18 years ago today...

Today is Kirby's 18th Birthday. Happy Birthday, Kirbz!

18 years ago, I endured a 12 hour labour, but failed to progress so I had an emergency caesarian section and was delivered of a healthy baby girl, weighing 3.64 kgs (8lb 1/3oz). We named her Kirby Elizabeth Rose.

She has been a delight as a child and has grown into a beautiful young woman - an adult! I don't even have any grey hairs yet! We wish her a long and happy life and everything bright for the future.

All our love to you,

Mum, Dad & Brianna

XXXxxxXXX

Life is too short...

Life is too short

grudges are a waste of perfect happiness

laugh when you can

apologise when you should

and let go of what you can't change.

Love deeply and forgive quickly

take chances, give everthing

and have no regrets.

Life is too short to be unhappy

you have to take the good with the bad

smile when you're sad

love what you've got

and always remember what you had.

Always forgive but never forget

learn from your mistakes

but never regret.

People change and things go wrong

but always remember

LIFE GOES ON !!

-author unknown

I've been busy working 9-5 all this week so I haven't had time to post much. Back to normal next week after a hectic weekend coming up.

Have a great weekend and stay safe

Cheers - Joolz

A big weekend...

Kirby headed off to Victor Harbour for Schoolies last Saturday morning. With a Falcon Wagon laden with sleeping bags, mattresses, tent, food, hair straighteners, make-up and lots of munchies, she and 3 of her mates drove out the driveway with music blaring and laughter. The first night was quite cold and miserable but the second day picked up and they had fun... so I am told!!

Brianna looked gorgeous on Grad night too! She and her friend, Maddy, danced the night away!

My treasures!

On Sunday, I travelled to Adelaide with my two big sisters and my Mum, to attend a 60th Wedding Anniversary for my uncle and auntie - my Mum's brother and sister-in-law. It was a lovely celebration with their 4 children making speeches that made me teary, such is their love and appreciation for their parents. I met my cousin, who I hadn't seen for 35 years or more. She is 6 months older than me and is about to become a grandmother in January. I think I can wait a bit longer than that!! All in all, a great but tiring weekend. I'm glad we are all home safe and sound.

Next Saturday is Kirbz 18th Birthday so the partying continues! Yay?! We are having dinner at a pub on Saturday night then a casual barby lunch on Sunday for the rellies. I am working full time this week so I am going to be a busy girl.

Cheers - Joolz

A lovely evening...

Kirby's Graduation dinner was a lovely evening. She looked beautiful, as did all the other girls. She danced and hung out with her school friends then they went off to a pub for a while after.
She was home on time so she could get some sleep before heading off to Schoolies the next morning.

Graduation Day...

Today our daughter, Kirby, graduates from her secondary education - she has put in hard all during her education with glowing reports along the way.

Today is her day - amid a flurry of fake tan, air-brushed make-up, nail polish, up-styles and anxiety that the dress will fit. It's getting exciting!

This is from the card we will give her later today along with a commemorative gift.

Graduation

Wonder Challenges

holds the promise

Discoveries Dreams

of good things

Experience Surprise

yet to be.

Accomplishments

Wishing you

warm memories

of efforts you've seen through,

of lessons learned,

of honours earned,

of cherished dreams come true.

And wishing you

some bright new dreams

of sights you've yet to see,

of joys you'll know,

of ways you'll grow,

of all you've yet to be.

"Congratulations"

We are extremely proud of you, Kirby and hope you have a

great night, celebrating this milestone with your

friends and family.

Love ya, Bear!

PS: I do hope the dress fits!

A Canadian book in Oz...

While visiting Niki's site, www.ruralwritings.blogspot.com I immediately recognised the book she had pictured.

I rummaged through my book cupboard and found the book. My S-I-L had given me this book when she returned from Canada (she nannied over there) in 1989, nearly 20 years ago. Fancy packing this huge book in her luggage!

Niki is looking for other copies of it so she can pass them on to her daughters as the book is out of print. Anyone in Canada got a copy they no longer want?

Having a flick thru it, I will try a few of the recipes and let you know how I get on.

Cheers - Joolz

Teacup Tuesday....

Royal Albert "Moss Rose"

10 things about me if....

*

... I were a month, I would be July

*

... I were a day of the week, I'd be Friday

*

... I was a number, I'd be #2
*
... I was a planet, I'd be Saturn
*
... I was a direction, I'd be North
*
... I was furniture, I'd be a 4 poster bed with a canopy and cosy fluffy quilts and pillows
*
... I was a liquid, I'd be a gutsy Cabernet Sauvignon red from Coonawarra, SA
*
... I was a sin, I'd be gluttony
*
... I was a mineral, I'd be rose quartz
*

... I was a metal, I'd be gold

*

Cheers - Joolz

A bit of progress...

The before picture from yesterday...

and the little bit of progress I made today - hard going but if I plug away at it, it will eventually be cleared of weeds.

It's been sunny and quite breezy here today and I've had another lazyish day. I have cleaned the study window and dusted the desk and vacuumed so this room is clean again. On the whole, the house is quite tidy so life is good!

A quick note about last nights dinner - lets just say we put it down to experience! The gnocchi was a total flop and we ended up with floating islands of mashed potato that looked like alien life forms when we drained them off and B15 and me rolling around the kitchen, cracking up! A little pee nearly came out! Lol!!

The tomato and basil sauce however, was extremely good and when we served this through some quickly boiled up spaghetti, it hit the spot and so did the crunchy bread rolls. We didn't starve! So funny! Suffice to say, after eating at 9.20pm, I forgot to get any photos of said alien gnocchi. We will try again with a different recipe soon. :)

Cheers - Joolz

My first AWARD!!!!!!!

Aunt Pitty Pat at http://auntpittypats.blogspot.com/ has honoured me with this award. She said she liked my blog for the pictures, recipes and the funny things I say. Thank you Aunt PP! I love your blog too - I always have a laugh.

The rules for this blog are:
1. Put the logo on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you
3. Nominate 10 other blogs for this award
4. Add links to those blogs
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs
6. Give a reason why you consider their blogs cool. I would like to give this award to -

http://restisnotidleness.blogspot.com/
http://bonnie-simple-beauty.blogspot.com/
http://remotetreechanger.blogspot.com/
http://hyena-in-petticoats.blogspot.com/
http://daisymountain.blogspot.com/
http://outbacktania.blogspot.com/
http://canyouallhearmeattheback.blogspot.com/
http://theburgersix.blogspot.com/
http://cranethie.blogspot.com/
http://www.rondaspeachykeenlife.blogspot.com/

My motivation - each blog is a friendly place to visit, offering an insight into their daily lives, sharing their pictures, recipes and family life. Reading their blogs is like reading a good magazine.
Have fun discovering some of these sites if you haven't come across them already in your blog travels.

Cheers - Joolz :)

Aren't we cute....my sisters and me!

This is the present my eldest sister gave me for Christmas last year. They are scrap booked blocks with our photos on them. My photo is a little different as I wasn't born when the photo of the other 4 girls was taken.

Top Row: Leanne (now aged 50), Julie (44)
Bottom Row: Marilyn (57) Janine (55) and Susan (52)

I am the baby and my Mum and Dad were probably hedging their bets on a boy. Tough luck, they got a fifth girl and spoiled me rotten. Ha!

Four of us live in the same town and the other 80kms away.

Here's a bit of family fact:

Mum & Dad (sadly he passed away in April 1989) had 5 girls who all married.
We had 10 children - Kirste, Jeremy, Heath, Melanie, Ben, Adam, Jane, Bianca, Kirby & Brianna.
They have had 14 children so far - Tayla, Josh, Blake, Jett, Rylee, Cash, Mitchell, Jed, Saige, Kobe, Sapphire, Brodi, Nathan, Kayden, Jake. No one is pregnant at the moment that I know of...Phew! Baby Cash is the youngest, born October 4th.

We all live in South Australia.

I love my family and can't wait for Christmas!

Cheers - Joolz :]

This looks better....

This is my laundry at 4pm this afternoon. Bliss!

This is my Ford Focus Ghia - delicious!

This is my McLeod's Daughters rose my sister L gave me for my birthday 2 years ago. Pretty.

This is the bottom tier of my back yard garden - much better than the top tier, although it still needs some work and weeding.

Once again, B15 is going dinner for us. Tonight it is Gnocchi with Tomato Basil sauce - cooked from scratch I might add. Photos and recipe tomorrow. :)

Until then - Cheers Joolz... I can feel a Cab Sav coming on..... ;-}

Oh Dear....who wants to weed?......

These embarrassing pictures were taken only moments ago. This is the top tier of my back garden. I have neglected the weeding here because I hurt my arm back in March and the tendonitis has only just cleared up. Any repetitive work makes my elbow hurt like a mongrel.

It will get done - I just need to get out there each morning for 1/2 an hour each day and it will soon be taken care of. I will report back by December 6th with photos of my progress.

Loving my lazy Saturday so far, I even fitted in a little nap, although I had a spurt of energy this arvo and have done 3 loads of washing, all of which are in and folded and I ironed a few things. I have washed my car and now it looks brand new and spunky again.

Cheers - Joolz

Recipes....

We ate the Souvlaki lamb in wholemeal tortilla wraps (them) and taco shells (me) and B15 also did a baked potato with butter and cheese for us too. Yum!! ;)

Here we go... (bear in mind these recipes have been modified from a single serve from a Home-Economics class menu) Serves 4

LAMB SOUVLAKI
2 tblspn olive oil
600 gms lamb, cubed
3 tbspn fresh oregano - chopped
2 tspn fresh thyme - chopped
3 tblspn lemon juice

Extras to serve (prepare and put on table for self service/build your own:
Lettuce leaves, shredded
cucumber
Mango
grated carrot & cheese
Tatziki dip
Tortilla wraps/taco shells or pita bread

Mix oil, lemon juice and herbs together, toss in lamb and coat well. Marinate for
as long a possible (1/2 hour or more so flavours sink in)
Heat a large pan, then stir fry the lamb until browned and tender.

Remove from pan and place in a serving bowl. Let each person build their own wrap with salad ingredients, lamb and dip.
Enjoy!
-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-

APRICOT PUFFS

These are quite large so you may want to resize next time.

1 can apricot halves - drain and reserve juice
2 tspn corn flour
1 tspn sugar

You need 1 sheet of puff pastry per person

Cut thawed pastry into 4 equal squares. On a paper lined baking sheet, take first square of pastry, brush with milk, place second square on top, repeat with milk and add third square.
Using a scone cutter, cut a hole through the 3 layers. Brush with milk and add the 4th square of pastry. Using a spatula, flip over the whole stack - you will have a base and sides with a hole in the middle. The extra round pieces of pastry can be baked also. Brush with milk then bake in a 200DegC about 15 minutes or until golden and fully puffed.
In a microwave safe dish, combine the apricot syrup and corn flour & sugar, getting rid of any lumps. Microwave in 30 sec bursts, stirring in between, until the mixture thickens.

Place each hot puff on a plate, place 3-4 apricot halves in the centre, drizzle with syrup mixture, then add a dollop of whipped cream, add the round puff and dust with icing sugar. Enjoy!

I hope I have modified the quantities okay - B15 did a fantastic job. There was quite a bit to do as you can see and I think she fully appreciates how hard it can be to deliver a full meal and trimmings to the table, making sure everything is ready and hot etc.

Love you B

Love - Joolzmum

Lamb Souvlaki & Apricot Puffs....

This is the lamb souvlaki and apricot puffs that B15 made for dinner last night.

She did a brilliant job and it was delicious. I will post the recipes later today. I need to get to work and I have to contact a friend who's husband is in hospital about to have triple by-pass heart surgery. They own a business in town so she may need some help. Back later.

- Joolz

Thinking of Italy....

This is a hand blown Murano glass vase that I bought in Italy 2 years ago. The glass is very thin. I bought it in Venice and carried it by hand for 2 weeks while we travelled through Italy and France. It was too fragile to pack in our luggage so I just carried it. I was so glad when we got home and I could put it on the mantlepiece. Pretty, isn't it?

We are planning a return trip to Italy in 2010. Our daughter, K17 hosted an Italian exchange student in Feb. 2006 through her college. Then K17 went on a school trip exchange to Turin, Italy in October 2006 and she stayed with Chiara, our exchange student and her family. They were lovely people and looked after K17 very well. In August 2007, the family came out to Australia for 3 weeks and they spent a week with us in SA. We showed them the local sights - our pretty coastline and 4 wheel driving through sand dunes, kangaroos, koalas, BBQ's, Coonawarra vineyards and wine, The Great Ocean Road and 12 Apostles. They loved their time in Australia and offered to host us again if we return to Italy.

In 2010, the college will again offer an Italian trip and B15 will go on that exchange. We will travel separately from the school trip but will meet up with B15 in Turin and see Giorgio, Titziana and Chiara again. That is our plan, anyway.

K17 had her last Yr 12 exam today - breeeeathe - everybody! She just text me and said it went well, better than the Chem exam yesterday. Now we wait for her results which come out close to Christmas time and then see what TER she achieved. Then come the Uni offers in 2009. Wait and see. Wait and see.

We're gonna try B15's Lamb Suvlaki for dinner with her Apricot Puffs and Cream for dessert. These are home economics recipes from school. Hopefully I'll get some pictures.

Cheers - Joolz

Remembering our heros...............

Today is Remembrance Day, 2008. It is 90 years since the Armistice was declared in 1918.

I honour my grand father, Edward John Turner (b. 7/1/1892 - d. 18/2/1980), an ANZAC who served in the First World War from 1914 -1918 and was at Gallipoli, although not in the first day landing. 'Johnny' as he was known then, served along with two of his brothers, Herb and Walter. Walter was tragically killed in action on the fields of Flanders, France.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them. Lest we Forget

My Grandpa was a 'Giant amongst men'.

Love Joolz

Jubilee Cake and a cuppa...

Just knocked up this Jubilee Cake and may I say, it is now half gone. It didn't survive to cool down even!

JUBILEE CAKE

1 1/2 cups SR Flour

2 tbspn butter, rub into flour

2 tbspn sugar

1.5 cups mixed fruit

1 egg

2/3 cups milk

Mix all ingredients together, place in lined loaf tin and bake in

a moderate oven (170C) for about 30 mins, until golden and

skewer comes out clean. Ice with icing made with about 4 tbspn

icing sugar and enough milk to make a runny consistency.

Cool cake slightly then drizzle with icing and let it run down the

sides of the cake.

Enjoy when fully cooled, buttered, with a nice cup of tea (if you can wait that long).

Cheers - Joolz

A day of sewing....

Can you tell that we have a Year 12 student living at our house. This is my 'good room' table, littered with K17's study gear. This has been here for several days now, hence the untidyness. She is quite organised, usually! She has her final exams on Wednesday and Thursday this week - Georgraphy and Chemistry. Then the pressure is off a bit until results come in and Uni offers are received. Roll on December! Gee, did I just say that?? :0)

I am still having a bit of bother up-loading photos. Thank you to Pip for a bit of tuition. Yes, it worked for the photos above but I think my Internet connection must be dodgy at the moment because when I tried to do a second photo, it wouldn't even bring up the Add Image screen so I could select a pic. I will persevere, none the less!

Being Sunday morning, I was up at 7.30am (a sleep in for me), I have had a cup of coffee and a 1/2 hour read of my new book, 'You Sexy Mother' . This inspired me to get up and attend to some laundry that needed folding and then some ironing (school uniforms for B15 and shirts for A) while still surfing some blogs. It is now 9.04am and I have a load of towels in the machine, the laundry room is clear and it's time for toast.

Saturday was spent at my sewing machine again today and have produced a two part present for K17's teacher. She has had Ms M for home group, maths and pastoral care and they get along well. I also produced this pin-cushion - not bad for a first effort. I can laugh now, but I really should follow patterns better. I cut the material out then didn't leave enough for seam allowance so it was a bit smaller than it should be and I could have followed instructions better. Ooops!! Overall, it looks like the picture in the tutorial. Success!

Enjoy your Sunday,

Cheers - Joolz

Our country show....

This weekend is the Millicent Agricultural, Horticultural and Pastoral Show. The nice carnival people come to town with their show rides and extract $6 a ride or side show from gullible tots and teens & parents for that matter. Locals exhibit their prized pumpkins, bunches of rhubarb, roses, cakes, jams and jellies, china painting, baby knits or hobbytex (*remember*) and there is usually a punch up in the food pavillion when two old ladies fight over the 1st place ribbon for their genoa cake entries! Just kidding! And generally people eat too much greasy food - dagwood dogs, fairy floss, hot jam donuts, toffee apples and cream filled waffles. Blech! and Yum!... all at once. :)

Friday night is the big night as there is a fireworks display at 9pm. They let go about $25,000 worth of crackers which makes everyone oooh and aaaah! Then the youth of the town turn feral and hit side show alley. They ride too many rides, eat too much greasy food, drink too much alcohol and ultimately trash themselves. Nice! Last year the rain held off just enough so it was slightly damp but not too cold.

Last year, on the Saturday morning, the heavens opened and I think we had 4 inches of rain in 3 hours. It was a washout, a quagmire and basically a flop. The Show committee held a family day about a month later so that the service clubs could sell their donuts and steak sandwiches so they could make some money. I don't know about the genoa cake ladies.

This morning, we had a cracking thunder storm at about 5.30am. It only lasted probably 10-15 minutes but the lightning was very bright and close and the thunder was very, very loud. One crack was directly over our house and it rattled out windows. I shreiked and pulled the covers over my head. So loud! But it passed over very quickly - enough for me to go for a walk with KP at 6am. We walked our main street up and back 4 times which is about 4.5 kms. That way we were under the cover of the shop verandahs if it rained.

So the weather could once again dampen the Millicent AH &P Show. We need rain but I hope it won't be 4 inches all at once. I want to get over there to buy a dagwood dog! (F.Y.I - a dagwood dog or 'dippy dog' as I call them is a foot long hotdog on a stick, dipped in batter then deep fried until golden. Serve with lashings of tomato sauce and let it drip down your arm!) ;)

I am having trouble inserting these photos - How do I insert them in between the text????? They just go straight to the top of the page, no matter where I leave the curser.... now I am starting to curse!!! ;(

The other picture is of the sky out over our neighbours house this morning. It was not while the storm was on, it still looks menacing. Love that gum tree, though.

Cheers for now,

Joolz

A little retail therapy....

K17 and I have been shopping in Mt Gambier today. She found shoes to go with her Grad dress and another dress for her 18th at the end of the month. I decked myself out for the Grad as well. Simple black, nothing that stands out from the crowd, thats me! I will be able to wear the pants, cami and jacket many times over. I also bought a pendant to set it all off which has a bit of *bling* factor :)

I bought a book recommended by Bonnie at http://bonnie-simple-beauty.blogspot.com/ so I hope to have an early night and get some of it read before I get too sleepy. It is called You Sexy Mother - a Life changing approach to motherhood. Bonnie has reviewed the first chapter and it sounds worth a read.

'A' is away tonight to I think I will hit the hay at 9pm (after Spicks n Specks), slather on some good moisturiser, rub my tired feet with peppermint foot lotion and get stuck into it. I can tape everything else on TV and watch it on the weekend.

Have a good one - Cheers, Joolz

Teacup Tuesday....

This is a cup, saucer and plate from my dinner set, Moonlight Roses by Royal Albert.

Cheers Joolz :)

Sunday pictures....

This is our cat, Bonnie. Isn't she pretty? As always she wouldn't sit still for me to take a picture. When she walks, her tail always sticks straight up in the air. Funny.

The tree is a golden cyprus that is growing in the block next to our house. It is huge and I love it when the sun shines on it. The sky was overcast and we had quite a bit of rain after I took this pic.

Cheers - Joolz :)

Half a lifetime.....

I just realised that on September 20, 2008 - I have been married to my husband, A, for half my life. Thats really cool! :)

Love you A. *Mwa mwa*

Joolz

Accomplishments...

I have planted some tomato plants and lettuces out in foam boxes. 'A' has planted oregano, basil, coriander, parsley and chives in pots. They are out under our pergola area. This is the first time I have tried lettuces and tomatoes. We had our first salad with the lettuces earlier in the week. I just picked about a dozen leaves and added them to some iceberg lettuce I had. They were nice and sweet and tender. Job done!

A few weeks ago I started my sisters Christmas gifts. I am not a sewer by nature or talent so when things came together quite well, I really felt I had accomplished something. Here is the fabric that I chose to make them with. Pretty greens and apricots. I got them mostly finished and was so pleased with myself. Today, I hope to complete them to a stage where they are ready for wrapping. Can you guess what I made? I can't wait to show you a photo of them totally completed...you will laugh!

Now I need to down load some more tunes for my playlist. I am so happy with it! :)

I'm in for a busy day - I'll let you know how it all went later.

Cheers - Joolz