Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Chucking a sickie

The "sickie" is a great Australian tradition.... taking advantage of sick pay and enjoying a day off. When you're self-employed and feeling too poorly to go to work it's not half as much fun.

The wee girl, however, thought it was GREAT fun - just like a weekend - to be home and having my undivided attention. She organised lots of activities for me. (I was kind-of hoping to get a book proposal written or a shopping cart tweaked... alas, it wasn't to be).

We checked in on last weekend's project (inspiration from here) and were happy to see our egg family growing wheat hair at last. There were discussions about a relocation to a sunny windowsill to help the hair grow a bit faster. It's cold outside these days!

There was a bit of blackboard action.

And a spot of painting. This artwork is "Worms in the Rain". "The dots are their tracks... do worms have tracks?".
We made pavlova. We smothered it in cream and grated mint chocolate (...and I ate most of it. Oops).
Inspired by this book, we made a wheat bag from scraps of Thomas the Tank Engine flannelette (from the pj's I made on the weekend). It was a real team effort.

My assistant cut the eyes and eyebrows (I was on nose and mouth duty... and helped a bit with the eyes). The wee one also helped to steer the fabric under the machine and was in charge of raising and lowering the presser foot. She filled it (BRIM FULL!!) and I stitched it up.

When it was finished we played throw-it-in-a-bowl and catch games ...and were equally bad at BOTH games! (I think she's inherited both my craft and complete-lack-of-sporting-prowess genes).

While the sewing machine was still out we whipped up a mini-Mummy outfit (read: no pattern skirt, hacked together polo neck top and super-quick leggings). We gave it a quick road test in the park.

PLEASE NOTE: Being in the SWINE FLU epicentre of Melbourne, I thought it wise to take all precautions and not share the love around (any more than I may have on the weekend). A trip to the doctor today confirms that it's a regular winter virus.

I think the "holiday" is over and I'll be back at work tomorrow. Sick days are more exhausting than any day at work, it seems. Oh, and I'm feeling much better now.
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PS. The top in the "sickie" photo (taken by my assistant as I tried to keep her amused at the doctors) was one of the no-pattern cowl tops I made at Sewjourn on the weekend. I'll try to photograph a few more bits over the next week or so (but if you can't wait that long I'm sure there'll be a few similar tops seen around the Ballarat area later this week.... and perhaps a few in Thornbury...?).

14 comments:

CurlyPops said...

No wonder you're exhauseted after all that crafting and coooking (that pav looks delicious).
Love the facemask shot - good to see that they're taking precautions at the doctors!

Anonymous said...

What a day! Glad that you don't have the piggy virus, and that you're starting to feel a little better. The wee one obviously had an absolute ball with you home. I am trying to tidy my sewing room to accomodate the metres and metres of stretch fabric I have purchased in order to make many, many no-pattern skirts and cowls. And now I feel the need to make some mini-mummy ones too! Yay for Nikki!
ps - wearing my lace cowl top today.

sewing the seeds of love said...

Aahh...yes...the joy of being the sick Mummy...except we never really get to just sit around and BE sick...looks like your daughter had a lovely time though ..love the painting...thanks for the idea with the hairy eggs..I think Emily and I will be doing that this week !
Shocked to see a blank mask..thought you would have appliqued it ..LOL

Gina said...

OK, you get my Parent of the Week award for today's efforts. Does turning on a Wiggles DVD for my toddler count as a craft activity?
Get well soon!

Tania said...

Oh, Lordy! You are a better woman than I! We don’t generally do TV in our house, but I think I would have resorted to some DVD action today! Quick, go collapse on a couch and demand TLC...

Gillian R said...

You have officially won the Golden Sick Mummy Award for valiant efforts in entertaining children when sick.
Honestly, that pav looks like it was medicine just waiting to be taken....

ellie said...

Glad that you're feeling better.
And, even if it was more tiring playing rather than working, it's good to have little ones to remind us that sick days are meant for things other than work at home. Looks like the laughing, smiling and fresh air - and I'm sure lots of cuddles - helped with the healing process.
Take care. xxx

méri said...

Hope you are feeling much better now! and what a day...:)

Katherine said...

Eeep. You did all that on a sick day???? I'm baffled to think how much more you do when you're well!

Glad to hear you took a miss on the swine flu and I hope you're back to full force soon.

Maybe you need one of your get-well hot whiskies?

Gail said...

After moving from the Public Service to consulting in my own business I fully get the bit about sickies...as i sit here at my computer and sniff...aaa chooo!

Mon @ bpab said...

Being sick is crap, even a cold! We just did the rounds last week....
Hope you're recovering and enjoying some time out. x

Cathy {tinniegirl} said...

Your sick day sounds exhausting. I can't believe how much you got up to.

Hope you are feeling tip top again soon.

Lexi:: PottyMouthMama said...

Looks like a full on day! Wowsers, I am impressed with all that you achieved. LOVE that painting. And really love the mini-Mummy outfit. Too cute.

GUGAW said...

Very impressed at the amount you did on a sick day! But as far as sick days go it seems like a rather lovely day x