press release

Worldwide media today was stunned with news from a small town in NSW,  Australia. Cath, owner of hugely successful brand Chunky chooky baked muffins.  Long term friends are said to be stupified. A close friend stated "I think she is loosing it, Chef has been away for a couple of days and she has been largely house bound by the rain... I can't get over it... sorry I need to lay down". Her mother apparently needed sedation. Another long term friend is said to have fainted.

 Chef is unaware of recent events and cannot be contacted for comment, he is expected to be home later today. Press are eager to see how he will cope with the news  -there is a large amount of speculation. "It could go either way. They have been together for 10 years and she has never baked, I don't know what he will do. He may be threatened by her obvious skill." Medics are on standby to ensure Chef copes with the shock.

Inside sources say Busy was very confused when the idea was first mentioned - she is quoted as saying         "cook with mummy????" The muffins are said to be banana and chocolate. We have been able to obtain these exclusive pictures of the muffins.

Not bad huh???

My Place and Yours: My secret weapon

This weeks theme for My Place and Yours over at Pips is My Secret Weapon, chosen by My Bricole.  So I am showing you my secret weapon. I take it EVERYWHERE.

My spiral notebook and a pen ( I prefer felt tip but I couldn't find one for the photo). The beautiful cover was made by the lovely Pepperberry & Co. You never know when inspiration will strike - sometimes it's a funnny quote sometimes its just seeing two colours together.
It is my secret weapon! ( thats why I have shown you a blank page- inside is a secret!!!)

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

.... and on Etsy Finds too.... eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
scroll right to the very very very bottom....

express karma

Something weird is happening.
I have had 5 sales in 24 hours on Madeit and a sale on Etsy and a feature.
What is going on?
Has someone placed a huge Chunkychooky billboard somewhere that I don't know about?

Its still raining.
I am still flooded in.
At least I can sew.

Its raining, men.

Looks like the 5th flood this year!!!! Chef woke up grumbling this morning worried he was flooded in and there would be no fishing trip. I completely freaked out... the nightmare of him being disappointed over not being able to go fishing and stuck inside with the rain.............

Kill. Me.Now. 

One of the other wives rang and said "you are going aren't you???!!!!! (desperation in her voice.... )I am not going to cope with ( my husband) inside all weekend disappointed"...  I am hearing you sister!So we sent them all off this morning before the road got cut off. Phew!

What is it with men and rain? Chef just does not cope. Once the tank is full ( it's over flowing as we speak this is so annoying to us- we can't get any government rebate on water tanks because we HAVE to have one -as we are not on town water- so we can't get a rebate on getting another one!!!!) he is over it. So he starts cooking and cooking and I start eating and eating!!!! the ne paces and grumbles and stares out the window forlornly....

Speaking of food- he has cooked me enough food for the weekend that I could have a banquet for 40 people. ( Come on over!- if  you can wade through the flood waters and navigate our seriously dodgy four wheel drive only steep muddy slippery long driveway you are most welcome) Moroccon lamb tagine, ricotta and spinach gnocchi, he has baked vegies and picked lettuce from the garden, made soup and stocked up the fridge with everything you could conceivable think I would want to eat in  the next 72 hours.

Despite my protests of don't worry I will be fine. He says "But I want to"

 and that is why I love him so.

(God... hurling yet at the love?)

Yo! Mo!

I have written about my love of the mo before. So I am pretty excited that its Movember. Its a great cause and it makes me giggle.... speaking of moustaches....( what a pathetic segway that was, I do apologise) well actually goatees- its my Chefs birthday today. So I got him a subscription to Organic Gardener magazine and  some garden bed thingys AND I am sending him fishing with the boys ALL WEEKEND. I have got loads of wife brownie points for that one . ( yes, thats right if he is not cooking food he is growing it or hunting for it)
So I just wanted to tell him:

Thanks for being a beautiful husband, father and friend.

Awwww shucks...

Thankyou for all the "so thats where you are/ have been" comments very muchly appreciated- what I would love now is if people could spread the word... I have lost quite a few followers as they probably think I haven't been posting much... so if anyone feels like giving my blog a plug on theirs feel free: AND there will be a PRIZE- so let me know when you have.
x

You gotta love blog world

So over the last couple of days a few people have told me that I never come up on their dashboard when I have a new post, and that on some blogs it says I haven't posted for 2 months- which clearly I have. So the lovely Kate from Foxslane pointed this out but also helpfully suggested I talk to her equally lovely sister Meg . So the lovely Meg, who teaches people about blogs talked me through step by step how to fix it so hopefully by the time you read this it will have all fixed itself.

AND if you are reading this on Wednesday the 4th November its Kates birthday so swing by and send her your regards HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE- MMMMWWAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

Then to top it all off - with the - how-good-is-this- blog- thing I won a giveaway! The amazingly talented Penny from Pocket Carnival sent me a prize pack and it was just what the doctor ordered. Thanks so much  Penny- I LOVE IT!!!

AND as if all of that isn't enough of a reason to smile one of my softies has been featured in Storque on Etsy and another is featured in the Gift Guides on Etsy - with Penny featured in the same one! yiiipppppppppppppppppppeeee!!!

All of this kindness has been very needed- the world can be very fair sometimes-I feel like I was due some good karma and it came through.....yay....*sigh*

I finally did it!

About 6 months ago I made a toy, a monster called Monty for The Toy Society, packaged it up with all the tags and bits and bobs and their it sat on the shelf taunting me with my lack of doing... I just wasn't happy with a spot locally that I could think of where I could drop it "anon". Well a couple of weeks ago Tania from Myrtle and Eunice ( most hilarious blog ever!!!) did a drop in the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne and I thought- right! If she can do it there in the middle of a city then what excuse did I have ??! So I decided the best thing to do was put it in the car and wait for the right moment. Well today I did it!!

We went to the beach this morning and then up to a lookout to eat our lunch and it was the perfect spot. Monty even was left with a lovely view:

An older couple arrived just as we were leaving and I was worried they were going to follow us and try to give it back to me. Check out the Toy Society if you haven't already.

I think I am going to make it a regular event!!!

back again.

ometimes life is unfair. I don't know why I am surprised by this... but I often am. Sometimes bad things happen to beautiful people and it just shocks me. In my work I see trauma or the consequences of it on a daily basis , I am told things that, at times, make me want to scream with rage... but when bad things happen to people I know it really shakes me. Then I am shocked by my reaction. But why do we assume that life will be fair? I know for me I am the eternal optimist. The glass is always half full... maybe that's why I am shocked when things don't turn out to have a happy ending.

I love a happy ending. I love it when everything is neat and tidy. I hate it when its not... but is it ever?

Anyway, jeez sorry to get all gloomy folks. On a brighter note... its Chefs birthday next week. He is going quad bike riding with a mate and a fishing trip with the boys on the weekend. How can I top that??? Any ideas??? what is the best present you have bought a bloke??!!!

(Thank you to everyone who emailed and sent lovely messages telling me to look after myself, it was very much appreciated and I probably did need the reminder....)

on leave

I need to take a leave of absence from blogtoberfest, need to support some friends through a horrible time. But I will be back soon.

Good luck for the rest of Blogtober.
x

If I had lots of money I would buy this:

for Chef. He has always wanted a Defender.

One day.

fave website:

Why Etsy of course. Although Regretsy is now a close second, and Madeit is catching up too...
funny how they are all shopping related....

The best $20 I ever spent:

Candelo markets , October long weekend, 2000. You came into my life and I could not imagine you not in it now... and you were $20. Best $20 I ever spent. By far.

You can read more about our "love story" here

a rant- but not a big one: Refugees.

Let them in.

Let them stay.

Let them escape what they are escaping

If they are travelling across the ocean in dodgy boats in the middle of the night they are desperate.

They are not queue jumpers.

They are people.

Like us.

They have endured trauma that most of us cannot even begin to imagine.

Our country is rich and safe.

We have a duty to help.

... to Refugees I say "Welcome- how can I help?"

call me a bleeding heart if you like- I don't mind. I probably am one.