Up up and away......

This morning we woke to an amazing sight. A hot air balloon that was filling with hot air just across the road from the back of house. We watched it take off, and of course we waved and all the people waved back. Anyway we quickly got dreesed and raced up to Mt Pleasant and to our astonishment their was 16 hot air balloons in the sky. It was so surreal, a truely amazing and memorable sight. The photo over Canberra with all the balloons doesnt do it any justice.
Anyway update on Imogen. Went to the doc again yesterday and once again couldnt find anything wrong with her. If she hasnt come good by Monday she is back to the doc for blood tests. I shall keep you posted.
This afternoon we went down the road to watch Barry play footy. It was a practice match. It was RMC verses ADFA, and RMC won.
Whilst we were there Imogen perked up a bit, so fingers crossed we are seeing the last of whatever it is.

Quick Update

Quick Update on Imogen. Still no good, we took her to the ER at Canberra Hospital early yesterday evening, and after a "very" looooong wait they told us she """might""" have constipation. However we disagreed and they sent us on our way. Today a number 2 came out, so no constipation there, however the little one is in so much pain and is very lethargic, not eating and drinking.
So the plain now is, hopefully she gets a good nights sleep, and assess the situation in the morning, but it's likely I will take her back to the doctors and have it out with them. So I shall keep you updated on Imogen, and fingers crossed all is well in the morning..

Pialligo Apple Orchard

Today Imogen's pre-school went on an excursion to the Pialligo Apple Orchard, which is just down the road. And to much of Imogen's disgust, I went along to assist. Well if you call taking loads of photos assisting, well I did a great job then.
It was a totally organic orchard, and the apples were 'delicous!!' We were able to pick 8 apples, then go back up to the apple juicing shed to watch how juice is made, then able to taste test and buy a bottle. It was 'bonza' I tell you.
Imogen is still a bit off color and seems like the problem is easing, but hasn't totally gone away. Poor little bugger, at least her mind was of her belly for a few hours today, with the apples, and her little mate Georgie who popped over for a play...

+++Sunday Update+++

Sunday Update. This morning we went out the back of the acreage and waved to the QUEEN yes the real one... In my PJ's, coffee and fag in the other hand. Thankfully she couldnt see us, but we saw her car and her entourage. Then we went to old parliament lawns to see a whole heap of cars.. It must be a man thing. BORING yawn yawn, but we were not there long, as Imogen has been very sick this weekend with stomach pains.
This afternoon we took her to the doctors and she has "mesenteric adenitis" yep try and say that 10 times over. Bascially it is swollen lymph glands in her belly, and mostly misdiagnosed as appentisitis. She is looking better now, but I will be keeping her home from school tomorrow, just in case.
Anyway here are a couple of shots of today, sorry none of me waving to Her royal highness in my PJ's, but one of Imogen and Georgie who we bumped into at the car thing, and for those who loved the tent city, here is another from a different angle....

Front yard BBQ

Hello there, last night we had a BBQ on our front lawn with all Barry's work mates and their families. It was a great night, plenty of food, in fact enough to feed an army.. ha ha
Yes I know you all saying, "the front yard?" well to anwser that is that there is plenty of room for starters, shade, and the carport came in handy after dark, so the fellas could watch the rugby, and listen to to music. Anyway here is a couple of shots from last night.

Another sneak peak

hello all here is another sneak peak of the easter book I am working on. Neally finished. Nothing exciting happening here, Imogen is off to the army band tomorrow with pre school and they all have made shakers out of toilet rolls and rice to play along with them. The kids have been told the army band know wiggles songs, so Imogen is quite excited.
Just for Nic, the markets arent like the vic markets, they are like a craft market, but with a lot of old daggy arts and crafts if you get my drift. No doubt we will chat on the phone about it.
Bye for now

Today

Today Imogen and I went to Hall markets and I was quite dissappointed in them. Not much there considering its suppose to be the biggest in the southern hemisphere. Perhaps may years ago it was, but its nothing special. I did get a new dogs mat and Imogen had her first pony ride. And yes I did forget to take my camera with me, which usually never leaves my bag. After lunch Barry came home and shall be spending more time at home for the next few weeks. Hip hip hooray.... This afternoon we went up to the sergents mess for a few drinks, not much to report on there, so the only other exciting thing to report on is my easter pop up book that I working on so here's a sneak peak....

****SKY FIRE****

****SKY FIRE****It was brillant. We went up to Mount Pleasant this evening to watch all the displays sky fire had to offer. The view was unreal. The Roulettes were there doing their acrobatic displays, and from the Mount we had front row seats as we were the same height as them flying for most of their display. Then came the fire works. A 20minute display of color. Enough said we hope you enjoy looking at these shots as much as we had taking them. Also caught up with friends up there so it was a really enjoyable night.
Nightey night.xoxoxox

The Vegies have sprouted

Hello all, not much to report on today. Linda went home this morning, so Imogen and I had a lazy day at home. However I thought I would share a couple of photos of our potted vegie patch. Its not much at this stage, with winter not far off, but it is a start, and we are enjoying watching them all grow.
So far we have a capiscum plant, brussel sprouts for Barry, brocoli, Imogen has her carrots just sprouting, hopefully in time for the easter bunny, if not for snow men in the winter, and I have my parsley which has finally just sprouted.
Tomorrow we are going to plant silver beet for the birds and onions.
Barry will be home tomorrow afternoon for the night and hopefully we will go up to the top of Mount Pleasant and watch "Sky Fire" which is a huge fire work display over the lake. I really dont like my chances trying to get a good vantage point on the lake, so we will stay close to home and hopefully get a good spot on Mount Pleasant. Nightey night for now....

Parliamentary theatrics

Well today we visited old Parliament House and the new parliament house. The first was interesting as it is so small compared to the new one, and the guide we had let us in on some old stories of past members.
The new one is huge in comparison, and is very different in decor. We even got a chance to go into the house of representatives and watch question time. Needless to say they are brillant actors on the tax payers stage. The theatrics and BS was quite interesting, and one feels like yelling out, "and I am paying tax for all of you to act like kindergarten kids" however one doesnt do such a thing in the public viewing area. Wish I could though. However they dont allow cameras or phones into the house, so obviously no photos of the man himself, Johnny Howard, or any other puppet in the great show of parliamentary theatrics.
I did get a photo of tent city, which at the moment, has few inhabitants, but the fire still burns, and will do for some time as there is massive amounts of fire wood on the lawns in front of old parliament house.

War Memorial & Royal Australian Mint

Today Linda and I went to the War Memorial while Imogen was at pre-school. It was fascinating seeing and reading all about past wars etc... This is truely a must for anyone coming to ACT and learn a little bit more about our past as a nation.
After lunch Barry came home, and is home for the night, before he ventures back out bush.
So this afternoon, we decided to go to Royal Australian Mint. This was very dissapointing. You can make your own $1 coin. However that isnt quite the truth. You slot $2.50 into a machine and out pops a $1 coin that hasnt been circulated. But it claims "you" make it. I think its a con, $2.50 for a $1 coin. Inflation!!!!!!!!!
Anyway some of the exhibits were interesting, and you can see where they make our money somewhat, and needless to say it really wasnt anything special. In fact it was a huge let down. I dont know if I was expecting something special about making money, but it wasnt what I had pictured.
Anyway off now to sit down and watch Jamie Oliver's cooking trip to Italy, so arriverderci for now.. Chow...

View from Mount Pleasant

Yes, today we finally got to Woden shopping centre for some retail therapy. We got Imogen some really cool winter clothes and pink cowboy boots, so stay tuned for winter shots in the coming months. If not days. This morning we had our first dew, so its only a matter of time before the BIG freeze kicks in.
Anyway here are couple of shots from Mt Pleasant last night. The first one is of looking over the Russle offices, the hub of the defence force, you can see the big eagle on a concrete pillar that the US government gave to Australia as a present. Wasnt that nice of them. Ahhhh..
Past the concrete eagle you can see Lake Burley Griffin with the large water fountain, and here is a fact for those that are interested. At any given time there is at least 5 tonne, yes 5 tonne of water in the air... Interesting hey!!!
Over to the right is Telstra tower which has the best views ever.
The other photo is looking over Duntroon. Our house is down there somewhere under all those trees. But the building you can see in the foreground is where Barry's office is, and the buiding with all the spikie roofs is Duntroon House. No not our house but the officers mess.
Well thats all for today chat with you tomorrow... Chow...

Baton Relay

Today was an eventful day. Picked Barry's mum Linda up from the airport early this morning, then took Imogen to pre-school, there we discovered that the Queen's Baton relay for the Commonwealth Games was heading to Duntroon this morning. So off we went just up the road and watched the fan fair pass by.
After Imogen finished school, we went to Tuggernong Hyperdome shopping centre. (We were going to Woden), however I didnt get a chance to take the turn off, bloody Canberra signage, so we kept heading south for the Tuggernong. Not much there to report on.
After dinner, we took Linda for a tour around Duntroon, then up to Mount Pleasant Look out, and watched the sunset over the capital.

Howdy Y'all

Howdy Y'all, hope you are all great on this wonderful Sunday afternoon. Today Imogen, neighbours and I went for a walk around Duntroon, up to the playground, then the hedge maze, around to the lovely rose garden and around beautiful old Duntroon House, which is the officer's mess. It is a beautiful building and hopefully in the coming weeks I will get up there and take some shots to share with you. If I am lucky I might even get a chance to go inside. I have been told there is a grand stair case and the decor is die for. I shall keep you all posted on that one.
Other than that we pottered once again around the acreage, mowing, cleaning, feeding the vegies, which are now sprouted, and de webbing the outside of the house. There is so many spiders here it's unreal. Tonight on David Attenborough ABC there was a programm on spiders and I was most interested in the red backs, and how they form their webs. They showed how they did it, they have a very distinct way too, and needless to say if I knew, what I know now, I wouldn't have been so carefree today around the garden bed under the bathroom window, where "I know NOW" there was a very large red back spiders web.. Looks like the spray is coming out tomorrow morning..... On that note nightey night....

Shabby Chic Altered Book

Hello all, thought I would share my latest project which I completed today. Some would remember I used to make these altered books with greeting cards and antique gold paint. But now I have shabby chic'ed it up with photos, crackle medium and of course scrapbooking stuff. Hopefully now that I have my creative juices flowing again, I can get stuck into some wonderful easter creations...Thats the plan anyway.
Imogen is doing great. At the moment is playing dress up's with her mate Jack. "Getting married" she tells me. Should I be worried????? Hope you enjoy the photos....

Pic of Imogen on her 1st day of preschool

Here she is on her first day of preschool, which was last week. Imogen is having a wonderful time discovering her new school and friends. I went to an information night last week, and I am amazed at how much they do in one day. Busy little people playing and learning at the same time.

Our first blog

Here we are, we have jumped on the blog band wagon and finally have our very own spot to share our adventures and journey's.
So here goes.

Today we potted around the acreage and did some much needed gardening and maitenance. Silly us in 34.C heat. However it all got done for another week or 2.
Then we sat down to a lovely lamb roast, and Trudy's famous gravy recipe. Yumm Yumm
And to finish the day off, we finally took Imogen down to Lake Burley Griffin to feed all the black swans at Kingston.