Day 336/366

Only 25 day to Christmas and the countdown begins.

In true Australian fashion, December's weather has been sweltering.

My poor Grand Daughter's ballet school had their concert early tonight and had to perform in 38 oC temperatures.  Luckily their usual venue (which does not have air conditioning) is out of action for renovations. Today's venue was air-conditioned but it was pre-set so it only just managed to to keep everyone comfortable while outside it was reaching scorched earth proportions! 

Unfortunately,photo opportunities were not great and the only photos I was able to snatch was of the school group.

The school has organised photographs so I'm hoping to get a pretty shot of our Grand Daughter in her blue tutu.

After the concert we came home to a oven-like house, threw open all the windows and doors with security screens and then went to our Daughter's for coffee, tea and snacks which was also attended by a multitude of beetles, spiders and what ever other bug could squeeze through the tiniest gaps around windows and doors. 

  

New Year's Eve 2011

The Month That Was.

A child's wonder - QVB Sydney.

QVB - Sydney.

Some Drummer Boys aren't necessarily human. Christmas window display, Sydney.

King Parrot visiting my friend's garden.

Blue Mountains NSW.

Community Spirit - Banquet of Dreams at Springwood Civic Centre.

This year's summer theme has been very feminine I'm afraid...that is, dark, wet and moist. 

La Nina is very definitely at large in Sydney this summer.

My first visit to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall to watch....

Angelina Ballerina!

Happy New Year to You All!

Ballet

The layers of the petals of this camellia japonica remind me of a ballerina's tutu.

Tomorrow, my four year old Grand Daughter is to perform in her first ballet concert ever.

It seems like only yesterday that her mother performed in her first ballet concert as a three year old.

My Daughter's entire ballet class performed  a dance dressed as ponies.

In some ways it was more comical than anything, because the budding ballerinas were so intent on watching the audience that they kept running into each other.

I can't wait to see what my Grand Daughter is to perform tomorrow.

None of us, not even her mother have any idea of what Grand Daughter will be performing!

Tutu Gorgeous.

One More Tutu ...

Yesterday, I found this gorgeous red tutu in Frou Frou .
Frou-Frou is one of my favourite shops in Springwood and a number of items purchased from here adorn my house.
My G-D already has a blue tutu but is always asking for a pink one.  Believe it or not, the blue one belonged to her mother at around the age of eight.
  I'm sure this one will delight her, even if it's not pink.  It's in the wash at the moment and I'm hoping it will have dried in time for her return from pre-school this afternoon.

Ballet Duty.

My daughter is still feeling ill from a stomach virus so I volunteered to take my three year old Grand Daughter to her ballet class today.
She is so cute...and very talkative during the class too.  I think one lesson she needs to learn is how to listen more and speak less!
Afterwards we went shopping and then to the park.
Unfortunately I haven't been feeling one hundred percent either, so did not spend any more time than necessary at the shops.
 I promised my G-D that I would take her out to morning tea another time, once my body is feeling a bit more together.
Went home and had a light lunch of soft boiled eggs and miso soup which I followed with a sleep.  The sleep helped a lot and I then cooked  roast chicken with the usual veg - pumpkin, rosemary potatoes, beetroot, and carrots (all done in the oven) and of course steamed peas.
Tonight, I think I made the best gravy I've ever made!

Earlier this afternoon, my daughter and I were shocked and saddened to hear about the devastation of yet another earthquake in Christchurch New Zealand.
Once more, my thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by what seems to be an endless stream of natural disasters on either side of the Tasman Sea.

Lazy Day.

Went to my little grand daughter's second ballet class this morning.  So cute. Four little girls, and one boy. 
Afterwards, I did a bit of shopping and then on returning home began preparing tonight's dinner - gluten free pizza.
I make a pizza which I call White Pizza.
I have eliminated any plant from the Solanaceae  family from my diet and therefore cannot have the regular pizza with tomato paste.
So on my pizza I have ricotta cheese, olives, roast zucchini, artichoke hearts, mozzarella cheese, herbs, (basil, marjoram, sage) mushrooms, pepper and olive oil.
Sometimes I add thinly sliced fennel to the mix.
A portion of the ricotta cheese is thinned with soy milk to a thick paste which I use in place of the tomato paste, spreading on the gluten free pizza base before adding the remaining ingredients. 
In the afternoon, I did some sewing on the curtains I'm making for the large sliding door in our dining room. 
And my little grand daughter had a play mate come and visit.
Here are the curtains, being pressed before measuring and pinning.
Since taking up patchwork and quilting classes, I have come to realise how much easier sewing can be, and how much more of a professional finish can be achieved simply by pressing as you work.