I love op-shopping...

A table cloth, 12 napkins, an apron and a mixing bowl...

were among the haul from the op-shop today.

This was prior to Cohen getting his 12 month needles...

You know that you are trying to do the best for your child. You don't want them to get sick. But holding them while they are given three needles? Watching them hold their breath and scream?

Heartbreaking.

Thankfully it never lasts for long. In moments the nurse had Cohen laughing at a toy.

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He is having a lovely long nap now and I am going to put up the Christmas tree so that he has something interesting to look at when he wakes up.

Seeing things...

Sorry, the sun was on it's way down when I snapped these pictures of a building in the Gold Coast. We were on our way to a lovely dinner in a revolving restaurant.

But tell me, do you see a pattern that looks very quilt like too?

I made this... mess?

Is it the fate of sewing and craft rooms to get messy? Or is it just mine? Can you remember where you put things and never loose anything? Or do you find things by accident?

Me, oh no, never. My room is immaculate and everything organised... ahem...

I found the elastic.

In a perfectly reasonable place...

in with the fabric pens.

"Yes husband, I do need all this junk, yes I can (sort of) find everything. The room just gets messy when I am making things... which is a lot of the time...

Oh look, I finished these yoga pants from Pips book, aren't they cute? Are you hungry darling? Come into the kitchen...."

And, to further justify any mess, this is a sneak peek of a little Christmas present I made yesterday too.

I love a book that you can make two projects out of in two days...

One little fish went out one day...

Yesterday, birthday money in hand and a closet bereft of Summer clothes, I headed to the shops. While I had ever intention of buying a Summer dress or two I sort of happened to buy Pip's wonderful book instead... I did buy two tops as well and then of course things for Cohen... as soon as we got home I poured over the book and started on a pair of navy linen yoga pants for Cohen. Now I just need some elastic...

Also, I have some wonderful mail to share. This yard of sweet Lecien fabric was won in an Octoberfest giveaway courtesy of the generous Ruth. There are a few project in Pip's book that would look great in this fabric...

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Somewhere in Melbourne some one would have found a brand new orange rubber fish that was dropped by a sleeping baby. When we went to the Aquarium in Melbourne we brought Cohen the fish equivalent of a rubber duck. Bright orange with white stripes ala Nemo. Cohen was squeezing and biting and hugging and smiling at his rubber fish until he fell asleep and suddenly it was gone. I was saddened by it's brief stay with us, we had been laughing at his antics with the fish and imagining him playing with it in the bath and it making friends with the rubber ducks and other bath toys. Poor fishy. I thought is was gone forever. I thought there was to be no more bright orange rubber fish in our lives.

Hubby called the aquarium and paid for them to send us another one, addressed to Cohen. So the mail surprise promised by hubby was more for Cohen than for me but who wouldn't want such a thoughtful hubby and such a wonderful baby? Best presents ever.

Loving Summer...

Note to self: Give Cohen ice blocks outside...

28 and 2 days...

After the lovely day up the mountain on Sunday celebrating our birthday with my sister, Cohen and I braved the heat to celebrate my birthday on Monday with family and ice cream, scones and coffee at the Strawberry Farm.

Cohen's Uncle shouted him a children's car ride which he thoroughly enjoyed.

And I? Well apart from my gorgeous sewing machine, I received some additions to my bookshelf, DVDs, a vintage 'Mother' brooch from Cohen, shoes, and gift vouchers. Not to mention a bottle of champagne and hubby cooking Singapore noodles for our diner. Apparently another surprise is coming in the mail too... Don't you love birthdays?

Happy Birthday...

Twins.

Happy Birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me! Happy birthday to me,

and my twin sister Fiona!

Back with more birthday goodness later...

Quolls, bilbys and turtles...

It seems that of late I am rather fond of very picture heavy posts. Please bear with me, I'm sure this phase will pass soon enough, but in the mean time do you think I could perhaps share some photos from yesterday and today? Do you really mean it? Ok, well...

We have been adventuring at the Queens Park nature center and the Japanese Garden in Toowoomba...

What have you been up to?

Art, Penguins and Italian...

Art has long been my first love. Studying a fine art degree only strengthened my love and understanding of visual art. There was no doubt in my mind that while in Melbourne I would be visiting the National Gallery of Victoria again. Cohen whiled away three hours without protest which allowed me to explore the the gallery, until the noises of complaint started and he needed a nap at the hotel. Even in three hours I was unable to cover as much of the gallery as I had hoped, but enjoyed everything I saw.

We stopped for dainty sandwiches and a macaroon, wandered wide eyed through the different exhibitions and different floors. Sat on the large black leather seat to admire an artists interpretation of Cleopatra astonishing Marc Antony as she prepared to drop a priceless pearl into vinegar, which she then drank.

"There have been two pearls that were the largest in the whole of history; both were owned by Cleopatra, the last of the Queens of Egypt--they had come down to her through the hands of the Kings of the East....In accordance with previous instructions the servants placed in front of her only a single vessel containing vinegar, the strong rough quality of which can melt pearls. She was at the moment wearing in her ears that remarkable and truly unique work of nature. Antony was full of curiosity to see what in the world she was going to do. She took one earring off and dropped the pearl in the vinegar, and when it was melted swallowed it..." Pliny, Natural History

That night we ate at the loveliest Italian restaurant while a French waitress ensured that Cohen was occupied in his highchair, so that we might eat our amazing meal with the least amount of disturbances.

Our last day in Melbourne we took Cohen to see the Aquarium. We delighted in his joy and fascination as he encountered fish, stingrays, jellyfish and sharks for the first time and like children we enjoyed every minute ourselves. There is something so breathtaking about watching a shark glide over you, or searching for a seahorse that is camouflaged amidst the seaweed. Truly we do learn something new each day, for I learnt that day that day that Australian fresh water eels will live in rivers and billabongs until they are ten years of age, at which point they will travel across land and thousands of kilometers to get to salt water and breed before their death.

Flights, friends and walking...

Taking a baby on his first flight involves some level of nervous anticipation, as I am sure you will agree. In my case it was a matter of : will he cry the whole time, will he wiggle to get off your lap (a technique well and truly mastered), will the cabin pressure hurt his ears and will his flight-phobic father be of much assistance if I need him? With no obvious answers to these questions and a flight of butterflies in my tummy, we checked in ourselves, our bags, one pram and two sets of golf clubs as myself, Cohen, Dave and a friend prepared to fly to Melbourne, Friday the 13th of November.

Although the move to begin weaning Cohen has been proving difficult - eg. if Cohen is tired, teething, uncomfortable in a new environment or hungry, he still wants breast milk, oblivious to the fact that I am trying to cut down the number of feeds he is having a day - it was a joy to be able to feed Cohen to sleep on the planes ascent, knowing that the swallowing action would adjust the pressure in his ears and being relieved that the one screaming baby on the flight was not mine. Daddy was also a help after an alcoholic beverage or five calmed his nerves.

While the boys spent two days at the Masters watching Tiger Woods as he took the trophy and another day playing their own round at Huntingdale, Cohen and I spent our time exploring the City on foot/ in pram. We stopped for the trams, admired the Myer Christmas windows, wandered through the streets and lanes and admired the architecture and the people. We were lucky enough to have spent the day with a lovely friend and her birthday girl, who had moved back to Victoria. We explored the Queen Victoria markets, and talked endlessly while eating in cafes, having lunch in the park, shopping and swapping birthday gifts. It is fantastic to have friends like this, isn't it?

We are home now, flying in last night after being delayed by a storm. Exhausted and hungry we ate and relaxed and left the bags where they where they'd been put after being pulled from the car boot. Thus today, there are bags to be unpacked and clothes to be washed. My calves ache and I am still tired. I think I may hide our travelling bags again for awhile. No matter how wonderful a trip, Dorothy was right, there really is no place like home!

I will post some more photos tomorrow.

Also, blogger is still not publishing the gaps between the paragraphs, any ideas?

EDIT: Thanks Karen! You genius! I have fixed the problem.

The perfect Jem...

When I turned sixteen a part of my birthday present was a Janome Memory 7 sewing machine, which had belonged to my Mother. Thirty years ago the brand new Memory 7 had been instrumental in creating many things in it's time spent in her sewing room, from costumes to wedding dresses. In it's golden years the Memory 7 has been leading a slower life, creating softies and quilts.

When my Mother recently purchased a sewing machine from a friend it seemed not the least bit unusual. It would have been about the fifteenth machine she has purchased in her crafty life. I mean, obviously the lady loves sewing machines?

So when Mum said she had a surprise for me...

When she placed a Janome Jem Platinum 760 on the table...

When she started to talk about my upcoming birthday...

It still didn't click...

I know, a bit slow aren't I. But I really wasn't expecting a new sewing machine.

It has sunk in now.

Happy early birthday to me.

Happy early birthday to me.

Twelve years later, I have another sewing machine for my birthday.