Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I can't call it workaholism - but all I seam to do is work and sleep. It's like a pendulum - bleary eyed stumbling off to work and then when the sun goes down I get home, crumble in a heap - maybe eat something and then go to bed, to repeat the cycle again.

The weekends are a befuddled mix of the realisation that OMG the only time I have to do the grocery shopping is Saturday morning along with every other person on the planet. AND I've turned into one of those delightful customers who seems to take an inordinate amount of time to locate their purse despite having 20 mins of queuing time to ready herself, manage to drop all my green bags on the floor (especially after the attendant has already packed the shopping) and can't seem to muster anything more intelligible than a grunt when spoken to.

The rest of the weekend is then spent wondering if I really do only have 3 black socks, despite countless searches and only discover the answer to this conundrum on Sunday night when I follow that strange smell and uncover all my underwear, socks and work clothes have gone mouldy from being left wet in the washing machine for too long. God help me if I decide to have children. I guarantee they'd be the ones living off spoonfuls of peanut butter and wearing garments fashioned from pillowcases.

But it's not all bad. It's just cold, and Jms has gone away and I feel a little unsettled because my Virgo self has yet to find a routine. In fact, this week highlights a marked improvement. I no longer have the startled bunny caught in the headlights look at work. I am vaguely competent and don't try and hide under a pile of t-shirts each time the phone rings anymore. There's been some really stressful things happening - completely outside our control - but nevertheless as the middle men it's our head on the block. Yet everyone still makes jokes and laughs (somewhat maniacally admittedly) and it is on the whole a very nice place to work. Which makes bitching about work seam quite unfair, because I am actually really enjoying my work - its just the bit outside it seems to be lacking in substance.

But its on the improve - I actually managed a cooked meal yesterday. Because Jms is away - I guess I'm having a bit of a meat fest. My cockles obviously needed some warming because I've been craving hearty fare. I made Beef Stroganoff last night. My one concession to my vague ideals of healthy living was to have it with wild rice. I usually make a vegetarian mushroom version, that to be honest is completely superior. But its the principle of the thing. While the vegetarian is away the carnivore shall play.

Tonight I went back to an old favourite - Osso bucco with gremolata and pappardelle. Unfortunately I misread Miss Stephanie's directions. Not 45 minutes cooking time but two 45 minute stewing sessions with an extra 30 mins to be sure. It really has been a while since I've made it. Needless to say, I'm not waiting till 10pm tonight to eat. So it's a cheese sandwich and a glass of red (I don't normally drink - but I bought some for the stew and well, its open now so I might as well). Time to fall asleep now in front of the teev.

Lunch tomorrow will be fantastic.

Nesting

My yoga teacher emphasised that at this time of year we are meant to hibernate - to take it easy and nourish ourselves.

I was bone tired this weekend, in spite of the short working week, so after my morning yoga class today I spat the dummy and "hibernated".

It was late afternoon before I emerged from my many layers of doonas, blankets and cats. Not wanting to tackle dishes or washing, I indulged my inner child a bit more and finally pulled open my Splendid soft toy book. After all, all work and no play is pretty uninspiring.

Although I had earmarked the giraffe, I instead took a little detour from these guys, and fashioned a nesting doll of sorts. I love matryoshka, and am always looking for an excuse to draw them. I'm pretty sure everyone I know has at least one birthday card from me decorated with them.

I've been wanting to make a softie version that nests as well - but I haven't been able to get my head around the physics of it all. Now that this little lass is complete I think I might just have the answer.

So I guess that technically makes this, a work in progress.

I (heart) this song...

The Knife has finally been given reprieve - I have a new obsession. Listening to this song, loudly, on repeat with a hairbrush microphone (of course).

Perhaps wearing my purple boots...

What a week (or two)

For the record, my new job is awesome. I do seem to spend a remarkable amount of my time not knowing what the hell is going on - its so nice good to know age does not save us from being complete n00bs. ahem.
But so far no-one has actually called me retarded to my face and they seem genuinely happy to see me at the start of each working day. So until they change the security code, I'll still keep rocking up and in exchange I will receive more of those wonderful pay cheques.

Aaah - the bliss of disposable income. It's been a while my friend.

True to form I went out this weekend and blew my first pay on absolutely anything that took my fancy. Actually I was really quite restrained (jms - I swear they were all on special). Call me a little self indulgent - but I got a REAL hair cut and colour. Forgive my ego the indulgence.

The rest was really spent on the usuals - new jumper (yikes the morns have been frosty), t-shirts, new jeans (for work of course) socks and undies and the most delectable purple suede boots ever. Suede boots? PURPLE? Yes a tad extravagant. With my flush of funds I did something I never let myself do - and that is go into that certain spanish shoe shop.

I actually thought I'd get a demure pair of flats (with cutsy clothes sewn on them ^_^) But they were just too wide for my very little feets. After trying on nearly everything in the shop - the exasperated but determined assistant said "The only narrow shoes we've got in your size are these purple boots". I nearly didn't bother trying them on such was my disinterest. I mean purple - I only wear black. I only wear black. That's right - I only wear black - and it bores the %$#@ out of me. Goddammit if I'm not tryin' on ther purple boots.

sigh

It felt like I was putting my tootsies in marshmallow. I think I actually had an out of body experience. And the "PURPLE"? Well they kinda looked more bluish than plum and would actually look ultra hot with the skinny black jeans I'd just bought. What could I do?

Needless to say I spent the rest of the afternoon proudly sashaying around chaddy with a shoe box the size of a small car. And a smile to match.

It has poured with rain all day - so this is the closest these babies are going to get to being worn till they get waterproofed.

In other news there shall be much more craftyness afoot soon. Just over a week ago I had to go to hospital for day surgery (dear god - how much can two itty bitty stitches hurt?). I was a bit worse for wear after the general anesthetic, but my best beloved in his infinite wonderfulness had arranged for a little present to help speed my recovery.

Yes I am now the proud owner of the essential crafty tome "The Splendid Soft Toy Book". I feel like I have arrived. Its not for the faint of heart. There are some creepy, but indeed splendid, creatures in there. The 70's were definitely an interesting time so far as what adults deemed appropriate for children. The mere mention of the name H.R. Puffnstuff makes me feel nauseous - actually seeing a picture, we are talking fetal position quietly shaking.

I'm serious.

But I'm working through it. And what better way than to make some creatures of my own, plus our little circle of friends is about to get one small person bigger. I think softies are in order.

To the sewing machine!

Sculpture Walk

Spent a blissful Sunday walking around the sculptures at Werribee Park with Miss Red.

Such a wonderful precurser to starting the 12 week Artist's Way course.

The course has seemed to have had a profound effect on my life already - on Friday I was offered an awesome full-time job! I'm very excited about this new development, however as this is my last day of freedom (ie. unemployment) I don't have much time to potter around with blogger (boo hoo) as I have sooooo many things to organise (ie. washing). So forgive the badly posted photos - I promise more adventures to come!

Paperweights

Do you think this is a sign I'm not using my workroom enough?

If at first you don't succeed

Hurrah!

Yesterday was one of those days where I promised myself I could spend the day in bed. However after going to an early morning yoga class, coming home and generally "getting on with it" including doing a massive grocery shop, it got to late afternoon and I still hadn't put my jarmies back on and realistically, it was an increasingly unlikely option. So on the basis that I had nothing to lose (ie. I hadn't planned on getting out of bed, therefore any task achieved today would be a windfall) I figured I'd have a go at the salty caramels again.

Well - who would have thunk it? I followed the recipe (strictly no substitutions) and it worked! What's more - they're really good. I used our beloved Murray River pink salt. Perfect. The only downside I guess is that it makes a lot of very rich toffee. So I guess Jms needs to organise a Poker night quick smart so I can off load some of the goodness. Good as it is, there's no way my fillings would survive. And I'm already very overdue for a dental check up/complete rebuild.

In the midst of the craziness that has been our life for the last month or so (more freelancing, homeless family members, spousal unemployment to name a few) we have also had some very special visitors staying with us. Fortunately they're pretty easy to entertain and love my cooking (grated carrot and mushy peas again? Yay!). The only strange bit has been going to the pet shop to buy live crickets. Eww.

Jms was very antsy to begin with - he thought Central Bearded Dragons were a bit of a naff pet (as did i initially, I'll admit). But a true convert he now spends hours at a time poking the logs and rocks in their enclosure with his "cricket divining stick" and jumping around outside catching bugs and flies to feed them.

3 months seamed like a long time to babysit such unusual creatures, but with the folks due back from up north in a matter of weeks - I think Fred and Vyvian will be sorely missed.