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27 September 2017

Ruby Red Shoes




I love Ruby Red Shoes.  I discovered her last December when I was browsing the children's books at Bookface, looking for a book to give my daughter for a Christmas gift.  I fell in love with the cover, and then when I opened the book, I was sold.  The illustrations are beautiful, and the story is just so cute.

Ruby is a white hare who lives with her grandmother, Babushka Galina Galushka, in a painted caravan.  Ruby has her own garden where she grows flowers and vegetables and she also keeps chickens, who are so clever that she is teaching them French.

There are two further books - Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris, and Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London, and they are just as special as the first.


If you have daughters or granddaughters, or nieces, or god-daughters or any young girl in your life, they will love these books - they are just so pretty!  And if you don't, just go ahead and buy them for  yourself!

Kate Knapp is the author and illustrator, and you can see more about these beautiful books here.

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kylieo
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1 September 2017

E-Readers vs Paper books



I have to confess I am a traditionalist, when it comes to a lot of things.  It took me a long time to get my first mobile phone.  I resisted for quite a few years, until my husband finally bought one for me.  I never wanted to be contactable 24/7.  I still don't!

Similarly, I resisted getting an e-reader for a long time.  I love books.  I love book shops.  I love the whole reading experience.  I love the smell of a book, the feel of a book, the versatility of a book. You can take a book with you anywhere, and there is nothing more luxurious than running a bubblebath and reading while you soak.  That is my idea of bliss.

I could quite happily spend a whole day just browsing in a book shop. For me, one of the most exciting things about a trip to Sydney is visiting the big Dymocks store on George Street.  And they have a cafe, so you don't even have to leave to eat!

I love second hand book shops too.  One of my favourite memories from childhood is visiting the "Swap Shop" with my mum, who is also an avid reader.  The Swap Shop was a second hand book shop, tucked away in a little run-down arcade in my hometown.  It was absolutely packed full with books, magazines and comics.  To me, it was a treasure trove.  Not only could you buy cheap books, but you could take books that you no longer wanted and get a credit for them, that you could then buy more books with.  It was run by a little old lady (she must have been in her 80's) and she recorded all transactions in pencil in an old fashioned exercise book.

As a child, I would often read well after "lights out", using a little torch I had just for this purpose.  I have always loved hopping into bed and reading for a while before going to sleep. When I married though, I stopped doing this.  My husband suffers with insomnia, and to have any chance of sleep he requires the room to be dark.  So, no lamp for reading.  I tried using those little clip on book lights, but they are quite expensive and most are of dubious quality.

Then my sister told me about an e-reader which had a built in light, and my interest was piqued.  I did some research, and then went to the shop to have a closer look, and bought the Kindle PaperWhite e-reader.  I honestly didn't think I would use it all that much, other than for reading in bed, but I use it constantly.  It is so light weight, and versatile.  It has settings which allow you to choose different fonts, text sizes (fantastic for those who like a larger print book) and a range of different light settings.  It is easy to hold and very easy to use.

You can easily adjust the light setting, from dull to very bright

One of my main concerns was having to recharge the battery constantly, but I find that I only need to do this every couple of weeks and, as you can monitor the battery level, I just charge it when I'm going out and don't need to take it with me.

Some of the different settings available
It took a little while to adapt to swiping in order to turn pages, but I now prefer my e-reader over paper books.  I can buy books on special, or even pick up free books with Kindle daily and monthly deals.  I've discovered new authors too, because I don't mind spending a few dollars to trial a new author, but probably wouldn't pay full price at a book store.

An added advantage I have found, is that I can use the Kindle Paperwhite as a night light if I need to get up to  my daughter in the night, so don't need to turn on a bright light.

The only disadvantages I have found are that you can't pass a book on to a friend after you have finished with it, it's probably not wise to use it in the bath 😉, and you don't have that beautiful book smell.

I would love to hear your thoughts on e-readers, so please share them in my comments.

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kylieo
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29 August 2017

10 Songs I'm Loving Right Now ...




1.     Oceans -  Hillsong United (just speaks to my soul at the moment)
2.     Feels Like Home -  Emmylou Harris, Linda Ronstadt & Dolly Parton
3.     Always – Bon Jovi
4.     Heal the Wound But Leave a Scar – Point of Grace
5.     Classic – MKTO
6.     I Am, I Said – Neil Diamond
7.     Undeniable - TobyMac
8.     Am I Not Pretty Enough – Kasey Chambers (actually, just loving anything by Kasey Chambers)
9.     I Hope You Dance – Ronan Keating
10.   Circle of Life – Elton John (my son just performed in the Lion King musical at school, and it was awesome!)

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kylieo
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19 August 2017

Fresh flowers, mums and musical beds


My parents came to stay with us for a week, last Saturday, a visit much anticipated by my kids. Charlie gave up his room for nan and pop, and the plan was that he camp out on a mattress on Maddie's bedroom floor for the week. Well, that was the plan!  

The first night went smoothly, but the second night Charlie woke up vomiting, so I moved him out to the lounge so he wouldn't wake his sister, and moved his mattress out for myself to sleep on to keep an eye on him during the night.  Two hours later Maddie woke up and wanted cuddles, so I moved her in with my husband, and went back to bed.  




The next morning I woke up with the flu.  I haven't felt so bad for years.  I am so thankful my mum was here.  I slept all day and she cared for the kids, and cleaned the house.  I am still feeling lousy, although much better than I was.  I lost my voice on Thursday and am still "voiceless", much to the kids' amusement (and secret delight!)  

Anyway, for the rest of the week Maddie slept in my bed, Charlie slept in Maddie's bed, and I have been on the lounge, as I have need to sleep upright to help keep my nose clear.  

My parents' home is over 3 hours away from us, so we don't get to see them all that regularly, although we do see each other a lot more than we used to.  Up until 2014 we lived in Central Queensland and could usually only get together once a year, but when we moved down to the Central Coast for my husband's work 3 years ago it is much easier to visit them, and I am so grateful that the kids get to spend more time with their grandparents.  

Having extended family and/or a close community of people who really care about you close by is a wonderful thing to have in your life.  Although our family is spread out, we do have a wonderful group of people at our church who have become like extended family to us, and who I know I can count on when I need to.  



This was really brought home to me this week while I have been sick.  Different friends from church have shown their love and care towards me and my family in such a generous way, from providing a delicious pumpkin soup for our dinner, and dropping in some fresh flowers and a card, and dropping off a bag of spinach (home grown and delivered by a gentleman in his 80s).  



I feel very loved and blessed, and so content to be part of a community of people who look out for and care for each other.







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kylieo
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