Welcome to Flickr Annie

I am happy to say that I finally convinced Annie to join Flickr.  Her pictures are so good.  Drop by and check them out and add her as a contact if you are a Flickr user too. 

Not a great pic but I like the cut!

We will see how it washes and wears...  Give me a week to decide if I really like it!

Time for a haircut

Photo tomorrow - if you're lucky!

Twas the night before Christmas...

Where ever you are... I hope you have a wonderful Christmas amongst family or loved ones.  Eat and be merry.  I look forward to an exciting and eventful 2009 with a lot (or at least a little bit) more blogging.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Oh if I could quilt more...

I would make this Christmas tree skirt.  Isn't it great?

Made by the very clever Crazy Mom Quilts.

Wow... Finished.

I had so much to do this weekend but I couldn't put Twilight down.  I just wanted to know what was to happen next.  Twilight is definitely an easy read.  I know from seeing the previews that at least two things happen differently between the book and movie but I don't mind at this point.  I can't wait to see it!  It is released Thursday here... I will be lining up for my ticket Friday evening with or without company!

BTW... See Edward up there?  Recognise him?  Yup, that is Cedric Diggory from The Goblet of Fire!  Looks a tad different doesn't he?

From Sooz to Meme

From Suzy to Sooz to meme (get it?) -

Outside my window… it is pouring fresh rain and night.

I am thinking… About my January trip to Japan and visiting Takayama and Shirakawago with two metres of snow (anyone got some snow boots for me to borrow?)

I am thankful for… a weekend with Dad and NO reports to do or worry about for the time being.

From the kitchen… tonight was my version of Mum's spaghetti bolognaise.  It was delicious (now Dad has three more meals to reheat)

I am wearing… The denim skirt I made all by myself from Soozs pattern (thanks Sooz), white top, necklace my sister gave me (she chooses the coolest necklaces!) and socks.

I am creating… A wider knowledge of photography thanks to a course at the CAE.  I am learning a few little things I didn't already know.

I am going… to have lunch with Dad tomorrow at a local winery.  I am excited about this one!

I am reading… Emily Rodda's The Wizard of Rondo.  This is excellent and number two in a series.  I think they are aimed at 9 to 13 year olds but I like them.  Loose references to fairy tale characters throughout.  Great adventure stories if you liked Deltora Quest.

I am hoping… Mum enjoys her Christmas tour that begins tomorrow in Vienna.

I am hearing… Heavy rain on Mum and Dad's flat, tin roof.  One of my very favourite sounds.  Makes me want to go to bed.  I love it!

Around the house… Is the comfy feeling of HOME!

One of my favourite things… Is waking up and knowing I have slept like a log.  Also, looking over and over again at the ultrasound of my new niece/nephew!

A few plans for the rest of the week… Tupperware Party (I know, I know), finishing off lots of projects at work and tidying in anticipation of the holidays (3 weeks to go)

Sometimes I want coffee so bad!

Sometimes I want coffee so bad!
Originally uploaded by Really Turning Japanese

I really, really needed this when I was in Japan recently!

Photos for sale

3 little smiles

Here a a few things that have made me smile in the last two days...

1.  A prep child (5 years old) at school saying that when they are in grade two, they want to be in my grade and finishing by say that they love me.  So sweet and genuine!

2.  Buying petrol yesterday for 110.3 cents.  That is quite huge here as petrol has reached about 170 cents per liter recently.  110.3 is positively cheap!  My little obsession with checking the petrol price comes from my father.  He always looks around for a deal (makes me think of the Annabelle Principal - do you know what I mean?)

3.  The coolest thing that happened and made me laugh as well as smile; a wild wallaby visiting school.  In the middle of our staff meeting last night, one of the staff members from Aftercare came running into the room to ask for help.  They had shut all the kids safely in a room and there was a KANGAROO loose in the yard.  Now this is weird as we are basically inner city Melbourne.  The wildest of life we might see is a possum or a fox (and foxes are introduced).  As it turned our, it was a large black wallaby.  He was pretty spooked and eventually jumped our fence and headed for a VERY busy main road.  He made it safely across and set up residence in a jungle-like front yard.  The assistant principal from school, several staff members and some locals ensured that the wallaby stayed put until help arrived.  Hilarious.  Great interruption to our evening staff meeting.

Look at me, I have a WIP

I bought three 'sweat rags' when I was in Tokyo with Del two years ago.  I thought that I would cut them up and create something but hadn't until this weekend!  

"Sweat rag," I hear you ask?  The Japanese have all manner of cottons in varying sizes.  They are used to keep the sun off, as a kind of handkerchief, folded around goods or even folded up to create a bag.  I love them!

I decided to start and love the effect so far.  I cut each piece up into various sized strips.  These were randomly arranged and sewn together.  I am not sure what I am making but it is for me!  I guess it is a multi-purpose throw for my couch.  I am not sure what to do next.  Any hints?  How should I quilt it?  

So far, I have made up this design and followed no rules I know of.  What do you think?

Some of the relatives

Here's Grandpa (I think he should be called "Grey Grey" as he is so grey and it matches his name), Aunty Ellen (me) and the new Mum (Anna).

What do you REALLY need?

(Anna is the baby in this photo, soon to be new mum, and my mum is holding her, soon to be grandma)

Pitter patter.  Do you hear the sound of little feet?  In case you missed it, my sister is pregnant.  Very exciting.  Babe is due at the end of March and we're counting down.

We've recently shared several interesting conversations.  The most recent was about what 'baby' items you realistically need as a new mum!  She believes that the commercial world out there is out to convince you that you need every little item.  We were talking about nappy bags.  She thinks it is silly when the nappy bag is childlike or covered in some kiddy character.  Who is the bag for?  She is far more keen to use a large bag she already has or wait to see if and what she needs in a bag.

This leads me to ask you mums out there, what do you really need?  What can't you live without?  I am very interested to know and I'll pass the info on to Anna...

Want to see some recent photos of Japan?

Comment and let me know!

Can someone explain this?

TODAY	TOMORROW	THU	FRI	SAT	6-10 DAY
Mostly Cloudy	AM Clouds/PM Sun	Partly Cloudy	Showers	Cloudy	Extended Forecast
High: 15° Low: 11°	High: 17° Low: 8°	High: 22° Low: 8°	High: 21° Low: 11°	High: 26° Low: 11°

Look closely at Thursday...  22 is not bad for a spring day.  Warmish, especially if the sun is shining.  But, what is with the low of 8?  That is cold, cold, cold for this time of year.  Bring on the warm weather!

Insomnia?

No... not that drastic, but...

What happens on those nights when you go to bed tired (after a late coffee and two champagnes) and you just can't fall asleep?  I mean, you are seriously tired.  You need the sleep.  You've been unwell.  YOU JUST CAN'T SLEEP!  What happens?  Time passes and you know that you must have been asleep but you still feel wide awake.  You feel like you have been awake for hours.  You wind yourself up more and more and suddenly, it is morning!  You must have slept.  

Wordl... mmm, could be fun but why is cocaine there?

... and where is AJ?

My little friend (enemy) euproctis pseudoconspersa

Once there was a little mouse...

I wonder who he/she looks like?

I wonder what he/she will be like?

I can't wait to meet you... Until March!

(CONGRATULATIONS Anna and Tino - Love you both)