nothing much

shredded - kids up half the night (Isaiah came to our room, climbed into bed next to me, and promptly puked on my pillow!) then fasting and the glucose tolerance test - by the time I got home (almost midday) I was dizzy and cranky as all get-out (dehydrated, I think)

heading back to town to take Kate to the doctor now

laughing about these quizzes around the blogs - this one is so spot on! I thought he was such a hottie!

Your 80s heart-throb is

John Stamos

Who's Your 80's Heart-throb?

re-discovering my scrapping style

Sill nothing much happening - kids coughing and sniffing all over the place, and although Kate was a bit better (she probably only said she was because she hates going to the doctor), I will take her tomorrow, as this evening she is complaining of pain going up into her ears - given her 'glue ear', we need to get on top of any infection at the outset.

Lots of playing and goofing off, I got 3 loads of washing done and hung, but it rained again, so didn't dry through. Not complaining about the rain though - another half-inch from the downpour last night, has to be all good for the farm.

I spent the best part of 2 hours completing a layout for the SBB Autumn Leaves Designing With Calendar challenge today - the layout chosen was actually one I had decided to skip over, as it really didn't appeal to me. But for the sake of the chat and challenge, I took it on. I'm sure it is a nice layout, but I just can't be happy with it, it's just too darned busy!



This is just about the only crop I am getting to on a regular basis, and still not so convenient, being at noon, the kids are looking for lunch about then! But I did score this gorgeous freebie from Ali, for going to the crop, so makes it all worthwhile, eh.



So this afternoon was spent on some simpler layouts, which I prefer, and another from the Autumn Leaves calendar that I was going to skip, but got inspired to use with a gorgeous photo of Noah that Kate took the other week - she is getting some wonderful shots of the others, and I get to scrap them! I have been fiddling with the settings in Virtual Photographer, tweaking the black-white photo effects, and I have saved the one I used on this photo, I'm really pleased with this! (kit is a freebie by Daniela Peuss, available at Scrapartist)



I have been walking every day (I missed Monday due to rain), and walking a bit further now, so that has to be good. I'm off for a glucose tolerance test in the morning, the one where you drink gallons of sweet stuff to try to overload your pancreas! duh! I have to fast (no brekkie), so I will be truly cranky by 11am when it is all done! I just hope that I have started to make a difference to my health overall, with the changes I have begun - I miss vegemite, and chocolate, and hot buttered toast!

the best-laid plans

Well, we didn't go to Sale after all. The kids still have colds, but Kate has been really unwell today, after a really unsettled night, so I changed the appointment - they will be in Yarram next week, after all, so that will be way more convenient than trooping up to Sale anyway. Will consider the doctor for her tomorrow, her throat is pretty sore, and she is losing her voice.

We just had the most amazing rainstorm - it came down so heavy that water was pouring into the tank and pouring over the gutters all around the house. It's still raining, thunder, just waiting for the power to go out!

And sad to hear that Don Adams, Agent 86, has died. I never watched Get Smart as a kid, but came to appreciate it through Ray's insistence after we were married. And of course, the kids loved Inspector Gadget too. Thanks for the laughs.

one fine day

I am such a mean Mum! I confiscated the Gameboy and the computer power cord today, and made my kids find other amusement! Shock! Horror! It was a beautiful day. And when they got their act together, there was an ah-ha moment when I realised they were out the front, all of them, having a game of 'cricket', family style. I could hardly believe they organised this themselves, and managed to play together so well for so long! Everyone got a turn at bat, and Kate and Josiah took turns 'bowling' so that even the little boys got a feel for watching and actually hitting the ball. Proud Mummy moment.



Off to Sale tomorrow morning, yuck yuck yuck! I hate making this drive, but the service that usually comes to Yarram on Tuesday mornings, isn't for a couple of weeks, and I need these tests done to try to find out why my blood pressure is so high. And can you picture me having an ultrasound at Sale hospital with six kids in the room? (which would put most people's bp off the chart LOL) Gonna be an interesting exercise. Not looking forward to it, but hopefully we can have a play at the playground, feed the ducks, see the swans, and do some shopping, to make the trip worthwhile.

life is good

good rain, tempts me to feel optimistic about the season ahead

long phone chat with Dad, so sad that church leaders aren't always godly men

tired kids with colds, early to bed tonight

read some PD James in front of the fire, did some Suduko puzzles (I'm hooked), scrapped a page

Monday blahs

We had Michael over yesterday, the kids had a great day, tearing about outside and romping in the playroom. The weather has changed today, cold and wet, but good to have some rain. Nothing much to do, the kids are playing on the computer and the gameboy, reading, watching movies.

I managed to get some scrapping in last night. I did one of the gorgeous photos from Aunty Coral's stash, but there is no information about this photo, which is kind of sad. The unknown stories, lost for always now, are so mournful, and confirm in me the value of what I am doing, keeping our stories and memories alive for the future.



And another one of Josiah, photo taken by Kate - she wanted me to delete this one, because it wasn't 'perfect' because he was messing about and not co-operating with her, but I like the quirky angle, and it really is who he is! Simple layout, but I'm inspired by Angie, who manages to create such stylish, meaningful and simple layouts, she really encourages me to be true to my style. And yay for me, I used the Autumn Bliss kit I bought last week!



Hope to get some more scrapping done this afternoon, after I light the fire again - did I mention it is cold, wet and bleah today?

oops

Almost forgot to post this layout I did at Nancy's ad-inspired crop yesterday - really pleased with how this turned out! Love these photos that Kate took of Noah, they just capture his personality so perfectly.

bleary and weary

Isaiah has been coming on with a cold, and yesterday he had the "glazed donut monster" face going brilliantly, with booger floods too. Late last night, just about the time I was heading for bed, he came on with croup, so needed lots of attention through the night. I dozed on the couch cuddling him for a while, and about 3am he was settled enough to sleep for a couple of hours. So at almost 7am, when the kids were jumping around in the loungeroom (right next to our bedroom), I pushed Ray out or I wouldn't have coped at all for today. I actually slept till 8.30, and Isaiah seems better croup-wise this morning, though still badly congested. But my head is sadly fuzzy, and I just want to crawl back to bed.

I managed to complete the scraplift challenge at Digiscrap Divas last night, using a fabulous white-space layout by Nikkismom as a model (papers from Nancie Rowe's DSW crop kit again)



Don't know that I will be up to much for the rest of the day.

justifying my hobby

another one of those email things!

Our addiction starts innocently with this statement: Look - I got invited to a 'party' and I won't have to buy a basket, or jewelry, or candles, or even another plastic container! This party is different because I'm going to MAKE a page for a scrapbook! I'm going to learn how to put all those pictures we keep in a box into a photo album that will last lifetimes!

FOR YEARS AFTERWARDS this can be heard in the home:

How much can a pair of scissors cost? And why do you need an entire cutting system if you bought scissors?

The photo album was HOW MUCH?

You HAD to get a paper trimmer too? Then please tell me ... what are the scissors for?

How many magazines do you need to buy to be INSPIRED?

And what's with all this paper?

You want what for your birthday? A xyron? What the heck is a xyron?

I don't understand why you need a digital camera. The 35mm I bought after college works just fine.

Ouch! I just stepped on one of your %&*!!*&% eyelets!

MORE paper? You haven't even used up what you got already!

First the camera, then the printer, what's next a scanner?

I see ... so if we get these target cubes you'll be able to see the paper you have and then you won't have to buy anymore?

Son, how many times have I told you - You CANNOT play with MOMMY's tools!

I don't get it ... why do we have to go to Lowes to get paint chips if we aren't doing any painting around here?

Don't worry sweetie ... we won't tell Mommy you borrowed her stickers to make Barbie look pretty.

You had a 40% off coupon and you still spent over $100?

What do you need all this yarn for? You don't even knit! Do you?

No dear. I do not know how to scan and stitch. Maybe someone on YOUR message board can help you there.

Who took Daddy's sandpaper?

Don't worry sweetie ... we won't tell Mommy you borrowed her stamps to make yourself look pretty.

It's 11PM. Isn't that layout done YET?!

Shhh ... don't tell Daddy that Mommy borrowed his sandpaper...

Yes, I guess we can stop at that cute little scrapbook store during our vacation.

You're going to take a crap? I meant go to a crop ... nevermind.

NO MOMMY! NO MORE PICTURES! NO MORE PICTURES! NO MORE PICTURES!

So who is this Becky Higgens and what's the big deal about her? She an actress or something?

I thought you already had a sewing machine. What's this one for?

No ... I've never printed on vellum before ... YES ... I can help you figure out the right printer settings ... but what's vellum?

Queen of the week doesn't mean you won't still make dinner, right? Right? Whew.

You just joined a what? A swap? I'm really happy for you honey.

MORE paper? What's so special about this 'BRAZIL' paper?

Where did all these boxes of pictures come from ... I thought you were going to put them all in a scrapbook ...

catch up

Well, here goes for almost two-weeks worth of digi-scrapper's eye-candy! I have bought a total of ONE kit this past fortnight, though I have made use of several freebies in that time. I am trying so very hard to only buy a kit when I have a layout and photos in mind for it, but some of the designers make it very difficult to stick to this resolution - bad bad designers!

Just a warning, Modscraps is going to be seriously damaging to my financial well-being! Here is a sample of the temptations over there that have me reciting my new pledge like a mantra.

Trish Jones hasn't had much chance to create new goodies this past few weeks - hoping things get back to normal real soon for her. But I love the bright cheerful colours in this paper pack, appropriately named Brights, and a versatile range of patterns too.



Another wonderful paper pack from Helen O'Daniel, Mint Chocolate Chip, seriously difficult to resist!



I shouldn't even mention Dawn's stuff, just too tempting! I particularly have my eye on two of her paper packs with matching elements packs - Dawn is the queen of fun in the scrapping world! I really think I need Mocha Bliss and Sublime Sweets, and the matching elements packs, of course. I know, I know, resistance is futile.





Michelle Pearson has some great designs - I noticed this one in a layout, and then went 'ah-ha' when the email preview came through. Superb depth to the patterns and rich colours in her German Chocolate paper pack, although I'm sure there is some subliminal psychology at work in naming the kit as anything chocolate!



I found the second SBB team kit too - seriously gorgeous. Their theme for this month has been friendship, and the second kit Love Letters is again chock-full of wonderful patterns and doo-hickies - it's nice to see this type of kit at some time other than Valentine's Day!



Lots of new goodies at the DigiChick store too (and some new freebies in the download section), although I find the thumbnails in the store too small to tempt me to look closer even though the pages take so long to load - I only noticed these kits when I saw larger previews on a blog. Sara Carling is a classy designer, with a great sense of colour. Her Splendor kit is calling to me!



Now I am going to avoid the rant I keep having with myself about all the halloween and 'Fall' kits that are flooding my inbox - being Downunder, we don't DO Halloween, and it isn't anything like fall. And being an Aussie, I seriously don't get the orange-black-purple colour scheme! That being said, I actually bought a 'fall' kit this week (my only purchase for the fortnight!) because I simply loved the colours that Susan - the scrap Chef - had put together in Autumn Bliss, just the right tones of orange for me, and useful patterns for non-autumn pages too.



There is just so much great stuff out there, it is hard to keep up with, and slightly overwhelming in the inbox too. I enjoy browsing the online stores, and reading other blogs-picks too, but I probably should stop doing this, to help avoid the temptation LOL! I'm sure there will be lots more great stuff added to the stores over the weekend, I'll just go put my credit card in the freezer!

later

We had a great night at scrapbooking, the kids outnumbered the adults! I have almost finished the layout I have been working at for the past two scrap nights - just the journalling to type up and print on the pute.

I finally worked out the iRiver - I deleted the crummy software that it came with, and just used Windows Media Player - DOH!

And I got a couple of digital pages scrapped today, both part of the SBB DW calendar challenge.



Kate took these photos, she got a bit frustrated that Josiah was mucking about for her, but they still made some good photos! Papers are from a freebie by Christie Lyle at the DigiChick.

And this one is more photos of Grace from our impromptu garden photo shoot, she really loves posing for the camera. I'm loving Dawn Stocstill's papers even more now that I have actually worked out how to change colours the best way in PSP - it's only taken me 15 months of trial and error! (I never could make sense of the instructions in the manual, and I'm probably still not doing it the right way, but whatever works! LOL)



Listening to Norah Jones and Ray Charles Here We Go Again - bittersweet.

lookee what I got

Now, I am someone who had no need or desire to own an mp3 player. I don't listen to music on-the-go, and have been pretty annoyed by the lack of legally downloadable music for Australians (poor service and selection, really!).

BUT

Dad showed me his mp3 gizmo a few weeks ago, the thing he got to transfer his old vinyl records onto cd! This thing does it (direct encoding from external source to mp3, then download to computer and burn to cd)! So, I thought that would be a good idea, and even convinced Ray (much easier than I thought!) We ordered it locally, and it came today. Though I had a shock when Ray brought it in, and it was totally different to the one I thought I had ordered - Dad's is old technology already! Check it out here if you're interested.



Pretty darn cool, eh? I think I got it set up this afternoon, ran out of time to really play around with it. Maybe tomorrow (...sigh...). Gotta scoot to get dinner ready and organise for scrapbooking tonight. Later.

happy thoughts

this love letter was on my pillow when I went to bed

Wednesday?

Got up and went straight out for a walk this morning - so proud of myself. I only walked to the corner and back, about a kilometre, and it was no power-walking, but at least I walked. Gotta take those first steps. My goal is to be 30 minutes five times a week, according to the doc.

But where did Wednesday go? It's supposed to be school holidays, kick back after being away at Dad's ('cos we are all exhausted), take it easy - right? Nope. The Nixons invited Josiah to go for a day-trip to Walhalla, and when they picked him up, Jenny asked if he could stay overnight also, and would I bring his things in when I came into the women's group? Blank stare from Deb. Aren't you giving a scrapbooking demonstration tonight? Is that tonight? Major oops - I hadn't written it on the calendar, so had totally forgotten all about it. Although, to be honest, writing something on the calendar isn't a guarantee that I will remember it (if I even write the details correctly), 'cos most days I even forget to check what's on the calendar!

Spent most of the morning dealing with dirty washing and housework, then into town for an ECG ordered by the doctor (totally normal, by the way), picked up some shopping (goodbye $90 just like that) and posted my camera off to Canon - eek! I am so nervous about doing this, I sent it registered and insured too, but $25 worth spending. I just hope that they will fix that shutter button for a reasonable amount, as I've heard others have been given outrageous quotes, which I'm sure is a definite ploy to force a new purchase. It seems that nobody wants to repair anything these days, not even thousand dollar cameras - our throw-away mentally is totally out of hand!

Feeling shredded by early afternoon, so headed to bed for a snuggle with my PD James book, but couldn't keep my eyes open after the first few pages. Isaiah came in t0 complain about one of his brothers, climbed into bed next to me, and promptly went to sleep! I think I dozed for about an hour, got up with a heavy head and had coffee, then went to see what Ray was up to. He had been to town to collect his new slasher (we ordered it last week, couldn't wait for the accountant to be finished with the tax stuff), and he was trying to get it off the back of the ute - quite a process. He sent me back to the shed for a couple of wrenches (the pto shaft was seized and couldn't be extended from one end), and Kate noticed something hanging from the mouth of one of the yearling steers - it had a piece of insulated wire (probably off the end of an electric fence) caught in its mouth! Visions of wire embedded in a stomach, or worse, puncturing a stomach, set Ray and I to moving the herd across two paddocks to the cattle yards. Fortunately, our cattle are pretty quiet from close handling, so it wasn't too taxing, but it always makes me think we need a cattle dog at times like this. It was only a short piece of wire, caught between gum and cheek, and removed relatively easily when we managed to capture him in the cattle race. We will keep an eye on him to make sure there was no injury to become infected - with the price of cattle at the moment, we don't want to lose even one! And finally move the herd back to the paddock they came from - they were totally confused by this stage! Then get the monkey wrenches and finish unloading the slasher.

Too late to make the dinner I had planned, so sausages and beans instead, in between loading up my scrapping supplies and printing off the "beginner's handouts" that I have written for such a class. The ladies had been instructed to bring some photos along, and after we went through the basics, they all started on a layout. I think it went well, and a couple of them indicated they may come along to our regular Thursday crops. I always feel like a pusher, getting new recruits hooked on our scrapping addiction LOL!

Came home to find Ray making bids on stuff on Ebay! I knew there was a reason I never let anyone else touch my pute! eek! I haven't even done the rounds of my favourite blogs! Maybe tomorrow I will get the chance to scrap something - going through major withdrawals!

back

Back from Dad's, so tired! The kids are pretty pooped too, late nights and full days, but heaps of fun. They had a great time with their cousins, and we caught up with our friends we hadn't seen for almost three years (and yes, we were appalled when we did the maths and worked that out!) - hoping for a longer visit in the summer, to kick back and really catch up.

My poor baby sister came to visit on Monday with a bad toothe-ache, went to the dentist, and had to have it pulled! Being six months pregnant, she couldn't have an x-ray to determine if a root-canal would work, and wasn't willing to be taking pain-killers for the next three or more months until the x-ray and work could be done. So out it came. Ouchies.

Very very cross about the way Australian Idol is going! Whoever is voting for pitchy Laura should STOP!! The very talented Natalie lost her place on the show last night, due to the ridiculous voting system. Emily RAWKED with her "R-E-S-P-E-C-T", she must be my favourite now. Seriously not going to watch any more if she goes from the show.

Got back online to check my fave blogs, and found I got a mention on Michelle's site (Scrapability) - thanks hun, you made my week! but oh! the pressure! LOL! Hope to get a chance later this evening to cruise around the stores to see what new goodies were added over the weekend. I got lots of fab photos (despite my camera giving me grief - gonna send it for repairs this week before the shutter button is totally toast) so there should be some layouts in there - looking forward to creating again after a few days break from the pute and all.

I can feel a really simple dinner coming up, baths and early-to-bed tonight. Not mentioning the bags full of dirty washing that we brought home too! Just as well it is school holidays!

heading off again

Ray's folks headed home this morning, and the weather has gone bad again. Ray and his Dad came so close to finishing the hazelnut planting, if only the weather had been better - not that I'm complaining about the rain LOL!! Ray got about an hour's rain-free planting this afternoon, and has all but four trees planted. Josiah has earned a bit of pocket money by painting the trunks with white paint (sun protection), so he is pretty pleased with himself too, but I won't mention the state of his clothes!

Tomorrow, I head off with the kids for a few days to visit the rellies - Sunday is a first birthday party for Ray's neice (I hope to get permission to post some photos, she is just the cutest!). Monday we will catch up with my sisters, and the cousins, for late birthday celebrations. Tuesday we hope to spend a couple of hours with some friends we haven't seen in over a year, before heading home, and shopping on the way home - there are some things we just can't get in Yarram, and, given the price of petrol, we need to combine as many errands as we can each trip. Ray is staying home, to work around the farm, care for the cattle, etc. And so I don't have to hear him moaning about what he should be doing instead of being sociable! But I think he is already aware he is going to miss us, and feeling a little neglected (even though I am leaving his meals in the freezer)!

I made it to a crop at Digital Scrapping World this afternoon, collected a gorgeous mini-kit from Nancie of Scrapartist fame, and finished a layout that I had started yesterday, but couldn't find the right papers for! I'm happy now with how this turned out (I didn't want to make the photo black and white, I loved the bold colours we managed in the photo).



Be back in a few days.

repeat after me

it's only a game
it's only a game
it's only a game

I never will understand the religion of football!

only one more week and it's all over for the year - phew!

nothing profound to say

but I didn't want to be in the same room as the Footy Show! Found this list in an email from JenniH (again, she finds the best stuff lol)

You May Be Addicted to Scrapbooking if...
Warning Signs That You May Be Addicted to Scrapbooking

1. If you write to the friendly folks at Cropper Hopper to suggest a 2000 square foot tote transportable only by tractor trailer...you may be addicted to scrapbooking

2. If you tried to bribe the school principal to let your unborn child have a graduation diploma early because you found the best page embellishments on sale this week...you may be addicted to scrapbooking

3. If you use 40 rolls of film to capture those special moments at home during a 24-hour period...you may be addicted to scrapbooking.

4. If you keep over half your supplies hidden in the trunk of the car while simultaneously hiding the keys from your husband...you may be addicted to scrapbooking

5. If you force all 45 members of your extended family to sit on Santa's lap at the mall because it would be a great scrapbook page...you may be addicted to scrapbooking

6. If you refuse to take your child to the emergency room without grabbing your camera first...you may be addicted to scrapbooking

7. If have tried to explain the benefits of skipping meals to save more money for scrapbook supplies...you may be addicted to scrapbooking.

8. If you carry one camera for black and white photos, one for panoramic, one for 3-D photos, and one for color close-ups with you to the grocery store...you may be addicted to scrapbooking.

9. If you're now wondering why you don't have a 3-D camera... you may be addicted to scrapbooking

10. If your idea of a dream date is a man who loves to hammer your eyelets and refill your Hermafix ...you may be addicted to scrapbooking

11. If you try to glue your child's tooth back into his mouth because you want a better "before and after" page ...you may be addicted to scrapbooking

12. If you refuse to take any more pictures, even at your daughter's wedding, because you need to catch up on the ones you have first... you may be addicted to scrapbooking

13. If you are considering hiring professional writers to do your journaling... you may be addicted to scrapbooking

14. If you think that you must take your scrapbook supplies with you for a romantic weekend away...you may be addicted to scrapbooking

15. If the only recipes you collect any more are crop snacks... you may be addicted to scrapbooking

16. If own 8 different tools that cut a perfect circle... you may be addicted to scrapbooking

17. If you have figured out how to scrapbook while driving your car... you may be addicted to scrapbooking

18. If your kids know the only way they can participate in anything is to agree to have Mom there taking pictures... you may be addicted to scrapbooking

19. If you believe Becky Higgins should have her own cable channel ...you may be addicted to scrapbooking

20. If your career aspirations include selling punchies and paper piecings on eBay ...you may be addicted to scrapbooking

21. If you think it makes sense to leave tags on new clothes because you are going to return them right after you take the pictures of your kids wearing them ...you may be addicted to scrapbooking

22. If you falsely report your child missing so that you can get the digital enhancements of how they'd look ten years from now from the police department... you may be addicted to scrapbooking.

one last thing

well, I kinda knew this LOL

You Are 40% Weird

Normal enough to know that you're weird...But too damn weird to do anything about it!

HowWeird Are You?

wrapping up

I enjoyed the drive up to Aunty Coral's house, and Ray's Mum said she had a lovely visit with her sister. I had a doctor's appointment this afternoon, and he has ordered me off for a stack of tests - my BP was too high, and my family medical history being what it is, everything is to be checked. Basically, I am way too much overweight, and need to exercise. Easy peasy!

Ray and his Dad have finished building new fences for the hazelnut trees, have marked out the planting grid, and will begin digging holes and planting tomorrow, so long as the weather holds out.

I made it to the SBB Morning Show this evening (time zones are so confusing!). Laurie provided a sketch, which worked well for me. I used Helen O'Daniels' Happiness kit.

checking in early

Beautiful day, sunshine and blue skies. Ray and his Dad are outside already working on the hazelnut planting.

I'm taking Ray's Mum up to visit with her sister for the day - she lives about 20 minutes away, and they don't get to just 'visit' very often, although they go on little holidays together quite often. I think Ray is a bit worried about me getting lost along the way though! (I don't drive around here very much.)

And I scrapped last night! woohoo! one is very simple, and the other is a scraplift (that almost made itself) It was so easy to work with the layout by Dani and the mini-kit provided by Kathy Moore is totally wonderful!! (the gerbera is mine, from a kit I made early this year) Did I mention that I love to scraplift?



And this simple one, graphic-style, of Noah dancing in the rain on Saturday - this was an amazing thunderstorm, almost like a summer storm - thunder and lightening, huge drops of rain falling straight down, and it was still warm! (water drops on the layout were made by me for another kit I made earlier this year)

not much going on

Ray's folks are here, his Dad is helping to get the new hazelnut trees planted. The rain has cleared up, so they got started today (they spent yesterday odd-jobbing around the garden and shed due to the foul weather). So a slow at-home week for us, but busy with visitors in the house.

I finally managed to scrap this afternoon, and used the Katrina relief kit from the Scrapbook-Bytes team, so many wonderful papers in this kit! I haven't even looked at the wordart yet. And this layout is a scraplift of the DW calendar card for September 12 (for the SBB challenge too).



Hoping to scrap something tonight (nothing on TV lol).

sevens

got this from Christy's blog

7 things I plan to do before I die

• scrapbook each of my children's growing-up years
• create a beautiful garden
• grow roses successfully
• tour Australia (really thoroughly)
• be a fabulous Grandma
• lose weight/get healthy
• scrapbook my life

7 things I can do

• cook and bake
• basic sewing
• knit
• read and write
• love my children
• scrapbook
• ride a bike

7 things I cannot do

• control my tongue
• watch tv without doing something with my hands
• juggle
• enjoy Aussie Rules football
• remember much of my childhood
• speak a second language
• parallel park

7 things I say most often

• stop -- (insert action)
• no
• don't make me come down there!
• hello??
• could you please -- (insert action)
• don't -- (insert action)
• please God

5 idiosyncracies

thanks Trish (not! lol) for tagging me for this
I betcha thought I had forgotten all about it
here goes for 5 of my little strangenesses

1. I can't go to bed with dirty feet. No matter how tired I am, I have to have a shower and wash those stinky sticky suckers, or I won't be able to get to sleep.

2. I can't eat any type of animal fat. Since I was a kid, my gag reflex kicks as soon as it hits my mouth (drove my Mum crazy!). Now I even have trouble if there is any on my plate.

3. I love to read in bed. There is something about being curled up under the doona with the side-lamp on that is so comfortable.

4. I hate suburban life. Traffic, shopping, busy-ness, stress, noise, pollution, large shopping centres, medium density housing. Yucky!

5. I don't like having my hair done, it makes me insane to have my head touched. I haven't been to a hairdresser since my little sister was married, and we had our hair done for her wedding (um, almost 10 years ago, Liss?). This is why I have long straight hair, not even a fringe.

And now, I tag . . . Pri! Dust off your blog, hun, and give us a list.

wish-list

No kit-buying for me this weekend, I have spent all my pocket money on donations. But here are a few things that have caught my eye this week.

I haven't been buying any of Denise Docherty's kits, as they are just too big for my dial-up connection to cope with, and the cd-burning service is only available to US customers. But this set of her brushes would be a nice compromise, I'm assuming they would be a manageable file size.



Sandra Jackson doesn't release a lot of stuff, but it is always worth waiting for. Her new paper pack, reminisce, looks just delightful, fabulous colours and the most beautiful floral paper too.



And Heather Ann Meltzer has produced another of her stylish but fun kits, girly, to let the pink out (as she explained on her blog LOL).



The best thing of all this week, a new store went live, full of the most amazing scrapper's candy from some of the best designers out there - Trish Jones, Dawn Stocstill, Helen O'Daniel, and Ashley Olsen! Check out



but don't say I didn't warn you of the danger to your financial well-being.

Here's one that I just had to have, from new designer-girl on the block, Helen O'Daniel, called Happiness.



I'm sure there will be more wonderful stuff in the next few days, but I will be good, and just look.

donation by purchase

In some ways, it doesn't seem quite right to "get" something for making a donation. In responding to the desperate plight of others, I am certainly not looking for something in return. But at the same time, this is the way in which the designer is 'doing her part', using her skills and talent to contribute to the fund-raising, in the same way kids will set up a lemonade stand, or the guild ladies will have a cake stall in the Main Street. So I have only bought a few of the charity kits available, and then just made a direct donation to the Red Cross organisation.

Gina Cabrera and the Shabby Princess collaborated to make this gorgeous tribute kit, and so far have raised over $2700, which is just wonderful.



A ton of the designers at Scrapbook-Bytes contributed to their own Katrina kit, an amazing collection and such useful colours



And another collaborative kit, from Michelle Coleman and Carrie Stephens, a richly coloured kit that almost feels like New Orleans to me, who's never been there, of course.



Jen has compiled a list of sites and designers who are contibuting through kits and sales at her blog, and Promos4Digiscrappers has a forum post and a gallery of kits for the same purpose, kind of like a one-stop charity shop.

Aussies can make an online donation at http://www.redcross.org.au

And then I feel badly, because the people in the Sudan are still starving, and Asia is not recovered from the Tsunami, so I spread my charity dollars a bit more thinly, but I need to feel that I can do something, that every little bit will make a difference. And I pray. And I give thanks for all the good in my own life.

hrmph

I had made an appointment to take Kate to the doctor about her ears, they've been bothering her for a couple of weeks. Friday is a good day to do this, so that Ray can have the others, it's pretty ragged taking them all along to a doctor appointment. I also arranged to take my computer down the road to the computer guy to get more RAM (another 512mb, to take it to 1 gig). About 20 minutes before we need to leave, Ray gets called back to work for an unexpected extra job. Grumble, grumble, load all the kids in the van and we all go off to the doctor. After waiting over 20 minutes, the little boys are very restless and rowdy, and the poor doctor has a hard time making himself heard. Kate has 'glue ear', where the inner ear is full of gloopy fluid rather than air. The doctor was very good, explained it all very clearly, prescribed two weeks of antibiotics, and come back in three months - most cases clear themselves in that time-frame.

Did some shopping, but will have to collect the script tomorrow (hey, this is a small country town, they didn't have it in stock lol), and back home as quickly as possible to wait for Ray's aunty to call around with something for his Mum. Ray didn't get home, the job took longer than expected (and silly man didn't even buy himself anything for lunch!) so I had to take all the kids back to collect my pute at about 4 o'clock. Get it all plugged in (correctly) and connected to the internet, but unable to surf! Spend almost an hour on the phone, getting passed from department to department, to finally be told that someone from the technical support area will call me Monday!! I made a little complaint that I would be without net access all weekend, and he must have made a note, cos I got a call by 7:20pm, and two minutes later it was fixed - something in the setup had become "unchecked", how simple yet how frustrating! I thanked the techie guy very nicely, and am happily reconnected.

It was a very strange day weather-wise, almost felt like a summery-thunderstormy day, very warm and humid, and oppressive, but no rain yet. Hopefully it will come tonight. Time for some scrapping, unless I want to watch TV - footy, cricket, Ghost, or Dirty Dancing!! Tough choice, eh?

birthday wrap-up

All up, I think Noah had a great day. He was so tired he was getting cranky by about 8 o'clock, but didn't want to go to bed and end his birthday. This is the layout I scrapped of some of the playground pics (kit by Trish Jones, Childhood Design Collection, available at Modscraps, inked edges by me, stitching by Gina Cabrera)

the birthday boy

We usually manage to have a birthday holiday for each of the kids - I don't know how that family tradition got started! The older kids did some homeschool basics this morning, while I got a few loads of washing done and hung. Then we went to the little playground in Yarram for an hour before heading home for a mini-party lunch: cocktail franks, crisps, crackers, pepsi, and cake. I got conned into buying party hats and hooter-tooter things (my poor head), and we had to have a Colin Buchanan cd playing (quite loudly for sing-along purposes), so lunch was quite an hilarious event.



Have you ever listened to the words of his kid's songs (if you can stop laughing long enough at the silly singing voices he makes, that is)? He is really very clever. We were listening to the "I want my mummy" cd, lots of silly songs about ancient egypt, eating veggies, and other stuff that appeals to kids.

dem doggies don't care : mind your step, watch where you put your shoe coz the doggies don't care if the doo doo gets on you

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 To market to market went my brother Jim, somebody threw a tomato at him, tomatoes are soft and they don't bruise the skin, but this one killed Jim it was wrapped in a tin

My dad's better than your dad (coz he's got a mobile phone) My dad's better than your dad coz he's got a mobile phone and a fully rechargeable cordless shaver and a remote control garage door and a 7 in 1 fax machine and a brand new V8 ride-on mower My dad's better than yours

The Mummy Song
You ought to see what they did to my mummy
Pulled his organs out of his tummy
Put 'em in spice, whacked 'em in a jar
Painted him up with sticky tar
Wrapped him in linen from his head to his toes
Pulled his brains out of his nose
That's not all the embalmers did
They buried my mummy in a pyramid

And of course, my kids know all the words! He's very clever, managing to appeal to the parents too, and its all pretty good clean fun. We saw him in concert once, and he is a terrific performer, he made lots of contact with the kids, brought some up on stage to do stuff, and hung around for ages afterwards signing autographs. He used to be on Playschool, but does Playhouse Disney now. All this has nothing much to do with Noah's birthday, just an interesting tangent. I'd better go finish preparing the lasagne for dinner, and organise the scrapbooking stuff for our Thursday night group in Yarram.

tired

Almost back to normal - my head is still bruised, almost like I'm on the verge of getting a headache, but not. Trying not to think too much, just doing the minimum to get the house back in order - the kids helped me clean and vacuum today, and there are several loads of wash to do tomorrow.

It's Noah's birthday tomorrow, Dad and Ros drove down and had dinner with us tonight to wish him Happy Birthday - he thought it was great to have "early birthday" too! I made him a chocolate cake, and he decorated it with smarties and toy spiders (after a good wash) - very funny.



I'm planning to take him to the park for a play, and have a party lunch - he has ordered lasagne for his birthday dinner. I will probably have to do another cake too, the only problem with a two-day birthday celebration.

migraines

Crawling out from under the fog of a migraine, the pain has finally gone, my brain feels bruised and I am just worn-out exhausted, just getting the kids started this morning wore me out - made my legs shaky and sent me for a nap on the couch. I've barely kept the family going these past three days, the house is a disaster zone, but the kids are fed, clothed and have done the basics in homeschooling (the older ones are pretty good at just getting on with what they have to do at times like this.) Our lovely pastor's wife, Jenny, brought around a casserole last night, which made me cry (that hurt!) and realise that there really is so much good in people, despite the negativity and horrors the media focuses on. I haven't had one of these brutal headaches in over six months, it made me appreciate pain-free good health all the more! More naps coming up real soon. Hopefully I'll be back up to speed tomorrow, I'm missing the normal nothingness of my everydays!

well then

A good night's sleep would most likely have helped, but I didn't get one. Too many images and thoughts flying around in my head, I have woken with one of my headaches. So many things have just added up to make me grieve with the deepest sadness.

My online friend, Kate, losing her mother has given me an awful reminder of how much we have lost with my Mum's death. It is almost four years since she died of leukemia, and some days I just miss her so much. But I get past that, and life goes on, usually, but not this week. I can't move past the sadness. She should be here, loving her family, taking joy in her grandchildren.

This week marked the anniversary of the drowning death of a toddler near here, and the memorial notices in the local paper nearly broke my heart. I can't imagine that heartbreak.

And the situation in New Orleans is just too bad to comprehend. I keep thinking that this is in America, how can this be? So much anger and suffering, death and sadness. And then guilt, because we have everything, and our lives go on. I have made a donation, but it seems so little in the face of the massive scale of human misery caused by Hurricane Katrina.

And all the bad things in the world continue - war, genocide, hunger, fear, sickness, terrorism, death. Iraq, the Sudan, Jordan. Beslan, 9-11, Bosnia, Rwanda, tsunami-affected Asia. The tragedy continues, even though it is not newsworthy. Our responsibility to our neighbours never diminishes.

Craving peace. Gonna sit on the front porch and let the sunshine and silence wash over me. Renew my heart.

still here

overwhelmed by sadness

back soon

September 1st

To be honest, it felt more like Spring last weekend than today - cold again, although the sun tried to shine through. Caleb is still feeling poorly, and a couple of the others have icky runny noses too. I spent a couple of hours this afternoon playing with html and trying to set up a free website account, but ended up thoroughly frustrated with fortunecity, and went over to bravenet, which seems a bit better, but still awfully slow. I guess you get what you pay for!

I managed to make a layout using the sketch from the Simple Scrappers crop at SBB (4am for me, so I'm never gonna make that one). I had to get a photo of Josiah to scrap, cos it seemed like I hadn't done a layout of him in ages, so its a good excuse to snap some photos, eh? I used Kay Miller's Wilson's Cottage kit again, I knew I would love this kit!