A Yellow Collection

When looking at my photos from the last week or two, I noticed a lot of yellow around the place.  And, I am so excited about the new stools I have ordered for the kitchen, and there are no prizes for guessing what colour I have chosen. I am finding it VERY difficult to wait the 6-10 weeks required for them to be custom made.

1. The sweetest little glazed ceramic toadstool (and a shelf up, hooray)
2. Yummy, yummy vanilla slice, all the way from the Rosedale Bakery
3. Can you spy a yellow ribbon on Ray's ankle? My old uni pal Rachael and I had way too much fun here.
4. A challenging walk in the bush.
5. A stripy new tablecloth, and a  practice run  for some kindergarten craft. (The ugliest thing she has ever seen, according to my oldest daughter)
6. A little embroidery for an engagement present.
7. Surprise, surprise - a bowl of lemons.
8. My new lolly tin (from the Lark sale)
9. Barley sugar, definitely not mine though. I'm more of a chocolate coated kinda girl.

Linking up with Em @ The Beetle Shack

17

 It's my Big Girl's Birthday today. I can barely believe that she is 17. It doesn't seem that long ago that she was just a little girl with a big attitude!

She  is heading off on a driving lesson. Her first in an auto (we have decided to continue learning how to drive a manual a bit later on!)    Apparently it is pretty tricky to change gears and manage your phone - unless you are 2 that is! 

Yummy afternoon tea for when she gets back from her lesson, and before she goes to work.

  Life is just oh so busy!

Learning

I have been doing lots of contemplating on the topic of learning and teaching lately. I have been thinking alot about how we become the sort of person we want to be. Thinking about how our upbringing and the people in our lives influence us, both positively and negatively. I have been pondering my own role as a teacher and as a leader amongst my peers as well as a mother of teenage girls. Phew, that's a lot of thinking!

Cath's post Teaching Little Girls focuses on self-esteem in her young daughter and has inspired me to contemplate the growing of self esteem in girls a bit further along in their development. Once again the theme of growing up too quickly is relevant. It is so important to enable lots of experiences, to  encourage learning, to focus on effort and to accept that mistakes are made. All the while promoting positivity and showing pride. Challenging, indeed, whether dealing with a preschooler or a teenager.

My oldest daughter, 16 has just started learning how to drive. Although she was eligible to go for her learners 9 months ago, she has only just recently sat the test. I wanted her to be involved in the process, not just rely on me to make the appointment for her, as a part of learning how to take responsibility for her self. As I sat and waited for her I watched three other young people that were not successful in their tests. I thought about how I would feel if she were to fail, and what I would say to her. I watched how those young people reacted to their disappointment and how their loved ones responded. I was so pleased that she had a successful outcome.


So far I have taken her for 2 "lessons" in the carpark of the McDonalds where she works. She has taken to it quite well as we have explored the delicate relationship between the clutch and the accelerator. Yesterday she had her first lesson with an instructor and the feedback was all positive, but there is a long road to travel.


The journey from child to adult is also a long and winding road. There is so much to learn along the way. I worry that I have not taught enough of what is important but I also know that she also has to find her own way.

Tonight she actually counted up how many days until she turns 18....apparently it is only 457 days.

Presentation Ball

The Night Before

There has been a spray tan catastrophe. There have been tears. There has been a tantrum.  It is the night before the Deb Ball after all. 

Gathering Nuts and Other Such Jobs

Mr M returned to work yesterday, after 10 weeks off work. I have certainly got used to having him at home. I have so appreciated the work that he has done in the smooth running of the household. Things like getting the girls up in the morning and making their lunches. Running them to and from the bus and school, as well as their activities like ballet and netball. He has been food shopping and meal planning and has even been known to hang out the odd load of washing. He has played nurse when the kids are sick and has returned calls to teachers and filled out school paperwork. He has supported me to work more hours and take on some new work-related projects that have been time intensive. I am not really sure how I am going to cope with my workload now, considering how much he has done to help me. I have a small reprieve this week, with three work-free days (official work that is) so the real test will come next week when I commence working 5 days with a new mentoring role in addition to my kinder teaching. In the meantime we have a Deb Ball this weekend, so its off to dress fittings and hair appointments in my spare time. Plus there is that little issue of having nothing to wear!


P.S The sweet little squirrel plaque has come all the way from Nashville, USA to end up in a little opshop in the seaside village of Bass, on the way to Phillip Island. Of course I snapped it up for 20 cents. It has already found a home on the wall next to the pantry, which is currently rather empty with the noted absence of the food gatherer!

Make and Do!

I have been a bit busy of late, actually making things. A little doll for a baby soon to be born in Japan

a teeny weeny teddy for a Japanese student soon to return home to goodness knows what

a bit of patchworking

Finishing a dress (that I do not love!)

working on a belated magazine design

Whilst on the doing front.......

Deb dress shopping

Leadership Training

Still Waiting for a date for surgery (not really doing!)

Caring for sick kids

Very overdue housework

and farewelling the end of an era - Toffee (Lion Boy) now joining Pip (Skeletor)
in GP heaven (along with Rosie, Peppa, Flash, Gingy, Spike)

This cage is now vacant and lonely, if anyone is interested (Melbourne area) - shoot me an email!

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The view from my front door Friday night.

Friday night the girls and I were home alone as Mr M had gone away for a few days, (deeper into flood territory). It was bucketing down with rain, so we elected to order some pizzas, rather than brave the flooded roads to go to the supermarket. Whilst standing out the front watching a man paddle a canoe in the lake that had suddenly formed in the park across the road, the pizza delievery boy arrived on foot, having abandonded his car to get our pizzas to us. I had been anticipating a call to say sorry no pizzas, not such dedication!

all dressed up with no where to go

The flooding caused chaos on the roads even on Saturday, and prevented the Teen from attending the party she was all dressed-up for. The little town which contains our new house was evacuated, but no homes were inundated with water, just the roads!

all dressed up with somewhere to go!

Fortunately starting high school got off without a hitch. Buses, timetables and new uniforms all sorted! The Teen made a start at TAFE, as she is doing VCAL this year and is excited to be starting a work placement too. I am back at work, two days teaching at Kinder and two days teaching at TAFE as well. Mr M is back to work tomorrow after his little roadtrip.

Thoughts are with everyone that has been affected by the rain, flooding and cyclone. I am so grateful that life as we know it will continue unaffected. It is certainly a good feeling to be safe at home.

16

Today
16 Years ago!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter.

My Happy List

I am happy for being able to watch my beautiful Ballerina follow her passion. I am happy to have watched her grow from a tiny, shy little girl to a confident, skilled dancer. I am happy that she is excited to be going to High School next year and is looking forward to all the challenges and rewards that lie ahead.

I am happy that The Teen has been accepted into her TAFE course next year as part of VCAL. I am happy that she knows what she wants to do and is taking the steps necessary to achieve her career goals, including a part time job at Mc Donald's. I am happy that she is emerging as a beautiful, confident young woman.

I am happy to have two daughters that can share their thoughts, dreams and ideas and love and support each other, if not completely now, certainly in the future.

I am happy to be listening to James Blunt and the Glee soundtrack whilst icing cupcakes for my Tea Party this afternoon. I am looking forward to spending some time with special friends and family. I am happy even if it rains, because I have a contingency plan!

I am happy to share my life with my hubby and look forward to realising our plans, hopefully sooner than later!

I am happy to be able to work in the job/s I love and be surrounded by wonderful people.
I am happy that I am able to write and share with my blog and create a permanent record of what has been. I am happy to have blog friends that are inspiring and creative. Thanks to one of those fellow bloggers Kate for the opportunity to reflect on happiness in our lives and think about being grateful and optimistic.

Teen Update

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Thankyou to everyone for your lovely comments relating to my daughter and her Glandular fever. My replies have been a bit hit and miss, but I want you all to know I appreciate and am heartened by each and every comment xxx


We have just returned from the doctor and he has reported great improvement. It even looks likely that she will be able to go on her Central Australia trip, in 12 days, if she continues to rest.

My Creative Space

Late last night, while I should have been sleeping, I was making a white apron for the Ballerina to wear to school, today for an Alice in Wonderland Costume. Whilst I had known about the dress-up parade for some time, the Ballerina only decided on the way home from school yesterday that she actually wanted to dress-up. So after some brainstorming and to-ing and fro-ing, we came up with the idea of Alice (had to be a book character)
So combined with some things she had, some white fabric from the stash, a pyjama cord and a lanyard, we have a costume!
Don't look too closely as I sewed the wrong side of the skirt to the apron top, meaning the seams are on the outside. Frankly, it was too late to care!

and in breaking health news....my darling daughter, The Teen, does indeed have the dreaded Glandular Fever

More creative spaces here

Sick

The Teenager has been unwell for a couple of days, and the Doc suspects she has Glandular Fever. The blood test required for the diagnosis this afternoon was unsuccessful due to her collapsed veins. So we must wait until Monday to have another go. So until then it is goodbye to my busy weekend and hello copious quantities of Gatrorade and as much attention as a teen can bear!

Sweet Fairies

I whipped up these skirts for The Teen (orange) and her friend for their House athletics carnival yesterday. Please remind me never to attempt to sew elastic to stretch tulle ever, ever again!

I don't think they actually entered any events, but I think they had fun!

and this is my little fairy at age 4, my how time has flown!

The Weekend

The teen finally has her new bed and it is in her room after spending the best part of 2 weeks in pieces in the loungeroom. A big bed for my big girl.

My neice celebrated her 6th Birthday. Notice the shiner she scored at her party? I found her a cute little bento style snack box at the $2 shop of all places. I also found some adorable scissors there that I just had to buy.

We watched the Hawks get flogged at the footy with ace friends and enjoyed Hot chocolate here (which was about all we could afford!)

I made the yummiest french Onion soup which I think will become a Winter staple. The ballerina ate THREE bowls for dinner!

I enjoyed catching up with my Mum and Dad to hear their news. They are BOTH exhibiting quilts in a local quilt show which is very exciting. Their first quilts I might add. My dad in particular has caught the quilting bug, after attending a class late last year, really just to hold Mum's hand! Go Dad!

If the shoe fits...

The teen has a part time job at a shoe shop. Many of the shoes in her shop have sky high heels, buckles, straps and studs. Most look ridiculous on my feet. Quite a different story for the teen however, who looks amazing in just about anything!
Well anyway, when I took her to work last week I popped into the shop to spy have a browse when I spotted some shoes that actually took my fancy.
They were leather and oh so comfy and just perfect for work, where comfort and good support are essential. They were on sale at $50. I asked the teen if she could apply her staff discount. "What?" she asks. "Do you want everyone to think that I would buy THOSE shoes?"

So anyway, reluctantly she puts them under the counter, with a sticker claiming For A's Mum. She instructed that I must wait for her manager to be in for me to buy them and get the discount.

So I patiently wait, then on Saturday, in I go. The manager is so pleasant and willing. She asks the teen for her staff number to apply the discount, without any dramas at all. So off I go, happy with my shoes, with a saving of 30%. I think I shall wear them everywhere, and I think I may even need to buy another pair, in a different colour. What do you think?

How to cook Paella, or why I need a new potholder

Tonight the teen decided SHE would cook Paella, a dish she had "cooked" a few weeks back at school.


"can you please cut the vegies Mum?""what's that burning smell?""whoops the potholder is on fire"

"tastes better than the one at school, the rice is not even crunchy"

Anyone up for a potholder swap?