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Attitude is Everything

I know it may not be the 'done thing' to be on the Design Team at one web site and to take part in a challenge, or competition at another web site and I'm sorry if that upsets anyone, but quite frankly I do not care .... it all about Attitude!!..

Attitude is Everything that is the theme for the competition on this month at Scrapbooking by Design

I know exactly the stage of my life when attitude become so much more than just a word.

After Andrews accident and after many days and nights of sitting beside Andrews hospital bed in the ICU ward the hospital social worker decided it was time I went for a visit to Burwood Spinal Hospital. I had been told that this was the place we would be going if, and when the time come that Andrew was well enough to leave ICU. IF was a word used alot by this particular social worker, whom I come to despise very quickly. I am not a hateful person, in fact I try hard to find the best in everyone but.... 'Social worker man' had this attitude ...always expect the worst. He kept telling me that the chances of Andrew surviving were not good!!

I had made up my mind of course that Andrew was going to be just fine, and I did not want to be told any different! Looking back now, I guess that man was just being extra careful not to build up false hope.

Anyway, my visit to Burwood was like a slap in the face! There were people 'lots of people' in wheelchairs, on beds and trolleys. These people could not walk, or move much at all for that matter. I will remember for ever that sick feeling as reality hit me in the face... this was going to be our life, my Andrew was not going to walk out of that hospital bed, jump into the car and drive us home. And even more horrific and incomprehensible to me, at that time, was this thought..."Why are these people smiling and laughing and looking happy, what have they got to be happy about...nothing at all as far as I could see. I felt my life was in shatters at this stage.

When we did move onto Burwood it soon become apparent that Attitude was what life was all about. Having the right attitude and being brave enough to believe in your attitude made everything okay. I got us through so many trials.

Here are a few photos from our 'Attitude collection'

A skinner me feeding a skinner Andrew his lunch.

Early days at Burwood, Andrew was attached to this breathing machine for months!

We will never forget the staff, or their wonderful, cheerful, caring attitudes.

This photo was taken as Andrew was being prepared for an ambulance ride back to ICU. One of his lungs collapsed. Life is full of little hurdles to be overcome!

Andrew getting 'better' . What freedom it was when Andrew was able to sit in a wheelchair. We were caught several times sneaking to the Fish and Chip shop, breathing machine and all. I used to work up quite a sweat getting Andrew in his push chair and his breathing machine there and back, all the time taking great care to ensure the breathing tube did not fall out of Andrews 'neck hole'

Our 'can do 'attitude caused a bit of concern for several of the doctors at the time!

A good attitude was a must when our children were with us during school holiday time. Moral had to be kept on a high for the sake of our family.

Getting back to SBBD's competition...at last!! Attitude really is everything . The right attitude can get you so far in this life.

No one I know has a better attitude to life than my my husband so this page is for him...

This LO had to have fabric, chipboard, paper cutting and ...

...my favorite, stamps.

The young man next to Andrew broke his neck playing College rugby. His break is at the same level as Andrew's, C3/4 . Anaru will never move or have feeling below his neck either, but just look at the smile on his face... that guy has attitude as well!

For anyone out there who read this long rambling post I apologise for the length! I should really have two blogs, one for craft and one for personal ramblings!

and remember... If you don't think every day is a good day then just try missing one!

Bye bye Biddy

Today was a somber day at our house. Cody was in yet another Pig Hunting competition this weekend so was out hunting with mates into the wee small hours of the morning.

We awoke this morning to the sad news that our beloved Bid had been killed by a pig.

Bid was Cody's pride and joy, and like all of the animals that venture into our life, was a much loved pet by all of us. She has spent the afternoon's tucked up on bed with Andrew these past few weeks,while Andrew has been recovering from a pressure area.

This is not a great photo, but it gives a pretty good picture of the close bond between Cody and his dogs. Bid is dog whose face is up against Cody's.

This is Bid in her early days...last year. She had a very short life Bid only made it to 14 months of age.

Here is our Biddy again, (photo taken just last weekend) doing what she loved , hunting.
Even with the protection of her wide neck safely collar, and her tracking collar (that insured she would never be lost in the wilderness) a pig still managed to stick its tusk deep enough into her throat to kill her.

Bye bye Biddy. We will all miss you xoxo

This week it's my turn to provide the Friday Sketch Challenge for Scrapbook Outlet.
I almost spent longer creating my sketch design in photoshop than I did creating my example page! Then of course, after creating my page I had to go back and alter my sketch, because Id made a few changes along the way.

Here's my sketch...

And here's my example...

To check out the details head over to the forum ..here

Hope you get a chance to give this ago.

All entries need to be posted to the gallery by mid-night Thursday.

Wishing you all a warm cozy weekend fulled with all the things you love !

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Stay tuned to Scrapbook Outlet if you would like to win one of these little beauties!

A new first for me

For the first time ever I have made the cover of a magazine... well, not me exactly, but one of my scrapbook pages. I now have my fingers crossed that many copies of the magazine are sold... LOL, I will feel personally responsible if they don't!

Going back two weekends ago I forgot to mention that eldest son took out first and fifth prize's in the Oamaru Club Pig Hunting Competition. Even though I hate animals being killed I was thrilled for Cody as he puts every spare moment into his hunting and never misses a competition if he can help it. He always goes along to the weigh-ins and watches everyone else take home the prize for the largest pig, so GO Cody, good for you!!
(I wont add a photo because I'm sure that a dead pig does not make exciting viewing for most of us...sorry Cody!)

I had the best time at senz. My high lights were meeting so many of you talented ladies, thank you so much to those of you who took the time to stop and say hello, I'm terrible at recognising faces and am honored that so many of you knew me! I bumped into a few faces I did know, that was great as well, and while on the subject of people I know pop over to Dianne's blog to see what she created at one of the senz classes she attended....its well worth a look!
Thanks to Karen, Kristi, Robyn P and Kathy for your company, the whole point in going to senz was to meet you all and you really did make the whole trip worth while.
Have to say I did not buy much, I was too busy absorbing the atmosphere, and chatting to lovely people!
Tomorrow I will photograph the pins I received and the 'Spooky Canvas' I received from Kristi. All are super cool!

Celebrate NZ

.... and be in to win
keep a close eye on ScrapbookOutlet!!!!
If you haven't registered on the forum yet nows the time to get it done...so you're ready.... !!

New Day Kit from ScrapbookOutlet

This morning it was pretty much business as usual here in Duntroon. I was back to work, at school. Camden was back to school also. Cody and Hannah were the only ones who got to sleep in today.
Its nice to have Hannah back in the country.

Here are the scrapbook pages I completed using the New Day Kit from Scrapbook Outlet

This plain bazzil card has a wonderful surface for stamping on, so of course I got my stamps out and took advantage of it!

For my next LO I took apart the Prima spray from the kit and layered some of the paper flowers between the chipboard flowers.

I'm now a huge fan of paper tape, which I had not used before. My roll of tape is still going strong so it really is great value. Check out the different brands, patterns and colours that are available here

Bedtime Story was the last page I created from the New Day kit.

I looked at my small pile of left over paper scraps and could not bring myself to throw them away, so instead I got busy with my cuttlebug and added texture to these tiny squares. I hunted out this photo, passed onto me from my sister. The back ground was busy so I had to work a little photoshop magic to ensure some of the focus was on the bed quilt, I needed this photo to work with my patch work scraps!
In between my scrap patch's and the photo I have added a felt layer, just to soften things up a little.

I enjoyed scrapping with the New Day Kit. I still have lots of font stickers, some chipboard shapes, some tags and plenty of left over paper tape. That's after creating seven pages using only a few bits and bobs from my own supplies, so the kits from Scrapbook Outlet really are good value. Check out the bright kit available to order now, if you have not done so already

I had a lovely time at Senz, and the visit to Christchurch restored my sanity, that really was feeling like it was on its way out! More on that coming up soon.

Up Date

Here are a few morning photos from our place, we have one crisp, frosty day after another at the moment!

After another long week and lots of tossing coins we have decided to hope for the best and head to Christchurch tomorrow. First we have an appointment in town at the Doctors to get Andrew checked over before we do go. Andrew is still having frequent Dysreflexic attacks and his pressure area is still with us, only faintly though.
I'm thinking that there will not be any shopping going on in Christchurch, just a wee visit to Senz. Also, a visit to the Allen Bean Centre, at Burwood for the formalities of the Wine Picking. Anne has a small party organised so we can do all of the official 'stuff' (for want of a better word!) that needs to be done.

Hannah arrives back in New Zealand on Saturday so we will be at the airport to greet her and bring her home. Unsure at this stage if we will return home Saturday night, or Sunday morning. At the moment we just have to take each day as it comes.. any more than that is more than I feel I can cope with just now!

I have lots of scrapbook pages to share so stay posted. I have to finish packing tonight so will add them when I can. In the mean time you can check them out over at The Scrapbook Outlet

Looking forward to catching up with many of you at Senz!

A taste of summer, and winter

Yesterday I had a little bit of summer turn up in our mail box!

take a look at this gorgeous, bright happy scrappy pack. Its available to order now at The Scrapbook Outlet. To find out more just click on the photo!

I have to add that out garden is not as bright and cherry as the package from my mail box. I have been looking at all of the leaves on the ground and I know I should rake them up, only I cannot bring myself to do it. I love the rustic look of our leafy carpet..and I'd rather be scrapping than raking!

This week we had an exciting new arrival, well my best friend did...her lovely daughter and partner welcomed their new baby into the world. So I send a huge welcome to Max , he looks adorable! I will have to ask nicely for a photo so I can show him off to you all.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend

Its not the load that breaks you down
its the way you carry it.

by Lena Horne

That quote has come to mind more than once this past week! Really though, things are okay in my world.
Andrew has survived another autonomic dysreflexia attack. He has been taken off one lot of anti biotic and put on another one, so here's hoping hes back to his self again soon...for all of our sakes! His pressure area is improving as well so its looking good for getting to SENZ next week, at this stage!


Youngest son got home safely and we have not locked him up, he's a good kid really, just a pretty normal 15 year old I guess.

Now to crafting, which, like my blogging has been on the back burner a bit.

Andrea, from SBO sent all of us, on her Design team this totally adorable kit to play with...

Here are the first two pages I completed....

The Sandman Comes title was taken off a rhyme, of the same, on one of the 12 X 12 patterned paper's in the kit, called Fly a Kite/ Garden, by October Afternoon (you will find it here).

Everyone needs at least one piece of this paper in there stash!! Its adorable.

The little boy images, and the rhyme are all cut from the October Afternoon paper.

These lovely chipboard pieces are by Crate Paper. You will find them HERE.I spent ages cutting the leaf images from this patterned paper.The paper tape from the kit is super versatile, I placed a strip onto transparency and cut it out, then layered it over another piece of tape to add dimension to my page.

And from the kit again ....my second LO...
....
This paper can be found here I've used it for a heritage style page, but do check out this page by Megan Renfree to see it used on a modern day LO. This is another very versatile piece of patterned paper!

Here are more images from my favorite piece of paper from the kit, October Afternoon

Lace, glimmer mist and a little ink are the only extras I have added to these pages. This kit really has all you need to complete several layouts. This week I have used the rest of the kit to complete four more 12 x 12 pages, with minimal other product added.

I cannot show you these until next week though, after they go into the gallery

If you love bright, fun colours then you are going to love the latest kit! Check it out here .

Thanks for visiting!

Can you Help

Have to say I've had one very long weekend. Andrew has been unwell, I missed the Scrapbook Day in Oamaru, that I had so been looking forward to attending with Dianne. Ive spent far more hours than I like to spend in the kitchen and tonight dear youngest son, after the weigh in for the hunting competition decided he would not come home with eldest son, instead he is staying some where with someone I know nothing about....If I knew where he was I would be going to pick him up!!! He is going to be in for a stern talking to tomorrow when he gets home.

Anyway besides that I should not moan or feel sorry for myself because there is always someone worse off... Like Ben for instance...

Ben is 22, lives in Samoa and recently broke his neck playing rugby and has been left a c5 complete tetra plegic. He is in desperate need of medical supplies and equipment.

Two very kind doctors are traveling to Samoa on the 13th of July, at their own expense to see what they can do to help Ben and to teach family how to look after him.

If anyone would like to help Ben in any way just click here

On that note I would have to say that my weekend was okay.

Andrew is a little brighter toady, and medical help is not far away for us.

Dianne forgave me for not making it to the Scrapbook day, I spend no money at all and I had plenty of time to cook.

The boys won a few goodies for their efforts in the weekend hunt

And as for Camden, he will be home tomorrow, in fact he will be home for a very long time because he will not be allowed out until he's 21!! :-)

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend