Pages

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Enjoying


Brilliant sunshine 


pouring down into the backyard,


and Poko Cake,

made with pear and chokoes,

recipe in the Failsafe Cookbook.

I don't know why I waited two years to try this,

or to cook with a choko.

Yum.

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Skater Girl


Laura, off to an iceskating party,


wearing colourful summer clothes, 


as always.


For the rest of us it was a Saturday of

housework, shoe-shopping and music, 

rehearsing for 

Emily's saxophone exam on Monday

and her friend's flute exam on Tuesday,

both of which I am accompanying on piano;

and enjoying a Thai dinner and a video.

And it was good to have a sleep-in this morning,

it's been a big week.

Looking forward to school holidays

in a week's time.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

The tempest and the calm


Yesterday was a wild day.

Hot and very windy,


and while bushfires raged in the west

we had some fires of our own to put out,

behaviour-wise.

Hard work.

And the rest of the day was also hard.

But after a night of tossing and turning

in the smoky air


today has turned out to be much calmer

and we are just taking it one step at a time.

"The willow which bends to the tempest, often escapes better than the oak which resists it; and so in great calamities, it sometimes happens that light and frivolous spirits recover their elasticity and presence of mind sooner than those of a loftier character."        - Albert Schweitzer

Although it wasn't at all a "great calamity",

especially compared to those struck by bushfires,

it was pretty intense.

But I'm doing ok today, 

so I guess I must just be frivolous. 

But there's hope for me ...

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Royal Wedding


Yesterday we dressed up for a Royal Wedding.


The girls were not actually guests, 

Steve and they went off and did other things during the reception.


I stayed for the whole wedding,

(but wish Steve had taken another photo of me beforehand,
I'm not relaxed here at all!)

The wedding was held

not in a cathedral,

but in a lovely garden.


The weather was hot for September,

 but we were in the shade

when my cousin the bride arrived


with five lovely attendants

dressed in teal


and dressed herself in layer upon layer

of filmy white tiers.


Afterwards we celebrated with this spectacular backdrop.


Loved the classic cake.


A beautiful wedding

for the new

Mr & Mrs Royal.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Seeing double


Laura has been seeing double for quite some time now.

Please excuse my feeble photo-editing skills,

but I believe this is what she sees a lot of the time,

in addition to other weird and wonderful

visual disturbances.

As I've said before,

we've been on a journey

to figure out what's going on.

A journey that's involved lots of

medical appointments

and various diets 

and much emotion of one sort or another.

But on Tuesday we received a new diagnosis,

and instructions for a treatment

that actually might help.

Laura's ophthalmologist thinks she has

convergence weakness,

which causes headaches and double vision.

The double vision in turn

might be triggering migraines.

So next week we begin seeing an orthoptist

who will give Laura exercises

that should cure this problem, at least!

If he's right I believe Laura's life might

become a whole lot easier.

I'm excited, 

although I've been excited before 

and it's only led to disappointment

when a diagnosis 

or a diet has proved wrong.

So I'm quietly excited.

My next challenge

is to make sure Laura actually 

DOES the exercises.


Cause she looks angelic ... right?

* * *

I'm glad the end of term is in sight

and that we have a direction to follow

for the next month, at least.

Off to a Royal Wedding


Tomorrow I am going to a Royal Wedding!


The weather forecast is looking good,

I've planned my outfit and organised the gift,


and I've made a card for the bride & groom.

* * *

What's that?

You haven't heard of any Royal Wedding?

Well you'll just have to stay tuned ...

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Birthday Love


It was my birthday on Monday,

and I was totally spoilt! 


Firstly a few weeks ago I was given

a gorgeous retro apron

by my aunt.


With a ruffle and all.

My parents took me out for morning tea

on the day, where I indulged in some

foods I normally wouldn't eat.

Yum!

They gave me some kitchen tools

I've been eyeing for a while.


A Vegie twist 

(for making curly carrots)

And a cookie press.

Plus some other goodies.

Then my friends Tanya and Fiona

took me out for lunch,

a delicious lunch 

(gluten-free burger & chips!!)

and good company.

I finally got to taste my first macaron, 

since I was splurging a bit, diet-wise!


Tanya gave me another retro apron!
With a pom-pom trim!


I'll try and model both my gorgeous aprons soon,

when I've ironed them and am wearing a dress!

Tanya also gave me a birthday book


which will no doubt help me 

spread more birthday love around.


Fiona gave me some very pretty tea towels 

- too pretty for the dishes??


My friend Catherine gave me this sign,

which I think will be perfect somewhere in our kitchen.

Steve was home (Laura had a migraine)

and he baked me the yummiest 

Caramel Pear Upside-Down Cake

which we enjoyed for afternoon tea.

He gave me some lovely CDs


and some cashew and nougat treats,

a booklight, 

and something is still to come in the mail.

Loving having another 

Cary Lewincamp CD to enjoy ...

 Emily gave me two eggcups,

something I was wanting

(Laura and I often have boiled eggs 

for breakfast these days).

Steve cooked dinner while I taught piano,

it was delicious, 

and we had a game of Blockus afterwards,

a good evening together.

Jacqui dropped in this morning with this lovely book



full of lovely antiques and country scenes


just gorgeous and ever so restful ...


plus these sweet hairpins she bought in Canberra.



This lovely jewellery box and earrings came 

in the mail from Steve's sister.

 

And if all that wasn't enough,

other family members have given me

cash and an iTunes voucher to spend.

I'm very thankful 

for such loving family and friends.

My birthday was a perfect break

in the middle of what I am 

finding to be a very trying time.

I guess one of my love languages 

must be "gifts" after all,

because I sure am feeling the love!