Organise Me in 2011!

Well I can dream.  Every year I have huge plans and they last about a month.

Next year however, with my eldest heading off to Prep I feel that I need a little help.

I have a pile of things ready to help me - fingers crossed.

A wall calander that is split into 6 people (enough for must families - or so it states)  It also allows me to have a row for visitors and family things that I need to remember.

A Diary, Planner, Journal that I picked up the other week from Office Works for $20.  It is divided into days and there is even a few rows that read unexpected tasks completed  Any list loving person would have to love that.

And a finally a little diary that I picked up from KMart for $2.  I thought that it was the right size to pop in my handbag if someone told me something while out and about.  The plan is that it would be transfered to the wall calander on returning home.

Now to hang the Calander (it is a 15 month one and started in October)  and clean the desk so I can lay out the organiser and keep it open on the current day.

Day 19: Jacaranda Tree

I was feeling a little low about not having my Wagga Spring that I loved do much.  It was the first real time that I have really appreciated and had time to soak up Spring.

Driving around I have noticed alot of trees that lay bare over the cooler months starting to get the most georgous purple flowers on them.  Every park around here seems to have at least one and many are seen on the skyline on the drive around town.

I think that I have found a new love.  Shame that they are now being replaced by the green leaves - but I guess that it will bring the much needed shade for the Summer months.

Inspiration found.  We will have to take a trip in and see New Farm Park in all of it's glory. Apparently the streets are lined with the trees and you walk on a carpet of purple flowers.

Until then.  I am going to join in the fun of Creative Collective Spring Craft.

The weather man seems to have the weather wrong for today.  The sun is shining and the sky is blue.  We are off to play.

Earth Hour

At 8.30pm tonight hundreds of millions of people from more than 120 countries and regions across every continent will come together for Earth Hour in a moment of unprecedented global unity to show the way forward on climate change.

As are many bloggers all over the world.  One, EcoMILF is turning off her appliances for a 24 hour period.  I had though of doing it - but being home alone with two tweenies this morning I have already turned on the TV for the morning cartoons and pushed the button on the kettle to enjoy a hot coffee.

The list continues, the toaster has been on.  I have put a load of washing in the machine, need to iron something to wear today and well the hair on my head needs help.

Add to that the phone that needs charging, the home phone that is always plugged in and the computer that I am sitting on.

When you make a list of it, it looks huge doesn' it- I could continue.

So today I am going to turn the computer off. We are heading out to the park and to a fete at a local school so we will walk.  I would like to go into the city and if we do that we will catch the train.

The dishwasher can be left off today as will the dryer and the floors can go dirty as the vacum and steam mop use that wonderful power source as well.

We are having a BBQ for dinner so using the nations natural gas source and the lights and appliances will be turned off for at least the hour between 8.30 and 9.30pm.

What have you got planned for Earth Hour.  If you would like to join and sign up for your chance to win a solar panel set up for your home, make sure you go here.

On your marks...

Get Ready...

Knit...

I have once again signed up for the Ravelympics - the winter ones this time.  As mentioned previously I am going to knit myself a Feb Lady Sweater.

So here is everything ready.  I have signed up in the teammine challenge and yes you see chocolate -what can I say, I was told too.

I would also like to get the woodland shawl finished and put away - that would make one Christmas gift made and finished with 10 months to spare. I have already completed 9 repeates and the pattern calls for 12 - but I might make it a little longer.

Unfortunatly I will not be sitting in front of the TV tomorrow knitting.  We are taking a little weekend getaway and heading bush.

See you all on Monday - My Wordless Weekend pic wll magically appear while we are away.

Feb 1st

...how did that happen - a month already.

How did you go with the first month of your New Years Resolution?

And how many Memes and Challenges did you manage to sign up for?

I started off the year with this list

Lets see how I went:  Red - not completed, Blue - finished, Purple - Added and Completed

Baden's Birthday - Hat, Tool Belt, Shorts and Appliqued top

Baby Gift - Whirligig Shrug

New Niece (unborn) - Knitted Socks and Beanie, Sewn Nappy Cover and Dress

Amelia - Finish off Kindy Sheets and Bag, Hat

Baby Shower Gift - (sew unknown) knitted socks

Baby Gift - Matching Cross Over Outfits for her and big sister (Yet to be blogged)

January Challenge - Something for me, A new pattern and new recipe

Not too bad - still a few things to finish or take pictures of and blog.

We tried a few recipes out of the Deceptively Delicious Book.  They were nice (expecially the cakes and slices and the chickpea and choc chip biscuits did not last long at all) but dont thing that I would bother with some of the main meals agan.  My two are fairly good eaters and I dont really find the need to hide vegetables for them.

So full steam ahead into February.

The One a Month Challenge will see me create a little something out of Felties and  Cook  up a storm out of 501 Low Carb Recipes.

The 12 Months 12 Sewing Challenges  for February- Something in Knit fabric. Thinking at this moment in time a polo for Baden.

I have also signed up for the 2010 Ravelymics (where crazy knitters from around the world will cast on and knit there little hearts out from the opening ceromony on the 12th until the torch goes out on the 28th of  February) I have the dream of  knitting  February Lady Sweater I will see how I go - but I may even sign up for a few little things - like a pair of easy socks that can be knitted during the day or on the nights when brain power is low.

Whirligig

The first finished knit for the year.

This will be in the mail and on its way to Canberra to baby Matilda very soon.  Our dear friends had a little girl just before Christmas.  A very much loved and wanted surprise for this special family.  So I thought that she needed an extra special little knit.

It looks so cute on Amelia large beanie kid and I can't wait to get a picture sent to me on Matilda in it.  You will definitly be seeing this knit again. I have plans to upsize it for Amelia (the pattern unforunatly only goes to a size 24 months) and I am thinking I could pull one on myself on a cool night.

Name:  Whirligig Shrug by Stefanie Japel

Needle: US 6 / 4.0 mm

Yarn: Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 8 Ply  0.4 skeins = 159.5)

Link to my Ravelry page.

One per Month Challenge

Surfing through blogland and catching up on a little web reading I came across a challenge over and Chaletgirl. 

It is the One per Month Challenge, I thought - I can do this.  The rules are easy and clear and go like this:

◦choose a cookbook per month and try to cook one new recipe per week (or at least just one recipe per month if four gets too challenging)

◦choose a craft book per month and make at least one item from the book


 
So for January I am going to try a few recipes out of DECEPTIVELY DELICIOUS, now not that I have a problem with my kids eating - they are great eaters.  I just picked it up at the library and thought that it looked interesting.
 

Patterns that I will try is the Whirlgig out of Interweave Knits Weekend 2009 and Lazy Days Hat for Baden  from Make it Perfect.

I am also going to jion in with the Once a Month Challenge that My Favourite is hosting.  And also have huge plans on attempting to get one Christmassey thing completed per month - wish me luck.