Owen's first word is "Car"

Charlie and Owen playing trains August 2010

First thing this morning Charlie, Owen and I were sitting on the bed.  I was getting ready to feed Owen some milk when he looked up at me with a big smile and said "car".  I screamed "his first word is car Charlie, his first word is car" and Charlie was very impressed.

Charlie loves playing with his cars and trains, and they are a very important part of his life.  Charlie has been making a real effort to introduce and make them Owen friends too.  It's so cute seeing them play cars and trains together.  Charlie grabs a car or train to tell Owen all about it, the colour and type, its name and shows him different jumps and driving techniques with the occassional car engine and train toot noise.  Owen is always very attentive to his big brothers car advice and has a big smile on his face.
  

So listen all, write it down in the books, on the calendar, and let all the friends and relatives know. Owens first word is car!

Owen is five months now.  He's no longer that little new born baby, who was all floppy and totally relied on me for everything.  I mean he still relies on me for everything but he is different now. 

Owen is controlling his body by rolling around on the floor, lifting his arms and legs, grabbing hold of things like his feet, rolling over onto his stomach and lifting his head, straightening his arms to hold his body off the ground, and moving his bum in the air nearly into Adho Mukha Svanasana (down dog).  Owen is blowing rasberries, smiling and talking the baby talk constantly and is a very happy little baby.  No signs of teeth yet but they will come.

Charlie and Owen are spending a lot of time playing together.  Charlie usually tells me "Mummy go away" so he can play with Owen. I try not to feel left out.  It's incredible they are only little but already asking for some privacy from their parents.  It also makes me wonder if Owen will learn things more quickly from his big brother like pulling everything out of my bedroom cupboard, and off the benches. They are going to be into everything.  I will remain calm, take a few deep breaths and leave the room.  So fun times ahead! 

It is so fabulous to see these changes taking place.  I am so blessed.

And by the way did I tell you, Owen must be one of the smartest babies I know because the word car at five months is amazing!

Art workshop with Cat Leonard

Last Monday Tania, Renae, Sarah, Sandi and me met at Cat Leonard's house for a painting workshop.  The aim of the session was to create a painting similar to Cat Leonard's style. 

Cat's style to me is contemporary pop art illustration.  I'm not sure how she would explain her style and I should have asked her but it has a lot of beautiful bright colours and free thick confident strokes.  Cat's house has beautiful bright paintings all over the walls and she does a lot of portraits of famous people like Johnny Depp, Jimi Hendrix, Ned Kelly, Marilyn Monroe and Nick Cave.   My favourite painting was of Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke in Fear and Loathing in Los Vegas.  I was lucky enough to be given a photo copy of the painting.  Thanks Cat!

To prepare for the day we chose a portrait photo that had a lot of contrast in the light and dark colours.  I decided to paint a portrait of my cousin Tehlia Lauerman who is absolutely stunning.  I had decided to move away from doing my kids, because I do lots of things for them, so wanted something for me. 

The night before I prepared by background on the 40 cm by 40 cm square canvas.  I added gold, green, pink and blue metallic paints and using a tissue made a swirling design.  The next day at the workshop I drew a grid on the photo and translated that as a chalk grid onto the canvas.  Using the grid and a charcoal stick I drew the eyes, eyebrows, mouth, nose, and an outline of the face and hair.

I started by painting the eyes, eyebrows and mouth using thinker black strokes.  I applied the white paint for the eyes and teeth.  The side of the face, cheekbones and chin were accentuated by a black area of hair, and the remainder of hair was applied using a fan brush with purple, gold and black coloured paints in long confident strokes.

For the shaded areas on the face, around the nose, and cheek I used the green and purple coloured paints with a little medium to get some definition and bring the facial features out of the canvas.  The mouth and eyes were touched up with a little paint to give more detail eg pink colour to the mouth and white reflection in the eyes.

Cat had provided me with instructions as I put the picture together.  She was so calm and helpful.  She managed to work her way around the group to help everyone too.  It was just the right size group for her tuition.  Little Owen was a pure angel and Cat would help me by holding him when he was a little unsettled. He fed twice, sleep and watched us girls paint.  We had a break in the middle of the day to have lunch. Everyone brought a different plate to share.  We all had a nice cold beer too.

At first I felt critical of my work but the next day realised how good it actually was.  My cousin Tehlia and her sister Aleasha loved it too.

Sarah Gold did a blue Harriet (her daughter), Tania did Ashleigh (her daughter), Renae did Jai (her son), me did Tehlia (my cousin) and Sandi did the scary looking drag queen out of Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Everyones paintings were really awesome.  Well done girls and most important thanks to Cat who so fantastic.  I hope I can do another workshop with Cat Leonard.

Superwoman snow expedition

A view of Mt Hotham from Ettamogah Lodge

Having dinner with the girls last night was a good chance to reminisce about old times.  The old snow trips came up in conversation, and we were screaming in laughter about the funny things that happened on these fabulous holidays.

So it would have been at least 10 years or more since Sarah Dixon and I snowboarded together. 

The whole trip was a hit. We would usually do a convoy of cars and a mini van with 18 friends and stay at the Ettamogah Lodge right on the Davenport trail in the Mt Hotham snowfields.  It was actually quite a good place to stay, cheap and very well located right in the middle of Hotham. 

We would get up every day to have a big meal, and then snowboard down the Davenport Access trail down to the Village lift. The day was spent snowboarding, and after falling over a number of times, eating, and drinking. At night in groups of six people we would cook a shared meal and talk. After that we would go out for drinks at the Hotham pub or just go to sleep because we were so tired. In between all this we would hang out at the lodge, build snowmen and make snow angels.

Sarah and I spent the whole trip together because we were about the same level at snowboarding so we could keep up with each other and have a good laugh.  If you couldn't keep up with the others then you would probably all meet up again at the Hotham pub or cafe for hot chocolates and beers around lunch time. 

Sarah and I will never forget the fun times we had.  We followed each other around the different snowboarding courses, falling over a number of times, and laughing our heads off and enjoying delicious hot chocolates at the bottom of Slalom Gully at the Snake Gully Hut.  We were actually not too bad at snowboarding especially considering we were so new to the sport, in fact Sarah was fantastic considering it was her first year. 

I'm not sure why we thought we were so good because when we talk about what happened we were actually really terrible at it.  For instance,  at the Play Ground trail Sarah had over turned a sharp bend in the trail and disappeared over the edge of a steep hill.  Brenton and I went to see if she was okay and there she was down the side a steep hill trying to climb back up using her hands but the snow keep giving way and she would end up sliding further down the hill.  In the end she had to take off her snowboard and use it with both hands to climb back up to the top. 

Another time when negotiating the same part of the Play Ground trail, around that same bend Sarah had fallen over to stop herself going down the same steep slope.  At this point I was at the bottom of the hill waiting for her.  I watched her as she got back up and then accidentally let go of her snowboard. It came catapulting straight down the steep hill towards a cliff.  I had to  move really quickly, like you do with a snowboard strapped to your foot, and launch myself like 'superwoman' onto Sarah's snowboard to stop it going over the edge.  When we think about it now it was so funny, and we always cracked up laughing.

On the last day, Sarah and I were determined to make the most of the fresh powder available on Blue Ribbon.  Despite feeling very tired from the previous five days snowboarding we still attempted to do the trail but found ourselves falling over a number of times, getting stuck in the soft snow and in between the small trees.  We didn't know if we were going to laugh or cry.

So throughout the years, Sarah and I have been reminiscing about the funny little things that happened on our snowboarding trip.   We always laugh about Sarah's sliding down the side of the mountain, and her accidentally letting go of her snowobard to watch as it went sliding down the hill and then me having to save it from the cliff by doing a big jump just like superwoman.

So I feel lucky to have these wonderful memories and something that has bonded our friendship. 

Great times and great friends.

Getting together with the girls - Zink Mineral Comestics by Carlie Harris

The other night us girls got together at Carlie's house for a makeup makeover.

Carlie gave us some tips and hints about applying make up.  It was great to learn new things especially when being in a rut with applying makeup.  Ive been applying my makeup the same way for many years and definitely accentuating the wrong facial features by using bad colours and techniques. 

Firstly we cleaned our faces and applied moisturisers. Then Carlie showed us how to apply the Zink mineral foundation in a powder with the Kabuki brush.  Then we touched up blemishes using a small brush.

Carlie told us about how our facial proportion could be changed using a bronzer.  This would bring attention to other features like our eyes and cheek bones.  So we applied a bronzer to certain areas of our face that to do this.  Most of us girls had a square jaw so applying a small amount of bronzer to the side of the jaw bone would take the attention to our cheek bones. Very clever technique.  Another one for those with a long nose to apply bronzer to the tip of your nose etc.  There are quite a few different things you can do to change the proportion of your face.

Then we did blush on cheeks.  Blush was applying with two colours, the second colour would make it pop!!

Eye colour plays a big part in what colours you should use for eye shadow.  The colour wheel theory is applied.  Carlie showed us how to apply our eye makeup too but personally I think an extra session to practise the technique would benefit. 

Sitting with a group of girls learning something new about makeup was great.  It felt like we were being pampered too and we enjoyed strawberries and champagne too.

I was so impressed with Zinc Mineral Cosmetics I bought the foundation, brushes, blush and eye shadows.

Thanks Carlie for our special night.  It was great.

For more information see: ZINK Mineral Cosmetics http://www.zinkmineralcosmetics.com.au/

Family secrets uncovered

Ruby Mayo's graduation ceremony

Why do families keep secrets from each other?

About 15 years ago (1995) my Nanna Jenkins (nee Lindstrom) told me that we had a family secret - Ruby Mayo. My Nanna grew up thinking that Ruby was her aunt but infact she was her sister. Ruby had been born out of wedlock and raised by her grandparents. My Nanna didnt know that she had a 1/2 sister until she was in her 40s. Imagine not knowing about a sibling and all this because of the shame of having a child out of wedlock. Thank goodness things are different now.

The secret was also kept from Ruby's family including her grand children. When Ruby's grand daughter discovered the truth only about two years ago, she was actually quite shocked and realised there was part of the family she didn't know. This was the beginning of a new journey of self discovery, to find out who she really was.

 A lot of people in the extended family knew about the secret except those who were directly involved. Not sure why families do this. To keep shame quiet.

We are now friends with Ruby Mayo's family. I wish I had met Ruby. I could have when I was younger but she passed away in the 90s so that opportunity is gone. Maybe thats when my Nanna first told me around the time of Ruby's passing. Wish I'd known her but thankfully we have met her grand children and can can continue with a friendship. A very important family connection.

Looking back in time

Family history memories or mysteries can sometimes be difficult and emotional.  People tend to bury the painful past and not deal with the truth.  But if they only realise that by facing the truth, it could open new doorways and connections for their families.

I follow the television series 'Who do you think you are' about discovering your family history.  Last nights episode was really touching.  It was about Kim Cattrall's (Sex and the City) journey to discover what had happened to her grandfather (George Baugh) who's disappearance more than 70 years before had remained a mystery to the family.

Kim Cattrall's mother and aunts had no idea what had happened to their father.  It was quite distressing for them.  To find answers, Kim started by visiting her great aunt (George's sister) who had remembered the last time she saw George at 10 years of age.  George had confided in his mother that he was unhappy in his marriage but his mother insisted that he face up to his responsibility. George was never to be seen again by his family. 

Kim continued her journey to find he had remarried in the next county, and had four children with his new wife.  Not only had he abandoned his Liverpool family, but he had committed a crime by remarrying.  Then they emmigrated to Australia in the 1960s.  George and his second wife had since passed but their children are still living in Australia.  To find them or not was Kim's remaining question?

It was heart wrenching to watch this episode.  I cried for them because there was so much sadness in their eyes.  I thought George baugh was such an incredibly selfish and terrible man.  How could he leave those beautiful girls and those who loved him so much.

Kiss better mummy

Charlie 2 1/2 years and Owen 4 months

Whenever my son Charlie hurts himself its always instantly remedied with a kiss from his mummy or daddy.

One day Charlie was climbing on our leather lounge when he slipped and landed hard on the wooden floor boards.  He started to cry so I offered my hugs and kisses to console the poor little guy.

"Kiss better?" I asked him.

"Yes please Mummy." as he pointed to his bottom.

The value of life..

Finding out a close childhood friend has cancer has been a real shock. 

It's really saddened me as if my own existance is in jeopardy.  I have been trying to think of all the ways to change it but I don't know what to do.

A few weeks ago she found a small lump in her breast.  Straight into surgery where they removed a 9mm quick growing cancer and some lymph nodes.  The lymph nodes were tested and luckily came back negative.  She's been told there are no guarantees that this aggressive cancer has not spread to other parts of her body and have recommended she do radiation, chemotherapy and take medication for five years to combat this disease.  She has expressed her concerns about doing this especially possible side effects like early onset of menopause.  It's a lot to take in when your only 35. 

She has decided to do natural therapy. 

I don't know what to think or say.  I feel like screaming at the top of my lungs, no please no, do the treatment please do this because this could change the destiny of her entire life, her existance, her boys.   My dear friend, please think this over wisely.

Poor friend.