abowerbirdsnest

Granny Square A Long

2012-01-20T18:30:00.001+11:00

My name is Rebecca and I am a Project-a-holic.

There I said it. I confess. I will do anything if you tell me it will be a full project. Luckily for me I have several friends who are crazy enough to believe me when I give them the ‘fun project’ spiel.

This year Wendy, Renae and I are doing a Block of the Month (BotM – which Wendy has dubbed ‘bottom’) Granny Square blanket.

Every month we will each pick a granny square we like and make three of each. By the years end we’ll each have 36 squares to arrange and play with to make our blankets.

The best part of the entire project is that we all picked very different wool to work with, Renae has some Carnival Super Soft, Wendy opted for Merino Magic, and I raided my stash and uncovered a large bag of Moda Vera Beetle that I had been saving for a ripple blanket.

But you’re not here to hear the logistics, you want the shiny photos, I know. So here you go. This is what happens when three craft nerds get together and fawn over wool. Be sure to check in at the end of the month to check out our first lot of blocks.

Confess, you’re completely jealous that you’re not here swimming in our wool pile.

Tea Time

2012-01-19T23:12:00.000+11:00

TI was thoroughly spoiled by my work Secret Santa last year and one of the goodies I found in my stocking was a nice box of tea. I was very excited about this – partly because I love tea, but moreso because it was raspberry tea and I love love love raspberry. I’ve been saving it for when I could sit down and brew a nice pot and enjoy it properly.

(Tea: T2; Rocking Rasberry)

So this morning I was sitting here at the table, enjoying a rare quiet moment at home, and I got to thinking about different kinds of tea (as you do) and jumped up to grab the tea pot...only to realise that I’ve never brewed tea in a pot before. And so with Lisa enlisted as my tea guru, she helped me through the process.

Once I managed to stop playing around with the tea itself (seriously, look at it - it’s so pretty! I was tempted to eat it as it was), I managed to measure it out and brew it up in a teapot I found. Didn’t know I actually HAD a teapot, but still, managed to brew up my tea.

It was a white tea, which I’m not used to but I have to say, I loved this tea to bits. It smelt amazing and was a lovely sweet tea, which led me to go investigate the ingredients a little closer…

And I’m sorry - but do you see ‘tea’ anywhere on that list? Cause I don’t - which leads me to the most exciting thing about this tea present. I learnt a new word! (yes I’m a nerd, but I so love when I stumble across a new word!)

tisane: A herbal tea, tisane, or ptisan is a herbal or plant infusion and usually not made from the leaves of the tea bush (Cameillia sinensis). Like brews made of the tea bush, such infusions are prepared by combining hot water and fruits, leaves, roots or grains. (Wikipedia)

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-18T06:59:00.000+11:00

A Comic Afternoon

2012-01-16T15:16:00.001+11:00

One of the things I like best about being a teacher is that I share a staff room with a large amount of nerdy people. And being an English teacher means that book recommendations are easily come by. While visiting a friend from work, Denise, she retrieved a book from her shelves telling me how much she enjoyed it and that I must read it. Always happy for a book to read (and entering the holidays with lots of reading time making it all the better) I tucked it under my arm to take home.

However it seems that Denise is a little like me when it comes to book recommendations – like me she gets a little excited when people are happy to receive suggestions. I left her house with 13 graphic novels in my possession and the promise of more when I was done.

I’ve been a little busy this holidays after all and haven’t had the chance to sit down and truly enjoy them. But today is a cold rainy day and I’m thinking that I shall settle down for the afternoon with a cup of tea and a collection of comics. What do you think?

Blue Monday, Vol 2: Absolute Beginners - Chynna Clugston-Major
Blue Monday, Vol 3: Inbetween Days - Chynna Clugston-Major
Blue Monday, Vol 4: Painted Moon - Chynna Clugston-Major
9-11: Artists Respond, Vol. 1 - Will Eisner
9-11: Artists Respond, Vol. 2 - Will Eisner
9-11: Emergency Relief - Will Eisner
Y: The Last Man, Vol 1: Unmanned - Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, José Marzán, Jr.
Y: The Last Man, Vol 2: Cycles- Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, José Marzán, Jr.
Y: The Last Man, Vol 3: One Small Step - Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra, José Marzán, Jr., Paul Chadwick
Kingdom Come - Mark Ward and Alex Ross’
Wolverine: Origin - Paul Jenkins
Superman/Batman: Absolute Power - Jeph Loeb, Carlos Pacheco, José Merino
Superman/Batman: Supergirl - Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner, Peter Steigerwald

my week

2011-12-10T00:38:00.001+11:00

In which I admit to spending money and get into trouble…

2011-12-10T00:29:00.001+11:00

It was about half way through last years 365 project that I (eagerly) bit the bullet and upgraded my little point-&-Shoot for a DSLR. I was still very much a newbie* and, looking back now I can see that l allowed myself to be swayed by the preferences of the salesman and by the kinder price tag.

I came home last year with an Olympus E 450 (fondly nicknamed "Athena") and I loved her so. I loved the degree of control I had. I loved the feel of her. The weight of her (yet the lightness compared to other cameras). I loved the choice presented to me by her lenses and functions. And I loved - LOVED - the looks people would give me when I wielded her instead of my little Olympus (yes I'm that shallow, I enjoyed the 'oooo photographer’ vibe).

Athena saw out my 365 project and took some of my favourite photos. She went with me to Melbourne and Brisbane. She photographed birthdays, weddings and formals. She griped with me when we got roped into photo gigs. And she was carried with me practically everywhere.

But slowly little irritations started to creep in. Like the auto-focus issue that resulted in a two week stay at the head office. Like her epilepsy-inducing flash. Her complete refusal to cooperate under less than ideal light conditions, the general slowness. And then, the final clincher, her stage fright around Lisa and her camera which made con-photography a complete write-off. It didn't matter how many little chats we had, Athena continued with her little eccentricities.

So I got to thinking (always dangerous) and realised several things in quick succession.

I did not want to deal with these problems while backpacking.
If I didn't make the change of camera (and likely change of brands) now while I was relatively accessory-free I never would; and
There was no way that the money Grinch that will be 2012-Me will allow me to buy a camera.

I started my research that night.

Better armed with what I wanted I started looking, and asked Lisa for her recommendation. She suggested the Canon EOS 60D (the equivalency of her 50D which I've used & love) or the next model up, the 7D.

These two fit my needs and were my leading choices but I also wanted to check out some of the mid-range Sonys (Alex has a Sony which, again, I love and find so easy to use). After a bit of price scouting and camera-handling l headed to Harvey Norman (hoping for a Christmas sale - not so lucky)

After just a little more camera-fawning (what? the guy kept handing them to me!) I had it narrowed down to two choices: the Canon 60D and the Sony Alpha 65.

Both does exactly what I want but there was, for me, one glaring difference - the weight. The Canons are just so damn heavy (especially the 60P with the alloy frame**). Even with the heavier Tamron lense I'd decided on the Sony was noticeably lighter.

I'd told myself that if it was under a certain price I'd buy it on the day. The Tamron lense (eliminating the need to carry two lenses while traveling) did push it over the top a bit but I did manage to talk him down a bit and got my UV filters, screen protectors and extended warranty for zilch so I walked away pretty happy.

So now there's just the little matter of a name...

* wow, doesn't that sound like l now know what I'm doing? Not so much, but now I know what my camera needs are and know that my Olympus wasn't meeting them.

** and I’ll admit, despite knowing it would probably never be an issue, having to hold on tight to something made of alloy (to which I am allergic) makes me nervous.

A computer Programmer I am not

2011-11-21T19:06:00.001+11:00

I would consider myself pretty tech savvy. What I don't know I can usually figure out with a fair bit of googling and a bit of trial and error. But this week everything failed me.

I wanted to convent the wordpress blog hosting my webcomic into an actual webcomic site (like that of Wapsi Square or One of Those Days). To do that I needed to host the site myself and install wordpress onto the server. Then it was a simple plugin to utilise comic layouts. Easy, right

No.

Wordpress boasts that it is 'one of the easiest installations available”. It. Lies.

I spent two days sighing loudly and yelling at my computer.

In fact, I feel fairly certain that if I had kept trying my computer would have been murdered. So after all the whinging and comparing, all the crabbiness that poor Lisa & Courtney had to endure I gave up. I put up one final plea on Facebook for assistance - I was prepared to pay for someone to take the problem away.

Did you know that I have a cousin who has a web hosting business? I didn't.

Forty dollars and a few very short hours (most of which I was asleep for) the problem was fixed and the site was up and running.

I will admit to being momentarily peeved that it was 'so easy' after all but have decided to adopt a more zen attitude and, with this post completed, repress the whole experience and just revel in the shiny.

Archival Assistance

2011-11-15T23:22:00.001+11:00

Okay, first of all, let’s get this said and out of the way right off the bat. I’m crazy, OCD to the point of insanity, have project-itus to an unmanageable degree. This is all true. I hear you. I agree.

But hear me out, okay?

A couple of things have converged this week that has caused this latest niggling idea I’ve been having to jump right to the forefront of my mind.

1. Brett asked me when it was we went to see Midsummer Night’s Dream last year and it took me a little bit (not ages, but a bit) to track down the info in my journal. (It was November 20, by the way)

2. I lost a journal. Yes. That’s right, I… *sob* I lost a journal! I have ransacked my room trying to find it to no avail. I’m hoping beyond hope that (for some strange reason) I have left it on my desk at work, because otherwise it is in Melbourne and if that’s the case it’s gone.

3. I learned today that LiveScribe pens have an accompanying piece of software that translates the handwriting into text - which is the only (and I do truly mean ONLY) thing which has stopped me from actually buying one every single time I walk past them (and pick them up, and study them, and sigh forlornly that it doesn’t do quite what I want). Anyways, I have now purchased one and it’s on it’s way.

4. While exploring the pen options (I decided on a 4GB Echo, in case you’re interested) and accessories, I found these…

…Livescribe compatible journals. *swoon* Can you blame the OCD archive-inclined part of my brain for being very excited about this? Confess, you want one too know. I know you do.

ANYWAY! With all these things coming together at the same time I decided to stop thinking about indexing my journals and actually do something about it.

But then I thought, wouldn’t it be great if I could index and search my blog at the same time?

Oooh what about the lists and logs I keep - like books read through the year and so on (shush, we already covered the nerdery), that would be good to include also.

Oh! And photos! AND TUMBLR! OMG! YES! BEST IDEA EVER!

By now I was in full on organising mode. How great would it be to simply search a particular person and have any and all blog posts, journal entries, photos, appointments and so on all collate and be at my finger tips? That would be amazing. Surely someone has considered this wonderful idea and created a program for this. Everyone would want to use it, after all…

Yeah I came up with nothing. There was a brief crazed moment where I considered creating it myself, and selling to geeks and librarians everywhere (with a syncable ipad app, naturally) before I realised that I have zero programming knowledge at all. I was very sad.

So basically it’s just me and my scanner, but I would greatly appreciate some input. I’m thinking PDFs are the best format - with longevity and searchability in mind. Individual files for days could be made, being merged together into one master file at the end of the year.

I scrapped together a (very) rough mock up of what I was considering so I had somewhere to start from and this is what I came up with:

(all comments about my not completing my to-do list, will not be well received. I’m looking at you, Courtney)

But then I thought… this doesn’t really fix the problem, as images aren’t searchable. Okay, mock up #2.

That does fix the problem, but I’m not entirely happy with splitting a spread in half. Suggestions to eliminate this would be appreciated. Perhaps very small text boxes down the bottom as I will be able to read off the scan itself? The same problem will occur with photos, but captioning them should do the trick.

I also threw together a blog post example (ignore the squiggles, I’ve only just realised they were there).

Anyways. That’s it. My crazy new project that I have no plans to start before Christmas but please, throw any ideas, problems, solutions my way. Thanks!

Scaling the Scales

2011-11-15T10:11:00.001+11:00

It occured to me this week, as I pulled out the Christmas carol book, that I've had over a year of piano lessons now. I love it because I feel that I'm so much better than I was when I started, and yet its kind of depressing - over a year, really? Shouldn't I be a virtuoso by now? Just kidding, I'm pretty happy.

I've been dabbling in piano since my first Year 7 music lesson, fourteen (!) years ago. Since then I've had one overruling musical goal: to teach Bethany Heart and Soul so we can play a duet. In those fourteen years she has managed to stumble her way halfway through the melody before before succumbing to a mash of notes.

This week, in a fit of boredom, Bethany rolled up to the piano in Grandma's wheelchair (I did mention she was bored, right?) to actually sit through an hour-long music lesson. We went over the notes and how to read music, finger placement, key/note arrangement, musical notation. She worked her way through several pages of the Adult Beginner book. By the end she was basically sight reading - slowly but surely.

So can she now play Heart and Soul? ... sort of.

30 Days of Indie Travel {Day 4-6}

2011-11-07T09:25:00.000+11:00

I'm playing a bit of catch up with the weekends prompts so forgive me as I go out of order a little.

Day 5: KINDNESS
One of the greatest joys of travel can be the random acts of kindness you'll receive from total strangers. Have you ever found kindness from strangers in unexpected places?

I have found (for me) that the kindest people to run into while traveling are retired couples. The few times I floundered on my road trip this year it was an older couple who came to my rescue.

When I had no idea how to change the gas on my stove for my campervan it was the caravanning couple in the next plot who helped me out and then chatted to me while we both cooked our dinners. Then when I went to the Butterfly House I ran into a nice couple while exploring who invited me to have tea in the cafe with them.

Day 4: MISTAKES
Everyone makes mistakes. We forget to ask for Coke without ice in Mexico and spend the rest of the trip in the bathroom. Or we arrive at the airport for a 7pm flight only to realise the flight left at 7am. Tell us the story of your worst travel mistake.

Day 6: FEAR
Just as travel can be fun and exciting, it can also have its challenging, or even downright scary moments. Being in a new place pushes us out of our comfort zone and makes us face our fears. Tell about a time you had to face your fear when traveling, and what was the result.

For me, the answer to both of these is the same. Did I ever tell you the story about running out of petrol...

Oh Google Images, how I love you…

2011-11-05T16:14:00.001+11:00

I secretly love Google Images and it’s complete inability to give me what I want. Or, more accurately, I love how it interprets what I ask for into some weird request that only Google Images understands. Makes for fun (sometimes very, very wrong) results.

While completing this week’s comic I couldn’t think of an appropriately geeky book to include and so I starting googling: “really geeky books”. Naturally I flipped over to the images to see what it bought back and I thought I’d share some of the best ones.

Okay. If you say so. I think this one looks a little too much like a lost kitten (wearing a vest?) to be a cool werewolf, but I’ll go with it. (Source)

I have no words except to say how much I love it. I mean really! It’s a pirate pug! I feel a little sad for the dog, and a little worried about the demented owner but mostly, yeah, I think it’s awesome. (Source)

Not going to lie. I totally want this. (Source)

Completely wanted to find this shirt and buy it for Brett. The source links to a pretty good opinion post about the distribution and design of women’s nerd shirts, worth reading. (Source)

Because who doesn’t want a Flash apron, even if you are only a cardboard person. (source)

And that concludes today’s edition of “Google - you’re crazy, but awesome”. Join us again next week, boys and girls.

30 Days of Indie Travel {Day 3}

2011-11-04T09:22:00.001+11:00

Day 3: MUSIC

Music and travel memories often go hand in hand. A song can inspire our explorations, or it can take us back to a specific place and time. Tell us about your travel playlist and what it means to you.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of travel and music is driving down the freeway with Lisa, the soundtrack to Wicked blaring, and us singing at the top of our lungs. Though I had listened to the soundtrack many (many) times before the first time this even happened, this will always be the first thing I associate it with. And since this was my first real trip, the songs of Wicked are now always a must on any travel playlist.

I always compile a playlist before any trip (especially if this is a road trip), but to be honest the songs are usually the same: anything I belt out while driving is a must.

As my 'travel done' list is far shorter than my 'travel to do' list, I have way more inspiration songs than memory songs. There are two that stand out in my mind, two that always make me want to up and go.

"I Don't Wanna Wait" - Rosi Golan

"When In Rome" - Nickel Creek

30 Days of Indie Travel {Day 2}

2011-11-03T10:52:00.000+11:00

Day 2: EMBRACING CHANGE
Change can be exciting and bring new joys into our lives. But it can present challenges that frustrate or annoy us. How has travel changed you in the last year? Did you welcome these changes or resist them at the time, and how do you feel about them now?

Without a doubt, the traveling I have done in the past year has made me more independent - and far more aware of this independence. I have not undertaken any great, long-running trips, but the shorter stints I have undertaken have been mostly solo and I have loved every minute of it.

In July of this year I headed out on my Sydney-Brisbane road trip - first road trip, first real solo travel, first time in a campervan - and I could not have loved it more. While I already considered myself fairly independent and knew that I got on pretty well with just myself for company, I was still a little surprised to learn how right it felt. *lightbulb* OOOH so THIS is traveling. Got it. I learnt (very quickly!) to enjoy being the only boss, the only one who made any of the decisions about where to go, what to see, how to get there, basically anything and everything. Unfortunately I also learnt that I get pretty crabby the week I get home and learn that this is no longer the case!

The biggest way the past years' travel, and this trip in particular has changed me is the complete willingness to up and go again. When, for example, Lisa had to come up to Canberra for work, I jumped in the car and drove down for a weekend stay just for the fun of it - which is something I never would have down even a year ago.

So has travel in the past year changed me? I think yes. Have I resisted it? No, in fact I rather enjoyed it!

{101/1001} …aka a huge honkin’ to-do list

2011-11-02T23:31:00.001+11:00

*falls to ground*

I can’t help myself! You know I can’t! Give me the chance to make a huge list and a pretty platform to do it on and I’ll cave every time. Every. Time.

I was reading some responses to the first day of the BootsnAll meme and, while reading Roots and Wings I rediscovered the 101 in 1001 Days Project (aka Day Zero Project) and well, yeah, you know what I’m like; I spent the rest of the evening compiling my list.

In the process of doing this I may have… *accidentally* mentioned the project to Brett. And would you know it? He signed up!

#67 Influence a friend to make a Day Zero list - CHECK!

30 Days of Indie Travel {Day 1}

2011-11-02T09:21:00.001+11:00

I’ve been doing a lot of reading and planning for my trip lately, and one of the best things I’ve stumbled over is the BootsnAll newsletter that I signed up for. Every day I get an email about a destination, or theme, or random travel trip. I never know what’s going to arrive in my inbox and I usually read it before I even get out of bed in the morning - best way to start the day, even if I do then have to go to work instead of whatever beautiful location has just been described.

This month, BootsnAll is playing host to a 30 day challenge. I usually fail miserably at these things, but hey, why not, I’ll give it a shot.

Day 1: GOALS
What were your travel goals last year? Did you accomplish them? What travel goals do you hope to accomplish this year?

It’s close enough to the end of the year that I’m going to consider 2011 as ‘last year’. I can’t say that I had any clear travel ‘goals’ for 2011 beyond starting serious planning on my backpacking trip (2013 is getting very close, very soon).

While I don’t have any concrete plans to show for my year, I did a lot of reading this past year so I guess I can say that I did accomplish my goal for 2011. Plus I managed to slip in a little travel throughout the year (Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne) so it sounds good to me.

Travel goals for 2012? Save save save save for the trip. Did I mention save? Seriously though, I do have a few other goals, but they all come back to my trip. I want to learn how to drive a manual car. I want to figure out how RTW tickets and rail passes really work. I want to pick a backpack that isn't going to kill me. Yes, I'm a big travel newbie.

It's beginning to look a lot like... NANOWRIMO?

2011-11-01T23:38:00.000+11:00

November kind of snuck up on me. Here I was, happily taunting Brett about it being Christmas time already (he stubbornly refuses to believe that it's Christmas until after his birthday) when BAM! It's NaNoWriMo time again.

Luckily I had already decided to sign up again this year, so there're was no frantic decision making made on the first day, but still, there was a part of me that, on the 31st, was still was still going "Noooo, it's October, I've got PLENTY of time."

Because of this I spent much of the day finishing up all the things I meant to do BEFORE November: prepared and send out the latest batch of badge orders, finished *ahem* last weeks comic, and found a laminator for $20 (surely that deserves a cheer, yes?). Did I write? Yes. Did I meet my goal for the day? Not even in the slightest. But not to worry, I'll catch up tomorrow (she says with naive assurance).

So! If you're Nano-ing, let me know! Feel free to buddy me (username: rebeccavoy). If you're not, but still want to watch me flounder (man, you're mean), I'll be posting my stats here.

Christmas Knitting

2011-10-26T13:54:00.001+11:00

As of today there are 60 days until Christmas.

Okay, who had a little bit of a heart attack? Surely not just me?

Thankfully, my Christmas knitting list is fairly short. I don’t knit/make a lot of gifts as I don’t have a great deal of crafty friends and making for non crafties is always a bit hit-and-miss. Having said that, there are a few extra things that have snuck onto the list for 2011 and I’m going to have to knit with a superhuman speed to get it all done… and I think we’re all aware that I don’t have that degree of speed.

Let’s just call it a challenge, shall we?

Since I am therefore supposed to be knitting, I shall bid you a quick adieu and leave you with this glimpse of the wool I received in the post this morning and will be starting work with this afternoon. I would tell you what for but I know that one of the recipients is likely to see this post sooner or later and I wouldn’t want to spoil (yes Lisa, I do mean you, try to guess which colour is yours).

Wool: Madeline Tosh DK Yarn
Store: Eat. Sleep. Knit.

Colourway: Vermillion

Colourway: Magnolia Leaf

Colourway: Golden Hickory

Jet Setter

2011-10-21T01:22:00.001+11:00

I will confess to feeling a little impressed with myself, sitting here at an airport terminal, writing up a blog post. How fancy am I?

...please let me have my little delusion, don't ruin it.

I actually have quite a fondness for the airport (in my oh-so-vast experience /sarcasm) and do love being here. It's filled with so many types of people which, as I'm sitting here waiting for my plane, I've narrowed down to a short list.

The Businessman: Now before you yell at me, I'm sure there are plenty of businesswomen here to, but they appear to be a little better at hiding their business-person status. They're easily spotted by their suits, sleek carry-on luggage and the way they peel away from each other as they approach their gate with a smooth 'see you next week'.

The Holiday-Goer: This type of traveler comes in two varieties. The first, the outgoing, can be identified by their big grins and lots of leg shown off in denim cut-offs, just waiting for the beach. The second, the incoming, can be picked by their extra bag (or two) of luggage, usually brightly plastered with things like "Live the Life of Byron!'. The exhausted expressions help here also.

The Air-Proffessional: Pilots in their jaunty caps and flight attendants in their neat jackets and brightly colored scarfs striding down the corridors with an air of superiority and secret knowledge. Also, they cut the queues. Mean.

The Traveler: Not to be confused with The Holiday-Goer, The Traveler is a different breed entirely. This person has an air of tiredness that they've come to know and love, and they're probably more than a little grungy. Tall backpacks that have moulded to their back and beanies that cover months of airplane hair is the norm here.

The Mother: Heading in or coming out from a misbegotten family holiday or necessary trip, the mother is usually leading one or more child in varying degrees of crankiness. This type is dangerous and not to be approached unless you are kind enough to help.

The Starbuck Writer Missing Their Cafe: Think about it, you know exactly who I mean, that person sitting at a table with a cup of coffee, and a laptop or two, stopping their typing only to check their iPhone or to shoot off a tweet or something...

...or who knows, maybe they're writing a weird post about the people about them?

City Credit

2011-08-13T16:45:00.001+10:00

Over the last year or so I've found myself in situations (either by accident or design) which have found me testing my own knowledge and abilities. I have learnt that while I am remarkably unexperienced and have little inherent ability at much at all, I am fairly good at scrambling my way into a solution when situations go awry. Which, all in all, I'm rather happy about.

I say this as a prelude to this week's unfortunate realisation: I am not city savvy. Not even in the tiniest of bits. I know how to get on a train to my favourite bookstore or the library (naturally), I know how to find my way to the good gelato (Circular Quay!), and I know how to jump on a ferry to the zoo... but beyond that? Zilch.

As part of my enrolment this semester I had to attend a week-long study visit, touring several of the inner city libraries. Please note that while I said 'HAD to', I would have quite literally begged for the same opportunity. I mean really? A behind the scenes look at some of Sydney's libraries - yes please! But for me this also came with a crash course in the geography of the city and it's rail system. Armed with little more than google maps, a temperamental iPhone and a desperate amount of false confidence I was set loose. Realistically I thought my biggest challenge would be getting me to LEAVE the libraries - I didn't take into account the bigger challenge of finding them in the first place.

Fortunately for me, we students were pretty well nerded up with CSU name badges and so whenever I got too off track I simply looked for the other circling red and white name badges and we got lost together.

Despite my complete lack of knowledge of the city (did you know you had to pay to use public bathrooms?!) I managed to locate all the library locations - and on time, even! Feel free to run away now, as I am about to show the libraries I visited... mainly just for Lisa who sent me a charmingly adorable shout of "LIBRARIES!!!" when she learned where I was all week.

-----

Note: I didn't take my camera with me this week because I know what I'm like and didn't want to give myself another excuse to turn up late. What few photos I did take were simple iPhone shots. Photos of the libraries themselves were not taken by me and link through to their owners.

Ultimo College Library

St. Andrew's Cathedral School Library

(Couldn’t find an image of the inside of the library - not surprising considering it’s a school library. It was pretty nifty though.)

Ultimo Public Library (branch of the Sydney City Library)

Caroline Simpson Library - Historic Houses Trust

State Library of New South Wales

A Night at the Mitchell Library from State Library of New South Wales on Vimeo.

The University of Sydney Archives

University of Technology Library

Day 10: The New England Highway Hates me

2011-07-11T14:25:00.000+10:00

Location: Sydney, New South Wales

Despite the sarcasm of yesterday's blog entry it was fairly accurate. I contemplated kidnapping Courtney (somehow I think she’d be entertaining on a road trip) and then drove from Brisbane, stopping only for breaks until I reached Glenn Innes where I stayed overnight. I had intended to stop at Armidale, but I had left Brisbane later than intended and didn’t want to drive in the dark.

Today was much the same, but with one crucial difference: I had no choice but to be back in Kingsgrove before five o’clock. There would be no 'eh, that’s enough’ about today’s driving schedule. I knew I had to be up and on the road by seven at the latest and that baring a few SRS stops, that I would be driving right through. For eight hours. *sigh*

My start was made all the harder by it being UNBELIEVABLY COLD. I was being completely honest when I said that I was perfectly comfortable the whole time I stayed in the van, but it was like the universe heard me and, knowing it was the last day, decided to hit me with all it had. There was nothing I wanted to do less than get out from under the covers and get dressed. In fact, I seriously considered driving home in my flannel pjs.

Last night when I pulled in to the caravan park I knew I was getting pretty low on petrol. I wasn’t too worried however – I mean I was on a main highway, it wasn’t exactly the middle of nowhere, I’d just fill up when I got going. You know when people say things like that in movies and the audience laughs and rolls their eyes? Well that was your cue to start "oh Becca’-ing me.

I pulled into the first petrol station and it was closed. Closed down, rather. Oh well, not to worry, I’ll just grab the next one. Closed. Huh. The next one - which, might I add, was a fair way down the road? Out of fuel. I’m sorry, you’re a petrol station, how can you be out of fuel? I mean... HOW? Alright, so I’m down to empty now and I’m starting to panic. I’ve never had my fuel guage on empty ever. I’m that annoying freak who turns up half an hour early to everything because they’re terrified they’re going to be late, and you’ve got me driving around in the middle of nowhere with no fuel and the world’s most pathetic petrol stations. Needless to say I was starting to get a little edgy.

Then, salvation. Just as the fuel light pops on (did you know there was a fuel light? I didn’t) I sign pops up: Petrol – 2km. I give Fish an encouraging pat. “You can do it! Only two kilometres!"

It. Was. Closed.

I may have cried a little. The situation is getting dire now, so I pop out of the car – surely the manager is inside and he just hasn’t opened yet. OH MY GOODNESS! Did I mention it was cold? I couldn’t feel my feet, I couldn’t feel my fingers. My face was tingling so much it actually hurt. I started pounding on the door as visions of the petrol guy arriving only to find a Becca shaped icicle on his doorstep fill my head. I thought I was going to freeze to death.

I run back to hide in Fish – what do I do? Do I sit here and wait, hoping someone turns up, using up precious driving time that I don’t have to waste today? Or do I head out, hoping I find another (open, stocked) petrol station before I run out and have to call the NRMA? Because we all know how that conversation would go.

“Hello? I’m out of petrol, can you please help me.”

“Certainly miss, where are you?”

“Oh ... somewhere between Glenn Innes and Armidale. There’s – there’s a cow. And a kind of squiggly tree.”

“Riight... and your name?”

“Rebecca.”

*looks up details*

“Oh yes, we know you, tell me, do you still have your keys on you?”

*headdesk*

Needless to say it wasn’t a conversation I was looking forward too. Knowing that the only person awake at that ungodly hour would be Lisa, I rang her for advice. Luckily for me (the field day she would have had with that one) she didn’t answer and I was left to venture forth on my own.

Inching forward I starting imagining that the car was driving funny – is that because it’s running only on fumes?? I dreaded each hill because I was sure I would get to the top and the engine would stop, leaving me to roll back down to my doom. You want me to drive near a cliff? ARE YOU INSANE?? Can’t you see that the fuel light is flashing?!

I have never seen anything more beautiful than the BP I finally came to. That beautiful green, shiny, open, fuel soaked BP. I ran inside to pay the man, ready to sing him songs of gratitude. But unfortunately for me, he wasn’t too impressed to hear about why he was my favourite Petrol Man ever*.

And that was basically the scary highlight of my trip home. That and standing at the sign on the state border and going, “Queensland, New South Wales, Queensland, New South Wales, Queensland...” Yeah. To all the people I rang and sang that too while I did the little dance, I’m sorry. Sorta.

I made it home safe and sound (though the twenty minutes I spent circling around in Canterbury were less than pleasant – did I mention I hate city driving) despite all predictions to the contrary. I saw many places I’d never been before, and revisited some I already knew I loved (Byron Bay anyone? I’m just saying). And best of all, I had a wonderful time. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Thank you to everyone who read along with my blog, making comments. Thanks to everyone who rang every few days to make sure I was okay. Thanks to everyone who rang every few HOURS to make sure I was okay – really, I’m fine!

*You think I’m joking, I really did tell him this and explain why – he didn’t care. I was sad.

Kilometres travelled: 576 (2, 395)
Bridges crossed: 51 (235)
Number of times hitting head on campervan: 1 (12)
Number of road workers whom returned my wave: 2 (14)
Number of times James completely freaked out because he thought we were bush bashing: 2 (6)

Day 9: On the Road Again…

2011-07-10T14:21:00.000+10:00

Location: Glenn Innes

Dear Blog,

Today I drove.

A lot.

Love, me.

Kilometres travelled: 478 (1, 819)
Bridges crossed: 35 (184)
Number of times hitting head on campervan: 0 (11)
Number of road workers whom returned my wave: 0 (12)
Number of times James completely freaked out because he thought we were bush bashing: 0 (4)

Day 8: Visiting Brisbane

2011-07-09T14:19:00.000+10:00

Location: Brisbane, Queensland

I momentarily felt bad about kicking Courtney out of her bed (though brief it was a genuine feeling bad, I was prepared to stay in the van), but then I realised I was in a real bed and the guilt disappeared. Besides, it was Courtney's warmgloo (a warm igloo for the non twitter people) so it was pretty cool.

Most important thing I learnt about Courtney this morning – when she gets up she looks like a Sesame Street gangster, with her Elmo pjs sticking out from UNDER her tracksuit. Well... there were other things, I could tell you about how cute she is but she doesn’t like that and then threatens to hit me *ducks*. Courtney’s older sister is getting married soon and so she and the family went off on some family errands while I headed into the city. Though looking back now, knowing that Courtney had to try on HIGH HEELS to go with her DRESS, I clearly made the wrong decision. (Yes I’m openly taunting you now Courtney).

She walked me to the station (still as the Elmo gangster – score!) and I jumped on a train to go into the city. I wanted to visit the museum while I was in town – mainly because I’m a nerd and thought it would be fun, but also because I’ve never actually been to a museum and, as a nerd, isn’t that a little bit sad?

I did enjoy the museum quite a bit, with the highlight being a huge dinosaur skeleton – a Muttaburrasaurus, if you’re interested. I also enjoyed and was freaked out (in equal measure) by the large number of mounted animals on display. While the OCD part of my brain really liked how they were all aligned in order of their height, their glassy eyes were starting to get to me. I felt like I was being hypnotised by an army of zombie animals...

After the museum I explored the state library for a little while (yes, I did say a LITTLE while) and considered visiting the state gallery also, but by then it was well into the afternoon and, since I’m not overly familiar with the Sydney rail system let alone that in an entirely different state, I decided I’d better head off back to the station. I did stumble across a huge chalkboard on the side of a building on my way back however, to which of course I added.

And that’s sort of where my trouble started. You see, I asked the kind man at the gate which train I needed to be on to get back to Courtney’s place – I had a fair idea, but wanted to be sure. He directed me to the platform and told me the next train on that line would come in twenty-two minutes. Okay, no problem. Except there also came a train at twenty-minutes, and would you know it, that’s the one I got on. Luckily for me I managed to realise by the time it made it’s first stop and so fixed the problem pretty quickly. And if I hadn’t gotten on the wrong one I never would have seen the cattle train which was pretty cool.

Before I had left Courtney’s house, her sister had been kind enough to lend me her keys so that I could let myself back in if I bet them home. No problem. I sat there and read my book and was perfectly well behaved. Until mum rang.

"What you doing?" she asked.

“Oh nothing much, just sitting here all alone in Courtney’s house... it’s kind of weird actually.

“Oh really,” she said. “You should mess with her room.”

“But... okay, like what?”

“I don’t know, something mean. Oh! Steal her Amanda picture.”

See Courtney. I told you it was all mum’s idea!

I didn’t exactly steal her Amanda photo... but I did take it off the wall and hide it. Up high. Really really high so she couldn’t see and had to get her sister’s boyfriend to eventually retrieve.

Courtney is now yelling at me.

I regret nothing.

Kilometres travelled: none in Fish (1, 341)
Bridges crossed: 1 by train (149)
Number of times hitting head on campervan: 0 (11)
Number of road workers whom returned my wave: 0 (12)
Number of times James completely freaked out because he thought we were bush bashing: 0 (4)

Day 7: We Met - and the World is still intact!

2011-07-08T14:14:00.000+10:00

Location: Brisbane, Queensland, New South Wales

So this is what happened: I met Courtney and blogging fell to the wayside. Can you blame me? Who can stop and take the time to write about your day when there's a tiny ninja sitting next to you? (And, might I mention, she really is very tiny!).

I did (obviously) manage to tear myself away from Byron Bay and headed in to Brisbane... my goodness how I hate city driving. I missed so many turn offs that James was not-so-quietly fuming over my head. "I SAID GO RIGHT!!!"

Before I tell you about my meeting of the infamous Courtney, however, a bit of back story. I met Courtney online about a year ago now – and for those of you not fortunate enough to know her, she’s adorably insane. When I told her about my road trip I very excitedly informed her that I was going to do all the things one sees in road moving, including stopping at a roadside vendor to buy strawberries. A perfectly innocent statement which, to be perfectly honest, I didn’t really have any intentions of doing in the first place – but oh man the reaction I got.

“You can’t do that!” She yelled. “Strawberry vendors are axe murders!”

And so it went for several weeks. Needless to say there was much taunting about my stopping at vendors the whole way up, and I woke every morning to another txt’d reason as to why I couldn’t buy strawberries* that day. Anyways! I tell you all this so as to explain why, before I headed to her place, I simply had to make a stop in at the nearest grocers to purchase a punnet of strawberries.

So, strawberries in hand, I parked the van and made my way up to her house. In through the front gate – no Courtney waiting for me. I’ll confess, I was a little disappointed. Started walking down the drive – no Courtney waiting at the door. I may have pouted a little.

Then the nerf pellets hit the side of my head.

Courtney, charming person that she is – aided and abetted by Lisa on the phone – had hidden behind her mother’s car and was ambushing me with her nerf gun as I approached. I should have known better. I should have expected it. But she shocked me all the same.

Needless to say that pretty much set the tone for the entirety of my stay with Courtney. I’d tell you all we got up to, but quite frankly everyone reading this blog falls into one of two categories: those who know exactly what we were up to because they were egging us on via twitter, or those who don’t need to know just how insane I am. I will say, however, that the evening consisted mainly of nerf pellets, fake pirate moustaches, and me hacking into her twitter account (fun). I’m pretty sure the photos speak for themselves.

Oh, and Lisa? We had much fun sticking that nerf pellet to your skype face before you realised we were up to something. Mwuahahahaha.

Kilometres travelled: 89 (1, 341)
Bridges crossed: 26 (148)
Number of times hitting head on campervan: 2 (11)
Number of road workers whom returned my wave: 3 (12)
Number of times James completely freaked out because he thought we were bush bashing: 1 (4)

Day 6: Hippie Heaven

2011-07-07T14:06:00.000+10:00

Location: Byron Bay, New South Wales

Allow me a bit of introspection, if you'd be so kind... actually forget kindness, what are you going to do, say no? Just skip below if you must. So yes. I like to think of myself as a pretty odd kind of person (and not just think, I’ve been told as much): I love science fiction and ideas of the future, but am just as fascinated with the past. I love the immediacy and bustle of the city – and yet would choose to live high in the mountains above all else. I’m obsessed with my gadgets and techy toys... and still am such a hippy at heart. I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m pretty weird. And it all depends on what I’m exposed to as to which side of my personality comes to the forefront.

Yeah. I spent the day in Byron Bay. There’s a good chance I’m not coming home. I’m going to buy that Kombi van I always wanted, twist my hair into dreadlocks and weigh my wrists down with hemp bracelets. I’m going to learn to surf (yeah okay maybe not that one!) and live here happily ever after in Hippyville.

Did I mention that I love love love Byron Bay? People stop in the middle of the street to talk to you. There are dreadlocked guys here with hair longer than mine. There are juice stores on every street. The whole place smells like beach and every store sells bracelets. I saw ten Kombis!* I mean really, is there a better place on earth?

*sigh*

Fine. I’ll calm down now. But that was pretty much an accurate portrayal of my mood for most of the day.

My day started when I realised I’d slept in. Not drastically, mind, just enough to put me a good forty minutes behind schedule. But I was up and gone pretty soon and started in on my longest driving day so far (not that it was that long, but still). I pulled over at the Big Prawn, which is now closed down – can someone please explain the thing about "big" landmarks? – and then later at Ferry Park for a Stop Revive Survive (no excuse with the amount of SRS signage along the freeway).

Much closer to Byron Bay I pulled over at the Lennox Head Lookout. Driving up to it I say the headlead from the freeway and I thought to myself, 'Self, if the road starts swerving thatta way, I’ll follow it, I bet the view is amazing up there.’ Sometimes I hate it when I think stupid things like that. I parked the van and the view was lovely... but it wasn’t the headland, to that I had to walk up the hill. By the time I realised that the near vertical slope was NOT going to level out I’d already gone too far to chicken out and go back. I don’t know why I do this to myself, I mean I’m travelling alone! No one would know! ...but then I’d have to come back and blog about how I caved and went back to the van before I got to the top. I finally did make it, and you know what? The view was better from the bottom. Really.

Once in Byron Bay I got a big cheesy grin that lasted all day. I started my Kombi count and got increasingly hyper with each one. I parked the van at the first available spot (there weren’t a lot) and started exploring the shops – the first and only shopping I’ve done the whole trip... well... except for the Candy Kitchen at the Big Banana. I could spend hours shopping at Byron Bay, I mean the very first store I went into sold scarves, postcards, rainbow shiny things, wind chimes, handspun wool, jewellery and notebooks. I’m surprised I left.

It was lunch time by then so I stopped and had sushi on the main drag – which seemed appropriate. After my wanderings I stopped by the beach, which was far windier than any of the other beaches I’d been to this week, and listened to Random Hippie Dude #4 play a guitar. From there I headed up to the lighthouse, at the most easterly point of Australia, and stood waving at New Zealand. I just stood there waving hoping Amanda or CJ would wave back but, alas, I waited in vain.

And now I’m back in my cosy little van again, in a caravan park with, oddly enough, a couple of small turkeys running around. I don’t know why but I’m going with it.

*okay, I was kind of disappointed about this, I expected more.

Kilometres travelled: 302 (1, 252)
Bridges crossed: 20 (122)
Number of times hitting head on campervan: 2 (9)
Number of road workers whom returned my wave: 6 (9)
Number of times James completely freaked out because he thought we were bush bashing: 1 (3)

day 5: Beaches, Waves, and Tempermental GPS’, Oh My!

2011-07-06T13:58:00.000+10:00

Location: Ulmarra, New South Wales

Okay, so apparently if I don't blog in a timely manner, you all think I’m dead. What’s more, you ring/text/facebook/email/tweet me to tell me as much. Good to know I’m loved in a weird way. So on that note, I apologise for not blogging, I was tired and pretty much went straight to bed when I got back. Am I forgiven now?

I had decided to stay on two days in Coffs Harbour because, as I had said, there were a few things I wanted to see and do. Turns out I didn’t do any of them and could have moved on, but not to worry. I had planned to go to the Porpoise Pool and see the dolphins and the marine show (okay okay, I really just wanted to see more penguins), but decided that, even with a student concession, it was a bit pricey. Instead I spent the morning at Park Beach.

I was just roaming around and found they had a walking track leading off the sand and over the hill. It appeared to be getting a bit of attention from the other beachgoers, so I figured I’d go see what was up there. It was pretty steep but well worth the climb once I got up there. I did a bit of quick googling and saw that the path continued on the meet up with the beach I went to yesterday. I didn’t go all along the path, partly because I’m lazy (okay this was a lot of it), but also because I loved the view from the cliff/inlet(?) half way along.

I found a great spot looking out over a huge rock and probably sat there for an hour or so watching the waves crash over it. Every once and a while there’d be a really big wave and the water would spray up high, the mist reaching all the way back where I was. I must admit, I was getting a little crazy hyper watching the waves, trying to guess just how big the wave would break. I talked to some people from this point so they can vouch for my level of craziness and excitement over the waves (it was really cool!).

After finally tearing myself away from the waves, I headed off to investigate a cafe and craft store in Ulmara. I was all up for the side track – James, however, was not. For starters he sent me down the longest road in the middle of nowhere. I’m not kidding, I think I was on it for about forty minutes. Paddock, paddock, paddock, farm house, cow, paddock, paddock, OH MY GOODNESS! LOOK AT THE CUTE LITTLE LAMB!!!!! paddock, paddock... I had no choice but to follow it along as it was pretty narrow and had no streets to turn off on. I just had to hope it would get me where I wanted be be, albeit via the longest route possible. Best of all, when I DID finally turn off the street, landing me exactly in the middle of town, it was right back onto the Pacific Highway that I turned. What are you doing to me, James? I think he’s getting his revenge on me dropping him yesterday.

So! As I said, finally in Ulmara, a good hour and half away from Coffs... and the store is closed! I had a bit of a laugh to myself – of course it would be closed. Not to worry, I puttered around the town anyways and had lunch at the pub before heading back – where again James decided to throw a tantrum and lead me to a tip. This however was a bit of fault on both sides: he took me an alternate way and I chose to ignore him. Once I figured out what he was trying to get me to do, it all became clear.

Once I got back to Coffs Harbour I was pretty much exhausted so I cheated and bought Maccas for dinner. I wasn't awake for much longer after that!

Kilometres travelled: 231 (951)
Bridges crossed: 26 (102)
Number of times hitting head on campervan: 1 (7)
Number of road workers whom returned my wave: 0 (3)
Number of times James completely freaked out because he thought we were bush bashing: 0 (2)

Day 4: Coffs Harbour

2011-07-05T13:52:00.000+10:00

Location: Coffs Harbour

I feel like I'm actually starting to get into a bit of a routine now. I timed myself this morning (cause you know, I’m a nerd) and it took me seven minutes to get up, get dressed and rearrange the van from sleeping mode to driving mode. Even better, when I set up camp this evening I did it equally as fast – park, plug in, arrange curtains and arrange dinner. I was even able to set up my lighting system to read outside while I was waiting for dinner to be cooked. Okay, so they’re all basic things anyone could do, but still, I’m loving it. I do so love this cosy little van!

So! With my new speedy routine I was on the road by seven – of course, this was greatly aided by a lack of early morning fauna (they must have read the blog). I had decided to stay two nights in Coffs Harbour as there were a couple places that I wanted to see while I was here. First up: the Butterfly House.

It’s kind of hard to describe how excited I was about going to the Butterfly House. Do you remember the scene (I’m pretending you’re all dorky and have seen this movie) in The Librarian when Flynn throws the rock at the tree and all the butterflies fly around Nicole and it’s beautiful? Well that’s the image I had in my head. Realistically I knew that was never going to happen, and I gave myself a firm talking to the whole way there.

'You don’t live in a movie,’ I told myself.

‘But I want to!’ Brain me replied.

‘Well tough!’ I said. ‘Just be happy if you see any butterflies at all!’

Brain me sulked for quite some time while other, soul-crushing me continued on her merry way, singing to showtunes and counting bridges.

When I got there I bought my ticket ($14 for students, which I thought a little expensive actually) and listened carefully to the ladies spiel – I didn’t want to get in trouble at the butterfly house! Be careful where you step, they sometimes rest on the ground; don’t go into the gardens; if one lands on you, don’t touch it’s wings; it’s hot in there so come in and out as you need – just be careful!

After nodding attentively I walked (okay I may have skipped a little) over to the entrance. To get into the butterfly house you had to enter a kind of antechamber with three doors. It was obviously just to keep all the butterflies in their housing area, but I felt very excited about the whole thing. I kept waiting to hear the hiss of the doors being hermetically sealed and for guys in bright red hazmat suits to start running around all over the place.

Stepping inside I walked up to a little information station (sadly the only one) where a staff member explained the breeding and metamorphosis process. She explained how only moths entered cacoons, whereas the butterfly, or more accurately the caterpillar, sheds it’s skin and forms a pupa or chrysalis* wherein their body liquefies and their cells realign to form a butterfly. See edumacational!

I was hovering back a little, listening to this lady explain the process and show us the pupa in their incubation chambers when she asked if I was with the older couple standing in front of me. I tried to explain that I wasn’t, but by this stage the lady was already smiling at me and the gentleman was suddenly at my side pulling me forward to join them. There was a brief moment of, ‘um, who are you? Why are you touching me? STRANGER DANGER!!!" but by then he had gone back to listening to the talk on butterfly babies and so I figured the threat was over.

Well... there wasn’t so much a threat, but they had apparently decided that I was one of them for good. The man was taking photos of the butterflies and when he saw me doing the same he kept calling me over to ‘see this here pretty one’ or the one that ‘looked like it would hold still for a good while’. Everywhere I turned there they were. Now Mum, Wendy, Lisa – anyone who’s about to start screaming stranger danger right on back to me – they were harmless enough, just a little too friendly. I heard all about their grandson – he’s fifteen and playing football for three days at Coffs Harbour so they drove him down – and was invited to join them for tea and scones. Actually that’s not entirely true: I tried to sneak out ahead of them but they were too wiley for me. The man was going past me to have a smoke outside when he pointed out the table they were sitting at and told me to ‘go on and order’. I hope they weren’t offended when I declined.

Fellow visitors aside, the butterfly house was lovely (though not quite up to my imagination) and I spent most of my time taking photos and trying to chase the seemingly lone Ulysses butterfly, which are my favourite. I also had one butterfly land on me very early on (the staff said they were attracted to colour and I was wearing a very bright red jacket) and refused to move the whole time. At one point I shook him off and he just came right on back. I don’t know what was on my wrist, but apparently it tastes good to butterflies.

After the butterfly house, Courtney and I tackled the maze they have on the property – I walked, she directed over the phone.

From there I visited the Big Banana, which was a little disappointing. I wanted to learn about bananas, or banana farming, or SOMETHING bananaery, but all I learnt was that kids like toboggan rides and that they can justify selling anything so long as they stamp a banana on it. I did venture up to the lookout however. While there I tried to count the streets to get to the beach, which of course I promptly forgot and so just drive in the general direction till I hit sand.

Park Beach was nice and beachy – though I was surprised by the huge amount of stones the waves bought in. Deciding to do a small ripples photo (what is it about beaches Lisa? I don’t know) I gathered a HUGE amount of pebbles... which promptly ran out about three letters in. Sigh. By the time I had formed all the letters I had amassed something of an audience.

Anyways that was my day today. Looking forward to a relative sleep in tomorrow as I don’t have to be up and driving early.

*Yes Lauren, I thought it.

Kilometres travelled: 196 (720)
Bridges crossed: 41 (76)
Number of times hitting head on campervan: 0 (6)
Number of road workers whom returned my wave: 0 (3)
Number of times James completely freaked out because he thought we were bush bashing: 2 (2)

Day 3: Holiday Crashing

2011-07-04T22:49:00.001+10:00

Location: Port Macquarie

It is quickly becoming a pattern of my road trip that I start my day in the presence of some kind of wildlife very close to my van. I would be concerned, but so far they’ve all been rather benign and far more concerned about acquiring their own breakfast than in me – I am, however, rather worried about what I will find when I get to Courtney’s place. She is rather wild, after all. This morning it was the Kookaburra’s from last night all sitting about to wish me a good morning.

Between stalking the kookaburras and getting the van back in order I left a little later than I would have liked but oh well. I hit the road and headed Port Macquarie way with the intentions of calling in on Renae and co. as they too where holidaying in the area.

After a quick tour of their hotel and rooms, I in turn gave a tour of my accommodation. Basically I just pointed at the van. The kids and I piled into the back, and I think for a while there Kaitlyn had the idea of moving in to her very own van-shaped cubby house. Finally convincing her that sitting on the mattress in the back while I drove was not a great idea, she and I followed Renae, Grant and Jordan to Tacking Point Lighthouse. And might I add, four year olds are the best at playing ‘I Spy’..., though after a while it was kind of hard to keep coming up with different answers for “I spy something beginning with the colour of white” as we drove along behind her parent’s white car.

At the lighthouse (always love a lighthouse!) Jordan tried to start up a who-can-through-a-pebble the furthest contest, of which he proudly declared himself the winner. The highlight, however, was looking out over the sea and spotting a pod of seven or so dolphins (again, the animals are really out in play for me this trip).

From there we headed out to Flynn Beach for fish and chips and some fun on the beach. Kaitlyn and I built a rather spiffy sandcastle, if I do say so myself. I was all prepared to come up with a story about some beautiful princess who lived there, but Kaitlyn, with all her usual forthrightness declared that it belonged to the wicked witch because she liked her best.

With Jordan in his shoes and Kaitlyn with her jeans barely rolled up, we all promised faithfully not to get our clothes wet. And I think we all know just how faithfully this promise was kept as we walked directly over to the rock pools. Still it was worth it to see the urchins and the sea snails – and at one point, a nice couple gave Jordan a ghost crab they had found a little further up the shore. The poor crab was carried all the way back to our seat to show Grant (waylaid with a sprained ankle) and was, unfortunately dropped many times. I think Jordan liked being the possessor of the crab, but didn’t particularly enjoy the feel of its scurrying claws. Kaitlyn declared it too ticklish to carry. It did eventually find its way back to the beach, a little battered but no worse off in the long run.

It was here we parted ways, with the Paynes going back to their hotel and me off to find my caravan park. Edgewater Holiday Park is a lot more crowded that where I stayed last night, with my actually having several close neighbours all around. I’ve noticed that most caravan park holidays fall largely into two categories: families with young kids (they’re the ones riding around and around... and around... on their bicycles) and older retired couples making their way around Australia. Luckily for me I was assigned a space right in the middle of retirement country. As usual, my fascination to sixty year olds continued (I don’t know what it is, I think they all sense I’m a bit of a grandma at heart) and they all wandered over at one point or another to say hi and see how I was. The kindly couple directly next door told me all about their trip and how they were faring. They even asked me to join them for dinner, but since I promised my mother I’d behave myself and not take food from strangers, even little old lady strangers, I politely declined.

And that’s the end of another day for me, as I sit here tucked all cosy in my little Fish.

Kilometres travelled: 353 (524)
Bridges crossed: 21 (35)
Number of times hitting head on campervan: 1 (6)
Number of road workers whom returned my wave: 3 (3)

ETA: I forgot to mention the bunnies! I was exploring the caravan park and found bunnies! What’s with all the animals out and about?

Day 2: Puttering Around Port Stephens

2011-07-03T20:17:00.000+10:00

Location: Port Stephens, New South Wales

One of the things I love best about camping is waking up in the morning with the light filtering through the fabric of the tent. It’s such a lovely diffused light and goes a long way in making up for the fact that you can no longer feel your feet from the cold. Now I didn’t expect the same kind of light to come through my curtains this morning, but I was waiting for something similar to convince me to leave my warm blanket.

When I finally did decide that the sun was just not going to appear (and it was seven o’clock by this point), I got up, had what I can already see is going to be my morning struggle with the door*, and was completely floored by what I saw. Instead of the warm morning light, the entire camp grounds, right in the middle of Glenwood Valley, was filled with a thick mist. And walking in that mist, were several beautiful horses. I guess the paddocks connect up or something, but either way it was absolutely amazing watching these shadows move closer and form into horses.

I grabbed my camera pretty quickly but there was no need as that mist wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The horses didn’t seem to keen on playing with me, being much more focused on their breakfast, but they were happy to have their photo taken and one horse (there’s always one) was curious and stuck their nose right into my camera for a sniff and scratch on the head. (See how I’m back to loving the horses now that I’m safely on the ground?)

It had been my intention to get an early start today to take advantage of the morning sunlight to take some photos on the property – which was such a scenic place, but the mist apparently had other ideas. The entire valley was filled with it, and I do mean the entire valley as I had to drive up and through it to get back on the freeway. Made for quite the daunting drive weaving around the mountain but slow and steady wins the race – even if they’re a little damper for their efforts.

You wouldn’t know it, but these photos were taken from the lookout at Glenwood Valley. I really regret not stopping on my way in because you could see just how deep the valley went. It was as though you would never get to the bottom and now it’s entirely filled with mist.

The drive from Glenworth Valley to One Mile Beach, Port Stephens was rather uneventful, and apart from a quick stop in at McDonald’s to upload some photos and yesterday’s post I drove right through. There may have been much loud singing going on but since there was no one to complain I figured I was rather safe. Not the best road trip singing I’ve experienced (for that I need Lisa) but fun all the same. I also took to counting out all the bridges I crossed, getting louder and louder each time. By the time I crossed my eighth bridge of the day I swear the next car over looked a little concerned. I’ve decided that if anyone wants to do a study on the psychological effects of solo travel, then I’d make an excellent case study – two days and I’m already a little nutty... though I imagine it’s more likely that it’s just my natural tendencies towards insanity going ungoverned.

I’d booked in at Middle Rock Hotel Park for the night and thought it best to figure out where that was before I went a-wandering. Thankfully for me it was easy to find and in the middle of it’s low season, so the attendant was quite helpful in showing me the park and making suggestions as to where I should go. She also made a point of clarifying some of the confusing one-way streets that I would apparently encounter. One in particular was known to trip people up and was said to be quite complex. I took no small delight in hearing that it was called Magnus Street, though I do believe I managed to cover it nicely.

One of the places she recommended I stop in at on my way towards Nelson’s Bay was the look out on Gan Gan Hill, which was in fact only a few minutes away. I am so glad that she took the time to mention it because it was well worth the short detour. From this point you could see out across the entirely of Port Stephens. It was also quiet popular (I guess that attendant told everyone!) as in the twenty minutes or so I was there I saw another five groups come and go.

From there I headed down to the marina at Nelson’s Bay thinking I’d get some chips for lunch and sit on the beach. The marina was quite a bit fancier than I had anticipated but I managed to find a fish and chips shop within my budget and it was the nicest fish I think I’ve ever had. It was attached to a fishing company however, so it’s freshness no doubt played a large part. The marina was rather busy owing to the ‘Sculptures on the Shore’ exhibit they had on, but I just grabbed a few postcards and headed down along the wharf to enjoy the sun.

Half way through writing my first postcard (wait for it Lisa, you’ll see!) I looked up and there, not fifteen metres away from me, was a dolphin! I’ve never seen a dolphin this close up in the sea before, and there it was! What’s more, it had the gall to showboat around, ducking and weaving among the waves in front of where I and another small group were sitting. It went back and forth for a good ten minutes or so before an incoming boat (ironically, a dolphin watching cruise) scared it away.

Knowing nothing could top that excitement, I dashed back to the van before my parking expired and spent the rest of the afternoon puttering around looking at the some of the other beaches in the area – for example, Duchman’s Beach which was only just around the corner from the marina and had next to no people there, much more peaceful (again, thanks to a local’s tip).

Back at the park I decided to jump in early and use the amenities. There’s nothing worse than jumping in the shower after someone else has just been in there. I don’t like it at home and at least then I know who it was who was there. I don’t want someone else’s hot shower air! Anyways, I think it shows great forethought, right? Jumping in early like that. Shame that good thinking didn’t extend to other practical matters – you know, like remembering to pick up your towel. Thankfully I had remembered my change of clothes, and my day’s pants (already a little worse for wear with mud on the knees and a decent collection of sand) became my makeshift towel. I’m choosing to believe that I was being efficient and simply MacGuyvering myself a campsite exfoliate and I don’t want to hear anything to the contrary. You hear that, Courtney?

Thankfully the rest of the evening went off without a hitch. I didn’t particularly feel like cooking so I had picked up some fruit at Coles on my way hole. I cut myself up a bowl of fruit salad and tried to share some pineapple with one of the four Kookaburra’s who had taken up residence on the nearby tree, but he was rather disdainful of my offerings. Oh well.

*there may also have been two or three minutes when I legitimately thought I had locked myself in the van and would have to call for help. This is taking my tendency to lock the keys in the car to a whole new level and I could only imagine what that would do to my already floundering reputation with NRMA.

Kilometres travelled: 171 (251 total)

Bridges crossed: 8 (14 total)

Number of times hitting head on campervan: 3 (5 total)

Day 1: Just Horsin’ around

2011-07-02T20:10:00.000+10:00

Location: Glenworth Valley, New South Wales

Once upon a time, a long time ago, a girl went horse riding on a school camp. She had a great time and promptly repressed the (quickly returning) memory of the horse galloping off away from the group with her still astride. As with most young girls, the idea was already firmly entrenched, and no near accident could sway it. Horses = magic.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm also sitting alone in the cold waiting for a tiny little flame to boil a relatively huge kettle of water so you'll excuse my rambling in my attempt to keep some feeling in my fingers. I considered cooking my dinner within my nice warm van. But quickly decided that gas cookers and confined spaces did not mix.

Anyways! My day started with a mad dash to the shops, as I had forgotten to get cash out yesterday. And if only I could convince myself to be up and out of bed at 6.30am every Saturday I would have a new favourite shopping time - everything I needed was open, and yet there were NO customers! Best parking spot? Mine. First in the queue at the ATM? Mine. First still warm Danish for breakfast from Bakers Delight? Oh yes, that would be mine.

Back home, I had just enough time to throw the last few items I needed in my bag (hate packing) and finish off the last few chapters of my book before Nenie, DD, Uncle Glen and Hannah arrived to ferry me off to pick up the campervan.

The van, aptly named Fish, was running a little behind as it was still enjoying it's start-of-trip bath, but was worth the wait. Painted up both sides I was very happy to be one step closer to driving around in the painted up Kombi Van I always wanted. (And yes Brett, Filmore is accompanying me quite nicely).

My road trip was put on hold for half an hour or so as I was oh-so-close to Denise's house and there was no way I was going to pass that up. I drove the eleven minutes to her house and had to make a circle of her street before I saw her waving out the front. The fact that I had difficulty over an eleven minute trip WITH the aid of James the GPS does not bode well...

After a quick stop in visit - where I met parents and had amazing cake (I was only half joking about stealing your mum, Denise, I could use an on-the-road chef to handle this gas cooker) - headed off in earnest.

First and foremost - I love this van. Really. It drives so smoothly and I love being up so high (a sentiment I would later regret)! And it didn't even take long to get used to the size or the mirrors. In fact the only awkward moment of today's driving was yelling out "I spy water, I WIN!" to the empty passenger seat!

(Okay enough is enough, the water will just have to make do with it's current temperature. Two minute noodles, instant coffee and some diced peaches. Yum! I have a new found respect for the guys making pesto while we were camping - their fire building skills wouldn't go astray either.)

So where was I? Oh yes, loving the van. Quick bathroom break (amid fifty thousand other caravanners) at Moony Moony boat ramp but other than that, straight on to today's destination: Glenwood Valley Park.

And what do they do here? Well, among other things they have horse riding.

And oh look, we're back to one full, stupid circle.

I'll confess: I thought myself something of a secret horse whisperer. I mean horses are shiny, I love shiny things! And they always come and talk to me at the fence and let me rub their soft fuzzy noses. What more to it was there than that? I was set!

Did you know horses are bigger on the other side of the fence?

They walked me over to a pretty little horseling named Suede (which personally I thought a little mean - but I named my cow Stroganoff, so who am I to talk?) I gulped and thought, yup, okay, I can handle this.

Yeah, well then the horse guy (handler? Stable hand?) took another look at me and realised that I was a little bigger than most of the other riders today and wisely decided that a larger horse would probably be best. I'm okay with that, makes perfect sense - better for me, safer for the horse... Except he didn't bring back a horse. He bought back a monster of a creature! I actually checked his hoofs to see if it was a Clydesdale.

Perhaps you're thinking I'm exaggerating. I'll give you that, even I thought I was working myself up a bit. However, no less than four people (two of whom worked there) looked up at me dubiously and mentioned what a big horse he was. Now I ensured that I was under the weight limit before booking so I have to believe that this giant horse was not only to cater for me, and was in fact the universe's way of paying me back for my ill-founded confidence. Either way, message received.

The ride was a guided one with about seven of the ten people being first time riders - so no worries there, but I quickly (QUICKLY) began to regret the two hour time frame. What are these people thinking making their beginner rides go for two hours?? The scenery was beautiful, but I didn't get a chance to truly enjoy it as I was desperately counting down minutes in my head.

Handsome, my radioactive gigantor horse, and I actually got on fairly well. I think he was a bit of a lazy old guy who thought his size granted him right of way everywhere he went - much to the annoyance of the horses he insisted on cutting off. The only issues we had was his apparent dislike of the tiny dappled pony (being ridden by the group's only child) and his tendency to rub his chin on the toe of my shoe, threatening to dislodge me from the saddle. We quickly became a grand team - every time the guide told us to "up, Up, UP!" into a trot, we both gave her matching glares, trotted (him trotting, me holding on to the saddle with white knuckles) until we were in the thick of the group and then slowed off to a more civilised speed. Good ol' Handsome.

After dismounting with a quick hug and a severe case of jelly legs I maneuvered my van into my designated space (so unbelievably glad I was camping here) and went about settling in for the night.

So now that I have rambled through my meal and have but a mouthful of my coffee remaining, I will bid you all goodnight. Or day rather, as I will be holding this post until I find a hotspot tomorrow.

KMs traveled: 80
Bridges crossed: 6 (3 by car, 3 on horseback)
Times I bashed my head on caravan: 2

Favourite Ipad Apps

2011-06-03T16:25:00.001+10:00

Melissa of OneCraftyMumma is currently working towards getting herself an Apple iPad – a saga which I am very much enjoying, I might add. She just asked me for my favourite to-die-for ipad apps, and instead of flooding her twitter, I thought it would be easy just to do a quick list.

Kobo
E-book reader. It has a nice clean interface and is very intuitive. Plus, for the person like me who likes a nice surprise now and then, the more you read the more badges you unlock. It is connected to the kobo e-book store through which you can also download free books, which is handy. You can transfer files (of various extensions) from your computer to kobo just as you would to iBooks (personally, I prefer kobo to iBooks).

GoodReader
Though you can download your files to apps such as iBooks or kobo above, I prefer to keep my documents separate to my ebooks. GoodReader is fairly easy to transfer to, either via itunes or email.

Springpad
Something I use when I pretend I’m more organised when I am. An all-in-one bookmark, note taking, app to complement the web application. I like it because it lets me bookmark various web pages into separate notebooks to work on for individual projects, and then access them later on my ipad.

DropBox

iPad app for web-based DropBox. I frequently take my iPad to work instead of my laptop and so make heavy use of DropBox.

Knowtilus Pro
Web-browsing app that allows you to have two web sites + a note facility open at the same time and switch between them. I use this a fair bit when doing research. It also has voice reading and sketch facilities but I’ve never used them.

Pages
My word processor of choice – it’s my most expensive app, but I rather like it. It’s the closest to Microsoft Word and allows me to export the file in various formats.

eBroadcast
I’m always forgetting when TV shows that I want to watch are on, so I use this for my TV guide. It automatically adds programs and reminders to my Google calendar (which I love love love).

shutterboo catch up

2011-04-11T05:20:00.001+10:00

I’ve been a bit of a neglectful blogger of late, so here I am jumping back into the fray with a shutterboo catch up post. I’ve been very diligently capturing my weekly shots (aided in no small part by PagX playing along this year) – I’ve managed to get all my shots so far, and only forgot to post the picture once (oops!).

Week 5: Sign

Week 6: Repetition

Week 7: Fear

Week 8: White

Week 9: Large

Week 10: Mess

Week 11: Curves

Week 12: Past

Week 13: Purple

Week 14: Circle

{week 4: colourful}

2011-01-27T10:46:00.001+11:00

I’ll confess… when it came to this week’s challenge, I allowed myself to get a little… well… cocky. I mean ‘colourful’? Have you met me? Have you seen my fanatical rainbow collecting? Have you seen me drawn to colourful yarn quicker than a poor deluded moth heading straight for that flame every time? Surely this week would be my week, I would have an AWESOME colourful photo.

*sigh*

What’s that they say about pride coming before that fall? (well, no, the fall was last week)

Between reports scrambled together at the last minute (and on that, what’s with reports anyway? For six years you make me write essay after essay, and now you want reports), weddings, and that stinking heat… stepping out the door into the sun, let along hauling my camera around was the last thing I wanted to do.

The universe was getting back at me for my incorrigible cockiness. I have seen the error of my ways.

ANYWAYS! Colourful. I did finally settle on an image…

This is my sister Bethany… quite possibly the most colourful person I know. I asked her to stand still so I could take a photo of her dressed all nice for the wedding (somewhat of a rarity), and naturally she had to finish her drink first… she’s a character, that’s for sure.

(oh, and see how brightly her face is lit? This is AFTER I played with it in Photoshop – should give you some idea as to just how hot the day was. When shutterboo mentioned the Aussie’s still having some summer colour… well… we all came home from the wedding far redder than we had been that morning.)

Photos that didn’t quite make it…

(again, such a bright day, everything in that garden was so bright and shiny, all the colours really popped)

{week 3: control}

2011-01-15T22:31:00.001+11:00

When it comes to my own balance, I know all too well that I have no control. Though I do feel that the universe took the opportunity to take this week’s randomly selected topic to make fun of me.

Why? Well this is me right now…

Yup. Holed up in bed, too scared to move because an inches movement in either direction leaves me wanting to hack my own foot off because surely that would hurt less.

I feel on some uneven ground and, after 6+ hours (sigh) in the emergency room, was sent home with little more than a ‘there there you’ll be fine’ (well they did say “soft ligament damage”). Now let’s be clear, I don’t truly mind the platitude, but I do mind the four hours between the x-ray and the dismissal. Oh well, I sprain my ankle at least once a year (the result of a pretty major sprain when I was five), so I hobble pretty well.

So that leaves me here at home with a nice ice pack, and an even nicer bought of sympathy (a rare commodity in our medically fraught household). Luckily for me, it also presented a nice opportunity for this weeks challenge photo, and so I present you with…

Week 3: (lack of) Control

{shutterboo weekly challenge 2011}

2011-01-15T22:13:00.001+11:00

Last year I was a participant in the shutterboo weekly challenge… though a somewhat intermittent one. I’m the first to admit that I let a lot of things slide last year, but as the year progressed I feel that I managed to sort work, school, and everything else into some sort of workable schedule and so it is with renewed enthusiasm that I joined the 2011 challengers.

We’ve had two weeks so far.

Week 1: Electricity

Week 2: Joy

It’s nice to be back in the challenge mode, but especially nice since PaganX is playing along with me.

Bargain Stumbler

2011-01-11T14:08:00.001+11:00

I wouldn’t consider myself much of a shopper – in fact, there is little I hate more than going shopping (unless it’s book or craft shopping, that’s not shopping). I’m very much a ‘do my research at home and go in and get exactly what I decided on’ kind of shopper – or better yet I shop online. As such, bargains are rarely a surprise.

But even I have to share this bargainy shopping day.

I went into Spotlight to pick up some linen for my next cross stich (come on end of backstitching!) and walked right into their end of season yarn sale. Oops? I’m innocent I swear!

Anyways, I managed to find the linen I needed (first time buying linen, I had no idea) and at $61.94 a metre I was more than a little concerned about getting the right kind so I asked everyone who would listen to me. Thankfully, the amount I needed came to about $25.

Then I had to grab a few balls of basic acrylic yarn for some phone covers I wanted to make (photos to follow) so that came to $8.70.

I picked up a new knitting bag as the green enviro bag I’ve been toting mine in is getting a little ragged… $30. (by the way, if I get to the end of this post and write “the cost of crafting… priceless”, I can’t be held responsible).

Oh! and then they had the Moda Vera sock yarn on display (normally $11/ball) and, well, a few fell into my bag.

So, for those playing along at home (how much do I want to host my own game show right now?

Linen $25

Bag $30

Acrylic wool $8.70

Sock yarn $120 (*gulp*)

That comes to a whopping $183.70 – enough to get be rebanned from Spotlight for life. Ah! Until you take into consideration that the bag was half price… and the $11 sock wool? marked down to… $2. Oh, and I had Christmas vouchers… so my bag of goodies came to a total of $19.70.

Yes… I think that’s a pretty good bargain, don’t you?

New found obsession

2011-01-06T11:33:00.001+11:00

I’m a fairly avid blog reader. I wish I were a fairly avid commenter also, but I’m working on it.

One of things I’ve discovered from being a blog reader is that I find their contents to be highly influential on myself and my strange habits. For example: It was Lisa’s fault that I posted my reading stats for 2010 in graph form, it is Attic24’s fault that my friends and I are all making this blanket. And it is One Crafty Mumma’s fault that I discovered geocaching.

Now, I must fairly say that I use the word ‘fault’ only so as to deflect attention away from my own insanity and obsessiveness. But still, it was OCM who mentioned the term ‘geocache’ in her post – freely and without warning. What was a poor Google dependant internet junkie to do? Of course I googled it, of course I sat in awe, and of course I headed out that day to find my first cache (a mere 0.66km from my house, might I add – I could have walked there).

As soon as I uncovered my first find I knew I was a goner. Of course, coming home to log in and finding that it had been hidden by a friend whom I had known for many years and have often been a witness to some of his zanier schemes, I knew that a) If Daniel was involved, there was no way this wouldn’t be awesome; and b) he was in huge trouble for not letting me in on this earlier.

I went out again the next day, and upon signing the log book discovered that not one, but TWO of my long time friends had discovered the secret of geocaching! Not that I was surprised. It involves all the treasure-hunting of piracy combined with the technological geekiness of GPS coordinates. This was them down to a tee. And after a sternly worded email involving the denying them cookie rights, we started planning an upcoming joint cache hunt.

In the meantime, however I quickly discovered that using my iphone as a GPS left me with two major flaws in my plans to becoming Geocacher Extraordinaire – namely that it ate my battery and left me in the middle of nowhere without a working phone. Cue second trip to Anaconda in as many days (so happy to have a legitimate excuse to shop here).

This is why I am all set out ready to go on another cache hunt, but this time with a new companion. My new, yet-to-be-named (yes, I name everything) handheld GPS. I chose the eTrex H – partly cause it was shiny and yellow, and partly cause… well… the store was having a sale and it was nice and cheap.

A Sad, Sad Day

2011-01-06T00:55:00.001+11:00

Once upon a time*, I bought a pair of shoes. They were not the flashiest of shoes (though they definitely bright), nor the most expensive (if memory serves I paid $7 for them). They were not the most fashionable shoes, and god know they weren’t the most subtle. But they were my shoes and I loved them.

I wore these shoes near every day - at home (“oh Bec, they’re dorky even for you”), and at work (“We’ve got a sub.” “Which one?” “The one with the crazy shoes”). They were my go-to shoes. Need to run to the shops? I got them. Going to Melbourne to meet your favourite actor? I got ‘em!** Need to go to a wedding? I... got em? Yeah I did... Like I said, I wore then nearly every day. Which meant they went on nearly every one of my 365 photo travels. They were even photographed themselves.

They got dampened in innumerable rivers, meandered through orchards, gleefully skipped through the zoo, and jumped the fence to, uh, soon-to-be-demolished houses. They came with me to buy my first DSLR, on my first trip to a skate park, and my first after-hours school function. They carried me through several trips to Sydney, to learn piano, and see Shakespeare in the Park.

I’ll admit, I became complacent in our relationship. As the shoes moulded to my feet, I flagrantly ignored the splitting of their sides. I refused to see the tearing away of their fabrics. I chose to ignore the feel of pebbled sidewalks under my theoretically not bare feet. When puddles emerged I avoided them – not because it was what my mother taught me, but because I knew it would force me to acknowledge the simple truth that my shoes let in more water than a boat made of swiss cheese.

But then it happened.

I made one step too far. One step too heavy on an already unstable surface. It was a choice poorly made, a choose that could not be undone. I stepped... in the mud.

(photo by an unnecessarily cheerful Bethany)

Was this it? Did this mark the end of my shoe’s longevity? Was this to be their unremarkable fate? To die in service of my photographic roving, sure, but to die like this? Immersed in mud and murky water? Surely they could saved?

But, alas, they could not. Despite a methodical rinse in a car park puddle, followed by a frantic exposure to our front yard hose (knowing full well my mother’s keen eyes would not allow them to cross the threshold), the brightness of their canvas could not be restored.

I knew in my heart they were gone. It was a hard weight to carry, but worse yet was the knowledge that they must one day be replaced. A time would have to come when a new pair of shoes would rise to the station of ‘every day shoes’. It would be they that would accompany me on adventures both big and small, mundane and unique, sunny and hopefully not muddy.

Hoping that a hastening in this inevitable day would lessen the pain of my heart, I stalwartly moved forward to collect these new shoes. And it is this new shoes that I give up for offering to you today.

They are not as noble nor as experienced as their predecessor, but they are youthful and enthusiastic. It is my hope that these traits will prevail in the forthcoming days.

RIP Rainbow Shoes.

You will be missed.

*26th September, 2009 if you must know

** Okay, I’m not over this yet, I’ll link to this whenever I can.

365 Challenge

2011-01-04T21:09:00.001+11:00

Last year I completed a 365 Photo Project. I absolutely loved it. And I absolutely hated it. I was frustrated when things didn’t go to plan, and I cried when my camera ate photos. I fell down hills, and I fell in love with locations. I sweated, I bled, I laughed, and I learned. All in all, I couldn’t have asked for a more worthwhile experience.

I took my last photo on September 20, 2010 and then promptly sighed a sigh of melancholy relief. I was done. Never again would I trudge up a hill for a view. Never again would I take a mad dash photo at 11.50 at night. And never again would I have to take a photo of tissues from my sick bed. I was done!

Photo #365

And I could not miss it more! It was hard to get into the swing of taking a photo every single day – but let me tell you, it was much harder to get back into the habit of NOT taking one. Which is why, when the new year started, so did my project. I’m somewhat insane, I know, but it makes me happy, so I’m jumping back in. Lucky for me, I’ve managed to sucker my friend Brett into playing along with me (he starts tomorrow), so let’s all wish him luck!

It’s raining, it’s pouring…

2011-01-04T20:14:00.001+11:00

Normally I love a good bout of rain – we live in a drought, any rain is good! I love the sound. I love the smell. I love listening to a storm. I even like going for a bit of a walk in the rain.

Having said that, I do not like it when it rains at this time of the year. It’s hot and muggy, the water feels sticky and everything seems damp and musty.

Last week, however, we had a pretty impressive storm that made all the negatives bearable. The thunder was booming and the lightning truly cracked. And best of all? The sky was orange. Really really orange. Jump up and run outside in your pyjamas to take a photo orange.

Blogging in 2011

2011-01-04T02:31:00.001+11:00

I had always intended this blog to be my main, general blog – with heavy leanings towards craft and photography. Unfortunately, owing mostly to my own bad habits, this has not been the case. I like to have some photos to go along with my posts … but I’m rather slow on the processing front.

Because of this, I have two main blogging goals for 2011, with the second being heavily dependant on the first.

Be far more diligent in my photo editing and thereby avoiding the backlog. I’m intending to edit at least twice a week. Tuesdays and Fridays for those in a position to give me a nudge.
Blog more. Pretty simple.

Let’s see how I go!

2011 Craft Projects

2011-01-04T02:27:00.001+11:00

January

[placeholder]

Melbourne Bound

2010-12-06T00:30:00.001+11:00

I’ve been remiss in my blogging – mainly because I’ve been trying to get my photos all edited and up-to-date. But I’m embracing the fact that this is just simply NOT going to happen.

So!

On Wednesday I’m flying out for a week’s vacation visiting with my friend Lisa – which I have been waiting for for several months now and am very excited about! Tonight I managed to get all packed, so I’m all set!

30 Days of Knitting–Day 5

2010-11-16T22:06:00.001+11:00

Day 5: How long did it take from the time your learned how to knit, to finish your first project?

*sigh* I really wished I remembered what my first project was. I’ve been thinking all week, and really – I just can’t remember. Knowing me though, it was probably a while – I’m not a slow knitter, but I’m not particularly project-loyal; I jump around a bit.

30 Days of Knitting - Day 4

2010-11-14T11:57:00.000+11:00

Day 4: How did you learn how to knit?

I’ve been crocheting since I was about nine or ten – the by product of spending most of my holidays with my grandmother, who was always working on one handcraft or another. I remember sitting up on the lounge next to her, both of us crocheting away, as we watched old musicals all day long. It was something I always loved doing. She crocheted, she knitted, she sewed. You name it, she did it. I always associate craft very strongly with her.

Which is why I find it so odd that it was my other grandmother who taught me to night.

Where my mother’s mother is the quintessential grandmother, warm and soft, with cupboards and draws full of odds and ends, a lolly always slipped into the hand, my father’s mother is the the complete opposite. Don’t get me wrong, I love her dearly, but she is not the most maternal of grandmothers, and even though she taught me to knit – craft (especially crafting for pleasure) is one of the last things I associate with her.

This grandmother lived next to me my whole life and I remember going over to chat with her one day (and I had to have been around eighteen, since I had already left school at the time), and she was sitting in her armchair knitting herself a new red jumper. I mentioned that knitting was something I would like to learn and she showed me a few basic stitches. There were no long lessons, nor the days spent burrowing through wool and patterns as I would have imagined (even have done) with my other grandmother. But it was very her. She sent me home with a ball of wool, and a pair of needles and told me to come back when I had a square.

Oh the triangles I made.

I remember being so proud when I bought that square back over to her. And I like to think she was too. It’s one of my favourite memories of time spent with my Nanny, and I do so enjoy showing her what I’m knitting these days – even though I’ve never seen her pick up a pair of needles since.

GIVEAWAY: Retromummy

2010-11-13T16:28:00.001+11:00

Retromummy is hosting a giveaway of some beautiful Sweet Broderie fabrics. It’s a wonderful giveaway of 14 fat quarters, so why not head over and take a look.

Click the picture for the post.

30 Days of Knitting - Day 3

2010-11-13T11:47:00.000+11:00

Day 3: Do you have any other WIPs (works in progress)?

Can I say ‘no’ and then run really fast in the other direction?

No…

*sigh*

I have a scarf I’m working on for my cousin for Christmas, as well as another scarf (I don’t know why scarves at the moment) for a friend for what will probably be a belated birthday present.

I have plenty of other WIPs, but thankfully for my reputation today, none of those are knitting ones.

30 Days of Knitting - Day 2

2010-11-12T11:43:00.000+11:00

WARNING: THIS POST IS NOT KIRSTEN-FRIENDLY. IF YOU ARE KIRSTEN, TURN AWAY NOW. YOU HAVE BEEN DULY WARNED.

Day 2: What is currently on your needles?

I have two projects on the go, both of which are heading Kirsten’s way…

Project #1 is her Christmas present, a pair of socks in a decidedly fluoro colorway (Moda Vera Noir, Rainbow). I bought the wool on sale at the local Spotlight some months ago, but it jumped out at me again when I was digging through my stash for something else. The colours practically scream Kirsten, so it was decided that they would have to be made up for her.

(Pattern: Leyburn Socks)

Project #2, is also heading to Ki-land… but only if I get my act together and start doing some heavy duty knitting. She’s heading off on a mission for her church at the end of the year and when I asked her what i could do to help, she said she needed some warm clothing (a California girl heading to Canada? I bet she did). She requested a jumper made by Becca… She may have even buttered me up with some sweet talk about getting to take a Becca hug with her, so I caved and this is on the needles now.

(Pattern: Amused)

30 Days of Knitting - Day 1

2010-11-11T23:23:00.001+11:00

Day 1: What was your first finished project?

I’ve been trying to think of what my first project was… and I honestly can’t remember. It was also, sadly, pre-camera fixation and so my photolog doesn’t help me out any. I remember my grandmother showing me, but that’s about it. I’ll take a stab in the dark and guess that it was a scarf of some description…

I do know that one of my very very early projects was a pair of cabled fingerless gloves.

30 Days of Knitting

2010-11-11T23:15:00.001+11:00

Day 1: What was your first finished project?

Day 2: What is currently on your needles?

Day 3: Do you have any other WIPs (works in progress)?

Day 4: How did you learn how to knit?

Day 5: How long did it take from the time your learned how to knit, to finish your first project?

Day 6: What is your favorite piece that you’ve knit?

Day 7: Your least favorite?

Day 8: What’s your most challenging project?

Day 9: What fiber or yarn do you love working with?

Day 10: Do you have a favorite pattern or designer?

Day 11: Do you have a “Knitter Hero” or someone that is just way too awesome for their own good? Do share!

Day 12: Where do you keep your stash? Post pictures!

Day 13: Do you have yarn that you love but can’t find a project for?

Day 14: What’s the worst yarn/fiber that you’ve worked with and why?*

Day 15: What was your least favorite pattern and why?*

Day 16: Have you ever had a knitting related injury?

Day 17: Have you ever had a project that you loved become ruined? What’s the story behind it?

Day 18: Do you knit English or Continental?

Day 19: Do you watch movies and/or listen to podcasts while knitting? What are your favorite things to knit to?

Day 20: Do you knit in public? Was anyone offended/incredibly happy/curious that you were doing so?

Day 21: Do you knit gifts for friends and family for the holidays or birthdays?

Day 22: Have you ever stricken someone off your to-knit-for list because they didn’t appreciate/take care of your last knitted gift to them?

Day 23: If you had the supplies (and patience) for it, what project would you start today?

Day 24: Have you ever made your own pattern or dyed your own yarn? How did it turn out?

Day 25: Do you have a knitting book or a place where you keep patterns, ideas, size measurements? Post a picture of it!

Day 26: Have you ever been a part, or wanted to be a part of a knit-a-long? What was it? If not, why?

Day 27: How do you acquire most of yarn? Online retailers, local yarn shops, swaps, or large chain craft stores? What’s your favorite?

Day 28: Do you do any other crafts besides knitting? What are they, and did learning to knit come before or after learning these other crafts?

Day 29: Do you have any tips, or things that you’ve learned from knitting?

Day 30: What’s your name on Ravelry? If you don’t have a Ravelry account, why?

*Note: These questions are not meant to bash any yarn dyers, designers, or companies. Sometimes, a yarn or pattern will just gives us a terrible time.

Camera filters

2010-10-08T23:52:00.001+11:00

A while ago Photojojo advertised a set of colour camera filters which I just had to have… simply because I thought they were adorable and came on a little ring and well, I had images of rainbow photos.

Buy the Color Lens and Flash Filters at the Photojojo Store!

They took a while to send and so Photojojo included a little surprise in my package – one that basically ensured they’d have my business and recommendation from here on out…

That’s right… a dinosaur. I pretty much danced around the house with my new dinosaur when I discovered it.

Did I mention I’m a dork?

Anyway! I was very excited to get the filters and broke them out to use right away.

I had fun, my crazy model had fun… and I haven’t touched them since.

If anyone can tell me what I can use them for I’d be greatly appreciative.

To-Do List

2010-09-03T22:38:00.001+10:00

NOTE: If you are Kirsten, Courtney, Bethany or Brett, do NOT read this post. And thank you.

Since it’s coming up to December I thought I’d make a list of the crafting things I’m working on and the ones I need to get done for Christmas. Like I said, if you’re listed above, don’t look!

Brett’s Serenity Scarf – 14/11/10
Sanctuary Fingerpuppets – 8/12/10
Courtney’s Totoro – 8/12/10
Courtney’s Moose Hat – 8/12/10
Lisa’s undecided – 8/12/10
Helen Magnus doll – 8/12/10
Kirsten’s socks – 25/12/10
Renae’s Scarf – 25/12/10
Beth’s Totoro – 25/12/10
Peanut Elephant – 26/2/11
Beth’s Patchwork Blanket – 26/2/11
Lucy’s Granny Stripe Blanket
Hannah Rainbow Ribbon Scarf
Woodland Enchantress Cross Stitch
Crocheted Baby Blanket
Wizard of Oz Cross Stitch

Hot Rod and Custom Car Show 2010

2010-08-25T15:47:00.000+10:00

Okay I’ll confess, I know nothing about cars. At all. But I do like to look at them when they’re all pretty and shiny… please don’t tell any car aficionados I said that.

Backyard Heaven

2010-08-24T15:36:00.000+10:00

If my 365 project has taught me anything, it’s to appreciate ANY new location. I think I have photographed my backyard from every location and as such I now revel in going somewhere new – even if it is only being set free in someone’s backyard.

Of course, my aunt and uncle have a particularly interesting backyard…

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And then the best part of someone else’s backyard? It comes with it’s own family of people, in this case my cousin Tom.

Playdough Face

2010-08-23T15:07:00.000+10:00

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but my sister Beth has the funniest face to photograph. As soon as a camera is pointed in her direction her face does not hold a single expression for more than a minute. Makes for much fun.

These two photos were taken within seconds of each other.

Blue Hills

2010-08-22T14:22:00.000+10:00

With my new job, sometimes I need a bit of a time out, somewhere nice and quiet. So on my way home, I occasionally stop my at the pier at the local wetlands – it’s one of my new favourite places.

With the way the trees curve up and around the lake it’s like this wonderful little bubble of calm. The sun hits it just right and there’s the perfect amount of breeze passing though.

Best of all, I’ve yet to see another person there, which makes it feel like my own special little place. So after a bad day I pick up a coffee on my way home and go and sit with a book for an hour or so.

Of course now that I’ve told you this, feel free to drop by, but you have to promise not to tell anyone!

Skate Park

2010-08-21T15:01:00.000+10:00

One of the things I love best about sporting a larger more professional camera when out and about is the assumption people make that you’re someone important. When I walked around taking odd photos with my little point and shoot, I was just that weird girl taking photos of trees and people’s shoes.

Now, however, I’m apparently someone important – and people have no problem approaching me to ask. So far in the two and half months since I’ve had Athena I’ve been a professional photographer, a reporter, a council worker, someone affiliated with the police, a landscaper and an architect. Everyone someone makes one of these assumptions I briefly consider playing along… but always chicken out at the last minute.

The last time this happened was at a local skate park. The kids there had it in their heads that I was someone apparently high up enough in the council to get their park extended. Despite my claims to the contrary they all told me why this would be a good idea and even considered starting a petition.

Photo outings are far more fun these days.

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Impromptu Photo Shoot

2010-08-20T14:53:00.001+10:00

Around our house it doesn’t take much for a camera to come out of hiding. Beth got a new hat with a magazine… yup. That’ll do it.

Sydney

2010-08-20T14:00:00.001+10:00

I’ve had a couple trips to Sydney in the past month or so – which is unusual for me. I love the city, but don’t usually have reason to go. Athena came with me naturally (at which point I should say that my sister was a terribly good sport and didn’t roll her eyes at me too often), and I thought I’d share some of my favourite shots

Poor abandoned blog

2010-08-11T22:46:00.001+10:00

*blows off dust*

It has a ridiculously long time since I’ve posted here, but since I only have one reader, and I talked to her yesterday (hi Lisa!), then I guess it’s okay.

Right now I’m sitting typing this with my current craft project covering my lap. It’s a project that makes me pretty happy cause it’s one my craft buddies are doing at the same time: the Granny Stripe Blanket ala Lucy from Attic24.

We all became Lucy fans at the same time, and have been following her together ever since.

We all decided to do this project and we all ordered wool together (which, naturally, included a package-opening party). And now lookie… *sigh* pretty.

It’s bright and squishy and pretty much everything I love in a project.

Week 2: left

2010-04-29T00:58:00.001+10:00

And our still unnamed project continues…

As for my half of the project this week, this was pretty much the highlight of my week. I bought this book from a second hand bookstore in the city last year; it’s a copy of Fragile Things, a collection of Neil Gaiman short stories.

Neil Gaiman is one of my favourite authors and I love his short stories so I like to make them last. As such I’ve been reading this book on and off, one story at a time, over several months. I was flicking through it this week and found this pressed between the pages: a crisp, smooth twenty dollar note. Undoubtably the best thing I’ve ever found left behind in a book, ever (and I’ve found some weird things.

Week 1: Present

2010-04-25T22:30:00.001+10:00

Lisa and I are both project junkies. We’re past the point of saving. No 12-step programs will do the trick for us.

This is our new project: every week we have a randomly selected word and it’s our job to photograph that word. Out project is currently unnamed so if you have any suggestions we’d love to hear it!

Thanks to Lisa for merging the photos!

Lest We Forget

2010-04-25T13:57:00.000+10:00

They went with songs to the battle, they were young. Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted. They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

A Hannah Day

2010-04-16T13:32:00.001+10:00

Every once in a while I have a ‘Hannah Day’. There is no consistent reasoning behind a ‘Hannah Day’ – her mum needed a babysitter, she wanted to play, it was the school holidays, there was something fun on… the list goes on.

More often than not, though, it’s because she just wants to play. I very much enjoy my position as the ‘favourite’ – and I can say that quite freely, knowing that my brother and sister agree with me. I’m “Beeky” and “Beeky” is the only one willing to do crazy silly things, the one more like a seven year old than she is. All in all, I’m just living it up until the day she hits ten and realises that I’m a dork.

Anyways, last week the local club put on a holiday ‘Rainbow Disco’ for the kids and of course, this was something to which only Beeky could attend. I was surprised by just how many kids there were! Everywhere you looked, there were kids underfoot. We headed straight for a table to set up a base camp and before she could even take off her jacket she was gone, lost to the masses.

She had a great day running and playing and dancing, and I spent my time shifting from one chair to another (to whichever faced her general direction) and finishing up my book – all in all a pretty good outing!

She wasn’t all too impressed to be leaving early, but with her cast having only recently come off, I was worried she was over taxing her foot and she had already started to limp a little. All pouts were put aside, however, when we remembered the promised trip to Sparty’s for a balloon.

The balloons (yes, I had to have one too!) did not receive a kind reception when we returned home, but we sure had fun having our balloon fight.

Shutterboo: Smell

2010-04-10T12:51:00.001+10:00

I found this week really hard – how do I photograph smell? I originally tried to photograph burning paper… which really did not work out. But this is what I landed on.

Rosin has a unique smell – it’s not particularly strong, but I like it all the same. I had a music teacher in high school whom I really loved. She played the violin and I always wanted to learn. Though she rarely played in class, the smell of rosin still makes me think of her, the music rooms and the many, many lunch hours I spent squirreled away in there.

Next: orange

Mug Cosy

2010-04-10T12:40:00.001+10:00

A while ago a friend gave me 3/4 of a ball of this squishy green wool. I didn’t know the brand, the colour, or even the blend (because it was definitely a blend of some kind). There was enough for a little project, and with being such pretty green there was really only one person to whom it should go.

pattern: Mug and French Press Jacket (ravelry)

Man vs. Bee

2010-04-10T12:29:00.001+10:00

We had ourselves an trip to the emergency room night before last – not entirely unheard of in our house, but this time it was my father in the role of the patient. Seems he was silly enough to get bitten right on the eyelid, and since he’s somewhat allergic to bees we thought it best to ship him off (despite his complaints).

I actually rather enjoy the ER, strange as that seems. I suppose it comes from growing up in and around hospitals, but there’s very little sense of urgency for me, which leaves me to sit and people watch.

I also snapped a few photos here and there – which my father was not too happy about, but then again he never really is when I do anyways, so not to worry.

We finally got in to see a doctor (about five hours later), he gave him a shot, some pills and a prescription and then sent us home. Took about fifteen minutes. We made him promise to leave the boys alone in future.

What I’ve been up too…

2010-04-02T03:21:00.001+11:00

I haven’t been blogging a lot lately, and so I thought I’d just do one big catch up post. I’m even cheating my going through my flickr to jog my memory – definite perk of the photo of the day project.

Since Lisa wouldn’t share her snow (big meanie), I made my own. Okay, so I had to clean out the freezer, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t have fun!

Wendy has been house and bedroom-bound while she’s recovering, and I know she’s not the most patient of patients, so I’ve slipped in a few visits with her. I’ve had a great time – I’m sorry she’s been laid up, but it’s been fun for me!

I’ve been doing some crafting this month – knitting mostly, but I’ve also been plodding away on my cross stitch. I’m so very nearly done.

Hannah has discovered Mighty Beanz. Those that don’t know, they’re basically a little plastic capsule with a heavy magnet inside so they tumble. There are lots of different kinds to collect. Personally, I just don’t get it, but hey, she’s having fun – and I’m the last one to pick on someone for having an obsession. Especially since…

…I’ve discovered a new show. Yes, I’m a The Big Bang Theory junkie. I’ve only got the first season but I’ve watched it through twice already. It’s kept me entertained through this month’s bout of insomnia.

I learned that the local Indian restaurant does home delivery… a potentially disastrous discovery.

And Miss Hannah lost the cast. That’s right, after clunking around on that big pink elephant foot – making her cousin Beekie (that would be me, naturally) very nervous – the cast finally came off. Here it is in all it’s last day glory.

Shutterboo: Shoes

2010-04-02T02:51:00.001+11:00

Oh I had such fun with the shutterboo weekly challenge this week. I had a pretty good idea as to what I wanted to do. My brother has some pretty nifty red converse shoes and I figured they’d photograph pretty nice.

I’m actually pretty pleased with how it turned out – even if I do say so myself!

I did go a little shoe-photo crazy – a combination of my using my brother’s fancy camera, and my sister coming out to model for me half way through. There are a lot over on my flickr, but here are a few almost-made-the-cuts.

Next Week: smell.

Vinnland

2010-03-22T03:00:00.001+11:00

On my birthday outing to the craft expo last week I got a ball of sock wool. It’s a very pretty variegated blue, which makes me very happy because finding pretty sock wool is pretty hard around here.

Pretty sock wool = fun project for Becca + new socks for winter. Yay!

So I’ve been poring over patterns, ones that I’ve been saving for months. I wanted a nice pattern but one that wouldn’t get lost in the changing colours of the

I finally landed on Becca Compton’s Vinnland pattern (ravelry).

(knitting and photo by: Bockstark)

Birthday Outing

2010-03-22T02:43:00.001+11:00

This post is way overdue!

Just before my birthday I received an email with the following from my friends Wendy and Renae…

Did you know your birthday’s coming?
Have you ‘happy-birthday-to-me’ been humming?
Well we know it too and we have a surprise
So keep Sunday free for a birthday drive
You won’t know where you’re going
But we’ll bring you home all a-glowing
We’ll pick you up around about 10
And have you back we don’t know when
so YAY! For birthdays, surprises and friends
this poem is now at its end

This in and of itself made me smile the rest of the week.

When my birthday came, they kept the secret right up until we got there, even trying to convince me we were going to a karate expo… it was a nice try, but didn’t quite convince me. We ended up at the Craft Expo and had a wonderful time!

Thought you might like to come along with us…

This is the adorable little train we caught from the car park to the building – cute!

We took a beading glass, made a beautiful bracelet, and bought Renae over to the dark side of jewellery making.

I thought I took more photos during the day, but we were having too much fun flitting from stall to stall! I did, however, take some quick shots of the goodies I bought home…

I could not have had a more wonderful birthday outing!

Bec’s Birthday Gloves

2010-03-18T01:00:00.001+11:00

Bec and I share a birthday, so I’ve made her something for the past two years – but this year it was a race to get it finished.

With the cooler months getting closer (please please please) I thought she could use some gloves for getting to work in the morning. After wading through a ton of patterns (and adding a ridiculous to my “MUST MAKE!” pile, I finally settled (with some help from her mother) on Liz Thompson’s Berry Hill fingerless mittens (free Ravelry download).

While still a relatively quick knit, the cuffs took far longer than I had anticipated – being a twisted rib. Overall, I really liked the pattern, it was easily memorised and very sturdy.

The cuffs where quite long, which I thought would slip nicely under a jacket, but I did add two buttons to jazz it up a bit. Bec’s far more stylish than me, so I thought a little pizazz was in order.

shutterboo update

2010-03-18T00:39:00.001+11:00

I’ve been a little lapse in the blog updating of late, so here goes with some catch-up.

Week before last the shutterboo challenge was suitcase. Well, I didn’t have a suitcase, so I made do with what I had. Bethany sportingly agreed to be my ‘runaway’ with her rather inadequate suitcase, I stole – er, borrowed – Alex’s camera, and we had a great time shooting from all weird angles. A ton more ended up on my flickr, and I have to say, I’m actually really happy with them.

This is the one I ended up with:

Last week the topic was blue, and again Beth was my model – anyone else willing to let me take odd photos of them? Especially since I accidently wrote on her hand with a permanent marker and she was ‘feeling blue’ for three days…

And this week - *sigh*, this week I had an incident with my camera. The topic was doorknob, which I was actually quite looking forward to, and then my camera decided to delete them all while transferring them to my computer. Okay, so I may have played a small part in that – but I’m still not entirely sure how it happened. Either way, I tried to reproduce the photos, with decidedly disappointing results.

*phew* and that’s shutterboo all caught up. Next week – reflection.

Out and About

2010-03-07T02:05:00.001+11:00

Anyone who talks to me regularly knows that I have a bit of a crush on my brother’s new camera. It’s just so perdy! Last week I wanted to get out of the house for a bit and he had a study date so he, oh so kindly, offered to let me borrow his camera. I was so shocked at the unusual offer that I basically just grinned, grabbed and bolted… then got really peeved because I didn’t have anywhere in particular that I intended to go.

I putted around a bit and ended up at the river, as usual, coming home with a headache and more than a touch of heatstroke, but I had fun.

I’ll posting these all here together because a lost of them make me think of Lisa and her farm and I wanted to show them to her.

Happy Birthday, Bethany

2010-02-26T21:15:00.001+11:00

Today my little sister turned twenty and, baring the fact that having a twenty-year-old baby sister makes me feel very old, I wish her a very special day. It’s kind of hard thinking of her as twenty – which sounds so grown up. I feel much better thinking of her as a little bubba.

Someone very little and very dorky…

In honour of her birthday I thought I’d write up something special – but realised that no one would understand. If you yourself have a sister, then you know that nothing the two of you say or do will ever make sense to anyone else. So instead I’m going to share some of my favourite photos of my now ‘oh so grown up’ Bethany.

She’s a special one, my sister.

TO DO… everything

2010-02-26T16:32:00.001+11:00

Things have been a little hectic round here lately, and once again my blogging has taken the fall. Right now I’m looking at quite a healthy little pile of books that I’ve read, but not reviewed – must put this on my to-do list.

*witness not so subtle segue*

I’m a big fan of to-do lists, which is why I thought I’d share this website I found. I’m not sure whether or not I’ll actually use it – or whether or not you’ll find it useful – but it’s worth checking out the video alone.

TeuxDeux Demo from TeuxDeux on Vimeo.

Allans and Alice

2010-02-23T01:43:00.001+11:00

I’ve had myself a bit of an Allan week – which, I have to say, is my absolute favourite kind of week – starting a Wendy coffee and craft shopping day (oh, wait, we didn’t do that, I forgot!), moving onto late night movie ticket ordering with Emily, and then finally lunch with with all the Allan girls. See? Best week!

With Emily and I heading of to see Alice next week (we have tickets for the 4th! We’re very excited!) it kinda had a little impact on my crafting this week.

If, by some odd chance, you’re Emily – stop reading right now!

I love reinterpretations of Alice, and so have been wanting to do some Alice jewellery for a while. I went pretty traditional for this one, but who knows what’ll come up next.

charms: cat, teapot, vintage heart, key, ‘drink me’ bottle, teacup, clock

Birthday time…

2010-02-17T21:04:00.001+11:00

I love kids party’s – they’re always so excited and and happy to see you and that’s always nice! Renae’s little one, Jordan, turned seven this week and had a family party at home.

I’m always happy for an excuse to take some photos – I’ve quickly developed a dependency, I wonder if there’s a 12-step program somewhere. The party also taught me something very important, however, my shutter speed on my camera is far too slow to take photos of anyone under the age of ten!

The kids had a great time running around and jumping on the tramp-op-aline, though the heat did get to them some times – no wonder, they run fast!

I think Jordan had a great time, and he seemed quite proud of his state as a cool seven year old.

shutterboo Challenge: ‘up’

2010-02-17T20:44:00.001+11:00

Another Wednesday, another shutterboo challenge. I took a couple ‘up’ photos this week, but this was the one I settled on.

And the runner ups…

And next week: ‘puzzle’… I’m kinda looking forward to this one :)

True as sunbeams…

2010-02-16T21:32:00.001+11:00

Nothing can be truer than fairy wisdom. It is as true as sunbeams. ~ Douglas Jerrold

Lisa and I have been thinking about doing a group craft project/WAL for a little bit now – we’re both hopeless enablers, so might as well have some fun. This, though hopelessly later than I’d intended, is the next project to be started on my to-do list and when I showed her the photo she was so excited to start that she nearly killed herself with her knitting needles.

I intend to start the body and, depend how easy it is when I start, do two at a time – one of Kaitlyn and one for Hannah. I do so enjoy have little girls around – I have a legitimate reason to do the fun fairy crafts.

pattern/photo by Amy Gaines

Go away Summer!

2010-02-15T16:56:00.001+11:00

Lisa and I have been sharing in a little anti-winter, anti-summer talk of late; I think that if we could swap, we’d each happily do so. She’s experiencing a little cabin-fever at present, the kind that only Spring will get rid of. While not exactly cabin-feverish (what can I say, I’m a homebody), she inspired me to do up a list of my own.

click for larger

Weddings

2010-02-13T23:31:00.001+11:00

It’s a little strange around here at the moment with all my friends (well, okay, not all, but a fair whack of them) are up getting married. Perhaps the biggest problem is that my friends are marrying my friends, so it just seems like there’s more of them.

Of course, as someone who has a bit of a reputation for liking to help out whenever possible (I really do!), this kinda means I get little wedding-related assignments. From ‘hey, what do you think of the colour of this here ribbon?’ (very nice) to ‘hey, let’s go check out where [insert fiance] and I are getting married’ (very very beautiful).

Vicky sitting in the exact place she’ll be getting married in a years time.

Now this all makes me very happy because, as I said, I do like to help, and I especially like a good outing. And this week bought another Fun Wedding Outing: going to see Vicky’s dress. Now I’ve been forbidden from showing the dress online but that didn’t stop me from documenting the day anyways.

We picked up Laura from work, and made our way to the plaza, stopping for a late lunch. Laura seemed particularly pleased with her crepes.

When we got to the dress store we, naturally, swooned over Vicky’s beautiful dress. I’d describe it to you, but there’s a very good chance she’d kill me, so I won’t. Not to worry, I’m sure there’s be photos later on in the wedding process!

Oh alright, you win, I’ll give you a quick glimpse.

Pretty, don’t you think?

There was catalogue looking, to point out the exact shade she’s ordering in (champagne)…

And plenty of directing from the bridesmaid (‘no, the plum. The plum.’)

Definitely a memorable FWO.

Hap-hap-hap-happy Birthday!

2010-02-13T15:10:00.001+11:00

Just wanted to wish shutterboo a very happy birthday and all the best for your upcoming non-grown-up year!

Crochet paper chain

2010-02-12T22:29:00.001+11:00

Tonight Melissa over at Day to Day posted a link on twitter to lovestitches crocheted paper chain. I took one look at it and fell in love. It’s everything I love in a night-time craft. It’s easy, beautifully coloured, and completely whimsical – perfect!

I’m off to dig out some coloured wool.

craft/photo by lovestitches

Clip Board

2010-02-11T22:09:00.001+11:00

While I was at uni, most of my mornings were spent running out the door for the early bus – if I was really lucky, I’d have a piece of toast in my hand as I ran, but it wasn’t often. As such, I usually scraped my hair back into a quick ponytail or bun as I went down the hill. On the days I was a little ahead of schedule, I’d pull it back into a quick braid at the bus stop. Basically whatever was quickest won.

Now that I’ve got a little more time (to actually brush it properly if nothing else), I’ve gone back to pinning back the front à la Dr. Quinn - except not as pretty, because come on, no one has hair like this woman.

Anyways, doing this has taught me two very important things:

1) Bethany has pilfered an awful lot of my hair clips over the years; and

2) the ones I have left have an awful tendency to go missing without a dedicated place to put them.

And so began a session of my favourite kind of crafting: problem solving craft. And because I’ve rambled on enough, I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

shutterboo Weekly Challenge: cards

2010-02-11T19:09:00.001+11:00

I had big plans for this weeks topic. I was going to build a house of cards and shoot it from weird angles. It was going to be wonderful – wonderful I tell you!

Of course I don’t actually know how to make a house of cards.

Nor to I actually know where our deck of cards are.

Come to think of it, I don’t even remember the last time I played with actual cards.

At the end of the day, all these hiccups wouldn’t have mattered anyways, because when it came to the actual photographing, I actually forgot all about it. Oops! After deciding that this was the weekly challenge I liked best and that I was going to play every week, I almost forgot. *headdesk*

But I got in just in time. It’s not a gravity defying house, but they’re still cards… technically.

next week’s topic: up

January Photography

2010-02-09T00:23:00.001+11:00

1. 2010, 2. Journaling, 3. Discounted, 4. Peeling, 5. New Computer, 6. Family Line, 7. Lili's Apple (1), 8. Toilet Lense, 9. Library Day, 10. Coloured Strings, 11. Pink Roller, 12. Glitter Bomb, 13. Graffiti Boy 1, 14. Life 2.0, 15. Viewfinder, 16. Paws, 17. My Window to the World, 18. Nature Photographer, 19. Mystery Berries, 20. Red Beetle 1, 21. Wading, 22. Browsing, 23. Peeking 2, 24. New Bike, 25. Lazy Day, 26. Australia, 27. Wooden Parapet, 28. Coffee Day, 29. Gathered, 30. Blue, 31. Cactus

Bella’s Nightlight

2010-02-07T15:38:00.001+11:00

Those who have been in the car with me can attest to my shocking lack of direction. No, we will not be getting into the stories today – you know them, I know them, let’s just let it go. Well, for Christmas I got a GPS from Santa – it seems everyone knows I’m hopeless. With this GPS I also got a multi-port charger for my car, featuring 3 lighter ports and one USB.

Well I’ve been considering this USB port since Christmas, trying to think what I’d use it for (since I play my iPod through my radio), and it led to me scouring the house for USB powered devices.

After learning that we have a bit of a USB obsession – we really need to stop shopping online – it finally dawned on me. The best thing ever to plug into my car. Something that Bella* would thoroughly enjoy…

A nightlight.

And what a cool nightlight! It seemed only appropriate that my rocketship should have her own little rocketship!

Of course, the whole time I’m taking those photos, half sprawled out of my car, was when everyone decided to walk past our house. What kind of crazy people go walking at midnight? Probably the same crazy people who take photos at midnight, but it’s not the point. (and yes, it was midnight, my car clock is wrong. If anyone knows how to reprogram it I’d owe you a really big cookie).

* For those that don’t know, Bella (well, Bellatrix, to be more accurate) is my car. She’s my little rocketship and has taken on a personality all of her own.

Craft Room

2010-02-06T12:56:00.001+11:00

My poor little craft room has been half-tidied for about a fortnight, but then seeing Wendy’s snazzy new craft room spurred me to action. It’s still (absolutely) nowhere near perfect, still ridiculously cluttered and nowhere near as pretty as Wendy’s but at least it’s tidy – and did you know I had a table??

Before:

After:

Before: (sorta. This isn’t where they normally are, but I was pulling them out to organise them)

After:

Beading stuff has a new location…

My boxes reorganised and stacked neatly:

And, of course, my helper on her seat…

shutterboo Weekly Challenge: Yellow

2010-02-02T01:53:00.001+11:00

shutterboo challenge this week: yellow.

I thought of yellow brick road.

Sunflowers.

Egg yolks.

Sand.

Blonde hair.

Many, many things.

And what did I end up picking. Yup. Those glass bottles. They’re going back in the cupboard today.

And my alternate…

next week’s topic: cards

February

2010-02-01T23:06:00.001+11:00

I decided this year that I was going to take a page out of attic24’s book – er, blog – and show my calendar pages each month. And then I forgot the very first month (silly me). Partly because I really like my calendar this year, but even more so because turning the calendar each month is a big thing for me.

I choose my calendar each year based only on the front cover and I never, NEVER look on the back as I like each month to be a surprise. In fact so much so that I don’t even turn the page, my sister does it for me every month.

This year I chose a Mucha calendar because I love the Art Nouveau style, and his painting especially. And so, because I forgot January, I’ll post two this month.

January
Laurel (1901)

February
Clowslip (1899)

What do you think? Looks like a pretty month to me.

Photo Hunt #6

2010-02-01T16:00:00.001+11:00

I’ve been wanting to sign up for this photo hunt challenge for at least the last three rounds but have never had the time, but I’m playing this month!

I’ll be posting my entries here on this post as I find them.

1. A tower

2. “Main Street”

3. Five

4. A dog or cat

5. Two of a kind

6. A clock

7. A game

8. Something sweet

9. B&W w/selective coloring

10. Your own reflection

11. A mirror image

12. Night image

13. Something homemade

14. Something pink

15. Something romantic

16. A candid shot

17. A portrait

18. A symbol of love

19. A landscape

20. Chocolate

Coloured Glass

2010-02-01T15:41:00.001+11:00

Everywhere I go lately I see beautiful coloured glass bottles. I think they’re absolutely lovely, the way they catch and refract the light. After about the fifth time I commented on them, my mother said, rather exasperatedly, “You know we have some, right?”

She definitely should not have told me that because since then I think Alex and I have photographed them from every possible angle.

Aren’t they pretty? I think so. And if that had been the end of it, it would have been fine. But no, the next day we started up all over again.

Tudor Nametags

2010-01-31T01:35:00.001+11:00

I know things have been a little (okay, a lot) craft light around here lately. I’ve no real excuse – well none that I’d expect anyone to accept anyways.

But this week, I actually did something. It was small and quick, but it was a craft project all the same.

The book for bookclub this month was Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl and so we assigned everyone a character to lightly consider their motiviations, or point of view

Cardstock and waterpaper squares…

Quickly blended some watered down acrylic paint to semi-match the cardstock…

attached the watercolour paper to the cardstock and – ta dah!

shutterboo: lingerie

2010-01-26T17:28:00.001+11:00

The topic for shutterboo’s flickr challenge this week was lingerie, and I started the week with absolutely no idea what I was going to do.

I finally decided to enlist the help of my friend Amy – a lingerie addict if ever there was one – and gave much consideration to how it was I was going to actually ask her (how do you ask someone if you can take photos of their underwear??).

It was my careful phrasing of the question that actually gave me the idea I landed on…

I took a handful of shots, but these are the other two I considered submitting…

Happy Australia Day!

2010-01-26T01:10:00.000+11:00

image by John White

Happy Australia Day to those so inclined!

Even if you’re not Australian, why not take the day to pretend you are? Wear thongs, have a barbie… get in the spirit of things :)

Mount Tomah

2010-01-26T00:51:00.001+11:00

I’ve had these photos sitting on my desktop waiting to be sorted for a couple days now, and have only just had the time to play with them.

Last week my friend Vicky and I went on a little roam around the country side. She didn’t tell me where we were going, so it was all the better for being a surprise.

Turns out when I said that I had photographed every inch of the Nepean River and was in need of a new location, she was actually listening. Of course Vicky, being Vicky, her suggestion didn’t come in the form of a new location, but rather pointing out the error of my way and taking me to a new area surrounding the same river.

We started the day out at Yarramundi Reserve, which I’d never been to before. Turns out there’s a little river/beach where people go swimming and everything. Why did no one tell me this was here?

My favourite part was this weaving embankment of rocks dividing the river…

We even did a little wading ourselves! Kind of hard not to with everyone else splashing around having fun.

After the river we had lunch at a beautiful little cafe in Karrajung Village where Vicky and Andrew are planning to have their wedding reception. Then, since we’d already gone this far up the mountain, we decided to keep going to Mount Tomah Botanic Garden, where the wedding will be. This was perhaps a bad idea as now I’ll just have to go back and take even more photos.

And if the flowers were not enough, dispersed throughout the garden beds were curved stone steps and lovely little wooden benches to rest on. The best was the one below, overgrown with little patches of moss.

So shiny…

2010-01-20T21:22:00.001+11:00

I’ve driven past this shiny red beetle about ten times, and every time I’ve wanted to stop and take photos but haven’t had the time, or it’s been raining etc.

But not today!!

Pretty, don’t you think? This beetle must go pretty speedy, being as red as it is…

In need of a new location

2010-01-20T21:01:00.001+11:00

It’s not unusual for Alex and I to go on photo hunts, just the two of us – especially if no one else is home. Our old standby, however, is down at Nepean River, and I think we’ve shot it from nearly every conceivable angle. So if anyone has any suggestions for other local spots, they’d be much appreciated.

(and yes, I borrowed Alex’s fancy camera for this last one – not a chance that comes along very often, so you’ve got to enjoy it while you can!)

shutterboo: Eyes

2010-01-20T20:50:00.001+11:00

The shutterboo Weekly Photo Challenge this week was ‘eyes’ – and if any of you know me in real life you’ll know that I have eye issues at times, so this one was a little hard for me.

My original idea was to take a close-up of my brother, who has really nice brown eyes – but he wasn’t exactly a willing model at the time and this was coming across in the photo.

In the end I managed to capture this scared look on my cat’s face. She really doesn’t enjoy being outside.

Next week’s topic: lingerie. I have no idea…

Weir Reserve

2010-01-14T14:58:00.001+11:00

Bethany was commenting yesterday that she doesn’t get the chance to get out and about to take interesting photos. Alex and I frequently go on photo outings, but Beth usually stays behind. So yesterday, on the way home from the movies (The Princess and the Frog – go see it!), we made an impromptu stop at Nepean River to take some photos.

And for the first time ever – I’m still in shock – Alex was without any cameras. So the three of us camera hopped on my little camera. Not recommended photo-outing procedure.

I’ve also been working on some more portrait-style photos, as I don’t feel comfortable with them. Of course this may be due to my lack of models… any takers??

location: Weir Reserve
models: Bethany and Alexander Johnson