Gingerbread

Churches have been holding gingerbread house events for years, but for some reason, we have always gone for something else. We have had button flowers, cards, felt flowers and foodie, rather than crafty events. This year, we went old school and embraced the gingerbread.

As usual, my very dubious talent for talking landed me the job of MC, so I took the less involved gingerbread option of making a tree, rather than a house. I highly recommend the tree option, it is quicker by far, much easier to wrap and delivers a modest amount of gingerbread and lollies. That said, I will still get my gingerbread house mold out and make one with the kids. It's tradition you know. 

I wonder if it is possible to hold a women's event free of sugar. I may have been the only woman who left having consumed only water and tea!

Going the distance

It has been a big week of driving. On Tuesday I went to a Readers' Advisory meeting in Bowral, leaving at 6 to just make the 10 o'clock start and getting home at 7.30. It's a pleasant drive, my boss' car is very nice to drive and I listened to a book. Sadly, the book goes for 8 hours and 15 minutes so I still have a little bit to go - that was poorly planned!

Next year my regional library service is admitting another council, giving us one more library (taking us to 18 static branches and 2 mobile libraries). The new library is at West Wyalong and yesterday Louise and I added it into the internal courier run to see how long it will take. We have three drivers over the week as it is an awful lot if driving. Yesterday we started at 8, went to 7 branches and finished at 5. 

It's a great way to see the countryside and to suss out the best cafes in each town! In Coolamon there is a cafe, called Ajanta, I have never been to before because it is only open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If you come to visit us, please come on one of those days because it is going to be our new weekend destination! 

The end is coming

It's a little bit scary, really. Christmas parties are already happening, we really need to get organised! 

We had our book club end of year party on Wednesday night, with 150 book clubbers. There are around 840 all up, so we got off lightly. It was a pleasant evening with wine, finger food, new books and lots of chatting.

It's my work Christmas party next week and my stamping one the week after. I cannot believe that the kids have a week and a half left of school. Stop the ride, I want to get off!

Inside

We chose a dog that wouldn't shed so that we could have him inside with us. We are out a lot, so we knew we ought to spend time with him when we are around. While we were building, Milo lived outside as he wasn't allowed in our rental house, and we have been worried about the floor in our new house, that he might scratch it.

The hot weather of late has made us reconsider and, on the weekend, we bought him a new bed for inside and let him in. He LOVES it, and so do we. He loves being near us, loves sitting next to us so we can pat him and he loves his new bed. As much as he loves his new bed, he is also keen to sit on a beanbag. Lots of sitting, no running and we're all happy!

Coming home

Oops! It has been a week since I came home from Mudgee, Christmas is galloping towards us. It was such a great conference and Mudgee is a lovely town. They have restored their old buildings and there are cafes everywhere. I snuck out one afternoon to go to a cafe with Liz and Ian (so great to see them) and we stopped in there again on our way to the AGM of the NSW Public Libraries Association, just before the long drive home.

I arrived just in time to unpack my bag and take Bethany to an evening recital. The last one she had was just for her teacher's students and only went for around ten minutes. Three teachers brought their students together for this, and though she was very nervous, Bethany's performance went off without a hitch.

Sometimes Toby and I are a little bit silly before his piano lesson, in those last precious weekend hours. He has freckles!

Mudgee

It was a really great conference, lots of fabulous speakers, both local and international. Four days with no cooking or washing , with only myself to organise, is always pleasant, too, though I'll have to catch up over the weekend.

Library conferences are very social, with events on each night. The conference dinner on the final night had the vague theme of 'country class'. We interpreted that as we wished and sat in our finery having pre- dinner drinks on the verandah.

The meal was nice, Adam Spencer was a great emcee and mentioned Chrissie and me on stage as we asked for a selfie with him as he waited to go on. We also took this attempt at a shelfie - it's a thing, you know.

Unfortunately, the music did not live up to expectations, and though I did manage to dance a bit, I gave up in disgust after about eight Elvis songs, including one that was played twice in a row!

I was so disappointed. Thankfully, we are going to go dancing during my work Christmas party, it had better be good!

Conference time

Not the best time to leave my family, in the middle of exams and when Andrew has a big show on, but the NSW Public Libraries conference is when it is, so off to Mudgee we go. It is held in Sydney one year, and the country the next.

It's around a six hour drive from Wagga and there are twelve people here from our regional library, but six travelled together in two cars. We were to stop for coffee at Young, so I messaged my friend Sue, who lives there, to find the best coffee. She recommended the Art of Expresso and, of course, I almost baulked on the grounds of spelling, but when I Googled the location, found the spelling issue was hers! She must have been yanking my chain.

For lunch, we were to be in Bathurst, so I messaged Janice to get her recommendations. I was concerned that Sweet Caramel didn't sound very promising for lunch, but it was a winner.

We arrived in Mudgee and I immediately went into town to visit Liz and Ian who moved from Wagga a couple of years ago, then got ready for the conference's welcome event.

Yes, it's a hard life.

Freedom

I went to the opening of the refurbished Henty Library on Friday, don't you love their board book owl? His name is Owlbert.

After work Toby and I went back to the physio to free his arm from its hot, fibreglass cast. He says it felt weird, and now he has a skinnier, less tanned arm. Toby loves having his photo taken.

It was perfect timing as the weather has warmed right up. We got out the water slide for Bethany and remembered when the Melbourne cousins played on it with us.

Now, Toby and I are at piano lessons, and he can play with both hands this week!

We're really looking forward to this time next week, when all exams will be over!

Side fringe

I didn't know that a side fringe was a real thing, but Bethany has been asking for one for ages. I finally gave in, picked her up after school and took her to the hairdresser. She's awfully pleased with it.

  

Joss and Toby have exams next week, but for Food Technology, Joss had to make something at school this week. They had the choice of making a recipe set by the teacher, or bringing in  ingredients for a recipe of their own choosing. Apparently, most of the boys just made what the teacher chose, a chicken dish, and the girls all made something sweet. Joss gave me her shopping list on Monday and I spent $30 on ingredients for her triple chocolate cheesecake! $30! We have never tasted any of the things she has made at school this year because they all share them with their friends at lunch. I insisted that the $30 cheesecake come home. By all accounts, it is delicious, in small doses.....

Love

Bethany went into her bedroom after school on Monday. She put up a do not disturb sign and I did not see her for a couple of hours. Just before dinner I was presented with this. Handmade paper flowers, a plasticene version of me giving Bethany a hug, and an acrostic poem.

What a beautiful little girl she is!

BFFs

Bethany and Hannah have been friends for as long as they can remember. They are still great friends, though Hannah towers over Bethany!

Narelle had the brilliant idea of having Hannah's birthday party at Wagga Beach (we do know it's not a real beach). They played volleyball in the sand, ate pizza and whacked a pinata. Bethany gave Hannah and herself necklaces with two halves of a best friends heart. Happy times.