Sushi Sandwiches

Nori rolls are our standard snack food when we're out and about. Our favourite is raw salmon and avocado for a nice hit of omega 3. Yes, even the kiddies dig that raw salmon.

Today I made Aussie style nori rolls with bread, tuna, avocado, grated carrot and light cream cheese.

It went down a treat.

The Op Shop Gods Were Smiling...

...not on me, but on one of my besties who had the good grace and generosity to hand it over! She has sons and they probably wouldn't wear such a pretty frock and jacket so my 4 and a half year old scored! Big time. This is vintage botanical print swingy sun frock with matching bolero jacket!

Divine yes?

I'll probably change the buttons on the dress for something more delicate.


Even better, the 4 year old is prepared to wear it! (I tried to hide my excitement a little in case it put her off). Just not as a model for my little photo shoot today.

But I do have evidence of swing factor from its first spin.

Teaching an old dog new tricks

Current brain research talks about how the brain is actually far more plastic than previously thought and it turns out that when an area of the brain is damaged, other areas come in to play and have the capacity to take over function.

It got me thinking that with my apparently undamaged brain, maybe I should utilise it a little more and begin with learning some simple new skills. Thanks to my good friend youtube I had a couple of free lessons starting with finger knitting. This topic was chosen first as I was knitting (with needles) a tiny dolls blanket on request this morning. When the bigger of the smalls expressed an interest to have a go I thought of finger knitting as an achievable place to start, providing I learn it too.


And I have photographic evidence of our efforts...


Which led me to try a type of plait that I have now come to know as a fishtail braid; a more interesting version of the humble plait.
And apart from the slight porno feel of this clip, I found it to be the most useful tutorial.



Again, our efforts...



I bet all my Steiner educated friends already have these crafty skills and more tucked away in their bags of tricks ready to use. I may have learned to conjugate French verbs during my grammar school education a skill long forgotten anyway, if ever mastered, but knitting and making really would have come in a lot more handy! So it may be after lunchtime and I may not be showered yet but I have 2 new (modest) skills that I did not have when I woke up this morning. See? You can teach an old dog new tricks!

Whoa!

By the way, please excuse my blog header. It is trying to eat my blog! When I find a few spare hours to fiddle with Html I'll try to cut it back to a more approachable size.

And no sister, you may not have that jug!

And by the way again, this is what my MIL or should I say MOL says I look like.

And this is what I actually look like.

Nuff said. The end.

Dazed and Confused

Alongside the windy, icy, rainy weather I'm having quite an unsettled week. I am still recovering from a wild and uncalled for dummy spit by the mother outlaw who over the years has proven herself to be quite prone to these tanties. She gives the grandchildren a run for their money, that's for sure, and is unrivaled in her need for attention and praise. The baby daddy and I have literally had unsettled stomachs and trouble sleeping ever since the episode and frankly it all feels unresolved and unresolvable. There is no point going into details here but I feel we have reached an impass based on clashing personalities and different ideas on what is acceptable behaviour.



I am questioning how long you must accept a relatives poor or even irritating behaviour before reaching the conclusion to cut your relationship with them. We are talking 15 years of giving it a shot here!



I would value your thoughts here wise ladies. I am keen to get back to bluer skies and clearer days.

Finders Keepers

The independent design and art Finders Keepers Market is coming to Melbourne in October. You have a few months to save your pennies and organize babysitting for one of the two days, or both. So get to it and I'll see you there on the 9th and/or 10th of October, Shed 4 at Docklands!

Carmensita

Yoga has always been a part of my life to a greater or lesser degree and at times I have really enjoyed chanting classes too. There's something soothing and satisfying about singing repetitively in a language you barely understand and often translations would reveal some pretty whacky sanskrit lyrics.

I've already forgotten how I stumbled upon this clip of a Devendra Banhart song (not chanting) but I'm glad I did because the subtitles to the song make me smile and think of the kooky things I've chanted about.

Oh and you might recognize Devendra's gorgeous girlfriend in the clip (and real life).