A very small start with two nights stitching, this is a companion to my Sleigh. Started on the 32 count pale grey fabric i picked up in Sydney. Planning three on this portion & debating if i do the borders.
Points if you know which reindeer it is!
Author Archives: paulainauckland
12 Days Project Update
Si is now looking for the gifts. Only took a few days! Today’s is a photo frame with four openings. I had initially planned to have one shot of each of the kids holding up a word but put that aside as being a bit naff – plus he’d never display it! I quickly printed out four shots he liked from our recent trip to New South Wales:
Wollongong Harbour (with the old lighthouse, he made several comments about the construction as we walked around it. You can take the engineer out of the workshop but…actually, you can’t take the engineer out!)
The post office at Kiama
Nobby’s Surf Life Saving Club at Newcastle
The WWII memorial at RAAF Rathmines
I wrote a quick note on the gift tag that he should choose what he wants printed. Will be interesting to see what he does pick!
Last night I went with B & M to St Lukes mall. It was empty. As in, no queues in the food court nor in any shop except the supermarket. We rocked thru the place. Like most people in retail, I’m waiting for the Christmas rush. As with summer, it’s not yet hit us (one retailer reported a huge rise against last December in thermal clothing (!!!). What’s it like in your part of the world?
And finally – my friend M and her hubby M need your prayers. They are seeing consultants regarding recurrent miscarriages; as a mum I can’t imagine being without my children and (usually) regard them as both inevitable and a blessing. I never, EVER thought that I wouldn’t be a mum and my heart hurts so much for them. Thank you all – I pray in turn that you feel absolutely blessed as you pray for M&M.
Oh, I wish it was still NaBloPoMo!
the subtitle could be: Hard evidence that I haven’t planned any blogging!
Blog. Posting has slowed down a bit. I’m looking forward to Myfanwy’s prompts for January, but I wish she would publish them now so I can write them down and feel like I’ve planned a bit! Hint hint! I think however I will plan a third theme day into every week; I’m sure you would love to know what I’m reading/watching. Right?
I’m under more than a little pressure. Christmas dinner won’t be at mine this year, which means I have to transport numerous cooked and chilled items plus kids plus presents. Presents are actually no excuse; let’s face it, I can take them up to the SIL’s as soon as they are wrapped. Kids? I have to take them with me anyway, it’s the law. Food? This is where I need to sit down and plan carefully with the others. Let’s hope for good weather so we can eat outdoors!
Work is messy – I am putting off about 30 minutes of ick by writing this post. However I’ve told myself that once done, I can go to Kings Plant Barn & get my secret Santa present. Carrots again. Points if I don’t come home without something for me! Only 66 store emails when I peeped at that inbox earlier today. Ugh.
Craft. In the light of day 100 stitches seems nothing! But over the course of the year this is one area where I have done better than planned (in some areas – I didn’t complete 12 TW smalls, just three, although Stretch was one of them) and I didn’t touch Tapestry Cat (which I do want to see finished and I’m glad I didn’t pass onto a FB “friend” to do, as she turned out to be a complete liar) but my TUSAL jar is nearly chockablock (photo on the 31st!) and will stuff an ornament easily. Stitchers reading this will know about TUSAL and smile. FYI I set myself up with the large Moconna jar so was quite ambitious. I also didn’t keep up with all the surface embroidery techniques but I am happy I went to the class & want to do some more next year. Maybe start a little simply and chain/satin over an existing print to personalise cushion covers?
Pintrest. I’m itching to do a few things but these will have to wait for my leave in late January. Me and the sewing machine have a date, and by the end of the week I’ll have an amazing outdoor table plus covered seat. I love Pintrest; it’s a huge time waster but oh so gorgeous. Lots of funny things too. Amazing recipes, beautiful things. House envy sometimes!
I suppose I can share that there is a reason why I have the blahs. The Screaming Teen (who can be known as The Only Teen for another 15 months) did something incredibly stupid. And illegal. And has shocked the sh*t out of me, to say the least. I find it really, really hard to even hold a conversation with him, I’m that angry at his blasé /victim attitude. I’ll get over it, I have to; but he really took the shine out of his school award and behaviour. At home he now has all the chores that Z would do on top of his own and is grounded for the summer, with no access to anything electronic, including FB and his phone. Yes, I know it’s now the end of the world as he knows it, but he doesn’t seem to care! And to think everyone told me girls were awful as teenagers…they lied. Praying that Tough Love works as I don’t know what else. Boarding School?
Feeling grateful
No matter how blah I feel, I’m not like one of my poor gouramis. He’s bloated! Concensus is its because he’s greedy and swallows air when he feeds, so everyone is on a 48hr fast. Tomorrow they get de-shelled peas. Hopefully that deflates Captain Ego quickly.
I also managed to get some stitching done. Maybe around 100 stitches and I had to frog a bit, but I’m happy to be stitching with minimal pain. Photo on Wednesday!
Also Si kept playing with his Batman ornie, and loved his gift today. Sucess!
Still got the blahs
Altho Si took us walking today. We started to explore the Manukau Coastal walkway, doing a bit from Mangere village to Wakaraka Cemetery.
The weather held off and it was a good way to blow out some cobwebs.
Love that the Pohutukawa is finally flowering. It’s also known as the New Zealand Christmas tree and grows around most of the shoreline.
Si is busy ignoring his first present 😦 I might just spend gift #2 on myself escaping!
I’ve got the blahs
Or as I said to a group on fb, cantbearseditis. Rarely fatal, boy is it lingering today. Nearly eight at night and I’m only now posting?
I did do some catch up on December Daily last night. Re-reading the kids lists made me laugh. And three of the Twelve Days presents are good to go. That’s satisfying.
You Can Quote Me
Last Thursday we went to B’s school prizegiving. He has worked hard and was rewarded with nomination by all his core teachers for a Diligence award – a big thing given his grades were distinctly average before he was concussed; and he’s had (conservative estimate here) about a third of the remaining year off from school, had (too many to count) migranes and totally kept up with his school work and has multiple Merits and Excellences. He’s not top of the year in anything (oh-so-close in Social Sciences!) but I am very, very proud. He earnt a Kiwi’s jersey – as soon as it arrives I’ll share a photo of my young man.
One of the entertainment pieces was spine tingling. Soft piano and just the one voice – a young girl singing Ed Sheeran’s Photograph. Such beautiful words. My new fav song.
I’m posting this from work so I can’t add a YouTube link (stink) but please take the time to listen. It’s awesome.
WIP Wednesday
No stitching progress today. Yes, I’m sad about that too. The reality is that my wrist hurts so much that I am seriously considering the physio. Mouse opperation is ouch!!!
But planning for next year. Signed up now to the 2015 Smalls SAL (click the button on the sidebar) and Measi’s organising a WIPocalypse again (http://measi.net/measiblog/wipocalypse_main/2015_wipocalypse-basic-info-sign-up-page/) This is a huge effort so much appreciated. I brought stash while in Sydney – more Nora Corbett, quelle surprise – two pieces for Carol (my MIL) and the Party Cakes for Louise.
I also plan to complete at least two of the NC reindeer (they almost qualify as a small, given the size of my WIPs), Stargazer, and complete another chunk of Tapestry Cat. My smalls will most probably be Christmas ornaments; I’ll use the monthly check in to get some presents underway and finished! Bonus.
Expectations
My second thought was so absolutely true! Very sorry to anyone who wants a conversation from me today; I should be carrying a sign or wearing a T warning anyone away. No clear conversations or problem solving today. No craft either, I’d just end up frogging it all out. Blah.
Love the message. Not sure what it meant but that someone took the opportunity wins points with me! This was at Woolongong.
Prompts Part V
All going to plan, I am currently buried in my own bed, having landed around midnight. But that’s my plan – in actuality I am probably stumbling around in a coffee fog trying to get three kids ready for school with only a few hours sleep. Wish me luck!
Today’s words are: GUM WIND PLUG HAM KID HATCH FORM
GUM we’ve been advised to allow B to chew gum during school – studies showed the physical activity of chewing helps concussion victims to focus. Must be working as his grades are awesome. Better than what they were before!
WIND not a fan unless I’m sailing. A reason why I would never live in Wellington.
PLUG or advertise. We spend a lot of time in advertising or marketing meetings. The odd weather patterns this year aren’t helping retail.
HAM looking forward already to Christmas dinner. I have had the cob in the freezer for months already.
KID I have a few of these!
HATCH plans. Craft plans, house plans, gardening plans – everything except where I would hide a body. Watching Bones has turned me off that big time.
FORM these are gone! I still have to translate “year” to “standard” or “form” for the oldies, much like a baby’s weight from pounds and ounces.
And that’s all, folks! Hope you enjoyed playing along.
sewscrapmuse 