A Cracker of a Week

Have you ever spent a holiday at home, without going away for a trip and two weeks later experience this conversation... 
Them, "How was your holiday?"  
Me, "Yeh great thanks."  
Them, "What did you get up to?"     
Me (straining my brain trying to remember what I actually spent my 2 weeks doing), "Oh you know, just catching up on things".
What a waste!  In the spirit of 'reaching full bloom' I have made a conscious decision to participate in at least one special activity each day of the school holidays that I would not normally do as part of my day-to-day agenda during the term.  I'm going to document that activity each day so that at the end of the two weeks I can look back and remember what a marvellous holiday we had together as a family.  And also so that when people ask me what I did during the holidays...I can send them directly to this blog;  thus allowing my brain to no longer need to strain.




Monday 

Officially the first day of September school holidays.  Our plans for a camping trip had to be cancelled as TechnoHusband and BoyWonder were quite a bit 'under the weather'.  Now the weather itself today was rather overcast and turned into an exciting afternoon storm.   So I had no other choice of course but to dedicate the day to crochet. Oh the joy! To most I will sound like a Nana, but the crafties will know the guilty pleasure of being able to spend a decent amount of uninterrupted time working on a project.  I feel a bit selfish and sneaky when I crochet. I'm always working on something as a gift for someone else; but I just enjoy it SO much that it must be 'bad'. 

Tuesday

Tried a new recipe for banana bread; gluten and dairy free. Not bad, the LSA was pretty strong so nice if you like your bread  'nutty' and it makes a heavier style loaf.  Here's the recipe: keep an eye on the time, the coconut crust can ( and did!) burn. 
N.B. T= tablespoon t= teaspoon  

 2 T desiccated coconut

1 1/2 cups mashed overripe banana (about 3 large bananas)

1 1/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2t gluten-free baking powder

1t mixed spice

2 1/2 cups desiccated coconut

1 3/4 cups linseed, sunflower and ground almonds (LSA) 

1. Preheat oven 180*c/160*c fan-forced.  Grease 11cm x 21cm loaf pan; coat base and sides with coconut. Shake out excess coconut.

2. Combine banana, sugar, oil, baking powder, and spice in large bowl; stir in extra coconut and LSA.  Spread mixture into pan; smooth surface.

3. Bake bread about 55 minutes.  Stand in pan 10 minutes; turn, top-side up, onto bak!ing-paper-covered wire rack to cool. 

Wednesday

Big Day! Enjoyed an intimate, fine-dining experience at a very ritzy restaurant.  Actually  it was the R.S.L, with the 2 for 1 voucher TechnoHusband got for his birthday, and Nana and Pop...and...these people  ???

Nana gave me some of her yarn for crochet, and Pop gave me these from his Garden of Pride and Joy. Are they not the most beautiful roses you've seen today? 

I also helped TH clean out his computer room. I have to say, I am VERY proud of the amount of out-dated or un-repairable  'stuff' he agreed to get  rid of.  He tends to get quite attached to his whizz-whats and gig- zigs.  It was a special moment when he accepted that the '92 VHS player no longer needed to be stored for 'spare parts'. 

Thursday 

After a busy morning, my parents graciously shouted us lunch at my favourite hangout, here...

Lunch was good, but dessert was AhhMaahhzing!! Have you ever tried Tartufo? Possibly the yummiest dessert I have EVER eaten.  Mum and I shared, and we both decided we needed to make a monthly Tartufo habit. Anyone want to join our new addiction? See you at Sunnies!

Following lunch was a visit to the Air Musem. This was mainly for the interest and entertainment of BoyWonder and his Grandpa, but I have to say I really quite enjoyed the displays too.  I think I'm entering a new realm of 'outings' - 'Places that used to be really boring but are now fun because my kid likes it'.  

I'm loving these special times spent with family and friends.  I'm starting to make the most of every opportunity, and to embrace these moments each day as they come.  Sounds cliche I know, but I really am that person who gets so caught up in housework, work-work and 'keeping on top' of everything that I'm at risk of missing a golden memory-making session. 

Friday 

So nothing overly exciting today - perhaps I  failed my goal of something special for everyday, but hey...the dishes, washing, cleaning, ironing, and appointments do have to be taken care of sometime.  Although I did manage to convince TechnoHusband to go grocery shopping with us which is about as rare as a solar eclipse. Oh, and I made strawberry coulis to go with TH's birthday cake for tomorrow.  Does that sound flash?  The strawbs are so good at the moment!

Saturday & Sunday

Wow!  What a fantastic day!  The city of Brisbane generously honoured TechnoHusband's birthday with the magic of Riverfire.  Good job Brisbane. We were all more than satisfied with the low-flying jets, the square dancing helicopters, the Star Wars lasers and the brilliant fireworks display.  An even more deserving thanks however, goes to TechnoHusband's wonderful parents and family.  We were able enjoy the display and a fantastic shared meal, inside the amazing unit his parents booked.  We were up high and overlooking the river, with people we love.  What a great way to celebrate a great guy, and share fun times together. 

 This is what it's all about people. 

P.S My phone's little camera didn't do the fireworks justice, but check back again soon and I will have a few professional shots from a great photographer and great mate. 

Me-er Than Me

My first blog.  My first 'post'.  Well...here goes! 

I have some friends who blog and I always enjoy and admire their ability to put thoughts into words, and who are then brave enough to share them with others. I must admit that once or twice I have entertained the very dreamy and unrealistic fantasy of becoming an renowned authoress; and with both of my Grandmothers having had written and published a book, I daresay a creative gene or two could be floating around in my body.  I suppose this might be somewhat of an experiment- a chance to discover more about myself, a creative outlet and a chance to share my ramblings with anyone who will listen. 

So I read a page about how to create a blog. It said to start by figuring out your theme.  It said that people don't like to read about anything and everything, so find your passion and write about that. My passion! HOW do I create a theme when there is just SO MUCH to be passionate about?! I could never choose one single passion or focus for my life. I am a very passionate person. Gosh, I'd even go so far as to say I'm passionate about being passionate!! I am the kind of person who becomes 'involved'. Sometimes too deeply, and too often and in too many things, but that's who I am.  I've decided to embrace it. I am passionate about family, mothering, teaching, music, children, crafting, my church, good food, learning, and 'making a difference'.  Sometimes I flit between passions, and sometimes I am about all of them at once. Whichever it is, I am whole-heartedly, enthusiastically and genuinely 'in'.  I once taught a little boy who loved everything. If a student mentioned their toy racing cars he would chime in, 'Oh I love those!'  If someone spoke about their dog, 'Oh I love dogs!'  Their Dad, 'Oh I love my Dad!'  The apple in a lunchbox, 'Oh I love apples!'  You had it/liked it/saw it/thought of it? He LOVED it! I can totally understand where he is coming from. There are just too many good things in life to not to love them all!

The skeptical looks and expressions of 'here she goes again' and 'how long do you think this phase will last?' that come when I pull out the crochet hook, the running shoes, the iPad to blog; don't bother me anymore. This is me! This is what I do! And I've decided to like it and own it.  No one alive is me-er than me. And no one alive is you-er than you.  Yes, I have most certainly paraphrased Dr Suess'  beautiful, simple and perfect words. I mean really, that guy had it all figured out.

So there it is. If you are one of those people the man wrote about in the 'How To' who don't like to read about anything and everything, this blog probably isn't for you. I may not have a theme all about gardening, or parenting, or cooking...but I intend to create a journal of sorts.   If nothing else but for myself to be able to reflect, to recognise, to remember and to relish.

Recently a young woman of love, courage, hope, faith and beauty (inside and out) entered my life.  In less than two years she left an impact; a gift; a blessing  that will stay with me for the rest of my life.  A little over a week ago she left this earthly home to join our Heavenly Father. She will forever be remembered by her husband and three gorgeous children, her family, and many friends.  Her body had succumbed to a long, brave battle against breast cancer. Many would say ' a life cut short'. But as a dear friend articulated so beautifully, she was as a rose who had reached 'full bloom'. That spectacular moment when the petals have grown and opened to their absolute potential. To release the utter and extraordinary beauty of its truest colour, of its fullest and sweetest fragrance. To be given. To be accepted. To be cherished.  Sooner or later, our petals will fall.  All I know is that I want to spend my 'time' reaching full bloom.  And if that's not as good a 'theme' as any, I don't know what is.

A bit deep for a first post of a first blog? Probably. But I did tell you, I'm a very passionate person!

So tell me...what's your passion, smashin'?