Shutters

Beaded Christmas Balls

Baker Murray

I am sitting in our shared study that now has white plantations shutters at the windows. Sure is a difference from having the brown cedar blinds. The room seem so much lighter. During the last two nights a breeze came up and both nights we had to wake during the night to close the windows as the breeze was causing the wooden blinds to knock on the window. Now we have the shutters we won't be disturbed. I took some before and after photos for you to look at, and used a bit of creativity within the Photoshop program.

While the man was installing the shutters today I made a second beaded christmas ball. My friends and I are planning on having a craft stall at our local market in late October, so I need to have my merchandise ready. I had to remember what my teacher Judy had taught me about making the balls, so I made the first one up last night as a refresher. Now I have the basic pattern down pat, I can get more creative. I even used a few swarovski crystals in the second one (blue/silver ball). Eventually I might even make some bead dangles to hang underneath the balls like my friends Judy & Jan do with their creations.

I think Murray thought he should get creative too, so he whipped up a loaf of fresh bread. The smell of it baking must have made the shutter man salivate. It really is a wonderful aroma. They say that when you are selling your house and have people through for an inspection, you should have bread baking to enhance their appreciation of the property!

Girl Friends

Jen & Leonie in front of Ficus Trees in Lattice Formation
Cute Llamas

Jen, Me, Gemma, Aunty Dympna skyping with Kim (on screen)

iPhone Geeks

Busy crafting and Photoshopping!

Don't you just love catching up with your girlfriends? You may recall I have mentioned Jen, the friend with whom I did my general nursing and midwifery (maternity) training. She has a younger sister Leonie, and we have known each other since 1970 - long before our husbands and children were on the scene. They both live with their families on the Gold Coast and at the last minute we arranged to have a girls' weekend here at our place in Ballina. They came prepared, each carrying their laptop and camera. From the minute they arrived in time for morning tea on Friday until the moment they left after lunch on Sunday, we were kept very busy with craft work or sharing computer (Photoshop & Skype) and iPhone skills. Jen had a new iPhone that she was getting used to, and as I have had mine for several months now, I was able to show her some handy hints to get the most out of her gadget. Leonie taught us how to use the photomail option in Photoshop which I find very handy, and Jen walked us through setting up the layers of a scrapbook page on Photoshop. We all learnt a lot.

Jen & Leonie wanted to check out their favourite shoe shop in the main street, so we wandered down there on the first day, and lo and behold, I found myself a pair of shoes to wear to my nephew's wedding. Now I just have to find a dress to go with them! Ha ha. Jen & Leonie never found any shoes...but they did find some other things!

For Friday lunch we went to a delightful cafe where there is a maze created out of ornamental figs (Ficus hillii) set on 1/2 acre. The maze contains more than 9000 trees and the paths are over 2 km in length. We were delighted to see some young llamas in the grounds, as were the group of children leaning over the fence trying to pat them. On the way home we dropped into a small country shopping mall and found some pretty bulbs for me to plant in readiness for next spring. After an afternoon spent learning new Photoshop skills, we got dressed up to greet our dinner guests - my sister Gem, her husband Bill and my Aunt Dympna. I had made salmon vol au vents served with oven baked potato chips (recipe courtesy of my brother Tony) and salad. Bill made a delicious apple and rhubarb pie for dessert, which was served with freshly whipped cream. As usual there was a lot of laughing to accompany the pleasure of sharing the meal.

Saturday started out very relaxed as we all went to a 45 minute meditation class run by my aunt. It was such a lovely day that we left meditation and walked across the road to a gallery cafe where my sister & aunt joined us for a coffee. Another day of craft followed before we visited my aunt to share in a Skype session she had arranged for 5pm with my daughter Kim in Copenhagen. My sister Gemma joined us as well, and I think Kim was quite sad when we signed off after about 40 minutes. Jen, Leonie & I then drove home via the beach - we were a bit disappointed that we had missed catching the sunset to try out our photographic skills, but proceeded to take photos of the waves and the red evening sky to experiment with various settings on our cameras. We realised we really needed a tripod!

Fortunately Murray was kept busy with sporting events on TV while the girls were visiting - Masters Golf & football being the main attractions. He stayed behind while the 3 of us walked to the nearby Chinese restaurant for dinner, but we returned by 9pm to resume our computer activities. It was quite funny seeing all 3 laptops set up in the study with us buzzing around like bees at a honey pot!

Sunday morning started with tea/coffee and toast on the back patio checking out the new growth on most of the plants. They are really flourishing and it will be exciting to return from the USA and see how they have grown in our absence. Even though it will be winter while we are away, Ballina area is designated sub-tropical, so it will be cool rather than cold such as our North Dakotan friends would experience in winter. Murray & I walked to Mass and on our return, Leonie & Murray made an amazing discovery. The father of Leonie's partner of over 25 years, Stan, and Murray's father were both from Poland, both went to England during the war and fought as a Rat of Tobruk then both emmigrated to Hobart, Tasmania, Australia on the same ship in 1947. How is that for a mind boggling discovery. Sadly, neither of the men are alive today. After a satisfying lunch at a cafe in town, Jen & Leonie packed their car and headed back to their families. Life is good - very, very good.

Easter and Brother's Birthday

Sisters & Aunt on morning walk
Kim look - Peckle has laid an Easter Egg

Looking familiar? Another family meal

The Birthday Boy with wife Yudian (seated) and daughter Kate standing behind him

In our family we can use the flimsiest excuse to arrange a gathering of the clan. This time however not only was it Easter Monday, but we were celebrating my brother's birthday. My niece Claire came down from Brisbane with her family. Her youngest is only 2 and was excited to see an alabaster Easter egg laid by the cement chicken in the garden! My brother Tony (birthday boy) and sister Ret drove down from the Gold Coast with their spouses. My sister Gemma, her husband and our Aunt live here in Ballina, so not much of a drive for them. The furtherest attendee came from Darwin - Australia's most northern city. She was the birthday boy's daughter so it was wonderful that she was able to attend. I should also mention that one of my Claire's sons lives in Alice Springs, Central Australia, and we don't get to see him too often, so it was great that he was visiting his mum for Easter.

We started Easter Monday with a 5km walk at 7am. I was joined by my 86 yr old aunt, my two sisters Gemma & Ret, and brother in law Bill. It was lovely walking along the river, and we nearly made it all the way home. We spied a cafe not far from the end of our walk and without hesitation, we pulled up some chairs and enjoyed a coffee to kick start the day's festivities.

By 11.30am everyone started arriving at Holden Lane where colourful balloons were gently swaying in the breeze. Gem & Bill provided peeled tiger prawns served with two different dipping sauces and fresh bread slices as the appetiser. Murray cooked up a storm on the BBQ - scotch fillet steaks, lamb loin chops and beef sausages. Salads, hot potato bake & garlic bread were side dishes. There were three desserts: Yudian had made individual meringues, served with fresh passionfruit coulis and whipped cream. Gemma had made a rich ginger cake that contained 3 tablespoons of fresh, grated ginger. Then Ret & Pete had bought the birthday cake - a marble mud cake. It did have 'Happy Birthday Tony' written on it in icing, but we added bunches of bananas (lollies). Tony lives across the road from our 93 year old mum, and he often buys bananas and takes them over to mum. She loves them. We don't call him 'Banana Boy' for nothing!

After my nieces Clairie & Kate made quick work of the dishes, people started heading for home. As the Gold Coasters needed somewhere to have dinner, the six of us walked up to a nearby Chinese restaurant and spent another enjoyable few hours chatting, eating & drinking. Well, someone had to finish off the bottles of wine leftover from the lunchtime celebrations! The weather was still mild enough to not need a cardigan - just a short sleeved shirt. Thanks to all concerned for a most enjoyable family day.