tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57213812865345669982024-03-14T01:07:00.542+11:00count it all joycount it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.comBlogger632125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-33011149460292125022014-01-07T18:37:00.002+11:002014-01-07T18:37:36.106+11:00constructions on so many levels.....Howdy there campers.<br />
This poor, wee blog has been cruelly neglected.<br />
Never fear!<br />
There will be a phoenix arising from the ashes very soon....<br />
I am currently moving the blog to a Wordpress site where I can more happily record the chaos of building, family, life in extra colours, fonts and widgets. <br />
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I'm hoping to have it up and running in the next week or so and will let you know as soon as it's operational. I have my dunce cap on at the moment as I learn the new system - but it promises to be easier in the long term. Let's hope that proves to be the case.<br />
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There are exactly 13 sleeps until work begins on the new house. Woohoo! <br />
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I have to admit that we are all only just, barely hanging in there.... <br />
We miss our stuff. <br />
We miss our space. <br />
We miss our beds.<br />
My back may never recover from sleeping in the bed we are in currently. You can lie on the edge and just roll straight into the middle and come to rest on a nest of springs barely contained through the mattress covering. I'm trying to be Little House on the Prairie about it, but Laura Ingalls I am clearly not. <br />
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For those of you who always drop in, put up with my sporadic posts and whining....thank you. I'm hoping that with the advent of the new site there will be adventures in kid-wrangling, building progress photos and dubious recipes coming to you live from Chez Joyeux which will make you cringe, guffaw in horror and generally make you feel superior.<br />
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Love you more than leftover Christmas ham,<br />
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Meredy xo<br />
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-88150232072565649052013-12-15T20:50:00.002+11:002013-12-17T09:25:02.167+11:00top 5 French book picks for ChristmasIf you're anything like me, you've got a slew of people to buy for and by about now you're in a Christmas fog. <br />
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My "foolproof" gift giving tends towards something French. <br />
France is always the gift that keeps on giving.<br />
From Provence to Paris. Foodies to Fashionistas. <br />
You want to spoil someone - a book with a French perspective will usually do the trick.<br />
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I have <span style="color: #741b47;">HEAPS</span> of French book recommendations, but these are some relatively new ones which I haven't mentioned before. For a more complete list of French eye candy, you can<a href="http://astore.amazon.com/coitaljo04-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=5"> click here</a><br />
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You may have seen/heard/bought these....but in case you've haven't, here are some crowd pleasers:<br />
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For your one of your besties who deserves some comfort and delight this Christmas:<br />
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1. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sara-Middas-South-France-Sketchbook/dp/0894807633/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387098941&sr=1-1&keywords=sara+midda%27s+south+of+france">Sara Midda's South of France Sketchbook</a></div>
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2. For a Country Mouse/Town Mouse French experience, you might like to pair it with the<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Sketchbook-Jason-Brooks/dp/1780671059">Paris Sketchbook</a><br />
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I bought this after we'd been to Paris and all my photos got lost in cyberspace.</div>
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It brings joy every time I flick through it:)</div>
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3. This is the latest from one of my favourite author/photographer's <a href="http://janellemccullochlibraryofdesign.blogspot.com.au/">Janelle McCulloch</a>.<br />
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It was released on 1st December, so there aren't many online images to display just yet.</div>
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Suffice to say, it is a visual delight and as usual for one of Janelle's books, exquisitely produced.</div>
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The attention to design detail is amazing.</div>
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This is what I've asked the kids to buy me for Christmas:)</div>
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4. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Appetit-Delicious-Life-Julia-Child/dp/0375869441">Bon Appetit - The Delicious Life of Julia Child.</a> </div>
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I know this is a children's book, but it is SO divine, I'm sure any food loving, Francophile would love to receive it:<br />
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Even gorgeous endpapers....I'm a sucker for beautiful endpapers.</div>
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5. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Romantic-French-Homes-Lanie-Goodman/dp/1908862769">Romantic French Homes</a></div>
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From opulent splendour to farmhouse chic - this beautiful book covers it all.<br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><b>UPDATE:</b></span><br />
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As wonderful luck would have it, the very same day I published this list, Vicki Archer interviewed Tish Jett of <a href="http://afemmeduncertainage.blogspot.co.uk/">A Femme d'Un Certain Age</a> regarding her gorgeous new book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0847841499/?tag=wwwvickiarche-20" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.3;">Forever Chic: Frenchwomen's Secrets for Timeless Beauty, Style, and Substance</a><br />
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It looks right up our cobblestone alley my friends.<br />
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You can read her interview with Vicki Archer here <a href="http://vickiarcher.com/2013/12/forever-chic-in-conversation-with-tish-jett/">{click}</a>. This is most definitely, absolutely going on my wishlist. </div>
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Love you more than an empty laundry basket,<br />
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Meredy xocount it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-44387013121278097462013-12-07T10:26:00.001+11:002013-12-07T10:32:44.204+11:00let me be singing when the evening comes.....Hey there friends.<br />
Just wanted to share what's happening at Chez Joy.<br />
A few challenges, but so many blessings.<br />
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I read an <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7113.Anne_Lamott">Ann Lamott</a> book recently {is she not the bomb-diggidy-bomb?} in which she shared a conversation she'd had with her best friend, who happens to be a Jesuit priest. She asked him what he thought dying and leaving this earth might be like. His answer really resonated with me...<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>"I think it will be like finally taking off a pair of shoes that never really quite fit"</i></span></div>
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How true!<br />
No matter how hard I try to make these life shoes of mine comfortable, there's always a pebble in the sole {soul}.<br />
Among the pebbles...<br />
Angus who is now 5 has recently been diagnosed with epilepsy.<br />
Thankfully, he so far hasn't had grand mal seizures and if the other kids are anything to go by, he probably shouldn't. Yay!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dyv7xMVO45s/UqJRfZuY9aI/AAAAAAAANTo/zYRlGhS7oyM/s1600/angus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dyv7xMVO45s/UqJRfZuY9aI/AAAAAAAANTo/zYRlGhS7oyM/s400/angus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I was completely stoic to begin with, but the last three or four weeks he has been getting progressively worse. He no longer likes to run ahead of me when we're out. He'll often have an absence {just zones out completely}, then comes to, looks around and doesn't know where he is and how he got there. He usually starts crying and then yelling in outrage - quite convinced I had abandoned him. Such a typically bolshie response. This last week in particular, he's been clinging to my arms, legs, waist when we're out and I'm quietly dying a little on the inside. My rambunctious, gregarious, hilarious boy is being driven back into my arms for safety and comfort as his confidence diminishes.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MqKN8DBnihM/UqJSMfMGHuI/AAAAAAAANTw/Tdg1IjLMj1w/s1600/angus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MqKN8DBnihM/UqJSMfMGHuI/AAAAAAAANTw/Tdg1IjLMj1w/s400/angus1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I take heart knowing this is temporary. Once we can get in to see the neuro and establish correct medication everything will be better. But it's going to take t-i-m-e. I am so pissed off. Really, God? Really? Three children with epilepsy? I know it's not cancer. It's not chronic pain or debilitating disease. For that I am grateful. But it requires so much energy and focus and enthusiasm to combat. Chances are the whole household will have to go back to a ketogenic diet. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6I5Cc3gNWEs/UqJSZqdHKbI/AAAAAAAANT4/Z5aW4zSn7ec/s1600/angus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6I5Cc3gNWEs/UqJSZqdHKbI/AAAAAAAANT4/Z5aW4zSn7ec/s400/angus2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Okay. Whinge over.<br />
Let the blessings roll.<br />
These would be the orthopedic inserts into my life-shoes:)<br />
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We have recently moved to a new church which has a larger children's ministry which can cater for our whole range of children and has lots of kids which go to the Christian college where our kids go for high school. Meg, who was afraid she'd know no one when she got to high school and was beginning to panic, now has almost a dozen new girlfriends in her "kids church" group who will all be starting year 7 with her. She is so relieved {so is her mama}. <br />
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Angus was having such a bad seizure day on Thursday, he couldn't go to preschool. He got super lucky though and tagged along with me to Sisterhood Cafe at church and hung out with some other preschool friends while the mum's drank cappuccino and ate spiced cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. {they have a full-on barista style coffee machine in the church foyer! I promise this is not why I chose this church......}. The Holy Spirit must have been working overtime that morning. I had an incredibly encouraging conversation with a mum there who has a severely handicapped child who also has epilepsy. We actually laughed and joked about how best to deal with medical receptionists who don't get how desperate you are to see their boss. Sending video clips of the seizure, followed with a crying phone call seems to be the best way to a golden ticket.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68iTHIH67ak/UqJUs_zEDzI/AAAAAAAANUE/9tL8YvY1saY/s1600/andy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-68iTHIH67ak/UqJUs_zEDzI/AAAAAAAANUE/9tL8YvY1saY/s320/andy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We listened to Andy and Bella from Nairobi Chapel share their story which was amazing. Andy was tragically widowed when he was only 20 years old, three months after his marriage. After thinking he would never get over it, he met Bella and God worked amazing healing in his life, even when he really didn't feel he wanted it. He also spoke about how at othertimes you might feel that God has put your "file" up on a higher shelf while he's busy doing other stuff. How you can feel overwhelmed with what's in front of you and totally alone. Um, yeah. I think we can all identify with that feeling. He started singing "10,000 reasons"....probably one of the best worship songs EVER. At that moment, Angus came out of the kids room looking pale and shocked {he does this after lengthy seizures}, crawled up onto my lap and clung to me like a kitten.<br />
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The song....Andy & Bella's story....chatting about seizures.....Angus not coping .....I ended up crying silent, soul tears. I was overwhelmed with sadness, but also relief at this big, huge, amazing God who loves me so much that He will position us so beautifully to cope by surrounding us with people, stories and songs which bring hope.<br />
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I have 10,000 reasons for my soul to sing.<br />
"Let me be singing when the evening comes...."<br />
Angus has been singing this song now at bedtime with me.<br />
To hear him sing in his cute voice "Bless the Lord my soul, O my soul" with such earnestness, his little eyes scrunched up, mouth open wide.....o my soul, indeed.<br />
Listen to this and be blessed:<br />
{you need to follow link to youtube}<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DXDGE_lRI0E" width="560"></iframe>
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Love you more than eggnog,<br />
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Meredy xo<br />
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-65297690071644900082013-11-28T18:57:00.003+11:002013-11-28T19:58:13.056+11:00kicking off Christmas right....Before I do much else, I'm going to.....<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Set the mood by listening to these:</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Qf6OoAZbAQg" width="560"></iframe>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Then I'm going to make this:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guf5P_mhTVo/UpbQwbcRTXI/AAAAAAAANOE/5tiyG_BcxZI/s1600/chocrasppav.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guf5P_mhTVo/UpbQwbcRTXI/AAAAAAAANOE/5tiyG_BcxZI/s320/chocrasppav.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/chocolate-raspberry-pavlova-200">Nigella's Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova. </a><br />
I make this so often during the summer months that it's become almost <i>de rigeur</i> when you come to our home. <br />
There's something comforting about that I think.<br />
And why not, I say. It's easy, delicious and a treat for all.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">and this....</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RIHJ03NNVXI/UpbuJz09t1I/AAAAAAAANOU/f6brwfv8slI/s1600/watermelon+and+mint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RIHJ03NNVXI/UpbuJz09t1I/AAAAAAAANOU/f6brwfv8slI/s640/watermelon+and+mint.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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So refreshing this time of year.....<br />
How hot was Sydney today!! Ick. Could have done with a few barrels of this today.<br />
Recipe here <a href="http://www.sunnywithachanceofsprinkles.com/2013/06/a-recipe-to-help-you-drink-more-water.html">{click}</a><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Dot these around the house for some Christmas ambience:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NIxsJR_w65o/UpbwhK6GKpI/AAAAAAAANOg/sGE42cvVXIo/s1600/candles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NIxsJR_w65o/UpbwhK6GKpI/AAAAAAAANOg/sGE42cvVXIo/s320/candles.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/meredithdd/christmas/">{via pinterest}</a></div>
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These are just plain candles wrapped with eucalyptus leaves. So Australian - so festive:)<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Watch this:</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GttIJjJlJL0/UpbxlFPJ7yI/AAAAAAAANOs/yBnZNx2dUwI/s1600/elf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GttIJjJlJL0/UpbxlFPJ7yI/AAAAAAAANOs/yBnZNx2dUwI/s320/elf.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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Never gets old:)</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Print this out and pop into a frame:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BlH2Hm7LR4A/Upbzz9f4URI/AAAAAAAANPE/SiXy5rjnf80/s1600/xmaschalkboard12+044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BlH2Hm7LR4A/Upbzz9f4URI/AAAAAAAANPE/SiXy5rjnf80/s400/xmaschalkboard12+044.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Un-Grinching myself by hanging this on my door:</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AvsAR6iVCDk/UpcDE05lpLI/AAAAAAAANPg/9gtchWsmy0o/s1600/jingles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AvsAR6iVCDk/UpcDE05lpLI/AAAAAAAANPg/9gtchWsmy0o/s320/jingles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I was whinging & moaning to Beck that I was the Grinch because my Christmas decorations are in storage FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW BAH HUMBUG! I adore Christmas and love all my quirky, imperfect, hand-made by the kids ornaments that get hung on our tree. Our tree usually looks like an elf threw up on it and I love it that way. I feel like a part of me is missing. Shallow but true. {If I were a bigger person, here's where I would impart that God is reinforcing the real reason for the season in my life and teaching me the error of my wicked worldly ways.}<br />
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Anyhoo, Beck, being the superior friend that she is surprised me with this wreath in the mail two days ago. This is a 4D wreath. It looks beautiful and that would be enough, but every time we open the door it gently, melodically jingles as though there are reindeer landing softly on the roof. I love it with a passion.<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Then, and ONLY then will I be ready to:</span><br />
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make a list,<br />
check it twice,<br />
try to ignore who's been naughty more than thrice:)<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Hey, BT DUBS {teenage speak for "by the way", my peeps} Here's my new Christmas mug!</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kt5XeOIb-Sc/Upb22Zo0_0I/AAAAAAAANPQ/1N17rsJgIOg/s1600/meredymug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Kt5XeOIb-Sc/Upb22Zo0_0I/AAAAAAAANPQ/1N17rsJgIOg/s320/meredymug.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I love it! It cost me $1 at the Salvation Army shop. Love the Salvo's.</div>
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The exercise book is my ticket to sanity these upcoming holidays.</div>
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I'll share more in a later post.</div>
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As you can see, I went all Griswold with the design. </div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">and if all else fails:</span><br />
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Put up more fairy lights.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-syp32uwZ-Uc/UpbzVTUPGiI/AAAAAAAANO8/EaGolseDCJ0/s1600/fairylights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-syp32uwZ-Uc/UpbzVTUPGiI/AAAAAAAANO8/EaGolseDCJ0/s320/fairylights.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/meredithdd/christmas/">{via pinterest}</a><br />
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Love you more than my new Christmas mug,<br />
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Meredy xo<br />
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-29446623373510460502013-11-18T19:40:00.000+11:002013-11-18T19:52:12.210+11:00my {real} christmas letter<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CEr87wK1fpc/UonQrwf-RvI/AAAAAAAAL7Q/QbWwgQlW1FY/s1600/candycaneletter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CEr87wK1fpc/UonQrwf-RvI/AAAAAAAAL7Q/QbWwgQlW1FY/s320/candycaneletter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I had a thought to do a Christmas letter this year. I've always been faintly disturbed by Christmas letters. It's so hard to strike the right note. Sometimes you get those ones which sound like this: </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">"Junior was elected to the Utmost Supreme Leader of the Entire School Community and continues to be a beacon of virtue for his peers. Although, the poor love has such a dilemma for next year...will he study Medicine or Law? Our round-the-world trip following his finals was lovely, if exhausting - let's face it, there's only so much comfort that First Class can provide and my Jimmy Choo's were not made for walking! Happily our new home was complete upon our return. Phew! We were so afraid the installation of the bathroom marble was going to be delayed. Apparently there were some visa issues with the Spanish marble carvers who were flown in to do the hand detailing. Oh well, every day brings its own little challenges I suppose. In the end though, these things only make us stronger. "</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">This is what ours would sound like:</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XDi_byWm-Ds/UonVI1pY08I/AAAAAAAAL7c/2AczMoV-lfo/s1600/familyphoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XDi_byWm-Ds/UonVI1pY08I/AAAAAAAAL7c/2AczMoV-lfo/s640/familyphoto.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Hi Everyone!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Yes, we're still here. It's been 14 months since we moved in with Mum in anticipation of the new extension. God bless her - she swears she doesn't mind what we've done to her cream, pure wool carpet. She says she has a Shannon Lush book about stains which will no doubt do the trick. Although we do have doubts about the blueberry smoothie stain in the middle of the living room floor. Who knew that blueberries turned black? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The kids have had a great year at school! They've set new Personal Bests which is SUCH an answer to prayer. As a result, this year they've each managed to keep their detention quota down to single figures. Not collectively, of course. Individually though, we're giving them each a high five!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">In community news, our local village pharmacy which was in danger of going out of business has been saved. Hallelujah! They credit our family's recurrent bouts of lice, bronchitis and four members of our family having epilepsy as the turning point. Happy days! Nice to know that our small cloud of challenges has provided some silver lining in the local community. </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">They say they couldn't have staved off bankruptcy without us...which is ironic due to our own financial position following all our pharmaceutical costs. However, </span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">'tis blessed to be a blessing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Mum's golden retriever Ben is still going strong - only 12 years young! He is such a beautiful dog and he loves nothing more than to sit right behind us any time we stand still. It's how he shows his love and affection. This might sound dangerous - but actually, now that we've all sprained our ankles and learned the hard lesson, we've become quite fit and agile in jumping around him. Even when holding a frying pan full of dinner! Good times. There's a lovely hurdling athletics competition nearby and we think we might as well join in as a family for some bonding time. If it wasn't for his arthritic legs, I'm sure Ben would love to join in, although his incurable diarrhea makes it difficult to take him out in public. We never know when it's going to strike! Keeps us on our toes {and knees!} on Mum's cream carpet I can tell you. LOL!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Speaking of family bonding time...who knew that 9 people and one bathroom would provide such opportunity for learning? It's been a handy science exercise for the kids in time and motion. We now have our daily ablutions down to a fine art with the girls keeping a particularly close eye on proceedings. The teenagers in the family will no doubt be employed by U.N. Peacekeepers to sort out the Israel/Palestine crisis. Their ideas of territorial ownership would, I'm sure wear down any opposition. </span></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The younger boys have also learned how to multi-task. Why use precious time to have a bath and go to the toilet separately when you can actually stand in the bath and aim for the toilet at the same time!</span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">This bathroom just works on so many levels. What a family improver!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">The excavations on the extension get underway in two weeks. It was meant to be sooner, but with all this rain we've been praying for FINALLY arriving, there are some delays. Our lovely builder has warned us that perhaps a two week start date is optimistic. Optimistic! Tell me about it! It seems our prayers for rain are working so optimistically that this summer is going to be the wettest in decades! Praise the Lord!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Anyway, hope you've all had a lovely 2013. Please don't write and tell me about it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Meredy xo</span></span></div>
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count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-86015703707505449042013-11-12T12:02:00.000+11:002013-11-12T12:02:01.936+11:00our kitchen plans<br />
My how I've agonised over this room!<br />
It is where we will cook, hang out, do homework, welcome friends, come together at the beginning and end of each day.<br />
Lunches will be made, schedules will be adjusted, birthdays will be celebrated, tears and laughter will be shed.<br />
This room will be the launch pad for the entire family.<br />
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So, no pressure to get it right then......ha!<br />
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Is there such a thing as "industrial vintage Hampton's"?<br />
I think that's the style of architecture and design I've decided will work best for our family.<br />
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A little bit of the aspirational {Hampton's} </div>
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Within our budget, the Hampton's motif is limited to a colour palate and soft furnishings:)</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0wjkrNQqyPY/UoASrNEesdI/AAAAAAAAL4M/vXydcTH8fUc/s1600/hamptons+kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0wjkrNQqyPY/UoASrNEesdI/AAAAAAAAL4M/vXydcTH8fUc/s400/hamptons+kitchen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">........mixed with a healthy dose of reality </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">{vintage industrial}</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">- in our case, read vintage industrial as being distressed, secondhand and stain-proof.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MQt9GJCb6fw/UoASvrVolaI/AAAAAAAAL4U/_DpKfhAVyaE/s1600/industrialkitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MQt9GJCb6fw/UoASvrVolaI/AAAAAAAAL4U/_DpKfhAVyaE/s400/industrialkitchen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm planning on Tolix chairs for the dining room table.</div>
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Probably these ones:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9BDmhrCKkas/UoF6ihLBVCI/AAAAAAAAL6Q/1J0CPSt1W0w/s1600/timbertolix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9BDmhrCKkas/UoF6ihLBVCI/AAAAAAAAL6Q/1J0CPSt1W0w/s320/timbertolix.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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This is the blueprint our "great room":</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lChiU95y_2o/UoF7VvEnWRI/AAAAAAAAL6Y/szkMM_8Rj4Y/s1600/kitchenplan.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lChiU95y_2o/UoF7VvEnWRI/AAAAAAAAL6Y/szkMM_8Rj4Y/s640/kitchenplan.bmp" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm currently designing our kitchen with Ikea. So far it looks like this:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8OWiFnRSRuI/UoATZaUZ6lI/AAAAAAAAL4c/XSe37Lsg2Vo/s1600/kitchen.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8OWiFnRSRuI/UoATZaUZ6lI/AAAAAAAAL4c/XSe37Lsg2Vo/s640/kitchen.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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The rear wall is 6 metres wide and the island bench is 4 metres.<br />
The tap will be centred also. It would drive me nuts being off-centre.<br />
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I'm splurging on a few items - a 90cm freestanding oven, a double butler's sink and two dishwashers.<br />
Two dishwashers will change our lives. Ikea have relatively inexpensive ones that can be integrated. That makes me happy:)<br />
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The splashback will be similar to this:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNbk1RtbkF4/UoAWvt8E48I/AAAAAAAAL4o/1mu7ktvRfAU/s1600/subwaytile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNbk1RtbkF4/UoAWvt8E48I/AAAAAAAAL4o/1mu7ktvRfAU/s1600/subwaytile.jpg" /></a></div>
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I know grey grout polarises people, but I'm trying to be realistic. There is no way on God's green earth that I will remember/notice/be bothered to scrub white grout clean every time I cook. I also happen to love the look of it.<br />
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Loving these lights also:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W-6n3utCwrs/UoAYFOB-W6I/AAAAAAAAL44/2MzgB23cNaU/s1600/south_hampton_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W-6n3utCwrs/UoAYFOB-W6I/AAAAAAAAL44/2MzgB23cNaU/s320/south_hampton_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-P09U7fq00/UoF8mBGagOI/AAAAAAAAL6k/pTrkHdjcivs/s1600/boxlantern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-P09U7fq00/UoF8mBGagOI/AAAAAAAAL6k/pTrkHdjcivs/s1600/boxlantern.jpg" /></a></div>
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I just can't figure out whether to put the multi-bulb one over the dining room table or the kitchen island.</div>
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The island is four metres long, so I might be better to put three lanterns, equally spaced.</div>
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An island that long will tend to dwarf one lamp, even if it is rectangular.</div>
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I'm trying to bring some black into the room as the roof, rafters, cabinetry and walls will be white. As lovely as polished nickel lights would look, I'm worried it will look too fancy-schmancy for our style of living and messing. I like something a little more accessible.</div>
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What do you think?</div>
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The benchtops we've chosen are....laminex {gasp!!} I know! Quelle horreur! I am deliberately choosing a man-made material on my benchtops because look......<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvwbGc-nnSA/UoFxTXGCIII/AAAAAAAAL5c/Cwqzu7bUQOc/s1600/faux-marble-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qvwbGc-nnSA/UoFxTXGCIII/AAAAAAAAL5c/Cwqzu7bUQOc/s320/faux-marble-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's laminate!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8ML9DHxcls/UoFxTCKKKdI/AAAAAAAAL5Y/4LyMBXd0a2w/s1600/faux-marble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8ML9DHxcls/UoFxTCKKKdI/AAAAAAAAL5Y/4LyMBXd0a2w/s320/faux-marble.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I know! It's Wilsonart Carrera Marble Laminex - $99/sq metre. I've found a place in Sydney which will give me lovely 40mm square edges, no join seam at the edges. I think they heat wrap it and give it a square edge so it looks like the real thing. You can also lay it on the matte side, not the shiny side so it looks like honed marble and doesn't show scratches so easily. Guess what happens if you drop vinegar on it? Nothing. If it does leave a mark, you can just Gumption it out. This is going to work well for us.<br />
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This is how I can justify a second dishwasher and a butler's sink.<br />
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The ceiling of the room will look like this:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NveUpzWdgbM/UoF3839xOzI/AAAAAAAAL54/IoDmzZ6Iz0o/s1600/greatroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NveUpzWdgbM/UoF3839xOzI/AAAAAAAAL54/IoDmzZ6Iz0o/s400/greatroom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the rear of the house, with glass doors running all down the side:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-No47PulbFIs/UoF5cZyvw-I/AAAAAAAAL6E/HtYPJzxMSkI/s1600/rearview.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-No47PulbFIs/UoF5cZyvw-I/AAAAAAAAL6E/HtYPJzxMSkI/s640/rearview.bmp" width="640" /></a></div>
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So there you go and there you have it.<br />
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Our foundations go down in a couple of weeks. Lots of excavating, mud and messy driveways coming up and I can't wait! <br />
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Love you more than my bedazzled gumboots,<br />
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Meredy xo<br />
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-89367445842952000122013-10-21T10:43:00.000+11:002013-10-21T10:43:01.930+11:00ready, set, house blog!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After twelve months of roller-coaster building preparations, we are FINALLY ready to start building.</div>
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During this time I have to say, I lost the will to do anything other than just "get through".</div>
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We are essentially camping. Very comfortable camping. But pretty basic living nonetheless.</div>
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I can't access half my wardrobe because in a fit of optimism I packed all my summer clothes into a storage container thinking "Of course we'll be done by Christmas!".</div>
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Stoopid.</div>
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My brain is fried.</div>
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It's been a year full of challenges, but my amazing mum and brother have been INCREDIBLE.</div>
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Mum is thrilled as she is finally building the house of her dreams and will have a purpose built wing with absolutely every thing she needs for optimum mobility and entertaining comfort. We have dubbed it "The West Wing" as she is obsessed with the show and, in a delightful coincidence, it happens to lie to the west of the building. We're getting a plaque made in the TV show's font as a house-warming gift:)</div>
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Anyroadup, last weekend, my brother Ian who is now a mining engineer, dug out his old skillset and started excavating the rear yard.</div>
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It used to look like this:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1a3Wv0il1hw/UmRkVNeySFI/AAAAAAAALtw/O2UA0TN_8O0/s1600/originalbackyard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1a3Wv0il1hw/UmRkVNeySFI/AAAAAAAALtw/O2UA0TN_8O0/s400/originalbackyard.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It now looks like this:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7TjSMbijl9M/UmRhEqn32yI/AAAAAAAALtE/Je4FFS5veJg/s1600/backyard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7TjSMbijl9M/UmRhEqn32yI/AAAAAAAALtE/Je4FFS5veJg/s400/backyard2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A couple of trees have been taken down - another happy coincidence, as they were pretty diseased and mum was worried about the huge branches taking out the roof in a windstorm.<br />
The terrace is gonski, as is the deck. We took up the deck by hand and "de-nailed" every single piece of decking to be re-used in our new deck. The timber is in such good condition it seemed ridiculous not to recycle it. I wore workgloves people! Even got a couple of blisters....I loved it!!<br />
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Welcome to my future living area!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vaQrDTDVMQQ/UmRhdzgaHXI/AAAAAAAALtk/4j29DAYC8M0/s1600/backyard5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vaQrDTDVMQQ/UmRhdzgaHXI/AAAAAAAALtk/4j29DAYC8M0/s400/backyard5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This area above will be the "great room" housing kitchen/dining/formal lounge/fireplace etc. Then at the far end, behind the double-sided fireplace, will be rumpus room and powder room.</div>
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All our bedrooms will be in the existing house.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wkp-IZn2XWw/UmRhL1iu4CI/AAAAAAAALtU/jdOUgsc8HeE/s1600/backyard4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wkp-IZn2XWw/UmRhL1iu4CI/AAAAAAAALtU/jdOUgsc8HeE/s320/backyard4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I really need to rethink my choice of site footwear.</div>
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The tradies just aren't going to take a housewife in sequinned Keds seriously are they?</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-YQ0gcSwkA/UmRhXqM11UI/AAAAAAAALtg/p4FKxloN9N4/s1600/backyard1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-YQ0gcSwkA/UmRhXqM11UI/AAAAAAAALtg/p4FKxloN9N4/s400/backyard1.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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Awkward selfie standing on the rear steps looking down onto the site.</div>
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These steps will become our internal staircase linking the two buildings.</div>
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Can you see the smoke haze in the background?</div>
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We are currently facing catastrophic bushfires in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Our home is about an hour and a half from the Blue Mountains, yet we have had burnt gumtree leaves and ash landing on us here. There's even been reports of ash over Bondi! </div>
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Over 200 homes have been destroyed and they think the worst is yet to come.</div>
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Puts our building project into perspective very sharply.</div>
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I've missed blogging. If I'm honest, I've probably felt quite emotionally spent by the process up until this point. Now I feel that I actually have something concrete to blog about and hopefully workshop some ideas with you. </div>
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Our budget still remains super-tight. So there'll be upcycling a plenty & lots of bargain hunting to be done.</div>
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The builders start in the first week of December, just to finish the excavations, the bearers and joists and then after Christmas the building shall start in earnest.</div>
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My dream vision, after a year of delays, is a sea of builder's cracks hard at work.</div>
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I won't care one bit. </div>
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Bring.It.On.</div>
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Love you more than my work gloves,</div>
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Thank you for sticking by me and for your messages which mean more than you could ever know.</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-82549557267512475522013-08-31T18:02:00.000+10:002013-08-31T18:02:06.615+10:00the apartment in ParisIt's a glorious day in beautiful Sydney today.<br />
Not a cloud in the sky.<br />
It's on target to be a corker of a day - 26oC with light breezes.<br />
How grateful I am to live where I do, otherwise this apartment and its surrounds would be forever on my heart and mind.<br />
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I don't have as many photos as I'd like.<br />
This is because all of my photos from this trip were accidentally deleted by one of the little boys.<br />
They were all on my phone and when charging my phone upon our return, one of them re-booted it to the default setting. <br />
We call this "the re-booting incident of which we shall not speak".<br />
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Located in St Germain des Pres it is in the heart of the luxury shopping district.<br />
Zara stores are like 7/11's around here.<br />
We found it via sheer beginner's luck after surfing airbnb.com.<br />
It belongs to the lovely Charles who, when not readying his home for holidaymakers, studies philosophy at the Sorbonne. It's his home and when it gets booked by holiday makers, he just decamps to a friends flat for the week. The beauty of this was it had everything that you could possibly want, including an espresso machine and a pantry full of items we were free to use.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okU9AaBi_Ag/Uh_ikDYdwfI/AAAAAAAALgI/baIbxd1cI_E/s1600/5983_536877949702878_214988757_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-okU9AaBi_Ag/Uh_ikDYdwfI/AAAAAAAALgI/baIbxd1cI_E/s640/5983_536877949702878_214988757_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The view from one of the bedrooms.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuVR_6EunXs/Uh_ilUMSriI/AAAAAAAALgU/P9spqRSOKzI/s1600/7893_536877869702886_51054444_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuVR_6EunXs/Uh_ilUMSriI/AAAAAAAALgU/P9spqRSOKzI/s640/7893_536877869702886_51054444_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Leaning out the window and looking onto the main street.</div>
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The intersection that the famous cafe, </div>
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Les Deux Magots, is situated on is about 10 metres down this main road to the left.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw8Mv_g4yIY/UiGU0B7R7wI/AAAAAAAALgo/yddY6pF3LW4/s1600/les_deux_magots_cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cw8Mv_g4yIY/UiGU0B7R7wI/AAAAAAAALgo/yddY6pF3LW4/s320/les_deux_magots_cafe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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{not my photo - was far too timid to take a photo of people going about their business}</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fzVXSS87odA/Uh_ijq9-b_I/AAAAAAAALf8/SLfbsxTJjX8/s1600/19912_536877823036224_455045375_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fzVXSS87odA/Uh_ijq9-b_I/AAAAAAAALf8/SLfbsxTJjX8/s640/19912_536877823036224_455045375_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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We had the top floor apartment</div>
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{96 thigh-quivering stairs to the top!}</div>
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Each wall had bookshelves full of worthy tomes.</div>
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We were in the presence of greatness.</div>
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I so wanted to slip in a Jackie Collins for a bit of balance.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PAXPEY4dwp8/Uh_ijbquR8I/AAAAAAAALf4/rF5d4yBBp10/s1600/181284_536877906369549_949723518_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PAXPEY4dwp8/Uh_ijbquR8I/AAAAAAAALf4/rF5d4yBBp10/s640/181284_536877906369549_949723518_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The roofline outside our bedroom.</div>
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I love this!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9TsMpB1S8E/Uh_ilKJwpTI/AAAAAAAALgQ/Vkcv2i-W1FA/s1600/970553_536877846369555_1183561303_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9TsMpB1S8E/Uh_ilKJwpTI/AAAAAAAALgQ/Vkcv2i-W1FA/s640/970553_536877846369555_1183561303_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The apartment directly across from ours.</div>
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Love that they had the ubiquitous geraniums in pots.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3arVMCpfI5E/Uh_ifqD61aI/AAAAAAAALfQ/eFzAAUaEhUs/s1600/1000172_537547156302624_1652837452_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3arVMCpfI5E/Uh_ifqD61aI/AAAAAAAALfQ/eFzAAUaEhUs/s640/1000172_537547156302624_1652837452_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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One of the little streets at the bottom of our stairs.</div>
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It seemed we were in the centre of a maze of shoe-shop lined streets.</div>
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No two shoe designs the same and all of them bold and colourful.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTQSRwMF_6c/Uh_ifhHf3ZI/AAAAAAAALfI/eHEltufWchE/s1600/1010245_538750106182329_339674653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTQSRwMF_6c/Uh_ifhHf3ZI/AAAAAAAALfI/eHEltufWchE/s640/1010245_538750106182329_339674653_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Okay. Deep breath.</div>
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This is quite possibly my favourite shop ever.</div>
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Also on the little strip of St Germain Blvd near us.</div>
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Fragonard.</div>
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It looks a bit of a jumble from this photo, but it is absolutely the most exquisite store.</div>
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A wall of perfumes and body lotions...</div>
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Beautiful pillowcase-y things for travelling and general household loveliness....</div>
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Perfumed draw sachets...</div>
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Gorgeous kaftans and scarves....</div>
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Glass dishes bursting with colour....</div>
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It was such an overwhelming shopping experience that it actually brought tears to my eyes.</div>
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I know!</div>
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Crazy! I just couldn't believe I was standing in such a cosy den of loveliness.</div>
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I got all emotional. It was my quintessential Paris experience.</div>
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On the other side of the intersection near our apartment was this:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M17c4XNmMKE/Uh_igW-tzpI/AAAAAAAALfU/IppLGxmLey4/s1600/1013380_538750159515657_945948869_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M17c4XNmMKE/Uh_igW-tzpI/AAAAAAAALfU/IppLGxmLey4/s640/1013380_538750159515657_945948869_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The little jewel of St Germain - Place de Furstenberg.</div>
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A terrible photo, but a magical little square which took us quite by surprise.</div>
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Here's a better picture from the interwebs for your enjoyment:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoByWLrix28/UiGYfsGlMuI/AAAAAAAALg0/zvNo_hMhh1Y/s1600/placedefurstenberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PoByWLrix28/UiGYfsGlMuI/AAAAAAAALg0/zvNo_hMhh1Y/s400/placedefurstenberg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We stumbled upon it on the way to here....</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XhTbE13av5U/Uh_ih3SZEHI/AAAAAAAALfk/x-FM4oaz9XE/s1600/1043999_538750182848988_76687834_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XhTbE13av5U/Uh_ih3SZEHI/AAAAAAAALfk/x-FM4oaz9XE/s640/1043999_538750182848988_76687834_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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A dream fulfilled and all within walking distance.</div>
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Dave, Naomi and I had afternoon tea and surprisingly good coffee sitting amongst the oriental mural walls in Laduree on Rue Bonaparte. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1wR-FVzcAhk/Uh_ihz_d9XI/AAAAAAAALfg/d6owlRZNZMc/s1600/1044135_538750042849002_656654832_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1wR-FVzcAhk/Uh_ihz_d9XI/AAAAAAAALfg/d6owlRZNZMc/s640/1044135_538750042849002_656654832_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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This is Dave and Naomi {waiting for Jack while he did his hair....we did this alot} at the bottom of our building.</div>
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This Moroccan restaurant reminded me of a 1960's coffee den {as seen in the movies}. It slept all day and then from about 9pm at night was teeming with people eating, drinking, laughing and living it up to amazing music which I can only identify as exotic, exciting and sensual. </div>
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It was the last word in cool. </div>
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Being the last word in tourists, we obviously didn't venture in.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37Huz1XUCPg/Uh_iiYzVDfI/AAAAAAAALfw/vwsGqxQAK5U/s1600/1044441_538750066182333_1762731876_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-37Huz1XUCPg/Uh_iiYzVDfI/AAAAAAAALfw/vwsGqxQAK5U/s640/1044441_538750066182333_1762731876_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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A tiny slice of Saint Germain Boulevard just around the corner from us. </div>
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The incredible Ralph Lauren store is to my left, although you can't see it.</div>
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I had beautiful photos of the divine Ralph Lauren windows, but they were sacrificed in the "the re-booting incident of which we shall not speak".</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vBfSmJxGM00/UiGc1Z3gU3I/AAAAAAAALhA/6uKsiEIhqGQ/s1600/1003963_538755956181744_1703728732_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vBfSmJxGM00/UiGc1Z3gU3I/AAAAAAAALhA/6uKsiEIhqGQ/s400/1003963_538755956181744_1703728732_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Anyhoo, I'm not going to bore you with all my travel photos.</div>
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Suffice to say that I had the most amazing time with these precious people above.</div>
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{By the way - I am <i><b>utterly</b></i> obsessed with these Fermob chairs, particularly the laid back ones. How can they possibly be $600!!! Sad face.}</div>
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We walked and ate and laughed and had a marvellous time.</div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">One of my favourite moments...</span></div>
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Before you're allowed to climb the Eiffel Tower, security guards bag check you on the way in to make sure you're not carrying a Swiss army knife or an Uzi or whatnot.</div>
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The security guard just laughed his head off at me, shook his finger and said "Non, non, non, tsk, tsk, tsk".</div>
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What could possibly be the problem I thought?</div>
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Oh yeah. Three sets of Laguiole steak knives in my bag. Doh!</div>
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I gave the others my blessing to go up ahead while I sat on the forecourt of the lawn under the tower as the sun was slowly setting.</div>
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It was one of the only times in which I was by myself during the holiday.</div>
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I sat in the park, surrounded by couples and young families and looked up at the tower, soaking it all in.</div>
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It struck me that all days are precious.</div>
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I reminisced about the young mum I was in my twenties and thirties struggling with raising babies on not very much money and even less energy. The days were long and demanding. Full of love and laughter and moments of pure joy, but still, a hard slog on many occasions. Actually, upon reflection my days probably aren't all that different now!</div>
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Paris was a fantasy which I could only dream about.</div>
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And there I was.</div>
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Sitting under the talisman of my dreams, trying to make out the figures of my husband and growing teenagers.</div>
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How blessed I am to have this moment, I thought.</div>
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How blessed I am to have had all these moments with my family.</div>
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All days are precious. </div>
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Whether I'm sitting under the Eiffel Tower with a bag full of my favourite steak knives or stuck under the clothesline with the fourth load of washing for the day.</div>
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Each one of them makes the other precious and special.</div>
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Each one is a blessing.</div>
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I'm a lucky girl.</div>
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Love you more than pain au chocolat,</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-79132553489196126252013-08-21T11:03:00.002+10:002013-08-21T11:03:43.006+10:00new blog you might enjoyHi there campers,<br />
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While this blog is in paralysis due to my being swamped by building certification requirements and a lack of vignette opportunities, I do have another blog on the go.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rDq0kzSpKmw/UhQOHSYDqcI/AAAAAAAALbM/T0Tk9GAHD1o/s1600/blogheader+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rDq0kzSpKmw/UhQOHSYDqcI/AAAAAAAALbM/T0Tk9GAHD1o/s400/blogheader+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://coffeegraceword.blogspot.com.au/">{here's the link!}</a></div>
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"Coffee, Grace and the Word" was put together for the bible study group I lead. It occurred to me this morning that if you aren't currently in a study due to time, distance, circumstance etc this might be something that you might enjoy. If you'd like to join in online - feel free! You can just pop on anytime you like and see which page of the work book we're up to. There's a free workbook PDF available to download which you can print out or just read online. Go at your own pace, start at the beginning or catch up to us, start a conversation if you like - it's all up to you:)<br />
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Our current study is called "Extreme Identity Makeover". We're taking the whole year to weave our way through it. Although the study calls for daily input and writing, in this season of our lives {we all have young children}, we're taking our time and taking a month to do each week. Yay! The other reason is that it is such an amazing study, that we have found that we've needed this time to truly meditate on each element. <br />
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We don't always agree with every aspect of this study - which we feel is a good thing! A bit of hearty debate is wonderful for our growth. <br />
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There's also some general links on the blog, not connected to the study, which I hope will provide encouragement, diversion and information.<br />
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I called the blog "Coffee, Grace and the Word" because that's my standard line when asked how I get through the day. {I should probably also add Lindt balls and sourdough, but that's not nearly as noble is it?}<br />
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Love you more than a toasted panini with marinated mushrooms, rocket and parmesan,<br />
Meredy xo<br />
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-1076676000135553132013-07-31T13:18:00.001+10:002013-07-31T13:18:08.113+10:00sing over me, sing over you<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aRadG_XodEA/UfiAXmKwFhI/AAAAAAAALUE/bmfFS73hTyg/s1600/bliss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aRadG_XodEA/UfiAXmKwFhI/AAAAAAAALUE/bmfFS73hTyg/s400/bliss.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>From a story told by Alan Cohen in his book: Wisdom Of The Heart</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When a woman in a certain African tribe knows she is pregnant, she goes out into the wilderness with a few friends and together they pray and meditate until they hear the song of the child.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They recognize that every soul has its own vibration that expresses its unique flavor and purpose. When the women attune to the song, they sing it out loud. Then they return to the tribe and teach it to everyone else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the child is born, the community gathers and sings the child's song to him or her. Later, when the child enters education, the village gathers and chants the child's song. When the child passes through the initiation to adulthood, the people again come</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">together and sing. At the time of marriage, the person hears his or her song.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this world, the family and friends gather at the person's bed, just as they did at their birth, and they sing the person to the next life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers sing to the child. If at any time during his or her life, the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the center of the village and the people in the community</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">form a circle around them. Then they sing their song to them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity. When you recognize your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have forgotten it. Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in tune with yourself and when you are not. When you feel good, what you are doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it doesn't. In the end, we shall all recognize our song and sing it well. You may feel a little warbly at the moment, but so have all the great singers. Just keep singing and you'll find your way home.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">**************************************</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just counting my blessings and my gratitude to those who have sung to me through thick and thin - my husband, my mother, my girlfriends and my Heavenly Father. How rich and lovely is this life that brings such blessings. Let's keep singing to each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Didn't know I was going to post this today. Just found this article while researching something else and felt moved to share.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love you more than butterscotch sauce,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meredy xo</span></div>
count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-5068628801227417742013-07-17T09:05:00.002+10:002013-07-17T09:19:31.148+10:00missing this.....<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I was going through my blog archive and stumbled upon a post from 2010 that has highlighted what I'm missing right now.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I miss my house.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I miss the rhythm of my life.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I miss my shelves and my random vignettes.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I haven't made a decent meal or styled a vignette in nearly 9 months.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I miss the person I was in that house and the way our family operated.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I miss blogging like I used to.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I've got lovely photos to share from overseas, but I need precious time to present them in a way that tells the story I want to tell and I seem slightly tongue-tied and time poor at present.</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Blech.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">In other news, our development application has been given the big tick from the council town planners in their cardigans. Yay!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Thank you for being patient with me while I wrestle with life, blogging, looking after my mum, embarrassing myself in front of builders and raising six precious Goofballs. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Let the building games begin!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">{In other important news, I have taken a very adult step and started buying shampoo and conditioner from the hairdressers. The girls and I are hoping for big things for my wayward hair.} </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Anyroadup, here's the post I found and the way I'm looking forward to living sometime in the near future.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">******************************************************</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><b>Shelf Life</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Today was a big cleaning day.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I took these along the way to keep me inspired to keep going.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">I'm only half way there.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">{probably because I kept stopping to take photos}</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">Whatever...I had fun.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAiB7bEVI/AAAAAAAAG9A/MLQeg_an3WY/s1600/dsc_0622.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511421366116225362" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAiB7bEVI/AAAAAAAAG9A/MLQeg_an3WY/s400/dsc_0622.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Missy Moo & Lucy's room.</div>
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{you can see the handknitted saddlecloth made by MM for her horse. Bless.}</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAh8KilqI/AAAAAAAAG84/JKnN03oi8PA/s1600/dsc_0621.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511421364569020066" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAh8KilqI/AAAAAAAAG84/JKnN03oi8PA/s400/dsc_0621.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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My bedside drawers.</div>
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Guess what that ball thing is?</div>
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Yup. No idea either.</div>
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It cracks me up, which is why I bought it.</div>
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It's a ball.</div>
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With plastic shells stuck on it.</div>
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With a string.</div>
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Hilarious.</div>
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It reminds me to not take home decorating too seriously.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAhtOZfqI/AAAAAAAAG8w/dhGoxakikec/s1600/dsc_0619.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511421360558669474" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAhtOZfqI/AAAAAAAAG8w/dhGoxakikec/s400/dsc_0619.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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The only tidy spot in the urban terrorists room.</div>
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Surrounding this photo, every item of clothing has been pulled from their drawers.</div>
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Bugsy and Mr Magoo do this every day.</div>
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They're worse than girls.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAUZLcHZI/AAAAAAAAG8o/tLtf-TP7HDU/s1600/dsc_0589.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511421131839249810" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAUZLcHZI/AAAAAAAAG8o/tLtf-TP7HDU/s400/dsc_0589.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 268px;" /></a>Sad isn't it?<br />
We're sugar-free at the moment.</div>
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I could cry.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAUEiwQHI/AAAAAAAAG8g/leZZKpUdYW0/s1600/dsc_0595.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511421126299893874" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAUEiwQHI/AAAAAAAAG8g/leZZKpUdYW0/s400/dsc_0595.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a>I love costume jewellery.<br />
Dave loves that I love costume jewellery.<br />
<br />
<div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAToyxbnI/AAAAAAAAG8Y/W-Fi5GEqgjo/s1600/dsc_0596.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511421118850887282" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAToyxbnI/AAAAAAAAG8Y/W-Fi5GEqgjo/s400/dsc_0596.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 268px;" /></a>A reminder to "Bee Thankful"<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAKkhXq2I/AAAAAAAAG8Q/-m2vVjJsJ8A/s1600/dsc_0599.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420963085331298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAKkhXq2I/AAAAAAAAG8Q/-m2vVjJsJ8A/s400/dsc_0599.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a>My "to read, learn & watch pile"</div>
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{the school notes are buried in there somewhere}<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAKBhZ-KI/AAAAAAAAG8I/XtBSdJXOHa4/s1600/dsc_0612.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420953690241186" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAKBhZ-KI/AAAAAAAAG8I/XtBSdJXOHa4/s400/dsc_0612.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a>Our read-alouds.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAJ96Kn6I/AAAAAAAAG8A/hAqTIw86vNA/s1600/dsc_0613.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420952720351138" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAJ96Kn6I/AAAAAAAAG8A/hAqTIw86vNA/s400/dsc_0613.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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</div>
<div>
A watercolour of a bay near my brother-on-law's home in Ireland.</div>
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<br />
<div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAJVpPHbI/AAAAAAAAG74/x5sMKbKx0wE/s1600/dsc_0614.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420941911924146" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAJVpPHbI/AAAAAAAAG74/x5sMKbKx0wE/s400/dsc_0614.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a>I love this photo. 17 years later, I still love the man in it.</div>
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More than ever.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAJBhPRwI/AAAAAAAAG7w/X9NuQTDzY3c/s1600/dsc_0615.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420936509671170" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THyAJBhPRwI/AAAAAAAAG7w/X9NuQTDzY3c/s400/dsc_0615.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Scary looking educational games. No fun to be had here folks.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_9JediyI/AAAAAAAAG7o/ClpHn_yHORE/s1600/dsc_0616.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420732487076642" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_9JediyI/AAAAAAAAG7o/ClpHn_yHORE/s400/dsc_0616.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a>I love this rooster blackboard.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_8lwj4QI/AAAAAAAAG7g/OGqWV9ITwsE/s1600/dsc_0625.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420722899312898" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_8lwj4QI/AAAAAAAAG7g/OGqWV9ITwsE/s400/dsc_0625.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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In Lucy & Missy Moo's bedroom.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_8e-Q4pI/AAAAAAAAG7Y/kFKcIG3sEZg/s1600/dsc_0628.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420721077740178" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_8e-Q4pI/AAAAAAAAG7Y/kFKcIG3sEZg/s400/dsc_0628.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 324px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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This glitter lamp sends them off to sleep every night.</div>
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Thank you glitter lamp.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_78Gp1BI/AAAAAAAAG7Q/LmClCOw_UE8/s1600/dsc_0631.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420711717688338" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_78Gp1BI/AAAAAAAAG7Q/LmClCOw_UE8/s400/dsc_0631.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 268px;" /></a>It just makes me feel better that they're written down.</div>
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Even if they're not strictly adhered to.</div>
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It falls under the "aim for the stars and maybe you'll hit the lamppost" theory.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_7qIFXmI/AAAAAAAAG7I/xte1Ot1LXfg/s1600/dsc_0632.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420706891849314" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_7qIFXmI/AAAAAAAAG7I/xte1Ot1LXfg/s400/dsc_0632.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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The shelf of guilt - overdue library books and DVD's<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_r9B1_QI/AAAAAAAAG7A/lxYSiyxGqa4/s1600/dsc_0634.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420437088042242" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_r9B1_QI/AAAAAAAAG7A/lxYSiyxGqa4/s400/dsc_0634.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a>Mimi when she was 2.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_rbsPNmI/AAAAAAAAG64/fc_YMRF79g8/s1600/dsc_0635.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420428139050594" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_rbsPNmI/AAAAAAAAG64/fc_YMRF79g8/s400/dsc_0635.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 258px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a>In my kitchen.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_rAMTnxI/AAAAAAAAG6w/tJJYtgutobU/s1600/dsc_0637.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420420757364498" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_rAMTnxI/AAAAAAAAG6w/tJJYtgutobU/s400/dsc_0637.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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For some reason, nearly half of my canned products are chickpeas.</div>
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Inexplicable.</div>
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Am I afraid of a worldwide hummus shortage?</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_q5ivKxI/AAAAAAAAG6o/5FaRudlbkRU/s1600/dsc_0638.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420418972396306" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_q5ivKxI/AAAAAAAAG6o/5FaRudlbkRU/s400/dsc_0638.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 268px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 400px;" /></a></div>
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Top of the craft cupboard.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_qWYTNGI/AAAAAAAAG6g/Uc9pkyeXSvs/s1600/dsc_0640.jpg" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511420409533379682" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lahWgEchH5A/THx_qWYTNGI/AAAAAAAAG6g/Uc9pkyeXSvs/s400/dsc_0640.jpg" style="border: none; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; position: relative; width: 268px;" /></a></div>
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Lighthouses are a bit of a favourite too.</div>
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Hope you're having a happy week.</div>
count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-40349704823345204882013-07-04T11:19:00.002+10:002013-07-04T11:19:31.773+10:00reading..savouring..discovering joyLong time no blog!<br />
We've just returned from the Wedding of the Year of my brother-in-law and his lovely bride in Ireland. I will need to do a whole post to do justice to the outrageous hospitality and fun that comprises a traditional Irish wedding. Suffice to say, there were wedding toasts celebrated with tequila shots, a second round of food at 2am, interchanging live bands and DJ's until daybreak and guitar playing and foot stomping until dawn in<br />
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I'm still mentally processing the last three weeks of Ireland, Paris and London. A feast of the senses which is going to take some time to savour and ruminate upon before being able to share or record for our family here on this blog. (If you've known me for a while, you might know that I started this blog because I can't scrapbook and this stands in as a family memoir instead. Warts and all.) <br />
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Trying to ease myself into the reality of everyday life again, every now and then I'll take myself off to a hiding spot with a cup of tea for 20 minutes or so and disappear into the pages of one of my last purchases in London. After a delicious Devonshire tea at the Liberty Cafe, Dave pointed out to Beck, Ele and I {Beck and Ele being my co-conspiritors in stealth shopping} the gorgeous homewares section in Liberty. This is quite out of character for him, or any husband one would imagine. I can only surmise that the champagne sorbet that Dave had just enjoyed at the cafe had gone directly to his brain. If not for him, we would have completely missed this section of the store and I'm not sure when I would have stumbled over this book otherwise.<br />
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The sheer loveliness of this department was quite overwhelming {think mis-matched floral china, Sophie Conran dinner sets, quirky measuring cups and mother of pearl salad servers} and I could only manage to pick up the closest, prettiest looking book which would fit in my luggage as a memento of our visit. I had already purchased a range of Liberty print gifts for my mum and I think I was on floral and paisley overload.<br />
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This, mes amis, is the book I was fortunate enough to pick up:<br />
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This review from The Guardian newspaper in the UK describes this book far more eloquently than I am able, particulary in my jet-lagged state: </div>
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Part guide for the aspiring home cook, part culinary memoir, Laurie Colwin's republished collection of essays, <span style="border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Home Cooking</span>, is a feast. Blending anecdotes, reflections and recipes from 40 or so years in the kitchen, Colwin's witty, no-nonsense prose oozes delight in earthy, home-crafted cuisine: </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"I love to eat out, but even more, I love to eat in."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">A New York-based writer who died unexpectedly aged 48 in 1992, Colwin published several novels before moving into food writing, which, in 1988, had only a fraction of the cachet it has today. In her wry and unaffected style, Colwin presents the kitchen as a nucleus where childhood and motherhood, falling in and out of love, boredom and learning and success and failure are all played out.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Colwin stresses that although some have an "inborn talent" for cookery, these are skills that can be acquired with some commitment to good food. <span style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Home Cooking</span> is her account of building up a wholesome (if not healthy) repertoire for home entertaining – from fried chicken</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> "that makes people want to stand up and sing the Star-Spangled Banner" </span><span style="color: #073763;">(it does, I tried) to easy beef stews, sauteed vegetables with poached egg in one pot, home-baked bread (</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"without the agony"</span><span style="color: #073763;">) and the simplest of puddings, orange ambrosia. Indeed, there are echoes of Nigella Lawson, one of Colwin's fans, the UK's own elegant earth mother championing straightforward food in both her writing and cooking.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Colwin's take on food is at once universal and deeply personal: </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"Most people are idiosyncratic about food." </span><span style="color: #073763;">She pokes light fun at the food foibles of others (if your friends are allergic to wheat/dairy/fish, then </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"change <span style="white-space: nowrap;">friends instantly </span>and find some red-blooded chowhounds with few scruples and no interest in health"</span><span style="color: #073763;">), while remaining fully aware of her own gastro quirks (eggplant with tamari, garlic and coffee was a favourite). </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"Certainly cooking for oneself reveals man at his weirdest,</span><span style="color: #073763;">" she writes.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: #073763; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Home Cooking</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #073763;"> is both timeless and dated, all-American and inclusive. Colwin's references to organic chicken being</span> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">"not easy to find" </span><span style="color: #073763;">and</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763; white-space: nowrap;"> fondue sets</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #073763;"> being given as wedding gifts ground her work in another era. All-American places and brand names are also ubiquitous – Walnut Acres of Penns Creek, Pennsylvania; Bleecker Street; 3 Musketeers chocolate and Rocky Road ice-cream.Yet the principles she proposes are eternal, from the essential kitchen kit she recommends in a chapter titled "The Low Tech Person's Batterie de Cuisine" to her belief in trial and error. She is wholly accepting of the US food landscape around her, but is open to foreign alternatives, as her (very kind) essay "English Food" testifies: "When it comes to cakes and puddings, savouries, bread and tea cakes, the English cannot be surpassed."</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Witty and weighty, <span style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Home Cooking</span> is a culinary companion as comfortable beside your bed as your cooker. It has an essay for everyone who loves to eat and demonstrates that home is where the heart is – and the stomach happiest.</span></i></div>
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What drew me to this book was firstly, the cover. </div>
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I bought it because of chapter headings like these:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"> "Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant," </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #134f5c;">"Repulsive Dinners: A Memoir,"</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"> and </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;">"Stuffed Breast of Veal: A Bad Idea."</span></span></div>
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I've been eeking out the chapters, not wanting to read it too quickly. Taking care to enjoy each anecdote and recipe. As it stands, I have only two chapters to go and I am already feeling sad about finishing this book.</div>
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Or I was, until I Googled her name and found these:</div>
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Hurrah! </div>
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Discovering a new author to read is one of life's most purest joys.</div>
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Back to the laundry now.</div>
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Love you more than a Liberty showercap,</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-37032786436248142922013-05-20T10:31:00.003+10:002013-05-20T10:31:55.444+10:00in the nick of time....I really want to rename my blog "Adventures in Poo Knives" {if you've just stumbled upon this blog looking for the Rainbow Cake recipe, I apologise. <a href="http://meredith-countitalljoy.blogspot.com.au/2010/02/rainbow-cake.html">Here's the recipe</a>....on the other hand if you want to know what a poo knife is<a href="http://meredith-countitalljoy.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/holding-up-broken-pieces.html"> read here</a>. I promise it's a metaphor. Other than that, I promise nothing. This blog has no theme or agenda. We could end up anywhere from here people.}<br />
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As you were.<br />
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So, in the past we've firmly established God has a sense of humour, right? As luck would have it, the Monday after the Mother's Day that has already been written into family lore, Dave and I had an appointment to view some family photos we had shot a few weeks ago.<br />
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If you ever doubted the existence of guardian angels, this might just change your mind. These photos have extended the children's life-under-our-roof expectancy significantly:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFX_kyKMoUc/UZlnoq-EeMI/AAAAAAAALSo/0LFsdoh-RJw/s1600/264529_10151646204713217_462148955_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IFX_kyKMoUc/UZlnoq-EeMI/AAAAAAAALSo/0LFsdoh-RJw/s320/264529_10151646204713217_462148955_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Look! They actually DO like each other.</div>
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We have photographic proof!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzI0Ugi3o4M/UZlnhcVdV1I/AAAAAAAALSE/-qVjVdlEpqg/s1600/599466_10151646205728217_706484907_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nzI0Ugi3o4M/UZlnhcVdV1I/AAAAAAAALSE/-qVjVdlEpqg/s400/599466_10151646205728217_706484907_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dave thought the photographer was being too gentle in throwing pebbles into the dam to get them looking the same way.</div>
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So he picked up a boulder.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4LBJU0Drdwg/UZlnm19K4wI/AAAAAAAALSg/kmVp3P44iaU/s1600/970122_10151646205943217_1001697084_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4LBJU0Drdwg/UZlnm19K4wI/AAAAAAAALSg/kmVp3P44iaU/s400/970122_10151646205943217_1001697084_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And threw it.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3MMOy_SMH0c/UZlnkjdjZdI/AAAAAAAALSQ/NmSwRWutHZg/s1600/941247_10151646206103217_2107830505_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3MMOy_SMH0c/UZlnkjdjZdI/AAAAAAAALSQ/NmSwRWutHZg/s400/941247_10151646206103217_2107830505_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was hilarious.</div>
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They couldn't believe he would go through with it.</div>
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But really....they know better.</div>
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This is a classic family dynamic of ours.</div>
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This is going in a triple frame to be hung in our new kitchen as it captures the essence of our family the most succinctly. You can even see Hamish on the left shaking his hand at Daddy yelling out his favourite threat "I'm going to kill you to death!". </div>
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Gives me the warm and fuzzies.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rqKsQwBJVmo/UZlng6_85-I/AAAAAAAALSA/XnGXM6u296Y/s1600/936291_10151646206128217_384580895_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rqKsQwBJVmo/UZlng6_85-I/AAAAAAAALSA/XnGXM6u296Y/s320/936291_10151646206128217_384580895_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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See? We look like a completely normal family.</div>
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Who'd have thunk it?</div>
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They are actually, fun and lovely kids.</div>
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But they're a work in progress, as are Dave and myself.</div>
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The weight of responsibility to raise them to not only look after themselves {a trained monkey can do that}, but to be capable of and interested in looking after others, feels overwhelming at times.</div>
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I want them to know that they do not walk alone.</div>
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That they have two hands, one for helping themselves and one for helping others. <span style="font-size: x-small;">{thank you Audrey Hepburn for that thought}</span></div>
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That God is with them always and he expects a certain level of dignity, compassion and energy from them.</div>
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I'm also trying to convince them that God loves a well packed dishwasher and bath towels hung on hooks.</div>
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Will try and post more frequently - lots happening. Lots of decisions being made regarding our work/life balance and the way we are choosing to spend our family time.</div>
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Big changes afoot!</div>
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Love you more than Le Creuset full of beef stew on a winter's night,</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-68797969324773481542013-05-13T10:15:00.002+10:002013-05-13T10:15:29.665+10:00holding up the broken pieces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xmU0hXfnQfo/UZAloTx6wII/AAAAAAAALRw/pwZIRUyRgeM/s1600/broken-n-cracked-ice-hearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xmU0hXfnQfo/UZAloTx6wII/AAAAAAAALRw/pwZIRUyRgeM/s320/broken-n-cracked-ice-hearts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Worst.Mother's.Day.Ever.<br />
Seriously.<br />
I was in tears by 8.30 in the morning.<br />
<br />
A mixture of frustration, exhaustion, sadness and disappointment.<br />
In fairness it had been on the brew for a while and all it took was just one too many fights between the kids and display of disrespectful attitude towards Dave and I.<br />
This Mumma cracked it.<br />
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No stoic martyr's tears or stiff upper lip from me, oh no....<br />
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I do the whole "I can't believe I've raised such revolting children/what did I ever do to deserve this/you are the most ungrateful children in the world/don't you know how hard Daddy works and what we sacrifice for you?" routine.<br />
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And then I cry and don't stop until I'm done.<br />
Which in this case was about three hours later.<br />
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As usual, in my inadequacies and flaws and feelings of hopelessness God showed up.<br />
I kid you not.<br />
Dave and Jack had to go to rugby on the other side of the planet<br />
{Rugby - Making Mother's Resentful since 1823}<br />
The best thing to do, I decided, would be to put the kids in the car and drive to Bobbin Head {gorgeous river system and bushland in the National Park}- I felt an overwhelming need to submit myself to God's guidance in the middle of His glorious gifts. I had no sooner driven out the driveway with tears pouring down my cheeks feeling like an abject failure than this song came on the radio:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VZdSlbOTrCo" width="560"></iframe>
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Meg, our 11 year old, started crying. She turned to me and said "I know why you're crying even more Mummy. It's because of this song isn't it? You're wanting to hold up all your broken pieces for fixing aren't you?"<br />
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What I can tell you is that in that moment, I mentally held up the broken pieces in my life and said "Please. Just fix them.". <br />
I'd love to tell you that I stopped crying and felt completely healed, but this is the real world.<br />
I kept crying and feeling pretty bloody awful.<br />
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Then, fortified with a takeaway coffee, my bible, the kids and an ironically glorious sunshiney day, we set out for a walk along the mangrove boardwalk. Reaching a rocky outcrop overlooking the river we chatted, said a couple of prayers and let the sun soak into our souls.<br />
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Then I told them a gross story that I'd heard the night before which made them all gag, but it sent a great message.<br />
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This story is from <a href="http://www.daviswade.com/">Wade Davis</a> - apologies for my inadequate re-telling:<br />
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<span style="color: #073763;">The Indigenous Canadians {Inuits} are people of ice and snow. However, way back in the days of colonization, the Canadian government were rounding them up into reservations {for various horrific reasons which governments have been guilty of doing to indigenous populations all over the world}. Anyhoo, one of the Inuit elders deciding he could no longer live in captivity planned a daring escape. In the middle of a snowy evening he went outside, dropped his caribou pants and defecated into his hands. He then fashioned his defecation into the shape of a knife and let it freeze. Taking a dribble of spit and letting it run along the side of the knife, it then froze into an edge as sharp as glass. Using this knife implement that even MacGyver would be impressed with, he killed a huskie and used its bones and skin to fashion a sledge. He then caught another huskie {Wade tells how....it's complicated} and then hitched that to the sledge and sped off into the night. Presumably yelling "See ya suckers!" to his captors.</span><br />
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After the kids had stopped gagging and rolling around on the ground clutching their throats, they agreed that it was a "wicked awesome" story. Gabrielle, the wise sage, said solemnly "See, Mum? You should never give up."<br />
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So here I am today, making a metaphorical poo knife for the journey ahead.<br />
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Wish me luck.<br />
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Love you more than a pair of disposable gloves,<br />
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Meredy xo<br />
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-51325240824043778042013-05-03T12:07:00.002+10:002013-05-03T12:07:24.800+10:00pottery barn favourites in australia...Okay, work with me friends:<br />
Building delays....<br />
<a href="http://www.potterybarn.com.au/">Pottery Barn Australia</a> just opening.....<br />
Equals inspiration to reimagine some design aspects and accents in our home<br />
Coincidence?<br />
God really did open a window!<br />
Bahahaha! <br />
Joking of course, but my it's all so visually exciting and unexpected in the overpriced homewares hijack currently experienced in Australia.<br />
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If nothing else, the Pottery Barn/Williams-Sonoma/West Elm lovely new websites have provided a delightful diversion whilst awaiting on the council landscape & hydraulic engineering team to get their sweet act together.<br />
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Here are some favourites:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Og5Q7aZUPo/UYDPalE_zUI/AAAAAAAALNY/Lt8w9QDDvDs/s1600/masonjar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Og5Q7aZUPo/UYDPalE_zUI/AAAAAAAALNY/Lt8w9QDDvDs/s400/masonjar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These Mason jar mugs are a definite must have for the new house. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IWmI_IPB0i4/UYDPZAv8feI/AAAAAAAALM4/88VJNllF48c/s1600/caddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IWmI_IPB0i4/UYDPZAv8feI/AAAAAAAALM4/88VJNllF48c/s400/caddy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used to have a wooden one of these which broke, but I loved it for carrying multiple bottles of drink to the outside table for a BBQ. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PoXMenahl50/UYDPZampTMI/AAAAAAAALM8/PDOhFE22kEY/s1600/drink+caddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PoXMenahl50/UYDPZampTMI/AAAAAAAALM8/PDOhFE22kEY/s320/drink+caddy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Love these for summer. I already have a couple of similar ones and when trying to entertain rugby or cricket teams, you can never have too many.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfnJYNtuhrE/UYDPaReCc0I/AAAAAAAALNU/T8-n1utDPqY/s1600/goblet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfnJYNtuhrE/UYDPaReCc0I/AAAAAAAALNU/T8-n1utDPqY/s400/goblet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Love these for water glasses. The right amount of heaviness in the hand and elegant to drink from.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8oFlY22nftw/UYDPa611CmI/AAAAAAAALNg/hl_abA0Gr-A/s1600/ladderback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8oFlY22nftw/UYDPa611CmI/AAAAAAAALNg/hl_abA0Gr-A/s320/ladderback.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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One in each colour please!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPYBlyWmmVU/UYDPYb8bg6I/AAAAAAAALMo/v3IEJJJI1zo/s1600/coffeetable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qPYBlyWmmVU/UYDPYb8bg6I/AAAAAAAALMo/v3IEJJJI1zo/s400/coffeetable.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Love this coffee table to bits! This might be the one splurge item for which I would gladly sacrifice my takeaway coffee habit.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a-FNoOO9xHA/UYDPZ0GRtqI/AAAAAAAALNI/01QWyz87xE8/s1600/file.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a-FNoOO9xHA/UYDPZ0GRtqI/AAAAAAAALNI/01QWyz87xE8/s400/file.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Okay, I know I would never use it effectively and it would end up looking like a dog's breakfast with school notes and newletters piling out of it, but I can't help but admire wistfully.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2NCeHJh9II/UYDPbQVoepI/AAAAAAAALNs/C2id0wQaZKA/s1600/rug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2NCeHJh9II/UYDPbQVoepI/AAAAAAAALNs/C2id0wQaZKA/s320/rug.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Yes! Finally! Lovely muted shades and non-RSL-poker-machine-room geometric patterns in a mid-priced rug. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sCX2hkFqbtk/UYDPboRrrfI/AAAAAAAALN0/Z7d6UWwduFI/s1600/rug2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sCX2hkFqbtk/UYDPboRrrfI/AAAAAAAALN0/Z7d6UWwduFI/s400/rug2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VWn8atyXx-0/UYDPbhkMeII/AAAAAAAALNw/q2XGeAhoGcU/s1600/rugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VWn8atyXx-0/UYDPbhkMeII/AAAAAAAALNw/q2XGeAhoGcU/s400/rugs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Gorgeous!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-DGIHkeXNQ/UYMXHwh0S3I/AAAAAAAALOo/IOjbmnfaPVk/s1600/Hero_Tabletop_Serveware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X-DGIHkeXNQ/UYMXHwh0S3I/AAAAAAAALOo/IOjbmnfaPVk/s640/Hero_Tabletop_Serveware.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h6d5VkF58gA/UYMXHp6B7MI/AAAAAAAALOc/etN5ilg8ZXA/s1600/saltpepper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h6d5VkF58gA/UYMXHp6B7MI/AAAAAAAALOc/etN5ilg8ZXA/s1600/saltpepper.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-BoZuHHaTc/UYMXEexI5JI/AAAAAAAALOQ/azUTG61qdKg/s1600/silverbowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h-BoZuHHaTc/UYMXEexI5JI/AAAAAAAALOQ/azUTG61qdKg/s1600/silverbowl.jpg" /></a></div>
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Love.It.All.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IaXp0wXd8Pw/UYMXIFISLHI/AAAAAAAALOs/Y04FIPKiWVk/s1600/table2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IaXp0wXd8Pw/UYMXIFISLHI/AAAAAAAALOs/Y04FIPKiWVk/s640/table2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A few of each?</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aTLQFpzc1MM/UYMY2fRn4WI/AAAAAAAALPE/sUa2bj2LtpE/s1600/S13D2_Cat_Decor_Decorativeaccessories_PB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aTLQFpzc1MM/UYMY2fRn4WI/AAAAAAAALPE/sUa2bj2LtpE/s640/S13D2_Cat_Decor_Decorativeaccessories_PB.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lots and lots of coastal bits & bobs.<br />
Their "coral" is made from acrylic and is actually reasonably priced compared to the outrageous amounts asked for in other homewares store in Australia. I looked at one recently which was priced at over $300! PB's is $48. High five PB!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N34r6OoG3XE/UYMY2GrpGPI/AAAAAAAALO8/lh12oDwMGa4/s1600/shells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N34r6OoG3XE/UYMY2GrpGPI/AAAAAAAALO8/lh12oDwMGa4/s400/shells.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Anyway, best go and do some actual work now.</div>
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Hurumph.</div>
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Might squeeze in a post about West Elm and Williams-Sonoma also.</div>
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Although, I don't know if my adrenal system can handle the excitement.</div>
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Sometimes my shallowness surprises even myself.</div>
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Love you more than an hour of cruising Pottery Barn online,</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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p.s. thanks for lovely, lovely comments re our building delays etc. You guys make my day. M xo</div>
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count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-16714827202833662652013-04-30T10:51:00.000+10:002013-04-30T10:51:00.835+10:00changing plansFrom the very start, this project has been prayed over.<br />
We prayed that every aspect from design to completion would be in God's hands.<br />
I know that probably sounds flaky to some. But, hey - I know my limits and my weaknesses.<br />
We've hit another stumbling block in the last few days re the trees on the property.<br />
An arborist had submitted a report stating that a particular tree absolutely had to go due to disease.<br />
Now the council arborist has said "Hmm, not so sure. Maybe just a major prune would do."<br />
That tree currently sits smack bang in the middle of our would-be rumpus room.<br />
It's a fairly integral part of the design and therefore a major hiccough.<br />
Either way, on top of the added expense of hydraulic engineering and escalating building costs, a complete re-design is in order.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JlvZ9cNBiQ/UX8RKObOd2I/AAAAAAAALME/wQGzpNWa_HU/s1600/peonies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JlvZ9cNBiQ/UX8RKObOd2I/AAAAAAAALME/wQGzpNWa_HU/s640/peonies.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>{I find this arrangement peaceful....a reflection of how I'm feeling right now.}</i></span></div>
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I'm absolutely ok with this.<br />
Weirdly.<br />
It's not that I'm not disappointed, I am.<br />
But I have every confidence that God's hand is over this project and he is protecting us from something that perhaps we don't yet understand. It could be that financially, it would be too much of a burden. Perhaps the new design will incorporate some beneficial aspects that we will need in a future not yet imagined.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhme7H0Nf94/UX8SzMs7iYI/AAAAAAAALMQ/5gsyBfCwwP8/s1600/openwindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhme7H0Nf94/UX8SzMs7iYI/AAAAAAAALMQ/5gsyBfCwwP8/s320/openwindow.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>{Can't help but think of the old chestnut "When God closes a door, he opens a window". </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Apologies for cliche. But it's a cliche for a reason, right?}</i></span></div>
<br />
<br />
Get this -<br />
Gus the Gorgeous Architect has offered to do the new drawings for free.<br />
Is he not heaven sent?<br />
Gus has been such an incredible blessing to our family.<br />
He's already overseen two projects of friends of ours which have turned out beautifully, with our friends singing his praises from the rooftops.<br />
We've said to him, as long as we keep the "great room", everything else is up for grabs. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7GxolvgnPo/UX8RH_58LUI/AAAAAAAALL8/Vk6m9tnaIBY/s1600/curtain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7GxolvgnPo/UX8RH_58LUI/AAAAAAAALL8/Vk6m9tnaIBY/s640/curtain.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
In a nutshell, Dave, Mum and I are completely at peace with whatever comes next. God has has eye on the sparrow, and he definitely has his eye on us. Hahaha...listening to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWjwZ_fFKMU">this song</a> a lot!<br />
<br />
Without a doubt, if I was trying to attempt this project 10 years ago I would have been a jibbering mess. I love that I've experienced loss, disappointment, doubts and fear in various forms over the years and come out the other side knowing that love conquers all, relationships are the only thing that matters and that we are never alone, even in the depths of despair. God rocks like that. He just loves to show up and show off when you're at the end of your tether.<br />
<br />
A house re-design?<br />
Big deal.<br />
First world problem, right?<br />
<br />
Bring it on.<br />
It's going to be amazing.<br />
<br />
Love you more than you know,<br />
<br />
Meredy xo<br />
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-47581684553971581452013-04-26T12:37:00.002+10:002013-04-26T12:37:38.616+10:00house update...I've got two words....Hydraulic Engineer.<br />
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Yawn-a-rama.</div>
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Just when I think we're over the line, we somehow seem to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.</div>
<div>
Local councils specialise in it I'm sure.<br />
The senior town planner in his hand-knitted vest came to visit last Friday and hummed and hahhed and eventually said the two words I really didn't want to hear. "Hydraulic Engineer".<br />
What I really heard was "Ca-ching, ca-ching" falling out of our budget. Boo hiss!<br />
<br />
The reason for our annoyance is that we had already included all sorts of water detention pits and rainwater tanks and the first town planner said to us "Oh no, you won't need those, take them out of the plan." So we did. Hurumph! Of course, if there is a genuine water issue it needs to be dealt with, but I really wish they'd got their story right in the beginning......in January.<br />
<br />
Perhaps I'd had a too big cup of coffee that morning but I did let rip every so slightly.<br />
With great restraint, through gritted teeth and barely veiled sarcasm I asked why this wasn't raised four months ago and asked him to promise me that once this is rectified to their satisfaction it will be the last hurdle. <br />
Poor Gorgeous Gus the Architect has never seen me in like that before and was looking a bit frightened. </div>
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Anyhoo, here's a lovely cushion to cheer us up:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w1LQrGozS8o/UXCz9gVXk3I/AAAAAAAALLs/F6OfTj4ev-k/s1600/bikecushion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w1LQrGozS8o/UXCz9gVXk3I/AAAAAAAALLs/F6OfTj4ev-k/s320/bikecushion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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{From my<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/170081323400200114/"> cushion pinterest board</a>.....what? Doesn't everyone have one of those?}</div>
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Lucky I really, really love our house plans otherwise I'd be tempted to give up.</div>
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I'm learning all sorts of life lessons at the moment. Fortitude, perseverance, how to pack nine people, two guinea pigs, a rabbit and a dog into a small suburban home. </div>
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Please pray for my poor Mother as she puts up with us all in her once neatly ordered home. She is incredibly kind and patient and deserves the Medal of Bravery. I can't wait to repay her by looking after her in newly renovated and beautiful surroundings.</div>
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Somehow, we're having an 11th birthday party for Meg tomorrow. A "Spa Day". The three eldest are away at a church camp at the moment so it's actually pretty good timing. Just need to make a cake. And a homemade face mask. And clear some space. And hold on to my sanity. </div>
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Love you more than the Town Planner, that's for sure!</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-61433964168667876672013-04-12T12:05:00.002+10:002013-04-12T12:05:36.703+10:00i fed my children devon sandwiches....<br />
I went the whole hog.<br />
The devon was cut from a sausage shaped roll wrapped in plastic from the deli aisle at the supermarket.<br />
On fresh, white rolls.<br />
With margarine.<br />
Topped with a squeeze from the tomato sauce bottle.<br />
<br />
It was very liberating.<br />
<br />
It's the last day of school term today and I just couldn't whole food it for one more day.<br />
No doubt it will be their favourite lunch all term.<br />
<br />
I feel much better now that I've confessed my wicked mothering ways to you.<br />
In reality I think I've had a knee-jerk response to the release of Gwyneth Paltrow's new cook book<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Its-All-Good-Delicious-Recipes/dp/1455522716"> "It's All Good" </a>and her Marie-Antionette "let them eat quinoa!" ways.<br />
<br />
That's all.<br />
Just had to tell you.<br />
<br />
{I did draw the line however when Angus grabbed the roll of devon from the bench and tried to bite off a chunk. One still has standards you know.}<br />
<br />
Look - here's a picture to make me feel guilty!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oQvUgYJouW0/UWdqA98I6vI/AAAAAAAALLc/wuKr0V79xzU/s1600/d5da66cb3861661176fbc4d0727325d2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oQvUgYJouW0/UWdqA98I6vI/AAAAAAAALLc/wuKr0V79xzU/s320/d5da66cb3861661176fbc4d0727325d2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Nup. <br />
Still feeling grateful for giving myself a free pass today.<br />
<br />
Love you more than a bento box full of rainbow vegetables,<br />
<br />
Meredy xo<br />
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-19095500020152901442013-04-09T11:42:00.002+10:002013-04-09T11:42:21.855+10:00builders...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PF8W-LPSkIg/UWNwRroeoYI/AAAAAAAALLE/F4TlBFKX0Bs/s1600/builders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PF8W-LPSkIg/UWNwRroeoYI/AAAAAAAALLE/F4TlBFKX0Bs/s400/builders.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Who could have guessed that the whole quoting scenario would turn out to be such a palaver?<br />
All the builders have been completely lovely {aren't they always at this stage??} and I have to say, each one I meet I feel guilty about the other builders I'm "seeing".<br />
<br />
I feel like I'm cheating on them.<br />
This will simply not do. <br />
My people-pleasing ways will have to be put to one side if I'm going to survive with my dignity, sanity and finances in tact.<br />
But still.<br />
They've been lovely.<br />
And I can't seem to stop making them cappuccino's.<br />
<br />
Luckily we have Gorgeous Gus the Architect to navigate the minefield for us. He's so incredibly gorgeous, but as tough as nails - luckily for me as I keep on wanting to be the builders friend. <br />
<br />
Anyhoo, just wanted to pop by and tell you why I haven't been blogging.<br />
I've also been focused on cornices and skirting boards.<br />
Which is more fun than it sounds.<br />
<br />
Blogging is on the back burner unfortunately.<br />
Has anyone else noticed the blogging world has become ridiculously commercialised and competitive?<br />
I feel less and less competent the longer I do it.<br />
Sort of like motherhood!<br />
Admittedly I have been distracted, so I'm probably just feeling a bit out of sorts or something.<br />
Never mind, I'm only in it for the vent space and the lovely friendships.<br />
Still, I best pull my socks up and organise a giveaway of some description if I'm to hold my head high.<br />
<br />
Love you more than ugg boots,<br />
Meredy xo<br />
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-33954970433667428172013-03-28T13:41:00.001+11:002013-03-28T13:43:52.802+11:00random stuffHere's what I'd like to chat about today...<br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Bull-riding</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Rodeo clowns</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;">Competitive wood-chopping</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Open shelving </span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">DIY Classes</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;">20th Wedding Anniversary</span></div>
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So here goes:</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Bull-riding:</b></span></div>
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I took my life and sanity into my own hands on Monday night and took the four youngest kidlets to the Sydney Easter Show....by myself. As the price of entry, rides and show bags could pay off the current Cypriot debt crisis, Dave stayed behind and worked his little fingers to the bone so his offspring could enjoy nausea-inducing fairy floss, nausea-inducing rides, nausea-inducing animal pavillions and show bags filled with nausea-inducing chemical food byproducts. Good times.</div>
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This was all completely worthwhile for me as I got to see two {out of the three} of my all time favourite show displays. The wood-chopping and bull-riding.</div>
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The bull riding! I can not get enough of it. </div>
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Imagine the commitment it must take to sit on top of an angry bull and the only way you are connected is by a rope which you have pulled, twisted and pounded into the flesh of your palm until it will not move. Can't get my head around it.</div>
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It's utterly thrilling.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWd-46H_riA/UVOaZgzvBNI/AAAAAAAALKU/2gELIHv779o/s1600/eastershow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aWd-46H_riA/UVOaZgzvBNI/AAAAAAAALKU/2gELIHv779o/s400/eastershow.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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And if that isn't wild enough for you, imagine being the rodeo clown? </div>
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The guy that puts himself between the rider and the enraged bull. </div>
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The bull with the horns.</div>
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The bull who has just been poked and proded and is now kicking and bucking his way to freedom.</div>
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The bull who is determined to even the score.</div>
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I'm guessing that those guys never have to pay for a drink whilst they're on the circuit.</div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;"><b>Competitive Wood-chopping:</b></span></div>
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A deep love of wood-chopping has been ingrained via my parents.</div>
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Every year it was the first thing that got ticked off on the list of things to do at the Easter Show. We didn't go for the rides particularly. It was the wood-chopping and the show bags.</div>
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I saw the famous David Foster in action on Monday evening.</div>
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Nothing but a pair of Dunlop Volleys {1970's style tennis shoes for the uninitiated} between these guys {and sometimes girls} and a razor sharp axe, swinging at terminal velocity.</div>
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{Shudder}</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu1FftqfloY/UVOcUGUVOBI/AAAAAAAALKc/sC2jkY7Cb-s/s1600/eastershow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu1FftqfloY/UVOcUGUVOBI/AAAAAAAALKc/sC2jkY7Cb-s/s320/eastershow2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYibDTWCG0s/UVOdm9fKNSI/AAAAAAAALKk/KufVt0LqJn4/s1600/eastershow4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYibDTWCG0s/UVOdm9fKNSI/AAAAAAAALKk/KufVt0LqJn4/s320/eastershow4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My third favourite thing {in case you were holding your breath...} is the fruit and veggie display from the regional districts. Which of course is as boring as snoring for the little boys, so I didn't get to see it this year.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvIfzhWqR1I/UVOhjl0WqJI/AAAAAAAALKs/PYKLTOOtVoY/s1600/eastershow5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvIfzhWqR1I/UVOhjl0WqJI/AAAAAAAALKs/PYKLTOOtVoY/s400/eastershow5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If these displays are representative of the fabric of your local environment, our metropolitan district would consist of Gloria Jean disposable coffee cups, water bottles, friands, rocket, 4WD bumper bars, iPods and ski-roof racks all configured to display a woman in Lorna Jane work out gear. </div>
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Open Shelving:</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/231161393346225934/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media-cache-ec5.pinterest.com/736x/34/cf/23/34cf2335d24ed3f290437b9d94e9ca6a.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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This image has momentarily stopped me in my tracks. <br />
Lovely as it is.<br />
However, the degree of difficulty here is deceptive.<br />
Superficially it looks like nothing more than simple glass jars filled with sensible dry goods.<br />
However, in reality....how could one possible emulate this?<br />
I don't usually keep 16 different varieties of pulses in storage.<br />
Is this person preparing for Armeggedon?<br />
Also, if I dared put something other than a dry biscuit, let's say a Monte Carlo or a Kingston in one of these jars, those suckers would be gone before I could say "Martha Stewart".<br />
But it IS lovely isn't it?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>DIY Classes</b></span><br />
<br />
I'm thinking of taking some.<br />
Seriously.<br />
As in, turning up on a Thursday evening to the local Bunnings and saying "Please show me how to hammer in a nail without killing myself".<br />
Dave thinks it's hilarious.<br />
But I am determined to have the last laugh. I'll show him! <br />
What I'll show him remains unclear, but the gauntlet has been thrown down.<br />
A girl's gotta do.....<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>20th Wedding Anniversary</b></span><br />
<br />
It was yesterday.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M4b_GyvxaAc/UVOlLAHRfxI/AAAAAAAALK0/diX-VHCPA_g/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M4b_GyvxaAc/UVOlLAHRfxI/AAAAAAAALK0/diX-VHCPA_g/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the display which Mum and the kidlets made for us.</div>
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So sweet of them.</div>
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See the photo on the right? We're cutting the cake?</div>
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Mimi said it looks like I'm thinking</div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><i> "Can we just cut the bloody cake? I haven't had carbs for six weeks so I could squeeze into this dress! Give me some cake!! Enough with the cute photo!!"</i></span></div>
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She's probably right.</div>
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I wrote on FB yesterday that 20 years ago I made a really, really good decision and married the greatest guy I'd ever met. 20 years, 6 kids, 5 different homes, our own business and an alarming number of grey hairs later {mostly mine!} and he's STILL the greatest guy I've every known. Yay me!</div>
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As a super-duper treat he surprised me with tickets to see Les Miserable in London when we're there in a few month's time. Say what you will about me, but I am one lucky girl. </div>
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I love that it'll be the first musical that JD has ever been to - it's got war, revenge, love and the most manly musical score on the market - what's not to love?</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>********************************************</b></span></div>
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I had another foot in mouth incident at the hardware store the other day.</div>
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This lovely guy was incredibly helpful showing me all sort of different timber for decking, internal flooring etc and he was just so passionate about it {which has been incredibly rare so far} that I said "Wow, you really get excited about your wood don't you?" </div>
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{insert the sound of crickets here}</div>
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D-Y-I-N-G just thinking about it still. </div>
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I'm sorry if that's too smutty for you. It's too smutty for me also, which is why I don't realise it's the wrong thing to say until I get a weird look and a cackle. Yup, still cringing.</div>
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<b style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"> ********************************************</b></div>
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So that's it from me for the time being.<br />
This Easter Weekend we will be bonding as a family and tearing down the massive rear deck and trying to still love each other.<br />
Luckily, this is a weekend traditionally filled with chocolate and hot cross buns which will keep the Goofballs happy/bribed as we go.<br />
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Next time....</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i>What to wear in Paris??</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><i>{on a budget...}</i></b></span></div>
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Love you more than my Bertie the Beetle showbag,</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-84693034826321910232013-03-13T12:14:00.001+11:002013-03-13T13:38:05.015+11:00what do you do for "me" time?<div>
Over the last few years as the workload has become more demanding, I have found myself drawn to books which are visually delightful and therefore easy to escape within, leaving me with a sense of calm inspiration and resolve. Perhaps it's just a season in my reading life and it won't be long before I can devour more literary books with enthusiasm. But for right now I am drawn to the otherness of people's lives. Not that I wish to live vicariously or covet their life, as I am content in my own, but it does make me feel at a very basic level that I have experienced life outside of my own boundaries which I hope broadens my thinking in some small way. Quite frankly, watching the evening news brings enough horror and brokenness, I think it's important to temper the input. Even if it is just for 15 minutes over a cuppa.</div>
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These are my current top reads:</div>
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My favourite sections of this book are the ones which detail her daily household routine. Lots of beeswax, lavender, lemon and fresh herbs involved....you can smell the elegant industriousness. Jane is a hard worker, not a lady of leisure, swanning around her Chateau sipping from crystal champagne flutes. Although she does have a delightful terrace to do exactly that at the end of the day when all work is done.<br />
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For a bit of light reading, this is doing the trick nicely:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KhUo9-7I7io/UT_LPgF5pGI/AAAAAAAALJA/XHPdTkGpm3A/s1600/12958655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KhUo9-7I7io/UT_LPgF5pGI/AAAAAAAALJA/XHPdTkGpm3A/s320/12958655.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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This book is completely different, but it totally works as it's written like a series of status updates from Eloisa's Facebook page. I know that sounds horrendous and I usually abhor that truncated style of writing, but Eloisa James writes in evocative, humerous and sometimes poignant long paragraphs that are just what the doctor ordered. Her exploits in Paris with her husband and children over the course of a year are pure escapism. You can pick it up, put it down and it's just as delightful.</div>
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These books that started my love of this travel/memoir genre in the first place:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SPVR_g0nbZM/UT_LrmTOYeI/AAAAAAAALJI/lccny5r1f4s/s1600/2+vicki+books.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SPVR_g0nbZM/UT_LrmTOYeI/AAAAAAAALJI/lccny5r1f4s/s400/2+vicki+books.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://vickiarcher.com/"><b>Vicki </b></a>is inspiring, stylish, hard-working and above all gracious. She writes so invitingly, you can't help but feel as if you've found a kindred spirit. If you haven't already read these and are in need of an injection of <i>joie de vivre </i>I can't recommend them highly enough. </div>
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So, back to skinny dipping in Lake Me....</div>
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Everyone needs some "me" time. It all comes back to that oxygen mask style of parenting. You know, when the flight attendants give out the instructions before a flight and instruct you to fit your own mask before those of your children. Good advice.</div>
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I was speaking with my beautiful friend Jenny over coffee yesterday and we were sharing the ups and downs of motherhood. Jenny works for a charitable organisation and is a force to be reckoned with - a real mover and shaker. However, she also faces the daily demands of two young children. I'm sure we can all relate that when you're a task-oriented person, you can find the staccato rhythm of life with little children difficult to wrap your mind around. Sometimes you just need to re-group.</div>
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How do you get "me" time, I asked? I loved her answer. Each year, as the Academy Awards approach, she goes to the movies {by herself if needs be, at 9pm in the evening} and watches every film which is up for an award. She's a night owl so this works beautifully for her. Isn't that a fantastic idea? It's not taking anything away from her family, doesn't interfere with her much needed rest time and feeds her creative, visual outlet. I would imagine it would give you lots to share with friends and family also. I'm making a mental note to ask her for recommendations!</div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>*******************************************</b></span></div>
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This needs has come into sharp focus as I wrestle with changes in our family dynamic as the children are getting older. My afternoon yesterday was definitely in the sub-optimal category. I'm trying to learn how to communicate with hormonal teenagers which, from what I gather, is a combination of non-verbal cues, guttural moans and occasional exclamations of encouragement lest their fragile spirits be crushed. Never, ever must I question {raise an eyebrow*}, nag {this constitutes asking something exactly once} or lecture {lecturing comprises a conversation with more than one full stop}. I must also not break promises {this is when a demand isn't met immediately and with full enthusiasm}. So I grabbed all the non-hormonal humans in the family and we went out for frozen yoghurt**. Problem solved. Temporarily. Sometimes a temporary reprieve is the best you can hope for that day. </div>
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Then this from my FB page the day before:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #990000;">Thank you Spotify for enabling me to weaponise Barry Manilow for the school run this morning. Got my sweet revenge for bad behaviour from the kids by playing "Mandy" over and over..... I'm thinking "Can't Smile Without You" for tomorrow morning. #don'tmesswithmama #manilowmagic</span></span></div>
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Frozen yoghurt and Barry Manilow - couldn't have guessed how much I would have appreciated them before this week.</div>
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Feel free to share what you do for "me" time. You never know who you might enourage!</div>
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Love you more than Manilow Magic,</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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* raising an eyebrow is my default facial position so this is proving problematic.<br />
** when I say "we", I mean "them". Having been off sugar for two and half months, I think I would have gone into anaphylaxis...do you know that some yoghurts have twice the amount of sugar as ice cream? Yikes. Not judging...just feel duped.count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-829573097855597412013-03-09T11:29:00.000+11:002013-03-09T11:33:33.908+11:00let's talk bathrooms<div>
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Judging from all your helpful and constructive comments from the last house related post, you guys clearly know what you're talking about. Which is incredibly fortunate as it turns out my learning curve looks like Mount Everest and I'm still in the Nepalese village at the foot of the mountain looking at indigenous homewares. You guys are my Tenzing Norgay.<br />
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This week we're focusing on the main bathroom. We're buying all the items separately to our builder, so I'm doing lots of research. I'm pretty au fait with kitchens and their accoutrements, but when it comes to bathrooms....I'm a bit foggy. <br />
Two words seem to cloud my vision: fiddly and expensive.<br />
Lots and lots of components which need to be hard-wearing, water resistant, safe, easy to clean and most of all affordable. Help!<br />
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Here's where I'm up to.....<br />
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<b>Free-standing bath vs Built-in bath?</b></div>
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I'm thinking free standing bath like this one:</div>
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<a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/240921/Palais-Pedestal-Tub-traditional-bathtubs-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/1091d32c0e416c4c_8-3355/traditional-bathtubs.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
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This particular tub {above} is from Restoration Hardware in the US. There are similar shapes to be found here in Australia luckily. Pushed up against the wall, so as to not take up too much space.<br />
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Here's what I'm wondering....<br />
Are these tubs difficult to live with?<br />
Where am I going to rest my book/candles/coffee etc?<br />
I suppose I could rely on one of these:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SboI3Yi8W9w/UTpk1hn5VPI/AAAAAAAALGw/7Tal3iGbfBg/s1600/VYT2965_m1_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SboI3Yi8W9w/UTpk1hn5VPI/AAAAAAAALGw/7Tal3iGbfBg/s320/VYT2965_m1_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Looks tough, huh?<br />
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<a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/101713/Los-Altos-Bathroom-traditional-bathroom-san-francisco" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/7e71a4900d272f5b_8-9249/traditional-bathroom.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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See those mirrors?<br />
J'adore.<br />
Unbelievably, I saw them in the Reject Shop a couple of months ago and {gulp} didn't buy them. I should have. But I didn't want to jinx myself with premature purchasing before our plans were in council. Stoopid.<br />
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<a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/1897083/Summit-Bathroom-modern-bathroom-san-francisco"><img border="0" height="376" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/1661e47d00943743_8-2124/modern-bathroom.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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This layout is C-L-E-V-E-R.<br />
Look how neatly the shower and bath fit together.<br />
And look at that storage!<br />
The finishes wouldn't fit in with the rest of our house, but it IS a clever design isn't it?<br />
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<a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/72793/Master-Bath-traditional-bathroom-other-metro"><img border="0" height="334" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/3d0193340ca77b44_8-1000/traditional-bathroom.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Here's a lovely built-in bath which is still traditional in appearance.<br />
Do you think it would be easier to live with and clean around?<br />
Or are all bathrooms a nightmare and just accept the inevitable?</div>
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<b>Tiles on the wall vs cedar wainscotting</b>.<br />
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I present Exhibit A:</div>
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<a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/1060368/St--Louis-Residence-Bathroom-traditional-bathroom-atlanta"><img border="0" height="684" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/ef71ae670fd6466b_8-5592/traditional-bathroom.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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and this fabulous ensuite from <a href="http://georgicapond.blogspot.com.au/">Georgica Pond blog</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euAEyLsIjno/UTpzNFvpfQI/AAAAAAAALG4/Zb_BaMlXuWs/s1600/IMG_0419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euAEyLsIjno/UTpzNFvpfQI/AAAAAAAALG4/Zb_BaMlXuWs/s640/IMG_0419.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-85qJzXi9K6w/UTpzNEw_iOI/AAAAAAAALG8/ClsSld1TLw8/s1600/IMG_0400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-85qJzXi9K6w/UTpzNEw_iOI/AAAAAAAALG8/ClsSld1TLw8/s640/IMG_0400.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
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She even has those mirrors I love. </div>
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And basketweave floor tiles which I have trying to find EVERYWHERE.</div>
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Turns out they're in sunny Brookvale and not too ridiculously expensive.</div>
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Happy Days.</div>
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I found Melinda's blog by Googling "basketweave tiles australia". </div>
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Her home is newly renovated in the American East Coast style and is just lovely. </div>
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Here's their main family bathroom:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OhDSjdjDzAk/UTp10agyT0I/AAAAAAAALHM/MPU_84ZnwbU/s1600/IMG_0562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OhDSjdjDzAk/UTp10agyT0I/AAAAAAAALHM/MPU_84ZnwbU/s400/IMG_0562.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I'd been looking at that light fitting only the other day at Bunnings. At $110, I thought that was a pretty reasonable price.</div>
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{Ha, ask me in six months time and I'll probably say that anything over $20 or not from eBay is out of our price range!}</div>
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The details....heavenly.</div>
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<a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/373374/Magnolia-traditional-bathroom-seattle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="750" src="http://st.houzz.com/simgs/d2a167b60ecb6969_8-8131/traditional-bathroom.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Instead of wainscotting in cedar which builders have given me the heebee geebee's about, perhaps subway tiles instead as above?</div>
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Like any blogger worth their salt, I have a deep admiration and affection for the humble subway tile.</div>
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They're probably more practical, affordable and Goofball-proof also.</div>
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Glad we talked this through.</div>
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I could go on about vanity units, shower screens and taps, but I think that's enough for one day.</div>
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Hope all is well in your corner of the world and that you have a truly good cup of tea or coffee at some stage this weekend. </div>
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Love you more than Jo Malone,</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-1117199268910955102013-03-02T12:52:00.000+11:002013-03-09T11:34:25.403+11:00i quit sugar.......and lived to tell the tale.<br />
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Be careful what you pray for my friends.</div>
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The end of last year I was feeling completely wrung out....physically, emotionally, spiritually. </div>
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Gak. </div>
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I knew in my heart of hearts what was wrong. </div>
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Too much processed food.</div>
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Too much sugar.</div>
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Too much wheat.</div>
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For some people this isn't a problem, but every naturopath I've ever gone to has told me "Girlfriend, you can't eat sugar or wheat." </div>
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So I'd get fired up, eliminate them from my menu and then once I felt better (in about three weeks), like a person with mental health issues who feels they're better and goes off their medication, I would re-introduce sugar and wheat. </div>
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First in tiny amounts. A little bit here, a little bit there but before long I'd be chowing down on toasted banana bread four times a week and treating myself with peanut butter and honey sandwiches at 4pm. So the cycle would go on..... </div>
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Anyroadup, I prayed at the end of last year for divine intervention {because let's face it, God Himself would be the only one who could come between me & a Reese's Peanut Butter cup} to control what I put in my mouth. Too funny... I got the worst case of gastro almost immediately. I was seriously not in a good way for about a week. </div>
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I was so sick, the last thing I could think of was food. This never happens. Up until now I have never had a situation that I couldn't eat my way through. You know those people who say "Oh I'm much too upset to eat"? I've never understood that. Even with the flu, I look upon it as a great opportunity to try out a new chicken soup recipe.</div>
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So here I am, two months sugar-free, wheat-free and feeling better. </div>
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One phrase has helped me more than any other:</div>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">"You crave what you eat"</span></div>
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I read that in this book. </div>
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It was a true blue epiphany. Much as I hate the word "epiphany".</div>
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This book is all about the way we fill the void. It is so, so good. Highly recommend it.</div>
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Giving up sugar and/or wheat was not hard once a got over that initial stage. I just ate as much as I wanted, as long as it was sugar-free and wheat-free. Although I have stayed clear of stodgy carbs like rice and potatoes also as they convert to sugar as quickly as you look at them.</div>
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Welcome to my favourite new kitchen implement:</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8qd1NYU5p4k/UTFOBLgN1bI/AAAAAAAALGY/5X8KCiGuqbM/s1600/AAAAC51s7FoAAAAAAFMi3w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8qd1NYU5p4k/UTFOBLgN1bI/AAAAAAAALGY/5X8KCiGuqbM/s1600/AAAAC51s7FoAAAAAAFMi3w.jpg" /></a></div>
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The julienne peeler.</div>
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This is how I now make spaghetti from zucchini and little bit of carrot. </div>
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I also have zucchini spaghetti sauteed with bacon for breakfast. Yummy.</div>
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Just yesterday I bought this book which is so beautifully presented and inviting:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p7JQWHHAs3w/UTFOo8gB8yI/AAAAAAAALGg/X5BL_a5Q9Tk/s1600/900bdbb7e7bafbcc0a73cdd1579e47b8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p7JQWHHAs3w/UTFOo8gB8yI/AAAAAAAALGg/X5BL_a5Q9Tk/s320/900bdbb7e7bafbcc0a73cdd1579e47b8.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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You can buy it from KMart for $25 which I think is a pretty ok price for a book jam-packed full of nutritional information and recipes based on Australian seasonal ingredients.</div>
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Can't wait to read more and experiment. </div>
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You can not believe how virtuous I am feeling. Me, the person with the backbone of an amoeba, has actually fought an addiction! Woo-hoo. </div>
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Of course, it can only be divine intervention. I'm far too easily swayed by the smell of toasted banana bread to accomplish this under my own strength. </div>
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I've lost a bit of weight, not as much as I originally hoped, but apparently if your body has been in a metabolic slumber for as long as mine, it's going to take a bit of time to fully wake it up. That's ok. It's not a diet, it's just how I eat now so my guess is that I'm only going to get better and better.</div>
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Now, if only I can conquer that exercise thingie that everyone keeps banging on about....</div>
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Love you more than my lavender room spray,</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-87861835026934678402013-02-26T12:25:00.002+11:002013-03-09T11:34:59.270+11:00ikea kitchens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
While we're waiting for final quotes from builders and the agonising, last steps of the DA approval process I've been madly planning the heart of our home.</div>
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After finally deciding to bite the bullet and dig deep for a kitchen design company I just happened upon a beautiful image of a Hamptons-style kitchen in Australia's Home Beautiful magazine. </div>
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{can't find the image online otherwise I'd show you}</div>
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The image was beautiful and included children hanging off every available surface....this was a hard-working kitchen for a family with six kids! Can I get an amen?!</div>
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As I scanned through the details it turned out to be an Ikea "Lidingo" kitchen.</div>
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Really?</div>
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Ikea?</div>
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But it looked so good?</div>
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How could this be?</div>
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So I googled "Ikea Lidingo" and look what I found my friends:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-17Kp3cBtIEs/USv9cxQXlpI/AAAAAAAALDU/Xj1pOyahNEM/s1600/832c668dc5c3997a0a751511f67acf2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-17Kp3cBtIEs/USv9cxQXlpI/AAAAAAAALDU/Xj1pOyahNEM/s400/832c668dc5c3997a0a751511f67acf2f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Loving the look of the china cabinet here.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xWln2K7hZvU/USv9d-R3MEI/AAAAAAAALDk/lg_slPEALq0/s1600/LIDINGO-kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xWln2K7hZvU/USv9d-R3MEI/AAAAAAAALDk/lg_slPEALq0/s400/LIDINGO-kitchen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Oh. Yes.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Sr70ojcpHk/USv9enWcbzI/AAAAAAAALDs/Y8TuuppPJN0/s1600/images+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4Sr70ojcpHk/USv9enWcbzI/AAAAAAAALDs/Y8TuuppPJN0/s400/images+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It is incredibly versatile. Crazy.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TOCEd_Oil5I/USv9gckYMPI/AAAAAAAALEE/eUj2nklLQy8/s1600/lidingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TOCEd_Oil5I/USv9gckYMPI/AAAAAAAALEE/eUj2nklLQy8/s400/lidingo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The subway tiles with grey grout and the glass front cabinets are fab.</div>
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We're also having a black rangehood, so I was so happy to see that it all blends okay.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l5AvL3aacNg/USv9eQvup3I/AAAAAAAALDo/2E1GEiWqeyU/s1600/ikea+lidingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l5AvL3aacNg/USv9eQvup3I/AAAAAAAALDo/2E1GEiWqeyU/s400/ikea+lidingo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Different style, same cabinets.</div>
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Suffice to say, I have done a complete about face and have gently broken up with my kitchen company. </div>
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Ikea's online 3D kitchen planner and I have since spent many happy hours configuring the kitchen and butler's pantry. Oh the joy!</div>
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But the real joy....</div>
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It prints out a huge document at the end which details all your plans, measurements, a shopping list to present to the kitchen people at Ikea {they have a couple of over-worked kitchen designers...you take a number and then wait. Glamorous it is not. No offer of cappuccino over blue prints here} </div>
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The end document also prints out the total cost, which is a FRACTION of what I was expecting. We are literally paying half what we were looking at originally....including the installation costs.</div>
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Soft-closing drawers and cupboards, tricked up cabinet organisers, integrated dishwasher cabinets. You name it, they've got it.</div>
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I know that this will be probably the only time during this whole build that I'll feel the warmth of such good value, so I'm basking in it for as long as possible.</div>
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After now reading so much online about Ikea kitchens, apparently the trick is to order everything except for the handles. Ikea handles will definitely make it look like an "Ikea" kitchen. Spending money on beautifully made handles, will mean the whole kitchen will respond to the call and rise up to meet the look you're after.</div>
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Sort of like when you mix a small amount of ludicrously expensive porcini mushrooms with store bought standard mushrooms and the whole dish tastes like you've only used porcini.</div>
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If you get what I mean.....</div>
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I'm hearing crickets.</div>
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Here's what I'm thinking:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8A4CDvtX5jg/USwOeDOcIQI/AAAAAAAALE4/ikt63pSBCGQ/s1600/prod1292006_HW07+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8A4CDvtX5jg/USwOeDOcIQI/AAAAAAAALE4/ikt63pSBCGQ/s320/prod1292006_HW07+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anyhoo, just wanted to share the latest exploits.</div>
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Next up.</div>
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Bathroom vanity, bath etc....</div>
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Can seriously not fully envision finished product. It's weird. All I get is white noise.</div>
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It might just take a blog village to raise a bathroom at our house.</div>
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Love you more than my Allen key,</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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p.s. am not sponsored by Ikea....just a little in love.</div>
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381286534566998.post-84693227309441568332013-02-08T13:58:00.000+11:002013-03-09T11:35:58.625+11:00growing painsWell this is awkward.<br />
I haven't blogged in so long I just don't know where to start or what to say.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IBM6SnzkCjI/URROyVGJOKI/AAAAAAAAK_g/KZJct-DHnDU/s1600/7e23ac030efb05e714fd3b668ab13265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IBM6SnzkCjI/URROyVGJOKI/AAAAAAAAK_g/KZJct-DHnDU/s400/7e23ac030efb05e714fd3b668ab13265.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Hmm, been mainlining the coffee and reading blogs but not so much with the writing and the posting thingie.</div>
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Can I distract you with a vignette while I get my thoughts together?</div>
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It turns out that I am quite the creature of habit and home and I think I'm suffering a sort of homesickness. Living with Mum is working far better in a confined space than we could have hoped {mainly due to her stoicism and good humour!} and we all get on famously, however, I miss my home. It seems I rely heavily on routine and the comfort and familiarity of my own nest to feel "right". So this is quite a stretch. Funnily enough I'm currently doing a bible study on<b><a href="http://www.sittingathisfeet.ca/bible-study/"> "Identity"</a></b>. Strip away the scaffolding of routine, material possessions, habits, adventures in upcycling and what are you left with?</div>
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Me. Feeling a little like a fish out of water and a bit vulnerable. Learning to do more with less. Learning to be patient in a small space. Learning to be gracious at little ones who are trying really, really hard but just don't get the connection between Nanny's cream carpet and pasta sauce. Asking forgiveness from my mum, Dave, the kids as I try to run a new household with a new dynamic.</div>
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Being the brat that I am, I am struggling to cook on a four-burner electric cook top when I'm used to firing up the six-burner gas behemoth with the 90cm oven. Mum's oven has one little shelf. You should see me cook roast chicken and vegies - it's like Jenga in there. Hey kids, let's see if we can move the roasting pan without flipping over the vegies and giving ourselves 3rd degree burns. See? Brat. </div>
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On the up side. I have discovered a new folding routine. I can now sit in the garage {our bedroom} put the TV on and watch "Breaking Bad" in complete privacy while I fold. Good times. </div>
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In a nutshell, I've been so busy just getting through the workload of keeping everyone happy, fed, clothed and clean that I haven't had time to post on the blog. I spend time on Pinterest which, let's face it, is the best because you feel like you're doing something constructive and can look genuinely industrious whilst searching recipes, natural cleaning tips and craft with kids. In reality it's probably making me covetous and will result of me being incapable of original thought. But I'm having so much fun I just don't care.</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>House Update:</b></span></div>
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Plans are still in council and believe it or not apart from needing some identification on some trees, they have passed everything!! We can't believe it. Admittedly, the tree scenario might throw a spanner in the works, but our architect has assured us he has another plan up his sleeve if the trees have to stay. Realistically, it would be amazing for everything to get through without the slightest hitch. We count ourselves BLESSED!!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vq-Z_TnM-E/URReNkP3PUI/AAAAAAAALAs/BPgY6ld_wPk/s1600/9a572dc1d77d2f901360fc35f8e6e8eb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4vq-Z_TnM-E/URReNkP3PUI/AAAAAAAALAs/BPgY6ld_wPk/s320/9a572dc1d77d2f901360fc35f8e6e8eb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I don't even know what this is {above}. Crochet thingamies of happiness.</div>
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They just look so adorable I wanted to share them with you.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-emxlgdr-ZV4/URReMZmOC6I/AAAAAAAALAM/HHgRDcEIdio/s1600/3a5d789a7d4208a542f8913236cc12d8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-emxlgdr-ZV4/URReMZmOC6I/AAAAAAAALAM/HHgRDcEIdio/s400/3a5d789a7d4208a542f8913236cc12d8.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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And this. How divine. </div>
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Some girls are so clever. </div>
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Good for them.</div>
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My mojo shall return. It is just experiencing some growing pains whilst I learn what and who I am when I'm not surrounded by reassuring homewares touchstones and the domestic equivalent of a comfort "blankie".</div>
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Love you more than a new season of Mad Men.</div>
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Meredy xo</div>
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<br />count it all joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14708861124077922586noreply@blogger.com10