Eclectica

Something old.

These tulips were $3 because they were a bit past their use by date...but aren't we all?

Something new.

This is a new evening project that I'll show you more of soon. The crochet bug really has me in its hold lately. If you search around you can learn something new each time you make something.

 Something borrowed.

This could also be titled, "Youth with Euphonium", "Boy with Baritone" or "Teen with Tuba". Either way he is so ready to ditch it which is a shame after four years. Why do they give primary school children instruments to play that they don't like and won't continue with? Why???

You- phone- me- mum!

Something blue.

This malevolent beasty was spied swimming the perimeter of the pool this morning. The wildlife is have a most leisurely time in there of late. The gormless critter will be disposed of by the Big Fella post haste when he gets home. 

If I find one under the house I will gingerly place a bucket over it until somebody else deals with it. They are one of my pet hates. More than bush turkeys! In fact if you put them in a coop together they might just do each other in. We rarely find them up here on the ridge. There are more down closer to the creeks.

Forgive me, overseas readers, but these nasty things were introduced to our sunny shores in a huge environmental bungle decades ago and now have reached plague proportions. They are the amphibian cockroach in these parts!

Prehistoric streamlining. Dive deep, Mr Ugly, 'cos we're a-coming for you!

To finish on a prettier note: finally, a cool breeze!

Meet the Treebles.

Friday I had mother guilt.
I was dog tired. This cancer treatment thing is so very inconvenient.
The Short one came in and said nobody would play with her. The big boys were being pod people on their first day of holidays. Cyber zombies!
The game she wanted to play is fairly tedious to be honest.

Both players get a quandong seed and take turns to roll it. Then you pick a random number and count it out on a numberless board. Get it? After three rolls I get drowsy so we decided to make stuff instead.

1. Toilet rolls and googly eyes found deep in the cobwebby art cupboard.

2. Fabric scraps cut into rough rectangles.

3. Glue the frocks on the t.p. rolls.

4. Observe that baldness is not a bad look even on a toilet roll person. Shorty disagrees. So...

5. Make pom pom hair. Roll it round your hand, tie it in a bundle...

and let the kiddo cut hair legally that is not her own.

6. Test run. The Short one wants more face parts and frilly bits from the sewing box.

 Finally! There are only six here but after a long time in the Loo of Isolation (laundry loo), a teenager provided us with another blank t.p. body.

 Each one  represents a member of our family. Who will be Mother???

It seems these two are the parents of the toilet roll feebles. Treebles? One is a bit of a clown and the other has pink crossed eyes. That must be me.

It was their fifteen year anniversary the same night. The Big Fella got a roast dinner, his own bathroom cleaned from top to bottom and a 3D family portrait made by his own Shorty Mc Snorty. We were both asleep by nine o'clock!

His flowers uncannily match the Treeble's hair colours. A match made in Heaven?

Happy Anniversary Big Fella! x

Spring-a-ding-ding!

Spring has finally sprung in these parts with the most glorious of mild sunny days.It has also been heralded by many signs and you know how I love my 'signs'!

This bunch of blue lushness arrived on the last day of winter clutched in a little visitor's arms with yet another lovely meal. There is something about irises that just explodes with joy and spring and all things vibrant and new. 

The windows to the mountains were similarly vibrant on Saturday morning with Spring ringing in the blueness of the sky and blooming wisteria- already!

Of course, some see Spring as a time to set things in order.

 We were also celebrating my last visit hopefully, ever, to the keeno place. Since champagne and good food were not desirable, I expressed my happiness through a good pedicure with single coloured toenails. Ironically, a package arrived the next day containing another celebration which I suspect may contain many hued toenails from all over the world! When Anna dropped in Sunday it was still unopened. It will remain so until I feel well enough to open it without associating the keeno sickness with the contents. She apologised that it was late but I could not think of a more timely arrival than the week of the final treatment. I will share it with you when it is opened next week!

We did have a big week- end in spite of the keeno cloud. Our school celebrated its 100 year anniversary and it was just too much fun to miss. A lot of the celebrations have been compromised this year including the boys' concerts on Thursday and Friday nights. This time the good drugs were still on form for Saturday. There was a trash'n'treasure but no Bitossi this year although I was a bit taken with the shape of this little drawer set. It was already sold though.

What could be more Springy than baby animals drinking from bottles with that besotted newborn concentration...

and first timers on tea cup rides.....

 and first timers with fairy floss.

And FIREWORKS! I was grinning in the dark from ear to ear! It was a great celebration of one hundred years and spring and new life in many more ways than one!

Can you see the iris in this one?

The Gifts that Keep on Giving

Lovely Dr J. who took Lefty to 'live on a farm', told me some more tit bits on Friday which put me in a bad mood for Saturday. She says pathology is the "gift that keeps on giving".

I can think of some much nicer gifts. 

They give you lots of reading material when you have the big 'C'. It is like Cancer 101 in one of those condensed courses.

They even have booklets on gift advice for your friends and family. Mine must have read all the literature before me because they ticked all the boxes.

Their suggestions included-

Flowers from your garden:
There were copious, luscious flowers both at the hospital and still arriving here including all my favourites. The tulips only lasted a day or two but were worth every minute!

Some came from as far afield as New Zealand without so much as a wilted zinnia!

Hugs: 

I have received wonderful gentle hugs from all and sundry, even my dentist and the childcare ladies, the wonderful women who keep bringing food and my sweet friends, family and over zealous children.

Hand, foot or whole body massage:

Thoughtful friends have bestowed me with a couple of great foot and shoulder massages and reapplication of rainbow toes. The gifted eye pillow provides a lovely eyeball massage for the new bags that are developing. That must be a side effect!

A treasure box for cards and letters:

 I can't decide what to title it...'C' is also for cookie .....2012......the 'C' files...? Any suggestions welcome!

A journal:

The Cancer Council gives you lots of journals to write in but I have you lot and my old 2012 diary. Friends have been more inclined to give me canvases and sketchbooks. I like that a lot.

A painting from a child:

There has been art work from several children, a lovely Ellen Giggenbach print, 

carvings from Samoa, op shop goodies from my brother and a wood block painting from the lovely Lairy godmother's collection.  Look! It's a hospital vinaigrette!! The jewellery has been most inspiring too. As well as the ceramic dove.....

there was rainbow jewellery for all the sisters distributed by one and a lovely resin bangle from another.

A sweet treat;

These came in the form of liquorice, lollies, cookies, cakes, special tea, 

sorbet, cheeses, wines and loaves. All pretty sweet to me!

                                                      

Novels or magazines:

Reading material included of lots of lovely house mags, art mags, small tomes on philosophy and journeys and this Dawn French book which I have yet to finish but am enjoying in small instalments.

Anything that will make her laugh:

This gorgeous bit of frippery came direct from the Samoan bra factory to my hospital room. There should be one in every care pack at the cancer unit. It hung in glorious cheek on the wall of my room to amuse me constantly.

If you have one, offer your holiday house for a break: 

If you ignore it, it will come..

Meanwhile here's a gift back at you. Anyone that knows MMMC, knows her friend, actor, raconteur and day time talk show host, Horsey. Is it possible he was a male model in the early years before he had his ears done? Horsey, tell me the name of your surgeon!