Pecking Chickens!!!

Well I did forgot one present that Kirrily got for her birthday but it probably deserved it's own post anyway. Vaughan and Zoe went to China on a Wendy Woo tour. Vaughan spotted this toy and instantly 'had to have it'. There was a wooden frog but he thought that would drive us nuts with the noise it made. Instead, we have pecking chickens.

Words to the effect of "Kirrily probably will get to play with it once David stops" and "If Vaughan stops playing with it". Poor Kirrily didn't sound like she was going to get a look it but alas, Vaughan and David have passed the toy on and Kirrily has fallen in love with her 'chickens'.

By now your probably thinking "well what do they look like". well i haven't taken a photo of ours as they have been in the repair shed (overused or just underglued), so i've glued them up and they are still drying. Instead, i've jumped onto trusty Google and found something similar.

The idea is you swing the paddle bat around, the ball at the bottom swings and the chickens heads bop up and down going "peck, peck, peck.....". It's awesome.

2nd Birthday

Well my little girl is growing up fast. 2 already - my word.

So i did my usual "i have to make a fancy birthday cake" trick and also had the "the cake isn't working" debarcle. mmmm..... maybe next year i'll just make it simple. after all, David did say "just remember you'll have to make 2 fancy cakes next year". uh oh.

Kirrily was all excited and was telling us how old she was all day. we blew up balloons, set up the party table, bought her favourite 'cheerios' from the butcher (cocktail frankfurts for those NSWelshmen), i'd made sausage rolls, bruchetta for the adults and some nibblies. But Kirrily was so excited with her new presents, she didn't touch any food. Then when it came time to eating the cake, she wasn't keen either. I think it was because we took a knife to her giraffe and she got upset.

She was very lucky and got lovely presents. She got some clothes (as she is fast outgrowing anything she has), a Wiggles colouring in set, a watering can, a puzzle and matching cards, some Dora figurines, a Dorothy backpack (which now goes everywhere), some clips and some bobbles for her hair, and of course - THE PRAM!!! I made a suggestion that she get a pram as she pushes the dodgy one at Playgroup around for the 1 1/2 hrs. She is now doing that here.

My advice to those wanting to make butter icing as a last minute thing - don't. My icing split, my stress levels rose, i had no icing sugar left, i'd used all my marg, David was still out buying bread (does it really take 1 1/2 hrs to find a french stick)...... Need i go on. I just went back to my basic icing receipe (thanks Mum!!!!!) and wah lah - orange icing and it was perfect (even though it didn't look very appealing). I must also thank Womans Weekly for underestimating the size of the cake tin. The cake went over the tin, into the bottom of the oven and poooooeeee did that smell burnt or what!! But i guess by the time Kirrily is 30, i'll have these fancy cakes down pat. :-) I think i might start planning the 3 cake already so i'm prepared.

Not Much Happening - just 3 wins for Qld!!!!

Better Homes and Gardens - Kawana Forest Style

Well have you ever had one of those moments watching BH&G on Friday nights going - "Tarra Dennis is making what? That junk still looks like junk once she made the final thing. She's better off just buying a new one that making THAT". Well I do, but decided to go against the trend and actually have my Tarra moment. I had an old lamp that was once pink and white. I painted it long ago to be blue and white with a yellow lampshade (don't laugh). I've now decided to repaint it back to being pink and white and repaint the lampshade and sponge on pink flowers so that Kirrily can add it to her new room. So i went to Spotlight, bought all my goodies and they have sat in the bag for over 3 months when i decided enough was enough - it's time to paint.

First coat of white on the lamp, she's looking pretty dodgy. With BH&G in the back of my mind and mocking myself at even bothering with this, i pressed on. 3 coats of white later, i'm feeling better, the lamps looking pretty good. This today, i started with the pink paint over the dark blue. Well that looked shocking. the paint didn't want to cover so 5 coats later on the fiddly little bits, it's all done. I was getting a warm fuzzy feeling, finally. I sponged on the flowers using my template with light pink paint and what can i say - IT'S BRILLIANT!!!!. Would i do it again, probably not, but at least i can tell Kirrily that I created that for her new room. So here it is.





We also had a trip to Logan to visit Ikea. Apparently 'they say' it's bigger than the Gabba. I'd have to say it is pretty big but also haven't been to the Gabba. We bought Kirrily a little table of her own so she can eat, drink and colour in and make as much mess as she likes and it's contained to one spot (well almost). After that we saw the signs to the Gold Coast. Why not, we're this close. So off to Currumbin we go. It was a beautiful day, lovely and warm although a little windy. It feels strange that the Gold Coast is now the same distance as Sydney was to Newcastle.

We also went to Cotton Tree again and had the buffet breakfast at the Surf Club. Kirrily polished off 2 servings of my scrambled eggs and was still begging for more when we left and took her for a walk.

We also had a visit from Maz, Dave and Jacob. Jacob is now a boy, not a baby and i almost didn't recognise him. Kirrily and Jacob played on the swings and we all had lunch which was great, although not long enough as they all are home back in Newcastle already.

It's also time to get back to having another Tarra moment. what else can i make.

What can i say!!!!!!

Q U E E N S L A N D E R

Noosa is a mess

Well we survived yet another 'June' storm. We were here this time last year when it was raining and a big red boat landed on Nobby's Beach. Noosa main beach is still closed to the public with 6-8m of sand washed away out to see. There is nothing left but a rock retaining wall which was there 'just in case'. We had water views in our backyard as our neighbour behind us, Des (who sounds like Sam Kecovitch the Lamb Man) and Cheryl (who is a lot like Colleen from Home and Away) kindly drain their water into our backyard. Some people pay big money for water views. The grass was fertilised jsut before the rain hit so the lawn is brilliant green and very healthy and thick. The plants did need some water.

All this rain led me back to my beloved stamping desk. I had 2 precious cards to make:

1. Sophie had a little girl. i jsut love making baby cards. For those that are going "oh yeah never heard of Sophie" she did the make up at my wedding. If you ever need makeup from Myer, she works there. She's absolutely awesome.


2. Izzy B's birthday (aka Isobelle Zwort). She was here for a visit last weekend visiting her Grandma and Granddad as Dick turned 60. Not good weather for b'day parties. I gave Abigail the present for Izzy so she doesn't know what's inside yet. (by the way, it's an I not a 1 if your wondering).


Nothing else has been happening as we've been inside hiding from the rain.

Next week, Maz arrives. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! can you tell i'm excited to see people. I must show her the Copenhagen Icecream shop at Noosa. mmmm.........

testing out the 'slide' show