Long weekend

It has been a busy long weekend - and a sociable one for us - we had friends over for drinks, and the next day we learnt to play poker, and all wore silly hats. Thomas sat on my lap and checked out my cards. I don't think he has a very good poker face - that must be why I kept losing. I'm glad I convinced everyone to indulge me in a game of Pictionary, I'm much better at that (if I do say so myself).

On Sunday night we went out for dinner for Warren's birthday, just the two of us, alone and unaccompanied by our little one, for the first time since his birth - two other dear friends volunteered to babysit . It went really well, and Thomas didn't even stir while we were gone.

Then we went to Floriade yesterday afternoon - its a Canberra flower show thing. I thought Thomas might appreciate the flowers.



I think he appreciated this one a little too hard.



But look at that innocent face - no it couldn't have been him.



Not the most flattering photo, but a happy one nevertheless.



The flowers were very beautiful, especially backlit by the sun.



Today I did a five minute sewing project, to cover the awful cushion of our cane garden chair. We found the chair on the street years ago, and it is quite nice to sit on outside, but it is now looking very disreputable.



I had been meaning to make a proper cushion cover, but settled for just a drawstring circle. This is the underside. It literally took less than five minutes to cut a dodgy circle and turn under and stitch a casing for the cord. Elastic would have been better if we'd had any - I'd use that next time.



And the finished cushion. Lucy gave it her stamp of approval.

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PS Thanks so much for the lovely comments on the wedding photos, I still love looking at them. (To answer Rachel's daughter's question, I didn't wear sensible shoes - and my feet did get a little cold in the snow. Boots would have been a better idea, but white boots might have been a bit too ABBA for me!)

Happy Anniversary

Its been three years since Warren and I got married. It was such a perfect blissful day, one of the happiest in my life so far.



Our family and best friends came all the way to Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains for the wedding, and even though it was spring, it began to snow just before the ceremony, which turned the landscape into a winter wonderland. Of course Warren got out his cross country skis for this photo - I just love it.



We decided to do a lot of things ourselves, so I had fun learning how to make bouquets and centrepieces, and we got up early to buy our native flowers at the markets the day before (I think I 'd love to be a florist, if it wasn't for the early morning starts!)



Warren planned out all the music, and we made the decorations together, and I iced a mini wedding cake for each guest. We were rushing to get it all done the day before, but it all came together at the last moment, and I think the handmade touches added to the special feel of the day.



Our lovely friends also helped out in so many ways - I think I had the best bridesmaids in the world, and John took the most beautiful photos for us. We walked down the aisle as Cathy and Lamorna played clarinet and flute, and Anne came all the way from London to be Warren's best 'mate'.



Although it was such a cold day, I felt completely warm, I think with love and excitement, and the warmth and generosity of all our friends and relatives who shared the day with us.



It feels like just yesterday, but also like a lifetime ago, as we have moved to Canberra, made more friends, taken on new jobs, and have become a family with the birth of Thomas. Life with a baby has taken on a whole new dimension, lots of ups and downs, but mostly ups, and I have seen a new side of Warren as he has become a wonderful caring father to our little boy.

Looking forward to many happy anniversaries to come.

A wonderful week away

We have just got back from our trip to Great Keppel Island. We had a few mishaps getting there and back (the ferry to the island didn't go out when we arrived because of a storm, and then we managed to miss the first one the next day - don't ask), but once we actually got there the weather cleared and we had a fabulous time.



Thomas was remarkably obliging, and was very happy to go for long bushwalks in the backpack. He really loved looking around, and laughed every time he managed to grasp passing leaves and flowers.



We took him to the beach, and Warren and I each took turns snorkling in the clear (but still a bit chilly) water while the other played with Thomas in the sand. He also loved hanging out in the spa, and it had the helpful effect of making him very sleepy too. I wish we had one at home.



On our last day we managed to get a babysitter for a couple of blissful hours while Thomas slept, and we went snorkling together at the coral reef at Shelving beach. The fish were quite incredible - such variety and colours, and there was some pretty coral out there. I even saw a huge turtle swimming right in front of me, but when I turned to show Warren it disappeared, and he keeps teasing me that I imagined it.



There were lots of starfish about. This one had just been washed ashore - I took it back out to the sea, and hope it might still be alive and well, doing whatever it is that starfish do.



Our room was pretty basic, but it was hard to beat the view from the porch, especially at sunset, with a glass of wine in hand, and Thomas napping peacefully inside.



I have to confess that I got no knitting done at all, because I discovered that I'd taken the wrong needles, but I wasn't too sad about that really - it was refreshing to have a complete break from the works in progress, and to soak up the natural beauty, and enjoy the family time.




My mum and dad picked us up from the airport, and Thomas basked in an evening of doting grandparents' attention and lots of cuddles and toys, and also finally got to meet my brother Steve who was staying over too.

All in all, a wonderful week indeed.

Spring in the air

Spring has suddenly arrived in Canberra with glorious sunshine and a profusion of blossoms, bursting from branches in all shades of white and pink.





It reminds me of some of the beautiful iznik tiles I saw in the mosques in Turkey, as well as all the wonderful Japanese designs based on sakura cherry blossoms.



Warren has just got a new job, which is long overdue, and very exciting. We decided to take a quick holiday (with Thomas) to Great Keppel Island in Queensland for a week, to celebrate. We're leaving tomorrow and I can't wait.

This meant that I had to face buying a new swimsuit - very daunting post baby, but I managed to find one which wasn't too dreadful, and I finally got back on the sewing machine to whip up two very simple wrap around skirts to cover up out of the water.



This photo is pretty awful, because I didn't have time to take it in daylight (and couldn't face modeling them right now!)

I'll take some knitting, and hope to have lots of lovely photos to show when I get back

Birds on the wall

I decided that this little wallhanging had been waiting around to be quilted for too long, and the nursery was looking very bare, so I just bound the edges and hung it up. I don't think Thomas will notice the difference, and I can always come back and quilt it later. It felt good just to take it off the to do list.



Thomas has been very cute, smiling and laughing at the birdies and saying goodnight to them (well gurgling something unintelligible, but you know..)



I think he might have made the connection to the real birdies which are visiting our backyard. This is a terrible photo, but you can see a pair of rainbow coloured birds here, they are Eastern Rosellas - common in Canberra, but strikingly beautiful.



Thomas has now learned to crawl (I blame the other babies at childcare for teaching him) and has gone straight to trying to pull himself up on anything he can get hold of, usually something unstable and dangerous, like the TV stand. Even when he finds something relatively benign, like the couch to clutch onto, he still wobbles perilously, with his legs shaking, and often forgets to hold on, so he pitches sideways and I have to be quick to catch him.

This has added a new dimension to my days at home with him, no more putting him down to play happily with some toys, now I'm always hovering around anxiously, retrieving him from forbidden areas or waiting for him to topple over. We went to check out childproof fences and gates, but they are pretty ugly and hideously expensive. I think it would be cheaper to buy some new furniture.

I can see why Margie on BigLove just leaves her babies in the playpen all day. I got quite hooked on that polygamous soapie (as Warren calls it), and am a bit forlorn now its finished.

I think I'm ready for some more knitting, so I've snapped up a pattern for this gorgeous cardigan from six and a half stitches. I love the idea of combining fabric with knitting. How cute is that cheekybeaks fabric used on this cardie?! I'm wondering if I could make the fabric panels detachable, so that they could be swapped around to give a new look and for the inevitable mess that Thomas would spill down the front. I think I'll start on the 2yr size, ready for next winter.

Hooray, it's finished!

The cable knit jumper I've been working on forever for Thomas is finally done so he can wear it a few times before he grows out of it!

It actually fits well, but has a fair bit of stretch in the rib pattern, so perhaps I might be able to squeeze the poor boy into again it next winter.

It was from Debbie Bliss Simply Baby, and actually looks like the one in the photo - how amazing! I nearly ran out of yarn (I used Cleckheaton Country naturals), and was dismayed to find that it had been discontinued, but I managed to find some of the same colour online, and even in the same dyelot - a very lucky break.

We had a marvellous time on holidays in Melbourne, despite some cold and rainy weather.

I just love the many laneways and hidden treasures around the city, there seems to be artwork on the walls everywhere.

This mural is in a laneway of Flinders Lane in the CBD

The lovely seat is in Brunswick St, Fitzroy

And this is part of Federation Square, I love the jelly fish and the lights shining through bundles of twigs.

Of course we also did some skiing, this photo is from Lake Mountain, which is a resort just for cross country skiing.

After a lovely few days, we drove back via Cabramurra, where Warren was organising a ski race. There was a snap frost the next morning, which left all the trees outlined in the most delicate white.

And now we are back home and back to work and back to childcare. So far so good....

Slip sliding away

Time has got away from me again, and I really have nothing to show for the last couple of weeks except some cute photos of Thomas. These should at least please my mum.



Showing off that one tooth


and splashing in the new big bath



The snow has hardly stopped falling this season, which has been fabulous. We have been given an old sled contraption for Thomas which Warren can pull behind him while he skis. Thomas really enjoyed it, and ended up being so relaxed he fell asleep. I like this because it slows Warren down enough for me to keep up with him.




We are off to Melbourne and to the snow again in the next two weeks, before I finally head back to work. I am looking forward to shopping and creative inspiration in Melbourne - I love that city.



We are still enjoying watching a family of Rosellas, who visit our bird feeder every day. This one is a baby, with its green feathers, which will eventually become just red and blue.

And finally, in this random and rambling post, the lovely Kate tagged me to list 8 facts or habits about myself.

I have been procrastinating about this one, but here goes:

1. I love learning new crafts, and get wildly enthusiastic about every one, buying all the books and paraphenalia, but after I have mastered the basics, and starting several projects, I often find myself losing interest and getting hooked instead on something else. The only saving grace is that most of the time I will eventually come back to that craft and those unfinished projects again one day.

2. In recent years I have tried sewing, quilting, knitting, crochet (didn't get very far with that one) screen printing, batik, marbling, tie dye, mosaics, shrink plastic, silver jewellery, enamelling, acrylic painting, watercolours, pastels, polymer clay, pottery, embroidery and even cake decorating. You should see our garage.

3. I have a thing for animals, and get quite worried when I see dogs roaming around - I always think they must be lost, and have in the past rescued (Warren says kidnapped) a few wandering dogs and taken them to the vet to check their microchip and find their owners. One of these pups happened to live right where I had rescued him from - he was sitting right outside his home. Warren thinks that is pretty funny.

4. I am not a morning person.

5. I have had my drivers licence since I was about 20, but have never quite mastered driving - I still feel like I should have P plates on. Today I was driving Thomas home from childcare, and I got stuck behind a bus, but I was too nervous to change lanes in heavy traffic, so I stayed behind it and stopped and started all the way home. Luckily we weren't in a hurry.

6. I have developed a bad habit of watching Dr Phil while I have lunch. It's a good thing I'm going back to work next month.

7. I can't sit in a cafe or restaurant by myself unless I have something to read.

8. Once I start a book, I find it almost impossible to put down, and I can't do much else until I've finished it. I keep meaning to borrow some talking books from the library, so I can at least get some other things done.

Well that's it from me, time for bed. I won't tag anyone else right now, but please join in if you like.

A busy week

The first days of childcare went pretty well. My initial anxiety was instantly soothed on meeting his main carer, a lovely woman who has worked at this centre for thirty years, and has such a kind and reassuring manner. Thomas loved playing with all the new toys, especially some mobiles strung on elastic from the roof which had colourful shapes and bells attached. Funny how it is often the simplest things that kids enjoy most. I stayed with him the whole time during this orientation period, but next week I will try leaving him there for an hour or two.



Yesterday we went to a first birthday party for one of his little friends. Lovely food and wine for the adults, and amazing toys for the many babies - what more could you ask for! Here is Thomas sitting in the inflatable ball playland thing -at the back. He is now sitting up by himself and almost crawling.

I made a pop up card for the birthday boy. Thomas chewed up my first effort, but this second one worked ok.



The pop up part is very simple but kind of fun with the beak opening and shutting 'talking' as you open the card - I can't remember where I learnt this - I think it was a craft book I had as a child. I've drawn a couple of pictures to explain it at the end of this post, just in case you want to try it.



And, as you can see, after months of us thinking he must be teething, Thomas has finally got his first tooth. I hope the next ones don't take so long!

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Very simple instructions for the pop up bird card

You make the beak on one layer of paper, then stick it to another backing card and decorate - you can add a layer of a different colour behind the beak for the inside mouth colour. Have fun!

The Ski Season is upon us

I have become a very bad blogger over the last few weeks - I'm blaming it on the ski season, which has well and truly arrived.



We took Thomas to the snow again last weekend, and this time there was plenty of it. Sadly Warren used up the camera batteries on racing photos, so we didn't get any of the very cute Thomas in the backpack laughing as Warren gently skied down a little slope with him. This is the only photo we managed to take - inside the nordic shelter at Perisher.



I had a lovely lunch last week with a friend and her gorgeous little daughter - we went out to the nearby country town of Murrumbateman, on a beautiful crisp sunny winter day. This is a photo just outside the restaurant. Thomas really enjoyed having a little friend sharing the back seat and entertaining him, and both kids behaved amazingly well.



The cable knit jumper is progressing slowly - I've finally finished the back. I'm already starting to worry about whether I will have enough yarn to finish it. Our local shop has run out, so I might have to order some more.



Thomas has his first morning of childcare tomorrow. I think he will love it - fingers crossed.

Now to go and catch up on all the blogs I've missed reading over the last weeks.