07 September 2011

yahoozies, welcome one, welcome 600 . . .

Greetings all,
Thanks so much to all the lovely folk who follow this blog.  I appreciate it, yay, 600+!!  There are many days where I’m here at home, sewing & humming to myself, children at school & a husband who isn't coming home for months . . . so my blog is my adult conversation time.
Like daisy chains??  Me too.  My 3rd daughter made this for me after school today.  It's a tiara.
  Every 100 followers I have done a little ‘get to know me’ post.  This time I'm answering some random questions, asked by strangers over the years. Some are statements - people feel the need to tell me things about myself, their way of inflicting their opinion.  I chalk it up to their personal issue about the topic & I’m research.  Here we go, out of context not that an explanation of the situation would have helped??
* * *
Did you mean to have so many children?? 
Yes, since I was a young girl I remember wanting 4 children.  My husband obliged.
Which twin is the evil one?? 
Easy, the second born twin, she is sneaky & always plotting something.
Are you & your husband from large families too?? 
I’m the youngest of 4, handsome soldier is the youngest of 3, collectively we have created 23 children for the next generation.
When did you meet your husband?? 
I was in 2nd year Science at Sydney Uni when i bumped into my husband.  I instantly had a crush on him: funny, smart, good looking & met all my teenage dream boyfriend criteria: older, taller & wiser.  18 years later . . . i still have a crush on him & get butterflies when he calls.
Are you a cat person?? 

I love big dogs, but I grew up with lots of cats, my husband claims he’s allergic, so we’ll never have one.  Our third daughter, the evil twin, desperately wants a barn cat on the farm though.
Why don’t your children go to gifted & talented camps or schools?? 
 I like mainstream school, focusing on social & sports skills, they can pick up an academic  gear in senior high school, why push/ burn them out while they’re young.  I value their personalities, not just academic success.  Love, nurture & keep it natural, not forced.    
You will go back to pharmacology after the children finish school!! 
Oh no I won’t, I never plan to resume work in the real world, ever.  We're not moving to the country just for the clean air, space & sustainable lifestyle, we don't want a mortgage & vote for early retirement (ok, i retired at 26).  
You had twins so you couldn't have delivered naturally/ used cloth nappies/ breastfed & was it IVF??!! 
First up, natural delivery - i have an issue with that term . . . if i went au naturale as per 100 years ago, each & every one of my babies would have killed me - heads too big = forceps delivery; to a breech twin pulled out by her feet.  Vaginally yes, 'elastic' yes, thanks to an amazing obstetrician who delivered all 4 of my babies & set me off into parenthood on the right foot every time.  Cloth nappies, hell yeah, i married love not money, i could not afford disposable nappies & my guys never got nappy rash, i even made my own muslin liners.  Not a hippie, just budget conscious!!  I had so many people tell me i wouldn't be able to breastfeed twins, even though i fed/ expressed my first baby for 18 months & was working full time!!  I didn't listen & fed my twins for 18 months too.  My son, my last baby, my final breastfeeding experience, he was fed until he was 2 years old.  IVF, no.
I love my husband too much to let him go to war!!
I am not sure why anyone would say this to a young Army wife, but . . . this is my husband's chosen profession, he is very good at it, he has a natural sense of responsibility & protection.  I respect that what he does makes a difference in this world, he has direction & focus, not to mention amazing job satisfaction, which i think few men have these days.
What do housewives do all day??

First up, i believe being a housewife & stay at home mother is an enormous privilege & i take it seriously, by way of running the house in an orderly, planned & clean manner.  I am on time to school & manage the house so i can catch a movie when i please, go to the gym, walk the dog, play on blogs, meet the ladies for lunch & sew for my decade old design business.
I have recently taken a big step back from all my non housewifely & motherhood committments (P&C, wholesale, on line shop, custom design, markets) as high school is keeping me busy, my husband lives interstate (no back up) & i'm exhuasted.  The only place you'll find my products right now is this beautiful Shop. 
 Shop Handmade in Canberra City, until very recently i was working here a few days a week, it was a beautiful experience filled with fun, flowers & laughter, oh & gorgeous customers!!  I took this shots this morning, how glorious is their Spring window, wish them luck for the Tourism awards!!
I hope my lovely 600+ followers enjoy this little Q&A.  If you want to know things like what i love . . . macarons . . . what i loathe . . . rudeness . . . what makes me smile . . . Yoga . . . what scares me . . . clowns . . . favourite smell . . . bread . . . dislike taste . . .  coffee . . . love the colour blue . . . stay tuned, these will all feature. 
I also do fun giveaways, right now you can win 3 x Lego Hero Factory dudes & a signed copy of Riley & The Grumpy Wombat + a matching pencil roll.  Thanks for hanging in there with me, love Posie
PS anyone else having issues with Blogger jumping text, lines, images & fonts around??  I give up!!

29 comments:

Tas said...

"What do housewives do all day?"
Seriously? Someone asked you that?
Of course, the answer is sleep in, drink coffee after golf or tennis with besties, manicure, hair, pedicure, more coffee shops, work on the fake tan...Oh, so much to fit in :P

Any history to being scared of clowns?

Felicity said...

I love these segments Jennie and your frank answers are terrific.

Am so pleased to be amongst the 600 who follow you avidly.

xx's Felicity

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

I have just always been scared of clowns, add to that jumping castles & monkeys, i told you there'd be more!!
Truly, people ask what i do, am i bored as a housewife?? I find it the most empowering role in the world!! Love Posie

Jacinta said...

Congrats on 600, looking good babe! That shop window looks gorgeous, love those big paper flowers, cute. xo

KH said...

Great questions, and even better answers!

Apparently all I do all day is sit around drinking coffee too.

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

I don't even drink coffee, or tea, or alcohol, i'll just leave it a big mystery what i do behind the scenes to those who wonder??!! Love Posie

Anonymous said...

We get asked all the time did we plan having 5 children and the look of shock horror when I mention we want one more :)
It's quite comical some of the questions that people ask isn't it...I am glad that you are always so frank and honest in your posts Jen.
x

Sarah B said...

My fave colour is blue, I don't like clowns and am a fan of big dogs too! :) 600 followers - very impressive!

Brenda @ 13 Acres said...

Jennie, you are awesome and getting to know you a little better just makes me love you and your blog eve more!!! Yay on the 600!!! xx

Amy said...

Hey Jennie,

I was at shop handmade yesterday looking at that gorgeous window!

Sorry I haven't had time to actually 'meet' you! I would of loved too. We just haven't stopped!

We do cloth nappies here too. People are still amazed that we use them. I really don't get what the fuss is. Althougth we are using disposables whilst on holidays!

Tiff said...

Loved getting to know you better!!! I thought you might be pretty special... now I know it!!! X

Unknown said...

You could tell me you had two heads and slept all day and I'd still love you !

1000 Homes of Happiness said...

Some of these questions make me giggle....the 'evil' twin? hehe.

Love your responses and how they have enabled me to get to know you even more.

Happy 600 followers Posie....x

Kellie xox

Tales of a Tai Tai said...

Love this post! I adore the smell of bread too and have an infinite amount of respect for both you and your husband and the path you've chosen! Love a Q&A, love it xx

polkadotpeticoat said...

Silly, you retired at 26, you and I both know we work harder at home then any working woman in the workforce except a dairy farmers wife....there is a special place in heaven for these woman. so remember when you guys hit the country no animals that you will have to milk.....congratulations on 600 who couldn't follow along, its so much fun!

Bron said...

Congrats on the milestone...loved the extra info. Have a great rest of the week.

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

Kudos to you on the 18 month b-feeding the twins - I only managed 5 months, and only once at the same time - too funny!

Anna Bartlett said...

Great post Jennie. It's so great to get to know you better. You make me want to be a better wife and mother. No wonder we're all following you!

Anonymous said...

loved reading this posie and hats off to you for 600. your answers were honest and interesting to read. thanks!

The Provincial Homemaker said...

Wow - 600 followers. Congratulations.

We have used cloth nappies - like you, an expense decision. Despite cloth nappying seeming fairly mainstream in the blogosphere I have only come across one other family in my day to day life that use them.

Sam said...

Great post, it's nice to get to know you a little better, since I'm a keen follower of your blog too. 6oo followers, well done!:)

Anonymous said...

brinkka2011 says: How is it that just anybody can publish a blog and get as popular as this? Its not like youve said anything extremely impressive more like youve painted a quite picture about an issue that you know nothing about! I dont want to sound mean, here. But do you really think that you can get away with adding some quite pictures and not really say anything?

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

I just had to publish that anonymous comment, what the hell?? It's not even spam as Brinkka 2011 has clearly read the post & i think she means 'quaint' images but is unable to draw any substance from what i wrote, how hiliarious!! Oh, yes, i'm getting away with writing nothing & just putting up a post/ entire blog with rubbish. We all must be losers then?? Love Posie

Lois said...

I have been a bit of a lurker here, but just thought I'd tell you Jennie that I love that you bring happiness & forthrightness to your blog. I look forward to reading your blog every day!! :)

ally said...

Hello from another loser then!!!
Love the little snippets.
I bet it was lovely working at that beautiful shop

All For Love said...

Oh BIG congrats on the 600 Posie, so well deserved my bloggy friend :o)
Love this post too, some of the things I knew, others I didn't, but I always love reading about your story Posie, such positivity and general get up and go, it's refreshing!
Oh my, how did you work in that shop and not buy everything in it?? It's gorgeous! Just the kind of place I'd love to steal away to for a couple of hours ;o) I could get lost in there xo

Sandrine said...

It was lovely to know you better Jennie.I am always amazed about the diverse way of life we all come about in this "blogland".It is always such an enriching process to read what other women go through, learn, think...Thank you for sharing some with us.
When it comes to bloggers it has been an absolute nightmare for the last few weeks for me...I could not open any other blogs, comments etc...I had to change my browser and it seems to work now??!Who knows :)
Enjoy your weekend Jennie!
X Sandrine

Sharyn said...

I just love your honest enthusiasm for your family and life. Hope to read another 600 Sharyn

Finki said...

Love... no I absolutely adore your honesty and frankness. I like to think of myself as someone who keeps it real, but then I read your posts and wish I was more like you xx and that nasty anon comment about quiet pictures and no content...Gosh! I'm glad you could laugh it off, cause IT WAS rubbish. You're posts have more content and meaning then most blogs I read. Thank you for keeping it real and sharing your positivity in all you do. Jay xx