Beautiful Pink Roses

These are two beautiful pink roses that David's mum Beverly brought from her house. She lives alone near Ballina in NSW, and grows her own fruit, veggies and flowers, including roses, all the while working as a nurse at a local nursing home. I think she said this species is "Tiffany". I particularly liked the fragrance, so I hope we could grow me some of our own! These smelt so beautiful and were so lovely to have in our home, I made the petals into a pot pourri.

Also, outside my front door are some very pretty pinks flowering at the moment. I'm not sure, but they might be a variety of native lilly pilly.

Yay for PINK!
Go to How Sweet the Sound for more details on Pink Saturday.

Recommended ...
Five Minutes Just for Me
Another local blog, this one is a mum who lives here in Brisbane, Australia

Two New Blogs for this week, highlights include a vintage pink telephone and a Pink Princess Suite!
Teacupstitches and A Cottage Muse

Two Hats for Babies

How did this happen? I do not know, but somehow I have managed to crochet, not one but two hats for babies, how absurd!

I've been trying to make beanies for children for the last two days, thinking maybe my brother's children might need some for the coming winter, but have just been getting the sizes all wrong because I am not following a pattern. I discovered a size chart for beanies yesterday which has helped a great deal.

I have completed just 3 beanies in my life before learning how to read crochet patterns, making them to fit the person who was to wear them. One of them is the blue beanie I made for David last winter, I also made a loose fitting white one for myself to wear on holiday to Tasmania in 2004, the 3rd I made BD (before David) so we don't talk about that. The only beanie pattern I have actually read and followed was on Rachel's Crochet Spot, but I didn't actually finish the beanie! Instead it ended up as a flower in my day of crochet trials.

Now, in the last two days, I have made four more beanies with the wool I bought from Lincraft, including these two that are baby sized! (For these I used a 4mm hook and Lincraft DK yarn in Autumn and Turquoise mixes). They are just sooo cute, I can't undo them to redo again now, how could I? I particularly like the handy hookloop on the autumn one, and the hyperbolic brim on the aqua one, how sweet! But I don't know anyone who might make use of them, perhaps I will get a doll or a teddy that can wear them?

... lol ;-)

A trip to the Library and Lincraft

Every Wednesday I plan to post on my blog about venturing outside, sometimes tagging along with Outdoor Wednesday. Today I'd like to include some pictures of a particularly spectacular snowflake bush which is currently flowering and welcomes you as you drive into our apartment's complex.

When I turned up for my Monday morning 'meeting' I was unhappy to report that I had not managed to leave the house for the week, having found an excuse not to visit my family on Saturday as planned. So after the meeting I went to my local Lincraft store, and while I was there I poked my head in the library which is in the same building.

My visit to Lincraft went ok, it wasn't too busy so I was free to potter around in peace, and there was no waiting at the counter, which is a bonus for me. I bought some brightly coloured wool which was on special, I plan to make some children's beanies with it. In the photo you can see my first attempt which is too big and has to be undone. I also bought some new cotton for edging face-washers! They didn't have any white, so I chose a nice lilac-grey. I bought 1.7m of stretch velvet which I plan to make a skirt with. I also paid a couple of dollars for some crochet patterns, knowing I can get crochet patterns off the internet for free, but I liked this particular collection and want to try making the bolero.

I find going to the library a little overwhelming, which I know is silly! I went and picked up some brochures, one is a very helpful map of the local nature reserve which I hope David and I can go to soon before it gets too cold. I walked around the whole library then wondered what to do next so made myself sit down as I feel stupid walking around aimlessly! After I looked through the brochures I noticed some quilting magazines, so got up to look more closely to see if there were some crochet ones but they only had knitting. I then went and had a look at some more information displays but couldn't find anything about the craft group that's supposed to be there at the end of this month. I didn't feel up to asking anyone about it so I left. I hope to go back to the library again soon, it would be great if I could sit in on that craft group in a couple  of weeks.

Wish me luck!
<3 <3 <3

Easy Ways to have a diet high in Omega 3

It's not always possible to eat fish every day, nor would you probably want to. One easy way we add omega 3 to our diet is to eat Soy and Linseed bread, as linseed is one of the highest sources of omega 3.

Canola oil is also high in omega 3 so we use margarine with canola oil in it. Although olive oil and rice bran oil are good to cook with, we also have canola oil as a choice. We also take fish oil capsules when we remember, not that David is in particular need of a diet high in omega 3. Finding simple ways like these to add omega 3 to our food means we don't have to think about it much, it's just part of our daily routine.

It's good to skip the meat and have a vegetarian meal regularly, which I'm so grateful my husband doesn't mind. Today we had toasted cheese and tomato sandwiches for lunch which were spiced up with our Awesome Sauce! So we add these into the Calorie King, as well as the daily exercise we've started doing, to work out your daily calorie intake. Yes, we are now on a diet and exercise regime, which is well overdue - the final straw being the Wii Fit told me I have now crept over into 'obese', WTF! Diet time!!!!

Cute, Small Brown Handbag

I'm really quite proud of how this turned out in the end, if I do say so myself!

At first I was worried how wonky it was, marrying up the edges evenly was a challenge. But because it was off-centre I was able to place the button enough to the side to appear intentional, and  I think the result is rather cute. I had several cute buttons to choose from as usual, all would match nicely, but I settled on the pearly tan coloured one.

When I told my sister Jenny that I could crochet simple handbags, she said she'd like one in 'earthy brown colours', hence why I chose this wool and button. I really hope she likes it because I made it with love and care, although I know it's highly likely the first thing she'll say will be to point out an imperfection. But you know sisters can be like that, hey? I used the shell stitch described in my Shell Crochet Pouch post, I just made it larger and added a handle, which was rather easy and fun!

Shell Crochet Pouch

I just made this modest crochet pouch because I thought the shell stitch was very pretty, and liked the multi-colours in this wool which shows off the stitch better than a mono-colour.  I have also started making a brown pouch for my sister because she asked me to make her one, and thought to make the stitch a little interesting so had a go at this shell stitch. Its kind of like this one here, but I did it off the top of my head at the time so it's different.

One row of this shell pattern takes two rows to complete. It goes something like this ...
start with a chain with length equal to pouch width
row 1 - (ch 2, 2 dc in 1st ch sp, sk 2 ch sp, sl st) to end, turn
row 2 - ch 2, 2 dc in 1st ch sp (sl st in top of shell in row 1, 3 dc in sl st in row 1) to end

I wonder if my mum would like this as a gift? She has so many lovely things, its very hard to find nice gifts for her. But mum was my very first crochet teacher. Thanks to her early lessons, I was I able to pick up a few pointers from youtube videos when I started hooking again in recent years. Hopefully she likes my simple gift as a thankyou for all the handicrafts that she taught me. I had several pretty buttons to choose from, and settled on the burnt orange one with a lovely shell-like shine to it.

I hope I get a chance to see mum soon so I can give it to her to say thanks!

Pink Coladas, Pink Porridge

There are oh so many ways to bring pink into your life! Even a little splash of pink in food and drink can help! Here are two examples I use regularly.

pink virgin coladas

My husband and I are in a very romantic phase at the moment. We've been together over three years now and I'm so happy our love is not diminishing like you're sometimes told it will. We keep 'lovey-dovey' ice cubes in our freezer, and pop them into our drinks all the time, although now winter is coming, maybe not so often anymore! One of our favourite drinks is "Pink Colada". Its just a normal pina colada, but instead of using pineapple juice we use apple and strawberry juice. Last night we made some, but this time we used Lychee Liquor instead of rum, and I served them in my special pink wine glasses, so these were some yumscious cocktails!

pink porridge

Now the weather is turning cooler, its time to use up the last of our porridge before I buy some more. I try and keep some raspberries in the freezer, buying them when they are on special, so we can throw a handful into our porridge, making it a very cute pink! Sometimes, we might have forest berries instead, or blueberries which are very healthy, and the porridge still comes out a rosy colour. Having pink porridge for breakfast is always a cute way to start the day, and my husband doesn't mind at all! (and I rather like the messy dribbles, they make my foto more artistic, kk? lol)

pink children's book

We were going to visit my family today but aren't going now. I'm disappointed because I got some gifts for the children, including this cute litte book, which I just noticed is Pink!
PS. Happy Mother's Day for tomorrow!

And don’t forget to stop by Beverly’s blog for more details on Pink Saturday!
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Each Sunday morning I like to visits lots of Pink Saturday posts, its a great thing to do while I have my morning coffee (as I'm in Australia, most of the posts appear for me during the night). I visit everyone who comments on my blog, and today I also visited all of our new Pink Saturday participants. One new blog I'd highly recommend a visit to is A Gathering of Thoughts by Rebecca, its a simply gorgeous site and very PINK!
<3 <3 <3

I Love My Guild

Earlier this year, I tried to give up my World of Warcraft guild but found out just how much it really means to me.

I've always felt a need to be productive in some way, I need to devote my passion and attention, and to these virtual friends whom I've never met irl, what we can achieve together is something meaningful. I know a lot of people scoff at these virtual relationships, but after hanging out there for the last five years I would have to suggest that those who criticise it don't fully understand what it involves.

After we strip away the facade we are forced to wear in reality, having to play sometimes superficial roles at work or for family, the avatar we choose to play ingame is, in part, a mere fantasy, this is true. But during our work together as a team striving to achieve group goals, and for some this is for years, the 'true colours' of a player always appear, sooner or later. Here you are in your pure form. The facade we wear for society is stripped away, and then what is left? Your real personality, your true self is always there, hidden under purple loot and boss kill achievements. So there we find true heroes, with strength of character that you might not see in the ordinary people around you, living ordinary lives.

And so I came to the conclusion that I love my guild, because to me it is meaningful, it gives me purpose. And at the end of the day, its all just a game, but so is the real world, and what all of us are really seeking is something meaningful to devote ourselves to with passion, to make our lives all the more richer.

Images are of the Bloodlust of Nagrand merchandise we recently ordered to celebrate my renewed passion for our guild! They arrived yesterday, and I've already ran the mugs through the dishwasher so the quality of these products looks great so far. And yes, you can see in the shot of the mouse pad, I do keep a bottle of port handy by my pc, complete with shot glass, for medicinal purposes only, mind you! Link to the BoN shop is on our guild website www.bloodustofnagrand.com

Free Jazz and Shiraz Concert

I've heard of Outdoor Wednesday, which is another tag-along blog which would be good for me to participate in. Go to "A Southern Daydreamer" for more details.

Every week I would like to write about my progress with getting back outside to do stuff on my own again, and I'm happy to say last week has been a good start! The highlight of out-of-the-house activities for me last week was the free Jazz and Shiraz concert put on by the Logan City Council at the Kingston Butter Factory. I had so much fun! Although of course I didn't go on my own, David came with me.

The mellow crowd were just our style, the food was better than your usual hotdogs and hamburgers, and shiraz was for sale by the glass so I got two! We had oven-fired pizza which was made with a portable pizza oven right before our eyes! We also tried the "roo on a stick", which was a succulent sample of kangaroo fillet skewered and cooked to perfection. This was particularly good for me, it's been very hard to get good kangaroo steak since moving to Brisbane. The outdoor event reminded me of Darwin, but thankfully no real home-sickness to speak of, although these kinds of concerts  are something I do miss from my old home. Even though the food was a little on the expensive side, it was well worth it, and the concert itself was free so it was a cheap night out all up.

Then of course, there was the music. We only got to see three of the four acts, we saw all of the performance by The West End Composers Collective, which funnily enough isn't mentioned on their website. It's a pity as I was trying to find out the name of the vocalist, with whom I was very impressed and that doesn't happen often with vocalists! I figure if I can sing something, its a bit 'meh' for me, but in all my time singing, even at my most prime, I Never sounded as good as this vocalist. Her quality of tone was outstanding, like liquid honey, and she was very apt at the jazz scat, which I found hard to do myself when studying it. I thought her name was Holly something... but maybe it was Hannah? I'm not sure, but well worth the effort to get out of the house to hear this live! Another good thing about this trip was that we tried out our new Go Cards for the first time when we caught the train, and my verdict is that it was terrific! I'll be getting back on the trains on my own in no time, I'm sure!
Thanks for listening <3 <3 <3

Sushi on a Sunday

I love sushi and David has learned how to make it quite well! For lunch, we make 3 rolls with a simple filling of tuna and carrots. Because we have run out of wasabi, we used our very own home-made Awesome Sauce and some mayonnaise. We did try and make our own mayonnaise once, but that was epic fail so we'll have to try that again another day! I'm David's kitchen hand, preparing the carrots, tuna, other ingredients and equipment, he prepares the rice with the sushi vinegar as I'm much more likely to screw that bit up!

David gets creative for the camera by making a pattern with the filling for one of the sushi rolls! He also has developed a deft hand for the trick of rolling the perfect sushi roll /nomnomnom