Not a fruit

How to Impress Your Friends with an Ancient Technique

2009-10-28T20:53:00.008+11:00

My bread was successful! I have now made 2 loaves, one small, the other big. Mumma Bear is next.

First, my starter started life over a month ago. 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of tepid water in a glass jar (or beer glass in my case) and place somewhere in your kitchen where it's not going to get too hot or too cold. Mine is behind the coffee machine.
Everyday, add some more flour & water and mix in. You can discard some starter, and if you're adding to it everyday, you're going to need to, otherwise you'll end up with a motherload of sour flour & water! If you're going to be away from your little 'pet' for a number of days, you can put it to sleep in the fridge. I had to do this when I went on holidays to Qld, and my baby recovered quite well.

When it's ready to be used, it will look a little like this:

See the little bubbles? It'll have a soury, vingary smell. If it smells bad it probably is, so chuck it and start again.

Ready to start your first loaf of bread? Great! Do you have bucketloads of patience? Double great!

Now to prepare the 'sponge'. Take a fair amount of your starter, about a cupful will be fine, put it in a bowl and add another cup of flour and water. Mix, and cover with a cloth and leave for several hours. Depending on how your starter is, it could take all day (or night) to reach the frothy, bubbly stage that you'll want to achieve. When there are bubbles throughout the sponge, and a froth on top, you're ready to start making the actual dough.

In a bowl, put some flour, I started with 1 1/2 cups, a little oil and a little salt (about a teaspoon, but you can adjust this as you progress in your bread making talent). You will probably need some cold water standing by as well. Pour your sponge into the bowl and start mixing and kneading. If the dough is too sticky, add some more flour, if too dry, add a small amount of water. Knead for 5-10 minutes, until you have a nice feeling dough.

Cover with a cloth (tea towel will do) and leave in a warm place to rise. I like to turn the oven on for a little bit, but don't make it too hot, you should be comfortable touching the racks & the oven door with your hands.
Rising can take several hours. My two loaves took totally different times to rise, the smallest took several hours, the bigger took only about 2.

When you poke a finger into the dough and it doesn't heal quickly, your dough is ready for the 2nd kneading.
Punch it down (this part is fun!) and knead for a bit, but not too much.
Flatten into an oval, and fold both sides into the middle. Place on a baking sheet, cover and let rise. The 2nd rising will not be as long as the first. It should double in size. Slice down the middle of the bread with a knife, a little like scouring.
Put your oven on medium, but don't preheat very much. Put a tray with some water in it below where your bread tray is going.
Put your bread in the oven and cook for 30-40 minutes. It should be golden brown, and someone suggested that you tap the bottom with a wooden spoon and if it sounds hollow, it's ready.

Leave to cool on a wire rack for about an hour before cutting.

Cut up your delicious, homemade, homegrown bread, and watch it quickly disappear. Lovely with cheese...

A few things to remember...

My first attempt failed because I was not patient enough, and didn't keep the dough in a nice, warm friendly spot. Well, friendly probably doesn't have anything to do with it, but warmth certainly does.

I got a lot of help from my Weezy, but also from this website:

http://www.io.com/~sjohn/sour.htm

Humans have Worked a long time on making bread. This may take a lot longer than sticking a few things in a bread maker and turning it on, or sticking your hand in your wallet and paying for it, but it's very satisfying to make, bake and eat your own bread.

The flavour is delicious.

I bet my next attempt flops. Which is a pity, cos I want to make some for my sister, as she's slogging through her last few weeks at Sydney Uni.

Ask me, and I'll give you some of my starter so you don't have to wait a month to grow your own. Every household's starter is different, because of the different bacteria etc. in the air, so in no time at all, my little baby will be completely yours. Sorry if you don't live near me, I don't think it will travel well, so this only goes out to people in the Sydney area...

This wasn't really that coherent. I'll work on the delivery.

I'm enjoying some of my bread, toasted, and a glass of red wine.

Cheers!

Bread

2009-10-25T12:10:00.004+11:00

After a week of feeling quite tired and not really sure why - except for the sleep deprivation on the weekend, I developed a sinus infection due to oncoming hayfever. Yay. Happens every year, but sometimes the severity is more.

At the beginning of the week I tried to make some bread using my starter that has been growing & souring for over a month. Didn't exactly work. The sponge did it's bubbly thing. I worked the flour & water & oil in nicely, but according to the instructions I was following, I only kneaded for 10 secs every 15mins 3 times. I was a little concerned at this, it had been my understanding that bread needed to be kneaded (ra hah ah).

The dough failed to rise. Oh well.

Therefore, this morning & afternoon, I am starting again. The sponge is bubbling away nicely. I even put some of the starter in my mouth. ('Twas was a bit of a knee jerk reaction, I was wiping up a spill with my finger.) Pictures and another blog post (I know! GASP) will be up when/if this works. This means it could be a while...

In other news...

It's blessedly raining. It's been a very dry winter and rain is lovely for those recovering from illness that makes you feel all hot and gross. I read a news headline that there are floods expected... All I'm hoping is that it reaches QLD, where it is so very very dry.

I've finished a knitted project for someone for Christmas. As it is a very special someone, it will not be all they receive, but it's done, and It's not even November! Next up is finishing something for my brother, who I'm not sure will even appreciate the gesture, but he's constantly suprising me, because, I just don't spend enough time with him anymore.

The rain is coming down like real rain now. Lovely.

The Y on my laptop computer is acting dodgy, which is really annoying. Lappy will need to be turned off and the key looked at I think.

OO, heavier...

Time for a bath while I await the sponging.

Just some Things

2009-08-02T20:44:00.002+10:00

There are a few things on my mind this evening. First of all is, I went to church for the first time in rather a while (little bit of a shame face) and the sermon was pretty good. It was challenging, and I have decided to take up a particular part. In his style, our senior minister had a friend of his up on stage to interject his sermon on Jeremiah, with anecdotes about his own life, his work in Africa (Tanzania) and his comparison of the fat old priests of Jeremiah's time to us - the people who eat chocolate that has come from the hands of child labour. Yes, I thought - What! But all , like Cadbury's, Nestle etc. are using the beans supplied by third world countries that use child labour.
So, I'm making a personal step to irradicate evil chocolate from my life. Big step from me. Fair trade for me.

Second, I'm watching The Devil Wears Prada sideways. But lets face it, Miranda Priestly is faskinating. And I like the clothes, much like Sex & the City.

Kyle and Jackie O have been indefinetely suspended. Why that was not instantaneous is not CLEAR TO ME, but at least a step has been taken. Sexual assault is horrid and very very personal for the victim. And this victim was 14 yrs old. Supposedly still under the protection of her mother, who thought it was a good idea to get her child on national radio. ['scuse my language] WHAT THE FUCK???

I know that millions (I hope, really) of others will discuss this on various medias, but these types of things hurt.

Rant over. For now.

Moonchild

2009-07-25T19:04:00.004+10:00

So I've felt the need to start to blog again. Not exactly sure why, but could be because I've made a friend on Twitter & Ravelry whose blogging I like.

My sister & my brother-in-law came down for the weekend, and spent some time with me today. We had brunch at Lee & Me, hotspot of the young & trendy, then we went for a walk down to the beach. Lovely.

Got the guitar hero out a few nights ago, and the drum kit has remained outside of Harry's cupboard... BIL is very into guitar hero & started to rock out with the drums. Eventually he 'let' his wifey have a go.

She did so quite enthusiastically. Until, like me later on, she developed a blister...

Have every intention of starting these tonight, even though I have 2 other things on the needles that I should finish (socks & cardigan).

Nuno Felting - How It Was Done

2008-10-18T23:22:00.009+11:00

First of all - meet Melman, my first succulent. He's got stripes. I like him a lot.

Meryl and I had a super productive day, in which we achieved several things...

The purchase of scarf and glove wool. Wool roving for Meryl's wrap for being stylish and lovely in Europe. My stylish and very cool Europe bag. Then, instead of using the colour M had originally chosen, we switched to peacock colours...

Had a sushi lunch, then got down to the business of being crafty and felty, and Sarah arrived home from work to help too.

I have missed out on a few steps with the photos, but I forgot to take them. that, and it's midnight and I can't concentrate enought to write abou it.

And this is what I've been doing while I wait for the pictures to upload...
A rather Fetching pair of gloves on my only bamboo double pointed needles. A slight splurge on my part - but so lovely to work with!

An Addiction

2008-05-24T14:14:00.004+10:00

I am addicted to knitting. My hands ache, my fingers will probably resemble the twisted claws of an old crone (sorry old crones, but your hands are generally gnarled) but still I go.

It could possibly have something to do with the fact I have an assignment due on Monday, that I have mostly finished, but have yet to write the evaluative essay. Which I don't want to do! The other part was fine, but this part sucks. Greatly.

Last week I finished a scarf knitted in this lovely wool/silk blend I got from - oh the horror- Spotlight. I had taken to disliking the poor thing by the end though. I like it now, but was worried about it. It was my first outing with cabling, and I think I did pretty well. Unfortuantly, seem to have mis-place my camera and can't photograph.

Working on the socks. Just finished the heel and am about to join in the round again for the instep and toe. Then I suppose I will have to cope with 'finishing other sockitis'. That's the thing about these socks. The stitches are so small that it's taking my a while to knit. I like the pattern the variegated wool is giving, and can't wait to wear the socks, but it's taking my so damn long!

Started, and unraveled three times, a cable beanie from a Knitting Blogger I really like. She named the pattern "Anna of Green Cables" which I thought a little amusing. Finished it about tan hour ago, but realised much much much too late that I had neglected to do 5 rounds of ribbing so the beanie is too little even for my small adult sized head. So one of the kiddie-winks will get it. Only thing, it's in a sort of mottled browny/blue/grey. Probably not that attractive for little girls, as is not pink, purple, yellow, green. Oh well, it still looks pretty.

Got Ethan the coolest little watch a boy could ask for. Fairly simple, just tells the time and has a stopwatch, but also has this cool little animation things at the top, one of a swimmer, one a cycler and one a runner. Hope he likes it. It's like mine (he was very taken with mine - wore it around all night and then asked me for one for his birthday) but a little different (also didn't cost quite as much - but that's my power's of bargain hunting, this one was reduced by at least half) and made for kids.

Anyway, back to evaluating my search process. Yuck.

Stinky Monkey meets Noah and his likely demise

2008-05-05T21:54:00.003+10:00

I made a little sock monkey for Noah. He was very cute, with sleepy eyes embroidered on, as 1-year-olds should not have buttons...

Sadly, forgot to take a photo, and have a grainy picture of what Monkey was subjected to this evening. Seems Noah is rather taken with the little guy, but seeems to find flinging in around his head and the coach area really funny. With cuddles in between. Was very cute.

But blogger is very slow at uploading the photo, so may have to try next time.

Started a pair of socks. I am a little nervous about getting to the heel and having to 'turn it' or whatever. It's a challenge I suppose. If these are successful, will set about knitting some great wool ones for my winter holiday in December/January. And possibly knit Mum and Meryl ones as well... but we will see how far I actually get.

Melodrama

2008-04-29T20:35:00.003+10:00

Melodrama. That's pretty much what Robin Hood was on Sunday night. Now, why did they have to kill off Marian? It doesn't make any sense. Unless Robin really is gay for the Sheriff. Cos I think the Sheriff is for Robin...

Update on tickets. Sydney - Seoul (overnight) - Frankfurt. Then England for a while then Paris (woo!) - Frankfurt - Seoul - Sydney.

Yay. On Asiana, which explains the overnight in seoul which is included accommodation and dinner & breakfast.

And someone got chickens. Cool.

Booked, but not paid for

2008-04-19T15:55:00.002+10:00

[insert squeal and other excited noises]

Went into travel agent, and it's been booked. Yep, The Trip.

Depart Sydney Monday 8th December - Singapore - Frankfurt.
11th December Frankfurt - London.

England travel

Sometime around end of year, start of 2009 depart London - PARIS

5th January Depart Paris - Frankfurt - Singapore - Sydney

Not a super long time, but a good 4 weeks. Mum, Meryl & I booked it in, we just have to pay by Tuesday to guarantee our seats, which were a little difficult to negotiate, mainly getting home again, which is a bit weird. But there you go. I only hope it goes through with work, cos if not, I DON'T REALLY CARE I'LL take leave without pay or whatever. By Speech Night and 'the Staff Christmas party' I will be in Germany and enjoying delights of European Christmas stuff. Probably won't get snow, but I'm not really concerned about that.

At the moment, just excited. It's a step.

Should we bother with the Continent?

2008-04-14T11:34:00.002+10:00

Hmm, it's been well over a month. I bet no-one even reads this anymore, right?

Now going into the horrible damp days of autumn. I much prefer those lovely warm days of autumn when the sky is such a wonderful, unbelievable shade of blue and the sun dosn't feel like it's burning, just warm... er, it could be like that outside, I just havn't ventured out yet.

Will do soon, just to get out. Might walk down the beach and get a bacon & egg roll from North Beach kiosk. Mmm,mmm.

Now, on to title discussion. Mum and I are sorting out where we want to go for our end of year Christmas holiday. Yes, its probably a little late, but we will see! I still would like to go to a Christmas market. Mum said the other night that she would be happy just staying in England, but that's because she's getting older and likes the comfortable and known. So it's 'good' that I'm wanting to explore.

So, to do a Christmas market at the start, or meet up with M at the end? Or both, with a meeting in Paris (which I would absoluuutellly love, I really want to see Paris!)

So I suppose once the tickets are settled, it'll be onto the business of sorting accomodation and where we are actually going in England.

Oh dear, I don't really want to turn this into a travel blog (yet!!!) but that's just it.

Havn't done much crafty stuff lately. Well, been working on a bag for myself (finally!). It's an improvised pattern, as I wanted a sort of 'ver-the-shoulder type bag, not a clutch and I'm working on the strap at the moment. If it doens't work out, I'll just use some fabric. No pictures yet, cos I'm feeling a bit lazy.

Also knocked up a little case for my boss Pat, as she's going on a big Paris, Italy England trip for her long service leave. I took a photo, but it was late at night and the photos sucked, so sorry, can't show. But Pat loved it, also loved the semi-detached handle for fastening on things. I like that big of inventiveness. I think I might knock up a few more, as it only took a night to knit and felt (took two to dry though!).

Baby Sister

2008-03-19T22:33:00.007+11:00

Yes, I had a little trouble believing that Victoria, the sweet little red-haired kid who pestered me a lot, is 21. And she's great!
Course, my reluctance to believe that it had been 21 years since Dad took us to the hospital, clutching our new Cabbage Patch Dolls (yep, tim got one too!) and we met our little sister. Tim and I had been talking pretty much the whole night before about what 'it' would be and what names we wanted. Course, can't remember any of my preferences, but there you go, it was 21 years ago.

P.S. Much prefer this template. Is calming, not reminding me of something that I can't quite grasp at the moment... And I should be in bed, but the four day weekend is coming! That and I am subjecting myself to uplifting music, which I realise, is a pretty dumb thing to do at this time of night when it's not Friday, Saturday or Sunday night...

P.P.S. Vic I included the first photo cos it's not Victoria 'Movie Star' smile. Heh heh.

Stop With the VIrus Protection Stuff

2008-03-19T21:37:00.000+11:00

I don't need your stupid links.

Breadcrumbs...

2008-02-27T18:36:00.004+11:00

So a friend gave Sarah & I a "Make your own gingerbread house' kit for Christmas. This two days before Christmas. Meaning it never got made at Christmas time. Nope, that happened Monday night, with the charming help of children. Who approached the decorating in a totally unique and lovely way. And ate a LOT of sugar along the way.

Imagine if you will, seeing a picture of this on the box.

Yet this was a much more satifactorily way of doing I reckon...

I ate one of the walls. Gingerbread was not bad. In fact quite good. I've tasted other gingerbread houses, and they have been very pretty and charming, but taste like dry sand and a little spice. Not too crash on the lollies, but the gingerbread is good. Specially with my coffee.

Mm, a bit squiffy

2008-02-22T22:33:00.002+11:00

Well, it's not really the end of a long week, cos i kinda have to work tomorrow. Well, sit in 'lectures' about librerry stuff. With my boss.

And Sarah got some riesling and we opened it and it is good. Too good after a few sips. Mm. And now we're havin rhubarb crumble. Yummy.

Circle K

2008-02-18T10:02:00.005+11:00

Oriental grocery stores are great. And so are those buns. Mm.

Just walked from the Smash Repairer home. Was a good walk, I can tell you. And it's REALLY humid. Not hot though, so I guess that's okay. Otherwise I'd be really annoyed.

Will go for another walky soon down to the bakery to get bread and maybe a cup of coffee for me? There's a little boutiquey shop down there that I think would do brilliant morning teas. So that's what I'll do.

Some kind of mass induced writer's cra(m)p

2008-02-13T20:07:00.004+11:00

The land of television is in trouble. But it may be getting better, with the return of an old favourite, though its on the TOTALLY WRONG night of the week. What kind of show is about the weeks news on a Monday night? Hint to Channel Ten - Friday nights are good for a Good News Week.

So now it's bellydancing instead of Bollywood dancing. At least for a while, the woman who runs it is getting married tomorrow. So I've decided to do the bellydancing on a Tuesday night instead. Yay! When BrideBollywood woman gets back, I'll probably start that too, unless I totally suck...

Anyone can talk to dead people, it's a problem when they talk back. And that's what wrong about Thursday nights. Will have to take long walk with swim in the middle...

Baby!

2008-02-08T23:53:00.000+11:00

It's been ages since I last posted, but meh. A month.

Started (and finished) a little bedtime monster for the newest, littlest, nameless (maybe) Christensen.

I like the patch on his little behind. Gives a very 'little boy' feel.

Discovered that my sewing corner is sodden. The carpet is very very wet. Yuck. Put towels down, but really really hoping nothing is badly damaged (my sewing stuff I mean).

I Might Never Know...

2008-01-09T00:01:00.000+11:00

I'm reading The Never-Ending Story. Yes, the movie that scared me so much that I still have shivers when I think of the wolf thing and the poor horse drowning and even the skeleton in the attic...

Did a little 'background' research on the movie adaptation, and found that I've already read past where the movie ends. Because Bastian is starting to get annoying and I couldn't believe that Americans would put that in the movie. And, I bet they didn't make him a fat, pale kid. I seriously can't remember that.

I'm going to have to watch the damn movie now. I guess this is a kind of step, but I'm not really sure what. Oh yes, the author, Michael Ende, did not like the movie adaptation and took the producers to court. So, naturally, I'd like to know what he found so insulting.

Less than a week left of my wonderful holidays. This has to last me to the end of this year, when I get to experience a cold Christmas, with soggy, frozen English customs. Yeah! So far it has been great (these holdiays). Christmas, business, lots of beachiness and a little bit of sunburn (peeled twice now. I really 'ope it stops). All I needs is another few movies thrown in and a LOTR marathon (Friday night, Saturday day if anyone actually reads this anymore...)

And, I was going to start crafting, but had Craig and Shelley around for dinner instead. Watched Emma Thompson do the funny sob/cry thing in Sense and Sensibility. Have wanted to watch that since Geraldine mentioned it (Vicar of Dibley).

Our Christmas tree is leaning to one side

2007-12-21T12:03:00.000+11:00

I finished, last night and this morning, some of the Christmas presents I am made. Singlets for L & R. Peg dolls for the little girls (E & L) and a green sheep. I've still got some to go, but the mjority is finished (meaning that I'm still working on those that I don't need to give till Christmas Day).

The green sheep - to go with Where is the Green Sheep book for E.

Arn't they gorgeous? There are 10 in all, 5 for each. I made two geishas, two witches and two Indian ladies cos I like them so much.

Catching the crafting flu

2007-12-12T16:42:00.000+11:00

I think Sarah has got it, but only a mild dose at the moment. I seem to have gone into overdrive and have about 500 things to get finished, most of them in the next week. Help!

Sarah made a sock monkey. I know, I'm quite proud of her. It looks very chubby and lumpy, but it's very charming. It's for her nephew Ryan. She's also making one for Jordan, the other one. Maybe. I'm not sure if that will happen, as she's working a lot now until Christmas.

And I got off work early today, again, but couldn't really move until now, and I can't even get the camera to get photos of the monkey because it wold be too tiring. Also, corecting spelling is hard.

Our tree is up too, but it's bigger than Little Crooked and it's not as well covered in ornaments. Ohw ell, smells great and looks lovely, if a little bendy. I think the top has to go, s gone all droopy. Should really check the water.

School is finished, teachers are gone now. tomorrow will be so relaxing at work. Shame I have hardly anything to do. Hmmm.

Tiredness. Seems to be a given this time of year.

Fratchy

2007-11-28T18:07:00.000+11:00

Uni out of the way for the year - except for those two final assessment marks - I was thinking, "More time to do stuff." Yeah, rightio.

As much as I have good intentions when I get home from work, I do spend a lot of time de-working. But, it's not December yet and I am well on the way to finishing the presents for Asta's kiddies.

As well as the sock monkeys (previous posts), I zipped up this little creation on the weekend -

Got the idea for the little monsters from a Flicker Group, Monsters for Mirabel was the tag I think. The bag comes from Sooz, and while it didn't work out exactly the way I intended, I think it's okay. I mean, it's round shaped. I'm thinking of a bigger - much bigger - mat for the boys, something with boy stuff, like rocketships and cars on it. Maybe.

The flower mobile is crawling, cos I sort of don't like it at the moment. I'll have to slug it out one night soon though...

Anways, dreaming of this is helping at the moment too. I'm taking three weeks holiday, but only have to use 9 annual leave days! Woo. What to do?

Yes, lots of the Jervis I should think. Lots of the beach. Mm, better go for a walk or a ride...

Two Posts in One Weekend!

2007-11-11T22:27:00.000+11:00

Yep, I'm posting again. Mainly because I'm a little bored and also because now that uni is almost finished for the year, I'm feeling this odd sort of vaccuum where I used to procrastinate not doing uni work. Weird, since I've still got to finish some work on the forum, and the last assignment hasn't been submitted, though I've done my bit, it's up to the other group members to finish theirs now.

So, come Friday evening, finished for the year! Hmm.

See what I've been doing while trying to complete assignments:

The two monkey brothers are for Asta's boys, Nathaniel and Isaac. Hope they like them. They may consider themselves too old for such things, but they are pretty charming, so we'll see.

The felt flower is part of a mobile I'm doing, of flowers for little Jasmine. I've done two now, and starting on some little white ones, that kind of resemble jasmine flowers. Yeah, we'll see about that.

I Can't Help Liking Minature Things

2007-11-09T18:06:00.000+11:00

Got home from work, and is Friday, collapsed on lounge and have not moved since.

Went on a craft blog tour though, checked up on some of my favourites, and Sooz, who I think is great, found this lovely little shop - In MELBOURNE dammit - called 'Little Kitchen'. Seems they do organic cooking classes for kiddies, and it all looks fabolous, just in Melbourne. But, they do have an online store. And, if I could work out how to imbed links, I'd include it here...

http://www.littlekitchen.com.au/shop2/index.php?main_page=index

that's the best I can do n a Friday evening though. Think will get a few things, like the mini potato masher, for Christmas party prizes.

Have started work on jasmine flowers for the mobile for baby Jasmine Ellen. I'm not great at them, but the leaves tend to curl up and this could work in my favour,,, after all, the jasmine flowers are just novel, the big flowers are multi-coloured and I dont think any type of real flower.

Rambling. Yep.

Floriade - It's all about flowers suprisingly

2007-10-28T18:06:00.001+11:00

And seemingly all about lots

and lots of tulips.

This young lady breakfasted on toast and three kinds of drink, smoothie, water and bubbachino.

Jubilation and Rainforest Ramblings

2007-10-18T20:44:00.000+10:00

I wish the smell of the rainforest was bottled and could be sprayed when feeling gritty and urck. It was lovely. I must bushwalk more often.

Checked the mail today. Yes, it doesn;t happen every day, or even every week...

Anyway, got results back from my first assignments for this session of Uni. And I did good! A lot lot better than I really expected I think. I was really quite worried about my 2nd year subject, but I got 38/50, which I think is pretty good for a very rushed job, with hardly any prior knowledge or even study! Heh. Must be a strong point. The first year subject, INF116 the marker actually put smiley face stamps on the page, which seems a little primary school, but if it means I'm doing well and not failing, good for me. Also, 2nd year subject worth 50% of final mark, so that's a good result in itself! Makes me feel a bit better abouyt the next assignment, due 2nd Nov., which looks curly. But should be okay.

Just had to get these things out.

Am starting to implement Speeed Cleaning into my routine. I think it will work. 15 mins a day is good. Just gotta get started...

A Woman Can Never Have Too Many Bags

2007-10-07T21:34:00.001+10:00

Handcrafted with love.

Sock Monkey!

2007-10-03T19:31:00.001+10:00

I made this little fella starting Monday night. I went to Rivers and got some of those $2 socks, as it happens that I don't actually own many socks, and they were $2. No hugley colourful, but whimsome all the same, methinks.

I bought three pairs, but made a huge mistake with the first pair, pretty much as soon as I began cutting, so they are absorbing smells in the garbage bin (socks are really good at that).

This is the first, I'll make another for Asta's little boys (4 1/2 & 6 1/2) and try and find a girly pair so I can make Amalia one as well. Maybe the new little one too, but she's getting a felt mobile, so may not have enough creativity left before Christmas work begins. Am taking a break from the knitting, at least for a while (a month maybe) as I realised on Tuesday, that my hands were aching and my fingertips tingly. That could be something else, who knows.

Mm, hungry. I never did get that hokey-pokey icecream I've been craving since last week. Might take a wander...

Garden Party

2007-10-01T09:33:00.000+10:00

It seemed a wonderful idea, when it germenated, and, like all nurtured stuff, the "Let's thow Louise a surprise garden party for her 30th birthday" grew and grew bigger. Complete with making napkins and scrounging for baskets, to 'trialing' cupcakes and scones, for no particular reason...

The day arrived, quite a lovely day really, for a picnic. Colour scheme, wonderful. 'Handmade with love' presents, finished. Now it was a-waiting on the birthday girl time.

Now, when it's all over, and the work is done, the party partied and Louise sufficiently surprised, it was a success. Yeah!

Oh, and this happened to my sage last night...

Hopefully it will continue to live, it's lived through a lot this sage. Thirst, extreme neglect, dust city-style.

Saved lots of energy!

2007-09-04T18:21:00.000+10:00

Compared to last years electricity bill for June/July/August, it's been halfed! Yeah! Guess not using the dryer tooo much and turning of lights and powerpoint when not needed is really helping.

Made this bag for Sarah, and it looks pretty damn good, I think. Felted it in the new front loader washing machine, which did a fantastic job! Next project which I am working on now, is little sheep for a mobile for Baby Girl Asta. I'm going to add a shepherd as well. So far, the sheep are oblong bundles of white, when I get more white, I'll add legs, a head and ears. Also wet felted some little balls which may turn into a planet/solar system mobile.

I made a little trip to Daisy Designs yesterday and got some black roving for the slippers that I'm going to attempt.

Made this tiramasu for Dad for Father's Day. Was/is yummy. Sarah even liked it, and she doesn't like coffee! Sarah likes it a lot I think, she keeps snacking on it, which is probably not so good...
Am going to institute a healthy regime for 14/4-6 Sperry St this week. Exercise, good healthy food and ridding the apartment of too much junk food. Summer is coming!

Fluffy gooey meringue

2007-08-17T18:14:00.000+10:00

Last Saturday was a wonderfully warm WINTER day. Makes me wonder, I would love to live somewhere it was like this throughout winter, instead of freak occurances...
Anyway.
Went for a stroll into town, then down to the harbour and South Beach. Water was freezing! Won't be swimming for a while, at least, it would have to be a lovely warm day like last Saturday.

Getting very good at meringues. Love the little tart cases, a good idea for next morning tea. Lovly puffs & swirls courtesy of Meryl.

What I'd like to happen this weekend

2007-08-10T18:22:00.000+10:00

I want to wear these a bit

Then go here,

Get a bit of tree climbing in

Lounge here

And one of these would be splendid

I would also love some chocolate right now.

Brushing Up My Shakespeare, forsooth

2007-08-01T17:22:00.000+10:00

Saw Macbeth last night. Now I have Shakespeare on the brain. I'm starting on converting all the Shakespeare videos in the library to DVD, so I can take them all home and watch (all the ones taped off the TV, otherwise it doesn't fufill copyright...).

First is Henry V (Kennth Branagh's version, with a very young Christian Bale as Falstaff's boy - he only gets about 2 lines, but the rest of the cast is stellar!)

Lovely day today. I'm sitting here, with the windows open, letting in the lovely springy air. Can't wait for the warmer weather. I'm really hoping it doesn't get as cold as it's supposed to on the weekend...

Mmeringue

2007-07-30T15:16:00.001+10:00

Making lemon meringue pie is now so in-grained into my cooking memory, I don't even need the recipie, maybe, I'm sure I'd forget something...

Going to move on, a soon as all those lemons cluttering up my tiered cake stand are goneski. Might try making some lemon butter as well as more pie... love that pie. Might try making the crust this time, I usually cheat and buy the ready made flan shell from Woolies. Only trouble is, my pie tin is quite big. I'll have to make double quantaties...

My car is tough

2007-07-14T18:52:00.000+10:00

Well, road trips are not all that hot in winter. But, this winter had been incredibly wet, so rain and clouds are preferable to the sun being in your face.
Took two days to get to Millicent, S.A. Stopped over night in Melton, a little place about 40kms out of Melbourne. The 'innkeeper' at Melton Motor Inn thought we were dodgy, but seemed to thaw a little when I pulled out my credit card. Kept asking if it was just for two, like we were going to sneak in boys or something.

Got to Millicent around 3.30. Stuart bounded out to greet us, and took us in to meet Noah & the many visitors that seemed to be in their house.

Noah is a beautiful little boy. He's got lovely olive skin and brown eyes and a good shaped head. He's smiling, but is very confused by cameras and goes serious as soon as one is pointed into his face.

Oh, and why my car is tough? Stuart thought it would be a 'good idea' to drain my car battery and recharge it. Consequence, well, the right blinker is a bit psycho and sometimes the car won't start if it's cold. But little Alx is tough and keeps trundling on. Hopefully it will go in a minute when we go to get some dinner. Thanks Stu.

Mint slice biscuts

2007-06-27T20:14:00.000+10:00

Mm, am roasting chicken drumsticks with winter herbs and baby potatoes and garlic. It smells delicious. Should be ready soon, so this is a quick post.

Someone told me you set set up a counter to count how many people visit your blog. I can't figure out how to do this.

Some photos from my birthday day. Others to possibly follow. Vic, Sarah and Taryn. And the breakwater, which was going off. That wave was a smaller one!

MM, squiffy

2007-06-23T22:26:00.000+10:00

Lovely cabernet merlot with dinner. Had lamb cutlets with a garlic and honey-balsamic glaze. Yum. The wine is lovly.
Capelvale. western Australia. Tis good.
Also, superfast internet now.

Just some hot chics

2007-06-08T22:56:00.000+10:00

Chaser!

2007-06-06T21:37:00.000+10:00

Louise, Vic, Sarah and I went to see an episode of the Chaser's War on Everything last night. It aired just then (Wednesday, 9pm).
Was an adventure, but it only took me an hour to get into the city from work! Incredible. Might do that more often I think, except that parking in the city is a nightmare. Expensive and not much of it.
Anyway, the show was very funny, and we got an encore performance, with some of the 'best bits' from last year. Including the Logies Bonhead Challenge.
I'm pretty convinced I could hear Sarah laughing in the segment with the enormous paper.

And now I'm talking to Fuz, who apparantly is in Wollongong for the week. It's a bit weird.

Birthday in two sleeps. Have got fun plans, but my Grandmother is in hospital and Mum suggested that we should go see her on Friday. Now I feel guilty, cos I don't really want to. I was thinking of going to see her next week, after assignment is submitted, so probably Wednesday.

Blogging is sometimes a mindless rant, isn't it?

Birfdays

2007-06-04T21:25:00.000+10:00

Ahh, kids parties. So much fun. So much yelling and screaming and being shy around cameras. Ethan has developed a 'camera face', a smile between "I think this will do" and "I really need to go to the toilet".

Talking of another boy who had a severe case of the "I hate photos" when he was little, 'twas also Alistair's birthday. He was 19. He's the super tall one in back.

Vic, Brettles and I.

Chinese Noodle Boxes

2007-06-04T18:17:00.000+10:00

Going to see the Chaser being taped tomorrow. Should be interesting, and hopefully, hillarious.

Birthday in 4 sleeps. Three more days of being 26. Spose I better get a swim in before then, will hop on down to Beaton Park soonish and have a lovely lap swim and then eat lots of nourishing food. Hah! Maybe I should eat the food now, so it settles.

I think I'll get a chicken schnitzel roll for lunch tomorrow, and I'll get two so I have dinner with me. Or maybe I should just get some snacks and pick up dinner after...

More after it has happened!

Birthday Wants/Needs

Perfume – La Dolce Vita (Dior), Beautiful, Chanel (No 18 or Coco)
Pasta machine (the rollers)
Laptop bag
Cardigan/coat – snugly but not make me look like a marshmallow
Guitar lessons
Chocolates - David Jones hand picked!
Flowers
Roasting pan
Cooks knife
Pot plants that are useful and attractive

Not all of them, just the ones I could think of at the moment.

Friday On My Mind

2007-05-26T21:35:00.000+10:00

Actually, more like Monday evening, when HOPEFULLY my final assignment for INF 101 is submitted. At this stage, I am just really wanting to pass. I am kinda glad I've only got one subject on next session. I seem to have picked up the studying mojo just a little too late, so I'll have to remember next session, devote that spare time to Uni work!

On the other news front, Mum and I have decided to go to England at the end of next year, for Christmas and the Christmas markets. I think Mum thought my plans to go traveling in 2012 were a bit too far away. It is definetly something to look forward too. I'll have to start scrooging all my money away now. I am going to talk to my boss and discuss whether I can work like, one Monday a month, and put that little bit extra in my 'England' savings. Plus what is already going in there (which isn't much at the moment). Yeah! Europe at Christmas time!

Hey, Blogger saves drafts automatically.

Bronte tomorrow, to celebrate Alistair's 19th birthday. Have to resist urge to spend money. After all, I'm going up with the Perry's, and Aunty Ros is the champion shopper of our family.

Anzac Day

2007-04-25T10:39:00.001+10:00

Anzac Day always makes me emotional. I've just been watching the march (sydney) on TV, seeing all those men and women marching, so of them very old. And I know that it's only natural that every year, there are less in some units, old people die. But it still makes me have a bit of a cry. To remember is what today is about, and I try to do that.

Both my grandfathers served in WWII (or should I say World War, 1939-1945). Grandpa served in New Guinea in the tanks, Matilda class I think. Grandad was in Italy. I'm not sure what exactly he was, but he built bridges, being of the brickie profession. I know Grandad marched a couple of times. I'm not sure about Grandpa. Stuart and Tim have their medals.

I think, when I go travelling after I finish Uni, I would like to go to Gallipoli on this day. It seems like a cliche for a young Australian abroad to do that, but I have wanted to since I was little. I distinctly remember one of the anniversaries of Gallipoli, I was still in primary school, but I cannot remember which one. It was a big one. anyway, there was lots of shows on TV about it, and I remember the old diggers taliking about the flies in the jam, and the horrid conditions. All dead now, and one day, in the future, the last of the WWII veterans will die. And hopefully the Anzac tradition will live on. We will remember, Gallipoli and Flanders, Kokoda, Singapore, places where Australians fought and died.

Great reads

2007-04-23T22:00:00.001+10:00

I've been reading this series by Christian Jacq about Ramses the Great (Ramses II). It's interesting reading, in that it's HISTORICAL FIction so several liberties have been taken with certain things. I know from background research (librarian!) that Ramses had at least a few children by the time he actually became pharaoh, and in these books he only has two at the moment, and only has two wives. Sure, Nefretari is Great wife, and his most beloved, apparent in the impressive tombs and monuments he made for her.

I suppose if you're writing historical fiction you can do this. Especially for characters that lived over 3200 years ago. Still, it seems that Jacq idolises this particular pharaoh. So he (I think he's a he) has modernised a few elements of Ramses character. Made him a nice romantic lead, in love with his frail lady wife, not one who would wed his own daughter (yep, Ramses marries his daughter Meritamon, whom he had by Nefertari). In Egypt, this was acceptable, as it cemented royal bloodlines and the right to be pharoah. You've gotta wonder though, didn't they notice that this sort of thing produced sickly children? In lots of other cultures this was forbidden. Maybe no sex was involved. Just marriage. Prevents her from marrying other guys too. Great way for a father to keep his little girl safe from men...

eww.

I'm also reading 'The Quiet American' by Graham Greene. It's wonderfully written, so poetic and descriptive. the story is quite simple, but complex as well. I saw the movie with Michael Caine and Brendan Fraser before I started to read it, but so far things are very similar. The book is more descriptive and the character of Pyle a little more naive than he seems in the movie, a bit more fleshed out. Which in turn makes him seem more dangerous. When you evetually discover his real mission in Vietnam, is seems like war mongering, but under the flag of 'helping make things right'.

School is back. Erck. Still, only one day till Anzac day, then only two days till the weekend. and, I don't think I have to drive this week. Hooray.

Big News Weekend

2007-04-15T20:34:00.001+10:00

Wow. It's been a big news weekend. A weekend where I have an essay due on Tuesday, and its Sunday night and I havn't even done half.

So, Friday night, I found out that Stuart (my cousin) and Tracee's baby was born at 4.07pm on Friday. 7lb, 8 oz, 49 cm. Noah Isaac Perry. I spoke to Stuart on Friday night and he souned happy, very proud of himself and exhausted.

Went with Mum to the Southern Highlands on Saturday. Was lovley, all the trees turning autumn colours and it was a lot warmer than I thought it would be. Didn't buy much, but I got some lovely jam and dukkah, I like dukkah. While we were there, got a message from Nicole Buchanon, she got engaged to 'a nice boy called Liam' (Fadgirl's words).

And then tonight, Fadgirl told me that a guy we know also got engaged. A bit of a surprise, but amusing.

My Aunty Ros told me about a job at the University of Wollong, Library Professional Cadet. It's a 3 year cadetship, where they want someone who is currently undergoing, or about to start the librarianship degree (and that's me!). and I have 2 years experience working in a library, and I really would love to work in the Uni library, it's a good library, with so much more possibilities than Macarthur. I like working at Macarthur, but advancement is not really possible. So I'm very determined to get at least an interview. Then I want the job. It's time for a change!

Oh yes, I agree with Fadgirl. Getting Fat Kids to hunt is wrong. and after they learn to hunt, what in the name of all that is strange, is going to happen! Fat Kids with nothing to stand in the way of them eating cats and dogs because they were too slow to get away from the chubbers.

Occy, the unintentional bonehead

2007-04-09T15:51:00.000+10:00

Shelley Neasby's 21st. Dress up, Disney cartoon characters. I took along 'Octavius' as he is green and I was going as 'Boo' from Monsters Inc.

Incidentaly, Occy only has 6 legs. So, he's an insect instead of an octopus.

Occy turned up in a suprising amount of photos. Some intentional, others not.

Good Friday

2007-04-06T15:59:00.000+10:00

Good Friday. It's an interesting day. The day when we remember Christ's death, but also his resurrection, which we celebrate on Sunday.

Went to church this morning. then came to Mum and Dad's (still here, LOVE their broadband speed) and had morning tea then ocean trout for lunch. Yum! Juicy and well cooked.

Met Tim's girlfriend, Clare, who is Irish. she's very nice. Says that Tim takes longer to get ready to go out than she does. Hee.

Listening to the soundtrack from the Last King of Scotland and playing with Photo Booth. V. fun.

It's nice to just relax on days like this. It's a little cold outisde, though the sun is shining at the moment. I hope it gets nice for tomorrow! We're planning on relaxing and beach, water related activities!

I plan to not think about Uni till Monday. My next essay is due on the 17th, but if I can get a good bit done on Monday and Tuesday (I get Tuesday off, Yeah!) then I won't feel so aanxious next weekend. I have noticed that all the assignments for INF 100 are due on the Tuesday and then ones for INF Wednesday. I wonder why that is.

Planning to go see Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles tonight. Might be able to get Mum and Dad along. Maybe. should be fun anyway. Vic's coming. Will see 300 another day, possibly Sunday, probably Monday.

University Mutterings

2007-03-22T19:04:00.000+11:00

I'm struggling to study at the moment. I'm finding, despite my (ha ha) adult brain telling me to stagger and do a little bit each day, I can't work unless I have the stress of an assessment coming up.

But my recent plan to only buy unecessary items for myself as rewards for finishing assessments seems to be working. I bought myself a nice ring the other week, and I have another 1 and a half weeks to go till my next assessment (50%) is due. So that's what I'm slowly working on. And it's a little it boring. Information seeking and stuff.

And then, the other day, I found myself obsessed with a trailer for a movie called 'Amazing Grace', about William Wiberforce and his battle for the abolition of slavery. Mybe it was the hormonal inbalance, but I was overwhelmed. So I used my research skills and found some excellent articles on him (W.W.) Interesting stuff. Also interesting is hoow the english managed to abolish slavery early in the 1800's, but it took the Americans to go to war and kill more Americans than ever before (or after for now) in 1860. And according to the program I clickviewed today, the Americans justified 'Every man is created equal' by trying to prove that Africans and Indian were not fully human, that they were under-evolved sub-humans, so therefore they could be enslaved. White people are very arrogant. I wonder why that is? But then, looking at my ancestral history, the english were not good with their neighbours either. They treated the Irish and the Scots (and the Welslh!) pretty badly too.

Hmm, thinking about other exciting stuff, the Chaser is back on , next Wednesday, 9pm ABC! yeah! I hope they do the video podcast as well. I love having them on my 'pod. Though people think you're mental when you start laughing hysterically in public places.

More fun from the Wedding, Finally!!!

2007-03-05T15:45:00.000+11:00

Normal

What's happening underneath

Favourites

2007-03-04T23:17:00.000+11:00

I am trying very hard to get up to date with things. So these are my last photos from 'The Wedding'. I might slip some in occasionally over the comng weeks, but I'm trying to move on. And I have a couple of very large Uni assignments due soon. And I have to read about library science for heaven's sake! It's a trifle Boring.

I think this photo is the classic bonehead photo. the boys were trying very hard.

Hmm, Blogger seems to dislike uploading my photos tonight.

Challenge!

2007-03-03T23:09:00.000+11:00

Yes, it's the Bonehead Challenge! Boneheading is a concept I heard about on the Chaser's War On Everything (it used to be on Friday nights, sometime after 9.30ish, but it's coming back on Wednesday nights, not sure of the time).

A bonehead is someone who gets into the background (or sometimes foreground) of a photo, video etc., often by accident, but often by design (people bonehead the Channel 7 studios all the time at Martin Place)

So spot the boneheads at the wedding!

Machine felting

2007-02-28T23:09:00.002+11:00

I am right now (11.10 pm) machine felting a little bag I have made. Oh, it's so lovely! Just wanted to boast. Photos soon!

More fun from the Wedding, Finally!!!

2007-02-28T18:26:00.000+11:00

Sorry this has taken so long. But I think you should know, I am now on my new Macbook laptop! Woo hoo! It's white, and has a shiny screen and a remote and is very cool.

This is one of my favourite Larissa photos. She's very expressive.

Ain't they cuties?

Now, who is boneheading who?

1 am Musings

2007-02-19T00:56:00.000+11:00

1 am in the morning. Sarah just had little crisis and needed some comfort, so we cleaned the windows. She seemed to think I was a bit freaky, cleaning windows as therapy, but remarked just now, "It actually is cathargic. Makes you release something" So there we go.

We'll have to get onto the vacuuming next. Stupid vacuum. (erm, is that how it's spelt? Vaccum?)

Later on this morning, I'll have to take Vic's washing round to Mum & Dad's, and maybe 'borrow' their vacuum. Probably wash my poor little ALX if I can.

Saw Dreamgirls Saturday night. Was really good. Lots of R&B, typical musical, sing when the emoting gets tough. Beyonce is good, but Jennifer Hudson, she totally steals the show. She's a good actress and her voice is amazing. Makes you wonder though, how much of this movie actually did happen to Diana Ross and the Supremes?

Reception 1

2007-02-15T19:54:00.000+11:00

The Claw! It's The Claw

Reception was at the sort-of-new Wollongong Golf Club. We were on table 5, in a pretty good position, actually. I think our table was the 'fun table' but, there was a distinct female presence.

Larissa seems to be occupying two realities. Or it's Rachel. Who knows!

Fun While Being Glam?

2007-02-15T17:26:00.000+11:00

Here's the next post from THE WEDDING (by the way, I am procrastinating buying my laptop, for some reason I am very nervous about it...)

So after the bridal party left the church, we decided to go down to the lighthouse and hang there for awhile - as long as we didn't meet up with the bridal party, cos that would have been awkward, strange and down-right weird. We'd be like wedding photo stalkers...

So Helen N, Rachel, Larissa, Sarah and I sat on a blanket - provided by an always thoughtful Miss Brisbane. I am in this picture, those are my fabulous heels, taken off when I realised that walking up a drought striken grass hill is
a)slippery, and
b)can't be done in heels without something breaking

Sometimes, Sarah is puzzling. Other times, you know exactly what she wants. and right now, she wants to go swimming, 'Screw all this fancy wedding stuff. Why do people get married anyway? They could be swimming! These shoes are killing my feet. I wonder what grass tastes like?'

So, shoes in hand, hairstyles diminished 5ths of what they were at 2 o'clock, onto Reception. (And the Bonehead Challenge!)

SCNeasby Wedding - The Service & Afternoon Tea

2007-02-12T14:50:00.000+11:00

Craig gets married. Who would have thought. But it happened.
Sarah and I got there with loads of time to spare, basically cos I was getting nervous about having to do a bible reading (1 Peter 3:1-7 - I had some trouble in liking what it said, but after a little reading and research, I felt better about what it was saying) . So we saw Craig, looking nervous but he SAID he was fine.
The service was lovely, and my reading went fine, though I stumbled a bit on something and giggled, after that, my nerves just floated away. REminder to self - remember to find funny side in nervous situations.

It's funny how when friends get married, a whole deal is made of this one day, THE DAY. It seems funny that it's the ceremony and things that make a wedding, this day is special. Why do we do this? I suppose it's so it's memorable and people look nice.

Larissa tends to draw men. I think it's because she talks with her hands.

Although it looks like Louise and I are in a shopping centre somewhere, it's our church foyer. And Louise doesn't have good television reception, that's her hair sticks.

Wagga Wagga, or, how I got there

2007-02-05T00:07:00.000+11:00

Back from Wagga Friday night. Was an interesting 3 days. I remembered what it was like to be a student and go to lectures and write notes etc. Quite strange actually. It's probably (I HOPE!) going to be the only residential for library that I will have to do. I'll probably get at leas one for my non-library major. More about that in later years, I think.
BAppSc (LIM) is goin to be interesting, probably because it's all about the theory and management of information, not the practical, this is how you work a library system thing. No ALICE for Windows here!
Anyways, is late and I am very very tired after exhaustive 3 days in Wagga, and the wedding yesterday (Saturday). More about the wedding in next, less tired post.

It begins...

2007-01-30T22:07:00.000+11:00

It seems my month of blissful peacefulness and serenity has gone. Work has been peopled again and next week the 'big' kids arrive back. Yay. I'll have to get used to sharing driving and other people's small cars and uncomfotable seats.
I have rearranged the living room so soon I will have a lovely 'workspace' for creations and study. And sitting here on the floor, I realise I really should pack. And get my own laptop. Right, that may have to be a Monday job.

I am now a blogger

2007-01-29T13:48:00.000+11:00

I wish I was here.

Well, instead of doing my uni work and cleaning up the lounge room, I have created this blog. The name comes from the fact that I am a librarian and I cringe when people refer to the LIBRARY as the LIBERRY or liBRARIans as liBERRIans. It's a pet peeve. People cannot pronounce.