still Jenny from the blog

Two legs: good. Eight legs: yikes!

2010-10-14T07:53:00.001+11:00

There is only one thing worse than finding a visitor of this size on your lounge room wall during a warm October evening...

...and that is finding out that he brought his mate with him, who has snuck into your bedroom while nobody was looking.

Ah, just another couple of interesting visitors to add to the list of those who have dropped in at our place. Remember her? And him? And them??

At times our place seems a lot more country than town, but then that's what happens when you live on the brink of both!

Jen x

Brotherly bongos

2010-10-06T09:15:00.001+11:00

No editing activities have been undertaken on this shot of my two Hatchlings.

I can confirm that yes, Hatchling No.1 is in fact playing the bongos on Hatchling No.2's head.

Yessiree, he's knocking out a really bitchin' rhythm right there on his dear sweet younger brother's cranium. At this point I am unwilling to detail the events that followed, suffice to say it wasn't pretty.

In fact, it was really noisy.

And high-pitched.

And outraged.

And physical.

There is nothing more to say at this point other than how spectacularly relieved I am not to have had any brothers.

Here's to being the only gal in an otherwise all male household. Help me!

Jen x

What happened over winter?

2010-09-30T14:10:00.004+10:00

It is unthinkable.
It is inexcusable.
It is irresponsible.
It is untenable.
It is irreversible.
It is washing machinable.
It is down right, you got it, straight from my heart, regretable.

Still Jenny from the Blog has been outrageously neglected and quite frankly, if blogs had emotions of their own and could communicate with their authors independantly - this blog would be giving me the silent treatment right about now!

Wait a minute, maybe it HAS been giving me the silent treatment... Or have I been giving IT the silent treatment??

Now I am not only ashamed, embarrassed and eating the LARGEST portion of humble pie - I am also confused. Maybe this is why things have been quiet around here for a bit.

Let's do a whistle-stop tour of what we've been up to over the past couple of damp, dull, rainy, COLD months here in Melbourne:

1. Union Jack could take it no longer and launched us into the world of the flat screen t.v:

2. Hatchling No.2 learnt about the whole "talk to the hand 'cos the face ain't listening" thing:

3. We went on a road trip, which included this place:

And these guys:

And those:

4. Union Jack and The Hatchlings have been working construction:

5. And painting

6. Chilly Saturday mornings were spent here, with Hatchling No.1 doing this:

And that pretty much covers it...

Ooh, except one more thing. Most of the time I was dreaming of a world where, at my leisure, I could loll about - doing much more of something like this:

Jenny from the Blog is BACK!!

Printable Artwork that I love

2010-07-05T10:30:00.004+10:00

My gorgeous friend and talented Graphic-Designer-Extraordinaire has just launched P for Printables.

P for Printables is a website that sells beautiful, printable pictures that you can download and use for any number of creative projects, such as cards, wrapping paper, invitations, scrapbooking, anything!

Or you could just stick them into a frame, hang them on your wall and enjoy them.

You can even download reward charts for your kids for free, and they're just too cute!

I love the idea that I can get my hands on unique, pretty, top quality pictures without having to leave the house. While the Hatchlings consider shopping centre shenanigans an excellent source of sporting fun, I'm not so keen on it. Here's to keeping the Hatchlings' sporting fun out of retail outlets! Hooray!

Congratulations Miss Prue.

Jen x

One more photo - that's it!

2010-06-30T06:01:00.000+10:00

I often feel like a member of the paparazzi. Okay, so I only photograph my family, friends, trespassing wildlife, garden and whatever other ridiculousness I can find that will stand still long enough - but I feel it all the same. Why? Because the Hatchlings really know how to deliver the 'disgruntled celebrity' treatment when they've had enough of my camera.

Oh yes, they can turn on a dime, these little Hatchlings. One minute they can be gazing into the bay with a satisfied grin...

And then they realise you've captured the moment and their mood sours somewhat.

Okay, so maybe taking those last few irresistable snaps at the end of a long day out was a mistake on my part, but how could I resist this?

And just when I think Hatchling No.1 might be cool with it I get this:

Translation: "One more photo Mum, and NO MORE!!!!!!!!"

The Hatchlings rarely care if the light is amazing, or the scenery inspirational. They mostly like taking photos of their feet, given the chance. They leave me with no other option: I simply become a papparazzo. Sigh...

Note: Will somebody please insist that I cut this child's hair a little more often from now on?!

Thanking you in advance,

Jen x

Totally Team Jacob (this week)...

2010-06-28T21:40:00.002+10:00

I've never been one to become hysterical over a pop star or movie star, and nothing has changed. I'm sure Taylor Lautner is a really nice guy, but Lordy there is no way he could compare to his on-screen Twilight character, Jacob!!

I want a werewolf like Jacob please!

Jen x

I'm not a photographer, but...

2010-06-23T16:22:00.005+10:00

The Hatchlings often inspire me to whip out the camera and take large volumes of poorly thought out, spur-of-the-moment-type photos. They are kids and they do funny stuff a LOT - it's like trying to resist the urge to scratch your nose when its hayfever season. Impossible!

Then, on other occasions I play my offence game rather than my defence game. I take some time to think about where we could take some nice-looking, slightly more thought out photos. The following pictures are from a few months back.

It was warm, sunny and dry - unlike now when it is cold, foggy and damp. After about a million years of drought I am not complaining, but when I see these photos I realise I am REALLY looking forward to spring!

Hatchling No.2 is nothing more than a smiling, happy angel here on Earth. Except when he is beating up Hatchling No.1!

Ah, they're good buddies really. From this picture you'd never know that they wrestle, and squawk, and punch, and roar, and kick, and scream, and...

Awww, surely not....

Surely these are two of the most heavenly creatures to ever frolic through our lovely neighbour Bruce's orchard?

All those in agreement, please say "Ay".

Jen x

Why we love The Wiggles

2010-06-09T06:12:00.000+10:00

Hi there!

When I was a preschooler I loved a t.v show called Romper Room. The host, Miss Helena was the most beautiful and amazing woman, and I ached to be one of the children actually AT Romper Room, playing with her.

The consolation for not actually being at Romper Room was that at the end of every episode she would look into her magic mirror, and she could actually see the kids who were watching from their lounge rooms - SHE REALLY COULD!

How do I know? Because she would tell you who she could see, man - I'm not kidding!

" I can see Sarah, and Ashley, and Peter, and Toby, and Emily, and Rosa..." and on and on she would go. Okay, so I never actually heard her say my name, but have no doubt I hung on her every word just in case she did!

The Hatchlings don't have Miss Helena to worship, but they do have The Wiggles. I couldn't resist capturing their "active tv viewing" of The Wiggles a few nights ago...

Sure I could have been more productive with my time (i.e. by cleaning up the apparent bombsite in our tv room), but where would the world be without footage like this to blackmail our children with at some later stage?

Jen x

The Butterfly Ball

2010-05-12T13:25:00.006+10:00

In 1979 nothing filled my heart with joy more than hearing Roger Glover's voice belting out The Butterfly Ball on ABC television before Playschool started. Nothing that is, except for watching the video clip that went with it!

For a step back in time, visit www.theletterbug.blogspot.com to watch the original Butterfly Ball. It will be the best 3 minutes and 14 seconds of your day - I promise!!

Jen x

Mother's Day, babies and stuff

2010-05-10T13:17:00.002+10:00

It must be a Mother's Day hangover or something, but I couldn't resist sifting through some baby photos of the Hatchlings this morning. This was the day that Hatchling No.1 arrived here on Planet Earth. Isn't he absolutely the most beautiful creature you've ever laid eyes on?

That's what I thought on the 20th October 2005. Look at that perfect little mouth. And the look of utter peace and serenity on his face. And those tiny fingers... Awwww.....

Biased? Me? No way! Hatchling No.1 really was the most beautiful newborn ever in the whole world, EVER.

No, really...

Really!

What a snoozy little character he was too. On day number one I couldn't wake this little Hatchling for love nor money. Good grief things had changed a bit by day number 31, but snoozing is still pretty high on Hatcnling No.1's priority list!

Okay, so he must have woken up at some point to schmooze Union Jack with his loving gazes.

Who knew that those tiny fingers would one day reach four and a half years old and at this very moment be throwing a ball for Phoenix at Granny Annie's place? Or getting his first taste of Aussie Rules football?

I want a newborn baby to hold - just not one that is MINE!

I am ready for that newborn baby smell, long cuddles and a hopelessly floppy head that needs holding up...

Just as long as I can hand the little bundle of joy back to their Mummy when:

A) they need a nappy change.

B) They are crying a LOT

C) They need putting to sleep

D) I get bored and want to do something else, like swing my arms, pick my toes or do the Macarena.

Anyone want to take bets on whethere there'll be a Hatchling No.3 coming any time soon? Hahaha!

Jen x

Photoshop - The Time Machine.

2010-05-04T13:48:00.004+10:00

Recently I was lucky enough to get my hands on Photoshop CS3. As you probably know, Photoshop is fantastic photo editing software - there is pretty much nothing it can't do. CS3 is not the latest and greatest that Photoshop has to offer (CS4 is now available), but it is more than enough for a newbie like me.

HOWEVER!!!!

There really should be a warning in bold on the side of the packaging, because Photoshop is also a time machine. Really!

I can sit down to do a quick 20 minute editing session, and when I look up 3 hours have gone past. Similar to being abducted by aliens (so I believe - I have never personally been abducted by aliens), Photoshop is leaving me with many 'missing hours' in my week.

There is no time for this! I rush everywhere! I brush my teeth while I make the bed! I wash the dishes while I cook dinner and read 'Where is the Green Sheep?" to the Hatchlings!! Time (or the lack of it) is my enemy...

...I kind of love playing with Photoshop though. With persistance and a little help from The Pioneer Woman, I'm really learning a thing or two.

Take a look:

This is a picture of the Red Star cordyline that sits in a pot on my driveway.

Here it is again with a 70's effect applied to the image. Now it looks like my Red Star cordyline's Grandmother from, well, the 70's I guess.

And here she is again all funkied up for 2010. Vibrant, sharp, groovy cordyline. I like it!

Quality photographers are able to capture the perfect moment when a bee searches for pollen amongst the petals of a flower. What do I manage to photograph?

An ant.

What is an ant doing when he climbs up into the highest branches of a shrub and pretends he's a bee? I think he is an ant with big ideas and a lot of ambition. You can't knock him for that...

With a black and white treatment he now looks like a 'pin-up' ant. You know, a poster boy, a super model perhaps...

And then with some sunshine added he is transformed into a retro hippy-ant on his way to Woodstock. If he wasn't naked he'd be in brown corduroy flares and a paisley body shirt, for sure.

I rest my case. Between exploring the joy of Photoshop and writing questionable posts such as this, the mystery of my colossal laundry pile is explained.

Whatever!!

Jen x

Making an AFL legend step one: AUSKICK!

2010-04-27T13:03:00.006+10:00

Saturday was a very proud day for the Hatches - Hatchling No.1 and Union Jack in particular. With his socks pulled up SO high they were above his knees, brand spanking new footy boots and brimming with enthusiasm, Union Jack took Hatchling No.1 to Auskick for the first time.

Hahahaha - kidding!
No, it was Hatchling No.1 with the socks, the brand spankers and so on. But you have to admit that the mental image of Union Jack right now really is something else!

Anyway, here he was (Hatchling No.1, that is) lined up and ready for his first ever Auskick session. Woo hoo!

Third from the end, green t-shirt and looooong socks. Doesn't he look a picture? He might be in desperate need of a St Kilda shirt and a haircut, but at least he was looking in the right direction (i.e. where the action was taking place).

Check out that grin as Hatchling No.1 runs in for his very first tackle. Hey, what's not to smile about? The guy he's about to tackle has no arms - it's unlikely that he'll retaliate too much, isn't it?

Hmmm, I'm not sure if there is a policy on closing your eyes as you go in for a tackle... I'm pretty sure Nick Riewoldt doesn't close his eyes at the vital moment, but I guess they'll get to that later.

If there's one thing Hatchling No.1 has been blessed with it is hand/eye co-ordination. Kicking was a breeze.

Apparently the footy boots made Hatchling No.1 kick twice as far as normal, according to the man himself.

He was slightly perturbed when it started to rain, but when 'the blokes' explained that we play footy in rain, hail or shine Hatchling No.1 returned to his happy place once again.

At the conclusion of his first Auskick experience the first question was "Can we do Auskick again tomorrow?".

The landing was smooth, and the duck has taken to the water, just as we suspected he might!

Jen x

A weekend by the sea

2010-04-19T21:57:00.004+10:00

In my book, skipping town for the weekend is always an exhausting yet invigorating thing to do. Last weekend we did just that and headed down to the Mornington Peninnsula. Everybody is happy when they visit "Grandpa's Beach House". Hatchling No.2 is especially happy when he is actually saying the words, "Grandpa's Beach House".

Lordy, if I heard him say it once I heard him say it a thousand times over the four days we were there! And for the week following our visit! It may take me a few more weeks to recover. You know, for the rocking back and forth to stop... that sort of thing.

I took the Hatchlings to the quieter side of the peninnsula on Friday (before Union Jack made the journey after work to join us).

I keep telling myself the Hatchling No.1 is NOT envisaging giving Hatchling No.2 a hefty shove, thus plunging Hatchling No.2 straight into the wet stuff right at this moment.

It couldn't be possible, we'd only heard the words "Grandpa's Beach House" 378 times by this stage. Not even I was ready to do anything so drastic!

By the way, it was the Hatchlings themselves who insisted on wearing their hats this way. Hatchling No.1 was terrified the wind might pick his hat up and blow it all the way to Tasmania.

French Island or Philip Island might have been more realistic possibilities...

Hatchling No.2 was just wishing his mother had bothered to do up at least one button on his polo shirt that day. I mean, how hard would it have been? My care factor for buttons really needs to be raised a notch or to, wouldn't you say?

Thank heavens Hatchling No.2 was far more interested in working the phrase "Grandpa's Beach House" into at least 7 more sentences before we stepped off the pier.

You can see him working on the possibilities while Hatchling No.1 looks for fish, sharks, stingrays, seaweed etc.

"This here wooden pier reminds me of the polished wooden floorboards at Grandpa's Beach House!!"

Got it!

"This metal mesh we're walking on is just like the security door at..."
You guessed it...
"Grandpa's Beach House."

Bingo!!

I have to stop now, I can feel the need to rock returning.

Jen x

We love the Easter Bilby!

2010-04-06T21:03:00.001+10:00

Awww, this says it all really. The Easter Bilby is Hatchling No.1's latest idol, can you tell?

It is cupboard love, of course. After all, the love a Hatchling feels for an Easter Bilby is really only valid between the time of his first sighting on Good Friday until consumption of the last chocolate egg. Whenever that might be.

You can't beat a good Easter egg hunt.

Stay tuned for more of our Easter shenanigans just as soon as I eat another 127 Cadbury Dairy Milk eggs.

Jen x

More visitors

2010-03-25T07:00:00.006+11:00

When we first moved into our house I pestered Union Jack to make me a bird table. I liked the idea of putting seed out every morning and seeing who turned up. There is sometheing special about somebody that drops in for a visit of their own accord, eats whatever is going and then clears off to the next place...

Hang on, what?!

Please remind me of these words when the Hatchlings grow into teenagers - I have a feeling they may adopt a similar policy to our local birdlife.

Anyway, being the adorable creature that he is, Union Jack built me a bird table. It stands proudly in the garden by our deck, and we are visited daily by some colourful characters.

If birds could shout, that is what these two lorikeets do at about 8am every morning if the bird table looks bare. On the left is Sid, and on the right is Wanda.

Sid has anger management issues, but he's working on it. Nowadays he can generally hold it together so long as a cockatoo doesn't show his cheeky face. Much like the Hatchlings, Sid also has issues with sharing.

Wanda is his loyal partner, who used to be a Rolling Stones groupie but has now settled down to a quiet life with Sid. While Sid fluffs his feathers and does the macho thing, Wanda just stares adoringly at him.

Well, it's either adoration or she's dying to tell him to shut up and stop showing off. Maybe she's just waiting for a break in conversation, which is mostly one-way (i.e. Sid's way)...

No, I am pretty sure they adore each other. Sid and Wanda do everything together. And besides, with outfits like that I'm not sure who else would want to hang out with them. Sid and Wanda are such attention seekers!

Jen x

Have ramekins, will cook.

2010-03-22T07:00:00.000+11:00

Sometimes it is dangerous to recieve junk mail. As I described in an earlier post, junk mail was almost a mythical creature when I was a child living in a small town where the mail was not delivered.

Junk mail still holds a certain fascination for me, and when I saw a picture of these little guys staring out at me from the pages of a catalogue recently, I knew they had to be mine.

What are they? They're ramekins! They are red, shiny, pretty, pretty ramekins!

What will I use them for? Something yummy in red, shiny, pretty, pretty ramekins! (I.e. I have no idea what I can cook with them yet.)

Do I love them? Yes, from the very first moment I laid eyes on them.

So, what could be better than eight red, shiny, pretty, pretty ramekins?

Eight red, shiny, pretty, pretty ramekins plus a square dish thing to match, of course!

Any ramekin requiring recipe suggestions you'd like to share? Please help me...

Jen x

P.S: It is really quite fun to roll your R's when you say the word 'ramekin' really loud - try it!
RRRRAMEKIN!

P.P.S: Please excuse this ridiculous suggestion if you are sitting at a computer in the middle of your local library, or in your office and your boss is within earshot.

Still Jenny from the Kitchen #4

2010-03-18T10:10:00.012+11:00

The Essential Banana Smoothie for One

When my lovely friend Sadie told me yesterday she didn't know how to make a smoothie I made an involuntary and very audible gasp. Surely everyone must have a banana smoothie recipe in their repertoire - you never know when or where you might need it!

Although I think Sadie might be the only person on the planet who ever felt they couldn't make a banana smoothie, I thought I had better offer my favourite banana smoothie recipe to you long suffering followers of this blog. Lord knows you need something to cling to when I get started on the topic of Hatchling No.2's toenails, or the time I fell out with a wallaby.

Here's what you need:

One very ripe banana, some milk (doesn't have to be soy, but I like soy in smoothies), half a teaspoon of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

By the way, can somebody please remind me to buy more honey? There will be a Hatchling riot if the honey pot runs dry - it can get pretty ugly.

There is also a secret ingredient:

FROZEN BANANA. It gives your smoothie that icy cold deliciousness that is usually only achieved by adding icecream. By all means go the icecream if that's what toots your horn, but frozen banana makes a healthy alternative.

Just use one frozen banana for this smoothie.

I know in a shop you'd see a long row of fancy blenders, each in their very own cone of silence, but I just use this:

Less dishes to wash up can only be a good thing, right?

Okay, so I forgot to take pictures of me throwing a soft ripe banana, a frozen banana and some milk into my cup, so please visualise this happening now. Thanks.

Next drop in some honey.

Then sprinkle some cinnamon over the top. I don't know why I add cinnamon - I think because it is always in recipes for banana cake... Whatever the reason, it adds extra depth to the smoothie's flavour. Mmmmm.

Then all that is left to do is to submerge your stick mixer and buzz it all together.

If you could please spill some on your benchtop it would make me feel a whole lot better. I appreciate your co-operation - thank you so much.

Tip this vat of yumminess into a glass, dust some more cinnamon on the top and then run for the hills so you don't have to share it with anyone!

I sometimes have this for lunch, instead of the standard sandwich that I eat for lunch every other day of my life. There's a joke about that, but I won't try and share it with you right now. Remind me again some other time.

Now go forth and make smoothies!!

Jen x

Hatchling No.2 - Secrets Revealed

2010-03-09T09:44:00.000+11:00

One of Hatchling No.2's most endearing features is his 'blokiness'. Even at two years and four months old he is rugged. Motorbikes, trailers and rubbish trucks are his passion, and he can't get enough of hanging around with the men in his life. Especially Union Jack.

Hatchling No.2 is a Bloke - in a cute little two-year-old way.

Well, when I say he's a bloke - maybe not completely so. He currently has another passion that I didn't mention. A slightly less blokey passion than trailers and motorbikes. It is, um, it's - well...

It's pink glittery nail polish.

While he is keen to have the full nail polish experience (you know, ten fingers and ten toes - all hot pink with glitter), we negotiated down to just his big toes. It is summer. He wears sandals a lot. Union Jack may otherwise have conniptions - he's only just holding it together over the whole-hot-pink-nail-polish-with-glitter affair.

To the unsuspecting eye, Hatchling No.2 is truly a man's man. A robust, noisy, competitive, verbose, wonderful, gorgeous, solid, delightful little creature. My sister Patty has called him the "Besser Block" since he was about 3 weeks old. My other sister, Selma, believes he may be a future Australian rugby star...

Maybe he will feature in "So you think you can dance - 2025 series".

"With modern dance his chosen genre, and pink nail polish his chosen footwear, please welcome to the So You Think You Can Dance Stage - Hatchling No.2!!!"

Between you and me, I think his little pink sparkly toenails are one of the cutest things I've ever seen. He can paint his toenails pink until he is 103 and I may even encourage him to do so! I guess the nail polish obsession will pass...

For me it will be a sad day!

Jen x

Love Paper Scissors - with love.

2010-03-07T21:36:00.003+11:00

In my capacity as The Letterbug, I received something VERY beautiful from a client recently. If you haven't seen it already, check out The Letterbug Blog post I wrote about this special delivery. I am a spoilt little Letterbug!

Also, check out Love Paper Scissors if you are looking for something unique, beautiful and extra special.

Jen x

While you are waiting...

2010-03-04T14:01:00.010+11:00

I know. I know. It is high time I published a new post. I know!

While you are waiting, let's reminisce...

We could go back to the time The Hatchlings and I visited The Coolest Park Ever in the Whole World.
Or the time I indulged in eyelash extensions.
We could check out my offspring, the Aussie Cricket Legends.

Or we could just gaze at Michael Westen, from Burn Notice...

He's just a dude in a suit. Who's really cool, and brave, and smart... and stuff

Errr, those shoulders? Well, they're just muscles, right? It's no big deal.

Nope, I don't fancy him at all. Much. Really.

Please forgive me for my ridiculous obsession with a fictitious television character. But it isn't just me - Union Jack thinks he's pretty awesome too. But the less said about that the better!

Look out for a more sensible post VERY soon.

Jen x

A Hunger for Haircuts

2010-02-23T13:42:00.006+11:00

The Hatchlings had their hair cut last week. They were so well behaved that I thought maybe the real Hatchlings had been abducted and replaced with 'Kidbots', whose super-powers include calmness and serenity. It was THAT spooky!

Hair cuts are clearly quite taxing on their stomachs though. The moment we arrived home I was faced with a feeding frenzy!

Look at that beautifully snipped, combed and blowdried hair!

Check out that rather disconcerting yellow/green bruise on Hatchling No.2's forehead. That's what happens when you trip and headbut your brother's bed. The bump that emerged from his forehead was truly sickening, poor baby.

The only thing that could make him feel better after the whole headbut thing - an Australian flag tattoo. Of course!

Hatchling No.1 is currently going for the Edward Cullen look. In fact, since completing the 'Twilight' series, his Aunt Pattie insists on always calling him Edward.

Edward Cullen, aged 4.

Hatchling No.1 may need to work on Edward's cool demeanour. I don't recall big cheesy grins being Edward's thing...

And maybe overcome his passion for Lightning McQueen. I don't recall Edward wearing any 'Cars' t-shirts in the movie.

Cute haircuts though. It's amazing what can be achieved if one will simply sit still and let the hairdresser do their thing!

And thank heavens feeding frenzies of this scale only happen occasionally!!

Jen x

Hairstyles - the long and the short

2010-02-14T21:46:00.006+11:00

Here is a picture of me and my sister in law, sitting on our father in law's lap. The photo was taken at the party held in the UK to celebrate Union Jack and I getting engaged and skipping the country. The party was fantastic, the 70's funk band were spectacular and by golly my hair was LONG!!!

I have been trying to grow my hair a bit longer recently, but this photo has spurred me on. I think I want long hair again!

However....
The followng (very blurry) photo was taken at a work break-up party last March. In some kooky transcendental fashion, the blurriness of this image matched exactly with how blurry everything was looking to me at the time, due mainly to the consumption of LOTS of beer.

The activities that followed this photo session included a marathon session at a Melbourne karaoke bar, Glen Campbell's Rhinestone Cowboy, and waaaay too many cosmopolitans. But I digress...

The point is that in this photo my hair was SHORT. And BLONDE! Seeing this photo makes me want to chop off all of my hair and colour it immediately!!

Now I am torn. Long and dark? Short and blonde?

Help!!

Jen x

Black Saturday - 365 days + 1

2010-02-08T20:33:00.007+11:00

I couldn't write this post yesterday - it felt weird. Some say we were only 12 minutes away from fire if the wind hadn't changed when it did on February 7th last year... I don't know. But sitting in my home surrounded by family yesterday, I felt so lucky.

25km meant a lot this time last year.

I am humbled by these pictures - tears sting my eyes every time I look at them. Those brave, brave people...

God bless those brave, brave people...

Phoenix rising

2010-01-27T06:47:00.000+11:00

According to our friends at Wikipedia, a phoenix is a mythical bird with a colorful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or purple, blue, and green according to some legends).

It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again.

The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its old self. In some stories, the new phoenix embalms the ashes of its old self in an egg made of myrrh and deposits it in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis (sun city in Greek).

It is said that the bird's cry is that of a beautiful song.

In very few stories they are able to change into humans.

Whatever!
This is my mum's new puppy, and her name is Phoenix. She is warm, her fur is like velvet and she has a lot of spare wrinkly skin to grow into...

Have you ever seen a forehead as delightful as this?

She wees on the floor sometimes, otherwise I might have to steal her.

Jen x

Camping along the Goulburn River

2010-01-20T10:00:00.000+11:00

As I mentioned in a previous post - Union Jack, The Hatchlings and I planned a camping trip for our summer holidays. Well, we've been, we've camped, we've conquered the wild outdoors of Acheron... and it was FANTASTIC!!

This is what our campsite looked like:

And when I sat outside on my ever-so-comfortable camping chair with a hot cup of tea in the morning - this is what I saw:

The Hatchlings enjoyed staring out at the beautiful vista too. Here they are at breakfast time, just chillin'.

When The Hatchlings weren't chillin', they were particularly keen on strolling down to the water's edge and launching as many stones as they could lay their hands on into the river. It might be genetic - I like throwing stones into the river too!

Every morning, usually between 10.30 and 12.00 we took to the tennis court with our lovely friends who were camping with us. No, change that - really we were camping with them. It was their camping trip - we just decided to gate crash!

Hatchling No.1 was more interested in the post tennis swim than the tennis itself. He lolled about under the shade of a beautiful gum tree while we sweated it out.

And the experience wouldn't have been complete without cricket...

Hatchling No.2's fielding ability was compromised only by his love of wearing his hat down LOW.

Hey! Who snuck in a photo of me? I'm the one who is found BEHIND the camera, remember?!

We were both caught at a weak moment - I facing the wrong end of the camera, Hatchling No.2 with his hat flipped up...

In the evening we had a campfire (of course!). Huh, who would have thought a group of little boys would be interested in a bucket full of cold ashes, and soot, and dust, and black stuff??

It's a mystery to me - you know, being a girl and everything...

It's official, we love camping. I don't know when the next camping adventure will be, but I hope it isn't too long to wait!

Jen xx

All in the name of h2o

2010-01-05T15:43:00.001+11:00

See these faces?

They're the faces of two little Hatchlings who knew that two BIG water tanks were about to be delivered.

The Hatchlings also knew they'd see a bunch of blokes moving them across a steep hill (rather a perilous maneovre) in order to get them into Union Jack's desired water tank location. Union Jack's face looked much the same as the Hatchlings' faces that morning.

With the smaller tank already in place, the big 10,000 litre tank was delivered to our lovely neighbour's house. Their long driveway meant the tank was closer to where it needed to be that way.

Union Jack had a few ideas he needed to share with his willing assistants:
"Errr, it needs to go over there..."

Don't try this at home kids...

The tank man scuttled into and out of the tank like the seasoned professional that he is - much to the astonishment of the Hatchlings.

How many blokes does it take to move a water tank?

The tank was off and rolling (in a controlled manner) in no time.

There is no shortage of the male of the species around our place:

4 big ones moving the tank,
6 little ones watching them move it.

In a remarkably uneventful few minutes, the boys had the tank right where they wanted it. With a bit of a twist and a tilt - the tank made it to its new home.

"Easy" said Outback Joe.

He's got a mischievous face, that one. I reckon we'll see a bit more of Outback Joe before long...

Jen x

1920s Chicago

2010-01-02T14:37:00.000+11:00

Union Jack and I recently went to a Christmas party with a 1920s Chicago theme - this was the result...

I love dressing up!

Jen x

The BEST Kris Kringle gift ever

2009-12-31T14:11:00.000+11:00

If you ask me, I think Kris Kringle gifting is often a recipe for a big fat let down. One person may take quite a bit of time to think of something unique, interesting, and appropriate for the recipient, and then receive a candle/candle holder/photo frame or something equally unimaginative in return. The person who gets the photo frame is usually me, sigh.

But not this year!

This year my gorgeous work colleague, Laura, certainly used her imagination when creating this Kris Kringle gift ($10) for me. I'm sure Laura thinks she doesn't know me very well, but she zeroed in on a vital clue for this Kris Kringle. We've been chatting here and there about my upcoming camping trip over the past few months, and this is what she created:

Perfect!

In my book it really is the thought that counts, and I love that Laura took the time to think about what I might need to survive 5 nights in a tent with Union Jack and The Hatchlings.

What I love most is the laminated "Crazy Woman" sign. It will be found hanging at the entrance to our tent throughout the camping trip.

All that is missing is a set of earplugs!

Thank you Miss Laura. You're a gem.

Jen x

S-s-s-snake!!!!

2009-12-28T12:58:00.006+11:00

It's been almost four years since our last close encounter with a snake, but in the week leading up to Christmas this guy showed up:

Sadly he didn't turn up in this conveniently sealed plastic container. Now that I probably could have handled - close eyes, grit teeth, pick up box, launch into outer space, or somewhere equally as remote!

Hatchling No.1 and I first spotted this 4 year old (approx.) Tiger Snake as we wandered casually into our tv room.

"Something's there..." said Hatchling No.1 as he headed across to the window to peer out into the garden. Expecting it to be a super cute skink I followed him saying,
"Oh yes its a....." at that moment I spotted what most certainly was NOT a skink,
"Errrgh! It's a snake!"

Mr. Tiger Snake was sliding through our garden bed, rubbing along the window pane (which probably felt nice and cool).

I immediately laid down the law with Hatchling No.1: "Stay there and DO NOT follow me outside!"

I then suddenly found I was wearing my brave trousers and went outside to watch where our visitor was going. He slid into our garage (IE. closer to the door - eek!) and hid under the car. Fortunately my sister Selma has a friend who keeps snakes, and he was extremely excited to come and collect our unwanted guest.

After what felt like an eternity, Snake-Dude-Luke arrived and set about finding Mr. Snake. I lost sight of him as he slithered off into the junk corner of our garage. As luck would have it, Snake-Dude-Luke found him almost instantly. After a bit of hide and seek Snake-Dude-Luke picked up Mr. Snake (really, with his bare hands, no joke) and popped him into his waiting plastic container.

PHEW!!!!

Snake-Dude-Luke said he was a very 'pretty' tiger snake, and set off to find Mr. Snake a nice new place to live in the State Park (where people don't live and snakes should!).

'Pretty' wasn't the first word that sprang to mind when I looked at Mr. Snake, but then Snake-Dude-Luke does have a pet snake (Death Adder, me thinks) called Tickles. Need I say more?

I would love to love snakes, really, I would. The trouble is that they stir up a fear within me that goes right to the core. When I see a snake in the wild I almost cannot breathe - that's how scary they are to me. I just can't love something that scares me that much - full stop, end of story.

I might consider therapy one day...

...but it's an unlikely prospect.

Jen x

Merry Christmas to all...

2009-12-24T09:07:00.003+11:00

Wow - it has been a rather BUSY lead up to Christmas. My blog has been looking at me dejectedly, with pleading eyes - both of us aware of the neglect being inflicted but niether of us willing to acknowledge it....

No, I am not writing this late Christmas Eve, and no - believe it or not I have not been drinking (yet).

In a day that has cleaning, trifle making, trampoline construction, present wrapping, tree lopping (seriously!), grocery shopping, child rearing, soul cleansing, carol singing, and whatever else happens to appear...... I am DETERMINED to wish my blog followers a very merry Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Let me assure you, I have so many cool stories to share that I may be compelled to go into blog overdrive over the next few weeks. There are fancy dress parties, snakes, tanks - all sorts of things to cover. Watch this space!

Meanwhile, have a wonderful Christmas and may 2010 bring you each and every little thing your heart desires.

Jen x

We're going camping!

2009-12-10T16:41:00.004+11:00

We've talked about it for a long time. We've danced around the possibilities - a little bit scared and a little bit excited. Yet to date we have NOT been on a family camping trip.

All that will change this summer. With my heart in my mouth I booked us into a camp site in a beautiful riverside location for January. If everything goes to plan we will spend almost a week out in the wide open spaces, testing out our beautiful new tent.

The Hatchlings are already giving their new sleepng bags a bit of running in. In fact, they probably get a test drive about once a day at the moment. The Hatchlings aren't excited about camping AT ALL.

Can everybody send us positive vibes please? Part of me thinks we might need it!!

Jen x

Workin' it baby!

2009-11-28T20:57:00.000+11:00

Hatchling No.2 - first pair of new sunglasses...

When he decides to work the camera, man is he good at it!

Any cuter and I wouldn't know where to put him...

Awww, gee, I love him more 'n my luggage.

Jen xx

Here comes speed racer...

2009-11-25T08:34:00.000+11:00

I am his mother - it is part of the job description.

And why would I want to post stereotypical cutesy kid shots on my blog when I have gold like this to share?

At his 21st Hatchling No.1 can thank me for taking the photos, but he can thank our neighbour "Prysa" for dressing him in this get up...

And he can thank the friend who gave Hatchling No.2 this Speed Racer costume for his 2nd birthday.

"Why, oh why?" Hatchling No.1 will ask himself, "Why did I have to try out all of Hatchling No.2's birthday presents?"

Sorry buddy, the idea was all yours...

Jen x

Pepsi - 21 months later

2009-11-22T20:00:00.000+11:00

In February 2004 Union Jack and I got married. In April 2004 we bought our lovely house. And in June 2004 we got an adorable little pint sized puppy called Pepsi.

(She's the one on the right...)

Pepsi was the Princess of the house. As doting dog owners, you might say we 'over-nurtured' this little fluff ball. But with a cuteness rating that was off the scale, we were powerless to do anything else.

Pepsi lost some of her status upon the birth of Hatchling No.1. Yes, a lot of things changed when Hatchling No.1 arrived...

But not as much as when Hatchling No.2 arrived. He didn't like sleep much. And he liked feeding a LOT! And he didn't like to sleep much. And he liked feeding a LOT....
Did I mention he didn't like to sleep much?
And he liked feeding a LOT??

After 10 weeks of precious little sleep I was indeed a donkey on the edge. I wanted to get rid of Union Jack because he snored - but I couldn't. I wanted to get rid of Hatchling No.1 because he was a 2 year old - but I couldn't. I wanted to get rid of myself because quite frankly I was over it - but I couldn't. And I wanted to get rid of Pepsi because she woke crying babies, woke me, created much fuss, was noisy - she thought she was a Princess.

At that time Pepsi was asking for more than I could give.

Out of nowhere appeared the cutest couple I think I've ever met. They were despereate for a dog, had tried to rescue a couple from the pound but missed out - and as if by magic they appeared. This gorgeous pair took one look at Pepsi when they came to meet her and exclaimed "She's perfect!".

I rushed to correct their perception - there should be no false advertising when it comes to dogs. But lo and behold they wanted our beautiful Pepsi-girl.

I spent the week crying, sobbing, weeping, sniffing, breast-feeding - then crying, sobbing etc. all over again. But the very next week our Pepsi moved out.

I missed her, and I didnt miss her. Pepsi's new owners simply adored her and still do. After 18 months Union Jack, the Hatchlings and I went to visit our Pepsi-girl:

She'd just had a hair cut and man did she look stupid. And cute!!

Hatchling No.1 could remember her as if she only left last week "Where's her tags?" he quizzed, "Why does she have a different tag on her collar?"

Pepsi remembered too. I think she remembered how her Princess status was calously stripped when she became 'just a dog' at our place. When it came time to leave she huddled very close to her new owner - a tad nervous that we might ask her to hop in the car with us and come home.

She's still nutty - she's noisy and demanding and lovely and sweet and cute and annoying. Pepsi is definitely still a Princess. But she's not our girl any more, and our visit cemented this fact for me - just in case I was having any doubts...

Pepsi girl is exactly where she should be.

Jen x

Aussie cricket legends - the early years...

2009-11-11T06:27:00.000+11:00

Yep - the word must be getting around town. When the Hatchlings and I head down to the local cricket ground for a hit, it's fair to say we draw a pretty big crowd. Check out our most recent cricket match...

Didn't see anyone watching? Cast your eye to the grand stand and you'll see the 30-40 onlookers. We didn't advertise - how they knew we fancied a hit of cricket that day remains a mystery...

Hatchling No.1 worked the camera while his baby brother limbered up...

The game was underway when with an almighty sweep, Hatchling No.2 attempted to put one on the boundary...

When achieving the boundary was deemed unlikely, Hatchling No.2 was quick to advise that the previous delivery was in fact a 'no ball'. Considering his position on the wicket, I concede that there may have been something fishy about the proceedings. A match fix perhaps??

...and when Hatchling No.1 dismissed the 'no ball' allegation, Hatchling No.2 felt it necessary to challenge. I think I heard a request for the third umpire at some point during the dispute.

The dispute was eventually resolved when Hatchling No.1 exited the oval in favour of the adjoining playground, while Hatchling No.2 took possession of both bat and ball, and followed his brother.

Gee I hope all those spectators hadn't paid extra for their seats in the Grandstand. :P

Jen x

Hip Hip Hooray!!

2009-11-04T22:30:00.002+11:00

Good grief is that the time?? Exactly how many days/weeks have slipped by without me publishing this post??

Errr, hmmm, um - two weeks and two days ago, The Hatchlings had their birthday party.

As you can see, there was a Bob cake for Hatchling No.2, some rather spiffy cupcakes (made by moi), party hats, blowers, and a Batman cake for Hatchling No.1.

In the spirit of the chaos that is my life, there were no official 'party games' - this was an all in free-play-fest!! I think we were all the happier for it too. With a cubby house, totem tennis, sandpit, new toys, old toys and other kids a-plenty - keeping the little people entertained was a non-issue. Besides, many seemed to be just there for the food...

THE HIGHLIGHT - Watching Hatchling No.2 start blowing before the candles were even lit or "Happy Birthday" sung. (By golly it was HIS Bob cake and he knew exactly what to do with it after a serious month packed with other kids' birthday parties!!!)

THE LOWLIGHT - The outrageously pathetic pinata purchased from certain 'paper people' who shall remain nameless. The sportscar pinata blew a head gasket at the FIRST HIT!!!!

Fortunately the kids were all too high on the lolly-grab to clock what had happened...

Party pie anyone??

Jen x

CFA Expo

2009-10-26T16:20:00.008+11:00

I am pleased to report that the Hatchlings (along with their cousin, Nickers) approached the recent CFA Expo Day with all the seriousness and earnest they could muster.

They have been counting down the days until the official fire season commences - you know, backwards from 165. Gifted they are, G.I.F.T.E.D.

They have drafted their bushfire plan.

Cleared unwanted debris from around the house.

Checked the hoses.

Cleared gutters.

Conducted fire drills.
You name it they've done it.

Well, at least they would have done all those things if they weren't all under the age of 5.

Jen x

Bicycles 101

2009-10-12T15:43:00.000+11:00

I remember it very clearly – the weekend I learned to write a bike. Admittedly I was a bit older than Hatchling No.1, so the process was a bit faster. This, I fear, may be quite a long process.

I didn’t have any training wheels – Hatchling No.1 rather likes his training wheels.

Not least of which is because without them he would be lying on the ground with a bike on top of him a LOT. He likes the bell too.

I didn’t have a smooth, flat netball court to learn on. I had a gravel driveway with a slight slope down, then up. It was perfect because I could use the downhill slope to start rolling without any use of pedals, and then the upward slope would bring me to a stop without any brakes. Perfect.

Maybe we should take Hatchling No.1 back to my childhood home and ask the current owners if they’d mind us using their driveway for some bicycle 101.

No, wait! Hatchling No.1 has found his happy face! He’s smiling! He’s pedaling!

He’s smiling and pedaling!!

Hatchling No.2 is smiling too - mostly because he found this puddle to ride through. Boys and muddy water – the yin and the yang.

If I told you I caught Hatchling No.2 dipping his hands in this muddy puddle water and drinking it would you be grossed out??? I was just wondering - that’s all. No, nothing to confirm or deny at this stage, really. No, really!

Okay maybe he drank a little bit. But don’t worry I leapt into action and put a stop to it! And then every time I turned my back he drank some more. Sigh. His immune system is going to be SPEC-TAC-U-LAR!

Its all part of bicycles 101 – watch out for the next installment.

Jen x

The Photo Enlargement Dilemma

2009-10-01T14:59:00.004+10:00

We have a rather nude wall in our living area that is clearly bothering Union Jack. His vision is for a large photo of the Hatchlings to take pride of place on this wall. I am thinking canvas rather than framed photo...

What do you think of this pic - should I blow this one up and put it on a canvas?

Of course a similar shot of Hatchling No.2 will then be required to minimise the sibling rivalry that will enivitably emerge once Hatchling No.2 is big enough to notice that there are more photos of his brother on our walls than there are of him!!

No, I think its best to keep the score even on that front - see my '5 things' list to the right of this post....

Jen x

The Vominator

2009-09-21T20:56:00.005+10:00

Okay, I can talk about it now. But only just.

It was a wild and treacherous path where the unknown appeared from (almost) every angle. It required skill, determination, and above all, stamina. There were hurdles and setbacks along the way, but I have now safely navigated my family through Hatchling No.2's first bout of gastro.

This weekend he was known as 'The Vominator'.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - lucky he's cute!

Jen x

Bushfire Recovery at Granny Annie's Place

2009-09-16T09:23:00.002+10:00

This is the road to my mum (Granny Annie)'s place. As Mum is the closest person to me who was involved in the February 7th fires, this is the closest impression I get of how the bush is recovering since that day. I don't know what its like in other areas, and wouldn't want to pretend to - I only know about here.

The lunar landscape has (almost) gone. The ash has washed away, the bush has stood still for a while - a tad bewildered by what happened. But now Mother Nature is getting busy...

Trees that have looked like burnt match sticks for long enough are now prettying themselves up with fluffy new green foliage. There is a fresh green spray of grass covering parts of the ground. This grass almost seems greener than any of the grass that was here before - it is vivid.

And here I was, merrily snapping away with my camera the other day, the Hatchlings waiting patiently in the car. The Hatchlings know that Mummy does weird stuff when she has her camera in the car - they're used to it.

Hatchlings: "Why are we stopping Mum?"
Me:"Oooh! I just saw a thing and I want to take a photo of it!"
Hatchlings: "How many minutes will it take?"
Me: "Not many."
Hatchlings: "Can we listle to Wiggles?"
Me: "Yep"
Hatchlings: "Okay Mummy"

Then they bop along to Wiggly music and watch me curiously, until I leap back into the car and we take off again.

On this day though, I had no idea somebody else was watching me - until I spotted him through my lens:

A great big male kangaroo, casually mooching around nibbling on some tasty green shoots. He looked slightly amused by my antics and the fact that he had gone unnoticed. I could see him smirking - swear I could!

I have grown up around this place and have seen kangaroos a billion/squillion/cadjillion times. And every time I get a kick out of it! I think this guy's name might be Brian...

Something else the Hatchlings have become accustomed to is Mummy saying
"Quick! Go and stand on that ... (insert item here) and I'll take your picture!"
This time it was a digger that was resting on the road to Granny Annie's, in preparation for fixing the roadside drainage.

The rain that we've had since the fires has washed a LOT of soil/ash into the gutters, and consequently the roads are not holding up so well when it rains. Fortunately something is being done - just not while Hatchling No.1 insists on standing on the digger grinning from ear to ear!

Nope, I don't think he enjoyed posing for that shot at all.

To top off this adventure, there was some fuel reduction activity going on when we arrived at Granny Annie's place. Mr D loves a good bonfire, and this day was no exception.

The bushfires came from the other side of the property, so Mr D is balancing things up by burning off this side now. However you dress it up Mr D, we still know you just like a nice big bonny on a cold day!

You can't hide that smile - we saw it!

Oooh, this is something else that happened in the days following 7th February - a fire break was cut through Granny Annie's property. We've christened it Eastlink.

Eastlink provides the fire trucks with another method of access to this area, as well as an alternative escape route for local residents should they need it. After narrowly escaping the fires of Black Saturday, nobody is complaining about Eastlink. On a windy 40 degree day it looks beautiful!!

Jen xx

Happiness is a toy sale catalogue

2009-09-09T10:42:00.007+10:00

Oh my, the things one's offspring inherit! Growing up in a rural location means that we never had our mail delivered. We used to collect our mail from the General Store instead. This wasn't such a bad thing - as a kid it meant an opportunity to try and negotiate either Mum or Dad a 20 cent bag of mixed lollies or an icypole. Yep, collecting the mail had its advantages!

I used to imagine what it would be like to have a mail box though. I saw people on t.v with letterboxes - it looked pretty cool. The absence of a letterbox also meant that we NEVER received junk mail. N.E.V.E.R. If we ever visited friends or relatives in the suburbs, we would scour their junk mail catalogues from cover to cover. They were special alrighty.

As a wee thing I didn't care what goods were featured in these catalogues - women's clothes, power tools, groceries. It was all good. But I always felt I'd hit the jackpot if there happened to be a Kmart or Treasureway catalogue with a page or two of toys. Who knew it was genetic?

Hatchling No.1 and his cousin Nickers spent at least an hour chatting over the Target and Big W toy sale catalogues the other day.

A whole catalogue dedicated to toys? Not in my day! "Er, yeah - I want that one, and that one, and that...".

Months of entertainment.

Jen x

2009-08-28T19:24:00.000+10:00

Last week the world lost a very special person. My life, and the lives of many others in our local community will be all the poorer without him. Today we mourned his passing, we celebrated his life, and we said our goodbyes.

I should point out that I was not especially close to this lovely, lovely man. I didn't know his four amazingly articulate and talented children, who spoke with boundless love about their Dad this morning. I didn't know his wife, whose stories of adventure in a Volkswagon made me laugh and cry all at the same time. I only knew the man himself - or at least I felt I knew him. He had a way of letting people in that allowed me to feel this way.

On one of his visits to our house he was admiring Hatchling No.1, who was only a few weeks old at the time. And its the conversation we had that day that will stay with me forever. He told me of his absolute love for his kids, and how they had enriched his life in a way he never knew was possible. He gave me some words of advice that day. I am ashamed to think that I haven't embraced his advice as much as I could have so far, but perhaps that will change.

He told me simply to do EVERYTHING with your kids - grab every opportunity with both hands. Take them out to dinner, go on holidays, have adventures - just be with them. He told me of the joy he had experienced in doing these things with his wife and kids over the years. He spoke from the heart and with so much love that day that it stopped me in my tracks. It took my breath away. If I close my eyes I can still see him standing on my driveway - so animated he was when he spoke.

We last caught up only about a month ago, and shared a few tales of more recent times. It never occurred to me that it might be the last time we spoke. If I'd known I would liked to have said so much more. And I guess I wish he'd said more too.

My sincerest sympathies go out to his family and friends. For me, on the fringe of his world I feel a great sense of loss - I can only imagine how it must feel for those who were the centre of his world.

Stylish Individuals

2009-08-26T20:32:00.002+10:00

I wouldn't consider myself 'stylish' most of the time. Okay, there is the odd occasion when the planets align and I get it right. I manage to put together an outfit that looks quite good - and even I notice the difference compared to normal days. These 'planets aligned stylish days' do not happen very often, but its nice to know that they do from time to time.

However, regardless of what sort of day I might be having, NOTHING can compete with this:

Surely this look will catch on. I can see Paris whipping out an oversized pair of dark sunnies that feature only one lens - can't you? You saw it here first - just remember that people!

Not to be outdone - Hatchling No.1 sports some rather classy footwear on a regular basis too:

If Union Jack had ihis way, Hatchling No.1 might be forced to wear St Kilda footy socks every day of the week...

Yep, I'd look worried if I were you too - with parents like Union Jack and I, is there really any hope????

Jen x

Floral tribute

2009-08-22T06:55:00.002+10:00

When I was a young whipper snapper I had an often snakey and always scarey big sister, Selma. She was pretty good at coming out with snappy one liners (especially to her parents and teachers, I think). But before she inflicted a smart remark on one of the grown ups, she seemed to enjoy trying them out on me. Many of them went straight over my head because I was just too young, but there are some that I have retained over the years.

And who knew that one of Selma's retorts could become an annual mantra???

Yes, way back then Selma unwittingly gave me some very good advice:

"Take a photo - it will last longer!" she'd suggest if I looked her way for longer than 1 second. Well, yesterday that was exactly what I did.

These flowers wont last long once the weather heats up.

And right now they are so new, just waking up on these first few spring-like days.

Yes, they are yawning, blinking slowly and taking a look around.

Some for the very first time. These lovelies came from Lois' garden only a few short months ago as cuttings.

Not like these little rays of sunshine - they make an appearance every year. A bit like Ringo Star at the Chelsea Flower Show...

The beautiful people never hang around long.

And yet, others come back and bring 10 of their mates along too.

This lemon blossom smells like, um - well, it smells like lemon blossom. But I like that smell... Lots.

There's no flowers here, but more nice smells. Sniff sniff, mmmmmmm.

I plan to refer back to this post in February when my garden looks a tad less hydrated. It will give me something to cling to when everything is wilted.

Thanks for the advice about taking photos Selma! Can you tell I'm not scared of her any more?

Then again, after this maybe I should be!!

Jen x

What's fun about the beach?

2009-08-18T21:10:00.004+10:00

It was July.

It was windy.

It was showery.

It was very cold.

It was our weekend at the beach!

Union Jack wasn't invigorated by the fresh air at all.

Hatchling No.1 could have taken or left it.

Hatchling No.2 couldn't have thought of anything worse than trying out his legs on an open, sandy beach.

And walking out to see the fishermen at the end of the pier? Peering into their buckets to see what they've caught?

Nope, we couldn't see what all the fuss was about really...

I can't wait until the next time we spend a weekend at the beach!

Jen x

Life through a (little) lens

2009-08-03T20:00:00.001+10:00

Give a three and a half year old boy a camera for 20 minutes at Grandpa's house and this is what can happen...

His little brother featured heavily in the shots I found on my camera after this 'session'.

I like that through these photos I get to see things from a different angle - from about 1 metre high, in fact.

I am so proud - doesn't this picture draw the eye beautifully, and take you on a journey?

Perhaps I should put together this collection and exhibit it at some high fallootin' art gallery. Hatchling No.1 might earn his fortune before he turns four!

Aaah, the dreaded 'blurry gene' rears its head...

That is one very 'knowing' eye from my baby boy. Mischief is most certainly his middle name.

Grandpa's car - little boys lurve utes!

End of Hatchling No.1's first photographic exhibition.

There is more where that came from though, he loves taking close ups of flowers, grass, dirt etc. Perhaps he will put together another collection for us soon.

Jen x

Pincushions by Mother Nature

2009-07-20T21:39:00.000+10:00

In late 2004 I planted five hakeas at the back of our place. They were all about 3 inches tall with only two leaves on each plant.

Yes, its been about four and half years in the making, but it finally happened a week or so ago. My hakeas flowered!! I know this isn't going to make front page headlines, but as I said, its taken four and a half years! To see a single flower!!!

Very slowly every day, the flowers are coming into bloom. There is the first burst of colour, followed by the emergence of lots of tiny tentacles, or pins.

Mother Nature's pincushions.

Now they stand about four feet tall, they are getting more and more bushy, and they've got beautiful flowers - woo hoo!!

"Pincushion hakeas", I am so proud!

Jen x

I like batting!

2009-07-16T13:00:00.002+10:00

Its nice to know clever people. Sometimes you learn things at the most unexpected of moments - like sitting at my desk yakking to Princess Cherry Pie about eyelashes.

I thought that I probably knew a reasonable amount about eyelashes. Well, as reasonable as you could expect from somebody who is essentially lazy when it comes to makeup/facials/pampering etc. Check out my eyebrows in the following photos - more than 'a few strays' there I'm afraid.

A major part of the problem here is that when I look in the mirror, I try not to really look. If I study too closely I see things I'd rather not see, and there's a chance I might never leave the house again...

But that risk has been eliminated for an estimated 4 weeks or so, thanks to Princess Cherry Pie. In fact, at the moment I LOVE looking in the mirror.

Who knew that you could get eyelash extensions??!

Not me. Apparently its what the celebrities do to make sure they have lovely long lashes to bat on the red carpet. And all this time I thought these stars had simply been blessed as babies by the eyelash God in a way that I was not.

So, last Friday I skipped off to see Vanessa at Princess Cherry Pie to get me some lashes. Here is a picture of me in the car just outside her place. (Mobile phone camera - not great but all I had.)

Yep, you can see that I had fairly normal looking eyelashes at that point. There I was, makeup free and smiling because I knew I was about to be transformed into a ravishing beauty with eyelashes that I could bat. And bat...

And bat.

What followed was a relaxing 1 hour 20-ish, where I laid down with my bottom eyelashes taped down and out of the way (yep, that part felt a little unusual), while Ness one by one extended my eyelashes by about double I think. One at a time she slid a new longer lash over my existing lash and stuck it there - about 20 on each eye I believe.

After a tense moment when I thought my eyes may have forgotten how to open, they did in fact open. And when I looked in the mirror I saw this:

Loooooooooooooooooong lashes!! Woo hoo!!!

They feel fantastic - I forget they are even there until Hilly next door stares at me strangely for 5 minutes solid. She is so jealous of my eyelashes, he he. And there is so much batting fun to be had. Phew, I am worn out by all the batting I have undertaken over the past six days!

And I've loved every minute of it.

Community Health Warning: Eyelash extensions may be addictive - I don't know that I could go on without them....

Thank you Vanessa for boosting the self esteem of my rather average eyelashes. They think you are wonderful, as do I.

"Princess Cherry Pie, people! You know you want to!"

Jen x

Oooh! By the way, Vanessa is a Bride-to-be (yay!) and has a fantastic pre-wedding blog. Take a peak, its so cute!

Still Jenny From the Kitchen #3

2009-07-12T07:00:00.004+10:00

Ah, its the weekend - that is good.

But wait! What is that I smell? (Work with me here people, I know its hard to smell via a blog post.)

Mmmmm, its the smell of pikelets.

Pikelets, like bonfires, are a current signature of our weekends at home, hanging out as a family. I usually cook them at around 11am for morning tea, but by the time I've finished cooking and we have eaten lots, they have become lunch. Of course I have a couple of helpers:

So now its only right that I share my recipe for making these little round discs of loveliness. You might find they induce happy dances all around at your place like they do at mine:

Happy-Dance Inducing Pikelets

Ingredients:

1 cup self raising flour

pinch salt

1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/2 cup sour milk (sour with 1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice)

2 tblsp sugar

1 egg

1 desertspoon melted butter (1oz?)

Sift dry ingredients, add sugar.
Mix to a smooth batter with beaten egg and milk, add melted butter.
(Note: batter should be about cake-mix thickness)
Heat and grease pan, drop batter by desertspoonfuls on to pan, cook until bubbly on top and golden underneath.

Flip and cook other side.

Then join in the happy dance going on around your kneecaps and before moving swiftly on to cooking the next round. Once the pikelet frenzy has commenced there is no stopping!

Oooh, and don't forget to save a couple for yourself!!

Enjoy.

Jen x

And then there's these...

2009-07-09T21:57:00.001+10:00

Around the time I was in year 9 or 10 I loved buying second hand clothes from the op shop. I remember having a beautiful leather belt that was a rich reddish-brown, with a big brass buckle. I bought it at the Diamond Creek op shop on the school holidays. I loved it because you could tell it had been worn a lot - the leather was soft and the holes were a bit worn. I had no idea where that belt had been before I found it, but I knew that if it could talk it would have a story or two to tell.

The following item, however, looks like it has not so much a story as a complete novel to tell. And I think that novel would begin with a chapter on the merits of walking on two feet. Take a look and see what you think:

Yep, I don't think these guys are going to make it to our local op shop. They've had the stuffing knocked out of them, literally.

You see, neither of The Hatchlings were in much of a hurry to walk as babies. Both were around 18 months before they took to getting around on two feet. And these rather pathetic looking slippers were a feat of engineering wrapped in beige corduroy and sheepskin. THEY NEVER FELL OFF THE HATCHLINGS LITTLE FEET - EVER! For this reason alone, these little guys were employed to warm Hatchling No.1's feet, and then Hatchling No.2's feet when his turn came. I could never find another pair the same, and although slightly shabby, nothing compared to these little slippers.

And now...

Now the Hatchlings have moved on, leaving the most loyal of slippers behind without so much as a second glance. Yet for some reason I am torn. I just cant bring myself to throw the little guys out.

Maybe now that I have captured their beauty in these photos and shared a little of their story it might become a bit easier to slam dunk them into the wheely bin.

Only time will tell.

Jen x

Made For Walking

2009-07-01T20:26:00.002+10:00

Okay, so I went to buy my lunch the other day - but instead of spending a little bit of money on a sandwich I spent a bigger bit of money on THESE:

Arent they a sight to behold?

They came from the lovely people at Wittner Shoes in Victoria Gardens.

I have only ever owned one other pair of cowboy boots, and that was when I was 7 years old. I loved those boots too. At age 7 I especially loved the clip cloppy sound that my cowboy boots made as I walked along. The trouble is, I was a shy wee thing, and I worried that somebody might notice the grin on my face that the clip cloppy noise gave me - and then I'd be embarrassed. So I never wore that pair of cowboy boots as much I would have liked to...

I don't worry about that stuff now. And I still love the clip cloppy noise that cowboy boots make!

And I still get the grin...

I am wearing my new boots right now. Even if you read this post next week I will still be wearing them right now - I can't help myself, I currently have them on my feet at every opportunity!

See the stars and the moons? Hmmm, I haven't yet stooped to wearing them while I sleep... Yet.

I just really wish I could think of a name for these beauties, but so far I've drawn a blank. Any ideas?? Send me some comments with inspiration for names please!

Jen x

Its been 10 days....

2009-06-25T10:35:00.003+10:00

Ten days without chocolate - who knew it was possible?

It was painful for a few of those days, but I'm almost cool with it now. However being cool with it is freaking me out!!!

I can confirm that in the absence of chocolate I have been doing a few crazy things. I can't divulge much right now, but watch this space....

Hee hee

Jen x

Burn Baby, Burn

2009-06-20T14:06:00.002+10:00

Bonfires at the bottom of our block seem to be almost a weekly event at the moment. Saturday morning arrives and the Hatchlings commence their 'Project Bonfire' campaign.

"Can we have a bonfire? Can we? Can we? Can we have a bonfire?" The campaign is executed by Hatchling No.1, given that Hatchling No.2 doesn't yet have much of a vocabulary. But I'm sure Hatchling No.2 is the brains behind the operation. He's a pretty smooth operator that Hatchling No.2. Gee I hope he uses his talents for good and not evil in the years to come or we could all be in trouble.

How can you overcome cuteness powers like this?

By about lunchtime Union Jack has been worn down and with paper and matches in hand he takes the Hatchlings down the hill to what has become the bonfire 'sacred site'. Everybody collects sticks and bark, and for the next 500 hours we huddle around the bonfire marvelling at the joy and fascination a fire brings. Its better than any play centre, tv show or battery operated plastic toy for sure!

I suspect its the element of danger that does it. The kids know that fire is hot, and if they get too close or touch the wrong thing it is going to HURT. They haven't yet had to find out the hard way, for which I am very grateful.

In truth, they tend to the fire briefly and then spend the rest of the afternoon horsing around all over the block.

The other thing that happens when we have a bonfire is that people join in. Neighbours, dogs, nephews and other folk appear here and there. They throw a few sticks on our fire, have a chat, get chased by the smoke and then go on their merry way. Or they stay.

(Hatchling No.1 has inherited a condition known as 'the blurry gene')

After a while Union Jack's attention wanders and he finds himself at our neighbour's house performing some blokey activity like welding, or grinding - or something! Prysa and Hilly live next door - Prysa likes blokey activities, check him out.

Prysa likes our bonfires too.

(Can you guess who Hatchling No.1 inherited 'the blurry gene' from?)

The bonfire ritual is part of our fuel reduction policy in preparation for next summers' bushfire season. If we keep up the pace Union Jack has set so far our block will be ship shape by the summer.

Summer will be here before we know it and I haven't yet recovered psychologically from last fire season. May there never be another episode like that one.

But for now the smell of smoke in the air is comforting, and a signature of a Saturday afternoon well spent. Yes, I think for now we'll just enjoy it...

Jen x

Betsy

2009-06-16T06:30:00.003+10:00

I have a laptop computer - and a bag to carry him in.

Big deal, right?

The thing is, I don't love the bag that Mr Laptop came with. And I'm sure that if Mr Laptop could voice his opinion he would agree and say this bag is no place for an esteemed electronic device to live. Mr Laptop's bag was practical to be sure, he just wasn't very attractive and we never hit it off.

Well all that has changed. On Wednesday last week I bought Mr Laptop the luxury penthouse of carry bags, and I can't stop looking at her. Take a look and you'll see why:

Isn't she beautiful? A perfect shade of red, which happens to be my favorite colour.

In all of her shiny red splenour she is also a very user-friendly work bag for me. I think I might marry her if she wasn't a piece of luggage and I wasn't already married. I wonder if that kind of marriage would be legal in Australia?

Then again, maybe she isn't the marrying type - she does seem rather racey.

And shiny.

And red.

She's my new best friend. I think I'll call her Betsy.

Jen x

Note 25/06/09: Betsy came from the lovely bag shop at BrandSmart in Nunawading called "Victoria Station". Go get one Miss Tanya!!

News Flash...

2009-06-15T10:22:00.002+10:00

I am giving up chocolate for one month - starting today.

I may never be the same again.

Jen x

The Fishpond Sandpit

2009-06-03T15:00:00.000+10:00

When Union Jack and I first moved into our house we were fresh faced newly-weds. There were no offspring in sight - just him and me. Yes, in those early days we were as free as a pair of little double-income-no-kids birds.

We would have romantic dinners, weekends away, lazy Sundays spent with newspapers, a flood of tea and each other.

I don't quite remember the details but I'm pretty certain that we got to sleep in on the weekends until we felt like waking up. Wow! Nowadays our day starts when Drill Sergeant No.1 or No.2 commands we take action - usually around 6am. (Its fair to say that 6am is just a little bit earlier than I'd prefer, but there's just no reasoning with the Hatchlings on this matter - YET.)

In the first couple of years our house also had a fishpond that looked like this:

When we first viewed the house prior to buying it there was a little cafe style table and two chairs out in the courtyard where the fishpond is located.

Union Jack and I could really see ourselves sitting out there, listening to the waterfall while we chatted over coffee. The sound of the trickling water created a relaxed atmosphere. We liked that pond - and the goldfish who lived in it too.

The pond was never really seen as a hazard until the most beautiful baby in the world arrived in 2005 - Hatchling No.1. (In case you are wondering, Hatchling No.2 was of course the most beautiful baby in the world in 2007.) When our little bundle of joy became mobile we looked at the pond rather differently, "What if the little whipper snapper falls in?" we thought.

Then, after months of puzzling on our part, Grandpa D had a brain wave, "You could always empty out the water and turn it into a sand pit?" he said.

Yes! Of course!!

Now the risky water hazard has become the ultimate sand pit experience. Its big, deep and full of toys. I can watch the Hatchlings play in the sandpit from the kitchen, loungeroom, bedroom, hallway and toyroom. So when Hatchling No.1 has Hatchling No.2 in his sights to recieve a truckload of sand over his head I can often rescue the poor little mite before it happens.

We've got a slide too.

We still often refer to that area as "The Fishpond", and who knows, maybe one day it will become a fishpond once again.

Its not nearly as cool as the arrangement we first fell in love with.

It doesn't have the tranquility that it used to.

But instead it is lively. It is full of action, fun, laughter, Tonka Trucks (and sand).

Its our "Fishpond Sandpit".

Jen x

They are NOT cute.

2009-05-22T12:57:00.010+10:00

Cuteness can only get you so far in this world.

Sooner or later your cute can just run out.

Or at least fade significantly.

Especially when, as a wallaby, you decide to EAT ALL OF MY NEWLY PLANTED SILVER BUSHES!!!

Hmph. I am friendly, I leave water out for the little guys.

I even leave the odd piece of fruit out in the middle of summer (I worry that they haven't eaten anything tasty for a looong time by mid summer). And what do I get in return?

This:

I can't talk about this any more - the wallaby and I have officially had a falling out.

Jen x

Still Jenny From the Kitchen #2

2009-05-12T20:23:00.002+10:00

Selma's Teriyaki Pork Stir Fry

My big sisters (Pattie and Selma) are both great cooks. From time to time I am handed a recipe which I know has been tried and tested, so all I have to do is follow it the same way Hatchling No.2 follows me (ie. closely most of the time) to be sure of a good result.

Here's a fast easy stir fry from Selma that is so yummy that Union Jack doesn't even notice he's eating bok choy! Many vegetables notice that Union Jack is a bit stand off-ish when he spots them on his plate, and by far green leafy ones cop it the most. Except in Selma's Teriyaki Pork Stir Fry!

Now lets all pray together that he doesn't read this post or I am history.

Ingredients:

1 clove garlic, crushed
750g pork fillets, sliced thinly
6 spring onions, chopped finely
3 baby bok choy (450g) chopped coarsely
1/3 cup (80ml) teriyaki marinade

Cook pork in batches in heated, oiled wok or large frying pan until browned all over and cooked through. Remove from wok.
Cook onion and garlic in same wok, stirring, until fragrant.
Return pork to wok with bok choy and spring onions. Cook, stirring until bok choy is wilted.
Add teriyaki marinade, cook until heated through.

Serve with rice, or as I did the other night, with rice noodles. Yum!

Make just before serving to ensure maximum crunchy, tasty deliciousness - on the table in 20 minutes.

By the way, what do you do with spring onions?

For a LONG time I would buy a bunch, use half, put the other half into the fridge whilst promising myself that this time I will use the rest up before they wilt. Then, a few days/weeks/months later I would take the shrivelled sad mess from the fridge and throw it in the bin/compost/chook bucket (no, we don't have chooks, we keep stuff for Granny Annie's chooks), thinking to myself "Oh well, better luck next time".

But not any more. Look what I did the other day:

The other day I cut up what I needed and used it. Then I cut up the remainder, put it in a ziplock bag and into the freezer - next time I need spring onions I will whip those babies out of the freezer and shazam! I WILL NOT WASTE ANOTHER SPRING ONION!

And see the little bottom bits with the roots? I put those in my herb garden to see if I might grow NEW spring onions too. Does anybody know if this works? I have so many questions about spring onions - perhaps it s the peanut butter overdose I had at lunchtime... or the distinct lack of dinner tonight.

Last question: How far up the stem do you cut?

I never know when to stop chopping. How far up the stem do you get before you are not meant to use it? I don't know. Can anyone help? If so, please leave me a comment so I can sleep a little bit more soundly tonight... Well, it doesn't really keep me awake, but you know what I mean...

Don't you?

Enjoy the stir fry people - Union Jack, the Hatchlings and I sure did.

What is your thing?

2009-05-11T21:00:00.000+10:00

I've heard it said that the key to success is getting better every day, bit by tiny bit.

I get it.

What matters aren't the big one-offs, but rather the little incremental steps we make every day that drive us towards reaching our goals. Whatever they happen to be.

What was your thing today?

My thing for today was to ride my spin bike for 30 minutes before work this morning. I really want to be a fit person - fitter person. Despite this I can easily go for days without doing anything to make this happen. So the bike was my thing for today.

Thirty minutes cycling? Big deal!

No Grasshopper! It doesn't have to be a big deal. Remember, getting better every day, bit by tiny bit. It would only be a big deal if I had done nothing, taken no steps - thats a big deal.

Sadly the rest of my evening requires me to do other 'things' that are a little more basic - paying bills, banking, ironing. The list goes on, so I must sign off now and get on to some of my less meaningful but equally important 'things'.

Jen x

PS: Two more thoughts to ponder:

"Small steps lead to high mountains".
"Never eat yellow snow!"

Its been how long??

2009-05-05T11:15:00.006+10:00

Sorry.
Its just that...
There's been a lot....
The kids were...
My ironing pile was...

Sigh.

All I can say is that it has been far too long since I last updated my blog. You surely can't be any more disappointed in my efforts than me. Boo!

I have been doing quite a bit of gardening though. Its an annual cycle really. During the heat of the summer as I watch my plants shrivel up and cling to life by their fingertips (yes I know plants don't really have fingertips - or even fingers) I become sad and more than a little despondent about the whole gardening thing. During those months I can't tell you how many times I utter disgustedly under my breath "What is the point?".

But then it happens.

The days become cool but not cold. We receive a teeny bit of rain.

I see GREEN SHOOTS appearing in places I thought were a-goner! And flowers too!

Its about now that my memories of scorched plants and water running straight off hyprophobic soil all but vanish. Suddenly I am full of gardening optimism and can't wait to get busy doing gardening 'stuff' once again. Here is one of my new projects:

Its a fairly simple policy that I am working by at the moment: if a plant is in my garden and looks good right now (ie. at the end of a HOT summer), I want to plant more of this plant. If it is in my garden and it is sick or dead - FORGET IT!

These guys look pretty happy:

Yep, I bought more of them!

I also planted this fella:

He's a new entrant to the garden so we'll just have to see how he goes.

Will do my best work on blog updates from now on - really.

Jen x

T.V Junkie

2009-04-24T12:30:00.006+10:00

G'day,

In my previous post I described Hatchling No.1 as a "Couch Potato". This statement needs correcting. It isn't the couch that is his 'thing', its the television. So when I said "Couch Potato", what I meant was "T.V Junkie". There - much better.

Hang on. What?!

Okay, this isn't something I am proud of, but let me explain. The poor child never stood a chance. Union Jack would watch the test pattern on television if there was nothing else on - he loves watching t.v that much. He just never gets bored of it. I on the other hand only ever half watch most shows, getting distracted by kids, cooking, looking out the window, thinking funny stuff - anything really. I have an aversion to getting too hooked on anything other than Grey's Anatomy. Who knows why Grey's Anatomy gets my total commitment? I'm pretty sure it couldn't have anything at all to do with McDreamy and McSteamy...

Anyway, Hatchling No.1 seems to have inherited his Daddy's t.v gene COMPLETELY. And here are a few pictures to prove it:

Awwww, a teeny weeny Hatchling No.1 keeping up with current affairs. He's so advanced!

Here he is sharing the joy of The Wiggles with his friend Miss Tilly. "Yeah! Murray's the one in the red, but Greg's my favorite."

When Hatchling No.1 went on holidays to the Gold Coast, he liked to start each day with a boogie to the "Jane and the Dragon" theme song.

If its too sunny to watch television - no problem! Just add shades.

Check out all that dribble! Was it caused by the lollipop or Roary the Racing Car? I guess we'll never know.

Do you see what I mean now? There's definitely a 't.v thing' going on with that little person - we've successfully confirmed that much. And who knew I'd taken so many photos of the Hatchling watching television anyway?

Jen x

PS: I think I'd better turn off the television now...

Green and Purple Hammers

2009-04-21T20:59:00.016+10:00

G'day,

I don't know about you, but from time to time I kind of like playing the game where I try to guess what my offspring might become when they grow up. In the quieter moments of our day together I have been known to consider job titles such as Author, Food Critic, or Couch Potato for Hatchling No.1. Today however, Terrorist, Stuntman or WWF Wrestler seemed somehow closer to the mark. But thats a whole other story for another day...

Today I want to tell you about Hatchling No.2. A couple of weekends ago, as his Daddy and Grandpa worked feverishly to lay the floor in our new little extension, Hatchling No.2 provided me with a few clues as to what he might aspire to in future years.

Well, kind of.

Hatchling No.2 hasn't yet become a Bob the Builder zombie (you know in the cartoons when somebody is brainwashed their eyes spiral round and round? I'm sure I've seen that happen at my place). Nevertheless, the louder the hammers banged that day the closer Hatchling No.2 insisted on getting to the action.

Er... I don't think sucking your hammer while you think is the behaviour of a fair dinkum serious builder - is it?

Is it?

Then again, what would I know?

It does look pretty cute. Check out those elephant slippers - why don't they come in adult sizes? And while we're talking about cute:

Guess who discovered he loves Easter eggs?

Sigh. There just aren't enough green and purple hammers with smiley faces in the world.

God bless the little Hatchlings.

Jen x

PS: This is what the floor turned out like. Go Union Jack and Grandpa - it looks just like a bought one!!

Hoo Hoo! Who's there?

2009-04-21T12:53:00.006+10:00

G'day,

Amongst what seems to be the ever increasing menagerie around our place is a rather distinguished looking guy who likes to peep through my office window from time to time. Although his face might seem quite menacing to some (particularly furry four-legged types who say "Squeak"), I love it when I spot him outside my window.

This shot isn't that recent, but its the best one I have managed so far. Natural camouflage is perhaps the photographer's enemy? Or maybe just mine, I don't know.

Its fair to say that Mr Owl has had a bit of Photoshop-ing to help combat the camouflage thing. Here's what he looked like before Photoshop:

Even in this un-photoshopped version I had cropped ruthlessly in order to find my little mate among the gum leaves. I wonder how often I walk past him without noticing?

I'm pretty sure he misses nothing.

Wise old owl.

Jen x

PS: Mr Owl seems to be awake a LOT on the days he visits. If he flies and hunts all night, and then sits and watches the world (and me) all day - when do owls sleep exactly?

Still Jenny From The Kitchen #1

2009-04-20T07:48:00.004+10:00

G'day!

I cooked an old favorite recipe last night, which the family (including me) seemed to almost inhale, we were enjoying it so much. I was just sitting here thinking about how good it was when the thought crossed my mind, "Let's share this little culinary gem on my blog!" So here it is:

Tip Top Vegetable Biriani

Food photography - who knew how tricky it could be? Forgive me, I will try harder next time!

Ingredients:

1 large onion, peeled and finely diced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, finely diced
2 teaspoons curry powder
200g orange kumara (sweet potato), peeled and diced
200g basmati rice
500ml stock
100g green beans, cut into 2cm lengths
40g sultanas
50g cashew nuts
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped

Heat a large HEAVY BASED pan over medium heat for 2 minutes.
Cook onion in oil until soft but not brown.
Add garlic and curry powder and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
Add kumara and cook for 5 minutes.
Add rice and stock; stir well. Bring back to the boil, cover and reduce to low heat. Cook for 10 minutes.
Add beans and sultanas. Cook 5 minutes.
Add nuts and parsley. Remove from heat and stand, covered, for 5 minutes before serving.

Top tip: If you're not vegetarian, add 400g diced pork at the same time as the kumara - deeeelicious!

The Hatchlings love this recipe - not least because they have a thing for fishing out the sultanas first. I think it still blows them away that sultanas are sometimes in your dinner as well as your breakfast!

Happy cooking - and eating!

Jen x

Visitors with Styling Products

2009-04-16T08:36:00.004+10:00

Okay, so you invite friends into your home from time to time - but do you ever check their bags upon entry? No. Of course not - these are your friends and they are entering your home, not a rock concert.

Right?

Yeah right.

Be warned, I say. Sometimes friends bring items into your home that have the potential to make your children look ridiculous. RID-IC-U-LOUS!

Two words - styling products.

Is it punk? Crim? Rockstar?

Whatever, the Hatchlings looooooved the effect.

Jen x

Happy Easter

2009-04-10T15:27:00.000+10:00

Its quietly crept up on me this year. And now, suddenly, its Easter this coming weekend. Wow! And we all know what this means, don't we?

CHOCOLATE - fantastic!!

Of course there is a lot more to Easter than an extra long weekend, hot cross buns and a ridiculous level of chocolate consumption - its just that these are the best bits.

So what does Jenny from the Blog have planned for the Easter break? Hmmmm, let me see.

The annual Eliot Easter Egg Hunt on Good Friday. Hosted by nearby friends, this is always great fun. The Easter Bunny makes an appearance, the kids hunt for eggs around a beautiful garden and then everybody eats, drinks and talks a lot. Perfect.

Also planned is a family bike ride - 2 bikes, 2 parents, 2 kids. This event will take place on the best weather day of the weekend, and with any luck our lovely neighbours might join us.

The remaining part of the weekend will be left to chance. We are not known for our forward planning prowess, and I am a firm believer that those occasions that occur spontaneously are often the best. Yep - there's a good chance we'll be doing nothing. But on Sunday, ooooh, we might find a little something like this:

In case you're worried, I didn't tip out some lovely baby birds from their nest in the name of a photo opportunity. This nest was blown out of a tree a few weeks ago in our 'Wild-Weather Fest'. Hatchling No.1 has kept it at our front door since then, in preparation for the Easter Bunny's visit. I can't imagine where he gets this behaviour from...

On that note, may the Easter Bunny leave you as many eggs as you can lift.

Happy Easter everyone.

Jen x

Phew! That was a close one...

2009-04-09T10:08:00.008+10:00

Now, I have heard of cheeky press people sneaking into the Victorian bushfire struck areas to take photos from which they can earn a few $$$. I am NOT one of those people. There is no money to be made from these photos, and they are taken around my Mum's house. They were taken on the road I often walked as a teenager - either home from school or just for a bit of exercise. So I feel I have a connection to these places....

It is by sheer luck and timing that I don't have a photo of Mum's place all burnt down. With a few hundred metres to spare on February 7th the wind changed and blew the fire away from her. Can you believe it?

During the biggest fire Victoria has ever seen my Mum and Dave watched the fire heading straight for their home while they splashed water around to try and protect it. In the following shot you can see where the fire went through. It travelled from left to right across this image, as well as burning back up the mountain to meet the horizon.

Apparently the noise of the fire sounded like a 747 jet engine. Nothing could have stopped the flames that day - except Mother Nature.

And for my Mum, she did.

Gee, we really love Mother Nature sometimes!

Especially because before we know it the road to Mum's will once again look a bit like this.

Get busy Mother Nature. Paint us a bushy green landscape once again.

Jen x

Introducing Union Jack

2009-04-01T16:30:00.003+11:00

He's an international man of mystery. From Monday to Friday he's an engineer and office bod, but on the weekends he's all things outdoors - wood cutter, builder, golfer, cricketer, swing pusher, sand castle builder, Husband, Daddy. He travelled approximately 16,960 kilometres in 2003 to settle in sunny Melbourne. A farmer's son. A rugby union fan. A beer drinking, cricket loving Pom. And I married him - he's Union Jack.

Union Jack is vaguely aware of my new found blogging hobby - the place next to him on the couch of an evening has been oddly cool and unoccupied quite a lot over the past few weeks. However, I don't think he has actually looked at SJFTB (Still Jenny From The Blog) yet. As such I might get away with rather a lot here without Union Jack ever finding out...

But I wont.

Its not right - is it? Hmmm.

I think Its more fun this way. But that's because its me, and he's Union Jack. So here he is:

I snapped Union Jack's Blundstone boots shortly before a wood cutting expedition to Granny Annie's house. More about the recent events at Granny Annie's place will be coming soon. For now all we need to know is that when a bulldozer hastily pushes a fire break through your property as bushfires rage in the vicinity lots of trees come down, and after the bushfire threat is gone there's LOTS of fire wood for winter!

By the way, sorry for the looong gap between posts. I was experiencing a few technical hitches, but that is all I can say about it because I am now trying to block the memories of my utter frustration DEEP in my subconscious. You know how it is...

Thanks for reading,

Jen x

The Coolest Park Ever In The Whole World

2009-03-25T22:25:00.000+11:00

In my last post I eluded to a recent visit to the coolest park ever in the whole world. It is... Oh yes it is.... No, it really is! You're right, I guess I havent visited every park in the whole world, but perhaps we can agree that it might be in the top 100?

Okay? Good.

It was a warm Friday afternoon. I had Hatchling No.2 in one arm (this child really needs to consider the merits of walking some time soon or I my arms are soon going to become Popeye-esque). In my other arm was a bag of supplies - critical items needed to maximise the enjoyment of an afternoon playground session followed by a sausage sizzle. As we opened the gate to the best playground ever in the whole world it was like entering another world. There was green grass (almost as rare as pixies and unicorns in Melbourne), trip-trap bridges, wiggly paths to follow on an adventure, slides, swings, shade (woo hoo!), totally child-proof fences, and free bbq facilities. Is it sounding pretty cool so far?

It was like a little haven for kids. Because it is so secure we were able to let them run and jump and play and hide and do whetever they felt like - FREEDOM!

In a society of super-cautious parents these poor little tackers don't often get much real freedom - we are always watching! Well, not at the best playground ever in the whole world. Here there was little harm they could come to (except maybe falling off a slide or something), so for the little people it was like taking off down the wide open road with the roof down. Fan-tas-tic!

A special mention to Gus for his choice of location for shoe removal - it took a long time, and in the end sheer luck for the Mum's to find those shoes. Another special mention to Chloe and Tilly's dancing - Hi-5 must surely become Hi-7 to include you two.

The final mention has to go (of course) to my little Hatchlings. I had two grubby, hot, sticky, slightly flushed and more than slightly grumpy little boys in the back of my car on the way home. Sleep came easily to them on Friday night, content with the promise that we could, one day, go back to the coolest park ever in the whole world.

Jen x

What a Weekend!

2009-03-24T13:18:00.006+11:00

G'day,

What is your measure of a good weekend? Read the following description and see if you can tell what the enjoyment factor was for my family and I last weekend:

Clean washing that awaited folding on Friday afternoon hadn't moved a muscle by Sunday afternoon.

The amount of grime left in the bath by the Hatchlings on both Saturday and Sunday nights was an all time record.

Every member of the family suffered the pain of our favorite mug/bottle/plate/bowl being dirty in the dishwasher when we wanted it - more than once

The house was used only at eating and sleeping times

Everyone is bone-crunchingly exhausted and in need of a couple of days off!

Yep, you guessed it - our weekend was AWESOME!

The weekend truly commenced on Friday evening with the Mum's Group BBQ at the coolest park ever in the whole world. (More on the coolest park ever in the whole world, and the great sausage fiasco some other time). Then, Saturday morning marked the start of our local festival. There was a parade, endless live music, a reptile show, billy cart derby, rock climbing, face painting, a waterslide, art, craft - you name it, it was there. I am always amazed at what a small committee of volunteers are capable of putting together for our little town. I was also amazed by this guy:

How do you do that?

The festival was colourful, dusty, noisy, dusty, hot, dusty, creative, dusty, fun, dusty, strenuous - did I mention dusty?

Thank the lord that our festival is an annual event. Amen.

Jen x

P.S. I may have just spotted how to add more than one picture per post - oooooh!

Horsing around - GOOD LUCK COURTNEY!

2009-03-20T14:01:00.001+11:00

My niece, Courtney, is participating in horse trials this weekend. The horse wont be on trial in the legal sense - I'm pretty sure has hasn't been involved in any crimnal activity to date. I think its more a trial to see how skilled both horse and rider are. Courtney is 11 and will be taking on dressage, show jumping, cross country and I'm not sure what else. I don't know about about you but I'm impressed. Here is a picture of Courtney and her noble steed Bobby from a competition back in January:

They look pretty smart huh? Both horse and rider did a tip top job on that occasion (which was the first trials Courtney had participated in).

It was when Courtney reported to me earlier this week about last weekend's pony club camp that I got a surprise. She told me that camp was good, but Bobby was a Tosser (note: with a capital "T"). This came as quite a shock for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I didn't even realise that Courtney was familiar with the term 'Tosser', and she used it to describe how she felt about her four legged friend perfectly. Perhaps this is evidence of the influence of her pommy uncle? Secondly, and most important, by all accounts Bobby is not generally a Tosser. He is quite the gentleman in fact. Take another look - is that the face of a Tosser? I don't think so. Maybe he was just having a bad week? Look at him - he's gorgeous!

So, I would like to forward to Courtney an enthusiastic "Good luck!" for this weekend, and in case Bobby is a follower of my blog too - "Stop being a Tosser and do your best work out there. There's bound to be apples/carrots and other yummy stuff in it for you!"

Knock 'em dead you two.

Jen x

Strange occurences

2009-03-18T19:57:00.014+11:00

Da-da Da-da Da-da Da-da da da da:

"I feel the earth, move, under my feet..." - sing it Carole!

You might well be wondering what I am on about here - or if you too are in Melbourne, maybe not.

At around 4.30 this afternoon most of Melbourne did feel the earth move, as we experienced our second EARTH TREMOR in two weeks. What's going on?

Here's my account: I'm at work merrily paddling in a kitchen sink full of soap suds when the building starts gives an almighty creak. "Oooh!" my colleagues and I exclaimed oh so eloquently. Then before we knew it we were shaking and moving a bit - similar to the feeling when you are on the train maybe (??) How strange!

And yet its not the only strange thing to happen around here recently.

Obviously there was the first earth tremor on 6th March - my first ever and it freaked me out!

Prior to that were the dreadful bushfires across a large part of Victoria. God bless all those who were affected, may we never see another day like February 7th 2009.

On a lighter note a wallaby and her Joey appear to have taken over my garden, and quite frankly my place just isnt rural enough to find roo poo at the front door - but we did.
Hatchling No.1 slept in so late this morning that I had to wake him in order to get him to childcare and me to work on time. Why doesn't that ever happen on a home day?!

I wonder if Mother Nature is currently going through a rebellious phase? Hmmm, it sounds to me like somebody needs some Cadbury Dairy Milk to soothe the soul. Or maybe a Snickers - the all time greatest chocolate bar ever (so far). Hmmmmmmm.

No! Quick, think of something else... Stop it! I'm not eating ANY chocolate tonight. Not even one of those yummy teeny weeny Cadbury eggs I bought for the kids...

Huh! Me not eating chocolate for a whole 24-hour period - yet another strange occurence to add to the list. Or will I?

Jen x

PS: Here's the map showing where the tremor's epicentre was located - in case you're interested in that sort of thing.

The Visitor

2009-03-17T10:26:00.004+11:00

Hi there,

I am going to commence 'Jenny from the blog' with a really poor quality photo of a recent visitor to my house. Bearing in mind we are but 30 short minutes away from the city of Melbourne, and this photo was taken from inside my lounge room, take a look:

See anything interesting? Let me talk you through it.

In the foreground is Hatchling No.1's bug catcher, behind which there is a few drought stricken plants, and a bank and ooh! What's that? Yes its cheeky Ms Walaby and Joey having a snack on the cherry plum tree. She visits daily at the moment. The drought has forced her to become tame enough to come and eat her way through my garden. The things we do for a decent meal hey Ms Walaby?!

I plan to post day to day occurances to keep friends and family up to date, and to offer a bit of insight into life as 'Jenny from the blog'. Oh, and I am on a mission to learn how to use Photoshop, so with any luck the photography on offer will improve too.

Thanks for reading,

Jen x