Saturday afternoon in the garden

Miss 4 has been taking photos. Given her height and my height there were a lot which included my elbows, boobs and bottom.  Not a pretty sight when clad in grey velour tracksuit pants and a hot pink lycra top (what? its Saturday and I've been in the garden all day).

This thicket is the tomatoes.  They're fruiting all over the place.

And the washing on the line. I just love when kids take random pictures like this and they really work.

And then there are those that have questionable content.

:)

Quiet

Am still here. Am okay.  Things have been rather full on at Chez Nicholas. We have finally launched ourselves into 'the system' with regards to Miss 4s behaviour issues - well, after she pooed herself at the paediatrician's office to get attention, we kind-of had to.  Words like Oppositional Defiance Disorder and Aspergers are being mentioned - but I want to stress that we have no official diagnosis at this stage, and honestly if she did have either of these things it would be at the very mild end of the spectrum.  She's a fabulous, hugely bright kid and frankly I think with counselling for all of us, and good management techniques we'll smooth out the somewhat bumpy path that we're currently on.

Regardless, the last couple of weeks have been confronting and intensely mentally draining and I have not had the headspace to put together a coherent blogpost, even if it was just about vegetables.

We have a reasonably quiet weekend ahead - before the insanity of end-of-term and (oh dear god) Christmas and (Oh Dear God) long holidays - so am hoping to get a few moments of ranting writing time.

Be back soon. :)

Sweetcorn

This bed here is half my sweetcorn bed (I've got two 3m x 1m beds next to each other, so I generally count them as one bed).  At the end of July I put in a heap of sweetcorn seed. One germinated and I bought the rest from the seedling lady at Hornsby markets.  Then in September I put in another heap of sweetcorn seed.  Four germinated and those shorties at the front are also courtesy of the seedling lady in Hornsby. sigh.

Though slightly dismayed - which you kind of get used to when you have such regular gardening disasters as I do - am not put off.  Here is the other half of that bed.  I've just pulled up all the bolting lettuce and laid it over the soil to protect it a bit due to all the heavy rain we're getting at the moment (not that I'm complaining or anything).

I'm planning on putting seed in this bed in the very near future, so I reckon the seedling lady can expect another visit in around three weeks or so.

sigh.

I hereby declare this house organised.

I know that I can be hellish bad at follow up posts. Ones which talk about know how I went with the tidying, or if I actually sold the child on ebay etc...

So here we have it, a follow up post.  There's a lot of good news :)...

Firstly, I was talking the other day about getting the house straight and organised before we hit the Christmas holidays, and also that the Universe had conspired against me every time I tried to do anything.  Well, the Universe did not stop conspiring, it never does, BUT I did manage to get the house in order and organised by Miss 4s party on Sunday.

It was a struggle.  It was boring and fricking hard work, but as I sit here, and things are in order (yes, there is a bit of random untidyness and the dishwasher needs unloading and the clothes need hanging out...) I really feel that the huge effort was worth it. I've got a sense of having things under control for the first time in weeks.

So the house is orderly. What of our finances...

As most of you know we've struggled with credit card debt since our annus horribilius last year, when we had a long period of no income.  We arrived in 2010 in arrears to practically every telco and utilities company in Australia - and, can I just add, we were really up front about our situation and our plans to pay what we owed and they were all great about it - this is in addition to a maxed out credit card.  Since then we've worked hard to dig ourselves out of that hole - which has also been horrible and boring and stressful and awful.

We've paid off debt as fast as we can, so by the end of July we were straight with everyone except the rates bill and the Credit Card.  I had set up a payment plan with the council and we had a schedule of payments organised for the credit card, and it was looking like we'd be debt free by March 2011.  But hubs did his tax and the refund exactly covered the remainder of the credit card and the amount owing to the council.

So, as of yesterday, we have no debt aside from the mortgage.

It doesn't feel real yet.  I'm so used to stressing about money that I'm automatically worrying about the cost of a celebrationary afternoon tea at T2.  Hubs is in dire need of new jeans and I have a pretty desperate bra situation happening - but a part of me is refusing to believe that its going to be okay to spend money on new clothes.  I'm pretty sure I'll get over it :).

One thing I am totally sure of though, I never, ever, want to go through it again.

:)

Birthday cake

So today was Miss 4's early birthday party.

Yesterday I made the cake.
Started with this...

Progressed to this (those are marshmallow ghosts on the cake, it being a, somewhat late, halloween theme)...

And ended up like this...

Smitten Kitchen's red velvet cake - it was amazing, a light moist chocolate cake, with a cream cheese icing (same as what you'd put on a carrot cake).

Its been a great day :)

Fly trap update

Firstly I would like to thank everyone for their kind comments about my norks on Sunday's post.  It has completely inspired me and I have decided to copy Guccimama and have Half Naked Thursday on my blog - yes, henceforth I shall be plastering my nekkid bits... oh as IF.

And, to the person who emailed me to inform me that if you zoom in on that photo, you can get them up to almost life size - I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.

Anywaaaaaay.

I am sick with a rotten cold AND my life has exploded.  When I woke up this morning I had decided I could just about send Miss 4 back to school with a clear conscience (when I picked her up this afternoon the front of her top was crispy with snot - goddammit - tomorrow I'll dose her up with drugs so its not so obvious I'm a bad bad mother) and was looking forward to a few days during which I had nothing to do except execute a well organised countdown to Miss 4s birthday party this weekend.

Sigh.

Within the space of four emails and two text messages I ended up with about 45 MILLION other urgent things to do, AND hubs is dealing with a massive massive crisis at work so I haven't seen him for days, AND I had a huge panic about the party this afternoon and ended up running around random supermarkets with a Very Runny Nose and No List.

I cannot even remember what I bought.  Well, I do remember the gigantic packet of chips, because I ate them, and I spent the afternoon teaching my children to suck M&Ms onto the end of a straw and drop them in a bowl (you could Feel The Serenity in our house for an entire half hour once they got the hang of it) and I know for a fact that M&Ms were not in my vicinity pre-shopping.

Um.  So. Flytrap.

Not a success.  I think that one fly died of boredom.

Hmm.

Outfit Win

I asked my husband to take a photo of me in my dress, and this is what I got...

Me: "What ARE you doing?"
Him: "If you were walking down the street anyone could see that."

Mmm, thanks honey. No really.

After I punched him for a while he was persuaded to take this one.  Why the fuss?  Well, this dress is one that was given to me ages ago, but being a touch porked-up I couldn't zip it.  Its sat in the cupboard, until last night I remembered it and wondered 'what if.'

And it fits!!  So today I wore it into the Sydney Opera House to the Baby Proms (Music for Tutus, its like having a private audience with Australian ballet dancers - they are AMAZING - if you have access to a kid grab them and book in for the session next year, right now, don't wait, you won't regret it).

For me, the best bit of this whole weightloss biso is getting back into clothes I couldn't do up.  Yup its nice to see the numbers on the scales going down but what really makes it meaningful is to get into the smaller sized clothes.

At the start of this year I resolved, for the third year running, to lose weight - and this year, I've done it.

• I've lost 10kgs which is (more or less) half way to my ultimate weight goal. 
• Last June I weighed just over 82kgs.  
• Now, in late October, I'm 5kgs off a healthy bmi (so am presently 72kgs and want to get to 67kgs) 
• Once I get to 67kgs I plan to lose another 3 - 5kgs so that I'm in the middle of my healthy weight range.
• And then I'm getting a tattoo or piercing (suggestions welcome)

I'm in no hurry.  I'd like to get to 67kgs by Christmas, but yanno, I'm not going to live or die by it.  This time around this weightloss journey has been reasonably easy (last time, back in 2001 when I porked-up following my divorce, it was an unmitigated nightmare, I hated and resented every moment of it, but knew if I didn't do it I was heading for 90kgs and beyond).

This time around I went in with no guilt, no excuses, no deprivation, no gym joining, no drama.  So if I don't lose weight on my weekly weigh in (have done Weightwatchers and have been attending meetings) then my thoughts are... 'Gah, ate too much, will do better.' None of this, 'oh its been a busy week, I'm stressed, my life is so overwhelming its no wonder...' or 'Crap, I'm never going to lose anything, I'm useless' type thinking.  Just, yup, over-ate, move on.

In short I've been really really kind to myself, and its really really worked.

I haven't exercised.  BUT, I walk about 15,000 steps a day around the house doing housework - WW recommend you do 10,000 steps a day. And I do walk the dog (but its hardly cardio-vascular with all that pausing for sniffing).

So yes. 10kgs off. Fit into wonderful floaty goddess dress AND had photo taken by insane Chinese tourists on Opera house steps (chatted to them in Chinese, they were speechless with surprise, very satisfying ☺) Its All Good.

Row of Lettuce

All different varieties of lettuce.

Cauliflower

We've got a couple of caulis. Only about the size of my fist, but I think I'll pick them soon before the bugs and the weather get to them.

Making Progress

Of course the kids got sick, I mean it wouldn't be My Life without the kids getting sick.  Just when I thought my re-organising blitz could not be de-railed any further I end up with Miss 4 running a high temperature and me sitting up with her all night (and I mean 3hours sleep, all night).

Today however, Things have been more under control, Miss 4 is much improved and I've caught up on sleep (sort of).  I spent the day in the kitchen, making and freezing sausage rolls for Miss 4s imminent birthday party (I use the Masterchef recipe with a pork and veal mince mix - just the ready made one you can get from Coles or Woolies - they taste damn good and are staple at our kids parties).

I also continued in my quest to get the kitchen under control, piles of paperwork and old newspapers have been sorted, chucked or filed.  School dross (from swimming caps to jazz socks) which were strewn ankle deep in an even layer over every surface have been corralled into one large pile that I'll tackle tomorrow.  AND The clean laundry avalanche has been beaten into submission.

Miracle really.

In other, unrelated news, I have come across a new fly catching device.

Classy (or should that be glassy) eh?

According to some scurrilous home remedy website, I fill my glass (until half empty) with dilute apple cider vinegar, then cover it with glad wrap with holes in it.  The flies, attracted by the fruity smell of the vinegar, crawl through the holes and are trapped and awaiting DOOOM.

The two flies that somehow sneaked in through the backdoor that Someone left open apparently did not see the memo about this.  They spent most of the day flying near, but never landing upon, my cunning device - eventually one fell victim to the dog, and the other my much used fly swat.

I shall give it another day or two, but I'm not holding out much hope.

Squash

The squash plants have just started to flower.

Ripe Strawberries

Ripe Hokowase Strawberries

And ripe Chandler Strawberries

They taste even better than they look.

☺

Progress so far

Organising the house is Not Going Well.  Am better today, but taking it easy, And have actual work that pays actual money so concentrated on that.

Still, just to illustrate the scope of what I'm up against, here is a before picture of the playroom.

I took this about two hours ago and, incredibly, it presently looks WORSE.

Still, I am not daunted.  I will tackle the playroom or have a damn good excuse tomorrow.

I have written a list of things to do (mmmm, lists) but its huge and boring and irrelevant to anyone but me so I won't post it (unusual I know).

The task of getting re-organised is a large one, but, due to the War on Clutter of last May, I'm thinking its not going to be totally horrific - no doubt I'll find out for sure when I actually do something.

sigh.

Ella's Rose

Ella, our first Cavalier, died of a tick bite a couple of years ago.  We planted a rose for her, and it flowers profusely in October and November.

Flat on face at first hurdle

There is nothing quite like being utterly derailed within hours of making fine and fundamental resolutions about your life - it is as if The Universe is sniggering at your pathetic attempts to exert some control over your random existence.

Well Universe. Bite Me.

I will overcome your 24hour bug.  It will not dissuaded me from having a tidy and organised house. Hell no.  I, am on a mission.

But right now, if its okay with you, I'll just stay here, curled up in bed, and wish a slow and painful demise on the person who inflicted this thing on me (can I just point out here that noone else in them my family has it, yet).

There is a chocolate bavarian in the house and I do not want to eat it.  Yes. That sick.

In the meantime here is a before photo of the kitchen.

Yesterday, before my world crashed down upon me, I cleaned the kitchen to within a centimetre of its life, scraped all the spatter crud from the tiles behind the stove, de-crumbed the toaster and everything.  Sadly I didn't get time before the school run to attack the oven.  You can no longer see into the oven through its window, and when I tell people the inside is actually light blue they laugh a lot.  I also didn't get to the cupboards, the pantry, the fridge, the microwave, the floor, or the knife and fork drawer which is growing some kind of black mildew.

I did, however, wipe the swatted fly guts off the window sill.  It was totally gross and made me wish I had not banned insecticides from my house.

The dog disappeared into the clean clothes avalanche and returned with one of those St Bernard brandy containers around his neck and icicles hanging off his ears.  There are things fermenting in the laundry and I don't have the words to describe the kids bathroom.

Yup. Its aaaaaaall good.

Getting Un-Overwhelmed

I've got a lot on right now.  Not that I'm complaining (for once), I always have a lot on and that is how I function best.  Bored me is a very sad thing to see - I lose the will to live, give up on everything and forget things like when I last washed (myself, the kids, my clothes, whatever).  That said, I constantly tread a fine line between having a lot on and being overwhelmed. In the last couple of years I've learned where that line is - I had to after my complete meltdown of early 2009.  One thing that I know well is that if I have the house clear and clean, and have plans for meals and activities, then a massive chunk of overwhelmedness magically disappears.

Life is busy.  With a new job, latest book going along nicely, kids and school stuff, and constant guests over the last 6 weeks its been more ridiculous than usual.  I knew this time was going to be a challenge, and I purposefully let the house go and decided that the weightloss journey was on hold. (I have maintained the weight I was at, and have 5kgs to go to get to my first goal of a healthy weight/bmi - woo hoo).  I knew there was only so much I could handle, and instead of trying to do it all and ending up back on drugs, 5kgs heavier and sick as a dog, I took steps to keep some semblance of balance going.  And it has worked.  It really has.

But, its time to get it all back on track.  I've got a kids party here in a few of weeks, we're in the downward slope to Christmas and long school holidays, and now is the time to get it all together before chaos descends again.

sigh.

There was a FROG in my HAIR

Barring the odd thunderstorm the weather lately has been divine.  So yesterday morning I was outside working on reformatting possibly the most mind-bending form ever.  Things were going along nicely and I thought I was nearly done, when I realised there was another half a page of information I hadn't put in yet.  Once again, defeat was snatched from the jaws of Victory. Or something.

Being deeply irritated over this I pottered off and weeded the sweet-corn bed (which has produced about 4 sweetcorn plants from the rows and rows of seed I put in - I hate gardening).  When I returned to the laptop, I found I had company.

A teensy-weensy frog had joined me, see there, next to the yellow smear (which is the remains of melted yellow crayon btw - never leave crayons outside if the temp is 40+, makes a bloody awful mess)

Being a 'Real Woman' I elected to catch the frog With My Bare Hands and put it somewhere it bit more friendly and dog-free.  Normally I'd pop a glass over it and scoop it up on a magazine or something. But No. I had to be a Real Woman.

I pounced on the frog, who apparently was way ahead of my lightening reflexes, it panicked jumped onto my arm, I panicked, it panicked more and headed for the nearest cover - which happened to be under my hat - you know, where my head was.

This is what I was wearing (am smiling with my eyes, and yes, my hat is on backwards, what of it?), and the frog disappeared under my hair behind my ear.

I won't go into the next events, suffice to say there was a great deal of girly shrieking which set off every dog in the vicinity.

The frog, having more of a brain than me, bugged out quickly, landed back on the table with a plop - and waited quietly until I'd calmed down, and fetched a glass and a magazine.  It is now living happily in the weeds behind the cubby house.

Yesterday was my day for wildlife it seems.

Friday

So far today we've had a lost possum on the roof (he's now safely tucked in his tree and we've left some apple slices for later).

I have had to put up with this vehicle parked in my driveway, lowering the tone of the place to unseen depths - it has BACKPACKER written on the side.  BACKPACKER.

 It also has a backpacker in it.

And, given the overwhelming amount of inside work I have to do (house trashed, no clean clothes for the children (and I mean none), book to write, paid work to complete), I have given up on it all and will be outside for the rest of the day, and takeaway for tea.

Those are red currant bushes at the back there, getting along nicely after we put them in a month or so ago, and rhubarb at the front.  It was transplanted a couple of months ago (it got too much sun where it was before) and thus far is thriving.

Mummy, please, pleeeeeease stop singing

It was my rendition of "I'm freeeeeee, freeeeeefalling" that reduced her to this...

We've had a rash of discombobulated fairies at our house today. Clearly there are OHS issues I need to address. Poor fairies.

And, I'd just like to update everyone on my slightly over-confident claims about never buying chamomile tea again.  The brew resulting from my carefully picked flowers tasted exactly like water, was a pale urine colour and had one boiled spider and four boiled beetles in it.  Yum.  I think the flowers are too young and I need to perfect my de-beetling technique.  That'll teach me.

sigh.

Sexxy Knitting

So Mumndad are back from the UK, and today I went and had a browse through Mum's machine knitting pattern books.

Her: Get your hand off my arse

Him: You're sitting on it

Him: Does my moustache turn you on?

Her: No, but that chappie with the tight trousers and the bouffy hair over there does.

Him: I'm only smiling like this because of these trousers

Her: You have no chin or neck

Him: You look like that tarty one from Ally McBeal
Her: You can make a career out of looking vapid?

From Living the good life:
Her: Honey, did you f*rt?
Him; Sure did hun! 

Anyone with a caption, leave it in the comments and I'll whack it up here :)

Also, how the hell do you spell bouffy? buffy? boffy? booffy? boofy?

sigh.