I hardly ever go to K-Mart because it's out of my way, and unless I'm on the hunt for something I try not to exert myself overly much (which may account for the extra dress size in the past year...hmmm). But I managed to find myself near one last week (a K-Mart, not a dress size) and thought I'd have a meander...because meandering is not at all related to the aforementioned exertion. And I'm glad I did, because I spotted these beautiful potted chrysanthemums...aren't they a spectacular colour?

For the moment they're living in the silver ice bucket...which I even managed to give a shine, that's how excited about this plant I was...and I think they look great...although I probably could have chosen one with a few more leaves now I look at it...

...still, what a bargain...much cheaper than a bunch of flowers...

I'll plant them out in the courtyard garden when they're done with being inside and hope for the best...

Wish me luck with that! Apparently the MGM's dad used to grow and show chrysanthemums...and win prizes for them...in Walgett of all places (overseas bloggy peeps, Walgett is a very dusty little town way out west in New South Wales and as far as I can tell, not the centre of the chrysanthemum universe). Which makes me even more impressed...and I don't impress easily let me tell you!!

...but most importantly, thank you to everyone for your wonderful, kind, witty and caring comments last week about all things townhouse. I love that you take time out of your busy days to visit and I think my cold has almost disappeared. And hello and thank you to new followers as well...I really appreciate your support and hope that you get a little bit of tranquil here from time to time. Heaven knows blogworld is where I come for a good dose of serenity! The 22 year old and I worked together on the new blog header...I took the photo and he did the hard stuff...we hope you like it...and big hugs to you Ben. Apparently I was a difficult client...I find that very hard to believe :)

all images by me...quite pleased with them I am!

Warning: maternal pride alert...

I know you've probably seen this before, but I'm posting it for the first-born who is having her 25th birthday today...and who sent it to me in the first place. Surely she was thinking of me when she flung that image and those words through cyberspace!! Joking. OK, not really.

But today...today on this special day that marks 25 years since those excruciating life altering hours of induced labour ended with a 'c' section in a Brisbane hospital...too much information?!?...I am thinking about her magnificence. Because for sure, she looks magnificent don't you think? Even though I am horribly biased...and you will I know forgive me for this personal indulgence...

But more importantly to me, and to those who love her and who are lucky enough to be loved by her, she is magnificent on so many other levels. Kind, thoughtful, insightful, smart, witty, supportive, talented, accepting, forgiving, generous. And I could go on....but for now my gorgeous girl...and because I never told you enough when you were growing up...you are, indeed, a magnificent creature and one of the finest people I know. 

We love you Jessica Faith.

[And if that doesn't get me into a good nursing home I don't know what will! Joking bloggy peeps, joking...]

...and a late addition to this post...a picture of the vampire slayer, but only because Jess loves her...and it's her birthday...and I'm feeling generous

image 1 from here; image 2 stolen from the first-born's Facebook page, because, as it was already 'out there', I can't be shot for posting it! image 3 by me on a rare occasion when the slayer wasn't demanding to be fed

I wish I had some time to lie on a warm rock (wish my skin was that smooth as well!)...but there's just too much going on at work...and it's important...and it can't wait...and it's spilling into leisure time...just for the moment. Starting early and finishing late. So...as much as I hate to...I'm taking a few days away from the bloggy-world...to tough it out...do what needs to be done...and try and kick a few things into touch (to mix a metaphor or three). So that I can come back and play...a little more light heartedly (I was going to say a little less burdened but that seemed far too melodramatic even for me!). Hopefully I will see you all on Friday...it's the first-born's 25th birthday and I'm sure some soul food will be in order! Take care...I'll be missing you while I'm stoically avoiding you...you beings of mass distraction you! 

I think I was pointed in the direction of Sweet Paul when reading about his new on-line magazine at stylist Deborah McLean's fantastic blog Busy Being Fabulous.
I'm loving this magazine full of beautiful pictures (Paul describes himself as a food and prop stylist as well as crafter...and of course now an author!), great recipes, interviews, craft, wine tips and a few handy hints on entertaining. He's even got stuff for pets...maybe I can loan him the vampire slayer...permanently! I am I think, a bit besotted by his cleverness. Here's a taste of the Spring edition...

Paul also has a blog that you can find here. I'm dying to try the napkins he made by photocopying some blue and white china and transferring the image on to the fabric using some fancy transfer paper. Now that's ingenious!

Someone...anyone... please tell me what's not to love about this fella and his stuff. Apart from the fact that the seasons are all arse about and it's autumn in my part of the world!! Oh, and you can't hold it in your hot little hands (but that's just me and my magazine addiction talking).

all images from the Sweet Paul magazine or blog (links above)

You know I haven't been feeling too crash hot this week, and completely snowed under with work as well, so I asked the first-born to come to the rescue and write a post for me...and she did...and here it is! Enjoy.

So I know Fridays are all about food for the soul around here, and what better way to feed your true self than a mini-break with beautiful friends, great music and delicious treats. Last weekend a group of ten of us got the hell outa dodge (aka Sydney) and retreated to the peaceful beachside town of Patonga, which is about two hours out of the city, on the central coast. And if getting out of the hustle and bustle of ye old Sydney town (can I have a push and a shove with my takeaway coffee? Thanks!) wasn’t enough to whet our appetites, the fact that we were staying in designer digs certainly pushed us over our highly stimulated edge.

Dickebusch has been restored and renovated by the owners of Koskela, an interior design store in Surry Hills. You can read all about it here. I’m not sure where the name comes from. We may or may not have answered the house phone, ‘hello, dick and bush’ every time it rang. Mature, right. The house and furnishings are beyond beautiful and they really have thought of everything when it comes to making your stay as comfortable and hassle free as possible. (Beautiful linen, organic shampoo and body wash, fishing rods, mags galore, even a paella pan!) And the super cute and quirky design details bring an extra element; like you’re staying in a home not just a house. 

 

The surroundings and the virtually car-free roads inspired many a bicycle ride, something I haven’t done since I was about 13. Man, I love that feeling! So freeing. If only I didn’t bump my shins EVERY time I got on the thing I could have enjoyed the experience sans bruises.

 OK, these aren’t the bikes we rode, but how cute are they!

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend was the food. Glorious food! Everyone who knows me knows that I am quite the cook (MasterChef? Please. I wouldn’t waste my culinary talent by going on that show) Ha! OK, I can make a mean boiled egg but THAT’S IT, so I am immensely lucky my friends cook food that I would actually pay for it’s that bloody good. We were split into teams and each team was assigned a meal to prepare. So far so good. After the teams were decided however, there was no further discussion about what would actually be made; adds an element of surprise you see. SURPISE! We ended up with no less than 3 lamb roasts! True story. And no, it didn’t create any sense of competition at all. No… not at all. It was all so scrumptious; I have not eaten so well for a very long time. Special props to Carrie who made the best Pavlova I have ever tasted. And for the record, I was on a breakfast team and I chopped the whatevs out of those spring onions for the omelette.

Don’t forget the alcohol – scotch and dry, yum!

Needless to say it was a divine weekend; none of us wanted to leave. Thank you, thank you to my amazing friends. Maybe we can do it again sometime, eh kids?

Not much left for me to say except:

• why didn't I have that life when I was 25?
• thank you friends of Jess for continuing to feed her and can I please have Carrie's pav recipe?
• when do I get to go to Dickebusch?
• I'm not sure that I've actually seen the first born cook a boiled egg or anything else for that matter!

...and thank you my darling girl for filling in for your poor, sick (cough, splutter) mother...love you heaps and heaps. Isn't she wonderful.

all images by Jess using the Polaroid application on the iphone I most generously donated for her mobile phoning pleasure!

 

How hard could it be to make a clock? Pretty simple right? For some perhaps...stick with me while I give you a few lessons learned the hard way!

Lesson 1: when you think you have the right tools...you probably don't.

I had the plate which cost a whole $2.36 from a Target sale. I had a clock mechanism from a clock that was really cheap and I really didn't like. I had a drill of my very own. I had the MGM and his masonry drill bits (which I don't have). So, just drill a hole in the plate, pop in the mechanism and Bob's your uncle or Mame's your aunty (I wish). Ah, no. The masonry drill bit wasn't up to the task...leaving the MGM and his drill a bit...well, annoyed! This is as far as we got with the masonry drill bit...

...not very far at all. I do hope that you're impressed by the fact that I was clever enough to use masking tape so the drill didn't slip though!

Lesson 2: when you think it won't take long...it will.
So, of course I knew that a trip to Bunnings to get the right drill bit would be needed. I did that one lunchtime. It took a while to find someone other than a 12 year old who didn't have a clue to help me. Of course, that someone came in the form of a thirty something woman...yay girl power! Alas, I didn't take the clock mechanism with me (semi-blonde, pre-menopausal girl power!), and she assured me that a 6.5cm drill bit was the standard size (for what I'm not sure) and should be fine. Nope. So back to Bunnings last weekend to buy more of the little suckers incredibly useful drill bits...a pack just to make sure this time! Which is moving this clock from el-cheapo into a little bit more than budget! Oh well, the price of DIY.

But it worked, although even with the right drill bit it took about a gazillion hours! I left it on the kitchen bench and would give the drill a whirl (or a whir) every time I walked past...until...hallelujah...

Lesson 3: when you think you're clever enough to do it as effortlessly as everyone else makes it look in blogworld...you aren't.

See Lessons 1 and 2 above for why that's as true as true can be!!

Lesson 4: when you think it's all too much trouble...it might not be.

I think it looks pretty good hanging in my bedroom. And that cat etching (Miss Chin by Australian artist  Frances Luke) is a lot less trouble than the vampire slayer...although it does look a bit evil...sorry about the reflection off the glass..

Lesson 5: if it makes you happy, and it actually tells the time...it was worth it!

And it does...tell the time...really well. Even without having any numbers on it...because that was a whole world of pain I wasn't going anywhere near!

all images by me; the good, the bad and the just plain ugly.

And if you're after a bit of black and white of your own (did you like that segue?), don't forget to enter my glass art giveaway here. The MGM is mightily chuffed by all the lovely comments you've made BTW. Like the vampire slayer, he might be demanding his own blog soon!