Kewl Kid's Sunday

Apparently none of these are Photoshopped, the just use perspective :-) Many thanks to FunnyPhotos.

Chicken Magic

This week I used one medium roasted chicken to create:

1 meal of roast chicken with vegetables

6 serves of chicken and vegetable soup (now in the freezer)

3 serves of chicken and mushroom risotto

1 litre of chicken stock

And it was a $5 chicken! Who says life is tough on a fixed income? Lol

The Week That Was

Or "Mountaingirl Grows Again ... sort of"

It has been a challenging week. I had an assignment for my Buddhist class due on Friday 2 October and I must admit I was struggling with how to answer the question - I understood the material but the question had me stumped. I struggled with it until Monday 5 October when I conceded defeat and asked for help from my lecturer. What a blessing he was - gave me some great tips and an extension.

After getting that info on Tuesday morning I packed up my stuff, headed to the cafe and three hours later had a good 'almost finished' draft sitting in front of me. I started typing it up when I got home but I was a bit brain-dead so I figured I would come back to it on Wednesday.

Wednesday I was already scheduled to attend a funeral as well as catch up with another. I got home just after 5 pm and went for a nap. I woke up later and looked at the computer but it wasn't sitting comfortably with me so I left it.

Thursday was THE day. I sat down in front of the computer - notes ready, books open. Then I had one of the worst panic attacks I have ever had. Sigh .... I couldn't even go back into the room.

Friday morning I awoke, immediately launched myself into the assignment with renewed vigor (and no sign of panic) and a couple of hours later it was submitted. I have been worrying about it ever since - it really isn't very good. And in two weeks I have to do it all over again with the next assignment.

Now I haven't had a panic attack on this scale for years. I fully accept it was performance related, and echos of the "stud-farm" still ring in my head. WHY? After all of these years? And I am only doing the degree for fun ... I don't even have to tell anyone my results - or even pass for that matter! It is so frustrating because I am loving the learning, I am enjoying the challenge but when it comes to putting the proverbial pen to paper I crumple. And I wasted a week of my life becuase of it .... sigh ....

Photo: "Student's Dilemma" by TheF-ck

Kewl Kid's Sunday

PS: I am not sure who did these but I will offer full credit to the artist (including links) when I do find out.

A New Soul

I have finally got around to planting my lavender which also means I have officially accepted I won't be wearing my Blundies anymore.

You may notice they they are still in excellent condition. What you can't see is that I have worn the soul down - right down. I have tried to get them re-souled (being green and all) and while you can re-soul other brands, Blundies aren't made to be re-souled. So now I am being green and they are finding a new soul anyway.

Just to explain, the photo above is a "normal" shot, working boots doing their job. The one below is when they are all shiny and pretty after being in the rain. I couldn't resist :-)

Vegemite Update

Yes I know this is the second commercial product I have mentioned in one day but this campaign will go down in marketing history and will be discussed by students of the subject for years to come.

To fill in those who have missed out on the story. Vegemite is a yeast-based spread that is part of Australia's heritage (even though it is now owned by an American company). Sales have been dropping a bit so they introduced a new product - Vegemite combined with cream cheese - and launched a competition to find a name (just like Smith's). Kraft announced the winner, "iSnack 2.0", last Saturday and it bombed .... badly.

Kraft have now dropped the new name and are asking the public to vote on an alternative. The options are: Cheesybite, Creamymate, Smooth, Snackmite, Vegemate and Vegemild. You can vote here from 5 pm this afternoon.

Whether this thing is a huge publicity stunt or a genuine failure in the choice of the first name will be debated for years to come. And it remains to be seen as to how popular the actual product will be.

All I know if that now is the time to go and buy one of the iSnack 2.0 jars - they will be worth a small fortune (well more than what you paid for them) in years to come.

Smith's Campaign

The finalists of the Smith's Chips "Do Us A Flavor" have been announced. They are (in no particular order): Hot buttered popcorn, Caesar salad. BBQ Coat of Arms (kangaroo and emu) and Late night kebab.

Other suggestions included: The Great Barrier Reef (steak and prawns), fish and chips, meat pie, chocolate and chicken parmigiana. What happened to something that tasted like fried potato!

Apparently they will be in store in the next few weeks so you can try them for yourself. You can vote for your winner here.

No this isn't a promotion for Smiths - I am an original or, at a push, salt and vinegar girl I just find the whole thing interesting. BTW the Gobbledock ("chippy, chippy, chippy") is featured on the site.

Menu Please

Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.

Ernestine Ulmer

Art: "Desserts Are Served" by Tracy Flickinger (Unable to find a home page for the artist)

Kiva

It is with great pleasure that I announce I have just made my 5th Kiva loan. Okay I am bragging a little but I also thought it would be a good time to remind anyone who has a spare $25 that they too can join in the Kiva-fun.

Kiva (and its partner organisations) give out micro-loans to people from around the world. And you get to pick exactly who gets your money. Once it is repaid it can either be reinvested (which is what I choose to do) or you can withdraw it.

There are many, many different worthy organisations out there and if you are already supporting someone else then please don't feel pressured. But if you do have US$25 burning a hole in your pocket, this is worth checking out.

Click on the logo for more info.

Beowulf, Buddhism and Bliss

Have I said before that I am loving my study. My brain cells are tingling and dancing and turning cartwheels.

Admittedly last term was a bit of a write-off (except for my assignment that I got 84% for - not bad since I haven't studied for 10+ years) what with all of the changes that were happening but I wasn't going to be deterred.

I am loving the challenge of extending myself. I am loving the challenge of thinking. I am loving the challenge of going places I wouldn't have chosen to by myself.

I spent three hours at a cafe today - sitting at a big bench under an oak tree, drinking coffee and doing my Beowulf stuff. Tomorrow I am going back to rading about Buddhist theory. My exam and assignment (both due on Friday) will be in on time and neither will be a first draft.

I have been saying since I started that I am doing this for fun. While I would certainly like to pass, it is not my aim to get 100% on everything. And finally I am beginning to believe it, to sit back and enjoy the journey that this path is taking me on.

Photo: "books and green tea" by suziqhorrorshow

Artwork of the Day

"Poppies 1886"

Vincent Van Gogh

Kewl Kid's Stuff

More work from Guido Daniele. The first one's were posted last Monday.

Modern Day ICE

After my 'moment' this week I realised that I needed to update my ICE (In Case of Emergency)details - Miss Weasley's phone number is still in my phone directory for one and she has been out of the country for a couple of years now.

One thing that does make me wonder is what to do with my passwords (for blog, email, banking and the like)?

I thought I could email them to someone but should their email get hacked (unlikely but possible) all of my personal details are out there for whoever. I considered writing them down and putting them in an envelope labelled 'open only in an emergency' but again if the house gets broken into it all of my details are available to all. I could go to the extent of getting a locked box in the bank but surely that is going overboard a bit.

Any ideas?

BTW does everyone know about the recommendation to add an entry to their mobile/cell directory entitled ICE with the appropriate phone number? Very handy for ambos, police or whoever.

Photo: "secure area" by nsa

Pita's Stroganoff

Pita has sent me her recipe for beef stoganoff and yesterday was the day. It was cooked in the crockpot (or slow cooker for those who prefer that term) and it was dead easy to make and delicious to eat. Highly recommended :-)

Maya Saya

We all have the power to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud.

Maya Angelou

Art: Butterfly Wings by Anthony Ross (I don't have an address for a home page)

Dance Dance Dance

Some 7 weeks ago I was trying to organise some home-help (vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, the things I can't do) for myself. It all started off very smoothly. Fast forward to two days ago, and 12 offices (and who knows how many phone calls) later I was told I was eligible but there was no government funding - I would have to wait until at least next May and the next federal budget (or if someone dropped off their books due to their death or moving into care).

Aaaah! I haven't had any help since the end of June and it was all a bit too much. Yes I had already rung Members of Parliament so I was putting together a media campaign to fix this problem (surely others were in the same position as I was).

Then at 9.30 this morning I got a call from one of the agencies who apologised for the mix-up and announced that they had found a place for me on their books. I have just now had a call from the local office and someone will be out on Monday morning to bring me the paperwork, discuss the details and get me on the roster.

How this happened (I got a bit sidetracked and hadn't started making my calls) I have no idea. Is it a miracle or is the universe lining up for me? No idea.

All I know is that now is the time to dance :-)

Photo: "dance like nobody's watching" by Rock-Angel

Photo Challenge - Fruity

It's A Plan

Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance?

Phyllis Diller

Art: "Colorful Dress" by Melia Dawn Newman

The Good, The Bad, The I Don't Know

Last night I thought I might be having a heart attack - for real.

I had the tightness across the chest, pain was going down my left arm as well in the muscles that head up to the jaw, I was feeling nauseous and was a little short of breath (although that could have been anxiety). After about 40 minutes I took myself off to the hospital just to be sure (which they said was the right thing to do but insisted I should have called an ambulance instead of driving myself, even though I am a 'country girl').



They hooked me up to the machines, gave me a pill to put under my tongue and an asprin and time passed. After another 30-ish minutes it all went away. The ECG didn't show anything much and I passed the trop test (I don't know the full name of the blood test - it was one of those long medical words).

They wanted me to stay in overnight so I could have a follow-up blood test but I chose to go home instead, although I did commit to going back at 2 am for the test (which I did).

I went home and went to bed. My mind was racing - did I have enough spare pyjamas, are my general affairs in order (in that do I have anything important to do in the next few days - I would need an extension on my assignment/exam for one), should I tell anyone, please let me talk about this to someone.

The night has passed and co-incidentally I am going to my doctor today anyway so I guess I will talk to him about things.

I have no fear of dying (I have my will, my funeral insurance, I am at peace with life) but I am feeling very vulnerable and alone just now. Time to pull myself together and keep going - no point dwelling on it all. But I do feel like a hug and someone to tell me it will all be okay.

Photo: "This Heart" by littlemewhatever

Magnolia Moments

Photo Challenge Updates

I have been contemplating ideas for this week's photo but I confess I think of Sammi everytime! No idea why lol. I think I might have to come up with something else :-)

This Friday 25 September: Fruity

Friday 2 October: Season

Friday 9 October: Landscape

Happy clicking folks :-)

Weather Report

I am a big fan of the golden light that comes about at certain times of the year - most noticeably Autumn (or Fall for the Americans). I awoke this morning to beautiful golden light. But not the good kind (which only comes in the afternoon anyway). This is a massive dust storm in which the top soil from the west of the state has been picked up and is being carried across the state. Sydney (5 hours south) was a brilliant red but has now faded to the gold that the rest of us is experiencing.

It is a great time for photographers (this shot was taken from underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge) but not so good for the farmers.

Studying Hard or Treating Me

I was having new carpet laid in my hallway today and as that means I wouldn't have access to the computer or the bathroom (and I dislike being in the house when people are working there) I took myself out.

I say upfront I was heading for the library (free of charge which suits my current circumstances) to sit and do some study but you can imagine my dismay when I got there at 8.30 am only to discover that it didn't open until10.30 am. What to do, what to do?

Taking $20 out of my "Fly me to America" fund I headed for the local cafe "Lodge 241". And when I say local, I mean this is about 100 m from my house. Not that I have been there before because it is too far for me to walk to and too short a distance to drive. Okay I don't have an excuse that covers the entire past three years but that one works for now. But as today fell into the "special circumstances" category, and as I was already in the car, to the Lodge I went.

Here I dined on ricotta hotcakes with banana, bacon and REAL maple syrup, along with 3 coffees (long blacks). Delicious all round. Okay I had the three coffees over the three hours I spent there so don't think I was just buzzing.

And you know I was studying hard (one exam outline done, 2 study questions finished) because I didn't even take a photo of my food!

So good I think I might even see if Ic an budget to do this regularly - a treat for me as well as being very productive.

Definitely Not Normal

Normal is not something to aspire to, it's something to get away from.

Jodie Foster

Art: "Give" by Bernadette McCormack

Dreams

I have been up half of the night due to dreams - not bad dreams, vivid dreams.

For many years I was plagued with repetitive bad dreams so I started sleeping with the music playing, then in later years the tv, and now my mp3 player. That pretty much stopped them - well except for a couple of times a years.

But these wern't 'those' dreams, they were new and demanding my attention. Do they mean something, I have no idea - not anything obvious anyway. But I am a little unsetteld, and so very tired.

Sigh ....

Art: "dream" by monokowalla

For the Kewl Kids

Guido Daniele is the artist behind these pictures. He takes 3 - 4 hours to do each one and often uses the hands of his children as his palette. :-) I have a heap more (including a Dalmation) so I will post them on Sunday for you :-)

The Garden Is Done

I initially had great plans to fill the garden with five different types of tomatoes as well as herbs, herbs and more herbs but reality bites and I am not able to take care of that sort of garden anymore. So, I have gone to a cottage-type with agapanthus, gardenias, jasmine, lavender, rosemary and daisies. These will all grow and fill the space negating the need for bending down work (like weeding). I will put the tomatoes and herbs into pots where I can manage them a bit better.

Anyway, it had been five months of not being able to find someone to help, or people promising to turn and and then not so it was all a bit of a mess.

Then the trusty Abbey turned up with shovel, garden claw and a lot of elbow grease and weeded it for me (leaving the mint, parsley and oregano intact). I managed to get a couple of the pots in myself (bad move) before Kylie arrived and finished them all for me. Then the ground was then covered with layers of newspaper and a pile of organic sugar cane mulch.

I can now announce that it is done. All it needs to do now is grow :-)

And it is now a friendship garden because there was no way I could have done it without them. MWAH :-)

Welcome to Me

You're who you are and if people don't like who you are, all they're going to get is who you are.

Avril Lavigne

Photo: "Individual" by T-Nelly

Paperbark

Tell Me A Tale

You've got to be original, because if you're like someone else, what do they need you for?

Bernadette Peters

Art: "Woman with canary" by Debby Haskard-Strauss

A Season for Everything

Okay so it has unofficially been spring for a few weeks now but I have got over my angst at the early passing of my beloved winter and am now beginning to enjoy the magic of the new season.

I am continually being blessed with the sounds of songbirds (and a few that just make weird noises), the croaking of frogs (I don't know where they go in winter but they are back now), a chorus of crickets and all that is wrapped in the scent of jasmine which is flowering in abundance next door.

Okay so I know it is all a bit purple but at least I didn't start on the flowers that are blooming, the sun that is shining and the gentle afternoon breezes lol.

And yes, it is all balanced with a lack of rain and an increased risk of bushfires. Let's hope the rain comes and diminishes that risk sooner rather than later.

Art: "Spring Breeze" by m0thyyku

For Shutterday