I could gush about these two awards...honestly, I think I could probably gush for Australia. But you know...it's actually really hard to know what to say except thank you for these. I'll try though!

Thank you to two wonderful women who I don't know apart from in the blogosphere (but I very much wish I did); whose posts I never, ever, ever miss. Dash from The French Sampler gave me the Beautiful Blogger award and Jeanne from Collage of Life handed over the Happy 101..

I am honoured. Why? Because these women are intelligent, interesting, stylish, creative, thoughtful, fun, witty, thought provoking and so much more. I wish they didn't live on the other side of the world 'cause I'd be stalking them for sure (in a very nice and thoroughly appropriate way...can you stalk appropriately??) Do I feel like I deserve these awards...not really.  Am I going to take them...yes I am! 

If you haven't read Dash and Jeanne's blogs (and I'd be surprised if you hadn't) please go and do it. If you don't follow them already, you're mad...go on, hop to it (once you've read down to my very interesting fact at least!)

Playing by the rules of these awards...which, surprisingly I'm inclined to do...I'm meant to tell you seven things about me that you don't know (and quite frankly may not want to) and 10 things that make me happy. Now as well as gushing for Oz, I am also capable of going on...and on...and on....and.. I think it's in me to write a small blog novel if I were allowed. 

But, I won't...at least not today (I heard that collective sigh of relief). So what I thought I'd do...you can think a lot when you're at home sick, in between sleeping and answering work emails (knew the Crackberry was a bad idea!)...

...what I thought I'd do was honour the rules, but space it out a bit. A couple of things today, a few tomorrow...some next month...you know...ration me out (I just know I heard a yippee somewhere out there!!)

OK, ready...one thing you don't know about me. Starting with the glamorous stuff first because it's all downhill from here I assure you. I was at their wedding...those two below...

That, bloggy peeps in case you didn't know, is the King and Queen of Jordan on their wedding day. This is an official photo because I wouldn't dream of invading their privacy by posting a personal one. My friend Mary in Canada who reads this blog was there too and she'll confirm (hi Mary). See the soldier in the background? He parachuted into the palace grounds with the sword you see them cutting the cake with...awesome but highly risky in my humble opinion. And I was in the Army and I've jumped out of a plane (once) so I should know! And in case you're wondering why I was there...my ex-husband spent 12 months studying with (the now) King Abdullah at the Army Staff College in Camberley UK in 1990 (what a cracker of a year that was!!). Look, the staff college crest...owls have been in forever...

Come on...admit it...that was quite interesting.

And one thing that makes me very happy? (apart from the obvious MGM, the first born and the 22 year old...and the order is interchangeable depending on how nice they're being). Notice how I left out the vampire slayer who is never nice!

...books, books and more books...how I wish I had a book tree like this. I think that I could have rescued the ailing economy of a small nation with all the money I've spent on books in my lifetime, of all kinds. And magazines. But I justify my consumerism by telling myself that I am supporting an art form...and I am. One of my strongest childhood memories though is going to the local library every week with my dad all through my growing up years in Newcastle...this is my favourite home town beach...Nobby's...where I spent many an hour trying to impress the boys and get a tan (both spectacularly unsuccessfully)

Dad and I and my big sister would get out six books each (the maximum allowed) and read, and read, and read.  Much to the annoyance of my mother who we shamefully left with all the work and who didn't actually start to love reading until she was in her mid 60's...now you can't stop her!

I will pass these awards on...but I want to think about it a bit more, because, of course...I want you all to have them...but that's probably not the same as being given one...and I know how good that feels.

Did I say thanks! And thanks also to everyone who left a comment for me when I was a bit sickly yesterday. Starting to feel better, and yes...the 22 year old did look after me quite well. He's not silly!

Come back tomorrow and I'll show you a small project...that doesn't involve silver leaf, but was tricky in its own sweet way!

images by me and google...you'll know which is which I'm sure. And if you don't you'll forgive me...I'm still not 100%...cough!

...and at the risk of sounding like a broken record...don't forget to enter the giveaway

Well not proud to be YOUR mum (because obviously I'm not your mum)...proud to be THEIR mum...(not that I wouldn't be perfectly happy to be related to any of you of course!)

Thanks you two lovely, wonderful, talented and highly attractive children of mine for the joy you've given me...and the presents...and we'll just forget the other bits like the time....(oh ok, mum's the word...I'll save that for another post!)

 

And you can't get cranky at me for putting your photo on my blog...it's Mothers' Day and that requires niceness to your mother. I love you both...enormously...and I'm not joking about the proud bit.

And thank you also to the lovely people who read this blog, for all the kind comments over the last few days to say 'hang in there' after the crappy week I had. I do appreciate it very much...and a few hours at the hairdressers yesterday for cut, colour and coffees didn't hurt either!

Wishing you all a very happy day...a day on which there will be NO silver-leafing in the tranquil townhouse!

Please come back and visit tomorrow for my giveaway :)
all photos by me; it's rather difficult to take your own photo in a mirror I've discovered!

Sometimes life is great...sometimes...not so. I read a post a few days ago and knew that I wanted to share it for today's soul food friday (the one day of the blogging week where I try to be moderately thoughtful and deep!).  Julienne from Mostly Older than Me wrote about the connections of the blog world, and how...all of a sudden the items we see on the nightly news or read about in the paper are real...we are connected with the people who are living them because they are happening to other bloggers, or to their families or friends.  So please go and read Julienne's post here if you haven't already...she says it much better than I ever could. And her blog is always a great read...I never miss it.

And whatever your challenges are...today, tomorrow or the next day...I hope they're small enough to be manageable and big enough to be meaningful. Or if they're overwhelming, that you know there are people...everywhere...who can help, or at least help you heal. 

Now off you go and enjoy your weekends bloggy people! And may your challenges be only of the decorating kind. I know mine will be...that bloody silver leafed chair that must be finished!! And the vampire slayer who refuses to move off my bed or the air conditioning vent in the study...

...which is where she is here...guarding the pile of material I need to do something about...that's my Certificate IV in Colour and Design stuff she's sleeping on! Note to self: find time to start that course...this weekend!! Maybe should dip into that Wisdom book as well...or would that be called procrastination?

Thank you so much to my followers, old and new. Your support means a great deal, especially during less than fabulous weeks...like this one's been.

...and, the giveaway celebrating 100 supporters will be revealed sometime over the weekend...I promise :)

image 1 from here via here ; image 2 by me from a holiday in India; image 3 by me of that wretched cat (who is lobbying for her own blog with, I'd have to say [disappointingly!] some support from you lot...not happening on my watch bloggy peeps!)

I don't know why, but I start to feel pretty tired by the time Thursday rolls around...even the vampire slayer and I are sympatico at the moment...and that doesn't happen often believe me. Although she is not meant to be on my bed! Bad cat.

The first born and the 22 year old (collectively but lovingly known as the ferals...which is a highly inaccurate description but I'm keeping it!) would probably say the mid week fatigue is because I'm getting old...maybe...but I'm not in a nursing home yet!

Anyway, I think I'll reserve Thursdays for pretty pictures.  It's easier for me at this stage of the week and probably easier for you too...as I do have a tendency to waffle on a touch! Not today though...here you go...images from one of the books on my bookshelf....

It's got some nice advice...

...and some tranquil spaces

...just what I needed. How about you?

images by me; the book, Australian House and Garden Sanctuary published by ACP Books

I know I said I was going to do something simple with the trash and treasure glass bottles last night...but sorry...I didn't. After reading stories about garlic infused olive oil and the risk of botulism I decided I needed to do a bit more research first...good idea right?
So...drum roll...I finished off some silver leafing instead...

I wish I could say that it was a home-grown inspiration to silver leaf some lotus pods...but alas, it was not. I got the idea when I was scrolling through the delights from the post Terri (La Dolfina) did on the Summer House store in Mill Valley. I did a double take when I got to this photo...

Ha! I have lotus pods and I have silver leafing stuff...and if I don't get something, anything, silver leafed, there will be blogger revolt! So the inspiration came from La Dolfina...and the much needed silver leafing professional advice came from my bloggy BFF and artist Kerri from Driftwood Interiors (I love that woman!) I'm sure we were separated at birth...but she got the silver leaf talent! She's doing an awesome kitchen makeover at the moment and is being a complete tease about it (still got to love her though)...here's what she's revealed so far... keep on checking in to see whether she's finished

We email a fair bit and she sent me a message that partly went like this:

" I’m assuming you’re using cotton gloves so it [the silver leaf] doesn’t stick to your hands? I’m sure you are, but you’d be amazed at the number of my students who haven’t."

Ummm....no Kerri...you give me far too much credit, and actually I wouldn't be amazed by your students at all!! They however would probably be amazed that at my age I didn't know better. Ah, yep! Then I'm thinking...cotton cloves...who in the heck has got gotten gloves lying around? These are much more my style...

My mother probably has cotton gloves but she lives 5 hours drive away and would probably like a surprise visit...but no...no time...the silver leafing aficionados are waiting...patiently...sort of. Who would have thought you could buy cotton gloves from the supermarket along with the rubber ones...sheesh...still so much to learn!

Anyway...with weapons assembled (including a blush brush...another tip from Kerri) I was on my way...

There are no progress pictures I'm sorry...it is simply not possible to silver leaf AND take photos of yourself making a huge mess at the same time. Nor is it advisable if you want to come across as all accomplished!

When I'd finished, they were a bit too shiny...so I took to them with liquid shoe polish (black) to dirty them up a bit...the one on the right is untouched, the one on the left has been 'roughed up'...

I will give them a coat of something or other to protect them tonight but I just had to show you so I thought that could wait. Hope you like them...I'm thinking they're ok...and a whole lot cheaper than the real (silver) deal!

I'd better go and vacuum up all the little silver bits flying around my house now though...

all images except the leather gloves by me; that I of course googled. Oh yeah, plus the ones by Terri and Kerri of course! How could I forget my inspiration...!

And a quick post-script: when I woke up this morning I found that the amazing Dash from The French Sampler had given me the Beautiful Blogger award! I will thank her properly soon (need to get to work now) but I am truly very happy to get this from one of my very favourite bloggers...so thank you so much Dash. Now, what will I tell you all about myself...oh the possibilities!

Hi bloggy peeps. A very long day yesterday, flying to and from Melbourne ...with no time at all for anything other than...drive to the airport, hop on a plane...get the taxi into the city (Seriously, the traffic in the big smoke! It took longer to do that than it did to fly there)...run a workshop...20 minutes for a rushed lunch...run another workshop...get in a taxi to the airport...throw down a cold refreshing sauv blanc at the QANTAS club...hop on another plane...find the car somewhere in the carpark (actually that took me a while...well it was dark when I got there in the morning half asleep and dark when I got back there at night with the other half of me asleep)...drive home...collapse!
When I got home all I wanted to do was head here...

[...oops, proof positive that I don't always iron the pillowcases!]

... snuggle up with this...

...a riveting story (at least up to page 45 where I fell asleep) about a single mum of three teenagers who bans computers, mobiles, television, electronic games etc for six months as an experiment in living without electronic media (she is obviously not a blogger...and yes you read right...they were teenagers!) She even turned off the electricity for the first week to go cold turkey...no fridge, no air conditioning, no hair straightener, no google...eek!!

The author says that her family's "self imposed exile from the Information Age changed our lives indelibly - and infinitely for the better". I can't wait to read how.

Tonight I'm planning on doing something simple (very simple...because I'm still a bit weary) with these bottles that I bought at trash and treasure on Sunday for $10...

And as for that blasted delightfully fulfilling silver leafing...hopefully I will be in a position to reveal the project that has momentarily taken over from the chair in the next few days...maybe, possibly, fingers crossed I can finish it and it will look as I imagine it should look...just call me Pollyanna!!

book cover image from Book Depository (a source of books that I am completely besotted with...and it takes a lot to besot me!)

A very early start for me as I'm flying to Melbourne at 'sparrows'...back tonight, but it will be a very long day. I'm hoping that I've worked out how to schedule this post for when I'm in the air...if not, I have no idea when you might be reading this. So morning, afternoon or evening whatever the case may be!

You know how I said I was off to do some more work on this damn lovely chair? Well I didn't actually touch it over the weekend...blogger project panic procrastination perhaps? But I did try my hand at a few other things. They're not finished yet so here's just a sneak peek.

And sometime over the next few days I will tell you a funny silver leafing story...and reassure you that silver leafing will definitely not be my next career move!

I did manage to put these fabric hangers that I bought on our brief holiday in Leura in their intended spot though... 

I like how the carving on them echoes the tapa cloth fabric given to me by a dear friend who lived in Papua New Guinea for over 20 years. Kinda...sorta...yeah??

I'm not so happy with the way the tapa's been framed (I won't be going back there!) but I do love the piece itself...

And...my first give-away is starting to take shape...I'm very excited by it...here's a teaser for you...

And I planted some tulip and freesia bulbs in my tiny garden...have no idea if they'll grow...and no doubt I'll forget I've planted them... so hopefully come spring I'll have a nice surprise. See you soon bloggy peeps. Melbourne here I come...

images 1-5 by: "c'est moi, c'est moi I'm forced to admit" (hands up who remembers the musical Camelot?); image 6 by Aunty ABC (probably a QANTAS strike photo as they're all lined up at the terminal 'n all)