Good bye Edna

Yesterday one of my lovely old ladies passed away.  These are two roses from her garden.  I feel very sad as I have always had at least one lovely old lady in my life to share her stories with me and I feel a deep loss now at the stories untold.  I know that it was her time to go.  She was 96 years old.  She was tired.  She told me about 3 years ago that she always felt that she was about 21 years old.  I can't even count the number of times that she has shown me her dresses that she has kept from great memories, laid each one out for me to see.  Each dress preserved with memory and love - not every dress that she ever had, just the important dresses.  She would take me through her house to show me anything new that had come in, a card, or a bunch of flowers, a photo of her two grandsons. When I lived next door to her, we shared a vegetable garden so that she could have fresh vegetables still after Charlie had passed away and she would share her fabulous scones and her care.  I will miss Edna.  I will miss her calls to say that she needs help to fix something.  I love my old ladies.  Rest now, Edna, rest your weary bones, thank you for all your time you have shared with me and thank you for all those times you asked for our help.

The Very West, A call for emerging musicians from the west

I just stumbled over this in my email box, & thought that there might be the odd muso out there that is emerging like a beautiful butterfly...if so, this is your chance! 

St Jerome’s Laneway Festival and Footscray Community Arts Centre present:

THE VERY WEST

Are you an emerging musician or band?

From the Melbourne’s West?

Ready to take over the world…?

Then, we want you!

The Laneway Festival and Footscray Community Arts Centre are proud to be working together on a brand new initiative – The Very West, designed to support emerging musicians from Melbourne’s western suburbs. The Very West will offer local unsigned and unheard of bands, and/or musicians, the opportunity to prove their stuff to a panel of industry professionals at a special showcase event.

This panel of experts can then choose one band to go on and perform at the Laneway Festival in Sydney in January 2010. The lucky group will be flown to Sydney, provided with accommodation, given a dedicated stage slot, and the chance to give it all they’ve got in front of music industry representatives and thousands of music loving fans. With your name on the bill, this could kickstart your journey into the professional music industry!

Musicians must be from the western region of metropolitan Melbourne and be available to audition, showcase, and perform at the designated dates (see below). All showcasing artists will receive constructive feedback from the industry panel members and be offered the invaluable opportunity to network during the showcase.

Timeline

• Applications open Tuesday 27 October and close at 5pm on Friday 27 November, 2009
• Audition/Interview at Footscray Community Arts Centre – Saturday 5 December, 2009
• Showcase – date and location to be confirmed
• The selected artist/s may play the Sydney Laneway Festival on Sunday 31 January, 2010

What we need from you?

• Biography (including a list of recent gigs, if applicable)
• Up to three images of the artist/s
• Your myspace link or a CD of a selection of material
• A statement about what you are hoping to achieve in your musical careers (up to 150 words)

Criteria

Bands/musicians will be chosen to take part in the The Very West Showcasee Performance based on the following criteria:

• Artistic Merit
• Orginality
• Technical Skill
• Readiness to take the next step
•  Individuality/Personality – something unique

Due Date for Applications

Applications must be received by: Close of Business Friday 27th November, 2009
Electronically to bec@footscrayarts.com
Hard copy submissions (including all digital material) must be sent via snail mail or hand delivered to:

Bec Reid, Producer Arts and Community
Footscray Community Arts Centre
45 Moreland St
Footscray, VIC 3011
AUSTRALIA

*Please note: Footscray Community Arts Centre’s hours of operation are 9.30am – 5pm / Tuesday – Sunday.
Contacts & Further Information
Bec Reid, Producer Arts and Community - Footscray Community Arts Centre
bec@footscrayarts.com

t. +61 3 9362 8802
f. +61 3 9362 8866

w: http://www.footscrayarts.com.au/getinvolved/the_very_west/
footscrayarts.com /// lanewayfestival.com.au

Love Meccano!

This weekend I think that I might take the kids down to the Melbourne Meccano Exhibition in Brighton to provide them with a little inspiration for their project. I love meccano. The way it does up. The metal. The amazing things that you can make with it. Yay!

"I'm not tired!"

Sorry, I know that I haven't really blogged for a little while. Life has gotten on top of me & I am am feeling a little like those cars about to be smashed by that Monster Truck (yes, I did find myself at this whilst looking at camper trailers...YIKES!!!!). Anyway, haven't really had time to spend on the computer except for the essentials (getting ready for the tax man, stuff for school, preparing for classes, making sure emails aren't too out of control...).

Currently searching for 8th day in week.

Or maid.


On an interesting note, my sister Sally Darlison showed me this today...Too cool

Spring Fair in Collingwood - Calling for Stall Holders

If you are needing something to do next Sunday, I have heard from a friend of mine who has her kids at this school that there are still a few spaces open for craft stalls to be a part of the spring Fair at Collingwood College. If you make family friendly crafty things and are interested in having a stall contact Jane at janeandaiya@yahoo.com.au or 0400 287 917. Stall fees are $35 per stall plus $10 if you need a trestle table.

Danger in the kitchen

Ok, one of those kind of afternoons... I love this mixer. It's quiet, light, easy to use and we got it from Skip Shopper's Grandparents & May made plenty of sponges with this beauty. Special . It really whizzes a storm and we have it out all the time, until now. One birthday cake too many. Smoke. Yep. Smoke coming out. Luckily, it started to smoke when the cake had finished smoking, I did have to hand mix the colours for the marbling in.

It is actually the second appliance we have blown up today. The first one made me believe that there was a power outage with the rain storm. The boys were making toasties (baked bean) after school, and then the youngest one (6yrs) decided to make one too, popped it in the breville...and futt. Yep. There was a noise. That should have been the clue, but no, I still thought that the power has just gone out. Called the neighbour on the "stuck" phone (the one attached to the wall. No, she was right, decided that she was on a different grid. Had a lovely long chat. Got off the phone, answered a phone message from Edna (95) down the road about the postman leaving my mum's mail at her house, forgot to ask her about the power, spoke to my mum (her neighbour) forgot to ask her about the power... then rang the power people. No power outage. IS THE SWITCH DOWN???? Oh, you mean that one that is switched down? (I have never seen THAT one down before - only individual ones - yikes! Must have been a biggie!) Yep. Ok, comprehendo.... Yes, I won't use the toastie anymore kind sir....promise.... Now I look at it, the wires are a little melted.....................

Nice afternoon.

Cake is cooked now.

Let's hope I can do dinner with no hitches

Day 20 - Raindrops

The rain came last night. I love the rain. I love the way the raindrops pool in the nasturtium leaves. This nasturtium is incredible. The leaves are the size of dinner plates!

Head over to The Byron Life to some great pics & links to others joining in A Photo a Day in August

Day 19 - And the winner is... MissyP!

With the help of two of my sons and my lovely sewing basket, the draw was done, not at 8pm last night, but first thing this morning. If that is your name there, then you are the lucky winner of the giveaway! When I have your address it will be on it's way to you!

Today is an exciting day in our house with the school play - matinee & evening - all three boys in it...three tired little boys tomorrow! One will be a crocodile, another a teenager and the other a butler.

Head over to The Byron Life to some great pics & links to others joining in A Photo a Day in August

Day 18 - Time is ticking by

Today is one of those days that I watch the clock. Lots to do & not enough time...I love this clock. It came from Skip shopper's grandparent's house & sat on their mantel above the wood stove in the kitchen. It is a wind up & ticks really loudly. It has a wind up alarm too that I set for just before the boys fly in the door from school so I can remember to breath before they do. Tick tock.

Head over to The Byron Life to some great pics & links to others joining in A Photo a Day in August

Don't forget that today is the last day for the giveaway, so if you want to enter, all you need to do is to leave a comment on the post below! Good luck. Gotta go.

Day 17 - Crisp & Clean

Today for me it was all about cleaning and washing...one of life's mundane tasks. I took my mind off it with listening to great vinyls on our record player that we have just brought back from my mum's holiday place with our great collection of records (all mainly from the 80's...) My 6 year old said this morning (first day of record player in the house) "You know, I'm really getting into this record thing mum." He played records before school and after school. Musical bliss!

Head over to The Byron Life to some great pics & links to others joining in A Photo a Day in August