And the winner is.....

Drawn under fairly poorly supervised conditions, the winner of my 'thank you for following' giveaway is.....the lovely Ms Cindy from Bugandpop. Yay, hurrah *round of polite applause*. Thank-you to the lovely Peeps that joined in and a big "hello" to the newest additions on the conga line, I do hope you'll stay and play, I hope to be much more forthcoming with rambling little blog posts when the conclusion of the school year dust settles.

In the meantime I hope you are all enjoying dance concerts (oh yes, we will be so much wiser to all that next year and I hear that g&t in a plastic drink bottle is the current beverage of choice for the discerning dance mama), various class presentations (still trying to work out how the Thriller zombie inspired dance performance from Le Artiste fits in with any sort of Christmas theme. Although it must be said that I am probably doing a masterful interpretation of a zombie at the moment, so perhaps those nine year olds are more on the mark then they realise) and gnawing on the hundred or so spare candy canes collecting at the bottom of your children's school bags.

Yep, the countdown has begun and the smell of Christmas is in the air. Do you know that smell ? Part cinnamon and nutmeg and part frantic desperation with a top note of childish glee. It's all Eau De Christmas Peeps, take a nice big lungful and enjoy.

Eye Spy.....Joy

I had no idea that choosing this weeks Eye Spy theme would be such a reality check. I have spent a lot of time this year whinging and moaning about all the things that have made me unhappy, but when I sat down and thought about what I would like to include today, I have realised that I have an extraordinarily long list of things that bring me joy. Who would've thunk it ?

I don't have a pic, but it goes without saying that my family and friends bring me joy. They can also cause me many new grey hairs and much frustration, but the joy is right up there.

How good is it seeing the looks on the kids faces on Christmas morning ? I love giving gifts, it makes me bubble over with happiness.

The kids artwork. This is me, with green hair, as drawn by Petal. Check out those eyelashes and the mega tan (?) phwoar.

Bubbly and chocolate cup cakes. How could you not smile at that combination ?

Watching the snow peas creeping up the trellis frame. Quite fascinating and beautiful to behold.

If you would like to see some more joy, go and check out Cindy's, I bet you're smiling and nodding your head by the time you're done.

Eye Spy.....Adventures.

I know, I know, this is still not Paris part two, but bear with me, I promise it will come shortly. To be perfectly honest I wasn't going to play along with eye spy this week, because I couldn't think of any adventure pics to post. Then a light bulb went off above my head (completely alarming Fat Cat who was trying to crawl inconspicuously on to my lap) and I thought about my childhood diaries, full of stories, love found, love lost, friendships and significant milestones. Now there's an adventure or two folks.

I also thought of a wonderful memoir that my grandmother put together (that's her up there on the right), starting with some family history from 1848 and continuing on until 1984. It is absolutely amazing and I'm so glad that she took the time to compile her story so that it can be passed down to my children. With her permission, I might share some of her adventures here, they will knock your socks off. You think you're having a bad day ? Try being five months pregnant with your third child, paralysed from the neck down with meningitis and popped in to a padded hospital room so your screams don't disturb the other patients. Now that folks is a bad day.

Thanks Louise for your theme, I think I may have to find a quiet corner to start re-reading again and for more interesting adventures, trek on over to Cindy's neck of the woods.

Cindy has also asked me to come up with next weeks theme and I have chosen.........

Eye Spy...Joy.

It can be anything that makes you smile, that improves your mood on a bad day and that basically just makes you feel good.

Eye Spy...My Favourite Corner of the House.

Yes, it would appear that I'm still a touch behind the eight ball this week. Slowly but surely I shall be getting back into the regular groove.

It's time to play Eye Spy with Cindy again and I don't think it will come as any great surprise to discover that my favourite corner is my creative nook at the end of the dining table.

It's a nice space, I can look ahead at the tops of the eucalyptus trees outside the kitchen window. To the left are the glass doors which open on to the side balcony (the spot where I happily sip on a glass of wine whilst manning the barbecue on balmy summer evenings). And to the right is the living room so I can keep an eye on the young folk or just gaze out the floor to ceiling windows at all the lovely trees.

Truth be told, I like all the corners in our house. It's a bright, airy home and I think it has a lovely warm vibe. This is one Waffler who is very content in her nest.

Eye Spy....Something I shouldn't eat but do anyway.

Last week, as you probably well know, I completely over-indulged in these sweet little morsels. Terribly naughty I know, but you just can't stop at one, I promise you.

Today I am atoning for my sins and ate a great big bowl of this. Aaaah, that's much better now isn't it ? I feel so virtuous that I just may leap up out of the chair and go for a jog around the block.....or, maybe not....wouldn't want to send the body into shock now would I ?

Jog (or gently meander) over to Cindys for more naughty eye spy treats and thanks to Jennifer Rose for this weeks delicious theme.

Eye Spy....An inspirational person in my life

Have you ever been at the cross-roads ? As a person who harbours slightly neurotic and excessive planning skills, finding myself recently at the cross-roads was a whole new experience, one that I did not particularly enjoy.

Then occurred a series of very fortunate events. An email inviting me to join a crazy phenomenon known as Facebook. To which I dutifully replied and set up my account. Then out of the blue, a friendship request from an old school friend. An old school friend who had been sorely missed for many years. She had a blog, a very well known blog, and so it was that the world of blogs opened up to me. She mentioned Twitter, well heck, I was on a roll, why not ? Suddenly the world had expanded ten fold, old friends, new friends, bloggers, tweeps, peeps, artists, cooks, mothers, crafters and witty wordsmiths.

This new world has delighted and inspired me in a way I had never imagined possible, new paths are appearing before me and I'm terribly excited to see where they may lead.

But in particular it has taken the words and actions of one extraordinarily talented, kind, generous and down-right delightful gal to get the ball rolling and my creative juices flowing. She rocks. She inspired me as a teenager and she down-right knocks my socks off now.

To find out who she is, click here.

Thanks again to the lovely Cindy for hosting eye spy and to Sally for this weeks, stop and think, theme.

I Spy.......Seasons change

I don't think that I am alone in wondering where this year has gone ? Spring already ? But I only made my all time happy dish, chicken casserole, twice in the cooler months *sigh*. It always leaves me feeling a little blue when it's time to push the casserole dish to the back of the cupboard, replacing it with the quiche flan tin (although just between you and me, I do quite enjoy a good quiche).

The clearest sign that the season is changing in the Waffler house is the style of footwear that is scattered next to the front door (yes, it kills me, but I am determined not to start arranging the shoes on a daily basis). It would seem that as the temperature rises, so does our need to air our tootsies, so out come the thongs (or flip flops, if you prefer). Oh yes, we are true blue Aussies, crazy Queenslanders and we love our thongs. Bring on summer, oh, and perhaps a fresh coat of lovely soft pink nailpolish..um...for me, not The Coach or Le Artiste...just to be clear.

For more of this weeks Eye Spy meme, flip flop your way over to Cindy's and thanks to Lisa for this weeks seasonal theme.

Eye Spy......Something blooming

Something blooming...a flower, an agapanthus (married to a horticulturist remember)...in spring.....*yawn*. Hey, I saw that sneaky *yawn* and guess what......I got you. Yes, this is a blooming flower but this is not my eye spy for today. My eye spy is the person behind the camera, little Petal, a blooming photographer. She loves to get her hands on the 'real' camera, then off she goes, totally snap happy and thrilled to pieces when she can see her images in all their glory on the computer screen. Of course the Barbie camera doesn't really cut the mustard, but Petal was happy to oblige when I asked if she could pretend to take a photo of the barren frangipani. I don't think she was particularly thrilled with the subject matter, but when it comes to striking a pose she is a consummate professional.

If you would like to see more eye-spy head on over to Cindys and thank-you to Holly for this weeks fun theme.

And by the way, I hope that all the daddys had a wonderful Fathers Day today. We luvs you, yes we do. xx

Eye Spy......Something soothing.

I just couldn't choose this week, so I found two things for Cindy's Eye Spy meme. Actually it was interesting this week to realise that as a self-confessed stress-head, I have gone about surrounding myself with stress-relief remedies. We moved to a lush, quiet mountain top. I discovered Pilates. I have a house full of candles which create a perfect, relaxing environment if I get the urge to soak in a bubble bath (full water tank permitting) and my music play list runs on repeat cycles of 'Chill Out' albums.

In retrospect, I should be the most chilled out person on the planet. But I'm not, so here are two of my favorite soothing activities : My Sunday morning warm beverage with a book of Suduko puzzles and my art nook bathed in mid-afternoon sunlight.

I'm not completely certain why doing Suduko puzzles relaxes me, but it does. I guess it has something to with the repetitive patterns, simplicity of the numbers and the satisfaction of completing a puzzle...oh yes, the brain can still fire up when it has to.

My art nook is my happy little corner in the dining room. A spot where I forget about all my worries whilst I play around with my paints and pencils. Soothing indeed.

Thanks again to Cindy over at bugandpop for hosting Eye Spy. I'm looking forward to seeing what helps others relax, breathe and drift into a state of soothed relief.

Eye Spy.....Theme for next week

So I've be given a small task, a little something to make the cogs and wheels whir and hum in my sometimes fuzzy wuzzy brain space. To come up with a theme for the Sunday Eye Spy meme hosted by Cindy at Bugandpop....hmmmm....*cue drum roll please*.....

Eye Spy...........Something soothing

I do hope that you'll come and play along, I would love to see what helps other people relax and chill. As any mother to a couple of lively young un's will attest, we need all the soothing and chillaxin' we can get.

Thanks Cindy for hosting this fun meme every week.

Eye Spy....Something I Want to Try

Image taken from ABC Delicious magazine, February 2009. Photography by Caren Alpert.

Thanks again to Cindy for hosting another week of Eye Spy, if you haven't yet, pop on over and see what everyone has added. Our theme for this week was brought to us by Kimono Reincarnate, and it's a good one, oh yes it is. The list of things that I would like to try could go on forever, arty things, crafty things, edible things, journeys and adventures....see what I mean.

But one thing which makes me go weak at the knees and sigh continuously is the thought of attending a banquet with Outstanding in the Field. *Sigh*, look there I go again. This wonderful idea was featured in the February 2009 edition of ABC Delicious and I think it sounds truly magical. From the fields to the table, it doesn't get much fresher then that. Unfortunately, Outstanding in the Field isn't available in Australia *small sob*....yet. See, that my friends is called optimism. But I'll just bet if we let them know about some of our fine locations and produce they'd be champing at the bit to come and set up Down Under. I guess in the meantime I shall settle with my humble barbecues whilst I patiently bide my time and wait and drool at the tempting photographs listed here. *Sigh*

Oh, by the way, Cindy has asked if I can think up a theme for next week and oooh yes, I would love to. So I shall give it some careful consideration and list my theme a little later. Thanks Cindy.

Eye Spy......Something Red

I'm playing along with Cindy's Eye Spy meme again today. This weeks theme was chosen by Ellieboo, something red. Do you love red ? I have to admit that I am rather partial to red objects, and I have pale children who seem to wear red rather nicely. Fiery red. Passionate red. Deep, glorious Oriental red. Thank-you Ellieboo, red was an excellent choice.

A pint sized bandit in red. Just hand over all the ripe strawberries, okay.

I was flicking through the August edition of Marie Claire when I stumbled across these gorgeous shots of scarlet gowns, taken by Hugh Stewart. Unfortunately my replication doesn't do the photo the justice it deserves, they are simply stunning photographs. It was hard to pick a favourite but I'm also going though a slight obsession with red Hunter gumboots.....look....red Hunter gumboots *sigh*. I can't explain why I love them so, but I do, so we'll just have to add that to my growing list of quirks.

My Creative Space

I'm not quite certain who began the 'My Creative Space' post idea, but if I'm not mistaken it may have been Kootoyoo. I have seen some lovely little posts pop up at Loobylu, Bugandpop and Hoppo Bumpo, so I thought it might be fun to join in.

My creative space is my lovely dining table (see Coach, I still love this dining table, it was worth every penny) which is also my work station, computer desk, nail painting area and.....oh yes, when the need arises, the place that we eat our meals.

Last week a picture popped into my head. It involved a young girl who was completely oblivious to a small black cat desperately trying to get her attention and a fluttering cherub taking aim on a balloon which housed a strategically placed love heart. Can you see where I was going with the idea ?

Today I had some time up my sleeve so I thought I'd try and sketch the image. I'm enjoying playing around with ink images with just a hint of colour. Unfortunately at the moment I'm limited by my felt tip fine liners (have I drooled over a lovely Rotring technical pen set ? Urm...maybe...) but as this is merely a hobby at the moment, I think that's okay. We are a family who loves to draw, oh yes we are, happy days in the Waffler home.