My Place & Yours

I thought Danielle at HelloOwl wasn’t doing My Place and Yours this week … but it seems she’d only forgotten and our date is still on.

So without any further ado … my version for the treasure theme chosen by Linda of Stripey Monkey (PS cool blog name): my trusty notice board.

I’ve blogged about this baby before but it’s important to me and I’m going to do it again … so there!


It sits on the wall beside my bed and as I look at it I realise it's become a shrine to my daughter Miss W, who's overseas in Canada and won’t be home for a visit until after Christmas.


There's a favourite photo of her from when she was about four years of age, a shot of her with her best friend from her high school graduation and notes from her when she was little.

And there's other stuff as well ... print outs from the library (I must get those books back on time!)

A photo of a public meeting held in Tasmania during the 1980s … it reminds me that trip: lots of laughter, , a birthday at the old Hobart casino, driving from Hobart to Tasmania, sightseeing about Launceston and very little work really except a public meeting one evening.


Tags made by me.

Odds and sods that make up a life really.

If you'd like to play I know Danielle would love to see you over at HelloOwl.

Good Things & My Place & Yours

My Place & Yours: Preloved-inherited or thrifted
Danielle at HelloOwl's theme for this week is Preloved-inherited or thrifted ... chosen by Zoe over at A Boy's Mummy. A lovely theme .... given the amount of time I spent in op shops.

And it was an easy choice to share one of the first thrifted items I bought when I left home some 30+ years ago.


And I love it as much today as the day it called out to me.

Good thing for today: Embracing the Inner Child
I'm not always good at embracing the inner child ... I'm the practical one, the organiser, the bill payer.


But Mr H always see the possibilities ... that's one of his strengths. He never gets too old to try everything including this push pedal bike in Sovereign Hill earlier this year.

Good things: My Place & Yours

Danielle over at HelloOwl always comes up with something interesting to start the week ... this week it's your favourite place.

My favourite place is easy ... sitting on my bed crafting as I watch a DVD or chat.


And everybody knows where to find me.

Drop over at visit Danielle to visit lots more favourite places.

Good things: My Place and Yours

Yesterday Danielle didn't put up the theme and I thought it was because her husband hadn't given the internet access back. It turns out she wasn't feeling very well--I hope you're feeling better Danielle. I wish every week started on Tuesday, and I love this week’s theme … what’s on your keyring.

My keyrings are a huge part of my life, littered as they are with reminders of the good things that have happened to me and what I love best.


They’re also hugely heavy … definitely not the sort of thing you could carry in your pocket or without the number of a chiropractor.

They showcase the places I’ve visited and love: New York and London in the last 12 months.


They include the World’s Greatest Mother keyring from my daughters.


And a bunch of other assorted stuff.


I think there’s still room for a few more.

Check out HelloOwl for more key rings. I'm off to check out a few now.

Good things: My Place & Yours

My Place & Yours isn't happening today ... because Danielle over at HelloOwl obviously still hasn't found the internet hidden by her husband a few days ago.

I wonder when she'll find it?

LMAO

Good things: My Place & Yours

This week’s My Place & Yours is what do you see when you walk through the door.

In my house it’s not pretty ... I see a work in progress with lots of work and absolutely no progress! LOL


This is the door jamb above the kitchen door ... the sliding door's been taken down and now the door needs to be fixed up, and replastered.

There’s lots more My Place & Yours at HelloOwl ... and I'm sure all of them are much prettier than my contribution.

Good things: My Place and Yours

This is my first time ever as theme queen ... and I’m so glad it’s for My Place & Yours. Thanks Danielle at HelloOwl.

My choice is gadgets.

Do you have a favourite?

Maybe you have a gadget you use every day?

Or are you drooling over a gadget that you really, really want … but can’t afford?

Our most often used gadget is the humble grater ... and here are a few.


The one I like the best is the hand held parmesan grater.

The gadget I wanted to share was our vintage nutmeg grater. The top twists off and the whole nutmeg is dropped inside. Then the mechanism is worked by turning the handle on the side. I love the smell of fresh nutmeg as it grates ... absolutely gorgeous with apples for apple crumble or apple cake.

But wouldn't you know it ... I can't find it!

If you want to share your gadget ... pop over HelloOwl to sign up. I can’t wait to see everybody’s.

Good things: My Place & Yours

The theme for My Place & Yours this week is the things you collect.

If only this was a hard theme to respond to … but collecting crap (sorry, stuff) is what I do best … you get it, I’m a giant bower bird sitting on a pile of crap!

I've mentioned some of my collections before so I thought I'd mention one I've just started ... vintage alarm clocks.


It all started when Miss C wanted an alarm clock to get her up in the morning and purchased a new, battery operated, alartm clock; the black one at the back

It was way too loud for her so when I saw a 1970s vintage Sportsgirl alarm clock in perfect condition ... gorgeous but still too loud for Miss C.

I find I like vintage alarm clocks and if I see any more in perfect condition I'm going to grab them.

Check out HelloOwl for more My Place & Yours.

Good things: My Place & Yours

This week My Place & Yours is all about drawers ... and we have so many I hardly know where to start.

My favourite is the drawer I keep my special stuff in ... my delicate stuff.



My gloves and glasses and scarves and watches ... and my pretty Catherine Manuell purse.

Check out helloowl for lots more My Place & Yours.

Good things: My Place & Yours

Time again for My Place and Yours with Danielle at Hello Owl, and this week she's come up with an interesting theme: Pink.

I'm the mother of girls ... and I'm a girl too but it seems as though pink doesn't mean much to any of us. I could barely find any pink in the house beyond a few clothes and these 1980s mugs we keep our toothbrushes in.


We're more red and blue gals around here!

Good things: My Place & Yours

It's Monday and usually, well, I'm cleaning ... but this week My Place and Yours is resurfacing with Danielle at Hello Owl, with the first week's theme: Behind the camera {a self portrait challenge}.

I like the idea of starting the week with My Place and Yours ... as Danielle says "something positive to start our week". That's a nice idea ... I've always found it yukky to start my week with cleaning ... nowhere to go but down after that!

I have a few self portraits ... some taken using a tripod and others in mirrors ... but it's the mirror shots I like the best. After all, behind the camera is where I'm mostly found.

And who am I ... a whole list of things: a writer, a traveller, a crafter, a knitter, a talker.


I'm a mother, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend.


I'm a worrier, a planner, an organiser, a carer.

What and who are you?

Pop over to Hello Owl if you want to play or check out other people's takes ... and don't forget to leave some blog love.

Good things/My Place & Yours

It looks as though My Place & Yours is on permanent hiatus (which is a bloody shame because it was one of my favourite memes) … so I've decided to adapt it to a once a week look at something that’s happening at my place. That seems to fit!


The Southern Cross flag ... in a forest of flags it seemed fitting to see this on the day. Mr H thought it was the Danish flag ... the right colours but he's educated now.

So without further ado ... at my place this week Saturday's meant a visit to the Ballarat Super Southern Swap Meet 2010.


A small view of the vast expanse of 'streets' full of junk ... er car parts. Note the general dustiness ... typical of the summer here.

Despite it being in its 21st year and growing up in Ballarat I've never been before. I didn't actually know it was even there. (No jokes please about being a true Ballaratite … I failed!)


This guy was so funny ... when I first took the photo he had his back to me in exactly the same pose. But when he noticed I was taking the photo deliberately turned around ... and here he is.

My baby sister Miss D said it was full of junk and not to bother going ... not promising.


Mr H inspecting the junk ... we were covered in dust by the end of the day. Check out Mr H's slip ons!

Baby bro agreed it was full of junk … but assured me he thought I’d be able to find some treasure. Was he saying there was treasure to be found … or that my taste was for tat? I’m still not sure!


A small view of the vast expanse of 'streets' full of junk ... er car parts. Note the general dustiness ... typical of the summer here.

We spent four hours wandering around the swap meet ... and it was a long hard slog. Half way through Mr H's leg started to hurt and we were nicely put up by one of the stall holders ... even offered drinks. That was really nice of them.


Check out what the toilet says (PRIVATE F#*^ OFF) ... someone had brought in their own toilet facilities for the day and was damned if anybody else was going to use it.

I even managed to get a little treasure for a very good price ... but more of that another time.


Check out the price of this junk, er vintage 1920s body ... I don't think I could get this much for the car I drive.

Good things/My Place & Yours Sat 13 Feb 10

GOOD THINGS/MY PLACE & YOURS: Kitchen Love
It's Saturday and time for My Place & Yours at Punky & Me. This week's theme is Kitchen Love ... the collective brainchild of Nic and Tracey who came up with the kitchen related themes of Your Kitchen Wall and In my Kitchen respectively. Vic's collapsed the two into one delicious theme.

I'm in the midst of a slow home makeover so there's very little about my kitchen, or any room for that matter, that I love.

It's more about what I'd love to rip out and start again.

But I did a little thinking outside the box and there's something I absolutely love about my kitchen ... the new downlights being installed on Friday.


Look at these babies ... we're finally going to have light in every corner of the kitchen.

Our unit was built in the early 1970s and a metre long fluorescent tube has done good service for 40 plus years ... until it died about a week ago. But it's always been dark in the cozy corner the kitchen table lives in ... and those days will soon be over.

I am so looking forward to this being installed.

Good things/My Place & Yours Sat 6 Feb 10

MY PLACE & YOURS: What's in Your Bag?
This week's My Place & Yours theme is What's In Your Bag? by The Textured Leaf. And don't forget to sign up and check out what others have in their bags over at Punky & Me.

I think my handbag is the most precious thing I own … it certainly spends the most amount of time with me.



And inside it … I don’t think my handbag is any different to anybody else’s: sunblock, pens, train tickets, old receipts, make-up, keys, mobile phone and disinfectant hand wash.



The only thing that might be different is that I don’t use a purse or a wallet. I used to … but from the time I bought this bag last year in Macys in New York (sorry, I had to add that!). Now my money is in one of the pockets of my bag and my cards are just junked at the back.

Messy … but it suits me.

My Place & Yours Sat 30 Jan 10

MY PLACE & YOURS: Shoes
This week's theme for My Place & Yours is one that will never pall as long as women are well, women ... shoes, of course.

Thanks Vic and Gypsy too, for this week's theme.

I have so many shoes I couldn't think of a way to line them all up and actually be able to photograph them ... so I concentrated on my collection of flat Mary Janes and just grabbed one shoe only.


These are the Mary Janes I wear all the time ... a very comfortable collection.

I refuse to wear uncomfortable shoes any more ... I like shoes to fit but I like them to look nice and I confess I often pay more for them than I should considering how utilitarian my shoes always look. (Ssssh Don't tell my husband!)

My Place & Yours Mon 25 Jan 10

MY PLACE & YOURS: What am I reading?
Better late than never I'm adding my two bits to the My Place & Yours meme now hosted by Vic over at Punky&Me.

Now Vic thinks this is a dull theme, an ordinary theme, one done over and over again … am I labouring the point?

But I don’t think so because I am so excited because I'm reading a book at the moment that I’ve been trawling op shops and second hand stores for years and thought I’d never find it ... Book 2 of the West of Eden science fiction trilogy by Harry Harrison.


All three books ... this is the best trilogy.

So how excited was I when I found it--the missing Book 2--this weekend at Trash & Trivia in Ballarat for a whopping $5 ... and it fabo condition! Woo hoo!

I posted how I felt about this trilogy back in December last year because I was excited about finding Book 1 at an op shop in Melbourne … and because I thought I’d never find the missing Book 2.

Even though I got the book yesterday I’m already more than half way through it. I had to read part of it before I went to sleep last night and it kept me spell bound as I travelled from Ballarat on the train to work this morning.

I figure I’ll finish it tonight … and then I might reread the trilogy from start to finish ... just for shits and giggles! LOL

Project 365 Sat 19 Dec 09

MY PLACE & YOURS: The "Me" Wardrobe
This week Sandra at Sandra Eterovic's theme is the "Me" Wardrobe ... that special something you feel comfortable in, and wouldn't be without. Nice angle Sandra.

PS Don’t forget if you want to play to go over to Meet Me at Mike’s to sign up and check out other people's take on the theme. Go on … you know you want to. LOL

Back in October I did a post about my favourite outfit ... because it's so absolutely me: the denim jacket I wear with every outfit, a t-shirt (which is part of every outfit I wear) and my pretty brown and blue Esprit skirt.


I still wear this every week but it's been replaced as my favourite.

But I can't wear the same skirt all the time and now my favourite is a silk Jag skirt in purple and grey ... and next month? Who knows.


Some of my collection ... all pretty simple but well loved.

My favourite work wear, simple to dress up or dress down. Worn every day with Mary Janes.

Love each and every one of them.

Project 365 Sat 12 Dec 09

MY PLACE AND YOURS: Five minutes peace
The themes for My Place and Yours just keep getting better with Pilgrim at Draw! Pilgrim the theme queen this week.

Her contribution: 'just five minutes peace' and what does it all mean: "where do you retreat to for that sanity-regaining break? i am interested in what or where in your home your sanctuary is?"

No thinking for me this week ... my bed is the obvious place.


My bed in my favourite linen ... and one of the many books I've read this year. I'm currently rereading Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series so I can read her latest novel in order.

And why ... it's where I go to make lists, read a book, grab a cup of tea and watch a movie, do a little knitting, some crafting or maybe a chat and cuddle with Horace! LOL

I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be.

PS Thanks Pip at Meet Me at Mike's for organising this every week. You do a fantastic job.

Project 365 Sat 05 Feb 09

MY PLACE AND YOURS: Wherever I lay my hat

This week at Meet me at Mike's the meme is Wherever I lay my hat ... that's right the song of the same thing. You know the one:

By the look in your eye I can tell you’re gonna cry.
Is it over me?
If it is, save your tears
For IIIIIIIIIIIIII’m not worth it, you see.
For I’m the type of boy who is always on the roam,
Wherever I lay my hat, that’s my home.

And it's not my hat that makes our home ... but Horace's.


Just a few of Horace's caps hanging over the top end of the bed.

Rain, hail and shine he's never without a hat. In 25+ years together I've never seen him without a hat ... he loves them.

Knowing that I asked him whether where he hangs his hat makes it a home ... to which he answered it would have to be his glasses first. I had to laugh then ... poor baby's as blind as a bat!

This week's theme was thought up by Myrtle and Eunice ... thanks for yet another clever idea. Thanks for the great idea.

Project 365 Fri 27 Nov 09

MY PLACE AND YOURS: That's nice, that's different, that's unusual
This week's meme was thought of by Toni over at Little Suitcase who came up with the most amazing idea for this week.

So now I've been wracking my brain trying to come up with something to share because my house isn't quirky ... unless you think a bathroom without a window is quirky and I don't think so.

I don't have anything amazing like Melanie at M+ who has a shower hidden behind a door in her hallway.

Or something astonishing like Kate at Fox's Lane who has a swing in her family room. Wow! I would have loved to live there as a kid.

Our place is an unrenovated 70s built wreck desperately in search of a paintbrush or love (I haven't quite decided which) and I can't think of a single thing about it that's nice, different or unusual. Not even all the amazing ideas from other people's blogs have given me the slightest inkling as to what I can post.

And then it struck me ... our postage stamp garden.

We have no space at all but that doesn't stop us from growing vegetables and herbs ... using planter boxes on metal brackets on our fence!


A view of the fence behind the washing line and a few of the planter boxes.

At times, the fence can be overflowing with planter boxes and plants.


A close up of a couple of the planter boxes ... including the brackets.

And every bit of ground space is covered in pots ... the corner next to the back door is filled with tomatoes, eggplants and zucchini.


A few of our pots of tomatoes, eggplants and zucchini.

I'm looking forward to a good crop in January.

PS If you want to play or check out more places ... and there are some great ones go to Pip's at Meet Me at Mike's for more.