Living my dream

Work around the house

Around lunchtime yesterday we decided it was time to go buy that shed we'd been talking about for months (perhaps even a year or more?). We'd seen a heap in a mailer and thought why not?

We found exactly what we were after and dragged a huge big box home on a borrowed trailor.

Next step was for Andy to start putting the shed together and for the kids and I to get rid of the horrible rotten ones attached to the side of the house.

Matt and I had a lot of fun bashing the old sheds down. He proudly proclaimed how strong he was each time he bashed another piece off.

Today we finished it all off. Including piling all the rubbish into another trailor and dumping it. Gosh feels good to get another thing ticked off the list.

 

Andy did an amazing job of putting the shed together. And the kids were so well behaved. I suppose it helped that we bribed them with a swim next door before dinner. Grin.

Now what to do with that tiny bit of dirt? Hmmmmmm.

T

'Simple' scrapping, rules

Linn is such a special friend to us and the kids that we decided to give her a little booklet of photos/drawings/letters from the kids to her for Xmas.

It was created just like the teachers gift I made for their teacher, but less pages. I've decided that sometimes I just can't do everything. I know, hard to believe! LOL. And so, these simple little books are made.

Don't know if you can see it so well, but I wrote what Dan wanted me to say, then Dan wrote over the top of it. Was really pleased that he went to the effort and really did a good job.

Been doing a bit of a tidy up around here. A small messy garden pulled up and flattened, concrete revealed and cleared. Next on the list is some digging down the back. I love doing stuff like this. Its so rewarding when you stand back at the end of the day and survey what you've done. Hope you're having a good day too.

Crafting over Christmas

Hey, I hope you're all surviving the aftermath of Xmas day. Our place is messy, fun, grumpy, tired. All those good things.

And while Andy has been building lego with the kids, I've been creating on the other side of the lounge.

My first port of call was some pages for SCKC. I grabbed the pile of scraps lying near by and started. In hindsight they may be a little 'old' for the kids, but its a start, I'll try to make the next ones a little more 'kiddy'.

I actually did 8 little LO's. But I loved one so much I decided to use it as a base for a LO. Eeeek. And the other one looked funny as it didn't have a partner to get photographed with. LOL.

As the one I liked was kinda purply I decided to use the purple Prima papers I had brought (but never use as I don't 'do' purple). Go figure. Anyway, I finally got them out and used them....

And a couple of close ups...

Here's hoping you've also had some time out to relax, unwind, maybe even do some scrapping?

Happy holidays!

T

Merry Christmas

From us to you, spots and all, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year. 

Apart from spots, this is what else we've been up to...

It was Dan's daycare Xmas party yesterday so we left M&S home with a friend, and went off to watch him sing. It was super special. These are the biscuits that Dan made with Linn, and which he and I decorated. They tasted as good as they looked!

Hope your Xmas preperations are all done. Cause its just about too late.

Later.

Our garden

Its been a while since I've posted anything about our garden, so thought I'd show you some pics of stuff we're growing/harvesting right now...

Garlic harvested on the longest day of the year.

Tomatorillos. Weird little things. They taste like a sour tomato, but grow like a cape gooseberry. Makes beautiful salsa.

Peaches. Yummo. We've got to put nets over the trees or we'll start loosing them soon. I think we've got 4 productive trees? Yay!

Beans. OMG, these beans have gone CRAZY. This one would be approx 40cm long. Seriously. And they still taste good.

We've pretty much eaten all the raspberries. LOL. Hopefully some more will grow soon. The boysonberries are starting to ripen and are tasting very nice. The strawberries aren't so good this year. Bummed. Nevermind.

Tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, watermelon, onions, peppers, chillies, courgettes, potatoes, purple beans, various types of lettuce, beetroot, radishes, carrots, etc etc are in the ground and growing. Hopefully will be ready soon.

Don't forget to check out my last post about SCKC camps and the pages we're needing to fill their books. Had a great response so far, would be amazing if you could help.

Later.

Southern Cross Kids Camp - NZ

Hi everyone. Do you remember a couple of years ago we did a huge drive for scrapbook pages for the kids attending the Australian and NZ SCKC camps so they would leave the camps with a memory of their time to hold onto, to treasure, to remember, that there IS good in the world?

Yeah, I thought you might. It was a pretty big deal. And you guys really came through for us. We had so many LO's that we didn't need to do a drive last year. We were able to use the ones from the year prior.

Unfortunately, that's not the case this year, and we need your LO's (for the NZ camp). PLEASE!

We need 875 pages. 25 pages per book. 35 books. The size of the LO's is small (15cm height x 15.5cm width), and they don't need to be big and flash. Room for a photo, and some words of encouragement is all that's needed.

Here's an example of what was sent last time.....

 
A couple of different papers, a flower or two. Easy peasy.

Now, the tough part. Its short notice, but I need them by 11th Jan so I can get them to SCKC camps by 15th Jan.

Anything we can do to make a dent in this number of pages will be huge for the buddies of the kids.

Can you help?

Please leave me a comment here, or get in touch via email. We've already got a lady Helen helping out with some friends, but we need more.

I know we are short on time, and its Xmas and holidays, but I also know how generous this scrapbooking community is. I hope you can help and look forward to hearing from you.

THANKS SO MUCH.

Trina.

What a weekend

We took off on Friday morning to Ohope beach, just past Whakatane. Our stop for the night before Gisborne and a McClune family Xmas. We decided to carry on with our plans as the 'spots' on Matt's face had disappeared.

We had stopped for lunch and only in Whakatane did I discover that I had left my handbag, with wallet, phone etc in it at the table....a few hours back. Sigh. Luckily, when we rang them, they had it in their office. Whew. Ok, a little annoying, but safe.

We found the most amazing markets at Ohope beach and I brought Sarah a pair of shoes. They are a scrapbookers delight. Teeny shoes covered in crystals and sequins. Gorgeous! Here's a link to the site. I'm sure alot of you will love them as much as me.....The shoe fairy. Sarah has LK 8187. Tooooo cute!

Spots appeared on Sat morning. Both Matt and Sarah had chicken pox. Sarahs was worse than Matts, but today his has taken a turn for the worse. His face is like one big chicken pox and his back and stomach will soon be the same if they carry on. I have had 2 sleepless nights. Am thinking tonight might be number 3. We shall see.

We are doing everything we've been told to. Pinetarseal baths, special itch cream, pamol every 4 hours. They are much worse than Dan, and I hope it passes quickly. 

In Gisborne, we had a wonderful time with all the family. Lots of swimming in the pool, eating, hanging out. Check out this pic of all the cousins (except Will) that were there...

Oh and of course our early Xmas.

We went down to see Moko and were delighted to see him out playing with an IRB. He was tossing back a surf lifesaving tube that the guys were throwing him. They were trying to keep him amused so that he wouldn't interfere with the surf lifesaving competitions that were going on. It was pretty cool.

We couldn't find Andy's ipod on leaving Gisborne, so rang the apartments we stayed in on Friday and sure enough it was there. Thankfully. We picked it up on the way through.

Unfortunately, we couldn't pick up my bag as the cafe was closed. Thankfully my SIL is picking it up on the way home. So its been an interesting time.

And now I might try and get an early night.

Later.

PS: Is anyone else watching "Lost in Austen"? Gosh I'm surprised at how much I like it.

Yep, it's CP

Well, those face spots on Matt weren't. But now both kids have them. Sarah worse. She has had a bad night and alot more spots than Matt. Bugga. Oh well, hopefully they will all be over by Xmas.

Gotta go.

Saturday sketch day

Hi ya. And so another Saturday rolls around.

Here is my sketch for this week.

I've decided to take a little break over the summer/Xmas hols. So this is my last sketch until Feb. 

Enjoy.

Trina.

Random memories from yesterday

Yesterday Andy and I went Xmas shopping. We had a lot of fun together. Working out what presents we were going to buy, who was getting what. Agreeing and disagreeing without any problems. Spending time together. Nice.

While we were out I saw this mug. Now most of you will know that I love my cups of tea. And recently I was given a gorgeous mug. But it was just a little large. So not perfect for all cups of tea. And I saw this one, and coveted it. I actually went back to buy it for someone else, and decided that if it was less than $25 I was going to get one for me as well. It was only $9.95. So it now has a new home. Bargain I say!

I wonder if I like it cause it reminds me of my scrapbook pages?

While I was out shopping earlier in the week, I found a cool digital photo keychain. I brought it immediately thinking it would make a great gift. Then last night decided I was the only nutter that loved photos so much they would carry it around on my keychain so I opened it up and downloaded this years LO onto it. I'm one happy chickee (if you think it would make a great Xmas pressie, see Harvey Norman - $19.95).

Linn was here yesterday and took the kids to the beach for a picnic dinner. Sarah had been asking for that all week. So everyone was really happy. They played in the rock pools, swam, boogie boarded. Had a wonderful time. They even brought back some rocks and salt water etc.

And the chicken pox saga continues. We 'think' Matt may have them. He started getting a few spots on his cheeks last night. We're waiting to see what he's like this morning, but really what else can they be? Don't know if I feel relieved, or bummed. Still no sign of them with Sarah.

Ok, better get on with this day. Catch ya later. 

I know I should be getting ready for Xmas, but

I just couldn't help myself and did this instead...

I had noticed that all my LO's seemed to be the same sort of colours lately and I just needed to shake it up a bit. Ahhhhh, that feels better.  

Twit of the year goes to....

Me. Yep, that's right. Me. I left our camera on the deck at the neighbours pool the other day when Matt had a meltdown and neither they or I noticed. It rained that night. And they kindly gave it back when they found it the next morning. So far, its ok. We've checked for moisture and can't find any. So crossing fingers it will be ok for Xmas etc before we get it cleaned. Sheez.

Last week the kids had their Xmas play. And today they put it on again in front of the whole school end of year assembly. I went in early to get photos as the class got changed. Gosh they're neat kids. So thought I'd share this pic of my two gorgeous kiddos...

I really wish Matt would look at the camera! LOL.

They were doing 'Pukeko in a ponga tree' and Sarah was one of the 4 huhu grubs, and Matt was one of the 12 pupus (grass skirts-spell?).

They get their reports today, and we find out which class they will be in next year, who their teachers are and what children are also in that class. I can't wait! 

T 

I love sunsets

"Just another sunset from the back deck". Gosh I love it when nature turns on a good one!

I have been feeling quite 'lost' lately. A friend of a friends died recently and while I didn't know her, it brought back alot of emotions regarding my friend Gary. He died one year ago tomorrow. And I miss him. Its as simple as that.  

I think seeing beautiful things like sunsets help get me grounded again. To appreciate what I have. And the friendships I have had, do have and hopefully will continue to have.

Speaking of friends, I was out at Puke yesterday and created this LO.

 
I used this sketch from the Prima blog (for Dec) as my inspiration.

 I turned mine sideways though.

Here are a couple of close ups:

 
 Thanks for stopping by my blog. Its always appreciated.

T

Saturday Sketch Day

Here's a sketch for this fine Sat morning.