Tomorrow

The Tomorrow when the war began series first came out when I was in primary school and had a huge influence on how my reading preferences developed over the years (I still love to read books set in war time). Sadly by the time the last few in the series were released, I had lost momentum/interest (reading wise, they are aimed at a young teenage audience). I decided last week to re-read the series including the last 2 which I had never read (I can't believe I waited 15 years from reading the first book to finding out what happened in the end!) I really loved the series as a kid, as I mentioned they are aimed at younger readers, however, I still enjoyed the series at this age (although I wouldn't recommend reading them all in one go! 7 in 6 days! Phew!). The movie of the first book comes out tomorrow (here is the trailer) I'm generally in the camp of - books are better then the movies made of them - but I must admit I'm looking forward to seeing it!

26

I turned 26 a few weeks ago. My wonderful husbeast and boy gifted to me this amazing Cat Rabbit fox from the Rainy days exhibition at Cube. I can honestly say that I don't feel too old, or too young, I feel just right (like Goldilocks!). When I was a teenager, it was all about what I could do once I was 16 or 18 or an adult... when I met Blair it was all about when he might ask me to marry him, buying a house, having children, always waiting for then next big thing.

Now I regularly make a conscience decision to enjoy what I have for now and not be so focused on the future that I miss the present, easier said then done of course, but I think I'm getting better at it (I hope I am). I still have day dreams about things I'd like for the future and they are very important to me, but enjoying today for what it is - totally awesome.

Minor rant

The election ... I don't want to go on about it, but I do have a minor rant.

Facebook has really made this election unpleasant for me, I think everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I'm not really impressed with open and explicit generalisations of 'everyone is an idiot if you don't agree with me" type status updates or "friends don't let friends vote for .....", Another loathe is the "if such-and-such gets in, I'm leaving the country". I had the right and responsibility to vote towards the outcome of one electorate out of 150, as did all eligible Australians and by our powers combined there is a hung parliament, I just can't listen to anymore whinging on Facebook, everyone had their say when they voted, now please, can we have a little shush? Facebook isn't the place, if you want to have a rant - get a blog.

It is so nice to confide in you xx

A lovely and generous gal

How lucky am I!? The gorgeous Sally has sent me a beautiful package in the mail, above is a few images of what she sent, all so lovely and even more that I haven't shown. Thank you so much Sally, I am blown away and feel totally spoilt and happy.

Pre-spring clean

We've been pre-spring cleaning at our place. Here is a collection garbage bags full of sheets, towels, blankets and clothing awaiting the journey to their new lives via Salvos. I feel a bit embarrassed how easy it is to, A: accumulate so much stuff and B: know that I will hardly miss it. It seems as though things have been tight for the op-shops around here, most of them have signs, desperate for donations of goods. I suppose as we all tighten our purse strings, things get even tighter for charities that depend on giving. Plus thrifting is all the rage these days (I'd just like to say I did it before all the cool kids were, wink!), so higher demand too.

We've had a very dry winter here, but a few nights ago there was an almighty down pour (like a months rainfall in 12 hours!) and all I could think of was how lucky I was to be able to sleep in my comfy, warm bed, while others less fortunate had to sleep outside in the cold, wind and rain.

I'm sorry, I'm really not trying to preach, I just wanted to share what has been on my heart.

I encourage you to have a good ol' clear out, the money raised from selling your donations supports fantastic things like this and this, alternatively making a direct donation. Don't you love the feeling of walking past a cupboard, not even having to look in it to know that it is clean and tidy? I do.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend xx

I'm so crafty...

...I make people

Good news everyone, baby number two is on it's merry little way into our world! I've been thinking about these verses from Psalm 139

:: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well::

The imagery of the little one being knitted and created, is a beautiful one to me. The husbeast asks me what I've been up to for the day "Oh, just growing bones and lungs and tiny fingernails" I say, no wonder I feel so utterly zonked! Our little Baba Ganoush is due in February.

In other news, Blair passed his big clinical exam! He has been studying for the last 18months, staying late at work, going away to conferences etc. All his hard work has been to become an advanced trainee for Physician training (to become a consultant geriatrician (old people doctor) for those of you playing at home). Well done Blair, you are my hero! Now things should de-stress-ify at our place, well, accept of course that we are moving to Melbourne and having a baby in the same month (good timing, I know!)!

Image is of The Boy (Roman) 21 week scan

Things making me happy

- Cheap and cheery bunch of jonquils

- A chat with my sister this morning

- Camellias from my Mum's garden

- Looking at old photographs

- The kind lady at the supermarket who offered to park my trolley for me while I was struggling to get my octopus into his car seat.

- A giggling little boy (who is now sound asleep)

- Cuddles and kisses with the husbeast (who seems less stressed about his exam, for which I am both happy and grateful)

- Going to bed early (well in about 10 mins from now!) in the knowledge that I love and am loved.

... and finding this precious moment to share my happiness with you. I hope that there has been happiness in your day too. xx

While the cat's away

Well in this case the 'cat' is my sewing machine and the 'mice'... crochet. Oh it's so nice to be in-touch with my yarnier side again! I'm starting a little blanket project using the centre round from one of Jan Eaton's books (200 squares). The plan is to make it in yellow, cream and grey and work on only one colour at a time... good plan (well, I'm hoping it means I will get it finished anyway). So far I have 20 little happy yellow squares, this baby will be done in no time :)

Rudey nudey

I've been looking for an easel for The Boy for a while. I'm not a big fan of plastic branded things which are the easiest to find, and not prepared to pay $120 plus for a lovely wooden one, so settled instead for a dooer-upper from the local tip shop for $4. Yes, it's covered in paint, chalk, stickers and an odd arty nude skillfully hidden under a train magnet, but after a good clean - it's come up as-good-as-new.

No doubt by the time The Boy is done, it may be sporting another naughty masterpiece, but I can only hope with a doctor for a father, that the anatomy will be a little more accurate. Two penis' and one testicle - well, he looks pretty happy.

Lentil love

Do you have a favourite recipe that your partner/kids/flatmates dislike? I adore my hearty red lentil soup but my husbeast is dead against it (apparently it tastes like ground up hippies?) I certainly don't think of lentils as being hippy food, but a total deliciousness personified in lentil form. Maybe he'll come around one day, but lentil then, more for me!

Hearty red lentil soup

2 tablespoons butter

1 medium onion

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cumin

250g dried red lentils

2 tablespoons of chicken stock powder

2-3 litre of water (alternatively you could omit the stock powder and use real stock)

2 x 400g tins of diced tomatoes

Fry off diced onion in butter :: add ginger and cumin, stirring until fragrant :: add rinsed lentils, chicken stock, water and tomatoes :: simmer until lentils are cooked through (but not mushy) :: yum

I had one of my long awaited wishes granted to me this week via this recipe. I love to cook food for people and I always had a needy desire for someone to love what I made them so much they asked for the recipe, whoop whoop.. I feel fulfilled and happy, thanks friend, you know who you are xx

EDIT:: I just published this post and realised the image looks suspiciously spew like, I assure you this is more about my photography skills then it is about the soup.