't here yet, try tomorrow. Want to tell him he can check his record online but don't feel confident his English is good enough yet.
Try and finish returns trolley. Book study room for a student. G takes over from me.

2.35pm Decide I need a chai so head for staff room to make it. Have it at my desk with a snack. Check some blogs. Check emails. See if I've got any funds left to buy some books. I do have a bit left over in some areas. Make a note of them.

3.00pm See if previous librarian made a session plan for this database session she apparently did last year. Nope. Look at some other session plans other librarians have done. Start a Word document to make up a plan. Jot down some session outcomes. Waste some time looking at blogs.

4.15pm Make myself a panini and an orange to get me through to home time.

4.30pm Take over Level 3 desk. Fairly busy for the first hour - logging people onto the research computers. Dumb MFDs playing up (why do designers think touch screens are a good thing?) so people can't print/copy from one particular machine. Do extremely complicated tech repair involving pulling out connections and plugging back in. Seems to help.
Do a Noise Monitoring Patrol and wonder why high school kids like the tinny music that their phone plays. Don't they know about music quality, mp3 players and *shock* ear buds!?
Answer query on culture in Japan, Germany and Australia for public library patron who has to have the info tonight because she's left it so late. All the good books are in other libraries and she can't wait for them to placed on hold. Send her to the reference room, kids section and to the few adult books available at this branch.
Make another attempt on the database session plan.
Help a lady find a book on autism, and another lady a book on relationships and finding the perfect partner.
Give the lesson plan another go. Try and think of a novel way to approach a boring subject. No bright ideas so far.

6.10pm Pop upstairs to see if H wants a tea break. She says to go first. Make myself a coffee and gobble a kiwifruit. Take over Level 3 desk while H goes for a break. Head back downstairs when she's done.

7.00pm Things quieten down. Look at the LIANZA conference programme to see when CW is presenting. Look at some of the other sessions. Send email to boss asking if I can go to a few of them.
Help a Dad and son find a book on basketball.
Clear some books left on the tables. Somebody has pulled off 8 of the "for Dummies" series from the 005's.
Notice an overhead projector has been left on in one of lecture theaters over the road. Make mental note to tell security guy when he comes around.
Try and get back to lesson plan but have lost the thread.
Dream about the card I'm making at home.
Wonder if DH has made tea and if kids are okay.
Giggle at LOLcats.
Look at a few blogs.

7.50pm Start cleaning things up, turning things off. Wonder why that same guy from last week is back again at 10 to 8 when he's got 5 minutes to find something and get it issued.

8.00pm Head upstairs to see if H needs any help. Lock up my office and turn off lights.

8.10pm Head downstairs to the car park. Panic because I can't find my keys. Finally find them buried at the bottom of my handbag. The car park is not open to the public but it's sort of spooky down there by myself. Head out to the big roller door, avoiding the Mobile Library bus parked on the side. Wave the magic blue chip at the sensor and the roller door goes up s-l-o-w-l-y.

8.25pm Arrive home. Kids running around naked from their bath. DS wants to help me put the car away but persuade him he needs to get dressed. DH looking slightly harassed with his shirt out and making bottle. He says "It's good to see you back!" (heh heh). Put car away. DD already in bed with her bottle (she only had 1 hour sleep at day care). Give her a cuddle. Get DS into pj's and into bed. Heat the wheaty-heaty for him. Read story. Find his torch. Give "one last cuddle". Find the harvester which has to go to bed with him. DH makes coffee for us. Re-heat enchiladas DH made earlier. Eat & read my book.

9.30pm Empty dishwasher. Reload dishwasher. Chat with DH about the day. Help DH with the remaining dishes. Chat with sister on Skype. Make tomorrow's lunches. Pack bag for biking to work tomorrow. DH looking at old Billy T and Fred Dagg YouTube videos. Giggle at the corny jokes. Think how old I am because I remember the Billy T jokes in particular.

10.15pm Get into jammies. Read my book for a while to try and settle down.

10.30pm Lights out.

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)

over the hump

Funny how I'm watching the days now I'm back at work...

Hump day is gone. Now it's Thursday and we're on the slippery slope to the weekend - yay! I think Friday is one of the best days of the week. You've got the anticipation of the weekend ahead, and the bulk of the working week behind you.

Work is going well. I'm catching on to the new things I need to know. I did my first orientation today with some nursing students. We got talking about breastfeeding. Funny the bond that motherhood can create. I'm enjoying the variety of queries I'm getting on the reference desk that serves both library clients.

Here are the layouts I did at the Waikato crop. I think I want to do some more to the My Be' one. It looks like it needs something under the smaller photo.

The third LO is still waiting for me to finish it!! I hope this weekend. I do need to finish off some bags for Mel first though.

So far the daycare arrangement seems to be working well. DD is a little tearful when I leave but she recovers in about 2 minutes or less once I'm out the door. She is eating well - they keep commenting on this! LOL! DS was the same. When he left daycare the teachers joked they'd have to tell the cook not to make extra noodles/rice on the days he was usually there. She is sleeping for about 2 hours too, which isn't bad. She normally sleeps around 3 hours at home so hopefully that time will increase.

DS is doing fine with my Mum. She is one of his favourite persons so it ought to be! Once he goes to school in Sept she will have some more time to herself which will make it a bit easier for her.

I am tired though. My body is having to adjust to a new routine. Not sleeping that great. I find it hard to get off to sleep and then DD comes into bed about 4am for (.)(.) so that means I don't sleep much after that. Having to get up at 6am and rush around getting kids ready rather than a leisurely 7am (with less pressure to get kids and myself dressed) is taking it's toll.

And work clothes! Where did they go? Seriously scraping the old wardrobe barrel here. LOL! Most of my old ones are my "fat" clothes that are scrunched into bags waiting to be taken to the op shop. So they're out. Church clothes are an option but I like to keep them separate. I think a visit to some 2nd hand places will be in order. Maybe my sister and friend Nel will have to act as Trinny and Susannah for me.

Help a NZ Scrapper out!

Six contestants left in Project Scrap away and Rachel is one of them. All hands to the pump people!

Leave a comment on the Immunity post with the terms Rachel's Friend, plus a link to your post promoting PSA and Scrap n Crop. And leave a comment on Rachel's post here.

Go the kiwi!!!

first day back

and I am really tired. It's surreal being back in what is a familiar environment but also unfamiliar because it is a different campus and slightly different team. All good - just different. The clientele are a different mix too.

The library I work at is the only joint library in New Zealand; that is a library that services both tertiary students and public library patrons. So when I work on the reference desk, I see all kinds of people. Today I did a 2 hour stint on the desk and answered questions from nursing students doing work on an assignment about community nursing and another doing nausea and vomiting. I also looked for CDs for a teenager who wanted music by Motley Crue, an older gentleman wanting books on managing ego, and a mother who wanted to prune her roses.

I have to remember how to use the library management system (LMS) I worked with before as well as learn an entirely different LMS as well because the 2 libraries run 2 different computer systems. (Long story, don't ask). I also need to learn about the borrowing rules and other procedures for the public library as well as remember those of my "home" library. So it's a bit of a challenge but in a good way.

It felt good to be back. I did miss the children though, especially when I saw the mums come in with the kids. Missy Moo did really well on her first day at day care. She did cry when I left but apparently settled for a quick hug with one of the teachers, and then got on with playing. She was pleased to see DH and DS when they picked her up but she didn't rush up to them in a relieved way.

This was good to hear because we had a strange evening on Sunday with a lady who started to go on and on about the evils of daycare and how it was wrong to leave DD in for such long hours. Needless to say this put the wind up me! I had to leave because it was upsetting me. If I had had more notice I may have been able to organise some home care for her but with only 2 working days in which to set it all up, I took what I could when I could. There are a number of different factors in why I have to go back to work and although I would love to work part time, that possibility has yet to arise.

One down side of it all is the short time I see my family in the mornings and evenings. I can see that weekends are going to be very precious. I shall have to put some housework systems in place so I'm not spending all my weekend doing catch up with boring stuff like that.

So - quick menu plan Monday

Monday - Slater soup
Tuesday - Stirfry
Wednesday - Tom yum soup (DH request)
Thursday - Sausages and lentils
Friday - Fish and chips (home made)
Saturday - Juicy spicy meatballs
Sunday - Winter Supper from Nigel Slater's Appetite
(Hoping to get some baking done too - maybe tomorrow! I need to vaccuum, make lunches and wash the kitchen floor before bedtime)

The Waikato Crop was great. I had a lovely time and was fortunate to win 3 very cool prizes. Big thanks to Vicky and Neen for organising it, and to the sponsors who added a bit of spice to the mixture! I really did enjoy meeting the ladies who I have been "talking to" via blogs and forums.

I did 2.5 LOs and intend to show them off but I need to get a good photo and but the time I got home tonight it was too late! (You can check out the photos on the blog to see I really did do some LOs). So watch this space.

Also must blog about Rachel for her immunity challenge.

If you've made it this far you are a hero! Sorry there are no photos!

Woo Hoot Wednesday

Kia ora! (It's Maori Language Week.)







Man this week is going fast. And it's getting faster!

1. My big woo hoot is that I have a JOB! Yay!!!!

It isn't with the people who interviewed me last week. No. I think that one is a dead loss because I've not heard from them via phone. Waiting on the cowardly letter from them.

But my old work rang with a position they need to fill asap. I'll be starting Monday! EEK! But it will be doing stuff I know how to do, and the kind of thing I like best. It is full time - slightly scary but part time work is so hard to find. I will have to apply for the position when it is advertised, but this time I will be the internal applicant. So I am taking a chance on that one, but I hope it is going to be worth my while.

It will be just down the road at our satellite campus so I shan't have to say Te kino hoki o te whaiwhai waka i t[e]nei ata! - The traffic was terrible this morning. Heh heh.

Funnily enough the day care had a space for DD immediately so things are slotting into place rather well. *wherefore did ye doubt o ye of little faith* I went and paid the deposit for her and she didn't want to leave, so that is a good sign. We'll spend some of tomorrow and Friday there as well.

I have no idea how this is going to all work but I'm trying to go with the flow. One thing for sure is that we will be slightly more comfortable financially which is a good thing. Maybe my car will be able to have a service at last... it hasn't had one for oh, say, 2 years. I'll bet if cars could talk it would be woo hooting about that one.

2. The crop on Saturday! Looking forward to it. Got a few more page kits sorted. Plus reprinted some of the badly aged colour photos of my MIL's for an 8x8 album I'm doing for her. Love it how PS can change the colour cast. The B&W ones are still good, so I will use those originals even though it means I won't be able to fit many on a page. I don't like to crop them you see.. my librarian/archivist tendencies coming through. But the reprints I did I have no compunction about cropping.

So many things to remember before we leave on Saturday but hopefully I won't forget anything essential.

Hei konā

Accidents happen

I should have known better, but I'd been waiting for DH to help me convert the cot into a toddler bed because DD has been climbing out of it. She surprised me in the middle of the night by coming into our bed. Normally the pitter patter in the night is DS coming to "sureep" with you Mummy." Not this time. This time it was someone smaller and infinitely more wriggly.

I had the side down so she could get out relatively easily but this morning she slipped and fell and cut her eyelid quite deeply on the low boy beside her bed. So off to A&E we went, and the helpful Dr glued it shut. I thought it might need a stitch but apparently they don't do that so often now.

We came home and I converted the bed myself ... and little girl is very pleased with her "new" bed. Or be' as she calls it.












She now sports a piratical air with her plaster! I've been telling her not to touch it ... so much so she now is calling it an "uh-uh" in response. LOL! (Which is what she is saying in this photo).

Menu Plan Monday 21/07/08

Monday - Chicken noodle soup
Tuesday - Homemade burgers
Wednesday - Fish cakes
Thursday - Dal pumpkin soup
Friday - Steak frites
Sat - going to Waikato crop so sister doing tea
Sun - pizza

Tummies around here are still a bit unsettled from this virus going round so I'm trying to keep things simple and not too rich. We are getting a delivery of organically raised Angus beef later in the week so I'll be interested to see what is in the pack. It includes steak and sausages - that I know.

I am very excited about this crop on Saturday! :-) I had my youngest sister lined up to baby sit the Possums but she decided to move to Australia, (left this morning), so I had a mild panic until my other sister and our friend Nel decided they could do it. They are going to the zoo (weather permitting), and me, DH and my Dad are heading south! Woohoo! I did tell my other sister that she just had to say no if she didn't want to babysit. ;-)

(Actually they moved there in hopes of better opportunity for her partner's work. Just didn't tell us until 6 weeks ago).

I'm stressing a bit about what to take. I want to make page kits but I'm going to have to have a bit of a clean up before I can "see" my desk. And I need to print some photos. So, lots to do this week!

I'm also nervously waiting to hear from the last job interview... supposed to hear early this week. I am NOT a patient person. Just want to get it over with!!

I enrolled DS at the school up the road this morning. Bit of a milestone there! He'll start in September, probably the day after his birthday. I just have to check the calendar to see when the holidays are. The school is happy for him to start on his birthday or after the holidays - whatever I prefer. So one of these days we'll do a school visit together and check out the classroom etc. I've already had a bit of a preview. His teacher will be the deputy principal.

DS has been eyeing up the sand pit that is at the end of the junior classes area. He thinks that he'll be able to play in there all the time. Sorry buddy.. it's not going to be like that!

June Reading Round Up

First up - a bit of PR...

Kiwi scrapper Rachel has made it to Challenge 9 of Project Scrap Away hosted by Scrap'n'Crop. It's all very exciting! But she once more needs the help of the blogging community to vote her some immunity.

Here's what to do (copied from super-enabler Janine):

1. Leave a comment on Rachel’s blog post here

2. If you have a blog please write a blog post about Rachel and Scrap-n-Crop and PSA and do the link thing.

3. Leave a comment on Rachel’s blog here to tell her you’ve done a post.

4. Go to the PSA blog to this post here and leave the following comment “Rachel’s friend and the link to your blog post about her”. No personal messages should be left in that post, just the above.

Thanks possums! :)

---

Death in a strange country, A Venetian Reckoning, Through a Glass Darkly / by Donna Leon
All crime stories in a series featuring Commisario Guido and his cohorts. The plots are intriguing and deal with some interesting sorts of issues. Subtle humour and descriptions of delicious Italian meals make it all good!

Letter from an age of reason/ by Nora Hague
Set at the beginning of the American Civil War, this is a story of 2 characters meeting across the divide of class status and "race". An historical love story but has a greater depth than just boy meets girl. Some interesting threads run through the story - feminism, madness, finding one's self - all in the context of the time period.

Cabbages & Kings: the origins of fruit and vegetables / by Jonathon Roberts
Non-fiction book dealing with the history and events around different fruits and vegetables. Highly interesting to the likes of me. Maybe not so much for anyone else.

Father lands / Emily Ballon
About a girl and her family dealing with family break up and school integration in the US. I liked the feisty heroine and got annoyed with her family. Great writing.

How to stop a heart from beating / by Jackie Ballantyne
"The year 1961 is a pivotal one for nine-year-old Solly McKeen. She is a loner in a family of doubles: a 'single' with no twin of her own, and seen as a bit of an oddity by everyone in her dairy-farming community in South Otago. On learning about the unnamed paupers' graves in the local cemetery, she promises to people them: imagining characters, names and causes of death for each. While Solly unravels death and fills in the blanks on the gravestones, she unwittingly uncovers family secrets."~description from the blurb. I really loved this book. Seen through the eyes of a child the complexities of adult relationships are so dumb - the lies we can tell each other to protect ourselves and others. Makes me realise the value of honesty mixed with mercy in a family.

Amber/ Deborah Challinor
The sequel to Kitty, we now find Kitty and Rian happily married and sailing the seas. They return to NZ and find themselves in the Bay of Islands during the time when Hone Heke was chopping flag poles down and things were heating up in Maori/European relations. Kitty gets sent south to Auckland and while she is there she adopts an orphan. Returning north she manages to get kidnapped and is eventually rescued by Rian et al. Great yarn.

Sea of lost love / Santa Montefiore
"An idyllic Cornish holiday in the summer of 1958. An aristocratic family, blessed with wealth and promise. But catastrophe strikes, the tragedy first breaks Celestria Montague's young heart - then shatters her every illusion. With the backing of her grandfather, a flamboyant American robber baron, Celestria sets out to unravel the deadly yet bizarre riddle. Amongst the orange groves of Italy's ruggedly beautiful southern coast, she finds a bewildering maze of masquerades and mirrors. In this labyrinth of deception, which threatens to destroy all her faith in family and affection, she meets a man who teaches her that truth is the heart of love." ~description taken from the blurb. Enjoyed the book though I felt the relationship between Celestria and her eventual lover somewhat contrived.

The gentleman's garden / Catherine Jenks
Very much enjoyed this one. The heroine, Dorothea goes with her husband Charles to Sydney, Australia when he is posted there with his regiment. The strangeness of the land, the social tensions and marital issues forces her into creating a little bit of "England" in her back yard. The garden is sort of peripheral to the relationships and conflict in the story but it makes a great back drop. At first I found Dorothea to be a bit wimpy but she did eventually grow a backbone, and there is a happy ending for some of the characters.

Layouts for June
Four 12x12
Two mini-albums (well, one was a squash album as a gift so it had no photos)
One 8x8

bits & bobs

A quick Menu Plan Monday:

Monday - pasta
Tuesday - Pie
Wednesday - stir fry
Thursday - Vego chilli
Friday - risotto
Saturday - lamb chops
Sunday - roast beef

Had a quiet birthday last week. DS offered to make me a train cake which was sweet of him. I asked him what presents I should get and he was of the opinion that I would like Molly and some other of the Thomas friends! LOL! So cute. I'm sure he'd love me to get them for my birthday just so he could play with them.

In any case, no trains turned up but I still was thoroughly spoiled!

I got a lovely tea set plus 2 matching mugs (not shown).














And a sponge cake from an elderly friend Ena who makes the best sponge in West Auckland.










Had to be quick to get this photo because DD was hovering and eyeing up the cake!!!










Some perfume. Normally I prefer to buy my own but it's difficult to argue against Dior. ;-)









My Mum made me another quilt. I so love the colours in this one. It's really me.





















A cookbook I've been wanting for ages. :-)

A food processor from DH thanks to the Visa Reward shop. I do have one that we inherited from the ILs. It is ancient and the plastic is starting to go brittle & has a few cracks. Plus I managed to break the grater/shredder plate holder trying to grate some parmesan so it only does chopping jobs. Which is fine... but I missed the other options. Anyone want an elderly Braun food processor that still goes? Might be good for a bach. Think I'll see about free cycling it.









Also got some new Cuttle bug embossing folders - Stylised Flowers, Swiss Dots and Perfectly Paisley. A friend gave me some BG Boxer rub ons and glazed brads. So cool!

Spent Friday night and Saturday making some cards. I borrowed some of my friend's Stampin' Up stamps as well as my own stuff.

One thing I discovered is that shimmer sheet goes through the Cuttlebug like a dream and looks awesome!

Cheering time!

Hello blog my old friend
I've come to post on you again

My IRL friend, stamping-guru-scrapping-goddess-extraordinaire Rachel has reached Challenge 8 of Project Scrap Away which is being hosted by Scrap 'n' Crop. Hooray! I am watching what she's doing with this latest challenge which is to use B&W and NO colour. Tricky.

There have been some awesome entries for this Project Scrap Away.

And now she needs some help to get points, so pretty please... here's what you can do.

Go to her blog and leave a comment.

Post about her and Project Scrap Away on your blog.

Leave a comment on the Project Scrap Away blog : Rachel's Friend + a link to your blog.

As for me - I've been doing various things. Sewing some bags, going to birthday parties, making some cards... just busy and not really feeling like blogging much. I have lots of ideas for posts but not much time to sit down to do it! I did make a bag for my Cuttlebug.


















DS has gone up north to stay with his gran and granddad so I have one very bored little girl who doesn't know what to do with herself and who follows me around getting into everything I try to do. She's adding more and more words to her vocab. The latest is "darti" and "guk" for dirty and yuk. (Said most often when changing nappies. In fact, she's started to tell me when her nap is "darti").
DH has got some lurg we've all had... made worse by the fact he's male and won't take any sick days.

So he's in bed (with his MP3 player). He pointed out to me that he now has a gallery up at one of the forums he posts on. "Maybe you'd like to put a link on your blog," he says.

Maybe I would!

My super talented photographer husband's Gallery!

Small children, small space

Small children, small space-1010489
Originally uploaded by pdugmore2001.

Finally finished this layout I've had on my desk for a week or more!!

I have another interview next week. (At least, as DH says I am pulling the interviews!) This one I would really like to get. Please cross fingers and toes for me!

Not feeling groovy

#3 rejection. Wonder how many more I'll get.

I've only been out of the workforce about 20 months.

Seriously beginning to wonder if I am flawed in some way that no one wants to employ me. If that is so, I wish someone would tell me what the problem is.

The last 2 positions had internal applicants who got the position.

Sour grapes? Probably.