Sandra stories

A couple of recent piccies...

2010-07-17T16:44:00.003+12:00

....of the very lovely grandies.

Taylor...

And Porter.....

Cute huh????

Caio
Sandra

I asked my eldest DS....

2010-06-13T07:38:00.003+12:00

.... do you think you could have found a more messy occupation??
Izzy, our Gibstopper .....

...and his mess....

Caio

Sandra

OK...Time for a renovation update...

2010-06-04T21:07:00.005+12:00

...still bedlam and huge mess (can't believe how much mess a gibstopper can make lol)

But we can see progress and the ensuite and downstairs bathroom are almost done.....just the odd cabinet, glass door, painting of window frame and mirror/s and glass splash backs to go. Kitchen and dining room are painted, tiling is done in entranceway, 2 x bathrooms, laundry and other bits but no functioning kitchen yet. Lounge should be ready to paint next week and the oven should be in and benchtops measured and ordered. Here are some pics....not good ones but all I can manage in the mess (my washing machine is currently in my office/scraproom...go figure lol.)

This is a peek at the kitchen...looking into my new huge pantry....shelves arriving next week I hope and I'm only stocking it with yummy goodies lol!!!
And the new wine rack above where the fridge is going...now we can't afford the wine to go in it lol!!

The flash new heated towel rail in the ensuite...

....and a peek at the tiled (double) shower in same ensuite (there is the same set up at the other end....so cool..

And the installed but not yet working gas fire in the lounge.....

Points to note:
- every tradesman thinks that their part is the most important bit (except maybe the builder, he was flexible and cruisy) The Tiler was precious, the gibstopper is very messy and steals my coffee (but he is my son and I love him dearly lol), the plumber and sparky just pop in and out when we call and quietly go about doing their own thing.
- we will probably run out of $$ very soon...aaarrrgghhh!!
- I'm sick of takeaways and BBQ, no room to prepare food and handwashing dishes in the laundry tub.
- Installing the spa pool first was sheer genius and probably one of the few things keeping us sane. Too bad we might run out of dosh before the kitchen is finished ha, ha.
- the lovely labradors are wondering if they will ever be allowed inside again....they have to stay out as they can't read the tilers "Keep Off" signs (remember, the tiler is precious).
- I would probably renovate room by room next time, not all at once
- I have to laugh or I will cry!!
- I'm over choosing taps and light fittings...and I have to choose one more tap this weekend....eeeekkk! Who cares, as long as the water comes out surely!!!

Will post more again.

Caio

Sandra

Does this look like progress...??

2010-05-13T07:46:00.005+12:00

Over the last week or two, we have gone from this (dining room).....

....to this....

...and this (kitchen)....
to this.....
The island is from our old kitchen and won't be part of the new one. We have put in a big pantry so we don't have room for an island but we are having a "peninsular".....with a "waterfall" no less. Watch this space.

Meantime we continue to have to live with this (lounge).......
and this (bedroom)....
All we seem to do is shift stuff around so the work can be done.

The anticipation of it all being finished is almost too painful to bear lol.

Ciao

Sandra

YIKES....

2010-04-23T18:17:00.004+12:00

...it has to get worse ..... before it gets better.

Now we have NO walls in the lounge, kitchen, dining room and stairs.

At least the lights still work, as does the bbq and the shower and toilet. Not much else is functional tho lol.

Now the builder is nearly done and once the plumber and sparky have done their thing, we have all the gibbing and finishing to do.

Sleep.....overated lol.

Caio

Sandra

YIKES....

2010-04-23T18:17:00.001+12:00

And it's got worse...

2010-04-19T19:16:00.005+12:00

I came home from work tonight and it's got worse. This is what Simon, our nice builderman, has done to my diningroom ceiling...

Its half gone and I now have a sky high hole over the stairs....exciting stuff eh!!

Caio

Sandra

Just so you know...

2010-04-19T07:23:00.003+12:00

...why I'm not around much lol.

This is my kitchen and dining room at the moment.

I had a great time at Autumn Escape (away from all this) last weekend. Will try and post pics sometime but computer has died so dealing with laptop amidst all this......bear with me.

Caio
Sandra

Bad blogger...

2010-04-02T17:55:00.005+13:00

...but never mind. For anyone interested, here are some photos of our house...so far.

In the beginning it looked like this...

Then this....

Still lots more to happen inside and out yet...more mess no doubt. The bricks will be painted grey to match

HAPPY NEW YEAR...

2010-01-13T10:23:00.003+13:00

Alright...I know I'm 13 days late but at least it's not halfway through January yet...well not quite!!
2010 has started with some excitement for us....the builders are back but more importantly....

INTRODUCING.....
Porter Oliver Patton
Born 10th Jan at 6.52pm after a reasonably easy labour and 2 pushes....and he looks just like his sister when she was 7 days old don't you think.

So far he has been a dream baby for his Mummy and Daddy....and Nanna and Grandad are very proud.

Caio

Sandra

I said I'd be back...

2009-12-28T11:05:00.005+13:00

....with some more images and news from 2009....

...before we run out of 09 and start 2010....

Scrapwise, it's been a "spits and spurts year". I've done a few pages, a few (mostly uncompleted) mini albums and been to a few events. Highlights would be Autumn Escape and I'm booked in for that one next year....luxury scrapping at Waireki Resort, just out of Taupo.
And Delys and I had a fabulous weekend scrapping (well I scrapped anyway ;-) ) at the Queenstown Spring Scrap Retreat
It was lovely to meet some of the scrappers from the deep south, and what a fabulous setting. Lara runs an amazing retreat I hope to return in 2010, maybe with DH in tow.

In May, I signed up as a Stampin Up demonstrator...mainly coz I love their products and wanted the discount. I have been doing a few demos/workshops and running some classes at my house. This Christmas I shouted myself a fabulous storage caddy (well, its more like a major piece of furniture) and here is a piccy of what your Grandaughter can do to your ribbon storage when you are not looking lol!!! Workwise, I have done too much this year and maybe hope to rectify this in 2010 by doing a bit less private work. I will still be working fulltime and doing my RJ and a few private Supervision clients (like maybe 4 not 9 lol)

Elliot has completed 6th form and is returning to do the 7th form next year. He has some good friends who he spends lots of time with and he is currently helping Steve with the renovations (lots of painting)
Toby enrolled at Uni (thru BoP Poly here in Tga) in the 2nd semester and is now studying towards a BBS or BSocSci. He is coaching rowing again....Otumoetai College moved from Tga Rowing Club out to Bay Coast during the year and he is enjoying coaching on a river rather than in the harbour...no early mornings!! He considers rowing his lifetime calling I think and just loves it. He is currently away with about 30 or 40 mates at Rhythm and Vines in Gizzy......poor Gizzy is all I can say!!

Steve has been madly taking photos all year and teaching photography at Capture-it. He left Pizza Hutt at the end of July and now works part-time as Breakfast Chef at Hotel on Devonport and does his photography teaching.
He launched his business as a professional photographer in November and is looking at specialising in Event photography.Those who know him will not be surprised at this...big events have always been "his thing"

Right Oh...I'm off to continue sorting and tidying my scraproom so I can get back into it again. Might try and post some pics of some LO's/mini albums a bit later.

Caio
Sandra

Hello out there...(this one is for Carol...waving frantically)

2009-12-27T07:02:00.008+13:00

OK...so April to the end of December is a loooong time. I've found with blogging that if I leave it for a while, catch up is a hard game to play. So I leave it longer, and catch up gets harder, as so on...you get the picture.

2009 has been a very busy year. In fact, the last few months have been so busy , that I have crashed somewhat, and I am revising how I do things next year. Those of you who think I work too hard can heave a heavy sigh of relief and say "I told you so".

I will leave you with a few images from 2009 to let you know a little of what has been happening in my world...and I will return.....
I became a Stampin Up demonstrator (hobby level)
These 2 wonderful people are going to have another baby
They also bought their first house
We (finally!!) started major renovations....

And somewhere in there, my beautiful Grandaughter turned from a baby into this adorable little girl ;-)

I will call in later with some more images from 2009.

Caio
Sandra

I was going good...

2009-04-22T21:08:00.003+12:00

...there for a while (during the Amazing Scrapobook Race I blogged a few times) but then that finished and life got in the way again. Never mind. I didn't win the Amazing Scrapbook Race....but that's OK. I had a blast for a few days, doing some pretty fast LO's which taught me that I can get into it if I put my mind to it. I'm going to Autumn Escape anyway...and I'm hanging out for it btw...but I'd had my eye on winning another place for a friend...who needs a good thing to happen right now. Here are some more of the LO's I completed....

Lots happening at the moment. DH and I had an awesome weekend away here and did very little but hang out together. It was just bliss. We are trying to get away together a few times in the year for a weekend or so. While we were away, DS achieved this at Lake Karapiro.....
For you non rowers, this is huge. To coach a crew to silver medal at Maadi Cup is a huge achievement at 19 and we are very proud of him!!! Same DS is moving out this weekend into a flat with 2 of his mates and he (and we.....ahem) is very excited about that.
I have a job interview tomorrow and am starting another module next week for some study I am working on. It'll be nose to the grindstone for me for the next month and a half.....after lots of scrapping and enjoying myself at Autumn Escape

OK...must go. The builders haven't started yet but it won't be far away...and then bedlam for a while...aaarrrgghhh!!

Caio

The Amazing Scrapbook Race

2009-03-30T06:58:00.003+13:00

So in between the usual life happenings around here...I've been travelling around the world with the above competition at SBO
First night (Friday)... we were off to Canberra and had to do a LO using products sold at Aussie Scrap Source. This is mine. I've been wanting to scrap this old photo of Elliot ofr ages. It's out of focus but all our old photos are because our camera was broken for a long time. We didn't have the dosh to fix it then either :-(
OOOps the only photo I have of that LO is on the other computer and c**p so I will post it another day.
Saturdays we were off to Papua New Guinea and we had to scrap a page using the colours of their flag - red, black, white and yellow. Here is my page. And last night we went to China... and we had to scrap a page using handmade embellies. I'm not sure what I was thinking with this page but I really like it. I made the felt flowers and felt/chipboard buttons (using the sizzix) and the butterfly and other bits and pieces were using the slice and cuttlebug

Back to working full on again today so I'm not sure how many challenges I'll get done but I'm enjoying the motivation to get into it and get something finished.

TFL

Caio

Over at SBO....

2009-03-27T22:00:00.004+13:00

The Amazing Scrapbook Race..and it's started here tonight. Anyone can be in to win, so register on the forum and join in NOW.
It's a raffle type competition so we are all in with a chance.

This is the first challenge. Off to Canberra. Go on.....what are you waiting for!!
I've done mine, using some Junkitz papers for a blast from the past. Go to the gallery to check it out.

Caio

Fun and maybe a little craziness...

2009-03-25T05:50:00.002+13:00

...will be going on over here at SBO
So go there on Friday (late afternoon) to check it out.
Did someone say "creme eggs".....

If you're not a registered forum member...'just do it'....so you can be there!!!

Caio

Getting to know me....

2009-03-17T09:24:00.005+13:00

...finally, as promised. The lovely Penny set me some interview questions a while back. Thank you Penny for your questions, here are my responses:
1. I know you've got a foodie background. Tell us about your favourite food memory.
For about 10 years there we had a catering business. I could tell you about lots of disastrous memories, but picking a favourite was difficult. I'll be broad and say my best memories are of weddings where the bride and groom were willing to be creative and 'push the boat out' with a theme or idea eg: the 'totally dessert by candlelight reception' done with black and gold decor, or the full on afternoon tea where the bride said "I don't give a damn what the food tastes like, as long as it looks fabulous" LOL Anything really that involved a croquembouche, a happy customer and a fat cheque lol.
2. What would you like your kids to learn from you?
Lots of things I guess but some that come to mind include "be who you are" (integrity and congruence), "people are more important than things", how to rejoice with others in their success and that "painful experiences can grow us".
Also (of course) to chew with their mouths closed, not pick their nose on national television and to say YES everytime I ask them to do something LOL!!
3. What would like as a superpower?
To be able to bring back people from the dead....of course!!
4. If somebody made a movie of your life story, who would you pick to play you? Your Hubby?
I would like Bette Midler or Julia Roberts to play me (DH would apparently choose Bette Midler ;-) or Whitney Houston umm...hellloooo!!!) I guess I'd like Kevin Costner to play DH.....he'd be happy with that too apparently!!! When do rehearsals start? (with Kevin I mean he, he) Can you guess how many times we have watched The Bodyguard?? We are sooo sad!!
5. What's the one thing you're proudest of having accomplished in the past five years?
Olly is still a very 'alive' part of our family...OK he is not physically with us, but he is part of our conversations and we have some traditions and rituals that honour him. My grandaughter is being raised with an Uncle Olly (not some distant reference to a brother who died when he was young)
And....DH and I are still together, I haven't turned to drink (much ha, ha), my eldest DS is a wonderful father/partner, next DS is influencing younger teens in a positive way, 3rd DS is a hardworking and focused young man......should I go on???

Here is a picture of our family....thanks Penny for the link. They didn't have enough 'bad hairdos' for the kids for my lot (I has dreadlocks, T has a long mullet and at times E has an afro) Olly has a halo because he is now an angel.
Caio
PS; You may think I have given up scrapbooking. I promise to post some layouts soon

My poor, neglected blog :-(

2009-03-16T14:40:00.009+13:00

I seem to have fallen of the face of the earth when it comes to blogging....I guess sometimes life just goes on. The year is well and truely underway in all areas of my life.
E is back at school doing year 12 but hating every minute of it. He has a work placement one day a week with a Deisel Mechanics which he is loving. He realises the job market is pretty bad at the moment and that he is better off where he is and, to their credit, the school are working with him to make his days as applicable to his future career plans as possible. T has been looking for work in Radio but is being pretty fussy (which I'm not sure is a good thing;-( ) He really hasn't wanted to leave town until after the end of the rowing season which is in a few weeks. He has casual work which brings in a bit of dosh for him and I think his plan is to go to Uni in Semester 2 if no work comes along. Here is a picture of a recent rowing success he had. A boys double that he coaches won GOLD yesterday at the NI Secondary School Champs. No mean feat. I cropped the actual rowers out of the photo (those spandex they wear are pretty scary lol)
I & A are continuing to do a sterling job as parents to my delightful DGD. A has just turned 21 (her party was an education for us!!!!) and she is working now so T is at daycare for some of the week. I still has heaps of work on which is great considering the downturn in the building industry and the number of tradesmen I hear of with no work.
OMG.....Taylor will be 2 in September. How did that happen? She is such a treasure with a real little sense of humour. I love having her to stay sometimes and especially watching her play with Java and Mocha.
Work is full on as usual. I have 8 -10 private clients on top of my fulltime job and am actively working in RJ also so I'm pretty busy (but I do like it that way)

And on the homefront - BIG NEWS. We have a builder starting very soon (like in the next week or so) to do MAJOR renovations to our house. We started them a number of years ago and haven't done any maintenance on it for years so...bring it on. I will try and record some of it here and I am NOT going to let it stress me. What's a bit of dust, going way over budget and having to make endless decisions about colours, carpet, taps ...yada, yada, yada. SCARY that's what.

Now I promise I will drop back in and answer Penny's interview questions real soon. I'll leave you with a photo of one of the lovely Labradors. This is Mocha and he is 2 and a quarter. He is a slimline Lab (lol) as he has bad joints and can't afford to carry any weight

A blog award...

2009-02-03T15:47:00.003+13:00

The lovely Sonya (who I would love to meet in person incidently) bestowed this blog award on me a while back. Thank you Sonya for your kind words. I don't feel very brave really.....just plodding on!!!

I'm off work sick today so taking the time to update my blog. We have just been through our 'rough time', Feb 1st being the anniversary of Olly's death. We spent some time together up at the cemetary, having a picnic and tidying up his plot. The lovely DGD had been to stay with us the night before which is always a treat. She is growing up so fast!! Why do they have to do that??

DS (16yrs) is back to school tomorrow for year 12...that's 6th form for us oldies. He's doing subjects like autoshop and working 1 day a week at a diesel mechanics which should make school a little easier for him. He would like to get an apprenticeship through Goughs and eventually work fixing the big caterpillar machinery but in the meantime he just continues to dismantle and play with his Mitsubishi in the garage lol.
I've been playing with my new slice machine but I cant upload any LO's coz DH has taken the connection lead on holiday with him for the week. Promise I will get them up as soon as he returns. In the meantime I'll leave you with a pic of our 'Olly honouring' picnic we had on sunday.

PS Who is the grumpy looking fat chick in the white t-shirt?? .....ha, ha. That would be me!!!!

Back into things and days out.

2009-01-18T16:05:00.003+13:00

Hi there blogging world. I've been back at work for 2 weeks now so I'm into the swing of it.....and ready for the anniversary weekend and Waitangi day holidays lol. Do you realise we are ripped off this year and next. This year Anzac day falls on a Sunday (so no day off work) and next year Waitangi day AND Anzac day both fall on a weekend day. Short changed by 2 public holidays. I should hope our new National government might do something about that.....yeah right lol.

Anyway...rant over. This month DH and I have been doing some days out on the weekend, as he has had the last 3 weekends as days off (usually he has one weekend day and one weekday...often a Wednesday) We have taken it in turns to decide what we do. The first one was my turn and we went for a walk at Lake Okataina...a truly beautiful spot on a good day...which thankfully it was.We did some exploring in Rotorua with coffee and cake at the Fat Dog...a favourite of ours. Then it was DH's turn and we went for an explore around some of the Waikato, ending up at the Hamilton Gardens...which is one of his favourite (photography) spots but I have never been there. I must say they are awesome and I would go there more if I lived in Hamilton (which I NEVER will..intensely dislike the place....no offence to those who do)

Today we headed over to Blue Lakes rowing regatta to watch a couple of the crews that DS coaches. They did very well in the race we saw (a close 3rd in an 8's race rowing an age group above their level) Then in to Rotorua with other DS to buy him some clothes and a compulsory stop at the Fat Dog again. No wonder I'm not losing any weight lol.

Last night we went to a local show that a friend of ours has written and produced (DH was doing some photos for them) It was a clever musical amalgamation of Aladdin with Robin Hood with all modern songs and a mainly teenage cast. Exceptionally well done and a good laugh.

Oh, and I whipped these up this weekend for a friend of Abby's.
to say I'm really pleased with them...soooo cute.

Caio

HAPPY NEW YEAR...(warning-long post follows)

2009-01-01T11:21:00.002+13:00

...and welcome to 2009. I've had my head down, just getting through the festive season so I haven't managed the "blog thing".
I did come through Christmas having achieved some sort of 'domestic goddess' stuff which is good for me. Since losing Olly I have struggled to do any sort of Christmassy thing...usually managing something but not much. This year, although I was frantic right up til about 2 weeks before, I did manage to do some creating and effort. Thanks go to SBO for their Very Sweet Christmas Competition which provided some motivation to get stuff made, tree up etc.Christmas day was spent with my Mum, our family and my brother and his family. Our table looked fabulous (my domestic goddess bit) and the food was plentiful and yummy.Mum has been unwell and it was good to just all hang together. My DGD is starting to get into the celebration thing and it was cool to have them here with us.

So...2008...was a very busy year workwise for me and 2009 is shaping up to be the same. I'd like to share a layout I did at SENZ 08 with Lusi Austin which, for me, sums up my joys of 2008.
are in no particular order:
- Toby - 18 yrs, heaps of fun and finding his niche for now in radio work
- Elliot - turned 16 and I'm so thrilled he's decided to return to school in 09 and persue his dreams
- Izzy - now 20 and I'm so proud of the wonderful parents he and Abby are turning out to be.
- Taylor - my DGD. She is a delight and I love her to bits. I'm loving my Nana role too
- Steve - I have really enjoyed watching him develop his passion for photography and start teaching it too
- My RJ work - love the work and the people. Ask me about it sometime if you are interested
- My scrapspace - I love having my own room and the whole scrapping thing...friends, time out, creativity etc, etc
- Making my jewellry - I think I am (finally) finding my feminine side lol
- Food - I have enjoyed getting back to a little creativity with food

So...2009...what does it hold for me..

A few challenges. We have to do something about our house (we have been saying that for about 8 years now) It was going to happen in 08 but interest rate rises and an unplanned trip to Chch for all of us when DH's mother died meant it all went on hold (again!!) This year (01/02) marks the 5th anniversary of Oliver's death and it will fall on the same day (a Sunday) which feels like a biggie for us. My mother's ongoing 'wellness' challenges will mean I am supporting her alot too. I will do another paper at WINTEC towards my PostGrad Diploma in May/June this year too

A few good things I hope too. DH and I hope to visit Melbourne and his brother in Tasmania for a holiday in October (ish) I want to get back into more food creativity (so if you live near me you may get an invitation to dinner sometime :-) ) I will continue to scrap and create stuff with paper - I have booked into the Autumn Escape in May so far. And to continue to enjoy time with the very lovely Taylor

So there are a few of my musings about 08 and 09. Of course the usual healthy eating/.exercise/declutter/use my stash etc etc type plans also.

So, as I said at the beginning...HAPPY NEW YEAR. May you be blessed with things that bring joy to your life, and may you find the strength to go through the hard stuff

Caio

Sandra

The most beautiful girl in the world....

2008-11-23T20:37:00.003+13:00

Isn't she just lovely......

Caio
Sandra

Update and stuff...

2008-11-22T20:36:00.003+13:00

So, I'm sick of apologising for not blogging very often...so I won't....right (insert evil grin here)

Wassup in my world you may ask.....I'm scrapping away doing the SBO "Very Sweet Christmas Competition". I decided to enter coz it's not a judged one but a raffle type one which means I stand a chance. Fitting it all in can be a challenge but I've kept up with it so far.
Here are some pics of my entries so far....

I've had to take so much time off work lately for personal matters that I had to go into work today (Sat) for 4 hours to make up time...and I'll have to do it again in a few weeks. Bummer in some ways but it's nice and quiet and I got heaps done. It's probably quiet coz I have no-one to talk to...I think I'm the distracting noisy one in the office...ooops!!
On the home front I have lots happening. My Mum is not well and has been deteriorating in her mobility. She doesn't drive and since Dad died I have been taking her out most weekends for her groceries and a bit of an outing. In the last month or so this has become the only outing she has :-( We are trying to get her to a specialist and I am taking time off this week also to get her assessed for some help at home. She wants to sell her house and move into a smaller unit and this is a major mission for us as we are the only family living locally. DH works hospitality hours and balancing these needs with having my grandaughter to stay sometimes and supporting my teenage boys means that I feel like a very busy bunny. Thank God for scrapbooking and hiding away in my room for hours on end "cutting up bits of paper and sticking it to other bits of paper". Keeps me sane sometimes I reckon.

Is anyone else not coping with the hurry everyone seems to be in to 'stress about Christmas'. Isn't Christmas in December??? It's not even the end of November yet...what's with that???? I'm a true fan of the 'Ostrich approach' then the 'panic in the last week or so' approach. Am I the only one?? Besides, if I deal with Christmas too soon the family don't focus enough on my birthday in early December. Priorities right??

I'll leave you with a few random thoughts...
I want a MM Slice
I've decided to do the Rotorua Scrapcamp in late Feb and Autumn Escape in May then maybe SENZ in July
I need to win lotto (lol)
DH and I decided last night to plan a holiday to Melbourne and Tazzie (he has family there) next October (hey, if I log it here it may happen!!)

Ciao
Sandra

Well...we've been back nearly a week....

2008-10-19T19:03:00.002+13:00

...so it's time for an update, right??

We had a lovely holiday away despite
- the dog running away and going to prison again (this time for the weekend and the kids had to find the $$ to get him out lol)
- No 3 son (16yrs) doing something very silly and getting himself in trouble (not prepared to share that but lets just say we are still NOT IMPRESSED)
- the weather being a bit grotty for a few days. We got stuck at the base of the Rimutuka's for 4 hours but it wasn't worth driving around the long way.

Great things about our holiday included
- yummy gelato in Napier and Taupo (yes I fell off the exercise wagon but tried to eat a bit healthy most of the time)
- stopping here for a beer- wine and olive oil tasting in martinborough
- BEAUTIFUL WEATHER in Wellington (hear that those cynics amongst you!!) all the time we were there
- a visit to Tempt for these- lots of wandering around the waterfront and DH taking lots of Wgtn photos- SENZ
- Dinner at Cobb & Co Upper Hutt with a load of scrap buddies, most of whom I had never met before. I love that about scrapbooking
- Cropping at Kiwiscraps with scrapbuddies mentioned above
- Just hanging out with DH
- Catching up with old friends (Pete and his family and coffee with Tracey)

Gosh I love Wellington and DH and I have always thought we might move back there one day....I was Wgtn born and bred and we were married there and lived there for 2 years before moving to Tauranga.
One great part of the holiday was coming home. The kids had all worked very hard and tidied up our back yard and the gardens. HUGE THANKS GUYS xxx

So coming up I have:
My scrappy friends coming round on Friday night to do some SENZ catchups
Sketchbook retreat in Auckland in 2 weekends time...please leave some room in the car for my stuff Delys and Angela
I'm going to the National Ballroom and Latin champs here in Tga with my Mum next weekend. An old family friend is judging.
I'm thinking of going to Nic Howards Autumn Escape next year...quite pricey but sounds like a bit of luxury I could do with.
Work, work and more work....

Caio

PS: Kate, if you read this...what scrapcamp in Feb???

A busy (but slightly lighter and fitter) blogger, he, he, he

2008-10-03T07:41:00.003+13:00

Ok....it goes without saying... I've been a bad blogger. But I prefer to be thought of as a busy blogger. Not been doing any scrap stuff, unless you count the odd card. Just work, my private practice (on top of my fulltime job) and stuff for the whanau... my elderly mother and my beautiful grandaughter included.
So here is what is happening in bullet points:
- 12 week challenge going well. I'm now on week 7, I feel trimmer, fitter and I've lost just on 5kg. Yeeehaaa.
- DH and I are off for a holiday today (leaving kids and someone in our house) We are heading to Napier then down to Martinborough for a few days to do some wine things. Then we are in Wellington for a while and I'm going to SENZ and then we come home. We are both so looking forward to a) the break and b) spending some time together (we don't see each other much coz of our work hours) and c) him doing lots of photography and me going to SENZ.
- Life just goes on really.

If you are at SENZ and read my blog, please say Hi if you recognise me from my piccie. My hair is very red at the moment :-)
I'm doing 6 classes so I will be around most days.

I'll update with some holiday stories on my return

Caio

Just a Quickie...

2008-09-02T07:01:00.002+12:00

A quick post (off to work soon) to update my progress with the 12 week challenge.
I'm going well-sticking to the eating part and haven't skipped any exercise yet. the week1/week2 interface was a challenge coz I bumped up the rowing a bit from 2x10 mins to 3x10 mins but now in week 3 I'm coping well with 3x12mins.
I lost another 1.4 kgs last week. I'm in the middle of week 3 now and have had a hard day yesterday (really hungry last night for some reason) but my trainer comes to see me on Fri so we can tweak things then.

Just think...at the end of this week I'll be quarter of the way through and I can already feel some good benefits.

Caio

Week one Success

2008-08-24T13:21:00.002+12:00

Well, I've made it through week one of my 12 week challenge. I've lost 1.2kgs and I'm now doing 30 mins every 2nd day on the erg (rower) and I'm onto week 2 of my weights training. The only weight involved so far is me (lol) but thats all good. I've stuck to the plan religiously so far and I'm being very disciplined in the eating department too. I have to eat a small (incl protein) snack every 2.5 hours so there is no chance of going hungry.

Whoo hoo....go me. I feel firmer already!!!

Off to a SU party now at a friends to buy more goodness :-)

Ciao

Sandra

Why...hello there...

2008-08-17T20:27:00.007+12:00

...is anybody reading this?

A few quick bullet points to catch you up on the happenings 'chez moi'
*not a lot really ha ha
*enjoying the olympic rowing (and txt conversations with Andrea during it lol)
*I'm sick of the rain - who isn't I guess
*Seriously addicted to SU products at the moment - loving that pumpkin pie colour especially
*Had something exciting in the wind but it didn't eventuate :-( C'est la vie.
*I've booked 6 classes for SENZ and I'm really looking forward to having a holiday away with DH
*Did I mention I'm sick of the rain??
*I've done lots of scrapping/cards but I haven't taken ANY photos sorry.
*My grandaughter is nearly walking and it's only 6 weeks till her 1st birthday
*More importantly DS turns 16 on Thursday and I haven't got a clue what we are going to give him yet!!??!!

OH, how could I forget. BIG FOCUS for me at the moment. I have joined a 12 week challenge with a local fitness trainer.
OMG...what have I done. This is serious...exercise, nutrition, measurements, consultations etc. My goal is to lose at least 8kg (or more) and develop some good habits around exercise and healthy eating. I will sign up for another 12 weeks if I feel I need to. I've promised myself a big (ish) reward at the end of the 12 weeks if I stick with it - no, not more SU products...I'll get those anyway ha ha.
I started on Saturday (yes, only yesterday) so I will update with my progress each week. He visits me wks 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12.
2 days achieved, 82 to go. I have a week away in there somewhere but I'll have done 7 weeks by then so I'll allow myself some treats (like visiting this place)
Watch this space.

Ciao
Sandra

Okay...it's been over a month

2008-07-27T15:14:00.003+12:00

... since my last post. July has been a hard month for our family and I guess blogging has been in the too hard basket.

DH and I had a wonderful 3 days in Auckland at the end of June for our 25th wedding anniversary. Priscilla was great and I had a wonderful day exploring the scrapshops of Auckland.

The following week we got a call from Steve's brother to say their mother, who lives in Christchurch and we knew she wasn't well, had been given 24-48 hours left by the Dr's. We managed to sort everything out and get all of us (including Izzy, Abby and Taylor) to Christchurch within the next 36 hours. We got some precious time with her at the hospital and I'm pretty sure she knew Taylor was there and who she was. Sadly she passed away on the Sunday (5 days later) It was special to have all the family there (from NZ and Australia) and it was the first time all the cousins had been together ever (except our precious Olly, of course) Also special was it was Abby's first time ever in the South Island and it snowed. Her funeral was what she had wanted, and Steve's oldest brother gave a lovely eulogy about her life. It was hard for all of us of course.....and I found it especially hard to see my wonderful boy's be pallbearers again!!! (they were pallbearers at Oliver's funeral too) I guess it's often the little and unexpected things that upset me :-(

Getting back into things after that took a while and I guess we have just been looking after ourselves. Work is pretty challenging at the moment for various reasons and all I would like to say is "watch this space".

Scrapwise I have been plodding on. I have stopped our Thurs night scrapping at the moment as I have committed my Thursday nights to babysitting Taylor while Izzy and Abby do a great parenting course called Incredible Years. I used to be involved with facilitating it when I was a family counsellor and I think it's the greatest course. Instead scrapping is going to happen on alternate Friday nights at my house for the rest of this year.
I did get over to Hamilton yesterday for Crop Waikato though and I got 4 pages done which I am pretty happy about. I'll try and get some photos uploaded this week. It was great to scrap with a load of people who I have met thru scrap events, blogging and forums etc. A big thanks to Neen and Vicky for organising it.

Oh and last week, my oldest baby turned 20 years old. What a milestone. My boys are now 20, 18 and nearly 16. How did that happen?? When they were younger I used to wonder what life would be like when they were all teenagers. Now, although I love them to bits and am enjoying them all at the ages that they are, I would give anything for them to all be loud, little boys again (especially to have 4 of them!!). I'm sure it was only last week ... how time moves so quickly.

So that's me for now. I'm in bed today with a cold and trying to get better as I have stuff on this week I need to be well for.

I'm going to try and blog more...Promise.....

Caio

Goodies and going away...

2008-06-22T19:25:00.002+12:00

OMG......I had a Stampin Up demo at my house yesterday. 16 (yes 16) lovely ladies came and made a lovely card (I didn't coz we ran out of room at the tables and I was too busy helping the demonstrator lol) Some of them bought stuff (so did I) and now I get to choose loads of free goodies because there is an extra hostess promotion on at the moment. Awesome products and I love most of the catalogue. Think of me as I struggle to choose (insert evil grin here hehe.)

This week I only have 2 days of work as I am taking Tues, Wed and Thurs off. DH and I are off to Auckland for a few days to celebrate our 25th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. Well done us!!!! We are going to the stage show of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert one night and dinner up the Sky Tower for the other. He has a work meeting all day Wed so I am heading out to NZ Scrapbook for some scrapping retail therapy. Can't wait.....

caio

Sandra

Been sick....

2008-06-08T18:39:00.004+12:00

Ok...so another post. Not bad.....2 weeks lol. I've been sick (NOT the flu) and I'm feeling much better but still in a bit of pain. Anti bugs are kicking in (on 2 sorts) and I even ventured out of the house today, taking my Mum to the supermarket and then a wee trip to HN's so DH could get some photos printed. I will go back to work tomorrow so I better feel better.

I've been doing some scrapping....but haven't taken any pics sorry. Maybe another day. I seem to be liking the way my supplies are set up at the moment so that is a good thing right!! The creative juices are starting to flow.

Speaking of creative juices, I'm really impressed with DH's photography at the moment. He has come a long way and is currently putting together an assignment for a course he is doing.
I'll leave you with a few of my favs.

And (of course) a couple of the very lovely Taylor....

Better go and finish a report I am writing and then I guess it's Monday tomorrow

Ciao

Helllooo....

2008-05-26T19:51:00.004+12:00

.....out there. It's been ages since I last posted. Just haven't felt like it really and life is pretty full on. Work has it's ups and downs (what work doesn't I guess) and with the other private work I do I feel like I lurch from weekend to weekend really.

My scrapping mojo has been seriously absent lately....to the point where I have got grumpy and not liked anything I have been doing :-( I've still managed to purchase some goodies tho. One (very) rash spend has seen me get a Fiskars Threading Water punch. For those who don't know, it is a cute long scallop edge punch with holes in. I won it on Trade Me (apologies to anyone who I might have bidded against in the process) All's fair in love and scrapbook shopping right!!?? The boys have banded together and ordered me a cropodile bigbite (OK...well I had to order it) for Mother's Day, so once that arrives I'll have no excuse right. I'll have to get into it right???? Who am I trying to kid.

I went to my first Stampin Up party the other night (another rowing Mum) and I've said I'll have one myself. I bought some of their papers (great price) and the stamp cleaner thingy and a set of stamps for general cardmaking. I've got my eye on the scallop circle punch and maybe a few other things too.

My mojo got a bit of a fire up this weekend. I went to the Itchy Nail (scrapshop in Whakatane that I hang out at sometimes) scrapcamp for the weekend. 2 and a bit days of uninteruppted scrapping with some fun people in the most beautiful place on earth....right on Ohope Beach. No kidding...it was a 20 metre walk to the beach and we could look at White Island out of the windows while we scrapped.......bliss. Throw in a mobile massaage on the Saturday and wine with our yummy food and I had a blast. We did a cool thing on Sunday morning where we all contributed to each others pages (5mins then pass it on) Thanks to anyone involved who might read this. It will always be a special page :-) Watch out over at the Itchy Nail blog for pics.

Ok...that's me for now.

Caio

Yay...a quiet..restful...

2008-04-06T15:47:00.003+12:00

....weekend. I've done some housework (yuk but very necessary) and this afternoon I have been making some cards for some people at work (like commissions really lol) Here they are. The cute handbags are envelopes and they have the matching little cards inside.

And here are some layouts I've done recently....

Otherwise a quiet one here really. Went to The Itchy Nail last weekend to crop and shop with some of my Thusday night scrapbuddies. That was fun...thanks Delys. I'm off to the Itchy Nail scrapcamp at Ohope Beach (one of my most favourite places) at the end of May. I can't wait. I bought my SENZ tickets this week too. DH and I are hoping to go down for a week or so and have a bit of a holiday together. We might even stay on a vineyard in Martinborough and do some wine tasting...yummo. Something later in the year to look forward to.

Caio

OK..so I haven't posted for a while...

2008-03-23T20:55:00.004+13:00

.....does anyone still visit???

It's Easter, the rowing season is almost over, I've finished my module at WINTEC and I feel like I might have some life back. I've found my desk in my scraproom and started some cards and layouts...all is well lol.
Guess who came to stay with me Saturday night....

....wearing sparkly jeans no less. How cute is that?? For those who don't know, this is my DGD (Darling Granddaughter) She's not even 6 months old yet and she is trying to crawl.

DH and I had a very pleasant afternoon yesterday sipping pinot gris downtown Tauranga at the Jazz festival. What a huge event...the council now closes off about 4 roads...and it is such a cruisy atmosphere. Great music too.

Off to scrap some more. I need to make a dent in all this product so I can have an excuse to buy some more. I'm loving the new MM 5th Ave (Sophie) and the Animal Crackers.....such yummy stuff.

Caio

This is for Delys....

2008-03-06T22:35:00.001+13:00

....yum, yum, yum...

...and it's soooo pink :-)

caio

Hi there...

2008-02-24T15:24:00.004+13:00

So what's been happening 'chez nous' over the past couple of weeks. I have lost track of time a bit.
E is back at school... year 11 this year so the big NCEA. He's not a fan of school so I am predicting a bit of a challenging year.
T is now working (not quite fulltime) at Pizza Hutt.... saving $$$ to go away in May or June. He turned down the last camp America camp he was offered and has just been offered another which he is considering.
E and T are both very busy with rowing. T is a coach and I am very proud of the commitment he is showing to his crews and the sport. It can't be easy to get out of bed at 5.15 lots of mornings when you don't have to and listen to 14-16 yr old boys whinge at you coz they have to train hard lol.
T turned 18 a couple of weeks ago. We all managed to coordinate to go out to dinner together about 5 days after which was nice.
DH is frantic with his new job...trying to get the place profitable again. His Wedding photography course has started for the year and he is also doing Artistic as well. He starts tutoring level 1 next term so he is right into it. Now he 'needs' another camera....apparently you need 2 cameras to do weddings lol.

I too am busy. I have picked up a post grad paper at WINTEC (Hamilton) this term so I have my head in the books... well, not as often as I need to. Work and my private practice work keep me pretty busy. I'm still committed to our Thursday night scrapgroup and with a bit of effort I manage to average about a page a week on a thursday night. Things will ease off when the rowing season finishes and my paper is over. In the meantime I just have to keep those balls in the air.
I saw my lovely grandaughter on Friday night....I hadn't seen her for TWO WHOLE WEEKS. She is sooooo lovely and I and A are doing really well in their own place.

Anyway...must fly. Essay's to write, articles to read, stuff to sort. I hope whatever you juggle is going ok for you.

Caio
Sandra

Some layouts to share....

2008-02-10T16:51:00.000+13:00

I have been doing some scrapping in the last few weeks. Here is a selection of layouts.

caio

Friday night before a rowing regatta...

2008-01-25T20:02:00.000+13:00

....means
- a trip to the supermarket to buy supplies
- cooking bacon for bacon and egg baps
- assembling a lunch for everyone including healthy buns for me and DH, B&E baps for DS x2, creamed rice for the rower, meusli bars ++ for snacks, juice, fruit, water bottles, flasks for making coffee at some ungodly hour of the morning when we leave, and maybe I might bake something yummy (or maybe not)
- find the binoculars, fold out chairs, something to read, camera, cap, sunblock, insect repellant, rain jacket, blanket etc, etc
Quickly do some housework coz I'm stuck at Karapiro all weekend.

Dilemma is ... do I spend the petrol and risk missing DS's race and sneak off to Hamilton to visit Create or Scrapbook Inn or Spotlight (and risk spending $$ I don't need to spend but gosh it's fun!!!!) while I am there or do I be the loyal parent and sit on those (very uncomfortable) fold out chairs all day to watch 2 races....I mean ALL DAY here...we will leave at 6am and get back at about 6pm when...on Sat night...I repeat it all again for Sun lol.

Did I mention that I do really love that our kids row. It is a wonderful sport.

:-} I am so glad Monday is Auck anniversary weekend and a public holiday in out neck of the woods.

Caio

Ps: I and A and my lovely mokopuna moved out today.

I'm thrilled they have their own place now but sad as well. I will miss them.

Just a quickie...

2008-01-19T21:29:00.000+13:00

...because I've been up since 5 and have to get up at 5 again tomorrow. We had to be at Blue Lakes (Rotorua) at 6.30 this morning....only the wind was so strong they ended up postponing the regatta 2x then at 11 am decided to call it off until tomorrow. We'll try again tomorrow.

DH and I took the opportunity to pop into Rotorua for brekky at the Fat Dog...love that place. Popped into Spotlight too as we don't have one in Tauranga. They have my most favourite American Crafts Thickers (foam letters) for only $5 a packet. I loved them so much last year I ordered them from the states! Might have to pop back tomorrow and get some more. I am waiting on the new Basic Grey Two Scoops (I've ordered some) and some cool clear alpha stamps too.
I was thrilled to get an email from UP2SCRAP to say I had won these cool Queen & Co buttons on their blog.

Thanks Up2Scrap and Queen & Co.

Did 2 whole layouts on Thurs night while the girls were here...was really motivated. Will take pics sometime.
I am off to Auckland....the big little city???....what's with that??? DS has an interview right in the middle of town at 11.30 on Monday so I've taken the day off work to take him. Then he wants to go to the zoo. How cool is that...he's 17. Should be fun.

Anyway...must hit the hay.
Caio

Bliss...

2008-01-13T20:38:00.000+13:00

...is a clean self. A long hot shower late this afternoon. Now all DH has to do is sort out the minor leaks with a bit of silicone. Although we have put a new shower in the UPSTAIRS bathroom...we are actually renovating the DOWNSTAIRS bathroom. But because the upstairs shower needed replacing eventually we put a new one in before we put the ceiling in the downstairs..if that makes any sense...because the bathrooms are on top of each other. Next step is gibbing and stopping the downstairs bathroom, laundry and hallway (well half the hallway) Oh, and putting the bath in downstairs. These are all exciting changes seeing as we demolished walls about 5 or 6 years ago and have lived with framing and no function ever since.

Big news is Abby and Izzy move next weekend or the weekend after and we have big 2 day rowing regattas both days. Challenge will be to get them to take all their stuff and not leave their rubbish...but not take any of our stuff. I guess in the big picture I'm not really fussed. Although I will miss them dearly, I know they need their own space and I will feel a little more in control of the house.

Exciting news for DS (17) A Jewish camp 2 hours out of New York is intersted in him and we are heading to Auckland next week for an interview. The place sounds amazing and once he has a definite locality I think it will become all the more real for him. What an exciting adventure he will have.

We have installed the awesome statue (? the right description of it) in the garden. I'm not sure it's in the right place yet but we can move it.

Caio for now

Edited to add...sorry about the blurry photo...nightime photography after a couple of beers...lol!!

Aaarrrgghhh.....

2008-01-12T13:21:00.000+13:00

...we still have no shower. Now it looks like this....

Luckily DH has been away for work for a week in a motel in Auck and DS's have beeen at training camp for rowing. I and A have been going to A's mums for a shower and I have alternated with having one at work and one at my Mum's. But I want my bathroom back. DH gets back this afternoon so hopefully will sort it all out. Not a good start to getting sorted this year but never mind.

I've done a bit of scrapping in the last while....mainly of the lovely Taylor. It is such a novelty for me to scrap baby girl pages and buying lots of girly scrapping stuff. I have just ordered some Basic Grey Two Scoops which is divine!!!
I will post more LO's over the next few days but here are 2 I have done in the last 2 days.

I did a bit of tidying up in the garden last week and we have bought a scupture for our garden in honour of Olly. We were given $$ to put towards it 3 years ago and have just managed to bring ourselves to buy something. Will post a pic once it is in my garden. I have found this Christmas/New Year has been hard with the number of drownings...it all just reminds us of what we have been through, how much we miss him etc. If anyone thinks I am a together sort of person, be assured that not far below the surface is a blubbering grieving mess. It only takes one tragedy in another part of the country to 'bring it all back'.

Trust me...I don't believe there is ever such a thing as "over it"!!!

Enough said. Sad to hear about Sir Edmund Hillary's death yesterday. He was a great man and my thoughts are with his family who are grieving the passing of a beloved husband, father and grandfather.

:-{

Ssshhh.....

2008-01-06T15:51:00.000+13:00

.....can I whisper a little secret in your ear?? Very quietly now...

.......it's nearly 4pm Sunday and the plumber is here. I can hear banging and drilling and other such sounds. Don't want to say too much too loud in case I spoil it and discover it's not real.....

;-)

Ok..Progress so far....

2008-01-05T13:30:00.000+13:00

...or should I say "lack of progress so far". Got the pantry tidy and the study sort of under control. Why is it that piles of paper will always look messy???

Now the plumber saga!! DH organised with DS for his mate (who is a plumber) to come on Thurs to replumb the shower upstairs (currently the only operating bathroom we have).... DH gets up on Thurs and rips out the old shower....

...now it's Saturday and the shower STILL looks like that. The new base is in but we can't do any more until the plumber replumbs it so we can put the new fitting in and the new walls up. And he still hasn't come. We are all off to my mums for a shower this afternoon!! Apparantly said plumber is waiting for someone to get back from holiday coz his tools are in his car. Bad move on our part getting DS's mate to do it. Maybe we've learnt for next time...I hope.

As per the SBO forum I have chosen a word for this year for me. This year my word is

SORTED

Next few posts I will record what I learnt/achieved with last years word which was SPACE.

Lastly a beautiful photo of my darling grandaughter to cheer me up coz I have no shower lol.

Ciao

Happy New Year....

2008-01-01T09:16:00.000+13:00

...and welcome to 2008. I have been up for an hour and have started the year with some time on the erg (rowing machine), the ab machine and the home gym. I didn't do a lot but it's a start. I have started walking more about a month ago and now I need to tone as well....watch this space!!

DH and I are in "get sorted and under control around the house mode" We have made a decision to look at putting our house on the market towards the end of this year. Most of you will not realise what a huge mission that will be. I kid you not...it is a very ambitious project.
A brief history of our home. We bought it in 1986. It had 8 bedrooms, 2 lounges/bathrooms/loos and an office and a games room. For the first 10 - 12 years we had many other young people live with us, including a stint fostering teens for the then DSW (now CYF's) About 6 or 7 years ago we decided to make it a little more like a family home and less like an institution lol.
So we started some alterations...knocking out walls etc. We had both architect and interior designer input (low key) BUT WE ONLY EVER STARTED!!! What with job disasters and losing Olly, motivation and funds became very low. In the last few months we have got back into it again and have begun to get somewhere. The idea is it will be a 6 bedroom family home with master ensuite etc. But we haven't done much (any lol) maintenence on it in the 20 years or so really.
It's a BIG JOB!! But we are determined (and on a shoestring budget)

I am going to use this blog to document our progress. I need to scrap it too as I have some photos.

Watch this space.

Today is simply - sort out the study and the pantry day. Baby steps really...but do you realise how much junk you can accumulate when you have lots of rooms and you live there for 21 years.

Will keep you all posted.

Caio for now

Seasons Greetings...

2007-12-24T11:59:00.000+13:00

OK...I've been a slack blogger. My excuse... I just haven't felt like it and I do find this time of year I just need to focus on getting through it all.A quick update on life around here..
- Toby has now officially finished school with a second in Business studies and a 'Blue' for rowing. Very proud of him :-)
- Elliot has just bought his first car (aaarrgh!) and they are currently picking it up from Hamilton with a car trailer. It's going to
be a 'project car' I think.
- Taylor is now 3 months old and probably going to be spoilt rotten for Christmas. Izzy and Abby are doing a wonderful job as
parents.
- DH has resigned and starts a new job on Jan 8th. Hospitality is all about change and challenges I've decided!!
- I had a birthday and DH bought me a Zutter "Bind-it-all" I will have time after Christmas to play with it and I can't wait.

So, what's happening for Christmas round here???

We are going to have a quiet day really. My mum will stay tonight and have the day with us. My brother/sister in law and my nephew and niece are in Auckland and spending Christmas with my sister in law's family up there. DH's family are in Christchurch and Hobart so we are all a scattered bunch. Abby, Izzy and Taylor will only be with us for an hour or so as they have lots of family on Abby's side to visit.
Menu: We have a very non traditional Christmas meal
We will start with homemade breads and dips/dukka/pesto/aoli etc. Then for main we have freshly hot smoked salmon, bbq scallops/prawns, mussels and this year we have a crayfish as well. All with a simple salad and new potatoes. Then for pudding (or dinner really) we have brandy snaps and boysenberry trifle, fruit platters with marshmallows and chocolate fish and ambrosia. Finally we have mince pies, lolly cake and truffles. It's sort of a mix of everyones favorite food and a hang up from our days when we owned a catering business and got absolutely sick of ham, turkey, pavlova, gateau etc.

DH and DS are both working boxing day. I have between xmas and New year off and go back to work on the 3rd Jan. We plan on doing some house sorting and maybe a few picnics and I will get some scrapping done too. I only just found the top of my scrap table last night.

Thanks to all of you who visit my blog and wishing you a Happy Christmastime and may 2008 bring good things for you. Please cherish the time you have with those around you.

Many hugs and good wishes to you all.

Life of a rowing Mum...

2007-11-12T05:53:00.000+13:00

Here I am at 10 to 6 on a Monday morning...taken the boys to training and blogging....how sad is that. Usually I'm a slacker and don't do the weekday runs, but today is DH''s day off so it's a bit mean to expect someone to get up a 5.25 on their day off eh!!

We had a regatta at Blue Lake on Sat and DH and I walked around the lake at 9am in the morning. It was lovely.

I've been walking to work 3 or 4 times a week lately (it's about 3.5kms) and DH has been doing lots of fitness stuff on the rowing machine etc. I'm so proud of him. This year he has worked very hard and lost 20kgs. It's doubly hard for him coz he works with food. I'm trying to keep up with him but I don't think I could manage 20 kgs.

We spent 45 mins with the vet last Monday and he showed us all the xrays and explained everything. I used to be a physio so it all made sense to me. Poor Mocha. No wonder he is not a bouncy puppy. He basically has stuffed hips, knees and elbows. His shoulders are ok tho! We tried him on a week of anti inflammatories and he was a lot better and now we are doing no meds...just to see the difference.

It's very sad and he will need to be put down at some stage...when will be up to us I guess. Depends on how much pain we can bear seeing him in and if his hips start to dislocate. Once DS and his lovely little family move out we will send Mocha to stay with them every now and then to get Java used to him not being around so much. It's very sad :-{

It's Toby's last day of school EVER today. Quite a milestone!! He has made this awesome canvas for his English teacher. She will probably cry I think.

Anyway, best get ready for work. I have something big on at work at the moment that is not going well (it's beyond my influence now) so it is pretty stressfull.

Have a good week
Caio

Oh Dear...

2007-11-04T19:28:00.000+13:00

...news from the 2nd vet consultation is not good. The lovely Mocha has not torn his cruciate ligament (a rare injury for an 11 month old apparantly).....he has pretty major hip, knee, elbow and shoulder problems. $500 worth of x-rays later (DH asked the vet if that price included framing lol) We now have an appt with the orthopaedic vet tomorrow morning :-{ We are guessing we are looking at long term treatment...maybe try homeopathics first and drugs later. Depends on the cost really. Yay...more decisions.

Toby has 5 days of schooling left...that's scary. He won't get enough credits to get into Uni because he has only done well in subjects that are not 'approved' but he doesn't seem worried. He is nearly all the way through a Camp America application so now he needs a job to earn the dosh to go. He is loving coaching the novi boys in rowing so I am thrilled at that. I always thought he would make a good coach.

I've just done the 2nd to last journal in our scrapgroups circle journal round. Can't wait to get mine back. They have certainly stretched me in terms of page size, most have been quite small!!

I wasn't going to post another photo of Taylor...didn't want to seem obsessed but....well...couldn't resist this one.
Abby took it on her phone. Who would have thought, when I had my babies, that I would be taking pictures of my grandchildren on a phone...amazing huh!!!

Caio

The lovely Mocha...

2007-10-27T22:30:00.000+13:00

...has ruptured his right cruciate ligament (in his knee) and needs surgery :-(

The good news is...it doesn't seem to be hurting him.

The bad news is....ACC/Medical Insurance won't cover it lol.

We have to make a decision about what type of surgery to go for by Monday afternoon. The options are expensive or very expensive. DH is very cynical about why the vet might be recommending the very expensive one.

Watch this space...meanwhile he is on 'kennelrest' (aka bedrest) That's hard when you are an 11 month old puppy but he is coping remarkably well.

Here is a photo of Taylor learning about blogging.

Caio

Why can't we always....

2007-10-22T19:38:00.000+13:00

....have 3 day weekends. I feel so rested and ready for the (4day) week lol.
Had a lovely Saturday...took boys to rowing, made fresh buns, spent the afternoon scrapping with Delys and Dianna and watched a bit of TV in the evening while DH was at work. Sunday was rowing again, back to bed for a big sleep in, went and bought a new printer, took Mum shopping and then out for a drive and coffee. Sun night we went to town for a bite to eat with Elliot and saw some amazing photography as part of the Tga Arts festival. Today we got up and did some cleaning then went for a big long walk and out to the new shops at Bethlehem for lunch. Quite a hike that could become a regular weekend thing I think. Back home for a bit of a read and a yummy dinner of BBQ Kangaroo meat and salads. Now I might do a bit more scrapping. Have also managed to fit in some purchasing from SBO ( MM flocking/foiling kits and some other bits and pieces) and lots of Taylor cuddles and the odd nappy change.

DH is doing another photography course this term...one on B & W photography. Here's a cool one he took of the lovely Mocha.

Hope you have a good week.

Ciao

Jack Me Up #5....

2007-10-20T18:17:00.000+13:00

...I decided it was time to do a "Jack me up" layout...especially coz this one was a Jack of my friend Delys Cram.
Here is my version of Delys' layout....

Ahhh...at last...some girly pages from the srapping hands of Sandra LOL :-)

Ciao

Once again...

2007-10-16T17:31:00.001+13:00

...a couple more photos of the lovely Taylor...awake this time.

Her full name is now officially Taylor Rose and she is a wee sweetie who yesterday seemed to want to feed hourly. I think Abby is exhausted!

On the scrapping front, I'm working on a circle journal I am in. Did a major scraproom tidy over the weekend and have got heaps of new product so I need to get into it. Boys are well into rowing now (2 early weekday mornings and 7am Sat and Sun) 1st regatta in a couple of weeks.
Finally a wee brag. Very proud of my Toby. His business group won "Best Production" in the Bay of Plenty and 2nd in "Best Overall Business" They were the group the teacher thought would be the slackers but they well and truely have worked damn hard and Toby was a major part in that.

Caio

PS: DH tells me he got his 'white balance' wrong so that's why the photos are a bit blue. He's practising :-}

Another photo....

2007-10-07T11:25:00.000+13:00

....of the beautiful Taylor

....just because!!

Taylor is starting to get into a r***ine. I don't believe in saying the word ha ha. Abby is a wonderful mum who is besotted with her and I'm really proud of my big boy who is a devoted Dad. He was saying this morning that breastfeeding wasn't so good because it means he misses out on getting up in the night. He gets up if he wakes but I think he meant that coz he isn't feeding he doesn't always wake and he WANTS TO. Awwww!!

Have been a domestic goddess this morning and made fresh sticky buns for the boys after rowing. Off to take them out of the oven.

TFL.

Caio

Update...

2007-10-01T19:41:00.000+13:00

...we have a name...

Introducing TAYLOR

We don't have a middle name yet!!

Taylor came home with her mummy and daddy at 4pm on Sunday and is settling into family life.

These 2 are suddenly realising they are now further down the pecking order

LOL.

Caio

PS:

2007-09-29T21:01:00.000+12:00

....don't you think she has 'scrapbooking' hands???

LOL

ANNOUNCEMENT....

2007-09-29T19:48:00.000+12:00

....drum roll please....
Introducing...well, she hasn't got a name quite yet.....daughter of Israel and Abby ...

Born on Saturday 29th September 2007 at 3.17pm after approxiamately 5 hours of 'proper' labour and only 7 pushes...

mother and baby (8lbs2oz) are both very well..Father is pretty proud too...

Nana is besotted already.

Will post tomorrow with more pics and (hopefully) a name :-}

Caio

PS: Am I biased or is she pretty beautiful for only 3.5 hours old???

Long time ....

2007-09-28T18:00:00.000+12:00

....no see.

It has sure been a while since I last posted. I've had a lovely week away at the beach by myself...just me and my scrapping tote lol. Enjoyed cropping with Delys, lunch with Andrea and The Itchy Nail scrap retreat where I met some great ladies. Where was Dianna...Oh, that's right...Tahiti (lucky thing).

Just been up to the usual but I have some impending, exciting news....
....3 words....

....waters...broke...contractions.....

Will update in the next 12 to 24 hours when I have definite news to share but I'M SO EXCITED.

NANAHOOD, here I come.

:-)

What have I been doing????

2007-08-24T20:20:00.000+12:00

Where have I been??? You may well ask. Haven't been anywhere, just scrapping, working, being a mum to teenage boys and all the other things life brings.
So here are some of my recent layouts

Other scrapping related things:
- went a bit crazy when the $$ was high and ordered from America. Love the Bisous PDQ packs I got. Unfortunately I made 2 CHA preorders (American Crafts and Queen & co) and they haven't come off the Visa yet. Notice how much the $$ has dropped!! OOOps. Never mind...it's only money lol. Can't wait till they come tho.
- bought a pack of BG Periphery. Luv, luv, luv it!!

Other non scrapping related news:
- Looking positive for Elliot to row this season. Fingers crossed
- Toby compered the school talent quest for both nights and did VERY WELL
- DH is really getting into his photography and is learning lots at his classes
- only 3 weeks till I have a week off work and a holiday on my own!! Hope the motel I'm staying at has room for my scrapping stuff.
- only 7 weeks till baby is due...very excited nana here :-)

Caio

Learnings since moving into my scraproom....

2007-08-04T10:51:00.000+12:00

- I can probably live without ever seeing TV again
- It is good to clean up at the end of a session...only takes 10mins
- I need a small fold out type table that i can set up as a return to give me just a wee bit more space
- I can fit a big table in there with 2 friends scrapping on it as well as me at my desk (...any takers??)
- me, 2 labradors and the gas heater in there makes for a very productive and cosy evening
- it might be crowded if I have the labradors and friends in there at the same time lol!!!

Lookig forward to be able to do the cybercrop (at SBO) on the laptop and scrap in there at the same time tonight.
Hopefully will have pics of layouts to share soon

Ciao :-}

Oh My GOSH.....I'm so excited....

2007-07-30T21:22:00.000+12:00

...a lot has been happening around here. I've decided the only constant I can rely on in my life....is change. Last week Tracey moved home to live with her parents again, which is really cool for her and them. She is keeping in touch with us so far so although we miss her (especially Toby) we are coping. Nikki's mother lasted 2 weeks in Perth and got homesick so she has come back, so Nikki has moved back in with her.

Upshot of all this is I NOW HAVE MY SCRAPROOM BACK. And it is all decorated and set up and I LUV, LUV, LUV IT!!!

Can you tell I'm excited....I've already done 3 layouts in it!!

Here is some pics.....

I'm not sure if my family will ever see me again. Now the challenge is to keep it tidy....yeah right.

TFL

Ciao

Edited to add: Oh have you noticed an orange theme happening here???
Edited to add again: Oooops, pics are a bit out of focus. Getting used to my new little Canon PowerShot A550 :-}

Catching up with old friends....

2007-07-08T08:43:00.000+12:00

...is such a good thing to do. Last night I had a friend from my 'uni' days over for dinner. She was my bridesmaid (24 years ago) and we have maybe 'seen' each other 4 or 5 times since then. It was really great to just chat about kids, life and all those other things. Thanks Vanessa for putting 'my house' on your itinerary.

Yesterday we closed a chapter in our lives...we had sold our caravan and it went away yesterday. I was really attached to it, I guess partly because we had had a really cool 3 weeks at Ohope in it not long before Olly died and it had been (at Ohope) a very 'healing' place in the few years following. But it had to go and we have plans to do something different (maybe a motorhome) in the longer term future. Gosh, I wonder how I will feel when we eventually sell our house and move....we have been here 21 years.

Starting to get used to having 'that man' (aka DH) around a bit more. Working only 8-9 hour shifts at a time he feels like he is permanently on holiday at the moment lol.

Thanks for dropping by :-}

Grabbing a few.....

2007-07-04T18:17:00.000+12:00

...moments to blog while I'm cooking tea for the crew. Update on whats going on in my life:
- scrapcamp last weekend was a blast. I got my scrapping mojo once I got there and power scrapped through 3 layouts on the 1st night (including the challenge) Classes on Saturday were both brilliant. I was a bit dodgy about the modpodge/serviette thing but it looks so cool and is so easy it will definitely be used again. The Creative Planner we made with SJ was awesome and just what I have been wanting. I looved the colours too.
Retro night was fun with some GORGEOUS outfits.
This is me!!!

It looks quite hideous really but it was such fun to wear. Bring back groovy clothes I say.
I got a few more layouts done Sat and Sun and was sad to have to pack up at the end. I really enjoyed the time at my table with my best scrapping buddies Raewyn and Julie, with Sheryl and her sister Raewyn and neice Tracey, and Stella and Elaine. Chatted with quite a few others round the room too...Donna, Trina (nice to meet you in person), the lovely Aussie Chris Miller, Andrea (from SBO), Ilka, Kelly, Michelle TW, Lynda, Kate and Barb and Kates lovely friend Rachel who gave me a cool little felt needle folder, Denise, Sheryl and Carol from Bookem and all the other Bookem ladies and lots of other people (please don't be offended if I haven't named you). It was a special treat also to see Vicky and the beautiful little Arlo on Sunday and to be allowed a cuddle (he's only 2 weeks old!!)

A HUGE THANK YOU to Yolande and Lianne for organising such an awesome event.

I so love this hobby. Not only do I get to shop for and create lovely stuff but I also have this huge network of wonderful friends and aquaintances from all over NZ who I would otherwise never have met.

Otherwise things are just as normal here. DH has started his new job so is home more. The boys are saying "who is that man who keeps hanging around here now?" LOL
Better go and sort some veges out.

Edited to add: A 'quick plug' for Nic Howard's book "That's Life" released on July 4th. She's our own famous Kiwi scrapper and now she has her own book filled with her own unique (Kiwi) style. Go and buy one....NOW!!!!
Laters

Oooops...

2007-06-24T15:43:00.000+12:00

...I was going to try and be a better blogger.
So whats happening here...lots and lots....
- Scraproom has had to go on hold...we have had another teenage girl move in. Nikki is 17 and is Abby's sister. Her mum has just moved to Perth and things haven't been too good with her dad so she is going to live with us. As I tell my boys...people are more important than things (like having a scrap room). I have instead comandeered an end of the upstairs lounge so I have been sorting thru stuff today in preparation for scrapcamp next week.
- Total is now 2 adults, 6 teenagers, one 'baby in tummy", 2 labradors and the house is now FULL. Not even any room in the stable lol.
- Toby and Tracey had their school ball last weekend. Toby got Best Dressed Male. Here is a pic of them together. Don't they look sensational!!! All in all a good week for Toby...he also got Best CEO and Best Company at a school business studies 3 day event. He has quite an entrepreneurial (?sp) streak.>

- Went to Whakatane to farewell Tash on Friday. She is moving to Kerikeri. All the best Tash. Hope to keep in (cyber) touch. Caught up with scrapping friends too. Thanks for the hospitality :-}
- Hubby now has only 10 more meals to go till he finishes work and he is on a countdown. He has 400 in this week so it will be a busy one. Lara, in answer to your question, he has been the Hospitality manager (read 'do everything in the kitchen') at Totara Springs Christian Camp for the last 2 years. He's worn out!!!
- Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary...24 years. We've been through some terrific times and some terrible ones too,but I'm looking forward to many many more years together. Love you Steve xx
Here is us:

Wish I had this week off to get organised a bit more but I guess it will all happen eventually. Just have to remember to stop and smell the roses occasionally and besides...being organised and in control of your life is overrated I think....

Ciao

Sunday sunday....da da, da da da da...

2007-06-10T08:10:00.000+12:00

Does anyone know the song that's in my head? Maybe it goes Monday, Monday...I don't know. Anyway, I've woken up this morning to rain, and I didn't do any washing yesterday and it was fine!! I hate it when that happens. DH has today and tomorrow off and I was going to suggest a day out but seeing as it is raining we might just do some more painting (nearly finished the scrap room) and hang at home. E has had 2 friends to stay all weekend so far and T has to do more work on sorting his room out. Tr is working all day. Life with teens. I and A get a whole houseload of stuff today for when they move into a flat and I have NO IDEA where we are going to put it all in the meantime. Lucky we have a big house but still. It's great for them (well, sort of, Ab's mum is moving to Perth :-( ) coz it means when they have a flat they have lots of stuff incl washing machine and dryer, lounge and dining room suite and other bits and pieces. Might be a bit squashed here in the meantime lol.

Yesterday I decorated my SCRAP letters to go on my noticeboard in the 'newly decorated' room and started altering some tins for pens etc. The main colour I'm using is burnt orange cos the room has an orange feature wall (the teens tell me feature walls are soooo last year!!!) Hopefully will have some pics soon when I've moved in and got it looking all spic and span....yeah right. Those who know me well will know I don't do spic and span!!!

Big news for us is that DH has resigned from his job and finishes the end of June. He is tired of working 70 or 80 hour weeks (not paid overtime I might add) and has got a job here in Tauranga as a manager at a local pub. Ironic really for those who know where he is working at the moment lol. He loves the work he is doing but just can't sustain those hours long term. OMGosh. That means he will be home more. Hope he enjoys scrapping!!!

Off for another cuppatea and better let the chocolate log (ooops dog) that's scratching at the door in.

Ciao

(Oh and Penny...in answer to your question from a few posts ago....I had 1 emergency and 3 elective caesarians. My anatomy means I only have between a 5 - 15% chance of being able to birth a baby naturally and we were never willing to take that risk. We thank God for modern technology or neither myself nor any of my children would have made it. )

Yay...some scrapping

2007-06-04T20:30:00.000+12:00

Have been scrapping and card making this weekend.
Here's one for the QB challenge on SBO. Haven't put it in the gallery yet coz it's too big. I need to get another photo on a lower setting. We had to use a sketch (thanks Trina for that) and a product that Andrea (Thanks Andrea too) sent. I got the cool Journalling cards from Jenny Bowlin.

Here's a layout I did a week or so ago at our Thurs night group.

And here's one I did on Sunday too. Very simple but I love it. You cant see the white pawprints accross the page very well.

Have a good week. I'm trying to be a bettablogger!!

Caio

Feeling blah...

2007-06-01T10:36:00.000+12:00

I'm holed up in bed (on a Friday morning....not at work) with a sore throat and splitting headache. I'm trying to avoid it turning into a full blown fluey thing, or even a cold. I've commandeered DH's laptop so I can play while I'm here. I slept all day yesterday. I have scrappy plans for the weekend so I had better be feeling better lol.

I went to SENZ last weekend with my friend Raewyn who I introduced to scrapping about 6 months ago. We shopped till we dropped. I was cool to see Dianna and Jaks from Whakatane and Janine from Wgtn and Ann from Auck. Metup with our friend Julie from Tauranga too and between the 3 of us we bought lots. I stocked up on crate paper - zoom, baby bee and brunch papers, scalloped Bazzill,Scenic Route more chipboard (how much chipboard is too much), and a few other bits and pieces. I lso bought some cute wooden letters in Ravie font, to go on a noticeboard to go into my (nearly finished) scraproom. Might start on decorating them this weekend. I got SCRAP and he nearly couldn't find an S for me lol!!!
Buy of the week for me tho has been from Lime Tart. I have been thinking of buying some of the Cosmo Cricket Halfway Cafe range for ages and was disappointed I didn't see any at SENZ. Go onto the LT site yesterday and Phillipa has a colection kit of it at 40% off. That is about $21Austrailian. Oooops, had to hit the buy button on that one.

Right...note to self: Have to start using stuff now!!!!

Here's the photo of my lovely Labradors that blogger wouldn't let me post the other day. It is from February so Mocha is only small. Must get some more up to date ones of him!

Caio

Holey Moley

2007-05-18T21:12:00.000+12:00

....is it THAT long since I last blogged!!! I guess you are sick of me saying I am busy....but that's the truth. Here's what's going down....
- Oldest son and DH have finished decorating the new bed room and Izzy and his girlfriend have moved inside (looking after this baby you understand!!) They are hoping to find a little flat together closer to the time the baby is due.
- I emptied my scraproom and the gibstopping is nearly finished in there...DH is painting next week.
- Toby has been selected to trial for a NZ under 21 crew in July....no pressure son lol!!!
- scrapping mojo has disappeared and hoping it comes back soon
- am doing 1 class at SENZ next weekend and (hopefully) lots of shopping.
- Mocha and Java are still bestest friends and Mocha must be the most well behaved 5 mnth old puppy in the world

Was hoping to put a lovely pic of Mocha and Java here but blogger won't let me.....sorry

imagine....cute small chocolate labrador.....and cute large golden labrador....

Am off to a crop with Delys tomorrow so I'll hopefully have some scrappy pics to upload after that.

Ciao

Hellooooo...I'm still here...

2007-04-22T09:08:00.000+12:00

Hi there
Busy life with work and house full of teenagers.
So what's happened for me recently...
- Toby made the North Island Under 18 crew (cox) and rowed all the first week of the holidays at Karapiro...NI beating the SI once again. Great achievement for him and wonderful experience. They got to watch the trials for the NZ Juniors...hard out stuff. Here's a pic of him in action!

And this is what happens to coxswains when they win....

- Full on at work. Still lots to learn and lots of variety. Great bunch of people I work with which is good!

- Last weekend I went to CC07. A year ago I was heard to say I didn't really like freestyle and I must admit (although people are surprised) it is waaayy out of my comfort zone. Nevertheless I did 6 classes and really enjoyed it. Had a ball on Sat night staying at the hotel with Lianne and Yolande and scrapping all night with Y, L, Delys, Michelle, Sheryl and Eileen. I'm surprised security didn't come up and ask us to quieten down. It was fun...Thanks guys. The tutors were all very inspiring and I think I could get hooked on felting if I wasn't careful lol.

Came home from work on Friday at lunchtime feeling crook so I had a quiet day yesterday. DH has the day off today so we have things to do. My wonderful oldest DS has been gibstopping a room in our house and now we have to buy paint. DH has 5 days off in a row this week and is going to paint it.

Time for a cuppa tea now methinks and get into the day. Hope you have a good Sunday.

Ciao

YEEHAA...update...

2007-04-09T11:34:00.000+12:00

...halfway through writing the workshop (mentioned below) I decide to check a file box in the office marked "Oliver"...just in case I have miss filed a hardcopy of said workshop. In the filebox, there is NOTHING about Oliver and lots of otherstuff...

.....AND 1 COPY OF THE WORKSHOP I NEED.

Yay, yay.

Quick read through...a bit of photocopying at 8am whan I get to work.... lots of winging it..... and generous allowances from my workmates that I 'deserve to NOT spend all of Easter Monday doing work related activities'
....and I can now do 'play' things for the rest of my day.

Laters...

Don't you hate that!!!!

2007-04-09T09:00:00.000+12:00

I have had a busy Easter...House stuff Fri, Cropping with friends 10-10 Sat (Thanks Delys I had a ball), time with Mum and taking T to rowing trials Sun. Today I have other things planned too.
But before I do that I think

"I need to print off the workshop I am taking at work (at 8.30am) tomorrow so I can read through the notes later"

I presented this particular workshop at a conference a few years ago and I save all the wokshops I write so I know I will have it.

I'VE JUST LOOKED ON MY COMPUTER AND I HAVE SAVED LOTS OF WORKSHOPS BUT NOT THAT ONE.

Aaaaarrrggghh. I'm going to have to write a workshop today, and that wasn't on my list of things I wanted to do. And the other things sound much more fun.

I contemplate 'winging it', but for 2 hours I probably need a bit more prep than that.

Better get onto it then......

See ya

EXCITING NEWS RELEASE....

2007-03-31T09:31:00.000+12:00

Well...I've been given the go ahead to release this news on my blog.....

I'M GOING TO BE A GRANDMA!!!!!

Of course, you all say..."you look far too young and how can this be...." LOL

This lovely couple....

..have been together nearly 2 years and (having worked through all the issues that go with these things) are really excited about this. Abby is currently 12 weeks pregnant and baby is due around Oct 11th. If you don't know, my oldest DS is the the bloke with the 'hair'. Had to laugh. When I told my Mum, her first comment was "Izzy will have to get his hair cut or the baby might get a fright when it is born".
For me, it is nice to have something so exciting to look forward to. It's been a pretty bleak past 3 years.

DH is still in shock but is coming round. I'm in 'extremely excited and how can I be as supportive as possible without being an interfering nana mode'!!

Yay...more things to scrap :-)

Ciao

5 Quirky things about me...

2007-03-27T13:12:00.000+12:00

OK, so Mel has tagged me to tell 5 quirky things about myself. As I usually forget to do these sorts of tags (sorry!!) and as I'm home from work today...I'll sit and do it right now.

1: I have followed Coronation St in England on the internet for 4 years and yet I can't stand to sit and watch the show on tele here.
2: I love Zebra print things
3: I park in the same place in the supermarket car park everytime I visit (and will drive around a few times if I need to until someone leaves)
4: I have 4 children and have never, ever even had 1 contraction (he, he)
5: I always wear earrings and I buy a new pair everytime I get my hair cut

I struggled to come up with those...maybe I am just the same as everybody else!!
I tag anyone from the Eastern Bay of Plenty...Dianna, Delys, Andrea or even Tash!!!

Ciao

Heeellllooooo...

2007-03-25T09:45:00.000+12:00

.....I'm still here. Haven't blogged for a while. Life gets pretty busy with a fulltime job, 5 teenagers and 2 labradors!
We have been away for the past 2 weekends to family events...one in Wellington - a family reunion on my Dad's side, and one in Auckland - a cousins wedding on my Mum's side. Caught up briefly with Karen (Girlfriday) at the cousins wedding cos we share the same cousin lol. I must say I am so enjoying being home this weekend!! As well as a fulltime job I have some other work I do too so it gets pretty busy round here.
On the scrapping front I've been making lots of cards lately. Still enjoying the 'girls' coming round on Thursdy nights and I get the odd page done. We all watched 'How to make an American Quilt' this Thursday for a change. Good girlfriends time.
Now all my March events are over I need to start thinking about getting organised for CC07. I'm going to the Auck one, but not the crop. My brother lives in Greenlane and I'm staying with him and walking to and from the hotel. If you're going I'd love to catch up with you. Also a few friends and I are going to SENZ in Auck in May. Haven't booked any classes yet but I'm hoping to do a couple.
OK, I'm off to make a latte and take the dogs for a wee walk. I can handle both of them for about 10mins but I think I must look pretty funny LOL. Must get DH to take a photo. It would make a great page.

Oh, and something very exciting is happening around here. I can't say anything yet but I might be able to soon. Watch this space...I'm sooo excited (...jumping up and down and squealing with delight)

Thanks for visiting

:-)

Things I am learning at the moment....

2007-03-04T08:38:00.000+13:00

- 8 kgs is easier to put on than lose!!
- 2nd puppies are easier than 1st puppies
- Hair do's don't matter to us but they do to the school
(Toby came back from Twizel with his hair dyed club colours - burgundy/red with a gold/yellow stripe through it. He got sent
home from school till it was a "normal' colour again lol)
- when I'm on a scrapping roll I really love it.
- working fulltime drains my energy so I can only do 'so much'!!

Edited to add:
- If I only use the bloglines feeds to view the blogs...I don't have the opportunity to comment..sorry friends, I've been a slack commenter. I pledge to improve lol.

Ciao

But wait...

2007-02-25T13:04:00.000+13:00

....there's more.

:-) :-) :-)

Scrapping up a storm...

2007-02-25T12:41:00.000+13:00

...lately. Participated (but didn't say much) in the cyber crop at SBO on Friday night. Was cool to observe the chat with THE Elsie Flanagan. Have completed 2 of the challenges over the weekend. Other scrapping has been over the past 2 or 3 weeks. Just enjoying puddling away with my Lime Tart kits.
On the family front things are quiet around here this weekend. Toby is still in Twizel and he made a final so that's pretty good. He's back on Monday. Elliot is at a youth group camp in Taupo and Tracey had a vollyball tournament in Rotorua yesterday. DH is working. I have enjoyed a quiet weekend!!
Mocha is a happy settled wee puppy who seems to sleep all day and want to play all night lol. At least he has Java to keep him company for the nighttime games!!

Cheers

Bad blogger...

2007-02-18T08:44:00.000+13:00

....OK. Sorry, I've been a slack blogger. Just haven't got there really. We have a new computer, an apple, so I'm getting used to new technology. Is that a good enough excuse?? And Mocha is such a distraction too......and DH is home for the second weekend in a row...unheard of. Also it was the 3rd aniversary of Olly's death on the 1st of Feb and I guess getting through that is a milestone too. Just can't do everything eh!!

Anyway, Mocha is settled in well and he and Java are firm friends and partners in crime. Can't upload pics on here yet as DH hasn't transferred them over. No 2 DS has just gone to Twizel for 10 days for Club Nationals so hope he does well (...it's a lot of $$$ for 1 race!!!) Otherwise life is just trucking along. Went to Bookem last week and scrapped on Friday night with Delys, Michelle TW, Yolande and Eileen (and others) That was fun and got 2 pages done. All the new submission dates are up on SBO so I must get my A into G and start towrds one of my goals for this year.

Will blog again and upload some photos once Mr Technowhizz (aka DH) does his thing with the photos :-)

Ciao

Introducing.....

2007-02-03T12:35:00.000+13:00

....Mocha.

Now ain't he the cutest thing you have seen for a while.

Ciao

A quiet weekend...

2007-01-28T09:51:00.000+13:00

...for me. DH is frantic at work, I and A are at the Rotary Nationals, T is at Karapiro rowing all weekend and E is working at DH's work. Tr is around so we are going to have coffee and make sushi today....yummo. Made a few cards yesterday and did a page on Thursday nite when the girls were here. I am so loving the Lime Tart kits...they help me use papers and colours I wouldn't normally try.

My friend Raewyn has just got her Cricut so can't wait to have a play.

DH's birthday tomorrow...but he is working. One more week and the boys will be back at school and it will be a bit more routine. T is going back into the 7th form and E into the 4th form. Tr is still with us and she is in the 7th form too...talking of doing some scholarship subjects so she'll have to work hard.

Do you like my slide show? I feel a bit clever doing that lol.

Ciao

Here's a pic....

2007-01-22T18:33:00.000+13:00

...of some of the cards I've made lately.
Getting on top of my photos. Called into my LSS today and remembered I had a $20 voucher to spend. Pcked up a photo storage thingy so that will help. Once photo's are under control there'll be no stopping me......yeah right.

Countdown is on till new puppy time. Not quite sure when we get him but it could be as close as 10 or 11 days. Here's a photo of someone who might get his nose out of joint for a while....not too long I hope.

Ciao

Thank you, thank you, thank you...

2007-01-21T08:04:00.000+13:00

...for all your very kind comments about my hair. Although it seems like a radical change,I used to have my hair like this a number of years ago (well short and red...maybe not quite so bright!!)
The really meaningful part for me is that I haven't cut my hair since Olly died...3 years ago nearly, apart from the odd trim. I felt ready for this haircut.

On another note.....EXCEPTIONALLY EXCITING.....we have made a big decision and we are getting a new puppy. I don't have any photo's so you"ll have to wait till he arrives in 2 weeks. He is a chocolate lab and his name will be Mocha. We will be a 2 lab family and are hoping that the Cleo and Shelby stories might be a bit less cos Java (out 5yr old golden lab) will keep him company. I know, I know....we are dreaming lol. Thanks Andrea for your telephone advice the other day. We've gone for it!!!

I have discovered a new way to make cards which is building up my supplies well and I like what I'm making (I find I often make a card then I don't like it) Every time I create a page, I make a card with the scraps. I have the colours sorted already, designs come quickly and I'm loving them. All still drawing from the inspirational cardmaking we did at scrapcamp in November as well (thanks Nic Howard!!) Might take photos and upload today.

I am on a mission to get my photos under control and in a system. I need something to keep them in. Any good ideas? and if so where did you get it from?

Have a good one.....
caio

WARNING...

2007-01-14T17:20:00.000+13:00

....do not read this post.....

...or look at the pictures....

.....if you get frightened easily..... ......or if you don't cope well with change.

:-) :-) :-) :-)

Thanks go to Michelle T-W for the awesome 'after' shots.

Big thanks also to Delys for the fun time we had at the crop yesterday at the Awakeri scout hall.
Scrapping got done, laughs were had (not at my hair) and the best Chinese I've had for a long time.

Ciao

as promised....

2007-01-04T17:44:00.000+13:00

...here are the layouts I did this weekend using some of the papers and embellies from my Lime Tart kits. Loving the challenge of using different papers. Have to do the journalling on the 'Family' one, now I have finally bought a brown pen.

Work has been pretty quiet this week and home is pretty cruisy too. Haven't done any evening scrapping tho, for various reasons. Have cancelled my scrapping girls tonight as DH will be home tonight and I need to spend some time with him.....oh the sacrifices I make for my marriage lol. Am excited about this weekend coz I hope to catch up with an old friend from primary (yes, primary!!!) school, who I haven't seen since I was 12/13. Can't wait.

Caio for now

I've been.....

2007-01-02T21:02:00.000+13:00

...scrapping up a storm this last few days. But...I can't post piccies till I've taken some and need daylight and FINE WEATHER to do that. I've rearranged my scraproom and done 4 layouts that I really like and made 3 cards with some scraps. I've never done much scraplifting before, but have found it, plus the inspiration of my new Autumn Leaves Designing with calender is just the ticket for getting into things. Am I motivated or what.....Will post pics tomorrow... promise.....

I have made a couple of scrap goals (they're the only important ones aren't they) for this year

In 2007 I will

- have 1 page published (I guess that means I'll have to try and submit some)

- Do more journalling (and get more crative with my titles)

- Get more organised with my photos

- try and keep my scraproom better organised

I don't want to be bah humbug about Christmas and all that, but I definitely feel happier now we've taken down the tree and cleared the mess all away. I guess denial is an easier place to be than facing everything.

OMG.....DS (16) has just come home with the most horrendous haircut (shaved skinhead style with V8 shaved in the top of his mullet and the long bit still there) I guess it's only hair and it will grow. He tends to wear a beanie most of the time anyway. I've just taken some photos so will add them to this post.

Family dinner this Friday so I guess that will give some of the rellies something to talk about!!

Why oh why?????? I guess just because he can :-)

Caio

Sandra

Finally...another post....

2006-12-30T10:43:00.001+13:00

...from me. I've been a slack blogger, I know. Just haven't been able to sit and blog for some reason. Anyway...I'm back now.

Did a load of scrapping before Christmas, will upload layouts over next few posts.

Christmas has been and gone. it was pretty quiet here, just us and Mum. Izzy and Abby (his girlfriend) were in and out visiting her family as well and Tracey left about 10 ish to spend the day with her boyfriends family. Was cool to have everyone wake up here to their Santa stockings tho. We had candles burning through the day for Dad and Olly. DH and I did some juggling and got some of the kids to give us some vouchers and, combined with some we had already, got ourselves a new espresso machine and burr grinder. Still haven't quite got it all right yet but my coffees are improving. I also got Fat Freddy's Drop (love those guys) and U2 CD's, some glasses, a lunchbox for work, petrol to cover our trip to Wgtn in March, a photo frame, some beading things and can't remember what else. Boys all seemed happy with their haul and we are still eating leftovers!! In fact some food we bought for Christmas we haven't even cooked or opened yet LOL. As caterers we have problems with food quantities!!!

Toby is away at rowing training camp atm and DH is frantic at work till mid or late Jan so it's pretty quiet round here. Tracey is working madly to save for her Netball trip to Aussie in a couple of weeks and DS (18) and girlfriend have just headed off to Whitianga for New Years.

I'm working thru (except for stats) but work is pretty quiet. Haven't plucked up the courage to take my scrapping stuff into work tho ha, ha. Planning on reorganising my scraproom (again!!!!) this weekend and getting some stuff done.

Will post again soon.

Happy New Year and may 2007 be filled with good things for you. May you also have the courage and strength to face the 'not so good' things that come your way too, cos they invariably will I've decided.

Ciao

Sandra :-)

Not much blogging happening....

2006-12-14T06:03:00.000+13:00

....from me at the moment. Guess I am winding down a bit, and just managing what I can. Christmas is a very hard time of year for us, with one of our babies gone. This will be our third Christmas without our beloved Olly and I thought I was doing well but it's starting to kick in now. Had a pretty fragile day yesterday. Goes with the territory I guess.....I just didn't choose the territory.
Just placed a wee order at KS and Phillippa forgot me at Lime Tart so she's sending an extra wee pressie so that will all help lol. Went to Whakatane to crop with Dianna and Tash on Saturday too and that was fun.
Not very organised for the Christmas thing...have made cards and have some ideas for pressies. Will be our first Christmas without Dad too. It's going to be a quiet affair, just us and Mum as my brother and his family are heading up North for a holiday. Tracey will be with us too I think, although she might go to her boyfriends family. It's pretty wierd for her too as her family are going to be overseas.
Anyway, best get ready for work and rustle up some energy to talk to people and be pleasant ha, ha. In honour of Olly here is a picture of my boys on Christmas day in 2001. Olly is the one pulling a silly smiley face...he always did that when you pointed a camera at him!! It's sometimes so hard to believe that those times were only 5 years ago....things have changed so much and they are all so BIG now too.

Caio
Sandra

Happy Birthday to....

2006-12-02T18:16:00.000+13:00

.....ME. Today is my birthday and I am 40 something!! I decided coz it was a Saturday and it was my birthday I would have a party...a 'girlfriends lunch'. I have had 15 of my wonderful girlfriends over for a lovely lunch on our deck. I enjoy catering so I made all the food. I was so spoilt, as I never realised everyone would bring pressies!!! It was cool to have some scrapping/blogging friends there (waves to Dianna and Andrea) Sorry about making you ask people questions Dianna! Here are some pics of our day.

Caio for now

Pics....finally

2006-11-26T10:24:00.000+13:00

Here are some pics of my creations recently.
This is a layout I did at scrapcamp, and I've put it in the SO Nov challenge coz it fits (b&w photo, black cardstock and 2 patt papers from SO) Paper is Junkitz Laguna guy and I'm loving those Heidi Swapp clear letters atm.

This is the layout I did at camp with the challenge pack. The papers looked very 'heritagy' so I used these photos from Elliots dedication. The gown in over 100 years old and unfortunately we don't have any photos of the detail in it. Suffice to say it is beautiful and I was scared all the way through all the childrens dedication services that they would poo or chuck on it lol. Very special times and memories. This last pic is of the christmas cards I have started to make. I LOVED the card set we made with Nic Howard at camp and have used her designs and Yolandes triangle Christmas trees (thanks guys!) and the papers from my Lime Tart 6x6 kit....soooo yummy. I would never have normally put pink on my Christmas cards. Will make more this week I'm so inspired.

Must go. Need to tidy the bombsite (aka scraproom).....again. And do some other stuff.

Ciao

It's all on around here...

2006-11-20T21:18:00.000+13:00

...well for me at least. I had a ball at scrapcamp. Told Raewyn on the way over that I wasn't so much worried about getting lots of layouts done but on chatting to people and mixing a bit more. I did just that and met heaps of new people from blogs I read etc. Hi all!!!! (waving furiously) I loved both classes and managed to do a couple of layouts too. It's been all go here since I came back....full on at work, had Mum over for tea and I have a course in Rotorua Tues and Wed. Better go and pack. I am staying with another scrapping friend and I am going to take my Lime Tart 6x6 kit to make a start on my Christmas cards (a la Nic Howards ones we did in the class - but they weren't Christmas ones iykwim) Will probably talk all night. LOL
Came home from work to see Janet had posted that she was giving away a load of scrapping stuff (thanks for the heads up Janine) so I raced around to her house and grabbed it all. Lots of goodies which I will share with my Thurs night girls.
Better go and pack again. See you later in the week with some pics hopefully.

I can't wait....

2006-11-16T06:11:00.001+13:00

...only 1 more sleep (and 2 days of work) to go till scrapcamp. I am so not organised but I will end up throwing everything together and will just deal with what I have with me when I get there. I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with Raewyn, a friend who I have got hooked on scrapping (sorry Darren!!) It should be fun coz the class projects look awesome. Just have to remember to get some sleep or I won't cope with work next week (oh shame!!!)
DS and 'lovely teenage girl who is still living with us' finished school yesterday so now for exams. Toby really needs to do well to pick up enough credits to pass so we will see. DH is on tenterhooks waiting for some news too so it's all mildly stress city round here. Might be a good thing I'm dissappearing off to scrapcamp lol.

Woohoo, got my first lime tart kit yesterday. What awesome goodies, all beautifully coordinated. Can't wait to play with them at camp. best go and get showered and into the day.

Ta raaa

No scrapping pics....

2006-11-08T17:13:00.000+13:00

...but piccies of jewellery instead. Made this necklace and earrings this week at my class. This could be dangerous. I'm enjoying this beading stuff...in small doses.

On the scrapping front, I started a LO of Toby's ball photo's and had a 'accident' all over the floor and desk with my silver embossing powder. Consequently, I have just left the mess there and haven't got back to clean it up. Where is the 'clean up fairy' when you need her???
Slowly getting used to working all the time. Will be knackered after scrapcamp weekend. If you call in here and you are going to scrapcamp, please let me know so I can look out for you. I like meeting my 'imaginary friends' in person.

Caio for now

Another week under my belt...

2006-11-04T09:39:00.000+13:00

and I'm exhausted again...but I think I'll get used to it. Enjoying the work so far. And I got paid...Yay. Now to play catch up on the bills and maxxed out visa card.
Tracey, our extra teenager atm, is fitting in fine around here. Not sure if she'll be with us for long but am enjoying having another girl around. Good for my boys too I think. She is certainly no problem behaviourwise but I think she finds our household quite hilarious. We are pretty open about stuff and she often says she can't believe we talk about what we talk about.

Supporting mum the best I can atm too. I think at 6wks, dad's passing is starting to sink in, which is hard. My experience is that shock buffers us for quite sometime and as the reality slowly sinks in that is when the hard yards start. Unfortunately it's also about the time other people tend to leave you alone (thinking you are doing fine) and get on with their own lives. For me this happened about 6 months after Olly died. Just an observation if anyone is interested.

Planning to scrap this weekend. Got heaps of photos at Harvey Norman's last weekend (15c a print) so have sorted them and will choose papers and come up with ideas (hopefully) today. Going to do some more beading this weekend too. My Thursday night scrapping pals were funny on Thursday. I was only allowed to talk beading for a couple of minutes. They are scared I'm going to desert and go 'to another side'..No chance. LOL. They are funny.

Hopefully will post again before the end of the weekend with some layouts.

Caio

Exhausted....

2006-10-27T17:31:00.000+13:00

...is how I'm feeling right now. Sitting in front of the puter with a large espresso, chocolate and chippies (I know...I know...all bad) and feeling totally shattered after my first whole week back at work. And it wasn't even a whole week....only 4 days. Am getting the hang of it, new jobs are exhausting eh Michelle! Working out where to find the stationary and who's nose not to get up. Ha, ha. My job is with the DHB (Disability sector) so there is endless form filling out and beauracratic nonsense. Yay, yay. Can't even have tomorrow off coz I have a cultural training with another organisation I am involved with. Hope I don't fall asleep.

Thanks for those who commented on my blog about their thoughts on scrapkits. I think I might be frivolous and shout myself Lime Tart (just to be different) for 6 months. Anything too girly, that I think I definitely won't use, I will sell or give away (preferred option)

JANINE, your name was pulled out (of a noodle bowl) to recieve a wee rak so I will e-mail you. I have your addy somewhere.

Cheers all and have a good weekend

No scrapping done...

2006-10-23T17:47:00.000+13:00

I can't believe it. Weather sucks and I have nothing else to do, plenty of supplies and photos....but I've done NO SCRAPPING all weekend. Nevermind, my scraproom is at least a little tidy now. Here is a page i finished on Thurs nite when I have scraptime with a couple of friends. It's a boy page with lace, flourishes and bling on. (sorry the pic isn't as good as it could have been) Must be suitable for a challenge somewhere LOL.

Thanks to those who have commented so far on the whole scrapkit thing. Please continue to leave your thoughts/musings/discoverings on the benefits/drawbacks of subscribing to a kit and on Wed I will draw a name out for a rak. I'm really in 2 minds (which isn't bad for me...usually i'm in about 6 minds ha ha) about it all. Keeps those comments coming.

Ciao for now
Sandra

Where has my mojo gone....

2006-10-22T17:37:00.000+13:00

I planned on scrapping all weekend and it's Sunday afternoon and I have done NONE!!! I have tidied my scraproom (better than I have done before), had a friend round for a scrap lesson, and made 30 cards for my mum (all the same and need to do 30 more) I've thought about trying the challenges on SO but just haven't been able to go there. Oh well. I did finish a layout on thursday so I guess that counts. Will post later in the week.

Instead...I am going to use my blog for a poll (sort of). Now I am back working, once I'm back on a reasonable financial keel, I am thinking of shouting myself a subscription to a kit of some sort. I know many of you get Tarisota or Lime Tart, SO are putting together their own and I know someone who got one from Scrapmuse in the States for a while. My questions are...what is worth it, which do you get and/or prefer, do you end up with piles of stuff you never use, what do you do if you hate it, does the surprise thing work for you?? etc, etc. I like getting stuff I haven't picked because it sometimes challenges me out of my comfort zone (of blue and green and chipboard lol) But I only have sons and don't have much call for heaps of girly stuff. I know, I know....I am a girl, and maybe this is an opportunity for me to stretch myself.

Please post your (very honest) thoughts in my comments and after Wednesday night I will draw a name and send a wee rak of goodies to the person. Sort of an encouragement to post and a thank you for sharing your wisdom.

Cheers

Tomorrow is D-Day...

2006-10-18T18:07:00.000+13:00

Although what D might stand for I have no idea. Maybe it's Dumb idea day (as in...what a dumb idea to go back to work fulltime) or maybe it's Dollar day as I finally might have a few spare (in a few months once I eventually get paid and we've caught up on all the bills lol) Whatever it means, I am back at work fulltime from tomorrow.

Anyway, because you all asked here is the hair (just bright red streaks and a trim and layer) The base colour needs the roots doing now. I'm completely grey under all the colour I think!! And I need about 15 conditioning treatments.....all in good time!!

Please note the fab jewellry...I made it in my 1st creative beads class at night school last night. No, I'm not going to another side and deserting scrapping, but E won a nightclass at school so I decided to do beading for fun.

Thank you for all the comments about E's rowing. Unfortunately the kids all row for Tga rowing club for the 1st part of their season anyway (through the schools) but the good news is it looks like they have scraped up a 4 so they will have a crew. E came up with an awesome plan for himself if it didn't happen so that is plan B now I guess.
Penny thanks for the iron comments. They reminded me that it is a problem for me too and I need to keep an eye on it. Janine, I meant to say a few posts ago that the paper in the penguin layout was Junkitz, Laguna Guy!!!

So this past few days has been huge with more drama. Our oldest son has had $15 000 worth of engines and parts (he's an enthusiast) stolen from our garage (scumbags!!!) and currently we are caregivers (she's got the newly painted bedroom!!) for a lovely 16yr old girl who is having difficulties at home. Life is never dull. I think work should be a breeze after all this. As for the list, I got about half of it done so that's not too bad. The freezer has plenty of baking in, the cards are being made this weekend, painting finished, pantries done. How can scrap supplies be minimalist...what was I thinking.

Haven't done any scrapping but hanging out for Labout Weekend when I plan to do lots.

Ciao for now

Plodding through....

2006-10-13T09:03:00.000+13:00

I feel like I am in 'plod' mode at the moment. Need an injection of energy to get stuff done. Off my list....room needs topcoat on walls and top coat on windows skirtings etc then it's finished. Then will need to dress it but...haven't got much to dress it with. Never mind. Hair looks cool (very red highlights!!!) and nails are still holding up. Pantries done so I'm getting there. Had Toby's yr 12 drama class performance assessments last night. What a talented buch of young people. Both meaningful and hilariously funny dramas.
Feeling very sad for Elliot at the moment. For the last 2 years he has been obsessed with rowing, coxing last year to learn as much as he can, training hard, eating well etc. Now, due to various reasons, it looks like there may be no boys rowing this season at the school. It's hard when your children face dissappointments like this. I think he's suffered enough pain in his short 14 years and I don't think he should have to have anymore (ridiculous 'protective mummy' belief here)

Got my contract to sign today (about time!!!) and our new broardband modem arrived on the same courier. Yay, that's our wee 'going back to fulltime work' treat for ourselves. Besides, it will stop the kids whinging at me about my internet time LOL

Have a good day. I'm off to try and achieve something!!

:-)

A dumb combination

2006-10-09T14:58:00.000+13:00

Has anyone wondered about the dumb combination of things I put in my last post??? I wonder how many spotted it and thought...how can you do both of those?? No one probably, but after 2 days of painting (have done 2 undercoats on the ceiling and one on the walls so far...go me) I have decided I'm NOT going to have gorgeous looking nails. LOL. Unless of course, I go out afterwards and get acrylics and that would be scrapcamp $$ so there is no choice there huh!!!
Speaking of scrapcamp, am hoping to have enough $$ to register this week. Who's going? Last time I was a bit shy (me, shy??, that's a joke) to introduce myself to people on whose blogs I lurk. The change of venue means I won't get a weekend with my DH as well as scrapcamp (he works at Totara Springs) but hey, that's life.
The list is working. It's making me feel like I need to get on with things and get them done. That was the plan, although I do like your idea Andrea. I have an appt with a mate of Toby's tomorow to have my hair highlighted and cut. She is a hairdressing student so who knows what I'll come out looking like but hey...it's cheap. Will get DH to help with top coats on his day off on Wed and I will be well on the way to getting one thing done!!

Have just figured I start work for 2 days, then get 3 days off (labour weekend) then work 4 days then have another weekend. Now that was clever!!

Cheers. Have a good week.

Need to get moving...

2006-10-08T09:13:00.000+13:00

I start fulltime work again (aaaarrgh) on Thursday 19th Oct. That way I have 2 days work then 2 days off to recover. I need to get more stuff sorted and more systems in place. I am confident the cleaning system is now entrenched so that's working. As I am so not a list person, I am going to make myself a bit accountable and list here all the things I WOULD LIKE to have done before going back to work. I don't believe in must's or should's:

Bedroom painted
Upstairs lounge sorted and tidy
window frames finished (remember those...I never finished all 12!!!)
Plenty of baking in the freezer (that's easy...I love baking)
Scraproom not just tidy but sorted down to a minimalist type way (coz I may have to pack it up
to paint it at any stage)
Thank you cards made Mum to send out
Clean out both pantry's (food and crockery)
Sort out freezer (big one)

Right, there it is in black and white. Also would like to have eyebrow's plucked and neat, nails looking gorgeous and no wrinkles (just kidding) Might try and get something done with my hair too. Need new clothes but will have to wait till I have some $$$. Blah, blah, blah...and so it goes.

Had a lovely few hours chatting to Dianna and Arwen yesterday when they called in for lunch. Java(the lovely labrodor) has never had a visitor of the small person type who has played with him so well.
Best go and see if E needs a lift to rowing. I swear my car could get there and back by itself after 3 or 4 years now.

Cheers

When the going gets tough.....

2006-10-02T17:30:00.000+13:00

....the tough get SCRAPBOOKING!!!!! Weather is yuck, I feel yuck, MIL still v unwell etc. So I scrapped all day. Here is the results (well I didn't do all 3 today but who cares)

This next one I've put in the No8 wired challenge Flowers on Boy layouts

Others speak for themselves really

In the good news department:

I got the job ( yay, yay income...) but it's not all final and official yet. Toby won Gold in the womens under 20 8's.

Cheers
Sandra

And so life goes on...

2006-09-30T08:17:00.000+12:00

Firstly a big Thank You to all of you who posted your kind thoughts on my blog after my last post. And to Dianna and Yolande for the texts, Delys and Andrea for the beautiful cards. It's been a pretty big week and a half and I don't really know where to start.
Dad's funeral (last Sat) went well with over 100 pple there. I managed to speak at it (bl***y well too I must say) and I think, although as a quiet, private man he would have been horrified that we spent time talking about him, it was an honouring occasion. I met some Aunties and Uncles whom I had either never met before or only met as a child. I have not really yet begun to process what his passing will mean for me and how I will miss him.
Mum is doing pretty well considering. She wants to be on her own in her home and has been ok there by herself for the last 3 nights. She is taking things slowly and as she lives locally I am able to phone and visit her frequently. I keep telling her she is now "world famous in Taihape"
My boys are doing OK, although I am very aware that this is big for each of them for various reasons. Toby is in Ashburton this weekend for the rowing Provincial Nationals at Lake Hood so I am sending him 'fast boat' thoughts for his races.
I have discovered through all this that I am related by marriage to Karen (Girlfriday) - waves to newly discovered scrapping cousin - I had a job interview last week and, although not final yet so I can't say too much, it looks like I will be back working fulltime very soon. My cleaning system has not got a lot of attention but I have been continuing to do most of it in all the trauma.
I haven't done much scrapping but I did order some goodies through SO so I need to get back into it.
Unfortunately, after all that ramble, things haven't settled down for us tho. Yesterday we had some calls to say DH's elderly mother has had a fall and broken her pelvis. She will be having surgery this weekend. She lives in Chch. We are praying hard for her.

I am wondering how much can a girl take!!!!

Sandra