Scrapping update...

I haven't shown any new layouts this year. Not since I completed the 50 challenge last year. I have been steadily working along. It has been so nice to have my supplies spread out all over my 'craft room' since Hayley moved out. Looks like she might move back in to save some money before she jets off to the UK. We will have to rearrange a bit and I will give up the craft room, I've really enjoyed it but it will also be nice to have her close before she leaves me.

Here are some 2013 works

I've been wanting to do this layout about Chris' family emigrating to Australia for a while. After I completed it I realised the photo was wrong. It was about 6 years too early.

 So I hunted around and found a correct photo, one actually taken on the ship they travelled on in 1969, the Achille Lauro.

Still more to come...

Winding up...

I have had a lovely day off today pottering around while Erin was at the movies with her friends. I was able to finish another layout towards my 50 goal and oil the timber outdoor furniture . I also made some mini baked cheesecakes for tonights tennis breakup.

I think I have finished my Christmas baking and now have the challenge of balancing the different containers in the pantry and fridge. Amongst the treasures are my panetonne, rum balls, white rocky road, ginger shortbread, christmas cake, peppermint truffles, almond/pistachio bread, chocolate fudge, cranberry/cashew bites and macadamia/apricot balls. The apricot macaroons got finished off at work and Erin's vanilla stars are nearly all gone. I think we will have enough sweet treats somehow. During the week I will think about what vegies & salads will go with our roast meats on Christmas Day. Part of the fun is browsing through the books looking for new treats.

I finished this layout and it is number 46 for the year.

no: 46

These photos were taken on Christmas Day last year when we were hit with a tremendous storm & flooding rain. Luckily on that day we did not sustain any damage. It makes me wonder what weather will come this Christmas.

Self portraits...

I had an idea for a layout to finish off the year with a collage of images of me from 2012. There is an idea circulating that we don't take enough photos of ourselves, that we are always behind the camera or are too self conscious of the way we look. The digital camera has helped with this phenonema enormously, much easier these days to get yourself in the picture. Being happy with the way we look in photos is another thing entirely.



I made this collage on Smilebox and want to print it up to put in my scrapbook. I might use my big Sister's idea and print the page via a site she found. Her Canada holiday snaps were printed this way and look great and were an economical way to do it. She even scrapped them and put them into an album!

Looking back on the year it seems I have done a lot of running and taken lots of snaps of running. I might do another collage dedicated to running and sweating and looking puffed out.

I have finished another 2 paper layouts and have nearly reached my 50 layout goal.




45

I am really pleased with this one, the coloured octagons suiting the page so well.





44

A good way to spend a hot day, browsing through photos and making collages. Much better than other things that make you go outside.

A sunny weekend...

has ended.

I played tennis yesterday and had a lovely social game. Erin spent the whole day at the Djerriwarrh Festival and came home late, after the fireworks. I missed out this year as she was with her friends. I really like to watch fireworks and they usually put on a pretty good show.

So today I spent some time with my tennis widow husband. We were in the back garden making a plan for replacing/painting the pergola roof and got stuck into some pruning. We lingered under the shady vine covered verandah and patted ourselves on the back for the progress of the garden thus far. We didn't know we were being watched

 We have made a couple of nice areas to linger in and once the roof is re-done it won't matter if it is hot or wet on Christmas Day we will be OK.

On Friday I made 2 more pages, I am inching toward my goal

42

43

News & nearly news...

News in, the new neighbour moved in on Friday and it has been all quiet on the home front. Hayley's friend was in the removalist team and provided some information, an older woman on her own. I've barely seen or heard her in the last few days, quite a good result.

I made this card for the tennis coach and his wife,

They are expecting their 3rd child any day now, Steve let slip that this one is a boy to add to their two girls. Maybe tennis on friday will be a washout or a babyout. I punched those little elephants from a thin foam which to my surprise slipped into the punch and worked well.

I also have 2 more layouts to share

Reluctant Relayer, no: 40

number 41

I am getting myself into a groove within my new space, popping in randomly to create when I feel like it. Today I was looking for a particular die I had used on this Turbo layout and couldn't find it anywhere. I went to look in the waste bin but it had been efficiently emptied for bin night tonight. I ran out to the street doing my best bin scab impersonation and found it amongst the paper scraps. I'll have to stop being so tidy!

The biggest news I have tonight is that Hayley has resigned. She no longer has the will to continue and her desire to travel is stronger than sticking it out at something she hates. She is going to pick up work so she can save and jet off asap. I am a bit sad for her that she didn't get her qualification but we will support her in whatever direction she takes.

I will head back to work tomorrow after a lovely 5 days off and thank the idiocy that gives us a public holiday for a horse race. I wont say no to a day off, but don't get involved in any sweeps or betting. They had a perfect day for the tennis tournament on the grass courts and we had just 6 drops of fat rain after some spectacular thunder.

Two more days then another rest. Its a great life.

October 8...

I made great strides into my painting challenge today. I was able to sort Hayley's left over stuff into distinct piles and she came over tonight and took some of them away. I will dispose of the real rubbish tomorrow and continue my challenge. The walls are washed and Chris filled about one thousand pin holes ready for the first coat tomorrow. In a moment of weakness, about 10 years ago, I painted Hayley's wall 2 shades of dark purple with a torquoise trim. That is going to take some serious undercoating.

And all of this activity after a swim this morning.

During my morning tidy up, I photographed this latest layout and can now reveal number 39

Father's Day...

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Today we celebrated the only Father in our house with his favourite meals and a new rattle gun. We ply him with tools so he will continue to do the jobs we need doing. Its our cunning plan and its working a treat.

My Dad has been gone for 27 years now and sometimes it is hard to remember the day to day things and I have snapshots of memories, of his voice and his hands and his manner. I have to keep story telling to remember the memories. When I hear of fabulous Grandfathers I have a little pang, a case of the what ifs.

More sunshine today and a few more jobs ticked off the list.

no: 37

Another week gone by...

Another week has trickled by. The weather has started to turn and we have seen a bit of sunshine between the showers. Spring is showing its face with some of the trees in the local orchards starting to blossom.

Even my miniature daffodils from last year have sporadically flowered.

My fitness program is going well and I have settled in to a nice routine of running with some swimming and pilates thrown in as well. I am loving the cardio tennis and have enjoyed several games with the ladies on a Monday night. Tonight I was upgraded from a 3 to a 2 and I'm hoping to get a regular gig instead of waiting for a call each week.

Both my girls have had haircuts and redyed their hair, Hayley more red and Erins more black. Their shorter styles are really smart and fresh.

I have been scrounging around op shops for some 'cammo' gear to wear at the Relay for Life. The hospital team is going for a 'MASH' theme this year and I have had difficulty finding anything in our size. The best I could do is some khaki green coloured ladies pants which I will splotch some paint on in a camouflage style. It will have to do, I'm not buying new stuff from a disposal store when it wont be worn again.

 I have done another 2 pages for Hayleys' album and after having some photos printed at Harvey Norman I have a few more lined up.

No 35

No 36

Four more done...

Here is the four I started at Friday nights' scrap session. Couldn't finish them while I was out but played around today while the Olympics played out in the background.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oi, oi, oi!!!!

Anyhow...

31, for Erin to remember how much she wanted the baby but was so glad to give it back

32 for Erins' album

33, also for her album

34, for my album

Easy to knock up 3 pages when you have school photos to use.

My arm is sorer today and had to do some stretches to work it out. I'll try to go for a swim tomorrow which should also help. Watching the swimming trials makes me wonder if the pool will be a bit busier in the morning.

Another weekend gone...

And another week has passed by without a blog update.

Erin went back to school and we all worked. Even Callum got a shift with a local motor mechanic and came home with a blister on his thumb from...sweeping. Starting with sweeping is a good start.

A busy week at work meant that I dont feel like doing anything at night except vegging out. I had tried to be a bit more organised and stuck to a menu plan which I think helped to take the pressure off thinking about meals. Only one run and one session of pilates was my post race 'week off'.

I was pleased to finally catch up with Big Sister and finish some more layouts.

number 28

number 29

number 30

It was good while scrapping on Friday to be able to look back at these layouts for inspiration. On Friday next I am going to do a group scrap with some local ladies. I wonder if their influence will filter through onto the pages I am planning. Erin has finally brought home her school photos so I probably get stuck into those, its always a challenge to do the school photos in a new way.

And the weekend has whizzed by with the usual laundry, cleaning, shopping roundabout. Chris dusted the cobwebs off his golf clubs and played 9 holes with a mate. He would have been pleased if his score was actually for 18 holes but you cant expect professional standards when you play once a year.

I might be able to copy and paste this post next week as we dont have anything startling happening this week either!

50 layouts...

I'm setting myself a challenge for 2012 of the scrapbooking kind.

I want to complete 50 layouts this year. I've seen people challenge themselves to complete 100 in 12 months but I am going for 50. Less pressure on me. And that is still 1 a week which might not seem like much but sometimes a busy life gets in the way of hobbies.

I am starting with this one, which I technically started last year but finished and put away today, so it has become the inaugural one.



number 1

 I have planned out about 10 more layouts and printed photos from our Christmas, beach, holiday snaps for them. I found a new/old folder and have sketched out some ideas and put them together so I remember my plans. Do I have 50 events this year that are scrap worthy? maybe I will have to go back to my stash of older photos to finish or even redo some of the earlier layouts that I dont like anymore.

On another (running) note, fitting as this first layout is about running, I went for a run this afternoon in the chilly wind and light sideways rain. It was the best run I have had for ages, I just kept going. Instead of my ipod to listen to, which is still at big Sisters with the SLR, I just focused on my breathing and kept going and going, saying to myself  'just to the end of this row', 'just to the next bench', 'just to the carpark' until I was done.

That feeling of achievement is what others talk about...I get it.

October 10...

Happy Birthday to my sister-in-law and a get well to Chris' other sister who is sitting in hospital with a queried bowel obstruction. I know which sister I'd rather be.

Back to work today and I was sitting in a very cold office mostly reading emails. Tomorrow I'll be off my chair in to a fully booked clinic.

I'm posting these layouts that I finally popped into my album

This school girl was less than enthusiastic about going back to school today. They can wear summer uniform this term if they wish but as todays weather was going to be chilly it was stockings and kilt still. She told me she was one of very few in full uniform but did not regret her decision at all.

Friday again...

Firstly my Friday outfit

Ezibuy woollen tunic
stockings & short boots

 Still cant get used to the Friday posings & now looking back at this photo I will wear leggings with this tunic instead of stockings.

I've done some scrapping, firstly I got Erin's school photos back and used one for this black & yellow layout

This one with her Dad, taken on her birthday

And the obligatory cake shot

We couldn't rustle up 14 candles on the night but she still got to blow out a few.

The sun was shining today, that always makes me happy. My dafs are starting to peep through, I'm hoping for a spectacular showing

Midweek...

A little mid week crafting colour today...

Not that I made it today, or even yesterday but last week when it was a bit rainy & I couldn't get into the garden. Hayley is such a gorgeous girl, sure she is moody & opinionated at times but she is such a joy to me. It's been a bit hard having her work in my workplace, I can't stop being her Mum & I have to restrain myself from being a lioness if I think something is unfair or harsh for her. She is an adult working in an adults world but she will always be close to my heart.

Back at work now & it doesn't take long to get into the school/work routine, my energy levels have ebbed already.

Hope you are having a good week.

Sunday...

Looks like I have been productive today but I only fixed up and finished off these 2 layouts

 This one just needed a stamp to cover a person in the crowd who had a terrible look on his face!

Chris & I went up to the Open day at the about to be revealed Anthony's Cutting bypass on the Western Freeway. Hopefully we will be able to drive on it very soon.

Favourite fashion Friday...

I see lots of blogging girls are doing 'What I wore Wednesday' and I thought I would like to join in. But I did think you would get a bit bored seeing me in my uniform each Wednesday. So my take on this is going to be my favourite outfits on a Friday. Fridays are my days, I like to head out on a Friday and save the housework etc for Saturdays.

 

Knit tunic by Ping Pong
'I love Billy' black boots
soft red scarf from Myer
black leggings


ps: it took Erin about 20 shots to get this less than perfect shot, is there ever the 'perfect' shot?








Finished a couple of layouts at Big Sisters while I was all dressed up today, the inspiration for the first layout came from the website 'Dear photograph'. I haven't used the photography idea but liked the idea of addressing the photograph itself. I found a photo from my childhood that was meaningful to me and came up with this layout.

The journalling reads...Dear Photograph, when I look at you I don't remember this day at the beach in Qld specifically, I just remember a loving father & a happy childhood.
This one, also from my childhood, was originally going to be amongst montage of a few photos I had printed of myself wearing a  variety of silly hats but have since decided to do them singly.

This journalling reads I don't remember where I was going to be wearing such a special Hat.

Bit of a theme happening here with me not remembering stuff, and not having anyone who does remember to fill in the blanks. Thats where the journalling becomes so important.

Layouts...

just 2 to share today

 I found this photo of Erin when I was looking for something else (which I didn't find) and in real life is quite a vibrant shot. Just some fun while we were on holiday.

This next one was done for a Christmas challenge. At the same time I made a few Chrissie cards, so thanks to Big Sis I have made a start on this  years cards.

A childhood shot of my sisters and I enjoying a Christmas picnic.

It  has been quite gloomy and grey around here, hard to take a good natural light shot. The ash cloud from Chile has been casting its own gloom on holiday plans of my colleagues who are heading to NZ & Bali this week. I'll still be working, no plans to go anywhere.

Post Mother's Day...

I have a huge basket of ironing to do

I am thinking of doing another run

Erin is growing up to be a beautiful young woman