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.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
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!
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!
Monday, December 03, 2012
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.
Maybe tomorrow I'll start making more bunting. After tidying the bedroom, and mopping the floor.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
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?
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?
Friday, November 02, 2012
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!
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!
Thursday, February 02, 2012
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.
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.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Cross Stitch Success
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.
"Wisdom tells me I am nothing; love tells me I am everything"
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.
"Wisdom tells me I am nothing; love tells me I am everything"
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Friday, November 04, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Our Kitchen
Looked like this when we first moved in:
After ripping up the lino and getting the floors polished, it began to look much better. However, the cupboards didn't go all the way to the wall, there was no continuous bench and no pantry. I guess I lived it with for a remarkably long time before I got really fed up with it.
Now, a year after we have moved in, our kitchen looks like this:
Yesterday we pulled all the cupboards out, ripped of the rangehood and cleaned down the walls. I've painted the parts of the walls that will show when the new kitchen is installed, but meh about everything else (it still looks gross, but we have cleaned those walls a number of times now. There is no saving them.)
Meanwhile, the contents of the kitchen are boxed up and occupying precious dining room space. The fridge almost looks like it belongs next to the piano there.
After ripping up the lino and getting the floors polished, it began to look much better. However, the cupboards didn't go all the way to the wall, there was no continuous bench and no pantry. I guess I lived it with for a remarkably long time before I got really fed up with it.
Now, a year after we have moved in, our kitchen looks like this:
Yesterday we pulled all the cupboards out, ripped of the rangehood and cleaned down the walls. I've painted the parts of the walls that will show when the new kitchen is installed, but meh about everything else (it still looks gross, but we have cleaned those walls a number of times now. There is no saving them.)
Meanwhile, the contents of the kitchen are boxed up and occupying precious dining room space. The fridge almost looks like it belongs next to the piano there.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Photos, Updates and Jeans Quilt
The moment has finally arrived! After leaving the camera at school during the holidays, i've been unable to share with the wonderful world wide web the exciting things i've been doing recently... until now!
Firstly, this is my Jeans Quilt. I cut up 2 pairs of old work pants (black and camel), 2 pairs of Jeans (Steve's and mine), the suit pants that Steve wore at our wedding (the zip broke) and a pair of cargo shorts (Steve's). Then, I sewed them all together. :D
The back is a big peice of fuzzy warm blue fleece material that I bought with my Spotlight christmas voucher (thank you Maria!). All in all, it fits a king single bed beautifully and is an excellent quilt for the couch in winter. The pockets are all still usable and are super fun!
This is my tuba! It is the tuba that I am borrowing for the Brisbane Arts Theatre 75th anniversary Gala Concert. It is a Eb, which has been challenging to learn and my breath control is not what it once was, but is very fun to play. :)
And finally....
Curtains! During the holidays I was constructive and sewed the fun material that we got at IKEA into some super fun curtains. Our room has the blue stripes (pretty basic, so we don't detract from the awesome purple wall).
The spare room has the same stripes but multi colours! (sorry for the bad photo :P)
And we were going to do the other room (currently where Sammie lives) the same, but they ran out of material, so we got ....
Spots! I was really practical and even used the cordless drill to put holes in the window frames and screwed the hooks in for the ties. The bedrooms all got their own special ties, but I was a bit over sewing by the end of the curtains and I didn't want to cut more material, so the curtains in the dining room got some recycled David Jones ribbon. :D Also, I did some fancy stuff in the kitchen. Fun curtains!
After I had finished all that, I still had some material left so I made some covers for the boxes that go under our bed for extra storage. I really like the boxes under the bed now. They look so funky! I've put all my kimono stuff in there. :D
And that is all.
Firstly, this is my Jeans Quilt. I cut up 2 pairs of old work pants (black and camel), 2 pairs of Jeans (Steve's and mine), the suit pants that Steve wore at our wedding (the zip broke) and a pair of cargo shorts (Steve's). Then, I sewed them all together. :D
The back is a big peice of fuzzy warm blue fleece material that I bought with my Spotlight christmas voucher (thank you Maria!). All in all, it fits a king single bed beautifully and is an excellent quilt for the couch in winter. The pockets are all still usable and are super fun!
This is my tuba! It is the tuba that I am borrowing for the Brisbane Arts Theatre 75th anniversary Gala Concert. It is a Eb, which has been challenging to learn and my breath control is not what it once was, but is very fun to play. :)
And finally....
Curtains! During the holidays I was constructive and sewed the fun material that we got at IKEA into some super fun curtains. Our room has the blue stripes (pretty basic, so we don't detract from the awesome purple wall).
The spare room has the same stripes but multi colours! (sorry for the bad photo :P)
And we were going to do the other room (currently where Sammie lives) the same, but they ran out of material, so we got ....
Spots! I was really practical and even used the cordless drill to put holes in the window frames and screwed the hooks in for the ties. The bedrooms all got their own special ties, but I was a bit over sewing by the end of the curtains and I didn't want to cut more material, so the curtains in the dining room got some recycled David Jones ribbon. :D Also, I did some fancy stuff in the kitchen. Fun curtains!
After I had finished all that, I still had some material left so I made some covers for the boxes that go under our bed for extra storage. I really like the boxes under the bed now. They look so funky! I've put all my kimono stuff in there. :D
And that is all.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The wall is finished!
This is just the overview for you all - It's kind of the thing that you have to look at for a long time and some of it you are never going to get anyway. I have to say that I was very influenced by Jimmy Needham's amazing lyrics while I did this. Also, sorry about the spelling mistake (if you can find it). It's very Paula to have it there though. Colour choice was simply because that's the paint we had lying around. I think it's funky and cool. :D Glad it's done.
Here are some close ups -
My tribute to the long hours spent playing Plants Vs Zombies this holidays. :) Good times. Great Zen Garden.
Oddly enough, this is a Viking ship with a Zerg emblem on the sail....
Rapunzel's Tower... Tangled... Do I need to say more?
Doctor Who... If only the TARDIS would park in our living room....
This is just the overview for you all - It's kind of the thing that you have to look at for a long time and some of it you are never going to get anyway. I have to say that I was very influenced by Jimmy Needham's amazing lyrics while I did this. Also, sorry about the spelling mistake (if you can find it). It's very Paula to have it there though. Colour choice was simply because that's the paint we had lying around. I think it's funky and cool. :D Glad it's done.
Here are some close ups -
My tribute to the long hours spent playing Plants Vs Zombies this holidays. :) Good times. Great Zen Garden.
Oddly enough, this is a Viking ship with a Zerg emblem on the sail....
Rapunzel's Tower... Tangled... Do I need to say more?
Doctor Who... If only the TARDIS would park in our living room....
Saturday, January 15, 2011
In the last 4 weeks, our bathroom has gone from this:
to this:
Still waiting on putting in the shower screen and the toilet, but everything works and it's all very shiny. Renovating a bathroom however, is a very complicated task. Part of me still can't believe that this is the result of our labour. That we have done it. Then I remember the things we botched slightly and I know it was us.
The thing is, the bathroom is not square, straight or plumb at all. Walls are not at 90 Degrees to the floor, the floor is not perfectly horizontal, etc. So when you try to measure things, put things in, put things on, things don't work out exactly as they should. What you end up with is something that looks ok on the surface but actually wouldn't pass a quality inspection.
God says a few times in the bible that he is going to measure us with a plumb line. A line that is perfectly straight and set. A line that we don't measure up to. We are not a straight people. Often I feel like I am like our bathroom, not straight or plumb, but close enough that on the surface you will see something that is ok.
But it's not ok. God looks closer, at my heart and he measures me with a plumb line and knows I don't measure up.
Amos 7:7-9
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
I dug a trench today. :D
At the back of the house there is a garden bed that backs on to the house and is too high up. When it rains, the water runs off the garden bed straight under the house. Given that Steve and I have decided that I shall look after the garden's while he does the lawn, the digging of the trench for water redirection fell to my area of outdoors.
It is very hard to dig a trench next to a house, especially when the remains of the plant you have just killed are still in the garden bed. It took me a long time to even take a snip of the hibiscus plants that were in the garden bed. They were so alive and healthy and flowering. It was very sad to have to cut them all back. I was living in a dream where I thought I might be able to transplant them, and it may still be possible, but you really have to dig out a lot of the roots which takes a lot of time.
I contented myself with simply cutting off the pretty flowers that the plants had to offer and putting them in my water-gauge-vase that I usually use for watering my plants.
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