Bits of Everything

Well I nearly missed December.

I've been flat out busy chasing my tail one day and staring at the ceiling bored the next!

I am enjoying being on holidays, who wouldn't, right?

My boys are away for a few weeks so I'm feeling a bit out of sorts which will probably reflect in this post.

We did sneak in a very quick trip to the beach the day before they left.

We were there not even an hour and got quite burnt.

I hadn't realized how hot it was.

Later in the afternoon I popped the sprinkler on to water the vege garden and the ducks took advantage of the cool spray.

That is Sniffles watching me take pictures, a very wary duck who gets her name from her regular sneezing.

Scooter is head down-bum up as always. She gets her name from the way she scoots around the back lawn chasing flies.

I had another go at wood burning.

This is just a furniture leg/foot/thingo from Bunnings that I burned the designs (found on Pinterest) onto.

I pencilled them on freehand but couldn't erase the leftover visible pencil off after, so I hope I remember that next time.

Also found on Pinterest was this cool idea for recycling toilet paper rolls.

The video showed measuring but I am not one for such formalities, so the roll was cut into strips and hot-glued into a snowflake design.

*note to self, must remember to respect carpet and not use hot-glue on it!!

 I have only made two so far.

The first I painted after assembling but it was quite tricky to get into all the little nooks so the second I spray painted.

Again a bit fiddly and seemed to waste a bit of paint trying to get all the hidey bits.

I have pre-painted a few rolls to make some more.

Add glitter at the end and voila, festiveness!

I've been working through some books in the quiet time.

I read 'Mum, I Wish I Was Dead' by Adam Schwartz. A recount of a a teenage boys battle to overcome depression. His openness gives valuable insight that has, and will continue to help families in similar situations.

I started a few pages of 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' by Lionel Shriver but couldn't get into it. It's tale is based on a fictional school shooting and is formatted in the way of letters from the shooter's mother to his father. From what I read in those few pages it seemed hard to grasp onto as there was far too much information or 'scene setting' in the memories recounted in the letters that wouldn't typically need to be described to someone who was actually there. So simply for the formatting, I didn't enjoy the read but will try again.

I am almost halfway through 'The Denniston Rose' by Jenny Pattrick. A book given to me by Elvis' mum with a good review. I am so far really enjoying it.

Yesterday I bought 'The Year Of The Farmer' by Rosalie Ham, who also wrote 'The Dressmaker'. I haven't read that but love the movie so will one day get a copy.

I also bought 'In Pieces', Sally Fields' memoir. I adore her acting so am eager to read about her life. I had only seen a few movies with her (Forrest Gump, Mrs Doubtfire..) but a few years ago was introduced to Gidget and holy guacamole she is the cutest, sassiest, and most down-to-earth person you could hope to be friends with! Haha!

The sun is shining beautifully outside and I knew I should've gone out and enjoyed it earlier, now the sea breeze has set in and is making a pain of itself as it often does to my hot little temper, blowing the curtain in my face so I can't see and making me cold.

Big problems hey??

Well I have babbled on more than enough now.

I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and were safe and happy surrounded by friends and family.

I will definitely make the most of my late Christmas when my babies get home in over a week. Until then...

Oh, I wanted to share a funny picture of my silly cat.

Ever since the first day bringing her home from the adoption shelter she has been a tongue-poker!

It's like she just forgets to put it back after cleaning or yawning!

So funny :)

Ooohh and one more thing I wanted to share..

I was recently loaned a copy of 'Walk the Line', the movie about Johnny Cash and June Carter-Cash starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.

I do wish I was warned about a sad part very early in the movie,  probably would've howled my eyes out regardless, but I LOVED it and have been youtubing clips of Johnny and June since.

Oh, to be loved like Johnny loved June ❤

It breaks my heart and mends it all at once!

Summery Sunshine

The first day of Summer included wind, rain and warm clothes.

Fine by me, I don't handle the heat so well so let's just ease into it.

The second day of Summer was beautifully sunny and warm, though still a bit windy but we live on the coast so there's not much avoiding it.

I tried by tucking myself away in a corner of the yard under the grapevine.

I'm currently reading the fourth book in the Miss Peregrine series by Ransom Riggs, 'Map of Days'.

The last book I read was 'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett and I am now obsessed with it and it's film. Honestly, the best book I have read in a very long time! I gave a copy too Elvis' mum and she said the same thing!

So I defs recommend you find yourself a copy and watch the movie too, but after you've read the book ;)

I started off rushing to get through 'A Map of Days' because I am so consumed by 'The Help' I wanted to re-read it but am now absorbed into the adventures of the Peculiar Children again. They are a great series.

I was stung by a bee last Wednesday.

I'm not allergic but I had the most severe reaction I've ever had which was scary but also funny.

Luckily the sting was on the foot otherwise it would not have been funny and perhaps I wouldn't even be typing this post.

I was on the phone to Elvis while he was at work. I am not one of those people who can sit still while on the phone, I wander about the house or garden, as I did this particular call.

I had just taken two barefooted steps on the back lawn and holy bajeebus the pain!

I knew immediately it was a bee but the pain was incredible!

I started hopping about literally yelling "ow ow ow ow!, trying to shake the still attached bee from my foot.

Elvis went into panic mode, yelling ('coz that helps!)..

Elvis: WHAT'S HAPPENING?! WHAT'S GOING ON?! WHAT'S WRONG?!

Me: A BEE!!

Elvis: WHERE?!

Me: MY FOOT!!

Elvis: WHERE ARE YOUR SHOES?!?

Me: NOT ON MY FEET!!!!

So while still being chastised I hopped to the bathroom to scrape the stinger out with tweezers (not sure when the bee left the scene).

It's funny now but I couldn't believe my rotten luck for just happening to be on the phone when it happened. Elvis is always at me for not wearing shoes. Come on, it's my house and garden, there's no prickles and I dodge the duck poo blindfolded ;)

I sent myself to the couch for the afternoon to rest but the pain was shocking, I almost cried!

By the evening my foot was swelling, redness spreading and the pain so bad I could no longer put any pressure on it. I tried to ice it and even a cold flannel but the pressure from them hurt beyond belief.

My boys were amazing though, they stepped up and did extra chores to help me out and even assisted me as a pair of crutches so I could get to the toilet and brush my teeth.

The next day the pain was better but oh boy had my foot swollen up!

I limped into work hoping I could just do a half day as I know they are strapped for relief workers at this time of year.

They took on look at my foot and sent me home.

My friend I work with was caring but found my new 'cankle' hilarious and enjoyed herself while telling other coworkers that I had developed Elephantitis!

So funny ;)

It is still swollen today, four days later, but aside from itchiness it's ok.

My last beesting (on the pinky) swelled quite badly too, so I'm a bit worried I am developing a mild allergy.

Let's just hope that any more stings I may get are nowhere near my face or neck!

I enjoyed the sunshine today and actually being able to walk properly.

I hadn't done anything around the house because of the sting so I've got a fair way through my book.

So it was super nice to pick some veggies for dinner.

Nothing like some buttered carrots, silverbeet and broad beans sautéed in seasonings, mashed tatoes and meatloaf with a bbq glaze.

Yesterday's pavlova for sweets ❤

I received some bad news regarding my Dad on Wednesday evening.

I mentioned in my last (?) post that we had only just regained contact and put our differences aside because his health isn't too good..

I don't want to go into detail, I haven't wanted to talk about it at all, to anyone.

Despite our disagreements and stubbornness, I can't imagine life knowing my father wont answer the phone should I call.

On Tuesday night he took a bad turn.

Mum convinced him to go to the hospital by Wednesday evening and he was flown to the city for treatment.

I don't know the extent of his illnesses or the injury sustained.

I feel out of the loop because I don't live either in the town he lives or the city he is hospitalized in.

I'm terrified he won't be going home.

But I can't think like that.

I'm trying to keep busy so I don't have time to think like that.

So while Elvis is working such long days I get my snuggles from my boys and this booful girl.

And comfort foods ;)

Don't tell Elvis I let her on the bed ❤❤❤