Slip n Slide

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Today was the annual Australia Day BBQ at the Carltons. The boys stayed home while I partied hard – savoury snacks, punch, salad, cricket. After four hours of said partying, I headed home promising to ask Oscar if he wanted to come play some cricket. After initially declining, he decided that yes, he did want to. So I headed back to the Carltons with the boy in tow.

After the rain had eased, Oscar showed off his skills to a bunch of buddies: Noobs, Carltons, Sutherlands – some of his favourite grown ups (he does have many). There was mention of a slip n slide. Oscar didn’t know what one was, but when I said it was time to go, he said he hadn’t been on the slip n slide yet. So out it came.

We waited patiently for the show to begin. It is, after all, just as much a spectator sport as a participatory one!

Oscar had fun catching up with his buddy Sam

And before long, it was game on. All male game on. Here is Ben getting some air.

The stands

I don’t think Oscar was really sure what to think. But he did decide it wasn’t something he wanted to do.

Great fun!

Pile up!

Definitely a good way to enjoy a lazy Australia Day afternoon.

After a while, Oscar decided he did want a turn. But not with the boys. And only slowly. And on his “boat” (blow up boogey board thing). And only with Mummy. So he had a couple of turns – he liked it. Kind of.

Thanks for having us Carltons!

Posted in Holiday! | No Comments »

Homemade

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

I’ve been a little bit inspired. A little bit. To do things a bit more homemade.

So firstly, the other week I started making bubble mix. Having bought the best bubble blowers ever for a little person, I didn’t want to keep buying little containers of bubble mix. I can’t find where I sourced the “recipe” but it’s 1 part glycerine/glycol (from the chemist), 2 parts dishwashing liquid and 7 parts water. Or thereabouts. It doesn’t make a million bubbles per blow like the store bought ones, but it does help make BIG bubbles.

And that’s pretty cool in and of itself! Well, if Oscar’s reaction is anything to go by anyhow.

And secondly, I made some cornflour paints with this recipe. I was pretty certain it wouldn’t matter how they turned out, because Oscar is happy to paint with water. In the end, they turned out pretty good.

Didn’t take long for Oscar to progress from painting with brushes to painting his hands and arms.

The recipe neglects to add that the food colouring may stain. By “may’, I mean “will”. So after washing his hands and arm, he looked rather bruised – a nice grey colour. But after his bath that night, all clean. Phew. Glad he was wearing a painting shirt!

Hmmm.. what’s next?

Posted in Whateverness | No Comments »

Long sleeves

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Yes, a post about Sydney summer. Can you imagine!

I, for one, am embracing the summer of 2011/2012. Sure, the rain puts a bit of a dampener on things (*geddit*), but the avoidance of high 30 degree days – oh boy, that is my kind of summer.

Regardless, it is a bit strange walking to the shops in the middle of summer with long sleeve pants and shirt, an umbrella in one hand, and a three-year-old’s hand in the other. And said three-year-old in tracksuit pants and a fluffy jumper. Middle of summer.

Ah, La Nina, I do like you.

Posted in The World We Live In | 2 Comments »

Jealous!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Is it wrong to have blog envy? Probably. Ah well.

Posted in Whateverness | 7 Comments »

Ezy

Sunday, January 22, 2012

I’m trying to develop a green thumb. I have always wanted to grow my own veggies. But I’ve never had the real opportunity or confidence to do it. I still don’t have the confidence but I do have the opportunity thanks to Howie’s Christmas present of the ezygrow.

After visiting Bunnings in Armidale with Mary as advisor, and then visiting Bunnings here, it all started with this

becoming this – silverbeet, basil, zucchini and lettuce.

I also planted carrots directly in the ezygrow. Howie christened the tap. Which means he was first to empty the tank, producing over 20 litres of water for other parts of the garden.

After a couple of weeks, that also included sowing some beetroot and cucumber, I can report that there is success! I have seedlings! Carrots

Only failure was one of the lettuce pots. Pfft, who likes lettuce anyway!

Beetroot!

I’m still waiting on cucumber seedlings to emerge (edit: one is just starting to poke through – huzzah!).

And I’ve now transferred the zucchini and silverbeet into a planter pot and the ezygrow respectively. Next on the agenda is planting another batch of seeds, like carrot, lettuce and beetroot, in an attempt of succession. And moving the other little seedling pots into their new homes.

Really I still have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m excited that things are growing. That’s one important step to make!

Posted in setting up house | 1 Comment »

Ploughing through!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

That was then, and this is now

1. Knots and Crosses (1987) √
2. Hide and Seek (1991) √
3. Tooth and Nail (1992) √
4. Strip Jack (1992) √
5. The Black Book (1993) √
6. Mortal Causes (1994) √
7. Let it Bleed (1996) √
8. Black and Blue (1997) √
9. The Hanging Garden (1998) √
10. Dead Souls (1999) √
11. Set in Darkness (2000) √
12. The Falls (2001) √
13. Resurrection Men (2002) √
14. A Question of Blood (2003) √
15. Fleshmarket Close (2004) Purchased but unread
16. The Naming of the Dead (2006) √
17. Exit Music (2007) √

The Complete Short Stories Purchased but unread (and also not in my hands yet)

Can you tell that when I like a book I really get into it? I can’t wait to read the last ones on this list. So that I can start all over from the beginning.

Meanwhile, in Year 7 one of my English novels was “Rebecca” – I still haven’t finished it. Nor some other book I was meant to read in Year 10. I’m more than sure that there were others. My English teachers loved me!

Posted in Whateverness | No Comments »

2 for 2

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

You may remember me sharing Kelle’s blog over a year ago now. She has a goal to raise $200 000 by the time her daughter Nella turns 2 (in a few days time), for the National Down Syndrome Society in the US. Maybe you’d like to donate? And/or donate locally to Down Syndrome NSW.

Kelle posted this video on her blog today (well, yesterday our time). An encouragement and challenge all rolled into one to remember that every child is important!

Posted in Whateverness | No Comments »

Mini chef

Monday, January 16, 2012

One of the things Oscar has started saying on occasion is “what can we do?”. I suggest something and he says, “no, but what can we dooooo?”. Obviously my suggestions aren’t good enough. Until yesterday. I randomly decided that for the first time I would let him (not-very-) loose in the kitchen. It was something to doooooo.

Oscar was pretty keen.

After I’d gathered the ingredients, and used the electric beaters (he standing to the side with fingers in his ears), he got to work with mixing.

He added the ingredients.

And mixed some more.

Then the best bit – putting the mixture in the muffin tins. Believe you me, it took a lot of self control for me to let this happen. I am MUCH too much of a control freak to have a preschooler on my hands.

I showed him how to use two spoons to get the mixture off – and he picked it up pretty quickly. I don’t give this little guy enough credit sometimes.

Tray #1 completed.

And tray #2 in progress.

Someone was a little proud of his work.

Me thinks me need to invest in a Oscar-sized apron. This is was as close to the oven as Oscar got. With the “crocodile”.

The finished product!

Thumbs up! (although I do like our carrot and zucchini muffins better, and it seems O does too. A win for veggies!)

The recipe for these Banana and Honey Muffins came from Little Eco Footprints. Very yummy. And very easy.

Now, as you would very much know, I’m not much of a cook or baker, but I guess I should be more willing to get in the kitchen if Oscar is keen. Which it seems he is. Maybe once in a blue moon then.

Posted in bubba | 7 Comments »

Him and me

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Today began a week of Oscar and me fending for ourselves. Howie’s speaking at a camp.

Started it off in style – palmed the child off to Auntie Debbie and Uncle Noob for a day of adventure and fun. Whilst they walked the Harbour Bridge and bushwalked around the Northern Beaches, I put away my two cubic metres of washing, did some gardening, cleaned/sorted the house a bit and did a little cooking. All MUCH easier to do without a little boy following you around. So thankyou Noobs!

Tomorrow we have a couple of birthday parties. Monday my parents are over a few times. Tuesday is a family lunch. Wednesday we’re seeing some friends. Thursday is the usual mothers group and parentals visit, and then Friday there’s nothing in the diary. I think Howie’s back on Saturday. I’ve made sure to pack things in to help the week pass easily and quickly. Not just because we’ll miss Daddy, but because I’d get closer to losing my mind with a bored me and a bored toddler (or is he now a preschooler?) for a week.

It’s been a while since it’s been the two of us for a chunk of time. But I’m sure we’ll manage. Even if it means Play School helps out a bit!

Posted in Whateverness | No Comments »

Purchased but unread

Friday, January 13, 2012

I know you don’t care, but I do. A further update:

1. Knots and Crosses (1987) √
2. Hide and Seek (1991) √
3. Tooth and Nail (1992) Purchased but unread
4. Strip Jack (1992) √
5. The Black Book (1993) Purchased but unread
6. Mortal Causes (1994) √
7. Let it Bleed (1996) √
8. Black and Blue (1997) √
9. The Hanging Garden (1998) √
10. Dead Souls (1999) √
11. Set in Darkness (2000) √
12. The Falls (2001) √
13. Resurrection Men (2002) √
14. A Question of Blood (2003) Purchased but unread
15. Fleshmarket Close (2004) Purchased but unread
16. The Naming of the Dead (2006) √
17. Exit Music (2007) √

Aaaand, also The Complete Short Stories which contains another 17 Rebus tales! Purchased but unread

Thank you ebay!

Posted in Whateverness | 1 Comment »

« Older Entries