Feeling Hopeful

I went down to the city on the weekend with a few of my - I was going to say 'girlfriends', but it doesn't do them justice, hmmnn... lets start again.
  I went down to the city on the weekend with a few mighty women I love for their resilience and intelligence, for some op-shopping and lunch.
It was a lovely day, and when I reviewed my haul in the evening I felt hopeful.

Hopeful that I will be able to forego TV and use my quiet evenings alone reading a beautiful story I have been wanting to read for a while.
Hopeful that the sun will soon be shining and I will be able to wear my new cute ($2!) sandals.
Hopeful that my black rice will be delicious, and I will be able to make my own version of my favourite multigrain rice (the shop that stocked it closed down :( )

We also have a caravan and annex on our front yard!  We have the use of Mum and Dad's caravan now, and I am hopeful of happy sunny family holidays.  Just seeing that rolled up annex door is a picture of happiness for me.  Summer holidays with family and friends are some of my warmest carefree memories, and putting all the worry aside, that is one thing that I would like to give my children.
  

Happy Anniversary Panda

Today is my 7th wedding anniversary! 

Wow, in seven years we have lived in 6 different houses, had two pregnancies and three children, moved 3000km north, then back again, lost one father and two grandfathers, done lots of the 'for poorer' and hardly any 'for richer'.  With the Panda I have skiied cross country in the Australian Alps, snorkelled with sharks on the Great Barrier Reef, slid down waterfalls, been eyed off by a dingo on Fraser Island, had a steam train ride in the Tasmanian Wilderness.
  When we told our families we were moving to Cairns, my Dad said "Well, you could stay here and have an ordinary life".  My life with the Panda is rarely easy, sometimes its not even comfortable and stable, but its also not ordinary either.  Many happy returns xxoo

Sunny Days

 The weather is slowly improving, and the grass is soooo green!  The White Cloud entertains the spawn old-school style, which I love (and so do they).

 

Big S loves his 'Lightning McQueen' jumper, which cost his Nona $30, and he is forever trying to pick it out of the washing.  When I found this plain black jumper for $3.50 I had the idea to applique it with some offcuts from the quilt I made for him, and Voila!  A second favourite jumper. 

 I tried to get a good picture, but everyone had to get in on the action, as usual!

When I have a scattered brain, I find a good rummage soothing.  It must be the primal drive to forage and gather, but it does help me chill out when I have too much on my mind.  I'm lucky that the op-shop down the road has everything $1 in big bins, perfect for rummaging.

 Today I got a green top, and Astro Boy t-shirt, and a 100% wool hand crocheted retro poncho.  I don't know where I would ever wear it, but I couldn't resist all that hard work for only $1!  I might find a friend who would like it.  I also got a big bag of covered coathangers for $2, I'm not sure why.

Derby Family Camping

Kids

Dogs

Campfire

 

You get the feeling that this is the way it was supposed to be, best weekend ever!

Team Zebra

 I have only ever wanted to ref, but when everyone else was getting excited about being drafted to one of my roller derby league's teams I was beginning to feel a little 'team envy'.  So in order to strengthen the identity and spirit of "Team Zebra" I decided to take the first step.  To FEEL like a team, you must LOOK like a team.

 

 Our team is made up of such a variation of people, I thought a helmet cover was an easy and universal way to go.

 

Inspires respect, no?  

I made two different patterns, one for lighter fabrics, one for heavier fabrics.  I am more than happy to share it with anyone who would like it, just let me know.

Love xo Screamstress

(Self portrait I painted on the back of one of my derby t-shirts, inspired by Munch's "The Scream" - you can probably figure out why I haven't been blogging much!)

Casserole

Sometimes we all want to hide.

Go back to a place where bad things don't happen.  Where a lion costume and a sparkly bolero is a fabulous choice.  Where your Dad is sitting on the couch, and your Mum has a casserole in the oven.
  I have a friend in mourning.  I know, once we've left the 'Neverland' of our chidhoods, we can't return.

It is tiny, and it doesn't make anything better, but here's a casserole for you, my friend.

Mum's Casserole

•  Roughly chop 1 carrot, 1 stick celery, 2 potatoes, 1 onion, 2 or 3 cloves of garlic, and put everything in a casserole dish with a lid.
• Cube some beef (however much you can afford), and roll around in a freezerbag with some flour (2 tbs roughly) and salt and pepper, and add to the casserole dish.
• Add one can of chopped tomatoes, and whatever other flavourings you like (ie. bbq sauce, worcestershire sauce, red wine)
• Add enough water to just cover.
• Cook in moderate oven for a minimum of two hours, stirring when you remember.

The Panda is Back!

 The Panda is back!  After four weeks absence, it is wonderful to have our family back together.  Something has to 'give' when he is away, and computer time is it. 

I have also really taken to heart Clutterpunk's montasking ethos, and have tried to give up feeling like I should be doing something else, or just more.  So, this is what I have been enjoying lately...

 

Lots of rain, and I have resigned myself to repeatedly fetching towels and putting clothes in the washing machine.

 

I have continued to entertain myself with painting names and graphics on things to skate in (nobody does THAT much skating though!)

 

I'm quilting the worst kept secret quilt in the world.

 

The quilt of disarray stalled for a while, until I figured out the problem- it was all too neat, the leaves too flat and perfect.  So I shoved  them in a sock and put them through the wash. Now they are slightly frayed, slightly crumpled and crunchy looking - perfect!