Birthday Weekend Part 2

I said I was coming back to give you Part 2, the day of my actual birthday, better late than never, let's just blame 50 year old nanna brain! ha.

Something I've wanted to do for a long time but never been is to go to the Halls Gap Zoo.    I said to Mike that was how I wanted to spend my birthday.  The weather forecast was looking dicey but as luck would happen the rain came days earlier and Sunday was PERFECT.

There are lots of native animals at the zoo, but a few exotics too, a couple of giraffes, some cheetahs, water buffalo, American bison, etc.  Here are some of the photos I took, mind you there were stacks of photos, but here are some of my faves.

Just call Mike the 'deer whisperer'.  I liked that you could buy a little bag of food for the animals, well to feed some of the animals, by hand.  First gate we walked through the deers just knew!  Cheeky things, they lost quick interest once they thought your bag was empty and someone else walked in with a full bag of kibble for them!

The white lyrebird (peacock?) was amazing.  

There were a couple of cockatoos nearby which I think was why it had it's plumes out, 

trying to scare the cockys away.

The blue peacocks just roamed around, and goodness they had a sqwark on them.  They reminded me of the peacock that tried to peck my travelling companion Kathie when she was trying to photograph it when I went to the US last year.  I don't think I'll ever look at one of these birds without thinking of that.

The red panda just lay in the tree and posed, so beautiful.  

Mike had also planned a surprise (which I kind of found out about accidentally) that he had arranged for me to go in with the meerkats and feed them.  I was beside myself with excitement, such funny little creatures they are.  

     

There are three meerkats at the zoo, all brothers.  The zoo keeper met me and let me know what she would be doing.  She said they don't like to be held or touched/patted, and it would be on "their terms".  If they wanted to come to you they would.  That I was to sit on the log with my legs out in front of me and together so they could climb up.    Oh dear, the minute she put food into my hands they came to me alright, climbing all over me.  It was amazing, their little chattering trying to get to my hands to have a nibble.   

Hands up high to get the nibblies for them, 

otherwise they would have knocked it out of my hands.

Hang on fellas give me a chance here.  

That's better, I'll put my hands in my lap so you can get the food.

 

More food?  Oh dear this was the moment I realised I had live worms in my hands!

The zoo keeper laughed as she had given me live worms the first time too but I hadn't noticed.

Live worms, kibbly cat food and corn.

 Will cherish this moment forever.

What a fantastic birthday gift.

The other display I really liked was the kangaroos and wallabies.  I have never seen a white kangaroo before, it was amazing.

Skippy doing a bit of a pose.

Can you see the foot, it had a baby in its pouch.

And this one took a moment to nurse.

So my birthday weekend was amazing.  We finished off the day in Halls Gap going to a lovely cafe which we have been to a number of times.  The lady there is one of the organisers of Run the Gap.  It was nice to have a chat with her, she actually remembered me from other times we've been up there.   Came home and had a naughty pizza for dinner but that was all good.  Back on the straight and narrow on the Monday.

Birthday weekend part 1

Yay, it was my birthday weekend.  A golden birthday.  50!  Yep that's right, I turned 50 on Sunday.  Except why just have a birthday DAY when you can have a whole weekend right? 

Saturday Mike had planned to have a family get together.  I had gone past the thought of having a party, but was happy to just have a lovely meal with family.   So he did all the arranging, I just picked the restaurant.

But first things first, I was up early and out the door for a quick 5km run.  I needed to get my last run in for the week on my training plan and I knew there was no way I'd fit it in on Sunday.  What a great way to start the day.  And yep, the cow whisperer still has it.  These cows ran with me the whole way down the paddock until they could run no more.  

Pottered a bit during the morning and then we got our glad rags on and headed into Warrnambool.  Mike's family was coming down from Geelong and although I dared hope, my mum and my brother came also.  My brother and I have a slightly strained relationship, it has been for the last 4 years.  This was only the second time I would see him in all that time.   This is the only nice pic I got of Mike and I for the whole day, I was busy taking pics of everyone else and forgot about the two of us!

Mum and my brother Trevor

My father-in-law and his partner Connie.

My sister-in-law, Ann-Marie.

My beautiful step-daughter Tabby and partner Aaron 

And the littlest little party-goer.

Ann-Marie trying to squish my stepson Tristan, whilst the others were deep in conversation.

Brother-in-law, Callum.

Niece and nephew, J and S.

My mum was delighted to get some baby cuddle time in.

Treated to a rare flex by my stepson Tristan.  

And yep, the muscles are real, he's worked hard for those guns!

Cheers!

Treated to a delicious black forrest cake, oh my, it was gooooooood!!!!

Showing my age, there were only five candles on it and it took me three blows to get them out!

Yep, only had one good pic of Mike and I during the day.

This is the only other one.

Nanna got important baby cuddles for her birthday!

And my friend Lyn came along also, I worked with Lyn for many years,

she may as well be part of my family.  :-)

A beautiful meal, my favourite restaurant (Reunion) and all my family there just for me, mind you the majority travelled 2+ hours to get there.  I felt well and truly spoilt.

Part 2 tomorrow, where you'll see how I spent Sunday. 

A few days back home

I've just had a few days back home staying with mum, nice to go down there, do some shopping (where there are way more shops than here!!) and generally hang about and enjoy.   On Tuesday we headed down to Queenscliff for the day, haven't been down there for years and was surprised at the buildings around where the ferry comes in.  

It was an overcast day, spots of rain on and off, but it didn't dampen our enthusiasm for enjoying ourselves. 

We wandered around, up and down the main street and checked out the unique shops.  I like shops where the clothes are a bit out of the ordinary from the run of the mill department store type clothes.  Lovely beads, cute tops, that type of thing.

I ended up scoring a gorgeous (let me repeat GORGEOUS) jacket, half price marked down to $79.  Yeah right like I need another jacket like a whole in the head but you can't argue with a bargain like that and it was worth every cent of its original price.  Also bought a knitted hat for a Christmas gift for stepson's girlfriend, I couldn't have made it for the $15 it was reduced to.   Some chocolates from a handmade choc shop for Mike (turkish delight so I wasn't tempted, urrgh).  And a homemade jar of cauliflower pickles.  Yum!  And a dress, which will be lovely and light for the summer, marked down from $139 to ... wait for it ... $30 !!  Looked great with my long stripey socks on when I came out of the change room and modelled it! ha.   Mum had fun too and got some really cool aqua coloured flat shoes.  And we had a fantastic lunch at a cool little cafe called Gusto.  Note to anyone going down there, the vegie stack with goats milk feta is yummo!

We travelled over to Point Lonsdale, I hadn't been round this area for ages and had a wander out to the pier.

Came home Wednesday arvo and imagine my surprise when I saw Mike.  Just to remind you this is his BEFORE ... Mr-Joe-Cool-I-want-to-grow-my-hair-long-so-everyone-thinks-I'm-hip ...

And I came home to this ...  Woah, didn't see that happening.  He'd gone into town and actually paid, yes don't fall over in shock, but PAID for a hair cut.  See he NEVER pays for a hair cut, as long as I've known him he just gets me to use the clippers.  I went into shock.  And it looks soooooo much better.

So I'm still on hols from work, just got this week and next week to go, but loving every single day.  Had a nice 6km run while I was back home around the old neighbourhood.  And tomorrow I have a lunch planned with some old workmates.  Got to love this holiday gig.  

Australian Running Convention wrap up

So yesterday I hit the road, or the rail track to be precise and headed to Melbourne to the Australian Running Convention.  I had been told I should wear my running gear and I'd say 95% of the people also did the same.  I tell you what, my grandmother would have turned in her grave if she knew I was walking through the streets of the city in my running gear, it was never the done thing, you "dressed" for the city!  ha.

But seeings that it was 0 degrees when I left, I opted for long tights and a t-shirt and my running jacket and must admit I also wore a scarf on the train.  We left the south-west in thick fog but it ended up a beautiful day in Melbourne.

Because of train times I was going to be arriving after the start so I knew I would miss the first workshop.  There were different workshops and seminars throughout the day.  A quick message to Sarah from the Runners Connect group and she mentioned something like 'don't worry, I'll find you, it's only small' and when I got there my heart sank.  There weren't that many exhibitors, maybe 20 at most, and it all fit in one (well quite large) room.

When I had arrived there was a seminar in progress so I slipped into a chair at the back.  It was a coaching session about planning your running year.  Quite interesting, mostly about working out what type of race and distance you are aiming for and then working back as to what you need to achieve to get there, setting goals and targets.  He was very knowledgeable.  And it was interesting that he spoke about ensuring you get the distance run over the week, and if that meant breaking up some of your longer runs because of necessity then that was okay, it was more about getting the total distance in your legs.  Ideally there would always be a long run a week, but there are times that that is just impossible, and that was okay.

I then stayed to listen to the next seminar on sports physiotherapy - run yourself well.  This was an interesting discussion from two fellows from Freedom Sports Medicine and combined information on your footwear and prolonging the life of them, staying injury free, some interesting information about our ankles and early detection of injury.  The information he gave about our runners, in that if we used them day after day we weren't giving them time to 'recover' for want of a better word, the inner foam wouldn't get a chance to decompress.  He extolled the virtues of having a couple of different runners, it not only gave your shoes a chance to recover, and in turn ensure they lasted longer, but it also gave you a chance to ensure different muscles were used in your running, if you were running with a different shoe, a different drop, whatever.

I soon realised that it was the seminars and workshops that was going to make this day what it was, it wasn't just about the exhibitors, they were nice to check out, but it was the goldmine of information I would get from these seminars that would make the day worthwhile.

Soon after that was done Sarah found me and it was so nice to finally meet her.  She had her friend Louise with her and as soon as I saw her I recognised her from reading her blog!  Ahh the blog fame.

We moved outside into the glorious sunshine and soon found ourselves on mats on the grass and taking part in a yoga and injury prevention session.  I have often heard that yoga is really a runners best friend and it was a lovely session, although not as graceful as I would have hoped, and a few giggles as well.   This pic was taken at the start of the yoga session.

We had a quick look around the exhibitors after this and soon realised that the canvas bag that they gave as at the door was to hold the bounty of goods and paraphernalia we would be collecting.  I ended up with a gel (which I've never tried before), some chocolate protein powder, a pair of Feetures socks, lots of discount vouchers to different stores, and information, and a copy of Women's Running  I had mentioned I subscribed but it hadn't come yet, so she gave me a copy anyway and told me to pay it forward when mine arrived in the mail.  :-)    Some of my free goodies, not including what I also purchased!!!

We headed back outside to take part in the next workshpo which was strength training for runners, run by a Pesonal Trainer who was also a runner.  As well as showign us the correct way to do different techniques she had us doing three sets of squats, lunges, v-sit ups, push ups and the dreaded burpees!  I was spent!  But she was very knowledgable and pointed out exactly how these specific exercises would help us in our running.  

There were some good lunch options with healthy cooking provided and then after another look round and a few purchases I sat in on another seminar on psychology - the powerful mind of the runner.  A psychotherapist here spoke about a belief system and priorities.  It wasn't quite what I was hoping.  I guess I was expecting he would give us some magical mantra so that when the going got tough we could utter the magical words and abracadabra we would be running with the grace of a gazelle.  Not quite.  

After that was the feature discussion which was brilliant.  They had four special guests:  

• Tristan Miller: 52 marathons/52 weeks  
• Kelly Hetherington: AU 800m champion
• Oska Inkster-Baynes: NZ ½ marathon champion    
• Brendan Davies: AU Ultra Runner of the Year 2012

They were impressive to listen to, completely candid in their stories about overcoming advertsity during the darkets times of their lives and how running got them not only through it, but took them on to accomplishing some amazing things.  It was such a treat to listen to their passion.

Now remember I paid $29 for this ticket, I got $10 off the early bird price, and there was a rolling increase until if you bought your ticket on the day it was $59.   I must admit I am happy I got this day for $29, even $39 I would have paid, but I would have been a little annoyed, or actually a lot annoyed if I had paid $59 on the day, I would have expected more exhibitors I think.  The venue was a little noisy, but this is the first Running Convention held, it can only get better.  And kudos to the organisers for putting it on.

Father's Day

So today was Father's Day in Australia and what a treat for us that Tab and Aaron came for a visit with the little man.  As you can see Grumpy is caught well and truly under a spell, and I'm pretty delighted too, well okay, a LOT delighted!  He is such a cuddle sponge.

And here's the proud daddy enjoying his first Father's Day.  Isn't Saxon's little shirt a hoot, does he even know that he is the centre of everyone's love and attention right now, ahhhh the joys of being a baby.  Such a beautiful family unit.

 

So yes, well only a stack of new photos were taken today, what can I say when there is an adorable little model like this!  

And I remember my own dad today.  He's been gone for well over six years now, I can't believe how quickly that time has gone and all the things he's missed out on.  

Miss you dad. 

Scrapbookers Blog Tour

I have been nominated by my good friend Amy Mallory, to take part in the scrappy blog tour.  You might know Amy by her scrapbooking online name of mymalloryboys.   Amy is an incredible scrapbooker and home schooler.  Her pages are about family and love and her three boys and now one little girl will never have to wonder how much they are loved and adored, it’s all there on her pages.

I was also nominated by my friend, the amazing talented digital scrapbooking designer from Designer Digitals, Lynn Grieveson.  I was lucky enough to meet Lynn when she travelled over from NZ some years back and I can report she is a dynamo.  She creates beautiful products that I’m proud to use.

Right so the scrappy blog tour asks me to answer six questions.

1.     What am I working on right now?

I will be a rebel and talk about a couple of things both scrapbooking and non-scrapbooking related.   As you will know if you read this blog an addition has happened to the family by way of a beautiful baby grandson, so my pages lately have been all about him.  I want to try to keep up as best I can.  But he’s so darn cute, I am taking hundreds of photos!  

I also started a ‘Fifty before 50’ album, with the big one coming up quicker than a steam train.  I was scrapping 50 fun and fabulous things I was doing or what was important to me in the year before I turned 50.  Hmmm, made it to page 4.  I do aim to finish as I have been collecting the photos as the year has gone on. 

And then there was the trip with Esther to the US last year to meet the Designer Digitals creative team, I have only just started on that album, thank goodness (as of yesterday!!) So many projects so little time. 

And non-scrapbooking related because these questions could relate to that too, I’m in the middle of making a chevron crochet black and white blanket as part of a crochet-a-long with my scrapbooking friends Steph, Doris, Chrissy and Mollie.  See, that’s  kind of scrapbooking related too!   (I really must take a new photo, I'm up to about the 7th colour change now, I tell you the black is hard going!!  I usually wear my husband's head lamp of an evening when I'm crocheting the black.

2.     How long does it take to create a project?

I mentioned about the Fifty before 50 project and my US photo book, enough said!   I tend to pick these grandiose projects and it seems to take forever to finish.  But finish them I will. 

3.     What are my fave things I love to create with at the moment?

I’m not one to go with the latest fad.  To be honest I am a big fan of the DIY products that Lynn Grieveson makes and you'll often find them on my pages.  Love that we can put our own spin on them by adding our own colours or papers, gives us so much more flexibility in getting a page exactly how you want it to be.  But then sometimes that’s my downfall, then comes the indecision – will I use this shade of blue or that shade of blue.  And if you know my scrapbooking you’ll know there are very few pages without a brad or two on them!

        

4.     How does my writing/creating process work?

I’m a journaller that’s for sure.   One thing I’ve found over the years that it’s nice to pick up a scrapbook I’ve done, and lovely to see the photos and reminisce, but it’s the words that truly bring the page (and the memory) to life.  I'm fortunate in that I host the Story Scrapbooking Challenge at Designer Digitals, this month's challenge is to tell a story about a birthday (hmmm I wonder why??) so if you're reading this, do join in.  I've linked up the blog challenge.  

I write like I talk too.  I might ask Mike what does he think about a page I have up on my screen, and he’ll start trying to correct the grammar.  Nooooooo!   I meant it to run into one huge humongous sentence Mike, cause I don’t talk with commas or fullstops!    

5.     How do I become inspired and stay inspired?

Oh I lose my mojo on a regular basis, and sometimes I think I have sooooo many photos I want to scrap and am almost paralysed at starting.  But something will (hopefully) just click.  It will be the colours or tones of a kit.  It will be something I want to say.  I’d like to say I use Pinterest for inspiration but I really don’t.  That’s just more for fun.  I think it’s usually I have something to say and then the page just comes.  I do get inspired by the team at DesignerDigitals, those ladies are amazing with the pages they spin out. And for my non-scrapbooking friends reading this, if you are still reading this!! all these scrapbook pages are done digitally, all on the computer, despite so many looking three dimensional, it's all done with pixels.  I also like to check out Gallery Standouts to see what the wider community are creating.    Scrapbooking is so rewarding, and digital scrapbooking for me more so because it’s all I’ve known.

6.     What is my signature style?

I look at my gallery and wonder that.  I really don’t think I have a signature style.  I truly don’t think I would be able to pick my own page in a digi line up.  That sounds weird, because I would have made the page.  But you get what I mean.  All I know is that 9 times out of 10 there’ll be a story on it, cause that’s what it’s all about for me, telling the story.

So I need to pass this blog tour onto some other scrappers.  Having said that I see this blog tour is doing the rounds of the quilting community too as my friend Sharon also tried to tag me.  So everyone I approached has already been tagged, so I'm going to say (and yes this is a cop out) that if you are reading this and if you would like to answer these questions regardless of what craft you do please feel free to consider yourself tagged.  Let me know in the comments if you are playing along so I can check out your post.  Your post will need to be popped on your blog next Friday 12th September.