introducing my new star...

I wanted a star puppet for all of the Wide Eyed Christmas shows.  So a star was born.

Here's how I made my first star puppet:

1. took a template that my engineeringly minded husband had scale drawn to the foam shop - where they cut out a star shape with a LASER CUTTER from high density foam.

2. visited my lovely friend Kerrie who problem-solved how to put a mouth on the star puppet - with podiatry-foam shaped like lips, and a button stuck to the bottom lip through which we threaded fishing line.  We put a piece of black plastic behind the mouth so the lip would move smoothly and not get stuck on the foam.  Foam to foam friction is strong.  Thanks Kerrie for puppet crafting problem solving friendship!

And I had some spare ping pong balls around the house, so they became eyes once I added a bit of black felt.

3. asked my children to help me glitter the star puppet.  They did not enjoy this or fight about who was holding the glitter bottle at all. (....)

4.  asked wonderful husband to construct a rod to stick up the star's....well...bottom.  Painted it black.  Found a kite string holder deep in my children's room and attached it to the star's mouth so I could operate it without slicing off my fingers with fishing line.

5.  And introducing....

Twinkle!

She is a bit anxious, and afraid of heights.  And she saw what happened on the very first Christmas.

I have been standing in front of a mirror practising operating her mouth and expressions.  And she had her first show yesterday.  She needed her puffer - she got a bit out of breath and anxious.

Why is my left eye always squinty in photos?  And check out my puppeteering forearms!  If only the rest of me got so toned....

saturday afternoons

Love a random picnic on a Saturday afternoon.  We went to Rocks Riverside Park at Seventeen Mile Rocks. Great park - but the water play area was out of action.

In other news we bought a tent today.  This feels like a big commitment.  To camping and using the tent.  Outdoors.  It reminds of the 1990s Lemonheads song. The girls have decided to sleep in the tent on the deck tonight. 

the bug library

I was doing reading groups today in Gabby's grade three classroom when I heard about a scheme that one of the students had been running.

Each lunchtime this enterprising girl had set up under a tree with containers, habitats and bugs...and had started a bug library. 

You were able to borrow a bug and a container from her for a day, take it home and bring it back the next day.  She had staff to catch the bugs in the school playground, and individually crafted habitats for each bug.  There were pecking orders about who was able to borrow the bugs, and a strict roster and lending times for the bugs.

I am not sure what the bugs in the playground thought of this system, but insect life at the school appears to be scarce all of a sudden.  The bug hotline has run...well...hot.

puppypuppypuppypuppy

We are very much enjoying having a puppy in the house.  At times I forget she is not our old dog and give her commands that she has no idea what they mean.  But she is very fun.

Today was HOT in Brisbane - so I needed to get a clam for her.  Does it mean anything that the dog got a nice new clam and the children got one from council pick-up when they were smaller?

She went nuts in her clam. Splashing and carrying on.  Like she was having fun.

Then I made her a digging spot.  The dog trainer at puppy class said this was a good idea for dogs who like to dig - give them one spot to dig in and they may not dig in the garden.  Scooter likes to dig, and has made several holes in the backyard already.

She really enjoyed her digging spot.  Which was the old place where the sand pit used to be.  I hid little treats in there for her.

I would like to train her to recognise weeds and pull them out by the roots.  This is my plan.

So we had a wet, dirty but very happy dog all afternoon.

I understand, Scooter.  This is also what I would like to do at the end of the day.  Maybe with pants though.

a golden treasure from the girls

Exciting developments in the chook house!

What?  What has happened?

I found a egg.  The production has started.

Admittedly it was a very tiny egg.  But I am told they start tiny.  And Dorcus, or Lydia, or Milly, or Minny, had laid it in exactly the right place.

Yum. Breakfast.

For a not very hungry elf.

'Was it your egg Dorcus?'

Excellent work chooks.  My expectations are high now.

primary school musical

Last night Annika performed in her primary school musical.  There have been practices for 6 months - culminating in three performances this week - two during school time and one at night.

Considering she was vomiting all Tuesday and Wednesday - she did an awesome job to pull out performances for Thursday and Friday.  She is committed to drama.  In all sorts of ways.

The musical was fun and age appropriate and gave lots of kids parts.  The microphones worked and everyone smiled.  They had used ballot boxes from the election to make the set.

Annika was great.  She had a significant role this year - and remembered all her lines.  I was very proud of her, and am looking forward to when she is at highschool and can get credit for drama.  She certainly practices it a lot....

This was the only photo I grabbed of her by herself - she was very hyper post performance with adrenalin.

Gab is very keen to be in the musical next year.  It will be a big journey for her - elective mute in prep to STARRING ROLE IN MUSICAL in grade four.  We will see!

long service leave

I have taken this term as long service leave.  When I filled in the paperwork for it in January I thought - oh, I might take it a bit slow in Term 4.  Smell the roses.  Sit and have a think.  Have long ladies luncheons.  Calmly help my children with homework and have time for art projects.

HA.

I think I have said 'yes' to too many things in my long service time - thinking - I'll have lots of time now that pesky work is not in the way.  I have not even had much time to clean the bathroom let alone sit and think.  Although cleaning the bathroom is never ever high on the agenda for me.

I have written out a list of Jobs Around The House.  Actually I have accomplished a few of them (with help) - built a chook house, got a sink on the deck, weeded out the back garden, cleaned out cupboards and filled bags for Lifeline.  I am passively resisting painting.  I do not enjoy painting.

I have also written a list of Things That I Never Get Around to Doing.  Such as organising photos and transferring videos from the camera.  So far this has not been accomplished.

However.

Scooter is being trained.  A well trained border collie is a thing of beauty.

I have supported my quite fragile older daughter this term when she has had friendship meltdowns and emotional mornings/afternoons/nights.  If I was at work I would already have had many sick days to look after her.

I have also had the opportunity to do some wonderful ministry by just being available.  Like holding new babies, and minding 20 month olds, and contributing to kids ministry at church, and planning properly for RE, and coming up with LOTS of ideas for growth  groups, and writing stories for a kindy in China, and helping with Christmas carols, and helping friends who need a listening ear and a cup of tea.

The other exciting part of long service is the opportunity to do a lot of puppet shows in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  The scripts are written, rehearsals are happening, and Wide Eyed Stories are nearly booked up!  Yay - my little dream and hope of being a puppeteer is starting to happen.

Who knows in 2012?  Work? Who has time!

on the weekend I...

- Watched a horseriding lesson

Gab can't keep a smile off her face when she is riding

- watched Granny build a scarecrow to keep away the butcher birds from the chooks

- watched Scooter, Annika, Gabby and Granny at the beach

- watched the girls in the pool on an unexpected fun pool play date
- watched my garden take some shape after a week of working in it
- watched Scooter starting to obey instructions after a week of clicker training
- watched lovely young women come to share lunch with us
- watched my beautiful friends in China on Skype

Life is full and blessed.

new girls in the house

Today saw the arrival of four new chooks at the house.  After building an AWESOME chicken run yesterday from wire gathered around the property (loitering behind the shed and pulled into active service) Granny and I went down the produce shop and picked up four new chickens.  At point of lay.  It sounds like they are in a state of constant readiness for eggs to drop.  Point of lay.  Poised, alert, beady eyed.

The new chicken run:

The chickens are named thematically after women from the New Testament.  At least that was my plan.  Until Annika and Gabby wanted to name one each.

So we have:

Lydia

Dorcas

Milly

and Minny

Maybe Milly and Minny are the lesser known women of the New Testament. The helpers in Martha's kitchen.  The jailors' wife's cousins.

Lydia has already shown her leadership qualities and I think a pecking order will be worked out soon.

We have even clipped their wings to stop them escaping for a couple of days.  It was a far less squawky procedure than I expected.  Except for Lydia.  She gave us a few pecks.  She is feisty that Lydia.

So we will see how they settle in.  I expect egg production soon......

Scooter is very interested in the chickens.