Revisiting Crochet

My Lola (Filipino for grandmother) taught me how to crochet back in elementary school. I used to sit beside her on her bed watching her nimble fingers handle the hook so smoothly and transform the yarn into cushion covers and blankets. One day, I asked her to teach me. I still remember the grey hook and bright yellow ball of yarn she gave me. She taught me how to weave the yarn through my fingers and how to hold the hook. So for a week or so I was occupied with making a giant chain. It was about 3 meters long and I was so proud of it and so was my Lola. I didn't pursue the hobby after I was unsuccessful at learning new stitches. I was impatient and couldn't be bothered doing the counting.

In the middle of my pregnancy to Alex, I had an urge to make something for the baby. Off I went to Spotlight and bought some white balls of baby yarn and a yellow one. With the help of my mom, I was able to complete a small baby blanket. Alex did use it for about a month, until it got caught onto something and stated to unravel. I was so proud of that blanket, it was so soft.

After what happened to the blanket, I couldn't be bothered with crochet again. Until I discovered (through the internet) the many things that you could crochet. Motivated to pick up the hook again, I searched for the easiest pattern. My grandmother never consulted patterns, she would just wing it. At the moment, I am completing the edging on this scarf. I was surprised at how quickly it took form.

It's not the prettiest yarn but I am determined to use up what I have before I go out and buy more stuff. Doing this simple project has given me the confidence to continue this craft. Even though my Lola is no longer here to teach me, I am able to learn more about crochet through this wonderful medium which is the internet. And more importantly, I will be able to teach my children a craft that their great-grandmother loved. My Lola would be proud of me.

It's a New Year

The sands of Shoal Bay, with the entrance to Port Stephens in the background, Yaccaba on the left and Tomaree on the right.

We returned safely from our holiday on New Years Eve. It was the first time in 3 years that DH had a week off. The girls had such a blast and we were at the beach everyday. DH found a coupon in their local newspaper for dolphin watching at the kids fare of $9.90. Kids under 5 were free, so we only paid $19.80 for the both of us, which is the normal full fare. It was lucky that we caught the earliest trip as there were only about 20 of us on board so we were able to scuttle about according to where the dolphins would pop up.

Nelson Head and the beginning of Shoal Bay. We had private access to this side of the beach.

Alex is very fearful of the water, It's very frustrating! I was trying to teach her how to float and she kept on screaming, I can't blame her though because I remember when my dad used to take me into the water and I used to cling on for dear life. I think I'll have to look up some learn to swim classes for both the girls while it's summer.

Fingal Bay at low tide. Can you see the strip of sand linking the beach to the island? That's Fingal spit, and you could walk across it at low tide. We didn't do it because there was no way that I could carry Cami all the was along the beach AND across the water. Besides, all I could think about was that scene from The Ten Commandments where Moses parts the sea and then it tumbles on all of the Pharoh's men.

It was our first family holiday, and even the first time DH and I went away together. It was a positive experience and it was soooo good to get away from the stress of city life. We're already starting to plan our next trip up to the Gold Coast. Alex will be starting school next year. I'm feeling a little nervous about this since here in Sydney it seems we only have a choice between Public or Catholic school. It's like I'm going to lose control over her and her mind will be corrupted with what her teachers and peers say. I've read that some bloggers home-school their children, I have no idea how that would work but it sounds appealing to me.

r e s o l u t i o n s

1. Be more PATIENT

2. Eat more wholesome organic food, start a vege patch.

3. Make more of an effort to keep in touch

4. As DH said last night, "Time doesn't stop". Make the most of everyday.

Patchwork Society

The first half of the year always seems to crawl by. Still recovering from Christmas and realising that another year has slipped by, we tend to forget the hope that the New Year brings. A New Year gives us second chance to correct the wrongs, live a better life and more importantly, allows us the opportunity to do the things we love, to spend more time with those we love.

This second half of the year, is the time to reflect. July onward has past in the blink of an eye. In this time, I can say that I have become a more socially, ecologically, economically aware person. Mainly, I have been influenced by the blogs that I have stumbled upon. You know how it is, you follow link after link and realise that people like you do exist! I never fitted in with the modern and 'too cool for cool' crowd, having my children at a young age and the responsibility that comes with having a family and keeping a house is something that people my age don't tend to understand. We have differing priorities and it seems that they think I am always missing out on something, but I wouldn't have my life any other way. You realise the significance of life, the meaning of life when you have children, and that makes you a better person.

Our tree. My dad bought us this plastic one when we moved out last year. A department store was having an opening sale and these were only $20. It's not bad, not as lush as other trees but I like it because it reminds me of when we lived in that tiny unit, our first taste of Independence. Last year, I decorated the tree with large artificial roses. When my mother-in-law saw it she said that it needed 'real' decorations and bought us 2 packs of hideous plastic decorations (baubles, garland and tinsel) in green and gold. It should be a crime to manufacture them I tell you! All that I kept was the gold bead garland. This year I decided to make stars, I used vintage fabric and stuffed them. I picked up the ornaments at the end of year clearance sales, and I intend to buy 4 each year for each member of our family. I scored the snowflakes for $2.49 for a pack of 12.

Our tree last year. Our unit was really dark and gloomy. The roses kept on falling off because I didn't have time to fix them up properly. I put up some of the gold decorations in case MIL came over. See the tinsel along the bottom? That's what happens when you enlist the decorating help of a 3 year old! And yes that's our little chubby 3 month old.

Our christmas lights. We only turn them on for an hour at night.

When Cami was born last year, I promised myself to cherish every moment I had with the kids, but cherish as I might it still isn't enough. Is it like that for everyone? I'm just scared that when I wake up tomorrow the kids will be grown up, with families of their own. It's just so scary - you want to spend all your time with the ones you love. There's so much violence around us now and there's only so much you can do to protect them. As the world zooms by outside my window, I can rest assured that all is right in my little square of this patchwork society that is slowly falling apart at the seams.