twister

mother nature can be so powerful.

We had a twister not far from home (about 7 kms if that as the crow flies).

Fortunately it was in paddocks with no damage to homes or people. I can only imagine 'what if???'

Good mate Scott Bascombe caught some totally amazing shots on his camera.

The CFS truck was about 200m away from it (apparently).

Settlers Road looking south.

Kym was driving towards it snapping with his mobile as he went. He got some awesome shots between the trees outside our home...

with Marble Range in the background.... impressive cloud formation.

and as the twister broke free of the ground and started to lift...

Mother nature can make you feel so small and insignificant.

lbd

Maryanne. Thanks for reminding me.

With all the madness of Retreat planning, family and life in general I forgot to post these pics of the 'knock their socks off' LBD. If u have no idea what I am on about have a look here. Scroll down a bit and you'll see what I'm on about.

ta da.

hamming it up before the camera. Thanks Paige for the shots. ;)

little brown babies x 6

awwwww.

these little boys and girls are soooo cute. Very hard not to pop one into the camera bag to come with me.

Thanks S for the play with them.

And of course I had to add the Sorbent toilet roll. LOL

Totally fab day today. Had the arvo off. Had a BBQ at a great friends home, ran amok with all the kids and finally, drum roll please, Annie is off trainer wheels.

This has been an ongoing bug bear of mine for quite some time, so I had a fair lump in my throat to see her ride free. And no major stacks either.

While I was feeling invincible (hic hic) I unloaded a tandem trailer of bark chips for the garden tonight. Totally unplanned, but hey, you get that.

Had a trip to North Shields on Saturday to check the site for the Retreat and to iron out some wrinkles. While there I had to climb up the inside wall of the shed a few times to try a few things out. Felt a bit like Superwoman. (Those abseiling days were a long time ago, but I remembered a couple of tips).

Only 4 sleeps to go.

Cant bloody wait.

t

Tiff twin

I have a counter part. A twin. A scrap sister. And LOL she is also Tiff. And we both dont use an iron.

Tiff had a little giveaway promo on her blog. You needed to describe 3 things about yourself. The idea was for Tiff to get to know her peeps a bit.

Maryanne was awarded a prize for her.....erm praps you better go to Tiff's blog to read it here
I confessed to my iron (less) issues amongst other quirks.
Have a look in the comments on her post to read and have a bit of a laugh.

2 ic

I was fishing for ideas for a title in this LO last Thursday night down in Lincoln. I was just stumped. One of the girls said 2 ic. My face must have looked so blank. She gave me a funny look and asked if had never heard of it. I was still a blank. I had no idea.

2nd In Charge.

oh I said. And started to laugh. A lot. I do live under a rock. I have not worked in a hierarchy system (obviously) so I have never come across the term 2 ic.

But if fits this LO perfectly.

journaling says

I'm not sure who was first or second in charge on this construction site. Annie and Dad excavating the hole to sink the ship container. This will be the future wine cellar and lock up of other items. 8.2.07

it's been madness

I have been a busy chicky and my blog is suffering.
I am sorry.
Since we got home late Wednesday, I have had 2 retreat meetings, lots of behind the scenes Retreat Planning, school sports day, a scrap night, playgroup, baby bounce, DH shooting away for this weekend. And its only Saturday. The rest of the weekend is just as mad.
Ah me.
I'll get around to posting pics and a LO as soon as I am able.

Thankyou for the lovely comments on the LO acceptance, the LBD that knocked socks off, and general well being. and yes Maryanne and Sandra, I did get some pics taken with the blog in mind. will post that when i edit it with 5 minutes to spare.

back on the blog

will update later. lots of unpacking, blah blah blah.

but

scroll down a little bit for a spot of good news.

happy dancing.

t

tunarama 2007

Due to 'For Keeps Creative Paper' upheavals (I believe that when they changed their magazine format sales dropped dramatically and the editorial team resigned. At the moment no one seems to know what is going to happen to this mag. I had my contracted LO's returned today with a note to say that 'due to unforeseen editorial issues' they wont be published.
:o(

I'm still stuck on those Prima lollipop type flowers.

This bloom came from Mel who was my forum SS Christmas 2008. Thanks Mel. The blue colours in it are perfect for this page.

This is of Annie's first helicopter ride at Tunarama 2007. Her ear muffs kept slipping off so she ended up taking them off and sticking her fingers in her ears instead.

I tried out an idea I saw in one of the magazines of a 'word cloud'. There is a web site to have a go at this. http://www.wordle.net/ Took a bit of fiddling with the printer side of it, but I got it in the end.

I was in Kmart yesterday and just for a lark I'd thought I'd try on size 10 jeans. Holy shit batman!! They fit. Was actually a bit loose around my waist but fitted my bum and legs nicely.

I have had a private goal to knock the socks off Kym's family on this weekend coming up. I was a bit beefy at Christmas time which I really didn't like. I haven't seen any of Kym's family since then and I have this long, slinky black velvet dress that I want to wear to a family function this Saturday night. So losing some weight was in order. I tried on the L (long) BD other night. Noice. That should knock their socks off. LOL. Did Kym's. te he.

anyway I will be out of office for the next few days. I'll be back blogging by Wednesday.

ps Annie finally lost a very loose crooked upper front tooth. At last. Total so far =4.

jumped another hurdle today. (tick)

Have had doing a powerpoint display looming on me for a while for the workshop I am teaching at E2C 09 retreat. This is on in a couple of weeks.

I pulled one together a few years ago for a research topic in a Adv Dip Rural Business Management course. I think I have lost a few brain cells since then. LOL

Thank goodness I pencilled a few key points while doing the actual project as that was a good couple of months. They really helped to jog the memory.

So 32 slides later, its done.
To celebrate I went outside with a scotch and coke and had a ciggie.

Ah bliss.
t

E2C08 collage

I must admit I have admired Leanne Stamatellos for a while. She uses templates a lot with her beautiful layouts.

Until Sandra asked me the other day to give her a hand with her photoshop and collages I really didn't know too much about them. So thanks Sandra, we both learnt as we went.

This collage is pics of the E2C08 retreat of which I was a team member of last year. in case u cant read it , there is a mention of precious little sleep, lots of wine, scrapping and retail therapy.

what bliss.

so thanks to Leanne for stimulating Sandra who has in turn motivated and educated little ol' me.

LOL

contemplate

Due to 'For Keeps Creative Paper' upheavals (I believe that when they changed their magazine format sales dropped dramatically and the editorial team resigned.) At the moment no one seems to know what is going to happen to this mag. I had my contracted LO's returned today with a note to say that 'due to unforeseen editorial issues' they wont be published.
:o(

this one came together so easily. I have used Sandra's lollypop flower idea from her E2C blog challenge. I used glimmermist to moisten it to roll the distressed edges. I did discover that the vintage photo ink seeps when its wet. Not to worry, it went mostly on my fingers LOL. The papers are moss and eggplant in a butchers block (pad of papers) by Deja View. Lovely vintage shades. And the alphas are Heidi Swapp's World Travellers. I just inked the edges of them a bit.

really rough

had a bit of an idea how I wanted the journaling in this one. Sort of lifted Sandra. LOL. She has started with collages and I thought I'd try it with my journaling in columns. Turned out a bit like a newspaper look.

font is Pea Alesa. (Thanks Ange)

ps please don't mind the spelling boo boos. I hope it adds a bit of character to the LO. (sort of)

;)

tricks

I'm not sure who is playing tricks on who, but its just too cute a shot to pass up.

and yay, ribbons sorted. Laces to go. Too easy.

bits and bobs.

yahoo.

the end is near

2 kgs to go.

A LO I started and thought I had finished in Lincoln last Thurs night.

In the kitchen I have a frame to pop the LO in so the rest of the family can see what's the latest one completed. Somehow it just seemed not quite done.

So I fiddled a bit more with it and now its done.

I had a special parcel in the post yesterday from Kirsty of Wicked Princess. I had been lurking her blog for a while and left a comment a while back. And wahu, I won a random comment draw.

In the parcel was some very yummy 'Wicked Princess' ribbons, and October Afternoon rubons.

Oh happy dance. I have emailed and commented on her blog to thank her very much. This is one very well followed blog. Go have a looksie.

I also received in the mail my parcel for my ribbon organisation. It was out of control. So chaotic.

It took ages to sort the ribbons into colour piles. I sat in the lounge, put the TV onto channel V and caught up on some of the latest music clips. I reckon that's the longest time I have sat in front of the box for a couple of years. I just don't watch TV.

Anyway all of a sudden it was after 1am and I only had half of the ribbons in the bags. So I have black, grey, white, cream, pink, salmon, red, maroon ribbons sorted. Filled up one bag. I do have some longer lengths of ribbon so that's what took up the room. Certainly not 200 ribbons in it that's for sure.

Now I have 2 bags of ribbons that will be sorted into colours. I had too many ribbons for 1 bag. Lucky I had ordered 4 bags. 2 for ribbons, 1 for lace and 1 for Denise. *waves*

Guess what I'm doing tonight.

LOL

CHA W 09

found this www.
www.scraptime.ca

amazing. lots and lots and lots and lots of reviews, how tos, sneak peaks and tours.


love it.

this is the 15 min tour of CHA W 09
http://scraptime.ca/blogpage/?p=452

I didnt have to fight the crowds, get sore feet or even lug a wheeled suit case around. (would love to tho).

t

life's little moments

This was a challenge LO for E2C.

Handwriting.

I despise my hand writing. It is just so untidy and I feel it detracts from the LO. I know all the blah blah blah about leaving a sample of it for later generations, a bit of my personality etc, etc, etc, but I still really really struggle with it.

This is my second attempt at a journal spot. I was stuck. The first one sucked. I rummaged thru my PP off cuts and found the pink and red. Suits the pic so well with Annie's PJs and Sean's Father Christmas suit.

and all of a sudden it all fitted together.

yay.

tick list

after such a crappy week last week, things had to improve.

I have decided that my disposing of 6 kittens is just not good for my mental health.

In contrast this week (and its only Tuesday LOL is fulfilling)

Tick (big one) Tax is done. This has been looming for a while.

Tick Hunt club books audited, balanced and signed off. Yay. AGM tomorrow night.

Tick I was asked by the Hunt Club to scrap something for a member who has hunted since she was a little girl. I finally decided on printing a history book of her hunting career from Rabbit Photos. The photobook is fantastic, comparatively cheap and I had it all done in one night.

Tick Retreat Kit goodies for my workshop all here and now packed.

Tick Successful night at 5 Loaves Bakery scrapnight. I organise a casual scrap together in our local bakery once a month with a guest retailer for shopping therapy.

Tick (another big one) dont read if you're squeamish. I think we have Sean successfully toilet trained. Only took a couple of weeks. We accomplished our first N0 2s on the loo today. Well, twice actually, that why I think we have made it. Bye Bye Huggies.

Tick Annie finally pulled her own wobbly tooth today. Her 3rd one. We have been niggling this one for a little while.

Tick A LO accepted today. My first one with Sharryn. Man is she tough to please. I had a big happy dance around the house. I think Annie thinks I am deranged. shhh don't tell her the truth.

Tick Most if not all tensions and issues have resolved after last weeks emotional release. I feel as if I have a huge weight off my shoulders. And I am sleeping so much better.

Tick Am 62.5 kgs. Have lost 6.5kgs. I have revamped my wardrobe just a bit. Being such a budget minded person, I only bought 3/4 pants on special, a couple of tops on special and lucky enough my sports bras a whole one size down on special. I feel special.

Tick Kym has been wonderful.

Tick I have been able to step back a bit from my involvement with Annie's gym. By no means does she rule the roost here with decision making, but I am asking her opinion of what she would like a lot more. And I respect most of her decisions. Like this one about gym. She would rather me not be there. So that's ok, it took some negotiating with R, but having L willing to step in has been wonderful. And L will be fantastic with the kids. She is so flexible and will be able to demonstrate anything that I could. Thankyou L (you know who you are).

All I have to worry about know is my PowerPoint display for the retreat. I guess I'll learn that as I go.

father christmas....06

yippee.

tax done.

not that's its hard or mind bending, just time consuming. So I put it off and off and off.

I had it half done months ago and just needed a kick in the bum to get the rest done.


So now I can do things that I want to do for the rest of the night.


Post of pics as promised of the lift from Sue-Ann Tilby's 'Along came a Spider' in SM this month.
I have submitted it and I did tell them its a lift from a LO in SM and guess what, SM picked it up. First time to crack Sharryn.
Yay.
I must google Sue-Ann's name and see what comes up.




can now reveal....

Also congrats to Meredith and Amanda for their LOs in the mag too.

Miss Stella

Remember my maternity photos of Tanya.
tp://fluffingaround.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-am-so-excited.html



Well little Miss Stella arrived all safe and sound. And lucky me I was able to try out some infant shots of her.

Anybody who knows me knows that I have a baby feet fetish. So there are a few of them.

Thanks Tanya very very much.
She is so beautiful.
Enjoy.

bebe shots

stay tuned.

some oh so beatiful shots coming soon.

still woking on tax.
not long now.

t