Just finished reading the Boleyn Inheritance, and yesterday I read book two of Game of Thrones. Two very different novels, completely different content, although I suppose you could argue they are both about royalty.... but they've left me feeling pretty depressed.

Both have a really blunt view of sex/marriage and women in general. Men control things. Men play games and use women for their own purposes. There is no triumph of honesty or goodness anywhere. No matter what the characters do in either books, the message seems to be that the only way to survive is to lie and cheat and only look out for your own interests.

Depressing.

I'd say this is why I write fairy tales, and why I read teenage fiction. Things turn out a lot better in those worlds. Sure it's less complicated, but at least people are fighting for the right things.

Steve and I have been married for four years now. It's still super exciting and fun. I wonder if that will ever change, but I doubt it. :P Marriage is fun! Hooray! Last weekend we went away to Boonah, which is a bit of a strange choice, but pretty much, we just wanted to go somewhere closeish that would be quiet and relaxing.

It was relaxing. We stayed at a little cottage that had creaky wood floors and cute table cloths on everything. They also gave us breakfast which was massive, eggs, bacon, sausages (fancy sausages - chicken, cheese and chives and pork), tomatoes and mushrooms (lots and lots of mushrooms). We ended up eating huge breakfasts both days and also eating the sausages for dinner as well. Delicious.

It was a bit overcast and cloudy, so Steve didn't get to look at any stars, which is a shame. Star gazing seems like a pretty hit and miss hobby to me, unlike sewing, you can do that any time. :D

Coming home, we drove by Tamborine and went on a smallish walk to some waterfalls and then had a picnic at the look out. We played Take Two and Speed and read lots. It was very fun.

Yesterday I didn't do much, just cleaned up around the house, did a load of washing, threw out some old uni stuff, read a book. Today I'm being more productive. I've written all the Christmas cards, cleaned the bedroom, watered the lawn, updated a blog and now I'm going to go do some baking. Yay!

Day one of holidays/maternity leave and I'm already running out of things to do. Admittedly  it's much harder when your feet are the size of saucepans and you are eight months pregnant, but even so. I've tidied the living room, re shelved the dvd's, cleaned out the bookshelf, taken 4 loads out to the rubbish bins, done 2 loads of washing, watched 2 movies, had 3 naps and read a half a book, and it's only 3 in the afternoon. I also watered the grass, swept the house, cleaned the toilet and ate food there as well, and people stopped by... I've done a lot. I don't feel tired, this is a restful day for me!  

Maybe tomorrow I'll start making more bunting. After tidying the bedroom, and mopping the floor.

Waiting for Jesus

This year, I've been reading through the bible chronologically in my quiet times. It's been really interesting and fun, although when it was June and I was still in the Old Testament, I was honestly wondering if I'd make it. That said, it's given me something to think about.

I was in the Old Testament until September. That's 9 months of getting ready for Jesus. 9 months of seeing God's people do some crazy stuff, have highs and lows, mess up and then get forgiven again. 9 months of learning just how rotten we are and just how much God loves us anyway.

Then bam - Jesus is here! He is revolution  He is intentional. He is life changing. And 6 weeks later, gone. Well, not gone, but died and risen and I'm suddenly reading all about what his followers are doing.

So time is spent waiting for Jesus, so much changes because of him and then all too soon it's over and in some ways it's up to us. What are we going to do about all this amazing Jesus?

In reflection, I have a great appreciation for God's patience with people - I mean, it was only 9 months before Jesus turned up, but in reality, it was much longer than that. I know I need to learn God's patience. While I do so though, I need to look at how things are ending this year. What am I doing about the amazing Jesus who I spent 9 months waiting to read about?

Bunting

Well, it's been 9 months since I've posted and I must say I'm horrified at myself. What happened? I miss blogging. Maybe I've gotten too lazy, or my dislike of participating in facebook has lead me to think I don't want to participate in technology at all. Not true! I'm a quality digital citizen... well... maybe. In any case, today's post is super fun and I'm excited.

For the last few weeks I've been making bunting. Bunting is strips/streamers of little triangle flag things that make everything cooler, better and just generally, more fun. 2 weeks ago, I made a long string of specifically Christmas bunting, and then subsequently cut out another 200 or so triangles and made some general bunting. It's a great way to use up old, scrap material and makes everything seem like a festival.

This is now the view from our front door. There is more bunting than you can see here, but you get the idea. I had to put up 3 hooks (where the wall used to be) to hang the bunting across the living/dining/hallway area, but I just used the quality 3M hooks that will peel off one day.

You walk in, it's like a carnival. Something fun is definitely happening. You can see the difference between the normal bunting and the Christmas bunting, but both are super fun!!

This bunting is across 90% of the windows in the house (even the bedrooms have it). In the living/dining (where most of the bunting is) it moves in the breaze. It is wonderful and fun.

It will be a sad day when the bunting comes down, but the good news is, I can put it up again whenever I want! Hooray for bunting and the fun that comes along with bunting!

Wall no more!!



Steve stayed home yesterday and took some great shots of the wall being dismantled. :D



I can't believe it's gone. I'm still double taking every time I walk by.



The room is so big looking now, the high ceelings are even more apparent. Huge!!



We are still deciding on where to put things, but we've got time. The builder guy (who we reccomend highly!) is cominng back today to finish off bits and pices. Just have to find the time to paint it now. :P



Steve and I standing in the space where the wall used to be.

It's Alive!!


After cross stitching 4 to 5 hours every day for about the last month, I've finished the cross stitch. :D Hooray! It's very pretty and I'll have to get it framed.

The most ridiculous stitch that I did had to be the "Rug Stitch" (the red square on the left just over half way down) and I honestly can't tell the difference between the "Tete de Boeuf" (the first row of "Y" looking stitches that alternate up and down) and the "Y Stitch" (second row of "Y" looking stitches all the in the same direction).

Other than that, I think it looks pretty good.