Pages

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Big Boys & Their Toys


This is what I was met with at Brodie's bus stop this afternoon. Big boys & their Tonka toys! Well it seemed like big Tonka trucks to me :) what boy didn't have one of those trucks to play with when they were little? I know my two had them & they LOVED them too!

Anyway, behind the trees on the right, there is the driveway. I had to navigate around the trucks & gravel to get into the car park. I did let the workers know that the school bus was due in 10 minutes. They were almost finished by the time the bus arrived.

The bus got through but of course Brodie panicked a little. Something altered his after school routine & he wasn't to happy about it. He'll live of course. I just thought it was an opportunity to get my camera out to take photos for a blog post seeing I hadn't posted today. I can't get over how I took two pictures and the colours are totally different. I didn't play with the settings or anything. I do like the top photo better. Things look so much greener and more realistic!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Work In Progress

Here is my latest project. I'm making a pair of kids leggings. Nice & simple but slow going. I just don't seem to have the time to knit as much as I want. I was thinking of crocheting some leggings. Crochet is much faster. Maybe next time if I can find a nice pattern.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

It's PSG Time

Yesterday was PSG (Peer Support Group) time again. There were a few things to go over this time around. Miss G & two of Brodie's aides were there.

Brodie has been getting a bit behind with his TAFE work as well as his Math stuff. Since I'm not that crash hot with Math the school & I thought it was best if he did his Math homework during his study periods at school. That way he would have someone on hand if he did need help.

The hospitality stuff from TAFE was a different story. That one I do feel comfortable with & I am able to help him out at home. His TAFE work sounds really interesting! There's a few assignments that need doing although there is a little bit of time up our sleeves before they need to be handed in. The mocktail assignment sounds like fun & should be delicious where Brodie needs to create & make a drink. He's designing a chocolate mocktail which he has called Death By Chocolate. He also has a coffee assignment. I'm not too sure what that one involves yet. I'll check his worksheets later.

We spoke about the behaviour issues the school has. Pretty much the same ones we have at home. Although I have a feeling that Brodie might be a tad better behaved at home but not all the time. I'm thinking we need to do some more work on what behaviour is appropriate in mixed company. He gets awfully carried away sometimes and forgets that there are females present. Perhaps some role-playing might be in order.

I noticed that Brodie seems to be louder at school than he is at home. If that was ever possible. He is constantly getting reminded about using a quieter voice at home. I guess it might be working better at here but its not working at school. Poor kid probably thinks we are nagging him.

We also spoke about how Brodie was thinking about not doing an extra year at school. He had it in his mind that he would have to do extra VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) subjects next year & that he wouldn't graduate this year. Once Miss G explained to Brodie that he still graduates this year and can go to the Year 12 dinner with his friends he seemed to be okay about it. I also explained to him that he gets to do all that fun stuff next year too if he wants too.
Miss G also told Brodie that if he did return next year he doesn't have to to any hard VCE subjects. He can do VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) instead and he can do fun subjects like Art if he wants too. If he chooses not to go back then the school will help prepare him for the 'real' world and make sure that we know of places that can help him work out what he will do after his school life is over.

For now we are going to concentrate on getting his work up to date and Brodie will think about what he is going to do next year. I can't believe that he is almost finished school ...

Monday, March 28, 2011

Meet Me On Monday


Hosted by Java @ Never Growing Old
40th Edition

Questions:

1. Crunchy or soft tacos?
2. Do you scrapbook?
3. Do you take any daily medications?
4. What is your favorite sound?
5. Where were you born?

---------------------------------------------------------------

My Answers!

1. Crunchy or soft tacos?
It depends on my mood but I usually make burritos rather than tacos. In fact the only tacos I make is taco soup. You can find my recipe here.


2. Do you scrapbook?
I have all the stuff so that I can scrapbook but I never actually do an of it. It's on my to do list but its that far down the list that I may never get around to it.


3. Do you take any daily medications?
Oh boy do I ever. I am on that many I am sure I should rattle when I walk. I take stuff for high bp, anti inflammatory meds, happy pills, for gout, vitamin D and various topical lotions & potions for my psoriasis. The people at the pharmacy and I are on a first name basis :/


4. What is your favourite sound?
There are so many things I love listening too. The kookaburras laughing, rain, children laughing.


5. Where were you born?
I was going to say in a hospital but then I thought that just wasn't enough of an answer to give ... I was born in South Australia in Adelaide's northern suburbs.



Sunday, March 27, 2011

Yummy Potatoes

Look at what I made to go with my yummy corned beef dinner. Angus totally approved of this potato dish. I can't complain about it either. It was delicious! You can find the recipe here if you would like to try it.

April Is Autism Awareness Month

I know I am a little bit early with this but I thought I would share the tags that I have collected/made with you. Just in case you wanted to use them or share them. Feel free to snag as many as you wish.

If you click on view all it should take you to the folder that the tags are in or you can wait until the end of the slideshow & click on See full album. You should be able to save them from there.



Saturday, March 26, 2011

Busy, Busy, Busy

What a busy couple of days I've had. It seems like I am so far behind with EVERY thing. My Google Reader is overloaded with posts to read. I'm slowly catching up with my housework. I feel like I am playing nothing but catch up at the moment.

On Thursday Mark & I went out to lunch with his Dad, Step-Mum, Mark's twin brother & his girlfriend. We went to one of the local Chinese restaurants, Hong Kong Inn. We normally order a few dishes & just share them. I actually tried duck (the dish was lemon duck) for the first time ever! OMGosh it was delicious! I'm thinking it had an awful lot to do with how it was cooked but I really enjoyed it. I'm going to have to try duck again. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Yum!

It was really great catching up with the in-laws. They've been in Perth for the past 3 years & we don't always get the chance to catch up with them when they fly in for a visit. They were checking out the damage done to their house in Emerald (one of the reasons for their visit this time round). It got damaged during the floods last month.
They will be moving back next year in April. They've missed living in Victoria. It'll be good to be able to see them more often.

Yesterday I was on Facebook checking out some photos I had been tagged in. They were school photos. A couple of people asked me if Julie & Vicki were my sisters. To which I said yes. I sent text messages to my sisters about whom I had spoken with which led to us making phone calls to one another & talking about their school friends.
It was nice catching up with Vicki & Julie. I don't know why we don't phone each other more often. I guess we just get too busy doing our own thing & forget.

Gosh I need to get off this thing. I have more housework to do & the kids aren't here to help me. More about that on another post I suppose.

Dear Twilight Fans

epic fail photos - WIN: Twilight Go Beyond Where Even Trekkies Will
see more funny videos, and check out our Forever Alone lols!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Buttons

I went Op Shopping the other day. I wasn't looking for anything in particular but I though I would check out what sorts of crafty things they might have. I managed to find a couple of crochet hooks for 50 cents each. I think I had those sizes but at 50c a piece I had to get them, after all who really passes up a bargain? Hooks are around $3 or more brand new. Plus Angus could add them to his collection if he didn't already have those sizes (not that he is making anything these days but he does know how to make granny squares and beanies).


I also found these buttons. I have no idea what to use them for but they look nice. I would love to know what the coats of arms mean. Do you ever find something that looks interesting and wonder about its history? Some things just make you curious don't they.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Just For Fun - Petrol Humour

Graphic heavy post .... I received these in an email from my friend Julz. Considering the price of fuel these days they were too funny not to share! Some are oldies but still good for a laugh.










Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Due South

Look at what arrived in the post today. I bought it on ebay (yes I know something else from ebay). I used to love watching this show. Benton Frasier that spunky Canadian Mountie & his deaf lip-reading dog! Benton & Detective Ray would get into such trouble but things would always work out in the end.

I bet you can guess what I will be watching soon ....

Monday, March 21, 2011

Meet Me On Monday


Hosted by Java @ Never Growing Old

(39th Edition)

Questions:

1. What jewelry do you wear 24/7?
2. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?
3. How many siblings do you have?
4. Were you named after anyone?
5. Coke or Pepsi?

---------------------------------------------------------------

My Answers!

1. What jewelry do you wear 24/7?
That would be my earrings. They are gold studs with an amethyst stone in the middle. Plain & simple & non-allergenic.
2. Do you twirl your spaghetti or cut it?
I twirl my spaghetti. You get more on your fork that way. Well at least I think I do :)


3. How many siblings do you have?
I am the youngest of 8 children. There's Wayne, Alan, Lynette, Graham, Vicki, Julie, Mark (the boys called him Buddy) Sadly there are only 5 of us left. I don't see any of them these days they all live interstate.
There was a 20 year age gap between Wayne & myself. Alan teased Wayne once about how he was old enough to be my Dad. I laughed and told Alan that he shouldn't say that because he was old enough to be my Dad as well. I don't think I ever heard him say anything like that ever again.

4. Were you named after anyone?
Yes but just my middle name. It was after the family doctor.

5. Coke or Pepsi?
I'm a Pepsi girl through and through!

Photobucket
Photobucket



World Down Syndrome Day 2011



World Down Syndrome Day 2011 - Will you "Let Us In!"?


After watching the video I just knew I had to share.
The smiles are so infectious!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Teen Boys Are Smelly Creatures

Teenage boys are smelly creatures. Sometimes I think I should just take them outside and wash them down with the hose. The only problem is my two would probably enjoy it!!

A recent conversation we've had ...
Me: Brodie are you getting ready to go to the shops? I'm going soon.
Brodie: I don't want to go.
Angus: But you said yesterday that you wanted to go today.
Brodie: I changed my mind.
Me: Well that's about all you change. You don't change your underwear!

How do you get smelly teens to shower more frequently? To change their clothes more often?
If you know how to do it successfully and without arguing please let me know.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Shaving Gear

This isn't my shaving gear. There's no way on this earth that I would use a cut throat razor or even a safety razor but I would use the electric one (best thing for when your legs are covered with psoriasis you don't get any cuts at all) .
This is Mark's stuff. He's been collecting things off ebay again. He also loves using OLD things.

When I saw this razor I immediately thought of PoetessWug (you can check out her blog here). I mean look at the name on that thing! You certainly don't come across that word everyday.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Thankful Thursday (I know its a day late)

Photobucket
I know its Friday in Australia but I just realised that I never did a Thankful Thursday post. Lucky for me its still Thursday somewhere in the world .. so I think I can get away with this ;)

Here's what I am thankful for this week
  • that the boys are feeling much better today after feeling ill or sore this week.
  • for the long weekend we just had. I needed that extra days rest.
  • that I have Mark in my life, he is just amazing with all the talents & skills he has. He is my own personal MacGyver!
  • that even though I had a horribly blue day the other day (one of my worse in a very long time) I have loving friends & family who helped me feel better. I truly appreciate you & all that you do!
What are you thankful for this week?

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's St. Patrick's Day~ and you know what that means? Everyone is Irish today even if you're not!

I tease my boys about being Irish. Their father was born in Portadown, Northern Ireland. His family moved out here to Australia in 1966. Probably the smartest move they ever made. They were 10 Pound Poms, you can find out what that means HERE if you're interested.
Even though the boys father & his family have lived here for so long not one of them has become an Australian citizen (its a bit of a sore point for me but I wont bore you with the details). I guess they loved the 'old' country that much. Either that or they just never thought of citizenship. Oh well.

As I was saying I tease the boys about being Irish. They usually turn around and tell me they are only half Irish but they aren't. One of my great-grandmothers (Cecelia Honorah Wade) was born in Ireland. I have no idea whether she was from Northern Ireland or from Ireland. Either way she was Irish.

I think the boys love having an 'excuse' for the stuff ups they might do. They sometimes say things like "Oh Mum, you know we are half Irish!"

So at least for today the boys & I can say that we are Irish! Well our ancestors were =)
Even some of Mark's ancestors come from Ireland.

Do you claim to be Irish on St. Patrick's day? Were any of your relatives from Ireland? Do you wear green on St. Paddy's Day? I would love to hear about it.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

The Meow Song



I just had to share. These boys have great voices.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Let's Face It I Am Awful

I feel so bad at the moment. The most horrible Mum ever. Angus is feeling unwell at school (he said his stomach is sore & I sent him to school anyway) and I have no way to go and collect him :( At the rate things are going he will need to catch the bus home as usual. That poor kid has been waiting for hours for me to come & get him.

Mark has been working on the cars rear brakes and is having a hard time with them :( I feel like its my fault that he is unable to finish putting the new disc on. I don't know what to do. He needs a special tool (a calliper thingamabob), which at this stage may not work because this thing (I have no idea what is is called) wont budge and it needs to or he cannot finish it. Only trouble is I don't have any cash to give to him to go and buy it. The tool costs $4o and I only have $10 in change.
Mark is having to do all the hard work by hand and is covered in blisters. Mark is only fixing the car right now because of something I said the other day.

I am so sorry :(

Monday, March 14, 2011

Meet Me On Monday

Hosted by Java @ Never Growing Old
38th Edition

Questions:

1. Do you have a fireplace in your home?
2. Can you drive a stick shift?
3. How many computers are in your home?
4. Are your taxes done yet? Do you do them yourself?
5. What is your favorite meal of the day?

---------------------------------------------------------------

My Answers!

1. Do you have a fireplace in your home?
No we don't. We have a big gas heater. A fireplace would be nice but I don't like the idea of all the work that goes with it like the cleaning & collecting the wood.


2. Can you drive a stick shift?
Yes. I learnt to drive in one but we don't call them stick shift here. Its a manual.


3. How many computers are in your home?
It depends on what you class as a computer. We have 3 work stations (desktops), we have a server, 3 laptops, 3 android smart phones and 1 android tablet. That doesn't include all the network hardware that connects them all with the router & the VOIP etc. We have had more but we've cut back a little.

4. Are your taxes done yet? Do you do them yourself?
What taxes? I am on a Carers Pension and that is a non-taxable income.

5. What is your favorite meal of the day?
Any that I don't have to cook. But if I had to choose just one it would be tea (that's dinner for some). Its the only time of the day that we are able to all sit down together. We're usually off doing our own things.



Saturday, March 12, 2011

Puns For Educated Minds

I received these in an email from my friend Julz and I had to share them. Just be warned they are NOT politically correct but they are funny.
ROFL

Puns for Educated Minds

1. The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian .

3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.

5. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

6. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

7. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

8. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

9. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall. The police are looking into it.

10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

11. Atheism is a non-prophet organisation.

12. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'

13. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

14. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab centre said: 'Keep off the Grass.'

15. The midget fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

16. The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

17. A backward poet writes inverse.

18. In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

19. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

20. If you jumped off the bridge in Paris, you'd be in Seine.

21. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, 'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.'

22. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says 'Dam!'

23. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it.

24. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, 'I've lost my electron.' The other says 'Are you sure?' The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive.'

25. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.

26. There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Work In Progress - Bed Socks

Here's what I have been working on for the last few days with some pretty pink wool (well acrylic) that I won on ebay last week. I love the top part of them but I am not too sure about the bottom half. I looks out of proportion to me.

They knit up like a giant pair of baby bootees. I didn't make them for me or I would try them on to see if they look better when worn. They bottom is seamless. You kind of sew it up before you cast off. The pattern book called it .. Grafting ( A technique I had never heard of it before). You can check out a youtube video HERE or HERE if you want to learn how to do it. I find videos a great way to learn new techniques just because you can see instead of just reading about it (which can get confusing!)

I do love the lacy look though. I think its pretty.