A Kookaburra, a Trampoline, a Cake and a Quilt

Its Spring :) and the honeyeaters constant squabbling in the gum tree over a particularly good nest has abated. It went on all through August LOL.










We also had a visitor to our deck yesterday afternoon. Our deck does feel a little like a tree-house and this little kookaburra certainly emphasized that. We have never had one come so close...he obviously approves of our deck. He wasn't even too concerned about popping down onto the deck to grab a bit of sausage meat :)



Even Liam was interested...unfortunately there is no photo as we stopped him as he was reaching out to touch the bird. This was the best we could do. The kookaburra remained despite Liam getting within millimetres of his breast :) Our neighbours' children were also fascinated to see him as they arrived home from school. Kris fed him some meat from a sausage roll...hope that doesn't put him off coming back LOL. I was taking photos and it almost looked like he was posing at one stage. I was quite close :). This is why we love Montrose, the trees , the birds and if you go for a walk early enough (which I have not done lately...and am consequently quite unfit), I have seen wallabies, a couple of echidnas and the odd kangaroo. The bush is just over the back road you see. Montrose is the kind of place that people stay, sometimes moving within the suburb...I

guess thats why we've been here for so long...



Liam also had a good time on the trampoline with both Mummy and Daddy...he outlasted both of us :). He just loves it especially when on of us (usually Daddy) is on too. He can coordinate his bouncing so that he goes up as Daddy comes down...he loves getting higher and higher. There are lots of smiles, good looking and squeals of delight :).



















Simon was also over last week-end for Liam's birthday ...so I'll indulge in a couple of pics of Liam's birthday again. Still not keen about the candles LOL














I have also finally finished the quilt I was making for a friend's baby shower...well I had left myself a little over a week to do it and I must say I was quite impressed with how close I got...at least Tracey was able to see it almost finished...that is with threads hanging out and most of the quilting done. The pics I've taken still have loose threads so don't look too closely...I wanted to take advantage of the sun :)
I ran out of time...the election didn't help. Who's running the country anyway?...well we still don't know LOL.

So I hope you are all having a good week.
Lots of love and hugs (of course LOL),
Sharon

Liam at 6

Today was Liam's 6th birthday and he was well :) After several years of him being ill on his birthday, thats now two in a row that he's been fine. Its so good that he's so healthy now :)

Liam 3 days old...and it was the first time I got to hold him or even see him for 2 long days, as we were in different hospitals :(



















Liam loves to go to his favourite corner when he gets to school...Mum saying goodbye

He is also very very happy.










He absolutely loves his school, loves being with Mummy and Daddy and the pool and going out and coming home. Liam lives very much in the now and now is wonderful :). No wonder he's so healthy :)


The school Liam goes to is an autism specialist school and on a child's birthday, they organise a party for them with balloons, party food, party hats and a present...we bring cake, drink and goodie bags. Its a really nice thing to do. We are also invited...yeah!
As you can see even its no mean feat. Just getting them to put on the hat, however briefly isn't easy. hence its off most of the time. The teacher encourages one child to give Liam his birthday present and then helps him to unwrap it...as you can see he was quite happy with it :)...then came the Happy Birthday song and the lighting and blowing out the candles. All the kids get a chance to do this, which is really good. Liam as you can tell isn't always so keen on this. interested Liam was...it has taken a while and a lot of hard work on the teacher's part as although Liam is pretty easy going in that he is passive-aloof photos show that Liam didn't like the birthday song ( that may exhibit a dislike of bad singing LOL). Wouldn't look at the cake being lit, though he would intensely watch his teacher :)

...its therefore hard to get his attention. He will not necessarily look at what you want him to look at. Kris calls it studious avoidance. Putting it right in his face means "don't look", but you do feel you have to try as its too easy to avoid looking from a distance. It can be quite frustrating at times.

Liam was a little uncertain what to make of the lit candles and cakes approaching him...although you could say he has finally looked at them :D

He did have a go at blowing them out though...he much preferred eating one. This chocolate cake is his absolute fave food, even better than chips :)
Afterwards it was back to the normal school routine (do a almost detect a sigh of relief that its all normal again LOL) with a song and a book. It was fascinating watching the other kids and seeing how interested Liam was...it shows the persistent hard work his teachers have put into him.

As you can see we all had a very good day. Liam was quite happy to slip into the normal school routine again and say goodbye to his parents again :). He was very tired that night though. Turning 6 can be hard work :D

Liam you are an absolute treasure and we adore you. Your cuddles and giggles and wanting dickle dickle (tickling) brighten our days more than you will ever know. Happy Birthday our precious one :)

Lots of hugs, Mum

Tuesday night

I had had to wait for the driving rain and hail to ease before going down to the car for my craft class.

Next day:
"I didn't make it to my craft class last night"
"Why not?" R asked
"Because I couldn't get down the driveway"was the mournfully embarrassed response
R Laughing "why, what was in the driveway?"
"Nothing"
I backed out, Kris parks slightly differently to me...should that make a difference. "I couldn't see" I sadly exclaimed
"What happened?" said she
"Oh I went over the sleeper and got bogged in front of the tree. Kris had to rescue the car and I was so upset , he thought I best stay at home. I was sooo upset and cross and embarrassed I couldn't ring and explain why I didn't go"
Last time Kris had driven the car down the driveway, after doing this and covering a visiting friend with mud.
" And to add insult to injury, I was also looking forward to a poo-free night"
Needless to say we both cracked up laughing
Dare I say "Shit happens" LOL

Hugs, Sharon

Bits of this and that

My fave red has transformed.......I know dyelots can vary, but its a totally different colour!!!

Santa in my red's previous incarnation

A little bit of sewing. These 3 stitcheries were also from QFD's Christmas in July and are meant to be the centrepieces of 3 gift bags. I did the first in my fave variegated red (Anchor 1206), but it has since changed :(...the bright pink and deep wine colurs are more like brown and orange :(

The last 2

are using a gorgeous threadworx variegated yarn...I just loved the way the chrissy presents worked out :)

Barb (Theodore Cleave) & Marg Lowe (designs) at the Quilt and Craft Fair, Melbourne. It was great to meet them...sorry this is the only photo I have of the day

It was lovely going to the fair with my sisters, but I missed out on a fair bit due to the size of the crowd on the first day...it just wore me down...I'll think I'll go later next time (not that I didn't get some goodies though, perhaps it was better for my wallet, especially as I had been doing a bit of online naughtiness hee hee hee

Belated showings of lovelies I won in 2 separate giveaways earlier this year.

These gorgeous variegated threads were hand dyed by Amanda Bergamin and

the ever-so cute cow is a wall hanging by Nina Lise Moen (who include some other beauties as you can see in the piccie below).

You will be relieved to hear I have thanked these ladies much earlier...they are sooo late in being posted as I've been a little out of it (not an excuse, just why).
Its also why I've been slack blogging and even reading blogs...all of which makes me feel somewhat disconnected, but I'm getting there :).... I will further add that although I have been negligent lately I have appreciated all the lovely comments that have been made.

The decking is progressing as you can see below. Liam just loves it.







He's not even fully dressed yet :)


The decking after its first coat of paint...really only the top needed to be done at this stage, but we (well Mainly Kris) couldn't waste the lovely sun after the rain and hail of previous days.















Stay well. Hugs, Sharon

August 1st

Its the first day of August and a bit dark and dreary outside. Still only one more month of winter and yesterday was surprisingly warm and sunny. Not bad hey :). Its also Liam's birthday at the end of the month :)...a lovely end to winter.

I've gone to my carer's exercise class now 3 times. The first time I was apprehensive...hey I've never been to a gym before :) I felt great after the class, though my legs waited 'til the still of the night to voice their rather loud protest at such treatment LOL. The following week, I was still uncertain and felt more tired (perhaps I tried harder...we are talking about me though :) and last week I was excited to go. Isn't that grand!

On the home front we've been having a deck built...the post holes were all dug and we were chatting to our neighbours...4 adults making sure 4 children didn't go down a hole...so of course I just had to demonstrate what not to do in the name of public safety of course LOL.

So here is well I fell...lucky really as the slope just fell away so I didn't have a sore head as I landed face done and I missed all the rocks.
I felt well.. rather silly really ;)










Kris built a rock wall...a good bit of recycling :). That area looks much much much better now...he did a really good job too...see all that time playing tetris didn't go to waste :D




The rock wall






I took photos and Liam of course discovered his father's pepsi (Ahhhh pure caffeinated sugary cola...heaven for Liam).
He can be quite demanding and doesn't take into consideration such minor difficulties as the can may be empty (well usually its not) or you may be indisposed or asleep as this photo shows. As you can see my DH can sleep through most things.

Liam after coke/pepsi (doesn't care which). Note he cannot drink it directly from the can so he thoughtfully brings a cup as well :)







Liam surveying the work in progress last Sunday


I have also been stitching, but I haven't taken photos yet...will wait until it brightens up a bit.


I'll be back another day with more Christmas in July goodness...shame its over :( Thanks Sarah, you're a star.

Lets all have a wonderful August. Hugs, Sharon

Andthen there was....Christmas in July

Although our little man was born here on Mars and is, therefore, quite content and happy to be here, life on Mars is not always easy. There are times when you get homesick despite the beauty and fascination Mars offers. Then there are the supply and communication lines to worry about and the consequent red tape...how I hate red tape. These lines can be quite labyrinthine in their complexity so that even if you do get through to Earth you may not be in the right place or there's that never-ending dull music wearing you down. You can feel like those on Earth have forgotten you and that you need help or are too busy getting on with other things or just don't get it or think well you chose to live there...here have another form to fill out...have you had that assessment made...we'll get back to you. Oh NO! they've hung up...here we go again...we need a new wireless remote system that actually works. Slowly slowly it wears away.

Santa design by Natalie Bird (this came pre-printed...perfect for someone who couldn't be bothered tracing LOL)

Then all of a sudden a phone answers, the person is able to get back to you and my God something is going to happen...Woo Hoo...small victory it may be, but it feels good. And you find another connection that leads to an online quilting group with a reliable exchange. Suddenly things are not looking so bleak :)

I've been participating in Quilt Fabric Delights (QFD), Christmas in July and loving it. It has been fun and had really helped shift me out of my apathy. There's this lovely wall hanging by Gail Pan, a divine advent calender gorgeous stockings, xmas bags, a pincushion, trees, ornaments and much more. Whats more, I'll have no excuse for being disorganised for Christmas this year (knock on wood LOL)

Stitchery design by Gail Pan...stitched with different variegated threads. I just lurve variegated threads :)

Whats more I've joined an exercise group thats just for Earth expats like me :) Ahh I think I might go exploring again soon. Hey has the new breathing apparatus arrived yet!


Love and hugs to you all, Sharon

Debbie

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEBBIE


Today is my sister Debbie's birthday...I'm kinda using it to get blogging again :) Hopefully I can then move on and her birthday is certainly cause for celebration :)

I am one of 3 sisters, Debbie being the middle one and Jenny the youngest. She is apparently, therefore, the most stable one and suffers from middle child syndrome (whatever that it :). She is certainly the peacemaker, the one everyone turns to when we need help. I think she was born with a maternal instinct :) We all love her dearly and would be lost without her. We (her family, even me LOL) have occasionally gone to far, but she rarely snaps and tells us to just get on with it. Like my father we wonder what we did wrong on these rare occasions LOL and why did she snap...that is until we have calmed down. She also has trouble saying "no" and often finds herself up to her ears and more because of this....I mean there is only so much you can fit into the day. Actually in this she has perhaps changed little as I remember stories of her being so busy that she would forget to go to the loo...then a mad dash would ensue.
Of course we've had our "fights" and the twos

Debbie and me

against one...interestingly rarely was Debbie the one (most notably when she had the audacity to let some guy take up her time...she later married him and we've long got over it LOL) She was physically stronger that me and went through a stage of just picking me up and walking off with me...I soon learn't to carry on my converstions regardless.

Mum, Debbie, me and Dad

Though I do remember her asking me (with great concern) what you did about boys as they were stronger than her...not something she had had to deal with. I couldn't stop laughing (not very sensitive of me I know).


Mum, Jenny, me and Debbie

Me, Jenny and Debbie (below; taken shortly before we moved to Australia)


My sister has always been clever with her hands. She has made dolls, teddy bears, done collages, cross-stitch, made clothes and costumes, patchwork etc. All very pinchable LOL...ahhh!! Her latest obsession is papercraft and she makes the most divine cards. She is responsible for me doing both folkart and patchwork...though the cheeky girl has moved on LOL
Jenny is also a crafter, and although she has little time for it, we all love going to the odd craft show together. Looking forward to that soon :)

Well Debs, I hope I haven't embarrassed you too much...I did say the photos were old. I'll give you a big hug when I see you...ok I know that isn't unusual.

Have a wonderful day XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOX

love Sharon