slippery when wet

Annie and I were on our way back from the Airport on Wednesday night when we slipped off the road. Just this side of Koppio I went through a slushy patch so I was slowing down to stop to put the Ute into 4WD, I had the clutch in to move back to second gear and we hit the next slushy patch. We went straight across the other side of the road with no traction at all. We ended up on a precarious angle off the road on the other side.

We weren't hurt at all, not even a bruise, but by cripes it gave us a jolly good fright. Bear in mind this was 6.30p at night, dark as pitch and it was raining. I was really really worried that being on such an angle it would tip over. I put it into 4WD, put it into gear, pulled on the park brake and turned off the engine.

Annie piped up "I'm OK Mum", and then burst into tears. My heart just broke. I couldn't get back to her to give her a big hug in case we rolled over. I fumbled around in the dark until I found her hand and just squeezed it with all my heart. I need a distraction for her and I thought of her DS which was somewhere in the back seat. I turned on the interior light and she found it by her feet. She started playing with that, but I could still hear a little sob now and then. Then I turned off the light to save the battery, not being sure of how long we may be there for with the hazard lights blinking away.

Now what....no mobile phone signal in that area, so I started going through 1 to 40 on the UHF channels. "Hello, hello. Can anyone hear me? I need help!" I tried it twice on each channel, so that's 80 times I repeated myself to no avail.

By this time Annie's DS battery failed and she was getting scared again. We didn't have much choice but to rug up, carefully get out, lock it and walk on the muddy road for help. I had to use the light from my phone to shine our way.

 Fortunately we were only just a few hundred metres outside Koppio so we didn't get too wet. We knocked on a door and we were very lucky enough to have caught the fella at home as he just about to leave to go out. I rang Kym at home and he bundled up Sean, who had been asleep, to come and pick us up.

Upon looking at the Ute, we decided to leave it till morning. It was cold, wet, dark and we had both the kids to think of as well. And what's more we both thought that if we tried to shift it, it would roll.

Kym went down there next morning to have a good look at it in daylight. (that's when he took the photo via his phone). We had made the right decision to leave it there. It was just too chancy to shift it without a tow truck. He also discovered some Police tape tied onto it. Someone had reported it during the night and the Port Lincoln police had travelled out to inspect it.

Our local Tow Truck driver retrieved the Hilux around lunch time and he thought it didn't look any worse for wear. I'm really surprised I didn't rip off the exhaust or something else from under the vehicle. He took it round to our local mechanics who found time in their busy day to give it an inspection and even gave it a quick wash. (There was plenty of mud underneath as you can imagine) It was then taken to our local Tyre Business and had the two rear tyres replaced. It just so happened that I was going to book in next week to get them done anyway. By 5 O'clock today, I had my vehicle back none the worse for wear.

We were so lucky. Lucky that we didn't hit any trees. So very very lucky we didn't roll over. Lucky that I was slowing down to second before we started to slide. Lucky that the fella was home when we knocked on his door. Lucky to be living in such an amazing town to have all the help we needed to get the Hilux back on the road so quickly. But most of all lucky to have and so appreciative of Kym, who didn't get cross, didn't blame or accuse. He was just glad that we were OK and still in one piece. And that the Ute was in one piece too.

If nothing else it has really enforced to Annie why we wear seat belts in a car.

No doubt all this will come up as the butt of jokes later on....but I can wear that.

ballet shoes

I'll update about Annie's and my Adelaide trip tomorrow.....

until then a quick shot that I may use for the camera club's boots/shoes section for this month.

grandma

This dear lady had her 90th Birthday party over the weekend. She is my Dad's Mum and my kids Great Grandmother. She is still living independently in her own home and has a wicked sense of humor.

Of course there is the traditional blowing out of the candles. And naturally all the Great Grandies added their extra wind power.

but this is my favourite. A candid shot with her sister, my Great Aunt or as she is to my kids, Great Great Aunt Verni. That's my Grandma on the left.

home

all home safe and sound.

Isn't it chilly out there!!!!! I'll be processing the photos from my Grandmother's 90th Birthday today with my tootsies sitting on the little heater.

Pics to come....

questions & answers

For those people who know I make my own Baileys. This is the recipe.

600mls cream
2 x tins condensed milk
2 x tins evaporated milk
2 x teaspoons dissolved coffee
5 drops almond essence
1/2 cup chocolate topping.

Mix together in a large bow.
Add 1 bottle of scotch or brandy SLOWLY. (I use Brandy as its cheaper)

Makes approx 4 bottles.

          
I've always been told to use full cream ingredients but tonight I used skim everything and its just fine. A little bit thinner in consistency but just as yummy. I'll be using skim next time too.



Over the last few days I've been asked where did I study for my Diploma of Photography. I must admit I didn't include The Photography Institute as a link in that particular Blog post.

My apologies. I was remiss of that. I can thoroughly recommend it and it is well worth the $$. Its not easy but its not hard. The trickiest bit I found was to make myself sit down and read the module. If you know me, then you know that I don't sit around for very long. I get far too twitchy for that. There is another lady in our community who also has her Diploma of Photography from TPI, and I know of several other people who are on their way to achieving theirs. If you are keen then don't procrastinate. Get of your arse and make a commitment to yourself. You will be so thankful later.



Where did I get my Webster's Bloomers from?

Lee-anne from Scrap Therapy has the best customer relations that I have come across.

Nothing is too much trouble and she gets a lot of her stock direct from the States so its in her shop earlier than the wholesalers get it out and at a remarkably better price. Scrap Therapy is my first preference for my online shopping. (Hi Lee-anne *waves*). I cant find it there ATM (I think she made have sold out of it) but ring her to find out when she will have it back again. I also get her e-newsletters. That way I know when her stock lands and is on the shelf.

I think that's it. Have a fantastic family long weekend and stay safe.
t

light 'em up

I've done the E2C sketch challenge today. I've tipped it upside down and matted the journal block before using foam tape to place it above the PP. And have a close look at the button. Its 3D. I used some HS ghost butterflies on top of the butterflies that were already printed on the button.

Thanks to Sydney's Mum for giving me the ok to blog this LO.

the color room #10

OOhhhhhh we are back in (his room) with palette 10 this week.

Color Room
love the sketch too.

SBT UK???? Can we still get it in Oz

I'm wondering if anyone else has heard that Scrapbook Trends UK is no longer being distrubuted in Australia. Their website has been under construction for so long....so no answers there. Anyone??

trying it on

If I may say so..... I am LOVING (yes I am shouting) Webster's Pages Bloomers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I first saw them on  Karola Witczak LOs in the Color Room and on her blog. They are beautiful. Soft, feminine and in the most gorgeous hues. And Karola's way of using them is divine. I can only aspire. BTW Karola is on the design teams for both Websters and the Color Room. (Says a fair bit about her talent doesn't it!!)

The Page Pin is a Karen Foster Design product. Very very noice.

The scroll is from Twiddleybitz that I sprayed black

Thanks to Toby's Mum for letting me post this LO with her son in it. I sure appreciate it.

I'm so excited....

.... Annie and I are doing a quick medical day trip to Adelaide next week and we have the entire day with

...Paige. She is picking us up, taking us to Camelot, our appointment and then we spend the arvo with these guys......

Everything is all booked, printed and set to go. I just need to remember to not forget my camera, jackets, xrays and a brolly.

And the best part is, Annie doesn't know about the Paige bit so shhhh, don't tell her. Its a surprise!!

tootsies

My response to the colour and sketch challenge in The Color Room. (with a few adaptions along the way).

I have an unashamed affair with children's feet. They just 'get' me. But not adults feet, no way, big ugly flappy things they are. oh and occasionally smelly too.

Looking at it now I think its a bit much with the pearls but, they were soo noice and in the perfect colours for this one, so I just had too.

and BTW, to the parents who ordered the A4 Colour Footy Toyota Jump from me, the photos are now available for collection. I have a couple of spare copies if you have yet to order one. Just let me know.

pre stock take sale.

Who doesn't like a bargain??? I sure do!!!

Scrapworkz in Port Lincoln are having a sale on this Sunday and Monday of the long weekend. 30%-50% off selected stock and they are open from 10am to 4pm on both days.

So grab your tote and your photos and go grab those bargains.

(details are with permission from Leonie)

It's offical

My 10 months of study has culminated into my extremely happy mail in the post today.

My Diploma of Photography arrived. And it looks very official.

So does that make me a professional photographer??

Nup. Not in my mind. I'm just in for the fun of it and having a ball playing with kids along the way. And knowing how to capture a better image in the process.

just a wee bit proud of myself.

t

autumn captured

Here on the farm we have very few deciduous trees to show the glory of autumn, so I took my camera with me to Lincoln today.

The council there in their wisdom (???) planted a type of tree (the name escapes me for the moment - help anyone) when they did their streetscaping of Tasman Terrace not so long ago. The trees are terrific for summer shade and very colourful in Autumn, but cripes they sure do make a mess of the place when the leaves are on the ground. I would hate to imagine all the clogged shopfront roof guttering let alone the street guttering.

 While I am far too late to catch the colour, I did catch the mess on the ground. I did have a bit of a laugh how I would have looked from a different person's POV. I was lying on the road in a car park space with my head in the gutter. LOL. A group of young male teenagers did ask a couple of questions and one of them even lifted a milkshake cup out of the way without my even asking. Sure enjoyed their enthusiasm.

With a little bit of PS magic, and lots of help from Jerry Jones textures, this is what I took.

A couple of weeks ago I captured the colour of a glory vine that was in full dress rehearsal for autumn.

                           

Sean and I were out weeding in the garden on Friday. It was such a lovely afternoon and a good bit of weed pulling was in order. After we had finished and wash our hands we went on to do other jobs in and around the house.

After about an hour or so I noticed my eyes were really itchy (nothing unusual as I always have hay fever-every single day-) but then my lips went tingly, swollen and hot. And then my tongue was doing the same. Cripes. This has never happened before. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, gargled mouthwash and took an anti-histamine. And then I had a good look at Sean. He was the same. He had started using his top teeth to 'scratch' his lower lip and skin under his lip. It was very red and irritated. His eyes were itchy and he was hot. So I cleaned him up and dosed him too. After about 30 mins the symptoms in both of us started to recede thank goodness.

This has never happened to either of us before, and we don't have any unusual weeds or plants. And we both have weeded before without any effects like this. So laughingly I have become allergic to gardening. lol. I'll have another go tomorrow while Sean's at Kindy and monitor my reactions. Time will tell.

K & T

All done and ready to be posted on Monday for my Grandmother's 90th scrap album.

I've smudged all the text as I don't want to be a victim of Identity Theft. The details are a very quick overview of my life with dates, places and names. Gold to would-be thievery.

Mr R.

This is what I've been up to for the last couple of days. I enjoy being around little babies so much and it is such a privilege to be able to photograph them. Their 'littleness' is so fleeting and its a pleasure to capture it for their parents to remind them just how small their baby actually was.

Thank you to Mr R's Mum. You were so relaxed and I really enjoyed spending time with you.

More for your viewing pleasure @ Tiff Firth Photography

sean firth

Sean's page for his Great Grandmamama-marmalade's 90th Birthday scrap album.

Now to work on Kym' and mine. The tuff one lol.

t

color room #9 Her Room

the color room
ooohhhhh noice. another challenge to add to my growing list.

bring it on!!

annie firth

We are heading to my Grandmother's 90th Birthday over the 'other side' of the state soon. One of my Aunts has organised a person from each family group to scrap an A4 page of each member of that family. Believe me, this will be one fat book.

I'm not sure how other people feel about lumpy bumpy pages or what type of scrapbook its all going in, so I've kept mine fairly flat. I struggle with flat. But I couldn't resist just one bloom and leaf.

Sean's LO is next, then a combined one for Kym and I. Left the hardest to last. lol.

I had the pleasure to have a little 2 week old boy visit me today for his photo session. What a dear little man, and what a very relaxed Mum. I'm working on those pics in between completing these family LO's, and  a crook little chicky dee. Annie missed the first day and half of school this week due to one of the many bugs floating around atm only to come down today with a chesty chunky cough. After her last very scary (for me it was) asthma episode, I've been keeping a very close ear on her coughing. We have started nebbing already as a precaution. I don't think she'll be at school tomorrow at this rate. Poor bloss.

have a little faith

I wasn't going to do this, but dang it, I'm just too excited not to. This is a sneak of a LO that has some of the goodies that came in the parcel the other day. Don't worry, I haven't let the cat out of the bag, these shots don't show those products. 

 :-p

have a great day.