blogtober day 31 - the finish line

Just a quick note to say goodbye to Blogtober - it's been a challenge for me, though I think I did better than I expected (having just missed 1 day - in the final week!).

I've enjoyed writing posts about things I hadn't written about before, and learning new things (I'm really enjoying making animations now!). It's been nice to discover some new favourite blogs - and to meet a few lovely blog friends in real life too!

Right now, though, I think I'll be slowing down again for a little while, and enjoying the chance to blog when I have an idea, rather than being driven to find one - though I think I really benefited from that motivation too!

I've got a busy work month ahead - including presenting a paper at a conference, for the first time in years, so if I go missing for a while, don't worry - I'll probably just be using the dreaded Powerpoint instead of Blogger.

Best wishes, stay warm (or cool, depending on where you live!) and see you soon!

my creative space

I gathered up a few sheets today, with plans to cut out and make a skirt or two.

She had other ideas...



Oh well, if you can't beat 'em , join 'em - anyone for vegemite hearts?




Pop over to Kootoyoo for more creative spaces.

PS: missed a post yesterday - sleeping when I should have been blogging... (think I made the right choice in the end!)

4 things... thanks Cath!

4 things I (almost) always carry

1. lip balm
2. eye drops
3. a "miniscule muesli bar"
4. a pencil - of the ikea kind

4 things that are in my bedroom

1. a growing stack of vintage sheets (want to win a bit? see here...)
2. unpainted walls (we got as far as stripping off the falling-apart wallpaper...)
   
3. my sewing machine - on top of a tall cupboard
4. a torch

4 things that I would like to do but haven't done yet

1. go to Egypt
2. get all the laundry done (OK, I know I must have done this at some stage in the past, but it seems a long time ago!)
3. make pasta from scratch (idea from Megan, thank you!)
4. paint our bedroom walls
   

4 things you don't know about me

1. my dad is a Nobel Peace Prize winner (OK, slight overstatement - he's a member of an organisation - International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War - that received the prize in the 1980's)
2. I was once crowned (or "sashed" actually) Miss Junior Showgirl at our local agricultural show - the only time I went home from the show with more money than when I arrived...
3. I was once hit in the eye(sorry Cath!) with a rubber band... at an Occupational Health and Safety Meeting... yes, I can see the funny side now!
4. I love it when I get to take public transport (which is not every day, otherwise I'm sure my attitude would be different!). I love being able to read /think / relax and get somewhere at the same time!

4 things I often wonder

1. what would be better - a bigger house, or less stuff? Currently trying for less stuff, which is proving to be hard work!
2. whether my incredibly long winded - but generally accurate - answers to my daughter's questions about how things work are better or worse than one line explanations.
3. how I got to the end of October without doing my tax - normally I have it done by the end of July...
4. what's for dinner?

Thanks Cath for a fun meme, and a fun way to help us through the last few days of Blogtober...

self portrait

I am exhausted after a crazy few days of my paid work, and was nearly ready to give up on Blogtober... thank you, Tinniegirl, for making today's post a bit easier (even if it did involve taking a picture of my exhausted, but happy-to-be-home self...).

Heaps of self portraits over at the home of Blogtober...

in case of emergency...

remove lid.


Making collages with our glue sticks has become one of my favourite "emergency parenting" techniques - the things I can do when everything is going pear-shaped, that (mostly) result in a happier girl (and a happier me).

What are your "emergency parenting" techniques?

a new camera - blogtober day 11

in case you're wondering ... it's not my camera...


it belongs to this very happy photographer


(for $20, I think it's worth it - our "real" camera stays safe, and I get to watch a happy little girl see the world in another way, and make the funniest "photographer faces"...)

wordless wednesday (a visit from the neighbour's cat)

More wordless wednesday here.

blogtober day 4 - the lazy post

Ok, so I'm only 4 days in, and feeling lazy. I have an excuse - even a doctor's certificate (surely that works in blog land too?) - I'm sick, again.

The word on the street (well, mainly in the doctor's surgery) is that it's been a really bad year for colds / flus / assorted illnesses, and that's certainly how it feels.

I know that it's not entirely in my control, but I'd like to get better and stay better this time, so I'd like some ideas - what are the things that work for you when you get sick, or that you find help you to stay healthy?

Thank you...

Blogtoberfest - day 1

I've decided to join in the "Blogtoberfest" festivities this year - even though I'm terrified about getting through 31 days of consecutive blogging, I'm hoping that being stretched out of my comfort zone will be a good thing...

If you haven't heard about Blogtoberfest, pop over and see Tinniegirl to get the facts (having just met her in real life, I can tell you she's definitely someone you want to visit!). There are already plenty of giveaways too (Curlypops has a list here to make it really easy to find them...).

OK, one down, thirty to go! Wish me luck!