“You want to remember that while you're judging the book, the book is also judging you.” ― Stephen King

I judge people by there bookcases... or more to the point what is in it ( the lack of a bookcase also gets judged) When I go to someones home I like to look through their bookcase/s and see what appeals to them, if they are members of my family this can actually take quite some time.... majority of them covering most available walls with bookcases. When I had my own house my husband actually made me some built in bookshelves that went from floor to ceiling. I loved them... but they ran out of room far too soon. I have recently had to reduce my book collection down to something more manageable, this is a rather difficult task. Now I mainly just have the ones that I read over and over and over again. I have one series that has ten books ( not including the two prequels) by David Eddings and I am up to my second set of them because the first fell apart... I am looking into getting a third set because these too are starting to lose pages as well as the covers. The pride of my bookshelf is my Harry Potter books. I bought each one when it came out. I read them at least once a year... My hubby doesn't get it. "But you know what happens??" because as a general rule he doesn't "read for fun" He reads for uni or work and only on occasion will he read a biography. I love being nose deep in a good story where the characters come to life and you become involved and affected by what is happening to them.

“When I'm really into a novel, I'm seeing the world differently during that time - not just for the hour or so in the day when I get to read. I'm actually walking around in a haze, spellbound by the book and looking at everything through a different prism.”

― Colin Firth

Embarrassingly enough and I am sure to the horror of all the potter heads out there next to Harry Potter ( other than my Fred and George Weasly dolls that are signed) are my set of Twilight novel. Then a full shelf of David Eddings. To stop my Potter and Twilight fighting I have my copy of "Its not easy being green" by Jim Henson and "The wisdom of the Bird" by Caroll Spinney ( for those that don't know he is Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch) "Look before you Leap" by Kermit the Frog and "The Princess Bride" If you get a copy of this book do yourself a favour and don't read the bonus chapter its weird and ruins the book and movie for a little while until you can forget it.

Then we have Sara Douglas... The Troy Game books not the weird Axis ones. The Eragon Series and of course some light reading in Nora Roberts but I must establish that I tend to read her fantasy novels as opposed to the heavily romanced ones. and right next to her is Tolkin cause I like to mix it up :) Raymond Fiest is always enjoyable with a fantastic writing style.. especially The Magician series and all the extensions from it dealing with the same world. And I really enjoyed the Australian author Traci Harding's The Ancient Trilogy... which turned into two trilogies.

The reason I am writing about books is because I have just finished Patricia Briggs' latest novel, I have now read all of her books in these two series and I am suffering from some serious withdrawals. Its the sort where you go I want more!!!! but it only just came out so you know the next one is at least a year away. I have also read all the Sookie Stackhouse novels too and the next isn't due out for a long time either! ( and no I dont watch the show.. I just cant do it her accent annoys me and they dont stick to the story) So now what? what am I supposed to do to avoid to the dishes or the washing?

This is just one of my books shelves, but its my favourite. I also have a non-fiction one. And several extremely large boxes that I havent unpacked yet because I need to buy more bookshelves. ANd if you think thats bad, you should see my childrens bookshelves!!!!

this little piggy went to market...

I'm tired.. and whingey. My neck hurts and my back.. and I have snot. I went to the markets yesterday and I forgot my chair that was left next to the door at home. And it was cold... super cold. I was prepared for cold but it wasn't enough maybe if I had worn my onesie over everything it may have helped but even with a thermal shirt, a long sleeved shirt, a t-shirt, knee high socks, boots,  trousers, a jacket, a fox scarf ( wool not fur) Ironman glove and captain America beanie and I was still frozen  with no feeling in my toes an hour in. Other than that it was great... a few sales to keep you going, the occasional visit from hubby and the boys with lovely treats like coffee or a sausage roll.

this was my stall. I was rather proud of it. I think it looks pretty interesting. You know what my favourite thing is when doing the markets? Its watching people walk by they are just kind of passing everything over and not really looking then they will actually focus on something that has stood out to them on the table... like a mini ironman and their face will just change and light up. You have reminded them of something they loved or still love and with the type of things we sell people get really excited! they go and grab their friend to show them, they dive in and have a real look at what you are selling they start talking faster and smiling at you a lot... They suddenly notice you have a scarf on in the shape of a fox and their smile gets bigger, they may even laugh. I don't mind it makes me smile too.

 

This is how I feel. I am not ashamed of the fact that I love these things. I think about asking my cousin in law about whats going on between Wonderwoman and batman? or is she and superman having a thing? I think about the third Star Wars movie and the fall of Anakin Skywalker and I have wildly inappropriate dreams about assorted avengers. But I find joy in these things. And should that be what life should be about Joy?

We welcome you to crackerbox palace...

Great song... Its currently stuck in my head. I have been feeling a little frustrated lately.
I am in essence a bit of a green girl. Before moving here I had a suburban oasis. I had spent many years growing fruit trees around the borders of my property for two reasons... I had a plan with three boys that I could just throw them out in the back yard and they could eat whatever they wanted without sending us broke and secondly because it would be fresh healthy food for all of us. I had four vegetable patches with some of the best dirt in it from years of composting and worm farming and scooped up chicken poop and it grew beautiful veggies for everyone. My children would be out in the garden while I was weeding eating broad beans of the plant of sweet peas .... We had a patch just for strawberries. I had raspberries and passionfruits on the fences blueberries between the large fruit trees. It had reached the point where if I wanted potatoes I would walk out the back and dig them up. The fruit trees had just started producing.... I was really proud of it and myself. I had roses out the front all picked for the colour and small, I had grown pick frangipennies from cuttings, I had a succulent garden ( lots of Aloe for sunburn) out the front too, and a massive herb garden. I had my children trained to put the recycling here... the rubbish here, the worm food here and give that to the chickens. At Christmas time I gave people things I had made from the home grown produce. We never filled our bin. Our recycling bin yes but that was all.

Then we moved.

Where we live has no recycling plant so no recycling bins... It is in the country but has only a Coles.. with old fruit and veggies that don't last the week. It does have a community garden but they don't currently have any plots available I would have to pay for and create my own. This has all left me feeling guilty and sad. SO I have decided to start again. I have an area out the back that can be turned in a veggie patch and can keep chicken safe from hounds. Now all I need to the funds. So it is time to start harassing my husband. And I am going to try and figure out how to petition the council. In this day and age it doesn't get any more backwater than a town without recycling facilities. And they want to be a tourist destination.
Ok well I am off to finalise my market stock for tomorrow and to pray to the rain gods to piss off tomorrow please.

obsessions....

Sorry I have been quiet the last couple of days. I have a market on the weekend so silly little things like regular jobs ( washing, cooking etc) have gone out the window. I am just taking a break from making cards. I love making cards they always look so cute... a finished product is always satisfying.

I thought I might tell you about my obsessions. I get obsessed with things. Currently it is Dr.Who, and the Avengers. I have an ongoing love affair with movies and Television shows. I don't watch them as often as I used to but I still know a lot of them word for word. A LOT.... wasted childhood possibly? I also know a lot of lyrics to all sorts of songs. But back to movies... I don't watch sad movies.... or scary movies, I think life has enough of that in it that I don't need to add to it. But I love action and comedy and musicals. Pirates of Penzance to Wolverine... Grease ( and if we are being honest Grease 2) I am completely in love with the new Sherlock Holmes movies and Iron man 1 and 2. But the thing that always gets me is Disney.... from Aladdin onward, I can say every word of Aladdin ( ask any of my high school friends) Lion King, word for word. Pixar movies are the best. Those guys are genius's. I balled my eyes out in Toy Story 3. I cry in movies, which is why I don't watch sad movies... I also don't deal well with tension or embarrassing moments in movies. I am what my husband calls a "hall runner" when things get tense... suspenseful or embarrassing, I am suddenly very busy. clothes that need to be folded, dishes that need to be put away. I love the cult movies like Barbarella, Labyrinth and the Princess Bride. The latter being an all time favourite.

 

But the movies that have effected me the most and stayed in my head would have to be the Harry Potter ones. All of them. I got them for myself on Bluray for Christmas. I loved the books as well. I love all the characters. I love watching them grow up. I love the themes behind the story. It has action, romance, comedy, mystery, good and evil, the massive big budget special effects without loosing the heart.  

I am so proud that my children embrace the movies I love. They know Singing in the rain and the know everything there is to know about Star Wars.

I have just started showing them the old school animated X-men, and bless them they love it.

shameless selfpromotion.. how to be subtle?

I had a plan when starting this blog. It was to be my personal blog but I also wanted a way to include my business without shoving it down peoples throats. I haven't really found a way as yet that would work for me. I thought I would just be obvious about it today. I have a small.. venture. I wouldn't call it a business as it doesn't seem to be at that scale. Its is more a creative outlet of things I happen to sell. My sister makes a lot of things... A LOT! and they are beautiful and clever and amazing, and it used to kill me because she would make them then... wait for it... put them in a suitcase in her craft room!!!! Oh my god! My mother in law used to teach craft and is really really good at making things, but she retired from doing that and is doing all sorts of other things... I believe if you have talent you shouldn't waste it. I felt they were both wasting their amazingness. So I came up with a cunning plan.... a business where they would make what I asked them to and I would sell it. I also make things too and I have found I really enjoy it. It is great to have that kind of outlet in your life.

My mother in law

My sister

me!

We make so many different things it would be overwhelming to put it all on this blog and not at all what I would want this blog to be like.
Speaking of making things our onesies are all finished.  And they are awesome. seriously awesome! when I get a copy of our family shot I will post it on here.

http://www.facebook.com/Geekree

ROAR...smash

I missed blogging yesterday...
 this would be why...
I don't normally drink but I went out with my husband for The Business awards night. Open bar, and I happen to be sitting at the table with one of the big bosses so we had a rather nice wine rather than a house wine and I may have gotten carried away. I was also a little emotional before going after realising how fat I have gotten since moving here and discovered that majority of my clothing doesn't fit. It was a fun night at times but mostly it was kinda shit. My husband was stressed and cranky watching his staff run the night and not really much of a companion. I sat at the table with the directors which was fun but then some of the speeches got political, majority in opposition to my political beliefs and If I wasn't there with my husband in his work place it is most likely I would have said something or walked out. I am a bit like that. And add to that my husband is a flirt and I am a jealous person by nature so needless to say the night ended with me walking home alone after a heated discussion in his office.

But the weekend did proceed a bit better. Yesterday we took his mum and sister and niece to the Port of Echuca. We did all the fun touristy things, our boys had a blast.

It was fantastic to go on the horse drawn carriage ride it went down the dirt road then out onto the street where it picked up pace and you thought about all those olden movies and such, with them powering along being chased by Indians and I thought holy crap how did it not just tip over!

Then we had fish and chips, and proceeded to Beechworth Bakery. If you have never been to one do yourself a favour.

Boston bun was mine!!!

After the bakery we came home and my husband and I realised that a lot of the things we do are based around what we can shove in our pie-hole. Which brings me back to being fat as previously mentioned. I have always been fit, always done some sort of exercise so I am really uncomfortable in my current body. But none of the sports I enjoy exist here. They play AFL or netball. I hate netball. But today is a new day and I have decided to embrace jogging. I have 2 and half months to be swimsuit ready for when we go to QLD. I am going to reward myself with a new swimsuit. A Wonderwoman one piece I found. Must dash. The boys have all gone to the park and the hounds want to join them... and are attempting to rip my house apart to do so.

Onesies!!!!

My Mother in Law is currently in the throws of onesie construction. We are all very excited. My hubby was running around last night in his half constructed one, refusing to take it off... his took 4m of flannel to make! And it is bright red. He had a rather heated and persistent conversation with his mother about the need for a butt flap. She doesn't want to put one in... he doesn't want to get cold to go to the toilet. And he wants feet... and fold over mitts. He has wanted one of these for about 10 years so I guess he has put a fair bit of thought into it.

Mine is super soft!!! warm and soft is all I need.

 

 

onesie mid construction.

Not the best of Photos.... but hey what are you going to do. As I currently have guests and I desperately need to find something to wear for a business awards tonight I must keep today short.
hmmm coffee first then post office. Enjoy your day.

Writing "write my to do list" on my To do list.

I do that. I write "to do" lists, I write everything on them. If I didn't then absolutely nothing would get done. Sad but true. And the title of this blog is also true. I write to write my "to do" list on the actual list so I can cross it off and have that brief feeling of accomplishment.  If I happen to do extra things that aren't on my "to do" list they get written up after they are done just so they can be crossed off. I also like my list because when my husband looks around when he gets home and says the fatal words "what have you been doing all day?" I can wave the list in his face. Because the problem is quite often I go to bed and look around the house and think.. why did I bother it looks the same as before. This is what happens with three boys. Or even just living in the house... using it. For example The Kitchen.

the morning kitchen...blah

I can live with anything else as long as the kitchen is clean ( and the floor swept) but even though I am a fairly clean cook once you have made dinner and the dirty dishes are everywhere... it looks like crap again. It also happens to happen at the exact point where I have had enough for the day. Which is funny cause I don't get much done in the mornings and by 7ish at night I have had enough of housewife-ing. But in those few hours if I have my trusty list by my side I can power through it. Errands get done first... in the morning when I don't want to clean. Trips to the post office, newsagents or shopping centre, if we are lucky a quick cafe stop. Franklin is a fantastic cafe kid.... all my kids have been, it is a blessing. No screaming spoilt brats here.... we don't do screaming or screeching here. It is a scream/screech free household. And heaven help the child that attempts that sort of behaviour outside our house too. There is a reason that this blog has the term "Hulk" in its title. Mummy can be angry and my children are wise beyond their years they know where the line is and when they are getting too close to it. A small warning from their mother mentioning the fact that she is "close to the edge" ( always said like MOS DEF) is usually enough. Or "The look" . And if they have done so at the shops or something god help them when they get in the car. Have you ever done that one or seen it in the car park... The enclosed area mummy rant. it usually last from the moment all doors are closed until you pull up in the driveway and there is no escape.

Any who I digress... my list today is fairly extreme ( lucky "write blog" is on it or I would feel bad about sitting here) I am not sure if I will get it all done. It involves making a layer cake, finishing a large order for etsy, wash all our clothes ( ALL our clothes) cause neither Luke or I can locate any socks at present and I am fairly sure he went commando to work......

The "clothes chair"

Clean kitchen, sweep and mop the floors ( and this will be the most time consuming because we have a lot of floor) Vacuum the boys rooms and set up spare beds..... because we are having guests for the weekend ... in laws to be precise,  hence the long list.  But all will be well because my Mother in law is making us all onesies!!!!! wooohoo. you know an all in one pyjama! I am very excited about this. My mother in law keeps us warm. She has knitted jumpers for the boys that are super toasty, scarves, beanies, and gloves. They are all super warm and most of them are also super cool. Wizard hat beanies, fox scarves, Avengers scarves, Captain America beanies... Ironman gloves ( they are mine)

  

Right off I go to do the "To Do"

One cup to brew them all....

I love coffee. I have even become a fan of tea. I love them, my day can not go on in a calm and relaxed manner without one or the other. I love the ritual of tea, as well as the drinking. I love the smell of coffee and the look and the taste. I love making coffee. By making coffee I obviously mean making espresso coffee. The rest don't count. They Don't! unless your desperate only then is it acceptable to use those chemical enriched substitutes....... I am a train barista, could you tell? and one of my real pet peeves is bad coffee. if making coffee is your job there is no excuse for burning the milk. It should be punished with extreme prejudice. I unfortunately live in a town where they believe in hot over extracted coffee in all places. I have found only one cafe that makes good coffee.. not really good but better than the rest. This is why I love going to Melbourne. The food and coffee. Heaven help you in Melbourne if you sold something substandard. Its a four hour drive to Melbourne from us. It is worth every minute.

My mother in law used to collect tea pots. She has hundreds quite a few are worth a lot of money. She gave me one recently from her collection and to be honest it wasn't what I was expecting.... but that said it kinda fits. It makes me laugh. and it comes in a set.

 See I find it offensive to my relaxing ritual... and yet it appeals to a part of me that I am not sure I am able to embrace completely. It has shiny gold bits and I really do love it. lol. oh dear.

And this is my tea cup

 This was one of the first in a series of experiments to make tea pots and cup and mugs. They have got better as time has gone on but I still like this one. My children have their own hot chocolate mugs that I made for them too. One is a hulk one, another Thor and the last one is Captain America. Our house contains quite a few items like this. I think they brighten your day and make you smile when you need it. Like my coffee mug

It has a story to it. It used to belong to my much loved Aunty who introduced me to the Muppets many many years ago. there were two, the other was an animal one but it didn't survive the years.  I am a big Muppet fan. Still....
I am also a big fan of tea and coffee puns. They are fantastic. Have you seen the teapot with a picture of Lionel Richie and saying "Hello. Is it tea your looking for?" Gets me every time. I will make myself one soon. When I was researching for Geek-r-ee making the cups and such I came across alot of puns.
             "Fight for your right to Latte"
             "Bilbo tea-baggins, one cup to brew them all" ( personal favourite)
             "Pour some sugar on tea" (Def Leppard)
             "Bean me up Scotty"

The list is endless.... an many a chuckle was had.

I dont do mornings.

I don't do mornings. I try. I have three boys, mornings are a necessity. But I just cant do it. I want so desperately to be one of those people that bounces out of bed and says "hello world" but to be honest I'm more a grunt and a squinty eyed glare towards morning then if you imagine morning grabbing me by the ankle and dragging me toward the ( badly designed and ever so cold) shower.... while I hold on to the bed for all I'm worth kicking and screaming and attempting to keep my head on my pillow even if it means taking the pillow with me. My husband is even worse. SO when we had children mornings were thrust upon me.

I set the alarm every morning at 7:30, I get up around 8 and by the time I get down stairs Its 8:15. My two big boys start school at 8:55. We usually make it right on time. Weekends are terrible because I don't wake up without a reason and then the guilt sets in. I am blessed though to have three rather well behaved boys.... actually sometimes I think they behave better when I'm not around. I never have to worry about what I am going to come downstairs to. They even get their own breakfast! Bless their little cotton socks.

I will most likely talk about these three boys a lot. They are the centre of my universe ( even though I have been know to tell them that the world doesn't revolve around them...mine actually does)
Oscar is my eldest boy. He is a beautiful human. A Big boy with a sweet soul. He is 8 and has always been a mummy's boy. Which I have always loved. He is at that age though where the males start playing a bigger role in his life, an important role. I understand this... this doesn't mean I have to like it. Lucky for me I have a wonderful Husband who embraces this. My boys are also lucky to have some pretty fantastic males in their lives, mainly these people are my cousins or cousins husbands or my uncles. My boys worship these men. Lucky for me I think they are pretty great too. Oscar had learning difficulties from a young age ( he was on the autism spectrum) so we have been through the system of early intervention, speech therapy and extra assistance at school. He is not stupid, he just takes a different path to get where he needs to go. And he is a loving and caring boy.

Next on the list is Harry. Ahhh Harry. Harry drives his mother crazy. Harry is his father in miniature form. Harry likes to poke people literally and figuratively, just to see how long it takes for them to explode. That said he is also one of the most sensitive people I have ever meet. He is a big believer in family first. He loves his family, and heaven help anyone who hurts them. He got detention in kindergarten because his mummy made the bread in his lunch box and a couple of boys were teasing him and called it poo. In his head this was an attack on his mum. He smacked one and punched the other. sigh. He is a sports lover and the only one who will stay faithful to his daddy when everyone else has bailed and caved to mum. He is so easily hurt you just want to cuddle him and kiss him all the time.... but usually you end up pulling your hair out.

Last but certainly not least is Franklin. Franky baby.... Frank has never been a baby. He is 3 going on 23. He believes he is the boss.. of everyone and everything. And a more stubborn individual I am yet to meet ( no idea where he gets it from) But he is a joy to spend my days with... a constant stream of chatter, he is a rather intelligent small person who likes people to think he is funny. He always knows when his mummy is upset and will hold your hand or give you random hugs and kiss at just the right time. He will say out of the blue..."mummy your hair looks beautiful today. I love it"

Now I am off to the store... the grocery store :( right after I have written my grocery list) wish me luck.

"it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that"

 This is me..... hmm I'm not sure what that says about me? who am I and why should you care? I'm not sure but my life is never boring, currently I am raising 3 boys in a small town in country NSW. I am married to a CEO and all that is involved in that. I am adjusting to country life. I have lived in a few different places.... Cities, not so small towns, coastal areas. I dont really enjoy it here but we are adjusting. I am currently running a small "handmade" business with my sister and mother in law. Its fairly awesome if I do say so myself.... if you like that kind of thing ( which I do) we are on facebook.. and etsy and are we are kept quite busy by it ( psst, its www.facebook.com/Geekree) I am also starting Uni online next month. I am doing an Art major. I enjoy creating things. All sorts of things, sewing, cards, crayons, bookmarks, toys..... but I would love to be able to draw, to paint to sculpt to make beautiful things that other people love, but shhh dont tell anyone... I come from a family of uber talented people and all the self imposed pressure that comes with it. I mean there really isnt much they cant do. Dr's in their chosen fields or just really super fantastic at it. One cousin writes... she writes beautifully but it doesnt stop there she can also draw.. and teach. An uncle is actually a Doc of Rock... seriously he has a Doctorate in Music and Communications and he is fasinating to talk to about anything! He can also play anything. I want to be able to play music. I love music all sorts of music, but no. So over the next few years I am hoping to start piano lessons, watch this space. I also have another cousin who is a photographer but was a successful Musician for a while there too. My husband studies business and is a CEO.... I probably wont tell him I write a blog, he doesnt really get "Facebook" or "blogging" and has zero concept of "twitter" lol. But the point is peaople in my family are amazing at what they do from raising 8 kids and remaining organised and relatively sain to being able to catalogue your books and run the archives of the Royal easter show. These people are amazing and inspiring but it can also be a tad intimidating to put yourself out there. You know incase you fail and fail and fail again... Hence the title of this post No more dreaming about things. It is time to begin .......