tsk tsk

I'm living with bubble wrap at my feet

a few days away was just what we needed. Although the kids are still a little too little to truly relax. Especially when there is water nearby.I've returned to my work and will be busy for some weeks to come. I'm trying to spend any given break from 'tsk tsk' work cleaning up my house. Honestly, it is to the point where I can no longer yell at the kids about the state of their rooms and I'm waiting for one of them to say "but your room is messy too mum".

I'm living with bubble wrap at my feet, piles of swept cotton threads in corners of rooms and the tables and benches are quickly disappearing under all the paperwork. I can't find invitations for kids' birthday parties, or even the school fees invoice.

I want that studio space I dream of. A shared space set in an old Queensland worker's cottage in an inner city suburb.Or that mudbrick shack on a hill with an amazing view.

And then I wake up to Mr N coming in from his morning bike ride with a chin cut open and blood all over his cycle vest. 10 stitches later.....

And  It is only Tuesday.

I'm holding on to the first image of Miss M flying her kite whilst drawing in the sand.

this weekend

This weekend we celebrated the upcoming 7th birthday of A. Lego party, cake, perfect day in the park under a big shady fig with lots of little friends.

This weekend I bought flowers from the market. Because it is Spring.

This weekend I am washing, and folding, and hanging and putting away baskets of laundry. Like I do most weekends.

This weekend the kids are splashing in the pool.

This weekend I am trying to paint some more. Only a plan at this stage.

This weekend we made pancakes and ate our first mango for the season.

sweet little peas

i'm spending the last of the holidays with the two squirts who returned today and have already made a terrible mess of the house.

They returned with new dresses...made by granny.

New toys...made by Pa. My father is an ex army pilot. He is retired now. Makes model trains, except when Mr A visits and he returns to his fixed wing days.

And

Sweet Peas. Oh the smell is heavenly. They spent their granny and pa pocket money on me!

So really.......who cares about the mess.

Delightful Days

I've had a very productive week.Today my monsters come home and my house will be destroyed. And yet, I still need to clean it before they arrive.

I have to give back the kitchen table and I suspect that my parents and children will want a meal cooked for them tonight! And I'll have to hide the rest of the Turkish delight from their tiny paws.

I've been up since about 5am making lists and finishing jobs. I have a few odd jobs to complete for work, but I have a pile of bills and paperwork that need sorting. Vacume cleaner to be fixed, car to be cleaned before the booster seats go back in. OH that sounds like such an inspiring day to you all I bet. I might squeeze in a pedicure as sandal season is now approaching.

yes, a nice few days of peace and some work crossed off the list.

I am happy.

I bet my parents are exhausted.

noticing

I'm noticing our kigelia tree. Last week it was bare and it looked liked it had clearly got the seasons muddled or was going to die.

Then suddenly all these new leaves and flowers appeared within a couple of days.

I was outside taking photos when a lady stopped to talk to me. She says she always walks by and admires this tree and hears others talking about it too. I've seen people stop in their cars, get out and take photos of it.

September is when it is the most beautiful. It's the kind of tree you could sit under, but the average pod probably weighs 4 kilos. So i'll just admire it from a far.

I have taken over my kitchen table, and am enjoying the day painting my favourite tree.

achoo

nature is strange.

Yesterday most of NSW and Southern QLD were engulfed in a blanket of filthy, iridescent, copper coloured dust. The skies were amazingly eerie but strangely beautiful.

The beauty changed quickly into frustration for me as this dust storm left its filth all through my house and my sinuses. I only left two windows partially open. But that was enough for everything to be covered in a film of white. These two pictures were taken about  1.30pm. We usually have a view a a mountain.

So, I guess I'll be cleaning today. In between entertaining the kids and trying to pour through some of my books I bought in Sydney. I'm taking the munchkins to see a Tashi show this morning. Mr A loves reading these books so I decided it was a better option to see a stage show these school holidays rather than a movie.

Wish me luck in the mosh pit!

watching the clock tick by

I said to Mr N last night whilst we were all eating dinner, "I am so looking forward to this week. I have so many great things I want to do, and I'm feeling really energetic about doing them. Infact I could easily work another 12 hours straight now" Of course when you are a mum, you can't. There are mum things to do.

The weekend, was great. Blue skies, long walks, 40th birthday celebrations, garden cleaning and Japanese food.

But....

This morning Mr A woke up with a headache. I drugged him up with panadol and shipped him off to school. Sat and did reading with his group, drove to the PO, went to the butcher, bought a yummy cake for morning tea with my friend, did a quick and minimal vacuum and kitchen clean, editioned some prints and then the phone rang.
Mr A was unwell and could I come and collect him from school.

The poor little boy took himself straight to bed, slept for an hour and a half, then woke up and was sick. Yep, the vomiting kind of sick.

So it seems that this blog isn't much fun at all of late. I really haven't been enthused to write about anything much at all. I did manage to start on some new prints and new bird illustrations, but mostly I find myself just watching the clock and waiting for the school bell to ring so I can be on mummy duty again.

get off the quilt

what a week! Poor Miss M has been so so sick with possibly swine flu (the doctors are not testing for it now), tonsillitis and croup. Some worrying moments, but thankfully, all is better now and I can have this day to catch up on so much. Trust me to offer a discount sale on my ABCme work just before this all happened.

So, I spent the week doing little work, whilst taking care of her. I planned to finish some quilts, but really I've just made a mess of the house, by spreading every piece of fabric and wadding across the floors. And then spent most of the time yelling at the kids and dog not to walk on them. How dare they????

I tried to concentrate on some house matters. It has been so crazy hot here, so I've been looking at ceiling fans because I hate having the aircon on unless it is over 35 degrees C.  I even bought a new light shade for the stairwell and can't wait to get it installed. I have loved David Trubridge's work for so long. And I've been just oohing and ahhing over lovely houses. I followed Fiona's trail and started a tumbler blog, just so I can have somewhere to place all the interior things I like and dream to have in one spot.

Now, heaps to do...

fevers and felting

i jinxed myself.

Today Mr A is at home with fevers and sniffles. So much for a good week to concentrate on work.
There has been so much flu about this year, including the dreaded swine flu, but this time I think it is just his 6 year old molars cutting through.

So, as planned I still made a quick trip to Wooloongabba's Antique Centre today and dragged him along. We ended up buying a 2nd hand jigsaw puzzle which will no doubt fill my coffee table for the next few weeks.

Amongst other things disastrous and disappointing, (yes that is how I feel when my day in the studio is postponed...again) I accidentally washed Miss M's woolen dress in the washing machine. So now I have a very, out of shape, felted and shruken mess. What to do? What to do? It is no good to pass on to anyone, so should I use it for some sewing project? Maybe for my matryoshka's somehow.

It is really springish here, yesterday even summer like. I ventured into my garden and it really needs some TLC. I even have this 'thing' growing in my pool area. There are plenty of cobwebs and leaves that need fixing.

On a brighter note, a dear friend of mine has launched her self into the world of Etsy and is using her wonderful sewing skills to make handbags and more. Go and have a little peek.

the power of snot

Last night I went to sleep with the new week planned out in my head.
20 minutes later, Miss M woke me and my week's plans are now but a dream.
Fever and snotty noses have such power over a mother. So today, I haven't tried to work at all, even whilst she has been sleeping. I'm just taking the day and taking it slowly. I'm a little vague as I sit here staring at stuff around the house. Between loads of washing, fresh flowers and freshly made waffles make me happy.
I'm thinking of buying an Apple TV. Does anyone have one?