Killing The Time

I was thinking to make something to wear for the bub, but it was hard to find good pattern. I found this mittens and bootees's pattern finally, thought this was the best from the others. Not easy to do, considering my numb and sore hand due to pregnancy. Also found some new knit term in this pattern, but I managed to know what and how, and think I did it well! Not sure if the bub will really wear this, though. But it would be nice for decoration too, I guess. Besides, it was a soothe enjoyable thing to do for killing the time and counting down!

Do you agree that my knitting skills has improved? ;p

Up And Down

Last weekend Hubby took another day off, since we planned to hit Dead Sea for two days. I know it would be fun. Weather warm and nice. The scene of green and flower would be everywhere out of town, which is very rare and would be nice to see. But I was hesitant to go. Other than because I didn't feel like having a long drive, we also still have to prepare a lot of things for the bub. More stuff to buy, and more things to do for the nursery. I thought I would feel much better to have holiday if everything's ready for the bub.

We ended up stay in town, and Hubby didn't mind. Instead, we spent time together deciding which room are we going to make over into nursery and shops. I started to wash some of baby's the blanket and clothing. Hubby did the hard bit like installing the cot, stroller and canopy stand. The nursery is not really ready as we need to move some wardrobe to other room. But at least the cot is now up. It look more like a baby cot when we put the bed sheet and dolls and canopy on it. We also managed to visit the maternity hospital and take a tour. It looks good, and people said the service is like a hotel. So the long weekend is not bad after all. We are happy to have some things up and ready for the bub.

I started to knit things for baby too, and recently finish the mitten. It might look like socks,... but it's a pair of mitten, and I was only following the pattern. Think it's not too bad for the first knit wear I made. (*grin*)

Can't wait for the bub to pop out! My tummy is really growing, as well as my body. It swell in some part, and hard to move around. Although I still drive, I have to limit my activity. I can't stand, walk, or sit too long. Tired and exhausted easily, and usually need to take a nap. I also have a sore and numb feet and hands. Not a great feeling, very uncomfortable and make me a bit down sometimes as I can't do as much as I wanted. Anyway,.. not long to go. Just need to hang on here.

The Heat Hit Back

Is it only me?? Apparently not.

It is getting hot. The temperature has raised to about 16-28 C in the last 3 days, from average 6-15 C.

Lovely cool breeze yesterday, but not today. Not sure if winter has finished,... but may be it is! All heaters in the house is now off and we had AC on when we sleep in the last two days.

Warm sunny weather is nice,... but cold sunny days are much better for me at the moment. However, as long as we have AC, I will not be complaining.

I Miss....

driving in a chaos traffic of Jakarta, spending times with family, hanging out with old friends,

taking shopping tour from mall to mall, shopping like never shop before,

going crazy with crazy sisters and friends,

and satisfy my tummy with yummy favorite food.

These are the one I miss the most as I can't get them here,
Crab with spicy sauce, traditional cakes from stall on the street,
frog leg with margarine sauce, teh botol, and hoka-hoka bento!

These pictures were only some from many others taken on my last year Jakarta visit, around the same time last year (march). Pulang kampung once a year, that's what I usually do since I move out. But I live far far away now, and with the baby coming soon, I don't know when I can go back there. Rather sad. Especially I'll miss my sister's wedding too this year.....

The Day To Share

It's rather strange but also flattering when I got asked to show how to make jewellery in front of bunch of women. Early last month, I've been asked to do it at the event of women association in indo emb's monthly meeting. I wasn't so sure if I could do it, not only because I'm not a pro, but also I don't have experience in teaching how to make jewellery!

I was then asked my beading 'guru', thought she could do it instead. But she said she would be busy with classes and shows and might be out of town on the nominated date. Instead, she encouraged me to do it and gave me some ideas how to.

After all this time, I came to their monthly meeting, some other events, hang out with some of the members, and we started to get to know each other better and became friends. I really want to contribute in this community, and thought this would be a good chance. So I agreed, and will do it for February monthly meeting. Not really a good time though as I started to feel tired and breathless more than usual due to my pregnancy. But being busy in other things besides shopping and daily routine was actually fun and enjoyable.

So you know why I didn't have so many posting last month. This project is one of the reason, besides busy with so many invitations and baby shopping. Anyway, I was then busy trying to find the material and tools, thinking how am I going to do it, preparing what I wanted to make, preparing all the information I want to give, and typing the handouts.

The day had come when I have to deliver the talk and demonstration. The plan was I will show them how to make bracelet and necklace, and gave basic knowledge about jewelry making. So I have one half-finish necklace, which all the beads arranged nicely in the wire with both ends opened (just have cello tape to hold the beads). My plan was to use this half-finish necklace to show how to finish and close both ends of the wire with crimps, clasp and jump ring. The idea was so I don't have to put all the arranged beads into the wire anymore as it'll take times. What I was worried about was actually happened. All the beads from half-finish necklace came off the wire and all fell to the floor ! Not to mention it was a huge room full of tables and chairs. Luckily it happened when I and one of my friend preparing all the equipment on the table, before the event was actually started, and no one there yet. So with my sudden creativity, I have to create another design (as we could not find all the beads) and made new half-finish necklace. A little accident I didn't need for the start!

I wonder what's gonna happen next. But actually, it went very well! The ladies like my work (I showed some jewellery I made for show). They listened to what I said, interested to know what is what, made a note on their handout, and took a close look at the tools & equipments I passed around between them. Some of them very enthusiastic to practice together by arranging beads in the wire, and finish it with the crimps. They asked lots of questions and interested to learn more. One woman personally said, "excellent". The other woman said, "this is very nice, thank you for sharing with us". Another one asked if some jewellery I made was for sale. They were all try and put my jewelleries on and had a picture with it. I take that as a compliment.

I'm happy to share and contribute although it took a bit of hard work, but happier and satisfied with the result and responds. That was just made my day. That day also the day when I brought the rujak and snacks. We had so much food at the end as we had another lady brought main food, arabic rice, and one other lady brought arabic sweets. yum yum! :)

7 Months Celebration

This special rujak, especially made for me (and the bub) to celebrate the seventh months of my pregnancy. It's a fruit salad, which made in mixture of seven types of fruits which are sweet, sour, hot, and salty in flavour. No, I don't know exactly the tradition, I thought at least I want to be thankful that everything seems to be fine so far, and to celebrate it with some friends here. Brought it with some snacks to the monthly meeting of Indo Women's meeting last month and had it for all the embassy's staff there. People love it as they haven't eaten rujak for so long.

It has been said it depends on the rujak's taste to determine the gender of the baby. It actually taste spicy more than sweet. Since I have known the gender, so it doesn't matter anymore about the taste. All I know is it's refreshing and yummy

If anyone curious,... of course it was made by Bu Minul. ;p