Hot and Not...

Hot: The weather.
Not: The frizz.

Hot: Camping holidays.
Not: Packing up in the rain.

Hot: Beach days.
Not: Ruined camera.

Hot: New camera.
Not: Paying for it.


Yes, we're back from our delightful camping holiday. The first with bubs in tow. And it was surprisingly relaxing and a lot of fun. Except for The Attack of the Insane Bushrat, Parts 1, 2 & 3. Ergh.

We stayed at a national park on the North Coast - real camping! No showers, pit toilets, BYO water, buuuumpy dirt access roads, cheap as chips. It was fantastic. We spent the time with my sister and her family before they head off on a year-long around-Australia adventure, and I had planned on taking many photos of the beautiful surrounds (crystal water, rainforest, heath), people and wildlife along the way. Unfortunately, forgetting the memory stick made that somewhat difficult, and packing up in the pouring rain (the only two hours of rain the entire 5 days we were there, and it's when we're packing up. WTH?!) while our camera sat, unnoticed, out in the weather, means that there'll be no more photos of anything until we get a replacement. Annoying.

Despite that, it was such a wonderful break. Just to completely unplug for a few days, check out, switch off, it was incredible. I found myself thinking more about the year ahead and getting excited about our plans. It's funny what a little breathing room can do for you.

Christmas Joy

We've had a delightful Christmas over here at Chez Trove. Particularly delightful, as it was our first as a family of three. And even though Miss Isy is a little too young to really 'get' Christmas, Sparky and I had a ball! And the bub thought that wrapping paper was the best thing ever.





I hope you all have had wonderful Christmases/holidays with family and friends.

As usual, thoughts now turn to 2010, but I'm trying to keep them at bay. Just for another day or two. The weather is so drizzly and lovely. Perfect for cricket watching. Leftover eating. Tea drinking. Toy playing. Book reading. Husband snuggling. Baby tickling.

Flergenblech.

Sometimes, when things just get a little too difficult, my muscles ache a little too much and it becomes increasingly troublesome to drag myself through the day, it is worthwhile stopping, pondering and making up a word that sums that feeling up.

Hello, flergenblech.

In other, less insane news, I am using this photo to get me through the next few weeks:



Sparky, Isy and I are heading to Byron Bay in a few weeks time for a much MUCH needed break and the thought of it is currently the only thing keeping me from getting 'Flergenblech' tattooed across my forehead (that is, the only thing keeping me sane).

I've also compiled a list of events I hope to participate in over the next 12 months and that is an incredibly exciting and motivating thing for me. The rundown is only approximate because I don't know what I will or won't be accepted into at this stage, but here it is:

- Stitches and Craft - 19-23 August @ Rosehill Racecourse
- pyd Designer Markets - October @ pyd, Waterloo
- Magnolia Square - 19-21 November @ Royal Randwick
- Glenbrook Spring Festival - November
- Glenbrook Markets - October, November, December
- The Rocks Markets (if I can get someone to work for me) - October, November, December
- The Finders Keepers - December
- Youngblood Christmas Markets
- Life inStyle - February 2010
- Royal Easter Show (Fashion & Style Pavillion) - April 2010

Helpful in motivating me, and helpful in making me feel exhausted. I think I'll tackle the majority of these after the holiday.

For now it's back to Stitches and Craft prep, among other things. Today I am proofing my resin booklet, taking Isy for a check-up, getting a sneaky coffee, catching up with my sister, assembling my kick-arse new sign, applying for two of the above-mentioned events and a retailer showcase called (m)art in Brisbane. I also need to do another two pours and start drilling an enormous pile of pendants and earrings. Excellent!

My weekend...

...was spectacular!

Sparky, Miss Is and I took the weekend off, headed to the coast and did a whole lot of eatin', coffee-drinkin', laughin', relaxin' and g-droppin'.

This was the view from the comfy daybed in our room. Not bad.



And while the weather was tres ordinaire, we did not care. The weekend papers were read, the coffee was excellent, the meals were fab and the company was the best.



Miss Is has decided to celebrate her three-month birthday by becoming much more engaging, delightful and, at times, challenging. It's far more difficult to convince a three month old that yes, it is in fact time for a sleep, than it was to convince a two month old. The pay-off is that she's discovering new things every day (some of the sounds are amazing, considering the size of her) and we get to tag along for the ride. Pretty sweet deal I think.