Rattlesnake Ridge

"I'm on top of the world"........... well that's how it felt last Saturday morning.
We set of to go snowshoeing - had a slight lapse in communication (I know - shocking huh?!) and ended up hiking up the ridge on the most glorious of winter mornings. It was relatively quiet and the weather was perfect. One of those unexpectedly wonderful moments which is born out of a catalogue of misfires.
We were up and down in the space of an hour and fifteen minutes - on account of the fact we joined the lunatic fringe and jogged down the whole trail (honestly the trail just pulls you down - it's easier to run than walk). The lake resembled a lunar landscape with very low water and huge tree stumps exposed to the elements.
We felt energized and glad to have pushed through the obstacles to get there.
The aftermath wasn't so pretty - I walked like a cripple for 2 days - avoiding stairs and downhill slopes like the plague. Oh well - it's the price you pay for being at one with nature I suppose.

Smart Phone....

Apart from the fact it makes me feel anything but smart and it is not technically a phone - I am in love.

I have a Droid in my life (no, not my husband - he is in fact human...). I watched the adverts for the longest time wondering what on earth they were going on about..........and now I know.
It can tell me how to get somewhere (and doesnt bark at me along the way), it tells me when to get up (gently), when I should be somewhere, what the weather is like at my Mum and Dad's house and how to train my brain. I swear to God I could train it to do the ironing. Best of all - I can actually talk to people with it - sweet.

Confession..

Dear Father,

It's been about 8 months since my last Blog entry.
I have been having envious thoughts towards people who manage to maintain their blogs.
I have been jealous of how creative other people are on their blogs.
But worst of all Father, I have been unfaithful; I have been beguiled by Facebook and have been out updating my status instead of home blogging.
I feel ashamed.
I promise to mend my ways in 2010

Wall Art...

I have the best niece and nephew in the world and I miss them every day.


Just before Easter I received a squishy but very light package in the post. I knew it couldn't be Cadburys eggs as a) it was too light and b) I had received an enormous supply of Cadburys chocolate delights the week before. As you can see - my package revealed a couple of very life-like self portraits - one from Livs and one from Josh. Perfect! They now adorn the wall in our kitchen so I can look at them and smile every day! I love you Livvy, I love you Josh!

I love Duncs....

....I really do! We had the opportunity to re-connect with my 'virtual' baby - who is no longer a baby! Janine and Brian invited Mikey and I to have dinner and paint eggs with Duncs and Theo a couple of weeks ago. It was as wonderful as ever - although a little unnerving to hear Duncs chatting up a storm!
I don't know where my head was at, thinking that he wouldn't remember us; I got the biggest hug and 'Kaaaaaate' when we arrived plus a couple of 'I love you Kates' during the evening which was enough to melt my heart and keep me going until the next time we are lucky enough to see them!

Tomayto, Tomarrrto...

We have our first tomato....woo hooo!!! It's our first attempt at growing edible plants in our new garden. We agonized for far too long over the placement of our tomato pot but I think we got it just right. Thanks to my green-fingered Vati-bobs, I have now learned about pinching out rogue shoots, limiting flower 'sets', feeding once the fruit is set and weeding out superfluous foliage. And apparently tomatoes are supposed to be one of the easiest veggies to grow........ yikes!

Hanging Baskets

I decided to bite the bullet and buy and plant my own hanging baskets this year rather than buy pre-planted ones. It seems I timed it just right as the weather has been alternating between sun and rain ever since they were hung. Here's the before and after pics. In bloom pics to follow!