Good Bye 2011

The end of 2011 is not far off now. 2011 has been an interesting year I guess. Its had its up and its downs and I've had good days and really great days and some not so good days, and some really feel low days. But I'm blessed with beautiful friends and I have people around me who love me, and I live in a gorgeous country I have food to eat and clothes to wear and I have tomorrow to look forward to. I'm lucky and I know it. 

In 2012 I'm going to embrace all that is good in my life and forget about all of the stuff that doesn't matter. I'm going to refuse to be sad and mope over things that never were, and the things that never can be. I'm going to stop hating being 45 and be thankful that I'm healthy and I'm going to continue to shed the few extra pounds that I want to shed. And yes I am going to do lots of positive thinking!!

Things will happen in your life that can't be stopped but that's no reason to shut out the world. There is a purpose for the good and for the bad.

Below are a few photos of Christmas at our house...

Waimate Rodeo, on the of 27th December saw Cam get his first ever Rodeo placing of 3rd, and his first lot of  prize money of $171. Now our boy is extra keen to never give up this silly 'hobby'!

  And on the 28th of December we went to another Rodeo, this time Omarama. Cam didn't bring home any winnings, but he had a pretty awesome ride, and he  lasted the 8 seconds, and didn't get hurt! All good!!

Tomorrow Andrew and I might go to the pub and have a few drinks to see the new year in. I don't remember when the last time was that I went to the pub...a long time ago. Our children are all off doing their own thing. Aimee is at Coromandel Gold. Cam's spending New years with Abby and Cody will be doing what he loves to do...hunting somewhere out in there them hills. I am struggling just a little  to get motivated with life now that our children have all left home...that's something I really need to embrace in the new year...getting used to being with me...LOL...I don't like it, my life kind of feels empty. I always thought Id love it when the children all left home. I'm so used to always having someone at home with me. But now on week days Andrew is not even at home and I have a few hours to myself in the afternoons...I hate it... but I know I will adjust, just need to give myself time I guess.

Happy New Year to all of my wonderful friends. I wish you all only the very best of everything!!

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Official Music Video)

Visitors

We had the pleasure of dear daughters company for a short while this weekend. Aimee brought her ten baby rats for a visit, along with mum and dad rat. So I just have to share a few photos with you.

These little fellows are 9 days old already

  Dyni' (dad rat) is Aimee's pride and joy

I feel a scrapbook page coming on...not tonight though. need to get cleaned up ready for the busy week that lays ahead. 

Fancy a December Challenge??

Its been a little while since I've been a-scrapping. But after being inspired by Donna Oleary's blog last week I got to work and created this page and a sketch for our December Challenge over at NZ Paperchase.

I do not normally scrap me...but have had this photo hanging around for some time now so decided to do something with it. 

Oh to be this young again!...

 Our Challenge this month is to 'Mess it Up'

 I have used paint on my page and left threads attached (instead of cutting them off neatly...

 I have stamped and coloured ...

 I have ripped and doodled, and generally just had fun!

 Steph Milne from NZ paper Chase magazine has put this lovely prize up for grabs this time around...Prima Flowers and...

.... a Twiddlebitz shelf for you to get creative with.

Pop over to the Blog (Click HERE) and check out the details for our December Sketch Challenge..we would LOVE for YOU to play along with us!

See you there maybe??

Ages..and ages

Its been ages since my last post! Life can get crazy and its easy to lose your way, then getting back to the things you enjoy is a huge struggle. 2011 is fast coming to a close and I have to admit that this year has been an odd kind of a year for me. Its been super busy with a handful, or two of 'stuggle' thrown in and  a sprinkling of 'stuff ' from the past that come back to make life interesting. Sometimes 'interesting is good, then somethings its not so good. Sure makes you think though and reflect on where you are at in the big scheme of things!
Ive had the pleasure of getting to know some 'cyber friends' a little better. The lovely Kristi come to stay with us earlier this year and Ive gotten to know a lovely lady by the name of Annie a little better through emailing. Its a shame Annie lives so far away because Id love to meet this lady, she is an inspiration to me.
I have text chatted, and spoken on the phone to a very old  friend from yesteryear, its nice to remember that I was young...once!
Anyway...back to the 'now'
Sometime ago I was asked to illustrate a book.I'm not good at saying, no..never have been, sometimes I curse myself for my inability to do so!! So I illustrated...lol this was a slow process for me. I love to draw, but always realistic drawings. I was given photos of people and animals and asked to animate them..shock horror!!
After many bin fulls of drawings and cursing and frowning at my attempts the job was finished and now the book has been published. Here's a sneak peek at the finished book...

First the cover

 The first page...

 Here is the Black witch dissolving...had many attempts before coming up with this one!

...and the very last page in the book.

 A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of meeting Cody's Hannah's mum and dad who come to NZ for a visit all the way from Germany. Thomas and Petina are such lovely people, so full of fun and 'sunshine'. And I stuck a deal with Thomas, I learn enough German so that when they return for their next visit in two years time  I can have a conversation with them in German, and Thomas is going to improve his English...which, is very good already. So far I am doing okay...one new word every few days.I know I'm going to have to get a little faster to know enough to have a whole conversation!! Hannah is now on a plane home to spend Christmas with her family. We will miss her while she is gone. I do think we will have the pleasure of Cody's company at  tea time though, and already Mash, (Hannah's dog) has appeared at our house and is settling in for a bit of a stay it would seem.

 We have recently had another visitor as well, dear wee Max, who is son of Rachel and Barret, and grandson of my dear friend Robyn. This wee guy is so cute and it was a delight to get to spend a little bit of time in his company.

 Our Garage is up and running and we are at week four! Sadly Andrew has been plagued by a pressure area   just one week after opening and has had to be on bed rest for a good part of week two, and is now on bed rest again, for the same problem. Its looking like he may not get to the garage this week at all. Life does tend to dish out its fair share of 'issues'. Never mind though, tomorrow is another day and I'm ever hopeful that many bright moments will come this way.

One such bright spot come just last week when Camden gained the award of Top Student for the year in his Poly tech class. Today is his first day of being in paid employment. He was super excited to finally be getting the chance to work as a heavy machinery mechanic, I hope things keep getting better and better for him!

On a final note Aimee texted me on Friday morning to say her rat 'Dora" had produced eleven baby rats!!!! Hmmmmm I'm hoping she does not bring them all home for the holidays!!

Show Room done!

Today, at long last I managed to finish off the show room at the garage. All that's left to do is the rest of the tidying up in the work room and a big clean-up out side. Tomorrow I'm taking the day off to tidy up around home, lawns and garden are very neglected and I need to launch myself into the box of projects I have received from Steph Milne, for the next NZ Paper Chase magazine. So much to do...so little time to do it all in!

 Here are a few before and after shoots of the garage show room..... (sorry some will be repeats)

 ...I am very proud of my door...LOL, I had to 'bling' something up...I'm yearning to be back in my craft room now!

Dido - White Flag

Gone Orange

Just a very quick post before bed...Check out our orange!!!

Today I took the brush to the desk top as well.

Train Live at Daryl's House - Hey Soul Sister

New Challenge

Beverly Cunningham has designed the October Challenge over at the NZ Paper Chase Blog...if your a multi photo scarp'per then this is the challenge for you! Pop over to the blog and check out  details and see the awesome prize that's up for grabs! (click on the sketch below)

It's been a huge week!

Tonight I think I will sleep well. This week has been a busy one at the garage. At last I'm seeing improvements and thought Id share a few before and after photos with you,because I'm feeling very proud of my efforts!

 Still have some painting to go in here....

 Looking better isn't it. But just take a peek out of the show room door and look into the work room........

...this awaits for the weekend, so guess I should go and get some sleep!!!

Wow, Its only Wednesday, the days are all rolling into one of late! I am still scrubbing and painting at the garage, progress is slow but sure!

In the weekend, between coats of paint I managed to flick together a quick page...just because I was worried I might forget how to scrapbook altogether if I didn't do something!

 This page is rather a quick, messy one. Lots of spray, paint and ink!

  I even managed to use my Cricut to cut out a boarder...had almost forgotten how to use that as well...had to blow the dust off it!!

Thank you for stopping by.

Birdy - Skinny Love [Official Video]

Painting still

 Goodness me, I forgot what it was like to work this hard!! 

After two weeks of slog we are beginning to notice an improvement at the garage...white walls again!

I spent Friday and Saturday painting the walls. And today I re-painted the floor. Tomorrow I get to scrub the stone piece of the floor before I polyurethane it...yay for a change!!

After the floor I'm going to add a splash of colour to the white...looking forward to painting on a fun colour!

Cannot wait for the finish...then I can sit in my room and craft again! 

Junk...every where I look !!

Its awesome to have great friends! Thank you Barry for the hard-yards you did today at the garage!

I spent the day in the 'showroom' washing down the walls so that I can paint them in the weekend...but we are not even half way through the clean-up yet...I only had to step out into the workroom to realise that!

Wow...just what are we going to do with all of the junk...that, I'm told is not junk at all?! (Looks like junk to me).

....Hmmm..not looking much better here either!

And then there is the lube bay.....