tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22724106135421891602024-03-21T21:49:34.180+08:00Unconventional WrenUnconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-15404400945545195832012-01-08T09:34:00.000+08:002012-01-08T09:34:45.934+08:00Weight Loss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8N9Zq3zIM1GRJS48wnE2g5OaeG1spSvRkShKxEs9O0ja5uZmr-v_9qMoeAgDQzpWn6p5lDTcjLmVU6Lt0zEPCjpevWTPC6-xmXdLZdNzC2DBoLTFZSP1krmrbifusP0qO1J8qLW_qM9M/s1600/Photo+on+2012-01-08+at+09.19+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8N9Zq3zIM1GRJS48wnE2g5OaeG1spSvRkShKxEs9O0ja5uZmr-v_9qMoeAgDQzpWn6p5lDTcjLmVU6Lt0zEPCjpevWTPC6-xmXdLZdNzC2DBoLTFZSP1krmrbifusP0qO1J8qLW_qM9M/s320/Photo+on+2012-01-08+at+09.19+%25233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I last posted about weight loss over 18 months ago. If my scheme then had worked, I would be about 74 kg by now, but I'm not. Why, well my scheme just didn't work, I found it impossible to limit myself to three meals and three snacks. Not only that when my three snacks came from the selection above, you can see why I actually gained weight.<br />
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So after a year of pigging out on chocolate I hit a high of 94 kg and I felt terrible. In November 2011 I decide to stop eating chocolate. By day 12 of no chocolate I was feeling good so I decided to cut out dairy too. Cutting out chocolate was easy, but dairy was harder. Still on day 14 I went to a party and ate chocolate cake, so back to square one. The Christmas came with more chocolate on the menu. But for some reason New Years no chocolate or dairy, easy, maybe because I hosted the party and there was no chocolate or dairy on the menu :)<br />
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The result is that since mid November I have had very little chocolate (by my standards, probably normal amounts for most people) and almost no dairy. My digestive system is thanking me and I have lost 4 kg in 2 months. Last time I hopped on the scales I weighed in at 89.9kg, so a loss of 4kg and my first goal met, I now have a weight that starts with 8. My goal for 2012 is to have a weight starting with 7 by the end of the year, and my all time goal is 74kg. At 173cm tall that is well within the healthy weight range, and the weight I looked best at after having Amber 16 years ago.Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-63878811183668042082011-06-25T15:51:00.000+08:002011-06-25T15:51:13.173+08:00Bread Machine 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGR0E4aCtZWkNaHyr52JJKJqhipzg5efPninijPcrTbX9rzrhF37EoaJjs0qwy6Kds3RljTxHsPuB8xKW7ZdnnwsV8QLqVi13SiGi3dWHfORoTCAcqPyC9xkQFMnlenE3YKpLZpH8Jyk/s1600/Photo+on+2011-06-25+at+15.44+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGR0E4aCtZWkNaHyr52JJKJqhipzg5efPninijPcrTbX9rzrhF37EoaJjs0qwy6Kds3RljTxHsPuB8xKW7ZdnnwsV8QLqVi13SiGi3dWHfORoTCAcqPyC9xkQFMnlenE3YKpLZpH8Jyk/s320/Photo+on+2011-06-25+at+15.44+%25232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I bought the bread machine, and made my first lovely loaf with it. I love the smell of bread baking. However, I messed up my calculations yesterday. The shop had two machines, one was my lovely Panasonic for $279, yes $100 more than I posted, still that's only another 40 days to pay it off by not buying bread. So I bought it, the other one, for $190 was a Sunbeam with the same silly spring thing as the old Sanyo, so no way I was I going to buy it. Also when I take into account making pizza for tea once a week, the savings on pizza bases is about $6, so that really cuts the days down to 83 days till its paid for itself. Not bad when I plan on using it daily for another 5 years or so.Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-77329614946632145342011-06-24T11:37:00.000+08:002011-06-24T11:37:26.130+08:00Bread MachineFor the past 16 years I have had a Panasonic Bread Machine. Actually that's not strictly accurate, i've had 2 of them, they aren't designed to last forever. In that whole time I've found that home made bread costs about half of bought bread. My second machine died last year, since then I've been using a Sanyo that was given to me by Mum. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjQPL3QsyAUL79ozlgPbB-LifbYOjNFi6gvRDScz5-NYpqWySQXG4keZSF-FiIo_jl_NrrPa-HKTvVN5Urady-JUBxPTMdpfY5XurCU13scQPCyQvQOFy_Md05uXq-sqWayJk4gCMjSs/s1600/Photo+on+2011-06-24+at+11.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjQPL3QsyAUL79ozlgPbB-LifbYOjNFi6gvRDScz5-NYpqWySQXG4keZSF-FiIo_jl_NrrPa-HKTvVN5Urady-JUBxPTMdpfY5XurCU13scQPCyQvQOFy_Md05uXq-sqWayJk4gCMjSs/s320/Photo+on+2011-06-24+at+11.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
It isn't as good as the Panasonic, the bread doesn't have the right texture, but even worse it has a serious design fault. The bread pan is held in by a couple of bits of bent metal at the top of the machine. Each time I put the pan in or remove it I have to push or pull it past these bits of metal. The first time I saw it I could tell this was a mistake, and last week I was proven right. The bits of metal have gradually weakened and no longer hold the pan in place. The machine works perfectly if I am prepared to stand there and hold the pan in place, but that kind of defeats the purpose, I might as well make it by hand, but sadly I just don't have the time. Note the woosy little hooks holding the pan in, also note the dried dough, I had to take the last dough out and cook in manually<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgimwlq_wo7ynFt6uGLxE-NnP6dAULWwz5qcIiWGtp_yB6rOqX64josswVsvwonFVj4rtElg6wAiTlCiXQUVJT7xLzURdTZHoFdqTUb25tKteTGakj6hvnbxpmkde_VbKSn21zQt6llc/s1600/Photo+on+2011-06-24+at+11.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgimwlq_wo7ynFt6uGLxE-NnP6dAULWwz5qcIiWGtp_yB6rOqX64josswVsvwonFVj4rtElg6wAiTlCiXQUVJT7xLzURdTZHoFdqTUb25tKteTGakj6hvnbxpmkde_VbKSn21zQt6llc/s320/Photo+on+2011-06-24+at+11.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It's been costing me $5 a day to keep the family in bread. That's two loaves of bakery bread. I just calculated that it costs about $2.5 to make home made bread, so half the cost. I checked out a new bread machine and it will cost me $179, which works out to be 71.6 day's bread. So within 3 months the new machine will have paid itself off. So guess what I'm buying today? You guessed it, a new Panasonic bread machine. No more bought bread. Fresh bread all the way.Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-73627077472658254322011-06-08T12:15:00.000+08:002011-06-08T12:15:30.460+08:00I love that hat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iL_kceVqL54VwYvrdeZKIN0KkHz-y8VivrvAR3sLirBjCMhWMf_cGDpZOjLBgYQk1us3_t1qWuKQmgkKsmYe4KLlUj53WHBHEfaOtf2qwSrU2BLtMaoUIfI5s9n9gNSH4D_y2itZeVw/s1600/Photo+on+2011-05-30+at+14.26+%25235.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iL_kceVqL54VwYvrdeZKIN0KkHz-y8VivrvAR3sLirBjCMhWMf_cGDpZOjLBgYQk1us3_t1qWuKQmgkKsmYe4KLlUj53WHBHEfaOtf2qwSrU2BLtMaoUIfI5s9n9gNSH4D_y2itZeVw/s320/Photo+on+2011-05-30+at+14.26+%25235.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love this hat pattern so much I made two. One out of mohair for Amber, I made it last year, then this year I needed a hat myself, so I made this one out of wool. I just love it, so warm and comfy, and it looks great too. I'm making a matching mobeus scarf, knitting is so much fun.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosB8tEDiSIhy3h-Fd-YvF7OA0DKjhcGhn7-Uo7AFfBjAp1-cKWBxBrTLdYVWCWMRO7TVjYu7vBFXbDJQLr_kgW14qv7fdGU_ZgfW2FVZI8BPy8-EYYlInEQTlmUqmmcQkBtiwzHyF51Q/s1600/Photo+on+2011-06-07+at+16.26+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosB8tEDiSIhy3h-Fd-YvF7OA0DKjhcGhn7-Uo7AFfBjAp1-cKWBxBrTLdYVWCWMRO7TVjYu7vBFXbDJQLr_kgW14qv7fdGU_ZgfW2FVZI8BPy8-EYYlInEQTlmUqmmcQkBtiwzHyF51Q/s320/Photo+on+2011-06-07+at+16.26+%25233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-3781974231755209502011-06-05T14:57:00.000+08:002011-06-05T14:57:33.223+08:00Helpline<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0FiSQI-MxhHpied-nEQtLwQ3a5Q6ZziKfhcgp18j3qFIPyDoDWq282HSOTGBRMp-ivcKX-Pz34AYdBb63JhA_J_M67fkqFnbrf6QioRxmQEz4gCcR6Z5wDkDItFS6yckRAMkgEol1YI/s1600/helpline-nologo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0FiSQI-MxhHpied-nEQtLwQ3a5Q6ZziKfhcgp18j3qFIPyDoDWq282HSOTGBRMp-ivcKX-Pz34AYdBb63JhA_J_M67fkqFnbrf6QioRxmQEz4gCcR6Z5wDkDItFS6yckRAMkgEol1YI/s320/helpline-nologo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Today I did my regular fortnightly helpline shift. Every second Sunday from 10 - 2 I make sure I'm home and available to answer the phone. Mums from all over Australia ring the helpline number for breastfeeding help. I am one of approximately 900 counsellors in Australia, we take turns to take phone calls. I really enjoy it, it is great to be able to help people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was an interesting shift today, usually on a Sunday the phone rings hot for the first how and then slows down. I usually have a call at 10am on the dot. Today I hadn't had one by 10:15, so I rang the number to check that I really was on. I had one call before 11 and then it sped up until 1 and then calmed down again. I usually have about 12 calls on a shift, so todays 11 was pretty much normal. Just interesting that they come in fits and starts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I also do email counselling, where people enter their query onto our website and its gets sent to one of about 7 counsellors rostered on for a few days. It is interesting the number of people who email that they couldn't get through on the phone and after some questioning I discover it is because they haven't read the information properly. A lot of VOIP phones won't connect because there is an extra number on the end, so if you are having trouble getting through drop off the extra 6 and you should get through no problems. This is written on all of the literature, yet many people don't notice it. I hope the VOIP providers fix the glitch soon as we aren't the only organisation with an extra number :)</div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-62611009130313441152011-05-23T13:31:00.003+08:002011-05-23T13:36:45.665+08:00Sheep<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qmRrhfskJSASJMXe6rZgyNV2aFC0S3oNu5fQFkLxyAyww0vjIQNd_pk93CjAasWYSLlnqY8r6F5rSOBU8dy2BqAYEka4ZKRIPru9e0hHINGrGfOZbAxsv9Vk7fb-eMOEIQjo9NowSUI/s1600/DSCF1481.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qmRrhfskJSASJMXe6rZgyNV2aFC0S3oNu5fQFkLxyAyww0vjIQNd_pk93CjAasWYSLlnqY8r6F5rSOBU8dy2BqAYEka4ZKRIPru9e0hHINGrGfOZbAxsv9Vk7fb-eMOEIQjo9NowSUI/s400/DSCF1481.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609780138278048098" /></a><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Friday 20 May 2011</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15.9722px;">Amber, Possum and I head out to check the sheep today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I know there is no way I can handle our recalcitrant ewe on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She’s in the yard, fit and healthy with the two lambs still alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Well done ewe for keeping them alive on a cold night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Amber and I open the little gate and out she goes like a Bondi tram.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She heads for the gate we had shut and runs into it three times, third time lucky over she goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Disaster, I’m looking at rearing these lambs, night time feeds, torture, I’ve already done it with four kids, don’t need to do it with two lambs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15.9722px;">We run to the ute and chase the ewe around the paddock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Amber and I jump out and run her down, Amber sits on her while I drive the ute up beside her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We lift her onto the ute, she weighs a tonne, quite a struggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We get her up and pause for breath, big mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She’s up on her feet, runs across the back of the ute and off the other side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Off across the paddock she goes, we ring Hubby to tell him the good news, but don’t worry we’ll sort it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Amber</span> and I head her off again, but she’s in the middle of the rocks, no way I can get the ute up beside her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Amber and I wonder what to do, Possum hops out of the ute and the ewe jumps up and runs straight past him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Back in the ute again, we follow her across the paddock, she heads towards the flock, so we cut her off and head her back towards the shed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Eventually she collapses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Amber sits on her again while I bring the ute up beside her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This time we consider hobbling her while she is on the ground, but then we realise we can’t lift her up with her legs tied together, its all we can do to lift her as it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Still I have the hobbles in my pocket and the moment we get her on the back of the ute the hobbles go on, before we even put the side up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15.9722px;">We head back to the shed, we’ve been chasing her for over half an hour, we are hoping the lambs are still there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>As we drive into the shed yard I spot one lamb still in the sheep yards, Amber spots the other near the water trough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I pull up as close as possible to the yard, as I’m reversing into place Amber panics “Stop mum!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I stop, the lamb has headed our way and is under the back of the ute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Close call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We gently lower the ewe over the side and force her back into the little yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We put the lambs in with her, check her water and head back to the inlaws for a quick drink and to give the keys back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15.9722px;">Surprise, Hubby pulls in just after us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Apparently Father in Law had gone to check on us because we took so long, but couldn’t find us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Amazing, it is only 1000 acres, not the Simpson desert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Still we did it ourselves, justly proud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Hubby suggests we head back and check the ewe, she can’t be too bad she kept the lambs alive all night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>At the yard we open the other gates and allow the ewe a long slow walk to the paddock, she goes a short way and waits for the littlest lamb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Hubby and I agree that I’ll come back after school to check on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We head home, Hubby goes back to work, I stop off to find out the cost of lamb formula, jaw drop it costs $80 for enough for 2 lambs for six weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>That ewe better get it right.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15.9722px;">After school Lily, Possum and I head out to the farm to check on the ewe and her lamb. We can’t see here when we get there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We check the yards, no lambs, we follow the path she had to take to get the lambs into the paddock, no lambs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Thankfully no sign of ewe or lambs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I pack the oats and buckets back into the shed, hopefully we won’t have to do that again.</span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-25208652857394106122011-05-22T15:26:00.003+08:002011-05-23T13:37:54.235+08:00Sheep<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_863Ytx2dovg8PrVzlTWettJoCvSEL2e-1O5iAhhcPE8QciVcb2MI0Bfyq9RPgYcFTqZmcY4bG28TIhK6WH7PG_C9EBVhxvjVxZf4o0wGbeIOOiqFOlRw7pa5jHuhV5QUCNruaDLtc14/s1600/DSCF0885.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_863Ytx2dovg8PrVzlTWettJoCvSEL2e-1O5iAhhcPE8QciVcb2MI0Bfyq9RPgYcFTqZmcY4bG28TIhK6WH7PG_C9EBVhxvjVxZf4o0wGbeIOOiqFOlRw7pa5jHuhV5QUCNruaDLtc14/s400/DSCF0885.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609438678541719570" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Monday 16 May</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15.9722px;">I checked the sheep, they were all in the front paddock, about 20 lambs, maybe more, they are very hard to count, all hiding in the stubble.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wednesday 18 May</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sheep are hiding in the back paddock, they move around a lot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One ewe looks a bit unwell, but the rest are healthy and happy, I counted about 23 lambs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>FIL tells me about the disaster of his day, finding a ewe with the lamb dead inside, and trying to get it out, legs come but no lamb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I really don’t want that with my sheep.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thursday 19 May</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The sheep have moved again, they are fast on their feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They are in the damn paddock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I check the back paddock just to be on the safe side, there are a couple of ewes with 3 lambs between them trailing the flock, still travelling to the damn paddock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I keep going, and there in the back paddock is a lump that wasn’t there the day before, my first problem ewe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I drive up and find a ewe on the ground, laying on her side, sheep don’t lay on their side unless something is going wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>She has two lambs, one is healthy the other isn’t so good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It looks like the first one fed while the second was being born, and then the ewe lay down, for some reason they won’t feed while she is laying down, even though they can see the udder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I try to lift her up, but she weights a tonne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Have I mentioned that these ewes are in really good condition, 72 sheep on 1000 acres way too much food to go round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Eventually I ring Hubby to come and help, the in laws are in town shopping so its up to him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>While I’m waiting I check the rest of the flock, I count 27 lambs including the two with the sick ewe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Hubby heads out to help me, and lifts the ewe who promptly races off to the other end of the paddock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We put the lambs in the ute and head off after her, racing around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Eventually we pick her up and put the three of them in the sheep yards with some water and oats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The lambs are feeding when we head off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Good going for the day.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-54798308457664870212011-05-21T09:15:00.003+08:002011-05-23T13:38:36.029+08:00Sheep<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15.9722px;">and the odd kangaroo</span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hJV5plF7-uhnmJmUigkj4SwbpJtXTRQAVn8uNSAm3TtWFpnSGm646Rga_t4P88Y-oYl1ujkeQKoTimnMfcllb0VndnG-LeWlzXl_qaSLUXPwRZ6ng8kWEHWpTi7jwTvPqg4ttKu1IJo/s1600/DSCF0987.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8hJV5plF7-uhnmJmUigkj4SwbpJtXTRQAVn8uNSAm3TtWFpnSGm646Rga_t4P88Y-oYl1ujkeQKoTimnMfcllb0VndnG-LeWlzXl_qaSLUXPwRZ6ng8kWEHWpTi7jwTvPqg4ttKu1IJo/s400/DSCF0987.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608972186886029810" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">In August we replaced our car with a better one, we also bought a farm ute and we purchased 72 elderly ewes from my father in law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We chose the older ewes because they are descended from better rams, than the younger ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We went halves in four reasonable quality rams, from a high quality stud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>These 76 sheep were the seed of our sheep flock.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Over the next few months we checked our sheep a couple of times a week, and lost two ewes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We put the rams in with the ewes and took them out again a couple of months later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We continued checking them a couple of times a week and watched their wool grow longer and they tummies grow fatter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Things were going well.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-size:15.9722px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCZsEQOm9JxoDCtUXMuzZvO01bVfcYjZmWlrVWS1_RDV7X5hkoo0SZ00frwY4YO0vz5JbkMkrdbr35Sj3e7lAiwXBcQKmdU3F3DrfBN_RwoecpIqKtOJksoey1phiE5k_KhyQTIGe1i4/s400/DSCF0992.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608972189901009074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15.9722px;">Sunday 8 May 21</span></div> <p class="MsoNormal">We visited the inlaws for our regular Sunday visit and check of the sheep, Father in Law commented that his lambs had started dropping and he’d been out to our farm the day before and noticed we had 3 lambs, one set twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>So we planned for checking the sheep daily during lambing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Father in Law agreed to check them on Saturday and Tuesday, as those days we are too busy to go to the farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I would do Monday and Thursday, Hubby would do Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">This worked for a week, then Hubby changed his work team and they needed him at work ontime, no more visiting the farm before lunch and starting work at 12, he had to be there by 9, so I got to visit the farm every day except Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.</p> <!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-42127668254680050752011-05-15T08:57:00.004+08:002011-05-21T09:20:31.561+08:00Joy<div>Last night was Amber's School Ball.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfGLv3AZtG7-PfXg8rJksHqHpM40kYhh4wxszMYWaOQEzIsEuBedujNaLawszBCp5MrQSq7seeaiaVF_UZbKCvdAEgguesNoY_LZFgSZPKnXnvR2Vzj3c6QgjKdXSbNJTr6Ckgu8mTGs/s1600/DSCF1452.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy34yLFd1EZAqR7etUa3NZXfF1Gu7BlW64Bl5-xO5-pNIyIjVdlJKOYQnAhaPKeOr4suzk-LluebnsnxBxEEL1baK2b7eDRFKAuCkSYin_frPMkXTPb3RbdCco55s8YLe1w2FHGLHAXZw/s1600/DSCF1417.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy34yLFd1EZAqR7etUa3NZXfF1Gu7BlW64Bl5-xO5-pNIyIjVdlJKOYQnAhaPKeOr4suzk-LluebnsnxBxEEL1baK2b7eDRFKAuCkSYin_frPMkXTPb3RbdCco55s8YLe1w2FHGLHAXZw/s400/DSCF1417.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606741078542006770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span></div><div><br /></div><div>It was such a delight to watch her playing up to the camera before going, wearing the dress that I sewed for her.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwmlaorbCewsNXZ7QWLZP7tWziHCnRl6Vnk1hR1tDMY9Pn7gIIeH8oBt_K5fZXSg4S0xZW9Rp0v10GpvO8zo-y5FvkvAZO3-Jvm0vSpqiDw16a_ZVih5LaIDb__H4TSBQlL5GpWfYzKo/s1600/DSCF1421.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwmlaorbCewsNXZ7QWLZP7tWziHCnRl6Vnk1hR1tDMY9Pn7gIIeH8oBt_K5fZXSg4S0xZW9Rp0v10GpvO8zo-y5FvkvAZO3-Jvm0vSpqiDw16a_ZVih5LaIDb__H4TSBQlL5GpWfYzKo/s400/DSCF1421.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606741086311711026" /></a><br /><div>Absolute delight and joy to watch my girl who is growing up so wonderfully. <div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy34yLFd1EZAqR7etUa3NZXfF1Gu7BlW64Bl5-xO5-pNIyIjVdlJKOYQnAhaPKeOr4suzk-LluebnsnxBxEEL1baK2b7eDRFKAuCkSYin_frPMkXTPb3RbdCco55s8YLe1w2FHGLHAXZw/s1600/DSCF1417.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRfGLv3AZtG7-PfXg8rJksHqHpM40kYhh4wxszMYWaOQEzIsEuBedujNaLawszBCp5MrQSq7seeaiaVF_UZbKCvdAEgguesNoY_LZFgSZPKnXnvR2Vzj3c6QgjKdXSbNJTr6Ckgu8mTGs/s400/DSCF1452.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606741090730235154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was also rather proud of how my sewing turned out. It actually looked like it was meant to and fitted her. The fact that I only finished the dress at 10am the day of the ball was a bit of a worry, because there was no room for errors. I had planned to do the work over the school holidays, but with two trips to Perth and family visiting it just didn't happen. Then I had an essay due a week before the ball, so I'm very happy that it worked out and she looked so beautiful in it.</div></div></div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-71361417369157486232011-03-01T17:03:00.004+08:002011-03-01T17:27:05.942+08:00Joy<div style="text-align: justify;">The squishy feeling of biscuit dough as you shape it to bake it.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYaGFvUrMnYzV6CgjCpniRLnCej8xMZSVZfFAdY3NLruglw_o2z9_hkj72UykVdSdmDNsNddU3dzcZhYt7L6iTbNgRRN68-DOZRbW2A3NIIAg5i-Y-LdWyw71J_C09Zl2OUACrY0VdSY/s1600/Photo+on+2011-03-01+at+17.02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYaGFvUrMnYzV6CgjCpniRLnCej8xMZSVZfFAdY3NLruglw_o2z9_hkj72UykVdSdmDNsNddU3dzcZhYt7L6iTbNgRRN68-DOZRbW2A3NIIAg5i-Y-LdWyw71J_C09Zl2OUACrY0VdSY/s400/Photo+on+2011-03-01+at+17.02.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579035298561212802" /></a><div><br /></div><div>The scent of freshly baked biscuits</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKotL9gKh73BjBSJ-i4Ya7wWW-2n6dBIx0Uh-H-lQT2tcY5mxfBSedA6yiQ1hPsj1kPAr7G9xJTJqGW4HjNBWNzHjVGqteaZjz66dGU5RqSH1p7PQOQo2FdwtBLN54M7EN6uYB5QOt7pY/s400/Photo+on+2011-03-01+at+17.24.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579040465887240002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>The speed with which they disappear from the plate </div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-81828245039268386362011-02-21T14:15:00.002+08:002011-02-21T14:19:29.405+08:00Phone sock<div>Yes, I know, who knits a sock for a phone? Answer someone who doesn't wear pockets. I quite often head out with just my keys and the phone, the keys are on a lanyard but the phone is in my hand. It is very annoying. So I made myself a phone sock, I'm happy with it.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZe8d-dtGB_YlvKG5AH6DugvPbgAKKr7VevD0VkMtJ-xZ9fE281LO7_hbN1WyNG71kcStQfIdPC9WB9kxq20BQe1KGOGytDzUD3viR3rXuGop7203idsgnmMJyLEKJ1J80tdJj4Rg0HOg/s1600/Photo+on+2011-02-21+at+14.11+%25232.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZe8d-dtGB_YlvKG5AH6DugvPbgAKKr7VevD0VkMtJ-xZ9fE281LO7_hbN1WyNG71kcStQfIdPC9WB9kxq20BQe1KGOGytDzUD3viR3rXuGop7203idsgnmMJyLEKJ1J80tdJj4Rg0HOg/s400/Photo+on+2011-02-21+at+14.11+%25232.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576023033499512658" /></a>Here's how I did it<div><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">8 ply wool</p> <p class="MsoNormal">2 4mm circular needles</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cable pattern</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rows 1 & 2: P1, K8, P1</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Row 3: P 1, K2, C4F, K2, P1</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rows 4 & 5: row 1</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Row 6: P1, C4B, C4B, P1</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Row 7 & 8 Row 1</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Row 9: Row 3</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Row 10: Row 1</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Phone sock</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cast on 12 (min of 10st even number) on each needle using Judy Becker’s Magic Sock Cast on <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html">http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Start cable pattern from row 1</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Increase to 20 (or whatever your phone needs), following cable pattern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Continue following cable pattern until sock is big enough for your phone.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cast off, but don’t finish off.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Change to crochet hook, slip sti into first cast of stitch to neaten end.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Chain 40 cm</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Slip stitch to other side of sock top.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">DC all the way back around the chain.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Slip stitch, finish off.</p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-16631521315283643152011-01-14T20:44:00.002+08:002011-01-14T20:45:56.792+08:00JoyAn evening walk with the family through the quiet streets of the town. I look up at the sky and the stars are so bright, I almost imagine I can reach up and touch them. The sky is so clear we can see so far, and so many stars. Such joy.Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-20070689849158037562011-01-13T20:50:00.006+08:002011-01-13T21:01:03.408+08:00Queensland FloodMy heart goes out to all the victims of the Queensland floods. All those who are homeless, those who are flooded in, those who are flooded out. My heart also goes out to those affected by floods in NSW, Vic and Tas, what a terribly wet summer. My heart especially goes out to those with small children, trying to explain what is happening to them, why they can't go home, why they can't go to visit friends, why they can't do so many things. Even worse, how to feed them, why is there none of their favourite food, why can't we go shopping. And then for those of small babies, how to feed them, yes many mums breastfeed and that is such a relief because they know that no matter where they are, no matter what happens, they have food for the baby or even the toddler. No matter what happens, Mum's milk is there for bub. However, for those who are formula feeding, there are a range of problems, firstly is there enough formula available, and then they need water to mix it with, water to clean all the equipment, and they need power to heat the water. I really feel for these mums, I spent two years in a similar situation, when Possum was a baby he could not breastfeed, with my first three kids I never had to worry about this, they could feed anywhere, and I always knew I had milk for them, with Possum it was different. I expressed for him, and I spent the whole two years worries that I would run out of power, and not be able to express, or the milk in the freezer would thaw or I wouldn't be able to wash my bottles. It is so much harder when you can't breastfeed. Again all my thoughts go out to the Mums and bubs of Queensland, I hope someone is making sure you all have enough milk.<div><br /></div><div>On the topic of Queensland floods, I know everyone wants to help out. If you want to help out, please listen to the requests from the Queenslanders. They have asked that we send them money not things, if you want to help, here is the link to the Government appeal, please send money this way, rather than goods other ways: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html</div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-38047421965535802112011-01-08T11:53:00.007+08:002011-01-08T12:04:51.661+08:00And the rain ....<div style="text-align: center;">Came tumbling down</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYur2_WsMoLJnVqIeHSKOV8MQr8jwfe3LkVrVy20Yx9oKby26leX1KzgrBUL5NjCMY2fVjEdqqKK9ENEdCM1qWR41xNqUw6EAZYv-olAFlMjSPXi-49uY9HSQ-PquCx6eitd21dk-i58/s1600/DSCF1146.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXYur2_WsMoLJnVqIeHSKOV8MQr8jwfe3LkVrVy20Yx9oKby26leX1KzgrBUL5NjCMY2fVjEdqqKK9ENEdCM1qWR41xNqUw6EAZYv-olAFlMjSPXi-49uY9HSQ-PquCx6eitd21dk-i58/s400/DSCF1146.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559659695043878258" /></a>I know it is nothing like the rain they have been having over east, and nothing like the flooding they have been having. In fact it definitely isn't anything like that, because this was fun. The kids had an absolute ball playing in all the water that was all over the street. <div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNMggBtZSmZdE-OTKg-eRlhxVcxvH5_wNMg54WanbHh9sAv8gMh4IVkuUgpMDR_5AQQMFn4JEFy07oIkUxHBwURkO2comxgxVdtVudjBhnh_GSC5jrAi7iHX7wtYsFrA7u2WRz-Te-ac/s400/DSCF1152.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559660190915646738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">However, it was more than just the street, the Highway was covered in water, and cars had to be very careful going through. Traffic was restricted and all the drains were blocked by garden soil. It didn't go down till the next day. Why so much flooding, because we had 58mls in 2 hours, so the drains just couldn't cope with it. Its great though because our dams are full, our sheep will not go thirsty. I love the rain.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE_HQ7k2PMElI98uBftKhEYMd9fC_s3iMnxfaGXxvSQRy92Rmf2FuI8gvx2t9CpF9zP9dMgIcksErwz1BRRbw_cZSMRRCa1f9S-UXH4SbOE3Coi_0eqT9Uqd7C1QGnsGZx4fz-EwsXtI/s400/DSCF1159.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559659583572811794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE_HQ7k2PMElI98uBftKhEYMd9fC_s3iMnxfaGXxvSQRy92Rmf2FuI8gvx2t9CpF9zP9dMgIcksErwz1BRRbw_cZSMRRCa1f9S-UXH4SbOE3Coi_0eqT9Uqd7C1QGnsGZx4fz-EwsXtI/s1600/DSCF1159.jpg"><br /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-52387090188774255882011-01-04T08:42:00.000+08:002011-01-04T08:43:08.487+08:00Joy<div>The other morning I was listening to the radio and they were interviewing this bloke who writes a blog about awesomeness. It seemed like such a wonderful idea, posting about all the things that go right in your day and that make you feel great. So I’m going to give it a try. However, I’m not really into the word Awesome, it just doesn’t flow with me, so I thought about it for a while, and then I was chatting with the kids about Joyfulness and it struck me, Joy is the word for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>As ‘Abdu’l-Baha says:</div><div><blockquote>Joy gives us wings! In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness. But when sadness visits us we become weak, our strength leaves us, our comprehension is dim and our intelligence veiled. The actualities of life seem to elude our grasp, the eyes of our spirits fail to discover the sacred mysteries, and we become even as dead beings.</blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div>Joy is so important and all around us. Hard things seem easier and good things seem better when we are feeling joy. So I am now looking for joy all around.</div><div><br /></div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-21138629867823590402011-01-03T09:42:00.001+08:002011-01-03T09:43:10.893+08:00Rain's comingI love the smell of rain. <div><br /></div><div>Just popped outside and the air smells sweet, it is going to rain soon. </div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-58844692322105347742011-01-03T08:04:00.002+08:002011-01-03T08:10:07.680+08:00Big Boy Bed<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNfke0cOqkIDKg5881-F8si4Tw5upQtBC-ABEKZEY3mg7-DSsuyurTs6SeTgiEh92VpTLJ0QOuH91vBwC5B5qbb-dzbN8bpr1vZpzeEk_a5GHIZMmkrVcULdVDF_LfahIWLtmPr77D68/s1600/Photo+on+2011-01-02+at+19.49+%25232.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNfke0cOqkIDKg5881-F8si4Tw5upQtBC-ABEKZEY3mg7-DSsuyurTs6SeTgiEh92VpTLJ0QOuH91vBwC5B5qbb-dzbN8bpr1vZpzeEk_a5GHIZMmkrVcULdVDF_LfahIWLtmPr77D68/s400/Photo+on+2011-01-02+at+19.49+%25232.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557744314598442898" /></a>Yesterday we finally organised a big boy bed for Possum. When you have 6 people living in a 3 bedroom house it can take time to find space for the youngest to have his own bed. He's spent the last 3 years either in our bed (all our babies bed share with us) and then in a small bed touching ours. We used to have bookshelves taking up the end of our bedroom, during the holiday we moved the books, they are now along the passage, in the lounge and a lot of them are being donated to the library. This made room for a big boy bed and some personal space for Possum. yes he is still in our room, but as he is 9 years younger than Techno Boy it doesn't really feel right to have a 3 year old sharing with a 12 year old. He slept happily in his bed last night so hopefully it is a sign of things to come.Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-54125920269508772702010-12-16T19:51:00.001+08:002010-12-16T19:53:20.422+08:00Proud Mummy Week<div>I just need to brag, this week has been great.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Monday, Possum had orientation for kindy (in WA kindy is the first year of school, run by school, at school, for kids who turn 4 by 30th of June). He was so well behaved, he sat and listened to the story, he did all of the craft activities, he played really well with the other kids, I’m so happy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tuesday, Techno Boy and Lily had their end of year concert and awards night. It went really well, the kids were great, and got all of the steps right. Bonus is that Lily won the Endeavour award for her year, that means she tries the hardest out of all her peers. Techno Boy won the Science award for year 7 (final year of primary school here in WA), a very prestigious award, with a family pass to Scitech and a year’s subscription to a science mag. To make the evening even better, Otherhalf and Amber ran the lighting and sound, and went off without a hitch, also Possum was very well behaved.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wednesday, Otherhalf and Amber also did lighting and sound for the other primary school in town.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today, Amber's end of year assembly, again Possum behaved really well, and Amber received the Italian award.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm so proud I could burst.</div><div><br /></div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-2530735070771011622010-12-16T19:49:00.003+08:002010-12-18T08:50:48.675+08:00Conversation with a 3 year old<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:15.9722px;">This morning as Possum and I were heading off to visit mum, we were chatting as usual. Conversation went</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Me: I love you</div><div>Possum: I love you too</div><div><br /></div><div>Possum: Daddy loves me?</div><div>Me: Yes</div><div>Possum: Amber loves me?</div><div>Me: Yes</div><div>Possum: Techno Boy loves me?</div><div>Me: yes (you get the picture?)</div><div>Possum: Lily loves me?</div><div>Me: yes</div><div>Possum: baby loves me?</div><div>Me: which baby?</div><div>Possum: tiny baby</div><div><br /></div><div>Me: ???</div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-7044788662256111272010-12-14T13:42:00.003+08:002010-12-14T13:45:10.441+08:00A little bit pagan<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm__MA3QsnVkUqR5H_9oR8rcYTEqN6czhlmy4AeaqIy16-mbypkV9JW-ifMJXK_WN8fDZgqb-dNNNbuxLSmfjtmuNaZsBGx_qfVJynRsbfYQBc9FBLKcF4iEsyeDSaqJaWdmA1KPiEF44/s1600/images.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 259px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm__MA3QsnVkUqR5H_9oR8rcYTEqN6czhlmy4AeaqIy16-mbypkV9JW-ifMJXK_WN8fDZgqb-dNNNbuxLSmfjtmuNaZsBGx_qfVJynRsbfYQBc9FBLKcF4iEsyeDSaqJaWdmA1KPiEF44/s400/images.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550409837474087378" /></a><br /><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Today as we walked home from Story time at the Library we saw an Eagle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It was a beauty, big and brown and yellow, and black, and so colourful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>First it was flapping its wings as it chased the hot air currents, then it was soaring higher and higher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Such a beautiful sight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Possum and I were enthralled and I felt so lucky to see such a wonderful sight in the middle of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>We stopped and watched until we couldn’t see it any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I felt as if I was up there with it, swooping and soaring on the air, riding the currents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I realised I’m a little bit pagan, and maybe the eagle is my totem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Such a glorious creature, such a glorious day, such a lovely life. </p> <!--EndFragment-->Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-10273315313981082502010-11-01T09:29:00.003+08:002010-11-01T09:37:37.827+08:00Hand-made Bread<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvg8s0iw-yil190tnseQnRf_1Tf7U0STFfwlEeyfP46gyD2LJuh20ZSgZ8wPYA7cYaWr_Y2W7VCKgT7BVUgBN9S98NYGgI2pTGVBkfwuQXQDjJtfOEd2To4iqPirFnZ7a_EWnORB53Co/s1600/Photo+on+2010-11-01+at+07.49.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvg8s0iw-yil190tnseQnRf_1Tf7U0STFfwlEeyfP46gyD2LJuh20ZSgZ8wPYA7cYaWr_Y2W7VCKgT7BVUgBN9S98NYGgI2pTGVBkfwuQXQDjJtfOEd2To4iqPirFnZ7a_EWnORB53Co/s400/Photo+on+2010-11-01+at+07.49.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534387773571679410" /></a>We've been eating homemade bread for years, bread machine bread. On Friday I set the machine up to cook bread, and came back to check on it to find a strange noise. The machine was broken, an essential part, made of plastic had snapped into 4 pieces, so no more bread from the machine, unless we can get a replacement part. I had a bit of a quandary, the ingredients were in and there was no way to separate them, so it was either throw out he flour or made the bread by hand. I had a go at hand made bread, and it wasn't bad, didn't raise very much though. So I got my cook book down and had another try from scratch. its not that hard, and its quite fun, but it does take time. <div><br /></div><div>It only takes about 20 minutes of hands on work, but it takes at least 5 hours from start to finish. First you spend about one minute setting the yeast for activation, come back in 30 minutes and its ready to use. Then 10 minutes kneading the dough, set it to rest for 1 1/2 - 2 hours depending on the room temp. Then 5 minutes to shape the loaf, and set it to rise for 3 or more hours. Then 30 minutes to bake, so a minute to put it in the oven an a minute to take it out. Not much actual work, but you do need to be there. Still I can have a shower while the yeast activates, and I can take Possum to the park, shops or to visit friends while the dough raises, and again while the bread rises, so I don't have to be at home while the bread is getting ready to cook. I do however, need to pop home at intervals, so going to work wouldn't fit. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, I'm enjoying it, an its the only way we can have home made bread for a while, as I can't afford to replace the machine for a while.</div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-25061012538649627842010-10-29T14:13:00.003+08:002010-10-29T14:17:02.854+08:00Smaller bear<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEXVz_MEX9IPkC27iJbzWUFgEmndbC3hah5fPojTVrclHOxCPw_bW9ZVZgnoT7mMizaMk5_DvltQ0CWV4hTDSAHYHOZZTG8kIwA1lK1RH7dgyggx68Y_KCBn0H1pWJ4m83uX-ckt3qlg/s1600/Photo+on+2010-10-29+at+14.12+%233.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEXVz_MEX9IPkC27iJbzWUFgEmndbC3hah5fPojTVrclHOxCPw_bW9ZVZgnoT7mMizaMk5_DvltQ0CWV4hTDSAHYHOZZTG8kIwA1lK1RH7dgyggx68Y_KCBn0H1pWJ4m83uX-ckt3qlg/s400/Photo+on+2010-10-29+at+14.12+%233.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533347561573769106" /></a>I made bears for the smaller kids, and Amber wanted one too. However, she didn't want a great big bear to hug, just a smaller one to know that I love her. So here it is, standing on Possum's bear, just to sow the size difference. I used exactly the same pattern as the other bears, just much smaller yarn and a correspondingly smaller hook. It worked out really well, and she is very happy. Now all I have to do is make an orange one for Techno Boy and they'll all have lovely bears.Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-58880081673801493452010-10-10T14:37:00.005+08:002010-10-10T14:45:43.198+08:00Little Moon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj008YfXFA0Mg5vlj_A1rhtirzanjf7KLYgBJtUX7CT5NGQoNV_D7mgqLarqypR4EgeUmueKFk_t4OMZxrBs2WB2Rdmfi0vSX205gROGn1yzq9pth_Ahck1Zy-2eu4x8F9M-ARIzZUBZZs/s1600/Photo+on+2010-10-10+at+14.33.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj008YfXFA0Mg5vlj_A1rhtirzanjf7KLYgBJtUX7CT5NGQoNV_D7mgqLarqypR4EgeUmueKFk_t4OMZxrBs2WB2Rdmfi0vSX205gROGn1yzq9pth_Ahck1Zy-2eu4x8F9M-ARIzZUBZZs/s400/Photo+on+2010-10-10+at+14.33.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526304795460852114" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15.9722px; ">I have always used cloth nappies on my kids. It never occurred to me to use disposables, I just couldn't see the sense of it, so much money down the drain and so much in landfill.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>With Possum, I just didn't have time for all that washing and folding, so I started looking for modern cloth nappies, these don't need folding, they just come as you wear them. While looking for these, I discovered reusable menstrual products. It had never occurred to me that disposable pads were also a waste of money and filling up landfill. I just accepted that that was how I did it. </div><div><br /></div><div>However, the discovery that lovely pads could be bought online, just like lovely nappies, changed my thinking. So I purchased a heap and love them, they are very comfortable, and so easy to wash. However, while looking into reusable pads, I also found the concept of the menstrual cup. It took me a bit longer to come round to these, however, I bought one recently, and it is the best purchase I have made in years. I love my lunette, it is so comfortable, and I can do anything while wearing it (well almost) and don't have to worry about leakage. I am looking forward to swimming all summer, without having to take a few days off every month. </div><div><br /></div><div>Life is looking up.</div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-33519857614309888702010-10-04T09:35:00.005+08:002010-10-04T09:46:52.712+08:00Felted bag<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 375px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkWFM1BAx-NyXQHqaVym2EWQIHfTzvJc_Q4fhUcsy3Jm8PqKsU7JZQO-tbf_L2_Mk1fElOYUxDX6jDh9Cozfu6BAok9VPOisWFko1aNd6vSTwjD3vvfXuItOXeuvvKiFvuM_PCbxs2Qg/s400/Photo+on+2010-09-30+at+07.57.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524000157643321826" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I have just completed my very first completely invented by me project. I have never designed anything before, but while knitting socks (which I don't really enjoy) I was struck by an idea for knitting a felted bag with a mobius loop for a handle. It worked out really well, and I've enjoyed using it over the past few days.<div><br /></div><div>Here is the pattern</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Jenny’s felted, mobius, seamless bag</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><span><span>Patons Jet 2 doubled up </span></span></div><div><span><span>3 balls colour 1, 3 balls colour 2 (always knit with both colours) </span></span></div><div><span><span>9mm circular needles on long cable or long DPNs </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span> Cast on 60 stitches using Judy Becker’s magic sock cast on http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEATmagiccaston.html. You will have 30 stitches on each needle. (or as many as you need for your bag) </span></span></div><div><span><span>Increase ever second row until you have 72 stitches (or as many as you need for your bag) Then work in a round until bag is a little longer than you need (remember it will shrink when felted)</span></span></div><div><span><span> 3rd last row: knit 69 cast off last 3 (now is a good time to work out how you are gong to do the mobius loop handle, I used interchangeable cable needles and a joiner, so I simply knitted each half of my last row on a different cable and then joined them as a loop.) </span></span></div><div><span><span>2nd last row: cast off 3, knit 30, cast off 6, knit 30, cast on 3.</span></span></div><div><span><span>Last row: cast on 3, knit 30 cast on 3 on one loop, and 3 on the next loop, knit 33. </span></span></div><div><span><span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNmU1cX37FjaZ2GpJ5ie7EhQ1ifzZoHOLXDZVYo-ua9nsDag7daQQguR5SN1wWVNVWw_X42zEEbZASmOEXnTsDjcaV3Hztup2u-XryMBK1k6QCowRRVVZeV6bG0rlDGZGsg88Wjg8wwY/s400/Photo+on+2010-09-28+at+10.57.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524000459116715826" /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Sort out your cable needles so you can use Cat Bordhi’s mobius cast on for the handles. Cast on extra stitches using Cat Bordhi’s mobius cast on (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4) until you have a loop big enough for your handle. </span></span></div><div><span><span>I did 140 stitches (or 280 depending how you choose to count them) </span></span></div><div><span><span>Knit 2 rows </span></span></div><div><span><span>Purl 1 row </span></span></div><div><span><span>Knit 2 rows </span></span></div><div><span><span>Cast off in knit </span></span></div><div><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span>Neaten ends (only two ends to neaten yay) </span></span></div><div><span><span>Felt bag. </span></span></div><div><span><span>Dry flat </span></span></div><div><span><span>Enjoy </span></span><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272410613542189160.post-36237449437528916502010-09-19T19:18:00.000+08:002010-09-19T19:19:56.402+08:00Bears with heart<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSm-YU3n8Ace3CElUGRkxm-IdegXpc-djsCoTv4ystVQ93vQB12vmCKg51GBih9GMg0R2fSk2F5DYTyF-LGMIVm8v2DUbXxUgVahU7N7VcmGsWMYTo6eHtl2LYPxIjVv-S7EB2hyiVbs/s1600/Photo+on+2010-09-19+at+15.20+%233.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSm-YU3n8Ace3CElUGRkxm-IdegXpc-djsCoTv4ystVQ93vQB12vmCKg51GBih9GMg0R2fSk2F5DYTyF-LGMIVm8v2DUbXxUgVahU7N7VcmGsWMYTo6eHtl2LYPxIjVv-S7EB2hyiVbs/s400/Photo+on+2010-09-19+at+15.20+%233.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518582652662034418" /></a> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal">Two of my friends are going through a hard time at the moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>One just lost her husband after a two year battle with cancer, and the other has just found out that her cancer is back after a two year reprieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I think they need a boost, so I made them Bears with Heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>It is the same bear that I posted about earlier and I found a pattern for the heart on the web.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I hope my friends love the bears, and feel a little better for receiving them.</p> <!--EndFragment-->Unconventional Wrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06600781992685723274noreply@blogger.com0