A simpler time

I was chatting with some friends the other day as to our childhoods and it brought me back to a time when growing up where water conservation wasn't really an issue, where it was safe to play in the front yard, in an open street, where we as kids just didn't have a care in the world except going from one day to the next. Where the endless summers just kept going and going. And when mum would put the whirly sprinkler on and we would don our togs and go play and dance and jump around in the sprinkler.

I'm popping this layout into the archives here to be put away for mum's Christmas album of our family (ahhhh so many albums on the go!!). I love Sharon's Smoochy papers and the nostalgic feel it gave to this page.

Oh and by memory, I do believe my polka dot bikini was red and white.


Credits here.

I'm gearing up for a big weekend, so finishing up tomorrow and Friday I'm heading away on a girl's weekend, back sometime Sunday. We do this once a year, head interstate to one of the girl's beach shacks, usually about 10 or 12 of us cram into this little shack with mattresses all over the place, we have a fancy dress Saturday night, and it's just a wonderful weekend. My dear old workmates from before I moved when I got married, love that they keep including me.

Shhhhhh ... the fancy dress is in teams this year and it's a secret, but as no one from my old work reads this, it's okay to tell. Think Baby Love, is that big enough hint? Think glitzy dresses and big hair. Yes, I'm Diana Ross and the other two in our team are my Supremes and lets just say you're gonna need sunglasses on when you see a pic of my glitzy silver dress I made!

C-c-c-cold

How is it that not even a week ago I was bemoaning how hot it was here and now I'm sitting with the little blow heater at my feet?

Our festival in town dawned cold and with showers on and off all day. But although crowd numbers were down I did get to hear some great music and my favourite part of the day is the dog jump. Some of the most wonderful farm dogs are brought into town and they compete. The winner ... are you ready for this ... jumped 2.48 metres !!!

The funniest jump, well non-jump, was a huge black and white great dane, I think that colour is called harlequin?? He decided why jump when he could just about span the whole thing, pop his head over the top and see what's on the other side!

The thing that strikes me with these kelpies and heelers though, is that they would do absolutely anything for their owners. They look for approval and are devoted through and through. It was a fabulous display. I love watching this every year.

Sharon has an exquisite paper set out at the moment at twolittlepixels, the colours really are smoochy. Check it out, click on the paper to take you to the store.

I've been wanting to do a layout just pouring out my emotions for some time. I had started one but couldn't quite finish it. Well late last night I finally finished the journalling, it was really cathartic to write, almost cleansing in a way.

I have a feeling the journalling may be a bit small to read here so I'll link to a gallery where you can see bigger previews if you want to read. Credits here.

So after the day we've had today I'm thinking a quiet night knitting and watching a movie is in order before falling into bed. Mike was up at 6am and down the street helping to set up this morning and he's back there now helping to pack up. It's been a long day.

Number 5 !!

Well here they are, pair number 5. Knitted with The Knittery yarn in the shade called Vineyard. A simple rib pattern in the most delicious green/purple shade. The photo doesn't do it justice. Love them I do. Check out Southern Summer of Socks for other beautiful socks by very talented knitters. There's such a sense of achievement for me when I finish a pair and I get to post my socks on this site. Bells and RoseRed have really given me a gift starting this, because I would never have tried socks otherwise.


Mike has just come in after watching Alien v. Predator 2. He said it was a seriously good movie. Too much gore for me.
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We have our biggest event of the year in town here tomorrow and it's raining. It's a music festival where the best time would be had being out doors in the sunshine soaking up all the music events. But every year it rains. I think only one year I've known it to be a lovely sunny day. But right now we're building an ark, truly. It hasn't stopped since about 5pm and here I am 5 and a half hours later and still it rains.
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At least you can say the town is consistent.

Oh thank heavens!

The cool change came overnight and after sleeping with the fan on most of the night I woke to find the doona up around my shoulders and quite chilly with the quite chilly breeze blowing the curtains and rain!! Oh rain, I love how it sounds on our tin roof when I'm lying in bed. Except of course when I have to get up and get ready for work, grrrrr. It would have been way too easy to roll over and go back to sleep this morning.

I'm moving right along with my mother-in-law's book of her grandchildren and family. And here's one I particularly like of hubby with his oldest daughter who I love with all my heart. You know these pages will all double in individual books I've decided I should make for all the kids now. I'm possessed! (but in a good scrapbooking way).

Credits here.

Time to go knit. I'm moving right along with my monkey socks and I'm starting down the ankle of the second. Woo hooo.

I couldn't help myself

Saturday evening BBQ was fabulous, the coleslaw was yummy (if I do say so myself), it was great company, great friends, an extremely yummy birthday cake, a lovely night, with Mike playing 'happy birthday' on the bagpipes. Lots of fun.

As for Sunday, urrrrrgh, what a non-day that was. It was hot hot hot. Last night was unbearable, we slept with the fan on most of the night. It's still hot here right now. In fact I'm looking at poor little Bo and she's just laid right out on the floor in the next room, legs up in the air, tummy bared, poor thing. I had made Molly a beef ice block as a treat and she licked it right up earlier.

I'm not doing well in this heat!!!!!!! Roll on winter. Did I just say that??? You can slap me when I start complaining.

I ended up making a pigeon pair for the other side of the last page. I dug deep into the archives and came up with these. The kids would absolutely black ban me if they knew I'd done this, let alone shown it to the world! LOL

Credits here.

Coleslaw anyone?

It's an absolutely smashing day here today and this evening we are going to a BBQ at a dear friends in town. She is holding it for her partner and it's kind of a surprise/not such a surprise birthday party. He knows he's having a BBQ. I tend to think he thinks he's in for a quiet night. What he doesn't know is the amount of people she has invited!! LOL

She asked if I could bring a coleslaw ***ALARM BELLS*** I can't believe that I've gotten to this age in my life and I have NEVER EVER made coleslaw. A quick check with some friends as to what to put in it and well here is the result, looking absolutely yummy in my big watermelon ceramic bowl.

Now I need to urge the digi scrappers to hop on over to Artistic Musings and download the latest newsletter from twolittlepixels. Inside you will find the most wonderful freebie paper set from vintagecharm called "Red Velvet Cake" You will adore it, I promise. I'm not going to spoil the surprise and post a pic of the paper pack, but here's one the papers in action. Isn't the texture of it just fabulous.

Credits here.

Well off to go make myself beautiful, LOL. Or at least get some semblance of order to my hair. I had it cut recently and it's quite layered (you haven't even seen a pic yet) and it's sticking up every which way. What do they say? The difference between a good and bad haircut is 3 weeks? Not saying it was a bad haircut, just maybe not the haircut for me.

A day of lurrrrrve !!!

Well it's Valentines Day. I had an early shift today so Mike was still in bed not quite awake when I left. We had decided to set a limit for V-Day, we couldn't go over $10 on something. I think that makes you really think.

He gave me the giant size Toblerone. Oh how he knows me!!! Give me chocolate and I'm his! I gave him Rod Stewart's American Songbook CD no. 2. He loves Rockin' Rodney and I love that it's all mushy romantic tunes. win-win.

We're going out for dinner tonight shortly to a very nice restaurant. I'm so looking forward to it.

So in the spirit of all things lovey-dovey, I shall show you a layout I did recently of our engagement photograph. Trust me, this is a once only. I was made up to the hilt, in fact shhhhh, don't tell him I told you, but even Mike had make up on in the photoshoot!! And I've been photoshopped to within an inch of my life by the photographer. But how nice it is to look at.

Credits here.

It's a very simple page, but I'm using Sharon's fun sparkly goodies in it which goes lovely against the black.

Have a loving day and Aussies, enjoy the rest of your evening.

7 things about me

Tracey has tagged me to divulge 7 random facts about myself that would astound and amaze you! LOL Or just stuff you don't already know.

THE RULES:
1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.
2. Post THE RULES on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.
5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

So here goes, seven scintillating facts about moi that you have been dying to know!!!

1. I have been involved in eight car accidents, and they are the ones I can remember, I'm sure there have been a couple of other scrapes that might have flown out of my memory. Now that sounds far worse than it is, two of the accidents I wasn't even in the car at the time, I had parked and it was hit/run, and another one of those accidents I was a passenger. So what does that leave us? Hmmm five that have been my fault. Anyone for a road trip?

2. I cannot walk barefoot outside, I don't even like walking barefoot inside. I don't have an obsession about my feet at all, on the contrary, they don't worry me in the least. I just don't like feeling floor on my bare feet. That includes carpet, wood panelling, grass, sand. I just don't like it. Perhaps I have ultra sensitive soles, who knows. I am not adverse however to walk around in just socks, or thongs, or sandals. I just don't like walking around with completely naked feet, LOL.

3. I adore Billy Joel. That's not to say I would up and run away with him, nothing like that. I just think he is tops. I've seen him five times in concert. I'd hazard a guess to say I know the words to every one of his songs, yes even "We didn't start the fire".

4. I have an obsession about white chocolate. Mmmmmmmmm. If I had the choice between milk, dark and white, white would win every time. Any brand, any type, give me white baby!

5. I got married at 39 years and 7 months of age. I'm quite precise about that huh? Growing up I always stated I would be married by my 40th birthday and I just got in by the skin of my teeth!! Just that the right man never happened along until my 30's. But I still got married by 40!

6. I have worked for the same employer for 22 years now. Not bad in this day and age with people chopping and changing jobs.

7. Lastly, I'm quite accident prone (well I figure you've guessed that from no. 1 above). But if there's something silly to happen to someone, it's usually me. One such incident, an award ceremony for work about 10 years ago, I was being presented with an award by our CEO of our company who let's just say is quite a big nob, in front of oh there was about 100 guests. I walked up, hand extended to shake his hand and sliiiiip, my feet skidded on the polished floor boards and I did the funky chicken dance as I fell into a heap at his feet. Yep, memories are great aint they?

So there you have it, seven random facts about me that you didn't know you wanted to know.

Now I must tag seven people, yikes. Okay then how about:

Amanda at Addicted to Digi Scrapping
Belanna at At Odds
Bells at Bellsknits (who I'm sure has done this before but would probably have 7 more random fabulous facts)
Victoria at Saving the World One File at at Time
Jodie at Organised Chaos
Lynn at Off we go like a Herd of Turtles
LeeAndra at The Golden Year

Valentines Day tomorrow, yes I know a lot of schmultz and highly commercialised, and yes we don't need a specific day set aside to tell our loved ones we love them, but I like to celebrate and I love my husband and we will be going out for dinner at a lovely restaurant over in the next town.

G'night all.

Do you like corned beef?

I must ask that question as I've discovered lately it's a love or loathe response. I personally love it. We had it last night with vegetables, mashed potatoes and mustard sauce. Deeeeeelicious!!!! Tonight is leftovers with salad including my yummy pasta salad which has sundried tomatoes, mustard, pine nuts, fetta, all manner of mouthwatering goodies in it. I'm hanging out for dinner time.

Sharon has a fabulous freebie on her blog in a cute as can be shade of pink, so go grab it as it will only be there for a limited time. Here's a peek, click on the preview to take you to her blog for this downloaded goodness, LOL.

And this is what I did with it. Again 'borrowing' a cute as can be little girl, the niece of a workmate. Thanks again T and L, I appreciate you letting me borrow the little munchkin, so hope you like the page to add to your collection.

Credits here.

Stash Busting

Who ya gonna call? LOL I have the Ghost Busters theme whirling around in my head right now.

I decided to de-stash today, actually take stock of the jungle that is my quilting fabric. Urrrrgh where to start? I had boxes, I had bags, I had those plastic zipper bags from Spotlight that had long since burst their seams. And I'm sure I've only scraped the surface, I'm bound to find yet more bags in the bottom of the cupboard. And yet I still buy more fabric.

What is it that draws me in and tempts me? I like the smell and the rows and rows of beautifully coloured bolts of material in the fabric or quilting stores. I love that they are all lined up in order of colour, it all just looks so pretty. I can't be alone in this surely? I like that the ladies at the fabric stores nod knowingly when I say "oh, just another fat quarter of this too please". Help me out people.

I have an absolute craving for Christmas materials and Christmas colours. And then I craved the red blues and whites. Oh and there was the time I was right into the pinks and greens of shabby chic. I just can't help myself. I NEED A SELF-HELP GROUP!

So I dumped it all out on the bed, you can't kinda see how high this pile really is *blush*.

And came up with this

With a big pile of leftovers that still don't fit in, waaaaaahhhhh!!! So I need to buy another under bed storage container. And this doesn't even include the hat box I have full of scraps. You never know when you may need a piece of red fabric 1 inch by 1 inch, right?

Okay, no more buying material! I am on a fabric diet.

(until the next quilt I want to make, or the next Christmas stocking I need a certain shade for, or, or, or... oops, did I say that out loud?)

Well I didn't skinny dip! LOL

You will be pleased that the bathers held together and still fitted, despite the being dried in the dryer incident. It was nice being back with the group, and I must admit even though it's aerobics, we're not flat out unless we want to be. There's a fair bit of laughing and chatting and well we do hang out for the floating on the noodle time at the end of the session.

I do believe I would like a whole session of just floating on the noodle, it would be heaven.

Now, I have some business to attend to.

Bells recently gave me a 'you make my day' award which was really a lovely thing to do. Thank you again Bells.

I have quite the blog list that I like to look through, a mixture of scrapping, knitting and quilting (naturally), photography, cooking and some of which have become friends. And although I would really award to all, because I keep coming back to the blogs to keep reading, I'll just send this award to a few, that I think you would enjoy having a squiz at. This list is by no means conclusive of all the blogs I love, just ones I think you might enjoy.

Saving the World One File at a Time

Do go and visit Victoria and her family. She has the most adorable kids, and does gorgeous scrap book pages, which I have tried to emulate, but she has a style all of her own and it's INCREDIBLE! And now she's learning cake decorating, so I can foresee some beautiful pics of yummy creations to come.

Artistic Musings

Of course everyone who digi scraps would know Sharon or [ksharonkdesigns] and it's no secret I have admired her designs since I first stumbled onto her blog when I started digi scrapping and making my first very awkward layouts. And what a thrill it was for me to get a guernsey in her creative team. In the words of Molly Meldrum "do yourselves a favour" and go visit, particularly Fridays when she gives out a freebie!

Addicted to Digi Scrapping

I met Amanda at Paper Moons and being the only other Aussie at the site we quickly bonded. Love spending time at her blog and reading about their comings and goings. She's taking part in Project 365. Go read about it all, very interesting stuff. A photo every single day, what an undertaking.

OzCountryQuiltingMum

I know Tracey has had many awards and this is just another string to her bow, but I do love to visit and read about her beautiful quilts and sewing, and seeing some of the most glorious country photographs. Really, the photos of the quilts on the cows are just magic. Funnily enough when I stumbled onto Tracey's blog some things were quite familiar. How funny to work out between each other we lived not too far away from each other, and as yet still have never met. Tracey, I do believe we need to meet for that coffee at you know where!!!

Southern Summer of Socks

And last but not least and perhaps a strange choice, but I do love visiting this site every single day. Bells and RoseRed started a sock knitalong. With a lot of patience and perseverence Bells held my hand from a distance as I knitted my first sock. Now five and a half pairs later I am kicking myself for not getting over my fear of dpns sooner. I love looking at the glorious socks that people are making, and the gorgeous shades of yarn, and getting that little buzz when I too have finished a pair and get to post my accomplishment. I adore this site and the fun it's given me.

So there you have it, my choices. Ladies, you all do really make my day.

And after all that, I don't believe I've ever shown the layout I made for Tracey some time ago of her kidlets in the beautiful yellow sea that is the canola fields on their farm. (she did give me permission to post this!!)

Credits

Streaky Paint paper by Lynne Grieveson (recoloured)
Postage Stamp Frames No.3 by Katie Pertiet
Postmarked Memories by Katie Pertiet
Stitching from Audobon Collection No.1 by Katie Pertiet
Frames with Flourishes by Katie Pertiet
Font – Lainie Day

I could be in for quite an interesting night

*blush*

Shall be going to the first night of water aerobics tonight for the term. First time I've worn my bathers since the last term 6 weeks ago finished.

Mike decided to "help out" and do a load of washing for me back then. Good man he is! Until I found that he had dried my bathers in the clothes dryer! eeeeeek!

Let's just pray that they hold together tonight when they hit the water. That's if they haven't shrunk and I can't squeeze myself into them. LOL

Eh, and here's one for the road, just for Bells again. Some of my imaginary relatives are sadly lacking in the personality department, LOL...

Credits

Peek-a-Boo Beauties by Tracy Ann Designs
Vintage Frames No.5 by Katie Pertiet
Graphic Pop Grunge Cluster by Katie Pertiet
Postage Stamp Frames No.3 by Katie Pertiet
Used Envelope (Scrapz) by Anna Benjamin of Paper Moons
Staples from Small Packages Stationery Plus 1 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Fonts – Antique Type and FG Cathie’s Hand
Photograph from Square America

Pressure is on!!

Oh Good Lord! Pressure is on.

Thank you Bells, my goodness. I have been awarded a You Make My Day award. How absolutely lovely. Here tis in all it's shiny glory...

I will need to nominate who makes my day. There are so many of them. But dinner awaits, that will need time for me to link up.

However I did mention pressure is on. Bells mentioned about my 'Things' layouts being one of the things that make her day so best I show her another one. Hope you enjoy.

Credits here.

A trip down memory lane

Mum is wondering what on earth I'm asking all these questions for, I keep ringing her with some inane mumbling. If only she knew.

I have two albums on the go - both intending to be Shutterfly albums - I was so pleased with my 'Things' album from them.

The first is needing to be finished by May. It's for my mother-in-law of layouts of her six grandchildren. I've probably done enough pages now, but I'll keep on going until time comes that I'll need to get it printed.

The second most special one to me is one I started late last year when an idea formed in my mind, even before dad passed away. It was a family album, showing our beginnings, our growing up, special memories, and who we've become. I will get three of these albums printed up one for mum, one for my brother and one for myself. I'm intending on them being quite big so I will take my time over the year to complete them. I've been scanning pictures like crazy.

I thought it would be interesting to see how our names were chosen, so I asked a few random questions of mum, LOL. She of course being ever the organiser, still had the book where her baby names had been written in. It's kind of wierd to think of myself as anything other than Carol, and I already knew the story about the origin of Lee and have seen a picture of this special little baby that mum nursed when she was a mothercraft nurse. So these were the resultant pages.

Both pages use items from Vintage Charm's February Grab bag. Trust me, the white paper is just gorgeous!! Shhh ... don't tell I've spilt the beans as to some of the items inside.

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News on the homefront here - my stepson, just turned 18, finished school in December, has all on his own doing within a month, secured himself an apprenticeship as a Boilermaker in a big company in Melbourne and as of today moves there. We are really really proud of him, none of us knew he was even going for it until he had his second interview with him. He came for dinner last night and silly really, but I hugged him like I was saying goodbye forever. We're only 4 hours away, it's not far I know. But I liked being only a short distance away in case he needs us. So his adventures are really just starting.

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Okay, well off I go, vacc'ing and ironing await, urrgh.

Happy Birthday Sharon

Yes Sharon from [ksharonkdesigns] is having a birthday. Do go over the Artistic Musings and wish her a happy birthay.

Sharon, thank you for having me as part of your fabulous creative team. Have the best day ever.

Now because it's a fabbo day like this, both Sharon and Megan have decided WE GET THE PRESSIES!!! Wooo hoooo. Two new Grab Bags are up for offering and although the surprise will be yours when you open them, I can tell you right now, they both are absolutely brilliant and you will kick yourselves if you miss out.

Click on these pics and it will take you to the respective bags. They really are both terrific.

Friday night and you know what that means...

It means Sharon has some new goodies in the Shoppe.

Now as I am pretty sure I have mentioned, I am making an album for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day, pages full of her 6 grandchildren. Well Sharon's new kit Delight had the most beautiful paper in this delicious shade of blue. Isn't it special? Not to mention the great stitches. Just too much fun to play with.

My beautiful niece having a bit of a break from playing last weekend.

Credits here.

And here is the fabulous Delight Kit that I used. Available right now hot off the shelves, click on the preview to take you to the Shoppe.

It's a special day for someone tomorrow, so I'll be back to tell you about it then. *wink wink*

PS : It's not me! LOL