A picture's worth 1000 words … week 11 ...

A photo a day … every day … in 2014.

Day 68:  Just a teeny, tiny sneak peek at something I'm working on at the moment.

Day 69:  Look what my poor neglected garden grew.

Day 70:  Pretty little piece of patchwork.

Day 71:  It's amazing the details you notice on everyday things when you really, really look.

Day 72:  Number One Son.

Day 73:  Desperately seeking shelter … from the sun.

Day 74:  Footy season starts.

Absent thoughts ...

My boys played truant from school today.

It was the annual athletics carnival … and neither of them are renowned for their athletic prowess.

In the past I would have given a spirited and motivational speech about how it's the participation that counts … not the winning. And then I would have provided an inspirational spiel about supporting their school house … and being a good school citizen.

But I'm clearly weakening in my old age … and they took swift and full advantage of this.  When I was confronted with the usual "Mum … can we have the day off …it's just the athletics carnival" … I simply shrugged … made a token suggestion that perhaps they should attend … and then gave in.

Master 16 made a speedy getaway to a friend's house … and has not been seen since.

But Master 13 and I decided to spend the day together … bonding.

We went to the shops … his suggestion not mine.

Master 13 never, ever suggests we go to the shops … so I knew there was an ulterior motive.

Turns out it was to buy a voucher for some game platform I've never heard of … don't know the first … or last … thing about … and can only hope it's not about to destroy our computer.  Such is the extent of my technological savviness.

But he was certainly pleased with it.

Then we enjoyed a healthy and nutritious lunch … NOT ...

… and came home.

And that was that … bonding time was over.

Master 13 disappeared into the computer room … and I spent the afternoon with a raging case of indigestion ... racking my brain … unsuccessfully … to come up with an excuse to write on their absentee note.

Anyone got any clever suggestions?

Black socks ...

Master 16 considers himself to be quite the trailblazer in all things fashion.

He's the innovator … he goes where no man has gone before … and he believes he does it with the correct level of swagger.

This week he debuted this look.

More specifically these …

Hubby was horrified!

He felt it was his duty to regale us with the traumatic tale of how … in 1984 … he was out on his paper route …  delivering newspapers …  when he came upon an elderly man mowing his lawn in shorts … black leather shoes and black socks.  He was appalled … and he has never been able to forget the disturbing sight.

But Master 16 was not to be deterred … after all he has no intention of taking fashion advice from a middle aged man … especially one that found these ensembles acceptable …

And so he wore those black socks … and he wore them with pride.

Hubby felt he was entitled to his right of reply … and it came in the form of a collage.

A dedication to black socks the world over …  and the men that wear them … with pride.

A picture's worth 1000 words … week 10 ...

A photo a day … every day … in 2014.

Day 61:  "I like going in the car … it makes me happy."

Day 62:  Murraya … looks good … smells better.

Day 63:  Eye spy.

Day 64:  An unwelcome visitor to my gumboots.

Day 65:  Tools of the trade.

Day 66:  Five days … and counting … till my next haircut.

Is it my imagination … or do I look kind of creepy in this photo?

Day 67:  Look … up in the sky … it's a bird … it's a plane … it's actually two skydivers … but you'll have to take my word for that.


Joining in with Em at The Beetle Shack.

An Ode to our Optical Odyssey ...

My son … he loves cricket … so he tried out for the team.

It's a sport that he holds ... in the highest esteem.

It wasn't too long ... before he was heard to exclaim,

"I made it … I'm in ... I must prepare for the game."

The preparations were not ... to go and get fit,

What he meant was it's time  … to buy the priciest kit.

Then once he was batted and padded … boxed and the like,

You would think he was ready … but NO … there was one final strike.

"But Mum" … he cajoled … "I want to make a big score",

"And that will be hard  … when my eyesight is poor."

"What I need are some lenses … the contacty type,"

"If I have some real soon … then I won't need to gripe."

So he made an appointment … you can do that online,

And before I could blink … he had a day and a time.

I could feel my poor purse ... getting lighter and lighter,

But he couldn't care less … the self centred blighter.

Then I warned him  … quite gently … that despite his confident air,

That contacts were tricky … and must be handled with care.

He pooh poohed my concerns … "Mum it'll all be alright"

"I'll pop them in for the game and improve my eyesight."

"I only will wear them ... for sport …  you will see,"

"I can handle these things … it will be easy for me."

So we arrived ... at the Optical Shop … right on cue,

And listened intently ... to the lady who knew.

How to put in those contacts … and how to take them back out,

How to wash them … and store them … she left us no doubt.

Then it was time … to make the transfer,

And that's when the phenomenon ... began to occur.

He held that small disc ... and he looked at his eye.

Then he blindly pushed on … and gave it a try.

At that point … he paused … he was suddenly clammy,

His heart it was racing … a big double whammy.

His face it went pale … with a grayish, green tinge,

Sweat formed on his brow … and he started to cringe.

He put down the contact … and made a quick plea,

"I really must sit … I'm weak at the knee."

"I'm feeling all dizzy … my innards are churning."

It was very dramatic … and somewhat concerning.

And so we discovered … despite his confident air,

That touching his eyeball … is something he just cannot bear.

Now the hard lesson to learn ... was don't be such a "know-all"

But as a typical teenager … he probably learnt nothing at all.

By Me

Howzatt … not very good … thank you very much ...

Master 16 was recently selected for the School Cricket team.

This was the cause of much excitement for him … and much expense for me.

Firstly, I was informed that he required a "kit".

The "kit" consisted of bat, pads, thigh guard, white pants, shoes, gloves, box, hat and a bag to store them all in.

Every piece of this "kit" was of the utmost necessity … and nothing that had previously been purchased could possibly be recycled.  Apparently Hubby's "kit" was all too big and Master 16's previous "kit" was all too small.

There was nothing for it … I was assured … but to go and purchase all these items … ASAP.

So we did … and it cost us a not so small fortune.

Then I was informed that it was simply impossible for him to wear his glasses whilst playing … and he required contact lenses … it was imperative that said contacts be purchased … ASAP.

So we did … and it cost us a not so small fortune.

On Monday, Master 16 and the rest of his team played their first match.

They lost spectacularly.

On Tuesday, I was advised …  for the very first time … and NO Master 16, you NEVER mentioned it before … that the tournament was sudden death … and that's it … they're out … no more matches … EVER!

To say I was not amused might be understating it slightly!!!

A picture's worth 1000 words … week 9 ...

A photo a day … every day … in 2014.

Day 54:  What's a boy to do … when there's leftover chocolate ganache??

Day 55:  Time for Buster's annual immunisations … he's on alert … watching the Vet's door … waiting for the cue to bolt.

Day 56:  Master 16 discovers his own personal heaven on earth.

Day 57:  There's a storm a brewin'.

Day 58:  Read a book today.

Day 59:  Lunch in the shopping centre food hall … the cuisine may not be fancy … but the roof is.

Day 60:  Ssshhh … the movie's starting.

Linking up over at The Beetle Shack.