The Amalgamation

Sunday 2 March 2008 - 2.45 pm

Playground in Hastings, Victoria.

It has a bit of a seafaring theme - the main playground has the appearance of a ship.

There’s a small boat on the water-type ride… Except that it’s on bark chips.

- My eldest child sits in the front of the boat, yelling at his younger sister to “hurry up, the waves are too big!”

Pencil and permanent marker (Sharpie) on paper, May 2008.

A companion to “Honey.”

After drawing “Honey,” the red / pink horse requested by my 3-year-old, my 5-year-old then reminded me that he would like a brown horse of his own called “Lunny.” I think he just wanted a name that rhymed with Honey, and took ‘Lenny’ but altered it. So he requested that I draw a representation of Lunny, pointing out a horse in an Arabian Horse breeders’ magazine.

Pencil and permanent marker (Sharpie) on paper, May 2008.

A companion to “Lunny.”

My 3-year-old is adamant that I am about to buy a horse that she has named Honey. While this is not true, she has decided that Honey will be a pink / red horse, a girl, a pretty horse, and able to talk. Apparently she will live in our rented suburban backyard. Oh, if only I could tell my children that they will get a horse, but I’ve been asking for one since I was 3 as well, and it still hasn’t happened yet!

The dream would be to get maybe an Arabian, Anglo-Arabian, Quarter Horse x Thoroughbred or maybe an Australian Stock Horse. Or a miniature. Or maybe a donkey…

I drew this one at my daughter’s request.

Photograph, May 2008.

This is one of those sights I just found in the backyard. The kids had left their toys strewn (?) across the lawn, and I decided to help them tidy up. This sight of the lonely red plastic sandpit shovel seemed to begging for a portrait.

Pen on paper, March 2008.

This super cute shark was drawn by one of my children, aged 5, who was inspired by a children’s art book to attempt to recreate this fearsome creature. I think it’s brilliant!

Thursday 14 February 2008 - 9.45 am (Happy Valentine’s Day!)

Just waiting for the weekly children’s story time at the local library. It’s a great idea - it’s free, for pre-schoolers and they play games, do craft, sing songs and meet other kids. Oh, and they read stories. My kids love it!

Just coming to the realisation that I forgot to get my husband a Valentine’s Day gift. Oh dear…

Having a wardrobe dilemma today. I have dressed terribly.

Photograph, September 2007.

I walked outside to find this doll’s pram (stroller, perambulator, whatever you prefer to call it) hanging off the washing line. The kids must have been bored. It creeped me out at first!

Thursday 7 February 2008 - 3.00 pm

So this is my life… A new chapter has begun as my eldest begins school.

Every afternoon I find myself sitting here in the school carpark, dodging frazzled mums driving big 4WDs.

…waiting for class to finish…

- fear of the other mothers

- listening to depressing news on the radio

- we’re in Australia - that’s where the steering wheel goes

10.49 pm - Wed 16 January 2008

Summer holiday observations:

• despite my valiant resolutions I still continue to stay up too late at night
• I receive a bunch of books for Christmas and figure I’ll read them throughout the year. Instead, I read all 20 books in about 2 weeks.
• I promise I’ll finish that manuscript… then waste time watching tv show repeats
• I intend to play with the kids more… but spend too much time on housework