Sunday: a little research

While shelving books with a young colleague of  mine, I had to stifle a loud laugh (frowned upon, very frowned upon in my work environment) when he mentioned that he never takes his work home with him! You see we work in a library and he doesn't borrow books. My mirth was also mixed with disbelief and a little head shaking on my part.

I love to read and I am on the opposite end of the borrowing spectrum to him. I borrow until I have teetering piles of fascinating, alluring books on all flat surfaces of my home.

Sometimes I even get to read some of them.

I did today. At work we call any book-reading: research. Sounds so productive.

 Y Cate

Ironic Wink

Yes, librarians use punctuation marks to make little emoticons, smiley and frowny faces in their correspondence, but if there were one for an ironic wink, or a sarcastic lip curl, they'd wear it out.” Marilyn Johnson, This Book Is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us All

More shifts than usual this week. Lots of chances to practise my ironic wink, haven't mastered the sarcastic lip curl. Thank goodnes I don't have to grown an ironic moustache!

What's an Ironic Moustache you ask? Sounds scary, and it is my friends, it is! 

The urban dictionary .com tells me that an ironic moustache is:

Generally adorned by a HIPSTER: an ugly moustache grown initially as a joke and to impress one's friends with the level of commitment necessary to maintain it. These moustaches often remain with the wearer far longer than they are funny and become a part of the person's ‘look’.

Jameson: Dude, Steve looks pretty gross these days. I don't think he's washed his denim jacket in a long time and his hair is awful!  Marc: No doubt - and his ironic moustache really isn't helping.

 Y Cate 

I said PLAY with your food!

I watched an interview on MORNINGS with a mother and her 5 year old daughter who has never eaten food. This girl, born premmie, developed sensory issues and is over sensitive to textures of food. Having always been fed through tube and a bottle the child recently went to the US to participate in a sensory program to be desensitised to food. As part of the program she played with food, used weighted therapy and learned to tolerate different textures, smells … but not yet tastes. 

Many children are fussy eaters. My daughter went through a phase of only eating warm food - except of course cold ice cream! 

A lot of parents could benefit from great ideas such as:

• Allow your child to play with food they don’t like, with no pressure to eat.
• Have a testing plate beside them at meal times. This is a separate plate to the one they are eating from. This gets kids used to seeing different foods and considering the idea of eating them. 

This hyper-sensitivity can occur with other senses too, not just taste and texture but sounds, lights or the feeling of certain clothing (like how that tag on the back of a new shirt can be annoying for me, but for a child with sensory issues – the irritation is a lot more intense). My husband and I always argue when the fan is on over the hot plates at dinner time… or could it just be that he is in-the-wrong at most meal times?!

The way to assist children with dealing with such hyper-sensitivity is to have a good sensory diet. 

• Swinging, jumping & rolling an exercise ball over a child with touch sensitivities can be soothing. 
• Putting something heavy (like a heat pack) on the lap of a child while they do homework can be calming. 
• Taking time to focus on sounds and playing with instruments can help children with noise difficulties. 
• And wearing sunglasses is useful for light sensitivities, as well as good sun protection. 

Everything always links back to food for me, so at afternoon tea time make the kids ice-cold and thick smoothies to suck through a straw. It’s great for kids with sensitivities and good fun too! 

peanut butter and jam smoothie

from the book: 500 juices and smoothies by Christine Watson

1 frozen ripe banana

1 teaspoon strawberry jam

1 tablespoon peanut butter

120 ml plain low fat yoghurt

60 ml of milk
a few ice cubes

Put all ingredient into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and serve immediately.
The frozen banana and ice make it even thicker and a more intense sensory experience.

This is a fun clip to watch about the texture crunchy.

And you can find heaps more ideas here.

Holly Treechange

Everything is possible!

http://nectarfestival.com.au/

International Women's Day was this week and I celebrated in style! 

For my daughter and I - it's been IWD all week.

Little Blossom was able to workshop with her new favourite author: Susannah McFarlane.

Little Blossom is reading devouring Susannah's EJ12 series about a young girl called Emma.

Emma Jacks may not always believe in herself, but the SHINE agency does and sends her all over the world to foil the evil plans of SHADOW. The girls often don’t notice but in the stories – brother and father excepted – there is not a single male character. Every time a scientist, a pilot, a marine biologist, a sports coach, and even a villain appears she is female, subtly underlining that girls can, and do, do anything – it’s their turn to shine!

Powerful stuff! Little Blossom also lined up for Susannah's autograph and received some amazing and personal advice that she will be able to draw upon her whole life. Thank you Susannah McFarlane.

My turn came and as a guest 'exhibitor' at the Highfields International Women's Day dinner:

My Silver Babushka and Green Wooden bead necklace

I was gifted with some insights and hard won wisdom from an incredibly generous and accomplished woman. Kaye Edwards is the owner of the  The Chocolate Cottage  one of my most favourite places to visit. She was kind enough to admire my work and shared her story (of hard work, inspiration and passion) with me. So many lessons ..so much amazing and practical advice...I wanted to be a sponge and absorb every word. 

Inside The Chocolate Cottage

Outside The Chocolate Cottage

The greatest jewel Kaye left me with is the message to NOT undervalue myself. Value myself, my abilities, my worth, my creative ability - that is my new mantra. Thank you Kaye.

The Queensland Government theme for 2012 IWD celebrations was ‘everything is possible’. My daughter and I have ended the week believing it! She can be a successful author and I can be.... well the possibilities are endless!

Y Cate

Running to catch up

I've started something and now I feel like it's taken on a whole life of its own! 

I was invited to sell my jewellery at a recent International Women's Day event. I had such a fabulous time showcasing my work and meeting lovely, strong and inspirational women. I just want to talk and talk and talk about them. And I probably will.....

I am promoting my facebook page by offering a lovely gift basket. It will be won by someone within my circle of first 100 fb likes!


Head on over to Twig and Blossom on facebook for more information.


Y Cate