No Tripod Needed.

Lyndon had to go into work last night for an hour, so Monet and I went in with him and wandered around the Marina/Lagoon area of Cairns.  It might be the last opportunity I have to visit Cairns at night and I wanted some 'night shots' (and a Baskin Robbins ice cream!...mmmmm...any excuse I swear!)

(Click on any image to enlarge)

Monet had a great time paddling around the shallow end of the lagoon.  The water wasn't tempting enough to go 'right in' but if I had of given Monet the opportunity to do so, she would have!

I'm not sure which I enjoyed most.  The ice cream (strawberry cheesecake in a waffle cone - yes, it was delicious) or taking some night shots?  I'm still thinking that one over.

Some Flowers For Her Birthday

Today is my mother's birthday.  I won't spill her age, she probably wouldn't be impressed with me if I did.  You wouldn't know that my mother reads this blog.  She only does when my dad thinks she might like to read something in particular.  You wouldn't know my dad reads this either, he *never* comments.

Anyway, in honour of my mother's birthday, I'm going to give her (and you) some flowers all the way from Claude Monet's Garden in rural France.  

I think my mother should go there, as I know how much she'd enjoy it...

...Monet and I would be happy to chaperon her.

My mother would spend hours ohhing and ahhing over the blooms...

...and if my dad went with her, he'd spend the hours trying to get the perfect photo of the most wonderful garden of my favourite artist.

Happy Birthday Mum.  Enjoy your day.

Time To Smell The Fresh Sea Air...

Monet and I spent a little time down the beach this morning.  Little Miss even rode her bike down there and back (a big effort in itself that, let me tell you!)

We both enjoyed being down there this morning.  Monet was very happy...

...and why shouldn't she have been when this is our local beach?  I think it is truly beautiful.

We've enjoyed living here for the past 18 months out of our 2 and a half years in Cairns.  The beach is lovely when the sun is shining and there is lack of wind (like this morning).  Trust me when I say that our beach doesn't always look like this.   But we are lucky to have a beach that looks like this, even if you can only swim safely in the water for 5 months out of 12.

  

We're waiting here patiently for Lyndon's work visa to enter our inbox.  It shouldn't be too much longer now before the ball starts rolling.  When the ball is rolling it will be faster than a Brett Lee fast ball.

In the meanwhile, we will relax and enjoy the time we have left our little part of Australia.  

What a Surprise!

How surprised we were to receive a belated birthday card (from a lady who has known me since I was 1 year old), in the mail for Monet the other day.

How surprised we were to open the card and find a crisp $10 note in it.

How surprised (I wasn't), when Monet chose to buy one of these with her money.

How surprised I was when she chose that one over another one, which would have given her change to buy a lolly pop with.  

What a surprise!

Soon Her Whole Wardrobe Will Be Full Of Shonky Skirts...

Yes, I have been at it again.  

Sewing that is.

Today's 'blue' gingham number is straight from the 'biglittlesister' collection.  

No orders are taken. (The seamstress isn't too good!)  

The model thinks the sewing is terrific and is keen to give it a go. (Both modeling and sewing, that is, especially since the new series of the US Project Runway is beginning tonight on Arena.)

  

I might not be much of a seamstress, but I'm pretty good at making plugs.

(T-Shirt courtesy of KMart)

I Felt Like Some M&Ms...

...so I made myself into one.

And whilst I was at it, I made Lyndon into one..

...and Monet too.

I know they don't really look anything like us, but hey, we're pretty tasty looking don't cha think?

White with One

To think once I never drank tea.

I would never drink anything hot, unless it was chocolate. (I still indulge once in a while...)

You still couldn't pay me enough to drink coffee though.

Make mine a Daintree tea please.

Straight from the pages of Vogue. Or maybe Not!!

I've been busy sewing today.  I'm not a good, neat sewer, but I can sew.  To an extent.  

If I start something I usually have to have it finished within a certain time frame or otherwise it will never get finished.  It will sit there idle until months (years!) down the track when Lyndon will ask "I thought you started blah, blah project?"  Ahem.

But today I sewed Monet a skirt.  No pattern or anything, just a simple skirt in a 'gold' gingham print she picked.  I had noticed in one of the kids clothing stores a couple of weeks back (when I was browsing with my Mother-In-Law) a skirt, made out of black and white gingham, simple straight lines, nothing too difficult, selling for $25.  The one I made today was based on that design and cost me about....umm...$2.  Maybe $3.  

I might not be much of a sewer, but my daughter certainly knows how to strike a pose. (There's nothing to it....Vogue...) One too many model/fashion shows perhaps?