Monthly Archive

Hey everybody ! (”hey, Dr Nick!”) I’ll only have internet access intermittently for the next three weeks (on holiday, flitting here and there, hither and yon). So, while I’ll still post every couple of days, my email replies will be s l o w …
On my way here, oh yes I am!

…speaking of replies, if you have left comments for me and not received a reply, please know that it wasn’t for want of trying! You know how blogger has this lame system of not letting us just click on reply? It doesn’t show the senders email address Anyway, sometimes I track people down through their blogs, sometimes I reply in the comments, sometimes I get confused about who I’ve replied to (refer to post about Flakiness).

I lOVE COMMENTS! All of us sad, needy types do! I’ve noticed something really interesting - the more traffic I get, the fewer comments there are. How does that work??

Anyway, did I mention that I have six minutes left to clean the kitchen, bathroom and pack?

“L” things I love…

Babe the Pig singing, “La la la laaa!”
Loooong lazy lunches: the kind that start at 12:00 pm and end when it’s time to make dinner
Annie Lennox: one of those wonderful artists who create an alternative world for us to all visit.
Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy: the Music of My Youth (even though it was all old by then! I never had especially conventional taste in music. Not after I outgrew The Bay City Rollers, anyway.) (be kind - I was 12!)
Landslide is a song that Pete and I both love, especially when Stevie Nicks is singing it; although I also kind of like The Dixie Chicks version.
Later…with Jools Holland has to be Must See TV for anyone who likes music.
Courtney Love: absolutely intrigues me. What a complex individual. Just when I am admiring of her refusal to follow other peoples rules, she does something atrocious that I could never agree with. She’s a sort of litmus paper for tolerance and loving our badly behaved neighbour!
John Lithgow : one of my favourite actors, ever since he played Roberta in “The World According to Garp”. She was my favourite character from the book and he played the role so gently and lovingly that I fell in love with him. Still loving him when he showed up in 3rd Rock from the Sun.

Lake Placid, Life of Brian,The Last Starfighter, Local Hero, Lord of the Rings: silly movies that I enjoy
Lost in Space and Lancelot Link, Secret Chimp: more favourite TV shows from my TV addicted primary school years. We loved it when Mata Hairi shrieked “Lancie!! Lancie!!”
The Education of Little Tree, The Little Prince: lovely books with lovely stories for when you aren’t in the mood for having your emotions shaken up and down.
Log cabin quilts: never fail to look wonderful. This is one of mine, superbly quilted by my friend Jacqui who is one of the best quilters IN THE WORLD without any doubt.
Lolly Gobble Bliss Bombs: I think (?) these are an Australian invention. It’s popcorn and nuts covered in a scrumptious *drool* caramel *slurp* *Homer J. S. gargle*

I love the words leviathan, lagoon, luscious and languid.

I’ve been blogging long enough that I suppose a meme is inevitable. I actually quite like reading other peoples - it makes me feel as if I know them better - and my brother-in-law just emailed us this one. I did learn some new stuff about him, so maybe you’ll learn new stuff about me, too (then again, probably not, cos I spill my guts constantly anyway!!).

A) Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Kiwi fruit packer (watched kiwifruit coming toward me on a conveyor all day and then dreamed about kiwifruit coming toward me on a conveyor all night).
2. Clerk at Social Security. Good grief, what an education for a sheltered sixteen year old…
3. Mummy. Best job ever.
4. Quilt tutor. Second best job ever (has aspects of jobs 2 and 3!!)

B) Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Fargo (yeah, yeah, I know, you’ve heard it all before!)
2. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (heaven only knows how many times I’ve watched that)
3. Raise the Red Lantern. It’s so pretty that it’s like watching a painting.
4.Pulp Fiction. Grooviest sound track ever.

C) Four places you have lived:
1. Hamilton, New Zealand
2. Brisbane, Australia
3. Palmerston North, New Zealand
4. Middle of bloody nowhere, Australia (seeing a pattern here? Cross-cultural marriages can be a curse, y’know)

D) Four TV shows you love to watch:
Not the biggest fan of TV but four shouldn’t be hard.
1. Six Feet Under - series one had me ENTHRALLED. Then I got bored.
2. Northern Exposure - licking TV screen every time John Corbett (DJ Chris) came in shot. Also loved Marilyn Whirlwind (one of the best characters ever created in my opinion). NEVER warmed to Joel or Maggie - it was a show I watched for the second-tier characters. Oh oh oh! remember Ruth-Ann?? Now see that’s a great character, too.
3. Currently passionate about My Name is Earl. Very clever and wet-your-pants funny.
4.Rockwiz - Australian quiz show about music, filmed in a Melbourne Pub. It’s on SBS (the best TV station in Australia - Government broadcaster, no ads, best TV programmes from around the world) so they are allowed to swear and be naughty. As my son pointed out a couple of nights ago, “Only on SBS can you see a wang shot.” See, if it’s on a commercial station, it’s full frontal male nudity and they’d be in trouble. If it’s on SBS it’s art. We love SBS.

but I digress…

E) Four places you have been on vacation:
WTF is a “vacation”???? I’m married to a 24/7 engineer. He doesn’t DO anything else.
1. Mum and Dad’s house; visiting.
2. Other Mum and Dad’s house; visiting.
3. Assorted Australian beaches.
4. Sydney and Melbourne; shopping (my personal favourites).

F) Websites you visit daily
1. 88 of my favourite blogs (you know who you are!) via bloglines.
2. Flickr.
3. Craftster
4. My brother, my sister and me. (our websites)

G) Four of my favourite foods
1. Coffee. Don’t give me that. It is so a food.
2. Once a month I exist only for chocolate.
3. Salads with really yummy calorific dressings, such as Caesar, and crunchy toppings like almonds and pine nuts, and shaved parmesan, and roasted red capsicum and fetta cheese, and bacon but it has to be real not those nasty little lumps of puce-coloured dried stuff, and mushrooms and roast pumpkin and roast kumera and…
4. Anything with the following ingredients: garlic, mushrooms, cream.

H) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Paris. Shopping with Ulla, being chaperoned byFlorizelle.
2. Venice with my sis, whose life ambition is drag the whole family back to the city she fell in love with!
3. New York. Badly want to go there, too.
4. Wellington. It may be shaky breaky and have the worst weather in the world, but it’s a wonderful city, God bless it’s wobbly little heart.
5. (I know it’s meant to be 4)… ____________ fill in the space with any city I haven’t visited. That’s a hell of a lot of cities, but if I had a million dollars tomorrow you wouldn’t see me for dust and I wouldn’t live anywhere, I’d just travel.

I) Four friends I think will respond:
This, I wouldn’t have a clue about. Go for it, taggees!

ps:I have found my newest favourite t-shirt (Capello, you’re going to love this site)

This isn’t a colour that features strongly in my life. I just don’t like it very much. It’s also rather difficult to photograph, I’ve just discovered - goes very dark. Bet you can’t guess what the bottom right one is… (I’ll tell you later in the week, because I can’t keep a secret. You know how the conversation goes:
Me: Guess what I got you for your birthday!
You: I’d rather wait and have a surprise on the day.
Me: No, go on, guess! You’ll NEVER guess right!
You: I’ll just wait for my birthday.
Me: I’ll give you a hint.
You: No, really I’d ra…
Me (screaming): IT’S A POGO STICK!!! AND IT”S PURPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Ah, there, you see? This is one of the reasons I blog - validation! Thank you all for the comments on my last post. I like hearing from you guys. I nearly deleted that post soon after I put it up because it seemed a little bit too exposing and self-indulgent. But I guess I’m not the only one who feels that way (why oh why do we all think we are unique in our feelings??).
In confirmation of all I said, here are the results of the exceedingly scientific and accurate test I took this morning:

You Are 10% Left Brained, 90% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you’re left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you’re right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

I know that people think I’m flaky. No! No! Don’t try to argue with me! I’m not paranoid. They TELL me I’m flaky. And they say things ALL the time like, “I saw you at the supermarket and you didn’t say hello.” Or, “Didn’t you see me waving at you yesterday?”

Well, no, I didn’t. I used to think it was because I live a very Cerebral Life. That isn’t as intelligent as it sounds. It’s a posh way of saying that I daydream a lot. And that is true. I actually quite like living inside of my own head with minimal outside contact.

But this morning I had an epiphany.This morning I was looking at the photos that I have stored in flickr and I realised what my problem is. I see the world in macro. When I ignore you at the newsagent, it’s because I have my eyes and brain fixed on the image that is created where the shelving meets the floor and the light at exactly that point is lilac and if I lean slightly to the left the whole image is framed perfectly by the pile of Hello! magazines and newspapers.

I’m sorry, but that is FAR more engaging than hearing about the barbecue that you went to on Saturday. And I truthfully didn’t even SEE you standing there, anyway.

This isn’t in the least bit interesting to you, I’m sure, but for me it’s quite a revelation. And I’ve reached the stage in my lfe where I couldn’t give a toss what other people think, so self-revelation is becoming more important to me. I think I’m my new best friend.

My sister and I must be on the same wavelength - we’re both thinking about kingfishers!! I hadn’t seen her newest work until she sent me a photo today. Meredith’s beautiful new painting “Exotic Native” has been accepted for New Zealands Wallace Awards! She says, “It’s about my feeling on being an ‘homogenised’ NewZealander, our country being somewhat of a melting pot with a very short history- some would argue none at all.”
The painting is framed in a glorious (read expensive!) Italian moulding and it is for sale.

ps the link to Merediths blog is no longer active, but her website will be up in a couple of weeks. I’ve had a sneak preview and it’s wonderful. Her work is exquisite and I’m not just saying that because I love her!

Update: Merediths new website is online now. A few bits and pieces aren’t fully operational yet, but you can see more of her work.

‘K‘ is for allsorts of good stuff…
Kissing is my favourite activity in the whole wide world.
I like listening to k.d. lang, who has an amazing voice. But now I’ll blow all my cred by adding Kate Bush (oh, come on! James and the Cold Gun is an awesome song!) and Kiss to my list! And the song Knockin’ on Heavens Door, sung by just about anyone, but especially Cold Chisel and *gulp* Guns’n'Roses (it’s incredible what I will admit to in such a public forum!)
Korma curry and naan on a cold night, is a good thing.
Kingfisher blue is one of those colours that just doesn’t seem earthly. Every time I see a kingfisher I get unnecessarily excited.
I am consistently inspired and awestruck by Gustav Klimt and Paul Klee.
Another blast from my childhood is watching Buster Keaton on TV with my brother (and, no, I am NOT that old. ha. ha.). Jon loved the Keystone Cops, too. I remember how he laughed. He was soooo cute!
My whole family loves The Kumars at No. 42, especially Ummi
and Kath and Kim is one of my absolute favourites (although it drives Peter nuts!)
He likes Akira Kurosawa movies and, I must admit, they have sucked me in, too.
When I was a kid, several people in my life introduced me to The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, and the romance of this poetry has influenced me ever since.
I love looking into kaleidoscopes.
Have you seen the incredible kaleidoscopic quilts made by Paula Nadelstern?
I like to say: kalamazoo, kismet, karma, kasbah.

These ones were fun because, as you can see, I’ve played around with them. I enjoy abstract art very much, so this is my idea of a good time. Unfortunately, today I have to go to work, so they were done in twenty minutes including the photography! I might have a more leisurely attempt another day so that I improve on the balance.

I get really excited when I find some clever new design or idea. My family are constantly hearing me yell, “Look at this!”

aside : I just realised something really funny - I have a number of times in the past seventeen years complained to my mother about my son constantly demanding, “Mum, look at this!” Hit me if I complain about it again. I’m sorry, C.

This is my favourite “HEY YOU GUYS! LOOK AT THIS!” site -
http://www.notcot.org/ Allsorts of great design, beautiful things and wonderful stuff.
And this is todays excitement from them…

I’ve seen this guy before but had forgotten about him. Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe his work. His name is Peter Callesen
All his work is cut from paper and, as well as being technically extraordinary, it has a magical dream-inducing quality. Wait til you see the skeletons and blossoms and snowflakes and castles…

There are a few things that you need to know before you read this.
1. I am not now, nor have I ever been, A Cook/Chef/Baker - I am An Eater.
2. New Zealand has the best cafes with the best food In The World (don’t even TRY to argue with me about this la la la I can’t hear you la la la).
3. Hughenden does not have cafes.

Right, so anyway, out of sheer desperation I have had to learn how to make yummy stuff such as is found in NZ’s excellent cafes, By Myself From Scratch.

These Lemon Muffins do not look especially special, but let me tell you that they are not only scrumdiddlyumptious, but a DOG could make them.

Lemon Muffins
2 Cups self raising flour
3/4 Cup sugar (too much in my opinion. I use 1/2 Cup)
75 gm butter
1 Cup milk
1 egg
zest from two lemons (big suckers - you want LOTS of zest)

Topping
1/4 Cup sugar
1/4 Cup lemon juice (again, I use a little more juice so it’s not sweet)

Preheat oven to 200 C. Mix flour and sugar together in a large bowl.
Melt butter.
Mix egg, milk and lemon zest together. Add cooled butter.
Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and combine VERY gently until lightly mixed. This is the important part. There will be lumps, there will be wet bits. Ignore them. G E N T L E.

Spoon into greased muffin tins.
If you have been to a New Zealand cafe, you will know that muffin tins only come in ONE size - HUGE. Do not sully this recipe by making those eaten-in-one-bite atrocities. Unless you feel slightly nauseous after eating one of these muffins, you have NOT made them big enough.

Bake for about 15 minutes.(While this is happening, husband should be making his superb coffee.)
Stir together topping and drizzle over hot muffins.

Here the recipe and I seriously depart from one another. It says, “Cool and place on wire rack.”
Wrong. Pry gently from tin while still steaming, burning fingertips.
Eat over plate (to catch crumbs) with large mug of strong coffee.
Fight teenagers for last muffin (despite already feeling ill).
Pour more coffee.
Contemplate making another batch this afternoon.

found at www.foodlovers.co.nz

You may have noticed (if you are VERY observant!) a flurry of activity in my list of links. I’ve added a number of new ones in the past few days. These are all new friends or friends that I would like to cultivate because they are soooooooo inspiring! I am so grateful to Ulla - her list of links is probably the most superb collection I’ve come across. My goodness, the brilliance and talent and style. And she seems to know all of these genii personally! I tell you, it is an indulgent way to fritter away an afternoon…

Speaking of frittering, a few weeks ago, I realised that I have been wasting too many hours. We travel LOTS of miles from month to month, mostly driving between here and Townsville. That’s four hours each way in which I could be doing something useful. So, here they are. Useful things:

It’s been many years since I did so much hand sewing. These are done over papers (English-style) which is the very first kind of piecing I ever did, aged twelve, at Waikato Diocesan School for Gels.
I’ve really been enjoying making them. It won’t be a big quilt, however, because the itch to get the sewing machine out and “just quickly finish them” is getting worse! I have used lots of favourite fabrics - Kaffe Fasset and Amy Butler prints, gingham, spots and stripes and some 1940’s stuff that I paid a kidney for in Houston. Drool.

I’m really glad that Caity found this cool toy! I’ve just had ten minutes of exhiliration creating THIS: Ta Dah!!

It wasn’t easy to choose an emblem for the centre of the seal but somehow the handcuffs seemed appropriate. And it took a bit of self-censorship to come up with a slogan that I could share without causing marital humiliation, but I think he’ll approve.
Darling, I’ve never met anyone else I’d rather be chained to! There will be no gnawing one’s own hand off in this house

J is a cool letter. I like the shape of it and the way it sounds. And it’s for Jonathan, my precious brother; his clever, pretty daughter, Jessica; my wonderful sister-in-law, Jeanine and James, Son Number One.
Jasmine and jonquils smell delicious and a flowering jacaranda is one of the loveliest sights you could ever see.
Amy Tan is one of my favourite writers and the first of her books that I read was The Joy Luck Club. As with all of her books, it is gentle, poignant and loving.
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy is not gentle. It rips your heart out of your chest and jumps up and down on it. I didn’t enjoy it, but it sure did stick to me. Phew, it’s good.
I love the sound of Janis Joplins voice - the grit and the intensity. It’s passionate and very sexy!
I like Joe Cocker for the same reason. Pearl Jam just rock my world (don’t you think Eddie Vedders voice was made in heaven? I can forgive them for the naff songs only because he sings them!) And, as with most of my age group, I worship at the altar of Jimmy Page.
John Lennon and Elton John both make my list because they have each written songs that deserve to be proclaimed trumpet-tongued in heaven ( P ).

There’s something about the movie Jaws. I wouldn’t ever include it on a list of my favourites, but each time I’ve watched it, I couldn’t stop until it was over. I guess that makes it a pretty good movie! And The Jungle Book has been a favourite since Mum took me to see it at the movies when I was little. “Ooo be do, I wanna be like you-hoo-hoo…”
Don’t you think Just Shoot Me is funny? I do!
I wear the same jewellery every day - beautiful diamond rings and a gold heart necklace that Peter has given me, a gold bracelet that Mum and Dad bought me and the same cz earrings that I bought when I first had my ears pierced aged TWENTY NINE. Yes, it took me THAT long to get up the courage. Finally I had it done a few weeks after my third child was born, when I figured that if I could give birth to three babies without dying then surely I could handle a HUGE SHARP NEEDLE BEING RAMMED THROUGH MY EAR LOBES. uugh I’ll be back in a minute just going to lie down

BTW, if you would like to see some very beautiful jewellery, have a look at Simone Walsh

Guilt-inducing, Need-a-shower-afterwards secret pleasure : Jerry Springer. Yes, I am THAT shallow, THAT vacuous. I will admit that I can’t stand an entire show, but twenty minutes is like trying to not watch a car crash.
After that confession, do I even dare mention the word Justice?

Fun j-words to say: jinx , jitter, jiggle, juju.

It’s very interesting to see the different names that colours go by! I would not have called this crayon “Wisteria”, but maybe that’s the colour it comes out on paper as. Anyway, no words of wisdom/foolishness/otherwise today. I’ve had a disgusting head cold and fevers and such for the last few days, so I don’t feel very wordy or writey. Here are the pictures, instead.