Our holiday in NSW

We had a wonderful holiday in New South Wales. I usually get to a point when travelling that I'm ready to go home but I didn't reach it this holiday!

Here are a few photos and some extracts from my travel diary...

We drove to Minnamirra Rainforest Area for a picnic lunch and walk along a broadwalk. The broadwalk took us along the Minnamirra Riverlet and high into the forest. The rainforest was dense, luscious and tranquil with interesting signage. We were lucky to see a female lyrebird scratching and drinking at the riverlet banks. We also spotted two more on the verge as we drove. We enjoyed hearing the whip bird again and Russell was pleased to see the rare red cedar tree. Today we saw a platypus in the wild.

( wombat hole)
Our final destination today was Bombala which has the highest density of platypus. Just out of town is the Platypus Reserve which features a viewing platform. Along the far bank you can see their burrows and the larger burrows of wombats. As we drove up we could see the outline of one’s body. From the platform we could see it’s nostrils as it came up to breathe and eat the food it had collected in the pouches of it’s cheeks. Afterwards we took a walk along the town river where more platypuses reside but without any further sightings. (I might point out here that we don't have wombats, platypus or koalas in WA)

We discovering a maze left on a beach. The kids had great fun following it to discover the beach treasures.

We found at $15 a meal and $4 a beer (compared to $25 mains in Perth) it’s cheaper to eat out then to pay for self contained accommodation thought we’re getting a little tired of chicken schnitzels and bangers and mash.

Our excitement grew one morning as we drove closer and closer to the snow topped mountains. We caught the snow tube from Bullocks Flat to Perisher. We were all rugged up in thermals, beanies, scarves, gloves and jackets to find a beautiful day at the top. The layers gradually got stripped and stuffed into pockets and lugged about. We walked over to discover the snow play and toboggan area was closed and instead joined the masses sliding down the rocky icy strip outside of this area. It was a fast wild ride with the tricky challenge of climbing aboard the toboggan without releasing the toboggan prematurely with a child onboard or slipping over in the ice. Both girls enjoyed tobogganing immensely and being towed around. Rainbow also enjoyed eating the snow. Rainbow and I had planned to ride the quad lift but after a twenty minute wait we discovered it was closed due to an electrical fault. Meanwhile waiting on the stairs Moonshine was pointing, emphatically up at the slope saying “up sn”. Dada asked if she wanted Snuggy but no it was definitely that she wanted to go play in the snow. After re-uniting we all headed to a fresh patch of snow (sign posted as off limits to toboggans!) where Rainbow got very upset that I was going too fast with Moonshine aboard.

Luckily we reached Scenic World in Katoomba before the crowds. Our adrenaline lover Rainbow loved the ride on the World’s Steepest Railway. We spotted a male lyrebird on the walk through the rainforest at the bottom. We then rode a cable car back to the top. After morning tea we completed the circular track which gave us impressive views of the three sisters, the lush rainforest and the high Katoomba falls. Rainbow and I (carrying Moonshine) found the steps hard going after so many days of bush walking.
After lunch and a visit to a CWA craft store in Leura we returned to the now crowded Scenic World for our last cable car ride across the valley. From the cable car we had magnificent views of the area we had hiked this morning.

We caught the train to Circular Quay. It’s quite a shock to suddenly see the Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Opera House looming in front of you. It’s reminiscent of our first glance at the Colosseum in Rome. Both Sydney landmarks look so big compared to the surrounding landscape. We walked around the Opera House and The Rocks. We had trouble finding affordable lunch and ended up with HJs and fruit on the grass overlooking the two landmarks. By this point Circular Quay was getting busy with tourists so we caught the ferry to Luna Park. Luna Park was actually quite aesthetic with highly ornate in an old worldly way rides. We had a walk around and ride on the ferris wheel, from which you can see the harbour and bridge as well as Luna Park.

Moonshine’s breastfeeding reached epic proportions. Now every time I sit down she requests boo and if I carry her she shoves her hands down my top and repeats “boo” or points out chairs and says “boo there”. This continues with her getting more and more upset until I give in.

By our third day in Sydney we were professionals at catching public transport and find it quite easy and feel very safe navigating through Sydney. Thought you need a new ticket for each new form of transport so today catching a ferry and bus to reach Taronga Zoo cost $38.20. Thankfully our Perth Zoo membership gave us free entrance to Taronga. The zoo was amazing with s spectacular range of animals and large interesting enclosures. Russ was pleased not just to see animals he hadn’t seen before, such as the snow leopard, condor and pygmy hippopotamus but even a few he hadn’t even heard of. The zoo started with a large reptile area featuring the sleepy kimodo dragon and underwater viewing of turtles. Moonshine enjoyed this section pointing out the grocdile, tootle and ssss. We then saw the giraffes and a large family of grooming chimpanzees. We then reached the elephant enclosure and the saw the baby elephants that we have been talking about for months. Both girls were excited that it was nursing when we arrived and later in the day we watched the older one splashing in their lake. After morning tea we headed through the African and Asian sections. As we passed the lowland gorillas the keepers were scattering food in their empty enclosures and so we stayed to watch the gorillas be released. We were delighted to see a baby and a pregnant female and amazed at the size of the patriarch. We then headed through the large Australian section which included two bilbies in the nocturnal section and a plane rat travelling amazing distances on a wheel with an odometer. They had a wonderful platypus enclosure which allowed us to watch a platypus searching underwater for food. Finally we went on to the Southern Seas to see a graceful leopard seal.
An excellent yet exhausting six hours traipsing down the hill of Taronga Zoo. On the walk home from the subway we were lucky enough to see some of the flying bats (that roost in the botanical gardens) fly over.

We found Sydneysiders really friendly. Always happy to give up a seat on the train, fetch dropped belongings or help us carry the pram up stairs.

The Australian Museum was awesome. We started in skeletons which was a good example of the quality of their displays. The curator obviously has a sense of humour with arrangements such as the man riding his horse and the domestic scene. Some of the displays were interactive like the one where you could ride a bike which caused a skeleton to ride a bike. Others were really informative like one that showed how a kangaroo pelvis has long bones expending upwards to support the pouch. My favourite was the interactive mat where you put your hand on a spot and get attacked by a predator such as a massive great white shark. After morning tea and a shop we headed into the Dinosaur and Surviving Australia exhibits. Moonshine loved using a paintbrush to help excavate a fossil Finally we went to the Kid’s Place where the girls could draw, reading and play with animal toys.

We also really enjoyed the different experience of staying in an inner city apartment where the supermarkets are open to midnight and you can watch mounted police and fire trucks from the veranda.

Nest + handle = basket

Yesterday I made a nest basket using the nest pattern I a few months back. I adapted to make the point (base of the basket) bigger and the rectangular portion (height of the basket) shorter. I made it with a felt outer and fabric inner with the intention of appliqueing and embroidering flowers on the front but time got away. It's a little too flimsy to use as an egg collecting basket but looks good displaying the rainbow dyed eggs.

In these photos it is holding cupcakes for a morning tea at my mother in law's house. It is also resting on a plate to hold it secure when I carried it.

These little cupcakes are topped with chocolate icing with a border "Flake" to resemble a nest. You could use grated chocolate if you don't have flakes in your part of the world. I had hoped to use those little bird's egg sugar coated chocolate eggs but couldn't find any. They are my little brother's favourite so I'll have to see where he gets his.

Some of the eggs have already hatched!

And here are the girls. Rainbow insisted that she needed an Easter egg dress - a little short notice for me but we agreed that polka dots look a lot like eggs. Hence both girls are in polka dots.

I just looked up to see both girls eating chocolate eggs when they should be eating their dinner. Russell and I are off to dinner (only the second time since Moonshine's arrival) for our 6th wedding anniversary. Please cross your fingers that Moonshine sleeps until we return.

Firsts

Guess who drew this?

Yes, it's Moonshine's very first piece of art. She kept at it for quite a while and was very interested in trying out all of the textas. Though in true one year old style she was paying attention to all sorts of going ons in the room as she drew.

It's got me thinking about how I can include Moonshine in some of my Rainbow and my craft sessions - particularly when she eventually gives up her morning sleep.

Also as far as firsts go - Moonshine is doing a little walking. I say a little as the most she's done is 5 steps and the steps are not necessary in the direction she's heading. She took her first step about two weeks ago and it (like most of her walking ventures so far) was from where she was sitting to me. She's a true Mama's girl at the moment.

Something else exciting that's changing around here is Rainbow's drawings. Her drawings appear to be showing her experimenting with conventions. We've seen the addition of sky and some background information and also she's playing around with animals facing side on rather than towards the audience (as you'll see in the next photos). I remember touching on the development of drawing at uni but it's amazing watching it first hand.

Let me show you this sequence. These drawings are all elephants, drawn about 4 months apart.

This is mid June 09. This was one of her very first drawings. It has a smiley face, a trunk in the air and a tail.
This is mid October (I think). It's a bit hard to see but it now has more correctly positioned ears, tusks and a trunk and four legs.

This was last week. The face is still facing the audience but the trunk is now in the direction it's heading. Absolutely fascinating....

For me at least!

Happy Birthday Moonshine

This time one year ago I was about 15 minutes away from having little Moonshine. In a bathtub having a major "I can't do this" kind of moment.
Tonight both girls are in bed and my little Moonshine has just had her first birthday.

So what have I learnt in the past year about this little girl.
We call her our little lover. She is affectionate, full of smiles, cuddles and kisses.
She's determined - she concentrates so intently on what ever she does. She is very hard to distract from what she wants and not the slightest bit intimidated by other kids.

Happy Birthday my little one.

Her cupcakes are topped with butter cream and little homemade white chocolate hearts. (some has been tinted with red powdered food colouring)

Birthday Preparations

Had a busy day on Monday. On top of Moonshine's photo session I prepared a few other things for her party.

Made some glorious strawberry jam to spread with cream between two sponges for her cake. Still trying to work out the logistics of cake for 32 people.

Planted some basil for the Pesto Pasta Salad. Probably left it a little late but we'll see.

And here's us having morning tea (chocolate muffin and almond croissant from our local cafe and grapes, rockmelon, mango and plum) at the park after our photo shoot.

Cheat's Kangaroo and birthday cards

We had a lovely time at the party.

If you'd like to know more about the endangered bilby you may like to check out this page.

I had planned on making a costume for Moonshine but it's hard to be motivated when she'll outgrow it quickly. Instead opted for a top with a pocket to be her pouch and a little kangaroo joey. (Mind you half the guest thought Rainbow was a kangaroo). The joey didn't spend much time in the pocket! Actually for much of the party Moonshine (and several of Rainbow's friends) wore the bilby ears!

Rainbow and I also had an exciting moment when we saw the dingo out for a walk with his keeper but Rainbow was confident that he would know she was just a "pretend dingo".

For the two birthday kids' cards Rainbow and I made finger puppets. You put your finger through the holes to be the animal's legs. Rainbow made a lion and a monkey. The white stuff on the monkey is glue - it dries clear - I was just a little quick with my photography.

I also made a quick pair of puppets for Rainbow to play with. These little guys like to dance, run, march, jump, kick a ball....

I've been playing around with cards that double as toys. Here's two others we've made recently. This one used Zoe from Playing by the Book's very cool templates. This converts quite magically from 2D to 3D with a few easy folds. Rainbow's hoping to go see the robotic dinosaur temporary exhibit at the museum soon so I'm thinking this may inspire us making a "whole world of Zoe dinosaurs" to play with. Yes, something terrible happened to his tail. That's what happens when you make the card 10mins before the party. I had to balance him with a bit of blu tac between his stumpy tail!

This card is a water painted fairy ballerina. If you rub the skewer between two fingers or your palm she twirls.

Rainbow and I - Christmas Craft

Wow the lead up to Christmas was hectic. I really feel like I didn't get to do much craft with Rainbow. Here's what we've been up to.

First up some quick Christmas packaging for the "creche ladies" that look after my girls on Wednesday mornings. They're fabulous. The store-brought chocolates are simply inside a zip lock bag which has a folded piece of card stapled over the rolled up top. Finally Rainbow decorated it with old Christmas cards and other collage items. It took all of 10 minutes and was most appreciated. It would be fantastic with some things home-made inside.

Have I told you how much I love Rainbow's early drawings. These have been 'blinged' up with some glitter and used as gift tags. (Top Row: angel, Santa with his sack. Bottom Row: Rudolph and an elf)

Quick Story: Rainbow had never watched television so we decided as a special advent treat we'd hire the DVD for Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. We thought 'we know the plot' but we obviously didn't.

Did you know Rudolph runs away from home? Through tears Rainbow said "Rudolph needs his mum."

Did you know it featured an Abominable Snowman? Rainbow was petrified - she wanted to turn off the TV and go straight to bed. At this point we took a gamble 'it's bound to have a happy ending' and fast forwarded to the last 5 minutes.

Rudolph is re-united with his parents. "Yes"

Abominable Snowman is really friendly and help put ornaments high up in trees. "Yes"

"Then one foggy Christmas eve Santa came to say 'Rudolph with your nose so bright won't you guide my sleigh tonight." "yes...No" Rainbow sees animated sleigh flying across sky and jumps up "Quick. I've got to get to bed. Santa's coming" All well and good but there was still 4 days left before Christmas!

I also preserved one of Rainbow's drawings as a softie. I love the look of red thread on calico. The back is a red cotton. Actually when I was making it Rainbow asked if I was sewing an elephant t-shirt for Moonshine. After I explained what I was doing, I asked her what could I sew on a t-shirt for Moonshine. Rainbow replied "boos with nips"(breasts with nipples). Now wouldn't that be a bit of embroidery!

Finally Here is the table decorations that Rainbow and I made. I had plans of us making reindeers but time elapsed. The sleigh was a combined effort. Coloured and collaged by Rainbow. The little Santa's I worked out from a little Waldolp elf we have. These were a lovely little hand sewing project that I worked on in the car and after the girls went to bed on our last holiday. I took photos so I'll post that for you tomorrow.

The Far Side of Christmas

I can't believe we're on the other side of Christmas.

I hope you had a wonderful one.
It was quite frantic in the lead up to Christmas. I was still wrapping presents and finishing one of Moonshine's on Christmas morning. I had hope to post some of the things I was working on but time didn't allow for blogging.

Shall I start with the girl's gifts.

Here's Rainbow's letter to Santa. It was actually edited. She wanted it to end with "----(Moonshine) has been naughty today. She has been crying a lot." Over December she considered asking Santa for a cow and horse, a doll and a cat but once she had decided on puddle stompers her mind was set. Now I had looked for rain boots early in spring and could not find any so this was a challenge. So this week I extended the search to op shops and 'designer' children's stores. Some staff even brought out winter stock but we couldn't find any to fit. Eventually I arranged to get a hand me down pair from a friend but at the last minute someone suggested the shop at the zoo and sure enough Ralph (R elf) went out and brought some. The day before Christmas they came up in discussion a lot. Rainbow decided she needed to make a sign with a three on it so that Santa would know that she was now 3 and needed 3 year old puddle stompers. She also became very concerned looking at a picture of the elf's working on toys in a book that none of the elves were making boots. Rainbow was predicting the boots would be red as that was Santa's favourite colour. Here she is with boots! She even wore the boots to the beach on Christmas morning.
To her left is her Christmas sack which I made for her for her second Christmas. (She was only 3 weeks at her first and I was really not up to sewing at that point!) Here's a better look. So this week I have been frantically sewing Moonshine's at every spare moment.

The girls received 7 dolls between them. Moonshine was particularly excited. Her eyes would widen with excitement at the sight of them and she said "Bubba Bubba Bubba". Here she is giving one of Rainbow's a kiss.

Rainbow was also taken with this doll and on I heard her saying to Bilby "There is a new baby at our house. She's very little so I'll have to carry her around a lot."
I also made some nappies and nappy wipes for Rainbow's dolls. Do you like the name?

For Moonshine I made a fabric ball with a shaker inside using the pattern from Grand Revival. (Look in the column on the left hand side. It is a very quick project.








and some stacking boxes. These are a variation of the stacking cups that you can buy. They are great for when kids are at the stage where they like to put things in and take things out and open and close things.
Moonshine's have been decorated on each side with paper and the occasional drawing from Dad such as the bird on the washing line. The little box is a domesticated house. The middle house is about self- sufficiency and the third is a romantic little cottage.
These can be fitted inside each other like matroyka dolls.

Or stacked up as homes for little friends.

Then when she outgrows opening and closing and stacking they will be cute little storage containers for her room.

The girls also got a 'bouncing bean'. 'We set it up one morning while Rainbow had a play at Nanny Janny's house. It was quite a feat keeping Rainbow out of the backyard for two days. Here she is bouncing with her cousin.
and little Moonshine squeezed between the wall and the bbq watching from the verandah. She loves crawling around on it. She finds it really funny when Rainbow jumps on it and the bounce knocks her down.

Elephant Rocks

We had a mixed weekend away. Russell ended up very sick and it was really to hot to be out in the bush. The favourite part for Rainbow and I was definitely Sunday morning at Elephant Rocks. It's a tiny bay next to the main swimming beach. It's perfect for kids. It is completely flat and a very gradual slope. It also has a lovely little freshwater stream that trickles from a spring into the bay (which the girls are playing in in these photos).

I tried very hard to convince Rainbow that they were real elephants wallowing in the shallows. To the extent of carrying her out so that she could pat an elephant for the first time. She commented "They're beautifully decorated." in observance of the sea grass and sea shells attached to them.

The best part was that for most of our stay at the beach it was just us and another little family sharing the bay.

Beautiful Bug Party - Part 1

Way back in June, Rainbow's cousin had a spider cake for one of his birthday celebrations. Since then Rainbow has declared that she too was going to have a spider cake. It has wavered a little at times, especially after seeing some wonderful cakes at parties but eventually returns to a spider cake. I also hadn't planned on throwing a party this year but Rainbow kept talking about "at my party" so I caved. So here it is Rainbow's bug party.

(Disclaimer - spiders, ants, snails... are not really bugs as they are missing a proboscis "True bugs suck.")

The invitation:
The flower swivels on the split pin to show the invitation.
The leaves fold back to show more of Rainbow's bugs.

The costumes:

These didn't really happen. Rainbow's grandparents brought her a cute butterfly costume for her birthday but she wasn't really interested in wearing it. Moonshine had a little spotty ladybug outfit but wouldn't wear her antenna hat. Dad did wear antenna.

The menu:

Spider cake - I used Nigella's birthday cake recipe cooked in a large and small pudding basin then iced with her fudge icing. The biscuit legs are held together with chocolate icing. Moments after I started cutting collapsed as the chocolate had melted on the warm day.

Pizza Snails - puff pastry rolled up with a filling of cheese and a tomato pasta sauce

Look What’s Landed on the Cupcakes - really just an excuse to eat lollies. One excited guest kept bringing them to me "Look ant ant!"
Butterfly and Dragonfly Cookies - this recipe then decorated before baking by brushing with milk and sprinkling with white sugar coloured with a few drops (it should still feel dry)
of food colouring Ladybugs - There are a lot of these out in cyber space. Mine are pretty simple - crackers spread with cream cheese, topped with half a cherry tomato with a slit through it and a quarter of olive. I then blended some cream cheese with olives and piped (haphazardly) on some spots.

Fruity Caterpillar Kebabs - popsticks are much more kid-safe though some fruit (eg pineapple) needs to have a hole stabbed with a knife first

Butterfly sandwiches (chicken and curried egg) - cut into triangular quarters then arranged so pairs of sandwiches lie with their points touching to make two triangular wings.

The decorations:

I didn't photograph the food table but it had

• a dragonfly printed fabric as a tablecloth. Look under the fruit kebabs.


• framed photos of Rainbow taken the first week of December 2008, 2007, 2008


• giant lolly spiders hiding under and on top of the food platters


• food labels (see fruit kebab picture above)


• A jar of Rainbow's collaged flowers. Here are two.
  

The front and back are glued together with a skewer between them after Rainbow had decorated. There were others in a daisy and star shape but they were given away.

On the playground we tied bunches of balloons and a garland of butterflies. Rainbow did "blob on some paint and fold the paper in half pictures" I then cut out, accordion folded and secured with a pipecleaner. The pipecleaner is folded in half and twisted to form a tail. Then the painted body is added. The pipecleaner is then twisted some more to form the head and the ends spread to form antennas.

Here's how to get to part 2 if you'd like to read about the entertainment and party bag .