Melbourne Trip

Scary Little Monsters

These little bundles of joy are the newest additions to the family, they were a bit of a favourite amongst the boys at the Night Market, but not so appealing to their mothers. So to appease the holders of the purse, a nicer looking softy...



More fun to make than I imagined, so expect to see a few more around here.

Btw, more baby pics here.

Nah nah dah boogie

Its a bit hard to tell from the photo, but, these are some badges I made for the market. They are special little momentos of the Premier of our state.

( not sure if you can see his googly eyes )

this little piggy went to market

The Hobart Fringe Festival is on this week jammed with creativity and frivolity, not the least is the Night Market, which is this Friday night and is always good fun. Live music, food and stalls selling all kinds of wares and this year will include my crafty goddess self.

Yep. I have been collecting my threads and creating some stuff, so be sure to stop by and say hello. It is in the Queens Head Hotel Car Park, North Hobart from 5:30 to 10:30, this Good Friday Night. I will post some creations, be sure to let me know what you think..

... pvc covered pencil pouches

Pyjama Couture

I have been truly satisfied lately making pj's. This is a little combo for my neices 1st birthday, I printed the angel wings a while ago, and the little pants have velvet bows on the bottom are my latest sewing discovery. More on that later..

The Scream

Eight weeks and growing like a weed...

Growing up, boys

Roo'd and very Roo'd

A quick trip to Salamanca Markets last weekend and look what we ran into.

They were part of 10 Days on the Island which is a fantastic arts festival held in Tasmania every couple of years.

The Outlaws

A lot of life in between posts, I don't know where to start. I will spare the details and give you a snapshot...

This is Sacha running through the barrels at Stefano Lubiana's winery

Tortilla boy

Learning to make tortilla's with his Grandma...

Fashion Police part 2

I do not understand why this blog is called Shiny Squirrel, seems like a weird one. But, hey-ho, may be I can't really talk, anyways its a good for rundowns on the shows and other accoutrements. It is not like I can afford the outfits, or would be seen dead in some of them... but, it is a little bit like gossip mags, they appeal to my fantasy existence as the slim, well groomed, stylish, beautiful (in a classic 'good bone structure' sense), international me.

Family Love

A quick update for the fam... more snaps of little Fin and some shots of the boys new bedroom make-over here.

There is also a great post over at the washing line about the time immediately after birth, maybe its the fourth trimester... I can relate completely to feeling connected to the babe as if he was still part of me, his cries really do make me feel pain. Especially when the other boys are misbehaving, the combination sends my stress levels irrationally into overdrive. As he grows bigger and older and is not completly dependant on breast milk, I am sure we will morph into two separate beings and I will feel able to move further away from him than the length of an umbilical cord.

Fashion Police

This baby business is taking a toll on the frequency of posts. I wasn't exactly prolific prior to B3 arriving, but it is a new month and I intend to be more attentive, maybe trying just a little bit harder.

In an attempt to kick-start my month of posts I thought I might share some links to some of my favourite blogs, this weeks theme is fashion police.

This one is definately my current favourite, The Sartorialist, it is a wonderful dose of street style, designer fashion and European splendour. I love it!

And then there was 3...

Another beautiful boy! He was born two weeks ago, healthy and strong, weighing in at 8'11oz. He was without a name for quite a while but we have settled on Finley. He smiled when we asked him if he like his name, so I guess that is an approval. The boys are both enjoying their new brother and smothering him with lots of love and kisses.

Strangely I have been quite busy sewing, but still not too many quiet times to get online, so will update later.

Tomorrow's the Day

I have an appointment with the knife tomorrow. It seems this baby will be delivered a la Julius Caesar (and myself for that matter) and if I don't go into labour tonight then sometime tomorrow we will meet the new babe.

Of course I am getting excited to say hello to this new character, but I have also been spending a lot of energy wondering what is the best course of delivery for me and them. It seems all my babes have been on the rather large end of the scale and my hips and pelvis are on the smaller end of the scale. Lately, I have been spending time thinking about my previous deliveries and getting anxious and scared about this one.

Up until a few weeks ago, I have been confident in my ability to deliver 'natuarally' but as the baby has grown and my connection with the medical profession has increased my confidence has decreased. It is a terrible place to be, but after a lot of discussion and testing yesterday, I feel comfortable about booking in for the surgical option. I guess things may still change.... Stay tuned for the baby photos

It's a girl... and right on time!

We have been waiting for the stork to deliver this little bundle for a long while. It has always seemed appropriate that our little patch on the planet be home for black sheep, and well, here she is ... our new pet sheep, her name is Bear.


We have a friend who has a sheep farm and who offered us a black lamb after Ruben made some comment at a dinner party that he quite fancied a black sheep. He kindly rang a few months later saying he had the sheep in his ute and could he bring it over. Unfortunately when he wanted to deliver the last sheep, we were out, so he decided to keep the sheep in his back yard in town until the morning. The only problem was that little black sheep escaped, never to be seen again. There was some talk it was sighted heading for the hills in Sandy Bay... hopefully it found a home somewhere?

And so today (our other official due date) he rang out of the blue with another sheep ready, and around he came sheep in arms.

Anyways, our other pet sheep, Rosie, has been an only-sheep for so long she has not been too sure of what to make of little Bear. Bear's natural reaction (having just come from a herd) has been to run towards Rosie. Rosie's reaction was to run away, with little Bear running right along behind her. It has been quite funny seeing the little lamb chasing Rosie around the paddock. Hopefully, Rosie will realise they are actually related in the wider scheme of things and make friends.

Long Live Santa Claus

This year Santa thoughtfully left a little Archelogical dig complete with ready-made dinosaurs for Luka. The boys have busied themselves excavating the little blighters and it has been a great distraction for a few moments.

The kit came with chisel, hammer, brush and magnifying glass. The mag glass was a big hit with one little archeologist falling asleep with the world looking a little larger.

It seems I suffer from probably a common blog-malaise - I prefer to read everyone elses blog entries than write one of my own. May be I am just lazy (probably this is the most likely reason) or am more interested in the lives of others, mundane or not, than my own. It could of course be more to do with being interrupted by two little helpers that are finely tuned to detect when their mother is seated and stationary for longer than 2.3 seconds.

Anyways, whatever the reason, I am really going to try to post more often, apologies in advance if the posts are less than inspiring. What I did want to share was this huge pile of fabric, buttons and ribbons that R brought back from the States por moi!



I have to send major thanks for Inghy who I think was instrumental in the collection. It is a wonderful stash and I have already made a new bag for me with the cutest Brolly cotton and some drawstring bags for the kids small toy collections. Mucho Gracias !!



ps. still no baby, but, by hook or by crook, it will be no later than Feb 2 the doctors assure me

Yep, They're Back!

Big R with just one of the two trolley carts he somehow managed to wield through various airports piled high with six huge bags, 4 carry on bags and two kids. Amazing. Boy was he glad to get home. We almost didn't make it out of the airport carpark, but with a little puzzle solving skills, we eventually managed to pack all the booty and bodies into the car - it was a tight fit.

It has to be said, it is great to have them home. The pitter patter of tiny feet, or more like the sound of the herd tumbling into bed in the mornings is hard to beat. I was concerned that I might get a little cranky having to share the haven again, but actually no, it has been just wonderful. Sacha has been randomly telling me all week that he missed me and giving me a kiss or hug, it melts my heart every time.

And, the boys love their new bedroom refit and have actually been spending quite a bit of time playing in there, something that didn't really happen before when it was more like sleeping in a cupboard. Unfortunately I didn't take any 'before' shots so I can't do the reality tv reveal a la Changing Rooms, but I will post some shots of the finished product on Flickr soon.

We have definitely been enjoying just hanging out together doing not much of anything. Maybe next week will be more productive... but it is then again maybe not, it is the Summer holidays afterall!

Bun still in oven

In case you were wondering, I am still here and still snug with baby inside. It has been a mostly feet-up kind of affair the last couple of weeks. In between bursts of housework, I have spent quite a bit of time horizontal, either on the couch in front of the fan, or napping in the afternoon. I have been mostly enjoying the quiet, but as the troop is due home in a couple of days, I have been finishing a few home decorating projects and tidying up. It has taken me two days to wash the floors, after a couple of rooms I have to stop for a wee rest.

It seems the heat has broken as the rain has just started to fall, hopefully it will provide me with a little more vigour.

There are some final photos of the boys trip over at Scrapilicious Life. I can't wait to see them at the airport, listening to their little voices over the phone is sometimes just not enough.

Hello January

So the year goes "up one" and we are heading towards the year of the pig. I am not generally a NY resolution maker, but upon refection last year was pretty great...

In 2006,

- Luka started school and gained an expanded sense of community
- Sacha's skin got a lot better and he became happier and less irritated
- My paid work was a lot of fun and included a lot of interstate travel this year
- We had a great visit from Aunty Inghy and Aunty Liz from the States
- Another little spirit has decided our family is the one
- Our living space and environment continued to shelter, comfort and inspire us

In 2007 I hope for,

- a safe and healthy delivery of our 3rd child
- the happy development and growth of the children
- lots of creativity and play in our house
- my work continue to be an inspiring and valued part of my life
- a wonderful visit from R's parents from the States
- lots of decluttering!
- cooking more healthy and happy meals

Wishing everyone who reads this a very safe and happy new year!

ps. I have updated my sidebar links and some imagery for the New Year, hopefully I can be a bit more creative and focused on this blog in 2007

Christmas Message from the House of Snore

I hope all who read this message have a wonderful Christmas Holiday and bountiful New Year.

Thank you for all your comments left on this blog over the months, I am still working out how to reply to comments posted so apologies if you feel left unanswered, if only I could get broadband to my brain. Maybe next year?

The House of Snore has been very quiet of late and I have been feeling fairly sorry for myself. The noise of children playing is missing and a sore back has reduced my ability to mask the silence with industry and busyiness. Still, I have just put Elephunk by the Black Eyed Peas on the stereo and that has somehow helped. Go Figure.

The rain predicted for Christmas has just arrived. The last couple of months in this part of the world have included hot, hot days, wild uncontrollable bushfires followed by with snow and now it looks like it will rain for days and we will have floods akin to Noah.

But, wherever you are, I hope you drive safely and have an enjoyable time with family or friends.

Best Wishes

Edwina

Top Secret

With the cat away and the kidlets as well, I have been taking advantage of the lack of helpers to do a little re-decorating. The chance of Big R looking at this blog while he is away is remote, but I want it to be a surprise so there will be no photo posting of most of the work.

Except this is the new curtain in the bathroom. I found the material last week and I am loving the new diffused blue light that emanates from this little piece of cloth.

Click here to check out some photos of Sacha's Winnie the Pooh birthday party.

Holiday updates

A BIG thank you to Liz and her blog Scrapilious Life who is keeping me updated with photos of the boys and their goings on in LA. Her wonderful daughters have taken their little cousins under their wings and playing games with them and having fun.

(Aunties Harriet and Em, check out Liz's blog for some happy snaps of the boys)

Aaargh I still haven't got any Christmas presents yet - still 2 weeks to go, right?

Oh Deer Me

So the boys left for LA today. It has been a long day with quite a few moments of saddness. But, they called from Melbourne Airport and collect from Auckland, and they have been having a great time on the planes and at the airports. There were only a couple of moments for the little one, once when they hit some turbulance and once when he got hit in the head by the doors at customs. All in all, the activity, excitement and their own tv screens in the seats seems to have wiped away any possibility of missing their Mum - at all! Which is good, but I already miss them!

Anyway I collected this last little piece of Luka's Kindergarten creativity, and this little deer is going to be hangin with me for a while.

Hobart Calling

Time to share some links to other bloggers from the southern islands... they are sometimes as slack at posting as me, but, I enjoy reading the familiar and comforting discussions on Tasmanian food, restaurants and life...


Hobart Life by FoodKitty
The Garrulous Gourmet
Hobart Restaurant Bitch
Jillian Beans
Vintage Household Tas
The Whitey Stuff

Please let me know if you know any more...

Edit: a few more from Food Kitty

Eat Drink Hobart
Ms Creosote (includes Princess Mary sighting)
Breakfast in Hobart

'ristmas 'raft

There must be some invisible elves over at Chez Snoring, because the line up of handmade Christmas thingy's is mounting daily.

I have made some Steiner-inspired fleece angels for the Christmas Ornament swap I signed up for, they are all packaged up and ready to fly...

As well as some Elephant stockings to be filled with more thingy's for some overseas family... I have prototyped some very mod-santa decorations and some gocco-esque felt creations - I will post some photos later.

This last week as been great, full of excitement and drama, catching up with old friends, pirate parties, a flying visit to Melbourne, even faster visit to IKEA in Richmond (we don't have one here), and discovering my pillow from the last post has become famous (that is a bit of an exaggeration, but Hi to everyone visiting from Whiplash).

Next week looks similar, with a wedding this weekend, a double birthday family lunch, the boys leaving for the US on Wednesday and another trip for me to Sydney at the end of the week, plus I am working the whole next weekend. I am hoping the baby stays put until the due date, because I am getting a lot of strong braxton contractions - fingers crossed we make it until the end of Jan!

Evolution of Craft

Underlying many moments of contemplating the art of craft is the tension between what I perceive of myself and my own reality. I really get a deep satisifaction from creating and making things (as many people do) and my medium is often stitching fabric or printing with ink. I suppose the sewing DNA is passed down through gene pool but it is also here that I get unstuck. I guess deep down I associate the 'homecrafts' somehow with either; women bonded in insufferable toil or the idealic 1950s housewife. Both seem to be ancient perceptions that don't sit comfortably with me.

And yet, the crafting gives me great satisfaction and is generally cheaper than therapy. So with all that floating in and out of the grey matter this is my latest offering to the Goddess of Craft... a pillow with alternating irony .

The front - is a reminder of how far humanity has evolved from draggin our knuckles to French Provincial Toile (in pink), or, alternatively, how under the skin of our advanced civilisation lies the neanderthal in all of us.

And the back is if your mother/grandmother/boss is coming around for dinner, simply turn the pillow around and you can maintain your happy housewife facade.

Meet Incy

I was reminded of the joys of being a kid the other day when Luka introduced me to a creature he had found in the garden. He was soon christened Incy and become our mascot for the day. Safely ensconced in the bug catcher with some leaves, Incy the Snail went on a trip around the world, making friends with everyone we met that day including the Doctor.

Even though it grossed me out a bit, Luka was oblivious to the slime factor and even did a photo shoot with incy. The photo of Incy sliming up the bathroom wall was my favourite shot that he took.

Incy was retired at the end of the day and safely returned to green pastures, thus avoiding me the difficulties of working out what to feed this new pet and in fact where his mouth actually is!

It also arose in me a distant memory of being fed a slug by two of my older sisters. I am sure I ate it, near the wooden fence by the wattle tree at Acton. H, can you confirm or deny this charge?

Back Again

I was talking to my sister today (Hello Harriet) and she was complaining I hadn't updated this little blogaroonie for ages. I know, I know, it has been a while.

I wonder if there is a officially a medical condition called blog-block. Sounds a little constipated....hmmm.

Ok, so a quick round up before I head back into the garden...

- the boys will be heading overseas in a few weeks, and I have to say I am feeling pretty happy with the thought of the house to myself for a whole month. Of course I will miss them, but just think, all that book-reading, movie watching, mess making (with no need to tidy up straight away if I don't want to), leaving the house without needing a baby sitter, or bag of spare anything and eating all the foods I love but the family doesn't.... sad for a moment, but maybe some fun to be had as well.

- I have been busy making Christmas Fairies and other related seasonal crafts as presents this year - look out everyone, it is looking like some handmade presents with feature strongly in the sacks this year.

- I am trying to toilet train Sacha at the moment, it is one of things I have been putting in the too hard basket for too long. He is doing pretty well and now there is no turning back.

- I went away to Freycinet Lodge for a week for work, below is a photo of the view from my room. It was a lush cabin and I scored an upgrade, so there was bathrobes and slippers and best of all a massive spa bath. No TV or phone was an interesting challenge, but designed for the total getaway... it was pretty nice, but I did miss the family!

Register any reluctance by remaining silent...

This has been doing the email roundabout in this neck of the woods, some advice for the wife...



ps. It seems obvious why most women these days leave the 'obey thy husband' vow out of their nuptials

pps. If anyone has misplaced a chook that has had a stroke, please see Foodkitty's blog for its whereabouts.

Flames

The weekend cool weather has calmed the atmosphere around here. But you can see from the image below, things got a little close on Wednesday and Thursday. Hot and Windy - the worst conditions for bushfires and the fires here were pretty close to the suburbs.

Our home is close to the bush, but fortunately not close to these fires. But the Summer is just starting and so is the bushfire season... hopefully none will cross our paths this year.

Halloween has come early

Our boys are blessed to have the influence of many cultures on their lives. They have a wonderful family in America - Yaya, Papa, Aunties and Cousins, that help us to share the joy of many American holidays with the boys. Their Grandma Yaya sends Halloween costumes every year and over time we have shared our home with a monkey, little lamb, an owl, batman and spiderman and a lion. This year I am happy to share the celebrations with one of our favourite little friends, Pooh Bear.

Mug Shots

Hmmm, it has been a little while since I last posted anything here, it seems real life always seems to get in the way. There is much afoot at Chez Snoring, not least of all an overseas trip for Christmas. Yep, all the boys are off to the US for Christmas, while I wallow around the house for a month to myself (nb. I will be too pregnant in Dec to travel).

Luka already has a passport with the cutest little baby photo of himself at 6 months... he has changed somewhat but hopefully the guy at Immigration will believe it is the real him. Sacha on the other hand needs a passport and therefore passport photos. A lot harder than you can imagine... look, see rejects ... try getting a 2 y.o. to look squarely into the camera, not smile, close their mouth and not move!