Who'd a thunk it?

I've won a blogging award! The lovely Cathy over at Love and Madness in Suburbia has 'presented' me with the Arte y pico award. The award is given for design, creativity, interest and benefit to blogdom.

I have to dedicate the design part of this award to Blogger since it's their template ha ha (although I did take the photo on the banner) but I'm taking full credit for the rest because I haven't won an award before and I'm damned if I'm going to be modest about it.

So do you want to see it? Ok.... trumpet fanfare.......tah dah!!!!!

Pretty no? That is so going on my mantlepiece.

So now I pass it on, the rules say I must...

• Post the award on your own blog including a link to the blogger who gave it to you.


• Indicate its origin and link to that site - Arte Y Pico from Uruguay.


• Give the award to 5 blogs that you enjoy, find creative and inspire you.

So I would like to pass it on to.....(and this was REALLY HARD, there are so many blogs I love!)

Tales from Simon's house - because she's funny, clever and extremely creative and has inspired me to learn to knit - properly.

Calm Creative - it's like a visit to a Zen garden.

Philip Carr-Gomm's Weblog - fascinating and thought provoking.

Tiny happy - beautiful crafts and wonderful images.

Homespun Living - taking creativity and inspiration to a whole new level.

There are so many blogs that I enjoy for so many different reasons, so it was difficult to narrow it down. I tried the 'Desert Island Blogs' strategy and these are the 5 blogs I'd take with me to a desert island - because my island would have electricity and internet access.

Thanks again Cathy, much appreciated.

The mouths of babes

Funny the things kids say. I got to thinking about it after reading this post on my sister's blog. I just love the way they articulate things as they see them. When did we stop seeing the world that way?

I am blown away by the guileless utterings that come from these small mouths, like Eliza's comparison or Hannah's comment that the best Christmas present is a hug (not that she didn't request considerably more than that from Santa) or Aislin standing up in daycare yesterday to tell everyone that 'the Aberginee children were taken away from their Mummies and Daddies, they're all grown up now, but they're sad'. Where does it come from? Sure we talk to them a lot, and often in adult terms, about these things. Yet still their minds can grasp and simplify complex issues that even some adults struggle to comprehend. They are truly amazing and I really do believe that they are here to teach us as much as we teach them - probably more.

According to Aislin I 'smell like rainbows', and unless she knows something I don't about the way rainbows smell, that is a very nice compliment. She also told me the other day that I was 'as fast a Cheetah'. That is considerably stretching the facts, but nice that I impressed her.

I think we could all probably benefit from seeing things through child-like eyes once in a while. I'll bet the world would be a happier place if we did.

Sorry

It was a big day today. Our new government made the long-awaited apology to the Stolen Generations.

About time too. Nice work Kevin.

Photo credit here Gary Ramage

Earning her keep...

....because I'm a great believer in child labour.

Could my life be any weirder?

Strange things happen to me. I don't know why, but I seem to attract the bizarre into my life a little too regularly. Take today for instance. I was in the - ahem - smallest room when I noticed something rather unusual. It took me a moment to register what I was seeing.....it was this....

Yes. A frog. In the toilet. Hiding under the rim. Oh and sorry for posting a photo of my toilet. Fortunately it is cleaner than my windows (I'm fussy that way, but not about windows).

So anyway, I notice the frog and think 'well, there's something you don't see every day' and go and ring Tom. He's at work and while he finds it mildly entertaining that there is a frog in the toilet he has nothing to offer me in the way of advice other than 'put your hand up there and pull him out'. That'd be NO to that one thanks. I have nothing against frogs, in fact I like them a lot and I'm thrilled that we have so many around our place (perhaps not in the toilet though). However I am averse to sticking my hand under the toilet rim. He suggested I wear rubber gloves but this frog was tiny and I was afraid that the rubber gloves would make grabbing him difficult and I'd hurt him. I hung up in exasperation.

A few minutes later the phone rang, it was Tom. I was standing there wearing a rubber glove and holding a pencil (don't ask - and by the way I had other clothes on too) I grabbed the phone eagerly..... thinking he had a better idea or perhaps he was going to come home and take care of it for me. But no, the conversation went like this...

Tom: There's a radio program on just now about the stuff I'm working on.

Me: Excuse me?

Tom: The radio program, it's about my work....you know...on the radio...

Me: Is that so...?

Tom (hesitant now): Um, yes. It's on ABC. 891.

Me: Hmm, sounds great but I'm kind of busy right now....you know....GETTING THE FROG OUT OF THE TOILET!!!!

Tom: Oh right, yeah. Leave you to it then. Click.

Me: Grrrrrrrrr.

So alone again. Me and Kermit. What to do, what to do.

Then I decided. I went into the kitchen where I have a pile of plastic containers about to be disposed of in my latest decluttering efforts. I grabbed one, went back to the scene of the drama and held the bowl under the spot the frog was hiding and..........flushed. It was risky, one wrong move and he'd have been on a long journey to somewhere unpleasant, however all was well, into the container he went.

Apologies for the blurriness of the first two photos, neither situation was conducive to spending much time ensuring they were in focus.

Then Aislin and I took the frog down to the creek and set him free. Here he is...can you see him? Awesome camouflage.

So that's what I did today. What about you?

Note to my darling sister Moyra. I hope this post hasn't traumatised you too much (she's scared of frogs ha ha ha ha ha). Ahem, of course that's not funny at all.

Sticky

A stick insect. A HUGE stick insect. On the window.

All at once, fascinating, compelling and yet.....a little bit creepy.

Also, oh my GOD how filthy are my windows?

Is it Lammas? Lughnasadh? Imbolc? Bridget's Day....?

My reality shows it to be Lammas or Lughnasadh (depending on your preference) but my heart and body clock, neither of which have ever adjusted to the Southern Hemisphere, still tick to the Northern celebrations. So confusing

So wherever you are, whatever you're celebrating, have a happy one.