streeeeeetch!

I am feeling pulled in all directions at the moment and as a result some things are suffering. I can't think properly, I do little to nothing around the house, I am not always as tender or patient as I'd like with the littles...relationships in general are suffering, I think.
Soon the Shakespeare and all which that entails on my (and others') part will be finished and that will be a huge weight lifted. Don't get me wrong, I do really enjoy it, it's just bloody hard work to find the energy to balance everything.

It seems like it's always one thing to the next with me...but this time I have promised myself that (after doing my friend's wedding cupcakes and Maggie's birthday) I will not take on anything else. For a while.

Breathe.

rant...

Sometimes I feel like people don't take me seriously...
Two days in a row now I have had people just not turn up to rehearsal. It is not particularly easy for me to pack up both the girls and enough stuff/food to entertain them for a couple of hours and go into town. It also inevitably means that Maggie's day sleeps go out the window. Yes, fair enough, I chose to do this...yes, I did, but I am trying to make it as easy as possible for others and don't feel they are according me the same respect in return. It's not fair on me, my kids or the other people who turn up. I am being pretty accommodating, changing dates/times etc and frankly I am getting a little pissed.
People have all the information they need and can pretty much contact me any time...
I guess I just feel like people don't do this to other directors...or do they? I certainly don't.
It comes down to me feeling like people don't take me seriously.

here endeth the rant.

closing time...

And so another year comes to a close.
Before you point it out, yes I have not posted for aaaaaages...I couldn't tell you why really other than I simply haven't felt like it. That's all really.

This, 2012, has been a good year. We have welcomed Maggie into the family, J has gotten a new job, Elanor has started kindy and I...well...I'm not sure really. But I have been doing stuff, I swear! I am in a strange place at the moment where I feel a bit like I'm just doing the minimum to get by, a kind of groundhog day funk. I'm sure it'll pass.

In the coming year I look forward to being part of friends' weddings, welcoming some bebes, furthering my sewing, nurturing relationships, taking steps towards making our big build a reality, getting tattooed, making time for husband/wife dates, hanging with the littles, a trip or two around the place, perhaps adding to our brood, doing some sweet baking and learning how to crochet...amongst other things...

Sayonara 2012...it's been nice.

how we roll...

we went to Cambridge...and rolled down hills

it was fun!

inadequecy anxiety...!!

I am having my first full cast meeting and read through for TT this afternoon, in half an hour to be exact (get of the computer Katie. Iknow, I know!) and am having some last minute nerves...
What if they lose faith in me from the outset? What if they think I don't know what I'm talking about...I do find it quite hard to put into words that people understand what is happening in my head... What if, what if?!
I think I feel pressure as one of my leads is like...THE summer Shakespeare, you know? Like he has been doing it so long and always (sound like he) knows what he's talking about and is so calm and collected and yes, OK, I have an intellectual crush - don't worry, we all know about it and countless other women do too.
I have everything I want to say in my head, let's just hope it comes out in normal people speak!

Anyway, smallest babe is asleep, biggest is pottering in the garden with J, biscuits are baked and iced tea is in the fridge. Wish me luck?

and so it begins....

This year, well technically next year, but...this year I am directing the Slip of the Tongue Shakespeare at the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival.We're doing The Tempest, 'cos it's one of my favourites and that's as good a reason as any, right?

It's going to have a broken down old circusy (it's a word spellcheck, leave me alone!) kind of feel...strings of lights...yellowed lace...red tail coat and the like, crossed with a steampunk thing going on for the shipwrecked ones. Well, that's the idea anyway.

I have already had my first fail. My Oxford Shakespeare was too fat for the copy machine so I had to be rescued by a man who, by the end of this process, is going to be more than deserving of a nice bottle of thank you whiskey from me.

This weekend is the first read through... it begins...

Biscuits a-plenty!

I have found the perfect biscuit recipe for Mamas... You can split the mix once it's ready and flavour it with...anything really - ginger, sprinkles, chocolate chips, raisins, lavender...

I imagine, not being a mother of school children, that this would be an awesome lunchbox baking trick.

500g butter
1 cup sugar
4 1/2 cups flour
6 tbsp condensed milk
vanilla esc.
4 tsp baking powder

cream the butter and sugar...add the condensed milk and vanilla...mix in the dry ingredients. This is when you split and flavour or put some in the freezer.
This batch I have done choc chippie, raspberry essence and coconut and sprinkles (flatten the top into hundreds and thousands).
Roll into walnut size balls and put on a baking tray.
Bake for around 20mins at 160 degrees C.

this is a half batch...made about 30(ish)!