miffys world

Flyboy Jackie

Jackie got his first balloon flight yesterday.  Darryl flew him. Very exciting.  Darcy of course was well peeved that she missed out!  It has been a great week of flying here. Freezing cold but clear blue skies. And a blog post about flying needs few words - the story being best told in pics... 

Deano - crew chief and excellent kid wrangler waiting, waiting...

Darryl with his concentrating face on.

Jackie helping the crew

There's that face again...

Inflating. Isn't it pretty?

Firing the burners for inflation

It's nice and warm when the burners fire!  Note the hand knit scarf?  I have been having a lovely time knitting.

Jackie and Kel on the crown line

All aboard...


The burners are noisy and hot - so Jack hid under his jacket!






And then another long trip in the back of the troop carrier!  Darcy made sure she ate as many of the packet of jelly snakes as she could - which is only fair when big brother gets to fly...

Around Benalla in 8 Days

Holiday time. And of course what better way to find the blog mojo than a bit of down time with the family.  We are currently in central Victoria - Benalla.  It is the Australian Hot Air Balloon Championships.  Yes - a random and quirky family holiday - but that is de rigeur when you marry a Razzle Dazzle Stuart.  Darryl used to fly, compete, and a whole bunch of ballooning  stuff in his other life. Up til now there has been little flying but the kids are older and dead keen to get up in the clouds it seems. So in sub zero temps we sunny queenslanders are here for the week crewing with Paul Gibbs. The weather is crisp and bracing and we Queenslanders are far too soft. I bought the kids gloves in town and Darc didn't even know how to put them on!  Of course - a holiday around balloons is best blogged about in pics so without further ado....

Saturday night - the town put on a Night Glow and Party. The balloons fire the burners which looks great in the night - and a little warmer too. Darc used the heat to warm up her Dagwood Dog!

Laser swords for sale - very popular with young Ninjas

Darc and Kel. Darc on the burners. New name... Burner Babe. Kinda suits supercool Darc.

Not to be outdone - Jackie had a blast too.

Monday morning. First day of competition. Do they look cold?

Darryl and Paul...

Inflating the envelope.


Dropping a marker at a target

Dirt kicking - there can be some waiting around for the crew between each target.




Landing right next to the road = no carrying baskets across paddocks.  Nice and easy!

Some searching for valuable crystals (quartz) keeps the junior crew occupied for ages...

What a good little soldier - asleep in the back of the spartan troop carrier!  Deano drives it like a rally car so goodness knows how the kids sleep - but they both do.

Thismorning - we are in the groove. No frost icing up the windscreen so it seemed promising. But Lordy - I have never had such cold feet in my life - perhaps I should have before entering my first marriage but that's a whole other story!!

Beautiful sunrise

Inflating the envelope

Maiike's balloon and crew. She's paul's better half and has an all chickie team.

Obviously I was feeling arty this morning and no crafty goodness to play with - so lots of photos...


This is Peter's balloon - Darryl crewed with them thismorning.  Kat his wife flies co-pilot having just breastfed 3 month old Sam.  Very cool chick.  This is the travelling Day Care with head Nanny Steve (also known as crew - in charge.  I asked to book in Jack and Darc in the morning!!)



For one of the tasks pilots needed to fly to this point and drop a marker as close to the target as possible. 

 
Landing by the side of the road

Boys will be boys. City boys don't get to run around in the mud enough.  Heaps of fun.

Darcy's Drawers on TV!

And I will be too!  But the star of the show will definitely be the chest of drawers!  Channel 9 here in Queensland - Weekend Extra.  They came out earlier this week to shoot us for a segment on upcycling.  I think I am the part of the segment to show that without a lot of skill - anyone can make something old and crappy look pretty cool!  Tonight Darcy saw the promo for the show and shreiked "There's my bedroom on the tele!!!"  I missed it but I imagine on the 42" LCD screen -seeing your bedroom - that world of pinkness during the ad breaks in Two and a Half Men is indeed something to shriek about!

Here are a few shots of me, Miranda - the gorgeous reporter (why couldn't they have sent one of the crusty aging sports reporters so I would have half a chance of looking hip and groovy?  and Wayne - well he would have done as the crusty and aging - but someone had to operate the camera and by the state of most of the pics that Miranda took of the action on my camera - she is far better suited in front than behind said camera!

 

It was a bit of fun and who knows how it will look on TV tomorrow evening.  But if you are around, it starts at 5.30pm.  We will have our recorder set!  Darcy and Jack will be excited to see their rooms - and their Mum too!

If you haven't - enter my birthday competition.  It runs til next Wednesday!  Yay Meeeee...

Today's weather will be...

... rainy.

This is my feline barometer - Taungoo.  If he hops up with a spring in his step first out the door for a day of discovery in the neighbour's yard - well the weather will be sunny.  If instead he sleeps in, without a rush to rise - dodgey weather ahead. 

As I type - the wind is rising, the sky is grey, and it has started to rain.  He's good isn't he?! Perhaps we should treat him wtih more respect and use his full name.  Mr Taungoo Benny Bull Jup Jup Stuart.  Jack - child of the Playhouse Disney generation gave him some extra names - from Dora and Hi 5.  It seems to suit him.  He isn't cagey enough to have had Swiper the Fox as a middle name! 

Anyway, glad I put off doing the washing this morning.  Under my cat's advice of course...

"Now if you can all just leave me alone.  Don't you have sewing to do??!!!"  

Sewing & a Spine Surgeon Visit

Yes, I have been sewing.  Quite a lot really. It is just getting the time to photograph it and post it! Today though we are off with Darcy to see Dr Rob.  Rob LaBrom is Darcy's Spinal Surgeon.  She visits regularly.  ALthough we haven't seen him for 7 months. A record!  In that time, I instigated her huge exercise program so it is gonna be interesting to see his reaction to her progress!  I can't wait til she asks him how to do a cartwheel.  That is her next desire and usually when Darc wants to do something she figures out a way!  These visits are always stressful though.  What is the big surgery date - can we keep putting it off as the curve is stable at about 50 degrees (scary isn't it?)  When you deal with Darc on a daily basis you forget about that damn curve. She is such a little dynamo.  But when I take her for the x rays (preceeding each spinal orthopedic visit) it all comes back just how bad her spine is.  Looks like a big S.  The surgery I allude to is to insert Rods downt he length of her spine. BIG surgery for a little girl and as it can affect gorwth patterns - it is put off as long as possible. When we started down the bracing road nearly 3 years ago, Rob was talking about buying a few years.  As the bracing is holding her curve stable - we are getting more optimisitic.  Now we are talking about 8 years old. If she can tolerate her brace and if the curve doesn't increase.  Big ifs and hugely nervewrecking... Anyway - wish us luck blog readers!  We just want to put off the surgery for a few more years. 

Yesterday was Dentist visit for Darcy.  Lucky girl - gets to see Dr Petrou.  Who to us is the delightful Mihaela.  She is every kids' dream dentist.  Mihaela's pride and joy Max goes to school with Jackie.  Mihaela is kind, gentle and best of all - made Darcy a glove balloon!  She must have gone to Clown Doctor school too....

And for some sewing goodness....

This was the week that was...

Darcy and I spent Thursday  morning filming a video for Montrose. Montrose Access is where Darc gets her therapies and is a client of the Neuromuscular Disorders clinic.  They are doing a fundraising 'corporate' style video and asked us to be involved.  Well, perhaps I should have consulted the Supermodel herself before taking on this 'job'.  They decided that they wanted her in the hydrotherapy pool.  Great - Darc loves her hydro sessions and loves swimming.  Apparently not today for a crew of lovely 20 something guys watching and telling her what she needs to do.  I was entirely embarrassed and started making deals with the Devil to get our little pride and joy in the dang pool.  Well, finally.   And it was great fun because once the video guys left, the still photo guys started - and we all know how good she is for the camera (not!!)  so it was a lot of Poo Poos, and tongue poking for these patient saints. 

  So after that it was off to makeup to remove that chlorine thing she had going on...     And how relaxed is she?  Old pro!  Watch out though, not too much of that powder...  Then off for me to be interviewed... What's that????  A photo of me on this here blog???  Yes that is moi and the new short haircut.  I said loads of lovely things about how happy we are with the service that Familia Stuart gets from Montrose.  Darcy was extremely interested.  yeah yeah mum...

Today we had to break out the sprinkler and start tapping into our home sourced water supply for some lawn lovin  here in the dry ol' tropics.  We are in the worst drought still in 100 years.  No sprinklers for us - unless you have put in a tank and are collecting water from your roof. So - that is what we are doing.  But we haven't watered after a good wet summer.  But no rain now for over a month and lots of hot weater still means our lawn is very, very sad.  So, we watered.  Of course, the kids want to play under the sprinkler as soon as it appears!  It is such a novelty for them as they have hardly ever seen it in their short years!  So - they put on their togs (that's swimmers) and had a play.  Anyhoo - I think the lawn is now officially worse for the experience of Mrs Mosely ripping around the wet lawn with the kids jumping in the mud... yes we have dirt patches in the sad sad lawn...

Please note:  I do feed Jack.  Really, I do. Go you good thing go! Who'se the big baby then?

So, this weekend, I have been doing some more sewing.    

Clever, Beautiful, Happy?

Found this morning sitting in the sun. The drawers (Darcy's ) say it perfectly...

Autumn is here in the tropics!  As you can see from Darcy's leaf raking attire, it is still quite warm.  Our leaves go from vivid green to yellow.  There is no show of pretty colours, just alive - then dead - then on the ground!  In a matter of days.  But the incongruity of raking leaves in front of the palms - in one's skimpy summer shirt is odd isn't it?!  Darcy had her paints out yesterday trying to repaint the leaves green!

But whatever the colour - it is heaps of fun!

Today was Anzac Day. Today we commemorate the fallen on the anniversary of the landing of the Australia & New Zealand Army Corps at Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915. A tragic, unwinable battle that saw thousands of boys killed.  This battle came to symbolise the birth of our new nation - (only 14 years old), the importance of mateship and our unswerving belief in freedom.  Every April 25, we remember them & all those who fought so we could be free.  For the first year, Jack has taken an interest in the goings on. His Grandad was an Air Force Navigator in WW2. His Dad is a retired Army Lt Colonel. Next year he might march.  Darcy thought today was Valentines Day - which is so Yoko Ono of her - make love not war?!  Not sure she got the connection but I amused myself...

"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

Lest we forget."

(Ode of Remembrance, Laurence Binyon)

Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle...

Here we have Darcy's contribution... Meet Pinky Bear.  (We like to call him Grubby Bear for obvious reasons, & does that upset  Darc!)  Anyway, to do a little woodworking (ala last weekend) Darcy dressed him up.  Check out the hard hat...Any guesses?  Yes, a repurposed Tiffany's box!  That's my girl!

Yesterday, we had the Hickey boys - that is Ryan & Ethan, not Randy & Earl (Love that show!) Last day of the school holidays for the boys, yes finally!  Anyway we all took Darcy to kindy. Her very own entourage, how cool. It was a lovely walk. And yes that would be a Made by Miffy skirt, thanks for noticing ;)

It started tentatively, but as Mrs Mosely joined in the fun, it soon turned farcical. And there was little walking involved!

Check out those mermaids.  And yes, Darc styled her own outfit adding the 'I''ve got a bucket of attitude' black boots.Mrs Mosely was not very patient with the photo shoot!  Life with a moose sized pup is never dull....

Desperately Seeking Cécile

This is Cécile. We love her dearly. She is about 168cm tall. Brown eyes, brown hair, olive complexion. French - but also speaks very good Kath & Kim Australian.  Please send her home if you see her.

Ciel - as Darcy named her lived with us for 12 months & helped run Casa Stuart.  She did a much better job than me most of the time!  She came to Australia in search of fun (and helping out as an au pair) - and instead became part of our family.  The real aussie fun was in the burbs of Brisvegas!  Who would've thunk it?  We sewed together, we cooked, we had group french lessons, we drank far too much vin blanc together, laughed at Darryl together (hey remember the time that handyman husband Darryl had to change a tap washer but didn't turn the water off at the mains...?!!  Hilarious!  (Sorry Dazzle)  We had heaps of fun and Ciel became part of the family.  People thought she was my daughter??? Heeeeellllllooooooo????  In a careless moment in another trailer trash life perhaps - but besides the physical improbabilities - what do you think?  So we started to tell people she was Darryl's daughter from his first marriage.  That seemed to work well! Yes - Darc could be Ciel's!

Anyhoo, Ciel won't phone home.  She was supposed to come over for a looooong holiday again and got a great job offer.  Let us down big style. The kids have been really understanding - but they wonder why we haven't spoken to Ciel on the Skype phone or something.   Now as a sneaky geeky grrrrrl, I know there are a few frenchies looking at the blog - Hello Strasbourg - Love ya! Hello blog lurker near Pyramidés Metro station - yeah you... Vivé le France! You guys rock at Rugby! ..... Ciel - fess up - which are you?!

So if you see a lost Ciel... 

...send her straight home! Or at least give her a few coins to call! Jack and Darcy miss you too. Jack says, "I'd really like to see you and can you come over to our house one day this year. Do you think you can bring us both a present?"  yep... that's a caring sharing male 6 year old for you...

From a round-the-world sortie to surburbia - Dad's home!

Yay! Dad's home! Flew in from Singapore this morning.  Did not notice my new haircut.  After 20 minutes - I asked was there something different - and you could tell he was struggling!  Now this wasn't just a haircut... this was a long to short , very short job.    Darryl's trip to the optometrist is now booked and as my buddy Amanda suggested, car keys confiscated!!!  Anyone who doesn't notice such a change much be a danger on the roads!  (We are working with you on this one Razzle Dazzle...)

Anyway - all was forgiven when my 10lb box of Amy Butler fabric was presented...  Thanks to Melanie at Above all Fabric! (Shhh, lets not tell him about our other orders Jen and Jona...) Mrs Mosely gave Darryl the best welcome home.  Dogs do that, don't they. Pure, unadulterated love!

The kids had a ball playing Handy Manny (you'll know who I mean if you have little ones - if you don't - he is a Hispanic carpenter with talking tools...go figure...?)

But of course there is only so much hammering to be done when it doesn't talk back to you ala Manny... So Jackie decided to use his makeshift workbench as a platform for rocket launches. Check out the action shots...

You can just see the little red rocket zooming onto the second floor verandah in this photo.  I also like Jackie's perfect landing onto the launch pad.  Are you watching that Gym coach!

And I got some sewing done, yahoooo.  I will post more about that later.  My etsy shop logo is nearly done. So I will be entering the world of internet sales very soon.