Living my dream

Chooks, Ducks and a couple of LO's

On Sunday we decided to let the chooks out to have a go at the weeds on the bank. Its really hard to mow, and they love to rummage around, so the perfect solution. Also gave me an opportunity to get some shots of them....

I don't actually like the look of birds too much. But I do like this photo.

We're getting a fairly regular supply of eggs at the moment. 3-5 a day. Wee Pinochio is broody again, so no eggs from her. Will do the seperate thing shortly (tried in weekend. Didn't work).

Then yesterday we had the ducks right up in our backyard. They normally just stay down by the water, but it was so stormy we figured they needed shelter? Well, last night when I went to collect the chook eggs, I found this in Andy's garden....

It was cold. I was so sorry. I think Toast must've scared them off. If it had been warm still I would have put it under our broody chook and crossed fingers for a wee duckling. Nevermind. Andy was quite pleased that we have Toast otherwise he would have been working around a broody duck all season. LOL!

But apparently there are 9-10 wee ducklings down the back, so we're hoping to see them soon.

And a couple of LO's....

I love the photos on this one. We had fun at Autumn Escape earlier this year! I used lots of old and new Prima.

Next one is 'ok'. Not my fav, but its done and is one of those LO's I find really had to do, so that's a bonus.

Lots of bits and pieces on here.

Alrighty, that's it from me. Hope the school holidays are going well for you.

Saturday sketch day and a running update

Here's the sketch for this week. Enjoy.

As you know a while ago I told you about how I am running the 10km part of the Auckland marathon. I'm doing this to raise money and awareness of the plight of millions of children that are sold into slavery by their parents, in order for the parents and rest of the family to survive. Of course what happens to the child once sold is not pleasant (to say the least) so the money I and others are raising is to buy back these kids & raise them in a safe orphanage, to go to school, to have 3 meals a day, to have a chance at a normal life.

Of course me being me, thought to myself, that hey, I've done lots of running before. I mean lots. So I'll be able to just do it no worries and didn't start training properly til this week.

And oh how wrong I was! LOL.

I ran approx 3 kms for my first run and had to stop approx 6 times. WHAT?! I felt like I was going to die. I enjoyed it. No, I LOVED it. But it was scary. To realise what I used to be able to do, and what I can now do. It was a huge wake up call.

My second run was on Thurs and I only stopped 3 times. Yes. I felt alot better and more free in my running.

Today I went for my 3rd run (in the rain, I love running in the rain!). Annnnnnd I only stopped once! I got home and was exhausted, my legs feel like led. But I'm making progress. And I'm really loving it. I had forgotten just how much I love to run.

Of course being overweight doesn't help. Man oh man. But its fine. I'm looking forward to crossing that finish line with Andy and the kids cheering me on.

So I encourage you to click the link in my sidebar (top left) and have a look at my fundraiser page and donate a little bit. Even $1 would make a difference.....You'd be amazed at how little it costs to buy back a child. To change one persons life. Of course if you aren't able, or don't think this is your thing, that's totally fine. Just keep checking in on me here and maybe even leave some comments to encourage and support. It would mean the world to me.

And from here on in, I'll try and let you know just how I'm getting on.

Have a great Sat.

Prima Sept sketch

I decided to do this months sketch, but have deviated a little. Hehehe. That's the fun of a sketch right?!

Here is the sketch (by Anam Stubington):

And my take on it:

You can see I changed it quite a bit, while still keeping the idea behind the sketch intact.

I handcut the title from cork, and wrote the poem for the journaling. Eeeek. Maybe I won't give my my day job. LOL.

I was also going to show you some writing/artwork that Matt and Sarah have been doing, but I can't find it to photograph. It was so cute. Matt had done this great list of our family names and worked out how many letters were in each name, then 'marked' it all himself with a speechbubble saying 'great work Matthew'. Too cute!

Ok, internet is playing up. So I'm gonna go before it kicks me out again. Later.

FYI

I notice that Typepad has changed the way you reply to comments. Its meant that for alot of the ones I've been slack on replying to (about 29) I can't reply to without it meaning nothing. So I've deleted and am starting again. I do read every comment and am 'usually' good at replying. So sorry ladies!

Ok, later.

Saturday sketch day

Here is this weeks sketch. Taken off a LO I've just finished. Can't show just yet, but soon.

Have a good Saturday.

Birthday's galore

Biggest happy birthday wishes and hugs to some special people in my life.

My FIL Peter, or Grandad. It was so great getting together on Monday night. The kids (well, all of us!) just love you to bits and I feel so grateful that they have you and Granny and the whole McClune clan in their lives.

Vicky. A dear scrapping buddy who is a whole 10 years younger than me, but is incredibly wise and supportive and has enhanced my life no end. I love that our kids get to hang out when we do, and that we manage to find moments to scrap together.

Kate and Sue McClune. One of the kids cousins and aunties. Happy birthday guys. Hope you were spoilt rotten and had fabulous days!

As for me over the last few days I've been out 'summer shopping' with the kids, and got some lovely bargains and made a couple of kids very happy. Plus I finished a LO I sort of started in the weekend. Its here.....

 

I actually kinda stumbled upon this LO. I had used these two papers in another LO, and when I finished with them, threw them aside and the patterned paper landed on top of the doillie and tada, I had an idea. So I cut out a couple more of the patterns to give more 'holes', then taped the spotted doillie underneath, and attached both to a piece of white Bazill. And I've gotta admit, I kinda like it.

Alrighty, I'm off, have a good one.

LO shares

Seeing as there is no news from Innovations either way, I've decided to show you the work I did for issue 3. The issue which never was.

 

Some gorgeous Prima product. In particular I was showcasing the felt gate.

 

This one was highlighting the tree. But aren't my babies gorgeous?! Gosh, that was nearly 6 years ago!

 

This LO was using metal.

 

And this one which I was really wanting to love (cause I ADORE the photo), but I don't. But was to show the little group of embellishments at the top of the page.

The whole point of this grouping of LO's was trends. What's hot (or was when I did them), what people are using more of, etc etc.

Just thought it might be nice to show some new work.

Later.

PS: Feeling fine. Thanks for your comments/emails. Bit woozy, grumpy yesterday (sorry to the ladies at the crop I was at!) but all good.

Another visit to the doctor in the middle of the night

 

Last night I had a wee accident.

Dan woke up crying and I, half asleep, raced (why did I have to race? I'm like 15 steps from his bed!) to get to him.

As I did so, I slipped on a duvet that had fallen off our bed. Next thing I knew I was in a pile on the ground having hurt my elbow on the small oil filled heater we have in our room. Ouch.

I gathered together my wits, and walked to the doorway (Andy having gone to Dan's rescue at my request) when I suddenly felt a bit funny, and looked down at my hand to see lots of blood dripping down my arm and off my fingers.

I suggested rather urgently that I needed a towel and then my heart thing kicked in and I was just about fainting, again.

I lay on the floor, with my feet up on the wall, and we decided that we might need to go to the doctor - lots of blood, had the cut gone to the bone? (thankfully not!) and rang 5, yep, 5 different people to see if they could come and sit with the kids, and not a single one answered their phone. What?

So we got the kids up and they came with us. And they were pretty excited to be up in the night getting in the car.

Dan's comment was funny as he walked past me (lying on the ground with my feet in the air), "Look, there's lots of purple on the floor!".

Anyway, they patched me up with some glue, wrapped it in a bandage and we made our way home. Thankfully the cardiologist's previous advice to keep my feet higher than my heart was a good one and I started coming right at the doctors (after her worrying cause my heart was going between 40-88 in a min).

This morning the kids made me cards and brought me flowers. So beautiful. And there were a few discussions with Andy:

A: You are such a pain! I thought I told you I didn't want to go to hospital again this year.

Me: Well, we didn't go to hospital. Just A&E! LOL.

or

A: If this is happening to you when you see blood (a hypothesis), what happens when the kids have a nasty accident and you start fainting?

Me: I do what my Dad used to do, and lie on the floor with my feet up calling you or the ambulances. (Eeeek. Lets hope I don't get like that!)

or

A: The doctor recons your body is doing this as a learnt response. How do we train it not to for such a little cut?

Me: Hmmmmm, well sure, I'm doing this on purpose! LOL! And it might've been little but it HURT!

Hoping for a less eventful night tonight.

Later.

Saturday Sketch Day

I'm off cropping today, so had to get this done and dusted before I went.

Keeping it simple, but allowing room for your own interpretation.

 

Have fun today.

Prima glorious Prima

I ordered some of the new Prima from SBO this week and it arrived and I couldn't hold back.

 

 

Those of you who follow my blog, know that I love anything Prima brings out. This 'seasons' release didn't disappoint. I can't wait to use more tomorrow.

And the 'saying' of the day.....

Sarah first thing yesterday, comes running out of her bedroom.

"I was doing headstands on my bed and on the last one I fell off and bonked my head like a drum".

I couldn't help giggle as her description was sooooo funny and accurate. She proceeded to tell me that Matt laughed and it hurt her feelings (while I'm giggling), so I had a wee talk about how even though it hurt, it really would have been quite funny for those watching. And that yes, we probably shouldn't laugh.

Dan has been going around the last day or two saying 'what the heck' (and in perfect time). Which I really don't like and I'm not sure where he got it from. So after waiting to hear it very clearly so I could 'confirm' it was what he was saying, I was able to have a wee chat to him about it. Lets see what he next couple of days bring.

And right now we're back to basics with the kids. I'm coming down hard on them for little things as they are really really pushing the boundaries. Hate this part of being a Mum, but I guess its what makes me and them better people. Lets hope this particular phase passes quickly.

And today brings another anniversary, although not a good one, September 11. The 8th anniversary. Seems hard to believe that the worlds worst terror disaster happened so long, yet so short ago (grammer? eeeek).

My story.... I was on honeymoon at a little island in Fiji. Andy and I got up for breakfast and no one was around. We wondered what was going on. But didn't really think too much of it. It was only later when we asked if our American friends were around, that we were told. It turned out they were busily trying to contact friends. They were from NY and had friends who worked in the twin towers.

After we all returned home, we were to learn that the friend of our new friends had taken a sickie that day and so survived. What a miracle. It was a huge relief for them, even though so many others were taken that horrible day.

I consider myself lucky to be away on an island that had no TV. It meant I didn't get to see replay after replay of that terrible crash. And in fact still today I don't think I've seen it properly? That kind of picture can never be removed from a mind. So yes, I was very lucky to not see it.

I hope that all these years on, the families are starting to live again. Starting to remember the joy of their lost loved one. And I hope that we never ever see anything like this again.

I am going to be sore tomorrow

Why?

Because I played indoor netball tonight!

Eeeek. Its been over 10 years since I last played.

But I was thinking about getting fit and how once the run is over, what I can do? And I thought about netball and how I used to love it. So I googled it, rang and spoke to a guy, got invited to play a game. And said yeah. That easy! LOL.

Then on the way home tonight I told one of the kids friends Mum's what I was doing and she said, hey, can I come, so we both played and are now on the same team. Stoked! LOL!

Now I just have to figure how I'm going to walk tomorrow. LOL!

So excited....

Yesterday I created this LO

 

as part of the ASS word/colour challenge.

It was due by yesterday so I was cutting it fine, but once I finished it, I uploaded it in my gallery at 2Peas.

This morning, I was doing my early morning, before the kids get up quick flick through blogs/websites/emails and I clicked on the gallery at 2peas (one of my fav spots to see so much gorgeous inspiration) and there was my LO as the featured LO of the day!!!

I was totally stoked, surprised and thrilled. I think I must've squealed as Andy asked what was wrong? Well NOTHING! LOL! It totally made my day.

I've really enjoyed doing these ASS challenges and would encourage you to join in. There is one more week to go. Even if you don't get a chance to create a LO, go on over and take a look at what everyone else has got up to. This weeks entries aren't up yet, but maybe later today? Its really amazing to see everyones take on the same colours/word.

And had to show you this photo from yesterday.

 

My very old, but trusted mountain bike. Andy and I decided a couple of weeks ago that we'd like to start mountain biking again. But our bikes were in a shocking state as they hadn't been used in like 5 maybe 6 years! Yep! So we took them off to the local bike shop for a good 'fix er up' and got them back yesterday.

And better still, this photo was taken at school. So that means it somehow got to school from our place. Hmmmm, yep, I rode it! Sarah was at a friends house, so Matt, Dan and I biked up to school and rode around together. Matt is so into racing, so we did a few of those. I even won a couple. LOL! But boy was it good to get out on it again. Next week Andy and I've booked some time in for a real mountain bike in the forest. Can't wait.

And am just procrastinating doing my 365 album. I have to organise all of Aug and what I've done in Sept to be printed, written up etc. So must go and get a move on. Have a great day.

Later.

MIA

Yep, we headed away straight after school on Thurs night to Mt Ruapehu and hit the slopes.

 

Just check out that snow covered mountain in the background.

We were pleasantly surprised that we got down there by 8.30pm and after Sarah loosing her tooth as she got out of the car, and getting all the gear in, and the kids to bed we were pretty exhausted. Luckily we had rented a GREAT house through book a bach. It was warm, comfortable and easy to live in.

Friday morning dawned and it was an amazing day. But the wind was up. Gale force type winds blowing. It meant the kids (particularly Dan) were terrified when we first got on the mountain - the doors nearly getting blown off our car didn't help! But once we were in Happy Valley, all was fine.

Dan had a personal lesson (may have been a bit ambitious! LOL), and the kids had a group lesson and Andy went for a ski by himself. Pretty cool.

After lunch I went skiing with the twins. Wow, it was great. They are little ski bunnies, and just flew down the slope. I think that next year they'll be better than me for sure!

 

Matt's in the green jacket and Sarah's in the all pink outfit (brought when we were in China last year!).

It was just a fabulous holiday and we had fun together as a family. I think too often we find ourselves in the daily grind (especially when we're sick) and it was nice to get away and forget everything.

Dan and Andy got to hang out heaps and really developed their special bond again....

 

Gotta love those teeny tiny little ski boots. Sooooo cute!

The next day we did some taboganning (sp???)

  

 

We did lots more skiing and hanging out.

 

 

Some sayings from the weekend:

1. Dan: Dad the beer fairy's been again (After Dan spots the empty bottles beside the rubbish bin!)

2. "We're not here to play golf" - said whenever we passed a golf course. Started as we drove past the golf course by the Chateau and Andy said, "Shall we play golf?" to which Matt replied "We're not here to play golf".

So much more I could rave about. But I might have to leave it for now. Gotta see the end of Extreme makeover on telly.

Later.

Happy Anniversary babe

8 years ago today Andy and I got married...

 

It seems like only yesterday. We had a fairytale wedding which was the start of our lives. I wanted to say fairytale lives, cause that's how its felt, but we've had our ups and downs too. And really, I don't think anything is ever perfect. But Andy is for me. He knows me, reads me, and loves me. No matter what.

And I the same for him. He is my rock. He is my partner and he is my friend. I love him, but I also like him. I'm so glad we met.

One of the things that came from our marriage is our children. And last night I created this LO about one of them...

 

 

 

I felt challenged by the ASS word/colour challenge again this week, so this is what prompted me for this LO....

 

Beautiful bright colours. Yummo!

Have a fabulous day!

T