August WIPocalypse

Posted in cross stitch, grateful, Mirabilia, WIPocalypse by paulainauckland

WIPocalypse is a monthly-ish blog hop hosted by Measi. This moon’s task was to choose a WIP and tell the story.

This is Mediterranean Mermaid. Long time followers will know all about her; but for everyone else, this is why she’s still a WIP.

Our youngest, Mase, often has asthma flareups. Bad ones. End up on nebuliser ones. It’s long hours, often alone as there are other children at home, so I had to have a project that was permanently packed & could go anywhere with me. Lynne suggested Jug (as in, she carries an amphorae).

But so far in 2015, and with winter nearly over, we’ve kept Mase under control. Small flares, nothing major. Poor Jug hasn’t been worked on for nearly a year (I even brought the beads earlier this year in preparation),

It’s hard to feel for her tho!

28Aug2015

28/8 Hi Five for Friday!

Posted in books, grateful, High Five For Friday, stitching patterns by paulainauckland

LISTENING: TobyMac (eclectic Christian artist with a recent release but solid back-catalogue) and of course, Elise’s podcasts.

READING: I finished Anchored (review to come) and started something I thought might be fluffy but has turned out to be a very thought-provoking romance series from Susan May Warren. Self-forgiveness. Massive concept. Her Christiansen family series, in case you’re looking for something new-ish.

CRAFTING: well not yet,but I love this suggestion from Simply Vanella about what I could do with my black linen. Isn’t this perfect?

http://www.123stitch.com/item/Design-Works-Be-Happy-Chalkboard-Counted-Cross-Stitch-Kit/DW2886

Also I found this ceramic owl HALF PRICE at Farmers so I can re-create one of Carol’s photos. Think I will choose Serenity, as that is my OLW for this year.

DOING: Celebrating. Mason’s awesome anniversary report. Zac’s official rep selection for one of the Auckland U12/13 restricted weight sides. A bunch of awesome parents in this rep side. LAST Under 6 game for the season tomorrow – it’s been a long year! Freebie December Daily foundation pages (OK, they started out as lotto ticket wallets but that’s two standard and two pocket pages right there, peeps – and I left the lady looking up Ali & Becky’s websites). Springtime flowers seen during lunchtime walks.

Let me know what you find to celebrate this week!

26Aug2015

A Last First

Posted in family, grateful, You Can Quote ME by paulainauckland

Thursday is usually You Can Quote Me, an image or thought linked to my One Little Word, Serenity.

Today is going to be a little different.

That little thing on the 32ct mermaid tail? That’s my last child’s first tooth. This morning was the last time I get to be the tooth fairy (I’m assuming some kid at school will burst his tooth fairy belief today).

It’s bittersweet to be watching this boy grow up. He is an unexpected gift from God, even during the tantrums. We’re blessed to have him.

Today’s lesson then is to hold on tight to the good memories. They will bring you a feeling of peace even in moments of pain.

24Aug2015

You Can Quote Me

Posted in grateful, You Can Quote ME by paulainauckland

YCQM is a semi-regular post that relates to my One Little Word for 2015, Serenity.

I’ve made the decision to move YCQM to Mondays. Monday is the work day with the most pressure and demands, and of course, the most time spent in meetings (I’ve been absenting myself from one to regain a precious 30 minutes. For 6 weeks in a row I sat in the corner with no tasks and nothing to contribute. Once you start playing on your phone, you know it’s pointless to be there).

So. Monday. Hello.

21Aug2015

High 5 4 Friday!

Posted in grateful, High Five For Friday by paulainauckland

LISTENING: The new CD from Rend Collective is out today (NZ time). A quote from their blog: importantly, we belong to a larger family, and that family includes you. The children of God have always been a people on the move, driven by a mission and a purpose. We aren’t part of a social club, but we’re given a charge from the Father: to share His love with the world.

As Christians we know this world is not our home. We’re all on a lifelong journey that ends on greater shores. Until that day our purpose is clear, and our companionship is the family of God. He’s given us each other to encourage, rebuke, care for, weep with, hug, pray for, and laugh with. It’s so purposefully beautiful.

READING: I’ve re-discovered the love of the library stack. I managed to get the one I really wanted from Elise Blaha Cripe’s recommends, which is The Dirty Life & started that one this morning. Review next week of The Feast Nearby.

KITCHEN: I love having fresh herbs to hand. I’ve grown basil and Italian parsley this year, and taken cuttings & potted up even more basil for friends. The pot on the left? That’s from the sage seeds that were given to me. Smart cookies will be able to tell that it’s carrots. I couldn’t tell until it came to about six week’s growth. I left a couple in anyway. And the thyme was picked up and re-potted. Thyme on pizza or even garlic bread is yummy. I also have two rosemary – one outside that was allowed to flower for the bees and one inside that is for cooking.

Also par-baked bread rolls now my breadmaker is toast (pardon me).

CRAFTING: Life. Changed. Typo have erasable highlighters that aren’t so moist that they go thru the page. Brilliant for my working copies. Plenty of colours and cheap at 4 for $6.

SHOPPING: I found this print yesterday at Typo when all I intended to do was show Simon a funny set of magnets. $15! Bargain.

CELEBRATING: the letter from college arrived yesterday. Look at that! Isn’t it awesome? So proud of how much Zac achieved already.

Life is good. Hope you find something to celebrate today too!

14Aug2015

14/08 Hi Five for Friday!

Posted in grateful, High Five For Friday by paulainauckland

LISTENING: to the No Such Thing As A Fish podcasts. Funny & factual. I actually prefer this to the parent show which is QI. You can get the podcasts thru iTunes or at http://qi.com/podcast/

READING: absolute crap. I need a recommend!

PINNING: Eh yeah – playing on Instagram too much instead!

CRAFTING: Small, small start to the next Mira RR. I need to get my head around stitching the “wrong” way for me, which is / then \. I’m stitching Spring Queen in the space above Winter. I must admit my OCD is itching as the person owning this piece said to plop the Queens in any order!

DOING: Banging my head on the desk. How many ways can you tell a vendor that if they didn’t charge you for an unordered product (which we didn’t add to the order, we had them collect it) then we can’t generate a credit claim?!

9Aug2015

Project Life catch up

Posted in family, grateful, Journal, me, photos, Project Life by paulainauckland

I’m so far behind that it’s not even funny. So yesterday I alloted myself the luxury of a half day to spend some time on what was a fab little hobby.

All in all I printed over 80 photos and slotted then into rough chronological order. There’s not much embellishment (I’m not one for fuss here, & anyway with three boys I can’t see much point other than some washi) but nearly all the journalling is done too.

I’m now only 16 weeks behind!

7Aug2015

Mase at 6

Posted in family, grateful by paulainauckland

Six years have flown by. We’ve gone from this:

To this:

I thought I’d pull some of the questions from my Me at 41 post way back in May. It won’t describe Mase totally – he’s stubborn but giving, has a wicked sense of humour, completes our family totally, reads like a fiend (the trouble is finding suitable books for skill/age), loves science and finding out about stuff, still sleeps with his Tigger, loves his league, loves going to school, loves helping Dad, hates cleaning his room, loves long showers. Gives great hugs.

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Mason was a character in a Nora Roberts novel. Both Louise and Mum loved the name and remember this was six months before the Kardashian used the name so it was fairly rare. Joel is because the other two have middle names starting with J, but we’d run out of family names. My family is boring like that.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last night when my big brother was being annoying. I wish he wouldn’t steal my Batman car.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Ricies, altho I’ll eat Weat-bix if the All Black cards are still in the box.
DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Heck no. My school shoes still use Velcro, and Mum ties my footy boots. I’m in too much of a hurry to be doing that stuff.
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Like Mum, I can be. I can also be very, very stubborn and just not give up.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Anything in the freezer, except Strawberry.
RED OR PINK? Blue & Yellow – school and league colours
FAVORITE SMELLS? Nachos.
FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? I haven’t found a sport I don’t like watching.
HAIR COLOR? Blonde heading to brown.
EYE COLOR? Blue.
FAVORITE FOOD? Nachos.
SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy happy happy.
LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Cars 2. Mum says it’s lame but I like it and she won’t let me watch James Bond yet.
HUGS OR KISSES? Both!
WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Whatever school puts out. Plus David Melling, Sandra Boynton, anything Cars…
FAVORITE SOUND? That noise B makes when I wind him up.
WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME IN 2015? Wellington – on the family road trip.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Auckland – the same hospital as my big sister. Mum says the weather was nice that day.

7Aug2015

Hi Five for Friday!

Posted in DIY home, grateful, High Five For Friday by paulainauckland

LISTENING: to Elise Joy podcasts about creativity, taking a leap, changing focus www.elisejoy.com or via iTunes

READING: blogs more than books. I especially loved this one from Carol this week, about the owls in Birmingham. I think public art projects like this are the bomb. I’m looking at the Warehouse this weekend for a little owl that I can use for my own version of Tea T Owl. https://aslightobsessionwithbooks.wordpress.com/

PINNING: Minion party ideas. See my “party theme” board on Pinterest. Yes, I know, the theme changed.

CRAFTING: Slooooooow progress on Tapestry Cat’s border, quick progress filling in her body. This is what she will look like when I’m eventually finished. Hopefully before 2020.

DOING: Trying to catch up on six days of delivery errors while staying up-to-date with this week’s issues. I started out Monday with 361 emails, last night at 126. Plus all the reporting is done, including next week’s supplier reviews. WIN!

21Jul2015

A productive night

Posted in family, grateful, Project Life by paulainauckland

Tonight’s the first night of ten that I’m a solo parent. I’ve kind of been dreading it but in dime ways anticipating it.
Negatives: my feet are cold. There isn’t another adult to talk to/share the parenting job with. I’m lonely already.
Positives: the kids are helping (Mase hung his jacket up without prompting!). We can eat what we want (requests for corned beef. Tonight we had chicken ravioli). I feel that I have had space to be creative.

I hung some pics in the ensuite and for the first time all year, completed some PL pages. Three. Zac was so happy. Mase looked at the 2010 albums (he was nude a lot of the time. This was his own doing. Most of the time.). I got a lot of pleasure from their enjoyment. I need to keep this going and to that end, I’ve sorted the photos from Feb to June that I want to print.

sewscrapmuse

irregular updates on family life, books & cross stitch. Lots & lots of cross stitch.

Category Archives: grateful